USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 51
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Nov. 1st-We reached fort Littleton, in company with the Chero- kees, and were lodged in the fort ; they, and our Indians, in distinct places ; and they entertained each other with stories of their warlike ad- ventures.
2d-Pisquetomen said to me, "you have led us this way, through the fire ; if any mischief should befal us, we shall lay it entirely to you ; for we think it was your doing, to bring us this way ; you should have told us at Easton, if it was necessary we should go to the general."
I told him, " that I had informed the great men at Easton, that I then thought it would be best not to let them go from thence, till they had seen the general's letter; and assured them, that it was agreeable to the general's pleasure."
3d-Pisquetomen began to argue with captain Bull and Mr. Hays, upon the same subject, as they did with me, when I went to them with my first message ; which was, " that they should tell them, whether the general would claim the land as his own, when he should drive the French away ? or, whether the English thought to settle the country ? We are always jealous the English will take the land from us. Look, brother, what makes you come with such a large body of men, and make such large roads into our country ; we could drive away the French our- selves, without your coming into our country."
Then I desired captain Bull and Mr. Hays to be careful how they argued with the Indians ; and be sure to say nothing, that might affront them ; for it may prove to our disadvantage, when we come amongst them. This day we came to Raystown, and with much difficulty, got a place to lodge the Indians by themselves, to their satisfaction.
4th-We intended to set out, but our Indians told us, the Cherokees had desired them to stay that day, as they intended to hold a council ; and they desired us to read over to them the governor's message, which we accordingly did. Pisquetomen, finding Jenny Frazer there, who had been their prisoner, and escaped, spoke to her a little rashly. Our Indians, waiting all the day, and the Cherokees not sending to them, were displeased.
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5th-Rose early, and, it raining smartly, we asked our Indians if they would go; which they took time to consult about.
The Cherokees came and told them, the English had killed about thirty of their people, for taking some horses ; which they resented much ; and told our Indians they had better go home, than go any farther with us, lest they should meet with the same. On hearing this, I told them how I had heard it happened ; upon which our Indiaus said, they had behaved like fools, and brought the mischief on themselves.
Pisquetomen, before we went from hence, made it up with Jenny Frazer, and they parted good friends ; and though it rained hard, we set out at 10 o'clock, and got to the foot of the Allegheny, and lodged at the first run of water.
6th-One of our horses went back ; we hunted a good while for him. Then we set off, and found one of the worst roads that ever was travel- led until Stoney creek, Upon the road we overtook a great number of pack horses ; whereon Pisquetomen said, " Brother, now you see, if you had not come to us before, this road would not be so safe as it is ; now you see, we could have destroyed all this people on the road, and great mischief would have been done, if you had not stopt, and drawn our people back." We were informed that the general was not yet gone to fort Duquesne, wherefore Pisquetomen said, he was glad, and expressed, " If I can come to our towns before the general begins the attack, I know our people will draw back, and leave the French." We lodged this night at Stoney creek.
7th-We rose early, and made all the haste we could on our journey; we crossed the large creek, Rekempalin, near Lawrel hill. Upon this hill we overtook the artillery ; and came, before sun set, to Loyal Han- ning. We were gladly received in the camp by the general, and most of the people. We made our fire near the other Indian camps, which pleased our people. Soon after some of the officers came, and spoke very rashly to our Indians, in respect to their conduct to our people ; at which they were much displeased, and answered as rashly, and said, " they did not understand such usage, for they were come upon a mes- sage of peace ; if we had a mind to war, they knew how to help them- selves, and that they were not afraid of us."
8th-At eleven o'clock the general called the Indians together, the Cherokees and Catawbas being present ; he spake to them in a kind and loving manner, and bid them heartily welcome to his camp,-and expres- sed his joy to see them, and desired them to give his compliments to all their kings and captains :- He desired them that had any love for the English nation, to withdraw from the French; for if he should find them among the French, he must treat them as enemies, as he should advance with a large army very soon, and cannot wait longer on account of the winter season. After that he drank the king's health, and all that wish well to the English nation ; then he drank king Beaver's, Shingas' and all the warrior's healths, and recommended us (the messengers,) to their care ; and desired them to give credit to what we should say. After that we went to another house with the general alone ; and he showed them the belt, and said, he would furnish them with a writing, for both the belt and string : and after a little discourse more, our Indians parted
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in love and well satisfied. And we made all necessary preparation for our journey.
