CHAPTER I.

[ILLUSTRATION: Cover]

[Illustration: Frontispiece: Jos. Brant--Thayendanegea]

{Transcriber's Note: Quotation marks have been standardized to modern

usage. Footnotes have been placed to immediately follow the paragraphs

referencing them.}

Life

of

JOSEPH BRANT,

(THAYENDANEGEA)

INCLUDING THE

BORDER WARS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION,

AND

SKETCHES OF THE INDIAN CAMPAIGNS OF GENERALS

HARMAR, ST. CLAIR, AND WAYNE.

AND

OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED WITH THE INDIAN RELATIONS

OF THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN,

FROM THE

PEACE OF 1783 TO THE INDIAN PEACE OF 1795.

BY WILLIAM L. STONE.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

ALBANY, N.Y.:

J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET.

1865.

LIBRARY OF THE

LELAND STANFORD JR. UNIVERSITY.

CONTENTS.

* * * * *

CHAPTER I.

Sullivan's campaign into the Seneca country--Different characteristics

among the Indian Nations--Mistakes upon the subject--Progress of

civilization among the Six Nations--Plan of the campaign--The command

offered to General Gates--His conduct--Clinton's preparations at

Canajoharie--Transportation of boats and stores across to Otsego

Lake--Arrest and execution of Newberry--Attempts to engage the

Oneidas--The Indians alarmed by an address from Gen. Haldimand--The

address--Intelligence from the enemy--Arrival of Oneida deputies at

Clinton's head-quarters--Their speech--Designs of the enemy--Letter of

Gen. Clinton to his brother--Remarkable escape of Elerson from an Indian

scout--Brave defence of his house by Mr. Shankland--Descent of the

Susquehanna--Dilatory proceedings of Sullivan--Junction of the

forces--Movement from Tioga to Newton--Battle of the

Chemung--Destruction of the crops--Advance to Catharine's town--Message

to the Oneidas--Destruction of Catharine's town--Evidences of

civilization--Destruction of Kendaia and Kanadaseaga--March upon

Kanandaigua--Its destruction--Honeoye destroyed--Melancholy story of

the Oneida brothers--Kanaghsaws destroyed--Horrible fate of Lieutenant

Boyd--Contrast between the conduct of Brant and Butler in the case of

Boyd--Indians in council resolve to fight no more--Sullivan advances to

Genesee--Beauty of the country--Conduct of Rod Jacket--Origin of Brant's

hostility to him--Sullivan sets out on his return--Destruction of the

Cayuga towns--Return of the army to Tioga--Strange directions to Colonel

Gansevoort respecting the Mohawks of the lower castle--Their

capture--Correspondence--Their release--Close of Sullivan's

campaign--His resignation--Colonel Brodhead's expedition against the

Senecas on the Allegheny--Huron and Shawanese chiefs meet him at Fort

Pitt--Their speeches--Severe Indian battle on the Ohio--Closing

incidents of the year.

Page 1

CHAPTER II.

Progress of the war in the South--Fall of Charleston--Brilliant

achievements--Rigorous winter of 1780--Destruction of the Oneida Castle

and villages--Third marriage of Brant--Irruption into

Harpersfield--Captivity of Captain Harper, Freegift Patchin, and

others--Conduct of Brant--Consultation whether to put the prisoners to

death--Sagacity and firmness of Harper--Marched off for

Niagara--Remarkable adventures by the way--Murder of an old man--Cure

of the fever and ague--A thrilling scene--Sufferings for food--Justice

and impartiality of Brant--Approach to Niagara--The ordeal--Humane

device of Brant to save his prisoners from the trial--Arrival at

Niagara--Farther irruptions of the Indians--Shawangunk--

Saugerties--Captivity of Captain Snyder and his son--Arrival at

Niagara--Examination--Guy Johnson, Butler and Brant--Prisoners sent to

Montreal--The Mohawk Valley--Bravery of Solomon Woodruff--Irruption to

Little Falls--Burning of Ellis's Mills--Incidents on the Ohio--Bold

exploit of McConnel--Attack of Colonel Bird, with his Indians, upon the

Licking Settlement--Colonel Clarke takes vengeance upon the Shawanese.

53

CHAPTER III.

Night invasion of Johnstown, by Sir John Johnson, with an army of Indians

and loyalists--The Visschers--The route of Sir John--Arrest of the

Sammons family--Destruction of their property--March along the

river--Burning of buildings, and murders of aged people--Destruction of

Caughnawaga--Return to Johnson Hall--Proceedings there--Thomas Sammons

escapes--Sir John moves off--Sampson Sammons applies for his

liberty--His speech--The object of the expedition--Recovery of the

Baronet's plate--A faithful slave--Character of the expedition--Sir

John returns to Montreal--Jacob and Frederick Sammons carried into

captivity--Imprisoned at Chamblee--Conspiracy to escape--Prisoners

refuse to join them--The brothers escape alone--The pursuit--

Separation--Journey, adventures and sufferings of Jacob Sammons--Arrives

at Schenectady--The narrative returns to Frederick--Perils of his

escape--Prosperous commencement of his journey--Dreadful sickness--His

recapture--Confined in irons at Chamblee--Removed to an Island--Projects

an escape--Plot discovered--Ironed again--Second plan of

escape--Perilous leap into the St Lawrence--Swimming the Rapids--Other

surprising adventures, by flood and field--Crossing the woods to

Schenectady--Remarkable fulfillment of a dream--Direct history of the

Mohawk country resumed--Destruction of Canajoharie by the

Indians--Conduct of Brant--Case of doubtful courage.

Page 72

CHAPTER IV.

General progress of the War--Design against New-York--Glance at the

Southern Campaigns--Treason of Arnold--Execution of Andre--Indian

deputation to Count de Rochambeau, in Rhode Island--Invasion of the

Schoharie-kill and the Mohawk Valleys, by Sir John Johnson, Brant, and

the Corn-planter--Surprise of the upper fort--The middle fort

invested--Conduct of Murphy in firing upon a flag--Singular prosecution

of the siege--Murphy's contumacy--The flags fired upon thrice--Sir John

proceeds to the lower fort--After a brief halt, advances again to the

Mohawk, destroying every thing in his way--Murder of the

inhabitants--The Vroomans--Heroism of a woman--Sir John arrives at Fort

Hunter--Ravages the Mohawk Valley--Battle of Stone Arabia and death of

Colonel Brown--His character--Remarkable anecdote of General Arnold--Sir

John proceeds to Klock's Field--Is pursued by Van Rensselaer, though

with unaccountable delay--Battle of Klock's Field--Flight of the

Indians--Strange retreat of Van Rensselaer--Affairs of the

night--Secret flight of the Greens and Rangers--The pursuit--General

Van Rensselaer prematurely relinquishes it--Capture of Captain Vrooman

and his company, by Brant, in the neighborhood of Oneida--Touching

incident at Fort Hunter--Singular story respecting the

Corn-planter--Major Carleton's expedition against Forts Anne and

George--Correspondence on the subject of prisoners--Affairs at

Niagara--Setting in of Winter.

98

CHAPTER V.

Gloomy opening of the year--Distresses of the army--Revolt of the

Pennsylvania line--Negotiations--Revolt of the New Jersey

troops--Arnold's expedition to Virginia--Progress of the war at the

South--Distresses at the North--Active movements of Brant in the Mohawk

country--Meditated attack upon the Oneidas--Letter of Colonel

Claus--Destitution of the country--Letter of General

Schuyler--Destruction of Fort Schuyler by fire and flood--Suspicions of

design--General Clinton's correspondence respecting that

catastrophe--Hostile indications in the North--Indications of extensive

treachery--Arrest of the disaffected at Ballston and its

vicinity--Bearing of Washington in adversity--Colonel Willett appointed

to the command of the Mohawk District--Slender means at his

disposal--Burning of Currie-town--Battle of Durlagh--Defeat of the

Indians--Death of Captain McKean--Irruption into Palatine--Willett's

letter to Washington--Willett's influence upon the broken

militia--Battle near the German Flats--Death of Solomon Woodworth--Story

of John Christian Shell--Invasion of Ulster County by Indians and Tories

under Captain Cauldwell--Another case of individual bravery--Incidents on

the Kentucky border.

137

CHAPTER VI.

Increase of disaffection in the North--Seizures of prominent citizens by

bands of loyalists from Canada--Captivity of John J. Bleecker--Plot

against General Gansevoort--Daring attempt upon General Schuyler in the

city of Albany, by John Waltermeyer--Intrepidity of Margaret

Schuyler--Arrest of loyalists at the Beaver Dams--Mysterious movements

of the enemy on Lake Champlain--Controversy with the New-Hampshire

Grants--Sketch of its origin--Outrages of the Vermont

insurgents--Declaration of Independence by the Grants--Interposition of

Congress--Its authority disregarded--Progress of the

controversy--Difficult situation of General Gansevourt--Suspected

intercourse of the Vermontese with the enemy--Letter of Governor

Clinton--Invasion of the Mohawk country by Major Ross--Warrens-bush

ravaged--March of the enemy to Johnstown--Followed by Willett with the

levies and militia--Battle of Johnstown--Ross defeated--Pursued by

Willett, and routed at Jerseyfield--Death of Walter N. Butler--General

progress of the war--Arnold in Virginia--Returns to the North, and

destroys Groton and New London--Siege of Yorktown and capture of

Cornwallis--Affairs of the North--Meditated treachery of

Vermont--Message of Governor Clinton--British open a correspondence with

the Vermont insurgents--Mission of Ira Allen to Canada--Separate

armistice with Vermont--Stipulations for erecting Vermont into a royal

colony--Correspondence with the enemy during the Summer--Negotiations

renewed at Skenesborough--St. Leger ascends the lake with a strong

force--An awkward occurrence for the Vermontese--Excitement at the seat

of Government of the Grants--Throwing dust in the eyes of the

people--News of the surrender of Cornwallis--Its effect in

Vermont--Causes the nasty return of St. Leger to Canada--Insurrection

in the north-eastern towns of New-York, in connexion with the

Vermontese--Troubles of General Gansevoort--Unable to quell the

insurgents--Cherokee Indians--Close of the year.

