USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Annals of Luzerne County; a record of interesting events, traditions, and anecdotes > Part 4
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On the first of January, 1756, Buckshanoath, leading a party of savages, attacked and put to flight a company of forty soldiers, at Gnadenhutten, sent to erect a fort at that place. Buckshanoath was a co-worker with Teed- yuscung in his expedition against the English.
At this time Teedyuscung captured Peter Hess, Henry Hess, Nicholas Cileman, Leonard Wesser, William Wesser, and others. On his return to Wyoming with his booty and his prisoners, he encamped for the night on the Pokono Mountain. Here the savages killed Peter Hess,
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cutting him almost in pieces with their knives, and tied the others to trees. They kindled a large fire, but the night was so cold that they could not sleep. At daylight they set out, and arrived at Wyoming in the evening. They found the valley deserted. The party pushed on to Tunkhannock, where they found about one hundred men, women, and children, and where the prisoners re- mained until the cold weather was over. They were afterwards taken to Diahoga, and stayed there until they were brought down, and delivered up to their friends, at the treaty at Easton, in the following November.
Scarrooyady and Andrew Montour had been sent, in December, by Governor Morris, by the way of Wyoming, with a message to General William Johnson, on the Mo- hawk. They returned to Philadelphia, via Albany, and reported that they had found the warriors in Wyoming collecting, preparatory to their murderous enterprise, and had offered them a peace-belt, which they pushed aside with a stick, and commenced the war-dance. They stated further that John Shikellimus and his two brothers, one of whom was Logan, had joined the war-party, but that they had taken him aside, and he had promised he would not go. Shikellimus afterwards stated to Conrad Weiser and the council, when interrogated, that he did not go with the warriors, but that his brothers did. If this was the fact, how can we reconcile it with a statement made in Logan's celebrated speech to the messenger of Lord Dunmore, in 1774, in which he says, "During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites that my countrymen pointed as they passed, and said, Logan is the friend of white men !"
The council to be held by Governor Morris at Harris's, on the first of January, 1756, was removed to Carlisle,
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and it may be said to have been a failure. No Indians appeared, except The Belt, Captain Newcastle, Silver Heels, Andrew Montour, and a few others, already in the English interest. It was now determined to erect forts and garrison them, since the Assembly had, at length, placed funds at the disposal of the governor. In January and February six or eight substantial fortifications were built. Among others, Fort Allen, on the Lehigh, which was constructed under the supervision of Dr. Franklin, and named by him in honor of William Allen, the Supreme Judge of the Province. In the following sum- mer Fort Augusta was built at Shamokin, named in honor of Augusta, daughter of George II., who married a Duke of Saxony.
In April, Governor Morris, with the approval of the Supreme Executive Council, except James Logan, who entered his protest, issued a declaration of war against the Delawares and their associates, and offered the follow- ing bounties for scalps and prisoners :- For a male Indian prisoner, above twelve years of age, delivered at any of the government forts or towns, $150; for every male or female prisoner, twelve years old and under, delivered as above, $130; for the scalp of every male Indian above twelve years old, $130; and for the scalp of an Indian woman, $50. The Quakers and Moravians exclaimed against the barbarous character of the proclamation, and the Assembly was in an uproar. But the war-party was gratified, and the frontiersmen began to hope for deliver- ance from their bloodthirsty foes. The highly excited condition of men's minds at this period produced by the shocking barbarities of the Indians, must be the only palliating excuse for this most unchristian measure.
A few days after this, the governor issued his procla- mation, setting forth Friday, the 21st of May, as a day
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of fasting and prayer to Almighty God for peace, har- mony, public spirit, and the protection of the frontier settlers from murder, &c. But through the influence of General Johnson, afterwards Sir William Johnson, with the Six Nations, the way was paved for a council with Teedyuscung. The declaration of war was suspended for thirty days, and Captain Newcastle and two other friendly Indians, in May, set out for Diahoga. Passing through Wyoming, they found that the entire Indian population, from Shamokin to Wyalusing, had gone northward. In the valley there reigned the silence of the grave. At Diahoga, Newcastle found Teedyuscung in council with the chiefs of the Six Nations. But soon the Delawares, Shawanese, Monseys, and Mohicans, assembled to hear what New- castle had to say.
