Colonists Argue for an Alliance with Indians Against the French

State of the British and French Colonies in North America (1755)

As we saw in Chapter 3, relations between British colonists and Native Americans were strained throughout the eighteenth century. Native American peoples resented colonial encroachment, but many also realized the futility of prolonged resistance and forged alliances when doing so suited their interests. For their part, the American colonists quickly recognized the key role that native peoples could play in defending themselves from French assaults as the French and Indian War began in 1756. In this source, published just before hostilities with France were formalized, an anonymous author argues for the necessity of befriending native peoples.

The Necessity of Using Indians in War, and of Gaining Their Friendship

The next preliminary point to be effected, is to secure the Indians in our interest; on account, as well of recovering and extending our trade, as of securing our colonies against the attack either of French or Indians.

Their way of making war and fighting is quite different from the European. They do not draw into the open field but shoot from behind trees; and are exceeding dextrous both at hitting their mark and sheltering themselves from the enemies fire or pursuit: for, there is no room for horse in countries overgrown with woods, which gave occasion to this way of fighting; and there is no overtaking them on foot they run so swiftly.

Therefore, in case of any war, either with Indians alone, or where they are auxiliaries, we must have Indians to oppose Indians. They must be fought with their own way. Regular forces being wholly unacquainted with their way of making war can be of no service against them: they are only of use to defend a fort, or to support Indian forces against regular troops. Besides, being used to fire from walls, they scorn to shoot from behind trees; and would rather die than go out of their own road to practise such a low kind of military art. Not considering that the nature of the country, which is, as it were, one continued wood, requires that way of going to war, and that of all the methods of fighting that is best which is safest.

The French of Canada know the importance of Indians on this account, and therefore never undertake any expedition without them. A memorable deliverance taught them this caution. In 1687 the marquis de Nonville, governor of Quebek, having landed 2100 men at Tierondoquot, 300 of them Indians, with design to surprize the chief village of the Sennekas, whom he intended to destroy; was surprized himself in the woods, within a mile of the place, by 500 of that nation: who starting suddenly from the ground where they had lain flat, raised the war shout, and discharged their musquets. This put his troops into such a consternation, that they began to run on every side; and in the confusion fired on one another, while the Sennekas fell on pell-mell. So that had not the French Indians, acquainted with their way of fighting, come up, all must have been destroyed; and the French, very likely, driven out of Canada, for the whole force of it was employed in this expedition.

The French, since that time, make use of Indians more than ever: and since they make use of them, there is still the more reason why we should; unless we had men enough of our own trained to their manner of making war.

Besides; the advantage of having the Indians our friends, may be inferred from the mischiefs they have done ourselves as well as the French; and the danger they have put the colonies in, both from within and without, when our enemies. Altho’ the English, by dint of numbers, were able to support the wrongs which they did the Indians, and either destroyed or subdued them within the colonies; yet it cost them much blood and labour before they effected it, particularly in Virginia and New England; especially this last colony: where made such vigorous efforts at several times, and continued the war with so much obstinacy, even tho’ much reduced by them; that the English, notwithstanding their great superiority in numbers, were scarce able to withstand them, and but for certain lucky incidents, might have been driven out of all their settlements. Those who left the country, preserve to this day their ancient animosities; and being joined by the other eastern tribes, continue to harrass the borders of the English, and do them all the mischief they can. They are now the more able to take revenge with more safety to themselves; as, having a large country to retreat in, they cannot be so easily surrounded by the English, and oppressed by numbers as they were when inclosed within the colonies, where it would have been better to have kept them by good usage.…

In 1687, the English Indians, to revenge some ill usage, by the instigation of the French, invaded the frontiers of New England, and commenced a war, which all the powers of the country could not extinguish in ten years.

I shall produce but one instance more to shew what mischief the Indians may be able to do us, when our enemies. In the war, carried on about 1718, by the Spanish Indians against Carolina (the two provinces then being in one) this colony unable to defend itself against them, either by their own force, or that of the other colonies joined with them, were obliged at last to crave assistance from England, before they could do any good against them, as hath been mentioned before. Does not this confirm what has been already suggested of the danger the colonies would be in for want of Indians, should the French at any time invade them with their confederate Indian nations? In short, an Indian war has always been dreaded, as it has always been fatal to the colonies.

All the colony writers recommend the gaining the Indian friendship, as a matter of great importance to them. One of Carolina says, that the province is much strengthened by them; and that if trained to fire arms they would be very useful to that province, not only in case of an invasion to repel the enemy, but also by drawing other Indians to the English interest, or else destroying those who were not to be gained.

It must be confessed, that they are of great use, in either defending or invading a country. They are extremely skilful in the art of surprizing, and watching the motions of an enemy: they always know where to find you; but you never know where to find them: they disperse themselves thro’ a country singly, or in very small parties, and lie on the lurch, to pick up stragglers, or procure intelligence: in which they act with an astonishing patience and indefatigableness, beyond any thing which an European could undergo; remaining in one place, and often in one posture, for whole days and weeks together, till they find an opportunity to strike their stroke, or compass their design, whatever it may be.

“Every Indian,” says Mr. Kennedy,1 “is a hunter; and as their manner of making war, by skulking, surprizing, and killing particular persons and families, is just the same as their hunting, only changing the object, every Indian is a disciplined soldier. Soldiers of this kind are always wanted in the colonies in an Indian war [or when Indians are employed] for the European military discipline is of little use in these woods.” There is, therefore, an indispensible necessity of making use of Indians in our wars, unless we had men enough of our own trained in that fort of military exercise.

The French, indeed, have a great number of such people called Courieurs de Bois, as expert in the Indian way of fighting as the Indians themselves, as hath been taken notice of before; and therefore might be able to do without Indians, altho’ they make use of them. But this is an advantage which the colonies have not; for, altho’ in the southern provinces there may be a good many men, as expert in the Indian way of fighting, as the French Courieurs de Bois, yet they are under no kind of discipline or command, except those of the considerable Indian traders, their masters; and therefore cannot properly be considered as any publick force or real strength. In the northern colonies New England being surrounded with hostile Indians, and having still some within itself of the same race, necessity has produced rangers among the inhabitants, without whom there could be no dealing with such enemies. But New York depending on the neighbourhood of the five nations for its security, and making the French their factors with the Indians, by selling their goods to them, had few or no rangers at all before that illicit traffic at Albany was prohibited, and the trade laid open in 1720; since which time the young men being encouraged to go among the Indians, the only way of breeding rangers, that province begins to be furnished with them. Altho’ rangers are so numerous among the French, that they might do without the Indians, yet they not only cherish those who live in the country inhabited by themselves, but seek the friendship of all the nations round about them, far and near. On the contrary, the English do neither, especially in the northern colonies: for they have not only exterminated all Indian nations who formerly dwelt in the countries now possessed by them, but instead of making friends of those who live in the neighbourhood of the colonies, are at variance with them all, excepting the six nations and their allies, whom yet they seem industrious rather to disoblige than keep in their interest; altho’ they have been all along the chief, and to New York the only defence against the French, and their numerous tribes of Indians.

State of the British and French Colonies in North America (London: A. Millar, 1755), 69–75.

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