Le Gris
Encyclopedia
Le Gris, was a chief of the Pepikokia band of the Miami tribe
in the 18th century. Also known as The Gray, he was one of three important Miami leaders during the Northwest Indian War
, along with Pacanne
and Little Turtle.
In 1752, a smallpox
epidemic hit many Miami villages. Charles le Moyne, Sieur de Longueil wrote of it to the minister of colonial affairs in France, and noted that Chief Coldfoot and his sons were dead, as was "Le Gris, Chief of the Tepicons," who was "well disposed towards the French." The Le Gris he wrote of was probably an elder relative of the subject of this article, who was born Waspikingua and is sometimes referred to as Le Petit Gris to distinguish himself from the former chief.
During the Winter of 1824-25, Miami Chief Le Gros shared some Miami history with C. C. Trowbridge. He referred to an "old woman and her son" who survived a smallpox epidemic on the Tippecanoe River
and came to the Miami. According to his story, the son was Le Gris.
Other survivors of the epidemic founded a Pepikokia village on the east side of the St. Joseph River
, not far from Kekionga
. By 1764, Le Gris was the recognized leader of the village. The emigration caused a split in the Pepikokia band; Le Gris often working and siding with Kekionga, while the principal village of Kithtippecanuck on the Tippecanoe River sided with Ouiatenon
.
More information about Le Gris comes from the diary of Henry Hay, an English-Canadian trader from Detroit
who spent three months with the Miami. During his stay, Pacanne was away on business, leaving decisions to be made by Tacumwah
and Le Gris. Hay got along well with Le Gris, and his journal details some personality differences between him and Little Turtle. Although Little Turtle had some say in most of the decisions, he was much more reserved and always sober. Le Gris, by contrast, was talkative, sociable, and prone to drunkenness.
Le Gris' Village, along with Kekionga, remained loyal to the British during and after the American Revolution
. Le Gris and Pacanne accompanied British Lt-Governor Henry Hamilton on his journey down the Wabash River
to capture Vincennes
, although when George Rogers Clark
came in February 1779, Le Gris waited outside the town to await the outcome of the battle. Many raids were based from the villages of Le Gris and Pacanne. Consequently, they were the target of American expeditions, leading to Hardin's Defeat, Harmar's Defeat, and St. Clair's Defeat
.
The Americans finally gained a victory in 1794 when General Anthony Wayne
led his Legion of the United States
at the Battle of Fallen Timbers
. The next year, several Indian nations were represented at a peace conference which drew up the Treaty of Greenville
. Le Gris was reluctant to attend, but was persuaded, and drew his mark on the treaty as "Nagohquangogh, or Le Gris".
The town of Lagro, Indiana
in Lagro Township
is named for Le Gris.
Miami tribe
The Miami are a Native American nation originally found in what is now Indiana, southwest Michigan, and western Ohio. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is the only federally recognized tribe of Miami Indians in the United States...
in the 18th century. Also known as The Gray, he was one of three important Miami leaders during the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
, along with Pacanne
Pacanne
Pacanne was a leading Miami chief during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Son of The Turtle , he was the brother of Tacumwah, who was the mother of Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville. Their family owned and controlled the Long Portage, an 8 mile strip of land between the Maumee and Wabash...
and Little Turtle.
In 1752, a smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
epidemic hit many Miami villages. Charles le Moyne, Sieur de Longueil wrote of it to the minister of colonial affairs in France, and noted that Chief Coldfoot and his sons were dead, as was "Le Gris, Chief of the Tepicons," who was "well disposed towards the French." The Le Gris he wrote of was probably an elder relative of the subject of this article, who was born Waspikingua and is sometimes referred to as Le Petit Gris to distinguish himself from the former chief.
During the Winter of 1824-25, Miami Chief Le Gros shared some Miami history with C. C. Trowbridge. He referred to an "old woman and her son" who survived a smallpox epidemic on the Tippecanoe River
Tippecanoe River
The Tippecanoe River is a gentle, river in northern Indiana that flows from Big Lake in Noble County to the Wabash River near Battle Ground, about northeast of Lafayette. The name "Tippecanoe" comes from a Miami-Illinois word for buffalo fish, reconstructed as */kiteepihkwana/.The Tippecanoe...
and came to the Miami. According to his story, the son was Le Gris.
