Ohio History Journal

DE CELORON'S EXPEDITION TO THE OHIO IN 1749.

BY 0. H. MARSHALL

The extensive territory lying between the Ohio River and

Lake Erie has been the theatre of many remarkable historical

changes.  Its earliest inhabitants left no record of their origin

or history, save in the numerous tumuli which are scattered over

its surface, bearing trees of the largest growth, not distinguish-

able from the adjacent forest.  Measured by the extent and

character of those vast structures, the race that built them must

have been intelligent and populous.  When and how they dis-

appeared we know not. Whether they were directly succeeded

by the present race of Indians, or by an intermediate people, are

questions to which history gives no answer. When LaSalle dis-

covered the Ohio he found it in the occupation of the red man,

who claimed possession and ownership over the territory com-

prised within the limits of Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and In-

diana, until the close of the last century.  His villages were on

every stream, and his hunting grounds embraced every hill and

valley.

The attractions of the fur trade stimulated eastern adven-

turers to penetrate, from time to time, the forest recesses of the

west, and glowing descriptions were reported of the fertile soil,

mineral wealth and the abundance of the fur-bearing animals.

It was not until England and France, the two great rival powers

of Europe, became impressed with the prospective growth and

value of the territory, and each prepared to grasp the coveted

prize, that the native owners of the soil began to take serious

alarm. On the one side, England claimed to the northern lakes,

while France asserted ownership not only as far south as the

Ohio, but over all the lands drained by its extensive tributaries.

The treaty of Aix la Chapelle, to which both of those powers

were parties, while it terminated a long and sanguinary war in

* Republished from The Magazine of American History vol. 2, pages

130-150.

(424)

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.   425

Europe, left many subjects of controversy still unsettled. Among

them were the boundaries between the French and English in

America. At the conclusion (130)* of that treaty England lost

no time in initiating measures for the occupation and coloniza-

tion of the disputed territory, and encouraged the formation of

the Ohio Company as one of the efficient means for accomplish-

ing that purpose. Half a million of acres were granted by the

Crown to that association, to be selected mainly on the south

side of the Ohio, between the Monongahela and Kanawha rivers.

This was coupled with the condition that settlements, protected

by suitable forts, should be established on the grant. The French

were equally alive on the subject, and the demonstrations of the

English aroused the attention of the Marquis de la Galissoniere,

a man of eminent ability and fore-thought, who was then Gov-

ernor of Canada.   In order to counteract the designs of the

English, he dispatched Captain Bienville de Celoron,¹ a chevalier

of the order of St. Louis in command of a detachment, composed

of eight subaltern officers, six cadets, an armorer, twenty soldiers,

one hundred and eighty Canadians, thirty Iroquois and twenty-

five Abenakis, with orders to descend the Ohio and take pos-

session of the country in the name of the King. The principal

officers under him were de Contrecoeur, who had been in com-

mand of Fort Niagara, and Coulon de Villiers, one of seven

brothers, six of whom lost their lives in the Canadian wars. Con-

trecoeur was subsequently in command of Fort du Quesne, at

or immediately after the defeat of Braddock.

The present article is designed to give an account of that

expedition, to trace its route and to identify as far as possible

the geographical points which it visited. Only brief notices of

the undertaking have heretofore been given to the public. The

discovery of some of the leaden plates, buried by its officers on

the banks of the Ohio, have from time to time awakened public

interest and curiosity, which the meagre accounts already pub-

lished have failed to satisfy.  While recently examining the

archives of the Department de la Marine in Paris the writer met

with the original manuscript journal kept by de Celoron during

* Bold face numerals in parentheses indicate pages in The Magazine

of American History, vol. 2.

426      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

his entire voyage.  He also found in the Grandes Archives of

the Depot de la Marine, No. 17 rue de l'Universite, a manuscript

diary of Father Bonnecamps, who styles himself "Jesuitte Mathe-

maticien," and who seems to have been the Chaplain, as well as

a kind of sailing master of the expedition, keeping a daily record

of the courses and distances they traveled, the latitudes and longi-

tudes of the principal geographical points, with occasional brief

notes of the most important occurrences.  In another depart-

ment, called the Bibliotheque du depot de la Marine, there was

found a large Ms. Map, 311/2 by 341/2 inches square, representing

the country through which the expedition passed, including the

St. Lawrence (131) westward of Montreal, Lakes Erie and On-

tario, the territory south of those lakes as far as the Ohio, and the

whole course of that river from the source of the Allegheny to

the mouth of the great Miami.  This map forms an important

illustration of the expedition. On it are delineated by appropri-

ate characters the points where leaden plates were deposited,

where the latitudes and longitudes were observed, and the locali-

ties of the Indian villages visited on the route.

The journals of de Celoron and Father Bonnecamps and

the map of the latter, have furnished the ground-work of the

narrative.  Explanatory and historical notes, drawn from other

sources, have occasionally been added.

The first of the leaden plates was brought to the attention

of the public in a letter addressed by Governor George Clinton

to the Lords of Trade in London, dated New York, December

19, 1750, in which he states that he "would send to their Lord-

ships in two or three weeks a plate of lead, full of writing, which

some of the upper nations of the Indians stole from Jean Coeur,²

the French interpreter at Niagara, on his way to the river Ohio,

which river, and all the lands thereabouts, the French claimed,

as will appear by said writing."  He further states "that the

lead plate gave the Indians so much uneasiness that they imme-

diately dispatched some of the Cayuga chiefs to him with it,

saying that their only reliance was on him, and earnestly begged

he would communicate the contents thereof to them, which he

had done, much to their satisfaction and the interests of the

English." The Governor concludes by saying that "the contents

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  427

of the plate may be of great importance in clearing up the en-

croachments which the French have made on the British Empire

in America."³ The plate was delivered to Colonel, afterwards

Sir, William Johnson, on the 4th of December, 1750, at his resi-

dence on the Mohawk by a Cayuga sachem, who accompanied it

by the following speech:

"Brother Corlear and War-ragh-i- ya-ghey:⁴  I am sent

here by the Five Nations with a piece of writing, which the

Senecas, our brethren, got by some artifice from Jean Coeur,

earnestly beseeching you will let us know what it means, and

we will put our confidence in you, our brother; we hope you

will explain it ingeniously to us."

Colonel Johnson replied to the sachem, and through him to

the Five Nations, returning a belt of wampum, and explaining

the inscription on the plate. He told them that "it was a matter

of the greatest consequence, involving the possession of their

lands and hunting-grounds and that Jean Coeur and the French

ought immediately to be expelled from the Ohio and Niagara."

