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.
Raymond to La Jonquiere
(October 11, 1749)
Raymond in: Archives Nationales,
Ministere
des Colonies, C11A 95:375 and in Illinois
Historical Collections, French
Series,
vol. III, pp. 119-122.
Extract from the letters and news
sent to M. le Marquis de la Jonquiere, by the Sieur de Raymond,
commandant of the Miamis, by his letter of October 11, 1749.1
Monsieur:
Since the departure of M. de Celoron I have assembled Le Pied Froid and his band to speak to them in council, which I had not yet done, having wished previously to examine their conduct and penetrate their designs. One of the war chiefs, called Le Cigne,2 and all the young men have been very ill-disposed. Most of the other chiefs and the old men have been no better. Here is the proof of it. The strings of wampum which I got out of their hands and which I sent you by M. Dubuisson by which La Demoiselle asked their help in attacking the French were replaced by others the moment after they had been given (page 120) me; and they are now being carried from village to village among other tribes to ask them the assistance which La Demoiselle asked of the Miami. It is the chief of Tippecanoe who has warned me of this.
On this information I sent yesterday for Le Pied Froid, who came alone, his whole village having set off to their winter quarters. I warmly reproached him for their evil conduct and their treason; I spoke to him in a severe tone and so sharply that I hope to have reason to be content with their conduct in the future. Every Indian is a rascal, and practically no reliance can be put on their promises.
Le Pied Froid is indeed well disposed to the French, but he is without influence in his village and is no longer listened to.
Annexed are the words which I spoke to them in the council which I held and the answers which they made me. I hope that they put them in practice. I will take all possible pains to that end.
The fifth of this month Le Gris, chief of the village of (page 121) Tippecanoe, arrived here with a party of the people in his village. Annexed are the words which he spoke to me in council and the reply I made to him. This chief strenuously denied the accusation brought against him that he had received a belt to strike the French. I am entirely disposed to believe that he is speaking the truth since this is the only village which has never been disposed to meddle in ill affairs and which has always remained so faithful that the father and the stepfather of this young chief have always warned us of the evil plans of their tribe and of other neighboring tribes and have always sent back the bad wampum belts which have been brought to their village. If they have altered and have been corrupted it can only be since last spring when Le Jarret, stepfather of the young chief, was stabbed.
La Demoiselle puts forth all his efforts to draw him to the Great Miami River along with this village. The Wea and Potawatomi work on their side to draw him to them. It is this as well as the fidelity with which that band of (page 122) Miamis have always conducted themselves, which has decided me to move their village of Tippecanoe and establish it here near the French fort. I think also that that is the way to make La Demoiselle return. I cannot expect to hear the result of their deliberation until this spring on their return from their winter quarters. If they have not conformed themselves to the hopes which they have given me and to the disposition to do what I wish in which they left, I will put forth new efforts to extinguish their fire at Tippecanoe in order to kindle it here.
. . .
Le Pied Froid is the great chief of the Miami. This nation is divided into several bands, the first being that of Le Pied Froid. The second is that of La Demoiselle, which remains at Great Miami River with the English. This is the band which (page 123) pillaged the French at the Miamis fort, made them prisoners and set fire to the fort after the pillage.
The third band remains at Tippecanoe, fifteen to twenty leagues from here. It has for chief the person named Le Gris, a young man who does not govern his band himself, not yet having had any experience; it is guided by one or two chiefs. This young chief received this spring one of the king's medals and very large presents from M. le Chevalier de Longueuil at Detroit. M. de Carqueville3 writes me that he has accepted from La Demoiselle a wampum belt to strike the French.
In the neighborhood of the Potawatomi at the St. Joseph River there are five
or six cabins of Miami who have separated from the band of Le Gris and who for
some years have lived in those parts.
_____________________________
1 The indorsement indicates this was to be put with a letter of La Jonquiere of 1750, the exact date not being given.
2 Le Cigne, as above stated, the war chief of Le Pied Froid's band of the Miami. Despite the fact he was said to be ill-disposed, De Villers counted on him to bring back Le Pied Froid's band from the Great Miami.
3 (1, p. 123) Claude Drouet, Sieur de Carqueville, 1718-1755, who made his escape from Dartaguiette's defeat. A N Colonies C13C 4:202-205. May 8, 1747 he married Marguerite de Couagne at Montreal. Tanguay, Dictionnaire, 3:451. He was commissioned ensign February 28, 1748. Canadian Archives, 1905, volume 1, part 6, p. 104. August 11, 1748 he signed at St. Joseph on his way to Ouiatanon where he commanded till sometime in 1751. A N Colonies C11A 116:159, 401 v; 119:26, 27. He was serving on the Ohio in 1754. The burial register at Fort Duquesne records the death, July 9, 1755, of M. Denicheville, esquire, Sieur de Carqueville, lieutenant about thirty-three years of age. Bulletin des Recherches Historiques, 19:196.
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