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.
St. Ange to Vaudreuil
(February 28, 1752)
St. Ange in: Huntington Library
Mss., Loudoun Coll., 336 and
in Pease and Jenison,
French Series, III,
pp. 483-487.
Since I have had the honor to command at this post I have neglected nothing to learn the sentiments of our domiciled Indians toward us, and to keep them in our interest. But today things have changed much. A part of the Wabash tribes are opposed to us, and we can scarcely count on the fidelity of the remainder. It is our republicans of Great Miami River who are the cause of all our troubles, and that in reprisal for the attack that a party of the Nipissing tribes of Canada have made on them, tomahawking two of them last summer, and thinking they had made a great stroke. But our rebels feeling themselves attacked, but not weakened, omit nothing to induce our various tribes to take their side, in which they have but too well succeeded. Those who have openly joined them are the Piankashaw of the Vermilion, part of the Illinois, and those near us. The first mentioned tribe began the attack at the Illinois at the beginning of December, and on the nineteenth our Indians killed two Frenchmen out of four who were making pirogues some leagues from the post. The (page 485) twenty-first they killed two Indian slaves who were returning from the hunt and within sight of the fort. Since that time we have not seen a sign of war. I have had our fort extended to include the church and the presbytery and to lodge the inhabitants. This we have been able to do only with small pickets. The few people and the harshness of the season have not permitted us to fortify ourselves properly. All the buildings of this post, need to be rebuilt anew; they are all decayed.
But what most disquiets me is that we have no more Indians at the post, which induces some of our inhabitants to leave the place as they can live only by the trade with the Indians.
I had some hope that I might induce the Kickapoo of Terre Haute to come and settle with us, but I learn that M. de Ligneris, commandant at Ouiatanon, has induced them to go and make their village with him. Doubtless he has for this received the orders of Monsieur the general.
The English trades steadily encroach on our lands, to give greater opportunity to our tribes to bring them their furs. M. de Ligneris has just informed me that he had learned that they were on White River not far from his post.
It is high time that we took the course of driving them off and putting ourselves in a position to repress the audacity of our rebel tribes. Otherwise the evil will always increase, and our rivers will become impassable. The Piankashaw that we had near us, who have become our enemies, have joined those of the Wabash and the Illinois, but I do not think their plans are to remain there, unless they feel sure of being supported by other tribes. That is what we have to fear most, in view of the ill disposition of some of them. The Kickapoo and the Mascoutens still seem a little attached to us. However M. de Ligneris writes me that he does not think them disposed to take our side.
Our enemies of Great Miami River last fall killed two soldiers of the Miamis garrison where M. Villiers commands. We do not know if they will remain there. We are made to hope that Monsieur le Marquis de la Jonquiere will decide to send forces from Canada capable of making our enemies listen to reason. For the tranquillity of the country, I desire it.
VINCENNES, February 28, 1752
The Piankashaw of the village on the Vermilion at the end of December killed five Frenchmen in their village.
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