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
(Detroit, Feb. 23, 1768)
Turnbull, George in: William
L.
Clements Library, Gage Papers,
American Series and in The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 6,
pp. 121-122.
[ ] Chathum as appears maintains his ground. I am [ ] the sinceerest Respect & attachement
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Dear Sir |
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PETER HASENCLEVER |
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[ ]onet
GEORGE TURNBULL TO THOMAS GAGE
Extract
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[Detroit, February 23, 1768] |
[Sir
I had the Honor to write you the 1st of December and mention'd that one Rogers a Trader from1 *] Michillimackinac [was killed by the] Indians of St Josephs which was too true. [By the] letters we have received from Traders at that Place, [it appears] that Rogers had been there some Months, but [having] been often insulted by the Indians he determined to go and winter at Kikki some days march to the Westward of St Joseph. That soon after his arrival there, he was knocked on the head, and all his goods plundered, The Inhabitants and Traders at S Joseph wants much to lay the blame on the Savages intirely who they say declared a Council held at the House of one Louis Chevallier, that they would not suffer any English many to come near the Place, We are informed that Major Rogers had Recommended his Namesake to said Chevallier, which perhaps he may imagine gives him Sufficient Authority to Counsel with Indians, it requires very little penetration to Trace the French Policy through every part of their Transactions, and they want to enhance the Trade to themselves if they can.-
[Ensign Johnstone got to Michilmakinac the 4th of December after a very Dangerous Passage, having kept going on night and day in all Sorts of weather. Major Roger's is a close Prisoner, by Capt Spicemacker's Letter there has nothing appeared of any Consequence amongst His Paper's, and had it been Practicable they would have Sent Him down to Detroit instantly. But the Season was too far advanced, we shall Send the Vessel there as Early as Possible and bring him down and shall be forwarded to Albany under the charge of a Commissiond officer, where I fancy He Will Receive your further Instructions.- This Express of Ensign Johnstone's has cost Eighty nine Pounds nine Pence York Currency which have drawn for of this Date Ten days after sight in favor of James Sterling Merchant. Below the acount. which indeed is a Large Sum but it could not be done Cheaper considering the Season of the year.- The Three Canadians have come back by Land, and arrived here the 20th of January, they had Told Severall of the Inhabitants as they came along, that Major Roger's was a Prisoner, So that it is now no Longer a Secret.
The 13th of Decr a Fire broke out in Lieut Nordbergs Room, Between the hours of Eight and nine in the Evening. The Timely assistance Enabled us to Extinguish it in about a Quarter of an hour, a Press where Mr. Nordberg had some necessarys was intirely burnt, and Nineteen pains of Window Glass was broke which I Repaired immediately out of the Barrack master's store any other Damage was but Trifling. We never could Learn for certain which way the Fire had commenced.-
The 21st of Janr in the Evening a Huron Indian was found Dead about half a mile from the Fort. I order'd an Inquest upon the Body, a Coppy of which I now Inclose you, and as it appears that an Inhabitant Killed the Indian on his own Defence I Did not think it necessary to Take any further Cognizance of the Inhabitant. The day after a Chippewa Indian was found dead about a mile of f in the woods. There appeared no marks of Violence upon his body, and as he had been Seen the afternoon before very much in Liquor, We Suppose that He had lain down to Sleep without a fire and so Perished in the cold. The Chiefs of Each Nation that were nearest was called, and Seemed Sensible that Neither of the accidents was our fault.-
The Trader's have at last found it their Interest to put all their Rum into a General Store, which I hope Will be a means of Preventing the Indians from Getting so frequently drunk within the Fort of course fewer accidents will happen.-
Lieutt Mc Alpin has inclosed the acounts of the works to Colonel Maitland. They amount to Six Hundred and fifty Eight Pound five shillings and Nine pence half penny which is higher than I Expected they wou'd be however we have done our Best to Execute every thing mentiond in the Estimate. Besides the Picketing which is a very material article over and above- in the month of Decr. as the Reports of the Indians Intending a Rupture was so often Repeated I Removed the Blockhouse which Stood about Two Hundred Yards East of the East Gate upon the Common, to the upper Angle of the Little Garden Bastion, on the Same Side of the Fort, which Situation being full as high as where it formerly stood it Commands the Plain Equally as before, and a much better Defence to the Fort as it Scour's both ways the whole East Face I have Likewise moved the Blockhouse North of the Large Garden a few Paces so as to bring it close to the Garden Pickets, where it is full as Serviceable as before. With this Difference that our Communication With it is more Safe and Easy as the Ladder stands on the inside of the Garden, and both Blockhouses are Repaired and Covered.- Perhaps you will be Surprized that the horses have been kept at Hay and Corn during the Summer Season. The Reason is that the Indians are So apt to steal them when they are at Grass Particularly those belonging to English People. The King has lost severall. They stole one a few weeks after our arrivall at this Place, which I never made mention of as I Replaced him with a Better one which they had stole from us in Colonel Gladwins Time.-
I have Drawn upon you of this Date according to your Desire for the money due for the works at the Bottom of the General acount amounting to Six Hundred and fifty Eight Pound five shillings and Nine pence half penny which Bill is in favor of Mr. Mc Alpin as He has already Pay'd the People by a Paper Currency. He Proposes getting up Specie as Early as Possible to Relieve it.-]
The 7th Instant We Received Letters from some of [the French] People at Miamis, acquainting us that one Hambach [or back?] [a Trader] formerly a Volunteer in the 1st Battn 60th Regt was [murder'd at] that Place the 19th of Janr by five Potowatamies [from St Joseph. they] (page 122) had lodged three or four days with [him and had frequently Demanded] where his merchandise [was kept, one Lorrain mentions to Mr. Hay that they had Saved Some of Hambacks Effects. But the Indians wou'd not Return his papers, that this Party had showd Said Lorrain Severall Belts they had Received from the Spaniards Desiring them to kill all the English1] Traders that [they shou'd find out wintering amongst] Indians, it is a Possibility [that these Belts may] come from some of the French [officers in the Spanish] Service, who are certainly there [with no other Views.] But it is as likely that the Inhabitants [of St Joseph ] had a Share in it, particularly Mr. Che[vallier who I] made mention of before; he is a leading [man with the] Indians, and much Indebted to said [Hamback, having ] refused last Summer to come to Detroit[ and Settle with] him.
