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Mot mi f i i Mim i SaiOAfiMaiEilS^ WITH T9B imttAMI^ naam ismmtfmn tamm^mim^Mu i%|ip::Mi% ^^ TO WlMa n unmMMM THS ?A»t|^I^AJL *'j' >■ i-'lX ->1f^ "•^^SOT^*^' '?H a.- •«. ^ THB DEFBAT %i ^lO^UB BRAD^IIOCS^ SAWUB. : km ST. OiiA ^ ' ' TH£ CREEK AJr0 SEllt^lOLE WAR, *•. L . 'i » ^ rill .1- '_-^,\%4 . BY SBlf^T TmVliB«I.I> I I . 11 # ■ !! I III lllf * ; *\ 1'X ^ r^^*•^ O >IVA>o*f^Kl '■I'W' ''''' >.ii' w . -%'^.:v ...,".. fi'l jiJii^^J'^ '^\^ -*»*->;,; vV^jf-f- ;,-^- .% ■:^?.. H.'>.^^.^' ■^ Entered according to act of Congress, in the yew 1840, J«iUiri **nr |<^,,A« BY 6E0K0E CLABK, k^ jyt^iil ^fSiil '^ln'ihii Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachnsetic. I . 1 ||i ; I ^f^i^if. ■iU.^k5iitJ ^.^■'■>U;.' f)i ..I U<»Hi«.'-: i' t*;? ,-?*n?v ri>t.' rff** li-is-^.i^' -^ i!^1. rM: \'> ' f' fife.'it' '4i« amu DISCOVERY BY COLUMBUS. *-r ■it 1, ="■ ■ . •* ':ji);^f'Vf _f,Wp4'- kn'-ti ;; ;..-*:< 1840, . t..r ., DsettC. '/Jfj;:, To the avarice of mankind, and the enterprise of the Portuguese, we owe the present abundance of the gold, the silver, the precious stones, the silks and the rich manufactures. To that same avarice we owe the dis- covery of the New World, the idea of whose very exis- tence was for a long while held so absurd, that the love of gain itself could not prompt men to the undertaking, though the boldest navigator of all ages offered to risk his me and reputatimi in the attempt. v«.».«^^-^. GhristovalJbolon, or, as he is commonly called, Chris- topher Columbus, to whom the high honor of this most important of discoveries is due, is generally held tD have be^ a Genoese, though this has been disputed, and it has been alleged, on very plausible grounds, that he was an Englishman. Be that as it may, he was a navigator skilful and enterprising beyond his age, and a brave com- mander. Yet, at* the age of forty, he was very little known to his compatriots. The idea of ^ding a new terrestrial hemisphere does ];iot appear to have occurred to him, but, judging from the spherical form of the earth, he thought it practicable to reach the East-Indies by sailing directly west from Europe, an opinion that is evi- dently correct, supposing that our continent did not bar his progress. It seems singular that this idea never oc- curred to any one before him, and still more so thai the most enlightened men of the age treated^s proposals with contempt. As his m^{ms were smalBaiid the ex- penses of bis enterprise must necessarily be great, ho first submitted his views to the government of Genoa, in hope to obtain the requisite aid, but they were rejected as altogether chimerical. He next offered his service as an explorer of unknown regions to the court of Portugal ; 1 DI8C0TIRT BT COLVMBVI. ^ "%%A m but though that nation was then distinffuished above all others by its spirit of enterprise, and the reigning king, John the second, was a wise and sagacious prince, the {»rejudice of his counsellors, to whom the protect of Go- umbus was referred, defeated his views in that quarter also. His next application was to Ferdinand and Isa- bella, reigning sovereigns of Castile and Arragon, but they were too much occupied in wresting the kingdom of Grenada from the Moors, to give his plans the con- sideration due to their importance. About the same time, he sent his brother Bartholomew to England, to solicit the assistanc<^ of Henry the seventh. That mean prince, though he rejected the proposals of the Genoese, determined to profit by them, and despatched an expedi- tion on his own sole account, on the track Columbus had marked out. The courage of its commanders fail- ed them, and they retu^ed to England as they went. 4 Columbus passed many years in fruitless applications to the Court of Ferdinand and Isabelli^ut at last, Grenada being conquered and the war with the Moors at an end, Isabella had leisure to attend to Columbus. Possf^sedof a mind of no common order, she was not slow to see that his project was at once reasonable and of the highest importance, and she openly avowed herself his patroness. Her husband, a cautious ^d narrow mind- ed, though sagacious prince, would not commit himself. All the aid he lent the adventurer was the sanction of his name. It is with a won^p, therefore, that the world finder must divide the fame of his discovery. Three vessels, two of them not larger than our ordi- nary fishing smacks, were thought sufficient for this im- portant expedition. Expense, had long been themole obstacle to the success of the adventurer's solicitations, yet the whole cost of his armament when equipped, and furnished with a twelvemonth's provision, was no more than 11^,600 ^T't^-'M *^*«f»! '^''» ^r" yw'.:-i^.'>^ -t^"' Columbus sailed from PaHs, in Andalusia, on the 3d of August, 1492. He made the Canary Islands, and ^n stretched boldly westward into an unknown ocean. I. DIieOTIRT BT COLUMBVI» v^i ''» # in latitvde )88' north. From various causei, and among others a violent tempest, he made slow progress. His men were not free from the ignorance of the age, and a spirit of discontent arose among them which it required all his courage and prudence to restrain. Their ter- rors at last rose to the height of mutiny, and they talked of throwing their admiral overboard, so that he was com- pelled to compromise with them. He promised to aban- don his enterprise and return home if they did not dis- cover land within three days. He could now make this promise without much danger of frustrating his main object, for from the quantities of wood and weeds on the surface of the sea, from flocks of land birds, from a carved piece of wood that was picked up and from other appearances, he was assured that the shore was at hand. fi On the night of the 23d of October a light was dis- covered from the mast head of the foremost vessel. The despondence^f the crew was now changed to rapture. In the moiAg they landed at an island of surpassing beauty and abounding with inhabitants of a race wholly unknown to them. Both sexes went entirely naked, their manners were kind and gentle, and they received the Spaniards with joy and homage, taking them for celes- tial visitants. Alas! had they believed the white race fiends from hell, t|;^e treatment the> afterwards received from them would almost have justified the supposition. «' it Columbus named the island San Salvador. It was one of the cluster since geip'ally called the Bahamas, and is 3" 30'*more southerly of Gommorra, that one of.^ the Canaries at which he took leave of Europe. Colum- bus did not tarry long — he had not come in quest of islands, and he was not satisfied. His discovery only served to confirm him in his original opinion, and be firmly believed that the land before him wag one of the East-India islands. Sailing southward, hi^ajoKiiil' discov- ered the islands of St. Mar^i of the conoe»|ij;^Jp*erdi- nand and Isabellir. H^ next made out Cuba n^i^^th- er large island, which ne called Espagnola, and it itjtill known as Hispaniola, St. Domingo and Hayti^ Here he built a fort and left a small colony,, after which h* returned to Spain, taking with him several of the nativM m :^i *.■ ■.•!>■ 6 DISCOTIRT BT 00LUMBU8. ' of tho newly found islands. On his course he diiooT* ered the Garribee Islands. Afler having been seven months and eleven days ab- sent, Columbus arrived at the port of Palos on the 15th of March, 1493. Great rejoicmgs were had on his arri- val, for, from the sight of a few articles of gold he had brought from America the most extravagant ideas of the wealth of the new lands were entertained. The highest honors were paid to the intrepid mariner. The king and queen issued letters patent confirming to him and his heirs all the high privileges which had been agreed on, in case of his success before his departure, and his family were enrolled among the proudest nobility of Spain. .0^ Still neither the Spaniards nor any other European nation entertained the least doubt that the lands Colum- bus had found were parts of India, for at that time the extent of India was unknown. For this reason it was that Ferdinand and Isabella gave them^e name of " Indies " in the instrument by which th^pftatified their agreement with Columbus, and on this account they 'still erroneously bear that name, and all the aborigines of the i^w world are called Indians. Tile success of Columbus had its natural effect. The whole enterprise of Spain was roused. No time was lost, no expense was spared, in equipping a fleet to accompa- ny the great mariner back to the lands he had made known. A fleet of seventeen vessels was fitted out with- in six months and manned with fifteen hundred men, among whom many of the noble and the distinguished of Spain did not disdain to enroll themselves. It was one of the popular opinions of the day that the new found land was either the Ophir of Solomon or the Cipango of Marco Polo. Ferdinand himself caught the prevailing oithu- siasm of the day and was desirous of securing his part of the golden harvest expected to be reaped in the new world. He appliefi ^o the Pope to be invested with a right in the lands discovered, or to be discoveifd. ' A shew of a relig- ious motive was necessary, and he made his zeal to con- vert the natives to the Catholic faith the basis of his hypo- IH'itical plea ; not without the desired effect. -, ^m j^^^^*^ DISOOTIRY BY COLUMBUS. The reigning pope, Alexander the fourth, was one of the vilest of men and cared as little for the conversion of the heathen as Ferdinand. But he had the interest of his own family at heart and the friendship of the Spanish monarch was of no little importance to him. He was himself a native of Arragon. His favor and pontifical sanction only were asked, and these involved neither ex- pense nor risk. He therefore made no difficulty in be- stowing upon Ferdinand and Isabella ** all the countries inhabited by infidels which they had discovered." Yet it was necessary to prevent this gtant from interfering with one of the same character that he had made not long before to the crown of Portugal. He therefore decreed that an imaginary meridian line one hundred miles to the westward of the Azores should be the boundary between the parties. All lands eastward of thi9 notable boundary he conferred on the Portuguese ; all westward upon the Spaniards. ^^ ColumbulMuled on his second voyage of discovery from Cadiz, on the 25ih of September 14^. On his arrival at Hispaniola he had the mortification to learn that all the colonists he had lefl there had been put to death b} the natives, a just punishment for their lawless ravagcis, ty- ranny and cruelties. Nevertheless, he was not discour- aged. He laid out the plan of a large city on a plain near a ca^^iacious bay, to which he gave the name of Isa- bella his royal patroness and appointed his brother Diego to preside over it, as deputy Governor. He then, on the 24th of April 1494, set sail with a ship and two other small vessels in quest of new discoveries. He touched at many small islands on the coast of Cuba, and also at the groa# and fertile island Jamaica, which he found in- habited by a bold, warlike and ferocious race, since call- ed the Caraibs, or Caribees, radically distinct from the natives of Hispaniola, of whom they were the terror and the scourge. He then returned to Hispaniola. During his absenc#ihe Spaniards, insolent and exult- ing in the consciousness of superior power, had oppress- ed and abused the innocent and gentle natives in the most wanton manner. Scarcely an injury can be cdr ceived that was not inflicted on tbem. These abuses, as ^ V.i*. i»«*«ii. DISCOVERY BY COLUMDUfl. colony, too, plcmls in fuvor of CoJumbus. Unaccus- tomed to labour, nnd strangers to the deadly climate of the West-Indies, great numbers of the colonists fell vic- tims to disease, hardship and exposure. The rest were rapidly declining, and such had been the injuries inflict- ed by them on tlic natives, that no kindness on their part could have re-established confidcnco nnd friendship. It may bo said, too, that Columbus treated the unhappy savages with less inhumanity than his successors in tne career of discovery and conquest. Still, these matters but extenuation, not justification of his conduct, are which ought ever to be viewed with abhorrence. It ia painful to detract from the character of ickiiowledged and surpassing merit, yet it is the duty of the annalist to make truth the guiding star of his course, no matter who suffers. If Columbus had not formed a specific design to wage an offensive war against the natives pre- vious to his second departure from Spain, and conse- quently before he was awaro of the destruction of his peopl>o whom he had lefl in Hispaniola, it is yet certain that the idea of being involved in hostilities with the simple Indians had entered his mind. The fact, that ho carried a large number of fierce and powerful blood- hounds with him proves it. He had found the natives peaceable and friendly, and had, therefore no reason to apprehend that they would commence hostilities. The cavalry he took with him, as they were feared and reverenced by the Indians, were quite sufficient for the security of the colony, supposing that friendship with them had been an object, liwi it was inconsistent with the views of the Spaniards to treat them as a free people. Lust of gold was the grand in- centive of the settlers, and as some of the natives were decorated with golden ornaments, and it was supposed that the mountains of the island abounded with the pre- cious metals, great expectations had been formed by the patrons of Columbus and the nation at large. His in- terest and his iimbition urged him to fulfil those expecta- tions as far as possible. Gold could not be obtained without the aid of the Indians, who were so indolent from constitution, habit and climate that nothing but () 10 DISCOVERY BY COLUMBUS. actual compulsion could induce them to labour. To avoid the mortification of failure, therefore, and to secure farther support, Columbus deliberately devoted a harm- less race of men to slaughter and slavery. Such as sur- vived the massacre of their first dreadful defeat, and re- tained their liberty, fled to the mountains and inaccessi- ble fastnesses of the island, which not affording them an adequate maintenance, they were obliged to purchase food of their cruel invaders with gold. The tribute im- posed on them was rigorously exacted. The wretched remauis of this once free and happy people reduced from plenty to starvation, from freedom to miserable, labori- ous and hopeless slavery^ gave themselves up to despair • and perished miserably. Such was their invincible re- pugnance to labour, that thousands hung and otherwise ^destroyed themselves to avoid it. In less than half a century, a population of three millions had dwindled to a mere handful. These are historical facts, and yet Co- lumbus is extolled for his humanity ! Columbus and his companions seem to have discover- ed two. distinct races of men in the West-Indies. The natives of Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas, ^c. are described as having been black, small of stature, feeble of body and mind, kind, humane, hospitable, excessive- ly indolent, averse to exertion, whether physical or men- tal and in no wise addicted to, or fitted for war. Their scourge and terror, the other race, since called the Ca- raibs or Carribees inhabited Jamaica, the Carribee and many other islands. They were a cruel, fierce and war- like peojfle, and carried death and desolation wherever they went. They Were by no means indolent : their canoes visited all parts of the 'West-Indian Archipelago and they were no strangers to the main land of North and South America. They did not submit tamely to the aggressions of their invaders, but met them boldly jmd struck them blow for blow, till they became nearly ex- tinct. A small remnant of them still survives on the island of St. Vincent, but so amalgamated with the ne- groes that their national character and physiognomy are almost entirely obliterated. Yet they have not lost the spirit and bravery of their ancestors. It is not a centu- exl CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 11 ry since they maintained themselves against all the forces that could be detached from the other British West In- dia islands against them. Their cause was just, for they fought for the lands of their inheritance, and after a pro- tracted struggle, the authorities made peace with them. Many tales are told of the ferocity of the Caraibs, which, as they come from their enemies must be receiv- ed with due allowance. Still no doubt remains but that they were a cruel people, much like our North Amer- ican Indians, from whom no doubt they sprung. In one remarkable particular they differed from the other aborig- ines. They flattened the heads of their infants, while the skull was ytii soft and plastic, between two boards, so that in manhood the forehead was flattened and depress- ed to an extraordinary degree. It is related of some of them that they could look perpendicularly upwards with- out throwing their heads back in the .least. The same absurd practice prevails among the Flat Heads and oth- er tribes on the Columbia River to this day. THE CONaUEST OF MEXICO. We presume only to give a brief abstract of the most important Indian war that ever took place. The facts attending the subversion of the powerful empire of Mex- ico, are too many and two well known to need that we should dwell upon them. Diego Velasquez conquered Cuba in the year 1511, and, as well as others of the Spaniards subject to Ilis authority, entertained the idea of making further discov- ^% eries to the westward. With the aid of^rancisco Her- nandei Cordova, a wealthy planter, he fitted out three small vessels on board of which a hundred and ten n[ien embarked and sailed from St. Jago de Cuba on the 8th of February 1517. Standing directly west, they made land in twenty-one days, which proved to be the coast of Yucatan. They found the natives dressed in cotton garments, dwelling in houses of stone and otherwise exhibiting tokens of (for the age) high civilization. 12 CONQUEST OF MEXICO. They attacked the Spaniards with great bravery and wounded fifteen of them by the first flight of their arrows, but were in their turn so astounded by the fire arms, that Ihey fled in the utmost dismay. Cordova took two prisoners and continued along the coast to Campeachy, where,, stopping to water at the mouth of a river at Potonchan, he was again furiously attacked by the natives and forty seven of his party were killed and only one of the whole body escaped unhurt. After this fatal repulse nothing remained for them but to return to Cuba. But they had discovered a populous and rich country, which was sufiicient to re-awaken the cupidity of the Spaniards. Velasquez fitted out four ships, with two hundred and forty men and gave the command to Juan do Grijalva. They landed at Potonchan and defeated the Indians, who, however, fought with desperate valour. As the Spaniards sailed along the coast they had ample leisure to admire the beauty of the country, the villages and the cities. They gave the land the name of New Spain. Landing at Tabasco, they learned through the captives talieh in the former expedition that they were in the dominion of a powerful prince named Montezuma. They made a very satisfactory survey of the coast, and then returned to Cuba after an absence of about six months. On his return Grijalva found an expedition fitted out for the conquest of Mexico, the command of which was ultimately given to Hernando Cortez, a Castilian of noble blood and unquestionable military abilities. They soon set sail. The fleet consisted of eleven small ves- sels, on board of which were six hundred and seventeen men, thirteen of whom only were armed with musquets. Thirty-two others carried cross-bows and the rest were armed with swords and spears. They had also sixteen horses, fourteen small field pieces. With this small force Cortez set out to make war on the monarch of dominions more extended than Spain itself Religious fanaticism urged his soldiers on. '* Let us follow the •cross," said they, •* for under that sign we shall con- 4^uer." CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 13 and that r the L the msly were hurt. I but mtry, >f the h two lande ed the alour. ample illages f New gh the ete in izuma. (t, and »ut six At Tabasco the Natives gave Cortez battle, but were beaten in several engagements with great slaughter. These disasters, together with the terror of the horses and fire arms, broke their spirit. They sued for peace, paid tribute to Cortez and acknowledged the king of Spain as their sovereign. At Tabasco, deputies from the governors (under Montezuma) of two provinces waited on Cortez to know his intentions and to offer him assistance. The wily Spaniard assured them that he came in perfect friend- ship, as an ambassador from a powerful monarch, upon business of such importance as could only be entrusted to Montezuma himself. He therefore desired to be conducted to his presence. The Mexicans were much embarrassed, neither daring to offend Cortez by refusal, nor conduct the Spaniards to their king who had a sove- reign dread of them. They endeavored to temporize with the invaders and to conciliate them with rich gifts, which, however, only inflamed their cupidity. In eight days an answer was received from the Indian King, accompanied by presents of great value to render it palateable. The purport of Montezuma's message was, that though he sent the Spaniards these tokens of his regard, he would not allow them to approach his capital, or even to remain in his dominions. But Cor- tez adhered to his original views, and a second message was despatched to Montezuma, reiterating his proposal. This prince, though the fiercest and most warlike who ever sat on the Mexican throne, with a vast extent of territory, millions of hardy subjects and very considera- ble revenues, was seized with a fit of irresolution, in which his people participated. It arose from an an- cient tradition that the empire was to be ruined by a race of men from the east. Nevertheless Montezuma finally made up his mind to order the strangers to leave his dominions immediately. In the meanwhile mutiny broke out in the Spanish camp. After raising Cortez to the command, Velas- quez had become jealous of him, and had used all en- deavors to make him unpopular in the army. His ad- herents, on receiving the final orders of Montezuma, ::'^^.^ 14 CONQUEST OF MEXICO.- made choice of Diego dc Ordaz to remonstrate with Cortez on the imprudence of attempting the conquest of a mighty empire with so small a force. Accordingly he gave orders to his troops to re-embark, which was so little to the liking of the majority of his troops, who were not in the interests of Velasquez, that they revolt- (d. The chief, therefore, feigning to yield to their wishes, whith were in fact his own, rescinded his or- ders, and prepared for his career of conquest. To this effect he established a form of government, and magis- trates and officers were appointed without any regard to the authority of Velasquez. Cortez himself resigned his command, and was reinvested with it, by the siif- frage of the troops, so that he no longer looked up to the governor of Cuba as the source of his* authority. His next step was to arrest the most factious of the par- % tizans of Velasquez And to throw them into irons. He was afterwards reconciled to them and they proved faith- ful to his interest. Soon after the inhabitants of the province of Zam- poalla offered to rebel against Montezuma, of whose tyranny and cruelty they were weary, and to assist Cor- tez. The cacique of Quibislan followed their example, as did also the Totonaques, a fierce tribe of mountain- eers. This advantage was counterbalanced by discon- tents and conspiracies in the Spanish camp, to which Cortez put an end in a most desperate manner. He caused his ships to be broken up, and thus left his fol- lowers no choice but to conquer or die. Cortez marched from Zampoalla on the 16th of Au- gust, with five hundred men, fifteen horse and six field pieces. The cacique of Zampoalla furnished him with provisions and with two hundred men to carry them. On his arrival at Tlascala, the fierce inhabitants of that province, who had long maintained their independence against the sovereigns of Mexico, attacked him, but being worsted with great loss in several battles, they treated for peace and agreed to assist the Spaniards against Mexico. They joined the ranks of Cortez to the number of six thousand, and the united forces ad- vanced to Cholulp , a place considered holy by the Mexi- CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 15 If Au- |x field with them, ►f that idence but they iniards •tez to kes ad- Mexi- cans and the sanctuary of their gods. Here Montezu- ma had given orders that the invaders should be well received, with what object the reader will presently see. It was presently discovered that the inhabitants had entered into a conspiracy to cut the Spaniards off; upon which Cortez drew up his forces and attacked them sword in hand, while the Tlascalans pressed them in the rear. The massacre lasted two days, during which every enormity was committed. Six thousand of the Cholulans perished, before Cortez agreed to pardon the remainder. From Cholula, Cortez marched directly to Mexico, where he was received with great distinction. First came out a thousand men in garments of cotton and wearing plumes to salute him and announce the ap- proach of Montezuma. Then appeared two hundred more, clad in uniform. After these approached an as- semblage of richly dressed nobles, in the midst of whom was the king borne in a litter on the shoulders of four of his principal subjects, with all the paraphernalia of regal splendour. Before him marched three officers with golden rods, which when they lifted, the people bowed their heads and hid their faces, , as unworthy to look at so great a monarch. Cortez dismounted, and Montezuma alighted to greet him, while his attendants spread cotton cloths in the street that his feet might not touch the ground. However, nothing material passed. The king conducted Cortez and his allies to the qiiar-i ters destined for them, which was a large building sur- rounded by a stone wall ; a very defensible position, which the Spaniards lost no time in fortifying. Mexico is situated in a large plain surrounded by mountains, and built on the shore and some small islaii<£i in a lake. The access to the city was by artificial causeways or streets, which were of great length. One was a mile and a half long, another three miles and a third six miles. In each of these causeways there were openings through which the water flowed, and covered with timber which could easily be removed. The tem- ples of the gods and the houses of the nobility were of great magnitude, but the common people lived in mere % aj,**'- 16 CONQUEST OF MEXICO. ■ ^ huts, regularly ranged on the banks of the canals which passed through the city. The market was so spacious that forty or fifty thousand people carried on trafKc in it. The whole city was estimated to contain sixty thou- sand inhabitants. Every thing gave token of a high state of civilization, and yet, strange to relate, all this splendour was achieved by a people who were stran- gers to the use of iron and who had no domestic ani- mals. In the mean while a Mexican army had marched to subdue the Indians, who had thrown off the yoke of Montezuma and the Spanish garrison which Cortez had left behind him had sallied out to the assistance of their allies. Though the Mexicans were defeated, Esealante, the Spanish commander, and seven of his men were killed. Another was taken alive and' beheaded and his head was sent round to the different cities to shew the Mexicans that their invaders were not immortal, as they had believed. From this and other causes, Cortez re- solved to get Montezuma into his power as a hostage for the peaceable behaviour of his subjects. At his usual hour of visiting the king, he took with him ten of his soldiers, and thirty more followed, as if by mere carelessness. On meeting, he reproached Montezuma bitterly with the late conduct of his army, and finally, confpelled him to go with them to their quarters. A tumult broke out among the people at this flagrant in- sult, and the king was obliged to appease them by de- claring that he went with his captors by his own free will and consent. Though he was received and treated with respect, the king was cloSfely watched. The general and seven of the officers of his army were given up to the Span- iards to appease their resentment, who tried them by a court-martial and sentenced them to be burnt alive, for doing their duty as brave men and loyal subjects. The Mexicans looked on and saw them die without attempt- ing to rescue them. Cortez took other measures to in- sure his safety, and built two brigantines which gave him the command of the lake. All this was done in the name and with the enforced sanction of Montezuma. I CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 17 5 which pacious raffic in Ly thou- ' a high all this -e stran- stic ani- rched to yoke of ►rtez had 3 of their scalaiite, len were d and his shew the 1, as they ^ortea re- hostage At his im ten of by mere mtezuma id finally, ters. A grant in- im by de- own free respect, ind seven [he Span- Ihem by a 1 alive, for ks. The attempt- Ires to in- Mch gave )nc in the Izuma. Encouraged by the king's tame submission, Cortcz urged him to declare himself a vassal of the king of Castile, and he was base enough to comply. The chief men of the empire were assembled, and in a set speech, but with tears and groans, he declared his submission. But to allay the indignation of thg people, Cortez pro- claimed that his master had no intention to dethrone the king, or to alter the laws of the empire. The present made by Montezuma on this occasion, together with all the gold and silver the invaders had received from him and his subjects at other times, was melted down and amounted to six hundred pesos, exclusive of jewels and ornaments of gold and silver. About half of this tr^^s- ure was divided among the soldiery. The spirit of resistance among the Mexicans was at last roused by ah attempt on tlie^part of Cortez to con- vert them forcibly to the christian faith. From that mo- ment they harbored the idea of revenge. An event occur- red which seemed for a time to favor their designs. Ve- lasquez fitted out an expedition to supplant Cortez. 'He' despatched Pamphilo de Narvaez to Mexico with eighty horse, eight hundred foot, of whom eighty were musket- eers, a hundred and twenty cross-bowmen and 12 pieces of cannon. He landed in safety, interested the natives in his favor and even contrived to establish a secret cor- respondence with Montezuma, who regarded him" as a deliverer. Cortez proposed terms of compromise, but they were rejected with scorn. Cortez then marched against Narvaez with two hundred and fifty men. He at- tacked the position of Narvaez in the dead of the night, obtained a complete victory and in the morning the new comers laid down their arms. Narvaez himself was taken and thrown into fetters. The prisoners, however, were treated with kindness, and such was the address of Cortez that almost all of them were induced to join his standard. But during the absence of Cortez, the Mexicans rose upon the Spanish garrison in the capital, killed and woun- ded several of them, destroyed their magazine of provis- ions and burned the two brigantines. The danger of their monarch no longer restrained them, for their fury wa». roused to the utmost pitch by an unprovoked massacre of 3 I ■ if li 18 CONQUEST OP' MEXICO. a groat number of their people, perpetrated by the Span- iards at a rchgious festival. All cried aloud for ven- geance. Cortez immediately made haste towards the city with his troops and two thousand Tl 'lalans and arrived just in time to save the garrison from desiruction. Nevertheless, the natives attacked a considerable body of the Spaniards in the market-place and defeated them with some loss. The next day they assaulted the Span- ish quarters in great numbers, in the most heroic man- ner. Though the artillery mowed them down like grass, though every blow of sword and lance fell with deadly effect on their naked bodies, the utmost efforts of the invaders were scarcely sufficient to withstand them, and they only retired when it was too dark to fight any longer. The next day Cortez made a rally, and the whole day was spent in mortal comb.'it in the s'treets. Vast num- bers of the natives fell and a part of the city was burned. On the other hand the Spaniards were' dreadfully an- noyed by showers of stones and arrows f-om the house tops, and were finally compelled to retire with a loss of twelve killed and sixty wounded. Another sally met with the same success and the general himself was slightly wounded. Finding that he had underrated the Mexicans, and that he could no longer maintain himself in their capital, Cortez bethought himself that he might make use of Montezuma to overawe his subjects. On the morrow, when the Indians advanced to renc^w the attack, he pro- duced the captive king, clad in the robes of royalty, upon the battlements. At the sight of their sovereign, the weapons dropped from the hands of the Indians. But the discourse he addressed to them, thougk intend- ed to sooth and persuade them to peace, only served to exasperate. They poured in such a volley of stones and arrows in the transport of their indignation, that be- fore the Spaniards had time to withdraw or defend the unhappy prince, he was struck by two darts, and by a stone in the temple. Then, struck with horror at their own violence, they fled. The wounds of the king prov- ed mortal |- CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 19 B Span- for vcn- irds the ms and ruction, le body cd them « Span- )ic man- LC grass, h deadly s of tlie lem, and y longer, hole day ast num- } burned. Ifully an- he house a loss of sally met self was tans, and |r capital, Cortcz now saw that a retreat was necessary, but this was not easy. Tlie Indians seized a high tower that overlooked the Spanish quarters and thence eo annoyed the Spaniards, that it was found necessary to storm it. Thrice were they repulsed, and it was only when Cor- lez headed his troops in person that the Mexicans were dislodged. A er'ate conflict he slew the Indian general with his own hand, the banner fell and the countless host of natives fled in dismay. On the next day the Spaniards enter- ed the Tlascalan territories, where they were received with the greatest kindness, for hatred of Mexico was deeply rooted in the hearts of the Tlascalans. It is inconsistent with the plan of this volume to re- late how Cortez quelled mutinies among his own. troops, punished some disaffected native tribes and won the love and confidence of others, or how he received reinforce- ments from the Spanish West-Indies. Those who would have a minute detail of his proceedings must seek it in histories of greater pretensions than this. Suffice it that six months after his disastrous retreat he again set out for Mexico with five hundred and fifty infantry, forty horse and ten thousand Tlascalans. Guatimozin, nephew of Montezitma) now filled the throne. He took every measure that wisdom and cour- age could suggest to avert the storm that threatened him, but all in vain. Cortez did not venture directly to the capital, but spent three months in reducing the neigh- boring towns and in building vessels upon the lake of Mexico. The inhabitants of many of them threw off" their allegiance and joined him. What was of more im- portance a reinforcement reached him from Hispaniola, consisting, of two hundred men, eighty horses, two heavy cannon and a considerable siipply of arms and ammuni- tion. He now laid siege to Mexico, cut oft* the supplieo of fresh water, and by means of his fleet no straitened ^. CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 21 nvarms h(jm at > finish )toinba n up in Cortcz r at the the cin- t its fall ! fate of to the !!• a dcs- his own ' natives Is enter- received icico was ne to rc- n* troops, I the love einforce- lO would eek it in c it that set out y, forty filed the tnd cour- Ireatened |rectly to le neigh- lake of irew off lore ira- spaniola, ;o heavy imniuni- suppUea Lrait«nod the Mexicans that the rniporor gave orders to attack it. The natives attempted to hoard the vessels in canoes, but were repulsed with immense loss. They were more fortunate in repelling the direct attacks of the invaders. The natives defended themselves with the most desper- ate hravery. For more than a month by night and by day, by land and by water, one furious conflict succeed- ed another. Several of the Spaniards were slain, all were worn out by hardship and privation. Disconcerted at the obstina;y of the natives, Cortez resolve1j t-0>QUEST OF MEXICO. rvifjiMe, t\\r Tiidi.'iii cinpcror Iind onlcrcd lr if man rd, ki it le reads in story, entioncd ho knew jclgod no V n't lie or erer l^y ell serve es. All m * liis talents, .-ill l>is fortitude, nil his valor arc ni>ii(Hci«?iU to wipe oti? llie shnnie of the least of his artions. 'ru.'ii NVi to n l»nghter picture ; to the lir alhon and harhaiitin (Jiiaiiiiozin, who was all thai (.'ort< z wm^riot. A wise slalesman, a true (intriot, a skiifitl ficiicitil and a heroic Wivrrior. lie slew none unjustly, he rohhed none, he invad<'d none, he oppi < «sed none Called to the helm at a stormy crisis, he did noL shrank from it, or spare to oppose his nak< t I lie conquest of it. Pi/arro engaged to coi imand the •liinament, Ahnagro otfered to conduct the su;«plies and reinforcements, and liUcpie contributed his gold. The agreement was ratified by a solemn mass, and they en- tered into a contract to commit rapine and murder in the name of the Prince of Peace. Small .were the means with which this grei.t enter- \n'\7.v was undertaken. Pizarro set sail in a sn.all ves- sel, with only a hun(le(l to Tumbez, where the sickness of his troops coMipollod him to remain three months. In tiie mean while two reinforcements, amounting to- gether to ihirly men, under two leaders of great experiT 1 k % 86 CONQUEST OF PERU. ence and reputation, joined him from Nicaragua. With this accession of strength, he proceeded to the river Piura and there founded St. Michael, the first Spanish settlement in Peru. As he advanced toward the centre of the empire, he became better informed concerning its affairs. At this time the dominions of the Incas extend- ed fifteen hundred miles along the coast of the Pacific ; while its breadth was much less considerable. The sove- reigns, called Incas, were revered as persons of divine origin, and ruled with despotic sway. Their blood was deemed too pure to be mingled with that of any other race and others were treated with respect almost amount- ing to adoration. Nevertheless, they were of a gentle and benevolent disposition and ruled for the good of their subjects. At the first coming of the Spaniards, Huara Capoc sat upon the throne. He was distinguished no less for military talent than for the pacific virtues of his race. He had subdued the kingdom of Quito, by force of arms, resided in its capital, and contrary to the cus- toms of his country, married the daughter of the van quished monarch. Atahualpa, his son, succeeded to his throne and his authority ; soon to be despoiled of both by Pizarro. Nevertheless, his title was disputed by his elder broth- er Huascar, who solicited the aid of the Spaniards, to whom this civil broil gave a manifest advantage. Piz- arro left a small garrison in St. Michael, and marched against Atahualpa with sixty-two Mbrsemen and a hun- dred and two infantry, of whom twenty were armed with cross-bows and three with muskets. To an envoy of Atahualpa, who met him with a valuable present, and an offer of the Inca's friendship, he pretended that he came as an ambassador from a powerful monarch, tc offer the Peruvian prince aid against the enemies who disputed his title. These professions, probably, induc- ed the Peruvians to suffer the invaders to advance with- out molestation to Caxamalca ; where they took pos- session of a fort and intrenched themselves. Here too, the Inca sent them new presents, and renewed his prof- fers of friendship. Hi V CONQUEST OP PERU. 27 I. With he river Spanish e centre rning its s ext end- Pacific ; rhe sove- of divine lood was iny other : amount- a gentle d of their Is, Huara uished no ues of his , by force o' the cus- f the van 'ded to his of both cr broth- niards, to ge. Piz- marched nd a hun- rmcd v^'ith envoy of cscnt, and d that he Bonarch, tc mics who ly, induc- mce with- took pos- Here too, his prgf- In Caxamalca Pizarro tookpossession of a large court, on one side of which was a palace of the Inca, and on the other a temple of the god of the Peruvians, the Sun. The whole was surrounded by a strong rampart of earth. Thus posted, he despatched Hernando Soto and his brother Ferdinand to the Inca's camp. Their embassy brought on a visit from Atahualpa to the mes- sengers of his wicked invaders. It was an unhappy courtesy : the splendour of the Inca, and the riches dis- played by his attendants served greatly to inflame the worst passions of the ravenous thieves to whom he de- signed to do honor. From the moment when, on their return to Caxamalca, they related what they had seen, Pizarro resolved to gei possession of the person of the unhappy monarch. He availed himself of a promised visit from Atahual- pa to execute this treacherous design. He divided his cavalry into three squadrons, and formed his infantry in one body, excepting twenty picked men whom he kept about his own person. The artillery and the cross-bow men were stationed opposite the avenue by which the Inca was to approach. Early on that fatal, morning the Peruvian camp was in motion ; but as the Inca wished to appear in all his splendor, it was late in the day before he began his march. At last, he approached. First appeared four hundred men, and then the monarch, upon a throne adorned with plumes, and almost covered with plates of gold and silver and precious stones, carried on the shoulders of his attendants. Then came the principal officers of his court and several bands of singers and dancers, and the whole plain was covered with the Pe- ruvian troops, amounting to upwards of thirty thousand men. As the Inca drew nigh, the Spanish chaplain, Val- verde, stepped forward with a crucifix and a breviary, and explained to him, as well as he was able, the fall of Adam, the atonement of Christ and the right of the king of Castile to the New World. In consequence of all this, he desired Atahualpa to embrace Christianity, and to acknowledge the spiritual and temporal jurisdiction A .,.1 ... 2S CONQUEST OF PERU. 1: of the Pope and the king of Castile, promising him the protection of the Spanish Monarch if he compHed, and threatening him with war in case of a refusal. Of course, this strange harrangue was incomprehen- Bible to the Inca, but its arrogance he understood, and was indignant at it. He replied that his authority was his by inheritance, and that he could not conceive how a foreign priest could dispose of what did not belong to him. He had no inclination^ he said, to renounce the religion of his fathers in order to worship the god of the Spaniards who was subject to death ; and as to the oth- er particulars of the priest's discourse, he desired to know where he had learned such extraordinary things. *' In this book," said Valvcrde, offering him his brevi- ary. The Inca put it to his ear, and then threw it dis- dainfully on the ground. *' It is silent," said he ; " it tells me nothing." " To arms. Christians, to arms ! " cried the enraged priest. ** The word of God is insulted. Avenge the profanation on these impious dogs." Pizar- ro instantly gave the signal of assault. The music Btf uck up, the cannon and musketry began to play, and the horse and infantry charged the Peruvians sword in hand. The natives fled in the utmost consternation, 'without attempting either to annoy the enemy or to de- fend themselves, so much were they surprised and amaz- ed. .Pizarro, with his chosen band, i^de directly to- ward the Inca ; and notwithstanding the resistance of his nobles, who fell in heaps around him, made him a prisoner. Dire was the carnage then : it did not cease till the close of day. More than four thousand Peruvi- ans were slain ; but not a single Spaniard fell. The plunder was immense. At first the captive monarch could scarcely rejdfze the misery of his condition, but despair was not long in coming and he sunk into profound dejection. He had however, discovered the ruling passion of the Span- iards, the lust of gold. He attempted to bribe them. The apartment in which he was confined was twenty- two feet long and sixteen broad. He undertook to fill it as high as he could reach with vessels of gold, as a ran- som. Pizarro eagerly accepted this tempting proposal. CONQUEST or PERU. m him the led, and iprehen- )od, and rity was ive how elong to mce the 3d of the > the oth- jsired to f things. • lis brevi- 3W it dis- he ; " it ) arms !" insulted. " Pizar- le music play, and sword in crnation, or to de- nd amaz- [rectly to- tance of [le him a lot cease Peruvi- an. The |y reah'ze )t long in 1. He [he Span- Ihe them. twenty- ^ok to till las a ran- )roposal. it. The Inca's subjects obeyed his orders with the utmost alacrity. The gold was obtained and shared, and each individual Spaniard was rich. The Inca having fulfilled his part of the agreement, insisted on having his free- dom ; but nothing was farther from the thoughts of Piz- arro. The followers of Almagro insisted upon putting the captive king to death, and the tidings of Peruvian armies assembling in the borders of the empire aroused his fears and suspicions, and rendered him more willing to comply with their wishes. Atahualpa inadvertently contributed to hasten his own fate. He justly admired the arts of reading and writing, and long deliberated with himself whether it was a natural or an acquired ability. To solve this doubt, he desired one of the Spanish soldiers to write the name of God on his thumb nail. This he shewed to several Spaniards, and, to his amazement, they all returned the same answer, without hesitation. When he shewed it to. Pizarro, however, the marauding leader was obliged, with blushes and confusion, to acknowledge his ignorance. From that moment Atahualpa despised him, and could not conceal his contempt. This scorn stung Pizarro to the quick, and the Inca's fate was sealed. * But to give his abominable proceedings the colour of justice, Pizarro determined to li*y the Inca with all the formalities of the courts of Spain. He himself and Al- niagro, with two assistants, were the judges. Before this unrighteous tribunal the unhappy Inca was charg- ed with being a bastard and an idolater, with having usurped the regal power, with having commanded human sacrifices, with having many concubines, with having embezzled the royal treasures, and with having incited his subjects to take up arms against the Spaniards. On these absurd charges the Court found the Inca guilty, and sentenced him to be burned alive. His tears and entreaties were alike unavailing ; pity never touched the heart of Pizarro. He ordered the prince to imme- diate execution, and what added to the bitterness of his last moments, Valvcrde offered to console and to con- vert him. The most powerful argument he could ad- vance, however, was a mitigation of punishment ; but .» i 30 CONQUEST OP PERU. that was cfiectual. The unhappy monarch consented to receive Cliristian haptism, and instead of heing hurn- ed, was stran^hul at the stake. On tlie death of Atalnuilpa, Pizarro invested one of his sons with the ensi«]fns of royahy. The? pf duito, was de- of that Iraversing Iwas con- Ifthe Pe- led every |ps— only had now had car- feru was isro had )ver two rond the southern hniits of the province allotfed to Pizarro. Ho now protend(Ml that Cuzco, tlie residence of the Incas, was within his l)oundaries, and attiunpted to heconio uh-istcr of it. Juan and Gonzalo Pizarro opposed liim. Tiie ilispute was al)out to b(; (U;ci hshinent agreeable to his wishes in tliat province, a suit- able provision was to be made for him in Peru on his return. The history of the conquest of that unhappy enii)ire is now complete — Init p(;rhaps a brief account of the fate of its ruthless inviiders may not be unaccept-» able to the reader. • The hardy natives of Chili resisted Aimagro success- fully, and besides, many of his followers perished of the fatigues of the march. In the meanwhile new swjirms of Spaniards poured into Peru, and in full confidence of security, scattered tlniinselves over the empire. A small force only remained in Cuzco, under Juan and Gonza-* lez Pizarro and their brother, which the Inca observing, conceived that the time for vengeance was come. Ho set up the banner of war, and all Peru was instantly in arms. Many Spanish settlers were massacred, and ^ev- er.ll detachments were cut off. Two hundred thousand Indians invested Cuzco, which was feebly defended by its garrison, during nine months. Another army attack-, ed Lima, and the extinction of the Spanish name in Peru seemed at hand. While these things were going on, and just after Juan Pizarro had been slain, Aima- gro suddenly returned from Chili and entered into ne- gociations with both parties. These were interrupted by a sudden attack made on him by the Inca, who wa.s however defeated, and Aimagro reached the gates of f Cuzco, Vt'hich he entered by surprize, seized the two Pizarros and established his jurisdiction. Shortly after the Pizarro party again made head against him, and were defeated. Had he now put his enemies to death, as he was advised to do, the contest would have been ended, but this he had not the heart to do, and gave Francis Pizarro time to raise forces anew. 32 CONQUEST OP PERU. He was also weak enough again to enter into llt%6tia- tions with this arch enemy. While these were in pro- cess one of the brother prisoners managed to corrupt sixty of his guards and made his escape with them. .The other was soon after set at liberty by Almagro, and as soon as this was done, Francig Pizarro threw off all dis- guise. Treaties were held in scorn and Pizarro march- ed upon Cuzco with seven hundred men. Battle was joined. Almagro, being at the time sick, was obliged to depute the command to a subordinate officer, and de- feat was the consequence. A large proportion of Al- magro's followers were butchered in cold blood, when the battle was over. The chief himself was taken, and rigorously guarded. Cuzco itself was sacked. Almagro remaining several months in close custody, his spirit was at last broken. When a sentence of death was pronounced upon him, he had recourse to the most abject entreaties to save himself. He reminded the Pizarros of their former friendship, of his having spared their lives under great provocation, and conjured them to spare his age and infirmity. All was unavtiiling — he was strangled in prison, a fate he well deserved for his outrages upon Peru, but not at the hands of the Pi- zarros. He left a natural son, by an Indian woman. The first intelligence of these transactions was carri- ed to Spain by some of Almagro's officers, and created a strong sensation, which Francis Pizarro, who shortly followed them, could not remove. It was determined to send a person to Peru, who should settle the distract- ed state of affairs, and the royal choice fell upon Chris- toval Vaca dc Castro, an eminent, learned and wise civilian. If he found Pizarro alive, he was to leave him in possession of his office of governor, taking on himself that of judge; if dead, he was to be his successor. Be- fore he arrived liowcver, the governor had parcelled out the empire among his followers, with small regard to the claims of the adherents of Almagro, who, therefore, med- itated revenge. They gathered at Lima, under the au- spices of the young Almagro, and cons})ired against the governor's life. Pizarro gave little heed to their cabals. " As long as every man in Peru knows that his life is CONQUKST or PERU. 3^1 e in pro- ) corrupt em.. The ), and as ff all dis- •o march- lattlc was IS obliged r, and dc- on of Al- >od, when taken, and I. le custody, ce of death o the most ninded the nng spared jured them vailing — he ved for his of the Pi- woman, was carri- ed created ;ho shortly determined lie distract- ipon Chris- ll and wise o leave him on himself 'ssor. Be- [irccllcd out aard to the cforc, mcd- idcr the au- aijainst the Ihcir cabals. Lt his life is entirely in my power," said ho, " my hfc is in no dan- ger." He was n^istakcn. At noon-dfiy, on the 2Gth of June, nineteen of tlie most determined conspirators sal- lied out of Almagro's house in complete armour shout- ing " Long live the king, and lot the tyrant die !" They gained Pizarro's palace without being observed, and were mounting the stairs leading to his apartment before the alarm was given. But no danger could appal the savage governor. He called for arms and commanded an otHcer in attendance to make fast the door. Instead of doing this, the bewildered functionary ran out and asked the conspirators where they were going. They stabhed him to the heart and burst in. Some of those [)rescnt sprang from the windows, others attempted to fly, and a few drew their swords and followed Pizarro into another apartment. The governor himself defend- ed the entrance with his sword and target and fought with the utmost desperation, but in vain. His defend- ers fell one after another, and after having fought till he was so weary that he could scarce wield his sword, Pizarro shared their fate. The assassins then ran into the street, ami waving their bloody weapons, proclaimed his death. Two hundred of their associates conducted Almagro in solemn procession through the streets and compelled the magistrates to acknowledge him as gov- ernor. The palace of Pizarro and the houses of his adherents were pillaged. Such was the death of the conqueror of Peru, 9 man in whose character the most partial eye can discern no one good quality, unless the most savage ferocity be so considered, and whose leading points were lust of blood, gold and ambition. The history of the world, probably, cannot shew a man so utterly wicked and detestable, not even Hernando Cortez, who had at least religious fanaticism to palliate his atrocities. As he lived so he died, a meuionto of depravity to the very last. Of the inferior actors in tliis bloody drama few words need be said. In a long series of rebellions and tur- moils, which merit as little attention, but for their re- sults, as tlie quarrels of wolves, they perished. Almagro Ibll in hultlc aoalnst Vaca de Castro. Gonzalo Piz-r *o^ ai Till: NATC'IIES. I nrro, bcinp in likrwiso dofrnlod cunl taken in the net of open reboiiion l)v (iascn, tin; royal governor who suc- cccdod to tho autixnity of Dt; ('aHtro, diod by \hv, band of tbo cxoculioiHT, to«j;<'tb«M* witli Ills principal followers. These eo- workers in inid, and the rightful lords of the soil, the feeble bodied and inindcd aborigines of Peru, hav(^ ever since j^roaned under tbo yoke of the stranj^er, as they probabjy will do for cen- turies to conic. TIIK NATCIIES. LiTTE is known of this interest im/r people. In the onrly part of (he eijj[hteenth century tlunr principal set- tb*rnent was nt'ar Natches on the Mississippi, (hen a French military post, and connnanded by i>ionsieur do Chopart. Their chief was called the Cilrand Sun. His broth'er, called ihe Stnnjjj Serpent, was a famous war- rior, and both were very friendly disposed toward tho whites till the cruel injusiico anti oppr<'ssiou of l)e Chopart forced the tribe into a war. Tiio affair hap- pened in 1729. The French conunander had determined to build a village, and no spol appeared to him so fit for his pur- pose, as the principal seat of the Natches, called by them White Apj)le, which he j)eremptorily required them to vacate. (» rand Sun answered that 4t was their inheri- tance, and he therefore thouj^ht it but reasonable that they sliould still retain it. The fiery Frenchman assur- ed him that, unless he complied, he should have cause for repentance; upon wiiich the chief retired, saying that he would take the advice of his counsellors. The council resolved to lay before De Chopart a rep- resentation of the hardship of the case, should they lose the harvests on which they mainly relied for sub- sistence. Vehemeiu abuse and a reiterated conuiiand to depart instantly was the answer they received. The Natches, justly indigiunit at such treatment, then enter- ed into a conspiracy to destroy their invaders and to THE NATCIIES. tcmporizo in order to frn'in liruc. To this end tlicy of- frrod to |)iiy Irilnito to liu; (■oiiiinniidant, on condition (hat lie would siilU;r ihoni toTcniain till tlioy could leath- er their harvest, which oiler was readily accepted. In the mean while, messages were sent to the Huns, or chiefs of the otjier hranclu's of thetrihe, inviting them to assist in the massacre of the l*'rench, and appointing a day. Acconlin^ly, the slau^hmr took jilace and the Fr(»nch p(;rishent to atlaeli them. However, troops werc^ sent over from I'Vanco nnd they were invested i:i their fort. In two desi)erate fiaUics which tliey made, tliey W(>re si«j;nal!y repulsed and moat of them ahiin. 'V\w, b'rencli tlien opened a mortar battery upon them.. Tiie third sliell tire tlioir settled llivcr, iM'arly sittacU I'Vmuc spcrato sj'd arul ^ mortar ilinsj; ii» »rnation oy were •oko out known ' iiul v\\\\- iiitalions Donnn- i b(»camc but ono hat our naUrcat- Vroncli- atives on slav(^ry, icrs have c. that they anced in rhey luul and gov- Impended n this is LANDIXCi OF OIIIl FOR RFA TTniRS. It is a singular fact, that a scarcli lor ^M)I(I was one if 'iotth<; chici'of th(! nioiivcs of all liu! early advcnlurers who persued carreer of discovery in both North and South America, with almost the o\i\y exception of the pilgrims, as tiny an^ called. We have it on rtM'ord that the precious metal was supposed to exist on the ic<'-hound shore of Davis' Straits, and that a cargo of yellow san .,.'&jt t V 1 i 'i '^^'■- CHAP. I. COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES f WITH THE NATIVES. There was a tribe of Indiana, inhabiting the borders of Connecticut river from its nioutli to witiiin a few nriilcs of Hartford, called Pequots, fierce, cruel and J warlike, and the inveterate enemies of the whites ; I -' never failing to improve every opportunity to exercise toward thenn the most wanton acts of barbarity. In June, 1631i, they treacherously murdered Capt. Stone and Capt. Norton, who had been long in the habit of visiting tljiem occasionally to trade. In August, 1G35, they inhumanly murdered a Mr. Weeks and his whole family, consisting of a wife, and six children, and soon after murdered the wife and children of a Mr. Williams, residing near Hartford. Finding, however, that, by their unprovoked acts of barbarity, they had enkindled the resentment of the English, who, aroused to a sense of their danger, were making preparations to extermi- nate this cruel tribe, the Pequots despatched messengers with gifts to the governor of the colonies, the Hoii. Josiah Winslow. He being, however, indexible in his determination to revenge the death of his friends, dis- missed these messengers without any answer. The Pequots, finding the English resolute and determined, and fearing the consequences of their resentment, the second time despatched messengers with a large quan- tity of wampum as a present to the governor and coun- cil ; with whom the latter had a considerable conference, and at length concluded a peace on the following terms : m ARTICLES. I. The Pequots shall deliver up to- the English those of their tribe guilty of the deaths of their coim- tfymen. 48 INDIAN WARS. I; II II. The Pcquots shall relinquish to the English all their right 4ind title to lands lying within the colony of Connecticut. III. The English, if disposed to trade with the Pcquots, shall bo treated as friends. To these articles the Pequots readily agreed, and promised fathfully to adhere, and at the same time expressed u desire to make peace with the Narragansett Indians, with whom they were then at war. Soon after the conclusion of peace with the Pequots, the EnglisJi, to put tluiir fair promises to the test, sent a small boat into the river, on the borders of which they resided, with the pretence of trade ; but so great was the treachery of the. natives, that, Jifter succeeding by fair promises in enticing the crew of the boat on shore, they were inliumaniy murdered. The Pcqiiols, despairing of again deceiving the Eng- lish in the niGniior they had lately done, now threw off the mask of friendship, and avowing themselves the natural enemies of the English, commenced open hostilities, and barbarously murdering all that were so unfortunate as to fall into their hands. A few families were at this time settled at or near Weathersfield, Ct. the whole of whom were carried away captives. Two girls, daugh- ters of Mr. Gibbons of Hartford, were in the most brutal manner put to death. After gashing their tiesli with their knives, the Indians filled their wounds vvi;h hot embers, in the mean time mimickini? their dviuf, groans. The Pcquots, encouraged by the trifling resistance made by the English to their wanton acts of barbarity, on the 20th of June, IG.