The Mingwe Kyasuta

By Basil Bachelor

For all of his life Kyasuta and his tribe held the strategic portages and trails through the wilderness of the Ohio country. But Kyasuta knew the days had come when he and his people would face a difficult struggle to maintain control over their long-held territories.

As the leader of the Seneca Wolf Clan Kyasuta had stood watch over the Ohio River. He was a warrior, a war chief, and a diplomat during very critical times in our early history. Whether it was peace or war, Kyasutas presence would be felt by the new white settlers in the old Northwest Territory.

The Mingwe Kyasuta tells the story of the European settlers encroachment upon the land west of the Appalachian Mountains from Kyasutas perspective. It gives insight into the Native American tribes who lived east of the Mississippi River during a time when the Ohio country was the west and when the Ohio River was the western jump off point into the New World.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Oct 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781462051007

Basil Bachelor

Basil Bachelor is an Ohio native. He is a musician, amateur photographer, and history buff with a strong interest in early American history. Bachelor has traveled through most of the lower forty-eight states and currently resides with his family in northeast Ohio.

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THE MINGWE KYASUTA

A HISTORIC NOVEL

BASIL BACHELOR

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THE MINGWE KYASUTA

Copyright © 2014 by Basil Bachelor.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4620-5098-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-5099-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-5100-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011915944

iUniverse rev. date: 11/12/2014

CONTENTS

PREFACE

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1: BETRAYAL

CHAPTER 2: THE CRYING PROPHET

CHAPTER 3: THE INDIAN REBELLION

CHAPTER 4: CROGAN RETURNS TO THE WEST

CHAPTER 5: THE TREATY OF FORT STANWIX

CHAPTER 6: THE BATTLE OF POINT PLEASANT

CHAPTER 7: AWAITING UNCERTAINTY

CHAPTER 8: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BEGINS

CHAPTER 9: THE DEATH OF CORNSTALK

CHAPTER 10: THE DEATH OF WHITE EYES

CHAPTER 11: THE DEATH OF BLACKFISH

CHAPTER 12: LIFE ON THE FRONTIER

CHAPTER 13: THE ATTACK OF COSHOCTON

CHAPTER 14: THE MORAVIANS

CHAPTER 15: TROUBLE IN THE OHIO COUNTRY

CHAPTER 16: TREATIES OF FORT SCHUYLAR AND FORT MCINTOSH

CHAPTER 17: FORT HARMAR AND FORT WASHINGTON

CHAPTER 18: THE CONSTITUTION

CHAPTER 19: MAD ANTHONY WAYNE

CHAPTER 20: THE OHIO COUNTRY

EPILOGUE

THE AUTHOR’S NOTES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Dedicated to Syd, Cami, Laney, Abby, Lauren, and Natalie, as well as all of those who love the mystery of history, and what we may learn from it.

PREFACE

When most people think of Native American Indians, they tend to think of those legendary tribes who lived and fought for their way of life against the expansion of the American frontier, west of the Mississippi River. This book tells the story of the Native American Tribes who lived east of the Mississippi River. During a time when the Ohio Country was the west and when the Ohio River was the western jump off point into The New World.

PROLOGUE

It was just about springtime in the year of 1835. The sun had been shining for several days, melting the last of the winter snow. The creekbeds and small streams were running high, and with no leaves on the trees, one could see well into the forest. It was still early in the morning as the Anderson family did their chores and finished their breakfast. Then, getting up from the table the eldest boy Dan, accompanied his father (John) out to the barn to harness the horses’ to the wagon. Today they were all going into town.

Pa was going to buy some seed for planting as well as a few new implements, and Ma (Elizabeth) was going to buy some fabric and sewing supplies. The younger children were also excited and looking forward to browsing around the store.

John was ten and he had long been eyeing a buck-knife under the glass counter, while Betsy and Nancy (who were eight and six), were already talking about the pretty doll and some costume jewlery that they had previously seen.

Shortly after doing the dishes, Ma had spotted the wagon leaving the barn from the kitchen window. She then ushered the children outside. Dan helped the younger kids up into the back of the wagon, as Ma joined Pa in the driver’s seat, to ride shotgun. When she was ready and comfortable, Pa had cracked the reigns, and the horses’ began to pull them along the wagon path. They crossed the pasture and then traveled through the woods a short way, before turning north onto a larger road.

It was quiet as they continued to ride through the deep woods. At one point Dan had teased his younger siblings, telling them to Watch out for sasquatch!

