THE SIEGE OF DETROIT At the time of the Pontiac outbreak there were in the vicinity of Fort Detroit between one thousand and two thousand white inhabitants.

Yet the place was little more than a wilderness post.

The settlers were cut off from civilization and learned news of the great world outside only in the spring, when the traders' boats came with supplies.

They were out of touch with Montreal and Quebec, and it was difficult for them to realize that they were subjects of the hated king of England.

They had not lost their confidence that the armies of France would yet be victorious and sweep the British from the Great Lakes, and in this opinion they were strengthened by traders from the Mississippi, who came among them.