Indian Wars of the United States from the discovery to the present time. With accounts of the origin, manners, superstitions, etc. of the aborigines

Front matter

f H ! I 1 N IIBSAI WA3ES OF THE w m a t m w m t &.T m IST WHILE. I! ______ EsiOOEB. INDIAN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, hum tjj* Dtsnmntj tn t Jjb $rmni ®ira* WITH ACCOUNTS OF THE ORIGIN, MANNERS, SUPERSTITIONS, &c. OF THE ABORIGINES. FROM THE BEST AUTHOBITIES. BY WILLIAM V. MOORE. PHILADELPHIA : PUBLISHED BY J. & J. L. GIHON, No. 98 CHESTNUT STREET. 1850. Entered according to act of Cotlw___aS^__e_OatfYear 1850, by J. & J. L. G I H 0 N, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. CONTENTS. Introduction. — General Account of the Indians of North America Page 9 Chapter I. Early Indian Wars of Florida 50 II. Early Indian Wars of Virginia 90 III. Early Indian Relations of New England Ill IV ThePeqnod War 118 V. King Philip's War 123 VI. King William's War 140 VII.

Wars of the Five Nations (to the Close of the last French and Indian War) 153 VIII. Queen Anne's War 174 IX. Lovewell's War 180 X. Last French and Indian War 185 XI. Pontiac's War 204 XII. War of the Western Indians 210 XIII. Indian Wars of Carolina previous to the Revolution. . 216 XIV. Cresap's War 225 XV. Indian Wars of the Revolution 231 XVI. North- Western War (during Washington's Administration) 250 XVII. Tippecanoe War 256 XVIII. North. Western War (1812 and 1813) 266 XIX. The Creek War 282 XX. Seminole War (1817) 292 XXI. Black Hawk's War 300 XXII. Seminole War 305 (?)

Preface

. In a general history of the United States, the Indian wars are apt to be passed over rather slightly. The press of other matter leaves little room for the consideration of them; and they appear as detached and unimportant incidents. But when we consider that every inch of the soil, now in possession of the people of this republic, was either purchased or conquered from the aborigines, the means by which this immense acquisition was accomplished must certainly be regarded as highly worthy the attention of history. Nor is this the only reason why this subject should be distinctly treated, and attentively studied, by the people of this coun try. Our citizens are too apt to forget what their ancestors did and suffered for their good ; and the historian should faithfully remind them, as often as occasion may occur, of those times when the rifle was carried to the meadows and the corn-field as a protection to the husbandman ; and when the setting sun was the signal for transforming every dwell ing-house into a garrisoned castle.

In the hope of calling public attention to this portion of our history, by treating it distinctly and independently, the following work has been composed. It comprises a narrative of all the Indian wars conducted within the territory of the United States, between the aborigines and the European race, from the discovery to the present time— all, which were deemed of sufficient importance, in their nature or results, to claim a place in general history. In order to bring the annals of so long a period within the compass of a moderate-sized volume, it was necessary to avoid minute details, and to carry the narrative forward with an eye to the general nature and main results of each contest. Still the author hopes that there is enough of individual action and character in the history to interest, with out that prolixity which would weary the reader.

The general subject is full of interest and instruction, and if the au thor is deficient in either, it has not been for want of a fertile field of incident, and an infinite variety of characters and actions.

Introduction

. GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA. ORIGIN. T the time when North America was first visited by the Europeans, it was inhabited by many independent savage tribes, who subsisted by hunting, fishing, the spontaneous productions of the earth, and some cultivation of the soil. These tribes commonly lived remote from each other, in the bosom of immense forests ; and each claimed an extensive tract of land as its hunting ground. But the great body of the North American Indians are evidently of a race different from the Esquimaux, and concerning their origin various opinions have been entertained. Blome, Adair, and Boudinot, have thought them the descendants of the ten tribes of Israel ; others have imagined them the offspring of the Canaanites expelled by Joshua ; Grotius, adopting the opinion of Martyr, the companion of Columbus, believed part at least of America to have been peopled by Æthiopians and Christians ; and the late ingenious De Witt Clinton, go vernor of the state of New York, maintained that the American Indians are of Tartar origin ; and that, in ages past, they overcame vand exterminated a prior race of inhabitants, who had made greater progress in civilization than themselves.

