OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - HISTORY: Chapter 6 (Abbott, John S. C., 1875)
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			Chapter VI
		     The Pontiac War
   
   Soon after the overthrow of the French arms in Canada, and while the En-
glish were taking one after another, the French posts along the French 
lakes, there appeared, upon the stage of action, one of the most extra-
ordinary men those times developed. This was a renowned Indian Chief, by the
name of Pontiac. He was a member of the Ottawa tribe of Indians, who occu-
pied the territory in the vicinity of Michilimackinac. He was alike remark-
able for his majestic and graceful form, his commanding address, and his 
persuasive eloquence. His courage also excited the admiration of all the 
Indians, and gave him almost unlimited authority over them.
   The French settlement in Detroit was established in 1701. The Ottawas 
watched their encroachments with much solicitude. Three years after this
the English, at Albany, succeeded in inducing a deputation of Ottawa chiefs
to visit them. They represented to the chiefs, whose jealousy was already
excited, that the French had formed a plan to subdue them, and to take the
entire possession of their country.
   The chiefs, on their return to Michilimackinac, summoned their warriors, 
made an attack upon Detroit, and endeavored to burn the town. After a sharp
battle the Indians were repulsed. The French, however, by their concillia-
tory measures, soon won the confidence of these Indians. All the Indians in 
this region, ere long, became the warm friends of the French. A Chippiway 
chief, at one of their councils, soon after this reconciliation, said:
   "When the French arrived at these falls, they came and kissed us. They 
called us children, and we found them fathers. We lived like brethren in the
same lodge."
   Thus influenced several hundred of the Indians were associated with the 
French in the defeat of Braddock. Pontiac probably led the Indian braves in
this battle. In 1746 some of the northern tribes combined to attack Detroit.
Pontiac hastened with his warriors to the rescue of the French.
   In November, 1760, a detachment of English soldiers, under Major Rogers, 
was on the march to take possession of the ports along the lakes, which was
the French had been compelled to evacuate. As he was pressing forward, on
the route from Montreal to Detroit, an embassy of warriors, from the proud
Pontiac, met him. In the name of their chief they informed him that Pontiac,
in person, was not far distant, and that he would soon hold an interview 
with him. They therefore requested the Major, who had entered his territor-
ies, to arrest his march, until Pontiac should have an opportunity of seeing
him with his own eyes. The delegation was also especially enjoined to inform
Major Rogers, that Pontiac was king and lord of the country through which 
the English were marching.
   Though theses haughty summons, coming from a savage, sounded strangely in
the ears of a British officer, the Major, very considerately, drew up his
troops and awaited the arrival of the Ottawa chieftain.
   Pontiac soon appeared, surrounded by a brilliant staff of plumed and
painted warriors; he towering above all the rest, and being manifestly the
object of extraordinary homage. His first salutation was far from courteous,
for, with a stern voice and a frown, he said:
   "What is your business in my country? And how dare you enter it, without
my permission?"
   Major Rogers, remembering that a soft answer turneth away wrath, replied:
   "I have no unfriendly designs against you or your people. My only object
is to remove the French out of the country. They have ever been an obstacle
in the way of peace and commerce between the English and the Indians."
   He then presented Pontiac with several belts of wampum. The chief re-
ceived the gift with a stately bow, and said: "I shall stand in the path, 
through which you are walking until morning." This was saying, very em-
phatically, in Indian phrase, that the English would not be permitted to 
advance any further, without the permission of Pontiac. Assumming an air of
conscious superiority, the chief condescendingly inquired of Major Rogers or
army needed anything to make them comfortable for the night. "If so,"
said he, "my warriors will bring it to you."
   But Major Rogers was equal to the emergency. With dignity he replied, 
"Whatever provisions we may need we shall pay for." By order of the chief an
ample supply of provisions was sent into the British camp. We doubt not that
the bearers received as ample a renumeration.
   In the morning the chief, in the most imposing splender of barbaric pomp,
accompanied by his escort of warriors, again visited Major Rogers. He seemed
a shade less austere and imperial in his bearing than the evening before. 
The Major, a representative of the crown of England, received him as an 
equal. Pontiac held in his hand a highly decorated pipe-of-peace. He lighted
it, and, after taking a few whiffs, handed it to Major Rogers, saying;
   "I, with this calumet, offer friendship to the Englishmen and his troops.