%, besieged fort Saybrook, in which there were about twenty men stationed. The Indians numbered about one hundred and fifty. They surrounded and furiously attacked the fort at mid- night, yelling and mimicking the dying groans of such as had fallen victims to their barbarity ; but the Eng- lish, being fortunately provided with a piece or two of cannon, caused their savage enemies to groan in reality, who, after receiving two or tlirce deadly firc'v INDIAN WAIS. 40 from the besieged, retreated, leaving behind them dead, or mortally wounded, about twenty of their number, The English sustained no loss in the attpck. The governor and council of Massachusetts colony alarmed at the bold and daring conduct of the Pequots, on the 20th of August despatched Capt. Endicot of Sa- lem, with ninety men to avenge these murders, unless they should consent to peliver up the murderers, and make reparation for the injuries the English had sustain- ed. Capt. Endicot was directed to proceed first to Block Island, then inhabited by the Pequots, put the men to the sword and take possession of the island. The wo- men and children to be spared. Thence he was to pro- ceed to the Pequot coimlry, demand the murderers of the English^ a thousand fathom of wampum, and a num- ber of their children as hostages. Capt. Endicot sailed from Boston on the morning o,f the 20th, When he arrived at Block Island, about six- ty Indians appeared on the shore and opposed his land- ing. His men soon however effected a landing, and af- ter a little skirmishing drove the Indians into the wood, where they could not be found. The English continued two or three days on the isl- and, in which time they destroyed 100 wigwams, and a- bout fifty canoes, when they proceeded to the Pequot country. When they arrived in Pequot harbor, Capt. Endicot acquainted the enemy with his designs and de- termination to avenge the cruelties practiced upon his countrymen. In a few moments nearly 500 of the ene- my collected on the shores ; but as soon as they were made acquainted with the hostile views of the English, they hastily withdrew, and secreted themselves in the swamps and ledges inaccessible to the troo'ps. Capt. En- dicot landed his men on both sides the harbpr, burnt their wigwams and destroyed their canoes, killed an In- dian or two, and returned to Boston. Enough indeed had been done to exasperate, but nothing to subdue a warlike enemy. Sasacus, chief of the Pequots, and his captains, were menof great and independent spirits ; they had conquer- ed and go verned the nations around them without con- 7 50 INDIAN WARS. trol ; they viewed the English os strangers and mere in- *trudcrs, who had no right to the country, nor to control its original proprietors ; as independent princes and sover- eigns, they had made settlements in Connecticut without their consent, and brought home the Indian kings whom they had conquered, and restored them their authority and lands. They had built a fort and were making a settlement without their approbation, in their very neigh- borhood. Indeed they had now proceeded to attack and ravage the country. The Pequots in consequence breathed nothing but war and ravcnge : they were de- termined to extirpate or drive all the English from New- England. For this purpose they conceived the plan of uniting the Indians generally against them ; they spared no art nor pains to make peace with the Narragansets, and to engage them in the war against the English, to whom they represented that they were bad men, and the natural enemies of the natives, and who also were for- eigners, overspreading the country, and depriving the ori- ginal inhabitants of their ancient rights and possessions ; that unless effectual means were immediately provided to prevent it, they "vyould soon disposess the original pro- prietors, and become the lords of the continent. They insisted that by a general combination they could either detsroy or drive them from the country ; that there would be no necessity to come to open battle ; that by killing their cattle, firing their houses, laying ambushes on their roads, in their fields, and wherever they could surprise and destroy them, they might accomplifeih their ol ject : they represented that if the English should effect the de- struction of the Pequots, they would soon destroy the Narragansets. So just and politic .were these represen- tations, that nothing but that thirst for revenge, which inflames the savage heart, could have resisted their in- fluence ; indeed it is said that for some time the Narra- gansets hesitated. The governor of the colonies, to prevent an union be- tween these savage nations, and to strengthen the peace between the Narraganset indians an the colonies, des- pp.tched a messenger to invite Miantinomi, their chief lacbexn. to Boston. The invitation was accepted, and INDIAN WAUS 51 while nt Boston with the governor nnd council, he enter- ed into a treaty, the srbstanee of wlncii was iis follows : That there should be a firm peace maintained between the English and Nurragansets ; and that the latter should not harbor the enemies of the English, but de- liver up to tht^m such fugitives as should resort to thein for safety. The English wore to give them notice y/heci they went out against the Pcquots, and the Narragan- sets were to furnish them with guides. In February 16i}7, the English in Connecticut colo- ny, represented to the governor their desire to prosecute more effectually the war with the Pequots, who yet con- tinued to exercise towards them the most wanton acts of barbarity. They represented that on the 10th January a boat containing three of their countrymen was attack- ed by the enemy when proceeding down the river. That the English for some time bravely defended themselves, but were overpowered by numbers. That the Indians, when they had succeeded in capturing the boats crew, ripped them up from the bottom of their bellies to their throats, and in like manner split them down their backs, and thus mangled hung them upon the trees by the river side. "^ ley represented that the affairs of Connecticut colony at this moment wore a most gloomy aspect ; that they IjuJ sustained great losses in cuttle and goods the preceding year, but were still more unfortunate the pre- sent ; that they could neither hunt, fish or cultivate their fields, nor travel at home or abroad, but at the .peril of their lives ; that they weie obliged to keep a constant watch by night and day ; to go armed to their daily la- bors and to the houses of public worship. And although desirous to prosecute the war more effectually with the common enemy, they were not in a situation to do it, and therefore humbly prayed for assistance. . ' The report of the horrid and unprovoked cruelties of the Pequots, practised upon the defenceless inhabitants of Connecticut colony, roused the other colonies to the most spirited exertions. Massachusetts determined to send 200 and Plymouth forty men to assist their unfor- tunate brethren in prosecuting the war. Capt. Patrick with forty men was sent before the other troops iu order ^-1 62 INDIAN WARS. that he might be enabled seasonably to form a junction with those in Connecticut, who notwithstanding their weak and distressed state, engaged to furnish 90 men. On Wednesday the 10th of May, the Connecticut troops proceeded to fort Saybrook. These consisted of ninety Englishmen and seventy Mohegans and river In* dians, the latter commanded by Uncas, sachem of the Mohegans, and the former by Capt. John Mason who was accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Stone of Hartford, as chaplain. The Mohegans being detached from the En- glish, on their way to Saybrook, fell in with a consider- able body of the enemy, whom they defeated. They kil- led twenty-two and took eighteen of them prisoners. Among the prisoners there was one who was recogni- zed as a perfidious villain ; he had lived in the fort some time before, and well understood their language ; he re- mained attached to their interest until the commencement of hostilities with the Peqiiots, when he deserted from the fort and joined the enemy, whom he served as a guide and through whose instigation many of the English had been captured and put to death. Uncas and his men in- sisted upon executing him according to the custom of their ancestors, and the English in the circumstances in which they were, did not judge it prudent to interfere. The Indians enkindled a fire, near which they confined the prisoner to a Stake, in which situation he remained un> til his skin became parched with the heat. The Mohegans then violently tore him limb from limb, barbarously cut- ting his flesh in pieces, they handed it round from one to another, ;v.ting it while they sung and danced round the fire in a manner peculiar to savages. The bones and such parts of the unfortunate captive as were not consu- med in this dreadful repast, were committed to the flames and consumed to ashes. On the 19th> Capt. Mason and his men proceeded to Narraganset Bay, where they safely arrived on the2l3t. He marched immediately to the plantation of Canonicus, a Narraganset sachem, and acquainted him with his de- signs, despatching a messenger to Miantinomi, to inform him likewise of their expedition. The next day Mian- tinomi, with his chief counsellors, met the English. / i INDIAN WARS. 63 e I Capt. Mason informed him that the cause of his enter- ing his country with on armed force was to revenge the injuries which the Pcquots had done to the English,and desired a free passage to their forts, which they intend- ed to attack. After a solemn consultation, in the Indian nianner, Miantinomi observed, ' that he highly approved of the expedition and would send men to assist the Eng- lish, but that they were too few in number to fight the enemy ; that the Pequots were great warriors and rath- er slighted the English.'' Capt. Mason landed his men and marched to the plan- tation of Miantinomi, which by previous agreement, WiEis to be the place of general rendezvous. In the evening an Indian runner arrived with information that Capt. Patrick, with the men under his command, had nrrived at the plantation of Roger Williams, in Providence, and was desirous that Capt. Mason should postpone his march until such time as he could join him. Capt. Mason after mature deliberation, determined however not to wait his arrival, although a junction was considered important. His men had been detained much longer than Was agree- able to their wishes, and the Mohegans apparently were impatient for battle. The little army, therefore, consis- ting of ninety Englishmen, sixty Mohegan and river In- dians, and about two hundred N^arragansets, comenccd their march on the 24th, and in the evening of that day reached Nihantick, which bounded on the country of the Pequots. Nihantick was the seat of a Narraganset sa- chem, who seemed displeased with the expedition, and would not suffer the English to enter his fort. Capt. Mason suspecting the treachery of this fellow, placed a sentinel at night at the entrance of the fort, determined that as he could not be permitted to enter, no one should come out to advise the enemy of his approach. On the morning of the 25lh, Capt. Mason was joined by an additional number of Narragansets and a few Ni- hanticks. They formed a circle and brandished their scalping knives, made protestations how gallantly they would fight, and what numbers they would kill. Capt. Mason had now under his command near five hundred Indians, in addition to his former force, with whom he 3 54 INDIAN WARS. early resumed his march for the head-quarters of his enemy. The day proved uncommonlj warm, and the men, through excessive heat and want of provisions, were only enabled by night to reach Paucatuck river ; where the Narragansets began to manifest great fear, and to en- quire of Capt. Mason his real design. He assured them it was to attack the Pequots in their fort. At which they appeared greatly surprised, and exhibited a dispo- sition to quit the English and return home. Wequash, a Pequot sachem who had revolted from Sasacus, was the principal guide of the English* and he proved faithful. He gave such information respecting the distance of the forts of the enemy from each other, and the distance they were then from that of the chief sachem's, as induced Capt. Mason to determine to attack the latter, which his guide represented as situated at the head of Mistick river. He found his men so much fa- tigued by their march through a pathless wilderness, with their provision, arms and amiinition, that his resolution appeared absolutely necessary. The little army accord- ingly, on the morning of the 26th, proceeded directly for Mistick, and at sun-down penetrated a thick swamp, and imagining that they could not be far distant from the fort, they pitched their little camp, between two large ro«ks, now known by the name of Porter's Rocks, situated in Groton. The sentinels, who were con- sideraWy advanced in front of the main body of the English, distinctly heard the enemy singing and dancing through the night at their fort. The important day was approaching when the exist- ence of Connecticut was to be determined by the sword, in a single action ; and to be decided by the valor of less than a hundred brave men. About two hours before day the men were aroused from their slumbers by their offi- cers, and after commending themselves and .their cause to the Almighty, proceeded with all possible despatch for the enemy's fort. When within a few rods of it, Capt. Mason sent for Uncas and Wequash, desiring them in their Indian manner to har/angue and prepare their men for combat. They repliea, that their men were much afraid, and could not be prevailed on to advance any far- INDIAN WARS. 65 r men much ly far- ther. Go then, said Capt. Mason, and request thiem not to retire, but to surround the fort at any distance they please, and see what courage Englishmen can displ:iy ! The day was now dawning and no time was to be lost. The fort was soon inview ; the soldiers pressed forward, animated by the reflection that it was not for tliemse'ves alone that they were to fight, but for their pai-ents, wives, children and countrymen ! as they approached the fort within a short distance, they wer« discovered by a Pt- quot sentinel, who roared out Ovvanux ! Ovvanuii ! (Englishmen, Englishmen.) The troops pressed on, and as the Indians were rallying poured in upon them the con- tents of their muskets, and instantly hastened to the prin- cipal entrance of the fort rushed in sword in hand. An important moment this ; for notwithstanding the blaze and thunder of the fire-arms, the Pequots made a power- ful resistance. Sheltered by their wigwams, and rallied by their sachems and squaws, they defended themselves, and in some instances attacked the English with a reso- lution that would have done honor to the Romans. After a bloody and desperate conflict of near two hours, in which hundreds of the Indians were slain, and many of the English killed and wounded, victory still hung in suspense. In this critical state of the action Capt. Ma- son had recourse to a successful expedient. Rushing in- to a wigwam within the fort, he seized a brand of fire, in the mean time crying out to his men, We must burn them ! communicated it to the mats with which the wig- wams were covered, by which means the whole fort was soon wrapt in flames. As the fire increased, the Eng- lish retired and formed a circle round the fort. The Mohegans and Narragansets, who remained idle specta- tors to the bloody carnage, mustered courage sufficient to form another circle in the rear of them. The enemy were now in a deplorable situation. Death inevitably was their portion. Sallying forth from their burning cells were shot or cut in pieces by the English ; many, per- ceiving it impossible tb escape the vigilance of the troops, threw themselves voluntarily into the flames. The violence qf the flames, the reflection of the light, the clashing and roar of arms, the «hriek8 and yells of 56 INDIAN WARS. the savages in the fort, and the shouting of the friendly Indians without, produced an awful srene. In 'ass than two hours from the commencement of the bloody action, the English completed their work. Eighty wigwams were burnt, and upwards of eight hundred Indians de- stroyed. Parents and children, the sanup and squaw, the aged and the young perished in promiscuous, ruin ! The loss of the English was comparatively small, not ex- ceeding twenty-five killed and wounded. After the termination of this severe engagement, as the English were proceeding to embark on board their vessels, which fortunately for them at this moment arri- ved in the harbor, they were attacked in the rear by a- bout three hundred of the enemy, who had been despatch- ed from a neighboring fort to assist their brethren. The English gave them so warm a reception, that they soon gave way and fell back to the field of action ; where viewing for a few moments, with apparent marks of sur- prise and horror, the shocking scene which it presented, they stamped, bellowed, and with savage rage tore their hair from their heatis ; and then with a hideous yell pur- sued the English, as if with determination to avenge the deaths of their friends, even at the expense of their lives. They pursued them nearly six miles, sometimes shooting at a distance from behind the rocks and trees, and some- times pressed hard upon them, hazarding themselves in open field. The English killed numbers of them, but sustained no loss on their part. When a Pequot fell the Mohegans would cry out, run and fetch "his head. The enemy finding at length that they discharged arrows in vain, and that the English ; speared to be well stocked with ammunition, gave ovei the pursuit. In less than three weeks from the time the English embarked at Saybrook, they returned, with the exception of the few killed and wounded, in safety to their respec- tive habitations. Few enterprizes were ever perhaps a- chieved with more personal bravery ; in few have so great a proportion of the effective men of a whole colony, or nation, been put to so great and immediate danger ; in few have a people been so deeply and immediately inter* ested, as wer^ the £nglish inhabitants of Connecticut at I r tNDIAN WARS. 67 I this important crisis. In these respects, even the great armaments and battles of Europe are comparatively of little importance ; and if. ought never to be forgotten, that through the bravery and unconquerable resolution of less than one hundred men, Connecticut was once saved, and the most warlike tribe of Indians in New England completely exterminated. The few Pequots who now remained alive conceiving it unsafe to inhabit a country so exposed to invasion, re< moved far to the westward, among whom was Sasacus, their principal sachem. On the 25th June the Connec- ticut troops, under Capt. Mason, together with- a compa- ny from Massachusetts, commanded by Capt. Stoughton, were sent in pursuit of them. They proceeded westward and on the 27th fell in with and defeated a considerable body ;* and took about fifty of them prisoners, among whom were two sachems, whose lives were offered them on condition of their serving as guides. The English on their march frequently fell in with small detached parties of the enemy, whom they captur- ed or destroyed ; but could not obtain any information relative to the main body commanded by Sasacus. Find- ing that the two sachem prisoners would not give them the information required, on the 29th beheaded them at a place called Menunkatuck, (now Guilford,) from which circumstance the place still bears the name oflBachem's Head. The English on the 30th arrived at Quinnipaik, (now New-Haven,) where they were informed by a friend* ly Pequot, that the enemy were encamped in a swamp, a few miles to the westward. The troops pushed forward, and on the succeeding day arrived at the border of the swamp, where they found a thicket so extremely boggy as to render it inaccessible to any one bu« the natives. The English therefore thougbt it most advisable to sur- round the swamp and annoy tlie enemy as opportunity presented. The Indians after a few skirmishes, request- ed a parley, which being granted, Thomas Stanton, in- terpreter to the English, was sent to treat with the.^. He was authorised to offer life to such as had not shed the blood of the English. Upon which the Sachem of the place, together witii about three hundred of his tribe, 58 INDIAN WAKS. » K" came out and producing'; satisfactory proof of their iiino- censc, were permitted to retire ; but the Pequots boldly declared, that they had both shed and drank the blood of Englishmen, and would not upon such terms accept of life, but would fight it out. The English unwilling to brook the threats and insulting language of the Pequots, attempted to devise means of attacking the whole body of them without further delay. The officers were, how- ever, divided in opinion as to the mode. Some were for setting fire to the swamp ; others for cutting their way through with hatchets : and others for surrounding it with a palisado. Neither of which plans were, however, a- dopted. As night approached, the English cut through a part of the swamp, by which means its circutnference was considerably lessened, and they enabled so complete- ly to surround the enemy as to prevent their escaping during the night. Early the ensuing morning, the In- dians perceiving themselves completely hemmed' in by the English, made a violent attempt to break through their lines : they were however driven back with great loss. They next attempted to force the line formed by the Connectiout troops, but here they met with a much warmer reception. The contest now became close and severe. The Indians, who were abont six hundred in number, appeared determined not to yield but at the ex- pense oCiheir lives. One of the most resolute of them walked bdldly up to Capt. Mason with an uplifted toma- hawk, and when about to give the fatal stroke received a blow from the cutlass of the latter, which severed the head of the savage from his body. The enemy soon af- ter made another attempt to break through the lines of the English, in which after a violent struggle they final- ly succeeded. About sixty of their bravest warriors es- caped ; the remainder were killed or taken prisoners. The loss of the English was eleven killed and twenty wounded. The prisoners taken were divided among the troops, some of whom were retained by them as serva. ts, and the remainder were sent to the West-Indies and sold ' j planters. The prisoners reported that the who; ^ i:*be of Pequots was now nearly txterminated ; that ih iiffer- INDIAN WARS- 69 *r. ent engagements there had been upwards of 2000 of them killed, and 1000 captured, among whom were thirteen sachems ; and that six yet survived, of whom one was Sasacus, who had fled with a fragment of his tribe, to a country bordering on the Hudson river, inhabited by the Mohawks. Atier the swamp fight the Pequots became so weak and scattered, that the Mohegans and Narragansets daily de- stroyed them, and presented their scalps to the English. The few that fled with Sasacus to the westward were totally destroyed by the Mohawks. The scalp of Sasa- cus was in the fall of 16J8 presented to the governor and council of Massachusetts. Soon after the extermination of the Pequots, the Nar- rsgansets, the most numerous tribe in New England, be- ing displeased with the small power with which they were vested, and the respect which the English uniform- ly manifested for Uncas, appeared disposed to break their treaty of friendship. Miantinomi, without consulting the English according to agreement, without proclaim- ing" war, or giving Uncas the least information, raised an army of lOOO men and marched against him. The spies of Uncas discovered the army at some .distance and gave him intelligence. H was unprepared, but rallying a- bout five hundred of his bravest men, he told them they must by no means suffer Miantinomi to enter their town, but must go and give him battle on his way. The Mo- hegans having marched three or four miles, met the en- my upon an extensive plain. When the arrriss had ad- vanced within fair bow-shot of each other, Uncas had recourse to stratagem, with which he had previously ac- quainted his warriors. He desired a parley, which being granted, both armies halted in the face of each other. Uncas gallantly advancing in front of his menf addressed Miantinomi to this effect : ' You have a number of stout men with you, so have I with me. It is a great pity that so many brave warriors should be killed in consequence of a misunderstanding between us two. Come like a brave man as you profess to be, and let us decide the dis- pute alone. If you kill mc, my men shall be yours ; but- if I kill you, your men shall be mine,' No, (replied Mian- iSO INDIAN WARS. tinomi,) my men came to fight, and they shall fight.'— Upon which Un(^as falling instantly to the ground, his men discharged a shower of arrows, and rushing upon them in the most furious manner, with a hidious yell, put them lO flight. The Mohegdns pursued the enemy with the sanje fury and eagerness with which they commenced the action. The Narragansets were driven down rocks and precipi-^ ces and chased like a doc by the huntsman. Many of them, to escape from their pursuers, plunged into a river f'rom rocks of near sixty feet in height. Among others Miantinomi was hard pushed ; some of the most forward of the Mohegans coming up with him, twirled him about and so impeded his flight, that Uncas, their sachem, might tilone have the honor of taking him. Uncus was a man of great, bodily strength, he rushed forward like a lion greedy of his prey, seized Miantinomi by the shoulder, and giving the Indian whoop, called up his men who were behind to his assistance. The victory was complete. About fifty of the Narragansets were killed, and a much greater number wounded and taken prisoners. Among the latter was a brother of Miantinomi, and two of the sonsof Canonicus, whom Uncas conducted in triumph to Mohegan. A few days after, Uncas conducted Mianti- nomi back to the spot where he was taken, for the pur- pose of putting him to death. . At the instant they arri- ved on the ground, an Indian who was ordcrcu to march in the rear for the purpose, sunk a hatchgt in his head find despatched him at a single stroke ; he was probably unacquainted with his fate, nor knew by what means he fell. Ucas cut out a large piece of his shoulder, which he devoured with savage triumph, declaring in the mean time, that it was the sweetest meat he ever eat, it made his heart strong. The Mohegans buried Miantinomi jit the place of his execution, and erected upon his grave a pillar of stones. This memorable event gave the place the name of Sachem's Plains, which are situated in the eastern corner of Norwich* The Narragansets became greatly enraged at the death of their sachem, and sought means to destroy Uncas, whose country they in small parties frequently invaded, INDIAN WARg. ei and by laying in ambush, cut off a. number of his mnst valuable warriors. As Uncas was the avowed friend of the English, and had in many instances signalized himself as such, they conceived it their duty to afford him all the protection possible. They dispatched messengers to ac- quaint the Narraganscts with their determination, should they continue to molest and disturb the repose of the Mo- hegans. The messengers of the English met with quite an unfavorable reception ; to whom one of the Narra- ganset sachems declaied, that he would kill every Eng- lishman or Mohegan that came within his reach ; that whoever began the war, he would continue it ; and that nothing should satisfy him but the head of Uncas. The English, irritated at the provoking language of the Narraganscts, now de* ^rmined not only to protect Uncas, but to invade their country with an army of three hundred men ; first to propose a peace on their own terms, but if rejected, to attack and destroy them. For this purpose Massachusetts was to furnish one hundred and ninety, and Plymouth and Connecticut fifty-five men each. The Narraganscts, learning that an army was about to enter the heart of their countrv, and fearful of the con- sequences, dispatched several of their raenj^o sue for peace on such terms as the English should be pleased to grant. The governor and council demanded that they ghould re- store to Uncas all the captives and canoes which they had taken from him, and pledge themselves to maintain perpetual peace with the English and their allies ; and to the former to pay an annual tribute of 2000 fathom of wampum. These indeed were hard terms, against which the Narraganscts strongly remonstrated ; but aware that the English had already a copsiderable force collected for the purpose of invading their country, they at length thought it most prudent to acquiesce. During the war between t\ie Narraganscts and Uncas, the former once besieged the fort of the latter, until his provisions were nearly exhausted, and he found that his men must soon perish either by famine or the tomahawk unless speedily relieved. In this crisis he found means of communicating an account of his situation to the Eng- 62 INDIAN WARS. I llsh scouts, who hnd been despatched from the fort in Saybrook to reconnoitre tlio cnoniy. Uncas represented the danger to which the English would be exposed, if the Narrnpfanscfs should succeed in destroying the Mo- hegans. It was at tiiis critical juncture that the greatest portion of the Knglish troops in Connecticut were era- ployedon an expedition abroad : a Mr. Thomas Leffing- well, however, a bold and enterprising man, on learning the situation of Uncas, loaded a canoe with provisions, and under cover of the night paddled from Saybrook in- to the river Thames, and had the addiess to get the whole into the fort. The enemy soon after discovering that Uncas had received supplies, raised the siege. For this piece of service Uncas presented Mr. Letlingwell with a deed of a very large tract of land, now comprising the whole town of Norwich. The English in New-England now enjoyed a peace until the year 1671, when they again took up arms to revenge the death of one of their countrymen, who had been inhumanly murdered by an Indian belonging to the Nipnet tribe, of which the celebrated Philip, of Mount- Hope, (now Bristol, R. I.) was sachem. It was thought the most prudent step by the governor and council, first to send to Philip and acquaint him with the cause of their resentment ; and the course which they were determined to pursue, in ease he refused to deliver into their hands the murderer. Philip being sent for and appearing be- fore the court, affected to be much dissatisfied with the conduct of the accused, assuring them that no pains should be spared to bring him to justice ; and more fully to con- firm his friendship for the English, expressed a wish that he was about to make, might be committed to pa- per, that he and his council might thereunto affix their signatures. The governor and council in compliance with the request, drew up the following, which, after be- ing signed by Philip and his chief men, was presented to the governor by Philip, in confirmation of his friendly assurances. " Whereas my father, my brother, and myself, have uniformly submitted to the good and wholesome laws of his majesty, the king of England, and have ever respec- ^ r c \ 1 I d n INDIAN WARS. 63 con- wish lance jr be- ;ed to endly ted his faithful subjects, the English, as our friends und brothers, and being still anxious to brighten the chain of friendship between us, wo do now embrace this opportu- nity to" pledge ourselves that we will spare no pains in seeking out and bringing to justice, such of our tribe as shall hereafter commit any outrage against them ; and to remove nil suspicion, we voluntarily agree to deliver up to them all the fire-arms which they have heretofore kindly presented us with, until such time as they can safe- ly repose confidence in us ; and for the true performance of these our sacred promises, we have hereunto set our hands. Chief saehem. . Philip's X mark. Chief men. Porkanoket's X mark. Uncombo's X mark. Samkama's X mark. Wocokom's X mark. In the presence of the Governor and Council "I Notwithstanding the fair promises of Philip, it was soon discovered by the English, that he was playing a deep game ; that he was artfully enticing his red breth- ren throughout the whole of New-England, to rise en masse against them, and drive them out of the country. The Narragansets, for this purpose, had engaged to raise 4000, fighting men. The spring of 1672, was the time agreed upon, on which thi grand blow was to be given. The evil intentions of Philip, were first discovered and communicated to the English by a friendly Indian of the Narraganset tribe. Fortunately for them this Indian had been taken into favor by the Rev. Mr. Elliot, by ■whom he had been taught to read and write, and became much attached to the English. The governor upon re- ceiving the important information relative to the hostile views of Philip, ordered a military watch to be kept up in all the EngUsh settlements within the three colonies ; by some of whom it was soon discovered that the report of their Indian friend was too well founded, as the In- dians ofxdifferent tribes were daily seen flocking in great numbers to the head-quarters of Philip ; previously send- 64 INDIAN WARS. inc; tlioir wives and childron to llie Nnrrac;nnset country, vvliich th(!y litid ever dono previous to tho cumrncncc- incnt of hostilities. The inhabitants of Swanzcy, n small sctllomcnt ad- joininj; Mount-IIopr, the head-quarters of Philip, were tho first who felt tho elFects of this war. Philip, encour- H|;ed by the numbers who wore daily enlisting under his banners, and despairing to discover a cause that could justify him in cominrncing hostilities againt his * friends and brothers,' as he had termed them, resolved to pro- voke them to a war by killing their cattle, fircmg their barns, &c. This plan had the d<'sired effect, as the in- habitants, deternnned to save their property or perish in the attempt, fired upon tho Indians ; this was deemed cause suflicient by the latter to commence their bloody work. The war whoop was immediately sounded, and the Indians commenced an ind'scriminate murder of the defenceless inhabitants of Swunzey, sparing not infants at the breast ; but three of seventy-eight persons which the town contained made their escape. Messengers were despatched with the melaneholiy tidings of this bloody affair, to the governor, who by and with the ad- vice and consent of the council, despatched a company of militia with all possible speed, to tho relief of the dis- tressed inhabitants residing near the headquarters of Philip. As soon as they could be raised, three compa- nies were despatched under the command of Captains Henchman, Prentice and Church, who -arrived in the ncighborhoodof Swanzcy on the 28th June, where they were joined by four more companies from Plymouth col- ony. It was found that the Indians had pillaged and set fire to the village, and with their booty had retired to Mount Hope. A company of cavalry were sent under the command of Capt. Prentice, to reconnoitre them ; but before they arrived at a convenient place for this purpose, they were ambushed and fired upon by the enemy, who killed six of their number and wounded ten. The report of their guns alarming the remaining compa- nies of the English, they hastened to the relief of the cavalry, who at this moment were completely surrounded by about 600 Indians, between whom and the EngHsh a INDIAN WARB. 05 intry, cnce- it U(l- wcro icour- er his could fiends 3 pro- thoir he in- rish in ecmcd bloody d, and of the infants which engers )f this ic ad- npany 10 dis- ers of ompa- ptains n the c they th col- and set red to under them ; or this 3y the d ten. 5ompa- of the Dunded gHsh a warm contest now ensued. The savages fought despe^ ratcly, and more than once nearly succeeded in overpow- ering the Knglish ; but very fortunately for the latter, when nnarly (iespairing oi' victory, a fresh company of militia from Boston arrived ; tiiey flunked the enemy on the right and left, exposin<5 them to two fires, soon over- powered and drove them to Sv^.ck shelter in an adjoining wood, inaccessible to the English. In this severe en- gagement the English had forty-two killed and seventy three wounded, many of them r ortally. The loss of the enemy was supposed to bo mucii greater. On the 30th, Major Savage, who had been appointed commander in chief of the combined English forces, ar- rived with an additional company of cavalry, v ^^o with the remaining companies the following day i; - umenced their march for Mount Hope, the head-nuarters of PhiV,o. On their way, the English were aflfei teJ with a sceue truly distressing. The savages, not content with bath- ing their tomahawks in the blood of the defenceless in- habitants of Swanzey, had, it was discovered, in many instances, detached their limbs from their mangled bo- dies, affixing them to poles, they were exiended in the air ! among which were discovered the heads of several infant children ; the whole of which, by order of Maj. Savage, were collected and buried. The English arrived at Mount Hope about sunset ; but the enemy receiving inf^^^'mation of their approach, had deserted their wigwams t,! retired into a neighbor- ing wood. Maj. Savage, to pursue the enemy with suc- cess, divided his men into companies, which he ordered to march in different directions, stationing forty at Mount Hope. On the 4th of July, those under the command of Capts. Church and Henchman fell in with a body of the enemy, to the number of two hundred, whom they at- tacked. Victory for a considerable length of time ap- peared in favor of the savages ; but very fortunately for the former, being commanded by bold and resolute offi- cers, they defended themselves in a heroic manner, un- til relieved by a company of cavalry commanded by Capt. Prentice. The Indians now finding the fire of the Eng- lish too warm for them, fied in every direction, leaving 9 I Ij 66 INDIAN WARS. thirty of their number dead, and about sixty severely wounded on the field of action. In this engagement the English had seven killed and thirty-two wounded, five of whom survived the action but a few hours. This action so far from daunting the bold and resolute Capt. Church, seemed to inspire him with additional bravery. Unwilling that any of the enemy should es- cape, he boldly led his men into an almost impenetrable forest, into which those who had survived the action had fled. The Indians perceiving the l^nglish approaching concealed themselves from their view by laying flat on their bellies, in which situation they remained Concealed until the English had advanced within a few rods of them, when each unperceived fixing upon his man discharged a shower of arrows among them. This unexpected check threw the English into confusion, which the In- dians perceiving, rushed furiously upon them with their knives and tomahawks, shouting horribly. Their Caval- ry' being unable to atford them assistance, the English were now in a very disagreeable situation ; the trees being so very large as to render it ditficult to use their fire-arms with any etfect, and they were soon so encompassed by the savages, as to render almost every effort to defend themselves useless. Of sixty-four who entered the swamp only seventeen escaped, among whom fortunately was their valuable leader Capt. Church. The English finding that they could neither bring the enemy to action in open field, or engage with any chan-^ e of success in the forest where tht^y were lodged, return- ed home ; with the exception of three companies, who were stationed by Maj. Savage near the borders of the swamp, into which it was suspected that Philip with a number of his tribe had fled This swamp was two miles in length, and to the English inaccessible. Philip had been watching the motion of his enemies, and seeing a great part march otf, conjecturing that their obect was to obtain reinforcement. Impressed with this belief, he resolved to improve the opportunity to escape with a few chosen men by water, which he with little difficulty ef- fected the succeeding nighi, taking advantages of a Ion' tide. The enemy were, soon after their escape, discov- INDIAN WARS. 67 ered and pursued by the inhabitants of Hehobeth, ac- companied by a party of the Mohegans, who had volun- teered their services aojainst Philip. The Rehobeth militia csime up with the rear of the enemy about sunset, and killed twelve of them without sustaining any loss on their part ; night prever.ting their engaging the whole force of Philip ; but curly the next morning they continued the pursuit. The Indians had,' however, fled with such precipitancy, that it was found impossible lo overtake them. They bent their course to the westward, exhorting those tribes through which they passed to take up arms against t!.e English. The united colonies now become greatly alarmed at the hostile views ari(^ rapid strides of Philip. The gen- eral court was constantly in session and endeavoring to plan means to cut him off, belore he should have an op- portunity to corrupt the minds of too many of his coun- trymen. While the court was thus deliberating, information was received that Philip had arrived in the neighborhood of Brookfield, about sixty-five miles from Boston, and a number of its inhabitants had been inhumanly butchered by his adherents. Orders were immediately issued for the raising of ten companies of foot and horfee, to be de- spatched to the relief of the unfortunate inhabitants of Brookfield ; but before they could reach that place, Phil- ip and his parly had entered the town and put to death almost every inhabitant which it contained ; the few that escaped having taken the precaution to assemble togeth- er in one house, which they strongly fortified. This was furiously attacked by the savages and several times set on fire, and the besieged were on tho point of surrendering, when Maj. Willard happily arrived to their relief. Re- tween the English and Indians a desperate engagement ensued ; the former, by the rxpress command of their of- ficers, gave no quarter ; but in a very heroic manner, rushed upon the savages with clubbed muskets. The action continued until near sunset, when the Indians that remained alive sought shelter in the neighboring woods. In this engagement the English had twenty-three killed and seventy-two wounded. The eneniy'f \om was tv.o 66 INDIAN WAHS. hundred andseventecn killed and between two and three hundred wounded ; who, by way of retaliation for their barbarity exercised towards the defenceless inhabitants of Brookfield, were immediately put to death. The governor and council, on learing the fate of the unfortunate inhabitants of Brookfield, despatched a rein- f9rcement of three companies of cavalry to Maj. Willard, and ordered the like number to be sent him from Hart- ford, in Connecticut eolony ; with which he was directed to pursue Philip with fire and sword, to whatever part of the country he should resort. It being discovered that a part of Philip's forces had fled to Hatfield, two companies of English, under the command of Capts. Lathrop and Beers, were sent in pur- suit of ^lem, and within about three miles of Hatfield, overtook and attacked them ; but the force of the Eng- lish being greatly inferior to that of the enemy, the for- mer were defeated and driven back to the main body ; which enabled the enemy, who had in the late engage- ment been detached from their main body, to join Philip. On the Idth September information was received by Maj. Willard, that the enemy h'ui successfully attacked and defeated the troops under the command of Capt. La- throp ; that they were ambushed and unexpectedly sur- rounded by a thousand of the enemy, to whom they all fell a sacrifice except three. The defeat of Capt. La- throp took place in the neighborhood of Deerfield ; for the defeuce of which there was an English garrison, who the Indians were about to attack when Major Willaid happily arrived ; at his approach they fled. On tae 10th October following, a party of Philip's In- dians successfully assaulted the town of Springfield, which they pillaged and set fire to, killing about fortj of the inhabitants. On the 14th they assaulted the town of Hatfield, in which two companies under the command of Capts. Mosley and Appleton were stationed. The ene- my continued the attack about two hours ; when finding the fire of the English too warm for them, they fled, leav- ing a number of their paru' (U ul behind them. Philip now finding himseii' clo-.ely pursued by a large and formidable body of ih^ Eijlish, deemed it prudent INDIAN WARS- all La- for who lard arge ident to bend his course towards his old place of residence ; there to remain till the ensuing spring. But the com- missioners of the united colonies, duly reflecting on the deplorable situation of their defenceless brethren through- out the country ; aware that there were then much greater number of their savage enemies embodied than at any former period, who, if suffered peaceably to retire into winter quarters, might prove too powerful for them the spring ensuing, sesolved to attack the whole force under Philip in their winter encampment ; for which purpose every Englishman capable of bearing arms was com- manded by proclamation of the governor, to hold himself in readiness to march at the shortest notice. The 10th ' of December was the day appointed by the co»nmission- ers on which the decisive blow was to be given. Six companies were immediately to be raised in Massachu- setts, consisting in the whole of five hundred and twenty- seven men, to the command of which were appointed Captains Mosely, Gardiner, Davenport, Oliver, and Johnson. Five companies were raised in Connecticut, consisting of four hundred and fifty men, to the com- mand of which were appointed Captains Seely, Mason, Gallop, Watts, and Marshall , two companies in Ply- mouth, of one hundred and fifty men, who were com- manded by Captains Rice and Gorham. Three majors of the three respective divisions, were also appointed, to wit : — Maj. Appleton, of Massachusetts ; Maj. Treat, of Connecticut ; and Maj. Bradford, of Plymouth. The whole force consisting of 1127 men, were com landed by Maj. Gen. Winsiow, late governor of the colonies. On the 7th of December, the combined forces cora- monced their march for the head-quarters of the enemy. At this inclement season, it was with the utmost diffi- culty that the troops were enabled to penetrate through a wild and pathless wood. On the morning of the 9th, having travelled all the preceding night, they arrived at the border of an extensive swamp, in which they were informed by their guides the enemy was encamped to the number of 4000. The English, after partaking of a little refreshment, formed for battle. Capt. Mosely and Uapt. Davenport led the van, and Maj. Appleton and 70 INDIAN WARS. Capt. Oliver broiiglit up the rear of tlic \fassachuset(8 forces. Gen. Winslow, with the Plymouth troops, formed the cenlro ; the Connectioiit troops, under tho command of llieir respective captains, lo^etlier with about two hundred of the Mohe<:;ans, commanded by Oneco, the son of Uncas. brought up the rear. It was soon discovered by an Indian sent for (he pur- pose, that in the centre of tlic swamp tiu'y had built a very strong fort;, of so wise a construction, thai it was with difficulty more than one person could enter it at' a time. About 10 o'clock, A. M. the English, with the sound of trumpet, entered tho swamp, and when within about fifty rods of the fort, were met and attacked by the enemy. The Indians in the usual manner, shouting and howling like l)easts of prey, commenced with savago fury ; but with a hideous noise the English were not in- timidated ; charging tiiem with unequalled bravery, the enemy were soon glad to seek siuMtcr within the walls of their fort. The English having closely pressed upon tiie enemy, as they retreated, found themselves in a very disagreeable situation, exposed to tlic fire of the Indians, who were covered by a high breastwork, they were not even enabled to act on the defensive. At this critical juncture the lion-hearted Oneco, with the assent of ^icn. Winslow, offered to scale the walls of the fort, which being approved of by the English commanders, Oneco, with about sixty picked men, in an instant ascended to the top of the fort ; where having a fair chance of the enemy, they hurled their tomahawks, and discharged their arrows with such success among them, as in a very short time to throw them into the utmost confusion. Those who attempted to escape from the fort, were in- stantly cut in pieces by the troops without. The enemy finding themselves thus hemmed in, and attacked on all sides, in the most abject terms, begged for quarter, which was de'^ic;d them by the Juiglish. A great proportion of the troops being now mounted on the walls of the fort, they had nothing to do but load and fire, the enemy be- ing penned up and huddled togetiier in such a manner, that there was sca,cely a shot lost. This bloody con- test was of near six hours continuance, when the P^ng- by INDIAN WARS. I 7i iish, perceiving the fort filled with nought but dead, or such as were mortally wounded, closed the bloody con- flict. The scene of acfion at this instant was indeed such as could not fail to shock the stoutest heart. The hupje loa;s, of whioh the tort was constructed, were completely criinsonml with the blood of the enemy, while the sur- roundinjn; woods resousKled with the dying groans of the wounded. The number of slain of the enemy in this severe engagement could not be ascertained ; it was, however, immense. Of 4000, supposed to have been present at the commencement of the action, not two hundred escaped ! Among whom unfortunately was the treacherous* Philip. After the close of this desperate action, the troops having destroyed all in their power, left the enemy's ground, and carrying about throe hundred wounded men, marched back to the distance of sixteen miles to head- quarters. The night proved cold and stormy, the snow fell deep, and it was not Until midnight or after that the troops were enabled to reach their place of destination. Many of the wounded, who probably otherwise might have recovered, perished with the cold and inconvenience of a march so fatiguing. Although the destruction of so great a number of tlie enemy was considered of the greatest importance to the English, yot it proved a conquest dearly bought. It was obtained at the expense of the lives of a great number of privates, fud a great proportion oi* (heir most valuable ofllcjers ; urnong whom were the Captains Davenport, Gardner, Johnson, Seely, and iVIarshall. The courage displayed during the action by every part of the army ; tiie invincible heroism of the officers ; the firmness and resolution ■ '" the soldiers, "I^ n they saw their captains falling before them ; and the i' irdships endured before and after the engagement, are hardly credible, and rarely find a parallel in ancient or mod ^n ages. The cold the day preceding the action was ex- treme, and in the night the snow fell so deep as to ren- der it extremely difticult for the army to move the day •ucceeding. Four hundred of the soldiers were so com- urn 7S irfDiAlt WARS. pletely frozen as to be unfit for duty ! The Connecticut troops were the most disabled, having erdured a tedious maich without halting, from Stonins;ion to thf place of public rendezvous. They sustained too n ranch grc itter loss in the aciion, in proportion to their numbers, tlan the troops of ihe other colonic.. The b(jJ'.' ak:' intri 7 d Capt., Mason, who received aiatal wound in the action, ^jf which he died in aoout three months after, was the first after the Mohegans o mount the walls of the fort, nor did the troops under his command fail to follow i !C noble example. On enurae rating tho number of slain Hnd woujided, it was found as iollowa : Of the Companies commanded by "•jp tains Mosley, 10 killed, 40 wounded. Oliver, 20 48 Gardner, 1 1 32 Johnson, 18 38 Davenport, 15 19 Gallop, 28 43 Seely, 32 50 Watts, 19 33 Mason, 40 50 Marshall, 25 37 Gorham, 30 41 Sachem Oneco, 51 82 Total, 299 513 The loss of the troops from Connecticut v/as so great, that Maj. Treat considered it absolutely necessary to re- turn immediately home. Such of the wounded as were not able to travel, were put on bo: "d a vessel and con- veyed to Stoiiington. The troop • • their return killed and captured about thirty of the f. y. Th ^I9ssachusetts and Pi • jit»c a forces kept the field the ^. • er part of the winte; .'Ley ranged the cour- try, took a number of prisoner destroyed about three thousand wigwams, but achiev:.. r/^ hing very biilliant or decisive. •^ ir ^• r % KING PHILIP/ w ■:■ it ,i -.-.tSfe'.v^teMfc .^^^•^.- ..-*"''^^. V V T% ■^■, / "^KS't INDIAN WARS. 73 ■.f-....^< ■ i- 1 The Nipnet ai)d Narraganset tribes being by the late action nearly externiinated, the few who survived, by the direction of Philip, fled in small parties to different parts of the country, improving every opportunity that present- ed to revenge thr. untimely fate of their brethren. On the 10th February, 1678, about one hundred or them surprised the inhabitants of Lancaster, a part of whom, as a place of greater safety, had the day previous resort- ed to the dwelling of the Rev. Mr. Rowland ; this how- ever being constructed of dry logs, was set on fire by the Indians, which the unfortunate English within being un- able to extinguish they fell victims to the devouring flames. On the 21st the enemy attacked the inhabitants of Medfield ; twelve of whom they killed, and the re- mainder made captive. On the 3d March the Indians still continuing their depredations, two companies of cavalry, under the com- mand of Capts. Pierce and Watkins, were ordered out for the purpose of affording protection to the defenceless inhabitants of towns most exposed to th r incursions. On the 5th they marched to Patuxet, near svhp".? there was a considerable body of Indians -^.ucamped, r >m on the morning of the 6th they fell in with and attacked. The enemy at first appeared but few in number ; but these were only emplf)yed to decoy the English, who on a sudden found themselves surrounded by near five hun- dred Indians ; they with their tomahawks and scalping knives rushed furiously upon them, threatening them with instant destruction. The English acted on the defensive, and though surrounded by five times their ivr^bcr, fought with their usual spirit, and were resolved lo sell their lives at as dear a rate as possible. They were very soon however compelled to yield to the superior force of their savage enemies. Only five escaped. Though this vic- tory was of considerable importance to the savages, it •ost a numbet of their bravest warriors ; ninety-three of vh)m were thr next day found dead on the field of ac- t'j)». There were in this engagement about twenty^ friendly Indians villi the En^ilish, who fought like des-^^' peradoes. One of them observing Capt. IMerce unable to stand, in coii-equerc^ cf the many wounds he had re- ItO 74 1f«UIAN >TAI«$. ceived, for nearly two hours bravely defended him ; when perceivinj; his own iinminont dant^er, and that he could afford thr* ' 'tJiin no farther assistance, by blacking his face as loe .1 ^ ly had done, ho escaped unnoticed. On the 25th March a party of Indians attacked and burnt the towns of Weymouth and Warwick, killing a great number of the inhabitants. On the 10th of April following they pillaged and burnt Rchobeth and Provi- dence. On the 1st of May a company of English and one hun- dred and fifty Mohegans, under the command of Capf. George Dennison, were sent in pursuit of a body of the enemy, commanded by a son of Miantinomi. On the 8th of May they met with and attacked them near Groton. The Indians appeared determined on victory or death, displaying an unusual degree of courage ; but the Eng- lish and Mohegans proved too strong for them ; after de- stroying a greater part with their muskets and tomahawjts they drove the remainder into a neighboring river, where they soon perished. On the 23d Cononchet, sachem of the few scattered remains of the Narrnganscts, proposed to his council that the lands bordering on Connecticut river, not inhab- ited by the English, should be planted by them with corn, for their futur? su')sistcncc ; which being approved of by the latter, two hundred of the Narragansets were dis- patched for that purpose. The governor being apprized of their intentions, sent three companies of cavalry to in- tercept them. Al'out one hundred of the Mohegans, under tho command cl' Oncco, accompanied the English. The enemy were commanded by Cononchot in person, who first proceeded to Seekonk to procu.e seed corn. It was in the neighb rhood of thisplaee that they were first engaged by the * .lis' and Mohegans. With becom- ing bravery the enemy lor a long fimo withstood the at- tack ; but being poorly provided with weapons, were at length overpowered and compelled to yield to the supe- rior force of their enemies. In the midst of the action, Cononchet being fer.rful of the issue, deserted his men and attempted to seek shelter in a neighboring wood ; but Heing rscognized by the Mohegans, they pursued him. INDIAN WARS. 75 first Cononclict perceiving himself nearly ovcrlnken by his pursuers, to facilitnto his llij^ht, first threw owoy his blanket, then his silver laced coal, with which he had been presented by the English m few weeks previous ; but finding that he could not escape from his pursuers by flight, he plunged into a river, where he was even fol- lowed by half a dozen resolute Mohegans, who laid hold of him, forced him under water and there held him until drowned. The loss of the English and Mohegans in this engagement was twelve killed and twenty-one woun- ded ; that of the enemy was forty-three killed and about eighty wounded. The inhabitants of New-London, Norwich and Ston- ington, having frequently discovered a number of the en- emy lurking about in small bodies in the adjacent woods, by joint agreement voluntarily enlisted themselves, to the number of three hundred, under the command of Major Palmer, and Capts. Dennison and Avery who with the assistance of the Mohegans and a few friendly Narra- gansets, in three expeditions destroyed nearly one thou- sand of the enemy. On the 8th of June the Indians assaulted and burnt Bridgewater, a small settlement in the colony of Massa- chusetts. Forty of its inhabitants fell victims to savage barbarity. The governor and council of Massachusetts colony, aware of the danger to which many of the inland settle- ments were exposed, by freequent incursions of the ene- my, and finding it extremely difficult to raise a sufficient force to oppose them, in the many parts to which the fragments of the broken tribes had resoiled, adopted th« policy of sending among them as spies, such Indians as were friendly and could be depended upon ; which plan had its desired effect. 'I'hesc Indians representing the force of the English much greater than it really was, and warning the enemy of danger which did not exist, deter- red them from acting in many instances on the offensive. One of the friendly Indians returning to Boston on the 10th of July, reported, that a large body of Indians were emdodied in a wood near Lnncaster, which village they intended to attack and burn ih a few days ; that they had 76 INDIAN WARI. been encournged to continue the war with the English, by Frenchmen from the great lake, who had supplied thein with fire-arms and amunitinn. On the receipt of this important information, the gov- ernor despatched three companies of cavalry, under com- mand of Major Savage, for the defence of Lancaster, who by mistaking the road, unfortunately fell into an am- bush of about three hundred and fifty Indians, by whom they were instantly surrounded. The English exhibited great presence of mind, and repelled the attack of the en- emy in a very heroic manner. The savages being how- ever well provided with fire-arms, soon gained a com- plete victory over the English, whose loss in this unfoi- tunate engagement was fifty-four. The number of kil- led and wounded of the enemy could not be ascertained, as they remained masters of the field of action. On the 15th a severe engagement took place between a company of English cavalry and about three hundred of the enemy near Groton. The latter were not percei- ved by the former until they were within a few paces of them, the Indians having concealed themselves in the bushes, when suddenly issuing forth with a hideous yell, the cavalry were thrown into confusion ; but instantly forming and charging the enemy with great spirit, they fled in every direction. The cavalry, id attempting to pursue then), were once more ambushed. The contest now became close and severe ; the Indians having suc- ceeded in decoying the English into a thick wood, at- tacked them with fury and success. The commander of the English being killed, every man sought his own safe- ty. Of ninely-five, of which the company was compos- ed, but twelve escaped. The loss of the enemy was sup- posed to be much greater. On the 12th of August a party of Indians entered the town of Westtield, killed and took a number of the in- habitants prisoners, and burnt several houses. Three of them soon after made their appearance at a house near said town, and fired at a man at his door, who fell. They ran towards him, and one of them stopping to scalp him, he was assaulted by the man's wife with a stroke from a hatchet, which went so completely into his body, that INDIAN WAR! 77 the in- e of ear hey im, Bid a with three different efforts she could not disengnge it, and the Indian made off with it sticking in him. A sec- ond also made an attempt, when she by a well directed blow with a stick sho had found, luid him on the ground. The third then run, and as soon as the other had recov- ered his feet followed the example ; on which the woman took her husband in her arms and carried him into the house, when ho soon recovered. • On the I7th a party of Indians commenced an attack on Northampton ; but there being a number of soldiers stationed there, the enemy was repulsed. On the 20th a number of the inhabitants of Springfield were attacked by a party of Indians, as they were re- turning from divine service ; although the former were provided with fire-arms, the enemy succeeded in making prisoners of two women and several children, whom they soon after tomahawked and scalped ; in which situation they were the next day found by a party of English sent out in pursuit of the » nemy. One of the unfortunate wo- men, although shockingly mangled, was found still alive, and so far recovered as to be able to speak, gave the fol- lowing account of the fate of her unfortunate com ... ions : that they were first severely bound with cords, iiui the Indians soon after built a fire, regaling thems '/.f^s with what they had previously stolen from the ^'.