Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-21
The Greatest Indian Leader.

Most writers on the subject, lnclud-
ing John Fiske and Henry r. School
craft, have agreed in saying that Jo-
seph Brant was the greatest of all
American Indians of whom we have
authentic records. He was a full
blooded Mohawk: had been educated
by white men; had been attached TO
the household of Sir William Johnson
whose Indian wife, Molle Brant, was
Joseph's sister, and was intimately as
sociated with the work of the mission
aries among the Mohawk Indians be-
fore he began his interesting career as
the leader of the Indians who COM
bned with the Tories in the revolu-
ton in the work of spreading terrible
desolation along the frontier of New
York state Brant was man thor
Cughly accomplished in all the arts of
Indian warfare. and yet he was MGR
ciful to his enemies and especially to
his prisoners. He often said what was
strictly true. that the Tories in that
warfare We're more savage than the
savages themselves.
On account of Brant's operations
based on original documents and con-
tanning matter never before accessible
to the public. is given in The Old
New York Frontier" written by Fran
els w. Halsey. Brant was the inspiring
genius among the Indians during the
entire conflict. and co-operated with
the British in the most active man
ner. He was well known to all the
prominent English officers and made
two visits to London. where he met the
distinguished men and women of that
time.
He had interviews with cabinet Off
GERS in London and dined in houses
where at the same table were seated
Burke. Fox and Sheridan. He paid a
formal visit to George III, and declined
to kiss the sovereign's hand on the
good American ground that he. too.
was sovereign. But he had the grace
to kiss the hand of the Queen. a great
ball was given in Brant's honor where
he presented himself in full Indian
Indian costume, with war paint. feath-
ers and tomah hawk. The story is told
that the Turkish ambassador mistook
his painted face for visor. and ven
tured to touch it, thus giving Brant an
opportunity for sport. He sprang back
from the company near him, sounded
the war whOOp in true native fashion.
glared at the minister and flashed his
tomahawk in the air. to the conStern-
alton OF everyone present who did not
understand the capacity of a Mohawk
Indian for practical joking. The dis
sclute Prince of Wales, who was after
wards George ", entertained Grant
and went with him to many interest
ing places in London. which Brant af-
forwards described as very queer for
a prince to go"
In America Brant made the ac-
quaintance of Washington. Aaron Burr
and John Hancock. He also met Tai
leyrand, afterward the minister of Ma
poleon. Until the last years of his life
he kept up correspondence with the
Duke of Northumberland at that time
the head of the British peerage. who
in signing one of his letters to Brant
used these words: Believe me ever to
be, with the greatest truth your af-
fectionate friend and brother
Brant spent his last years on n farm
in Canada, and was in receipt of sal
airy from England as n retired captain
of the army. He cultivated his lands
raised horses. and had 30 or 40 negro
slaves reduced to state of complete
submission. His portrait was painted
in London in 1916 by the celebrated
Romney.-Literary Bulletin.