Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-03-05
CHAPTER II.
WAR OF 1863.

WAR OF 1863.
The treaty of peace between his
British majesty and the kings of
France, Spain and Portugal, con-
cluded at Paris on the 10th Of
February, 1863, did not put an end
/ to the Indian war against the
frontier parts and back settlements
of the colonies of Great Britain.
The springs and summer of 1863,
as we'll as those of 1864, deserve to
be memorable in history, for the
great extent and destructive re-
suits of n war OF determination,
carried on by the united forco of
all the Indian nations of the west
ern country, along the shore Of the
northern lakes, and throughout the
whole extont OF the frontier set.
Elements OF Pennsylvania, Virginia
and North Carolina.
The events of this war, MS they
relate to the frontier OF Pcnnsyl-
vania and the shores of the lakes,
are matters Of history already, and
therefore shall he no farther re-
lated here than is nee, ssary to
give a connected view Of the mill
tary events Of those disastrous
seasons. The masSacres by the
Indians in the south western part
of Virginia, so far they have come
TO the knowledge Of the author,
shall be related more in detail.
The English historians Hist. Of
England, vol. X. p. $685. attribute
this terrible war TO the influence Of
the French Jesuits over tho In
dianS; but whether with much
truth and candor, is, to say the
least OF it, extremely doubtful.
Tho peace OF 1863, by which the
provinces Of Canada were cedcd to
Britain, was offensive to the In
dians, especially rs they very well
knew that the English government,
Oh the ground Of this treaty, claim
ed the jurisdiction of the western
country generally ; and as an In
dian secs no difference between the
right of jurisdiction and that of
possession, they considered them
selves as about to he dispOssesscd
OF the whole of their country, as
rapidly rs the English might find
it convenient to take possession OF
il. In tins opinion they were con-
firmcd 10y tho building of forts on
the Susquchanna, on lands to
which the Indians land clam. The
forts and posts Of Pittsburg, Bed
ford, Iigonier, Niagara, Detroit,
Presque Isle, st. Joseph and
Michilimackinac, were either bnllt,
or improved and strengthened,
with additions TO their earrisons.
Thus the Indians saw themselves
surrounded on the north and cast
by Il strong line Of forts, while
those Of Bedford, Ligonier and
Pittsburg threatened al extension
Of them into the heart Of their
country. Thus circumstaHced, the
ahOrigiuals Of the country had TO
choose between the prospect Of be
ing driven to the inhOSpitablc
re- egi0ns of the north and west, oil
negotiating with the British gov
ernment Tor continuance of the
possession Of their OWN land, or
Of taking up arms for its defense.
They chose the latter course, in
which Il view OF the Smallucss of
, THAR numbers, and the scantincSs
Of their resources, ought to have
taught them, that although they
might do much mischief they
could not ultimately succeed but
the Indians, IA well as their brcth-
rem OF the white skin, arc often
, driven by their impetuons passions
to rash and destructive enterprises,
which reason, were it permitted TO
give it cOunsels, would disap-
prove.
The plan resolved on by the In
: dians for the prosecution Of the
: war, was that Of general nassa-
ere of all the inhabitants Of the
English settlements IN the western
country, ~ well AS of those on the
lands on the Susquehanna, to
which they laid claim.
Never did military commanders
of any nation display more skill,
or their troops more steady and
determined bravery, than did those
red men Of the wilderness in the
prosecution Of their gigantic plan
for the recovery oi their country
from the possession Of the English.
1t was irdeed a war Of utter cx-
termination on an extensive scale
a conflict which exhibited human
, nature in its native state, IN which
the cunning of the fox is associat'
+ ed with the the cruelty Of the
| tiger. We read the history OF this
r war with feelings Of the deepest
horror; but why' On the part oI
, the savages, theirs was the ancient
mode of warfare. i'm which there