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Michigan CHAPTER Nine Final Success of the English
Forbes was wholly ignorant of the strength or movements of the enemy. Scouting parties of whites supported by a number of friendly Indians were sent out to learn the facts. Without molestation they reached a point where they could observe the fort and they soon learned that the strength of the garrison had been greatly exaggerated.
Vaudreuil was well informed of the movements of the English. He undertook to support de Ligueris, who was in command of the fort, by sending him reinforcements. He ordered troops to go to his aid from Niagara, Detroit and Illinois, as well as the militia of Detroit and all the Indians of the vicinity, Hurons, Pottawatomies, Ottawas, Miamis and others, who could be induced to take a hand in the affair. Forbes' procrastination had a settled purpose. An intrigue was on with the Choctaws and Cherokees to tamper with the western Indians and induce them to withdraw their support of the French. This was to a degree successful. Presents from the French had not been as abundant of late as some of the savages had wished. On the contrary, the English were very liberal. As a result the loyalty of some of the western tribes had begun to waver and they showed an inclination to return to their homes and let the French take care of themselves. The current reports that the English were coming in such overwhelming numbers that the French would be driven out of the country had an effect to dampen the ardor of many.
In September Major Grant obtained the consent of his commander to lead a force of about eight hundred Highlanders, Royal Americans and provincials on a raid to capture the fort by surprise. His plans miscarried to such an extent that by an unfortunate division of. his forces they were attacked in detail by the enemy and repulsed with great loss of life.
Michigan
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