Mohawks," those particularly who lived between the Hudson and St. Lawrence Rivers, in the northern part of the present State of New-York, between lat. 42 and 44 deg. N. on the great Lakes, and south, as far as Chesapeak Bay, the above named historian states, lived a numerous race of Indians, whom he supposes to be the same as those called by Capt. Smith, in his history of Virginia, Massawomeks. Report stated that these Indians understood the languages of the New-England Indians. The primitive inhabitants of Pennsylvania and New-Jersey, were the Delawares, once ranking among the most respectable and powerful nations on this continent. The Iroquois Indians, embracing under this general name, the Mohawks, or Mahas, after expelling the Hurons, and exterminating the Eries, who inhabited the country bordering on the great Lakes, which now bear their names, events which happened about the years 1650 to 1660, took possession of this vast Territory, and retained it for more than a century after. Their hunting country, which they once occupied, is now embraced in the State of Ohio, and while in their possession was called Canahague. The hereditary country of the Iroquois was between Lake Champlain and the Iroquois, now called St. Lawrence River. Without naming more of the nations, who originally inhabited this country, I proceed to give a summary account of some of the principal and most interesting of their wars with each other, and with the French and English settlers. 1. THE PEQUOT war. This is a dismal section of our history. The time has been, when pious Christians had so lost sight of their Saviour's precepts and examples as to engage in unnecessary war. Excepting this war of extermination, which lasted but a few days, our forefathers lived about fifty years in peace with the Indians; and had they as Christians duly considered the importance of peace, the preciousness of human life, and that war partakes of the spirit of murder, and had they taken suitable care to dispense perfect justice to their red brethren, to soothe, to tisfy, and instruct them, probably this, and most of the subsequent wars with them, might have been prevented. Prudence and good sense may persuade these people, and preserve their friendship. "The differences we have had with them have generally been more owing to us than to them."* Did not truth and impartiality forbid, we could wish this declaration erased from the volume. The reader may, however, gain some benefit; he may learn how dreadful is a spirit of war; he may learn how far good men, while ignorant and under the influence of an erroneous conscience, *Du Pratz 66 may fall short of that temper which is required in the gospel. While you shudder at the narrative of blood and murder, you may with new fervour pray the God of peace, to hasten the day, when nations shall learn war no more," when Jesus shall reign a thousand years of peace. In 1634, the Indians murdered Capt. Stone and Capt. Norton, with six others, in a bark sailing up Connecticut River. The next year they killed part of a crew, who had been shipwrecked on Long Island. In the year 1636, at Block Island, they killed Mr. Oldham. To obtain satisfaction for these injuries, the governour and council of Massachusetts sent ninety men, who sailed under the command of Captains Endicott, Underhill and Turner. They had commission to "put to death the men of Block Island, but to spare the women and children, to make them prisoners, and take possession of the Island. Then they were to visit the Pequots, and demand the murderers of Capt. Stone, and the other English; and a thousand fathoms of wampum for damages, and some of their children for hostages. Force was to be employed, if they refused. They arrived in September at Block Island; the wind being north-east, and a high surf, it was difficult landing. About 40 Indians gave a shot from their bows, and fled. The island was covered with bushes, but had no good timber. They traversed it for two days, burned two villages of wigwams, and some corn, of which there was about 200 acres, and then retired. Thence they directed their course for Connecticut River; where they took twenty men, and two shallops, to assist them, and returned to Pequot River, (now the Thames)" landing in much danger, the shore being high, ragged rocks." Three hundred natives were soon assembled, who trifled with the demand of Endicott, encouraging him, yet delaying to observe his demand, when he assured them he had come for the purpose of fighting. They immediately withdrew; when they had proceeded beyond musket shot, he pursued them; two of them were killed, and others wounded; the English burned their wigwams, and returned. The next day they went on shore the west side of the river, burned their wigwams, spoiled their canoes, and returned to Narraganset, and thence to Boston. After the