USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > History of Muskingum County, Ohio ; with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent men and pioneers, 1794 > Part 8
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"COL. BRODHEAD.' 1209727
COLONEL BRODHEAD'S CONFERENCE WITH THE INDIANS.
The speech of Doonyontat, the Wyandot Chief, to Maghingive Keesuch (the Indian name for Colonel Brodhead) :
"BROTIIER-Listen to me. Brother, it pains me to see you with tears in your eyes. I know it is the fault of the English. Brother, I wipe away all those tears, and smooth down your hair, which the English and the folly of my young men has ruffled. Now, my brother. I have wiped away all the stains from your clothes, and smoothed them where my young men had ruffled them, so that you may now put on your hat and sit with that ease and composure which you would desire. [Four strings of white wampum.]
Brother, listen to the Huron chiefs. Brother, I see you all bloody by the English and my young men. I now wipe away all those stains and make you clean. Brother, I see your heart twisted, and neck and throat turned to the one side, with the grief and vexation which my young men have caused, all which disagreeable sensa- tions I now remove and restore you to your for- mer tranquility, so that now you may breathe with ease, and enjoy the benefit of your food and nourishment. Brother, your ears appear to be stopped, so that you cannot listen to your brothers when they talk friendship. That deafness I now remove, and all stoppage from your ears. that you may listen to the friendly speeches of your brothers, and that they may sink deep into your heart.
[Seven strings of white wampum. ]
Brother, listen to me. When I look around me, I see the bones of our nephews lie scattered and unburied. Brother. I gather up the bones of our young men on both sides in dispute, with- out any distinction of party. Brother, I have now gathered up all the bones of our relations on both sides, and will bury them in a large, deep grave, and smooth it over so that there shall not be the least sign of bones, or anything to raise grief or anger in our minds hereafter. Brother. I have now buried the bones of all our and your relations very deep. You very well know that there are some of your flesh and blood in our
36.
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
hands as prisoners ; I assure you that you shall see them all safe and well.
[Eight strings of white wampum. ]
Brother, I now look up to where our Maker is, .and think there is still some darkness over our heads, so that God can hardly see us, on account of the evil doings of the King over the great waters. All these thick clouds, which have raised on account of that bad King, I now en- tirely remove, that God may look and see our treaty of friendship, and be a witness to the truth and sincerity of our intentions.
[Four strings of white wampum. ]
Brother, as God puts all our hearts right, I now give thanks to God Almighty, to the chief men of the Americans, to my old father the King of France, and to you, brother, that we can now talk on more friendly terms, and speak our senti- ments without interruption.
[Four strings of black and white wampum. ]
Brother, you knew me before you saw me that I had not drawn away my hand from yours. I sent word last year by Captain White Eyes. Brother, I look up to Heaven and call God Al- mighty to witness to the truth of what I say, and that it really comes from my heart. Brother, I now tell you that I have forever thrown off my father. the English, and will never give him any assistance ; and there are some among all the nations that think the same things that I do, and I wish they would all think so.
Brother, I cannot answer for all the nations, as I don't know all their thoughts, and will speak only what I am sure of. Brother, listen to me. I love all the nations, and hate none, and when I return home they shall all hear what you say, and what is done between us. Brother, I have just now told you that I loved all the nations, and I see you raising the hatchet against my young brothers, the Shawanese. I beg you to stop a little while, as he has never yet heard me; and when he has heard me, if he does not choose to think as we do, I will tell you of it immediately. Brother, I intend to speak roughly to my younger brother, and tell him not to listen to the English, but throw them off, and listen to me, and then he may live as I do.
Brother, I thank you for leaving the fortress at Tuscarawas, and I am convinced by that you have taken pity on us and want to make us your friends. Brother, I now take a firm hold of your hand, and beg that you will take pity upon other nations who are my friends, and if any of them should incline to take hold of your hand I re- quest that you would comply and receive them into friendship.
[A black belt of eleven rows.] ouais por.
