Suspected duplicity of the British authorities—Conduct of Simon Girty—Disclosures upon the subject by Captain Brant—Council at Buffalo, and Indian report of the doings of the Great Congress—Speech of Captain Brant respecting the Miami council—Mission of General Chapin to Philadelphia, with the speech—Answer unsatisfactory to the Indians—Red Jacket—Indian council—Speech of Captain Brant in reply to the answer of the United States—Troubles thickening between the United States and Great Britain—Inflammatory speech of Lord Dorchester—Question of its authenticity settled—Conduct of Governor Simcoe—Indignation of President Washington—His letter to Mr. Jay—Speech of Captain Brant against holding a council at Venango—The design frustrated—Affairs farther in the West—Singular message from the distant Indians under the Spanish and French influence—Their speech—Operations of General Wayne—Encroachments of Pennsylvania upon the Indian lands—Indian council upon the subject—Address to General Washington—Important letter of Brant to Colonel Smith—Pennsylvania relinquishes Presque Isle—Defeat of Major McMahon near Fort Recovery—Indians repulsed in their attack upon the fort—Letter to Brant giving an account of the battle—Advance of Wayne to the Au Glaize and Miamis of the Lakes—Little Turtle apprised of his movements and strength by a deserter—The Chief determines to give battle—Wayne makes one more effort for peace—Failure of the attempt—Advance of Wayne to the Rapids—Position of the Indians—Battle and defeat of the Indians—Little Turtle opposed to the hazard of a battle—Opposed by Blue-Jacket and overruled—Tart correspondence between Wayne and Major Campbell—Destruction of Indian property by fire, and burning of Colonel McKee's establishment—Disappointment of the Indians that Major Campbell did not assist them—Letter of Governor Simcoe to Brant—Aggression at Sodus Bay—Simcoe and Brant repair to the West—Interfere to prevent a peace—Indian council—The hostiles negotiate with Wayne—Simcoe's address to the Wyandots—Division in their counsels—Brant retires displeased—Letter of apology from the Chiefs—The distant Indians become weary of the war.
Page 357
[CHAPTER XIII.]
Thayendanegea in civil life—His activity—His efforts to accelerate the civilization of his people—Difficulties respecting the title to his lands—Successive Councils and Speeches—Governor Simcoe leaves the province—Captain Claus appointed to the Indian Agency—President Russell—Brant's Speeches asserting the absolute Independence and Nationality of his people—Letter to Sir John Johnson—Correspondence with Lord Dorchester—The Count de Puisy—Letter of Brant to Thomas Morris—Sharp correspondence with Sir John Johnson—The St. Regis and Caughnawaga Indians, and the State of New-York involved in the land controversy—Brant's difficulties with the Caughnawagas—Letter to Thomas Morris—Brant's visit to the Caughnawagas—Council—Satisfactory explanations—Fresh difficulties at home—Norton's Mission to England—Plots against the character of Brant—Alienation of some of his friends—Conspiracy to depose him—Red Jacket and Farmer's Brother active in the plot—Character of Red Jacket—Brant deposed by an illegal Council—Letter to the Duke of Northumberland—A legal Council convoked—Brant meets his accusers, and defends himself—Another Council—Speech of Brant—Acquitted of all charges against him—Council after the return of Norton from England—Proceedings of Red Jacket's Council nullified—Brant re-instated—Letter to the Duke of Northumberland—Letter of the Duke in reply—Last letter of Brant to the Duke.
396
[CHAPTER XIV.]
Exertions of Thayendanegea for the moral and social improvement of his people—His religions views—Efforts for the religious instruction of his people—Letter to Sir John Johnson upon the subject of obtaining a resident clergyman—Farther correspondence—Interview of Brant with the Bishop—Disappointment—Letter to the Chief Justice—Appeal of Brant to the Lord Bishop, but without success—Application to the American church—Letter to Colonel Burr—Succeeds in obtaining the ordination of Mr. Phelps—Estimate of Brant's character by the clergy—Letter of Rev. Dr. Mason—Rev. Elkanah Holmes—Letter of Brant to the Rev. Dr. Miller—Ardent spirits—Efforts of Brant to prevent their introduction—Letter to Sir John Johnson—Interposition of the women—Address of Brant in reply—Indian games and pastimes—National game of Cricket—Great game at Grand River, between the Senecas and Mohawks—Judge Woodruff's visit to Brant's residence—Description of his person—Indian funerals—Respect for the dead—Estimate of women—Their influence—Funeral speech of Seneca-George—Death of Mrs. Claus—Speech of condolence by Captain Brant—Captain Claus in reply—Brant's visit to New-York, Philadelphia, and Hartford, in 1797—Attentions to him in Philadelphia—Dinner party of Colonel Burr—Talleyrand and other distinguished guests—Letter of introduction from Colonel Burr to his daughter—Dinner party in his honor by Miss Theodosia—His manners described by Dr. Miller and by General Porter—Designs upon his life in the Mohawk country—The late John Wells—Striking incident in Albany—Anecdotes—Brant and General Gansevoort—Brant and Colonel Van Courtlandt—Reasons of Brant for taking up arms for the King—His reasonings in defence of the Indian mode of warfare.
Page 430
[CHAPTER XV.]
Domestic relations of Brant—Account of his family—Bad character of his eldest son—His death by the hand of his father—Condolence of the Chiefs—Grief of the father at the event—Anxiety for the education of his sons—Proposed memorial to the Duke of Portland—Letter of Brant to Colonel Smith—Correspondence with the Wheelock Family—Letter from Brant to James Wheelock—Two of his sons sent to Dartmouth—Various letters from and to the Wheelocks—Correspondence upon other subjects—Reply to the questions, whether the Indians have beards—Letter from Bishop Peters—Views or Brant on imprisonment for debt—Tumuli—Opinion of Brant touching their origin—Indian tradition of white settlements cut off in a single night—Investigations of Samuel Woodruff—Brant's inquiries in Paris—The discoveries of the Northmen—Review of the life and character of Brant—His death.