USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 55
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The Pipe, Johnny,
With twenty-two warriors.
Gooshamaqua, Mottacha Peters,
And a great number of other Captains.
Captain Croghan opened the conferences with the following ceremo- nies, addressing himself to the Indians present of every Nation :
" Brethren : It gives me pleasure to see you, the representatives of so many different Nations, at this Council-fire. I bid you heartily welcome.
" Brethren : With this string I wipe the dust and sweat off your bodies, pick the briars out of your feet, and clear your eyes that you may see your brothers faces and look cheerful." Gave a string.
" Brethren : With this string I clear your hearts and minds, that you may speak perfectly free and open to us." Gave a string.
" Brethren : With this string I wipe the blood from off the council seats, that your clothes may not be stained, nor your minds disturbed." Gave a string.
As soon as we had done, they performed the same ceremonies on their part.
The Beaver then got up and desired to know when they might expect the peace to be confirmed, as the deputies from the several nations had fixed a time for their return.
Col. Mercer and Capt. Croghan appointed a private meeting next morning to fix on the time.
[On July 6th, same persons present.]
When they (the Indians) were seated, Colonel Mercer and Captain Croghan proposed to them their going to Philadelphia, in order to ratify and confirm the peace ; they refused, saying they would not go to Phil- adelphia while the English and French were at war in their country ; that they would go and see their brethren when their women and child- ren could sleep in peace. They then proposed to the Indians their waiting the arrival of the General, but they refused, saying a delay might be attended with bad consequences at this time, and then insisted on the peace being confirmed. That as soon as it was proclaimed through the nations, the warriors of the several nations, whose deputies
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APPENDIX-NO. XIV.
are now here, would abandon the French. On which a time was fixed to hold a conference with them for that purpose.
July 7th-The deputies from the several nations waited on Captain Croghan and desired to know the prices of goods and skins, which he acquainted them with. They complained of the prices of stroud and skins, saying strouds were dearer than what they formerly gave for them, and that the price of shins and furs was less than what the traders gave for them, and desired they would write to the Governor to have the prices settled.
This morning the Indians called Captain Croghan to a private con- ference.
PITTSBURG, 8th July, 1759.
Present-GEORGE CROGHAN, Esq., Deputy Agent to Sir William Johnson, Baronet.
Capt. HENRY MONTOUR, Interpreter.
Indians-The deputies from the several nations as before.
When we were seated, these deputies produced fourteen belts, and two large bunches of strings of wampum, which they said were the wampums of the nine following nations : Wyandotts, Ottowas, Chepa- was, Putawatimes, Twightwees, Cuscuskees, Kekapos, Shockeys, and Musquakes, empowering the Wyandott's deputies to act in behalf of their nations, and to confirm the peace between them and the English, as was agreed upon in a council held over the lakes by the Beaver King with their nations ; and a broad belt by which these nations have cleared the road to sun-rising, that they may travel in peace to see their brethren, the English, as formerly. They then replied, we have now showed you the powers by which we act in favor of the several nations just mention- ed to you, and we desire to hear what you have to say to us to-morrow, as we are impatient to return home. And a meeting was appointed in the morning for that purpose.
At a conference held at Pittsburg, July 9th, 1759.
Present-GEORGE CROGHAN, Esq., Deputy Agent to Sir William Johnson, Baronet. Col. H. MERCER, Commandant at Pittsburg.
Captains.
Lieutenants.
Ensigns.
Waggoner,
Matthews,
Crawford,
Woodward,
Hydler,
Crawford,
Prentice,
Biddle,
Morgan,
Morgan,
Conrad,
Mc Vicar,
Smallman,
Kenneday,
Mr. Armsby,
Clayton,
Sumnor,
Mr. Allen,
Ward.
Anderson,
Mr. Gibson,
Kitchins,
Mr. Lightfoot,
Dangerfield, Wright, of the Train.
Capt. WILLIAM TRENT, 3 Assistants to GEORGE CROGHAN, Esq.
Capt. THOMAS MCKEE,
Capt. HENRY MONTOUR, Interpreter.
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CROGHAN'S CONFERENCE WITH THE INDIANS, 1759.
INDIANS.
Six Nations.
Delawares. Wyandotts.
