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.
Major
(Detroit, Nov. 1, 1763)
Gladwin to
Gen. Jeffery Amherst
Gladwin, Henry in: [B. M., Add. MSS.
21649, f. 430, C.] and in Stevens et all.
The Papers of Col. Henry Bouquet,
Series 21649, part II, 1942,
pp. 115-117.
On the 12th of October, The Enemy Sued for Peace in a very Submissive manner: At that time I was so circumstanced for want of flour, that I must either abandon my Post, or hear them; of the two I chose the latter, thinking it of the utmost consequence to keep possession of the Country: Nevertheless I made them no promises. I told them the affair of Peace lay wholly in your breast, But I did not doubt, when you was thoroughly convinced of their Sincerity Every thing would be well again, upon which hostility ceased, and they dispersed to their hunting grounds, this gave us an opportunity to get flour from the country, to Serve us from hand to mouth.
Yesterday M. Dequindre a Volunteer arrived with Dispatches from the Commandant of the Illinois, Copie of which I enclose you. The tenor of that to Pontiac is Somewhat Extraordinary. The Indians are pressing for peace. I inclose you my answer to their demands. I believe as things are circumstanced it would be for the good of his Majesty's Service to accomodate Matters in the Spring; by that time the Savages will be Sufficiently reduced for want of Powder, and I don't imagine there will be any danger of their breaking out again, provided some Examples are made of our good Subjects (page 116) the French who Set them on. No advantages can be gained by prosecuting the War, owing to the difficulty of catching them, add to this the Expence of Such a War, which if continued, the intire ruin of our Peltry Trade must follow, and the loss of a prodigious Consumption of our Merchandises. It will be the Means of their retiring, which will reinforce other Nations on the Mississippi, whom they will prejudice against us, and make them our Enemy for ever: Consequently they will render it extremely difficult (if not impossible) for us to possess that Country, as the French have promised to Supply them with every thing they want.
They have lost between 80, and 90, of their best Warriors; But if your Excellency Still intends to punish them further for their Barbarities, it may be easily done without any Expence to the Crown, by permitting a free Sale of Rum, which will destroy them more effectually than Fire & Sword, But on the contrary if you intend to accomodate Matters in the Spring, which I hope you will for the above Reasons, it may be necessary to send up Sir William Johnson.
I Shall write you Excellency fully concerning every thing in this Department, by Lieut. Montresor. This comes by Aron a Mohawk whom I shall direct to wait at Fort Pitt for your Answer.
this moment I received a Message from Pondiac telling me that he Should send to all the Nations concerned in the War to bury the Hatchet, and he hopes your Excellency will forget what has passed. If not, I believe he will retire to the Mississippi.
In a few days I Shall Send a Duplicate of this by Andrew a faithful Huron; He has a great deal to Say with the Delawares; He will try to make Matters easy that way. I Shall direct him to assure them of a Peace provided they remain quiet during the Winter, which may perhaps ease our frontiers of those Villains, and in the Spring your Excellency can do as you please with them.
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