^ghi-h ; that soon after a warm dispute arose between t leia rela- tive to the prisoners, each claiming the women for Iheir squaws ; that they at length proceeded to blows, and af- ter beating each other for some time with clubs, it wo- agreed by both parties, to prevent further altercation, that the women should be put to death, which as she sup- poses they immediately carried into execution. The un- fortunate narrator received a severe blow on the head, which brought her senseless to the ground, and while in this situation was scalped and left for dead by her savage enemies. The inhabitants of Sudbury, with a company of sol- diers, commanded by Lieut. Jaeobs of Marlborough, a- larmed at the near approach of the enemy, who to the number of about two hundred were encamped near that place, resolved to attack them at night ; accordingly, on ■-i 78 INDIAN WARS. the 6th September they marched within view of them, and at night, as they lay extended around a hirge fire, ap- proached them unperceived within gim-shot, when they gave them the contents of their muskets. Many of those that remained unhurt, being suddenly 'aroused from their slumbers by the yell of their wounded brethren, and im- magining that they were completely surrounded by the English, whom the darkness of the night prevented their seeing, threw themselves into the fire which they had' enkindled, and there perished ; but lew if any escaped. In this attack the English sustained no loss. On the 25th, a consideiable body of the enemy at- tacked the inhabitants of Marlborougn ; many of whom they killed. A company of English, which had been ordered from Concord for the defence of this place, wag cut oflf by the savages and totally destroyed. Two other companies, despatched from Boston for the like purpose, met with the same fate. It appeared that the governor, on learning tho situation of the unfortunate inhabitants of iMarlborough, despatched to their relief two compa- nies under the command of Capts. Wads worth and Smith, who, before they arrived at the place of destina- tion, were informed that the savages had left Marlbor- ough nnd proceeded to Sudbury, twelve miles distant, which induced the English to alter their course and proceed immediately for the latter place. Of this it ap- peared that the enemy had been apprised by their run- ners, and had laid a plan to cut them oflf ere they should reach Sudbury, which they in the following manner completely eflfected. Learning the course which the English would take, they, within a few rods thereof, sta- tioned fifty or sixty of their number in an open field, who were ordered to retreat into a neighboring thicket as soon as discovered and pursued by the English. In this place the remainder of the Indians, to the number of about three hundred, concealed themselves by lying pros- irate on their bellies. The English on their arrival, espying the Indians in the field, and presuming them to be but few in number, pursued ana attacked them, who very soon retreated to the fatal spot where their treach- erous brethren lay concealed, and prepared to give their INDIAN WARS. 79 pursuers a warm, if not a fatal recoption. Here they were closely pursued by the Knglish, who too late dis- covered the fatal snare which had been laid for them. In an instant they were completely surrounded and at- tacked on all sides by the savages. The English for several hours bravely defended themselves, but at length were borne down by numbers far superior to their own. Thus fell the brave Capt. Wadsworth, and Capt. Smitli, as well as most of the troops under their command. The Indians bordering on the river Merrimack, feeling themselves injured by the encrQachments of the English, once more resumed the bloody tomahawk, which had been buried for a number of years. On the 1st of No- vember, they in a considerable body, entered the village of Chelmsford and Woburn, and taking advantage of their weak state, indiscriminately put to death every in- habitant they contained, sparing not the infant at the breast. On the 9th, they burnt the house ol a Mr. Ezra Eames, near Concord ; killed his wife, threw her body into the flames, and made captives of his children. On the 15th, they took prisoner a young woman, sixteen years of age, who by the family with whom she resided, had been placed on a hill in the neighborhood of their dwelling, to watch the motions of the enemy. The ac- count wiiich thB young woman gave of her capture and escape was as follows : That on the morning of her cap- ture, the family having been informed that a party of In- dians had the day previously been discovered in a neigh- boring wood, she, by their request, ascended a hill near the house, to watch their motions, and alarm the family, if seen approaching. That about noon she discovered a number of them ascending the hill, in great haste. She immediately attempted to evade them by retiring into a thicket ; but the Indians, who it appeared had before observed her, found her after a few moments search, and compelled her to accompany them to their settlement, about forty miles distant. It was here they gave her to understand she must remain and become their squaw, and dress and cook their victuals. She remained with them about three weeks ; during which time, they made seve- ral expeditions against the English, and returned with a '- i\ 80 INDIAN WARS. great number of human scalps. On the night of the 6th J)ecember, they returned with six horses, which they had stolen from the English, which having turned into a small enclosure, they set out on a new expedition. She viewed this as a favorable opportunity to ♦scape — to effect which, she caught and mounted one of the horses, and making use of a strip of bark for a bridle, she penetrated a wild and pathless wood, and arrived at Concord, at seven o'clock the morning succeeding, having travelled all the preceding night, to evade the pursuit of the enemy ! In like manner, did one of the children of Mr. Eames escape from the Indians, although but ten years of age ; he travelled sixty miles through an uninhabited wood, sub- sisting on acorns. On the 12th December, a party of Indians attacked and killed several of the inhabitants of Bradford. The governor of Massachusetts colony, for the protection of the defenceless inhabitants bordering on the Merrimack, ordered the raising and equipping of four companies of cavalry, to the command of which were appointed Cap- tains Sill, Holyoke, Cutler, and Prentice. On the 23d the troops proceeded for the borders of the Merrimack, and on the 26th foil in with a considera- ble body of the enemy, v;hom tiioy engaged and com- pletely defeated. On the 4th of January, 1679, Capt. Prentice, detached f r m the main body, fell in with and engaged about one hu'.dred of the enemy in the neigh- borhood of Amherst, whom he likewise defeated, but with considerable loss on his part. ,On the 6th, a son of the brave Capt. Holyoke, of Springfield, received ihformation that a number of the enemy in small bodies were skulking about in the woods bordering on that town, with twenty resolute young men marched out to attack them. Falling in with a consid- erable body of them, an eug;ii;eincnt ensued, which, though severe, terminated at length in favor of the Eng- lish. The Indians being furnished with muskets, were unwilling to give ground, and would probably have re- mained masters of the field of action had not the English received a reinforcement which put them to Might. The lOwS of the £nglisM in the engagement was five killed ihdian wari. 81 and nine wounded, and that of the enemy twenty-three killed, and between thirty and forty wounded. The savages were no longer confined to any particu- lar tribe or place, but in parties of from fifty to one hun- dred were scatered all over the thin inhabited parts of Naw-England. A considerable body of them were yet in the neighborhood of Hadley, Deerfield and North- ampton, where ihey were continually committing their wanton acts of barbarity. Several of the towns above mentioned duly reflecting on the danger to which they and their families were exposed, formed themselves into several companies and made choice of their commanders. On the 4th February they received information that there \vere near two hundred Indians embodied in a swamp in the neighborhood of Deerfield, the above force marched to attack them. Arriving within view about day-break, they discovered them in a profound sleep, stretched out upon the ground around their fire. The cavalry immediately dismounted, and after forming, ap- proached within pistol shot, before they were discovered by the enemy ; who being suddenly aroused from sleep, and astonished at the unexpected appearance of so many of their enemies, fell an easy prey to the English, who without the loss of a man killed one hundred and twenty of th^m ; the remainder, as the only means of escape, having plunged into a river, where probably many of them perish<;d Although the English achieved this action without any loss on their part, they were on their rctiirn unhapily ambushed by about four hundred of the enemy. The English having expended all their amunition in the late engagement, and bcini;, much fatigued, were now in turn likely to fall an easy prey to their enemies, who v^ith their bloody knives and tomahawks, for the space of an hour attacked them with the greatest success. Not one of the English it is probable would have survived Ihis bold and unexpected attack of the enemy, had it not have been for the presence of mind of their brave .ommander, Capt. Holyoke, who by a stratagem succeeded in savirig a party of them. Capt. Holyoke had his horse killed under him, and at one time was attacked by five of the 11 S2 iNUIAN WARS. ih ti 1 V [ > enemy, whom he beat o?T with his cutlass. The loss of the English in this unfoi tunate action was fifty-one kil- led and 84 wounded ; mnny of the latter survived the ac- tion but a few days. The defeat and destruction of the English in this engagement was much to be lamented, as among the slain were the heads of several families, who had volunteered their services in defence of their infant tettlement. ' On the 10th severnl hundreds of the enemy, encoura- ged by their late success, appeared before Hatfield and fired several dwelling houses without the fortifications of the town. The inhabitants of Hadley being seasonably apprized of the situation of their brethren of Hatfield, a number of them volunteered their services and marched to their relief. The Indians, as they were accustomed to do on the approach of the English, lay flat on their bellies until the latter had advanced to within bow-shot, when partly rising, they discharged a shower of arrows among them, which wounded several of the F^nglish ; but they having wisely reserved their fire, now in turn lev- elled their pieces with the best effect, before the savHges had time to recover their legs ; about thirty of the ene- my were instantly dispatched, and the remainder were dispersed. On the 15th February the governor of Massachusetts colony received information that the Indians were col- lecting in great numbers under the immediate direction of Philip, near Brookfield, they despatched Capt. Hench- man with fifty men to dislodge them. He proceeding ttoJHadley was joined by %company of cavalry from ! ! art- fowl. On the 20th they discovered and attacked a par- ty near Lancaster ; of whom they killed fifty, and took between fifty and sixty of their squaws and children pri- soiers. Capt. Henchman on his way to Brookfield dis- covered the dead bodies of several of his countrymen half consumed by fire, who it appeared had a few days previously fallen victims to the wanton barbarity of the savages. As the scattered remains of the Indiana were harrased and driven at the time from place to place by the English, a number of them resorted to the western country, then I INDIAIf WABi. S3 inhabited by IheMohawlss ; but the latter being on friend- ly terms with the English and Dutch, who were settling among them, were unwilling to harbor their enemies ; consequently attacked a considerable body of them on the 5th March. The engagement was a severe one ; the fugitive Indians being provided with fire-arms, repelled the attack of the Mohawks with a becoming spirit ;but were at lengih overpowered and completely defeated. The loss on both sides was very great. . On the 20th the Indians took a Mr. Willet prisoner, near Swanzey, and after cutting off his nose and ears, set him at liberty. On the 22d a negro man who had been for several months a prisoner among the savages, escaped from them and returned to the English, to whom he gave the following information : That the enemy were con- certing a plan to attack Taunton, and the villages adja- cent : that for this purpose there were then embodied near Worcester one thousand of them, at the head of whom was Philip, and near one huiidred of them were furnish ed with fire- arms : that a few days previous to his escape a scouting party arrived and brought in with them two prisoners of war and three human scalps. To frustrate the intention of the enemy, the governor of Massachu- setts colony despatched three companies of cavalry, for the defence of Taunton. Thf' English of Connecticut eolony, although ?>ut lit- tle troubled with the enemy since the destruction of the Pecuots, were not unwilling to afford their brethren all the assistance possible in a protracted and bloody war with the common enemy. They accordingly furnished three companies of cavalry, who under the command of the experienced Maj. Taicott, o;a the 5th April proceed- ed to the westward in search of the enemy. On the 1 1th they fell iti with arid defeated a considerable body of them. Apparently by the special direction of Divine Providence, Maj. Taicott arrived in the neighborhood of Hadley, in time to preserve the town, and sdve its inhab- itants from total destruction, The savages to the num- ber of five hundred, wore on the eve of commencing an attack when they were met by the major, with the troops under his command. This unexpected relief adimating S4i INDIAN WARS. i i the few inhabitants which the town contained, they has- tened to the assistance of the cavalry, who were at this moment seriously engaged with the whole body of the enemy. The savages having gained some signal advan- tages, victory for a considerable time appeared likely to decide in their favor. Fortunately for the inhabitants of Hadley they had for their defence a few weeks previ- ous procured from Boston an eight pound cannon, which at this critical period, loaded by the women and being mounted, was by them conveyed to the English, which being charged with small shot, nails, &.c. was by the lat- ter discharged with the best etfect upon the enemy, who immediately fled in every direction. Thus it was that the English in a great measure owed the preservation of their lives to the unexampled heroism of a few women. The governor and council of the united colonies, ta- king under serious consideration the miraculous escape of the inhabitants of Hadl6y from total destruction, and the recent success of the arms of the English in various parts of the country, appointed the 27th day of August, 1697, to be observed throughout the colonies as a day of public Thanksgiving and Praise to Almighty God. It may be well to observe, that this was the commence- ment of an annual custom of our forefathers, which to the present day is so religiouslj observed by their descend- ants throughout the New-England states. On the 3d September the Connecticut troops under the command of Maj. Talcott and Capts. Dennison and Newbury, proceeded to Narraganset in quest of the en- emy, who to the number of about three hundred had been discovered in a piece of wood. The English were ac- companied by their faithful friend Oneco, with one hun- dred Mohegans under his command. In the evening of the 5th, they discovered the savages encamped at the foot of a steep hill, on \\hich Maj. Talcott made arrange- ments for an attack. The Mohegans were ordered by a circuitous rout to gain the summit to prevent the flight of the enemy. Two companies of cavalry were ordered to flank them on the right and left, while Maj. Talcott, with a company of foot stationed himself in the rear * Having thus disposed of his forces, a signal was given by INDIAN WA113. 85 and him for the Mohcgans to commence the attaclc, which they did with much spirit, accompanied with such savage yells, that had the enemy been renowned for their val- our, they must have been to the highest degree appalled at so unexpected an attack. After contending for a few moments with the Mohegans, the enemy were attacked on the right and left by the cavalry, who with their cut- lasses made great havoc among them ; they were howev- er unwilling to give ground until they had lost nearly one half their number when they attempted a flight to a swamp in their rear ; but here they were met by Major Talcott, with the company of foot, who gave them such a warm reception,' that they once more fell back upon the Mohegans, by whom they were soon overpowered, and would have been totally destroyed, had not IVIaj. Tal- cott humanely interfered in their behalf, and made pris- oner of the few that remained alive. Among the latter was the leader, a squaw who was called the queen of Narragansett ; and among them an active young fellow, who begged to be delivered into the hands of the Mohe- gans, that they might put him to death in their own way, and sacrifice him to their cruel genius of revenge, in which they so much delighted. The English, although naturally averse to acts of sav- age barbarity, were not in this instance unwilling to com- ply with the unnatural request of the prisoner, as it ap- peared that he had in the presen'ie of the Mohegans ex- ultingly boasted of having killed nineteen English with his gun, since the commencement of the war, and after loading it for the twentieth (there being no more of the latter within reach) he levelled at a Mohegan, whom he killed, which completing his number, he was willing to die by their hands. The Mohegans accordingly began to prepare for the tragical event. Forming themselves into a circle, admitting as many of the English as were dis- posed to witness their savage proceedings, the prisoner was placed in the centre. When one of the Mohegans, who in the late engagement had lost a son, with a knife cut off the prisoner's ears ! then his nose ! and then the fingers of each hand ! and after the relapse of a few moments, dug out his eyes and filled their sockets with hot embers ! ] i i 8G INDIAN WAIIS. Although the fow English present were overcome with a view of a scene so shocking to huaianity, yet the prisoner, so far from bewailing liis fatcj secmied to surpass iiis tor- mentors in expressions of joy ! VV Iicn nearly exhausted with the loss of blood, and unable to stand, his execution-^ er closed the tragic scene by beating out his brains with a tomahawk ! The few I ..Hans that now remained in the neighbor- hood of Plymouth colony, being in a state of starvation, they surrendered themselves prisoners to the English ; one of whom being recognised as the person who had a few days previously inhumanly murdered the daughter of a Mr. Clarke, was by order of the governor publicly exe- cuted. Tilt! remainder were retained and treated as pris- oners, who served as guides ; twenty more of the enemy were on the succeeding day surprised and taken prisoners by the English. The troops under the command of Maj. Bradford, and Capts. Mosely and Brattle, on the 13th September, sur- prised and took one hundred and fifty of the enemy pris- oners near Pautuxet, among whom was the squaw of the celebrated Philip ; and on the day succeeding, learning that the enemy in considerable bodies were roving about in the woods near Dedham, Major Bradford despatched Capt. Brattle with fifty men to attack them ^ who, the day following, fell in with and engaged about one hundred of them. As hatchets were the only weapons with which they were provided, they made but a feeble defence, and were soon overpowered by the English, vvho took seventy- four of them prisoners : the remainder having fallen in the action. The above party was commanded by a blood- thirsty sachem, called Pompham, renowned for his bodily strength which exceeded that of any of his countrymen ever met with. He bravely defended himself to the last ; being vvounded in the breast, and unable to stand, he seized one of the soldiers while in the set of despatching him with the butt of his gun, and by whom he would have been strangled, had he not been fortunately rescued by one of his comrades. A general famine now prevailed among the enemy,' in consequenre of being deprived of an opportunity to plant r INDIAN VVAKS. S7 their lands ; numbers were daily compelled by hunger to surrender themselves prisoners to the Englisit; among whom V . a Nipnet sachem, accompanied by one hundred and eight) of his tribe. On the 12ih of October, Capt. Church, with fifty sol- uiers and a few friendly Indians under his command, de- feated a party of the enemy near Providence ; and on the day following, conducted by Indian guides, discovered a considerable body of th» ;nemy encamped in a swamp near Pomfret. A friendly Indian at first espying them, commanded them to surrender ; but the enemy did not appear disposed tO < ;ey. Being sheltered by large trees, they first discharged i* 'lir arrows among the English, and then with a terrible }ell attacked them with their long knives and tomahawks. The English meeting with a much warmer reception than what they expected, gave ground, but being rallied by their old and experienced commander, Capt. Church, they rushed upon them with such impetuosity that the enemy were thrown into con- fusion and dislodged from their coverts. The English had seven men killed and fourteen wounded ; among the lat- ter was their brave commander, who received an arrow through his left arm. Tho loss of the enemy was thirty- two killed, and betweei* ,ixty and seventy wounded. On the 20th, informalu -> was forwarded to the governor and council, that the i :mous Philip, who had been for a long time skulking about in the woods near Mount Hope, much disheartened by the ill success of his countrymen, was the morning preceding discovered in a swamp near that place, attended by ibout ninety Seaconet Indians; on which the brave Capt. Church, with his little band of in- vincibies, were immediately despatched in pursuit of him. Capt. Church was accompanied as usual by a number of : Mohegans, and a few friondly Seaconet Indians. On the 27th they arrived in the neigliborhood of the swamp, near the border of which he stationed several of the Mohegans, and a few friendly Seaconet Indians to intercept Philip in case he should attempt an escape. Capt. Church, at the head of his little htuA. now with unconquerable resolution plunged into the > np, and wading nearly to his waist in water, discovered tl t sncmy. The Indians were nearly 98 INDIAN WARS. I' < one Midred strung, but h^ing unexpectedly attacked they niad<^ no resistance, but fled in evf i y direction. The in- accessible state of the ;iWamp, however, prevented the English from pursuing them with success. Their de- pendance was now upon their friend-, stitioned without. Nor did it appear that those faithlul fellows suffered so good an opportunity to pass unimproved. The repjrts of their muskets convinced Capt. Church they were doing their duty ; in confirmation of which, he was very soon after presented with the head of King Philip. Philip, it appeared, in attempting to fly from nis pur- suers, was recognized by one of the English, who had been stationed with the Mohegans to intercept him, and at whom he levelled his piece, but the priming being un- fortunately wet and preventing the discharge, the cunning sachem would have escaped had not one of the brave sons of Uncas, at this instant, given him the contents of his musket. The ball went directly through his heart. Thus fell, by the hands of a faithful Mohegan, the famous Philip ; who was the projector and instigator of a war, ivbich not only proved the cause of his own destruction, biu that of nearly all his tribe, one of the most numerous o^any inhabiting New-England. It was at this important instant that the English were made witnesses of a remarkable instance of savage cus- toms. Oneco, on learning that Philip had fallen by the hand of one of his tribe, urged that agreeably to their custom, he had an undoubted right to the body, and a right to feast himself with a piece of it ! The English not objecting, he deliberately drew his long knife from the girdle, and cut a piece of flesh from the bleeding body of Philip, of about one pound weight, which he broiled and eat ; in the mean time declaring that he had not for many moons eaten any thing with so good an appetite ! The head of Philip was severed from his body and sent by Capt. Church to Boston, to be presented to the gov- ernor and council, as a valuable trophy. The few hostile Indians that now remained within the united colonies, conscious tb-U if so fortunate as to evade the vigilance of the English, they must soon fall victims to the prevailing faminejAed witTi their families far to the 4 ;.*: INUIAIf WARS 80 :ed they The in- ited the heir de- without. (Tered so ;p )rts of re doing ery soon nis pur- vho had bim, and eing un- I cunning rave sons is of his t. Thus s famous f a war, struction, lumerous lish were ^'age cus- ;n by the to their ly, and a ^ English life from ling body le broiled id not for appetite ! and sent the gov- vithin the ; to evade ill victims far to the bury tli(3 liitciiet, and ti pursuits ; u hen, by i, the natives in the v:\'v Maine) had unprovoked! westward. The F.nalish Wi?ro disposed rathor to facili- t.itc than picvful ilu'ir tliglit. Iliuing been for a nuuiber of years enga;nt'd in a desirnctive and bloody war with them, they were willing that tlie few who remained alive should escape to a coinitry so far distant that there was no probability ol their returning to reassume the bloody tomahawk. Iuipress«ul ith these ideas, and that the enemv was etjuipletel, i »nninated, thev were about to I ir attention to agricultural if>:S; they were inforated that I of the country (Province of . ,ckcd and killed a considera- ble number of tiie Kngiish in that quarter. To quench the flames which ap|)eared to be enkmdling § in the cast, the governor despatched four c impanies of jl cavalry to the relief of the unfortunate inhabitants. The enemy, who were of the Kennebeck and Amoscoggin tribes, first attacked with unprecedented fury the de- fenceless inhabitants settled on Kennebeck river, the most of whom were destroyed or dispersed by them. i On the 2d of November about seven hundred of the 1 enemy attacked, with their actcustomed fury, the inhabit- ' ants of Newchewannick, an Eniilish settlement situated a few miles from the mouth of the riVc^r Kennebeck. Be- fore they Irad fully accomplished their hc^Hish purpose, they were surprised by the troops sent from Boston, be- tween whom a most bloody engagement ensued. The Indians encouraged by their numbers, re])elled the attack of the F-iifilish in so heroic a manner, that the latter were very soon thrown into disorder and driven out of town, where they ngiiin formed, faced about, and in turn charged the enemy with unconquerable resolution. The contest now became close nnd severe. The savages with their terrific yoHs dexterously hurled their toma- hawks among the Enalish, while the latter, with as much dexterity, attacked and mowed them d »wn with their cutlasses. Each weie apparently determined on victory >r death. The English, at one moment, unable to withstand the impetuosity of the savages, would give ground ; at the next, the letter, hard pushed by the cavalry, would fall back. Thus, for the space of two 12 ^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 IAS 121 12.5 1^ I&2 122 Z Ml 12.0 HMi 11.25 IIU ||.6 ^ 6" ► Hiotographic Sciences Corporation ^^fi"" 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 145S0 (716)872-4503 .% :''• -It 90 INDIAN WARS. I ' j^: t r* r' ^• hours, did victory appear balancing between the two contending parties. The field of action was covered with the slain, while the adjacent woods resounded with shrieks and groans of the wounded. At this critical junc- ture, the English, when on the very point of surrender- ing, were providentially preserved by a stratagem. In the heat of the action Maj. Bradford despatched a com- pany of cavalry by a circuitous route, to attack the ene- my ; suspecting this to be a reinforcement of the Eng- lish, they fled in every direction, leaving the English masters of the field. Thus, after two hours hard fight- ing, did the English obtain a victory at the expense of the lives of more than half their number. Their killed and wounded amounted to ninety-nine. The loss of the enemy was not ascertained ; it was however probably three times greater than that of the English. The day succeeding this bloody engagement, a lieu- tenant, with twelve meni, was sent by the commander to the place of action to bury the dead. When within a few rods, they were suddenly attacked by about cne hun- dred of the enemy, who had laid in ambush. The lieu- tenant ordered his men to reserve their fire until they could discharge with the best effect upon the enemy, by whom they were sooft surrounded and furiously attacked on all sides, the savages yelling horribly, and brandishing their long knives in the air, yet crimsoned with the blood of their countrymen. The brave little band, however, remained firm and undaunted, and as the savages ap- proached them, each taking proper aim discharged with so good effect upon them, that the Indians, amazed at the instantaneous destruction of so many of their com- rades, fled in every direction. The English sustained no loss. On the 5th the enemy successfully attacked the inhab- itants of the villages of Casco ; thirty of whom they killed, and made prisoners the family of a Mr. Bracket, who on the 7th made their escape in the following man- ner : The Indians on returning to their wigwams, learn- ing that a detached party of their brethren had attacked with success and plundered the village of Arowsick, to «»joy a share of the spoil hastened to join them, leaving if INDIAN WARS. 91 the two red with 2d with lal junc- rrender- 3m. In 1 a com- the ene- le Eng- English rd iight- pense of r killed s of the )robably :, a lieu- ander to within a 3ne hun- 'he lieu- itil they emy, by attacked idishing le blood owever, ges ap- (ed with lazed at ir com- ustained inhab- )m they Jracket, ig man- learn- attacked sick, to leaving the prisoners in the care of two old men and three squaws. Mr. Bracket, whose family consisted o£ him- self, wife, three small children and a negro lad, viewed this a favorable opportunity to escape ; to effect which he requested the lad to attempt an escape by flight, who being uncommonly active he easily effected. The plan of Mr. Bracket had now its desired effect; as the. old men pursuing the negro, left him and his family guarded only by the three squaws, whom (being intoxicated) he soon despatched, and returned the day following with his family to Casco, where the negro lad had arrived some hours before. On the 15th, the Indians attacked the dwelling houses of a Capt. Bonithon and Maj. Philips, situated on the east side of Casco river. Having seasonable notice of the hostile views of the enemy, the family of the former, as a place of greater safety, had resorted to the house of the latter a few moments previous to the attack. The savages first communicated fire to the house of Capt. Bonithon, next proceeded furiously to attack the dwelling of Maj. Philips, in which there were about twenty per- sons, by whom it was most gallantly defended. The . enemy had their leader and a number of their party killed by the fire of the English. Despairing of taking the house by assault, they adopted a new plan of com- municating fire thereto. They procured' a carriage, on which they erected a stage, in front of which was a bar- ricade rendered bullet proof, to which long poles were attached nearly twenty feet in length, and to the ends were affixed every kind of combustible, such as birch rinds, straw, pitch pine, &c. The Indians were shel- tered by the barricade from the fire of the English, while they approached the walls of the house with their car- riage. The English were now on the eve of despairing, when fortunately one of the wheels being brought in con- tact with a rock, the carriage was turned completely round, which exposed the whole body of Indians to their fire. This unexpected opportunity was improved with the greatest advantage by the English, who with a few rounds soon dispersed the enemy with no considerable loss. •f-^- .^■0^" M *»^-. «t INDIAN WAi;S. • i- ^i The day following the Indians set fire to the house of a Mr. Wnkely, whom with his whole family they mur- dered. A company of the English, apprized of their dangerous situation, marched to their relief, but arrived too late to afford assistance. They found the house re- duced to ashes, and the mangled bodies of the unfortu- nate family half consumed by fire. The savages, emboldened by their late success, on the 20th attacked a small settlement on the Piscataqua river, and succeeded in murdering a part, and carrying away the remainder of the inhabitants into captivity. Aa t an instance of their wonted barbarity, it should be here mentioned, that after tomahawking and scalping one ol the unfortunate women of the above place, they bound to her dead body her little infant ; in which situation it was the succeeding day discovered by the English, at- tempting to draw nourishment from its mother^s breast. The governor and council of the united colonies, con- ceiving it their duty if possible to put a final stop to the ravages of the enemy in the east, and to prevent the fur- ther effusion of innocent blood, despatched Maj. Wallis and Maj. Bradford, with six companies under their com- mand, to destroy, root and branch, the common enemy. On the 1st December they arrived in the neighbor I of Kennebecky near where they were informed tho iiain body of the enemy were encamped. On the morning of the 3d, about the break of day, they fell in with and at- tacked them. The enemy, who were about eight hun- dred strong, appeared disposed to maintain their ground ; they fought with all the fury of savages, and even assailed the English from the tops of lofty trees which they as- cended for the purpose. They were in possession of but few fire arms, but hurled their tomahawks with incon- ceivable exactness, and checked the progress of the cavalry with long spears. Victory for a long time re- mained doubtful. The ground being covered with snow greatly retarded the progresss of the troops, who proba- bly would have met with a defeat had not a fresh com- pany of infantry arrived in time to change the fortune of the day. These, having remained inactive, as a body of reserve, the commander found himself under the ne- *f\ .f -*r V INDIAN WARf. 93 ccssity of calling it to his aid. Tho onemy, disheartened at the unt'xpec'eii arrival of the Englisii, tied with pre- cipitancy to the woods ; but very few of them, however, escaped ; more than two hundred of whom remained dead on the field of action, and double that, number were mor- tally wounded. The loss of the English was fifty-fivo killed and ninety-five wounded. This engagement, which proved a decisive one, was of the greatest impor- tance to the English. The great and arduous work was now completed. The few remaining Indians that in- habited the eastern country, now expressed a -desire to bury the bloody hatchet, and make peace with the Eng- lish. Their request was cheerfully complied with, and they continued ever after the faithful friends of the English. eir com- CHAP. II. INVASION OF NEW-YORK AND NEW-ENGLAND, AND THE DESTRUC- TION OF SCHENECTADY BY THE FRENCH AND INDIANS. In the year 1690 the Mohawks having made several successful expeditions against the Canadians, the Count Frontenac, to raise the depressed spirits of the latter, despatched several parties of French and Indians to at- tack the frontier settlements of New- York and New-Eng- land. A detachment of nearly five hundred French and Indians, under the command of Monsieurs P. Aillebout, De Waulet and Le Wayne, were despatched from Mon- treal for this purpose. They were furnished with every thing necessary for a winter campaign. After a march of twenty-two days, they on the 8th February reached Schenectady. They had on their march been so redu- ced as to harbor thoughts of surrendering themselves pri- soners of war to the English ; but their spies having ■'^. - £». 9i INDIAN WARS. |f i!" ; I f been several days in the village, entirely unsuspected, representing in such strong terms the defenceless state of the inhabitants, as determined them to make an immedi- ate atlack. They found the gates open and unguarded, which they entered about eleven o'clock at night ; and the better to effect their hellish purpose, divided their main body into several parties of six or seven men each. The inhabitants were in a profound. sleep, and unalarm- ed until the enemy had broken open their doors and with uplifted tomahawks were surrounding their beds. Before they had time to rise, the savages began the- perpetration of the most inhuman barbarities. No language can ex- .press the cruelties which were committed. In less than one hour two hundred of the unfortunate inhabitants were slain and the whole village wrapt in flames. A detail of the cruelties committed by the barbarians cannot be read without horror. They ravished, rifled, murdered and mutilated the inhabitants 'without distinction of age or sex; without any other provocation or excitement than brutal lust and wantonness of barbarity. Pregnant wo- men were ripped open and their infants cast into the fire, or dashed against the posts of the doors. Such monsters of barbarity ought certainly to be -excluded from all the privileges of human nature, and hunted down as wild beasts, without pity or cessation. A very few of the in- habitants escaped, who in their shirts fled to Albany in a severe and stormy night. Twenty-five of the fugitives in their flight perished with the cold. A-^ter destroying the inhabitants the enemy killed all the horses and cattle they could find, with the exception of about thirty of the former, which they loaded with their plunder and drove off. When the news of this horrid massacre reached Alba- ny, an universal fear and consternation seized the inhab- itants. The country became panic struck ; and many entertained thoughts of destroying the town and abandon- ing that part of the country to the enemy, A second party of the enemy which Count Frontenac had detached from the main body at the three rivers, un- der the command of Sieur Uartel, an oflicer of distin- guished character in Canada, on the 18th February fell INDIAN WARS. 95 upon Salmon Ftills, a plantation on the river which di- vides New-Hampshire from the province of Main. This party consisted of ahout seventy men, more than half of whom were Indians. They commenced the attack at break of day in three different phices ; and ahhough the inhabitants were surprised, yet they flew to arms and de- fended themselves with a bravery that even their enemies applauded ; but they were finally overpowered by num- bers, when forty-three of them, consisting of men, wo- men and children, fell victims to savage barbarity. The depredations of the French and Indians filled the people of the western country with fear and alarm. The assembly of New- York conceived it necessary to make every exertion to prevent the settlement of me French at Albany. It was resolved that two companies of one hundred men each should be raised and sent forward for that purpose. For the defence of the frontier towns in New-England, it was ordered that a constant watch should be kept in several towns, that all males above the age of eighteen and under sixty years, should be kept in readiness to march at the shortest notice. On the 20th March, at a meeting of commissioners from New-York and New- England, a plan was proposed and adopted for invading Canada. Fight hundred men were ordered to be raised for the purpose ; and the quotas of several col- onies were fixed, and general rules adopted for the man- agement of the army. A small vessel was sent express to England the b^ ginning of April, carrying a representation of the expo- sed state of the colonies and the necessity of the reduc- tion of Canada. A petition was also forwarded to the king for a supply of arms and ammunition, and a number ^ of frigates to attack the enemy by water, while the colo- nial troops made an invasion by land. John Winthrop, Esq. was appointed Major General and Commander in Chief of the land army ; and arrived with the troops un- der his command near the falls at the head of Wood- Creek, early in August. When the army arrived at the place appointed for the rendezvous of the Indians from the Five Nations, who had engaged to assist the English ; instead of meeting Ai '# ^•"W I 96 INDIAIf WARS. with fhnt powerful body whwh ihoj' oxporlod, and which th<^ Indians had promisj^rl. tlicrc were no inoio thiin seven- ty warriors from the Mohawks and Onedias. When the gtsneral had advanced about one hundred miles, he found %pP that there were not canoes sufticienl. to transport one half of the Knghsh across the lake. Upon representing to the Indians that it was impossible for the army to cross into Canada without a greater number, thfy replied that it was then too late in the season to make canoes ; as the bark would not peal. In short they artfully evaded every proposal, and finally told the geueral and his offi- cers that they looked too high, advising them only to at- tack Chambly, and the out settlements on this side of the St. Lawrence. Thus did these Indians, who a few years before had so harrassed all the French and Indians in Canada, exhibit the greatest proof of cowardice. The English finding it impossible to cross the lake -with ad- Tantage, returned to Albany. Thus the expedition un- fortunately failed. In the year 1693, Count Frontenac finding that he could not accomplish a peace with the Mohawks, who of all the Indians had been by far tho most destructive to the settlements in Canada, determined on their destruc- tion. He collected un army of about seven hundred French and Indians, and having supplied them with ev- ery thing necessary for a winter campaign, sent them against the 3Iohawk castles. They commenced their march from Montreal on the 15th January, W)93. After enduring incredible hardships they fell in with the first castle about the 10th February. The Mohawks, un prepared for an attack, had not any idea of the approach of the Canadians. The enemy killed and captured about fifty of the Mo- hawks at this castle and then proceeded for the second, at which they were equally successful. A great part of the Mohawks were at Scenectady, and the remainder thought themselves perfectly secure. When the enemy arrived at the third castle they found about eighty war- riors collected at a war-dance, as they designed the next day to go upon an expedition against their enemies. A toiiflict ensued, in which the Canadians, after losing a- IKDIAIf WAR!. ot bout thirty men vvern victorious, and the third castle wnf taken. The Canudians in their decent took near three hundred prisoners, prirrcipully women and children. The brave Col. Schuyler of Albany, receiving information of the approach of the enemy, at the head of a party of the volunteers of about four hundred English and Dutch, pursued them. On the 25th February he was joined by about three hundred Indians, whom he found Ldged in a fortified camp. The Canadians made three successive sallies upon the colonel, and were as often repulsed ; he kept his ground, waiting for provisions and a reinforce- ment from Albany. The enemy at length taking advan- tage of tk violent snow-storm, escaped and marched to Canada. The day following Capt. Sims, with a rein- forcement and a supply of provisions, arrived from Alba** ny, and the day succeeding the colonel reassutned the pursuit ; but the Canadians luckily finding a cake of ice across the north branch of Hudson river, made their es- cape ; they were however so closely pursued by the Eng- lish and Dutch, that they could not prevent the escape of most of their prisoners, sill of whom, with the excep- tion of nne or ten, returned in safety to tiieir country. Col. Schuyler lost twelve of his party, and had nine- teen woundi'-d. According to the report of the captives, the enemy lost fifty men, five of whoiu were French of- ficers, and two Indian guides, and about seventy wounJ • ed. On their return the Mohawks found more than forty dead bodies of the enemy ; which after they had scalped, so great was their hunger that they devour- ed them. 13 i* rr -M»- ■^ ' ^' 98 INDIAN WARS. ( ' . "• CHAP. in. MASSACRE or THE INHABITANTS OF DEERHELD, AND CAPTIVITY OF THE REV. JOHN WILLIAMS AND FAMILY. BY THE SAVAGES. On the 19th February 1703, n larpe bo^y of Indians from the frontiers made an attack on Decrfield. They entered the town about midnight, and commenced an in- discriminate butchery of the defenceless inhabitants. Among others, they attackid the house of the Rev. Mr. Wiili;ims, pastor of the parish. The following arc the particulars of this melancholy transaction, as related by Mr. Williams. ** They came to my house in the beginning of the on- set, and by their violent endeavors to break open doors and windows with axes and hatchets, awaked me out of sleep ; on which I leaped out of bed, and running to- wards the door, perceived the enemy making their en- trance into the house. I called to awaken two soldiers in the chamber ; and returned towards my. bed-side, for my arms. The enemy immcdialcly broke into the room, I judge to the number of twenty, with painted faces and hidious acclamations. I reachod up my hands to the bed-tester for my pistol, uttering a short petition to God for everlasting merry for me and min(> on account of the merits of our blessed Redeemer. Taking down my pis- tol, I cocked it, and put it to the breast of the first In- dian who came up ; but my p' stol missing fire, I was sei- zed by three Indians, who disarmed me, and bound me naked, as I was in my shirt, and so 1 stood for the spttce of an hour. Binding me, thry told me that I was to be carried to Quebec. My pistol missing fire was the occa- sion of ni} life's being preserved, since which 1 have al- so found it profitable to be crossed in my own will. The judgment of God did not long slumber against one of the three which took me who was a captain, for by sun-rise he received a mortal shot from my next neighbor's house ; who opposed so great a number of French and Indians INDIAN WAR!. 90 APTIVITY IVAGEB. * r are the slated by jf the on- icn doors ne out of ining to- thcir cn- o soldiers Iside, for the room, faces and s to the )n to God unt of the m my pis- first In- I was sci- )ound me • the space was to be the occa- 1 have al- will. The one of the )y sun-rise r's house ; kd Indians ( ri 1 ^^ BS three hundred, and yet were no more thun seven men in an ungarrisoncd house. *' I caniint relate tlic distressing care I had for my dear wife, who had lain in hut a few weeks before, and for my poor children, family and christian neighbors. The enemy (ell to rilling the house, and entered in groat numbers into every room of the house. I bogged of God to remember mercy in the midst of judgment ; that ho would so far restrain their wrath as to prevent their mur- dering us; that we might have gruco to glorify his name, whether in life or death ; and, ns I was able, committed our state to God. The enemies who entered the house were all of them Indians and Maequas, exulting over mo a while ; holding up hatchets over my head, threatning to burn all 1 had ; hut yet God, beyond all expectation, made us in great measure to be pitied ; for though some were so cruel and harberous as to take and carry to the door two of my children, and murder them, as also a ne- gro woman, yet they let me put on my clothes, keeping mo bound with a cord on one arm, till I put on my clothes to the other ; and thon changing my cord they let me dress myself, and then pinioned me again : gave liberty to my dear wife to dress herself, and our children. A- bout an hour after sun nsc, we were all carried out of the house, for a maich, and saw many of my neighbors' hou- ses in t1ame#, perceiving the whole fort, one house ex- cepted, to be taken. Who can tell what sorrow pierced our souls when we saw ourselves carried from God's sanctuary, to go into a strange land, exposed to so many trials ? The journey being at least three hundred miles we were to travel ; the snow up to the knees, and we never enured to such hardships and fatigues ; the place we were to be carried to, a popish country Upon ray parting from the town they fired my house and barn. We were carried over the river to the foot of the mountain, about a mile from my house, where we found a great number of our christian neighbors, men, women and chil- dren, to the number of an hundred, nineteen of whom were afterwards murdered by the way, and to starve to death, near Coos, in a time of great scarcity, or famine which the savages underw.ent there. When we came to * 100 INDIAN WAR!. the foot of tho mountain, (hry took nwny our flhocs, nnd guve us in the room of them, Indian Nhors, to prcpore us for our trnvel. Whilst wo were thc-ro the ICn^lish heat out n company, that remained in the town, and pursued^ them to (he river, killing ond wounding maty of thorn ; but tho body of tho nrmy beiuf;; uhirn«ed, they repulsed those few Lnglish that pursued them. After this, we went up to tho mountain and saw the smoke of the fires in the town, und beheld the awful desolation of Dcurfield ; nnd before wc marched any farther, they killed a suck- ing child of the li^nglish. There were slain by tho ene- my, of tho inhabitants of the town, to the number of thir- ty-eight, besides nine of the neighboring towns. *' When we cnnie to our lodging place the first night, they dug away the snow nnd made somo wigwams, cut down some of tho small branches of spruco trees to Ho down on, and gave the prisoners somewhat to eat ; but wc had but little appetite. 1 was pinioned and bound down that night, ami so 1 was every night whilst 1 was with tho army. Some of the enemy who brought drink from the town, fell to drinking, nnd in their drunken fit they killed my negro man, the only dead person 1 either saw at the town, or in the way. In the night an Eng- lishman made his escape. In the morning I was called for, and ordered by the general to tell the English, that if any more made their escape, they would burn the rest of the prisoners. Ho that took me, was unwilling to let* me speak with any of the prisoners as wc marched ; but early on the second day, be being appointed to the rear guard, I was put into the hands of my other master, who permitted me to speak to ray wife, when I overtook her, and to walk with her, to help her on her journey." After a fatiguing journey of ten or twelve days, the Indians reached their village with their prisoners, by whom they were held in captivity, enduring almost in- cr^ible hardships, until the 25th of October following ; when an ambassador from Boston, Samuel Appleton, Esc. arrived, who had been despatched to redeem such as had survived. They took passage at Quebec, and to the number of fifty-seven, arrived in safety at Boston on the 2i8t of November. INDIAN WAR!. 101 Tha Tndinns r«)nrinn(Ml ihtir clrptT(liiru)n« upon thrdfl. fcnncloss iiiiiabittiiits on the tVoiiticrs, iiniii tlx' ycMir I7i5, whrn u troiity ofpiia n wii» si};inn. Eben- lade their 3 garrison, id'ng their nt several they could 1, riding in d died in a ih and In- nade an at- led by Col. uion to de- - seven per- and being ^-reat forti- md had not would have i to capitu- iccepted by capitulation livered into ^rever, Van- m one half, ,. Theln- of sickness, in general, erwards re- \ the siege, jcounts the ivere either t, a party of I committiDg depredations upon Deerfield. They came first upon a hill, at the south-west corner of the south meadow, where they discovered ten or twelve men and children at work, in a situation in which they might all with ease be made prisoners. Had they succeeded in their design, which was to obtain prisoners rather than scalps, it is probable that events would not have been so disastrous as they proved. They were disconcerted by the following cir cumstance : Mr. Eleazer Hawks was out that morning a fowling, and was providentially at the foot of the hill when the enemy came down ; who seeing him, supposed they were discovered, and immediately fired upon him, killed and scalped him. This gave an alarm to the people in the meadow, some of whom were but a few rods distant. The enemy were now sensible ti.^t what they did must be done with despatch. Accordingly they i-ushcd into the meadow, fired on Simeon Amsden, a lad, beheaded and scalped him. Messrs. Samuel Allen, John Sadler and Adonijah Gillet, ran a few rods and made a stand under the bank of the river, where they were attacked with fury, and fought a little time with great bravery ; they were, however, soon overpowered with numbers. Allen and Gillet fell. Sadler, finding himself alone, ran across the river and made his escape, amidst a shower of balls. While this was passing Oliver Amsden was pursued a few rods, overtaken and stabbed, after having his hands and fingers cut in pieces by endeavoring to defend himself against the knives of the enemy. At the same time three children, by the name of Allen, were pursued. Eunice, one of the three, was struck down vviih a tomahawk, which was sunk into her head ; but by reason of the haste in which the enemy retreated, she was left unscalped, and afterwards recovered. Caleb Allen, of Deerfield, made his escape ; and Samuel was taken captive, who was the only prisoner taken at this time. This lad, after a year and nine months, was redeemed. Col. Hawks, who was sent to Canada for the purpose of redeeming captives, inquiring for the lad, was informed, thnt he was unwilling to be seen, and that he expressed great dissatisfaction on hearing of his arrival. When he was brought into the presence of Col. Hawks he was un- 104 INDIAN VVAi:i. willinp; to know liini, mIiIioii^Ii \\v w;im Ins nncio, and lind always broil ;i('<|n;iini(Ml uiili liitii in I)(mmTm>I(I. Noillicr would hr n\)v',\k in llu^ Knulisli i(in;;n(< ; not lli:i1 lio had ror;;ot( of viirioiis arts ihiit ho lni^ht not bo ox- rhanj;;oud » H5turn. y tlu'0i>ts, • siirpm- u'tioii lor yoar and ^Indians, liappjest • t'onsidor utmost to tlio woods ^«ing about tacked by • 11. It bo- d, that bis \\u)y were nek track, liis vncri in minutos irrrat fury, but Capt. t for three m\ he and d a laurel, the latest with Rreat nuMi, and Mbenczer made their I hen under scout was iams, with ntinued for Capt Wil- recovercd what loss, If'' was unknown. In this action one Abbot was killed, and liieut llowley and EzekicI Wells were wounded, but ro- covcred. This is the last instance of mischief done by the enemy in the western frontiers, in what is called the first French war. Peace, however, was not finally settled with the Indians until October, 1749, when a treaty was held at Falmouth, by commissioners from the General Court and the chiefs of the Indian trdies, by whom a former treaty, with some additions, were renewed. From this important period, which being the 15th day of October, 1749, ought the peace and prosperity of the now flourishing States of New-England to receirc their date. It was at this period that her hardy sons quit the sanguinary field, and exchanged their implements of death for such as were better calculated for the cultivation and tillage of their farms. The forests, with which they are encompassed, no longer abounded with fierce and untu- tored savages ; the Indian death-song and war-whoop was no longer heard ; the greater part of the Indians that sur- vived the many bloody engagements had sought peace and retirement far westward ; the prisoners whicn the English had captured were liberated, on condition of resorting to, and remaining with them. They |)roved faithful to their promise. They took possession of the country bounding on the great lakes, and in possession of whicji their de- scendants remain to the present day. A description of whose manners and customs will be found in the succeed- ing chapter. We shall close this chapter with a few remarks relative to the state, customs and ludicrous opinions of the Indians in New-England, when first visited by our forefathers, and of their rapid depopulation since that period. We cannot even hazard a conjecture respecting the In- (Fian population of New-England, at the time of its first settlement by the English. Capt. Smith, in a voyage to this coast in 1614, supposed that on the Massachusetts islands there are about 3000 Indians. All accounts agree that the sea coast and neighboring islands were thickly inhabited. "^'^ * k Three y«ari before the arrival of the Plymouth colony, 14 ^"•^^amtr^ ■ ^ 106 INDIAN WAItS. a very mortal sickness, supposed to havj been the plague or yellow fever, raged with great violence among them in the eastern parts of New-England. Whole towns were depopulated. The living were not able to bury the dead ; and their bonies were found lying above ground many years after. The Massachusetts Indians are said to have been reduced from 30,000 to three hundred fight- ing men. In 1633 the small pox swept off great num* bers in Massachusetts. In 1763, on the island of Nantucket, in the space of four months, the Indians were reduced by a mortal sick- ness, from three hundred and twenty to eighty-five souls. The hand of Providence is notable in these surprising instances of mortality among the Indians to make room for the whites. Comparatively few have perished by vrars ; and the descendants of the few that were hot driven to the westward by the English, waste and moul- der away, and in a manner unaccountably disappear. The number in the -state of Connecticut, in 1774, was 1363. The principal part of their population in this state is at Mohegan, in the county of New- London. These are the descendants of the Mohegans, of whom frequent mention is made in the foregoing pages, as be- ing very serviceable (under the command of Uncus) to the English in their many engagements with the natives. The Mohfigani have ever exhibited great reverence for the descendants of their royal sachem. After the death of Uncus, his body, by his request,' was conveyed to Norwich, and there interred in the neighborhood of one of his lorts. This spot was selected by him previous to his death, and it was his dying request that the wliole family of Uncus should there be buried ; a request which has been strictly complied with by the Mohegans, who, although the distance is seven miles from their own bury- ing ground, have and continue to deposite there the de- scendants of their revered sachem. The number of Indians in Rhode-Island, in 17S3, was only five hundred and twenty-five. More than half these lived in Charlestown, in the county of Washington. In 1774 their number was 148;^ ; so that, in nine years the decreait was sine hvifirecl aid ftfty^scvAn. W« have V f llfBIAIf WARg. 107 plague ; them i towns bury ground are said 5d fight- at num- space of tal sick- ve souls, jrprising ke room ished by ivere hot _ ind moul- ppear. 1774, was m in this -London. of whom es, as be- Jncus) to le natives, erence for the death nveyed to )od of one )revious to the whole uest which ;ans, who, own bury- ere the de- 1 17S3, was half these ngton. In e years the not been able to ascertain the exact state of the Indian population of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire. In 1784 there was a tribe of about forty Indians at ISor- ridgcwalk, in the province of Maine, with some few other scattei'ing remains of tribes in other parts, and a number of towns thinly inhabited round Cape Cod. When the English first arrived in America the Indians had no times or places set apart for religious worship. The first settlers in New-England were at great pains to introduce among them the habits of civilized life, and to instruct them in the Christian religion. A few years intercourse with them induced them to cstabhsh several good and natural regulations. The Rev. Mr. Elliot, of Roxbury, near Boston, who has been styled the great Indian apostle^ with much la- bor learned the Natic dialect. He published an Indian grammar, and preached in Indian to several tribes, and in 1664, translated the Bible and several religious books into the Indian language. He relates several pertin&nt queries of the Indians respecting the Christian religion. Among others, whether Jesus Christ, the mediator or interpreter, could understand prayer in the Indian lan- guage ? If the father be bad and the child good, why should God in the second commandment be offended with the child ? How the Indians came to differ so much from the English in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, since they all sprung from one father? Mr. Elliot was indefatigable in his labors, and travelled through all parts of Massachusetts and Plymouth colo- nies, as far as Cape Cod. The colony had such a vene- ration for him that in an act of the General Assembly relating to Indians, they expressed themselves thus : — " By the advice of the said magistrates and of Mr. Elliot." Concerning the religioa of the untaught natives of New-England, who once held to a plurality of deities, after the arrival of the English supposed there were only three, because they saw people of three kinds of com- plexions^ viz. English, negroes and themselves. It was a notion pretty generally prevailing among them, that it was not the same God who made them who made 108 INDIAN WARS. US ; but that they were created after the white people ; and it is probable they supposed their god gained some special skill, by seeing the white people made, and so made them better ; for it is certain they looked upon themselves, and their methods uf living which they say their god expressly prescribed for them, vastly prefera- ble to the white people and their methods. With regard to a future state of existence, many of them imagined that the chichung, i. e. the shadow, or what survived the body, would at death go southward, and in an unknown but curious place would enjoy some kind of happiness, such as hunting, feasting, dancing, and the like. And what they supposed would contribute much to their happiness was, that they should there never be weary of those entertainments. The natives of New-England believe not only plurality of gods, who made and governed the several nations of the world, but they made deities of every thing they im- agined to be great and powerful, beneficial or hurtful to mankind ; yet they conceived an almighty being, whom they called Kichtau, who at first, according to their tra- dition, made a man and woman out of stone, but upon some dislike destroyed them again, and then made an- other couple out of a tree, from whom descended all the nations of the earth ; but how they come to be scattered and dispersed into countrieis so remote from one another they could not tell. They believed their supreme god to be a good being, and paid a sort of ^acknowledgment to him for plenty, victory, and other benefits. The immortality of the soul was universally believed among them. When good men died, they said, their souls went to Kichtau, where they met with their friends, and enjoyed all manner of pleasures ; when the wicked died, they went to Kitchtau also, but were commanded to walk away ; and so wander about in restless discon- tent and darkness for ever. The natives of New-England in general were quick of apprehension, ingenious, and when pleased nothing could exceed their courtesy and friendship. Gravity and eloquence distinguished them in council, address and bravery in war. They were not more easily provoked INDIAN VfARt 109 cople ; 1 some and so i upon ley say refera- aany of Jew, or thward, >y some ancingi atribute •e never )lurality itions of they im- urtful to r, whom heir tra- )ut upon lade an- all the icattered another tme god edgment believed lid, their friends, wicked amanded s discon- e quick nothing ivity and [•ess and )rovoked i ,> than the English, but when once they received an injury, it was never forgotten. In anger, they were not like the English, talkative and boisterous, but sullen and re- vengeful. The men declined all labor, and spent their time in hunting, fishing, shooting and warlike exercise. They imposed all the drudgery upon their women, who gathered and brought home their wood, planted, dressed and gathered their corn. When they travelled, the women carried their children, packs and provisions, and submitted patiently to such treatment This ungenerous usage of their husbands they repaid with smiles and good humor. The clothing of the natives was the skins of wild beasts. The men threw a mantle of skins over them, and wore a small flap, which was termed Indian breeches. The wo- men were much more modest. They wore a coat of skins girt about their loins, which reached down to their hams ; which they never put off in company. If the husband chose to dispose of his wife's beaver petticoat, she could not be persuaded to part with it until he had provided another of some sort. In the winter their blan- kets of skins, which hung loose in the summer, was tied or wrapped more closely about them. The old men in the severe seasons also wore a sort of trowsers made of skins and fastened to their girdles ; and on their feet they wore moccasons, made of moose leather, and their chiefs or sachems wore on their heads a cap decorated with feathers. Their houses or wigwams were at best but miserable cells ; they were constructed generally like arbours, or small young trees bent and twisted together, and so cu- riously covered with mats or bark, that they were toler- ably dry and warm. They made their fires in the centre of the house, and there was an opening at the top which emitted the smoke. For the convenience of wood and water, these huts were commonly erected in groves, near some river, brook or living spring. When either failed, the family removed to another place. They lived in a poor low manner. Their food was coarse and simple, without any kind of seasoning, hating neither spice, salt or bread. Their food was principally no IMDIAlf WAR!. Ti the entrails of moose, deer, bears, and all kinds of wild beasts and fowls. Of fish and snakes they were extreme- ly fond. They had strong stomachs, and no kind of food came amiss. They had no set meals, but like all other wild creatures, ate when they were hungry and could find any thing to satisfy the cravings of nature. They had but little food from the earth, except what it sponta- neously produced. Indian corn, beans and squashes, were the only eatables for which the natives of New-Eng- land labored. Their household furniture was of but small value. Their beds were composed of mats or skins. They had neither chairs or stools, but commonly sat upon the ground with their elbows upon their knees. A fpw wooden and stone vessels and instruments served all the purposes of domestic life« Their knife was a sharp stone, shell, c^r kind of reed, which they sharpened in such a manner as to cut their hair, make their bows and arrows, &c. They made. their axes of stone, which they shaped somewhat similar to our axes ; but with the difference of their be- ing made with a neck instead of an eye, and fastened with a withe like a blacksmith's chissel. The manner of the courtship and marriage of the na- tives manifested the impurity of their morals. When a young Indian wished for marriage, ho presented the girl with whom he was enamoured, with bracelets, belts and chains of wampum. If she received his presents, they cohabited together for a time upon trial. If they pleas- ed each other they joined in marriage ; but if, after a few weeks, they were not suited, the man, leaving his pre- sents, quitted the girl and sought another mistress, and she another lover. In this manner they courted until two met who were agreeable to each other. The natives of New-England although they consisted of a great number of different nations and clans, appear to have spoken the same language. From Piscataqua to Connecticut, it was so nearly the same, that the differ- ent tribes could converse tolerably together. The Mo- hegan or Pequot language was essentially that of all the Indians in New-England. The word Mohegan is a cor- ruption of Muhhekaneew, in the singular^ or of Muhhe- INDIAN WARS. Ill i of wild Bxtreme- td of food all other ttd could . They it sponta- squashes, lew-Eng- all value. They had he ground ooden and urposes of I, shell, qr manner as &c. They somewhat ,f their be- itened with of the na- When a ed the girl I, belts and sents, they they pleas- after a few ng bis pre- stress, and ad until two iy consisted ans, appear iscataqua to the diflfer- The Mo- at of all the 'an is a cor- of Muhhe- ■ :l kaheek in the plural number. The Penobscots, border- ing on Nova-Scotia ; the Indians of St. Francis, in Can- ada ; the Delawares, in Pensylvania ; the Shawnese, on the Ohio ; and the Chippewas, at the westward of lake Huron, all now speak the same radical language. CHAP. IV. OF THE DIFFERENT TRIBES OF INDIANS INHABITING THE WEST- ERN COUNTRY. Being about to speak of the wars with the savages in the western country, we shall commence with a descrip- tion of their prevailing customs and habits. They are the descendants of those who once inhabited the sea-coasts, and who were driven by the English, as mentioned in the preceding chapter, far to the westward ; so that but few of their descendants are now to be found within less than two or three hundred miles of the sea ; for though many of them have been instructed in th« knowledge of Christianity, and districts of laud have been allotted them in several of the British colonies, where they have been formed into sbcieCies ; it has been found that in proportion as they lay by their ancient customs and conform to the manners of civilized life, they dwin- dle away, either because the change is prejudicial to their cohstitutions, or because when settled among the English they have great opportunities of procuring spir- itous liquors, of which both sexes are in general inordi- nately fond ; very little care being ever taken to prevent those who are inclined to take advantage of this in trade from basely intoxicating them. This has a powerful ef- fect on their constitutions, and soon proves fatal, produ- cing dicases to which they were formerly strangers. na INBIAN WARf. ^) i Thus where a few years ago there were considerable set- tlements, their name is almost forgotten ; and those who still remain have, for the most part, joined themselves to other nations, in the interior part of the country on the banks of the lakes and rivers. The Indians in Canada, and to the south of it, are tall and straight beyond the proportion of most other nations. Their bodies are strong, but, as has been before observ- ed, this is a strength rather suited to endure the exercise of the chase than much hard labour. They have gene« rally supple limbs, and the smallest degree of deformity is rarely seen among them. Their features are regular, their complexion somewhat of a copper colour, or red- dish brown. Their hair, which is long, black and lank, is as strong as that of a horse. They carefully eradicate the, hair from every part of the body except the head, and they condne that, to a tufk at the top ; whence an erroneous idea has much prevailed, that the men of this country are naturally destitute of beards ; but it is un- questionable that it is only an artificial deprivation. They generally wear only a blanket wrapped about them, or a shirt, both of which they purchase of the F4ng- lish traders. When the Europeans first came among them, they found some nations entirely naked, and oth- ers with a coarse cotton cloth, woven by themselves, put round the waist ; but in the northern parts, their whole bodies were in winter covered with skins. The Huron Indians possess a very pleasant and fertile country, on the eastern side of the lake which bears the same name. Haifa century ago they were very numer- ous, and could raise six or seven hundred warriors ; but they have suffered greatly from the attacks of neighbor- ing tribes. They differ in their manners from any of the Indian tribes with which they are surrounded. They build regular houses, which they cover with bark ; . and are considered as the most wealthy Indians on the con- tinent, having not only horses, but some black cattle and swine. They likewise raise corn, so that after provid- ing for their own wants, they are enabled to barter the remainder with other tribes. Their country extends one hnudred and fifty miles eastward of the lake, but is 1 INDIAN WARS. 113 rable set- hose who aselves to 'y on the it, are tall ir nations, re observ- c exercise uve gene- deformity 'e regular, p, or red- and lank, ' eradicate the head, whence an nen of this it is un- ition. pcd about fthe Kng- ne among , and oth- selves, put leir whole and fertile bears the ry numer- riors ; but neighbor- any of the jd. They )ark ; and n the con- cattle and cr provid- barter the ry extends ake, but is narrower in (he contrary direction. The soil is not ex- ceeded by any in this part of the world The timber is tall and beautiful ; the woods abound with game, and a- bundance of Ash may b« obtained from the rivers and lakes; so that if it were to be well cultivated, the land would equal that of any part of the sea coast of North- America. A mi3sionary of the order of Carthusian fri- ars, by permission of the bishop of Canada, resides among them, and is by them amply rewarded for his services. . Those tribes of Indians who inhabit the banks of lakes Champlain, George and Ontario, were formerly called Iroquots ; but have since been known by the name of the Five Mohawk Nations, and the Mohawks of Cana- da. The former are called Onondagoes, Oncides, Sen- ecas, Tusearories, and Troondocks ^ these fought on the side of the English in the contest for territory with France. The Cohnawahgans and St. Francis Indians joined the French. The knowledge which we have of the Indians furtlier to the south-west, beyond 45* north latitude, is chieflj obtained from that worthy provincial officer Maj. Carver, who travelled into those parts in the year 1776 ; whose placid manners and artless sincerity could not fail of re- commending him to men whom nature alone had instruc* ted. He visited twelve nations of Indians ; among which the following appear to be the most considerable.: the Chippeways, who dwell to the southward of lake Supe- rier, and the Ottawas ; the Winnebngoes to the west of lake Michigan, who with the Saukies and Otignanmies, occupy the whole extent of country from the lake to the Mississippi, below 42* north latitude, where the Wiscon- sin river discharges itself. The Nandowcsse, the most numerous and extended Indian nation, inhabit the coun- try to the west of the river Mississippi, on the borders of Louisiana. The Indians in general are strangers to the passions of jealousy ; and the most profligate of their young men very rarely attempt the virtue of married women, nor do such often put themselves in the way of solicitation, «!