Tagouuseday,)
The Beaver, King of Del. Diuatea,
Gynusuday,
Chiefs. Shingas, John Peters, 'T'anondanny,
Grandendawe,
George, The Pipe, Tandegho,
And sixteen warriors. Kickeusking, Johnny, Tononqua,
Killbuck, Gooshamaqua, Terondea, Deputies rep- Windshale, resenting their own
Mattacha Peters, Chiefs and eight other na-
and Captains, with a
tions, with twenty- great number of offi- cers.
two warriors.
As soon as the Indians had taken their seats, Capt. Croghan made the following speech :
" Brethren: The Wyandotts, deputies of the nine western nations of Indians, give attention to what I am going to say to you. We are this day met in council to renew and brighten the ancient chain of friendship between us and you, in behalf of the nine western nations of Indians you represent. With this string of wampum, I scatter the dark clouds that hang over our heads, open your ears that you may hear, and your eyes that you may see the sun that shines over us. And I desire that what I shall say to you this day, you will publish it immediately through all the nations." Gave a string.
" Brethren : The complaints which your people three years ago made to the Governor of Pennsylvania, about their lands, was settled last fall at the treaty of Easton, and a line settled by your people and the Six nations to their satisfaction, all of which you were made ac- quainted with last fall by the deputies of the Six Nations sent with your deputies from that treaty for that purpose. And you may depend on it that your brethren, the English, will never violate any of their engage- ments to you, or to any of your brethren of any other nation, but hold fast to the chain of friendship; and we make no doubts that you, on your side will take the same care. To confirm what I have said, I give you this belt." Gave a belt.
" Brethren : As soon as all disputes between us were ended last fall, at the treaty of Easton, the peace was confirmed in the presence of the Six Nations, and we, in conjunction with the Six Nations, immediately dispatched messengers to assure you of the truth thereof; and the peace belt was sent to our brethren, the Delawares, that they might send it through all the nations living towards the sun-setting in friendship with them, that they might know what was done and take fast hold of it. Last fall, when the French destroyed their fortification here and ran away, a number of your brethren, the English, under the command of Brigadier General Forbes, took post at this place. At that time I went to see our brothers, the Delawares, at the mouth of the Beaver creek, and gave them an invitation to come and confer with the General. When we came here we found the General's bad state of health had obliged him to set off, but that he had left Colonel Buoquet, who was second in command, to receive them and treat with them in his name.
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APPENDIX-NO. XIV.
At that conference they promised to perform all the engagements their people had entered into with us at the treaty of Easton, acquainted all nations in amity with them to go to Philadelphia this spring to ratify and confirm the peace ; but as your own business of the season of the year did not permit you, the General has sent me to transact the public business with you and all other nations towards the sun-setting in his name till his arrival. Our brothers, the Delawares, have performed their engagements by taking a long journey over the lakes to make known to the westward nations what passed at the treaty of Easton. And I assure you, I am heartily glad to see the deputies of so many western nations at this place, met in council, and as you have already informed me that your affairs will not permit your waiting the arrival of the General, I have, with the consent and approbation of Col. Mercer, the commanding officer here, agreed to hold this conference, and you may be sure that the business transacted with you at this conference, the King's General, and all the Governors of this continent, will ratify and confirm in the first general meeting you have with them.
" Brethren : As the design of this meeting was to assure each other, that we would keep fast hold of the chain of friendship and perform our mutual engagements, made to each other at Easton ; we, on our part, will punctually perform ours; and in order to our enjoying the blessings we expect from that peace, it is necessary, and we do insist upon it, that you also perform those made on your part, by restoring to us our flesh and blood, that remains among you ; as we can never taste true satis- faction till that is done. We don't think it practicable for you to deliver up at once, or in our place, all our people who yet remain prisoners amongst you ; but we place the greatest confidence in the sincerity of your intentions of performing all your engagements made to us at that treaty, and that you will lose no time in performing this article of it. In confidence of which, I give you this belt of wampum."-Gave a belt.
