Chapter III — The Battle of Pontchartrain.
This chapter of Father Paul Ponziglione's memoir describes events that occurred about 100 years before his birth. Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, established in 1701 by Antoine Laumet de Lamothe Cadillac, was a French fortification located on the north side of the Detroit River. It served as a key center for the fur trade and was named after Jérôme Phélypeaux de Pontchartrain, a French minister. The fort was attacked during the Fox Wars and later surrendered to the British in 1760 after the capture of Montreal. It played a significant role in the French and Indian War and was later replaced by Fort Lernoult in 1778. The fort's location in what is now downtown Detroit has been a site of historical significance throughout its history.
This chapter of Father Paul Ponziglione's memoir describes events that occurred about 100 years before his birth. Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, established in 1701 by Antoine Laumet de Lamothe Cadillac, was a French fortification located on the north side of the Detroit River. It served as a key center for the fur trade and was named after Jérôme Phélypeaux de Pontchartrain, a French minister. The fort was attacked during the Fox Wars and later surrendered to the British in 1760 after the capture of Montreal. It played a significant role in the French and Indian War and was later replaced by Fort Lernoult in 1778. The fort's location in what is now downtown Detroit has been a site of historical significance throughout its history.
Chapter III
Battle of Pontchartrain
1712
Spite of all the treaties made between European powers to determine the boundaries of the possessions held by their colonies in North America, these far from being satisfied, were always trying to extend their lines. The English colonies were no exception, and they coveted to control the immense trade arising from the different Indian nations dwelling along the northern lakes. For this reason they anxiously looked for an opportunity to expel the French garrison from Fort Pontchartrain (now the city of Detroit), becoming masters of that point, which on account of its strategic location was considered the key to the Great Lakes. At last, in the spring of 1712 the circumstances of the time seemed to be favorable for making such an acquisition.
In fact, apparently, there was no need of a very large force to make a successful attack on the fort because General Dubuisson [1] who was in command of it, was then left with no more than 20 men to defend it, and though he had quite a number of allies among the neighboring Indian Nations, he at that time could not expect any help from them, for they had all gone on their spring hunt to get a fresh supply of buffalo meat, and would be absent on the western plains for about two months.
In a matter of such delicate nature, appearances were to be saved as far as possible, and as the English had not a least pretext to justify them for going to war with the French garrison, so it was thought advisable to set up the Indians to take the initiative. To this effect the Fox Indians, who’s inveterate hatred against the French was well known to all, were induced to engage in war against them.
Of the great battle that did follow in consequence of these intrigues, and did, as Bancroft notices, result in the nearly total destruction of the power of the Fox Nation. Different accounts are given by each of the Nations that did participate in it. [2], [3]
For myself, having for so many years been dealing with the Osages, Sacs, and Foxes, and having heard them tell so much about their military exploits, I hope no one will blame me if I shall lean to the account favored by the Osages. To what regards the authenticity of the great victory, the allies of the French on this occasion did carry over the Foxes, no doubt can be raised, being an historical fact. To what concerns the particulars, of no printed record can be found, [4] I must depend on oral tradition.
There being no time to lose, some interested parties called on Keebis ”The Sun”, perhaps the bravest chief the Fox Nation ever had, and represented to him how easily he might succeed in getting rid of the French garrison if he would but attack the fort with his braves, of whom he had a large number, for though the French were certainly good soldiers, there number now in garrison was so insignificant, that they could easily be overpowered. Keebis felt proud of the suggestion offered to him, and thought that he really had the best imaginable chance for destroying his powerful enemy, and concluded to engage without any delay in this expedition, fully confident of success. Hence, on the spot he dispatched his braves all around to stir up his people, telling them to make ready, and start at once on the warpath.
No secret being made about it, the news of an imminent attack on the fort being prepared soon came to the ears of General Dubuisson. But he, as well as his men, did belong to that clan of French soldiers in whose dictionary the word “surrender” cannot be found. Without seaming to be the least alarmed, he took at once the defensive, and, having before all, removed to the fort all the goods and provisions that were stored in the French town which stood by, he set the buildings on fire to prevent the Indians from doing it themselves, at a great risk of the fort, which might have been enveloped in the conflagration.
It was now about the end of April, and the general considered that his allied Indians, namely the Ottawas, the Huron, the Potawatomi, Sac, Illinois and Menominee could not as yet have gone very far on their way west, he dispatched in a great hurry a messenger to inform them of the situation he was in, requesting them to spare him without any delay, as many of their warriors as they could, and he instructed the messenger most particularly not to forget to call on the Osages and Missouris, for he knew that both these nations, being most bitter enemies of the Foxes, would willingly come to fight them.
On the first of May the messenger was reaching the camps of the allies. He was received most kindly, and listened to attentively. The allies considered the invitation sent to them by the French General as a sign of great confidence and esteem he was giving them. The Osages and Missouris above all felt exultant seeing that they would have a good chance of punishing the Fox. The allies treated the messenger with much honor. They straight off held a council to decide what they should do; and with unanimous consent declared that it was their duty to assist the French, and requested the messenger to report to General Dubuisson that by the end of twelve nights they would come to smoke the Calumet (peace pipe) with him.
Here the messenger left, and the allies meeting in a council of war, elected a leader for the campaign. The Osages being looked upon as the most daring of all western nations, were called to preside to the meeting. Pawhuska (White Hair) their famous chief, was given the charge of organizing the whole expedition, and Chetopa (Four Lodges) the second great chief of the Osages, was appointed his adjutant.
