



Produced by Roger Burch with scans from the Internet Archive.




[ILLUSTRATION: Cover]




{Transcriber's Note: Quotation marks have been standardized to modern
usage. Footnotes have been placed to immediately follow the paragraphs
referencing them.}




                          LIFE OF BRANDT




                              Life
                               of

                   JOSEPH BRANT--THAYENDANEGEA:
                            INCLUDING
                          THE BORDER WARS
                              OF THE
                      AMERICAN REVOLUTION,
                                AND
             SKETCHES OF THE INDIAN CAMPAIGNS OF GENERALS
                    HARMAR, ST. CLAIR, AND WAYNE.
                         AND OTHER MATTERS
      CONNECTED WITH THE INDIAN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES
             AND GREAT BRITAIN FROM THE PEACE OF 1783 TO
                     THE INDIAN PEACE OF 1795.


                        BY WILLIAM L. STONE.


                          IN TWO VOLUMES.
                              VOL. I.


                             NEW-YORK:
                 ALEXANDER V. BLAKE, 38 GOLD STREET.
                               1838.




 [Entered according to Act of Congress of the United States of America
  in the year 1838, by George Dearborn & co., in the Clerk's Office of
  the District Court for the Southern District of New-York.]


                               New-York:
                    Printed by Scatcherd & Adams.
                         No. 38 Gold Street.




                           TO THE HONORABLE

                        STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER,

                              OF ALBANY,

These volumes are most respectfully inscribed. If the efforts of the
writer to illustrate more fully and minutely than has hitherto been done,
the most interesting portion of American history, in its immediate
connection with the large and populous State of which The Patroon has
so long been one of the most distinguished citizens, shall be so
fortunate as to merit the regard, and receive the approbation, of one
so excellently qualified to judge of its interest and value, there will
be nothing left unsatisfied to the ambition and the hopes of

                                          His friend and servant,
                                                          THE AUTHOR.




                          CONTENTS.

                          * * * * *

                          CHAPTER I.

 Birth and parentage--Discussion of the doubts cast upon his origin--Visit
  of Mohawk chiefs to Queen Anne--Evidence of Brant's descent from one
  of those--Digression from the main subject, and Extracts from the
  private and official journals of Sir William Johnson--Connexion between
  Sir William and the family of Brant--Incidental references to the old
  French war--Illustrations of Indian proceedings, speeches, &c.--Brant's
  parentage satisfactorily established--Takes the field in the Campaign
  of Lake George (1765.)--Is engaged at the conquest of Niagara
  (1759.)--Efforts of Sir William Johnson to civilize the Indians--Brant
  is sent, with other Indian youths, to the Moor Charity School, at
  Lebanon--Leaves school--Anecdote--Is engaged on public business by Sir
  William--As an Interpreter for the Missionaries--Again takes the field,
  in the wars against Pontiac--Intended massacre at Detroit--Ultimate
  overthrow of Pontiac--First marriage of Brant--Entertains the
  Missionaries--Again employed on public business--Death of his
  wife--Engages with Mr. Stewart in translating the Scriptures--Marries
  again--Has serious religious impressions--Selects a bosom friend and
  confidant, after the Indian custom--Death of his friend--His grief, and
  refusal to choose another friend.
                                                                 Page 1

                          CHAPTER II.

 Early symptoms of disaffection at Boston--Origin of the Revolutionary
  War--First blood shed in 1770--Stirring eloquence of Joseph
  Warren--Feelings of Sir William Johnson--His influence with the Indians
  and Germans, and his unpleasant position--Last visit of Sir William to
  England--His death--Mysterious circumstances attending it--Suspicions
  of suicide unjust--His son, Sir John Johnson, succeeds to his title and
  estates--His son-in-law, Col. Guy Johnson, to his office as
  superintendent General of the Indians--Early life of Sir John--Joseph
  Brant appointed Secretary to Guy Johnson--Influence of the Johnson
  family--Revolutionary symptoms in  County, fomented by the
  proceedings in New England--First meeting of Tryon County
  Whigs--Declaration of Rights--First meeting of Congress--Effect of its
  proceedings--in England--Tardiness of Provincial legislature of
  New-York--Spirit of the people--Notes of preparation in Massachusetts,
  &c.--Overt acts of rebellion in several States--Indians exasperated by
  the Virginia borderers in 1774--Melancholy story of Logan--Campaign
  of Lord Dunmore and Colonel Lewis--Battle of the Kanhawa--Speech of
  Logan--Its authenticity questioned--Peace of Chilicothe--Unhappy feeling
  of the Indians.
                                                                       29

                          CHAPTER III.

