Front matter
HISTORY
CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC
HISTORY
Preface
The conquest of Canada was an event of momentous consequence in American history. It changed the political aspect of the continent, prepared a way for the independence of the British colonies, rescued the vast tracts of the interior from the rule of military despotism, and gave them, eventually, to the keeping of an ordered democracy. Yet to the red natives of the soil its results were wholly disastrous. Could the French have maintained their ground, the ruin of the Indian tribes might long have been postponed; but the victory of Quebec was the signal of their swift decline. Thenceforth they were destined to melt and vanish before the advancing waves of Anglo-American power, which now rolled westward unchecked and unopposed. They saw the danger, and, led by a great and daring champion, struggled fiercely to avert it. The history of that epoch, crowded as it is with scenes of tragic interest, with marvels of suffering and vicissitude, of heroism and endurance, has been, as yet, unwritten, buried in the archives of governments, or among the obscurer viii
PREFACE.
records of private adventure. To rescue it from oblivion is the object of the following work. It aims to portray the American forest and the American Indian at the period when both received their final doom.
It is evident that other study than that of the closet is indispensable to success in such an attempt. Habits of early reading had greatly aided to prepare me for the task; but necessary knowledge of a more practical kind has been supplied by the indulgence of a strong natural taste, which, at various intervals, led me to the wild regions of the north and west. Here, by the camp-fire, or in the canoe, I gained familiar acquaintance with the men and scenery of the wilderness. In 1816, I visited various primitive tribes of the Rocky Mountains, and was, for a time, domesticated in a village of the western Dahcotah, on the high plains between Mount Laramie and the range of the Medicine Bow.
The most troublesome part of the task was the collection of the necessary documents. These consisted of letters, journals, reports, and despatches, scattered among numerous public offices, and private families, in Europe and America. When brought together, they amounted to about three thousand four hundred manuscript pages. Contemporary newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets have also been examined, and careful search made for every book which, directly or indirectly, might throw light upon the subject. I have visited the sites of all the
PREFACE, ix principal events recorded in the narrative, and gathered such local traditions as seemed worthy of confidence.
I am indebted to the liberality of Hon. Lewis Cass for a curious collection of papers relating to the siege of Detroit by the Indians. Other important contributions have been obtained from the state paper offices of London and Paris, from the archives of New York, Pennsylvania, and other states, and from the manuscript collections of several historical societies. The late William L. Stone, Esq, commenced an elaborate biography of Sir William Johnson, which it is much to be lamented he did not live to complete. By the kindness of Mrs. Stone, I was permitted to copy from his extensive collection of documents, such portions as would serve the purposes of the following History.
To President Sparks of Harvard University, General Whiting, U. S. A., Brant z Mayer, Esq. of Baltimore, Francis J. Fisher, Esq. of Philadelphia, and Eev. George E. Ellis of Charlestown, I beg to return a warm acknowledgment for counsel and assistance. Mr. Benjamin Perley Poore and Mr. Henry Stevens procured copies of valuable documents from the archives of Paris and London. Henry R. Schoolcraft, Esq., Dr. Elwyn of Philadelphia, Dr. O'Callaghan of Albany, George H. Moore, Esq. of New York, Lyman C. Draper, Esq. of Philadelphia, Judge Law of Vincennes, and many others, have kindly contributed materials to the work. Nor can I withhold an
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PREFACE.
expression of thanks to the aid so freely rendered in the dnll task of proof-reading and correction.
The crude and promiscuous mass of materials presented an aspect by no means inviting. The field of the history was uncultured and unreclaimed, and the labor that awaited me was like that of the border settler, who, before he builds his rugged dwelling, must fell the forest-trees, burn the undergrowth, clear the ground, and hew the fallen trunks to due proportion.
Several obstacles have retarded the progress of the work. Of these, one of the most considerable was the condition of my sight, seriously, though not permanently, impaired. For about three years, the light of day was insupportable, and every attempt at reading or writing completely debarred. Under these circumstances, the task of sifting the materials and composing the work was begun and finished. The papers were repeatedly read aloud by an amanuensis^ copious notes and extracts were made, and the narrative written down from my dictation. This process, though extremely slow and laborious, was not without its advantages ; and I am well convinced that the authorities have been even more minutely examined, more scrupulously collated, and more thoroughly digested, than they would have been under ordinary circumstances.
