Chapter I

INTRODUCTORY.--INDIAN TRIBES EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

_General Characteristics.--Tribal Divisions.--Mode of Government.--
Social Harmony.--The Totem.--Classification of Tribes.--The Iroquois.--
Their Position and Character.--Their Political Organization.--
Traditions of their Confederacy.--Their Myths and Legends.--Their
Eloquence and Sagacity.--Arts.--Agriculture.--Their Dwellings,
Villages, and Forts.--Their Winter Life.--The War Path.--Festivals and
Pastimes.--Pride of the Iroquois.--The Hurons or Wyandots.--Their
Customs and Character.--Their Dispersion.--The Neutral Nation. Its
Fate.--The Eries and Andastes.--Triumphs of the Confederacy.--The
Adoption of Prisoners.--The Tuscaroras.--Superiority of the Iroquois
Race.--The Algonquins.--The Lenni Lenape.--Their changing Fortunes.--
The Shawanoes.--The Miamis and the Illinois.--The Ojibwas,
Pottawattamies, and Ottawas.--The Sacs and Foxes.--The Menomonies and
Knisteneaux.--Customs of the Northern Algonquins.--Their Summer and
Winter Life.--Legends of the Algonquins.--Religious Faith of the
Indians.--The Indian Character.--Its Inconsistencies.--Its Ruling
Passions.--Pride.--Hero-worship.--Coldness, Jealousy, Suspicion.--
Self-control.--Intellectual Traits.--Inflexibility.--Generous
Qualities._ 15

CHAPTER II.

1663-1763.

FRANCE AND ENGLAND IN AMERICA.

_Contrast of French and English Colonies.--Feudalism in Canada.--
Priests and Monks.--Puritanism and Democracy in New England.--French
Life in Canada.--Military Strength of Canada.--Religious Zeal.--
Missions.--The Jesuits.--Brebeuf and Lallemant.--Martyrdom of Jogues.--
Results of the Missions.--French Explorers.--La Salle.--His Plan of
Discovery.--His Sufferings.--His Heroism.--He discovers the Mouth of
the Mississippi.--Louisiana.--France in the West.--Growth of English
Colonies.--Approaching Collision._ 46

CHAPTER III.

1608-1763.

THE FRENCH, THE ENGLISH, AND THE INDIANS.

_Champlain defeats the Iroquois.--The Iroquois Wars.--Misery of
Canada.--Expedition of Frontenac.--Success of the French.--French
Influence in the West.--La Verandrye.--The English Fur-trade.--
Protestant and Romish Missions.--The English and the Iroquois.--Policy
of the French.--The Frenchman in the Wigwam.--Coureurs des Bois.--The
White Savage.--The English Fur-trader.--William Penn and his
Eulogists.--The Indians and the Quakers.--Injustice of Penn's
Successors.--The Walking Purchase.--Speech of Canassatego.--Removal of
the Delawares.--Intrusion of Settlers.--Success of French Intrigues.--
Father Picquet.--Sir William Johnson.--Position of Parties._ 59

CHAPTER IV.

1700-1755.

COLLISION OF THE RIVAL COLONIES.

_The Puritan and the Canadian.--Fort Frederic.--Acadia.--The French on
the Ohio.--Mission of Washington.--Trent driven from the Ohio.--Death
of Jumonville.--Skirmish at the Great Meadows.--Alarm of the Indians.--
Congress at Albany.--French and English Diplomacy.--Braddock and
Dieskau.--Naval Engagement.--The War in Europe and America.--Braddock
in Virginia.--March of his Army.--Beaujeu at Fort du Quesne.--
Ambuscade at the Monongahela.--Rout of Braddock.--Its Consequences.--
Acadia, Niagara, and Crown Point.--Battle of Lake George.--Prosecution
of the War.--Oswego.--Fort William Henry.--Storming of Ticonderoga.--
State of Canada.--Plans for its Reduction.--Progress of the English
Arms.--Wolfe before Quebec.--Assault at Montmorenci.--Heroism of
Wolfe.--The Heights of Abraham.--Battle of Quebec.--Death of Wolfe.--
Death of Montcalm.--Surrender of Quebec.--Fall of Canada._ 79

CHAPTER V.

1755-1763.

THE WILDERNESS AND ITS TENANTS AT THE CLOSE OF THE FRENCH WAR.

_Sufferings of the Frontier.--Treaties with the Western Tribes.--
Christian Frederic Post.--The Iroquois.--The remote Tribes.--The
Forest.--Indian Population.--Condition of the Tribes.--Onondaga.--The
Delawares and neighboring Tribes.--Their Habits and Condition.--The
Shawanoes, Miamis, Illinois, and Wyandots.--English Settlements.--
Forest Thoroughfares.--Fur-traders.--Their Habits and Character.--The
Forest Traveller.--The French at the Illinois.--Military Life in the
Forest.--The Savage and the European.--Hunters and Trappers.--
Civilization and Barbarism._ 111

CHAPTER VI.

1760.

THE ENGLISH TAKE POSSESSION OF THE WESTERN POSTS.

_The victorious Armies at Montreal.--Major Robert Rogers.--His
Expedition up the Lakes.--His Meeting with Pontiac.--Ambitious Views
of Pontiac.--He befriends the English.--The English take Possession of
Detroit.--Of other French Posts.--British Power Predominant in the
West._ 124

CHAPTER VII.

