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.
Instructions of the Marquis de Vaudreuil
(March 10, 1711)
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Vaudreuil, Marquis de in: "Memorandum to Serve as Instructions from the Marquis de Vaudreuil to the Officers and Voyageurs Despatched to Bring Down to Montreal the Savages of the Upper Country," Michigan Historical Collections, XXXIII, pp. 497-502. |
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. . .it has therefore appeared to us of the utmost importance, and we have thought it to be of consequence to the interests of the King's service, to bring the savages of the upper country allied to us down here, not only to obtain reinforcements of men in this way, but also to show the Iroquois that the moment they declare themselves against us the tribes of the upper country will fall upon them. . . .
. . . we have chosen the Sr d'Argenteuil, captain of the troops maintained by His Majesty in this country, to go to Fort Pontchartrain at Detroit and to Saquinau and to bring here as many of the savages as possible; and as our will is that he should also bring the Mississagues, Sauteurs and other savages whom he may meet, we have thought fit to send him by the French River, so that, on his way to Detroit Pontchartrain by Lake Huron, he may meet these savages who, according to the last news we received and (after) the attack of Paskou, have retired to these parts.
Since the Fort Pontchartrain at Detroit is now, as it were, the centre of affairs and the place where almost all the tribes assemble, because of the goods they find there and the ease with which they can go from that place to the English, the Sr d'Argenteuil should use every endeavor to attract all the savages here if possible, and particularly as many as he can of the chiefs and important men of the Outtavois and Hurons and also the warriors, and, in order to avoid the belts which the English might send in an underhand way among these savages, if they proceeded by the lakes, the Sr. d'Argenteuil will take them by the French River, informing them that that is the general place of assembly of all the tribes, and that there they will receive further orders from us; if we have any to send them before they arrive down here.
The Sr. d'Argenteuil will inform all these savages that our war with the English is not only a war of religion for those who love to pray, but also that it is to their interest not to allow the English to become the sole masters of this continent, because they would not fail to make slaves of them, both they and their wives and their children, as they have done in all the countries they have made themselves masters of, where there were any savages. This is a matter which must be quietly suggested, in private, and that without showing any fear.
When the Sr. de Vincenne reaches Detroit he will find out the place where the Miamis are now settled, and if he can go to it in his boat by the great river, which is in Lake Erie, he will go; if not, he will proceed overland, sending his boat, together with that of the Sr. Desliettes, to the St. Joseph River to wait for him. In this case the Sr. Desliettes will put a man from his boat into the Sr. de Vincenne's so that the said Sr. de Vincenne may take two of his men with him by land, to accompany him and to carry part of the King's presents, if necessary.
The Sr. de Vincenne, being fully aware of our intentions, and of the necessity that exists for bringing some of the Miamis to us here, so that the other tribes may not have reason to fear them during their absence, will leave no stone unturned to bring some of them down here, especially chiefs and men of importance; and if he thinks, when he is at Detroit, that the children of St. Souanne would be of use to him for the success of our orders, he may employ them, our will being that the. Sr. d'Argenteuil and the Sr. Dubuisson, to whom we are writing, should act in concert with him in this matter.
The Sr. de Vincenne will induce the Miamis and other savages whom he may meet, to come by the St. Joseph River, so as to avoid passing through the Lakes, for the reasons we have stated above, and also that they may join the rest of the tribes who are to go by the French River, in accordance with our orders, to come down here.
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