kept quiet; the Commandant ordered bread and beer for them and for her, and then they took her to their chief in their village."

In this incident, as it was carried from mouth to mouth, the story of the "beautiful" Indian maiden probably originated. Parkman also gives credence to the tradition founded upon this incident.

Another story states that Gladwin was warned by William Tucker, a soldier at the fort, who had been stolen by Indians when a small child, and upon arriving at manhood, was adopted into the tribe. On the same day that "Catherine” informed Gladwin of the conspiracy, Tucker learned from his Indian "sister" all the particulars of Pontiac's plan to surprise the garrison and immediately communicated his information to the commandant.

Silas Farmer's History of Detroit (p. 235) states:

"While visiting the Ottawa village, the wife of M. St. Aubin noticed several of the Indians filing off their guns. On her return to the fort she mentioned this fact to the blacksmith, who confirmed her fears by telling her that several Indians had recently been trying to borrow saws and files for purposes they did not seem willing to explain. The attention of Gladwin was at once called to these facts, but he did not seem to think them indications of evil. In the afternoon of the next day, however, an Ottawa Indian, named Mohigan, came to the fort, sought an interview with the commander and exposed the plot."

"The Journal of Pontiac's Conspiracy" gives in detail this story of Mohigan, or Mahiganne, and credits this alone as the source of Gladwin's information. The "Gladwin MSS." mentions the fact that M. Gouin told the English that his wife had seen the Indians sawing off their gun barrels.

There seems to be a grain of truth in the story that Angelique Cuillerier dit Beaubien, whose father and brother were friends of Pontiac, told the story of the plot to her lover, James Sterling, who in turn informed Gladwin. On August 29, 1773, Maj. Henry Bassett desired to employ James Sterling as interpreter and sent to Governor Haldimand a request for the appointment, in which he stated:

"Should your Excellency allow me an interpreter here, I beg to recommend Mr. James Sterling, who is the first merchant at this place and a gentleman of good character. During the war, through a Lady that he then courted, from whom he had the best information, he was in part a means to save the garrison. This gentleman is now married to that Lady and is connected with the best part of this settlement and has more to say with them than any one here." This refers to Angelique Cuillerier, who afterwards married James Sterling. Angelique was the belle of the post, a beautiful French girl sought by all the officers of the fort. Sir William Johnson, when he visited Detroit, was much impressed with her charms, despite the difference in their ages. In fact, from his own writings, after a delightful evening spent in her company at the dance given in his honor, one understands that the principal memory he carried away with him was of the clever Angelique. Antoine Cuillerier, her father, held the confidence of Pontiac, and was considered by the latter as the commandant of Detroit succeeding Belestre, so it is reasonable to suppose that she overheard many things concerning the conspiracy. She was a favorite with the English, in fact, the marriage ceremony which united her and James Sterling was performed by the commandant instead of the priest, which is significant. Maj. Robert Rogers refers to her in his diary and many other evidences exist which · prove it reasonable that she would have been quick to reveal any plot to the

British. This story is used as the basis of the historical novel "The Heroine of the Strait" by Mary Catherine Crowley (Little, Brown and Company, 1902). Rutherford, in his narrative, says that while at the house of Quilleim (Cuillerier), during his captivity, he had a conversation with Miss Quilleim (Angelique) in which she greatly lamented the state of the English and the dreadful acts of the Indians.

Still another version is given in a letter of Ensign J. Price to Col. Henry Boquet, Fort Pitt, June 26, 1763, in which it is stated:

"That on or before the 1st of May, 1,500 Indians arrived at Detroit and wanted to hold a Treaty in the Fort, but Major Gladwin, being told by Monsieur Bauby (Baby) that if they were admitted, they would fall upon and destroy every man in it, ordered the garrison under arms, which the chiefs of the Indians seeing, asked if he was afraid."

It is probable that of the many stories written as to the source of Gladwin's knowledge of the plot many of them are mere fiction. On the other hand, many of them may be true, as undoubtedly Gladwin learned of Pontiac's designs from different sources. The grand council at the Pottawatomi village was held on the 5th and the assault was planned for the 7th, so that in the course of the intervening two days it is highly probable that the news reached the commandant from different persons. However that may be, Gladwin was prepared when the fateful 7th of May arrived. His garrison was comprised of eight officers, 120 regular soldiers and twenty other men capable of bearing arms. The armament consisted of one two-pounder, two six-pounders and three mortars.