But, whatever may be the difficulty of accounting for the ancient fortifications to which this learned writer refers, his opinion seems to rest on no solid foundation ; for there is no appearance that, before their intercourse with the Europeans, the Indians had ever seen a people who had attained any considerable degree of improvement. But to enter into speculations of this kind is not the object of the present work ; and it may serve our pur pose to allege, in general, that the progenitors of the Indian tribes emigrated from the north-east parts of Asia to the north-west parts of America, and thence gradually spread themselves over that great continent. At what time this emigration began, it is needless to en quire and impossible to ascertain. It is not unreason able to believe, that families or tribes performed the passage at different periods and at different places Savages are often carried to great distances in their frail barks.

The islands of the South Sea, although ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS. 11 widely separated from each other, are mostly inhabited ; and the person who thoroughly understands the lan guage of any one island, is seldom at a loss to hold communication with the natives of any other; which proves that those people are all of one common stock, and that the period of their settlement in the islands is not very remote. In this inquiry, the Indians can give us no assistance ; for of their own history, beyond the traditionary re cords of two or three generations, they know nothing ; and the strange notions which some of them entertain of their origin need not surprise us. According to the unambitious belief of the Osages, a people living on the banks of one of the lower tributaries of the Missouri, they are sprung from a snail and a beaver.

The Man dans believed their ancestors once lived in a large village under ground, near a subterranean lake ; that by means of a vine tree, which extended its roots to their cheer less habitation, they got a glimpse of the light ; that in formed by some adventurers, who had visited the upper world, of the numerous buffaloes pasturing on the plains, and of the trees loaded with delicious fruits, the whole nation, with one consent, began to ascend the roots of the vine ; but that, when about the half of them had reached the surface, a corpulent woman climbing up, broke the roots by her weight ; that the earth immedi ately closed, and concealed for ever from those below, the cheering beams of the sun. From a people who entertain such fanciful notions of their origin, no valu able information concerning their early history can be expected.

The character of man, to a great extent, is formed by the circumstances in which he is placed ; and, as all the North American nations, at the time of their first discovery by Europeans, were in the same savage state, and procured subsistence by similar means, there was a striking uniformity in their appearance, character, manners, customs, and opinions. But, by their inter course with Europeans, that uniformity has, in some measure, been broken. Many of the tribes have received several articles of merchandise, horses, arms, cloth, culinary utensils, and intoxicating liquors, from their white neighbours or visiters, and this has had some influence on their habits of life. COLOUR. The colour of the human race seems to depend on two circumstances, — climate, and manner of life. In general, mankind are of a darker colour as we advance towards the equator, and whiter as we approach the polar regions.

The complexion is affected also by tne degree of elevation above the level of the sea. Climate, however, is not the only circumstance on which colour depends : it is determined, in a considerable degree, by the manner of life. In the same parallel of latitude, savages who are almost always in the open air, and who live in a rude and dirty manner, are of a darker complexion than the members of more civilized society. Both of those causes have operated on the North American Indians. They are all of a red copper colour, with some diversity of shade.' The men are tall, large boned, and well made; with small black eyes, lodged in deep sockets, high cheek-bones, nose more or less aquiline, mouth large, lips rather thick, and the hair of the head black, straight, and coarse. In general, they carefully extract the hair of the beard and other EMPLOYMENTS AND DRESS OF THE INDIANS. 13 parts of the body, and hence were long believed desti tute of that excrescence.

