BURNET MILLER TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Southampton, July 5, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The Committees of East and Southampton taking into their serious consideration the remote situation from the head-quarters at New-York, and much exposed to the ravages of our unnatural enemy at this day, with regard to our stock in our common field, at the point of Montauk, it being remote from the inhabitants, where any number may land at pleasure, take away our stock, which is large, not less than two thousand neat cattle, and three or four thousand sheep, which, if taken away, would greatly distress us, and give them support, which would by no means do.

Now, considering our situation, we request your honourable House to petition General Schuyler that a number of troops be stationed at Montauk, and that the company now raising here may be a part, until a matter of more importance shall call them away. We are of the opinion that our inhabitants would do what in them lies to give assistance, in case any attempt should be made to take off the stock, but the distance of the inhabitants is eighteen or twenty miles. And as Gardiner’s Island lies adjacent, and is much exposed, also Shelter Island, Plum Island, and Oyster Pond Point, we think a number of whale-boats would be proper to employ, that assistance may be given from one part to the other. We have a number of boats that are of no use in this season that might be got for the design, if the General should think proper to order troops at this part of the Island, which we hereby petition may be done. I am, gentlemen, &c.

By order of the Committee:

BURNET MILLER, Chairman.

To the Provincial Congress sitting at New-York.

JOSEPH JOHNSON (A MOHEGAN INDIAN) TO THE NEW-YORK
CONGRESS.

Hartford, July 5, A. D. 1775.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: With a due sense of my unworthiness as an Indian, and with a high and proper esteem of your very worthy persons, I humbly write the following, and with a sense of my indebtedness to your Honours and the benevolent inhabitants of the City of New-York, for favours past. Honourable gentlemen, since my arrival to my own native place, I have been informed that some of my New-England brethren have been very busy in spreading false reports, or in representing things in a very wrong light, not only to my disadvantage, but even to the hazard of my life; by which false representations I have been almost discouraged of undertaking to go to visit my western brethren, of which visit, if I am hindered, may be damage to my dear friends, the Americans. But duly considering the consequences of my not going, and very well sensible that the Oneidas, my western brethren, are in daily expectation of my return; I feel a disposition still to go the intended journey, let the consequences be what they will. My love to the country in which I was born and educated, and my regard for my brethren westward, animates me to step forward, though at the expense of my very life.

Honourable gentlemen, it has been represented to my Connecticut friends, the English, by some of the Indians that have been westward with me, that I have been a grand enemy to my country; or, in other words, that I have turned a high tory, the which they cannot possibly prove. All that they can allege or bring in proof is, that I was long with Colonel Johnson, some times under arms, which, if I had time, I could answer for to the satisfaction of all unprejudiced persons. But they cannot possibly say that they ever heard three words during the whole of the time that we were together in that westward country, that I said any thing against my country or the Americans, whereby I discovered any disaffection to the noble, spirited Americans, either in any private or publick conversation. No, honourable gentlemen, but quite the contrary. I have ever spoken, both in publick and private, the sentiments of my heart to my New-England brethren; and they are witnesses themselves, with what warmth of heart, in our private and publick conversations, and in which conversations I have expressed my love and regard for Americans, and they know how I have often said I was willing to suffer and bleed, yea, even die, with the injured Americans. And, honourable gentlemen, my mind is the same as ever; and I can boldly say this for the truth, that I firmly believe that there has not been a truer friend to this North America than myself, of all the New-England Indians that went up to the western country in order to settle. I have embraced every opportunity to compose the minds of the western Indians, and I have repeatedly exhorted them to be peaceable. And I have had very good opportunity to converse with the western Indians from time to time, and I rejoice that I can discourse with them in their own language, and feel encouraged when I reflect how much they attended to the things that I laid before them from time to time; and I am sensible of their growing affection towards me, notwithstanding there have been many that have vainly and unlawfully endeavoured to render me despicable in their eyes.

Honourable gentlemen, I perceive that I have many very inveterate enemies of my own Indian acquaintances, more especially some that have been up with me. They envy me, as Joseph of old was envied, and they have already laid a snare for my life. They envy me for the respect that I receive from the white people every where, and more especially they envy me that I have so much influence among my western brethren. These persons, not considering the overruling hand of Providence, which makes high and makes low, which exalts and debases according to his divine pleasure, make known their folly by venting their rage against a poor, frail, and short-coming creature like myself. I acknowledge that I am a poor imperfect creature as to things of religion, and that in many things I fall short; yet the resolution of my heart is: to press forward in the ways of piety and duty. And, honourable gentlemen, I rejoice greatly that we are not to be saved by works; no, but we are directed by the divine revelation to put all our hopes and ground our confidence on Jesus Christ alone for salvation. So his complete righteousness I plead before my offended God, when I find myself overtaken with some surprising sin.

The above I wrote, knowing that the persons will make use of every failure that they can possibly find or discern, in order to render me despicable both at home and abroad, and so render me useless both to my country and to my poor sinking nation; for the prosperity of both, my soul seems truly to be engaged in. But as to the affairs of this world, I believe I am as faithful as any one, and would not give the right hand to any Indian of my acquaintance to do business amongst the back nations, being very well acquainted with their manners and customs, and can speak their language considerable well.

Honourable gentlemen, I cannot see With what face these malicious persons can falsely say that I was an enemy to the country, when they consider that I have a companion here in Connecticut, whom I value as dear as my own life, and a young babe dear to me as nature can make it. Can they, with any expectation of success, go on their infernal design of ensnaring my life, when persons know that all my dearest counexions in life are and have been amongst the people in New-England, during the time that I was in the western country ? I flatter myself that they will not succeed.

Honourable gentlemen, I would just inform you that yesterday the honourable Assembly was graciously pleased to appoint a Committee to hear what one of my enemies had to say or allege against me. The Indian’s name is Elijah Weampy, of Farmington, a subtle, crafty person. And this very same person had spoke, in our private conversation, very improper and unkind words against the New-England people with indignation; with which he was charged yesterday, and denied not, before evidence; two of the Indians that was up to Oneida with us, being Samuel Adams and John Sock, who heard him more than once. It is very likely that your Honours will soon see the judgment formed concerning the matter by the honourable Assembly of this Colony, as it is requested that it might be made as publick as the report concerning myself has been; likely it will be in the next papers. I hope to have the honour of being more closely examined by your Honours when I shall return from the Oncida country, by which time I humbly hope I may have the pleasure of giving your Honours general satisfaction. And I humbly