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 Johnson
(New York, Feb. 20, 1764)
Gage, Thomas in: The Papers
of Sir William Johnson,
vol. 4, pp. 334-335.
p. 334.
FROM THOMAS GAGE
A. L. S.1
|
New York Febry 20th, 1764. |
DEAR SIR,
As the Season for Action is approaching, I should be glad to know from you, as far as a Thing of that Nature can be Ascertained, what number of Savages you Judge we may reckon upon to join the Troops during the Course of the Campain, whether to act against the Western Indians, should They break The Truce, & again commit Hostilities; or to act offensively against The Senecas, or against the Shawnese & Delawares. I have lately received Letters from the Westward, but have never received Intelligence of the Smallest overtures being made either by the Shawnese or the Delawares, which gives me Some Suspicions of the Sincerity of the Detroit Indians; As They can't be ignorant of the offers of Peace, made by Pondiac to Major Gladwin, it seems reasonable to think, that the Delawares & Shawnese would have sent Deputys to you or to Fort Pitt, had they not Hopes of Perswading the Detroit Indians to renew the War, and that they would not chuse to bare the Brunt of it alone.
I imagine the Indian Nations in general, would be
as glad of Peace as ourselves. They must all suffer very much thro' want of
Trade, and be very bare of all Manner of Necessarys, which they have been so
long accustomed to. These Considerations may possible induce many Nations to
join with us to put a Speedy end to a War, which is ruinous to them as well as
to us. And they Certainly must now be convinced of the Errors, of any Notions
They had formed of our Evil Intentions towards Them. The Nations who have struck,
may despair of a Sincere Forgiveness, for the Injurys They have done us, and
May influence others, and by these means continue the War. But I think for
__________________
1 In the Harvard College Library, Cambridge, Mass.
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