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.
Ramezay to the French Minister
(November 3, 1715)
Ramezay in: Wisconsin Historical
Collections, XVI, pp. 322-326.
MONSEIGNEUR- I had the honor of informing you, on Aug. 16th last, that Sieur dupuy had gone among the ouyatanons, at the beginning of this year, to get corn and to conciliate that nation, whose minds were somewhat alienated from us, and also to cement the newly-made peace between them and the illinois. He brought with him two principal chiefs of that nation, and three of the miamis of the ouabeche, for the purpose of bringing about an interview with Monsieur de louvigny.
. . .
One of the principal chiefs of the ouyatanons has died at destroit; all the military Ceremonies usual on such occasions (page 323) were performed for him, a thing which greatly pleases the Savages.
After writing my Letter, I have just learned, from letters brought to me by Sieur de Bellestre, that Sieurs de maunoir and dudoncour, from whom I had had no news since Their departure from destroit, had, after ten days' march on foot, reached the miamis of the ouabeche; and that on the way they had also lost by measles the ouyatonon chief and the three ouabeche chiefs, and had found no one in the village, because it had been reported that they were coming to devour the savages. They had great difficulty in reassuring the latter, but finally drew from them a promise that all those in condition to march would go to the Rendezvous with Sieur de Vincenne- to whom my son de maunoir, having still to travel a long way overland, sent the munitions of war, to be taken by canoes to chicagou on leaving that village. The measles had already attacked the savages.
Sieurs de maunoir and dudoncour were eight days in reaching the ouyatanons, whom they had notified of their coming, but who received them very ill, as they had learned of the death of Their chiefs, and even, after the fashion of the savages, accused the French of having killed them- saying that they were coming to mend matters with words, but that this would not satisfy them. Finally, monseigneur, by force of insinuation and flattery, the confidence of some was restored, and these promised to go to chicagou on the return of their people from the chase. They asked to have one of the officers remain with Them; this was Sieur dudoncour. Their request was the more readily granted as it was feared that they might not march unless an officer remained at their head. Their village was expected to contribute at least two hundred men.
Sieur de maunoir set out for the Illinois on July 24th, leaving orders to Sieur dudoncour to be at chicagou August 10th. The measles, which is pernicious to the savages, so increased among the ouyatanons that there were from fifteen to twenty deaths a day. Then one of their chiefs arrived, who, to prevent them from marching, said that the yrokois were going to attack Their village. They told Sieur dudoncour that, in place (page 324) of the two Hundred men they had promised, they could only furnish twenty or thirty, among whom were the two principal chiefs. With this small number he set out, having himself been attacked by the fever for several days; and undertook that journey of 130 Leagues through the midst of the prairies, having only dried meat and very little water for so Long an expedition.
The savages did not dare to hunt on account of the reynards, whose trails they found leading to destroit or saginan. To complete their misfortunes, they found no one at the Rendezvous at chicagou; nor were the canoes there which they had promised to send from Michilimakinac, to inform them regarding the march against the reynards from that point. Two of the ouyatanon savages who had come with Sieur dudoncour having been attacked by the measles, the others returned to their village, so that Sieur dudoncour Remained alone with the five Frenchmen. After waiting four or five days beyond the time fixed, he set out to meet my son maunoir. The savage serving as guide went astray, so that no meeting was effected, and they went to le Rocher,1 among the illinois.
My son maunoir, on leaving the ouyatanes, had gone to that same place. He sent bizaillon to announce him; the latter acquitted himself very well in that affair and has great influence among the Illinois- who, to the number of 200, came out two Leagues to meet my son and carried him to their village (their greatest mark of honor), to show their joy at his arrival. He only Remained there long enough to collect 450 men with whom he went to chicagou, on Aug. 17th, and was much mortified to find no one there, and to get no news from michilimakinac. He sent scouts out over thirty Leagues, both to get news and to keep the savages from getting restless. These scouts returning on the 28th, without having discovered any trail, it became impossible any long to retain them, and Sieur de maunoir was obliged to return to Le Rocher, and join Sieur dudoncour.
You will observe, monseigneur, that but for this untimely death of the myami and ouyatanon chiefs and the epidemic of (page 325) measles, it would have been possible to obtain more than 800 men from those two nations, as you will recognize, Monseigneur, by the letter of Sieur de vinsenne, a copy of which I have the honor to send you.
. . .
(page 326) Sieur de bellestre has informed me that, in order to reassure the minds of the ouyatanons, my son has led them to hope that Monsieur the Marquis de Vaudreuil would, in accordance with their request, send them an officer and a missionary- which seems a matter of importance, both to dissipate their fear of the Yrokois, and to maintain the peace which they have made with the Illinois.
In allowing them this officer and this missionary, they must, if possible,
be persuaded to transfer Their village to Chicagou, so as to remove them 130
Leagues from the English. Sieur dupuy, who was there last winter, believes that
he could succeed in this, if Monsieur the Marquis de Vaudreuil judge it
expedient to inform him when he will return,2 thus enabling Sieur
dupuy to make ready for this journey.
________________
1 Le Rocher (the Rock), referring to Starved Rock (see p. 100, ante, note).-ED.
2 (1, p. 326) Vaudreuil was in France from 1714 to 1716, and Ramezay acted in his place during that time.-ED.
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