PETER OLIVER
While many Americans and Europeans denigrated the Indian as a coward and a savage, sophisticates like Oliver realized that these were mere cultural differences and customs.
While we think of the Founding Fathers as great and noble men, it is interesting to consider a contemporary view of the American leadership from another leading American who chose the British side in the conflict. The British and the Loyalists suspected most of the revolutionary leaders as men who were very ambitious for personal gain and economically unsuccessful compared to many others of the then American “establishment.”
British sympathizers frequently ridiculed the leaders and the institutions of the “rebels.” Henry Knox, who was Washington’s Chief Artillery Officer had no military experience. He was a book seller and learned what he knew from books. This was a source of much amusement until his brilliant artillery leadership caused the British Troops great losses. The military ridiculed him no more. The Continental paper dollars were also ridiculed and these indeed turned out to be worthless so many were required for any purchase.
Oliver was the judge who tried the British Soldiers after the Boston Massacre. Most Americans believe that scalping was an Indian barbarity. Although it was new to the European colonists who came to America, they quickly adopted the practice and had similar cultural and macho symbols associated with scalps. This is one of the many eyewitness descriptions of the Whites and their scalping. The barbarity was practiced by White and Indian alike.
