took the part of the English, they should be struck down as the friends they joined. Pontiac informed the council that he had sent belts to the Chippewas of Saginaw, the Ottawas, of Michillimackinac, and of the river la Tranche.*

Major Maxville is responsible for the statement that news of the proposed treachery of Pontiac was brought by a young Ojibeway squaw in the habit of visiting Gladwin's quarters; and that on the afternoon of the sixth she informed him that the Indians were filing down their guns so that they could be concealed. The writer of the MS. states that the information was given by Mahigama, an Ottawa Indian. He also mentions the report that the design was first made known by a Saulteur woman, who was seized by Pontiac's orders, but afterwards released. Mrs. Meloche and Peltier both tell us that an old squaw named Catherine was really the informer. Charles Gouin relates that his father sent a messenger, Jacques Chovin, to Campbell, to acquaint him with Pontiac's treacherous designs. Gabriel St. Aubin says that his mother, cousin to La Butte, the interpreter, gave the information to the latter, who reported it to Gladwin; a statement which appears the 'most natural. The story of the young Ojibeway squaw, told by Maxwell, is utterly unauthenticated, and in my judgment must be rejected. It has also been said that Gladwin learned Pontiac's design from the Babys. There had been no previous dispute to awaken Indian feeling, no ground of discontent, no demand for a questionable right refused.

Pontiac had

On the surface all was peace and confidence. been even ostentatiously demonstrative in his professions of friendship. But his treason had been carefully planned, and his murderous design deliberately conceived. Secrecy had been enforced, but perfect concealment of what was taking place was impossible.

The name of the informant has remained unknown, but whatever the source of the information, Gladwin gave it credence and prepared to meet the emergency. The guards were doubled; the night preceding the anticipated event was * The present river Thames.

1763]

PONTIAC FOILED.

17

passed in great anxiety. At daylight the whole garrison was placed under arms; the stores of the traders were closed, they and their men remaining armed within the picket fence. The fort gates were, however, left open as usual, and the Indians and squaws came in singly or in pairs, as was their custom, and no interference took place with their usual habits. At ten o'clock Pontiac, with fifty warriors, presented himself at the fort. When he had performed his dance of peace on the Ist, he had notified Gladwin that on a future occasion he would pay a formal visit. On entering the gate he saw the whole force on parade, apparently for the purpose of being drilled. Gladwin describes Pontiac as being so surprised that he would scarcely take a seat at the council. The Indians, however, recovered their composure, and Pontiac made a speech, which Gladwin answered calmly, without intimating any suspicion of his bad intentions. Some trifling presents were given to the chiefs, and they left.*

Monday, the 9th of May, was the first of the Rogation days, a Roman Catholic church festival, and all the inhabitants of the settlement attended grand mass. Many of the Indians were present. At its conclusion, Pontiac, attended by a large following of the tribe, endeavoured to enter by the front gate; he found it closed. He demanded admittance; he was informed that he, with a few of the chiefs, could come in, but the remainder must remain without. Pontiac turned away with passionate rage and strode towards his followers, many of whom, at some little distance, had remained lying flat upon the ground. They leaped up and ran off, in the words of the report, "yelping like so many devils." They rushed towards a house where an Englishwoman lived with her family; the inmates were immediately killed and scalped. A former non-commissioned officer, who had established himself on île Cochon, near lake Saint Claire, met the same fate.

* Gladwin gives the total number of Indians present at three hundred. The statement that Gladwin rose from his seat and opened Pontiac's blanket and exposed his musket, is not only not authenticated, but at variance with Gladwin's

own statement.

C

That night the garrison heard that two officers, sir Robert Danvers and lieutenant Robertson, who were engaged in taking soundings at the discharge of lake Saint Claire, above Detroit, in an examination to find the channel, had been seized and murdered.

