xt78kp7tmx0x https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt78kp7tmx0x/data/mets.xml Stone, William L. (William Leete), 1792-1844. 1865  books b92e99m8b88v12009 English J. Munsell : Albany, N. Y. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Brant, Joseph, 1742-1807. Indians of North America --Wars --1750-1815. Indians of North America --Wars --1775-1783. Life of Joseph Brant : (Thayendanegea) : including the border wars of the American revolution and sketches of the Indian campaigns of Generals Harmar, St. Clair, and Wayne, and other matters connected with the Indian relations of the United States and Great Britain : from the peace of 1783 to the Indian peace of 1795. text Life of Joseph Brant : (Thayendanegea) : including the border wars of the American revolution and sketches of the Indian campaigns of Generals Harmar, St. Clair, and Wayne, and other matters connected with the Indian relations of the United States and Great Britain : from the peace of 1783 to the Indian peace of 1795. 1865 2009 true xt78kp7tmx0x section xt78kp7tmx0x 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
   LIFE

OF

JOSEPH BRANT,

(THAYENDANEGEA)

INCLUDING THE

SKETCHES OF THE INDIAN CAMPAIGNS OF GENERALS HARMAR, ST. CLAIR, AND WAYNE,

OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED WITH THE INDIAN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN,

FKOM THE

PEACE OF 1783 TO THE INDIAN PEACE OF 1795.

BY WILLIAM if STOKE.

IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II.

ALBANY, N. Y.: J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET. 1865.

    
    
   CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Sullivan's campaign into the Seneca country   Different characteristics among the Indian Naticns   Mistakes upon the subject   Progress of civilization among the Six Nations   Plan of the campaign   The command offered to General Gates   His conduct   Clinton's preparations at Canajoharie   Transportation of boats ard stores across to Otsego Lake   Arrest and execution of Newberry   Attempts to engage the Oneidas   The Indians alarmed by an address from Gen. Haldimand    The address   Intelligence from the enemy   Arrival of Oneida deputies at Clinton's head-quarters   Their speech   Designs of the enemy   Letter of Gen. Clinton to his brother   Remarkable escape of Elerson from an Indian scout    Brave defence of his house by Mr. Shankland   Descent of the Susquehanna    Dilatory proceedings of Sullivan   Junction of the forces   Movement from Tioga to Newton   Battle of the Chemung   Destruction of the crops   Advanco to Catharine's town   Message to the Oneidas   Destruction of Catharine's town    Evidences of civilization   Destruction of Kendaia and Kanadaseaga   March upon Kanandaigua   Its destruction   Honeoye destroved   Melancholy story of the Oneida brothers   Kanaghsaws destroyed   Horrible fate of Lieutenant Boyd    Contrast between the conduct of Brant and Butler in the case of Boyd   Indians in council resolve to fight no more   Sullivan advances to Genesee   Beauty of the country   Conduct of Red Jacket   Origin of Brant's hostility to him   Sullivan sets out on his return   Destruction of the Cayuga towns   Return of the army to Tioga   Strange directions to Colonel Gansevoort respecting the Mohawks of the lower castle   Their capture   Correspondence   Their release   Close ot Sullivan's campaign   His resignation   Colonel Brotlhead's expedition against the Senecas on the Alleghany   Huron and Shawanese chiefs meet him at Fort Pitt   Their speeches   Severe Indian battle on the Ohio   Closing incidents of the year.    -      --      --     --      --      --     -      Page 1

CHAPTER II.

Progress of the war in the South   Fall of Charleston   Brilliant achievements        Rigorous winter of 17S0   Destruction of the Oneida Castle and villages   Third marriage of Brant   Irruption into Harpersfield   Captivity of Captain Harper, Freegift Patchin,and others   Conduct of Brant   Consultation whether to put the prisoners to death   Sagacity and firmness of Harper   Marched off for Niagara    Remarkable adventures by the way   Murder of an old man-   Cure of the fever and ague   A thrilling scene   Sufferings for food   Justice and impartiality of Brant   Approach to Niagara   The ordeal   Humane device of Brant to save his prisoners from the trial   Arrival at Niagara   Farther irruptions of the Indians    Shawangunk   Saugerties   Captivity of Captain Snyder and his son   Arrival at Niagara   Examination   Guy Johnson, Butler and Brant   Prisoners sent to Montreal   The Mohawk Valley   Bravery of Solomon Woodruff   Irruption to Little Falls   Burning of Ellis's Mills   Incidents on the Ohio   Bold exploit of M'Con-nel   Attack of Colonel Bird, with his Indians, upon the Licking Settlement       Colonel Clarke takes vengeance upon the Shawanese. 53

CHAPTER III.

