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.
Intelligence of a
Council at the Elonies
(December 10, 1771)
Croghan, George in: The Papers
of Sir William Johnson,
vol. 8, pp. 339-340.
INTELLIGENCE OF A COUNCIL AT THE ELONIES
L. S.
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[Dec. 10, 1771] |
By a Shaway Indian who Lives at Detroit, and [ ]ned from the Elonies Cuntry the 10th of December, [ ] the following Intilegance.
That about 40 days ago the Commandant at the Elonies, call'd a Councle of all the Indian Nations thereabouts, and tould them by several Belts of Wampam, that the Cherrokees had Complained to the Governor of Mesisapa of the Ill usage they had Received from the English for Several years past; and Tould him that they had made warr on the English and desir'd his help; then with a very large warr belt Tould them that the Governor of Mesisapa had agreed to help the Cherrokees; and that the Chacktaws a g[ ] Nation had promised to send 2000 men Early in [the] Spring to help the Cherrokees to drive the English [across] the grate watter, and then desired them to prepare themselves to Joyne the Chacktaws for which they [would] Be well paid in goods, as he would have a grate quan[tity] Next Spring. The Severall Nations gave him for answer That they had been keept Several years at warr against the English by him [maineing the Commandant] and lost thier hunting, that now they had made paice with the English, and was determined to go no more to warr Against them, but return to their Antient employments Of hunting, and would take no part with the Cherrokees That the Cherrokees was thier Enemies, and formerly you uset to Send us to warr against them; you Say you sill have a grate many goods in the Spring we dont know how you will get them, you have [Tould] Use So this tow years past, but we never See any tha[t] have came, you always Said the English was Old women and could not fight, but we now know better, they have Bate you Every where, and is your masters; So Father we Will think for our selves, and listen no more to any Thing you Say to us; heer they returned the warr (page 340) belts and brook up the Councle without Saying a word more or waiteing to heer any thing the Commandant would Say to them; and in a fue days the Indians all Sett of ahunting.
This Indian informed that he See the Indians I sent from Pettsburgh to acquaint the Mamees That thier Brethren the English was going to take the French out of thier Cuntry; and to Settle there themselves, which he Says pleased the Indians much.- as they Said then they were Sure the English would Send Treaders to thier Cuntry.-
How far the above Intilegance may be depended on, I cant pretend to Say, But I am of Oppenion as the Cherrokees are Natural Enemies of the Westren Indians; that the French wont be able to get any nation that lives on the Ohio; or the lackes from the Elonies upwards to Joyne the Cherrokees, not Even the Shanneys, Whome I take to be the worst people this way at present
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GEO: |
CROGHAN |
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Deputy Agent |
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INDORSED: |
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[ ] |
TO AUGUSTINE PREVOST
Df.1
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Johnson hall Decb 11th 1771 |
[ ]
Sometime Since I was favored with your very polite and friendly Letter of Septr. last, Expressing the Sense you had of my little Acts of Friendship for Lieut. Prevost.
The Esteem I have always had for your Character & person would have
intitled him to any Acts of Civility in my power,
_______________________________
1 In handwriting of Guy Johnson.
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