The Ojibways aid the French in the war against the British—Mamong-e-sada leads a party of their warriors from La Pointe, who fight under Montcalm at the taking of Quebec—Origin of the Ojibway name for the English—They view with regret the evacuation of their country by the French—Those who remain amongst them through the ties of marriage, wield an important influence over their conduct—They stand neutral during the strenuous efforts made by the Algic tribes in opposition to the English—Nature of the hostility evinced by the Ojibways against the British—Speech of Meh-neh-weh-na to Alexander Henry—Eastern section of the tribe join "Pontiac's war"—Capture of the fort at Michilimackinac entrusted into their hands—Shrewdness and foresight of the Ojibway chieftain—British commandant refuses to listen to hints of danger—Game of Baugudoway—Manner in which the fort was taken—Testimony of Alexander Henry—His capture and ransom—Troops massacred.
We have now brought forward the history of the different sections of the Ojibway tribe, to the time when the French nation were forced to strike their colors and cede their possessions in America (comprising the great chain of lakes), into the hands of the British Empire.
The time during which these two powerful nations battled for the supremacy on the American continent, is an important era in the history of the Algic tribes who occupied a great portion of Canada, and the areas of the great western lakes.
Induced by their predilection to the French people, the causes of which we have given in a previous chapter, the eastern section of the Ojibway tribe residing at Sault Ste. Marie, Mackinaw, and the shores of Lake Huron, joined their warriors with the army of the French, and freely rallied to their support at Detroit, Fort Du Quesne, Niagara, Montreal, and Quebec. The Ojibways figured in