9th-Some of the colonels and chief commanders wondered how I came through so many difficulties, and how I could rule and bring these people to reason, making no use of gun or sword. I told them, it is done by no other means than by faith. Then they asked me, if I had faith to venture myself to come safe through with my companions. I told them, it was in my heart to pray for them, "you know that the Lord has given many promises to his servants, and what he promises, you may depend upon, he will perform." Then he wished us good suc- cess. . We waited till almost noon for the writing of the general. We were escorted by an hundred men, rank and file, commanded by captain Haselet ; we passed through a tract of good land, about six miles on the old trading path, and came to the creek again, where there is a large fine bottom, well timbered ; from thence we came upon a hill, to an advanced breast work, about ten miles from the camp, well situated for strength, facing a small branch of the aforesaid creek; the hill is steep down, perpendicular about twenty feet, on the south side ; which is a great defence ; and on the west side the breast work, about seven feet high, where we encamped that night. Our Indian companions heard that we were to part in the morning, and that twelve men were to be sent with us, and the others, part of the company, to go towards fort Duquesne. Our Indians desired that the captain would send twenty men, instead of twelve ; that if any accident shoud happen, they could be more able to defend themselves in returning back, " for we know, say they, the enemy will follow the smallest party." It began to rain. Within five miles from the breast work we departed from captain Haselet ; he kept the old trading path to the Ohio. Lieutenant Hays was ordered to accompany us to the Allegheny river, with fourteen men. We went the path that leads along the Loyal Hanning creek, where there is a rich fine bottom, land well timbered, good springs and small creeks. At four o'clock we were alarmed by three men, in Indian dress ; and preparation was made on both sides, for defence. Isaac Still showed a white token, and Pis- quetomen gave an Indian halloo ; after which they thew down their bundles, and ran away as fast as they could. We afterwards took up their bundles, and found that it was a small party of our men, that had been long out. We were sorry that we had scared them, for they lost their bundles with all their food. Then, I held a conference with our Indians, and asked them, if it would not be good, to send one of our Indians to Logstown and fort Duquesne, and call the Indians from thence, before we arrive at Kushkushking. They all agreed it would not be good, as they were but messengers ; it must be done by their chief men. The wolves made a terrible music this night.
11th-We started early, and came to the old Shawanese town, called Keckkeknepolin, grown up thick with weeds, briars and bushes, that we scarcely could get through. Pisquetomen led us upon a steep hill, that our horses could hardly get up ; and Thomas Hickman's horse tumbled, and rolled down the hill like a wheel ; on which he grew angry, and would go no further with us, and said, he would go by him- self. It happened we found a path on the top of the hill. At three
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o'clock we came to Kiskemeneco, an old Indian town, a rich bottom, well timbered, good fine english grass, well watered, and lays waste since the war began. We let our horses feed here, and agreed that lieu- tenant Hays might go back with his party ; and as they were short of provisions, we, therefore, gave them a little of ours, which they took very kind of us. Thomas Hickman could find no other road, and came to us again a little ashamed : we were glad to see him ; and we went about three miles farther, where we made a large fire. Here the Indians looked over their presents, and grumbled at me ; they thought, if they had gone the other way by Shamokin, they would have got more. Captain Bull spoke in their favour, against me. Then I said to them, " I am ashamed to see you grumble about presents ; I thought you were sent to establish a peace." Though I confess I was not pleased that the Indians were so slightly fitted out from Easton, as the general had nothing to give them, in the critical circumstances he was in, fit for their purpose.