According to Pawhuska’s advice, the allies formed themselves in a strong battalion of eight companies, each nation offering a contingent of as many warriors as they could spare, with a chief of their own to act as captain, under the orders of Pawhuska. Following the direction of this great chief, the whole force of nearly 1500 men was to advance on a long line facing northeast. They were to travel only by night to avoid their movements being noticed, until they would fall on their enemy by surprise.
Meanwhile Pawhuka’s orders were being put into execution by the allies, the great chief of the Foxes, Keebis, was not idle. His summons were immediately obeyed. The Foxes and their confederate, the Kickapoo and the Mascoutin, soon gathered together forming a small army of over 2000 warriors. And meeting with no resistance forward they came with great boldness pitching their teepees in about a mile of Fort Pontchartrain. No opposition being offered them, they fortified their camp by throwing up breastworks, opening trenches and surrounding it with strong palisade. The attitude of the French soldiers, who in expectation of their allies would not begin hostilities, made Keebis suppose that they were intimidated. And full of confidence in the large number of his warriors he felt sure he would have no trouble in reducing the fort. Fearing no attack from either the north or the west, for he knew that all the nations from which any resistance might be raised against him, were at that time far off in the plains after buffalo, he did not take much care in fortifying his camp from that direction, but turned all his attention in guarding the different avenues from which the French might make a sally on him.
And now following Pawhuska’s plan, the allies advanced. They traveled only by night hiding their camp fires in deep ravines and carefully extinguishing them at daylight, that no smoke might betray their approaching. The cautiousness with which they marched was such that without being noticed by anyone that on the 13th of May, a little before the rising of the day-star, the whole force stood in the shape of a very extensive half moon, frowning the Fox encampment.
Here Pawhuska giving at once a most ferocious war-whoop attacked the palisade of Keebis’ fort with his company of chosen Osages, and opened an uninterrupted fire on the teepees of the Foxes. The unexpected report of so many muskets aroused everyone. The rabid howling of the Indian dogs, the neighing and tramping of their stampeded horses, joined to the wailings of women and children who do not know what such a sudden outburst might be raises a confusion that defies description.
Keebis however understood well what was the matter, and alas too late found out how imprudently he acted in not sufficiently protecting his camp, and at once saw how his condition had now changed, for he was really besieged in his encampment. Spite of it, with a great presence of mind, he rallied up his men, and ordered them to return fire on their assailants. A brisk skirmishing now begins and is kept up until daylight by both parties, but with very few casualties, the prevailing darkness, not allowing them to distinguish anyone. By this sudden attack, however, Pawhuska does not intend to do much harm to his enemies, in reality, this was only a sham maneuver, calculated to cover a party of Potawatomi and Hurons, who, without losing a moment of time were constantly working to construct in proximity of Keebis’ palisade, a high stand from which they might more successfully fire upon the Foxes. The charge of putting up this high platform is left to “Mawa” (Black Wolf) a famous Potawatomi chief, who, with a company made up of men from his nation and of Hurons, was at work to raise a high scaffolding, on the hope of those which the northern Indians are used to bury their dead. The squaws, who had already procured the needed poles, and a large supply of bark to tie them together, were helping the men, and by sunrise their structure was standing up without anyone having interfered with its building, the enemies attention having been completely taken by the incessant firing of the Osages. And indeed the Foxes were very much astonished, when at sunrise, they saw Mawa with his braves climbing the scaffolding and opening fire on them.
Mawa’s stratagem excited the fury of Olopeeaou (The Bear. This man second only to Keebis in bravery, was the son of a chief of the Foxes and a Kickapoo squaw. He had sucked from his mother’s breast a mortal hatred for the Patowatami, and now well seeing the advantage that Mawa and his warriors were bound to have in this attack became almost frantic and picked up a company of Kickapoo, declaring that he would give a nice horse and two red blankets to the one who will shoot down Mawa. These words produced a great excitement among the Kickapoo who, on the spot, gathered around their chief, and return a sharp fire upon their enemies.
However, the advantage the high position gave to Mawa’s men, makes them far superior to the others, and for each Potawatomi who does fall, three of the Kickapoos are killed. Consequently the result of this attack proves most ruinous to them, and the number of their dead might have been large had not a bullet from Olopeeaou’s struck Mawa in one of his legs with such a power as to make him drop to the ground. In falling, his gun slipped from his hands, and as he was trying to pick it up Olopeeaou came over to him with the fury of a tiger, striking him over the head with the butt of his musket, killing him at once, then raising his bleeding scalp, exhibited it to his braves, inciting them with his words to kill the balance of the Potawatomi.
Fortunately, at that very moment Chetopa was advancing at the head of a company of Sac and Menominee. Having witnessed the fall of Mawa, he hurries to avenge his friend. Chetopa’s war-cry, like the shrill of a powerful bugle, electrifies his braves, who with the speed of a river flowing down from a mountain, come to charge on the Kickapoo. These being emboldened by a strong party of Mascoutin just arrived to their assistance, gather in a solid body around the scaffolding determined to shoot down every one of those who were on it. And indeed they were going to succeed, had not the unexpected pressure brought on them by Chetopa’s warriors, compelled them to change their mind and take the defensive. Now both parties were contending for supremacy. Volley after volley are fired, and the din of war is raising higher and higher. When lo! Through the clouds of smoke and dust arising over the combatants Olopeeaou sees at a distance a squad of Osages and Ottawas rapidly advancing. In less time than one can tell it the savages met together in a most horrible crash. The foxes opened fire on the attacking party, but we’re unable to reload their muskets, from the long spears of the Osages were piercing them, meanwhile, that the battle axes of the Ottawa disabled, all those they were striking. The engagement was turning into a most ferocious hand to hand battle. Olopeeaou seeing the impossibility of making a stand with his warriors rallies them up and tries to bring them under the cover of a breastwork nearby. But it is too late! The men show despondency! Chetopa has noticed his movements, and throws at him an arrow, so adroitly that it pierces his neck through. Mawa is now avenged! Olopeeaou falls, and his scalp becomes Chetopa’s trophy.
