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 Johnson†) 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 estimated 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 lakes 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. Lake Oneida is twelve leagues long by about one league wide. Its navigation is beautiful and practicable at all times, unless there be a strong contrary wind. It is best on the right of the lake which is the north side. From Lake Oneida we enter the River Vilcrick,* which empties into that Lake, & ascend nine leagues to Fort Bull. This river is full of sinuosities, narrow and sometimes embarrassed with trees fallen from both banks. Its navigation is difficult when the water is low. It is, however, passable at all times with an ordinary batteau load of 14 to 1500 weight. When the waters of this stream are low, an ordinary batteau load cannot go by the river further than within a league of Fort Bull. It becomes necessary then to unload and make a Carrying place of the remainder by a road constructed to the Fort, or to send back the batteaux for the other half load. Fort Bull which was burnt in 1756 by a detachment under the orders of M. de Lery, was situated on the right bank of this River near its source on the height of land. From Fort Bull to Fort Williams is estimated to be one league and a quarter. This is the Carrying place across the height of land. The English had constructed a road there over which all the carriages passed. They were obliged to bridge a portion of it, extending from Fort Bull to a small stream near which a fort had been begun though not finished; it was to be intermediate between the two Forts, having been located precisely on the Summit level. Fort Williams was situated on the right bank of the River Mohawk or des Agniés, near the rise of that river on the height of land. It was abandoned and destroyed by the English after the capture of Chouegen. Leaving Chouegen there is a road over which the English used to drive cattle & horses. This road follows the border of the left bank of the River Chouegen. The Five Nations river is *Note in the Original.-The River of the Killed Fish [now Fish Creek] flows also into this Lake; the English used it formerly; they abandoned it because there was a Portage, and have preferred Vilcrick which they have cleared. 1 For locations of these Forts, see ante pp. 509, 510; also Outline Map. |