178

CHAPTER VII.

Character of Joseph Bettys--His exploits--Capture and execution--Progress

of the war--Gradual cessation of hostilities--Dwindling down to mere

affairs of outposts and scouting parties--Commissioners appointed to

negotiate a treaty of peace--Indian battles on the Kentucky

frontier--Defeat of Colonel Boon--Destruction of the Shawanese

towns--The Moravians on the Muskingum--Their removal to Sandusky by the

Wyandots--Return to secure their crops--Invasion of their towns by

Colonel Williamson--Treachery of Williamson and his men to the

Indians--Horrible massacre--Invasion of the Sandusky country by Crawford

and Williamson--Defeat of their army--Colonel Crawford

captured--Sentenced to die by torture--His interview with the sachem

Wingemund--His execution--Close of the year--Doubts as to a treaty of

peace--Colonel Willett's attempt to surprise Oswego--The news of

peace--Sufferings of Tryon County--Return of its population--End of the

wars of the Mohawk.

210

CHAPTER VIII.

The Treaty of Peace--Neglect of her Indian allies by Great

Britain--Brant's negotiations with General Haldimand for a new

territory--The Senecas invite the Mohawks to settle in the Genesee

Valley--Declined--The Grand River country granted to the Mohawks by Sir

Frederick Haldimand--Indian policy of the United States--Views of

Washington and General Schuyler--Treaty with the Six Nations at Fort

Stanwix--Corn-planter and Red Jacket take opposite sides--Peace with the

Six Nations--Dissatisfaction of the Indians--Of Thayendanegea in

particular--Letter of Brant to Colonel Monroe--Relinquishes his design

of going then to England--Returns to Grand River--Differences of opinion

wither John Johnson--Brant sails for England in the Autumn of 1785--His

arrival--Glimpses of his ulterior designs--His distinguished

reception--Enters upon the business of his mission--Letter to Lord

Sidney--Speech of Brant to Lord Sidney--Letter of Lord Sidney in

reply--Question of half-pay--Brant's Letter to Sir Evan Nepean--His

associations with the great--Keen sarcasm upon a nobleman--Striking

incident at a grand masquerade--Brant's attention to the moral wants of

his people--His return to Canada.

237

CHAPTER IX.

Difficulties between Great Britain and the United States after the

Treaty--Refusal of the former to surrender the western posts--Mission of

Baron Steuben to Canada--Indications of fresh Indian

hostilities---Movements of Captain Brant--Grand Indian Council at the

Huron Village--Address to the United States--Letter of the Secretary at

War, General Knox, to Captain Brent--Letter of Sir John Johnson to

Brant--Letter of Major Matthews to Brant, disclosing the views of Lord

Dorchester respecting the retention of the western posts--Message from

the Hurons to the Five Nations, proposing another grand

Council--Preparations of General St. Clair for negotiating with the

Indians--Brant begins to distrust them all--Letter of Brant to Patrick

Langan, Sir John Johnson's Secretary-Letter of Brant to Sir John

Johnson--Great Council at Miamis--Letter of Captain Brant to Patrick

Langan--St. Clair's negotiations at Fort Harmar--The policy of dividing

to conquer--Letter of Captain Brant to Major Matthews--Jealousies of

Brant among the Indians--Council against him at Montreal--Letter to him

from Major Matthews--Letter of Brant in reply--Letter to Colonel

McDonnell--Suspected plot against the English at Detroit, and Brant and

his Mohawks, by the Hurons, Chippewas, and Pottawatamies--Letter to

Brant from Sir John Johnson--Brant turns his attention to the

cultivation of letters--Endeavors to obtain a stated Missionary--Resumes

the preparation of Religious books--Letter from President Willard--John

Norton--Land difficulties among the Indians in the state of

New-York--Letter from Governor Clinton to Brant.

262

CHAPTER X.

Continued troubles with the Indians--English emissaries in

Kentucky--Mission of Antoine Gamelin--Preparations for war--Campaign of

General Harmar--Successive defeats of Colonel Hardin--Conduct of the

militia--Retreat of Harmar--Indian deputation to Lord Dorchester--Letter

of Sir John Johnson--Colonel Gordon--Letter of Brant to Colonel

McKee--Pacific views of Lord Dorchester--Renewed efforts of the United

States to bring the Indians to peace--Interposition of

Corn-planter--Mission of Corn-planter and Colonel Proctor--British

officers wish a mediation--Letter of Colonel Gordon--Colonel Pickering

holds an Indian Council at the Chemung--Red Jacket's course--Brant

interferes--Indian Councils at Buffalo--Influence of Colonel John Butler

and Brant--Mission of Colonel Proctor and Corn-planter

frustrated--Important position of Brant--Correspondence between the

Secretary of War and Governor Clinton--Colonel Pickering's Council with

the Indians at Painted Post--Mission of Hendrick, the Stock-bridge

chief--Renewal of hostilities--Campaign of General St. Clair--His

defeat--Thayendanegea among the Indian captains--The panic that

followed--Clamor against St. Clair--His resignation--Wayne appointed

his successor--Refusal of Colonel Willett to embark in an Indian war.

291

CHAPTER XI.

Preparations for an Indian Consultation at Philadelphia--Captain Brant

invited to attend--His objections--Letter of the Rev. Mr. Kirkland to

Captain Brant--Letter of the Secretary of War to the same--Letter of

Colonel Gordon to the same--Letter of Captain Brant to the Secretary of

War--The Secretary of War to Captain Brant--Attempts from Montreal to

prevent Brant from going to Philadelphia--His journey--Feelings against

him in the Mohawk Valley--His arrival at New-York and

Philadelphia--Liberal offers made him--Letter to the Count de Puisy--The

offers rejected--Undertakes a Mission of Peace to the Miamis--Returns to

New-York--Pursued by a German from the German Flats bent on taking his

life--Discovered in New-York--Brant returns to Niagara--Murder of

Colonel Harden and Major Trueman--Letters of Brant to the Secretary at

War--Feelings of the Western Nations--Correspondence between Brant and

McKee--Great Indian Council at the Au Glaize--Sickness of Captain

Brant--Hostilities deferred until Spring, and a treaty with the United

States ordered--Return of the Delegates of the Six Nations--Address to

President Washington--Separate organization of Upper Canada--Arrival of

Governor Simcoe--Letter to Brant from the Duke of

Northumberland--Preparations for the Great Council of 1783--Fresh

dissatisfaction of the Indians--Private Councils--They send their

ultimatum in anticipation--The American Commissioners depart for the

Indian country--Their arrival at Niagara--Friendly conduct of Governor

Simcoe--Celebration of the King's Birth-day--The Commissioners start for

the West--Their progress interrupted--Conduct of General Wayne--Brant

suddenly returns from the West with a Deputation--Council held at Fort

Erie--Commissioners return to Niagara--Council there--Speech of Captain

Brant--Reply of the Commissioners--Speech of Cat's-Eyes--Rejoinder of

Brant--Arrival of the Seven Nations--Brant proceeds to the Miami

Rapids--Followed by the Commissioners--Arrival at the Detroit

River--Their progress interrupted--Unexpected turn of

affairs--Explanations with Deputies from the Great Council--Long Debates

in the Indian Council--Brant speaks strongly for peace--Governor Simcoe

declines advising the Indians--The negotiations suddenly terminated by

the Indians--Their address--And sine qua non.

318

CHAPTER XII.

Suspected duplicity of the British authorities--Conduct of Simon

Girty--Disclosures upon the subject by Captain Brant--Council at

Buffalo, and Indian report of the doings of the Great Congress--Speech

of Captain Brant respecting the Miami council--Mission of General

Chapin to Philadelphia, with the speech--Answer unsatisfactory to the

Indians--Red Jacket--Indian council--Speech of Captain Brant in reply to

the answer of the United States--Troubles thickening between the United

States and Great Britain--Inflammatory speech of Lord

Dorchester--Question of its authenticity settled--Conduct of Governor

Simcoe--Indignation of President Washington--His letter to Mr.

Jay--Speech of Captain Brant against holding a council at Venango--The

design frustrated--Affairs farther in the West--Singular message from

the distant Indians under the Spanish and French influence--Their

speech--Operations of General Wayne--Encroachments of Pennsylvania upon

the Indian lands--Indian council upon the subject--Address to General

Washington--Important letter of Brant to Colonel Smith--Pennsylvania

relinquishes Presque Isle--Defeat of Major McMahon near Fort

Recovery--Indians repulsed in their attack upon the fort--Letter to

Brant giving an account of the battle--Advance of Wayne to the Au

Glaize and Miamis of the Lakes--Little Turtle apprised of his movements

and strength by a deserter--The Chief determines to give battle--Wayne

makes one more effort for peace--Failure of the attempt--Advance of

Wayne to the Rapids--Position of the Indians--Battle and defeat of the

Indians--Little Turtle opposed to the hazard of a battle--Opposed by

Blue-Jacket and overruled--Tart correspondence between Wayne and Major

Campbell--Destruction of Indian property by fire, and burning of Colonel

McKee's establishment--Disappointment of the Indians that Major Campbell

did not assist them--Letter of Governor Simcoe to Brant--Aggression at

Sodus Bay--Simcoe and Brant repair to the West--Interfere to prevent a

peace--Indian council--The hostiles negotiate with Wayne--Simcoe's

address to the Wyandots--Division in their counsels--Brant retires

displeased--Letter of apology from the Chiefs--The distant Indians

become weary of the war.

Page 357

CHAPTER XIII.