The general expression of the countenance is thoughtful and sedate. Formerly some tribes flattened the heads of their infants by arti ficial pressure ; but at present that practice is unknown to the east of the Rocky Mountains. They have a sound understanding, quick apprehension, and retentive memory, with an air of indifference in their general behaviour. The women, or squaws, differ considerably from the men, both in person and features. They are small and short, with homely, broad faces; but have often an ex pression of mildness and sweetness in their looks. EMPLOYMENTS AND DRESS. Except when engaged in war, hunting and fishing are the sole employment of the men. By means of these, by the spontaneous productions of the earth, and by a partial cultivation of the soil, they procure a pre carious subsistence ; feasting freely when successful in the chase, but capable of great abstinence when provisions are less plentiful.

Some of the tribes, when first visited by Europeans, raised considerable crops; and they taught the early settlers in New England to plant and dress maize. At present several nations cultivate maize, beans, pump kins, and water-melons ; and in this way considerably increase their means ef subsistence. Hunting, war, the desire of revenge, or the k>ve of amusement, are the usual incitements of the men to action. Subjected to much fatigue and many privations, exposed to continual dangers, and under perpetual ap prehensions of being attacked by his enemies, the Indian has little gaiety in his character. He is rather gloomy and silent. Grave in his whole deportment, he seldom opens his mouth but to utter what he deems important. He is sagacious and penetrating ; and his observations are often rational and shrewd.

He will smile, but rarely laughs ; and never indulges in playful sallies, or unne cessary remarks, merely for the sake of talking. He generally speaks in a low tone of voice, and employs few words, except in council, where his elocution is loud, rapid, and vehement. The young men not unfre quently engage keenly in games and amusements. In general, the Indians are cool and circumspect, with much apparent apathy. The squaw is often a perfect contrast to her partner. She is sprightly in her demeanour, and her countenance is enlivened by a pleasant smile. Her risibility is easily excited, and she is not deficient in prattling loquacity. The sight, smell, and hearing of the Indians, being frequently and attentively exercised, are all remarkably acute. They can trace the footsteps of man or beast through the forest, and over the plain and mountain, where an inexperienced eye cannot discern the slightest vestige.

They can often judge, with much accuracy, how many persons have been in the compan}', how long it is since they passed, and even, at times, to what nation they belonged. They can pursue their course through the pathless forest, or over the snowy mountain, with undeviating certainty^ and are guided by marks 'which entirely escape the notice of an Eu ropean. Strangers to letters, and untutored by learning, their passions, which are little curbed by parental authority, grow up wild and unpruned, like the trees of their Ha- EMPLOYMENTS AND DRESS OF THE INDIANS. 15 tive forests. They are fickle and capricious ; irascible and impetuous; kind to their friends, vindictive and cruel towards their enemies ; and in order to execute their revenge, they readily exercise dissimulation and deceit, and shrink from no toil or danger.

Their dis tinguishing qualities are strength, cunning, and ferocity; and as war is their first employment, so bravery is their first virtue. The ancient weapon of the hunter was the bow and arrow ; but many of them have now procured muskets. Their dress differs considerably in different tribes. It consisted originally of skins ; but many of them are now provided with blankets and different kinds of cloth. The dress of the Konzas, a tribe on the Missouri, may serve as a sample. They protect their feet with moccasins, or shoes made of dressed deer, elk, or buffalo skin : leggins of deer-skin reach to the upper part of the thigh : a breech-cloth passes between the legs, and is attached to a girdle fastened round the loins. A blanket or skin covers the upper part of the body ; but in warm weather it is laid aside.

In some tribes the hair is allowed to flow loosely over the face and shoulders ; in others it is carefully braided, knotted, and ornamented, and is always well greased. In many cases the head is bare, both in summer and winter ; but in others, both men and women wear a cap like an inverted bowl. The men have also a war cap, which they put on as a symbol of mourning, "or when preparing for battle. It is commonly decorated with the feathers of rare birds, or with the claws of beavers or eagles, or other similar ornaments. A quill or feather is also suspended from it for every enemy that the warrior has slain in battle. They often suspend from their ears wampum beads, silver and tin trinkets, and they are fond of bracelets and rings. The face and body are often besmeared with a mixture of grease and coal.