They have my permission to pass through my dominions. I will protect them
from being molested by my subjects, or by any other parties of Indians who 
may be inclined to hostility."
   This singular interview of Indians took place on the 7th of November, 
1763, at the mouth of the Chogage River, many miles east of Detroit. Pontiac
then, assuming the air of a protector of the helpless, and perhaps fully
convinced that it was in his power, at any time, to crush the little band of
Englishmen, who were traversing his realms, selected one hundred of his 
warriors and escorted the English, along the southern shores of Lake Erie, 
to Detroit. The Indians also assisted in driving a large number of fat 
cattle, which had been sent from Pittsburgh to Presque Isle, on Lake Erie, 
for the use of the army. Pontiac carried his precautions so far - and sub-
sequent events showed the necessity for them - as to send messengers to all 
the Indian towns along the southern and western shores of the lake, inform-
ing the warriors that the English were journeying under his special protec-
tion, and must not be molested.
   Major Rogers confesses that, at one time, while on this march, his de-
tachmnet was saved from utter destruction by the intervention of Pontiac. An
overpowering band of Indians had assembled near the mouth of the Detroit 
River, and the English would have falled victims to their fury, but for the
protection of the great chief.
   It is a fact, sustained by uncontradicted testimony, that the Indian 
tribes, without any known exception, regretted the overthrow of the French, 
and the domination of the English. Mr. Henry, an English gentleman, who
published an account of his "Travels and Adventures in Canada and the Indian
Territories between the years 1760 and 1766", describes an incident which
took place at the Island of La Cloche, in Lake Huron, in the Spring of 1761.
He was very hospitably received and entertained, in a large village of In-
dians, on the island. At length they accidentally discovered, to their sur-
prise, that he was an Englishman, they having previously told he was a 
Frenchman. Instantly their whole demeanor toward him was changed. Very cooly
they told him that, being an Englishman, he would certainly be killed by 
Indians on his way to Michilimackinac, and, of course, be plundered of all 
his possessions. The Indians of La Cloche thought they might as well antici-
pate this event, and take their share of the pillage then.
   Mr. Henry was powerless. He could make no resistance. The Indians helped
themselves to such of his efforts as they chose, generously leaving the
remainder for the assassins who were to meet him on the trail. Mr. Henry
writes that this hostility, manifested by the Indians, was exclusively
against him "because he was a Englishman". He was so oppressed with the
consciousness of this hatred of his nationality, and of the destruction 
which consequently awaited him, under that protection, succeeded in reaching
Michilimackinac in safety.
   Soon after Mr. Henry arrived at Michilimackinac, a large council of 
chiefs met at that post. They visited Mr. Henry as a stranger of distinction.
The chief of this band of subordinate warrior chiefs, was a man of command-
ing stature, and of remarkably fine personal appearance and address, by the
name of Minavavana. With a retinue of sixty braves, all dressed in the high-
est style of barbaric decoration, he entered the room where Mr. Henry 
awaited him. With colored plumes and fringes, and glittering beads, and 
highly polished armor, they presented truly an imposing aspect as, one by
one, in single file, and in perfect silence, they ranged themselves around
the apartment.
   Then, at a signal from their chief, without a word being spoken, they 
took their seats upon the floor. Each one then drew out his pipe and began
to smoke. Minavavana, then rising, fixed his eyes steadfastly upon Mr. 
Henry, and, in very deliberate tones, said:
   "You Englishmen must be very brave men. It is evident that you do not
fear death, since you dare to come thus fearlessly among your enemies.:
   Then, after a moment's pause, he made the following extraordinary speech,
addressing every word to Mr. Henry:
   "Englishman! It is to you I speak. I demand your attention. Englishman!
You know that the French king is our father. He promised to be such. We, 
in return, promised to be his children. This promise we have kept. English-
man! You have made war against our father. You are his enemy. How then could
you dare to venture among us, his children! You know that his enemies are 
our enemies.
   "Englishman! Our father, the King of France, is aged and infirm. Being
fatigued he fell asleep. While asleep, you took advantage of him, and seized
Canada. He will soon awake. I now hear him stirring, and inquiring for his
children, the Indians. What will then become of you? You will utterly des-
troyed.
