Ethan Allen to the Assembly of Connecticut

v2:713

Crown Point, May 26, 1775.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: I here communicate to you a copy of a letter I sent by Mr˙ Winthrop Hoit and Captain Abraham Nimham, a friendly Stockbridge Indian, to the several Tribes of Indians in Canada.

v2:714

"Head-Quarters of the Army, Crown Point,

"May 24, 1775.

"By advice of council of the officers, I recommend our trusty and well-beloved friend and brother, Captain Abraham Nimham, of Stockbridge, as our ambassador of peace to our good brother Indians of the four Tribes, viz: the Hoenawagoes, the Swagaches, the Canesadaugans, and the Saint Fransawas.

"Loving brothers and friends: I have to inform you that George the Third, King of England, has made war with the English Colonies in America, who have ever till now been his good subjects; and sent his army and killed some of your good friends and brothers at Boston, in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay. Then your good brothers in that Province, and in all the Colonies of English America, made war with King George, and have begun to kill the men of his army, and have taken Ticondcroga and Crown Point from him, and all the artillery, and also a great sloop which was at St˙ John' s, and all the boats in the lake, and have raised, and are raising two great armies; one is destined for Boston, and the other for the fortresses and department of Lake Champlain, to fight the King' s Troops that oppose the Colonies from Canada; and as King George' s soldiers killed our brothers and friends in a time of peace, I hope, as Indians are good and honest men, you will not fight for King George against your friends in America, as they have done you no wrong, and desire to live with you as brothers. I was always a friend to Indians, and have hunted with them many times, and know how to shoot and ambush like Indians, and am a great hunter.

"I want to have your warriours come and see me, and help me fight the King' s Regular Troops. You know they stand all along close together, rank and file, and my men fight so as Indians do, and I want your warriours to join with me and my warriours, like brothers, and ambush the Regulars: if you will, I will give you money, blankets, tomahawks, knives, paint, and any thing that there is in the army, just like brothers; and I will go with you into the woods to scout; and my men and your men will sleep together, and eat and drink together, and fight Regulars, because they first killed our brothers; and will fight against us; therefore I want our brother Indians to help us fight; for I know Indians are good warriours, and can fight well in the bush. You know it is good for any warriours and Indians too to kill the Regulars, because they first began to kill our brothers in this Country without cause.

"Ye know my warriours must fight, but if you our brother Indians do not fight on either side, we will still be friends and brothers; and you may come and hunt in our woods, and come with your canoes in the lake, and let us have venison at our forts on the lake, and have rum, bread, and what you want, and be like brothers.

"I have sent our friend, Winthrop Hoit, to treat with you on our behalf in friendship; you know him, for he has lived with you, and is your adopted son, and is a good man; Captain Nimham, of Stockbridge, and he will tell you about the whole matter more than I can write. I hope your warriours will come and see me. So I bid all my brother Indians farewell.

"ETHAN ALLEN,

"Colonel of the Green Mountain Boys."

This, gentlemen, is a copy of the letter I have sent the Indians; I hope it may have a good effect. I thought it advisable that the Honourable Assembly should be informed of all our politicks. And am, gentlemen, with the greatest respect, your most obedient and humble servant,

ETHAN ALLEN.

The Honourable General Assembly.