Tales from the Six Nations

[krc]

Thayendanegea walked alone.

Spoiler :

Even as a boy, growing up in the small village of Tioga not far from the bustling capital of Onondaga, he preferred going off into the woods by himself. He followed the white-tailed deer for hours. He searched for foxes. He taught himself to pass thought the dense woods at high speed, almost as though he were traveling down a smooth, well-paved highway. On the rare occasions when other boys joined his explorations, he challenged them to race. Invariably, Thayendanegea reached the clearing first, laughing and victorious. But he never boasted of his skill, and he never belittled his companions. Indeed, he tried to teach them to move through the forests just as rapidly as he did.

Some days he followed the great river north to where it entered the sea. Vast fields of cotton grew on the west bank. In the right season, when the light and the breeze struck them at just the right angle, the plants sparkled like whitecaps on the sea. At other times, the wisps of cotton swirled about the sky like huge, gentle, summer snow flurries. Passing through the cotton fields, however, was but a prelude to the sea. Thayendanegea loved nothing more than to walk for hours along the deserted beach, lost in his thoughts and dreams of the future.

Some days his wanderings took him to the northeast, where he passed through fields of indigo plants. The People of the Six Nations had learned many ways to dye the cotton cloth that they produced, but their favorite dye came from the indigo plants. As Thayendanegea grew older, his journeys through the northeast woods lasted for days and weeks and even months at a time. Virgin forests blanketed the northeast sector of the continent, largely unsettled and even unexplored. Thayendanegea mapped the unmapped areas, living off the deer and smaller animals he could kill, the nuts and berries he could gather, and the fresh, crisp water from the small streams that ran everywhere through the lush forest.

Traveling alone in those days was not without risk. While the People of the Six Nations had settled down and established settlements that tamed the wild areas of the continent, their traditional foes had not. The Wampanoag, the Nipmuck, the Mi'kmaq, and the Pennacook roamed the woods and hills around Onondaga; uncivilized barbarians stole what they could, pillaged villages and fields, and killed indiscriminately. Thayendanegea, however, seemed to have a special talent for avoiding them. Perhaps he could outrun them through the woods. Perhaps he was able to slip quietly past them. Perhaps he had a sixth sense that told him which areas to avoid. Whatever it was, he spent his days and nights traveling, exploring, wandering, walking.

And, always, Thayendanegea walked alone.

 

[krc]

The village where Thayendanegea grew up lay near the center of the land traditionally controlled by his father's people, the Onondaga. On his mother's side, he was Seneca, a direct descendant of the leaders who had founded the city of Osininka. Because of his mixed lineage, he never felt completely at home in Onondaga; he was always more comfortable spending time with his mother's relatives in Osininka.

Spoiler :

Osininka was located on the coast. Fishermen went off in ones and twos to feed their families from the abundant supplies of fish, but at the time there was no real fishing industry. Great stone quarries dominated the land to the southwest and to the far north of the city. The Seneca relied on these sources of stone to construct permanent dwellings that were more substantial than the wooden dwellings of Onondaga.

But even their stone houses did not provide the Seneca with complete safety. The Mi'kmaq remained active throughout the region. They continually harried the townfolk and threatened the fishermen and the quarrymen. City leaders had tried negotiating with them, to no avail. Eventually, the city leaders determined that their only recourse was to raise an armed force of Seneca fighters and put an end to the threat from the Mi'kmaq.

Thayendanegea joined this force in an unofficial capacity. His solitary journeys throughout the lands of the Six Nations had given him an intimate knowledge of the nearby geography. Although he had no previous military experience, he managed to locate a position where the Seneca fighters would be able to ambush the main Mi'kmaq force. Following his directions, the Seneca force filed silently into position. When the marauding Mi'kmaq attacked the next day, they were annihilated.

Thayendanegea declined the rewards and honors that were offered by the military and civic leaders of Osininka. Instead, he headed south, walking, alone.

 

[christos200]

Great start and great writing.

 

[krc]

Thayendanegea traveled south for many months. Much of the time, he was on his own. But not all of the time. After passing through the eastern gap in the mountain range that straddled the continent, he fell in with a group of travelers out of Oneida led by Sayenqueraghta. The party was traveling slowly. It consisted of entire families -- men, women, children, infants, cows, dogs, oxen, chickens -- hauling all of their worldly possessions along in cumbersome wagons, searching for new lands to settle.

