[NO. XII.] BOUQUET'S CONFERENCES WITH THE INDIANS. A CONFERENCE HELD BY COLONEL BOQUET, WITH THE CHIEFS OF THE DELAWARE INDIANS, AT PITTSBURG, Dec. 4, 1758. Present-COLONEL ARMSTRONG and several officers. GEORGE CROGHAN, Esq., deputy agent to Sir Wm. Johnson. "Brethren-The general waited here several days with the army, ex- · pecting to have seen you; but as he was very unwell, he was obliged to set off without having the pleasure to see you, but has left me, who am next in command to receive you, and communicate to you what he intended to have said. I bid you heartily welcome, and assure you, I am glad to have the pleasure of seeing you here." A string. "Brethren-I return you hearty thanks for the speech you made to Mr. Croghan on account of our people who are prisoners amongst you, and those nations in friendship with you. It is confirming me in that good opinion I formed of you, and make no doubt but you will perform your promise." A string. "Brethren-We are not come here to take possession of your hunting country, in a hostile manner, as the French did when they came amongst you, but to open a large and extensive trade with you, and all other nations of Indians to the westward, who choose to live in friendship with us. You are sensible we are at war with the French, and can't send traders amongst you as we formerly did, to be robbed and plundered by the enemy, as our traders formerly were to your knowledge, for which reason the general has left here two hundred men, in order to protect our traders; and I can assure you, that as soon as goods can be brought up, you will see a large trade opened for you, and all other nations in alliance with you; and you may depend on it, your brethren, the English, are not only the most powerful people on this continent, but the most wealthy, and best inclined to serve you in every necessary you want, and on the cheapest terms; therefore the General expects, as you tender the friendship of your brethren, the English, that you will treat those men he leaves here as your brethren, and support them in case the enemy should come and attempt to drive them away. And as the enemy can do nothing in your country, without your knowledge, he expects you will give the commanding officer notice, from time to time, of the enemy's motions, or what they are doing." A string. "Brethren―The General has charged me, as he marched away his army out of your hunting country, to recommend it strongly to you, to send the French away out of your country, as they are a restless and mischievous people, and the disturbers of your peace. This is in your power, and convincing of your sincerity towards us. You are senible, that while they have forts in your country, they will find means to get Indians to commit hostilities on his Majesty's subjects, which will im pede that peace so happily concluded between you and us. This I must recommend to your serious consideration, and I expect my request will be complied with. Your sending them out of the country, and obliging them to destroy their little forts, will be establishing an everlasting peace between you and us". A string. "Brethren-The General has desired me to recommend it to you, to send to the several nations to the west, and make known to them the peace now so happily concluded, and invite deputies from each nation, to come with you to Philadelphia, to meet him and the Governor of the several provinces this winter, where every thing that has been transacted may be ratified and confirmed, and the prices of goods fixed on to your satisfaction. The General expects you will make all the despatch you can, to meet in Philadelphia, as he is to go to the Great King of England early in the spring. Provisions will be laid on the road for you." A string. "Brethren-When we set out on this journey, we came as warriors, we brought no goods; but as this is your hunting season, I present you with some powder and lead, such as warriors carry, and desire your acceptance thereof, to kill you some meat for your families." December 5th-The chiefs of the Delaware Indians made the following answers, to Col. Bouquet: The Beaver, speaker. "Brother-We excuse the general for not waiting to see us, as he was so very unwell; and we return you thanks for the kind reception you have given us, and the good speeches you made us yesterday, and assure you that every thing you have said to us, is very agreeable and well received by our council. "You returned us thanks for the speech we made Mr. Croghan, in which we engaged to deliver up your provisions. Brother: we once more assure you, that you shall see your flesh and blood again, which is in our towns, and that we will use our interest with all other nations to get your people from them likewise. Brother-You desire us to make all the messages we have received known to all nations westward of us, to acquaint them of the