If the Potowatomis had reason to lament the fate of Mawa, the Fox had no less to deplore the fate of their chief Olopeeoua who was one of the bravest. A temporary truce then followed, which lasted a few days during which both parties were mourning after their dead. But the allies soon returned to their charge. The fortunes of war seemed to be hanging between the two belligerent, sometimes favoring one, and at other times the other party. in the excitement of the action, the Osage and the Ottawa forming in a compact squadron rushed against the Fox entrenchment, trying to break through the high palisade, but in the attempt they fell into a snare, and found themselves and tangled in the midst of their enemy. The two parties became so mixed up that for a while, they struck one at the other, without knowing whether he be a friend or a foe. The Fox seeing that their position had become more and more critical tried to open themselves a way through the allies with their war clubs which, in their hands always proved to be deadly weapons. Pawhuska knew this well, and, fearing that his warriors might be overpowered in the combat sent word to the Illinois and the Missouri to hurry to his aid. Meanwhile he himself with a few of his braves attacked a band of most savage looking Mascoutin who were trying to intercept the auxiliaries he had sent for.
In the interim chance seemed to favor Weskesa, The Bear’s family, chief of the Fox. Thus finding himself at not much distance from Pawhuska by a sudden turn of his horse, rushed against him, and aiming at his heart, tried to pierce him with his javelin, but missing his aim, lodged it into his left arm. Pawhuska hardly seemed to mind the wound he had received, but extracting the javelin from his flesh, showed it to the Illinois and the missionaries who were fast advancing. The site of it stirred them up. They united in a close phalanx and broke through the lines of their enemy charging them with bayonets, which General Dubuisson had sent them the preceding night. Neither the Fox nor their confederates could withstand this attack. The slaughter which followed was horrible. Weskesa himself fell on the battlefield.
The death of their chief caused great discouragement in the ranks of the Fox, for he was most popular among them all. The men began to show signs of weariness, and sue for peace. Pahuska soon rallied a flag of truce, and proclaimed an armistice. On the next day, the principal Chiefs of both sides met together, but as the allies would not agree to any other terms, but on the unconditional surrender of Keebis’ army, the Fox returned to their camp, and the fighting resumed with even more ferocity than before.
So far most of the engagement had taken place at some distance from Fort Pontchartrain and the French garrison had only been a mere witness of the struggle. But now Keebis that several of his warriors had been slaying on account of the superior weapons of war supplied to the allies by General Dubuisson, was determined to retaliate on him by setting fire on the fort. To this affect he ordered a company of his best archers to throw burning arrows over the buildings who is roofs, could easily be seen out of the stockade. And most certainly. Keebis would have succeeded in burning the French barracks had not the general’s sagacity foreseen the probability of such an attempt being made.
Used to Indian warfare General Dubuisson watched all their maneuvers and was ready for all eventualities. Noticing that a party of Fox were making near approaches and preparing for an attack, he ordered his men to cover the most prominent roofs with hides and blankets which some days since have been kept well saturated with water. The result was most successful, although the ignited arrows thrown by the Indians did set fire at different points of the higher roofs the blaze was not allowed to spread and the damage was insignificant.
Keebis felt very much disappointed at seeing his plan thwarted. He would continue his attack but the small French garrison, covered by the stockade of the fort kept pouring on his men such quick musket fire that he concluded the wisest move, he could make was to retreat. As night was coming, he summoned his Chiefs and Braves to see what might be most expedient for them to do under the circumstances. There was but one opinion, and on this all did agree, that, namely an effort should be made at once to storm the fort, this being the only means to put an end to this war.”To succeed in this,” Keebis said, “we must form ourselves in three companies. Meanwhile, the main body of our warriors will be fighting with the allies, I myself with 50 Braves will attack the fort from the west, and when the whole French garrison will be engaged in resisting my advance let a band of 25 Kickapoo attack the fort from the north, and another band of Mascoutin attack from the south. This simultaneous action will compel the 20 French soldiers, who composed the whole garrison, to divide their force in three different squads to prevent us from breaking in, and in so doing they will offer us a good opportunity of overpowering them with our larger numbers.”
But Keebis the tolerably skillful in military matters, was mistaken in his calculations, he did not consider that the result of a battle does not so much depend on the numbers of the combatants than on the weapons they have and the strategy with which these are used. In this instance, there was no doubt that Keebis was by far superior to the French garrison in the number of men at his command, but the general had some mighty cannons at his disposal, and knew how to handle them!
In fact, General Dubuisson expected that the Fox would try to storm the fort, placed two cannons at commanding points, covering them with light earthworks, and appointed men to watch any approach of the enemy. He allowed them to advance until they came under the range of his cannons, and at a given sign his soldiers opened up a brisk fire on them from their hiding batteries. The result was that there was no need of wasting much powder, for this unexpected discharge so terrified and demoralized the assailants, that they turned their backs, and retired in great confusion leaving several dead in the field.
This was another heavy defeat for Keebis, far, however, from being disheartened on account of it he, with great presence of mind, rallied up his warriors, encouraged them to be brave, to not fear, but keep on fighting the allies. Showing in his doing such a tenacity of will that Pawhuska was almost on the point of offering a compromise to avoid more bloodshed. But General Dubuisson disapproving of such a plan advised him to keep on the contest until the Fox be all exterminated, and sent him at the same time an abundant supply of ammunitions and provisions.
