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.
Vaudreuil to Rouille
(September 28, 1752)
Vaudreuil in: Archives Nationales,
Ministere des Colonies, C13A
36:118 and in Jenison,
French Series, III,
pp. 725-729.
MONSEIGNEUR:
The last news which has reached me from the Illinois seems to announce an approaching reconciliation of the rebels with us by certain overtures which they have made to that end and by the death of the chief, La Demoiselle, who was the cause of their rebellion and of their retirement to Great Miami River; in addition the majority of the Hurons have returned with their brother to Detroit according to the information which I received from M. le Marquis de la Jonquiere last spring. It is certain that if (page 726) the death of this chief is authentic and if the majority of the Hurons have withdrawn, it is a beginning for calming the disorders which disturb the upcountry. But they cannot be entirely extinguished without some decisive blows against these rebels which may make them feel their fault and force the English to retire from our lands and prevent them from penetrating further, or without building two forts, one on the Ohio River and one on the Wabash, in accord with the project of M. de la Jonquiere and with the circumstances which I had the honor to detail to you, Monseigneur, by my letter of April 8 last.
M. de Macarty, major commandant in the country of the Illinois, informs me of the reasons which he had for giving back to the domiciled Indians their prisoners. I found them the better founded in that these tribes have been very much humiliated by an attack made on them in the month of May last by the Sioux, Foxes, Sauk, Winnebago, Menominee, and Potawatomi, who have accounted for about seventy people, both men, women, and chil- (page 727) dren. This blow so far intimidated that that various villages had assembled and planned to retire with our rebels on Great Miami River, where only they thought they would be safe. This commandant has reassured them by giving them back their prisoners, and by promising them to prevent the resentment of their enemies having any more unfortunate results.
I have indicated to that officer my satisfaction with the course he had taken on that occasion on which it was important to manage our interests carefully, which will always be to keep these domiciled Indians both to cover the upper establishments of this country and in order that they may not increase the forces of our enemies.
The Piankashaw up to now have taken various steps to get back their prisoners, but this commandant has not judged it proper to give them back as they have given but small marks of their repentence and, fearing our resentment, have retired for the greater part on White River, where there are English today established with a certain number of rebels from Great Miami River.
I have ordered M. de Macarty to extirpate this settlement, opposing force to force if there is need of coming to that extremity in order to forestall in that place the results from a larger settlement on account of the nearness of Vincennes, which is only about fifteen leagues from that river.
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