VAN WERT COUNTY OHIO - HISTORY: County history, Chapter 1 - Indian Wars 
in  Northwestern Ohio (part 1)  
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from History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens
Edited and compiled by   Thaddeus S. Gilliland Van Wert, Ohio


Chapter 1 - Indian Wars in  Northwestern Ohio

    During 1762 a treaty of peace between France and England was signed by
which France recognized England's right to what is now included in
Northwestern Ohio.  As early as 1763 England saw the importance of keeping
control of the Maumee and its tributaries, the Auglaize, the St. Mary's and
the St. Joseph: and forts were erected at the mouth of the Maumee and also
at the head waters at the junction of the St. Mary's and the St. Joseph.
The latter was known as Fort Miami and was destined to be the scene of
sanguinary strife and bloodshed.  These and other forts along the shore of
Lake Erie were expected to keep the Indians in check as well as to
administer the internal affairs of the country, which were largely placed in
the hands of army officers.
PONTIAC'S CONSPIRACY
        But about this time a great chief by the name of Pontiac appeared,
claiming that he was commissioned by the Great Spirit to gather together all
the Indians and drive the British from the country.  The French had used all
their influence to instill into the minds of the Indians their hatred of the
British and told them that, now that the French were compelled to withdraw,
the British would oppress them still more.   When Pontiac with his great
eloquence called upon them to rise in their might and drive the invaders
from the land, he told them the Great Spirit said: " Why do you suffer these
dogs in red clothing to enter your country and take the lands I have given
you?   Drive them from it.  Drive them.  And when you are in distress I will
help you."
     The Mingoes, Shawnees, Delawares,  Miamis, Chippewas, Wyandots and
Ottawas were carried away by his eloquence and believed that it was a
message direct from the Great Spirit with both a command and a promise that
was all powerful .  And for a time the tribes laid aside their past
differences and raised a large army ready for was and anxious to avenge
their wrongs, real or fancied, and urged on by the promise of scalps and of
plunder.  Some Frenchman had sent them a letter, purporting to be from the
King of France, promising that if they would drive out the British he would
not allow anyone else to come in and molest them.
        With their enthusiasm aroused, a large army was raised that was
irresistible.  The Indians gathered in the vicinity of the different posts,
Detroit, Maumee, Presque Isle, Niagara, Pittsburg and Ligonier were
surrounded by Indians apparently friendly, who were waiting for the signal
from their leader to attack.  The Indians thus appeared at Fort Miami which
they took by strategy.   They first lured the commander out of the post and
killed him.  Then they called upon the post to surrender on their promise
that the prisoners would be protected.  Following the fall of Fort Miami,
nine English posts surrendered only to be massacred.  Then followed in rapid
succession one of the bloodiest scenes in the annals of the Indian warfare.
Age or sex was no protection from the desire for bloodshed and slaughter,
which was only stayed when there was none to kill.   Detroit was only saved
by the timely information given by an Indian woman who was friendly to the
commandant of the post.  She gave the plans of the Indians, the manner of
the signal for the slaughter to commence, so that it was easy to counteract
their treacherous plans at the critical moment.  The commandant called a
council of the head officers, laid the information before them and was
advised to pay no attentions to it as it was only the imaginings of an old
woman,  but he took counsel of caution and laid his plans accordingly..  He
had the guards strengthened and the troops called out for drill in front of
his quarters when the chiefs called to show their respects to the
commandant.  He also notified the traders to have arms ready to repel any
attempt at plundering.  The chiefs came to the conference , and found the
whole garrison was under arms.  Pontiac asked how it came that the men were
armed, and was told that it was their regular drill.  The chiefs with
Pontiac at their head were conducted to headquarters and proceeded to
declare their great friendship for the whites and the commandant in
particular, and their desire to live in peace and to trade with his people.
But when he came to deliver the belt of wampum, that was to be the signal of
slaughter, had noticed that the English officers grasped the hilts of their
swords and drew them half from the scabbards, and a company of soldiers
halted in front of the door which was left open.  Pontiac hesitated , turned
pale and finally delivered the belt in the usual manner: his chiefs looked
at him in surprise but Pontiac knew that his plot had been discovered.  The
commandant in his speech charged Pontiac with being a traitor and as proof
that he knew their treachery he drew back the blanket of one of the chiefs
and disclosed his shortened gun hidden beneath.  This convinced the Indians
that their plans had failed.  The commandant then told Pontiac that as he
had given his word that they would not be harmed he would still adhere to
his promise and they would be allowed to leave the fort unharmed, but it
would be well for them to leave hastily lest some of his men might hear of
their treachery and kill them  It seems that the proof of their treachery
should have been sufficient to absolve the commandant from his promise.
        Pontiac and his warriors the next day lay siege to the fort and it
was kept up from May,1763 until March,1764.  During the siege a sailing
vessel with provisions and ammunition for the fort was becalmed in the
Detroit River along the flats between Detroit and Wyandotte.  It was
surrounded by a large number of canoes and the Indians clambered up the side
of the vessel but the captain was prepared for them.  He had had several
kegs of powder opened and stood with a lighted torch and told them that the
first thing they touched he would blow every one of them to the happy
hunting grounds.   They scrambled down the side of the vessel as fast as
they had come up.  Shortly afterward a breeze sprang up and the vessel
reached the fort with the much- needed provisions and powder.  I am indebted
to Col. T. S. Sprague, of Detroit, for much of this information.  This ended
a time the bloodshed in Northwestern Ohio.



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