USA > New York > Fulton County > The border warfare of New York, during the revolution; or, The annals of Tryon county > Part 15
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APPENDIX.
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APPENDIX.
NOTE A.
" THE most remarkable difference existed between the confederates and the other Indian nations with respect to eloquence. You may search in vain in the records and writings of the past, or in events of the present times, for a single model of eloquence among the Algonkins, the Abenaquis, the Delawares, the Shawanese, or any other nation of Indians, except the Iroquois. The few scintillations of intellectual light; the faint glimmerings of genius, which are sometimes to be found in their speeches, are evidently derivative, and borrowed from the confederates."
Speech of the Mohawk Chiefs to the Magistrates of Al- bany, on the 25th of March, 1689-90, after the destruction of Schenectady.
" Brethren !- The murder of our brethren at Schenectady by the French, grieves us as much as if
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it had been done to ourselves, for we are in the same chain ; and no doubt our brethren of New England will be likewise sadly affected with this cruel action of the French. The French on this occasion have not acted like brave men, but like thieves and rob- bers. Be not therefore discouraged. We give this belt to wipe away your tears.
" Brethren !- We lament the death of so many of our brethren, whose blood has been shed at Schenec- tady. We don't think that what the French have done can be called a victory ; it is only a farther proof of their cruel deceit. The governor of Canada sends to Onondaga, and talks to us of peace with our whole house, but war was in his heart, as you may now see by woful experience. He did the same formerly at Cadarackui, and in the Senecas country. This is the third time he has acted so deceitfully. He has broken open our house at both ends, formerly in the Senecas country, and now here. We hope, however, to be revenged of them. One hundred of our bravest young men are in pursuit of them; they are brisk fellows, and they will follow the French to their doors. We will beset them so closely, that not a man in Canada shall dare to step out of doors to cut a stick of wood ; but now we gather up our dead to bury them by this second belt.
" Brethren !- We came from our castles with tears in our eyes, to bemoan the blood shed at Schenectady by the perfidious French. While we bury our dead murdered at Schenectady, we know not what may have befallen our own people that are in pursuit of the enemy ; they may be dead. What has befallen
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you may happen to us ; and therefore, we come to bury our brethren at Schenectady with this third belt.
" Great and sudden is the mischief, as if it had fallen from Heaven upon us. Our forefathers taught us to go with all speed to bemoan and lament with our brethren, when any disaster or misfortune hap- pens to any in our chain. Take this belt of vigilance, that you may be more watchful for the future. We give our brethren eye-water to make them sharp- sighted. (Giving a fourth belt.)
"We now come to the house where we usually renew the chain ; but alas! we find the house pollu- ted with blood. All the Five Nations have heard of this, and we are come to wipe away the blood, and clean the house. We come to invite Corlear, and every one of you, and Quider, (calling to every one of the principal men present by their names,) to be revenged of the enemy, by this fifth belt.
" Brethren !- Be not discouraged ; we are strong enough. This is the beginning of your war, and the whole house have their eyes fixed upon you at this time, to observe your behavior. They wait your mo- tion, and are ready to join in any resolute measures.
" Our chain is a strong chain ; it is a silver chain ; it can neither rust nor be broken. We, as to our parts, are resolute to continue the war.
" We will never desist, so long as a man of us re- mains. Take heart; do not pack up and go away ;*
* This was spoken to the English, who were about removing from Albany.
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this will give heart to a dastardly enemy. We are of the race of the bear; and a bear, you know, never yields, while one drop of blood is left. We must all be bears. (Giving a sixth belt.)
" Brethren !- Be patient ; this disaster is an afflic- tion which has fallen from heaven upon us. The sun, which hath been cloudy, and sent this disaster, will shine again with its pleasant beams. Take courage, courage. (Repeating the word several times as they gave a seventh belt.)
(To the English.)
" Brethren !- Three years ago we were engaged in a bloody war with the French, and you encouraged us to proceed in it. Our success answered our expect- ation ; but we were not well begun, when Corlear stopped us from going on. Had you permitted us to , go on, the French would not now have been able to do us the mischief they have done ; we would have prevented their sowing, planting, or reaping.
