Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-08
THE wIGw AM;


OF the District of Vermont
THE WIGWAM;
THE HOME OF THE RED MAN.
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A Tale of Aboriginal Life and Character.
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CHAPTER VII.
What stiris this What tumult in the heavens!
Whence comes the alarum and thenose? :"
King Henry, ".
Either thereis civil strife in heaven;
Or else the worid too saucy with the gods,
Incenses them to send destruction"
Julius Cesar.
The return Of the war expedition with the
rorart Of tthe victory of the AiEai, aud theI
payable de- ior capture of Mdyseaarl, togssh-
er with the disappearance of pakota, was any
thing but pleasing to the tribe Of the Wolf
Totem; and more determined preparation
was made for war expedition against the Allies
under the lead of brave warrior, while the
only cause of exultation was the re-capture of
Mameah and Laisowee; but when, as it hap
pened, after sufficient delay, no report came
from the warriors left in charge of Mameah, the
peaple began to doubt the truth of the report
that she was captured.
Laisowee had sought out the old Chief Amik.
and informed him of the recapture and wound
ing of his daughter by Mowegan, while more
than ever the incense of Laogan was raised to
put an end to the war and if possible displace
Mowegan in his high estate. Only portion
of the people Of the Mohawk nation had at any
time taken the field, while the conduct of Now
egan in thus bringing on disastrous war was
censured by great portion Of the hation. And
when second expedition set out, it was even
less expected that they would be'successful,
than before. The now probable death of
Mowegan had placed Laogan in power as the
future Chief of the Mohawks, and he at
once set about finding his sister, to if possible
restore her to health and freedom.
While the Cayugas were at enmity with
the Mohawks, but had not the power to hope
to be successful in pitched battle, they were
glad to make common cause with the Oneidas,
by exacting captive from the Mohawks as a
fair exchange for the prisoner left under their
protection, while now greater cause for war
was the success of the Mohawks in capturing
the fairest of the village maidens. And when
the result of the unsuccessful attempt to recov-
er Laisowee was made known, the nation were
still further exasperated.
The Oneidas on the other hand, had been
successful in their war, had taken the Chief of
their enemies prisoner, and his daughter captive,
and now wished to make the exchange for Ma
meah, and act upon the defence, rather than
risk more in battle. But the assistance rendered
by the Cayugas was not to be forgotten while
similar cause existed for revenge, besides no bet
ter opportunity could be had to forever silence
the intrusions and arrogance of the Mohawks.
The corn month with the sweet odors of new
springing foliage and flowers was at hand
The sunny villages of the Oneidas along the
shore of the lake, were alive with rejoicings
and feastings over the success of their expedi-
tions, and the allied forces of the Cayugas were
mingling in the common exultation with impa'
tience for their second expedition, when the
spies, Owa and Mullo, who had been left tc
observe the operations at the Mohawk villages
aeturned, reporting that fifteen hundred war
rors were preparing for the ambush, and were
without doubt, already on the march for the
land of the Oneidas
No time was to be lost {; for while acting
principally upon the defence, as they had only
about an equal number of warriors, they could
not expect success except by stratagem.
Wahontes had prepared great feast to which,
and the council, the chiefs, conuseors, and many
of the older warriors were invited, when he
thus addressed them
''The Oneidas are brave; your arrows have
been successful; your warriors have shown
much courage and skill, and have taken many
scalps and prisoners in revenge for the blood Of
your kindred and the wrongs of your people,
The Mohawks are still in the forest; shall they
be left to run like dogs upon our hunting
grounds? Will the Oneidas give the old wo
men of the Mohawks the land in the valley o
the sweet waters and the srcat lakes2 Th
Cayuga comes to aid you he comes to max
common cause the common injuries of the enc
nmy. They have spilled the blood of our kin
dred, robbed our hunting grounds, and takel
our daughters captivos The spirits of our de
parted ones command us to extinguish thei
council fires, and forever destroy the Wolf 10
tenn. Thesmie of the Great Spirit is with us
let us dig up the war club, bend our bows, ant
sleep not until the Mohawks are driven out
our land''
Passing to q tree near by, he struck it with
his war club, and commenced his war song
while Nagowa but waited the conclusion of hi
speech to do the same. The eager gathering o
the warriors around their chiefs, showed tha
they were ready for the expedition. The wa
dance was continued until the break of day
when again several bands of runners were dis
patched in advance, with instructions to halt a
noon, if no indications appeared to sooner cal
for it, until the expedition came up.
For the better provision of game for food
the expedition separated over wide expanse Q
forest, and made all haste toward the highland
between them and the Mohawks, to overloo
and await the appearance of the enemy.
Just at dark, two suns after, runner re
turned with the information that a party q
Mohawks were passing down the bend of tn
lake, on the right, under cover of the thicke
and the shore.
A council was held at which it was right
concluded that it was but an attempt to dra,