They are very attentive to personal decoration ; and vermilion is an important article at their toilet. The faces of the "men are painted with more care than those of the women ; and the latter have more pride in adorning the counte nances of their husbands than their own. A tobacco pouch, attached to the girdle or carried in the hand, is a usual part of their equipment. The women's dress is partly like that of the men ; but their leggins only reach to the knee ; they have sleeveless shifts, which come down to the ankle, and a mantle covers all. On the north-west coast of America, between 52° and 53° north latitude, the dress of the natives consists of a single robe, tied over the shoulders, falling down to the heels behind, and a little below the knee before, with a deep fringe round the bottom.

It is generally made of the bark of the cedar tree, spun like hemp. Some of those garments are interwoven with stripes of the sea-otter's skin, which gives them the appearance of fur on one side : others have stripes of red and yel low threads fancifully introduced towards the borders, which produce a very agreeable effect. The men have no other covering, and they unceremoniously lay it aside whenever it suits their convenience to do so. Be sides the robe, the women have a close fringe hangino down before them, and they cut their hair so short that it needs little care or combing: the men have theirs in plaits, smeared with grease and red earth, and, instead of a comb, they have a small stick, suspended by a string from one of the locks, which they employ to alleviate any itching or irritation of the head.

DWELLINGS, FURNITURE, AND FOOD. 17 DWELLINGS, FURNITURE, AND FOOD. The ivigwams, tents, or lodges of t! e Indians are dif ferently constructed in different nations. The rudest are formed of branches resting against each other at the top, covered with leaves or grass, and forming a very imperfect shelter against the weather. The nations on the west of the Rocky Mountains have houses formed of a frame of sticks, covered with mats and dried grass. Many tribes erect long poles, in a circular form at the bottom, and resting against each other at the top, which they cover with skins : others have ob long lodges, consisting of a wooden frame, covered with grass mats and earth. The light is admitted by a small door, and by an aperture in the top, which serves also for the escape of the smoke. The fire is in the middle of the lodge, and the family sit round it on the bare ground ; but they spread a skin for a stranger.

They readily kindle a fire by rapidly turning one piece of smooth wood upon another ; but in the vicinity of Europeans, they are now generally provided with flint and steel. On the north-west coast, some tribes live in houses considerably elevated above the ground, and supported by upright posts. Their scanty and simple furniture and culinary utensils are suited to their humble dwellings and homely manner of life. A kettle, a wooden bowl, a couple of wooden or horn spoons, a few skins for beds and co vers, and a buffalo's stomach for carrying water, are the chief articles of domestic accommodation. For merly they used earthen pots ; but these are now generally superseded by metallic pots or kettles, purchased from the white traders. Some of the tribes on the 2* north-west of Lake Superior, cook their victuals in vessels made of ivatape, the name given to the split roots of the spruce fir.

These they weave so closely as to contain water, which they raise to the boiling point by putting into it a succession of heated stones. Many of the tribes are strangers to bread and salt. Besides fruits and roots, they feed on the flesh of the animals they kill, boiled or roasted. In travelling, pem ■mican is their favourite food. It consists of flesh cut into thin slices, dried in the sun or over a slow fire, beat to a coarse powder between two stones, and then carefully packed up. In different nations it is known by different names. Among the tribes who practise cultivation, maize is sometimes roasted in the ashes, and sometimes bruised and boiled, and is then called hominey. They also boil and eat wild rice, which grows in considerable quanti ties in some parts of the country. They have no fixed time for meals, but eat when they are hungry.

