COLONIES - Mythmaking and American Revolutionary Frontier Legacy — Part Two - ROBERT-PARKINSON-
The John Batchelor ShowSummary
Professor Robert G. Parkinson's book, "Heart of American Darkness," delves into the complex narratives surrounding the American Revolution, particularly focusing on the interactions between settlers and Native Americans. The discussion highlights the tragic fate of Native tribes, such as the Shawnee and the Mingos, who faced land dispossession and violence from colonial forces. Central to the narrative is Michael Cresip, a figure initially seen as a villain due to his role in frontier violence, who later becomes a celebrated hero in the context of the Revolutionary War.
As Cresip's regiment joins George Washington's forces, initial expectations of their prowess quickly turn to disappointment, as many refuse to adhere to military discipline. Meanwhile, the story of Logan's Lament—a poignant expression of loss by Native leader James Logan—emerges as a powerful symbol. Jefferson later appropriates this lament to illustrate the nobility of Native Americans while simultaneously reshaping the narrative to fit the emerging American identity, contrasting sharply with the violent realities of the time.
The podcast also explores the ongoing legacy of these historical figures, including the rivalry between the Cresip and Logan families, which manifests in a series of monuments and memorials that reflect the competing narratives of heroism and victimhood. Ultimately, Parkinson emphasizes the contingent nature of history, suggesting that individual choices and events could have led to vastly different outcomes for both Native Americans and settlers during this tumultuous period.
Show Notes
1793 Robert G. Parkinson, author of Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier, traces how Michael Cresap was transformed into a Revolutionary War hero and how Thomas Jefferson popularized “Logan’s Lament” in Notes on the State of Virginia. Parkinson details Logan’s murder in 1780, the lament’s place in 19th-century schoolbooks and monument battles, and how Revolutionary mythmaking justified Indian removal while shaping enduring themes of American national identity across the expanding early republic. (7)
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