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STKWiRT A CO, HOOK A.VP JOH PRTNTKRS, OKOROR BTRKKT 1«72. 4:1 ^ « Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada, in the Year Thousand Eight Hundred and S.venty-two, by William E. Palmer. in| Office of the Minister of Agriculture. — 4 819 8 1 .• • • •• u 00 0^ COjrcTEJTcrS. Jada, in the Year liamE. Palmer, inl CHAPTER I. Thayendanegea, born on the Ohio River, youngest son of Nickiis Brant— Joins the expedition of (Jen. Wm. Johnson against Niagara— Is sent to \Toore's Scliool at Lebanon, Conn. - Letter oi Sir Wni Johnson—Returns from school— Is enn)loyed by the Rev. Charles Jeffrey Smith -as Inter^.-eter and Assistant- Joins the Indian forces in the Pontiac War }'age 7 1'« CHAPTER II. Capture of Fort Niaj.'-ara by the forces undei Cenerel (after wards Sir Wm.) Johnson— Desertion of the Western Indian** of the French cause— They join the Six Nations-Sir Wm. Johnson takes Molly Brant as his wife, or housekeeper, and appoints Joseph Brant to office in tne Indian Department - Death of Sir William Johnson— Col. Cuy Jolinson succeeds to his office of Superintendent of Indian affairs— He appoints Joseph Brant his Secretary— Brant's first marriage Page 18 ^ gojtq:ejY'q:b. CHAPTER III. Revolutionary npirit in the Mohawk Valley — The Mo- hawks join the I'^ughtih Joseph IJrant becomes the leader of the Indian foreu.s— Col. .Johnson compelled tt> leave the Mohawk \'allej'--lietreats to Montre.al with Brant at the head of two humlred and twenty Indian Warriors, by way of IjakeOutario - Brant goes to England with Col. Johnson- Much noticed in London- Makes a speech — Jieturns to Xevi' York and is dispatched with a message to the Six Nations- Joins the expedition of Gen. Saint Leger against Fort Stanwix, with three hundred Warriors of the Six Nations — Indiana suffer severely in an engagement — Depredations upon the Oneidas — Molly Brant and lier children ilce to the Onondagas — She gives valuable information to (il en. St. Leger- Brant forms an ambush and nearly destroys the force of the American Gen. Herkimer — Col. Claixs comi)liments Brant at Niagara- Brant offers to join the force* of Sir WilUam Howe Page 19 % CHAPTER IV. Col. Guy Johnson suggests the plan of employing the Indians in a " Petit fi'Mtrrc"— Expedition against Wyoming -Campbell's Poem, " Gertrude of Wyoming"— John Brant visits the Poet, who retracts certain statements in regard to his father .Page Ofi ;> cOjYCi:ejtq:s. s !y-The Mo- )ecoint's the ompelled to il V itli Brant Warriors, by ol. Johnson- urns to Xew ix Nations- 'ort Stanwix, r>ns — Indiaivi I upon the Onon(Ia<,'as — Brant forms e American t Niagara— i Page 19 the Indians -Campbell's 8 tht Poet, his father Page 25 CHAPTER V. Brant's humanity at Cherry Valley- -Difficulty in subsisting the loyal forces in the field -The means resorted to to obtain (>rovi8ions — Letter of Joseph Brant Page 29 CHAPTER VI. Gen. Sullivan's campaign against the Senecas opposed by the whole British forces— Brant in command of the Indians -His distinguished valor and military skill on the occasion— Saves the life of liieut. Boyd, taken xmsoner by the Indians Severity of the winter of 1770-80— Capi,. Wm. Powell marries Miss Moore, one of the C'herry Valley prisoners— Capt. Brant being present is married to his third wife, after the form of the P^nglish ('hurch— Heads an expedition fr(mi Niag;ira into the Mohawk Valley— Capture of Capt. Harper, who is taken to Niagara a prisoner l)y the Indians — His lift; saved through the instrumentality of Brant and Capt. Wm. Powell — Capture of Capt. Jeremiah Snider — His description of Fort Niagara and its officers Page 35 CHAPTER VII. Peace between Great Britain and the United States declared 1783— The Mohawks flee to Canada, residing tem[)orariIy on the ea'itern side of the NiaL'ara River— A tract ot land on the Bay of Quinte offered them— A tract of land on the Grand River was preferred— Brant visits England Page 45 4 oojvq:enq:s_ CHAPTER yill. Brant accompanies the expedition against Oen. St. Clair, who is defeated near Pittsburgh— Brant's influence sought and hia ability acknowledged by the United States— He visits Philadelpliia- Notices of the visit by the newspapers —A change in the Government of Canada Difference in regard to the interpretation of the title to their lands on the Grand River— Erection of a Chnrch on their Reservation— Brant's speech at Niagara in regard to their lands ... Page 55 CHAPTER IX. Brant's correspondence in respect to their lands and the settlement of a Missionary among his people— His wives and children -Death of his oldest son by the hands of his father — The education of his children — His correspondence in relation thereto -Removes to the head of Lake Ontario— Builds a dwelling there— His death, &c., &c Page fiT ijYQ:iiOQ uccriojv. L'n. St. Clair, ice sought and lea — He visits ewspapers — A ;e in regard to on the Grand ation- Brant's Pa'^e 55 ands and the fliH wives and of his father nee in relation irio — Builds a Page 6"^ After the kpsc of mO'C thau half a ccntu y Snuo the (leaLh of Ihe famous Indiun Chief auJ AVajTior, Captain Joseph Brant, ii is iho.ighl ihat a brief history of his life, haracter and exploits, i« a cheap and popiila:-' form, would bo acceptable ^o 'he British pnblic, particularly that of -he Dominion of Canada. The following memoi • ha^ been carefully com- piled from the most reliable source-, and may be considered entirely authentic. Much has been written about the distinguished Chief of ihe Mohawks, who, perhaps, in all :he phases of his character, was ihe most celebrated of all the Aborigines who have distinguished !hem- selves in the eyes of Europeans on this continent, since the work of civilization began. Bu!. in general his history has been ho mixed up with dm' of con- temporaneous events, Ihat without access I 1 : I>1 O I 1* OF (JAPT. JOSEPH BP.ANT. CHAPTEP I. " Thayendanegea/^ 01- JosEi n BevAnt, as lie was called in ]^]iif(lisli, according to tradition, Avas born on the banks of the '' Belle," or beautiful river, according to the Fren(di, or " Oh-he-oh," according to the Indian vocabulary, about the year 1742. He Avas the youngest son of a distin- guished Mohawk Chief, mentioned in various records and traditions, under the ill' i 1 ■. ' S' JlJLJlOIIi OF English or German name of " Nickus Brant," between whom aad Sir William Johnson it is said a close intimacy sub- sisted. Three sons of '^ Nickus Brant" accompanied the expedition against Crown Point in 1755, which was com- manded by Gen. Wm. Johnson. Joseph was the younger of the three, and could not have been over 13 or 14 years of age at that time. This expedition was successful, and pro- cured for Sir Wm. Johnson his title of Baronet, and a gratuity of £ve thousand pounds from the King. Gen. Johnson observing the promising qualities of the boy, procured for him a place in Moore's Charity School, opened by the Rev. Dr. Wheelock, of Lebanon, Conn. The following letter of Sir William Johnson's, sufficiently illustrates his views in regard to the education of the Indians at this time: •m cfxcpo:. JOB. j^ii^fijrQ:. 9 FoET Johnson, ) Nov. 17th, 17G1.) EV. Sill YolU's of the second instant I had [10 pleasure of receiving by the haiids of X. Kirkland. I am pleased to find the ids I sent have merited your good i])inion of them. I have given it in [Large to Joseph (Brant) to speak in my lauie to any good boys he may see, and encourage them to accept the generous iffers now made them, which he promises 'A) do, and return as soon as possible. I m^vili, on return of the Indians from hunt- ;•, advise them to send as many as is ref|uired. I expect they will return, and hope they will make such progress in the |Englisli language, and their learning, as Iniay prove to your satisfaction and the [benefit of those who are really much to be [pitied. My absence these four months I has prevented my design of encouraging some more lads going to you, and since my return, which is but lately, I have not Jiad an opportunity of seeing old or young. 