Pontiac's War Its Causes, Course and Consequences

Pontiac’s War: Its Causes, Course, and Consequence, 1763-1765 is a compelling retelling of one of the most pivotal points in American colonial history, in which the Native peoples staged one of the most successful campaigns in three centuries of European contact. With his balanced analysis of the organization and execution of this important conflict, Middleton sheds light on the military movement that forced the British imperial forces to reinstate diplomacy to retain their authority over the region. Spotlighting the Native American perspective, Pontiac’s War presents a careful, engaging account of how very close to success those Native American forces truly came.

INTRO: The Middle Ground of Onontio An Entente Cordiale The French King calls for Help The Changing Fortunes of War The Collapse of New France CH 1: The New Order of Sir Jeffery Amherst Amherst and the British Establishment Gift Giving versus a Market Economy Trade and Ammunition The Forts, Law and Order Land and Settlement Prisoners or Family? CH 2: The Seneca Plan a War of Liberation Tahaiadoris and Kiashuta: the French Connection Johnson goes to Detroit to investigate The Occupation Completed: the Western Posts CH 3: Uneasy Peace, 1762-3 Unresolved Problems War Belts Neolin: A Prophet Speaks CH 4: Pontiac Takes the Initiative: Detroit A leader emerges The Siege begins Widening Visions Stalemate, July 1763 CH 5: The Spreading Conflagration Fort Pitt comes under Siege Michilimackinac falls to the Ojibwa The Capture of St Joseph, Miami and Ouiatanon The Seneca join the War: Venango, Le Boeuf and Presqu’Isle CH 6: The Empire Fights Back Amherst plans a Counter Attack Detroit: The Battle of the Bloody Brook Fort Pitt: The Battle of Bushy Run CH 7: Amherst Tries Again a) The Tribulations of Command Niagara: the Battle of the Devil’s Hole Detroit: The Siege Suspended CH 8: Winter Interlude a) Gage Takes Command Frontier Strife: The Paxton Boys Johnson’s winter offensive Rapprochement with the Seneca. CH 9: The Campaign for the Great Lakes, 1764 Indian Defense Plans British Preparations: The Niagara Conference The Search for Peace: the Mission of Captain Morris The Thwarting of John Bradstreet CH 10: Peace Comes to the Ohio Valley a) Bouquet prepares for Battle b) A Meeting at Muskingum CH 11: Pontiac and the Struggl

Richard Middleton was for many years a Reader in American History at The Queen’s University, Belfast. He is the author of The Bells of Victory: The Pitt Newcastle Ministry and the Conduct of the Seven Years’ War, 1757-1762, and Colonial America, A History, 1565-1776. He is now an independent writer and scholar.