• though the Indian women in general are amorous ; and before marriage not less esteemed for gratifying- their 15 lU INDIAN WARS. passions. It appears to have been a very prevalent cui' torn with the Indians of this country, before they became acquainted with the Europeans, to compliment straDg(*rs ' with their wives ; and the custom still prevails, not only among the lower rank, but oven among the chiefs them- selves, who consider such an offer as the greatest proof of courtesy they can give a stranger. The men arc remarkable for their indolence, on ivhich they even seem to value themselves ; saying that labor would degrade them, and belongs solely to the women ; while they are formed only for war, hunting and fishing ; to form their canoes, and build their houses. But they frequently make the women assist them in these, besides attending to all domestic affairs, and cultivating the land. They have a method of lighting up their huts with torches, made of the splinters cut from the pine or birch tree. The Indians have generally astonishing patience and equanimity of mind, with the command of every passion except revenge. They bear the most sudden and unex- pected misfortune with calmnt 3j and composure, without uttering a word, or the least change of countenance. Even a prisoner who knows not whether he may not in a few hours be put to the most cruel death, seems entirely unconcerned ; and eats and dripks with as much cheer- fulness as tho6C into whose hands thf;y had fallen. Their resolution and courage under sickness and pain is really astonishing. Even when under the. shocking torture to which prisoners are frequently exposed, they will not on- ly make themselves cheerful, but provoke a'^f 1 i'r'tnte their tormentors by the most i-. vere reprouchf'j. They are graceful in their deportment u[ diious occasions, observant of those in company, respectful to the o^d, of a temper cool and deliberate, by which they are nev, • in haste to speak before they have well thought of the m-^v r. and sure that the person who spoke before them lm*s iiLlshed all that he had to say. In their pub- lic councils i;very man is ^eard in his turn, according to his years, his wisdom, or his serviced to his country have ranked him. Not a whisper nor a murmur is heard from the regt while he speaks ; no indecent commendations. > > R INDIAN WARS. 115 ^nlcnt cui- oy became i straogrrs s, not only liefs them- atest proof s, on iivhich that labor e women ; nd fishing ; But they ise, besides vating the ir huts with ne or birch atience and ery passion I and unex- ire, without luntenance. ay not in a ms entirely uch cheer- en. Their lin is really torture to will not on- r ] i'( 'tnte a .^dlioUS spectful to which they irell thought poke before their pub- ccording to auntry have heard from oaendationSj no ill timed applause. The youn^ attend for their in- struction ; for hero they learn the history of their nation, arc animated by those who celebrate the warlike actions of their ancestors ; who are taught what is the interesr of their country, and how to cultivate and pursue it. Hospitality is exercised aniong them with the utmost gener>si*7 and good will. Their houses, their provi- siopf , RH'i even their young women are presented to a ^ucsi. 'i'o those of their own nation they are likewise very humane and benificent. If any of them succeed ill in httnting, if the harvest fails, or his house is burnt, he feels no other effect of his misfortune than its giving bim an. opportunity of experiencing the benevolence and re- gard of his countrymen ; who for that purpose, have al- most every thing in common. Hut to the enemies of his country, or to those who have privately offended him, the native American is implacable. He never indeed makes use of oaths, or indecent expressions, but cruelly conceals his sentiments, till by treachery or surprise he can grat- ify his revenge. No length of time is sufficient to allay his resentment ; no distance of place is great enough to protect the object ; he crosses the steepest mountains, pierces forests and traverses the most hideous deserts ; bearing the inclemency of the 'season, the fatigues of the expedition, the extremes of hunger and thirst, with pa- tience ani cheerfulness, in hopes of surprising his enemy, and exercising upon him the most shocking barbarities. When these cannot be effected, the revenge is left as a legacy transfered from generation to generation, from fa- thf V to son, till an opportunity offers of taking what they think ample satisfaction. To such extremes do the In- dians push their friendship, or their enmity ; .and such indeed is in general the character of all uncivilized na- tions. They however esteem nothing so unworthy a man of sense as a peevish temper, and a pronencss to sudden and rash anger. On the other hand, they are highly sensible of the u- tility an 1 pleasures of friendship ; for each of them, at a certain age, make choice of some one nearly of the same standing in life to be their most ii.timate and bosom friend. These two enter into mutual engagements, which they 116 IMDIAIf WARS. oblige themselves to brave any danger and run any risk, * to asiist and support each other. This attachment is even carried to far as to overcome the fear of d?ath, which they consider as only a temporary separation ; be- ing persuaded that they shall meet and be united in friend- ship in the other world, never to be separated more ; and that there they shall need one another's assistance as well as here. It does not appear that there is any Indian nation that lias not some sense of a Deity, and a kind of supersti- tious religion. Their ideas of the nature and attributes of God are very obscure, and some of them absurd ; but they conceive of him as the Great Spirit, and imagine that his more immediate residence is on the island of the great lakes. They seem to have some idea that theire are spirits of a higher order than man ; and supposing them to be every where present, frequently invoke them and endeavor to act agreeably to their desires. They likewise imagine that there is an evil spirit, who they say is always inclined to mischief, and bears great sway in the creation. This indeed is the principal object of their devotion. They generally address him most- heartily, beseeching him iq do them no harm. But supposing the others to be propitious, and ever inclined to do good, they intreat those spirits to bestow blessings upon them and prevent the evil spirit from hurting them. Maj. Car; ver relates, that one of the most considerable chiefs o- mong the Ottawas, with whom he remained a night, on attending him to his canoe the next morning, with great solemnity and in an audible voice offered up a fervent •prayer, as he entered his canoe, " that the Great Spirit would favor him with a prosperous voyage ; that he would give him an unclouded sky and smooth waters by day, and that he might lie down by night on a beaver blanket, enjoyiiig uninterrupted sleep and pleasant dreams ; and also that he might find continual security under the great pipe of peace." 'J'o procure the protection of the good spirit they imagine it necessary to distingiiish-themselves, and that they must, abov« all other attainments, become good warriors, expert hunters and steady marksmen. Their priests oft^ persuade the people that they have is M I . INDIAN WARS. 117 any risk, - :hment is of cl?Qtb, ition ; be- in friend- Dore ; and istance as latiun that ' supersti- attributes surd ; but d imagine land of the that there supposing ivoke them BS. They 10 they say it sway in 5ct of their t- heartily, posing the do good, ipon them Maj. Car; e chiefs o- . night, on with great ) a fervent reat Spirit it he would •s by day, it blanket, iams ; and r the great )f the good emselves, ;, become smen. they have revelations of future events, and are authorised to com- mand them to pursue such and such measures. They also undertake to unfold the mysteries of religion and to solve and interpret nil their dreams. They represent the other world as a place abounding with &n inexhaustible plenty of every thing desirable, where they shall enjoy the most full and exquisite gratification qf their senses.' This is doubtless the motive that induces the Indian to meet death with such indifference and composure ; none of them being in the least dismayed at the news that he has but a few hours or minutes to live ; but with the greatest intrepidity sees himself Aipon the brink of being separated from all terrestrial things, and with great ser- enity talks to all around him. Thus a father leaves his dying advice to his children, and takes a formal leave of all his friends. They testify great indifference for the productions of art ; "It is pretty, I like to look at it," but express no curiosity about its construction. Such however is not their behavior when they are told of a person who dis- tinguishes himself by agility in running ; is well skilled in hunting ; can take a most exact aim ; work a canoe along a rapid with great dexterity ; is skilled in all the arts which their stealthy mode of carrying on a war is ca- pable of; oris acute in discovering the situation of a country, and can without a guide pursue his proper course through a vast forest, and support hunger, thigst and fa- tigue with invincible firmness ; at such a relation their attention is aroused. They listen to the interesting tale with delight, and express in the strongest terms their es- teem for so great and so wonderful a man. They generally bury their dead with great decency, and deposite in the grave such articles as the deceased had made the greatest use of, and been most attached to ; as his bows and arrows, pipes, tobacco, &.C.; that he may not be in want of any thing when he comes to the other country. The mothers mourn for their children a long time, and the neighbors make presents to the father, and he in return gives them a feast. Every band has a leader, who bears the name of sa* chem or chief warrior, and is chosen for his tried valour 118 INDIAN WAES. ■*!: or skill in conducting the wnr. . To him is entrusted all military operations ; but his authority does not extend to civil affairs, that pre-eminence l:eing given to another, who possesses it by a kind of hereditary claim, and whose assent \f necessary to render valid all conveyances of land, or treaties of whatever kind, to which he affixes the mark of the tribe or nation. Though these military and civil chiefs are considered the heads of the band, and the latter is usually styled king, yet the American Indians consider themselves as controlled by neither civil or mil- itary authority. Every individual regards himself as free and independent, and would never renounce the idea of liberty ; therefore injunctions, conveyed in the style of a positive command, would be disregarded and treated with contempt. Nor do their leaders assume an ascendency repugnant to these sentiments, but merely advise what is necessary to be donie, which is sufficient to produce th6 most prompt and effectual execution, never producing a murmur. Their great council is composed of the heads of tribes and families, and of those whose capacity has raised them to the same degree of consideration. They meet in a house built in each of their towns for that purpose, and also to receive ambassadors ; to deliver them an answer, to sing their traditionary songs, or to commemorate the dead. In these council;! they propose all such matters as concern the state, and which have already been diges- ted in the secret councils, at which nona but the head men assist. The chiefs seldom, speak much themselves at these general meetings, but entrust their sentiments with a person who is called their speaker or orator, there being one of this profession in every tribe or town ; and their manner of speaking is natural and easy ; their words strong and expressive, their style told, figurative and laconic, whatever is told tending either to the judg- ment or to rouse the passions. When any business of consequence is transacted they appoint a feast upon the occasion, of which almost the whole nation partakes. Before the entertainment is rea- dy the principal person begins with a song on the re- markable events of their history, and whatever may tend* INDIAN WARS. 119 usted all ixtend to another, nd whose ances of le affixes s military band, and n Indians iril or mil- elf as free e idea of style of a j'ated with scendency nse what oduce th6 educing a to their honour or instruction. The others sing in their turn. They also have dances, chiefly of a martial kind ; and no solemnity or public business is carried on without §ongs and dances. As the Indians are high spirited and soon irritated, the most trifling provocations frequently rouse them to arms, and prove the occasion of bloodshed and murder., Their petty private quarrels are often decided this way, and expeditions undertaken without the knowledge or consent of the general council. These private expedi- tions are winked at and excused, as a means of keeping their young men in action, and inuring them to the exer- tions t)f war. But when war becomes a national affair, it is entered upon with great deliberation. They flrst call an assem- bly of sachems or chief warriors, to deliberate upon the affair, and every thing relating to it. In this general congress among the northern Indians and Five Nations, the women have a voice as well as the men. When they are assembled the chief sachem or president proposes (he affair they have met to consult upon, and taking up the tomahawk, which lays by him, says, " Who among you will go and flght against such a nation ? Who among you will bring captives from thence to replace our de- ceased friends, that our wrongs may be revenged 'and our name and honour maintained as long as the rivers flow, the grass grows, or the sun and moon shall endure?" Then one of the principal warriors rising, harrangues the whole assembly, and afterwards, addressing himself to the young men, inquires who will go with him and fight their enemies? When they generally rise, one af- ter another, and fall in behind him, while he walks round the circle, till he is joined by a sufficient number. On such occasions they usually have a deer, or some other beast, roasted whole ; and each of them, as they consent to go to war, cuts off a piece and eats, saying, " Thus wijl I devour our enemies ;" mentioning the na- tion they are' going to attack. The ceremony being performed, the dance commences, and they sing their war song, which has relation to their intended expedi- tion and conquest, or to their own skill, courage and 120 INDIAN WAUS. dexterity in fighting, and the manner in wliich they will vanquish their enemies. Their expressions are strong and pathetic, and are accompanied with a tone that in- spires terror. Such is the influence of their women in these consulta- tions, that tiie issue depends much upon them. If any one of them, in conjunction with the chiefs, has a mind to excite one who does not immediately depend upon them to take an active part in the war, she presents by the hands of some trusty young warrior, a string of wam- pum to the person whose help she solicits, which seldom fails of producing the desired effect. Put when they so- licit an offensive or defensive alliance with a whole na- tion, they send an embassy with a large belt of wampum and a bloody hatchet, inviting them to come and drink the blood of their enemies* The wampum use^ on these and other occasions, be- fore their acquaintance with Europeans, was only small shells, which they picked up by the sea-coasts and on the banks of the lakes. It now consists principally of a kind of cylindrical beads, made of white and black shells, which are esteemed among them as silver and gold are among us. The black they think the most valuable. Both of them are their greatest riches and ornaments, anstVering all the ends of money among us. They have the art of stringing, twisting and interweaving them into their belts, collars, blankets, &c. in ten thousand differ- ent sizes, forms and figures, so as not only to be orna- ments for every part of dress, but expressive of all their important transactions. They d}e the wampum of Vari- ous colours and shades ; and so they are made significant of almost any thing they please. By these their records are kept, and their thoughts communicated to one anoth- er, as ours are by writing. Thus the belts that pass from one nation to another, in all important transactions, are carefully preserved in the cabin of their chiefs, and serve both as a kind of record or history, and as a public treasure. Hence they are never used on trifling occa- sions. The calumet, or pipe of peace, is of no less impor- tance, nor is it less revered among them. The bowl is !!i INDIAN UTARS. 121 they will strong that in- e consulta- If any as a mind ind upon eseiits by 5 of wam- :h seldom n they so- vhole na- r wampum ind drink sions, be- 3nly small and on the yofa kind ck shells, I gold are valuable. rnaments, ley have them into nd differ- be orna- f all their m of tari- ignificant ir records ne anoth- that pass nsactionSf hiefs, and a public ng occa- ■ss impor- e bowl is made of a kind of soft red stone, easily wrought and hol- lowed out ; the slcru is of can«, or light wood, painted with ditiferent colours, and adorned with the heads, tails and feathers of the most beautiful birds, &c. ^ho use ol the calumet is to smoke cither tobacco, or some other herb used instead of it, wiien they enter into an alliance or any solemn engagement ; this being esteemed the most sacred oath that can be taken, the violation of which is. thought to be most infamous, and deserving severe pun- ishment in the other life. When they treat of war the whole pipe and all its ornaments nrf. red ; sometimes it is red only on one side, and by the disposition of the fea- thers, &c. a person acquainted with their customs'knows at first sight the intentions or desires of the nation which presents it. Smoking the calumet is also upon some OC' casions, le parts of the body to be afflicted. The scalps, those dreadful proofs of the barbarity of these Indians, are valued, and hung up in their houses as the trophies of their bravery ; and they have certain days when the yoiHjg men gain a new name or title of honor, according to the qualities of the persons to whom these scalps belonged. This name they think a sufficient re- ward for the dangers and fatigues of many campaigns, as it renders them respected by their countrymen, and terri- ble to their enemies. .. In the American revolution, Britain had the inhumanity to reward these sons of barbarity for depredations commit- ted upon those who were struggling in the cause of liberty. The widow's wail, the virgin's shriek, and infant's trem- bling cry, w6re music in their ears. In cold blood they sunk their cruel tomahawks into the defenceless head of a Miss M'Kray, a beautiful girl, who was that very day to have been married. The particulars of the inhuman trans- action follow : Previous to the war between America and Great Britnin, a British officer, by the name of Jones, an accomplished young man, resided near fort Edward. IfO liNUlAN WAltS. His visits thither became more frequent, when he found himself irresistibly drawn by charms of native worth and beauty. Miss M'Kray, whfvsc memory is dear lo luimani- ty and true affection, was the object of his |)ere<;rinalions. Mr. Jones liid not taken the precaution necessary in haz- ardous love, but had manifested to the lad}, by his c(m- stant attention, undissembied and ingenuous demeanor, that ardent affection which a susceptible heart compelled her implicitly to return. In this mutual interchange of passions, they suffered themselves to be transported on the ocean of imagination, till the unwelcome necessity of a separation cut off every springing hope. 'I'he war be- tween Great Britain and America commenced. A r'-. • moval from this happy spot was in consequence sugunor, m polled ni^o of rtcd on •ssity of war bc- A T'f ilh'viaite ay their ill pxist- I future ill inter- Despair, en Gen. ed, suc- eing en- ent was jcognise d to his raise in ht it his ad corn- convey vith the surren- y might ar from ;roically strances and nu- Lhat her cted by il hero, waited the desired cnnvryance. Mr. Jones, finding the difficulty into whii II he was hroiigitt, at length, for want of better convoy, hired a party of twelvt* Indians to carry a letter to Miss M'Kray, with his own- horse, for the purpose of carrying her to the place ap|)oiiited. 'I hey set off, fired with the anticipation of their pron)ised .premium, which was to consist of a quantity of spirits, on condition that they brotight her off in safety, which to an Indian was the most cogent stimulus the young lover could have named. Having airivrd in view of her window, they sagaciously held up the letter, to prevent tin- (ears and apprehensions which a savage knows he must excite in the sight of ten- derness and sensibility. Her faith and expectations ena- bled her to divine the business of these ferocious missiona- ries, while her frightened maid uttered nought but shrieks and cries. They arrived, and by their signs, convinced her from whom they had their instructions. If a doubt could remain, it was removed by the letter ; it was from her lover. A lock of his hair, which it contained, pre- sented his manly figure to her gloomy fancy. Here, reader, guess what must have been her ecstacy. She indeed resolved to brave even the most horrid aspect which might appear between her and him, whom she con- sidered already hers, without a sigh. She did not for a moment hesitate to follow the wishes of her lover ; and took her journey with these bloody messenger^ expecting very soon to be shielded in the arms of legitimate afTec- tion. A short distance only then seemed to separate two of'the happiest of mortals. Alas ! how soon are the most brilliant pictures of felicity defaced by the burning hand of affliction and wo ! Having risen the hill, at about equal distance from the camp and her former home, a 'second party of Indians, having heard of the captivating offer made by Mr. Jones, determined to avail themselves of the opportunity. The reward was the great obiect. A clashing of real and as- sumed rights was soon followed by a funous and bloody engagement, in which Several were killed . on each «ide. The commander of the first party, perceiving that nought but the lady's death could appease the fury of either, with a tomahawk deliberately knocked her from her horse, 128 llfDlAIf WARS. I' ' ' ml mangled her scalp from her beautifiil temples, which he exiiltingly liore as a trophy of /.ciil to the expectant and anxious Iov(M'! It was with the utmost diniculty that Mr. Jones could he kept from total delirium. His horror and indignation could not he appeased ; his remorse for having risked his most valuable treasure in the hands of savages, drove him almost to madness. When the particulars of this melancholy event reached Gen. Bur^oyne, he ordered the survivors of both these parties to immediate execution. Many persons suppose that the idea that the American Indians are descended from the ancient Jews, is a novel one. This is not the fact. Many writers h.ive suggested this opinion. Among others, James Adair,' Ksq. who had resided among the North American Indians forty years, and paid particular attention to their language, laws, cus- toms, manners, dress, ceremonies, &c. and whose accojunt of them was published in London in 1775, seems to have been fully convinced of the fact himself; and if his argu- ments do not convince others, they will at least stagger their incredulity. The following extract from thd contents of his work will show the course he takes to establish his opinion. ♦' Observations and arguments in pfoof of the American Indians being docended from the Jews. 1. Their division into tribes. 2. Their worship of Jehovah. 3. Their notion of a theocracy.' 4. Their belief in the ministration of angels. 6. Their language and dialects. 6. Their manner of counting time. 7. Their prophets and high priests. 8. Their festivals, fasts, and religious rites. 9. Their daily sacrifice. 10. Their ablutions and annointings. 11. 'f 'heir laws of uncleanness. \2. Their abstinence from unclean things. 13. Their marriages, divorces, and punishment of adultery. 14. I heir several punishments. 15. Their cities of refuge. IMDiAff WAM. 129 lieh he tilt and lat Mr. or and having avages, ulars of ordered 'cution. ilerican a novel jgested /ho had f years, VS, CU8- accopnt to have is argu- stagger contents ilish his merican lent of 16. Their purifications and ceremonies preparatory to war. 17. Their ornaments. 18. Their manner of curing the sick. 19. Their burial of the dead. 20. Their mourning for their dead. 21. Their raising seed to a departed brother. 22. Their choice of nnmo adapted to their circum- stances and the times. 2S. Their own traditions, the accounts of our English writers, and the testimonies which the Spanish and other authors have given concerning the primitive inhabitantt of Peru and Mexico." Under each of these heads the author gives us such facts as a forty years residence among them, at a time when their manners, customs, &c. had not been greatly corrupted or changed by intercourse with Europeans, had enabled him to collect ; and he assures us they are *' neither disfigured by fable nor prejudice." The rest of his work is taken up with acounts of the different na- tions among whom ho had been, with occasional reflsc- tions on their laws, &.c. The following list of names of the various Indian na- tions in North America, in 1794, with the number of their fighting men, was obtained by a gentleman, Mr. Benjamin Hawkins, employed in a treaty then made with them. The Choctaws or Flat Heads, 4500 ; Natches, 160 ; Chickasavvs, 750 ; Chcrokees, 2600 ; Catabas, 150 ; Piantas, a wandering tribe, 800 ; Kisquororas, 600 ; Haiikashaws, 250 ; Oughtenons, 400 ; Kikapous, 606; Dclawares, 300 ; Shawnese, 300 ; MiamieB, 800 ; Up- per Creeks, Middle Creeks and Lower Creeks, 4000 ; Cowitas, 7000 ; Alabamas, 600 ; Akinsaws, 200 ; An- saus, 1000 ; Padomas, 600 ; white and freckled Pianis, 4000 ; Cauzes, 1600 ; Osages, 600 ; Grand Saux, 1000 ; Missouri, 3000 ; Saux of the wood, 1800 ; Biances, or white Indians with beard, 1500 ; Asinbols, 1500 ; Chris- tian Cauzes, 3000 ; Ouiscousas, 600 } Mascotins^ 600 ; 17 : ISO llfDIAN WAnt. Lakes, 400 ; Muhcrouakes, 230 ; Folle Avoines, or Wildcats, 350 ; Puans, 700 ; Powatamig, 550 ; Mi»- safifues, wandering tribe, 2000 ; Otabas, 900 ; Chiewas,' 6000 ; Wiandots, 300 ; Six Nations, 1500 ; Round Heads, 3500 ; Algoquius, 2000 ; Nepisians, 400 ; Chal- sas, 130 ; Amitestes, 550 ; Muckniacks, 700 ; Abina* guis, 350 ; Consway Hurins, 200. Total, 58,780. CHAP. V. t^ WASHINGTON'S EXPEDITION. AND DEFEAT OP GEN. BRADDOCK BY THE INDIANS. In 1753 the French and Indians began to make in- roads on our western frontiers along the Ohio. Gov. Dinwiddie, of Virginia, was very desirous to get a letirr of remonstrance to their commander in. chief. He had applied to several young gentlemen of his acquaintance, but they were all so deficient in courage that they could not be prevailed ort, for love or money, to venture out among the savages. Our beloved Washington happen- ing to hear of it, in^stanly waited on his excellency, and offered, his services, but not without being terribly afraid lest his want of a beard should go against him. How- ever, the governor was so charmed with his modesty and manly air, that he never asked him a syllable about his age, but after thanking him for his offer, calling him ** a noble youth,'' and insisting-'on his taking a glass of wine with him, slipped a commission into his hand. The next day he set out on his expedition, which was, from start to pole, disagreeable and dangerous. Soaking rains, chilling blasts, roaring floods, pathless woods, and mountains clad in snows, oppolsed his course, but opposed in vain. The glorious ambition to serve his country, rendered him superior to all difficulties. i/ IIf»IAIf WAHS. Ill Returning homeward, be was way-laid and ehofc at by a French Indian, and though the copper-coloured ruffian was not tifteen steps distant when he fired at him, yet not even so much as tlio smell of lead passed on the clothes of our young hero. On his return to Virginia, it was found that he liad executed his negotiations, both with the French and Indiana, with such fidelity and judg- ment, that he received the heartiest thanks of the gov- ernor and council, for the very important servic;js he had doiie his country. He was now (in the 20th year of his age) appointed major and adjutant general of the Virginia forces. Soon after this, the Indians continuing their encroachments, orders were given by the English government, for the colonies to arm and unite in one confederacy, Virginia took the lead, and raised a regiment of four hundred men, at the head of which was placed Washington. With this handful of brave fellows. Col. Washington, not yet twenty4hree years of age, boldly pushed out into the Indian country, and there for a considerable time maintained the war against three times their number of French and Indians. Atthe Red Stones he came up with a strong party of the enemy, whom he engaged and effectually defeated, after having killed and taken thirty- one men. From his prisoners he obtained undoubted intelligence that the French forces on the Ohio consisted of upwards of a thousand regulars and many hundreds of Indians. But notwithstanding this disheartening advice, he still pressed on undauniodly against the enemy, and at a place called the Little Meadows, built a fart which he called Fort Necessity. Here he waited, hourly and anxiously looking for succours from New- York and Pennsylvania ; but in vain. No one came to his assist- ance. ISot long after this, his small force, now reduced to three hundred men, were attacked by an army of llOQ French and Indians. Never did the true Virginian valour shine more gloriously than on this trying occasion. To see three hundred young fellows, commanded by"^ smooth-faced boy, all unaccustomed to the terrors of war, far from home, arid from all hopes of help, shut up in a dreary wilderjiels, and surrounded by four tiipes their h 11 139 INDIAN WARS. number of savage foes ; and yet, without sign of fear, without thought of surrender, prcpar'ing for mortal com- bat. Scarcely since the days of Leonldas and his three hundred deathless Spartans, had the sun beheld its equal. With hideous whoops and yells, the enemy came on like *tt host of tigers. The woods and rocks, and tall tree tops (as the Indians, climbing to the tops of thti trees, poured down their bullets into the fort) were in one con- tinued blaze and crash of fire arms. Nor were our young Wariiors idle, but animated ly their gallant chief, plied their rifles with such spirit that their little fort resembled a volcano in full blast, roaring and discharging thick sheets of liquid fire among their foes. For three hours, enveloped in smoke and flame, they sustained the attack of the enemy's whole force, and laid two hundred of them dead on the spot. Discouraged by such desperate resist- ance, the French general, the Count de Villiers, sent in a flag to Washington, extolling his gallantry to the skies, and offering him the most honorable terms. It was stipu- lated that Col. Washington and his little band of heroes should march away, with all the honors of war, and carry with them their militarv stores and baggage. In the spring of 1755, Washington, while busied in the highest military operations, was summoned to attend Gen. Braddock, who in the month of February, had ar- rived at Alexandria with 2000 British troops. The as- sembly of Virginia had appoiuted eight hundred provin- cials to join him. The object of this army was to mapch through the country, by the way of Will's Creek, to fort Duquesne(now Pittsburgh,or fort Pitt.) As no person was so well acquainted with the frontier country as Wash- ington, and none stood so high in military fame, it was thought he would be infinitely serviceable to Gen. Brad- dock. At the request of the governor and council, he cheerfully quitted his own command, to act ar» volunteer aid-de-camp to tlfat very imprudent and unfortunate general. The army, near 3000 strong, marched from Alexandria and proceeded unmolested within a few miles of fort Pitt. On the morning of the 9th of July, when they had ar- rived within seven miles of Fort Duqucsne, the provin- INblAN WASS. 133 cial scouts discovered a large party of French and In- dians lying in ambush. Washington with his usual mod- esty observed to Gen. Braddock, what sort of enemy he had now to deal with. An enemy who v;ould not, like the Europeans, come forward to a fair contest in the field; but concealed behind rocks and trees, carry on a deadly warfare with their rifles. He concluded with begging that Gen. Braddock would grant him the honour to let him place himself at the head of the Virginia riflemen and fight them in their own way. And it was generally thought that our young hero and his eight hundred hearts of hickory, would very easily have beaten thei.i ; for they were not superior to the force, which with only three hundred he had handled so roughly twelve months before. But Gen. Braddock, who had all along treated the A- merican ofiicers and soldiers with infinite contempt, in- stead of following this truly salutary advice, swelled and reddened with: most unmanly rage, *' High times, by G — d !" he exclaimed, strutting to and fro, with arms akimbo, *' High times ! when a young buckskin can teach a British general how to fight!" Washington withdrew, biting his lips with grief and indignation, to think what numbers of brave fellows would draw short breath that day, through the pride and obstinacy of one epauletted fool. The troops were ordered to form and advance in columns through the woods. In a little time the ruin which Washington had predicted ensued. This poor devoted army, pushed on by their madcap general, fell into the fatal snare which was laid for them. All at once a thousand rifles began the work of death. The ground Avas instantly covered with tire dying and dead. The British troops, thus slaughtered by hundreds, and l3y an enemy whom they could not see, were thrown ir- recoverably into panic and confusion ; and in a few min- utes their haughty general, with twelve hundred of his brave but unfortunate countrymen, were killed. Poor Gen. Braddock closed the tragedy with great decency. He was mortally wounded in the beginning of the action, and Washington had him placed in a cart ready for retreat. Close on the left, where the weight of the French and Indian fire principally fell, Washing- k\ 154 INDIAN >TAnt. ton at the head of his Virginia riflemen, who were- dress- ed in blue, sustained the shock. At every discharge of their rii'ies the woundf'd general cried out, '' O my brave "Virginia blues ! Would to God I could live to reward you lor such gallantry." But he died. Washington caused him to be buried in the road, and to save him from discovery and the scalping knife ordered the wag- ons on their retreat to drive over his grave. Amidst all this fearful consternation and carnage, with all the uproar and horrors of a rout, rendered still more dreadful by the groans of the dying, the screams of the wounded, the piercing shrieks of the women, and the yells of the furious assaulting ravages, Washington, calm and self-collected, rallied his faithful riflemen, led them on to the charge, killed numbers of the enemy, who were rush- ing with tomahawks, checked their pursuit, and brought off the shattered remains of the F^ritish army. With regarc to our beloved Washington, we cannot but here mention two extraordinary speeches that were uttered about him at this time, and which as things have turned out, look a great deal like prophecies. A I'amous Indian warrior who assisted in the defeat of Braddock, was often heard to swear, that Washington was not born to be killed by a bullet ; for, he continued, I had seven- teen fair flres at him with my rifle, and after all I could not bring him to the ground. # And indeed whoever con- siders that a good rifle levelled by a sure marksman, hardly ever misses its aim, will readily enough conclude with this unlettered savage, that some invisible hand must have turned aside the bullets. The Rev. Mr. Davis, in a sermon occasioned by Qen. IJraddock's defeat, has these remarkable words. " 1 beg leave to point the attention of the public to that heroic youth. Col. George W^ashington, whom I cannot but hope Providence has preserved for some great service tP, |iis coLjutry.'' I jj CHAP. VI. AbVENTUliS OF CAPT. DANIEL BOON, COMPRISING AN ACCOUNT OF THE WARS WITH THE INDIANS ON THE OHIO, FROM 17«» TO 1782.— WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. It was on the first of May 1769, that I resigned my domestic happiness, and left my family and peaceable habitation on the Yadkin river in North-Carolina, to wander through the wilderness of America, in quest of the country of Kentuck}, in company with John Finley, John Stuart, Joseph Holden, James Monay, and "Wil- liam Cool. On the 7(h June, after travelling in a western direc* tion, we found ourselves on Red River, where John Fin- ley had formerly been trading with the I >dians, and from the top of an eminence saw with pleasu t the beau* tiful level of Kentucky. l%r some time we Ind experi- enced the most uncomfortable weather. We now en- camped, made a shelter to defend us from the inclement season, and began to hunt ahd reconnoitre the tountry. We found abundance of wild beasts in this vast forest. The buffal'' were more numerous than cattle on their settlements, browsing on the leaves of the cane, or crop^ ping the herbage on these extensive plains. We saw hundreds in a drove, and the numbers around the salt springs were amazing. In this forest, the habitation of beasts of every American kind, we hunted with great success until December. On the 22(\ December, John Stuart and I had a plea- sing ramble ; but fortune! changed the day at the close of it. We passed through a great forest, in which stood myriads of trees, some gay with blossoms, others rich 136 INDIAN WARS. with fruits. Nature was here a series of wonders, and a fund of delight. Heresho displayed her ingenuity and of flo^ ind fruits, beautiful- industry ly coloured, elegantly shaped, and charmingly flavoured ; and we were favoured with numberless animals present- ing themselves perpetually to our view. In the decline of the day, near Kentucky river, as we ascended the brow of a small hill, a numl»er of Indians rished out of a cane brake and made us prisoners. The Indians plundered us and kept us in confinement seven days. During this time we discovered no uneasiness or desire to escape, which made them less suspicious ; but in the dead of night, as we lay by a large fire in a thick cane brake, when sleep had locked up their senses, my situation not disposing me to rest, 1 gently awoke my companion. We seized this favourable opportunity and departed ; di- recting our course toward the old camp, but we found it plundered and our company destroyed or dispersed. About this time as my brother with another adventur- er, who came to explore the country shortly after us, were wandering through the forest, they accidentally found our camp Notwithstanding our unfortunate cir- cumstances, and our dangerous situation, rurrounded by hostile savages, our meeting fortunately in the wilderness gave Qs the most sensible satisfaction. Soon after this my compaftion in captivity, John Stu- art, was killed by the savages, and the man who came with my brother, while on a private (excursion, was soon after attacked and killed by the wolves. We were now in a dangerous and helpless situation, exposed daily to perils and death, among savages and wild beasts, not a white man in the country but ourselves. Although many hundred miles from our families, in the howling wilderness, we did not continue in a state of in- dolence, but hunted every day, and prepared a little cot- tage to defend us from the winter. On the 1st of May 1770, my brother returned home for a new recruit of horses and amunition ; leaving me alone, without bread, salt or sugar, or even a horse or a dog. I passed a few days uncomfortably. The idea of a beloved wife and family, and their anxiety on my ac- I v» IMVIAIf WABt. 187 rs, and ^enuity Eiutiful- oured ; resent- decline le brow ' a cane mdered ing this escape, dead of brake, tion not panion. ted ; di- fuund it ed. iventur- jter us, lentally ate cir- ided by derness an Stu- came ras soon 2re now Jaily to 5 not a 3, in the te of in- ttle cot- l home ing me rse or a idea of my ac- count, would have disposed me to melancholy if I hid farther indulged the thought. Qnc day I undertook a tour through the country, when the diversity and beauties of nature I met with m this charming season, expelled every gloomy thought. Just at the close of the day the gentle gales ceased ; a profound calm ensued ; not a breath shook the iremuloui leaf. 1 hiid gained the summit of a commanding ridge, and looking around with astonishing delight, beheld the ample plains and beau^ ous traels below. On one hand I surveyed the famous Ohio rolling in silent dignity, and marking the western boundary of Kentucky with incon- ceivable grandeur. At a vast distance 1 beheld the mountains lift their venerable brows and penetrate the clouds. All things were still. I kindled a fire near a fountain of sweet water, and feasted on the line of a buck which I had killed a few hours before. The shades of night soon overspread the hemisphere, and the earth seemc/d to gasp after the hovering moisture. At a dis- tance I frequently heard the hideous yells of eavages. My excursion had fatigued my body and amused my mind- I laid me down to sleep, and awoke not until the iun had chased away the night. I continued this toar, and in a few days explored a considerable part of the country, each diiy equally pleasing as the first After which 1 returned to my old camp, which had not been disturbed in my absence. I did not confine my lodging to it, but often reposed in thick cane breaks to avoid the savages, who 1 believe frequently visited my camp, but fortunately for me in my absence. No populous city, ' with all its varieties of commerce and stately structureqt, could afford such pleasure to my mind, as tb« l^aMtiei of nature which I found in this country. Until the 37th of July, I spent my time in an uninter- rupted scene of sylvan pleasures, when my brother, to my great felicity, met me, according to appointment, at our old camp. Soon after we left the place and pro^ ceeded to Cumberland River, reconnoitring that part of the country, and giving names to the different riYe(|l« In March, 1771, I returned home to my ff^pfiily, ba? ing determined to bring them as soon as poiuil^b^i a^ th^ 18 ^ I3S^ rNftiAir wjRt» risk of mjF life and fortune, to reside td Kentucliy, which I eiteeincd a second paradise. On mjr return I found my family in happy circuiw- stances, I sold my i^arin on the Yadkin, and what goods we eoold not carry with ui;, and on the 25th of Septem- ber, I77S, we took leave of our friends and proceeded on our journey to Kentucky, in company with five more families, and forty men that joined us in Powers Valley^ which is one hundred and fifty miles from the new set- tled parts of Kentneky. But this promising beginning wa9 soon overcast with a cloud of adversity. On the 10th of October the fear of our con>pany was attacked by a party of Indians ; who killed six, and wounded one man. Of these my oldest son was one that fuH in the action. 'I'hough we repulsed the enemy> yet this unhappy afiuir scattered our eatlte and brought ut'into extreme difiicuyty. We returned forty mi Fes to the settlement on t'Jlench River. We had passed over two mountains, Powul's and Walden's and were ap- proaehiRg Cumberland Mountain, when this adverse for* tu'ne overtook us. These mountains are in the wildtr<> ness, in passrn^ from the old settlement fn Virginia to Kentucky ; are ranged in a south-west and north-east direction ; are of great length and breadth, and not far distant from each other. Over them nature hath formed passes less difficult than might be expected from the view of such huge piles. The aspect of these clififs are so- wild and horrid, that it is impossible to behold them without horrorv Until the 6th of June, 177^, 1 remained with my family on the Clench, when myself and another person were solicited by Gov. iJunmore, of Virginia, to conduct a number of surveyors to the falls of Ohio. This was b tour of eight hundred miles, and took sixty-two days On my return, Gov. Dunmore gave me the command of three garrisons during the campaign against the Shawanese. In March, 1775, at the solicitation of a number of gentlemen of North Carolina, 1 attended th( ir treaty at Wataga with the Cherokee Indians, to purchase the lands on the south side of Kentucky River. ^f{l»i*^thi4, I undertook to mark out a road in the be«t INBlAlf WARS. 1S9 pnssai^e from the seUlemenU through the wilderness to Kcatiickjr. Hiivin;; collected a number of enterprising men well firmed, 1 soon ben;an this work. We proce«de«l until Tve came within fifteen miles of where Boonsburough novr stand?, where the Indians attacked us, and killed two and wounded two more of our party. This was on the 22d of iN^arch, 1775. Two days after we were again attacked by them, when we had two more killed and three w(»'n th^y «»xcrrdpd m**, and wh»n the reverse hap- INDIAN WAnf. Ul pened, of envy. The Shawanese king took great notice of me, and treated me wiih profound respect wu\ entire friendship, often entrusting me to hunt at my liberty. I frequently returned with the spoils of the woods, and as often presented some of what I had taken to him, expres- sive of duty to my sovereign. My food and lodging was in common with them, not so good indeed as I could d«- sire, but necessity made every thing acceptable. I now began to meditate an escape, and carefully avoid* ed giving suspicion. 1 continued at Chiiicothe until tho first day of June, when I was taken to the salt springs on Sciota, and there employed ten days in the manufactur- ing of salt. During this time I hunted with my Indian masters, and found the land, for a great extent about this river, to exceed the soil of Kentucky. On my return to Chiiicothe, one hundred and fifty of the choicest Indian warriors were ready to march against Boonsboroti^h. Thpy were painted and armed in a frightful manner. This alarmed me, and I determined to escape. On the 18th of June, before sun-rise, I went off se-^ cretly, and reached Boonsborough on the 20th, a journey of one hundred and sixty miles, during which I had only one meal. I found our fortress in a bad state, but wo immediately repaired our flanks, gates and posterns, and forn»ed double bastions, which we completed in ten days. One of my fellow prisoners escaped after me, and brought advice that on account of my (light the Indiana had put off their expedition for three weeks. About the 1st of August 1 set out with nineteen men to surprise Point-Creek-Town, on Scotha, within four miles ofwhich we fell in with forty Indians going against Boonsborough. We attacked them, and they soon gave way without .any loss on our part. The enemy had one killed and two wounded. We took three horses and all their baggage. The Indians havinj;; evacuated their town, and gone altogether against Boonsborough, we returned, passed them on the Cth, and on tho 7th arrived safe at Boonsborough. On the 9th the Indian army, consisting of four hundred and forty-four men, under the command of Capt. Dti* 1 1 lis IRBiAR WAMf. quesne, and clevnii other Fronchmeii nnd their mvn chiefs, arrived aiid summoned the fort to hiirrender. 1 requested tvro days consideriition, which was granted. During this wc brought in through the posterns all the horses and other cattle we could collect. On the ninth, in the evening, I informed their com- mander that we u<^e deterniiqed to defend the fort while a man was living. '! hey then proposed a treaty, they would withdniw. The treaty \\m held within sixty yards of the fort, as we suspected the savages. The articles were agreed to and signed ; when the Indians told us it was their custom for two Indians to shake hands with every white man in the treaty, as an evidence of friend- ship. We agreed to this also. They immediately grap- pled us to take us prisoners, but we cleared ourselves of them, though surrounded by hundreds, and gained the fort safe, except one man who was wounded by a heavy fire from the enemy. The savages now began to undermine the fort, liegin- ninv at the water mark of Kentucky river, which is sixty yards from the fort; this we discovered by the water be- iog muddy by the clay. We countermined them by cut- ting a trench across their subterraneous passage. The enemy discovering this by the clay we threw out of the fort, desisliMl. On the !^Oth o( August, they raised the siege, during which we had two men killed and four wounded. We lost a number of cattle. The loss of the enemy was thirty-seven killed, and a much larger number wounded. We picked up one hundred and twenty five pounds of their bullets, besides what stuck in the logs of the fort. In July, 1770, during my absence. Col. Bowman, with one hundred and sixty men, went a<;ainst the Shawanese of Old Chilicothe. He arrived undiscu ered. A battle ensued which lasted until ten in the morning, when Col. Bowman retreated thirty miles. The Indians collected all their strength and pursued him, when another engage- ment ensued for two hours, not to Col. Bowman^s advan- tage. Col. Harrod proposed to mount a number of horses, and brake the enemy's line, who at this lime fought with remarkable fury, I his desperate measure had ^ happy IVBIAI WAIfi I4fi chiefsi jiiestiMl iig this d other r com- t while y, they y yards tirticles id us it is with friend- y grap. elves of the fort »vy fire , iKJgin- is sixty Iter he- by cut- . The of the sed the id four ; of the number nty five logs of n, with WHUOSC battle en Col. slleited BngHge- advan- horsos, ht with happy efTect, and th« aafages fled on all sides. In these tiro engagements we had nine men killed and one wounded. Knemy\ loss uncertain. Only two scalna were taken. June 2dd, 1780, five hundred Indians aiid Canadians, under Col. Bird, attacked liiddle and Martin's station, on the forks of Licking lliver, wiih six pieces of artillery. They took all the inhabitants captives, and killed one man and two women, loading the otherti with the heavy bav- g;ige, and such as failed in the journey were tomahawked. riuv hostile disposition of the savages caused Gen. Clark, th« commandant at the falls of Ohio, to march with his regiment and the armed force of the country against Peccaway, the principal town of the Shawanese, on a branch of the great Miami, which he attacked with great success, took seventy scalps, and reduced the town to ashes, with the loss of seventeen men. At>out this time I returned to Kentucky with my family ; for during my captivity, my wife thinking me killed by the Indians, had transported my family and goods on horses trough the wilderness, amidst many dangers, to her father's house in North Carolina. On the 6th of Oc*'>^or, 1 780, soon after my settling again at Boonsliorougti, I went with my brother to the Diue Licks, and on our return he was shot by a party of Intians, who f:>l1owed me by the scent of a dog, which I shot and escaped. The severity of the winter caused great distress in Kentucky, the enemy during the summer having destroyed most of the corn. The inhabitants lived chiefly on bulTalo's flesh. In the spring of 1782, the Indians harraF^(»d us. In May they ravished, killed and scalped a woman and her two daughters near Ashton's station, and took a negro prisoner. Capt. Ashton pursued them with twenty-fivQ men, and in an engagement which lasted two hours, his party were obliged to retreat, having eight killed, and four mortally wounded. Their brave commander fell in the action. August 1 8th, two boys were carried off from Major Hoy's station. Capt. Uolden pursued the enemy with seventeen men, who were also defeated, with the loss of seven killed and two wounded. Our affiiirs l)«caae more W4- - f ■ f 144 IM]»UM WAM> aad more alarming. Th« savages infested the country and destroyed the whites as opportunity presented. In a field near Lexington an Indian shot a man, and running to scalp him, was himself shot from the fort, and fell ^ead upon the ground. All the Indian nations were now united against us. August 15th, five hundred Indians and Canadians came a^ainnt Briat's station, five miles from Lexington. They assaulted the fort and all the cattle round it ; but being^ repulsed, they retired the third day, .having about eighty killed ; their wounded uncertain. The garrison had four Killed and nine wounded. August 18th, Colonels Todd and Trigg, Maj. Harland and myself, speedily collected one hundred and seventy* six men, well armed, and pursued the savages. They had marched beyond the blue Licks, to a remarkable bend of the main fork of Licking River, about forty^hree miles from Lexington, where we overtook them on the 19th. 'I he savages observing us, gave way, and we, be- ing ignorant of their numbers, passed the river. When they saw our proceedings, having greatly the advantage Iq situation, they formed their line of battle from one end of the Licking to the other, about a mile from the Blue Licks. The engagement was close and warm for about jfiftoen minutes, when we being overpowered by numbers, were oblfged to retreat, with the loss of sixty-seven men, seven of whom were taken prisoners. The l>rave and much lamented Colonels Todd and Trigg, Maj. Harland, and my second son were among the dead. We were af- terwards informed th:it the Indians on numbering their dead, tindmg that they had four more killed than we, four of our people they had taken were given up to their youag warriors, to be put to death after their barbarous manner. On our retreat we were met by Col. Logan, who was hastening to join us with a number of well armed men. This powerful assistance we wanted on the day of battle. The enemy said one more fire from us would have made them give way. I cannot reflect upon this dreadful scene, without great sorrow. A zeal for the defence of their country led Uiese heroes to the scene of action, though frith a (ew men, to ' ,-'i''' INDIAN WARI. 145 untry In a nning i dead iinitc4 ; came They being^ eighty id four [arland jventy- 'Ihcy arkable y.three on the we, be- When itage in end of tie Blue about umbers, en men, ave and arland, were af- ng their we, four r young manner, vho wat ed men, if battle, ^e made >ut great ed tnese men, to attack, a powerful army of experienced warriorju When we gave way, they pursued us with the utmost eager- ness, and in every quarter spread destruction. The river was difficult to cross, and many were killed in the fight, some just entering the river, some in the water, and others after crossing, in ascending the cliffs. Some escaped on horseback, a few on fo«t ; and being dis- persed every vvhere^ in a few hours, brought the melan- choly news of this unfortunate battle to Lexington. Many widows were now made. The reader may guess what sorrow filled tlie hearts of the inhabitants, exceed- ing any thing that I am able to describe. Being rein- forced, we returned to bury the dead, and found their bodies strewed every where, cut and mangled in a dread- ful manner. 'sThis mournful scene exhibited a horror almost unparalleled : some torn and eaten by wild beasts ; those in the river eaten by fishes ; all in such a putrid condition that no one could be distinguished irom an- other. When Gen. Clark, at the falls of the Ohio, heard of our disaster, he ordered an expedition to pursue the sav- ages. We overtook thom within two miles of- their town^ and we should have obtained a great victory had not some of them met us when about two hundred poles from their camp. The savages fled in the utmost disorder, and evacuated all ^their towns. We burned to ashes] Old Chilieothe, Peccaway, New Chilicothe, and Wills Town ; entirely destroyed their corn and other fruits, and spread desolation through their country. We took seven prisoners and fifteen scalps, and lost only four men, two of whom were accidentally killed by ourselves. This campaign damped the enemy, yet they made secret incursions. In October a party attacked Crab Orchard, and one of them being a good way before the others, boldly en- tered a house in which were only a woman and her chil- dren, and a negro man. The savage used no violence, but attempted to carry off the negro, who happily proved too strong for him, and threw him on the ground, and in the struggle the woman*cut off his head with ai axe, whilst her little daughter shut the door. The 10 ^ .« .:;k "%' I4G ij«:firAiv. nARt. instantly c«me up and applied their tomahawks to the door, when the mother putting an old rusty gun barrel through the crevices, the savages immediately went oflf. From that time till the happy return of peace between the United States and Great Britain, the Indians did u& no mischief. Soon after this the Indians desired peace. Two darling sons and a brother I have lost by savage hands, which have also taken from me. forty valuable horses and abundance of cattle. A'Jany dark and sleep- less nights have I spent, separated from the cheerful son ciety of men, scorched by the summer's sun, and pinched by the winter's cold, an instrument ordained to settle- the wilderness. CHAP. VII. REMARKS ON THE INDIAN CUSTOMS AND MODE OF WARFARE;. AND THE CHANGE THAT TOOK PLACE IN CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR INTERCOURSE- WITH THE FRENCH, WITH A CONTINUA- TION OF THEIR ATTACKS ON THE FRONTIERS, DURING THE WARS BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE. Aftrb the destruction of Fhilip» and those tribes of Indians who joined him in his wars against the English, the inhabitants of the New- England colonies were in a great measure relieved from the terrors and vexations,, which they had for so long a time suffered from the hos- tilities which had existed with the Indians from the time they first handed at Plymouth. The remnants of those tribes who. had been subdued, fled to the far west and to Canada. Those who had been friendly to the English remained, and had a portion of their lands assigned them, that they might exist upon, with certain privileges of hunting, fishing, peeling bark, &c. ; but the change that took place in theii habits and mode of life, in cons/e- INDIAN nARt HI ies of glish, e in a itions^ hos- time those md to nglish thenif ;cs of e that onsfir / quence of their intercourse with the English, has prored about as destructive to theni as their wars. At the present time there are -a few miserable remnants of ihera remaining in ciifferent parts cjf the fcOuntry. . The French havitig possession of Ihe Canaiias and Nova-Scotia, gave them great advantages in getting a complete contrbl over the Indian tribes, on all the fron- tiers of the north and east. They pursued a very diflfercnt course toward them, from that of- the English. Instead of destroying them, they adopted the plan of- conciliating and improving their condition. Missiona- ries wore sent out from France by the Jesuits, who adoptc'j l.ieir manner of living, aiid established them- selv€3 at the various posts throughout the country ; introduced among them the Roman Cathotic religion, Tvh'- ■ ey readily embraced, it being more congenial to ; ideas of worship than any other that they had aiiy knowledge of. All the Indian tribes in Canada and Nova-Scotia, at the present time, strictly conform to the catholic faith, and have their churches and priests. One of their sachems being asked why they were so strongly attached to the French, from whom they could not ex- pect to receive so much benefit as from the 'English^ gravely answered, *' Because the French have taught us to pray to God, which the English never did,'' It was the policy of the French government, in the settlement of the Canadas, to gain an ascendency and control over all the Indian tribes, in order to make them subservient to their plans, in .