Produced by Anne Soulard, Richard Prairie, Juliet Sutherland
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
AN ACCOUNT OF SA-GO-YE-WAT-HAOR RED JACKET AND HIS PEOPLE,1750-1830.
BYJOHN N. HUBBARD
DEDICATION
To the Hon. Henry G. Hubbard, of Middletown, Conn.
DEAR SIR: Your name, associated with many pleasant memories in the past,and in later years with substantial tokens of esteem, is held in gratefulrecollection; and the hope that these pages may serve to interest anoccasional leisure hour, has led to their being inscribed to you, by yourfriend and relative.
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
The "Life and Times of Red Jacket" by Colonel William L. Stone, has beenbefore the public for many years. The industry and ability of the authorhave made it a work of great value, and his extensive researches have leftbut little room for anything new to be said, by one coming after him. Yetthe fact need not be concealed that many, who were intimately acquaintedwith Red Jacket, were disappointed when they came to read his biography.If it had been prepared under the direct influence and superintendence ofThayendanegea, or Brant, it could not have reflected more truly the animusof that distinguished character. Red Jacket in his day was the subject, atdifferent times of much angry feeling, and jealousy. The author has nottaken pains to embalm it, in these memorials of the great orator of theSenecas. Much that was the subject of criticism during his life, admits ofa more charitable construction, and the grave should become the receptacleof all human resentments.
The author acknowledges his indebtedness to the labors of Col. Stone, andby an honorable arrangement, liberty was obtained for the use made ofthem, 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.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Red Jacket—Name widely known—Interest connected with his history—Hisorigin—Development of his genius—Opinion of Capt. Horatio Jones—Customsof his people—Their councils—Love of eloquence—Distinguished names—Eloquence an art among them—Peculiarity of their language—Field openedfor his genius.
CHAPTER II.
Glance at the early history of the Iroquois—Territory they occupied—
Location of the different tribes—Strength of their Confederacy—
Tuscaroras—Traditions—Probable course of their migrations—Senecas—
Story of their origin—Singular romance.
CHAPTER III.
Name Red Jacket, how acquired—Indian name—Name conferred—Singularsuperstition—Red Jacket during the war of the Revolution—Neutrality ofthe Indians proposed—Services sought by Great Britain—Sketch of Sir Wm.Johnson—Red Jacket's position—Taunt of cowardice—Testimony of LittleBeard—Charge made by Brant—Red Jacket's indifference—Anecdote—Earlylove of eloquence—Interesting reminiscences.
CHAPTER IV.
Early struggles—Red Jacket's opportunity for trial—Council at FortStanwix—Office of Sachem—His opposition to the treaty—Excitementproduced by his speech—Part taken by Cornplanter—His influence indeciding the treaty—How it affected him.
CHAPTER V.
United States claim to Indian lands—Conflicting claims between states—Manner of adjustment—Attempt to acq