MICHIGAN PIONEER AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS. COPIES OF PAPERS ON FILE IN THE DOMINION ARCHIVES AT OTTAWA, CANADA, PERTAINING TO MICHIGAN, AS FOUND IN THE COLONIAL OFFICE RECORDS. NOTE.-Care has been taken in publishing the following papers to follow the original copies closely as possible, including orthography, punctuation, capitalization, etc. The references in brackets at the close of each paper are the filings in the Dominion Archives at Ottawa. CANADIAN ARCHIVES. COLONIAL OFFICE RECORDS. [Continued from Volume 24. ] LETTER FROM JOSEPH CHEW. Extract of a Letter from Joseph Chew Esqr. Secretary to the Indian Department dated Montreal 4th August 1794. This moment I have a letter from Colonel McKee, a copy of which I inclose, which will inform you of the situation of the Indians and His Americans in the Miamis Country. The U. S. have erected a Fort at La Boeuf about 12 miles from Presque Isle, this has given great offence to the Six Nations, who in a very * Published in Vol. 20, page 384. spirited Speech to General Washington have desired the Incroachment may be removed, if this is not done, I am of opinion they will join their Western Brethren in earnest. As they were intirely united in Sentiments, O'Beal the Corn Planter was extremely warm in his expressions on the occasion. [Q 69-2, p 232. ] SIR, LIEUT. GOV. J. G. SIMCOE TO HENRY DÚNDAS, SEC'Y. NAVY HALL, August 5 1794. Having an opportunity by Captain Vandeleur, (late of the Garrison at the Miamis) who returns to Great Britain on Promotion, I think it proper to avail myself of the means, & of briefly stating to you the precise situation of this country. The Indian Nations after an action on the 30th of May with a convoy in which they were successful, pursued their Enemy to the fort Recovery, where they met with some loss, which together with the want of Provisions, their having got several Scalps, & having struck their blow, occasioned them in a great manner to separate & return home; leaving. Runners, however, to call them together should Mr. Wayne advance. Their principal chiefs have called upon Lt Colonel England for the assistance of twenty men & two Pieces of Cannon to attack Fort Recovery. The Fort at the Miamis is in a complete state of Defence.. The Troops of the United States have not established themselves at the Presqu' Isle. The Corn Planter whose residence has been for some time past in the interior of the Country, has sent, not to the Sachems, but to the Warriors of the Six Nations, to join him, to escort his Women & Children in safety to Cataragoras or the Buffaloe Creek as may be thought expedient, & in all appearance, Hostilities will commence between the Six Nations & the People of the States. The Onondagoes have principally, left the Genesee country & messages have been sent to the Oneidas to invite them to rejoin the Confederacy. The State of New York are establishing Posts at Fort Stanwix, Fort Brewerton, The Three Rivers Point & Oswego Falls within twelve miles of our Post. They also mean to erect a post to cover the Onondago Salt Works; a manufactory of considerable importance to them in case of a rupture with G. Britain. The Inhabitants of the Genesees I hear, are quitting of that Country; no new Settlers arrive there & many have emigrated into this Province. Under a mature consideration of the existing situation of this Country, & viewing it in the most favorable light, It is apparent that to the Westward, (the Detroit & Miamis) the Indians, as they represent, cannot maintain their country on a defensive system against the Chain of Garrisons or prevent the advance of General Wayne without our assistance; This assistance must absolutely be extended to the demolition of Fort Recovery & if possible, that of Fort Jefferson, or the entrenched camp at Grenville. To effect this measure, Good Officers, good Troops, Secrecy & Expedition are absolutely required. In respect to Lake Erie the same reasoning holds good to prevent the Armies of the States from occupying of Presqu' Isle, or remaining at Le Boeuf, or even Fort Franklin. The Ontario must be preserved by the destruction of the Genesee settlements, & the assembling all the force that we can possibly collect both naval & military to establish ourselves, at Oswego or rather the Three Rivers Point. This Position, & the command of the smaller lakes of the Genesees will cover Upper Canada & best preserve the communication of the St. Laurence. I think it necessary not to lose the present opportunity of making this statement to you, Sir, of such a system of operations as appear to me, to be indispensable for the safety of this Colony. I should hope there can be no difficulty in supplying this Province with a large reinforcement of Seamen; & a competent encrease of the Land forces-I would prefer to do great things with a small army rather than a little, with a large one; but where the King's American Empire is at stake, It is my duty to detail, as far as is practicable, what I conceive to be essential for its Preservation; & the being able to establish a force on the Oswego River sufficient to prevent the entry of the Armies of the United States into Upper Canada, Is in my Estimation the first object that requires attention; such a force will scarcely be in safety unless the avenues to Lake Erie are shut up in some such manner as I have done myself the honor of representing. It would give me great pleasure to hear that Capt Shank or some such officer was directed to establish the Provincial Naval Arsenal on this Lake. I have taken every step in my power to prevent the construction of Gun Boats, & as the Artificers are to be obtained in this Province, I have sent a confidential Person to New York to endeavour to procure some Boat Builders from that place. I have the honor to be with the utmost respect Sir Your most obedient & Most humble servant J. G. SIMCOE. To the Rt. Hon. Henry Dundas. I do myself the honor of transmitting a letter from Colonel McKee which I have this moment received. |