I inquired of my mother the cause, and she told me that my
father was a resident in Albany. I still ate my victuals out of a bark
dish. I grew up to be a young man, and married me a wife, and I had no
kettle or gun. I then knew where my father lived, and went to see him, and
found he was a white man, and spoke the English language. He gave me
victuals, while I was at his house, but when I started to return home, he
gave me no provision to eat on the way. He gave me neither kettle or gun."
He was with his people when they fought in alliance with the French in the
year 1755. The principal part of the force which met and defeated the
English under General Braddock was Indian, and it was through their
prowess mainly, if not entirely, that the victory was gained.
What part Cornplanter took in that engagement is not known, but in the war
of the Revolution, he was a war-chief, and ranked high in the estimation
of his people.
In a speech addressed to President Washington in 1790, he related the
manner in which the Indians came to be in alliance with the English.
"Many nations inhabited this country; but they had no wisdom, therefore
they warred together. The Six Nations were powerful and compelled them to
peace; the lands to a great extent were given up to them; the French came
among us and built Niagara; they became our fathers and took care of us.
Sir William Johnson came and took that fort from the French; he became our
father and promised to take care of us, and did so until you were too
strong for his king.
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