Part 5

Peck, George, LL. D.: Wyoming, its History, Stirring Incidents and Romantic Adventures. Illustrated, p. 432. 12 mo. Harper Brothers, New York. 1858.

Peck, William F.: Semi-Centennial History of the City of Rochester. pp. 736. p. 70 et seq. and p. 134. 4 to. Syracuse. 1884.

Landmarks of Monroe County. pp. 339. p. 29 et seq. 4 to. Boston, Mass. 1895.

Pettitt, Charles Q. M. G.: Letter to Reed. May 21st, 1779. (As to impressing, &c.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol, 7. p. 433.

Pickering, Timothy (for Board of War): Letter to Joseph Reed. May 19th, 1779. (As to stores.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p, 418.

Porter, William A.: A Sketch of the Life of General Andrew Porter. Pennsylvania Magazine, Vol. 4. p. 264.

Reed, Joseph (President State of Pennsylvania): Letter to Sullivan. May 21st, 1779. (Ans. Sullivan of 11th.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series, Vol. 7. pp. 427-430.

Same: June 3d, 1779. (As to Pennsylvania Troops guarding stores to Wyoming. Ans. May 26th and 31st, 1779.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7, pp. 457-8.

Letter to Colonel Sam. Hunter. (As to guarding stores by Ranging Cos.) Pennsylvania Archives, First Series. Vol. 7. p. 455.

Letter to Board of War. May 20th, 1779. (As to Sullivan's misapprehension as to what Pennsylvania would do.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 424.

Same: August 12th, 1779. (Progress of Expedition.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7, p. 640.

Letter to Washington. July 11th, 1779. Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 555.

Same: September 7th, 1779. (As to furnishing Sullivan with supplies.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 684.

Letter to Council. November 13th, 1779. Pennsylvania Archives. Fourth Series. Vol. 3. pp. 739-740.

Rider, Sidney S.: Notes to the Journal of Rev. William Rogers, D. D. Rhode Island Tracts. No. 7.

Same: Manufacturers and Farmers Journal of Providence, R. I. 1823.

Same: American Universal Magazine. Vol. 1. pp. 390-399. Vol. 2. pp. 86-91.

Roberts, Ellis H.: Address. Sullivan's Expedition and its Fruits. New York Centennial Volume, pp. 425-438.

Roberts, James A. (Comptroller State of New York): New York in the Revolution as Colony and State. Records discovered, arranged and classified in 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898. Second Edition. 4 to. p. 534. pp. 29-59. pp. 63-65. Portraits. Albany. 1898.

Roberts, Thomas (Sergeant Capt. John Burrowes' Company Fifth New Jersey Regiment:) A Journal of the March from Eleazabeth Town to the Back Woods. New York Centennial Volume, pp. 240-245.

Rochester: A Story Historical, Jennie Marsh Parker. pp. 412. p. 20. p. 235. 8 vo. Rochester. 1884.

Rogers, Rev. William, D. D. (Brigade Chaplain Pennsylvania Line): Journal. New York Centennial Volume, pp. 246-265.

Same: Rhode Island Tracts. No. 7. With an introduction and Notes by Sidney S. Rider.

Same: Manufacturers and Farmers Journal of Providence, 1823.

Same: American Universal Magazine. Vol. 1. pp. 390-399. Vol. 2. pp. 86-91, 200-206.

Same: Pennsylvania Archives. Second Series. Vol. 15. Portr. pp. 255-288. Harrisburg. 1893.

Rogers, William (Sergeant Second New York Regiment): Journal. New York Centennial Volume, p. 266.

Ryerson, Egerton, D. D., LL. D.: Loyalists of America. 2 Vols. Vol, 2. p. 108. 8 vo. Toronto and Montreal. 1880.

Salmon, John: Journal. A Narrative of the Life of Mary Jemison, otherwise called the White Woman, by James E. Seaver. Third Edition. Batavia, New York. 1844.

Sanborn, Frank B.: General John Sullivan and the Rebellion in New Hampshire. New England Magazine, Vol. 23, p. 323. (Contains an interesting study of General Sullivan's Character.)

