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.
Plans for Settling Difficulties
(March 28, 1716)
Proceedings of the Council of Marine in: Wisconsin
Historical Collections, XVI, pp. 338-340.
1716: PLANS FOR SETTLING
DIFFICULTIES WITH FOX IN-
DIANS; LAWLESSNESS OF COUREURS DE BOIS.
[Proceedings in French Council of Marine, March 28, 1716. Translated from a copy of document in Paris archives, made for archives of the Province of Quebec.]
The Renard savages live about 60 leagues from Michilimakinac, a post where dwell the Outauois savages, and situated between the lake of the Illinois and lake huron. They are located on a river which empties into the Bay des Puants, and (page 339) number about 300 warriors. They have committed many acts of hostility against the French. They were punished once by a detachment which set out from Detroit, to which the Miamis, the Outauois, and the hurons joined their forces. But as the Renards resumed their hostile attitude, orders were given, in accordance with letters from Canada, to wage war on those savages, or to make peace with them, but to prefer peace to war, as the continuation of their hostile acts toward us brought upon us the contempt of the other nations. Their subsequent attack upon a French canoe in 1714, led us to believe that we could not make such a peace, and it was resolved to send a numerous force against them. For this reason some habitants,1 who were allowed to carry with them some merchandise, were sent to serve in this war, as were some soldiers of the colony, who were to form the garrison of Michilimakinac. The coureurs de bois were assembled at Michilimakinac, and all together were to march with a troop of the Outauois, Illinois, and Miami savages; but, as the detachment which went up from Montreal with the presents for the savages and the military supplies did not arrive by the end of August, it was impossible to undertake anything.
Monsieur de Louvigny had orders to go up to Michilimakinac to make war, or, if possible, peace; but the sickness he contracted last year prevented him from going. That officer writes that he will go up in the spring, and will labor to bring about either peace or war, according to circumstances. He says that peace is to be preferred to all else, but that he will make it only with honor to the nation. He adds that the lawlessness of the coureurs de bois is so great that it is absolutely necessary to make an example of some of them, in order to restrain them and to enforce upon them obedience to the officers in the upper posts. He says that this is not done at Montreal, and that there are even merchants of that city who have warehouses at Michilimakinac; that maintains the coureurs de bois in dis- (page 340) obedience, which can not be checked when men of character themselves do thus.
He says that the French, who went up for this war, set out laden with merchandise, although none is needed for carrying on the war;1a and that they have carried thither more than 40 casks of brandy. The result is, that wherever French and savages come together there is an open hell; and Monsieur de Louvigny states that some Frenchmen have gone to trade with the Renard savages, of which all our allies complain.
They2 consider that, to make peace, it is necessary to begin by restoring to the Renards, all the slaves of their nation3 whom the French hold; and that it is not in nature to think that peace can be made with people whose children we are withholding. That, in order to carry on war, it is necessary to begin by arranging for peace between the Sakis, the Puants, and the Sauteurs,4 because we can not undertake any war unless these savages remain at peace; and to send 500 or 600 Frenchmen, equipped for war only, and without any merchandise.5
Done and decreed by the Council of Marine held at the Louvre on March 28, 1716.
(Signed) L. A. DE BOURBON, Marchal d'Estres.6
By the Council:
|
(Signed) LA CHAPELLE. |
|
________________________
1 A term applied to the French colonists actually settled in Canada, as distinguished from the official and military class, who still considered themselves as belonging to the mother-country.-ED.
1a (1, p. 340) Marginal note on the MS.: "If they had not been allowed to carry merchandise, it would have cost large sums to equip them."
2 Probably a reference to advice or suggestions given to the Council by the Canadian governor and intendant.-ED.
3 Marginal note: "These slaves are the captives taken in the attack made upon those savages by the French of Detroit." [See p. 295, ante.-ED.]
4 Marginal note: "These two nations dwell near the Renards. The Sauteurs live 30 leagues from Michilimakinac, on Lake Superior."
5 Marginal note: "The council approves in full the observations in this memoir."
6 Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, count de Toulouse, was the third legitimate son of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan.-ED.
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