10 JlEJlOIIi OF r being all on their hunt. When they come back I shall talk and advise their parents to embrace this favorable opportunity of having their cliildren instructed, and doubt not of their readiness to lay hold of so kind and charitable an affair. Mr. Kirkland's intention of learning the Mohawk language I most apjirove of, as after accpiiriiig it, he could be of vast service to tliem as a clergyman, whicli they nnich want and are desirous of having. The present hiudable design of instruct- ing a nund)er of Indian boys will, I douljt not, when more known, lead several gentlemen to contribute towards it, and enable you thereby to increase the munbc^r of schollars, with whom 1 shall iiot b(> backward to contribute my mite. I wish you all success in this undei'- taking, and am with truth ami sincerity, Rev. Sir, Your most humble servant, Wm. Johnson. cjirpo:. JOS. ^i^yyvQ-. ii 3y come parents luity of d, iiiid y hold sariiiiio- rove oi", of vast wljicli •oils of strnct- don])t several t, and iiiid)ei" lot be iiidei'- ;erity, ON. The Moore's Charity School was es- tabhshed with the philanthropic clesign of educating Indian boys, and was con- tinued for a length of time, but with in- different success, so far as the original object was concerned. It was originated and principally sup- ported by the patroiiage of English phil- anthropists, where '' Joseph" remained a sufficient time to acquire some knowledge of the English language, and of reading and writing. The confinement proved irksome to him, however, and he soon returned to his native home and pursuits. On his retmii from school, Joseph waa employed by Sir William Johnson in public business, par- ticularly that relating to the Indians. He was also employed by the Eev. Charles Jeffrey Smith, a missionary to the Tndi- ans, as an ii'terprcter ,ind 'nr-oistant, in which'' ne exhibit od both''z(ia'» r:ad effl- 1 '» « t »• m WEJlOIIi OF ciency. The Pontiao War breaking out about this time, he left his studies and joined the forces as an officer, and was active in the war, '' in which he behaved so much like the Christian and soldier, that he gained great esteem." ^<^ I ■>» oo^'^ .>'lj ( .1 <; I 'J ,- -> ,i J G/I(pCL.JOB.^Ii:^JTQ:. 13 CHAPTEE II. The expedition against Niagara in 1759, which was then in possession of the French, was organized under the com- mand of Gen. Prideaux, consisting of a httle over two thousand men, left Oswego for Niagara, 1st September, of that year. Sir William Johnson joined the expedition with about six hundred warriors of the Six Nations. This number was increased to about one thousand before reaching the vicinity of the Fort. The youthful warrior accompanied Sir William in this expedition. The French had drawn all their available forces of every description from their western posts for the defence of Niagara. u r J/IEJIOUi OF A largo dotacliinciit arrived in the vicinity during the siege, consisting of both French and Indians. These Indians were friends and aUies of the Six Nations. A parley between tlie Indians was lield. The Western Indians declaring they did not come to fight their l)rethren of tlie Six Nations, but the English. The result was they detached themsel- ves and joined their brethren. In tlie early part of the siege Gen. Pjideaux Avas killed by the accidental discharge of a '' cohorn," and the command devolved upon Sir William Johnson. Upon the withdrawal of the Western Indians, tlie French were attacked, and all either killed, taken prisoners, or put to ilight. Upon learning the fate of this rein- forcement, the French commandant sur- rendered the Fort, himself, and all his forces prisoners of war. On the death of OjirpQ:.JOB. ^Jt^vQ-. 18 1 the ng of uliaiis .tioiis. held. y ^^^ :)F the juisel- 11 tlic IX was oi' a volved )ii the IS, tlio either vht. , reiii- it snv- ill his )ath of Lady Johnson, Sir WiUiain took to liis lioiiK^ " Miss Molly' as she was called, t Jie daughter of his distinguished friend " Nickus Brant," sister of Joseph Brant, as his wife, whicli proved to he a judicious clioice and a happy union. This circum- stance contrihuted greatly to the advance- ment of her young hrother, wlio resided with the family of Sir William, and ho was appointed to oilice hy him in the [jidian Department. Tlie first mutterings of discontent of ilio American Colonists against tlie parent government of Great Britain, found our young liero jusfc merging into manhood. Me was allicMl to the leader and repre- sentative of the Crown in the Mohawk \'aHey, and li(^nceforward acted with him up to tlie time of Sir William's deatli, whicli occurred suddenly \\\ June, 1774. Col. Guy Johnson, the nephew of Sir ^ Id JlE}IOIIi OF William, and also son-in-law, by virtue of marrying his daughter, succeeded to his office as Superintendent of the Six Nations of Indians, and appointed Joseph Brant his secretary. Joseph Brant was married quite young, probably about 1767. His first wife was the daughter of a Chief of the Oneidas. By her he had two children, a son and a daughter. On the death of this wife, which occurred about 1771 or 2, he resumed his studies under Bev. Dr. Stewart at Fort Hunter, who was then engaged in a revision of the translation of the Prayer Book and portions of the Scriptures into the Mohawk language, in which Joseph was of great assistance to him. It is stated that during this sojcurn with the Kev. Dr. Stewart, Brant applied to the Dr. to marry him to the sister of his deceased wife ; but the service was de- clined on account of the '^ forbidden re- '"■^ -/:/ IlttioilsJlip." But llii" C'lViiK;)!)- \V;iS Sllj)- serjlU'lltly ]HT[ni'i;i(^,l },y ;• Ic-ss scnijMilou.. (livniiai) Ec(-l(Asi;,siic. [| y.-^s :(u()[it tills period tliat Brant hccaino tlic siil)je('t 01" s(rioiis reli\L;-ions impressions, attach inn- liiiiiself to tlio Euo-lisli CJnn-c]), of wliicli lie coutiuued a iDoiuber until his death. 1 CHArTMIi LU. The discontent of tlie Colonists ^vllicll had hitherto been oonfined'to Boston and the New England Colonies, now began to manifest itself in tlic Mohawk YalU'y. The Johnsons and otlier loyalists in tlje Valley, were active in counteracting the revolutionary spirit, which led to great excitement and nearly culminated in open hostilities between the opposing parties. Of course the Mohawks sympathized witli their friends the English, and Joseph Brant, almost by force of circumstances, became the military leader of the loyal Indians, who constituted a majority of the military force with which the loyalists took the field. Tlie vigorous measures of -.-■• *. :T7'' • /-,■"; 7-/-, rj'l, llio (■()l<)ui^ts soon ( oinpi'lh (I Col. Joliii- li to I'-avo ilic Moli.'iwk \';!lh'V foi' (,*ciiia- so (1;!. i [(> MiTivcMJ in ^lontrcal July lltli, JTTo, nccompaiii'.'d liy Joscpli J^niiit with Iwo Inindrcd and twt'iit\' Indians, 1)\' wwx (;!' Lako Ontario, rxjX'C-linL;' so'.ui to org;i- \i\YA) a iorco sulVicieiit to rotnrji and take ])oss(.'ssion ot tli(! lioincs and pioperty lie and liis vet.ainri-s had loiY Ixdiind. But, i'ciil 1 mi tl lesc ( ndcavors, and tindiiu r» in. tand; d lis oiinMai srandin,^- and ])owers were iiiti'i'tered with to some extent, hy the a])])()intnient ot* Major CaiJi])hell as Indian Agent tor Canada, Col. Johnson deeided to go to England to get the question of his powers and jurisdiction settled. H(; proceeded to (^uehec and sailed for England, Noveniher 1 1th, taking Joseph Brant and a Mohawk War Chief nairu}d Oteroughyanente with Inni. Brant was much noticed and courted in London, Cfirpo:, JOB. S^Jij^^^'- ^1 and made a speech before Lord George Germain, setting forth the grievances of the Six Nations in general, and of the Mohawks, his own nation, in particuhir. To which Lord Germain made a brief reply. This speech, which is the first of Brant's we have on record, seems to have been delivered in London, March, 177G. Tlio sojourn of Col. Jolmson, with his Indian deputies, in England appears to have been short, as they arrived in Now York on their return, July 29th, of tlie following year. Soon after their return to New York, Joseph Brant was dispatched by Col. Johnson to the Six Nations with a mes- sage, and returned with their answer, saying '' they were all ready to engage in the service, except the Oneidas, and ready to join Gen. Howe's army, and to act as one man." (J) (7) MEJ'IOIli OF Tlie ii'^'xt we hoar of ]3raiii is at tlio head of tliree liniulred vrarriors at Oswego, 1777, to join the expedition of Gen. St. Legev a|;-aiiist Fort Stanwix. The Indians under Brant met with \i seviu'c^ loss in vai en^i^ai^'CMiKMit, nnd on 1 iicij- \s\\\ liouie, co]!!- niitted some (h'predations u|)on the ()nei exp(M]ition. In rclaliatioji, ilu! C>neidas })lundered l5r;int's sistei", '' ^lolly llriint"", who resided v.ith her family at tlu^ ^ l^j'*'^* Mohawk Town, togetlier witli others of the .Mohawks who accunipanitMl Brant in this ex])edition. "Mollv Brant' ' and her hnnilv fled to the Ouondagas, \i\].(} eouneil-place of the Six Nations, and laid her grievances hefore that hody. The information given to (ten. St. Legerofllu^ api)roa(di of the reinforce- ments of the re])els under Gen. Iltirkimer, was I ii rough ihe instrnnienfaliiy of ''Molly I o-j^(pq:. job. 