Description
Book SynopsisA Mohawk Memoir from the War of 1812 presents the story of John Norton, or Teyoninhokarawen, an important war chief and political figure among the Grand River Haudenosaunee (or Iroquois) in Upper Canada. Norton saw more action during the conflict than almost anyone else, being present at the fall of Detroit; the capture of Fort Niagara; the battles of Queenston Heights, Fort George, Stoney Creek, Chippawa, and Lundy’s Lane; the blockades of Fort George and Fort Erie; and a large number of skirmishes and front-line patrols. His memoir describes the fighting, the stresses suffered by indigenous peoples, and the complex relationships between the Haudenosaunee and both their British allies and other First Nations communities.
Norton’s account, written in 1815 and 1816, provides nearly one-third of the book’s content, with the remainder consisting of Carl Benn’s introductions and annotations, which enable readers to understand Norton’s f
Trade Review
“A significant achievement ... Benn’s work is a gift to those seeking to better understand the varied First Nations perspectives on the militarization and settlement of eastern North America, as well as the War of 1812 between Americans and British and their respective Native allies.” -- Carla J. Mulford, Pennsylvania State University * American Indian Culture and Research Journal *
Table of Contents
Abbreviations Introduction Memoir of John Norton – Teyoninhokarawen 1. Uncertainties, Diplomacy, and the Outbreak of War, 1811-12 2. Opening Moves, Disunion, and the Capture of Detroit, 1812 3. Niagara and Victory at Queenston Heights, 1812 4. Ambiguity and Frustration on the Detroit Front, 1813 5. The Fall of Fort George, Desperate Moments, and the Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813 6. The Blockade of Fort George, Intrigue, and the Capture of Fort Niagara, 1813 7. Quebec, Burlington, and the Battle of Chippawa, 1814 8. Discredit, Battles at Lundy’s Lane and Fort Erie, Murders, and the Defence of Grand River, 1814 Epilogue Appendix A: The Six Nations Population on the Grand River, 1811 and 1814 Appendix B: John Norton’s Spelling of Native Names when it Differed from Current Practice Acknowledgements Image Credits Bibliography Index