Brother, listen. I tell you to be cautious, as I think you intend to strike the man near to where I sit, not to go the nighest way to where he is, lest you frighten the owners of the lands, who are living through the country between this and that place. Brother, you now listen to me, and one favor I beg of you is that when you drive away your enemies you will allow me to continue in possession of my property, which, if you grant,
will rejoice me. Brother, I would advise you. when you strike the man near where I sit, to go by water, as it will be the easiest and best way. Brother, if you intend to strike, one way is to go up the Alleghany and by Prisquille ; another way is to go down this river and up the Wabash. Brother, the reason why I mentioned the road up the river is, that there will be no danger of your being discovered until you are close upon them, but on the road down the river you will be spied. Brother, now I have told you the way to Prisquille, and that is the boundary between us and your enemies ; if you go by Wabash your friends will not be surprised. Brother, you must not think that what I have said is only my own thoughts, but the opinion of all the Huron chiefs, and I speak in behalf of them all. If you grant what favors I have asked you, all our friends and relations will be thankful and glad as far as they can hear all around. Brother, the reason why I have pointed out these two roads is that when we hear you are in one of them we will know your intentions without further notice, and the Huron chiefs desired me particularly to mention it that they may meet you in your walk, and tell you what they have done, who are your enemies and who are your friends, and in their name I request a pair of colors to show that we have joined in friendship.
[Fourteen strings of black wampum. ]
Brothers, the chiefs desire me to tell you that they have sent Montour before to tell you their intentions, and they leave him to go with you, and understand one another by his means.'
" HEADQUARTERS,
" PITTSBURGH, Sept. 19, 1779. "Maghingivekesuch to Doonyontat, Irineipal Chief of the Wyandots :- Brother, yesterday I had the pleasure to hear you speak, but when I had heard all, and when you had taken no no- tice of what I mentioned to you before against the English, I could not tell you what to think.
Brother, the chiefs of the Wyandots have lived too long with the English to see things as they ought to do. They must have expected when they were counseling that the chief they sent to this council fire would find the Americans asleep, but the sun, which the Great Spirit has set to light this island, discovers to me they are much mistaken.
[Four strings of black and white wampum. ]
Brother, I will tell you why they are mistaken : they have taught that it was an. easy matter to satisfy us, after doing all the mischief they could. They must have heard that the English were get -. ting weaker, and the Americans stronger, and that a few flattering words would, with giving up our prisoners, secure their lives, the lives of their women and children, and their lands, and the wicked Shawanese, who have so often imbrued their hands in the blood of the Americans, and that in my military operations they had a right to mark out the road I should march on.
[Six strings of black and white wampum. ] Brother, I, however, thank you for wiping
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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
away the blood and burying the bones of our young men, and for casting off that bad Father, the King of Britain. over the great lake.
[Three strings of white wampum. ]
Brother. I left the fort at Tuscarawas because it gave uneasiness to several of the Indian na- tions, which I pitied, and promised to save, if they would do what was right before God, and I still intend to do it. But I have said they must do what is right, and they must send some of their great men to me to remain as hostages until they have complied with their terms. If this is not done all words will be considered as wind. And though I love peace, and could wish to save the lives of my countrymen of this island, I am not afraid of war.
[Four strings of black wampum. ]
Brother, I will now tell you what I conceive to be right, and I will leave it to the world to judge of it: I think the nation you mention, and wish me to receive into friendship, ought to send hos- tages to me, as I said before, until they have killed and taken from the English and their al- lies, as they have killed and taken from the Americans, and return whatever they have stolen from their brothers, together with their flesh and blood, and on every occasion join us against our enemies. Upon these terms, which are just, they and their posterity may live in peace, and enjoy their property without disturbance from their brethren of this island, so long as the sun shines or the waters run.
[A black belt-rows. ]
Brother, I have now spoken from my heart. I am a warrior as well as a counsellor. My words are few, but what I say I will perform. And I must tell you that if the nations will not do justice, they will not be able, after the Eng- lish are driven from this island, to enjoy peace and property.
[Four strings of black wampum. ]
Brother, when I go to war I will take my choice of roads. If I meet my friends, I shall be glad to see them ; and if I meet my enemies, I shall be ready to fight them. Brother, you told me you had not yet spoken to the Shawanese. You likewise say that you had not yet let slip my mind, if so, why did you not speak to them? They have heard their grandfathers, the Dela- wares. and they have heard me. I sent them a good talk, but they threw it into the fire. Now, brother, I must tell you that I cannot now pre- vent the Shawanese being struck by Colonel Clark. I hear he has gone against them, and will strike them before I can send to call him back. But if the Shawanese do what is right, as I have told you, they shall enjoy peace and property. This belt confirms my word.
