|
1702] |
FRENCH REGIME IN WISCONSIN. |
211 |
1702: MIAMIS INTRIGUE WITH ENGLISH TRADERS.
[Letter of Father Jean Mermet1 to Cadillac. From Margry's Découv. et établ., v., pp. 219-21.]
|
AT RIVIERE ST. JOSEPH, April 19, 1702. |
MONSIEUR - Although I have not the honor of being known to you, I nevertheless write to you about an important matter regarding the welfare of both the Colony and Religion; and thereby you will see, Monsieur, that the Jesuits are better friends of yours than you think, unless you yourself will not honor them with your kind remembrance, and, if I may venture to say, with your friendship.
Five of our Miamis are going to the English to obtain some goods which they will bring here this summer. Never have we seen them so eager for hunting Beaver as since they have received fine collars brought on behalf of the English by the Iroquois who have come here. This is for the purpose of obtaining from our Miamis permission to establish freely a post 3 days' journey from here, near a river which is the source of the Ouabache, where there is only a portage of half a league to be crossed to reach this river, and a similar one to reach another river which flows to the Detroit. From that place the English might go and bring in all the Savages of our lakes from all sides.2
At this last River [Maumee], which flows to
the Detroit, Quarante-sous3 (who will not fail to inveigh against
Father de Carheil, and who is the soul of all the intrigues of our Miamis) is
to establish himself, 20 or 30 leagues from Detroit, and he has also given very
considerable presents in token of the alliance
____________
1Jean Mermet, coming to Canada in 1698, was sent to aid Aveneau in the Miami mission where he spent some three years. In 1702, he went with Juchereau to his new post at the mouth of the Ohio; after that officer's death (1704), Mermet went to Kaskaskia, and passed the rest of his life in the Illinois mission, where he died Sept. 15,1716. - ED.
2The place thus designated must have been in the southern part of Noble county, Ind. - a district whence flow streams tributary to the St. Joseph, Maumee, and Wabash rivers. - ED.
3A marginal note by Cadillac, written on this document, claims that Mermet confounds the identity of the Huron chief here mentioned with that of another chief bearing the same French nickname. - ED.
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WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
four of them into the redoubt, I had just constructed. I placed some of them at
the two curtains, which were most exposed, and armed them with spears. My two
cannon were all ready with slugs of iron prepared to load them, which had been
made by the blacksmith. Our Rev. Father held himself ready to give a general
absolution in case of necessity, and to assist the wounded, if there should be
any. He communicated also the Sacred Host.
Every arrangement being made, and while we were waiting with impatience, I was informed that there were many people in sight. I immediately ascended a bastion, and casting my eyes toward the woods, I saw the army of the nations of the south issuing from it. They were the Illinois, the Missouris, the Osages and other nations yet more remote. There were also with them, the Ottawa Chief, Saguina, and also the Potawatamies, the Sacs, and some Menomenies. Detroit never saw such a collection of people. It is surprising how much all these nations are irritated against the Mascoutins and the Ottagamies. This army marched in good order, with as many flags, as there were different nations, and it proceeded directly to the 'Fort of the Hurons. These Indians said to the head chief of the army, "You must not encamp. Affairs are too pressing. We must enter immediately into our Father's Fort, and fight for him. As he has always had pity on us, and as he has loved us, we ought to die for him. And don't you see that smoke also. They are these women of your village, Saguina, who are burning there, and your wife is among them." Not another word was necessary. There arose a great cry, and, at the same time, they all began to run, having the Hurons and the Ottawas at their head. The Ottagamies and the Mascoutins raised also their war cry, and about forty of them issued from their fort, all naked, and well armed, running to meet our Indians, and to brave them in order to make them believe they were not afraid. They were obliged, however, to retreat immediately, and to return to their village. Our Indians requested permission to enter our fort, which I granted, seeing they were much excited. It was my design they should encamp near the woods, that they might not be troublesome to us. All the Indian chiefs assem-
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WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
time great advantages for this colony on account of the abundance of furs that
will be brought hither, which will allow the dealers who buy them to return to
France, and consequently to bring to us a still larger quantity of merchandise.
It is so important to make war with the Renards promptly, and to transport
merchandise into the upper country, so as to prevent the savages from resorting
to the English that Messieurs Vaudreuil and Begon beg you, Monseigneur, to
deign to make known the intentions of his Majesty regarding the matter by the
first fishing-vessels leaving France for Plaisance1 or for Cape
breton; and, meantime, should your orders not be promptly enough received, they
beg you to approve the execution of their design. M. de Ramezay2 can
explain to you, Monseigneur, the importance of this affair.