Spoiler :

Sayenqueraghta commanded the military escort that accompanied the party, a band of poorly disciplined Oneida and Cayuga fighters who were happier hunting Wampanoag and Pennacook barbarians in the wilderness than they ever would have been at home. Many of the young men of the Six Nations were like this. Fortunately for the People, after a few years in the wild, those who survived the constant skirmishes matured enough to understand the virtues of domestic existence, and they drifted back to the cities and towns and villages where they started their own families. It was also fortunate for the People that the ranks of their armed forces were continually replenished by a supply of new youths thirsting for adventure.

Thayendanegea was at an age when he might have been expected to settle down himself. But his urge to travel, to explore, to see the world, remained strong. And there was no one special waiting for him back in Tioga, or in Onondaga or Osininka for that matter. His tendency to spend so much time alone might explain the absence of domestic ties.

Thayendanegea spent several weeks accompanying the settlers. Every day seemed alike. It took forever to get everyone rounded up and moving after breakfast. Unpacked supplies had to be restowed. Making sure all the children were accounted for was more time consuming than herding the cows and the chickens into place. Stages were short, with frequent breaks. But Thayendanegea enjoyed the company, especially the long discussions around the evening campfire with Sayenqueraghta and his troops. Nevertheless, when the settlers decided to clear a patch of jungle so they could settle a town with access to sugar, bananas, and indigo plants, Thayendanegea quietly bade them goodbye and continued south, alone.

 

[krc]

Years before, scouts had brought back reports of another civilization rising in the distant south. Little was known of the Aztecs, as they called themselves, or their homeland. Thayendanegea was determined to see them for himself.

Spoiler :

Thayendanegea arrived in Tenochtitlan in late summer, after a year that was particularly hot and dry. The streets were dusty. The buildings were dusty. The animals were dusty. The buildings were ramshackle; when the winds blew through the cracks, it coated all of the living spaces with a fine layer of dust. The soup that Thayendanegea was served in the boarding house where he stayed tasted gritty.

In spite of the weather (and the slipshod construction), the location of Tenochtitlan had a great deal of potential. Like Onondaga, it was situated on a riverbank. Admittedly, the river didn't look very impressive at the moment, having shrunk to occupy a mere fraction of the riverbed after the dry season. But it still carried enough water to float the ships bringing traders into the city docks, and the market was busy.

The biggest difference that Thayendanegea noticed was the people. The Iroquois were lively, independent, active, boisterous. The streets of Onondaga overflowed with parties and parades. Politics was discussed on the street corners, in bars, at the market. The Aztecs, by contrast, were somber, almost fearful. The few parades that Thayendanegea saw during his stay in Tenochtitlan were military, and not at all festive. Frankly, he found the city depressing.

Spoiler :

After great perseverance, Thayendanegea managed to obtain an audience with Montezuma, the Aztec leader. The whole fire-and-skulls thing seemed a bit over the top. Thayendanegea felt that he was beginning to better understand the atmosphere in the streets of Tenochtitlan. Montezuma was not a nice man. It was clear that he suffered from delusions of grandeur; he spoke of establishing an Aztec empire that would fill the continent and last until the end of time. Thayendanegea wisely refrained from pointing out that the People of the Six Nations would have something to say about the ultimate extent of an Aztec empire.

The audience ended about as well as Thayendanegea could have hoped. He was not threatened with being added to the list of sacrifices to be made that month to the Aztec gods. He was not cast into the depths of a prison. He was not assaulted, nor abused, nor even ridiculed. He backed quietly out of the throne room. He returned to the boarding house, gathered up his few belongings, and immediately started walking north, alone.

 

[christos200]

Once again a great update.

 

[krc]

Once again a great update.

Thanks; glad you're enjoying it.