Light skirmishes with hardly any casualties were continued by both parties during the balance of the day. Meanwhile, these were going on two of Weskesa’s braves most anxious to avenge the death of their leader, made a rush on Chetopa, who happened to be at some distance from his company examining small earthworks abandoned. Riding at all speed against him, they attacked him on both sides, and aiming at his breast, they threw their large butcher knives, but did not succeeded in their intent, for the knife of one missing Chetopa wounds his horse, the others sliding as it were on the breast of the chief, inflicted on him a slight wound.
Indignant of their boldness, Chetopa put up his mind to chastise them both. His horse being swifter than theirs, he pursues them very close, throwing at them his arrows as he goes. of these he soon covers the two braves. They bleed profusely, and after a while both dropped from their horses exhausted for the loss of blood, and receive from Chetopa’s tomahawk the coup-de-grace; their scalps are added to the many the chief had already gained.
There was no telling what might have been the end of that sanguinary day had not a heavy rainstorm burst over the country about two hours before sunset. The very great quantity of water which at once filled every ditch and ravine, and the darkness of night, which anticipates it’s coming over the Earth, compels both parties to suspend hostilities and withdraw to their camps. In the stillness that followed the tempest, Keebis once more held a counsel with his Braves, and seeing the impossibility of holding any longer their position, they decide to get the advantage the storm is offering them for vacating the place, and move to some better point where they might save the balance of their warriors. All being of one mind, they start on a northern course, and having come to a beautiful ground half day distance from Fort Pontchartrain, there, they halt, and entrance themselves to be ready If needed, to stand an attack from the allies if they would pursue them.
And lo! At daybreak Pawhuska‘s scouts report that the Fox had all left their camp. At hearing this Pawhuska quickly summoned his Chiefs to deliberate what they should do. He exposes to them how they had accomplished the work for which they had come. Their friends the French, and their fort were saved and the enemies were dispersed, but, says he, “Our honor, is calling for a full victory! It is not enough for us to have defeated them, we must exterminate them forever!” to these words there was one answer, that, namely, the time had come in which the Fox nation was to be annihilated!
General Dubuisson, hearing of the determination the allies had taken, felt proud of their bravery, and accompanied by his staff came to congratulate them on their glorious deeds they had achieved on the battlefield. He approved of their plan of pursuing their enemy until they would be entirely routed and with great liberality supplied them with more munitions.
Pilots (trackers) were not needed by Pawhuska to find out the whereabouts of Keebis’ force. The wet trail they had retreated on showing plainly their footprints. As the men needed rest Pawhuska ordered that everything should he made ready for the next morning, when they would pursue their enemy.
Keebis was on the lookout and being informed that the allies would soon be advancing against him, he quickly dispatched a band of his best sharpshooters to go lay in ambush all along the road they were bound to march on, that they might harass them with a continuous fire. But Pawhuska, being well acquainted with this kind of warfare, foresaw their stratagem and sent scouts at the head of his column to burn the high grass, of which there were great volumes in that country. According to his order, they set fire on both sides of the road and clouds of dense smoke soon arising, the advance was covered. This counter stratagem was a great success, and by noon, the Warriors, headed by Pawhuska stood not far from the trench Keebis had dug in front of his encampment.
Now the Osage hero rode forward to the edge of the trench and called on Keebis to surrender. But the stubborn Fox would not even give an answer. He looked at Pawhuska with contempt, and leveling his gun fired at him. Was it the nervous excitement under which he must have been laboring, or was it the restlessness of his horse that made him quiver, the fact is that he missed his aim. Pawhuska was bound to avenge himself of such an insult, and making his charger jump the trench, rushed on Keebis, who having no time to reload his gun, throws it and brandishing his tomahawk attacks his antagonist. They met with a terrible crash. Keebis being a corpulent man was bound to unhorse Pawhuska who was rather of slender proportion. But the Osage chief being quicker in his motions, and possessing a strong muscular power, held fast to his saddle, and just at the moment when Keebis’ tomahawk was coming to fall and cleave his head, in trying to parry the blow with his own, he dealt such a violent stroke at Keebis wrist, that he severed it entirely from his arm. The blood that now issued in great profusion from his wound brings giddiness on the proud warrior, he staggered and dropped from his horse. In the twinkle of an eye Pawhuska alights, he is over him and with his tomahawk put an end to his life. The bleeding scalp of his conquered foe ornaments his belt.
Meanwhile this duel was going on, the allies marching in a solid column, attacked the Fox with an uninterrupted fire. The Fox resisted bravely, returning a shower of arrows, but as soon as the news of Keebis’ death spread through their ranks, they all at once fled in every direction. Pursued by the allies they at last are all captured. The next morning Pawhuska returned to fort Pontchartrain preceded by his conquered enemies.
General Dubuisson was very much astonished at the quickness and bravery with which that expedition had been conducted, and after having congratulated the allies on their success, ordered all his soldiers to parade and present arms to the victors, meanwhile that a triumphant salvo was being fired from the cannons of the fort in their honor. Pawhuska and Chetopa who acted as leaders, and had been the two who had distinguished themselves more than any other on the battlefield, were now decorated by the General with a large silver medal of the King of France, and both received the title and pay of colonels of the French army for life. To the subordinate chiefs who acted as leaders of their respective bands, the General allowed for their lifetime, the title and pay of regular captains.
1712
Spite of all the treaties made between European powers to determine the boundaries of the possessions held by their colonies in North America, these far from being satisfied, were always trying to extend their lines. The English colonies were no exception, and they coveted to control the immense trade arising from the different Indian nations dwelling along the northern lakes. For this reason they anxiously looked for an opportunity to expel the French garrison from Fort Pontchartrain (now the city of Detroit), becoming masters of that point, which on account of its strategic location was considered the key to the Great Lakes. At last, in the spring of 1712 the circumstances of the time seemed to be favorable for making such an acquisition.