Thayendanegea in civil life--His activity--His efforts to accelerate the

civilization of his people--Difficulties respecting the title to his

lands--Successive Councils and Speeches--Governor Simcoe leaves the

province--Captain Claus appointed to the Indian Agency--President

Russell--Brant's Speeches asserting the absolute Independence and

Nationality of his people--Letter to Sir John Johnson--Correspondence

with Lord Dorchester--The Count de Puisy--Letter of Brant to Thomas

Morris--Sharp correspondence with Sir John Johnson--The St. Regis and

Caughnawaga Indians, and the State of New-York involved in the land

controversy--Brant's difficulties with the Caughnawagas--Letter to

Thomas Morris--Brant's visit to the Caughnawagas--Council--Satisfactory

explanations--Fresh difficulties at home--Norton's Mission to

England--Plots against the character of Brant--Alienation of some of his

friends--Conspiracy to depose him--Red Jacket and Farmer's Brother

active in the plot--Character of Red Jacket--Brant deposed by an illegal

Council--Letter to the Duke of Northumberland--A legal Council

convoked--Brant meets his accusers, and defends himself--Another

Council--Speech of Brant--Acquitted of all charges against him--Council

after the return of Norton from England--Proceedings of Red Jacket's

Council nullified--Brant re-instated--Letter to the Duke of

Northumberland--Letter of the Duke in reply--Last letter of Brant to the

Duke.

396

CHAPTER XIV.

Exertions of Thayendanegea for the moral and social improvement of his

people--His religions views--Efforts for the religious instruction of

his people--Letter to Sir John Johnson upon the subject of obtaining a

resident clergyman--Farther correspondence--Interview of Brant with the

Bishop--Disappointment--Letter to the Chief Justice--Appeal of Brant to

the Lord Bishop, but without success--Application to the American

church--Letter to Colonel Burr--Succeeds in obtaining the ordination of

Mr. Phelps--Estimate of Brant's character by the clergy--Letter of Rev.

Dr. Mason--Rev. Elkanah Holmes--Letter of Brant to the Rev. Dr.

Miller--Ardent spirits--Efforts of Brant to prevent their

introduction--Letter to Sir John Johnson--Interposition of the

women--Address of Brant in reply--Indian games and pastimes--National

game of Cricket--Great game at Grand River, between the Senecas and

Mohawks--Judge Woodruff's visit to Brant's residence--Description of his

person--Indian funerals--Respect for the dead--Estimate of women--Their

influence--Funeral speech of Seneca-George--Death of Mrs. Claus--Speech

of condolence by Captain Brant--Captain Claus in reply--Brant's visit to

New-York, Philadelphia, and Hartford, in 1797--Attentions to him in

Philadelphia--Dinner party of Colonel Burr--Talleyrand and other

distinguished guests--Letter of introduction from Colonel Burr to his

daughter--Dinner party in his honor by Miss Theodosia--His manners

described by Dr. Miller and by General Porter--Designs upon his life in

the Mohawk country--The late John Wells--Striking incident in

Albany--Anecdotes--Brant and General Gansevoort--Brant and Colonel Van

Courtlandt--Reasons of Brant for taking up arms for the King--His

reasonings in defence of the Indian mode of warfare.

Page 430

CHAPTER XV.

Domestic relations of Brant--Account of his family--Bad character of his

eldest son--His death by the hand of his father--Condolence of the

Chiefs--Grief of the father at the event--Anxiety for the education of

his sons--Proposed memorial to the Duke of Portland--Letter of Brant to

Colonel Smith--Correspondence with the Wheelock Family--Letter from

Brant to James Wheelock--Two of his sons sent to Dartmouth--Various

letters from and to the Wheelocks--Correspondence upon other

subjects--Reply to the questions, whether the Indians have

beards--Letter from Bishop Peters--Views or Brant on imprisonment for

debt--Tumuli--Opinion of Brant touching their origin--Indian tradition

of white settlements cut off in a single night--Investigations of Samuel

Woodruff--Brant's inquiries in Paris--The discoveries of the

Northmen--Review of the life and character of Brant--His death.

463

CHAPTER XVI.

Account of the family of Brant subsequent to his death--Catharine

Brant--The line of descent among the Mohawks--John Brant, the youngest

son, appointed to the Chieftainship--The war of 1812--General Van

Rensselaer on the Niagara frontier--Preparations for a descent upon

Queenston Heights--First attempt frustrated--Arrangement for a second

movement--Arrival of Lieutenant-colonel Scott on the lines--His efforts

to accompany the expedition--Landing of Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer

and his party--Intrepidity of the attack--Van Rensselaer and others

grievously wounded--Captain Wool carries the Heights--Advance of General

Brock--His defeat and fall--Arrival of Lieutenant-colonel Scott upon the

Heights--Attack of the Indians--General Sheaffe advances from Niagara

with reinforcements--Battle--The Americans driven down the

Heights--Attempts of Scott to capitulate--His flag-bearers shot

down--Determines to bear a flag himself--A young Indian leaps upon him

like a tiger--His rescue--Interview with General

Sheaffe--Capitulation--March to Niagara--Remarkable interview between

Scott and two Indians at Niagara, the younger of whom was John

Brant--Base poltroonry of the militia--Battle of the Beaver-dams--Close

of young Brant's military life--Removes to the Brant House with his

sister--Account of the family by Lieutenant Hall--Visit of the British

Consul to the Brant House--Controversy of John Brant with Archdeacon

Strachan--He visits England respecting the ancient land-title

controversy--Succeeds with the ministers--Disappointed by the Colonial

Government--Correspondence with Campbell respecting the memory of his

father--Attention to the moral wants of his people--Correspondence

respecting the Mohawk schools--Presentation of a silver cup--His

election to the Provincial Parliament--Seat contested--Death by

cholera--His character--Farther notices of the family--Description of

his sister, and of his successor--Death of Catharine Brant--Conclusion.

500

Life

of

JOSEPH BRANT--THAYENDANEGEA, &c.

* * * * *

CHAPTER I.

Sullivan's campaign into the Seneca country--Different characteristics

among the Indian Nations--Mistakes upon the subject--Progress of

civilization among the Six Nations--Plan of the campaign--The command

offered to General Gates--His conduct--Clinton's preparations at

Canajoharie--Transportation of boats and stores across to Otsego

Lake--Arrest and execution of Newberry--Attempts to engage the

Oneidas--The Indians alarmed by an address from Gen. Haldimand--The

address--Intelligence from the enemy--Arrival of Oneida deputies at

Clinton's head-quarters--Their speech--Designs of the enemy--Letter of

Gen. Clinton to his brother--Remarkable escape of Elerson from an Indian

scout-Brave defence of his house by Mr. Shankland--Descent of the

Susquehanna--Dilatory proceedings of Sullivan--Junction of the

forces--Movement from Tioga to Newtown--Battle of the

Chemung--Destruction of the crops--Advance to Catharine's town--Message

to the Oneidas--Destruction of Catharine's town--Evidences of

civilization--Destruction of Kendaia and Kanadaseaga--March upon

Kanandaigua--Its destruction--Honeoye destroyed--Melancholy story of the

Oneida brothers--Kanaghsawa destroyed--Horrible fate of Lieutenant

Boyd--Contrast between the conduct of Brant and Butler in the case of

Boyd--Indians in council resolve to fight no more--Sullivan advances to

Genesee--Beauty of the country--Conduct of Red Jacket--Origin of Brant's

hostility to him--Sullivan sets out on his return--Destruction of the

Cayuga towns--Return of the army to Tioga--Strange directions to Colonel

Gansevoort respecting the Mohawks of the lower castle--Their

capture--Correspondence--Their release--Close of Sullivan's

campaign--His resignation--Colonel Brodhead's expedition against the

Senecas on the Allegheny--Huron and Shawanese chiefs meet him at Fort

Pitt--Their speeches--Severe Indian battle on the Ohio--Closing

incidents of the year.

The policy of waging a more decisive war against the Indians, and the

loyalists associated with them in their barbarous irruptions upon the

frontier settlements, has been adverted to more than once already. General

Washington had long entertained the opinion that the mere establishment of

a chain of military posts along the Western and North-western frontiers

would not answer the purpose; and that the only method of affording

efficient protection to the inhabitants of those borders, would be to

carry the war into the heart of the enemy's country. By a resolution of

the 25th of February, Congress had directed the Commander-in-chief to take

the most effectual means for protecting the inhabitants, and chastising the

Indians for their continued depredations; and it was now his determination

to put the resolve in execution, by carrying the war directly into the

most populous country of the Six Nations; to cut off their settlements,

destroy their crops, and inflict upon them every other mischief which time

and circumstances would permit. [FN]

* * * * *

[FN] Letter of Washington of March 4, to Governor Clinton, and also from

the same to General Gates of March 6, 1779.

Those who have been accustomed to contemplate the whole race of North

American aboriginals as essentially alike, viewing them all as the same

roving, restless, houseless race of hunters and fishermen, without a local

habitation, and with scarce a name, have widely misunderstood the Indian

character, and must know but little of its varieties. They have, indeed,

many traits and characteristics in common; but in other respects the moody

Englishman is not more unlike his mercurial neighbor on the other side of

the channel, than is the Mohawk unlike the Sioux. It is the remark of a

popular writer of the day, [FN-1] that "those who are familiar with the

reserved and haughty bearing of the forest tribes, cannot fail, when an

opportunity of comparison is afforded, to be struck with the social air

and excitable disposition which mark their prairie brethren, and so

decidedly distinguish the '_gens du large_' from _les gens des feuilles,_'

as the voyageurs term the different races. The Pawnees, following the

buffalo in his migrations, and having always plenty of animal food to

subsist upon, are a much better fed and larger race than those who find

a precarious subsistence in the forest chase. While the woodland tribes,

who, though not so plump in form, are of a more wiry and perhaps muscular

make, have again a decided advantage in figure and gait over the '_gens du

lac,_' or fishing and trapping tribes of the North-west, that pass most

of their time in canoes. This difference in character and physical

appearance between the different Indian races, or rather between those

tribes who have such different methods of gaining a livelihood, has never

been sufficiently attended to by modern authors, though it did not escape

the early French writers on this country. And yet, if habit have any

effect in forming the temper and character of a rude people, it must of

course follow, that the savage who lives in eternal sunshine upon

flowery plains, and hunts on horseback with a troop of tribesmen around

him, must be a different being from the solitary deer-stalker, who wanders

through the dim forest, depending upon his single arm for a subsistence

for his wife and children." But the higher state of social organization

among the Six Nations greatly increased the difference. They had many

towns and villages giving evidence of permanence. They were organized into

communities, whose social and political institutions, simple as they were,

were still as distinct and well-defined as those of the American

confederacy. They had now acquired some of the arts, and were enjoying

many of the comforts, of civilized life. Not content with small patches

of cleared lands for the raising of a few vegetables, they possessed

cultivated fields, and orchards of great productiveness, at the West.