He delivered Governor Morris's message, inviting them to a council to be held at Easton, in July. He was favor- ably answered by Teedyuscung and Paxinos, when he took . his departure. In July, on the day appointed, Teedyuscung, with a few of his warriors, arrived in Easton, where he was met by the governor and his coun- sellors. The Delaware king opened the council by saying he had come as the messenger of ten nations, meaning the Six Nations, and the four, who were convened to hear Newcastle at Diahoga. He wished to hear what
the governor had to say. " If it be good I shall lay hold of it, and carry it to the United Nations, who will smile and be pleased to hear good news; and if what you say be disagreeable, I will, notwithstanding, keep it close (closing his fist), and deliver it faithfully to the Nations. Hearken to what I say. Abundance of confusion, disor- der, and distraction have arisen among Indians from people taking upon them to be kings and persons of authority. With every tribe of Indians there have been such pretenders who have held treaties, sometimes public,
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sometimes in the bushes. Sometimes what they did was come to be known, and frequently remained in darkness. To some they held up their belts, but others never saw them. This bred among the Indians heart-burnings and quarrels, and I can assure you that the present clouds do in a great measure owe their rise to this wild and irregu- lar way of doing business, and the Indians will have no more transactions in the dark." Here he presented the governor a string of wampum. Being asked if he had done speaking, he said he had, for the present. The main thing, he added, is yet in my breast, laying his hand on his heart, but this will depend on what words the governor will speak to us. Then he repeated the Delaware word Whishshiksy, the same in the Mohawk as Iago, with great earnestness, and a very pathetic tone, meaning be strong, look about, active. The governor then spoke : " Brother, I have heard, with attention, all you have said, and thank you for the openness with which you have declared your sentiments." After delivering a lengthy speech, he pre- sented many belts, and assured the Indians of his desire for peace. To which Teedyuscung replied as follows :- " Brother, this belt," lifting up a large string of wampum, " denotes that our uncles, the Six Nations, have lately renewed their covenant chain with us (meaning the Dela- wares). Formerly we were accounted women, and em- ployed only in women's business, but now they have made men of us, and as such are now come to this treaty, having this authority as a man to make peace. I have it in my hand, but have not opened it, but will soon declare it to the other nations. This belt holds together ten nations. We are in the middle between the French and English. Look at it. This belt further denotes that whoever will not comply with the terms of peace, the ten nations will strike him. See the dangerous circumstances I am in-strong men on both sides-
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hatchets on both sides. Whoever is for peace, him will I join. Brother, this is a good day. Whoever will make peace, let him lay hold of this belt." Here the governor took hold of the belt, and said, he was pleased with what the king had said. The figures on the belt were then explained-the English were represented on one end, the French on the other, and the land of the Indians lay between them. Teedyuscung and his son then dined with the governor, soon after which he departed for Diahoga. Pursuant to an agreement made before he left, he returned to another council held at Easton on the 8th day of the following November. He brought with him four chiefs of the Six Nations, sixteen Delaware Indians, two Shawanese, and six Mohicans. The council, which continued nine days, was opened by a speech from Governor William Denny, who had suc- ceeded Governor Morris. He was answered by Teedy- uscung-belts and strings were passed and repassed, the blood was wiped out of the paths, and the tears from the eyes-the leaves, bushes, and briers were cleared away, and plasters were placed on the wounds. In one of his speeches on this occasion Teedyuscung said, " This very ground that is under me," striking it with his foot, "was my land and inheritance, and was taken from me by fraud. When I say this ground, I mean all the land lying between Tohiccon Creek and Wyoming, on the river Susquehanna. I have been served so not only in this government, but the same thing has been done to me in New Jersey." When asked what he meant by fraud, he gave the governor instances of forged deeds under which lands were claimed, which the Indians never sold- this is fraud. He continued his remarks, and said, "The Delawares had never been satisfied since the treaty of 1737, when their fathers sold the lands on the Delaware
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river-that although the lands sold were to have extended so far only as a man could go in a day and a half from Nashamony Creek, yet the person who measured the ground did not walk, but ran. He was, moreover, as they supposed, to follow the winding bank of the river, whereas he went in a straight line. And, because the Indians had been unwilling to give up the land as far as the walk extended, the governor, then having command of the English, sent for their cousins, the Six Nations, who had always been hard masters to them, to come down and drive them away. When the Six Nations came down, the Delawares met them at a great treaty held at the governor's house, in Philadelphia, for the purpose of explaining to them why they did not give up their lands. But the English made so many presents to them that their ears were stopped. They would listen to no expla- nation, and Canassatego had, moreover, abused them, and called them women. The Six Nations had, however, given to them and the Shawanese the lands on the Sus- quehanna and Juniata for hunting-grounds, and had so informed the governor. But notwithstanding this, the whites were allowed to go and settle on these lands. Two years ago, moreover, the governor had been to Albany to buy some land of the Six Nations, and had described their purchase by points of the compass, which the Indians did not understand, including lands on the Sus- quehanna and Juniata, which they did not wish to sell. When all these things were known to the Indians, they declared they would no longer be friends to the English, who were trying to get all their country away from them. He, however, assured the council he was glad to meet with the English, and smoke the pipe of peace, and hoped that justice would be done to them for all the inju- ries they had received."
