Volume II Part 19 (1/2)
On the Rebels first arrival at St. Vincennes they took down the English Flag left there by Lieut. Gen. Abbott, wrapped a large stone in it, and threw it into the Ouabash, saying to the Indians, thus we mean to treat your Father--
Having called the Indians together they laid a War Belt colored red, & a belt colored green before them, telling them that if they delighted in mischief and had no compa.s.sion on their wives & children they might take up the red one, if on the contrary they were wise & preferred peace, the green one--
The old Tobacco a chief of the [Piankeshaws] spoke as follows--My brothers--you speak in a manner not to be understood, I never yet saw, nor have I heard from my ancestors that it was customary to place good & bad things in the same dish--You talk to us as if you meant us well, yet you speak of War & peace in the same minute, thus I treat the speeches of such men--on which with a violent kick he spurned their belts from him.
The son of Lagesse, a young Chief of the Pontconattamis of St Joseph spoke next to them.
My Brothers--'Tis because I have listened to the voice of our old men, & because I have regard to our women & children that I have not before now struck my Tomahawk into some of your heads--attend to what I say, I will only go to see in what condition our wives & children are (meaning I will first place them in security) & then you may depend on seeing me again--
The Rebel speaker then said--
You are young men & your youth excuses your ignorances, you would not else talk as you do--Our design is to march thro' your country, & if we find any fires in our way, we shall just tread them out as we walk along & if we meet with any obstacle or barrier we shall remove it with all ease, but the bystanders must take care lest the splinters should scar their faces.
We shall then proceed to Detroit where your father is whom we consider as a Hog put to fatten in a penn, we shall enclose him in his penn, till he be fat, & then we will throw him into the river--We shall draw a reinforcement from the Falls on the Ohio & from thence & the Ilinois send six hundred men to Chicagou--
To this the Indians replied--You that are so brave, what need have you to be reinforced, go to Detroit, you that can put out our fires & so easyly remove our barriers.--This we say to you, take care that in attempting to extinguish our fires you do not burn yourselves, & that in breaking down our barriers you do not run splinters into your hands. You may also expect that we shall not suffer a single Frenchman to accompany you to Detroit.
End of the Conference.
APPENDIX C--TO CHAPTER IV.
(From Canadian Archives.)
(_Haldimand MSS._, Series B, Vol. 122, p. 351.)
(Copy.)
UPPER ST. DUSKI, June 9, 1779.
Dear Sir,
After much running about, some presents to Chiefs, we had collected at the Mingo Town near 200 Savages chiefly Shawanese--When lo! a runner arrived with accounts of the Shawanese towns being attacked by a body from Kentuck, they burnt five houses, killed one Indian & wounded the Chief badly--lost their own Commander _Heron_ or _Herington_--they carried off 30 Horses, were pursued by fifty Shawanese, the Shawanese were beat back with loss of five & six wounded--News flew that all the Towns were to be attack'd & our little body seperated in an instant past rea.s.sembling--confusion still prevails--much counselling--no resolves--many are removing--more for peace.
The Delawares make it dangerous travelling. By this opportunity Davison & Cook return sick--Girty is flying about--McCarty stays with me with some Ottawas--these unsteady Rogues put me out of all patience,--I will go with him in a few days, if nothing material occurs--See the Enemy that I may not be laugh'd at then return.--The Rebels mean I believe to destroy the Villages & corn now up--the method they bring their little armies into the field as follows: Every Family on the Borders receive orders to send according to their strength (one or two men) to the place of Rendezvous at a time appointed (on pain of fine or imprisonment) with fifteen or twenty days Provisions, they immediately receive their ammunition & proceed quickly to action--I am credibly inform'd by various means, that they can raise in that manner three or four thousand in a few days for such excursions--I was obliged to Kill four more Cattle for the Indians at the Mingo Town--they are always Cooking or Counselling.
I have nothing more to inform you off if anything material occurs, which I really expect in a day or two, I will inform you by Express.
I am &c
HENRY BIRD.
To CAPT. LERNOULT.
(Copy.)
June 12th, UPPER ST. DUSKI.