their great satisfaction at a firm and lasting Peace settled between
their Bretheren the English, & the several Indian Nations in this
Country, that they saw the heavy Clouds that hung over their heads for
some time past were now dispersed, and that the Sun shone clear & bright,
& that as their Father the King of England had conquered the French in
that [this] Country & taken into his Friendship all the Indian Nations,
they hoped for the future they would be a happy people, & that they
should always have reason to call the English their Fathers & beged we
would take pity on their Women & Children, & make up the difference
subsisting between them and the Shawanese, Delawares & Six Nations,
and said as they were come here in consequence of Colᵒ Bradstreet’s
Invitation, & that he had not met them they hoped their Fathers would
pity their necessity & give them a little clothing, and a little rum to
drink on the road, as they had come a great way to see their Fathers.
Then the Wyondats spoake to the Shawanese, & all the Western Nations on
severall Belts & strings, by which they exhorted the several Nations to
behave themselves well to their Fathers the English, who had now taken
them under their Protection, that if they did, they would be a happy
People, that if they did not listen to the Councils of their Fathers,
they must take the Consequences, having assured them that all Nations to
the Sun rising had taken fast hold of their Fathers the English by the
hand, & would follow their Advice, & do every thing they desired them, &
never would let slip the Chain of Friendship now so happily renewed.
August 24ᵗʰ—We had another Meeting with the Several Nations, when the
Wawiotonans, Twightwees, Pyankeshas, Kickapoos & Musquatamies made
several speeches to Colᵒ Campbell & me, in presence of all the other
Nations, when they promised to become the Children of the King of Great
Britain & farther acknowledged that they had at Ouiatonon before they
came there [here] given up the Soverignty of their Country to me for His
Majesty, & promised to support his subjects in taking possession of all
the Posts given up by the French their former Fathers, to the English,
now their present Fathers, all which they confirmed with a Belt.
25ᵗʰ—We had another meeting with the same Indians, when Colᵒ Campbell &
I made them several speeches in answer to theirs of the 23 & 24ᵗʰ then
delivered them a Road Belt in the name of Sir William Johnson Baronet, to
open a Road from the rising to the setting of the Sun which we charged
them to keep open through their Country & cautioned them to stop their
Ears against the Storys or idle reports of evil minded People & continue
to promote the good Works of Peace, all which they promised to do in a
most sincere manner.
26ᵗʰ—Colᵒ Campbell & I made those Nations some presents, when after
taking leave of us, they sett off for their own Country well satisfied.
27ᵗʰ—We had a Meeting with Pondiac & all the Ottawa Tribes, Chipwaes &
Puttewatamies wᵗʰ the Hurons of this Place & the chiefs of those settled
at Sandusky & the Miamis River, when we made them the following Speeches.
CHILDREN PONDIAC & ALL OUR CHILDREN THE OTTAWAS, PUTTEWATAMIES, CHIPWAYS
& WYONDATTS: We are very glad to see so many of our Children here present
at your Antient Council Fire, which has been neglected for some time
past, since those high winds has arose & raised some heavy clouds over
your Country, I now by this Belt dress up your Antient Fire & throw some
dry wood upon it, that the blaze may ascend to the Clouds so that all
Nations may see it, & know that you live in Peace & Tranquility with your
Fathers the English.—A Belt.
By this Belt I disperse all the black clouds from over your heads, that
the Sun may shine clear on your Women and Children, that those unborn may
enjoy the blessings of this General Peace, now so happily settled between
your Fathers the English & you & all your younger Bretheren to the Sun
setting.—A Belt.
Children: By this Belt I gather up all the Bones of your deceased
friends, & bury them deep in the ground, that the herbs & sweet flowers
of the earth may grow over them, that we may not see them any more.—A
Belt.
Children: with this Belt I take the Hatchet out of your Hands & I pluck
up a large tree & bury it deep, so that it may never be found any more, &
I plant the tree of Peace, where all our children may sit under & smoak
in Peace with their Fathers.—A Belt.
