Pontiac vs. Bedford County

Prior to the French and Indian War in 1754, Pennsylvania and Georgia were the only two colonies which had escaped the bloody warfare of the Indian's tomahawk. This was begun over a dispute between the French and English for Possession of North America.

The French tried unsuccessfully to woo the Six Nations over to their side. It was through the efforts and strong influence of Sir William Johnson of New York that these Nations remained loyal to the English. When France was defeated and had to give up her forts at Detroit, Presque Isle, Venango, LeBoeuf and Pitt the Indian tribes of Canada and midwestern sections refused to give their allegiance to the English King. They still considered themselves children of the French King and looked forward to the day when the King would provide help to them in driving the English back to the great waters of the ocean.

There was one chief, Pontiac. He was of the Ottawa tribe who hated the English. He seemed to have the ability to stir up many tribes to join him in fighting the English. The main attack was on Detroit. Trading posts in the upper Great Lakes were captured with very few casualties to the Indians, however very few English escaped being killed and scalped. One by one the English Forts in Western Pennsylvania and along the New York border were captured. The prisoners were few. Fort Pitt was under numerous attacks. Two tribes were principally responsible for the raids in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.

A wagon train of thirty persons including eleven sick and wounded enroute to Fort Bedford was attacked and all members were killed and scalped. On one occasion when the Chiefs of nine tribes with five hundred warriors were in council with George Crogan, an Indian trader, marauding bands attacked settlers around Forts Ligonier and Bedford. Many were killed and scalped, their homes burned and livestock stolen. A large supply train enroute to Fort Ligonier from Fort Bedford was attacked, but they managed to reach their destination.

Captain Louis Ourray, who commanded Ft. Bedford in 1762-1763, had been expecting the Indians to make a major attack. However he felt that Ft. Bedford was just as strong as Ft. Ligonier. In fact, he considered it the strongest link in the chain of forts. Yet the major worry for the captain was the terror in the hearts of the surrounding settlers who flocked to safety in the fort. There had been several minor attacks made on the fort but the attackers were driven back into the mountains. The captain was kept fairly informed of what was taking place in the western part of the state as well as elsewhere by the messengers who stopped here briefly on their way to and from General Sir Jeffrey Amherst in New York.

Captain Ourray was soon to learn that the chain of forts north of Ft. Pitt had been captured by the Indians and heard tales of hundreds of settlers who had lost their lives. These reports became more and more consistent as the refugees flocked here for safety. Most of them refused to be sent to Forts in the east. They wanted to remain here until this danger was passed.

Tribes causing all these raids in this section of the state were the Delaware and Shawnee. Their home bases at this time were along the Muskingum River in Ohio.

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bouquet passed through the gates of Ft. Bedford many times on his way to and from Fort Pitt. In one of his trips, Captain Ourray complained to the Colonel there were no less than ninety-three families here and more were expected. Food and housing were becoming quite a problem.

There were a few families in the area who refused to come to the fort. There were instances where families only remained here for a short time and then returned to their homes to harvest their crops and care for their livestock. I believe local history tells the story of what happened to most of these families.

One of the main reasons for this general uprising among the tribes and causing them to join Pontiac was the ill treatment of the Indians by the English, especially through the obstinate reactions of Lieutenant General Amherst. He hated the redmen. His orders to all trading posts and traders located in the forts strictly forbid selling, trading in any manner gun powder and lead. This was in addition to restrictions on alcoholic liquids. All the tribes who lived in the midwestern areas and Canada were accustomed to going to the French posts to get whiskey, guns and ammunition in exchange for their furs. Now that the English had cut off these goods, they became very angry. They needed guns and ammunition to obtain the furs and to maintain the food supply for their families. Now they were no longer available

Pontiac was well aware of the English taking over all the lands of the Indians in the areas called the Colonies and he tried to impress upon them that unless they stopped the English now, the same would take place on their home lands that actually belonged to them. Lieutenant Colonel Amherst was just as determined that he would take this territory.

One of the most famous traders with the Indians was George Croghan. In his travels throughout the Pennsylvania-Ohio territories he knew better than anyone else the feelings of the tribes. He sent many messages to Amherst asking him to change his policy on guns and ammunition, but Amherst stood firm. In fact, he refused to believe that the tribes would even dare to attack the English. Many messages were sent by Col. Bouquet and Sir William Johnson, superintendent of Indian Affairs in New York. But Amherst stood firm in his opinion of the Indian.

