3^2 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



afterwards exchanged, the aged chief, Guyanguahta, being instru- 

 mental in this. The Indians celebrated their victory in that 

 town. After a council, the warriors danced and sang around a 

 fire, each being painted black and white, parading the prisoners 

 and giving the scalp yell. The feast ended with the killing, 

 roasting and eating of a white dog. 



Some personal feelings influenced this attack. A month after- 

 ward four chiefs said to Colonel Cantine : '' Your rebels came to 

 Oghwaga when we Indians were gone, and you burned our 

 houses, which made us and our brothers, the Seneca Indians, 

 angry, so that we destroyed men, women, and children at Cherry 

 Valley." 



In January 1779 Colonel Van Dyck, at Fort Stanwix, had word 

 from the Oneidas that Brant meant to strike a blow before 

 spring. They had word from him and the Quinquoga (Cayuga) 

 Indians to join him. They considered their answer Jan. 16, and 

 would adhere to the Americans. Some principal Onondaga 

 chiefs, then on their way to Fort Stanwix, were invited to their 

 council and approved of their answer. The Onondagas had 

 been asked by the western nations to extinguish the council fire, 

 but would not do so, hoping for reconciliation yet. They prom- 

 ised to insist that all in their nation should declare for one side 

 or the other when they got home. In this the Oneidas fully 

 trusted and were in high spirits. 



Two Oneidas returned from Niagara Feb. 26, with reports of 

 Brant's intentions. The Delawares and Shawnees were to strike 

 the Virginia frontier, and he was to lead the main expedition to 

 the Mohawk, w^hile another was to go to Schoharie by Unadilla. 

 The 14 Onondaga chiefs, who went to Niagara to bring their 

 people back, had not been allowed to return. Brant did not come. 



For some reason the Onondagas were thought treacherous, 

 and a secret expedition was planned against a people nominally 

 at peace. A party of 558 men was sent in 30 boats, apparently 

 to Oswego, really to Onondaga. They left Fort Stanwix Ap. 

 17, landing at Fort Brewerton at 3 p. m. Ap. 20. That night 

 they camped without fires. Next morning they marched early, 