John did not believe in Big-foot. But both Betsy and Nancy had been somewhat frightend… then Ma told Dan not to tell such stories to his younger brother and sisters. She then told the younger kids. Dan’s Indian friend Tommy had made that story up, to try to scare the white people away, and to keep them from coming to close to their village.

Pa had then objected. Telling them that he had once seen a Sasquatch! Then Pa had lowered his voice as he quietly added… In fact, it was not very far away from here.

Staring down the muddy path ahead of them, it was very quiet, except for the sound of the horses’ hooves’ clopping, and the wagon wheels’ turning over the road. Then suddenly pulling back on the reigns, Pa had shouted. Whoa. Whoa. Look down there, do you see that? There it is! The sasquatch!

Everyone turned to look, only to see nothing but the trail in front of them. Then both Pa and Dan had laughed out loud, before Pa had admitted. Well, I was just kidding around. Then they all laughed.

They all continued laughing and talking… and enjoying the long ride into town.

As they were approaching the town, they all heard and then had spotted two black crows’, calling to each other from two different treetops. One of the crows then flew off just ahead of the wagon… as the other crow called out again… There was also an eagle circling high above them, in the light blue afternoon sky.

Arriving in town… Pa had stopped the wagon in front of The General Store, so that Ma could climb down from the coach seat, as the kids climbed down out of the back. Ma then took the kids into the store, as Pa and Dan took the horses’ and the wagon down to the stable.

After housing the horses’, Pa and Dan had joined the others in the General Store. Pa had then placed his order… and talked to Mr. Morehart at the counter for some time… as the children continued to look around the store. After Pa had placed the order, Ma had invited Mr. Morehart to join them for dinner. And Mr. Morehart had gladly accepted the offer.

They all left the store, to cross the dusty street and go into the Wild Boar Tavern.

The Wild Boar Tavern was located just down the slope from the Post Office, and just up the hill from the Blacksmith’s shop, and the stables, directly across the road from The General Store.

Walking into the tavern… they were all greeted by the eerie sight of a nasty looking wild boar… glaring at them with coal black eyes… It looked fierce. With two white tusks protruding from its lower jaw… jutting upward beneath the long grey snout. There was also a small lock of black and grey hair in-between the two short and pointed ears. The wild boar looked almost as scary now, mounted on the wall… as it must have been in life… the wild beast seemed to sneer at them as they walked into the room. It was very hard to look away from it. But both Betsy and Nancy had looked away… as they all moved to a table in the far corner of the room.

After they had been seated, Mr. Morehart had called over to three men who were seated at the bar. The three men then got up and came over to sit down beside them, at the next table.

Mr. Morehart then introduced the three men to the Anderson family. Pa knew the men, but they had never met the family.

After the brief introduction Mr. Morehart had explained that it was Mr. Willis who had shot the wild boar a few years before, and old man Johnson and his son, had lived in these parts’ for many years. All three of the men had long scraggly hair and beards, but old man Johnson’s beard was nearly white with age. He was twice the age of the other two men. But they all were very friendly, and had enjoyed a good meal together.

After dinner Mr. Willis told a few jokes, and everybody had laughed a little bit. Then, Dan had wrestled up enough nerve to ask old man Johnson. Is it true that you fought in the Revolutionary war? Then Dan had added… My friend Tommy Lyons told me, that he thought that you had.

Well yes I did, son. But that was more than fifty-some-odd years ago, now. Old man Johnson had answered, as he took out his pouch and pipe, to fill it with tobacco…

Did you ever fight against the Indians? Young John wanted to know.

Well yes I did on a few occasions. But now, I am friends with all of the Indians’ who still live around here. The old man had finished as he then lit up his pipe. Then the thin whisps of white smoke began to lift upward, in the dimly lit room.

The two girls were happy to look at the smoke curling up into the air, as it diverted their attention away from the the wild boar, which now seemed to be staring at them from across the room…

What was it like being in the war? Did you ever kill any redcoats?" Young John had excitedly asked the old man.

Well no. I never did shoot any redcoats. But during that war, it was mainly the hostile Indians, armed by the redcoats from Fort Detroit, who we had to worry about at Fort Pitt, and Fort McIntosh. The old man stated in between puffs of smoke. Then he had continued. During that war, while General Washington and The Continental Army fought the British troops in the east, it was mainly the local militiamen, who were called up to protect the white settlers from the Indians, here in the west.

