INTRODUCTORY.
In the year 1783, Western New York--or at least what was then deemed
Western New York--was an almost unbroken wilderness, scarcely known to
the inhabitants of the eastern and south-eastern portions of the State;
although the greater part of that large tract of territory then known as
Tryon County, was especially an unexplored country. It is true that
occasionally some adventurous pioneer had penetrated the wilderness, and
endeavored to form for himself and family a home, where, if he could not
enjoy the luxuries and comforts to be found in more populous sections,
he could at least be freed from many of the evils incident to the
growing settlements and cities. Some there were, who had not these
inducements, but, moved by a spirit of hardy enterprise, and with a love
for the excitements and dangers of a pioneer life, penetrated the
wilderness alone, with no companion but the rifle--a sure and steadfast
friend amidst the dangers which were certain to beset him.
Thus, an adventurous traveler, who perhaps fancied himself the first
white man who had ever toiled through the forests of this portion of the
State, would be surprised as he came upon the traces of civilization, in
a log hut, situated, perhaps, in the midst of a few acres of partially
cleared wilderness. When such happened to be the case, it would be no
occasion for wonder that the traveler and the _settler_ became at once
acquaintances and friends. The news from the settlements--inquiries for
friends, and political information, would gladly be exchanged for the
homely but welcome entertainment, which was at once provided.
At the period which we have chosen for our narrative, the County of
Tryon was inhabited by roving bands of Indians, mostly belonging to the
Six Nations. Some favorite localities were selected, which might be
deemed peculiarly the homes of these bands; although their roving
dispositions, the pursuit of game, or hostile encounters, would prevent
the permanent occupation of any one locality.
That portion of Tryon County with which the reader will become somewhat
acquainted in due course of this narrative, was more especially
inhabited by that division of the Iroquois, known as the Oneidas. But it
was not infrequent that bands belonging to other tribes of the
confederacy made incursions into this territory, in pursuit of game, and
occasionally on less peaceable missions.
It is well known that during the War of the Revolution, the different
tribes, composing the confederacy of the Six Nations, were divided in
their choice between England and the rebellious Colonies. The Oneidas,
and a part of the Tuscaroras and Mohawks, adhered to the Colonies, while
the other three nations of the confederacy were leagued with England,
under Col. Butler, and the notorious Johnson. It was under the former
officer that the Senecas, principally, aided by Tories, perpetrated the
Massacre of Wyoming. The Onondagas, at first, professed neutrality
between the belligerent parties; but as it was believed that they aided
in the more hostile operations of the Senecas, a detachment was sent
from Fort Stanwix, which destroyed their villages. This attack was
revenged by assaults upon the settlements of Schoharie and the western
borders of Ulster.
During the war, Tryon County contained a large number of Tories, who
were constantly inciting the Indians to acts of hostility against the
Colonies. But while they were successful with a large portion of the
Iroquois, they signally failed in all their attempts to abate the
fidelity of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras. This division in the councils of
the Six Nations, disturbed the amity which had previously existed
between the confederated tribes; and the bond which had so long united
them, was severed forever. More than once, were the Oneidas driven from
their villages, and compelled to seek protection from the whites; and
parties of the latter tribe, with a part of the Tuscaroras, actually
took up arms against their ancient brethren. It is said that the
notorious Col. Walter Butler was killed by an Oneida Chief, during his
flight after the battle of Johnstown.
At the time embraced by our narrative, it was not infrequent that
difficulties occurred between the separated parties of the confederacy,
and hostile encounters took place, which ended in bloodshed. Indeed, the
successful Colonies had not concluded any treaty of peace with the
Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas, until October, 1784. By that
treaty, those tribes consented to a release of prisoners, and also to a
cession of all their territory west of Pennsylvania.
The Six Nations, at the time of the Revolution, were considered the most
formidable of the Indian warriors to be found on the North American
Continent; and overtures were made to them, as well by the Congress of
the confederated Colonies, as by the English Government. The overtures
of the latter were made through Col. Guy Johnson--successor to Sir
William--and through the great influence he possessed over them, he was
able to induce them to take up arms against the peaceable and scattered
inhabitants of the frontier. The number of Indians of the Six Nations
who actually took up arms in favor of Great Britain, is estimated at
about 1200. The whole number of Indians, of all tribes, who were
employed by the British against the Colonies, was estimated by Captain
Dalton, (Superintendent of Indian Affairs in 1783.) at 12,690.
The histories of the time, relate the terrible sufferings endured by the
inhabitants of Tryon County. The valleys of the Schoharie, the Mohawk
and the Susquehanna, were swept, year after year, by the Indians;
villages were burnt--and, without discrimination of age or sex, the
whites who were supposed to be favorable to the Colonial cause, were
massacred. These events gave rise to the expedition of Gen. Sullivan
into the Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca country, which was overrun and laid
waste; and it was hoped that the Indians, having lost their provisions
and stores, would cease their incursions upon the border settlements.
But all such hopes were vain; the depredations were renewed, and
continued until the end of the war. It is said by the author of the Life
of Brant, that "two years before the close of the war, one-third of the
population had gone over to the enemy--one-third had been driven from
the country, or were slain in battle, and by private assassination. And
yet among the inhabitants of the other remaining third, in June, 1783,
it was stated at a public meeting held at Fort Plain, that there were
three hundred widows and two thousand orphan children."
The country which is the immediate scene of the following narrative, was
little known in the time of the Revolution. The maps of the period
designated it as Indian country, and as an unexplored region. The
Tienaderack, or Unadilla River--one of the tributaries of the
Susquehanna--is given as the western boundary of the whites, beyond
which are the villages and hunting-grounds of the Oneidas and
Tuscaroras. It is into this unexplored region that we propose to conduct
the reader. We cannot promise a strict fidelity to truth, in the precise
incidents related in our narrative, but they have kindred features in
narratives related by the ancient settlers of this valley. There are
traditions, well authenticated, which might give rise to many of the
incidents. With this general view of the condition of Tryon County, at
the time of the Revolution, we will conduct the reader to that portion
of it in which we are more immediately interested.