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.
Croghan to Gage
(January 16, 1767)
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Croghan, George in: Lansdowne MSS., 48:147, Alvord & Carter, British Series, Vol. II, Illinois Historical Collections, Vol. 11, pp. 487-495, and in William L. Clements Library, Gage Papers, American Series, vol. 61. |
Sir
Having finished my Journey to the Illinois Country, and being returned hither, I now proceed, Agreeable to my Instructions, from your Excellency, and the Honourable Sir William Johnson Baronet, To report , such matters and observations, as occurr'd to me, during my negotiations with these Natives.
Upon my Arrival at Fort Pitt, I found there, a great number of Six Nations, Shawanese, Delawares, and Hurons from Sanduskey, who had waited for some time to see me, & I soon discovered, that, they were greatly Chagrined, on account of the Murder, of some of their people, on the Frontiers of our Governments, and on the River Ohio,- which rendered it indisponsably necessary for me, with the approbation of the Commanding Officer, to open a Conference with them, and thereby, to remove disgusts, which appeared to me, to be of a very Serious, and Important nature, to His Majesty's Colony's & In this, I was lucky enough to succeed.
From Fort Pitt, I proceeded to the Mouth of the River Sciota, in Company with Captain Gordan, and there, I was met by a considerable number of the Shawanese, Delawares, and Sandusky Indians, in Short, by all the Chiefs, and Warriors, of each Nation. And understanding that Twenty of the Shawanese had Just returned from the Illenois Country, I Assembled all the Chiefs &Warriors with them, in Council, & desired to hear, what News they brought from thence- They very frankly Communicated it to me, And as I then Transmitted it to your Excellency, from Sciota, I must now beg leave to referr you to it. From Sciota I found it absolutely expedient to send Deputy's of these Nations, by Land, to the Wabash and Illinois Indians in order to remove dangerous Jealousies and Suspicians which the French had Industriously propagated against us, in so much, that these Nations were made to believe we were coming with a numerous Army to cut them off and by Violence to retain their Country.- Having Settled matters with these Nations and having thus dispatched the Deputy's to the Wabash and Illinois Indians, I proceeded with Caution, to the falls of the Ohio, And from thence, I sent forward some Runners to the Mouth of the Wabash, to discover whether the Deputys I had forwarded from Sciota, had removed the Insidious Jealousys (page 2) and designs of the Indians whom the French had Collected there to intercept me. They met me near the mouth of the Wabash and represented to me That the several Partys of Warriors, which had been Collected there, were returned, they believed, to their Towns.- Upon which, I dispatched over Land a Deputation of the Tribes which went down with me from Fort Pitt and Sciota, to the Kaskaskeys; desiring that the Chiefs and Principle Warriors of the Nations thereaway, might be collected against my Arrival, so that no delay might be given to the Service I was going.
I arrived at the Kaskaskeys on the 19th of August, and there found a very considerable number of Indians, of different Nations, Collected together, who received me- with the Deputy's, of the Six Nations, Shawanese, Delawares, and Hurons, with great kindness.
On the 20th I set forward for Fort Chartres, in order to know of Colonell Reed, when it would be Agreeable to him, to open a Conference with the several Nations.- And to obtain, of him, and of the Commissary of Indian Affairs, every Information I could respecting the disposition & expectation of the Indians.
Having finished this business, I returned to the Kaskaskeys when the Chiefs of the Indians, Assembled there, Called me and the Deputies from the Six Nations, Shawanese, Delawares, and Hurons, to a Council; where, after the usual Ceremonies in such Meetings were over, they proceeded to an Adjustment of the difference between the Western & Northern Confederacys Occasioned by the Warriors of the former Striking and Plundering me and the Deputies of the latter the last year at the Mouth of the Wabash.- And in order that a safe Communication might be kept up, from Fort Pitt - Detroit, and other Northern Posts, with the Illinois and an extensive Commerce might be carried on with the numberous Nations. And for the general Good of His Majesty's Indian Interest.- I Judged it indispensably requisite for me, to Interpose, as a mediator, between these two great Confederacys.- And my mediation was Successfull on the following Terms.-
First. That all Hostilities should immediately cease between them.-
Secondly. That the Western Confedrecy Should Acknowledge their Transgressions in Striking and Robbing me, and the Deputation from the Northern Tribes, the year before.
