USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. I pt 1 > Part 15
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[London Doc. V.]
From Onnontagué, 10 Sept. 1685.
My Lord-I had the honour not long since to write to you- it was last month ; since the despatch of my last letter, the Sene- cas who were desirous to make trouble and to persuade the Mo- hawks and other villages to unite with them against Monsr de la Barre, have changed their minds ; since they were assured that the peace concluded last year, as you desired, should not be bro- ken by M. de la Barre, as they were maliciously told, and as a hundred false reports which are never ceased being related would persuade them. To complete successfully what you have so well begun, it only remains to exhort the Senecas to add a few more peltries to the ten beavers and thirty otters which they left in deposit with the Onnontagués to satisfy Mr de la Barre, as you recommended them to do last year. Let your zeal for the public peace, and especially for the Christians of this America induce you, if you please, to put the finishing hand to this good work and to recommend the Senecas and other villages not to attach credit to the new floating rumors, since it is true that the Govr of Canada desires with all his heart that all things should be quiet and to second your just intentions. The Onnontagués and those who are of their opinions, have operated powerfully on the minds of the said Senecas to induce them to resume thoughts of peace, as well as Mr Arnout, bearer of this letter, who was present at what was done and said; and who can inform you, and from whom you will be glad to receive his report.
Since peace, through your care, will aparently last, we shall continue to carry the Christian faith through this Country, and to solicit the Indians, whom you honor with your friendship, to em- brace it as you yourself embrace it, for this is the sole object that
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has caused us to come here, that the blood of JESUS CHRIST, shed for all men, may be useful to them, and that ITis glory may be great throughout the earth.
If you will please to honour me with a line from your hand, you can have your letter given to one named Garakontié who is deputed from the Onnontagués to repair to the Diet which you have convoked at Albany. Do him the charity to exhort him to be a good Christian, as he was whose name he bears, and who was his brother. Recommend him I beseech you not to get drunk any more, as he promised when he was baptized, and to perform the duties of a Christian. One word from you will have a won- derful effect on his mind, and he will publish throughout that it is not true that the English forbid them to be Christians since you who command them will have exhorted them to persevere therein.
I pray God, who has given us the grace to be united in the same Catholic faith, to unite us also in Heaven ; and that he may heap his graces on you here on earth, is the wish of him who is perfectly and with all manner of respect, My Lord,
Your very humble and very obedient servant, JEAN DE LAMBERVILLE, of the order of Jesuits, (called in Indian, Teïorhensere.)
Oblige me, I request you, to have the enclosed sent to its ad- dress.
Please, My Lord, pardon me the liberty which I take to pre- sent my humble respects to the Governor of Virginia, who is called among the Indians, Big Sword or Cutlass, who I learn is with you at Albany, to whom, some time ago, I caused to be re- stored an Englishman named Rolelman, whom these Indians here had plundered and captured and whom I took into my hut to save him from the fury of some refractory people and from those who would make him their slave. It is the least service I would de- sire to render him.
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MEMOIR CONCERNING THE PRESENT STATE OF CANADA
AND THE MEASURES THAT MAY BE ADOPTED FOR THE SECURITY OF THE COUNTRY. 12 NOVEMBER 1685. (Extract.) [Paris Doc. III.]
The most to be feared is the Iroquois who are the most pow- erful in consequence of the facility with which they obtain arms from the English and the number of slaves they make daily among their neighbours by carrying away at an early age their chil- dren, whom they adopt ; this is the only means of their increase, for thro' their debaucheries of Brandy which lead them into fright- ful disorders, the few children their women raise could not of themselves assuredly sustain them, if they did not make prisoners.
