CHAPTER II. -- THE ENGLISH IN THE WEST- PONTIAC STANDING IN THEIR WAY-HE CONSENTS TO LET THEM OCCUPY HIS COUNTRY-THE ENGLISH TAKE POSSESSION OF DETROIT. In this narrative of the Border Wars of the Northwest, I will first direct the reader's attention to the events which occurred immediately after the English relieved the western outposts of Canada or New France. But this can be more acceptably done by first pointing out some of the incidents connected with the surrender of these forts by the French to their conquerors. Canada had fallen. The long cherished hopes of the French to establish a permanent branch of Empire in the New World were now blighted, and their country, so recently full of promise and prosperity, was now humbled at the foot of the English throne. The capitulation was completed, and it only remained for the English to take possession of their conquests. Well might the bravest soldier shrink from this hazardous task, for many of the strongholds to be occupied were not only still in the hands of the French, but surrounded by clouds of warlike savages, eager to visit death and destruction upon the enemies of the defeated colony. Indeed the Indians, who from the beginning of the Old French War, had been the faithful allies of the French, were already uniting against the "red coats." They beheld the approaching ruin of their race, and resolved on the foolish attempt of driving the English from the country. The forts yet to be occupied were Detroit, Michilimackinac and one or two others of less importance in the lake region. It was on the 12th of September, 1760, that Major Rogers received orders from Sir Jeffery Amherst to ascend the lakes with a detachment of rangers, and take possession of these posts in the name of his Britannic Majesty. Accordingly he set out with two hundred soldiers in fifteen whale-boats, on the day following, and, after a troublesome journey, beset by storms and harassed by the severity of the weather, he reached the eastern end of Lake Erie. Here he was met by the deputies of the great Pontiac, chief of the Ottawas, and "lord and ruler of all that country." The chiefs ordered Rogers to halt, and commanded him to proceed no further until they had received permission from their Ottawa leader. At this point we will turn for a moment to glance at this wonderful man. Pontiac was the son of an Ottawa chief, and by his valorous deeds, matchless eloquence and great force of character, had become exceedingly popular and influential among all the tribes in the vicinity of the great lakes. The Ottawas, Ojibwas and Pottawatomies were, at this time, united under a confederacy of which he was both civil and military leader; but his authority extended far beyond these tribes, and was almost unbounded wherever his voice could be heard. He did not owe his greatness to the fact that he was the son of a chief, for among the Indians many a chief's son sinks into insignificance among the common rabble of his tribe, while the offspring of a common warrior may succeed to his place. Personal merit alone can win the respect and obedience of the Indians. In the eyes of his numerous followers, no other person possessed more of this than Pontiac. Courage, resolution, wisdom and eloquence and good address had been the principal passports to his fame and distinction. His intellect was far-reaching, forcible and capacious. His energy and force of character, his great subtlety and craftiness, conspired to elicit the greatest admiration and respect from his wild and reckless followers. Although possessed of all these high qualities, Pontiac was a thorough savage, and, as we shall see, capable of deeds of the blackest treachery. He was now in his fiftieth year, and in the prime of life. His mental and physical powers were unimpaired, and he stood forth the giant of his tribe in both intellect and endurance. In short, he was in every respect qualified to lead his savage people into the bloody contest which followed. When deeds of lofty magnanimity best suited his purpose, Pontiac could respond from the generosity of his own aature, while, from the same source, he could supply the foulest stratagems. During the long wars that had passed, he had been the constant friend and ally of the French, and had led his warriors to battle on many a hard-fought field in the interests of this people against the English. He commanded the Ottawa braves at the memorable defeat of Braddock, and in this contest he fully set forth his rare military skill and great craftiness. He had served the French officers in various capacities, and especially did he render them valuable aid as a leader of Indian warriors in the hour of their greatest peril. For these deeds he had received many marks of esteem from Montcalm, the brave commander of the French forces, who fell while defending Quebec in 1759. Such was the man whose chiefs were now standing in the pathway of the English, at the eastern end of Lake Erie. When the deputies had been assured by Rogers that their command would be respected, they returned to Pontiac, who soon after accompanied them on their return to the English camp. He greeted Rogers with two haughty questions, which were put in about the following language: "What is your business in this country? How dare you come here without my permission?" These stern demands had considerable effect upon the Major, but he concealed his emotions as far as possible, and appeared to be undaunted. His reply to Pontiac was that the French had been defeated, and that Canada had fallen into the hands of the English, and that he was on his way to take possession of Detroit, and restore a general peace. The great chief listened with attention, but appeared to be dissatisfied. His only reply was that he would consider the matter until morning, and then give them an answer. He ordered the English to proceed no further without his consent, and then withdrew with his chiefs to his own encampment. A dark and gloomy night followed. The rangers had met their enemies face to face, and now as the shades of night gathered about them they began to suspect treachery. The night |