treaty of peace lately concluded at Easton. This, we assure you, we will do immediately; and we believe it will be very agreeable news to them. "You likewise desire us to send the French out of our hunting country. We believe it will be for our interest, and you may depend on it, we will send them a message to remove out of our country. If they pay no regard to that, we must take such measures as will oblige them to remove.' Four strings of wampum. "Brothers-When the messengers from Pennsylvania, with our uncles the Six Nations, had delivered the messages from the General and the Governor, we gave it as our opinion, that when the General had driven the French away from this place, that he should take his men away over the great mountain, till we had driven the French away out of our country, then to come and build a trading house here; but, brother, as you tell us the General has left two hundred men here to support and defend the traders you will send to trade with us, we assure you, it is agreeable to us, and we will give them all the assistance we can; and give them the earliest notice of any body of the enemy moving this way, as no body can come across our country, without our knowledge; but, brothers, we cannot, of ourselves, engage to protect them, till we speak with the nations in alliance with us; but we will do what is in our power; and as the enemy is not yet far off, and some Indians with them, we recommend it to you, that none of your people straggle out in the woods, as a few Indians may come here, and take a scalp without our knowledge, To confirm what we have told you, we give you four strings of wampum. may have "We will immediately go and call a council with the western nations, and as soon as we return, we will send messengers to acquaint the General, what time we can meet him with deputies from each nation in Philadelphia." [NO. XIII.] HUGH MERCER'S CONFERENCE WITH THE INDIANS AT FORT PITT, 1759. January 3d, 1759-In the evening arrived two Indian runners, with a string of black and white wampum, signifying to me, that nine chiefs of the Six Nations, Shawanese and Delawares, from a town up the Ohio, about one hundred miles above Venango, near the Boughelloor, would be here to-morrow, with forty of their attendance. Accordingly the 4th, on the evening they arrived, one of them producing six strings of wampum, told us, "that he came from WEAYOUGH, the king, or Great Chief of Kannawagogh, that these men now were his councellors." Then taking the string, proceeded: "Brethren-The cloud that was before our eyes is removed, and we see clearly; our ears are opened, and we are ready to hear what you say; and every ill-thing that was in our hearts, is now removed, and we come in friendship to see you. I give this string in behalf of the Six Nations, Shawanese and Delawares." Next morning the following chiefs being present, with the commanding officer, and Captains Waggoner and Ward, viz: Čannewaungh, Awinne Onus, Owistogah, or Capt. Peter, Acqueatinguish, Sagowitre, Sonoueyough, Tecanushategh, Canigaat, the White Mingo. Snakes Son, Interpreter in Shawanese. Jo: Hickman, Interpreter in English. The speaker taking out five strings of wampum, said: "Our king and great men at Conwahago heard, that their friends, the English and Delawares had talked together, and we are come to see and talk with you likewise; we are sorry that we cannot understand one another, but as much as we can make plain to you, we will let you know. The Delawares told us, that they and their brothers, the English, had become acquainted, and had shaken hands here, and we are come from our town to become acquainted, and shake hands with our brothers likewise. We represent three nations, the Six Nations, Shawanese and Delawares. We desire to know of you, what the English said to the Delawares, when you first came here." The 6th, in the forenoon, the officers of the garrison, and the above named chiefs, and a good many other Indians being present, the commanding officer presented them with six strings of wampum, telling them, "that they were welcome, that he was glad they could see one another with cheerful faces, and unite their hands and hearts so firmly, as never to be separated any more." Then he related to them the substance of what Colonel Bouquet had delivered in his treaty with the Delawares here, as far as it could be collected from one of the Delawares, to wit:-KAKAUSCUNG, who was present at the treaty. The chiefs then said, they would speak to-morrow, whatever they had farther to say. In the evening of the same day, five of the head counsellors, all of the Six Nations, came privately to the commanding officer's tent, who being present with Capt. Ward, was informed by them, they were to unbosom themselves, and freely open their minds to us, that what they had to say, was all for our good, but is to be kept private