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 [?]
(May 14, 1765)
Fraser, Alexander in: (Enc. in Farmar
to Gage, June 1, 1765), Clements
Library, Gage Papers,
American Series,
vol. 37, reel 10.
|
May 14th 1765 |
Sir
I am an officer sent by General Gage, into this Country, with some orders, regarding the Inhabitants and Indians of this Colony, which I dare say he has acquainted you with, as well as the nature of my business. I left New York the 4th of January last, accompany'd by M. Crochan Deputy to Sir William Johnson in the Indian Department; He was ordered to come along with me to this place, but He remaind at Fort Pitt, to collect the Shawanese, Delaware, and Iroquois Nations, this he was directed to do by the General, but his doing it took up so much time that I determind to come on before him. I left Fort Pitt ye 22d March & there was then no more likelyhood of his setting off than there was the day of our Arrival there, I had a few Soldiers from Fort Pitt to work my Batteau, and three Indians which served me as guides and Interpreters, on my Journey I found several families of the Delawares and Shawanese Nations, returning from their hunting they assured me that, they were all well dispos'd towards the English since Colonel Bouquet had concluded a peace with them last fall.
I met nothing Extraordinary on my Journey since I left Fort Pitt till the 17th April when I arrived at Cascaskias the lowermost Village of the Ilinois- I came there early in the morning, which I chose rather than come in at night least the Indians might think, I had come with some bad design. The Inhabitants acquainted me of Lieut Ross's having been there, of his reception and his Departure, they advisd me to attempt immediately to get off as the only Chance I had of saving my life, that the Indians but with great difficulty coud be prevaild on to let Lieut. Ross off alive, and that they were then rendered ten times worse by the arrival of Pondiack who, had come the morning after Lieut. Ross went away, and determined them all to continue the War. I judged however before my arrival that I woud be threatend by many such reports, I got a chaise immediately ready and set off for fort Chartres accompany'd by one of my Indians only, as I coud not prevail any Frenchman to accompany me. I left my Soldiers in the Village with directions to conceal them till (page 2) they woud receive an order from myself to rejoin me or be assured by others that, I should be kild or taken Prisoner, and writen directions for them how to act in case of either happening. In passing through the Village of the Indians where the high road leads, I spoke to the Chiefs and told them that, the Shawanese Delawares and Iroquois had made Peace, as well as the several Nations on the lakes that I was a Chief come wth a message for them, which I woud deliver them the next day after I woud speak with the Commanding Officer (Monsieur De St Ange) I got to the fort without any farther Interruption and deliverd his Excellencys letter to him; He repeated the same story regarding Lieutenant Ross which I had heard the morning before at the Cascaskias and advis'd me to escape I told him that I demanded his protection as I came to execute the orders of his King, as well as those of my own King and General, that I came with a Resolution to execute his Excellency's Orders and that I had not yet seen anything that coud excuse my leaving them undone. In the evening as I was at supper Pondiack with eight of his followers rushed into a room where I was with Monsieur St Ange & the Curate of the Village and seizd me with Intention to take me Prisoner. I made a little resistance which enabled me to oppose them (with the help of Monsieur De St Ange and the Curate) till I got further help to disengage myself. Monsieur St Ange offerd his own Life to him, saying he was determind to lose it sooner than give me up till next day. Pondiack left me with him on Condition that I shoud be given up after the Council I was to hold with them next day. He was present at that Council, and I luckily prevailed on him and the different Tribes of the Ilinois to accept the belt of Pearl, which I told them, woud be ratified by Mr Croghan, at any place where they shoud chuse to meet him at, I told them that I expected him soon at the Ouabache, with Presents for them, and accompanyd by several Chiefs of the Different Nations on the Ohio, who had made Peace last fall- I advisd the Ilinois Indians to send some of their Chiefs to meet him at the entry of the Ouabache into the Ohio. Several, of them are since gone, and I have not yet received the least word from them since they went away tho' it is three weeks ago this day. Mr Crochan assured me at parting that he woud certainly set off in twelve days after me, but I am sure he did not in twenty otherwise those people whom I sent to meet him woud have return'd 'ere now.