Schreve, John (Lieutenant Second New Jersey Regiment): Journal. Magazine of American History. Vol. 3. pp. 571-572.

Seaver, James E.: Deh-he-wa-mis or A Narrative of the Life of Mary Jemison, otherwise called the White Woman. Third Edition. 16 mo. Batavia, New York, 1844.

Journal of John Salmon, In above.

General Sullivan's Expedition to Western New York. In above. Appendix p. 182 et seq.

Removal of the remains of Boyd. In above. Appendix p. 192 et seq.

Sherman, William T.: Addresses. New York Centennial Volume, pp. 439-442.

Shute, Samuel M. (Lieutenant Second New Jersey Regiment): Journal and Notes made contemporaneously. New York Centennial Volume, pp. 267-274.

Simms, Jeptha R.: History of Schoharie County and Border Wars of New York. pp. 672. 8 vo. Illustrated, p. 291 et seq. Munsell & Tanner, Albany. 1845.

Frontiersmen of New York (Revision of the History of Schoharie County and Border Wars of New York). 2 Vols. Vol. 2. pp. 239-276. 8 vo. Albany. 1882.

Stone, William L.: Life of Joseph Brant (Tha-gen-dan-e-gea), including the Border Wars of the American Revolution. Illustrated. 2 Vols. 8 vo. Albany. 1838. 1864. (Different editions.)

The Poetry and History of Wyoming. Illustrated, pp. 324. 8 vo. Wiley & Putnam. New York and London. 1841.

Same: pp. 406. p. 277 et seq. 12 mo. J. Munsell, Albany, 1864.

Border Wars of the American Revolution. 2 Vols. Vol. 1. p. 1 et seq. 16 mo. Harper Brothers, New York. 1846.

Stryker, William S.: Official Register of the Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War. 8 vo. pp. 49-57. Trenton. 1872.

Sullivan, John (Major General): Report of the Battle of Newtown. The Military Services and Public Life of Major General John Sullivan, by Thomas C. Amory. p. 121.

Same: New York Centennial Volume, pp. 473-476.

The Chronicle of his Expedition against the Iroquois in 1779--The devastation of the Genesee Country. Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser, October 19th, 1779. Baltimore, Maryland.

Same: The Military Services and Public Life of Major General John Sullivan, by Thomas C. Amory. p. 130.

Same: New York Centennial Volume, pp. 296-305.

Same: The Remembrancer or Impartial Repository of Public Events for the year 1780. Vol. 9. p. 158.

Letter to John Langdon and some comments by George W. Nesmith. Granite Monthly. Vol. 3. pp. 153-161.

Letter to Reed. Easton, May 11th, 1779. (Requesting order empowering Quartermasters to Impress Waggons, Horses, &c.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 388.

Same: Easton, Pa., May 26th, 1779. (Ans. rec'd of 21st inst.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 439.

Same: Easton, Pa., May 31st, 1779. Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 450.

Same: Easton, June 7th, 1779. (Lamenting obstructions in Quartermaster's Department.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7., p. 473.

Same: Wyoming, July 21st, 1779. (Complaining that Pennsylvania Rangers and Riflemen had not joined.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 568.

Letter to Colonel John Cook. Headquarters, July 30th, 1779. (Answering requisition.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 593.

Letter to Colonel Sam. Hunter. Wyoming, July 30th, 1779. (Acknowledging news of loss of Ft. Freeland.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 594.

Letter to Reed. Easton, October 18th, 1779. (Requisition for 100 Waggons.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 756.

Same: Easton, October 23d, 1779. (Acknowledging action of Executive Council and declining as too late.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 768.

Letter to the Warriors of the Oneida Nation, &c. The Remembrancer or Impartial Repository of Public Events for the year 1780. Vol. 9. pp. 25-28. J. Almon. London. 1780.

Address to Troops. Same. pp. 24-25.

Letter to the Congress containing his acct. of his Expedition against the Indians. Same. pp. 158-166.