" We would have humbled them effectually, but now we die. The obstructions you then made now ruin us. Let us after this be steady, and take no such false measures for the future, but prosecute the war vigorously. (Giving a beaver skin.)
" The brethren must keep good watch, and if the enemy come again, send more speedily to us. Don't desert Schenectady. The enemy will glory in seeing it desolate. It will give them courage that had none before. Fortify the place; it is not well fortified now; the stockadoes are too short; the Indians can jump over them. (Gave a beaver skin.)
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" Brethren !- The mischief done at Schenectady cannot be helped now ; but for the future, when the enemy appears any where, let nothing hinder your sending to us by expresses, and fire great guns, that all may be alarmed. We advise you to bring all the River Indians under your subjection, to live near Al- bany, to be ready on all occasions.
"Send to New England ; tell them what has hap- pened to you. They will undoubtedly awake, and lend us their helping hand. It is their interest, as much as ours, to push the war to a speedy conclusion. Be not discouraged ; the French are not so numerous as some people talk. If we but heartily unite to push on the war, and mind our business, the French will soon be subdued."
The magistrates having returned an answer on the twenty-seventh, to the satisfaction of the Indians, they repeated it all over, word by word, to let the magistrates see how carefully they minded, and then added-
"Brethren !- We are glad to find you are not dis- couraged. The best and wisest men sometimes make mistakes. Let us now pursue the war vigorously. We have a hundred men out ; they are good scouts. We expect to meet all the sachems of the other na- tions, as they come to condole with you. You need not fear our being ready at the first notice. Our axe is always in our hands ; but take care that you be timely ready. Your ships, that must do the principal work, are long a fitting out. We do not design to go out with a small company, or in skulking par- ties ; but as soon as the nations can meet, we shall
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be ready with our whole force. If you would bring this war to a happy issue you must begin soon-before the French can recover the losses they have received from us, and get new vigor and life ; therefore send in all haste to New England. Neither you nor we can continue long in the condition we are now in ; we must order matters so that the French be kept in continual fear and alarm at home ; for this is the only way to be secure, and in peace here.
"The Scatikok Indians, in our opinion, are well placed where they are, (to the northward of Albany ;) they are a good out-guard ; they are our children, and we must take care that they do their duty : but you must take care of the Indians below the town ; place them near the town, so as they may be of more ser- vice to you."
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NOTE B.
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON.
A CONSIDERABLE part of the following sketch of the life of Sir William Johnson is taken from the travels of Dr. Dwight. In the main, it is believed to be cor- rect, though perhaps he has not done him justice in the remarks which he makes relative to his command at Lake George. He is supported, however, by an arti- cle supposed to have been written by Gov. Livingston, and published in the seventh volume of the Collec- tions of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
" The sight of Sir William Johnson's mansion, in this vicinity, awakened in my mind a variety of inter- esting reflections. This gentleman was born in Ire- land, about the year 1714. Sir Peter Warren having married an American lady, purchased a large estate on and near the Mohawk. In the year 1734 he sent for Mr. Johnson, who was his nephew, to come and superintend the property. To fulfill the duties of the commission Mr. Johnson seated himself in this spot- here he became, of course, extensively acquainted with the Six Nations. He studied their character, and acquired their language; carried on . an extensive trade with them, and by a course of sagacious mea-
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sures made himself so agreeable and useful to them, that for many years he possessed an influence over them, such as was never gained by any other white man.
" His constitution was unusually firm, and his mind hardy, coarse and vigorous. Unsusceptible of those delicate feelings by which minds of a softer mould are in a great measure governed, destitute of those refined attachments which are derived from a correspondence with elegant society, and unconfined by those moral restraints which bridle men of tender consciences, he here saw the path open to wealth and distinction, and determined to make the utmost of his opportunity. In troublesome times, an active, ambitious man hardly ever fails to acquire some de- gree of consequence. Such were the times in which Mr. Johnson resided at this place, and so persevering and successful was he in turning them to his advan- tage, that he rose from the station of a common sol- dier to the command of an army, and from the class of yeomen to the title of baronet.