When old man Johnson finished, it was very quiet… It was starting to get dark so Mr. Willis had lit a candle, and then had placed it on the table.

Then, in the darkness just outside of the candlelight, the younger Johnson had chuckled, before urging old man Johnson on. Tell us all about The French and Indian war.

This had caused Mr. Willis, Mr. Morehart, and Pa to laugh, because oldman Johnson was not old enough to have fought in that war. But then little Nancy had innocently asked. What was The French and Indian war?

The old man was touched by the child’s intelligence, and then in between puffs of smoke, he had softly told her. Honey, The French and Indian war was well before my time. But my father had fought in that war. He often told me about it, when I was young. At that point John had excitedly chimed in. Oh yes, tell us about it. I have heard a few stories’ about The French War.

Old man Johnson then laughed, as the grey smoke rose up and curled into the air around him. Then Betsy further urged the old man on. Yes, please tell us about that war Mr. Johnson. causing everyone to laugh.

Then in the dimly lit room, old man Johnson seemed to think for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He then began speaking in a slow but very animated tone.

Well you see when the Europeans first settled in North America, the English and the Dutch had built their colonies along the Atlantic coastline, while the Spanish searched for the city of Gold, to the south… but the French had made their way up the St. Lawrence Seaway, and into the Great Lakes region, west of the Appalachian Mountain Range. The French had then developed the fur trade with Indians of the Great Lakes and The OHIO Country. The French had become the good friends of all of the Indian Tribes… all of the tribes’ except for The Iroquois.

Pausing briefly to look around the table… at the faces illuminated by the candlelight… old man Johnson then continued.

"The Iroquois League was made up of the five tribes’ of New York and Pennsylvania. They were the Mohawk, the Oneida, the Onondaga, the Cayuga, and the Seneca. The Iroquois controlled the Mohawk Trail, which ran east and west through the Appalachain Mountains between Niagara, and Albany. The Iroquois had then become very powerful, after they had obtained muskets’ from the Dutch, in New York. The Iroquois had then traveled great distances to attack their rivals, and to establish their dominance over the eastern woodlands.

The Erie Indians’ had once controlled this very territory. They were a very strong war-like tribe, known as the Tribe of the Longtail, because they dressed in the skins of panthers. But the Erie Indians’ were then hunted down and killed by the well armed Seneca/Iroquois, around 1656.

Much of the Ohio Country came under Iroquois control… after that time." Old man Johnson then took a sip from his cup, before continuing.

In the western foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, the Ohio River is formed by the confluence of The Allegheny, and The Monongahela Rivers. The Ohio then flows northwest for thirty miles… before it cuts back to flow southwest, for nine-hundred and sixty-some river miles’… to enter into the Mighty Mississippi. It is a very long and beautiful river. Of course, Fort Pitt is now located at the forks of the Ohio River. It is a very strategic point in the wilderness. As you already know, Fort Pitt was the jump off place… for the white settlers’ who came to claim land… west of the Appalachian Mountains. But before Fort Pitt, the strategic location had been a French fort, called Fort Duquesne. But to understand the history of the place, you have to look farther back in time, when there were only Indians living at the forks of Ohio River.

"During the early seventeen-hundreds while the English were growing rapidly along the Atlantic coastline, the French had been building the fur trade with the tribes living west of the mountains. In order to better their trading relations with the tribes, the French had built Fort Detroit, as a place where the tribesman could come to bring their skins’ and furs’.

It was also about this same time, when the Tuscora Indians of North Carolina, had been pushed out of their own territory by some new white settlers. The Tuscora, had then moved northwest over the mountains’, to cross the great river… coming into the Ohio Country… asking to join up with the Iroquois League.

This request would finally be granted by the Iroquois League, in 1721. After that time, the Iroquois became known as the Six Nations’. During those years there was mainly peace in the wilderness. As the Six Nations’ traded with the English at Albany, all of the other tribes’ had traded with the French at Niagara and Detroit. But the coming years’ would bring great change to the wilderness."

Old man Johnson had then paused to recollect his thoughts, before he went on.

"I believe that it was around 1732 when the Pennsylvanians had enacted a hidden clause… in the original agreement that The Delaware Tribe, had made with William Penn. It had allowed the Pennsylvanians to take more land from the Munsee Lenape People. It would become known as the Walking Purchase… as it gave the Pennsylvanians as much additional land as they could walk off in a short period of time. The end result would be the loss of all of the remaining land of the wolf-clan sect of the Delaware tribe (or the Munsee Lenape). The Delaware Wolf-clan had then moved west over the Allegheny Mountains to the forks of the Ohio River… to take up residence in Seneca/Iroquois territory.