Address to the Inhabitants of Northhampton County. Same. p. 166.

Address to the Officers of the Artillery. Same, pp. 166-167.

Address to the Corps of Light Infantry. Same. p. 167.

Thacher, Dr.: Military Journal. Biographical Sketch of Major General Sullivan. Farmer and Moore's Collection Historical and Miscellaneous and Monthly Literary Journal. Vol. 2. p. 201.

Treat, Samuel: Oration at interment of Lieutenant Boyd of General Sullivan's Army. History of Buffalo and the Senecas, by Ketcham. Vol. 2. pp. 318-340.

Trist, Elizabeth: Letters to General Lee. Collections, New York Historical Society. Vol. 6. pp. 381-382.

Turner, O.: Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of Western New York. pp. 666. p. 277 et seq. 8 vo. Jewett, Thomas & Co. Buffalo. 1849.

History of the Pioneer Settlement of Phelps and Gorhams Purchase and Morris Reserve. pp. 588. p. 80 et seq. William Ailing, Rochester. 1852.

Van Campen, Moses: Memorial to Congress. Pritt's Mirror of Olden Time Border Life. pp. 697. pp. 481-491. Abington, Va.

Narrative. Same.

Van Cortlandt, Philip (Colonel commanding Second New York Regiment): Autobiography, with Notes by Pierre C. Van Wyck. Magazine of American History. Vol. 2. p. 278 et seq.

Same: Elmira Daily Advertiser, February 17th, 1879.

Van Hovenburgh, Rudolphus (Lieutenant Fourth New York Regiment): Journal. New York Centennial Volume. pp. 275-284.

Table of Distances. New York Centennial Volume. p. 284.

Van Wyck, Pierre C.: Notes to Autobiography, Philip Van Cortlandt. Magazine of American History, Vol. 2. p. 278.

Washington, General George: Instructions to General Sullivan. Historical Magazine. Second Series. Vol. 2. pp. 139-141.

Letter to John Jay, President of Congress. Magazine of American History. Vol. 3. p. 142.

Letter to War Council. July 5th, 1779. (As to Sullivan's disappointment as to Pennsylvania's assistance.) Pennsylvania Archives. First Series. Vol. 7. p. 535.

Webb, Nathaniel (Sergeant Major Second New York Regiment): Journal. New York Centennial Volume, pp. 285-287.

Same: Elmira Republican, September 11th and 12th, 1855. Elmira, New York.

Welles, S. R. (M. D.): Paper read before the Waterloo Library and Historical Society, November 27th, 1877. New York Centennial Volume, pp. 527-535.

White, Pliny T.: Note to History of the Expedition against the Five Nations commanded by General Sullivan in 1779. Historical Magazine. Second Series. Vol. 3. p. 198.

Wilkinson, J. B.: Annals of Binghamton and of the Country connected with it from the early settlement. p. 256. 12 mo. Binghamton, New York. 1840.

Willers, Diedrich, Jr.: The Centennial Celebration of General Sullivan's Campaign against the Iroquois in 1779. Held at Waterloo, September 3d, 1879. pp. 356. 8 vo. Plates. Portraits. Waterloo, New York, 1880.

Willett, William M.: A Narrative of the Military Actions of Colonel Marinus Willett. 8 vo. New York. 1831.

Williams, Rev. Dwight: Poem, Sullivan's Centennial. New York Centennial Volume, pp. 506-510.

Winsor, Justin: Narrative and Critical History of America. 8 Vols. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston. 1889. Vol. VI. pp. 637, 642, 653, 667, 669, 671 and 681. Vol. VIII. pp. 439.

Handbook of the American Revolution. pp. 206-208. 12 mo. Boston. 1880.

AN INDIAN CIVILIZATION AND ITS DESTRUCTION.

* * * * *

By Colonel S. P. Moulthrop.

* * * * *

No nearer approach to what may be called civilization, if the term may be applied to a people who left no record, other than the legendary lore transmitted from father to son, may be found than the Iroquoian Confederacy, whose form of government was maintained for a greater length of time than that of any republic which had previously or has since existed.

