White Eyes
White Eyes, named for his distinctive light-colored eyes, was a significant figure during the American Revolutionary period, serving as a principal chief of the Ohio Delawares. He initially advocated for neutrality at the onset of the conflict but later aligned with the Patriot cause after the Delaware leader Hopocan sided with the British. In 1778, White Eyes played a pivotal role in negotiating a treaty at Fort Pitt, which aimed to incorporate the Delaware Nation as the fourteenth state of the United States and included plans for their representation in Congress. This treaty marked a notable moment as it was one of the earliest treaties negotiated by the newly formed United States. Tragically, just two months after its signing, White Eyes was killed under ambiguous circumstances during an expedition led by General Lachlin McIntosh, with accounts suggesting he may have been a victim of friendly fire. Following his death, the circumstances were obscured, and soldiers inaccurately reported that he had succumbed to smallpox. White Eyes' legacy reflects the complex interplay of alliances and conflicts during a transformative period in American history.
Subject Terms
White Eyes
- Born: c. 1730
- Birthplace: Western Pennsylvania
- Died: November 1, 1778
- Place of death: Pennsylvania
Tribal affiliation: Delaware (Lenni Lenape)
Significance: White Eyes was an ally of the Americans during the American Revolution
Named for his light-colored eyes, White Eyes played a diplomatic role in the American Revolution after becoming a friend of Colonel George Morgan, Indian agent of the Continental Congress. He signed a treaty in 1778 designed to incorporate the Delaware Nation as the fourteenth state of the United States.
White Eyes became principal chief of the Ohio Delawares in 1776. At the beginning of the American Revolution, he counselled neutrality, but he took up the Patriot cause after the Delaware leader Hopocan sided with the British. In 1778, White Eyes was a party to the first treaty negotiated by the new United States, at Fort Pitt. The treaty was notable because it outlined a plan for a Delaware state with representation in Congress. The plan never materialized.
Two months after signing that treaty, White Eyes was acting as a guide for General Lachlin McIntosh in his expedition against Fort Sandusky. During the expedition, White Eyes was killed by American troops under confusing conditions, possibly by “friendly fire.” To cover up the death of an ally, the soldiers reported that White Eyes had died of smallpox.