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Arrangements were then made for holding another council, at Lancaster, in the following May. At that time and place a number of the Six Nations and of others assembled, with the authorities of Pennsylvania; but although this appointment was made at the suggestion of Teedyuscung, neither he nor any of his people were present. Nevertheless, this council was attended with good results, for it opened the way for the reconciliation of the Senecas, the fiercest and most terrible warriors of the Six Nations. A message was sent to Teedyuscung, requesting another council to be held at Easton in July, at which time and place he arrived with one hundred and fifty-nine Delawares, and one hundred and nineteen Senecas, men, women, and children. In a few days these were followed by sixty-four more, among whom were Paxinos, the Shawanese chief, Abraham, the Mohican chief, and a number of their people, together with several Nanticokes. This council was conducted by Governor Denny on the one side, and by Teedyuscung on the other, and continued twenty-one days. The Delaware king conducted himself with great dignity, notwithstand- ing he drank large quantities of " fire-water." It is said, he could drink three quarts of rum a day and not lose his equilibrium, or be confused in thought or word. He made everything, on this occasion, bend to his will. He demanded a private secretary, but was refused, being told such a thing was unknown in all former Indian treaties, and that his demand exhibited a want of confidence in the governor and his council. He, however, insisted, and selecting Charles Thompson, master of the Free Quaker School in Philadelphia, and afterwards secretary to the Continental Congress, he conducted him to the table, and seated him beside the governor's secretary. He gave
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him an Indian name, signifying "Man of Truth," and then expressed his willingness to proceed to business.
He demanded that all deeds, given by the Indians to the proprietaries, should be exhibited, together with cer- tain letters; but this was refused by Mr. Peters, who said he had no authority to exhibit them. Teedyuscung insisted on his demand, which was finally complied with. He then reiterated his former speeches, and demanded that for all lands embraced within said deeds, for which the Indians had not been paid, just compensation should be made. This was agreed to. He further insisted that Wyoming, and certain other lands on the Susquehanna, should be the property of the Indians, for ever; that the Pennsylvania government should not on any account dis- pose of them; and that said government should build comfortable dwelling-houses for him and his people at Wyoming, to which place the Delawares, Shawanese, Mohicans, and others, intended to remove in the spring, from Diahoga. Teedyuscung further demanded, that when the Indians returned to Wyoming they should be supplied with missionaries to preach the Gospel, and teachers to teach their children to read and write. These demands were also acceded to. The pipe of peace was then filled with good tobacco, and being smoked, the council closed. The Nanticokes went to Lancaster to remove the bones of their friends to their new homes on the Chemung and Shenango rivers, while the Senecas, Shawanese, Delawares, and Mohicans, being well supplied with presents from the governor, returned to Diahoga. Teedyuscung, with his sons and a number of warriors, remained at Easton and Bethlehem, whence he sent out scouts with the English troops, to watch and oppose the movements of the French and hostile Indians from the Ohio, who were prowling on the frontiers.