 Unyielding course of the parent Government--Efforts of the Earl of Chatham
  unavailing--Address to the Crown from New-York--Leslie's Expedition to
  Salem--Affair of Lexington--Unwise movements of Tryon County
  loyalists--Reaction--Public meetings--The Sammons family--Interference
  of the Johnsons--Quarrel at Caughnawaga--Spirited indications at Cherry
  Valley--Counteracting efforts of the Johnsons among their
  retainers--Intrigues with the Indians--Massachusetts attempts the
  same--Correspondence with the Stockbridge Indians--Letter to Mr.
  Kirkland--His removal by Guy Johnson--Neutrality of the
  Oneidas--Intercepted despatch from Brant to the Oneidas--Apprehensions
  of Guy Johnson--Correspondence--Farther precautions of the
  Committees--Reverence for the Laws--Letter of Guy Johnson to the
  Committees of Albany and Schenectady--Substance of the reply.
                                                                       49

                            CHAPTER IV.

 Council of the Mohawk chiefs at Guy Park--A second council called by
  Johnson at Cosby's Manor--Proceeds thither with his retinue--First full
  meeting of Tryon County Committee--Correspondence with Guy Johnson--No
  council held--Johnson proceeds farther West, accompanied by his family
  and most of the Indians--Consequent apprehensions of the
  people--Communication from Massachusetts Congress--Ticonderoga and Crown
  Point taken by Ethan Allen--Skenesborough and St. Johns
  surprised--Farther proceedings in Massachusetts--Battle of Bunker
  Hill--Death of Warren--Council with the Oneidas and Tuscaroras at German
  Flats--Speech to the Indians--Subsequent council with the
  Oneidas--Conduct of the people toward Guy Johnson--Speech to, and reply
  of Oneidas--Guy Johnson moves westwardly to Ontario--His letter to the
  Provincial Congress of New-York--Holds a great Indian council at the
  West--Unfavourable influence upon the dispositions of the
  Indians--Causes of their partiality for the English--Great, but
  groundless alarm of the people--Guy Johnson, with Brant and the Indian
  warriors, descends the St. Lawrence to Montreal--Council there--Sir Guy
  Carleton and Gen. Haldimand complete the work of winning the Indians
  over to the cause of the Crown.
                                                                  Page 71

                          CHAPTER V.

 Meeting of the second Continental Congress--Measures of
  defence--Declaration--National fast--Organization of an Indian
  department--Address to the Six Nations--Council called at
  Albany--Preliminary consultation at German Flats--Speeches of the
  Oneidas and others--Adjourn to Albany--Brief interview with the
  commissioners--Conference and interchange of speeches with the
  Albanians--Proceedings of the grand council--Speeches of the
  commissioners--Replies of the Indians--Conclusion of the grand
  council--Resumption of the conference with the Albanians--Speech of
  the Albany Committee--Reply of the Indians--Disclosures of Guy Johnson's
  proceedings at Oswego--Close of the proceedings--Epidemic among the
  Indians--Small benefit resulting from the council--Proceedings in Tryon
  County resumed--Doubtful position of New-York--Symptoms of disaffection
  to the cause of the people--Sir John Johnson--Sheriff White deposed by
  the people--The royal authorities superseded by appointments from the
  people--Affray at Johnstown--First gun fired at Sampson Sammons--White
  recommissioned by Tryon--His flight--Labors of the Committee--Opposition
  of the Tories--Designs of Sir John Johnson and Sir Guy Carleton--Letter
  and deputation to Sir John--Prisoners for political offences sent to
  gaol--Letter from Provincial Congress--Mohawks commence fighting at St.
  Johns--Speech of the Canajoharies in explanation--Indians apply for
  release of prisoners--Review of the progress of the Revolution in other
  parts of the Colonies--Proceedings of Parliament--Burning of
  Falmouth--Descent upon Canada--Ethan Allen taken--Arnold's
  expedition--Siege of Quebec--Fall of Montgomery--Caughnawaga and
  Delaware Indians.
                                                                       91

                          CHAPTER VI.