Children: We have made a Road from the Sun rising to the Sun setting, I
desire that you will preserve that Road good and pleasant to Travel upon,
that we may all share the blessings of this happy Union. I am sorry to
see our Children dispersed thro’ the Woods, I therefore desire you will
return to your Antient Settlements & take care of your Council Fire which
I have now dressed up, & promote the good work of Peace.—A Belt.
After which Wapicomica delivered his Messages from Sir William Johnson to
Pondiac & the rest of the several Chiefs.
Aug. 28ᵗʰ—We had a Meeting with Pondiac & the several Nations when
Pondiac made the following Speeches.
FATHER: We have all smoaked out of the Pipe of Peace its your Childrens
Pipe & as the War is all over, & the Great Spirit and Giver of Light who
has made the Earth & every thing therein, has brought us all together
this day for our mutual good to promote the good Works of Peace, I
declare to all Nations that I had settled my Peace with you before I
came here, & now deliver my Pipe to be sent to _Sir William Johnson_
that he may know I have made Peace, & taken the King of England for my
Father, in presence of all the Nations now assembled, & whenever any of
those Nations go to visit him, they may smoak out of it with him in
Peace. Fathers we are oblidged to you for lighting up our old Council
Fire for us, & desiring us to return to it, but we are now settled on
the Miamis River, not far from hence, whenever you want us you will find
us there ready to wait on you, the reason I choose to stay where we are
now settled, is, that we love liquor, and did we live here as formerly,
our People would be always drunk, which might occasion some quarrels
between the Soldiers & them, this Father is all the reason I have for not
returning to our old Settlements, & that we live so nigh this place, that
when we want to drink, we can easily come for it.—Gave a large Pipe with
a Belt of Wampum tied to it.
FATHER: Be strong and take pity on us your Children as our former Father
did, ’tis just the Hunting Season of our children, our Fathers the French
formerly used to credit his Children for powder & lead to hunt with, I
request in behalf of all the Nations present that you will speak to the
Traders now here to do the same, my Father, once more I request you will
take pity on us & tell your Traders to give your Children credit for a
little powder & lead, as the support of our Family’s depend upon it, we
have told you where we live, that whenever you want us & let us know it,
we will come directly to you.—A Belt.
FATHER: You stoped up the Rum Barrel when we came here, ’till the
Business of this Meeting[128] was over, as it is now finished, we
request you may open the barrel that your Children may drink & be merry.
August 29ᵗʰ—A Deputation of several Nations sett out from Detroit for
the Ilinois Country with several Messages from me & the Wyondats, Six
Nations, Delawares, Shawanese & other Nations, in answer to theirs
delivered me at Ouiatonon.
30ᵗʰ—The Chiefs of the several Nations who are settled on the Ouabache
returned to Detroit from the River Roche, where they had been encamped,
& informed Colᵒ Campbell & me, they were now going off for their own
Country, & that nothing gave them greater pleasure, than to see that all
the Western Nations & Tribes had agreed to a general Peace, & that they
should be glad [to know] how soon their Fathers the English, would take
possession of the Posts in their Country, formerly possessed by their
late Fathers the French, to open a Trade for them, & if this could not
be done this Fall, they desired that some Traders might be sent to their
Villages to supply them for the Winter, or else they would be oblidged
to go to the Ilinois and apply to their old Fathers the French for such
necessarys as they might want.
They then spoke on a Belt & said Fathers, every thing is now settled, &
we have agreed to your taking possession of the posts in our Country. We
have been informed, that the English where ever they settle, make the
Country their own, & you tell us that when you conquered the French they
gave you this Country.—That no difference may happen hereafter, we tell
you now the French never conquered us neither did they purchase a foot
of our Country, nor have they a right to give it to you, we gave them
liberty to settle for which they always rewarded us, & treated us with
great Civility while they had it in their power, but as they are become
now your people, if you expect to keep these Posts, we will expect to
have proper returns from you.—A Belt.
