USA > New York > The documentary history of the state of New York, Vol. I pt 1 > Part 18
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Colonel Dongan, Governor of New York, has pushed this usurpation to the point of sending Englishmen to take possession, in the King of England's name, of the post of Mislimakinac which is a Strait communicating between lake Huron and lake des Illinois, and has even declared that all those lakes including the river St. Lawrence which serves as an outlet to them and on which our Colony is settled, belong to the English.
The Reverend Father Lamberville, a French Jesuit who has been 18 years a Missionary among the Iroquois in company with one of his brothers also a Jesuit, wrote on the first of November to Chevalier de Callières, Governor of Montreal, who informed the Governor General that Colonel Dongan has assembled the Five Iroquois Nations at Manatte where he resides, and declared to them as follows :
1. That he forbids them to go to Cataracouy or Fort Fronte- nac and to have any more intercourse with the French.
2. That he orders them to restore the prisoners they took from the Hurons and Outawacs, in order to attract them to himself.
3. That he sends thirty English to take possession of Missili- makinak and the lakes, rivers and adjoining lands and orders the Iroquois to escort them and to afford them physical assistance.
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DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
4. That he has sent to recal the Iroquois Christians belonging to the Mohawk tribe, who have settled a long time ago at Saut Saint Louis, adjoining the Island of Montreal, where they have been established by us and converted by the care of our Reverend Jesuit Fathers, and that he would give them other land and an English Jesuit, to govern them.
5. That he wishes that they should have Missionaries only from him throughout the whole of the Five Iroquois Nations, and that they cause our French Jesuits to withdraw, who have been so long established there.
6. That if Monsieur de Denonville attacks them, he will have to do with him.
7. That he orders them to plunder all the French who will visit them ; to bind them and bring them to him, and what they'll take from them shall be good prize.
THE IROQUOIS. - He accompanied his orders with presents to the Five Iroquois Nations, and despatched his thirty English, escorted by Iroquois, to make an establishment at Missilimaki- nak.
The Iroquois pillage our Frenchmen every where they meet them, and threaten to fire their settlements which are much ex- posed and unfortified.
These measures, and the discredit we are in among all the sava- ges for having abandoned our allies in M. de la Barre's time, for having suffered them to be exterminated by the Iroquois and borne the insults of the latter, render war against them absolutely neces- sary to avert from us a General Rebellion of the Savages which would bring ruin on our trade and finally the extirpation of our Colony.
It is likewise necessary for the establishment of Religion which will never spread itself there, except by the destruction of the Iroquois : so that on the success of the war which the Gover- nor-general of Canada proposes to commence against the Iroquois on the 15th of May next, depends either the Ruin of the Country and of Religion if he be not assisted, or the Establishment of Religion, Commerce and the Kings' Power over all North America if he be granted the aid he demands.
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GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.
If the merit in the eyes of Gon, the Glory and utility which the King will derive from this succor be considered, it is easy to conclude that expense was never better employed since, inde- pendent of the Salvation of the quantity of Souls in that vast Country to which His Majesty will contribute by establishing the Faith there, he will secure to himself an Empire of more than a thousand leagues in extent, from the mouth of the River Saint Lawrence to that of the River Mississipi in the Gulf of Mexico; a country discovered by the French alone, to which other nations have no right, and from which we shall eventually derive great Commercial advantages, and a considerable augmentation of His Majesty's Revenues in those countries.
The Marquis de Denonville, whose zeal, industry and capacity admit of no addition, requires a reinforcement of 1500 men to succeed in his enterprize. If less be granted him, success is doubtful and a war is made to drag along, the continuation of which for many years will cost His Majesty more to sustain than would the immediate expense necessary to guarantee its success and prompt termination.
It is necessary to attack the Iroquois in two directions. The first and principal attack, through the Seneca Nation on the bor- ders of Lake Ontario ; the second, by the River Richelieu and Lake Champlain on the side of the Mohawk Nation. 3000 Frenchmen will be required for that purpose. Of these there are sixteen companies which make 800 men and 800 selected from the habitans, 100 of the best of which the Governor General des- tines to conduct 50 canoes which will go and come incessantly to convey provisions. Of these 3000 Frenchmen, of which he has only the half though he boasts of more for reputation's sake, because the other habitans are necessary to protect and cultivate the farms of the Colony, a part must be employed in guarding the posts of Fort Frotenac, Niagara, Toronto, Missilimakinak so as to secure the aid he expects from the Illinois and other Savages, on whom however he cannot rely unless he will be able alone to defeat the Five Iroquois Nations.
