a massacre of prisoners by both Indians and
Loyalists under Maj. Walter Butler. He then
had another successful encounter at Minisink,
New York, in July 1779. These defeats so
alarmed the Americans that a large punitive
expedition was organized under Gen. John
Sullivan. The Indians were unable to confront
such military strength in the field, and it dev-
astated lands and villages throughout upper
New York. Nonetheless, Brant rose to become
colonel of Indians in 1779, and he successfully
thwarted attempts by rival Seneca Chief Red
Jacket to obtain a separate peace with the
enemy. By war’s end, however, the United
States controlled most of the Indian lands of
western New York. When a favorable settle-
ment was not forthcoming, Brant sullenly re-
located his people to Upper Canada.
For the rest of his life Brant worked at
pacifying the frontier and improving the wel-
fare and safety of the tribe. In 1785, Brant
made a second pilgrimage to England to seek
compensation for his losses and received land
grants along the Grand River at present-day
Brantford, Ontario. He advised tribes of the
northwest to seek peace with the United
States following their defeat at Fallen Tim-
bers in 1794, spending the balance of his life
working on behalf of the Mohawks. A devoted
Christian, Brant’s many accomplishments in-
clude translating the bible into Mohawk and
establishing the first Anglican church in
Upper Canada. He died on his personal estate
on November 24, 1807.Bibliography
Calloway, Colin G. The American Revolution in In-
dian Country: Crisis and Diversity in Native
American Communities. New York: Cambridge
University Press, 1995; Eckert, Allan. The Wilder-
ness War: A Narrative.Boston: Little, Brown, 1978;
Graymount, Barbara. The Iroquois in the American
Revolution. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University
Press, 1972; Hinman, Marjory B. Onaquaga: Hub of
the Border Wars of the American Revolution in
New York State.Windsor, NY: Hinman, 1978; Kasha-
tus, William L. “The Wyoming Massacre: The Sur-
passing Horror of the American Revolution, July 3,
1778.” Valley Forge Journal4 (1988): 107–122; Kel-
say, Isabel T. Joseph Brant, 1743–1807: Man of
Two Worlds. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University
Press, 1984; Patterson, Gerard A. “The Battle of
Oriskany.” American History Illustrated11, no. 4
(1976): 8–17; Robinson, Helen C. “Thayendanegea—
The Strong One: The Story of Joseph Brant.”
Canada: An Historical Magazine2, no. 1 (1974):
43–56.BRECKINRIDGE, JOHNCABELL
Breckinridge, John Cabell
(January 16, 1821–May 17, 1875)
Confederate General; Confederate Secretary of War
B
reckinridge, a onetime vice president
of the United States, lacked formal
military training but became one of
the most accomplished Confederate leaders
of his grade. His victory against superior
numbers at New Market in 1864 preserved
the Shenandoah Valley for the South and is
enshrined in the lore of the Virginia Military
Institute.
John Cabell Breckinridge was born near
Lexington, Kentucky, on January 16, 1821, the
scion of an illustrious political family. The
Breckinridge name enjoyed a long association
with American history and politics dating
back to the American Revolution, with many
prominent politicians, judges, and lawyers
represented. Not surprisingly, Breckinridge
studied law at Centre College, the College of