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

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, Cayugas--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 Senecas--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.

PLATES.

Portrait of Red Jacket Portrait of King Hendrick View of Johnson Hall Portrait of Sir John Johnson Portrait of Barry St. Leger Portrait of Joseph Brant Facsimile of Washington's Medal View of Seneca Mission Church View of Red Jacket's House

CHAPTER I.

Name widely known--Interest naturally awakened in his history--His origin --Development of his genius--Opinion of Capt. Horatio Jones--Customs of his people--Their love of eloquence--Distinguished orators among them--The inviting field opened.

Among the aborigines of this country, few names have excited a deeper interest, or have been more widely and familiarly known than that of RED JACKET. The occasion of this notoriety was the rare fact that, though a rude and unlettered son of the forest, he was distinguished for the arts and accomplishments of the orator. His life marks an era in the history of his nation and his name like that of Demosthenes, is forever associated with eloquence.

Other circumstances however, impart interest to his history. His was the last great name of a nation, and he is entitled to remembrance, on the soil which was once the home of his fathers. And though linked with a melancholy association, as connected with the waning history of a people that once laid a claim to greatness, but are now fast passing into obscurity, it is not on this account the less attractive, but presents another reason for our regard.

Such was the name of SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA, or, as he has more commonly been called, Red Jacket. Having risen, by the force of his eloquence, from an obscure station to the highest rank among his people, he became conspicuous in all of those great transactions, in which they gradually relinquished a title to their old hunting grounds, and gave place to the intrusive white man. And he lived to see his nation pass from the pride of their ancient dominion, to so humble an inheritance, that his last days were embittered with the thought, that the red men were destined to become extinct. With him has ceased the glory of their council fire, and of their name.

His origin, as we have intimated, was obscure. He must be introduced, as he has come down to us, without rank or pedigree. His pedigree nature acknowledged, and gave him a right to become great among her sons. His birth is a matter of fact, its time and place, circumstances of conjecture. Some affirm that he was born at the Old Seneca Castle, near the foot of Seneca lake, not far from 1750. [Footnote: Hist. of North American tribes by Thos. L. McKenney.]

Another tradition awards the honor of his birth to a place at, or near Canoga, on the banks of the Cayuga lake. [Footnote: Schoolcraft's Report.]

Who were his parents? and what, his early history? As the wave casts upon the shore some treasured fragment, and then recedes to mingle with its parent waters, so their names, and much of his early history have been lost in the oblivion of the past.

So likewise it is uncertain, as to the time when the wonderful powers of his genius began to be developed, or as to the steps by which he arrived at the high distinction of orator among his people.

Whether by dint of study he gained the requisite discipline of mind, and acquired that elegance of diction for which he was distinguished; whether by repeated trial and failure, accompanied by a proud ambition, and an unyielding purpose, he reached, like Demosthenes, the summit of his aspirations; or, assisted more by nature than by art, emerged, like Patrick Henry at once, into the grand arena of mind, and by a single effort attained distinction and fame, is to be gathered more from circumstances than from facts.

It is generally conceded, however, that the powers of his intellect were of the highest order. Captain Horatio Jones, the well known interpreter and agent among the Indians, and than whom no one was more intimately acquainted with this orator of the Seneca nation, was accustomed to speak of him as the greatest man that ever lived. "For," said he, "the great men of our own and of other times, have become so by education; but RED JACKET WAS AS NATURE MADE HIM. Had he enjoyed their advantages, he would have surpassed them, since it can hardly be supposed that they, without these, would have equalled him." [Footnote: Conversation of the author with Col. Wm. Jones, of Geneseo, Livingston Co., N. Y., son of Capt. Horatio Jones.]

Some allowance should be made for this statement, perhaps, on the ground that Mr. Jones was a warm admirer of the orator's genius; yet his admiration sprang from an intimate knowledge of him, seen under circumstances, that afforded the best opportunity of forming a just opinion of his talents; and these, he maintained, "were among the noblest that nature ever conferred upon man."

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