the western Indians, and, in a council with them, found that Governor Carlton had been there before him, and offered the Indians the alliance of England. Thus, it would seem that both parties, even before the battle of Lexington, had sought an alliance with the savages. The Congress of the United Colonies, during the year 1775, advocated a policy that looked chiefly to an effort to keep the Indians out of the contest er tirely; but England, both by promises and threats, endeavored to enlist them. In her efforts, in this respect, she had but little success until her first victories in the north, and then the Indians began to take her side. In 1778, Congress authorized the employment of Indians in the service of the United States. Some of our histories say that authority was given to employ them in 1776, and that the commander-in-chief was authorized to employ them in such service as he pleased, and to offer them a bounty for prisoners taken by them. During the war the English went further, and gave the Indians a bounty for scalps. The northwestern Indians, angered by the constant invasion of their country by hunters, chiefly from Carolina and Virginia, and being accessible to the English by the lakes, became enlisted in their behalf, and committed many atrocities, chiefly in Kentucky.

As the war progressed, great uneasiness was felt on the frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia, because of rumors of coming troubles from the savages. The tribes nearest the American settlements were pressed upon by more distant bands. Even the settlers on the Mohawk and Susquehannah were in constant dread of incursions. The Shawnee chief, Cornstalk, was a faithful friend of the colonists, and his voice and influence were for peace, and his efforts in that behalf were very valuable. Cornstalk, owing to the confusion and trouble by which he was surrounded, went across the Ohio river in 1777, to talk matters over with the commander of a post at the mouth of the Big Kenhawa. He was a man of great energy, cour age, and good sense, and very reliable. The Americans there, believing that the Shawnees were inclined to unite with the British, determined to retain him and Red Hawk, a subordinate chief who was with him. Cornstalk talked freely of the condition of affairs, and said to Captain Arbuckle, in

command, that unless he and his friends could have assurances of protection from the "Long Knives," they might be compelled "to go with the stream." This visit, made as a friend, worked a different result from what he expected. They did not permit him to depart. The day passed by, and on the next morning an Indian on the opposite shore hailed the fort. He was brought over, and was the son of Cornstalk, who was anxious about his father, since he had not returned home. The son was also secured as a hostage. A few days thereafter two Indians, who were unknown to the whites, killed a white hunter. The cry was instantly raised, "Kill the red dogs in the fort." Arbuckle attempted, it is said, to prevent this, but his life was threatened. The mob rushed to the fort where the captive Indians were. Cornstalk met them at the entrance and was pierced by seven bullets. His son and Red Hawk were also slain. Dodridge, in his Notes, says, "from that hour peace was not to be hoped for."

About this time a congress of Indians was gathering at Otsego, stimulated by the English, to arrange "to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Bostonians." Other atrocities on the part of the whites were committed. All these occurrences aroused the savages, and then the settlers suffered in return, in the loss of life and destruction of property. Such was their condition, by reason of the movements of the Indians, that their cornfields were not cultivated. The events of this period were of the most touching character, and full of thrilling incidents.

The oppressive acts of Great Britain anterior to the revolt of the colonies, and preceding the odious stamp act, and the feeling of discontent thereby produced, had induced that government to take preparatory steps to resist the outbreak which seemed inevitable, and she had her emissaries among the savages, inciting them to take up arms. Indeed, it was apprehended that several tribes were then in a hostile attitude by reason of the conduct of the troops, who were engaged in the hostilities known in our colonial history as Dunmore's war. On the first of June, 1775, a petition from the people of that part of Augusta county, Virginia, west of the Alleghany mountains, was laid before the Continental Congress. The petitioners

