AN ACCOUNT OF SA-GO-YE-WAT-HAOR RED JACKET AND HIS PEOPLE, 1750-1830. BYJOHN N. HUBBARD DEDICATION _To the Hon. Henry G. Hubbard, of Middletown, Conn. _ DEAR SIR: Your name, associated with many pleasant memories in the past, and in later years with substantial tokens of esteem, is held in gratefulrecollection; and the hope that these pages may serve to interest anoccasional leisure hour, has led to their being inscribed to you, by yourfriend and relative. THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. The "Life and Times of Red Jacket" by Colonel William L. Stone, has beenbefore the public for many years. The industry and ability of the authorhave made it a work of great value, and his extensive researches have leftbut little room for anything new to be said, by one coming after him. Yetthe fact need not be concealed that many, who were intimately acquaintedwith Red Jacket, were disappointed when they came to read his biography. If it had been prepared under the direct influence and superintendence ofThayendanegea, or Brant, it could not have reflected more truly the animusof that distinguished character. Red Jacket in his day was the subject, atdifferent times of much angry feeling, and jealousy. The author has nottaken pains to embalm it, in these memorials of the great orator of theSenecas. Much that was the subject of criticism during his life, admits ofa more charitable construction, and the grave should become the receptacleof all human resentments. The author acknowledges his indebtedness to the labors of Col. Stone, andby an honorable arrangement, liberty was obtained for the use made ofthem, in the following pages. Acknowledgments are due also to others, whose names will appear in the course of this work. TRACY, CAL. , _April 12th_, 1885. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Red Jacket--Name widely known--Interest connected with his history--Hisorigin--Development of his genius--Opinion of Capt. Horatio Jones--Customsof his people--Their councils--Love of eloquence--Distinguished names--Eloquence an art among them--Peculiarity of their language--Field openedfor his genius. CHAPTER II. Glance at the early history of the Iroquois--Territory they occupied--Location of the different tribes--Strength of their Confederacy--Tuscaroras--Traditions--Probable course of their migrations--Senecas--Story of their origin--Singular romance. CHAPTER III. Name Red Jacket, how acquired--Indian name--Name conferred--Singularsuperstition--Red Jacket during the war of the Revolution--Neutrality ofthe Indians proposed--Services sought by Great Britain--Sketch of Sir Wm. Johnson--Red Jacket's position--Taunt of cowardice--Testimony of LittleBeard--Charge made by Brant--Red Jacket's indifference--Anecdote--Earlylove of eloquence--Interesting reminiscences. CHAPTER IV. Early struggles--Red Jacket's opportunity for trial--Council at FortStanwix--Office of Sachem--His opposition to the treaty--Excitementproduced by his speech--Part taken by Cornplanter--His influence indeciding the treaty--How it affected him. CHAPTER V. United States claim to Indian lands--Conflicting claims between states--Manner of adjustment--Attempt to acquire by a lease--Attempt defeated--Lands acquired by New York--From Onondagas, Oneidas, Cayugas--Indiandestitution--Indications of trouble--Design of severing western New Yorkfrom the rest of the state--How defeated--Phelps and Gorham purchase. CHAPTER VI. Union of the western Indians--Hostile influence of the British Indiandepartment in Canada--Ambitious project of Thayendanegea or Brant--VisitsEngland, desiring British aid in the event of war with the United States--Council at Tioga Point--Indian ceremonies--Visit of Cornplanter and othersat the seat of government--Fresh occasion of trouble. CHAPTER VII. Expedition under General Harmar--Its failure--High expectations of theIndians--Colonel Proctor visits the Indians at Buffalo creek--Red Jacket'sspeech--Indian deputation refused--Interference of the matrons--Council atPainted Post--Chiefs invited to Philadelphia. CHAPTER VIII. Expedition to the Indian country under General St. Clair--Washington'scharge--Approach to Indian villages--Sudden surprise--Disastrous battle--Indian victory--Retreat of American force to Fort Jefferson--Boldness ofthe Indians--Friendly Indian deputation--Welcome of the governor ofPennsylvania--Red Jacket's speech in reply--Address of PresidentWashington--Red Jacket's reply--Cause of Indian hostilities. CHAPTER IX. Indian appropriation--Deputation to the west promised--Instructions--Silver medal given to Red Jacket by the president--Military suits--Washington's address at parting--Thayendanegea's visit--Council at AuGlaize--Another Indian council--Delegation--British control--Washington'sletter--Army under General Wayne--Successful campaign--Treaty concluded. CHAPTER X. Canandaigua at an early day--Facts in the early settlement of Bloomfield--Indian council--Its object--Indian parade--Indian dress--Opening of thecouncil--Speeches--Liberal offers of the government--Mr. Savary's journal--Conclusion of treaty--Account of Red Jacket by Thomas Morris. CHAPTER XI. Valley of the Genesee--Indian misgivings--Mill yard--Effort to obtaintheir land--Council at Big Tree--Coming of the Wadsworths--Indianvillages--Refusal to sell--Discussion between Red Jacket and ThomasMorris--Breaking up of the council. CHAPTER XII. Interview between Farmer's Brother and Thomas Morris--Mr. Morris addressesthe women--Distributes presents--Negotiations continued--Treaty concludedwith the women and warriors--Manner of payment--Inquiries about a bank--Their reservations--White women--Young King's dissent--Final settlement--Charge of insincerity. CHAPTER XIII. Council at Canawangus--Interesting reminiscence of Red Jacket--Address ofFarmer's Brother--Jasper Parish--Horatio Jones--Red Jacket's visit atHartford, Conn. CHAPTER XIV. Cornplanter in disrepute--Effort to regain his standing--Red Jacketcharged with witchcraft--His defense--Further notice of Cornplanter--Earlyrecollections--With the Indians who defeated Gen. Braddock in 1755--Withthe English in the war of the Revolution--Takes his father a prisoner--Hisaddress--Release of his father--Address to the governor of Pennsylvania--Visit of President Alden--Close of his life. CHAPTER XV. Change in Red Jacket's views--Causes producing it--Unfavorable to anychange in the habits of his people--Opposes the introduction ofChristianity among them--Visit of a missionary--Missionary's speech--RedJacket's reply--Unpleasant termination of the council. CHAPTER XVI. Tecumseh and Indian confederation--Aid given by Elskawata--Doings at theProphet's town--Great Indian council at the West--Red Jacket's claim forprecedence to be given the Senecas--His adherence to the United States--Hostilities encouraged by British agents--Warriors gathered at theProphet's town--Visited by General Harrison at the head of his troops--Hostilities disclaimed--Surprised by a sudden attack--Indians defeated--War proclaimed against England--Indians take sides--Unfavorablecommencement--Different successes--Part taken by Red Jacket. CHAPTER XVII. Taking of Fort Erie--Battle of Chippewa--Service rendered by the Indians--General Porter's account of the campaign--Red Jacket commended--Withdrawalof Indian forces--Other successes--Conclusion of peace. CHAPTER XVIII. Pre-emptive right to the Indian reservations, sold to the Ogden Company--Council to obtain an extinguishment of the Indian title--Red Jacket'sreply to Mr. Ogden's speech--Indians refuse to sell--Another councilcalled--Account given by Hon. Albert Tracy--Various utterances of theorator on that occasion--Indians appeal to the governments of the UnitedStates and New York--Noble response of Governor De Witt Clinton of NewYork--Final success of the Ogden Company. CHAPTER XIX. Witchcraft--Case of Tom. Jemmy--Testimony of Red Jacket--Red Jacket'sphilippic--Finding of the court--Remarkable interview of Dr. Breckenridgewith Red Jacket--Further expression of views. CHAPTER XX. Personal characteristics--Interview with General Lafayette--Visit of aFrench nobleman--Col. Pickering reproved--Address on launching a schoonerbearing his name--Anecdote of Red Jacket and Capt. Jones--His humor--Strong memory--Its cultivation--Contempt for pretension without merit--Love of the sublime--Portraits--Acute perception--Refined sense ofpropriety--First bridge at Niagara Falls--Loss of his children--Care forhis people. CHAPTER XXI. Views at the close of life--Incident--His lifework--Unfavorable influences--Advance of Christian party--Conversion of Red Jacket's wife--Leaves her--His return--Red Jacket deposed--Journey to Washington--His restoration--Rapid decline--Regards his end as near--Talks with the people--Endeavorsto unite them--Sickness and death. PLATES. Portrait of Red JacketPortrait of King HendrickView of Johnson HallPortrait of Sir John JohnsonPortrait of Barry St. LegerPortrait of Joseph BrantFacsimile of Washington's MedalView of Seneca Mission ChurchView of Red Jacket's House CHAPTER I. Name widely known--Interest naturally awakened in his history--His origin--Development of his genius--Opinion of Capt. Horatio Jones--Customs ofhis people--Their love of eloquence--Distinguished orators among them--Theinviting field opened. Among the aborigines of this country, few names have excited a deeperinterest, or have been more widely and familiarly known than that of REDJACKET. The occasion of this notoriety was the rare fact that, though arude and unlettered son of the forest, he was distinguished for the artsand accomplishments of the orator. His life marks an era in the history ofhis nation and his name like that of Demosthenes, is forever associatedwith eloquence. Other circumstances however, impart interest to his history. His was thelast great name of a nation, and he is entitled to remembrance, on thesoil which was once the home of his fathers. And though linked with amelancholy association, as connected with the waning history of a peoplethat once laid a claim to greatness, but are now fast passing intoobscurity, it is not on this account the less attractive, but presentsanother reason for our regard. Such was the name of SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA, or, as he has more commonly beencalled, Red Jacket. Having risen, by the force of his eloquence, from anobscure station to the highest rank among his people, he becameconspicuous in all of those great transactions, in which they graduallyrelinquished a title to their old hunting grounds, and gave place to theintrusive white man. And he lived to see his nation pass from the pride oftheir ancient dominion, to so humble an inheritance, that his last dayswere embittered with the thought, that the _red men_ were destined tobecome extinct. With him has ceased the glory of their council fire, andof their name. His origin, as we have intimated, was obscure. He must be introduced, ashe has come down to us, without rank or pedigree. His pedigree natureacknowledged, and gave him a right to become great among her sons. Hisbirth is a matter of fact, its time and place, circumstances ofconjecture. Some affirm that he was born at the Old Seneca Castle, nearthe foot of Seneca lake, not far from 1750. [Footnote: Hist. Of NorthAmerican tribes by Thos. L. McKenney. ] Another tradition awards the honor of his birth to a place at, or nearCanoga, on the banks of the Cayuga lake. [Footnote: Schoolcraft's Report. ] Who were his parents? and what, his early history? As the wave casts uponthe shore some treasured fragment, and then recedes to mingle with itsparent waters, so their names, and much of his early history have beenlost in the oblivion of the past. So likewise it is uncertain, as to the time when the wonderful powers ofhis genius began to be developed, or as to the steps by which he arrivedat the high distinction of orator among his people. Whether by dint of study he gained the requisite discipline of mind, andacquired that elegance of diction for which he was distinguished; whetherby repeated trial and failure, accompanied by a proud ambition, and anunyielding purpose, he reached, like Demosthenes, the summit of hisaspirations; or, assisted more by nature than by art, emerged, likePatrick Henry at once, into the grand arena of mind, and by a singleeffort attained distinction and fame, is to be gathered more fromcircumstances than from facts. It is generally conceded, however, that the powers of his intellect wereof the highest order. Captain Horatio Jones, the well known interpreterand agent among the Indians, and than whom no one was more intimatelyacquainted with this orator of the Seneca nation, was accustomed to speakof him as the greatest man that ever lived. "For, " said he, "the great menof our own and of other times, have become so by education; but RED JACKETWAS AS NATURE MADE HIM. Had he enjoyed their advantages, he would havesurpassed them, since it can hardly be supposed that they, without these, would have equalled him. " [Footnote: Conversation of the author with Col. Wm. Jones, of Geneseo, Livingston Co. , N. Y. , son of Capt. Horatio Jones. ] Some allowance should be made for this statement, perhaps, on the groundthat Mr. Jones was a warm admirer of the orator's genius; yet hisadmiration sprang from an intimate knowledge of him, seen undercircumstances, that afforded the best opportunity of forming a justopinion of his talents; and these, he maintained, "_were among the noblestthat nature ever conferred upon man_. " But genius, while it may have smoothed the way, may not have spared himthe pains, by which ordinary minds ascend to greatness. For since it is souniversally the fact, that the path to eminence, is rugged and steep, andthe gifts of fame seldom bestowed but in answer to repeated toil;curiosity would inquire by what means one, who was reputed a barbarian, gained the highest distinction ever awarded to civilized man. It is notenough to reply simply, "_that nature made him so_, " or to receive, without qualification, his own proud assertion, "I AM AN ORATOR, I WASBORN AN ORATOR. " The laws of mind are the same for peasants, and princesin intellect; great minds as well as small, must take measures to compasstheir object, or leave it unattained. It does not appear that his genius was sudden, or precocious in itsdevelopment. It is said that his mind, naturally active and brilliant, gradually opened, until it reached its meridian splendor. Nor did hispowers grow without any means to mature and perfect them. As the young oakis strengthened by warring with the storm, so the faculties of his mindgained force by entering freely into conflicts of opinion. Accustomed tocanvass in private the questions which agitated the councils of hisnation, he began to ascertain the reality of his own power, and bymeasuring his own with other minds, he gained the confidence that flowsfrom superior wisdom. [Footnote: Conversation with Col. Wm. Jones. ] The tastes and regulations of his own people favored very much, thepromptings of his genius. They were lovers of eloquence, and their form ofgovernment fostered its cultivation. This though differing but little fromthe simplicity found in rude states of society, presented a featurepeculiar among a people not far advanced in civilization, which servedgreatly to promote elevation of mind, and advance them far above acondition of barbarism. They were in the habit of meeting in publicassemblies, to discuss those questions that pertained to the interests, ordestiny of their nation. Around their council fires their chiefs andwarriors gathered, and entered freely, so far as their dignity, consideration, or power of debate admitted, into a deliberation on publicaffairs. And here were manifested an ability and decorum which civilizednations even, have viewed with admiration and surprise. For though wemight suppose their eloquence must have partaken of rant and rhapsody, presenting a mass of incoherent ideas, depending for their interest on theanimation of gesture and voice, with which they were uttered, yet we woulddo injustice to their memory, if we did not give their orators the creditof speaking as much to the purpose, and of exhibiting as great a force ofintellect, as many who would claim a higher place than they in the scaleof intelligence and refinement. Many of their orators were distinguished for strength of mind, and innative power of genius, might compare favorably, with the men of any ageor clime. The names of Garangula, Adario, Hendrick, Skenandoah, Logan andothers, might be mentioned with pride by any people. [Illustration: KING HENDRICK] GARANGULA, has been styled the very Nestor of his nation, whose powers ofmind would not suffer in comparison with a Roman, or more modern Senator. [Footnote: Drake. ] ADARIO is said to have been a man of "great mind, the bravest of thebrave, " and possessing altogether the best qualities of any Indian knownto the French in Canada. [Footnote: Charlevoix. ] It has been remarked of HENDRICK, that for capacity, bravery, vigor ofmind, and immovable integrity united, he excelled all the aboriginalinhabitants of the United States, of whom any knowledge has come down tothe present time. [Footnote: Dr. Dwight. ] SKENANDOAH in his youth was a brave and intrepid warrior, and in his riperyears one of the best of counsellors among the North American tribes. Hepossessed a most vigorous mind, and was alike active, sagacious, andpersevering. He will long be remembered for a saying of his to one whovisited him toward the close of life; "I am, " said he, "an aged hemlock, the winds of an hundred winters have whistled through my branches. I amdead at the top. The generation to which I belonged has run away and leftme. " He was a sincere believer in the Christian religion, and added to theabove "why I live the Great and Good Spirit only knows. Pray to my Jesus, that I may have patience to wait for my appointed time to die. " [Footnote:Annals of Tryon County. ] And Mr. Jefferson regarded the appeal of LOGAN to the white men, after theextirpation of his family, as without a parallel in the history ofeloquence. These were men who have been revered by the civilized world, as worthy ofa place with the distinguished and great among mankind. "Oratory was not alone a natural gift, but an art among the Iroquois. Itenjoined painful study, unremitting practice, and sedulous observation ofthe style, and methods of the best masters. Red Jacket did not rely uponhis native powers alone, but cultivated the art with the same assiduitythat characterized the great Athenian orator. The Iroquois, as theirearliest English historian observed, cultivated an Attic or classicelegance of speech, which entranced every ear, among their red auditory. "[Footnote: Mr. Bryant's speech. ] Those public games, entertainments, religious ceremonies and dances, common among the Indian tribes, added interest to their councilgatherings, and made them a scene of attraction for the entire nation. Thither the young and old of both sexes were accustomed to resort, and, assembled at their national forum, listened with profound attention andsilence to each word spoken by their orators. "The unvarying courtesy, sobriety and dignity of their convocations led one of their learned Jesuithistorians to liken them to the Roman Senate. " [Footnote: W. C. Bryant'sspeech before the Buffalo Historical Society on the occasion of the re-interment of Red Jacket's remains. ] "Their language was flexible and sonorous, the sense largely dependingupon inflection, copious in vowel sounds, abounding in metaphor; affordingconstant opportunity for the ingenious combination and construction ofwords to image delicate, and varying shades of thought, and to expressvehement manifestations of passion; admitting of greater and more suddenvariations in pitch, than is permissable in English oratory, andencouraging pantomimic gesture, for greater force and effect. In otherwords it was not a cold, artificial, mechanical medium for the expressionof thought or emotion, or the concealment of either, but was constructed, as we may fancy, much as was the tuneful tongue spoken by our firstparents, who stood in even closer relations to nature. " [Footnote: Ib. ] Hence, though the Iroquois were a warlike people, and delighted in deedsof bravery, there was an inviting field opened to one, who could chaintheir attention by his eloquence, and sway their emotions at will. Such advantages being presented for the exercise of the powers of oratory, it can hardly be supposed that a mind endowed as richly, as was RedJacket's, by the gifts of nature, would fail to perceive the path in whichlay the true road to eminence among his people. And his subsequent careerindicates but too clearly, the choice he made of the field in which toexercise his noble powers. CHAPTER II. Glance at the early history of the Iroquois--The territory occupied--Tuscaroras--Original strength--Traditions--Probable course of migration--The Senecas--Story of their origin--Singular romance. Rising up from the obscurity of the past, we find a people, singular intheir habits and character, whose history has been strangely, and in somerespects sadly interwoven with our own. They were the original occupantsof the soil, claiming to have lived here always, and to have grown out ofthe soil like the trees of the forest. Scattered over this continent werevarious Indian tribes, resembling each other in their general features andhabits, but in some instances exhibiting stronger and more interestingtraits of character than the others. Among these were the Iroquois, and ifRed Jacket was distinguished among his own people, his own people were notless conspicuous among the North American Indians. He sprang from the Senecas, and was accustomed to speak of his origin withfeelings of conscious pride. For the Senecas were the most numerous andpowerful of the six nations, of whom they were a part. Such was the titlegiven to that celebrated Indian confederacy which, for a length of timeunknown to us, inhabited the territory embraced by the State of New York. Here they lived in a line of settlements extending from one end to theother, through the middle of the State, and their domain as thus occupied, they were accustomed to style their _Long House_. It was a shadowydome, of generous amplitude, covered by the azure expanse above, garnishedwith hills, lakes, and laughing streams, and well stored with provisions, in the elk and deer that bounded freely through its forest halls, themoose that was mirrored in its waters, and the trout, those lusciousspeckled beauties, that nestled cosily in its crystal chambers. The eastern door was guarded by the Mohawks, who resided at one, and itswestern by the Senecas, who dwelt at the other extremity of this abode. When ever a messenger from another nation came to them on business, orknocked, as it was termed, at the eastern or western door of their _longhouse_, it was the duty of the nation to which he came, to give himentertainment, and examine into the nature of his embassy. If it was ofsmall importance, it was decided by their own council; but if it was suchas to demand the united wisdom of the tribes, a runner was sent with abelt of wampum to the nearest nation, which would take the belt and send arunner with it to the next, and so on, and thus with but little delay, ageneral meeting was summoned of all the tribes. This confederacy at one time consisted of five nations, but afterwardembraced six, by the addition of the Tuscaroras, a tribe that onceoccupied the territory of North Carolina. This tribe is said to have belonged at an early day to the Iroquoisfamily, and to have inherited the enterprising and warlike character ofthe parent stock. They fought successfully with the Catawbas, Cowetas, andthe Cherokees, and thought to exterminate by one decisive blow, all of thewhite inhabitants within their borders. Unsuccessful in the attempt, pressed sorely by the whites, who resisted the attack, and unwillingthemselves to submit, they removed to the north, and through sympathy, similarity of taste, manners, or language, or from the stronger motives ofconsanguinity, became incorporated with the confederated tribes of theIroquois. [Footnote: Schoolcraft's Report. Mr. Schoolcraft prefers, andquite justly the name Iroquois, as descriptive of this confederacy, instead of Six Nations, since the term is well known, and applicable tothem in every part of their history. Whereas the other is appropriate onlyduring the time when they were numerically six. ] Thus constituted they presented the most formidable power, of which wehave any knowledge in the annals of the Indian race. By their unitedstrength they were able to repel invasion, from any of the surroundingnations, and by the force of their arms and their prowess in war, gainedcontrol over an extent of territory much greater than they occupied. They sent their war parties in every direction. The tribes north, east, south, and west of them were made to feel the power of their arms, andyield successively to their dexterity and valor. Now they were launchingtheir war-canoes upon the lakes and rivers of the west, now engaged inbloody conflicts with the Catawbas and Cherokees of the south, nowtraversing regions of snow in pursuit of the Algonquins of the north, andanon spreading consternation and dread among the tribes at the remotesteast. Their energy and warlike prowess made them a terror to their foes, and distant nations pronounced their name with awe. By what means these several tribes had been brought to unite themselvesunder one government, how long they had existed in this relation, and whatwas the origin of each one, or of all, are questions which will neverperhaps be fully determined. There being no written records among them, all that can be ascertained of their history previous to their becomingknown to the whites, must be gathered from the dim light of tradition, from their symbolic representations, from antique remains of their art, and from their legends and myths. These present in an obscure and shadowyform, a few materials of history, whose value is to be measured by theconsideration, that they are all we have to tell the story of a noble andinteresting race of men. Their traditions speak of the creation of the world, the formation of man, and the destruction of the world by a deluge. They suppose the existenceoriginally of two worlds, an upper and lower. The upper completed andfilled with an intelligent order of beings, the lower unformed andchaotic, whose surface was covered with water, in which huge monsterscareered, uncontrolled and wild. From the upper there descended to thelower a creating spirit, in the form of a beautiful woman. She alighted onthe back of a huge tortoise, gave birth to a pair of male twins andexpired. Thereupon the shell of the tortoise began to enlarge, and grewuntil it became a "_big island_" and formed this continent. These two infant sons became, one the author of _good_, the other of_evil_. The creator of _good_ formed whatever was praiseworthy and useful. From the head of his deceased mother he made the sun, from the remainingparts of her body, the moon and stars. When these were created the water-monsters were terrified by the light, and fled and hid themselves in thedepths of the ocean. He diversified the earth by making rivers, seasand plains, covered it with animals, and filled it with productionsbeneficial to mankind. He then formed man and woman, put life into them, and called them Ong-we Hon-we _a real people_. [Footnote: This term issignificant of true manhood. It implies that there was nothing of sham intheir make up. ] The creator of _evil_ was active in making mountains, precipices, waterfalls, reptiles, morasses, apes, and whatever was injurious to, or inmockery of mankind. He put the works of the _good_ out of order, hidhis animals in the earth, and destroyed things necessary for thesustenance of man. His conduct so awakened the displeasure of the _good_, as to bring them into personal conflict. Their time of combat, and armswere chosen, one selecting flag-roots, the other the horns of a deer. Twowhole days they were engaged in unearthly combat; but finally the _Makerof Good_, who had chosen the horns of a deer, prevailed, and retired tothe world above. The _Maker of Evil_ sank below to a region of darkness, and became the _Evil Spirit_, or Kluneolux of the world of despair. [Footnote: Schoolcraft's Indian Cosmogony. ] Many of their accounts appear to be purely fabulous, but not more soperhaps than similar traditions, to be found in the history of almostevery nation. The Iroquois refer their origin to a point near Oswego Falls. They boldlyaffirm that their people were here taken from a subterranean vault, by theDivine Being, and conducted eastward along the river Ye-no-na-nat-che, _going around a mountain_, now the Mohawk, until they came to where itdischarges into a great river running toward the mid-day sun, the Hudson, and went down this river and touched the bank of a _great water_, whilethe main body returned by the way they came, and as they proceededwestward, originated the different tribes composing their nation; and toeach tribe was assigned the territory they occupied, when first discoveredby the whites. [Footnote: Account by David Cusick, as contained inSchoolcraft's report. Mr. S. Regards this account correct as indicatingthe probable course of their migrations. ] The Senecas, the fifth tribe of the Iroquois, were directed in theiroriginal location, to occupy a hill near the head of Canandaigua lake. This hill, called Ge-nun-de-wa, is venerated as the birth place of theirnation. It was surrounded anciently by a rude fortification which formedtheir dwelling in time of peace, and served for a shelter from any suddenattack of a hostile tribe. Tradition hallows this spot on account of thefollowing very remarkable occurrence. Far back in the past, the inhabitants of the hill Genundewa, weresurprised on awaking one morning, to behold themselves surrounded by animmense serpent. His dimensions were so vast as to enable him to coilhimself completely around the fort. His head and tail came together at itsgate. There he lay writhing and hissing, presenting a most menacing andhideous aspect. His jaws were widely extended, and he hissed so terriblyno one ventured to approach near. The inhabitants were thus effectually blockaded. Some endeavored, but invain, to kill this savage monster. Others tried to escape, but hiswatchful eyes prevented their endeavors. Others again sought to climb overhis body, but were unable; while others still attempted to pass by hishead, but fell into his extended jaws. Their confinement grew every daymore and more painful, and was rendered doubly annoying by the serpent'sbreath, which was very offensive. Their situation drove them at length to an extremity not to be endured. They armed themselves with hatchets, and clubs, and whatever implements ofwar they could find, and made a vigorous sally upon their dreadful foe, but, alas! were all engulfed in his terrific jaws. It so happened that two orphan children remained, after the destructionwhich befell the rest. They were directed by an oracle to make a bow of acertain kind of willow, and an arrow of the same, the point of which theywere to dip in poison, and then shoot the monster, aiming so as to hit himunder his scales. In doing this, they encountered their adversary with entire success. Forno sooner had the arrow penetrated his skin, than he presently began togrow sick, exhibiting signs of the deepest distress. He threw himself intoevery imaginable shape, and with wonderful contortions and agonizingpains, rolled his ponderous body down along the declivity of the mountain, uttering horrid noises as he went, prostrating trees in his course, andfalling finally into the lake below. Here he slaked his thirst, and showed signs of great distress, by dashingabout furiously in the water. Soon he vomited up the heads of those whomhe had swallowed, and immediately after expired and sank to rise no more. [Footnote: As related to the author by Col. Wm. Jones. ] From these two children, as thus preserved, the Seneca nation are said tohave sprung. So implicitly has this tradition been received by the Senecas, that it hasbeen incorporated into the solemnities of their worship, and itsremembrance continued from one generation to another by the aid ofreligious rites. Here they were formerly in the habit of assembling incouncil, and here their prayers and thanksgivings were offered to theGreat Spirit, for having given them birth, and for rescuing their nationfrom entire destruction. In speaking of this to the whites, they point to the barren hillside, asevincing the truth of the story, affirming that one day the forest treesstood thick upon it, but was stripped of them by the great serpent as herolled down its declivity. The round stones found there in greatabundance, resembling in size and shape the human head, are taken asadditional proof, for they affirm that these are the heads disgorged bythe serpent, and have been petrified by the waters of the lake. [Footnote:The author remembers well that in conversation with a Seneca Indian onthis point, he seemed to take it as quite an affront that doubts should beexpressed by the white people as to the reality of this occurrence. ] If nearness of locality will justify a glance of the eye for a moment, toan object not directly in the line of our pursuit, we might survey inpassing a bold projecting height, not far from the hill Genundewa, markedby a legend which draws a tear from the eye of the dusky warrior, or sendshim away in a thoughtful mood, with a shade of sadness upon his usuallyplacid brow. The story is not of the same character and is of a morerecent date than that of the serpent, but is said to be of greatantiquity. It has been written with great beauty by Col. Stone, and as weare authorized, we present it in his own language. "During the wars of the Senecas and Algonquins of the north, a chief ofthe latter was captured and carried to Genundewa, whereon a fortification, consisting of a square without bastions, and surrounded by palisades, wassituated. The captive though young in years, was famed for his prowess inthe forest conflict, and nature had been bountiful to his person in thosegifts of strength and symmetry, which awaken savage admiration. After ashort debate he was condemned to die on the following day, by the slowtorture of empalement. While he was thus lying in the cabin of death, alodge devoted to condemned prisoners, the daughter of the sachem broughthim food, and struck with his manly form and heroic bearing, resolved tosave him or share his fate. Her bold enterprise was favored by theuncertain light of the gray dawn, while the solitary sentinel, weary ofhis night-watch, and forgetful of his duty, was slumbering. Stealing withnoiseless tread to the side of the young captive, she cut the thongswherewith his limbs were bound, and besought him in breathless accents tofollow her. "The fugitives descended the hill by a wooded path conducting to the lake;but ere they reached the water, an alarm whoop, wild and shrill, was heardissuing from the waking guard. They tarried not, though thorny vines andfallen timber obstructed their way. At length they reached the smoothbeach, and leaping into a canoe previously provided by the consideratedamsel, they plied the paddle vigorously, steering for the opposite shore. Vain were their efforts. On the wind came cries of rage, and the quicktramp of savage warriors, bounding over rock and glen in fierce pursuit. The Algonquin with the reckless daring of a young brave, sent back a yellof defiance, and soon after the splash of oars was heard, and a dozen warcanoes were cutting the billows in their rear. The unfortunate lovers onlanding, took a trail leading in a western direction over the hills. TheAlgonquin, weakened by unhealed wounds, followed his active guide up theaclivity, with panting heart and flagging pace; while his enemies, withthe grim old sachem at their head, drew nearer and nearer. At lengthfinding further attempts at flight useless, she diverged from the trail, and conducted her lover to a table-crested rock that projected over aravine or gulf, one hundred and fifty feet in depth, the bottom of whichwas strewed with misshapen rocks, scattered in rude confusion. With heartsnerved to a high resolve, the hapless pair awaited the arrival of theiryelling pursuers. Conspicuous by his eagle plume, towering form andscowling brow, the daughter soon descried her inexorable sire, leapingfrom crag to crag below her. He paused abruptly when his fiery eye restedon the objects of his pursuit. Notching an arrow on the string of histried and unerring bow, he raised his sinewy arms--but ere the missile wassent, Wun-nut-hay, _the Beautiful_, interposed her form between her fatherand his victim. In wild appealing tones she entreated her sire to sparethe young chieftain, assuring him that they would leap together from theprecipice rather than be separated. The stern old man, deaf to hersupplication, and disregarding her menace, ordered his followers to seizethe fugitive. Warrior after warrior darted up the rock, but on reachingthe platform, at the moment when they were grasping to clutch the youngbrave, the lovers, locked in fond embrace, flung themselves 'From the steep rock, and perished. ' "The mangled bodies were buried in the bottom of the glen, beneath theshade of everlasting rocks; and two small hollows, resembling sunkengraves, are to this day pointed out to the curious traveler, as the burialplace of the lovers. " It is a sweet, wild haunt, the sunbeams fall therewith softened radiance, and a brook near by gives out a complainingmurmur, as if mourning for the dead. [Footnote: Mr. Stone adds in a note--"This interesting legend was derived many years ago from a Seneca chief ofsome note, named Chequered Cap, and was communicated to me by W. H. C. Hosmer, Esq. , of Avon. On the top of Genundewa the remains of an Indianorchard are visible, a few moss-grown and wind-bowed apple trees stilllinger, sad, but fitting emblems of the wasted race by whom they wereplanted. "] Let us return to the inquiry we were pursuing. Of the origin of theIroquois confederacy, some traditionary accounts have been given, whichrepresent the different tribes as dwelling for a time, in the separatelocations assigned them, independent of each other. Here they increased invalor, skill and knowledge, suited to their forest home. At lengthbecoming numerous, rival interests arose among them, which did not existwhen they were small and feeble. They fell into contention, and wasted anddestroyed each other. Each tribe fortified his own position, and dwelt inconstant fear of being surprised and overcome by his neighboring foe. At length one of their sachems, distinguished for his wisdom and address, proposed that they should cease from a strife, which was only destroyingthemselves, and unite their energies against the Alleghans, theAdirondacks, the Eries, and other ancient and warlike tribes, who weretheir superiors in their isolated and divided condition. Already weary oftheir unprofitable conflicts, the proposal was received with favor, andAto-tar-ho, an Onandaga chieftain, unequalled in valor, and the fame ofwhose skill and daring was known among all the tribes, became the leadingspirit of this confederacy, and by common consent was placed at its head. So fully did experience demonstrate the wisdom of this arrangement, thatthey used every means to strengthen the bands of their union, and by themost solemn engagements of fidelity to each other, they became the Ko-nos-hi-o-ni, or United people. [Footnote: Schoolcraft's Report. ] How long this confederacy had existed before their discovery by thewhites, is unknown. There is a tradition which places it one age, or thelength of a man's life, before the white people came to this country. [Footnote: Pyrlaus, a missionary at the ancient site of Dionderoga, orFort Hunter, writing between 1742 and 1748, gives this as the bestconjecture he could form, from information derived from the Mohawks. It isthought however that this time is too short, to account for the degree ofdevelopment attained by the Iroquois, in their united capacity, at thetime of their first discovery by the whites. ] The union of these several tribes was the means of securing their pre-eminence over the other Indians in this country. Their individual traitsare thus very fittingly represented;--"in their firm physical type, and intheir energy of character, and love of independence, no people among theaboriginal race have ever exceeded, if any has equalled the Iroquois. "[Footnote: Schoolcraft. ] They occupied a region surpassed by no other onthe continent, for grandeur and beauty united, and inherited from this orsome other source, a mental constitution of noble structure, which placedthem in the fore-front of their race, and when united, no tribe on thiscontinent could stand before them. This has served to render theirhistory, a matter of earnest and interesting inquiry. CHAPTER III Name Red Jacket, how acquired--Indian name--Conferred name--Singulartradition--Red Jacket during the war of the Revolution--Neutrality of theIndians--Services sought by Great Britain--Sketch of Sir William Johnson--Position of Red Jacket--Taunt of cowardice--Testimony of Little Beard--Charge made by Brant--Red Jacket's indifference--Anecdote--Early love ofeloquence--Interesting reminiscences. The name Red Jacket, so familiar to the whites, was acquired during thewar of the Revolution. He was distinguished at this time as well asafterward, for his fleetness on foot, his intelligence and activity. Having attracted the attention of a British officer by the vivacity of hismanners, and the speedy execution of those errands with which he wasintrusted, he received either in token of admiration, or for servicesrendered, or both, a beautifully ornamented jacket of a scarlet color. This he took pride in wearing, and when worn out, he was presented withanother, and continued to wear this peculiar dress until it became a markof distinction, and gave him the name by which he was afterward bestknown. At a treaty held at Canandaigua in 1794, Captain Parrish, who wasfor many years agent of the United States for the Indians, presented himwith another _red jacket_ to perpetuate a name of which he wasparticularly fond. [Footnote: McKenney's Indian Biography Politely favoredby Alfred B. Street, Esq. , and assistant Mr. J. H. Hickox, of the StateLibrary, Albany, N. Y. ] His original name was Oti-ti-ani, _always ready_. Sa-go-ye-wat-ha, thetitle conferred upon him at his election to the dignity of Sachem, hasbeen rendered, "_The keeper awake, he keeps them awake, and the author, orcause of a wakeful spirit_. " [Footnote: This latter translation wasgiven to the author by the late Wm. Jones, a half-blood, son-in-law of RedJacket and a chief of some note. This interpretation was given to somegentlemen from Buffalo who proposed to erect a monument at Red Jacket'sgrave. It was given in a full council of the chiefs of his tribe. ] The name is connected with a curious superstition among his people, andwill best be understood, by an acquaintance with the circumstances underwhich it is used. If during the still hours of night, an Indian's mind is taken up withthoughts that cause sleep to pass from him, preventing every effort ofMorpheus to lock him in fond embrace, he ascribes it to a spirit, which hecalls Sa-go-ye-wat-ha. The impressions made are regarded as ominous of some important event, joyful or otherwise, according to the feelings awakened. If his thoughtsare of a pleasing nature, he is led to anticipate the occurrence of somejoyful event. If they are of a melancholy turn, he regards it asforeboding evil. He may be led to dwell with interest on some absent friend; that friend hewill expect to see the next day, or soon after. Yet should his thoughts betroubled or anxious, he would expect to hear soon of that friend's death, or that something evil had befallen him. [Footnote: Conversation with Wm. Jones, Seneca chief. ] Such was the spirit they called Sa-go-ye-wat-ha. He could arrest thecurrent of their thought, bring before them visions of delight, or sendupon them melancholy reflections, and fill their minds with anxiety andgloom. This title conferred on Red Jacket, while it indicated the cause of hiselevation, presented the highest compliment that could be paid to hispowers of oratory. By the magic spell of his words, he could control theirminds, make their hearts beat quick with emotions of joy, or send overthem at will the deep pulsations of grief. The incident referred to as giving rise to the name, Red Jacket, introduces him in connection with the war of the Revolution. As hisconduct during this period has been the subject of frequent remark, severely criticised by some, and not very favorably viewed by others, justice to the orator's memory requires a brief statement of his reasonsfor the course he pursued. While thoughts of this contest were pending, the colonists took measuresto secure the favorable disposition of the Iroquois, and these efforts atthe time were successful. The general government advised them to remain neutral, during theanticipated conflict. This course met the approval of their mostconsiderate sachems. For though inured to war, and apt to enter withavidity into the excitement of a conflict, their forces had been reducedby recent encounters with the Indians at the west, and south, and alsowith the French; and the few intervening years of peace served to convincethem of its value, and caused them to receive with favor this propositionfrom our government. At a council held with the Iroquois at German Flats, in June, 1776, byGen. Schuyler, who had been appointed for this purpose, these assurancesof neutrality were renewed. Great Britain also was not indifferent about the course these Indiantribes would pursue. Wishing to prevent an alliance of the Indians withthe colonists, willing to secure forces already on the ground, and with aview possibly, of striking terror into the minds of her rebellioussubjects, her agents in this country spared no pains to enlist thesympathies of the Iroquois on her side. In this they were but too successful. Through their agents, Britain hadbeen in correspondence with these tribes for more than a hundred years, had supplied them with implements of war, articles of clothing, and withmany of the comforts and conveniences of life. The Indians had learned tobe dependent upon her, and they called her king their "_great father_over the water. " Her agents spent their lives among them. Through themtheir communications were made to the crown, and they regarded them asessential to their happiness. Hence they exerted a very great influenceover them. This was especially true of Sir William Johnson, who died at Johnson Hallin the month of June, 1774. Mr. Johnson was a native of Ireland, of a good family and fitted by natureand education, to adorn the walks of civilized life. He came to thiscountry not far from 1738, as land agent of his uncle, Sir Peter Warren, an admiral in the English navy, who had acquired a considerable tract ofland upon the Mohawk, in the present county of Montgomery. Possessing a romantic disposition, he readily adapted himself to the rudecustoms that prevailed in the wilds of America. The _Gentleman's Magazine_ of London said of him in 1755, --"Besideshis skill and experience as an officer, he is particularly happy in makinghimself beloved by all sorts of people, and can conform to all companiesand to all conversations. He is very much of a gentleman in genteelcompany, but as the inhabitants next to him are mostly Dutch, he sits downwith them and smokes his tobacco, drinks flip, and talks of improvements, bear and beaver skins. Being surrounded with Indians, he speaks several oftheir languages well, and has always some of them with him. He takes careof their wives, and old Indians, when they go out on parties; and evenwears their dress. In short, by his honest dealings with them in trade, and his courage, which has often been successfully tried with them, he hasso endeared himself to them, that they chose him as one of their chiefsachems, or princes, and esteem him as their father. " Not far from the year 1755, while the French and English were at war, hewas made general of the colonial militia, and by virtue of a leadershipthat had been created by the Iroquois, he was head warrior of all theIndian tribes, who favored the English. [Illustration: JOHNSON HALL] The gifts of his sovereign, and the opportunity he had of purchasingIndian lands, were the means of his securing great wealth. The ease withwhich he secured land of the Indians is illustrated by an amusingoccurrence between him and a noted chief, Hendrick. Soon after enteringupon his duties as Superintendent of Indian Affairs in this country, hereceived from England some richly embroidered suits of clothes. Hendrick, a Mohawk chief, was present, when the package containing themwas opened, and could not refrain from expressing his admiration of them. He went away very thoughtful, but soon after returned and said to SirWilliam, that he had dreamed a dream. "Ah! And what did you dream?" said Sir William. "I dreamed, " said Hendrick, "that you gave me one of those new suits ofuniform. " Sir William could not refuse it, and one of the elegant suits waspresented to Hendrick, who went away to show his gift to his countrymenand left Sir William to tell the joke to his friends. A while after thegeneral met Hendrick and said--"Hendrick, _I have dreamed a dream_. " Whether the Sachem mistrusted he was now to be taken in his own net ornot, is not certain, but he also inquired, --"And what did you dream?" The general said he dreamed that Hendrick presented him with a certainpiece of land which he described. It consisted of about five hundredacres, of the most valuable land in the Mohawk valley. Hendrick replied, --"It is yours;" but, shaking his head, said, "SirWilliam I will never dream with you again. " [Footnote: Drake's Book of theIndians. ] Sir William's large estate, the partiality of his countrymen, togetherwith his military honors, and his great influence with the Indians, rendered him "as near a prince as anything the back-woods of America haswitnessed. " [Footnote: The expression of an English lady. --Turner. ] He built two spacious and convenient residences on the Mohawk river, knownas Johnson Castle and Johnson Hall. The Hall was his summer residence. Here he lived something like a sovereign, kept an excellent table forstrangers and officers, whom the course of duty led into these wilds, andby confiding entirely in the Indians, and treating them with truth andjustice, never yielding to solicitations once refused, they were taught torepose in him the utmost confidence. His personal popularity with the Indians, gave him an influence over themgreater it is supposed, than any one of our own race has ever possessed. He was the first Englishman that contended successfully with French Indiandiplomacy, as exercised by their governors, missionaries and traders. [Footnote: Turner's Phelps and Gorham Purchase. ] Had he lived until the war of the Revolution, it is supposed by some hemight have remained neutral, and have kept the Indians from engaging inthe conflict, though this is altogether uncertain. He lived to see thegathering of the storm that swept away most of his great possessions. On the death of Sir William, his son John Johnson succeeded to his titlesand estate. The office of General Superintendent of the Indians, fell intothe hands of Col. Guy Johnson, a son-in-law, who appointed Col. Claus, another son-in-law, as his deputy. Into their hands fell the property, and a large share of the influenceover the Indians, possessed by Sir William Johnson. This influence wasexerted in favor of Great Britain. When the Indians heard of the uprising in Boston, and of the battle ofLexington, they were told, that these out-breaks were the acts ofdisobedient children, against the great king, who had been kind to them, as he had to the Six Nations. That their "_great father over the water_, "was rich in money and men; that the colonists were poor, and their numberssmall, and that they could easily be brought into subjection. At a council of the Iroquois convened at Oswego, by Sir John Johnson andother officers and friends of the crown, they were informed that the kingdesired them to assist him in subduing the rebels, who had taken up armsagainst him, and were about to rob him of a part of his great possessions. But the chiefs one by one assured the British agents that they had theyear before, in a council with General Schuyler, pledged themselves toneutrality, and could not without violating their promise, take up thehatchet. But they were assured that the rebels justly merited all the punishmentthat white men and Indians could inflict;--that they would be richlyrewarded for their services, and _that the king's rum was as plenty asthe waters of Lake Ontario_. This appeal to their appetites, already vitiated, together with thepromise of large rewards, at length prevailed; and a treaty was concluded, in which the Indians pledged themselves to take up arms against therebels, and continue in service during the war. They were then presentedeach with a suit of clothes, a brass kettle, a gun, a tomahawk, a scalpingknife, a quantity of powder and lead, and a piece of gold. [Footnote: Lifeof Mary Jemison. ] The Senecas were among those who consented to join the royal standard. Ofthis action Red Jacket did not approve. He declared plainly andunhesitatingly to those who had determined to engage in the war, --"_Thisquarrel does not belong to us, --and it is test for us to take no part init; we need not waste our blood to have it settled. If they fight us, wewill fight them, but if they let us alone, we had better keep still_. "[Footnote: Testimony given to the author by Wm. Jones, Seneca chief, andconfirmed by Col. Wm. Jones, son of the Indian interpreter, who affirmsthat prominent Indian chiefs had declared in his hearing that these werethe sentiments of Red Jacket at this time. ] Red Jacket at this time was not far from twenty-six years old. Hisforensic abilities had not been called forth, and his influence weighedbut little in comparison with that of older men. But it may be observedthat his conduct ever after this, will be found consistent with thesentiments