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.
Extract of a Journal
(Mouth of the Siota,
June 29 - July 3, 1766)
Croghan, George in: (Enclosed in
Croghan to Gage, July 6, 1766),
William L. Clements Library,
Gage Papers, American
Series, vol. 54.
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Mouth of Sioto River, June 29th, 1766 |
I arrived here this day, at which place I found the Principal Men of the Lower Shawanoes, with near a Hundred of their Warriors and a Number of Women and Children, waiting for me, in consequence of a Message I had sent them from Fort Pitt. The day before I came here some Trading Indians had arrived from Fort Pitt with Rum, and had made the whole drunk prevented my doing any Business with them.
June the 30th, 1766. At a Meeting with the Indians at the mouth of Sioto, Viz. The Shawanoes and Deputies from the several Tribes of the Six Nations and Wyandotts or Hurons.
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Present |
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Captain Harry
Gordon |
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Captain Montour Interpreter |
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This morning the Indians came early in a Body together, and went thro' the usual Ceremonies in Council on such meetings, and after Condoling with me for what had happen'd last Year, they by a Belt of Wampum assured me of their attachment to the English Interest.
After which I acquainted them that I had lately a meeting with the Six Nations, Delawares, Wyandotts, and some of their Nation at Fort Pitt, for the particulars of which I referred them to the Chiefs of their People, who were then present, and had the speeches in their Possession, that they would now report the whole to them, after which I would be glad to hear what News their People that was lately returned from the Illinois Country had brought with them. The Indians then which accompanied me down the River to this place, related all that had passed between them and me at Fort Pitt.
July the 1st, 1766
This day the Indians sent for me to Council and expressed themselves in the following manner
Father,
You yesterday desired to hear what News some of our People who had been at the Kuskuskee Country had brought from thence.
Father. They went there on a Visit, and not to Council, therefore they can only inform you of the Common News that came to their knowledge, which I desire you to attend to, then the Corn Stalk spoke as follows.
Father.
We are just returned from the Kuskuskee Country, and was a good deal surprised to hear the French there talk as they did so soon after they had been conquered by the English. They called us together with the Kuskuskee Indians several times, and told us that the English were a bad People, who had begun the late War by taking several of their Kings Ships and Robbing them of their Merchant Vessels, which was the Occasion of bringing a War into this Country to disturb the Peace of their Children the Indians, that tho' the English had got some advantage over them the last War, yet they would soon retrieve their loss, as their King had made an Alliance lately with the Spaniards who had sent an Army to New Orleans to assist them to recover their losses in this Country; and that if their Children the Kuskuskees, who was head of all the Western Nations, and the Shawanoes would be strong and join together, and not suffer any of the English either to come down or up the River they should soon see their Old Fathers the French in Possession of every Fort they had formerly lost, and a at all those several meetings delivered them Belts of Wampum. They added that they did not hear the Sentiments of the Nations in that Country on this Subject, but that the Indians there seemed to be much on their Guard & was certainly of Opinion that the English, Six Nations, Shawanoes and Delawares would make War against them this Summer, on Account of what happen'd to the Shawanoes and you near the Ouabache last Year, and that they are certain the French are using every endeavour in their Power to Spirit up the several Nations, and persuade them that we intend entering into a War against them this summer.
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Delivered a Bunch of String Wampum |
Then the Red Hawk, Speaker, said,
Father,
You have now heard all the News that has come (page 3) to the knowledge of our People while in that Country, but since their Return, we have heard that the French has had so much influence over those Nations as to persuade a number of them to assemble at the Confluence of the Ouabache in order to intercept your passing that place, the Indians that informed me of this intelligence say there is four Hundred and Fifty Men there waiting for you.
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Gave a Belt |
Now Father, as we have acquainted you with all the News we know of, we will be glad to hear from you, to morrow, what you have to say to us.
July the 2nd At a Meeting with the Indians I made them the following speeches.
Children,
You Yesterday informed me of the News your People had brought from the Illinois Country, and what other News you had heard, with a good deal of openness, which is a Convincing proof to me of your sincerity and Regard for your Fathers the English. As to what the French say concerning our bringing on the late War in this Country to disturb your Peace and Tranquility, I must say is not so; and I can appeal to yourselves for the Truth of what I say, who are all well acquainted that for some years before your Fathers the English took up the Hatchet, they were Robbing and Plundering our traders as they were Passing to and from your Towns to supply you with necessaries and had engaged several Nations of Indians to join them, since that time tis' true Children we did whip them a little and took their Towns and City's from them with their Shipping; both by Sea and Land we have Conquered them. I am much surprised now to hear that they who are conquered by us and become our Subjects should take upon them, as a people, to speak to you, or any other Nation. But, Children, the French are a restless People, and take delight in Mischief, they want now to deceive you as they did before, and draw you into a War amongst one another, and with us, before you have enjoyed a years Peace.