 

[krc]

Thayendanegea walked north until he was back in Iroquois territory. He related his experiences in Tenochtitlan to a council that included most of the important leaders of the Six Nations. Sayenqueraghta was there. After escorting the settlers who founded Grand River, he had led a series of successful campaigns against the Wampanoag. The Cayuga were represented at the council by Kwaintwakon, who had led the expedition that finally subdued the Pennacook. Later, he founded the city of Akwesasme. Kwaintwakon lived on a large estate northeast of Akwesasme, where he became one of the first Iroquois to cultivate corn. Hadawa'ko, a Mohawk military leader, was also there. Hadawa'ko had led the Mohawks in a series of battles against the Nipmuck, the Ojibwe, and the Mohegan that cleared the barbarians out of land controlled by the Six Nations. He had turned his Mohawk warriors into an elite fighting force, introducing new weapons and new techniques. His innovations were spreading rapidly through the Six Nations. After hearing Thayendanegea's report, the council felt certain that those military reforms would, sooner or later, be needed to deal with the threat posed by the ambitions of Montezuma.

Spoiler :

After reporting to the council, Thayendanegea settled down. More or less. He built a house in the forests west of Akwesasme, in the gap between the mountains. He lived there, alone, for several years. Since all of the traffic from Onondaga in the north to Grand River in the south passed through the gap, he wasn't really alone. Many travelers detoured from the main road in order to confer with him. His diplomatic skills were highly valued by the People. At one point, he was called to Grand River to meet with riders who had come from Mongolia. The Mongols lived to the southwest of the Aztecs. They were interested in trading for the indigo dyes that the Iroquois produced. They agreed that the Aztecs were a threat and promised (at least) neutrality in the event of a conflict. Thayendanegea tried repeatedly to convince them to make a more positive commitment, but they were distracted by other enemies further to the west and unable to promise anything more.

Spoiler :

By chance, Thayendanegea was on the beach at Osininka when the unusual two-hulled ships of the Polynesians came into view. The Polynesians and the Iroquois had a great deal in common. They both liked parties; they tended to be friendly and outgoing and hospitable to strangers. (Thayendanegea was unusual among the Iroquois, singled out by his tendency to travel and live alone.) The Iroquois were the people of the forest just as the Polynesians were the people of the sea. Each had a special affinity for a part of the natural world. Thayendanegea helped negotiate a Treaty of Friendship between the Iroquois and the Polynesians. But the People of the Six Nations knew that Polynesia, regardless of how friendly they were, would be unlikely to transport troops across the sea to help them against the Aztecs. When war came, they would be alone.

 

[krc]

Tensions between the People of the Six Nations and the Aztecs grew steadily. When the Aztecs settled the city of Teotihuacan north of their capital, the Iroquois interpreted it as an aggressive move toward their own homeland. Thayendanagea was asked to lead a delegation to meet with Montezuma and establish mutually agreeable borders. While these talks were still underway, the Aztecs pushed north again, founding the city of Texcoco at a site that blatantly infringed on Iroquois territory.

Spoiler :

The People responded to the Aztec move in several ways. First, each of the Six Nations raised a division of fighters, all of whom were trained with the weapons and techniques developed by Hadawa'ko. They deployed this army near Grand River for additional training; by basing the troops there, they were ready for a quick move to the Aztec border to confront any invasion.
Second, the Iroquois undertook a series of diplomatic maneuvers. They reaffirmed their Treaty of Friendship with Polynesia. They tried once more to enlist Mongolia in an agreement to counter Aztec aggression, but had no more success than they had previously. The Mongols did agree to remain neutral in case hostilities broke out. Iroquois diplomats formally denounced the Aztec actions in meetings with the other foreign leaders.

Spoiler :

Thayendanegea was given the task of conveying the message of Iroquois displeasure to Montezuma. He walked calmly into the meeting, which began with the usual diplomatic formalities. He then presented the Aztec ruler with the Iroquois demand that he immediately stop placing settlements in Iroquois territory. Montezuma responded furiously. He paced; he shouted; he blustered. He threatened to raze every Iroquois city, town, village, and homestead in retaliation for this insult to the Aztec people. He threatened to sacrifice every Iroquois man, woman, and child to the Aztec gods. And he threatened to start the process with the only Iroquois near at hand, Thayendanegea.
Thayendanegea had been briefed on the troop deployments before his meeting, so he knew that the Iroquois forces along the border greatly outnumbered the Aztecs. He stood his ground: "I am authorized by my government to inform you that any harmful actions taken against their representative will be interpreted as a declaration of war, and will be met immediately by the full military force and power of the Six Nations." Montezuma backed down. Thayendanegea left the throne room and again started north. Montezuma continued to pace around the throne room. As night fell, he considered his options, alone.