The Iroquois force consists of two thousand picked warriors (d'elite) brave, active, more skilful in the use of the gun than
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DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
our Europeans and all well armed; besides twelve hundred Mohegans (Loups), another tribe in alliance with them as brave as they, not including the English who will supply them with officers to lead them, and to fortify them in their villages.
If they be not attacked all at once at the two points indicated, it is impossible to destroy them or to drive them from their re- treat, but if encompassed on both sides, all their plantations of Indian corn will be destroyed, their villages burnt, their women, their children and old men captured and other warriors driven into the woods where they will be pursued and annihilated by the other savages.
After having defeated and dispersed them the winter must be spent in fortifying the post of Niagara, the most important in America, by means of which all the other nations will be shut out from the lakes whence all the peltries are obtained ; it will be necessary to winter troops at this post and at others, to pre- vent the Iroquois returning and reestablishing themselves there, and to people these beautiful countries with other savages who will have served under us during this war.
EXTRACT FROM A MEMOIR OF THE KING
TO SIEURS MARQUIS DE DENONVILLE AND DE CHAMPIGNY, DATED VERSAILLES, 30th MARCH, 1687.
[Paris Doc. III.]
*
* *
His Majesty has no knowledge of the claim of Colonel D'Unguent for 25m lbs which he pretends to be due him in France ; therefore He has nothing to say about it. * *
His Majesty has seen the Memoir that the said Sieur de Denon- ville has sent of the measures he has adopted and the orders he has given for the ensuing campaign. He approves of them and doubts not of success, and that it will be as favorable as can be expected having to do only with Savages who have no experience
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GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.
as to regular war, whilst, on the contrary, those he will be able to collect, being led by a man so capable and so experienced as he is, will be of great utility.
Finally, He expects to learn at the close of this year, the entire destruction of the greatest part of those Savages. And as a num- ber of prisoners may be made, and His Majesty thinks he can make use of them in his Galleys, He desires him to manage so as to retain them until he have vessels for France; by the return of Ilis Majesty's Ships which will convey the troops he can, even, send those which will have been captured before the departure of these ships.
COLL. DONGAN TO FATHER DE LAMBERVILLE.
[Lond. Doc. V.]
20 May. 1687,
Reverend Father-I have received yours of the tenth currant from the Onnondages and am heartily glad that you are in good health and as much as lyes in me you may bee assured I will do all my endeavors to protect you from the danger you apprehend from those people and all those others of your fraternity that con- tinue in doing good service, I am sorry that our Indians are soe troublesome to the Indians of Cannida but I am informed from Christians that it is the custom of those people, that what country they conquer belongs to them as their own, yet I lay no stress on that, but I am still in doubt whither that land where the Indians goes to warr belongs to our King or to the King of France, but in all probability if I bee truly informed it must depend on the King of England territories it lying west and by south of this place and your countryes lye to the northward of us but that is no material reason for the Indians to disturbe the people of Canada and I will use my endeavour that they shall disturbe them no more but leave the decision of that to my master at home as I leave all other things which relates to any difference between us and the people of Canada and I am sure that Monsr de Noville will do the same-
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DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
I have not spoke to the Indians as yet. Your messenger being in hast cannot give an account what they can say for themselves, but to continue a right understanding between the Government of Canada and this if any of the Indians will doe any thing to disturbe the King of France's subjects, let the Governour sent to me and I will doe all the justice that is possible for me to do and if he will do the same it will be a meane to keep those people in, and to see both Governments in a good correspondence one with another. But I hear they pretend that they are affraid of the French but I hope that Monsr de Nonville will well weigh the business before he invades any of the King of England's subjects -I have no time to write to him at present but assure him of my humble service and that I will write to him before I goe, haveing no other businesse here in sending for the Indians but to check them for offering to disturbe the people of Canada
Reverend Father I am your humble servant
(Signed) THO: DONGAN
I pray you to pray to God for me
M. DE DENONVILLE TO THE MINISTER.
[Par. Doc. III.]
