 At Onondaga , the Iroquois held a council to discuss what course to take . Most Iroquois favored assisting the British , but after the Battle of Saratoga , it seemed unlikely that the British could win . Sayenqueraghta , a Seneca chief , urged the Iroquois to withdraw from the war . Brant criticized Sayenqueraghta 's advice , invoking the memory of Sir William to convince the council to remain loyal to the Crown . According to Daniel Claus , a British Indian agent and Sir William 's son @-@ in @-@ law , Brant was " in every respect considered and esteemed by them [ the <unk> ] as Sir William 's <unk> [ i.e. widow ] , and one word from her is more taken notice of by the Five Nations than a thousand from any white man without exception " . 
