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.
Letter to Gage
(Johnson Hall, March 1, 1764)
Johnson, Sir William in: The
Papers
of Sir William Johnson,
vol. 4, pp. 347-349.
them to are the Forks & branches of Ohio and Susquehanna where many of our Enemies reside; & the Alacrity which our Friend Indians manifest gives me great reason to hope I shall shortly have the pleasure of acquainting you that they have in a great measure destroyed & removed these dangerous Enemys who have infested the neighbouring frontiers.
|
I am &ca |
One Mr
Tice of Schenectady has been mentioned to me as a very proper person for a
provincial Compy. I must beg leave
to recommend him to your notice shod
such be raised as he has served as an officer for some years.
LIEUT GOVR COLDEN.
FROM JOHN WELLS
In the Johnson Calendar, p. 208, is found a letter of February 29th from Captain John Wells, at Chirey Valley, reporting favorably of Captain Robert McKeen's company and of the behavior of the Indians who come to that place. Destroyed by fire.
TO THOMAS GAGE
Df.1
|
Johnson Hall March 1st 1764. |
DEAR SIR
I have had the pleasure of your Letter of the 13th & 20th ulto and embrace the first opportunity which my time has permitted of answering them.
The Exact number of Indians who may accompany the army must be uncertain, nor is it possible to know how many they will consist of; the present spirit amongst them gives me great hopes of a powerfull assistance and I shall use every endeavor in my power to keep it up for that purpose. I apprehend however that I may rely with confidence on the attendance of 4 or 500, (page 348) perhaps they may be twice that number, but it will greatly depend on circumstances, & the time I shall have given me to collect them with the help of several proper Indian officers, who must necessarily be appointed for that purpose. The Friend Indians in General will readily Joyn either against the Western Nations or the Shawanese and Delawares, and if affairs are not speedily settled between us and the Senecas, I have not doubt but they will march also against them.
I apprehend the Shawanese & Delawares will suffer greatly from the partys I have already sent, and shall continue to send against them, which will make easy work for the Troops on the Campaign. These two Nations appear the most determined, but their party decreases, many of them have already fallen off on hearing the determination of our friends, and I am hopefull they will (as affairs are now circumstanced) be unable to persuade the Western Nations to renew hostilities, Especially as the latter will shortly discover that such a proceeding must involve them in a War with the Friend Indians, which they wod by no means relish. The like reasons will (I hope) have the same effect on the Senecas, which will prove of great service to us, as the Indians in General would certainly proceed with greater alacrity against the rest.
May steps have already been taken by the Friend Indians to bring over the Senecas, to which their inactivity for some time past must be chiefly attributed, and I trust that the Belts and Messages lately sent to them will be productive of an accommodation, of which I expect to have notice in a Very Short time, as the upper Nations will shortly be down. I mean to treat with them outwardly as a misguided people whom we are desirous to Compassionate, & forgive on certain terms, rather than to give them any Confidence in their abilities, by Expressing a desire to promote a peace with them, and I trust their Conduct will have a good effect.
I have sent out sevl partys since the first, and shall continue
to do so as much as I can, as I have the pleasure to find that our
______________________
1 The original was destroyed by fire.
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