EVENTS OF MAY 7, 1763

Early on the eventful morning of May 7, 1763, the cannon were loaded and put in readiness for instant action. By 9 o'clock the entire force was under arms, the traders had closed their stores and a hush of expectancy prevailed throughout the fort. Near 10 o'clock Pontiac and sixty of his warriors, in full regalia, appeared before the main gate of the fort and asked for a council with the commandant. They were admitted to the house of Captain Campbell, second in command, where Major Gladwin and his officers received them. Others of the officers were busily engaged in assembling the soldiers of the garrison on the parade-ground, which was done in such a manner as not to arouse, at first, the suspicion of the chiefs. Pontiac, having seen his men arranged according to his plan and believing that sufficient time had been given for others of his tribe to filter through the gate, prepared for the signal, stepped outside with the intention of raising the war-cry as agreed upon. To his consternation he perceived the troopers lined up on the parade-ground, fully armed and prepared for an attack. He realized then that his plot was known and that to give the signal meant only that he and his warriors would be killed. He then re-entered the council chamber, his return signifying to his own men that the game was up. Shortly afterward he and his braves stalked out of the house, through the gate, and back to the village whence they came. Chagrin and disappointment aroused Pontiac to a rage and he vowed hideous punishment for the one who had betrayed him. However, history does not record that he ever learned the source of Gladwin's knowledge of his nefarious scheme.

Historians have painted the scene of Pontiac's visit to the fort on this spring morning in varied colors, but the basis of the foregoing is, the simple narrative

given in the "Journal of Pontiac's Conspiracy," which was written at the time, presumably by Navarre, and is an unimaginative, cold record of the actual happenings.

CAPTURE OF OTHER POSTS

At this time, or later, all the English posts in the Great Lakes region and the Ohio Valley were attacked as planned in Pontiac's council of the 5th of May. Niagara, Sandusky, Presque Ile (now Erie, Pa.), Miami, Michilimackinac, St. Joseph, Ouiatenon (near Lafayette, Ind.), and a few minor stations all fell a prey to the savages. Some of these posts held out for several weeks, but Fort Pitt (now Pittsburg, Pa.) and Detroit were the only ones to resist all attacks of the conspirators.

Fort Sandusky was taken May 16th and most of the garrison put to death. The commander, Ensign Christopher Paully, was adopted by the Indians, became very popular with them and later escaped. The news reached the post at Detroit on the 26th and answered the question as to why a band of Indians had been flying a red flag from their canoes on the other shore of the river. On the evening of June 4th it was learned that demonstrations of returning Indians on the other side of the river were due to rejoicing over the capture of Fort Miami on May 27th. At that time Fort Miami had been surprised and taken; Ensign Robert Holmes, in command, was murdered and some of the garrison taken prisoners. Jacques Godfroy and Miny Chesne were accused of having taken part in its capture. Fort St. Joseph was taken by Washee, chief of the Pottawatomi, on May 25th. Ensign Francis Schlosser was in command at the time and was brought to Detroit, a prisoner. Ten of the garrison were killed and three made prisoners. On June 18th Father Du Jaunay arrived with seven Ottawas from Michilimackinac and eight Chippewas under Kinonchamek, son of Pontiac. He brought a letter from Captain Etherington, giving an account of the capture of Michilimackinac and asking for assistance, but finding this post in a state of siege he returned to his own post and ransomed many officers and traders. Kinonchamek while here held council with his noted father, but disapproved of his father's methods of warfare, chiefly the fact that he ate his victims, and later departed for his own territory. The news of the capture of Presque Ile was confirmed on June 29th, the first rumors having arrived on the 20th. The fort at that place was a large blockhouse commanded by Ensign Christie. According to his account, on June 20th, about 200 Indians from the neighborhood of Detroit attacked it. After resisting for three days, he surrendered upon a promise that they would be allowed to withdraw to the nearest post. They were immediately taken prisoner and sent to the Huron village near Detroit, where Christie and several other prisoners were handed over to the English on July 9th. Fort le Boeuf, or Beef River Fort, was a poorly constructed blockhouse on Le Boeuf River and, being inland, was not ranked or fortified as a first-class post. At the time of the Indian uprisings, it was occupied by Ensign George Price, two corporals and eleven privates. On June 11th they were attacked, but managed to hold out for a day, then, under cover of darkness, escaped in the direction of Venango. Upon reaching Venango they found it in ruins, and at last reached Fort Pitt.

DEATH OF SIR ROBERT DAVERS AND ROBINSON

On the day just preceding Pontiac's failure at the post, or possibly on the very day, occurred the murder of Sir Robert Davers and Captain Robinson

(also spelled Robson or Robertson) while these men with their party, were taking soundings at the head of the St. Clair River. Sir Robert Davers, a native Englishman born in Suffolk, was spending the winter of 1762-3 in Detroit, intending to make a tour of the lakes in the spring. Robinson, a ship's officer, made up a party in the spring, consisting of Sir Robert Davers, John Rutherford (a boy of seventeen), a Pawnee slave, two sailors and six soldiers. They departed from Detroit May 2d, before they had knowledge of any Indian troubles, with the intention to sound the lake and the St. Clair River. The French settlers along the river warned them that the Indians were out for trouble and that their lives were in danger, but they paid little heed, as everything had been all right when they left. At length, a band of Indians along the shore tried to persuade them to land by exhibiting meat and other supplies, but the Englishmen refused, whereupon the Indians took off in pursuit. The party was overtaken on the 6th, when Robinson and Davers were killed and Rutherford made captive.