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The defeat of the French under Baron Dieskow, at Lake George, by General Johnson, in September, 1757, and the discovery of a conspiracy, on the part of the French, to destroy the Six Nations, by uniting all the western tribes against them, caused most of the Senecas and Cayugas to take sides with the English. But the Delawares, Shawanese, and others, resident on the Ohio, remained in alliance with the French. In the spring of 1758 the Pennsylvania government, in compliance with their promise to Teedyuscung, erected a number of log- houses in Wyoming, on the site of the old Indian village, below Wilkesbarre. To these repaired Teedyuscung and many of the Delawares, while others, and nearly all the Shawanese, when leaving Diahoga, went to the Ohio, whence they never returned.
Mr. Chapman, and all other writers on Wyoming, have given an account of what they call the "Grasshopper War." It is said to have occurred between the Delawares and Shawanese, on the flats below Wilkesbarre, and to have been a contest of the most sanguinary character. It resulted in the expulsion of the Shawanese from the valley. As the story goes, a few Shawanese squaws, with their children, crossed the river into the territory of the Delawares, and, with a number of the Delaware women and children, were gathering wild flowers, when a Shawanese child caught a grasshopper, which was claimed by a child of the Delawares. A struggle ensued, in which the women took part. The Shawanese being worsted returned home, and reported what had taken place, when the warriors armed, and crossing the river a terrible battle ensued, in which hundreds on both sides were slain. We can find no record of any disagreement between the Delawares and Shawanese. All statements made respecting them represent these two peoples living
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in peace, and entertaining the Moravian missionaries from 1742 to 1756, when they all departed for Diahoga. Neither party had hundreds of warriors to lose, for the whole number from Shamokin to Tunkhannock, including the Monseys on the Lackawanna, did not exceed three hundred and fifty. We therefore conclude, if there ever was a "Grasshopper War," it was a very small affair, and probably closed as it commenced with a few blows and scratches among women and children.
It now became an important object, with Governor Denny and Sir William Johnson, to secure a treaty of peace with the Western Indians. Christian Frederick Post, who had been a pious and zealous Moravian Mis- sionary at Wyoming and at other stations, for seventeen years, was selected to convey to them the white belt of peace and reconciliation. He had been twice married to Indian women, and was intimately acquainted with the Indian character. Teedyuscung protested against his going, de- claring he would never return alive, but the bold and confident Christian said, it was a mission of peace, that God would protect him, and that he must go. On the 15th of July, 1758, he left Philadelphia with five Indian guides. He carried with him copies of the treaties made with Teedyuscung, belts of wampum, and messages from the Governor. He made his journey by the way of Bethlehem, Shamokin, Lock Haven, &c. It was an ardu- ous and perilous expedition. Twice he got lost in the woods, and one of his guides strayed away, and could not be found. Without food and drenched with rain, night after night he slept on the cold wet ground. Passing within ten yards of the French fort at Venango, says he, in his journal, "I prayed the Lord to blind them as he did the enemies of Lot and Elisha." Finally he arrived at King Beaver's, who presided over the Delaware Indians
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in the West. King Beaver and his people, especially those to whom he had preached the gospel at Wyoming, were glad to see him. They gave him a public dinner, and danced about him. They sent messengers to all the surrounding tribes to come and hear what the English had to say.
The French sent spies to the town to watch him, and insisted on his coming to Fort Du Quesne. They repre- sented to the Indians that when messengers arrived among the whites, it was customary to blindfold them, and lead them into a small room, and then hear what they had to say. They desired that Post should be thus led to the Fort. Some of the Indians requested him to go to the Fort, but he refused, and it was agreed he should hold a council with the Indians on the opposite bank of the river. He told the red men he had nothing to do with the French, and that they must protect him. This they promised to do. When all were assembled he laid before them the proceedings of the councils held with Teedyus- cung, but they refused to hear them read, saying, that Teedyuscung could not make peace for them-they had nothing to do with him. "This day," says he, "I had such great trouble that it made me sweat."
He, however, succeeded in making arrangements for kindling a great council-fire at Easton, to which all the tribes promised to send representatives. Post now set out on his return, and had not proceeded far when he heard the thunder of nineteen cannon discharged at the Fort. Under the very mouths of these cannon, he had, singly and alone, with the full knowledge of three hun- dred Frenchmen, laid a plan which sundered the union between them and their Indian allies.
