Piankashaw Locations (ca. 1763 - ca. 1776) pp. 64-72
/pg. 64/
The Treaty of Paris of February 10, 1763 between Great Britain, France, and Spain which formally ended the conflict that was called the French and Indian War in the New World granted, among other provisions, all of Canada, the lands between the continental colonies and the Mississippi River, and the right to navigate that river, to Great Britain. Relations between the English and the western Indians, however, continued to be uncertain, and the English took measures to assess and control the situation. Among other steps, Colonel Henry Bouquet was sent on an expedition down the Ohio Valley in 1764 to subdue any Indian opposition in that area, especially that of the Delawares and Shawnees. This had a reasonably successful (from the British point-of-view) outcome since a peace was established with the Indians without a pitched battle. There was no reason at this time for the British to suppose that the Indians of the Wabash (including, presumably the Piankashaws) were actively opposed to them. (See, e.g., Gage, Dft. Ex. A-62, p. 483; James Grant, Dft. Ex. A-220; De Villiers, Dft. Ex. A-430, pp. 49-52) St. Ange, commandant at Vincennes, had reported that in October of 1763
he had called together the Piankashaw to whom he had explained the talk that I [De Villiers] addressed to all the nations of the Ohio, and that they had accepted the calumet of peace, and that it would be sufficient that I give them assurance of it that they remain quiet. (De Villiers, Dft. Ex. A-43, p. 52)[see Footnote 17]
/pg. 65/
On the other hand, Pierre Joseph Neyon de Villiers, commandant at the Illinois, in March of 1764 reported that he had with him "a band of Ouiatanon and one of Piankashaw" whom he felt might make difficulties for the English occupation of the Illinois country; (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-43, pp. 224-225) and St. Ange who succeeded De Villiers as commandant in the Illinois country wrote the commandant of Louisiana that in June of 1764 the chiefs Of the "Miami, Kickapoo, Mascoutens, Wea, and Piankashaw" called on him, assuring him of their fidelity to the French, asking for supplies, and saying that "they all preferred dying to making peace with the English. (St. Ange, Dft. Ex. A-43, pp. 289-290; see also De Villiers, Dft. Ex. A-117, pp. 259-261)
In December of 1764, Sir William Johnson proposed to General Thomas Gage, Commander in chief of the British forces in North America, that George Croghan be sent west to make arrangements with the Illinois Indians and what he called the Indians of the "Twightwee confederacy," for the English to take over from the French the Illinois country. (Johnson, Dft. Ex. A-62, pp. 624-626) Gage agreed to this proposal. (Gage, Dft. Ex. A-14, p. 49)
Colonel John Bradstreet, British officer at Detroit, in the meantime had sent messengers to the "nine Nations" of the Illinois and Wabash area to invite them to Detroit for a council to be held toward the end of July, 1765 for purposes of making a lasting peace with the English. Bradstreet's messengers went first to the Illinois groups and later to those on the Wabash. Concerning their visits to the Piankashaws the messengers reported that
/pg. 66/
They after came to the Post of St. Vincent where they were to speak to the Piankashaws, but as they were then hunting on the Ohio river, they left a belt with Lewis Boyer a Frenchman, who promised to deliver it & invitation, at their return in the Spring. - They then came to the large village of the Piankashaws, and spoke with a belt to the black Fly and gave him also the invitation, He told them it gave him great pleasure, and would attend at the time appointed, and as an assurance lighted a Pipe which he smoked out off, and after desired they would carry it to their Father the Commanding Officer at Detroit, and desire him to keep it ready lighted for him & people that they may smoke with him on their Arrival; at which time they would make a firm Friendship with him, they further assured them they had no hand in the late war, therefore could have no objection to receiving the belt. (Mesonville and Godfrey, Dft. Ex. A-130)
Proceeding up the Wabash further, the messengers also delivered similar invitations to the Mascoutens, Kickapoos, and Weas.