In reply, the sachem said that "he had heard with great atten-

tion (132) and surprise the substance of the 'Devilish writing'

he had brought," and that Colonel Johnson's remarks "were fully

approved."  He promised that belts from each of the Five

Nations should be sent from the Seneca's castle to the Indians

at the Ohio, to warn and strengthen them against the French

encroachments in that direction.

The following is a literal copy of the inscription in question.

It was sent by Governor Clinton to the Lords of Trade on the

17th of January, 1751:

"L'AN 1749 DV REGNE DE LOVIS XV ROY DE

FRANCE, NOVS CELORON, COMMANDANT D'VN DE-

TACHMENT ENVOIE PAR MONSIEVR LE MIS. DE LA

GALISSONIERE, COMMANDANT             GENERAL      DE   LA

NOUVELLE FRANCE POVR RETABLIR LA TRAN

QUILLITE DANS QUELQUES VILLAGES SAUVAGES

DE CES CANTONS, AVONS ENTERRE CETTE PLAQUE

AU CONFLUENT DE L'OHIO ET DE TCHADAKOIN CE

29 JVILLET, PRES DE LA RIVIERE OYO AUTREMENT

428      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

BELLE RIVIERE, POUR MONUMENT DU RENOUVEL-

LEMENT DE POSSESSION QUE NOUS AVONS PRIS

DE LA DITTE RIVIERE OYO, ET DE TOUTES CELLES

QUI Y TOMBENT, et de TOUTES LES TERRES DES

DEUX COTES JVSQVE AVX SOURCES DES DITTES

RIVIERES AINSIQV'EN ONT JOVI OU DV JOVIR LES

PRECEDENTS ROIS DE FRANCE, ET QU'ILS S'Y SONT

MAINTENVS PAR LES ARMES ET PAR LES TRAIT-

TES, SPECIALEMENT         PAR   CEVX      DE   RISWICK,

D'VTRECHT ET D'AIX LA CHAPELLE."

The above is certified to be "a true copy" by "Peter De Jon-

court, interpreter."

TRANSLATION.

"In the year 1749, of the reign of Louis the 15th, King of

France, we Celoron, commander of a detachment sent by

Monsieur the Marquis de la Galissoniere, Governor General of

New France, to reestablish tranquility in some Indian villages of

these cantons, have buried this Plate of Lead at the confluence

of the Ohio and the Chatauqua, this 29th day of July, near the

river Ohio, otherwise Belle Riviere, as a monument of the re-

newal of the possession we have taken of the said river Ohio,

and of all those which empty into it, and of all the lands on

both sides as far as the sources of the said rivers, as enjoyed

or ought to have been enjoyed by the kings of France preceding,

and as they have there maintained themselves by arms and by

treaties, especially those of Ryswick, Utrecht and Aix la

Chapelle."

On the 29th of January, 1751, Governor Clinton sent a copy

of the above inscription to Governor Hamilton of Pennsylvania,

informing him that it was "taken from a plate stolen from Jon-

caire some months since in the Seneca country as he was going

to the river Ohio."⁵

The expedition was provided with a number of leaden plates,

about eleven inches long, seven and a half inches wide and one-

eighth of an (133) inch thick, on each of which an inscription in

French, similar to the one above given, was engraved or stamped

in capital letters, with blanks left for the insertion of the names

of the rivers, at the confluence of which with the Ohio they

should be deposited, and the dates of their deposit. The name

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  429

of the artist, Paul de Brosse, was engraved on the reverse of

each. Thus provided, the expedition left La Chine on the 15th

of June, 1749, and ascended the St. Lawrence to Fort Frontenac.

From thence, coasting along the eastern and southern shore of

Lake Ontario, they arrived at Fort Niagara on the 6th of July.

They reached the portage at Lewisston on the 7th, and ascended

the Niagara into Lake Erie.  On the 14th, after advancing a

few miles up the lake, they were compelled by a strong wind

to encamp on the south shore.  They embarked early on the

morning of the 15th, hoping to reach the portage of "Chatakouin"

the same day, but an adverse wind again forced them to land.

The southern shore of the lake at this point is described as

"extremely shallow, with no shelter from the force of the winds,

involving great risk of shipwreck in landing, which is increased

by large rocks, extending more than three-fourths of a mile

from the shore."  Celoron's canoe struck on one, and he would

inevitably have been drowned, with all on board, had not prompt

assistance been rendered.               On the 16th at noon they arrived at

the Chatakouin portage.                This was an open roadstead, where

the United States Government many years ago attempted un-

successfully to construct a safe harbor.  It is now known as

Barcelona or Portland. As soon as all preparations were made

for the overland passage, and the canoes all loaded, Mm. de

Villiers and le Borgue were dispatched with fifty men to clear

the way, while Celoron examined the situation of the place, in

order to ascertain its fitness for the establishment of a Post. He

says: "I found it ill-adapted for such a purpose, as well from

its position as from its relation to the navigation of the lake.

The water is so shallow that barks standing in cannot approach

within a league of the portage. There being no island or harbor

to which they could resort for shelter, they would be under the

necessity of riding at anchor and discharging their loading by

batteaux. The frequency of squalls would render it a place of

danger.  Besides, there are no Indian villages in the vicinity.

In fact, they are quite distant, none being nearer than Ganaougon

and Paille Coupee. In the evening Messrs. de Villiers and le

Borgue returned to lodge at the camp, having cleared the way

for about three-quarters of a league."  Up to this time, the

430      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

usual routes of the French to the Mississippi (134) had been

by the way of Detroit, Green Bay, the Wisconsin, Lake Michigan

and the Illinois River. They had five villages on the Mississippi,

near the mouth of the Illinois, as early as 1749.

"On the 17th," continues the Journal, "at break of day, we

began the portage, the prosecution of which was vigorously main-

tained. All the canoes, provisions, munitions of war, and mer-

chandise intended as presents to the Indians bordering on the

Ohio, were carried over the three-quarters of a league which

had been rendered passable the day previous.  The route was

exceedingly difficult, owing to the numerous hills and mountains

which we encountered. All my men were very much fatigued.

We established a strong guard, which was continued during the

entire campaign, not only for the purpose of security, but for

teaching the Canadians a discipline which they greatly needed.

We continued our advance on the 1₄th, but bad weather pre-

vented our making as much progress as on the preceding day.

I consoled myself for the delay, as it was caused by a rain which

I greatly desired, as it would raise the water in the river suffi-

cient to float our loaded canoes. On the 1₉th, the rain having

ceased, we accomplished half a league.  On the 20th and 21st

we continued our route with great diligence, and arrived at the

end of the portage on the banks of Lake Chatacoin on the 22d.