Septᵇʳ 2ᵈ—The chiefs of the Wyondatts or Huron, came to me & said they
had spoke last Summer to Sir Willᵐ Johnson at Niagara about the lands, on
which the French had settled near Detroit belonging to them, & desired
I would mention again to him. They never had sold it to the French, &
expected their new Fathers the English would do them justice, as the
French were become one People with us.—A Belt.
4ᵗʰ—Pondiac with several chiefs of the Ottawas, Chippawaes & Potowatamies
likewise complained that the French had settled part of their country,
which they never had sold to them, & hoped their Fathers the English
would take it into Consideration, & see that a proper satisfaction was
made to them. That their Country was very large, & they were willing to
give up such part of it, as was necessary for their Fathers the English,
to carry on Trade at, provided they were paid for it, & a sufficient part
of the Country left them to hunt on.—A Belt.
6ᵗʰ—The _Sagina_ Indians came here,[129] & made a speech on a Belt of
Wampum expressing their satisfaction on hearing that a general Peace was
made with all the Western Nations & with Pondiac, they desired a little
Powder, Lead & a few knives to enable them to hunt on their way home, &
a little rum to drink their new Fathers health.—A Belt.
9ᵗʰ—_Altewaky_ and _Chamindiway_ Chiefs of a Band of Ottawas from
Sandusky with 20 Men came here and informed me that their late conduct
had been peaceable, that on hearing there was a great Meeting of all
Nations at this place, they came to hear what would be done, & on their
way here they had been informed that a General Peace was settled with
all Nations to the Sun setting, & they now came to assure us of their
attachment to the English Interest, & beged for some Powder, Lead, some
Blankets and a little rum to help them to return to their town. A String.
Septbr 11ᵗʰ—Colᵒ Campbell & I gave the above parties some presents & a
little rum & sent them away well satisfied.
12ᵗʰ—The Grand Sautois[130] came with his band and spoke as follows.
FATHER: You sent me a Belt from the Miamis, & as soon as I received it, I
set off to meet you here, on my way I heard what had past between you &
the several Tribes that met you here, you have had pity on them, & I beg
in behalf of myself & the people of Chicago that you will have pity on us
also. ’tis true we have been Fools, & have listened to evil reports, &
the whistling of bad birds, we red people, are a very jealous and foolish
people, & Father amongst you White People, there are bad people also,
that tell us lyes & deceive us, which has been the occasion of what has
past, I need not say much on this head, I am now convinced, that I have
been wrong for some years past, but there are people who have behaved
worse than I & my people, they were pardoned last year at this place, I
hope we may meet with the same, that our Women & Children may enjoy the
blessings of peace as the rest of our Bretheren the red people, & you
shall be convinced by our future conduct that we will behave as well as
any Tribe of Indˢ in this Country.—A Belt.
He then said that the St. Joseph Indians would have come along with him,
but the English Prisoner which their Fathers want from them, was some
distance off a hunting, & as soon as they could get him in, they would
deliver him up and desire forgiveness.
14ᵗʰ—I had a private meeting with the grand Sautois when he told me he
was well disposed for peace last Fall, but was then sent for to the
Ilinois, where he met with Pondiac, & that then their Fathers the French
told them, if they would be strong to keep the English out of possession
of that Country but this Summer, That the King of France would send
over an Army next Spring, to assist his Children the Indians, and that
the King of Spain would likewise send troops to help them to keep the
English out of their Country, that the English were a bad people, & had
a design to cut off all the Indian Nations in this Country, & to bring
the Southern Indians to live & settle there, this account made all the
Indians very uneasy in their minds, & after holding a Council amongst
themselves, they all determined to oppose the English, & not to suffer
them to take Possession of the Ilinois, that for his part he behaved as
ill as the rest to the English Officers that came there in the Spring,
but since he had been better informed of the goodness of the English,
& convinced the French had told lyes for the love of their Beaver, he
was now determined with all his people to become faithfull to their new
Fathers the English, & pay no regard to any stories the French should
tell him for the future.
