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A SUMMARY NARRATIVE
OF THE CONDUCT OF THE ONEIDA INDIANS (LIVING AT THE UPPER TOWN) PREVIOUS TO THE ATTACK OF
THE FRENCH AND THEIR INDIANS UPON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE GERMAN FLATS IN THE PROVINCE OF
NEW-YORK, IN NOVEMBER , 1757. 1
A few days after this Massacre and desolation had been perpetrated, Sir William Johnson des-patched Geo. Croghan, Esq ; Deputy-agent, with M r Montour, the Indian interpreter, to the GermanFlats, where he understood several of the Oneida and Tuscarora Indians were assembled, iu order tocall upon those Indians to Explain themselves why they had not given more timely notice to theGermans of the designs and approach of the Enemy ; it having been reported, that no intelligencehad been given by the Indians, until the same morning the attack was made ; and as these Indiansmight naturally be supposed, from their situation and other circumstances, to have had earlierknowledge of the Enemy’s design and march.
Before M r Croghan could get up to the German Flats, the aforesaid Indians were on their roadhomewards, but he was informed the Chief Sachem of the Upper Oneida Town, with a TuscaroraSachem and another Oneida Indian, were still about four miles from Fort Harkeman : upon whichhe sent a messenger to acquaint them, that he was at the said fort.
The aforesaid Indians returned, and on the 30 th of November at Fort Harkeman, Cmaghquieson,theChief Oneida Sachem, made the following speech to M r Croghan, having first called in one RudolphShumaker, Hanjost Harkman, and several other Germans , who understood the Indian language, anddesired them to sit down and hear what he was going to say.
Cmaghquieson then proceeded and said :
‘ Brother ,
( I can’t help telling you that we were very much surprised to hear that our brethren the English suspect and charge us with not giving them timely notice of the designs of the French , as it is wellknown we have not neglected to give them every piece of intelligence that came to our knowledge.‘ Brother ,
I About fifteen days before the affair happened, we sent the Germans word, that some Swegatchi
Indians told us,'The French were determined to destroy the German Flats, and desired them to be ontheir guard. About six days after that we had a further account from Swegatchi, that the French were preparing to march. *
I I then came down to the German Flats, and in a meeting with the Germans , told them what wehad heard, and desired them to collect themselves together in a body, at their fort,* and secure theirwomen, children, and effects, and make the best defence they could ; and at the same time told themto write what I had said to our brother Warraghiyagey (meaning Sir William Jolmsonf) but theypaid not the least regard to what I told them ; and laughed at me, slapping their hands on theirbuttocks, saying they did not value the Enemy: Upon which I returned home and sent one of ourpeople to the Lake , (meaning the Oneida Lake) to find out whether the Enemy were coming or not;after he had staid there two days, the Enemy arrived at the Carrying-Place, and sent word to theCastle at the Lake , that they were there; and told them what they were going to do; but chargedthem not to let us at the Uper Castle know anything of their design. As soon as the man I sent
1 Lyman C. Draper, Esq,, of Phila. , has had the politeness to communicate this “ Narrative.”
• A Stockaded Work round the church, and a block-house, with a ditch, and a parapet pallisadoed, thrown up by SirWilliam Johnson a year ago, upon an alarm then given.