_________
[Part of a letter from Claude de Ramezay to the Minister; dated Sept. 18, 1714.3 Source, same as that of preceding document, but fol. 354.]
The Marquis de Vaudreuil and Monsieur begon,
after having attentively examined the situation of the outoua savages, have
considered it indispensable to make war on the Reynars, who still Continue to
make incursions among the other outoua nations. Last winter they destroyed
several cabins at the illinois, and killed several hurons at detroit; so that
all the nations of the lakes and the inland tribes are purposing to destroy
them. They had assembled, last year, to the number of 800;
__________
lThe French name for Placentia, in Newfoundland. Cf. also, p. 240, note, ante. - ED.
2Claude de Ramezay was a French officer (of Scottish descent) who came to Canada about 1685. His military ability gained him rapid promotion, until he became (1699) commander of the royal troops in the colony, and (1703) governor of Montreal - holding the latter post until his death, Aug. 1, 1724. Ramezay was also acting governor of Canada during 1714-16, while Vaudreuil was absent in France. For sketch of his life, see Revue de Montreal, 1878, pp. 381-389. - ED.
3The copy of this document from which our translation is made, is dated 1711; but internal evidence shows that it must have been written in 1714. - ED.
|
1714] |
FRENCH REGIME IN WISCONSIN. |
303 |
hundred men against the reynards, whose irreconcilable Foes they are, which has
led Monsieur the Marquis de Vaudreuil and Monsieur Begon to adopt the most
suitable Expedients for gaining success.
Sieurs de bourmon, bisaillon, and bourdon are still more Criminal, in the design which they have conceived of introducing the English of carolina to the illinois, which I have learned by the Letters of the Reverend Father deville (Jesuit missionary among the savages of that nation) and by a letter of Sieur deliette, who commands there; they both write that these Frenchmen live reprobate lives. As it is almost impossible to seize these men in so distant a country, Monsieur the Marquis de Vaudreuil hopes, Monseigneur, that you will be pleased to obtain orders from his Majesty to lay hands on them, whenever a favorable occasion offers, as being guilty of lese-majesté.
If we let them carry out their projects, it is to be Feared that they may draw away from the Illinois a part of the other Outoua nations into the interests of the English of Carolina, for both commerce and war. Judge from that, Monseigneur, of the condition to which this colony would be reduced; since we and these nations when united have difficulty in maintaining ourselves during war, judge in what manner they would act if war were declared, when they are aided by their former Enemies.
__________
1714: PLANS FOR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE FOXES.
[Part of a letter from Vaudreuil and Bégon to the French Minister; dated Sept. 20, 1714. Source, same as that of preceding document, but fol. 288 (228?).]
Sieurs de Vaudreuil and Begon have Conferred with Sieurs de Ramezay, de Louvigny, de la forest and Daigremont regarding the plan to be followed for ending the war with the Renards. They consider that the first move to be made in this matter is to take measures for arranging a peace between the miamis and the Islinois, because those two Nations are numer-
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WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
ous and have always been Enemies of the Renards - against whom they do not,
however, make war, being restrained by their mutual fear, since they are only
three or four days distant from each other. For this reason we cannot induce
them to send detachments against the Renards until they have been united by a
reliable peace; and to bring this about we have agreed to send them presents
this very autumn, which will be addressed to Sieur Desliettes for the Islinois,
and to Sieur de Vincennes for the oyatanon miamis. And, as those two nations
seem to desire peace, it is believed that it will not be difficult for Sieurs
Desliettes and de vincennes to reëstablsh a friendly understanding between
them. The presents for the miamis will be sent to detroit to Sieur de La
forest, who will deliver them to Sieur de vincennes without expense; and the
presents for the Islinois will be sent to Michilimakina to Sieur de Lignery,
who in like manner will deliver them to Sieur Desliettes.
Sieur de Vaudreuil is now sending to Michilimakina Sieur de St. Pierre de Repentigny,l a Lieutenant, to carry thither the presents intended for the Islinois, and he will give orders to Sieur de Lignery to persuade the savages of Michilimakina, as well as those of Lake Superior and Lake huron, to make war in every possible way against the Renards, early in the spring, as soon as Sieur de Louvigny shall arrive.
Sieur de Vaudreuil is also despatching Sieur Dupuy to carry to detroit the presents intended for the miamis, and to ascertain the quantity of provisions that will be necessary for Executing the plan. Those two officers will serve for this Expedition.