Especially was this the fact with regard to the Cayugas and Senecas. The

Mohawks having been driven from their own rich lands, the extensive

domains of the two westernmost tribes of the confederacy formed the

granary of the whole. And in consequence of the superior social and

political organization just referred to, and the Spartan-like character

incident to the forest life, the Six Nations, though not the most

numerous, were beyond a doubt the most formidable, of the tribes then in

arms in behalf of the Crown. [FN-2] It was justly considered, therefore,

that the only way to strike them effectively, would be to destroy their

homes and the growing products of their farms; and thus, by cutting off

their means of supply, drive them from their own country deeper into the

interior, and perhaps throw them altogether upon their British allies for

subsistence. It was likewise the design to extend the operations of the

expedition as far as Niagara, if possible--that post, of all others in the

occupation of the enemy, enabling his officers to maintain an extensive

influence over his savage allies. [FN-3]

* * * * *

[FN-1] Charles F. Hoffman, Esq.

[FN-2] "The Six Nations were a peculiar and extraordinary people,

contra-distinguished from the mass of Indian nations by great attainments

in polity, in negotiation, in eloquence, and in war."--_Discourse of

De Wilt Clinton before the New-York Hist. Society--_1811.

[FN-3] Since these sheets were in the hands of the printer, the author

has discovered an official manuscript account of a grand Indian council

held at Niagara, in September, 1776, by Colonel John Butler, and

Lieutenants Matthews, Burnit, and Kinnesley, and Ensign Butler, with the

Hurons, Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawatamies, Missiasagas, Senecas, Cayugas,

Onondagas, Oneidas, Tuscaroras, Mohawks, Delawares, Nanticokes,

Squaneghiges{?}, and Conagreves{?}--in presence of Lieut. Colonel John

Caldwell, then in command at Niagara. It appears that only one Oneida

sachem was present and one Tuscarora. They {illegible} an address which

was unanimously signed{?} by the chiefs attending the Congress declaring

their intention to embark in the war, and abide the result of the contest

of the King with his people. They also made a strong appeal to the

Oneidas and the Tuscaroras, "to quit the {illegible}, and be strong and

determined to fulfill their engagements to the King." They also exhorted

the Mohawks to be strong, and assured them "that they all their western

brethren, would fly to their assistance at the first cal,"

&c.--_Manuscripts of Gen Gansevoort._

{Transcriber's Note: The above footnote, [FN-3], from the word

"Delawares" forward, the following paragraph, and its footnote are on a

page that did not scan well. It is nearly illegible. The transcription

presented here is a best guess.}

The plan of this campaign was well devised and matured{?}. It was to be

commenced by a combined movement of two divisions--the one from

Pennsylvania {transiting?} the valley of the Susquehanna to the

intersection of the Tioga river under General Sullivan, who was invested

with the command in chief; and the other from the north under General

James Clinton, which was to descend the Susquehanna from its principal

source, and after forming a junction with Sullivan, the whole to proceed,

by the course of the Chemung river, into the fertile country of the

Senecas and Cayugas. The expedition was intended as the principal campaign

of the year; since the relative military strength and situation of the

two contending powers rendered it impossible that any other offensive

operations could be carried on by the Americans at the same time. [FN]

* * * * *

[FN] It was the original purpose of General Washington to invest General

Gates with the command of this expedition, and the appointment was

tendered to that officer by letter, on the 6th of March. Gates declined

it, in a manner not very agreeable to the Commander-in-chief. The latter,

in writing subsequently to the President of Congress upon the subject,

in the course of sundry explanations, not unmingled with strictures upon

the conduct of Gates, wrote as follows:--"The plan of operations for

the campaign being determined, a commanding officer was to be appointed

for the Indian expedition. This command, according to all present

appearances, will probably be of the second, if not of the first,

importance for the campaign. The officer conducting it has a flattering

prospect of acquiring more credit than can be expected by any other this

year; and he has the best reason to hope for success. General Lee, from

his situation, was out of the question; General Schuyler, (who, by the

way, would hare been most agreeable to me,) was so uncertain of

continuing in the army, that I could not appoint him; General Putnam I

need not mention. I therefore made the offer of it, for the appointment

could no longer be delayed, to General Gates, who was next in seniority,

though, perhaps, I might have avoided it, if I had been so disposed, from

his being in a command by the special appointment of Congress. My letter

to him on the occasion I believe you will think was conceived in very

candid and polite terms, and that it merited a different answer from the

one given to it"--_Letter of Washington to the President of Congress,

April_ 14th, 1779. The answer of Gates referred to by the

Commander-in-chief; was in the following words:--"Last night I had the

honor of your Excellency's Letter. The man who undertakes the Indian

service, should enjoy youth and strength; requisites I do not possess.

It therefore grieves me that your Excellency should offer me the only

command to which I am entirely unequal. In obedience to your command, I

have forwarded your letter to General Sullivan," &c--_Sparks's Life and

Correspondence of Washington._

On the 2d of June, General Clinton received his instructions from

Sullivan, to proceed forthwith in the measures of co-operation according

to the plan of the campaign already indicated, viz: the descent of the

Susquehanna by the northern forces to unite with the main division at

Tioga. Preparations for the enterprise, however, were already in a state

of great forwardness, since General Washington had been in free

communication with Governor Clinton upon the subject; and the latter, with

the General his brother, had been actively engaged in anticipation of the

order. [FN] Accordingly, batteaux had already been provided at

Schenectady, which, after ascending the Mohawk to Canajoharie, were thence

to be transported over land to the head of Otsego Lake at Springfield,

while at the same time a large quantity of provisions had been thrown into

Fort Schuyler in case of emergency. After making all his arrangements, and

ordering the different corps which were to compose his command, to

concentrate at Canajoharie, General Clinton arrived at that post on the

16th of June, where he found himself at the head of fifteen hundred

troops.

* * * * *

[FN] General James Clinton was at that time in command of the Northern

department. The troops assigned for this campaign were, the brigades of

Generals Clinton, Maxwell, Poor, and Hand, to which last brigade were

assigned, in addition, all the detached corps of Continental troops on

the Susquehanna. The independent companies of the State of Pennsylvania

were likewise ordered upon the expedition together with Colonel Van

Courtlandt's regiment, Butler's, Alden's, and the rifle corps. Colonel

Gansevoort's regiment formed a part of Clinton's brigade. The brigade

had already been ordered by the Commander-in-chief himself to rendezvous

at Canajoharie, subject to the orders of Sullivan, either to form a

junction with the main body by the way of Otsego, or to proceed up the

Mohawk and co-operate as circumstances might best permit.--_Letter of

instructions from the Commander-in-chief to General Sullivan._

The portage from the Mohawk river at Canajoharie to the head of Otsego

Lake is about twenty miles. On the 17th, General Clinton commenced the

transportation of his boats and stores across the country--the region

being hilly, and the roads excessively bad. Two hundred boats were found

to be necessary, and four horses were required for the draught of each

boat. The troops were disposed by regiments along the route, both for

safety, and to assist at difficult points of ascent. But, notwithstanding

these obstacles, and the magnitude of the enterprise, General Clinton was

enabled to announce to his immediate superior, by letter on the 26th, that

one hundred and seventy-three of the boats had already reached the head of

the lake; that thirty more were on their way; and that the residue, making

up the complement of two hundred and twenty, would be forwarded thither

immediately on their arrival from Schenectady. The provisions and stores

for a three months' campaign had likewise been already transported across

the carrying-place; so that the expedition was nearly in readiness to

commence its final movement. [FN-1] In a letter to General Schuyler

announcing the same intelligence, the General spoke particularly of the

alacrity and spirit with which the inhabitants of the country had rallied

to his assistance. He likewise bestowed high praise upon Colonel Willett,

acting as a volunteer, for his timely and energetic assistance in

forwarding the arrangements. In performing this labor, no other

interruption took place than what arose from the arrest of two spies,

formerly inhabitants of the county, one of whom was named Hare, a

lieutenant in the British service, and the other a Tory sergeant named

Newberry,--the same wretch whose name has already occurred as a brutal

murderer at Cherry Valley. They had left the Seneca country with sixty

warriors of that tribe, to be divided into three parties, one of which was

to fall upon Cherry Valley again, the other upon Schoharie, and the third

to be employed in lurking about Fort Schuyler. They were tried by a

court-martial, convicted, and "hanged pursuant to the sentence of the

court, and to the entire satisfaction of all the inhabitants of the

county." [FN-2]

* * * * *

[FN-1] General Washington was greatly displeased at the amount of stores

and baggage by which Clinton was encumbered, apprehending "the worst

consequences" from the obstacles his stores would interpose to the

rapidity of his march, and also from the publicity which would as a

consequence be given to his movements. Although he had left it optional

with Sullivan to direct Clinton to join him by the route of the

Susquehanna, yet the Commander-in-chief evidently preferred that the

more northern route should be taken. He wrote to Sullivan upon the

subject with more sharpness than he was wont to do--[_See Letter of

Washington to Sullivan, July_ 1, 1779.] The event, however, aided by the

sagacity of Clinton in the adoption of a measure presently to be noted,

proved that he took the right direction.

[FN-2] Letter from General Clinton to General Schuyler. In General

Schuyler's answer to this letter, he says, speaking of the execution of

Hare--"In executing Hare, you have rid the State of the greatest villain

in it. I hope his abettors in the country will meet with a similar

exaltation."--_Gov. Clinton's Manuscripts._

It was the desire of General Sullivan that Clinton should employ in his

division as large a number of the Oneida warriors as could be induced to

engage in the service. The latter officer was opposed to this arrangement;

but at the importunities of Sullivan, the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, their

missionary, who was now a chaplain in the army, had been summoned to

Albany for consultation. From thence Mr. Kirkland was despatched to

Pennsylvania directly to join Sullivan's division, while to Mr. Deane,

the interpreter connected with the Indian commission at Fort Schuyler,

was confided the charge of negotiating with the Oneida chiefs upon the

subject. At first all went smoothly with the Indians. The Oneidas

volunteered for the expedition, almost to a man; while those of the

Onondagas who adhered to the cause of the Americans, were equally desirous

of proving their fidelity by their deeds. Under these circumstances

Clinton wrote to Sullivan on the 26th, that on the following Saturday, Mr.