Brethren : You have often requested your brethren, the English, to carry on a trade with you in your country, as formerly. The enemy who were in possession of your country at that time, obliged us to bring out an armed force to drive them away ; but before we got there, the French burnt their fort, ran away up the river, where they yet stay and carry on the war against us, You are sensible, brethren, that while the enemy is in possession of your country, we cannot trade safely with you, as we did formerly. The general is on his way here, to build a trading house to secure the goods brought by the English traders for your use, from the insults of the French, which will be performing all our engagements to you. You must be convinced of the sincerity of our intentions, as you have already a number of traders here, and more on their way the better to supply you with such necessaries as you may want; and I assure you, as soon as the enemy is drove out of your coun- try, which I expect you will be assisting in, that the general will depart from your country, after securing our trade with you, and our brethren to the westward. In confirmation of what I have said, I give you this belt."-Gave a belt.
"Brethren : Chiefs and warriors of the Delawares, as you are our near neighbors, and are now going to return to your several towns, I [136 ]
CROGHAN'S CONFERENCE WITH THE INDIANS, 1759.
take this opportunity of desiring you not to go far abroad, nor think long till you hear from us ; for I assure you by this string of wampum, that as soon as the general arrives with his Majesty's troops, I shall call you together, as the general will have something to say to you, and be glad to see all his brethren of the several nations to the sun setting." -- Gave a string.
The BEAVER, the Delaware king, then got up, addressing himself first to all the Indians present, desiring them to listen to what he was going to say, which was from his heart, and to take example by him; then addressing himself to all the white people present, made the following speech :
" Brothers : I have brought with me some of your flesh and blood, there they sit, one is my mother, the other my sister ; I deliver them up to you in the presence of all here ; do not think I am tired of them ; no, I love them as well as I do my own mother and sister. When they go to the inhabitants, do not hide them when I go down, I shall call and see them." Then delivered up the two women.
The Beaver then addressing himself to Col. Mercer with a string of white wampum, made the following speech :
" Brothers: When I was here in the fall, I desired our people might have liquor, yet sparingly ; but now, I desire the bung may be knocked out of the keg, and when the liquor comes, we may have liberty to pur- chase. And then returned thanks for the speeches we had made them, which he said he believed came from our hearts."-Gave a string.
Captain Montour, by order of Col. Mercer, acquainted them that the first liquor that came up, they should have liberty to buy part of it, then returned thanks for speeches they had made to us. And the Colonel gave the whole an invitation to dine with him next day.
At a private conference held at Pittsburg the 11th of July, 1759.
Present-GEO. CROGHAN, Esq., Deputy agent to Sir W. Johnson, Bart. Capt. HENRY MONTOUR, interpreter.
INDIANS, the chiefs and warriors of the Delawares and Shawanese, the deputies and chief warriors of the Wyandotts.
DINATEA, and chief of the Wyandott's deputies, spoke as follows, in behalf of his own, and the other eight nations they represented :
" Brothers : By this string of wampum we assure you, that as soon as we get home, we will call a general council of all nations over the lakes, and lay before them what you have said to us; and you may depend on a large body of our people being here in about two months, in order to confirm the peace on our parts ; and, we shall use all the influence we have, to withdraw such of our young men as the French have stolen from us this spring, as soon as possible. As to your flesh and blood, that is amongst us, we can assure you, that you will see them again ; but brothers, we have not many of them, nor never had many." Gave a string.
The Beaver made the following speech in behalf of the Delawares and Shawanese :
" Brothers : We are very well pleased with what you have said at this conference, ever since the treaty of Easton, and what passed here last
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APPENDIX-NO. XIV.
fall ; we have looked on the peace to be confirmed between you and us; and it gives us great pleasure to see it now confirmed between you and all our friends the several nations to the sun setting. As to your flesh and blood, a little time will convince you that we are sincere, and will perform our engagements in restoring all those who are in our possession." Gave a string.
During the time of conference, there were near five hundred Indians here.
July 16, 1759 .- At the request of the Indians here, and with the approbation of Col. Mercer, Capt. Croghan sent the following speech to Venango by two Wyandotts, messengers for the warriors of the western nations, who had joined the French before the conference.