Sepʳ 15ᵗʰ—Colᵒ Campbell & I had a meeting with the Grand Sautois, at
which we informed him of every thing that had past with the several
Nations & Tribes & told him that we accepted him and his people in
Friendship, & would forgive them as we had the rest of the Tribes, &
forget what was past provided their future conduct should convince us of
their sincerity, after which we gave them some presents, for which he
returned thanks & departed very well satisfied.
19ᵗʰ—I received a letter by express from Colᵒ Reed acquainting me of Capt
Sterlings setting out from Fort Pitt, with 100 men of the 42ᵈ Regᵗ to
take possession of Fort Chartres in the Ilinois Country.
20ᵗʰ—I sent of[f] Huron Andrew Express to Capᵗ Sterling[131] at the
Ilinois, & with messages to the several Nations in that Country & those
on the Ouabache, to acquaint them of Capᵗ Starling’s departure from Fort
Pitt for the Ilinois Country.
25ᵗʰ—The Chiefs of the Sᵗ Joseph Indians arrived and addressed themselves
to Colᵒ Campbell & me as follows,
FATHERS: We are come here to see you, altho’ we are not acquainted with
you, we had a Father formerly, with whom we were very well acquainted,
& never differed with him, you have conquered him some time ago, & when
you came here first notwithstanding your hands were all bloody, you took
hold of us by the hands, & used us well, & we thought we should be happy
with our Fathers, but soon an unlucky difference happened, which threw us
all in confusion, where this arose we don’t know but we assure you, we
were the last that entered into this Quarrel, the Indˢ from this place
solicited us often to join them, but we would not listen to them, at last
they got the better of our foolish young Warriors, but we never agreed to
it, we knew it would answer no end, & often told our Warriors they were
fools, if they succeeded in killing the few English in this Country, they
could not kill them all because we knew you to be a great People.
Fathers: you have after all that has happened, received all the several
Tribes in this Country for your Children, we from St. Joseph’s seem
to be the last of your Children that come to you, we are no more than
Wild Creatures to you Fathers in understanding therefore we request
you’l forgive the past follies of our young people & receive us for
your Children since you have thrown down our former Father on his back,
we have been wandering in the dark like blind people, now you have
dispersed all this darkness which hung over the heads of the several
Tribes, & have accepted them for your Children, we hope you will let
us partake with them of the light, that our Women & Children may enjoy
Peace, & we beg you’l forget all that is past, by this belt we remove all
evil thoughts from your hearts.—A Belt.
Fathers, When we formerly came to visit our late Fathers the French they
always sent us home joyfull, & we hope you will have pity on our Women &
Young Men who are in great Want of necessarys, & not let us return home
to our Villages ashamed.
Colᵒ Campbell & I made them the following answer.
CHILDREN: I have heard with attention what you have said, & am glad
to hear that you have delivered up the Prisoners at Michillimakinac,
agreeable to my desire, as the other Prisoner who I always thought
belonged to your Nation does not, but the man who has him resides now in
your Country, I must desire you’l do every thing in your Power to get
him brought to me, nothing will give me greater pleasure than to promote
the good Works of Peace, & make my Children the Indians happy as long
as their own Conduct shall deserve it. I did not know what to think of
your conduct for some time past, but to convince you of my sincere desire
to promote Peace, I receive you as Children as I have done the other
Nations, & hope your future Conduct may be such, as will convince me of
your sincerity.—A Belt.