he entertained, and was free to express. Though young, hisperceptions were keen, he had a deep and penetrating mind and saw at aglance that in this contest his people were doomed to suffer, to be groundbetween the upper and nether mill stone. When, in the summer of 1777, his people received an invitation to join theforces that were preparing to march under the command of Col. St. Legerupon Fort Stanwix, being assured that they would not be required to endurethe fatigues and dangers of the battle, but might "sit down quietly andsmoke their pipes, and see the sport;" Red Jacket endeavored, but in vain, to prevent his people from going. He said to them, "_it's a cheat; thedesign is to deceive you, and if you go you will find that you have beendeluded_. " They threw back the taunt, --"_You are a coward, you have the mind of awoman, and are not fit to go to war_. " Red Jacket though not at this time a chief, was a young man ofacknowledged talent and influence, and having a right to express hisopinion, did not hesitate to give it in favor of peace. His opinion waswell known among his people. Little Beard has frequently been seen to buryhis face in his blanket, and give vent to his tears, in view of the havocmade among the Senecas by the war, at the same time declaring, --"_RedJacket was opposed to the war_, HE WAS ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF PEACE, _and howmuch better it had been, had we listened to his advice_. " [Footnote:Conversation of the author with Col. Jones. ] [Illustration: BARRY ST. LEGER] Red Jacket's prediction was too nearly verified. The Senecas suffered mostseverely in that campaign. They fell under the command of Thay-en-dan-e-gea or Brant, who went with a company of Tories, led by Col. Butler, tointercept General Herkimer, who was reported as coming to the relief ofthe garrison. At a certain point on the way, where they expected thegeneral would pass, they formed an ambuscade, and though they selectedtheir ground with wisdom, and acquitted themselves with great bravery, they were unable to stand before the invincible courage of the heroes ofOriskany. The Senecas claim to have lost in that engagement thirty-three of theirchiefs, and their feelings in view of it are said to have been sad in theextreme. [Footnote: "The mourning was excessive, and was expressed by themost doleful yells, shrieks and howlings and by inimitablegesticulations. "--Mrs. Jemison's Narrative. ] The charge of cowardice applied by the young warriors to Red Jacket, upontheir first starting out on this campaign, was one frequently made duringthe war. His views were at different times expressed in opposition to it, and his arguments as often repelled by the young braves, who could notendure his invectives. The reply was easily made, and hence in morefrequent demand, than if it had imposed a greater tax upon theirintellects. The epithet has often been applied to him since, and thoughhis tastes did not lead him to seek the fame of a warrior, still it isbelieved he was not so devoid of courage, as has sometimes beenrepresented. His views of the war, were not those of a partisan, hence his conduct wasoften censured by those who had entered heartily into the contest. Brant has charged him with being the occasion of trouble to him, in hisefforts to arrest the march of Sullivan, and his army, into the Indiancountry. Particularly at Newtown, where considerable preparations had beenmade for defense. Says Col. Stone, --"Sa-go-ye-wat-ha was then twenty-nineyears old, and though it does not appear that he had yet been created achief, he nevertheless seems to have been already a man of influence. Hewas in the practice of holding private consultations with the youngwarriors, and some of the younger and less resolute chiefs, for thepurpose of fomenting discontents, and persuading them to sue for whatBrant considered, ignominious terms of peace. "On one occasion as Brant has alleged, Red Jacket had so far succeeded inhis treachery, as to induce some of the disaffected chiefs to send arunner into Sullivan's camp, to make known dissensions he himself hadawakened, and invite a flag of truce, _with propositions of peace to theIndians_. " Though charged with acting criminally, it is here expressly asserted, _that it was to obtain peace_. Peace he most earnestly desired for hispeople, who were doomed to be wasted in a contest not their own. Nor, in view of his feelings respecting the war, is it surprising heshould have incurred the displeasure of Cornplanter, while endeavoring tobring his countrymen to make a stand against a portion of the invadingarmy, on the beach of Canandaigua lake, where was an Indian village ofsome size. Not finding in Red Jacket an ardor for the undertaking whichcorresponded in any degree with his own, he turned to the young wife ofthe orator and exclaimed, --"_Leave that man, he is a coward; your childrenwill disgrace you, they will all be cowards_. " [Footnote: Col. Wm. Jones. ] The epithet thus applied occasioned uneasiness to none less than to theorator himself. Whenever he chose to notice it, he would make a goodreturn for what he had received. --In a war of words, he was on his ownchosen ground. He was a match for their greatest champion, and in cross-firing, it could easily be seen that his missiles were directed by one whowas perfect master of the art. He could handle at will the most cuttingsarcasm, and while maintaining a good natured, playful mood, deal hisblows with such power and effect, as to make the victim of his ironyresort to some other means of defense, than the tongue. It is said thatfrequently by his cool, good natured railery, he has caused the victim ofhis sport to turn upon and strike him. He would answer it by a heartylaugh, unless the blow was of such a nature as to demand of him adifferent reception. [Footnote: Wm. Jones, Seneca chief. ] He seemed to bearmed at every point, as with a coat of mail, against the arrows of hisassailants. Their most powerful weapons would be turned aside by hispresence of mind, and matchless skill, and leave him apparently unharmed. A circumstance illustrating this point, once occurred between him andLittle Billy, a chief of some note among the Senecas, who was frequentlyin the orator's company. This chief, with Red Jacket and one or twoothers, were once passing from their settlement on Canandaigua lake, tothe old Seneca Castle, near the foot of Seneca lake. On their way theyencountered a large grizzly bear. Little Billy and the others in thecompany, were frightened and began to run. Red Jacket who wasdistinguished as a hunter, and an excellent marksman, drew up his rifle, and brought the monster to the ground. It so happened, on one occasion sometime afterward, that Little Billy wasvery pertinacious in calling Red Jacket a coward. The orator did notappear to notice him at first; but finding that he persisted in thecharge, he turned to him and coolly and sarcastically said, --"_Well, if Iam coward I never run unless it's for something bigger than a bear_. "[Footnote: Conversation with Seneca chief, Wm. Jones. ] It is hardly necessary to add, that nothing more was heard from LittleBilly concerning his cowardice on that day. This charge of cowardice was owing in a great degree to the orator'sposition. He was not on the popular side. The majority of his people wereagainst him. Had he acted in accordance with their wishes, it is aquestion whether anything would ever have been said about his deficiencyin courage. And this supposition is strengthened by the fact, that at asubsequent period in his history, a little display of courage, when actingin accordance with the wishes of his people, gained for him a markeddegree of approbation, and gave rise to the affirmation, "_the stain fixedupon his character, was thus wiped away by his good conduct in thefield_. " [Footnote: McKenney's Indian Biography. ] In opposing the wishes of his people, when bent on a war of which he didnot approve, he gained the epithet of _coward_. With less intelligence, and less moral courage, he might have seconded the views of his nation, and been ranked a brave. Hence, though we do not claim for Red Jacket the possession of qualities, adapted to make him conspicuous as a military chieftain, we are disposedto attribute to him the higher courage of acting in accordance with hisown convictions of propriety and duty. "He was born an orator, and whilemorally brave, lacked the stolid insensibility to suffering and slaughter, which characterized the war-captains of his nation. " [Footnote: Bryant'saddress. ] We readily concede that Red Jacket was fitted by nature to excel incouncils of peace, rather than in enterprises of war; to gain victories ina conflict of mind with mind rather than in physical strife, on the fieldof battle. And it may be questioned whether the qualities adapted to the highestachievements of oratory, would be congenial to the rough encounters ofwar. Especially when the mind is already preoccupied with inwardthirstings after the glory of the rostrum; it will not be apt to sigh forthe camp, or the noise and tinsel of mere military fame. It is related of him that when a boy, he was present at a great councilheld on the Shenandoah. Many nations were there represented by their wisemen and orators. The greatest among them was Logan, who had removed fromthe territory of his tribe to Shamokin. He was the son of Shikellemus, acelebrated chief of the Cayuga nation, who, before the Revolution was awarm friend of the whites. On the occasion referred to, Red Jacket was so charmed with Logan's style, and manner of delivery, that he resolved to attain if possible the samehigh standard of eloquence; though he almost despaired of equalling hisdistinguished model. On his return to Cunadesaga, near the Seneca lake, which was at that timehis home, he sometimes incurred the displeasure and reproof of his mother, by long absence from her cabin, without any ostensible cause. When hardpressed for an answer, he informed his mother, that "_he had been playingLogan_. " "Thus in his mighty soul the fire of a generous emulation had beenkindled, not to go out until his oratorical fame threw a refulgent gloryon the declining fortunes of the once formidable Iroquois. In the deep andsilent forest he practiced elocution, or to use his own expressivelanguage, _played Logan_, until he caught the manner and tone of his greatmaster. Unconsciously the forest orator, was an imitator of the eloquentGreek, who tuned his voice on the wild sea beach, to the thunders of thesurge, and caught from nature's altar his loftiest inspiration. "Not without previous preparation, and the severest discipline, did RedJacket acquire his power of moving and melting his hearers. His gracefulattitudes, significant gestures, perfect intonation, and impressivepauses, when the lifted finger, and flashing eye told more than utterance, were the result of sleepless toil; while his high acquirement was theproduct of stern habitual thought, study of man, and keen observation. " "He did not trust to the occasion alone for his finest periods, andnoblest metaphors. In the armory of his capacious intellect the weapons offorensic warfare had been previously polished and stored away. Ever readyfor the unfaltering tongue was the cutting rebuke, or apt illustration. Bylabor, persevering labor, he achieved his renown. By exercising hisfaculties in playing Logan when a boy, one of the highest standards ofmortal eloquence, either in ancient or modern times, he has left a lessonto all ambitious aspirants, that there is no royal road to greatness; thatthe desired goal is only to be gained by scaling rugged cliffs, andtreading painful paths. " [Footnote: This statement, together with theremarks that follow, is presented almost entire, from a reminiscence ofRed Jacket, given by Mr. Turner in his Pioneer History of the Phelps andGorham Purchase, a work that has rescued from oblivion, many interestingand valuable historical recollections. ] The habit thus acquired in the orator's youth, became characteristic ofhim, at a later period of his life. Previous to his making any greatforensic effort, he could be seen walking in the woods alone, apparentlyin deep study. [Footnote: Col. Wm. Jones. ] CHAPTER IV. Early struggles--Red Jacket's opportunity for trial--Council at FortStanwix--Red Jacket's office of Sachem--Red Jacket's opposition to theproposed treaty--Excitement created by his speech--Allayed by Cornplanter--His influence in deciding the treaty--How it affected him. How long and toilsome the way, ere the ambitious aspirant passes from thelow grounds of obscurity, to the dazzling heights of fame! How many hoursof anxious toil, through wearisome days and nights, protracted throughmonths and years, are passed, before the arena even is entered, where therace commences in earnest! How many struggling emotions between hope andfear, encouragement and doubt, promise and despair, mark the experience, and clothe it with the sublimity and interest that belong to action in itshighest forms! Did this child of nature cherishing the bright dream from early life, never suffer from these contending emotions, ere he awoke finally to theconsciousness of the reality, where he could exclaim, I am an orator, yes, I AM AN ORATOR! This idea Red Jacket began now to cherish. He had practiced in his nativewilds, the forest depths had echoed back those strains of eloquence, thathad struggled for utterance in his impassioned bosom, and their forcebeing expended here, served but to awaken a still stronger desire to tryhis powers, where he could have the answering sympathy of human hearts. His fame and greatness were yet to be achieved. With the inwardconsciousness of strength that would secure for him the eminence hedesired, he awaited eagerly the opportunity for its exercise. Thisopportunity came. When the storm of war had rolled by, the hour came for deliberation, andcouncil. England and America had concluded peace, and the jurisdiction ofthe country of the Iroquois had been surrendered to the United States. Still no provision had been made by the crown for those tribes that hadfreely fought in her defence. They were left to make their own peace, orprosecute the war on their own account. Their attitude was yet hostile. Noexpedition of importance was undertaken, but the border men wereconstantly annoyed by Indians, who drove away their horses and cattle, andcommitted other acts of depredation. And the inhabitants of the frontierhad suffered so severely from the Indian tribes during the war, that theseacts served to awaken still deeper feelings of hostility toward them, andled some openly to recommend that the Indians be driven from their lands, and that these be forfeited to the State. These councils were strenuously resisted by the general government. Thehumane and considerate Washington thought it wiser to try and conciliatethem, and if possible win their confidence and esteem, claiming that theirlands, when needed, could be obtained at a cheaper rate by negotiation andpurchase, than by war and conquest. This course, the excellence of which experience has fully demonstrated, was finally adopted, and in pursuance of this design, a general council ofthe Iroquois was convened at Fort Stanwix, in the fall of 1784. It wasattended by Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler, and Arthur Lee, who wereappointed commissioners on the part of the United States. The differenttribes of the Iroquois were represented, and Red Jacket was present, andtook an active part in its deliberations. He had now been elected to theoffice of Sachem; at what time precisely, is not known, but probably notfar from the close of the war of the Revolution. The manner in which he gained this office has been ascribed by some toartifice as well as the force of his eloquence. Col. Stone says, that"aspiring to the rank of chief, he not only wrought upon the minds of hispeople, by the exertion of that faculty which was ever with them a highstandard of merit, but he succeeded in availing himself of thesuperstitious constitution of his race, to effect his purpose. His firstessay was to dream that he was, or should be a chief, and that the GreatSpirit was angry that his nation had not advanced him to that dignity. This dream, with the necessary variations, he repeated until, fortunatelyfor him, the small pox broke out among the Senecas. He then proclaimed theloathsome infliction a judgment sent by the Great Spirit, to punish themfor their ingratitude to him. The consequence ultimately was, that byadministering flattery to some, working upon the superstitious fears ofothers, and by awakening the admiration of all by his eloquence, hereached the goal of his ambition. " [Footnote: Col. Stone's Life and Timesof Thayendanegea and Life and Times of Red Jacket. This statement has beendenied by some, who affirm that his eloquence was the sole cause of hiselevation. If this representation came from Brant, it may be recollectedthat between Red Jacket and Brant there did not exist a very strongattachment, and statements made by one concerning the other, would not belikely to bear the coloring of a very warm friendship. ] However this may have been, it is certain this course was not necessary toestablish Red Jacket's position among his people. The circumstances oftheir history created a necessity for his transcendent abilities, and thelight of his genius, though it may have been obscured for a time, musteventually have shone forth, in its original beauty and splendor. Red Jacket was now called upon to assist in the deliberations of hispeople, and from this time to the day of his death, we find him connectedwith, and bearing an important part in all of their public transactions. The council at Fort Stanwix was the first occasion in which he appearedbefore the public. It was a meeting of no small moment. With an anxiousheart the Indian left his home and wended his way, through his nativeforests, to the place where he was to meet in council, the chiefs of thethirteen fires. His own tribes had been wasted, by a long and bloody war. The nation they had so long clung to, and by whose artifice they had beenled to engage in the strife, stood confessedly vanquished. A new power hadarisen in the land, what bearing would it have on their future fortunes? With the importance of this gathering none were more deeply impressed thanRed Jacket. --Yonder he stands, alone;--his knit brow, and searching glanceindicate a process of thought, which stirs deeply the emotions of theinner man. --Tread lightly, lest you disturb the silent evolutions of thatairy battalion, that is wheeling into rank and file, thoughts thatdischarged in words, reach the mark and do execution. --Now he wears a lookof indignation, which presently turns to one of proud defiance, as hecontemplates the encroaching disposition of the white race. --Now you maydetect an air of scorn, and his eye flashes fire, as he regards them atfirst a feeble colony, which might easily have been crushed by the strongarm of the Iroquois. --A feeling of deep concern directly overspreads hisfeatures, as he thinks of their advancing power, and of the prospect oftheir surpassing even the glory of his own ancestry. --A still deeper shadesteals over him as he thinks of the waning fortunes of his people. --Presently his countenance is lighted up;--his feelings are all aglow, --abright thought, has entered his mind. --He conceives the idea of the unionof the entire race of red men, to resist the encroachments of the whites. --Are they not yet strong? And united, would they not yet be, aformidable power? With anxious and matured thoughts, Red Jacket comes to this councilgathering. Its bearing on his nation and race, he deeply scans, andtreasures up those burning thoughts, with which he is to electrify, andset on fire the bosoms of his countrymen. Of the proceedings of this council, little is known aside from the baretreaty itself. By this treaty perpetual peace and amity were agreed uponbetween the United States, and the Iroquois, and the latter ceded to theUnited States, all their lands lying west of a line commencing at themouth of a creek four miles east of Niagara, at a place on Lake Ontariocalled Johnson's Landing; thence south, in a direction always four mileseast of the portage, or carrying-path, between Lakes Erie and Ontario, tothe mouth of Buffalo creek, on Lake Erie; thence due south to the northboundary of the state of Pennsylvania; thence west to the end of saidboundary; thence south along the west boundary of the state ofPennsylvania to the Ohio river. In consideration of this surrender to the United States of their claim towestern lands, the Iroquois were to be secure in the peaceful possessionof the lands they inhabited in the state of New York. This treaty Red Jacket strenuously resisted. He regarded the proposedcession of lands as exorbitant and unjust, and summoned all the resourcesof his eloquence to defend his position. The course of his argument andthe various means he took to enforce it, we have no means of adequatelypresenting. A few hints respecting it, and the testimony of those presentas to the effect produced, is all we have to guide us in forming anyestimate of its merits. After giving a vivid representation of the encroachments already made uponthem by the whites, and of the advances they were making in numbers andpower, as well as extent of territory, he reminded his hearers of theancient glory of the Iroquois, and contrasted it with their present wastedand feeble condition. They had been passing through a mighty convulsion, the hurricane had swept over their dwellings, their homes were laid waste, their country made desolate. He directed them to the extensive dominion they had exercised. Theirempire was wide, on the north, and east, and south, and west, there werenone to stay their hand, or limit their power. A broad continent was opento them on every side, and their seats were large. But now they were metby a people to whom they had surrendered a large portion of their lands, and "they are driving us on toward the setting sun. They would shut us in, they would close up the path to our brethren at the west. We demand anopen way. " They had no right, he affirmed, to part with their western lands. Theirlaws, their ancient usages forbade it. They ought never to decide aquestion so momentous as this, without giving all the parties a hearing, who have any interest in its decision. They should be present and join intheir deliberations. Their brethren at the west had a right to beconsulted in this matter. --It would be unworthy of the name, and exaltedfame of the Iroquois, to decide the question without reference to them. --It was a question that affected deeply the interests of the entire race ofred men on this continent. He declared finally that rather than yield tothe exorbitant demands of the treaty, they should take up their arms, andprosecute the war on their own account. Such is the scanty outline of a speech that made a wonderful impression onthe minds of all his people who were present. During the progress of hisspeech, their emotions were wrought up to a pitch, that seemed to betokena rising storm, and at times it seemed as though it needed but a spark toset on fire a flame that was ready to burst out with consuming force. Those present, who did not understand the language of the orator, weredeeply interested in his voice, his manner of elocution, and his perfectand inimitable action. They caught fire from his eye, and felt theinspiration, which was kindled in the minds of all who listened to himunderstandingly. When he sat down his work was accomplished. There was butone heart among his people. From this time on, he was the peerless oratorof his nation. A very interesting sketch of Red Jacket as an orator, refers, for theexistence of the facts which form the basis of its statements, to a treatyheld at Canandaigua in 1794. It has been copied by Drake, and published inalmost every sketch of the orator's life. Mr. Stone questions itstruthfulness on the ground that there is no notice of it in any notes ofthis council taken at the time, and because also there was evidently anabsence of the peculiar circumstances, which the speech referred to, seemsto demand. Still he introduces it under the supposition that if deliveredthere at all, it might have been during the excitement produced among theIndians, by the rejection from the council, by Col. Pickering, of oneJohnson, a messenger from Brant, who had been invited to be present atthat council. Yet this is by no means probable, as Red Jacket would havebeen far from rising into eloquence on an occasion, which from his knownrelations to the proud Mohawk, he would naturally view with satisfaction, instead of resentment. The more probable supposition is, that the writercaught up this as a traditionary statement, which, owing to the lapse oftime and the uncertainty of memory, had been changed in one or two of itsitems, and receiving it as correct, penned it in good faith, as havingtranspired at that treaty. It is a correct presentation of some of thepoints in the orator's speech on this occasion, and is as follows:[Footnote: Mr. Stone justly supposes this speech might have been made atthe treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1784. ] ". .. The witnesses of the scene will never forget the powers of nativeoratory. Two days had passed away in negotiation with the Indians for acession of their lands. The contract was supposed to be nearly completed, when Red Jacket arose. With the grace and dignity of a Roman Senator, hedrew his blanket around him, and with a piercing eye surveyed themultitude. All was hushed. Nothing interposed to break the silence, butthe rustling of the leaves. After a long and solemn, but not unmeaningpause, he commenced in a low voice, and sententious style. Risinggradually with the subject, he depicted the primitive simplicity andhappiness of his nation, and the wrongs they had sustained from theusurpations of white men, with such a bold and faithful pencil, that everyauditor was soon roused to vengeance, or melted to tears. The effect wasinexpressible. But ere the emotions of admiration and sympathy hadsubsided, the white men became alarmed. They were in the heart of anIndian country, surrounded by ten times their number, who were inflamed bya remembrance of their injuries, and excited to indignation by theeloquence of a favorite chief. Appalled and terrified, the white men casta cheerless gaze on the hordes around them. A nod from the chiefs might bethe onset of destruction. At this portentious moment, Farmer's Brotherinterposed. He replied not to his brother chief, but with a sagacity trulyaboriginal, he caused the cessation of the council, introduced good cheer, commended the eloquence of Red Jacket, and before the meeting hadreassembled, with the aid of other prudent chiefs, he had moderated thefury of his nation to a more salutary view of the question before them. " The commissioners replied, but without making much headway on account ofthe agitation and excitement, produced by the orator's speech; that by thecommon usages of war they might lay claim to a much larger extent ofterritory; that their demand was characterized by great moderation, andinsisted on their yielding to the terms proposed. There was little disposition among them to yield the point, yet the treatywas finally brought to a successful issue, by the influence ofCornplanter. Cornplanter was a noble specimen of the Indian race. He had all thesagacity for which his people were distinguished, and was equally active, eloquent and brave. He was well qualified by his talents to engage in thelegislative councils of his nation, and was unsurpassed by any, forprowess and daring in the bloody field of strife. No chief, Thayendanegeanot excepted, had gained higher laurels for personal valor, and nonecommanded more fully the confidence and esteem of his nation. His peoplelooked up to him as a tower of strength, and when he spake, his words fellupon them with the weight of great authority. Better acquainted than hisjunior associate with the details of war, and understanding likewise thewasted and feeble condition of his people, and having learned in the lateconflict something of the power of the enemy they would have to encounter, he regarded the idea of their resistance as wholly impracticable, andadvised a compliance with the terms of the treaty. Though he regretted theloss of any more territory, he wisely concluded it was better to lose apart, than to be deprived of all. And by throwing his influence decidedlyin favor, he succeeded finally in quieting the minds of his people, and inpersuading them to accede to the proposals made. It is a matter of regret that so few traces are left, of Red Jacket'sspeech on this occasion. Yet had his speech been reported, we might havebeen as much at a loss as at present, to derive from it a just estimationof his talents. His speeches as reported are tame when compared with theeffect produced. The Indian was an unwritten language. The most distinguished orators ofthe Iroquois confederacy, matured their thoughts in solitude without theaid of the pen, and when uttered in the hearing of the people, they passedforever into oblivion, only as a striking passage may hare been retainedin memory. And with them the want of a written language was thus in ameasure compensated. They made an increased effort to treasure up theirthoughts. Yet how much must necessarily have been lost! and how liable towaste away, that which remained. Trusting to them how imperfect must have been a reported speech! Andrelying on those who transferred their speeches to a different language, we have little assurance of any thing better than mutilated transcripts ofthe original. Need we be surprised then, to find in Red Jacket's publishedspeeches, a tameness unworthy of his fame? Red Jacket was esteemed by themen of his time as an orator, surpassingly eloquent. In his speeches as reported, this does not appear. Hence, his reportedspeeches fail to do him justice, or the men of his time very muchoverrated his talents. Taking the latter horn of the dilemma we impeach the judgment and goodsense of those who have gone before us. Assuming the former, we present anadmitted and proclaimed fact. His contemporaries, while they conceded tohim the highest attributes and accomplishments of eloquence, unite inaffirming that his reported speeches come far short of the original. _Captain Horatio Jones_, a favorite interpreter, has frequentlydeclared, --"_it is impossible to do Red Jacket justice_. " The peculiarshade given to the idea, its beauty in its own native idiom, was oftenentirely lost in the transfer. In much the same way, Captain JasperParrish, of Canandaigua, has frequently been heard to speak, whenreferring to the forensic efforts of the orator. And besides, those passages that were most deeply fraught with eloquence, were often lost entirely, from the fact that the way having been preparedby a recital of those details that are reported, the reporter himself hasbeen carried away by the very flood that surrounded, uplifted, and carriedaway the mass of those who heard him speak. So that the only note thatwould be made, of a passage of considerable length, is given in one or twoshort sentences. [Footnote: Conversation of the author with Col. Wm. Jones. ] By the generality of the Iroquois, the terms of the treaty at Fort Stanwixwere regarded as severe; and though the services of the renownedCornplanter were engaged by the commissioners, in an effort to persuadethe disaffected into a reconciliation with it, the attempt was butpartially successful, and was made at the expense of his own high standingamong his people. They were not easily reconciled, and were so muchdispleased with his conduct on this, and one or two subsequent occasions, that they even threatened his life. A circumstance he touchingly refers toin a speech addressed to General Washington. "Father, " said he, "we will not conceal from you that the great God andnot man, has preserved Cornplanter, from the hands of his own nation. Forthey ask continually--where is the land which our children, and theirchildren after them are to lie down upon? When the Sun goes down he openshis heart before God, and earlier than the sun appears upon the hills, hegives thanks for his protection during the night; for he feels that amongmen become desperate by their danger, it is God only that can preservehim. " CHAPTER V. Claim of the United States to Indian lands--Conflicting claims ofdifferent States--Difficulty settled--Attempt to acquire the land by alease--Purchase by Phelps and Gorham--Further purchase by Robert Morris. At the close of the war of the Revolution, the territory ceded by GreatBritain to the United States, included large tracts of country occupied bythe Indians. In ceding these lands, she ceded only the right claimed byherself, on the ground of original discovery, which was simply a priorityof right to purchase of the original occupants of the soil. The Indianswere allowed to dwell upon these lands, and were considered in a certainsense the owners, but were required in case of a sale, to dispose of themto the government. [Footnote: Kent's Commentary. ] As each State claimed to be sovereign in every interest not ceded to thegeneral government, each State claimed the territory covered by itsoriginal charter. These charters, owing to great ignorance of geographicallimits, created claims that conflicted with each other. From this sourceoriginated difficult questions about land titles and jurisdiction, betweenthe States of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, --Massachusetts and New York. These difficulties which existed before, the greater question of theRevolutionary war suspended for a time, but when peace was concluded, theycame up again for a consideration and settlement. The way was in a measure prepared for this, by the relinquishment to thegeneral government, on the part of New York in 1781, and of Massachusettsin 1785, of all their right to territory west of a meridian line drawnsouth, from the western end of Lake Ontario. In the adjustment of these difficulties, Connecticut relinquished herclaim to a tract of land on the Susquehanna in Pennsylvania, called theGore, and acquired that part of the State of Ohio called New Connecticut, or Western Reserve. And Pennsylvania obtained a tract of land lyingimmediately beyond the western boundary of the State of New York, andnorth-east of her own, embracing the harbor of Presque Isle, on Lake Erie, familiarly known as the Triangle, thus giving her access to the waters ofthis Lake. The question in controversy between the States of New York andMassachusetts was more serious, owing to the large amount of territoryclaimed by the latter in western New York. It was brought to an amicablesettlement, by Massachusetts surrendering to New York the right ofjurisdiction, over all the land west of the present eastern boundary ofthe State; and by New York giving to Massachusetts the pre-emptive right, or right of purchasing of the Indians, all of the lands lying west of ameridian line drawn through Seneca Lake, from a certain point on thenorthern boundary of Pennsylvania, reserving however, a strip of land onemile in width, along the eastern shore of the Niagara river. Thus NewYork, while she retained the sovereignty, lost the fee of about sixmillions of acres of land, in one of the finest regions of country in thenew world. [Footnote: For a more full account, see "Turner's History ofthe Phelps and Gorham Purchase. "] While these difficulties were being adjusted, a magnificent speculationwas in progress, which bid fair to meet the expectations of its earnestprojectors. A company was organized, called the New York and Genesee LandCompany, with a view to obtain the entire tract of Indian lands within theState. To evade the law forbidding the sale of these lands to any partynot authorized by the State, it was proposed to obtain them by a lease, that should extend nine hundred and ninety-nine years. A lease extendingso long, was regarded as equivalent to a sale. With a view to further its designs another company, the Niagara GeneseeCompany, was also formed in Canada, of those who were most incorrespondence with the Indians, and who would be influential in securingfrom them a decision in favor of their object. These organizations, especially the New York Land Company, were large, andincluded men of wealth and prominence, both in New York and Canada. Withsuch appliances as they were enabled to bring to bear upon the Indians, they secured, in November, 1787, a _lease for nine hundred and ninety-nine years_, of all the lands of the Iroquois in the State of New York, except some small reservations, and the privilege of hunting and fishing, for an annual rent of two thousand dollars, and a promised gift of twentythousand dollars. The formidable character of these associations created a just alarm, andmeasures were immediately undertaken to circumvent their influence. An actwas passed by the Legislature of New York, in March, 1788, authorizing thegovernor to disregard all contracts made with the Indians, and notsanctioned by the State; and to cause those who had entered upon Indianlands under such contracts, to be driven off, and their houses destroyed. The sheriff of the county was directed to dispossess intruders and burntheir dwellings, and a military force was called out, that strictlyenforced these orders. Thus by the energetic action of Governor Clinton of New York, the designsof these organizations were overruled. As early as 1784, the Legislature of New York had passed an act, appointing the governor, and a Board of Commissioners, the Superintendentsof Indian affairs, and as there were other Indian lands within the State, not covered by the pre-emptive right of Massachusetts, these commissionerswith the governor at their head, entered upon negotiations with a view ofpurchasing them, and securing a title to them for the State. [Footnote:The commissioners designated were: Abraham Cuyler, Peter Schuyler andHenry Glen, who associated with them Philip Schuyler, Robert Yates, Abraham Ten Broeck, A. Yates, Jr. , P. W. Yates, John J. Beekman, MathewVischer, and Gen. Gansevoort. ] A council of the Iroquois was appointed for this purpose, at FortSchuyler, on the first of September, 1788. The Leasees disappointed and angered by the bold and decisive measurestaken against them, exerted their influence to prevent the Indians fromassembling. But by measures equally energetic in its favor, arepresentation of the different tribes was obtained, and a treaty wasconcluded on the 12th, in which was conveyed to the State the land of theOnondagas; some reservations excepted, in consideration of one thousanddollars, in hand paid and an annuity of five hundred dollars forever. Then followed negotiations with the Oneidas. Speeches were interchanged, propositions made and rejected, until finally an agreement was made, and adeed of cession executed by the chiefs, conveying all their lands, excepting certain reservations, in consideration of two thousand dollarsin money, two thousand dollars in clothing and other goods, one thousanddollars in provisions, five hundred dollars for the erection of a saw andgrist mill on their reservation, and an annuity of six hundred dollarsforever. The commissioners next appointed a council to be held at Albany, December15, 1788. Great difficulty was experienced in getting the Indianstogether, the Leasees it is said, "kept the Indians so continuallyintoxicated, it was impossible to do anything with them. " [Footnote:Turner's History. ] It was not until the eleventh of the February following, that a sufficientnumber were brought together, to proceed with the negotiations; and on thetwenty-fifth, the preliminaries having been settled, the Cayugas ceded tothe State all of their lands, excepting a large reservation of one hundredsquare miles. It was in consideration of five hundred dollars in hand, sixteen hundred and twenty-eight dollars in June following, and an annuityof five hundred dollars forever. Mr. Turner in alluding to these negotiations very properly observes, "itwas only after a hard struggle of much perplexity and embarrassment, thatthe object was accomplished. For the honor of our country, it could bewished that all Indian negotiations and treaties, had been attended withas little wrong, had been conducted as fairly as were those under theauspices and general direction of George Clinton. No where has the veteranwarrior and statesman left a better proof of his sterling integrity andability, than is furnished by the records of these treaties. In no casedid he allow the Indians to be deceived, but stated to them from time totime, with unwearied patience, the true conditions of the bargains theywere consummating. " He says further, "the treaties for lands found the Six Nations in amiserable condition. They had warred on the side of a losing party; forlong years the field and the chase had been neglected; they were sufferingfor food and raiment. Half-famished they flocked to the treaties and werefed and clothed. One item of expense charged in the accounts of the treatyat Albany in 1789, was for horses paid for, that the Indians had killedand eaten on their way down. For several years in addition to the amountof provisions distributed to them at the treaties, boatloads of corn weredistributed among them by the State. " It does not appear that Red Jacket, Cornplanter, Brant, or other of themore noted chiefs among the Iroquois, were present to take a part in thesenegotiations. Hence exception was taken to these proceedings. When thetime drew near for paying the first annuity, the Onondagas sent an agentto Governor Clinton, saying they had received four strings of wampum fromthe Senecas, forbidding them to go to Fort Stanwix to receive the money, and declaring also "that the governor of Quebec wanted their lands; thatSir John wanted them; Col. Butler wants the Cayugas' lands; and thecommanding officer of Fort Niagara wants the Senecas' lands. " They were assured in reply that they might "make their minds easy, " thegovernor would protect them; that the Leasees were the cause of theirtrouble. The Cayugas also sent a message to the governor, saying they were"threatened with destruction, even total extermination. The voice comesfrom the west; _its sound is terrible, our brothers the Cayugas andOnondagas are to share the same fate_. " The complaint was, they had sold their lands without consulting the_western tribes_. The decided position of the Executive in giving them assurance ofprotection, was the means of dissipating their alarm. Historical evidence renders it apparent, that at this early period, thedesign was entertained by those in Canada, whose control over the Indianswas well nigh supreme, to gain through them possession of Western NewYork, and without compromising the government of Great Britain, sever itfrom the United States, connect it with the territory of the North-west, and hold it by Indian possession, in a sort of quasi allegiance, to thecrown of England. Their design with respect to Western New York was defeated by theenergetic measures of its chief executive, but further on we will see theydid not relinquish the idea of holding from the United States, theterritory of the North-west. Next in the race of competition for the broad and fertile lands of theGenesee, appear the names of Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham. They werethe acknowledged representatives of a considerable body of men, who wereambitious of securing an interest in what was regarded as the mostdesirable region in this country. From the advent of Gen. Sullivan's army into the Indian country in 1779, their route being through the very finest portion of Western New York, andat a season of the year when vegetation was in its highest perfection; thebeauty and fertility of these lands became the theme of praise, on thepart of every soldier that beheld them. Their fame was thus carried toalmost every village and hamlet in Pennsylvania and New England. Hencegreat eagerness was manifested in regard to the title, and settlement ofthese lands. The company of which Messrs. Phelps and Gorham were the leading spirits, having purchased the pre-emptive right of Massachusetts, in the spring of1788, Mr. Phelps went on to the ground, and was successful in convening acouncil of the Indians for the sale of their lands, at Buffalo creek, during the month of July of the same year. [Footnote: His success inobtaining this council, and securing a sale, was owing in a large degree, to his policy in paying court to the powerful faction of the Leaseesresiding in Canada, and giving them an interest in the purchase. ] The Indians at this treaty strenuously resisted the sale of any of theirland west of the Genesee river; yet with a view of furnishing "_a pieceof ground for a mill yard_" at the Genesee Falls, were finally persuadedto give their assent to a boundary line, that included a tract twelvemiles square, west of that river. The eastern boundary of the lands sold, was the Massachusetts pre-emptive line; the western, was a line "beginningin the northern line of Pennsylvania, due south of the corner or point ofland made by the confluence of the Genesee river, and the Canaseragacreek, thence north on said meridian line to the corner or point, at theconfluence aforesaid; thence northwardly along the waters of the Geneseeriver, to a point two miles north of Canawangus village, thence runningdue west 12 miles; thence running northwardly so as to be twelve milesdistant from the western bounds of said river, to the shores of LakeOntario. " The lands thus ceded, are what has been called "_The Phelps andGorham Purchase_. " It contained by estimation two million and six hundredthousand acres, for which they agreed to pay the Indians five thousanddollars, and an annuity of five hundred dollars forever. Robert Morris, the distinguished financier of the Revolution, afterwardbecame owner of the greater part of this purchase, as well as of the pre-emptive right of Massachusetts to the remaining part of Western New York. Through his agent in London, Wm. Temple Franklin, grandson of DoctorFranklin, these lands were again sold to an association of gentlemen, consisting of Sir William Pultney, John Hornby, and Patrick Colquhoun, andthe farther settlement of this region, auspiciously commenced under itsoriginal proprietors, was conducted principally under theiradministration. An intelligent and enterprising young Scotchman, Charles Williamson, whohad previously devoted his time while detained as a prisoner in thiscountry, during the war of the Revolution, to investigations respectingits geographical resources and limits, and who from his disposition andbusiness capacity, was well qualified for the station, was appointed theiragent, and emigrating hither with his family, and two other youngScotchmen as his assistants, John Johnstone, and Charles Cameron, hebecame identified with the early history and progress of the extensive andimportant part of the Indian territory, that as we have seen, had justbeen opened, and was inviting a new race, to take possession of its virginsoil. CHAPTER VI. Union of the Western Indian Tribes contemplated--Hostile influence of theagents of Great Britain in Canada--Ambitious project of Thayendanegea orBrant--Council at Tioga Point--Indian Ceremonies--Visit of Cornplanter andothers at the seat of government--Kindly feeling of Washington--Freshoccasion of trouble. When Red Jacket, at the treaty of Fort Stanwix, in 1784, projected thebold idea of the union of all the Indian tribes on the continent, toresist the aggressions of the whites, he may not have thought it wouldsoon come near having a practical fulfillment. This thought grew out ofthe circumstances and necessities of the times, and was the naturalforecast of a great mind. His words sank deep into the hearts of hispeople, --they were carried beyond the bounds of that council-fire, --theywent gliding along with the light canoe that plied the Lakes, --and werewafted onward by the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi. Several causescontributed to give direction and force to this movement. Prominent among them was the fact, that the treaty of peace with GreatBritain in 1783, though it put an end to the war, did not secure friendlyrelations between the two countries. Hostile feelings had been engenderedand were still cherished, particularly by those who had taken refuge inCanada, in the early part of the Revolutionary struggle. Some of them werevery active in stirring up Indian hostilities among the tribes at thewest. But prominent above all others were the exertions of Thayendanegea, orBrant, the famous war-chief, from whose leadership the inhabitants of ourfrontier settlements had suffered so severely, during the war of theRevolution. Very soon after the treaty at Fort Stanwix in 1784, from thedissatisfaction growing out of that treaty, and other indications amongthe Indians, he began to entertain the ambitious project of forming agrand Indian confederacy, of which he would be chief, embracing not onlythe Iroquois, but all of the Indian nations of the great North-west. Hehad given the entire summer of 1785, to the business of visiting thesenations, and holding councils among them, with a view to the furtheranceof this object. [Footnote: See Stone's Life and Times of Brant, Vol. 2, p. 248. ] He visited England at the close of this year, "ostensibly for the purposeof adjusting the claims of the loyal Mohawks upon the crown, forindemnification of their losses and sacrifices in the contest, from whichthey had recently emerged. " [Footnote: See Stone's Life and Times ofBrant, Vol. 2, p. 248. ] . .. "Coupled with the special business of the Indian claims, was thedesign of _sounding the British government, touching the degree ofcountenance or the amount of assistance which he might expect from thatquarter, in the event of a general Indian war against the UnitedStates_. " [Footnote: Ibid. ] His arrival at Salisbury was thus noted in a letter from that place, datedDecember 12, 1785, and published in London. "Monday last, Colonel JosephBrant, the celebrated King of the Mohawks, arrived in this city fromAmerica, and after dining with Colonel De Peister, at the head-quartershere, proceeded on his journey to London. This extraordinary personage issaid to have presided at the late Grand Congress of Confederate chiefs, ofthe Indian nations in America, and to be by them appointed to the conductand chief command in the war, _which they now meditate against the UnitedStates of America_. He took his departure for England immediately asthat assembly broke up; and it is conjectured that his embassy to theBritish Court is of great importance. " [Footnote: Life of Brant, Vol. 2, p. 249. ] No public, decisive answer, for obvious reasons, was given to thisapplication for countenance and aid in the contemplated war, for this partof the errand of the Mohawk chief, was "_unknown to the public at thatday_. " [Footnote: Life of Brant, Vol. 2, p. 249. ] Captain Brant on his return to America in 1786, entered once more upon thework of combining the Indian forces, and assembled a grand confederatecouncil, which was held at Huron village, near the mouth of Detroit River. [Footnote: It was attended by the Six Nations, the Hurons, Ottawas, Miamis, Shawanese, Chippewas, Cherokees, Delawares, Pottowattamies, andWabash, confederates. ] An address to the Congress of the United States was agreed upon at thiscouncil, pacific in its tone, provided no encroachments were made upontheir lands west of the Ohio river. This was their ultimatum previous tothe war, in which they were afterwards united. At the treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States in1783, it was stipulated that the military posts south of the great lakesshould be surrendered. This surrender was refused, on the plea that theUnited States had not fulfilled an agreement on her part, to see the justclaims, due the subjects of Great Britain, cancelled. From certain correspondence at this time it appears that there were otherreasons also, for the witholding of these forts. Their surrender wasearnestly desired on the part of the United States, as it was wellunderstood, they gave encouragement to the hostile combinations, that atthis time were going on. In a letter to Captain Brant by Sir John Johnson dated Quebec, March 22d, 1787, he says, "Do not suffer an idea to hold a place in your mind, thatit will be for your interest to sit still and see the Americans attemptthe posts. [Footnote: Oswegatchie, Oswego, Niagara, Detroit and Mackinaw. ]_It is for your sakes chiefly, if not entirely, that we hold them. _ Ifyou become indifferent about them, they may perhaps be given up; whatsecurity would you then have? You would be at the mercy of a people whoseblood calls aloud for revenge; whereas, by supporting them, you encourageus to hold them, and encourage new settlements, already considerable, andevery day increasing by numbers coming in, who find they can't live in theStates. Many thousands are preparing to come in. This increase of hisMajesty's subjects will serve as a protection to you, should the subjectsof the States, by endeavoring to make further encroachments on you, disturb your quiet. " [Footnote: Stone's Life and Times of Brant. ] Another letter soon after, by Major Mathews seems to confirm the abovestatements. "His Lordship [Footnote: Lord Dorchester, Governor General ofCanada, formerly Sir Guy Carlton. ] wishes them (the Indians), to act as isbest for their interest; he cannot begin a war with the Americans, becausesome of their people encroach and make depredations upon parts of theIndian country; but they must see it is his Lordship's _intention todefend the posts_; and that while these are preserved, the Indians mustfind great security therefrom, and consequently the Americans greaterdifficulty in taking their lands; but should they once become masters ofthe posts, they will surround the Indians, and accomplish their purposewith little trouble. " [Footnote: Life of Brant, Vol. 2, p. 271. ] Thus it is seen that those at the head of British affairs in Canada, whilethey studiously avoided coming into open collision with the United States, were viewing with satisfaction the gathering war-cloud, and were lendingtheir influence to extend and intensify its threatening character. The only