12th -- Early in the morning, I spoke to the Indians of my company: " Brethren ; you have now passed through the heart of the country back and forward, likewise through the midst of the army, without any diffi- culty or danger ; you have seen and heard a great deal. When I was among you, at Allegheny, you told me I should not regard what the common people would say, but only hearken to the chiefs ; I should take no bad stories along. I did accordingly ; and when I left Alle- gheny I dropt all evil reports, and only carried the agreeable news, which was pleasing to all that heard it. Now, brethren, I beg of you to do the same, and to drop all evil reports, which you may have heard of bad people, and only to observe and keep what you have heard of our rulers, and the wise people, so that all your young men, women and children, may rejoice at our coming to them, and may have the benefit of it."
They took it very kindly. After awhile they spoke in the following manner to us, and said, " Brethren ; when you come to Kushkushking, you must not mind the prisoners, and have nothing to do with them .- Mr. Post, when he was first there, listened too much to the prisoners ; the Indians were almost mad with him for it, and would have confined him for it ; for, they said, he had wrote something of them."
As we were hunting for our horses, we found Thomas Hickman's horse dead, which rolled yesterday down the hill. At one o'clock we came to the Allegheny, to an old Shawano town, situated under a high hill on the east, opposite an island of about one hundred acres, very rich land, well timbered. We looked for a place to cross the river, but in vain. We then went smartly to work, and made a raft; we cut the wood, and carried it to the water side. The wolves and owls made a great noise in the night.
13th-We got up early, and boiled some chocolate for breakfast, and then began to finish our rafts. We clothed ourselves as well as we could in Indian dress. It was about two o'clock in the afternoon, before we all got over to the other side, near an old Indian town. The Indians told us we should not call Mr. Bull captain, their young men would be mad that we brought a warrior there. We went up a steep hill, good land, to the creek Cowewanick, where we made our fire .- [104 ]
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They wanted to hunt for meat, and look for a road. Captain Bull shot a squirrel, and broke his gun. I cut fire wood, and boiled some chocolate for supper. The others came home, and brought nothing .- Pisquetomen wanted to hear the writing from the general, which we read to them, to their great satisfaction. 'This was the first night we slept in the open air. Mr. Bull took the tent along with him. We discoursed a good deal of the night together.
14th-We rose early, and thought to make good progress on our way. At one o'clock Thomas Hickman shot a large buck ; and as our people were hungry for meat, we made our camp there, and called the water Buck run. In the evening we heard the great guns fired from fort Duquesne. Whenever I looked towards that place, I felt a dismal impression, the very place seemed shocking and dark. Pisquetomen looked his things over, and found a white belt, sent by the commission- ers of trade, for the Indian affairs. We could find no writing concern- ing the belt, and did not know what was the signification thereof. They seemed much concerned to know it.
15th-We arose early, and had a good day's journey. We passed these two days through thick bushes of briars and thorns, so that it was very difficult to get through. We crossed the creek Paquakonink ; the land is very indifferent. At twelve o'clock we crossed the road from Venango to fort Duquesne. We went west towards Kushkushking, about fifteen miles from the fort. We went over a large barren plain, and made our lodging by a little run. Pisquetomen told us, we must send a messenger, to let them know of our coming, as the French live amongst them. He desired a string of wampum ; I gave him three hundred and fifty. We concluded to go within three miles of Kush- kushking, to their sugar cabins, and to call their chiefs there. In dis- course, Mr. Bull told the Indians, the English should let all the prison- ers stay amongst them, that liked to stay.
16th -- We met two indians on the road, and sat down with them to dinner. They informed us that no body was at home, at Kushkush- king ; that one hundred and sixty from that town, were gone to war against our party. We crossed the above mentioned creek ; good land, but hilly. We went down a long valley to Beaver creek, through old Kushkushking, a large spot of land, about three miles long. They both went with us to the town. One of them rode before us, to let the peo- ple in the town know of our coming ; we found there but two men, and some women. Those that were at home, received us kindly. Pisque- tomen desired us to read the message to them that were there.
