Mr. Jones, an officer of the British army, had gained the affections
of Miss Macrea, a lovely young lady of amiable character and spotless
reputation, daughter of a gentleman attached to the royal cause,
residing near Fort Edward; and they had agreed to be married. In the
course of service, the officer was removed to some distance from his
bride, and became anxious for her safety and desirous of her company.
He engaged some Indians, of two different tribes, to bring her to camp,
and promised a keg of rum to the person who should deliver her safe to
him. She dressed to meet her bridegroom, and accompanied her Indian
conductors; but by the way, the two chiefs, each being desirous of
receiving the promised reward, disputed which of them should deliver
her to her lover. The dispute rose to a quarrel; and, according to
their usual method of disposing of a disputed prisoner, one of them
instantly cleft the head of the lady with his tomahawk. This simple
story, sufficiently tragical and affecting in itself, was blazoned in
the American newspapers with every amplification that could excite the
imagination or touch the heart; and contributed in no slight degree
to embitter the minds of the people against those who could degrade
themselves by the aid of such allies. The impulse given to the public
mind by such atrocities more than counter-balanced any advantages which
the British derived from the assistance of the Indians.