Anecdotes of the American Indians, illustrating their eccentricities of character — John Shaqi
Anecdotes of the American Indians, illustrating their eccentricities of character
History
Anecdotes of the American Indians, illustrating their eccentricities of character
Indians of North America -- Anecdotes
(1696.) On one occasion, when Count Frontignac succeeded in capturing
a Mohawk fort, it was found deserted of all its inhabitants except a
sachem in extreme old age, who sat with the composure of an ancient
Roman in his capitol, and saluted his civilized compeer in age and
infirmity, with dignified courtesy and venerable address. Every hand
was instantly raised to wound and deface his time-stricken frame;
and while French and Indian knives were plunged into his body, he
recommended to his Indian enemies rather to burn him with fire, that
he might teach their French allies how to suffer like men. “Never,
perhaps,” says Charlevoix, “was a man treated with more cruelty; nor
ever did any endure it with superior magnanimity and resolution.”
OPECHANCANOUGH’S LAST WAR.
Opechancanough was by no means backward in taking advantage of the
repose afforded by the treaty of 1632. For the long period which
elapsed between its conclusion and his final effort, in 1644, he
was industriously occupied in making preparations for a renewal of
hostilities. An opportunity at length presented itself for executing
his long-cherished purpose. The colony was involved in intestine
dissensions. An insurrection had taken place in consequence of the
unpopularity of the governor, and at a moment when the people were
occupied with internal disorders and heedless of danger from without,
their great enemy struck a powerful and almost fatal blow.
He was now advanced to extreme old age, being supposed to have
numbered nearly a hundred years, but the powers of his mind were still
so vigorous, that he was the leading spirit of a confederacy embracing
all the Indian tribes distributed over a space of country six hundred
miles in extent. Unable to walk, he was borne in a litter to the scene
of action (April 18th, 1644,) and thus led his warriors to the attack.
Such was the skill with which his measures had been concerted that the
whole force of the Indians commenced their operations upon the entire
line of the frontier at the same instant of time, with the intention of
carrying a war of extermination down to the sea, and thus annihilating
the colony at a single blow. In two days, five hundred persons had
fallen in the massacre. Of course, every operation of industry was
instantly abandoned, and all who were able to bear arms were embodied
to oppose so terrible an invasion. Governor Berkeley, at the head of a
chosen force, consisting of every twentieth man in the colony, marched
into the enemy’s country, and thus gave him the first check. Of the
details of the campaign, in consequence of the confusion and distress
prevailing at the time, no details are furnished by the contemporary
historians. Beverly’s account, the only one which survived the ravages
of the time, is meagre and unsatisfactory. One result of the war,
however, is sufficiently well attested, since it terminated the horrors
of the season. This was the capture of the aged Opechancanough, who
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