Down at Devil's Hole

Hi, this is Our Bloody History, where we reflect on obscure and often forgotten parts of history. 

Here’s today's story:

An ambush on British soldiers this week, 259 years ago, on 14 September 1763, by Seneca warriors near Niagara Gorge in present-day New York.

Let's go.

It's 1763 and the French and Indian War has just wrapped up in North America. After nearly nine years of conflict, the British Colonies and their Native American allies finally claim victory over the greatly outnumbered French Colonies and their allies. But any sort of hoped-for peace is short lived. The Native Americans are sick of British rule and want their lands and autonomy back.

On 27 April, just shy of three months after the war, an Ottawa war chief known as Pontiac calls a council on the banks of the Ecorse River in southern Michigan. Members from various tribes in the Great Lakes region join, including the Ottawas, Ojibwas, Potawatomis and Hurons. Pontiac urges the tribes to unite and join him in ousting the British from their lands.

In May 1763, a loose confederation of Native Americans, led by Pontiac, attack a number of British forts and settlements. Pontiac's War, also known as Pontiac's Conspiracy or Pontiac's Rebellion, is officially underway. And it's only just the beginning of a brutal frontier conflict that will last over three years. 

At the same time, tension is simmering between the New York colony and the Seneca people in the Niagara Falls area. The Seneca have been furious with the Europeans for years, first the French and now the British, due to their loss of control of an important supply and portage route along the Niagara River. During Pontiac's War, the portage plays an even more critical role, allowing the British to transport troops and supplies between their forts. 

On 14 September 1763, our day in history this week, an escorted wagon train carrying supplies makes its merry way from Fort Schlosser to Fort Niagara. On the way it passes through Devil's Hole, an area known for treacherous terrain, heavy woodlands and deep ravines.

Suddenly, 300-500 Seneca warriors descend upon the isolated wagons. The escort party and teamsters panic and the frightened animals stampede, many driving themselves straight into the ravine with their cargo and drivers attached. Only 3 of the 24-man wagon party survive. 

Two companies of the British 80th Regiment of Light Armed Foot are quick to hear about the ambush and rush to rescue the wagon train.

But the Seneca are prepared for them.

About a mile from the wagon train, the Native Americans attack the British soldiers from a bush-covered hill overlooking the trail. 81 British soldiers are killed and 8 wounded before the rescue party decides to retreat. Mission failure.

Reinforcements from Fort Schlosser arrive shortly after the second ambush, but, fearing another attack, they withdraw almost immediately. When the British return several days later, they find that their soldiers have been ritually scalped and many of their bodies thrown into the ravine below.

The Anglo-Americans call this tragedy "The Devil's Hole Massacre".

Sadly, what went down at Devil's Hole is just one of many such massacres, perpetrated by both sides, throughout the early years of frontier expansion in North America. Sir William Johnson, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the New York colony put it best: 

"Our people in general are ill calculated to maintain friendship with the Indians. They despise those in peace whom they fear to meet in war."

Any relationship built on disdain is always going to boil over like one big pot of festering hubris. While tragedies like this are easily avoidable, they aren't in the least bit surprising. A sad but true reality of human existence. 

3 quick facts:

• The Battle of Devil's Hole was planned by a Seneca chief known as Farmer's Brother, who led a large band in support of Pontiac. The consensus among historians is that the ambush was related to the larger rebellion.

• Because of the successful Seneca attacks, the British reinforce their position in Niagara. Eventually, the Seneca are forced to cede land in this area: a strip one mile wide on each side of the Niagara River from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, called the Mile Reserve, as well as the islands upriver of Niagara Falls. This cuts them off from traditional control of the river and portage, which had been a transportation route as well as a source of food and water.

• The Seneca will continue to fight to regain control of the river banks. Although many settlers stay out of the area until after the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War, its settlement forces many of the Native Americans in the area to ally with British Canada.

Other conflicts that happened this week:

• 12 September 1309: The First Siege of Gibraltar kicks off during the Spanish Reconquista, pitting the forces of the Kingdom of Castile against the Emirate of Granada resulting in a Castilian victory.

• 13 September 533: Belisarius of the Byzantine Empire defeats Gelimer and the Vandals at the Battle of Ad Decimum, near Carthage, North Africa.

• 14 September 919: High King Niall Glúndub is killed at the Battle of Islandbridge while leading an Irish coalition against the Vikings of Uí Ímair, led by King Sitric Cáech.

• 15 September 1894: Japan defeats Qing dynasty China in the Battle of Pyongyang during the First Sino-Japanese War.

• 16 September 1810: With the Grito de Dolores, Father Miguel Hidalgo begins Mexico's fight for independence from Spain.

• 17 September 1901: A Boer column defeats a British force at the Battle of Blood River Poort during the Second Boer War.

• 18 September 324: Constantine the Great decisively defeats Licinius in the Battle of Chrysopolis, establishing Constantine's sole control over the Roman Empire.

A historical quote about historical things:

See ya next week!

DisclaimerYou are reading my abstractions based on the abstractions of others. History is not always an accurate map of what really happened. The map is not the territory. Reality can be very different. We are like blind people groping an elephant, describing what we feel. It always pays to do your own research and ask questions.