THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

August 10, 1893

 

HISTORY OF AN INDIAN CAPTIVE

By O. B. Watson

 

            Soon after the close of the Revolutionary war my grandfather removed from Windham, Conn., to Randolph, Vt.  Earlier than this a brother removed his family near where Canandaigua, N. Y., now stands.  While he and his son were helping some new settlers soon after their arrival they were surprised and captured by the Indians.  The father was retained in captivity nearly five years, while the son, my father’s cousin, was retained, was retained so long that he had almost entirely forgotten his own language, and in its place acquired that of the Indians; and so intimately learned their customs that in the latter part of the last century he was made by their request an Indian agent.  Though he suffered much in many ways by his long captivity among these Indians (the Seneca tribe) one of the “Six Nations”; he understood them so well, having been a favorite from a little boy (and cared for as her own by an influential squaw) that they regarded him very highly.  By his judicious management he was able to settle many questions between the white and red man which saved them much trouble and vexation.  His memory has been handed down, and the few Indians left continue yearly to visit his descendants as if they had inherited a right to their firesides.  By occasional visits and frequent correspondence with this branch of the family my father learned much about the “Six Nations,” and this cousin, Jasper Parish, was known as one of the early settlers of Western N.Y.  The Iroquois Indians, as the Six Nations were called, achieved a remarkable civil organization for themselves, and really acquired great fame.  They had a representation and elective government.  They also had a Confederacy or League established on the principle of family relationship, making as the word, Iroquois means, one “Long House” each nation being one fire under one roof.  These Six Nations had the same relation to the League as our states to the union. They had one Sachem, who was supreme.  Then these followed chiefs yearly elected as well as war-chiefs; but before the chiefs came officers from each nation, four, six or eight according to numbers.  “Red Jacket” was a famous chief among the “Six Nations” and though a useful ally of the United States during the War of 1812, was nevertheless and to his last days an opponent of schools, missionaries and Christianity.  But for his white friends he mourned when they died, and with tears in his eyes on one occasion thus gave expression to his feelings as follows, which for beauty of diction and real love is seldom seen:

            “Brothers, we have lost a good friend.  The ‘Six Nations’ weep with the United States.  The chain of friendship which he made between us and our white brothers we must ever keep bright.

            “Brothers, it is a custom among us when a great chief dies to drop a belt where he has sat.  We have lost so many warriors that our belts are few, but we give you the blackened wampum.

            “Brothers, it is another custom with our people to visit the sleeping ground of our dead, and cover it with leaves and flowers. This, will we do for him for we loved him.”  Were not such demonstrations of love and remembrance real “Decorations Days.”

            Can this government fail without guilt, or can we as Christians omit to do even with personal Sacrifice, all in our power to uplift and save the souls of these down-trodden people?