" In the year 1757 he led the provincial army to Lake George, where was achieved the first victory gained on the British side in the war commencing at that period. For this victory, toward which he did little more than barely hold the place of commander- in-chief, he received from the House of Commons £5,000 sterling, and from the King the title of baro- net and the office of superintendent of Indian affairs.
" In the year 1759, being at the head of the pro- vincial troops employed under Brigadier Gen. Pri- deaux to besiege Fort Niagara, he became, upon the
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death of that officer, commander-in-chief of the whole army, and directed the siege with activity and skill. On the 24th of July a body of French and Indian assailants approached to raise the siege ; Sir William marched out to meet them and gained a complete victory. The next morning the fort itself surrender- ed, and the garrison were made prisoners of war.
"In 1760 he led 1000 Iroquois to join the army of Gen. Amherst at Oswego. With this body he pro- ceeded under the command of that illustrious man to Montreal. Here he concluded his military career with honor, being present and active in a distinguished station at the surrender of Canada.
" The services which he rendered to the British colonists were important, and will be long as well as deservedly remembered. The property which he amassed here was very great. At the time when he came into America a considerable part of the culti- vated, and much of the uncultivated land in the prov- ince of New York, was divided into large manorial possessions, obtained successively from the govern- ment by men of superior sagacity and influence. Sir William followed the custom of the country, and by a succession of ingenious and industrious exertions secured to himself vast tracts of valuable land .*
* The following story of Sir William's ingenuity has been frequently related. Old King Hendrick, of the Mohawks, was at his house at the time Sir William received two or three rich suits of military clothes. The old king, a short time afterward, came to Sir Willliam and said: " I dream." " Well, what did you dream ?" "I dream you give me one suit of clothes." " Well, I suppose you must have it," and ac- cordingly he gave him one. Some time after Sir William met Hen-
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" As these were always exposed to French and In- dian incursions, they were obtained for trifling sums,
drick, and said, "I dreamed last night." "Did you; what you dream ?" "I dreamed you gave me a tract of land," describing it. After a pause, " I suppose you must have it, but," and he raised his finger sig- nificantly, "you must not dream again." This tract of land extended from the East to West Canada Creek, in the now county of Herkimer, and was about twelve miles square. The title was afterward con- firmed by the King of England, and it was justly called the " Royal Grant."
Old King Hendrick, or as he was sometimes called, the great Hen- drick, lived in the now town of Minden in Herkimer County, and near the upper Mohawk castle. "The site of his house," says Dr. Dwight, "is a handsome elevation, commanding a considerable prospect of the neighboring country. It will be sufficient to observe here, that for capacity, bravery, vigor of mind, and immovable integrity united, he excelled all the Aboriginal inhabitants of the United States of whom any knowledge has come down to the present time. A gentleman of a very respectable character, who was present at a council held with the Six Nations, by the Governor of New York, and several agents of distinction from New England, informed me that his figure and counte- nance were singularly impressive and commanding ; that his eloquence was of the same superior character, and that he appeared as if born to control other men, and possessed an air of majesty unrivalled within his knowledge." In the French wars he led forth his Mohawk warri- ors and fought side by side with Sir William Johnson. Through all the intrigues of the French he remained faithful to his alliance. He was also highly esteemed by the white inhabitants. During some of the negotiations with the Indians of Pennsylvania and the inhabitants of that state, Hendrick was present at Philadelphia. His likeness was taken, and a wax figure afterward made, which was a very good imitation. After the death of Hendrick, an old friend, a white man, visited Philadelphia, and among other things was shown this wax figure. It occupied a niche, and was not observed by him until he had approached within a few feet. The friendship of former days came fresh over his memory, and forgetting for the moment Hendrick's death, he rushed forward and clasped in his arms the frail, icy image of the chieftain.
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being considered by most men as of very little value. In consequence of the peace of Paris, and the subse- quent increase of the settlements in the province, they rose, as he had foreseen, from being of little value to such a price as to constitute an immense for- tune.
