Chronology of American Indian History

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1826

James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the
Mohicans is published.
Based on the Battle of Lake George in the French
and Indian War (see entry for SEPTEMBER 8,
1755), The Last of the Mohicans proves to be the
most popular work by American novelist James
Fenimore Cooper. The book is the second novel
in his five-book “Leatherstocking Tales” series,
which is widely read in the United States and
Europe. In addition to being the first works of
American fiction to depict Indian characters, the
series also helps to establish several of the most
persistent stereotypes of Americans Indians. Most
of Cooper’s Indians are either vicious killers or
noble savages—with an innate sense of honor but
without the benefits of “civilization.” (See also
entry for 1847.)

1827

California and Oregon Indians encounter
the Jedidiah Smith expedition.
Fur trapper and adventurer Jedidiah Smith leads
the first non-Indian expedition from present-day
southern California to what is now southern Or-
egon. Several Indians groups they come upon react
to the newcomers with violence. Along the Colo-
rado River, the Mojave attack Smith and his men,
killing 10 of them. The survivors continue north,
but they are set upon a second time along Oregon’s
Umpqua River after one of Smith’s men rapes an
Indian woman. Only four of the whites, including
Smith, escape with their lives.

David Cusick’s Sketches of Ancient History of
the Six Nations is published.
Tuscarora artist and doctor David Cusick publishes
Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations, an
account of Iroquois mythology and history. Find-
ing a wide readership, the book will be reprinted
in 1828 and 1848. These later editions will include
four woodcuts made by Cusick—the first images of

Iroquois myths produced by an Indian artist using

non-Indian techniques.

“I have been long waiting in

hopes that some of my people,

who have received an Eng-

lish education, would have

undertaken [a history of the

Iroquois]; but found no one

seemed to concur in the mat-

ter, after some hesitation I

determined to commence the

work.... I have taken much [sic]

pains procuring the materials,

and translating it into English

language. I have endeavored to

throw some light on the his-

tory of the original population

of the country, which I believe

never have been recorded.”

—David Cusick on the difficulty of

writing Sketches of Ancient History

of the Six Nations

June 26 to September 27

The Winnebago strike out against whites in

their territory.

Since the early 1820s, white settlers and miners

have been moving into the lands of the Winnebago

in present-day Wisconsin. Tension between these

whites and the tribe explodes when two Winnebago

men are arrested for killing a white family. The

Winnebago are outraged when they hear a rumor

that non-Indian authorities have turned over the

accused to the Ojibway, the Winnebago’s traditional

enemies, who have supposedly beat the alleged mur-

derers to death. The Winnebago leaders call on Red

Bird, a respected warrior, to avenge the deaths. His

men kill three whites—two men and a child—near