The whole distance may be estimated at four leagues.  Here I

repaired my canoes and recruited my men."

It is a little over eight miles in a direct line from the mouth

of Chautauqua Creek on Lake Erie to the head of Chautauqua

Lake.  The route taken by the expedition would of course be

more, and probably equal to the four leagues, or ten miles, stated

by Celoron.  The difficulties they encountered must have been

exceedingly formidable.  Chautauqua Lake is 726 feet above

Lake Erie, and in order to reach the water-shed between the

two lakes, an ascent of at least one thousand feet had to be

overcome. Although at that early day, when the forests were

yet undisturbed, the Chautauqua Creek flowed with fuller banks

than now, yet even then but little use could be made of it by

loaded canoes, except near its mouth.  The portage could only

be accomplished for the greater part of the way by carrying the

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  431

canoes, baggage, provisions and supplies on the shoulders of the

men up the steep mountain sides to the summit, from which the

waters flowed southward into Chautauqua Lake. Looking back

from this elevation, a magnificent panorama must have presented

itself to Celoron and his companions. Lake Erie lay at their feet,

with the Canada shore, forty miles distant, in plain sight, while

the extremities of that great inland sea, extending east and west

were lost below the horizon.

(135) The expedition did not loiter long on the banks of

Chautauqua Lake. On the 23d they launched their bark flotilla

on its clear, cool waters, and paddling south-eastward through the

lake, passed the narrows at what are now known as Long and

Bemus Points.   The shape of the lake is quite peculiar.  Its

northwestern and southeastern extremities, which are nearly

equal, and comprise the greater part of the lake, are connected

by two short irregular straits, between which nestles a small

beautiful bay.  The singular configuration of the whole gives

plausibility to the interpretation of the Indian name, Chautauqau,

which is said to signify "a sack tied in the middle."

On the evening of the 23d of July the expedition encamped

on shore within three miles of the outlet. The lake is stated by

Celoron to be "nine leagues," or about twenty-two miles long. The

actual length is less than sixteen. Distances are almost always

overstated by the early French voyageurs in America. In the eve-

ning a party of Indians, who had been engaged during the day

in fishing in the lake, reported they had seen the enemy watching

them from the adjacent forest. They had fled as soon as dis-

covered.  Early on the morning of the 24th the expedition en-

tered the outlet, a narrow stream, winding through a deep

morass, bordered by a tall forest, which, over-arching the way,

almost shut out the light of day. The water being found quite

low, in order to lighten the canoes, they sent the greater part

of their loading about three-quarters of a league by land, over

a path pointed out by the Sieur de Saussaye, who was acquainted

with the country.⁶ The distance they accomplished this day by

water did not exceed half a league.  It probably carried them

through the swamp as far as the high land in the neighborhood

of the present village of Jamestown.  The next day, before

432      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

resuming their march, Celoron deemed it expedient to convene a

council to consider what should be done in view of the evident

signs of an enemy in the vicinity, who on being discovered had

abandoned their canoes and effects and fled, carrying the alarm

to the adjacent village of Paille Coupee. The council decided to

dispatch Lieutenant Joncaire, some Abenakis and three Iroquois,

with three belts, to assure the fugitives of the friendly object

of the expedition.  After the departure of the embassy the

march was resumed over the rapids, with which the outlet

abounded.

"We proceeded," says the Journal, "about a league with

great difficulty. In many places I was obliged to assign forty

men to each canoe to facilitate their passage. On the 26th and

27th we continued our voyage not without many obstacles; not-

withstanding all our precautions to (136) guard our canoes, they

often sustained great injury by reason of the shallow water.

On the 29th at noon I entered the 'la Belle Riviere.' I buried a

plate of lead at the foot of a red oak on the south bank of the

river Oyo (Ohio) and of the Chanougon, not far from the vil-

lage of Kanaouagon, in latitude 42° 5' 23"^.7 It is unnecessary

to give a copy of the inscription on the above plate, as it is

similar to the one which was sent to Governor Clinton, as before

related, except slight variations in the spelling, accents and ar-

rangement of lines. The three plates which thus far have been

discovered present the same differences.  The places and dates

of deposit are coarsely engraved, evidently with a knife. In the

one just described the blanks were filled with the words: "Au

confluent de l'Ohio et Kanaaiagon, le 29 Juillet."

"At the confluence of the Ohio and Kanaaiagon the 2₉th

of July."

The river, spelled "Kanaaiagon" on the plate, "Chanougon"

by Celeron in his Journal, and "Kananouangon," on Bonne-

camps' map, is a considerable stream that rises in western New

York, and after receiving the Chautauqua outlet as a tributary,

empties into the Alleghany just above the village of Warren.

It is now known as the Conewango. On the site of Warren, at

the northwesterly angle of the two rivers, there was, at the time

of Celeron's visit, an Indian village, composed principally of

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  433

Senecas, with a few Loups, bearing the name of Kanaouagon.

It was opposite the mouth of the Conewango, on the south bank

of the Alleghany, that the leaden plate was buried. The follow-

ing is Father Bonnecamps' entry in his diary:

"L'on a enterre une lame de plomb, avec une inscription, sur

la rive meridionale de cette riviere, et vis-a-vis le confluent des

deux rivieres."

"We buried a leaden plate bearing an inscription on the

south bank of this river, and opposite the confluence of the two

rivers."

The place of deposit is a little differently described in the

Proces Verbal drawn up on the occasion. "Au pied d'un chene

rouge, sur la rive meridionale de la riviere Ohio, et vis-a-vis la

pointe d'une ilette. ou se joignent les deux rivieres Ohio et

Kanaougon." "At the foot of a red oak on the south bank of

the Ohio river, and opposite the point of a small island, at the

confluence of the two rivers Ohio and Kanaougon." It will be

noticed that the inscription on the plate recites that it was buried

on the south side of the Ohio, opposite the mouth of the

"Chanougon" (Conewango).

This presents a discrepancy between the inscriptions as given

in the Journals of Celoron and Bonnecamps, and the one on the

plate forwarded by Colonel Johnson to Governor Clinton in 1751

as above described.. (137)  The latter states it to have been

buried "at the confluence of the Ohio and Tchadakoin."  The

solution of the difficulty seems to be, that the latter plate was

never buried or used, but was abstracted by the Iroquois friendly

to the English, and another plate, having a correct inscription,

was substituted by the French. The inscription on the one sent

to Governor Clinton, was undoubtedly prepared on the supposi-

tion that the Chautauqua outlet emptied into the Ohio.  But

when that outlet was found to be a tributary of the Conewango,

and that the latter emptied into the Ohio, a corrected plate, con-

taining the name of the Conewango instead of the Chautauqua,

was substituted and buried, as stated in Celeron's journal.⁸ The

latter plate has never been found. This solution is strengthened

by the fact that none of the accounts of the plate sent to Gov-

Vol. XXIX-28.

