At Vincennes, he started up the Wabash River with the expectation of adding to his force from the Canadian villages of Ouiatenon (present day West Lafayette, Indiana) and Kekionga (present day Fort Wayne). La Balme apparently expected Canadian residents at Fort Detroit to join him once they arrived. La Balme kept the French ambassador, Anne-César de La Luzerne, updated on his movements, and the expedition marched under a French flag.
At Vincennes, he began the Wabash River campaign with the goal of adding troops from the Canadian villages of Ouiatenon (present-day West Lafayette, Indiana) and Kekionga (present-day Fort Wayne). La Balme anticipated that residents at Fort Detroit would join him once they arrived. He kept the French ambassador, Anne-César de La Luzerne, informed about his progress, and the expedition marched under a French flag.