" Brethren : The Wyandotts, Chippewas, Ottawas, Putavatimes, Twightwees, Cuskuskus, Kecapos, Shockeys and Musquakes, hear what I am going to say to you. Your brothers, the English, are not come here to war with the Indians ; but to carry on trade and commerce with all nations of them, as far as the sun-setting. Brothers, as the peace is now confirmed betwixt your deputies and us, I expect you will abandon the French, and leave them and us to fight our own battles. 'The bear- ers who were present at this conference, can tell you what passed between your deputies and us. With this bunch of wampum, I take you by the hands, and lead you to your own country where I desire you will sit and smoke your pipes, till I give you a call. I assure you, the English have no intention of injuring you ; and I must insist on your paying due regard to this message, and immediately quitting the French, which will confirm me of the good opinion I have of your professions made in your behalf by your deputies, at the conference I held here with them, and will be convincing your brothers, the governors of the several provinces, that you are determined to renew, and remain steadfast in your ancient friendship, with all his Majesty's subjects." -- Sent twelve fathoms of white wampum.
The Indians of the several nations here sent speeches to enforce the above speech.
The Beaver, the Delaware King, spoke in behalf of all the nations who were present at the conference held here, and desired that the gen- eral might be made acquainted with what passed here between them and us ; and wished the general might bring none of the southward Indians with him; if he should, there would be no persuading some of the Indians, but that he intended to deceive them.
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0
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a
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STANWIX'S CONFERENCE WITH THE INDIANS, 1759.
[ No. XV. ]
BRIGADIER GENERAL STANWIX'S CONFERENCE WITH THE INDIANS, 1759.
MINUTES OF CONFERENCES, &C., AT A MEETING HELD AT FORT PITT, THE 25th OCTOBER, 1759.
Present-His Excellency Brigadier General STANWIX, with sundry gen- tlemen of the army.
GEORGE CROGHAN, Esq., deputy agent to the honorable Sir William Johnson, baronet.
Captain WILLIAM TRENT,
Captain THOMAS MCKEE,
Assistants to George Croghan.
Captain HENRY MONTOUR, Interpreter.
Captain Montour lighted the pipe of peace left him by the warriors of the Ottawas, handing it to the general and the other gentlemen of the army, and Indians, to smoke, then acquainted the Indians by whom the pipe was left, and upon what occasion, showing them the belts left at the same time.
The general then made the following speeches:
"Brethren, chiefs and warriors of the several nations present : as we are met in council, to renew and brighten the chain of friendship, with this string of wampum I open your ears, that you may hear what I am going to say." Gave a string.
" Brethren : you are sensible that a peace between us has been set- tled by your deputies, and I expect that you chiefs, and warriors of your several nations, are now gathered here with a resolution to perform the engagements entered into with us, on your behalf, by them."
" Brethren : no nation could ever charge the English with a breach of treaties. Every thing relating to the peace made between us, has been performed on our parts. The original draughts of the boundary line settled between us at the treaty of Easton, with the Six Nations, were delivered them, and here is a copy sent by Governor Denny, to show the Delawares and Shawanese, to prevent any disputes hereafter, arising on that head. There is one article of the treaty, yet remains to be performed by you ; that is, restoring our prisoners, which I insist on. 'To enforce what I have said, I give this belt." Gave a belt.
" Brethren : you are sensible that differences may happen between any nation. This was the first that ever happened between you and us, chiefly occasioned by the insinuations of the French, who call them- selves your fathers. These differences are settled, and we expect that you, the chiefs and counsellors, will advise your young men to behave towards us as brothers ought to do ; this, with the delivery of our prisoners, is the way to convince us of the sincerity of your repeated professions of friendship, at the several meetings held with you. In confidence of your sincerity, I present you this belt of wampum."- Gave a belt.
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APPENDIX-NO. XV.
" Brethren : as the peace is settled between the King's subjects and all the nations of Indians to the sun-setting, I now present this broad belt of wampum to you, that we may all travel this road in peace, as your fathers formerly did, from the sun-rising to the sun-setting, and I expect that all nations who choose, and live in friendship with the sub- jects of the King of Great Britain, my master and your father, will niake this their road, where they will find a sufficient quantity of goods to exchange for their peltry, and have strict justice done them in trade at this place, where his Majesty has been at a very considerable expense to establish a trading house, the better to cultivate a lasting friendship with all his children to the sun-setting." Gave a road belt.
Mr. Croghan then made the following speech :
"Brethren : with this belt of wampum, I disperse the dark clouds from over our heads, that we may once more see the sun clear which formerly blessed our fathers in peace." Gave a belt.
