His Excellency being informed, that the Leader of this Party was desirous to be distinguished by his Excellency's giving him a new Name, and that a Name, which in the Language of the Six Nations signified the Path-opener, would be most acceptable to him; his Excellency honour'd him with that Title; which he accepted very thankfully, and seem'd exceedingly pleased with it: Whereupon he said, that the other two Indians having associated with a Mehikander, or River Indian, were resolved to go out against the Enemy: But as he thought he might be more useful by staying, to assist at the ensuing Treaty, he was resolved to remain here. He added, that in case the Interpreter, and others sent to invite the Six Nations to meet here, fail'd in any Part, he would go among the Six Nations, and doubted not to bring many by his Influence, who otherwise might stay.
In a Day or two after, six of seven Indians, who had been sent out by the Commissioners for Indian Affairs to Crown-Point, to take Prisoners, and gain Intelligence, returned and said, That they had gone to that Place, and that in sight of it they had separated, with, Design thereby to surprize any Stragler that might have come out of the Fort: That while they were thus separated, two of their Number were suddenly surrounded and taken by the Enemy: One of these two, after having been detained three or four Days, join'd the others at Saraghtoga. He said, that he had been threatened with death by the Adirondacks[9]; but that the Cahnuagas[10] interpos'd, and by their Intercession he was set at Liberty; and some of the Cahnuagas conducted him through Lac Sacrement. He reported, that there was a great Number of Men, French and Indians, at Crown-Point. The other Prisoner, an Onondaga, consented to remain with the French, and was sent to Canada.
Soon after this, sixteen Mohawk Indians came to the Town, who had been sent out from the lower Mohawk Castle by Mr. Johnson, to gain Intelligence near Crown-Point, and to take Prisoners. They reported that they had discovered so great a Number of French and Indians at Crown-Point, that they had no Hopes of being able to bring off any Prisoners, and thought it adviseable to return speedily and inform of the great Danger they thought this Place was in. His Excellency invited them to go thither again, in order to descry the Motions of the Enemy: And as a farther Encouragement to them, to either Scalp or take Prisoners, he offered every Person of said Party that should take a Scalp or Prisoner, a Piece of Stroud, and a Suit of laced Clothes, besides the Bounty; but they, being frightened with the Apprehensions of Danger, declined going back, and said, they must return Home and acquaint their Friends and Relations with what they had heard and seen. Several other Indians likewise alarmed the Mohawks, by telling them that the French had a great Force at Crown-Point, and that they would certainly attack either Albany or Schenectade, or the Settlements on the Mohawks River, or perhaps several Places at the same Time.
Mr. Johnson, and the commanding Officer of the Garrison of regular Troops in the Mohawks Country, by their Letters to his Excellency, confirm'd these Reports; and added, the Mohawks had entertain'd Apprehensions of the French Force at Crown-Point, which was like to have a bad Effect. On this his Excellency wrote to Mr. Johnson, that all these Stories of the French Force at Crown-Point were only Artifices of the French to intimidate the Indians, or to amuse them, with Design to frustrate the Treaty which he intended to have with them; and that he was to assure the Indians, that they could be in no Danger from the French: However, that they might see that he would omit nothing which they might think necessary for their Security, he had ordered a Lieutenant of Militia, with thirty Men, to reinforce the lower Castle, and had likewise ordered the Captain of Militia near the upper Castle, to assist the Indians there in fortifying their Castle, and to hold himself in Readiness to support them on any Emergency.
