CHAPTER VIII.

THE SUCCESS OF THE ENGLISH IN 1759-THE DEATH OF GEN. FORBES AND THE 'APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL STANWIX AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN THE MID. DLE COLONIES-THE ERECTION OF FORT PITT BY GENERAL STANWIX AND HIS CONFERRENCE WITH THE INDIANS-SPEECH OF THE WYANDOTT CHIEFTHE RETURN OF GENERAL STANWIX TO ENGLAND-THE CAPTURE OF MONTREAL AND THE SURRENDER OF ALL CANADA TO THE ENGLISH, AND PEACE WITH FRANCE-THE FIRST EXPEDITION OF THE ENGLISH TROOPS TO THE UPPER LAKES-THEIR RECEPTION BY THE CELEBRATED PONTIAC-THE INDIAN STRATAGEM, CAPTURE OF MICHILIMACKINAC AND MASSACRE OF THE GARRISON-PONTIAC'S APPEARANCE WITH HIS WARRIORS BEFORE DETROIT. ---HIS SCHEME TO SURPRISE THE GARRISON DIVULGED BY AN INDIAN WOMAN -THE BATTLE AT THE BLOODY BRIDGE-THE SCHOONER FOR THE RELIEF OF DETROIT ATTACKED BY THE INDIANS-THEIR REPULSE-FRONTIER SETTLERS MASSACRED-MANY TAKE REFUGE IN THE INTERIOR-BOUGUET'S EXPEDTION AGAINST THE INDIANS-FRONTIER FORTS IN DANGER-BOU. QUET'S ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INDIANS AT BUSHY RUN, AND THEIR DEFEAT-BOUQUET ARRIVES AT FORT PITT.

In the year 1759, all the campaigns against the French in America, were crowned with brilliant success. On the approach of the formidable force of General Amherst before Ticonderoga, it had been abandoned. Crown Point was likewise given up, and the troops withdrawn. The battle of Niagara had been fought and won by Sir William Johnson, against whom the whole strength of Detroit, Venango, and Presque Isle had been brought; and to crown the whole, General Wolf had surmounted the plains of Abraham, and captured the fortress of Quebec, being deemed the citadel of French power in America.

At the conclusion of the campaign of the preceding year, General FORBES, who had suffered greatly from ill health during the whole of his command, died in Philadelphia, and was succeeded by General STANWIX, as Commander-in-chief in the middle colonies. During the summer of of 1759, he proceeded to the former site of Fort Du Quesne, and commenced building a strong fortification immediately above the adjoining French fort. This fortification, when finished, was deemed strong enough to secure the British empire on the Ohio to the latest posterity!(1) This was called Fort Pitt, in honor of the great British states

man.

(1) An extract of a letter dated Sept. 24, 1759, in the American Magazine printed at Woodbridge, N. J.:

"It is near a month since the army has been employed in erecting a most formidable fortification; such an one as will, to latest posterity, secure the British empire on the Ohio. There is no need to enumerate the abilities of the chief engineer, nor the spirit shown by the troops in executing the important task: the fort will soon be a lasting monument of both. Upon the

General Stanwix continued at Fort Pitt during the year 1759, and part of 1760, strengthening it by fortifications, and cultivating peace and friendship with the Indian tribes. The happy consequences of these measures were soon apparent in the production of considerable trade between the natives and the merchants of Fort Pitt, and in the perfect security of about four thousand settlers, who now returned to the quiet possession of lands, from whence they had been driven by the enemy on the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. (2) He held two conferences with the Six Nations, the Delawares, the Shawanese, and the Wyandotts, one on the fourth day of July, 1759, and the other the twenty-fifth day of October following. After lighting and smoking the pipe of peace, Gen. Stanwix made a speech, in which he told the Chiefs and Warriors of the several nations present, that "he hoped, as they were met in council to renew and brighten the chain of friendship, that they would no more hearken to the war counsels of the French, but travel in the road of peace from the rising to the setting sun. He also informed them, that the English had taken the city of Quebec, and soon expected to drive the French out of America."

