Middletown transcript., 1870-02-12
RED JACKET.
The Seneca Indian Chief.
Hriten for tie Mddietopn Transcript,
By B. s. I.
RED JACKET.
By b. S. T.

hewn logs, which was the residence of the
celebrated chief, Red Jacket, during the
latter period of his life, may still be seen
in quite good state of preservation.
The chief of the Wolf Tribe of the SEN
ecas, was born in 1856. His birthplace
is supposed to have been at a place for
merly called Old Caste, about three miles
west of Geneva, N. Y in the present linz
its of the town of Seneca. His Indian
name was Sa-go-you-aoat-ha word signi-
flying one who keeps awake by magical in
iuence. During the Revolution, the SEN
ecas fought under the British standard.
Although quite young, his activity and
intelligence attracted the attention of the
British officers. By them he was presen-
ted with richly embI oidered scarlet jack
ct. This he wore on all occasions, and
| from this circumstance arose the name by
which he was known among the whites.
During the Revolution he took little or no
part as warrior, but his personal activity
and transcendont talents won the esteem
OF his tribe. Red Jacket was a perfect
Indian in every respect, in costume, in
his contempt of the dress of the white
men, in his hatred and opposition TO the
miss ionaries, and in his attachment to,
and veneration for, the ancient customs
and traditions of his tribe He had q
contempt for the. English language, and
disdalqed to use any other than his own.
He was the finest specimen of the Indian
character ever known, and sustained it
with more dignity than any other chief.
He was second to none in authority in his
tribe. As an orator he was unequalled by
any Indian. His language was beautiful
and tgurative, as the Indian language al
ways is, and delivered with the greatest
ease and fuency. His gesticulation was
easy, graceful and natural. His voice was
distinct and clear, and he always spoke
with great animation. His memory was
very strong,
The following interesting aAecdotes are
Illustrative of his peculiar points of char
acter, as well as of his ready eloquence
At council held with the Senccas, dis
pute arose between Gov. Tompkins and
Red Jacket, connected with treaty of
some years standing The Governor sta
ted one thing, and the Indian chief insist
ed that the reverse was true. But it was
rejoined, "you have forgotten-we have
it written down on paper" ." The paper,
then, tells lie," was the confident an
swer. Il have it written here" contin-
uod the chief, placing his hand with great
dignity upon his brow. {" You Yankees
are born with feather between your fin
gers; but your paper does not speak the
truth. The Indian keeps his knowledge
here--this is the book the Great Spirit
gave us--it does not lie" \ reference
was Immediately made to the treaty in
question, when, to the astonishment of all
present, and to the triumph of the tawuy
statesman, the document confirmed every
word that he had uttered.
1t happened during the Revolution that
treaty was held with the Indians at
which Lafayette was present, the object of
which was to unite the various tribes in
amity with America. The majority of the
chiefs were friendly, but there was much
opposition made to it, especially by a |
youg warrior, who declared that when an |
alliance was entered into with America he |
should consider that the sun of his coun-
try had set forever. In his travels through |
the Indian country, when last in America,
IL Hdppcilcu Ut ldl vi Chiefs
that Lafayette referred to the treaty in
question, and turning to Red Jacket said,
" Pray tell me, if you can, what has be-
come of that daring youth who so decided
ly opposed all propositions for peace and
amity % 81 myself am the man. re-
piled Red Jacket; " the decided enemy
of the Americans, so long as the hope of
successfully opposing them remained, but
now their true and faithful ally until
death"
During the war of 1912, Red Jacket
with his tribe enlisted on the American
side. He fought through the whole war,
and displayed the most undaunted intrep-
idity; while in no instance did he exhibit
the ferocity of the savage, or disgrace
himself by any act of inhumanity.
Red jacket was the foe of the white
man. His nation was his god; her hon
or, preservation and liberty, his religion.
He hated the missionary of the cross, be-
cause he feared some secret design upon
the lands, the peace, or the independence
of the Senecas. He never understood
Christianity. Its sublime disinterested-
ness exceeded his conceptions. He was a
keen observer of human nature; and saw
that among white and red men, sordid in
terest was equally the spring of action.
He therefore naturally suspected every
stranger that came to his tribe, of some
design on their little and dearly priced do
main. His tribe was divided into two
factions, one of which, from being in favor
of the missionaries, was called the Chris
tian, and the other. from their onpositiop
the Pagan party. His wife, who would
attend the religious meetings of the Chris
tian party, received much persecution
from him on this account. During his
last sickness there seemed to be quite
change in regard to his feelings respecting
He repeatedly remarked to
his wife, that he was sorry that he had
her-that she was right and he l
wrong, and as dying advice, told her, I
90 Dersereye IN uOur 1eIi1ioD n is tbe r;obt