One John Colan, a Frenchman, who some Years since had removed from Canada, and settled and married at Schenectade, and who has since that Time lived in good Reputation there, was sent by Major Glen to inform his Excellency, that one Aaron, a noted Mohawk Sachem, who with several others of the Six Nations, had been last Spring in Canada to treat with the Governor there, did then entertain two Cahnuaga Indians. This Man, John Colan, acquainted his Excellency, that having discovered the Cahnuaga Indians, he told them he was a Frenchman, and was desirous of returning to his own Country, on which they began presently to propose to him Methods for his Escape; at which Time, this Aaron coming near them, he express'd his Fears of being discovered by him. They answered, that he need not fear Aaron, for he was their Friend, and designed to go with them. As they proposed to him to escape privately by himself, and to meet them at a Place they named, he told them of his Fears, in that Case, of meeting with the French Indians while he was alone. They answered, that if he dress'd himself like an Indian, the French Indians would do him no Hurt, without first calling to him; upon which, if he stopp'd and call'd out Maria, the French Indians would be so far from hurting him, that they would immediately come up to him and take him by the Hand. From this, and several other Incidents, which it would be tedious to relate, his Excellency was convinced of some secret Understanding between the Six Nations and the Cahnuagas, or French Indians: And that, however any Party of our Indians might be induced to fall upon the French, they would not at that Time molest the French Indians, nor prevent the Mischiefs which the Inhabitants received from their sculking Parties.
For this Reason, his Excellency endeavoured to send out again the Company of Rangers, which had formerly been employed against the sculking Indians: But, as the Assembly had made no Provision for this Expence, they refused to go, unless he gave his personal Bond for their Pay, at three Shillings a Day for each private Man, besides their Provision; and would not be satisfied with the Promises that he, by the Advice of the Council, made them of recommending their Service to the General Assembly, and the Assurances he gave them of their being rewarded as they desired.
On their continuing obstinate, his Excellency was of Opinion, that no considerable Service could be expected from Men, who were moved by no other Principle but that of excessive Wages: And he had Reason afterwards to be confirmed in this Opinion, when Captain Langdon, and afterwards Captain Thebout, voluntarily went with their Companies of the new-levied Troops to scour the Woods, and took some of these Albany Men with them as Guides, who whenever they apprehended themselves in Danger, by the Discovery of recent Tracts, some one or other of them could not be kept from firing their Guns, or making some Noise, by which the French Indians, if any were near them, must know how to avoid them. Some Indians, who were likewise sent out in Company with these Men, complained in like Manner.
The publick Interpreter, whom the Governor (as before observed) had sent with others, to invite the Six Nations to meet him at Albany, wrote to the Commissioners for Indian Affairs, That they met with great Difficulties and Obstructions from the Sachems, who had been lately at Canada: That the Oneydoes refused to give any Answer, tho' they had staid there thirteen Days endeavouring to persuade them; and that the Cayugas had absolutely refused to meet the Governor. On which his Excellency desired to be informed by the Commissioners of Indian Affairs, whether they knew of any Person of Influence or Interest with the Indians, and fit to be sent among them on this Occasion. They answered, that they knew of none; and that the Indians were in a very bad Disposition, and much under the Influence of the French.
About this time his Excellency being informed, that the Interpreter, and others sent with him, had neglected to send proper Invitations to the Indians living on the Branches of Susquehannah River; and that Captain Vroman, of Scohary, was a proper Person to be sent to those Indians; he sent him, in Company with Captain Staats, with a Belt of Wampum to invite them.
While the Indian Affairs appear'd in this discouraging State, an Account came to Town, that about twenty young Chickesaws were come to the Senekas, to desire them to shew them the Way to Canada. The Chickesaws had always been Enemies to the French: A Party of about five hundred Men had, four Years before, been sent out against them from Canada, who were so entirely routed by the Chickesaws, that few returned. These young Chickesaws told the Senekas, that the French of Canada had, about four Years since, made them a Visit, and were so kind to leave them four hundred Guns, which were now wore out; and, since the French had not thought fit to bring them any more Guns, they were resolved to go to Canada to fetch new ones; and promised, that if the Senekas would shew them the Way, they would go Home and return with four hundred stout Fellows. Some other Indian Nations who lived to the Westward, discovering their Aversion to the French at the same Time, these Incidents assisted the Governor's Messengers in bringing more Indians to Albany than they expected, when they wrote to the Commissioners for Indian Affairs.