302 BLOCKADE OF DETROIT. [1763, July. 



salute of musketry, which occasioned some alarm 

 among the English, who knew nothing of its cause. 

 They reported the progress of the war in the south 

 and east ; and, a few days after, an Abenaki, from 

 Lower Canada, also made his appearance, bringing 

 to the Indians the flattering falsehood that their 

 Great Father, the King of France, was at that 

 moment advancing up the St. Lawrence with his 

 army. It may here be observed, that the name of 

 Father, given to the Kings of France and England, 

 was a mere title of courtesy or policy ; for, in his 

 haughty independence, the Indian yields submission 

 to no man. 



It was now between two and three months since 

 the siege began ; and if one is disposed to think 

 slightingly of the warriors whose numbers could 

 avail so little against a handful of half-starved Eng- 

 lish and provincials, he has only to recollect, that 

 where barbarism has been arrayed against civiliza- 

 tion, disorder against discipline, and ungoverned 

 fury against considerate valor, such has seldom 

 failed to be the result. 



At the siege of Detroit, the Indians displayed a 

 high degree of comparative steadiness and perse- 

 verance ; and their history cannot furnish another 

 instance of so large a force persisting so long in 

 the attack of a fortified place. Their good con- 

 duct may be ascribed to their deep rage against the 

 EngHsh, to their hope of speedy aid from the 

 French, and to the controlling spirit of Pontiac, 

 which held them to their work. The Indian is 

 but ill qualified for such attempts, having too much 



