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It is well known to every man conversant with the earlier history ofthis country that, shortly subsequent to the cession of the Canadas toEngland by France, Ponteac, the great head of the Indian race of thatperiod, had formed a federation of the various tribes, threateningextermination to the British posts established along the Westernfrontier. These were nine in number, and the following stratagem wasresorted to by the artful chief to effect their reduction. Investingone fort with his warriors, so as to cut off all communication with theothers, and to leave no hope of succor, his practice was to offer termsof surrender, which never were kept in the honorable spirit in whichthe far more noble and generous Tecumseh always acted with his enemies,and thus, in turn, seven of these outposts fell victims to theirconfidence in his truth.
Detroit and Michilimackinac, or Mackinaw as it is now called, remained,and all the ingenuity of the chieftain was directed to the possessionof these strongholds. The following plan, well worthy of his invention,was at length determined upon. During a temporary truce, and whilePonteac was holding forth proposals for an ultimate and durable peace,a game of lacrosse was arranged by him to take place simultaneously onthe common or clearing on which rested the forts of Michilimackinac andDetroit. The better to accomplish their object, the guns of thewarriors had been cut short and given to their women, who wereinstructed 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 overtheir ball, permission to regain which they presumed would not bedenied. On approaching the drawbridge they were with fierce yells tomake a general rush, and, securing the arms concealed by t