Author: Dehgewärnis (Mary Jemison of the Seneca)

Cited by

• S. E. Grove (1)
  • IN: The Crimson Skew (2016) Fiction, Fantastical Fiction, American
    EPIGRAPH: At that time I had three children who went with me on foot, one who rode on horseback, and one whom I carried on my back. Our corn was good that year; a part of which we had gathered and secured for winter. In one or two days . . . Sullivan and his army arrived at Genesee river, where they destroyed every article of the food kind that they could lay their hands on. A pan of our corn they burnt, and threw the remainder into the river. They burnt our houses, killed what few cattle and horses they could find, destroyed our fruit trees, and left nothing but the bare soil and timber. But the Indians had eloped and were not to be found. Having crossed and recrossed the river, and finished the work of destruction, the army marched off to the east. Our Indians saw them move off, but suspecting that it was Sullivan's intention to watch our return, and then to take us by surprise, resolved that the main body of our tribe should hunt where we then were, till Sullivan had gone so far that there would be no danger of his returning to molest us. This being agreed to, we hunted continually till the Indians concluded that there could be no risk in our once more taking possession of our lands. Accordingly we all returnedl but what were our feelings when we found that was not a mouthful of any kind of sustenance left, not even enough to keep a child one day from perishing without hunger. The weather by this time had become cold and stormy; and as we were destitute of houses and food too, I immediately resolved to take my children and look out for myself, without delay.
    FROM: NULL, (1779), NULL, NULL