History of the early settlement of the Juniata Valley : embracing an account of the early pioneers, and the trials and privations incident to the settlement of the valley ; predatory incursions, massacres, and abductions by the Indians during the French and Indian wars, and the War of the Revolution, &c. . did he expect anyother treatment if he fell into the hands of a foe. In ordinary life, there undoubtedly was some honorin the Indian, but in war no trait of it was percej)tiblein his composition. To slay an enemy while asleep,or destroy him by any stratagem, was a feat to boastof, and claime
History of the early settlement of the Juniata Valley : embracing an account of the early pioneers, and the trials and privations incident to the settlement of the valley ; predatory incursions, massacres, and abductions by the Indians during the French and Indian wars, and the War of the Revolution, &c. . did he expect anyother treatment if he fell into the hands of a foe. In ordinary life, there undoubtedly was some honorin the Indian, but in war no trait of it was percej)tiblein his composition. To slay an enemy while asleep,or destroy him by any stratagem, was a feat to boastof, and claimed quite as much glory as if it had beenaccomplished by the prowess of arms. To shoot anenemy from ambuscade, or lure him to destruction bytreachery that would be branded as most infamousamong ci^dlized nations, were looked U230n as exceed-ingly cunning by the Indians. As a general thing, they professed to abhor war amongthemselves, and only declared it when aggravating cir-cumstances absolutely demanded;—that the question wasdeliberately debated by the tribe, and if, after mature de-liberation, a majority of the chiefs and captains favored awar, speedy preparation was made for it; a red hatchetor club was sent to the offending tribe, or one of themwas caught, scalped, and a war-club, painted red,. o (A a UJ t-< a IL o I- (0 <ki III ZUi u HISTORY OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY. 33 laiil by his side. Hostilities were then commenced, andthe wiir waued with tiie greatest Iury until one or theother party suecumhed. N(nv it happens that prnftSftionfi do not always accord\\\{\i j)i-tt(:tict, and in tliis case we are (piite sure tiicy didnot. The whole tenor and bearing of the savages mustlead us to believe that there was no avenue open to theaspiring Indian to attain honor and distinction, exceptthrough feats of arms and daring; and it is only too truethat he shared the common weakness of humanity inloving the pride, pomp, and circumstance of gloriouswarfare. The proof of this is that
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidhistoryofear, bookyear1856
