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.
Haldimand to Hamilton
(Montreal, Aug. 26, 1778)
Haldimand in: Haldimand
Papers, [B 121, p. 32] and
in Michigan Hist. Colls.,
vol. 9, pp. 402-407.
with an account of the Expenses or Disbursement, which the sum of money then drawn is intended to satisfy or discharge.
Sending copies of all Vouchers to Mr. Dunn the Paymaster for this Department to be filed in his office, the several officers keeping the originals of such said vouchers in their own possession to serve them when they shall be called upon to settle their accounts at the Treasury or as it shall hereafter be directed.
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I am Sir &c. |
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(Signed) |
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F. H. |
[B 121, p 25.]
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MONTREAL the 10th August 1778 |
SIR- This letter will be delivered to you by a Mr Bellefenille, who is of a respectable family in this Country, has served in the Canadian Troops employed by the King in this Rebellion & given demonstration of Zeal and attachment to the cause of Government; but now thinks it will be more advantageous to him to seek his fortune in the Upper Country; and I beg to recommend him to your good offices if anything happens in which you can be of use to him.
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I am Sir &c. |
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(Signed) |
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F. H. |
[B 121, p. 32.]
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MONTREAL 26th August 1778 |
SIR- Your letter of the 6th instant enclosing Mr. Rochblaves and your other of the 8th have been received.
In the present circumstances of the affairs you relate, it becomes highly necessary to employ every means which offer, if not to retrieve the injury done, at least to stop its further progress, in which, it is not, so much the expense itself, as the care to prevent its being in vain and thrown away, which ought to be attended to. The expediency of supporting the Ouabash Indians is very evident & I cannot therefore but approve of such steps as you shall find necessary to take for this purpose: And I must observe that, from the great expense to which Government has been put for the Indians in general, it might be expected that some of them might easily be induced to undertake expeditiously to clear all the Illinois of these Invaders, and if the efforts of the parties, which you send out and have proposed to send out to the Ohio, were properly directed, the retreat of the Rebels and especially the communications & intercourse which they want to establish by that river with the French & Spaniards might be so disturbed, if not entirely cut off, (page 403) as to render that object of their expedition & attempts upon this occasion entirely fruitless: & I think that unless your parties shall be able to fall upon the Vessels, boats and parties of the Rebels as they pass there is no other important service which they can render to government in that part.
The situation of the Ouabash Indians is very favourable for this design, to which all the parties you send out from Detroit, would also contribute best, as it appears to me, by acting in concert with those, as they might together fill all the Lower parts of the Ohio with bodies of savages that such constantly succeed each other, and at no time have the river without a force which would be ready to fall upon all the Rebels that appear there; and as a resource from whence the greatest benefit may arise. I must recommend to You to endeavour by Cypher and every means in your power to communicate with Mr Stuart or some of his assistants among the Cherokee and Chaktaw nations, as, if the Southern Nations could be engaged to enter into the same views, the object of all the Indians directed to one point, there would be little doubt of their succeeding; and that the most essential services might be derived from the efforts of the Savages, which when unconnected and upon uncertain and different plans can never reasonably be expected from them.
I shall reinforce the Garrison of Detroit from Niagara, by as many men as, after a party which I am sending to strengthen that place arrives, can possibly be spared which I fear will not exceed fifty or sixty in number and orders are given for every diligence and expedition being used in forwarding provisions to Detroit in like manner as to the other posts, the difficulty attending the Transports of which provisions, and the number of places to supply render it necessary that I should recommend to your particular care to be as sparing of them, as the circumstances you shall be under will possibly admit.
Fearing to distress the King's Service I shall detain Mr. Bently at this place, upon the representation you make of his being a dangerous person; but I could wish you would furnish me with some more substantial evidence of his guilt, than has yet appeared, as, in the opinion of Lawyers, this report of a Negro and an Indian seems to meet no great degree of credit: I had permitted him to send up one batteau of goods, in like manner as other Traders, which goods are intended for the Illinois. I must therefore desire you will be particularly attentive to the conduct of the people he employs and to the destination of the goods, perhaps by a prudent observing of what shall ensue from these, proofs may be obtained to confirm our suspicions, and enable us to punish him if he deserves it, or to clear his character and to put it in my power to make him the best possible amends if he should be innocent.
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