   "Englishman! though you have conquered the French, you have not conquered
us. We are not your slaves. These lakes, woods, mountains were left to us
by our ancestors. We will not part with them. The Great Spirit has provided
food for us in these broad lakes and upon these mountains.
   "Englishman! Our father, the King of France, has employed one young man
to make war upon your nation. In this war many of them have been killed. It
is our custom to retaliate till the spirits of the slain are satisfied. 
There are but two ways of satisfying them. The first is by spilling blood of 
the nation by which they fell. The second is by covering the bodies of the 
dead with presents, and thus allaying the resentment of their relations.
   "Englishman! Your king has never sent us any presents. He and we are 
still at war. We have no other father or friend among the white men but the
King of France. As for you, we have taken into consideration the fact that
you have ventured your life among us, trusting that we would not molest you.
You do not come armed to make war. You come in peace, to trade with us, and
to supply us with necessaries which we need. We shall, therefore, regard you
as a brother. You may sleep tranquilly. As a token of friendship we present
you with this pipe to smoke."
   Minavavana then rose and gave his hand to the Englishman. All his war-
riors did the same. The pipe was passed around, and the important ceremony
was concluded.
   Unfortunately the English authorities ever assumed towards the Indians
a haughty and overbearing demeanor. B. B. Thatcher writes, in his very in-
teresting Life of Pontiac:
   "The English manifested but a slight disposition for national courtesy, 
or for individual intercourse, of for a beneficial commerce which made the
neighborhood of the French agreeable, and which might have made their own
at least tolerable. The conduct of the French never gave rise to suspicion.
That of the English never gave rest to it."
   Pontiac foresaw the inevitable extermination of his race unless immediate
measures were taken to prevent it. The plan of operations he adopted devel-
oped extraordinary genius, courage and energy. He decided to unite all the
Indian tribes of the Northwest to make a simultaneous attack upon all the 
English posts upon the shores of the Great Lakes, and on the banks of the 
rivers in the Great Valley. The English, throughout all these vast regions, 
were to be utterly exterminated. The posts were then but about twelve in
number. But they were all at very important points, selected by skilled 
French engineers.
   These military and trading posts, of varied strength, were found at St.
Joseph, Ouatinon, Green Bay, Michilimackinac, Detroit, on the Maumee and
Sandusky Rivers, at Niagara, Presque Isle, Le Boeuf, Verango and Pittsburgh.
   The surprise was to be simultaneous, at the same hour, along a line
thousands of miles in extent. And should one detachment of the English be
successful it would not dishearten the rest. Some would certainly succeed.
Should all be successful the war would be terminated at a blow. Pontiac 
would then again be the undisputed sovereign of the land, which had descend-
ed to him from his ancestors.
   Pontiac first revealed his plan to the warriors of his own peculiar tribe,
the Ottawas. It seems that many other tribes recognized him as sort of 
elected Emperor, with a limited power over their movements. Major Rogers 
says:
   "Pontiac had the largest Empire, and the greatest authority of any Indian
chief that has appeared on the continent since our acquaintance with it."
   The great chief, having assembled his warriors, made a very effective 
speech to them. He exhibited a beautiful belt, which he said he had received
from their beloved Father, the King of France, with the request that his
childre would drive his and their enemies, the English, out of their terri-
tory. In glowing terms he depicted the haughty and insulting bearing of the 
English officers, dwelling upon the fact that some of those officers had 
even dared to inflict the disgrace of blows upon Indian braves.
   "The Great Spirit," said this remarkable man, in conclusion, "has re-
vealed to us the course which he would have us pursue. He tells us to ab-
stain entirely from the use of intoxicating drinks, to abandon all articles
of English manufacture, to arm ourselves with our own weapons, and to clothe
ourselves with garments of our own make. 'Why,' said the Great Spirit indig-
nantly, 'why do you suffer these dogs, in red clothing, to enter your coun-
try and take the land I have given you. Drive them from it. When you need my
aid I will help you.'"
   The warriors received this speech with enthusiasm. As Pontiac opened to 
them his plan of the campaign, a general burse of acclaim testified to the
eagerness of the warriors for the conflict. Agents were immediately dis-
patched to all the confederate tribes to enlist their services. Twenty 
powerful tribes were speedily and ardently enlisted in this alliance. The 
Ohio and Pennsylvania Delawares, and the renowned Six Nations of New York, 
were included in the number.