The great trade in arms and ammunitions at a low rate, among the English has given them hitherto that advantage which they have over other nations who in order to be disarmed have been destroyed by the former who are all of them insolent. Even the English in Virginia have suffered and still suffer from them every day ; but the interest of the trader at Orange and. Manatte supersedes the public interest, for if they would not sell them powder, that nation could be more easily conquered than any other. It consists of five principal villages, each of which have other smaller ones dependant on them; the first is called Annié (Mohawk) which can furnish two hundred men fit for service and are ten leagues from Orange (Albany) ; the second is Oneyoust (Oneida) which can furnish one hundred and fifty men at from 15 to 20 leagues from Annie; the third is Onontagué which could bring out three hundred men, ('tis one hundred leagues from Montreal); the fourth is Goyoguoain (Cayuga) which could put two hundred men a-foot, at twelve leagues from Lake Ontario, and the Sonoutou- ans (Senecas) the fifth, who comprize, as it is reported, twelve hundred men bearing arms, at five leagues South of the Lake.
The Senecas being the strongest, are the most insolent. The idea must not be entertained that this Nation can ever be reduced except by being in a position to pounce on them; which cannot be done without approaching them, occupying some posts where
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provisions can be placed for the troops who will be sent after them. To accomplish this sufficiently apropos without being per- ceived by the enemy, in consequence of the navigation of the river, which is full of Rapids and Cascades, impassable except by portages, independant of the distance-herein consists all the care and difficulty.
The post of Catarokuy appears to me the most advantageous, by placing it in a better state of defence than it is. It is at the en- trance of Lake Ontario from the extremity of which the Senecas are distant only five or six leagues, in a beautiful country towards the South.
The position of this fort is sufficiently favorable to secure the barks against the storms and the attacks of the Indians at a tri- fling expense which will require to be made on it. The passage to be made through this lake is forty or fifty leagues before dis- embarking near the Senecas. The three barks at Catarokuy will be particularly useful in this enterprize by putting them in repair, for they have been much neglected.
It appears to me extremely important that the King render himself absolute master of this Lake, which is more than three hundred leagues in circumference. I am persuaded that the Eng- lish would like particularly to have a post there, which would be immensely prejudicial to the Colony and the King's power on this Continent ; his Majesty could easily make himself master of it, without any opposition, by the permanent establishment of a post, with vessels on this lake, and by another fort and vessels on lake Erie which is only two leagues distant, by the Niagara Ri- ver, from this lake Ontario ; but as this post cannot be established until after the Iroquois are conquered, I shall, before entering into a detail of the means of conquering that Nation, again say, regarding the importance of occupying those posts, that the Eng- lish have so great a facility to establish themselves there that it is the power of the Iroquois alone which has prevented them having posts there, since Lake Ontario can be easily reached on horse- back from Manatte and Orange, there being a distance of onlv one hundred leagues through a fine country.
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The importance of the post to be occupied on lake Erie is easily perceived, since we can easily go in vessels from that lake to Missilimakina which would be a great facility for the trade of the country, to keep the Outaouacs in check and in obedience to the King; besides, we should have the means of reaching through this lake the Illinois, and surmount by this communication with ships many of the difficulties experienced in the Rivers in conse- quence of the number of portages. Being masters of these two lakes and cruizing there with our vessels, the English would lose the Beaver trade in that quarter, of which they have abundance.
A durable peace with the Iroquois Indians would be more ad- vantageous to the Colony than prosecuting a war ; but this Nation has assumed such excessively insolent and haughty airs towards all the other tribes against whom they wage war and at whose expense they daily increase ; and joined to that, the odds they have had from a disadvantageous peace concluded last year with us, has placed them in a position that, we may be assured, they will break with us on the first opportunity. It is yet more certain that if they be not checked, they will reassume their former inso- lent air the moment there will be no more troops in this country, however they may promise us at present, and will no doubt insult us, and subject us to all possible outrage.
It is necessary, then, to examine the most certain means of destroying and conquering their five villages, which according to the above estimate, may bring into the field about two thousand men bearing arms, and in a condition to go to war.
