HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 363 



fording an arm of Onondaga lake, both wide and deep. An 

 Indian was captured at Onondaga creek, and the surprise of the 

 three towns was complete, 12 Indians being killed, 32 captured 

 and much plunder taken. By Ap. 24 all were in Fort Stanwix 

 again, with much spoil and little glory. 



The Oneidas at once sent to know the reason of these harsh 

 measures, and the Onondagas made a manly statement of their 

 hard case and severe usage. Their chiefs had probably done the 

 best they could. Colonel Van Schaick said he had followed 

 orders, and added that '' the Onondagas have been great mur- 

 derers; we have found the scalps of our brethren at their castle." 

 At a later day their treatment has seemed unwise and unjust. 

 It turned most of them into open iocs, though Alaj. Jeremiah 

 Fogg said the following September that some Onondagas were 

 still friendly. In fact, Iroquois history is full of a forgiving 

 spirit, usually preferring atonement to revenge, but, when chosen, 

 revenge was terrible. 



About this time attacks were made at Stone Arabia, Fort 

 Plain and Schoharie, with slight damage. In April 40 Indians 

 attacked and burned Lackawaxen in the Delaware valley. 

 Whatever the Onondagas may have done before, most of them 

 were now hostile, and 300 attacked Cobleskill and drew some 

 troops into an ambush, where 22 w^ere killed. Brant destroyed 

 Minisink, July 20, carrying off much spoil. Being hotly and 

 rashly pursued, his enemies were defeated with heavy loss. 

 Thence he made a brief raid on the Mohawk, before going to 

 Tioga. Indian hostilities were incessant farther south. 



General Haldimand had a conference at Quebec Aug. 20, with 

 Teyohagweanda, a principal Onondaga chief, and three Cayugas. 

 They asked why Oswego was not occupied, as they had long 

 wished. He explained, adding that they need not fear the 

 Americans would attack their country. They only cared to 

 secure their frontiers, but he would advise the seven nations of 

 Canada to join the Six Nations against them. 



There was reason for their fears, for Sullivan was even then 

 on his desolating march. General Clinton received his orders 