17th -- There were five Frenchmen in the town, the rest were gone to war. We held a council with Delaware George, delivered him the string and presents, that were sent to him, and informed him of the general's sentiments, and what he desired of them ; upon which he agreed, and complied to go with Mr. Bull, to the general. Towards night Keckkenepalin came home from the war, and told us the disagree- able news, that they had fallen in with that party that had guided us .- They had killed Lieutenant Hays, and four more, and took five prison- ers, the others got clear off. They had a skirmish with them within twelve miles of fort Duquesne. Further he told us, that one of the
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captives was to be burnt, which grieved us. By the prisoners they were informed of my arrival; on which they concluded to leave the French, and to hear what news we brought them. In the evening they brought a prisoner to town. We called the Indians together that were at home, and explained the matter to them, and told them, as their own people had desired the general to give them a guide to conduct them safe home, and by a misfortune, your people have fallen in with this party, and killed five and taken five prisoners, and we are now informed that one of them is to be burnt; "Consider, my brethren, if you should give us a guide to bring us safe on our way home, and our par- ties should fall in with you, how hard you would take it."
They said, "Brother : it is a hard matter, and we are sorry it hath happened so." I answered, " Let us therefore spare no pains to relieve them from any cruelty." We could scarce find a messenger that would undertake to go to Sawkung, where the prisoner was to be burnt. We promised to one named Compass, 500 black wampum, and Mr. Hays gave him a shirt and a dollar, on which he promised to go. We sent him as a messenger. By a string of wampum I spoke these words, " Brethren : consider the messengers are come home with good news, and three of your brethren, the English, with them. We desire you would pity your own young men, women and children, and use no hard- ships towards the captives, as having been guiding our party."
Afterwards the warriors informed us, that their design had not been to go to war, but that they had a mind to go to the general, and speak with him, and on the road the French made a division among them, that they could not agree, after which they were discovered by the Chero- kees and Catawbas, who fled, and left their bundles, where they found an English color. So Kekeuscung told them he would go before them to the general, if they would follow him, but they would not agree to it, and the French persuaded them to fall upon the English at Loyal- hanning ; they accordingly did, and as they were driven back, they fell in with that party that guided us, which they did not know. 'They seemed very sorry for it.
18th-Captain Bull acted as commander, without letting us know any thing, or communicating with us. He and George relieved a pris- oner from the warriors, by what means I do not know. When the warriors were met, he then called us first to sit down, and to hear what they had to say. The Indian that delivered the prisoner to Bull and George, spoke as follows :
"My brethren, the English are at such a distance from us, as if they were under ground, that I cannot hear them. I am very glad to hear from you such good news; and I am very sorry that it happened so, that I went to war. Now I let the general know, he should consider his young men, and if you should have any of us, to set them at liberty, so as we do to you.
Then Pisquetumen said : " As the Governor gave these three mes .. sengers into my bosom, so I now likewise, by this string of wampum, give Bull into Delaware George's bosom, to bring him safe to the gen- eral." Mr. Bull sat down with the prisoner, who gave him some intelligence in writing; at which the Indians grew very jealous, and [ 106 ]
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asked them what they had to write there ? I wrote a letter to the gen- eral by Mr. Bull. In the afternoon Mr. Bull, Delaware George, and Keskenepalen set out for the camp. Towards night they brought in another prisoner. When Mr. Bull and company were gone, the Indians took the same prisoner, whom Bull had relieved, and bound him and carried him to another town, without our knowledge. I a thousand times wished Mr. Bull had never meddled in the affair, fearing they would exceedingly punish, and bring the prisoner to confession of the contents of the writing.
19th-A great many of the warriors came home. The French had infused bad notions into the Indians, by means of the letters, they found upon Lieut. Hays, who was killed, which they falsely interpreted to them, viz : That, in one letter it was wrote, that the general should do all that was in his power to conquer the French, and, in the mean time the messengers to the Indians should do their utmost to draw the Indians back, and keep them together in conferences, till he, the general, had made a conquest of the French, and afterwards he should fall upon all Indians, and destroy them. And, that, if we should lose our lives, the English would carry on the war, so long as an Indian or Frenchman was alive. Thereupon the French said to the Indians :
"Now you can see, my children, how the English want to deceive you, and if it would not offend you, I would go and knock these mes- sengers on the head, before you should be deceived by them." One of the Indian captains spoke to the French and said : "To be sure it would offend us, if you should offer to knock them on the head. If you have a mind to go to war, go to the English army, and knock them on the head, and not these three men, that come with a message to us."