I desire Children, that you may set still and attend to nothing but the good Work of Peace. If ever the French makes any Noise in this Country we will whip them again and bring them to a Sense of their Duty, while you our Children shall set quietly under the shade of the Tree of Peace, smoking your Pipes and looking on.
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Gave a Belt |
Children,
I am now to acquaint you that his Excellency theHonourable Major General Gage, and the Honourable Sir William Johnson, By order of their Master the King of Great Britain, your Father, hath sent me to proceed thro' your Country this year, to Visit all the Nations to theSun Setting, and to Ratify and Confirm a lasting Peace which we begun last year, and to make up any differences between your selves from the Accident that happen'd to me and your Deputies near the Ouabache that you and your Brethren the Indians of all Nations may enjoy the Blessings of Peace. And as you now see that your elder Brethren the Six Nations, and Wyandotts, have joined in this good Work, I expect that you, who are old Allies of those Western Nations, will join likewise, and give us your opinion how to proceed, and acquaint us with any intellegence you may have heard from those Nations who are your near Neighbours, that no time may be lost, nor no Measures left untry'd, for establishing a lasting union between us and those Western Nations, that they may enjoy Peace and Quiet to theSun setting, in the same manner all other Nations do to the sun rising, under theProtection of the King of Great Britain and his Subjects.
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A Belt |
July the 3rd No Business was done, as the Indians had taken what I had said under Consideration.
July 4th. The Six Nations and Wyandotts then spoke to the Shawanoes on a Belt, told them it lay now on them to exert themselves on this Occasions with the Western Nations, with whom they were long acquainted, that a lasting Peace might take place over all this Country, so that their Women and Children might sleep in quiet.
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Gave a Belt |
The Shawanoes made the following Answer Loawoghquea, Speaker,
Father,
We have taken into Consideration what you said to us the day before Yesterday, and likewise what our Brethren the Six Nations said to us, and we assure you that it gives us great pleasure to find you disposed for Peace, for we were told this spring that you were determined to take revenge of those Nations that Struck you and our Deputies last Year. (page 5) Tis' true Father, that all our Young Warriors would Join you was you going to War against them, but we are Tired of the late War which we have been involved in, and Pitty our Women and Children, and we desire you to pursue the good Work of Peace, and We assure you by this Belt of Wampum, that we will join you and our Brethren the Six Nations and Wyandotts with our best endeavours to bring about a lasting Peace with all Nations to the Sun Setting.
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Gave a Belt |
Father,
We have informed you that all those Nations are Alarmed and on their Guard, for fear that you and us are going to War against them, and a Number now watching your Motions at the mouth of the Ouabache, and as you have desired our opinion how to proceed on this good Work which you are going on, we will give you our Opinion, with Sincerity, and by this Belt we desire that you will not proceed in a hurry, but let us all Join in Council and send Deputies by Land to the Nations living on the Ouabache to inform them of the Business we are going upon, and invitee them to meet you at the Kuskuskees in order finally to settle all differences.- And Likewise send Deputies down the River before you to acquaint them that are Watching you at the Ouabache.- If you approve of this measures we hope every thing will be well and that you will be able to accomplish the Good Work of Peace in spight of all the Artifices of the French, who are doing every thing in their Power to make a New War between the Indian Nations where you are going, and you our Father.
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Gave a Belt |
July 5th.
After Consulting with Captain Gordon, the Six Nations, and Wyandotts I made the Shawanoes the following answer-
Children,
I Return you thanks for your openness and Cander in theSpeeches you made me Yesterday, and as I have nothing more at Heart than your Welfare, and th4e Peace of all Nations of Indians to the Sun setting, I approve much of your (page 6) Opinion and Advice, and will follow the measures you have proposed and desired.- You will prepare the necessary Messengers to go to the Ouabache Indians and likewise down the River to those which you say are watching our Motions at the Mouth of the Ouabache, that they may be well informed of our Intentions, and I desire that the Men you appoint to go, may be sensible, and Persons well known to those Nations to whom they may be sent.
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Gave a Belt |
After the meeting was over the Chiefs of theIndians requested that I would pitty their Women and Children, and give them some Cloathing, and their Young Men a little Powder, Lead, and Virmillion to hunt with.- That was it not for the Sickness that prevailed amongst them last Winter, they would not have been reduced to the necessity of asking this favour.-
On this request
I asked Captain Gordons Advice, and he was of Opinion with me, that their request should be granted, by allowing them a handsome Present as they are a People of considerable Consequence with the Western Nations, and had heastily come into the measures I had recommended to them.- On which I delivered them a Present among which was several Cegs of Rum.- all was well accepted of, and the returned their hearty thanks for what they had received.
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