course left for the United States was to prepare for theconflict; and while forces were being summoned to take the field, theywere preceded by efforts of a pacific character. A treaty was held with the Six Nations at Fort Harmar, on the Muskingum, in January, 1789, by Gen. St. Clair, in behalf of the United States, witha view to renew and confirm all the engagements, made at the treaty ofFort Stanwix in 1784. Goods amounting to three thousand dollars weredistributed among the Indians, after the satisfactory conclusion andsigning of the treaty. [Footnote: Indian treaties. ] At the same time a treaty was concluded with the Wyandot, Delaware, Ottawa, Chippewa, Pottowattamie and Sac nations, and goods distributedamong them amounting to six thousand dollars, for a relinquishment oftheir claim to western lands. These negotiations were doubtless attended with a beneficial influence, but they could not arrest the tide of warlike feeling that had beencreated. Hostilities were continued throughout the long line of ourfrontier settlements, and two of the Senecas having been killed by somebordermen of Pennsylvania, a great excitement was awakened among them. Our government, anxious to remove the new occasion of disaffection, immediately disavowed the act, sought to bring the perpetrators of thecrime to justice, and invited a friendly conference of the Iroquois atTioga Point. This council was convened on the sixteenth and remained in session untilthe twenty-third of November, 1790. The chiefs in attendance at this council, and who took an active part inits deliberations, were Fish Carrier, Farmer's Brother, Hendrick, LittleBilly and Red Jacket. Colonel Pickering, as commissioner on the part of the United States, waspresent. Red Jacket, their principal speaker, portrayed in a vivid and stronglight, the sorrow they experienced, the injustice they had suffered, andthe unpleasant feelings aroused among them. A large number of Indians werepresent, and were powerfully moved, and deeply affected by his speech. Colonel Pickering, on the other hand, gave a very clear view of the factsin the case, showing conclusively the innocence of the government in themurder committed, and after a time succeeded in allaying the excitement, drying up their tears, and wiping out the blood that had been shed. This council was enlivened by good cheer, and the observance of ceremoniescommon among the Indians. Thomas Morris, who was present, was at this time adopted into one of theirtribes. His father, Robert Morris of Philadelphia, having purchased ofMassachusetts, in 1790, the pre-emptive right to that part of Western NewYork, not sold to Phelps and Gorham, sent his son, as preparatory to thenegotiations he desired to make with the Indians, and for the generalmanagement of his business connected with the undertaking, to reside inCanandaigua. While here he was diligent in cultivating an acquaintancewith the principal chiefs of the Iroquois confederacy, who resided in thatregion. In this he was successful, and soon became a general favoriteamong them. He was in attendance with Colonel Pickering at Tioga Point, where the Indians determined to adopt him into the Seneca nation, and RedJacket bestowed upon him the name himself had borne, previous to hiselevation to the dignity of Sachem; O-ti-ti-ani, "_Always Ready_. " It isbeautifully described by Colonel Stone, and is given in his language. "The occasion of which they availed themselves to perform the cermony ofconferring upon young Morris his new name, was a religious observance, when the whole sixteen hundred Indians present at the treaty, united in anoffering to the moon, then being at her full. It was a clear night, andthe moon shone with uncommon brilliancy. The host of Indians, and theirneophite, were all seated upon the ground in an extended circle, on oneside of which a large fire was kept burning. The aged Cayuga chieftain, Fish Carrier, who was held in exalted veneration for his wisdom, and whohad been greatly distinguished for his bravery from his youth up, officiated as the high priest of the occasion;--making a long speech tothe luminary, occasionally throwing tobacco into the fire, as incense. Onthe conclusion of the address, the whole company prostrated themselvesupon the bosom of their parent earth, and a grunting sound of approbationwas uttered from mouth to mouth, around the entire circle. "At a short distance from the fire a post had been planted in the earth, intended to represent the stake of torture, to which captives are boundfor execution. After the ceremonies in favor of Madam Luna had been ended, they commenced a war-dance around the post, and the spectacle must havebeen as picturesque as it was animating and wild. The young braves engagedin the dance were naked, excepting a breech-cloth about their loins. Theywere painted frightfully, their backs being chalked white, with irregularstreaks of red, denoting the streaming of blood. Frequently would theycease from dancing, while one of their number ran to the fire, snatchingthence a blazing stick, placed there for that purpose, which he wouldthrust at the post, as though inflicting torture upon a prisoner. In thecourse of the dance they sung their songs, and made the forests ring withtheir wild screams and shouts, as they boasted of their deeds of war, andtold the number of scalps they had respectively taken, or which had beentaken by their nation. During the dance those engaged in it, as did othersalso, partook freely of unmixed rum, and by consequence of the naturalexcitement of the occasion, and the artificial excitement of the liquorthe festival had well nigh turned out a tragedy. It happened that amongthe dancers was an Oneida warrior, who in striking the post, boasted ofthe number of scalps taken by his nation during the war of the Revolution. Now the Oneidas, it will be recollected, had sustained the cause of thecolonies in that contest, while the rest of the Iroquois confederacy, hadespoused that of the crown. The boasting of the Oneida warrior therefore, was like striking a spark into a keg of powder. The ire of the Senecas waskindled in an instant, and they in turn boasted of the number of scalpstaken from the Oneidas in that contest. They moreover taunted the Oneidasas cowards. Quick as lightning the hands of the latter were upon theirweapons, and in turn the knives and tomahawks of the Senecas began toglitter in the moon-beams, as they were hastily drawn forth. For aninstant it was a scene of anxious, almost breathless suspense, a death-struggle seeming inevitable, when the storm was hushed by theinterposition of Old Fish Carrier, who rushed forward, and striking thepost with violence, exclaimed '_You are all a parcel of boys. When youhave attained my age, and performed the warlike deeds that I haveperformed, you may boast of what you have done; but not till then. _' "Saying which he threw down the post, put an end to the dance, and causedthe assembly to retire. This scene in its reality must have been one ofabsorbing and peculiar interest. An assembly of nearly two thousandinhabitants of the forest, grotesquely clad in skins and strouds, withshining ornaments of silver, and their coarse raven hair falling overtheir shoulders, and playing wildly in the wind as it swept past, sighingmournfully among the giant branches of the trees above, such a groupgathered in a broad circle of an opening in the wilderness, the starrycanopy of heaven glittering above them, the moon casting her silver mantlearound their dusky forms, and a large fire blazing in the midst of them, before which they were working their spells, and performing their savagerites, must have presented a spectacle of long and vivid remembrance. "[Footnote: Stone's Life and Times of Sa-go-ye-wat-ha. ] This meeting conducted with evident good feeling, served much to allay theexcitement and anger of the Senecas, and other tribes there represented, but the question concerning their lands, was still agitated and createddissatisfaction. With a view to obtain some concession in their favor, Cornplanter, HalfTown and Big Tree visited Philadelphia, which was at that time the seat ofthe general government, very soon after the council at Tioga Point. Theywere especially anxious to obtain the restoration of a portion of landsouth of Lake Erie, and bordering upon Pennsylvania, which was occupied byHalf Town and his clan. They represented it as the land on which Half Townand all his people live, with other chiefs who always have been, and stillare dissatisfied with the treaty at Fort Stanwix. "They grew out of thisland, and their fathers grew out of it, and they cannot be persuaded topart with it. _We therefore entreat you to restore to us this littlepiece. _" This appeal, so simple and touching, was responded to by PresidentWashington with great kindness. He reminded them that the treaty at FortStanwix had been fully confirmed at Fort Harmar in 1789, that it was notwithin his province to annul the provisions of a treaty, especially onethat had been concluded before his administration commenced, yet heassured them that Half Town and his people, should not be disturbed, inthe peaceful occupancy of the land in question. From the friendly manner in which they were received and treated by thePresident, and the generous gifts bestowed, they returned home feelingsatisfied that the ruler of the thirteen fires would do them no injustice, and they were hence better reconciled to the people he governed. Beforeleaving, however, they were engaged to go in company with Colonel Proctor, of the Indian Department, on an embassy of peace to the hostile tribes atthe West, which was undertaken in the following spring. On reaching their own country it was found that another outrage had beencommitted by a party of border-men, upon the Senecas at Beaver Creek, inthe neighborhood of Pittsburg, in which three men and one woman werekilled. Cornplanter immediately sent runners with a dispatch to the government, informing them of the event, and with the earnest inquiry, "Our father, and ruler over all mankind, _speak now and tell us, did you order thosemen to be killed_?" The secretary of war utterly disclaimed and denounced the transaction, promised them restitution, and that the offenders should be brought tojustice. These times were so fruitful in difficulties, that ere one washealed another was created; yet our government by wise and prompt measureswere after this successful, in securing peace with all of the Iroquoisfamily within its borders. CHAPTER VII. Expedition under Gen. Harmar--Its failure--High hopes of the Indians--Col. Proctor's visit to the Indians at Buffalo Creek--Red Jacket's speech--Indian deputation refused--Interference of the matrons--Council at PaintedPost--Chiefs invited to Philadelphia. The efforts of our government to secure peace with the Indians, were butpartially successful. As our settlements extended westward inPennsylvania, and along the Ohio and Kentucky borders, Indian hostilitiesand depredations continued to multiply. From the year 1783 when peace wasconcluded with Great Britain, until October, 1790, when the United Statescommenced offensive operations against them, the Indians killed, woundedand took prisoners on the Ohio and the frontiers, about fifteen hundredmen, women and children; besides taking away two thousand horses, and alarge amount of other property. The Shawanese, Miamis and Wabash Indians were chiefly concerned in thesebloody transactions; and our government finding protection for hercitizens could not be secured by pacific means, resolved to proceed withvigorous offensive measures. General Harmar, a veteran of the Revolution, with a force of fourteenhundred and fifty men, three hundred and twenty from the regular army, andthe balance made up of recruits from Kentucky and Pennsylvania, advancedtoward the Indian country. The expedition left Fort Washington, the present site of Cincinnati, onthe 30th of September, 1790. The Indians, who kept watch of his movements, burned before his coming, their principal village and retired. Seizing a favorable opportunity, theyfell suddenly upon a detachment of the main army commanded by ColonelHarding, consisting of two hundred and ten men, thirty of whom wereregulars. At the first onset the militia, the main part of the force, fled. Theregulars stood their ground bravely for a time, but at a fearful odds;seven only escaped. Colonel Harding, desirous of retrieving the disgrace, the next day withthree hundred militia and sixty regulars, gave battle to the Indians. Theyfought near the junction of St. Joseph and St. Mary rivers, and thestruggle, though severe and bloody, ended with the defeat of theAmericans. Success elated and emboldened the Indians, and rendered hopeless thenegotiations for peace. Nevertheless the mission of Colonel Proctor, witha deputation from the Iroquois was not given up, and when spring opened herepaired to their country, to be joined by Cornplanter, Red Jacket andothers, and proceed on his visit to the hostile tribes of the West. Anticipating his arrival, a council of the Iroquois had been called atBuffalo Creek. Already messengers had been sent, earnestly soliciting themto join the warriors that were rising everywhere, from toward the settingsun. They had defeated the Americans, and nothing was wanting but theunited action of all the Indian tribes, to secure the broad lands of theNorth-west, where they could spread their blankets in peace, and dwellsecurely forever. The Senecas, particularly, were urged to join in a war, that opened so many hopeful and glorious anticipations. The distinguishedwarrior Brant was very solicitous on this point, and being encouraged bythose at the head of British affairs in Canada, was sanguine of ultimatesuccess. Colonel Proctor, accompanied by Cornplanter, arrived at the council firekindled at Buffalo Creek, on the 27th of April, 1791. Among the Indian chiefs present were Young King, Farmer's Brother and RedJacket. The latter had now an acknowledged pre-eminence among his people, and took a leading part in the deliberations of this council. It wasopened by a speech from Red Jacket, as follows: "Brother: Listen. As is our custom we now address you, and we speak to youas to a brother that has been long absent. We all address you, and ourchief warrior, Cornplanter; and we thank the Great Spirit for his and yoursafe arrival, coming as you do hand in hand from Honandaganius [Footnote:Name given to General Washington. ] on important business. "You have traveled long with tearful eyes, from the roughness of the way, and the inclemency of the season. Besides the difficulties between the badIndians and our brothers the white people, everything has been conspiringto prevent your coming, thwart your business, and cause you to lose yourway. The great waters might have prevented your coming; the wars mighthave stopped you; sickness and death might have overtaken you, for we knownot what is to happen till it comes upon us. Therefore we thank the GreatSpirit, who has preserved you from dangers, that would have prevented ourhearing the good news you have come to bring us. And when filled with goodnews, how is it possible that disasters should befall you on the way? "Wipe therefore from your eyes, the tears that have been occasioned by thedangers through which you have come. We now place you upon a seat whereyou can sit erect, a seat where you will be secure from the fear of yourenemies, where you can look around upon all as your friends and brothersin peace. "You have come with your heart and lips firmly closed, lest you shouldlose anything you had to say. With a brotherly hand we now open yourhearts, and we remove the seal from your lips, that you may open them andspeak freely without obstruction. Your ears too have been closed, thatthey might hear nothing until saluted by our voice. Open your ears to hearour counsels when we shall have had messages from you. "We present therefore the compliments of the chiefs and head men ofBuffalo Creek, to you and to our great warrior, the Cornplanter, hopingthat you may each proceed safely with your business. " To this Cornplanter replied briefly, in behalf of himself and Col. Procter, reciprocating the kindness manifested, in the welcome that hadbeen given them. After which Col. Proctor explained fully the object of their coming, whichwas to obtain from them a deputation of peace, to visit with him thehostile Indian tribes at the West; and assured them of the liberal views, and friendly feelings of the chief of the thirteen fires toward them. Several days were thereupon consumed in devising expedients and raisingobjections, which terminated finally in the declaration that nothing couldbe done without consulting their _British friends at Fort Niagara_. They desired the colonel to go with them there. His business not beingwith the British, but with them, he declined going. They then insistedupon having one of the officers of the fort to sit with them in council. This being allowed, Col. Butler afterward appeared among them, and after alittle private consultation with him, they seemed to be utterly averse tosending the proposed delegation. Captain Brant, just before starting on a visit to western tribes, had beenholding a consultation with these chiefs, and had no doubt beeninfluential in causing them to be averse to joining this embassy. Col. Proctor, finding further negotiation hopeless, declared his purposeto return, and expressed his regret in having to carry back an unfavorablereport to the government, on whose kind and pacific errand he had beensent forth. This announcement made a deep impression on their minds, and immediately achange took place in their proceedings, which revealed a peculiar featureof Indian diplomacy. The women, who had been carefully watching the proceedings of thiscouncil, began to express their unwillingness to send to GeneralWashington an unfavorable reply. To them was conceded the right, in thingspertaining to the safety of their homes, of reversing, if they thoughtproper, the decision of the men. They did so on this occasion, andemployed Red Jacket to present their views on the following day. It was decided by them, in view of the threatening aspect of affairs, thatCornplanter, their most experienced warrior, should not leave them; butthat a sufficient deputation, for which they had obtained volunteers, should accompany Col. Proctor, at the same time advising him of thedanger, admonishing him to proceed with caution; "_to reach his neck overthe land, and take in all the light he could, that would show him hisdanger_. " The journey being regarded as too hazardous by land, and the Indiansunwilling to perform it with their canoes, the case was decided by theBritish officers, who refused them a vessel for the undertaking. So great was the excitement among the Indians at this time, that beforethe result of Col. Proctor's mission was generally known, another councilof the Iroquois was invited to meet at Painted Post, and was held duringthe month of June following. The British officers at Niagara, and runnersfrom the western tribes, exerted their influence to prevent the Iroquoisfrom coming into alliances of peace with the United States. But throughthe exertions of Col. Proctor, assisted by Cornplanter and the elderlymatrons, the minds of the leading chiefs were turned from the proposedwestern alliance to Colonel Pickering and the treaty ground at PaintedPost. Red Jacket, together with other leading chiefs was present, and took anactive part in the deliberations of this council. It was well attended bythe Indians, as also by several American gentlemen, and a number ofspeeches were interchanged, whose general drift was in the direction ofpeace. The result of this gathering was satisfactory to all parties. It served tobind more closely the friendship of the leading chiefs to the UnitedStates, and it served also to interest the minds of the young warriors, who had else from a love of adventure followed the war path, with thetribes at the West. At the close of this council, a large entertainment was prepared purelyafter the civilized style, and when it was about concluded, ColonelPickering took occasion to place before them the blessings and advantagesof a cultivated state of society; and the happy influences that wouldarise from the introduction among them of the arts of civilized life. Heassured them of the kind interest felt by General Washington and others intheir welfare, and promised to aid them in any efforts they were disposedto make, for the advancement of their people. Presents were then liberallydistributed among them, and they were invited at a convenient time tovisit General Washington, and confer with him more fully on the subject. The Indians were pleased with these suggestions, and promised to accept ofthe proffered invitation. Thus happily closed this council, gathered amiddistracting influences, the Indians returning home better satisfied withtheir friendly attitude toward the government, and their feelings instriking contrast with those of their brethren at the West. CHAPTER VIII. Expedition to the Indian Country--Washington's charge to Gen. St. Clair--Approach to the Indian villages--Sudden surprise--Disasterous battle--Indian victory--Retreat of the Americans--Boldness of the Indians--Friendly Indian deputation--Welcome of the governor of Pennsylvania--RedJacket's reply--Address of President Washington--Reply of Red Jacket--Cause of Indian hostilities. Indian hostilities still continued to destroy the peace and safety of ourfrontier settlements. And Congress with a view to provide relief, resolvedto increase our military force, and place in the hands of the Executive, more ample means for their defense. A new expedition was thereforeprojected. General St. Clair, governor of the territory west of the Ohio, was appointed commander-in-chief of the forces to be employed. President Washington had been deeply pained by the disasters of GeneralHarmar's expedition to the Wabash, resulting from Indian ambushes. Intaking leave of his old military comrade, St. Clair, he wished him successand honor; at the same time to put him on his guard, said, --"You have yourinstructions from the secretary of war. I had a strict eye to them, andwill add but one word--Beware of a surprise! You know how the Indiansfight. I repeat it--_Beware of a surprise_!" With these warning wordssounding in his ear, St. Clair departed. [Footnote: Irving's life ofWashington. ] On the seventh of September, 1791, General St. Clair set out for theIndian country. The American banner was unfurled and waved proudly overtwo thousand of her soldiers, as with sanguine hopes and brightanticipations, they took up their line of march for the Miami, designingto destroy the Indian villages on that river, expel the savages from theregion, and by establishing a line of posts to the Ohio river, prevent theIndians from returning to a point, where they had been the occasion ofgreat mischief. On their way they constructed two forts, Hamilton andJefferson, and advanced but slowly, having to open for themselves a waythrough the forest. Too many of those composing this little army weredeficient in soldier-like qualities. They had been recruited from the off-scourings of large towns and cities, enervated by idleness, debauchery, and every species of vice, which unfitted them for the arduous service ofIndian warfare. Hence insubordination, and frequent desertion, were amongthe difficulties encountered. Not until the third of November, did they come near the Indian villages onthe Miami. On the evening of that day they selected a position on the bankof a creek, which favored their purpose, and bivouacked for the night. Their number, from desertion, and those left to garrison the forts, amounted to but fourteen hundred. The place of their encampment wassurrounded by close woods, dense thickets, and the trunks of fallen trees, affording a fine cover for stealthy Indian warfare. It was the intention of St. Clair to throw up a slight work on thefollowing day, and then move on to attack the Indian villages. The plan ofthis work he concerted in the evening with Major Ferguson, of theartillery. In the mean time, Colonel Oldham, an officer commanding themilitia, was directed to send out that evening, two detachments, toexplore the country and gain what knowledge they could of the enemy. Themilitia showed signs of insubordination, complained of being too muchfatigued, and the order apparently could not be enforced. The militia wereencamped beyond the stream, about a quarter of a mile in advance, on ahigh flat, a position much more favorable than was occupied by the mainbody. The placing of sentinels, about fifty paces from each other, formedtheir principal security against surprise. At an early hour the next morning, the woods about the camp of themilitia, swarmed with Indians, and a terrific yell, followed by sharpreports of the deadly rifle, were startling sounds, in the ear of thenewly recruited soldier. The militia returned a feeble fire, andimmediately fled toward the main body of the army. They came rushing in, pell-mell and threw into disorder the front rank, drawn up in the order ofbattle. The Indians, still keeping up their frightful yell, followed hardafter the militia, and would have entered the camp with them, but thesight of troops drawn up with fixed bayonets to receive them, checkedtheir ardor, and stopping short they threw themselves behind logs andbushes, and poured in a deadly fire upon the first line, which was soonextended to the second. Our soldiers were mown down at a fearful rate. The Indians fought with great desperation. They charged upon the center ofthe two main divisions commanded by General Butler, and Colonel Darke withunexampled intrepidity. They aimed a destructive fire upon theartillerists from every direction, and swept them down by scores. Theartillery if not very effective, was bravely served. A quantity ofcanister and some round shot were thrown in the direction whence theIndians fired; but concealed as they were, and seen only occasionally, asthey sprang from one covert to another, it was impossible to direct thepieces to advantage; and so effective was the fire upon them, that everyartillery officer, and more than two-thirds of the men, were killed orwounded. St. Clair, unable to mount his horse, was borne about on a litter, and inthe midst of peril and disaster, gave his orders with coolness andjudgment. Seeing to what disadvantage his troops fought with a concealedenemy, he ordered Colonel Darke, with his regiment of regulars, to rousethe Indians from their covert with the bayonet, and turn their left flank. This was executed with great spirit; the enemy were driven three or fourhundred yards; but for want of cavalry or riflemen, the pursuit slackened, and the troops were forced to give back in turn, and the Indians came onwith a deadlier aim, the moment pursuit was relinquished. Strenuousefforts were made by the officers, early in the engagement, to restoreorder, which resulted in making themselves a mark, and they were cut downby the quick-sighted enemy. All the officers of the Second regiment were cut off except three. Thecontest disastrous from the first, had now continued for more than twohours and a half. The loss of so many officers, and the hopeless conditionof the army, the half of them killed, and the situation of the remainderdesperate, brought discouragement to many a brave heart. It was useless tomake further effort, which promised only a more fatal result. A retreattherefore was ordered, Colonel Darke being directed to charge the Indiansthat intercepted the way toward Fort Jefferson, and Major Clark with hisbattalion to cover the rear; these movements were successfully made, andthe most of the troops that remained collected in a body, with such of thewounded as could possibly hobble along with them; thus they departed, leaving their artillery and baggage. The retreat, though disorderly, was accomplished without difficulty, asthe Indians did not pursue them far, from a desire to return for plunder. Yet the entire way, for near thirty miles, the distance to Fort Jefferson, bore the marks of a trepidation that seemed to characterize the entireengagement. The soldiers continued to throw away their guns, knapsacks, orwhatever else impeded their flight, even when at a wide remove from alldanger. The army reduced by killed, wounded and desertion to about one-half itsoriginal number, fell back upon Fort Washington, the point of starting, and thus unfortunately closed a campaign, concerning which the highestexpectations had been entertained. It was a heavy blow upon our infantrepublic, and spread over our country a gloom, which was greatly deepenedby a sorrow for the loss of many worthy and brave men, who though theyfreely sacrificed their lives, could not avert these disasters. The Indians, on account of this further victory, were elated beyondendurance, and conducted more haughtily than ever before. Their incursionswere more frequent, their depredations more extensive, and their crueltiesmore excessive. The frontier inhabitants, especially of Pennsylvania, andKentucky, never felt more insecure, and were never more exposed to loss oflife, plunder and burning. In some instances whole settlements were brokenup, by those who left their homes and sought, in the more densely peopledsections of the east, places of greater security. These circumstances served to impart a deeper interest to the visit of afriendly deputation, consisting of about fifty chiefs of the Iroquois, whocame to Philadelphia early in the spring of 1792, in compliance with therequest of Colonel Pickering made at Painted Post the preceding year. RedJacket was a prominent member of this delegation. Their presence had been solicited, with the view of calling the attentionof the leading chiefs, to thoughts and efforts for the improvement oftheir race; as well as by kind and generous treatment, to bring them intofirmer alliance with the United States. And it is a pleasing thought thatamid the wrongs done to the Indian, we are able to point to earnest andwell intended endeavors, on the part of our government, to promote hiswelfare. The governor of Pennsylvania cordially welcomed this deputation, representing the happiness their coming had created, and assuring themthat every provision had been made, to render their stay agreeable, closing his remarks in these words: "Brothers: I know the kindness with which you treat strangers that visityour country; and it is my sincere wish, that when you return to yourfamilies, you may be able to assure them, that the virtues of friendshipand hospitality, are also practiced by the citizens of Pennsylvania. " To this welcome Red Jacket, a few days afterward replied, apologizing fornot answering it sooner, and expressing the pleasure it afforded them, ofmeeting in a place where their forefathers in times past, had been wont togreet each other in peace and friendship, and declaring it as his wish, that the same happy relations might be established, and exist between theUnited States and all of the Indian tribes. His remarks on peace were introduced by a beautiful reference to a pictureof Penn's treaty with the Indians, and an enconium on the governors ofPennsylvania for their uniformly peaceable disposition. It has been said of him as having occurred at a subsequent visit to theseat of our government, that when shown in the rotunda of the capitol, apanel representing, in sculpture, the first landing of the Pilgrims, withan Indian chief presenting them an ear of corn, in token of a friendlywelcome, he exclaimed, --"_That was good. --The Indian knew they came fromthe Great Spirit, and he was willing to share the soil with hisbrothers. _" When another panel was pointed out to him representing Penn's treaty, --heexclaimed sadly, --"_Ah! all's gone now. _" [Footnote: Drake's Book ofthe Indians. ] The Indians were again addressed by President Washington, who gave them ahearty welcome to the seat of government, declaring that they had beeninvited by his special request, to remove all causes of discontent, deviseplans for their welfare, and cement a firm peace. He wished them topartake of all the comforts of the earth to be derived from civilizedlife, to be enriched by industry, virtue and knowledge, and transmit theseinvaluable blessings to their children. The western Indians had charged the United States with an unjustpossession of their lands. They desired no lands, he said, but such as hadbeen fairly obtained by treaty, and he hoped the error might be corrected. For the further explanation of his views and wishes, he commended them toGeneral Knox, the secretary of war, and Colonel Pickering; concluding hisaddress with these words:-- "As an evidence of the sincerity of the desire of the United States forperfect peace, and friendship with you, I deliver you this white belt ofwampum, which I request you will safely keep. " The president having thus appointed Colonel Pickering and General Knox, toattend to the further conferences with the Indians, Red Jacket's reply tothe president's address, was made to them. His address was directed mainlyto Colonel Pickering. Taking in his hand the belt presented by President Washington, he spokevery much as follows: "Your attention is now called to the words of the American Chief, when, the other day he welcomed us to the great council fire of the thirteenUnited States. He said it was from his very heart; and that it gave himpleasure to look around and see so large a representation of the FiveNations of Indians. That it was at his special request we had been invitedto the seat of the general government, with a view to promote thehappiness of our nation, in a friendly connection with the United States. He said also that his love of peace did not terminate with the FiveNations, but extended to all the nations at the setting sun, and it washis desire that universal peace might prevail in this land. "What can we, your brothers of the Five Nations, say in reply to this partof his speech, other than to thank him, and say it has given a spring toevery passion of our souls. "The sentiment of your chief, who wishes our minds might all be disposedto peace, --a happy peace, so firm that nothing shall move it, --that it maybe founded on a rock, --this comparison of the peace to a _rock, which isimmovable_, has given joy to our hearts. "The president observed also, that by our continuing in the path of peace, and listening to his counsel, we might share with you all the blessings ofcivilized life; this meets with our approbation, and he has the thanks ofall your brothers of the Five Nations. "And further, that if we attended to his counsel in this matter, ourchildren and children's children, might partake of all the blessings whichshould rise out of this earth. "The president observed again, that what he had spoken was in thesincerity of his heart, and that time and opportunity would give evidencethat what he said was true. And we believe it because the words came fromhis own lips, and they are lodged deep in our minds. "He said also that it had come to his ears that the cause of thehostilities of the western Indians, was their persuasion that the UnitedStates had unjustly taken their lands. But he assured us this was not thecase; that none of his chiefs desired to take any of their land, withoutagreeing for it; and that the land, given up at the treaty at Muskingum, he concluded had been fairly obtained. "He said to us that in his opinion the hostile Indians were in error, thatwhatever evil spirit, or lies had turned them aside, he wished could bediscovered, that they might be removed. He had a strong wish that anyobstacles to the extension of peace westward, might be discovered, so thatthey might be removed. "In conclusion he observed that our professions of friendship and regard, were commonly witnessed by some token; therefore in the name of the UnitedStates, he presented us with this white belt, which was to be handed downfrom one generation to another, in confirmation of his words, and as awitness of the friendly disposition of the United States, towards thepeace and happiness of the five confederated nations. " Red Jacket here laid down the white belt presented by the president, andtaking up a belt of their own, continued his speech as follows: "Now let the president of the United States possess his mind in peace. Ourreply to his address to us the other day has been brief, for the belt hegave us is deposited with us, and we have taken firm hold of it. We returnour united thanks for his address, in welcoming us to the seat of thegreat council, and for the advice he has given us. "We have additional pleasure in knowing that you, Con-neh-sauty [Footnote:Col. Pickering. ] are appointed to assist us, in devising the means topromote and secure the happiness of the Six Nations. "Now open your ears, Representatives of the Great Council, Hear the wordswe speak. All present of the Great Council, [Footnote: Referring tomembers of Congress present. ] and our brethren of the Five Nations, hear!We consider ourselves in the presence of the Great Spirit, the proprietorof us all. "The president has in effect told us we are freemen, the sole proprietorsof the soil on which we live. This has gladdened our hearts, and removed aweight that was upon them. This indeed is to us an occasion of joy, forhow can two brothers speak freely together, unless they feel they are uponequal ground? "We now speak freely, as they are free from pressure, and we join with thepresident in his wish, that all the evils which have hitherto disturbedour peace, may be buried in oblivion. This is the sincere wish of ourhearts. "Now, Brother, continue to hear, let all present open their ears, whilethose of the Five Nations here present speak _with one voice_. We wishto see your words verified to our children, and children's children. Youenjoy all the blessings of this life; to you therefore we look to makeprovision, that the same may be enjoyed by our children. This wish comesfrom our heart, but we add that our happiness cannot be great if, in theintroduction of your ways, we are put under too much constraint. "Continue to hear. We, your brothers of the Five Nations, believe that theGreat Spirit let this island [Footnote: The Indians use the term _island_, in speaking of this continent. ] drop down from above. We also believe inhis superintendency over this whole island. He gives peace and prosperity, he also sends evil. Prosperity has been yours. American brethren, all thegood which can spring out of this island, you enjoy. We wish, therefore, that we and our children, and our children's children, may partake withyou of that enjoyment. "I observe that the Great Spirit might smile on one people, and frown onanother. This you have seen, who are of one color, and one blood. The kingof England, and you Americans strove to advance your happiness byextending your possessions on this island, which produces so many goodthings. And while you two great powers were contending for those goodthings, by which the whole island was shaken, violently agitated, is itstrange that our peace, the peace of the Five Nations, was shaken andoverthrown? "But I will say no more of the trembling of this island. All in a measureis now quiet. Peace is restored. Our peace, the peace of the Five Nationsis beginning to bud forth. But still there is some shaking among ourbrethren at the Setting Sun; and you, of the thirteen fires, and the kingof England know what is our situation and the cause of this disturbance. Here now, you have an ambassador, [Footnote: Referring to the Britishenvoy to the United States. ] as we are informed from the king of England. Let him in behalf of the king, and the Americans, adjust all theirmatters, according to their agreement, at the making of peace--and thenyou will soon see all things settled among the Indian nations. Peace willextend far and near. Let the president and the ambassador use all theirexertions to bring about this settlement, according to the peace, and itwill make us all glad, and we shall consider both as our real friends. "Brother: Continue to hear! Be assured we have spoken not from our lipsonly, but from our very hearts. Allow us then to say: That when youAmericans and the king made peace, he did not mention us, showed us nocompassion, notwithstanding all he said to us, and all we had suffered. This has been the occasion to us, the Five Nations, of great loss, sorrowand pain. When you and he settled the peace between you two great nations, he never asked for a delegation from us, to attend to our interests. Hadthis been done, a settlement of peace among all the western nations mighthave been effected. But neglecting this, and passing us by unnoticed, hasbrought upon us great pain and trouble. "It is evident that we of the Five Nations have suffered much inconsequence of the strife between you and the king of England, who are ofone color and of one blood. But our chain of peace has been broken. Peaceand friendship have been driven from us. Yet you Americans were determinednot to treat us in the same manner as we have been treated by the king ofEngland. You therefore desired us at the re-establishment of peace, to sitdown at our ancient fireplaces, and again enjoy our lands. And had thepeace between you and the king of England been completely accomplished, itwould long before this have extended far beyond the Five Nations. "BROTHER CON-NEH-SAUTY: We have rejoiced in your appointment, for you arespecially appointed with General Knox, to confer with us on our peace andhappiness. We hope the great warrior will remember, that though a_warrior_, he is to converse with us about _peace_; letting what concernswar sleep; and the counselling part of his mind, while acting with us, beof _peace_. "Have patience, and continue to listen. The president has assured us thathe is not the cause of the hostilities now existing at the westward, butlaments it. Brother, we wish you to point out to us of the Five Nations, _what you think is the real cause_. "We now publicly return our thanks to the president, and all thecounsellors of the thirteen United States, for the words he has spoken tous. They were good, unqualifiedly good. Shall we observe that he wishedthat if the errors of the hostile Indians could be discovered, he woulduse his utmost exertions to remove them? "BROTHER! You and the king of England are the two governing powers of thisisland. What are we? You both arc important and proud; and you cannotadjust your own affairs agreeably to your declarations of peace. Thereforethe western Indians are bewildered. One says one thing to them, andanother says another. Were these things adjusted, it would be easy todiffuse peace everywhere. "In confirmation of our words, we give this belt, which we wish thepresident to hold fast, in remembrance of what we have now spoken. "[Footnote: This speech, given by Col. Stone from a manuscript of J. W. Moulton, Esq. , on account of its importance, is presented almost entire. Afew changes have been made, but the ideas of the orator, and the languagemostly in which they are given, have been strictly maintained, while thechanges are no greater than would have been made, had two reporters takenthe words as they came from the lips of the orator. ] A very touching reference is made in this speech, to the manner in whichthe Indians had been treated by Great Britain, when peace was concludedwith the United States. Notwithstanding the promises and high expectationsheld out to them, at the commencement of the war, and their sacrifices andservices during its continuance, no notice was taken, no mention made ofthem in the treaty of peace. In the expressive language of Red Jacket, "_the king showed them no compassion_. " They had for years fought sideby side with the soldiers of Britain, they had, with stealthy tread, comedown upon our settlements far removed from the seat of war, surprisedpeaceful inhabitants, slain defenseless women and children, plundered andburned their dwellings, and wrought in the hearts of the American people asense of wrong, that cried for redress. What could be their position, nowthat the armies of Britain are withdrawn? The armies of Britain defeated, could they, single handed, cope with the American army? These werequestions that weighed deeply on their minds. Did they expect the hand offriendship to be extended toward them? To be invited to councils of peace, --to the intimacies, hospitalities, and kindly feeling manifested on thisoccasion? The orator was deeply impressed by it, and notes the contrastapparent in the conduct toward them, of Britain and America. "_YouAmericans were determined not to treat us in the same manner, as we hadbeen treated by the king of England. You desired us at the re-establishment of peace, to sit down at our ancient fire-places, and againenjoy our lands_. " He further very significantly refers to the occasion ofthe hostile feelings among the Indians at the West. It was because thepeace between England and America "_had not been fully accomplished_. " Inother words, hostile feelings were still cherished, and their _outwardmanifestation_ could be seen, in the plundering and massacres, stillcarried on among our frontier settlements. The establishment of a _truepeace_ between the two countries, --the existence and cultivation ofgenuine amicable relations between them, would, in his view, end all thistrouble, and "_diffuse peace everywhere_. " We have already had occasion to notice the unfriendly feeling, cherishedby the British Indian Department in Canada, toward the United States; andevidence will be afforded further on, of their being deeply implicated inthe hostilities endured, coming from the Indians on our western border. CHAPTER IX. Indian appropriation--Embassy sent West--Instructions--Medal presented toRed Jacket--Military suits--Close of conference--Washington's partingwords--Visit of Thayendanegea--Council at Au Glaize--Result--Anothercommission--Indian diplomacy--Washington's letter to Mr. Jay--Commissiongoes West--Various interviews--Result of council--Re-organization underGeneral Wayne--Ready for action--Advice of Little Turtle--Wayne's battleand victory--Treaty of peace. While these Indian chiefs were at Philadelphia, a bill was passed byCongress, and ratified by the president, appropriating fifteen hundreddollars annually, for the benefit of the Iroquois, in purchasing for themclothing, domestic animals, implements of husbandry, and for encouraginguseful artificers to reside in their villages. They were engaged also to go on a pacific embassy to the hostile Indiansof the West, and assure them of the friendly disposition of the UnitedStates toward them;--that they want nothing which belongs to the hostileIndians;--that they appointed commissioners to treat with them for theirlands, and give them a large quantity of goods;--that a number of chiefssigned the deeds, and from the reports of the commissioners, it wassupposed the lands had been fairly obtained;--that under this suppositionlarge tracts had been sold, and hence difficult to restore again; but asthe United States desire only what is just, they will attentively hear thecomplaints of the western Indians;--they will re-examine the treaties, andinquire into the manner in which they were conducted;--and if thecomplaints of the western Indians, appear to be well founded, the UnitedStates will make them ample compensation for their lands. They will domore;--so far from desiring to injure, they would do them good; they wouldcheerfully impart to them that knowledge, and those arts, by which theypropose to increase the happiness, and promote the welfare of the SixNations. It was during this visit that President Washington, in token of hisfriendship and esteem, gave Red Jacket a large silver medal bearing hislikeness, which he ever after preserved with much care, and took greatpride in wearing. [Illustration: GEORGE WASHINGTON PRESIDENT. 