'S'li i^J^^. the Six fore ieii. )rce- iicr, () "y Brant," cind led to the surprise and al- luost defeat of the entire party under Gen. H..rkinier. Capt. Brant with a strong- force of Indians, with true Indian sagacity, formed an ambuscade in a posi- tion admirably fitted for the purpose. The whole rebel army, with the exception of the rear guard, fell into the trap, and would have been destroyed had not a severe storm of thunder, lightning and rain, put a stop to the work of deatli. Col. Glaus in a letter to Secretary Gox, (hited, November Gth, 1777, compliinents Joseph Brant for his distinguished servi- ces, and that of his party on this occasion. In November, 1777, Gols. Bolton and Butler wrote to Sir William Howe from Niagara, that Joseph Brant was there, and with tliemselves, waiting liis orders, wishing to know when and wlierc they can be of use, saying tliey only wish to know the time and ])lace, as tliey werti confident of iKnngwell su])poiled, 1 I a s. y p h CHAPTEE IV. Early in 1778 Col. Guy Johnson, writing to Lord Germain from New York, suggests the j^lan of employing the Indians in a '' Peilt Guerre in their own w^ay. The first expedition under this new mode of w^arfare was organized at Niagara under Col. John Butler, con- sisting of Loyalists and Indians, and was directed against Wyoming. In after years a poem entitled ^^ Gertrude of AVyoming," written hy Campbell, the Poet, made Brant the leader in this ex- pedition, and heaped great obloquy upon his good name and character, for his IBI ^6 JIEJ\£OIIi OF more than savage barbarity on that occa- sion; whereas, he was not present. This was abundantly and satisfactorily proved by his son John Brant, while on a visit to the Poet, who promised to retract the statement, w^hicli he did in the next edition of his work, soon after published.* * I took the character of Braut in tho Poem of " Gcrtnulo of Wyoming," from tho commmou histories of Eiiglaucl; all of which represonteJ him as a bloody and bad man etcn among savages, and chief agent in tho horrible desolation of Wyoming. Some years after this poem appeared, tho son of Brant, a most interesting and intelligent youth, came oyer to England, and I formed an acquaiutanco with him, on which I still look back with pleasure. Uo appealed to my sense of honor and justice, on his own part and that of his sister, to retract the unfair aspersions, which, unconscious of their unfairness, I had cast on his father's memory. Ho theii referred me to documents which completely satisfied mo that the common accounts of Brant's cruoUies at Wyoming, which I found in books of travels, and in Adolpus's and similar histories of England, wore gross errors, and that in point of fact. Brunt was not even present at that scene of desolation. It is, un- happily, to Britons and Angle-Americans tliat wo must refet A ajia-'o:. job. ^iIjIjtq:, 07 the chief blame in this horrible business. I published a letter expressing this belief in the AVw Montltly Magzine, in the year 1822, to which I must refer the reader if he has any curiosity on the subject, for an antidote to my fanciful descrip- tion of Brant. Among other expressions to young Brant, I made use of the following words : Had I learned all this of your father, when I was writing my poem, he should not have ligi.jed in it as the hero of mischief. It was but bare justice to say thus much of a Mohawk Indian who spoke English eloquently, and was thought capable of having written a history of tho Six Nations. I also learned that ho often strove to mitigate tho cruelty of Indian warfare. The name of Brant, therefore, remains in my poem a pure and declared character of fiction. — Cumplcll. I \ CHAPTER Y. Brant's liiimanity was conspicuously displayed the same year in the attack upon Cherry Valley, at which he ivas present, but was not in command. This expedition, too, was organized at Niagara, at the instigation of Walter Butler, son of Col. John Butler, and was placed under command of Walter Butler. Capt» Brant, who, withhis Indian warriors, had been employed on the Susquehanna during most of the summer, was on his return to wintei* quarters at Niagara. Meeting Butler with his forces, bearing an order for Brant to join the expedition with his force. Brant was reluctant to do so, displeased at being placed under c 30 JIEJIOIPi OF commaml of Walter Butler; Init lie was too iiiiK'li a soldier to refuse to obey oi'ders. History lias reeorded to tlie credit of Joseph Brant that on this occa- sion lie exhibited traits of hiinianity wlii(di seemed to b(; wanting in )soi)Le at least of the white men present. " In a house wdiich he entered he found a woman engaged in her usual avocations, ' Why are you thus engaged ?' said Brant to her, 'while your neighbors are being murdered all around you?' 'We are king's peo- ple," she replied. 'That plea Avill not avail you to-day. They have murdered Mr. Well's family who are as dear to me as my own.' 'There is one Joseph Brant,' she said, ' if he is with tlie Indians he will save us.' 'I am Joseph Brant,' said lie, ' but I luue not the command, and I know not whether I can save you. But T Avill do what I can.' Wliile speaking, several Seneca's were Cj^rpo:. JOB. SlijlJIQ:. 31 ' was obey ) tlie occa- laiiity r,nc at ' In a r 0111 a 11 ' Why :oliei', rderecl s peo- 1 not rdercd to mo Josepli h tlio Jost'pli ot tlio r J can I can.' 's ^vel•<^ observed approaching tlie liouse. ' Get into l)ed and feign yonrseU' sick,' said Brant, hastily. When tlio' Senecas came ill, he tohl tliem tlierc was no person therc^ l)ut a, sick woman and liei" cbiidreii, and besouglit tliem to leave tbe liouse, which after a short consultation, they did. As soon as they were out ol* sight, Brant V\'ent to the corner ot* the house and j^'ave ;i long shrill yell. Soon a, small band ol" Xlohawdvs were seen crossing an adjoining lield with greiit speed. As they came u]), he addressed them : 'Where is your paint ? Here, put my mark on this w^oman.' As soon as it was done, he added, ' \'()U are now probably safe.' "* Great embarassment in subsisting tbe loyal forces in the field was felt by Col. Guy Johnson, immediately on their or- ganization, which was assigned by him as 'History nf Tryon Co. 'SS JllLJlOIIt OF a reason why lie removed westward ; first to the Upper Settlements of the Mohawk Valley, and then to Fort Stannix. The same difficulty existed throughout the " Petit Guerre'' which was carried on by the Indians under Brant. The fact was, that for the most part, they had to pro- cure their own subsistence as best they could ; from friends, by purchase or gift, from foes, by stratagem or force. Of course, Brant and his Indians became the terror of the whole country, and the source of frightful stories, of bloody massacres of helpless women and children. The following letter of Brant will best exhibit his humanity, his loyalty and his necessities : TuNiDiLLA, July Gth, 1777. Me. Garb, Sir, — I understand that you are a friend to government, with some of tliG Cf± ri>cj:, JOB. ^li -fiJTQ:. 83 settlers at the Butternuts, is the reason of my applying to you and those people for some provisions, and shall be glad if you will send me what you can si)are, no matter of what sort, for which you shall he paid, you keeping an account of the whole. From your friend and humble servant, JosErn Brant.* To Mr. Persofer Carr. Under the circumstances in which Brant was placed it is not surjnising if he did many things — or at least permitted them to be done — which under other cir- cumstances he would not have permitted. In a nimiber of cases, whicli are well authenticated, he saved the lives of indi- viduals upon recognizing them as members of the Masonic Fraternity, to which he belonued. But ns lu^ was tlie recoi>iiized 'O' 'O' *History of Tryon Co, 34 JlEJlOIIi OF leader of the Indians in all the conflicts in the Mohawk Valley and its vicinity, he was held rcsponsihle for all the exaggera- ted stories of devastation and cruelty which the excited state of tlie public mind attributed to him, and which became incorporated into the ciuTcnt history of the period, and have to some extent been ])erpetuated to the present day. T Gjict'o:. JOB, 3iif±]laiKl in the fall of this year was partly for the purpose of seeing how fnr he could depend upon the countenance or assistance of the British Government in his enterprise. Notwithstanding he was strongly dis- suaded hy Sir J'.li i Johnson from this visit to England, he immediately emharked and arrived in that country early in Do- cemher. A notice of his arrival in Salishury was puhlished in London, December 12, 1775: " Monday last, Capt. Joseph Brant, the celebrated king of the Mohawks, arrived in this city from America ; and after dining with Colonel De Peister at the headquarters here, proceeded immediately to London. This extraordinary personage is said to have ]n'esided at the late grand concfress of confederate Chiefs of the Indian nations in America, and to be by 50 MEJlOIIi OF them a23pointe'l to the conduct, and chief command in the war which they now meditate against the United States of America. He took his departure for Eng- land immediately as that assemhly hroke up, and it is conjectured that his emhassy to the British Court is of great importance. This country owes much to tlie services of Capt. Brant during the late war in Ameri- ca. He was educated at Philadelphia ; is a very shrewd, intelligent person, possesses great courage and ahilities as a warrior, and is inviolahly attached to the British nation." His reception at the Britisli capital was all that ho could wish. He was treated with tlie highest consideration and dis- tinction. Many officers of the anuy whom he liad met in America recognized him with great cordiality. Preliminary to his introduction to the Gfirpci, JOB. ^ItJrJTO:. 