8 June 1687.
I am informed that the English have given notice to the Senecas that I am going to attack them, and have obliged them to run after six hundred men of their tribe who were at war against the Miamis, our allies, to induce them to return to defend their country against us. Other war parties who had gone against the people towards Virginia have also returned through the same troubles. The consternation of our enemies thus costs Colonel Dongan very dear. I have learned that a party has come from Virginia who brought a dozen prisoners, Englishmen, whom they will also burn, and this is a matter about which Monsieur Dongan gives himself scarce any trouble.
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GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.
COLL. DONGAN TO M. DE DENONVILLE.
[Lond. Doc. V.]
11th June 1687.
Sir-The enclosed' came to my hands last night from England with orders to have it proclaimed which has accordingly bin done, what is there agreed upon I will observe to the least title and I doubt not but your Excell : will do the same and I hope bee so kinde as not desire or seek any correspondence with our Indians of this side of the Great Lake if they doe amisse to any of your Govermt and you make it known to me you shall have all justice done and if any of your people disturbe us I will have the same recourse to you for satisfaction as for those further Nations, I suppose that to trade with them is free and common to us all until the meets and bounds bee adjusted though truly the scituation of those partes bespeakes the King of England to have
dominions and a very great way from you. I am informed by southward of us just on the back of other partes of our King's a greater right to them than the French king, they lying to the some of our Indians that your Excell : was pleased to desire them to meet you at Cadaraque ; I could hardly beleive it till I had a
letter from Father Lamberville, wherein he informs me that 'tis
true, I am also informed of your Fathers' endeavours dayly to carry away our Indians to Canada as you have already done a great many, you must pardon me if I tell you that that is not the right way to keepe fair correspondence-I have also been informed that you are told I have given to Indians orders to rob the French wherever they could meet them, that is as false as tis true that God is in heaven, what I have done was by your own desire without they had your passe in complyance wherewith I ordered, which was that I should suffer none of Canada to come to Albany
both, the Indians and people of Albany that if they found any French or English on this side of the great Lake without either
your passe or mine, they should seize them and bring them to
1 Treaty of Neutrality.
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GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.
fifty Iroquois taken near that place, to forward them to France in the King's Ships, conformably to his orders. I'll take advantage of the delay of the Fourgon, in which I shall have them embarked, and as the crew is too few to convey so many prisoners, very dif- ficult to be guarded, I reinforce them by some passengers and sailors from a merchantman, the Catharine, which was wrecked last autumn near Tadoussac, and could not be got off.
M. DE DENONVILLE TO THE MINISTER. 1 ATTACK ON THE SENECAS ; ERECTION OF FORT NIAGARA.
[Paris Doc. III.]
Ville Marie, 25 August, 1687.
The first thing with which I occupied myself on my arrival [at Irondequoit Bay] was to select a post easy to be fortified for se- curing our batteaux to the number of 200 and as many canoes. We cut 2000 palisades which we finished planting in the forenoon of the 12th of July.
I had brought with me Sieur d'Orvilliers as the fittest to receive the whole of Canada into his hands ; for the loss of this post would be the assured loss of the whole country which obliged me to leave 440 men there.
On the 12th I departed at three o'clock in the evening with all our French and Indian allies and Christians having caused them to take 15 days provisions. We only made three leagues that day across the woods which are very open.
On the 13th about four o'clock in the afternoon, having pass- ed through two dangerous defiles, we arrived at the third where we were very vigorously attacked by 800 Senecas, 200 of whom fired, wishing to attack our rear whilst the remainder of their force would attack our front, but the resistance they met produced such a great consternation that they soon resolved to fly. All our troops were so overpowered by the extreme heat and the long journey we had made that we were obliged to bi- vouac on the field until the morrow. We witnessed the painful
1
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DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
sight of the usual cruelties of the savages who cut the dead into quarters, as in slaughter houses, in order to put them into the pot ; the greater number were opened while still warm that their blood might be drank. Our rascally Otaous distinguished them- selves particularly by these barbarities and by their poltroonery, for they withdrew from the combat ; the Hurons of Michilimaquina did very well, but our Christian Indians surpassed all and per- formed deeds of valour, especially our Iroquois of whom we durst not make sure having to fight against their relatives. The Illinois performed their duty well. We had five or six men killed on the spot, French and Indians, and about twenty wounded, among the first of whom was the Rev : Fath : Angleran, superintendent of the Otaous missions, by a very severe gunshot. It is a great mis- fortune to us that this wound will prevent him going back again, for he is a man of capacity, of great influence who has conducted every thing at Michilimaquina well, and to whom the country owes vast obligations. For had it not been for him the Iroquois had been long since established at Michilimaquina.