The speaker of the Wyandotts then arose, and in a speech of some length in behalf of the assembled Chiefs, replied to all the points in the address of Gen. Stanwix, and then made the following beautiful conclusion:

"Brothers: the French put the hatchet into our hands, at the beginning of this war, and the evil Spirit getting the better of our understandings, made us make use of it. In the presence of our cousins, the Delawares, and the other Nations here, we bury the hatchet."(2)

On the twenty-first of March, 1760, after building Fort Pitt, and cultivating the friendship and alliance of the Indians, General Stanwix set

General's arrival, about four hundred Indians of different nations, came to confirm peace with the English: particularly the Ottawas and Wyandotts, who inhabit about Detroit. These confessed the errors they had been led into by the French, and showed the deepest contrition for their past conduct; and promised not only to remain fast friends to the English, but assist us in distressing the common enemy, whenever we should call on them to do it. And all the nations that have been at variance with the English, said they would deliver up what prisoners they had in their hands, to the general, at a grand meeting that was to be held in about three weeks. As soon as the congress was ended, the head of each nation presented the calumet of peace to the General, and showed every token of sincerity that could be expected, which their surrender of the prisoners will confirm.

“In this, as in every thing that can secure the lasting peace and happiness of these colonies, the General is indefatigable.

(1) Smollet's History of England.

(2) Stanwix' Conference with the Indians, in Appendix, p. 139–141.

out for Philadelphia, escorted by thirty-five Chiefs of the Ohio Indians and a company of soldiers, leaving at the fort seven hundred men, of which four hundred were Royal Americans, one hundred and fifty Pennsylvanians, and one hundred Virginians. He arrived at Philadelphia, and sailed for England, where his services were duly appreciated by the Government.(2)

The almost entire strength of the French was now collected at Montreal. At this place the Marquis de Vaudreiul, Governor-General of Canada, collected his whole force. But General Amherst appeared before the place, with his own corps, composed of ten thousand British and Provincials, and one thousand Indians, under Sir William Johnson, and a large force under General Murray and Colonel Haviland. Before this overwhelming force resistance was in vain. The Marquis, there

*The following summary of the Indian Nations, &c., westward of the Ohio, is extracted from an account furnished to General Stanwix, by George Croghan, Deputy of Sir William Johnson, Agent for Indian affairs, in 1759: 1. The Delawares residing on the Ohio, Beaver Creek, and other branches of the Ohio, and on Susquehanna, their fighting men are 2. Shawanese, on Scioto, a branch of Ohio, 400 miles below Pittsburg, 3. Choctaws, on the Mississippi, above New Orleans,

4. Lazars, on the Ohio, from its mouth to Wabash,

5. Illinois, on the Mississippi, about the mouth of Ohio,

6. Waugweoughtannes, on the Wabash,

7. Twightwees, on the Miami River,

8. Pianquishaws, on the head of Wabash,

9. Wyandots, about Fort Detroit and Chenunda, &c.,

10. Ottawas, Chippewas, Putawatimes, or Shockeys, nations confede rate, like the Six Nations, on the West side of Lake Erie, partly in sight of Fort Detroit,

11. Nottoweasses, called by the French Le Zue, or a river parallel with the Mississippi, in a country of 2000 miles extent,-sometimes called Welsh Indianv,

12. Musquakees, on the Mississippi,

13. Sagaseys, lower down the Mississippi,

600 300

2,000

400

400

200

300

300

300

2,000

1,000

200

200

14. Webings, lower down the river, &c., these three mostly destroyed by the French.

200

15. Quasoys, called by the French Le Grand Zue, or White Creek, a branch of the Mississippi,

4,000

16. Linways, on the Mississippi,

1,000

17. Missurys, on the Mississippi, opposite the Illinois' country, 18. Kekopos, about 80 miles beyond Fort Detroit,

400

600

The whole number of fighting men in these nations,

23,400

In which account the following are not included, viz:

If the fighting men be computed at one in five of all the inhabitants, this account will make the whole number,

139,500

(2) General Stanwix was shipwrecked in 1766. A Philadelphia paper, dated January 2, 1767, says, "It is with much regret that we announce the loss of the Eagle, on board of which was General Stanwix, his lady and only daughter, a relative and four servants, who all untimely perished."