^itiing them in their con- quests, and in enabling them to keep possession of the us trav- junction lere the ccording ed of an en chil- th them vvateh, Ir couch, lie nurse sing the hatchets, fell resolutely upon the Indians, and degpatchefil all excepting a boy and an old woman, wlio oscapec(, after being severely wounded, faking off the scalps, and embarking in a canoe, they paddled down the river, and at length arrived safely at fjEavcrhill. A reward of fifty pounds was granted to the heroine, by iho General Court of Massachusetts, and many valuable presents were m?'!e to her by individuals. The brave act was the toj>ic of conversaftion throughout the country. Tbe usual route of the Indians, on their way to the frontiers of New Hampshire, was by the way of Winni- piscogee lake. The distan::e from Cochecho falls, 19 the town of Dover, to the southeast bpy of that lake, is about thirty milf^. In one of their incursions, they made their first appearance at Dover, where they sur- prised and killed Joseph Flam, and took three of his children ; the rest of the family escaped to the garrison. Their next onset was at Lamprey river, where they . killed Aaron Rawlins and one of his children, taking his wife and three children captive. His brother Samuel also lived about half a mile dis- ' tant on the same river. It ^occms the Indian scout con* sistcd of eighteen, who prubably had been reconnoitering some time, and intended tp have destroyed both the fami- lies, and for that purpose divided, and nine went to each house,; but the party that went to Samuel Rawlins'/s, beatiiig in the windows, and finding the family gone, im- mediately joined their companions, who were engaged at Aaron's. Mis wife went out at the door, perhaps sooner than they would otherwise have assaulted the house, and was immediately seized, and one or two of her childreo who fqllovved her. Her husband being alarmed, secured the door before they could enter, and with his eldest daughter, about twelve years old, stood upon his defence, i'epeatedly firing wherever they attempted to enter, rnd at the same time calling earnestly to his neighbqrs for .h^lp ; but the people in the several garrisoned houses hear, apprehending from the noise atid incessant firings the number of the- enemy to be greater than they were, and expecting every moment to be attacked therbselveai) di^ not venture to coma to his assistanqe. Having fdjr 20 M^ 154 iir»iAN rrAiia tome time bravely withstood such UDPqtial force, he wni at last killed by thoir rundom shots tl)rou;!;h tho hoiiso, ^'hich thoy then broke open, nnd killed his daughlrr. They scalped hini, nnd cut off his daii<;ht;^r's head, cither through haste, or probably being cnr;igcd against her, on account of the assistance she had alForded her f* ihcr in their defence, which evidently appenred by her hands being soiled with powder. His wife nnd two cliildren, a son nnd daughter, they carried to Canada. Tho VTomnn was redeemed in a few yonrs. 'i'hc son was adopted by the Indians, and lived with them all his days ; ho cnme into l*cnncook with the Indigns after the peace, nnd expressed to some people with wh')m he conversed, much resentment against his \inclc Samuel Rawlins, on supposing ho had detained from his mother some proper- ty left by his father, but manifested no desire of return- ing to Newmarket again. The daughter married with a Frenchman, nnd when she \vas near sixty years old, returned with her husband to her nntivc place, in expcc* tation of recovering the patrimony she conceived was \eh at the death of her father ; but the estate having been sold, they were disappointed, and after a year or two went back to Canada, Within the town of Dover were many families of Quakers ; who scrupling the lawfulness of war could not be persuaded to use any means for their defence ; though equally exposed with their neighbors to an enemy who made no distinction between thent, One of these peo- ple, Ebenezer Downs, was taken by the Indians, and grossly insulted and abused by them, because he i efused to dance as the other prisoners did, for the diversion of their savage captors. Another of them, John Manson, who lived on the outside of the town, in a remote situav tion, could not be persuaded to remove to a garrison, though he had a large family of children. A party of thirteen Indians, called French Mohawks, had marked his bouse for their prey, and lay several days in ambush, waiting for an opportunity to assault it. While Hanson with his eldest daughter were gone to attend the weekly meeting of friends, and his two eldest sons were at work; m a DMjuiow at some distance, the Indians entered tbt llf»lAN WARS. IM he WAi hotiMO, ughlrr. , cither her, on ilior in tuinds liklrrn, . The ion Nvas s (Inys ; I pence, iversed, tins, on proper- return- ed with irs old, ex pec* /cd \VU9 iuiving year or lilies of >uld not though ny who sc peo- ns, nnd I efused sion of anson, s situar irrison, arty of narked mbushy Innson weekly t work; ed th« i house, killed and acolped two iniall children, and took his wife, with her infant of fourteen days old, her nurse, two duuj^htcrs end u son, and after riflin^^ the house, carried them off. This was done so suddenly and se- cretly, that the first person who discovered it was the eldest daugiiter, at her return from the meeting before her father. Scein};; the two diildrcn dead at the door, Bho gave a shriek ufdiHtresi^, which was distinctly heard by her mother, then in the liands of the enemy amonj; tiio bushos, and by her brothers in the meadow. The people' being alarmed, went in pursuit ; hut the Indians cautiously avoiding all paths, went off with their captivei undiscovered. The woman, though of n tender consti. tution, had a firm and vigorous mind, and passed through the various hardships of an Indian captivity, with much resolution and patience. When her milk failed, she supported her infant with water, which she warmed in her mouth, and dropped on her breast, till the squaws tauglit her to beat the kernel of walnuts and boil it with bruised corn, which proved a nourishing food for her babe. They were all sold to the French, in Canada. Hanson went the next spring and redeemed his wife, the three younger children and the nurspj^but he could not obtain the elder daugliter, of seventeen years old, though he saw and conversed with her. After this disaster had befallen his family, Hanson removed the remainder at them. to the house of his brother, who, though of the same religious persuasion, yet had a number of lusty sons, and always kept his fire-arms in good order, for the purpose of shooting game. These and oilier insolences of the cnem^ being daily perpetrated on the frontiers, caused the governments to resolve on an exp^jdition to Norridgewog. The captains Moulton arid Harman, both of Yoik, each et the head of a company of one hundred men, executed their orders with great address. They completely invested and sur- prised that vill.igc ; killed the obnoxious Jesuit, with about eighty of his Indians ; recovered three captives ; destroyed the chapel, and brought away the plate and furniture of the altar, and the devotional flag, as trophies ♦f their victory-. When the attack commenced, the noiie w I ' > ! ! i i56 IVPIAN WARI. and tumult gnvo Father Hastes notice of the danger hi« converts were in. Not intimidated, he went out to meet the assailants, in hopes to draw all their attention to himself aWd secure Ms Hock, at the peril of his own life. Me was not disappointed. As soon as he appeared, the English set up a shout, which was followed by n show( r of shot, and hd fell near a cross which he had arected in the mid- dle of the village, and with him seven Indians, who had accompanied him to shelter him with their own bodies. The ImKians, in the greatest consternation at his death, immediately took to flight, and crossed the river, sonie by fording, ann others swimming. The enemy ])ursued them tintjl they entered far into the woods; and then returned, and pillaged and burnt the church and the wigwams. Ralle was then in the sixty-eighth ytsu* of his age, and had resided in his mission at Norridgcwog twenly-six years ; havii^ befre spent six years in travelling among th{)s, and elevated on poles, entered Dover in triumph^ and proceeded thence to Boston ; where they received the bounty of one hur.dred pounds for each, out of the ]public treasury. Encouraged by this success, Lovewell marched a third time ; intending to attack the villages of Pequawket, on the upper part of the river Saco, which h»d been the resi- dence of a formidable tribe, and which they still occasion- ally inhabited. . His company at this time consisted of forty-six, including a chaplain and surgeon. Two of them proving lame, returned ; another falling sick, tliey halted and built a stockade fort on the west side of great Ossipee pond ; partly for the accommodation of the sick man, and partly for a place of retreat in case of any misfortune. Here the surgeon was left with the sick man, and eight of the company for a guard. The number was now re- duced to thirty-four. Pursuing their march to the north- ward, they came to a pond, about twenty-two miles dis- tant from the fort, and encamped by the side cf it. Early the next morning, while at their devotior_.<, they heard the report of a gun, and discovered a single Indian, standing on a point of land, which runs into the pond, more than a mile distant. 'I'hey had been alarmed tlie preceding night by noises , round their camp, which they imagined were made by Indians, and tiiis opinion was now strengthened. They suspected that the Indian was placed there to de- coy them, and that a body of the enemy was in their front. A consultation being held, they determined to march forward, and by encompassing the pond, to gain the place where the Indian stood ; and that they might " r action, they disencumbered themselves of ready their p?sckg, and left them, without a §uard, at the north- i ii liNDIA;* WARS. 159 thfc hetni )f Wake- 3ve well's u, at this consider- * I Indians liich they ploit. tched on triumph^ received It of the id a ihini wket, on the resi- oc.casion- sisted of 3 of them By halted t Ossipee man, and isfortune. »nd eight ? now le- le north- iies dis- Early leard the standing e than a ing night ed were gthened. re to de- in their lined to to gain \y might elves of e north- east end of the pond, in a pitch-pine plain, where the trees were thin, and the brakes, at that time of the year, small. It happened that Lovewoirs mt^rch had crossed £1 carrying-place, by which two parties of Indians, consist- ing of forty-one men, commanded by Paugus and Wahwa; who had been scouting down Saco river, were rt'turniiig to the lower village of Pequavvket, distant about a mile and a half from this pond. Having fallen on his track, they followed it till they came to the packs, which they removed ; and counting them, found the number of his men to be less than their own. They therefore placed themselves in ambush, to attack them on their return. The Indian who stood on the point, and was returning' to the village by another path, met them, and received their fire, which he returned, and wounded Lovewell and another with small shot. Lieutenant Wyman firing again, killed him, and they took his scalp. Seeing no other enemy, they returned to the place where they had left their packs, and while they were looking for them, the Itidians rose and ran towjird them with a horrid yelling. A smart firing commenced on both sides, it being now about ten o'clock. Capt. Lovewell and eight more were killed on the spot. Lieut. Karwell and two others were wounded. Several of the Indians fejl; but, being supe- rior in number, they endeavered to surround the party, who, perceiving their intention, retreated ; hoping to be sheltered by a point of rocks which ran into the pond, and a few large pine trees standing on a sandy beach. In this forlorn place, they took their station.. On theii right was the mouth of a brook, at that time unfordable ; on thttir left was the rocky point ; their front was partly covenid by a deep bog and partly uncovered, and the pond was in their rear. The enemy galled them in front and flank, and had them so completely in their power, that had they made a prudent use of their advantage, the whole company must either have been killed, or obliged to sur- render at discretion ; being destitute of a mouthful of sus- tenance, and an escape being impjractical?)e. Under the conduct of Lieut. Wyman, they kept up their fire, and showed a resolute countenance, all the remainder of the jday ; during which| their chaplain, Jonathan Frye, £usign .#* ■ Hi I i»!HH* • KiO »NDi.\.>r nAits. Robbing, anil one mor«, were mortally wounded. The Indians invited thorn to surrender, by holding up ropes to them, and ende;rv'ored 4o ifttimidate them by their hideoUs yells ; but they determined to die rather than yield ; and by their well directed fire, the number of the savages was thinned, and their cries became fainter, till, just before night, they quitted their advantageous ground, carrying off their killed and wounded, and le iving the dead bodies of Lovevvell and his men unscalped. The shattered remnant of this brave comi)any collected themselves together, found three of their number unable to move from the spot, eleven womided but ahle to march, and nine who had received no hurt. It was melancholy to leave their dying cornpan- ions behind, but there was no possibility of removing iheiTi. One of them. Ensign Rohbins, desired them to lay his j;un by him charged, that if the Indians should return be- fore his death, he might be able fo kill one more. After the rising of the moon, they quitted the, fatal spot, and di- rected their march toward the fort, where the surgeon and guard had been left. To their great surprise, they found it deserted. In the beginning of the action, one .man (whose name has not been thtii^dit worthy to be .transmitted to posterity) quitted the field, and fled to tl^e fort ; where, in thfe style of Job's messenger, he informed them of Lovewell's death, and the defeat of the whole company ; upon which they made th« best of their way •home, leaving a quantity of bre.id and pork, which was a seasonable relief to the retreating survivors. From this plfice, they endeavored to get home. Lieut. Farwell and the chaplain, who had the jourtial of the march in his pocket, and one more, perished in the woods, for want of dressing for their wounds. The others, after enduring the most severe hardships, came in one after another, and were nqt^pnly received with joy, but were recompensed for their valor, and sufferings ; and a generous provision was made for the widows and children of the slain. fn the month of August, M. Rigaud de Vadreuil marched from Crown Point, with ^bout eight hundred French and Indians, and invest;i defend jmewa* , vrbich Lcrtion8, alleries, )tb, that i% were enemy, mded to- )istened, and the roaching ontinued nguished Jebeline a sort of gotSj set arrows e proved lation of tb vfbicb ; Idie^herii complied, and in the morning, before t^e time had expired, Debeline apprcQched with lifty men, under fi fla;^, which he planted within twenty rods of the fort. A parley was then agreed on, and Stephens admitted a lieutenant and two men into the fort «s hostages, and the same number were sent out to DebeKne^ who de^ manded that the garrison should lay down their artns, {>ack up their provisions in blankets, surrender the fort, and b« conducted prisoners to Montreal > and Stephens was requested to meet him without the fort, and give an answer. Stephens accordingly met the French com- mander, but before he had time to return his answer.* Monsieur threatened that if the terms were rejected, the fori should be stormed, and in case any of his men should he killed, the garrison should be put to the sword. Ste- piiiens cooly replied, that as he had been intrusted by bis government with the command of the fort, he she^uld hearken to no terms until he was satisfied that he could no longer defend it; and added, that it was but a poor Inducement to surrender, if all were to be put to the sword for killing one of his men, when it was probabte he had already despatched several. Debeline replied, ** Do as you please — I am resolved to have the fort, or die ; go and see if your men dare £ght any longer, and give me a quick answer^" Stephens returned to the fort and found bis men unanimously determined to defend the place or die in the attempt. This resolution was communicated to the French commander (bout noon ; the hostages were exchanged^ and the firing Wat renewed, with a shout from the Indians, and it continued until di^» light the next momiug, when Stephens was familiarly saluted with "good raor-t* .g," from the enemy, when a proposition was made for a cessation of aims for ivrt hours. Soon after two Indians approached with a fla^j and promised if Stephens would sell them provisions, they would leave, the place withiout further efforts. In reply, they were told that five bushels of «om would be given for each captive in Canadc, for whom tbey should give hostages, to remain until the captives should be de- livered. Debeline, convinced that he could not operate upon the fears of his enemy, or gain possession of the I ^^^m 164 IlfDIAN WARS. ■V ! place Avilhout an assault, continued n distant fire n bliort time ; ther reluctantly withdrew from the for! In the attack, whi'jh continued three d f«V' 5<«p) lens states that thousands of balls were poured yet not a nian !»tjire, and committed many savage acts at Keene, Walpole, and other places in that vicinity. They afterwards, be- it]g joined by other Indians, made an assault on the gar- rison of John Kilburn, in which were himself, John Peak, o boys and some women ; who bravely fend« i':.") house, and r'jliged the enemy to retirej with considu. abl^j loss. -* -, The defence of Kilburn's garris'^n was one of the most heroic and suceessvil efforts of personal courage and Vft ir recorded in t^t- anna!.H of Indian warfare. The _**, ] I 168 INDIAN WAftli. numbnr of Iiulinns was about two hundred, aguinst whomj John Kilburn, liis son John, in hia eighteenth year, John Peak tnd h a wi thu wife arid daughter of Kilburn, were obli""CHi to « . htcnd for their lives. The leader of the Indiana, named Philip, was well acquainted with Kilburn, and having approached near the garrison and secured himself behind a tree, called out to those in tho house to surrender. *' Old John, young John," said he, "1 know you, come ou^ }'?i. . »v(j give you good quar- ter." " Quarter," vociferated Kilburn, with a voico of thunder, "you black rascals be gone, or we'll quarter }ou." The Indians soon rushed forward to the attack, bit were repulsed by Kilburn and his men, who were aided by the females in running bullets and in loading their guns, of which they had several in the house. All the afternoon, one incessant firing was kept up till near sundown, whei) the Indians began to disappear ; and as the sun sunk behind the western hills, the sounil of th<^ guns and the cry of the war whoop died away "n silence. Peak, by an imprudent exposure befote the port hole, received a bull in his hip, whieh, for want of surgical aid) proved fatal on the fifth day. The New-Hampshire soldiers had become so noted for hardy courage and agility, so habituated to fatigue and danger, and so well acquainted with the Indian mode of warfare, that by the express desire of Lord Louden, three rangiA;^ companies v ere formed of them. They were eminently useful in scouring the woods, procuring intelligence, and skirmishing with detached parties of the enemy. These compri.\ies were afterwards formed into one body, and were called Rogers's Rangers. Maj. Robert Rogers being appointed to the command, and in which John (ark, afterwards the hero of Bennington, was capi ) e had been iaken by the Indians, anu was for pcmc time a prisoner ampng them^ but had fortunately made his escape.. Maj. Rygcrs was an officer of daring courage, and indefp.tigablo in the execution of all enterprises entrusted to him. He {idopted the plan of advancing against the enemy in two columns of single files, parallel to each other, within hailing distance ; by which means they \- V • ,M^ IITDJAM WAM< 100 whom> \ John ilburn, acier of li with iun and ) in thu said he, d quar- ^oico of quarter attack, 10 were loading ie. All till near and as of the silence, rt hole, ical aid) ,0 noted fatigue an mode oudcny They ocuring rties of formed angers* nimand, ihero of by the theni^ ige and trusted inst the |to each Ins they were in little danger from ambuscades, or from attacks in front, or on cither flank. Tiiis plan has since been generally priicticcd by our commanders, in their wars with the Indians ; and had Gen. Hraddock adopted it, agreeably to VVasiiington's advice, he would most proba- bly have saved his army. This corps of rangers were of great service in the de- fen( of our frontiers against tlu^ Trench and Indians, and their daring exploits were the common theme of conversation at tliat time throughout the country. Many who served in it were afterwaids commissioned, and be- came distinguished olficers in the continental army of the revolution. During the absence of Lord Loudon, who had been sent with a large force against Louisburg, the main body of Canadians and Iqdians, under the command of Mont- calm, made an attack on fort William Henry, command- ed by Col. Monroe, a British officer. Gen. Webb at this tjino lay at fort I'idward, with the main army, con- sisting principally of provincial troops. The force under Col. Monroe consisted of two thousand and two hundred regulars and provincials ; four hundred and fprly-ninc of whom were posted in the fort, and the reqnainder in a ibrlifiod camp, on the eminence where fort George was subsequently built. The siege, which was continued for six days, was vigorously pressed, and IVJonroe defended his fort and fortified camp with spirit ; but having burst many of his guns and mortars, ipnd expended most of his ammunition, he was compelled to surrender. A capitu- lation was signed on the ninth, by which the froops were allowed to retain their arms, and vere to be escorted to fort Edward. Soon after the capitulation was signed, a detachment of the French army took possession of Monroe's works. About the same time the Jndians rushed over the para- pets, and began to plunder such small articles as they oould seize with impunity, and at length commencefl their depredations on the officers' baggage. To prevent the Indians from becoming intoxicated, the whole pf the remaining liquor, both in the fort and camp, wqs stoye. Col. Monroe percjeiving their conduct, gave orders fj^r 22 ,. • . .'.^ .{T^ -^t rp*" 170 INDIAN WARf. marching about midnight, nnd nt the time assigned t!i« troops were drawn up nnd put in motion ; but being in- formed that a large body of the savages were on the road, for the purpose of interceptiug the march, gave orders for the troops to return to camp, where they continued without shelter until the next morning ; the Indians in the mean time hovering about the lines, indicating their savage designs. Early the next morning, the troops were ordered to prepare for the march ; but it was observed that the In- dians indicated more ferocity than in the preceding night, each carrying a tomahawk, or other weapon of death, in his hand ; and they continued to plunder the baggage of the of^ccrs. Col. Monroe complained of a breach of the articUs of capitulation, but to no etfcct fie was told by the French officers, that the savages might bo appeased by giving up the private property of the troops ; to which he consented, and the plan was generally adopt- ed. But the blood thirsty tigers were not so ensily glutted. They soon seized the officers' hats, guns and swords, and violently forced off tlieir clothing, in some instances not sparing even their shirts, and this was soon followed by a scene which beggars description. They rush«^d upon the sick and woundod, whom they butchered and scalped, in the presence of the troops ; the negroes, mulattoes and friendly Indians were next dragged from the ranks, and shared the same fate ; one of the latter they burnt to death. At length, with great diffi- culty, the troops left the intrenched camp, but without the promised escort, and had barely cleared it, when the rear of the column was attacked, and many killed and scalped, withoutdiscrimination. Monroe then brought the troops to a halt,, but in great confusion As soon as the men in front perceived the danger in the rear, they pressed forward until they reached a French guard at la Corne's camp, followed by the savages, who continued their murders by stabbing, tomahawking and scalping all within their power. The ivomen accompanying the troops, unable to resist, were seized, their throats cut, their bodies ripped open, and their bowels torn out and thrown in their faces ; the children were taken by the IttblAN WARB. ITl iption. they ; the ragged of the it diffi- ithout jen the d and irought oon as they d at la tinued calping ng the ts cut, ut and by the i ^ooIk, and their bruins dashed out nga'intt rocks and treus ; and it is stated that many of the savages drank the hearts bluc>d of their victims, as it flowed reeking from the horrid wounds. IVotection was now demanded from the French guard, but it was refused, and ti)e unfortunate troops were told that they must scatter in the woods, and seek their own safety. Finding no other alternative, they rushed dei- perately through the savages, attempting to escape by flight, but being pursued, many were tomahawked, whila others were so fortunato us to outstrip their pursuers, and to reach fort Edward, but in a horrible plight, after secreting themselves through the following night, in the thick woods and swamps, stripped even to nudity. Col. Monroe, and several of his oflicers and men, were earned back to the French camp, where they remained until an escort was furnished them to fort Edward. During these horrid transactions, the French troops remained idle spectators of the scene. La Corne, who had great influence among the savages, probably fore- seeing the massacre, immediately after the capitulation was signed, sent for Col. Frye, commanding the Massa- chusetts regiment, and informed him that he well re- membered the humanity he had shown to his coumtrym'"^ in Nova Scotia ; that he should embrace the present ( :• |)ortunity to express bis gratitude, and reward his hu- manity ; and that neither he, nor any of the Massachu- setts troops, should receive msult or injury from the Indians. Uut during the whc-le transaction, ho kept at a distance, nor did he send a party to afford the promised protection, or use his intluence to moderate the ven- geance of the Indians. On receiving intelligence of the capitulation. Gen. Webb ordered five hundred men to meet the French escort, and conduct the captured troops into his camp ; but to his surprise, instead of meeting the escort, the captives were discovered flying through the "woods singly or in small parties, in the greatest distress and conster- nation ; many exhibiting the horrid cuts of the knife and tomahawk, and some in a state of delirium, and &$ar^ exhausted. '•> V . 7 %t ft I I7i iNdixn waas. The individual exploits of several of the captives may not be uninteresting. In the confusion consequent upon the attack upon the .defenceless troops, an Indian chief seized Cbl. Frje, plundered and stripped him of his clothes, even to his shirt, and then led him into the woods in a direction and manner which left no doubt as to the design of the ferocious chief. Arriving at a secluded spot where the colonel expected to meet his fate, he deter* mined to make one effort for his life, and roused by des- peration, with no other arms than those nature gave him, ne sprang upon the savage, overpowered and killed him on the spot, and fleeing rapidly into a thick wood, he eluded the search of the other Indians. After wandering in various diitctions for several days, subsisting wholly on whortleberries, he reached fort Edward, and joined his Suffering companions. Capt. Juhn Burk, of Frye's regiment, was seized, and after a violent struggle, stripped of the whole o( his clothes, and afterwards escaped into the woods. Straying in various directions, he was overtaken by darkness in the margin of a morass, and unable to direct his course, lay down in the thick grass and passed the night, covered only by the damp vapor of the swamp. The next day h^ fenewe'd his march, and fortunately arrived safely at fort Edward. At the time Col. Monroe consented to the delivery of the private baggage to the Indians, as has been related, Lieul. Selah Barnard, another of Frye's officers, having with him a small trunk containing his effects, resolutely determined not to part wiih it, unless by force. 'J he trunk soon attracted the attention of the savages, and two stout fellows approaching to seize it, the lieutenant spring- ing upon it, threatened them with instant death if they persisted in their design, and foV some time held the trunk from their grasp. At length others coming up, he was seized by each arm by two savages, plundered, and led 6ff, as he supposed, to be butchered. Being athletic, and remarkably nervous in his arms, rousing his whole stren^h, he sent them in different directions, antl by a rapid flighN; rejoined his fellow sufferers. 'I he savages re- turned and took possession of the trunk, and submitted to %■ ■ » -»'^', I INDIAN WARS; I7J 3ry of lated, aving iitely 'Ihe two )ring- they runk 3 was led letic, hole by a es re- ed to his escape; and he reached foit Edward without further misfortune. Capt. Jon«thaii Carver, of the same regiment, after be- ing stripped of his clothes, broke from the savages and re- gained a body of his companions. In attempting after- wards to escape through the woods, he was again seized,^ and led off towards a swamp by two Indians ; an L^.nglish gentleman happening to pass by, one of the Inuians, re- linquished his hold and seizing the gentleman, who prov- ing too strong, threw him upon the ground, on which the other Indian (lew to the assist.lnce of his comrade, and the captain seizing the opportunity, er caped, and after two or three days, arrived at fort Kdward. The number that fell in the massacre has not been, ac- curately ascertained. Dr. Belknap says the New-Hamp- shire regiment lost eighty out of two hundred, but these being in the reu'^ suffered more severely than other regi- ments. • Captain Carver estimates the whole loss at fifteeil hundred ; but this is evidently an exaggeration. In a letter from a gentlemm in Albany, inserted in the London Magazine for 1757, the number is much diminished. From a comparison of all the accounts that have reached us, it is probable that the whole number massacred and carried off by the savages whlh less than three hundred. After Gen. Amherst had taken command of the English and provincial forces, they were eminently successful ; and had taken from the French all their strong works on Lake Champlain. The capture of these important posts immediately relieved the frontiers of New-England from incursions from the western quarter ; and a general joy spread through the long distressed colonres. Crown Point had been in the possession of the French for irearly thirty years, and from that place predatory parties had issued, and involved the frontiers of Massachusetts and New- Hampshire in blood and slaughter ; and numerous were the prisoners who had there suffered the disgraceful and cruel treatment of the savages. One other post from which the colonies of New-Hampshiie and Massachusetts had suffered similar cruelties, still remained in the' hands T)f the enemy. This was the village of St. Francis, situ- ated at the mouth of the river of that name, between m " ' "«ltip » '' 174 INDIAN WAllS. k i I ) ill >4 i It Montreal iiiu\ Quebec. From its easy communication willi the upper part of Connecticut livcr, this place had long been a i'ocus of murder and deva'itation, and many a cap- tive had there sufiRjred barbarities intolerable, and the place was loaded with the plunder of the English colo- nies. Gen. Amhersv now resolved to put an end to these barbarities, by destroying the place. Maj. Rogers, whd had so ably and frcqux^ntly distinguished himself as a par- tisan, during the war, was selected for the arduous ser-- vice, willi his hardy rangers and a deiachmenl of regular troops. To prevent a discovery of the expedition, it was kept Unofoundly secret from the army ; and in the preceding day's orders, Rogers had been destined to the command of a party to march in a different direction, while he had private orders to proceed directly to St. Francis. In pursuance of his orders, Maj. Rogers left Crown Point in the evening, on board of whale boats, and pro- ceeded down the lake, on his adventurous expedition. The distance to Missisque bay was not far short of one hundred miles, and as parties of the enemy were often on the lake, the greatest circumspection was required to avoid a discovery. The fifth day after his departure, 'being encamped on the east shore, a keg of gun powdet accidentally took fire, and »^'ounded Capt. Williams and several men, whom Rogers sent back, with part of the detachment to C-own Point, which reduced his number to one hundred and forty-two, including officers. Pursu- ing his voyage, Rogers arrived at Missisque bay on the twentieth, without discovery, where he secreted his boats, and provisions sufiicient for his men on their return, under the bank of a creek, overhung with brush, and left two trusty Indians to watch them, with orders, should the boats be discovered by the enemy, to follow his trail, and ^iv^ him the information. The country between the bay and St. Francis village was covered with woods, and intersected by swamps and rivulets ; but notwithstanding these impediments, Rogers prossc^ his march wi"h considerable expedition. 'I he second day after quitting the boats, the two Indians, who h;id been left to watch them, came up with Rogers, and {"** INDIAN WAnS. Its 1 wilVi I long a cap- id the 1 colo- ) these s, whd a par- is ser-- regular IS kept iceding mniand he had Crown nd pro- edition, of on© >ften on ired to larture, owdet ms and of the number Pursu- on the s boats, , under eft two mid the rail, and s village mps and Rogers ■1. 'Ihe ns, who crs, and informed him that four hundred French and Indian* had discovered and taken possession of the boats, and that two hundred were in rapid pursuit on his trail. The intelli- gence was embarrassing, and the circumstances of the de- tachment critical. But fertile in resources, Rogers de- vised means to overcome his difficulties, and to prosecute his expedition. Lieut. M'Mullen and ten men were de- tached, with orders to proccud through the vvoods to Crown Point, to inform Gen. Amherst of the misfortune, and to request him to forward provisions from- Charles- town, up tho Connecticut, to the mouth of Great Ammo- noosuc rivel', near Coos intervals, hy which route Rogers proposed to reiurn, after the destruction of the Indian vil- lage, as ordered. He then renewed his march, resolving to outstrip his pursuers ; but was much retarded by the sunken nature of the country, which in many places was covered with water mid-leg deep, and often a spruce bog, in which it became necessary to prepare a sort of ham- mock, from the boughs of trees, to enable the men to re» pose at night ; and this, after a hard day's march, contin-r ued from early dawn until darkness commenced. The tenth day after leaving the bay, Rogers struck St. Francis river, about fifteen miles above ihe village, and with some difficulty forded it, where the water was five feet, and running in a rapid current. The ground now being firm, the march was pressed with celerity, and on the fourth of October, at eight ia the evening, Rogers came within sight of the village, halted, and directed hi? men to refresh themselves, while he with Lieut. Turner and Ensign Avery, reconnoitred the place. The Indians were found in a high frolic or dance, and appeared to en- tertain no apprehensions of an enemy in the vicinity. Returning to his men about two o'clock in the morning, Rogers marched them within five hundred yards of the village, lightened them of their packs, and prepared for the attack. It was now about three o'clock, and an hour after, tue Indians broke up their dance, and retired to their cabins for repose, and all was calm in the village. Vbout half an hour before sunrising, the troops advanced in three divisions, and made simultaneous attacks in as many directions. The Indians were completely surprised, K I .^ 170 INDIAN WARI. and incapable of much' resistiuue, le of attack on similar occasions, •e. Well acquainted \vith the Indian mode of attack on similar occasions, the rangers dealt death and destruction in all directions, and with un- sparing hands. Nor was it possible to distinguish age or sex, and an indiscriminate butchery followed, in the true savage &ty\e. Manj were killed in their cabins, others attempting to fly, Were shot or knocked on the head, and few escaped. At sunrise the scene was truly horrible, and but for the sight of six or seven hundred of the scalps of their countrymen, suspended upon poles, and waving in the air, the trophies of the former cruelty of the In- dians, the assail.mts would have been excited lo pity. This horrid spectacle added new vigor, and sympathy for the sufferers found no place in the breasts of the rangers, and in too many instances they continued to despatch vyomeu and chijldren indiscriminately ; and a general con- flagration of the cabins ended the scene, about seven o'clock in the morning. Out of about three hundred in- habitants of the place, two hundred were killed ; twenty women and children captured, and five English prisoners, residing in the village, set free ; but most of the women and children were soon liberated. The village appeared to have lieen in a very flourishing condition. Many of the cabins were well furnished, and the church was handsomely adorned with plate, and the whole place had been enriched by the scalps and plunder taken from the English in the various wars. Two hun- dred guineas were (bund in money, and a silver image, weighing ten pounds, besides a large quantity of wampum, clothing, and some provisions. On assembling his troops, Rogers found Capt. Ogden and six privates wounded, and one Stockbridge Indian killed ; and after an hour's rest, to refresh his men and collect the provisions remaining in the village, he com- menced his march up the St. Francis, and by Memphre- magog lake, for Coos, on Connecticut river. 'I'he de- tachment continued in a body eight days, at the expiration of which the provisions were entirely expended, and Rogers found it necessary to divide into several parties, that the men might mor« easily procure subsistence by hunting, giving them orders to assemble at the junction of the great Ogden Indian Ml and cnin- niphre- he de- )i ration [Rogers hat the |unling, le great DI.»R WAUS 18^ s the their cy not fron- it, and other itanta. that , there nough re cn- p?rts, wntit Gen. Burgoyne look command of the English army ill Canada, and commenced his marcdi to overrun and conquer the coloniis. He was accompanied by the refugees and a large IioJy of Indians, who were to act as circumstances reqiiired, in «""ouring the country and plundering the inhabitants. .\ deroga, a plan was formed, at to detach a large (jrce from refugees and Indians, were t^ | ..J lie had taken Ticon- : quest of the tories^ eguhirs, who, with tl»e \ to the Coos coun- they ) sanguine were try, to plunder and destroy it ; of success, that a list of the heads of families in the prin- cipal towns was made out, and furnished for each officer who was to have any command ; with each one's (ioom marked against his name, of those that were to be fiaved> and tiiose that were to be attacked and plundered. Information of this plan being communicated to the inhabitants of these settlements, caused great alaro* among them ; and the committee of the New-Hampshire Grants immediately wrote, in the most pressing terms, to the Committee of Safety at Exeter, for assistance, and said that if none should be afforded to them, they should be obliged to retreat to the New-England states for safety. When the news of this affair readied New- Hampshire, the assembly had finished their spring ses-« slon, and returned home. A summons from the commit- tee brought them together again ; and in a short session, of three days only, they took the most effectual and decisive steps for the defence of the country. They formed the whole militia of the state into two brigades ; of the first, they gave the command to William Whipple, and of the second, to John Stark. They ordered one fourth part of Stark's brigade, and one fourth of three regiments, of the other brigade, to march fmmediately under his command, to stop the progress of the enemy on our western frontiers. They ordered the militia officers to take tMvay arms from all persons who scrupled, or refused to assist, in defending the country. The appointment of Stark to this command, with the same pay as a biigadier in the continental service, was peculiarly grateful to the people, as well as to himself. officers, •rangei gci precedi M IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ..V K^ /. ^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 ^1^ 1^ ■^ ^ 12.2 2f 144 *«■ L£ 12.0 us U i; ^/^^ >'»' Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SS0 (716) 872-4503 <^ % w INDIAN WARSk year, Poor, a junior officer, had been promoted, whilst he was neglected. He had written on this subject to Congress, and his letters were laid on the table. He therefore quitted the army, and retired to his own state. He was now, by the unanimous voice of his fellow citi- zens, invested with a separate command, and received orders to repair to Charlestown, on Connecticut river ; there to consult with a committee of New-'Hampshirq Grants, respecting his future operations and the supply of his men with provisions ; to take the command of the militia, and march into the grants ; to act in conjunc- tion with the troops of that new state, or any other of the states, or of the United States, or separately, as it should appear expedieiit to him ; for the protection of the. people and the annoyance of the enemy. In a few days, he proceeded to Charlestown, and as fast as his men arrived, he sent them forward to join the forces of the new state, under Col. Warner, who had taken post at Manchester, twenty miles northward of Bennington. Here, Stark joined bin), and met with Gen. Lincoln, who had been sent from Stillwater, by Gen. Schuyler, commander of the northern department, to conduct the militia to the west side of tludson's river. It Stark informed bin) of his orders, and of the dangec which the inhabitants of the grants apprehended from the enemy; and from their disaffected neighbors ; that • he had consulted with the committee, and it was the determination of the people, 'in case he should join the continental army and leave them exposed, that they would retire to the east of Connecticut river ; in which case New-Hampshire would be a frontier.. He therefore determined to remain on the flank of the enemy, and to watch their motions. For this purpose, he collected his force at Bennipgton, and left Warner with his regiment at Manchester. A report of this determination was transrj(^itted tq Cqngress, and the orders on which it was founded were by thenj disapproved ; but the propriety of it was evinced by the si|bsequent facts. Gen. Burgoyne, with the main body of the British army, lay at fort Edvvard. Thence he detached Lieut, Pol. Bautn, and about fifteen hundred of his Germain rifDIAM WARI. 186 ct to He state, r citi- ;eived river ; pshire lupply of the ijunc- ber of , as it tion of and as )in the bo had ard of t with |ter, by traent, river. |d anger (d from ; that as the in the X they whicb refore and to ted his Igiment m was it was iety of British Lieut, lermai^ troops, with the refu|:;ee8 and a large body of Indians, to pervade the grants as far as Connecticut river, with a view to phinder the country. He was to persuade the people among whom he should pass, that his detachment was the advanced guard of the British army, which was inarching to Boston. He was accompanied by Col. Skecne, who was well acquainted with the country. The Indians who preceded this detachment, being dis- covered about twelve mil^s from Bennington, Stark de- tached Col. Gregg, with two hundred men, to stop their march. In the evening of the same day 'he was informed that a body of regular troops, with a train of artillery, was in full march for Bennington.. The next morning he marched with his whole brigade, apd some of the militia of the grants, to support Gregg, who found himself unable to withstand the superior number of the enemy. Having proceeded about four miles, he met Gregg retreating, and the main body of the enemy pursuing, within half a mile of his rear. When they di covered Stark's column, they halted in an advantageous position ; and he drew up his men on an eminence in open view, but could not bring them to an engagement. He then marched back about a mile and encamped, leaving a few men to skirmish wjth them, who killed thirty of the enemy and two of the In- dian chiefs. The next day was rainy. Stark kept his positbn, and sent out parties to harrass the enemy. Ma- ny of the Indians took this opjiortuaity to desert, because, as they said, " the woods were full of yankees." On the following morning, Stark was joined by a com- pany of militia from the grants, and another from the county of Berkshire, in Massachusetts. His whole force amounted to about sixteen hundred, lie sent Col. Nich- ols, with two hundred and fifty men, to the rear of the enemy's left wing, and Col. Hendrick, with three han-. dred, to the rear of their right. He placed, three hundred to oppose their front and draw their attention. Thea sending Cols. Hubbnrd and Stickney, witli two hundred, to attack the right wing, and one hundred more to rein- force Nichols in the rear of their left, the attack began in that quarter precisely at three of the clock in the after- noon. It was immediately seconded by the otlier detach- 186 INDIAX WARS. ihents ; nnd at the same time, Stark himself advanced with the main body. The engagement lasted two hours, at the end of which he forced their breastworiis, took two pieces of brass cannon and a number of prisoners ; the rest retreated. • Just at this instant he received intelligence that another body of the enemy was within two miles of him. This was a reinforcement for which Baum had sent, when he first knew the force which he \^as to oppose. It was commanded by Col. Breyman. Happily VVarner^s regi- ment from Manchester came up with them and stopped them. Stark rallied his men and renewed the action ; it was warm and desperate ; he used, with success, the can- non which he had taken, and at sunset obliged the enemy to retreat. He pursued them till night, and then halted, to prevent his own men from killing each other in the dark. He took from the enemy two other pieces of can- non, with all their baggage, wagons and horses. I wo hundred and twenty-six men were found dead on Ihe field. Their commander, Baum, was taken, and died of his wounds; besides whom, thirty three officers and above seven hundred privates, were made prisoners. Of Stark *s brigade, four officers -and ten priva*" *'^ were killed, and forty-two were Wounded. In the account of thisliattle, whic.i Stark sent to the committee of New-Hampshire, he said, " our people be- haved with the greatest spirit and bravery imaginable. Had every man been an Alexander, or a Charles of Swe- dien, they could not have behaved better." He was sensi- ble of the advantage of keeping on the flank of the enemy's main body, and therefore sent for one thousand men, to replace those whose time had expired, but intimated to the committee that he himself should return with the brig- ade. They cordially thanked hin^ " for the very essen- tial service which he had done to the country,'' but ear- nestly pressed him to continue in the command, and sent him a reinforcement, "assuring the men that they were to serve under Gen. Stark." This argument prevailed with the men ta march, and with Stark to remain. The prisoners taken in this batile were sent to Boston. The trophies werp divided between J^eyf Hampshire and 1 jbrig- )StOt1. and \l llfDIAlf WABS. 187 Massachusetts. But Congress heard of this victory by accident. Having waited some time in expectation of letters, and none arriving, inquiry was made why Stark had not written to congress.* He answered that his cor- respondence with them was closed, as they had not at- tended to his last letters. They took the hint; and though they had but a few days before, resolved that the instructions which he had received, were destructive of military sulx>rdination, and prejudicial to the common cause, yet they presented their thanks to him, and to the dfficers and troops under his command, and promoted him to the rank of brigadier general in the army of the Dnited States. This victory ^r^ve a severe check to the hopes of the enemy, and raised the spirits of the people after long de- pression. It wholly changed the face of affairs in the northern department. Instead of disappointment and re- treat, and the loss of men by hard lal)or and sickness, we were now convinced, not only that our militia could Aght without being covered by intrenchments, but that they were able, even without artillery, to cope with regular troops in their intrenchments. The success thus gained, was regarded as a good omen of further advantages. ^* Let us get them into the woods,'* was the languiige of the whole country. The inhabitants of the New-Hampshire grants were relieved by this decisive battle from all fears of an inva- sion from any considerable force of the enemy. The hopes of the tories were now completely blasted, and their hopes of revenge by overrunning; the country, were at an end. Hut still they were enabled to keep the peo- ple in a constant state of alarm, by their threats' to bring the savage foe in detached parties among them, to plun- der the settlements, and carry into ca()tivity such of the leading men among the patriots of the day, as they cpn- sidere I to be the cause of their sufferings, in being forcied to leave the country. .• ^ This state of things continued for a considerable length of time. Small bodies of Indians were frequently known to be provvling about the settlements, concealing them- selves in the woods during thw day time, and at night IM IHDlAN WAAI. committing depredations by plundering and destroying property ; but no attack was made upon the inhabitants. it was Vveil known at the time that their principal ob ect Ivas to take captive and carry to Canada, certain leading men, who were the most influential and active in main- taining the cause of independence* for each of whom they were to receive a large reward. Every man was obliged to keep himself well armed, and ne«er suffer himself to sleep without a loaded gun standing by his bed ; and many of those who had reason to believe themselves to be marked as victims for captivity, dared not »\eep in their own houses, but for safety were compelled to change their place of rest every night, sleeping in barns and other places of concealment. No adequate means could be adopted to guard the in- habitants against these dangers, for they were so scattered that it would bjB impossible to collect a number sufficient to afford protection to such an extensive frontier, every point of which was equally liable to be attacked by the enemy. Each one was, therefore, obliged to depend on himself, with the assistance of his neighbors, to repel any assault that might be made upon him by the Indians. The Committee of Safety took every means in their pow- er to afford assistance and jirotection to the inhabitants. A brigade of militia was organized, of all who were ab'e to bear arm», and the officers appointed, rt siding in the different towns, who had orders, whenever there should be an alarm, to musfer all the force in his neighborhood, and march immediately to the place of danger, and as the parties arrived, the senior officer present to take command, and proceed against the enemy. Gen. Jacob Bailey of Newbury, was appointed to the command ; a man of tried courage and long experience, in whom the people had great confidence! Frequent at- tempts were made by the Indian scouts to take him }>ris- oner ; but he eluded all their stratagems and kept clear of them. On , one occasion his house was surrounded by a party of Indians in the night, and a demand made for him, with a threat, that if he was not surrendered, they would burn the house and destroy all within. His heroic wift answered that he was not at home ; on which ihs IMDIAN WABS. 189 t*. in ■^1 pris- :lear \by for hey Toic •h« was told to tell where he was, or they would commence an immediate attack on the house. Her answer was, that she knew not where he was, but she hoped he was where they would not find him ; that she was prepared for their attack, and should defend the house to the last extremity ; on which they retired. No military event of any importance, took place in the towns on the river, within the grants, during the remain-, der of the war, though some towns in the neighborhood did not wholly escape the common calamities. In the month of October, 1780, a party, consisting of abont three hundred refugees and Indians, commanded by Lieut. Hur- tun, an officer in the Brrtish army, made. an incursion into the settlements, and destroyed Royalton, a flourish- ing town on White river, about twenty miles from its juunotion *''kh the Connecticut. The\ plundered the in- hiibitants of every thing valuable, that they could carry off, burnt twenty one houses, with all their barns, and stacks of hay and grain, and took fourteen men prisoners, most of them heads of families ; these they carried to Canada, except two, who were found murdered and scalp- ed in tlieir camp, after their retreat. This event caused great alarm throughout the country, and many speculative opinions were formed as to the rea- sons why this town sltould be singled out for destruction, while others were passed by the enemy, and left unmo- lested. Subsequently a circumstance became known, which was supposed lo b» the cause. A gentleman had taken up his residence in that town, who was a land owner to a considerable extent in that part of the country, and took great iiitcrest in promoting its prosperity. He often gave assistance to the inhabitants, who were at that time very poor. He made it his home in the family of a man whom he had often assisted and shown many acts of kindness. When the revolutionary troubles commenced, this gentleman, not wishing to take a part, was proscribed as a tory ; and for safety was obliged to conceal himself in the woods, where he remained, till compelled by hun- ger to seek some relief, for which he secretly applied to the man with whom he had resided, begged for food, and that he would afford him such assistance as would enabU 190 HfSlAN WARI. him to make hit escnpe. This was promised, and he was told to hide himst^ll in the harn, while this man said he would keep him there concealed till »ome plan could be devised for his escape. Instead of this, however, this treacherous friend immediately informed against him to the committee, \yUo sent a guard and took him prisoner. This gentleman was treated with great indignity, and suf* fered many hardships, but finally made his escape and got safe to Canada. There was no doubt at the time, of t!-iis man being one of the party that attacked Hoyalton. Oi.e thing is a fact, that the house of his betrayer was the first that was de- stroyed, and the owner owed his life to a remarkable cir- cumstance. Awaking on the morning of the attack, a lit- tle before daylight, he thought he heard strange noises, which induced him to believe that some wild animai had got among his flock. He arose and ueut out to see to them, and on returning, found his house on fire and sur- rounded by the enemy. He fled to the woods, and was closely pursued by some Indians, but was enabU^d to make his escape by secreting himscll under a log, and so closely concealed himself that some of the enemy even passed over him. No correct account ha^ ever before been published, of the measures adopttrd, and the conduct of those, who turned out and marched ;tg:iinst the enemy on this occa- sion, though a very false one was printed and circulated by a religious fanatic, who had no means of knowing any thing more than from hearsay reports, which reflected with some severity, upon those who were engaged in the expedition, because they did not pursue and kill every one of the enemy. The following particulars are made from the statements of those who were present and took an active part in the whole affair, one of whom was the lato Dr. Thomas Baldwin, who then resided in Canaan, about thirty miles from the scene of action, and who shouldered his giiof and marched with his neighbors in defence of his coimtry. The enemy encamped in a thick wood the night before the attack, about two miles from the village, and com- menced their depredations at day light in the moruiog. llfBIAlf VTAEt. !•! occa- ilated 'fore :oni- liing. They w«ro dividrd into nariirs, and began their aMniilt upon the inhabiiant.s in ditfcrent parts cf the YiPaze at the same linio. Most of the women, with the children, fled to the woods, and some of the jroung men made their escape down the river and gave the alarm. l\w scnint offirer of that section was Col. John Mouse,. who resided at Hanover, twenty four miles distant from the scene of action, lie received the news by express in the after- noon, and immediately swtnt runners to all the- towns in the neighUirhood with the information, and orders for every man able to bear arms, to repair to the place of reR- dezvouz with all possible haste. He was enabled to march with a considerable force the next morning at day- light, occasionally being joined by others on thi; route, and arrived at Koyalton in the afternoon; but the enemy had left the place a tew hours before, and there was noth- ing to be discovered, but the burning ruins of the settle- ment. The men were must red and formed into companies, and every thing arranged for a pursuit of the enemy. Scouts were sent out to gain information of them, but they missed their track, and did not return till the next day. No rertain information could be obtained of the route they had taken ; but it was determined to commence the {>ursuit in such a direction as it was th 7:-ht they would le most likely to fall in with the enemy. They were fortuii^te enough to hit upon tlicir trail, and followed on with all possime haste; but they were in a thick wood, and the night was very dark, so that their progress was slow. The first discovery that they made of the enemy was by being fired on by their rear guard, by which a lieutenant was severely wounded. The party was imme- diately formed in order of battle, and moved on till they received the fire of the main body of the Indians, who were formed in a half circle. The fire was returned with spirit, and a sharp engagement commenced ; but it was soon found that the enemy had retreated. It was so dark that nothing could be seen but the flashes from the muskets, from which the commander discovered that there was danger of the parties getting into a position which might caust them to mistake each other for th« in INBIAK WABt. '1$ enf mj ; and it was wi(h great difficulty that he was ena- bled to put n stop to the firing, and to get the men into order, for the jiurpoHC of advancing against the enemy. Xhis being eflccted, they iMirsued them, and on arriving at tiieir encampment, found that they had left it, and made a hasty retreat, leaving a great part of their plunder he- hind them. Even their camp kettles were left over the fire in^which they were cooking their hreakfa^ts. A coun- cil of the oAicers was held, whose opinion was, that to pur.ue the enemy further would be useless, and an ar- rangement being made that the property found in the camp, shoidd be restored to the owners, the men were dismissed and returned to their homes. Tw o circumstances occurred during ihe time the enemy were plundering and burning the village, which it is thought worthy rf hein«; stattd. A Mrs. Handy had a son, ten years old, taken by the Indians, and she had the courage to attempt his liberation. To eflect this, she repaired to the head quarters of the enemy, in doing which she had to wade across the river. She sought out the Knglish commander, and with. the feelings of a mother, plead her cause so well, that she eflected his release ; but findine; there nine other boys aliout the same age, and knowing all their mothers, her feelings of svmpathy wore too strong to permit her to leave them. "Bhe plead for them one by one, till she obtained the release of the whole. The commander ordered a fire to be made, by which they could warm themselves, and gave them some food, telling her to remain there till the scouts all came in, or they mighv be taken again. After they came in, he made the Indians carry them on their backs across the river, and they were all landed safely on the other s>ide. 1 he other case was as follows. A party of Indians entered a house where there was a woman somewhat ad- vanced in pregnancy. One of them seized hold of her with one hand, and in the other held a large knife, in such a manner, that she supposed his aim was to cut her throat, at which she fainted and fell to the floor. On recovering, however, she found that all the damage she had received, was the loss of a string of gold beads, which was round h«r nack; but th« most remarkable part of the case was. ) as ena- en into enemy, arriving id made ider be- [>ver the A coun- , that to 1 an ar- J in the en were le enem^ ich it IS ly had a had the this, she in doing )nght out a mother, ase ; but age, and thy were plead for of the lade, by \em some ] came in, ie in, he cross the 'J Siicie. Indians i^hat ad- Id of her p, in such jr throat, covering, received, ias round Use was, Indian wars. 1Q5 that whnn her child wns born, which wns n boy, ho had pfM-roclly llio fierce look niid coiiiplexinn of the savuge. He lived to manhood, ntid wus u respeclnblo head of n family, but ;!lwiiys retained this singular mark. HHH!^ CHAP. IX. EXPEDITION OF GEN. HARMKR AND HIS DF.FF.AT BY THE INDIANS DEFEAT OF GEN. St. CLAIR NEAR THE MIAMI VILLAGE. Although n peace was al length happily- cfiectcd be- tween the two contending parties, Great Britain and America, in 1785, yet the savagqs \\\}0 had been per- suaded to take a part with t!i(^ former, were unwilling to bury the bloody hatchet. They had not sutBcienf'.y bathed that destructive weapon in the blood of Ameri- cans. Without any pretext wh:itevcr, they continued to exercise tovvnt Js them the most wanton acts of barbarity. It appeared from respectable evidence, that from- the year 1783, until the month of October, 179i0, the time the United States commenced effcnsivc operations against the Indians, that on the Ohio, and the frontiers on the south side, they killed, wounded, and took prisoners fifteen hundred men, women and children, beside!