 Lord Dunmore--Glance at the South--Suspicious conduct of Sir John
 Johnson--Conduct of the Tories in Tryon County--Gen. Schuyler directed
 by Congress to march into that County and disarm the Tories--Preliminary
 mission to the Lower Mohawks--Message to them--Their displeasure and
 reply--March of Schuyler--Meets the Indians at Schenectady--Interview and
 speeches--Advance of Schuyler--Letter to Sir John
 Johnson--Interview--Negotiations of capitulation--Terms proposed--Schuyler
 advances to Caughnawaga--Joined by Tryon County Militia--Farther
 correspondence with Sir John--Interview with the Indian mediators--Terms
 of surrender adjusted--Schuyler marches to Johnstown--Sir John, his
 household, and the Highlanders, disarmed--Troops scour the country to
 bring in the loyalists--Disappointment as to the supposed Tory Depot of
 warlike munitions--Return of Schuyler to Albany--Resolution of
 Congress--Additional trouble with Sir John--Preparations for his
 seizure--Expedition of Col. Dayton--Flight of the Baronet and his
 partisans to Canada--Their sufferings--And subsequent conduct--How the
 violation of his parole was considered.
                                                                      119

                          CHAPTER VII.

 History of Brant resumed--Advanced to the chieftaincy of the
  Confederacy--Mode of appointing chiefs and sachems--Embarks for
  England--Arrives in London--Received with marked consideration--Becomes
  acquainted with James Boswell and others--Agrees to espouse the Royal
  cause, and returns to America--Steals through the country to
  Canada--Curious supposed letter to President Wheelock--Battle of the
  Cedars--Cowardice of Major Butterfield--Outrages of the Indians--Story
  of Capt. McKinstry, who was saved from the stake by Brant--Indignation
  of Washington, the people, and Congress--Resolutions of
  retaliation--Mutual complaints of treatment of prisoners--Murder of
  Gen. Gordon--Indignation at the outrage--Indian deputation at
  Philadelphia--Speech to them--Congress resolves upon the employment
  of an Indian force--Schuyler opposed--Review of the incidents of the
  war elsewhere--Destitution of the Army--Evacuation of Boston by the
  English--Disastrous termination of the Canadian campaign--Deplorable
  condition of the army--Humanity of Sir Guy Carleton--Glance at the
  South--Declaration of Independence--Spirit of Tryon County--Cherry
  Valley--Fortifications at Fort Stanwix--American army moves to
  New-York--Arrival of the British fleet and army--Battle of
  Long-Island--Washington evacuates New-York--Battle of White
  Plains--Retreats across New-Jersey--Followed by Cornwallis--Defeat of
  Arnold on Lake Champlain--Fall of Rhode Island--Battle of Trenton.
                                                                 Page 147

                          CHAPTER VIII.

 Continuation of movements in New Jersey--Extinguishment of the
 council-fire at Onondaga--Tryon County--Colonel Harper's mission to
 Oghkwaga--The Harper family--Adventure at the Johnstone
 settlement--Capture of Good Peter and his party--Thayendanegea crosses
 from Canada to Oghkwaga--Interview with the Rev. Mr. Johnstone--Doubtful
 course of Brant--Feverish situation of the people--Expedition of General
 Herkimer to Unadilla--Remarkable meeting between Herkimer and
 Brant--Meditated act of treachery--Wariness of the chief--Meeting
 abruptly terminated--Ended in a storm--Brant draws off to Oswego--Grand
 council there--The Indians generally join the Royal standard--Approach
 of Brant upon Cherry Valley--How defeated--Death of Lieutenant Wormwood.
                                                                      175

                          CHAPTER IX.

