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.
(1752)
(Due to length divided here into three parts)
Trent, William in: Goodman, Alfred T., ed.,
Journal of Captain William Trent from
Logstown to Pickawillani. . .1752,
Cincinnati, 1871, excerpts,
pp. 5-55.
Soon after the governor received these communications, he sent for Mr. Burney, but a meeting was delayed until the winter following. In the meantime, October, the governor sent a message to the legislature, informing them of troubles to the westward. On account of the lateness of the season, and the governor's desire to first examine Mr. Burney, no action was taken by the assemble regarding the affair at Pickawillany until the following year. In May, 1753, the following resolution was adopted: "That the sum of two hundred pounds be now allowed as a present of condolence to the Twightwee nation, on the melancholy occasion mentioned in the governor's message of the sixteenth of October last." At the same time, the assembly appropriated six hundred pounds, to be distributed among the Shawanees, Wyandots, Senecas, and other Western tribes. The government of Virginia likewise made (page 50) large appropriations for the Indians, with a special present for the Miamis at Pickawillany. The Pennsylvania goods were placed in charge of George Croghan, those of Virginia with three commissioners, Messrs. Gist, Trent, and Montour. About this time the French made their appearance at Presque Isle, Le Boeuf, and Venango, which determined the governors of both colonies to postpone the delivery of the intended presents until the intentions of the Indians regarding the movements of the French were discovered. In September, the governor of Virginia met the Miamis and other Ohio nations in council at Winchester, and in October, commissioners of Pennsylvania met them at Carlisle. The following extracts are made from the speeches of the Miamis, delivered to the council:
"You have, like a true and affectionate brother, comforted us in our affliction. You have wiped away the blood from our seats and set them again in order. You have wrapped up the bones of our warriors and covered the graves of our wise men, and wiped the tears from our eyes and the eyes of our women and children, so that we now see the sun and all things are become pleasant to our sight. We shall not fail to acquaint our several nations with your kindness. We shall take care that it be always remembered by us, and believe it will be attended with suitable returns of love and affection."
"BROTHER ONAS: The Ottawas, Chippewas, and the French have struck us. The stroke was heavy and (page 51) hard to be borne, for thereby we lost our king and several of our warriors; but the loss our brethren, the English, suffered, we grieve for most. The low we have had for the English from our first knowledge of them still continues in our breasts, and we shall ever retain the same ardent affection for them. We cover the graves of the English with this beaver blanket. We mourn for them more than for our own people." [Here was spread on the floor some beaver skins sewed together in the form of a large blanket.]
At the same meeting the Miamis thus addressed the Six Nations and their allies:
"BROTHER ONAS: This belt of wampum was formerly given to the king of the Piankashas, one of our tribes, by the Six Nations, that if, at any time, any of our people should be killed, or any attack made on them by their enemies, this belt should be sent with the news, and the Six Nations would believe it. The Twightwees [Miamis], when they brought this belt to the lower Shawanees town, addressed themselves to the Shawanees, Six Nations, Delawares, and then to the English, and said:
Brethren: We are an unhappy people. We have had some of our brethren, the English, killed and taken prisoners in our towns. Perhaps our brethren, the English, may think or be told that we were the cause of their death. We, therefore, apply to you, the Shawanees, etc., to answer the English we were not. (page 52) The attack was so sudden that it was not in our power to save them. And we hope, when you deliver this speech to the English, they will not be prejudiced against us, but look on us as their brethren. Our hearts are good toward them."
The Pennsylvania commissioners replied at length. Addressing the Miamis they said: "The concern expressed by the Twightwees for death and imprisonment of the English, with their professions of love and esteem, denotes a sincere and friendly disposition, which entitles them to our thanks and the continuance of our friendship; this they may certainly depend on."
"Brethren: We desire you will send these two strowds to the young king as an acknowledgment of our affectionate remembrance of his father's love to us, and of our good will to him.
Be pleased to present to the widow of the Piankasha king, our late hearty friend, these handkerchiefs to wipe away the tears form her eyes; and likewise give her son these two strowds to clothe him." [Here two handkerchiefs and two strowds were given.]
"Brethren Twightwees: We assure you we entertain no hard though of you, nor in anywise impute to you the misfortune that befell the English in your town; it was the chance of war. We were struck together, we (page 53) fell together, and we lament your loss equally with our own."
The council was closed by an address of the commissioners to all the nations assembled, respecting the goods which had been ordered as presents to the Miamis and other nations in alliance with the English. These were the goods which, at that time, were in the care of Geo. Croghan, as agent of Pennsylvania. The commissioners said:
"We have reason to think from the advices of Taafe & Callender, that it would be too great risk, considering the present disorder things are in Ohio, to increase the quantity of goods already given you. We, therefore, acquaint you that though the governor has furnished us with a larger present of goods to put into your public store house, as a general stock for your support and service, and we did intend to have sent them along with you, we have on this late disagreeable piece of news altered our minds, and determined that the goods shall not be delivered till the governor be made acquainted with your present circumstances, and shall give his own orders for the disposal of them, and that they may lie ready for your use, to be applied for whenever the delivery may be safe, seasonable, and likely to do you the most service."
After the Indians returned to their homes, the reason of the retention of the goods was manifest. The Pennsylvania present consisted mainly of powder and lead, (page 54) which was feared would be brought into requisition against them. This would certainly have been the result, for most of the Ohio Indians were soon after forced into terms by the French, and became their allies. The Six Nations remaining faithful, in due time received their share of the goods, but it does not appear that the Miamis partook of the bounty provided for them. In December, Mr. John Patten was sent by the governor of Pennsylvania to learn the intentions of the Miamis, and it appears that he reported them as "gone over to the French." At this time most of the English traders abandoned the Ohio trade. Pickawillany was wholly deserted by them. Not long after, the French commandant at Vincennes, deeming the location a good one, sent some traders to the place, and made a treaty of concord and friendship with the Miamis, lavishing upon them a very large amount of money and a great variety of costly presents. The place, however, did not possess enterprise or spirit, and was not widely known as a trading post until 1769, when a Canadian French trader, named Peter Loramie, established a store there. He was a man of energy, and a good hater of the Americans. For many years, he exercised great influence among the Indians. After his arrival the town was called "Loramie's Station." During the Revolution, Loramie was in full fellowship with the British. Many a savage excursion to the border was fitted out from his supply of war material. So noted had his place become (page 55) as the headquarters of spies, emissaries, and savage borderers, that Gen. George Rogers Clarke, of Kentucky, resolved to pay it a visit. This he did, with a large party of Kentuckians, in the fall of 1782. The post was taken by surprise, Loramie narrowly escaping being made prisoner. His store was rifled of its contents and burned to the ground, as were all the other habitations in the vicinity. Poor Loramie shortly afterward removed with a party of Shawanees to a spot near the junction of the Kansas and Missouri. There he closed his days. The site of Pickawillany and Loramie's Station has never been rebuilt.
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