In order to escape the tedious circumlocution, which, from the nature of the subject, could not otherwise have been avoided, the name English is
PREFACE.
xi applied, throughout the volume, to the British American colonists, as well as to the people of the mother country. The necessity is somewhat to be regretted, since, even at an early period, clear distinctions were visible between the offshoot and the parent stock.
Boston, August 1, 1851.
CHAPTER I. Introductory. — Indian Tribes East of the Mississippi
PAGE
PAGE
General Characteristics .
The Tuscaroras .
Tribal Divisions .
Superiority of the Iroquois Race
Mode of Government
The Algonquins .
Social Harmony .
The Lenni Lenape .
The Totem ....
Their changing Fortunes .
Classification of Tribes
The Shawanoes
The Iroquois ....
mi TIT* * 1 , 1 Tiv
The Miamis and the Illinois
Their Position and Character
The Ojibwas, Pottawattamies,
Their Political Organization .
and Ottawas
Traditions of their Confederacy
The Sacs and Foxes
Their Myths and Legends
The Menomonies and Kniste-
Their Eloquence and Sagacity neaux ....
Arts — Agriculture .
Customs of the Northern Al-
Their Dwellings, Villages, and gonquins ....
ol
Forts
Their Summer and Winter Life
Their Winter Life
Legends of the Algonquins
The War Path
Religious Faith of the Indians
Festivals and Pastimes
The Indian Character
Pride of the Iroquois
Its Inconsistencies
The Hurons or Wyandots .
Its Ruling Passions
Their Customs and Character .
Pride — Hero-worship .
Their Dispersion ...
Coldness, Jealousy, Suspicion
The Neutral Nation — Its Fate
Self-control .
The Eries and Andastes .
Intellectual Traits .
Triumphs of the Confederacy
Inflexibility ....
The Adoption of Prisoners
Generous Qualities .
CHAPTER II. France and
England in America.
Contrast of French and Eng-
Feudalism in Canada .
lish Colonies
Priests and Monks „
h xiv
CONTEXTS.
Puritanism and Democracy in
La Salle ....
New England . . .
His Plan of Discovery .
French Life in Canada
His Sufferings — His Heroism
Military Strength of Canada .
He discovers the Mouth of the
Religious Zeal .
Mississippi
Missions — The Jesuits .
Louisiana ....
Brebeuf and Lallemant
France in the West
Martyrdom of Jogues
Growth of English Colonies .
Results of the Missions
Approaching Collision .
French Explorers .
CHAPTER III. The French, the
English, and the Indians.
Champlain defeats the Iroquois
The White Savage .
The Iroquois Wars
The English Fur-trader .
Misery of Canada
William Perm and his Eulo-
Expedition of Frontenac gists
Success of the French .
The Indians and the Quakers
French Influence in the West
Injustice of Perm's Successors
La Verandrye ....
The Walking Purchase .
The English Fur-trade
Speech of Canassatego
Protestant and Romish Missions
Removal of the Delawares
The English and the Iroquois
Intrusion of Settlers .
Policy of the French
Success of French Intrigues .
The Frenchman in the Wig-
Father Picquet .
Sir William Johnson
Coureurs des Bois .
Position of Parties
CHAPTER IV. Collision of
THE
Rival Colonies.
The Puritan and the Canadian
Alarm of the Indians
Fort Frederic
Congress at Albany
Acadia
French and English Diplomacy
The French on the Ohio
Braddock and Dieskau
Mission of Washington .
Naval Engagement .
Trent driven from the Ohio .
The War in Europe and America
Death of Jumonville
Braddock in Virginia
Skirmish at the Great Mead-
March of his Army ows . . .
Beaujeu at Fort du Quesne
CONTENTS.
XV
Ambuscade at the Monongahela 99 Rout of Braddock . . .100 Its Consequences . . 102 Acadia, Niagara, and Crown
Point 102
Battle of Lake George . 103 Prosecution of the War . . 107 Oswego — Fort William Henry 109 StoiToing of Ticonderoga . 110 State of Canada . . . Ill Plans for its Reduction . . 112
Progress of the English Arms 112
Wolfe before Quebec . .113
Assault at Montmorenci . .115
Heroism of Wolfe . . 117
The Heights of Abraham . 119
Battle of Quebec . . 121
Death of Wolfe . . .123
Death of Montcalm . . 124
Surrender of Quebec . . 125
Fall of Canada . . .126
Chapter V
The Wilderness and its Tenants at the Close of the French War.