After this speech the Indians went all off, and left the French. Nev- ertheless it had enraged some of the young people, and made them suspicious ; so that it was a precarious time for us. I said : " Brethren, have good courage, and be strong : let not every wind disturb your mind ; let the French bring the letter here ; for, as you cannot read, they may tell you thousands of false stories. We will read the letter to you. As Isaac Still can read, he will tell you the truth."
After this all the young men were gathered together, Isaac Still being in company. The young men said : "One that had but half an eye could see that the English only intended to cheat them ; and that it was best to knock every one of us messengers on the head."
Then Isaac began to speak and said: "I am ashamed to hear such talking from you ; you are but boys like me; you should not talk of such a thing. There have been thirteen nations at Easton, where they have established a firm peace with the English ; and I have heard that the Five Nations were always called the wisest ; go tell them they are fools, and cannot see ; and tell them that you are kings, and wise men. Go and tell the Cayuga chiefs so, that are here : and you will become great men." Afterwards they were all still, and said not one word more.
20th-There came a great many more together in the town, and brought Henry Osten, the serjeant, who was to have been burnt. They hallooed the war halloo : and the men and women beat him till he came into the house. It is a grievous and melancholy sight to see our fellow
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mortals so abused. Isaac Still had a long discourse with the French captain ; who made himself great, by telling how he had fought the English at Loyal-Hanning. Isaac rallied him, and said he had seen them scalp horses, and take others for food. The first he denied, but the second he owned. Isaac ran the captain quite down, before them all. The French captain spoke with the two Cayugas ; at last the Cayugas spoke very sharp to him, so that he grew pale, and was quite silent.
These three days past was precarious time for us. We were warned not to go far from the house, because the people who came from the slaughter, having been driven back, were possessed with a murdering spirit ; which led them as in a halter, in which they were catched, and with bloody vengeance were thirsty and drunk. This afforded a mel- ancholy prospect. Isaac Still was himself dubious of our lives. We did not let Mr. Hays know of the danger. I said: "As God hath stopped the mouth of the lions, that they could not devour Daniel, so he will preserve us from their fury, and bring us through." I had a dis- course with Mr. Hays concerning our message, and begged him he would pray to God for grace and wisdom, that he would grant us peace among this people. We will remain in stillness, and not look to our own credit. We are in the service of our king and country. This people are rebellious in heart; now we are here to reconcile them again to the General, Governor, and the English nation ; to turn them again from their errors. And I wished that God would grant us his grace, whereby we may do it; which I hope and believe he will do." Mr. Hays took it to heart and was convinced of all : which much rejoiced me. I begged Isaac Still to watch over himself, and not to be discouraged, for I hoped the storm would soon pass by.
In the afternoon all the captains gathered together in the middle town ; they sent for us, and desired we should give them information of our message. Accordingly we did. We read the message with great satisfaction to them. It was a great pleasure both to them and us. The number of captains aad counsellors were sixteen. In the evening mes- sengers arrived from fort Duquesne, with a string of wampum from the commander ; upon which they all came together in the house where we lodged. 'The messengers delivered their string, with these words from their father, the French King :
"My children, come to me, and hear what I have to say. The Eng- lish are coming with an army to destroy both you and me. I therefore, desire you immediately, my children, to hasten with all the young men ; we will drive the English and destroy them. I, as a father, will tell you always what is best." He laid the string before one of the captains. After a little conversation, the captain stood up and said : " I have just heard something of our brethren the English, which pleaseth me much better. I will not go. Give it to the others, may be they will go." The messenger took up again the string and said : "He won't go, he has heard of the English." Then all cried out, "yes, yes, we have heard from the English." He then threw the string to the other fire place, where the other captains were; but they kicked it from one to another, as if it was a snake. Captain Peter took a stick, and with it flung the string from one end of the room to the other, and said : "Give [108 ]
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