 

[krc]

The Aztecs responded to the Iroquois demands with contempt, placing yet another settlement along the coast. The city of Tlaxcala controlled access to an important source of iron. But its most important feature was symbolic; it was an insult that Montezuma had delivered to the Six Nations.

Spoiler :

The People mobilized their army and deployed it in a long battle line that followed the new border. Hadawa'ko was given overall command of the army, which he divided into two wings. The Iroquois right, which was commanded by Kwaintwakon, was deployed opposite Tlaxcala. It included the Cayuga and Onondaga Divisions, and it was anchored on the coast by the Tuscarora Division. Although the Tuscarora were the youngest of the Six Nations, they had made the largest military commitment to the coming war. In addition to their division of Mohawk-trained and equipped warriors, they had recruited a force of catapults that held the center of the Iroquois line.

Hadawa'ko selected Sayenqueraghta to command the left wing of the army. The Iroquois left was deployed opposite the Aztec city of Texcoco. The left was composed of the Mohawk, Oneida, and Seneca Divisions. The Seneca were placed at the extreme left of the army. Seneca scouts were stationed on a hill to provide advance notice of Aztec reinforcements arriving from Teotihuacan or points south.

With war imminent, Sayenqueraghta was concerned about his left flank, which was critical to the security of the entire army. He asked Thayendanegea to take command of the Seneca Division: "I know that you do not have much military experience, but we need your help. The Seneca are brave. They are well trained. But they are also young and rash. A time will come when they will need the wisdom of your experience. They respect you; you are the only one among us who has confronted Montezuma face-to-face. They will follow your orders." With some trepidation, Thayendanegea accepted the appointment. He had never led a large force of men into battle before. As night fell over the Iroquois camp, he felt very alone.

 

[Sparthage]

lurker's comment: Two stories!

Aside from the long names, I really like it.

 

[krc]

Aside from the long names, I really like it.

Actually, all of the names are taken from Iroquois history, assuming that Wikipedia is at least somewhat accurate. I started with the main Wikipedia article and read through several related articles to get some names. (I did not match them with the tribes that they belonged to historically.)

 

[krc]

Challenged by Montezuma to make their intentions clear, the Six Nations declared war.

Spoiler :

On the Iroquois right, Kwaintwakon personally led the first assault by the Cayuga Division against Tlaxcala. The battle raged for at least an hour as the inhabitants of Tlaxcala put up a stout defense. The Cayuga reached the edge of the city three times, but each time they were pushed back. Kwaintwakon called his men back to regroup; their morale remained high. Their flanks were protected by the Tuscarora and Onondaga who had filed into woods on either side of Tlaxcala. The next attack would unite the entire right wing of the army against the city.

Spoiler :

On the Iroquois left, the attack on Texcoco opened with a sustained bombardment by the Tuscarora catapults. The Iroquois warriors could see houses splintering under the impact of the flying boulders. When the catapults stopped firing, the Mohawks charged. Aztec defenders crumpled under the weight of the Mohawk war clubs. The Oneida joined the attack. Led by Sayenqueraghta, they pushed into the city itself, almost reaching the central plaza. They fought street-to-street, house-to-house, hand-to-hand. At the last minute, the arrival of Aztec Jaguar reinforcements halted the Iroquois advance. But the city defenses were greatly weakened; it was unlikely to survive another assault.

Spoiler :

Montezuma had sent archers from Teotihuacan to try to turn the Iroquois left flank. Thayendanegea was left with a difficult decision. Should he advance into the woods to put more pressure on Texcoco, or should he first remove the threat from the archers? He decided that his most important task was to secure the flank of the Iroquois army. He ordered his men to advance. They grew nervous as they approached the Aztec archers, who were firing from their protected position in the woods. Thayendanegea minimized the danger. "They are firing flaming arrows to try to frighten us. They don't fly as far or as accurately -- see how most of them do not even reach us?" An arrow flew over his head and landed harmlessly behind him as he spoke. "You'll see. Those archers will flee as soon as we get close; we'll have to chase them all the way to Tenochtitlan if we don't get them in the first rush." With that, he gave the order to charge.

