Title:  Wacousta or The Prophecy

Author:  John Richardson

Release Date:  January, 2004 [EBook #4912] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 25, 2002]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of the project gutenberg EBOOK Wacousta ***

This etext was produced by Gardner Buchanan with help from
Charles Franks and the distributed proofers.

Wacousta;
   or,
the prophecy.

Volume One of Three

Preface

It is well known to every man conversant with the earlier history of this country that, shortly subsequent to the cession of the Canadas to England by France, Ponteac, the great head of the Indian race of that period, had formed a federation of the various tribes, threatening extermin ation to the British posts established along the Western frontier.  These were nine in number, and the following stratagem was resorted to by the artful chief to effect their reduction.  Investing one fort with his warriors, so as to cut off all communication with the others, and to leave no hope of succor, his practice was to offer terms of surrender, which never were kept in the honorable spirit in which the far more noble and generous Tecumseh always acted with his enemies, and thus, in turn, seven of these outposts fell victims to their confidence in his truth.

Detroit and Michilimaclcinac, or Mackinaw as it is now called, remained, and all the ingenuity of the chieftain was directed to the possession of these strongholds.  The following plan, well worthy of his invention, was at length determined upon.  During a temporary truce, and while Ponteac was holding forth proposals for an ultimate and durable peace, a game of lacrosse was arranged by him to take place simultaneously on the common or clearing on which rested the forts of Michilimackinac and Detroit.  The better to accomplish their object, the guns of the warriors had been cut short and given to their women, who were instructed to conceal them under their blankets, and during the game, and seemingly without design, to approach the drawbridge of the fort.  This precaution taken, the players were to approach and throw over their ball, permission to regain which they presumed would not be denied.  On approaching the drawbridge they were with fierce yells to make a general rush, and, securing the arms concealed by the women, to massacre the unprepared garrison.