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.
Letters
(April 10-July 19, 1764)
(Due to length divided here into three parts)
In: Bouquet Papers, Michigan
Pioneer
and Historical Society Hist. Coll.,
Vol. 19, pp. 252-268.
ENSIGNS CHRISTIE, SCHLOSSER AND PAULI TO COL. BOUQUET
|
DETROIT 10th April 1764. |
SIR
In the month of January we did ourselves the honour to acquaint you that by the advice of Colonel Gladwin, we had presented to General Amherst the Losses we had sustained by the Indian War, that we had not mentioned to him our hopes of the preferment that might naturally arise from the deaths of some of the officers in the Regt. we being the oldest Ensign, as we expected he would leave that to your Determination, that we would have done ourselves that Honour long before that time, had we not had hopes of joining you according to General Orders, which prevented us; we now beg of you that you'll remind Genl. Gage of this affair, in order that we may be reimbursed for our Losses, which are too considerable for us to bear. That of Ensign Christie is 147 sterlg. for Baggage & Stores, that of Ensign Schlsser 87-10 Sterlg. for Baggage &c. that of Ensign Pauli is 80 Sterlg for Baggage &c. The Indians have kept pretty quiet this winter, but we expect they'll soon commence Hostilities. This goes by the Schooner.
|
We are with all
possible |
|
|
Sir |
|
|
Servants |
Colonel Henry Bouquet
Endorsed: Letter from Ensigns Christie, Schlsser and Pauli 10th April 1764
Received the 30th May
[A 20, p 102]
___________
LIEUT. GEORGE MCDOUGAL TO COL. HENRY BOUQUET
|
DETROIT 11th April 1764. |
DEAR SIR
I did myself the Honour to write to you by an Express, by the way of Niagara dated March 24th & Inclosed a Return of the Royal American thats here &c at the same time Inclosed, an Effective Roll of Each Company to Lieut Potts, which I hope came safe to hand.
I likewise inclosed to you a list of the mens names that has a right to their discharge and those that really are unfit for Service.
The men here is in a miserable situation for want of cloathing and even in want of every necessary to make them appear like soldiers, I (page 253) hope if they are not to be relieved that their Cloathing may be sent to them.
Colonel Gladwin has often declared that he never wishes to command better men, indeed their behaviour is surprising, since I have the honour to command them we have not had one Court Martial, but does their commands, and Fatigues which is manny with the greatest pleasure and chearfullness I shall be glad to hear from you.
|
From Sir |
|
|
Your very much obliged |
|
|
Humble Servant |
|
|
GEORGE MCDOUGALL. |
|
To Colonel Bouquet
Endorsed: From Lieut McDougall 11th April 1764
Received 30th May
[A 20, p 108]
___________
DEPOSITION OF GERSHOM (GORSHAM) HICKS1
|
APRIL 14th, 1764. |
Gorshom Hicks a man about Thirty years of age, arrived at Fort Pitt having made his escape from the Indians, says that he was a Servant to Patrick Allison, an Indian Trader, and was made Prisoner last May, by the Shawanese, near Muskingum, the rest of his fellow Horse Drivers (four in number) being killed by the Savages, about the same time; the Shawanese kept him prisoner about four days, then gave him to a Delaware, known by the name of Captain Bullet, who kept him near twenty days at a place called Moquesin, a Delaware Town on Muskingum River: from thence he was sent to help to build a House at the Salt Licks, for White Eyes1 a Delaware Chief, at which place he remained all winter hunting thereabouts for meat, for himself and some other White Prisoners that were with the Delawares at that place, (viz John Gibson & one Morris) that about thirty days agoe he was sent to a place called Hockhocbin, where King Beaver lives at present about Thirty Miles on this side the Scioto; There he was to hunt in company with two Delawares, that in a few days one of them left him & went home again to go to war, leaving orders with Hicks to follow him which he did do in eight or nine days afterwards and went up the Hockhocking River for near a mile leaving the other Indian by himself to hunt and Physick, that he thought this a good time to come off, so turned back again with his Canoe & came into the Ohio River, into which the Hockhocking River emptys itself, then crossed the Ohio to the South East Side when he left his Canoe and came up by Land having his Gun and about Twenty Loads of Powder and Ball (page 254) with him. Says this is eight days agoe and that he saw three Indians the day before yesterday making a Raft to cross the River, to the side he was on about 100 miles below