434      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

ernor Clinton state that it had been buried, or had been dug up.

The Cayuga Sachem, in his speech quoted in Colonel Johnson's

letter of December 4th, 1750, states that "the Senecas got it by

some artifice from Jean Coeur."

Governor Clinton, in his letter to the Lords of Trade, states

that some of the upper nations, which include the Senecas, "stole

it from Jean Coeur, the French interpreter at Niagara, on his way

to the river Ohio." The Governor states the same in substance

in his letter to Governor Hamilton, of Pennsylvania. The theft

must therefore have occurred while the expedition was on its

way to the Ohio, and before any of the plates were buried. The

original plate was probably soon after carried to England by

Governor Clinton. The names "Chatacoin" and "Chatakouin,"

as spelled by Celeron in his journal, and "Tchadakoin," as in-

scribed on the plate, and "Tjadakoin," as spelled by Bonne-

camps on his map, are all variations of the modern name Chau-

tauqua.  It will be found differently written by several early

authors. Pouchot writes it "Shatacoin;" Lewis Evans, 1758,

"Jadachque;" Sir William Johnson, "Jadaghque;" Mitchell, 1755,

"Chadocoin;" Alden, as pronounced by Cornplanter, "Chaud-

dauk-wa."  It is a Seneca name, and in the orthography of that

nation, according to the system of the late Reverend Asher

Wright, long a missionary among them, and a fluent speaker of

their language, it would be written "Jah-dah-gwah," the first two

vowels being long and the last short.  Different significations

have been ascribed to the word. It is said to mean "The place

where a child was swept away by the waves." The late Dr.

Peter Wilson, an educated Seneca, and a graduate of Geneva

Medical College, told the writer that it signified literally, "where

the fish was taken out."

He related an Indian tradition connected with its origin.

A party of (138) Senecas were returning from the Ohio to Lake

Erie. While paddling through Chautauqua Lake, one of them

caught a strange fish and tossed it into his canoe. After passing

the portage into Lake Erie, they found the fish still alive, and

threw it in the water. From that time the new species became

abundant in Lake Erie, where one was never known before.

Hence, they called the place where it was caught, Jah-dah-gwah,

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  435

the elements of which are Ga-joh, "fish," and Ga-dah-gwah,

"taken out."  By dropping the prefixes, according to Seneca

custom, the compound name "Jah-dah-gwah" was formed.

Among other significations which have been assigned to the word,

but without any authority, may be mentioned "The elevated

place," and "The foggy place," in allusion probably, to the situa-

tion of the lake, and the mists which prevail on its surface at

certain seasons.

It will be noticed the Alleghany is called by Celeron the

Ohio, or "La Belle Riviere." This is in accordance with the

usage of all early French writers since the discovery of the river

by LaSalle.  The same custom prevailed among the Senecas.

They have always considered the Alleghany as the Ohio proper.

If you ask a Seneca his name for that river, he will answer O-hee-

yuh. If you ask him its meaning, he will give it as "Beautiful

river."

Mr. Heckewelder, the Moravian missionary, supposing the

word to be of Delaware origin, endeavors to trace its etymology

from several words, signifying in that language, "The white

foaming river." The late Judge Hall of Cincinnati adopted the

same derivation.  Neither of them seem to have been aware

that it is a genuine Seneca word, derived from that nation by the

French, and by the latter written "Ohio." Its pronunciation by

a Frenchman would exactly represent the word as spoken by a

Seneca, the letter "i" being sounded like "e." The name "Ohio"

was, therefore, correctly inserted on the plates buried on the

banks of the Alleghany, above its junction with the Monongahela

at Pittsburgh.

At the time the plate was interred opposite the mouth of

the Conewango, as already narrated, all the officers and men of

the expedition being drawn up in battle array, the chief in com-

mand proclaimed in a loud voice, "Vive le Roi," and that pos-

session was now taken of the country in the name of the King.

The royal arms were affixed to a neighboring tree, and a Proces

Verbal was drawn up and signed as a memorial of the ceremony.

The same formality was adopted at the burial of each succeeding

plate. This proces verbal was in the following form, and in each

instance was signed and witnessed by the officers present: (139)

436      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

"L'an, 1749, nous Celeron, Chevalier de l'ordre Royal et militaire

de St. Louis, Capitaine Commandant un detachement envoye par

les ordres de M. le Marquis de Galissoniere, Commandant

General en Canada, dans la Belle Riviere accompagne des prin-

cipaux officiers de notre detachement, avons enterre (Here was

inserted the place of deposit.) une plaque de plomb, et fait

attacher dans le meme lieu, a un arbre, les Armes du Roi. En

foy de quoi, nous avons dresse et signe, avec M. M. les officiers,

le present Proces verbal a notre camp, le (the day of the month)

1749." "In the year 1749 we, Celeron, Chevalier of the Royal

and military order of St. Louis, commander of a detachment

sent by order of the Marquis of Galissoniere, Governor General

of Canada, to the Ohio, in presence of the principal officers of

our detachment, have buried (Here was inserted the place of

deposit) a leaden plate, and in the same place have affixed to a

tree the Arms of the King.  In testimony whereof we have

drawn up and signed, with the officers, the present Proces verbal,

at our camp, the (day of the month), 1749."  This method of

asserting sovereignty over new territory is peculiar to the French,

and was often adopted by them. La Salle, at the mouth of the

Mississippi in 1682, thus proclaimed the dominion of Louis Le

Grand, and more recently the same formality was observed when

a French squadron took possession of some islands in the Pacific

Ocean.

A few miles from Kanaouagon, on the right bank of the

Alleghany, just below its junction with the Brokenstraw Creek,

was the Indian village of "Paille Coupee," or Cut Straw, the

name being given by Celoron as Kachuiodagon, occupied prin-

cipally by Senecas. The English name, "Broken Straw," and the

French name, "Paille Coupee, were both probably derived from

the Seneca name, which is De-ga-syo-noh-dyah-goh, which signi-

fies literally, broken straw. Kachuiodagon, as given by Celoron,

and Koshenunteagunk, as given on the Historical Map of Penn-

sylvania, and the Seneca name, are all three the same word in

different orthography, the variation in the first two being occa-

sioned by the difference between the French and English mode

of spelling the same Indian word.  Father Bonnecamps states

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  437

the village to be in latitude 41^° 54' 3" and in longitude 79^° 13'

west of Paris.

