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.
Beauharnois to the Minister
(October 9, 1735)
Beauharnois in: Wisconsin
Historical
Collections, XVII, pp. 216-221.
MONSEIGNEUR- I have received the letter that you did me the honor of writing to me on the 19th of April last. I had the honor of informing you by my despatch of the 17th of June last (which I sent via l'Isle Royalle), of what had happened during the Sieur de Noyelle's Campaign, and of the conduct of the hurons and Poutouatamis of Detroit. I Append hereto a detailed journal sent me by that Officer [Sieur de Noyelle] in which you will see, Monseigneur, that the slight success obtained by this expedition (which was entirely due to the manoeuvres of the Savages) is confined to the promise given by the Sakis to the Sieur de Noyelle to separate from the Renards and to return to la Baye, in accordance with the word that I sent them to forget the unfortunate affair that had occurred there. This, Monseigneur, was the most suitable step that the Sieur de Noyelle could take in the situation in which his party found itself when it reached the Renards. Had this affair been carried out as it had been planned, there is no doubt that they would have suc- (page 217) ceeded in totally destroying them. The success of the measures I had taken for inflicting the punishment they deserve seemed certain but, in addition to the fact that the Savages of the party completely refused to obey, the Outawacs of Missilimakinac- who were to Join the Sieur de Noyelle under the command of the convoy of Thirty Nipissingues and Algonkins to Join the French and Outawacs, and who had, moreover, come expressly to ask me to avenge the blow struck by the Sakis and Renards at la Baye- completely changed their minds when they returned home, and told the Sieur de Celoron that they did not wish to war against the Sakis, whom they looked upon as their brothers; that their thoughts were not as They had told me; and finally that they were of opinion that the Sakis should be granted their lives on condition that they would induce the Renards to come and place themselves at the mercy of their Father as They had promised Him; that they begged him to forgive the Sakis; that for Their part they wished to Live in peace and to hunt for the subsistence of their wives and Children. This Unexpected change in the Savages, and the conduct of Those who went with the Sieur de Noyelle proves how little reliance can be placed on minds so variable and so wanting in docility.
The ardor they displayed at first and the particular interest that the Outawacs took in the affair of la Baye, were motives that seemed powerful enough to prevent any change taking place in these savages; but I have found by experience that it is difficult to bring any matter to a conclusion when the bands of Savages are superior in number to the French. This Drawback, Monseigneur, and the Insubordination of the Savages of the party that followed the Sieur de Noyelle against the Renards, compelled that officer to have recourse to conciliatory means with the Sakis, as he was not strong enough to subdue them, and he had no Provisions. Nevertheless his attitude after compelling the Sakis and Renards to retire into their fort, and the words that he said to the former on my behalf respecting the pardon that I granted them on condition that they separated (page 218) from the Renards, did not betray the evil plight in which He was, nor that his forces were Inferior to Theirs. The Sakis, after firing some shots asked for a suspension of hostilities, and received with much satisfaction the word that I sent them that I was willing to forgive them provided they separated from the Renards and returned to la Baye. They replied that they could not start at once owing to their wounded, but they promised to proceed to the Place indicated to them by their Father as soon as they could separate from the Renards, who, on the other hand, threatened to eat up their women and Children if they left the fort. The last news is to the effect that a party of 400 Missouris and Kanses, had attacked the Sakis and Renards, after the Sieur de Noyelle's withdrawal, but that when the latter left the fort in which They were, the former pursue Them into The prairies where they did not venture to attack them, and they returned without doing anything. It is also stated that the Sakis had taken advantage of their defeat by the Missouris to separate from the Renards; that Thirty had withdrawn to the River St Joseph, and the remainder to their former Village at la Baye. This news was brought me by five of our settled hurons who, after the Sieur de Noyelle's retreat, went among the Chicachas from whom They took two Scalps as well as one from a Renard. It is true that this news may require confirmation as it comes form Savages who often disseminate false reports, but the Interest that the Sakis have in separating from a nation harassed by all the others in general, and Against whom the hatchet