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 Smallman to
Col. Henry Bouquet
(Muskingum, Nov. 8, 1764)
Smallman, Thomas in: [B. M., Add. MSS.
21651, f. 38, A. L. S.] and in Stevens,
et all., The Papers of Col. Henry
Bouquet, Series 21651
(1943), pp. 36-37.
In February last Jon Ceur a French Officer came with a letter to the Shawanese and having Collected the Chiefs together he laid before them a large Belt of Wampum, with a red pipe and some Tobaco; and told them he was sent by their Fathers the French who live at the Ilionois. He then read them the Letter which they seemed very well pleased with; but as I was not master of the Indian language coud not discover its contents, till One of our Prisoner Women who had a French man for a Husband inform'd me that this said Ceur was sent by the French to excite the Indians to take up the Hatchett against the English and, that there was then a Trader on his way up, from the Ilionois with plenty of Powder & Ball to supply them. I have no reason to doubt the truth of this for, Mr Ceur immediatly proceeded to Waketameka and frequently went to War with the Senicas against the Frontiers of Virginia. Some time in May Mr Othia the French Merchant arrived with three large Canoes, in which was Powder, Lead, Tobaco, & Rum. He stay'd there till the begining of July, and return'd Home Inviting with him about fifty Shawanese the Chiefes of that Nation and some Dillaweres. Mr Ceur again return'd to the Lower Towns about the Middle of July, where he stay'd about ten days he bought up a Quantity of Wampum, held Conferences with the Shawanese and then set off with One Senica Indian as I was afterwards inform'd to the Southern Indians.
Shamokin Daniel a Dillaware Man told me the French had invited the Shawanese and Dillawares to go see them; and to put the War Hatchett in their Hands, to strike the English but that his Nation had refused it. Some time in September a French man came from the Meamees whose Name I have never been able to learn with a Fresh supply of Amunition, not less than Eight Hundred Weight of Powder, and Lead in proportion: he had some remains of a broken Cargoe but nothing Considerable His Cheef View I believe was to purchase some Negroes Tho when he heard an Army was encamp'd at this place a Runner arrived from Waketomekee, with an Acct that they were coming to take the Captives by Force and, Cut them all off. This Trader very Generously brought out all his Amunition & deliverd it to the Shawanese, which compleated them to two Pounds of Powder each Man. Sir this is all that at present Occurs to me, from ...
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: 30
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