We Mohawks are obliged to watch him constantly. Therefore we send you this intelligence that you shall know it, and Guy Johnson assures himself, and depends upon your coming to his assistance, and that you will without fail be of that opinion. He believes not that you will assent to let him suffer. We therefore expect you in a couple of days’ time. So much at present. We send but so far as to you Oneidas, but afterward perhaps to all the other Nations. We conclude and expect that you will have concern about our ruler, Guy Johnson, because we are all united.

AREN KANNENZARON,
JOHANNES TEGARIHOGE,
DEYAGODEAGHNAWEAGH.

JOSEPH BRANT,

Guy Johnson’s Interpreter.

RESOLUTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE OF TRYON COUNTY, NEWYORK, ON THE LETTER OF COLONEL GUY JOHNSON, OF MAY 20, AND THE LETTER FROM THE MOHAWKS.

In Committee, Tryon County, May 21, 1775.

1. That it is the opinion of this Commitee that the Indians who signed the letter never would have presumed to write or send the same, if they had not been countenanced.

2. That as we have unanimously adopted the proceedings of the Grand Continental Congress, and mean virtuously to support the same, so we feel and commiserate the sufferings of our brethren in the Massachusetts-Bay, and the other Colonies in America, and that we mean never to submit to any arbitrary and oppressive acts of any power under Heaven, or to any illegal and unwarrantable action of any man or set of men.

3. That as the whole Continent has approved of the actions and proceeding of the Massachusetts-Bay, and other of the Provinces of New-England, we do adopt and approve of the same. Wherefore we must and do consider that any fortification or armed force raised, to be made use of against them, as evidently designed to overawe and make us submit.

4. That Colonel Johnson’s conduct in raising fortifications round his house, keeping a number of Indians and armed men constantly about him, and stopping and searching travellers upon the King’s highway, and stopping our communication with Albany, is very alarming to this County, and is highly arbitrary, illegal, oppressive, and unwarrantable; and confirms us in our fears, that his design is to keep us in awe, and oblige us to submit to a state of slavery.

5. That as we abhor a state of slavery, we do join and unite together under all the ties of religion, honour, justice, and a love for our Country, never to become slaves, and to defend our freedom with our lives and fortunes.

COMMITTEE OF PALATINE DISTRICT, TRYON COUNTY, TO THE ALBANY COMMITTEE.

Upon the alarming news that expresses were gone to call down the Upper Nation of Indians to Colonel Johnson’s, we caused ourselves to be convened this day, to take the state of this County into consideration; upon which we have determined to order the inhabitants of this District to provide themselves with sufficient arms and ammunition, and to be ready at a moment’s warning. We are sorry to acquaint you that all communication with your County is entirely stopped by Colonel Johnson, who has five hundred men to guard his house, which he has fortified, under pretence that he is afraid of a visit of the New-Englandmen, as will appear by a copy of a letter we intercepted this morning. We have not fifty pounds of powder in our District, and it will be impossible for you to help us to any till the communication is opened, not a man being suffered to pass without being searched. To-Morrow is to be a meeting of Canajoharie District, when we expect they will adopt congressional measures very heartily, and we purpose to have a meeting of the Committees of both Districts, and propose the question, whether we will not open the communication by force; if which question is determined in the affirmative, we shall, despatch another express to you, acquainting you with the day, when we hope you will be on your way up with some ammunition.

We have just sent off an express to the German Flats, and Kingsland Districts, desiring them to unite with us and give us their assistance; which Districts, or at least a great majority of them, we are credibly informed, are very hearty in the present struggles for American liberty. We are, gentlemen, perhaps in a worse situation than any part of America is at present. We have an open enemy before our faces, and treacherous friends at our backs, for which reason we hope you will take our case into your immediate consideration, and give us an answer by the bearers, who go express by the way of Schoharie, as we dare not trust them any other way. They have orders to wait for an answer. We have reason to think that a great many of the Indians are not satisfied with Colonel Johnson’s conduct, for which reason we have thought it would not be improper to send a couple of men, well acquainted with the Indian language, to dissuade them from coming down. And we think it would be of service to us if you could send two also, who are able to make the Indians sensible of the present dispute with the Mother Country and us. We have the pleasure to acquaint you, that we are very unanimous in our District, as well as in Canajoharie, and we are determined by no means to submit to the oppressive acts of Parliament, much less to Colonel Johnson’s arbitrary conduct.

May 21, 1775.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A GENTLEMAN IS PHILADELPHIA, DATED BOSTON, MAY 21, 1775.

You request my writing freely, which I must be cautious of, for reasons which will naturally occur to you. As to the inhabitants removing, they are suffered to go out under certain restrictions. This liberty was obtained after many town meetings, and several conferences between their Committee and General Gage. The terms mutually agreed to were, “that the inhabitants should deliver up all their arms to the Selectmen.” This was generally done, though it took up some days. On this occasion the inhabitants were to have had liberty to remove out of Town, with their effects, and during this, to have free egress and regress. But mark the event: the arms being delivered, orders were issued by the General, that those who Inclined to remove must give in their names to the Selectmen, to be by them returned to the Military Town Major, who was then to write a pass for the person or family applying, to go through the lines, or over the ferry; but all merchandise was forbid; after a while, all provisions were forbid; and now all merchandise, provisions, and medicine. Guards are appointed to examine all trunks, boxes, beds, and every thing else to be carried out; these have proceeded to such extremities, as to take from the poor people a single loaf of bread, and half pound of chocolate; so that no one is allowed to carry out a mouthful of provisions; but all is submitted to quietly. The anxiety indeed is so great to get out of Town, that even were we obliged to go naked, it would not hinder us. But there are so many obstructions thrown in the way, that I do not think those who are most anxious will be all out in less than two or three months—vastly different from what was expected, for the General at first proposed, unasked, to procure the Admiral’s boats to assist the inhabitants in the transportation of their effects, which is not done, and there are but two ferry-boats allowed to cross. They have their designs in this, which you may easily guess at. We suffer much for want of fresh meat.

GENERAL WARD TO THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Head-Quarters, May 21, 1775.

The General requests the ordnance hereafter mentioned may be immediately procured and sent to Head-Quarters, viz: thirty, twenty-four pounders—if the whole number cannot be obtained, the number be made up with eighteen pounders, double fortified; ten twelve-pounders; eighteen nine-pounders; and ordnance stores for the above cannon, viz: twenty-one thousand and six hundred pounds of powder, and eighty balls for each cannon; fifteen hundred stand of arms; twenty thousand pounds musket powder; forty thousand pound of lead; and also seventeen hundred pots.

J. WARD, Secretary.