expressed "fears of a rupture with the Indians, on account of Lord Dunmore's conduct," and desired "commissioners from the colony of Virginia and province of Pennsylvania, to attend a meeting of the Indians at Pittsburg on behalf of these colonies." On the 30th of the same month a number of letters and speeches from the Stockbridge Indians were laid be fore the Congress and read, and the Committee on Indian Atfairs was directed to prepare proper talks to the several tribes of Indians, for engaging the continuance of their friendship and neutrality in the existing unhappy dispute with Great Britain. It was also resolved "that the securing and preserving of the friendship of the Indian nations appears to be a subject of the utmost moment to these colonies; that there was too much reason to apprehend that the British will spare no pains to excite the several Indian nations to take up arms against the colonies, and that it became them to be very active and vigilant, in exercising every prudent means to strengthen and confirm the friendly disposition toward the colonies, among the northern tribes, which has so long prevailed, and which has been lately manifested by some of those to the southward." The Congress at the same time made provision for the appointment of boards of commissioners to superintend Indian affairs in behalf of the colonies. It designated three Indian departments-the northern, southern, and middle; the first to embrace all the Six Nations, and all the Indians northward of those; the second to extend so far north as to include the Cherokees, and all the Indians south of them; and the third to include the Indian nations that lie between the other two departments. It gave authority and power to the commissioners to treat with the Indians. in their respective departments, in the name and on behalf of the colonies; the object being to preserve peace and friendship with the Indians and to prevent their taking any part in the present commotions. The commissioners were empow ered to seize any of the king's superintendents, their deputies or agents, who were found stirring up or inciting the Indians to become inimical to the colonies, and to keep them in safe custody until such order is taken in the premises as to the Congress may seem proper. Other powers and duties were

conferred upon the commissioners, and money appropriated to be expended by them in making treaties and supplying presents to the Indians.

This was the first legislation of the Continental Congress creating an official board to administer Indian affairs. During the remainder of the year 1775, many resolves were adopted by the Congress giving advice and aid to the Commissioners of Indian Affairs in the several departments, and looking to the securing of an alliance with the Indian nations. On the 27th of January, 1776, Congress

"Resolved, That in order to preserve the confidence and friendship of the Indians, and to prevent their suffering for want of the necessaries of life, a suitable assortment of Indian goods, to the amount of forty thousand pounds sterling, be imported on account and risk of the United Colonies.

"That said goods, when imported, be divided among the different departments, in the following proportions, viz: for the northern department, comprehending Canada, thirteen thousand three hundred and thirty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence sterling; for the middle department, the like value; and the residue for the southern department.

"That in order to pay for the said goods, a quantity of produce of these colonies be exported to some foreign European market, where it will sell to the best advantage.

"That the secret committee be empowered to contract with proper persons for importing said goods, and for exporting produce to pay for the same.

"That said goods, when imported, be delivered to the Commissioners of Indian Affairs, for the respective departments, or their order, in the proportion before mentioned.

"That the respective commissioners, or such of them as cau conveniently assemble for that purpose, shall, as the goods arrive, fix a price, adding to the first cost, interest, the charge of insurance, and all other charges, and also a commission not exceeding two and one-half per cent. on the first cost, for their own care and trouble in receiving, storing, and selling them to the Indian traders; but such commissioners as are at the same time members of Congress shall not be burdened

with this part of the business, nor receive any part of the aforesaid commission.

"That no person shall be permitted to trade with the Indians without license from one or more of the commissioners of each respective department.

"That all traders shall dispose of their goods at such stated reasonable prices as shall be fixed and ascertained by the commissioners, or a majority of such as can conveniently assemble for that purpose, in each respective department, and shall allow the Indians a reasonable price for their skins and furs, and take no unjust advantage of their distress and intemperance; and to this end they shall respectively, upon receiving their licenses, enter into bond to the commissioners, for the use of the United Colonies, in such penalty as the acting commissioners, or commissioner, shall think proper, conditioned for the performance of the terms and regulations above prescribed.

"That to such licensed traders only, the respective commissioners shall deliver the goods, so to be imported, in such proportions as they shall judge will best promote a fair trade, and relieve the necessities of the Indians.

"That every trader on receiving the goods shall pay to the commissioners, in hand, the price at which they shall be estimated; and the commissioners shall, from time to time, as the money shall come to their hands, transmit the same to the Continental treasurers, deducting only the allowance for their trouble, as aforesaid.

"That the trade with the Indian nations shall be carried on at such posts and places only, as the commissioners for each department shall respectively appoint.

"That these resolutions shall not be construed to prevent or deter any private person from importing goods for the Indian trade, under the restrictions herein expressed."

On the 15th of February, 1776, the Congress

"Resolved, That a friendly commerce between the people of the United Colonies and the Indians, and the propagation of the gospel and the cultivation of the civil arts among the latter, may produce many and inestimable advantages to both,