Deane, with the Indian warriors, would join him at the head of the lake.

A sudden revolution, however, was wrought in their determination by an

address to the Oneidas from General Haldimand, received at Fort Schuyler

on the 22d. This document was transmitted to them in their own language;

and its tenor was so alarming, as to induce them suddenly to change their

purpose--judging, very correctly, from the threats of Haldimand, that

their presence was necessary at home for the defence of their own castles.

Still, Mr. Deane wrote that an arrangement was on foot, by which he hoped

yet to obtain the co-operation of a considerable number of the Oneida

warriors. The basis of this arrangement was, that in the event of an

invasion of their country by the Indians, whom the Canadian commander had

threatened to let loose upon them, the garrison at Fort Schuyler should

not only assist them, but receive their women and children into the fort

for protection.

General Haldimand's address was written in the Iroquois language, of which

the following translation was made by Mr. Deane, and enclosed to General

Clinton:--

"_A translation of his Excellency Gen. Haldimand's speech

to the Oneida Indians in the Rebel Interest, as delivered

to them in the Iroquois language._" [FN]

* * * * *

[FN] Copied by the author from the MS. among the papers of General

Clinton.

"Brothers: Be very attentive to what I, Ashanegown, the Great King of

England's representative in Canada, am going to say. By this string of

wampum I shake you by the hand to rouse you that you may seriously reflect

upon my words.

"_A string of wampum._

"Brothers: It is now about four years ago since the Bostonians began to

rise, and rebel against their Father, the King of England, since which

time you have taken a different part from the rest of the Five Nations,

your confederates, and have likewise deserted the King's cause, through

the deceitful machinations and snares of the rebels, who intimidated you

with their numerous armies, by which means you became bewildered, and

forgot all of your engagements with, and former care, and favor from the

Great King of England, your Father. You also soon forgot the frequent bad

usage, and continual encroachments of the Americans upon the Indian lands

throughout the Continent. I say, therefore, that at the breaking out of

these troubles you firmly declared to observe a strict neutrality in the

dispute, and made your declaration known to Sir Guy Carleton, my

predecessor, who much approved of it, provided you were in earnest. I have

hitherto strictly observed and examined your conduct, and find that you

did not adhere to your assertion, although I could trace no reason on the

side of government as well as the Indians, why you should act so

treacherous and double a part; by which means, we, not mistrusting your

fidelity, have had many losses among the King's subjects, and the Five

Nations your friends and connexions; and finding you besides, proud and

haughty on the occasion, as if you gloried in your perfidy, doubtless in

sure confidence as if your friends, the rebels, were getting the better

at last; and captivated with that pleasing opinion of yours, you have

presumed twice, during the course of last winter, to send impertinent and

daring messages to the Five Nations, as if you meant to pick a quarrel

with them. In consequence of this your daring and insolent behavior, I

must insist upon, by this belt of wampum, that you declare yourselves

immediately on the receipt of this my speech and message, whether you mean

to persist in this your daring and insulting course, and still intend to

act as you have hitherto done, treacherously under the cloak of

neutrality, or whether you will accept of this my last offer of

re-uniting, and reconciling yourselves with your own tribes, the Five

Nations. Do not imagine that the King has hitherto treated the rebels and

their adherents with so much mildness and indulgence, out of any

apprehensions of their strength, or getting the better! No, by no means.

For you will find that in case you slight or disregard this my last offer

of peace, I shall soon convince you that I have such a number of Indian

allies to let loose upon you, as will instantly convince you of your folly

when too late, as I have hardly been able to restrain them from falling

upon you for some time past. I must therefore once more repeat to you that

this is my last and final message to you; and that you do not hesitate,

or put off giving me your direct and decisive declaration of peace or war,

that in case of the latter, (knowing that there are still some of your

nation who are friends to the King and the Five Nations,) I may give them

timely warning to separate themselves from you.

"Brothers: Let me lastly convince you of the deceit and dissimulation of

your rebel brethren, General Schuyler, Parson Kirkland, and others; have

they not told you, in the beginning of the rebellion, that they wanted not

your assistance, and to have your blood spilt; and you likewise declared

that you would not join them, but remain neuter? Have either of you stuck

to your word? No! you basely broke it, and seemed from the beginning to be

of mutual hostile sentiments against the King and his allies, and soon

after manifested it by your actions. What confirms me in this opinion, and

proves your deceitful and treacherous dispositions, is your behavior

during the course of the last war, when you likewise acted a double part

in clandestinely joining and carrying intelligence to the French in this

country; which I myself am a witness to, and also was told of it by your

friend, the late Sir William Johnson, who, notwithstanding your base

behavior, upon promising that you would be true and faithful for the

future, forgave you, and received you into favor again, advising you to

be more prudent and honest in time to come; and frequently after that

loaded you with the King's bounty and favor. But he was no sooner dead

than you ungratefully forgot his good advice and benedictions; and in

opposition to his family and Indian friends, and every thing that is

sacred, adopted the cause of rebels, and enemies to your King, your late

patron Sir William Johnson, and your own confederacy and connexions. These

are facts, Brothers, that unless you are lost to every sense of feeling,

cannot but recall in you a most hearty repentance and deep remorse for

your past file actions.

"_The belt._

"Fred. Haldimand."

On the 30th of June, Clinton wrote to Sullivan that his arrangements were

complete--that all his stores and munitions of every description were at

the lake, with two hundred and ten batteaux--and every thing in readiness

for embarkation the moment his orders to that effect should be received.

On the 1st of July he proceeded to the lake himself, and the expedition

moved from its head to the Southern extremity--there to await the orders

of his superior. While lying at this place, a letter was received from

General Schuyler, announcing the return from Canada of a spy, who had been

despatched thither for information. He brought word, that on the 18th of

June four hundred and fifty regular troops, one hundred Tories, and thirty

Indians, had been sent forward from Montreal to reinforce the Indians

against whom this expedition was preparing; and that they were to be

joined by half of Sir John Johnson's regiment, together with a portion of

the garrison at Niagara. From this intelligence it was evident that the

Indian country was not to be taken without a struggle.

On the 5th Mr. Deane arrived, at the head of thirty-five Oneida warriors.

The object of their visit was in person to apologize for the absence of

their brethren from the expedition, and to make those explanations, in

regard to their own altered situation, already communicated by Mr. Deane

by letter, together with the address of General Haldimand, which had

caused their alarm. A conference took place with General Clinton on the

same day, at which the Oneidas delivered their message in the following

speech:--

"Brother: We suppose you imagine we have come here in order to attend you

upon your expedition, but we are sorry to inform you that our situation is

such as will not admit of it.

"Brother: From intelligence which we may depend upon, we have reason to

believe that the Six Nations mean to embrace the opportunity of our

absence in order to destroy our castles; these accounts we have by spies

from among them, and we know that a considerable body of them are now

collected at Cayuga for that purpose, waiting in expectation of our

warriors leaving the castle to join you.

"Brother: It was our intention to have joined you upon your intended

route, and hope you will not think hard of it that we do not; but such is

our present danger, that in case we leave our castle it must be cut off,

as a large party of the enemy are waiting for that purpose.

"Brother: This is a time of danger with us. Our brethren, the Americans,

have always promised us assistance for our protection whenever we stand

in need of it; we therefore request that, agreeable to these promises, we

may have some troops sent to our assistance in this time of great danger.

Should you send a body of troops to our assistance and protection, and the

enemy attack us, and we should have the fortune to beat them, we will

with those troops pursue them, and join you down in their country; or if

they should not make an attack upon our castle in a short time, we will

march through their castles until we join you."

_A belt._

To which General Clinton made the following reply:--

"Brethren: Our present expedition is intended to chastise those nations

who have broken their faith with us, and joined our enemies. The force we

have is quite sufficient for that purpose. Our route is planned in the

great council of this country. It is not my desire that the whole of your

warriors should leave their castles. I have given a general invitation to

our Brethren the Oneidas, the Tuscaroras, and such Onondagas as may have

entered into friendship with us. In order to give all our Indian friends

an equal chance of evidencing their spirit and determination to partake

of our fortune, I am entirely satisfied that such only should join me as

think proper. It is not for want of warriors that I have given you this

invitation, but that every warrior who is a friend to these United States

may have an equal opportunity of punishing the enemies of our country.

"As your situation is such as causes you to suppose your castle in danger

of being destroyed by your enemies in case of your absence, I by no means

desire that more of your warriors should leave your castles than your

council think proper to permit.

"As yet I am fully persuaded that all our enemies of the Six Nations will

find too much to do at home, to suffer any of their warriors to go abroad

to do mischief. If you should be satisfied after a little while that your

castles are out of danger, and the whole or any part of your warriors

think proper to come to us, I shall be glad to see you; and in the

meantime perhaps you may be as serviceable where you are, as if you were

with us.

"I shall immediately give orders to the officers commanding at Fort

Schuyler to send some troops to your castle, and write to Colonel Van

Schaick, who commands in my absence, to afford you every assistance in

his power, as I am not authorized to order any of the troops now with me

on any other command, being directed by our Great Chief and Warrior to

proceed with the whole of these troops on the present route."

In the course of the interview, the sachems informed General Clinton that

a party of about three hundred Indians, with a few Tories, had marched

from Cayuga ten days before, for the purpose of hanging upon his

outskirts and harassing his march to Tioga. Still it was supposed not to

be their intention to do any serious fighting, until the invading forces

should have advanced a considerable distance up the Tioga or Chemung

river. Indeed, it was evidently the purpose of the enemy to make no

stand, until the forces of Sullivan and Clinton should arrive in the

neighborhood of the works of defence which the Indians and Tories had

been constructing, even before the battle of Wyoming, on the banks of the

Chemung.

