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
(Fort Chartres, Dec. 16, 1765)
Fraser, Alexander in: Clements
Library, Gage Papers,
American Series,
Vol. 46, Reel #10.
Sir
I expected on my arrival at this place to have gone with Major Farmars Dispatches by Land to your Excellency, but I am prevented by a Lameness with which I have been a good deal confind since I came last into the Colony, & which obliges me to go to Orleans & round by sea to New York wt Capt Stirlings Detatchment which leaves this Colony in a few days, shoud it be detaind by not finding transports readily, I will take the first opportunity of a Vessel for New York, least your Excellency should be desirous to know any thing regarding the Inhabitants, Country, or Trade, about which I got all the Intelligence I coud from the most Creditable people in the Colony- I dare say Majr. Farmar & Captain Stirling will inform you more minutely about matters in General than I can as they had access to most of the publick writings of the Colony & the French Commandant woud have satisfy'd their Curiosity with less scruples than he woud have done mine. Yet there may be some things which might have escaped their notice & that your Excellency might know from me.
Major Farmar will inform your Excellency how the French Inhabitants have abandond their Habitations on our side of the River & retird to the other on hearing of Cap Stirlings Arrival- At this Settlement there are but two or three Farmers remaining, the others have almost all taken their Provisions along with them & even the few who remain have sent away a considerable part of theirs wch must distress Major Farmar & his Garrison very much & is the reason I belive, which obliges him to send away the Detatchment of the Royal Highlanders which he found here- There are of late all possible Precautions taken to prevent their sending any more provisions out of other Colony, I mean that part which belongs to us- Some have been detected in sending away Corn, by our Patroles, but all their Vigilance is not sufficient to prevent their getting much of it to the Spanish Side, as the Country is so very extensive that every part cannot be guarded. Those who are hitherto on our side of the River declare they will not go away, but those who give greatest assurances of this kind, are making such preparations, as give reason to suspect them of having very different Intentions.
Had not Capt Stirling with his Detatchment come in the lucky time he did, I belive Major Farmar woud not easily have got possession of the Country. Monsieur Aubry used all manner of Persuasions with Major Farmar to prevail upon him not to pass Natchez for the Winter wch Major Farmar said he woud not do- with Intention certainly to deceive him- but on learning that he intended to go further I supposed he sent Monsr. Beaujeu to fall on some method to oppose us, this is only a Conjecture of my own & may be thought rather too presumtuous, as, most people here entertain a more favourable oppinion of the French leading men in general than I do, but hitherto my suspicions of them for the most part have turnd out to be just. The number of Inhabitants who fled from their Houses on the arrival of the British troops in the Colony & the vast Inconveniency & hardships they embra[ce] rather than remain for the winter with us prove sufficiently that they did not expect we woud so soon have got possession of the Colony.-
Mr. Beaujeu has taken considerable presents for Pondiack from Ne. Orleans, such as I can scarce think they woud bestow on him for what he has done did they not expect he woud yet prove serviceable to them.- Since his arrival in the Illinois he and Monr. St Ange are very busy amongst the Inhabitants & Im persuaded that that with Promises & threats they will scarcely leave any on our side- such as they found ignorant of our Constitution they easily persuaded to quit their Habitations for the advantages of enjoying their ancient Priviledges & Laws which they declare to be very considerable when they are put in Comparison with ours, which they say leave them exposed to the Extortions of covetous Commandants, who they tell them have an unlimited power over their Persons & Effects- such as they coud not decoy away by these falshoods they endeavour'd to frighten by painting Majr. Farmar in the worst colours immaginable.- They are also frightend with the thoughts that the Indians who will come in Spring will kill their Cattle & burn their houses: The later gives them most uneasiness and most people are of oppinion that all the Nations will not continue long in their present tranquility.
Monsr. St. Ange who woud wish to lull us into the greatest security told Major Farmar that he shoud expect quelques petites Alertes in the Spring to use his own words- it was (page 3) also given out that the Spaniards had declared war against us & they still persuade the Indians that the French are always to remain on the further side of the River.
The Indians have also left our side & gone to the Spanish side.- The great Chief of the Illinois met us on his way to New Orleans with no good Intention I belive- but the threats of the Chicasaws brought him back after he had refusd Major Farmar.- He has since prevaild on a few of the Cascaskias to come to receive presents from Major Farmar- but none of the other tribes of the Illinois has come in yet.