As there was peace between the tribes at that time, the Seneca had allowed the Munsee Lenape, to take up in their territory."

In those days, most of the Ohio Tribes’ traded with the French at Detroit, or Niagara, while the Iroquois traded with the English at Albany. But the Allegheny Seneca did not like making the long trip to Albany… so like their neighboring tribesmen, they had often traded with the French, at Detroit or Niagara, doing so despite the fact that the Iroquois were not on good terms with the French.

Then pausing… the oldman had stoped and looked up and off into the corner of his mind for a moment… and then he continued.

It was not long after then, when an Englishman named John Frasier, had come west over old Nemecullun’s trail… to set up a small trade post for the Allegheny Seneca, at Venango. The Seneca were pleased by the gesture, but there were still never enough trade goods to go around, so the Seneca had continued to find what they wanted and needed from the French, at Niagara.

It was then in the 1740’s when George Crogan began bringing trade goods’ from Philadelphia, over the Alleghany Mountains’ to Loggstown… to trade with the Seneca, the Delaware, and the Shawnee. Loggstown was located seventeen miles downstream from the forks of the Ohio, and within a short period of time Crogan had built a very good business there.

"Crogan’s goods’ were both better made, and cheaper than the French goods’, and this did cause several of the Ohio tribes’ to quit trading with the French, so that they could trade with Crogan, at Loggstown, or at his new westernmost outpost, Pickiwillany.

Of course this had angered the French. So in 1749, Celeron and two-thousand Frenchmen came down the Allegheny and the Ohio River, burying lead plates’ at every important tributary. Proclaiming all of the land for New France!’’

The old man had then paused… taking a toke off of his pipe… He then blew several smoke rings’… they seemed to follow eachother through the air, and then falling downward to land on the tabletop… they seemed to dance around each other for a bit, before lifting up off of the table into a gathering cloud…

Then in a very clear voice old man Johnson continued.

Three years later, Crogan was still doing business at Pickiwillany, so the Frenchman, Michel de Langlade, and a band of the Ottawa and the Chippewa came down from Detroit, and had ransacked Pickiwillany, killing all of the male tribesmen there, and then taking all of Crogan’s trade goods’ back to Detroit. Crogan was not there at the time, but he did lose his entire inventory! Then, fearing his creditors’ back in Pennsylvania… and hoping to avoid debtors prison, Crogan had turned to the Virginians for help.

"The Royal Governor of Virginia was very unhappy to hear that the French were now trespassing upon what he had long considered to be, Virginia’s back country!

So The Governor had then sent a young surveyor named George Washington, to tell the French that they must withdraw from the region, in the late fall of 1753.

Of course, the French had refused to withdraw, so the Governor of Virginia had then ordered that a strong new fort was to be built at the forks of the Ohio River. He had then ordered the Virginia militia to be called up… to protect the new fort."

It was in the spring of 1754 when the Virginians began building Fort George, at the forks of the Ohio River. George Washington was still in the east, but he had taken over the militia troops’ and was beginning to lead them west over the mountains… however, the French and their Indian allies’ had come down from Venango, to descend upon those men working to build Ft. George. They had easily taken over the forks’ of the Ohio… sending the Virginians’ back home, and then building Fort Duquesne… at the forks’ of the Ohio River.

A short time later George Washington and his men did engage the French, but they were outnumbered, and were forced to surrender in early July. Washington and his men had then returned to Virginia. But they were not finished yet. In fact, the French and Indian War was just beginning.

By now everyone around the table was listening to the old man tell the story.

In 1755 the English General Edward Braddock, would lead fifteen hundred Redcoats’ west… going over the mountains, to attack the French at Fort Duquesne. But Braddock and his men would fail horribly! Many of the Redcoats were killed, and only a few hundred of them would make their escape back to Virginia.

The French and Indian War, was known as The Seven Years War in Europe. It was really a struggle between England and France, for control of the New World. Although the Iroquois had sided with the English, all of the other Indian tribes’ had sided with the French. Including the Allegheny Seneca, who under the leadership of Kyasuta and Teantorian, had broken away from the Iroquois League, to side with the French and the Ohio Tribes’, during the war.

This had seemed to be wise at the time, as the French were strong and they had won all of the early battles’ of the war. It was not until 1758 when the English had finally begun to turn things around.