81 King, he was receiving instnictions in re- gard to the customary ceremonies to he observed. When he was informed that lie was to sahite liis Majesty hy dropping on the knee and kissing the King's hand, Brant ohjected to this part of the cere- mony, saying if it was a lady it would he a pleasant and proper thing to do ; but that he being himself a king in his own cOv.itry thought it derogatory to his dignity and contrary to his sense of pro- priety to perform such a servile act. the The Baroness Riedesel thus speaks of him, having met him at the provincial court : "1 sjjw at times the famous Tndian Chief, Capt. Brant. His maniuM's were polished, he expressed himself with tluency, Jind was much esteenuid liy CJen. Haldimand. I dined once with him at the GeneraTs. Jn his dress he showed off to advantage in the half-military and 5S JlEJIOIIi OF lialf-savagG costume. His couiitenaiicu was manly and intelligent, and liis dispo- sition mild." Capt. Brant returned from England early in the year 178G, having accomj)lislied much for his people with the Government, and enjoyed much social intercourse with the most dis- tinguished society in London. In the grant of the land to the Mohawks, such other of the Six Nations as were inclined to mahe their settlement upon it were in- cluded. This led to some difficulty and dissatisfaction, hy tlie intrusion of indi- viduals of the Six Nations who did not fully sympatliizo witli the Mohawks iu tlieir loyalty to tlie British Government. The whole weight of these difficulties seemed to fall npon Capt. Brant ; and his frieiuls were at one time anxious not only for liis personal safety, hut .also for liis popularity aiid iiiihience. But Ju^ ahly sustained and defended himself, Ojia^g:, job. ^iif±jTq:, eye? justifying tlie acts for wliicli lie Jiacl been censured, and liis conduct was approved at a full Council of the Six Nations at Niagara, in presence of the agent aud commanding officer. CHAPTEK VIII. Although a treaty of peace be- tween Great Britaiu and the United States had been signed, hostilities between the United States and the Indians had not ceased, and Capt. Brant, with one hundred and fifty of his Mohawk warriors, joined the forces, mostly Indians, which so signally defeated Gen. St. Clair, at or near what is now Pitts- burgh. A pacification of the Indian troubles seemed to be an object greatly de- sired both by the Government of Great Britaiu and that of the United States, 86 JlEJ^OIll OF and tlio ackiiowlodged ability and inllu- eucc of Gi\])t. Brant was sought by both, and led to an active and extensive cor- respondence with the ofliccrs and agents of both Governments. Early in 1792 Capt. Brant was in- vited t(j visit the city of Phila- delphia, the tlien seat of Government of the United States. The news- papers in New York announced his arrival in that city m the following terms : ''On Monday last arrived in this city from his settlement on the Grand River, on a visit to some of his friends in this quarter, Capt. Joseph Brant, of the British Army, the famous Mohawk Chief, who so emi- nently distinguished himself during the late war, as the military leader of the Six Nations. We are informed that he in- tends to visit the city of Philadelphia;" which he did in June, 1792, and was re- ceived by the President of the United Cfi(PQ:.J08.^IiilJ^Q:. 57 *- ) LX 1- 1 1 states with cordiality and respect. There is no douht that strenuous efforts were made at this time to engage his active interposition with the Indians to bring about peace, and also to conciliate his friendship to the United States. Although nothing could divert him from his loyalty to the Government of his choice, yet the visit seems to have given mutual satis- faction to himself and the President. The Secretary of War wrote to Gen. Chapin, U. S. Superintendent of Indian affairs, as follows: '' Capt. Brant's visit will, I flatter myself, be productive of great satisfaction to himself, by being made acquainted with the humane views of the President of the United States." The Secretary also wrote to Gen. Clinton : '' Capt. Brant appears to be a judicious and sensible man. I flatter my- self his journey will be satisfactory to himself and beneficial to the United 58 JIBJlOlll OF States." A cliaiigo in the Government of Canada about this time, creating a separate Government for the Upj^er Province, brought new men and new measures upon the stage of action. Col. J. G. Simcoewas appointed Lieut. -Governor of the newly organized territory. The nevv^ Governor brought out from England letters of introduction to the Mohawk Chief. They became fast friends, and in all the peace negotiations Avith the Western Indians, Capt. Brant became an active participant in the interests of the Government of Great Britain. The beautiful tract of country upon the Grand Eiver which had been designated for the settlement of the Mohawks, attracted the cupidity of white men, as their equally beautiful country in the valley of the Mohawk and Western New York had done before; and Capt Brant exerted his influence with his Cfi(pQ:. JOB. ^liyjjYO:. b9 people to induce them to exchange their liunting for agriculture. In furtherance of this idea, he conceived the plan of making sales and leases of land to skilled white agriculturists. But the Colonial Government interposed ohjections, claim- ing that the donation from Government was only a right of occupancy, and not of sale. Capt. Brant comhattcd this idea, hut was overuled hy the officers of the Gover anient, including his friend, Gov. Simcoe. Very general dissatisfaction seems to have prevailed among the Indi- ans in regard to the legal construction of the title to their lands, and attempts were made to negotiate a peaceful settle- ment of the difficulty hut with indifferent success. Capt. Brant was anxious to en- courage and promote the civilization of his people ; and, in his negotiations with Gen. Haldimand, stipulated for the erection of a church, which was Imilt upon their 60 J[fEJlOIIi OF lands upon the Grand Kiver, and furnished with a bell and communion service, brought from their former homo in the valley of the Mohawk, and is believed to be the first temple erected to the worship of Almighty God in the Province of Upper Canada. Capt. Brant continued to be the unyielding advocate of the rights of his peoplo as an independent nation to their lands, to the end of his life. His views, and the arguments by which he sustained them, may be gathered from an extract of a speech wdiich he delivered at a meeting of Chiefs and Warriors at Niagara, before Col. Sheafe, Col. CLius and others, on the occasion of a govern- ment proclamation forbidding the sale and leasing of any of their lands by the Indians. '* In the year 1775," said he, ^* Lord Dorchester, then Sir Guy Carlton, at a numerous council, gave us every en- Cf-rpO:. JOB. ^lijij^o:. 61 11 at lat LIS tn- [id n- couragemenfc, and ruqucstcd us to assist in defending tlieir country, and to take an active part in defending His Majesty's jiossessions, stating that when the happy day of peace should arrive, and should we not prove successful in the contest, that ho would put us on the same footing in which we stood previous to joining him. This flattering promise was pleas- ing to us, and gave us spirit to emhark heartily in his Majesty's cause. We took it for granted that the word of so great a man, or any promise of a puhlic nature, would ever he held sacred. We were promised our lands for our services, and these lands we were to hold on the same footing with those we lied from at the commencement of the American war ; when we joined, fought and hied in your cause. Now is published a proclamation forbidding us leasing those very lands, that were positively given us in lieu of 6^ JIEJ\lOIIl OF those of ^\ hicli we were the sovereigns of the soil, of thojr'e hinds we have forsaken, we sokl, we leased, and we gave away, when, and as often as we saw lit, without hindrance on the part of your Govern- ment, for yonr Government well knoAv we were the lawful sovereigns of the soil and they had no right to interfere with iis as independent nations." Ca] corre^ of dis and ;E title settle] which Eis ( >ettlei River, .i^ivat i wishes nal \ni losed : 3igns of usakoii, Qfirpo:, JOB. ;B^,-fiF^- ^s witliout Goverii- 11 kneAv the soil, ^vitll m CHAPTER IX. Capt. Brant entered into an extensive correspondence witli liis friends. Men of distinction, both in the United States and Enghmd, principally in regard to the title of the lands of