USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 9
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occasion and baptised her. The poor creature passed the eight or ten days of life which remained to her in prayer. This was her only consolation in her grievous sufferings. In an entire hopelessness of all human succor, she suffered with admirable patience in the faith of eternal life. Such works of grace make the most sensible im- pression in these barbarous regions, and greatly assuage the anxie- ties, the fatigues and the afflictions of a missionary."
Though wedded to the interests of their order, the missionaries were not unmindful of the spirit of conquest then prevalent in their beloved France. Indeed, it has been said that the Sencca missions
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were suggested by the Grand Monarch. Louis XIV himself, the splendor of whose reign encouraged adventurous spirits to under- take distant enterprises, prompted by a desire to add to the glory of that proud ruler. Certain it is that to the missionaries were the French indebted for their knowledge of the Genesee country.
The command of Lake Ontario, and control of a certain valuable fur trade, were. late in the seventeenth century, matters of conten- tion between the French and English; and especially were the rich lands of western New York a coveted object by the French Canadian authorities. M. de La Bar, an infirm old man, had long held the office of Governor-general of those provinces, but, being signally overmatched by the shrewd and eloquent Seneca Garangula, in an expedition he had undertaken against the Iroquois, his government recalled him in 1685, and, in his stead, appointed the Marquis De Nonville, a colonel in the French dragoons, an officer equally esteemed for his valor, wisdom and piety.
The Iroquois had of late grown defiant toward Canada, and the new governor, to curb their pride, resolved upon an expedition to destroy the villages and fields of the Senecas, then located near the Genesee, and to construct a fort at the mouth of the Niagara, which, in connection with Fort Cadaracqui, would not only holl that war- like tribe in check, but protect, as well, the savage allies of the French, who, in small detachments, could then make predatory war upon the Senecas, which distance and want of a place of refuge hitherto had prevented them from doing, as well as to accomplish other favorite objects of French desire.
The watchful Iroquois, penetrating these hostile designs, lost no time in notifying Colonel Dongan, the English governor of New York. The latter at once informed DeNonville that the Indians were persuaded an attack was meditated against them; and that, as they were subjects of the crown of England. any injury done them would be an open infraction of the peace existing between their two kings. DeNonville replied, that the Iroquois feared because they deserved the chastisement; that the provisions collecting were nec- essary for the large garrison at Fort Cadaracqui, and that England's pretensions to the Indian lands were baseless.
Dongan seems to have taken no measures to avert the blow ; and as it could not be known upon which tribe the evil would fall, due pro-
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vision could not well be made for protection. The Senecas were destined to feel its exclusive force. The first open act of hostility was the seizure of some Iroquois chief, who had been lured within French power, near Kingston, Canada, by the Jesuit Father Lamberville. under the pretext of preventing them from conveying intelligence to their tribes.
De Nonville's plans were wisely made, his army was commanded by able officers; and so perfectly were his orders obeyed, that his own army and the reinforcements from Niagara, which he had directed to meet him, arrived simultaneously at the outlet of Irondequoit bay, a coincidence considered ominous of success by his savage allies.
On the afternoon of the 12th of July, 1687, the army set out from Irondequoit bay for the four villages of the Senecas, guided thither- ward by the trail along the eastern side of the river, and carrying thirteen days' provisions. They numbered two thousand French regu- lars and militia and nine hundred and eighty-three Indians. Advanc- ing in three columns through the oak openings, after a nine miles' march they encamped for the night. Next morning they moved early. with the design of approaching as near as possible the Indian village which held the tribal fire, before the enemy could seize upon two dif- ficult defiles necessary to be crossed, but which were undefended. The heat was sultry, and the men were fatigued. There yet remained a third defile near the entrance of the village, where it was intended to halt for the night, and the army still advanced. The scouts discov- ered the fresh trail of the enemy, and warned the troops to keep together. About three o'clock in the afternoon three companies of the French, together with the French Indians, fell into an ambuscade prepared by the Senecas, who were posted in the vicinity of the third defile. A smart but brief action ensued, with heavy firing on both sides. The Senecas were in turn thrown into confusion, and most of them flung away their guns and clothing and escaped to a dense woods and across a brook bordered by thickets. Ignorance of the paths and fatigue of the army, left the invaders in no condition for immediate pursuit. The Senecas had eight hundred men under arms in the action and in the village close at hand. They left twenty-seven dead on the field, and had a much larger number wounded, judging from the traces of the blood. The French had about half the number killed and wounded. The battle occurred a short distance west of the present
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village of Victor, near the northeastern edge of a large swamp, on the northerly side of a stream now called Great Brook.