1792. ] General Knox, the secretary of war, directed also that a military suit ofclothes be given to each member of the deputation, including a cocked hat, as worn by the officers of the United States army. When Red Jacket's suitwas presented to him he eyed it carefully, and rather admiringly, butrequested the bearer to inform General Knox that the suit would hardlybecome him, as he was not a war-chief but a sachem, the sachems beingcivil, rather than military officers. He desired therefore that anothersuit be prepared, which would accord better with the relation he sustainedto his people; at the same time declaring the one sent very good, andmanifesting a disposition to retain it, until the other was prepared. Aplain suit was accordingly prepared and brought to him, and with this heseemed to be highly pleased. The bearer tarrying a little, and manifestinga readiness to carry back the other suit, Red Jacket coolly and ratherplayfully remarked, that though the present suit was more in keeping withhis character as sachem, it nevertheless, occurred sometimes, in cases ofemergency, that the sachems also went to war, and as it would then be verybecoming and proper for him to wear it, he was happy to have one in case acircumstance of this kind should occur. These Indian chiefs were all highly gratified with the attention shownthem, during this visit to the general government. They were especiallypleased with the interest that had been taken in the improvement of theirpeople, and the pledges they had received of aid in carrying out thebenevolent designs entertained toward them. And they all, Red Jacket withthe rest, were favorably impressed with the views of Washington, indesiring to introduce among them the improvements of civilized life. These conferences were brought to a close on the thirtieth of April, andPresident Washington in a concluding speech, said to them, --"When youreturn to your country, tell your nation that it is my desire to promotetheir prosperity, by teaching them the use of domestic animals, and themanner that the white people plough and raise so much corn, and if uponconsideration, it would be agreeable to the nation at large, to learnthose arts, I will find some means of teaching them at some places withintheir country, as shall be agreed upon. " [Footnote: Irving's Life ofWashington. ] The government had taken special pains also to secure the attendance ofthe celebrated Thayendanegea or Brant, with this deputation of friendlychiefs. The invitation, though a pressing one, was declined, and notwithout reason. For besides the powerful influence exerted over him by theofficers of the British government in Canada, who strenuously opposed hiscoming, it has since been ascertained that he was the leading spirit whodirected with so much success to the Indians, the onslaught upon GeneralSt. Clair's army, the preceding fall. Hence his own feelings could nothave been of the most friendly character. He was, nevertheless, induced tovisit the seat of government during the month of June following, andpledged himself to exert his influence in an effort to secure peace forthe United States, with the Indians at the West. A very large Indian council, composed of delegates from many and some ofthem very distant nations, was held at Au Glaize, on the Miami of LakeErie, in the autumn of 1792. A large delegation from the Six Nations, friendly to the United States, was present and took part in thedeliberations. Red Jacket was the principal speaker, and strenuouslyadvocated the settlement of their difficulties, by peaceful negotiationsinstead of war. The Shawanese as strenuously advocated the continuance of hostilities. They taunted the Six Nations with having induced them to form a greatconfederacy, a few years before, and of having come to the council now, "with the voice of the United States folded under their arm;"--referringto the belt which was significant of their embassy. The Shawanese, Miamis and Kickapoos were addicted to horse-stealing, andwhile hostilities were continued, they reaped from this source, theirgreatest harvests. Captain Brant on account of sickness was unable to be present, and it maybe noticed that from this time on, his efforts to form a North-westernIndian Confederacy, were very sensibly remitted. He no doubt found therewere so many conflicting interests and national jealousies in the way, asto render the project comparatively hopeless. But more than all, he haddepended upon the following of the entire body, composed of the SixNations, and when he saw them coming largely under the influence of theUnited States, he could realize that the strength and permanence of hiscontemplated position, were so seriously affected, as to render itsattainment extremely doubtful. The addition of the entire Iroquois family, to the proposed confederation, would have brought into it an element ofintellectual superiority, and their long established polity of acting inconcert, would have been of essential service among forces that were wildand chaotic. And we are not surprised that the diversion effected amongthem, should have changed somewhat the views of the distinguishedThayendanegea. No decisive action was reached at this council, but an agreement was madeto suspend hostilities during the winter, provided the United States wouldwithdraw their troops from the west side of the Ohio; and another councilwas appointed to meet at the Miami Rapids during the following spring. The Iroquois delegation forwarded to our government a report of theservice they had rendered, the action taken by the council, and theagreement to meet in the spring, and requested that agents might be sent, "who were men of honesty, not land-jobbers, but men who love and desirepeace. We also desire that they may be accompanied by some Friend, orQuaker, to attend the council. " On the 19th of February, 1793, General Benjamin Lincoln, Beverly Randolphand Colonel Pickering were commissioned by the president to attend thegreat Indian council at Miami Rapids, in the ensuing spring. Meanwhile the Indians, dissatisfied with the views of the president, astransmitted by the Six Nations, held another council at Au Glaize inFebruary, and framed a very explicit address to the Six Nations, affirmingthey would listen to no proposition from the United States, that did notconcede the Ohio river, as the boundary line between them, and the Indiancountry. They desired the United States to be fully apprised of this, before sending their delegation; and they notified the Six Nations of aprivate council at Miami Rapids, before meeting the Americancommissioners, to adjust their opinions, so as to speak but one languageat the council; they further declared their intention not to meet thecommissioners at all, until assured they had authority to conclude atreaty on this basis. In this determination they were encouraged, and sustained by the BritishIndian Department of Canada. President Washington, in a letter to Mr. Jay, our minister in London, writing in 1794, very clearly sets forth the workthus accomplished. --He says:--"There does not remain a doubt, in the mindof any well informed person in this country, not shut against conviction, that all the difficulties we encounter with the Indians, theirhostilities, the murder of helpless women and children, along ourfrontiers, result from the conduct of agents of Great Britain in thiscountry. In vain is it then for its administration in Britain to disavowhaving given orders which will warrant such conduct, whilst their agentsgo unpunished; while we have a thousand corroborating circumstances, andindeed as many evidences, some of which cannot be brought forward, toprove that they are seducing from our alliances, and endeavoring to removeover the line, tribes that have hitherto been kept in peace and friendshipat great expense, and who have no causes of complaint, except pretendedones of their creating; whilst they keep in a state of irritation thetribes that are hostile to us, and are instigating those who know littleof us or we of them, to unite in the war against us; and whilst it is anundeniable fact, that they are furnishing the _whole with arms, ammunition, clothing, and even provisions to carry on the war_, I might gofarther, and if they are not much belied, add, _men in disguise_. "[Footnote: Marshall's Washington. ] The commissioners of the United States appointed to confer with the Indiantribes at the West, proceeded on their way, arriving at Niagara the latterpart of May, 1793. Here they were very kindly entertained by GovernorSimcoe until the council was ready to receive them. While here they were visited by a large deputation from the council atMiami Rapids, who desired an explicit answer to the inquiry whether theywere authorized to run and establish a new boundary? Which they answeredin the affirmative, at the same time reminding the Indians that in almostall disputes there were wrongs on both sides, and that, at the approachingcouncil, both parties must expect to make some concessions. This reply was well received and sanguine hopes were entertained of afavorable termination of their mission. The Indians returned again to their council at Miami, and thecommissioners supposing they would now be prepared to receive them, proceeded on their voyage westward. Arriving at the mouth of Detroit riverthey were obliged to land, being forbidden by the British authorities toproceed any farther toward the place of meeting. They were met here by another Indian deputation, bringing a paper with awritten statement of their determination, to make the Ohio the boundaryline between the Indian country and the United States, and requiring thelatter, if sincere in their desires for peace, to remove their settlementsto the south side of that river. To this the commissioners were desired togive an explicit written answer. They replied, referring to the understanding from their conference atNiagara, that some concessions were to be made on both sides, and giving abrief history of the treaties by which a title had been acquired to landnorth of the Ohio, on the faith of which, settlements had been formedwhich could not be removed; hence they answered explicitly. --"_The Ohioriver cannot be designated as the boundary line. _" They expressed the hope that negotiations might proceed on the basis ofthese treaties, closing with some concessions, and liberal offers for somelands still held by the Indians. The debate at this council, it is said, ran high. Thayendanegea, andothers of the Six Nations were strenuous in their advocacy of peace. Theoffer of the commissioners to establish a boundary line that would includethe settlements already made north of the Ohio, they regarded asreasonable, and that farther concessions ought not to be required. Quite anumber of tribes were influenced to adopt this view, which at one time itwas thought would prevail. But there were certain ruling spirits presentdetermined to make no concession, and the council broke up withoutallowing the commissioners, or any other white person, not in sympathywith Britain, to be present. Previous to the holding of this council, the army had been re-organizedunder the command of General Anthony Wayne, an officer of untiring energyand vigilance; a larger number of soldiers had been called into the field, and as they were placed under a severe discipline, to inure them to thedangers and hardships of the campaign, it was undertaken with flatteringprospects of success. Pittsburgh had been made the place of rendezvous; but fearing theinfluence of an encampment near a town, and wishing to inspire in hissoldiers a feeling of self reliance, General Wayne, on the 27th ofNovember, 1792, marched his army to a point twenty-two miles distant onthe Ohio, which he called Legionville, fortifying it and taking up hisquarters there for the winter. On the 30th of April, 1793, as spring had opened, he broke up his garrisonat Legionville, and led his army down the river, to Fort Washington, itssite being that of the present beautiful and flourishing city ofCincinnati. Here he remained while the negotiations were going on with the Indians atthe West. As soon as they were ended and the result known, he took a moreadvanced position, marching in October in the direction pursued by, General St. Clair, to a point on the south-west branch of the Miami, sixmiles beyond Fort Jefferson, and eighty from Fort Washington, which hefortified and called Greenville. On the 23d of December, a detachment of the army commanded by MajorBurbeck took possession of the ground where the army of General St. Clair, two years before on the 4th of the preceding November, had sustained aterrible defeat. Here they gathered up sadly and sacredly the bones thatmarked this as a place of human slaughter, put in order the field-piecesthat were still upon the ground, served them with a round of three timesthree, over the remains of their fallen comrades, and erected a fortress, appropriately naming it Fort Recovery. The army at different points had skirmishes with the enemy that were notserious, but they served to create confidence and inspire courage in theminds of the soldiers. It was not until the 20th of August, 1794, that General Wayne had aregular engagement with the Indians. Yet like a true gladiator he had beenpreparing for the struggle, and his wariness, which had gained for him thetitle of "_Black Snake_" may be gathered from the speech of Little Turtle, chief of the Miamis, and one of the most active and brave warriors of histime. He counselled his countrymen to think favorably of the proposals ofpeace offered by General Wayne before giving them battle; saying, --"Wehave beaten the enemy twice under separate commanders. We cannot expectthe same good fortune always to attend us. The Americans are now led by achief who never sleeps. The night and the day are alike to him; and duringall the time he has been marching on our villages, notwithstanding thewatchfulness of our young men, we have never been able to surprise him. There is something that whispers to me, --_it would be prudent to listen tohis offers of peace_. " But this counsel was rejected by the Indians, who determined to givebattle to the Americans the next day. They fought in the vicinity of aBritish fort, which Governor Simcoe of Canada had caused to be erected atthe foot of the rapids of the Miami emptying into the lakes, far withinthe acknowledged territory of the United States. The ground occupied by the Indians was well chosen, being a thick wood, where were old fallen trees that marked the track of some ancienthurricane, where the use of cavalry would be impracticable, a place suitedto afford them shelter and well adapted to their peculiar mode of warfare. But the order of General Wayne to advance with trailed arms, and rouse theIndians from their covert at the point of the bayonet, and when up delivera close and well directed fire on their backs, followed by a brisk charge, so as not to give them time to load again; was executed so promptly, andwith so much effect that the Indians were driven in one hour more than twomiles, and soon dispersed in terror and dismay, leaving the ground in fulland quiet possession of the victorious army. This battle, which terminated within reach of the British guns, decidedthe fate of the campaign. The Indians after this were dispirited andunable to make a general rally. The distrust awakened by the coolness oftheir supposed friends, the gates of whose fort remained unopened whilethey were fleeing thither for a covert, served not less than the victoryto dishearten them, and incline their thoughts toward peace. The few days spent by the army on the battle ground after its victory, were occupied in destroying the property of the Indians in that vicinity, including also the extensive possessions of Colonel McKee, an officer ofthe British Indian Department, whose influence had been exerted inpromoting these hostilities, whose effects were now being experienced. Thefort itself was poised in the General's mind, as was also the torch of thegunner, who was only restrained by his commanding officer from firing uponWayne, who, as he thought came too near, in making his observations on oneof His Majesty's forts. Prudence prevailed. The fighting was confined to awar of words in a spirited correspondence between General Wayne, and theofficer in command of the fort. General Wayne after laying waste their principal towns in this region, continued in the Indian country during the following year, bringing hiscampaign to a close by a treaty with the North-western tribes, which wasentirely agreeable to the wishes of the United States. CHAPTER X. Canandaigua at an early day--Facts in the early settlement of Bloomfield--Indian Council--Its object--Indian parade--Indian dress--Opening ofCouncil--Speeches--Liberal offers of the government--Mr. Savary's Journal--Treaty concluded--Account of Red Jacket by Thomas Morris. Canandaigua at an early day was the objective point for all who wereseeking what was called the Genesee country. It was at the head ofnavigation. Parties coming from the east could transport their goods bywater from Long Island Sound to Canandaigua, with the exception of one ortwo carrying places, where they were taken by land. We can hardly realize that at that time there was here a widely extendedforest, in all its loneliness and grandeur. Its first trees were cut downin the fall of 1788, soon after Mr. Phelps had concluded his treaty ofpurchase with the Indians. By means of them a log store-house wasconstructed, near the outlet of the lake. The family of a Mr. Joseph Smithtook possession of it in the spring of 1789. Judge J. H. Jones, who in thefall of 1788, was one of a party to open a road between Geneva andCanandaigua, witnessed, on revisiting the latter place in 1789, a greatchange. "When we left, " he says, "in the fall of '88, there was not a solitaryperson there;--when I returned fourteen months afterwards, the place wasfull of people; residents, surveyors, explorers, adventurers; houses weregoing up; it was a thriving, busy place. " During the following year quitea nucleus for a town had gathered here. In 1794, Mrs. Sanborne, anenterprising landlady, whose eye kindled with the recollection of thosedays, served up in a tea saucer the first currants produced in the Geneseecountry. [Footnote: Conversation of the author with Mrs. Sanborne. ]Canandaigua at that time and for many years after was head-quarters forall who were making their way into what at that time was called the Indiancountry, and from the respectability and enterprise of its earlyinhabitants, it became attractive as a place of residence. But though considerable improvements had been made here, the entire regionwas new, romantic and wild. Such was its condition at the time of thegreat Indian council that convened here in the autumn of 1794. Indians anddeer, and wolves, and bear were very abundant and were mingled with theearly associations of those who contributed to make this an abode ofelevation and refinement. The cow-boy, often startled while on his way bythe appearance of a bear, went timidly forth on his evening errand, inspired with courage by the thought that he might, for his protection, shoulder a gun. Bear incidents, narrow escapes from fighting with bears, and bear stories of every description, entered largely into the staple oftheir conversation, and many an evening's hour was thus beguiled away, around the huge and brightly blazing fire of the early pioneer. "Did you hear, " said a Mrs. Chapman to a Mrs. Parks, how neighbor Coddingcame near being killed yesterday? "Mercy! no. How did it happen? "Mr. Codding was in the woods splitting rails, and just as he was turningaround to take up his axe to cut a sliver, don't you believe he saw agreat bear sitting up on his hind legs, and holding out both fore pawsready to grab him. " "Mercy on us! What did he do? "What did he do? He took up his axe, and instead of cutting the sliver, cut into the old bear's head. But the axe glanced and only cut into theflesh, without killing the bear, and he ran away with the axe stickingfast in the wound. "Awful! Awful! How thick the bears are getting to be! Husband says theyhave killed off most all of our hogs. "Your hogs! Just think once, there was a great bear came the other nightand got hold of a hog in Asahel Sprague's hog-pen, and would have killedhim, if Mr. Sprague hadn't shot the old fellow. "Yes, and last summer when Mr. Sperry was gone off to training, there wasa bear came in the day time and tackled one of their hogs right in theirown door yard; but Mrs. Sperry and the children screamed so awfully, andgave him such a tremendous clubbing, he was glad to put off into the woodsagain. "Ha! Ha! She was about up to Jim Parker, who broke a bear's back with ahand-spike in driving him out of his corn field, just as he was climbingover the fence. " [Footnote: Facts which transpired in the early history ofBloomfield. See Turner's History. ] Wolves were equally if not more numerous, destroying in some instancesentire flocks of sheep, so that there was not a farmer in the region whodid not suffer more or less from their depredations. It was something of an off-set to these annoyances that deer were veryabundant, and furnished the inhabitants with an ample supply of theirdelicious meat. The Indians while assembled here during the council, oftenkilled more than a hundred of them in a single day. The object of convening this council was to settle difficulties of longstanding, and quiet the minds of the Iroquois, who were much disturbed bythe warlike spirit prevailing at this time among the Indians at the West. The influences from this source were of such a nature as to render manyamong these friendly tribes exceedingly bold. In some instances onentering the houses of settlers they would manifest a very haughty temper, and rudely demand a supply of their wants as though they were stillproprietors and lords of the soil, and the settlers only their servants ortenants. The settlers themselves began to feel unpleasantly about their position. During the spring of this same year while Thomas Morris was painting hishouse, erected the previous summer, and making other improvements aroundit, indicating his design of having a permanent and inviting home, it sohappened that a company of settlers in passing by, paused to view withastonishment what was going on. From a feeling of insecurity they had justabandoned their new locations in this region, and had come thus far ontheir way, having resolved to return to the more safe and quiet homes theyhad left at the east. But beholding the enterprise of Mr. Morris, and thebusiness and thrift that prevailed here on every side, they inferred thattheir situation could not be so very precarious, and wisely concluded toreturn and carry forward the improvements commenced by themselves. The Indian council, held during the months of October and November, hadbeen appointed before the victory of General Wayne, noticed in thepreceding chapter, had transpired. This had much to do in giving afavorable turn to the proceedings, and of securing those pacific relationswith the Iroquois, that were then established. Before this these tribesand the Indians generally were stimulated with the idea that they mightform and maintain in the North-west an independent nationality, that wouldreflect once more the pride and glory of the ancient dominion of theIroquois. But when the news of this signal victory was circulated amongthem, their spirits were humbled and broken. They seemed to relinquishthis dream of greatness, and gave themselves up to the stern demands of anevident necessity. This sad intelligence, however, did not reach themuntil the council had been for several days in progress. Its first openingwas darkened by no cloud of evil. There was nothing to hinder the exerciseof that proud bearing with which their past greatness, and a hopefulfuture inspired them. They began to assemble by the arrival of the Oneidas on the eleventh ofOctober. The Onondagas, Cayugas, and a part of the Senecas, led byFarmer's Brother, came in on the fourteenth. Cornplanter at the head ofthe Allegany clan of Senecas arrived on the sixteenth, and Red Jacket withhis, on the eighteenth. On assembling, a degree of dignity and decorum was manifested, whichserved to indicate their ideas of the forms and proprieties due to theoccasion. Before reaching the council fire the chiefs and warriors halted, carefully decorated themselves after their manner, and then marched tomeet those appointed to confer with them on the part of the government, and after passing around and encircling them, with the train, the leaderstepped forth, formally announced their arrival in obedience to thesummons they had received, at the same time delivering the belt brought bythe messenger sent to call them together. The next tribe that came, halted and prepared themselves as the others, were received by the tribe or tribes already on the ground, who alsoarrayed themselves in their uniform, and having received their welcome, salutes being fired and returned, they marched all together and formed ina circle around the commissioners, when the same ceremony was observed, asbefore, of delivering the belt. They proceeded thus until all the Indianshad assembled to the number of about sixteen hundred. It was an occasion for the display of Indian pageantry, and though it mayhave been more rude than among nations calling themselves civilized, itwas the same in its essential elements, and this council was ushered inwith as true a military spirit as though banners had been flying, bayonetsgleaming, and soldiers marching to the liveliest, or most heart-stirringsounds of music. The uniform of the Indian was not as the dress of the European, ornamented, epauletted, tinselled; it was a more simple, less expensive, but not a less time honored mode of adorning his person. Though hismilitary coat was of paint of different colors with which he was stripedin a distinguishing manner, he regarded it no doubt as gorgeous and gay. Instead of the gracefully waving plume he was bedecked with the feathersof the kingly eagle; beads and shells served in the place of militarybuttons; and his trophies in the chase, and in war, he regarded as forminga prouder sash than the richest scarf of scarlet or of blue. Canandaigua, in years gone by, has often witnessed scenes of proudmilitary display. But never will there be witnessed so grotesque, and inmany respects so imposing a parade as appeared on this occasion. Theneighboring forest swarmed with life, and resounded with the wild yell anddeafening war-whoop of the Indian. It was his gala day, and highly fittingthat before surrendering these grounds forever to the dominion and usagesof another race, he should come forth once more from his native wilds, anddepart in the fullness of his strength, as the sun passing from under acloud, sheds his full glory over the earth before sinking beneath thewestern horizon. This was his last day of pride on ground hallowed in thememories of the past. The occasion called forth an unusual attendance. It was known that ColonelPickering who had been appointed to hold this treaty, would come preparedto give them a grand feast, and distribute among them a large amount ofmoney and of clothing. Hence they all came. "For weeks before the treaty, they were arriving in squads from all their villages, and constructingtheir camps in the woods, upon the lake shore, and around the court-housesquare. The little village of whites was invested, overrun with the wildnatives. It seemed as if they had deserted all their villages, andtransferred even their old men, women and children to the feast, thecarousal, and the place of gifts. The night scenes were wild andpicturesque; their camp fires lighting up the forest, and their whoops andyells creating a sensation of novelty not unmingled with fear, with thefar inferior in numbers who composed the citizens of the pioneer villageand the sojourners of their own race. " [Footnote: History of the Phelpsand Gorham Purchase. ] The council was formally opened on the eighteenth of October, by a speechof condolence on the part of the Oneidas and Onondagas, to the Senecas, Cayugas, Tuscaroras and Delawares, some of whom were present, on accountof the death of a number of their chiefs since the last meeting. --It waswith a view to "_wipe away their tears, --brighten their faces, and cleartheir throats_, "--that they might speak freely at the council fire. Red Jacket in reply made a very sympathetic, and as it was regarded at thetime, beautiful address, presenting belts and strings of wampum to"_unite each to the other as the heart of one man_. " Next was given a speech of congratulation by Colonel Pickering, whoappointed a council of condolence on the following Monday for theDelawares, who were mourning for a young brother killed by a white man. The ceremony of burying the dead, --covering the grave with leaves toobscure it from sight, --of burying the hatchet taken from the head of thevictim, thus representing his death by violence, --of covering it withstones and pulling up and planting over it a pine tree, so that in afteryears it should never be disturbed; of wiping the blood from the head ofthe victim, and tears from the eyes of the mourners, --these thingsrepresented by speech and action having been performed, the council wasopened in earnest on the day following. In reply to Colonel Pickering's remarks of the preceding day respectingpeace, and upon keeping the chain of friendship bright, Fish Carrier, anaged and influential chief, in a speech of some length recounted thehistory of the whites and of their intercourse with the red men from theirfirst settlement in this country. He referred to the manner in which theyhad been received, to the friendship, that had existed before thecontroversy of the United States with Great Britain, and to thenegotiations that had taken place since that time, the grievances they hadsuffered, dwelling particularly upon the dissatisfaction still existingamong them about the treaty at Fort Stanwix in 1784. "The commissionerswere too grasping, they demanded of us too much. " But as they had takenhold of the chain of friendship with the fifteen fires they were disposedto hold fast; but he thought it needed brightening up a little. Colonel Pickering in reply to them said they ought not to think very hardof them about that treaty, for they had just come out of a long and bloodywar, and as they had been victorious the Six Nations ought not to blamethem for feeling a little proud; and they ought not to be surprised, inview of what had taken place during the war, if the commissioners weresomewhat severe. A deputation from the Quakers was present at this council, and theiraddress being read and interpreted, was received by the Indians with muchsatisfaction. At the opening of the council the next day, a request was presented bysome of the Indian women, who desired that their views might be heard; andpermission being granted, Red Jacket spake in their behalf. He represented that the women had taken a deep interest in everythingpertaining to the wellfare of their nation; and he requested the sachemsand warriors, as well as the commissioner, to give an attentiveconsideration to the views of those he had been chosen to represent. Theyhad attended upon the council, had listened to all that had been said, andthey desired it to be understood that their views were in accordance withthose of their sachems and chiefs. They felt that the white people hadcaused them a great deal of suffering. The white people had pressed andsqueezed them together until their hearts were greatly pained, and theythought the white people ought to give back all their lands. A white womanhad told the Indians to repent; [Footnote: Referring to Jemima Wilkinson. ]they wished in turn to call upon the white people to repent; they neededto repent as much as the Indians; and they hoped the white people wouldrepent and not wrong the Indians any more. The commissioner thanked them for their speech, saying he had a highrespect for the women, and would be happy to hear from them whenever theyhad anything to say. After several days had passed without coming to anything decisive inregard to the main object of the council; Colonel Pickering called theirattention to the fact of their grievances, saying they had been togethersometime and talked them over and had found but two rusty places in thechain of friendship, one of which they had already brightened. But theother spot they thought was too deep to be cleared up. It related to theirlands. He then showed them maps which clearly pointed out the limitsagreed upon in their treaties, and by a distinct statement of thenegotiations and treaties that had been made at different times with them, and afterward confirmed, proving that the claims of the United States werejust, he declared himself ready to stipulate concerning their grievances, that they should still have the privilege of hunting upon the lands theyhad ceded, and that their settlements thereon should remain undisturbed. He further assured them that the United States would increase theirannuity from fifteen hundred to four thousand five hundred dollars, to saynothing about the presents he had brought them amounting to ten thousanddollars. These he would distribute in case of a favorable termination oftheir council. He hoped in view of these liberal offers they would dismisstheir complaints, bury the hatchet deep and take hold of the chain offriendship so firmly as never again to have it torn from their grasp. The Indians appeared to be pleased with these offers, and promising toregard them favorably, spent several days in deliberating amongthemselves, inviting to their councils the Quakers, a deputation of whom, as we remarked were present. William Savary, one of their number made thefollowing interesting note of his observations at the time. -- "Oct. 30. After dinner John Parrish and myself rode to view the Farmer'sBrother's encampment which contained about five hundred Indians. They arelocated by the side of a brook in the woods: having built about seventy oreighty huts, by far the most commodious and ingeniously made of any I haveseen. The principal materials are bark, and boughs of trees, so nicely puttogether as to keep the family dry and warm. The women as well as the menappeared to be mostly employed. In this camp there are a large number ofpretty children, who in all the activity and buoyancy of health, werediverting themselves according to their fancy. The vast number of deerthey have killed, since coming here, which they cut up and hang roundtheir huts inside and out to dry, together with the rations of beef, whichthey draw daily, give the appearance of plenty to supply the few wants towhich they are subjected. The ease and cheerfulness of every countenance, and the delightfulness of the afternoon, which the inhabitants of thewoods seemed to enjoy with a relish far superior to those who are pent upin crowded and populous cities, all combined to make this the mostpleasant visit I have yet made to the Indians; and induced me to believethat before they became acquainted with the white people, and wereinfected with their vices, they must have been as happy a people as any inthe world. In returning to our quarters we passed by the Indian council, where Red Jacket was displaying his oratory to his brother chiefs on thesubject of Colonel Pickering's proposals. " Mr. Savary again observes:--"Red Jacket visited us with his wife and fivechildren, whom he had brought to see us. They were exceedingly well clad, in their manner, and the best behaved and prettiest Indian children I haveever met with. " [Footnote: As quoted by Col. Stone. ] Various councils and deliberations with the Indians, resulted finally inthe conclusion of a treaty, which was quite satisfactory to all theparties. --By this treaty peace was again declared to be firmlyestablished, the different tribes were confirmed in their reservations, and lands that had not been sold, the boundaries of which were accuratelydescribed, and the United States engaged never to claim these lands, ordisturb the Six Nations in the free use and enjoyment of them. The SixNations pledged themselves also not to claim any other lands within theboundaries of the United States, nor disturb the people of the UnitedStates in the free use and enjoyment thereof. It was stipulated also thatthe United States should have the right of way for a public road from FortSchlosser to Lake Erie, have a free passage through their lands, and thefree use of harbors and rivers adjoining and within their respectivetracts of land, for the passing and securing of vessels and boats, andliberty to land their cargoes, where necessary for their safety. In consideration of these engagements the United States were to deliverthe presents, and pay the annuity as already intimated in the promise ofColonel Pickering. --The money thus pledged was to be expended yearlyforever in purchasing clothing, domestic animals, implements of husbandry, and other utensils suited to their circumstances, and for compensatinguseful artificers who might be employed for their benefit. It was further agreed that for injuries done by individuals on eitherside, private revenge should not take place, but that complaint be made bythe injured party to the nation to which the offender belonged, and thatsuch measures were then to be pursued as should be necessary for thepreservation of peace and friendship. [Footnote: Indian Treaties. Favoredwith a copy by O. Parrish. Esq. , of Canandaigua, N. Y. ] The conclusion of this treaty was regarded as a great point gained. Previous to this time, such of the Iroquois as remained in their ancientseats, were but partially reconciled to the United States, and wereoscilating in their friendship. But henceforth they were uniformlysteadfast in the allegiance they had promised. The holding of this council was further useful in withdrawing theattention of this large body of Indians with their warriors, who had beenearnestly solicited to join their hostile brethren at the West. During the progress of the council there were several speeches made, butas they are not of special interest or importance they have not beengiven. Colonel Stone mentions an evening when quite a number of the chiefsdined with Colonel Pickering. He says, --"Much good humor prevailed on thisoccasion. The Indians laid aside their stoicism, indulged in manyrepartees, and manifested the keenest relish for wit and humor. RedJacket, in particular, was conspicuous for the readiness and brilliance ofhis sallies. " [Footnote: Col. Stone's Life and Times of Red Jacket. ] Not far from this time, and with reference it is believed to this treaty, Thomas Morris says, --"Red Jacket was, I suppose, at that time about thirtyor thirty-five years of age, of middle height, well formed, with anintelligent countenance, and a fine eye; and was in all respects a finelooking man. He was the most graceful public speaker I have ever known;his manner was most dignified and easy. He was fluent, and at times wittyand sarcastic. He was quick and ready at reply. He pitted himself againstColonel Pickering, whom he sometimes foiled in argument. The colonel wouldsometimes become irritated and lose his temper; then Red Jacket would bedelighted and show his dexterity in taking advantage of any unguardedassertion of the colonel's. He felt a conscious pride in the convictionthat nature had done more for him, than for his antagonist. " "A year or two after this treaty, when Colonel Pickering from post mastergeneral, became secretary of war, I informed Red Jacket of his promotion. --'Ah!' said he, --'We began our public career about the same time; he knewhow to read and write; I did not, and he has got ahead of me. --If I hadknown how to read and write I _should have got ahead of him_. '" CHAPTER XI. Valley of the Genesee--Indian misgivings--Mill yard--Effort to obtaintheir land--Council at Big Tree--Coming of the Wadsworths--Indian villages--Refusal to sell--Discussion between Red Jacket and Thomas Morris--Breaking up of the Council. The valley of the Genesee was a favorite resort of the Indian. His trailled along its banks and brought him at short intervals to Indian villages, or the head-quarters of Indian chiefs. Its flats were broad and beautiful, and were bordered on either side by hills that rose gradually to theirsummit, where they stretched out into extensive table lands. These hills, as we ascend the valley gradually become higher and higher, until we arebrought into the vicinity of mountain elevations, where the scenerybecomes very romantic, and the country much broken. The valley itself isalmost of uniform width from its commencement, a few miles south of thecity of Rochester, to the pleasant and thriving village of Mount Morris. Here these flats which are quite extensive and exceedingly rich andbeautiful, appear to leave the river and follow its tributary, theCanaseraga, to a point about sixteen miles above; diminishing somewhat inwidth as they ascend, until they come near the present village ofDansville, where the hills again recede and forming a large basin, encloseit on the south, presenting the appearance of a magnificent amphitheater. The Canaseraga is here joined by two streams, Stony Brook and Mill Creek, which flow down from the highlands beyond, over precipices, and throughgorges deep and wild, where rugged cliffs defying all attempts at culture, rise abruptly at times, from one to three hundred feet on either side. TheIndian's trail conducted him to these wilds, which still remain the mostunchanged of all his ancient haunts. Here are solitudes seldom visited byman, where are treasured sublimities that enchain the mind, and inspire afeeling of devotion in the heart of the beholder. Here the Indian, undisturbed by other sights or sounds, may yet listen to the voice of thewaterfall as it sounded in the ear of his fathers, or to the gentle murmurof the stream discoursing now, as it did to them, in passing hurriedlyover its rocky bed. [Footnote: Who would ever suspect that a railroadwould stride across any of these deep chasms? How presumptuous. ] Beyond this point the Canaseraga itself, as it flows from its source amongthe hills bordering on Pennsylvania, passes often through deep ravines, narrow defiles, and overhanging cliffs. The same is true also of theGenesee river above Mount Morris. Its course is marked by scenery rarelysurpassed in sublimity and grandeur. [Footnote: The High Banks, as theyare called, near Mt. Morris, and a similar formation, together with thefalls, near Portage, have attracted the attention, and are often visitedby the tourist. --J. N. H. ] The Indian as he followed his trail leading up along its banks, pausedoften to listen to the thunder of its waterfalls, or to watch its coursewhile threading its way at the bottom of ravines, hundreds of feet beneaththe jutting point where he was standing. The territory marked by thisriver was unsurpassed in the magnificence and beauty of its scenery, andin the variety and richness of its soil; and the Indian who lived for themost part in the open world, found here a home congenial to his spirit, and he loved it. The white man saw and loved it too. But he loved it notas the Indian, who looked upon it as already complete. The hills broughthim venison, the valleys corn, and the streams on every side abounded infish, the beautiful speckled trout, which fairly swarmed in all of thesewaters. What could he want more? He loved it as it was; just as it camefrom the forming hand of the Great Spirit. The white man loved it for what he saw he could make of it; but how littlehe thought his making, would mar the desirableness and beauty of theIndian's home. He had already obtained of the Indian a title to all hisland lying on the east side of this river. He had even been allowed tocross over to the west side, and look upon that generous _Mill Yard_, twelve miles square, as his own. A very extensive gift it is true, but asit was proposed to erect at the Genesee falls a saw mill, which wasclaimed to be a vastly benevolent institution, and would be useful to theIndians as well as whites, inasmuch as it would save the immense labor ofsplitting and hewing logs for plank, as they were going to make the waterof the river split the logs and hew them at the same time; it was claimedthat this surrender on the part of the Indians, would be but a just offsetagainst the self-denial, great expense, and severe labor of the whites, inestablishing so benign an institution as a _saw mill_, in these westernwilds. This is one among many instances of the benevolence of the whiteman toward the Indian. If the Genesee country was prized by the Indian, it was regarded with awishful eye by the white man. And as he had obtained what was on the eastside of the Genesee river, he was not content without a larger portion onthe west. Already the tide of emigration had brought him to the utmostlimit of his possessions, and he could hardly refrain from looking, with awishful eye, upon the fertile fields lying beyond. The Indian on the other hand, began to feel uneasy about having sold somuch of his land. He regretted very much the permission he had given thewhite man to own one foot of ground, on the west side of the Geneseeriver. Natural boundaries with him weighed more than with the white man;and had the white man's possessions been confined strictly to the eastside of the river, he would have felt better satisfied though it had costhim a larger area of ground. The white man's mode of running lines and ofmeasuring land, he did not comprehend or appreciate. But when the line wasmade by a creek, river, or mountain, he understood it, and it harmonizedbetter with his views of fitness, in dividing up the surface of this greatearth. He was utterly unschooled in the art of computing by acres androods. But the water's edge he had traversed with his light canoe, andwith every point and islet on the lakes he was familiar. He had followedthe rivers to where they came bubbling up from their rocky bed amidmountain elevations, and there was not a tributary stream or run, by whoseside he had not rested, or by whose music he had not been charmed, keepingpace with it, as it went innocently busying and babbling along on itsdownward way. With any or all of these landmarks he was familiar, and whenfixed upon as boundaries, he could readily recur to, and religiously keepthem; for they had been made by the Great Spirit, and it was his life-study to know them. Not satisfied with the large purchase already made, the white mancontemplated still greater acquisitions of Indian land. Little did the redman suspect, while roaming unmolested over his native hills, that incivilized circles, the advantages and disadvantages of his cherished homewere canvassed, and made the subject of negotiation and purchase. And itawakened his deepest surprise when assured, that without his knowledge orconsent, his land had been sold. He was not aware that his ignorance ofthe value of his country, for the purposes of civilization, was made asubject of barter among his superiors in knowledge, and that men ofenterprize were willing to pay for the privilege of making a bargain withhim for his lands. This right, as we have seen, was claimed by the government; Massachusettsholding the right of buying the Indian lands in Western New York. Thisright, under sanction of which the Phelps and Gorham purchase was made, was in part sold, as related in a preceding chapter. The pre-emptive rightto the remainder was bought by Robert Morris in the spring of 1791. He re-sold soon after, to a company of gentlemen in Holland; pledging himself tosurvey the entire tract, and extinguish the Indian title. Thirty-fivethousand pounds sterling of the purchase money were retained, as aguaranty of his fulfilling these engagements. It became an object therefore for Mr. Morris to obtain, at as early aperiod as practicable, a conference with the Indians, and their consent tosell this land. Owing to their extreme reluctance to part with any moreland, he had not been able to persuade them to appoint a council for thispurpose, and committed the further prosecution of this to his son Thomas. Hence the occasion given to notice the presence of Thomas Morris at theIndian councils, particularly that at Tioga Point. For several years hehad been cultivating an acquaintance with the Indians, residing in theirmidst, attending their councils, and making himself generally agreeable;and by means of his own personal influence with the chiefs, and unweariedexertions he gained their permission to hold a council, which assembled atBig Tree, the present site of Genesee, in August, 1797. This had already become the residence of the white man. James and WilliamWadsworth, from Durham, Conn. , had emigrated hither as early as the year1790. Under their auspices a new settlement had been commenced. On risingground which commanded a fine view of the flats, stood their large blockhouse. The same site has still its attractions, for what at a later day, was the old Wadsworth mansion. The coming of the Wadsworths into this region, which was still inpossession of the Indians, and their prominence in its subsequent history, would seem to justify a more extended notice. In the spring of 1790, James Wadsworth, then a young man of twenty-two, was debating with himself the question of his future calling in life. Hehad graduated at Yale College in the fall of '87:--had spent the winter of'87 and '88, at Montreal, Canada, teaching school. He had no thought ofteaching as his life-work, and what would he do next? was his earnestinquiry. Some one suggested that he should study medicine; but this didnot suit him. As he had received a liberal education, it was furtherintimated that he should lead a professional life and become a lawyer, ora minister. After duly considering the matter, choosing for this purpose theretirement of a neighboring wood, he returned the answer, --"I am notsatisfied with either of these professions. " "What will you do, then?" was the inquiry. He replied, "I know God hasmade me for something, and I am trying to find out what that is. " With his mind thus unsettled, he determined to visit his uncle, ColonelJeremiah Wadsworth, of Hartford. This uncle had pursued a sea-faring life, entering upon it at first for the benefit of his health, and following itafterward, from a love for the employment. From a sailor before the mast, he came to be mate, and captain, and at the breaking out of theRevolutionary war he had retired from the sea, and had settled atHartford, Conn. He was appointed commissary of the Connecticut line, andsubsequently had important trusts committed to his charge, by his ownState, and also by the Congress at Philadelphia, having reference to thepay, clothing and subsistence of the Continental troops. In the discharge of his official duties he had formed an acquaintance withOliver Phelps; and after Mr. Phelps had secured an interest in the Geneseecountry, he represented its advantages to Colonel Wadsworth in suchglowing colors, as led him to purchase a considerable tract of land inthat region. Being a man of wealth and advanced in life, he had no thoughtof emigrating thither, but designed to provide for his interests byemploying an agent. As soon as James Wadsworth arrived at the house, he was met at the door byhis uncle, who eagerly grasped his hand and exclaimed, --"James, I am gladyou have come, you are the very man I have been wanting to see. " It was not long before they were deeply engaged in discussing the Geneseequestion, this becoming the chief topic of conversation during the visit. As the result, James purchased on advantageous terms a part of the tractat Big Tree, and became agent for the remaining lands, qualified by thecondition that his brother William would consent to accompany him in theproposed emigration. [Footnote: Conversation of the author with NehemiahHubbard, Esq. , of Middletown, Conn. , and statements in Turner's History. ] The two brothers jointly entered upon the undertaking, and commencedpreparations for their journey into this, at that time, far-offwilderness. An ox cart, and ox team, are in wide contrast with theconveniences of travel enjoyed at present. Yet with these, and two orthree hired men, and a colored woman, a favorite slave belonging to thefamily, William set forth to encounter the vicissitudes and dangersinvolved in the enterprise. It was a slow and wearisome journey, most ofthe way rough, and some of the way requiring to be opened and prepared fortravel. James, with provisions and a small supply of household furniture, went bythe sound, the Hudson, and the head of navigation on Canandaigua outlet. He arrived at Canandaigua three days in advance of his brother. From this point their journey was comparatively easy. They pursued theroute taken by Sullivan in '79, yet not without having frequently to cut away for their team and cart. They arrived at their point of destination onthe 10th of June, 1790. Captain Horatio, and John H. Jones preceded the Wadsworths, and otherfamilies came into the region soon after. But the country was full ofIndians. Their villages swarmed with life in every direction. Ken-de-wahor Big Tree, as principal chief was at the head of a numerous clan, located on the bluffs near by. Not far from them on the river was avillage of the Tuscaroras. Two miles below was Oneida Town, a largevillage of Oneidas. Near the present site of West Avon was anotherprincipal village, whose chief was Ga-kwa-dia, or Hot Bread. Above wasanother large village called Little Beard's Town, occupying the presentsite of Cuylerville. Further on were Allen's Hill, Squaky Hill andGardeau, the residence of the "White Woman. " Her husband was principalchief of the clan at this point. Further on at Nunda, was another village, its principal chiefs were Elk Hunter and Green Coat. Still higher up onthe river at Caneadea, was another considerable village, whose chief wasJohn Hudson. [Footnote: It was here the author's grandfather, as an Indianprisoner, had to run the gauntlet in the spring of 1782. The author remembers Hudson very well. Often visiting his grandfather'shouse in Angelica, N. Y. When a boy he often sat on Hudson's knee, whom heregarded as a very pleasant, kind Indian. ] These villages were mostly in the vicinity of Big Tree, a region which atthat time was not without its charms, and has since been regarded aspossessing attractions in soil and scenery, unsurpassed by any in theState. It was here the council, solicited by Thomas Morris, assembled. The unfinished block house of the Wadsworths was engaged for theaccommodation of those particularly interested with Mr. Morris inconducting the council; and a large tent covered with boughs, and preparedwith rows of seats, and a platform, furnished a place suited to theirdeliberations. The United States, though not directly concerned as a party in thiscouncil, were interested in the welfare of the Indians, and appointed acommissioner to watch over their rights, and see that no injustice tookplace. Massachusetts reserved this right in the sale of her pre-emptivetitle. Accordingly Colonel Wadsworth of Connecticut, appeared ascommissioner on the part of the United States, and General Wm. Shepard inbehalf of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. William Bayard of New Yorkrepresented the interests of the Holland company, and Mr. Morris, appearedthrough his agents, Thomas Morris and Colonel Williamson. The engagementsof Mr. Williamson calling him away, the responsibility of conducting thetreaty devolved upon Thomas Morris. A large number of Indians were present, brought together by the prospectof good cheer, no less than their interest in the object of theirassembling. The council being duly opened, the commissioners offered theircredentials, and explained the reason of their appointment; after whichMr. Morris presented in a speech of some length, the object for which theyhad been convened. Representing the desire of his father to obtain bypurchase a part, or all of their lands, and how much better it would befor them to dispose of all, except what were actually needed forsettlement, and place the money at interest, than to retain in theirpossession uncultivated wastes, whose only value to them could be such aswere derived from the chase; and that this advantage would not be lost, for they could still use it for hunting, the same as before. He concludedby offering them the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, for the entiretract that remained to them in the State, allowing them such reservationsas might be needed for actual use. The Indians after deliberating for a time returned an unfavorable answer;saying "they did not wish to part with any more of their land. " Mr. Morris replied, urging them to reconsider the case, that they oughtnot to decide hastily, setting before them in various ways the favorableterms he had proposed. After deliberating once more, they returned the answer they had alreadygiven. Meetings and speeches thereupon succeeded; Farmer's Brother, Cornplanter, Little Billy, Little Beard, and Red Jacket, taking part in the discussion, the chief burden of which fell upon the latter. When Mr. Morris urged upon their attention the liberal sum he had proposedto pay for their lands:-- Red Jacket replied, --"We are not yet convinced that it is best for us todispose of them at any price. " "But, " said Mr. Morris, "what value can they be to you as they now are, any further than the consciousness that you own them?" "Yes, " said Red Jacket, _but this knowledge is everything to us. Itraises us in our own estimation. It creates in our bosoms a proud feelingwhich elevates us as a nation_. Observe the difference between theestimation in which a Seneca and an Oneida are held. We are courted, whilethe Oneidas are considered as a degraded people, fit only to make_brooms_ and _baskets. Why this difference_? It is because theSenecas are known to be the proprietors of a _broad domain_, while theOneidas are _cooped up in a narrow space_. " "Ah, " said Mr. Morris, "you presume too much in regard to the consequenceof your nation. It is far from being as great as you seem to suppose; andin proof of this let me refer you to the manner in which your deputationto the Miamis was received in 1793. Though large and composed of many ofthe first men of your nation, it had but little influence. " "Very true, " replied Red Jacket, "_and why_? It was because we were in_bad company. We went with the pale faces_. Had we gone alone, weshould have been treated with the _dignity which belongs to the Senecasthroughout the world_. " While Red Jacket was still standing some one interposed the remark, --"_he's a coward_. " Turning round with a look of contempt, and in toneand manner expressing the deepest sarcasm, he said, --"YES, I AM A COWARD. "And then waving his hand over the broad and beautiful lands that werespread out before them, added: "_assure me that you can create lands likethese, which the Great Spirit has made for us his red children, so thatyou can give us lands like them in return, and I will be brave:_ UNTILTHEN, I AM A COWARD, --I DARE NOT SELL THESE LANDS. " [Footnote:Conversation of the author with Wm. Jones. ] The commissioners together with the agent of the Holland company, who hadbeen looking on and anxiously observing the proceedings for about twoweeks, began to regard the undertaking as hopeless, and urged Mr. Morristo use more decisive means with them, and bring them to terms one way orthe other. Though contrary to Mr. Morris' convictions from his knowledge of theIndian character, as to its being the best method to pursue, he yielded totheir solicitations; and when the Indians presented him the offer of asingle township on the line of Pennsylvania, at one dollar an acre, RedJacket assuring him that he could sell this at a sufficient advance, topay for the trouble and expense of the treaty, he told them if that wasall they could offer, they might return to their homes, for the soonertheir conference was ended the better. Red Jacket thereupon sprang to his feet and said, "You have now come tothe point to which I wished to bring you. You told us in your firstaddress, that even in the event of our not agreeing to sell our lands, wewould part friends. Here then is my hand. " Mr. Morris taking his hand, hethen added; "I now cover up the council fire. " CHAPTER XII. Interview between Farmer's Brother and Thomas Morris--Mr. Morris addressesthe women--Distributes presents--Negotiations continued--Treaty concludedwith the women and warriors--Manner of payment--Inquiries about a Bank--Their reservations--White woman--Young King's dissent--Charge ofinsincerity. The Indians appeared to regard the breaking up of the council at Big Tree, with great satisfaction. Their joy was unbounded; they made the forestring with their wild yells, inveighing loudly and insultingly against Mr. Morris, and