his people, and their settlement and civilization, an ohjeet which seemed to lie very near his heart. His correspondence, in relation to the isettlement of a missionary at Grand River, shows that he considered it of great importance to the realization of his wishes, in regard to the moral and spirit- lual interests of his people. He was op- posed in this matter, hnt linally sncceeded mmt ^4 Jll^JdOlIi OF ill procuring- tlie settloinoiit of tlio llev. Dav(3iiport Plielps, wlio liad iiKirried a daughter of tlici Hey. Dr. Wlieelock, ilie early friend and preceptor of Capt. Brant. Mr. Phelps was {i graduate of Yale Col- lege, and became a missionary of the Episco])al Chucrli in Western New York. He was ordained in Trinity Church, New Y^ork, in December, 1801, and immedi- ately entered upon tlie active duties of a missionary. He had settled in tJie Province of Upper CjuukUi; his residence being upon a faru) near l^urhngton Bay, at the head of Lake Ontario. In 1805 he renu)ved his family from Canada to Onondaga, N. Y. It has been already stated tiiat Ca])t. Brant was thrice nnirried. He had two children l)y his first wife, none by the second, and seven by tlie third. Isaac ]3rant, Ins ehh^st cliild, be- came the source of iho greatest trou- cfirp-j:. JOB. J3:fij-^-]^i^:. of) hlo to ]jiiii iliroULjli a love of siroiiLf drink, and while inidcr its iiillucncc ai- t('iii})ted tlu! nnndcr of liis fjitiier; hiif in the assault, wliicdi was made in tlio lu'osenc'i of a liir<^(' nunihci' of j^crsons at a pnbl.'c ,t^ath('riii,L;", ihc son roceived a wound, \vlii(di lliou.L!,h not dangerous, proved fatal, hy reason of excitement jind intoxication. ('a])t. Jliant innnediately surrendered liiiiiself to i\w civil aiitlio- lities, and resigned liis connnission, wliic li he yet retained in the J>ritish licrvice. 11 was not accepted, howesei'. A council of the pi'incij)al Saeiieins and Warriors was held ; all the facts and circumstances were considc^red with gi'(Nit dcdiheration ; when the following certiticate of opinion Wiis signed unanimously and a copy d(*- livered to Caj)t. Brant. " Bi'olhcr^ We have heard and con- sidered your case; we symj;athiz(» with you. You ai'e h(M"(\aved of a hcdoved son. 66 jAEJlOIIi OF r>nfc tliiit sou rcaisod Iiis parrieidjil hand .'i,L;'aiiist the Iviiidest of fatliors. His deatli was occasioned l>y liis own crime. Witli one voice we acqnit you of all l)laui(\ Wc^ tender you our liearty condolence, and may the Cireat Spirit above l)estow unon you consolation [lud comfort under your 'allliction." The names of his children hy his third wife, ill the oi'(h'r of Ihcir hii'th, were? Joseph, Jacob, John, Mai'garet, Catharine, j\farv and Klizal)eth. The ediicatioii ol" his children seems ne\ci" (() lia\(^ heen lo«t si«^ht of amid all tlie cares and |)ci[)lexiti(>s of his public liie. The folloAvin;^' letter written hy Capt. Drant to Jaunts Wdieelock, son of the eaily President of DarlmouthCollege, his toi'iiKM' [)r(K;e])t()r in tlu^ " Moor's Charity School," will best illustrate his vi(!ws on that subject : OJirpO:. JOB. Ijltj-JTO:. 67 Deak Sill N1AGAR.V, 3r(l October, LSOO. Althougli it. is !i long tiiiio since I li;ivo Inul the pleasure of seeing you, still L have not for ;;ot there is such a j)erson in being, and now emhrace the kind oti'er you once made me in oflering to take charge of my son Joseph, whom i cer- tainly at that time should have sent out, bad it not been that there was apparently a jealousy existing between the British and Americans ; however, I hope it is not yet too hite. I send l)oth my sons, Joseph and Jacob, who I doubt ]iot will be par- ticularly attended to by my friends. I could wish them to be studiously at- tended to, not only as to their education, but likewise to their morals in i)articular. This is, no doubt, needless mentioning, as r know of old, and from personal expe- rience at your seminary, that thest> things are paid strict attention to. Let my sons be at what schools soever, your ov(^rseeing them will be liighly ilattei'ing to me. I should, by this opportunity, have wrote 66' J/LEjIOIIi OF Mr. John WJieoloek on the same suhjcct, 1)ut a hurry of business at this time pre- vents ine. I sliall liereafter take the iirst opportunity of dropping liini a few lines. Until then, please make my best respects to him, and earnestly solicit his friendship and atteiitionto my boys, which, be assured of, I shall ever gratefully ac- knowledge. I am, J3ear Sir, wishing you and your ftimily health and happiness. Your friend and well-wisher, Joseph BpiANT. To Mr. James Wheelock. TJie two boys, Jacob and Jaseph, wcie sent to school at Hanover, and prosecuted their studies (piite to the satisfaction of their teachers, exhibiting not only excel- lent capacity and diligence, but good de- ])ortment, and great amiability of charac- ter. Unfortuntitely a dilliculty sprung up betweeii the boys, wdiich resulted in Joseph leaving tlie schcol and returning Gjda^o:. JOB. j^iijW^' o9 ac- dc- irac- iip ill hiilig to liis parents. Jacob remained a while longer, when he too visited home ; hut suhser|uently returned to tlio sehool to resume his studies. Oji the occasion of his sons return, Capt. JJrant writes to his friend, IMr. James Wheelock, the follow- ing letter : " NiAOAPvA, 11th December, 180:5. '' My Deak Sir— " I received your V(uy polite and friendly letter by my son Jacob, and am very much obliged to you, your brother, and all friends, I'o)' tlie great attentions that have been paid to both of my sons, and to Capt. Dunham for the great caro lie took of Jacob on the journey. " ^ly soil would liave returned to you long before this but for a continued sick- ness in the himilv, which ])rought Mrs. Brant very low. '^My son Jncob and several of (ho children were very ill. IMy son rcdurns to be Uiidei" the car:; of the Jh-esi(lent,and 70 J\IEJ10111 OF I sincerely hope lie will pay such {ittentioii to his studies as will do credit to himself, and he a comfort to his friends. The horse that Jacoh rides out, I wish to he got in good order, after he arrives, and sold, as an attentive scholar has no time to ride ahout. Mrs. Brant joins me in most affectionate respects to you and Mrs. Wheeloclv. " I am, Dear Sir, with great respect, " Your sincere friend "And hunihle servant, " JosErn BiJANT." To Jamks Wukelock, Esq. IV The correspondence of Brant, after his retirement from military to civil life, he- sides that p(^rtaining to the current husi- ness which engaged mucliof his attention with literary nnd scientific men, was con- siderahle. Ilis rc])lics to letters of this class show him to have heen a man of Gf± (P^-. JOB, ^li fxJIO:. 71 deep reflection, independent thought, and of intelligence above most of the white men of his time, and are characterized by good common sense. None of the sons of Capt. Brant seem to have achieved distinction, if we except John, the youngest, who succeeded to his father's title. He received, it is said, a good English education, and im- proved his mind by study and travel ; became distinguished for his literary ac- quirements, fine commanding presence and polished address. Plis society was sought by gentlemen of the iirst distinc- tion, both in Europe and America. A few years before his death, Capt. Josepli Brant built a fine dwelling on a tract of land presented him by the British Government, at the head of Lake Ontario, occupying a fine commanding eminence, aff(n'ding an extensive view of the lake Q). JIEJlOIIi OF and suiTOUiiding country, now called Wellington Square. Here lie removed with liis family, and here he closed his extraordinary and eventful life, on the 24th of Novendjer, 1807, at the age of nearly sixty-five years. His remains were interred at the Mohawk Village, on the Grand Eiver, by the side of the Church built through his instrumentality, together with the other deceasedmemlKU's of his family, where a monument marks the spot, on which is inscribed the follow- ing epitaph : " TJ'ls Tomb is erected to the Dienwry of Tliayendanegea^ or Capt. Josej)h Brant, pruicipal Chief and M^arrior of the Six Nations Indians, hij his fellow-subjects, admirers of his jidclitjj and attachment to the British Crown. Born on the banl's of the Ohio river, 174-2. Died at Wellington Square, U.C., 1807. OjG:rpcj:,joB.SIi-jG:Jc., k<' . TJif^f > poor creatures are kept in tiio greaL'^st suhjcciio>i, and th(;y dare not attempt to mt^Lv their oscitj/'', for ho has assured tliem, that, if thoy diu so, ijo would follow them hims"'lf, though it weio i.-> lIi*') .'onftnos of Georgia, and wouh^ tomahawk the.b uherever he met them. They know his disposition too well not to think that lie would adhere strictly to his word. Brandt receives from Government half-pay as Captain, besides annual prosentt, &q.., winch in all amounts, it is said, to five hundred pounds per annum. We had no smjill curiosity, as you may well imagine, to see this Liandt, and wo procured ■fi(p(PEJ^QIX. 79 letters of introduction to him from the Governor's Secretary, and from dilTorcnt olllcors and gentlemen of his acquaintance, with an intention of proceed- ing from Newark to his village. Most unluclvily, liowcver, on the day before tliat of our arrival at the town of Newark, he liad embarked on board a vessel for Kingston at tlie opposite end of the lake. You may judge of Brandt's conse- quence, when I tell you that a lawyer of Niagara, wlio crossed Lake Ontario \,it]i us from Kinsfston, where he had been detained for some time by con- trary winds, informed us tlio day after our arrival at Niiigara, that by his not having reached that place m time to transact sotuc hiw business for Mr. Brandt, and whicli had consequently been given to another person, he should be the loser of one hundred pounds at least. Brandt's sagacity led him early in life to discover that the Indians had been mad'* tlie dupe of every foreign power that had gained looting in America, and iiuleed could he have had anv doubts on the Hubjcct^they would have been removed when he ^ss^s^mmmmmmmmm 8^0 j9:(PCPI]].. £>< y. C/ji (/. 1.0 I.I •^ IlilM 16 3 IIIM 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 6" ► vQ <^ /a o-^ V]