Night invasion of Johnstown, by Sir John Johnson, with an army of Indians and loyalists   The Visschers   The route of Sir John   Arrest of the Sam-mons family   Destruction of their property   March along the river   Burning 
   contents.

of buildings, and murders of aged people   Destruction of Canghnawaga    Return to Johnson Hall   Proceedings there   Thomas Samnions escapes   Sit John moves off-   Sampson Sammons applies for his liberty   His speech   The object of the expedition   Recovery of the 13aronet's plate   A faithful slave    Character of the expedition- -Sir John returns to Montreal   Jacob and Frederick Sammons carried into captivity   Imprisoned at Chamblec   Conspiracy to escapo    Prisoners refuse to join them   The brothers escape alone   The pursuit   Separation   Journey, adventures and sufferings of Jacob Sammons   Arrives at Schenectady   The narrative returns to Frederick   Perils of his escape   Prosperous commencement of his journey   Dreadful sickness   His recapture   Confined in irons at Chamblec   Removed to an Island   Projects an escape   Plot discovered    Ironed again   Second plan of escape   Perilous leap into the St. Lawrence    Swimming the Rapids   Other surprising adventures, by flood and field   Croso-ing the woods to Schenectady   Remarkable fulfilment of a dream   Direct history of the Mohawk country resumed   Destruction of Canajoharie by the Indians-Conduct of Brant   Case of doubtful courage.       ....      Page 72

CHAPTER IV.

General progress of the War   Design against New-York   Glance at the Southern Campaigns   Treason of Arnold   Execution of Andre   Indian deputation to Count de Rochambeau, in Rhode Island   Invasion of the Schoharie-kill and the Mohawk Vallies, by Sir John Johnson, Brant, and the Corn-planter   Surprise of the upper fort   The middle fort invested   Conduct of Murphy in firing upon a flag   Singular prosecution of the siege   Murphy's contumacy   The flags fired upon thrice   Sir John proceeds to the lower fort   After a brief halt, advances again to the Mohawk, destroying every thing in his way   Murder of the inhabitants   The Vroomans   Heroism of a woman   Sir John arrives at Fort Hunter   Ravages the Mohawk Valley   Battle of Stone Arubia and death of Colonel Brown   His character   Remarkable anecdote of General Arnold    Sir John proceeds to Klock's Field   Is pursued by Van Rensselaer, though with unaccountable delay   Battle of Klock's Field   Flight of the Indians    Strange retreat of Van Rensselaer   Affairs of the night   Secret flight of the Greens and Rangers   The pursuit   General Van Rensselaer prematurely relinquishes it   Capture of Captain Vrooman. and his company, by Brant, in the neighborhood of Oneida   Touching incident at Fort Hunter   Singular story respecting the Corn-planter   Major Carleton's expedition against Forts Anne and George   Correspondence on the subject of prisoners   Affairs at Niagara   Setting in of Winter.      ........       - -98

CHAPTER V.

Gloomy opening of the year   Distresses of the army   Revolt of the Pennsylvania line   Negotiations   Revolt of the New Jersey troops   Arnold's expedition to Virginia   Progress of the war at the South   Distresses at the North   Active movements of Brant in the Mohawk country   Meditated attack upon the Onei-das   Letter of Colonel Claus   Destitution of the country   Letter of General Schuyler   Destruction of Fort Schuyler by fire and flood   Suspicions of design    General Clinton's correspondence respecting that catastrophe   Hostile indications in the North   Indications of extensive treachery   Arrest of the disaffected at Ballston and its vicinity   Bearing of Washington in adversity   Colonel Willed appointed to the command of the Mohawk District   Slender means at his disposal   Burning of Currie-town   Battle of Durlagh   Defeat of the Indians   Death of Captain M'Kean   Irruption into Palatini   Willett's letter to Washington    Willett's influence upon the broken mililia   Battle near the German Flalts    Death of Solomon Woodworth   Story of John Christian Shell   Invasion of Ulster County by Indians and Tories under Captain Cauldwell   Another case oi individual bravery   Incidents on the Kentucky border.       ... 137

CHAPTER VI.

