CHAPTER XIV.
Treaty of alliance with France--Policy of France--Incidents of the Winter--Projected expedition against St Johns--Lafayette appointed to the command of the North--Failure of the enterprise for lack of means--Disappointment and chagrin of Lafayette--Unpleasant indications respecting the Western Indians--Indian council at Johnstown--Attended by Lafayette--Its proceedings--And result--Reward offered for Major Carleton--Letter of Lafayette--He retires from the Northern Department--Return of the loyalists for their families--Unopposed--Their aggressions--Prisoners carried into Canada--Their fate--Re-appearance of Brant at Oghkwaga and Unadilla--Anecdote of Brant--Comparative cruelty of the Tories and Indians--Murder of a family--Exposed situation of the people--Captain McKean--Sends a challenge to Brant--Burning of Springfield--First battle in Schoharie. 298