In fact, apparently, there was no need of a very large force to make a successful attack on the fort because General Dubuisson [1] who was in command of it, was then left with no more than 20 men to defend it, and though he had quite a number of allies among the neighboring Indian Nations, he at that time could not expect any help from them, for they had all gone on their spring hunt to get a fresh supply of buffalo meat, and would be absent on the western plains for about two months.
In a matter of such delicate nature, appearances were to be saved as far as possible, and as the English had not a least pretext to justify them for going to war with the French garrison, so it was thought advisable to set up the Indians to take the initiative. To this effect the Fox Indians, who’s inveterate hatred against the French was well known to all, were induced to engage in war against them.
Of the great battle that did follow in consequence of these intrigues, and did, as Bancroft notices, result in the nearly total destruction of the power of the Fox Nation. Different accounts are given by each of the Nations that did participate in it. [2], [3]
For myself, having for so many years been dealing with the Osages, Sacs, and Foxes, and having heard them tell so much about their military exploits, I hope no one will blame me if I shall lean to the account favored by the Osages. To what regards the authenticity of the great victory, the allies of the French on this occasion did carry over the Foxes, no doubt can be raised, being an historical fact. To what concerns the particulars, of no printed record can be found, [4] I must depend on oral tradition.
There being no time to lose, some interested parties called on Keebis ”The Sun”, perhaps the bravest chief the Fox Nation ever had, and represented to him how easily he might succeed in getting rid of the French garrison if he would but attack the fort with his braves, of whom he had a large number, for though the French were certainly good soldiers, there number now in garrison was so insignificant, that they could easily be overpowered. Keebis felt proud of the suggestion offered to him, and thought that he really had the best imaginable chance for destroying his powerful enemy, and concluded to engage without any delay in this expedition, fully confident of success. Hence, on the spot he dispatched his braves all around to stir up his people, telling them to make ready, and start at once on the warpath.
No secret being made about it, the news of an imminent attack on the fort being prepared soon came to the ears of General Dubuisson. But he, as well as his men, did belong to that clan of French soldiers in whose dictionary the word “surrender” cannot be found. Without seaming to be the least alarmed, he took at once the defensive, and, having before all, removed to the fort all the goods and provisions that were stored in the French town which stood by, he set the buildings on fire to prevent the Indians from doing it themselves, at a great risk of the fort, which might have been enveloped in the conflagration.
It was now about the end of April, and the general considered that his allied Indians, namely the Ottawas, the Huron, the Potawatomi, Sac, Illinois and Menominee could not as yet have gone very far on their way west, he dispatched in a great hurry a messenger to inform them of the situation he was in, requesting them to spare him without any delay, as many of their warriors as they could, and he instructed the messenger most particularly not to forget to call on the Osages and Missouris, for he knew that both these nations, being most bitter enemies of the Foxes, would willingly come to fight them.
On the first of May the messenger was reaching the camps of the allies. He was received most kindly, and listened to attentively. The allies considered the invitation sent to them by the French General as a sign of great confidence and esteem he was giving them. The Osages and Missouris above all felt exultant seeing that they would have a good chance of punishing the Fox. The allies treated the messenger with much honor. They straight off held a council to decide what they should do; and with unanimous consent declared that it was their duty to assist the French, and requested the messenger to report to General Dubuisson that by the end of twelve nights they would come to smoke the Calumet (peace pipe) with him.
Here the messenger left, and the allies meeting in a council of war, elected a leader for the campaign. The Osages being looked upon as the most daring of all western nations, were called to preside to the meeting. Pawhuska (White Hair) their famous chief, was given the charge of organizing the whole expedition, and Chetopa (Four Lodges) the second great chief of the Osages, was appointed his adjutant.
According to Pawhuska’s advice, the allies formed themselves in a strong battalion of eight companies, each nation offering a contingent of as many warriors as they could spare, with a chief of their own to act as captain, under the orders of Pawhuska. Following the direction of this great chief, the whole force of nearly 1500 men was to advance on a long line facing northeast. They were to travel only by night to avoid their movements being noticed, until they would fall on their enemy by surprise.
Meanwhile Pawhuka’s orders were being put into execution by the allies, the great chief of the Foxes, Keebis, was not idle. His summons were immediately obeyed. The Foxes and their confederate, the Kickapoo and the Mascoutin, soon gathered together forming a small army of over 2000 warriors. And meeting with no resistance forward they came with great boldness pitching their teepees in about a mile of Fort Pontchartrain. No opposition being offered them, they fortified their camp by throwing up breastworks, opening trenches and surrounding it with strong palisade. The attitude of the French soldiers, who in expectation of their allies would not begin hostilities, made Keebis suppose that they were intimidated. And full of confidence in the large number of his warriors he felt sure he would have no trouble in reducing the fort. Fearing no attack from either the north or the west, for he knew that all the nations from which any resistance might be raised against him, were at that time far off in the plains after buffalo, he did not take much care in fortifying his camp from that direction, but turned all his attention in guarding the different avenues from which the French might make a sally on him.
And now following Pawhuska’s plan, the allies advanced. They traveled only by night hiding their camp fires in deep ravines and carefully extinguishing them at daylight, that no smoke might betray their approaching. The cautiousness with which they marched was such that without being noticed by anyone that on the 13th of May, a little before the rising of the day-star, the whole force stood in the shape of a very extensive half moon, frowning the Fox encampment.