troops left Pequot River, the twenty men of Saybrook lay wind bound, when they undertook to fetch wway the Indians' corn. Having carried one load, and supplied themselves a second time, the Indians assaulted them; they returned the fire, which was continued most of the afternoon. One of the English was wounded. Two days after, five men at Saybrook were attacked in the field, one was taken prisoner, the others fled, one having five arrows in him, A fortnight after, three men in the same neighbourhood were fowling, two of whom were taken prisoners. October 21, Miantonoino, the sachem of Narraganset, came to Boston with two sons of Canonicus, another sachem," and twenty sanops." Twenty musketeers met him at Roxbury. The sachems declared, that they had always loved the English, and desired firm peace with them; that they would continue the war wra the Pequots and their confederates, till they were subdued, and secured that we would do so; that they would deliver our enemies it us o kill them; and desiring that if any of theirs stout kii our este that we would not kill them, but cause them to make sauteen. This was the substance of the treaty established. "IFT THE to return fugitive servants, to furnist guides in our troops wing tran marched against the Pequots, and we were to u 22 og plantations during the war. without sur Ligisme! & LUPI Indian. About this time the governor of Penney setts, that they had occasioned & #2 IN casting a reflection on the late expe Inkl. could not safely pursue then ILIOTI FUA Un bark coming down Connecus fove on shore to kill fowis, and was based hands and fe afer Furt & IV. Lee J they killed ancier mat 1 & 2. The next spring the sun v of the Pequot enema et would coE LE VE with twenty EL VE PO Dutch and six men, and tre m twenty coms* The Lodam berming mom & 13 was universay zsoret e Bay a Their success nf encouraged men. had deluded Lg. "the Engistral ▼7 21 previously sent aluee *Winthrop so contagious are malignant passions. This was done, because they had tortured some of our men taken captive. The army sailed from Connecticut River, passed Pequot, or the Thames, and entered the Narraganset or Mistick. They were joined by five hundred Narraganset Indians; but as the army marched to the intended scene of action, these daring sons of war fell in the rear or fled. So terrible was the name of Sassacus, who was in one of the two forts where the Pequots had assembled, and which the English designed immediately to assault: "Sassacus," they said, was all one a God, nobody could kill him." The army silently moved by the light of the moon toward the nearest fort. Wequash, their guide and spy, brought them word, that the Pequots in the fort were all asleep. Seeing the English vessels pass them in the course of the day, supposing they had returned home in terror, they had sung and danced with joy till midnight, and were now buried in deep sleep. Captain Mason approached the east side and Underhill the west side of the fort; a dog barked; the centinel awoke: he cried, Wannux, Wannux, i. e. English, English; the troops soon entered the fort, which consisted of trees set in the ground, two winding passages being left open; a dreadful carnage followed. Instantly the guns of the English were directed to the floors of the wigwams, which were covered with their sleeping inhabitants. Terrible was the consternation to be roused from their dreams by the blaze and thunder of the English musketry; if they came forth, the English swords waited to pierce them; if they reached the pallisadoes, and attempted to climb over, the fatal balls brought them down; their combustible dwellings, crowded together, were soon in flames; many of them roasted and burned to death, rather than venture out; others fled back to their burning houses, and were consumed, to escape the English swords.* The English endeavoured to save the women and children alive; which the men observing, in anguish and dying terror, cried, I Squaw, I Squaw, in hopes of finding mercy; but their hour was come. Their dwellings being wrapped in fire, the army retired and surrounded the fort to escape was impossible; like a herd of deer they fell before the deadly weapons of the English. The earth was soon drenched in their blood and covered with their bodies. In a few minutes, five or six hundred of them lay gasping in their blood, or silent in death. The darkness of the forest, the blaze of the dwellings, the rivulets of blood, the ghastly looks of the dead, the groans of the dying, the shrieks of the women and children, the yells of the friendly savages, presented a scene of sublimity and horror indescribably dreadful. The same morning, May 20, 1637, their pinnaces arrived with provisions in Pequot harbour to relieve their necessities. They were in the country of their enemies; the mighty Sassacus and his garri *Trumbull. |