1763, May.] INDIAN DEBAUCH. 



267 



ported his loss to Major Wilkins, the command- 

 ing officer.^ 



The actors in this bold and well-executed stroke 

 were the Wyandots, who, for some days, had lain 

 in ambush at the mouth of the river, to intercept 

 trading boats or parties of troops. Seeing the fright 

 and confusion of Cuyler's men, they had forgotten 

 their usual caution, and rushed upon them in the 

 manner described. The ammunition, provisions, 

 and other articles, taken in this attack, formed a 

 valuable prize ; but, unfortunately, there was, among 

 the rest, a great quantity of whiskey. This the In- 

 dians seized, and carried to their respective camps, 

 which, throughout the night, presented a scene of 

 savage revelry and riot. The liquor was poured 

 into vessels of birch -bark, or any thing capable of 

 containing it; and the Indians, crowding around, 

 scooped it up in their cups and ladles, and quaffed 

 the raw w^hiskey like water. While some sat 



1 Cuyler's Report, MS. 



Extract from a MS. Letter — Major Wilkins to Sir J. Amherst. 



" Niagara, 6th June, 1763. 



" Just as I was sending off my Letter of Yesterday, Lieutenant Cuy- 

 ler, of the Queen's Rangers, Arrived from his Intended Voyage to the 

 Detroit. He has been very Unfortunate, Having been Defeated by Indians 

 within 30 miles of the Detroit River ; I observed that he was Wounded 

 and Weak, and Desired him to take the Surgeon's Assistance and some 

 Rest, and Recollect the Particulars of the Affair, and let me have them in 

 Writing, as perhaps I sliould find it Necessary to Transmit them to Your 

 Excellency, which I have now Done. 



" It is probable Your Excellency will have heard of what has Hap- 

 pened by way of Fort Pitt, as Ensign Christie, Commanding at Presqu' Isle, 

 writes me he has sent an Express to Acquaint the Commanding Officer at 

 that Place, of Sanduskie's being Destroyed, and of Lieut. Cuyler's Defeat. 



" Some Indians of the Six Nations are now with me. They seem 

 very Civil ; The Interpreter has just told them I was writing to Your 

 Excellency for Rum, and they are very glad." 



