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.
Zeisberger to
the Commissioners
at Fort Pitt
(Coochocking, Aug. 25, 1778)
Zeisberger, David in: Kellogg, Frontier
Retreat on the Upper Ohio, in Col.
George Morgan's Letter Book,
Book 3 of 3, and inWisconsin
Hist. Colls., vol. 23,
pp. 132-133.
________________
[David Zeisberger to the Commissioners at Fort Pitt. Morgan Letter Book III. Transcript.]
|
COOCHOCKING August 25th 1778. |
To the Honble Commissioners for Indian Affairs,
HONOUR'D SIRS: Your Letter of the 18th inst. you have been pleased to favour me with I received by your Messengers, they could not have hit a better time to come here, there being no Warriors on that Road now to our knowledge. I am much obliged for the important News you communicated to me in your Letter as well as by the News papers you sent me, which contain rejoicing News all in our favour.- Your Speech & likewise that of Genl McIntosh & Colo Morgan I read & explained to the Chiefs in Council, & acquainted them of the most material News contained in the Papers to their great satisfaction- but when I look'd over all the Papers I found not in them what I was most desirous to see & to hear vizt that an Army was to come out, which at first disheartened me a little while till I heard it privately of the Messengers that it would be done which I wish it might be true.- For it is my opinion that there will be no Peace & the Nations will not be quiet until they are subdued & Detroit is taken, and I think this will be the opinion of all who are acquainted with the affairs. The Wiondots over the Lake sue for Peace now as you will see by their Speech sent to you by the last Messengers of which Cap White Eyes will give you more intelligence when he cometh, but it is not in their power to make Peace or to be quiet whilst Detroit remaineth in the hands of the English.- It is not above a fortnight that the Delawares have been threatened if they should not join the other Nations & take the Tomhawk they would (page 133) either be forced to it or be destroyed.- The Munsies who are the worst of them all have taken the Tomhawk, which neither has been offer'd to them nor have they been forced to take it for they went to Detroit on purpose & fetch'd it that they might go to War- this was the reason they seperated themselves from the Delawares last year & moved about 30 miles higher up towards the Wiandots where they live now- but having heard by some Prisoners which they lately have taken that an Army was to march soon into the Indian Country they begin to fear & think about their safety.- The Munsies have always shewn themselves & are yet Enemies to the white people, they ought therefore to be broken & no Chief of their own left them, cast out of the Council & to be deliver'd to the Delawares to be ruled by them, because they are not fit to be ruled by themselves.
At the last Treaty at Detroit all the Nations had joined in the War & the Delawares was left alone who would not join them.- Now since we had a report of an Army from the Mississippi- marching to Detroit it made a stop in their progress, but should this prove not to be true & no Army was to come out, then certainly they would begin the War again with more Courage than ever before- of this Capt White Eyes & the Delaware Head men are sensible that this is the only assistance you can afford them in sending an Army to Detroit & if that should not be done they would be in a miserable and dangerous situation.
By the disposition of the Enemy Indians in general it is supposed if an Army comes out, that they will not offer to give them battle, they will fly & hide themselves where ever they can & sue for Peace.
Capts White Eyes & Killbuck desired me to remember their Compliments & to inform you that they have been very glad to hear from you, that all what they heard is very agreable to them, that they would call their people together & in four days from this date set of from hence to the Fort where they intend to be the 2d of next Month.
The inclosed I send to your's & Colo Morgan's further consideration & am Sirs, Your most obedt & huml servt
|
D: ZISEBERGER. |
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