Spoiler :

As Thayendanegea predicted, the Aztec archer unit disintegrated in the face of the Seneca charge. As night fell over the battlefield, the Iroquois had advanced on all fronts. But both Tlaxcala and Texcoco remained in Aztec hands, and the next day would bring more fighting. Each soldier would have to confront the dangers of battle, surrounded by his comrades, but still alone.

 

[Sparthage]

Actually, all of the names are taken from Iroquois history, assuming that Wikipedia is at least somewhat accurate. I started with the main Wikipedia article and read through several related articles to get some names. (I did not match them with the tribes that they belonged to historically.)

lurker's comment: I can understand wanting historical names in your story (I do that too, you know), but I like to be able to pronounce them out loud too.

 

[Princeof Persia]

Yeah, that would be interesting to try to do.

 

[krc]

The next day dawned clear and sunny. The weather was cool, comfortable, a perfect early fall day. It was ideal for a lazy walk through the woods, if only Thayenandegea hadn't awakened on a field of battle.

Spoiler :

After a quick breakfast of coffee and biscuits, the soldiers on the Iroquois right filed quietly into their battle lines. They launched a series of attacks against Tlaxcala; first the Tuscarora, then the Cayuga, then the Onondaga. Each time, the wave of attackers crashed higher and further into Tlaxcala. Finally, just before noon, the Onondaga swept into the plaza, and the city's resistance collapsed.

Meanwhile, on the Iroquois left, the Aztec defenders had mounted a sharp counter attack to try to drive off the attackers. The Mohawk and the Oneida lines held firm in spite of mounting losses.

Spoiler :

Fortunately, the Tuscarora catapults still supported the center of the Iroquois line. They directed their fire at Texcoco and battered the defenders. Suddenly, the Mowawk Division left its defensive positions and charged into the city. Simultaneously, the Oneida attacked the Aztec forces defending the woods east of Texcoco. The coordinated assault shattered the defense, and a second city changed hands.

Spoiler :

Thayendanegea, following orders, held his Seneca Division in reserve, protecting the left flank of the great army. When word swept over the battlefield that the Iroquois had captured two cities, his men joined in the cheers. In spite of their heroics on the first day of the battle, however, they felt left out of this day's adventures. They clamored for Thayendanegea to lead them against Teotihuacan, promising to take the city before night fell. Thayendanegea looked carefully over the ground before him. The defenses of Teotihuacan were unscathed. He could see archers moving about within the city. He knew that this was a fresh division of troops, highly motivated to defend their homes. Moreover, it had taken three divisions to capture each of the other Aztec cities. An unsupported attack this late in the day would be foolish.

"My brave warriors! You have acquitted yourselves nobly over these two days of battle. The successes of our army would not have been possible without your courage, protecting our flank and defeating every Aztec who tried to move against us. Now you have demonstrated your bravery again with your calls to attack Teotihuacan. I would like nothing more. But, I ask you to wait for another day before we march into Teotihuacan. These two days of battle have disturbed the organization of our forces. Every division, ours included, is caring for its wounded and rounding up its stragglers. While I have every confidence that you could take this enemy city, I must remind you that the strength of the People is the strength of Six Nations. Just as every one of our nations has played a vital role in today's success, so too shall we march together against Teotihuacan. On that day, the Seneca will be first among equals, and our courage will burn the brighter for being displayed by the sides of our comrades. Is that not better than marching against the enemy alone?"

 

[krc]

Yeah, that would be interesting to try to do.

"that" = ?? Use historical names? Or pronounce the very long ones in this story? (I have to admit that I had the same feeling about using such long names. But having typed them several times, I'm starting to get comfortable with them. You just have to divide them into manageable chunks -- think of it as first-middle-last smushed together into one. Something like Thay-enand-egea.)

 

[Princeof Persia]

The names. But some other nation's names are hard too. Like the Hittites.