In consequence of the requisition of the warriors, in their speech,

General Clinton issued an order to the commanding officer at Fort

Schuyler to detach a command of thirty or forty men to the Oneida fort,

to be recalled as circumstances might require. With this understanding,

and the assurances in the General's answer to their speech, the ten

principal warriors, specially charged with the explanations, took their

departure the same evening for their own castle--leaving the remaining

twenty-five to accompany the expedition. [FN] General Clinton was

impatient of delay, as appears by a letter addressed to his brother of

the next day, from which the following is an extract:--

* * * * *

[FN] All but two of these, however, and those of the meaner sort,

deserted the expedition before they arrived at Tioga.

"General to Governor Clinton.

"_Camp on the south end of }

Otsego Lake, July_ 6th, 1779, }

"Dear Brother,

"I have the pleasure to inform you that I am now at this place, with two

hundred and eight boats, with all the stores, provisions, and baggage of

the army; and I am well convinced that such a quantity of each hath never

before been transported over so bad a road in so short a time and with

less accidents, and that I am now in the most readiness to move down the

Susquehanna, whenever I receive General Sullivan's orders for that

purpose. I have thrown a dam across the outlet, which I conceive will be

of infinite importance, as it has raised the lake at least two feet, by

which the boats may be taken down with less danger than otherwise,

although, from the intricate winding of the channel, I expect to meet

some difficulties on the way. It is uncertain when I shall leave this

place.

"I received a letter from General Sullivan yesterday, dated at Wyoming

July 1st, in which he informs me that he was anxiously waiting the

arrival of his stores from Sunbury--that he expected them daily--that it

was determined in council that that army should proceed almost as far as

Tioga previous to my leaving the lake, as by that means he might make a

diversion in my favor, and facilitate my movements down the river. This

I imagine to be in consequence of a letter which he probably has received

from General Washington, and one I received from him dated the first

instant, in which his Excellency expresses his surprise at my taking so

much stores with me, when it was determined that all the supplies of the

army should come up with General Sullivan, and that nothing more should

be brought with me than was absolutely necessary for the troops until

the junction was formed at Tioga. However, as it was General Sullivan's

orders to bring what provision I could, and as his Excellency added in

his letter to me that it was not his intention to contravene any orders

I may receive from General Sullivan, I ordered the whole to be forwarded

to this place; which I have happily effected, and of which I do not

repent, as I believe I shall fall short of many articles. . . . The

troops are in good health and high spirits, and every thing seems to

promise a most favorable and successful campaign." . . .

No attempts were made by the enemy to molest General Clinton while thus

detained at Otsego Lake. Still, his proceedings were not left entirely

without observation, and there were two individual affrays happening in

his vicinity, which deserve special mention. The name of David Elerson,

one of the bold spirits associated with Murphy in Morgan's rifle corps,

has already occurred in a former chapter. The detachment to which he

belonged had been ordered from Schoharie to join his expedition. While

lying at the head of the lake, Elerson rambled off to an old clearing,

at the distance of a mile or more from camp to gather pulse for dinner.

Having filled his knapsack, while adjusting it in order to return to

camp, he was startled at the rustling of the tall and coarse herbage

around him, and in the same instant beheld some ten or a dozen Indians,

who had crept upon him so cautiously as to be just on the point of

springing to grasp him. Their object was clearly rather to make him a

prisoner than to kill him, since he might easily have been shot down

unperceived. Perhaps they wanted him for an _auto-da-fe,_ perhaps to

obtain information. Seizing his rifle, which was standing by his side,

Elerson sprang forward to escape. A shower of tomahawks hurtled through

the air after him; but as he had plunged into a thicket of tall weeds

and bushes, he was only struck on one of his hands, his middle finger

being nearly severed. A brisk chase was immediately commenced. Scaling

an old brush-wood fence, Elerson darted into the woods, and the Indians

after him. He was as fleet as a stag, and perceiving that they were not

likely soon to overtake, the pursuers discharged their rifles after him,

but luckily without effect. The chase was thus continued from eleven till

three o'clock--Elerson using every device and stratagem to elude or

deceive the Indians, but they holding him close. At length, having gained

a moment to breathe, an Indian started up in his front. Drawing up his

rifle to clear the passage in that direction, the whiz of a bullet

fleshing his side, and the crack of a rifle, from another point, taught

him that delays were particularly dangerous at that spot. The Indian in

front, however, had disappeared on his presenting his rifle, and Elerson

again darted forward. His wounded side bled a little, though not enough

to weaken him. Having crossed a ridge, he paused a moment in the valley

beyond, to slake his thirst--his mouth being parched, and himself almost

fainting. On rising from the brook, the head of one of his pursuers

peeped over the crest of the hill. He raised his rifle, but such was his

exhaustion that he could not hold it steady. A minute more, and he would

have been in the power of the savage. Raising his rifle again, and

steadying it by the side of a tree, he brought the savage tumbling

headlong down the hill. In the next moment his trusty rifle was re-loaded

and primed, and in the next the whole group of his pursuers came rushing

over the ridge. He again supposed his minutes were numbered; but being

partly sheltered by the trunk of a huge hemlock, they saw not him, but

only the body of their fallen comrade yet quivering in the agonies of

death. Drawing in a circle about the body of their companion, they raised

the death wail; and as they paused, Elerson made another effort to fly.

Before they resumed the pursuit, he had succeeded in burying himself in

a dark thicket of hemlocks, where he found the hollow trunk of a tree,

into which he crept. Here he lay ensconced two full days, without food

or dressings for his wound. On the third day he backed out of "the

loop-hole of his retreat," but knew not which way to proceed--not

discerning the points of the compass. In the course of two or three

miles, however, he came to a clearing, and found himself at

Cobleskill--having, during his recent chase, run over hill and dale, bog,

brook, and fen, upward of twenty-five miles.

At about the same time, and probably by the same party of Indians, the

premises of a Mr. Shankland, lying in their track, situated in the

outskirts of Cherry Valley, were assaulted. Residing at the distance of

two or three miles from the village, his house had escaped the common

destruction the proceeding Autumn. But he had nevertheless removed his

family to the valley of the Mohawk for safety, and had returned to his

domicile accompanied only by his son. [FN-1] They were awakened just

before dawn by the assailants, who were endeavoring to cut away the door

with their hatchets. Taking down his two guns, Mr. Shankland directed his

son to load them, while he successively fired to the best advantage. But

not being able to see the enemy, he determined upon a sortie. Having a

spear, or espontoon, in the house, he armed himself therewith, and

carefully unbarring the door, rushed forth upon the besiegers, who fled

back at his sudden apparition. One of the Indians whom he was specially

pursuing, tumbled over a log, and as Mr. Shankland struck at him, his

spear entered the wood, and parted from the shaft. Wrenching the blade

from the log, he darted back into the house, barred the door, and again

commenced firing upon the assailants. They had been so much surprised by

his rushing out upon them, that they neither fired a shot, nor hurled a

tomahawk, until he had returned to his castle, and barred the sally-port.

During that part of the affray, his son, becoming somewhat frightened,

escaped from the house, and ran for the woods. He was pursued, overtaken,

and made captive. The father, however, continued the fight--the Indians

firing through the casements at random, and he returning the shots as

well as he could. At one time he thought of sallying forth again, and

selling his life to the best advantage; but by thus doing, he very

rightly judged that he should at once involve the life of his son. The

Indians, growing wearied of fighting at such disadvantage, at last

attempted to make sure of their victim by applying the torch, and the

house was speedily in flames, but it so happened that between the rear

of the house and the forest, a field of hemp interposed--into which Mr.

Shankland contrived to throw himself from the house, unperceived by the

Indians. Concealed from observation by the hemp, he succeeded in reaching

the woods, and making good his retreat to the Mohawk. Meantime the

Indians remained by the house until it was consumed, together, as they

supposed, with the garrison. They then raised a shout of victory, and

departed [FN-2]--several of their number having been wounded by the

courageous proprietor.

* * * * *

[FN-1] The late Thomas Shankland, Esq. of Cooperstown.

[FN-2] Campbell's Annals.

Greatly to his vexation, as appears from his letters. General Clinton was

detained at Otsego, by the tardy movements of his commander below, during

the whole month of July and the first week in August--until, indeed, his

troops became impatient to a degree. [FN] But the General was not idle

in respect to every arrangement that might add to their security or

contribute to their success. In the letter to his brother, last quoted,

he disclosed one capital stroke of generalship, which not only contributed

largely to his successful descent of the river, but was of great service

in other respects. The damming of the lake, and the accumulation, by this

means, of a vast reservoir of water, by rendering more certain and

expeditious the navigation of the river, was an exceedingly happy thought

And when at length orders were received for his embarkation on the 9th

of August, his flotilla was not only borne triumphantly along upon the

pile of the impatient waters accumulated for the occasion, but the

swelling of the torrent beyond its banks caused wide and unexpected

destruction to the growing crops of the Indians on their plantations at

Oghkwaga and its vicinity. They were, moreover, greatly affrighted at the

sudden and unexpected rise of the waters in the dryest season of the

year, especially as there had been no rains--attributing the event to the

interposition of the "Great Spirit," who thus showed that he was angry

with them. The whole expedition was indeed calculated to impress them

with terror--as it might have done a more enlightened and less

superstitious people. The country was wild and totally uninhabited,

excepting by scattered families of the Indians, and here and there by

some few of the more adventurous white settlers, in the neighborhood of

Unadilla. The sudden swelling of the river, therefore, bearing upon its

surge a flotilla of more than two hundred vessels, through a region of

primitive forests, and upon a stream that had never before wafted upon

its bosom any craft of greater burthen than a bark canoe, was a spectacle

which might well appall the untutored inhabitants of the regions thus

invaded.

* * * * *

[FN] By a letter from the Commander-in-chief to General Sullivan, it

appears that in the organisation of the expedition the latter had been

compelled to encounter greater difficulties than had been anticipated.

