32. How Mackinac was taken and Detroit was saved
BY JONATHAN CARVER
(1764)[84]
MICHILLIMACKINAC, from whence I began my travels, is a fort
composed of a strong stockade, and is usually defended by a garrison
of one hundred men. It contains about thirty houses, one of which
belongs to the Governor, and another to the Commissary. Several
traders also dwell within its fortifications, who find it a convenient
situation to traffic with the neighbouring nations.
Michillimackinac, in the language of the Chipéway
Indians, signifies a Tortoise; and the place is supposed to receive its
name from an island, lying about six or seven miles to the north-east,
within sight of the fort, which has the appearance of that animal.
During the Indian war that followed soon after the conquest of
Canada in the year 1763, under the direction of Pontiac, a celebrated
Indian warrior, it was taken by surprise in the following manner.
The Indians having settled their plan, drew near the fort, and
began a game at ball, a pastime much used among them, and not unlike
tennis. In the height of their game, at which some of the English
officers, not suspecting any deceit, stood looking on, they struck the
ball, as if by accident, over the stockade; this they repeated two or three
times, to make the deception more complete.
At length, having by this means lulled every suspicion of the
sentry of the south gate, a party rushed by him; and the rest soon
following, they took possession of the fort, without meeting with any
opposition. Their design accomplished, the Indians had the humanity to
spare the lives of the greatest part of the garrison and traders, but they
made them all prisoners, and carried them off. However, some time
after they took them to Montreal, where they were redeemed at a good
price.
Pontiac, under whom the party that surprised Fort
Michillimackinac acted, was an enterprising chief or head-warrior of
the Miames. He collected an army of. confederate Indians to renew the
war. However, instead of openly attacking the English settlements, he
laid a scheme for taking by surprise those distant forts. To get into his
hands Detroit, a place of greater consequence, and much better
guarded, required greater resolution, and more consummate art.
He of course took the management of this expedition on
himself, and drew near it with the principal body of his troops. He was
however, prevented from
carrying his design into execution, by an apparently trivial and
unforeseen circumstance. On such does the fate of mighty Empires
frequently depend!
The town of Detroit, when Pontiac formed his plan, was
garrisoned by about three hundred men commanded by Major
Gladwyn, a gallant officer. As at that time every appearance of war was
at an end, and the Indians seemed to be on a friendly footing, Pontiac
therefore approached the Fort, without exciting any suspicions in the
breast of the governor or the inhabitants.
He encamped at a little distance from it, and sent to let the
commandant know that he was come to trade; and from a wish to
strengthen the chain of peace between the English and his nation,
desired that he and his chiefs might be admitted to hold a council with
him. The governor, still unsuspicious, and not in the least doubting the
sincerity of the Indians, granted their general's request, and fixed on the
next morning for their reception.
The evening of that day, an Indian woman who had been
employed by Major Gladwyn to make him a pair of Indian shoes, out
of curious elk-skin, brought them home. The Major was so pleased
with them, that he wanted to keep these as a present for a friend, and
ordered her to take the remainder of the skin back, and make it into
other shoes for himself.
He then directed his servant to pay her for what she had done,
and dismissed her. The woman went to the door that led to the street
but no further; she there loitered about as if she had not finished the
business on which she came. A servant at length observed her, and
asked her why she stayed there; but she gave him no answer.
Some short time after, the governor himself saw her; and
enquired of his servant what occasioned her stay. Not being able to get
a satisfactory answer, he ordered the woman to be called in. When she
came into his presence he desired to know why she loitered about, and
did not hasten home before the gates were shut, that she might
complete in due time the work he had given her to do.
She told him, after much hesitation, that as he had always
behaved with great goodness towards her, she was unwilling to take
away the remainder of the skin, because he put so great a value upon it;
and yet had not been able to prevail upon herself to tell him so. He then
asked her. why she was more reluctant to do so now, than she had been
when she made the former pair. With increased reluctance she
answered, that she never should be able to bring them back.
His curiosity was now excited, and he insisted on her
disclosing to him the secret that seemed to be struggling in her bosom
for utterance. At last, on receiving a promise that the intelligence she
was about to give him should not turn to her prejudice, and that if it
appeared to be beneficial, she should be rewarded for it, she informed
him that at the council to be held with the Indians the following day,
Pontiac and his chiefs intended to murder him; and, after having
massacred the garrison and inhabitants, to plunder the town.
