National Hero

One of the points of contention between King George III and the colonists was further expansion into Indian territory. You see, it was in King George's best interest to keep colonists from building settlements further and further into native lands, since he couldn't afford a war with the Tribes and wanted to keep them happy. The settlers, however, continually wanted to push further West.

The Crown had used Easton, PA as a site for negotiating many of their treaties with the Indians, since it was at that time a "frontier town," and there had been a long history in PA of successful Indian treaties. The Rebels coming to power, however, was about to change that.

Here's what Mr. Washington wrote in 1779 in a letter to Major-General John Sullivan, whom he had ordered to stage a foray into Indian territory:
"The expedition you are appointed to command is to be directed against the hostile tribes of the Six Nations of Indians... The immediate object is their total destruction and devastation, and the capture of as many persons of every age and sex as possible. It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the ground, and prevent their planting more... do it in the most effectual manner, that the country may not be merely overrun, but DESTROYED."

Afterwards, General Sullivan's march through the Pocono Mountains into Iroquois territory in southern New York was described as "the Shades of Death" the purpose of which was "an undistinguished destruction and carnage."