Children: Sometimes bad people take the liberty of stragling into your
Country, I desire if you meet any such people to bring them immediately
here, likewise I desire that none of your Young Men may steal any Horses
out of this settlement as they have done formerly, we shall see always
strict justice done to you, & expect the same from you, on that your own
happiness depends, & as long as you continue to merit our friendship by
good actions in promoting Peace & Tranquility between your Young People
& His Majesties Subjects, you may expect to be received here with open
arms, & to convince you further of my sincerity, I give you some cloaths,
powder, lead, vermillion & 2 cags of rum for your young People, that you
may return home without shame as you desired.
Children, I take this oppertunity to tell you that your Fathers the
English are gone down the Ohio from Fort Pitt to take possession the
Ilinois, & desire you may acquaint all your people of it on your return
home, & likewise desire you will stop your Ears against the Whistling of
bad birds, & mind nothing else but your Hunting to support your Familys,
that your Women & Children may enjoy the Blessing of Peace.—A Belt.
_September 26th._[132]—Set out from Detroit for Niagara; passed Lake Erie
along the north shore in a birch canoe, and arrived the 8th of October at
Niagara. The navigation of the lake is dangerous for batteaux or canoes,
by reason the lake is very shallow for a considerable distance from the
shore. The bank, for several miles, high and steep, and affords a harbor
for a single batteau. The lands in general, between Detroit and Niagara,
are high, and the soil good, with several fine rivers falling into the
lake. The distance from Detroit to Niagara is computed three hundred
miles.
_A List of the different Nations and Tribes of Indians in the Northern
District of North America, with the number of their fighting Men._
====================+=======+=========================+==================
Names of the | Nos. | Their Dwelling Ground. | Their Hunting
Tribes. | | | Grounds.
--------------------+-------+-------------------------+------------------
Mohocks,[_a_] | 160 |Mohock River. |Between that and
| | | Lake George.
| | |
Oneidas,[_b_] | 300 |East side of Oneida Lake,|In the country
| | & on the head waters of| where they live.
| | the east branch of |
| | Susquehannah. |
| | |
Tuscaroras,[_b_] | 200 |Between the Oneidas and |Between Oneida
| | Onandagoes. | Lake & Lake
| | | Ontario.
| | |
Onandagoes,[_b_] | 260 |Near the Onandaga Lake. |Between Onandago
| | | L. & mouth of
| | | Seneca River,
| | | near Oswego.
| | |
Cayugas,[_b_] | 200 |On two small Lakes, |Where they reside.
| | called the Cayugas, on |
| | the north branch of |
| | Susquehannah. |
| | |
Senecas,[_b_] | 1,000 |Seneca Country, on the |Their chief
| | waters of Susquehannah,| hunting country
| | the waters of Lake | thereabouts.
| | Ontario, and on the |
| | heads of Ohio River. |
| | |
Aughquagas,[_c_] | 150 |East branch of |Where they live.
| | Susquehannah River, |
| | and on Aughquaga. |
| | |
Nanticokes,[_c_] | 100}|Utsanango, Chagmett, | Do.
Mohickons,[_c_] | 100}| Oswego, and on the east|
Conoys,[_c_] | 30}| branch of Susquehannah.|
| | |
Monsays,[_c_] | 150}|At Diahogo, and other | Do.
Sapoones,[_c_] | 30}| villages up the north |
Delawares,[_c_] | 150}| branch of Susquehannah.|
| | |
Delawares,[_d_] | 600 |Between the Ohio & Lake |Where they live.
| | Erie, on the branches |
| | of Beaver Creek, |
| | Muskingum and Guyehugo.|
| | |
Shawnesse,[_d_] | 300 |On Scioto & branch of | Do.
| | Muskingum. |
| | |
Mohickone,[_d_] | 300 |In villages near | Do.
| | Sandusky. |
| | |
Goghnawages,[_d_] | | |On the head
| | | banks of
| | | Scioto.
| | |
Twightwees,[_e_] | 250 |Miame River, near Fort |On the ground
| | Miame. | where they
| | | live.
| | |
Wayoughtanies,[_f_] | 300}|On the branches of |Between Ouitanon
Pyankeshas,[_f_] | 300}| Ouabache, near Fort | & the Miames.