On March 1, 1765, Croghan, who with Lt. Alexander Fraser had arrived at Fort Pitt the day before on their way west, was informed by six Seneca Indians who came from one of the Shawnee towns on "the plains of the Siota" that the Shawnees and Delawares
which were sent last summer [1764}, to the Illinois to Councel with the French & Indians in that Country, were returned, that they had been well recd by the French, who, on their arrival, clothed them & told them they would supply them, with every necessary they wanted, to carry on War agst the English; & would send Traders with them, to their Towns, when they shou'd set out. That they had held a Council with nine Indian Nations, settled on the Ouabache & in the Illinois Country, who all Engaged to support them, with their whole Force, should they continue the War against the English. (Croghan, Dft. Ex. A-44, pp. 1-2)
Croghan was told also that since their people (during their absence in the west) had made an agreement with Colonel Henry Bouquet to live in peace with the English that they had told the French not to keep their
/pg. 67/
word and the "Nine Nations in that Country" not to do anything until they heard from the Shawnees and Delawares in the spring. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-44, p. 2) The Piankashaws, presumably, were one of the nine Indian nations referred to.
Croghan had his doubts about the sincerity of the Indians, but at a series of meetings with Shawnee, Delaware, Seneca, and Sandusky Indians in April and May the terms of the Agreement with Colonel Bouquet were carried out. These included the Indians bringing in all White and Negro prisoners, sending deputies to Sir William Johnson to make a lasting peace, and leaving hostages at Fort Pitt until this was done. (Ibid., D M . Ex. A-44, pp. 1-19) At these meetings, too, Croghan asked that the Delaware and Shawnees
send a Deputation of your Nation, with me, to assist in reconciling those nations (with whom we have had but little intercourse) to his Majestys Interest. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-48, p. 12)
Lt. Fraser and his party preceded Croghan down the Ohio River to the Illinois country by about a month. He reached Kaskaskia and Fort Chartres (located within Royce Area 48) safely, but had some difficulties with the Indians there. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-44, pp. 3, 6; Gage, Dft. Ex. A-43, p. 489) In describing the country some months after his trip Fraser reported
/pg. 68/
St Vincent in which there are about Sixty Farmers who raise a considerable quantity of wheat & Tobacco, And have a good Stock of Cattle. (Fraser, Dft. Ex. A-44, p. 226)[see Footnote 18]
On May 15, 1765 Croghan set out from Fort Pitt, accompanied by Shawnee, Delaware, and Seneca deputies. (Croghan, D M . Ex. A-44, pp. 23, 39) He proceeded down the Ohio River, and, on June 8, was captured about 6 miles below the mouth of the Wabash by a party of Kickapoos and Masscoutens from Ouiatenon, near the western line of the southern boundary of Royce Area 63. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-44, pp. 29-30. 40)[see Footnote 19]The Indians took them to their villages, stopping on the way at Vincennes where in addition to the French village was
an Indian village of the Pyankeshaws who were much displeased with the Party that took me telling them our and your Chiefs are gone to make peace and you have begun a war (Ibid , Dft. Ex. A-44, p. 32; see also ibid., Dft. A-44, p. 40)
At Vincennes the Kickapoos and Mascoutens delivered some of-their plunder and a scalp to the French as a means of securing their support for the enterprise, and also, according to Croghan,
wanted to deliver some presents to the Pyankeshaws but they refused to accept of any and declared they would not be concerned in the affair. (Idem)
Croghan learned this "from the Pyankeshaws" as he had been "Well acquainted with them several years before this Time" (Idem)[see Footnote 20]After a short stay at Vincennes the Indians took Croghan and his party on north to Ouiatenon. They made a late start on June 17, traveled 18 miles north, and camped "in a large beautiful well watered meadow." On the 18th and lgth Croghan reported that they
traveled thro a prodigious large meadow called the Pyankeshas hunting ground; (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-44, p. 33)
on the 20th and 21st they
passed thro some vary large Meadows part of which belong to the Pyankeshaws on Vermillion River; (Idem)
and on the 22nd they
The next day they arrived at Ouiatenon where the Kickapoos and Mascoutens had two villages located on the north side of the Wabash River, on the same side as the French fort within Royce Area 98, and where the Weas had a village on the south side of the river in Royce Area 99. (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-44, pp. 33-34)
/pg. 70/
Since the Indians and Croghan's party set out from Vincennes, located on the east bank of the Wabash River, they may have traveled some distance on the eastern side of that river. It is not known where the party did cross to the west side of the Wabash River. It seems likely from the facts that on June 20, 21, and 22 they passed through "large Meadows" said to "belong to" the Piankashaws of the Vermilion River and that they crossed the Vermilion River, a western tributary to the Wabash River, on June 22, that by June 21 the group was traveling to the west of the Wabash River, within what later were delimited as Royce Areas 73 and 74. The term "large Meadows" is an indefinite one. It is possible that some of these meadows extended west into lands later included by Royce in his Area 110.
