Evacuation of Philadelphia by Sir Henry Clinton--Followed through New
Jersey by Washington--Battle of Monmouth--Conduct and arrest of General
Lee--Retreat of the enemy--Arrival of the French fleet--Combined attack
of the Americans and French upon the British army of Rhode
Island--British fleet escapes from Count D'Estaing--Battle of Rhode
Island--Failure of the expedition--Projected campaigns against the
Indians--Captains Pipe and White-Eyes--McKee and Girty--General McIntosh
ordered against the Sandusky towns--Irruption of Brant into
Cobleskill--Of McDonald into the Schoharie settlements--Pusillanimity
of Colonel Vrooman--Bravery of Colonel Harper--His expedition to
Albany--Captivity of Mr. Sawyer--Slays six Indians and escapes--Colonel
William Butler sent to Schoharie--Morgan's rifle corps--Daring
adventures of Murphy and Elerson--Death of Service, a noted
Tory--Murphy's subsequent adventures--Affairs at Fort Schuyler--Alarming
number of desertions--Destruction of Andros-town by the
Indians--Conflagration of the German Flats--Expedition of Colonel
William Butler from Schoharie to Unadilla and Oghkwaga.
No sooner had Great Britain been apprized of the alliance between France
and her revolted Colonies, than it was determined to evacuate
Philadelphia, and concentrate the Royal army at New-York. Accordingly, on
the 18th of June the British troops crossed the Delaware into New Jersey,
and commenced their march for New-York, ascending the east bank of the
river to Allentown, and thence taking the lower road leading through
Monmouth to Sandy Hook, General Washington, anticipating this movement,
had previously detached a division of the army under General Maxwell, to
impede the enemy's march. It was known that General Gates was approaching
with the army from the North, and the enemy's motions were no sooner
ascertained, than General Wayne was despatched, with one thousand chosen
men, to strengthen the lines. The Marquis de Lafayette was directed to
take command of the whole force thus sent in advance, while Washington
himself moved rapidly forward with the main army. It was his design to
bring on a general, and, if possible, a decisive engagement. The result
of his movements for that object was the battle of Monmouth, fought on
the 28th of June. The dispositions for this engagement were admirably
arranged on the night of the 27th, the position of the enemy being such
as to afford the best advantages for an attack upon his rear the moment
he should get in motion. Such being the intentions of the
Commander-in-chief, they were communicated to General Lee, who was ordered
to make his dispositions accordingly, and to keep his troops lying upon
their arms to be in readiness at the shortest notice. At five in the
morning of the 28th, the front of the enemy was observed to be in motion,
and orders were instantly despatched to General Lee to move on and attack,
"unless there should be very powerful reasons to the contrary." Lee was
also advised that Washington was himself advancing to support him. After
marching about five miles, "to the great surprise and mortification" of
the Commander-in-chief, he met the whole advanced corps retreating, by the
orders of Lee, "without having made any opposition, except one fire given
by a party under Colonel Butler, on their being charged by the enemy's
cavalry, who were repulsed." [FN-1] Lee was sharply rebuked, and placed in
arrest. Hurrying to the rear of the retreating corps, which the
Commander-in-chief found closely pressed by the enemy, he arrested their
flight, re-formed them, and with the aid of some well-served pieces of
artillery, at once checked the enemy's advance, and gained time for making
such dispositions as the unexpected emergency required. The battle soon
became general, and was obstinately contested at various points through
the whole day, until dark; Sir Henry Clinton and General Washington
heading their respective armies in person. By the misconduct of Lee,
however, and an error of General Scott in the morning, advantages had been
lost which entirely disconcerted the views of the Commander-in-chief, and
deprived the American arms of a victory which was all but certain. Still,
the fortunes of the day were so far recovered, that, from being the
pursued, "the Americans drove the enemy back over the ground they had
followed, and recovered the field of battle, and possessed themselves of
their dead. But as they retreated behind a morass very difficult to pass,
and had both flanks secured with thick woods, it was found impracticable
for the Americans, fainting with fatigue, heat, and want of water, to do
any thing more that night." [FN-2]
* * * * *
[FN-1] Letter of Washington to the President of Congress, July 1, 1778.
[FN-2] Letter of Washington to his brother, John Augustine Washington,
July 4, 1778.
Both armies encamped in the field, and lay upon their arms; Washington
himself sleeping in his cloak under a tree in the midst of his soldiers.
His intention was to renew and end the battle on the following morning,
not doubting as to the issue. Indeed, the result of that day's fight was
justly considered a victory by the American officers, and but for the
conduct of Lee in the morning, it would almost beyond question have been
decisive. [FN-1] But the purpose of the Commander-in-chief to renew the
engagement was frustrated by a silent midnight retreat of the enemy--so
silent, indeed, that his departure was not known until the morning. [FN-2]
A variety of circumstances concurred to render a pursuit by the Americans
unadvisable; among the principal of which were, the extreme heat of the
weather, the fatigue of the army from its march through a deep sandy
country, almost entirely destitute of water, and the distance the enemy
had gained by his midnight march. A pursuit, it was believed, would answer
no valuable purpose, and would certainly be fatal to numbers of the men,
several of whom had perished of heat on the preceding day. [FN-3] The
American commander thereupon drew off his army to the Hudson, crossed
over, and once more established his head-quarters at White Plains.
