Chainbreaker: The Revolutionary War Memoirs of Governor Blacksnake as told to Benjamin Williams

by Thomas S. Abler (Editor), Chainbreaker, Governor Blacksnake

One of the earliest memoirs by an American Indian, Chainbreaker presents the recollections of a Seneca chief, also known as Governor Blacksnake. A fighter in the American Revolution who lived more than a century, Chainbreaker told his story as an old man in the 1840s to a fellow Seneca, Benjamin Williams, who translated it and committed it to paper. Epic in scale and yet intensely personal, Chainbreaker’s story provides a rare Native view of warfare and diplomacy during a crucial period in American history. His account is only fully available in this edition, featuring extensive commentary by Thomas S. Abler.

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Deacon Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The memoirs of this Native American centenarian don't just chronicle the events of early Colonial American expansion into Indian territory; it provides a glimpse into the culture that was tragically displaced. Modern Americans can learn valuable lessons from the accepting and positive spirit of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) that Chainbreaker exemplifies.