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, July 4, 1774)
Johnson, Sir William in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 12,
pp. 1113-1117.
keep up their Spirits, for that they will by talking big carry all their points.
I heard of Capt. Campbells1 appointment some time ago, and it is generally believed by all who know persons and characters in Canada, that the whole would fall under the partial management of Mr. St. Luc,2 of whom I cant help entertaining strong Suspicions which have indeed been lately corroborated.- Some Gentleman, or Gentlemen have a high opinion of the merit of certain Canadians and I fear the Government have more than once been deceived in that particular.
I am much obliged to You for the generous part You acted on the occasion, and I dare say that every disinterested Man who knows Indian Affairs must applaud it.- I mentioned in my last that two Senecas were in Confinement for the Murder of some French Men in August last; General Haldimand was of my opinion (for a variety of reasons too tedious now to enter upon) that on their making restitution for the Robbery they might be discharged, in deed if tryed there was no proof, & then no restitution could be expected, I find it is likewise approved of at Home by letters from the Secretary of State. I found it extremely difficult to bring the Senecas to deliver up their People, but I thought it a wholesome precedent, I had since that three Meetings, and once more dispatched Kayashota the noted Ohio Cheif on an Embassy in which he was Joyned by some principal Sachims, to bring the troublesome Tribes about the Ohio, the Ouabache &ca. to make amends for their past irregularities. He had acquitted Himself very faithfully, & much to my Satisfaction on ye. former occasion and I had good reason to hope for better Success from that on which He was lately dispatched, When Just on his Arrival, at Fort Pitt, where he had convened some of the neighbouring Tribes, & was busied in bringing them in to Joyn his undertaking, the disagreable news was brought there that Cressop3 (page 1115) with others had causelessly surprised, & Murdered near 30 Indians partly Shawanese, but principally of the Six Nations. This Obstruction to his Embassy appeared to give him much concern, but He still persisted in using all his endeavours to Satisfy them Indians and confine their Attention to the Object of his Journey, & has Since proceeded on the way to the places directed with a Body of 50 Warriors, least the Shawanese who Seem most exasperated should molest him on his Journey. I will not at present enter into a more particular detail but only observe, that notwithstanding all that has been done by my Resident there, with the Officer Commanding the Militia & others, & notwithstanding the moderation shewn on the Occasions both by the Six Nations, and Delawares, the Shawanese publickly threatned to have ample Satisfaction and the Cheif on being told at the conclusion of a Speech, that they must not take amiss the Act of a few desperate young Men, answered, "I likewise hope that You will not be displeased at what our Young Men are now doing, or shall do against your People." This lawless Banditti according to Custom fled, after doing the mischeif, the Frontier People to the amount of many Hundred Families have abandoned their Settlements. Some of the Traders have been driven out of the Country, some were Saved by Kayashota & the well affected but a considerable Number were detained by the Shawanese, and it is believed are put to Death. mean time nothing but disorders are committing on the Frontiers, and everry thing tends to a War with the Indians in that Quarter.- The Irregularities committed on the Frontiers since You went for England were indeed so many & encreased so fast that they alone would be sufficient to bring on a War without the recent provocation the Indians received from Cressop, for Numbers of these Ruffians are not contented with Settlements, or too lazy to cultivate Lands, but live by the Chace & thereby interfere more with the Indians, & considerable Bodies of the former have not long since gone down the Ohio, below the limits either of the purchase, or those prescribed by his Majesty, and relying on the impotence of the Several Governmts. are regardless of any restraint, and are daily (page 1116) guilty of Robberies & Murders, and however fair some of the Nations have spoken on the Subject of Cressops behaviour, I am persuaded it is much more generally resented than was thought.- The Six Nations imediately dispatched Messengers to me Setting forth that as they were preparing Skins to make restitution the disagreable news reached them, which occasioned the Warriors to request that we would consider their losses, & deliver up the two Prisoners, One of whom is past recovery, and 'tis by them Suspected that we had him poisoned in Jail, they likewise gave me notice that the Chief Warriors & Sachims of the whole Six Nations would be here with all dispatch on business of the greatest importance in consequence of which above two Hundred are now here, & and the rest on their way down. so soon as they are all assembled I shall use my endeavors to shew them that the Artifices of the Shawanese for some time past has in a great measure occasioned these Disorders, and do all in my power to divert the Storm. It is a verry critical period, but I find many of them inclined to Suspect the Shawanese, and I must avail myself of Everry thing at such a Juncture, which requires the utmost exertion of my Influence &ca., at the same time I have the mortification to find that my Schemes & endeavours for preserving or restoring tranquility are frequently defeated by the gross Irregularities of our worst Enemies the Frontier Banditti.-
I did not intend at first to take up your time at this season with so long a letter, but I found it necessarry to give You a Sketch of the late & present State of Indian Affairs, and these are only heads. So much trouble & attention has greatly effected my Health which was much improved last Summer, but I must make a Sacrifice to the Urgency of the times. I beg to have Your directions & Sentiments respecting the matters herein contained, and I am with the Utmost regard,
|
Dear Sir, |
|
|
|
|
Your most sincere Friend |
|
|
|
W. JOHNSON |
|
His Excellency
LT. GENERAL GAGE
___________________________________
1 (4, p. 1114) Captain John Campbell, appointed manager of Indian affairs in Canada.
2 (5, p. 1114) Luc de Chapt de La Corne St. Luc.
3 (6, p. 1114) Captain Michael Cresap, son of Thomas Cresap.
Return
to TOC, p. 22
Continue
to next part of Miami Collection
[return to Miami
Collection Menu]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home]
Last updated: 20
March 2001
URL: http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/home.html
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1996, Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University