"During the fall of 1758 a small group of redcoats came out of the woods’ marching down the slope, to attack Fort Duquesne.

Seeing such a small force, the Indians inside the fort had very quickly come out of the post, and had then proceeded to destroy the small number of redcoats’!

Then after taking all of the spoils of war, the Indians’ all left Ft. Duquesne, going off to their winter hunting camps’. But not long thereafter, a much larger English Army was reported to be marching toward Fort Duquesne… most of the Indians were already gone, and there were only a few hundred French troops’ left to face an army of more than fifteen hundred Redcoats!"

At that point the French commander ordered Ft. Duquesne to be burned to the ground. He then took his men, and retreated up the Allegheny River, back to Venango.

Shortly thereafter, the English force had arrived at the forks of the Ohio River… where they had then proceeded to build Fort Pitt, over top of the burned out remains of Fort Duquesne. The old man had paused… and then he continued.

"During that winter, war-belts’ were sent out to the Ohio tribes’… Asking them all to come to Venango, where they would join the French and prepare to reclaim the forks of the Ohio River, during the following springtime.

But then the next season, even as many tribesmen came to Venango, the French Commander at Ft. Niagara, had called for all available re-enforcements’ as a very large Army of Redcoats’ was now approaching there!

So, leaving Venango, the French and some of the Indians’ made their way up toward Ft. Niagara… but they would never arrive there. They were ambushed by the Iroquois, along the high cliff trail overlooking the Devil’s Hole (a giant whirlpool in the Niagara River). There were no survivors."

"Of course, very soon thereafter, the French would be forced to surrender Fort Niagara to the English General Jeffery Amherst. By 1760, both Montreal and Quebec would fall to the English, bringing an end to the fighting in North America. The French had lost, and the English had won!

The English had then sent out their troops’, to take over all of the old French Forts’ around the Great Lakes."

It was quiet for a moment as old man Johnson took a long drink from his cup. But almost as soon as he set the cup back down on the table, young John had asked him. What ever happened to Kyasuta? Was he killed by the The Six Nations’ for breaking away from the Iroquois League to side with the French, during the war?

Old man Johnson had laughed at the question, and then he looked at all of the childrens faces’ seated around him, before answering. No, no, Kyasuta was not killed for his treachery. He would go on to lead a very long and interesting life.

At that point young John had asked. Will you tell us more about Kyasutha? Then both of the girls had chimed in, begging the old man. Yes, please tell us more about the Mingo Kyasuta. Please tell us more. Please…

All of the adults had laughed at the childrens excitement… and old man Johnson was unable to deny their request. So he took another long drag from his pipe… and then another sip from his cup, and then he began…

CHAPTER 1

Betrayal

It was the dead of night, under a starlit cloudless sky. Although winter was almost over, there were still some white patches of snow covering the ground upon the steep slopes running down from the high cliffs above the Cuyahoga Falls… running down to the raging river below.

As the quarter-moon crossed the heavens, high up in the cliffs above the falls, the yellow glow of a small campfire provided some warmth for several of the Muncie Lenape, as well as the Mingo/Seneca Kyasuta and Teantorian.

By this time the Seneca had been ostracized, and dubbed The Mingwe or The Mingo (meaning the treacherous) by the Iroquois League, because they had broken away from the Six Nations, to join the Ohio tribes’, who had sided with the French during the late war. Now in their buckskins and leather leggings, wearing blankets over their shoulders as they moved around the fire pit… their shadows danced upon the overhang of the small recessed cave.

With the scent of kinick-kinick rising up from their pipes, and the sound of the river falling below, Kyasuta sat nearly motionless, staring into the flames… thinking back over many recent events’, and considering all of the unknown ramifications of finding oneself, on the losing side of the war.

Kyasuta was born and raised up in the Iroquois tradition. He was proud of his heritage, but as a direct result of the Walking Purchase, he had grown up around more of the Delaware, than any of the Iroquois (most of who lived up in New York). Although he spoke Iroquoian, he had learned the Algonquian language, and had become very close with the Munsee Lenape (or the Delaware Wolf Clan). Many of whom were here with him now. He looked up for a moment, to stare at their faces’ in the firelight. Custaloga, Shingas, Kaylamond, Hopocan, and Wingenund—these were his closest companions’ next to Teantorian. They had all been through very difficult times in recent years, and now, they all feared that it was going to get worse. Still, as he looked around the fire at his companions, Kyasuta was glad to have so much bravery and strength surrounding him. It had allowed him to call for a daring plan.