The Shawanese Chief who has been endeavouring so long to hurt us met Capt Stirling on his way to his Nation with a boat full of goods mostly ammunition- which Capt Stirling sent back to the Illinois. He repeated to him the same thing in regard to the Belt he had brought from Monsieur Aubry which he had told the different Nations last Summer on his return from N Orleans.- He is still amongst the French who carress him very much.- Numbers of those who distinguishd themselves by exceeding the Savages in committing cruelties during their excursions to our Frontiers are now in the greatest esteem with Monsieur St Ange & all the other Champions for the Prosperity of the abandond Colony as they term themselves, in place of being punishd in the manner Messrs. St Ange & Aubry promis'd.- Almost all the Traders have gone away from out side also they have a great quantity of goods in the Colony & still expect great Supplies next Spring. Their crowding such quantities of ammunition into the Country especially & their care in selling none of it to any but Indians shoud alarm us with Conjectures not very favourable & put us on our guard against the worst of Consequences.- Were we assured of their having bad Intentions, the Chicasaws coud easily be got to turn back or destroy any convoy they woud take up the River.
That Nation (Chicasaws) can be very useful in case of disturbances amongst the northern Indians, as they woud not only cut of all Supplies, but woud also strike upon them wt as many men as we woud choose.
Major Farmar has been trying all he coud to establish a peace between them & the Illinois- this the Chicasaws seem averse to nor does the Illinois much desire it. I represented (page 4) to Major Farmar that we shoud rather prevent an union as much as possible between any of the northern & southern Nations as I am sure the Chicasaws woud not readily be brought to break a peace on our account, which we ourselves in a manner woud force them to make- as that nation is remarkable for paying so scruplous a regard to their promises & treaties as woud be reckon'd impoliticik in a Christian Nation I flatter myself your Excellency will espouse my oppinion, on this head & put a Stop to their Congress as it is not impossible but we may soon have occasion for their assistance against them.-
Little of the trade will fall in to our hands till more Troops are sent into the Colony as they can scarce spare any Detatchment from the Garrison of Fort Chartres to go to the other Settlements. The French not only can now send as many Traders as they please to the several considerable Nations on the Ouabache but also up the Illinois river they can with equal safety convey their Furs from those places to Orleans. If there were enough of Troops there is no Fort but what has fallen to ruin since the Cession of this Country to us- & had they been still standing & in repair I cannot see from their Situation that they coud be of the least Service.- Fort Massiack which was burnt last summer coud answer no end to us as the ohio is upwards of two miles wide opposite to it. if a Fort shoud be built at the mouth of the Ouabache no boat coud pass up or down that River without our knowledge- & the Ohio is considerably narrower than at Massiack. A Fort & Settlement opposite to the Confluence of the Missouris & Missisipi Rivers woud be a Check on the Indians inhabiting the banks of the former & draw a considerable share of their Trade to us a Fort at the mouth of the Illinois River which is six Leagues higher woud ease us of any apprehensions in this quarter from the northern Indians & put a Stop to the French trading among them.
I belive your directions Sir woud be very necessary soon to Major Farmar regarding Trade & the Civil Governtment of the Inhabitants as he is himself a good deal a Stranger seemingly to the Laws Customs & Disposition of the French & he & every person with him intirely so to dealing with Indians they (page 5) woud require to be as explicit as possible. He has no body with him who can scarce make himself understood with the French that & want of a proper Interpreter for the Indians are very sensible Inconveniences and such as he is not likely soon to get the Better of. There is nothing so much wanted here at present as an Indian Agent.- The greatest regard shoud be paid to the choice of a proper one as he will otherwise become a Tool to the Intrigues of the French.
I am in hopes to get soon to New York after this gets to your Excellency's hands, & give you Sir an Accompt of how I applyd the money I drew on your Excellency for since I left that place I flatter myself that Major Farmar & Cap Stirling will acquaint your Excellency that I have done every thing in my power during my former residence in this Colony to make my Missions have the desird efect.- Tho I was opposed therein continually by almost every individual in the Country & many of those even base enough to incite barbarians to cruelties, that shockd them, to get rid of one & my men.- I beg leave to recommend them to your Excellency for their labour & Sufferings since they came with me I hope you will be good enough Sir to allow them also something for the Necessaries which were taken from them by the Indians as they were obliged to supply themselves with others at a very extravagant rate in New Orleans.-
I have the honour to be with true respect your Excellency's
|
Most humble & most Alr: Fraser. |
|
Fort Chartres 16th Decembr. 1765.-
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