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, Sept. 19, 1771)
Johnson, Sir William in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 8,
pp. 258-262.
detained there & on the road that it has hitherto prevented me from communicating the particulars I lately received from the Southward. I am now to thank you for your favor of the 10th. Inst & to lay them before you.-
The first pacquet I received contained a Long Letter from Mr. Croghan, wherein he points out the Trouble and Expence in which his present Situation Involves him, & that he Cannot Continue in his Office without his Expences &c are allowed him. In this Letter he mentions his having been informed by a very knowing Indian That the Western Nations have it in view to fall upon the Six Nations, as the latter act Insincerely towds. them.- That from a Conversation he had with another Chief It appeared that Gaustarax the Old Seneca had sent belts to the Southward, but that he believes that the Senecas of Ohio &c were the only people concerned in this plot, tho these Excuse themselves by alledging that the Shawanese allways Change the purport of their belts, & gave one particular Instance wherein they had done so last fall. This Letter accompanied one from Mr. McKee who was sent by Mr. Croghan to the Scioto Meeting. Mr McKee gives a Very favorable acct of Thos Kings Conduct, Says that the French give out that the bloody belts were intended agt them & their Neighbouring Inds. under Color of which, they are Erecting Forts, but that in reality it is at the desire of the Indians by way of Security, ag any Measures which the Six Nations may now take, he adds that notwithstanding the pains [that have been taken to alter Thomas Kings good opinion of the English He has faithfully discharged the Trust reposed in him, "and that] he had very nigh been murdered by [ the Ottawaes for the freedom of his] Speeches"- I have Since recd. another pacquet of Letters Augt. 11th & 14th from Fort Pitt by Express across the Country [and also with] Mr. Mc Kee's Journal, and a Speech which the Inds. [desired] might be forwarded to me.- From the Journal it appears that he descended the Ohio from Fort Pitt he heard of some Murders (page 260) & [Several] Robberies Committed by the Inds. particularly at the Mouth of [Muskingum] he found a Number [of] Delawares drinking who had plundered a Canoe [loaded] with Rum &c these he rebuked severely & they promised to make restitution, but I find in every late Accot such bitter Compts. agt. the unlimited Quantity of Rum that is carried amongst [them] That I cannot help repeating my former desire for its being [plaid under] Some restriction- On his arrival at the Lower Shawanese Town he found that Thos. King was departed for sometime having [made] his Speeches to the Shawanese, Wiandots, Ottawas & Chipeweighs. The other Tribes not Coming in he left directions that they shod. [streightway] be made acquainted with his business & Speeches, he was accompan'd from thence by sevl. Shawanese who Mr McKee is informed may be Spies upon his conduct with the Cherokees, the boldness he [adds,] with which he delivered his Speeches has inclined them to doubt his Authority. They say he told them That Whatever Nation shod. [dare] to disturb the peace might Depend on being severely chastized for their [Insolence] by the English & Six Nats. & that the Wawraghtonos & Kickapous had to take care that the stroke did not first fall upon them for that their folly had long deserved it. That he wod. recommend their Conduct for [the future] to be such as to merit the pity, rather than the resentment, of so great [a People,] Adding that the 2 last mend. Nations & the Straggling Inds. of the [Six Nations &ca.] living in that Country must be Excluded from, that Notice in the Chain [of] Friendship formerly shewn them until their good behavior shod. deserve [otherwise,] 15 Days after Mr. McKees arrival there A party of Twightwees & Powtewatamis [came (as they said) in the Name of Wawiaghtenos, Kickapous, & the rest of the Wabash Inds. who were prevented from coming to hear Thomas Kings proceedings] by a Call they Received from the Illinois which [Mr. Mc.Kee says, the] Shawanese told him was however an Excuse, as they were really gone to Strike the English.- From the 21st. June (page 261) to the 1st of July was Spent in delivering Thos. Kings Speeches, after which the Shawanese upbraided them with their past conduct &c.- The Twightwees made many declarations of their own pacific Disposition but Acknowledged the Misbehavior of those they represented to whom they promised faithfully to deliver all they had heard, but feared they wd. not pay due regard to it. The Powtewatamis Chief affected not to understand the Council & to decline having anything to do with it, said his Confederacy despised Threats, appeared to disregard wt. had been said by the Six Nations, believed that peace wd. not last long & that they wd. be prepared for them by wch according to Mr. McKees Information they alluded to the Forts buildg by the French. He however observes that T. Kings Speeches have thrown the Westn. Inds. into great Confusion, as they see that these Straggling Senecas &c whom they looked upon as the Mouth of the 6 Nations were despised & thrown off by that Confederacy. At length it was Concluded that the Shawanese shod. Send a Deputation to the 6 Nation Country to know whether he had been charged with all the Speeches & whether they were their real Sentiments.- Before Mr. McKees departure the Shawanese addressed him in a Speech which they desired might be sent to me, & of which together with his remarks made during his Journey I now transmit you a Copy.- It may be difficult to lay any restriction upon Rum or to Confine the Sale of it to particular places, but If it can be done It ought, for I am persuaded it is often the Cause of both Murder & Robbery, tho' it is not so in every Instance. It at present serves as an Excuse & I think we shod if possible leave them without even that Excuse for their Conduct.-
I shall Seriously consider of the properest means for Chastizing those Disturbers of the peace.- The Inds. of Ouabache have been as often called together as any in that quarter. They have been Sevl. times Sent for by myself & have sometimes attended, when they were allways but to well Treated, & I am sure they Cost the Govt. enough, whilst I had Commissys at the Ilinois & (page 262) the Detroit from their Situation we should have but little [to do with them, but that circumstance inclines them to have a good deal to do with us, and whilst they know it is in their power] to obstruct our Communication [they will do it, as I understand many] parties are now out for that purpose. In short betw[een the evil inclination] of the Indians & Licentiousness of the Whites it is a difficult matter [to Act.-] The Traders [sell them Rum in ye. greatest plenty,] then tempt them with goods which they put what price they please upon, in the midst of the Indn. Country, amongst [a rapacious] Savage people. At the same time The White Hunters Interrupt them in the Chase and already Some people have Crossed the Susquehanna & Ohio (which was the boundary Line settled in 1768) & are now building in the Indn. Country, of which I have full proof.- Such a disregard to Treaties affords them a dangerous Example.-
Mr. Croghan says That the Inds. Settled about Ohio, shew plainly their disappointment, which he attributes in a great measure to Thos. Kings Speeches.- I shall Imediately let the Six Nations know of the Message they are to Expect from the Southward & take the best measures I can on that Occasion.- In his Second Letter he again repeats his request of being dismissed from his Office, representing the great Charge it is likely to be to him & the Impossibility of his Continuing without enlarging his allowance. I shall be glad to have your Sentiments & Directions hereon.
I cannot conclude without Expressing the Satisfaction I receive from your approbation of my Opinions & to assure you that I shall allways set the highest Value on your favorable Testimony.
His Excellcy.
LT. GENL. GAGE
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Septr. 19th 1771 |
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