While the expedition was resting in the vincinity of these

two Indian villages, a council was held with the inhabitants, con-

ducted by Joncaire, whom Celoron states had been adopted by

the Senecas, and possessed great influence and power over them.

They addressed him in the council as "our child Joncaire." He

was probably the person of that name met by Washington at

Venango four years afterwards,⁹ and a son of (140) the Jon-

caire mentioned by Charlevoix as living at Lewiston on the

Niagara in 1721, "who possessed the wit of a Frenchman and

the sublime eloquence of an Iroquois." The father, who was a

captive, died in 1740, leaving two half-breed sons, who seem to

have inherited his influence and distinction.  Their names were

Chabert Joncaire, Junior, and Philip Clauzonne de Joncaire.

Both were in the French service, and brought reinforcements

from the west to Fort Niagara at the time it was besieged by Sir

William Johnson in 1759. Their names are affixed to the capitu-

lation which took place a few days later. The former was in

command of Fort Schlosser, his brother, who was a captain in

the marine, being with him.  They were both in the expedition

of Celoron.

The result of the council held by Joncaire was not satis-

factory to the French. It was very evident there was a strong

feeling among the Indians on the Alleghany in favor of the

English. It did not, however, prevent the French from descend-

ing the river. After pledging the Senecas in a cup of "Onontios

milk" (brandy) the expedition left the villages of Kanaouagon

and Paille Coupee on the first day of August, and after proceed-

ing about four leagues below the latter, reached a village of

Loups and Renards, composed of ten cabins. The Loups were a

branch of the Delawares, called by the English Munseys. Four

or five leagues farther down they passed another small village,

consisting of six cabins, and on the third of August another of

ten cabins. The next was a village on the "Riviere aux Boeufs."

According to Father Bonnecamps, they passed between Paille

Coupee and the Riviere aux Boeufs one village on the left and

four on the right, the latitude of the third on the right being

438      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

41°^, 30' 30", and the longitude 79° 21' west of Paris.  The

Riviere aux Boeufs is now known as French Creek, it having

been so called by Washington on his visit there in 1753.  The

English named it Venango.  A fort was built by the French in

1753-4 on its western bank, sixty rods below its junction with the

Alleghany, called Fort Machault.  In 1760, when the English

took possession, they built another, forty rods higher up, and

nearer the mouth of French Creek, which they called Fort

Venango. In 1787 the United States Government sent a force to

protect the settlers, and built a fort on the south bank of the

creek, half a mile above its mouth, which was called Fort Frank-

lin. From all of which it appears that this was at an early day

an important point on the river.  It is now the site of the flour-

ishing village of Franklin.  At the time of Celeron's visit the

Indian village numbered about ten cabins.

(141) After passing the Riviere aux Boeufs and another

on the left, the expedition reached on the same day a bend in

the river about nine miles below, on the left or eastern bank

of which lay a large boulder, nearly twenty-two feet in length

by fourteen in breadth, on the inclined face of which were rude

inscriptions, evidently of Indian workmanship, representing by

various symbols the triumphs of the race in war and in the

chase. It was regarded by the natives attached to the expedition

as an "Indian God," and held in superstitious reverence. It was

a well-known landmark, and did not fail to arrest the attention

of the French. Celoron deemed it a favorable point at which to

bury his second leaden plate. This was done with due form

and ceremony, the plate bearing an inscription similar to that

on the first, differing only in the date and designation of the

place of deposit.  Celoron's record is as follows: "Aout 3me,

1749. Enterre une plaque de plomb sur la rive meridionale de

la riviere Oyo, a 4 lieues, au dessous de la riviere aux boeufs,

vis-a-vis une montagne pelle, et aupres d'une grosse pierre, sur

laquelle on voit plusieurs figures assez grossierement gravees."

"Buried a leaden plate on the south bank of the Ohio river, four

leagues below the river Aux Boeufs, opposite a bald mountain,

and near a large stone, on which are many figures rudely en-

graved."

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  439

Father Bonnecamps states the deposit to have been made

under a large rock.  An excellent view of the rock in question,

with a fac-simile of the hieroglyphics on its face, may be found

in Schoolcraft's work on the "Indian Tribes in the United States,"

Vol. VI, p. 172. It was drawn by Captain Eastman of the U.

S. Army while standing waist deep in the river, its banks being

then nearly full. At the time of the spring and fall freshets the

rock is entirely submerged.  The abrasion of its exposed sur-

face by ice and floodwood in winter has almost obliterated the

rude carvings.  At the time of Celoron's visit it was entirely

uncovered. It is called "Hart's rock" on Hutchins' Topographi-

cal Map of Virginia. The distance of "four leagues" from the

mouth of the river Aux Boeufs, or French Creek, to the rock,

as given by Celoron, is, as usual, a little exaggerated.  The

actual distance by the windings of the river is about nine miles.

The league as used by Celoron may be estimated as containing

about two miles and a half. The leaden plate deposited at this

point has never been found, and some zealous antiquarian living

in the vicinity might, from the record now given, be able to

restore it to light, after a repose of more than a century and a

quarter.

From this station Celoron sent Joncaire forward to Attigue

the next day, to announce the approach of the expedition, it

being an Indian settlement (142) of some importance on the left

bank of the river, between eight and nine leagues farther down,

containing twenty-two cabins.  Before reaching Attigue they

passed a river three or four leagues from the Aux Boeufs, the

confluence of which with the Alleghany is described as "very

beautiful," and a league farther down another, having on its

upper waters some villages of Loups and Iroquois.

Attigue was probably on or near the Kiskiminitas river,

which falls into the south side of the Alleghany about twenty-

five miles above Pittsburgh. It is called the river d'Attigue by

Montcalm, in a letter dated in 1758.10 There were several Indian

villages on its banks at that date. They reached Attigue on the

sixth, where they found Joncaire waiting. Embarking together

they passed on the right an old "Chaouanons" (Shawnees) vil-

lage. It had not been occupied by the Indians since the removal

440      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

of Chartier and his band to the river Vermillion in the Wabash

country in 1745, by order of the Marquis de Beauharnois. Leav-

ing Attigue the next day, they passed a village of Loups, all the

inhabitants of which, except three Iroquois, and an old woman

who was regarded as a Queen, and devoted to the English, had

fled in alarm to Chiningue. This village of the Loups, Celoron

declares to be the finest he saw on the river. It must have been

situated at or near the present site of Pittsburgh. The descrip-

tion of the place, like many given by Celoron, is so vague that

it is impossible to identify it with any certainty.  The clear,

bright current of the Alleghany, and the sluggish, turbid stream

of the Monongahela, flowing together to form the broad Ohio,

their banks clothed in luxuriant summer foliage, must have

presented to the voyagers a scene strikingly picturesque, one

which would hardly have escaped the notice of the chief of the

expedition. If, therefore, the allusion to "the finest place on the

river" has no reference to the site of Pittsburgh, then no mention

is made of it whatever. On landing three leagues farther down,

they were told by some of their Indians that they had passed a

rock on which were some inscriptions. Father Bonnecamps and

Joncaire, who were sent to examine it, reported nothing but some

English names written in charcoal. This was near the second

entrepot of the English.

