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.
Deschaillons to Beauharnois
(August 22, 1730)
Deschaillons, Commandant at Detroit, in:
Wisconsin Historical Collections,
XVII, pp. 100-102.
1730: FRENCH AND INDIANS GATHER TO ATTACK THE FOXES
[Letter of commandant at Detroit (Deschaillons) to Beauharnois, dated Aug. 22, 1730. MS. in archives of Ministre des Colonies, Paris; press-mark, "Canada, Corresp. gn., vol. 53, c. 11, fol. 207-214."]
MONSIEUR- I have the honor to inform You that a Savage has just arrived from
the river St. Joseph who reports that two days previous to His departure two
Mascoutin couriers had arrived in haste to ask Monsieur devilliers for
Assistance and for powder; that they had taken only two days to come from their
country. Such is the news told me by the Savage who has arrived here that the
mascoutin couriers had given at the river St. joseph, Namely, Monsieur, that
the renards were fighting with the illinois, between le rocher1
and ouiatanon. When the poux,2 mascoutins, and
quiquapoux Learned this, they marched thither, and while they advanced by slow
stages because they had with Them a wounded man whom they were obliged to
carry, A couple of young men pushed ahead; but, after marching a short
distance, those two young men saw in a plain the renards fighting against the
ilinois; they at once came back to warn the main body of Their troops, who fell
Upon the renards. Consequently the renards found themselves by this attack
hemmed in by the ilinois on one side and on the (page 101)
other by the poux, Quiquapoux, and mascoutins. But hardly Had the last
mentioned tribes attacked the renards, trusting that the ilinois would keep
them in check on the other side, when, on the contrary, the ilinois took to
flight. In this first attack Seven poux were wounded, one of whom has since
died; two quiquapoux of the river St. Joseph who Had Settled among the Sasquis
[Sauk], were also killed. This will have a very good Effect because the Sasquis
Are said to be excited against the renards which was far from being the case
before. Several renards were wounded also, and some are even believed to have
been killed. The renards cried out to the quiquapoux And to the Mascoutins that
they would make their Supper off them, but mandich, the great chief of The poux
replied to them that it was they who would Serve as food for all the tribes.
The renards cried out some Time afterward that they were not far from the
ouiatanons, but that they Would be dead before reaching there, because they had
just observed the approach of men on horseback. It is believed that these are
Monsieur de Vincenne with His people. The French of cahosquia also told the
Ilinois not to go To war because they Knew not how to fight And because they
Were women; but that they were Going to start with their negroes to Help their
people who were attacked And to defeat the renards. They Are already a party of
considerable numbers, for the Ilinois who had fled Have come back and Have
joined the poux, quiquapoux, and Mascoutins. They have all dug pits in the
ground wherein to shelter Themselves, and the renards Are on a wooded Islet;
but If they remain on it there is every appearance that they may be defeated
for the Savage who has arrived from river St. Joseph says that Monsieur de
villiers is to start with all his people, who this time appear to be fairly
Willing. He adds also that Monsieur de Villiers has done me the honor of
writing to me to ask for the Aid of Our Savages; but those letters have not yet
arrived, and until they come our Savages will not start for they are a little
Suspicious of the news. Father Richardy told me however that he had received
yesterday Evening a letter from father (page 102)
Messager,3 the Missionary at the river St
Joseph, giving him the same news that The Savage has brought me with the
exception of a few details. This leads us to believe that the thing Is true.
The poux here seem very determined to go, and so are a party of otawas; but
only a few of the hurons, because eighty remained of the party who marched in
the Spring. Nevertheless five of them arrived eight days ago who brought a
scalp from the Chicachias;4 but it is hoped that
the others may rejoin the army because they are supposed to be now near the
ouiatanons According to the route by which they said they would Come. It Would
be a good And sure Reinforcement. The renards have also Said that they expected
shortly a strong party of Iroquois, who were coming to join them to facilitate
the passage to enable them to Withdraw into the Iroquois country. They have
perhaps said this to Frighten the other tribes, but it is very Certain,
Monsieur, that the iroquois Are great scoundrels, and that they daily Scatter
collars among all the tribes who Are Stirred up by the English and who Are very
much opposed to us. If our people start I find myself obliged to give them
powder and ball as they have already given me to Understand; but I shall do so
with all the discretion in my power. If the news turns out true, and should any
fight of any consequence occur, I shall take the liberty of sending a special
messenger to give you news of it, for I think that this is the last courier who
will leave from here this year.
_________________________
1 For location of this Illinois landmark, see Wis. Hist. Colls., xvi, pp. 100, 373. Also Parkman, La Salle (Boston, 1879), p. 156- ED.
2 The Potawatomi.- ED.
3 (1, p. 102) Armand de la Richardie, Jesuit missionary to the Huron at Detroit, was born in 1686, came to Canada in 1725, and in 1728 was assigned to the Huron mission, where he remained until about 1753. He died at Quebec in 1758. For sketch of Father Mesaiger (Messager), see Wis. Hist. Colls., xvi, p. 446.- ED.
4 (2, p. 102) The Chickasaw, a Southern tribe, whose villages were in what is now Tennessee and northern Mississippi and Alabama; they were hostile to the French and to the French Indians.- ED.
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