unable to restrain the attack of his detachment. This was made by one party with all possible vigor whilst others were busy firing the houses, barns etca. 2. The 500 horses, lost by the enemy in this affair, were not exactly captured. The greater part were killed or wounded, and M. de Belletre brought with him but a very small number which was a great resource to him to support his detachment on his return. 3d. Had he all those horses and all the provisions at his disposal he could not absolutely have profited by them, either because it was prudent for him to hasten his retreat, or because the transportation of the provisions had been utterly impossible, both on account of the difficulty of the roads and rivers to be passed and the impossibility of feeding the horses. A SUMMARY NARRATIVE OF THE CONDUCT OF THE ONEIDA INDIANS (LIVING AT THE UPPER A few days after this Massacre and desolation had been perpetrated, Sir William Johnson despatched 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 those Indians to Explain themselves 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 earlier knowledge of the Enemy's design and march. 1 Lyman C. Draper, Esq., of Philat, has had the politeness to communicate this "Narrative," Before Mr Croghan could get up to the German-Flats, the aforesaid Indians were on their road homewards, but he was informed the Chief Sachem of the Upper Oneida Town, with a Tuscarora Sachem 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 Chief 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 was going to say. Conaghquieson then proceeded and said: 'Brother, 'I can't help telling you that we were very much surprised to hear that our brethren the English 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. 'Brother, About fifteen days before the affair happened, we sent the Germans word, that some Swegatchi Indians told us, 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 Swegatchi, that the French were preparing to march.. * 'I then came down to the German Flats, and in a meeting with the Germans, told them what we had heard, and desired them to collect themselves together in a body, at their fort, and secure their women, children, and effects, and make the best defence they could; and the same time told them to write what I had said to our brother Warraghiyagey (meaning Sir William Johnsont). but they paid not the least regard to what I told them; and A Stockaded Work round the church, and a block-house, with a ditch, and a parapet pallissadoed, thrown up by Sir William Johnson, a year ago, upon an alarm then given... †They never sent this intelligence to Sir William. • 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 the 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 any thing 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.* 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. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM ALBANY, DATED THE 13th INSTANT, BEING A RELATION OF THE MURDER COMMITTED AT THE GERMAN FLATTS, NEAR FORT HERCHAMER, BY 80 INDIANS, AND 4 FRENCHMEN. [N. Y. Mercury, May 22, 1758.] About 12 o'Clock, on Monday the 30th of April last an Oneida Indian acquainted Captain Herchamer that a Party of 80 Indians and four Frenchmen, were nigh his Fort, and would certainly come down and attack the settlements that Day, and advised Capt Harchamer to go into the Fort and take as many of the Inhabitants with him, as he could collect. About 3 o'Clock, most Part of the Inhabitants, having Notice from Capt Herchamer, left their Houses, and assembled at the Fort; four Families, that fled from The Indians who brought this 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. Henderson's Purchase, in the spring for fear of the Enemy, could not get in, and had in their Houses two Indian Traders, of the name of Clock, and six Waggoners that were carrying Capt. Gage's Baggage to the Fort. At 4 o'Clock, all of a sudden, the Houses were attacked; and the Waggoners being surprized, run up stairs, the better to defend themselves. The Indians immediately rushed into the House, and killed and scalped all that were below; some of the Indians attempted the stairs, but they were knocked down by the Waggoners; they then fired up thro' the Loft, and soon were joined by more Indians, who fired many shot quite thro' the House, and proposed to set it on fire, which intrmidated John Ehel, a Waggoner, to such a Degree, that he leap'd out at a window, thinking to make his Escape, but was soon killed; the other five defended themselves with great Intrepedity, having killed one Indian, until they were relieved by a Party of Rangers, who came to their assistance, and after exchanging a few Shot, the Indians fled, seeing our People have the advantage of a Log Fence. Capt. Herchamer says he saw four or five of the Indians drop, but were carried off.-In the above affair, 33 of the Inhabitants were killed, & Lieut. Hair, of the Rangers, received a slight Wound in the Breast. Next day some Oneidas came down to Trade, and met the Enemy going off, who told them they had 6 of their Company killed, and 9 Wounded.Next Morning a Woman came into the Fort that had been scalped, besides having her Nose almost cut off, with a Wound in her Breast, and another in her side. She is likely to recover, related all that happened till she was scalped, and says there was Onondado Indians amongst them. DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY BETWEEN OSWEGO AND ALBANY-1757. [Paris Doc. XIII.] ITINERARY from the Mouth of the river Chouegen (Oswego) in Lake Ontario to Lake Oneida, then up Vilcrick (Wood creek) to the Summit level which is the source of the river of the Mohawks, or des Agniés, by which we can descend to Corlar or Chenectedi whence Albany or Orange can be reached. The entrance of the River Chouegen is easy; the harbour is formed of a cove. The English had a fort on each side of this River by which this entrance was defended. From Chouegen to the Great fall is an ascent of four leagues. In this space the navigation is intricate, the river rapid and encumbered by large rocks. Good pilots, familiar with the shoals, are requisite to be able to pass through it. . Batteaus must be unloaded at the Great fall where a portage occurs of about 40 to 50 paces. The batteaus are dragged along the ground. It is esti mated to be about four leagues from the Fall to the mouth of the River of the Five Nations, [river Seneca] which mouth is called the Three Rivers;' its navigation is good. About a quarter of a league before coming to the Three Rivers there is, however, a current where precaution is requisite. From the Three Rivers to Lake Oneida is computed at 8 leagues; the navigation is good; the river is about 60 paces wide; it is at all times passable with loaded vessels. This river is the outlet of Lake Oneida. There is neither fall nor rapid at its entrance. • Note in the Original.—From Chouegen to Fort Bull is estimated to be about 36 leagues. The ordinary batteau load is only 14 to 1500 weight. It takes five days to ascend the River from Chouegen to Fort Bull and three and half from Fort Bull to Chouegen. The river of the Five Nations [Seneca Riv.] rises in little Jakes near which, about six leagues from its entrance into the River Chouegen, the Indians of the Five Nations reside. That river divides into two branches. That from the Right rises in the Lake of the Senecas and Cayugas; that from the left beyond the Lake of the Ononontagués. 1 The Junction of the rivers Oneida and Seneca with the Oswego is still known as the Three Rivers, and the Point of land, as the Three River's Point. It is sometimes confounded with the Three Rivers in Canada, as appears by a note in Stone's Life of Brant, i, 216. |