Early Successes in Native American Diplomacy
Following the expulsion of the French after the completion of the 1758 Forbes Expedition, the British quickly set up peaceful, mutually beneficial relationships with the tribes at the Forks of the Ohio. "Forbes realizes he is in hostile territory." stated historian Doug Cubbison, "Even after the Treaty of Easton was signed and some diplomacy was established, the Native Americans who had just fought against Forbes did not want him or the British in their territory in the Ohio Country."
"Forbes also had to maintain the garrison at the Forks and when the snows began to fall, they would be completely isolated. The original fortress was sized based on the amount of food and supplies needed to house 350 men for the winter," Cubbison continued.It was critical to Forbes and the British to establish peace as quickly as possible.
"Forbes also had to maintain the garrison at the Forks and when the snows began to fall, they would be completely isolated. The original fortress was sized based on the amount of food and supplies needed to house 350 men for the winter," Cubbison continued.It was critical to Forbes and the British to establish peace as quickly as possible.
Henry Bouquet set quickly to work establishing what Forbes desired. "Bouquet agrees," Cubbison continues, "to provide the Indians food and provisions from the fort, and he actually hires them as hunters to provide fresh meat for the garrison. In other words, he is going to pay the locals for their services. He actually issues the Native Americans that he had just fought against six weeks ago with gunpowder and lead so they can hunt. He also pays the Indians to provide the garrison with security to scout up the Allegheny to spy on the French."
In Cubbison's opinion, Bouquet would "show the Native Americans that he trusts them, he believes he can depend upon them, and that he is actually providing them with a type of rental payment for the fort established on their land and by establishing a trading relationship with them, similar to the French. He wants to become friends with them."
Through Henry Bouquet, General Forbes established a very positive relationship with the Native Americans in 1758 through early 1759. Sadly, this does not last long.
In Cubbison's opinion, Bouquet would "show the Native Americans that he trusts them, he believes he can depend upon them, and that he is actually providing them with a type of rental payment for the fort established on their land and by establishing a trading relationship with them, similar to the French. He wants to become friends with them."
Through Henry Bouquet, General Forbes established a very positive relationship with the Native Americans in 1758 through early 1759. Sadly, this does not last long.
Changes Come to the Forks
After Forbes returned to Philadelphia, the small garrison of Pittsborough, would grown into a much more formidable fortress- Fort Pitt.
With the establishment of Fort Pitt, Native Americans could sense a major shift in British position. No longer was this a simple trading post. Cubbison further states, "Native Americans realize that what they agreed to, a small trading post, is not what they have gotten. What they've gotten is the British permanently establishing rule in their country."
With the establishment of Fort Pitt, Native Americans could sense a major shift in British position. No longer was this a simple trading post. Cubbison further states, "Native Americans realize that what they agreed to, a small trading post, is not what they have gotten. What they've gotten is the British permanently establishing rule in their country."
Empirical Expansion from Fort Pitt: The Roots of Rebellion
"Fort Pitt represented empire, control and dominance of the Region"
-Doug Cubbison
In August of 1760, Henry Bouquet led an expedition from Fort Pitt up the Allegheny River to build Fort Venango and then to Lake Erie where Fort Presque Isle was constructed. "Basically," Cubbison further states, "the British have now tied themselves from the Forks of the Ohio, along and across the Allegheny Mountains to their Canadian outposts, and along the Great Lakes to Forts Detroit and Michilimackinac. The Indians can now see the British connecting the pieces of the puzzle in an attempt to solidify empire in the Ohio Country."
Pontiac, leader of the Ottawa tribe, began to see the British for what they really were- a threat to his people, their lands and their culture. He dedicated himself to uniting the numerous tribes of the Ohio Country in a confederation against this encroachment. His responsibility to protect his people and their rights would set in motion a rebellion.
Pontiac, leader of the Ottawa tribe, began to see the British for what they really were- a threat to his people, their lands and their culture. He dedicated himself to uniting the numerous tribes of the Ohio Country in a confederation against this encroachment. His responsibility to protect his people and their rights would set in motion a rebellion.
"Fort Pitt now becomes a conduit for settlers from the East into the Ohio Country. Additionally, it safeguards the route of supplies connecting Philadelphia to the Forks of the Ohio. Fort Pitt's true strength lay in logistics. Getting salt pork, flour, guns, ammunition, blacksmiths, tradesmen and other essential personnel safely to the west helped make it the jumping off point for empire."
-Doug Cubbison
The French and Indian War Ends: British Empire Extends in North America
An Initial Betrayal of Trust
The initial trust between Henry Bouquet and the Native Americans was soon broken. With Bouquet's expedition of 1760, British empire was expanding throughout the Ohio Country from Fort Pitt. "Fort Pitt was the lynch pin," according to Brian Reedy, park ranger at Fort Necessity National Battlefield. "Settlers began pouring into the territory," Reedy continued, "and this alarmed Native Americans that they were indeed here to occupy."
Simultaneously, General Jeffrey Amherst received specific instructions concerning Indian policy. According to Doug Cubbison, "Amherst was to stop giving the Native Americans presents, which, was essentially the British way of paying them rent for the land they were occupying. He also instituted much stricter trade policies which cased considerable unhappiness to these Natives in Western Pennsylvania. They clearly see that they are loosing the Ohio Country and they would now respond with with a violent backlash against British authority."
By May of 1763, Pontiac's confederacy of tribes responded violently to these trangressions of Native American rights. Coordinated attacks from Michigan to the banks of the Youghiogheny River near Fort Pitt would soon be underway.
Simultaneously, General Jeffrey Amherst received specific instructions concerning Indian policy. According to Doug Cubbison, "Amherst was to stop giving the Native Americans presents, which, was essentially the British way of paying them rent for the land they were occupying. He also instituted much stricter trade policies which cased considerable unhappiness to these Natives in Western Pennsylvania. They clearly see that they are loosing the Ohio Country and they would now respond with with a violent backlash against British authority."
By May of 1763, Pontiac's confederacy of tribes responded violently to these trangressions of Native American rights. Coordinated attacks from Michigan to the banks of the Youghiogheny River near Fort Pitt would soon be underway.