Some writers claim that the action took place on the eastern bank of the Genesee, near the modern village of West Avon. DeWitt Clinton located the battleground on a farm purchased by Judge Porter in 1795, situated about six miles northeast of Avon, and half a mile east of Honcove Falls. On plowing this land, three hundred hatchets, gun barrels and locks, lead and pieces of brass kettles, weighing up- ward of one thousand pounds, were there found, being more than sufficient in value to pay for clearing it. Beds of ashes and small mounds of black earth, formed from chips, were also dug up. On the first settlement of this country unmistakable evidences of its having been the site of a large Indian village were numerous. So uneven was the ground, occasioned by the numberless graves, that the pioneers were compelled to level it with spades before teams could pass over it. But John Blacksmith, who, in his youth had hunted over the country embraced within the limits of Monroe, Livingston and Ontario counties, and thus acquired an intimate knowledge of the old Indian localities, on attentively examining a map of the country overrun by the French, on which lakes, rivers and creeks were correctly delineated, placed his finger on a point a short distance west of the village of Victor, as the place of conflict.
After the battle, the troops being fatigued, the night was spent on the spot where the ambuscade occurred. The following morning it rained heavily, but slackened about noon, when the army set out in battle array to find the enemy. Moving forward, they found that the old village had been burned, and the intrenchments of the new village deserted. Encamping on the height near the plain nothing more for the day was done beyond protecting themselves from the rain which had again set in.
On the 15th the savages brought in two old men, whom the enemy. in their retreat, had left in the woods. Two or three women came to surrender themselves, and informed us, says the Marquis, that for the space of four days all the old men, women and children had been fleeing in great haste, being able to carry with them only the best of their effects. Their flight was toward the Cayugas. One of the old men, who had been of note in the village, and was father or uncle of the chief, told us the ambuscade consisted of two hundred and twenty
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men, stationed on the hillside, to attack us in the rear, and of five hundred and thirty in front. The former force directed a part of their efforts against our rear battalion, where they did not expect such strong resistance, as those battalions drove them back more rapidly than they came.
In addition to the above, there were also about three hundred in their fort, situated on a very advantageous height, into which they all pretended to withdraw, having carried there a quantity of Indian corn. There were none but Senecas. After obtaining from the aged Seneca all the information he could impart, Father Bruyas, a Jesuit priest, baptised him. The French Indians then desired to burn the old man, but, on the solicitation of the white French, "they contented themselves with knocking him on the head with a tomahawk."
The first act of the day was to burn the fort. It was eight hundred paces in circumference, flanked by an intrenchment advanced for the purpose of communication with a spring on the declivity of a hill, it being the only. one where water could be obtained. The remainder of the day was employed in destroying Indian corn, beans and other produce.
This fort, although the plow has leveled its trenches, and nearly obliterated the evidences of its former occupancy, is still an object of much interest. The same solitary spring referred to by DeNonville, yet oozes from the declivity of the hill. Its site has long been known as Fort Hill among the inhabitants in the vicinity. Its summit is perfectly level, embracing an area of about forty acres. Marshall, to whom history is indebted for a clear and reliable account of the expedi- tion, has preserved, in an interesting paper, facts to which we are here indebted.
On the afternoon of the 16th, the camp was moved to approach those places where there was corn to destroy. "A party of our savages," says DeNonville, "arrived in the evening with considerable booty, which they had captured in the great village of Totiakton, four leagues distant. That village was found abandoned by the enemy, who, in returning, had set it on fire, but only three or four cabins were consumed. "
"The 17th," continues the Marquis, "was occupied in destroying the grain of the small village of St. Michael, distant a short league from the large village, and prosecuted the work the 18th.