Here Pawhuska giving at once a most ferocious war-whoop attacked the palisade of Keebis’ fort with his company of chosen Osages, and opened an uninterrupted fire on the teepees of the Foxes. The unexpected report of so many muskets aroused everyone. The rabid howling of the Indian dogs, the neighing and tramping of their stampeded horses, joined to the wailings of women and children who do not know what such a sudden outburst might be raises a confusion that defies description.
Keebis however understood well what was the matter, and alas too late found out how imprudently he acted in not sufficiently protecting his camp, and at once saw how his condition had now changed, for he was really besieged in his encampment. Spite of it, with a great presence of mind, he rallied up his men, and ordered them to return fire on their assailants. A brisk skirmishing now begins and is kept up until daylight by both parties, but with very few casualties, the prevailing darkness, not allowing them to distinguish anyone. By this sudden attack, however, Pawhuska does not intend to do much harm to his enemies, in reality, this was only a sham maneuver, calculated to cover a party of Potawatomi and Hurons, who, without losing a moment of time were constantly working to construct in proximity of Keebis’ palisade, a high stand from which they might more successfully fire upon the Foxes. The charge of putting up this high platform is left to “Mawa” (Black Wolf) a famous Potawatomi chief, who, with a company made up of men from his nation and of Hurons, was at work to raise a high scaffolding, on the hope of those which the northern Indians are used to bury their dead. The squaws, who had already procured the needed poles, and a large supply of bark to tie them together, were helping the men, and by sunrise their structure was standing up without anyone having interfered with its building, the enemies attention having been completely taken by the incessant firing of the Osages. And indeed the Foxes were very much astonished, when at sunrise, they saw Mawa with his braves climbing the scaffolding and opening fire on them.
Mawa’s stratagem excited the fury of Olopeeaou (The Bear. This man second only to Keebis in bravery, was the son of a chief of the Foxes and a Kickapoo squaw. He had sucked from his mother’s breast a mortal hatred for the Patowatami, and now well seeing the advantage that Mawa and his warriors were bound to have in this attack became almost frantic and picked up a company of Kickapoo, declaring that he would give a nice horse and two red blankets to the one who will shoot down Mawa. These words produced a great excitement among the Kickapoo who, on the spot, gathered around their chief, and return a sharp fire upon their enemies.
However, the advantage the high position gave to Mawa’s men, makes them far superior to the others, and for each Potawatomi who does fall, three of the Kickapoos are killed. Consequently the result of this attack proves most ruinous to them, and the number of their dead might have been large had not a bullet from Olopeeaou’s struck Mawa in one of his legs with such a power as to make him drop to the ground. In falling, his gun slipped from his hands, and as he was trying to pick it up Olopeeaou came over to him with the fury of a tiger, striking him over the head with the butt of his musket, killing him at once, then raising his bleeding scalp, exhibited it to his braves, inciting them with his words to kill the balance of the Potawatomi.
Fortunately, at that very moment Chetopa was advancing at the head of a company of Sac and Menominee. Having witnessed the fall of Mawa, he hurries to avenge his friend. Chetopa’s war-cry, like the shrill of a powerful bugle, electrifies his braves, who with the speed of a river flowing down from a mountain, come to charge on the Kickapoo. These being emboldened by a strong party of Mascoutin just arrived to their assistance, gather in a solid body around the scaffolding determined to shoot down every one of those who were on it. And indeed they were going to succeed, had not the unexpected pressure brought on them by Chetopa’s warriors, compelled them to change their mind and take the defensive. Now both parties were contending for supremacy. Volley after volley are fired, and the din of war is raising higher and higher. When lo! Through the clouds of smoke and dust arising over the combatants Olopeeaou sees at a distance a squad of Osages and Ottawas rapidly advancing. In less time than one can tell it the savages met together in a most horrible crash. The foxes opened fire on the attacking party, but we’re unable to reload their muskets, from the long spears of the Osages were piercing them, meanwhile, that the battle axes of the Ottawa disabled, all those they were striking. The engagement was turning into a most ferocious hand to hand battle. Olopeeaou seeing the impossibility of making a stand with his warriors rallies them up and tries to bring them under the cover of a breastwork nearby. But it is too late! The men show despondency! Chetopa has noticed his movements, and throws at him an arrow, so adroitly that it pierces his neck through. Mawa is now avenged! Olopeeaou falls, and his scalp becomes Chetopa’s trophy.
If the Potowatomis had reason to lament the fate of Mawa, the Fox had no less to deplore the fate of their chief Olopeeoua who was one of the bravest. A temporary truce then followed, which lasted a few days during which both parties were mourning after their dead. But the allies soon returned to their charge. The fortunes of war seemed to be hanging between the two belligerent, sometimes favoring one, and at other times the other party. in the excitement of the action, the Osage and the Ottawa forming in a compact squadron rushed against the Fox entrenchment, trying to break through the high palisade, but in the attempt they fell into a snare, and found themselves and tangled in the midst of their enemy. The two parties became so mixed up that for a while, they struck one at the other, without knowing whether he be a friend or a foe. The Fox seeing that their position had become more and more critical tried to open themselves a way through the allies with their war clubs which, in their hands always proved to be deadly weapons. Pawhuska knew this well, and, fearing that his warriors might be overpowered in the combat sent word to the Illinois and the Missouri to hurry to his aid. Meanwhile he himself with a few of his braves attacked a band of most savage looking Mascoutin who were trying to intercept the auxiliaries he had sent for.
