“FOR LIBERTY WE’LL FIGHT. THE NAME OF INDEPENDENCE WE CHALLENGE AS OUR RIGHT”

(BEVIER, Abraham Garrett) . Indians: Or Narratives of Massacres and Depredations on the Frontier, in Wawasink and its Vicinity, During the American Revolution. By a Descendent of the Huguenots. Rondout, New York: For Sale at the Printing Office of Bradbury & Wells, 1846. Small octavo (4-3/4 by 7-3/4 inches), early three-quarter russet morocco gilt, marbled boards and endpapers, top edge gilt, original wrappers bound in. $1500.

First edition of Bevier's scarce account of violence on the New York frontier during the Revolution, charging “the command and direction of British authority" for Indian attacks on settlers.

This scarce and fascinating history features dramatic accounts of the often violent contact between Native Americans and American settlers during the Revolution. Bevier pays particular attention to attacks on settlers along the New York frontier that were conducted "under the command and direction of British authority." Included is a section, "Historical Notes," covering the "most bitter animosity" between those loyal to Britain and the "sons of liberty," as well as tales of the capture of a George Anderson, whose conduct, after escape, "became surpassing strange," and the accounts of the "Narrow Escape of Three School-children from the Indians," the "Massacre at Fantinekill," the "Flight of the Women and Children to the Mountain" and much more. With Appendix and the printing of a popular 1765 song lyric, "Taxation of America" (elsewhere attributed to Peter or Samuel St. John), which proclaims: "We fear not your oppression in North America… for liberty we'll fight. The name of independence we challenge as our right." Tiny gutter-edge pinholes from original stitching. Original wrappers bound in. Sabin 34659. Howes 411. Eberstadt 130:72. Faint trace of owner signature to original front wrapper. Small bibliographic slip tipped to verso of front free endpaper.

Text fresh with only light scattered foxing, tiny bit of edge-wear to boards. An about-fine copy.