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after having moved camp, in order to approach those fields which were concealed and scattered in the recesses of the forest. On the night of the 19th, a slight alarm resulted from a shot fired by a senti- nel at an Illinois woman, a captive for nine years among the Senecas. She escaped from the enemy, and was wounded in the thigh. She said the Senecas had fled to the Onondagas, and that forty were killed, and fifty or more severely wounded in the late attack. The morning of the 19th camp was moved to near village of St. James, or Gannagaro, after having destroyed a great quantity of fine large corn. beans and other vegetables, of which there remained not a single field; and, after having burned so large a quantity of old corn that I dare not tell the amount, and encamped before Totiakto, called the Great village, or village of Conception, distant four leagues from the former. We found there a still greater number of cultivated fields, with' which to occupy ourselves for many days. Three captives arrived this day, a young girl and two women of the Illinois natives. In the sanguinary wars which long raged between the Senecas and Illinois, many persons had been taken by the former, who profited by their recent defeat to escape, though it should appear that many of the prisoners had been put to death by the Senecas.
"The 20th we occupied ourselves in cutting down and destroying the new corn, and burning the old. On the 21st we went to the small village of Gannounata,1 distant two leagues from the larger, where we caused the destruction, the same day, of all the old and new. corn, although the quantity was no less than in the other villages. It was at the entrance to this village that we found the arms of England. which the Sieur Dongan, Governor of New York, had placed there. contrary to all right and reason, in the year 1684, having antedated the arms as of the year 1683; although it is beyond question that we first discovered and took possession of that country, and for twenty con- secutive years have had Fathers Fremin, Garnier and others as station- ary missionaries in all their villages. One would hardly credit the quantity of grain we found in store in this place and destroyed by fire.
"This same day a Huron came in with two scalps of a man and woman, whom he had knocked on the head, having found them near the Cayugas. He had noticed a multitude of paths by which the enemy fled.
1. Or Dyu-don-sot, on the little Conesus, near East Avon.
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"We left the above mentioned village on 22d, to return to Totiakto, to continue there the devastation we had commenced. Notwithstand- ing the bad weather and incessant rain, we continued all day to make diligent preparations for a departure, which was the more urgent, because the sickness increased in the army, occasioned by the great number of hogs killed by the French army, and our food and fresh provisions diminished rapidly.
"On the 23d a large detachment of almost all the army was sent to complete the destruction of all the corn still standing in the distant woods. By noon the corn was all destroyed. We had curiosity to estimate the whole quantity, green as well as ripe, which we have de- stroyed in the four Seneca villages, which we found would amount to 350,000 minots of green, and 50,000 minots of old corn,1 by which we could estimate the multitude of people in these four villages. 2
"Having nothing further to accomplish, and seeing no enemy, we left camp on afternoon of the 23d of July, to rejoin our beatteaux, ad- vancing only two leagues. We reached beatteaux on the 24th.
"On 26th we set out for Niagara, resolved to garrison that port as a protection for all our savage allies, and thus afford them the means of continuing in small detachments the war against the enemy, whom they have not been able to harrass, being too distant from them, and no place of refuge. Although only thirty leagues from Irondequoit Bay to Niagara, contrary winds so delayed that it took four days and a half to accomplish the distance, arriving on the morning of 30th, and immediately set to work choosing a place and collecting stakes for construction of a fort."
By the second of August the temporary fort was completed, and the militia set out at noon for their quarters at Montreal. The following day DeNonville embarked to join the militia, and reached Montreal on 13th of August, leaving the regular troops to complete some details. with orders that M. de Troyes, a veteran officer, captain of one of the companies, should winter there with one hundred men. A sickness, caused by climate and unwholesome food. soon after broke out in the garrison, by which nearly all perished, including the commander. For so closely were they besieged by the Iroquois, that they were un-
1. A minot is equal to three bushels.
2. See appendix for General Clark's description of these villages.
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abie to supply themselves with fresh provisions. The fortress was soon after abandoned and destroyed, much to De Nonville's regret.