[A white and black belt, rows. ]
Concereing these communications, Colonel Daniel Brodhead, commanding "W. D.," to Hon. Timothy Pickering, Esq., President of the Board of War, dated Pittsburgh, September 23d, 1779, says : " I enclose yon talks of the Delawares, Wyandots, and the Maquichees tribes of Shaw- nees ; and I flatter myself that there is a great
share of sincerity in their present professions. Since my last this frontier has enjoyed perfect tranquillity, but the new settlements at Kentucky have suffered greatly." It will be seen, there -- fore, that the Indians roamed at will over the region from Pittsburgh to Kentucky, and depre- dated the settlements in that State.
These stipulations, however, had to be en- forced by not only an iron will on the part of the commanders of troops, but a self-sacrificing spirit on the part of the troops never before equaled, as will be seen by remembering that amid all the dangers and difficulties incident to war with the Indians, but the additional mortifi- cation of a depreciated currency, their finances were very low. "Continental money " seemed of so doubtful a surety that it rapidly depreciat- ed, and it behooved them to sustain it if possible. This difficulty was increased by the very effort to inspire confidence, by issuing large amounts that every claim might be at least nominally met ; and it will not be out of place at this time to present an extract showing in a brief manner to what straits our patriot fathers were reduced. That man knows but little of the merits of the heroes and sages of the American Revolution who is disposed to sit down contented with a mere knowledge of desperate battles, defeats and victories, bloodshed and death, occurring during that time. The orderly books and pri- vate correspondence of Washington and his fel- low-soldiers illustrate that there was as much heroism and power of endurance shown in en- countering vexatious details as in planning sieges and fighting battles. Nothing was well ordered or arranged in the affairs of the continent. The forms of State administrations were equally de- fective. In Pennsylvania this was eminently the case.
Among the measures of false policy to which the legislators of the Revolution very naturally resorted were those embargoes, commercial re- strictions of all sorts, tender laws, and limita- tions of prices. The last were most habitually relied on, and were certainly, in their effects. most pernicious. It was a prevalent delusion, affecting alike Congress, the State Assemblies. and the mass of the people, that the only mode of appreciating the paper currency was to pre- scribe a strict limitation of prices, and in spite of its invincible worthlessness to force a given value on a depreciated and fast depreciating paper dollar.
In October, 1778, Washington wrote to one of his friends : " Want of virtue is infinitely more to be dreaded than the whole force of Great Britain, assisted as they are by Hessian, Indian. and Negro allies ; for certain I am that unless extortion, forestalling, and other practices which have crept in and become exceeding prevalent and injurious to the common cause, can meet with proper checks, we must inevitably sink un- der such a load of accumulated oppression. To make and extort money in every shape that can be devised, and at the same time to deny its value, seems to have become a mere business
8
38
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
and an epidemical disease, calling for the inter -. position of every good man and body of men." (Sparks' Washington, vol. I. p. 91.)
" We are sorry to hear that some persons are so slightly informed of their own interests as to suppose that it is advantageous to them to sell the produce of their farms at enormous prices, when a little reflection might convince them that it is injurious to their interests and the general welfare. If they expect thereby to purchase im- ported goods cheaper, they will be egregiously disappointed ; for the merchants, who know they cannot obtain returns in gold, silver, or bills of exchange, but their vessels, if loaded at all, must be loaded with produce, will raise the price of what they have to sell in proportion to the price of what they have to buy, and consequent- ly the landholder can purchase no more foreign goods for the same quantity of his produce than he could before." (Journals, 1779, p. 225.)
