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.
Report of Chaperon
(May, 1750)
In: "Reports to Raymond," Archives
Nationales,
Ministere des Colonies, C11A 95:391 and in
Illinois Historical Collections,
French Series, vol. III,
pp. 194-197.
Report of the said Chaperon
There are thirty English at Great Miami River who have more than eighty thousand livres in goods. The English showed him the place where this summer they are to build two forts, one on each side of La Demoiselle's, as well as all the tools to build them with. They told him that the Wea and Piankashaw were to settle with them this year. They have brought a blacksmith who has his forge set up. In the two days he remained at Great Miami River, there came four Shawnee who have given two large wampum belts to La Demoiselle in the council they held at his house with the English. He could not learn what was said. One of the Shawnee chiefs told him that they would spurn the French beneath their feet. They were five villages on the Ohio River which were but as one with that of La Demoiselle and the Nan- (page 195) ticoke. The latter were also for them; they would eat the French and destroy their fort at the Miamis post. An Englishman who was present at this conversation said to them and to La Demoiselle's Miamis, "I do not wish you to do him harm; if there were only a hundred French like him, I would fight them along with you." Had it not been for the son and son-in-law of Bourbonnais he would have risked having his scalp taken, when an Englishman said, "My blood has been shed, and it still flows." He added, "Since he is but one Frenchman, he must be suffered to depart."
The son and son-in-law of Bourbonnais, who were with Chaperon, have further reported to Le Pied Froid, their chief, as follows:
The English, the Shawnee, and La Demoiselle bade him be at Great Miami River to hear the council that they were going to hold. It would be to prepare a sudden stroke against the French. He would have cause to be satisfied at going to hear their words. If eight English who were bringing up three pirogues and were (page 196) missing did not turn up, they would send several parties to attack the Potawatomi.
The Wea had given their word to the English and to La Demoiselle that immediately on the return of a party of their young men who had gone to Oswego, they would proceed to cut off the French. The people at Great Miami River publicly said that it was the English who had sent La Tortue to all the posts above this to carry their wampum belts in order to raise all the tribes and bring them to Great Miami River to strike the French in case they French marched against them that year. They also said that only the Kickapoo had rejected the message of La Demoiselle and the English which La Tortue had brought them. All the Indians of the English party boasted and spread it everywhere that before a year had passed the English would be at the Forks as they are now at Great Miami River, and that the Indians would sustain them there.
The Forks is on the Wabash River fifteen leagues from this post. It is the only way to go to Ouiatanon and to the Mississippi (page 197) from Montreal if you go by this post. This would close against us that river and the communication from this post to Ouiatanon and beyond.
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