Staring back into the flame, Kyasuta smiled as he remembered when he was just a boy, when his uncles had taught him about the forest. They taught him how to track and hunt game, and they always warned him to be aware of panthers. A panther was the deadliest hunter in these woods. They also showed him which plants were eatable, which ones were poisonous, and which roots’ had secret healing powers. A couple of his uncles had also introduced him to the white man’s whiskey.

Kyasuta had then chuckled aloud to himself… thinking of the day when his one uncle took several drinks’ and was having great fun… until he fell off of a rock, and down the hillside, breaking his arm. Several other tribesmen had become mean spirited and were dangerously out of control when they became drunk. It was unseemly. Kyasuta had learned a valuable lesson that day—never take more than one strong drink. It was a lesson that he would almost always adhere to.

In those days the French did very well trading with all of the different tribes’ of the Ohio country and around the Great Lakes. The Indians’ could bring in their furs’ at Fort Detroit, or Michila-mackinac. The furs were then sent down through the lakes to Niagara, and then down Lake Ontario… to Montreal and Quebec. Before finally heading down the St. Lawrence Seaway… and then across the Atlantic Ocean, bound for Europe.

Even though the Iroquois had maintained control over a vast amount of territory in what is now New York, Pennsylvania, and parts of Ohio, the Iroquois, or the Six Nations’ preferred to trade with the English, at Albany.

By the time Kyasuta was a young adult, the Iroquois League had chosen to do all of their trading with the Englishman, William Johnson. William Johnson was very good to the Six Nations, but for the more western tribesmen of the Iroquois League (mainly the Western Seneca) Albany was just too far to travel to every season. So, a trader named John Frasier began to bring some goods west, and had set up a small trading post at Venango. It was a nice gesture, and while the Seneca had preferred the cheaper, and better-made English goods, there were seldom enough of the goods’ to go around… so the Seneca had continued to find plenty of what they wanted and needed from the French, at Niagara.

Very soon thereafter, George Crogan began to bring pack mule trains of English goods’ from Philadelphia, westward… over the Allegheny Mountains, to trade with the Seneca, the Delaware, and the Shawnee at the place called Loggstown, just seventeen miles downstream from the forks of the Ohio River.

George Crogan was an honest, likeable man. He had a funny, generous laugh, and a firm handshake. Crogan was well liked by the chiefs’. He had very quickly gained the friendship of all the tribesman at Loggstown… as well as win the approval of Queen Aliquippa, who had been appointed by the Iroquois League, to watch over the Forks of the Ohio River (the gateway to the West).

Crogan made several successful trips back and forth over the Allegheny Mountains, bringing more goods each time, until he enjoyed near celebrity status among not only the Seneca, the Delaware, and the Shawnee, but even some of the Wyandotte, and the Miami, who had traveled to Loggstown, instead of going to Fort Detroit.

Because of this, Queen Aliquippa had requested that Crogan tell the Pennsylvanians’ to build a fort at the Forks of The Ohio River. But Crogan had already decided to take up the Miami Chief’s offer, instead. Crogan then built a very large trading post at Pickiwillany, further west, and deep in the Ohio Country… where he would be closer to the most distant tribes’.

Within a few years, Crogan had built a great fortune at Pickiwillany. But he had also raised the ire of the French at Detroit and Niagara. In fact, the French had become very angry about Crogan’s encroachments so deep into the wilderness.

In the spring of 1749, Kyasuta and Teantorian had left Venango and traveled north, going up to Lake Erie (arriving at present-day Erie, Pennsylvania) hoping to intercept some of the French boats’ that were bringing goods’ and supplies’ to Fort Detroit. The Seneca were hoping to trade some of their pelts’ and furs’, for the best French-made goods’ (long before those boats’ ever made it to Detroit).

However, upon their arrival at Lake Erie, they found the Frenchman, Celeron de Blainville, and more than fifteen hundred Frenchmen encamped there.

Celeron had then paid the Seneca, to lead him and all of their boats… down the Portage Road… to the headwaters’ of French Creek.

Teantorian and Kyasuta accepted the offer. They would then lead the French southward along the portage trail, going back down to French Creek.

When they had arrived above the embankment of French Creek, they had spotted several bison… all spread out in the fields’ on the hillsides around the stream. They had stopped to set up their encampment… calling it Fort Lebouef.

Celeron and his men had then nailed a tin plate to a tree. Then they had buried a lead plate in the ground… claiming all of the land for New France.

