An Account of Sa-Go-Ye-Wat-Ha or Red Jacket and his People, 1750-1830

Dedication

To the Hon. Henry G. Hubbard, of Middletown, Connecticut

Dear Sir: Your name, associated with many pleasant memories in the past, and in later years with substantial tokens of esteem, is held in grateful recollection; and the hope that these pages may serve to interest an occasional leisure hour, has led to their being inscribed to you, by your friend and relative.

The Author
John N. Hubbard

Preface

Chapter I. Red Jacket--Name widely known--Interest connected with his history--His origin--Development of his genius--Opinion of Capt. Horatio Jones--Customs of his people--Their councils--Love of eloquence--Distinguished names--Eloquence an art among them--Peculiarity of their language--Field opened for his genius.

Chapter II. Glance at the early history of the Iroquois--Territory they occupied--Location of the different tribes--Strength of their Confederacy--Tuscarora--Traditions--Probable course of their migrations--Seneca-- Story of their origin--Singular romance.

Chapter III. Name Red Jacket, how acquired--Indian name--Name conferred--Singular superstition--Red Jacket during the war of the Revolution--Neutrality of the Indians proposed--Services sought by Great Britain--Sketch of Sir Wm. Johnson--Red Jacket's position--Taunt of cowardice--Testimony of Little Beard--Charge made by Brant--Red Jacket's indifference--Anecdote--Early love of eloquence--Interesting reminiscences.

Chapter IV. Early struggles--Red Jacket's opportunity for trial--Council at Fort Stanwix--Office of Sachem--His opposition to the treaty--Excitement produced by his speech--Part taken by Cornplanter--His influence in deciding the treaty--How it affected him.

Chapter V. United States claim to Indian lands--Conflicting claims between states--Manner of adjustment--Attempt to acquire by a lease--Attempt defeated--Lands acquired by New York--From Onondagas, Oneidas, Cayuga--Indian destitution--Indications of trouble--Design of severing western New York from the rest of the state--How defeated--Phelps and Gorham purchase.

Chapter VI. Union of the western Indians--Hostile influence of the British Indian department in Canada--Ambitious project of Thayendanegea or Brant--Visits England, desiring British aid in the event of war with the United States--Council at Tioga Point--Indian ceremonies--Visit of Cornplanter and others at the seat of government--Fresh occasion of trouble.

Chapter VII. Expedition under General Harmar--Its failure--High expectations of the Indians--Colonel Proctor visits the Indians at Buffalo creek--Red Jacket's speech--Indian deputation refused--Interference of the matrons--Council at Painted Post--Chiefs invited to Philadelphia.

Chapter VIII. Expedition to the Indian country under General St. Clair--Washington's charge--Approach to Indian villages--Sudden surprise--Disastrous battle--Indian victory--Retreat of American force to Fort Jefferson--Boldness of the Indians--Friendly Indian deputation--Welcome of the governor of Pennsylvania--Red Jacket's speech in reply--Address of President Washington--Red Jacket's reply--Cause of Indian hostilities.

Chapter IX. Indian appropriation--Deputation to the west promised--Instructions-- Silver medal given to Red Jacket by the president--Military suits-- Washington's address at parting--Thayendanegea's visit--Council at Au Glaize--Another Indian council--Delegation--British control--Washington's letter--Army under General Wayne--Successful campaign--Treaty concluded.

Chapter X. Canandaigua at an early day--Facts in the early settlement of Bloomfield--Indian council--Its object--Indian parade--Indian dress--Opening of the council--Speeches--Liberal offers of the government--Mr. Savary's journal --Conclusion of treaty--Account of Red Jacket by Thomas Morris.

Chapter XI. Valley of the Genesee--Indian misgivings--Mill yard--Effort to obtain their land--Council at Big Tree--Coming of the Wadsworths--Indian villages--Refusal to sell--Discussion between Red Jacket and Thomas Morris--Breaking up of the council.

Chapter XII. Interview between Farmer's Brother and Thomas Morris--Mr. Morris addresses the women--Distributes presents--Negotiations continued--Treaty concluded with the women and warriors--Manner of payment--Inquiries about a bank--Their reservations--White women--Young King's dissent--Final settlement--Charge of insincerity.