Sufferings of the Frontier . 127 Treaties with the Western
Tribes .... 127 Christian Frederic Post . . 128 The Iroquois . . .130 The remote Tribes . . . 131 The Forest .... 131 Indian Population . . . 132 Condition of the Tribes . 133 Onondaga .... 133 The Dela wares and neighboring Tribes .... 134 Their Habits and Condition 134
The Shawanoes, Miamis, Illinois, and Wyandots . . 134 English Settlements . . 135 Forest Thoroughfares . . 135 Fur-traders — Their Habits
and Character . . . 136
The Forest Traveller . . 137
The French at the Illinois . 139
Military Life in the Forest . 140
The Savage and the European 140
Hunters and Trappers . . 141
Civilization and Barbarism . 142
CHAPTER VI. The English take Possession of the Western Posts
The victorious Armies at Montreal 144
Major Robert Rogers . . 144 His Expedition up the Lakes . 147 His Meeting with Pontiac . 148 Ambitious Views of Pontiac . 149
He befriends the English . 149 The English take Possession
of Detroit . . .151 Of other French Posts . . 152 British Power Predominant m
the West . . . .152 xvi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII. Anger of the Indians. — The Conspiracy
Discontent of the Tribes
Gloomy Prospects of the Indian
Impolitic Course of the English 154
Race
Disorders of the Fur-trade
Designs of Pontiac
IRA 104
Military Insolence
His War Messengers
Intrusion of Settlers
Tribes engaged in the Con-
French Intrigue .
spiracy ....
The Delaware Prophet .
Dissimulation of the Indians .
An abortive Plot .
The War-belt among the Mi-
Pontiac's Conspiracyamis . . .
Character of Pontiac .
CHAPTER VIII. Indian Pre
PARATION.
The Indians as a military Peo-
The Peace of Paris
Royal Proclamation
Their inefficient Organization
The War-chief. His Fasts and
Their insubordinate Spirit
Vigils ....
Their Improvidence
The War-feast. The War-
Policy of the Indian Leaders .
dance
Difficulties of Forest Warfare
Departure of the Warriors .
Defenceless Condition of the
The Bursting of the Storm
Colonies ....
Chapter IX
at the River Ecorces.
Pontiac musters his Warriors .
Allegory of the Delaware .
They assemble at the River
The Council dissolves
Ecorces .
Calumet Dance at Detroit .
Plan to surprise the Garrison .
Speech of Pontiac .
CONTENTS.
xvii
CHAPTER X. Detroit
Strange Phenomenon
Suspicious Conduct of the In-
Origin and History of Detroit dians . . . .
Its Condition in 1763
Catharine, the Ojibwa Girl .
Character of its Inhabitants .
She reveals the Plot
French Life at Detroit .
Precautions of the Command-
The Fort and Garrison ant
Pontiac at Isle a la Peche
A Night of Anxiety
CHAPTER XI. Treachery of Pontiac
The Morning of the Council .
Pontiac throws off the Mask .
Pontiac enters the Fort
Ferocity of his Warriors
Address and Courage of the
The Ottawas cross the River .
Commandant
Fate of Davers and Robertson
The Plot defeated
General Attack
The Chiefs suffered to escape .
A Truce . . . .
Indian Idea of Honor .
Major Campbell's Embassy
Pontiac again visits the Fort .
He is made Prisoner by Pon-
False Alarm tiac
CHAPTER XII. Pontiac at
THE S iege of Detroit.
The Christian Wyandots join
He exacts Provision from the
Pontiac . .
French
Peril of the Garrison
He appoints Commissaries .
Indian Courage . . .
He issues Promissory Notes .
The English threatened with
His Acuteness and Sagacity
Famine . . .
His Authority over his Fol-
Pontiac's Council with the lowers
French . . .
His Magnanimity
His Speech ....
C b*
XVI 11
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIII. Rout of Cuyler's Detachment
Reenforcement sent to Detroit 229 Attack on the Schooner . . 230 Relief at Hand ... 231 Disappointment of the Garrison 231 Escape of Prisoners . . 232 Cuyler's Defeat . . . 234 [ndian Debauch . . . 235 Fate of the Captives . . 236 Capture of Fort Sandusky . 238
Fate of the Forest Garrisons.
