Life of Joseph Brant—Thayendanegea (Vol. II): 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 1795Stone, William L. (William Leete)
History
Life of Joseph Brant—Thayendanegea (Vol. II): 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
Stone, William L. (William Leete)
Brant, Joseph, 1742-1807; Indians of North America -- Wars -- 1750-1815; Mohawk Indians -- Kings and rulers -- Biography
travel different war-paths; the younger a prisoner to the elder. The
latter had no sooner recognized his brother after the _melée_, than his
eyes kindled with that fierce and peculiar lustre which lights up the
burning eyes of a savage when meditating vengeance. Approaching him
haughtily, he spoke as follows:--
* * * * *
[FN] At or near a place now called Henderon's Flatta, Vide Life of Mary
Jemison and letter of John Salmon.
"Brother! You have merited death! The hatchet or the war-club shall
finish your career! When I begged of you to follow me in the fortunes of
war, you were deaf to my cries: you spurned my entreaties!
"Brother! You have merited death, and shall have your deserts! When the
rebels raised their hatchets to fight their good master, you sharpened
your knife, you brightened your rifle, and led on our foes to the fields
of our fathers!
"Brother! You have merited death, and shall die by our hands! When those
rebels had driven us from the fields of our fathers to seek out new
houses, it was you who could dare to step forth as their pilot, and
conduct them even to the doors of our wigwams, to butcher our children
and put us to death! No crime can be greater! But though you have merited
death, and shall die on this spot, my hands shall not be stained with the
blood of a brother!--_Who will strike?_"
A pause of but a moment ensued. The bright hatchet of Little Beard, the
sachem of the village, flashed in the air like the lightning, and the
young Oneida chief was dead at his feet. [FN] The other captive, who was
also an Oneida sachem, was then informed by Little Beard that he was
warring only against the whites, and that his life should be spared;
adding, farther, that at a suitable time he should be restored to liberty.
Distrusting the good faith of the chief, however, the captive watched an
opportunity for escape, and very shortly afterward accomplished his
purpose--but in a manner which produced another tragic catastrophe, as
will presently appear.
* * * * *
[FN] This was truly a shocking transaction, but not _so_ shocking as
that of the horrible fratricide before recorded at Wyoming, nor so
shocking as the attempt of the brother of Colonel Frey at Oriskany. The
Indian had far the most humanity, and far the highest sense of honor and
duty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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