desolated ; the proud Indians, who had scarce felt the touch of the colonists except in kindness, were driven into the forests to starve and be hunted like wild beasts ; their altars were overturned, their graves trampled

country

laid

upon by

strangers,

and

their beautiful

waste.

The punishment administered by Sullivan was indeed terrible, That the projectors of the expedition, includ so regarded it, is well known ; that four of ing Washington, had broken their pledge of neutrality and carried for tribes the but was it just?

ward their revenges 'and prejudices to the account of the inno That they were the victims of the wiles cent, is also known. of designing men

had learned their lessons of hatred

in the

earlier controversies between the contending civilizations

was

can be now.

Had

as strongly urged in their behalf then as

it

they been without warning, the destruction of their towns would have been without justification ; but they had been both warned

and entreated.

In December, 1777, congress had addressed

to them an earnest and eloquent appeal to preserve their neu and refrain from further hostilities, to sit under the shade trality,

of their

own trees and by the side of their own streams and

" smoke their

pipe in

safety

This address recognized the division

which then existed

in

the confederacy,

To the four hostile tribes, it said "

:

Brothers, Cayugas, Senecas, Onondagas and Mohawks : Look well into your

and contentment

" x

j

but they