Native Americans thought on General Wayne

[Andy]

Source:

History, Manners and Customs of the Indian Nations who Once Inhabited Pennsylvania and the Neighboring States

By

Reverend John Heckewelder

1876

Chapter XXXIII

General Observations of the Indians on the White People

Page 192



“…They also make a distinction between a warrior and a murderer, which, as they explain it, is not much to our advantage. It is not, say they, the number of scalps alone which a man brings with him that prove him to be a brave warrior. Cowards have been known to return, and bring scalps home, which they had taken where they knew was no danger, where no attack was expected and no opposition made. Such was the case with those Christian Indians on the Muskingum, the friendly Indians near Pittsburg, and a great number of scattered, peaceable men of our nation, who were all murdered by cowards. It is not thus that the Black Snake, the great General Wayne acted; he was a true warrior and a brave man; he was equal to any of our chiefs that we have, equal to any that we have ever had…”

[Matthew S. Schweitzer]

It seems that the Indians had great respect for Wayne as this sentiment is reflected in other writings of the time. After all, was it not Little Turtle of the Miami who urged his confederacy to ultimately give up their fight against the whites because they now faced a chief "who never sleeps"? This is interesting given that the last two white generals to go against the Ohio tribes, Harmar and St. Clair, where such dismal failures that they bred nothing but contempt from the Indians. Despite his shortcomings, Wayne truly seems to have been an exemplary leader.

[Gene]

Prairie Net / Prarie Nations Info: I located this information out on the net sometime ago. I also corresponded with the web pager owner/editor, who gave me permission to post a link on the Black Hawk War Society web page. Theres a lot of good information on native american heritage and native languages as well. I thought I'd include here as well.

www.prairienet.org/prairienations/index.htm