1760-1763.

ANGER OF THE INDIANS.--THE CONSPIRACY.

_Discontent of the Tribes.--Impolitic Course of the English.--
Disorders of the Fur-trade.--Military Insolence.--Intrusion of
Settlers.--French Intrigue.--The Delaware Prophet.--An abortive Plot.--
Pontiac's Conspiracy.--Character of Pontiac.--Gloomy Prospects of the
Indian Race.--Designs of Pontiac.--His War Messengers.--Tribes engaged
in the Conspiracy.--Dissimulation of the Indians.--The War-belt among
the Miamis._ 131

CHAPTER VIII.

1763.

INDIAN PREPARATION.

_The Indians as a military People.--Their inefficient Organization.--
Their insubordinate Spirit.--Their Improvidence.--Policy of the Indian
Leaders.--Difficulties of Forest Warfare.--Defenceless Condition of
the Colonies.--The Peace of Paris.--Royal Proclamation.--The
War-chief. His Fasts and Vigils.--The War-feast.--The War-dance.--
Departure of the Warriors.--The Bursting of the Storm._ 145

CHAPTER IX.

1763, April.

THE COUNCIL AT THE RIVER ECORCES.

_Pontiac musters his Warriors.--They assemble at the River Ecorces.--
The Council.--Speech of Pontiac.--Allegory of the Delaware.--The
Council dissolves.--Calumet Dance at Detroit.--Plan to surprise the
Garrison._ 151

CHAPTER X.

1763, May.

DETROIT.

_Strange Phenomenon.--Origin and History of Detroit.--Its Condition in
1763.--Character of its Inhabitants.--French Life at Detroit.--The
Fort and Garrison.--Pontiac at Isle a la Peche.--Suspicious Conduct of
the Indians.--Catharine, the Ojibwa Girl.--She reveals the Plot.--
Precautions of the Commandant.--A Night of Anxiety._ 159

CHAPTER XI.

1763.

TREACHERY OF PONTIAC.

_The Morning of the Council.--Pontiac enters the Port.--Address and
Courage of the Commandant.--The Plot defeated.--The Chiefs suffered to
escape.--Indian Idea of Honor.--Pontiac again visits the Fort.--False
Alarm.--Pontiac throws off the Mask.--Ferocity of his Warriors.--The
Ottawas cross the River.--Fate of Davers and Robertson.--General
Attack.--A Truce.--Major Campbell's Embassy.--He is made Prisoner by
Pontiac._ 169

CHAPTER XII.

1763.

PONTIAC AT THE SIEGE OF DETROIT.

_The Christian Wyandots join Pontiac.--Peril of the Garrison.--Indian
Courage--The English threatened with Famine.--Pontiac's Council with
the French.--His Speech.--He exacts Provision from the French.--He
appoints Commissaries.--He issues Promissory Notes.--His Acuteness and
Sagacity.--His Authority over his Followers.--His Magnanimity._ 183

CHAPTER XIII.

1763.

ROUT OF CUYLER'S DETACHMENT.--FATE OF THE FOREST GARRISONS.

_Re-enforcement sent to Detroit.--Attack on the Schooner.--Relief at
Hand.--Disappointment of the Garrison.--Escape of Prisoners.--Cuyler's
Defeat.--Indian Debauch.--Fate of the Captives.--Capture of Fort
Sandusky.--Strength of the Besiegers.--Capture of Fort St. Joseph.--
Capture of Fort Michillimackinac.--Capture of Fort Ouatanon.--Capture
of Fort Miami.--Defence of Fort Presqu' Isle.--Its Capture._ 195

CHAPTER XIV.

1763.

THE INDIANS CONTINUE TO BLOCKADE DETROIT.

_Attack on the Armed Vessel.--News of the Treaty of Paris.--Pontiac
summons the Garrison.--Council at the Ottawa Camp.--Disappointment of
Pontiac.--He is joined by the Coureurs de Bois.--Sortie of the
Garrison.--Death of Major Campbell.--Attack on Pontiac's Camp.--Fire
Rafts.--The Wyandots and Pottawattamies beg for Peace._ 214

CHAPTER XV.

1763.

THE FIGHT OF BLOODY BRIDGE.

_Dalzell's Detachment.--Dalzell reaches Detroit.--Stratagem of the
Wyandots.--Night Attack on Pontiac's Camp.--Indian Ambuscade.--Retreat
of the English.--Terror of Dalzell's Troops.--Death of Dalzell.--
Defence of Campau's House.--Grant conducts the Retreat.--Exultation of
the Indians.--Defence of the Schooner Gladwyn._ 226

CHAPTER XVI.

1763.

MICHILLIMACKINAC.

_The Voyager on the Lakes.--Michillimackinac in 1763.--Green Bay and
Ste. Marie.--The Northern Wilderness.--Tribes of the Lakes.--
Adventures of a Trader.--Speech of Minavavana.--Arrival of English
Troops.--Disposition of the Indians.--The Ojibwa War-chief.--
Ambassador from Pontiac.--Sinister Designs of the Ojibwas.--Warnings
of Danger.--Wawatam.--Eve of the Massacre._ 238