   All these arrangements were conducted with so much secrecy that the En-
glish had no suspicion of the storm which was brewing. "Peace reigned on the
frontiers. The unsuspecting traders journeyed from village to village. The
soldiers in the forts shrunk from the sun of early summer, and dozed away
the day. The frontier settler, singing in fancied security, sowed his crop, 
or watching the sun set throught the girdled trees, mused upon one more
peaceful harvest, and told his children of the horrors of the long war, now,
thank God, over. From the Alleghenies to the Mississippi the trees had 
leaved, and all was calm life and joy. But even then, through the gloomy
forest, journeyed bands of sullen red men, like the gathering of dark clouds
for a horrid tempest."(The Great West, by Henry Howe)
   Inexorable time swept on, and, at length, the day and the hour arrived. 
Almost at the same moment the attack began in all these widely scattered 
posts. Everywhere the British traders were  seized, and, in less than an 
hour, over one hundred were put to death. Nine of the English posts were 
immediately captured, and there was a general massacre of the inmates. De-
tachments of savages were assigned to the destruction of every village and
farm-house. The genius of Pontiac had, with marvelous skill, arranged for
the attack all along the frontiers of Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and
what is now known as Ohio. The tidings of these awful massacres spread with
great rapidity, and more than twenty thousand settlers fled in terror from
their homes.
   The forts, which were captured, were generally taken by strategem. The 
perfidious cunning of the Indians is deserving of record. They seemed to 
have adopted the ancient maxim, that fraud was as praiseworthy in war as
courage.("An virtus, an dolos, quis ab hoste requirat.")
   There was quite an important post at the mouth of the Maumee River. An
Indian woman came running into the fort, with piteous cries, and said that, 
at a very short distance from the fort, she found a man dying from an acci-
dental wound, and with tears she entreated the commander to repair to his
assistance. The humane officer, without the slightest suspicion of treach-
ery, took a few men with him, and, following the guidance of the woman, 
hastened to bring the wounded man into the fort. They were waylaid, and, by
one discharge of musketry, were all shot. The savages then rushed from 
various places of concealment into the fort, and very easily succeeded in 
cutting down the remainder of the garrison thus taken entirely by surprise.
   At Presque Isle, on the southeastern shore of Lake Erie, three Indians
appeared in gay attire and joyous spirits. They said that they were part of
a hunting party, who canoes, laden with a very valuable stokc of peltries,
were in a little cove about a mile from the fort. The commandant, and quite
a number of men, immediately set out to purchase the furs.
   Not long after they were gone, a hundred and fifty Indians came to the 
fort, each with a pack of furs upon his back. They said that the commandant
had bought their furs and had employed them to bring them in. Nothing could
be more natural than this. The strategem succeeded perfectly. As soon as 
they were in the fort they threw off their packs, which had been so arranged
as to hide their weapons, and with one simultaneous yell of the hideous the
astounded garrison. The Indinas had sawed off their rifles that they flowing
garments. Successful resistance was impossible. In almost less time than it 
has taken us to describe it, the work of death was completed. Those who had
been led out of the fort were drawn into an ambush and shot.
   Michilimackinac was one the most important positions on the frontier. 
"Nothing," says a modern writer, "can present a more picturesque and refresh-
ing spectacle to the traveler, wearied with the lifeless monotony of a voy-
age through Lake Huron, than the first sight of the Island of Michilimackin-
ac, which rises from the watery horizon in lofty bluffs, imprinting a rugged
outline along the sky, and capped with a fortress on which the American flag
is seen waving against the blue heavens."
   In the Indian language "Macinac" means turtle; "Michilimackinac" means
great turtle. The Island was so named from its supposed resemblance to that 
animal. The old trading post of Michilimackinac stood upon the extreme 
southern point of the peninsula, about nine miles south of the island. The
French under Father Marquette, with quite a large company of Huron Indians, 
visited the spot, and impressed with the admirable advantages of the loca-
tion for prosecuting the fur trade, located themselves there, and built a 
fort. It soon became one of the most important of the interior posts.