Some belts that were brought by Captain Lee, of the 44th regiment, from Niagara, sent there by the Chepawa and Castanoe nation, with proffers of friendship, were shown the Indians, and they were made acquainted with the substance of the speeches delivered with them.
Captain Montour then, by order of the general, acquainted the Indi- ans, that we had the city of Quebec, and that we expected soon to drive the French out of America, and desired the Indian chief to caution their young men against carrying off our horses ; that he was willing to do every thing in his power to oblige them ; that he would do them all strict justice, and expected the same treatment from them. The general then acquainted them by captain Montour, that he was done speaking.
The speaker of the Wayandotts (as they are the oldest nation) got up, shook hands with the general, and returned thanks in behalf of the whole, for what had been said to them, and then recommended it to the several nations to pay a due regard to what they had heard.
At a meeting held at Fort Pitt, October 25th, 1759.
Present-His Excellency Brigadier General STANWIX, with sundry other gentlemen of the army.
GEORGE CROGHAN, Esq., and sundry assistants.
Captain Montour then, by order of the general, acquainted the Indians, that he was ready to hear what they had to say.
The speaker of the Wayandotts then got up and said :
"Brethren : I am glad to meet you in council. Here are the Six Nations, Shawanese, Delawares and Twightwees; as we are the oldest nation, I shall speak first ; they shall hear what I am going to say.
" Brethren : I am glad to meet the King's general and you, who came here from Sir William Johnson to treat with us, and at whose invitation we came here to council, listen to what we are going to say.
"Brethren : It is a great while since we were first acquainted with our brethren, the English, at Albany, at which place we entered into a treaty with them. The records of that treaty remain amongst you, we have copies of it at home; we never intended to have violated that treaty on our part; but when our fathers (the French) came here, and took possession of this place, by their instigation, the evil spirit got the
n st th
n
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S i
STANWIX'S CONFERENCE WITH THE INDIANS, 1759.
better of our understanding, and we engaged in the war against you." Gave a string of white wampum.
He spoke again upon a large belt of black wampum, directing his speech to Sir William Johnson and George Croghan, Esq's.
" Brothers : You are appointed by the King to transact business with us, the Indians ; you have hitherto done it to our satisfaction ; we hope the King's general will act on the same principles. You have it now in your power to have all Indian nations in your interest. It is true, for some time we were led blindfold.
" Brothers : when we first joined with our brethren, the English, they told us they looked upon us as one people, with one head and one heart with themselves. We looked upon the English in the same light, till the evil spirit, by the persuasions of the French, got the better of our understanding, and led us astray ; but we hope every thing that has passed will be buried in oblivion.
" Brothers : we received several invitations to come here to council. Before we left home, a great council was held there amongst the chiefs of our nation. We were sent by them to confirm the peace. When we came here, we found a great number of warriors gathered ; for what purpose, we don't know.
" Brothers : we have repeatedly heard you intended to pursue the war against the French, over the lakes, in our country ; and we have been constantly alarmed with your coming ; but now, we are come here, we find you are not gone, we should be glad you would not pursue them ; they are a parcel of poor people, destitute of every thing ; besides, we do not know how the several nations there might take it, but for our parts, our hearts are with the English."
He then delivered the belt, and shook hands with the general and Mr. Croghan.
He spoke again upon a belt painted green :
" Brethren : the warriors of our nation return thanks for the speeches we received by our deputies, who were here this summer. They are glad to hear of peace, and hope you are sincere. They have promised to tell their children that it was the English that gave peace to this whole country ; that it may ever be remembered in our nation. They hope your intentions are not to go any further, or carry on the war, but to build a trading house, where they may come and trade and get goods at moderate prices ; for they are very poor, and will be much obliged to the general for sending them a small present." Gave a belt.
He spoke again upon a belt of black and white wampum, the white painted green :
" Brethren : it is a long time since this whole country has been over- spread with darkness; being led by the evil spirit, we have been assist- ing in spreading this darkness ; but you, the white people, by making war upon each other, were the first occasion of it.
" Brothers : the French put the hatchet into our nands, at the begin- ning of this war, and the evil spirit getting the better of our under- standings, made us make use of it. In the presence of our cousins, the Delawares, and the other nations here, we bury the hatchet. We not only put it under the ground, but we pull up the large pine tree,
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