the commissioners, and assuming such menacing attitudes, asfairly to intimidate those unaccustomed to their rude manners. To all present but Mr. Morris, the prospect of accomplishing any thingafter this seemed utterly hopeless, and it was with some difficulty thecommissioners were persuaded to remain, for the purpose of giving him theopportunity of another trial. Yet his hopes of success were so sanguine, as to induce them to tarry a short time longer. The day after the breaking up of the council, Farmer's Brother called onMr. Morris, expressed his regret at what had transpired, and the hope thatit might not destroy the interest he had manifested for his nation. "Certainly not, " said Mr. Morris, --"you had a right to refuse to sell yourlands;" but he added, the treatment he had received from his people at theclose of the council, especially in allowing a drunken warrior to menaceand insult him; while they were yelling in approbation of his conduct, wasuncalled for, and ungenerous. He had not deserved this from them. They hadfor years had food at his house in Canandaigua, and liquor as much as wasfor their good, and whenever any of them had been at Philadelphia, hisfather had treated them with equal kindness and hospitality. Farmer's Brother acknowledged that all this was true, and regretted thatthe council fire had been extinguished so hastily, or they might have hada meeting, to smooth over these difficulties. "Yes, "--said Mr. Morris, "and here is another ground of complaint. RedJacket assumed the right of covering up the fire. This did not belong tohim. For according to your custom, he only who kindles the council fire, has a right to cover it up. " "That is so, "--said Farmer's Brother. "Then as I did not cover it up the council fire is still burning. " After thinking a moment he replied, --"_Yes_:"--and appeared to bepleased that it was so, and proposed to have the council convene again. Mr. Morris signified his pleasure to delay a few days, to give him time tolook over his accounts, pay for the provisions that had been consumed, collect his cattle that had not been slaughtered, and arrange othermatters preparatory to his leaving the treaty ground. He had become so well acquainted with Indian customs, that he had resolvedupon another expedient, when his negotiations with the sachems had failed. It is a rule among the Indians that their sachems shall have a right totransact whatever business belongs to their nation, whether relating totheir lands, or anything else. But in transactions that concern theirlands, if their course is not satisfactory to the women and warriors, theyhave a right to arrest the proceedings, and take the management into theirown hands. The reason they assign for this practice is, --that the landbelongs to the warriors, because they are the defense and strength oftheir nation, and to the women, because they are mothers of the warriors. In their polity therefore they recognize head or chief women, whoseprivilege it is to select a speaker to represent their views. Mr. Morris determined as a last resort, to refer his case to the chiefwomen and warriors. He accordingly sought and obtained such a meeting. He made known to them his business, told them of the offer he had madetheir sachems, portrayed to them in glowing colors, the advantages theywould receive from the annuity so large a sum would bring, --how it wouldfurnish them with food and clothing, without any anxiety or toil on theirpart, and that they would thus be relieved of many hardships, which theywere now compelled to endure. --That the sachems, who were unwilling tosell the land, always had enough to supply their wants. --That they couldkill game, and feast on the meat, and go to the settlements and sell theskins, and buy them clothing. Hence they did not care to exchange theirland for money, that would enable the women to obtain for themselves andchildren food and clothing, whereas they were now often compelled to gohungry and naked. By selling such a portion of their land as they had nouse for, they would have the means of supplying their necessary wants, andof making themselves comfortable. He then displayed before them a largesupply of beads, blankets, silver brooches, and various other ornaments, of which the natives were particularly fond, and said he had brought thesewith the design of making them presents, in the event of a successfultreaty. But in as much as the women were not to blame for breaking off thenegotiations, he was determined they should have the presents he hadintended for them. He accordingly proceeded to distribute among sparklingeyes, and joyous hearts, the beauties and treasures, he had brought forthem. These gifts proved a most powerful addition to his argument, and were themeans of giving a favorable turn to their counsels. For several days afterthis the chiefs, and women, and warriors, could be seen scattered abouthere and there in small parties, engaged in earnest conversation, whichresulted in a renewal of their negotiations. Mr. Morris was informed that their council fire was still burning, andthat their business might proceed, --but instead of being carried on by thesachems, would be conducted by the women and warriors. Cornplanter being the principal war-chief, appeared on this occasion intheir behalf. He said, --"They had seen with regret the misconduct of the sachems; thatthey thought also the action of Mr. Morris was too hasty; but still theywere willing the negotiations should be renewed; and hoped they would beconducted with better temper on both sides. " Mr. Morris offered a few conciliatory remarks in reply; and Farmer'sBrother, on the part of the sachems, represented these proceedings of thewomen and warriors, as in accordance with the customs of their nation. The way being thus opened, the negotiations were readily carried forwardto a successful termination. They consented to sell their lands for the sum proposed, which was onehundred thousand dollars, leaving their reservations to be settled, asthey could agree. The simplicity of the Indian character was apparent, in the eagerness withwhich they desired to know about a _Bank:_ the president havingdirected that the money they received for their lands, in case they weresold, should be invested for their benefit in stock of the United StatesBank; in the name of the president, and his successors in office, astrustees of the Indians; they earnestly inquired, --_what is a Bank_? Several attempts were made at explanation, when finally they came tounderstand, that the United States Bank, at Philadelphia, was a largeplace where their money would be planted, and where it would grow, likecorn in the field. As it was desirable also for them to understand, that the dividends fromit might be greater some years than others, this was explained byreferring to the idea of planting, as they could know from experience, that some years they would have from the same ground a better crop thanothers. Hence after this when speaking to Mr. Morris about their money, they would inquire _what kind of a crop they were going to have thatyear_? Another point of interest with them, was to ascertain _how large a pile, the money they were to receive, would make_? This was shown them by representing the number of kegs of a given size, itwould take to hold, and the number of horses that would be necessary todraw it. These questions being settled, the next point to be agreed upon, was thesize of their reservations. Mr. Morris had stipulated, in case theirdemands were reasonable, no deduction would be made from the price theywere to receive. But instead of moderate, very exhorbitant claims werepresented, growing out of a degree of rivalry between different chiefs. Their comparative importance would be graduated in a measure by the sizeof their domain, and the number of people they would thus be enabled tohave about them; hence they were individually ambitious of not being out-done, in the size of their reservations. Red Jacket put in a claim to about one-fourth of the entire tractpurchased. Cornplanter desired about as much; and other chiefs were alikeambitious in securing extensive reservations; and they wished to have themmarked out by natural boundaries, such as rivers, hills or the course ofstreams. To all of these demands Mr. Morris was obliged to give a stoutand resolute denial, requiring them to fix upon a certain number of squaremiles, which, in the aggregate, should not be far from three hundred andfifty. Here also arose difficulties about the size of their respectiveallotments, which they were unable to settle, so that Mr. Morris wasobliged to assume the office of arbiter, and decide these for them, whichhe accomplished generally to their satisfaction. In only one instance did he depart from his purpose of not allowingnatural boundaries, in describing their reservations. It was in case ofMary Jemison, the White Woman, who lived on the Genesee river, some fewmiles above Mt. Morris. Her history is one of singular interest, and asbelonging to this region, and connected with the circumstances underconsideration, a brief notice of this remarkable woman, will not be out ofplace. Hers is an instance of the entire change that may be wrought, in the tasteand inclination, so that instead of a civilized, a person may prefer anuncultivated state of society. Though descended from the whites, shebecame so thoroughly Indian in her feelings and habits, that she wasregarded as a curiosity, and called by way of distinction--the "_WhiteWoman_. " She was born on the ocean, while her parents were emigrating from Irelandto this country, about the year 1742 or 3. Her father and mother soonafter landing at Philadelphia, removed to a frontier settlement ofPennsylvania, lying on what was called Marsh Creek. During the war betweenthe French and English, she was taken captive with her parents, by a partyof Shawnee Indians. On the way, her father and mother were killed. Themother anticipating, from tokens she had observed, what would be theirfate, advised her child not to attempt an escape from the Indians, as shemost likely would be taken again, and treated worse. But as a coursebetter adapted to promote her welfare, she was told to try and please hercaptors, adding as her parting counsel, --"don't forget, my daughter, theprayers I have taught you, --repeat them often; be a good child, and mayGod bless you. " After this, under various trials she went with the party, until they cameto Fort Du Quesne. [Footnote: Afterwards called Fort Pitt, now the site ofPittsburg. ] Here she was given to two Indian women, who were of the Senecanation, and lived eighty miles below, on the Ohio river, at a place calledShe-nan-jee. With the usual ceremony observed by the Indians on suchoccasions, she was adopted into their family, and called De-ha-wa-mis. Atlength under kind treatment she began to feel as one of them. In time shewas married to a young chief of the Delaware tribe, with whom she livedhappily for several years in the Shawnee country. She became devotedlyattached to her Indian husband, who treated her with marked tokens ofaffection. After a time she welcomed with the joy of a young mother's heart, theappearance in her wigwam of a daughter, her first born. The bright morningof her domestic joy was soon overcast with sorrow; she is seen strewingover her little one's grave, the fallen leaves of autumn. She-nin-jee, herIndian husband once more became a father. Together they gladly embraced ason. Their lonely cabin after this was enlivened and cheered by hischildish prattle; nothing now remained to interrupt the joy of the mother, but the absence of the father, whom the season of hunting, took far awayfrom his cherished home. Yet with returning spring these toils areforgotten, as he is surrounded once more with the charms of the domesticfireside. But at length there came a spring whose joyful return, broughtnot the long wished for She-nin-jee, back to his lonely cabin. Many anevening fire blazed brightly to bid him welcome, yet he did not come. Choice venison had been dried and laid up for him, new skins had beenprepared and spread for his couch, and many a silent hour whiled away withthoughts of the absent one, but he came not. His returning comradesbrought back the sad news of his death. De-ha-wa-mis mourned long anddeeply for the pride of her Indian wigwam. Her own kindred could not haveextended to her more genuine sympathy, than did her new relatives byadoption. They kindly offered to take her back, if she desired to go, toher former friends among the whites, or if she chose to remain among them, they promised to give her a home of her own. A part of her Indian relatives lived in the valley of the Genesee, andthis was the occasion of her removal there, from her home on the Ohio. Afew years intervened, and she again became the wife of an Indian, thedistinguished Seneca warrior Hio-ka-too. She resided with him until hisdeath, at Gardeau, the place where she was living, at the time of herappearance at this treaty. The chiefs desired for her a specialreservation. To this Mr. Morris readily assented, in case she wouldspecify a certain number of acres. She said to him, --"I do not know any thing about acres, but I have someimproved places;" pointing them out on the ground; "here a patch ofpotatoes, there, a few beans, and another still, where there's a littlecorn. " She wished these might be embraced in her reservation, at the sametime giving boundaries, which she thought would include them. Mr. Morris owing to the lateness of the hour, and the impatience of thecommissioners, gave his consent to the boundary named, supposing it mightinclude a hundred or a hundred and fifty acres. But much to his surprise, the tract when surveyed, was found to contain not less than seventeenthousand, nine hundred and twenty-seven acres. [Footnote: Indian Treaties, p. 39. This reservation has been variously represented to contain, fourthousand, and by others a larger number of acres. Col. Stone makes itthirty thousand. The amount given in the text is that obtained by actualsurvey of the boundaries in question. They are as follows: "Beginning atthe mouth of Steep Hill Creek, thence due east until it strikes the OldPath, thence south until a due west line will intersect with certain steeprocks on the west side of the Genesee river, thence extending due west, due north, and due east, until it strikes the first mentioned bound, enclosing as much land on the west side, as on the east side of theriver. " The survey by Augustus Porter, surveyor, gives it 17, 927. ] Mary Jemison, the White Woman, had thus secured to her, according to thepledge of the Indians to give her a home, a princely domain, where foryears after in primitive simplicity, she planted her beans, potatoes andcorn, and maintained, as in former years, the usages of her Indian life. The most of this tract she afterward sold to John Grey and Henry B. Gibsonof Canandaigua; a deed for which was executed bearing date of September3d, 1823. She retained for her own use twelve hundred and eighty acres, and receivedfor the balance, the sum of four thousand two hundred and eighty-sixdollars, or an annuity of three hundred dollars forever. The Senecas became gradually dispossessed of their lands in the valley ofthe Genesee, and in the year 1825, removed to their reservation atBuffalo. At the time of their removal, the White Woman refused to partwith the residue of her land, and continued to reside at the place, whereshe had passed the greater part of her long life, and which was nowendeared to her by many associations in the past. But here she soon found herself surrounded by another race, and as timeadvanced, she longed to be among the people she had chosen for herkindred, and disposing of her possessions in the Genesee valley, removedto Buffalo in 1831. She had now upon her the infirmities of age. Long had the partinginjunction of her christian mother passed from memory. The religion aswell as habits of the Indian, had become hers. Ninety summers had passedover her head. The missionary had visited her, and had been assured thather faith had long been in accord with that of the red man, and she had nodesire to change her religious views. But ere her last hour came a voice reached her from the distant past. Itawakened memories long forgotten. She sent for the missionary. He came andstood by her. She was almost withered away. Her small, shrivelled, finelywrinkled face, silvery hair, toothless mouth, the nose almost touching herchin, and her thin, wasted form, indicated the presence of secondchildhood. The memory of that long lost mother rushed back upon her mind. She cried out in anguish, as well as sincerity of heart, "Oh, God! havemercy upon me!" The prayer of her childhood returned; she instinctivelybegan to say. --"_Our Father which art in heaven. _" As a child she received the instructions of the missionary, and beforedeparting this life, her soul was lighted up with a cheering hope, basedupon a reception of the clear and living truths of Christianity. No one had sought to disturb the serenity of her advanced life, byintruding upon her the idea that she was a sinner. How came she to be thusexercised? The lessons given in childhood, availed more than sermons, andimpressions were then made, which though apparently effaced, stillremained to be quickened into life, and bring forth fruit, which cheeredthe closing days of her singularly eventful history. With the settlement of the White Woman's reservation, Mr. Morris regardedthe business of the treaty, as about concluded. Yet a new obstacle waspresented by the arrival of Young King, a descendant of "Old Smoke, " arenowned chief, held in great veneration among the Senecas. None had everattained a greater degree of power, or swayed a more commanding influence. The son though not possessing the high endowments of the father, yet whenhe chose to exert it, commanded an extensive hereditary influence, whichcarried with it great weight. Having been informed of the proceedings ofthe council thus far, he expressed his disapproval. Cornplanter and Farmer's Brother informed Mr. Morris that the treaty couldnot be completed contrary to the wishes of Young King; that howeverunreasonable it might appear to him, for one man to defeat the will of theentire nation, it was a power he received from his birth, and one of whichhe could not be deprived. Yet after much persuasion, Young King, thoughnot reconciled to the idea of selling their lands, acquiesced; saying--"hewould not stand out against the wishes of his nation. " The signing of the treaty yet remained; and Red Jacket according to thetestimony of Mr. Morris, though he had strenuously resisted the sale, desired nevertheless to have his name appear among the chiefs of hisnation, whose signatures were appended to the deed executed on the 15th ofSeptember, 1797, conveying to Robert Morris of Philadelphia, the title toall their lands west of the Genesee river, not included in theirreservations, or previously sold. From this fact the inference has been derived, that the orator was_insincere_ in his opposition to the sales made of his people's lands. His sincerity though questioned now, was never after this a matter ofdoubt. If he had been insincere before, the effect of this sale on thedestiny of his people, imposed upon him considerations of so grave anature, as to render the idea of his indifference extremely improbable, and no one after this ever thought of imputing to him such a motive. Yetin all the sales the Senecas made of their land, subsequent to thisperiod, Red Jacket's name, however much he may have resisted the act, wasappended to the deed or instrument of conveyance. The reason he assignedfor this, was his desire to have his name go, whether for better or worse, with the destinies of his people. Having exerted all his energies toprevent the sale of their lands, he felt that his duty had beendischarged. And when his people decided against him, he regarded theresponsibility of the transaction as resting on those who had effected it, and whether he gave or witheld his name, it would have no influence indetermining the result. He may have had some pride also in having his name appended to a document, which he knew the white people regarded, as of much importance, and werevery careful to preserve. It is related of him as having transpired at a later period, when Mr. Greig of Canandaigua, acting for the Ogden Company, was holding a councilwith a view to purchase some of the smaller Indian reservations, lyingalong the Genesee river, he was opposed step by step, by the persistentefforts of Red Jacket. Yet notwithstanding the opposition, Mr. Greig wassuccessful in securing the extinguishment of their title, to about eightythousand acres of their land. When the time came for signing the deed, Mr. Greig said to Red Jacket, --"_As you have been opposed to the sale of theland, you need not have your name attached to the deed_. " But he wouldhear to nothing of the kind, and insisted upon signing it, seeming to takepride in having his name appended to the paper. [Footnote: Conversation ofthe author with the Hon. John Greig of Canandaigua. Some years ago a storyillustrating the eloquence of Red Jacket went the rounds of the papers, inwhich Mr. Greig was represented as arguing a case in opposition to and asbeing defeated by Red Jacket. Not happening to see it at the time, theauthor sought for a copy, but learning that its principal statements werefictitious, he relinquished the undertaking. Mr. Greig never argued thecase as represented, but took down a speech from the interpreter which heread to the orator, who was much pleased with its correctness and bestowedon him an Indian name, signifying--"_a ready writer_. "] CHAPTER XIII Council at Canawangus--Interesting reminiscence of Red Jacket--Address ofFarmer's Brother--Jasper Parrish--Horatio Jones--Red Jacket's visit atHartford, Conn. A council of the Iroquois was held at Ca-na-wau-gus, near West Avon, inthe autumn of 1798. Connected with it is a reminiscence of Red Jacket ofmuch interest, as an item of history, and it serves well to illustrate theorator's mental habit. His conduct was such on this occasion, as to excite the observation aswell as curiosity of Captain Parrish, who related the occurrence. For the first few days of the council, he uttered not a word. He appearedto be in deep thought, and was exceedingly reserved. --The expression ofhis countenance was severe, and there was much _hauteur_ in his manner. Heate scarcely anything, and his appearance was so remarkable, as to excitethe wonder of all present. At length on the third or fourth day of thecouncil, he arose with great dignity, and solemnity of air, and commencedspeaking. His exordium was for the most part a beautiful and highlywrought enconium on the character and history of the Indians; particularlyof his own people, in the past. They were taken back, as by a magic spell, to primitive times. The days of their renown, when the name and glory oftheir nation, were the admiration of the world. When from the rising tothe setting sun, there was no power to stand before them, or hinder thevictorious march of their warriors through the land. As they glided overthe waters of river or lake, as they ascended the mountain, or passedthrough the valley, they could feel that their dominion was wide, andundisputed. Every deer that bounded through the forest, every bird thatwinged the air, and the fish in all the waters, were theirs, and they werehappy. Such was the glowing picture he drew, they did not realize thepresent, from the engrossing theme of the past. He next proceeded to sketch their history, as affected by the coming ofthe white man among them. The friendly relations, that marked their earlyintercourse. Their small beginnings, and the imperceptible manner of theirincrease. How they began to line the eastern shores, --plant themselvesupon the borders of their rivers, and gather into neighborhoods, andtowns, and cities. How these new and wonderful things engaged theattention of the Indians, and kept them spell-bound, so that they wereinsensible to what had been going on till the whites were firmly planted, like a tree that has taken deep root, and sends its branches out over theland. He next drew their attention to a time when the signs of a great tempestbegan to appear. When the clouds began to overspread the heavens, when thelightning flashed, and the thunders rolled, and the land was shaken bytheir power. A mighty whirlwind came sweeping through the land, the talltrees of the forest were uprooted, the branches torn off and sent flyingthrough the air. So has our nation he said been uprooted, --the strong mentorn from us, and scattered, and laid low. Thus he went on recounting asfew could, the circumstances of their history, and as he advanced, hisexpressions matured in their intensity, his thoughts appeared to bewinged, and came glowing, as if from some furnace in nature, where all hermaterials are wrought under intense heat, and sent forth in forms ofhighest brilliancy, and beauty. His hearers were amid the heavings of theearthquake, --the blackness of the storms, --the wild and irresistible sweepof the tornado. The heavens, the earth, the elements, seemed to becareering under the rapid and startling flights of his fancy. He next adverted with much feeling, and with evident sadness, to thetransactions of the past year, by which they had become dispossessed ofthe largest part of their ancient inheritance: and then he drew, with aprophetic hand, a picture of their probable future, that brought sorrow totheir hearts, and tears to their eyes. --He closed his harangue bypronouncing a most withering phillipic against the whites. --The effect ofhis speech was wonderful. --Mr. Parrish declared that it exceeded, in itsbrilliancy and force, all his former utterances, of which he had anyknowledge; and he never heard from him afterward, anything that couldcompare with it. His auditors were mainly those of his own people. Hisflow of thought was not interrupted by the slow, and embarrassing processof interpretation. The full grief of his heart, in view of thetransactions of the previous year, was poured forth, and came like theirresistible sweep of a whirlwind. [Footnote: Conversation of the authorwith Samuel J. Mills, Esq. , formerly of Mt. Morris, N. Y. , later ofNevada, Iowa. Mr. Mills heard Mr. Parrish give this description of RedJacket and of his speech, while sitting at one time on the porch of one ofthe hotels at Avon Springs. Mr. Parrish pointed out the ground occupied bythe Indians, when this speech was delivered. It was only a little distancefrom the porch where they were sitting. ] It was some little time after the delivery of this speech, before theminds of the Indians were sufficiently composed to attend to the mainbusiness of their council, which was presented in a speech by Farmer'sBrother, and embodied in an address to the Legislature of New York, thus:"The Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors of the Seneca Nation, to the Sachems, and Chiefs assembled about the great Council Fire of the State of NewYork: "BROTHERS: As you are once more assembled in council for the purpose ofdoing honor to yourselves and justice to your country, we, your brothers, the Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors of the Seneca Nation, request you to openyour ears, and give attention to our voice and wishes. "You will recollect the late contest between you and your father, thegreat king of England. This contest threw the inhabitants of this wholeisland into a great tumult and commotion, like a raging whirlwind, whichtears up the trees, and tosses to and fro the leaves, so that no one knowswhence they come, or where they will fall. "BROTHERS: This whirlwind was so directed by the Great Spirit above, as tothrow into our arms two of your infant children, Jasper Parrish, andHoratio Jones. We adopted them into our families, and made them ourchildren. We loved them and nourished them. They lived with us many years. At length the Great Spirit spoke to the whirlwind, and it was still. Aclear and uninterrupted sky appeared. The path of peace was opened, andthe chain of friendship was once more made bright. Then these, our adoptedchildren, left us, to seek their relations. We wished them to return amongus, and promised if they would return, and live in our country, to giveeach of them a seat of land for them, and their children to sit down upon. "BROTHERS: They have returned, and have for several years past beenserviceable to us as interpreters. We still feel our hearts beat inaffection for them, and now wish to fulfil the promise we made them, andto reward them for their services. We have therefore made up our minds togive them a seat of two square miles of land lying on the outlet of LakeErie, about three miles below Black Rock, beginning at the mouth of acreek known by the name of Scoy-gu-quoy-des Creek, running one mile fromthe river Niagara, up said creek, thence northerly as the river runs twomiles, thence westerly one mile to the river, thence up the river as theriver runs to the place of beginning, so as to contain two square miles. "BROTHERS: We have now made known to you our minds; we expect andearnestly request that you will permit our friends to receive this ourgift, and will make the same good to them, according to the laws andcustoms of your nation. " By the laws of the State, no sale or transfers of Indian lands could bemade to private individuals, without permission from the government. Hencethe address embodying the request as presented above, which was compliedwith, and the land secured as desired by the Indians. The above is certainly an able document, and has been justly admired forits originality, and the boldness of its figures. It is in keeping withthe high order of mind, that has marked the history of the Six Nations. One expression in it has been pointed out, as an instance of the trulysublime: "THE GREAT SPIRIT SPOKE TO THE WHIRLWIND, AND IT WAS STILL. " We may observe here that in tracing the history of the Iroquois, theinstances are not rare of a true nobility of character. Their confidenceand esteem once secured, no slight cause would interrupt, none appreciatedmore highly the offices of kindness, --and none would go further in makinga generous return for favors rendered. Jasper Parrish and Horatio Jones were favorite interpreters of Red Jacket, and as they passed no inconsiderable part of their lives among theIndians, a further notice of their history is desirable. The early life of Captain Jasper Parrish was marked by scenes alike tryingand eventful. He was a native of Connecticut, from which State his familyremoved to the waters of the Delaware, in the state of Pennsylvania. In1778, when but eleven years old, he accompanied his father on a shortexpedition, to remove a family of backwoodsmen, to a less exposed part ofthe settlement. On their way they were attacked by a small party ofIndians, and made captives. The father was taken to Niagara, and after acaptivity of two years, was exchanged and enabled to return to his ownfamily. The son was claimed by a war-chief, who treated him kindly, and after atime took him to the waters of the Chemung. On entering an Indian village, the war-party which accompanied them, sounded the war-whoop, and it wasanswered by the Indians and Indian boys who came out to meet them. Theypulled the young prisoner from the horse he was riding, scourged him withwhips, and beat him with the handles of their tomahawks, one of the formsof their gauntlet, until his master humanely rescued him. He was afterthis sold to a family of Delawares, and taken to reside with them on theDelaware river, where he suffered much from want of proper clothing, andfrom scanty fare. To inure him to cold, the Indians compelled him almostdaily, to strip and plunge into the icy waters of the river. He was with the Indians when General Sullivan invaded their country, andwitnessed their retreat, after the battle at Newtown, until they foundprotection from the guns of the British, at Fort Niagara. Here theysubsisted during the winter by rations from the garrison, and to inducethem to return again to their villages, on the Genesee river, the officerspledged them an increased bounty for American scalps. On one occasion, while with the Delaware family at Niagara, he came nearbeing a victim of the British bounty for scalps. Left alone with someIndians, who were having a carousal, he overheard a proposal to kill theyoung Yankee, and take his scalp to the fort, and sell it for rum. In afew moments one of them took a large brand from the fire and hurled athim, but being on the alert he dodged it, and made his escape. The Indianspursued, but it was dark and they did not find him. From the Delaware family, he was sold to an Indian of the Mohawk tribe, called Captain David Hill. At a council of the British and Indians, he wasafterwards adopted with much ceremony, into the family of Captain Hill, ashis own son. He resided with him at the Mohawk settlement near the presentvillage of Lewiston, till the close of the war, and being surrendered inaccordance with the stipulations of the treaty at Fort Stanwix in 1784, hereturned once more to his own father's house. It was with some effort he recovered again the use of his own nativetongue. During his captivity he had acquired and could speak fluently, thelanguage of five different tribes, and his qualifications as aninterpreter, together with his known faithfulness and integrity, coming tothe knowledge of our government, he received an appointment in the Indianservice, and during the greater part of his subsequent life, was activelyemployed in business relating to the welfare of the Indians. He died athis residence in Canandaigua, July 12th, 1836, in the sixty-ninth year ofhis age. Captain Horatio Jones, was a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania. Atthe age of sixteen he enlisted as a volunteer, in a company commanded byCaptain John Boyd. It was when the Indians, led by the notorious Butler, Brant, and Nellis, were committing their depredations and massacres amongthe settlers of the frontier, sparing neither age nor sex, from thetomahawk and scalping knife. With the ardor of youth he engaged in theactive employments of a soldier, and accompanied Captain Boyd on severalimportant and dangerous expeditions, in which himself and commander hadthe good fortune to escape unhurt. At length in the spring of 1781, while Captain Boyd and his men, numberingthirty-two, were in pursuit of Nellis, they were surprised by a largeparty of Indians, who killed about half their number, and of the rest tookeight prisoners, Jones and his commanding officer being among the number. The Indians conducted them to their towns on the Genesee river, where theyhad to run the gauntlet, and having passed with safety through this tryingordeal, they next came near losing their lives in a savage frolic. Thewarriors, on returning from their excursion, gave themselves up todrinking and merriment. Partaking freely of the intoxicating bowl, theysoon became much excited, and the ferocity, which a time of war engenders, was thoroughly aroused among them. One of the prisoners they killed, andsevering his head from the body, carried it about the camp, on the end ofa pole, with wild shouts and frantic yells. They next meditated the death of Boyd and Jones, and while discussing themanner in which they would have them suffer, a few squaws conveyed themaway and hid them. Jones was subsequently adopted into an Indian family, became familiar with their customs and language, and after the declarationof peace, was appointed by President Washington as Indian interpreter, theduties of which office he discharged with fidelity, until within a year ortwo of his death. Mr. Jones was about the ordinary stature, firmly built, and qualified bynature for duties requiring activity and endurance. Possessing uncommonmental vigor, and quick perception, he was enabled to form a just estimateof character, and determine with readiness the springs of human action. His bravery, physical power, energy and decision of character, gave himgreat command over the Indians with whom he was associated, and havingtheir entire confidence, he was enabled to render the governmentinvaluable service in her treaties with the northern and north-westerntribes. He was a favorite interpreter of Red Jacket, and his style is saidto have been energetic, graphic, and chaste. He died at his residence nearGenesee, on the 18th of August, 1836. It was not far from the time of this council at Canawangus that Red Jacketvisited Hartford, Conn. In the adjustment of the land difficulties between the states ofConnecticut and Pennsylvania, owing to the indefinite terms of theiroriginal charters, Connecticut obtained, as we have seen, a title to thatpart of Ohio, called Western Reserve. The Senecas laying claim to this, onthe ground of conquest, negotiations were entered into with them for theextinguishment of their title. This was the occasion of the orator'svisit, concerning which there is but a very brief record. His appearance, however, has been spoken of in terms of high commendation, and a singlepassage only of the speech he made on that occasion has been preserved. "We stand, "--said he, when representing the condition of his people, --"asmall island in the bosom of the great waters. We are encircled, --we areencompassed. The evil spirit rides upon the blast, and the waters aredisturbed. They rise, they press upon us, and the waves once settled overus, we disappear forever. Who then lives to mourn us? None. What marks ourextermination? Nothing. We are mingled with the common elements. " The entire speech was listened to with feelings of profound admiration, and his action elicited praise for its dignity and grace. He entered theaugust assemblage, before which he was called to appear, with a stepmeasured, firm and dignified, --a countenance erect, bold and discursive, --without manifesting surprise, fear or curiosity; and his effort sustainingfully his high reputation as an orator, made the occasion one of greatinterest, to those whom it had been the means of bringing together, or whohad been attracted by curiosity, to see one whose fame had reached theland of steady habits. [Footnote: Col. Stone, from collections by J. W. Moulton. ] CHAPTER XIV. Cornplanter in disrepute--Effort to regain his standing--Red Jacketcharged with witchcraft--His defense--Further notices of Cornplanter--Early recollections--At the defeat of General Braddock in 1755--With theEnglish in the war of the Revolution--Takes his father a prisoner--Hisaddress--Releases him--Address to the Governor of Pennsylvania--Visit ofPresident Alden--Close of his life. Not long after the large sale of their domain to Robert Morris, which hadbeen negotiated at Big Tree, the Senecas began to realize that they hadcommitted a great mistake. The broad lands, mountain, hill, and valley, over which they had roamed, the springs and streams of water by whose sidethey had been wont to encamp, and above all the graves of their sires, where affection's altar had been hallowed by their sighs and tears, thesewere still in view, but they appeared not as in days gone by, to wear forthem the smiles of old and long tried friends. They seemed to present alook and utter a voice of reproach, as though chiding them for havingbroken in upon the harmony of those time honored arrangements, which hadbound them together, and the thought of this filled their minds withanxiety and grief. Had they been aware of the sorrow they would experiencein looking upon these lands, as no longer their own, their consent to partwith them would not so readily have been given. The reverse which thereupon took place in their minds, fell heavily onthose who had taken the most active part of the business of selling theircountry. Cornplanter, having borne a prominent part in these proceedings, fell deeply under the displeasure of his people. Their displeasure was somarked as to lead him to cast about for some means of relief. Aware of thecredulity and superstition of his people, he resolved to avail himself ofthese characteristics of his nation, to accomplish the end he had in view. For this purpose he was in consultation with his brother Ga-ne-o-di-yo, who on one occasion terminated a scene of great dissipation, by theannouncement that he had been delegated by the Great Spirit, with a newrevelation, and with supernatural gifts. A severe illness became theoccasion during which he made a visit to the unseen world, where visionsand revelations of a most extraordinary nature, had been made known tohim. The happiness of the good, and the tortures of the wicked, had thusbecome matters of personal observation. The announcement of these, inlanguage and gesture indicating his assurance of their reality, gained forhim credence among the people, as well as chiefs of his nation, and he wasreceived as a prophet. His earliest attempts were successful in accomplishing a desirable reform, especially among the Onondagas, the most profligate of the Six Nations, from the degrading vice of intemperance. His influence in this directionwas salutary, and had he confined his efforts to the recovery of hispeople from drunkenness, his mission would truly have been one of mercy, and his career might have terminated with the highest usefulness andhonor. But sympathizing with Cornplanter, his brother, he conceived the idea ofinstituting against their enemies, the charge of _witchcraft_. In thisthe Indians generally believed, and a charge of this nature, coming fromsuch a source, was a very grave matter. Through the instrumentality ofCongress selected by himself, the sentence of death was procured againstcertain "familiars of Satan, " and this sentence would have been executed, had there been no interference, from the knowledge of it coming to thewhites, living in the vicinity. In no way discouraged, but rather emboldened by their success, theyproceeded so far as to bring such a charge against Red Jacket himself, whowas thus publicly denounced, at a great council held at Buffalo Creek, andput upon trial. A degree of rivalry had hitherto existed between Cornplanter and RedJacket, and as the former descended in the estimation of his people, forthe part he had taken in the sale of their lands, the latter rose for thesame reason, so that the highest aim of Cornplanter was reached, when hecould, by this means, affect materially the character, and influence ofhis distinguished rival. The orator was thus placed in circumstances the most critical and trying, of any that had hitherto met him in life. He perceived at a glance, thathis entire history in the future, would depend on the decision that wouldthen and there take place. He might be doomed, if his life were spared, and this was not altogether certain, to be the victim of surmises andsuperstitions, that would be annoying, if they did not prove to be utterlydestructive of his happiness. He accordingly summoned himself for aneffort as great, as his position was dangerous. He conducted the trial in his own defense. In this he exhibited theexceeding wariness, which was ever a prominent characteristic of hisnature. The slightest circumstance affecting the character, or bearingsuspiciously upon his adversary was not overlooked, and his history wasscanned with the searching scrutiny of a mind, that seemed to graspintuitively, the secret springs, which had influenced his conduct. One byone the professions that had formed his garb of sanctity, were exposed tothe burning power of his keen satire, and step by step he advanced to apoint, where, from the full assurance he had established this convictionin the minds of his people, he pronounced him AN IMPOSTER, --A CHEAT. [Footnote: Conversation of the author with Wm. Jones, a chief among theSenecas, and a son-in-law of Red Jacket. ] His speech riveted the attention of his hearers for nearly three hours. Heprevailed. "THE IRON BROW OF SUPERSTITION RELENTED UNDER THE MAGIC POWEROF HIS ELOQUENCE. "--The Indians divided and a majority appeared in hisfavor. "Perhaps, "--says the distinguished author just quoted, --"the annals ofhistory cannot furnish a more conspicuous instance of the triumph andpower of oratory, in a barbarous nation, devoted to superstition, andlooking up to the accuser as a delegated minister of the Almighty. "[Footnote: Governor Clinton's Historical Discourse. ] The victory which Red Jacket thus achieved recoiled heavily onCornplanter, and gave him a blow, from which he never afterward fullyrecovered. He retired to his reservation, on the waters of the Alleghanyriver, within the boundaries of Pennsylvania, where he devoted himself, during the remainder of his long life, to the elevation and improvement ofhis people. He did not, after the example of his great rival Red Jacket, spurn the improvements of civilization, but engaged in agriculture afterthe example of the whites, and welcomed to his abode the teachers ofchristianity, and himself openly avowed his belief in its doctrines. Cornplanter was a native of Ca-na-wan-gus, on the Genesee river, a halfbreed, the son of an Indian trader, from the valley of the Mohawk, a whiteman named John O'Bail. Of his early life little is known further than hehimself intimated, in a letter written long afterward, to the governor ofPennsylvania:--In which he said, --"When I was a child I played with thebutterfly, the grasshopper, and the frogs; and as I grew up, I began topay some attention, and play with the Indian boys in the neighborhood; andthey took notice of my skin, being a different color from theirs and spokeabout it. I inquired of my mother the cause, and she told me that myfather was a resident in Albany. I still ate my victuals out of a barkdish. I grew up to be a young man, and married me a wife, and I had nokettle or gun. I then knew where my father lived, and went to see him, andfound he was a white man, and spoke the English language. He gave mevictuals, while I was at his house, but when I started to return home, hegave me no provision to eat on the way. He gave me neither kettle or gun. " He was with his people when they fought in alliance with the French in theyear 1755. The principal part of the force which met and defeated theEnglish under General Braddock was Indian, and it was through theirprowess mainly, if not entirely, that the victory was gained. What part Cornplanter took in that engagement is not known, but in the warof the Revolution, he was a war-chief, and ranked high in the estimationof his people. In a speech addressed to President Washington in 1790, he related themanner in which the Indians came to be in alliance with the English. "Many nations inhabited this country; but they had no wisdom, thereforethey warred together. The Six Nations were powerful and compelled them topeace; the lands to a great extent were given up to them; the French cameamong us and built Niagara; they became our fathers and took care of us. Sir William Johnson came and took that fort from the French; he became ourfather and promised to take care of us, and did so until you were toostrong for his king. "When you kindled your thirteen fires separately, the wise men thatassembled at them told us that you were all brothers, the children of onegreat father, who regarded the red people also as his children. Theycalled us brothers, and invited us to his protection; they told us that heresided beyond the great water, where the sun first rises; that he was aking whose power no people could resist, and that his goodness was asbright as that sun. What they said went to our hearts; we accepted theinvitation, and promised to obey him. What the Seneca Nation promise, theyfaithfully perform; and when you refused obedience to that king, hecommanded us to assist his beloved men, in making you sober. In obeyinghim we did no more than yourselves had led us to promise. The men thatclaimed this promise told us that you were children, and had no guns; thatwhen they had shaken you, you would submit. We hearkened to them and weredeceived. " As a leader he was very active and brave, and as a partisan of theEnglish, bore a prominent part in all of the principal engagements, inwhich the Indians were concerned during that war. He was on the war-pathwith Brant during the campaign of General Sullivan against the Indiantowns in the Genesee country in 1779, and also when under the command ofBrant and Sir John Johnson, the Indians subsequently avenged the invasionof Sullivan, by the fearful destruction they wrought in the valley of theMohawk. It was during this expedition that Cornplanter visited his father a secondtime. He was residing then in the vicinity of Fort Plain, and ascertainingwhere he lived, Cornplanter watched his opportunity and made his father aprisoner, but managed so adroitly, as to avoid recognition. He marched hissire ten or twelve miles up the river, and then stepped in front of him, faced about, and addressed him in the following manner:-- "My name is John O'Bail, commonly called Cornplanter. I am your son! Youare my father! You are now my prisoner, and subject to the customs ofIndian warfare. But you shall not be harmed: you need not fear. I am awarrior! Many are the scalps I have taken! Many the prisoners I havetortured to death! I am your son! I was anxious to see you, and greet youin friendship. I went to your cabin, and took you by force. But your lifeshall be spared. Indians love their friends and their kindred, and treatthem with kindness. If now you choose to follow the fortunes of youryellow son, and to live with our people, I will cherish your old age withplenty of venison, and you shall live easy. But if it is your choice toreturn to your fields, and live with your white children, I will send aparty of my trusty young men to conduct you back in safety. I respect you, my father: you have been friendly to Indians, and they are your friends. " The father preferred to return to his white children, and was thereforeset at liberty, and escorted back in safety to his own home. In another address to the governor of Pennsylvania, he used this language:"I will now tell you, that the Great Spirit has made known to me that Ihave been wicked; and the cause was the Revolutionary war in America. Thecause of Indians having been led into sin, at that time, was that many ofthem, were in the practice of drinking and getting intoxicated. GreatBritain requested us to join with them in the conflict against theAmericans, and promised the Indians land and liquor. I myself was opposedto joining in the conflict, as I had nothing to do with the difficultybetween the two parties. "They told me they would inform me of the cause of the Revolution, which Irequested them to do minutely. They then said it was on account of theheavy taxes, imposed on them by the British government, which had been forfifty years increasing upon them; that the Americans had grown wearythereof, and refused to pay, which affronted the king. There had likewisea difficulty taken place about some tea, which they wished me not to use, as it had been one of the causes that many people had lost their lives. And the British government now being affronted, the war commenced, and thecannons began to roar in our country. "The white people who live at Warren, called on me, some time ago to paytaxes for my land; which I objected to, as I had never been called uponfor that purpose before; and having refused to pay, the white peoplebecame irritated, called upon me frequently, and at length brought fourguns with them, and seized our cattle. I still refused to pay, and was notwilling to let the cattle go. After a time of dispute, they returned home, and I understood the militia was ordered out to enforce the collection ofthe tax. I went to Warren, and to avert the impending difficulty, wasobliged to give my note for the tax, the amount of which was forty-threedollars and seventy-nine cents. It is my desire that the governor willexempt me from paying taxes for my land to the white people; and alsocause that the money I am now obliged to pay, may be refunded to me, as Iam very poor. " This appeal was brought before the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and an actwas passed by which the chief was exonerated from the tax. One writer speaks of him as possessing uncommon genius, a strong anddiscriminating mind, and as having the power of enduring great mentalapplication. He anxiously inquired into the evidences in support of thescripture account of creation, and of the scheme of doctrines whichChristianity unfolded. President Alden of Alleghany college, speaks with delight of a visit hemade to the old chief. He found him on the banks of the Alleghany, on apiece of first rate bottom land, a little within the limits ofPennsylvania. He was the owner of thirteen hundred acres of land, on apart of which stood his village, whose inhabitants gave signs of industryand thrift. He found it pleasant to behold the agricultural habits of the place asappeared from the numerous enclosures of buckwheat, corn and oats. He alsospeaks of seeing a number of oxen, cows and horses; and many logs designedfor the saw mill, and the Pittsburgh market. "Cornplanter had for sometime been very much in favor of the christian religion, and hailed withjoy such as professed it. When apprised of Mr. Alden's arrival he hastenedto welcome him to his village, and to wait upon him. And notwithstandinghis high station as a chief, having many men under his command, he choserather, in the ancient patriarchal style, to serve his visitors himself;he therefore took care of their horses, and went into the field and cutand brought oats for them. " [Footnote: Drake's book of the Indians. ] He died at his reservation March 7th, 1836, a hundred winters havingpassed over him, and was buried beneath the sheltering branches of a nobletree standing in his field. No other monument marks his grave. CHAPTER XV. Change in Red Jacket's views--How caused--His opposition to Christianity--Visit of a Missionary--Missionary's speech--Red Jacket's reply--Unpleasanttermination of the Council. As time advanced, the mind of Red Jacket gradually receded from thefavorable opinion he had entertained, with respect to the introductionamong his people, of the customs of civilized life. Before this heregarded with favor the philanthropic designs of Washington and others, which contemplated such a change. But henceforth his influence andenergies were uniformly exerted, in resisting any innovation, upon theanciently established usages of the Iroquois. Several causes seemed toinfluence such a result. First of all was the condition of his people, as affected by the whites. They had been wasted and greatly enfeebled by the wars carried on betweenthe whites, taking sides, as in the Revolution, against each other. And intheir own conflicts, though in some instances successful, they had been soeffectually overcome, that no hope now remained to them of resistance bywar; no matter what combinations they might be able to effect amongthemselves. A still deeper source of regret, was the loss of so large a portion oftheir wide and beautiful country. Since parting with it, swarms ofsettlers had been flocking to the more favored portions, and wereirresistibly advancing to full and entire possession. The idea that theycould have their country to hunt in, as well after it was sold as before, was rapidly dissipated by the busy sounds, all through the forest, of thewoodman's axe, and by the roar of the stately trees, as they fell downbefore the enterprising pioneer. The Indian brooded over this in silence, while all of these sounds, delightful to the emigrant, were as a knell ofdeath to his ear. The eloquence of Red Jacket had been exerted in vain, toarrest the progress of the white men. Onward they swept, bidding defianceto all the obstacles in their way. They were in possession of the ancientseats of the Iroquois. The red man's inheritance, was but a beggarlyportion, when compared with his former princely domain. The thought ofthis weighed heavily upon Red Jacket's lofty spirit, and affectedmaterially the disposition with which he regarded the white man. He had observed also that the Indian had not been improved, but rathermade worse by intercourse with the white man. He more readily acquired hisvices, than his virtues. The schools likewise that had been established among the Indians, had notbeen attended with very salutary results. And some of the Indian boys thathad been sent to the schools of the whites, had failed to be qualified forusefulness among white men, and were unfitted in their tastes and habitsfor a life among the Indians. As was observed by Red Jacket: "they havereturned to their kindred and color, neither white men nor Indians. Thearts they have learned are incompatible with the chase, and ill adapted toour customs. They have been taught that which is useless to us. They havebeen made to feel artificial wants, which never entered the minds of theirbrothers. They have imbibed, in your great towns, the seeds of vices, which were unknown in the forest. They become discouraged and dissipated, --despised by the Indians, neglected by the whites, and without value toeither, --less honest than the former, and perhaps more knavish than thelatter. " [Footnote: Washington had always been earnest in his desire tocivilize the savages, but had little faith in the expedient which had beenpursued, of sending their young men to our colleges; the true means hethought, was to introduce the arts and habits of husbandry among them. --Irving's Life of Washington. ] Red Jacket was not alone in this opinion. One of Cornplanter's sons, Henry O'Bail, had been educated inPhiladelphia; but on returning to his people, became a drunkard, and wasdiscarded by his father. He had other sons, but resolved that no more ofthem should be educated among the whites, for said he, "it entirely spoilsIndian. " "What have we here?" exclaimed Red Jacket on one occasion addressing oneof them. "What have we here? _You are neither a white man, or an Indian;for heaven's sake tell us, what are you?