Strength of the Besiegers . 239
Capture of Fort St. Joseph . 240 Capture of Fort Michillimack-
Capture of Fort Ouatanon . 243
Capture of Fort Miami . 244
Defence of Fort Presqu'Isle . 246
Its Capture ... 249
CHAPTER XIV. The Indians continue to Blockade Detroit
Attack on the armed Vessel . 252 News of the Treaty of Paris 253 Pontiac summons the Garrison 255 Council at the Ottawa Camp 255 Disappointment of Pontiac . 257 He is joined by the Coureurs des Bois .... 258
Sortie of the Garrison . 260 Death of Major Campbell . 260 Attack on Pontiac's Camp . 262 Fire Rafts . . . .263 The Wyandots and Pottawattamies beg for Peace . 265
CHAPTER XV. The Fight at Bloody Bridge
Dalzell's Detachment . . 267 Dalzell reaches Detroit . 269 Stratagem of the Wyandots . 269 Night Attack on Pontiac's
Camp 270
Indian Ambuscade . . 271 Retreat of the English . . 273
Terror of Dalzell's Troops 274
Death of Dalzell . . .275
Defence of Campau's House 276
Grant conducts the Retreat . 276
Exultation of the Indians . 278 Defence of the Schooner Glad-
CONTENTS.
xix
CHAPTER XVI. MlCHIELIMACKINAC
The Voyager on the Lakes
Disposition of the Indians
Michillimackinac in 1763 .
The Ojibwa War-chief .
Green Bay and Ste. Marie
Ambassadors from Pontiac
The Northern Wilderness .
Sinister Designs of the Ojibwas
Tribes of the Lakes
Warnings of Danger
Adventures of a Trader
Wawatam ....
Speech of Minavavana .
Eve of the Massacre
Arrival of English Troops .
CHAPTER XVII. T he Massacre
The King's Birthday
He is rescued by Wawatam .
Heedlessness of the Garrison
Cannibalism
Indian Ball-play
Panic among the Conquerors .
The Stratagem .
, They retire to Mackinaw
Slaughter of the Soldiers
The Island of Mackinaw
Escape of Alexander Henry
Indian Carouse .
His appalling Situation .
Famine among the Indians
His Hiding-place discovered
They disperse to their Winter-
Survivors of the Massacre ing Grounds
Plan of retaking the Fort .
Green Bay. The neighboring
Adventures of Henry
Tribes . . .
Unexpected Behavior of the
Gorell. His Address and Pru-
Ottawas .
dence
They take Possession of the
He conciliates the Indians .
Fort . . .
He abandons Green Bay .
Their Council with the Ojibwas
The English driven from the
Henry and his Fellow-prisoners
Upper Lakes .
CHAPTER XVIII. Frontier Forts axd Settlements
Extent of British Settlements
Forts and Military Routes .
Fort Pitt
XX
CONTENTS.
The Pennsylvania Frontier . 326
Alarms at Fort Pitt. . .327
Escape of Calhoun . . 328
Slaughter of Traders . . 328
Fort Ligonier. Fort Bedford 331
Situation of Fort Pitt . . 332
Indian Advice . . . 333
Reply of Ecuyer . . .334
News from Presqu'Isle . . 335
Fate of Le Boeuf . . 336
Fate of Venango . . .337
Danger of Fort Pitt . . 338
Council with the Delawares . 339
Threats of the Commandant 341
General Attack . . 342
CHAPTER XIX. The War on the Borders
Panic among the Settlers . 344 Feeble Resources of the English 345
Measures of Defence . . 346 Alarm at Carlisle . . .347
Scouting Parties . . . 347 Ambuscade on the Tuscarora . 348 The dying Borderer . . 349 Scenes at Carlisle . . . 350
CHAPTER XX. The
Battle of Bushy Run.
The Army of Bouquet .
. 352
The Night Encampment
Dangers of his Enterprise
. 353
The Fight resumed .
. 362
His Character .
. 354
Conflict of the second Day .
Fort Ligonier relieved .
. 356
Successful Stratagem
. 364
Bouquet at Fort Bedford .
. 356
Rout of the Indians
March of his Troops .
. 357
Bouquet reaches Fort Pitt
. 367
Unexpected Attack .
. 358
Effects of the Victory .