I consider that what troops we have, and what militia we can collect together, if we had them all with some of our Savages, would suffice to attack them ; but as it is not sufficient to make them let go their foot, and it becomes, necessary to deprive them of all means of disturbing us in our settlements, we must not go after them to chastise them by halves but to annihilate them if possible. This cannot be done without the aid of a number of Sa- vages sufficiently great to pursue them in security to the distant forests towards Maryland and Andastes whither they will retreat if they find that we are more powerful than they ; and as it is of extreme importance not to declare war against them until we are
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in a condition to vanquish them, it will be absolutely necessary to adopt measures with the Illinois, their enemies, and with the Savages our allies, to engage them to unite with us in attacking them and pursuing them into the woods whither they never fail to retire, daring not to stand against us. For as it would be very unfortunate not to vanquish them if we attack them, nothing ought be neglected that can be done, to endeavor to destroy them and put it beyond their power to injure the Colony. If we succeed, I calculate the English will lose their trade in that quarter.
I find all our allies so discontented with us, and so dissatisfied on account of the idle march which we caused them to make last year, that according to what I learn, I do not believe that any of them can be relied on.
Before engaging in a war, then, I considered it prudent to per- mit the continuance of the negotiations of a certain Onontague savage, accredited by them and the other Iroquois, who is said to wish for nothing but peace. Notwithstanding I bethought me of managing the Illinois by promising them every protection, and as Chevalier de Tonty, who is in command at the fort on behalf of M. de Lasalle, has considerable influence among the Illinois, I have deemed it a duty to advise him of my arrival and of, the necessity which exists that he should speak, as soon as possible, for the King's interest.
I likewise sent to M. de Ladurantaye who is at lake Superior under orders from M. de Labarre, and to Sieur Duluth who is also at a great distance in another direction, and all so far beyond reach that neither the one nor the other can have news from me this year, so that not being able to see them all, at soonest before next July, I considered it best not to think of undertaking any thing during the whole of next year, especially as a great number of our best men of the Colony are among the Outaouacs, and cannot return before the ensuing summer.
Moreover, learning that six tribes of our friends and allies are at war with each other, and as it is absolutely necessary to recon- cile them before thinking of deriving any advantage from them, I sent presents and instructions to M. Ladurantaye to collect our
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French and put himself at their head, in order to support his rea- soning and to have more authority to reconcile them in concert with Father Anjeblan Jesuit Missionary at Missilimakina.
We shall, however, lose no time in putting ourselves in a posi- tion to resent the insults that the Iroquois may offer the Colony, which would suffer very much if we were mastered, and we will not let pass any negotiations that offer so as to lull the Senecas who are the most insolent, and with whom there is no permanent peace to be expected, much less that they will observe it with our allies whose total destruction they contemplate.
Chevalier de Tonty commandant of M de Lasalle's fort among the Illinois, coming next week, we shall agree together as to what is best to be done to secure the conquest of this Nation, which I understand can be done if he can march with a sufficiently large body of Illinois behind lake Erie and come to Niagara, as Sieur de la Forest who commanded at Fort Catarokvy told me could be done, who also assured me that powder and at least four or five hundred guns would be required to arm these people. This is but a loan, which the said Sieur de Laforest is certain will be reimbursed in cash, by the said Sieur de Tonty.
The said Sieur de La Forest having demanded my permission to go and join said Sieur de Tonty on M de Lasalle's business, I deemed it proper to select a capable person to guarantee the safety of the Post of Catarokvy. I chose Sieur D'Orvilliers a very pru- dent and intelligent man and who has much experience, whose conduct during M de Labarre's administration is praised and ap- proved by all persons of property in the country.
I gave him his company as a garrison, with some workmen as well to refit the vessels as to repair the barracks, and to put the fort in the best possible condition to pass the winter.
And as there is a great resort of Iroquois at that place, and as .there is quite a number established there, I requested the Jesuit Fathers to station Father Milet there to act as Interpreter and to correspond with Father de Lamberville who is a Missionary among the Onontagues who evince a desire for peace.
In regard to Sieur Duluth I sent him orders to repair here so that I may learn from himself the number of savages on whom I may
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depend : he is accredited among them and rendered great services to M de Labarre by a considerable number of savages whom he brought to him to Niagara, who alone would have attacked the Senecas were it not for an express order from M de Labarre to the contrary.
