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.
Letter to Gage
(Detroit, July 15, 1765)
Campbell, John in: Clements Library,
Gage Papers, American Series,
Vol. 39, Reel #10.
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Detroit July 15th, 1765 |
Sir
On the 13th Instant I received the following intelligence from an Ottowa Indian of the Roche de bout Village on the Miami River, who told that he had been informed by an Indian that came lately from Ouiattanon, that Mr. Craughan & the people that were with Him were attackt by a Party of the Kikkapus Near the Wabash, that two English men two Chiefs of the Shawanese & a Huron Squaa, were killed, the rest taken prisoners and tied (amongst whom was Craughan) that then a Chief of the Shawanese who was one of the Prisoners spock, & asked what reason they had for killing his people, who were going to Establish peace & tranquillity amongst them, and the Other Nations towards the Illinois, they answered, it was owing to Mistake, that they took them to be Flat heads, going with the English On a Bad Errant, that they then untied them, and told them they were now at liberty to go where they pleased, at the same time offered them the Six Belts of Wampom they had taken from them Which the said Chief refused to accept of, & told them they might keep them with the Scalps they had taken, and then advised Mr Craughan to return immediately with the remaining part of His Party to acquaint the Shawanese & Delawers what had happen'd to them, who will soon revenge the injury done them on the offenders- and accordingly they set off immediately up the Ohio. The Evening of the same day the Hurons of this place came over to me, and said they were Sorry they had bad news to tell me, which they had just then received from a Messenger sent them by the Wiendots of Sanduskie, who informed them, that Mr. Craughan & His Party were attackt in their Boats in the Ohio river a little way above where the Wabash joins the Ohio, by the Kikkapos of Ouiattanon and other tribes of that Nation, that Mr. Craughan & His Party (consisting of Ten in Number) were killed, except one Chief of the Shawanese that was Wowned thro both Thighs, who asked them the reason they did not scalp the Indians they killed, as they did the white people, answered that they never intended to kill any of the Indians only the white people, and they were extreamly sorry for their Mistake of killing the Indians, the Messenger further told them, that He got this intelligence from One Baot a frenchman that came lately from Ouiattanon, who had been there when the Kikkapos &c return'd thither with the Scalps & that they Shew'd Him in particuler Mr. Craughans scalp, & told also they were loaded with plunder taken in that affair.- I hope this relation may not be true, and think it more probable to be false then otherwise notwithstanding their circumstantial manner of telling it.
The last accounts from Michilimakinak are very favourable, & confidently reported there that Two Hundred English Troops are arrived at Fort Charters.-
I have this day sent a Sergts. Party to Hog Island to cut firewood for the Garison, I told them I did not as yet know at what rate they are to be paid for that Service until I receive your Excellencys directions on that head, but that an exact account will be keept of the Number of days they work & the Quantity of wood they cut and Pile, & that hey will be paid agreeable to the derections I receive; it will be absolutely necessary to employ Horses & Carts to carry the wood to the water side as it must be cut at a Considerable distance from thence; I have got in Our wood yard a great quantity of the firewood that was cut last year, which will be a very great help towards this Winters fewel, all that may be wanted for the Garrison must be cut on the Island. for any firewood that may be cut in the woods behind the Fort cannot be depended on, as none can be got. from thence but with sledges, & except the winter is severer then usual, the swamp between The edge of the wood & where the firewood must be cut never freezes.- We find it very difficult, to find men in this settlement at present to cut Timber for the use of the works to be carry'd on here, the whole of them are so much employ'd about their wheat, & hay making that they think it very hard to be obliged to quit their Farms, I am therefore obliged to send a few men of the Garison up to the Huron River to cut Pine wood, which is between seventy & eighty miles from here, as none can be got nigher to this place and the Stones must be brought from a place twelve miles below this,- The Materials that are wanted for the works here are at so great a distance from the Fort & so difficult to be brought hither, that compleating the Buildings Ordered will be tedious & expensive; notwithstanding that all possible means are taken to forward the works with the greatest expedition I am convinced they cannot be finished this year, I give every man that this Garison can afford dayly for the works & have even reduced the guards to a less Number then usual, to enable me to furnish the Number of men demanded by the Engineer.
I am very apprehensive we shall be in want of Provision at this Post, unless we receive a Supply very soon, what now remains in Store is so very bad, that we apprehend that not (page 3) a third part of it can be issued to the Troops. The very best of it cannot be reckond good.
The Garison is now intirely in want of Barrack untensils. they are obliged to broil their Pork for want of Kettles to boil it; except when they can borrow a kettle now & then from the Inhabitants, none can be got to buy for them here.
I have the Honour to be wt. the greatest Respect.
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Sir |
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Your most
Obedient |
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John Campbell |
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