_" But further than this, Red Jacket had witnessed among the whites so manyevidences of deceit and fraud; he had so often seen the Indianscircumvented by their avarice and craft, that he looked with suspicioneven on their attempts to do the Indians good. The language of the Trojanpatriot concerning the Greeks--represents very nearly the feelings heentertained toward the whites. "Timeo Danaos et dona ferrentes. "The Greeks I fear, e'en in the gifts they bear. " Hence Red Jacket began to look unfavorably on the attempts that had beenmade to civilize the Indian. He scorned to use the white man's axe, orhoe, or any implement of husbandry. He would not even use his language. Understanding well what was said to him in English, he spurned the idea ofholding any communication with a white man, save through an interpreter. The Indian he looked upon as the rightful lord of this part of creation, the white man, as an intruder. The white man's ways were good for thewhite man; but in his view they would spoil the Indian. He believed thatthe peculiar characteristics of the Indian, were conferred on him by theGreat Spirit for a wise purpose, and for his good, they needed to bemaintained. Hence all the ancient habits of his people, he earnestlystrove to preserve, and had it been in his power, he would have built awall like the Chinese, to keep his people from meeting with, and beingcontaminated by the whites. He would frown contempt on the Indian, whoused a stool or chair in his cabin, and no king in his palace, ever satmore proudly, or with greater dignity on his throne, than did Red Jacketon his bear-skin in his humble dwelling. We can but admire in this, his independence of character; and when wereflect upon his conduct as influenced by the conviction, that such acourse was essential for the good of his people, we may view it asmeriting the praise of philanthrophy. Had he been as firm in resistingevery enticement of the whites, he would have maintained a greaterconsistency, and himself attained a higher degree of excellence. Red Jacket was equally opposed to the introduction of Christianity amonghis people. He looked upon the religion of the white man, with the samefeeling of suspicion and distrust as everything else coming from thatsource. He had no evidence from experience, of the benefits that wouldarise to them from its introduction among them. On the contrary hisconvictions, arising from observation, were against it; because he saw hispeople were made worse, by associating with the whites. When asked on oneoccasion, why he was opposed to the coming of missionaries among hispeople, he replied, --"Because they do us no good. If they are not usefulamong the white people, why do they send them among the Indians?--If theyare useful to the white people, why do they not keep them at home? Theyare surely bad enough, to need the labor of every one, who can make thembetter. " The Indians made no distinction between those who professed religion andthose who made no profession. Their own religion was national. There wasno division between the religious and irreligious. All were religious. Inother words, they were all educated in the same faith, all united inobserving the same religious rites, and all entertained the same religiousbelief, as had been handed down to them from their forefathers. This wassalutary in promoting among them many virtues, worthy of commendation. They very properly estimated the value of religion, by the practicalinfluence it exerted on those who received it. And they judged of theChristian religion, by the conduct and character of the nation thatreceived and cherished it; who were nominally Christian. Unfortunately for the success of Christianity among them, they hadwitnessed so much deceit and fraud, there were so many among the whites, who were ready to take advantage of them, --to make them drunk, and thencheat them, they were unable to perceive in what way the religion of thewhites, from whom they had received such treatment, could be better or asgood, even as their own. They had not learned to regard those only asChristians, who reduced the principles of Christianity to practice, andwere not aware that as a system, it enforced only what was right, andtolerated no conduct that was wrong. Hence in the efforts made to introduce Christianity among the Senecas, wefind Red Jacket summoning the entire force of his influence, and eloquencein opposition to the measure. The arrival among them of a missionary from Massachusetts, was theoccasion of a forensic effort, which defines very clearly his position, and though it may have suffered, as did most of his speeches, from comingthrough an interpreter, it displays nevertheless, indications of deepthought, and of a high order of talent. It was regarded at the time as aneffort of great ability, and is perhaps as fair a specimen of his oratory, as has come down to us from the past. A council having been called to consider the matter, the missionary wasintroduced, who spoke as follows: [Footnote: The speech of the missionaryis quoted from Col. Stone; the reply of Red Jacket from Drake, who is Col. Stone's authority for the same speech. ] "My Friends: I am thankful for the opportunity afforded us of meetingtogether at this time. I had a great desire to see you, and inquire intoyour state and welfare. For this purpose I have traveled a great distance, being sent by your old friends, the Boston Missionary Society. You willrecollect they formerly sent missionaries among you, to instruct you inreligion, and labor for your good. Although they have not heard from youfor a long time, yet they have not forgotten their brothers, the SixNations, and are still anxious to do you good. "Brothers: I have not come to get your lands, or your money, but toenlighten your minds, and instruct you how to worship the Great Spirit, agreeably to his mind and will, and to preach to you the gospel of hisSon, Jesus Christ. There is but one religion, and but one way to serveGod, and if you do not embrace the right way, you can not be happyhereafter. You have never worshipped the Great Spirit, in a manneracceptable to him, but have all your lives, been in great errors anddarkness. To endeavor to remove these errors, and open your eyes, so thatyou might see clearly, is my business with you. "Brothers: I wish to talk with you as one friend talks with another; andif you have any objections to receive the religion which I preach, I wishyou to state them; and I will endeavor to satisfy your minds, and removethe objections. "Brothers: I want you to speak your minds freely; for I wish to reasonwith you on the subject, and if possible remove all doubts, if there beany on your minds. The subject is an important one, and it is ofconsequence, that you give it an early attention, while the offer is madeyou. Your friends, the Boston Missionary Society, will continue to sendyou good and faithful ministers, to instruct and strengthen you inreligion, if on your part you are willing to receive them. "Brothers: Since I have been in this part of the country, I have visitedsome of your small villages, and talked with your people. They appearwilling to receive instruction, but as they look up to you, as their elderbrothers in council, they want first to know your opinion on the subject. You have now heard what I have to propose at present. I hope you will takeit into consideration, and give me an answer before we part. " The chiefs were in consultation for about two hours, when Red Jacket aroseand spoke as follows: "Friend and Brother: It was the will of the Great Spirit that we shouldmeet together this day. He orders all things, and has given us a fine dayfor our council. He has taken his garment from before the sun, and causedit to shine with brightness upon us. Our eyes are opened that we seeclearly; our ears are unstopped, that we have been able to hear distinctlythe words you have spoken. For all these favors we thank the Great Spirit, and Him only. "Brother: This council fire was kindled by you. It was at your requestthat we came together at this time. We have listened with attention towhat you have said. You requested us to speak our minds freely. This givesus great joy: for now we consider that we stand upright before you, andcan speak what we think. All have heard your voice, and all speak to younow as one man. Our minds are agreed. "Brother: You say you want an answer to your talk before you leave thisplace. It is right you should have one, as you are a great distance fromhome, and we do not wish to detain you. But we will first look back alittle, and tell you what our fathers have told us, and what we have heardfrom the white people. "Brother: Listen to what we say. --There was a time when our fathers ownedthis _great island_. [Footnote: The term used by the Indians whenspeaking of this continent. ] Their seats extended from the rising to thesetting sun. The Great Spirit had made it for the Indians. He had createdthe buffalo, the deer, and other animals for food. He had made the bear, and the beaver. Their skins served us for clothing. He had scattered themover the country, and taught us how to take them. He had caused the earthto produce corn for bread. All this he had done for his red childrenbecause he loved them. If we had some disputes about our hunting ground, they were generally settled without the shedding of much blood. But anevil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great water, andlanded on this island. Their numbers were small. They found friends andnot enemies. They told us they had fled from their own country for fear ofwicked men, and had come here to enjoy their religion. They asked for asmall seat. We took pity on them, granted their request, and they sat downamongst us. We gave them corn and meat; they gave us poison in return. [Footnote: Spirituous liquors. ] "The white people had now found our country. Tidings were carried back, and more came amongst us. Yet we did not fear them. They called usbrothers. We believed them and gave them a larger seat. At length theirnumbers had greatly increased. They wanted more land;--they wanted ourcountry. Our eyes were opened, and our minds became uneasy. "Wars took place. Indians were hired to fight against Indians, and many ofour people were destroyed. They also brought strong liquors among us;--they were strong and powerful, and have slain thousands. "Brother: Our seats were once large, and yours were very small. You havenow become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread ourblankets. You have got our country, but are not satisfied;--you want toforce your religion upon us. "Brother: Continue to listen. You say that you are sent to instruct us howto worship the Great Spirit agreeably to his mind, and if we do not takehold of this religion which you white people teach, we shall be unhappyhereafter. You say that you are right, that we are lost. How do we knowthis to be true? We understand that your religion is written in a book. Ifit was intended for us as well as you, why has not the Great Spirit givenit to us, and not only to us, but why did he not give to our forefathersthe knowledge of that book, with the means of understanding it rightly? Weonly know what you tell us about it. How shall we know when to believe, being so often deceived by the white people? "BROTHER: You say there is but one way to worship and serve the GreatSpirit. If there is but one religion why do you white people differ somuch about it? Why are you not all agreed, --as you can all read the book? "BROTHER: We do not understand these things. We are told that yourreligion was given to your forefathers, and has been handed down fromfather to son. We also have a religion which was given to our forefathersand has been handed down to us their children. We worship in that way. Itteaches us to be thankful for all the favors we receive; to love eachother, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion. "BROTHER: The Great Spirit has made us all, but he has made a greatdifference between his white and red children. He has given us differentcomplexions, and different customs. To you He has given the arts. To theseHe has not opened our eyes. We know these things to be true. Since He hasmade so great a difference between us in other things, why may we notconclude that He has given us a different religion according to ourunderstanding? The Great Spirit does right. He knows what is best for ischildren; we are satisfied. "BROTHER: We do not wish to destroy your religion, or take it from you. Weonly want to enjoy our own. "BROTHER: You say you have not come to get our land or our money, but toenlighten our minds. I will now tell you that I have been at yourmeetings, and saw you collect money from the meeting. I cannot tell whatthis money was intended for, but suppose it was for your minister, and ifwe should conform to your way of thinking, perhaps you may want some fromus. "BROTHER: We are told that you have been preaching to the white people inthis place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while, and see what effect your preaching has onthem. If we find it does them good, makes them honest, and less disposedto cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said. "BROTHER: You have now heard our answer to your talk, and this is all wehave to say at present. As we are going to part, we will come and take youby the hand, and hope the Great Spirit will protect you on your journey, and return you in safety to your friends. " Suiting the action to the word, he then drew near the missionary with theother chiefs, to take him by the hand; but he would not receive them, andrising hastily from his seat, said, there was no fellowship between thereligion of God, and the works of the devil, and he could not thereforejoin hands with them. When this was interpreted to the Indians, they smiled and retired from theinterview, without saying anything further. Such is the account given of this transaction. The termination is painful. It is a sad thought, that when the Indians had been invited to make knowntheir objections, if they had any; and when they had been offered in goodfaith by this unlettered son of the forest, he should have been answeredwith so little patience or kindness. We hesitate not to say that the redman in this, manifested the better spirit. Mr. Crane afterward regretted the course he had taken, saying, "hesupposed by shaking hands with them, they would regard it as signifyinghis approval of what they had said. " CHAPTER XVI. Tecumseh and Indian confederation--Aid given by Elskawata--Doings at theProphet's Town--Great Indian Council at the West--Red Jacket's claim forprecedence of the Senecas--His adherence to the United States--Hostilitiesencouraged by British Agents--Warriors gathered at Prophet's Town--Visitedby Gen. Harrison at the head of his troops--Hostilities disclaimed--Surprised by a sudden attack--Indians defeated--War proclaimed againstEngland--Indians take sides--Unfavorable commencement--Different successes--Part taken by Red Jacket. Sixteen years had intervened since the treaty of peace, concluded with theIndians at Greenville, by General Wayne in 1795. During this time friendlyrelations had been maintained with the various Indian tribes, who were incorrespondence with the United States. This period had not closed, however, ere the ambitious designs of an active and influential chief, began to wear the appearance of open hostility. The possession of rare mental endowments, together with physicalqualifications, that were the means of extending his renown, as anintrepid brave, far beyond the boundaries of his own tribe, rendered thename of Tecumseh, a rallying word for the dusky warriors, even among theremote wilds visited by the Indian. Tecumseh entertained the ambitiousproject, at various times a favorite design with the Indian, of unitingall their tribes at the West and South-west, in one strenuous endeavor, toresist the further advance of the whites into their country, and offorming here a confederacy, similar to that which had existed among theIroquois. In these views he was greatly assisted and strengthened by the influenceand efforts of his brother, Elskawata. Elskawata, on the death of Penagashega, an aged and revered prophet, veryadroitly assumed the sacred office of this Indian saint, and began toproclaim himself, as a delegated messenger of the Great Spirit to hispeople. He commenced his career among the Shawnees, the people of his tribe, asearly as 1805. But not content with so narrow a sphere for his endeavors, he went from tribe to tribe, and assembled as he was able, differentnations, that he might make known to them the important instructions, hehad been divinely authorized to communicate. For a long time his efforts wore the appearance of a religious, andpacific character. He proclaimed the high superiority of the Indians overthe whites, and of his own tribe among the Indian tribes. He declared itto be the will of the Great Spirit, that the Indians should abandon theuse of intoxicating drinks, refrain from intermarrying with the whites, live at peace with each other, have their property in common, and maintaintheir customs, as they had been anciently established. At a later periodhe affirmed with much solemnity, that he had received power from the GreatSpirit, to cure all diseases, confound his enemies, and stay the arm ofdeath, in sickness, or on the field of battle. As time advanced, the prophet passed from nation, to nation, artfullysustaining his assumptions, and proclaiming his doctrines. He gatheredaround him adherents from various tribes, encouraged pilgrimages to hiscamp, became conspicuous in all their general councils, and extended hisinfluence to the various Indian towns, in the vicinity of the northernlakes, and on the broad plains, watered by the Mississippi and itsbranches. He could now, as he did, forward very effectively the ambitiousviews of his brother Tecumseh. From the Prophet's town, which was established on the banks of the Wabash, near the mouth of its tributary the Tippecanoe, as early as 1808, acorrespondence was kept up with the numerous tribes at the North and West, and means were taken also to extend the combination they were forming, tothe Cherokees and other nations of the South. Runners were sent as fareven as the country of the Senecas, and the Iroquois in New York andCanada, were solicited to join the Great Western Confederacy. Connected with this movement was the holding of Indian councils, atdifferent places in the West. A very large council, was held at or nearDetroit, which embraced in it deputations from the most distant tribes. Astrong deputation was sent from the Senecas, with Red Jacket at its head. At the opening of this council a question arose as to precedence indebate, which is said to have been the occasion of one of Red Jacket'smost effective and brilliant speeches, and was the means of securing forhimself and fellow delegates, the high position he ever claimed, asbelonging rightfully to his nation. The right of precedence was claimed by the Wyandots, a large and powerfulnation, which for a long time, had been pre-eminent among the Westerntribes. To them had been committed for preservation and safe keeping, theGreat Belt, the symbol of a previous union among the tribes. It had beenused in gathering them to form their league, to resist the settlements ofthe whites north and west of the Ohio river. The concert of action amongthe Indians, in the wars at the West between 1790 and 1795, is to betraced to this league. To the Wyandots also had been given the originalduplicate of the treaty of peace, concluded at Greenville in 1795. Hence the claim they presented to precedence at this council; a claimwhich was eloquently supported by their most able chiefs. This claim was denied by Red Jacket, who maintained that the place inquestion belonged rightfully to the Senecas, and sustained his position bya reference to facts and usages in the past, which displayed a minute andaccurate knowledge of the history of the different Indian tribes, thatsurprised as well as delighted his hearers. His speech was characterizedthroughout by great ability, and displayed such a power of oratory, particularly of invective, as to excite the wonder of all present, whocould understand his language, and comprehend the force of his allusions. His effort was entirely successful. No attempt was made at reply. Thefirst rank after this, without further hesitation, was given to theSenecas. It is due to the memory of Red Jacket, who has been, called _doubletongued and deceitful_, to state that from the time he fully gave hisadherence, he never swerved from his allegiance to the United States. Everafterward he was their faithful friend and ally. The impatient affirmationof Brant, that "Red Jacket had vowed fidelity to the United States, andsealed his promise, by kissing the likeness of General Washington, " thoughin a measure true, as expressive of his fidelity, had never any occasionto be qualified, by a statement to the contrary. During the present council, his views were in opposition to thosegenerally entertained and expressed, and no consideration availed withhim, to break faith with the United States. He had before this notifiedthe Indian agent of the formation of another league, and of the avowedlywarlike purpose of certain Indian councils, that had been held at theWest. Early in the year 1810, at the head of a delegation of his people andaccompanied by the agent, and Captain Parrish as interpreter, he visitedthe city of Washington, and informed our government of the hostilitiesthat were in contemplation, and of the efforts of his people to securepeace. The pacific councils of Red Jacket were of little avail. The warlikeagitation was continued. The retreat of the Prophet on the banks of theWabash, became not less noted for warlike exercises, than for itsreligious harangues. The minds of the Indians were already ripe for anoutbreak, whenever a sufficient pretext should offer. The visit ofTecumseh at Vincennes in the summer of 1810, with three hundred well armedwarriors, and his haughty and insulting bearing toward Governor Harrison, indicated clearly, the hostile spirit that was rife among them. Not long after this, the report came that a thousand warriors awaited hiscommand, in and about the Prophet's town. So large a horde of Indianstogether, without the means of support, and practicing themselves in thearts of war, were viewed with suspicion. Charity must have been blind, tohave supposed they were assembled merely for the purpose of devotion. Frequent plundering, midnight arson, and occasional massacres in frontiersettlements, proclaimed the fact, that hostilities had already commenced, and that our people in this region needed protection. The Indians were greatly encouraged in their warlike feeling, by theintercourse they constantly maintained with the British Indian Department. The British Fur Company also by her traders, had correspondence with theleading men of all these Western and North-western tribes, and thisintercourse resulted in holding the Indians more firmly, in alliance withthe English. The desire they entertained for dominion on this continent, led them to encourage the Indians, in their effort to hold in check thesettlements of the United States, that were pushing their way westward. Thus countenanced and encouraged, the Indians became more determined andbold in their hostility. These threatening indications, coming to the knowledge of our government, General Harrison was directed to go with an armed force to the Prophet'stown, and his visit resulted in the battle of Tippecanoe, fought on theseventh of November, 1811. His officers desired him to attack the town on the day before, but wishingto avoid fighting if possible, and having been met by several chiefs, whodisclaimed having hostile intentions, and offered submission and peace, hemade a careful survey of the country, and selecting an advantageousposition, encamped for the night. At an early hour in the morning they were furiously assailed by theIndians, who had stealthily crept up very near without being observed. Abloody and, for a time doubtful, engagement ensued, but at length theIndians were repulsed and a decisive victory gained. The Prophet was securely stationed on an adjoining eminence during thebattle, and the American bullets having a more powerful effect upon theIndians than they had been led to anticipate, a runner was sent to himwith the intelligence. He was engaged singing very piously, one of his oldwar songs. When told what was taking place, he said, "Go, --fight on: itwill soon be as I have said;" and commenced singing again more loudly. [Footnote: The Prophet had assured them that the Americans would not besuccessful. That their bullets would not hurt the Indians, who would havelight while their enemies would be in darkness. --Life and Times of Wm. H. Harrison. ] Tecumseh was absent when the battle was fought, being engaged inforwarding his designs among the Indian tribes at the South. He wasdisappointed and grieved with the result, regarding the battle aspremature, and tending very much to thwart the purposes he had in view. He awaited a more favorable turn in the wheel of fortune, and thought thiswould come with the war anticipated between England and the United States. Difficulties, growing out of the right assumed by the former, of boardingAmerican vessels, to discover and remove any English sailors belonging tothe crew, which frequently resulted in seizing American seamen and forcingthem into the British navy, had now assumed so formidable an aspect, as tocall forth from our government a proclamation of war against England, issued on the 19th of June, 1812. In anticipation of this event, as well as after it, means were employed bythe agents of Britain, to secure the services of the Indians during thiscontest. The opportunity was gladly welcomed by the Miamis, Shawnees andother Indian tribes, who had recently been severely chastised by GeneralHarrison. The Mohawks and other Indians in Canada were also induced totake up the hatchet, and efforts were made to influence such of the SixNations, as resided within the state of New York, to take sides with theBritish in this war, but they were not successful. The United States, instead of seeking among the Indians recruits for theirarmy, advised the Senecas, and other tribes of the Iroquois within theirborders, to remain neutral. A council was convened by the Indian agent, Mr. Erastus Granger, for the purpose of spreading the whole matter beforethem. It resulted in securing from them a pledge of neutrality. So wellconvinced were they of the wisdom of this course, they determined to senda deputation of their brethren to Canada, to dissuade them if possible, from taking any part in the war. It was sent, but did not accomplish theend desired; the Mohawks had fully resolved upon engaging in the contest. It was difficult however, for the Senecas to enforce their decision upontheir young braves, who were made restless by the sound of war, and wereeager to engage in it; yet their sympathies were with the United States. The stirring music, martial array, noise and pomp of war, wrought soeffectually on their minds, they would fain have persuaded their nation todeclare war on their own account. The circulation among them of a rumorthat the British had taken possession of Grand Island, a part of their owndomain, led them to convene a council, which Mr. Granger was invited toattend, and after stating the case to him, Red Jacket declared the purposeof the Senecas in the following language:-- "BROTHER: You have told us, that we have nothing to do with the war, thathas taken place between you and the British. But we find that the war hascome to our doors. Our property is taken possession of, by the British andtheir Indian friends. It is necessary for us now to take up the business, defend our property, and drive the enemy from it. If we sit still upon ourseats, and take no means of redress, the British according to the customsof you white people, will hold it by conquest. And should you conquer theCanadas, you will claim it on the same principle, as though you hadconquered it from the British. We therefore request permission to go withour warriors, and drive off those bad people, and take possession of ourlands. " Their request was granted, and the chiefs regarding themselves as anindependent nation, issued a formal declaration of war, against theprovinces of Upper and Lower Canada, and summoned their warriors toprotect their rights and liberties, with the Americans. Four hundred warriors, armed and painted, and ready for the field, answered to this call, led by the brave though now aged Farmer's Brother, who was said by Colonel Worth, to have been "the noblest Indian in formand mould, in carriage and in soul, of that generation of his race. "[Footnote: Col. Worth as given by Col. Stone. ] The principal scene of war at this time was on our north-western frontier. Its commencement had been disastrous. The capture of Mackinaw, Chicago, and Detroit, attended by the surrender of General Hull, commander of theAmerican forces at the latter place, spread a feeling of insecurity anddismay all along our western frontier settlements. For an immense extentthey were without protection. But new troops were raised and brought on tothe field, under the wise conduct of General Harrison, and the signalnaval victory of Commodore Perry on Lake Erie, September 10, 1813, and theequally decisive battle on the river Thames, in the October following, very materially improved the prospect of the American arms. After thisbattle, the Western Indians were disposed to entertain propositions ofpeace. Thus far they had proved to be efficient allies of the British, increasingtheir force by an addition of nearly eighteen hundred, commanded by therenowned Tecumseh, who had been called the "Indian Bonaparte. " His pre-eminence among them was now widely acknowledged, and he swayed by hisinfluence a greater number of warriors, than any Indian of his time. Before engaging in the Battle of the Thames, he seemed to have apresentiment of his death. He said to the chiefs about him, "brotherwarriors, we are about to enter into an engagement from which I shallnever come out, --my body will remain on the field of battle. " [Footnote:Life of Tecumseh, by Benjamin Drake. ] His prediction was verified; as marking the field of strife where theAmericans were victorious, the ashes of this celebrated warrior hererepose, near the borders of a willow marsh, the willow and the wild roseweaving a chaplet over his grave. The Indians who had volunteered their services in the American army, werefirst employed in the gallant defense made at Black Rock, during the monthof July, of this same year, 1813. A surprise party from the British head-quarters at Lundy's Lane, was sentagainst the American stores, collected at Black Rock and at Buffalo, andwere not at this time strongly guarded. They were successful in theirfirst attempt, but were in turn unexpectedly met by the adroit managementof General Porter, under whose supervision the forces in this vicinity hadbeen placed, who rallied volunteers at Buffalo, turned back the retreatinggarrison, and by a well planned attack, succeeded in driving the enemyfrom the post they had taken a short time before. The Indians were soon after in another engagement, in the vicinity of FortGeorge, and from an official report made at the time, it appears that thisformed a part of Red Jacket's military experience. A company of volunteersand Indians commanded by Major Chapin, to which was added a force of abouttwo hundred regulars under Major Cummings, amounting in all to about fivehundred, the whole being under the direction of General Porter, proceededto attack the British and Indian encampment, and were entirely successful. In an official statement of this affair given by General Boyd, thencommanding the post at St. George, he says:--"Those who participated inthis contest, particularly the Indians, conducted with great bravery andactivity. General Porter volunteered in the affair, and Major Chapinevinced his accustomed zeal and courage. The principal chiefs who led thewarriors this day were Farmer's Brother, Red Jacket, Little Billy, Pollard, Black Smoke, Johnson, Silver Heels, Captain Half Town, MajorHenry O'Bail, and Captain Cold, who was wounded. In a council held withthem yesterday, they covenanted not to scalp or murder; and I am happy tosay, that they treated the prisoners with humanity, and committed nowanton cruelties on the dead. " CHAPTER XVII. Taking of Fort Erie--Battle of Chippewa--Service rendered by the Indians--General Porter's account of the campaign--Red Jacket commended--Withdrawalof Indian forces--Other successes--Conclusion of peace. Directly across from Buffalo, at the head of Niagara river, on the Canadaside, stood Fort Erie. Chippewa, at that time head-quarters of the Britisharmy, was eighteen miles below, on the same side. Fort Erie was garrisonedby about one hundred and seventy men; at Chippewa and within availabledistances from it, was stationed the principal part of the British forcein this region. The plan with which it was proposed to open the campaign of 1814, contemplated an attack on both of these places. The campaign of the previous year, though favorable in a good degree, didnot close with entire success to the American arms. The idea wasentertained of descending the St. Lawrence, with a view of capturingMontreal, a design which signally failed. Taking advantage of the feebledefense of our frontier, by the withdrawal of the regular troops for thepurpose named, the enemy, on the 18th of December, surprised and took FortNiagara, and sweeping along our frontier settlements on the Niagara river, ravaged the country by fire and sword, as they passed rapidly on, carryingthe works at Lewiston, and Manchester, and laying in ashes the thrivingvillages of Black Rock and Buffalo. They burned also without opposition, avillage of the Tuscaroras. The voice of Red Jacket was thereupon heard, arousing his people again, tothe necessity of taking up arms. And as the result, about six hundredwarriors, mostly from the Seneca nation, were in readiness to offer theirservices, at the opening of the present campaign. Buffalo was the appointed place of rendezvous, and on the first of July, General Brown, who commanded our forces, regarding them as sufficient towarrant the commencement of the plan of operations, began byreconnoitering Fort Erie. During the night of the second of July, GeneralRipley, with a part of his brigade, embarked in boats, with a view oflanding on the opposite shore, one mile above the Fort, at about day breakthe next morning. General Scott with his brigade was to cross the Niagara river, through adifficult pass in the Black Rock Rapids, and make a simultaneous landingbelow the fort. The two brigades enclosing the fort, could prevent theescape of the garrison, until artillery to reduce it, should be broughtfrom Buffalo. General Scott with his usual promptness, made good his landing, and was onthe ground at the hour appointed, and by the aid of a few Indians andvolunteers who accompanied him as guides, invested the fort, so as tosecure its garrison. General Ripley though prompt in his departure, wasdelayed in reaching his position, by a dense fog which misled his pilots. As the sun rose the British commandant and his officers, could see thebusy operations going on in ferrying across from Buffalo, artillery, Indians and soldiers, with their various preparations of war. Theydiscovered also how completely they were invested. At the demand ofGeneral Brown, without firing a gun or making any attempt at resistance, the fort and garrison were surrendered. This part of their enterprise being accomplished, they next turned theirthoughts toward Chippewa. The Chippewa or Welland river, is a considerable stream not far from onehundred yards wide, and from twelve to twenty feet deep, entering theNiagara at right angles, as it flows in from the west. On the north or left bank of this stream, near its mouth, the British armyhad its station and defenses, consisting of two block houses, connectedand flanked by a parapet. Street's creek was two miles above, or south of this, a small sluggishstream, which enters the Niagara in a direction parallel with theChippewa. The mouth of this creek was selected by the American commanders, as affording a favorable position for their army before the battle. On the evening of the same day of the capture of Fort Erie, General Scottwith his brigade and Towson's artillery, proceeded down the river on hisway toward Chippewa, and on the morning of the fourth, encamped in theopen field, on the south side of Street's creek, having driven in someadvanced posts of the enemy. In the evening he was joined by GeneralBrown, with General Ripley's brigade, which took post in the same field, in rear of General Scott. General Porter with the Indians, and Pennsylvania volunteers, crossed theNiagara at Black Rock during the night of the fourth, and on the morningof the fifth, marched for the camp, arriving there at about noon. The two armies nearly equal in numbers, and well qualified by theirthorough equipments, and the skill of their commanders, to harm each othereffectually, were now encamped with only two miles, and the two streams, on whose banks they rested, between them. But though thus near, intervening objects prevented their seeing eachother. Between them was a strip of woodland about one-fourth of a mile inwidth, extending from the forest on the west, near to the bank of theriver, where it was cleared for the public highway. This effectually shutout from the view of the other, the manoeuvres of each army. The Indians and militia from the British army infested these woods, andbecame annoying to our forces. General Porter being well acquainted withthe country, and having charge of the Indians, was requested to take them, and a part of his Pennsylvania volunteers, and dislodge this portion ofthe enemy; General Brown assuring him, that none of the British regularswould be found south of the Chippewa on that day, and promising him incase of so improbable a contingency, the support of General Scott'sbrigade. At about three o'clock of the same day of his arrival, General Porterformed his men, half a mile in rear of the main camp, into single orIndian file, placing the Indians on the left, and a part of thePennsylvanians on the right. "Thence he marched into the woods in the same order, in a line at rightangles to the river, until the whole Indian force was immerged in theforest, leaving the white troops in the open field; they had only to haltand face to the right, when the whole were formed in line of battle, three-fourths of a mile long and one man deep, looking in the directionof Chippewa. Red Jacket was placed on the extreme left of the line, andGeneral Porter took his station on the margin of the woods between hiswhite and red troops, accompanied by Captain Pollard, a Seneca chief, who, in this campaign, was considered first in command among the Indians;Colonel Flemming, the Quarter-master of the Indian corps, LieutenantDonald Fraser his aid, and Henry Johnson his interpreter. He was alsoaccompanied by Major Jones, and Major Wood of the Engineers, asvolunteers; and was supported by a company of regular infantry, marchingin column in rear, as a reserve. "The Indians were commanded by their war-chiefs, who were indulged intheir own mode of conducting the attack, marching about twenty yards inadvance of the warriors of their respective tribes. General Porter havingsent out scouts to reconnoiter the enemy, the march was commenced bysignal, and proceeded at first with great stillness and caution. Thechiefs have signals, by which, on the discovery of any circumstancerequiring consultation, or change of route or action, they convey noticethrough their ranks with great celerity, on which the whole line ofwarriors drop instantly on the ground, and remain there until furtherorders. Two manoeuvres of this kind occurred on the march, the first oflittle moment, but the second communicating through the scouts, the exactposition of the enemy, who, apprised of their assailants' approach, layconcealed in a thicket of bushes, along the margin of Street's creek. "A consultation was thereupon held, and new orders given, the purport ofwhich was to change the line of march, so as to meet the enemy to moreadvantage, to increase the speed as much as was consistent with thepreservation of order, and to receive their first fire, but not to returnit except singly, and when it could be done with certain effect, and thento raise the war-whoop, pursue, capture, and slay as many as practicable, until they should reach the open ground in front of Chippewa, and thencereturn to camp. "The march was accordingly resumed, the fire of the enemy received, and arush accompanied with savage yells made upon them, and continued for morethan a mile, through scenes of frightful havoc and slaughter, few only ofthe fugitives offering to surrender as prisoners, while others, believingthat no quarter would be given, suffered themselves to be cut down withthe tomahawk, or turning back upon their pursuers, fought hand to hand tothe last. "On reaching the open field in front of Chippewa, the assailants were metby a tremendous discharge of musketry, by which the warriors, who wereprincipally in front, were thrown back upon the volunteers and reserve, who for want of equal speed were a short distance in the rear. Presumingthat the fire had come from the enemy he had been pursuing, and who hadrallied on reaching the open ground, General Porter made an effort, notwithout success, to reform his line with volunteers, reserve and a portionof the warriors; but on again advancing to the margin of the woods, foundhimself within a few yards of the whole British regular army, formed inline of battle, and presenting within a given space at least three menfresh from their camp, to a single one in his own attenuated and exhaustedline. After receiving and returning two or three fires, the enemy rushedforward with charged bayonets, when hearing nothing from General Scott, hegave the order to retreat and form again on the left of General Scott'sbrigade, wherever it should be found. "It appears that the British commander had resolved on making a generalattack, that day, on the American camp; and in execution of this purposehad marched his whole force across the Chippewa, a short time beforeGeneral Porter entered the woods with the Indians; and having sent forwardhis Indians and militia, which was the British force met in the woods, tocommence his attack on the left flank of the Americans, formed in themeantime his battalions of regulars on the plain, under cover of the stripof woodland which divided the two camps, with his artillery on his left, near the gorge occupied by the road along the bank of the river; ready toact the moment the effect of the flank attack should be developed. "The repulse of General Porter's command was thus effected by the mainbody of the British army, while General Scott's brigade was more than amile in the rear, and had not yet crossed the bridge over Street'screek. .. . In a retreat of a mile in a diagonal direction to the right, soas to uncover the enemy to the fire of the American line, then justbeginning to form, they gained but little distance on the British columns, who were in hot pursuit. When General Porter and his staff arrived atStreet's creek, they were met by Major Jessup's battalion, then in the actof taking its position, which was on the left, and a short distance fromthe remainder of General Scott's brigade; and the volunteers fatigued asthey were, aided Major Jessup's evolutions, which were executed with greatorder and celerity, by breaking down the fences to enable him to pass fromthe road bordering on Street's creek, to his position in the field. "Nothing could exceed the coolness and order with which General Scott'sbrigade crossed the bridge and formed its line, under the galling fire ofthe enemy's artillery, and the headlong approach of his infantry, who, when only fifty yards distant, were received by a tremendous discharge ofmusketry from the American line, which forced them to fall back for aconsiderable distance. But they speedily rallied and advanced again, whenthey were met in the same gallant manner; and they thereupon fled, with asmuch precipitation as they had entered it, not halting until they hadrecrossed the Chippewa and destroyed their bridge. "General Scott pursued them around the point of woods, beyond which hecould only advance in face of their batteries, and these he could notreach by reason of the intervening river. He therefore deployed to theleft, and forming a line in the open field, in front of Chippewa, directedhis men to lie down with their heads toward the batteries, the better toavoid the effect of their fire. "The battle between the regular troops, was but of a few minutes duration, with the exception of the artillery, which on both sides was earliest andlongest engaged, and served with the most destructive effect; ColonelTowson occupying the right of the American line, on Street's creek, andthe British artillery the left of theirs, at the point of woods, and bothcommencing with the first movements of the regular troops. "Immediately after the two lines had encountered on Street's creek, amagnificent charger completely caparisoned, but without a rider, was seenprancing and curveting in the centre of the battle field, and endeavoringto make his escape through the American line to the rear. Presuming thathe belonged to some officer who had fallen, he was forthwith secured bythe servant of General Porter, and immediately mounted by the General, towhom he was a most acceptable acquisition, after the labors of the day, which he had performed on foot. "Riding up to General Brown, who was also in the midst of the action, General Porter received his orders to march with the two hundredPennsylvanians, who had been left in camp, to the support of GeneralScott; which orders were promptly executed by following General Scott'sbrigade around the point of woods, receiving the fire of the Britishbatteries, and taking post on his left, with the men in the same recumbentposition. Here they awaited the arrival of General Ripley's brigade, whichon the first discovery that the whole British army was in the field, hadbeen ordered to make a detour through the woods, and attack the enemy'sright. They soon came up, in the same muddy plight with the volunteers andIndians, who had previously traversed the same ground; when the whole armyat about sundown quietly retired to their camp, on the south side ofStreet's creek. "And thus ended the battle of Chippewa, which probably produced moreimportant results in favor of the American arms, than any other engagementby land in the course of that war; although there were several battlesfought on the Niagara, if not elsewhere, during the same campaign, exhibiting a greater number of combatants engaged, a larger number ofslain, and a result equally creditable to the gallantry and good conductof the American soldiers. "The first advantage gained was in driving from the British army thosetroublesome enemies, their Indian allies, who had been the terror of ourtroops in the west, during all the preceding stages of the war, and hadkept the camps of General Dearborn, General Lewis, and General Boyd, in aperpetual panic during the campaign of 1813. Terrified and disheartened bythe reception they met with at Chippewa, they fled from the battle fieldto the head of Lake Ontario, a distance of thirty miles, without halting, and never again during the remainder of the war appeared in the Britishcamp. " [Footnote: Colonel Stone's Life and Times of Red Jacket. Mr. Stonerefers to General Porter, as his authority, representing him as havingvoluntarily prepared the account given of this campaign. ] The Indians during this engagement performed a most important service. Their conduct was highly commended by General Porter. Speaking of thoseunder his command, General Porter says: "The great body of warriors aswell as volunteers, engaged in the opening attack, fought with boldness, not to say desperation, unsurpassed by any other troops, until they wereplaced in a situation where it would have been madness not to retreat. " The part Red Jacket took in this battle, though by no means conspicuous, was such as to call forth from an early biographer the affirmation, that"he displayed the most undaunted intrepidity, and completely redeemed hischaracter from the suspicion of that unmanly weakness, with which he hadbeen charged in early life; while in no instance did he exhibit theferocity of the savage, or disgrace himself, by any act of outrage towardsa prisoner, or a fallen enemy. " The same writer adds: "His therefore was that true moral courage, whichresults from self respect, and the sense of duty, and which is more noble, and a more active principle, than that mere animal instinct which rendersmany men insensible to danger. Opposed to war, not ambitious of martialfame, and unskilled in military affairs, he went to battle from principle, and met its perils with the spirit of a veteran warrior, while he shrunkfrom its cruelties with the sensibility of a man and of a philosopher. "[Footnote: Life of Red Jacket. McKenny's Indian Biography. ] Red Jacket as a civil officer was not called to take so prominent a placeon the field of battle, as the war chiefs. Yet in all of theirdeliberations, which were frequent during the campaign, he could act astheir counsellor, as he did on every such occasion. He was uniformly theirprincipal orator, and his manner on these occasions is represented asbeing "graceful and imposing in the eye of every beholder, and his voicemusic, especially in the ears of his own people. He had the power ofwielding them at will, and the soul stirring trumpet could not produce amore kindling effect in the bosoms of a disciplined army, than would hisappeals upon the warriors of his race. " [Footnote: Col. Stone's Life ofRed Jacket. ] That the battle of Chippewa was particularly severe to the Indian forcesengaged in it, may be inferred from the fact that the British Indiansretreated not only beyond the Chippewa, but stayed not until they had gonethirty miles further. The battle ground was strewed with many of theirnumber who had been slain. Two, who had been mortally wounded, and werestill alive, were despatched by a party of New York Indians, who werelooking for the bodies of their fallen friends. Being reproached for theirconduct in taking the life of an unresisting foe, one of them replied, ina manner that indicated evident sorrow for the deed done, "That it didseem hard to take the lives of these men, but they should