In the interim chance seemed to favor Weskesa, The Bear’s family, chief of the Fox. Thus finding himself at not much distance from Pawhuska by a sudden turn of his horse, rushed against him, and aiming at his heart, tried to pierce him with his javelin, but missing his aim, lodged it into his left arm. Pawhuska hardly seemed to mind the wound he had received, but extracting the javelin from his flesh, showed it to the Illinois and the missionaries who were fast advancing. The site of it stirred them up. They united in a close phalanx and broke through the lines of their enemy charging them with bayonets, which General Dubuisson had sent them the preceding night. Neither the Fox nor their confederates could withstand this attack. The slaughter which followed was horrible. Weskesa himself fell on the battlefield.
The death of their chief caused great discouragement in the ranks of the Fox, for he was most popular among them all. The men began to show signs of weariness, and sue for peace. Pahuska soon rallied a flag of truce, and proclaimed an armistice. On the next day, the principal Chiefs of both sides met together, but as the allies would not agree to any other terms, but on the unconditional surrender of Keebis’ army, the Fox returned to their camp, and the fighting resumed with even more ferocity than before.
So far most of the engagement had taken place at some distance from Fort Pontchartrain and the French garrison had only been a mere witness of the struggle. But now Keebis that several of his warriors had been slaying on account of the superior weapons of war supplied to the allies by General Dubuisson, was determined to retaliate on him by setting fire on the fort. To this affect he ordered a company of his best archers to throw burning arrows over the buildings who is roofs, could easily be seen out of the stockade. And most certainly. Keebis would have succeeded in burning the French barracks had not the general’s sagacity foreseen the probability of such an attempt being made.
Used to Indian warfare General Dubuisson watched all their maneuvers and was ready for all eventualities. Noticing that a party of Fox were making near approaches and preparing for an attack, he ordered his men to cover the most prominent roofs with hides and blankets which some days since have been kept well saturated with water. The result was most successful, although the ignited arrows thrown by the Indians did set fire at different points of the higher roofs the blaze was not allowed to spread and the damage was insignificant.
Keebis felt very much disappointed at seeing his plan thwarted. He would continue his attack but the small French garrison, covered by the stockade of the fort kept pouring on his men such quick musket fire that he concluded the wisest move, he could make was to retreat. As night was coming, he summoned his Chiefs and Braves to see what might be most expedient for them to do under the circumstances. There was but one opinion, and on this all did agree, that, namely an effort should be made at once to storm the fort, this being the only means to put an end to this war.”To succeed in this,” Keebis said, “we must form ourselves in three companies. Meanwhile, the main body of our warriors will be fighting with the allies, I myself with 50 Braves will attack the fort from the west, and when the whole French garrison will be engaged in resisting my advance let a band of 25 Kickapoo attack the fort from the north, and another band of Mascoutin attack from the south. This simultaneous action will compel the 20 French soldiers, who composed the whole garrison, to divide their force in three different squads to prevent us from breaking in, and in so doing they will offer us a good opportunity of overpowering them with our larger numbers.”
But Keebis the tolerably skillful in military matters, was mistaken in his calculations, he did not consider that the result of a battle does not so much depend on the numbers of the combatants than on the weapons they have and the strategy with which these are used. In this instance, there was no doubt that Keebis was by far superior to the French garrison in the number of men at his command, but the general had some mighty cannons at his disposal, and knew how to handle them!
In fact, General Dubuisson expected that the Fox would try to storm the fort, placed two cannons at commanding points, covering them with light earthworks, and appointed men to watch any approach of the enemy. He allowed them to advance until they came under the range of his cannons, and at a given sign his soldiers opened up a brisk fire on them from their hiding batteries. The result was that there was no need of wasting much powder, for this unexpected discharge so terrified and demoralized the assailants, that they turned their backs, and retired in great confusion leaving several dead in the field.
This was another heavy defeat for Keebis, far, however, from being disheartened on account of it he, with great presence of mind, rallied up his warriors, encouraged them to be brave, to not fear, but keep on fighting the allies. Showing in his doing such a tenacity of will that Pawhuska was almost on the point of offering a compromise to avoid more bloodshed. But General Dubuisson disapproving of such a plan advised him to keep on the contest until the Fox be all exterminated, and sent him at the same time an abundant supply of ammunitions and provisions.
Light skirmishes with hardly any casualties were continued by both parties during the balance of the day. Meanwhile, these were going on two of Weskesa’s braves most anxious to avenge the death of their leader, made a rush on Chetopa, who happened to be at some distance from his company examining small earthworks abandoned. Riding at all speed against him, they attacked him on both sides, and aiming at his breast, they threw their large butcher knives, but did not succeeded in their intent, for the knife of one missing Chetopa wounds his horse, the others sliding as it were on the breast of the chief, inflicted on him a slight wound.
Indignant of their boldness, Chetopa put up his mind to chastise them both. His horse being swifter than theirs, he pursues them very close, throwing at them his arrows as he goes. of these he soon covers the two braves. They bleed profusely, and after a while both dropped from their horses exhausted for the loss of blood, and receive from Chetopa’s tomahawk the coup-de-grace; their scalps are added to the many the chief had already gained.
There was no telling what might have been the end of that sanguinary day had not a heavy rainstorm burst over the country about two hours before sunset. The very great quantity of water which at once filled every ditch and ravine, and the darkness of night, which anticipates it’s coming over the Earth, compels both parties to suspend hostilities and withdraw to their camps. In the stillness that followed the tempest, Keebis once more held a counsel with his Braves, and seeing the impossibility of holding any longer their position, they decide to get the advantage the storm is offering them for vacating the place, and move to some better point where they might save the balance of their warriors. All being of one mind, they start on a northern course, and having come to a beautiful ground half day distance from Fort Pontchartrain, there, they halt, and entrance themselves to be ready If needed, to stand an attack from the allies if they would pursue them.
