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, April 25, 1768)
Turnbull, George in: William
L. Clements Library, Gage
Papers, American Series.
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Apr. 25, 1768 |
Sir
I was favoured with your Letter's of the 21st of Janry and 5th and 22d of February the 15th Instant.- The Backwardness of the Season. The straits of Lake Huron as well as the Long Point on Lake Erie being still chock'd up with Ice has hinderd our Vessels from sailling out so Early as we Expected, and it is the opinion of Every body that they will Scarcely dare Venture on the Lakes for Ten or Twelve days to come, and the small Remainder of Pork in store turning out worse and worse every day made it absolutely necessary for us to Purchase Some meat in the Settlement and have given orders to the Commissary to buy it agreable to the Inclosed Coppy of the Opinion of the officers of this Garrison on that Subject, in which is very Particularly Explained, the State of Provisions as Michilmakinac and this Place.- The Rations of meat alone Viz one pound of Beef, or Twelve ounces of Pork cannot be purchased Cheaper than at one shilling New york Currency.- I Likewise Transmitt you the master Rolls of both Vessels. I Beg Pardon for not Sending Sooner Coppys of their Inventorys when Deliver'd over to the Contractors, as well a Report of their State and Condition all which I hope you will find Satisfactory.-
The Expence of Repairing Battoes used to be Included with the Disbursements for the Naval Department. I have Two men now Employed in that Service which when finish'd I shall be under a necessity to draw for- in Delivering over the Naval Stores I Reserved as much Pitch and Oakhum as will be Sufficient for the Battoes for this Season. But it will be necessary to make Some Provision for what will be wanted next Spring, and at a moderate Computation the Two Ports Detroit and Michilimakinac will have use for Rather more than Two Barrels of Pitch yearly and Oakhum in Proportion- our Boats in General are old and very much Patched. Those built in Canada are fittest for carrying wood as well as Provisions if Captain Maxwel could send us Three this Fall by the Traders who come up. I Believe they would be Glad of the opportunity to Save them the Expence of Purchasing Canoes- I have never been able to Catch any (page 2) of those People who Runs away from the Settlement although M. Dejean Lately Pursued Two so close upon Lake Erie that they got into a Creek and took to the woods. He brought back their baggage and Some merchandise which He put into the hands of their Creditors.- I thought it necessary to fill up Some Vacant Commissions of the Militia and calling their officers together Gave them orders agreable to the Inclosed coppy Relative to the putting a Stop to Such abuses of People Flying of[f] from the Settlement and Told them that for the future I should Depend upon them for that Service. And flatter'd myself that they wou'd give me an opportunity of making a favorable Report to you of their Dilligence- as some irregularity had happened for want of a Regular Register. I thought it necessary to Publish an order on that account to Prevent frauds or Clandestine Bargains.-
I send you Coppys of Some more affidavits Relative to the murder of Clark, and that one of Maies against Cuillerie which indeed I should have Sent last year. I was fully Convinced very Early that it would have been better to have let that affair lay Dormant, yet which way would I have acted otherwise, when Maies was brought before me by the Uncle of the Deceased.- I shall strictly adhere to Treat both the New Subjects and Indians with the Greatest Lenity.- There is Less appearance of any Disturbance now, than there was some Time ago.- Pondiac has Winter'd on the Ouabache a Little beyond the Village of Ouyachlanon. as Mr. Hay has Sent him a message Lately, I hope we shall soon hear from him.- By late acounts from Fort Pitt there was nothing New that way. Excepting the affair of Stubs, which it Seems Colonel Croghan Expected Soon to Settle as a Council- to be held there whenever the Navigation is open the Sloop will proceed to the Barr on Lake Sinclair with a Loading for the Schooner so that neither men nor Provisions shall be Exposed.- Examples Teaches us that Indians are more apt to Strike when they Profess the Greatest friendship. And we shall always keep the strictest watch over them, and Expose ourselves as Little as Possible.- as the Paragraph of your Letter of the 3d of September Relative to the wharf mentiond that you would Readily Enter into agreement with Lieut. McAlvin. He is very sorry that He has missunderstood you, but at any Rate we would not have (page 3) begun it before the End of August as it will be more Safe at that time to Detach Partys to cut wood, as the Indians will then be Dispersing themselves to their Different Hunting Ground, and if you chuse it that wharf may still be done before winter.- This moment there is a man arrived from S. Vincent on the Ouabache, and another from Ouyachlanon, who Report that all is Quiet in that Quarter. I am with the Utmost Respect
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Sir |
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Your most obedient and |
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Geo. Turnbull |
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Detroit April 25th 1768
To Major General Gage
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