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
(Fort Pitt, Feb. 20, 1770)
McKee, Alexander in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 7,
pp. 404-406.
ALEXANDER MC KEE TO GEORGE CROGHAN
A. L. S.
|
Fort Pitt February 20th 1770 |
SIR
On my arrival here found several Shawanese and Delaware Chiefs waiting with impatience, and you will see by the enclosed Copy of their Speeches to me the situation of their Minds, I understand several of their people have been Killed last Year which gives grounds to a great deal of their discontent particularly as no Step has been taken to Condole with them agreeable to their custom for their loss, another cause is the constant Practice of Stealing their Horses in return for those carried off by the Six Nation Indians from the white people, for I do not find that those Nations have been Guilty of any outrage or this pernicous Practice, which will undoubtedly at last draw on broils that must inevitable destroy the Friendship subsisting between them and us, let their inclination be ever so great for Peace-, which I do not find to be the case for I am informed there has been a Plan certainly on [foot] amongst them some Years past to strike the English which [it] seems is not yet ripe for execution otherwise they would not [so] tamely bear the injuries they so loudly complain of without a [ ] but the prospect of the blow falling more effectually when [ ] western Nations with the Southern Indians are brought into the League flatters their revenge, and to this [ ] I find they have had Deputies again all the last Year throug[hout the] Western Nations as well as amongst the Chickasaw's [and the] Cherokees to the Southward, the latter are returned with [an] account from the Cherokees that a Number of their Nation w[ill] be at the lower Shawanese Town in the Spring to Council, [ ] occasioned the Shawanese Chiefs to hurry home from this p[ost,] Messengers being sent for them, their other Deputies being also expected, and the Great Meeting which those Nations ha[ve] been labouring to bring about so long is certainly to take pl[ace] this Spring (page 405) when the Peace is to be finally settled between the Cherokees and all the Western Indians, as the Wabash Confed[eracy] who prevented its being finished last year are now reconcilled [to] the Shawanese and they are brought into it so that they are now [ ] full hopes that nothing can interrupt them in accomplish[ing ] designs, having had also three different Messages from the [ ] on the others side of the Mississipi to encourage them to [ ] the English and one this Winter promising them their [ ]
This information I have had from one of their [ ] who likewise tells me that after this General Peace [ ] amongst them and all their differences amicably [ ] other, their intention is then to proceed to this pl[ace ] a redress of such Greiviances as they have to [ ] and if they do not meet with a reparation that will be satisfactory to them they are then to pursue their own measures.-
The bussiness of those Chiefs who have been here last summer & Fall was to keep an Eye over the Conduct of the English and Six Nation Indians as well as to keep their own people Quiet as any rash proceeding from them might be detrimental to their general Scheme, and this it seems was their reason likewise for not joining the Six Nation Indians when called upon to strike tho' they have the Wampum delivered them on this occasion still in their Possession.- It is certain that notwithstanding this seeming Peacable disposition they are still laying up and have now a greater Quantity of Amunition than they ever had before. Some of them have acknowledged this to me saying it was their Duty to provide for themselves while they saw us repairing our Fort, this is a matter that gives them cause of Jealousy and is I understand to be one of their first requests to have it demolished.
There will be undoubtedly a very great number of Indians here the insuing Spring or Summer, and if measures are not fallen upon to remove their uneasiness probably may be attended with some [d]isagreeable consequences.- There is nothing else material come to my knowlege since my arrival should any occur (page 406) while I am here I shall not delay to inform you [ ] in the mean time I am Sir,
|
your most
obedient & very |
|
|
ALEXR. MCKEE |
|
[ ]
|
INDORSED: |
|
[ ] |
SPEECH OF RED HAWK1
D.
Ten Shawanese among whom ware three of the principal Chiefs of that Nation delivered the following Speeches- several Delawares being present. The Red Hawk Speaker.
Brother,
The Alarming accounts so frequently brought to our Towns from this Post, was
the cause of our coming here last Summer as the situation of things seemed to
threaten our Peace with the most dangerous Consequences and tho we did not give
Credit to all the bad News which we heard from you, thougt best to come and
speak with some of our Wise Brethren the English upon it, in order to Stop if
possible the public Breaches of our Friendship then carried on-, but we are
sorry to say that on our arrival found all we heard was true and worse than
even had been represented to us, for to our grief we have seen continuation of
the same bad practices carried on before our Eyes ever since without being able
to stop them. Brother the black Clouds are gethered so thick over us that we
have lived in darkness for some time past, but we hope soon to hear from [ou]r
greatest and Wisest Brethren amongst the English [ ]n we expect they
will aford all the Assistance in their [pow]er to disperse those dark Clouds
that the Sun may [shine] once more in Peace and amity upon us,
________________________
1 Inclosed in letter of Alexander McKee to George Croghan, February 20, 1770.
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