Pondiac—Sir Robert D.
ALL the distant tribes were to join on hearing Pondiac was in possession
of the fort. Many of those nearest, in the meanwhile, were to lie in the
neighbouring woods, armed and ready to rush out on the discharge of a
cannon, on that day which was meant to be fatal to the garrison. Out of
the intended massacre, however, the artillery were to be spared that
they might work the guns. Near the fort lived a much admired Indian
beauty, who was known in the garrison by the name, or title rather, of
the Queen of Hearts. She not only spoke French, but dressed not
inelegantly in the European manner, and being sprightly and captivating,
was encouraged by Pondiac to go into the garrison on various pretexts.
The advantage the Indian chief meant to derive from this stratagem was,
that she might be a kind of spy in the fort, and that by her influence
over the commander, the wonted caution with regard to Indians might be
relaxed, and the soldiers permitted to go out unarmed and mingle in
their diversions. This plan in some degree succeeded. There was at
length a day fixed, on which a great match of foot-ball was to be
decided between two parties of Indians, and all the garrison were
invited to be spectators. It was to be played on the esplanade opposite
the fort. At a given signal the ball was to be driven over the wall of
the fort, which, as there was no likelihood of its ever being attacked
by cannon, was merely a palisade and earthen breast-work. The Indians
were to run hastily in, on pretence of recovering the ball, and shut the
gates against the soldiers, whom Pondiac and his people were to tomahawk
immediately.
Pondiac, jealous of the Queen of Hearts, gave orders, after she was let
into the secret of this stratagem, that she should go no more into the
fort. Whether she was offended with this want of confidence; whether her
humanity revolted at the intended massacre, or whether she felt a
particular attachment prevailing over her fidelity to her countrymen, so
it was; her affection got the better of her patriotism. A soldier’s wife
who carried out to her the day before some article of dress she had made
for her, was the medium she made use of to convey a hint of the intended
treachery. The colonel was unwilling, from the dark hint conveyed, to
have recourse to any violent measures; and was, indeed, doubtful of the
fact. To kindle the flames of war wantonly, surrounded as he was, by
hostile nations, who would carry their vengeance into the defenceless
new settlements, was a dreadful expedient. Without betraying his
informer, he resolved to convince himself. The men were ordered to go
out to see the ball played, but to keep under shelter of the fort; and
if they saw the ball driven in, immediately to return and shut the
gates. I cannot distinctly remember the exact mode in which this
manœuvre was managed, but the consequence I know was, first, the
repulsing of the Indians from the gate, and then the commencing of open
hostilities on their side, while the garrison was for some time in a
state of blockade.
Meantime the Indians had concerted another stratagem, to seize a vessel
loaded with stores, which was daily expected from Niagara. Commodore
Grant, a younger brother of the Glenmoriston family in Invernesshire,
was, and I believe still is, commander of the lakes; an office which has
now greatly risen in importance. At that time his own vessel and two or
three smaller were employed in that navigation. This little squadron was
very interesting on a double account. It carried stores, troops, &c.
which could not otherwise be transported, there being no way of
proceeding by land; and again, the size of the vessels and a few swivels
or small cannon they carried enabled them to command even a fleet of
canoes, should the Indians be disposed to attack them. Of this there was
at the time not the least apprehension; and here I must stop to give
some account of the first victim to this unlooked for attack.
Sir Robert D. was the representative of an ancient English family, of
which he was originally the sixth brother. At a certain time of life,
somewhere betwixt twenty-five and thirty, each was, in turn, attacked
with a hypochondriac disorder, which finally proved fatal. Sir Robert,
in turn, succeeded to the estate and title, and to the dreadful
apprehension of being visited by the same calamity. This was the more to
be regretted, as he was a person of very good abilities, and an
excellent disposition. The time now approached when he was to arrive at
that period of life at which the fatal malady attacked his brothers. He
felt, or imagined he felt, some symptoms of the approaching gloom. What
should he do? Medicine had not availed. Should he travel? Alas! his
brothers had travelled, but the blackest despair was their companion.