| carry- ing off upwards of two thousand horses, and other proper- ty to the amount of $50,000. The particulars of many of the instances of barbarity exercised upon the prisoners, of ditTerent ages and sexes, although supported by indisputable evidence, are of too shocking a nature to be presented to the public. It is sufficient here to observe that the scalping knife and tomahawk were the mildest instruments of death. That «5 194 1N9IAM WARS. ) in some cnses torture by fire, and other execrable meons were used. But the outrages ivhich were committed upon the frontier inhnbitants were not the only injuries that were sustained. Repeated iittucks upon detachments of the troops of the United States were at different times made. The following from its peculiar enormity deserves reci- tal. In April, 17J)0, Miijor Doughty, in thn scrvici' of the United States, was ordered to the friendly Cliicka- saws on public business. He performed his duty \n a boat, having with him a party of iifteen men. VV hile ascending the Tennessee river he wos met by a party of Indians, in four canoes, consisting principally of Shaw- nese ond out-cast Cherokees. They approached under a white flag, the well-known emblem of peace. They came on board the Mojor's, bout, received his presents, continued with him nearly an hour, and then departed in the most friendly manner. But they had scarcely cleared his oars, before they poured in a fire upon his crew, which was returned as soon as circumstances would permit, and a most unequal combat was sustained for several hours, .when they abandoned their design, hut not until they had killed and wounded eleven out of fif- teen of the boat's crew. All overtures of peace failing, ond the depredations still continuing, an attempt at coercion became indispen- sable. Accordingly, on tl^eSOlh September, 1790, the President, with the consent and adviae of the Congress of the United States, despatched Gen. Harmer, with 800 federal troops, and 1183 militia under his command, to destroy their principal villages. The troops, after seventeen days march from Miami, reached the great Miami village, without any other mo- lestation than that of having a number of their pack- horses stolen. On their arrival they found the village deserted, and all the valuable buildings in flames, set on fire by the Indians. After a short tarry, they proceeded to the neighboring villages without molestation, and de- stroyed five of them, ond a large quantity of co»n which they found buried in different places, and very large quantities of vegetables of every kind. INDUrr WABI. 196 The fif^t opposition that w«9 met with, a ptrty of ubout one hundred und lifly Kentucky militia, and with imand, er mo- pack- viilage set on cecded ind de- which large iff! ih of li under the command Harding of Kentucky, were detached from the main body, lying in the great Miami village, to pursue the trail of u party of Indians, which'had that day been dis- covered. After a pursuit of about six miles they came up with and were attacked on surprise by a large body of Indiana, who were concoalod in the thickets on every side of a largo plain ; and on the first onset, the militia, without exchanging a single shot, made a most prccipi- tnto retreat, and left the regular troops to stand the whole charge of the Indians. The conflict was short and bloody. The troops were soon overi. jwcred by numbers, and all fell except two or three officers and two or three privates, after defending themselves at their bayonet points with the greatest possible obstinacy. En- sign H.irtshorn was one of the oflTicers who providentially escaped, and his escape appeared to depend more on a lucky circumstance of faultering over a log in his re- treat, and by that means screening himself from the eye of his pursuers, than from any other circumstance. Capt. Armstrong, who commanded the party, like\yise made his escape by plunging himself into a pond or swamp up to his neck, within two hundred yards of the field of ac- tion, where he remained the whole night, a spectator to the horrid scenes of the war dance, performed over the dead and wounded bodies of the poor soldiers that had fallen the preceding day, where their shrieks, mixed with the horrid yells of the savages, rendered his situa- tion shocking. After this some few skirmishes succeeded, but nothing material, until the second capital action, which happened two days after the army left Miami village. At ten miles distance from the town, the general ordered a halt, and detached from four to five hundred militia, and about sixty regular soldiers, under the command of Major Wi- leys and Col. Harding, who were ordered to march back to the town. On their first entrance there appeared a small body of Indians, who immediutely fied at the first onsets and by that means decoyed the whole body of .\ ■ ! 196 INDIAN ^VARS. the militia, by makiiii'.' thfiir flight in dirtVrpnt directions, and encouraging the militia lo pursue. By this strata- fi;em the few regular troops were left alone, and the Indians had effected their design, for the moment Ihey found the small handful of regular troop?, detached from the main body of the militia, they commenced the attack with their whole force, executing the flying parties tlxit had divided the militia ; and although they soon found some part of the militia returning, pursued their obje'ct of routing and destroying the troop3, as the only sure plan of success, which aster a most bloody conflict, was ef- fected. Nothing could exceed the intrepidity of the savages on this occasion. The militia they appeared to despise, and with all the undauntedness coLceivable; threw down their guns, and rushed upon the bayonets of the regu- Jar soldiers. ' A number of them fell, but being so far superior in numbers, the regulars were soon overpowered, for while the poor soldier had his bayonet in one Indian, two more would sink their tomahawks in his head. The defeat of the troops was complete. .The dead and wounded were left on the Held of action in possession of the savages. The regular troops except nine, including two com- missioned officers, were killed. Among ^ho slain was Major Wileys, and a number of brave and valuable soldiers. The Indians it appeared, from some cause, did not think it prudent to pursue their successes from the field of action, as most of the troops thaU were not killed or badly wounded, made their escape, which they could not have effected had the enemy pursued with their usual fury. Whole number killed, one hundred aiid eighty three, wounded, thirty one. In the fall of 1791, Gen. St. Clair tDok command of the western army, &nd marched against the Indians; who had assembled in great force on the Miami river. Ho met wjth a total defeat. The particulars of the fight, which was very saguinary, will be given in his own words, which is taken from his letter to the secretary of war. " Yesterday, the remains of the army under my com- liiNDlAN WARt.K 197 land of who He own try of I com- mand got back to this place, (Fort Washington,) and I have now the painful task to give an account of a warm, and as •unfortunate an action as almost any that has been fought, in which every corps was engageil and worsted, except tiie first regiment ; this had been detached upon a service that 1 had the honor to inform you of in . my Inst despatch, and had not joined me. " On the 3d inst. the army had reached a creek about twelve yards wide, running to the! southward of west, li which I believed to have been the river St. Mary, that empties into the Miami of the lake, arrived at the village about four o'clock in the afternoon, having marched near nine mile*;, a«d were immediately encamped upon a very commanding piece of ground, in two lines, hav- ing the above-mentioned creek in front. The right wing composed of Butler, Clark and Patterson's battal- ions, commanded by Major General- Butler, formed the first line ; and the left wing, consisting of Bedinger r.nd Gaither's battalions, and the second regiment conuiiand- ed by Col. Drake, formed the second line, with an inter- val between them of about seventy yards, which was all the ground would allow. " The right flank was pretty well secured by the creek, a steep bank, and Faulkener's corps. Some of the cavalry, and their piquets, covered the left flank. The militia were sent over the creek and advanced about a quarter of a mile, and encamped in the same order. There were , a few Indians who appeared on the oppo- site side of the creek, but fled with the utmost precipita- tion on the advance of the militia. At this place, which I judged to be about fifteen miles from the Miami vil* lage, I had determined to throw up a slight work, (he plan of which was concocted that evening with Major Fergerson, wherein to have deposited the men's knap- sacks, and every thing else thf:t was not of absolute ne- cessity, and to have moved on to attack the enemy, as soon as the first regiment came up, but they did not permit me to execute either, for on the 4th, about half an hour before sunrise, and when the men had just been dismissed from parade, (for it was a constant practice to have them all under arms a considerable time before ILL 19S (NDIAR WARS. J It rifiylight,) nn nttnck wr>s mndn upon the militin, who gave way in a very little time, and rushed into camp ihrough iVlajor Butlor's battalion, whicht together with pari of Clark's, they threw into considerable disorder, and which, notwithstanding the exertions of both these officers, was never altogether remedied. The Indians followed close at their heels ; the fire, however, of the front line checked them, but almost instantaneously, a very heavy attack began upon that line, and in a fevf minutes it was «;xtendcd to the second likewise. The great weight of it was directed against the centre of each, where the artillery was placed, and from which the men were repeatedly driven with great slaughter. Finding no great effect from the fire, and a Confusion beginning to spread from the great number of men who were falling in all quarters, it became necessary to try what could be done with the b.ayonet. *' Lieut' I^rake was accordingly ordered to charge with a part of the second line, and to turn the left fiank of the enemy. This was executed with great spirit, and at first promised much success. The Indians instantly gaVe way, and were driven back three or four hundred yards, but for want of a sufficient number of riflemen to pursue this advantage, they soon returned, and the troops were obliged to give back in their turn. At this moment they had entered our camp by the left fiank, having pursued the troops jthat were posted there. - '' Another charge was made here by the second regi- ment, Butler and Clark's battalions, with equal effect, and it was repeated several times, and always with suc- cess ; but in uU of them many men were lost, and partic- ularly the officers, which, with some raw troops, was a loss altogether irremediable. In that I just spoke of, made* by the second regiment and Butler's battalion, iVjajor Butler was dangerously wounded, and every officer of the second regiment fell, except three, one of which, Capt. Greaton, was shot through the body. Our ar- tillery being now silenced, and all the officers killed, except Capt. Ford, who was badly wounded, more than half of the army fallen, being cut off from the road, it be- came necessary to attempt the regaining it and to make i ilVi INDIAN WABI. 199 ifia, who ito cauip her with disorder, 3th these Indians r, of the eously, a n a fevT 16. The entre of m which laughter, confusion nen who ry to try a charge left flank )irit, and instantly hundred emen to and the At this \ flank, • • nd regi- cffect, ith suc- partic- as a loss f, made- , iViajor fficer of which, 3ur ar- killed, »re than d, it be- ,0 make I I retreat if possible. To this purpose the remains of ihe army was formed as well as circumstances would ad- mit, towards the right of the encampment, from which by the way of the second line, another char4;o was made upon the enemy, as if with the design to turn their right flank, but it was in fact to gain the road. This was ef- fected ; and as soon as it was open the militia entered it, foil )vved by the troops ; Major Clark with his battal- ion covering the rear. ** The retreat in these circumstances was, you may be sure, a precipitate one. It was in fact a flight. The camp and artillery were abandoned, but that was una- voidable, as not a horse was left alive to have drawn it off, had it otherwise been practicable. But the most disgraceful part of the business is, that the greatest part of the men threw away their arms and accoutrements, even after the pwrsuit, (which continued about four miles,) had ceased. " 1 found the road strewed with them for many miles, but was not able to remedy it, for having had all my horses killed, and being mounted upOn one that could not be pricked out of a walk, I could not get forward myself; and the orders I sent forward, either to halt the front or prevent the men from parting with their arms, were unattended to. *' The route continued quite to Fort Jefferson, twenty- nine miles, whi h was reached a little after sun-set. The action began about half an hour before sun-rise, and the retreat was attempted at half past nine o'clock. " 1 have not yet been able to get the returns of the killed and wounded, but Major General Butler, Lieut. Col. Oldham of the militia, Majors Fergerson, Hunt and Clark are among the former. ** I have now, sir, finished mj melancholy tale ; a tale that will be felt, sensibly felt, by every one that has sympathy for private distress, or for public misfortune. I have nothing, sir, to lay to the charge of the troops but their want of discipline, which, from (hr short time they had been in service, it was impossible they should have acquiced, and whi.ch rendered it difficult, when they were thrown into confusion, to reduce them again to or- JOO IffDlAff WAIIB. tier, and is ono reason why flie loss has fallen so heavily upon the oflicere, who did every thing in their power to eflfect it. Neither were my own exertions wanting, but worn down with illness, and suffering under a painful disease, unable either to mount or dismount a horse without assistance, they were not so great as they other- wise would, or perhaps ought to have been. *' We were overpowered by numbers ; but it is no more than justice to observe that though composed of so many different species of troops, the utmost harmony prevailed through the whole army during the campaign. "At fort Jeflferson, I found the first regiment, which had returned from the service they had been set upon, without eil.ijr overtaking the deserters, or meeting the convoy of provisions. I am not certain, sir, whethei I ought to- consider the absence of this regiment from the field of action, as fortunate or otherwise. 1 incline to think it was fortunate ; for 1 very much doubt whether, had it been in tlie action, the fortune of the day had been turned, and if it had not, the triumph of the enemy would have been more complete, and t'le country would have been destitute of the means of defence. *' Taking a view of the situation of our broken troops at fort Jefferson, and that there was no provisions in the fort, I called on the field officers for their advice what it was proper further to be done ; and it was their unani- mous opinion, that the addition of the first regiment, un- broken as it was, did not put the army on so respectable a footing as it was in the morning, becausr> a great part of it was now unarmed ; that it had been found unequal to the enemy, and should they come on, which was prob- able, would be found so again ; that the troops i50uld not be thrown mto the fori, because it was too small, and there was no provision in it ; that provisions were known to be upon the road at the distance of one or at most, two marches ; that therefore it would be proper to move without loss of time, to meet the provisions, when the men might have the sooner an opportunity of some re- freshment, and that a proper detaciiment might be sent back with it, to have it safely deposited in the fort. *' This advice was accepted, and the army was put in INDIAN WARl. 901- heavily Dwer to ngi but painful i horse f other- it is no sd of so arraony ipaign. ;, which t upon, ting the licthci I rom the ic'.ine to vhethcr, day had 3 enemy ]f would troops IS in the what it unani- nt, un- lectable at part unequal is prob- is could lull, and known |t most, to move en the nie rc- Ibe sent It. put in motion again at ten o'clock, and marched all night, and the succeeding day met with a quantity of flour ; part of it was distributed immediately, part taken back to supply the army on the march to fort Hamilton, and the remainder, about fifty horse loads, sent forward to fort JefTerson." The defeat of Gen. St. Clair took place within three miles of the Miami village. The loss on this occasion was about 600 killed and wounded, (said to be nearly equal to Braddocjc's defeat,) with seven pieces of aitil- lery and all the stores. Gen. St. Clair had about 1 100 men ; had reason to expect an attack, and kept his men under arms all night, drawn up in a square. The at- tack commenced about dawn of day on all the linei, but principally on the rear line, which was composed of the militia. The Indians gave one fire and rushed on tom- ahawk in hand. The militia gave way to the centre, and before the artillery could be brought into action, th© matrosses were all killed and it fell into the hands of the enemy. It was retaken, but was uselss for want of men to manage the pieces. The action was continued obstinate- ly until nine o'clock, when the troops gave way. St. Clair rallied his men, and brought them off in tolerable order, with most of the wounded, to fort Jefferson, thir- ty miles in the rear of the action. The enemy pursued five miles. Few ofiicers of distinction escaped, except Gen. St. Clair, who had many narrow escapes. Eight balls pas- sed through his clothes. The attack was conducted with astonishing intrepidity on the part of the Indians. In a few moments the general's tent was surrounded. However, he was rescued by a party of regular soldiers, who repelled the enemy with fixed bayonets. 1 here was a party of the Chickasaw nation on their way to join Gen. St. Clair, but did not arriv» in season. There was but one fellow only of that nation in the action, who killed and scalped eleven of the enemy with his own hands, and engaging with the twelfth, he fell, greatly lamented by the Americans. Major Gen. Butler was wounded, and carried to a eoovenient place toTiave his wounds dressed, but an In- 28 h ili « 202 INDIAN WAR9. dian having discOTered the place to which he was connT' veyed, broke through the troops who attended him, and tomahawked and scalped the genoral before he was killed by the soldiers* Agreeable to the statement of the Indians, they killed 650 of the American troops, and took seven pieces of cannon, 200 oxen, and a great number of horses, but no prisoners, and their bss was only fifty-six warriors killed. They stated that they were 4000 strong, and were com- manded by one of the Missassago Indians, who had been in the British service in the late war ; that be planned and conducted the attack, which was even contrary to- the opinion of a mnjority of the chiefs ; and that after the Americans began ta retreat^ he told the Indians they had killed enough, and that it was proper to give over the pursuit, and return and enjoy the booty they had taken. He Was six feet in height, about forty-five' years of age, of a very sowr and morose countenance, and appa- rently very crafty and subtle. His dress was th<; Indian hose and moccasons, a blue petticoat that came half way down his thighs, and I'^uropean waistcoat and surtouf. IJis head was bound with an Indian cap that came half way down his back, and almost entirely^lled with plain silver broaches, to the nunvbcr of more than !2C0. He bad two earrings to each ear, the upper pact of each was formed of three silver medals about the size of a dollar ; the lower part was formed of quarters of dollars, and fell more than twelve inches fron> his ears ; one fron> each ear over his breast, the others over his back. He had three very large nose jewels of silver that were cu- riously pointed. The party of friendly Chiekasaws, who were on their way to join the American troops, arrived at fort Jefferson two days after the bloody action. They were commanded by Piomingo, or the ftiou«tain kader. On their way they discovered that the troops had been de- feated, and saw one of the cnemV, who mistaking Piom» ingo's paity for some of his comrades, made up to them. He perceived his mistake, but too late to retreat Ha was accosted by Piomingo with " Rascal, you have been killing white men." He endeavored to excuse himself. I INDIAN WARSk 109 , and killed Icilled les of 3ut no killed, . corn- el been lanned ■ary to- ; after IS they e over cy had rears of I appa- lndi«n jilf way urtouf. line half 1 plain He each ze of a [lollars, \& froniF He ere eu- ere on at fort y were r. On een de- : Piom- I them. Htt e been vimself, but Piomingo ordered two of hit warriors to expand hij «rms, and a third, an old mun^for, says PiomingOt ** non« of my young men shall disgrace themselves so much at to kill a wretch like thee") to shoot hiru tlirough the heart, which was accordingly executed. They after- wanls took off his scalp. During St. Clair's bloody engagement, Adjutant Bui- .g-ess received two wounds, the second of which proved mortal. After the receipt of t-hc first he continued to fiijht with distiaguisiied gallantry ; the second unfortu- ^lately stopped his progress. Faint with the loss of bJood, he fell. A woman who attended him, and was par- ticularly attached to him, raised him up, and while sup- porting him in her arms, received a ball in her breast, which put an immediate end to her existence ! Soon after Knsign Wilson (a much lamented youth,) fell ; one of the savages attempted to take off his scaip, which CvjI. Drake perceiving, he hastened to the spot, flnd with his sword stabbed the Indian through the body. A few weeks after the defeat of the troops under Gen. St Clair, Gen. Scott despatched from the men under his command, two spies to reconnoitre the enemy, who, when they arrived at the distance of a few miles from the fatal spot where the bloody action was fought, they discovered a Ltrge party of Indians, diverting and enjoy- ing themselves with the plunder they had taken, riding the bullocks, &.c., and appeared to be mostly drunk. The men returned and communicated the important information to Gen. Scott, who immediately divided his troops into three divisions, and advanced on the enemy by surprise. The contest was short, but victorious on the part of the American troops. Two" hundred of tl|« enemy were killed on the spot, all the cannon and stores .^;, in their possession retaken, and the remainder of the * savage body put to flight. Gen. S^ott, losing but six men, returned to head quarters in triumph, with most of the cattle, stores, &,c. Gen. Scott gave the following affecting account of the appearance of the field on which the bloody action between the American troops under Gen. St. Clair and the savages was fought, '' The place had a very melan- ■4M £04 INDIAN WARf. cholly appearance. Nearly in the space of three hundred and fifty yards lay three hundred j^kull-boncs, which were buried by my men while on the ground ; from thence about five miles on, the road through the woods was strewed with skeletons, muskets, &c." On the 29th of July, 1794, Major M'Mahon marched with eighty riflemen, under the command of Capt. Harts- horn, and fifty dragoons, under the command of Capt. Taylor, for fort Recovery, as an escort to three hun- dred pack horses, loaded with flour for the garrison. On the morning following, after they had deposited their loading, and were preparing to set out on their return, they were attacked by an army of i200 Indians. Capt. Hartshorn, who bad advanced with the riflemen about a quarter of a mile into the woods, immediately took post on ft very strong, commanding piece of ground near the garrison, and with unparalleled bravery, maintained the unequal fight till Major M'Mahon, who had put himself at the head of the cavalry, was killed, as was Capt. Tay- lor, and Cornet Terry, and many of the men wounded. The enemy now put their force against Capt. Hartshorn, and in the moment when they were pushing to cut off his communication with the garrison, Lieut. Drake and Ensign Dodd sallied out at the head of twenty brave fel- lows, who turned out voluntarily on the occasion, and joined him after beating the enemy at the point of the bayonet. At this instant the brave Capt. Hartshorn re- ceived a shot which broke 'his thigh. Lieut. Craioj was killed, and Lieut. Marks taken prisoner. Lieut. Drake now ordered a retreat, and on endeavoring to hold the enemy in check so as to give the men time to save Capt. Hartshorn, he received a shot in the groin. The enemy now pressed so hard as to compel the men to leaye their captain. Great numbers of the Indians must have been killed, as they came forward in solid columns up to the very nluzzles of the guns. Lieut. Mitchel, who was with Capt. Hartshorn, but whom he had detached with a few active men to the flank of the enemy, was now missing ; and while their companions in the fort were deploring • their fate, and had given them up as lost, they saw him IlfDIAN ITASt. 205 ndred 1 were :hence Is was arched Harts- Capt, ic hun- . On I their •eturn, Capt. ibout a )k post ear the led the himself . Tay- lunded, tshorn, cut off ce and ive fel- >n, and of the 3rn re- ipr was Drake old the Capt. enemy e their killed, e very with a few |!ising ; lloring w him and Lieut. Marks rushing through the thick of the ene- my at opposite directions, and although numbers of guns were fired at them they got in safely. Lieut. Mitchel lost every man of his party except three, and Lieut. Marks got off by knocking down the Indian who took him. The Indians were observed to carry off great numbers of killed and wounded on pack-horses. The loss of tho Americans was twenty three killed, and about forty wounded. The party commanded by Capt. Hartshorn brought in ten scalps of the enemy. CHAP. X. DEPREDATIONS OF THE INDIANS ON THE FRONTIERS DURINO THE YEARS 1791, 1792, AND 1793. On the 19th of December, 1791, as two men and three boys were fishing on Floyd's fork of Salt River, they were suddenly attacked by a party of Indiansj who kil- led the two mea and made prisoners of the boys. Soon after they liberated one of the lads, first presenting him with a tomahawk, which they desired him to carry to his friends, and inform them what had become of his companions. About the 20th a party of Indians attacked the house of a Mr. Chenoweth, situated near the mouth of the Wa- bash. They killed and scalped two of his children, and tomahawked and scalped his wife, whom they left for dead. iMr. C, who had his arm broken by the fire of the savages, with the remainder of the family made their escape. A sick daughter who was confined to her cham- 203 INDIAN WARtv I I., ■ i^i li' ber, and who, during llio bloody affray had been forgot* ten by her father, remuiiuMj igriornntof ihe horrid massa- cre until the sueeeeding diiy, when no one of the family coming to l.cr assistance, she succeeded in crawling down stairs, where she was inexpressibly shocked at the sight of a beloved parint slrt tched i^pon the floor almost life- less, and at the side of whom lay the mangled bodies of her dear brothers. Fortunately her unhappy father re- turned the succeeding dny to the house, and conveyed the two surviving members of his family to the house of u friend, whore they finally recovered. On the 24lh a party of Indians attacked the dwelling house of a Mr. John Merrill, in Nelson County, Ken- tucky. .Mr. Merrill, who was first alarmed by the bark* ing of his dog, hastened to ihc door to discover the cause, o.-^ opening of which he received the fire of the In- * dians, whiqh broke his right leg and arm. The Indians now attempted to entcfr (.he house, but were prevewted by the door being immediately closed and secured by Mrs. Merrill and her daughter. The Indians succeded in hewing away a part of the door, tlirough which pas- sage one of them attempted to enter, but the heroic mother, in the midst of her screaming children and groaning husband, seized an axe and gave the ruffian a fatal blow, after which she hauled him through the pas- sage into the house. The others, unconscious of the fate of their companion, supposing that they had now nearly succeeded in t^^eir .object, rushed forward, four of whom Mrs. Merrill in like manner despatched before the others discovered their mistake. Ti)e remaining In- dians, after retiring a few maments, returned and renew- ed their efforts to enter the house. Despairing of suc- ceeding at the door they got on the top of the house and attempted to descend the chimney ; to prevent which Mr. Merrill directed his little son to empty upon the fire the contents of a feather bed, which had the desired ef- fect, as the smoke and heat caused thereby, soon brought down rather unexpectedly, two of the enemy. Mr. Merrill, exerting every faculty at this critical moment, seized a billet of wood with which he soon despatched tlie half-smotherod Indians, while ip tho meaH timt, his forgot* massa- fuinily 5 down c sight St life- dies of her re- tivcycd ouso of welling r, Ken- c bark- er the the In- [ndinns avcHted jred by iccedcd ch pas- heroic n and ifiinn a le pas- of tho now four before ing In- encw- suc- sc and which ic fire cd ef- rought Mr. oment, atched ff, his IPfDIAjr WARS. 207 heroic wife was busily enjjaged in drfcndiiig the doer against tho t^flTorts of the only rcmain<» one, whom she so severely wounded with un uxe thai he wns soon glad to retire. i A i)risoner wlio escape J from the enemy soon after the transaction, informed that the wounded savage above-men- tioned was the only one of the party that es(a|)ed, witicli consisted of eight; that on his r(;turn, beinj; asked by tho prisoner " what news," he answered, " bad news for poor Indian, me lose a son, me lose a brother; the squaws have taken the breech clout, and fight worse than th© *long knives !'" Copy of a hitter from a gentleman residing at the;vest- ward, to a friend in New \ ork, dated Marietta, Feb. I, 1792. " Our prospects are nmch changed. Instead of jeaco and friendship with our Indian neighbors, a horrid savage war stares us in the face. The Indians, instead of being humbled by the destruction of the Shawnee towns, aixl brought to beg for peace, ap|u?ar to be determined on » general war, in whieh our settlements are already involved. On the evening of the 2d inst. they Ml on a settlement about forty miles up the Muskingum, si:rpiised a block- house, killed fourteen persons, and carried ofl' three other?. What number of Indians were concerned in this mis- chief, or from what tribe we know not; e.\cept it be by those Indians who till la.tely used to visit our settlements every day, who have withdrawn themselves entirely from our sight ever since the expedition against the »Shawnese; and there is little reason tp doubt but thit the Delawares and Wyandois as well as others, have had a hand in the business. *^ h is impossible for me to give a just idea of the dis- tress into which this event has thrown the inhabitants, especially thos3 of the out settlements. For. my own part I have for some time been of opinion that the spring woidd open with a general attack on the frontiers, in which event I did not expet t we should escape, unless government sliould timely send troops for our protection, which we were in hopes would be the case. But it seems the enemy are determined to take advantage of our •* /* :r ♦08 INDIAN WAItS. f. t I P. fletVncflcss situation. I consider this event, as the fore- runner of other uttack^ of a more serious nature, and which may involve us in complete ruin, ynK;ss prevented by the government immediately taking measures for our [irotection. To their protection 1 conceive we always lad an indisputable claim, whit h claim, if possible, is in- creased by the circums:ances that have brought us under thu nsentment uf the Indians, and at least in some inea' ure, produced the mischief that we are fallen into/' - Copy of a letter from a gentleman in Kentuckv to ids friend in Philadelphia, dated March 3, 1792. *' As to the Indians, they have been troubits^ino all wintei-g Since October last sixty persons have been killed within the limits of this district, besides a number destroytKl on the Ohio, among whom is our oW acquaint- ance. Mr. John May, late of Botctoute, whose exit de- serves notice, because he was actuated by motives ot hu- manity. The aflair is thus related by a captive who has lately made his escape from the Indians, and who was a spectator and a.i unwilling instrument in the tragedy. "Mr. May, in descending the great Kanhawaand Ohio, about the 20th of February last, discovered on the west- ern shore of the latter, near the mouth ot the Sciota, a white man, who with a plaintive voice, was calling, " ifor Gods's sake, come and take a poor prisoner on board, who is endeavoring to escape from the savages." This had the desired eilect. . Mr. May ordered the boat to- wards the shore, but did not discover his mistake until the Indians rose up from their vr,btr.h, shot. him dead, and wounded son.', others of the n,:*^*-! i7»rs on lm-»rd, '.vi.o immediately endeavored to m ; ■•*], '.n being lold in the English tongue, they should have good quarters, surren- dered without resistance. The Indians, however, on boarding the boat, massacred all without discrimination. Two days after the same party attempted to decoy three iarge boats ashore that were coming down from fort Pitt, but luckily they were discovered in time, and our people sheered off. 1 he enemy, being prepared, manned their boats with about thirty warriors, and gave chase. The crew of two of the boats, fearing they might be overtak- en, quilted them, and went on board the best sailer, a soi frc Ci SU(| IffDIAN WARS. tOfI fore- , and unted or our ilways , is in- under inea* r to liif^ ,.nc all e U^^n number cquaint- exit de- ls ot hu- vvho has was a redy. nd Ohio, lie vvest- Sciota, a ing, " fo/ .n board, " This boat to- ke until ead, and r.»rd, 'viiO lid in the |s, surren- ever, on Imination. coy three fort Pitt, ,ur people ned their >se. The overtak- ist sailer, wlicro thoy ihrcw overboard all their horses, jind some heavy articli s, and plu d nil their oars to efleet their es- cape. The Indians also exortc J fh<'njselves in the pursuit, ke«*ping on ;\ stead} course for about twenty miles, not- wiihstandinj; twenty-four well armed white men were on board the American boat, with oni' of our colonels of mi- litia. "Thus, for want of a little resolution and skill a favor- alle opportunity was lost to destroy a number of the vile enemies of the human raee. The Indians, on their re- turn, took possession of the two boats that were aba - doned,and found in them 17 horses, 5000 dollars worth <>( merchandize, and considerable propert v belonging to the emigrants. "Fort M'Intosh, on the Ohio, was < short lime since attacked by a party of the Indians. I'hey secreted themselves near the fort, and succeeded hi killing the sen- tinel on duty. They then rushed into tl e fort, and dis- charged their pieces at those within. One man only was wounded, who, in endeavoring to escape was toma- hawked by an Indian. One ball just grazed the temple of Capt. Forbes, who commanded the guard, and four others struck the log above his head, the splinters and bits of which cut his face. The garrison consisted of twenty men, and there were forty of the enen.y. " Thus we find that Indian treaties do not secure our country from the depredations of the savages. Our last hope now is, that the President of the United Sates will, vui long, adopt such measures as will prove the efficiency of the Federal Government to protect the citizcis of the United Stales, however remotely situated from the seat of government. Copy of a letter froni a gentleman in South Carolina to a friend in New York, dated Charleston, Aug. 6, 1792. " An express arrived from Gen. Pickens and Col. An- derson, which brings advices to the governor, stating that a general Indian war on the western frontiers of the southern states seems inevitable; that by intelligence from the country of the Creeks, all the trihos except the Custawas are determined for war, urged by Galphin, the successor of M'Gillivray, and that they have already com- 21 tits fW^DIAjr WARtf; menced ItostilTtuis wiiHin the C'aroIitKi lin«; a ptrrfj af ihem having, kiilod and^ sealjjed a man m'Tugaroev- Wtr hear that the governor has ordered one third of the miU^ tia-ih the iiypcr districts to be drafted, aj^d'hefd in readi- ness for immediate service^ should tiie savages make fur- ther depredations on the irontiers* " Yesterday evening, a gentJcraar arrived Iiere fronr Atigusta, who^ iiiformed us that six ef the Creek tow na^ with a ni*mber of the Cherokees, had declared war against; the United States, and were actually marching under the eommand'of 'Bowls aiwJ Galphin.to attack tlie fi-ontier*. "Oh the 22d ult.^ the Indians, 37 in number, came to* Ae house of Mi*. Richard Thresher, in Augusta, and fired' upon and hilled him,, two children and a negro woman^ Mrs. Thresher, Uo avoid! if possible the fate with whicfe »he was threatened', fled with, an iniant of about five or six weeks old in h«r arms,, and leaped into the river. Thtr Indians pur&ued,. shot her through each thigh aod.rFghi breast, stabbed'her in the Teft breast with a kiuTe, cut her left arm nearly ofl^and then scafped her. In this horridP situation she remamed until the neighbors cou}d assem- ble iu sufficient numl)ers to eross the river and pursue the* kldians.. As the first canoe was Grossing she had'strengtlt; enough to call for assistance. They went, found her hanging by a. bush in watier, nearly up to her chin, her mfant at the bouom of t4ie river a few yards from herr She lived twenty four lioui-s,, and when informed by her physician> that it was impossible for her to sui-vive much Wgerr she, wi't4i a fortitude that is rarely to be met with,, ealled her friends around her, and in a. calm but pathetic manner, gave her hand to each one, wishfng them a better fate than- hud befallen herself and family ; and when, af- ter Iwr speech faifed, as neighbors were continually com- ing fn, she continued to give her hand until about five- minutes Ixefore she resigned her breath,, which, was with- out a eroan. "Mrsr Thresher was aBout twenty-five years ofagc, of a respectable family and elegant person, and possessed anuncoincQon educatfon. "On Thursday the 24th two men were killed in Frank- lin, and fottv horFfs carried off, and the people on tfir of Wer [»UV fur- lVon» )vynsi* air.st r the bwb. me to» [ firetf- vvhithi [ive or i.rrght; :ul her Viorfi'df assew- sue the* :ieugth' he.r d :n, her m her, by her e moch^ t with,, athetic [a better- hen, af- ly com- out five- s with- jfogcj «^ tossessei Frank- on thr INDIA^K IfARt* £11 S'rotttlcTs Imvc relrcated.into forts, without arms or amiini- lion. At one meeting df near Ibrty persons they could muster only tivc old musktns ; and to heighten the horror «of fheir condhion, the Indianswere momemapily^zpected. *<■ As similar miYrders were daily committed, it called yrtp tiie spirit oF Q?.0 gallaitt fellows, who marched last "Week against tke savages, dcftermined to revenge tho cru- 't>lties perpetrated xn\ the infam, the mother and :the jdo- Ifenceless, *'To seethe coun'ry rtll in Torts, 'breaflfing up, leaving nhcir farms, their c^orn unU their houses 1)urnt up, is truly distressing. At this time nearly half the country Are in tforts. " Cftpt. Kciiton, with about thirtj'-liv'iR m'en, tvho went viip the Ohio, in order to intercept the Indians, \Vho took Morgan^s station, fell in with a trail of a party of Indians *Oii the waters of Point Creek, coming in tothe setile- 'ment. He followed them, and at night oliserving 'he was iaiear them, sent forw.irJ some spies to discover iheir fires- *Unhicktly the spies fell in with their camp, and before they discovered it the Indians were alarmed "by a dog, ^vhich flew onfat the spies, upon which the Indians firetJ »inn them. The spies returned fhe fire. Upon hearin^the Ifiring, the whole of the party came up, and the Indians -retreated, leaving their b«ggago, among: which was a '-{plant rty of powder, leafl and blankets. Kenton baiS one man killed, h is supposed tvvo Indians were killed and ^carried off, from some discoveries that were made nesrt vmorriiuj;?' Copy of a letter ft-om fort Washington, "dated A^ril 25, **0r» Tuesday morning, the ©th Inst. Major Adair, •with 12) volunteers from Kentucky, having charge of a large number of pack horses latJen tvith provisions, des- Ttined for the advanced posts, was most daringly attacked tby nearly an equal party of Indians, although under cover 'of fort St. Clair, notwithstanding which, and that out peo- ple fought desperately, the Indians drove them into the fort, and carried off all their provisions and horses, l)Oth jpick and cavalry, save about twenty killed and four wounded, and Stripped the "camp of every thing, caVrying 4 I 212 INDIAN WAuft. the whole offwitli the most audacious insult and triuiiitilw l^ut as soon as tin; party were rc-supplifid with ^munition from the garrison, they sallied fortli, hut too late to recov*- er the booty which the Indians had made. 'I he courage and daring spirit of these savages were particularly con- spicuous on this occasion, as tluiy fought almost under the guns of the fort. Our loss was one captain, and ten privates killed, and some woundiid, besides horses and provisions, estimated at ;^ 15,000. Tnno of the enemy were found dead a short distance from the field of action. If these Indians had writers among them, what honorable testimony and eulogy might they not give of the noble spirit and heroic bravery of I'.ie native American character, rather than depreciate it as the Europeans do. Two of our men have lately made their escape from the Miami villages, an^l arrived here, who give an account of a mock fight, lately exhibited by the Indians assembled there, and to divert the squaws and children. It was in ridicule of Gen. St. Clair's disposition of his troops on the 4lh of No- vember last, and of his llight before the Indians, who pur- sued him and his army, while others plundered his cam)). They have given out that they mean to celebrate this event annually by a like sham fight, and a great dance, to be called Gen. JSt. Clair's light and dance. It is to be hoped we yet shall have an opportunity to retaliate, and to teach our enemy to amuse themselves at our expense in u less ludicrotts manner. Jt seems that Gen. St. Clair's field of action was on a branch of the Wabash, twentV' four leagues trom the Miami towns, which are now inhab- ited by the hostile Indians. " A lettcT from a correspondent on whose veracity wo can rely, in the territory of the United States, south of the river Ohio, dated the 17th ult., states that every thing wears a gloomy aspect on the western frontiers ; that about the last of December, the Cherokees sent in peace talkers to Gov. Blount, which were only intended tch facil- itate the commission of further depredations by then), when the guards from our outposts were withdrawn ; that from the 16th to the 26th of January, the Indians killed and wounded nineteen persons in Cumberland, among whom was Edwin SlKlby, brother to the governor of INDIAN WARS. 213 lUUOU ecov*- lurngc )f coii- undcr ;id ten ;s und iMieniy action. loruble ;? noblfi uacti'V, I wo ot' Miami a inocU tne, and licule of lM)f No- A\o pur- is camp. rate this ance, lo is to be , and to nsc in a . Clan's twenty- iW inhab- acity w« Uhot'tbc M-y ibinj? ?rs ; that in peace t()»facil- y them, vn; that ns killed , among ,ernor of ICentucky, ; that four of tlie Chickamoijga towns, and the upper Creeks have declared war; that the Creeks have killed a family in the county of Georgia ; that the barbarity exercised by them in this massacre was enough •to make human naiuie shudder at the bare recital. 'I liey butchered them like so many dogs, caught their blood and bowels, expOvSed them to view, and then gave the >who!e to a tame bear to devour ; that the Cherokecs had killed tuo Creeks, wouhded several, and taken two pris- oners ; that the Creeks threaten to retaliate, and cut tlicm all off; that the inhabitants of the territory are waiting AVith impatience for the gener.il government to afl'ord them succor and protection; tiiat treaties with the sav- ages will avail nothing, as what promise they make to day they will not hesitate to break tomorrow." Copy of a letter from Mr. John Corbly, a baptist min^ ister, to his friend in Philadelphia, dated Muddv Creek, Penn. Sept. 1, 1792. "The following arc the particulars of the destruction of my unfortunate lamily by the savages. On the 10th of May last, being my appointment to preach at one of my meeting houses, about a mile from my dwelling house, ( sat out with my loving wife and five children, for public worship. Not sus{)ecting any danger, 1 walked behind n few rods, with my Bible in my hand, meditating. As I was thus employed, on a sudden I was greatly alarmed by the frightful shrieks of my dear family before me. I immediately ran to their relief with all possible speed, vainly hunting a club as I ran. When within a few yards of them, my poor wife observing me cried out to me to make my escape. At this instant an Indian ran up to shoot me. 1 had to strip, and by, so doing out ran him. My wile* had an infant in her arms, which the Indians kil- led and scalped. After which they struck my wife sever- al times, but not bringing her to the ground, the Indian who attempted to shoot me, approached her and shot her through the body. Aftor which they scalped her! My little son, about six years old they dispatched by sinking their hatchets into his brains! My little daughter, four years old, they in like manner tomahawked and scalped ! My eldest daughter attempted an escape by concealing u- 214 l^'DIATt WIiH*. hersfif in a Itollow lnc of the liuliMiis who yet rrmairred «a ihe grotnrd. espying {wr^ fan np to htn* and whh liis -tomahawk kiiock'wd hiM', biid secreted hrmself in the- bUshe^. He begged of hh cantpmiiotis to return and take hrin> irt. Mr. Van Aferyne, it wa» supposed, misun- derstanding hfs fiiendy pFoceecFed directly up (he- lake, to ihe very spot where fire Iridlaus- were then ;issrm.l)led, who with iheif toinaharwRs instantly dispatched him ; af- ter which they followed ther two survivors in an oW canoe*, two or three nuTes down the lake, but Ixfiug. unable to overtake them discontinued (he pursuit. Copy of a re(ter from a gentleman in Mariietta to hi» friend in Washington, dated March 4, 179X "About two weeks shice two Mothers by the name of Johnson, one twelve the other nine years of age^ were playing on the western bank of Short Creek, abou* twelve mi^es from this, skipping stones on the water- At a distance they discovered two men, who appeared ta» be settlers, being dressed with coJits and hals. These* men, to amuse antd deceive the children, engaged in the »amc sport, advancing tmvards the boys, tifl by degrees they got so near that the children dbeovered them to bei Indians ; but it was then too bite t3 make their escape. The Indians seized and carried them six miles into the woods, where they made a fire and took up their fodg-. ings for the night. Their rifles and tomahawks they rested against a tree, and then laid down, each Indian with a boy on his arm. The children, as may be sup- posed, kept awake. The eldest began to move, and finding his Indian sound asleep, by degrees disengngedl himself and went to the fire, which had then got low, and stirred it up ; the Indian not waking, he whispered to his brother who likewise crept away, and both of them went to the fire, *' The oldest boy then observed to his brother, * I thfnk we can kill these Indians and get rid of them.' The youngest agreed to the proposal of attempting it, Tlie oldest then took one of the rifles, and placing the muzzle, which he rested on a small slick that be found for the purpose, elose to (he head of one of the Indians, and conrmitting the execution of this part of the business $ 2IG INDIAN \VAU5}. iii ; ii I ^ 1o his l)i'C.t!ii'r, ortlt-rcd liiin to pull llie triu};('r at (lie inn- nu!iU hu saw iiiin siriko lini ollur Intlian with one of tho lomahiiwks. 'iMu; olilust };avc fhe sif^nal. Tho yourii^iist pullid Ihe (lifif^cr. 'J'lio rillc shot away llio lower part of (lie Indian's furo, and left him scnseltss j he then (old his brother t« lay on, for he had done the deed l\)r his ; afti-r which ho snatched up the p;un and ran. The boy with the toujahawk ^^avc the stroke vvitli the wronu: end. The Indian started on his seat. 'J'hc boy found the mistake, and turninjj; the tomahawk in his luind, f:;avc him another blow which brought him to the j^round. lie repeated his strokes until he had dispatch- ed him, and then made the best of his way after his brother. When the boys hud found the path which thoy recollected to have travelled tlie day bclore, the oldest fixed his hat on a bush as a directory to find the scene of action the next day. The tomahawked Indian was found near the place where the boys had left him. The odier was not there, but was tracked by his blood, and aUhou;2;h so 'Acakened by his wounds, that he could not raise his liflo to lire at the pursuers, they suffered him to escape, but it is supposed he must have died of his wounds. These two Indians were sent out to rccon- noiter the best place for an a(tack, which Avas to have been made by a body of warriors waiting in (he neigh- borhood." Copy of a letter from Col Robertson tc Gen. Wash- ington, dated Nashville, Feb. 1. I7!)3. *' Sir — My aceoun(s received from t'.e Chickasaw na- tion of Indians, we are informed that at a ^rand council of their warriors, it was unanimously determined to com- mence active oj)erations against the wfiites. The Clur- okees they expect will join tliem. The white inhabi- tants in this quarter are drawing together, and are doing every thing possible for their defence, but 1 fear wi(hout some timely assistance, we shall all fall a sacrifice to the wanton barbarity of our savage foes, who" we. expect are now on their way to this j)laGe to the number of 1000. Major Hall and his eldest son fella sacrifice to their fury two days ago, near Bedoloe's Lick. They have killed about iweniy-four persons in the course of a few months TNBIAN WAR!. fl7 ovmcil o con:- Clur- nliabi- doing vitliout to the ect are 1000. ir fury 3 killed iionths in tliis settlement, besides a great number roort trho went nccir it. *' From Burke county we Icnrn that on the 11th in- stant two men, a woman, and her infant daughter, were scalped at William's swamp on the O^echec river by a party of Indians, 'J'Uc little girl, to deter them from their cruel design, held out a bottle of honey, telling them it was rum, begging them in the mean time to spare her life. They told bcr they did not want rum, but her hair ! They knocked her down and scalped her, but we are happy to learn that she is in a fair way of re- covery. "By a letter from Kentucky I am informed that the Indians have done more mischief in that State the pres* cnt year than for at least four years past. Scarcely a boat can pass below Limestone but what is attacked by them. Six or seven have been captured, some with very valuable lading. By a prisoner who escaped from thera a short time since, we are informed that the Indians have procured a boat, or rather a kind of floating battery, with the sides built high and rendered bullet proof. This boat is situated near the mouth of the Great Mi- ami. They a few days since, captured a boat in wiiich were a Capt. Ashley and his family. A son of the cap- tain, having been very spirited in the opposition, the sav- ages immediately put him to death, cut out his heart and broiled it, which they afterwards devoured in the pres- ence of the unhappy father, who has since made his es- cape." Copy of a letter from Gen. Clark to the Governor of the State of Georgia, dated Long Creek, Sept 24, 1793. " Sir — I had certain information that a man was killed on the 14i(h near Greensborough, by a party of six or seven Indians, and that on the IGth, Col. Barber, with a small party, was waylaid by about fifty or sixty In- dians, by whom three of his party were killed. This, together with a variety of other accounts equally alarm- ing, determined me to raise what men I could in the course of twenty-four hours, and march with them to protect the frontiers ; in which space of time I collected one hundred and sixty four men, chiefly volunteers, and 28 -sffil. lis INDIAN WARS. I I I, procecd.ed to the place where Col. Harber had been at- tacked, where I found (he bodies of Iho Ihrcc nicn men- tioned above, mangled in u shockinfi; manner, and after I had buried them, proceeded on the trail of the mur- derers as far as the south fork of the Oakmulj^oe, where finding I had no chanue of overtaking them, 1 left it and went up said river, until I met with .. fresh trail of In- dians coming towards our frontier settlements. I imme- diately turned and followed this frail until the morning of the 21st, when I came up with them. They had just crossed a branch called Jack's Creek, through a thick cane brake, and were encamped and cooking on an emir uence. My force then consisted of one hundred and thirty men, thirty having been sent back on account of their horses having been tired and lost. I drew up my men in three divisions, the right commanded by Col. Freeman and Major Clark, who were ordered to surr round and charge the Indians, which they did with such dexterity and spirit that they immediately drove them from their encampment back into the cane brake, where, finding it impossible for them to escape, they obstinately returned our fire until half past four o'clock, when thty ceased, except now and then a shot. *' During the latter part of the action they seized eve- ry oppoitunity of escaping by small parties, leaving the rest to shift for themselves. About sun-set I thought it most advisable to draw ofi', as the men had suffered for want of provisions nearly two days, and for want of wa- ter during the action, but more particularly to take care of the wounded, which amounted to eleven ; and six killed. Fj'om every circumstance I am certain there were not less than twenty five Indians killed, and proba- bly double that number wounded. In short they were totally defeated, with tiie loss of their provisions, clotli- ing, &C., consisting of the following articles ; four mus- kets, thirty two brass kettles, and one hundred large packs, containing- blankets, match coats, boots, mocca- sons, tomahawks, pipes, upwards of one hundred halters ?ind bridles, &,c., from all of which I judge their number was fully equal to ours. Col. Freeman and Major Clarke distinguished themselves, and from the spirit and INDIAN WARS. 219 n at-' men- afUr mur- vhcre t and f In- mnic- inj; of d just thick [1 emir id and )unt of up my y Col. to sur-: Lh such Q them where, linately en they ed cvc- rinp; the ought it ed for of wa- {c care and six in there proba- cy were clotli- ur mus- d large mocca- halters number 1 Major pir. t and er( bravery with which the whole of mj little party acted during tiie action 1 do not believe that had wg met them in tlje open woods we should have been more than fivo niinufes in destroying them all. '' While I was on this excursion two skirmishes hap- pened near Grccnsborough, in one of which one man was wounded, jind in the other six stands of arms were lost, bein^ guardi^d by only two men, while the rest of the parly were gathering fodder." C )py of a letter from an ofliccr in the service of the United States, to his friend in New York, dated Buffalo Creek, Sept. 27, 1793. " 1 left ibrt Franklin the 3d inst. and arrived here the 1 1 th in the evening, at the house of Mr. Winney, who informs me that upwards of 4!00() hostile Indians were now assembled at the Miami villages, and that their number was daily increasing. Capt. Powell and sever- al other gentlemen of the British arnTy, dined with me yesterday, and from their conversation I am perfectly convinced that the Indians are supported by the British in the war against us. Indeed, Captain Powell told me that all the intentions of the Indians were well known to them, and the Indians were their allies, and of course they musi support them. He also informed me that ten scouts of the hostile Indians were then out to strike on the frontiers, and they would soon attack the Six Na- tions. Some of the chiefs of the hostile Indians passed here about five days ago, on their way to Canada, but what their business' is I cannot learn." f « ' 220 inDlAPf WAIil. CHAP. \i DRFCAT or Tnit INDIANS ON THE MIAMI9 DY OCN WAVISt After tlie defeat of two nrmirs, and the <>;r('nt sulVcr-' ings of the inhabitants liy tho Indians, n4 related in the preceding chapter, our government canju | 15th, cmpo- , wlio Brit- right Bc\vvi hnttalion of monnfod yohjiitrm movrfl in front of iho Irgion commjiiitliid hy Mnjor l*ri(!r, who wn» di- rect«d to keep suiricicntly Hdvimccd, nnd to give tinifly notice for tho troops lo form in cnna of action, it hcinjz; yet undctorminod whether tho Indians would decide for pence or war. " After advancing al)out five n^des, Major Prico'i corps received so severe a fire from tho enemy, who yfurc secreted in tho woods and high gross, as to com- pel thom to retreat, '* Thc! h'gion was immediattdy forn.ed in two lines, prin cipnlly in n close thick wooil which extended for miles on our left, and for a very considerahle distance in front, tho ground h(!ing covered with old fillon timber, proba- bly occasioned by a tornado, whicii rendered it imprac- ticable for the cavalry to act with clfect, and afforded the enemy the most favoralilc covert for their mode of warfare. The savages were formed in three lines, with- in supporting distance of each other, and extending for near two miles at right angles with the river. 1 soon discovered from the weight of the fire and extent of their lines, that tho enemy were in full force in front, in pos* session of their favorite ground, and endeavoring to turn our left flank. I therefore gave orders for the second line to advance to support the first, and directed Major Ccncral Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the savages, with tho whole o( the mounted volunteers by a circuitous roulo. At the same time I ordered the front line to advance and charge with trailed arms, and rouse the Indians from their covert at the point of the bayon- et, and when up to deliver a close and well directed fire on their backs, followed by a brisk charge, so as not to give them time to load again or to form their lines. I also ordered Capt. M. Campbell, who commanded the legionary cavalry, to turn the left flank of the enemy next the river, and which afforded a favorable field for that corps to act in. All these orders were obeyed with spirit and promptitude ; but such Wins the impetuosity of the charge by the first line of infantry, that the Indians and Canadian militia and volunteers were driven from all thoir coverts in so short a time, that although erery pos- INDIAN WARi. II siblc exertion was used by llio oflirers of lljn second lino of llio legiiin, and by CjI«'Ms. Srolt, Wood and IJiirbce of tlio niountt'd volunttiors, to gain tbtiir proper positions, but part of each could ^r.i up in season to particij)ato in the action, the em-niy l)ein|; driven in the course of one iiour more than two njilos liirough the thick woods al- ready nuMitioncd, by Ii-ss lluin one half their number. " From every account the enemy amoimled to 2000 combatants. 