When reports began to reach him of the capture of the various forts and the murders being committed everywhere he immediately ordered several armies out to crush the redman. One unit of four-hundred and sixty men which included one-hundred and thirty three of the Scottish 77th regiment named the Blackwatch and a few of the rangers of the 60th regiment also known as the Royal American under Col. Bouquet, marched out of Carlisle in July 1763. Just as he was leaving Carlisle he received a dispatch telling him the tragic news of the northwestern forts and the attacks being made at Ft. Pitt. He was now concerned about the forts at Ligonier, Bedford and Littleton. Bouquet also had worries. Volunteers were very few. Too many had memories of the French and Indian war in New York. Governor Hamilton of Pennsylvania met with the General Assembly asking for action for defense of the residents of the State. However the Assembly refused to support the Governor's request.

It was later that the Assembly voted a "defense" for inhabitants. However, this was to provide protection for farmers while working in their fields. This meant the forces were not interested in going west to fight the Indians.

Before Bouquet reached Ft. Bedford he received a letter by messenger from Captain Ourray in which he complained that his fort was entirely deserted by the country people because there had been no attacks or rumors of roving bands in the county. His military forces had been reduced to twelve Royal Americans to guard the fort and seven Indian prisoners. He requested additional forces as quickly as possible.

Peace and quiet were interrupted within hours after he wrote his message. He received a report that scalps had been taken on 'Dunnings Creek'. Families were murdered and houses burned. Several families were missing. The people at once began rushing back into Fort Bedford in terror. At one instant while the soldiers were drilling three Indians attempted to seize two small girls who were playing near the fort.

When Croghan learned that the people had made no effort to defend themselves he came to Fort Littleton and took command temporarily. With a small band of volunteers he escorted a supply train from Fort Loudon to Fort Bedford. His presence and his men had quite a comforting effect on the people within the fort. With his help and advice they now felt more secure.

Mr. Croghan also had raised a twenty-five man garrison to help strengthen the forces at Ft. Littleton. Bouquet's movements were closely watched by the Shawnee. When he left Carlisle, two warriors left their observation post in a tall tree and departed quickly to spread the news to their comrades who were lurking around Fort Pitt.

It may be surprising to know that the English used "germ warfare" to help decrease the Indian population. Several soldiers became ill and died from smallpox in Fort Pitt. When two Indians appeared at the gates of the fort under a flag of truce, pretending to be friends, they suggested that Captain Simeon Ecuyer evacuate the fort and by doing so they would guarantee his safety. As a token to their false friendship he gave each a blanket taken from a dead soldier who had just died from this germ. This little germ quickly spread among the many tribes and took its toll of hundreds of victims.

By 1764, Amherst had been replaced by Colonel Thomas Gage. He was determined to put an end to the Indian atrocities as quickly as possible. He dispatched a young Colonel John Bradstreet with a large army to proceed to Fort Detroit by way of Lake Erie. Col. Bouquet went by way of Fort Bedford to Fort Pitt and the Ohio territory. When the Delaware and Shawnee saw that they were in danger they held a council with Bouquet. He, in no certain terms, laid down the conditions of surrender and demanded the return of all prisoners, young and old as well as those who had either married within the tribe or were adopted. By the end of 1764 peace had come once again to the region of the Alleghenies as well as the midwest.

Chief Pontiac moved to the Mississippi valley area. He refused to accept the fact that France and England had signed a peace treaty. He still felt he was one of France's children and that he owed his allegiance to the King of France. He appealed for help from a number of former French officers to drive the English from their lands. He traveled from tribe to tribe throughout the river basin. All had been previously told they were no longer under the French Flag. They therefore refused to join him.

Early in 1769, Pontiac, wearing a full dress French officers uniform, appeared with a young Peoria warrior at an English trading post in Illinois. As they were leaving the post, the young warrior suddenly struck the Ottawa chief a terrific blow on the back of the head. As he fell to the ground the young Peorian sank his knife into the Chief's heart. Pontiac was dead.