Simon Girty, an American Hero or a British Loyalist?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 17:08:59 -0400

There seems to be a lot on contention about Simon Girty during his life time. He is recorded in history from various angles. Some of those are American and some are British. There seem to be some facts that can't be disputed. But was he an American or was he really a British Loyalist?

1. He was raised by an Indian Tribe after his father was killed by an Indian only to be returned to the colonies as part of a treaty in 1759.
2. During the American Revolution he joined the the Continental Army. Where he discharged from Fort Pitt and struck out for Indian country, determined to help the British and Indians fight the Americans. Due to the treatment of Indians by the US Army.
3. From 1778 until the American Revolution's conclusion in 1783, Girty served with the British Army.
4. In 1782, COL Crawford, US Army, with 470 men were attacked by hostile Indians to include, Simon Girty, where COL was taken prisoner, tortured for two hours and put to death by bury at the stake.
5. After the American victory Simon fled to Canada to live out his days.

Place read some of the links provide or feel free to conduct your own research.

http://www.essaysinhistory.com/articles/2012/114
https://franceshunter.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/william-clark-and-the-notorious-simon-girty/
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Simon_Girty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawford_expedition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col._Crawford_Burn_Site_Monument

"A Monster So Brutal:" | Essays in History

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2015 5:12 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 17:12:52 -0400

1LT L S Let us please discuss the merits of Simon Girty here. This thread would be much more appropriate.

Response by MSgt Robert Pellam made Mar 30 at 2015 9:56 PM

MSgt Robert Pellam — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 21:56:33 -0400

Simon Girty is one of those figures in History that is a point of view. To the Colonists, he was a traitor and a murderer, to the Indians he was fighting the good fight. I don't think there really is a way to Glorify him or condemn him. He was just a part of History. We know the colonial treatment of Native Americans was wrong. But we also can not look past the Treatment of Native Americans to each other. Nor can we look past the British at the time playing the Indians against the Colonials for profit.

I think Simon Girty was a man who honestly felt a huge injustice in his heart and swore to do something about it. Some men retaliate with intellectual reason, others attack problems with the Law, I think Girty just manifested his disgust with his hands.

But as Obi wan Kenobi said. "Many of the Truths we cling to depend on our point of View."

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Mar 31 at 2015 7:15 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 07:15:29 -0400

He was somewhat of an opportunitst. He fought and was loyal to what made the most sense for him at the time. There could have been things that pushed him one way or the other that are not captured in the historical accounts but he clearly played both sides at different times (perhaps even at the same time). There is no doubt that by today's standards he was brutal but the battlefields between Indians and Whites could be brutal and unforgiving.