   Wonderful scenes were often witnessed there in the palmy days of the fur 
trade. There were sometimes seen collected there one (p. 117) or two thou-
sand Indians. The waters would seem alive with birch canoes, as the gaily
dresses Indian, with his squaw and papooses, paddled the frail skiff rapid-
ly over the harbor. They came from all along the shores of the great lakes, 
and from the many streams which emptied into them. The relations of the In-
dians with the French were more than friendly - they were almost affection-
ate. The French traders frequently married the daughters of the chiefs, and 
many of them became incorporated into their tribes.
   The post at Michilimackinac was the deposit of all good employed in the
northwestern fur trade. It was ever the point of departure, between the 
upper and lower countries, where the traders assembled, on their voyages to 
and from Montreal. The fort, as it was called, consisted of an area of about
two acres, enclosed in pickets of cedar wood. Three sides were thus forti-
fied, while the fourth reached the water's edge, where it was open. There 
were about thirty comfortable log cabins within these pickets. These were
occupied by about the same number of families. Two small brass cannons were
mounted on bastions. Picturesque lodges of the Indians were scattered all 
around.
   A large number of the Chippewas and Sacs were to cooperate in the attack
upon this station. The king's birth-day, which was to be a season of general
jollity, was the appointed occasion. As one of the festivities of the day a
large number of the Indians were to engage in one of their favorite games of
ball. Two posts were planted in the ground, just outside of the palisades, 
about a half a mile from each other. Each party had its post. They all met 
in the center, with bats in their hands. The ball was placed upon the ground,
and the game consisted in seeing to which post the ball could be driven.
   With a party of perhaps five hundred Indians on each side, driving the 
ball, with sinewy arms, over the wide extended plains, and all rushing after
it in indescribably tumult, the game became exceedingly exciting. It was one
of the most extraordinary of spectacles, as these Indians, plumed and paint-
ed, and in gala dresses, with shouts and laughter, pursued the ball as it 
was struck wildly, now in the direction, and now in that. It was certain 
that the game would call out all the garrison and the families to witness
it. So far as is now known not the slightest suspicion of treachery was
entertained.
   Nothing would be more natural than that, in the excitement of the game, 
the ball should be driven over the pickets. The Indians would, of course, 
rush after it pell mell. This would excite no alarm. Very adroitly the
savages carried out their plan. The ball flew in all directions, pursued, 
with whoop and halloo, by nearly a thousand warriors. The game became in-
tensely exciting, even to all the onlookers. At length, a well aimed blow
thres the ball high over the palisades into the enclosure of the fort. With
a simultaneous rush the Indians pursued it. Some clambered the pickets. Some
rushed in at the open gateway. Some rushed round and entered by the open
front which faced the water.
Scarcely a moment elapsed ere there were nearly a thousand warriors within 
the enlosure. Mr. Henry, the English traveler, of whom we have previously
spoken, has given a minute and very graphic account of the scenes which then
ensued. He had not gone out of the fort to witness the game, as a canoe was
just on the point of departure for Montreal, and he was busy writing letters
to his friends.
   It will be remembered that the fort was simply a village of about thirty
houses, surrounded by pickets. As Mr. Henry was engaged in writing he heard
suddenly a great tumult, blended with loud outcries. An awful sight met his
eye.
   The fort was full of Indians, all well armed, having drawn their con-
cealed weapons, and they were cutting down and scalping every Englishman
within their reach. They seemed in a state of perfect frenzy, all uttering
the shrill war whoop, or other hideous yells. The ground was already covered
with many struggling in the agonies of death. He had in his chamber a 
fowling piece, loaded with swan-shot. Almost instinctively seizing this, he
returned to the window, but it instantly occured to him that the report of 
his gun would only secure his own more immediate and certain destruction.
He stood at the window in great terror, expecting every instant to hear the
fort-drum beat to arms. While thus standing several of his countrymen were 
cut down. He saw more than one struggling between the knees of the savages, 
who thus held them, and scalped them while yet alive and shrieking.
   It is very remarkable that while this awful scene was transpiring there
were several Frenchmen, Canadian villagers, looking composedly upon the
slaughter. The vengeance of the Indians was directed to the English alone.
They had no desire to expel the French. They prized their society and their
commerce; and it was their openly avowed wish to restore their father, the
King of the French, to his supremacy in their dominions. Not a Frenchman was
molested. And though the French took no part with the Indians, it can scar-
cely be doubted that their sympathies were with them.
