An account of Sa-Go-Ye-Wat-Ha Red Jacket and his people, 1750-1830

ty of the Indians-Services sought by Great Britain-Sketch of Sir William Johnson- Position of Red Jacket-Taunt of cowardice-Test

ness on foot, his intelligence and activity. Having attracted the attention of a British officer by the vivacity of his manners, and the speedy execution of those e

as afterward best known. At a treaty held at Canandaigua in 1794, Captain Parrish, who was for many years agent of the United States for the Indians, presented him with another red jacket to perpet

awake, and the author, or cause of a wakeful spirit." [Footnote: This latter translation was given to the author by the late Wm. Jones, a half-blood, son-in-law of Red Jacket and a chief o

g his people, and will best be understood, by an acqua

that cause sleep to pass from him, preventing every effort of Morpheus to lock

g to the feelings awakened. If his thoughts are of a pleasing nature, he is led to anticipate the o

, or soon after. Yet should his thoughts be troubled or anxious, he would expect to hear soon of that frie

ent of their thought, bring before them visions of delight, or send upon

iment that could be paid to his powers of oratory. By the magic spell of his words, he could control their min

n. As his conduct during this period has been the subject of frequent remark, severely criticised by some, and not very fav

s took measures to secure the favorable disposition of th

o war, and apt to enter with avidity into the excitement of a conflict, their forces had been reduced by recent encounters with the Indians at the west, and south, and als

une, 1776, by Gen. Schuyler, who had been appointed for t

ndians with the colonists, willing to secure forces already on the ground, and with a view possibly, of striking terror into the

of clothing, and with many of the comforts and conveniences of life. The Indians had learned to be dependent upon her, and they called her king their "great father over the water." Her agents s

illiam Johnson, who died at Johns

lized life. He came to this country not far from 1738, as land agent of his uncle, Sir Peter Warren, an admiral in t

adily adapted himself to the rude custom

tants next to him are mostly Dutch, he sits down with them and smokes his tobacco, drinks flip, and talks of improvements, bear and beaver skins. Being surrounded with Indians, he speaks several of their languages well, and has always some of them with him. He takes care of their wives, and old Indians, wh

neral of the colonial militia, and by virtue of a leadership that had been created b

tion: JOH

ith which he secured land of the Indians is illustrated by an amusing occurrence between him and a noted chief, Hendrick. Soon after enter

f, was present, when th

t refrain from expressin

htful, but soon after r

t he had dre

id you dream?"

"that you gave me one of t

o went away to show his gift to his countrymen and left Sir William to tell the joke to his

taken in his own net or not, is not certain,

ertain piece of land which he described. It consisted of about f

is yours;" but, shakin

am with you again." [Foo

ian

ors, and his great influence with the Indians, rendered him "as near a prince as anything th

ed something like a sovereign, kept an excellent table for strangers and officers, whom the course of duty led into these wilds, and by confiding entirely in

our own race has ever possessed. He was the first Englishman that contended successfully with French Indian dipl

utral, and have kept the Indians from engaging in the conflict, though this is altogether unce

. The office of General Superintendent of the Indians, fell into the hands of Col. G

he influence over the Indians, possessed by Sir William Jo

sobedient children, against the great king, who had been kind to them, as he had to the Six Nations. That their "great father over the wate

s of the crown, they were informed that the king desired them to assist him in subduing the rebels

ar before, in a council with General Schuyler, pledged themselves to neut

ite men and Indians could inflict;-that they would be richly rewarded for their

h the Indians pledged themselves to take up arms against the rebels, and continue in service during the war. They were then presented each with a suit

long to us,-and it is test for us to take no part in it; we need not waste our blood to have it settled. If they fight us, we will fight them, but if they let us alone, we had better keep still." [Footnote: Testimony given to th

lder men. But it may be observed that his conduct ever after this, will be found consistent with the sentiments he entertained, and was free to express. Though young, his percept

ssured that they would not be required to endure the fatigues and dangers of the battle, but might "sit down quietly and smoke their pipes, and see the sport;" Red Jacket en

a coward, you have the mind of a w

as well known among his people. Little Beard has frequently been seen to bury his face in his blanket, and give vent to his tears, in view of the havoc made among the Senecas by the war, at the same ti

ion: BARRY

, led by Col. Butler, to intercept General Herkimer, who was reported as coming to the relief of the garrison. At a certain point on the way, where they expected the general would pass, they form

of it are said to have been sad in the extreme. [Footnote: "The mourning was excessive, and was expressed b

to it, and his arguments as often repelled by the young braves, who could not endure his invectives. The reply was easily made, and hence in more frequent demand, than if it had imposed a greater tax upon their inte

isan, hence his conduct was often censured by

fense. Says Col. Stone,-"Sa-go-ye-wat-ha was then twenty-nine years old, and though it does not appear that he had yet been created a chief, he nevertheless seems to have been already a man of influence. He was in the practice of

uce some of the disaffected chiefs to send a runner into Sullivan's camp, to make known dissension

d, that it was to obtain peace. Peace he most earnestly desired for

ortion of the invading army, on the beach of Canandaigua lake, where was an Indian village of some size. Not finding in Red Jacket an ardor for the undertaking which corresponded in any degre

the art. He could handle at will the most cutting sarcasm, and while maintaining a good natured, playful mood, deal his blows with such power and effect, as to make the victim of his irony resort to some other means of defense, than the tongue. It is said that frequently by his cool, good natured railery, he has caused the victim of his sport to turn upon and strike him. He wo

d one or two others, were once passing from their settlement on Canandaigua lake, to the old Seneca Castle, near the foot of Seneca lake. On their way they encountered a large grizzly bear. Little B

did not appear to notice him at first; but finding that he persisted in the charge, he turned to him and coolly and sarcastically said,

to add, that nothing mo

ng his cowardi

ything would ever have been said about his deficiency in courage. And this supposition is strengthened by the fact, that at a subsequent period in his history, a little display of courage, when acting in accordance with the wishe

prove, he gained the epithet of coward. With less intelligence, and less moral

attribute to him the higher courage of acting in accordance with his own convictions of propriety and duty. "He was born an orator, and while morall

s of peace, rather than in enterprises of war; to gain victories in a confl

l to the rough encounters of war. Especially when the mind is already preoccupied with inward thirstings after t

d by their wise men and orators. The greatest among them was Logan, who had removed from the territory of his tribe to Shamokin. H

manner of delivery, that he resolved to attain if possible the same high standa

urred the displeasure and reproof of his mother, by long absence from her cabin, without any ostensi

Iroquois. In the deep and silent forest he practiced elocution, or to use his own expressive language, played Logan, until he caught the manner and tone of his great master. Unconsciously

l attitudes, significant gestures, perfect intonation, and impressive pauses, when the lifted finger, and flashing eye told more than utterance

eved his renown. By exercising his faculties in playing Logan when a boy, one of the highest standards of mortal eloquence, either in ancient or modern times, he has left a lesson to all ambitious aspirants, that there is no royal road to greatness; that the desired goal is only to be gained by scaling rugged cliffs, and tr

er period of his life. Previous to his making any great forensic effort, he could be