THE IROQUOIS.—AMBUSCADE OF THE DEVIL’S HOLE.
While Bouquet1 was fighting the battle of Bushy Run, and Dalzell making his fatal sortie against the camp of Pontiac, Sir William Johnson was engaged in the more pacific yet more important task of securing the friendship and alliance of the Six Nations. After several preliminary conferences, he sent runners throughout the whole confederacy to invite deputies of the several tribes to meet him in council at Johnson Hall. The request was not declined. From the banks of the Mohawk; from the Oneida, Cayuga, and Tuscarora villages; from the valley of Onondaga, where, from immemorial time, had burned the great council-fire of the confederacy,—came chiefs and warriors2, gathering3 to the place of meeting. The Senecas alone, the warlike tenants4 of the Genesee valley, refused to attend; for they were already in arms against the English. Besides the Iroquois, deputies came from the tribes dwelling5 along the St. Lawrence, and within the settled parts of Canada.
The council opened on the seventh of September. Despite their fair words, their attachment6 was doubtful; but Sir William Johnson, by a dexterous7 mingling8 of reasoning, threats, and promises, allayed9 their discontent, and banished10 the thoughts of war. They winced11, however, when he informed them that, during the next season, an English army must pass through their country, on its way to punish the refractory12 tribes of the West. “Your foot is broad and heavy,” said the speaker from Onondaga; “take care that you do not tread on us.” Seeing the improved temper of his auditory, Johnson was led to hope for some farther advantage than that of mere13 neutrality. He accordingly urged the Iroquois to take up arms against the hostile tribes, and concluded his final harangue14 with the following figurative words: “I now deliver you a good English axe15, which I desire you will give to the warriors of all your nations, with directions to use it against328 these covenant-breakers, by cutting off the bad links which have sullied the chain of friendship.”
These words were confirmed by the presentation of a black war-belt of wampum, and the offer of a hatchet16, which the Iroquois did not refuse to accept. That they would take any very active and strenuous17 part in the war, could not be expected; yet their bearing arms at all would prove of great advantage, by discouraging the hostile Indians who had looked upon the Iroquois as friends and abettors. Some months after the council, several small parties actually took the field; and, being stimulated18 by the prospect19 of reward, brought in a considerable number of scalps and prisoners.[321]
Upon the persuasion20 of Sir William Johnson, the tribes of Canada were induced to send a message to the western Indians, exhorting21 them to bury the hatchet, while the Iroquois despatched an embassy of similar import to the Delawares on the Susquehanna. “Cousins the Delawares,”—thus ran the message,—“we have heard that many wild Indians in the West, who have tails like bears, have let fall the chain of friendship, and taken up the hatchet against our brethren the English. We desire you to hold fast the chain, and shut your ears against their words.”[322]
In spite of the friendly disposition22 to which the Iroquois had been brought, the province of New York suffered not a little from the attacks of the hostile tribes who ravaged23 the borders of Ulster, Orange, and Albany counties, and threatened to destroy the upper settlements of the Mohawk.[323] Sir329 William Johnson was the object of their especial enmity, and he several times received intimations that he was about to be attacked. He armed his tenantry, surrounded his seat of Johnson Hall with a stockade24, and garrisoned25 it with a party of soldiers, which Sir Jeffrey Amherst had ordered thither27 for his protection.
About this time, a singular incident occurred near the town of Goshen. Four or five men went out among the hills to shoot partridges, and, chancing to raise a large covey, they all fired their guns at nearly the same moment. The timorous28 inhabitants, hearing the reports, supposed that they came from an Indian war-party, and instantly fled in dismay, spreading the alarm as they went. The neighboring country was soon in a panic. The farmers cut the harness of their horses, and, leaving their carts and ploughs behind, galloped29 for their lives. Others, snatching up their children and their most valuable property, made with all speed for New England, not daring to pause until they had crossed the Hudson. For several days the neighborhood was abandoned, five hundred families having left their habitations and fled.[324] Not long after this absurd affair, an event occurred of a widely different character. Allusion30 has before been made to the carrying-place of Niagara, which formed an essential link in the chain of communication between the province of New York and the interior country. Men and military stores were conveyed in boats up the River Niagara, as far as the present site of Lewiston. Thence a portage road, several miles in length, passed along the banks of the stream, and terminated at Fort Schlosser, above the cataract31. This road traversed a region whose sublime32 features have gained for it a world-wide renown33. The River Niagara, a short distance below the cataract, assumes an aspect scarcely less remarkable34 than that stupendous scene itself. Its channel is formed by a vast ravine, whose sides, now bare and weather-stained, now shaggy with forest-trees, rise in cliffs of appalling35 height and steepness. Along this chasm36 pour all the waters of the lakes, heaving their furious surges with the power of an ocean and the rage of a mountain torrent37. About three miles below the cataract, the330 precipices38 which form the eastern wall of the ravine are broken by an abyss of awful depth and blackness, bearing at the present day the name of the Devil’s Hole. In its shallowest part, the precipice39 sinks sheer down to the depth of eighty feet, where it meets a chaotic40 mass of rocks, descending41 with an abrupt42 declivity43 to unseen depths below. Within the cold and damp recesses44 of the gulf45, a host of forest-trees have rooted themselves; and, standing46 on the perilous47 brink48, one may look down upon the mingled49 foliage50 of ash, poplar, and maple51, while, above them all, the spruce and fir shoot their sharp and rigid52 spires53 upward into sunlight. The roar of the convulsed river swells54 heavily on the ear; and, far below, its headlong waters, careering in foam55, may be discerned through the openings of the matted foliage.
