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 Gage
(Fort Chartres, June 23, 1768)
Forbes, Gordon in: William
L. Clements Library, Gage
Papers, American
Series, vol. 78.
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Fort Chartres Illinois 23d June 1768 |
Sir
Since I had the honour of writing to your Excellency of 15th April I have lost two Prisoners, a Soldier and his Wife who were taken from this place the 4th of May by a party of Potowatimies, I am afraid they have Killed the Soldier as he was a man of Sixty years of age and had lately met with a hurt by which he was rendered incapable of walking; I sent several Parties after them who found their tracks but cou'd not get up with them, but saw no marks of Violence. The Savages lurked about the Country for some time, but I was so much upon my Guard that they could not make another Stroke upon any of my People; I mounted an Officers Guard in the Village for a considerable time, and gave orders that no Soldier should go out of the Fort without his Arms: so that they soon saw it was to no purpose to make any further attempts; I hope your Excellency will not disapprove of my taking my revenge upon that Nation, should any of them come to this post.
Some days ago I received accounts from Post Vincent that there had Just arrived there two hundred Indians consisting of different Nations all of which are known to be badly inclined towards the English; they were then ignorant of their intentions, but I am in hopes they are going against the Cherokees.
Mr St Ange commands upon the Mississippi & receives orders both from the Spanish Governour and Mr Aubry in the name of their different Masters; Don Reu, a Captain in the Spanish Service, who has Commanded the Spanish Troops in this Country since their arrival at the Illinois, is appointed Governour and Commandant of the Missouri; those two Gentlemen are intirely Independant of each other, and expressly forbid to consult together on any public matters, by the last accounts from Orleans Eight hundred Spanish Troops were expected to arrive there from the Havana; I think it necessary to give your Excellency an account of these matters, as their conduct in this Country seems very extraordinary, for there is no knowing which of them are Masters.
The French on the Spanish side the Mississippi, are much disgusted with the Spanish Government, and am in hopes we will very soon have many of them become Brittish Subjects. The (page 2) Priest who went to the other side when this Country was taken possession of by the English, has been bannished by the Spaniards, is returned and become a Brittish Subject. The Jesuit who lived at Cahokias sold the Church Houses & Lands with the consent of the then Commandant after this Country was ceded to the English, to a certain Monsr Lagrange who is since dead, & his Effects will not pay his Creditors above ten Shillings to the pound. This was paid in Bills of Exchange payable in Old France, which Bills were protested and never paid, but Lagrange kept possession of the Houses and Lands a considerable time, but having lost a considerable Sum at Gaming to a Monsr Jautard made over to him this Church Houses and Lands; This Joutard has lately left this Country in a Clandestine manner to prevent his Creditors throwing him into Gaol. I have ordered his Effects to be seized and Sold for the advantage of his Creditors, and have taken possession of the Houses and Lands for the King, 'till such time as your Excellency's pleasure is known. This is the real State of the affair from the best Intelligence I could get from the People who were then, and are now present; This is the best and most commodious House in this Country, it is capable of itself to Quarter an Officer and Twenty men, and with very little Expences wou'd be made a sufficient Fortification against the Indians. This Jautard (who is a most infamous Villain), has left a Wife in this Country without a farthing to support her, should your Excellency be pleased to make her any allowance in lieu of the House and Lands, I shall acquaint her as soon as I have your orders on that head.
I beg leave to observe to your Excellency that I have not Lost a foot of ground opposite the Fort by the Mississippi since I began the defence of the Bank; it is indeed a difficult and fatiguing peice of Service, and I must do the Soldiers the Justice to observe to your Excellency that they have performed this peice of Service with the utmost Chearfulness, and alacrity; the wall is above three hundred paces Long, and in some places above twelve feet high, it has frequently sunk Six feet in less than twenty four hours, owing to its being a sandy bottom, which is washed away by the rapidity of the current, but it has now formed such a foundation by the immense quantity of Stakes, Stones and Fascines, thrown at the bottom (page 3) of the bank when the River was low, that I do not imagine it will give way any more for this Season and I am humbly of opinion that Fort Chartres may be saved for many years, shou'd what I have already begun be carried fully into execution by the Succeeding Commanding Officer whose arrival I expect to hear of very soon. I shall still continue extending and rasing the Wall during the Short while I shall have the honour of Commanding in this Country. I have been obliged to appoint an Officer to oversee these Works, and pay the Men employed, and taken upon me to make him the usual allowance.
There are three Matrosses belonging to the Royal Artillery at this Post who have received no pay for almost three years past, nor do I know how they are to be paid in this Country, so should be glad of your Excellency's orders upon that head.
I have given leave to one Mr. Rumsey Late a Lieutenant in the 42d Regiment (who has the honour of being known to your Excellency) to settle upon a Spot of Ground near Kasakaskies; it has been forfeited to the King ever Since we have been in possession of this Country.
I must beg leave to acquaint your Excellency that Mr. Clarkson the bearer of this is capable of giving you a more Just account of this Country than any person that has ever been in it, particularly with regard to the Trade with the Savages, as he has been concerned in that way these two years past and is capable of making very Judicious and Sensible remarks, and is a very honest Industrious Subject, and you may be assured Sir that he will not give your Excellency any Information but what are real facts.
I expect to hear of the Relief some time this Month and I shall have every thing settled so as to be ready to leave this in a few days after their arrival, agreeable to any orders your Excellency may be pleas'd to send me. I have the honour to enclose you a State of the Division under my Command, by which your Excellency will see that the Troops are very healthy, and nothing shall be wanting on may part, that can prove conducive to the health and welfare of the Soldiers; (page 4) but Should this Summer prove as Sickly as the Two last, we shall be badly off for medicines, as there is not sufficient in the Garrison for two weeks.
Since writing the above I have been informed by a Man from St. Joseph that the two Prisoners arrived there some time ago.
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I have the honour to be |
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with the greatest respect |
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Your Excellency's |
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most obedient and |
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Gordon Forbes Captn 34 |
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