And lo! At daybreak Pawhuska‘s scouts report that the Fox had all left their camp. At hearing this Pawhuska quickly summoned his Chiefs to deliberate what they should do. He exposes to them how they had accomplished the work for which they had come. Their friends the French, and their fort were saved and the enemies were dispersed, but, says he, “Our honor, is calling for a full victory! It is not enough for us to have defeated them, we must exterminate them forever!” to these words there was one answer, that, namely, the time had come in which the Fox nation was to be annihilated!
General Dubuisson, hearing of the determination the allies had taken, felt proud of their bravery, and accompanied by his staff came to congratulate them on their glorious deeds they had achieved on the battlefield. He approved of their plan of pursuing their enemy until they would be entirely routed and with great liberality supplied them with more munitions.
Pilots (trackers) were not needed by Pawhuska to find out the whereabouts of Keebis’ force. The wet trail they had retreated on showing plainly their footprints. As the men needed rest Pawhuska ordered that everything should he made ready for the next morning, when they would pursue their enemy.
Keebis was on the lookout and being informed that the allies would soon be advancing against him, he quickly dispatched a band of his best sharpshooters to go lay in ambush all along the road they were bound to march on, that they might harass them with a continuous fire. But Pawhuska, being well acquainted with this kind of warfare, foresaw their stratagem and sent scouts at the head of his column to burn the high grass, of which there were great volumes in that country. According to his order, they set fire on both sides of the road and clouds of dense smoke soon arising, the advance was covered. This counter stratagem was a great success, and by noon, the Warriors, headed by Pawhuska stood not far from the trench Keebis had dug in front of his encampment.
Now the Osage hero rode forward to the edge of the trench and called on Keebis to surrender. But the stubborn Fox would not even give an answer. He looked at Pawhuska with contempt, and leveling his gun fired at him. Was it the nervous excitement under which he must have been laboring, or was it the restlessness of his horse that made him quiver, the fact is that he missed his aim. Pawhuska was bound to avenge himself of such an insult, and making his charger jump the trench, rushed on Keebis, who having no time to reload his gun, throws it and brandishing his tomahawk attacks his antagonist. They met with a terrible crash. Keebis being a corpulent man was bound to unhorse Pawhuska who was rather of slender proportion. But the Osage chief being quicker in his motions, and possessing a strong muscular power, held fast to his saddle, and just at the moment when Keebis’ tomahawk was coming to fall and cleave his head, in trying to parry the blow with his own, he dealt such a violent stroke at Keebis wrist, that he severed it entirely from his arm. The blood that now issued in great profusion from his wound brings giddiness on the proud warrior, he staggered and dropped from his horse. In the twinkle of an eye Pawhuska alights, he is over him and with his tomahawk put an end to his life. The bleeding scalp of his conquered foe ornaments his belt.
Meanwhile this duel was going on, the allies marching in a solid column, attacked the Fox with an uninterrupted fire. The Fox resisted bravely, returning a shower of arrows, but as soon as the news of Keebis’ death spread through their ranks, they all at once fled in every direction. Pursued by the allies they at last are all captured. The next morning Pawhuska returned to fort Pontchartrain preceded by his conquered enemies.
General Dubuisson was very much astonished at the quickness and bravery with which that expedition had been conducted, and after having congratulated the allies on their success, ordered all his soldiers to parade and present arms to the victors, meanwhile that a triumphant salvo was being fired from the cannons of the fort in their honor. Pawhuska and Chetopa who acted as leaders, and had been the two who had distinguished themselves more than any other on the battlefield, were now decorated by the General with a large silver medal of the King of France, and both received the title and pay of colonels of the French army for life. To the subordinate chiefs who acted as leaders of their respective bands, the General allowed for their lifetime, the title and pay of regular captains.
Some Reference Information:
[1] Renaud Dubuisson, Jacques-Charles; French military officer and commander of Fort Ponchartrain during this conflict. (1666–1739)
[2] Bancroft, George; History of the United States from the discovery of the American Continent volume III (1856) p 224
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?sid=f4a084131b45cb9c164118768cbb9c80&c=moa&idno=ABZ2602.0003.001&view=toc
[3] Farmer, Silas; The History of Detroit and Michigan Past and Present (1884) Ch. xxxvii p. 231
https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.historyofdetroit01farm/?st=gallery
[4] Renaud Dubuisson, Jacques-Charles. "Official Report ... to the Governor General of Canada, of the war which took place at Detroit, in 1712, between the French and their allies, and the Ottagamie (*Fox) and Mascoutins Indians."
https://www.gphistorical.org/pdf-files/historicaldocs/windmillpoint01.pdf
Transcribed by: Christopher Hunt
[1] Renaud Dubuisson, Jacques-Charles; French military officer and commander of Fort Ponchartrain during this conflict. (1666–1739)
[2] Bancroft, George; History of the United States from the discovery of the American Continent volume III (1856) p 224
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?sid=f4a084131b45cb9c164118768cbb9c80&c=moa&idno=ABZ2602.0003.001&view=toc
[3] Farmer, Silas; The History of Detroit and Michigan Past and Present (1884) Ch. xxxvii p. 231
https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.historyofdetroit01farm/?st=gallery
[4] Renaud Dubuisson, Jacques-Charles. "Official Report ... to the Governor General of Canada, of the war which took place at Detroit, in 1712, between the French and their allies, and the Ottagamie (*Fox) and Mascoutins Indians."
https://www.gphistorical.org/pdf-files/historicaldocs/windmillpoint01.pdf
Transcribed by: Christopher Hunt