Chapter XIII. Council at Canawangus--Interesting reminiscence of Red Jacket--Address of Farmer's Brother--Jasper Parish--Horatio Jones--Red Jacket's visit at Hartford, Conn.

Chapter XIV. Cornplanter in disrepute--Effort to regain his standing--Red Jacket charged with witchcraft--His defense--Further notice of Cornplanter--Early recollections--With the Indians who defeated Gen. Braddock in 1755--With the English in the war of the Revolution--Takes his father a prisoner--His address--Release of his father--Address to the governor of Pennsylvania--Visit of President Alden--Close of his life.

Chapter XV. Change in Red Jacket's views--Causes producing it--Unfavorable to any change in the habits of his people--Opposes the introduction of Christianity among them--Visit of a missionary--Missionary's speech--Red Jacket's reply--Unpleasant termination of the council.

Chapter XVI. Tecumseh and Indian confederation--Aid given by Elskawata--Doings at the Prophet's town--Great Indian council at the West--Red Jacket's claim for precedence to be given the Seneca--His adherence to the United States--Hostilities encouraged by British agents--Warriors gathered at the Prophet's town--Visited by General Harrison at the head of his troops-- Hostilities disclaimed--Surprised by a sudden attack--Indians defeated-- War proclaimed against England--Indians take sides--Unfavorable commencement--Different successes--Part taken by Red Jacket.

Chapter XVII. Taking of Fort Erie--Battle of Chippewa--Service rendered by the Indians--General Porter's account of the campaign--Red Jacket commended--Withdrawal of Indian forces--Other successes--Conclusion of peace.

Chapter XVIII. Pre-emptive right to the Indian reservations, sold to the Ogden Company--Council to obtain an extinguishment of the Indian title--Red Jacket's reply to Mr. Ogden's speech--Indians refuse to sell--Another council called--Account given by Hon. Albert Tracy--Various utterances of the orator on that occasion--Indians appeal to the governments of the United States and New York--Noble response of Governor De Witt Clinton of New York--Final success of the Ogden Company.

Chapter XIX. Witchcraft--Case of Tom. Jemmy--Testimony of Red Jacket--Red Jacket's philippic--Finding of the court--Remarkable interview of Dr. Breckenridge with Red Jacket--Further expression of views.

Chapter XX. Personal characteristics--Interview with General Lafayette--Visit of a French nobleman--Col. Pickering reproved--Address on launching a schooner bearing his name--Anecdote of Red Jacket and Capt. Jones--His humor-- Strong memory--Its cultivation--Contempt for pretension without merit-- Love of the sublime--Portraits--Acute perception--Refined sense of propriety--First bridge at Niagara Falls--Loss of his children--Care for his people.

Chapter XXI. Views at the close of life--Incident--His lifework--Unfavorable influences --Advance of Christian party--Conversion of Red Jacket's wife--Leaves her --His return--Red Jacket deposed--Journey to Washington--His restoration--Rapid decline--Regards his end as near--Talks with the people--Endeavors to unite them--Sickness and death.

Preface

     The "Life and Times of Red Jacket" by Colonel William L. Stone, has been before the public for many years. The industry and ability of the author have made it a work of great value, and his extensive researches have left but little room for anything new to be said, by one coming after him. Yet the fact need not be concealed that many, who were intimately acquainted with Red Jacket, were disappointed when they came to read his biography. If it had been prepared under the direct influence and superintendence of Thayendanegea, or Brant, it could not have reflected more truly the animus of that distinguished character. Red Jacket in his day was the subject, at different times of much angry feeling, and jealousy. The author has not taken pains to embalm it, in these memorials of the great orator of the Senecas. Much that was the subject of criticism during his life, admits of a more charitable construction, and the grave should become the receptacle of all human resentments.
     The author acknowledges his indebtedness to the labors of Col. Stone, and by an honorable arrangement, liberty was obtained for the use made of them, in the following pages. Acknowledgments are due also to others, whose names will appear in the course of this work.

Tracy, Cal., April 12th, 1885

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Red Jacket and his People, 1885

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