Library of Congress The French regime in Wisconsin. 1 The French Regime in Wisconsin — III 1743: SIOUX INSTIGATE REBELLION; NEWS FROM ILLINOIS [Letter from the French minister1 to Beauharnois, dated May 31, 1743. MS. in Archives Coloniales, Paris; pressmark, “Amérique, serie B, Canada, vol. 76, fol. 100.”] 1 From 1723–49, the minister of the marine (which included the bureau of the colonies), was Jean Freédeéric Phelypeaux, Comte de Maurepas.— Ed. Versailles , May 31, 1743. Monsieur —The report you made me in 1741 respecting what had passed between the Scioux and Renard Savages2 having led me to suspect that both would seek to join together, I wrote you in my despatch of April 20th of last year to neglect nothing to prevent so dangerous a union. Such suspicions are only too fully justified. In fact I see by a letter from Monsieur de Bienville,3 dated February 4th last, that the Sieur de Bertet, major commanding at Illinois4 has informed him that the voyageurs who had arrived from Canada the previous autumn had reported to him that the Scioux, not content with having broken the peace they themselves had gone to ask of you, had also induced the Renards to join them in a fresh attempt against the French, and that the Sakis not wishing to take part in this league had wholly separated themselves from the other tribes. 1 2 See Wis. Hist. Colls., xvii, pp. 360–363.— Ed. 3 For a brief sketch of Bienville, see Ibid., p. 150, note 1.— Ed. 4 For this officer see Ibid., p. 479. He was living in France as late as 1783.— Ed. The French regime in Wisconsin. http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbum.7689g_0029_0262 Library of Congress 2 Although this news may not be entirely well-founded, nevertheless the conduct of the Scioux, their turbulent character, and the spirit of revenge which there is reason to believe still animates the Renards against the French, require that you take the best measures to procure accurate information as to what is happening in connection with them, and to prevent the evil consequences of such a league, should one be formed. His Majesty can but rely on your zeal and prudence with regard to the precautions you may deem it advisable to take to attain that end. You have been informed of the rumors of an understanding between the Illinois and the Chicachas, and of the movements it was alleged the former had made on that occasion at the post. From the report made by the Sieur de Bertet on the matter to Monsieur de Bienville, it appears that those rumors had no other foundation than some speeches made by a savage chief, to which the conduct of the Illinois had not given rise, and that nation, in order to remove the bad opinion that might be conceived of its fidelity, had made as a last resort an expedition against the Chicachas, which, in truth, was not very successful, because the enemy fled at the sight of the band that had been raised; so that they lost nothing but their horses and baggage on that occasion. From the report sent me at the same time by Monsieur de Bienville with regard to the Chicashas, there is reason to believe that, exhausted by their continual losses,5 they will at last decide to leave their lands and withdraw in the direction of Carolina. He even informed me that a portion of the nation 5 The colony of Louisiana had been carrying on war against the Chickssaw tribe for several years, induced by the difficulties with the Natchez who had retreated among them. Sieur de Bienville had conducted two unsuccessful expeditions against the Chickasaw— that of 1736, in which a considerable contingent from the Illinois was captured; and that of 1739–40, which effected little. Meanwhile the rebellious tribe was being harassed by The French regime in Wisconsin. http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbum.7689g_0029_0262 Library of Congress bands of other Indians from both Canada and Louisiana, who were urged on by French officers.— Ed. 3 had taken that route, and the remainder were kept back only by the chief of the nation6 who had most contributed to engage them in the war they are obliged to sustain. In any ease, it is expedient, as I have already told you in another despatch, that you should continue to induce the nations of Canada to undertake fresh expeditions against them, unless, on receipt of news from Monsieur de Vaudreuil,7 it should be necessary to suspend these. 6 This chief was either the Red King or Pimataha, both of whom died in 1784. The latter's boyhood name was Nouholubbe (White Man Killer). He was noted as an especial enemy of the French, and caused the defeat of the Illinois expedition of 1736. The site of this disaster was in Pontotoc County, Miss. See Draper MSS., owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, 10U109–118.