He wan disappointed in regard to the Pennsylvania independent

companies--to supply which deficiency, Lieutenant-Colonel Albert Pauling

was directed to march across from Warwasing, and join Clinton at

Oghkwaga. Governor Clinton himself had intended to lead this regiment,

but General Washington, believing that the influence of his presence

was needed elsewhere, induced him to relinquish that design. The delays

of Sullivan, therefore, may not nave arisen from any fault of his own.

Still, the inactivity of General Clinton at Otsego Lake, and of

Sullivan at Wyoming, was no more irksome to the former than to Brant

himself. This active warrior had probably led in person the three

hundred Indians spoken of by the Oneidas as having gone forth to hang

upon the flanks of General Clinton, and annoy his troops by skirmishes

during the march. Becoming weary, however, of waiting for a foe whose

movements were apparently so tardy, Brant determined on making the

irruption into Minisink, of which a history has been given in the last

preceding chapter.

During these energetic proceedings of Clinton, it has been seen that

Sullivan was very dilatory in his movements, and his conduct in the early

part of the campaign gave particular dissatisfaction to Congress. His

requisitions for supplies were enormous, and several of his specifications

of articles, such as eggs, tongues, and other luxuries, were considered

so unsoldier-like as to create disgust. However, having completed his

arrangements, he left Wyoming on the 31st of July, and ascended the

Susquehanna to Tioga, with an expedition far more formidable as to

numbers, and not less imposing in other respects, than was the descending

division under General Clinton--though he had not the advantage of riding

upon so majestic a flood. Sullivan reached Tioga on the 11th of August,

and on the following day pushed out a detachment twelve miles toward

Chemung, which was attacked by a body of Indians--losing, during the

brush, seven men killed and wounded. The detachment returned to Tioga on

the 13th, after having burnt one of the Indian towns.

General Clinton with his division, having been joined at Oghkwaga by a

detachment of Colonel Pauling's levies from Warwasing, arrived at Tioga

and formed a junction with Sullivan on the 22d of August. The entire

command amounted now to five thousand, consisting of the brigades of

Generals Clinton, Hand, Maxwell, and Poor, together with Proctor's

artillery and a corps of riflemen. So long had the expedition been in

progress, that it was well understood the Indians and Tories were not

unprepared to receive them; and in moving up the Tioga and the Chemung

rivers, the utmost degree of caution was observed to guard against

surprise. A strong advanced guard of light infantry preceded the main

body, which was well protected by large flanking parties. In this way

they slowly proceeded in the direction of the works of the enemy, upon

the Chemung at Newtown. On the 28th, an Indian settlement was destroyed,

together with fields of corn, and other Indian products yet

unharvested. [FN]

* * * * *

[FN] The instructions of the Commander-in-chief were peremptory, that

Sullivan was not even to listen to propositions of peace until after he

should have "very thoroughly completed the destruction of their

settlements."

[Illustration: Order of Battle-Order of March]

The Indians, determined to risk a general action in defence of their

country, had selected their ground with judgment, about a mile in advance

of Newtown. [FN-1] Their force was estimated by General Sullivan at

fifteen hundred, including five companies of British troops and rangers,

estimated at two hundred men. The enemy, however, only allowed their

force to consist of five hundred and fifty Indians, and two hundred and

fifty whites--in all, eight hundred. [FN-2] Brant commanded the Indians,

and the regular troops and rangers were led by Colonel John Butler,

associated with whom were Colonels Sir John and Guy Johnson, Major Walter

N. Butler, and Captain McDonald. [FN-3] The enemy had constructed a

breast-work of half a mile in length, so covered by a bend of the river

as to expose only the front and one of the flanks to attack; and even

that flank was rendered difficult of approach by resting upon a steep

ridge, "nearly parallel to the general course of the river, terminating

somewhat below the breast-work. Farther yet to the left was still another

ridge, running in the same direction, and leading to the rear of the

American army. The ground was covered with pine, interspersed with low

shrub oaks, many of which for the purpose of concealing their works, had

been cut and brought from a distance, and stuck down in their front,

exhibiting the appearance of untransplanted shrubbery. The road, after

crossing a deep brook at the foot of the hill, turned to the right, and

ran nearly parallel to the breast-work, so as to expose the whole flank

of the army to their fire should it advance without discovering their

position." [FN-4] Detachments of the enemy, communicating with each other,

were stationed on both hills, for the purpose of falling upon Sullivan's

right and rear the moment the action should commence.

* * * * *

[FN-1] The site of the present town of Elmira.

[FN-2] Gordon.

[FN-3] It is not quite certain whether both the Johnsons were engaged in

this action. Sir John was there, and the author has somewhere seen the

name of Guy Johnson as having likewise been in the battle of the Chemung.

[FN-4] Marshall.

The enemy's position was discovered by Major Parr, commanding the advance

guard, at about 11 o'clock in the morning of the 29th of August General

Hand immediately formed the light infantry in a wood, at the distance of

about four hundred yards from the breast-work, and waited until the main

body of the army arrived on the ground. A skirmishing was, however, kept up

by both sides--the Indians sallying out of their works by small parties,

firing, and suddenly retreating--making the woods at the same time to

resound with their war-whoops, piercing the air from point to point as

though the tangled forest were alive with their grim-visaged warriors.

Correctly judging that the hill upon his right was occupied by the

savages, General Sullivan ordered Poor's brigade to wheel off, and

endeavor to gain their left flank, and, if possible, to surround them,

while the artillery and main body of the Americans attacked them in

front. [FN-1] The order was promptly executed; but as Poor climbed the

ascent, the battle became animated, and the possession of the hill was

bravely contested. In front the enemy stood a hot cannonade for more than

two hours. [FN-2] Both Tories and Indians were entitled to the credit of

fighting manfully. Every rock, and tree, and bush, shielded its man, from

behind which the winged messengers of death were thickly sent, but with

so little effect as to excite astonishment. The Indians yielded ground

only inch by inch; and in their retreat darted from tree to tree with the

agility of the panther, often contesting each new position to the point

of the bayonet--a thing very unusual even with militiamen, and still more

rare among the undisciplined warriors of the woods. Thayendanegea was the

animating spirit of the savages. Always in the thickest of the fight, he

used every effort to stimulate his warriors, in the hope of leading them

to victory. Until the artillery began to play, the whoops and yells of

the savages, mingled with the rattling of musketry, had well-nigh

obtained the mastery of sound. But their whoops were measurably drowned

by the thunder of the cannon. This cannonade "was elegant," to adopt the

phraseology of Sullivan himself in writing to a friend, and gave the

Indians a great panic. Still, the battle was contested in front for a

length of time with undiminished spirit But the severity of fighting was

on the flank just described. As Poor gallantly approached the point which

completely uncovered the enemy's rear, Brant, who had been the first to

penetrate the design of the American commander, attempted once more to

rally his forces, and with the assistance of a battalion of the rangers

make a stand. But it was in vain, although he exerted himself to the

utmost for that purpose--flying from point to point, seeming to be

everywhere present, and using every means in his power to re-animate the

flagging spirits, and re-invigorate the arms of his followers. Having

ascended the steep, and gained his object without faltering, the enemy's

flank was turned by Poor; and the fortunes of the day decided. Perceiving

such to be the fact, and that there was danger of being surrounded, the

retreat-halloo was raised, and the enemy, savages and white men,

precipitately abandoned their works, crossed the river, and fled with the

utmost precipitation--the Indians leaving their packs and a number of

their tomahawks and scalping-knives behind them. The battle was long, and

on the side of the enemy bloody. [FN-3] Eleven of their dead were found

upon the field--an unusual circumstance with the Indians, who invariably

exert themselves to the utmost to prevent the bodies of their slain from

falling into the hands of their foes. But being pushed at the point of

the bayonet, they had not time to bear them away. They were pursued two

miles, their trail affording indubitable proof that a portion of their

dead and wounded had been carried off. Two canoes were found covered with

blood, and the bodies of fourteen Indian warriors were discovered

partially buried among the leaves. Eight scalps were taken by the

Americans during the chase. [FN-4] Considering the duration of the

battle, and the obstinacy with which it was maintained, the loss of the

Americans was small almost to a miracle. Only five or six men were

killed, and between forty and fifty wounded. Among the American officers

wounded were Major Titcomb, Captain Clayes, and Lieutenant Collis--the

latter mortally. All the houses of the contiguous Indian town were burnt,

and the corn-fields destroyed. [FN-5]

* * * * *

[FN-1] Letter from General Sullivan to a gentleman in Batten.

[FN-2] Idem. Vide Remembrancer, vol. vii.

[FN-3] Mr. John Salmon, late of Livingston County, (N. Y.) who was a

member of a detachment of the rifle corps in this expedition, in a

letter written for Mary Jemison's Narrative, speaks of a second stand

made by the Indians at a place above Newtown called the Narrows--"Where,"

he says, "they were attacked by our men, who killed them in great

numbers, so that the sides of the rocks next the river appeared as

though blood had been poured on them by pailfuls. The Indians threw

their dead into the river, and escaped the best way they could." No

other account makes mention of any such incident, unless, indeed, Mr.

Salmon refers to the killing of the eight warriors whose scalps were

taken during the flight, according to one of Sullivan's letters to a

gentleman in Boston, which may be found in Almon's Remembrancer, and

which is the authority for this statement in the text. The MS. journal

of Capt. Fowler, in the author's possession, commences only the day

after the battle.