On arriving here I found neither batteaux nor canoes for our troops, and as they are absolutely useless if not adapted to pass from one point to another; knowing by experience that the expense of canoes is too great and that they require too much attention and repair, I thought I could not do better than to order plank to be prepared for one hundred flat batteaux, which will carry twice more than canoes and will be much cheaper both in cost and repair, because a batteau that will carry two thousand pounds will not cost more than a canoe which will carry only one.
The means for preparing to wage war against the Iroquois, if the King approve of it, so that that Nation may not have any suspicion, remain to be considered.
It is very much to be desired that first of all, sufficient flour and other provisions might be put into Catarokvy next year, so as to have nothing to do the following year but to march against the enemy ; but as I do not think it possible to convey the whole quantity of provisions necessary thither without the savages natu- rally suspicious taking umbrage, measures must be adopted to ac- complish all in the same year with great diligence, which cannot be effected without trouble and expense, for in truth, the difficul- ties in surmounting rapids and cascades, twenty-five to thirty leagues in extent, are immense.
This, however, is not all ; for it is well to consider that the ar- rangements are not easy to be made so as to secure punctuality, since from the Illinois country there are four hundred leagues to be travelled to arrive at Niagara, the place of rendezvous ; and from the Outaouacs and Savages of lake Superior, three hundred leagues, and from Quebec nearly two hundred to the said place of Niagara. All this must make me think of put- ting myself in a condition to be, myself, sufficiently strong to fight them without any other aid than that of this country.
The conveyance of supplies and the expense are my sole diffi-
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cult'es. The neighbourhood of Catarokvy indifferently fertile in grain, produces good peas ; M. de Laforest assures me that he has nearly three hundred minots. I caused him to give orders to have them all sown, and M. d'Orvilliers not to allow any to be consum- ed, but will make the soldiers work and oblige them to plant some. That will be a trifling supply of four or five hundred minots for next year.
*
It will require considerable expense to render the river naviga- ble ; the Map I have caused to be made of it will afford son.e imperfect idea by remarking the pitch in several places there.
The surest remedy against the English of New-York would be to purchase that place from the King of England who in the present state of his affairs, will, without doubt, require money of the King. · By that means we should be masters of the Iroquois without waging war.
M. DE DENONVILLE TO THE MINISTER, 8 May 1686.
[Paris Doc. III.]
I learn that the news which I had the honour to send you of the appearance on Lakes Ontario and Erie of English Canoes accompanied by French Deserters on their way to the Outaouacs is true. There are ten of them loaded with merchandize. There- upon, my Lord, I sent orders to Missilimakina, to Catarokouy and other places where we had Frenchmen, to run and seize them, and I am resolved to send another officer with twelve reliable men to join Sieur D'Orvilliers at Catarosky, who is to go with Sieur de Lasalle's bark to Niagara to treat there with the Iroquois Indians on their return from hunting. He will take some men with him. This officer, with the aid of this bark and some ca- noes which shall be furnished him, will post himself with twenty good men at the River, communicating from the Lake Erie
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with that of Ontario, near Niagara by which place the English who ascended Lake Erie must of necessity pass on their return home with their peltries I regard, my Lord, as of primary im- portance the prohibition of this trade to the English, who with- out doubt, would entirely ruin ours both by the cheaper bargains they could give the Indians and by attracting to thein the French- men of our Colony who are accustomed to go into the woods. * *
I am persuaded that the Iroquois are very anxious for peace now that they see troops, but I do not at all believe that they will submit not to make war any more against the other Nations our allies, therefore there is no doubt but we must prepare to humble them.
What I should consider most effectual to accomplish this, would be the establishment of a right good post at Niagara.
· The manner in which the English have managed with the Iro- quois hitherto, when desirous to establish themselves in their neighbourhood, has been to make them presents for the purchase of the soil and the property of the land they wish to occupy. What I see most certain is, whether we act so by them or have peace or war with them, they will submit with considerable im- patience to see a fort built at Niagara which would secure to us the communication between the two lakes ; would render us masters of the road the Senecas take in going to hunt for furs, none of which they have on their own grounds; it is likewise their rendezvous when hunting for their supplies of meat with which, as well as with all sorts of fish, this country abounds.
