The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-07-18
LETTER, COL. JED A. PREBLE TO GOV.
POWNALL.

LETTER, COL. JED A. PREBLE TO GOV.
POWNALL.
Fort Pownall, We 4th Mar, 1850
May it Please your EXceliency.
| arrived here with my Family we "a
of last month, found the Garrison in
good Health the Soldiers ware employed
in my Absence in Scouting but made no
discovery of the Enemy.
| Last Sunday ten o'clock / was inform
ed the Gentry had discovered A Flagg of
Truce on the other Side of the River,
/ Immediately sent Macfarling with a
/ Flagg, he found Five Indians there, two
of which he brought over, | ordered
them to his House, where | had Con-
ference with them, the particulars of
which have enclosed to your ExceIlency,
as also A number of French Papers
they said they had taken out of A House
in Quebeck all which wish safe to your
Excellency's Hand.
really believe they are now in Good
earnest and intend to bring in their Fam
ilys they have given me all the assurance
could be expected from Indians that they
will they ware ready and willing to Leave
one of their men with me as A proof of
their fidelity & have promised to return
in three weeks or sooner.
shall Want your Excellency's orders
by the return of my Sloop which | have
sent for the SAX of Greater dispatch that
| may know in what manner am to Con-
duct if they bring in their Familyes.
| am may it please your EXcellency
your EXcellencys most obedient Humble
| Serv't. JEDEDIAH PREBLE.
LETTER GOV. POWNALL TO COL. PREBLE.
Sir: l received your letter with pleas
ure. Your caution against any Lurking
designs which the Indians might be sup
posed to have in coming in, was extreme
of them also & your Refusing them any
means of Trade, & rejecting their offers
to it much to your Honor. If there were
any Error in your conduct twas on We
right side & that being Small may be
easily remedied. Be steady with We In
dams but not harsh. Treat them with
Truth & with plain Truth be they never
so disagreeable, but at We same time
with benevolence. For the Spirit of nv
Conduct towards them is to bring them
to Sense of their Duty & proper Con-
necrions with US but to do this in order
to use them we'll make this Observation
because l think You was rather too
harsh. However tho | would have YOU
abate little of y'r harshness yet would
not have you abate one Ace of Your
Steadiness in letting them know that We
now know how to Use our own Strength
& their weakness, And tho we wish to
do them Good if by Proper Conduct they
will putt it in our power we do it not
from any fear of them but from pure
motives of Pity & Benevolence.
AS imagine you have had no op2or-
tunity of writing since your last of We
9th so l did not expect to hear from
You, & as | cannot know how you cir
cumstanced so l cannot give you any inn
mediate directions as to particulars. By
the enclosed Copy of the Establishment
You'll see l have gott the Provision for
We Pay & Subsistence of We 400 men
lengthen'd out month longer You will
see also the Establishment for the Garri-
son as l shall at present dispose of We
Forces provided for.
Mr.. Burbank & direct him to show you
his letter in which You will see his Orders
to Obey & Execute all Your Commands.
AS to the Indians I do verify believe
they mean to come in, but what they
want to treat for & Obtain is-frst to
try to delay the time till the fall that
they may see how We Campaign between
We French; & English turns out.
Secondly to obtain something different
terms than those have offered of living
near We Fort. The First You must pre-
vent if possible, & as to We second there
can be no trust in any Treaty they make,
if the terms have proposed be not COM
piled with viz of their living with their