remember thatthese were very hard times. " [Footnote: Col. Stone. ] The sight of slain warriors was far from being a pleasing object for RedJacket to behold, and having ever been opposed to his people engaging incontests that did not really concern them, he proposed now that theIndians had helped chastise the British for burning one of their villages, and as they were no longer on Indian ground, that they should withdrawfrom a further participation in the war, in case they could prevail ontheir Canadian brethren to do the same. With the consent and approval of General Brown, a deputation of two braveand influential chiefs was sent to the Indians, who had fought with theBritish, with this in view. They were successful in persuading them toenter into this arrangement. The Indians therefore after this retired totheir villages, with the exception of a few young braves, with whom thelove of war, was a more potent influence, than the counsels of the agedand more considerate of their nation. Soon after the battle, our army forced a passage across the Chippewa, andafter a short engagement the enemy gave way, and retired to Lake Ontario. Our army continued its march down the Niagara river, destroying some ofthe British works on their way. With new forces brought into the field, General Drummond took command ofthe British, and on the 25th of July the two armies met again, and therewas a hard fought, but not very decisive battle, at Lundy's Lane, nearNiagara Falls. The American army soon after fell back to Fort Erie. ABritish force of five thousand advanced and laid siege to the Fort, makinga vigorous assault on the 15th of August. They were repulsed with a lossof a thousand men. Later, General Brown issued from the fort and gave themso stunning a blow as caused them to relinquish the siege. Other successful engagements during the year, ending with the signalvictory at New Orleans under General Jackson, inspired greatly the hopesof the American people, and served likewise to repress the ardor of theiropponents; which led to the return of peace with England, which wasconcluded at Ghent on the 24th of December, 1814. CHAPTER XVIII Pre-emptive right to the Indian Reservations sold to Ogden and Company--Council to obtain the lands--Mr. Ogden's speech--Red Jacket's reply--Indians refuse to sell--Another Council called--Account of it by Hon. Albert Tracy--Various utterances of the orator on that occasion--Indians'appeal to the governments of the United States and New York--Nobleresponse of Governor De Witt Clinton of New York--Final success of theOgden Company. Though the Indian lands within the state of New York, had now beennarrowed down to a comparatively small compass, there were not wantingthose who would take from them, the remaining portion of their ancientinheritance. The preemptive right to their reservations was sold by theHolland Land Company, to Colonel Aaron Ogden and others, who were known asthe Ogden Company. The efforts of these gentlemen to induce the Indians todispose of their reservations, resulted in calling several Indiancouncils, at which Red Jacket was the prominent speaker, and in which theentire force of his great powers was summoned, to withstand and thwarttheir endeavors. A council for this purpose was convened at their village near Buffalo, during the summer of 1819. The Hon. Morris S. Miller of Oneida, waspresent as a commissioner on the part of the United States; and the Hon. Nathaniel Gorham of Canandaigua, represented the interests of the state ofMassachusetts. Captain Parrish of Canandaigua, and Captain Horatio Jonesof Genesee, were present as interpreters. As it was known Red Jacket was to speak in opposition to the interests ofthe Land Company, the occasion drew together a large concourse of people;pale faces as well as red, who were interested in the result of thenegotiations contemplated, as also by a desire to hear the speech of thedistinguished orator of the Senecas. Of this Colonel Stone remarks: "Nosubsequent assemblage of the Indians within the state of New York, haspresented so numerous and imposing an array, nor is it likely that so manyof them will ever again meet, on the soil of their fathers. " A gentleman who was present at this treaty by the invitation of a friend, speaks of it, in the following terms:--"My friend and myself havingarrived on the ground at an early hour; we saw at a little distance fromthe wigwams, a group of Indians, under the shade of a cluster of plumtrees, lying on the ground. Among these were a number of chiefs, of whomin a conspicuous place, was Red Jacket, apparently in deep thought, with apile of little small sticks, two or three inches long, before him. "I inquired of a gentleman who was conversant with Indian proceedings, what Red Jacket was doing? He replied that he was studying his speech, andadvised us to retire, as he perceived it disturbed him. About this timethe commissioners, Governor Ogden, his friends, and the two celebratedIndian interpreters, Parrish and Jones, and a large concourse of people, gentlemen and ladies, began to assemble under another cluster of trees, where benches had been prepared in two parallel lines, with a wide spacebetween, and seats across the upper end, for the commissioners. The longseats were occupied on the right by Messrs. Ogden, their officers, andother gentlemen and ladies; the left by Red Jacket, a large number ofchiefs, and other Indians. "There was order, dignity, and perfect silence. The contest sooncommenced. Governor Ogden, a dignified, fine looking man, rose and openedthe case. Mr. Parrish, a man of large stature, stood up at the same time, and interpreted it to the Indians, sentence by sentence. " [Footnote:Author's Scrap Book. ] The object was to buy the Indian title, as they had already brought thepre-emptive right. Governor Ogden told them it was the wish of their greatFather, the President of the United States, that they should sell theselands, and go down to a reservation on the Allegany river, where theycould live in peace, and have a good foothold forever; and used variousarguments in favor of such a course. After Governor Ogden had finished his speech, Red Jacket rose with a greatdeal of composure, and adjusting his belt of handsome wampum, and lookingto the sky for a moment spoke. Mr. Parrish interpreted: "Red Jacket sayshe thanks the Great Spirit that we are all alive and here this pleasantday. " He then addressed the commissioners, answering all the statementsand arguments of Governor Ogden in their order, unfolding a long roll ofparchments attached together, of treaties that had been made at differenttimes by the United States, with the Six Nations. They had been preservedin good order. He pointed to the dates, and to the substance of thetreaties from time to time, with great accuracy, as appeared from theinterpretation, answering Governor Ogden with the most forcible arguments, interspersed with wit and humor. His speech on this occasion, as quoted byCol. Stone, is as follows: "Brother: We understand that you have been appointed by our great Father, the President, to make these communications to us. We thank the GreatSpirit for this pleasant day given us for our reply, and we beg you tolisten. "BROTHER: Previous to your arrival at this council fire, we were told thatour great Father had appointed a commissioner to meet us. You haveproduced your commission, and it has been read and explained to us. Youhave also explained the object of your mission, and the wishes of thePresident in sending you to the council fire of the Six Nations. We do notdoubt that the sealed document you produced, contained the words of thePresident, our great Father. When first informed of your appointment, wesupposed that you were coming to meet us on a very different subject. Since the war of the Revolution, we have held various councils with ourwhite brothers, and in this same manner. We have made various speeches, and entered into several treaties, and these things are well known to ourgreat Father; they are lodged with him. We, too, perfectly understand themall. The same interpreters were then present as now. In consequence ofwhat took place during the late war, we made it known to our great Father, through our interpreter, that we wished to have a talk. Our applicationwas not complied with. We sent a messenger to brighten the chain offriendship with our great Father, but he would not meet around the councilfire, and we were disappointed. We had supposed that the commissioner hehas now sent, came forward to brighten the chain of friendship, to renewformer engagements. When we made a treaty at Canandaigua with ColonelPickering in 1794, we were told, and thought that it was to be permanent, and to be lasting, between us and the United States forever. After severaltreaties had been entered into under our great Father, General Washington, large delegations from the Six Nations were invited to meet him. We wentand met him in Philadelphia. We kindled a council fire. A treaty was thenmade, and General Washington then declared that it should be permanentbetween the red and white brothers; that it should be spread out on thelargest and strongest rocks, that nothing could undermine or break; thatit should be exposed to the view of all. "BROTHER: We shall now see what has been done by the United States. Afterthis treaty had been formed I then said that I did not doubt, but that theUnited States would faithfully perform their engagements. But I told ourwhite brothers at that time, that I feared eventually they would wish todisturb those contracts. You white brothers have the faculty to burst thestoutest rocks. On our part we would not have disturbed those treaties. Shortly after our interview with our great Father, General Washington, atPhiladelphia, a treaty was made at Canandaigua, by which we widened ourformer engagements with our white brothers, and made some new ones. Thecommissioner, Colonel Pickering, then told us that this treaty should bebinding and should last, without alteration for two lives. We wished tomake it extend much farther, and the Six Nations then wished to establisha lasting chain of friendship. On our part, we wished the treaty to lastas long as trees grow, and waters run. Our Brother told us that he wouldagree to it. "BROTHER: I have reminded you of what had taken place between ourconfederates, the Six Nations, and our white brothers, down to the treatyof Canandaigua. At the close of that treaty it was agreed, it being asstrong and binding, as by my former comparisons I have explained, that ifany difficulty should occur, if any monster should cross the chain offriendship, that we would unite to remove those difficulties, to driveaway the monster; that we would go hand in hand and prolong the chain. Soit was agreed. "BROTHER: Many years ago we discovered a cloud rising that darkened theprospect of our peace and happiness. We heard eventful things fromdifferent quarters, from different persons, and at different times, andforesaw that the period was not very distant, when this threatening cloudwould burst upon us. "BROTHER: During the late war we intended to take no part. Yet residingwithin the limits of the United States, and with the advice of GeneralPorter, we agreed around our council fire, that it was right, and we tooka part. We thought it would help to promote our friendship with our whitebrothers, to aid the arms of the United States, and to make our presentseats still stronger. These were our reasons. What were the results? Welost many of our warriors. We spilt our blood in a cause between you, anda people not of our color. "BROTHER: These things may be new to you, but they are not new to yourgovernment. Records of these things are with our great Father, thePresident. You have come, therefore, for a very different purpose from theone we expected. You come to tell us of our situation, of ourreservations, of the opinion of the President that we must change our oldcustoms for new ones; that we must concentrate in order to enjoy the fairmeans you offer of civilization, and improvement in the arts ofagriculture. "BROTHER: At the treaty of Canandaigua, we were promised that differentkinds of mechanics, blacksmiths, and carpenters, should be sent among us;and farmers with their families, that our women might learn to spin. Weagreed to receive them. We even applied for these benefits. We were toldthat our children were too young to be taught. Neither farmers ormechanics were sent. "BROTHER: We had thought that the promises made by one President, werehanded down to the next. We do not change our chiefs as you do. Sincethese treaties were made, you have had several Presidents. We do notunderstand why the treaty made by one, is not binding on the other. On ourpart we expect to comply with our engagements. "BROTHER: You told us when the country was surrounded by whites, and inpossession of Indians, that it was unproductive, not being liable totaxes, nor to make roads nor improvements, it was time to change. As forthe taxing of Indians, this is extra-ordinary; and was never heard of, since the settlement of America. The land is ours, by the gift of theGreat Spirit. How can you tax it? We can make such roads as we want, anddid so when the land was all ours. We are improving our condition. Seethese large stocks of cattle, and those fences. We are surrounded by thewhites, from whom we can procure cattle, and whatever is necessary for ourimprovement. Now that we are confined to narrow limits, we can easily makeour roads, and improve our lands. "Look back to the first settlement by the whites, and then look at ourpresent condition. Formerly we continued to grow in numbers, and instrength. What has become of the Indians, who extended to the salt water?They have been driven back and become few, while you have been growingnumerous, and powerful. This lands is ours, from the God of Heaven. It wasgiven to us. We cannot make land. Driven back and reduced as we are, youwish to cramp us more and more. You tell us of a pre-emptive right. Suchmen you say own one reservation, and such another. But they are all ours, ours from the top to the bottom. If Mr. Ogden had come from heaven, withflesh on his bones, as I we now see him, and said that the Heavenly Fatherhad given him a title, we might then believe him. "BROTHER: You say that the President has sent us word that it is for ourinterest to dispose of our lands. You tell us that there is a good tractof land at Allegany. This too is very extraordinary. Our feet have coveredevery inch of that reservation. A communication like this has never beenmade to us, at any of our councils. The President must have beendisordered in mind, when he offered to lead us off by the arms, to theAllegany reservation. I have told you of the treaty we made with theUnited States. Here is the belt of wampum, that confirmed that treaty. Here too is the parchment. You know its contents. I will not open it. Nowthe tree of friendship is decaying; its limbs are fast falling off. Youare at fault. "Formerly we called the British brothers. Now we call the President, ourFather. Probably among you, are persons with families of children. Weconsider ourselves the children of the President. What would be yourfeelings, were you told that your children were to be cast upon a nakedrock, there to protect themselves? The different claims you tell us of, onour lands, I cannot understand. We are placed here by the Great Spirit, for purposes known to him. You have no right to interfere. You told usthat we had large and unproductive tracts of land. We do not view it so. Our seats, we consider small; and if we are left here long, by the GreatSpirit, we shall stand in need of them. We shall be in want of timber. Land after many years' use wears out; our fields must be renewed, and newones improved, so that we have no more land in our reservations than wewant. Look at the white people around us, and back. You are not crampedfor lands. They are large. Look at that man. [Footnote: Mr. Ellicott, agent of the Holland Land Company. ] If you want to buy, apply to him. Hehas lands enough to sell. We have none to part with. You laugh, but do notthink I trifle. I am sincere. Do not think we are hasty in making up ourminds. We have had many councils, and thought for a long time upon thissubject. We will not part with any, not with one of our reservations. "We recollect that Mr. Ogden addressed his speech to you, therefore I havespoken to you. Now I will speak to Mr. Ogden. "BROTHER: You recollect when you first came to this ground, that you toldus you had bought the pre-emptive right. A right to purchase given you bythe government. Remember my reply. I told you, you had been unfortunate inbuying. You said you would not disturb us. I then told you as long as Ilived, you must not come forward to explain that right. You have come. Seeme before you. You have heard our reply to the commissioner sent by thePresident. I again repeat that, one and all, chiefs and warriors, we areof the same mind. We will not part with any of our reservations. Do notmake your application anew, nor in any other shape. Let us hear no more ofit. Let us part as we met, in friendship. " Col. Stone refers to the kindness of Major Joseph Delafield, for thespeeches made at this council, as given in his work, and the mostimportant of which is presented here; they were taken down at the timefrom the lips of the interpreter, who stated that "he could not translatesome of Red Jacket's figurative flights, they were too wild and difficultto be rendered in English, and he did not attempt it. " Much doubtless thatserved to give point and zest to his speech, was either omitted, or lostits force, in being transferred to our language. The writer of the sketchpreviously alluded to, among several points in this speech which wereimpressed on his memory, mentions one not found in the above. "Thegentleman says, that our great Father says, we can go Allegany, and have agood foothold forever; _yes, a good foothold, for it is all rock_. " Though the efforts of the Ogden Company to obtain the consent of theIndians to sell their remaining lands, were at this time unsuccessful, they were nevertheless repeated. The demand of Red Jacket, "do not makeyour application anew, nor in any other shape, " was unheeded. Col. Stone, on the authority of the Hon. Albert Tracy, mentions a treatyheld for this same purpose in 1822 or 1823, in which Red Jacket replied toa speech made by the commissioner, and also by Governor Ogden, entering, as in the preceding speech, upon a regular and connected history of thetransactions of the Indians with the whites, up to that time, and in thecourse of his speech, used the language very happily alluded to by Mr. Bryant, in his memorial address. At the close of the speech that has been quoted almost entire, some of hispeople desired him to apologize for one or two utterances he had made, regarding them as rude, and adapted to awaken unpleasant reflections. Herefused, saying, "NO, IT HAS GONE FORTH, LET IT STAND. " A circumstancedoubtless alluded to, in the words which immediately follow: "Often thefierceness of his temper, the righteous indignation that swelled hisbosom, impelled him to hurl defiance at his foes, and to use language, thepossible consequences of which, caused the more timid and abject of hisfollowers, to tremble with apprehension. But Red Jacket would retract nota single word, although a majority of the chiefs, would sometimes secretlydeprecate the severity of his utterances. " "Again on other occasions, sorely beset and almost despairing, he wouldessay to melt the hearts of the pitiless pursuers of his people, and giveutterance to such touching words as these: "We first knew you a feeble plant, which wanted a little earth whereon togrow. We gave it to you, and afterward, when we could have trod you underour feet, we watered and protected you; and now you have grown to be amighty tree, whose top reaches the clouds, and whose branches overspreadthe whole land; whilst we, who were then the tall pine of the forest, havebecome the feeble plant and need your protection. " "Again assuming the pleading tones of a supplicant, he said, 'when youfirst came here, you clung around our knee, and called us FATHER. We tookyou by the hand and called you BROTHERS. You have grown greater than we, so that we can no longer reach up to your hand. But we wish to clingaround your knee, and be called YOUR CHILDREN. '" In this same speech, referring to their services during the late war withEngland, he said: "Not long ago you raised the war-club against him, who was once our greatFather over the waters. You asked us to go with you to the war. It was notour quarrel. We knew not that you were right. We asked not; we cared not;it was enough for us, that you were our brothers. We went with you to thebattle. We fought and bled for you; and now, " his eye kindling withemotion, and the deepest feeling indicated in his utterance, as he pointedto some Indians present, that had been wounded in that contest; "and now, dare you pretend to us, that our Father the President, while he sees ourblood running, yet fresh from the wounds received, while fighting hisbattles, has sent you with a message to persuade us to relinquish the poorremains of our once boundless possessions; to sell the birth place of ourchildren, and the graves of our fathers! No! Sooner than believe that hegave you this message, we will believe that _you have stolen yourcommission, and are a cheat and a liar_. " Once more, speaking of the pre-emptive right and the assurance given themthat their lands were desired only in return for a fair equivalent oftheir value, he called their attention to the great cessions the Indianshad already made, together with the solemn declarations that they shouldnot be importuned to relinquish their remaining reservations, he said:"You tell us of your claim to our land, and that you have purchased itfrom your State. We know nothing of your claim, and we care nothing forit. Even the whites have a law by which they cannot sell what they do notown. How then has your State, which never owned our land, sold it to you?We have a title to it, and we know that our title is good; for it camedirect from the Great Spirit, who gave it to us, his red children. Whenyou can ascend where he is, " pointing toward the skies, "and will get hisdeed, and show it to us, then, and never till then, will we acknowledgeyour title. You say you came not to cheat us of our lands, but to buythem. Who told you that we have lands to sell? You never heard it fromus. " Then rising up and giving Mr. Ogden a look of deep earnestness, if not ofindignation, he said: "Did I not tell you the last time we met, that whilst Red Jacket lived, you would get no more lands of the Indians? How then, while you see himalive and strong, " striking his hand violently on his breast, "_do youthink to make him a liar?_" The persistence with which the Senecas were importuned to sell theirlands, led them to make an appeal to the president, and afterward to thegovernor of New York. The latter, Governor De Witt Clinton, sent them a reply worthy of his nameand office. It is as follows: "All the right that Ogden and his company have to your reservations, isthe right of purchasing them when you think it expedient to sell them, that is, they can buy your lands, but no other person can. You may retainthem as long as you please, and you may sell them to Ogden as soon as youplease. You are the owners of these lands in the same way that yourbrethren the Oneidas, are of their reservations. They are all that is leftof what the Great Spirit gave to your ancestors. No man shall deprive youof them without your consent. The State will protect you in the fullenjoyment of your property. We are strong and willing to shield you fromoppression. The Great Spirit looks down on the conduct of mankind, andwill punish us if we permit the remnant of the Indian nations which iswith us to be injured. We feel for you, brethren; we shall watch over yourinterests. We know that in a future world we shall be called upon toanswer for our conduct to our fellow creatures. " Col. Stone refers to the Hon. Albert H. Tracy, as having furnished thenotes of the council we have just been considering. The same authorityspeaking of the eloquence of Red Jacket, says: "It is evident that thebest translations of Indian speeches, must fail to express the beauty andsublimity of the originals; especially of such an original as Red Jacket. It has been my good fortune to hear him a few times, but only of lateyears, and when his powers were enfeebled by age, and still more, byintemperance. But I shall never forget the impression made on me, thefirst time I saw him in council: "Deep on his front engraven, "Deliberation sate, and public care, "And princely counsel in his face yet shone, "Majestic, though in ruin. "I can give no idea of the strong impression it made on my mind, thoughconveyed to it through the medium of an illiterate interpreter, Even inthis mangled form, I saw the _disjecta membra_ of a regular andsplendid oration. " [Footnote: Col. Stone's Life and Times of Red Jacket. ] The Ogden Company though defeated time and again by the watchfulness, andpowerful influence of Red Jacket, continued to ply their endeavors, untilby degrees, the remaining portion of their once proud inheritance, waswrested from them, and the orator was left in the decline of life tosurvey, as he often did in a spirit of dejection, the haunts of his youth, which had nearly all passed into other hands, through the craft andavarice of the white man. CHAPTER XIX. Witchcraft--Lease of Tom-Jemmy--Testimony of Red Jacket--Red Jacket'sPhilippic--Finding of the court--Remarkable interview of Dr. Breckenridgewith Red Jacket--Further expression of views. In the spring of 1821, a man belonging to Red Jacket's tribe, fell into alanguishing condition, and after lingering for some time, unable to obtainrelief, died. The _medicine men_ were unable to divine the cause ofhis malady; the circumstances of his sickness and death, were thought tobe very peculiar, and his friends could discover no better way ofexplaining the matter, than to suppose he had been bewitched. The Indians believed in sorcery, and at different times in their historyhad been known to execute summary judgment, on those whom they supposed tobe guilty of practicing the Satanic art. In the present instance suspicionrested on the woman, by whom he had been attended, during his sickness. Inpursuance of the customs of their nation she was condemned to die. Thesentence was executed by Soo-nong-gise, a chief, commonly called Tom-Jemmy. It took place at their reservation near Buffalo. Coming to theknowledge of the whites in the vicinity, it excited feelings of horror, mingled with indignation. The case was taken in hand by their authorities, who without regard to Indian jurisdiction, arrested Tom-Jemmy and threwhim into prison. At his trial the plea was set up in his defense, that the Indians were asovereign and independent nation, having their own laws, and their ownmode of carrying them into execution; that the offense was within theacknowledged bounds of their own territory, that according to their laws, it was not a crime, inasmuch as the act of the prisoner was in theexecution of a sentence, that had been passed upon the woman in question. The trial was conducted with reference to this issue, and numerouswitnesses were examined to substantiate the facts having a bearing on thecase. Red Jacket, among others, was called upon the stand, and examinedwith reference to the laws, and usages of his people. The counsel who conducted the prosecution, wishing to exclude histestimony, inquired whether he believed in the existence of a God? "_Moretruly than one who could ask me such a question_;" was his instant andindignant reply. On cross examination the inquiry was made, as to the rank he held amonghis own people? "Look at the papers, which the white men keep the mostcarefully, " meaning the treaties ceding their lands, "and they will tellyou. " The orator's testimony, as did also that of other witnesses, who testifiedin the case, went to show that this woman, according to the judgment ofthe Indians, was a witch. That she had been regularly tried, and condemnedby their laws; and her death was in conformity with usages, that had beenin existence among them, from time immemorial. During the course of this examination, Red Jacket perceived that thebelief of the Indians in witchcraft, was made a subject of ridicule amongthe bystanders, as well as legal gentlemen present, and he took occasionwhen an opportunity offered, to break forth in the following language: "What! Do you denounce us as fools and bigots, because we still believethat which you yourselves believed two centuries ago? Your black coatsthundered this doctrine from the pulpit, your judges pronounced it fromthe bench, and sanctioned it with the formalities of law; and you wouldnow punish our unfortunate brother, for adhering to the faith of _his_fathers and of _yours_! Go to Salem! Look at the records of your owngovernment, and you will find that hundreds have been executed for thevery crime, which has called forth the sentence of condemnation againstthis woman, and drawn down upon her the arms of vengeance. What have ourbrothers done, more than the rulers of your own people have done? And whatcrime has this man committed, by executing in a summary way, the laws ofhis country, and the command of the Great Spirit?" [Footnote: Col. Stone, and also Drake's Book of the Indians. ] It has been observed of Red Jacket's appearance on this occasion: "thereis not, perhaps in nature, a more expressive eye than that of Red Jacket;when fired by indignation or revenge, it is terrible; and when he choosesto display his unrivalled talent for irony, his keen sarcastic glance, isirresistible. " [Footnote: Drake. ] This trial resulted in finding the allegations in the prisoner's plea tobe true; yet the judgment being suspended, it was referred finally to theSupreme Court. A thorough examination of the laws, treaties and historyrelating to our correspondence with the Indian tribes, gave evidence of asort of sovereignty among them, but as it was thought inexpedient torender a decision, that would recognize their independent jurisdiction, the prisoner was liberated, and the case dismissed. Not far from the time we are now considering, a remarkable conversationtook place between Red Jacket and a young candidate for the clericaloffice, who afterward became an eminent divine. [Footnote: Rev. JohnBreckenridge, D. D. ] It serves very much to illustrate the orator'scharacter and views, and as we have permission, we give it entire, asfollows: "The first-opportunity I ever enjoyed of seeing that deservedly celebratedIndian chief, Red Jacket, was in the year 1821, at the residence ofGeneral Peter B. Porter, Black Rock, New York. Being on a visit to thegeneral and his family, it seemed a peculiarly fit occasion to becomeacquainted with the great Seneca orator, whose tribe resided within a fewmiles of Black Rock. General Porter embraced in his command, the Indianwarriors who fought with us on that line, during the late war, with GreatBritain. From this cause; from his high character; his intimateacquaintance with the chiefs; and his known attachment to theseinteresting people, he had great influence over them; and his lamentedlady, who it is not indelicate for me to say, was my sister, had by herkindness won the rugged hearts of all their leading men. So that theirunited influence, and my near relationship to them, secured to me at onceaccess to the chiefs, and their entire confidence. "I had not only a great desire to see Red Jacket, but also to use thisimportant opportunity to correct some of his false impressions, in regardto Christianity, and the missionaries established in his tribe. To thisend it was agreed to invite Red Jacket and the other chiefs of theSenecas, to visit Co-na-shus-ta, [Footnote: Name given by Red Jacket toGeneral Porter. ] and meet his brother at his house. The invitation wasaccordingly given, and very promptly and respectfully accepted. "On the appointed day they made their appearance in due form headed by RedJacket, to the number of perhaps eight or ten, besides himself. Red Jacketwas dressed with much taste, in the Indian costume throughout. He wore ablue dress, the upper garment cut after the fashion of a hunting shirt, with blue leggings, very neat moccasins, a red jacket, and a girdle of redabout his waist. I have seldom seen a more dignified or noble looking bodyof men than the entire group. It seems, though no such impression wasdesigned to be made by the terms of the invitation, that some indefiniteexpectation had been excited in their minds, of meeting an official agenton important business. And they have been so unworthily tampered with, andso badly treated by us, as a people, and many of their most importanttreaties have been so much the result of private and corrupting appeals, that they very naturally look for some evil design in every approach tothem, however open and simple it may be. So it was on this occasion. Assoon as the ceremonies of introduction had passed, with the civilitiesgrowing out of it, the old orator seated himself in the midst of thecircle of chiefs, and after a word with them, followed by a generalassent, he proceeded in a very serious and commanding manner, alwaysspeaking in his own nervous tongue, through an interpreter, to address meas follows: "'We have had a call from our good friends, ' (pointing to the general andhis lady), 'to come down to Black Rock to meet their brother. We are gladto break bread and to drink the cup of friendship with them. They aregreat friends to our people, and we love them much. Co-na-shus-ta is agreat man. His woman has none like her. We often come to their house. Wethank them for telling us to come to-day. But as all the chiefs were askedwe expected some important talk. Now, here we are: what is your business?' "This, as may be readily supposed, was an embarrassing position to a youngman just out of college. I paused. Every countenance was fixed upon me, while Red Jacket in particular seemed to search me with his arrowy eye, and to feel that the private and informal nature of the meeting, and theextreme youth of the man, were hardly in keeping with the character andnumber of the guests invited; and his whole manner implied, that 'but forthe sake of the general and his good viands, I should have waited for youto come to us. ' With these impressions of his feelings, I proceeded to sayin reply: "That I should have thought it very presumptuous in me to send for himalone, and still more for all the chiefs of his tribe, to come so far tosee me; and that my intention had been to visit him, and the other chiefsat his town; but the general and his lady, could not go with me tointroduce me. Nor were we at all certain that we should find him and theother chiefs at home; and at any rate the general's house was moreconvenient. He intended, when he asked them, to keep them as long as theycould stay, and to invite them to break his bread, and drink his cup, andsmoke his pipe; that his woman, and he as well as I, desired to see themat their house; that as to myself, I was a young man, and had no businesswith them, except that I had heard a great deal of Red Jacket, and wishedto see him and hear him talk; and also that I had some things to say tohim, when we were better acquainted, which though not _business_, wereimportant to his people; and I thought it would be interesting to him, asI knew he loved his people much; and finally that I would return hisvisit, and show him that it was not out of disrespect, but out of regardfor him, and great desire to see him, that we had sent for him, this beingthe way that white men honor one another. "Mrs. Porter immediately confirmed what I had said, and gave special pointto the hospitality of the house, and the great desire I had to see RedJacket. Her appeal, added to the reply, relaxed the rigor of his mannerand that of the other chiefs, while it relieved our interview of allpainful feelings. "After this general letting down of the scene, Red Jacket turned to mefamiliarly and asked; 'What are you? You say you are not a governmentagent, are you a gambler? [Footnote: The name given by Red Jacket to aland speculator. ] or a black coat? or what are you?' I answered: 'I am yettoo young a man to engage in any profession: but I hope some of these daysto be a black coat. ' He lifted up his hands accompanied by his eyes, in amost expressive way, and though not a word was uttered, every one fullyunderstood that he very distinctly expressed the sentiment, what a fool! "I had too often been called to bear from those reputed great and wiseamong _white_ men, the shame of the cross, to be surprised by hismanner; and I was too anxious to conciliate his good feelings to attemptany retort, so that I commanded my countenance, and seeming not to haveobserved him, I proceeded to tell him something about our colleges, etc. , etc. That gradually led his mind away from the ideas with which it wasfilled and excited when he arrived. "A good deal of general conversation ensued, addressed to one and anotherof the chiefs, and we were just arriving at the hour of dinner, when ourconference was suddenly broken up by the arrival of a breathlessmessenger, saying that an old chief, whose name I forget, had just died, and the other chiefs were immediately needed to attend his burial. One ofthe chiefs shed tears at the news; all seemed serious; but the otherssuppressed their feelings, and spent a few moments in very earnestconversation, the result of which Red Jacket announced to us. They haddetermined to return at once to their village; but consented to leave RedJacket and his interpreter. In vain were they urged to wait until afterdinner, or to refresh themselves with something eaten by the way. Withhurried farewell and quick steps they left the house, and by the nearestfootpath returned home. "This occurrence relieved me of one difficulty. It enabled me to see RedJacket at leisure and alone. It seemed also to soften his feelings, andmake him more affable and kind. "Soon after the departure of the chiefs, we were ushered to dinner. RedJacket behaved with great propriety, in all respects; his interpreter, Major Berry, though half a white man and perhaps a chief, eat like a truesavage. After a few awkward attempts at the knife and fork, he foundhimself falling behind, and repeating the old adage which is often quotedto cover the same style among our white urchins of picking a chicken-bone, '_that fingers were made before knives and forks_, ' he proceeded withreal gusto, and much good humor, to make up his lost time upon all partsof the dinner. It being over, I invited Red Jacket into the general'soffice, where we had, for four hours a most interesting conversation on avariety of topics, but chiefly connected with Christianity; the governmentof the United States; the missionaries; and his loved lands. "So great a length of time has passed since that interview, that theremust be supposed a failure in the attempt perfectly to report what wassaid. I am well assured I cannot do justice to his language, even asdiluted by the ignorant interpreter; and his manner cannot be described. But it was so impressive a conversation, and I have so often been calledon to repeat it, that the substance of his remarks has been faithfullyretained by my memory. It is only attempted here to recite a small part ofwhat was then said, and that with particular reference to the illustrationof his character, mind and opinions. "It has already been mentioned and is largely known, that Red Jacketcherished the most violent antipathy toward the American missionaries, whohad been located among his people. This led to very strenuous resistanceof their influence, and to hatred of their religion, but of the truecharacter of which, he was totally ignorant. His deep attachment to hispeople, and his great principle that their national glory and evenexistence, depended upon keeping themselves distinct from white men, layat the foundation of his aversion to Christianity. Though a pagan, yet hisopposition was political, and he cared very little for any religion exceptso far as it seemed to advance, or endanger the glory and safety of thetribe. "He had unfortunately been led by designing and corrupt white men, whowere interested in the result, falsely to associate the labors of themissionaries, with designs against his nation; and those who wished theSenecas removed from their lands that _they_ might profit by thepurchase, and who saw in the success of the mission the chief danger to_their_ plans, artfully enlisted the pagan party, of which Red Jacketwas the leader, to oppose the missionaries, and thus effectually led tothe final frustration of Red Jacket's policy; in and by the defeat of themissionary enterprise. But as this question is discussed in the sequel, Iwill not anticipate. Thus much it was necessary to premise, in order toexplain the nature and ends of my interview with Red Jacket. "My object was to explain the true state of the case to him, and afterthis to recommend the doctrine of Christ to his understanding and heart. My first step, therefore, was to ask him why he so strongly opposed thesettlement and labors of the missionaries? He replied, because they arethe enemies of the Indians, and under the cloak of doing them good aretrying to cheat them out of their lands. I asked him what proof he had ofthis. He said he had been told so by some of his wise and good friends, among the white men, and he observed that the missionaries were constantlywanting more land, and that by little and little, for themselves, or thosewho hired them to do it, they would take away all their lands, and drivethem off. "I asked him if he knew there was a body of white men, who had alreadybought the exclusive right to buy their lands, from the government of NewYork, and that therefore the missionaries could not hold the lands givenor sold them by the Indians, a moment after the latter left their landsand went away. He seemed to be startled by the statement, but saidnothing. I proceeded to tell him that the true effect of the missionaryinfluence on the tribe was to secure to them the possession of theirlands, by civilizing them, and making them quit the chase, for thecultivation of the soil, building good houses, educating their children, and making them permanent citizens and good men. This was what thespeculators did not wish. Therefore they hated the missionaries. Heacknowledged that the Christian party among the Indians did as I said; butthat was not the way for an Indian to do. Hunting, war and manly pursuits, were best fitted to them. But, said I, your reservation of land is toolittle for that purpose. It is surrounded by the white people, like asmall island by the sea; the deer, the buffalo and bear, have all gone. This won't do. If you intend to live so much longer, you will have to goto the great western wilderness, where there is plenty of game, and nowhite men to trouble you. But he said, we wish to keep our lands and to beburied by our fathers. I know it, and therefore I say that themissionaries are your best friends; for if you follow the ways they teach, you can still hold your lands, though you cannot have hunting grounds, andtherefore you must either do like white men, or remove from your lands, very soon. Your plan of keeping the Indians distinct from the white peopleis begun too late. If you would do it and have large grounds, and wouldlet the missionaries teach you Christianity, far from the bad habits andbig farms of the white people, it would then be well: it would keep yourpeople from being corrupted, and swallowed up by our people who grow sofast around you, and many of whom are very bad. But it is too late to doit here, and you must choose between keeping the missionaries, and beinglike white men, and going to a far country: as it is, I continued, RedJacket is doing more than any body else to break up and drive away hispeople. "This conversation had much effect upon him. He grasped my hand and saidif that were the case it was new to him. He also said he would lay it upin his mind (putting his hand to his noble forehead), and talk of it tothe chiefs, and the people. "It is a very striking fact that the disgraceful scenes now passing beforethe public eye over the grave of Red Jacket, so early and so sadly fulfilthese predictions; and I cannot here forbear to add that the thanks of thenation are due to our present chief-magistrate, [Footnote: The Presidentalluded to is Mr. Van Buren. --W. L. S. ] for the firmness with which he hasresisted the recent efforts to force a fraudulent treaty on the remnant ofthis injured people, and drive them against their will, and against lawand treaties sacredly made, away from their lands, to satisfy the rapacityof unprincipled men. "It may be proper here to say likewise, that I do by no means intend tojustify, all that possibly may have been done by the missionaries to theSenecas. It is probable the earliest efforts were badly conducted; and menof more ability ought to have been sent to that peculiar and difficultstation. But it is not for a moment to be admitted, nor is it crediblethat the authors of the charge believe it, that the worthy men who atevery sacrifice went to the mission among the Senecas, had any other thanthe purest purposes. I visited the station, and intimately knew the chiefmissionary. I marked carefully their plan and progress, and do not doubttheir usefulness any more than their uprightness; and beyond all doubt itwas owing chiefly to malignant influence exerted by white men, that theyfinally failed in their benevolent designs. But my business is to narrate, not to discuss. "My next object was to talk with Red Jacket about Christianity itself. Hewas prompt in his replies, and exercised and encouraged frankness, with aspirit becoming a great man. "He admitted both its truth and excellence, as adapted to white men. Hesaid some keenly sarcastic things about the treatment that so good a manas Jesus, had received from white men. The white men, he said, ought allto be sent to hell for killing him; but as the Indians had no hand in thattransaction, they were in that matter innocent. Jesus Christ was not sentto them; the atonement was not made for them; nor the Bible given to them;and therefore the Christian religion, was not meant for them. If the GreatSpirit had intended that the Indians should be Christians, he would havemade his revelation to them, as well as to the white men. Not having doneso, it was clearly his will that they should continue in the faith oftheir fathers. He said that the red man was of a totally different race, and needed an entirely different religion, and that it was idle as well asunkind, to try to alter their religion, and give them ours. "I asked him to point out the difference of the races, contending thatthey were one, and needed but one religion, and that Christianity was thatreligion, which Christ intended for, and ordered to be preached, to allmen. He had no distinct views of the nature of Christianity as a method ofsalvation, and denied the need of it. As to the unity of the races, Iasked if he ever knew two distinct races, even of the lower animals topropagate their seed from generation to generation. But do not Indians andwhite men do so? He allowed it; but denied that it proved the matter inhand. I pressed the points of resemblance in every thing but color, andthat in the case of the Christian Indians there was a common mind onreligion. He finally waived this part of the debate, by saying that onething was certain, whatever else was not, that white men had a great lovefor Indian women, and left their traces behind them wherever they could! "On the point of needing pardon, from being wicked, he said the Indianswere _good_ till the white man corrupted them. But did not the Indianshave _some_ wickedness _before_ that? 'Not so much. ' And how was_that_ regarded by the Great Spirit?--Would he forgive it? He hopedso, 'did not know. ' Jesus, I rejoined, came to tell us He would, and toget that pardon for us. "As to suffering and death among the Indians, did not they prove that theGreat Spirit was angry with _them_, as well as with white men? Wouldhe thus treat men that were _good_? He said they were not wickedbefore white men came to their country, and taught them to be so. But they_died before that_? And why did they die, if the Great Spirit was notangry, and they wicked? He could not say, and in reply to my explanationof the gospel doctrine of the entrance of death by sin, he again turnedthe subject by saying he was a 'great doctor, ' and could cure any thingbut death. "The interpreter had incidentally mentioned that the reason the chiefs hadto go home so soon, was that they always _sacrificed a white dog on thedeath of a great man_. I turned this fact to the account of theargument, and endeavored to connect it with, and explain by it thedoctrine of atonement, by the blood of Christ, and also pressed him on thequestions, how can this _please_ the Great Spirit on _your_ plan?Why do you offer such a _sacrifice_, for so it is considered? And_where_ they got such a rite from? He attempted no definite reply. Many other topics were talked over. But these specimens suffice toillustrate his views, and mode of thinking. "At the close of the conversation he proposed giving me a _name_, thathenceforth I might be numbered among his friends, and admitted to theintercourse and regards of the nation. Supposing this not amiss, Iconsented. But before he proceeded he called for some whiskey. He was atthis time an intemperate man, and though perfectly sober on that occasion, evidently displayed toward the close of the interview, the need ofstimulus, which it is hardly necessary to say, we carefully kept from him. But he _insisted_ now, and after some time a small portion was sent tohim in the bottom of a decanter. He looked at it, shook it, and with asneer said, 'why here is not whiskey enough for a name to float in. ' Butno movement being made to get more, he drank it off, and proceeded with asort of pagan orgies, to give me a name. It seemed a semi-civil, semi-religious ceremony. He walked around me again and again, muttering soundswhich the interpreter did not venture to explain; and laying his hand onme pronounced me 'Con-go-gu-wah, ' and instantly, with great apparentdelight, took me by the hand as a brother. I felt badly during the scene, but it was beyond recall, and supposing it might be useful in a futureday, submitted to the initiation. "Red Jacket was in appearance nearly sixty years old at this time. He hada weather-beaten look; age had done something to produce this, probablyintemperance more. But still his general appearance was striking, and hisface noble. His lofty and capacious forehead, his piercing black eye, hisgently curved lips, and slightly aquiline nose, all marked a great man, and as sustained and expressed by his dignified air, made a deepimpression on every one that saw him. All these features became doublyexpressive when his mind and body were set in motion by the effort ofspeaking, if effort that may be called which flowed like a free, fullstream from his lips. I saw him in the wane of life, and I heard him onlyin private, and through a stupid, careless interpreter. Yetnotwithstanding these disadvantages, he was one of the greatest men andmost eloquent orators I ever knew. His cadence was measured and yet verymusical. In ordinary utterance it amounted to a sort of musical monotony. But when excited he would spring to his feet, elevate his head, expand hisarms and utter with indescribable effect of manner and tone, some of hisnoblest thoughts. "After this interesting conference had closed, the old chief with hisinterpreter, bade us a very civil and kind farewell, and set forth on footfor his own wigwam. "It was four years after this before I had the pleasure of again seeing myold friend. I was then on a flying visit to Black Rock. At an early day Irepaired to his village, but he was not at home. Ten days after, as wewere just leaving the shore in the steamboat to go up the lake, hesuddenly presented himself. It was unhappily too late to return. He hailedme by name, and pointed with much animation to such parts of his person aswere decorated with some red cloth which I at parting had presented tohim, and which, though not worn as a jacket, was with much tastedistributed over his person. These he exhibited as proofs of his friendlyrecollection. "The last time I ever saw him was at the close of Mr. Adams'administration. He, with a new interpreter (Major Berry having beenremoved by death), had been on a visit to his old friend, Co-na-shus-tah, then Secretary of War. After spending some time at the capital, where Ioften met him, and had the horror to see his dignity often laid in thedust, by excessive drunkenness, he paid me by invitation a final visit atBaltimore, on his way home. He took only time enough to dine. He lookeddejected and forlorn. He and his interpreter had each a suit of commoninfantry uniform, and a sword as common, which he said had been presentedto him at the war department. He was evidently ashamed of them. I confessI was too. But I forbear. He was then sober and serious. He drank hardcider, which was the strongest drink I could conscientiously offer him, soI told him. He said it was enough. I said but little to him of religion, urged him to prepare to meet the Great Spirit, and recommended him to goto Jesus for all he needed. He took it kindly, said he should see me nomore, and was going to his people to die. So it was, not long after this, he was called to his last account. " Col. Stone represents the testimony of Dr. Breckenridge as correspondingwith hundreds of others, who confess their inability to do the oratorjustice. He laments "his inability to make even an approach to justice, asto the language, and figures in which Red Jacket clothed his thoughts, andby which he illustrated and enforced them. " At another time the benefits of Christianity and the advantages ofcivilization, being urged by a benevolent gentleman on Red Jacket'sattention, he made use of the following language: "As to civilizationamong the white people, I believe it is a good thing, and that it was soordered they should get their living in that manner. I believe in a God, and that it was ordered by Him that we, the red people, should get ourliving in a different way, namely: from the wild game of the woods, andthe fishes of the waters. I believe in the Great Spirit who created theheavens and the earth. He peopled the forests, and the air and the waters. He then created man and placed him as the superior animal of thiscreation, and designed him as governor over all other created beings onearth. He created man differing from all other animals. He created the redman, the white, the black and the yellow. All these he created for wisebut inscrutable purposes. " Reasoning from analogy and from the different varieties of the samespecies, and the different species under one genus, among all otheranimals, he pointed out their different modes of living, and the differentdesigns of the Creator, that appeared to be evinced with respect to them. He then proceeded: "This being so, what proof have we that he did not make a similararrangement with the human species, when we find so vast, so various, andso irreconcilable a variety among them, causing them to live differently, and to pursue different occupations. "As to religion, we all ought to have it. We should adore and worship ourCreator, for his great favor in placing us over all his works. If wecannot with the same fluency of speech, and in the same flowing language, worship as you do, we have our mode of adoring, which we do with a sincereheart; then can you say that our prayers and thanksgivings, proceedingfrom grateful hearts, and sincere minds are less acceptable to the GreatGod of the heavens and the earth, though manifested either by speaking, dancing, or feasting, than yours, uttered in your own manner and style?"