Catspaw Confederacy

During the height of the American Revolution, Alexander McKee, Matthew Elliott, and the brothers Simon Girty and James Girty fled American-controlled Pittsburgh for the Indian-controlled Ohio frontier. A third Girty brother, George Girty, would soon join them. Their flight initiated a nearly forty-year period during which they promoted British interests among Indian nations, including the Shawnee, Delaware, Seneca, Wyandot, and Miami.

They would lead war parties against Kentucky during the Revolution, help form an Indian confederacy opposing American encroachments, and participate in policies that were contributing causes of the War of 1812. Later in this period, they would be joined by Alexander McKee's son Thomas McKee. During the confederacy period, Matthew Elliott managed supplies for the Indians while his brother Robert Elliott was the supply officer for the American army. During the War of 1812, Matthew Elliott's nephew William Elliott worked with the British, while his nephew Jesse Elliott was a senior American officer opposing the British.