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Massacre of German Flats, New York
We again hear of the Tuscarora by
history, concerning a massacre of the German
Flats, N. Y., in November, 1757.
A narrative communicated to the author of
the Documentary History of New York, vol. 2,
page 520, viz: A few days after this
massacre and desolation had been
perpetrated, Sir William Johnson dispatched
Geo. Croghan, Esq., Deputy Agent, with Mr.
Montour, the Indian interpreter, to the
German Flats, where he understood several of
the Oneida and Tuscarora Indians were
assembled, in order to call upon them to
explain why they had not given more timely
notice to the Germans of the designs and
approach of the enemy, it having been
reported that no intelligence had been given
by the Indians until the same morning the
attack was made, and as these Indians might
naturally be supposed, from their situation
and other circumstances, to have had an
earlier knowledge of the enemy's design and
march.
Before Mr. Croghan could get up to the
German Flats the aforesaid Indians were on
their road homewards, but he was informed
that the Chief Sachem of the Upper Oneida
town, with a Tuscarora Sachem (which is
supposed to be Solomon Longboard) and
another Oneida Indian, were still about four
miles from Fort Harkeman, upon which he sent
a messenger to acquaint them that he was at
the said fort.
The aforesaid Indians returned, and on
the 30th of November, at Fort Harkeman,
Conaghquieson, the Oneida Sachem, made the
following speech to Mr. Croghan, having
first called in one Rudolph Shumaker,
Hanjost Harkman and several other Germans
who understood the Indian language, and
desired them to sit down and hear what he
had to say. Conaghquieson then proceeded and
said:
"Brothers: I can't help telling you
that we were very much surprised to hear
that our English brethren suspect and charge
us with not giving them timely notice of the
designs of the French, as it is well known
we have not neglected to give them every
piece of intelligence that came to our
knowledge.
"Brothers, about fifteen days before
the affair happened we sent the Germans word
that some Swegatchi Indians told us that the
French were determined to destroy the German
Flats, and desired them to be on their
guard. About six days after that we had a
further account from the Swegatchi Indians
that the French were preparing to march.
"I then came to the German Flats, and
in a meeting with the Germans told them what
we had heard, and desired to collect
themselves together in a body at their fort,
[Footnote: A stockade work round the church,
and a block-house, with a ditch, and a
parapet thrown up by Sir William Johnson, a
year ago, upon an alarm then given.] and
secure their women, children and effects,
and to make the best defense they could. At
the same time I told them to write what I
had said to our brother, Warraghryagey
(meaning Sir William Johnson [Footnote: They
never sent this intelligence to Sir William
Johnson.]), but they paid not the least
regard to what I told them, and laughed at
me, slapping their hands on their buttocks,
saying they did not value the enemy, upon
which I returned home and sent one of our
people to the lake (meaning Oneida Lake) to
find out whether the enemy were coming or
not. After he had staid there two days the
enemy arrived at the carrying-place, and
sent word to the castle at the lake that
they were there, and told them what they
were going to do, but charged them not to
let us at the upper castle know anything of
their design. As soon as the man I sent
there heard this he came on to us with the
account that night; and as soon as we
received it we sent a belt of wampum, to
confirm the truth thereof, to the Flats,
which came here the day before the enemy
made their attack: but the people would not
give credit to the account even then, or
they might have saved their lives.
[Footnote: The Indians who brought the belt
of wampum, finding the Germans still
incredulous, the next morning, just before
the attack began, laid hold on the German
Minister, and in a manner forced him over to
the other side of the river, by which means
he and some who followed him escaped the
fate of their brethren.] This is the truth,
and those Germans here present know it to be
so. The aforesaid Germans did acknowledge it
to be so, and that they had such
intelligence.
"George Croghan."
Indian Treaties |
Tuscarora |
Seneca Lands
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