Increase of disaffection in the North   Seizures of prominent citizens by hands of loyalists from Canada   Captivity of John J. Bleecker   Plot against General Gansevoort   Daring attempt upon General Schuyler in the city of Albany, by John Waltermeyer   Intrepidity of Margaret Schuyler   Arrest of loyalists nt the Beaver Dams   Mysterious movements of the enemy on Lake Champlain   Controversy with the New-Hampshire Grants   Sketch of its origin   Outrages of tho 
   contents.

V

Vp.rrn.ont insurgents   Declaration of Independence by the Grants   Interpositioi of Congress   Its authority disregarded   Progress of the controversy   Difficult situation of General Gansevoort   Suspected intercourse of the Vermontese with the enemy   Letter of Governor Clinton   Invasion of the Mohawk country by Major Ross   Warrens-bush ravaged   March of the enemy to Johnstown   Followed by Willett with the levies and militia   Battle of Johnstown   Ross defeated   Pursued by Willett, and routed at Jerseylield   Death of Waller N. Butler    Geivral progress of the war   Arnold in Virginia   Returns to the North, and destroys Groton and New London   Siege of Yorktown and capture of Corn-wallis   Affairs of the North   Meditated treachery of Vermont   Message of Governor Clinton   British open a correspondence with the Vennjnt insurgents    Mission of Ira Allen to Canada   Separate armistice with Vermont   Stipulations for erecting Vermont into a royal colony   Correspondence with the enemy during the Summer   Negotiations renewed at Skenesborough   St. Leger ascends the lake with a strong force   An awkward occurrence for the Vermontese   Excitement at the seat of Government of the Grants   Throwing dust in the eyes of the people   News of the surrender ofCornwallis   Its effect in Vermont   Causes the hasty return of St. Leger to Canada   Insurrection in the north-eastern towns of New-York, in connexion with the Vermontese   Troubles of General Gansevoort    Unable to quell the insurgents   Cherokee Indians   Close of the year.   - 172

CHAPTER VII.

Character of Joseph Bettys   His exploits   Capture and execution   Progress of the war   Gradual cessation of hostilities   Dwindling down to mere affairs of outpost3 and scouting parties   Commissioners appointed to negotiate a treaty of peace   

    Indian battles on the Kentucky frontier   Defeat of Colonel Boon   Destruction of the Shawanese towns   The Moravians on the Muskingum   Their removal to Sandusky by the Wyandots   Jleturn to secure their crops   Invasion of their :owns by Colonel Williamson   Treachery of Williamson and his men to the Indians    Horrible massacre   Invasion of the Sandusky country by Crawford and Williamson   Defeat of their army   Colonel Crawford captured   Sentenced to die by torture   His interview with the sachem Winge mind   His execution    Close of the year   Doubts as to a treaty of peace   Colonel Willett's attempt to surprise Oswego   The news of peace   Sufferings of Tryon County   Return of its population   End of the wars of the Mohawk. ----- 210

CHAPTER VIII.

The Treaty of Peace   Neglect of her Indian allies by Great Britain   Brant's negotiations with General Haldiinand for a new territory   The Senecas invite the Mohawks to settle in the Genesee Valley   Declined   The Grand River country granted to the Mohawks by Sir Frederick Haldiinand   Indian policy of the United States   Views of Washington and General Schuyler   Treaty with the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix   Corn-planter and Red Jacket take opposite sides   Peace with the Six Nations   Dissatisfaction of the Indians   Of Thayendanegea in particular   Letter of Brant to Colonel Monroe   Relinquishes his design of going then to England   Returns toGranl River   Differences of opinion with Sir John Johnson   Brant sails for England in the Autumn of 1785   His arrival   Glimpses of his ulterior designs   His distinguished reception   Enters upon the business of his mission   Letter to Lord Sidney   Speech of Brant to Lord Sidney   Letter of Lord Sidney in reply   Question of half-pay   Brant's Letter to Sir Evan Nrpean    His associations with the great   Keen sarcasm upon a nobleman   Striking incident at a grand masquerade   Brant's attention to the moral wants of his people   His return to Canada.       - 237

CHAPTER IX.

