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.
Johnson to Sir
Jeffery Amherst
(Johnson Hall, July 11, 1763)
Johnson, Sir William in: [B. M., Add.
MSS
21634, f. 319, C.] and in Stevens
et all. The Papers of Col.
Henry Bouquet, Series
21634, 1940,
pp. 212-213.
Since my Last a Number of the Oneidas Arrived here, and Acquainted me with the Manner in which Venango had been suprized; which was Effected by the Indians Entering the Fort as Friends, after which they put the Garrison to the Sword.
This Morning Thomas, a Conajohare Chief, who was One of the Messengers I sent with the Messages, & to Invite the Six Nations to meet me at the German Flatts, Arrived Express, and after Informing me that all the Chiefs of Each Nation (Except the Senecas, who Refused to Attend) were on their Way to the Place Appointed: He told me that two Onondagas, who were Sent about 20 Days ago by their Sachims, towards the Ohio, to Enquire into the Cause of the present Troubles, had Returned, & Confirmed the Account of the taking of Venango, which was Done by a Party of Chenussios, Residing in the Neighborhood thereof; and that after putting the Garrison to the Sword, they made the Officer Write the Reasons which Induced them to Act as they had Done, which were, first, the Scarcity & Dearness of Powder for these two Years past, being Obliged to pay 2 Deerskins for a Gill of Powder, & so in proportion for Other Articles; and that when they Complained, they were Ill Treated, & never Redressed; secondly, that the many Posts which the English kept possession of, Induced them to Believe they Intended to Possess all their Country; for all which they were Determined to Destroy them. After Writing this they put the Officer to Death, and Sent the Paper with a Party of Warriors then going towards Fort Pitt, in Order to Do Mischief on the Communication where they proposed to Drop it, that it might be found by the English.
The Mohawk Express further Informed me, that the Onondagas had, in the presence of all the Nations assembled, Declared their Resolution of Living and Dying with the English, let the Consequence be what it would, and had Absolutely rejected Every proposal made to them by the Senecas &ca, that they had Received the Account, that the Twightwee, Ottawas, Hurons, Delawares, & ca. had Destroyed Six Forts, of which he mentioned the Following Vizt Detroit, Michilimackinac, Miamis, Sandusky, & Venango: He added, that at the Meetings at which he was present, at Onondaga, the Senecas Spoke with Three Belts of Wampum to the rest of the Confederacy, Acquainting them that they had given a Loose to their Warriors against the English, and Desired they would Do the Same; but that their Request was Totally Rejected by the Onondagas and all the Rest on Receiving my Message first; and that that Nation in particular, had Sent a very Large Belt to the Senecas Desiring them Immediately to Desist, altho' it is my Opinion it will have but Little Effect on them.
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