(^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (7)6) 872-4503 4is . '4 ^ ^^^^mmmmmmmmsmmim :^(P(PEjY(^IX J- &9 garrison of Fort Niagara. Brant had lived with his wife for some time previous according to the Indian custom without marriage, but now insisted that the marriage ceremony should be performed. This was accordingly done by Col. Butler who was still considered a Magistrate. After the war he re- moved with his nation to Canada. There he was employed in transacting important business for his tribe. He went out to England after the war, and was honorably received there. Joieph Brant died on the 24tli November, 1807, at his residence near the head of Lake Ontario, in the 65tli year of his age. Not long before that event the British Govern- ment refused for the first time to confirm a sale of lands made by him, which mortified him exceedingly. The sale was afterwards confirmed, at which he was 80 much elated that he got into an excitement that is said to have laid the foundation of his sickness. •' The wife of Brant who was very dignified in her appearance, would not converse in English before strangers, notwithstanding she could speak it fluently." -jiam'EjTQix. Extract from a book entitled : "Tmrcis in the interior of Uw HninhiiJdti'd parts of North America, in the ifvurH j 1701 and 17'J,?!. Illmt rated nit h copper • plates In/ Ale.v. Cimphell, Captain 42nd lleniment, Kdinhnni/i. rrinted for the author and sold Inj John Gathrie, Xo. J Xicholson St., Kdinhunjh:' "From Niagara to Grand River. •'Oil the Oth of Fobruiiry I set out with a party of goiitlcmon in two sleds on an excursion to the Grnnd River. Put up for tlio first niglit at Squire Mc- Nab's, and next day dined at the house of one Henry, who had only been hero for six years ; put up at nii,'ht at the liouso of one 8mitli, wlio came from the colonies two years ago. "The land as we came along soeinod extremely good— heavy timber, consisting of oak, Wiilnut, chestnut, hickory, mnple sugar Avood, nsh, pine, jui a variety of others, all lofty of their kind, particulai- p. O) ryd'iyj^cDix. ly ill tliiit space which lies between the long stretch of precipices cnlled the ' mountjiin,' uiul tlio side of tlio Lake. This space is from one to four miles brond and from fifty to sixty miles long from Niagara to Lake Geneva. This mountain begins in the Genesee country and stretches along until it crossed the liivcr Niagara at the Grand Falls ; from thence in a serpentine form to the head of the small lake, called by the Indians ' Ouilqueton,' and known to the white people by the name of ' Geneva,' and from thence to the Bay of Toronto, opposite to the Fort of Niagara on the north side of the Lake On- tario, a stretch of between two and three hundred miles long. We stayed that night with Mr. Ptiisley, who entertained us with the greatest hospitality. "Februarv 11th. AVe set out from Mr. Taislev's. For several miles on the way to the Grand lliver the lands are so open as to have scarce a sufticiency of wood for enclosures and the necessary purposes of arming, but towards the mountain the wood becomes thick and loftv, as is common in this countrv, for several miles along the mountain. Tow\ards evening wo fell down on a gentleman's farm, whore wc stopped to warm ourselves and bait our horses. No sooner was our repast over than wc bade adieu to the family, mounted our sleds and droyc down to ■ -M'^^-'EjYQiy^ ^3 the Indian Village ; allightca about nightfall at tlio houso of the celebrated Indian Chief and Warrior, Captain Joseph Brant. This renowned Warrior is not of any royal or conspicuous blood, but by his ability in war, and political conduct in peace]! has raised himself to the highest dignity in his nation, and his alliance is now courted by sovereign and foreign states. Of this there arc recent insrances, as he has had, within the last three weeks, sc^vcral private letters and public despatches from Congress soliciting his attendance at Philadelphia on maUers of high importance; but after consulting Col. Gor- don, commandcnt of all the British troops in Upper Canada, he excused himself, and declined to accept the invitation. He just now enjoys a pension and Captain's haU' pay, from the British Government, and seemed to keep quite staunch by it, but a person of his great political talents ought to be carefully looked after ; at the sftme time I am convinced that ho bears no good will to the American States, and seems to bo much rejoiced at the drubbing their troops got from tho Indians on the 4th of last. November, when, by the Indian account, 1800 of them were killed on the spot, but by the American, only 800, including the wounded ; the former is nearest the truth and gains most credit here. By 9A ■fiO'CPEJI^IX. comparing the numbers brouglit to the fickl, with tlio.so that remained after the action, which is the surest way to jiulge, their loss must have exceedetl 1000. I saw a muster roll and returns of some of the companies, and examined if there were any Scotch names among them, and could lind none but one Campbell, who it would appear by their orderly book, was among those that deserted, of whom there wore a great many. My reason for examining this so particularly was, that I was informed the Ameri- can army was mostly made up of Scotch and Irish emigrants, to whom Congress promised free lands at the close of the Indian war, in the event they would engage in it. Capt. Green, of the twenty-sixth regiment, who hold the orderly book, made the same remark ni regard to names, so that I am happy that the report was ill-founded. Capt. Brant who is well ac- quainted with European manners, received us with much politeness and hospitality. Here wo found two young married ladies with their husbands, on a visit to the family, both of them very fair com- plexioncd and well looking women. But when Mrs. Brant appeared superbly dressed in the Indian fash- ion, the elegance of her person, grandeur of her looks, and deportment, her large mild black eyes, symmetry and harmony of her expressive features, though n J- (PO^EJ^TQIX. 95 much darker in complexion, so far Hiirpassotl them as not toacimitoftlic smallest comparisonbctwccn the Indian and the fair European ladies. I could not in her presence so much as look at them without mark- ing the difference. Her blanket was made up of silk, and the finest English cloth, bordered with a narrow strip of embroidered lace, her sort of jacket and scanty petticoat of the same stuff, which camo down only to her knees ; her garters or leggins of the finest scarlet, fitted close as a stocking, which showed to advantage her stout but remarkably tine formed limbs, her moccasins (Indian shoos) orna- mented with silk ribbons and beads. Ilor person is about live feet nine or ten inches high, as straight and proportionable as can be, but inclined to bo jolly or lusty. She understands, but does not speak, English. I have often addressed hrr in lliat language, but she always answered in tlu Indian tongue. They have a fine family of children. I romarked of one fine looking boy, about eight years old, that ho was like his mother. His father said ho was so, and that ho was glad of it ; that he was a good scliolar and a good hunter ; that ho had already shot several pheasants and other birds ; that he and two other boys of the same age, had been lately in the woods with their guns, that tlioy supposed they had found 96 jKPa-'EjYQIX. the track of a clcor which thoy followed too far, got wet, and became cold ; that, however, young as thc}' were, they put up a iu-o and warnicil themselves and returned homo ; that before they arrived, their toes were frost bitten, of which he was then notquito recovered. 