A few days later, they rowed down French Creek, to its mouth at the Allegheny River (at Venango). Stopping long enough to bury another lead plate… Celeron and his men, then continued rowing downstream on the Allegheny River to its mouth, at the Forks of the Ohio … where they buried another plate.

The French had then continued following the Great River (Ohio) all the way down to the mouth of the Wabash River… proclaiming all of the territory for New France.

Returning by a land route, traveling northward toward Detroit, Celeron had made a visit to Pickiwillany… but they were harshly treated, and insulted by the Miami Indians’ there. The French then became very angry that George Crogan had become such a strong presence there.

In the summer of 1752, Michel de Langlade and a band of the Ottawa, the Chippewa, and the Pottawatomi, came down from Detroit and attacked Pickiwillany, killing all of the Miami men. The Frenchman and his Indians’ had spared the women and children, but they had ransacked and destroyed the town, taking all of Crogan’s trade goods’ and the furs’ before going back to Detroit…

Crogan was already heading back east when the attack had occurred, or he would have been killed, at Pickiwillany. But now, he had lost everything!

Uncertain of what he should do, Crogan had remained in the West for a time, before finally turning to the Governor of Virginia.

Kyasuta was still just a boy when George Crogan first started bringing trade goods over the mountains, but he was becoming a young warrior when he first met George Washington, at Loggstown, late in the fall of 1753.

Kyasuta had always liked Crogan, but he was leery of this tall young man from Virginia.

There were several inches of snow on the ground, and more snow was falling when George Washington and Christopher Gist had come and had asked The Alleghany Seneca, to guide them through the countryside, to speak with The French. There was already a growing tension in the wilderness, between the French and the English, so during very bad weather, The Seneca would lead George Washington and Christopher Gist over the hills to Venango… and then up French Creek, to Fort Le bouef, to deliver a message from The Royal Governor of Virginia, to The commander of all French troops’ in The Ohio country. Kyasuta had acted as a hunter for the party.

After making the long and difficult treck through the snow, the blue-eyed Virginian stood very tall, as he read the message to the French commander at Ft. Lebouef. You are all trespassing on Indian Land, which is protected by The Royal Colony of Virginia, for The King of England. In the name of King George The 2nd we demand that all French Troops’ withdraw from the Ohio country, at once.

The French commander had then just laughed, telling Washington that he could only withdraw his troops’ from the region, under orders’ from The King of France.

After delivering the message, Washington and Gist did not want to wait around for their now intoxicated and disorderly Seneca guides… so they had just left the fort, following French Creek down to Venango, and then down the northwest bank of the Allegheny River… They had then crossed the Allegheny River on a make-shift raft… The river was swift and very dangerous, with big chunks of ice floating in the current…

George Washington had then nearly drowned after falling off of the raft into the icy stream. Washington had been submerged for a time… but then resurfacing, he had managed to swim back to the raft, and then hold on to the edge, until Gist had poled them safely into the shallows… Washington had then climbed up onto the riverbank.

Gist had then hurriedly gathered up some fire wood, and had started a fire. Washington took off his wet clothes, and huddled under a dry blanket very close to the small fire. Gist had continued to gather more wood, and they had soon built a very nice fire, enough for Washington to fight off hypothermia, and to dry his clothes.

The next day, shortly after breaking camp and heading south east for Virginia, Washington and Gist had come across several hostile Indian braves’.

Suddenly one of those braves’ had fired his musket at the two Virginians! Both men then took off… even as the musket ball had whistled into the trees’ and then ricocheted just behind them… The two Virginians did not stop fleeing until they had traveled several miles’ through the snow to retrieve their horses… But the braves’ did not follow after them.

As Kyasuta was recalling this, Custaloga (the Munsee Lenape chief) stood up and had then placed two more logs on the fire. The sparks flew up into the darkness, as the flames grew higher… licking upward into the night. Kyasuta did not speak, but he had smiled at the Wolf Clan leader, then he continued staring into the flame… thinking back in time.

Kyasuta had liked both Frasier and Crogan, although he had distrusted George Washington (after seeing the wanderlust in his eyes). As an Iroquois, he had always preferred to trade with the English, and he had even learned to speak a little English. But then, as there was trouble brewing in the deep woods, The Seneca could plainly see that the French were the dominant force in the region, at that time.

