THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Col. Bouquet to
Sir Jeffery Amherst
(Fort Pitt, Oct. 24, 1763)
Bouquet, Henry in: [B. M., Add.
MSS. 21634, f. 422, C.] and
Stevens et all. The Papers
of Col. Henry Bouquet,
Series 21634, 1940,
pp. 288-290.
Coll. Stephen has furnished 94 volunteers who have assisted in Escorting the last Provisions arrived- I have tryed every Method to engage them to March with us over the Ohio to the nearest Delawares Towns, my endeavours have Proved ineffectual, they are gone back-
That is one of the two Attacks that Can be executed this way, and which I mentioned to you as practicable, with a Reinforcement of 300 Men However in obedience to your desire, I would have attempted it with that Small Addition of Men fit for Such Expeditions, But without a Certain Number of Woodsmen, I cannot think it Adviseable to employ regulars in the Woods against Savages, as they cannot procure any Intelligence, and are open to Continual Surprises, nor Can they Pursue at any distance their Enemy when they have Routed them, and should they have the Misfortune to be Defeated the whole would be Destroyed if above one days March from a Fort
That is my opinion in which I hope to be deceived The first of those five Delaware Towns is 52 Miles distant The furthest 100.
The other Attack may be directed against the Shawanoes Settlements, and requires a great force on Account of the Apparant impossibility of Surprising them as they are now Situated having to go about 70 Miles against Streams up the Muskingum to their Nearest Town from the Ohio, and Supposing one to be Surprised they are so near one another that the Alarm would be immediately Spread, they are not far from the Miamis Indians, and most of the Delawares have Joyn'd them, so that they must be carried by main Force.
Coll. Stephen Writes me of the 10th instant that he can raise 1000 Men for that Expedition and March as soon as he is informed whether the Crown or the Colony are to defray the Expense If that Difficulty can be got over, the Month of November is the most favourable for the Execution of that Plan, and I shall keep the Troops ready to reinforce him with a Detachment and 25 Batteaux for the Provisions and light Baggage of the Men, who can March unencumbered along the shore, and Cover the Batteaux- If it cannot take place this fall it may in the Spring, Tho' by no means so Proper for Several reasons.
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