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.
Excerpts
(1765)
Excerpted from: "Croghan's
Journal 1765,"
EWTI: pp. 126-159, 172-173;
Beckwith,
Inds. of _____: p. 123, and "Journal of
Captain Harry Gordon's Journey
1766," Travels in the American
Colonies: pp. 457-491.
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(ETWI)
Left from Fort Pitt, going west to Logstown, 1765
May 16th [1765]. Being joined by the deputies of the Senecas, Shawnesse, and Delawares, that were to accompany me, (page 127) we set off at seven o'clock in the morning, and at ten o'clock arrived at the Logs Town, an old settlement of the Shawnesse, about seventeen miles from Fort Pitt, where we put ashore, and viewed the remains of that village, which was situated on a high bank, on the south side of the Ohio river, a fine fertile country round it. . . Big Beaver Creek, abt. 10 miles below Logs Town. . . About a mile below the mouth of Beaver Creek we passed an old settlement of the Delawares, where the French, in 1756, built a town for that nation. . . some of stone chimneys still standing, "on the north side of the river."
Croghan on Ohio river, westbound.
May 20th [1765]. [Encamped at mouth of "Hochocken or Bottle River" (Hockhocking r.)] From here I despatched an Indian to the Plains of Scioto, with a letter to the French traders from the Illinois residing there, amongst the Shawnesse, requiring them to come and join me at the mouth of Scioto, in order to proceed with me to their own country, and take the oaths of allegiance to his Britannic Majesty, as they were now become his subjects, and had no right to trade there without license. At the same time I sent messages to the Shawnesse Indians to oblige the French to come to me in case of refusal.
May 24th, 25th, 26th. Stayed at the mouth of Scioto, waiting for the Shawnesse and French traders, who arrived here on the evening of the 26th, in consequence of the message I sent them from Hockocken, or Bottle Creek.103
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Shawneetown, Ill. 1765 |
. . . we proceeded down the [Ohio] river about six miles [from the mouth of the Wabash] . . . and come to a place called the Old Shawnesse Village, (page 138) some of that nation having formerly lived there.108
July 1st, 1765. At Weatonon - A Frenchman arrived from the Illinois with a Pipe and Speech from thence to the Kickapoos & (page 146) Musquattamies, to have me Burnt, this Speech was said to be sent from a Shawanese Indn who resides at the Illinois, & has been during the War, & is much attached to the French interest. [Indians told Croghan, and refused.]
[This is inserted from N. Y. Col. Doc. 7:781- the "official" version of Croghan's Journal.- Ed.]
Croghan at Weatonon, on Wabash.
July 18th.- I set off for the Ilinois with the chiefs of all those Nations [Peankeshaws, Weatonons, Miamis, Kickapoos, Musquatamies, Mascontins] when by the way we met with Pondiac together with the Deputies of the Six Nations, Delawares & Shawanese [he had set off from Ft. Pitt with these], which accompanied Mr. Frazier [Lt. Alexander Fraser of the 78th infantry] and myself down the Ohio & also Deputies with speeches from the (page 148) four Nations living in the Ilinois Country to me & the Six Nations, Delawares & Shawanese, on which we return'd to Ouiatonon and there held another conference, in which I settled all matters with the Illinois Indians- Pondiac & they agreeing to every thing the other Nations had done, all which they confirmed by Pipes & Belts, but told me the French had informed them that the English intended to take their country from them, & give it to the Cherokees to settle on, & that if ever they suffered the English to take possession of their country they would make slaves of them, that this was the reason for their Opposing the English hitherto from taking possession of Fort Charters & induced them to tell Mr. La Gutrie & Mr. Sinnott that they would not let the English come into their Country. But being informed since Mr. Sinnott120 had retired by the Deputies of the Six Nations, Delawares & Shawanese, that every difference subsisting between them & the English was now settled, they were willing to comply as the other Nations their Brethren had done and desired that their Father the King of England might not look upon his taking possession of the Forts which the French had formerly possest was a title for his subjects to possess their Country, as they never had sold any part of it to m French, & that I might rest satisfied that whenever the English came to take possession they would receive them with open arms.
[This inserted in this version, from the "official" version of Croghan's Journal, N. Y. Col. Doc. 7:782- Ed.]
Aug. 23d.- Colo Campbell & I had a Meeting with the Twightwees, Wawiotonans, Pyankeshas, Kickapoos and Musquattamies, when they produced the several Belts sent them by Colo Bradstreet, in consequence of which Invitation they came here.
Then they spoke to the Six Nations Delawares & Shawanese on several Belts & Pipes, beging in the most abject manner that they would forgive them for the ill conduct of their Young Men, to take Pity on their Women & Children & grant y peace.
