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MICHIGAN CHAPTER 11 Pontiac Plans to Wipe Out the English Invaders
When quiet had been restored Gladwin replied to the speech of Pontiac that the savages might be assured of the friendship of the English so long as they behaved themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner. But he said in the most emphatic phrases that vengeance would surely overtake them if they should assume the aggressive. Gladwin strongly intimated his suspicions of the treachery of the savage warriors and exposed their concealed guns, very greatly to their chagrin. The council came quickly to an end and the warriors slunk away. During this conference the gates of the fort had been kept locked to prevent any sudden inrush of the savages. Now they were swung open and the baffled chieftain was allowed to depart.
In the opinion of many this was mistaken lenity op the part of Gladwin. If he had made Pontiac or even a half dozen of his chief warriors prisoners, or held them as hostages for the good behavior of the savages the effect might have been beneficial. But it was the evident desire of Gladwin to avoid an open rupture. He knew the overwhelming numbers of the savages, the weak condition of his defences and the fact that reinforcements could not reach him for several weeks. He preferred to gain time, at least. Pontiac attributed his conduct to cowardice and was more belligerent than before. He called a council of his followers in the Pottawotamie village and the war spirit was roused to a still greater intensity. He evidently still had hope to trick his adversary
into believing him friendly. The next day Pontiac with three of his chiefs came to the fort and assured Gladwin that his intentions were all peaceful and he then offered to smoke the pipe of peace. Leaving the pipe in the hands of Captain Campbell he withdrew.
The following morning, Monday, May 9th, the savages suddenly swarmed in great numbers on the commons behind the fort. They were decorated with war paint, and yelling and leaping and brandishing their tomahawks they moved toward the fort. As they approached Pontiac himself advanced from the multitude to the gate of the fort which was close barred and locked. He demanded to be admitted. Gladwin replied that he would admit Pontiac himself but not his followers. He said in. terms too plain to be misunderstood that however much he might respect Pontiac and his official position he had no respect whatever for the rabble he led. Then Pontiac turned abruptly from the gate and with a cry for revenge he rushed to his followers who lay flat upon the ground just beyond gunshot. Waving his arms and exhorting them in the most fantastic manner he stirred them to action and leaping and yelling they ran to the dwellings of the English outside the palisades and began scalping and tomahawking the helpless women and children. From that time forward there was bloody work in and about the little settlement and in its neighboring forests.
MICHIGAN
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