[FN-2] Letter from Washington to Count de Rochambeau.
[FN-3] Idem.
"The King of France, your father, has not forgotten his children. As a token of remembrance, I have presented gifts to your deputies in his name. He learned with concern, that many nations, deceived by the English, who were his enemies, had attacked and lifted up the hatchet against his good and faithful allies, the United States. He has desired me to tell you, that he is a firm and faithful friend to all the friends of America, and a decided enemy to all its foes. He hopes that all his children, whom he loves sincerely, will take part with their father in this war against the English."
The Caughnawagas being more conversant with the French than, with the English language, the address was written in both languages, and signed and sealed in due form. [FN] It is doubtful, however, whether either good or ill came from the movement. The Oneidas and Tuscaroras were already sufficiently true in their alliance with the Americans. The Caughnawagas had made friendly advances to the Americans before, which resulted in nothing. And as for the other and greater divisions of the Six Nations, their hostility, it will soon be perceived, was not abated.
[FN] Note in the Life and Correspondence of Washington by Sparks, and also a letter from the Count de Rochambeau, cited by him.
But even yet the desire of vengeance, on the part of the savages, had not been satisfied. Smarting from the devastations of Sullivan's expedition, neither the irruption of Sir John Johnson to Johnstown and Caughnawaga, nor the invasion and destruction of Canajoharie by Thayendanegea, was deemed by them a sufficient retaliatory visitation. Another and yet more extensive expedition, both as to the numbers to be engaged, and the object to be accomplished, was therefore planned and carried into execution, under the auspices of Sir John Johnson, Joseph Brant, and the famous Seneca warrior, the Corn-Planter. [FN-1] This latter chief was a half-breed, his father being a white man, living in the Mohawk country, named John O'Bail. [FN-2]
[FN-1] This is the first time that the name of this chief, afterward celebrated in our Indian annals, occurs in the history of the revolution, although he was in the field with his tribe against General Sullivan. There is some doubt as to the orthography of his parental name. It has been written Abeel, O'Beal, and O'Bail. The latter is the name according to Mary Jemison. He was, for a considerable period, the rival of the eloquent Keeper-Awake, Red Jacket, by whom his influence was ultimately destroyed and himself supplanted.
[FN-2] Mary Jemison.