In the early part of July Croghan had several conferences at Ouiatenon with the Weas, Piankashaws, Kickapoos, and Mascoutens, and, although the Indians strongly denied having given or sold any of their land to the French, obtained their consent for the British
to take Possession of any Posts in their Country which the French formerly possessed, & an offer of their Service should any Nation oppose our taking possession of it, all which they Confirmed by four large Pipes, (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-44, p. 41)
On the 13th the chiefs of the fifth nation on the Wabash, the Miamis, came to Croghan to renew their friendship with the British and confirmed it with a pipe. (Idem) In writing about the results of his capture and his subsequent council meetings with Indians at Ouiatenon Croghan refers to "the five Nations" (Ibid., Dft. EX. A-44, P. 59) settled on the Wabash being afraid that their attack on him and the killing and wounding of deputies from the Shawnees, Delawares, and Six Nations would precipitate a war between them and those groups of Indians. Croghan then remarked that
/pg. 71/
This fear has brought the five Nations settled on this River to reason, more than if I had given them five times the Quantity they robbed me off in Presents, (Idem)
and stated that they had given him five pipes of peace begging him for his good offices in keeping peace. (Idem) In his letter to McKee on July 13 Croghan listed these five nations as being "the Waweaughtenoes [Weas], Piankishaws [,] Twightwees [Miamis], Kecapoes [Kickapoos], and Musquetons [Mascoutens]," and described them as being "now well Reconciled to us; more thro fear than Love." (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-171)
In the minutes of the council he held with the Indians on the same day Croghan reported the statement of the Indians that
We the Mascoutens, Kecopoes, Ouiatonons, Ottawas, Pianckashaw's & Twightwees, are very Sorry & afflicted to the Heart for what we have done... we now beg you will pity our folly, & likewise use your influence with the Shawanese, Delawares, and Six Nations, to settle this unhappy difference between us (Ibid., Dft. Ex. A-172)
On July 18th Croghan set off for the Illinois country with the Wabash chiefs, but returned to Ouiatenon to hold another council after meeting on the way the-influential Ottawa chief Pontiac, and the Shawnee, Delaware, and Six Nations deputies who had accompanied him down the Ohio, and deputies from the "four Nations" who lived in the Illinois Country who were on their way to meet him. In the ensuing conference Pontiac and the Illinois deputation agreed "to everything the other
/pg. 72/
Nations had done," and agreed with the Wabash Indians that they had allowed the French to settle in areas, but that they had not sold any art of their country to the French. (Ibid., Dft. ex. A-44, p. 42) [see Footnote 22]
Footnote 17: The reference is to messages informing the Indians of the fact that peace had been made with the English in the Treaty of Paris and that the Indians should cease attacking the English who now were taking over control of the country.[return to text]
Footnote 18: Bracketed Statement is in the printed text. For an immediate account of his experiences see Fraser, Dft. Ex. A-207.[return to text]
Footnote 19: For another account of this attack see Campbell, Dft. Ex. A-131 and McKee, Dft. Ex. A-253.[return to text]
Footnote 20: This acquaintanceship may refer to Croghan's having met them while trading with the Miami and other Indians at the Great Miami River or when he made the treaty of friendship with the Piankashaws and Weas in 1751 (See page 34).[return to text]
Footnote 21: Brackets are in printed version of document.[return to text]
[return to top of page]
[continue
to Part 2: Piankashaw Locations (ca. 1763 - ca. 1776) pp. 72-80]
[return to
Dockett 99 Table of Contents]
[return to Ohio
Valley-Great Lakes Ethnohistory Archive Menu]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home]
Last updated: 6
October 2000
URL: http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/home.html
Comments: gbl@indiana.edu
Copyright 1996, Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology
and The Trustees of Indiana University