 

[krc]

It took a few weeks for the army to recover from the strain of the Battle of Texcoco-Tlaxcala. Stragglers found their way back to their units. The lightly wounded recovered. The dead were buried; the seriously injured went home. New recruits arrived to bring the army back up to full strength. Thayendanegea continued training his men. The fact that they had missed out on the opportunity to capture either city still rankled. The men were eager to go into battle again and prove their worth.

As fall edged slowly toward winter and the days grew shorter, the army's leaders -- Hadawa'ko, Sayenqueraghta, Kwaintwakon, Thayendanegea, and the other division commanders -- met to decide whether to attempt one more campaign before winter. Opinions swung back and forth. At some point, they would have to establish winter quarters; that would be difficult if they were actively engaged with the enemy. Thayendanegea, however, argued strongly for action. "The enemy is demoralized by the severe losses we have already handed them, and have had difficulty replenishing their troops. Our army is at full strength. Our men are confident and eager to fight. We will waste some of that enthusiasm if we let winter pass before we move."

Spoiler :

Eventually, Thayendanegea's argument swayed the military council. The Six Nations moved against Teotihuacan in a double battle line. The Onondaga, Oneida, and Seneca formed the front line, supported by the catapults. The Cayuga, Tuscarora, and Mohawk filled out the second line.

Spoiler :

After the catapults had weakened the city defenses, the Seneca made the first assault. The battle raged fiercely through the streets. Thayendanegea led three separate attacks. Each time, the Seneca advanced further into the city. Each time, they were eventually driven off. In spite of their training and discipline, their units became disorganized by having to maneuver through the narrow streets. Finally, the Seneca were forced to withdraw. Their losses had been few, but the Aztec losses had been severe.

Spoiler :

The Oneida made the second assault. Their story was similar. They made progress. The Aztec defenders were wakened. But the Oneida were also unable to capture the city.

Spoiler :

The Onondaga had been battered by a strong Aztec attack against the Iroquois right flank. Jaguars and archers had pounded away at them all day. Reluctantly, over the objections of the division commander, Hadawa'ko decided to withdraw the Onondaga from the front lines to give them time to reorganize and recover. The Tuscarora moved up to take their place; the Cayuga and Mohawk advanced to extend the Iroquois lines on either side of the city.

The first phase of the Battle of Teotihuacan came to an end. The city remained in Aztec hands, barely. The Six Nations had consolidated their lines in preparation for another assault. Their left flank, held by the Mohawk Division, was anchored on the coast. Their right was protected by the Cayuga, who held the high ground. The only exposed position belonged to the Tuscarora, who stood in flat terrain with no protection. They had no other option; their position was critical to protect the catapults against an Aztec counterattack. The Tuscarora soldiers used their weapons to scoop out a crude trench, piling the dirt in front of them to create a low barricade that might slow down the Aztecs. The Tuscarora pickets, looking over the Aztec forces gathering in front of them, felt very alone.

 

[krc]

Spoiler :

The fears of the Tuscarora pickets proved well founded. Aztec archers concentrated their fire on the exposed Tuscarora soldiers. A fresh unit of Aztec jaguar troops made a furious assault. The Tuscarora knew how important it was to protect the catapults; they held their ground and fought to the last man. Eventually, however, the Aztec attack proved too strong, and the Tuscarora soldiers fell in battle.

Spoiler :

The Tuscarora had accomplished their main task. The impetus went out of the Aztec attack before they could reach the catapults. The catapults began firing once more at the city. Thayendanegea watched the developments eagerly. He could sense that the defenders were losing heart. When the catapults went silent, he ordered another attack by the Seneca Division. This time, they met no resistance. The few remaining defenders fled. The Seneca swept through the plaza and soon established their own strong defensive positions. Teotihuacan now belonged to the Iroquois.

Spoiler :

The city having changed hands, Aztec morale was low, and their defensive lines were fragmented. The Mohawk charged into the archers in their front and demolished them.

Spoiler :

At the same time, the Oneida advanced, avenging the Tuscarora dead by eliminating the Aztec jaguars who had been responsible.

Spoiler :

The Cayuga swept off the hill and crashed into the flank of the final jaguar unit, destroying it. When the day ended, the ground was clear of Aztec soldiers. The Iroquois controlled the field of battle, triumphant, alone.