[FN-4] "On the next morning [after Sullivan's arrival at Catharine's

town,] an old woman of the Cayuga nation was found in the woods, who

informed us that on the night after the battle of Newtown, the enemy

having fled the whole time, arrived there in great confusion early the

next day; that she heard the warriors tell their women that they were

conquered, and must fly; that they had a great many killed, and vast

numbers wounded. She likewise heard the lamentations of many at the

loss of their connexions. In addition, she assured us that some other

warriors had met Butler at that place, and desired him to return and

fight again. But to this request they could obtain no satisfactory

answer; for, as they observed, 'Butler's mouth was closed.' The

warriors, who had been in the action, were equally averse to the

proposal."--_Sullivan's Official Account._

[FN-5] The strength of the enemy's force at Newtown was never

ascertained with any degree of certainty; although, as heretofore stated

in the text, it was the opinion of Sullivan, and also of his general

officers, that it must have exceeded fifteen hundred. Still, the two

prisoners taken estimated them only at eight hundred. They admitted,

however, that, in addition to the five companies of rangers engaged in

the action, all the warriors of the Senecas, and six other nations of

Indians, were engaged. In order to determine the amount of their force

with as much accuracy as could be attained, General Sullivan examined

their breast-work, the extent of which was more than half a mile. The

lines were flanked in every part by bastions in front, and a

dwelling-house also, in front of the works, had been converted into a

block-house and manned. The breast-work appeared to have been fully

manned, though, as Sullivan supposed, by only a single rank. Some part

of the works being low, the enemy were compelled to dig holes in the

ground to cover themselves in part. A very thin scattering line,

designed, as was supposed, for communicating signals, was continued from

those works to that part of the mountain ascended by General Poor, where

a large body had been stationed, as heretofore stated, for the purpose

of falling upon the flank of the Americans. The distance from the

breast-work to that point was at least one mile and a half. From thence

to the hill on the American right was another scattering line of about

one mile, and on the hill a breast-work, with a strong party, destined,

as it was supposed, to fall upon the American rear. But this design was

frustrated by the movements of Clinton, as already mentioned.--_Vide

Sullivan's Official Report._

The Americans encamped that night on the field of battle, and on the

following day, the wounded, together with the heavy artillery, and

wagons, and all such portions of the baggage as would not be required,

and could not well be transported in the farther prosecution of the

flying campaign now to be performed, were sent back to Tioga. Only four

brass three-pounders and a small howitzer were retained; and the whole

army was at once placed upon short allowance,--the soldiers submitting

cheerfully to the requisition, the moment the necessity of the measure

was explained to them in a speech by their commander. These and other

dispositions having been made, the army moved forward on the 31st, in the

direction of Catharine's town, situated near the head of Seneca Lake, and

the residence of the celebrated Catharine Montour. On their way thither,

Sullivan destroyed a small settlement of eight houses, and a town called

Knawaholee, of about twenty houses, situated on a peninsula at the

conflux of the Tioga and Cayuga branches. Several cornfields were

destroyed at this place, and a number of others, also very large, about

six miles up the Tioga, by Colonel Dayton and the rifle corps, who were

detached thither upon that service.

The Indians and Tories acted unwisely in retreating so far as they did

from the battle of Newtown, since the march of Sullivan thence to

Catharine's town was of the most difficult and fatiguing description.

They were compelled to traverse several narrow and dangerous defiles with

steep hills upon either side, the passage of which might have been

rendered exceedingly annoying to their invaders by a vigilant enemy. The

route lay along the streams; and such was the sinuous course of one of

them, almost swelling to the size of a river, that they were obliged to

ford it several times--the men up to their middles in water. Worse than

all, they were compelled to thread their way through a deep-tangled

hemlock swamp. The night came on exceedingly dark, and the sufferings of

the troops were great. General Sullivan was advised not to enter the

swamp until the next day, but he rejected the counsel, and obstinately

pushed forward. So fatigued, however, was the army, that General Clinton,

whose division brought up the rear, was obliged to pass the night in the

swamp without pack or baggage. Neither Brant nor the Butlers displayed

their wonted sagacity on this occasion, or the Americans might have been

mads to suffer severely for their rashness in penetrating such a thicket

at such an hour. The excuse of the Indians, who were roasting corn not

many miles distant, was, that the way was so bad, and the night so dark,

they did not dream of Sullivan's advancing under such circumstances.

Disappointed by the Oneidas, upon whose assistance General Sullivan had

counted as guides and runners through the Indian country, but only four

of whom had continued with the expedition, the General despatched one of

these from Catharine's town to the castle of that nation, with an address,

calling upon all who were friendly to the Americans, to prove the

sincerity of their professions by joining his forces immediately. The

messenger, Oneigat, was also instructed to give his nation an account of

the battle at Newtown. He did not, however, rejoin the expedition until

near its close. He then reported that on his arrival at the Oneida

castle, a council was convened, and that his people were delighted with

the news of which he was the bearer. Obedient, moreover, to the summons

which he had borne thither, seventy of their warriors had set out with

him to join the army, and thirty more were to follow the next day. But

on that day, near the Onondaga village, they met their brother, Conowaga,

from the army, who informed them that the General had already advanced

as far as Kanasadagea, and had men enough--only wanting a few good guides.

In consequence of this information, the Oneida warriors had turned

back--transmitting, however, by him, an address to the General,

interceding in behalf of a clan of the Cayugas, who, they declared, had

always been friendly to the United States. As an evidence of this fact,

they referred to the cases of several prisoners, who, as it was alleged,

had been surrendered by them to General Schuyler. The Oneidas, therefore,

besought General Sullivan not to destroy the fields of these friendly

Cayugas, who, if deprived of their corn, would fall upon them for support,

and they already had a heavy burden upon their hands in the persons of

the destitute Onondagas. General Sullivan immediately sent a speech in

reply, commending the Oneidas for their fidelity to the United States,

but expressing his surprise at their interposing a word in behalf of any

portion of the Cayugas, whose whole course had been marked, not only by

duplicity, but by positive hostility. He therefore distinctly informed

the Oneidas that the Cayugas should be chastised. Nor did he fail to

execute his purpose, as will in due time appear. [FN]

* * * * *

[FN] See Sullivan's address, and the message of the Oneidas in reply,

Almon's Remembrancer, for 1780, Part I.

The brigade of General Clinton rejoined the main army on the 2d of

September, and the whole encamped at Catharine's town, which was entirely

destroyed on the following day, together with the corn-fields and

orchards. The houses, thirty in number, were burnt. The work of

destruction, marking that extraordinary campaign, was now begun in

earnest It was considered necessary by the Commander-in-chief, or his

orders would not have been so peremptory upon the subject, nor his

satisfaction so great after its accomplishment. [FN-1] Still, at this

distance of time, when the mind glances back not only to the number of

towns destroyed, and fields laid waste, but to the war of extermination

waged against the very orchards, it is difficult to suppress feelings of

regret--much less to bestow a word of commendation. It has been asserted

that some of the officers, among whom were General Hand and Colonel

Durbin, objected to this wanton destruction of the fruit-trees, as

discreditable to American soldiers; but the Indians had been long and

cruelly provoking the Americans by the ferocity of their attacks upon the

border settlements, and it had been judged expedient to let the arm of

vengeance fall heavily upon them. "The Indians," said Sullivan, "shall

see that there is malice enough in our hearts to destroy every thing that

contributes to their support;" [FN-2] and well did he fulfill the threat.

* * * * *

[FN-1] See letter of Washington to Colonel John Laurens, Sept. 28, 1779;

to the President of Congress, Oct 9; and to the Marquis de Lafayette,

October 20, of the some year--_Sparks, Vol. vi._

[FN-2] Gordon.

The comparative state of civilization to which the Six Nations had

arrived, has been glanced at in the opening of the present chapter. Still

it is apprehended that but few of the present generation are thoroughly

aware of the advances which the Indians, in the wide and beautiful

country of the Cayugas and Senecas, had made in the march of civilization.

They had several towns, and many large villages, laid out with a

considerable degree of regularity. They had framed houses, some of them

well finished, having chimneys, and painted. They had broad and

productive fields; and in addition to an abundance of apples, were in the

enjoyment of the pear, and the still more delicious peach. But after the

battle of Newtown, terror led the van of the invader, whose approach was

heralded by watchmen stationed upon every height, and desolation followed

weeping in his train. The Indians everywhere fled as Sullivan advanced,

and the whole country was swept as with the besom of destruction. On the

4th, as the army advanced, they destroyed a small scattering settlement

of eight houses; and two days afterward reached the more considerable

town of Kendaia, containing about twenty houses neatly built, and well

finished. These were reduced to ashes, and the army spent nearly a day

in destroying the fields of corn and the fruit-trees. Of these there were

great abundance, and many of them appeared to be very ancient. While thus

engaged, the army was joined by one of the inhabitants of Wyoming, a

captive who had escaped from the Indians. He informed them that all had

been terror among tho Indians since the battle of Newtown, and that

Kendaia had been deserted two days before in the greatest confusion. He

likewise stated various reasons for believing that the enemy had suffered

greatly in that battle--that he had heard some of the Indian women

lamenting the loss of their connexions, and that Brant had taken most of

the wounded up the Tioga river in water craft, which had been previously

made ready in case of defeat. It was farther believed that the King of

Kanadaseagea had been killed at Newtown. He had been seen on his way

thither, and had not returned. From the description given of his dress

and person, moreover, it was believed by General Sullivan that he had

seen his body among the slain.

On the 7th of September, Sullivan crossed the outlet of the Seneca Lake,

and moved in three divisions upon the town of Kanadaseagea--the Seneca

capital--containing about sixty houses, with gardens, and numerous

orchards of apple and peach trees. It was Sullivan's object to surround

the town, and take it by surprise. But, although Butler had endeavored

to induce the Indians to make a stand at that place, his importunities

were of no avail. They said it was of no use to contend with such an army;

and their capital was consequently abandoned, as the other towns had been,

before the Americans could reach it. A detachment of four hundred men

was sent down on the west side of the lake, to destroy Gotheseunquean,

[FN-1] and the plantations in the neighborhood; while at the same time a

number of volunteers, under Colonel Harper, made a forced march in the

direction of the Cayuga Lake, and destroyed Schoyere. Meantime the

residue of the army was employed, on the 8th, in the destruction of the

town, together with the fruit-trees, and fields of corn and beans. [FN-2]

Here, as elsewhere, the work of destruction was thorough and complete.

* * * * *

[FN-1] Thus spelled by General Sullivan, whose official account is in

part the basis of this narrative. Captain Theodosius Fowler, in his

diary, writes it Karhauguash.

[FN-2] Journal of Capt. Fowler.