164 The Winning of the West 



the back settlements. From the Illinois country to 

 the frontiers of New York there is a continual suc- 

 cession ... the perpetual terror and losses of the 

 inhabitants will I hope operate powerfully in our fa- 

 vor" 74 ; so runs the letter. -At the same time the 

 British commander in Canada was pointing out to 

 his subordinate at Detroit that the real danger to 

 British rule arose from the extension of the settle- 

 ments westward, and that this the Indians could pre- 

 vent 75 ; in other words, the savages were expressly 

 directed to make war on non-combatants, for it was 

 impossible to attack a settlement without attacking 

 the women and children therein. In return, the 

 frontiersmen speedily grew to regard both British 

 and Indians with the same venomous and indiscrimi- 

 nate anger. 



In the writings of the early annalists of these In- 

 dian wars are to be found the records of countless 

 deeds of individual valor and cowardice, prowess, 

 and suffering, of terrible woe in time of disaster 

 and defeat, and of the glutting of ferocious ven- 



74 See full copy of the letter in Mr. Martindale's excellent 

 pamphlet, above quoted. 



75 Haldimand MSS. Haldimand to De Peyster, June 24, 

 1781. Throughout the letters of the British officers at and 

 near Detroit there are constant allusions to scalps being 

 brought in ; but not one word, as far as I have seen, to show 

 that the Indians were ever reproved because many of the 

 scalps were those of women and children. It is only fair to 

 say, however, that there are several instances of the com- 

 manders exhorting the Indians to be merciful which was a 

 waste of breath and several other instances where success- 

 ful efforts were made to stop the use of torture. The British 

 officers were generally personally humane to their prisoners. 