'I'he trooj)s actually enj;a<;ed a;^ainst theui Were short of !)00. Tliis horde of sava}i;es, with their allies, abandoned themselves fo fli/^ht and dispersed with terror and dismay, leaving our victorious nrniy in full and quiet possession of thii field of battle, which termi- nated under the inlluenco of the guns of the ilritish gar- rison.' " The brpvcry and conduct of every otTiccr belonging to the army, from the generals dqwn to the ensigns, merit my approbation. " Lieut. Covington, upon whom the command of the cavalry devolved, (Capt. CambcU being killed,) cut down two savages with his own hand, and Lieut. Webb one in turning the enemy's left (lank. *' The wounds received by Captains Slough, Prior, Van Ransclacr, and Rawlins, and Lieuts. M' Kenny, and Smith, bear honorable testimony of their bravery and conduct. In fact every officer and soldier who had an opportunity to come into, action, displayed that true bravery which always ensures success. And here per- mit mo to declare that I never discovered more true spirit and anxiety for action than appeared to pervade the whole of the mounted volunteers, and 1 am well per- suaded that had the enemy maintained t*>eir favorite ground for one half hour longer, they would hive felt most severely the prowess of that corps. " But whilst I pay this just tribute to the living, I must not neglect the gallant dead, among whom we have to lament the early death of those worthy and brave offi- cers, Capt. Campbell and Lieut. Towles, who fell in the first charge. *' The loss of tlic enemy was more than double to that of the Federal army. The woods were strewed for INDIAN WAKS. 223 and and Eld an true per- true rvade pcr- ^oritc felt "6' ' have e offi- in the 6 considerable distance witii dead bodice of Indliins and their white auxiliaiit-s, the hiltcr arnud with nrilish muskets and bayonets. We rcriiaiiud tiirce days and nights on the l>aitks of the Miainis in front of tHe i\ Id of battle, durinjr which time all tin? houses and corn- fields were consumed and dc'stroycd for a considerable distance above and bidow llie garrison, auion^ which were the houses, stores and property of Col. IM'Kee, the British InHian a^onl, and principal stimulator of the war now existini; between the United Stales and the sav- ages. " The army returned to h(;ad quarters on the 27th, by easy marclu;;', laying waste (he villages and corn- fields lor about fifty miles on each side of the Miamis. It is not improbable but that the enemy may make one desperate action against the army, as it is said a rein- forcement was hourly expected at Fort Miamis from Niagara, as well as numerous tribes of Indians living on the margins and islands of the lakes This is an event rather to be ivished for than dreaded whilst the army re- mains in force, their numbers will only tend to confuse the savages, and the victory will be the more complete and decisive, and which may eventually ensure a perma- nent and happy peace. Total killed, ^}8, wounded, JOl." Ths following circumstances which took place previous to and during Gen. Wayne's engagement, are worthy of record. At the instant Capt. Campbell was attempting to turn the left Hank of the enemy, thiee of them plunged into the river. Two friendly negroes being on the opposite side, and observing the Indians making for the shore, they placed themselves on the bank behind a log, and as soon as the Indians approached within shot, one of the negroes fired and killed one of the Indians, the other two got hold of him to drag him out, when the other ne- gro fired and killed another ; the remaining Indian got hold of both the dead to pull them ashore, when the ne- gro who killed the first iiaving again reloaded, fired and killed the third, and they all floated down the river. Another circumstance is also related, viz. A soldier, soon after the conclusion of the action, proceeding some U24, INDIAN WARS. I distance from the camp, met an Indian, they attacked each other, the soldier with his bayonet, and the Indian with bis tomahawk. Some of tiie soldiers passing by that way two -days after, found them both dead, the sol- dier with his bayonet in the body of the Indian, and the Indian with his tomahawk in the soldier's head. The following circumstances took place previous to the action. A Mr. Wells, who, when very young, was taken prisoner by the Indians, and had resided several years among them, had made his escape, and was em- ployed by Gen. Wayne as a spy. The day before the action he was taken by the Indians, who determined to put him to death. Finding it impossible to ascape he inform- ed them that Gen. Wayne bad not five hundred men under his command, and did not expect an attack. On hearing this, the Indians attacked Gen. Wayne, with a confi- dence inspired by their supposed superiority of numbers, and were repulsed as before mentioned. After the ac- tion. Major Campbell, in whose custody the Indians had left Wells, inquired his motives for deceivinac them ; he answered, '' for the good of my country." For this he- roic action he was unfeelingly delivered to the Indians, in whose hands it is supposed he experienced every tor- ture that savage barbarity could invent or inflict. The circumstances respecting Mr. Wells were related to Gen. Wayne by a British drummer who deserted fronx the fort. A council of Indians was hold a fow days after their defeat by Gen. Wayne, in which British agents endeav- ored to persuade them to risk anothfir action, but this they refused to do, expressing a willingness to bury the bloody hatchet and return to. their homes. Their loss they declared to be two hundred, and that their whole force at the commencement of the action amounted to J 500 Indians and eighty Canadians. The body of the collector of Niagara was found among the slain. CJtDJAN WARa. 925 CHAP. XIL EXPEDITION OF GEN. WILLIAM H. HAURISON AGAINST THE SAViU GES ON THE WABASIL BAITLE OF TIPPECANOE. he- 1 their leav- |t this the loss Ivhole led to the W« should have been extretncly happy to have clos- ed the list of savage barbarities with the last chapter, but after a cessation of hostilities on their part of more than sixteen years, we iind them once mot e collecting in . a formidable body on our frontiers, and (instigated by a blood thirsty savage of the Shavvance tribe, termed •' the Prophet,") commencing an unprovoked attack on the American troops stationed there. The conduct of the Wabash Indians becoming suspi- cious to our government, in consequence of their many thievish excursions and hasty preparations for an offen- sive att^jck, Gen. Harrison, ubo was Governor of the Northwestern Territory, with 2000 men, (three hundred and fifty regulars, and the remainder militia) were ordered to proceed from the neighborhood of Vin- ccnnes to tt.tj line, and demand of the Prophet the object of his real indentions. The troops commenced their march on the 26th September, and nothing important occurred till their arrival on the line, where they re- mained near a month, and built a strong fort, which in honor of the commander in chief was called fort Harrison. The Indians in a friendly manner almost evdry day visited the camp, and held councils with the governor, but would not accede to his terms, which were, that their leader (the Prophet,) should give up the property stolen from the Americans, and send all their warriors to their different tribes; the governor there- fore determined on attacking him. On the 29lh of Oc- tober, 181 1, the troops took up their lino of march for 29 ■ $. f*^- 2f^ INDIAN WARS. the Prophet's town, where they anivcd on tlie Ctli No- vember. When within about half a mile of tl)c town the troops formed the line of battle, which the Indians pcrceivingr sent three of their chiefs with a flag of truce, begging that their lives might be spared, pledging then> selves that they would not lake up the tomahawk against the troops, and that if they would encamp near the town, in the morning they would come to such terms as the governor should propose. This lulled the tro )ps into security, and they encamped about half a mile back of the town. Fifteen minutes before five o'clock the next morning, the savages commenced a furious attack on the left flank of the troops, but not a single gun was fired by the sentirtels or the guard in that direction, nor did they make the least resistance, but abandoned their office and fled into camp ; and the first notice which the troops of that flank had of the danger, was from the yells of the savages within a short distance of the line "; bat even under those circumstances, the men were not wanting to themselves or the occasion. Such of them as were awake or were easily awakened, seized their arms and took their stations ; others, who were more tardy, had to contend with the enemy in the very doors of their tents. The storm first fell upon Capt. Barton's company of the kh U. S. regiment, and Capt. Geigcr's eompany of mounted riflemen, which formed the left an- gle of the rear line. The fire upon these was exces- sively sfevere, and they suffered severely before relief could be brought to them Some few Indians passed into the encampment near the angle, and one or two penetrated to some distance before they were killed. Under all these discouraging circumstances, the troops, nineteen twentieths of whom had never been in action before, behaved in a manner that can never be too much applauded. They took their places witiiout noise, and with less confusion than could have been expected from veterans placed in a similar situation. As sjon as the governor could mount his horse he rodo to the an<^le that was attacked. He found that Barton's company had suffered severely, and the left of Gciger's entirely brok- I I INDIAN WARS. 227 MgCl's left an- CXCC'S- reliof assed r two d. roops, action iiiueh |e, and from s the e that ly had brok- en* Me immediately ordered Cook's company and the late Capt, Wentworth's under Lieut. Peters, to be brought up from the centre of the rear line, where the ground Was much m-)re defensible, and formed across the angle in support of Harton and Geiger's. His atten- tion ivas there engaged by a heavy firing upon the left of the frjnt line, where were stationed the small com- jKiiiy of t!ie U. S. riflemen, (then however armed with muskets) and the compiinies of Baen, Snelling and Pres- cott, of the 'kli regiment. He found Maj. Daviess form- ing the dragoons in the rear cS those companies, and un- derstanding UkU the heaviest part of the enemy's fire pro- ceeded from some trees about lifteen or twenty paces in front of those companies, he directed the major to dis- lodge them with a part of his dragoons. Unfortunately the major's gallantry determined him to execute the order with a smaller force than was sufficient, which enabled t!ie enemy to avoid him in front and attack his flanks. H^. was mortally wounded and his party driven back. The Indians were, however, immediately and gallantly dislodged from their advantageous position by Capt. Snelling at the head of his company. In the course of r^ a few minutes after the commencement of the attack, the fire extended along the left flank and part of the rear line. Upon Spencer's mounted riflemen, and the right of War- wick's company, which was posted on the right of the rear line, it was excessively severe. Capt. Spencer, and his first and second Lieuts. were killed, and Capt. War- wick was mortally wounded. These companies however, still bravely maintained their posts ; but Spencer's had suflfered so severely, and haying origiiially too much ground to occupy, the commander reiiiforced him with Kobb's company of rifiemen, which had been driven, or by mis- take ordered from their position on the left flank towards the centre of the camp, and filled the vacancy that had been occupied by Robb, with Prescott's company of the 4th U. S. regiment. His great object was to keep the lines entire, to prevent the enemy from breaking into the ■ . camp until daylight, which would enable them to make a general and effectual charge. With this view he had reinforced every part of the line that had suffered much, ■iL% 22a INDIAN WARS. and as soon as the appro ich of morning tfiscovereJ itseff, he withdrew from the front line, Snelling, Poesy, (under Lieut. Albright,) and Scott^s companies, and from the rear Hnc Wilson and Norris's companies, and drew them upon the left flank ; at the same time ordered Cook and Baen's companies, the former from the rear and the lat- ter from the front line, to reinforce the right flank, forsee- ing that at these points the enemy would make their last efforts. Major Wells who commanded on the left flank, not knowing his intentions precisely, had taken the com- mand of these companies, and had charged the enemy before he had formed the body of dragoons, with which he meant to support the infantry ; a small detachment of these were ready, and pmved amply sufficient for ihc purpose ; the Indians were thrown into confusion:^ and driven by the infantry at the point of the Iwyonrt, and the dragoon^ pursued and forced them into a marsh, where ihejr could not be followed. Capt. Cook and I.ieut. Lar- rabee had marched their companies to the right flank, had formed them imdi-r the fire of the enemy, and being then joined by the riflemen of that flank, they charged the Indians, killed a number, and put the rest to a precipitate flight. The action was maintained with the greatest obstina- cy and perseverance by both parties. The Indians mnn- ifested a ferocity qalie uncommon even with them. . To their savage fury our troops opposed that cool and delib- erate valor, which is characteristic of the christian soldier. Capt. Spencer was wounded in the head. He exhorted his men to fight valiantly. He was shot through both thighs, and fell, still continuing to encourage them. He was raised up, and rfceived a bajl through his body, which put an immediate end to his existence. Capt. Warwick was shot immediately through the body. Being taken to the surgery to be dressed, as soon as it was over (being a man of great bodily vigor and still able to walk) he insisted opon going back to head his company, al- though it was evident he had but a few hours to live. There were 188 of the troops killed and wounded. It is supposed the enemy were about 700 strong, and that ihjey had lost about 400 in the engagement. The day IWDIAN WAns. 529 'S ;d the? ipitate )stina- man- To dellb- loldier. lorled both He body, Capt. Being is over walk) ly, al- . It that le day succeeding the action, the troops set fire to the town, and destroyed every thing valuiibh', and the niorning en- suing struck their tents and commcnerd iheir niarcli for Vincennes, where they arrived in safety alter a most fatiguing campaign of 55 days, and marcliing the distance of 320 miles. The victory gained by Gen. Harrison at 1 ippccance was justly deemed of the greatest importance to the country. President Madison in his Message to Congress soon after, says: *' Congress will see, with satisfaction, the dauntless spirit .and fortitude, victoriously displayed, by every de- scription of the troo|)s engaged, as well as the collected firmness which distinguished their commander, on an occasion requiring the utmost exertion of valor and disci- pline^. It may reasonably be expected that the good effects of a critical defeat and dispersion of a combination of savages which appears to have been spreading to a greater extent, will be experienced, not only in the cessa- tion of the murders, and depredations committed on our frontier, but in the prevention of any hostile incursions otherwise to have been apprehended." Copy of a letter from Cji( '^. Harrison to the Secretory of War, dated Vincennes, D c. 14, Ibll. > *'Sir— I have the honor to iiif'orm you that two principal chiefs of the Kickapoos of the prairie arrived here bear- ing a flag, on the evening before last. They informed that they came in consequence of a message from the chief of that part of the Kickapoos which had joined the Prophet, requiring them to do so, and that the said chief is to be here in a day or two. The account which they gave of the late confederacy under the Prophet is as fol- lows. " The Prophet, with his Shawances, is at a small Huron village about 12 miles from his former residence, on this side the Wabash-, where also arc 12 or 15 Murons. The Kickapoos are encamped near the Tippecanoe. The Powtawsiomies have scattered and gone to different villages of that tribe. The Winnebagoes had all set out on their return to their own country, excepting one chief and nine men who remained al their former village. The 230 INDIAN VYAKS. latter luiJ attcnJiiJ Tecumsch in liis tour to lljc south- Nvard, and had only rettirnod to tho l*roph behalf of the United States — to remove within the lines and remain neutral — or, to go to t'je enemy and seek their protection." After a short consultation, many of them accepted the first, and made preparations to accom- pany him in the invasion of Canada. After the surrender of Detroit to the British forces under Gen. Brock, the whole northwestern frontier be- came exposed to the inroads of the enemy. Gen. Brock having been killed at the battle of Queenston, the com- mand of the British army devolved upon Gen. Proctor. who had under him a large body of regular troops, with all the savages friendly to the English, who had joined him in great numbers, and were commanded by the famous Tecumseh. Their head-quarters w-as established at Mai- den ; and frequent attacks were made by them upon the settlements on the frontiers of Ohio and Indiana. Our government at this lime adopted the most eflficient measures in their power, to not only defend the frontier inhabitants from their savage enemies, but to recover what had been lost, by carrying the war into the enemy'i ■K^X^ 232 INDIAN WAUl. 1( roiintry. Large? bodies of volunteers were raided by the W«?stern states, who were ordered, with tlie drafted militia, to immediately join the western army, which wai |)la(ed under the command of Gen. VVm. H. Harrison. 'I'he first of SepteniLcr, 1812, a considerable body of Rrhish and Indians proceeded from fort Maiden, to lay waste the frontiers of Ohio. A principal object appears to liave been the capture of fort Wayne. They burnt several valuable buildings, and killed many of the inhabit- ants ; among whom was a brother of Gov. Meigs. On the 8th of November, a detachment of seven hun- dred men, commanded by Col. Campbell, left Franklinton on an expedition against the Miami Indians, residing at the head of the Wabash. On the I7ih December, they reached one of their villages, killed eight warriors, and took thirty six prisoners. They set fire to the village, and encaniped a few miles therefrom. A little before the break of day, they were attacked by the exasperated savages in their camp, shouting and yelling horribly. Tile Americans sustained the attack until day-light, when the Indians were charged and dispersed with the loss of thirty-five killed. The loss of the American troops was eight killed and twenty-nine wounded. On the 14th of January, 1813, Col. Lewis was des- patched to attack a large body of Indians encamped near the river Raisin. On the 18th the attack commenced ; on the first onset the savages raised their accustomed yell, but the nois3 was drowned in tli.^ returning shouts of their dauntless assailants. They advanced boldly to the charge and drove them in all directions. On the first fire sixteen of the Indians fell. About forty were killed. Col. Lewis's party lost twelve killed and fifty-two wounded. On the 18th, Gen. Winchester proceeded with a reinforcement of eight hundred men to the village of iTenchtown. On the 22d, they were attacked by a com- bined force of the enemy under the command of Tetumseh and ifroctor. The American troops were in a moment ready for the reception of the enemy. The right wing sustained the attack for about thirty minutes, when, over- powered by numbers, they retreated over the river, and Irafted I'-h wai son. tody of to lay ippeara y burnt inhabit- in hun- iklinton iding at jr, they srs, and village* sfore the spc rated jly. ay-light, with the in troops with a [llage of |y a com- letumseh moment [ht wing sn, over- Iver, and V M) 1 A .N n A :i $ . SS$ were rnel h\ h Irtrge boJy ol hidiaus. The iroopa finding ihcir retreat cut olt, Kvsolvcd lo sell tlicir lives as dear as possil)!'.', ;uid ion:;lit with desperation; but few of" these brave fellows, however, escajx^l the tomahawk. The left wiii;^ wiiii v(\'.\;\\ hi.ivcry maintniiied theii^ ground within tlieir pickets. 'IIk^ Indians and regular* made tlnet; diJlereiit ehaivjes upon them, but the troops, with the most det(>rmint;d bravery and presence of mind, reserved their fire mitil tiu^, enemy advanced within point \ 'nk shot ; they then opemd u most {^ailing fire upon them, and mo\v<;d dowii iheir ranks imtil they were xrom- pelled to retreat in eoiifiision. The Americans lost nearly four i.'undred men it» killed and wounded, and missing. The courn,",e of brave men was never more severely tested. The party that sougiit a retreat at the connnienee- mont of the action, were closely pursued, surrounded and literally cut to pieces' by the savages. Not one escaped Uie scalping knife ! On the oOtli of .Tanuary, Gen. Harrison despatched Capt. Lamor, Doctor M'KeerdKm and a Frenchn.an with a (lag of truce to Maiden. They fncaniped the first night near the rapids, and hoisted the white flag ; but this was not respect(,'d. The Indians, fired upon them while asleep, killed Lamor, wounded Doctor M'Keenhan and took him ind the I'renclpnan prisoners. • Gen. Harrison received information that a large body of Indians were collected on Presquc Isle, near tho Miami, on the 9th of February proceeded with a detach- ment tf) attack them. The enemy fled on the approach of the 'roops, which pursiied them almost to the river Raisin, but withoiit being cnat)led to overtake them. Such was their desire to come up v\ fth the foe that they jnarched si>;ty miles in twenty-four hotns. The hostile Indians continued to make inroads into the settlements and commitHxl many murders. An event took place, however, that served in some measure to check the audacity of the Indians. As Col. Ball,. with a small squadron, was descending the Sandusky, the foremost of his party vvere fired upon b\ a band of eighteen or twenty Indians, who had .placed themselves in ambush for the purpose of intercepting the mail carrier. '1 he Colonel SO , ~^> 234 INDIAN WARS. initantlj charged upon them, and drove them from (h«ir hiding place, The ground was favourable for cavalry, and the savages finding neither mercy nor the possibility of escape, whooped and shouted horribly, and fought des- perately till they were all to a man cut to pieces. Col. Ball was twice dismounted, lyid opposed in personal con- test to an Indian of giganvic stature It was a desperate and doubUul struggle ; life was at stake ; both exert«'d to the utmost. An officer rode up and rescued the colonel, by shouting the Indian through the head. Not an Indian after this ventured to cross the Sandusky in quest of plunder. If the massacre of the river Raisin filled the west with sorrow, it also awakened there a sense of indignation and outrage, of which the effects were afterwards seen. Its immediate influence was prejudicial to the objects of the campaign. Winchester's own movement had been not only without the knowledge or consent of Harrison, but contrary to his views and plans for the conduct of the campaign. When he heard that the movement had been niade, he and those about him felt that it was to the last degree imprudent, and looked for nothing less from it than the certain and inevitable destruction of the Itft wing of the army, which had thus thrown itself into the very jaws of the enemy, and away from the possibility of succor. On the evening of the 16th, being at upper Sandusky, he received from Col. PerWus, at Lower Sandusky, intelli- gence for the first time, that Winchester, having arrived at the Rapids, meditated some unknown movement against the enemy. Alarmed at this, and ignorant what it implied. Gen. Harrison gave orders for the advance of troops and artillery, and hastened to Lower Sandusky himself. Here he was met by information from the Rapids of the march of Col. Lewis to Frenchtown. Fresh troops were immediately put in motion, by forced marches for the Rapids ; to whicli point he himself pushed with the utmost speed. All the disposable troops at the Rapids and others, as they came in, were ordered on with anxious expedition ; but they were met on the road by the fugitives from the field of battle, and nothing remain- ed but to protect them and the houseless people of French- INDIAN WAIIS. 235 n tlitir javalry, ^sibiliiy rht des- . Col. nal con- jsperate exerted jed the d. Not lusky in est with tion and en. Its ts of the jeen not ison, but :t of the rad been the last 11 it than t wing of 'er}' jaws succor, lusky, he y, intelH- arrived lovement ant what Ivante of Sandusky \om the n. Fresh marches led with le Rapids on with road by ■ remain- f French- lown. In short, all possible efforts were made to protect Winchoster from the apprehended consequences of his own iiludvised acts. Alter this, in expectation of an attack on the position at the Hapids, the army fell back to the portage, to admit of an expected reinforcement under Gen. Lefiwich ; on the arrival of whiih, thi) position at the Rapids on the tjast bank of the Miami, was resumed, and strongly forti- fied as the winter-quarters of the army ; it was called Camp Meigs, in honor of the Governor of Ohio. This position being attacked by the British, became the scene of a brilliant triumph to the armb of the United States. So soon as it became known that the attack was contemplated, Gen, Harrison, having made arrangements for strong reinforcements to follow him, repaired to Camp Meigs to conduct the defence of it in person. The enemy made his appearance on the 26th of April ; con- sisting of a numerous force, British and Indians, com- rannded by Gen. Proctor ; who, having ascended on the north side of the Miami in boats, landed at old Fort Miami, and proceeded to construct there powerful bat- teries, directly opposite the American' camp. Meanwhile, our troops had thrown up a breastwork of earth, twelve feet in height, traversing the camp in rear of the tents, so that when the batteries of the enemy were completed and mounted, und his fire opened, the tents of the Americans l)eing struck and removed to the rear of the traverse, were completely sheltered and protected. A severe fire was now kept up on both sides until the 4th of. Mdy, when intelligence reached the camp ol the approach oif the expected reinforcements, composed of a brigade of Kentucky militia under Gen. Green Clay. Gen. Harrison immediately determined to make a bold effort, by a sortie from the camp, combined with an attack of the enemy's lines by Gen. Clay, to raise the siege. Orders accordingly were despatched to Gen. Clay, re- quiring him that> instead of forming an immediate junction with the garrison, he should detach eight hundred of his men on the opposite side of the river, inhere two of the British batteries were, turn and take the batteries, spike the cannon, and destroy the gun-carriages, and then " T"' rsc iWDlAN TAikJlJ. I Tty^n'm the boats ?is s()(>rrlily as possible, whiU* th«^ rrmain- cirr (.!' tli«i brigade slionlil 'land and fi-lit ihcir way into the eauij), so a-, (o l'a\or a soiiin to be made bv the liarri- soii a;^ainst lh<^ third and inAy roniainin^ Hiiri.sh l)att«ry. 'I'hi.s plan ably cojiceived, and jnoinised the best lesi.lts. Gon. (..'lay, alter detachini:: Col. Dudlev to hind on the west side of liie JMiaini, loii-^hi bis way safely into the can»p. A part of ihe garrison also, iindi.T Col. (now On.) Mijhf-, cousiMing in part of rei2,ular troops and the residue militia ajid Kentucky vohmtctTS, {gallantly aiisatdtcd and carried the bat'ery on the eastern bank, inad(! a nurnbt;r of prisoners and drove the iJrilish and Indians from their line=!. Meanwhile, if.)iidit'y had landed his pien, and charged and carried the two batleri<'.s without the loss oi a man. Unhappily the.sc jiaijant eiiizens mqy?. net .'^tiffieientlj aware of ihi'u ex])o.sed .situation, and of ihe ni^cessity of retreating to their boats, in punctual observance of «t"heir orders, so soon as they sh mid have destroyed the enemy's artillery. Instead of this, tliey were, witiiout due con- sideration, drawn into a I'l^ht with some straggling Indians, and so detaint-d until Procter had time to inter- pose a stroni^ force hi tuecn (lum and the means of re- treat. 'I^he res'dt was the desirucllon nilher than defeat of the detachment, for th.-co fourths of it were .made captives or slain. Ttie I'ritish arms weie ay.ain disltonor- fid by givini; up the pr^oners to be inassacred by the Indiatii. Ihjdiey ai,d many of his ( c/uipanions were tomahawked at once. Others of the jai^oners were put into Fort Miami, for the Indians to stand on ilie ramparts and firo into the disaimed crowd. Thoi-e Indian;-, who chose, selected their victims, ltd them to the gateway, and there, tt/rder ihe (ye of Cni. Proctor and irf ikc presence (f the icliole Bvlthh army, marcUrcd and scalped them. Not until 'i\;ciunseh cnme up froin the l)aUeries uid.the slaughter cease. '•' Vuv shame ! it is a disgrace to kdl defenceless prisoners!" -he exclaimed, thus dis'playinir more of humanity than Pioctor himself. Unfortunate us this incident wus, the events of the da| satisfied i'roctor tiuit he could not coittinue the si<>;^e wjth any hw|.,' of ?,ucce:?s. He rf?olved to retr*\at, to ly into ^;uri- ;ai«ry. on the mo I he V (ieti.) residue td and niiniber in their rhaigrd a inuii. "t'cienllj 3ssity ot of ithoii- [MHJiny's lie c'.uri- la'^aling ) iutcr- s of )c- n delcat e niadt; ■•.. ■■■'wr.' ith of s, and th the emem- lis aa- victory not be in high ,g hold lalden, ling the [arrison lade for 5. The the 4th. was fol- ng pass- ho night ohnson^s rposc of iiiilcs of (>nemy. Ilage, the vent the ;h troops ire than •e<:^"uhirs, iniuse the lie sent to Indians regiment Cvith its Dcshii's . Gi'n. tu Gen, position hnstances rip of dry VlfDiAN WAXt. HI I land, flanked by the river Thame;s on the left acd by . a swamp on the right, was occupied by his roejular infantrj and artillery, while on the right flank lay Tecumseh and his followers, on the eastern margin of the swamp. But, notwithstanding the judicious choice of the ground, Proctor had conmiitted the error of forming his infantry in open order. Availing himself of this fact, and aware t4iat troops so disposed could not resist a char^je of mounted, men, he directed Col. Johnson to tiash tbi'ough the enemy's line in column. The movement was made with briiliiint success. Xhc mounted men charged with promptitude and vigor, broke through the line of tRe enemy, formed in the rear, and assailed the broken line with a succesft seldom equalled, for nearly the whole of the British regular force were either kii4ed, wounded or taken, ''■ ^ On the left the contest v/as much more serious. Col, Johnson's regiment being there stationed, received a galling tire from the Indians, who seemed not disposed to give ground. The colonel gallantly led his men into the midst of them, and was personally attacked by a chief, whom he despatched with his cutlass at thi mo* rnent the former was aiming a blow at him with his torn- €ili:iwk. Tim savages, finding the Are of the troops too warm for them, fled across the hills and attempted to seek shelter in a piece of woods on the lift, where they were closely pursucnl by the cavalry. At the margin of tlic wood t'ecumseh stationed himself, armed with a spi^ar, tomahawk, &,c. endeavoring to rhily and persuade his men to return to. the attack. At this point a consid- .erahle body of Indians had collected ; but this brave savage saw thtit the fortune of the day was against him, and the battle was lost. Proctor had cowardly fled from the field and left him and his warriors alone to sus- tain themselves against a far superior force ; and that there was no chance of contending with any hope of success, lie therefore stood, like a true hero, disdain i.ig to fly, ;.nd was, with many of his bravest warriors around him, shot down by the Kentucky riflemen. It has been published to the world, and by many believed, that this distinguished warrior was killed by a pistol shot SI ■^■m 242 IVDtAV WARS. from Col. Johnson ; but (hrs is undoubtedly a mfstnlvC,, which probably originated from the circumstance of the colonel's having killed a chiel by whom he was attacked, as ^us before been related. That he fill by a rifle shot there can be no doubt ; but by whom fired, it was not cer^ainhy known, or probably never can be satisfactorily proved. No less than six of the riflemen and twenty- two Indians fell within tweniy-five yards of the spot where Tecumseh was killed. [See Frontispiece.] The Indians continued a brisk fire from the margin of the wood until a fresh regiment was called into action to oppose tiiem. A company of cavjvlry having crossed the hills and gained the rear of the savag* s, the route became general. They fought bravely, ai>d sustained a hi»avy loss in killed and wounded. 'I' he death of theiff leader, Tecumseh: was an irreparable loss to them* Tecuniseh was the most extraordinary Indian that has ever appeared in history. Me was by bir'.h a Sliawa- neese, and world have been a great man in. ai>y age or nation. Independent of the most consummate courage and i'kill as a warrior, and all the characteristic ajute- ness of hia race,, he was endowed by nature with the attributes of mind necessary for great political combina- tions. His acute understanding, very early in life, in- formed him that his countrymen had lost their importanee; that they Avere gradually yielding to tiie Whites, who were acquiring an iujposing intUience o^-er tInMn» Insti- gated by these considerations, and, perhaps, by his natu- ral ferocity and attachment to war, he het^ame a decided enemy to the whites, an' imbiiu'd an invincible deter- mination (he surrendered it with his litV) to regain for his country the proud independence he supposed t>he had lost. For n number of years he was A)reniost in every act of hostility committed against those he conceived the oppressors of his countrymen, and was equally remarka- ble for intrepidity as skill, in many combats that took pl.ice under his banner. Aware, at length, of the extent, number and power of the United St. tes, In* became fully convinced of the futility of any single nation of red men attempting to cope with them. He formed, there- fore, the grand scheme of uniting all the tribes east ot ■iJiiL, tlflHAN WAltl. 943 [if the rckcd, e slioi as not clorily kventy- le spot rfi;in of jlion to sed the route nineil a if theiff nu Ihnt lias SI) aw a - 5i;;;c or courage ' SH'UtO ith the •mbina- iff, in- >rtani'e; cs, wh.o Insti- ls natu- dcc'uled ditor- ;ain for i>he had n evciy ivcd the ; mark a- at t(K)k extent, hcpaine of red I, there- east of l^ie Mississippi into hostility against the United States. This was a fii^ld -.vorthy of his great and enterprising genius. He commenced in the year 1S0.9 ; and in the execution of his project he display^'d an unrqualJcd adroitness, eloquence an'l couradurc humihty. Ahnost ail liic other chiefs had been killi:d or liad surrendered lliemseives prisoners, uiid he Was witliuut the means of living or resisting. CHAP. XIV. WAft WITH THE CREEK NATION. MASSACRE AT FORT MIMS; BATTLES OFTALI.USHATCHES, TALLEDAGA, ANTOSSE. ATTACK UPON CAMP DEFIANCE, AND BRILLIANT VICTORY AT THE BEN0 •OF THE TALLAPOOSA. itroitf and and Ih the enc-* lorn en list in- late iplorff hr/ud Iriira- irrior Lvhom The enemy, apparently disposed to enlist the savages in the war at its commencement, despatched messengers to several pf thelndian tribes in the Mississippi Territory, distinguished by the names of Creeks, (Jhoctaws and Chickasaws, to persuade them to take a ptirt with then? in their contest with the United "States. The most friendly relations had subsisted between these tribes and the United Slates for many years : and the latter, dicta- ted by a generous policy, had been successful in their endeavors to introduce among them the improvements of civilized society. 13ut so ardent is the propensity of the Indian character for war, that many were induced to fommit the most wanton and unprovoked acts of barbarity upon the Americans. The most experienced and well disposed Chiefs, aware of the evils a war with the United States must produce upon the tribes, made use of their best endeavors to sup-* press their act? of cruelty ; but those deterviiined on war 2i9 tWnUN WARll. were nnl dispoicd to listen to the dictates of discrctioh of ^visdom, iind commenced open hostilities iigainst the United Sliitcs hy ouo of lh« most bloody iHa>sacres re- c ded in Indian history. 'J'he parti(Mjliirs of the bloody transaction arp copied from a letter of Judgjc 'J.oulmun» dated September llh, 18JJ. *' The dreadful caiastrojihe which \ve have been some time anticipating has at length taken place. The Indians have broken in upon us, in numbers and fury unexani- plcd. Our seetlement is overrun, and our country, 1 i'ear,, is on the eve of beiii^ depopulated. 'iMie accounts which we received led us to expect an attack about the full moon of August ; and it was kn >\vn at Fensacola, when the ammunition was given to the Indians, who were to be the leaders of the rcJ'peelive parties destined to attack the different parts of our settlement. The at* tempt macje to deprive them of their animunition, issued, by the Spaniards on the rrcommendation of a IJritisU general, on their way from Pisnsacola, and in which it was said the Indians lost more than twenty liien, although only one third of our people ^tood their ground, it is highly probable in some measure retarded their opera- tions ; and the steady succession of rain contributed to produce the same ctfect. Had their attempt bi-en con- ducted with more judgment and supp >rted with more \igour, there would have been an end, r*;. a time, of Indiaif warf; re. In consequence of the delay, our citizens began to grow careless and confident ; ai.d several fanulies who had removed from Tensaw to Fnrt Stoddert, returned again and fell a sacrifice to the mer- ciless savages. - ''A few dhys before the attack, some negroes of 3Ir. M'CJiiit, who lived in th;it part of the Creek territory which IS inhiibit.d by half breeds, had been sent up the Alabama to his plantation for corn ; three of then) were taken by a party ot Indians. One escaped and brought down news of the approach of the Indians. The olliccr gave but little credit to him ; but they made some fur* ther preparation to receive the enemy. On the next day Mr. James Cornels, a half breed, and some white men, who had bean out on the late battle ground, and ditcov- (tioh of ist the res re- bloody luluiuu, n some Ituiiuna nexarn- intry, 1 ccounU out the isacola, IS, who Icslined TUii lit* , issuid, HritisU vliich it Ithouglj nd, it is opera- uteci to n con- Ill more inic, of iiy, our lit ; aid lo Fort le mer- lof Mr. ■rriiory |up the b were Irought ollictr »e fur* |xt day liscov. INDIAN WAR*. «4.T cred the trail of a considerable body of Indians goins; towards IMr. M'Cirt's, came lo the fort and inCormed the commanding officer of the discovery. 'J hou}*!! their report did not appear to receive full credit, it occasioned great exertions ; and on S.iturday and Sunday consider- able work Was done to put the lort in a state of defence. On Sunday mornino; three negroes were sent out to attend the cattle, who soon returned with an account that they had seen tWKnty Indians. Scouts were sent out to ascertain the truth of the report. 'I'liey returned and declared that they could see no. signs of Indians. One of the negroes belonging to Mr. Randon was whippeU for bringing what thry deemed a false report. H; was sent out again o'j Monday, and saw a body of Indians approaching ; but afraid of being whipped, he did not rctupn to l>Jims but to Pierce's Fort ; bu« before bis story could be communicated, the :itlac.k was made. The commanding officer called upon Mj;. I'letcher, who ow; ed another of the negroes, to whip him also. Hs believed the boy and resisted two or three applications j but at length they had him actually brought out for the purpose, when the Indians appeared in view of the fort, 'I'he gate was o|)en. The Indians had to come through an open field one lumdred and (il'ty yards wide, before they o(>uld reach the fort, and yet they were within thirty steps of the fort, at 1 1 in the morning, before they were noticed. The sentry then gavi the cry of 'Indians!' and they immediately set up a most terrible war-vvh.)()p and rushed into tlie gate with inconceivable rapidity, and got within it before; the people of the fort had an op[)ortunily of shutting it. Thi>4 decided their fate. Major |]easely w:.s shot through the body near the gate, H^ calltd to the men to take care of the ammunition and retreat to the hou'^c. » He went binw self to a kitchen where it is supposed he uiust have been burnt. " Tliere was a large bxly of Indians, though they probably did not exceed four hundred. Our people seemed to sustain the attack with undaunted spirit. They took possession of the port holes in the other lines of the ^ fort, and fired on the Indians who remained in the field. ^: . vJi. ■■> 2iS IMDIAN WARS. 11 Some of the Iiuliiins got on the block-house, at on* of thtt corners ; but niter tniich firing upon tho people thpy were tli:3loclj;pd. 'Iliey succeeJed, however, in ■ctling tire to a house nrar the pickets, from which it was communicated to the kitchen and from thence to the main dwellini; house. They altcmp'ed to do it by burn- ing arrows, but failed. When the people in the fort saw the Indians retained full possession of tho outer court, and the gate continued open, that their men fell very fast, and that I heir houses were in flames, they began to despond. S-)mc determined to cut their way through the pickets and escape. Of the whole number of white men and half breeds in the fort, it is supposed that not more than twenty-five or thirty escaped, and of these many were wounded. 'I'he rest and nlniost uU the women and children fell a sacrifice either to the shot of the Indians or ihe tlames. The battle terminated about an hour before i^n-set. *' The women and children took refuge in an upper story of Ihe dwelling house ; and it is said that tho Jndiuns, when the buildinu;3 were in tlames, danced round tham with savage delight. The helpless victims perished in the flames. It is also reported, that when the ^buildings were burning, and the few wlio remained were exposed to the fire of the enemy, they collected many of the guns of the deceased and threw both them and the remaining stock of ammunition into the flames, to pre- vent their becoming subservient in the hands of the Indians, to the destruction of their fellow citizens. Siirely this was an instance of detirmined resolution and benevolent foresight, of which there are not many examples. '* ijut notwithstanding the bravery of our fellow citi* Zens, the Indians carried all b«^fore them, and murdcrrd the armed and the helpless without discrimination. Oar loss is seven fjommissioned oflicers and about one huudrid non-commissioned olRcers and privates, of the tirst regi-r mcnt of the Mississippi territory volunteers, There were about twenty-four families of men, women and children in the fort, of whom almost all have perished, toiounting to one hundred and sixty souls. I reckon, )ni of people cr, in )ich it to the ' burn- »rt saw court, 11 very G(an to irough ' white lilt not f these uli the shot of I about n upper lat the diinoed victims \v,n the wt*re niiny of md the to pro- of the tiZL'iiS. olution many |w cili«r irdiTt'd Ocir lundri'd it regit iTlitM-e In and rished, leckon, INDIAN WARS. 249 hf)Wftver, amonj^ them about six familieg of half breeds ;uk1 sf'vcn Indians. '1 Ikmc were also aboat one hundred iiuf:ro(\s, of whom a larj;e proportion wore killed. The half breeds have unilormly done themselves honor, and thosij uho survive will allbrd great assistance in the prose- cution of t!ivhich gave them a general fire and 32 VJf U5t I.VKUfI YVARir. Htm. m then charged ; this changed thu (Ihrcrion of the cfuirgr completely. The enemy retreated, /irinj;, until I hey jiol around and in their buildings, where they made ail tJio lesistanco that an overpowered soldiery possibly could do ; they foujj:ht as long as one existt-d, hut their destruc- tion was very soon con)p!etrd ; ojir men rushed up to the doors of the houses, and in a few mimites killed the last warrior of them. The enemy fought with savage fury, and met death with all its horrors, without shrinking or eomplaining, not one asked to be 8|)ared, but fought as long as they could stand or sit. In consequence of their flying to their houses and mixing with the families, our men, in killing the males, without intention killed and wounded a few of the squaws and children, which wa» regretted by every officer and soldier of the detachment, but it could not be avoided. ** The number of the enemy killed was one hundred and eighty-six that were counted, and a numlxM- of others that were killed in the weeds and' not found. I think the cal- culation a reasoiiable one to say two hundred of then> were killed, and eighty-foup prisoners of women and chil- dren were ta4<.e«. Not one of the warriors escaped to carry the news, a circumstance hitherro unknown. " I lost five men killed and forty wounded, none mor- tally, the greater part slightly, a nuinbeV with arrows; twa ef the men killed was with arrows ; this appears to frirm a very principal part of the enemy's arms for warfare ; every man having a bow with a bundle of arrows, whicb is used after the first fire with the g^un, until a leisure time for loading offers. " Gen. Jackson receiving information on the seventh November that a party of friendly Creeks at the fort at Tallegada, were threatened with an attack from a consid- erable body of hostile Creeks, marched to their re^ief in the evening. At 4 o'clock in the morning of the 9ih, he fell in with the enemy within a quarter of a mile of the fort, and after a short action succeeded in dispersing them with great slaughter. The following is an extract from t!ie general's official letter, giving the particulars of the battle. '^ At sunrise we came within half a mile of them^ and^ INDIAN Wars. 951 fiargv y {;«• II tiio could St rue- to the c last fury, iug or ^ht as ' their fts, our d and h wa» [imenty ed and ;rs thaC he cal- r theno d chil- ped to e nior- s; two o form lirfare ; whicb lleisure' leventli Ifort at :onsid- lief in |th, he lof the them )fficiat I, and^ lmviu|» formfd my men, 1 inorved on in battU order. The infantry wore in three lines ; the hiilitia on the left and the volunteers on the right. The cavalry formed the ex- tren)« wings; and were ordered (o advance in a curve, keeping their rear connected with the advance of their infantry linei, and enclose the enemy in a circle. The advanced guard whom 1 sent for^vard to bring on tbe^ii- ^agcmcnt, nuvt the attack, of the enemy vith great intre- |)idity ; and having poured upon them four or five very gallant rounds, tell back .s they had been previously ordered, to the main army. The enemy pursued, and the front line \m\s now ordered to advan(;c: and meet them ; but owing to some misunderstanding, a few ompaaies of militia, wIjo composed a part of it, commr?v td a retreat. At this moment a corps of cavalry commaiuled by Lieut. Dyer, which I had kjcpt as a reserv' , as ordered ;o dis- tnount and fill up the vacancy occa ioncd by the retr^ivt. 'I'his ordex was executed with a great deal of promptitude 41 nd efrt!Ct. " The militia, seeing this, s|>eedily rallied, and the fire became general along the first line, ind on that part of the wings which was contiguous. The enemy, unableto stand it, liegan to retreat, but were ihel at every turn and |)ursu- the onset of the battle, to '<1ismount my reserve, I beiiuve not a man of them would liave escaped. The victory, however, was very decisne:^ two hundred and ninety of the enemy were left dead, and there can be no doubt but many more were killed who were not found. Wherever they ran they left behind traces -of blood ; and I believe that very few will return to their villages in as sound a condition as they left thetn. 1 was compelled to return to this place to protect the sick and wounded, and get my baggage. In the engage- ment we lost fifteen killed anr^ fifteen wounded, two of whom have since died." On the 1 1th November a detachment of the Tennessee militia, under Gen. White, was sent against the Hillibee towns, for the purpose of punishing the hostile Creeks in I II- lill v K\ 252 INDIAN WARS. that quarter. Extract from Gen. White's official lettf# to Major Gen. Cocke, j^iving an account of tlio expe- dition. "Under your order of the 11th Novcniher, I imn>e- diately marched with the mounted infantry under the command of Major Porter, and a few of the Cherokee Indians under Col. Morg'in, with very short rations only. We continued our march to litth^, Oakfuskie, when we fell in with and captured five hostile Creek warriors, sup- posed to be spies. Finding no other Indians at that j)lace, we burned the town, which consisted of thirty h.ouses.. ^c then pro ceded to a town called Genalga,and burned the same, consisting of ninety-three housrs. Thence wcf proceeded to Nitty Chajjota, consisting of about twenty-' five houses which I considered it most prudent not to de- stroy as it might possibly b,-^ of use at some future period. Thence we marched to the Flillibee town, con- sisting of about twenty houses, adjoining which was Grayston's farm. Previous fo our arrival at tliut place, t vvas advised that a part of the hostile Creeks were assem- bled there. Having marched within six or seven miles of it on the ITth, 1 dismounted a part of the force under my command, and sent them under the command of Col. Burch, with the Cherokees under the command of Cob Morgan, in advance, to surround the town in the night, and make the attack at daylight on the 18ti). Owing t(? the darkness of the night, t'le town was not reached inilil after daylight; but sp complete was the surjirise, that we succeeded m surroun'mg the town and killing and capturing almost, if not entirely, the whole of tho hostile Creeks assembled there, consistirg of about three hundred and ten ; of which number about sixty warriors were killed on the spot, and the remainder made prisoners. Before the close of the engagement my whole ibrce was up and ready for action, had it become necessary ; but owing to the want of knowledge on the part of the Indians, bf our approach, they were entirely killed and taken be- fore they could },rej)are for any effectual defence. We lost not (iue drop of blood in accomplishing this en- terprise. INDIAN WARS. 253 ac IuhI )f tho tbicc lirricrs loners. |e was but |(lians> Ml bc- V\e cn- The Georgia militia under Gen. Floyd, on the 2fith November succeeded in dofeatiiig a large body of liostile Creeks at. Antosse. Tbe ♦bllowing is from his letter to Gen. Pinckney, detailing the particulars of the battle. " Having received informatidn that numbers of the hos- tile Indians were assembled at Antosse, a town on the northern bank of th»^ Tallapoosa, about eighteen miles* irom the hickory ground, and twenty above the junction of that river with the Coosa, 1 proceeded to it with nine hundred and fifty of the Georgia militia, accompanied by between three and four hundred fritMidly Indians." Having encamped witliin nine or ten miles of tlie point of des- tination the preceding evening, we resumed the march a few rnimites before one, on the morning of the 29th, and at half past six were formed for action in front of the town. " Booth's battalion composed tiie right column, and hiarched from its centre. Watson's battalion composed the left, and marched from its rij;ht ; Adams' rifle com- pany, and Merriwether's, under Lieut. Hendon, were on the flanks ; Capt. Thomas' artillery marched in front of the right column in the road. "It was my intention to have completely surrounded the enemy, by applying the right wing of my force on Canlabee creek, at the mouth of which I was informed the town stood, and resting the left on the bank below the town ; but to our surprise, as day dawned we per- ceived a second town, about five hundred yards below that which we had first viewed, and were preparing to attack. The plan was immediately changed ; three companies of infantry on the left, were wheeled to the left, into echellon, and were advanced to the low town, accom- panied by Merri\v(!ther's rille company, and two troops of light dragoons under th.e command of Captains Irwin and " The residue of the force approached the upper town, and the battle soon became general. The Indians pre- sented themselves at every point, and fought with the desperate bravery of real fanatics. The well directed fire, however, of the artillery, added to the charge of the hayonet, soon forced tliem to take rcfn{;e in the out-houses, i S64 >N»UN mns. thickets and copsps in the rear of the town ; many, il is believed, concealed lhems(>lves in caves, previously formed for the purpose of secure retreat, in the high bluff of the river which was thickly covered with reed and brushwood. The Indians of the friendly party, who accompanied us on the expedition, were divided into four companies, and placed under the command of leaders of their own selection. Some time a'ter the action commenced, our red friends thronged in disorder in the rear of our lines, 'i'he Cowctas, under M'Intosh, and the Tookabatchians, under Mad -Dog's- Son, fell into our flanks, and fought with an intrepidity worthy of any troops. ' " At nine o'clock the enemy were completely driven from the plain, and the houses of both towns wrapped in flames. As we were then sixty miles from any depot of provisions, and our five days rations pretty much reduced, in the heart of the enemy's country, which in a few months could have poured from its numerous towns hosts of its fiercest warriors ; as soon as the dead and wounded were disposed of, I ordered the place to be abandoned, and the troops to commence their march to Chatahouche." Gen. Floyd was attacked uy a large body of hostile Creeks in his encampment, forty-eight miles west of Colahoochie, on the 27th January ; but succeeded in re- pelling them after a very bloody conflict. The particulars are contained in a letter of the general to Maj. Gen. Pinckney, dated on the day of the engagement. "This morning, at twenty minutes past five o'clock, a very large body of hostile Indians made a desperate attack upoii the army under my command. They stole upoa our sentinels, fired on them, and with great ferocity rush- ed upon our line. In twenty minutes the action became general, and our front, right and left flanks were closely pressed, but the brave and gallant conduct of the field and line ofifjcers, and the firmness of our men," repelled them at every point. " The steady firmness and incessant fire of Capt. Thomas' artillery, and ( ';|}i, Adams' riflemen, preserved our front lines. Both of ihese companies suffered greatly. The enemy ru shed V hhu: tl nty yards of the artillery, y, il li formed of the hwood. lied us es, and ir own cd, our ir lines, tchians, rht with y driven pped in lepot of educed, \ a few 5 towns ead and e to be narch to hostile west of Id in re- culars ij. Gen. ilock, a attack \Q upon [y rush- I became closelv ield and id them Capt. served rreatly. rtillery, INDIAN itAftf. ua and Capt. Broadnax, who commanded one of the piquef guards, maintained his post with great bravery, until the enemy gained his rear, and then cut his way through them to the army. On this occasion, Timpoche Barnard, a hrrflf breed, at the ht ad of the Uchies, distinguished himself, and contributed to the retreat of the piquet ^uard ; the other friendly Indians took refujrc within our lines, and remained inactive, with the exception of a few who joined our ranks. As soon as it became li^ht enough to distinguish objects, I ordered Majors Watson and Freeman's battalions to wheel at right angles with Majors Booth and Cleveland's battalions, which formedf the right wing, to prepare for the charge. Capt. Duke Hamilton's cavalry, which had reached me but the day before, was ordered to form in the rear of the right wing, to ?/jt as circumstances should dictate. The order for the charge was promptly obeyed, and the enemy fled ir» every direction before the bayonet. The signal was given for the charge of the cavalry, who pursued and safbred fifteen of the enemy, and left thirty-seven dead on the field* From the effusion of blood, and the number of head dresses and war clubs found in various direction!*, their loss must have been considerable, independent of their wounded. " I directed the friendfy indians, with Merriwether j^ik? Ford's rifle companies, accompanied by Capt. Hamilton'* troops, to pursue them through Canlebee swamp, wliese they were trailed by their blood, but they sue- eeded i» overtaking but one of the wounded.*' On the 14th January, Gen. Jackson having been rein- forced by about eight hundred volunteers, commenced hi» inarch in quest of the enemy upon the Tallapoosa river. The objects and particulars ot the expedition disclosed i» the following extract of a letter from him to Maj. Gen. Pinckney, dated Fort Strother, Jan. 29. •' I had the honor of informing you in a letter of the 51 St ult., forwarded by Mr. M'Candles, of an excursion I contemplated making still further into the enemy's* country, with the new raised volunteers from Tennessee. I had ordered those troops to form a junction with me on the 10th instant ; but they did not arrive until the. 14th. r 25S INDIAN NVAR8. i I Their number, including officers, was about eight bun- dle I. The motives which influenced mo to penetrate still farther into the enemj's countrjr, with tins ibrce, were many, and urgent. The term of service of the new raised vohmteers was short, aiid a considerable part of it was expired ; i\wy »' ere expensive to the government, and were full of ardor to meet the enemy. The ill el'lects of keeping soldiers of this description long stationary and idle, I had been made to feel but too sensibly already. Other causes concurred to make such a movement not only justifiab'e, but absolutely necessary. " 1 took u» the line of march on the 17th inst. and on 1 the night of the 16th encamped at Tallegada fort where I was joined by between two and three hundred friendly Indians; vsixty-five of whom were Cherokees, the balance Creeks. I was informed that an attack was intended soon to be rtiade by nine hun-dred of the enemy. J re- solved to lose no time in meeting this force, which was understood to have been collected from New Yorcau, Oakfuskec and Ufauley towns, and were concentd'ated in the bend of the Tallapoosa, near the mouth of the creek called Emuckfau, on an island below New Yorkcau. " On the morning of the 21st, I marched from Enota- chopce, as direct as I could for the bend of the Tallai- poosa, and about 2 o'clock, P. M. my spies having dis- covered two of the enemy, endeavored to catch them, but failed. In the evening, I fell in upon a large trail w hith led to a new road, much beaten and lately travelled. Knowing that I must have arrived ^vithin tiie neighbour- hood of a strong force, and it being late in the day, I de- termined to encamp, and reconnoitre the countiy in the night. I chose the best site the country would admit, encamped in a hollow square, sent out my spies and pickets, doubled my sentinels, and made the necessary arrangements before dark, for a night attack. About 10 o'clock at night, one of the pickets fired at three of the enemy, and killed one, but he was not found until the next day. At 1 1 o'clock, the spies whom I had sent out returned with the information, that there was fi large INDIAN WARS. 251 Knota- 'Talla- ig dis- ^1, but wlncli elled. hbour- I de- ll the lidmit, and L'ssary lit 10 )f the lil the it out large ••■nriampmcnt of Indians at the distance of about three iiiiles, wIjo, from (heir wliooping and dancing, seemed to -be apprised of our approach. One of these spies, an Indian in whom 1 had great confidence, assured me that they were carrying ofi* their women and children, and that the warriors would cillicr make their escape, or attack me before day. iieing prepared at all points, nothing remained to be done but await their approach, if tfiey meditated an attack, or to be in readiness, if they did not, to pursue and attack them at daylight. While wc were in this state of readiness, the enemy, about six o'clock in ths morning, commenced a vigorous attack on my left flank, which was vigorously met. The action continued to rage on my left flank, and on the left of my rear for :ibout half an hour. The brave Gen. Coffee, with. Col. Sittlcr, the Adjutant General, and Col. Carroll, the Inspector General, at the moment the firing commenced, mounted their horses, and repaired to the line, encouraging and animating the men to the per- formance of their* duty. As soon as it become light enough to pursue, the left wing having sustained the heat of action, and being souiewhat weakened, was re- inforced by Capt. Ferrill's company of infantry, and was ordered and led on to the charge by Gen. Coifee, who was well supported by Col. Higgins and the Inspector General, and by all the oflicers and privates who com- posed that line. The enemy was completely routed at every point, and the friend'y Indians joining in (he purc^uit, they were chased about two miles with great fclaughtec '■'• The chase being over, I immediately detached Gen. Coflc", with foil'- hundred men and all the Indian force, to burn their encampment ; b it it was said by some to be fortified, I ordered him, in that event, no: t.> attack it, until the. artillery could be sent forward to reduce it. On viewing the encampment and its strength, the g' a- era! thought it most prudent to return to my encamp- ment, and guard the artilleiy thither. The wisdom of this step was soon discovered. In half an hour after his return to camp, « considerable force of the enemy made its appearance on my right flank, and commenced a 33 '■fed 158 IftDIAPf WAllf. i.'"' I" brisk ftre on a party of men who bad been on a picked guard the night before, and were then in search of the I idians they had fired upon, some of wiior.i thcj bj.Jievcd had been killed. Gen. Coffee nnnif diately requested me to let him take two hundred mm liiid tuin iluw Jeft flank> whirh I nccordiisgly o 'dere ] , but tlu iig,lii 3yne mistake which I did vM then obsovve, not more than fifty-four followed him, among u-hom were the old vol- unteer ofHcers. Witk besc, however, he immcdintely commenced an attack on tht; ^cft tiank of tlK enomy ; at wlsich time I ordered twc hundred of the friendly In- dians to fall in upon the right fhink oi* tl;. "ncniy, and co-operate with the general. This or Jcr was promptly ol>ey^d, and the moment of the execution what I ex- pftctcu wos loiuized. The enemy had intended to attack or, 'iie rigrtv, as a feint, and ex;)C;cting me to direct all my attention thither, meant to attack mc again with their main force on the left flank, which they hoped to find weakened and in disorder ; but they were disnp- poifnted. I had ordered the left flank to remain firm to its place, and the moment the alarm gun was heard in that quarter, I repaired thither, and ordered Capt. Fer- rill, with part of my reserve, to support it. Ti c whole line met the approach of the enemy with astonishing intrepidity, and having given a few fires, they forthwith charged wiih great vigor. The effect was immediate and inevitable. The enemy fled with precipitation, and were pursued to a considerable distance by the left flank and the friendly Indians, with a galling and destructive fire. Col. Carroll, who ordered the charge, Ivd on the pursuit, and C9I. Higgins and his regiment again distin- guished themselves. " In the mean time, Gen. Coffee was contending with a superior force of the enemy. The Indians whom I had ordered to his support, and ' purpose, hearing the firing on th that r arter, and when tht en enter fnto the chase. Th • liv with ordered Jim Fife, who -as one of the principal commanders of the frienilly C>- -;■ «? with one hundred of hi» warriors, to execute my first ;■ .er. As soon at he • " had set out for tha ■t, had returned to y were routed there, i.g now over, I for*';- tN»IAN WARS. 259 ^catjhcd G^Mi. Coffee, the charge was made and the en'jmy routed. They were pursued about three milesi fitid forty-five of Ihetn slain, who were found. Gen. Coffee was wounded in the body, and his Aidwdc-camp) A. Donaldson, killed, together with three others. " 1 had indeed hoped to have met the enemy there, but having met and beat them a little sooner, 1 did not think it necessary or prudent to proceed any futher. I com- monced my return manh at half past ten on the twenty- third, and was fortunate enough to reach Enotaehopco before night, having passed without interruption a dan- gerolis defile, occasioned by a hurricane. 1 again forti* tied my camp, and having another defile to pass in the morning, across a deep, creek and between two hills, whicii I had viewed with attention as I passed on, and whcwe I expected I might be attacked^ 1 determined to pass it at another point, and gave directions to my guidie ftnd fatip;ue men accordingly. My expectation of an at- tack in the morning was increased by the signs of the night, and with it my caution. Before I removed the wounded from the interior of my camp, I had my front «nd rear guaids formed, as well as my right and ieft columns, and moved off my centre in regular order, lead- ing down a handsome ridge to Enotaehopco creek, at a point where it was clear of reed, except immediately on its margin. *' The front guard had passed with part of the ^anlc columnsi, the wounded were over, and the artillery in the act of entering the creek, when an alarm gun was heard in the rear. 1 heard it without surprise, and even with pleasure, o.nlcuiating with the utmost confidence Ofl the tirtvness of my troops, from the manner in which I had seci them act on the twenty-second. 1 had placed Col. Carroll at the head of the centre column of the rear guafL, ; its right column was commanded by Col. Stump. Having chosci the ground, I expected there to have entirely cut off the enemy, T>y wheeling the right and left columns on their pivots, re-crossing the creek above and below, and frilling in upon their flanks and rear. But to my astonishment and mortification, when the word was given by Col. Carroll to halt and form, and a 260 INI>IAN WARf. few guns had been fired, I bolield the rij^Iit and left coU limns of the rear guard precipitately give way. 'I'liio shameful retreat was disastrous in the extreme ; it drew along with it the greater part of the centre cohjmn, leaving not more than twenty-five men, who being form- ed by Col. Carroll, maintained their giound as long as it was possible to maintain it, and it brough-t consterna- tion and confusion into the centre of the army, a con- sternation which was not easily removed, and a confusion which could not soon be restored to order. There was then left to repulse the enemy, the few who remained of the rear guard, the artillery company, and Capt. Rus- sell's company of spies. 'JMicy, however, realized and exceeded my highest expectations. I/ieut. Armstrongs who commanded the artillery company, ordered them to form and advance to the top of the hill, wlitie he r-iid a few others dragged up the six pounder. Never was more bravery displayed than on this occasion. Amid the most galling fire from the enemy, more than ten times their number, they ascended the hill and maintain- ed their position until tlu-ir piece was hauled up, and leaving twenly-six of their warriors dead on the field. This last defeat was decisive^ and we were no more dis- turbed by their yell?. *' In these several engagements, our loss was twenty liilled and sevenfy-five wounded, four of whom have since died. Tiie loss of the enemy cannot be accu- rately ascertained ; one hundred and eighty of their warriors were found dead ; but this must fall considerably short of the number really kiled,. Their wounded can only be guessed at." Gen. Jackson, determined on (he '■^Uc rmination of the Creeks for 'lieir attrocious conduct, on t'r '^HU of Mar' ' I814i, penetrated as far as the bend of il i Tallapoosa, where a most decisive victory was obtain '; and the de- struction of the nation nearly accomplished. The fol- INDIAN WARSl. 2GI ;nty leir jcaiL llho 1,1. bi- lowing is an cxtr.nct from Gen. Jackson's ar.count of tlio brilliant achievcmont, in a letter to Gov. IJIount, tiuted Fort Williams, March .31, 1811.. *' 1 took up the line of march from this place on the morning of ihe 21st instant, and having Opened u passage of fifty-two and a half miles over the ridges which divide the waters of the two rivers, I reachedthc bend .(;f the TaUapoosa, three miles beyond where I ha'J the Engage- ment of the 226 of January, and at the southern ex- tremity of New Youka, on the morning of the 27lh. " Early on ihe morning of the 27th, having encamp-^ cd the preceding night at the distance of five miles from them, I detailed Gen. Coti'ee with the mounted men and nearly the whole of the Indian force, to cross the river at a ford about three miles below their encampment, and to surround the bend in sueh a manner that none of them should escape by attempting to cross the river. With the musketry and rides I kept up a galling fire wherever the enemy showed thcmselv:; behind their works, or ventured t approach them* This was con- tinued with occasional intermissions for about i v . hours, when a detachment under Col. Morgan crossed over to the peninsula in canoes, and set fire to a few of their buildings there situated. *' Having maint'jiued for a few minutes a very obsti- nate contest, musket to musket, through the port holes, in which many of the balls were welded to the bayonets of muskets, our troops succeeded in gaining possession of the opposite side of the works. The event could no longer be doubtful. The enemy, altho':^:,!^ i a.iyof them fought to the last, with that kind of bravery which des- peration inspires, were at length entirely routed and cut to pieces* '* Both O-Tioers and men, who had the best opportuni- ties of judgip", believe the loss of Ihe enemy in killed, lot far short ( t" eight hundred. Among the dead was '^>:nd their fai jous prophet Monahell. Two other pro- piicts were also killed ; leaving no others, as 1 can learn, on the Tallapoosa, k lament that two or three women and chiU'.ren were killed by accident. I do not know tlic cx>ict numif.r of prisoners taken, but it must 2()a INDIAN WAnl. exceed lljrcc hundred ; nil women and children eStccpl three " i'K ^1 i)tilitiuod until it was suspendi d by (he darkness of the ni<;ht. The next morning it was resumed, nnd sixteen of the enemy slain, who had concealed (homsclves under the banks. Our ln«;o "-s twenty-six white men killed^ ond one hundriMl .imi seven wi^undcd ; Cherokees, eight- een killed and thirty-six wounded ; friendly Creeks, five killed and eleven wounded." 'J'he brilliant nnd decisive victories obtained by Gcrti Jackson and his brave m n, over the Creeks, induced nuiny of those who survived, to surrender nnd sue for peace. A few of them, however, otherwise disposed, ilcd towards I*ensacola, before the arrival of the general at Tallapofosa. Many of the runaway negroes, who were coptui'ed at Fort JMims, were restored to their masters, and an unfortunate white fenK.^e captive, PjMy Jones, who, with her two children, had been tuk n prisoners by the Indians, were released and restored ij their friends. The Tallapoosa and 'I'ostahatchec kings were taken prisojiers. as was Peter M'Quin, a distm* guished chief, but he unfortunately afterwards made his escape. Hillinhagee, their great prophet, fled with the fugitives towards I'onsiicola. VVeatherford, their speak- er, aid who througn the war had been one of the most active and enterprising chiefs, conceiving it in vain any longer to resist, and being informed that Gen. Jackson intended, if he could take him, to put him to death, he was advised by his friends, as h's warrioi's were almost nil slain, as his country was ruined, and his escape almost imprac^i ble, io surrender himself to the general; that it was use, so to ttempt further resistance 5 and this was the only means by which his life could be saved. Weather ford determined so to do, and presented him- self to Gen. Jackson at his quarters, by whorn it was demanded of him who he was and how he came there. He replied, '* my name is VVeatherford, one of the chiefs of the Red Sticks. I have fought you till my warriors are all slain. If I had warriors 1 would fight INDIAN WARI. 2f)3 id this so ha saved. onicc him- t was there. )f the • ill my fight you Atill ; but 1 have none. My country is overrun, and my soldiers arc fallen. Here I am in your power ; do with me as you please ; only recollect (hat I nm a soldier!