Name widely known—Interest naturally awakened
in his history—His origin —Development
of his genius—Opinion of Capt. Horatio
Jones—Customs of his people—Their
love of eloquence—Distinguished orators
among them—The inviting field opened.
Among the aborigines of this country, few names have
excited a deeper interest, or have been more widely
and familiarly known than that of red jacket.
The occasion of this notoriety was the rare fact that,
though a rude and unlettered son of the forest, he
was distinguished for the arts and accomplishments
of the orator. His life marks an era in the history
of his nation and his name like that of Demosthenes,
is forever associated with eloquence.
Other circumstances however, impart interest to his
history. His was the last great name of a nation,
and he is entitled to remembrance, on the soil which
was once the home of his fathers. And though linked
with a melancholy association, as connected with the
waning history of a people that once laid a claim
to greatness, but are now fast passing into obscurity,
it is not on this account the less attractive, but
presents another reason for our regard.
Such was the name of Sa-go-ye-wat-ha,
or, as he has more commonly been called, Red Jacket.
Having risen, by the force of his eloquence, from an
obscure station to the highest rank among his people,
he became conspicuous in all of those great transactions,
in which they gradually relinquished a title to their
old hunting grounds, and gave place to the intrusive
white man. And he lived to see his nation pass
from the pride of their ancient dominion, to so humble
an inheritance, that his last days were embittered
with the thought, that the red men were destined
to become extinct. With him has ceased the glory
of their council fire, and of their name.
His origin, as we have intimated, was obscure.
He must be introduced, as he has come down to us,
without rank or pedigree. His pedigree nature
acknowledged, and gave him a right to become great
among her sons. His birth is a matter of fact,
its time and place, circumstances of conjecture.
Some affirm that he was born at the Old Seneca Castle,
near the foot of Seneca lake, not far from 1750. [Footnote:
Hist. of North American tribes by Thos. L. McKenney.]
Another tradition awards the honor of his birth to
a place at, or near Canoga, on the banks of the Cayuga
lake. [Footnote: Schoolcraft’s Report.]
Who were his parents? and what, his early history?
As the wave casts upon the shore some treasured fragment,
and then recedes to mingle with its parent waters,
so their names, and much of his early history have
been lost in the oblivion of the past.
So likewise it is uncertain, as to the time when the
wonderful powers of his genius began to be developed,
or as to the steps by which he arrived at the high
distinction of orator among his people.