They present food to a stranger, at what time soever he en ters their dwelling. MARRIAGE AND EDUCATION. Polygamy is not uncommon among them ; and the husband occasionally finds it necessary to administer a little wholesome castigation to his more quarrelsome or refractory squaws. But many are satisfied with one wife. The care of the tent and thewhole drudgery of the family devolve on the women. They gather uel, cook the provisions, and repair every article of dress ; cultivate the ground, where any is cultivated ; carry the baggage on a journey; and pitch the tent when they halt. In these and similar employments, MARRIAGE AND EDUCATION. 19 their lordly fathers, husbands, and brothers, think it de grading to assist them, and unworthy of warriors to engage in such employments. Mr. Catlin, whose long residence among the Indians, and careful observation of their habits, entitle his opinion to great respect, regards this assignment of drudgery to the women as no more than an equitable distribution of the labour necessary to the support of the household.

He considers the toils of war and the chase, which are almost incessant, and are solely per formed by the men, as a complete offset to the domestic and agricultural cares of the women. On the whole he thinks that the condition of the Indian women is as comfortable as it is possible to render it by any arrangement which would not completely change their mode of life. To withdraw the men from the chase and confine them to the culture of the ground, would render the Indians an agricultural and not a hunting people. Still the condition of the Indian woman is a miserable and degraded one,— La condition of incessant labour and care. In none of the tribes do the women experience much tenderness ; but among the Sioux they are so harshly treated, that they occasionally destroy their female in fants, alleging that it is better for them to be put to death than to live as miserably as they themselves have done.

Even suicide is not uncommon among them, although they believe it offensive to the Father of Life. The Indians. never chastise their children, especially the boys ; thinking that it would damp their spirits, check their love of independence, and cool their martial ardour, which they wish above all things to encourage. " Reason," say they, " will guide our children, when they come to the use of it : and before that, their faults cannot be very great." They avoid compulsory measures, and allow the boys to act with uncontrolled free dom ; but endeavour, by example, instruction, and ad vice, to train them to diligence and skill in hunting ; to animate them with patience, courage, and fortitude in war ; and to inspire them with contempt of danger, pain, and death, — qualities of the highest order in the estimation of an Indian.

By gentleness and persuasion they endeavour to im bue the minds of their children with virtuous sentiments, according to their notions of virtue. The aged chiefs are zealous in this patriotic labour, and the squaws give their cordial co-operation. Ishuchenau, an old Kanza warrior, often admonished the group of young auditors who gathered around him, of their faults, and exhorted them never to tell a lie, and never to steal, except from an enemy, whom it is just to injure in every possible way. " When you become men," said he, " be brave and cunning in war, and de fend your hunting grounds against all encroachments: never suffer your squaws and little ones to want ; pro tect them and strangers from insult. On no occasion betray a friend ; be revenged on your enemies ; drink not the poisonous strong water of the white people, for it is sent by the bad spirit to destroy the Indians.

Fear not death ; none but cowards fear to die. Obey and venerate old people, particularly your parents. Fear and propitiate the bad spirit, that he may do you no harm : love and adore the Good Spirit, who made us all, who supplies our hunting grounds, and keeps all alive." After recounting his achievements, he was wont to add, "Like a decayed prairie tree, I stand MARRIAGE AND EDUCATION. 21 alone : — the friends of my youth, the companions of my sports, my toils, and my dangers, rest their heads on the bosom of our mother. My sun is fast descending behind the western hills, and I feel it will soon be night with me." < Then with hands and eyes listed towards heaven, he thanked the Great Spirit for having spared him so long, to show the young men the true path to glory and fame. Their opinions, in many instances, are false, and lead to corresponding errors in conduct.

In some tribes, the young person is taught to pray, with various superstitious observances, that he may be a great hunter, horse stealer, and warrior ; so that thus the fountain of virtue is polluted. » The Indians are entirely unacquainted with letters ; but they have a kind of picture writing, which they practise on the inside of the bark of trees, or on skins prepared for the purpose, and by which they can com municate the knowledge of many facts to each other. The Indian names are descriptive of the real or sup posed qualities of the persons to whom they belong: they often change them in the course of their lives. The young warrior is ambitious of acquiring a new name ; and stealing a horse, scalping an enemy, or kill ing a bear, is an achievement which entitles him to choose one for himself, and the nation confirms it.