" By Lady Johnson he had three children ; two daughters, one married to Col. Claus, the other to Col. Guy Johnson, and a son afterward, Sir John Johnson. Of the first of these gentlemen I have no further information. The two last took the British side of the question in the Revolutionary war.
" Sir William built a house at the village of Johns- town, where he chiefly lived during the latter part of his life. The house which he built on this road (along the Mohawk River) was occupied by Sir John. Colonel Guy Johnson built a house on the opposite side of the road a little further down the river. Here these men lived, essentially in the rank, and with not a small part of the splendor of noblemen. But when they joined the British standard their property van- ished in a moment, and with it their consequence, their enjoyments, and probably their hopes."
Many accounts are still given of the rustic sports encouraged by Sir William, and of the influence which he exerted over the Indians and white inhabitants. He died July 11th, 1774, aged 59 years. There is something still mysterious connected with his death. He had been out to England, and returned the pre- vious spring. During a visit which he made shortly after to Mr. Campbell, an intimate friend of his at Schenectady, the conversation turned upon the sub-
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ject of the disputes between the colonies and the mother country. He then said he should never live to see them in a state of open war. At a court held in Johnstown for Tryon County, he received a foreign package. He was in the court-house when it was handed him. He immediately left the house and walked over to the Hall. This package was after- ward understood to have contained instructions to him to use his influence in engaging the Indians in favor of England, in case a war should break out. If such were the instructions to Sir William, his situation was indeed trying. On the one side was the English government, which had so highly honored and en- riched him, and on the other his own adopted country, whose armies he had led to victory, with many warm personal friends who entertained a great respect for him, and who had fought by his side during the pre- vious wars. A spirit like his could not but have fore- seen the dreadful consequences of employing such a a force as the Indians in such a war. His death followed immediately before the rising of the court. Rumor said he died by poison, administered by him- self ; but perhaps extreme excitement of mind thus suddenly put an end to a life already protracted to a middling old age. He was buried under the old stone church at Johnstown. His bones were taken up in 1806, and redeposited. In the coffin was found the ball with which he was wounded at Lake George, which had never been extracted, and which ever after occasioned lameness. His most valuable papers, in- cluding his will, (said to be a very singular document,) were buried in an iron chest in his garden, where
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they were much injured by the dampness of the earth. They were taken away by his son, Sir John, during the war.
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NOTE C.
SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF JOSEPH BRANT.
JOSEPH BRANT, whose name has so often been men- tioned in the foregoing pages, was a Mohawk sachem, of great celebrity and influence in his tribe. The time of his birth I do not know. In July, 1761, he was sent, by Sir William Johnson, to the " Moor's Charity School," at Lebanon, Connecticut, established by the Rev. Dr. Wheelock, which was afterward removed to Hanover, and became the foundation of Dartmouth College. The following mention of him is made in the memoirs of that gentleman :
"Sir William Johnson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs in North America, was very friendly to the design of Mr. Wheelock, and, at his request, sent to the school, at various times, several boys of the Mo- hawks to be instructed. One of them was the since celebrated Joseph Brant; who, after receiving his education, was particularly noticed by Sir William Johnson, and employed by him in public business. He has been very useful in advancing the civilization
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of his countrymen, and for a long time past has been a military officer of extensive influence among the Indians in Upper Canada."
In confirmation of one of the statements in the above notice, it may be here added, that in 1787 he translated the book of Mark into the Mohawk tongue ; and, as is mentioned in the letter hereafter inserted, contemplated writing a history of the Six Nations.
The movements of Brant during the war have been detailed, at considerable length, in the foregoing his- torical sketch of Tryon County. Combining the nat- ural sagacity of the Indian with the skill and science of the civilized man, he was a formidable foe. He was a dreadful terror to the frontiers. His passions were strong. In his intercourse he was affable and polite, and communicated freely relative to his con- duct. He often said that during the war he had killed but one man in cold blood, and that act he ever after regretted. He said he had taken a man prisoner, and was examining him ; the prisoner hesitated, and, as he thought, equivocated. Enraged at what he considered obstinacy, he struck him down. It turned out that the man's apparent obstinacy arose from a natural hesitancy of speech.
