mand of Colonel Johnson, was to have for its object the capture of Crown point, for which purpose he was to have the militia of

New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the warriors of the Six Nations under his command. To aid in securing the services of the latter, as well as to effect a more complete organization of the Indian alliances, he was appointed superin

tendent of Indian affairs, with full power to make treaties in the interest of the crown.

Returning from Alexandria, where the conference had been held, Johnson entered upon the work which had been assigned to

him.

From Mount Johnson, to which

council-fire which had for so many years

he removed the

been kept burning at

Albany, he sent a belt to each of the confederate lu All the families between the deponent's house and Minnisink, to the amount of one hundred and fifty persons, have deserted those settlements and come into four frontier houses, one of which is the deponent's: that deponent's house, which now a frontier house on that side, and

is

which was, last year,

fifteen

tribes, or

sixteen

miles within the settlements at Minnisink, is

about

sixteen

miles

from

river."

Hudson's

Affidavit of James Hoivell, York Manuscripts, LXXXII, 107, etc.

Colonial History, vi, 961.

New

O.P HUDSON'S

acquainting them of come and meet him.

RIPER.

appointment and asking them to Over a thousand sons of the forest

his

accepted the invitation, and, on the 2ist of June, seated them selves before him in council. While ready to do him personal service and honor, they had