In this tone did Congress address a people highly inflamed. The progress of things was rapid and natural. On the next day (February 27, 1777,) a large town meeting was held in the State House Yard, at which Daniel Roberdean presided. His speech on taking the chair was highly inflammatory, the burden of it being that monopolizers were grinding down the people by heavy taxes in the form of high prices ; that the disease of monopoly had its origin in Philadel- phia ; that the only way to make money good was forcibly to reduce the prices of goods and provisions. The response to this appeal was the adoption of a series of resolutions asserting the right of the people to inquire into and punish abuses aside from the law ; a determination " not to be eaten up by monopolizers and forestallers," demanding that all excess of price beyond that which was paid on the Ist of May last past should be taken off ; and finally organizing two committees, one to inquire into certain alleged abuses, and the other a permanent one, whose duty it was to ascertain prices at certain past days, to which thereafter all dealings were to conform, The prices of the Ist of May were to be the prices till the Ist of July, after which they were to be reduced to the standard of the Ist of April. Not only did every township and county in Pennsylvania organize its committee of prices, but neighboring and distant States followed in the train of mistaken policy. The following table was published by authority, June 26, 1779 :
PRICES OF THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES ON THE 1ST OF APRIL, WHICH ARE TO CONTINUE FOR THE MONTH OF JULY.
WHOLESALE.
RETAIL.
Coffee, per lb £0 15 0
Chocolate, per lb. 1 17 6
2 00 0
Bohea tea, per lb 4 10 0
4 15 0
Common green tea .. 5 10 0 7 10 0
Best Hyson 18 00 0
20 00 0
West India Rum, per gal 6 05 0
6 12 6
Country Rum, 4 10 0
4 15 0
French Rum, 4 10 0 4 15 0
Muscovada sugar, from
From 15s to 20s
£70 to £95 per cwt .... per lb
Loaf sugar, from £2 02
to £2 10 per 1b ...
From 47s 6d to 52s 6d per ib. 0 03 0
WHOLESALE.
RETAIL.
French Indigo, per lb. £26 15 0 Per I) 0 60 0
Carolina Indigo, " 2 00 0 ... 0 45 0
Black Pepper, 1 17 6 0 42 6
Cotton from 40s to 55s ...
From 45s to 60
Hemp 0 08 0
Candles 14 00 6
0 15 0
Best hard soap. 10 00 6
0 12 6
Butter.
Blooming bar iron, per ton £500 ..
Refined bar iron, per ton £700 ... 0 38 0
Nail rod iron, per ton £1,000. 0 55 0
0 15 0
best Dintle sole leather, per il). 0 20 0)
Neats' leather, by the side 150s 0d
A calfskin that will eut
four pair of shoes ...... 150s 0d
Best boot legs, per pair .. 180s 0d
Harness leather, per Ib .. Bridle leather, per side ... Boots per pair from £37 to £40
20s 0d
150s 0d
Men's best leather shoes from 135s to 150s
Women's shoes 120s.
By the advise of the Schuylers there was now (1757) on the Mohawk river a Superintendent of Indian Affairs, the importance of which charge began to be fully understood. He was regularly appointed and paid by the Govern- ment. This was the celebrated Sir William Johnson. He held the office so difficult both to define and execute. It might be said that he was the tribune of the Five Nations : their claims he asserted, their rights he protected, and over their minds he possessed a greater sway than . any other individual had ever attained ; he was calculated to win and retain the affections of a brave people, possessing. in common with them- selves, many of those peculiarities of mind and manners that distinguished them from others. He was superintendent to the warriors of the upper and lower castle of the Iroquois Indians. and in the presence of Lt. Butler, of Rutherford's Company, Capt. Matthew Farral, Lt. John But- ler, and Daniel and Clause, and Peter Wraxal, secretaries of Indian affairs, and Wm. Printer and Jacob Clement, interpreters, addressed them as follows :
"My brethren of both castles of the Anies :- I wipe away all tears from your eyes and clear your throat, that you may hear and speak with- out constraint. I rejoice to see you, and salute you with all my heart.
[Gives a string of wampum. ]
I desire to conform to what I demanded of you in a letter which I wrote to you from New York as soon as I returned from Virginia, wherein I prayed all your chiefs and warriors to wait my coming home, to hear news, and be in- formed of the orders which I have received from his excellency, General Braddock (the great warrior), whom the King, our common father, has sent to this country, with a great number of troops, of great, great guns, and other imple-
Rice
Per lb. $0 16 0
Per ewt, £28.
0 15 0
Sheet iron per lb .. 0 12 0
39
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
ments of war, to protect you as well as his sub- jects upon this continent, and defend you against all usurpations and insults of the French.