   Mr. Henry, seeing that the fort was taken beyond all possibility of re-
capture, and that there no apparent escape for his countrymen from the gen-
eral massacre, conceived the hope that he might possibly find refuge in the
house of some one of the Frenchmen. Monsieur Langlade lived in the next 
house to the one which he occupied. There was a low fencce which separated
the two back yards. Running out at the door, he climbed the fence, and 
rushing into the house he found the whole family looking out the window upon
the horrible spectacle before them.
   Mr. Henry, pallid with terror, entreated Monsieur Langlade to conceal him
in his house till the massacre should be over. The Frenchman looked at him 
for a moment, and then, turning again to the window, shrugged his shoulders
and said: "I can do nothing for you."
   There was in the room an Indian woman, one of the Pawnee tribe, who was 
a servant to Madame Langlade. She beckoned the Englishman to follow her, and 
led him to the garret, where she told him that he must conceal himself the 
best way he could. She left him, and locking the door, with much presence of 
mind took away the key. The garret of the cabin was dark, without any win-
dow. But there were large cracks between the boards of the wall, through
which cracks Mr. Henry could obtain a full view of all that was taking place
in the area of the fort.
   Here he beheld, with horror, the truly infernal deeds of the savages. 
There can be no fiend worse than man in his fury. The dead were scalped, and
their bodies mutilated in every ferocious way which barbaric ingenuity could
invent. Many were writhing and shrieking as the keen knife circled their 
heads, and their bloody scalps were torn off. "From the bodies of some, 
ripped open, their butchers were drinking the blood, scooped up in the 
hollow of joined hands, and quaffed amid shouts of rage and victory."
   We have heard of "Godlike human nature." And the Psalmist says, "Thou
didst create him by little lower than the angel." But surely man has fallen
into terrible depths. And he must indeed be regenerated before he can be fit
again to be restored to the society of his angel brothers.
   But a few moments passed before the massacre was completed. Not a living
Englishman could be seen. The savages now commences a search for those who 
might be concealed. Mr. Henry, from his hiding place, saw a gang of the
savages entering M. Langlade's house. The floor of the garret consisted 
merely of a layer of loose boards. He could, therefore, see all that trans-
pired, and hear all that was said in the room below.
   "Are there any Englishmen here!" one of the savages inquired.
   "I cannot say," Monsieur Langlade replied. "I do not know of any. You 
must search for yourselves and then you will be satisfied."
   This was true. Monsieur Langlade did not know but that Mr. Henry had 
left his house. The savages then came to the garret door. Sometime was lost 
in getting the key. Mr. Henry improved the fortunate moments in hiding in
the midst of a heap of litter which chanced to be in one corner of the gar-
ret. He had but just completed his concealment, when four savages came clam-
bering up the rickety stairs, their tomahawks literally dripping with blood.
   Mr. Henry felt that his last hour had certainly come. He was stifled for
want of breath. It seemed to him that his heart beat loud to betray him. The
Indians searched the dark garret in all directions. One of them came so near 
that Mr. Henry could have touched him with his hand. The Indians were all 
time entertaining Mr. Langlade with a glowing and hilarious account of their
great achievement. At last the savages returned down the stairs. Soon after
this Madame Langlade, who did not know of his concealment, went into the 
garret for some purpose, and was surprised in finding him there. Her womanly
nature was touched. She told him that all the English who could be found 
were killed, but that she hoped that he might escape. He was left in his 
concealment for the night.
   Upon descending the stairs she reflected that there was no possibility of
the escape of Mr. Henry from Michilimackinac unseen by the numerous bands of
savages who now held the post; and that if he should be found secreted in 
her house, she, her husband and her children would certainly fall victims to 
their vengence.
   In the morning she informed Wenniway, a ferocious savage chief, that an 
Englishman was concealed in her garret. He was a man of gigantic stature and
of brutal instincts. Immediately he came to the house, followed by a half
dozen savages, all naked to the waist and intoxicated. With compressed lips
the chief entered the garret, seized Mr. Henry by the wrist, and brandishing
a large knife, was just upon the point of plunging it into his heart, when a 
new impulse came over him.
   He had lost a brother in the war with the English. The idea struck him 
that, in accordance with the Indian custom, he would adopt Mr. Henry in his 
stead. After a moment's pause, the knife gleaming in the air, he sheathed it, 
saying: "I will not kill you. I will adopt you." Thus Mr. Henry's life was 
saved, and he was subsequently ransomed.
