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
(September 4, 1749)
Raymond in: Archives Nationales,
Ministere
des Colonies, C11A 93:62 and in Illinois
Historical Collections, French
Series,
vol. III, pp. 105-108.
Monsieur:
You have been informed that the band of Miami that has withdrawn to the Great Miami River was asking to return to this post, but it seems very far from doing so. The English spare nothing to keep them and to draw away the remainder of those who are here. The excessive price of French goods in this post, the great bargains which the English give, as well as the large presents which they make to the tribes, have entirely disposed those tribes in their favor and induce them to go off to the English. We have made peace with the English, but in this country they do not cease working to make war on us by means of the Indians and to bring them to a general revolt against the French in pursuance of their plan of making themselves masters of all (page 106) the upcountry. It is useless to flatter one's self that the Indians are well disposed in our favor. There is only the most deceptive appearance of it. They are worse intentioned than ever. A secret report is spread around that all the tribes of this country are working in a general conspiracy against the French of the upcountry posts.
Nothing is more certain than that the English have brought and freely distributed in seventy or eighty villages scattered throughout all the territory of the Ohio River forty horses loaded with powder, a great number of sabers, and bullets. There are three hundred English scattered throughout all the villages. They have constructed three forts in different places in which there are officers, swivels, and grenade mortars. They have given Nicolas two swivels and two of these little mortars. They have said to all the nations, on learning of the march of M. de Celoron, "The French are coming upon you to drive you away. We will defend you, but if the French wish to fight, we will fight with you (page 107) against them." The Shawnee replied, "The French are marching only with a handful of people. They only come to ask pardon of the tribes that have attacked them."
The Tribes however are disquieted to see the French march, and it throws them into a great distrust which can only produce a very bad effect.
I will do everything possible to make the bad Miami return. Le Pied Froid, who is the great chief of that whole tribe, had told me that he did not think that they could be made to leave the English, who gave them all their goods at a low price. M. Dubuisson1 assures me that this chief is an honest man on whom (page 108) one can rely. I believe it, that is, if it is true that there are honest men among the Indians.
I have the honor to be with very profound respect, Monsieur,
Your very humble and very obedient servant,
|
Signed: De Raymond |
____________________
1 Louis-Jacques-Charles Dubuisson, baptized July 22, 1709. Son of Charles Renaud, Sieur Dubuisson, 1664-December, 1739, lieutenant of troops and major of Three Rivers. Tanguay, Dictionnaire, 6:539, 545. The identification is made from the statement that Louis Dubuisson's father died of grief at his son's being accused of the homicide of M. de Chambly. A N Colonies C11a 74:36 v. Louis, who had been an ensign en second en expectative since 1736 was given the rank in 1741, on being cleared of his crime. A N Colonies B72:365. He was serving as ensign at Niagara in 1743. Ibid., C11A 79:147. In 1747-1749 he was in command at the Miamis. Ibid., C11A 116:155, 155 v., 158v; 119:95, 98, 101, 115, 125, 130, 163. He was serving at Chautauqua in 1754 as a lieutenant. In 1759 he was recommended for a captaincy. L'Archiviste . . . de Quebec pour 1923-1924, 37; 1926-1927, 357, 368. Frequently as Dubuisson is mentioned, his Christian name is nowhere given and can be established only by reference to the dates in Tanguay and by fitting them with events.
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