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
(Johnson Hall, Dec. 12, 1766)
Johnson, Sir William in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 12,
pp. 227-229.
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INDORSED: |
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Copy ./. |
TO THOMAS GAGE
A. L. S.1
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Johnson Hall 12 thDecbr. 1766 |
DEAR SIR
I am just favoured with yours of the 1st. Inst.2 and as some of the money is due to persons at New York Shall be glad to have the liberty of drawing upon You for a part, and could wish that the remainder was forwarded agreable to your intentions.-
I have sundry letters from the Commissary at Detroit, Major Rojers3 and Capt. Spicemaker4 at Michilimacinac concerning the Steps taking by the Spaniards & ye French their Agents to rekindle the Spirit of discord amgst. ye Indians, Capt. Spicemaker who seems to have had the most circumstantial Information writes me, that one Chevalier5 from St. Josephs Sent there one La Grandeur, formerly a Serjt. in the french Service with a letter to the Comdt.,- Who told him that Just before he left St. Josephs the son of an Indian Cheif arrived there & shewed Mr. Chevalier 7 branches of Wampum each about a yard long, which he said he had received from a French Comdt. on the Mississipi called Monsr. St. Ange6 who had directed him to carry them to the Indian Cheif called Wasson near Detroit to be divided amongst (page 228) the 7 Nations, acquainting each that their Father the King of France was still alive, & had sent a great Number of French & Spanish Soldiers under the Comd. of a Spanish Officer at St. Anges Post called Tencourt & Missaire, that therefore they should hold themselves in readiness to attend ye first notice.
That La Grandeur verrily beleived the Troops were arrived there, & that the French who were formerly in the Colony Service, were inlisted into that of Spain, & that he was ignorant of their intentions but by all acctts. they amounted to 12 or 1500 Men, & that Monsr. St. Ange had sent 15 Indian Cheifs to meet them with a Grand Cheif called Mivanon.- The Informant added that all ye Warriors about St. Joseph had been in readiness last Summer past to go & attack Detroit, but that Chevalier had persuaded them to lay it aside alledging that they had heard false reports, and that he hoped shortly to give them the Truth, notwithstanding which they remained verry ill disposed, & that Chevalier has a good deal of Interest from his Connections with them.- Capt. Spicemaker also adds that he has enquired amongst the French Inhabitants whom he can best depend upon, & finds that he bears a verry honest character.- Lt. Hay7 Indn. Comry. writes that one of Pondiacs nephews has informed him that Wawiaghtanon Cheif named the Goose with some Miamis brought two Belts to his Uncle from the French & the Akansas, demanding why he had buried the Hatchet, and desireing he would take it up again & keep it bright till ye Spring, when it should be used with more vigour than ever, that Pondiac refused the Belts & exhorted his People not to notice those who wanted to lead them astray, as he was resolved never more to listen to any thing but what he heard from the English thro me. Mr. Hay adds likewise that he has heard of 7 Belts being sent from the Mississipi amgst. the Nations abt. Detroit & Michilimacinac to the foregoing purport. Major Rojers confirms the foregoing, Says that a Saquena Cheif has promised to deliver up one of the Belts sent to his People, & that he has demanded the rest, but that some will not deliver them up. (page 229) He adds that the release of the St. Joseph Inds. has been of Service, & that he is certain the late Treaty at Ontario prevented a War. I have sundry other Acctts. to much the same effect from different Quarters, but hope Mr. Croghans presence may be of Service, on whose return shall be better informed.- I cannot think that any such number of Troops as is before mentioned, have gone up the Mississipi, but indeed I have verry little doubt of ye rest touching the Steps taken by the French &ca., to keep up that Spirit of disaffection amongst the Indians, until they may be able to create new troubles in America. This was their practice long before the last War, and will ever be so, whilst they have the Smallest connections with North America, or so long as the most distant hopes remain for their getting any footing in it on a future Rupture.-
I am verry certain that Our Traders will either send or sell their peltry to those that will send it down the Mississipi for higher prices, and I am well assured that the French trade in many places far East of that River, of which there are sundry Acctts. & proofs.- Unless something be imediately done by the Government for effectually preventing these abuses, & supporting Officers of their own creating, the Good of the public must be sacraficed to the Interest of a few Traders, and it will not be in the power of Government to effect this, if they give them time to draw up Arguments against it, & to raise an Army of People in Trade in Support of an Irregular & dangerous Commerce.
I enclose you Baynton & Whartons Acctt. As You told me it might be sent seperate, otherwise I should have included it in my next Acctts., please to let me know whether I have understood You, and beleive me to be
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Always with
perfect esteem |
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W. JOHNSON |
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His Excellency GENRL. GAGE-
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1 In William L. Clements Library.
2 Ante pp. 225-27.
3 Major Robert Rogers.
4 Captain Frederick Christopher Spiesmacher.
5 Louis Chevallier.
6 Captain Louis St. Ange de Belrive.
7 Lieutenant Jehu Hay, commissary at Detroit.
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