1 mention this circumstance to show liow early the young Indians are bred to the chase, and the instance of their earlv being bred to war is, that I myself saw a rifled barrelled gun taken by an Indian boy from an American, whom he shot dead in the action of the -Ith of November last, and ho was allowed to keep it on account of his gallant be- haviour. Tea was on the table when wo came in, served up on the handsomest china plate, and every other furniture in proportion. After tea was over, wo were entertained with tlio music of an ele- gant hand organ on which a young Indian gentleman and Mr. Clinch played atternately. Supper was served up in the same genteel style. Our beverages wcro brandy. Port and j\[adeira wines. Capt. Brant mado several apologies for his not being able to sit up with us so long as v/o wished, being a little out of order; and we being fatigued after our journey went timcously to rest ; our beds, slioots, and English blankets were line and comfortable. "Next day being Suiulav, we, (h(> visitors, went to J- a^GPEJ\T(72lX. 97 got was cle- ment rlisli lit to cluircli. The service w.is given out Ly aii Iiuliiui, 111 the absence of the minister, who was imlisposcil, and I never saw more decorum or attention paid in any church in all my life. The Indian squaws sung most ' liarininglj'', with a musical voice, I think peculiar to themselves. Dinner was just going on the table in the same elegant stylo as llio preceding night, when I returned to Capt. J^rani's house, the servants dressed in tlieir best npparel. Two slaves attended the table, the one in scarlet, the other in coloured clothes with silver buckels in their shoes, and nifties, and every other part of their apparel in proportion. After dinner Capt. JJraiit, that ho might not be wanting in doing me the honors of his nation, directed all the young w;ir)i#i-s to asscmblo in a certain largo house, to show me the war dance, to which we all adjourned about night fall. Such as were at home of the Indians appeared, superbly dressed in their most showy apparel glittering with silver in all the variety of shapes and forms of their fancies, which made a dazzling appearance. Tlio pipe of peace, v/ith long white feathers, r.nd that of war, with red feathers equally long. were exhibited in their first war dance, with shouts and war irhnnjis vo- sounding to the skies. •'The Chief himself held the drum, beat time, and 9ff :fia-'a'Ej^CQix. offcori joinotl in the song with a certain cadence to whicli they kept time. The variety of forms into whicli they put tlieir bodies, and the agility with wliich tlioy changed from one strange position to anotlier was really curious to an European eye not accustomed to such a sight. " Several warlike dances were performed which the Chief was at particular pains to explain to me, but still I could not understand, or see any affinity ex- cepting in the "eagle attack," which indeed had some resemblance. After the war dances were over — which took up about two hours, as the whole exhibi- tion was performed in honor of me, being the only stranger, who tiuy were told by my fellow travellers meant lo pub^sh my travels on my return homo whicli they judged of by the notes I took of every- thing I saw, though in reality I had no such thing in view at the time — I was desired by Mr. Clinch to mak(^ a speech, aiul thank them for their handsome p^-■<■<-,",l;l•lc^^l. A 1 hls could not be declined with- out giving oltoiiec, 1 was obliged to get up, and told them 1 vvould address them in the Indian language of mv own country, and said in Gaelic, 'That I had fought in many parts of Europe, killed many men, and bi'ing now in America, I did not doubt but I would light with them yet, particularly if the Yankees at- iico to ,s into y with ion to yc uot ich tlio ic, but ity cx- ]([ had over — exhibi- 10 only vellei's homo cvery- 1 thing nch to (Isomc witli- id tohl IgURgO I hiid mcii, wouhl CCS at- J- a^a^Ej^cvix oo tiickcd us.' My Nvorthy friend, Capt. McN.ab, oxplaimd in Enghsli my ypcccli, us iiLso did Capt. Clinch, in the Indian tongue ; at which they hiugli- ed very licartily. No sooner ,/as tlie war dance over than they began (heir own native, and civil ones, in which Cnpt. Brant and I joined. He I'laced ine between two handsome young s(iuaws, and him- self between other two. In this waj ao continued for two hours more, without coming oil the floor, dancing and singing. He himself keeping tiruo all along, which all the rest followLnl in th*- si'.mc cad- ence. The serpentine dance is adniinihiy curious ; one takes lead, representing the head, and the others follow c/iio after the other joined hand in hand, :mi(1 before the close of the dance we wore put in all the folds and forms a serpent can be in. After thi.s, and every other dance peculiar to their nsilion was over, wo began Scotch reels, and I was much sur- prised to sec how neatly they danced them. Their persons are perfectly formed for such exorcise. The men, from the severity of their hunting excursions, are ratlier thin, but tall and straight, and well pro- portioned, extremely agile and supple. Tlio women much fairer in their complexion, plump and inclined to be histy. *' Here we continued until near day-ligkt. 1 told 100 firprpEJTQIX. Capt. Brant that in my country at all country wecl- clings and frolics it was customary to /r/.s.s both be- fore and after every dance. Ho said it was a strange, though an agreeable custom, but that it would never do here ; I suppose owing to the jealousy of the men. I had bought two gallons of rum, to entertain them, and he had ordered six bot- tles of Madeira wine from his own house, and would hardly allow the other gentlemen and mys'^lf to take any other liquor. By my being in a manner under the necessity of drinking grog with the young In- dians and squaws, I got tipsy, though I, and one young Indian were the only persons present in the least affected. As for the squaws I could hardly got them to taste, however warm thoy might be with dancing. "When Capt. Brant observed the young Indian was atl'ccted with what he had drank, requested I should give him no more, taxed him with being drunk, and said he must turn him out of the company if ho did not take care what ho was about. " On the whole I do not remember lever passed a night in my life I enjoyed more. Everything was now to me, and striking in its manner ; the old Chief entered into all the frolics of the young peo- ple, in wliich I was obliged to join. I)ut the other :fia'r±^EJs till the last be killed. Whereas, on the ground, thoy wore so quick sighted and fleet, that in an instant tlioy were out of sight. An old turkey cock will outrun any man on the ji(p(PEj\\i his discourses lu'ouglit to mind a conversation on Iraditionary rumors that passed between Ossian, tlio son of Fin- gal, and Patrick, tlie first Clu'istian Missionary he had seen. '■ Before I take leave of this charming country and the lionor done mo by the renowned Chief, and his warlike tribe of hamlsome young warriors, all of the Mahowk nation, I nnist not omit saying that it appears to me to be the iinest country I have as yet seen ; and by every information I have had none are more so in all America. " The plains are very extensive, with few trees here and there interspersed, and so tliinly scattered as not to require any clearing and hardly sufficient for the necessaries of the farmer. Tlie soil is rich, and a deep clay mould. The river is about 100 yards broad, and navigable for large batters to Lake Erie, a space of sixty miles, excepting for about two miles, of what are here called rapids, but in Scotland -jia^a'EjYCDix. 107 '0'!"