This post would be of great advantage to the other nations who are at war with these, and who durst not approach them, having too long a road to travel when retreating. It would keep them in check and in obedience, especially by building a Fort sufficiently large to contain a force of 4 or 500 men to make war on them ; this cannot be done without expense because it must be enclosed by a simple, ordinary picket fence to place it beyond all insult, not being in a position to be relieved by us.
To guarantee its construction, it must not be doubted for a
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moment, though at peace with them, but a guard would be ne- cessary there for the security of the workmen. The freight of provisions as well for the garrison as the troops to be stationed there is very high, since a thousand pounds wt which is a load for a canoe, costs 110 liv. from Ville Marie on the Island of Mon- treal to Catarakouy. Independent of mere provisions, how many other necessaries and munitions are required !
This post, my Lord, would absolutely close the entire road to the Outaouacs against the English, and would enable us to pre- vent the Iroquois carrying their peltries to the latter ; for with the redoubt at Catarokouy which would serves us as an Entrepot to shelter our barks from the storms in winter, we having posts at both sides of the Lake could render ourselves Masters of the hunt- ing of that Nation who can support itself merely by that means and would draw but little from the English if it had no more peltries to give them : What is very certain, they would carry them much fewer than heretofore.
I propose to send Sieur d'Orvilliers to Niagara this year with Sieur de Villeneuve, the draughtsman whom you gave me, to draw the plan, and after I shall have seen the Iroquois at Villemarie on the Island of Montreal and we shall know what we have to expect from them, I'll see if I shall not be able to take a trip thither myself, in order to furnish you with a more certain report thereon ; for to rely on Sieur de Villeneuve alone, he is a very good, very accurate, very faithful draughtsman, but in other re- spects he has not a very well ordered mind ; it is too confined to be able to furnish out of his own head any ideas for the establish- ment of a post and its management.
I am assured that the land in the neighbourhood is very fine and fertile, easy of cultivation ; it is situate about the 44th de- gree. Every thing I learn confirms me in the opinion which I entertain, that this post would, in three years at farthest, support itself. It is to be feared that fortifying it would draw war on us, if you wish to avoid it ; but at the same time I believe that were the Senecas to see us well planted there, they would be more pliant.
Should this plan be agreeable to you, my Lord, please send
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masons and plenty of instruments to break up the ground and convey stone. *
You will be surprised, my Lord, to learn that Sieur de Chailly, of whom I had the honour to write you this fall, not being able to have his congé from me to retire to France with all his pro- perty which he sent off last year before ny arrival, has fled and deserted the Country, to pass over to Orange (Albany) and thence without doubt by way of England to France.
What is disagreeable in it is, that he will have informed Go- vernor Dongan of every thing he knows of our expeditions to the Baie du Nord (Hudson's Bay) and has learned of the interests of the country and our designs. I beg of you, my Lord, to per- mit the confiscation of whatever property may be found belong- ing to him for the benefit of the two hospitals of the Colony.
FROM GOV. DONGAN TO M. DE DENONVILLE.
[Lond. Doc. V .; Par. Doc. III.].
Albany, May 22. 1686 ..
Sir-I have sent for the five Nations of Indians yt belongs to this Governmt. to meet me at this place, to give them in charge that they should not goe to your side of the Great Lakes nor dis- turbe your Indians and Traders, butt since my coming here I am informed that our Indians are apprehensive of warr by your put- ting stores into Cataract [Cataraquí] and ordering some forces to meet there. I know you are a man of judgment and that you will not attack the King of England's subjects. Being informed that those Indians with whom our Indians are engaged in warr with, are to the West and Southwest of the greate Lakes (if so) in reason you can have no pretence to them. It is my intention that our Indians shall not warr with the farr Indians. Whether they doe or not it does not seem reasonable that you should' in- gage yourself in the quarrell of Indians wee pretend too, against our own Indians. Whether these Territories belong to our or the
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