Early on the dawn of the succeeding morning, the whole force of the Indians surrounded the fort; placing themselves under cover of the barns and fences, and bushes, they kept up a continual fire. The defenders could see none of the enemy. Some outbuildings, at no great distance, offered them protection; fortunately for the defence they were set on fire by red hot spikes from the guns, when the spot was abandoned. This attack lasted six hours. None other was repeated with this lengthened pertinacity; the fort, however, remained blockaded on all sides, subject to periodical fusilades of some hours, and the garrison was cut off from all communication with the east. What cattle Pontiac could find outside the fort, he killed and seized for his use; and he called upon the inhabitants to furnish him with the provisions he required, with the threat that he would put them to death if refused.

So sudden an attack was not looked for, as no previous event had suggested that it was imminent; at the same time it had been hoped, that from the uncertain character of the Indian, some accommodation might be obtained temporary in its character, so that Gladwin could receive reinforcements, and sufficiently victual the fort. Accordingly, La Butte the interpreter, was sent to communicate with Pontiac to learn the cause of the attack. He was accompanied by a resident of the fort named Chapoton, and a third person, Jacques Godfroy. Pontiac received them with civility, and led them to believe that he was desirous of settling matters; but having suspicions of La Butte, on some pretence he requested him to return to the fort with a few chiefs. On their arrival they professed friendship and asked for bread, which was given them, and they left. La Butte, on rejoining Pontiac, heard that the council had been held, and Godfroy and Chapoton informed him that peace had been approved, and the request

1763]

CAPTAIN CAMPBELL.

19

made, that the second in command, captain Campbell, should be sent to negotiate it. This demand appeared reasonable enough, for Campbell was very popular with the Indians, and had always shewn them much consideration. Gladwin himself was glad of a respite, as he had provisions for only three weeks, and in the interval he would be enabled to gather in a supply. Such a proposal was therefore welcome, and little misgiving was felt. Captain Campbell, with lieutenant McDougall, started for the Indian village. It was hoped that Campbell's presence would exercise the best influence on those he was to meet. It was afterwards said that some of the Canadians foreboding Pontiac's intended treachery, warned Campbell not to put himself in his power. Campbell, however, felt that it was his duty to proceed, and he firmly believed that he could succeed in quieting Pontiac's enmity. His subsequent unhappy fate was, in no way, thought possible. Gladwin was in the trying position of being without provisions; everything depended on his obtaining them; for had he failed in this attempt, the defence of his post would have been impossible. In a few hours he learned Pontiac's terms: he demanded that the fort should be delivered over to him as de Bellaître had transferred it to Rogers. By this time Gladwin had obtained supplies in the neighborhood, and he was in a condition to refuse compliance. Pontiac, notified that his demand was inadmissible, threw off the mask and retained Campbell and McDougall as prisoners, much to the grief of Gladwin, for he knew the risk involved in their confinement. Amherst testified his approval of all that had taken place, but expressed his fears with regard to the fate of the two officers, in the case of captain Campbell only too truly realized.

The firing was resumed for some hours on the 12th, but Gladwin had now little fear of failing to hold his post. The activity of the Indians was extended to the river. They were able to seize five bateaux laden with merchandize, with sixteen half-barrels of powder and some spirits, an increase of supplies to the assailants which suggested a prolongation of the attack. An attempt was made by Gladwin to burn the

Huron village from a sloop, but it did not succeed, and he had to confine his efforts to his own defence. Months of trial were to elapse before peace was restored, but the small garrison remained in good heart and in high spirits. Its greatest dread had been starvation. It had been removed by Gladwin's energy and prudence. The one cause of depression was that the two officers remained prisoners, and their fate caused the gravest apprehensions. The attack of the savages upon the post created no great anxiety with the garrison, for the feeling was certain that assistance in the shape of men and food would be sent. On all sides were apparent the resolution and determination of British troops when under the command of one worthy of the position. There was no fear for the future; the staunch defenders of the post had resolved to defend it to the death. The events of the past few days had proved the mettle of their commander, and it would be well for the record of British gallantry on this continent, if in all instances the generals had been endowed with equal military skill, judgment and self-control. Absence of courage was never the reproach against us in our greatest reverses. When our failures have arisen, they have been attributable to folly, incapacity, reckless indifference and neglect of ordinary precaution. In the time I am entering upon, it will be my painful duty to chronicle, in many instances, their disastrous influence.