Difficulties between Great Britain and the. United States aftei the Treaty   Refusal of the former !o surrender the western posts   Mission of Baron Steuben to Canada   Indications of fresh Indian hostilities-   Movements of Captain Brant    Grand Indian Council at the Huron Village   Address to the United States   Let ter of the Secretary at War, General Knox, to Captain Brent   Letter of Sir John Johnson to Brant   Letter of Major Matthews to Brant, disclosing the views of Lord Dorchester respecting the retention of the western posts   Message from the Huron* to the Five Nations, propo-ing another grand Council   Preparations of General St. Clair for negotiating with the Indians   Brant begins to distrust 
   VI

contents.

them all   Letter of Brant to Patrick Langan, Sir John Johnson's Secretary -Letter of Brant to Sir John Johnson   Great Council at Miamis   Letter of Captain Brant to Patrick Langan   St. Clair's negotiations at Fort liarmar   The policy of dividing to conquer   -Letter of Captain Brant to Minor Matlhews   Jealousies of Brant among the Indians   Council against him at Montreal--Letter to him from Major Matthews   Lelter of Brant in reply   Letter to Colonel M'Donnell   Suspected plot against the English at Detroit, and Brant and his Mohawks, by the Hurons, Chippewas, and Pottawattamies   Letter to Brant from Sir John Johnson   Brant turns his attention to the cultivation of letters   Endeavors to obtain a stated Missionary   Resumes the preparation of Religious books   Letter from President Willard   John Norton   Land difficulties among the Indians in the state of New-York   Letter from Governor Clinton to Brant.       -      - 262

CHAPTER X.

Continued troubles with the Indians   English emissaries in Kentucky   Mission of Antoine Gamelin   Preparations for war   Campaign of General Harmar    Successive defeats of Colonel Hardin   Conduct of the militia   Retreat of Harmar   Indian deputation to Lord Dorchester   Letter of Sir John Johnson   Colo-nel Gordon   Letter of Brant to Colonel M'Kec   Pacific views of Lord Dorchester   Renewed efforts of the United States to bring the Indians to peace   Interposition of Corn-planter   Mission of Corn-planter and Colonel Proctor   British officers wish a mediation   Letter of Colonel Gordon   Colonel Pickering holds an Indian Council at the Chemung   Red Jacket's course   Brant interferes   Indian Councils at Buffalo   Influence of Colonel John Builerand Brant   Mission of Colonel Proctor and Corn-planter frustrated   Important position of Brant   Correspondence between the Secretary of War and Governor Clinton   Colonel Picker--ing's Council with the Indians ai Painted Post   Mission of Hendrick, the Stock-bridge chief   Renewal of hostilities   Campaign of General St. Clair   His defeat    Thayendanegea among the Indian captains   The panic that followed   Clamor against St. Clair   His resignation   Wayne appointed his successor   Refusal of Colonel Willett to embark in an Indian war.       ----- 291

CHAPTER XI.

Preparations for an Indian Consultation at Philadelphia   Captain Brant invited to attend   His objections   Letter of the Rev. Mr. Kirkland to Captain Brant    Letter of the Secretary of War to the same   Letter of Colonel Gordon to the same   Letter of Captain Brant to the Secretary of War   The Secretary of War to Captain Brant   Attempts from Montreal to prevent Brant from going to Philadelphia   His journey   Feelings against him in the Mohawk Valley   His arrival at New-York and Philadelphia   Liberal offers made him   Leiterto the Count de Puisy   The offers rejected   Undertakes a Mission of Peace to the Miamis    Returns to New-York   Pursued by a German from the German Flats bent on taking his life   Discovered in New-York   Brant returns to Niagara   Murder of Colonel Harden and Major Trueman   Letters of Brant to the Secretary at AVar   Feelings of the Western Nations   Correspondence between Brant and McKee   Great Indian Council at the An Glaize   Sickness of Captain Brant    Hostilities deferred until Spring, and a treaty with the United States orde.ed    Return of the Delegates of the Six Nations   Address to President Washington    Separate organization of Upper Canada   Arrival of Governor Simcoe   Li tter to Brant from the Duke of Northumberland   Preparations for the Great Council of 17S3   Fresh dissatisfaction of the Indians   Private Councils   They send their ultimatum in anticipation   The American Commissioners depart for the Indian country   Their arrival at Niagara   Friendly conduct of Governor Simcoe    Celebration of the King's Birth-day   The Commissioners start for the West    Their progress nlerrupfed   Conduct of General Wayne   Brunt suddenly returns from the West with a Deputation   Council held at Fort Erie   Commissioners return to Niagara   Council there   Speech ol Captain Brant   Reply of the Commissioners   Speech of Cat's-Eyes   Rejoinder of Brant   Arrival of th. Seven Nations   Brant proceeds to the Miami Rapids   Followed by thcCominis-sioners   Arrival at the Detroit River   Their progress interrupted   Unexpected turn of affairs   Explanations with Deputies from the Great Council   Long De-hates in the Indian Council   Brant speaks strongly for peace   Governor Simcoo declines advising the Indians   The negotiations suddenly terminated by the In dians   Their addre?.?   And sine qua nort ... 318 
   contents.