On the thirteenth of September, a numerous train of wagons56 and pack-horses proceeded from the lower landing to Fort Schlosser; and on the following morning set out on their return, guarded by an escort of twenty-four soldiers. They pursued their slow progress until they reached a point where the road passed along the brink of the Devil’s Hole. The gulf yawned on their left, while on their right the road was skirted by low densely57 wooded hills. Suddenly they were greeted by the blaze and clatter58 of a hundred rifles. Then followed the startled cries of men, and the bounding of maddened horses. At the next instant, a host of Indians broke screeching59 from the woods, and rifle-butt and tomahawk finished the bloody60 work. All was over in a moment. Horses leaped the precipice; men were driven shrieking61 into the abyss; teams and wagons went over, crashing to atoms among the rocks below. Tradition relates that the drummer-boy of the detachment was caught, in his fall, among the branches of a tree, where he hung suspended by his drum-strap. Being but slightly injured, he disengaged himself, and, hiding in the recesses of the gulf, finally escaped. One of the teamsters also, who was wounded at the first fire, contrived62 to crawl into the woods, where he lay concealed63 till the Indians had left the place. Besides these two, the only survivor64 was Stedman, the conductor of the convoy65; who, being well mounted, and seeing the whole party forced helpless towards the precipice, wheeled his horse, and resolutely66 spurred through the crowd of Indians. One of331 them, it is said, seized his bridle67; but he freed himself by a dexterous use of his knife, and plunged68 into the woods, untouched by the bullets which whistled about his head. Flying at full speed through the forest, he reached Fort Schlosser in safety.
The distant sound of the Indian rifles had been heard by a party of soldiers, who occupied a small fortified69 camp near the lower landing. Forming in haste, they advanced eagerly to the rescue. In anticipation70 of this movement, the Indians, who were nearly five hundred in number, had separated into two parties, one of which had stationed itself at the Devil’s Hole, to waylay71 the convoy, while the other formed an ambuscade upon the road, a mile nearer the landing-place. The soldiers, marching precipitately72, and huddled73 in a close body, were suddenly assailed74 by a volley of rifles, which stretched half their number dead upon the road. Then, rushing from the forest, the Indians cut down the survivors75 with merciless ferocity. A small remnant only escaped the massacre76, and fled to Fort Niagara with the tidings. Major Wilkins, who commanded at this post, lost no time in marching to the spot, with nearly the whole strength of his garrison26. Not an Indian was to be found. At the two places of ambuscade, about seventy dead bodies were counted, naked, scalpless, and so horribly mangled77 that many of them could not be recognized. All the wagons had been broken to pieces, and such of the horses as were not driven over the precipice had been carried off, laden78, doubtless, with the plunder79. The ambuscade of the Devil’s Hole has gained a traditionary immortality80, adding fearful interest to a scene whose native horrors need no aid from the imagination.[325]
332
The Seneca warriors, aided probably by some of the western Indians, were the authors of this unexpected attack. Their hostility81 did not end here. Several weeks afterwards, Major Wilkins, with a force of six hundred regulars, collected with great effort throughout the provinces, was advancing to the relief of Detroit. As the boats were slowly forcing their way upwards82 against the swift current above the falls of Niagara, they were assailed by a mere handful of Indians, thrown into confusion, and driven back to Fort Schlosser with serious loss. The next attempt was more fortunate, the boats reaching Lake Erie without farther attack; but the inauspicious opening of the expedition was followed by results yet more disastrous83. As they approached their destination, a violent storm overtook them in the night. The frail84 bateaux, tossing upon the merciless waves of Lake Erie, were overset, driven ashore85, and many of them dashed to pieces. About seventy men perished, all the ammunition86 and stores were destroyed, and the shattered flotilla was forced back to Niagara.
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1
bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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2
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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7
dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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8
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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9
allayed
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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13
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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14
harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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15
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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16
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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17
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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19
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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21
exhorting
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的现在分词 ) | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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23
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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24
stockade
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| n.栅栏，围栏；v.用栅栏防护 | |
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25
garrisoned
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| 卫戍部队守备( garrison的过去式和过去分词 )； 派部队驻防 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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27
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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28
timorous
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| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 | |
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29
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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31
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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38
precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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40
chaotic
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| adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的 | |
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41
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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42
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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43
declivity
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| n.下坡，倾斜面 | |
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44
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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45
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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46
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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47
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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48
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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49
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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50
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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51
maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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52
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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53
spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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54
swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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55
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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56
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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57
densely
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| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
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58
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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59
screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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60
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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61
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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62
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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63
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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64
survivor
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| n.生存者，残存者，幸存者 | |
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65
convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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67
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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68
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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69
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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70
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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71
waylay
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| v.埋伏，伏击 | |
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precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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73
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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76
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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77
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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79
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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80
immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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81
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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82
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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83
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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84
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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85
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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86
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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