The French gained little honor and no advantage in their expedition. Their inefficiency disgusted their Indian allies, one of whom, an Ottawa, said they were only fit to make war on Indian corn and bark canoes.
The Jesuit missionaries retired with the French army, and their missions among the Senecas were never revived.
Red Jacket's Hut, Geneseo, and Residence of Koratio Jones.
.
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CHAPTER VI.
M ANY leading names among the sachems, warriors and wise men of the Senecas are more or less intimately associated with this region, and other persons, well known to the pioneers, whose career was identified with the Indians here, claim mention in these pages.
Red Jacket, Sa-go-ye-wat-ha, 1 was born at Canoga, on the west bank of Cayuga lake. He lived for a time in Geneseo, on the farm of George Austen, Esq., south of Fall Brook, and half a mile east of the Genesce. His relations with tribesmen along the river were intimate and his visits here frequent and prolonged. His sa- gacity and wisdom are as well known as his great oratorical gifts. In these respects, this noted chieftain had no superior among the best of his race. He was not a warrior, though he led a company of Sene- cas against the British in the war of 1812; but he was a negotiator, the diplomat of his nation. Toward the close of his life he became intem- perate. On one occasion, the government having business with the Indians, sent an agent to Buffalo, who there met Red Jacket as the representative of the Senecas. The day fixed upon came, but the chief failed to put in an appearance. Horatio Jones, who was to act as interpreter, after a long search, found him in a low tavern quite drunk. The porter, who was about shutting up the house for the night, was preparing to put him out of doors when Jones interposed. As soon as the effects of the liquor were slept off, the chief wanted more, but was denied. He was reminded of his neglect of the public business, and of the regret his course must cause the President. Red
1. Red Jacket's Indian name signifies, "He keeps them awake." in allusion to his stirring elo- quence. His Yankee name was thus obtained: In his younger days he was very swift of foot. and was often suffered by British officers engaged in the trader service, to carry messages of importance. One of these, as a reward, gave him a richly embroidered scarlet jacket which he wore with great pride. When the first one was worn out another was given him, and, as he always appeand thus arrayed. the name followed quite naturally. His original name was Otetiani, signifying "Alway's ready," evidently compounded from other dialects of the Six Nations than Seneca. The well known silver medal, oval in shape seven inches long by five inches broad, presented by onder of President Washington to Red Jacket, in 1792. is now owned by the Buffalo Historical society.
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Jacket's under lip dropped for a moment, a peculiarity of his when annoyed; then, raising himself in his stately way, he said, with a mo- tion of his hand as if to ward off the approach, "All will blow over, I guess." In a quarrel at Canandaigua in early days, an Indian killed a white man. A rising young lawyer. whose subsequent business career was a distinguished one, conducted the prosecution, Red Jacket the defense. In his appeal to the jury, the orator of nature rose to high eloquence, and. though speaking through an interpreter, jury, court and spectators were all won to his cause. Captain Jones said it was quite impossible for him to preserve the full force and beauty of this address. The opposing advocate never again appeared at the bar. for, said he "If a heathen redskin's voice can so bewitch men's reason, what call is there for either argument or law." Red Jacket obstinately refused to use the English language, and was a pagan in religion. Thatcher says a young clergyman once made a zealous effort to enlighten the chief in spiritual matters. He listened attentively. When it came his turn, he said, "If you white people murdered the Saviour, make it up for yourselves We had nothing to do with it. Had he come among us we should have treated him better." Dining one day at Horatio Jones's, Red Jacket emptied a cup of salt into his tea, mistaking it for sugar. The mistake passed without remark, though not unnoticed by the guests. The chief, however, cooly stirred the beverage until the salt was dissolved and then swallowed the whole in his own imperturbable way, giving not the least sign that it was otherwise than palatable.
