Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-02-09
INDIAN CHIErrAINs-

War Of Pontiac delivered ia New York, last
week, will be read with interest
In the year 1895. tall, red-headed Scotch
youth, rejoicing in the name Of Lachlan Me-
Gillivray, ran away from his home. and made
bis way 10 Charleston. in search Of fuhune--
HIS pocket contained one solitary shilling, and
his head was full Of glowing anlicipstions.--
On the second day aiier his arrival, lie was
vending his way westward ihrongh the forest.
N the service Of an Indian trader, Who had
employed him as his assistant. They reached
the river that now forms the boundary between
Georgia and Alabama, pursuing their traffic
The trader was so much pleased with the exer-
tons Of his young assistant, that he made him
a present u jack-knife. This tie canny
Scot bartefed for four deer-skins which he
brought back 10 Charleston as his own private
venture. These were exchanged for more
knives, which in turn were hartercd for more
skins. From this small beginning, McGilliv-
ray, ia course Of ime becane the wealthiest
Indian trader in the country, aud at length ac-
cuinmulaed a great estate. The war If the
Reyuluiio meanwhile was fought. aud the Scot.
having embraced the royalisi side. was forced
to leave ,he country, taking with him but such
fragments Of his property which he could col
lcct in haste.
In the course Of his early iradings he had
fallen n, near lhs present siie Of Montgomery.
Alabama, with a beautiful girl, whu becane
his wife. She was the daughter af French
and of an Indian woman.--was exceedingly
beautiful. aud bure the name OF Shoshny. The
s"n Of i.aehlan and Shnshny, who was named
Alexander McGillivray. remained al his moih-
or's lodge until he reached the age Of sixteen.
when his iaiher took him 10 Charleston for the
purpose Of giving h.m. an education. lie
showed remarkable aptitude for the studies Of
civilized life, and was especially fund Of read.
ing.
Bat his Indian blood was strong within him,
and TN the day when he reached his twenty.
first year. he turned his back upon the city. re-
turned to his savage kindred, and was welcom.
ed as their chief He Likewise became n,en.
ber Of large trading house, with numerous
branches at different poiG,s, and took bold
part in the political inirisoes of the Southwest.
Al one and the same iiue he buie Generals
commission from the American Government.
had the rank Of Colouel under the Spanish au-
thOrIiios Of Louisiana, and even held the ap-
poinimen; Of Colonel FROM the British Govern
meni. at the saae tine exercising uubounJed
authority over the Creek Indians. and deriving
an immense income from his mercantile trans.
actions.
Alexander MeGillivrsy was born diplomat.
lie held the threads Of his varioas intrigues
with the coolnoss VI a Talleyrand. lie kept
on good terms with all the conflicting parties
Sss.fesl io5Haen l,ry 'iis,anIyt ar-rus-clilse m
the war. In the prosecution of his scheme he
visited New York, and succeeded in negn,iai-
ing very advantageous treaty with Washing
ton and Knox. In the art Of balancing oppos-
ing interests, no statesman among Us but might
take lesson from him. Never bu, once was
he foled, and that was by ;he grca, enemy
Death.
But. MeGilivray can hardly be taken as
perlect type OF the Indian. His hnesse and
deKieriy belong 10 his Scotch aud French. rath-
er than 10 his Indian blood.
Pontiac. however, whom | take to be the
greatest man the REQ race has produced, was a
pure Indian. We frs, hear Of him in 1860.
At that time Major Rogers, with a company Of
200 Vermont and New Hampshire Rangers,
was sent by Lord Ainhers, to take possession
Of 'he French posts on the lakes. AT the spot
where Cleveland now stands, he was met by
ENJOYS who babe him halt I'LL he had conferred
with Pontiac, the great Chief Of the Ouawas.
The Chieiiain soon made his appearance--a
nan of scarcely middle stature, bur 1.-The aud
sinewy as panther, with the aspect Of man
born 10 command. lie was very inquisiiive
about all The arts Of civilized warfare. A
treaty Of amiiy was snon concluded between
Pontiac and the English, and Rngers proceeded
10 take possession Of Detroit.
The Indians sOun found the difference be-
tween the English aud The French Alliance
They were outraged, wronged and insulied /;
and the naughty Pontiac fnrIhed vast scheme
Ia exrel The inIruders from the whole Western
Country, aud drive them over the Alleghanies
All the Indian tribes from Central New York
10 the banks Of the Ohio, aud even to the Cher
okee Businesses were enlisted in the conspiracy
Ga given day they we're to fall upon every
post Of the white men, and slaughter the occu-
pants. The scheme was carried out, and gave
rise to many thrilling incidents, upon which
the lecturer dweli at length.
Punl ac himself was TO attack Detroit by
tteachery. His scheme was betrayed to the
commander. on the night before it was 10 be
carried oui, by an Indian girl, whose affections
had been won by ,ha, officer Thus foileJ,
Pontiac sci himself To besiege Detroit. He
harrassed the garrison by ineesssnl attacks. cut
of all supplies, and reduced the defenders to
great straits. For eight months he kept his
wild forces together, established regular cam
missariai, and even issned sorl Of bank notes,
consisting Of slips Of birch bark, upon which
his totem had been inscribed. These were taxi
en- by the French settlers in exchange for sup
plies and it is recorded that the SUN repre-
senied by every one Of these was duly paid. -
But by ncky chance supplies were at length
introduced into tho fort; the palisades were too
strong and too resnluiely defended TO yield to
The irregular attacks Of the Indians and the
warriors Of Pontiac began TO desert him. II
was not. however, until The close Of thirteen