Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-10-29
the crafty savage was doomed to

The detachment started again on the 18th Of
November, and in few days reached the west |
ern end of Lake Erie. On arriving at this
point, they found that the Detroit Indians were
in arms against them, and that four hundred of
their warriors were in ambush at the entrance
Of the river. But Pontiac exerted his influence
in behalf of his new friends, and induced the
warriors to abandon their design. Meantime
the French commandment at Detroit was inform
ed of the approach of the English, and sum-
moned to surrender the post. After some hest
tation, he complied with the mandate. The
garrison defled upon the plan, and laid down
their arms; the lily was lowered from the flag
staff and the red cross Of st. George rose in its
place, while seven hundred Indian warriors
greeted the sight with yells of triumph, They
formed the loftiest ideas of the English powers,
and could not conceal their establishment at the
forbearance Of the conquerers in not killing the
vanquishcd on the spot. The other posts in
included in the capitulation were soon after
taken poss ,ssion of and the work of conquest
completed. ....
The country was hardly transferred to the
English. when the Indians began to express
their discomfort. From the head of the Poto-
mac to Lake Superior. and from the Alleghan-
les to the Mississippi. deep rooted hatred Of
the English increased W it'll rapid growth in
every wigwam and hamlet of the forest Tie,
ancient enmity, which had Cen i6mented in
many battles, could not be forgotten. Nor was
it likely to be appeased by the conduct of the
English, iu their new relations with the tribes
This state of things gave great satisfaction to
the French. They regarded it as an assurance
of vengeance on their conquerors. Every me,
tive prompted them to infiamc the resentmeRs
of the Indians. With SO many ca, ses to excite
their wariike spirit, it could not be expected
that the savage tribes would long be at rest
After several abortive projects, a conspiracy was
planned of greater extent and more conprehen-
sive design, than was ever before or since con-
ceived or executed in the warfare of the Indians,
1t was decided to attack all the English forts on
the same day; to lay waste the frontier and de-
stroy the settlements; driving the English back
into the sea; and restoring the country to its
primative owners.
At the head of this conspiracy was Pontiac,
the Principle chief of the Ottawas, man of
strong and capacous intellect, possessing COM
handing energy Of character, and in subtilty
and savage wiles not surpassed by the best of
Indian blood.
1t was momentous and gloomy crisis for
the Indian race, for never before had they been
so exposed to such pressing and iminent dan
ger. With the downfall of Canada, the Indian
tribes had sunk at once from their position of
power ana Importance. Hitherto the two rival
European nations had kept each other in check
upon the American Continent, and the Indian
tribes in some measure, held the balance of
power between them. To concliate their good
will and gain their allience, to avoid offending
them by injustice and encroachment, was the
policy both of the French and English. But
now the face of affairs was changed. The En-.
glish had gained an undsputed ascendency
and the Indians, no longerimportant as allies,
We're treated as mere barbarians. who might be
trampled on with impunity. Abandoned to
their own feeble resources and divided strength,
the tribes must fast recede and dwiudle away
oS'OAS 'iAS @tStiuy I'ioS'SS> Va tic Noloh' -
nrvantd, and from the eastern ri, rs Of the AL
ieghanies, they might see, from far and ne,r
the smoke Of the settlers clearings, rising in
tall columns from the dark green bosom Of the
forest The doom of the race was sealed and
no human power could avert it: but thew i,
ther ignorance, believed otherwise, and vainlv
thought that, by a desperate effort, they might
ROO o It and overthrow the growing STRENGTH -
their destroyers
1t would be idle to suppose that the great
mass of the Indians understood, in its full ex-
tent, The danger which threatened their race
WIN them the war was mere outbreak offury
and they turned against their enemies with as
ilttie reason or forecast as a panther when he
leaps at the throat of the hunter Goaded bv
wrongs andindignities, they struck for revenge.
aud relief, from the evil of the moment Ru,
the mind OF Pontiac could embrace a wilder and
deep view. The peril of the times was unfol
ded III its full extent before him and he rcsolv-
ed to unite the tribes in one grand effort 70
avert it. He did not, like MANY of his peonIo
entertain the idea that the Indians. NV
their unalded strength, could drive the En-
ilsh into the sea. lie adopted the only
plan that was consistent with reason. that of
restoring the French ascendency in the West.
ana once more opposing check to British en-
croaehment. With views like these, he lent
greedy ear, to the plausible fasehoods of the
Canadians, who assured him that the armies of
h'ns Louis were already advancing to recover
Canada and that the French and their brethren,
lighting side by side, would drive the English
iogs back to their own narrow limits,