Their camp being only two leagues above Chiningue, they

were enabled to reach the latter the next day. They found the

village one of the largest on the river, consisting of fifty cabins

of Iroquois, Shawnees and Loups; also Iroquois from the Sault

St. Louis and Lake of the Two Mountains, with some Nippis-

singues, Abenakis and Ottawas. Bonnecamps estimated the num-

ber of cabins at eighty, and says, "we called it (143) Chiningue,

from its vicinity to a river of that name."  He records its lati-

tude as 40° 35' 10" which is nearly correct, and longitude as

80^{° 1}9'. The place was subsequently known as "Logstown," a

large and flourishing village which figures prominently in Indian

history for many years after this period. Colonel Croghan, who

was sent to the Ohio Indians by Governor Hamilton, of Pennsyl-

vania, in August, 1749, mentions in his journal that "Monsieur

Celaroon with two hundred French soldiers, had passed through

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  441

Logstown just before his arrival."11  Crogan inquired of the

inhabitants the object of the expedition, and was told by them

that "it was to drive the English away, and by burying iron

plates, with inscriptions on them at the mouth of each remarkable

creek, to steal away their country."

On reaching Chiningue Celoron found several English

traders established there, whom he compelled to leave.  He

wrote by them to Governor Hamilton, under date of August 6th,

1749, that he was surprised to find English traders on French

territory, it being in contravention of solemn treaties, and hoped

the Governor would forbid their trespassing in future.  De

Celoron also made a speech, in which he informed the Indians

that "he was on his way down the Ohio to whip home the

Twightwees and Wyandots for trading with the English." They

treated his speech with contempt, insisting that "to separate them

from the English would be like cutting a man into halves, and

expecting him to live."¹²  The Indians were found so unfriendly

to the French, and suspicious of the objects of the expedition, as

to embarrass the movements of de Celoron. His Iroquois and

Abenaki allies refused to accompany him farther than Chiningue.

They destroyed the plates which, bearing the arms of the French

King, had been affixed to trees as memorials of his sovereignty.

After leaving Chiningue, they passed two rivers, one on

either side, and crossing the present boundary line between Penn-

sylvania and Ohio, reached the river Kanououara early on the

13th. Here they interred the third leaden plate, with the usual in-

scription and customary ceremonies. The blank in the plate was

filled as follows:  "Enterre a l'entree de la riviere, et sur la

rive Septentrionale de Kanououara, qui se decharge a l'est de la

riviere Oyo."  "Buried at the mouth and on the north bank of

the river Kanououara, which empties into the easterly side of

the Ohio river."  Neither Celoron nor Bonnecamps gives such

a description of the locality as to warrant a positive identification

of the site.  The plate was probably buried on the northerly

bank of Wheeling Creek, at its junction with the Ohio, in the

present state of (144) Virginia, and near where Fort Henry was

subsequently built in 1774.  No vestige of the plate has been

discovered so far as known.

442      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

The expedition resumed its voyage on the 14th, passing the

mouths of three streams, two on the left and one on the right.

Deer abounded along the banks. Two of the rivers are stated

to be strikingly beautiful at their junction with the Ohio. On

the 15th they arrived at the mouth of the Muskingum, called by

Father Bonnecamps Yenanguakonnan, and encamped on the

shore.  Here the fourth leaden plate was buried on the right

bank of that river, at its junction with the Ohio. Celoron de-

scribes the place of deposit as follows:  "Enterre au pied d'un

erable, qui forme trepied avec une chene rouge et un orme, a

i'entree de la Yenanguakonan, sur la rive occidentale de cette

riviere." "Buried at the foot of a maple, which forms a triangle

with a red oak and elm, at the mouth of the river Yenanguako-

nan, and on its western bank."

In 1798, half a century later, some boys, who were bathing

at the mouth of the Muskingum, discovered something project-

ing from the perpendicular face of the river bank, three or four

feet below the surface.  With the aid of a pole they loosened

it from its bed, and found it to be a leaden plate, stamped with

letters in an unknown language. Unaware of its historic value,

and being in want of lead, then a scarce article in the new

country, they carried it home and cast a part of it into bullets.

News of the discovery of so curious a relic having reached the

ears of a resident of Marietta he obtained possession of it, and

found the inscription to be in French.  The boys had cut off

quite a large part of the inscription, but enough remained to

indicate its character. It subsequently passed into the hands of

Caleb Atwater, the historian, who sent it to Goveronr De Witt

Clinton. The latter presented it to the Antiquarian Society of

Massachusetts, in the library of which it is now deposited.  A

poor fac-simile of the fragment is given in Hildreth's Pioneer

History of the Ohio Valley, at page 20.  It appears to have

been substantially the same as the other plates which have been

discovered, with the exception of a different arrangement of the

lines. The place of deposit is given as "riviere Yenangue" on

the part of the plate which was rescued from the boys. Mr.

Atwater, Governor Clinton and several historians, misled by the

similarity between the names "Yenangue" and "Venango," sup-

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  443

posed that it had originally been deposited at Venango, an old

Indian town at the mouth of French Creek in Pennsylvania, one

hundred and thirty miles above the mouth of the Muskingum,

and had been carried down by a freshet, or removed (145) by

some party to the place where it was discovered. The Journal

of de Celoron removes all doubt on the subject, and conclusively

establishes the fact that the plate was originally deposited where

it was found, on the site where old Fort Harmer was subse-

quently built, and opposite the point where the village of Marietta

is now situated.

After the deposit of the fourth plate was completed, the

expedition broke up their forest camp, embarked in their canoes,

and resumed the descent of the river. About three-fourts of a

mile below the Muskingum, Father Bonnecamps took some ob-

servations, and found the latitude to be 39^° 36' and the longi-

tude 81^° 20' west of Paris. They accomplished twelve leagues

on the 16th, and on the 17th, embarking early, they passed two

fine rivers, one on each side, the names of which are not given.

