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 Croghan
(Johnson Hall, Feb. 21, 1766)
Johnson, Sir William in: (Extracts),
The Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 12,
pp. 28-29.
TO GEORGE CROGHAN
Extracts1
|
Johnson Hall, Febry. 21, 1766 |
I have just received a letter from Genl Gage2 wherein he approves of Your going to the Ilinois, he says nothing on the head of the Expense Attending that journey but altho' I have not heard from you as I expected I presume you spoke to him about it. However I have mentioned it in my answer to him.3 he writes that Capt. Sterling has represented he would not have succeeded had he not come unexpectedly upon them, & before they knew his force or should take measures to prevent him, also that no Chiefs from that Country Attended you. It is easy to acct. for the motives of his representation & I have answered the General pretty fully on the Subject, but in justice to you, I thought it best to give you this Information of it.
* * * * *
As the General approves of my Meeting with Pondiac & the Chiefs in that Quarter at Oswego, I think it best that you do imediately find a proper White Man in whom you can Confide accompanied by 2 or 3 Good Indians to invite him to meet me at Oswego in June next together with a Sachem & a Warrior from each tribe of the Twightwees, Chipeweighs, Ottawas & Hurons, & Powtowatamies. The Article of Expense will not admit of much more Coming from any Nation & these will be sufficient for the purpose. You will Give plain directions to the person who carries the Message to inform them that I do it- to open the (page 29) Road to us & to renew & Confirm all their late Engagements, & your Messenger should give me the Earliest Notice whether they will attend & the time when as Nearly as possible to prevent my being disappointed. I would have you to send off the Message without delay as it is a long Journey & the Collecting the Chiefs of so many Nations will take some time.- I shall also write by way of the Lakes to Lt. Coll. Campbell4 to direct Miny Chien5 by my desire to meet Pondiac & accompany him to Oswego.
FROM JOHN CAMPBELL
Copy6
|
Detroit Feb: 24th., 1766. |
SIR,
I am to acknowledge the favor of your letter of the 19th. Aug.7 & to assure you that it gives me great pleasure
to receive your directions concerning Indian affairs which I shall strictly
observe. I have had little or no trouble with Indians since Mr. Croghans
departure from hence. They meet with so much trade here that they seem to be
very well satisfied. I have had few or no visits from any of them all this
winter, so that I had no opportunity of conversing with any of their chiefs or
to form any notion of their disposition at present, but from what has happened
lately, I have very great reason to be disobliged at some of them.- On the 4th
inst two of our men were barbarously murdered at a small Post, at the river
Rouse8 about 4 miles below this, by some Indians of
the St. Joseph Potowattomies that had been here the day before they committed
this mischief.- Trading with the merchants, the
_________________________
1 First paragraph was copied by Dr. C. E. Carter and printed in Illinois Historical Collections, 11: 156; the second paragraph is from a copy in Oneida Historical Society, Utica, N. Y. The original was destroyed by fire. According to Johnson Calendar, p. 302, the rest of the letter dealt with "appointments of Indian commissaries, silver trinkets, 'colly flower', and turnip seeds."
2 Feb. 10, 1766, ante pp. 15-17.
3 Feb. 20, 1766, ante pp. 20-25.
4 Lieut. Col. John Campbell, of 17th regiment, at Detroit.
5 Meni Chesne, interpreter. (1, Campbell Letter, p. 29)
6 (1, Campbell Letter, p. 29) Printed in Illinois Historical Collections, 11:157-58, from Pontiac Miscellanies in Massachusetts Historical Society.
7 (2, Campbell Letter, p. 29) Johnson Papers, 11:906-08.
8 (3, Campbell Letter, p. 29) River Rouge.
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