   Severity of the English, at the station, were slain, this included nearly
all of English birth who were to be found at that remote post. Of these it 
said that several were cooked and eaten in triumph. A very few, under varied
circumstances, were saved as captives. These were eventually redeemed. Thus
fell Michilimackinac, through Indian treachery and prowess.
   At Detroit there were some suspicions that Pontiac was endeavoring to 
from a combination of the Indian tribes against the English at these posts.
It was also intimated that the French were encouraging him in this enter-
prise, hoping thus to regain their lost power. This is by no means impro-
bable. Both parties did what they could to enlist the Indians under their
banners. The following passage is found in a letter written from Detroit on
the 19th of May, 1765:
   "Pontiac is now raising the St. Joseph Indians, the Miamis, the Mascentins,
the Ouittenons, the Pians and the Illinois, to come to this place the begin-
ning of next month to make what effort they can against us. They are to be
joined by some of the Northern Indians, as is reported. This, they say, is 
to be an undertaking of the Indians alone, as they are to have no assistance
from the French. I make no doubt of their intention to perform what we have 
heard of. But I do not think that it will come to any head.
   "I am well convinced that if Pontiac could be made to believe that he 
would be kindly received at this place, he would desist from any hostile 
measures against us. But it will be impossible to convince him of that while
there are such a number of traitorous villans around him. You cannot imagine
what most infamous lies they tell."
   In this last statement there is doubtless reference to the efforts which
the French were supposed to be making to exasperate the Indians against the
English. In Thatcher's Indian Biography we find the following account of the
condition of Detroit at that time:
   "The town is supposed to have been enclosed by a single row of pickets, 
forming nearly four sides of a square. There were block-houses at the cor-
ners and over the gates. An open space intervened between the houses and
the pickets. This formed a place of arms and encircled the village. The
fortifications did not extend to the river; but a gate opened in the direc-
tion of the stream, and not far from it, where, at the date in question, two
armed vessels, fortunately for the inhabitants, happened to lie at anchor.
   "The ordinance of the fort consisted of two six pounders, one three 
pounder, and three mortars. All of these were of an indifferent quality. 
There were also, in the village, something like forty individuals who were
habitually engaged in the fur trade. The inadequate proportion of the force
even to the size of place may be inferred from the fact that the stockade, 
which formed its periphery, was more than one thousand feet long."
   Detroit, next to Quebec and Montreal, was at the time the most important
of all the stations which the British had captured from the French along the
line of the great lakes. Not only an immense amount of goods were stored 
there for the widely extended fur trade, but it is said that, at times, 
there were more than two millions of dollars in coin at the station. 
   Pontiac himself undertook to preside over the operations here. The 8th of
May was the day appointed for the attack. In the meantime the most friendly 
intercourse was to be cultivated, and every effort was to be made to disarm
suspicion. Pontiac, the imperial chief, was to present himself at the gate,
with a retinue, suitable to his rank, of three hundred warriors, and was to 
request a council with the commandant, Major Gladwin, in which they were to 
smoke the calumet of peace and treat of friendly matters. The commandant
would, of course, attend in state, with all his prominent officers. The In-
dian warriors had sawed off their rifles, making them short, so that they 
could conceal them under their blankets.
   At a given signal, which was to be the presentation to the commandant of
a wampum belt, in a peculiar way, the warriors were instantly to draw out
their rifles, every one having his marked man, and shoot down the commandant
and all his officers. Then, grasping their tomahawks, they were to fall upon
the gates, throw them open, and admit a large number of the Indians waiting
on the outside to take part in the slaughter.
   The plan was sagaciously formed. There can be no doubt but that it would 
have been successfully carried out but for a betrayal of the plot. Mr. That-
cher writes:
   "Carver states, and by his account is substantially confirmed by tradi-
tion, as well as by other authorities, that an Indian woman betrayed the 
secret." She had been employed by the commandant to make him a pair of
moccasins out of elk skin. She brought them to the fort on evening of the 
7th of May. Pontiac had but a few hours before appeared at the fort, with
his escort, and had solicited a council, to be held in the fort the next
morning, the 8th. This request had been promptly granted.