The Sautous and Pottawattamies and Chippawas arrived on the evening of the 28th of April, they drank all very hard all night and on the Morning, they took my own Prisoners. I myself with difficulty escaped and conceald myself till I was inform'd that they had resolved to kill them, as they missd me. I immediately gave myself into their hands to share the fate of my poor men or endeavour to be a means of saving them; they were luckily appeasd by seeing me give myself up, and did us no other harm than beat us and robb us of everything we had, they made an apology next day for what they had done, gave us back some triffles of our Baggage, and told us that they were sory for what had happened that it was their young men that had done it and that drink was the cause of it. I repeated to them the same thing I did to the Ilinois on my Arrival and advisd them to make peace.- they accepted of the peace Belt and borrowd Pipes and Belts form Monsieur de St Ange to go to meet him at Washtonon the place appointed to hold the Congress at.- This, happend all in the Fort and presence of Monsieur St Ange, which plainly demonstrated that we shoud expect little help from him indeed we coud have easily seen from the begining that he coud give us but very little Assistance, with forty soldiers who have not the least remains of Disciplin amongst them, and the Commd. so timorous that he is despisd by those who ought to fear him , the Indians too who are sensible of his weakness take the advantage of it and by threats they make him believe and do what they please. Pondiack with the Chiefs of the other Nations who had agreed on peace set off some days afterwards for Cascaskias to wait there the arrival of those who had gone to meet M. Crochan. He advisd me to come with any people along with him, least any Indians might come while he was away that might Insult us.- I thankd him for his regard for us and accompanyd him hence.- The third day after our Arrival one of the Ilinois Indians came in who told that fourteen of their people had been killd by Cherokees and English who were lying in wait for the Convoy which was expected up, he assured them that he himself had seen the Men killd, and had spoke to the English who killd them.- The Ilinois assembled immediately; and rush in to my lodging to kill me, but Pondiack luckily had time enough to come and save me, he threatened anyone that shoud touch me, with immediate death, and assured them if they woud hurt any of my people that they shoud suffer for it. This did not prevent their taking several of them Prisoners. Pondiack sent (page 4) for all his people who were at Fort Chartres as well as the Chiefs of the Asutous Pottowatamies, and Chipawas, they made us lodge with themselves and assur'd us that no harm shoud befal us. The Ilinois came armd a second time to demand one of them but they were so far from being frightend at their numbers that they made them deliver up those they had in their possession.- The Convoy arrived safe the tenth of this month within a few miles of this place, and some Indians who had returned along with it assured the Ilinois that all the men whom they had been told were killd, were then well, that they had not seen the least appearance of an Indian on their Journey, this appeasd everything but the head Chief of the Shawanese, arrived with the Convoy from New Orleans, with a great deal of presents and he brought Belts of Wampum which he gave in the name of Monseur D'Obrie Governour of New Orleans, he told them that Monsuer D'Obrie had desird him to send it to all the Nations on the Belle riviere and about the Lakes, and desird them to continue the war aginst the English, that tho the french had made peace with them they were in a few months to begin the war again, but peace or war that they might depend on being well supplyd with arms ammunition and all sorts of necessaries while theyd make War against us, Some of my Indians were in the Council with them at the time. The Shawanese chief carressd them much, and begd they woud quit me and carry Monsiuer D'Obries belt to their nations this they told me and I make no doubt but they may accept of it and leave me, to bring it to their people. I have not yet learnd what answer Pondiack and the Chiefs of the other Nations have made him, how soon I can know it will endeavour to aquaint you Sir of it if possible. Ever since the Convoy arrived here, all the Indians are drunk and there is not the least appearance of their being sober while there is any drink here. my men and myself are every minutes in danger of losing our lives, they have often attempted to possiand me since, they are drunk They have hurt several of my men much. I wish much I coud get them away down the river to Mobille, I intend to propose this to Pondiack who is the most humane and most sensible man amongst them- without his Consent and the Chiefs of the other Nations it would be madness in me to attempt such a thing as they coud send a few Indians in Canoes after them that woud soon kill them. I (page 5) know not when I may have the Chance of finding him Sober to propose such a thing to him I will remain myself here while there is the least likelyhood of my being of any Service.
I was directed by the Gen. to publish some manifestos from him in the different Villages, I took care to have them dispersd so that every body has seen them but I have not fixt them up, in any publick places till I see the Indians, better settled: as I have been already told by the Captains of Militia that nobody durst take the oaths of allegiance to his majesty (which the Manifesto requird them to do) for fear of the Indians, this they told me in such a tone that I dont like. Indeed their ought to be little dependance on their promises or oaths as they are such abandond rascals that they pay little or no regard to either.- There is not an honest man in the Colony from the highest to the lowest, I by no means woud decide so much to the prejudice of any set of People if I had not in a manner had a general acquaintance amongst the rogue who engages to carry you this does it for no other thing than money and they are covetous enough to do anything for Money.
May 17th, 1765
The Change the Shawanese Chiefs Story has made Amongst the Indians here is every day more & more visible. Those Chiefs whom I sent to meet Mr Croghan at the Ouabache are returnd yesterday, being the 24th day since their Departure but neither saw nor heard anything of him. all the Chiefs are gone off but Pondiack on whom I prevailed to stay till other two men come back to whom I send this day to Oubache and I expect back in ten days.- There is nothing remarkable decided yet by them I will from time to time do myself the honour to write you Sir when any occasion Serves.-
I send my Sergt. and Men off in a Piroge. I hope My Sergt Sir will deliver you this. I take the opportunity of sending them off while the Indians are at a grand Council at Fort Chartres. I dread the result of it but hope they will be beyond the reach of its Verdict. I remain here till I hear (page 6) something of Mr. Croghan or dispair of his coming. I will then if possible go down the river to meet you Sir according to his Excellency's Directions to me. But tis hard to guess what may befall me as I am at the mercy of the Capricious humour of the Indians who are very much disturbed at Mr. Croghans being so dilatory. I must Conclude for fear of detaining the men too long.
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I am Sir |
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