Young Rutherford, a native Englishman of good family, had been sent to Detroit in charge of military supplies. After his capture, having been saved from death by his age, he was adopted into the family of a Chippewa chief, Perwash. Later he made his escape with the assistance of Boileau, a Frenchman, and returned to the fort. Ten days later he took charge of a vessel sailing to Niagara, which was disabled en route, but the crew and Rutherford eventually reached Niagara, whence he returned to New York and after a time enlisted in the Forty-second, or Black Watch, in which he served thirty years. January 12, 1830, at the age of eighty-four years.

PONTIAC'S SECOND ATTEMPT

He died

About 1 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, May 8th, Pontiac, accompanied by Mackatepelicite, Breton and Chavinon, all Ottawa chieftains, again came to the fort, bringing with them a calumet of peace. The commandant granted them an audience and listened to their eloquent protestations of peaceful intentions, also accepted a pipe of peace from their hands. Firmly believing that he had deceived the British leader, Pontiac and his fellows withdrew, with the intention to come again upon the morrow with a larger force and complete that which had resulted in such failure on the preceding Saturday. Further to play his part of a "peaceful gentleman," Pontiac had the young men of the tribes play lacrosse in sight of the fort, in which game some of the French youths also participated. It was the latter's yells while returning that evening which the British mistook for the Indian war cry. Pontiac related to his Huron and Pottawatomi allies his plan for the following day, when he was to smoke the pipe of peace with the English. However, he was destined again to see his best laid plans go astray.

Navarre, in his "Journal," stated that at this time the garrison consisted of about one hundred and thirty troops, including eight officers, and some forty men such as traders and their employes. The "Gentleman's Magazine" of 1763 (p. 455) states "At the beginning of this affair there were not above eighty persons in the whole that carried arms in the fort and about thirty-four on board two vessels." The two vessels, or sloops, were the Beaver and the Gladwin (one account mentions the Huron instead of the Gladwin). The two boats were anchored in the river in front of the fort and were of material assistance during the subsequent siege of the post.

At 11 o'clock on the morning of the 9th, Pontiac again came to the fort with fifty-six canoes bearing his followers, but was refused admittance. He insisted that he had come only to smoke the pipe of peace, as the commandant had promised, whereupon he was told that he could enter-on condition, though, that he bring with him only twelve or fifteen of his tribe. He replied that his people wished to smell the smoke of the peace pipe and that if they could not accompany him he would not enter either. He then returned to his village in a thoroughly bad humor and, seizing his tomahawk, began the war song. Being deprived of the opportunity to destroy those within the fort, he resolved to slay all those without the fort, consequently divided his band into several groups, each to attack at different places. In order to harass the fort better he moved his camp across the river to the place of Jean Baptiste Meloche, who lived near the river on the site of the present Michigan Stove Works. Meloche probably held Pontiac's confidence more than any other Frenchman, except possibly Antoine Cuillerier.

The Indians first went to the house of an old English woman, Mrs. Turnbull, who lived upon a distant part of the common with her two sons, where she peacefully raised her cattle and cultivated the few acres which had been granted to her by Major Gladwin. She and her sons were massacred and their home burned. Lanman states in his history of Michigan that the Indians ate her body.

Another party went up the river to the Ile aux Cochons (Belle Isle), where lived James Fisher, a former sergeant of the English Army, with his wife and two children, and some accounts say four soldiers and a servant. They were surprised and murdered, with the exception of the two children, who were carried as captives to the Indian camp. The story is that some Frenchmen obtained permission to go to the island and bury the bodies, and Fisher and his wife were buried in the same grave. On the following day the Frenchmen crossed again and passing Fisher's grave saw his hand protruding. They buried it and in a few days found it sticking out again. This time they told the priest, Fr. Simple Bocquet, who returned with them to the island and reinterred the hand. The Fisher children were later given over to a Mr. Peltier, who took them to their uncle in the fort, where one of them, Marie, died at the age of fifteen months.

According to records in the register's office at Detroit (Vol. A, p. 91) Alexis Cuillerier, son of Antoine (and brother of the famous Angelique), shortly after the war was over, was accused by one Jean Myer of having drowned one of the Fisher children. He was tried by a military tribunal at Detroit, and the commandant expelled him from the village and banished him from the community. Later developments, ended in a new investigation which cleared Cuillerier of the crime and on June 4, 1769, Capt. George Turnbull had him recalled. This was not done until all the facts had been laid before General Gage and his consent had been obtained.

Francois Goslin, a young Frenchman, was working upon the island when the Indians killed the Fisher family. Believing himself to be in danger, he fled, but was caught by the Indians, who told him to sit quietly in a canoe at the water's edge and he would not be harmed. However, Goslin held no faith in the Indians' word, and after a time attempted to flee into the interior of the island. The Indians mistook him for an Englishman and killed him, but