The following is the account, given by an European traveller, Mr. Weld, which is alluded to in the letter of Thomas Campbell. "With a considerable body of his troops, he joined the forces under the command of Sir John Johnson. A skirmish took place with a body of American troops ; the action was warm, and Brant was shot by a musket ball in his heel, but the Americans in the end were defeated, and an officer,
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with sixty men, were taken prisoners. The officer, after having delivered up his sword, had entered into conversation with Sir John Johnson, who commanded the British troops, and they were talking together in the most friendly manner, when Brant, having stolen slily behind them, laid the American officer low with a blow of his tomahawk. The indignation of Sir John Johnson, as may be readily supposed, was roused by such an act of treachery, and he resented it in the warmest terms. Brant listened to him un- concernedly, and when he had finished, told him, that he was sorry for his displeasure, but that indeed his heel was extremely painful at the moment, and he could not help revenging himself on the only chief of the party that he saw taken. Since he had killed the officer, he added, his heel was much less painful to him than it had been before." There were doubt- less some grounds for such statements as that above ; though probably very much exaggerated. I have heard a story somewhat similar told of him, but it was said that the officer was killed to prevent his being retaken by the Americans, who were in pursuit of the Indians. In the retreat he would not keep up with them.
Brant stated, and it is believed to be true, that on the morning of the day on which Cherry Valley was destroyed, he left the main body of the enemy, and, by a different route, endeavored to arrive first at the house of Mr. Wells, for the purpose of protecting the family ; but that he found on his route, and a little way from the house, a large ploughed field to cross, which hindered him, so that he did not arrive until it was too late.
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In person, Brant was about the middling size, of a square, stout build, fitted rather for enduring hardships than for quick movements. His complexion was lighter than that of most of the Indians, which result- ed, perhaps, from his less exposed manner of living. This circumstance, probably, gave rise to a statement, which has been often repeated, that he was of mixed origin. He was married in the winter of 1779 to a daughter of Col. Croghan by an Indian woman. The circumstances of his marriage are somewhat singular. He was present at the wedding of Miss Moore from Cherry Valley, who had been carried away a prisoner, and who married an officer of the garrison at Fort Niagara.
Brant had lived with his wife for some time previ- ous, according to the Indian custom, without mar- riage ; but now insisted that the marriage ceremony should be performed. This was accordingly done by -Col. Butler, who was still considered a magistrate. After the war he removed, with his nation, to Can- ada. There he was employed in transacting impor- tant business for his tribe. He went out to England, after the war, and was honorably received there. He died about ten or fifteen years since, at Brantford, Haldiman County, Upper Canada, where his family now reside. One of his sons, a very intelligent man, has been returned to the Colonial Assembly. This son, a few years since, when in London, in company with Capt. Robert Carr, a grandson of Sir William Johnson, laid before Thomas Campbell written docu- ments, which changed Mr. Campbell's opinion of his father, and led to an exposé of his views, in a letter to him.
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For the correct understanding of the following let- ter, by those who have not read that beautiful poem, " Gertrude of Wyoming," (if there are any such,) and who may not have a copy at hand, I will insert the objectionable stanzas-one of them has already been given in part. The speech is that of an Oneida chief, who is made to say, immediately preceding the bat- tle or massacre at Wyoming :
"But this is not a time-he started up, And smote his breast with wo-denouncing hand- This is no time to fill the joyous cup; The mammoth comes-the foe-the monster, Brant, With all his howling, desolating band ; These eyes have seen their blade, and burning pine; Awake at once, and silence half your land. Red is the cup they drink ; but not with wine :
Awake, and watch to-night, or see no morning shine.
" Scorning to wield the hatchet for his tribe, 'Gainst Brant himself I went to battle forth: Accursed Brant ! he left of all my tribe Nor man, nor child, nor thing of living birth : No ! not the dog that watched my household hearth, Escaped that night of blood upon our plains : All perished ! I alone am left on earth ! To whom nor relative, nor blood remains- No, not a kindred drop that runs in human veins."
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