254 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VOL. V. 



the better as their behaviour for many years past clearly pointed out, in 

 which he was joined by his faithful co-adjutor, Sakayenguarghton, the 

 Seneca Chief above mentioned, and in reality carried his point at last so 

 far as to make the whole Confederacy firmly resolve to act most vigour- 

 ously against the rebels." 



Claus was certainly inclined to exaggerate the extent and value of 

 Brant's influence and possibly his statements should be accepted with 

 some reserve. A private letter from a German officer to his family^ 

 shows, however, that his movements had become already a topic of 

 common talk in Canada and that he was suspected of entertaining designs 

 scarcel}' less ambitious than those of the renowned Pontiac whose deeds 

 were still a matter of recent history. 



" Now,however, they (the Indians) greatly desire to be independent, and 

 as faithful allies and friends to fight for the King, without being com- 

 manded by English generals and officers, and an Iroke named Joseph, 

 who has spent some time in England and naturally knows something of 

 the English and savages, desires to achieve for himself a name as chief 

 of an army of Indians. Every means will be tried to prevent this, for 

 God help those colonists who are their near neighbours, should this 

 scheme be carried into effect." 



In another place, Claus acknowledges that Brant was ably seconded 

 in his efforts by the tears and prayers of his sister Molly, who had been 

 driven from her home by the enraged Americans soon after the battle of 

 Oriskany. 



" She was obliged to leave her home and flee for her children's safety 

 among the Five Nations, where she was assisted by her brothers people, 

 and proceeded to take asylum among the Five Nations, every one of 

 whom pressed her to stay among them, but she fixed upon Cayuga as 

 the centre, and having relations among them, by whom she was kindly 

 received. After General Burgoyne's affair she found them, in general, 

 very fickle and wavering, in particular the head man of the Senecas, 

 called Cayenguarahton, with whom she had a long conversation in 

 council, reminding him of the great friendship between him and the late 

 Sir William Johnson, whose memory she never mentioned without tears 

 which strikes the Indians greatly, and to whom she often heard him 

 declare and engage to live and die a firm friend to the King of England 

 and his friends, with other striking arguments, which had such an effect 

 on this chief and other sachems present that they promised henceforth 

 truthfully to keep up their engagements to her late friend, for she is 