*' The patriotic speech of this distinguished chief had its desired eflfoct. Gen. Jackson declined to consider him even as a prisoner ol war. Weathcrford, although as bold and intrepid as a lion, had been many times defeated by his enemies. Gen. Jackson, after having made known to she sur- viving Creeks, the terms up'>n which ho was authorized to make peace, in the latter part of April withdrew his forces from the Creek country. The terms offered thein were ; That the United States were to retain as much of the conquered territory as would indonmify them for the expenses of tlie war, and as a retribution for the in- juries sustained by its citizens, and such of tl\e Creeks as had remained on friendly terujs with them during the war. The United States were to establish whatever military posts and trading houses they should think proper, and to have the free navigation of the rivers and watercourses thioughout the Creek country. The Creeks were to surrender their prophets, and other chiefs who remained or who sliould thereafter prove hostile to the interest and *velfare of the States. 'I'hc Talliscc l«ing, of whom we have made frequent mention, and who was supposed to have been k lied in one of Gen. Floyd's engagements with the Creeks, surrendered himself a prisoner to the Americarts. He was upwards of a hun- dred years of agt», with a head as white as snow, and had been regarded by the enemy as a very great prophet. The friendly Creeks viewed him as their most inveterate enemy, and although nearly bent double with age, they were anxious to put him to death, and would have done so had it not been for the interposition of the American '% roi INDIAN WAX I. CHAP. XV. 8EMINOLE WAR. LNDIAN DEPllKDATIONS. CAl'TliUK OF lOIlT ST. MARKS. EXLCUTiON OF AHDUTIINOT AND AMURISTEll. I'ENSACOLA TAKEN DV GEN. JACKSON. , 'I'he Creek war happily torminatinfi; In the sprin,ij of 1814, and u treaty of peace having been mutually con- cluded upon between the survivin<; chiefs of tliat nation and Commissioners apj)ointed on the part of the United Slates, but little opposition was then apprehended from the fuj^itives who had tied towards Pensacola, and who remained hostile to the interest of the Americans. liut, contrary to the expectations of our government, it was soon after discovered that these Indians had sought re'ftige among the different savage tribes living within and on the borders of the Fioridas, denominated Sem- inole Indians, who it was suspected cherislied feelings of hostility to the United States. This fact having been ascertained, the executive department of tiic government deemed it necessary, for the security of the frontier, to establish a line of forts near the southern boundary of the United States, and to occupy these fortifications with portions of ihe regular forces, and by this means peace- was maintained with the Indians until the spring or sum- mer of 1817 when the regular forces were withdrawn from the posts on the Georgia frontier, nnd concentrated at fort Montgomery, on the Alabama river, a considera- ble distance west of the Georgia line. But it seems that about this time a border warfare was commenced between the Seminole Indians and the frontier inhabit- ants of Georgia. Many horrid barbarities are said to have been perpetrated by the former ; some of which it A\ ■\';,-tru , '.\, .fj*-" lORT JTEtt. ujr r. or con- Lit iun fiited from who But, was ht itliin iL-m- js of )ecn licnt to of Ivith luce- irn- iwn Ued U'u- !ms !ed )it- to it \ \ ^- .S.,'»-" .*■-. i»n-.'v ■ ktfDIAK WARS. SOX i I s "8 I I I fo •a a «» M ■14 S li ,*^ •• ' may not be improper here to monfion. The house of a Mr. Garrett, residing nenr the boijndary of Wayne county, was attgnkcd' by a parly of Indians during his absence. They shot Mrs. CJarrett in two places, and then despatched lier by stabbing and scalping. Her two children, one about three years and the other two months old were also murdered, and the oldest scalped, 'JMie houso was tiien plundered of every article of value, and set on fire ! A boat soon after ascending the Ala- );una nt'er, containing thirty men, seven women and four small children, was captured by the Indians. Six of the 'non escaped, one woiiian taken captive and the Remainder inhumanlv butchered The children were taken by the leg and their brains dashed out against the bout ! Duncan IM'Krimmon, (a resident of Milledgeville, a Gc(jrgia militia man, stationed at Fort Gadsden,) being out one morning on a fishing excursion, in attempting to return, missed his way, and was several days lost in the surrounding wilderness. After wandering about in va- rious directions he was espied and captured by a party of hostile Inilians, headed by c^e well known prophet Francis. The Indians having obtained the satisfaction they wanted respecting the determination of .government, the position of tlie American army, &LC. ihey began to priipare for the intended sacrifice. M'Krimmon was bound to a stake, and the ruthless savages having shaved his head and reduced his body to a state of nudily, form- ed themselves into a circle and danced round him some hours, yelling most horribly. The youngest daughter of the prophet, about fifteen years of age, remained sad and silent the whole time. She participated not in the gen- eral joy, but was evidently, even to the affrighted pris- oner, much pained at the savage scene she was com- pelled to witness. When the burning torches were about to be applied to the faggots which encompassed the prisoner, and the fatal toniah.iwk w:is raised to ter- minate forever his niortal existence, Milly Francis, (for tha* was her name,) like an imgel of mercy, placed her- self between it and death, resolutely bidding the aston- ished CsXecutioncr, if he thirsted for jiuman blood, to shed 3i 266 INDIAN VVAUS. hers ; beinj* determined, she said, not to survive tlie prisoner's dcjith. A momentary pnuj.o was produced liy this unexpected occurrence, and slia todk advantage of the circumstance to injplore upon her knees the pity of the ferocious father, who finally yielded to her wishes ; with «.he intention, however, it is suspected, of murdering them both, i ' he could not sell M'Krimmon to the Span- iards ; which was luckily etfected a few days after at St. Marks, for seven galh)ns and a half of rum. As long as M'Krimmon remained u prisoner his benefactress con- tinued to show him acts o; kindness. The fortune of war lias since placed her, as we shall hereafter have occasion to notice, in the power of the while people, being compelled, with a number of others of her tribe who were in a starving condition, to surrender them- selves prisoners. As soon a3 this fact was known to M'Krimmon, in manifestation of a due sense of ilic obligation which he owed to the woman who saved his life, at the hazard of her own, he sought her to alleviate her misfortune, and to olRr her marriisgn ; but Milly would not consent to become his wife as a consideration of having saved his life, declaring th;it she did no more than her duty, and that her intercessions were thy same as they would ever have been on similar occasions. In the frequent outrages jonimitted upon the frontiers, it was somewhat difi ;ult to determine who were the first aggressor-, or on whom the greatest ir.juries were in- flicted. Gen. Gainc", however, demanded a surrender of the Indi.ins, who ha ! committed depredations on the frontier of Georgia. With this deinand they refused to comply, alledglng that the first and the greatest aggres- sions h'ld been made by the white men. In consequence of this refusal. Gen. Gaines was nulhorized by the Secretary of War, at his discretion, to remove the Indians still remaining on the lands ceded to tlie United Slates by the treaty made with the Creeks. In so doing he w.-.s toM that it niight I o proper to retain somit of them as h'jstagcs, until reparation was made for depredations committed by the Indians. In | ursuance of this discretionary authority Gen. Gaines ordered a de- tachment of n.ment, Gen. Jack- son was ordered to take the field, lie was put in com- mand of Ihc regular and military force, amounting to 18;)D tncn, provided for that service ; and directed, if be should consider the force provided, insufficient to beat the enemy, (whose fi)ree was estimated by Gen. Gaines at 2800 stronii) to call on the governors of the adjoininaf states for such portions of the miliiia as li; mi^ht thinlf retjuisile. On the receipt of tills order (i» n. Jackson, itistead of o!>sei vin,:; the orders of the D 'partment of War, by calliu;; on the govc-rnor of I ennessee, then in iS.ishvillc, near the place of his residence, chose to ap- peal (to use his own expression) to the patriotism of the W^est Tennesseans, who had served under him in the last war. Oae thousand mounted gunmen, and two companies of what were called lit\'-guards, with the utmost alac.ity, volunfccred their services from the stairs of Tannessce and Kentucky, and repaired to hi* standard. Officers were appointed lo command this corps by the general himself, or by other persons, actin^; under his authority. Tims organized, they >vcre mus- tered into the service of the t^nited States. About the lime Gen. Jackson was organizing this de- tachment of volunteers, in the state of Tennessee, or previous thereto, Gen. Games was likewise employed in raising' forces among the Creek Indians. There vas this difference in the two cases, Gen. Jackson raised his army in disregard to positive orders ; Gen. Gaines, without orders, took upon himself the authority of raising an army of at least 1600 Creek Indians, appointing their officers, with a Brigadier General at their head, and 563 lifDIAN ^ARS. likewise mustering tliis force into the service of the United States. It appears that Gen. Jackson advanced into Florida, with a force of UIOO men, composed of reiiuiars, voli^n- feers, and the Georgia militia ; and afterwards, on the 1st dav of April, was joined by Gen. M'lntosh and his brigade of 1.600 Indians, who had been previously orgjuiized by Gen. Gaines. Opposed tu whorji, it appears, from the report of Capt. Young, topographical engineer, and other evidence, the whole forces of the fugitive Semino!*? In- dians and runaway negroes, had they all been embodied, could not have exceeded nine hundred or <.Ais thousand men, and at no time did half that number present them- selves to oppose his march. Of course liitie or no resist- ance was made. The Miskasmusky towns were first taken and destroy- ed. The army marcht>d upon St, Marks, a feeble Spani>h garrison, which surrendered wiihout firing a gun, and was then occupied as an American post, the Spanish com- mandant having first by humble entreaties, and then by a timid protest, endeavoured to avert the measure. Here Alexander Arbuthnct was fuund, taken prisoner, and put in confinement, for the pinpose as it was stated by Gen. Jackson, *' of collecting evidence to establish his guilt ;" and here also were taken two Indian Ciiiefs, one of whom pretended to possess the spirit of prophecy ; they were hung without trial and without ceremony. Francis, who by the entreaties of his daughter, was persuaded to spire the life of M'Krimmon, a captive, was the prophet above allud« d to. This being done, and St. Marks garrisoned with American troops, the army pursued their mjirch eastward to Suwaney river, on which they found a large Indian village, which was consmrsed, and the Indians and negroes were dispersed ; after which the army returned to St. Marks, bringing with them Robert C. Ambrister, who had been taken prisoner on their march to Suwaney. During the b.alt of the army foi- a few days at St. Marks, a general court martial was called, Arbuthnot was arraigned* found guilty, sentenced to sutfer death, and hung. INDIAN TVARi. tCd I (^11. 1 om lore ho lire ove 5t. ' Amhrister wns tried in like manniT, found guilty, and sentenced to whipping and ronfihemeiit. Gen. J: ^kson annulled the sentence, and ordered him to he shot, and this order was executed. It is stated that Arhuthnot, who was public.!}' executed as a spy, by order of Gen. Ja(*Kson, had been a cajjtain in the British service, was about forty years of ag^', of penteel appearance, and n)et his fate like a soldivT. When the executioner was fixing the ro|)e arou'nd lis neck, he desired not to be handled so roughly ; observed he was a gentiem.m, and spoke ol h)< de;ah being avenged. His projjerty he requested should be given to his Hon. Anibrister (who was charged with a similar offence, and suffered with Aibuthnot) w;is a voung man not exceeding twentv-five years. At first he a|)peared undaunted and quite indifferent as to liis fate, but as death began to look him in the face, he lost his composure, and died more like a woman than a man. The prophet Francis, who was executed a little before, had in his pocket a commission of brigadier general, from the British government, supfjosed to have been presented him during his late visit to Kngland, whence he had not long returned. His arrival in that country' was I'.us an- nounc<'d in one of the English prints: " I he do jbic sound of a trumpet announced the ap|)roa(:h of the patriot Francis, who fought so gloriously in our cause of America. He was dressed in a most splendid suit of red and gold, and by his side he wore a tomahawk, rnnunted in go'd !" This warriof is said to hive been the prime mover of the unprovoked and infernal massacre of the garrison, with the women, &:c. of Fort Mims ; and him also who slaugh- tered Lieut. Scott and his jarty. An officer in Gen. Jackson's army, in writing to his friend, relative to the surrender of a number of the enemy as prisoners, at St. M irks, thus sfjHaks of the faaiily of Francis : " The wife of the family of the prophet Francis are among the prison- ers. Two of his daughters are very interesting young ladies, atid speak very good Fnglish, as in fact the whole fantily do except the mother. The eldest, when her father was decoyed on board the American schooner, shortly after followed, supposing her to he a British vessel; 110 INDIAN WARS. W* before she got aloYigsitle, however, she discovered the de- ct'piion, jiiirhed oflT find made her escape. The youngest and movt lieiuitifid is caressed Uy all the odiieers, for Ikiv- iiig saved ihe life of the Georgia militia tuan. ill a eoinintnnnication from the War Departnirnt to Gen. Gaish's, dated Oct. 30, 1817, he was directed, that siiotild the ho>tile Indians p«'rsrvere in tln'ir refusal to mnk(! rej>ar.iti<)n for their depredations, it was the wih (f the IVtvsident that he should not on that .u'count pass the line, and make an attack upon them wiih'in the limits of Florida. In a later ''ommunicafion, he sajs, " I'he stnte of our negociation with JS|)ain, and temper manifested hy the principal European powers, mal e it inipolitic, in the opinion of the President, to move a fono at this time into the Spanish porsessions, for the nicr<' purpose of chastising the Seminoles for depredations which have heretofore been committed by them/' SuhseqiKMitly the following order was received by Gen. Gaines from tiie War Department. *' On t!it» receipt of this letter, should the Seminole Indians still refuse to make reparations for their outrages and depredations on the citizens of tin; United IStates, it is the wish of the Piesident, that you consider yourself at liberty to march acioss the Florida line, and to attack them within its limits, should it be found necessary, unless they shotdd shelter themselves under a Spanish fort. In the lasit event, you will immediately notify this department." On the 1st cf EN'cember, 1817, Gen. Gaines informs the Secretary of War, in a letter from Fort Scott, which was then the Head-Quarters, that there was no ground to calculate upon the future security of the frontier settle- ments, and says; "it is now my painful duty to rej-ort an alfair of a more serious nature tluui has heretofore oc- curred, and vshich leaves no doubt of the necessity of an immediate application of force, and active measures on om* part. A large party of Seminole Indians, on the 3Cth ult. formed an ambuscade upon the App^^lachichola river, a niile below the junction oi' the Flint and Chatnhoochie, attacked one of our boats ascending near the shore, and k.lled, wounded and took the greater part of the detach- ment, consisting of forty men, commanded by Lieut. R. J i INDIA It w.vna. f71 1 W. Scott, of (ho 7th infantrv. 'I lu^rc wrro also on hoard, killed or taken, sijvjmi uoiiien, the wives ofsoiduMS. Six men of the drtichment only ijsc^aped, lour of whom wertj AVoiMuled. ') hey report that the siieniiih of the current at that point of attack had ohiigcd the lietiten nt to keep his boat near the shore; that the Indians hud j'ornied along ihc haidv ol" the river, and were not disc!)ver- od until their fire had comujenced ; in the fn^l vol- ley of which Lieut. Scott uiid most of his valuable men fell." In December, 1H17, Gen. Jackson received orders from the Secretary of \V«>r to take command of the southern arnjy,, and to |)roceed against the hostile Indians, with ail the forces that had luen raided for that purpose, ai:d to bring the war lo as speedy a ternjination as possible. He j)ro(:eeded to Fort Scott and niade preparations for prose- cuting: the war with all the energy in his power. Un the 10th of March, 1818, ho commenced his march and soon after passed the line iti pursuit of the enemy who had f.ed into Florida. He met with very little opposition from them ; they divided themselves into small parties and de- fended themselves with a desperate courage and boldness seldom before known even in Indian warfare. A few prisoners were taken, princi|)ally women and children ; many Indian villaires were burned, and a large quantity of corn and oiher property destroyid. On the 26th of April the /\m« ricans took possession of Fort St. Marks without (opposition, in which w'as placed a garrison. Gen. Jackson, in a leiler to the Secretary of \Var, gives his reas(Mis fir the measure as follows : '''It could not be maintained by the Spanish fcrce garrisoniu'X it. The Indians and negroes viewed it as an asylum if driven from the towns, and were preparing to occupy it, in this event. It was neces?aiy to anticipate their move- men'iS, independent of thft position, being deenied essen- tial as a depot on which the success of my future opera- tions measurably (h|)ended. In the spirit of friendshij), f, tlierefore, demande I its surrender to the army of the United States, until the close of the Seminole war. '1 ho Spanish Commandant required time to reflect ; it w as granted ; and a negociation ensued) and an effort was m> 272 INDIAN WARS. iniulo to protract it to i\i\ unwarrantable li'n«Jth. In the conversation between my Aid-(le-Cam|), Li«ait. Gadsden, and tlio S|)anisli Coojinandant, tircutnstaiict's transpire* convincing liiiu of a disposition to favour the Indians, and having taken an active part in aiding and abetting them in this war. I ht'sitaied, therefore, no longer; and, as 1 could not be received in iriendship, 1 entered the fort by violtnee." The American army soon after moved on in pursuit of the enefny, who were able to make very little resistance ; destroying their settlements, and taking a few stragglers prisoners, until they arrived before Pensacola, which was surrendered, and taken j)ossession of hy the American trooj)S. 'Jhe following extract of a letter from Gen. Jackson to the Secretary of War, dat«>d Fort Montgomery, June 2, will acquaint the reader with his reasons as there- in staled, for having penetrated so far, and taken forcible possession bf Pensacola. " On the 10th of Maj my army crossed the river at the Ochessee village, and after a fatiguing, tedious and cir- cuitous march of twelve days, misled by the ignorance of our pilots, and exposed to the severest privations, wc finally reached and effected a passage over the Ivcandria. On my march on the 23d of May, a |)rotest from tlie Gov- ernor (if P(Misa(!<)la was delivj-red to me by a ISpanish officer, remonstrating in warm terms against my proceed- ings, and ordering me and my forc(^ instunily to quit tho territory of his Caholic Majesty, wiih a threat to apj)ly force in the event of a non-compliance. This was so open an indication of a hostile feeling on his part, after having been early auJ vvt II advised of the objects of my operations, that I hesitated no longeron the measures to b« adopted. I marched lor and entered l^ensacola with only the show of resistance, on the 24th of May. The Governor had previously fled to the Carlos de Barrancas »' here it ii. said he resolved upon a most desperate resist- ance. The peaceable surrender of the Fort at the Bar- rancas was denied. I marched for and invested it on the evening of the 25th of May, and on the sainp night j)ush- ed reeonnoitering parties under its very guns. On the morning of the 26th a military reconnoisance was taken INDIAN WJaS. 273 und on the same night :i lodgement was made, under a lire fi'^ni t!ie Sp'«nis!i g;»riiso«\ by Capt. Gadsden of the engiji 'Ts, aided hy Captains Call and Young, on a com- maniiing position ^vithin three hundred and eighty-five yards of the Spanish works, and a nine pounder mounted. A howitzer 'uatteiy was simultaneously established on the capitol and within seven hundred and fifty yurds of the fort. At dayligliL oa ' j 27th, the Spanish ganison open- ed their artillery on our batteries ; a parley was sounded, a flag sert in, and the surrender of Fort Carlos dc Bar- rancas again len nded ; the favorable positions obtained were pointed out, ; 'id the inutility of resistance urged. Anxious to avoid an open contest, and to save the effusion of blood, the same terms previously offered were again tendered. These were rejected and offensive operations re-commenced. A spirited and well directed fire was kept up the greater part of the morning, and at intervals during the afternoon. In the evening a flag was sent from the Spanish Commandant, ofTering to capitulate and a suspension of hostil.tics were granted until eight o'clock the next di»y, when articles of capitulation were signed and agreed to. I he tenns are more favorable than a conquered enemy vvo,.'^, have merited ; but, under the peculiar circumstances v '' the case, my object obtained, there was no motive or wounding the feelings of those whose military pride or honor had prompted to the resist- ance made. The articles, with but one condition, amount to the complete cession to the United States of that por- tion of the Floridas, 'litherto under the government of Don Jose Masot. *' The Seminole w tr may now be considered at a close, tranquility again restored to the southern frontier of the United States, and, as long as a ccrdon of military posts is maintained along the gulf of Mexico, America has nothing to apprehend from either foreign or Indian hos- tilhies. Indeed, sir, to attempt to fortify or protect an imaginary line, or to suppose that a frontier on the 3 1st degree of latitude, t^ a wilderness, can be secured by a coridor of militar . sts, whilst the Spanish authorities were not maintaiiieo in *he Floridas, and that the country lay open to the usg .mI excitement of un enemv, ii 274 INDIAN WARS. vlsioiiiu-y in the cxtrcnM?. On the w vnoutaMe iiriiicijjle, iiiereloie, of sclf-deiViKe, autliorizf ' hy tl.e km of nature and of nations have 1 bottomed all mv o|jrrations. On the fact that the Spanish officers had aided and aletted the Indians), and thereby became a party in hostility against us, do I justify my occupying the Spanisii for- tresses. Spain has disregarded the treaties existing with the American government, or had not i)ovver lo enforcie them. The Indian tribes within her territory and which she was bound to keep at peace, visited our citizens with all the horrors of savage war. Negro brigades werie establishing themselves when and where they pleased, and foreign agents were openly and knowingly prac- tising their intrigues in this neutral territory. The immutable principles of self-defence justified, tiierefore, the occupancy of the Floridas, and the same prin- ciples will warrant the American government in hold- ing it until such time as Spain can guarantee, by an adequate military force, the maintaining her authority. ^uh>n the colony." CHAP. XVI. HOSTILITIES WITH THE INDIAN TRIBES ON THE NORTH WESTERN • FRONTIERS, CALLED BLACK HAWK'S WAR. The Winnebagoes, Menominies, Pottowatamies, and Sacs and .Foxes, were engaged in this border war with Black Hawk. In order to understand the causes of this war, it will be necessary for us to recount some circum- stances which occurred in 1823. - .This year the United States agent held a treaty at IKDIAN WARl. 275 IRN considerahle attcu in tlunn drove sever, of llifc Wiiincbag States. It h sup|'0^ cause of the muid ut Prairie du Cliien, with the Sars» Foxes, VVinnebagoes, Chippevvays, Siou.v, &c. principally to effect a |)cacc be- tween the Sacs and the other tiil)es. The bcttet to effect (his object, bounds were S(;t to each tribe. The Ga'^ iia K^ad 'iiies about the s;iine time attracted 'id the avarice of those concerned h isand miners into tlie countr ^ )p\ond the limits of the United s great encroachment was the ,. a family, living neiir Prairie du Cliien, by a party of Winnebagoes, two of whoni • w«re afterwards imprisoned in the jail of Crawford county. An article in the above mentionc^d treaty provided that any of the five nations cone* rued in ihis treat /, visiting of tlui United States, should' be protected from all insults by the garrison. Notwithstanding this, in thp summer of 1827, a party of twenty-four Chippeways on a visit to Fort Snelling, were fallen u[)cn by a band of Sioux, who killed and wounded eight of them. The com- mandanfof the fort captured four of the Sioux, and de- livered them into the hands of the Chippeways, who im- mediately shot them. Red Bird, the Sioux chief, repaired to Prairie du Chieii with three companions, desperate as himself, about the first of July, and there killed two persons, wounded a third, and without taking plunder, retired to Bad-axo river. Here, soon after, he waylaid two keel boats that had been conveying some Missionaries to I'ort Snelling, in one of which, two persons were killed, the others escajjed with little injury. Not long after, Gju. Atkinson marched into the Winne- bago country, and ruptured some hostile Winncbrgoes and Red Bird, who (li(^d soon after in prison. The Indians, who wore imprisoned for the murder at Prairie du Chien, were discharged, anri Black Hawk and two others, who had leen imprisoned for the attack on the boats, before mentioned, were also discharged. Very little piins were tak •« to satisfy the Indians, or to make the settler^ do Justice to their. As the latter in many ca^es, have v ry little to lose, and much to gain, if IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 2.5 mm I. ■IS lis 1.25 II 1.4 m\h < 6" » 71 *^'o3>^ /: ^^1.4^^ /^ /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) S72-4503 ^ <^\^ '^A^ ^*% 7. ^ 27« INBIAN WARS. an Indian y%'ar be successful, ue need not le surprised that they. take so little pains to be first on conciliating to their red brethren. '1 he gain which the settlers are sure of in a successful Indian war, arises from the Indians being obliged to give up their lands, in which case thej are removed from them by settlers, and they are no longer a frontier, but a thoroughfare to one, and the consequent flocking in of new settlers, raises the value of produce as well as of land, by creating a (demand for them. Thus, it is not difficult to see the avaricious on the frontiers have every inducement to bring about an Indian war. The foregoing account shows that Black Hawk was iinprisoned on suspicion, perhaps justly, but this was not his sole cause of complaint. His friend Red fiird had died in prison, Indians were executed for murderng whites, but it did not follow whites were treated in like manner for murdering Indians. These causes had long been producing a feeling of disaffection among the northern and western tribes. Hence, it is not singular that the whites of the frontier of Illinois believed the Indians, from Canada to Mexico, more hostile, than at any period since the war of 1812. The Sacs, who had served Great Britain against the Americans, were the most conspicuous in their enmity. This band of Sacs rendevouzed at their chief village on the Mississippi, where they had collected such of their neighbors as wished to engage in the war. Gen. Gaines marched to, and possessed himself of this village, on the 26th of June. This he did without oppo- sition, for when the Indians discovered the army, they fled across the river, and displayed a flag for parley. Meantime, their associates had abandoned them, and the Sacs were left to man:ige affairs in the best manner they could. They, therefore, made peace with all due sub- mission, and Gen. Gaines was of opinion, they were as completely humbled as if they had been chastised in battle^ and were less disposed to disturb the frontier, than if that event had taken place. Previous to this, he had declared his belief that whatever might be their hostile feelings, they would abstain from the use of tomahawks and tiro arms, except in self-defence. »«.'f ■m^ the ity. on this Ippo- they rley. the they sub- as Ltle. that ired »gs, Ifiro V-.. M-- '■m ^0mJ- ■■#■ - :^ ■r-yj-i*^' - ^ ■% ■^ -!&■ '"*•- ,.,• ^"> 5*^- ■•««I^J«l^%l»f^A^*. i.f awk [lat 1 B lit- ; we t my have care thank before hem ; 3on to ;ton, I ill lis- iway ; What s been Idid forget A^illlis- i coun- coun- med to ler lis- ,s once all our He Spirit, villa- Ited us m we oming never ith us . We upon im. I re my gone. 1 shall h you, I shall ■'i'^ .i^ly'fi^ ■i^'^-/'^y0 ■■•■i'''*'* '-''feii, %'4'**' ■"■wv^™ ■ . "'•*:"'• ■■^ --^n mj' :Se^- 4 I.' ,n - lABIAM WARS. 269 go to my family. My sob will be here to see you before you^o. I will shake hands with my brothers irow, then I am done/' The pafty here separated, in a cordial and friendly manner, and peace seems to be restored on a firm basis, on our western border. CHAP. XVII. kEMARKS ON THI WAR WITH THE FLORIBA INDIANS, ORSEUr INGLES, WITH ITS CAUSES. PROGRESS OF THE WAR. OSCE- OLA'S TREACHEROUS CAPTURE. HIS IMPRISONMENT AND DEATH. Tafi capture of 'Pensacola by Gen. Jackson put an end to the Seminole war for th« time. The Indian war- riors had retired to their various settlements, and were pursuing their occupations, of hunting and cultivating their lands without molestation. They continued in this situation for several years ; till a change of their politi- cal relations with the United States gave rise to new difficulties, which led to a renewal of hostilities ; and a bloody and exterminating war has been carried on againsi these sons of the forest, with little success and much to the dishonor of our government, to the present time, livery artifice and stratagem has been made use of to subdue them or to drive them from the country, in order that a set of unprincipled and greedy speculators might get possession of their lands. The resistance of these people has been the wonder of the world. That a few hundred Indian warriors could make a successful resis-* 3T f ^Slt 290 INDIAN WARS. tance to as many thousand regular and well armed troops, commanded by some of our best generals, is the most as- tonishing event that has ever occurred in all our Indian warfare. The Florida war has been the cause of the expenditure of over j$fjS0,000,0009 (much more than the whole ter- territory is worth,) besides the loss of a vast number of the lives of our citizen soldiers; and still there appears little prospect of bringing the war to a successful termination. In fact there appears to be no other way to e^ect it, but by exterminating the whole Indian race by fire and sword. That this will eventually be the end, there can be little doubt; but how long it will take to effect this object, and what sacrifices of life and money will hav.e to be made, time only can disclose. East and' West Florida were ceded to the United States, by the Spanish government, in 1823, as a set-off for a claim we had against them for spoliations commit- ted on our commerce, for ;$500,000. Soon after this took place a plan was laid to get rid of the Indians, in order to gain possession of the lands they owned and oc- cupied. To effect this it was necessary to gain the point either by negociation and purchase or by the sword. In September following a council was held with their chiefs, and a treaty entered into by them, which was signed on the I8th by several of. their principal chiefs. In this treaty it was agreed on the part of the Indians that they Would remove to the westward after twenty years from that date. By the same treaty the American govern- ment secured to the Indians a tract of land in Florida, containing five millions of acres, for their subsistence during the time they remained in the territory ; and agreed to pay them certain annuities, for surrendering all title to the rest of the Florida country,and the Indians engaged to confine themselves to the limits of the territo- ry allotted to them. One article of the treaty runs as follows— * 'The United States will take the Florida In- dians under their care and patronage, and will afford them protection against all persons whatsoever." It was doing a great wrong, to say the least of it, for our government to bind itself to conditions, that it was INDIAN WARS. S91 lops, itoa- idian iture B ler- afthe , little ation. t, but word. 5 little 5t, and made, United set-oflf ommit- ter this ana, in and 00- le point rd. In chiefs, ned on In this at they rs from overn- lorida, istence and ndering Indians territo- runs as ida In- aflford If it, for It it was probable they never intended to fulfil, or that tliey could not carry into eflfect if they were ever so much disposed to do it. The consequence was, that the Indians were most shamefully robbed and plundered by a set of mis- creants who were probably sent among thera, and hover- ed around their settlement for that purpose. Every kind of fraud was practised to cheat them out of thieir proper- ty. Their negroes and cattle were stolen, carried oflf and sold by a set of land pirates, in defiance to all law and justice. VVhen appeals were made to the authorities, they could get no redress, and the villains were allowed to escape. One of the chiefs had twenty slaves stolen from him, worth ;jf 15,000, who were carried to New Or- leans and sold. An Indian woman employed a white man to reoover some negroes that had been taken from her; but instead of giving him a power of attorney, as she supposed for the purpose, he got her signature to a bill of sale of all her negroes*. They were robbed of large sums of money by the government agents, who got their signatures to receipts, under pretence that it was necessary to send them to Washington to get the money due them, and afterwards refused payment. In some cases when their cattle were stolen, they pursued and brought them back; when they were punished for steal- ing them, although they showed their own marks on the cattle. But as the Indian's evidence could not be re- ceived in a court of justice, the white man's oath would condemn him to the most cruel punishment. Numerous other such cases might be given from A-, merican writers; but enough has been stated, we should think, to satisfy any reasonable person, that these Indians were justified in defending themselves from such outrages. Could it be expected that a people would quietly submit to suffer so much oppression and injustice without retal- iating ? Can it he thought strange that they should lose all confidence in the white people, and look upon them as their enemies? Whether the government suffered all this spoliation to take place, without even an attempt to prevent it, with a view to disgust the Indians and incline thera to remove to the westward, is not for us to say; but after events will enable the reader the better to judge for himself. 292 llTDUlf WARS. The Florida people were now subjecied to retaliatioa on thff part of the Indians, who, finding that they could obtain no redress, naturally took the law into their own hands, and loss of life on both sides was the consequence. Petitions from the Florida white population were sent to the governmenty requesting that the Indians might be moved west piiorto the titne stipulated by treaty. Col. Gadsden was appointed commissioner to treat with the Indians, and had a meeting with Micanopah, and a few other chiefs, April 8th, 1832. The chiefs appearediin- willing to agree to the removah but were willing to a- bide by the former treaty. After many consultations and a delay of a month, their consent was obtained to com- ply with the wishes of the government| and a treaty was made for that purpose. fiy this treaty the Indians agreed to remove west upon being paid a certain sum for the reserved land ; an annuity for a certain number of years, and other advantages there- stated. The treaty was signed by IVIicanopah, and in fourteen others ; but it was assented to upon one condi- tion, that the Seminoles were satisfied with the lands ap- portioned to theip west of the Mississippi. To ascertain this seven chiefs were selected to explore the country, and if they were satisfied that it was equal to what was represented, the treaty was to be ratified, otherwise they were not to be bound by it. These chiefs reported unfa- vorably ; and the government having delayed making any appropriation of land for the Indians for more than two years, they became dissatisfied, and the 'treaty was pro- nounced to be ** a white man^s treaty," which they did not any longer consider to be binding. 'Inhere was another difficulty which caused strong objec- tions to their removal to the westward. 'J'he i^^eminole Indians owned a large number of negroes and many cat- tle, which they had good reason to believe would all be taken from them by their new neighbors, the Creeks and Pawanees, who were too powerful for them to resist. Therefore, as the first would take from them all their slaves and the latter all their cattle, they considered that utter destitution would be the consequence. An Ameri- pan writer treating upon this snbject says. " It was then ^ INDIAK WARS. 203 anj two pro- y did )jec- linole cat- ill be and esist. their that nieri- then suggested to them that by a sale of these negroes before they left Florida, they would augment their resources, and could go into their new country without the dread of exciting the cupidity of the Creeks. But these Indians have alwajrs evinced great reluctance to parting with their slaves ; indeed the Indian loves his negro as much as one of his own children, and the sternest necessity alone ivould drive him to the parting ; this recommendation was, therefore, viewed with evident alarm, and as the right of retainii^ possession of them was guaranteed by the comrpissioner, strong doubts were raised of the cin- qerity of the pledge. " The Seminole Indians are poor agriculturalists and husbandmen, and withal too indolent to till the ground, and, without their neii;roes would literally starve ; besides should they dispose of them they could not be replenished Jn a new country.. Again; the opposition of the slaves themselves to being sold to the whites would excite all itheir energies to prevent emigration, for they dread the idea of being transferred to sugnr and cotton plantations, where they must be subject to the surveilance of the over- seer. '1 he life of a slave among the Indians, compared with that of negroes under overseers is one of luxury and ease ; the demands upon him are very trifling, scarcely ever exceeding eight or ten bushels from the crop, the remainder being applied to his own profit. They live separate, and often remote, from' their ownejrs, and enjoy an equal share of liberty. The negro is also much more pdTOvident and ambitious than his master, and the peculiar localities of the country eminently facilitate him in fur- nishing the Indian with rum and tobacco, which gives him a controlling influence over the latter, and at the same time aflords him an immense profit ; so that it can be easily imagined that the negroes would in no manner .be benefited by the change." In October, 1834, a council of Indians. was again sum- moned by the agent, when a long talk was held with them, in which many of the chiefs expressed themselves in tht strongest manner against the removal, and gave their reasons. The agent made several proposals to them, to which he demandfTd an immediate answer. The chiefs 294 IMDIAN WARS. retired and held a private council. It is said that Osceo- la, (the rising sun,) a distinguished chief of the Micosu- kee tribe, urged them strongly to resist going, and de- clared that he should consider as his enemy any one who agreed to go. Osceola had not signed the treaty, and had from the beginning showed a determined opposition to any agreement to sell their lands, or to give up any of their natural rights. The next day the council was resumed, and the chiefs made their replies to the agent, in which they declared their determination not to go to the west till the expira- tion of twenty years, and that they should be paid their annuity agreeably to the first treaty in 1823. The agent made a long talk to them, in which he said, " I have told you that you must stand to your bargain. My talk is still the same. Your father, the President, who is your friend, will compel you to go. Therefore be not deluded by any hope or expectation that you will be permitted to remain here." The council and parties separated without coming to any agreement. The Indians, finding they had nothing to expect but oppression, laid up large stores of powder and lead, and prepared themselves for resistance. Six months elapsed, when they were informed that they were to hear the last talk of their father, the President, on this . side of the Mississippi. On the 22d of April, the Indians assembled, and had the following communica- tion from President Jackson. "My Children — I am sorry to have heard that you have been listening to bad counsel. You know me, and you know that I would not deceive, nor advise you to do any thing that was unjust or injurious. Open your cars and attend now to what 1 am going to say to you. They are the words of a friend, and the words of truth. ** The white people are settling around you. The game has disappeared from your country. Your people are poor and hungry. All this you have perceived for some time. And nearly three years ago you made an agreement with your friend Colonel Gadsden, acting on the part of the United States, by which you agreed to cede your lands in Florida, and to remove and join your brothers, the Greeks, in the country west of the Mississip- INIIiAN WARS. 296 t\ pi. You annexed a condition to this agreement, that cer- tain c)iiefs named therein, in whom you placed confidence, should proceed to the western country, and examine whether it was suitable to your wants and habits ; and whether the Creeks residing there were willing to permit you to unite with them as one people, and if the persons thus sent were satisfied on these heads, then the arrange- ment with Col. Gadsden was to be in full force. " In conformity with these provisions, the chiefs nam- ed by you, proceeded to that country, and having exam* ined it, and having become satisfied raspecting its char- acter and the favorable disposition of the Creeks, they entered into an agreement with commissioners on the part of the United States, by which they signified their satis- faction on these subjects, and finally ratified the treaty made with Col. Gladsden. " I now learn that you refuse to carry into effect the soUmn promises thus made by you, and that you have stated to the officers of the United States, sent among you, that you will not remove to the western country. " My Children, I have never deceived, nor will I ever deceive any of the red people. I tell you that you must go, and that you will go. Even if you had a right to stay how could you live where you now are f You have sold all your country. You have not a piece as large as a blanket to sit down upon. What is to support yourselves, your women and children ; The tract vou have ceded will soon be surveyed and sold, and immediately after- wards will be occupied by a white population. You will soon be in a state of starvation. You will commit depre- dations upon the property of our citizens. You will be resisted, punished, perhaps killed. Now is it not better peaceably to remove to a fine, fertile country, occupied by your own kindred, and where you can raise all the neces- saries of life, and where game is yet abundant ? The an- nuities payable to you, and the other stipulations made in your favor, will make your situation comfortable, and will enable you to increase and improve. If, therefore, you had a right to stay where you now are, still every true friend would advise you to remove, but you have no right to stay, and you must go. I am very desirous that you 296 irtAIAN WARI. should go peaceably and voluntarily. Yau shall ba coM- fortabiy taken care of, and kipdiy treated on the road, and' when you arrive in your new country, provisions will be issued to you for a year, so that you can have ample time to provide for your future supuort. ** But lest some of your rash young men should forcibly oppose your arrangements for removal, I hdvft orde/ed' a large military force to be sent among y^M I r^ave direct- ed the commanding officer, and likp Ui; t!f> j^nt, your friend General Thompson, that ovfy •'easonable indul- gence be held out to you. Bit*. T have a.so directed that one third of your people, as p^i>vi<;jd for in the treaty, be removed during the present season. If you listen to the voice of friendship and truth, you will go quietly and vol- untarily. But should you listen to the bad birds that arcf always flying about you, and refuse (o femove, I have then directed the commanding officer to remove you by force. This will be dohe. 1 priay the Great Spirit there- fore, to incline you to do what is right." The Seminoles beeame divided among theitiselves, Some of the sub-chiefs agreed to remove; but the princi-^ pal chiefs not only refused to go, but considered all who agreed to submit as their enemies. One of the chiefs who had made arrangements to remove, was shot by C/sce- ola, and most of his warriors joined the hostile party. Th& agent undertook to deprive the opposing chiefs of their rank, and declared that Aficanopah was no longer chief of the SemiuoleS ; his name with the other chiefs who joined with him, were struck out of the council ol the nation. Tli'f 'parsed great irritation; and ttie con* duct of the areof :- Jisappr .J of by the Secretary of War; bu^ .'.; government took no measures to re- move tho difficulty, or to do justice to the injured party. In June, 1836, Osceola, the chief of the Micosukees, came in to complain of the treatment his people had re- ceived from some white men, one having been wounded. He received no redress,*aiid saying sometliing offensive to the agent, was thrown into prison. To obtain his liberty, it is said he signed the treaty ; but this must be considered only as' an Indian stratagem* He had been imprisoned without cause, and it may be presumed that INOUN WAHft. S07 he thought himself justified in escaping by a correspond- ing fraud on his part. In a month sfterthis occurrence, some of his tribe murdered a government mail* carrier. This, with the killing the friendly chief by Osceola, was the signal for the commencement hostilities. The Indians immediately abandoned all thi •wns, and, con- cealing their trails, removed their family ^ to a pluce of safety, which has ever since baffled all • ojecture, and been a subject of the greatest astonis^'iment The white population of Florida w • never very uu- onerons, and is composed of variolic desc "^tion?" of people, from all nations. In 1830 thtre were, 18,1 K) whites, and 16,000 slav'^.s, exclusive of the ln4iar^. The vari- ous bands or trib<>s of Indians in Florida e been call- ed Scminoles ; but there never was a trii that name ; it is a term for runaways or .« ing a compound of the old Florida Indians, of Creeks, who quit ted the tribe previous to west of the Mississippi, and negroes who ii the Indians. The whole number of their the commencement of the war, was as foii^ Micosukee Indians, of whick Osceola was or nation of .derers; be- wo varieties ir removal slaves to « triors, at "is: — The principal chief, iOO; Creek anc Spanish Indians, 850; Negroes, 600 to 700; in all about 1900. It is supposed that tlie hostile Indians retreated to tome portion of the vast swamps which surrounded the Ouithlacoochee river. Marauding parties now commen- ced on the part of the Irdians, who took summary ven- seance on those who had robbed and maltreated them. The whole country yrn^ under conflagration, and the whites were compelled to abandon every thing, and seek protection under the forts. Gen. Clinch, who comman- ded at Fort Brooke, having been reinforced, no time was lost in preparing two companies to march against the enemy. On the 24th of December, 1835, a force of one hundred men, and eight officers, with a field piece,iinder the command of Maj. Dade, commenced their march. On the morning of the jSSth, when it had proceeded four miles from the encamf/tnent of the previous night, this force was attacked by the Indians, whose first volley was very destructive, Major Dade with almost' every SOS IN»IAN wahs. I ! man of the advanced guard falling dead. The Indians were repelled by the troops under Captain Gardner,iipon whom the command then devolved, and the Americans proceeded to throw up breastworks ; but before they, could raise them high enough for efficient protection, the Indians attacked them again. The Americans brought their field-piece into play, but the breastworks not being high enough, the Indians shot down every man who at- tempted to work the gun. All the officers, and more than two thirds of the American troops had fallen, when the survivors found that all their ammunition was expen- ded. The Indians, perceiving this, rushed in, and, with the exception of two men, who, although severely wounded, contrived to conceal themselves, and ultimate- ly to make their escape; not one of the whole detachment was spartd. The force of the Indians is supposed to have amounted to from three hundred and fifty to four hundred. The eon- test lasted six hours; and it must be admitted that noth- ing could be more gallant than the defence which was made by the troops against such a superior force. On the afternoon of the same day, the Americans bad to lament the loss of General Thompson the Indian agent at Fort King. Imprudently strolling out about three hundred yards from the fort, he was attacked by the In- dians, who laid in ambush for him, and with Lieut. Smith and three other people belonging to the fort, was shot dead. This party of Indians was headed by Osceola, who warned General Thompson that the white men should suffer for their treatment of him. His peculiar and shrill war-yell was given as the Indian party retreated, to let the whiles know to whom they were indebted for the massacre. General Clinch hpving been reinforced at Fort Brooke, where he had two hundred regular troops, with five hun- dred volunteers under the command of General Call, now moved with the whole force of seven hundred men. On the 30th of December, as they were passing the Ouithlacoochee river the Indians watched their opportu- nity, and when a portion only of the troops had gained the opposite side, commenced an attack, which was vig- IMBIAN WARS. M9 bad gent ;hree le In- mith shot eola, lould ihrill ;o let the )oke, JhuD- jCall, Imen. the lortu- lined vig- orously and successfully resisted ; the Indians, in little more than an hour, were beaten off. The battle was, ho vever, severe, and the Americans sustained a loss of sixty three killed and wounded. The Indian force is supposed to have amounted to seven hundred men. But independent of these conflicts with the militia and regulars, the ravages of the Indians over the whole coun* try are stated to have been most fearful. Women rnd children were murdered, and the hearth made desoU^e in every portion of the country. In the more settled parts near St. Augustine, the sugar cane plantations, with the expensive works attached to them, were destroyed, and in many cases the slaves who were on the plantations were either carried off, or voluntarily joining the Indians, increased the strength of the enemy. More than a hun- dred estates were thus laid waste, the average loss upon each estate, being computed, independent of the lo^ of the negroes, at fifty thousand dollars. On the I3th February, 1S36, Gen. Gaines, having ar- rived at Fort Brooke, reviewed the force, which amount- ed to between eleven and twelve hundred men, and com- menced his march to relieve Fort King, at which post he arrived on the £d February, without falling in with any of the Indians. The general then made a detour in pur- suit of the Indians. On the 27th, when the force was cr ^ssing the Ouithlacoochee River, it was assailed by the Indians, who retired after a skirmish of three-quarters of an hour, the Americans' loss being very trifling. On the 2Sth, when again fording the river, the Indians made another attack, which was continued for nearly four hours, and the Americans had to lament the loss of Major Izard, who was killed, and two otherofficers were also wounded. On the 20th, the Indians again attacked, with a force of at least a thousand men, with a view of forcing the A- merican troops from the breastwork which they had thrown up; the Indians, after about two hours fighting, set fire to the high grass; but unfortunately for them, the wind suddenly changed, and, instead of burning out the American troops, all their own concealed positions were burnt up and exposed, and they were compelled to retire. The loss on the Indian side was not known, but suppos* ''^- 3m INDIAN WAR! •d to be heavy} that on the part of the Americans a' mounted to thirty*two killed and wounded. On the evening of the 6th of March, the Indian inter- preter came in from the Seminoles, stating that they wished to hold a conncil, and did not want any more fight- ing. On the 6th a truce was held, when Osceola and other chiefs made their appearance, saying that if the Americans would not cross the river, they would remain on their own side of it, and not conmit any more ravages. 1 his was in fact nothing but the original proposal of the Indians, that they should remain upon the land which had been assigned to them by ihe treaty of Camp Moultrie. The reply of Gen. Gaines was that he was not authoriz- ed to make a treaty with them ; their arms must be giv- en up, and they must remain on the other side of the riv- er, until the American Government sent^ them away west of the Mississippi. Gen. Gaines who had heard that Gen. Scott had been appointed to the command in Florida, now resigned that authority to Gen. Clarke, and on the 11th, the troops ar- rived at fort Drano. It hardly need be observed that th& treating with the Indians ended in nothing. Gen. Scott having assumed the command, arrived at Fort Drane o» the 13th March, 18S6. He had previously to contend with heavy rains and almost impracticable roads, and wa» encumbered with a heavy baggage train ; his whole force amounted to nearly 6,000 men. This he divided into a centre and two wings, so as to scour the whole country, and force the Indians from their retreat; but in vain. The Indians being on the flanks of each division, occa- sional skirmishes took place ; but when the troops arrived to where^ the Indians were supposed to be, not a man wa» to be seen^ nor could they discover the retreat of their families. Occasionally the Indians attacked the outposts with great vigor, anci were bravely repulsed ; but the whole army of 5,000 men did" not kill and capture more than twenty Indians. The swamps extended over a great surface of ground, here and there was an Island on which the Indians could remain, while to attack them the troops \vould have to wade up to their necks for miles, and as soon as they arrived, the Indians were gone. if- ^ '■ IK9IAN WARS. 301 The whole of the coutest with the Florida Indians has been nothing more than a sort of petty partizan warfare, a detail of the particulars of which would be of little in- terest to the reader. Frequent skirmishes took place be- tween the hostile parties, without gaining much advantage on either side, or doing any thing which tended in the least to bring the war to a close* Gen. Scott resigned the command, and was succeeded by Gen. Jesup, of whom much was expected by a vigorous prosecution of the war ; but he met with as little success as his predecessors. Finding there was nothing to be gained but disgrace by open and honorable warfare, a plan was adopted to effect the purposes of the government by a new system ; which was to get into their power the principal chiefs of the Seminoles by stratagem. These chiefs had always shown a readiness to meet their opponents and agree to bury the balchet, provided they sliould be suffered to remain un- molested on the lands reserved to them by treaty, and be protected in their rights, as had been agreed upon by the government. Osceola was known to be a brave and sagacious war- rior, and was at this time the principal chief. He was viewed as the great master spirit and director of all the hoiStile bands of Seminole warriors. It was deemed, there- fore, a great achievement by the American general to get him into his power. Gen. Jesup found meansto communi- cate to the Indians that it was his wish to have the chiefs come in and hold a talk, in order to come to some agree- ment. White flags were disjjiayed on the fort. On the 30th of October, 1837, Osceola, accompanied by other chiefs, and a few warriors, came in agreeably to the in- vitation ; he carrying a white flag in his hand, and relying on the honor of the commanding general, put himself in his power ; but instead of being received as was expected, they were immediately surrounded by bayonets, made prisoners, and confined in the Fort. Whether Gen. Jes- up was alone accountable for this act of ireacliery, or whether he acted under orders from the President, is not known ; but the government having afterwards approved of the measure, it became their own act. Osceola was kepi there a prisoner for some time, when 802 INIIAN WARS. he {was, by order of the government, convayed under a strong guard, to Sullivan Island in the harbor of Charls- ton, S. C. and confined in the fort. His proud, indepen- dent spirit could not bear the confinement, and he gradu- ally pined away and died in prison. Thus fell another brave Indian chieftain, though not in fair fight, but in a manner that will ever be a stigma upon our national honor. Other chiefs were kidnapped in the same treacherous manner ; but severe as the loss must have been to the In- dians, it did not appear to discourage them. The war was still carried on by those who were left, and indeed it still continued ; for the ranks of the Indians are said to be filled up by runaway slaves, and some of the Creek In- dians who had not yet quitted Georgia. On the 24th of December, 1837, a severe battle was fought between the Indians sAid the American troops, at a spot between Pease Creek and the Big Cypress Swamps. On this oc- casion the Americans lost Cols. Thompson and Gunty, with twenty eight killed, and one hundred and eleven wounded. In all ages and with all nations, civilized or uncivilized, the ilag of truce has always been regarded as an emblem of peace, and a violation of it ought to be held in detesta- tion by every friend of humanity. It often has the effect of staying the hand of slaughter, and preventing the shed- ding of much blood, by giving time for the passions to cool, and for reason to assert its empire. The Indians in their most savage state, have had their tokens, by which it has always been understood that hostilities were to cease for the time, that negotiation might commence. When the pipe of peace has been held out it has always been respected. Even the wild Arab never violates his pledge of friendship, when he eats the bread and salt with the stranger, though he should be his enemy. The white flag has been adopted by all Christian nations as an emblem of peace, and the Indians have been taught that it must be held sacred as such, and never to be violated ; and it is to b.j lamented that a nation who profess to be Christians, should be the first to set the example of de- parting from a usage of so much importance, for the pur- m INDIAN WAltl. S03 pose of effecting by deception what they were unable to do by open and honorable warfare. It has been thought that every invention that ingenuity could contrive had- been used for the purpose of destroy- ing the poor Indians; but it seems that a new plan has been adopted, which puts humanity to the blush, and leaves all other means heretofore adopted far in the back ground. Agents have been sent to Havana, to purchase a large number of blood hounds; these have been brought over at a great expense, and trained to track and hunt down the Indians. Fortunately, however, for the cause of humanity, the experiment has proved to be an entire failure. The Spaniards made use of these animals in their conquests of the Indians in South America; and it is said that they are now employed by them in iheir West India Islands to huit for run-away slaves, who secret themselves in the mountains ; but it is believed no one ever before thought it possible, that siich a barba- rous and inhuman practice would ever have been intro- duced into this country. The war in Florida having been continued for so great a length of time, and been conducted with such a variety of defeats and successes, with the many negociations that have taken place, and agreements entered into, which were declared to have put an end to all further difficulties, that the subject has created very little interest in the pub- lic mind ; but has been treated rather as a matter for ridicule than as requiring any serious consideration. For the last two years occasional accounts have been publish- ed in the papers, of Indian murders, with now and then a skirmish, in which two or three Indians have been kil- led, and a few squaws and papooses taken prisoners ; but nothing has been done that in the least has changed the situation of affairs. The war has been pat an end to so many times, that the phrase " Florida war ended," has become a standing joke. Yet it is a matter of the most serious nature, and our government Is bound in honor, aud for the cause of humanity, to take some decisive steps to do justice to th& Indians and bring, about a speedy and honorable termination of all difficulties. In preparing this chapter for the press we have en- 90i INBUn VTARt deavored to make it as eorrect as the materials would admit, and have saught for information from every source attainable; but these have been very limited and imper- fect. Yet we have the vanity to believe that our state- ments are in the main correct, and that they will be read with some degree of interest by the public. The fol- lowing extract from the writings of the Genevese Trav- eller, on the Florida war, will be the conclusion of our work. '* The war was 'unrighteous in its commencement, and has been continued for years under circumstances the most profligate. There has not been a single campaign in which the army has not reaped a plentiful harvest of mortification and disgrace. When brought into action both officers and men fought valiantly, but the character of the country, its deep morasses and swamps, and the ignorance of the troops of Indian warfare, having uniform- ly tended to produce the most disastrous defeats. " There is not to be found on the page of history, in any country, an instance of a scattered remnant of a tribe, so few in number, defending themselves against the as- saults of a disciplined and numerous army, with the same heroism and triumphant results, with those of the Seminoles in resisting the American troops. In every campaign the invaders have been at least ten to one a- gainst the invaded. At no period have the Indians been able to muster more than 600 or 800 warriors, and it is doubtful whether they have ever had more than half that number, while the American army, when in the field, has uniformly amounted to from 6,000 to 10,000 men." fe i ^j.-'>- ■»T!!f:VM./ ■tf«/;y. ■.*^.: :SSV,. .:,>,.'■■.■ ■m^) "h^ -^i^ •■■5c. r .■ ■ ." 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