Their location, according to their claim, was upon the highest part of the Continent, from whence flowed the Mohawk, Hudson, Genesee, Delaware, Susquehanna, Ohio and the St. Lawrence rivers, going in all directions to the sea. The intersection of lakes and streams, separated only by short portages, the continuous valleys being divided by no mountain barriers, offered unequaled facilities for intercommunication.

Their custom of settling on both sides of a river or encircling a lake made the tribal boundaries well defined.

One of the most interesting features of aboriginal geography was the location of their principal trails. If we travel either of the great railways extending through our State, we are upon one of the leading trails that Lewis H. Morgan stated were used in 1732. They followed the lines of the least resistance.

The central trail, extending from east to west, intersected by cross trails which passed along the shores of lakes or banks of the rivers, commenced at the point where Albany now is, touched the Mohawk at Schenectady, following the river to the carrying place at Rome, from thence west, crossing the Onondaga Valley, along the foot of Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, terminating at Buffalo Creek, the present site of the city of Buffalo.

This trail was later the route taken by early settlers, because it connected the principal villages and established a line of travel into Canada on the west and over the Hudson on the east.

Upon the banks of the Susquehanna and its tributaries, which have their source near the Mohawk, and the banks of the Chemung, which has its source near the Genesee river, were other trails, all of which converged at the junction of these two rivers, forming the southern route, into Pennsylvania and Virginia. On these footpaths the Iroquois conducted war parties and became well versed in the topography of the country.

Lakes, hills and streams had significant names, many of which the Anglicized orthography and pronunciation have robbed of their euphony and force of accent.

Mary Jemison says that "No people can live more happily than the Indians in times of peace." Their life was one round of simple sport and pleasure, in keeping with their free life; their simple wants were supplied with but little exertion. Following the chase gave them amusement and served to keep them in good physical condition, as well as to retain their skill with weapons that were their dependence in time of war.

The growing youth were taught Indian warfare, becoming experts with the tomahawk and scalping knife. At such times the squaws were employed with their simple domestic duties, or industriously tilling the soil. Apple and peach trees were planted and cultivated about the villages. To the Jesuit Fathers they were indebted for instruction in the art of cultivating fruit trees, as well as many of the vegetables which they raised in abundance; also producing a fine quality of tobacco whence their original name, IREOKWA.

The reports of Sullivan's officers speak of cornfields exceeding in quality and quantity anything they had been accustomed to in their eastern homes. They wrote of ears of corn measuring twenty-two inches in length, and grass as high as the backs of the horses on which they rode.

Not only in war and diplomacy did the Iroquois show superiority, but in their cultivation of crops and housebuilding some were so good as to be called by General Sullivan elegant Indian homes. The weight of evidence goes to show that many of them were framed, and of such a creditable order of architecture as to surprise those who accompanied Sullivan's expedition. Some of the officers writing home said that the houses were large and beautifully painted. Many of those who have considered the Indian as a forest roamer will be incredulous of the above statement, and yet there is no people who in their primitive state more religiously respected, or distinctly defined the family ties and relationship. There is a bright and pleasing side to Indian character.

The ordinary picture of the Indian represents him with war club and tomahawk. They do not deserve the appellation of savages any more than kindred terms might be applied to their white successors.

"Bury me with my fathers" was the last plea of the red man. Not until they had listened to the teaching of the whites did they view death with terror, or life as anything but a blessing.

In ancient times they had a beautiful custom of freeing a captured bird over the grave on the evening of burial, to bear away the spirit to the happy home beyond the setting sun.

The following motto shows that hospitality was the prevailing characteristic:

"If a stranger wanders about your abode, welcome him to your home, be hospitable toward him, speak to him with kind words, and forget not to always mention the Great Spirit."

From a speculative point of view the institutions of the Iroquois assume an interesting aspect. Would they naturally have emancipated the people from their strange infatuation for a hunter life? It can not be denied that there are some grounds for belief that their institutions would have eventually improved into an advanced form of civilization. The Iroquois manifested sufficient intelligence to promise a high degree of improvement had it been directed into right pursuits, although centuries of time might have been required to effect the change.