[Footnote: As quoted by Col. Stone from MS collections of Joseph W. Moulton. ] CHAPTER XX. Personal characteristics--Interview with General Lafayette--Visit of aFrench Nobleman--Col. Pickering reproved--Address on launching a schoonerbearing his name--Anecdote of Red Jacket and Capt. Jones--His humor--Strong memory--Its cultivation--Contempt for pretension without merit--Love for the sublime--Portraits--Acute perception--Refined sense ofpropriety--First bridge at Niagara Falls--Loss of his children--Care forhis people. A prominent characteristic of Red Jacket's mind, was self esteem, whichled him to be quite tenacious of his own opinion. He probably did notunderrate his own ability. He felt conscious of possessing talents, whichwould enable him to act with dignity and propriety, in any emergencycalling for their exercise. He never appeared to be intimidated orembarrassed at the thought of meeting with great men, but seemed always tobe at home in their society, and to feel and act as though he regardedhimself on an equality with them. This was evident in his interview withGeneral Lafayette, in 1825. On being presented to the general, the orator inquired if he recollectedbeing present, at the treaty of peace with the Six Nations at FortStanwix, in 1784. Lafayette replied that he remembered that great councilvery well. "And what, " said he, "has become of the young chief, whoresisted so strenuously and eloquently on that occasion, the idea of theIndians' burying the hatchet?" "_He is before you_, " was the instant reply. Upon which the generalremarked, that time had wrought very great changes upon them both sincethat memorable period. "Ah!" said Red Jacket, "time has not been so severeon you, as it has on me. It has left you a fresh countenance, and hair tocover your head; while to me, --behold!"--And taking a handkerchief fromhis head, with an air of much feeling, he disclosed the fact that he wasnearly bald. Several persons present could not refrain from smiling at thesimplicity of the Indian, who appeared ignorant of the way the white man, was wont to repair the ravages of age in this respect. His simplicity wasenlightened by the fact, that the general was indebted to a wig, for hisgenerous supply of hair. Whereupon the orator playfully remarked, referring to the practice of his people in war, that it had not occurredto him before, that he might supply the deficiency by _scalping_ some ofhis neighbors. M. Lavasseur, the secretary of General Lafayette, remarksof the orator's appearance at that time. "This extraordinary man, althoughmuch worn down by time and intemperance, preserves yet in a surprisingdegree, the exercise of all his faculties. He obstinately refuses to speakany language, but that of his own people, and affects a great dislike toall others. Although it is easy to discern, that he perfectly understandsthe English. He refused nevertheless, to reply to the general before hisinterpreter had translated his questions into the Seneca language. "[Footnote: See Drake, Col. Stone and others. ] A few Indian words, which the general had picked up during his previousvisit to this country, on being repeated by him to the orator, gratifiedhim exceedingly, and appeared to increase very much his regard forLafayette. Red Jacket appeared always to be gratified by attentions received fromdistinguished characters. Yet even to enjoy their society, he would notcompromise his own dignity. It is said that "about the year 1820, a youngFrench nobleman, who was making the tour of the United States, visited thetown of Buffalo. Hearing of the fame of Red Jacket, and learning that hisresidence was but seven miles distant, he sent him word, that he wasdesirous to see him, adding a request that the chief would visit him inBuffalo the next day. Red Jacket received the message with contempt, andreplied: 'Tell the _young man_ that if he wishes to see the _oldchief_, he may find him with his nation, where other strangers pay theirrespects to him; and Red Jacket will be glad to see him. ' "The count sent back his mesenger to say he was fatigued with his journey, and could not go to the Seneca village; that he had come all the way fromFrance, to see the great orator of the Senecas, and after having puthimself to so much trouble, to see so distinguished a man, the lattercould not refuse to meet him at Buffalo. "'Tell him, ' said the sarcastic chief, 'It is very strange he should comeso far to see me, and then stop within seven miles of my lodge. ' Theretort was richly merited. The count visited him at his wigwam, and thenRed Jacket accepted an invitation to dine with him, at his lodgings atBuffalo. "The young nobleman was greatly pleased with him, declaring that heconsidered him a greater wonder than the falls of Niagara. This remark wasthe more striking as it was made within view of the great cataract. But itwas just. He who made the world, and filled it with wonders, has declaredman to be the crowning work of the whole Creation. " [Footnote: McKenney'sIndian Biography. ] On one occasion at a treaty attended by Colonel Pickering, Red Jacketobserved that the attention of the colonel, who was in the habit of takingdown, as they were interpreted, the Indian speeches made, was withdrawnfrom himself, and his eye directed to the paper on which he was writing. Red Jacket paused. The colonel desired him to proceed. "No, " said theorator, "not when you hold down your head. " "Why can you not go on while Iwrite?" "Because, " replied the chief, "if you look me in the eye, you willthen perceive if I tell you the truth or not. " [Footnote: Col. Stone. ] On another occasion, Colonel Pickering turned, while the orator wasaddressing him to speak to a person near. The chief thereupon rebuked him, saying with much emphasis, "When a Seneca speaks he ought to be listenedto with attention, from one extremity of this great island to the other. "[Footnote: Ib. ] Toward the close of his life he was present by invitation, at thelaunching of a schooner at Black Rock, bearing his name. He made a shortaddress on the occasion which indicates the estimation in which heregarded his own merit. In the course of his speech, addressing himselfdirectly to the vessel, he said: "You have a great name given you, striveto deserve it. Be brave and daring. Go boldly into the great lakes, andfear neither the swift winds, nor the strong waves. Be not frightened norovercome by them, for it is by resisting storms and tempests, that I, whose name you bear, obtained my renown. Let my great example inspire youto courage, and lead you to glory. " [Footnote: Col. Stone. ] Also late in life, when at one of the hotels in Auburn, N. Y. , observing aperson whom he thought did not treat him with proper deference, he cameand stood before him and stamping his foot on the floor, exclaimed withmuch emphasis, "_I am Red Jacket!_" [Footnote: Incident given to theauthor by J. C. Ivison, Esq. , of Auburn. ] He did not relish being trifled with even in playfulness. "At one time when visiting the house of Captain Jones, on taking his seatat the breakfast table with the family, Mrs. Jones, knowing his extremefondness for sugar, mischieviously prepared his coffee without theaddition of that luxury. On discovering the cheat, the chief looked at thecaptain with an offended expression, and thus rebuked him: 'My son, 'stirring his cup with energy, 'Do you allow your squaw thus to trifle withyour father?' Perceiving at the same time, by the giggling of thechildren, that they had entered into the joke, he continued, 'And do youallow your children to make sport of their chief?' Jones and his wifethereupon apologized, and the latter made the _amende honorable_, byhanding him the sugar-bowl, which he took, and with half angry sarcasmfilled the cup to the brim, with sugar. The liquid not holding so large aquantity in solution, he ate the whole with his spoon. " [Footnote: Col. Stone. ] Still he enjoyed a laugh when he was making the sport. He was veryentertaining in conversation, and would sometimes in the presence of hisassociates, relax his dignity, and for a time, when he felt in the mood, keep them in a roar of laughter, by his anecdotes, or by taking offsomething ludicrous, he had observed among the whites. When he had carriedit sufficiently far, he would draw himself up, and resume his dignity, when by common consent, the sport would cease. [Footnote: Wm. Jones, tothe author. ] He very often entertained his people also, by recounting his interviewswith distinguished persons, or by describing what he had seen in greatplaces. One conversant with him thus speaks of the manner in which he representedto his people, what he had seen during his visit at the seat ofgovernment. "I remember having seen him on one of those occasions, when, after having seated the Indians around him in a semi-circle, taking thecocked hat that had been presented to him by General Knox, then Secretaryof War, in his hand, he went round bowing to the Indians, as though theywere the company at the president's house, and himself the president. Hewould then repeat to one and another all the compliments which he chose tosuppose the president had bestowed upon him, and which his auditors andadmiring people, supposed had been thus bestowed. " [Footnote: ThomasMorris to Col. Stone. ] Red Jacket had a very _tenacious memory_. The Indians were noted forthe care they bestowed on this faculty of the mind. In the absence ofwritten records, they formed a device, which was quite ingenious, andindicated a high degree of intelligence, by which they perpetuated theknowledge of important events, in their history. They used belts, andstrings of wampum. For instance, they are assembled to form some important treaty. This_treaty_ would be represented by the _belt_. Each string in thatbelt would represent a distinct article, or provision in that treaty. Asthey fixed their eye upon the belt, they knew it as well as though it hadbeen labelled. As they took hold of each string, they could as it were, read each article of the treaty. For the preservation of these belts theyhad what were termed their council-houses, where they were hung up inorder, and preserved with great care. At times they were reviewed. Thefather would go over them, and tell the meaning of each belt and of eachstring in the belt to the son, and thus the knowledge of all theirimportant events, was transmitted from one generation to another. Red Jacket, without any doubt excelled all of his race, in the perfectionto which he had brought this faculty of his mind. Nothing escaped thetenacious grasp of his memory. The following is an instance in point. At a council held with the Indiansby Gov. Tompkins of New York, a contest arose between him and Red Jacketin regard to a fact connected with a treaty of many years' standing. Mr. Tompkins stated one thing, and the Indian chief corrected him, insistingthat the reverse of his assertion was true. "But" it was rejoined: "youhave forgotten. " We have it written down on paper. "The paper then tells alie, " was the confident answer; "I have it written down here;" he added, placing his hand with great dignity on his brow. "You Yankees are bornwith a feather between your fingers, but your paper does not speak thetruth. The Indian keeps his knowledge here. This is the book the GreatSpirit gave them; it does not lie. " A reference was immediately made tothe treaty in question, when to the astonishment of all present, and thetriumph of the unlettered statesman, the document confirmed every word hehad uttered. [Footnote: McKenney's Indian Biography. ] He held in utter contempt _pretensions_ without _merit_. "On oneoccasion not many years before his death, a gentleman from Albany, on avisit at Buffalo, being desirous of seeing the chief, sent a message tothat effect. The gentleman was affluent in money and in words, the latterflowing forth with great rapidity, and in an inverse ratio to his ideas. He had also a habit of approaching very near to any person with whom hewas conversing, and chattering with almost unapproachable volubility. Onreceiving the message, Red Jacket dressed himself with the utmost care, designing, as he ever did when sober, to make the most imposingimpression, and came over to the village. "Being introduced to the stranger, he soon measured his intellectualcapacity, and made no effort to suppress his disappointment, which wasindeed sufficiently disclosed in his features. After listening, for a fewmoments to the chatter of the gentleman, Red Jacket with a look of mingledchagrin and contempt, approached close to him and exclaimed, 'cha, cha, cha, ' as rapidly as utterance would allow. Then drawing himself to hisfull height, he turned proudly upon his heel, and walked away in thedirection of his own domicil, _as straight as an Indian_, nor deigned tolook behind while in sight of the tavern. The gentleman with more moneythan brains, was for once lost in astonishment, and longer motionless andsilent than he had ever been before. " [Footnote: Col. Stone. ] He held the mere sensualist in equal contempt. "Many years ago, before theIndian towns were broken up along the valley of the Genesee, a clan of theSenecas resided at Canawangus, in the vicinity of the present town ofAvon. The chief of the clan was a good, easy man, named Hot Bread. He wasa hereditary sachem, not having risen by merit, was weak and inefficient, and of gluttonous habits. On a certain occasion, when Mr. George Hosmerwas accompanying Red Jacket to an Indian council, in the course of generalconversation he inquired the chief's opinion of Hot Bread. 'Waugh!'exclaimed Red Jacket: 'He has a little place at Canawangus, big enough forhim. _Big man here_, ' laying his left hand on his abdomen, '_But verysmall here_, ' bringing the palm of his right hand _with significant_emphasis to his forehead. " [Footnote: Ib. ] He loved to hold communion with the sublime and grand in nature. He neverwearied when viewing the falls of Niagara, and their roar, the baritone ofnature's anthem, stirred within, depths that other harmonies failed toreach. When Mr. Catlin, the celebrated Indian portrait painter, desired toobtain the orator's picture, his consent was given, but he must berepresented as standing on Table Rock, "for, " said he, "when I pass to theother world, my spirit will come back, and that is the place around whichit will linger. " [Footnote: Catim's North American Indians. ] The artist gratified the orator, and represents him as standing there inthe attitude of deep thought, dressed with much care in complete Indiancostume, a very interesting memorial, presenting evident marks of beingone of nature's noblemen. Since then Red Jacket has gone to his grave, and this rock where he oftenstood and feasted his soul on sublimities unrivalled in nature, haslikewise fallen, while the world, like the impetuous flood, rolls onunconscious of both. Of the various paintings of Red Jacket, Col. Stone remarks, "The pictureby Mr. Robert W. Weir, taken in 1828, at the request of Doctor John W. Francis of New York, is of far the highest order of merit, and has becomethe standard likeness of the last of the Seneca orators. " To this issubjoined the following description from the pen of Doctor Francis, of theorator's appearance on the occasion, "For this purpose he dressed himself in the costume which he deemed mostappropriate to his character, decorated with his brilliant overcoveringand belt, his tomahawk, and Washington medal. "For the whole period of nearly two hours, on four or five successivedays, he was as punctual to the arrangements of the artist, as anyindividual could be. He chose a large arm chair for his convenience, whilehis interpreter, as well as himself, was occupied for the most part insurveying the various objects, which decorated the artist's room. He had aparty of several Senecas with him, who, adopting the horizontal position, in different parts of the room, regaled themselves with the fumes oftobacco, to their utmost gratification. Red Jacket occasionally united inthis relaxation; but was so deeply absorbed in attention to the work ofthe painter, as to think, perhaps, of no other subject. At times hemanifested extreme pleasure, as the outlines of the picture were filledup. The drawing of his costume, which he seemed to prize, as peculiarlyappropriate, and the falls of Niagara, scenery at no great distance fromhis residence at the reservation, forced him to an indistinct utterance ofsatisfaction. When his medal appeared complete in the picture, headdressed his interpreter, accompanied by striking gestures; and when hisnoble front was finished, he sprang upon his feet with great alacrity, andseizing the artist by the hand, exclaimed with great energy, 'Good! Good!'The painting being finished, he parted with Mr. Weir with a satisfactionapparently equal to that which he doubtless, on some occasions had felt, on effecting an Indian treaty. Red Jacket must have been beyond hisseventieth year when the painting was made. He exhibited in hiscountenance, somewhat of the traces of time and trial, on hisconstitution. Nevertheless he was of a tall, erect form, and walked with afirm gait. His characteristics are preserved by the artist to admiration;and his majestic front exhibits an attitude surpassing every other, that Ihave ever seen of the human skull. As a specimen for the craniologist, RedJacket need not yield his pretensions to those of the most astutephilosopher. He will long live by the painting of Weir, the poetry ofHalleck, and the fame of his own deeds. " Red Jacket had a quick and acute perception, he was very adroit. He at onetime exposed the false pretenses of Jemima Wilkinson by arranging it witha few Indians to converse in her presence, in a manner that excited hercuriosity. The ruse was successful, she anxiously inquired what they weretalking about? Turning upon her a searching glance, he exclaimed, "What!Are you Jesus Christ? and not know Indian?" Though unacquainted with the usages of society, in the refined circleswhere he often appeared, he readily adapted himself to the new position, and conducted with propriety and ease, careful to conceal his ignorance atthe time. Mr. Thomas Morris in a letter to Colonel Stone, observes: "Heonce on his return from Philadelphia, told me that when there he perceivedmany things, the meaning of which he did not understand, but he would notmake inquiry concerning them there, because they would be imputed to hisignorance. He therefore determined on his return to ask me. "He said when he dined at General Washington's, a man stood all the timebehind his chair, and would, every now and then run off with his plate, and knife and fork, which he would immediately replace by others. 'Now, 'said Red Jacket, 'what was this for?' I replied that he must have observedon the president's table a variety of dishes, that each dish was cooked ina different manner, and that the plates and knives and forks of theguests, were changed as often as they were helped from a different dish. 'Ah!' said he, 'is that it?' I replied in the affirmative. 'You must thensuppose, ' he continued, 'that the plates, and knives, and forks, retainthe taste of the cookery?' Yes, I replied. 'Have you then, ' he added, 'anymethod by which you can change your palates every time you change yourplates? For I should suppose that the taste would remain on the palatelonger than on the plate?' I replied that we were in the habit of washingthat away by drinking wine. 'Ah!' said he, 'now I understand it. I waspersuaded that so general a custom among you was founded in reason, and Ionly regret that when I was in Philadelphia I did not understand it; whendining with General Washington and your father. The moment the man wentoff with my plate I would have drunk wine until he brought me another; foralthough I am fond of eating, I am more so of drinking. '" [Footnote: Col. Stone's Life of Red Jacket. ] It has been well observed of him, "He had an innate refinement and graceof manner, that stamped him the true gentleman, because with him thesevirtues were inborn, and not simulated or acquired. " [Footnote: W. C. Bryant's Memorial Address. ] On one occasion when Mr. George Hosmer of Avon, and several others of histribe, were on their way to attend a certain treaty, the Indians oneevening after the fatigues of the day, were unusually mirthful. Red Jacketconceiving the idea that Mr. Hosmer, who was unacquainted with theirlanguage might suppose he was the subject of their mirth, caused them tobe silent, and through his interpreter, Captain Parrish, thus addressedhim. "We have been made uncomfortable by the storm; we are now warm andcomfortable, it has caused us to feel cheerful and merry. But I hope ourfriend who is traveling with us will not feel hurt at this merriment, orsuppose that we are taking advantage of his ignorance of our language, tomake him in any manner the subject of our mirth. " To which Mr. Hosmer replied, that knowing himself to be in the company ofbrave and honorable men, he could not allow himself to entertain such animpression. After which they resumed their merriment, and Red Jacket hisgravity. [Footnote: Col. Stone. ] The first efforts to construct a bridge at Niagara Falls was unsuccessful. It was supposed the force of the water where it flowed smoothly, would notbe as great as where it dashed against the rocks and appeared moreboisterous. This was a mistake. Every endeavor to fix a bent where thewater was smooth, proved utterly abortive. At length an architectconceived the idea of placing the bridge, down where the water began to bebroken in its descent, and of obtaining a foot-hold for his bent, behindsome rock against which the water dashed. This resulted in the successfulcompletion of a bridge, leading to Goat Island. After its completion, RedJacket, in company with General Porter, was passing over it one day, whenthe chief, whose curiosity was excited, examined minutely every part ofits construction, evidently regarding it, as a great wonder. At lengthdiscovering the secret, he exclaimed, "_Ugh! still water_!" andimmediately added, "_d--n Yankee_. " [Footnote: Given to the author by T. M. Howell, Esq. , of Canandaigua, N. Y. ] Red Jacket was not a stranger to _tender and refined sensibilities_. William Savary in his Journal, while attending the Indian treaty held atCanandaigua in 1794, speaks of the children of Red Jacket in terms of highcommendation. Most of them died of consumption, "in the dew of theiryouth. " On one occasion, when visiting an aged lady of his acquaintance near Avon, who from early life had been more or less familiar with his history, sheinquired of him, if any of his children were still living? Fixing his eyesupon her, with a sorrowful expression, he replied: "Red Jacket was once a great man, and in favor with the Great Spirit. Hewas a lofty pine among the smaller trees of the forest. But after years ofglory he degraded himself, by drinking the firewater of the white man. TheGreat Spirit has looked upon him in anger, and his lightning has strippedthe pine of its branches. " [Footnote: Related to Col. Stone by Mrs. GeorgeHosmer of Avon. ] Some four or five years before his death, three brothers, named Thayer, were executed at Buffalo for the crime of murder. The occasion wasunusual, and multitudes of both sexes, from the surrounding region, flocked to witness the unhappy spectacle. On the day of the execution, Red Jacket was met by Judge Walden, ofBuffalo, wending his way from the town to his home. The judge inquiredwhere he was going? At the same time expressing his surprise that he didnot go with the multitudes, flocking to witness the spectacle. His answerwas brief; "Fools enough there already. Battle, is the place to see mendie. " The reply was a merited rebuke to the desire so prevalent, to witnessthese awful sights. [Footnote: Mrs. George Hosmer to Col. Stone. ] Red Jacket ever cherished a watchful regard over the interests of hispeople, and was always ready to speak in their behalf. At the trial of an Indian for burglary, himself and other chiefs werepresent to render any aid in their power, to their brother in bonds. Theprisoner was found guilty of having broken into a house and stolen a fewsilver spoons. The crime of petit larceny, was thus merged in the greaterone of burglary. At a fitting opportunity Red Jacket arose and spoke eloquently in hisbrother's defense; urging the independence of his nation, the existenceamong them of laws for the punishment of theft, and boldly demanding thesurrender of the prisoner, assuring the court that the prisoner should betried by these laws, and suffer the penalty they demanded. His effortthough regarded as able and brilliant, did not avail to rescue theprisoner from the white man, whose sentence in the case being for burglaryinstead of theft, Red Jacket regarded as unnecessarily severe. When the proceedings were over, Red Jacket, who happened to be standingwith a group of lawyers, took the following method of expressing hisdissatisfaction. Beholding on the sign of a printing office near by, an emblematicrepresentation in large figures and characters, of Liberty and Justice; heasked in broken English, pointing to one of them, "_What-him-call?_"It was answered, _Liberty_. "Ugh!" was his significant and trulyaboriginal response. Pointing then to the other figure, he inquired, "_What_-HIM-call?" It was answered, JUSTICE. Whereupon his eyekindling with animation, he asked with evident emotion, "WHERE-HIM-LIVE-NOW?" [Footnote: Geo. Hosmer, Esq. , to Col. Stone. ] If the sincerity of Red Jacket's regard for the welfare of his people wasever questioned, it was by those who knew not his inner self. In guardingthe interests of his people, he was in the habit of closely watchingstrangers, not only, but even his own friends. Owing to slanderous reports that had been circulated, he at one time beganto suspect that his friend Captain Jones, was actuated by motives of self-interest, and did not property regard the interest of the Indians. Jones soon after met Red Jacket with his usual cordiality of manner, butwas received with evident marks of coldness and distrust. "After the lapseof a few minutes, during which time the questions of Jones were answeredin monosylables, the captain asked an explanation of the orator's conduct. Fixing his searching glance upon him, as if reading the secrets of hissoul, Red Jacket told him of the rumor circulated, in reference to hisfidelity to the Indians, and concluded by saying with a saddenedexpression, 'And have _you_ at last deserted us?' The look, the tone, theattitude of the orator, were so touching, so despairing, that Jones, though made of stern materials, wept like a child; at the same timerefuting the calumny in the most energetic terms. Convinced that Jones wasstill true, the chief, forgetful of the stoicism of his race, mingled histears with those of Jones, and embracing him with the cordiality of old, the reconciled parties renewed old friendship over a social glass. "[Footnote: W. H. C. Hosmer to Col. Stone. ] CHAPTER XXI Views at the close of life--Incident--His life work--Unfavorableinfluences--Advance of the Christian party--Conversion of Red Jacket'swife--He leaves her--His return--Red Jacket deposed--Journey to Washington--His restoration--Rapid decline--Regards his end as near--Talks with hispeople--Endeavors to unite them. With the views entertained by Red Jacket, the objects that met him onevery side, as he drew near the close of life, were far from pleasant. Yonder hillside, exposed to the gaze of the world, its huge rocks laidbare; those fields, stretching further than eye could reach, bounded notby woodland, lake, or river, but by the white man's fence; ten thousanddwellings, smiling with the abundance and thrift of the husbandman, cityand village, bustling with tumult, and the noise of busy hammers, andrattling wheels, and roaring engines; all of these however gratifying tothe white man, as marks of improvement, afforded him no pleasure. He sawin them the sepulcher of his people's pride and glory. The hillside opened to the sunlight, for the innocent lamb to sport upon, or to make the stable ox a home, he would have loved better, as whensheltered once by the sturdy oak or stately pine, its rocks jutting outfrom behind the ivy, and its bosom threaded by the path of the deer. Thefields might have appeared inviting and green, but the white man's barrierwould have warned him away, the road he would have looked upon as aprisoned path, and he would have taken to the woods, as a place morecongenial to his spirit. It is said of him "that in the days of his youth he was wont to join thehunters in the beautiful valley of the Genesee, with great enthusiasm. Game was then plenty, and they were the finest hunting grounds, he couldtraverse. Toward the close of his life he went thither to indulge oncemore, in the pleasures of the chase, where a forest apparently ofconsiderable extent, yet remained. He entered it, recognizing some of hisancient friends among the more venerable of the trees, and hoping yet tofind abundant game. But he had not proceeded far before he approached anopening; and his course was presently impeded by a fence, within theenclosure of which, one of the pale faces was guiding the plow. With aheavy heart he turned in another direction, the forest seeming yet to bedeep, and where he hoped to find a deer, as in the days when he was young. But he had not traveled long, before another opening broke upon his view, another fence impeded his course, and another cultivated field appearedwithin. He sat down and wept. " [Footnote: Circumstances related to Col. Stone by a Seneca chief. ] It has been well observed: "The whole life of the Seneca chief was spentin vain endeavors to preserve the independence of his tribe, and in activeopposition as well to the plans of civilization proposed by thebenevolent, as to the attempts at encroachment on the part of themercenary. .. . He yielded nothing to persuasion, to bribery, or to menace, and never to his last hour remitted his exertions, in what he regarded thenoblest purpose of his life. " [Footnote: McKenney's Biography. ] But at the close of life, Red Jacket began to realize more than ever thepower of those forces bearing down upon him, to resist which he hadsummoned all the energies he could command. His people, notwithstandinghis efforts, were constantly brought by the encroachments of the whites, into a narrower compass, and the religion and customs of the whitescontinued to gain ground, and threatened to supercede the time honoredusages of his fathers. Intoxicating drinks also, the bane of the Indian race, wrought sad havocamong his people, and had well nigh ruined himself. His influence was thuseffectually crippled, and his opposition to Christianity, and the effortsof the whites to obtain their land, carried much less weight, than at anearlier period of his life. He saw and felt this, and in view of it, wasmuch cast down. His opposition to Christianity, is said to have been much encouraged bywicked and designing men among the whites, who feared that the presence ofmissionaries among the Indians, would interfere with their unworthy andbase designs. But his decision when formed, as already intimated, was consistently andperseveringly maintained. He narrowly watched every proceeding, gatheredaround him such as would be controlled by his influence, or example, andinculcated in them those sentiments of steadfastness, in the religion oftheir fathers, so strikingly manifested in his own conduct. After various discouragements and reverses, the missionary was at lengthestablished among his people, and the adherents of Red Jacket, which atfirst were the most numerous, by degrees diminished, until finally thosefriendly to Christianity, outnumbered the others. Red Jacket's people oneby one, became interested in the religion the missionary had come toteach. The schools established began to be well attended, several chiefsembraced the new religion; some of them were men of influence and carriedwith them many others. Finally in 1826, Red Jacket's wife becameinterested on the subject of religion, attended the meetings of theChristians, was led to abandon the pagan worship, she formerly attended, altogether, and giving evidences of piety, proposed to unite with themission church, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Harris. Before uniting, she laid the subject before Red Jacket and desired hisconsent. This he utterly refused, and threatened in case she did so, toleave her and never visit her again. Her trial in view of this refusal, she referred to Mr. Harris, who kindly endeavored to show her what the lawof Christianity demanded, that it required her to obey God, rather thanman; that though her course might subject her to trial, she had thepromise of the grace of Christ to help her, and that in the end it mightpromote her good. Still he committed the matter wholly to her ownconscience, advising her to pursue the course that might thus beindicated, and leave the event in the hands of God. After deliberating for a time she united with the church, and Red Jacket, true to his threat, left her and went to another reservation. She bore hisdispleasure with a meek and Christian spirit, remained at home with herfamily, and conducted discreetly, pursuing as before the duties of herhousehold. Red Jacket after a few months' absence returned, desiring to be welcomedagain by his wife, who received him on condition of his not interferingwith her, in her religious views, or attendance on the meetings of themission. To this he gave his assent, and was ever afterward faithful inobserving his pledge; not opposing, but aiding her in performing, according to her desire, her religious obligations. A division was now apparent among the Senecas, in regard to religion. There was a Christian, and a Pagan party. The former led by Young King, Captain Pollard, and others; the latter recognized Red Jacket as itsruling spirit. The opposition he had so long exerted, began to be regarded withimpatience. As the Christian party advanced and became more numerous, theywere unwilling to submit to the dictation of the orator. They began tofeel that in his opposition to the education and improvement of hispeople, he was acting the part of an enemy, and not a friend. His habits of intemperance also, having greatly lessened their esteem, they became unwilling he should longer hold the commanding position he hadenjoyed, and so well adorned, in the earlier part of his life. At acouncil held in September, 1827, a paper was drawn up, containing chargesagainst the orator, which were assigned as a reason for the extraordinarycourse they pursued, closing with the declaration, that they renounced himas their chief, and forbade him to act as one, affirming that he shouldthereafter be regarded as a private man. This proceeding stung the orator to the quick, and aroused him to action, He could not endure the thought of the humiliation thus brought upon him, at the close of life. The thought too, that it had been effected by thosewho differed from him, in their religious sentiments, and would beregarded as a triumph over him, touching the views he had longentertained, as to what would best promote the welfare of his people, affected him in a point so near his heart, as to forbid his resting underit. "It shall not be said, " thought he, "that Sa-go-ye-wat-ha, lived ininsignificance, and died in disgrace. Am I not yet strong? Have I not yetpower to withstand my enemies?" He set out for Washington, to spread his griefs before his great Father. On arriving there he visited Colonel McKenney, who had charge of Indianaffairs. That officer had been informed, through the Indian agent, of allthat had transpired among the Senecas, and of the cause of theirdispleasing Red Jacket. When the customary salutations were over, Red Jacket remarked through hisinterpreter, "I have a talk for my Father. " "Tell him, " said ColonelMcKenney, "I have one for him. I will make it, and will then listen tohim. " The colonel then proceeded to give a minute history of all that hadrecently transpired, and dwelt upon the various causes that had operatedin producing the rupture, that had taken place. He pointed out to him thecourse he ought to have pursued, that he should have manifested a spiritof forbearance, and allowed the Christian party the same liberty in theexercise of their sentiments, which he demanded for himself; and that thiscourse would have saved him the mortification he now experienced, in beingexpelled from office and power. During this conversation Red Jacket never took his keen and searching eyefrom the speaker, but at its close turned to the interpreter, and pointingin the direction of his home and people, said, "_Our Father has got along eye. _" He then proceeded to vindicate himself and his cause, not forgetting topour upon the Black coats plentiful effusions of wrath. The coloneladvised him to return to his people, convene a council and come to abetter understanding with them, by allowing those among them who desiredto do so, to become Christians, while himself and those who thought likehim, might claim the privilege of following unmolested, the faith of theirfathers. [Footnote: Col. McKenney's Indian Biography. ] About one month had passed since Red Jacket's deposition. In the mean timeRed Jacket had been very active in going from one reservation to another, and sparing no pains, in gathering a Great Council, from those belongingto the Six Nations. Another council was convened, much larger than the former, composed ofmembers from other reservations, belonging to the Iroquois confederacy. Itassembled at the upper council-house of the Seneca village near Buffalo. At the opening of the council, the paper declaring the orator's depositionwas read. Half Town, a Seneca chief of the Cattaraugus reservation thenarose, and said there was but one voice in his nation, and that was ofgeneral indignation at the contumely cast on so great a man as Red Jacket. The council was then addressed by several other chiefs very much to thesame effect. After which the condemned orator arose slowly, as if grievedand humiliated, but yet with his ancient air of command. "My Brothers:" said he, after a solemn pause, "You have this day beencorrectly informed of an attempt to make me sit down, and throw off theauthority of a chief, by twenty-six misguided chiefs of my nation. Youhave heard the statements of my associates in council, and theirexplanations of the foolish charges brought against me. I have taken thelegal and proper way to meet these charges. It is the only way in which Icould notice them. Charges which I despise, and which nothing would induceme to notice, but the concern which many respected chiefs of my nation, feel in the character of their aged comrade. Were it otherwise I shouldnot be before you. I would fold my arms, and sit quietly under theseridiculous slanders. "The Christian party have not even proceeded legally to put me down. " Hethen made some artful observations on the origin of the attack made uponhim. He laid open its history step by step. He dwelt upon the variouscircumstances connected with the introduction of Christianity among them. He alluded to the course taken by the Christians as ruinous anddisgraceful, especially in their abandonment of the religion of theirfathers, and their sacrifices, and of the lands given them by the GreatSpirit, for paltry considerations. As for the _Black coats_, Mr. Calhoun had told him at Washington four years before, that the Indiansmust treat with them as they thought proper; the government would notinterfere. "I will not consent, " said he, sagaciously identifying hisdisgrace with his opposition to the Christians, "I will not consentsilently to be trampled under foot. As long as I can raise my voice, Iwill oppose such measures. As long as I can stand in my moccasins, I willdo all I can for my nation. Ah! it grieves my heart, when I look around meand see the situation of my people, in old times united and powerful, nowdivided and feeble. I feel sorry for my nation. Many years have I guidedmy people. When I am gone to the other world, when the Great Spirit callsme away, who among them can take my place?" [Footnote: Thatcher's IndianBiography. ] No adequate account of this speech has been preserved. It is said he spokethree hours in his own defense; that it was a masterly effort, and equalto the speeches he used to make in his palmiest days. [Footnote:Conversation of the author with Wm. Jones, Seneca chief. ] Though greatly dilapidated in his powers by intemperance, he wasthoroughly aroused on this occasion, and the eloquence, pathos, and fireof a former day, shed around him the luster of a superior mind, and hispeople for the time, forgot and forgave his delinquencies, and byunanimous consent, reinstated him in office and power. Thus by means of one more great exertion of this wonderful faculty, bywhich he controlled the minds of his people, they were led to reverse thedecision that had been made against him, and though he stood among thembut the blasted trunk of that tree, which, in its full and luxuriantprime, cast a deep and mellowing shade over their closing history, andinvested it still with the appearance of strength; they resolved he shouldyet wear the title, that better befitted him in other days, though itserved but slightly to hide the deformity, wrought in his noble nature, bythe demon of intemperance. With this speech the public career of Red Jacket is closed. The effort hemade on this occasion, added to his exertions previous to the gathering ofthe council, was too great for his aged and enfeebled condition. Afterthis he declined very rapidly, and seemed to realize that his end wasdrawing near. He often adverted to this event, but always in language ofphilosophic calmness. In view of it he visited successively all of his most intimate friends, attheir cabins, and talked with them in the most impressive and affectingmanner. He told them that he was passing away, and his counsels would soonbe heard no more. He ran over the history of his people, from the mostremote period to which his knowledge extended, and pointed out as fewcould, the wrongs, the privations, and the loss of character, which almostof themselves constituted that history. "I am about to leave you, " saidhe, "and when I am gone, and my warnings shall be no longer heard, orregarded, the craft and avarice of the white man will prevail. Manywinters have I breasted the storm, but I am an aged tree, I can stand nolonger. My leaves are fallen, my branches are withered, and I am shaken byevery breeze. Soon my aged trunk will be prostrate, and the foot of theexulting foe of the Indian, may be placed upon it in safety; for I leavenone who will be able to avenge such an indignity. Think not I mourn formyself. I go to join the spirits of my fathers, where age cannot come; butmy heart fails, when I think of my people, who are soon to be scatteredand forgotten. " Many noticed that his feelings at this time were greatly modified andmellowed, with respect to the stand he had taken against Christianity. Hiswife's example, who was a woman of humble, consistent piety, exerted asalutary, and happy influence upon him. It led him to regard Christianitymore favorably, and to recede very much from the hostile position he hadpreviously maintained. He talked of peace, and sought to bring about areconciliation between the two parties. He convened a council with this inview. He made special preparations to attend it, dressing himself withmore than ordinary care, with all his gay apparel and ornaments. He wentwith the intention of making what would have been his farewell speech, andgiving them his last counsel. He was taken suddenly ill at the Council-house, of cholera morbus andreturned home, saying to his wife, "I am sick; I could not stay at thecouncil, I shall never recover. " He then took off his rich costume, and laid it carefully away, reclinedupon his couch, and did not rise again till morning. His wife prepared himmedicine, which he took, but said, "it will do no good. I shall die. " The next day he called his wife and the little girl he loved so much, requested them to sit beside him and listen to his parting words. Addressing his wife, he said: "I am going to die, I shall never againleave this house alive. I wish to thank you for your kindness to me. Youhave loved me. You have always prepared my food, and taken care of myclothes, and been patient with me. I am sorry I ever treated you unkindly. I am sorry I left you, because of your new religion. I am convinced it isa good religion, and has made you a better woman, and wish you topersevere in it. I should like to live longer for your sake. I meant tobuild you a new house, and make you more comfortable, but it is now toolate. " Addressing his daughter, he said; "I hope my daughter will remember what Ihave so often told her, not to go in the streets with strangers, orassociate with improper persons. She must stay with her mother, and growup a respectable woman. " He said again: "When I am dead, it will be noised abroad through all theworld, they will hear of it across the great waters, and say, Red Jacketthe great orator is dead. And white men will come and ask you for my body. They will wish to bury me. But do not let them take me. Clothe me in mysimplest dress, put on my leggins and my moccasins, and hang the cross Ihave worn so long, around my neck, and let it lie upon my bosom. Then buryme among my people. Neither do I wish to be buried with Pagan rites. Iwish the ceremonies to be as you like, according to the customs of yournew religion, if you choose. Your minister says the dead will rise. Perhaps they will. If they do, I wish to rise with my old comrades. I donot wish to rise among pale faces. I wish to be surrounded by red men. Donot make a feast according to the customs of the Indians. Whenever myfriends chose, they could come and feast with me, when I was well, and Ido not wish those who have never eaten with me in my cabin, to surfeit atmy funeral feast. " When he had finished he laid down on his couch and did not rise again. Helived several days but was most of the time in a stupor, or elsedelirious. He often asked for Mr. Harris, the missionary, and wouldafterward unconsciously mutter: "I do not hate him. He thinks I hate him, but I do not, I would not hurt him. " The missionary was sent forrepeatedly, but was from home at the time, and did not return till afterthe chief's death. When the messenger told him Mr. Harris had not come, he replied: "Verywell, the Great Spirit will order it as he sees best, whether I shallspeak with him or not. " [Footnote: Conversation of the author with Wm. Jones, Seneca chief, and sketch of Red Jacket in "The Iroquois. " Theaccount of the orator's closing hours given in this work, is more full, but in perfect accord with the statements made to the author by Mr. Jones. ] Again he would murmur: "He accused me of being a snake, and tryingto bite somebody. This was true, and I wish to make satisfaction. " The cross he wore was a very rich one of stones set in gold, and large; bywhom it was given, his friends never knew. This is all the ornament herequested to have buried with him. It was customary among the Indians to make funeral feasts. No family wasso poor as not thus to honor the dead. If all they possessed was a cow, itwas slaughtered for the occasion. Red Jacket desired nothing of this kind. A pagan funeral for a distinguished person is a pompous affair, and lastsfor ten days. Every night a fire is kindled at the grave, and around itthe mourners gather, and utter piteous wails. The wife and daughter were the only ones to whom he spoke parting words, or gave a parting blessing. As his last hour drew nigh, his family allgathered around him, but the children were not his own, they were step-children, his own were all sleeping in the churchyard, where he was soonto be laid. His step-children he always loved and cherished, their mother had taughtthem to love and honor him. The wife sat by his pillow and rested her handon his head. At his feet stood the two sons, now aged and Christian men, and by his side the little girl, whose hand rested on his withered andtrembling palm. His last words were still, "Where is the missionary?" Hethen clasped the child to his bosom, while she was sobbing in anguish, herears caught his hurried breathing, his arms relaxed their hold, she lookedup, he was gone. There was mourning in the household, there was great mourning among thepeople. The orator, the man of matchless gifts, of surpassing eloquencewas no more; and there were none to fill his place. Red Jacket desired after his death, a vial of cold water might be placedin his hand. His reason for this his friends did not understand. RedJacket felt that intemperance had been the bane of his life. Possibly fromthis conviction he may have desired to be accompanied in his journey tothe spirit-land, by the beverage of which his better judgment mostapproved. The arrangements of his funeral Red Jacket committed to his wife's son-in-law Wm. Jones. His friends, who belonged mostly to the Christian party, chose to have at his funeral the simple and appropriate services of thatreligion. It was largely attended by his own race, and by the whitesliving in that vicinity. He was buried in the mission burying ground, where were reposing many of his race, the aged and young, warrior, sachem, child. His death was at his residence near the church and mission-house at Senecavillage on the 20th of January, 1830. INDEX. AdanoAlbanyAlden, Pres. Alien's Hist. Angelica, N. Y. AtotarhoAu GlaizeAvon Springs Bayard, Wm. Beaver CreekBeekman, John J. Berry, MajorBig TreeBloomfieldBoyd, Capt. JohnBraddock, Gen. BrantBreckenridge, Rev. JohnBryant, W. C. BuffaloBuffalo CreekBurbeck, Maj. Butler, Col. Calhoun, M. Cameron, CharlesCanandaiguaCanandaigua LakeCanaseragaCanawangusCaneadeaCanogaCarlton, Sir Benj. Catlin, Mr. CayugasChapin, Maj. Chapman, Mrs. CharlevoixChemungCherokeesChippewasCincinnatiClark, MajorClaus, Col. Clinton, Gov. Codding, Mr. ColquhounCon-neh-sautyCornplanterCrane, Mr. Cummings, Maj. CunadesagaCusick, DavidCuyler, AbrahamCuylerville DansvilleDarke, Col. Dearborn, Gen. Delafield, Maj. JosephDionderogaDelawareDetroitDetroit RiverDorchester, LordDrakeDrummond, Gen. Durham Conn. Dwight, Dr. Elk HunterEllicott, Mr. Farmer's BrotherFerguson, MajorFish CarrierFleming, Col. Fort Du QuesneFort HamiltonFort HarmarFort HunterFort JeffersonFort NiagaraFort PutFort PlainFort RecoveryFort SchlosserFort StanwixFort WashingtonFrancis, John W. Franklin, DoctorFranklin, W. T. Fraser, Donald Ga-kwa-diaGansevoort, Gen. GarangulaGardeauGenesee CountyGenesee FallsGeneseeGenevaGerman FlatsGibson, H. B. Glen, HenryGorham, Nath. Granger, ErastusGreenvilleGreig, JohnGrey, John Half TownHarding, Col. Harmar, Gen. Harris, Rev. M. Harrison, Gov. Hartford, Conn. Hendrick, KingHerkimer, Gen. Hickox, J. H. Hill, Capt. DavidHonandaganiusHornby, JohnHosmer, Geo. Hosmer, W. H. C. Howell, T. M. Hubbard, NehemiahHudson, JohnHull, Gen. Hurons IroquoisIvison, J. C. Jackson, Gen. Jennison, MaryJessup, MajorJohnson, HenryJohnson, Sir Wm. Johnson, Sir JohnJohnson, Col. GuyJohnstone, JohnJones, Capt. Horatio, IIJones, J. H. Jones, Col. W. Ken de-wahKickapoosKnox, Gen. Lafayette, Gen. Lake ErieLake OntarioLavasseur, M. Lee, ArthurLegionvilleLewis, Gen. Lincoln, Gen. Benj. Little BillyLogan MackinawMatthews, Col. McKee, Col. McKenneyMiamisMiami RapidsMiddletown, Conn. Miller, M. S. Mills, SamuelMorris, RobertMorris, ThomasMoultan, J. W. Mount MorrisMuskingum NellisNew ConnecticutNew York Genesee Land Co. Nevada, IowaNewtown, N. Y. NiagaraNiagara Genesee Co. Nunda O'Bail, HenryOgden, Col. AaronOldham, Col. OneidasOnondagasOriskanyOswegatchieOswegoOswego FallsOtitianaOttawas Painted PostParker, JimParks, Mrs. Parrish, JosephParrish, JohnParrish, O. PennPerry, Com. Phelps, O. Pickering, Col. PittsburgPollard, Gen. Porter, AugustusPorter, Gen. Porter, Peter B. PotawatamiesPresque IsleProctor, Col. Pultney, Sir Wm. Pyrlaus Quebec Randolph, BeverlyRipley, Gen. Rochester SacsSanborne, Mrs. Savary, WilliamSchoolcraft, IIScott, Gen. Schuyler, PeterSchuyler, Gen. SenecasSeneca CastleSeneca LakeShawaneseShepard, Wm. ShikellemusSimcoe, Gov. SkenandoahSmith, JosephSperry, Mr. Sprague, AshhaelSquaky HillSt. Clair, Gen. St. Joseph's RiverSt. Leger, Col. St. Mary's RiverStone, Col. Street, A. B. Sullivan, Gen. Ten Broeck, AbrahamTioga PointTompkins, Gov. Towson, MajorTracy, AlbertTurner Van Buren, Mr. Vischer, Matthew WabashWadsworth, JamesWadsworth, JeremiahWadsworth, Wm. Walden, JudgeWarren, Sir PeterWashington, Gen. Wayne, Gen. AnthonyWeir, Robert W. West, AvonWestern ReserveWilkinson, JemimaWilliamsonWolcott, OliverWood, MajorWorth, Col. Wyandots Yates, A. Yates, P. W. Yates, RobertYoung King