CHAPTER VI.
INDIANS EMPLOYED AS ALLIES.
The peace effected by Dunmore continued during most of
the year 1775. Occasionally, however, there were symptoms
of awakening hostility on the part of the Shawanese and other
confederated tribes, instigated no doubt by agents of England,
for by this time the contest between the two countries had
fairly commenced.
The frontier people trembled at the anticipated danger of
an alliance between Britain and the Indians; for they well
knew that such an influence would be powerful and full of
peril.
In the north Col. Guy Johnson, son-in-law of Sir William
Johnson, who had died suddenly in May, 1774, was the King's
agent, and using every endeavor to bring over the six nations.
This fact was known in the west, and the people naturally felt
uneasy lest a similar effort should be made upon the western
tribes. Those apprehensions, unhappily, were soon to be
realized. The keen eye of Washington too, was not long in
discerning the fatal consequences of the western savages
becoming united under the King's banner. Accordingly, on
the 19th of April, 1776, the commander-in-chief wrote to Congress,
saying, as the Indians would soon be engaged, either
for or against, he would suggest that they be engaged for the
colonies;[60]
upon the 3d of May, the report on this was considered;
upon the 25th of May it was resolved to be highly
expedient to engage the Indians for the American service;
and, upon the 3d of June, the general was empowered to
raise two thousand, to be employed in Canada. Upon the
17th of June, Washington was authorized to employ them
where he pleased, and to offer them rewards for prisoners;
and, upon the 8th of July, he was empowered to call out as
many of the Nova Scotia and neighboring tribes as he saw
fit.
[61]
Such was the course of proceeding, on the part of the colonies,
with regard to the employment of the Indians. The
steps, at the time, were secret, but now the whole story is
before the world. Not so, however, with regard to the acts
of England; as to them, we have but few of the records placed
within our reach. One thing, however, is known, namely,
that while the colonies offered their allies of the woods rewards
for prisoners, some of the British agents gave them money for
scalps[62]
—a proceeding that cannot find any justification.
In accordance with the course of policy thus pursued, the
north-western tribes, already angered by the constant invasions
of their territory by the hunters of Virginia and Carolina,
and easily accessible by the lakes, were soon enlisted on the
side of England; and had a Pontiac been alive to lead them,
might have done much mischief. As it was, during the
summer of 1776, their straggling parties so filled the woods
of Virginia and Kentucky, that no one outside of a fort was
safe.[63]