Vll

CHAPTER XII.

Suspected duplicity of the British authorities   Conduct of Simon Girty   Disclosures upon t.ie subject by Captain Brant   Council at Buffalo, and Indian report of the doings pf the Great Congress   Speech of Captain Brant respecting the Miami council   Mission of General Chapin to Philadelphia, with the speech   Answer unsatisfactory to the Indians   Red Jacket   Indian council   Speech of Captain Brant in reply to the answer of the United States   Troubles tliickening between the United States and Great Britain   Inflammatory speech of Lord Dorchester    Question of its authenticity seitled   Conduct of Governor Simcoe   Indignation of President Washington   His letter to Mr. Jay   Speech of Captain Brant against holding a council at Venango   The design frustrated   Affairs farther in the West   Singular message from the distant Indians under the Spanish and French influence   Their speech   Operations of General Wayne   Encroachments of Pennsylvania upon the Indian lands   Indian council upon the subject    Address to General Washington   Important letter of Brant to Colonel Smith    Pennsylvania relinquishes Presque Isle   Defeat of Major M'Mahon near Fort Recovery   Indians repulsed in their attack upon the fort   Letter to Brant giving an account of the battle   Advance of Wayne to the Au Glaize and Miamisofthe Lakes   Little Turtle apprised of his movements and strength by a deserter   The Chief determines to give battle   Wayne makes one more effort for peace   Failure of the attempt   Advance of Wayne to the Rapids   Position of the Indians   Battle and defeat of the Indians   Little Turtle opposed to the hazard of a battle    Opposed by Blue-Jacket and overruled   Tart correspondence between Wayne and Major Campbell   Destruction of Indian property by fire, and burning of Colonel M'Kee's establishment   Disappointment of the Indians that Major Campbell did not assist them   Letter of Governor Simcoe to Brant   Aggression at So-dus Bay   Simcoe and Brant repair to the West   Interfere to prevent a peace    Indian council   The hostiles negotiate with Wayne   Simcoe's address to the Wyandots   Division in their counsels   Brant retires displeased   Letter of apology from the Chiefs   The distant Indians become weary of the war. - Page 357

CHAPTER XIII.

Thavendanegea in civil life   His activity   His efforts to accelerate the civilization of his people   Difficulties respecting the title to his lands   Successive Councils and Speeches   Governor Simcoe leaves the province   Captain Claus appointed to the Indian Agency   President Russell   Brant's Speeches asserting the absolute Independence and Nationality of his people   Letter to Sir John Johnson     Correspondence with Lord Dorchester   The Count de Puisy   Letter of Brant to Thomas Morris   Sharp correspondence with Sir John Johnson   The St. Regis and Caughnawaga Indians, and the State of New-York involved in the land controversy   Brant's difficulties with the Caughnawagas   Letter to Thomas Morris   Brant's visit to the Caughnawagas   Council   Satisfactory explanations    Fresh difficulties at home   Norton's Mission to England   Plots against the character of Brant   Alienation of some of his friends   Conspiracy to depose him    Red Jacket and Farmer's Brother active in the plot   Character of Red Jacket    Brant deposed by an illegal Council   Letter to the Duke of Northumnerland    A legal Council convoked   Brant meets his accusers, and defends himself    Another Council   Speech of Brant   Acquitted of all charges against him    Council after the return of Norton from England   Proceedings of Red Jacket's Council nullified   Brant re-instated   Letter to the Duke of Northumberland    Letter of the Duke in reply   Last letter of Brant to the Duke.     -      - 396

CHAPTER XIV.

