HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 3O3 



at Onondago. All Persons who were in the English Interest 

 and had Business to do with the Six Nations of late came round 

 about Onondago and passed by the Town." 



Till 1755 a large French trade was carried on at Albany by 

 the Caughnawagas, the Indians preferring English strouds to 

 French goods. In June Johnson had a warrant from General 

 Braddock as sole superintendent of the Six Nations, their allies 

 and dependents. June 21 we have '' Hon. Wm. Johnson's first 

 public speech to the Indians " as superintendent, translated into 

 Mohawk by Daniel Clause and delivered for Johnson by Red 

 Head, the Onondaga speaker. He removed the council fire from 

 Albany to Mount Johnson, and his familiar emblem of a bundle 

 of sticks was applauded. There were 1106 Indians present, and 

 more men than he had ever seen at a council. The Elder 

 Brothers made Red Head speaker, and an Indian reported that 

 the Oswegatchie settlement had been broken up for want of pro- 

 visions and Fort Frontenac strengthened. The Mississagas 

 came and made alliance, and Arent Stephens danced the war- 

 dance, to " which the sachems bore the usual chorus." 



Johnson tried to keep rum from the Indians at this time, with 

 but partial success, and raised some sachems. The Onondagas 

 asked for a fort, as they would fight the French. He told the 

 Oneidas that General Shirley would have to build a magazine at 

 each end of the portage and hoped they would not hinder it. 

 They replied that work begun had been stopped by them, as they 

 had received no message. Now it should go on. They com- 

 plained of Germans on their lands who were there by permission, 

 not ownership, and who n\ade trouble. 



In September Johnson had 250 men with him at Lake George 

 and more were coming. He was building a fort there, had made 

 a good wagon road to Albany, and cleared ground to encamp 

 5000 men, whom he expected to arrive soon. He hoped to pass 

 the lake, take post at Ticonderoga, and then attack Crown Point. 

 The French advanced, fighting followed Sep. 8, in which Colonel 

 Williams and King Hendrick fell on the English side, and Baron 

 Dieskau was taken on the French. Hendrick fell under his 



