Red Jacket and his Medal

[halsherman]

Even though the Seneca Red Jacket was called the Cow Catcher by Shawnee Red Pole at the conference on the Glaize, he was still consider an important figure to the US Government who tried to use his influence on the Western Indians during the wars. Washington gave him the famous Medal to seal the bargain and he never parted with it. A good story and picture posted on
www.americanindians.com/RedJacket.htm

[Matthew S. Schweitzer]

Thanks Hal. I've always found Red Jacket to be an interesting character. Here was a respected and powerful Seneca statesman who is often maligned for various reasons, either for being too accommodationist or not enough. But as with so many of the eastern tribal leaders he did what he had to do to help his people in the way he thought best, though ultimately he doesn't seem to have been successful. His position of neutrality didn't win him many friends among the Ohio tribes. I remember reading an account of Red Jacket at the funeral of Chief Tarhe at Upper Sandusky which was quite moving. I'll have to see if I can find it on line again.

[halsherman]

The 225th Celebration of the Great Seal of the United States has used the Red Jacket medal in their exhibit. Click on the book at the bottom and then the first picture on the bottom has the painting and portrait of him along with the drawings of the medallion. diplomacy.state.gov/exhibitions/100911.htm