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.
Intelligence Received
from Kyashuta
(Fort Pitt, May 9, 1765)
Croghan, George in: "Intelligence... in private
Meeting with Major Murray and me",
(Enc. Croghan to Gage, May 12,
1765), Clements Library,
Gage Papers, American
Series, vol. 36,
reel 10.
May 9th 1765 . . . Intelligence received from Kyashuta, in a private Meeting with Major Murray and me.
He says that last fall, the Shawanese, Delawares, and the other Tribes settled on this River, & between this and Sandusky, sent a deputation of their Chiefs, and principle Warriors, to the Illinois Country, to Treat & strengthen their Alliance with the several Nations residing there, & to apply for support from the French, of Ammunition, & other necessary's to carry on the War, against the English.
That on their arrival in that Country, they acquainted the Governour, or Commanding Office of Fort Chartres with their Business, who immediately call'd a General Meeting of Nine Nations or Tribes Settled thereabouts, and after counciling four Days, they unanimously agreed to prevent any English Troops coming into that Country.
The Nations in the Ilinois Country was to Impede the March of any Troops coming up there from New Orleans, & the Shawanese, Delawares, Senecas & other Tribes settled up this River, was to prevent any Troops going down from this Post, to that Country, this he says was the result of this Meeting last fall, in the Ilinois Country, where there was not less than 1800 Indians, with the Commanding Officer & principle Inhabitants.
In consequence of this Meeting, the Commanding Officer of Fort Chartres told them, he approved much of their resolution to defend themselves from Slavery, & their Country from being settled by the English, that for his part he could not assist them with anything, as he expected the English every Day, to come and take possession of that Fort, But that the people who came through the same Earth with themselves / meaning the French Inhabitants / would supply them with every necessary they should stand in need of; That he had nothing in his power but a little powder, & Lead, which he then presented them with, and said he had got a quantity more, which he would give them, whenever the English came to take possession, He then gave them 12 Cags powder, & 15 Bags, Bullets, after which the Inhabitants made them a present of Goods.
When this Deputation of Shawanese, & Delawares set out from the Ilinois Country, the Inhabitants sent some Traders with goods along with them as far as the great Miamies River, in order to Trade; Where they told this deputation, that if they would remove their Towns to that place, they would Build them one, and Stockade it; The Shawanese & Delawares, said they would take it into Consideration, when they arrived in their own Country, And desired the French Traders to proceed to the plains of Sioto, which they accordingly did.
On this Deputation's return to their Towns, they heard of the Terms of Accomodations granted them by Col. Bouquet, which they understood the Six Nations had advised them to, on which they called a Council of their several Tribes, when it was unanimously agreed, that they should comply with the engagements, their Chiefs made with Col. Bouquet, send back the French Traders, which they did all but three, which was yet in the Shawanese Town, on the plains of Sioto, Giashuta says he has done everything in his power, to promote the good Works of Peace, between the English, & those other Nations / which indeed is Confirm'd by themselves / But he is Sorry to say that from the conduct of the Delawares, he looks on them to the most Wrong headed Indians of any in this part of the Country, as they want to be the first in Council with the English, & raise themselves above all other Nations, which he says they are very jealous of.
He likewise informs us that the Ottawas, & Putewatimies from St. Joseph's, & near Detroit, sent a Deputation of their Nations, to the Shawanese, & Delawares this Winter, to let them know, that tho' they had made Peace with the English, it was not from their Hearts, but from their Lips only, which they would not stand to, & therefore desired the Shawanese, & Delawares, to continue the War against the English this way, & they wold joyn them, Which he says the Shawanese, refused to comply with in his presence, but does not know what answer the Delawares made them.
May 10th: This Day I have talked with Several Six Nations Indians, & Shawanese in private, in order to find out what temper the Seneca's were in at Chenessies, & from what I can learn a Considerable number of them are discontented on Accot. of their Country.
The Shawanese inform'd me, that during the last two years, they have heard the Seneca's often say, that they never would be Friends with the English, till they were paid for such parts of their Lands, as they had built Forts on, for which they were often promis'd but never perform'd- Instead of giving them anything, these people have been ill used at those Forts, & their Warriors refused a little Powder, & Lead, to enable them to proceed to War against their natural Enemy's the Southern Indians- And this Winter several Seneca's has complain'd of their Chiefs giving up their Lands, & Fort, about Niagara; Those Shawanese say they believe the Seneca's will never be hearty friends to the English, till something is settled with them about their Country, which they wish could soon be done; For tho' they are determined to make a lasting Peace with the English, yet if a quarrel should happen between the Seneca's & them, they would be drawn into it against their inclination.
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