— Ed. 7 Sieur de Bienville, governor of Louisiana, had in 1742 asked to be relieved from his office. His successor, Pierre François Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil, arrived in New Orleans May 10, 1743. For a brief sketch see Wist. Hist. Colls., xvii, p. 31.— Ed. 1744: NEGOTIATIONS WITH WESTERN TRIBES [Letter from the French minister to Beauharnois, dated March 24, 1744. Source, same as preceding document, but vol. 78, folio 20.] Versailles , March 24, 1744. Monsieur —I have received your letters of the 18th of September and 13th of October last with the annexed documents. When, in my despatch of May 31 of last year, I wrote you—in connection with the report made to me from Louisiana regarding the Scioux and Renard Savages—that it was The French regime in Wisconsin. http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbum.7689g_0029_0262 Library of Congress necessary to take measures to prevent the evil consequences that might result from the league they were alleged to have formed, I did not mean to disapprove of what you had done with reference to those savages during their negotiations with you 4 for the purpose of obtaining peace. In fact, there was nothing else to be done than to feign a belief in their assurances to you that they had changed. But, although, from the manner in which you write me that they have since behaved, one might deem their dispositions sincere, nevertheless it is advisable to continue to have them carefully watched, so that, by being informed of their movements, you may always be in a position to provide for whatever may be necessary. As the Renards and Sakis are partly reassembled at the place indicated to them by the Sieur Marin,8 it will not be difficult to watch their conduct; and His Majesty relies on your having taken all possible precautions for this. 8 For a sketch of this officer see Ibid., p. 315. Some additional data is to be found in Canada Roy. Soc. Proc., 2nd series, x, pp. 25–30.— Ed. * * * * * * * * With regard to the Chaoüanons, it is necessary to wait and see the results of the promises they made you respecting their migration to the Prairie of the Mascoutins;9 and, if they carry out such migration, the only thing will be to take measures to induce them to establish themselves there in such a permanent manner that there will no longer be any fear of a new move on their part. It will be no less necessary to fore. stall the effects of the solicitations which the English will not fail to make use of with that view.; and this calls for special attention on your part. 9 The Prairie of the Mascoutin was near the Ouiatanon fort. See Mich. Pion. and Hist. Colls., xxxiv p. 208.— Ed. In the last letters I have received from Monsieur de Vaudreuil, he informs me that the Chikachas had sent some of their chiefs to him to sue for peace; and as, in order to make such peace a lasting one, it was proposed to include in it the Cherakis, who for The French regime in Wisconsin. http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbum.7689g_0029_0262 Library of Congress some years have been making incursions against the colony of Louisiana, Monsieur de Vaudreuil had communicated to you the dispositions it would be necessary to make for that purpose on the part of Canada; and you will no doubt have governed yourself by what he wrote you on the 5 subject, as I instructed you last year, either to have the Chicachas, Cherokis, and Teste Plates harassed, or to put a stop to the expeditions the Canadian nations seem disposed to renew against them. * * * * * * * * Monsieur Hocquart10 has sent me the statement of the distribution of presents to the savages last year; and I notice with pleasure that it was much smaller than in previous years. I trust you will continue to devote your attention to reducing expenses of this kind as much as the welfare of the service will permit. 10 Hocquart was the Canadian intendant; see Wist. Hist. Colls., xvii, pp. 76, 498.— Ed. I will remember the Sieurs Marin with pleasure according to the testimony you may give me regarding them. 1745: CANADA AND LOUISIANA; COUREURS DES BOIS; POST OF LA BAYE [Letter from the French minister to Beauharnois, dated April 28, 1745. Source, same as preceding document, but vol. 81, folio 39.] Versailles , April 28, 1745. Monsieur —i have received your letters of the 21st and 25th of October of last year. As early as 1743, Monsieur de Vaudreuil, governor of Louisiana, wrote me that, in order to put a stop to the continual disorderly conduct of the Coureurs de bois in the Illinois country, and to the frequent desertions of soldiers from that post, it would be necessary to take special steps to make sure of those who go there to trade.