That for this purpose all the chiefs who were admitted into the
council-room, had cut their guns short, so that they could conceal them
under their blankets; another, at a signal given by their general, on
delivering the belt they were all to rise up, and instantly to fire on him
and his attendants. Then they were to
rush into the town, where they would find themselves supported by a
great number of their warriors, that were to come into it during the
sitting of the council, under presence of trading, but privately armed in
the same manner. Having gained from the woman every necessary
particular relative to the plot, and also of the means by which she
acquired a knowledge of them, he dismissed her with injunctions of
secrecy, and a promise of fulfilling on his part with punctuality the
engagements he had entered into.
The intelligence the governor had just received, gave him
great uneasiness; and he immediately consulted the officer who was
next to him in command on the subject. But that gentleman considered
the information as a story invented for some artful purpose, and
advised him to pay no attention to it.
This conclusion, however, had happily no weight with him.
He thought it prudent to conclude it to be true, till he was convinced
that it was not so; and therefore, without revealing his suspicions to any
other person, he took every needful precaution that the time would
admit of. He walked round the fort during the whole night, and saw
himself that every sentinel was on duty, and every weapon of defence
in proper order.
As he traversed the ramparts which lay nearest to the Indian
camp, he heard them in high festivity, and, little imagining that their
plot was discovered, probably pleasing themselves with the anticipation
of their success. As soon as the morning dawned, he ordered all the
garrison under arms; and then imparted his apprehensions to a few of
the principal officers, and gave them such directions as he thought
necessary.
At the same time he sent round to all the traders,
to inform them that as it was expected a great number of Indians would
enter the town that day, who might be inclined to plunder, he desired
they would have their arms ready, and repel every attempt of that kind.
About ten o'clock, Pontiac and his chiefs arrived; and were
conducted to the council-chamber, where the governor and his
principal officers, each with pistols in their belts, awaited his arrival.
As the Indians passed on, they could not help observing that a greater
number of troops than usual were drawn up on the parade, or marching
about.
No sooner were they entered, and seated on the skins prepared
for them, than Pontiac asked the governor for what occasion his young
men, meaning the soldiers, were thus drawn up, and parading the
streets. He received for answer, that it was only intended to keep them
perfect in their exercise.
The Indian chief-warrior now began his speech, which
contained the strongest professions of friendship and good will towards
the English; and when he came to the delivery of the belt of wampum,
the particular sign which, according to the woman's information, was to
be the signal for his chiefs to fire, the governor and all his chiefs drew
their swords halfway out of their scabbards. The soldiers at the same
instant made a clattering with their arms before the doors, which had
been purposely left open.
Pontiac, though one of the boldest of men, immediately turned
pale, and trembled; and instead of giving the belt in the manner
proposed, delivered it according to the usual way. His chiefs who had
impatiently expected the signal, looked at each other with
astonishment, but continued quiet, waiting the result.
The governor in his turn made a speech; but instead of
thanking the great warrior for the professions of friendship he had just
uttered, he accused him of being a traitor. He told him that the English,
who knew every thing, were convinced of his treachery and villainous
designs.
As a proof that they were well acquainted with his most secret
thoughts and intentions, he stepped towards the Indian chief that sat
nearest to him, and drawing aside his blanket, discovered the shortened
firelock. This entirely disconcerted the Indians, and frustrated their
design.
He then continued to tell them, that as he had given his word
at the time they desired an audience, that their persons should be safe,
he would hold his promise inviolable, though they so little deserved it.
However, he advised them to make the best of their way out of the fort,
lest his young men, acquainted with their treacherous purposes, should
cut every one of them to pieces.
Pontiac tried to deny the accusation, and to make excuses for
his suspicious conduct, but the governor was satisfied of the falsity of
his protestations, and would not listen to him. The Indians immediately
left the fort, but instead of being sensible of the governor's generous
behaviour, they threw off the mask, and the next day made a regular
attack upon it.
[[84]]
Carver made a tour among the Indians of the far
Northwest, and learned to know them well.