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.
A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America
Hennepin, Father Louis, In Two Volumes, pp. 337-342.
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A great Defeat of the Illinois, that were attack'd and surpriz'd by the Iroquese.
While I was resting, after my great labours, the Lord Frontenac did receive Letters from Father Zenobe Membre, whom I left among the Illinois. He sent him word that the Iroquese had drawn the Miamis into their Party; and that being join'd together, they had form'd a great Amy, and were fall'n on a sudden upon the Illinois, to destroy that Nation; and that they were got together, to the number of Nine hundred, all Fusiliers, these two Nations being well provided with Guns, and all Sort of Ammunitions of War, by the Commerce they have with the Europeans.
The Iroquese were projecting this Enterprize about the 12th of September, 1680, while I was about the Discovery of the River Meschasipi. The Illinois did not mistrust them; for they had concluded a Treaty of Peace with these two Nations; and M. la Salle had assur'd them, that he would do his utmost Endeavours to oblige them to observe the Treaty; therefore the Illinois were easily surpriz'd, having sent most part of their Youth to make War in another Country.
A Chaouanon, Confederate to the Illinois, returning from their Country home, came back again, to give them notice (page 338) that he had discover'd an Army of Iroquese and Miamis, who were already enter'd into their Country on purpose to surprize them.
The News frighted the Illinois; yet the next Day they appear'd in the Field, and march'd directly to the Enemy; and as soon as they were in sight, they charg'd them. The Fight was very Sharp, [232] and a great many Men were kill'd on both sides.
M. Tonti whom M. la Salle had left in the Fort of Crevecoeur, to command there in his Absence, hearing of this Interruption, was in fear for the Illinois's sake; for though their Army was more numberous than that of their Enemy, yet they had no Guns; therefore he offer'd himself to go Askenon, that is Mediator, carrying the Calumet of Peace in his hand, in order to bring them to an Agreement.
The Iroquese finding more resistance than they thought at first, and seeing that the Illinois were resolv'd to continue the War, consented to a Treaty of Peace, accepting Mr. Tonti's Mediation, and hearken'd to the proposals he made them from the Illinois, who had chosen him for Mediator.
M. Tonti represented to them, that the Illinois were Onontio's ('tis the Name they give to the Veceroy of Canada) Children and Confederates as well as themselves; and that it would be very unpleasant to him, who lov'd them all, to hear that they had begun the War; therefore he earnestly intreated them to return home, and trouble the Illinois no further, seeing they had religiously observ'd the Treaty of Peace.
These Proposals did not please some of the young Iroquese, who had a great mind to fight, and therefore charg'd on a sudden M. Tonti and his Men with several Shots; and a desperate young Fellow of the Country of Onnontaghe, gave him, a Wound with a Knife, near the Heart; but by chance a Rib warded off the Stroke. Several others did fall upon him, and wou'd take him away; but one taking notice of his Hat, and that his Ears were not bor'd, knew thereby that he was not an Illinois, and for that reason an old Man cry'd out, That they shou'd [23] spare him; and flung to him a Collar of Porcelain, meaning thereby to make him Satisfaction for the Blood he had lost, and the Wound he had receiv'd.
A young Man of the Iroquese's Crew, took M. Tonti's Hat, and hung it on his Gun to fright the Illinois herewith; who thinking by that Signal that Tonti, Father Zenobe, and all the Europeans that were in his Company, had been kill'd by the Iroquese, were so much surpriz'd and disquieted with that horrid Attempt, that they fanci'd themselves deliver'd up into the Hands of their Enemies, and were upon running away: Yet the Iroquese having made a Signal to Father Zenobe to draw near, that they might confer with him about the means to prevent both Armies to come to fight, they receiv'd the Calumet of Peace, and made a Motion as if they had a mind to withdraw: But the Illinois were hardly come to their Village, before they saw the Iroquese's Army appearing upon some Hilles, which were over-against them.
This Motion oblig'd Father Zenobe, at the Illinois's Re- (page 340) quest, to go to them to know the reason of a Proceeding so contrary to what they had done in accepting of the Calumet of Peace. But that Embassy did not please those Barbarians, who wou'd not lose so fair an Opportunity. Father Zenobe did run the hazard of being murther'd by these unmerciful Men; yet the same God who had preserv'd many of our Fellow-Missionaries in the like Encounters, and my self in this Discovery, kept him from the Hand of these furious Men. He was a Man of a short Stature, but very couragious, and went boldly among the Iroquese, who receiv'd him very civilly.
They told him, that the Want they were reduc'd to, had forc'd them to this new Step, having no Provisions for their Army, and their great Number having driven away the Wild-Bulls from that Country. [234] Father Zenobe brought their Answer to the Illinois, who pressently sent them some Indian corn, and all things necessary for their Subsistence, and propos'd to them a Treaty of Commerce, having in that Country a great plenty of Beaver's Skins and other Furrs.
The Iroquese accepted of these Proposals; they did exchange Hostages, and Father Zenobe went into their Camp, and did lie there, to lose no time to bring all Matters to an Agreement, and conclude a Treaty between them. But the Iroquese repairing in great Numbers into the Quarters of the Illinois, who suspected no ill Design, they advanc'd as far as their Village, where they wasted the Mausolaeums that they us'd to raise to their Dead, which are commonly seven or eight Foot high: They spoil'd the Indian Corn that was sown: (page 341) and having deceiv'd the Illinois, under a false pretence of Peace, fortifi'd themselves in their Village.
In this Confusion the Iroquese join'd with the Miamis, carri'd away eight hundred Illinois Women and Children; and their Fury went so far, that these Antropophages did eat some Old Men of that Nation, and burnt some others who were not able to follow them, and so return'd with the Slaves they had made, to their own habitations, which were four hundred Leagues off the Country they had so cruelly plunder'd.
Upon the first News of the Approach of the Iroquese, the Illinois had sent most part of their Families to the other side of a little Hill, to secure them from their Fury, and that they might get over the River Mescahsipi; and the others that were fit for War, did flock together on the Tops of the Hills that were near their Habitations, and then went to the other side of the River, to look after their Families, and provide for their Subsistence.
[235] After this perfidious Expedition, these Barbarians wou'd fain alledge some Pretences to excuse their Treachery, and wou'd persuade our Fathers to retire from the Illinois's Country, since they were all fled away; and that there was no likelihood they shou'd want them for the future to teach them their Prayers, as the Atsientatsi, or the Black-Gowns do in their Countries, meaning the Jesuits whom they call by that Name. They told Fathers Gabriel and Zenobe, that they should do better to return into Canada, and that they would attempt nothing against the Life of the Children of Onontio, (page 342) Governor of Canada desiring to have a Letter under their Hand, to shew it as a Testimony of their honest proceeding in this occasion, and assuring them that they would no more stand by their Enemies.
Our two Fathers being so forsaken by their
Hosts, and finding themselves expos'd to the Fury of a Cruel and Vicorious
Enemy, resolv'd to return home, according to the Iroquese Advice; and
being suppli'd by them with a Canow, they embark'd for Canada.(see fn. 1)
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1 This action was taken by mutual consent of not only the two priests, but of Tonty and the three other Frenchmen who accompanied him; see Membre's account (Shea's translation of Le Clerq, ii, p. 145).- Ed.
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