During the springtime of 1754, Kyasuta had become incensed when he came down to find several hundred redcoats’ clearing the land… to build a new fort at The Forks of The Ohio River. The English worked fast, clearing the timber along the south-east bank of The Allegheny, and along the east bank of The Monongahela. They had then dug the trenches for the palasades, and were cutting the wood into planking for the walls… when suddenly 2,000 of The French and Indians’ had arrived there on the site.

The 300 Englishmen had no other choice but to put down their tools’, and head back toward Virginia… The French then took over the site, and had completed the construction of the new fort at the forks of The Ohio River, which they had named Fort Duquesne.

During that summer George Washington would lead The Virginia militia troops into a skirmish with The French. But after a miserable nine hour firefight in the rain, Washington was forced to surrender. He was then permitted to take his troops and return to Virginia.

George Washington had lived to fight another day. And that day would come not long thereafter.

In the spring of 1755, the English General Edward Braddock had arrived with his troops, and Washington would serve as his aide-de-camp. The General gathered up the militia to strengthen his regulars, planning to lead an attack against the French Fort at the forks of the Ohio.

As they began the long trek over the mountains, General Braddock began expanding the road, so that his fifteen hundred men, and all of the horses and wagons (and all of the supplies, and the camp followers, just ahead of the cattle herd) found the old mountain trail passable. It was still very slow going at times, and many of the men became sick with dysentery. It was a very long and difficult journey.

As General Braddock’s army got closer to Fort Duquesne, Washington and many others had suggested that the General should send out scouts’ and a large forward guard, because the French and Indians’ were sure to be waiting for them, somewhere, just up ahead… But General Braddock did not heed the advice. He had then marched them all right into an ambush!

The French and the Indians’ came out from behind the trees to fire their muskets’ and arrows’ at the men in the long line of redcoats’ coming down the road! The Indians would fire their weapons, and then disappear behind a tree, to reload, and then turn back to fire again!

Kyasuta had laughed as he remembered this… Many of those men had dove for cover… but most of the redcoats’ had maintained their lines… shooting at anything that they saw moving in the trees’… as General Braddock rode back and forth amid all the musket fire, ordering his men to remain strong, and to maintain their lines.

Amazingly, Braddock was not shot in the action, but his horse was then shot out from under him!

At that point, the General had called for another horse, even as he walked back and forth… barking out commands to his men. Demanding they not break ranks, or leave their lines. But to stand firm, and return fire!

Still on foot, Braddock had spotted a militiaman, who had broken away from the line, to reload behind a tree… General Braddock had then ordered the man to return to his line. When the man laughed, and then refused the order, General Braddock took out his pistol, and shot the man for insubordination!

Moments later… the brother of that man, came up and had then fired his musket at General Braddock… dropping Braddock, to the ground!

Seeing this unfold, George Washington, who had been riding his horse back and forth across the battlefield… rode to Braddock’s side… he then dismounted, and finding Braddock still alive, had picked the general up, and then laid him over the saddle, before remounting himself… he then rode the horse back through all of the musket fire, to the safety of a wagon, where General Braddock could be tended to. Washington then rode right back into the heat of the battle to take command!

Staring deep into the flames Kyasuta had laughed to himself again… looking back now, it was quite remarkable how George Washington had taken over command of that battle! Even though all of the braves’ had been aiming at the tall young Virginian on the grey horse… none of the Indians’ musket balls’ or arrow’s could hit Washington! Now as he stared into the fire… Kyasuta had recalled that after the Battle of The Monongahela, most of the Indians’ had thought George Washington was a charmed one, for he had been protected by the Great Spirit Manitou, as he rode back and forth, during battle…

Although none of the French, or any of the Indians’ had suffered any injuries… there were dead redcoats’ lying all over the road!

Washington had put up a good defense, allowing many of the men to retreat to safety, before Washington himself… had led the last of the defenders’ back down the road… and then back over the mountains. Of course, General Braddock had died of his wound. He was then buried along the road, going back to Virginia.

Looking up from the fire at Teantorian, Kyasuta remembered thinking that right after defeating General Braddock and his army so easily… the western Seneca were confident in their decision, to join the Ohio tribes’, to side with the French against the English, even though this had outraged the Six Nations’ of the Iroquois League who were always firmly allied with the Redcoats. But at that time, it had been the right thing to do. Kyasuta had spent that following season as a guest of the French, in Montreal.

Kyasuta had always liked George Crogan, and he now respected George Washington, but at that time the French were so much stronger in the wilderness. The French had always been good to the tribes’… as each