463
[CHAPTER XVI.]
Account of the family of Brant subsequent to his death—Catharine Brant—The line of descent among the Mohawks—John Brant, the youngest son, appointed to the Chieftainship—The war of 1812—General Van Rensselaer on the Niagara frontier—Preparations for a descent upon Queenston Heights—First attempt frustrated—Arrangement for a second movement—Arrival of Lieutenant-colonel Scott on the lines—His efforts to accompany the expedition—Landing of Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer and his party—Intrepidity of the attack—Van Rensselaer and others grievously wounded—Captain Wool carries the Heights—Advance of General Brock—His defeat and fall—Arrival of Lieutenant-colonel Scott upon the Heights—Attack of the Indians—General Sheaffe advances from Niagara with reinforcements—Battle—The Americans driven down the Heights—Attempts of Scott to capitulate—His flag-bearers shot down—Determines to bear a flag himself—A young Indian leaps upon him like a tiger—His rescue—Interview with General Sheaffe—Capitulation—March to Niagara—Remarkable interview between Scott and two Indians at Niagara, the younger of whom was John Brant—Base poltroonry of the militia—Battle of the Beaver-dams—Close of young Brant's military life—Removes to the Brant House with his sister—Account of the family by Lieutenant Hall—Visit of the British Consul to the Brant House—Controversy of John Brant with Archdeacon Strachan—He visits England respecting the ancient land-title controversy—Succeeds with the ministers—Disappointed by the Colonial Government—Correspondence with Campbell respecting the memory of his father—Attention to the moral wants of his people—Correspondence respecting the Mohawk schools—Presentation of a silver cup—His election to the Provincial Parliament—Seat contested—Death by cholera—His character—Farther notices of the family—Description of his sister, and of his successor—Death of Catharine Brant—Conclusion.
500
Life
of
JOSEPH BRANT—THAYENDANEGEA, &c.
[CHAPTER I.]
>
Sullivan's campaign into the Seneca country—Different characteristics among the Indian Nations—Mistakes upon the subject—Progress of civilization among the Six Nations—Plan of the campaign—The command offered to General Gates—His conduct—Clinton's preparations at Canajoharie—Transportation of boats and stores across to Otsego Lake—Arrest and execution of Newberry—Attempts to engage the Oneidas—The Indians alarmed by an address from Gen. Haldimand—The address—Intelligence from the enemy—Arrival of Oneida deputies at Clinton's head-quarters—Their speech—Designs of the enemy—Letter of Gen. Clinton to his brother—Remarkable escape of Elerson from an Indian scout-Brave defence of his house by Mr. Shankland—Descent of the Susquehanna—Dilatory proceedings of Sullivan—Junction of the forces—Movement from Tioga to Newtown—Battle of the Chemung—Destruction of the crops—Advance to Catharine's town—Message to the Oneidas—Destruction of Catharine's town—Evidences of civilization—Destruction of Kendaia and Kanadaseaga—March upon Kanandaigua—Its destruction—Honeoye destroyed—Melancholy story of the Oneida brothers—Kanaghsawa destroyed—Horrible fate of Lieutenant Boyd—Contrast between the conduct of Brant and Butler in the case of Boyd—Indians in council resolve to fight no more—Sullivan advances to Genesee—Beauty of the country—Conduct of Red Jacket—Origin of Brant's hostility to him—Sullivan sets out on his return—Destruction of the Cayuga towns—Return of the army to Tioga—Strange directions to Colonel Gansevoort respecting the Mohawks of the lower castle—Their capture—Correspondence—Their release—Close of Sullivan's campaign—His resignation—Colonel Brodhead's expedition against the Senecas on the Allegheny—Huron and Shawanese chiefs meet him at Fort Pitt—Their speeches—Severe Indian battle on the Ohio—Closing incidents of the year.
The policy of waging a more decisive war against the Indians, and the loyalists associated with them in their barbarous irruptions upon the frontier settlements, has been adverted to more than once already. General Washington had long entertained the opinion that the mere establishment of a chain of military posts along the Western and North-western frontiers would not answer the purpose; and that the only method of affording efficient protection to the inhabitants of those borders, would be to carry the war into the heart of the enemy's country. By a resolution of the 25th of February, Congress had directed the Commander-in-chief to take the most effectual means for protecting the inhabitants, and chastising the Indians for their continued depredations; and it was now his determination to put the resolve in execution, by carrying the war directly into the most populous country of the Six Nations; to cut off their settlements, destroy their crops, and inflict upon them every other mischief which time and circumstances would permit. [FN]