[There is only Two methods of Quieting these upper Countrys the first and best is to Take Posession of New Orleans, if that cannot be done, our Indian Superintendant ought to make a Point of it with the neighbouring Nations of Indians to Correct the Insolence of the Potowatemies, as well as Remove every one of those Vagabond Inhabitants at St Joseph and Miamis &c/ its true this cost money but if we were to keep an acount of the Different Councils that are held and Presents that are given which are unavoidable in our Present Situation, whenever a fellow gets knock't on the head, the Ballance I fancy would be in favor of the former.-
There is Some Part of Sir William Johnsons Instructions to Commissarys Dated 20th of April 1767 which are a Little Mysterious He Says the Trade is only to be carry'd on the Forts and Posts where Commissarys shall Reside, Excepting what may be necessary for the Indians North of Lake Huron, while numbers of Traders come to St Joseph and Some to Sagina with Passes from the Commissary of Michilmakinac, another article of the Same Instructions mention that Commissarys are to give Permitts to Traders to go from one Post to another, with Submission to Sir William Johnson I shou'd Imagine that the Commanding officer was to give the Passes, and the Commissary to put a State of their goods on the margin, or back of the Pass which wou'd answer every end Equally as well as the Commissarys Permitt, I have only to add that if such Plans are continued and Commissarys to act Independent of the Commanding officer you will find that the Service will Suffer.- I speak the more freely on that Subject as we Expect the Regiment will be Relieved from the Posts very Soon, nor do I mean any Complaint against Mr. Hay who I think a Discreet man and a good Commissary.
Captain Sinclairs Situation has oblidged him to build a House for himself and guard at his own Expence, it is very Evident that Such Deep Keeld Vessels cannot be brought with Safety over the Barr in Lake Sinclair So as to Winter at Detroit. He writes me that He Intends to Sollicit your Excellency for some allowance for Said Expence, and Hinted that if He was only pay'd the half of what it cost him He would be Satisfyd. I must Beg Leave to Say that His Demand is very Moderate, and that such a House was highly necessary for the health of Him and His People.- Mr. Dejean has made up a State of this settlement which I now Inclose. He has Likewise had a great Deal of Trouble in collecting the money from the Inhabitants which was due the Soldiers for Putting in Three Hundred Pickets last fall, as there are a number of Poor People and Little or no Specie, at a meeting Lately they have consented to put in one Thousand more Pickets the Ensuing Summer. So I hope to have very Little more Trouble from them on that Quarter, notwithstanding the Different Reports of Indians I do not think they are able to do us any Considerable Damage Provided they Don't attack the Carrying Place of Niagara or Some accident happens to the Vessels. We Shall be watchfull and put as Little in their Power as we can.
Mr. Mc Alpin has Purchased a Lot of Ground in the Center of the Barrack yard With Severall houses upon it. He has Proposed, to Exchange it for the Lot of the Naval Store, that He will Build a commodious Naval Store, and give us the opportunity to Bare these houses which are an Incumbrance in the Middle of the Barrack yard. I have only as yet got about Two hundred Cord of wood from the Inhabitants in Lieu of quit Rents, which Colonel Robison will Settle as you Shall See Expedient.
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I am With the utmost Respect |
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Sir |
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your most Obedient and |
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Geo: Turnbull |
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Detroit Febr. 23d 1768
To
Major General Gage]
TO GEORGE CROGHAN
A. L. S.2
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Johnson Hall Feby. 29th 1768 |
DEAR SIR
I am so circumstanced at present, that I have only time to acknowledge the receipt of yr. Several letters of the 2d, 7th, 17th, & 18th Inst Pr Express, & to let You know that I shall answer them fully by the next Post, When I hope I shall be able to inform You of something favourable having been done at Home relative to my Department.
That no time may be lost at this Critical Juncture, I would have you dispatch a Message imediately to the Six Nations living along the Ohio, the Shawanese, Delawares, & Such other Tribes in that part of the Country as have had any of their People killed by ours since the Peace, to meet you at Fort Pitt as Soon as possible.
I expect a great Number of the Six Nations here in two Days,- Several of the
Canada Indians have been attending some time, and a large Body from thence,
are (by ye. report
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1 Lines burned off.
2 In Newberry Library, Chicago, Ill.
* Ed. Note: [] filled in throughout this letter from the same letter as found in Gage Papers, American Series.
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