The season being too far advanced for Sieur
de Louvigny to be able to go up to Michilimaquina this year, with the
detachment of twenty men who are to form the garrison, they will set out early
in spring with powder, Bullets, and Merchandise, both for making presents to
the Savages and for securing peace or war, as may seem to the purpose.
__________
1Reference is here made probably to Jean Paul le Gardeur de St. Pierre, born 1661, a grand-nephew of Jean Nicolet. Le Gardeur was long actively engaged in Indian and Northwestern affairs; the date of his death is not known. - ED.
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WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. |
[vol. xvi |
jesuit, had been cut off by a party of Renards near chicagou, did not prove to
be true. But Captain Dubuisson (who has returned from Detroit, since Sieur de
Sabrevois went up there) has reported to us that in the month of June last, a
French boat, in which there were five men, carrying corn to Michilimakinak, was
Surprised by a boat of 22 Renards, who killed these Frenchmen. The latter
defended themselves bravely, killing three Renards and wounding several others.
This makes us judge that they still persist in their Insolence, and that the
authority of the King and the honor of the French Nation can only be
reëstablished in the upper country after we have aroused ourselves to make war
against the Renards, and have struck some blows that will oblige them to sue
for peace.
According to the plan formed with Monsieur the marquis de vaudreuil for this war, Explained in the joint letter of Sept. 20 of last year, Monsieur de Louvigny was to go up to Michilimakina, to end this affair by making war or peace, in accordance with the exigencies of the case; but he became ill last winter, and was for that reason absolutely unable to make this expedition. This has made us resolve, Monseigneur, to charge with the execution of this project Monsieur de Lignery, the captain in command at Michilimakina, who appears to have all the necessary qualities for acquitting himself of it with Success, being of all the officers in this country the best fitted for this Expedition, with the exception of Sieur de Louvigny.
For the execution of this project lieutenant de St. Pierre and Ensign Dupuy set out last fall - the former with the presents for the Islinois, and the latter with those for the miamis.
Sieur de St. Pierre has informed us that he
was obliged to go into winter-quarters at the end of Lake Ontario, because his
boatmen fell ill with measles; and he arrived at michilimakina only at the end
of last May. Sieur Dupuy, not finding Sieur de la forest at detroit, where he
arrived last autumn, himself carried to the miamis and oyatanons the presents
destined for them. He arrived there in the month of January last and found the
miamis of the babiche1 disposed to make war on the
__________
1So in our transcript, made in Paris from original MS.; but probably an error of the copyist for Wabache (Wabash). - ED.
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1714 -15] |
FRENCH REGIME IN WISCONSIN. |
313 |
Renards; and he has also induced the oyatanons to make the same resolve,
although they were not inclined, according to the statements which Sieur de
Ramezay has the honor of sending you, and the report which he makes - to wage
war on the Renards.
He sends you also, Monseigneur, a letter from Sieur de Vincenne, who informs him of the peace made between the miamis and oyatanons and the Islinois, and of their readiness to make war on the Renards, of whom they have put to death three, including the son of the Renard chief Tonnere ["Thunder"].
Besides the officers designated by Monsieur the marquis de Vaudreuil for this Expedition, Sieur de Ramezay sent Lieutenant de Maunoir, his eldest son, and Ensign Dadoncour, second son of Monsieur de Longueuil,1 who desired to share in it. We hope that the good-will they have shown in going will have a beneficial effect on the minds of the Savages, who will feel flattered at seeing that we send, to serve with them in this war, the children of the commandant of this country and of Monsieur de Longueuil, who has great influence among them.
Sieurs de Maunoir and Dadoncour left Montreal
last April, with Sieur de Sabrevois, commandant at fort Pontchartrain at
Detroit, and arrived there on June 15. In conformity with their orders from
Sieur de Ramezay, they assembled all the savages settled at that place, to
deliberate regarding the most suitable post to serve as a Rendezvous for the
Nations of the South. It was decided in this Council that Sieurs de Maunoir and
Dadoncour should go with the miamis, Oyatanons and Islinois to chicagou -
where, in case they arrived first, they were to await the Savages of detroit,
who are to go there by land, hunting in order to spare their provisions. When
they are all assembled there, they are to set out against the fort of the
Renards, distant about 65 leagues from Chicagou; they can reach the fort from
that place in about Seven days. They will regulate the time of their departure
from chicagou so as to arrive at the fort of the Renards at the end of August.
Sieur de Lignery will likewise assemble the French, with the outaois
__________
1Charles Lemoine, second of that name, and baron de Longueuil; a brother of Iberville. - ED.
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