Other survivors of the epidemic founded a Pepikokia village on the east side of the St. Joseph River
St. Joseph River (Maumee River)
The St. Joseph River is an tributary of the Maumee River in northwestern Ohio, and northeastern Indiana in the United States, with headwater tributaries rising in southern Michigan. It drains a primarily rural farming region in the watershed of Lake Erie. It shares its name with the St...
, not far from Kekionga
Kekionga
Kekionga, also known as Kiskakon or Pacan's Village, was the capital of the Miami tribe at the confluence of the Saint Joseph, Saint Marys and Maumee rivers on the western edge of the Great Black Swamp...
. By 1764, Le Gris was the recognized leader of the village. The emigration caused a split in the Pepikokia band; Le Gris often working and siding with Kekionga, while the principal village of Kithtippecanuck on the Tippecanoe River sided with Ouiatenon
Ouiatenon
Ouiatenon is a name that refers to a dwelling place of members of the Wea tribe of Native Americans. The name Ouiatenon, also variously given as Ouiatanon, Oujatanon, Ouiatano or other similar forms, is a French rendering of a term from the Wea dialect of the Miami-Illinois language which means...
.
More information about Le Gris comes from the diary of Henry Hay, an English-Canadian trader from Detroit
Fort Detroit
Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit or Fort Détroit was a fort established by the French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701. The location of the former fort is now in the city of Detroit in the U.S...
who spent three months with the Miami. During his stay, Pacanne was away on business, leaving decisions to be made by Tacumwah
Tacumwah
Tacumwah , alternate spelling "Taucumwah", aka Marie-Louise Pacanne Richerville , was a businesswoman and prominent chieftess of the Miami tribe. She was the sister of Pacanne, a leading Miami chief, and the mother of Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville...
and Le Gris. Hay got along well with Le Gris, and his journal details some personality differences between him and Little Turtle. Although Little Turtle had some say in most of the decisions, he was much more reserved and always sober. Le Gris, by contrast, was talkative, sociable, and prone to drunkenness.
Le Gris' Village, along with Kekionga, remained loyal to the British during and after the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Le Gris and Pacanne accompanied British Lt-Governor Henry Hamilton on his journey down the Wabash River
Wabash River
The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...
to capture Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
, although when George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...
came in February 1779, Le Gris waited outside the town to await the outcome of the battle. Many raids were based from the villages of Le Gris and Pacanne. Consequently, they were the target of American expeditions, leading to Hardin's Defeat, Harmar's Defeat, and St. Clair's Defeat
St. Clair's Defeat
St. Clair's Defeat also known as the Battle of the Wabash, the Battle of Wabash River or the Battle of a Thousand Slain, was fought on November 4, 1791 in the Northwest Territory between the United States and the Western Confederacy of American Indians, as part of the Northwest Indian War...
.
The Americans finally gained a victory in 1794 when General Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
led his Legion of the United States
Legion of the United States
The Legion of the United States was a reorganization and extension of the United States Army from 1792 to 1796 under the command of Major General Anthony Wayne.-Origins:The impetus for the Legion came from General Arthur St...
at the Battle of Fallen Timbers
Battle of Fallen Timbers
The Battle of Fallen Timbers was the final battle of the Northwest Indian War, a struggle between American Indian tribes affiliated with the Western Confederacy and the United States for control of the Northwest Territory...
. The next year, several Indian nations were represented at a peace conference which drew up the Treaty of Greenville
Treaty of Greenville
The Treaty of Greenville was signed at Fort Greenville , on August 3, 1795, between a coalition of Native Americans & Frontiers men, known as the Western Confederacy, and the United States following the Native American loss at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. It put an end to the Northwest Indian War...
. Le Gris was reluctant to attend, but was persuaded, and drew his mark on the treaty as "Nagohquangogh, or Le Gris".
The town of Lagro, Indiana
Lagro, Indiana
Lagro is a town in Lagro Township, Wabash County, Indiana, United States. Lagro was established by a group of explorers looking for the treasure of Chief Le Gris of the great Miami tribe...
in Lagro Township
Lagro Township, Wabash County, Indiana
Lagro Township is one of seven townships in Wabash County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 3,158.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Lagro Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Lincolnville at *...
is named for Le Gris.