We learned from some prisoners who had escaped from the Sene- cas that this action cost them 45 men killed on the field, 25 of whom we had seen at the shambles ; the others were seen buried by this deserter, and over 60 very severely wounded.
On the next day, 14th July, we marched to one of the large villages where we encamped. We found it burned and a fort quite nigh, abandoned; it was very advantageously situated on a hill.
I deemed it our best policy to employ ourselves laying waste the Indian corn which was in vast abundance in the fields, rather than follow a flying enemy to a distance and excite our troops to catch only some straggling fugitives.
We learned from deserters that the Senecas had gone to the English where they will not be allowed to want for any thing necessary to make war on us. Since that time I have had no news of the enemy.
We remained at the four Seneca villages until the 24th; the two larger distant 4 leagues, and the others two. All that time was spent in destroying the corn which was in such great abun- dance that the loss, including old corn which was in cache which
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GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.
we burnt and that which was standing, was computed according to the estimate afterwards made, at 400 thousand minots of Indian corn.1 These four villages must exceed 14 to 15 thousand souls. There was a vast quantity of hogs which were killed; a great many both of our Indians and French were attacked with a general rheum which put every one out of humor.
'Tis an unfortunate trade, my lord, to command savages who, after the first broken head ask only to return home carrying with them the scalp which they lift off like a leather cap. You cannot conceive the trouble I had to detain them until the corn was cut.
During the whole time we were in the Senecas country we did not see a single enemy, which caused me divers alarms lest they had been at our batteaux, but terror and consternation deterred them too much from effecting their first threats.
Returning to our batteaux I should have greatly wished to have been able to visit other villages, but the sickness, the extreme fatigue among all and the uneasiness of the savages who began to disband, determined me to proceed to Niagara to erect a fort there in their presence, and point out to them a sure asylum to encou- rage them to come this winter to war in small bodies.
I selected the angle of the Lake on the Seneca side of the river ; it is the most beautiful, the most pleasing and the most advantageous site that is on the whole of this Lake, the Map and plan of which you will have if Sieur de Ville Marie will take the trouble, for I tormented him considerably for it; I sent him expressly to Quebec that he may have nothing else to do.
This post being in a state of defence I left a hundred men there under the command of Sieur de Troyes who made the Nor- thern expedition last year. He is a worthy fellow who richly de- serves some share in the honour of your good graces and protec- tion. He can be very useful to you in many things ; he is pru- dent and intelligent, very willing, and has well served on land.
This post has caused much joy to all our farther Indians, who having no place of retreat, scarcely dared to approach the enemy. They have made me great promises-especially our Illinois-to haras's them this winter by a number of small parties.
l' A minot is equal to three bushels.
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DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
M. de Tonty had returned with them designing to invite them to come. He could collect only very few savages because an alarm had been spread among them of a large body of Senecas having departed last fall on a war expedition against them, which fell through on the information Mr. Dongan gave the Senecas that I was about to attack them ; yet, as this large force had marched six days, it was the cause that of six @ 700 savages on whom we relied, only 80 came, which was the reason of their having been obliged to come to the fort of Detroit to join Sieurs du L'hut and de la Durantaye not being able to take the Senecas in the rear.
On quitting Niagara I left M. de Vaudreuil there for a few days with the troops to cut fire wood, after having done what was necessary for lodgings. The inconvenience of this post is, that timber is at a distance from it. M. de Callières and I returned without delay with our habitans to issue the orders necessary for the interior of the Colony. *
I have not yet told you, my lord, that the habitans who left the lower part of the Colony, will on their return to their homes, have made four hundred and sixty leagues from the 24 May to about the 17th or 18th of August. You will well conceive that, what with the two forts which it was necessary to build, the des- truction of the enemy's corn and the thirty leagues of road we had, going and coming, to travel by land, they will not have been idle.
