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 Gladwin
(New York, April 23, 1764)
Gage, Thomas in: Gage Papers,
American Series, William
L. Clements Library.
Sir
I hope soon to recieve some news of you & your Garrison, and to be informed that every thing has gone agreable to your wishes during the Winter. By the latest Accounts from Niagara, the building of the vessells went on very expeditiously, and there is reason to believe that some of them will be afloat, by the time this Letter gets to Detroit. Colo Bradstreet must in all probability move from Albany, with the last of the troops, in less than three Weeks, and by the time he gets to Oswego, will be joined by 300 Canadians, and all his Army assembled.
Sir William Johnson has made peace with the Senecas, who are to deliver up the murderers that killed some of our traders, before the War- commenced to grant a large tract round Niagara to the King, and free transportation over the camping place for all his Subjects without fee or Reward, for the performance of the above articles, they have delivered three Chiefs as hostages: and have with the rest of the Six Nations taken up Arms against our Enemies. I before told you that our friendly Indians had taken a number of prisoners, of which they have deliver'd up Fourteen to Us who are now in the Goal of this City. They have since destroyed all the Villages, the Enemy possessed, burning near 2000 good hutts, killing all their Cattle Horses &ca, upon the Susquehanna. It would have been better, they had killed the Savages who inhabited the Villages, but they made their escape, and are suppos'd to have retired towards the Scioto, & the Muskingham, to join the rest of the Delawares and Shawnese. It is said, if they are further pressed, that many of them will retire amongst the Twigtees or Miamis, which nation has promised to recieve them (You have said nothing of the Miamis, I don't understand that you have made peace with them, tho' I think they made War upon Us, as well as the rest. You will best know how We stand with them, if they have fallen upon Us & still continue the War, we must of course attack them. If they have made peace with you, it will be necessary to let them know, that it will be a breach of the peace, to protect our Enemies. You will not fail to write to Colo Bradstreet, to let him know on what footing this nation of the Twigtwees stand with us, and if (page 2) it is necessary to attack them, the best way to get at them.-
(By your Letters, I understand, that the Wiandots of Sandusky, are our most inveterate Enemy; On which Account (the Chenussies having made their peace) Col Bradstreet's first attack will be against them, & from Erie against the Delawares & Shawnese in their Retreats on the Scioto. The Miamis are at hand to give us some interruption, in these operations, but I hope, we shall have sufficient force to defeat all their attempts, and punish them as well as the rest, who shall oppose Us. I think it's necessary you should be acquainted with these designs, which is for your own information only, and which you will not divulge to any person whatever. And as you must have acquired some knowledge, of the numbers, those nations consist of, the Country they live in, the best way to get at them, & surprize them. You will send by first opportunity, the most ample information to Col Bradstreet, of every particular which you judge will contribute toward his Success. And if you can procure him, any trusty people, who are acquainted with those Country's, and who will be of Service as guides, or of any Other material use, you will send them Col Bradstreet; You will not forget, as I have before mentioned to acquaint him about the Twigtwees.)
I have now something to inform you of, respecting your famous, Mr Pondiac, the Governor of New Orleans has wrote word here, that he had recieved a Letter from Monsr de Neyon, Governor of Fort Chartres, telling him, that the Savages were very ill disposed towards Us, that Pondiac, had wrote to him, for supplys of Ammunition, & intimated his Intentions to pursue the War. He says that Pondiac keeps two Secretary's (French no doubt) One who writes his Letters, the Other who reads those he recieves. If Monsr de Neyon says true, he was not in a Condition to give Pondiac much assistance, and if so, he must thro' necessity appear disposed to peace. I should think it no difficult matter for you to discover Pondiac's Secretary's, and to get out of them, either by persuasion of force, a full account of his transactions and designs since he made his Overtures of peace. If you can clearly prove, that he only makes peace for want (page 3) of the means to carry on the War, and that you plainly see, we are to expect further proofs of his treachery, the moment he has it in his power to exert it, we must not be guilty of so much weakness and folly, as to wait the Stroke, but prevent it by surprizing him, and his Crew, and putting the whole to the Sword: Being prepared at the same time to justify our Conduct with the rest of the Nations, who if really disposed to peace, will be satisfied with it, as they will see themselves the necessity of such a measure to restore tranquility to the Country. And I believe many of them will be glad to be freed from the troubles they are often brought into, by this turbulent and enterprising Savage, who seems to bully, and make himself dreaded, by all the tribes round the Country. The management of this Business, as of every thing else, which can be of use, to the Publick Service, I trust to your usual Zeal, Activity, and judgment, of which you have so often given the most Satisfactory proofs-
I have ordered all the news that can be collected to be forwarded to you. I am &ca
P. S.:
The Hospital Mate now at Detroit must be discharged the moment you get any Surgeon there, or before if you see no occasion for him
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T. G. - |
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