 British preparations for the prosecution of the war--Indications at the
  North--Doubtful position and conduct of General Howe--Embarrassing to
  the Americans--Intercepted correspondence--General Howe sails to the
  Chesapeake--Enters Philadelphia in triumph--Burgoyne approaches from
  the North--Indian policy--Sir Guy Carleton--False estimates of the
  strength of Ticonderoga--Burgoyne arrives at Crown Point--Feasts the
  Indians--Invests Ticonderoga--Carries the outworks--Fortifies Sugar
  Hill--The fortress evacuated by St. Clair--Retreat of the
  Americans--Battles near Skenesborough and at Fort Ann--Burgoyne enters
  the valley of the Hudson--Schuyler, without means, retreats from Fort
  Edward--Terror of the people--Cruelties of the Indians--Story of Miss
  McCrea--General flight of the population--Mrs. Ann Eliza
  Bleecker--Heroism of Mrs. Schuyler--Attempted assassination of General
  Schuyler.
                                                                      195

                          CHAPTER X.

 Expedition against the Mohawk Valley from Oswego--Despondency of the
  people in Tryon County--Letter of John Jay--Arrest of several of the
  disaffected--Flight of others to Canada--Schuyler's complaints of the
  cowardice of the people--Great discouragements--Proclamation of General
  Herkimer--Letter from Thomas Spencer--St. Leger's approach--Caution and
  plan of his march--Diary of Lieut. Bird--Fort Stanwix invested--Colonel
  Gansevoort takes command--Its deplorable condition--Gansevoort joined
  by Willett--Story of Captain Gregg--Situation of the garrison--Arrival
  of St. Leger--His proclamation--Burgoyne's affairs becoming
  critical--Affair of Bennington--General Herkimer, with the Tryon County
  militia, advances to the relief of Gansevoort--Battle of Oriskany--Bloody
  upon both sides--Unexampled bravery of Captain Gardenier--Major
  Watts--Dissatisfaction of the Indians--Sortie and success of Colonel
  Willett--Death and character of General Herkimer.
                                                                      209

                          CHAPTER XI.

 Siege of Fort Schuyler continued--Forced letter from prisoners to Col.
  Gansevoort--St. Leger summons the garrison to surrender--Refusal of
  Gansevoort--Appeal of Sir John Johnson to the people of Tryon
  County--Secret expedition of Colonel Willett and Major
  Stockwell--Schuyler orders Arnold to the relief of Gansevoort--Willett
  proceeds to Albany--Arrest of Walter Butler, and others, at German
  Flats--Tried and convicted as a spy--Reprieved--Sent to
  Albany--Escapes--Arnold's proclamation--Advance of the
  besiegers--Uneasiness of the garrison--Sudden flight of St. Leger and
  his forces--Stratagem of Arnold--Story of Hon-Yost Schuyler--Merriment
  and mischief of the Indians--Arrival of Arnold at the Fort--The spoils
  of victory--Public estimation of Gansevoort's services--Address to his
  soldiers--His promotion--Address of his officers.
                                                                 Page 249

                          CHAPTER XII.

 Recurrence to the invasion of Burgoyne--General Schuyler again superseded
  by Gates--Causes of this injustice--Battle of Stillwater--Both armies
  entrench--Battle and victory of Behmus's Heights--Funeral of General
  Frazer--Retreat of Burgoyne--Difficulties increasing upon him--His
  capitulation--Meeting of Burgoyne and Gates--Deportment of Gates toward
  Gen. Washington--Noble conduct of Gen. Schuyler.
                                                                      265

                          CHAPTER XIII.

 Sir Henry Clinton's attempt to co-operate with Burgoyne--Storming of Forts
  Clinton and Montgomery--Burning of AEsopus--Review of military operations
  elsewhere--Expedition to Peekskill--Of Gov. Tryon to Danbury--Progress
  of Sir William Howe in Pennsylvania--Battle of Brandywine--Massacre of
  the Paoli--Battle of Germantown--Death of Count Donop--Murder of Captain
  Deitz and family at Berne--John Taylor--Lady Johnson ordered to leave
  Albany--Exasperation of Sir John--Attempts to abduct Mr. Taylor--An
  Indian and white man bribed to assassinate General Schuyler--Fresh
  alarms in Tryon County--Address of Congress to the Six Nations--The
  appeal produces no effect--Articles of confederation--Close of the year.
                                                                      280

                          CHAPTER XIV.

 Treaty of alliance with France--Policy of France--Incidents of the
  Winter--Projected expedition against St Johns--Lafayette appointed to
  the command of the North--Failure of the enterprise for lack of
  means--Disappointment and chagrin of Lafayette--Unpleasant indications
  respecting the