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.
Capt. Croghan to
Gen. John Stanwix
(Pittsburgh, July 15, 1759)
Croghan, George in: [B. M., Add. MSS.
21644, f. 235, A. L. S.] and in
Stevens, et all. The Papers of
Col. Henry Bouquet, 21644,
part I, pp. 191-193.
Yesterday evening arrived here two Six Nation Indians from Venango, that I had employed as Spies, and give the following Intelligence. They arrived at Venango the Eighth where they see about Seven hundred French, and four hundred Indians, the French Commandant asked these Spies where they came from, they told him from Scioto where they lived, upon which the Commandt told them they came from the English Fort, and asked them where they hid the four English Men they brought with them, they denied they had brought any, he persisting in it that they had; the Indians bid them go and hunt them upon which he sent out a large Party of French, and Indians, (page 192) who did not return till late in the afternoon without success, for there was no Englishmen with them.
The 9th the Commandt sent for these two Indians told them he was going to destroy the English in a few days, and said he expected they would go with him, & then told them this day will come here two Hundred Indians, to morrow two Hundred more, and next day two hundred more, then we shall set of, these Spies told him they would consider of it, and when the Indians came they would give him an answer, they say that about two hundred Indians came that day, about as many more the next, and about 150 the 11th. The Commandt then told the Indians he would speak his Mind to them the next day.
The Spies say that as fast as the Indians came the Officers were employed in fitting them out for the Expedition, that the French had a prodigious quantity of Goods, & that they gave them away very liberly. All the Indians were Clothed by the 11th at Night, and about 10 o'clock on the Morning of the 12th the grand Council was opened, when the Commandant thanked all his Children the Indians for joining him, & desired them to prepare themselves as he intended to set of against the English Fort the next day, & then threw down the War Belts. There was two Six Nation Indians in this Council who had arrived there the day before, one of which got up and made a Speech to all the Indians, telling them their Father was rather in too great a hurry to do, & delivered the Indians a large Bunch of strung Wampum, which threw them into some confusion, and before they got out of it two Indians arrived with a Packet of Letters, & delivered it to the Commandt who immediately opened it, and after reading talked a great deal to his officers, then spoke to the Indians, and said Children I have bad news for you, there is a great Army of the English coming against Niagara with Sir William Johnson who has with him all the Six Nations, with a great Number of other Indians who live that way. I have received Orders to go directly to Niagara and take you with me, we must give over the thoughts of going down this River till we have drove the English away from Niagara, you know the Consequence that place is of, both to you and us, if the English take it you must be poor, as it is stoping the Road to your Country. Children be strong and support your father at this time.
Our Spies also say that only three Cannon had arrived there, that 5 more they expected that Night. That the French Commandt ordered all the Battoes to set up the River, and to turn those that were coming down back, so that they only see the three Pieces, that (page 193) a great number of Indians was tying up their Bundles to set of, and some gone, and that about thirty large Battoes were set of to go back before they came of, that they think the French will endeavour to divide the Indians leaving some of them behind to annoy us on the Road. That three Shawnesse will be down in two days who promised them to stay, and see what number stayed & what went away, and to bring a certain Account of it, and they promised them that they should be well paid for their trouble; that the 13th some of the Party that attacked Ligonier returned to Venango but brought neither Prisoners or Scalps, and said that they had one Man killed and one wounded. That soon after they arrived four Indians who had been watching the Road about Stony Creek came in and informed the French Commandt that the English Army was come over the great Mountain (the Allegheny) with a great number of Horses loaded, and Cattle, that there could not be less than a Thousand Men. The Indians that were with the French were of twelve different Nations and had Colours fixed at the head Warriors Tent of each Nation.
That 19 Wayondotts the whole that were with the French set off for their own Country before these Spies left that. The three Shawnesse mentioned above the whole of the Shawnesse that were with the French are not yet arrived, but hourly expected. Twenty Wayondotts are arrived here this day from over the Lakes who say that the Chief Man of their Nation with seventy more are on their way here. The Goods I have here are unsorted & but few of them, as I have received no answer to my former letters, I dont know how I am to be supplyed whether you will purchase them below or give me orders to get them here
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I am |
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Sir |
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Your most obedt humble Servt |
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GEO: CROGHAN |
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