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Template:Distinguish2 Long knives or big knives was a term used by the Iroquois and later by American Indians of the Ohio Country to designate British colonists of Virginia, in contradistinction to those of New York and Pennsylvania. It is a literal translation of the treaty name that the Iroquois first bestowed on Virginia Governor Lord Howard in 1684, Assarigoe (variously spelled Assaregoa, Assaragoa, Asharigoua), meaning "cutlass" in Onondaga. This word was chosen as a pun on Howard's name, which sounds like Dutch hower meaning "cutlass" (similar to the Iroquois' choice of the name Onas, or quill pen, for the Pennsylvania Governors, beginning with William Penn.)

The name "long knives" is also thought to refer to the swords carried by colonial military officers.

George Rogers Clark spoke of himself and men as "Big Knives," or Virginians, in his speeches to the Indians in 1778 after the capture of Illinois. In the latter part of the American Revolutionary War, down to and during the War of 1812, the term was used to designate Americans.

Origin of Long Knives. Long Knives was the name Indians originally applied to the Virginians. The origin is attributed by most historians, to a thrilling incident which occurred on Cross Creek near Steubenville, OH. In the fall of 1758, the settlement of Thomas Decker and others, on the Monongahela river, was entirely broken up by a party of Mingo (Iroquois) and part of the inhabitants murdered. Captain Gibson, of Fort Pitt, with thirty men set out in pursuit of the Indians. They came upon a party of six or seven Mingos on Cross Creek (Mingo Town or Mingo Junction), near Steubenville, about daylight one morning. The Indians were under the command of Kiskpela (Kiskepila), or Little Eagle, a Mingo Chief, who when he discovered the solders, uttered a war whoop and discharged his rifle, the ball passing through Gibson's hunting shirt; Gibson sprang forward with a powerful swing of his sword, severed Little Eagle's head from his body. Two other Indians were killed and the rest escaped. When the captives, restored under the treaty of 1763, came in they stated that several white persons were sacrificed for the revenge on "the big knife warrior," who cut off Little Eagle's head with a "Long Knife." The name was soon applied to the Virginians generally and to this day (1897) they are known among Northwestern Indians as "Long Knives" or "Big Knife" nation.

References

Dictionary of American History by James Truslow Adams, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1940.

Centennial Souvenir of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio by J. H. Andrews and C. P. Filson, Herald Publishing, 1897

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	[[George Rogers Clark]] spoke of himself and men as "Big Knives," or Virginians, in his speeches to the Indians in 1778 after the [[Battle of Vincennes\|capture of Illinois]]. In the latter part of the [[American Revolutionary War]], down to and during the [[War of 1812]], the term was used to designate Americans.		[[George Rogers Clark]] spoke of himself and men as "Big Knives," or Virginians, in his speeches to the Indians in 1778 after the [[Battle of Vincennes\|capture of Illinois]]. In the latter part of the [[American Revolutionary War]], down to and during the [[War of 1812]], the term was used to designate Americans.

	'''Origin of Long Knives.''' Long Knives was the name Indians originally applied to the Virginians. The origin is attributed by most historians, to a thrilling incident which occurred on Cross Creek near Steubenville, OH. In the fall of 1758, the settlement of Thomas Decker and others, on the Monongahela river, was entirely broken up by a party of [[Mingo]] ([[Iroquois]]) and part of the inhabitants murdered. [[Captain Gibson]], of [[Fort Pitt]], with thirty men set out in pursuit of the Indians. They came upon a party of six or seven Mingos on Cross Creek (Mingo Town or [[Mingo Junction]]), near [[Steubenville]], about daylight one morning. The Indians were under the command of Kiskpela, or Little Eagle, a Mingo Chief, who when he discovered the solders, uttered a war whoop and discharged his rifle, the ball passing through Gibson's hunting shirt; Gibson sprang forward with a powerful swing of his sword, severed Little Eagle's head from his body. Two other Indians were killed and the rest escaped. When the captives, restored under the treaty of 1763, came in they stated that several white persons were sacrificed for the revenge on "the big knife warrior," who cut off Little Eagle's head with a "Long Knife." The name was soon applied to the Virginians generally and to this day (1897) they are known among Northwestern Indians as "Long Knives" or "Big Knife" nation.		'''Origin of Long Knives.''' Long Knives was the name Indians originally applied to the Virginians. The origin is attributed by most historians, to a thrilling incident which occurred on Cross Creek near Steubenville, OH. In the fall of 1758, the settlement of Thomas Decker and others, on the Monongahela river, was entirely broken up by a party of [[Mingo]] ([[Iroquois]]) and part of the inhabitants murdered. [[Captain Gibson]], of [[Fort Pitt]], with thirty men set out in pursuit of the Indians. They came upon a party of six or seven Mingos on Cross Creek (Mingo Town or [[Mingo Junction]]), near [[Steubenville]], about daylight one morning. The Indians were under the command of Kiskpela (Kiskepila), or Little Eagle, a Mingo Chief, who when he discovered the solders, uttered a war whoop and discharged his rifle, the ball passing through Gibson's hunting shirt; Gibson sprang forward with a powerful swing of his sword, severed Little Eagle's head from his body. Two other Indians were killed and the rest escaped. When the captives, restored under the treaty of 1763, came in they stated that several white persons were sacrificed for the revenge on "the big knife warrior," who cut off Little Eagle's head with a "Long Knife." The name was soon applied to the Virginians generally and to this day (1897) they are known among Northwestern Indians as "Long Knives" or "Big Knife" nation.