The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922; / Clarence M. Burton, editor-in-chief, William Stocking, associate editor, Gordon K. Miller, associated editor. [Vol. 2]

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CITY OF DETROIT

Pesant, or execute him in his village and bring his head to Cadillac. After
some delay he was surrendered to Cadillac, who, on account of his age and as
a matter of policy, pardoned him.
MIAMI DISAFFECTION
The pardoning of Le Pesant was not approved by the Miami, who wanted
him put to death. They accused Cadillac of acting in bad faith and went on the
war-path. After killing three Frenchmen and destroying some property, they
persuaded the Huron to raise a war-party to attack the French. This influenced
the Iroquois to assemble a war-party for the same purpose.
Seeing himself menaced by a new danger, from an unexpected source, Cadillac wrote to the governor, asking for more troops and the means of strengthening the fort. He also succeeded in making a treaty of peace with the Miami.
In the negotiation of this treaty, Cadillac made concessions to the Indians
which they construed to mean that the commandant was afraid of them, and at
the first opportunity they violated the provisions of the treaty. They were
rudely awakened to the fact that it was not fear which caused Cadillac to make
the concessions, for he now raised a large force and marched against them,
compelling them to accept his. terms of submission. This restored order at
Detroit for a time.
FOX WAR OF 1712
Early in the year 1710, the British decided that the best way to end the war
in America was the complete subjugation of New France and expeditions against
the French strongholds were planned. That against Port Royal was successful,
but the others ended in failure. The Indian, in forming alliances, likes to be
on the winning side. After the French victories of 1710, a deputation of chiefs
of the Five Nations visited Quebec to offer their services to Governor Vaudreuil.
Their reception was so cool that it amounted almost to a rebuff, though they
were given a number of presents before their final dismissal. Nettled at the
treatment they had received, they went back to their people and advised them
to ally themselves with the English.
In the spring of 1711, representatives of the band of Fox Indians living on
the peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan visited the Five Nations,
with whom they formed an alliance. For several years these Indians had played
no important part in history, but they now promised the English that they
would surprise and capture the post at Detroit. They spent several months
in perfecting their plans, and in enlisting the assistance of part of the Kickapoo
and Mascouten tribes.
A large party of Fox and Kickapoo warriors, led by the chief Lamina, appeared
at Detroit early in May, 1712, and encamped within a short distance of the fort,
where they began to throw up earthworks. Bubuisson, the commandant, ordered them away, but Lamina informed him that they were the owners of the
country and would encamp where they pleased. At that time there were only
thirty soldiers in the garrison and the Huron and Ottawa men were still absent
upon their winter hunt, so that Dubuisson was unable to drive them from the
vicinity. The invaders killed animals and fowls without permission and even
tried to pursue some of the inhabitants into the fort. An Indian named Joseph,
who was acting as a spy for the French, informed Dubuisson that it was the intention of the red men to set fire to the fort. The garrison supply of wheat was