Should he try a sea voyage, one of them commanded a ship, and fate
overtook him in his own cabin. It occurred to him that, by living among
a people who were utter strangers to this most dreadful of all
visitations, and adopting their manner of life, he might escape its
influence. He came over to America, where his younger brother served in
a regiment then in Canada. He felt his melancholy daily increasing, and
resolved immediately to put in execution his plan of entirely renouncing
the European modes of life, and incorporating himself in some Indian
tribe, hoping the novelty of the scene, and the hardships to which it
would necessarily subject him, might give an entire new turn to his
spirits. He communicated his intention to Sir William Johnson, who
entirely approved of it, and advised him to go up to the great lake,
among the Hurons, who were an intelligent and sensible race, and
inhabited a very fine country, and among whom he would not be liable to
meet his countrymen, or be tempted back to the mode of life he wished
for a while entirely to forsake. This was no flight of caprice, but a
project undertaken in the most deliberate manner, and with the most
rational views. It completely succeeded. The Hurons were not a little
flattered to think that an European of Sir Robert’s rank was going to
live with them, and be their brother. He did not fail to conciliate them
with presents, and still more by his ready adoption of their dress and
manners. The steadiness he showed in adhering to a plan where he had not
only severe hardships but numberless disgusts to encounter, showed him
possessed of invincible patience and fortitude; while his letters to his
friends, with whom he regularly corresponded, evinced much good sense
and just observation. For two years he led this life, which habit made
easy, and the enjoyment of equal spirits agreeable. Convinced that he
had attained his desired end, and conquered the hereditary tendency so
much dreaded, he prepared to return to society, intending, if his
despondency should recur, to return once more to his Indian habit, and
rejoin his Huron friends. When the intention was formed by Pondiac and
his associates, of attacking the commodore’s vessel, Sir Robert, who
wished now to be conveyed to some of the forts, discerned the British
ship from the opposite shore of the great lake, and being willing to
avail himself of that conveyance, embarked in a canoe with some of his
own Indian friends, to go on board the commodore. Meanwhile, a very
large canoe, containing as many of Pondiac’s followers as it could
possibly hold, drew near the king’s ship, and made a pretext of coming
in a friendly manner, while two or three others, filled with warriors,
hovered at a distance.—They had fallen short of their usual policy; for
they were painted red, and had about them some of those symbols of
hostility, which are perfectly understood amongst each other. Some
friendly Indians, who happened to be by accident on board the
commodore’s vessel, discerned these, and warned him of the approaching
danger. On their drawing near the vessel, they were ordered to keep off.
Thinking they were discovered, and that things could be no worse, they
attempted to spring on board, armed with their tomahawks and
scalping-knives, but were very soon repulsed. The other canoes, seeing
all was discovered, drew near to support their friends, but were soon
repulsed by a discharge of the six-pounder. At this crisis, the canoe,
containing Sir Robert, began to advance in another direction. The
Indians who accompanied him, had not been apprised of the proposed
attack; but being Hurons, the commodore never doubted of their
hostility. Sir Robert sat in the end of the canoe, dressed in all the
costume of a Huron, and wrapt up in his blanket. He ordered his
companions to approach the ship immediately, not deterred by their
calling to them to keep off, intending, directly, to make himself known;
but in the confusion he was accidentally shot.
To describe the universal sorrow diffused over the province in
consequence of this fatal accident, would be impossible. Nothing since
the death of Lord Howe had excited such general regret. The Indians
carried the body to Detroit, and delivered it up to the garrison for
interment. He had kept a journal during his residence on the lakes,
which was never recovered, and must certainly have contained (proceeding
from such a mind so circumstanced) much curious matter. Sir Charles, his
younger brother, then a captain in the 17th, succeeded him, but had no
visitation of the depression of mind so fatal to his brothers.
Rumours, enlarged by distance, soon reached Albany of this unlooked-for
attack of the Indians. Indeed, before they had any authentic details,
they heard of it in the most alarming manner from the terrified back
settlers, who fled from their incursions. Those who dwell in a land of
security, where only the distant rumour of war can reach them, would
know something of the value of safety could they be but one day
transported to a region where this plague is let loose; where the
timorous and the helpless are made to
“Die many times before their death,”
by restless rumour, cruel suspense, and anticipated misery. Many of the
regiments employed in the conquest of Canada had returned home, or gone
to the West-Indies. Had the Canadians had spirit and cohesion to rise in
a body and join the Indians, ’tis hard to say what might have been the
consequence. Madame, whose cautions were neglected in the day of
prosperity, became now the public oracle, and was resorted to and
consulted by all. Formerly she blamed their false security and neglect
of that powerful chief, who, having been accustomed to flattery and
gifts from all sides, was all at once made too sensible that it was from
war he derived his importance. Now she equally blamed the universal
trepidation, being confident in our resources, and well knowing what
useful allies the Mohawks, ever hostile to the Canadian Indians, might
prove.
Never was our good aunt more consulted and more respected. Sir Jeffery
Amherst planned at Albany an expedition to be commanded by General
Bradstreet, for which both New-York and New-England raised corps of
provincials.
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