of all the Savages is lifted, will not make them hesitate, I think, to accept the proposal made to them on my behalf by the Sieur de Noyelle, which they appeared to receive with much satisfaction. As to the Renards it is not know (page 219) what decision They have taken nor the place they have selected for their retreat. It is certain that they can find no asylum among any nation either in the Mississipi country or in this. The Ayowais to whom They looked for help have taken a scalp from them. Thus There is reason to presume that when left to the mercy of all the Savages, this nation will be completely exterminated without its being necessary to incur any other expense than that occasioned by the Parties sent against those Savages, which were absolutely needed to make the French name respected among the savages. Though the expedition of the Sieur de Noyelle has not succeeded for the reasons that I have had the honor of explaining to you, his brilliant action has produced a very good effect on the minds of the savages who admit that the courage of the French is able to overcome every obstacle, and that they would seek the enemy at the extremity of the world. Moreover if the Sakis have separated from the Renards and are at la Baye and the River St Joseph, as we have Reason to believe, this is what the Sieur de Noyelle had orders to carry out, and it is in accordance with what you did me the honor of writing to me to employ conciliatory means if possible to induce them to leave the Renards. Had he been compelled to use force, it would have been all the more dangerous that there seems to be no reason to doubt that the alliance of the Sakis with the majority of the savages of the Upper Country would have kindled a war that would have been difficult to stop, and that would have greatly disturbed trade at the posts, and have caused great injury to the Colony.
Such, Monseigneur, is all the information that I can give you respecting the Sieur de Noyelle's expedition. I hope next year to be in a position to tell you of the various attacks that will be made against the remnant of the Renards both by the nations of the Mississipi and by the Savages of this Country. I have urged them all to do so and They seem disposed to exterminate the race. I shall take care to reward the Chiefs of the bands that may go there by honorable presents which, nevertheless, will not be costly, But whose value I shall cause to be appreciated, and which will stimulate the ardor and emulation (page 220) of all. This, Monseigneur, is at present the only means to be adopted to utterly destroy this nation which, from all appearances, is now wandering about and cannot cause much trouble to the posts of the upper Country owing to its dread of all the other nations.
I have observed, Monseigneur, what His Majesty is pleased to write me in the King's memorial with regard to the Chicachas. I have received no letter this year from Monsieur de Bienville, but Monsieur Dartaguiette has written me that the Pianguichias have brought in ten slaves of that nation, two men's Scalps and one of a woman; that the Chactas had taken 295 men's scalps without counting the Slaves; and that several nations had gone to attack Them. He adds that the Natchez have separated from them, for Fear that they might surrender them to the French to secure peace; that one half had gone to Carolina and The other to Louischitas. His Majesty may rest assured that I shall, as far as may be in My power, urge the nations of this country to harass the Chicachas, and to unite with those of the Mississipi. I have had the honor of informing you, Monseigneur, in one of my despatches that forty or fifty of our Settled Iroquois had gone thither. The Hurons who abandoned the Sieur De Noyelles and who set out to Join him when they recognized their error, were also to go and attack that nation. The Miamis and the Ouyatanons have also raised some bands, And as the destruction of the remnant of the Renards will not be the sole object of the savages, especially if the news of the Sakis' Return be true, I shall continue to incite the Savages to create a diversion and to attack both the Chicachas and the (page 221) Renards. Moreover the small number that remains of the latter cannot occupy the attention of all of them for very long.
The Poutewatamis have avenged the blow struck at Them by the Outawacs of Saginau. They had met five of Them, but They sent back the two others whom They told to say to their Nation that they were avenged as they had returned blow for blow. The Outawacs sent me a word to beg me to restore peace between them and to say that they would abide by what I told them. I therefore gave orders to the commandants of those place to completely quiet the matter. I do not think that it will have any other Consequences, for these two Nations seem to be mutually satisfied, and moreover that is the way in which the Savages put an end to their disputes.
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