"In debate Red Jacket proved himself the peer of the most adroit and able men with whom he was confronted. He had the provisions of every treaty between the Iroquois and the whites by heart. On a certain occasion, in a council at which Gov. Tompkins was present, a dispute arose as to the terms of a certain treaty. 'You have forgot- ten,' said the agent; 'we have it written down on paper.' 'The paper then tells a he,' rejoined Red Jacket. 'Thave it written down here,' he added, placing his hand with great dignity upon his brow. 'This is the book the Great Spirit has given the Indian; it does not lie" A reference was made to the treaty in question, when, to the astonish- ment of all present, the document confirmed every word the unlettered statesman had uttered. He was a man of resolute, indomitable will. He never acknowledged a defeat until every means of defense was
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exhausted. In his demeanor toward the whites he was dignified and generally reserved. He had an innate refinement and grace of man- ner that stamped him the true gentleman, because with him these vir- tues were inborn and not simulated or acquired. He would interrupt the mirthful conversation of his Indian companions, by assuring their white host that the unintelligible talk and laughter to which he listened had no relevancy to their kind entertainer or their surroundings.
"At the outset Red Racket was disposed to welcome civilization and Christianity among his people, but he was not slow to observe that proximity to the whites inevitably tended toward the demoralization of the Senecas; that to preserve them from contamination they must be isolated from the influence of the superior race, all of whom, good and bad, he indiscriminately classed as Christians. He was bitterly oppos- ed by the missionaries and their converts. He could not always rely upon his constituency, torn as they were by dissensions, broken spir- ited, careless of the future, impatient at any interruption of present gratification, and incapable of discerning, as he did, the terrible inex- orable destiny toward which they were slowly advancing.
"In this unequal and pitiable struggle to preserve the inheritance and nationality of his people, his troubled and unhappy career drew slowly to its close. That keen and subtle intellect, that resolute soul which, David-like, unpanoplied, without arms or armor, save the simple ones that nature gave, dared encounter the Goliaths of the young republic, were dimmed and chilled at last. Advancing years and unfortunate excesses had accomplished their legitimate work. The end to that clouded and melancholy career was fast approaching. But until the close, when death was imminent, he had no concern or thought which did not affect his people. He visited them from cabin to cabin, repeating his warnings and injunctions, the lessons of a life devoted to their interests, and bade them a last and affectionate fare- well. He died calmly, like a philosopher, in the arms of the noble Christian woman who has made this society the custodian of his sacred relics. He was a phenomenon, a genins, with all the frailties and all the fascination which that word implies-in natural powers equal to any of the civilized race.
"Granted that he was vain; granted that he sometimes dissembled like one of our modern statesmen; granted that toward the close of his unhappy life he partook too often of that Circean cup which has
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proved the bane of so many men of genius of every race, we cannot change our estimate of his greatness; he remains still the consummate orator, the resolute unselfish patriot, the forest statesman centuries in advance of his race; the central figure in that little group of abor- iginal heroes which stands out in lurid relief on the canvas of Amer- ican history. "1
Red Jacket was not sufficiently identified with this region to justify an elaborate sketch of him here, but it will not be out of place to refer to the fate that awaited his bones. At his death, on January 20, 1832, his remains were buried in the Indian grounds on Buffalo creek, nearly opposite the grave of Mary Jemison, a simple marble slab marking the spot.
After many years the project of reinterring his remains and those of cotemporary chiefs, lying in neglected graves in the vicinity of Buffalo, engaged the attention of the Buffalo Historical Society.
Mrs. Asher Wright. the devoted and venerable missionary, had written concerning the condition of these graves as follows:
"About four miles from the City of Buffalo, on what was the Buffalo Creek Reservation, may be found the old Indian burial ground. This little spot, consecrated as the last resting place of many of the chiefs and head men of the Senecas, occupied the site of an ancient Indian fort. In 1842 the line of the intrenchments could be distinctly traced. especially on the west and south. A little to the north of the principal entrance was the grave of the celebrated chief, Red Jacket, so long the faithful friend and protector of his people against encroachments of the whites, and still as we might imagine, the watchful sentinel, solemnly guarding this little spot, where so many of his chosen friends recline around him, from the desecrating touch of the race whom he had so much reason to fear and hate.
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