They then spoake to the Colo & me on several Pipes & Belts Expressing their great satisfaction at a firm and lasting Peace settled between their Brethren the English, & the several Indian Nations in this Country, they they saw the heavy Clouds that hung over their heads for some time past were now dispersed, and that the Sun shone clear & bright, & that as their Father the King of England had conquered the French in that (this ) Country & taken into his Friendship all the Indian Nations, they hoped for the future they would be a happy people, & that they should always have reason to call the English their Fathers & beged we would take pity on their (page 155) Women & Children & make up the difference subsisting between them and the Shawanese, Delawares & Six Nations, and said as they were come here in consequence of Colo Bradstreet's Invitation & that he had not met them they hoped their Fathers would pity their necessity & give them a little clothing, ad a little rum to drink on the road, as they had come a great way to see their Fathers. Then the Wyondats spoake to the Shawanese, & all the Western Nations on severall Belts & strings, by which they exhorted the several Nations to behave themselves well to their Fathers the English, who had now taken them under their protection, that if they did, they would be a happy People, that if they did not listen to the Councils of their Fathers, they must take the Consequences, having assured them that all Nations to the Sun rising had taken fast hold of their Fathers the English by the hand, & would follow their Advice, & do everything they desired them, & never would let slip the Chain of Friendship now so happily renewed.
Aug. 29th, 1765.- A Deputation of several Nations sett out from Detroit for the Ilinois Country with several Messages from me & the Tyondots, Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanese & other Nations, in answer to theirs delivered me at Ouiatonon.
(Beckwith, Inds. of _____
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Shawneetown, 1765) |
. . . On the 8th [of June, at Shawneetown,] at daybreak, we were attacked by a party of Indians, consisting of 80 warriors of the Kickapoos and Musquattamies.
(EWTI)
The several Nations on the Ouiabache, & towards the Illinois, St. Josephs, Chicago, Labaye, Sagina & other places have applyed for Traders to be sent to their settlements, but as it is not in the power of any Officer to permit Traders to go from Detroit or Michillimackinac, either English or French, I am of opinion the Inds will be supplied this year chiefly from the Illinois, which is all French property & if Trading Posts are not established at proper Places in that country soon the French will carry the best part of the Trade over the Mississippi which they are determined to do if they can, for I have been well informed that the French are preparing to build a strong trading Fort of the other side Mississippi, about 60 miles above Fort Chartres, and have this (page 173) Summer in a private manner transported 26 pieces of small canon up the River for that purpose. November, 1765. G. Croghan.
(page 173- fn.) The French trading post sixty miles above Fort Chartres on the western bank of the river, was the beginning of the present city of St. Louis, which was founded in April, 1764, by Pierre LaClede. Upon surrender of the Illinois to the English, St. Ange, with the garrison and many French families, removed to this new post, in the expectation of living under French authority. To their chagrin the place was surrendered to the Spanish the following year.- Ed.
(Travels in the American Colonies, pp. 457-491
Journal of Captain Harry Gordon's
Journey from
Pittsburg down the Ohio and the Mississippi
to New Orleans, Mobile and Pensacola, 1766)
[Editor's introd.] Capt. Gordon, chief Engineer of the Western Dept. in No. America, sent by Gen. Thomas Gage down Ohio, with George Croghan, depty. Supt. under Sir William Johnson, George Morgan of an Indian trading house, about 100 Indians of the Six Nations; and a large party of Delawares and Shawnee Indians. Mission of Croghan was to attach the Indians to the English interest. Gordon was to look over the matter of defence & propose means of securing to the English the Indian trade in the territory from which the French had been expelled by the fourth intercolonial war.
(page 466) [Journal]. We remained near the Scioto until the 8th July. Observed and found the Latitude 38o 22'. The greatest part of the Shawnese Nation were Assembled here at the desire of Mr. Croghan; Matters being Settled with them (altho' with Difficulty) We pursued our Route the 8th July, the 16th We Encamped opposite the Great Lick.
(page 467) Falls of Ohio- ought not to be
so called- really rapids.
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103 The result of this message. . . is thus given in the official version of the journal: "26th. Several of the Shawanese came there & brought with them seven French Traders which they delivered to me, those being all that resided in their Villages, & told me there were just six [sic] more living with the Delawares, that on their return to their towns they would go to the Dels. & get them to send those French traders home, & told me they were determined to do everything in their power to convince me of their sincerity & good disposition to preserve a peace."- Ed.
108 The migration [of the Sh.] N & E [from Cumberland or "Shawana" River] took place about 1730. The present Illinois town at this site, is still called Shawneetown.- Ed.
120 An agent for the So. Dept. His stores plundered, when he attempted a conciliation with Illinois.- Ed.
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