   The Indian woman had been kindly treated by the commandant, and was very
friendly in her feelings. Major Gladwin paid her generously for her work. He
requested her to make him another pair, and furninshed her with skins. The
woman took them, but seemed strangely embarrassed. She went to the door, 
hesitated, turned around to go back, as if her errand was not completed, 
then hesitated again, and at length slowly and thoughtfully went out. Still
she loitered around the door, and appeared so strangely that a servant asked
her what the trouble was, and what she wanted. To these inquiries she made
no reply whatever.
   The Major was informed of her conduct, and ordered her to be called in. 
Kindly he questioned her. After much hesitation she said that she did not
like to take away the elk skin because she could never bring it back. This
led to more serious and earnest inquiries, and gradually the woman divulged
the whole plot.
   Pontiac had so deceived the community that the commandant was not at all
disposed to credit the revelation. Still he deemed it prudant to be prepared
for the defense. He called his officers before him, informed them of the 
alleged conspiracy, and requested that the garrison should be secretly 
placed in perfect order to repel the attack should one be made. All the tra-
ders and their dependents, within the fort, were to be put upon their guard, 
with strict injunctions that nothing should be done to intimate to the In-
dians that treachery on their part was suspected. Through the night the
ramparts were very carefully watched.
   A strong body guard was ordered to be present at the council, with their
muskets loaded and primed ready for instant action. They were placed in a 
position where, the signal being given, they could cut down the Indian war-
riors with a storm of deadly bullets. In the fort the night passed away 
tranquilly. But in the Indian camp, on the outside, there was great revelry, 
with the dancing and shouting.
   In the morning the Indian warriors had a great carouse. They sang their 
war songs and danced their war dance with much enthusiasm. They then repair-
ed to the fort, and were admitted without any hesitation. But the quick eye
of Pontiac discerned that the garrison was under arms, that the guards were
doubled, and that all officers were armed with swords and pistols. As they
passed along the little village, to the appointed place of council, he
perceived unusual activity on the streets, and indications of a special 
movement among the troops.
   He inquired of the British commander what was the cause of this unusual
movement. He was answered that it was necessary to keep the young men busy, 
in the performance of duty, lest they should lose their discipline, and 
become idle and ignorant.
   The council was soon convened. But Pontiac was evidently very uneasy. He 
had not at all expected to meet such preparations for defense; and undoubt-
edly feared that the plot had been either fully or partiall divulged. Still
he assumed a bold imperial air. He made a genuine Indian speech, with im-
passioned words, and ever increasing vehemence of gesticulation.
   Just as he was on the point of presenting the belt to Major Gladwin, at
a signal from the commandant, the drums at the door suddenly beat the 
charge. Instantly the soldiers leveled their muskets at the very breasts of 
the Indians, while all the officers drew their swords from their scabbords,
presenting a very formidable array of glittering stee.
   The bravery of Pontiac no one has never doubted. But this decisive proof
that his treachery was discovered, and that his own life, and that of so 
many subordinate chiefs might, in an instant, be sacrificed, entirely dis-
concerted him. He trembled, and hesitated in delivering the belt. Major 
Gladwin, sword in hand, approached the chief, and drawing aside his blanket
pointed to the shortened rifle, and reproaching him for his treachery, in-
stead of instantly ordering all to be shot, with perhaps misjudged humanity, 
simply ordered commended them to leave the fort. Major Gladwin was honorable
in the highest degree. He had promised the savages safety in coming and 
going. He was true to his pledge. Many would have thought that the clearly
developed treachery of the savages deprived them of all right to this pro-
tection.
   Humiliated and sullen they retired. But the moment they were outside of 
the gates they gave a yell of rage and defiance, and impotently discharged
a volley of bullets against the garrison. The Indians probably outnumbered
the garrison ten to one, and were almost equally well armed. They could 
also speedily summon a very large addition to their force. The situation of
the little garrison was consequently still very precarious. Just outside of
the fort there was an aged English woman, Mrs. Turnbell, residing with her
two sons. The Indians murdered and scalped them all. At a little greater 
distance there was an English family, that of James Fisher, tilling a few
acres around their lonely cabin. The savages murdered him, his wife, and 
four soldiers who, perhaps, had been stationed there for their protection. 
The children and servant maid were carried off into captivity.