Shockays,[_f_] | 200}| Ouitanon. |
| | |
Huskhuskeys,[_g_] | 300}|Near the French |
Illinois,[_g_] | 300}| settlements, in the |
| | Illinois Country. |
| | |
Wayondotts,[_h_] | 250}|Near Fort Detroit. |About Lake Erie.
Ottawas,[_h_] | 400}| |
Putawatimes,[_h_] | }| |
| | |
Chipawas,[_i_] }| 200 |On Saganna Creek, which |Thereabouts.
Ottawas }| | empties into Lake |
| | Huron. |
| | |
Chippawas[_j_] | 400}|Near Michilimachinac. |On the north
Ottawas,[_j_] | 260}| | side of Lake
| | | Huron.
| | |
Chipawas,[*][_k_] | 400 |Near the entrance of Lake|Thereabouts.
| | Superior, and not far |
| | from Fort St. Mary’s. |
| | |
Chepawas,[_k_] }| 550 |Near Fort Labay on the |Thereabouts.
Mynonamies,[_k_] }| | Lake Michigan. |
Shockeys,[_k_] }| | |
| | |
Putawatimes,[_k_] | 150}|Near Fort St. Joseph’s. |Thereabouts.
Ottawas,[_k_] | 150}| |
| | |
Kicapoos,[_l_] }| 4,000 |On Lake Michigan and |Where they
Outtagamies,[_l_] }| | between it and the | respectively
Musquatans,[_l_] }| | Mississippi. | reside.
Miscotins,[_l_] }| | |
Outtamacks,[_l_] }| | |
Musquaykeys,[_l_] }| | |
| | |
Oswegatches,[_h_] | 100 |Settled at Swagatchy in |Thereabouts.
| | Canada, on the River |
| | St. Lawrence. |
| | |
Connesedagoes,[_k_]}| 300 |Near Montreal. |
Coghnewagoes,[_k_] }| | |
| | |
Orondocks,[_k_] | 100}|Settled near Trois |
Abonakies,[_k_] | 150}| Rivers. |
Alagonkins,[_k_] | 100}| |
| | |
La Suil,[†] |10,000 |South-west of Lake |
| | Superior. |
--------------------+-------+-------------------------+------------------
[_a_] These are the oldest Tribe of the Confederacy of the Six Nations.
[_b_] Connected with New York, part of the Confederacy with New York.
[_c_] Connected with, and depending on the Five Nations.
[_d_] Dependent on the Six Nations, and connected with Pennsylvania.
[_e_] Connected with Pennsylvania.
[_f_] Connected with the Twightwees.
[_g_] These two Nations the English had never any trade, or connection
with.
[_h_] Connected formerly with the French.
[_i_] Connected with the Indians about Detroit, and dependant on the
commanding officer.
[_j_] Always connected with the French.
[_k_] Connected with the French.
[_l_] Never connected in any trade or otherwise with the English.
[*] There are several villages of Chipawas settled along the bank of Lake
Superior, but as I have no knowledge of that country, cannot ascertain
their numbers.
[†] These are a nation of Indians settled south-west of Lake Superior,
called by the French La Sue, who, by the best account that I could ever
get from the French and Indians, are computed ten thousand fighting men.
They spread over a large tract of country, and have forty odd villages;
in which country are several other tribes of Indians, who are tributaries
to the La Sues, none of whom except a very few, have ever known the
use of fire-arms: as yet but two villages. I suppose the French don’t
choose to risk a trade among such a powerful body of people, at so vast a
distance.
CROGHAN TO SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON[133]
SIR: In the scituation I was in at Ouiatonon, with great numbers of
Indians about me, & no Necessaries such as Paper & Ink, I had it not in
my power to take down all the speeches made by the Indian Nations, nor
what I said to them, in so particular a manner as I could wish, but hope
the heads of it as I have taken down will meet with your approbation.