Exertions of Thayendanegea for the moral and social improvement of his people    Hi   religious views   Efforts for the religious instruction of his people   Letter to Sir John Johnson upon the subject of obtaining a resident clergyman   Farther correspondence   Interview of Brant with the Bishop   Disappointment   Letter to the Chief Justice   Appeal of Brant to the Lord Bishop, but without success   Application to the American church   Letter to Colonel Burr   Succeeds in obtaining the ordination of Mr. Phelps   Estimate of Brant's character by the clergy    Letter of Rev. Dr. Mason   Rev. Elkanah Holmes   Letter of Brant to the Rev. Dr. Miller   Ardent spirits   Efforts of Brant to prevent their introduction   Letter to Sir John Johnson   Interposition of the women   Address of Brant in reply- 
   vlii

contents.

Indian games and pastimes   National game of Cricket   Great game at Grand River, between the Senecas and Mohawks   Judge Woodruff's visit to Brant's residence   Description of his person   Indian funerals   Respect for the dead    Estimate of women   Their influence   Funeral speech of Senoca-George   Death of Mrs. Clans   Speech of condolence by Captain Brant   Captain Claus in reply    Grant's visit to New-York, Philadelphia, and Hartford, in 1797   Attentions to him in Philadelphia   Dinner party of Colonel Burr   Talleyrand and other distinguished guests   Letter of introduction from Colonel Burr to his daughter   Dinner party in his honor by Miss Theodosia   His manners described by Dr. Miller and by General Porter   Designs upon his life in the Mohawk country   The late John Wells   Striking incident in Albany   Anecdotes   Brant and General Gansevoort   Brant and Colonel Van Courtlandt   Reasons of Brant for taking up arms for the King   His reasonings in defence of the Indian mode of warfare. .........Page 430

CHAPTER XV.

Domestic relations of Brant   Account of his family   Bad character of his eldest son    His death by the hand of his father   Condolence of the Chiefs   Grief of the father at the event   Anxiety for the education of his sons   Proposed memorial to the Duke of Portland   Letter of Brant to Colonel   !mith   Correspondence with the Wheelock family   Letter from Brant to James Wheelock   Two of his sons sent to school at Dartmouth   Various letters from and to the Whcelocks   Correspondence upon other subjects   Reply to the questions, whether the Indians have beards   Letter from Bishop Peters   Views of Brant on imprisonment for debt    Tumuli   Opinion of Brant touching their origin   Indian tradition of while set tlements cut off' in a single night   Investigations of Samuel Woodruff   Brant's inquiries in Paris   The discoveries of the Northmen   Review of the life and character of Brant   His death.    - 463

CHAPTER XVI.

Account of the family of Brant subsequent to his death   Catharine Brant   The line of descent among the Mohawks   John Brant, the youngest son, appointed to the Chieftainship   The war of 1312   General Van Rensselaer on the Niagara frontier   Preparations for a descent upon dueenston Heights   First attempt frustrated   Arrangement for a second movement   Arrival of Lieutenant-colonel Scott on the line*   His efforts to accompany the expedition   Landing of Colonel Solornan Van Rensselaer and his party   Intrepidity of the attack   Van Rensselaer and others grievously wounded   Captain Wool curries the Heights   Advance of General Brock   His defeat and fall   Arrival of Lieutenant-colonel Scott, upon the Heights   Attack of the Indians   General Sheaffe advances from Niagara with reinforcements   Battle   The Americans driven down the Heights    Attempts of Scott to capitulate   His flag-bearers shot down   Determines to bear a flag himself   A young Indian leaps upon him like a tiger   His rescue    Interview with General Sheaffe   Capitulation   March to Niagara   Remarkable interview between Scott and two Indians at Niagara, the younger of whom was John Brant   Base poltroonry of the militia   Battle of the Beaver-dams   Close of young Brant's military life   Remo"es to the Brant House with his sister   Account of the family by Lieutenant Hall   Visit of the British Consul to the Brant House   Controversy of John Brant with Archdeacon Strachiin   He visits En  -land respecting the ancient land-title controversy   Succeeds with the ministers    Disappointed by the Colonial Government   Correspondence with Campbell respecting the memory of his father   Attention to the moral wants of his people;    Correspondence respecting the Mohawk schools   Presentation of a silver enp    His election to the Provincial Parliament   Seat contested   Death by cholera   His character   Farther notices of the family   Description of his sister, and of his successor   Death of Catharine Brant   Conclusion.    .... 500 
   LIFE

of

JOSEPH BRANT   THAYENDANEGEA, &c.

CHAPTER I.