In October following, the council agreed upon was held at Easton, where upwards of five hundred Indians assem-
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bled. They were met by the Governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and by Sir William Johnson, by Conrad Weiser and his corps de interpretre, Mr. Peters, by the Supreme Executive Council, and members of the Assem- bly, and by hundreds of spectators from Philadelphia. They had convened to light their pipes, and burn that good tobacco, the smoke of which should ascend to the clouds, and be seen by all the Indians to the going down of the sun. Teedyuscung assumed to act as chief speaker, which excited the jealousy of the chiefs of the Six Na- tions, who looked upon the Delawares as subjects, but he sustained himself with dignity. Long speeches were delivered by the governors, by Sir William Johnson, and by a number of the chiefs. A good understanding being established, the council adjourned after a session of nineteen days. The Indians were supplied with hats, caps, knives, jewsharps, powder and lead, paints, and walking sticks (their name for rum). Teedyuscung and other chiefs received each a military hat trimmed with lace, a regimental coat, and a ruffled shirt. In less than four weeks after the departure of the Indians from Easton, the French evacuated and fled from Fort Du Quesne before the advancing English troops under Gen. Forbes. In Sept. 1759, Quebec surrendered. In 1762 Montreal and other strongholds yielded to the British arms, and in 1763 Canada passed from the French dominion to the British Crown.
THE SECOND INDIAN WAR.
For a period of nearly five years succeeding the last treaty held at Easton, the frontiers of Pennsylvania were exempt from Indian hostilities or depredations, except the practice of horse stealing, to which the savages were always addicted The Indians frequently visited Phila- .
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delphia in parties, and received attention and presents from the governor. In 1762, the chain of friendship between them and the whites was strengthened and brightened at a great council held at Lancaster, attended by chiefs from the Six Nations, by the western Indians, and by those in Pennsylvania. At this treaty Teedyus- cung withdrew the imputation of forgery made at Easton against the younger Penns, and their agents, but adhered to the charge of fraud as connected with the walking purchase. He, however, signed a release for all claims upon lands on the Delaware, and received, for himself and his people, 700 pounds Pennsylvania currency ($1800) in money and goods.
The Moravians re-established their missions at Gnaden- hutten, Wyoming, Wyalusing, and at other points, and the whites, on the frontiers, recovering from the effects of the last long and bloody war, were anticipating the blessings of a prosperous peace.
The expectation was a vain one. In April, 1763. Teedyuscung's dwelling was set on fire and consumed, together with himself, who was in a state of helpless intoxication. It is strongly suspected that this was the deed of some of the warriors of the Six Nations, one of whose chiefs Teedyuscung had slain in former times. Moreover, the presumption and importance which he had exhibited in the councils held at Easton and Lan- caster, had probably rendered him an object of strong dislike to the leading men of the Indian confederacy. An effort was made by the murderers, or their friends, to induce the belief in the Delawares that Teedyuscung had been killed by the Connecticut settlers, who were now beginning their settlements in the valley. It is not known if the Delawares ever believed so silly and in- probable a story. But in June following, the Delawares
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and Shawanese murdered several white families in the west. They attacked Fort Venango, and put the garrison to death, and carried several women and children into captivity. Governor Hamilton called the Assembly to- gether; but before the frontiers could be placed in a state of defence the savages had committed most shock- ing barbarities. Many murders and burnings were per- petrated in Northampton, Berks, and Lancaster counties, and the Connecticut settlement at Wyoming was broken up and destroyed. Many of these barbarous deeds were committed by the Indians of New York, and it is more than suspected that by their arts and intrigue the Sus- quehanna Indians, whom the Pennsylvania government had taken so much pains to conciliate, were involved, contrary to their wishes. These unprovoked and unex- plained attacks excited the frontier settlers beyond all bounds. The Christian Indians at Conestoga were sus- pected of, and detected in, harboring hostile savages, and their removal or extermination was resolved upon. A number were killed by the exasperated men of Paxton ; others were collected at Bethlehem, and, under the super- intendence of David Zeisberger and Jacob Schmick, in April, 1764, they set out for Wyalusing, on the Susque- hanna. They rested at Wyoming, and from this place proceeded by water to their place of destination, where they arrived after a journey of five weeks. Here they laid out a town, erected forty log houses and a meeting- house, and named the place Friedenshutten-tents of peuce.
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