Thirdly. That the Western Confederacy shall also Acknowledge themselves to be the younger Brothers to the Northern and promise that an inviolable friendship Should Subsist between them, And that they would follow the Advice of their Elder Brothers upon all future Occasions, And take care that their Warriors Should behave in a better manner than they had done.
Affairs thus being fully Settled between the two Confederacys, I acquainted them that on the 24th I should open a Conference with them at Fort Chartres.
They Accordingly met me and then I informed them of the several matters with which I was Charged by your Excellency and Sir William Johnson, And I have now the pleasure of Acquainting you That I Ratified and Confirmed a Peace with the several Nations on the following Terms.
First they Acknowledged the King of Great Britain to be their Father and to have the Sovereignty of their Country.
Secondly. They engaged to deliver up to the Officers of His Majestys Garrisons such English Prisoners as they had in their Country and to return the Horses which they had Stolen from the Troops of Fort Chartres.
Thirdly. They Agreed that His Britanick Majesty's Troops might when ever they thought proper Occupy such Posts where the French had before, or make others, for the Security of Trade whereever his Majesty Judged best.
Fourthly. They Agreed that they had Sold Lands to the King of France to erect Forts or Posts on, and also Lands to his Subjects; for all which they had received a consideration. That these Lands they Agreed the King of France had a right to cede to the King of Great Britain, But denyed that He had any right to cede any other part of their Country to his Britanick Majesty. And to prove the truth of their Allegations, they referred to Several Treatys between them and the King of France's officers since their first entering their Country as then deposited in Fort Chartres.
Fifthly. They informed me that they had never refused to make Room in their Country for any of the King of Frances Subjects to Settle on. Neither had they any Objection at any time to grant any part of their Country to their Father the Kind of England. Provided they received a proper consideration for it. They sayd that the Great Giver of Life had given them that Country and the Wild Beasts thereon for their support and that their forefathers had come thr'o that Land many hundred years before any white man had crossed the great Waters, wherefore they looked upon themselves as the sole owners of it. And expected that no part of it Should be taken from them before they were paid for it.
Sixthly. They Agreed to keep the Roads of Communication open both by Land and Water Thr'o all the Country ceded by the King of France to the King of Great Britain and hereafter to Trade with his Britanick Majestie's Subjects, Provided they Sold to them as Cheap as the French.
And Lastly. that they would hold fast The Covenant of Peace and friendship on their parts, while the Sun & Moon gave light and the Waters run- in Conficence That due care would be taken by their new Father, the King of Great Britain, and his Subjects, that came into their Country, to maintain the same, on their parts, and that their Father would in every respect Treat them as kindly when they came to Trade or to Council as the French King had always done whereby their Women and Children might enjoy the Blessings of Peace.
Having thus Settled matters with the several Nations- I next proceeded to enquire into ye nature of Trade.- The manner it was Conducted and the Annual valuation of it. Upon our taking possession of Fort Chartres, The most considerable Trading people that were Settled at Kaskaskeys, Fort Chartres & Kahaki, removed to the opposite side of the Mississipi from whence they have constantly sent Traders up the Mississipi as far as the falls of St Anthony, up the Illionis River to its Sources, and even up the Wabash and Ohio Rivers; by which means They have carried on a most profitable, Tho' to us an illicit and very Impolitick Trade in that Country. Impolitick It is to the last Degree- for whilst the French are provided (page 5) with French Manufactories from New Orlance and are permitted to go into the Indian Country to Trade (as they now do) I am convinced it will be very difficult, if not Impossible, except at a vast annual expence in Presents, To retain the Indians in our Interest. For they Spare no pains to Inflame their minds with the Strongest prejudices against us. They having from their first Settlement there carried on a very Lucrative Trade and therefore are very Impatient at any opposition from us.
From the best Intilligence I could obtain both at the Illinois and at New Orleans, I am thoroughly convince that the Skins and Furrs received there and Shiped to France, are not worth less than Eighty thousand pounds Sterling, one years, with another.
Of How great Importance a Trade of this very extensive nature carried on with British Manufactoreis only, & expecially when Dutys to a great Amount would be Annually received from it, much more than Sufficient to defray the expences of Treatys with the Natives. I say of how much Consequence a Trade of this sort is to the Kingdom of Great Britain I submit to your Excellency's Judgment & especially when it is recollected That after the Conquest of Canada The French of the Illinois had so much Address as to poison even the minds of all the Indians residing on the Lakes and of the Shawonese and Delawares against us. And from thence to Supply them not only with Cloathing, but Ammunition, to prosecute their dreadfull War against our Colonies.
