Stalemate "Leave These Distant Lakes and Streams to Us"
Thou knowest the Master of Life. It is he who has put arms in our hands. And it is he who has ordered us to fight against the bad meat that would come to infect our lands.
-- Pontiac
We have visibly brought upon us this Indian War by being too saving of a few presents to the savages which properly distributed would certainly have prevented it.
-- Henry Bouquet to Thomas Gage
If your Excellency still intends to punish them . . . it may easily be done . . . simply by permitting a free sale of rum, which will destroy them more effectively than fire and sword.
-- Major Henry Gladwin
If an Indian injures me, does it follow that I may revenge myself on all Indians?
-- Benjamin Franklin
The bayonets, spears, lances on board her are dyed with Indian blood like axes in a slaughterhouse.
-- James Sterling
Although expeditions had relieved Forts Detroit and Pitt the war was far from over. The first essential steps in a long march toward reconquering the British Empire had been taken. But those gains had to be consolidated. The
-149-