Sullivan's campaign into the Seneca country   Different characteristics among tne Indian Nations   Mistakes upon the subject    Progress of civilization among the Six Nations   Plan of the campaign   The command offered to General Gates   His conduct   Clinton's preparations at Canajohane   Transportation of boats and stores across to Otsego Lake   Arrest and execution of Newberry   Attempts to engage the Oneidas   The Indians alarmed by an address from Gen. Haldiinand    The address   Intelligence from the enemy   Arrival of Oneida deputies at Clinton's head-quarters   Their speech   Designs of the enemy   Letter of Gen. Clinton to his brother   Remarkable escape of Elerson from an Indian scout-Brave defence of his house by Mr. Shankland   Descent of the Susquehanna    Dilatory proceedings of Sullivan   Junction of the forces   Movement from Tioga to Newtown   Battle of the Chemung   Destruction of the crops   Advance to Catharine's town   Message to the Oneidas   Destruction of Catharine's town    Evidences of civilization   Destruction of Kendaia and Kanadaseaga   March upon Kanandaigua   Its destruction   Honeoye destroyed   Melancholy story of the Oneida brothers   Kanaghsaws destroyed   Horrible fate of Lieutenant Boyd    Contrast between the conduct of Brant and Butler in the case of Boyd   Indians in council resolve to fight no more   Sullivan advances to Genesee   Beauty of the country   Conduct of Red Jacket   Origin of Brant's hostility to him   Sullivan sets out on his return   Destruction of the Cayuga towns   Return of the ormy to Tioga   Strange directions to Colonel Gansevoort respecting the Mohawks of the lower castle   Their capture   Correspondence   Their release   Close of Sullivan's campaign   His resignation   Colonel Brodhead's expedition against theSenecas on the Alleghany   Huron and Shawanese chiefs meet him at Fort Pitt   Their speeches   Severe Indian battle on the Ohio   Closing incidents of the year.

The policy of waging a more decisive war against the In dians, and the loyalists associated with them in their barbarous irruptions upon the frontier settlements, has been adverted to more than once already. General Washington had long entertained the opinion that the mere establishment of a chain of military posts along the Western and North-western frontiers would not answer the purpose; and that the only method of affording eificient protection to the inhabitants of those borders, would be to carry the war into the heart of the enemy's country. By a resolution of the 25th of February, Congress had directed the Commander-in-chief to take the most effectual means for pro- 
   2

life of brant.

[1779.

teciing the inhabitants, and chastising the Indians for their continued depredations ; and it was now his determination to put thp resolve in execution, by carrying the war directly into the most populous country of the Six Nations ; to cut off their set-lleinents, destroy their crops, and inflict upon them every other mischief which time and circumstances would permit.*

Those who have been accustomed to contemplate the wliol  ' race of North American aboriginals as essentially alike, viewing them all as the same roving, restless, houseless race of hunters and fishermen, without a local habitation, and with scarce a name, have widely misunderstood the Indian character, and must know but little of its varieties. They have, indeed, many traits and characteristics in common ; but in other respects the moody Englishman is not more unlike his mercurial neighbor on the other side of the channel, than is the Mohawk unlike the Sioux. It is the remark of a popular writer of the day,t that " those who are familiar with the reserved and haughty bearing " of the forest tribes, cannot fail, when an opportunity of compa-;< rison is afforded, to be struck with the social air and excitable " disposition which mark their prairie brethren, and so decidedly " distinguish the "gens du large" from "les gens desfeuillcs." u as the voyageurs term the different races. The Pawnees, fol-" lowing the buffalo in his migrations, and having always plenty " of animal food to subsist upon, are a much better fed and larger " race than those who find a precarious subsistence in the forest " chase. While the woodland tribes, who, though not so plump " in form, are of a more wiry and perhaps muscnlar make, have " again a decided advantage in figure and gait over the " gens du " lac," or fishing and trapping tribes of the North-west, that pass " most of their time in canoes. This difference in character and " physical appearance between the different Indian races, or rather "between those tribes who have such different methods of gain-" ing a livelihood, has never been sufficiently attended to by "modern authors, though it did not escape the early French    'writers on this country. And yet, if habit have any effect in "forming the temppr and character of a rude people, it must of " course follow, that the savage who lives ineternal sunshine upon

* Letter of Washington of March 4, lo Governor Clinton, and alsofromthc same to General Gates of March 6, 1779.