180 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



was stipulated. Presumably, the Americans did not 

 seal the bargain with largess. So it came about that 

 the preponderant English generosity, and the influ- 

 ence which Sir William Johnson and several others 

 had over these Indians, brought them easily to the 

 point of letting go their peaceful sentiments and prom- 

 ises and indulging their inborn and quickly aroused 

 propensities to war and ferocity. They were soon tak- 

 ing a most active part in a very bloody war, and they 

 brought desolation to all the frontier settlements (those 

 on the western side of the mountains) of the United 

 States. The Oneida Indians, it is said, were the only 

 nation which remained true to their promise of neu- 

 trality, or at least no hostilities against the Americans 

 were laid to their charge. Therefore these were to be 

 excepted from the universal destruction which had 

 been determined on for the others. For nothing less 

 than an entire extirpation and rooting-out of those 

 nations was the proud purpose of this expedition, so 

 far indeed as this might be possible against an enemy 

 who rarely lets itself be found or placed, and is tempted 

 to show itself only by the appearance of an especial 

 advantage. There was the conviction beforehand that 

 these Indians must be forced quite to relinquish their 

 haunts if the numerous but helpless settlers of the 

 frontier were to be given any hope of lasting peace and 

 security. 



The troops composing General Sullivan's command 

 assembled in Wyoming. Already they had had to 

 make their way through the wilderness so far, bring- 

 ing hither the necessary provisions and military sup- 

 plies which were to be sent on up the river in boats, 

 and as opportunity presented were to follow the troops 