But these institutions have a present value irrespective of what they might have become. Let us render tardy justice by preserving, as far as possible, their names, deeds and customs, and their institutions.

We should not tread ignorantly upon those extinguished council fires, whose light in the days of original occupation was visible over half this Continent. They had planned a mighty nation and without doubt had the coming of the Europeans been delayed but a century, the League would have included all the tribes between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.

The first stage in the development of this confederacy was the union of several tribes into one nation. They mingled by intermarriage. The Chief ceased to be alone in his power and the government became a Pure Democracy. Several nations, thus being formed into a confederacy or league, more perfect, systematic and liberal than those of antiquity, there was in it more of fixedness, more of dependence upon the people, and more of vigor and strength.

Their original congress was composed of fifty sachems and it generally met at the Onondaga Council House. The business of the congress was conducted in a grave and dignified manner, the reason and judgment of the Chiefs being appealed to, rather than their passions. It was considered a breach of decorum for a sachem to reply to a speech on the day of its delivery, and no question could be decided without unanimous concurrence. The sachems served without badge of office, their sole reward being the veneration of their people in whose interest they were meeting.

Public opinion exercised a powerful influence among the Iroquois, the ablest among them having a dread of an adverse criticism from the common people.

Subordinate to the Congress of Sachems were the noted chiefs, such as Red Jacket, Big Kettle, Corn Planter and others who influenced the councils with their oratory.

Women were recognized by them as having rights in the government of the nation, being represented in council by chiefs, known as their champions. Thus they became factors in war or peace, and were granted special rights in the concurrence or interference in the sale of lands, claiming that the land belonged equally to the tillers of the soil, and its defenders. The equality of rights granted women was one of the principal factors of strength in their confederacy, or union.

Their orators studied euphony in the arrangement of their words. Their graceful attitudes and gestures made their discourse deeply impressive. A straight, commanding figure, with blanket thrown over the shoulder, the naked arm raised in gesture, would, to use the words of an early historian, "give no faint picture of Rome in her early days."

A difference existed between the Iroquois and other tribes with respect to oratory. No others have left records of models of eloquence except in single instances on rare occasions.

Red Jacket, Logan and Corn Planter were orators, who have by their eloquence perpetuated their names on the pages of history.

In the happy constitution of the ruling body and the effective security of the people from misgovernment, the confederacy stands unrivaled. The prevailing spirit was freedom.

They were secured all the liberty necessary for the united state and fully appreciated its value.

The red man was always free from political bondage. He was convinced that man was born free; that no person had any right to deprive him of that liberty. Undoubtedly the reason for this was the absence from the Indian mind of a desire for gain--that great passion of the white man--"His blessing and his curse in its use and abuse."

The hunter wants of the Indian, absence of property in a comparative sense, and the infrequency of crime, dispensed with a vast amount of legislation and machinery incident to the protection of civilized society.

The system upon which the League was founded, as before stated, was a singularly well chosen one, and is highly illustrative of the intellectual character of this people. "It was wisely conceived by the untaught statesman of the forest, who had no precedents to consult, no written lore of ages to refer to, no failures or triumphs of systems of human governments to use as models or comparisons, nothing to prompt them but necessity and emergency."

President Dwight said, "Had they enjoyed the advantages possessed by the Greeks and Romans, there is no reason to believe they would have been at all inferior to these celebrated nations." Their minds appear to have been equal to any effort within the reach of man. Their conquests, if we consider their numbers and circumstances, were little inferior to Rome itself. In their harmony, the unity of their operations, the energy of their character, the vastness, vigor and success of their enterprises, and the strength and sublimity of their eloquence, they may be fairly compared to the Greeks.

Both the Greeks and Romans, before they began to rise into distinction, had already reached the state of society in which they were able to improve. The Iroquois had not. The Greeks and Romans had ample means for improvement. The Iroquois had none.