CHAPTER XXI. The Iroqjjois. — Ambuscade of the Devil's Hole
Congress of Iroquois . . 370 Effect of Johnson's Influence 371 Incursions into New York . 372 False Alarm at Goshen . 372
The Niagara Portage . . 373
The Convoy attacked . . 374
Second Attack . . .375
Disaster on Lake Erie . . 377
CONTENTS.
xxi
CHAPTER XXII. Desolation of the Frontiers
Virginian Backwoodsmen . 378
Frontiers of Virginia . . 379
Population of Pennsylvania . 380
Distress of the Settlers . 381
Attack on Greenbrier . . 383
A captive Amazon . . 384
Attack on a School-house . 385
Sufferings of Captives . . 387
The escaped Captive . . 388
Feeble Measures of Defence 390
John Elder . . . . 391
Virginian Militia . . . 392
Courage of the Borderers . 393
Encounter with a War-party . 394
Armstrong's Expedition . 395
Slaughter at Wyoming . . 396
Quaker Prejudice . . 397
Gage assumes the Command . 398
Political Disputes . . 399
CHAPTER XXIII. The Indians raise the Siege of Detroit
The Besiegers ask for Peace . 401 A Truce granted . . . 402 Letter from Neyon to Pontiac . 403 Autumn at Detroit . . 404
Indians at their Wintering
Grounds .... 405 Iroquois War-parties . . 406 The War in the South . . 407
CHAPTER XXIV. The Paxton Men
Desperation of the Borderers . 409 Effects of Indian Hostilities 411 The Conestoga Band . .411 Paxton . . . .412 Matthew Smith and his Companions . ; . .413 Massacre of the Conestogas . 414 Further Designs of the Rioters 416
Remonstrance of Elder . 417
Massacre in Lancaster Jail . 417
State of public Opinion . 420
Lazarus Stewart . . . 421
The Moravian Converts . 421
Their Retreat to Philadelphia . 424
Their Reception by the Mob 425
CHAPTER XXV. The Rioters march on Philadelphia
Excitement of the Borderers . 426 Alarm of the Quakers . . 429 Their Designs . . . 428 The Converts sent to New York 430 xxii
CONTEXTS.
The Converts forced to return 43 Quakers and Presbyterians . 433 Warlike Preparation . . 434 Excitement in the City . . 435 False Alarm ... 436
Paxton Men at Gerraantown . 437
Negotiations with the Rioters 438
Frontiersmen in Philadelphia . 440
Paper Warfare . . . 441
Memorials of the Paxton Men 443
CHAPTER XXVI. Bradstreet's Army on the Lakes
Memorials on Indian Affairs . 446 Character of Bradstreet . 448 Departure of the Army . . 449 Concourse of Indians at Niagara 450 Indian Oracle .... 451 Temper of the Indians . 455 Insolence of the Delawares and
Shawanoes .... 456 Treaty with the Senecas . 456 Ottawas and Menomonies . 457 Bradstreet leaves Niagara . 459 Henry's Indian Battalion . . 460 Pretended Embassy . . 461
Presumption of Bradstreet . 462 Indians of Sandusky . . 464 Bradstreet at Detroit . . 465 Council with the Chiefs of Detroit 466
Terms of the Treaty . . 467 Strange Conduct of Bradstreet 468
Michillimackinac reoccupied . 469
Embassy of Morris . . 469
Bradstreet at Sandusky . . 475
Return of the Army . . 476
Results of the Expedition . 477
CHAPTER XXVII. Bouquet forces the Delawares and Shawanoes to sue for
Peace.
Renewal of Indian Ravages .
The English Camp .
David Owens, the White Sav-
Letter from Bradstreet .
age
Desperate Purpose of the Shaw-
Advance of Bouquet .
anoes . . .
His Message to the Delawares 483
Peace Council
The March of his Army .
Delivery of English Prisoners .
Pie reaches the Muskingum .
Situation of Captives among
Terror of the Enemy the Indians ....
Council with the Indians
Their Reluctance to return to
Speech of the Delaware Orator 489 the Settlements
Reply of Bouquet .
The Forest Life .
Its Effect ....
Return of the Expedition
CONTENTS, xxiii
CHAPTER XXVIII. The Illinois
Boundaries of the Illinois .
Its early Colonization .
The Missouri. The Mississippi 513
Creoles of the Illinois
Plants and Animals of the Illi-
Its Indian Population .
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