The Portland daily press., 1897-05-22
GOOD INDIANS, THESE.
How tile Penobscots Stood by the
Revolutionary Patriots.
THEIR SERVICES AS SHOWN BY
THE OFFICIAL RECORDS.
General Washington's Letter to the Maine
Red Men-Indian Names in Lists of
Those Who Fell in Battle.

General WashlngtOn'S Letter to the Maine
Red Men-Indian Names in Lists OF
Those Who Fell in Battle.
Our forefathers of the Revolution cared
little for the previous condition of theil
comrades as long as they were fighting
for the same independe nee. Shoulder
to shoulder stood the white man, the
negro, and the Indian on many of the
battletields of the war and no American
should hesitate for moment from giving
all credit for their services.
Many Of our ancestors may have been
poor, perhaps rough, homespun men but
the results of their lives show that it is
true that out of the toughest workshops
resolutions of their meetings prove that
they were type of manhood that our
people will always delight to honor.
Their hearts were right, what care we for
their appearance? We judge them by the
fruit of their lives.
Many negro slaves entered the Revolu-
tionary army with the understanding
that in consideration of half their pay their
masters were to give them their freedom.
Parson Smith enlisted his slave under
those terms, SO did Parson Elvins of Scar
tboro and others. From Windham went
the negroes Lonon Rhode, Flanders.
Romeo, and Peter Smith, who did good
service. Prince ran away from his mas
ter, Lieut.. William Mcclellan, at Cor.
ham and went in Capt. Manley's priva-
teer. He returned voluntarily to slavery,
became pensioner, and lived until he
was very old man. His old master pro-
vided for him in his declining years,
which was just like the NcLellans.
NY ancestor served with Lonon Rhode,
in Capt. Samuel Themes Company, in
Col. Benjamin Tupper's 18th Massachu-
setts Regt They were in the retreat from
Fort Ticonderoga in July, 1777 and proba-
bly, fought together in the battles of
Hubbardton, Saltwater and Saratoga.
On return made at Valley Forge, in
January, 177S, the following is the last ac-
count of those two patriots, Nathan
Noble, slain in battle Oct. z, 1777, :"
and Sonon Rhode died Dec. Q, 1777. Per
haps they received their death wounds the
same day. Both of these mems names
are on the Roll of Honor of the towns
where they lived, and who would under
take to judge of their services to their
country by the standard of the color of
their skins. The sacrifices of humble
men were as noble as any in our country S
history and it is American to honor them
for it.
The province of Maine was fortunate
in it's Indians in the Revolution. The
three tribes, Penobscots, Passamaquoddys
and St. Johns, were true blue through it
all, and rendered valuable aid to our
cause. In the Maine Society of the Sons
of the American Revolution is a member,
Sopiel Selmor, Chief of the Passamaquod-
dy Indians, of Pleasant Point, Perry,
Me. He is the son of Capt. Selmor Soc
tomah and Dennis Molly Selmor, and his
father was soldier and scout under Col.
Allan at Machias, and rendered other
valuable assistance in the War of the
Revolution Chief Sopiel Selmor is now
very old man, as he must be to be the
son of a Revolutionary soldier, but he is
the patriarch of his tribe yet. In his
tribe is preserved an original letter writ
ten them by Gen. Washington from the
banks Of the Delaware river, the day be-
fore that Christmas day that he crossed
amid the floating ice. That day is one
that old Marblehead is proud of because
John Glover and his Cape Ann boys car
ried the army safely over, managing the
boats as only Yankee fishermen can.
The contents of that letter are as fol
lows, and it reflects credit on the tribe
that they hare preserved it until this
time.
Brothers of Passanaquodia: L am
glad to hear by Major Shaw that you &C
cepted the chain of friendship which /
sent you last February from Cambridge
and.that you are determined to keep it
bright and unbroken. When first heard
that you refused to send any of your war
riors to my assistance when called upon
by our brothers Of St. John | did not
know what to think. / was afraid that
some enemy had turned your hearts
against me. But am since informed
that all your young men were employed
in hunting, which was the reason OF
their not coming This has made my
mind easy and hope you will always in
future join with your brothers of ST. Johr
and Penobscot when required. l have
desired my brother the Governor of Mas
sachusetts Bay to pay you the money
which Capt. Smith promised you fol
sending my letters to the Micmack In
dians.
Brothers: / have piece of news to
tell you which hope you will attend to
Our enemy, the King of Great Britain
endeavored to stir up all the Indians
from Canada TO South Carolina against
us. But our brethren Of the Six Nations
and their allies the Shawnees and Della
wares, would not hearken to the advice OF
his messengers sent among them, but
kept fast hold of the ancient covenant
chain. The Cherokees and the Southern
tribes were foolish enough to listen tc
them and take up the hatchet against us
Upon this our warriors went into theil
country, burned their houses, destroyed
their corn and obliged them to sue fol
peace and give hostages for their future
good behavior. Now Brothers, never lei
the Kings wicked counsellor turn youl
hearts against me and your brethren OF