now began to find their way back to Canada in large numbers. With his defeat at Stillwater, they were as thoroughly demoral ized as they were at Fort Schuyler when frightened by an idiot boy.

Within three days

after

that

battle, one

hundred and

fifty warriors made their peace with General Gates, accepted

the war-belt, partook of the feast, and joined the Americans. When the final surrender of the British army came, not an x

The story of Hon Yost is well told

Having lost Lossing's Field Book. their shirts the Indians evidently feared in

that they might lose their skins. a

Colonial History , viu, 725.

Johnson

says (ibid. t 727),

the destruction of the

Mohawk castles occurred after the battle

of Bennington, and that the fugitives fled to Burgoyne, but the account by Glaus is the most probable.

THE INDIAN TRIBES

For their conduct Johnson and

Indian was found in its ranks.

Claus had their

many excuses to offer.

" harsh and

indiscreet

The latter charged that

treatment

"

by Major Campbell, caused the greatest part of them to quit Burgoyne ; Johnson assumed that at Oriskany they were not adequately supported

" would have ren by St. Leger, and that had they been they " dered more material service ; but the fact would seem to be that

they had acted in precise accordance *with

the

course

which they had pursued in the previous war with France, and were ready at all times to court the favor of the party which, for the time being, appeared the most successful. The evidence of their moral greatness is yet wanting.