In order to remove the present dangerous & Clandestine Trade Carried on by the French, I know of no Method, Effectually, to do it, except by Erecting a Fort immediately at the Mouth of the Illinois River, whereby they could be hindred from going into the Indian Country, And the British Traders would enjoy a very Valuable Trafick from the numerous Indians who would come down to our Posts, from Lake Michigan, and the great Tract of Country lying between it and the Missisipi.
I am also of opinion that a Post should be Erected on the Wabash from whence the five Nations, who are Settled on that River, may be Safely Supplied with British Goods, And all the French, except those who become English Subject be prevented from Trading there.
During my Stay at new Orleans I made particular Enquiry in regard to their Trade and discovered That the principal (page 6) Merchants there purchased quantitys of Indian Goods from Mobile and Pensacola and thereby were enabled to carry on their Contraband Trade in the Illinois Country.
This is certainly very unjustificable as it will not only enable the French to rival us in the Furr Trade in Europe (the English Merchants in Mobile and Pensacola being never paid in Peltrys) But thereby the Crown looses a great Revenue which She otherwise would derive from it If British Merchants themselves only carry on that Commerce.
Finding when I was at the Illinois that a Strong Connection Subsisted between the several Indian Nations who resided on his Majestys side of the Missisipi and the Missouri and Arkansa Nations who dwelt on the other, I Judged it, for the good of the Service, to send a Deputation from the Kaskaskeys to inform them of the Ratification of Peace between the Western Confedracy and myself, in behalf of his Majesty, and the Northern Confedracy, and to assure them that a free Trade would be allowed to them with His Majesty's Subjects at Fort Chartres, or at any other Posts possessed by His Majestys Troops in the Illinois Country, and on the River Missisipi.
Thus, Sir, I have, in as Brief, and yet in as Circumstantial a manner as possible, communicated to your Excellency such maters as have Occured and such Observations as I have made, during my Tour from Fort Pitt to the Illinois, and from thence, to New Orleans.
The taking possession of Fort Chartres had been attended with great expence, as well as my negotiations this Year To remove the uneasiness of the Shawanese on Account of the Murder of their people. And in Consolidating a Peace with our numerous new Allies in the Illinois Country. But when it is considered That that Country is the Frontier of all our Canadian Conquests, Is a place of a most extensive Trade, whereby the French are able to rival us in the Furr business and with all, is capable (if possessed by them) to involve all these Colonys into the very heavy expence and Calamities of repeated Indian Warrs.
I Humbly apprehend that the retention of it, and its Valuable Commerce, will amply compensate for the expences already, and what may hereafter, be incurred, by the Nation. And especially, if the Kings Ministers should think proper to form a Government there whereby not only Fort Chartres (page 7) and all the Post in the Illinois could be Supplied very Cheaply with Provisions, But those down the Missisipi, even as low as the Netches and at the Iverville. Indeed, as to the two latter, I am perswaded they could be supplied much Cheaper and better down Stream from the Illinois, than from Mobile or Pensacola.
I Cannot conclude this Report without Acquainting your Excellency with the Spirit Zeal and firmness which the Deputation from the Six Nations, Shawanese, Delawares, and Hurons (who Accompanied me to the Illinois) uniformly manifested for the British Interest; And therefore, as they Lost all the Hunting Season, in our Service, I must in Justice to them and as a matter of necessary policy, Earnestly recommend That you Order the Commander of Fort Pitt and the Commissary of Indian affairs, immediately, to make them a Suitable Present for their Services.
I am with great Respect - Sir-
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Your Excellency's most obedt |
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Geo: Croghan |
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New York
January 16th, 1767
The Names of the several Nations of Indians with whom I held the Conference at Fort Chartres in the Illinois Country.-
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Kaskaskeys, |
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Peorias, |
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With the Deptys of the Six Nations Delawares, Shawanese, and Hurons, which Accompanied me from Fort Pitt and Sciota.- |
The above mentioned twelve Nations of Indians composed the Western Confedracy in the Illinois Country. The French during the late War, Divided them into Twenty six Tribes and appointed a Chief to each Tribe so that now they consider themselves as so many distinct Nations which makes it more difficult to Transact business with them. Since that Time many of the Tribes have divided from the rest, left their Old Settlements, and have settled in other parts of the Country.
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