The Indian women are industrious wives and affec tionate mothers. They are attentive to the comfort of their husbands, watch over their children with the ut most care and tenderness ; and if they die, lament the loss in the most affecting manner. Chastity is not reckoned a virtue ; and, as the women are considered the property of the men, a deviation from it, with the consent of the father, husband, or bro ther, is not looked on as an offence. Nay, to counte nance their wives, sisters, or daughters, in conferring savours on strangers, is considered a strong expression of hospitality; and the refusal ofthe proffered kindness is regarded by the lady as an unpardonable insult. But some husbands, on discovering unauthorized conjugal infidelity, punish it with severity ; others treat it very lightly.

The Indians are kind and hospitable to their friends, and to those who are introduced to them in that character. Although they themselves sit on the bare ground, yet they courteously spread a buffalo skin for their visiter ; smoke a pipe with him in token of peace and amity; and the squaw prepares something fOr him to eat. They have little selfishness, and are ready to share their last morsel with their friends. MEDICINE AND SORCERY. They are immoderately addicted to intoxicating liquors, which they procure from the white traders, and which have been the means of destroying multitudes of them. Before their intercourse with white men they had no intoxicating beverage ; and, excepting the liquor which they procure from the merchants, their meals are temperate, and their habits of life active.

Their diseases are few, and seldom of long duration. Many of them fall in battle ; and multitudes are occasionally swept away by small-pox. To the healing art they are in a great measure strangers ; although, by means of simples, they in some instances perform surprising cures. In general, however, these pretenders to medical skill are mere quacks and jugglers, who affect to chase MEDICINE AND SORCERY. 23 away disease by howling, blowing on the patient, and by various incantations, sleight-of-hand performances, and superstitious rites. Some .of their medicine-men or conjurors, who are their only doctors, pretend to have seen the Great Spi rit, and to have conversed with him in some visible form, as of a buffalo, beaver, or other animal ; and to have received from him some medicine of peculiar efficacy.

The animal whose form had appeared is con sidered to be the remedy ; and they imitate its cry in making their medical applications. The medicine bag, in which these savage physicians have a few herbs, en tire or pulverized, and which they administer with a little warm water, is an indispensable requisite in Indian medical practice. Indeed, the head of every family has his medicine bag, which is a place of sacred deposit, and to the sanctity of which he commits his most pre cious articles. The value of its contents an Indian only can appreciate. In every stage of society, persons appear who ac commodate themselves to the state of the public mind. Of this description are the jugglers, conjurors, or powahs, among the ignorant and superstitious Indians. They are partly medical quacks, partly religious im postors.

Many of them are dexterous jugglers and cunning cheats. They pretend to foretell future events, and even to influence the weather. It is likely that they are often, in some measure, the dupes of their own artifices. The sweating-houses of the Indians are often em ployed for medical purposes, although they are places of social recreation also. A hole is dug in the ground, and over it is built a small close hut, with an opening just large enough to admit the patient. A number of heated stones are placed in the bottom of the hole. The patient enters, having a vessel full of water along with him ; and being seated on a place prepared for his re ception, the entrance is closed. He sprinkles water on the heated stones, and is soon, by the steam, thrown into a state of profuse perspiration. After this has con tinued for some time, the person is taken out and plunged into cold water.

This process is repeated seve ral times, always ending with the steam-bath. The In dians use this as a general remedy ; but its salutary effects are experienced chiefly in rheumatic diseases, in which its efficacy is at times very great. The Indians bear disease with composure and re signation; and when far advanced in life, often long for the hour of dissolution. " It is better," said an aged sachem, " to sit than to stand, to sleep than to be awake, to be dead than alive." The dying man exhorts his children to be industrious, kind to their friends, but im placable to their enemies. He rejoices in the hope of immortality. He is going to the land of spirits, that happy place where there is plenty of game and no want, — where the path is smooth and the sky clear. BURIAL CEREMONIES, MOURNING, &c. When the sick person expires, the friends assemble round the body, the women weep and clap their hands, and bewail their loss with loud lamentations.