Posted by Victoria on January 14, 1999 at 12:45:21:
In Reply to: The Grey Hair posted by Victoria on January 14, 1999 at 08:00:51:
I have wondered if Mann wasn’t actually referring to
Sir William Johnson, Bart. He was the one white man
who was actually capable of accomplishing such a task.
And if the Sachems or Clan Mothers decided
officially against the excursion, was capable of rousing
the young men anxious for glory and lead them on to
accomplish the task. He was the winner of two military,
and even more political battles of equal import to the
course of the war, and the forts lay at his back door.
A frontier bon vivant, sort of like a James Bond in
pony tail and high heels, he shocked everyone by
decking himself out in paint and Mohawk regalia
and taking part in councils and frolics. Even while
on military campaign, he was noted for his excellent
table, importing barrels of lemons for rum punch and
a variety of wines to accompany his meals.
‘On His Majesty’s Indian Service’ he was able, though
not single-handedly, to give diplomatic relations for
the region an X rating, and funnel through himself,
or his office, much of the northern fur trade. This
allowed him to keep his fortunes in the black while
many of his employees and associates went heavily
into debt. It also paid for presents for the Indians
when funds from the Crown for that purpose dried
up, allowing him to retain the good graces of the
Mohawk while more distant tribes suffered and
grew angry at their new "Father," the King of England.
After Pontiac’s Rebellion, and the Treaty of Fort
Stanwix, he maneuvered the Six Nations into giving
up for white settlement an enormous chunk of land
south of the Ohio, comprising much of Kentucky.
It enabled the Six Nations to consolidate their own
lands in New York State and he received for his
efforts a substantial finder’s fee in land. It also
yanked the carpet out from under the Shawnee,
Delaware, and Cherokee who regarded themselves
as inhabitants of the region, and precipitated much
bloodshed as the white settlers moved in.
TBC,
Victoria