On the 18th, after an early start they were arrested by the rain

at the mouth of the Great Kanawha, which is called by Father

Bonnecamps "Chinodaichta."   The bank of this large stream,

flowing from the southeast, and draining an extensive territory,

was chosen for the deposit of the fifth plate.  Only a brief

record of the ceremony is given. A copy of the inscription is

omitted by Celoron, but his record of the interment of the plate

is as follows: "Enterree au pied d'un orme, sur la rive meridion-

ale de l'Oyo, et la rive orientale de Chinondaista, le 18 Aout,

1749."  "Buried at the foot of an elm on the south bank of

the Ohio, and on the east bank of the Chinondaista, the 18th

day of August, 1749.

Fortunately the discovery of the plate in March, 1846, leaves

no doubt of the inscription. It was found by a boy while play-

ing on the margin of the Kenawha river. Like that at the mouth

of the Muskingum, it was projecting from the river bank, a few

feet below the surface.  Since the time it was buried, an ac-

cumulation of soil had been deposited above it by the annual

river freshets for nearly one hundred years.  The day of the

deposit, as recorded on the plate, corresponds precisely with the

444      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

one stated by de Celoron.  The spelling of the Indian name

of the river differs slightly from the Journal, that on the plate

being "Chinodahichetha."  Kenawha, the Indian name of the

river in another dialect, is said to signify "The river of the

woods." The place selected by Celoron for the interment of the

plate must have been one of surpassing beauty.  The native

forest, untouched by the pioneer, and crowned with the luxuriant

foliage of Northern Kentucky, covered the banks of both rivers,

and the picturesque scenery justified the name of "Point Pleas-

ant," which was afterwards bestowed by the early settlers. On

the 16th day of October, 1774, it became the scene of a bloody

(146) battle between an army of Virginians, commanded by

Colonel Lewis, and a large force of western Indians, under the

leadership of the celebrated Cornstalk, Logan, and others, in

which the latter were defeated.13

The expedition was detained at this point by the rain.  It

re-embarked on the 2oth, and when they had proceeded about

three leagues, Father Bonnecamps took the latitude and longitude,

which he records at 38° 39' 57" for the former, and 82^{° 1}' for

the latter.  Joncaire was sent forward the next day with two

chiefs from the Sault St. Louis and two Abenakis, to propitiate

the inhabitants of "St. Yotoc," a village they were now approach-

ing.  They embarked early on the morning of the 22d, and

reached St. Yotoc the same day.  This village was composed

of Shawnees, Iroquois, Loups, and Miamis, and Indians from

the Sault St. Louis, Lake of the Two Mountains, as well as

representatives from nearly all the nations of the "upper coun-

try."       The name "St. Yotoc" seems to be neither French nor

Indian.    It is probably a corruption of Scioto. Father Bonne-

camps calls it "Sinhioto" on his map. He records the latitude

of the south bank of the Ohio, opposite its mouth, at 38° 50' 24",

and the longitude 82^° 22'. Pouchot, in his "Memoires sur la

derniere guerre," French edition, vol. III., page 182, calls the

river "Sonhioto." This village of St. Yotoc, or Scioto, was prob-

ably on the north bank of the Ohio, a little below the mouth of

the Scioto, now the site of Alexandria. Its principal inhabitants

were Shawnees.

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  445

The expedition remained here until the 26th of August. On

the 27th they proceeded as far as the riviere La Blanche, or

White river, which they reached at ten at night.  On the bank

of the Ohio, opposite the mouth of this river, Bonnecamps

found the latitude to be 39^° 12' 01", and the longitude 83^° 31'.

Embarking on the 30th, they passed the great north bend of the

Ohio, and reached the riviere a la Roche, now known as the

Great Miami.  Here their voyage on the Ohio ended, and they

turned their little fleet of bark gondolas northward into the

channel of its great tributary.

The sixth and last of the leaden plates was buried at this

place. The text of Celoron's Journal reads as follows: "Enterree

sur la pointe formee par la rive droite de l'Ohio, et la rive gauche

de la riviere a la Roche, Aout 31, 1749." "Buried on the point

formed by the intersection of the right bank of the Ohio, with

the left bank of the Rock river, August 31, 1749." So far as

known, this plate has never been discovered. Celoron calls the

Great Miami the Riviere a la Roche, and Pouchot, quoted above,

and other French writers give it the same name.

The expedition left its encampment at the mouth of this

river on the (147) first day of September, and began the toil-

some ascent of the stream, now greatly diminished by the summer

drought.  On the l₃th they arrived at "Demoiselles," which

Father Bonnecamps, with his constant companion the astrolabe,

found to be in latitude 40° 23' 12".. and longitude 83^° 29'. This

was the residence of La Demoiselle, a chief of a portion of the

Miamis who were allies of the English.¹⁴  The fort and village

of La Demoiselle were mentioned by M. de Longueil in 1752.

It was probably situated on what was afterwards known as

Loramie's Creek, the earliest point of English settlement in Ohio.

It became quite noted in the subsequent history of the Indian

wars, and was destroyed by General Clark in his expedition of

1782. A fort was built on the site several years afterwards by

General Wayne, which he named Fort Loramie.      Here the

French remained a week to recruit, and prepare for the portage

to the Maumee. Having burned their canoes, and obtained some

ponies, they set out on their overland journey.  In arranging

for the march, M. de Celoron took command of the right, and

446      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

M. de Contrecoeur of the left. The distance was estimated by

Celoron as fifty leagues, and five and a half days were allotted

for its accomplishment.

They completed the portage on the 25th, and arrived at

Kiskakon. This appears to be the Indian name for the site of

Fort Wayne, which was built there in 1794.  Celoron found it

a French post, under the command of M. de Raymond. It un-

doubtedly took the name of Kiskakon, from a branch of Ottawas

that removed to this place from Missillimackinac, where they had

resided as late as 1682. It was here that de Celoron provided

pirogues and provisions for the descent of the Maumee to Lake

Erie. The Miami Chief "Pied Froid," or Coldfoot resided in

the village. He appears not to have been very constant in his

allegiance either to the French or the English.

Leaving Kiskakon on the 27th of September, a part of the

expedition went overland to Detroit, and the remainder descended

the river by canoe. The latter landed near Detroit on the 6th

of October.  Having renewed his supplies and canoes for the

transportation of his detachment, Celoron prepared for the re-

turn to Montreal by way of Lake Erie.  His Indian allies, as

usual, occasioned some delay. They had stopped at the mouth

of the Maumee, and were overcome by a drunken debauch on

the white man's fire water. It was not until the 8th of October

that the party finally launched their canoes, and descended the

river into Lake Erie. Their first night was spent on its northern

shore at Point Pellee. Nothing worthy of note occurred during

their traverse of the lake. They reached Fort Niagara on the

19th, where they remained three (148) days. Leaving there on

the 22d, they coasted the south shore of Lake Ontario, and ar-

rived at Fort Frontenac on the 6th of November, their canoes

badly shattered by the autumnal gales, and their men greatly

fatigued with the hardships of the voyage.  They pushed on,

however, with as little delay as possible to Montreal, which they

reached on the loth of October, having, according to the esti-

mate of both de Celoron and Father Bonnecamps, traveled at

least twelve hundred leagues.

