rection regards the name and just fame of Joseph Brant, whose
character has been blackened with all the infamy, both real and
imaginary, connected with this bloody expedition. Whether Captain Brant
was at any time in company with this expedition, is doubtful; but it is
certain, in the face of every historical authority, British and
American, that so far from being engaged in the battle, he was many
miles distant at the time of its occurrence. Such has been the uniform
testimony of the British officers engaged in the expedition, and such
was always the word of Thayendanegea (Brant's Indian name) himself. It
will, moreover, be seen toward the close of the present work that after
the publication of Campbell's 'Gertrude of Wyoming,' in which poem the
Mohawk chieftain is denounced as 'the Monster Brant,' his son repaired
to England, and in correspondence with the poet, successfully vindicated
his father's memory from the calumny."--_Ib._, p. 338.

To all this Colonel Stone adds the following important note. He says:
"Since the present chapter was written, and while the work was under
revision, the author received a letter from Mr. Samuel C. Frey, of Upper
Canada, a son of the late Philip Frey, Esquire, a Loyalist of Tryon
County, who was ensign in H.B.M.'s Eighth Regiment, and who, with his
regiment, was engaged in the campaign and battle of Wyoming. Philip R.
Frey, the ensign spoken of, died at Palatine, Montgomery (formerly
Tryon) County, in 1823. It was his uniform testimony that Brant was not
at Wyoming. Mr. Frey writes to the author that there were no chiefs of
any notoriety with the Indians in that expedition, and that the Indians
themselves were led from Detroit by Captain Bird, of the Eighth
Regiment. Bird had been engaged in a love affair at Detroit, but being
very ugly, besides having a hare-lip, was unsuccessful. The affair
getting wind, his fellow-officers made themselves merry at his expense;
and in order to steep his grief in forgetfulness, he obtained permission
to lead an expedition somewhere against the American frontier. Joining
the Indians placed under him and a detachment of his regiment to
Butler's Rangers, they concerted the descent upon Wyoming. Ensign Frey
stated that Bird was ill-natured during the whole march, and acted with
foolhardiness at the battle. He further stated, according to the letter
of his son, that the American colonel challenged them to a fair
field-fight, which challenge was accepted.