the Fort, He further says that there was a Council held at the Salt Licks, last fall by the Delawares in which it was agreed that two of their Chiefs with White Eyes should be sent to some of the French Forts on the Mississippi, who accordingly went to ask the French to join them to make war against the English this Spring and to give them some Ammunition, which Articles he says he is very sure neither the Shawanese or Delawares have above a pint and many of them but half a pint of Powder each man and lead in Proportion. (N. B. Hicks speaks the Delaware language very well also understands the Shawanese Tongue a little and as the Indians had great confidence in him from his being a Prisoner with them once before, and having what he calls Friends among them he was therefore trusted with all their Secrets and Designs) further says that White Eyes and the two other Chiefs returned again the beginning of last March very much dissatisfied with the answers they got from the French and that they were not provided ammunition at all except three pints, and a little powder to carry them home again, telling them to go back and take care of their wives and children that they were all as one with the English now and would not fight against them.
Hicks says he thinks that with the Delawares and Shawanese he has seen about 50 or 60 white Prisoners, (sic) and of which one women and young persons, and most of them taken last war. That the small pox has been very general & raging among the Indians since last Spring and that 30 or 40 Mingoes, as many Delawares & some Shawanese, died all of the small pox since that time, that it still continues amongst them. He says the general talk amongst the Indians, was that they intended going in pretty large parties this Summer to murder the Frontier Inhabitants, but did not mean to attack any of the Forts, that the Indians are all in want of all kinds of cloathing and are obliged to wear skins &c. with regard to Fort Detroit, he says he does not know what is doing there, but that 30 or 50 Ottawas and Wiandotts were expected by the Delawares every day to Council, and that he has heard and believes it is the intention of the Delawares to let the Ottawas and Wiandotts know that it does not suit them to continue the war, and that as they begun it they must fight it out themselves. He further says, that he is very certain the Delawares have not living above 150 fighting men, and 30 or 40 boys, which is all they can send to war, leaving at the same time about 30 or 40 old men & hunters to take care of their Families & Planting, that the (page 255) Shawanese, he is not so well acquainted with, but is very sure they have not more than 200 Warriors.
The Mingoes are very few not above Twenty remaining in that part of the Country, further says that the Shawanese & Delawares were very uneasy & afraid of the Six Nations Indians Coming to war against them this Summer.
Being asked if he heard anything of French Andrew or Aaron, and the Wiandott Indians that went express from this Post to Detroit, says he heard nothing of them & that if they had been detained by any nation on this side of Detroit, he must have heard of it; that the Indians are a little divided amongst themselves about continuing the war, & that King Beaver and Castologa have advised them to Peace, and are still doing the same, and that King Shingoes died last winter further says, that they expect the English will march an army into their Country this Summer, and are much at a loss what to do with their families, having very little Indian Corn for Planting and no meat laid up in Store, only what they kill daily and use from hand to mouth.
|
WILLIAM GRANT |
Endorsed Deposition of Gorsham Hicks, 14 April 1764
[A 20, p 126]
___________
CAPT. WILLIAM GRANT TO COL. HENRY BOUQUET
SIR
Yesterday just as I had sealed my Letters a Prisoner came in here who made his escape from the Savages, his deposition was taken before me, which is here enclosed, I have likewise enclosed one to the General.
|
I am with great |
|
|
Truth and Sincerity |
|
|
Humble Servant |
|
FORT PITT
April 15th 1764
[Colonel Bouquet]
Endorsed: Captain Grant April 15th 1764
[A 20, p 126]
________________________
1 See appendix.
Return
to TOC, p. 17
Continue to
next part of Miami Collection
[return to Miami
Collection Menu]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home]
Last updated: 25
January 2001
URL: http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/home.html
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1996, Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University