It was impossible for us to do any more than we accomplished, for provisions would have failed us had we made a longer delay. It is full 30 years that I have had the honour to serve, but I as- sure you, my lord, that I have seen nothing that comes near this in labour and fatigue.
You ordered me to send you the prisoners we took. You have perceived, my lord, it was impossible for us to make any among the Senecas, and even had we made any, we should have distribu- ted them among the savages our allies and those who made the seizure in the neighbourhood of Fort Cataracouy who are them-
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selves native Iroquois, but for the most part from villages north of Lake Ontario where there had been some fine and large which the Iroquois south of said Lake forced to join them; this began to swell their numbers and depopulate the northern border. It would be for our interest to repeople these villages because they would be more close allies, and under our control.
Among the prisoners there are some I cannot send you, being near relatives of our Christian Indians. Besides there are some of the Onnontagué village whom we must manage with a view to detach them from the Senecas, and to use them for purposes of negotiation if necessary. As I have not yet any news of the move- ments of the Iroquois, I should much like not to dispose of all these prisoners. Nevertheless, my lord, as you desire them, I shall con- tent myself by retaining those only who will be of use to me and are guiltless of all the disorders of others. Yet, my lord, be so good as to keep them in a place from which they can be withdrawn, in case of need and we finally come to a general arrangement ; I believe that would be a very useful thing. Regarding their wo- men and children, I had them distributed through all our missions in the Colony. All the men, women and children had themselves baptised, testifying joy on that occasion. It remains to be seen if it be in good faith.
*
The copper of which I sent a sample to M. Arnou is found at the head (au fond) of Lake Superior. The body of the mine is not yet discovered. I have seen one of our voyageurs who as- sures me that he saw, 15 months ago, a lump 200 weight, as yel- low as gold in a river which falls into Lake Superior. When heated, it is cut with an axe, but the superstitious Indians regard- ing this piece as a good Spirit would never permit him to take any of it.
16
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DENONVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
ACTE OF THE TAKING POSSESSION OF THE COUNTRY OF THE IROQUOIS, CALLED SENECAS, 19 July 1687.
[Paris Doc. III.]
On the nineteenth of July, One thousand six hundred and eighty seven, the troops commanded by Messire Jacques René de Brisay Chevalier Seigneur Marquis de Denonville and other places, Go- vernor and Lieutenant General for the King throughout the whole of Canada and country of New France, in presence of Hector, Chevalier de Callière, Governor of Montreal in said country, Commandant of the camp under his orders, and of Philip de Rigaud, Chevalier de Vaudreuil, Commandant of the King's troops, which being drawn up in the order of battle, Charles Aubert Sieur de la Chenays citizen of Quebec, deputed by Messire Jean Bochart, Chevalier, Seigneur de Champigny, Norvy, Verneuil and other places, Privy Councilor to the King, Intendant of Justice, Police and Finance, in all Northern France, presented himself at the head of the army, who stated and declared that on the requisition of the said Seigneur 'de 'Champigny, he took possession of the village of Totiakton, as he has done of the other three villages of Gannagaro, Gannondata and Gannongarae, and of a Fort half a league distant from the said village of Gannagaro, together with all the lands in their vicinity as many and how far soever they may extend, conquered in His Majesty's name, and to that end has planted in all the said Villages and Forts His said Majesty's Arms and has caused to be proclaimed in loud voice, Vive le Roi, after the said troops had beaten and routed eight hundred Iroquois Senecas, and laid waste, burnt and destroyed their provisions and cabins. Whereof and of what precedes, the said Sieur de la Chenays Aubert has required an Acte ; granted to him by me Paul Dupuy Esq. Councilor of the King and his Attorney at the Pro- vost's Court of Quebec : Done at the said Village of Totiakton, the largest of the Seneca Villages in presence of the Revd Father Vaillant, Jesuit, and of the Officers of the Troops and of the Militia Witnesses with me, the said King's Attorney undersigned, the day and year above mentioned, and have signed the Minute,
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