I have been to wait upon this great man, along with the Governors of Boston, New York, Penn- sylvania and Maryland ; we had, also, there the Governor of Virginia, and another great man. who, in this part of the world, commands all the men of war belonging to the King. In the great council many important affairs have been delib- erated, among which the interest and safety of our brethren, the Six Nations, and their allies. were considered with great attention.
My brethren, the tree which you and the rest of the Six Nations have so often and earnestly desired that it should be replanted, is grown by such a mighty hand that its roots penetrate into the bottom of the earth, and its branches are a refreshing shade to cover you and your allies ; as I am to acquaint you that, agreeable to the in- structions which the King, your father, has given to General Braddock, I am nominated to be alone superintendent over all the affairs that shall concern you and your allies in this part of the world ; I invite you and your brethren, the Six United Nations, and your allies, to assemble under this tree, where you may freely open your hearts and heal your wounds, and at the same time I transport the shade of that fire which was in Albany, and rekindle the fire of council and friendship in this place ; I shall make it of such wood as shall produce the greatest light and greatest heat. I hope it will be serviceable and conformable to all those who shall come to light their pipes at it ; and that the sparkling and flaming coals thereof will burn all those who are or shall be its enemies. I hope that you and all your brethren would be glad to increase the lustre and splendor of this fire, in ininding and keeping it always up, applying yourselves to it with that diligence and zeal as may derive a blessing from it, not only upon you, but upon all your posterity. To obtain and ascertain that salutary end, it is absolutely necessary that you extinguish all the fires kindled by means of de- ceit and fraud and not natural, which light. but to deceive and destroy you and yours.
[A belt. ]
My brethren, by this belt of wampum. I cleanse the council chamber, to the end that there be nothing offensive therein, and Ihope that you will take care that no evil spirits creep in among us, that nothing may interupt our har- mony.
[Gives a string of wampum. ]
My brethren, I am concerned to see, at my re- turn, that many of the two villages desire to go to Canada. I should be much surprised that you, who have been our most faithful friends and nearest neighbors, would, upon any occasion, show your desire to be deceived by the wicked artifices of the French, who are so well known. and of whom you have had such fatal experience, especially when that restless and perfidious na- tion breaks the most solemn treaties and violates all the obligations of honor and justice ; this
would be the most surprising thing in the world. But I hope that what I have been told upon that subject has no foundation. I desire and insist that none of you, upon any pretense whatsoever, have any correspondence with the French, nor receive any of their emisaries, nor go to Canada without my knowledge and approbation.
[Upon this condition I give you a belt. ]
I intend immediately to call your other breth- ren of the Six Nations to this present fire. I hope that you'll come here along with them. I shall deliver a speech of his excellency, General Braddock, accompanied with presents for you. which the Great King, your father, has sent by that warrior."
After some moments of consultation between them. Abraham, one of the chiefs of the upper village, got up and spoke thus for the two :
" My brother, you have called us to let us know the tidings you have brought with you, and we have understood all that you have said ; we defer until the Six Nations are all assembled here to give an exact account of all affairs.
[Gives a string of wampum. ]
My brother, we thank you for being so willing to wipe the tears from our eyes and to cleanse our throats and this floor. We do as much with this string of wampum.
[Gives a string of wampum. ]
My brother, to comply with your request we have met together, and with great attention heard all you have said ; we thank you for your kind information : we are charmed to see you again once more, and greet you with this string of wampum.
[They give it.]
My brother, we have often represented to our father, the great King, that the tree advanced ; we are very glad that our father has complied with our demand, and thank him for it most sincerely ; we have had the greatest satisfaction to have all that you have said concerning that tree, we sin- 'cerely wish that it may continue such as you de- scribe in your speech, and we are very sensible of all you said upon the subject.
My brother, you have told us that the tree which shaded us is now replanted here : you made it the shade of Albany, and you have re- kindled here the fire of prudence and friendship. which must be made of good, everlasting wood, so that it shall be always clear, and give com- fortable and salutary heat to all that will approach it as friends. whilst it shall burn and inflame against its enemies : our first fathers had kindled this fire first at Onontague and carried the small coals of it to rekindle another at the habitation of Quider (Indian for Albany). The fire never burnt clear and was ahnost extinguished : we are very well satisfied to hear that you have rekindled it.
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