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.
Letter to Gage
(Johnson Hall, April 6, 1764)
Johnson, Sir William in: The
Papers
of Sir William Johnson,
vol. 4, pp. 389-392.
TO THOMAS GAGE
Df.1
|
Johnson hall April 6th, 1764 |
DEAR SIR
I had Yesterday the pleasure to receive your favours of the 26th & 29th ulto and shall take particular care to observe their contents;-
The Chenussios & Enemy Senecas have been here several days & after due consideration on the Articles of peace, have at length agreed to them beyond my Expectations; & I hope to Yr Satisfaction I herewith enclose you a Copy of the Preliminaries, with their accordance thereto, by which you will find they have left Three of their Chiefs as Hostages for the performance of the them. They have likewise taken up the War Axe against our Enemys & Shew an apparent eagerness for going upon Service, as do all the rest of the 5 Nations who were likewise present, & never manifested so great an unanimity or desire for War since my acquaintance with them.
My Son set off from hence above a Week ago for the Delawre Settlemts near the Ohio with some Rangers he engaged & 200 Indians, and as there are as many more on actual Service, I can have little reason to doubt their killing & Captivating a good many & destroying all the Delaware Towns in that Quarter with their Corn, & ca which they cannot have time to remove, and as for those who have retired to the plains near Sioto, as you have been pleased to approve of my proposal, I shall imedaitely send partys of Indians against them, and as I think they dare not retreat farther South by reason of the Enmity of the Southern Inds I am hopefull they will meet with success [A body of Men from Sandosky w thsome Inds to go down the Sioto may compleat their destruction, which I imagine will be nearly effected (page 390) by the Friend Indians.2] Those Delawares &ca who are still about the branches of Susquehanna cannot easily escape, as our Indian partys will take post at the only pass thro' the Allegany Mountains.
The backwardness of the Provinces must greatly retard our operations, & I am of opinion should they shortly agree to raise Men, the Levys would not be compleated in sufficient time as I know the many delays attending them, & am convinced of the Necessity there is for our taking the field Early; I am induced to think that the greater part of the Army would best go by L. Ontario, as it wod encourage our Friends, & that on their arrival at Presqu'Isle, If some Troops Imediately pushed down the Ohio, from Fort Pitt, & went up the Muskingum whilst those on L. Erie crossed the Carryg place from Sandosky to the great plains along the Sioto (where the many body of the Delawares & Shawanese are now settled) or from Cayahaga to Muskingum from whence there is a Road to Scioto it would greatly contribute to the success of both. I am of opinn it will be better to go from Sandosky than Cayahaga as it will be a much shorter march from the former, the only objection in my opinion to this is that should they not effectually rout the Enemy, their retreat to their boats (wch shod be well guarded) will be liable to the utmost danger, for in all probability, the Twightwees in the neighbourhood of whom numbers of the Shawanese & Delawares have retired would in that case heartily Joyne them, & I am lately informed by the 5 Nations that they have intimated it to be their intention to support these our Enemys to the utmost, If a body of men went down the Ohio and ascended the Muskingam (wch I think is the best) it wod be very necessary for a part of them to occupy some advantagious scituation for Example at the fork where the Road goes to Scioto, to cover their boats whilst the Rest pursue their Rout might Joyn those who came from Lake Erie [either by Sandosky or Cayahaga] who need not bring their Boats farther then the (page 391) carryg place; but if a body of men were first to arrive at the carryg place of Scioto, it would greatly disconcert the Enemy, & Give more security tot hose who might march from Muskingam.
I have thrown together these few hints meerly for your observation and hope you will pardon their incorrectness, as they are only loose heads of what occurred to me on the Subject.
If you propose sending any Troops by way of Ohio I shall prepare the [Indians of Onoghquage2] (about 100 or more Inds) to go with them accompanied by a few Officers, and shall collect a Sufffiet number of the Five Nations to accompany the Army this way whilst I employ a good number of the Confederacy with the Indians of Canada in different partys to the Southward which I hope will greatly facilitate the success of the Troops.
It will give me pleasure to hear that the French at Detroit or elsewhere who promoted the War have come to condign punishment, & their fate will I hope prove an Example to deterr others from pursuing such a plan hereafter.
I have heard nothing farther concerning the Wyaloosin Inds & therefore conclude they are taken proper care of.
I am glad the 14 prisoners arrived safe, & I Expect that Number will soon be considerably augmented. Capt Bull & many of that Gang were often caressed in Philadelphia, but tho' they amused the Quakers, their hearts were purely French, & they assisted that Nation during the most part of the late War.
I have so much business on my hands that I cannot be able by this post to send you the accts of the Department, for these 6 Months past, but I should be very desirous to have a Warrt for 5000 Ster as mentd in my last for purchasing the necessary goods for the Campaign as there is but little time left for it at present. Several partys are now delayed here on account of the want of necessarys for them which I am obliged to collect as I can get them, at a high price.
The employing Canadians agt the Indians will I apprehend shew the Inds the Nature of their Subjection beyond any thing we cod say to them, since the French Traders &ca in whom the Inds place much confidence, have certainly represented themselves as their Friends, and a people independent of us; the fallacy of which will now be discovered.
[It would have a very good effect if some Troops were now put in motion it would give confidence to our Friends & alarm all our Enemys, as well as Strengthen the Attachment of the Wavering in all Quarters, and it gives me pleasure to hear your sentiments, are of opinion to send march some without waiting for the whole, as each Province seems determined to regulate its Conduct by that of its Neighbour, the operations of any of them must be tardy, or uncertain in my opinion.1]
I have order'd a proper person to Examine, & Received the Arms, from the Comptroller of the Artilly, & I hope they may answer as there is a great want of them.
I am just Informed that you are appointed Comr in Chief in
America on which establishment I most sincerely Congratulate you, [and I
most Cordially wish you it may prove to the advancemt of your
Reputation, and the good of the public,2]
& I cannot but felicitate myself on the advantages this Country will have
reason to Expect from his Majesty Just Choice
His Excellcy GENL GAGE
FROM HENRY MONTURE, WILLIAM HARE AND
JOHN
JOHNSTON3
A. L. S.
|
[Diogoa, April 7 th1764] |
[ ] Express Will Inform You [ ] Against our Enemy at Kanisteo and Along the
Susq[uehanna] Destroying & Burning All their Towns Villages and [ ]
Settlements With there Creatures Such as Horses, C[ ]
____________________
1 In the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.; in the handwriting of Guy Johnson.
2 (1, pp. 390-392) Crossed out in the original.
3 (2, p. 392) Or Johnson.
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