?: would be called "fords," and iu which the battors arc easily poled up against any little stream there UDay be. Abundance of fish arc caught here in certain seasons, particularly in the spring, such as stur- geon, pike, pickerel, maskinongo, and others pecu- liar to this country ; and the woods abound with game. The habitations of the Indians are pretty close together on each side of the river, as far as I could see, with a very few white people interspersed among them married to squaws, and others of half blood, their offspring. "The church in the village is elegant, the school house commodious — both built by the British Gov- ernment, which annually orders a great many pre- sents to bo distributed among the natives : amuni- tion, and warlike stores, of all the necessary kinds ; saddles, bridles, kettles, cloth, blankets, tomahawks with tobacco-pipes in the end of them; othei- things and trinkets innumerable, provisions and stores, so that they may live, and really be, as the saying is, 'happy as the day is long.' "February 13th. V/hen Capt. Brant found that wo would bo away, ho ordered his sled to bo got ready and after breakfast he and ^Irs. Brant ac- companied us the length of ten or twelve miles to the house of an Indian who had a kitchen and ins ■■:0''a'i'ij\rrDix. storo room, clcau iloors unci ,lj1;iss windows, crojjs, jiud o;ittle ill proportion, wlu;ro wu put up to warm ourselves, Capt. DrauL brought somo wiuo, rum, and cold moat, for the company. After retVoshing (nirsclves, we bade; adieu to our hospitalilo and re- nowned host, and his elegant squaw, and bounded on our journey along the banks of the Grand liiver. "The land seemed extremely good as wo came along. The lirst villaufo of Indians, the next of white people, and so on alternatcdy, as far as T have been, and for all 1 know, to the side of the lake. The Indians in this i)art of the country seem to bo of different nations, i\Iohawks, Chcrokees, Tuscaroras, and ]\[ississagoes. '' I called at different villages, or catties as they are called here, and saAV the inhabitants had large quantities of Indian corn drying in every licuso, sus- pended in the roof, and in every corner of them. Wo put up at the house of ]\Ir. MUis, wdio treated us v«ry hospitably. " February lltli. We wont a visiting for sever- al miles down the river side and dined at the house of a half-pay olUhier, a J\lr. Young, who had served in the last war as a Lieutenant in the Indian ])e- partment, married to a sipiaw, sister to one of the Chiefs of the Mohawk nation, who succeeded Capt. ^h jKprj^lBJ^mix. 109 Til l^.vl. llns ,o.U,.u.u, «nj„tcl. oxtmctio,,. uscl w tl. „„,l.c.a attonlioa ,u„l l^ospi,,,!!,,,, U..J. !"-!,, I.W,U, .,„,U s,.yc,l wi.h ,„,,\,,,,^^^^^^^^ l.^'y..« wlast, cnbba,.., un.l olhcr gumo«. ° ow ay.s ago a wolf Idlloa a .,.«■ oa tl.o ice tl 1"« .o„se, an,l .l,ow.cl a.s th. ..uaua« of / •' V..C. bcio,.uwa.slaa.a,a,oa.a..oatwol^^^^^^^^^^^ loet la cii-ciimfercaco. ° , "Foln.aaryL-itl, Wo .sot „at f^aa Mr. y„„a.> e.os.,oa a ,o,o«t of about, twoaty a.ilc.. witl,o„r a' 1 1 11-,, -^ '^"'' Jus wjlo, ami somo Hlotls J^^uloa w, ,, ,..a,a ,oia, to a,il,. Uo.. wo all .s oj 1 to ba,t ouv l,„,.o.s at 11,0 «i,,o of a .stro,ua or uocK ; maiio a fu-o and ,liao,l ai.oa .sacl. vi,.(„-,l • , wo .a.oa.l. aloa. wit,, a, la 1. ..J, ; ' ; ^ ; .so,iioti',uliu,<;Ia(liaas. ' -^ "I. saw tl,„ track of a .Ico,- as wo canio ,xIon^ am whoro „„o of tl.o.a wa» cl,.a..o,l ou a ,a ,a slo.l oi-toboRaa, oa tl,o .saow " '' Mr. aaa AI.'s. Pattoa i„vit„,l oar company to then- house, to whioh wo rea.hly agrco.l. Mr.s.'l."ttoa \10 J aa^&Ej\j(Dix. is a very well looking, ngrccablo youug latly, and be himself a good, plain sort of* man. " Wo arrived about night-fall, and ai'tor relVesh- ing ourselves with some tea, and some glasses of Port and Madeira wines, the card tables were pro- duced on which we played till supper time. " In this and indeed every place we had been in, wo were genteelly and hospitably entertained. " February lOth. After breald'ast wc set out from Mr. Andrew Patton's, and bade adieu to him autl his amiable wife. Called at Major Tinbrook's, and vlined at S(juire McNab's. Here wc were told that a party of pleasure had gone from Niagara, and the barracks, to meet us on our return from the Grand liivcr, at a place called the ( 'hrajmunj, three miles above the Grand Falls, and have a dance there that night, which would disa])point them much in the event we did not appear. Capt. McNab insisted on my being there in particular, for reasons he said, I could not well dispense with. *' I therefore agreed, and my particular friend, the S(iuiro, was good enough to furnish me with liis carriage and a couple of good horses. This Mr. McNab is a gentleman of genteel and indepen- dent property — is a justice of the i)cace, which gives him the title of Squire, and a member of the Land jia'0'EJktcc at assonibht-s. tutcr- iainincnls ami card [»arlics.l bhouKl make a dii'- ruse narnition of it : l)ut [ tiiorcl'ore sntlicc to say thai I am ( xtrcnicly sensible of ihcir politeness, uud will ahvays make ^t^i'ateful acknowledgments. '• f musf also expiess my obligations to Capt. Campbell, of the 'I'wcnty Sixth lleg't., and family, Colonel (iord(jn, Capts Byqiaec and Hope, Lieuts. Daniel, Doyres, Duke, and to my travelling com- panion and felhnv sulTerei' on the Lakes Lieut. William McKay. '• Near tlw village of New Jolin:;tonc is the scat of the late Sir ^ViilJam Johnstone, Baronet, of whom the inhabitants speak to this day with the highest gratitude and rcspo'.;t. lie died a year or two before the breaking out of the war. He was a man of unbounded power in this country. All'abi- lity and generosity were his distinguishing qualities. He had a larg.^ property in land, and w^as to tlie In- dians as well as to the Scotch inhabitants a father \\\\\ a frii'nd. Td hi-fi Ihcy looked np for relief in all their uislres:; iin.l wanls. He l;cp!; a squaw, now called old IMiss Mo//iy-, sibter to the famous Capl. Joseph Jiranl, by whom lie had several children. J- aa^a'EjrcDix. -"J 113 scat , of |i the r or his a 'abi- tics. Iii- tluT fin |1U\V, pi. IVCll, male and fomaio, now in life ; to cacl>, of whom ho heiiuoatheil at his death 1500 pounds, besides leav- ing a hirgc sum to the mother wlio now lives at Niagara. "It is said the sons arc somewlmt wild and savor a little of the Indian ; but that the daughters have the mild dispositions and manners of the Europeans. One of them is well married. I have often been in her house and been very genteelly enter- tained. She i^ the best dancer I think I have ever seen perform. Iler husband is a particular fricjnd and countryman of my own, is 8ui"gcon to the Indinn Department in the District ofjSossa, with a salary of about 2Ui) pounds a year from the Government. To cross the breisd of any species of creatures is deemed an advantage, but I am convinced it can be to none more than the human species. I do not remember to have seen an instance where a white- man and an Indian women did not produce hand- some children. Thousands of examples of this kind might be given. The famous and handsome Capt. J)avid, and the present Mj. ]h*ant aiford striking in- stances of this kind and of v.'liom I have spoken in another place. TIjc grej'.lest warriors and most con- spicuous chai;iCiirs jimong liio Southern Indians pow at war with the Americans are half blood n '4 jirp(PEJ\r(XjIX. They retaiu the expressive features, the line large black eyes, hair and eyebrows of the Indian, with a much fairer tint of skin, whicli are easily discernable even to the third generation if not longer. "Sir William, lived in great splendor, in this place. In his family were slaughtered 100 fat hogs and 24 oxen annually, and everything else was in proportion. " Sir William was wont to say that he was born in Ireland, but that his father when a boy came from Glencoe in Scotland, and that he deemed him- self of that country. The Johnstones, or as they were called in Gaelic Language, McDons of Glencoe, now McDonalds, were anciently a very warlike race, and in times of barbarism not the least so of their neigh- bors ; but it is somewhat singular that scarce a one of them who loft his country in early life, and is- sued out into the world to push his fortunes, but made a distinguished figure in it. Their vein of poetry was such that any one of them who could not compose extempore in rhyme was deemed a bye leap, but that practice, which was then much in use and shone very conspicuous in them, is now discon- tinued and their genius in that line is no better than others. Sir William had the distribution of tilt' Kmg'ii gratuities and stores to the Indians, and lli> ■jia^a-'F.jTmix. born came him- wei'G now and iizli- one is- but in of \ not bye use con- Litter »n of and his manner of distributing them was very different 'ijm what is now practised. When an Indian came for his presents he was carried into the store and allowed to choose for himself, which pleased him mightily, and he often went off with a few trinkets of little value. At present I have seen saddles, bridles, &c., given to Indians who had never cross- ed a horse, and many other things given in the same way of as little utility to them ; iind the first use the possessors made of them was to dispose of them to the first bidder at half value. Hir William was so remarkably beloved, that if ho had been in life when the war broke out it was supposed the whole inhabitants of the back parts of the Province of New York would have risen in arms along with him. His son. Sir John, was more distant and not so affable in his manners, and of course not so well liked. However, the greatest part of the young 8cotcli settlers, besides some Irish and Germans, adhered to his fortunes ; anu be raised a corps of the smart- est, liveliest, and the most useful troops in the Brit- ish service. Their sufferings were very great ; they were often obliged to eat horses, dogs and cats, and yet wt le never heard to complain, if they could distress their enemies. They and the Indians went hand in hand ; the former led on by a sou of j2(Pcpiyj