Allusion has been made to the changes which took place

in the Ohio Valley prior to the expedition of de Celoron. Those

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  447

which have since occurred are no less remarkable.  Both the

French and the English continued equally determined to possess

the country north of the Ohio.  The former stretched a chain

of posts from Niagara to the Mississippi, as a barrier against

English encroachments, and to exclude the Indians from their

influence and control. To counteract these demonstrations, Gist

was sent by the Ohio Company in 1750 to survey its lands pre-

liminary to their occupation and settlement. In 1753 Washing-

ton was dispatched by Governor Dinwiddie to Venango and Le

Boeuf on what proved to be a fruitless mission.  A post was

established the same year by the English at Pittsburgh, which

was captured the next by the French, and called after the Marquis

du Quesne. It was occupied by the latter until retaken by Gen-

eral Forbes in 1756.

This was followed the next year by an expedition under

Washington, who at the age of twenty-two drew his maiden

sword at the Great Meadows in an encounter with a detachment

of French under Jumonville, which resulted in the death of the

latter. Washington pushed on farther west, but the advance

of the enemy with strong reinforcements compelled him to fall

back to the Great Meadows, which he strengthened and fortified,

under the significant name of Fort Necessity.  Here he was

attacked by the French under Coulon de Villiers, a brother of

Jumonville, with a vigor inspired by the desire of avenging his

brother's death.  Washington was compelled to capitulate. The

French were thus enabled to acquire complete control for the

time being over the disputed territory.  Thus was the opening

scene in the great drama of the "Old French War" enacted. The

disastrous defeat of Braddock followed the next year, and ex-

posed the whole frontier to the hostile incursions of the French

and Indians.

In 1759 the grand scheme for the conquest of Canada, con-

ceived by the illustrious Pitt, was carried into execution. The

expeditions of Amherst against Ticonderoga, Wolfe against

Quebec, and Prideaux against Niagara, resulted in the fall of

those important fortresses.  (149)  Major Rogers was sent

to the Northwest in 1760 to receive possession of the French

posts, which had been surrendered to the English by the capitu-

448      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

lation of Quebec. He was met at Cuyahoga by Pontiac, the Ot-

tawa, who forbade his farther progress. "I stand," says he,

"in your path; you can march no farther without my permis-

sion."  A friend to the French, a leader in the attack on Brad-

dock, ambitious and vindictive, Pontiac was a chief of command-

ing intellect and well qualified for bold enterprises and strategic

combinations. These qualities were indicated in his great con-

spiracy for the simultaneous capture of the ten principal posts

in the Northwest, and the massacre of the English trading in

their vicinity.  Eight of those posts, embracing Sandusky, St.

Joseph, Miami, Ouatanon, Mackinaw, Presque Isle, Le Boeuf

and Venango successively fell before the deep laid plans of the

wily chieftain.  Forts Pitt and Detroit successfully withstood

the most vigorous assaults, and the latter a protracted siege con-

ducted by Pontiac himself.

Now war in all its horrors raged with savage intensity along

the entire frontier.  The unprotected settlers, men, women and

children, were massacred and scalped, or if spared, borne away

into a hopeless captivity.  The English colonists were aroused

to meet the emergency, and Colonel Bouquet was sent in 1763

with a large force into the Indian territory to relieve the western

posts, but was compelled to halt at Pittsburgh.

The succeeding spring found the Indians again on the war-

path, and Detroit was invested for the second time by Pontiac.

An expedition was sent to the Northwestern posts under Brad-

street, and another under Bouquet penetrated the interior of

Ohio.  Bradstreet was duped by his crafty adversaries into a

peace not intended to be kept, but Bouquet, undeceived by similar

artifices, pushed on to the heart of the Indian country.  At the

junction of the White Woman and Tuscarawas rivers he dictated

a peace by his bold and energetic movements, which, with the

exception of occasional outbreaks, was destined to last until the

commencement of the great contest between the colonists and

the mother country.

The treaty of 1783 left the western tribes without an ally,

and the United States became free to extend the arts of peace

over their new territory.  The pioneers shouldered the axe and

the rifle, and marching westward in solid column, invaded the

De Celoron's Expedition to the Ohio in 1749.  449

land. The frail canoe and sluggish batteau, which had so long

and wearily contended with the adverse currents of the Ohio,

were soon replaced by the power of steam. The dense forests

that for a thousand miles had fringed both borders of the (150)

river were opened to the sunlight, and thriving cities and smiling

villages arose on the ruins of the mound builders. The narrow

trails of the Indian, deep worn for centuries by the tread of

hunter and warrior, were now superseded by the iron rail and

broad highway. The hardy emigrants and their descendants

subdued the wilderness, and with the church, the school-house,

the factory and the plough planted a civilization on the ruins

of a fallen barbarism.

The dominion and power of France have disappeared, and

no traces of her lost sovereignty exist, save in the few names she

has left on the prominent streams and landmarks of the country,

and in the leaden plates which, incribed in her language and

asserting her claims, still lie buried on the banks of the "Beauti-

ful River."                          O. H. MARSHALL.

NOTES.

1. This name is usually spelled Celeron, but incorrectly.

M. Ferland, in his Cours d'Histoire du Canada, vol. ii, p. 493,

calls him Celoron de Blainville.

2. Joncaire.

3. N. Y. Col. Doc., vi, p. 604.

4. The Indian name of Sir William Johnson. It signifies

"Superintendent of Affairs."

5. V. Penn. Col. Records, p. 508.

6. N. Y. Col. Doc., ix, p. 1097.

7. This observation, like most of those taken by Father

Bonnecamps, is incorrect.  Either his instruments were imper-

fect or his methods of computation erroneous. The true latitude

of the mouth of the Conewango is less than 41^° 50', as it is

twelve miles south of the boundary line between New York and

Pennsylvania.

8. On Crevecoeur's Map of 1758, in Depots des Cartes,

Ministere de la Guerre, Paris, the Conewango is called the

"Chatacouin" as far down as its junction with the Alleghany.

9. Governor Clinton, in his address before the New York

Historical Society in 1811 , inquires if the Joncaire met by Char-

Vol. XXIX- 29.