Early Native American account (wk 4)

This is an account of a letter written by a Native American named Logan written to Dunmore, the Governor of Virginia. The speech is about the unjust killing of Logan's family amongst other Native Americans. Logan was known to be a friend of the 'white men' and and was an advocate for piece, unlike other Native Americans that went to war against the 'white men'



http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/Our_Country_vol_2/nativeame_eg.html


He would not hold council personally with a white man; but he sent the following remarkable speech in the mouth of Colonel Gibson, which the latter wrote down and delivered to Dunmore:

"I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry and he gave him no meat; if ever he came cold and naked and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed and said: `Logan is the friend of the white man.' I had even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan, not even sparing my women and children. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it. I have killed many. I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country, I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one!"


The section that I consider most revealing about this letter is "I appear to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry and he gave him no meat; if ever he came cold and naked and he clothed him not" this quote is the most significant to me as it shows the friendliness of the Native Americans towards the settlers. Without the help of the Native Americans the Settlers wouldn't have got very far. It also shows the brutality of some of the killings, such as the murder of a Native American man's family, even though he was a friend of the 'white men' and stayed out of the way of rising arguments between the Native Americans and settlers. It shows how little care the settlers had for the Native Americans.