from the Delawares and Shawanese. Then taking eight strings of wampum, proceeded : "Brothers: The Delawares and Shawanese are not yet to be depended upon; they may tell whatever they know to the French. "Brothers: I am glad that we are of one mind, that we have joined hands; this wampum is to assure you that my heart is become one with yours; therefore, be strong, and be assured of my friendship." Gave eight strings of wampum. "Brothers: I have listened attentively to your words, they are good; they are gone down into my heart, and are not to be removed; I return you thanks for them by this string." Gave six strings. "Brothers: Take good heed to what we are to say, it is of the greatest importance, therefore, listen and be attentive: Brothers, listen, I am hard put to it, the French are but a little way beyond my town, perhaps they may come and kill me, I don't know how soon they may strike me. Brothers, be strong, now is the time to drive them from this country. Tell your great men to be strong, and come and fight them, that we may live in peace as formerly. The French will talk to the Tawways, and their other Indians, and set them on. They are so nigh, that one of them sits on my shoulder, and the other on my arm; but be strong, let your men come soon, and fight strong, for the French are not many. Write and bring a great body with him, otherwise, both you and we will be killed; a few men won't do, for there are many Indiaus now in their truce. "Brothers: Listen to these words, they come from the bottom of my heart; we expect you will take notice of them, and not disregard our words, as you have done formerly. Brothers, come immediately with a great many men, otherwise, these will be the last words we shall speak, for both you and we shall be killed." Gave six strings. "Brothers: The French say they have a house with provisions stored up, and arms deposited at Kushkushking. They give out, that they will soon be here, and say that you are bringing flour and meat to this place, which will soon be theirs; what we say, comes from our hearts; be strong, they will be here in one month, perhaps in less; do not lose a minute, for when you are struck, we shall certainly be so too." Gave five strings. Then taking a large belt, proceeded: "Brothers: This belt the French sent to invite me to come from my town to Venango, and on my coming, they said, the English are come to Ohio, go and discharge them from living there, tell them to be gone. "Brothers: I took the belt to carry it here, and tell you, but not a word of it has entered my lips; the words it contains do not concern me. I regard them not. Brothers, to-morrow I will talk of this before the Delawares and Shawanese. You are not to mind what is said then; it is outside my lips; but what is now said, be attentive to me, for it comes from my heart. Brothers, to-morrow I will give you that belt, to return home to your own country; but you are to return it back to me, and tell me at the same time, that you are resolved to stay here, and fight the French, till they are driven off from this country." The 7th, in the afternoon. Present, the officers of the garrison, and a good many Indians. One of the chiefs of the Six Nations taking out a belt of wampum, said: "We heard the English say, when they had been here, that they came with an intention to kill the French here, or to drive them away; and that as soon as the English had killed or driven off the French, they would return back to their own country. "Brothers: Your great man said, that as soon as the French were driven entirely away from this country, he would send and invite, and bring all sorts of nations of Indians to this place, and then he would establish a strong and lasting peace and friendship with all the Indians, and as soon as he had done this, he would return home. "Brothers: We met yesterday and talked together in this place. The Six Nations, Delawares and Shawanese, then joined in a strong friendship with you, and now they say you must leave this place and go home, and when you are at home, provide goods to send to trade with." Delivered a belt. Colonel Mercer answered: "Brothers: The great man told you, that when he had driven the French entirely out of this country, he would then send for all the Indians, and make a lasting peace and friendship with them, and afterwards go home. "Brothers: The French are not gone from this country, they are just at our door, and give out, that they will soon return to this place. Our great man's words are true, as soon as the French are gone, he will make a treaty with all the Indians, and then go home; but the French are still here. "Brothers: We know the French much better than you do, should we go now, they would return immediately. Our great man has ordered me to stay here, if the French should come, I will be strong and make them run away once more. |