Meantime Sir Henry Clinton proceeded to Sandy Hook, and thence passed his
troops over to New-York. The loss of the Americans in this battle was
eight officers and sixty-one privates killed, and one hundred and sixty
wounded. That of the enemy was three hundred and sixty-eight in killed,
wounded, and missing, and about one hundred taken prisoners. One thousand
of their men deserted on their march. Both parties claimed the victory,
which was in fact won by neither. The advantages, in the earlier part of
the day, were in favor of the British; in the after-part, of the
Americans. The stealthy retreat of the former, moreover, covered by the
darkness, left no doubt as to which army was best prepared to renew the
conflict with the return of daylight.
* * * * *
[FN-1] In a letter to General Gansevoort from Colonel Willett, who was
on a visit to head-quarters at the time of the battle of Monmouth, the
Colonel says:--"I have had the pleasure of seeing the American army,
under the great General Washington, triumph over the haughty British in
the battle of Monmouth. The action was grand, and ended
gloriously."--_MS. letter of Col. Willett._
[FN-2] In his despatches to his government, Sir Henry Clinton stated
that he took the advantage of the moonlight in his retreat; when, in
reality, he did not begin the retreat until some hours after the moon
had set. In the course of a correspondence in the following Spring,
between Governor William Livingston and Sir Henry, the Governor taunted
him upon this subject of his moonlight retreat. That correspondence was
sharp upon both sides. Governor Livingston wrote to Sir Henry that he
had received indisputable evidence, that a British General had offered
a large sum of money to an inhabitant of New Jersey to assassinate him,
(Governor L.) Sir Henry repelled the imputation in strong
terms--declaring that were he "capable of harboring such an infamous
idea as that of assassination, he would not blacken himself with so foul
a crime to obtain so trifling an end." Clinton was evidently irritated,
and from the coarseness of his language, gave Governor Livingston the
decided advantage in his rejoinder, which was equally dignified and
severe.--_Vide Almon's Remembrancer, vol. vi. pp._ 279, 281.
[FN-3] Letter of Washington to the President of Congress.
The French fleet, under the Count D'Estaing, consisting of twelve ships
of the line and six frigates, having on board four thousand troops,
arrived on the coast of Virginia about the 1st of July. The design of the
French commander was to engage the British squadron in the Chesapeake.
But unfortunately, the latter had sailed for New-York a few days before.
Thither the Count followed the British admiral, but the bar of the
New-York harbor would not allow the entrance of his heavy ships. An attack
upon New-York thus proving to be impracticable, by the advice of General
Washington it was determined to make an attempt upon Rhode Island, then
occupied by six thousand British troops commanded by Major General Sir
Robert Pigott. General Sullivan, with an army of ten thousand men, was
lying in the neighborhood of Providence, Count D'Estaing arrived off
Newport on the 25th of July, and arrangements were soon adjusted between
General Sullivan and himself for a combined attack upon the town of
Newport by land and sea. The assault was to be made on the 9th of August,
for which purpose Sullivan moved down to Tiverton, where he was joined by
General Greene, and the ships of war entered the channel. But the militia
not having joined the regular troops so promptly as was expected, General
Sullivan judged it necessary to postpone the attack for a day or two.
Meantime Lord Howe appeared off the harbor with the British fleet, and
the Count D'Estaing immediately put to sea to engage him. The French fleet
having the weather gage, the British admiral weighed anchor and put to
sea, followed by the Count. A storm separated the fleets, so that no
engagement took place; and on his return to port on the 19th, Count
D'Estaing found it necessary to repair to Boston to refit. During the
absence of the Count, however, while in chase of Lord Howe, General
Sullivan had crossed over to the island, and on the 15th laid siege to
the town of Newport. But when the French admiral departed for Boston, the
militia, disappointed and disheartened at being thus abandoned by their
allies, left the service in such numbers, that Sullivan was compelled to
raise the siege and retire. He was pursued to the distance of a mile north
of Quaker Hill, where, on the 29th of August, was fought the battle of
Rhode Island. It was a sharp and obstinate engagement of half an hour, at
the end of which the enemy gave way and retreated. The loss of the
Americans was two hundred and eleven. That of the enemy two hundred and
sixty. [FN] Ascertaining, soon afterward, that strong reinforcements were
coming from New-York to the aid of General Pigott, a resolution was
immediately adopted by Sullivan to evacuate the island. This determination
was executed on the night of the 30th--most luckily, as the event proved;
for on the very next day Sir Henry Clinton arrived at Newport with four
thousand troops, which reinforcement would doubtless have enabled the
enemy to cut off the retreat of the Americans.
* * * * *
[FN] One of the most brilliant affairs during this expedition was
performed by Colonel John Trumbull, who was acting as a volunteer under
Sullivan at the time--as will be seen by the Colonel's memoirs when
published.
In September, after the return of the British troops to New-York, strong
divisions moved northward on each side of the Hudson river. By a
detachment of one of these, under General Gray, a regiment of American
cavalry, commanded by Colonel Baylor, was surprised while asleep at
Tappan, and almost entirely cut off. The enemy rushed upon the sleeping
troopers, numbering one hundred and four privates with their bayonets.
The loss, killed, wounded, and taken, was sixty-four. This exploit was
very similar to that of the Paoli, under the same General, the preceding
year.
In consequence of the hostile spirit very generally and extensively
manifested by the Indians--the great western tribes becoming more and
more restive--early in June, immediately preceding the affair of Wyoming,
Congress had determined upon a more enlarged and decisive campaign against
them. This had, indeed, become the more necessary from the belligerent
indications among the Delawares and Shawanese, inhabiting the territory
now forming the State of Ohio. At the commencement of the war
_Koquethagaeehlon,_ the Delaware chief usually known as Captain
_White-Eyes,_ a firm friend of the Colonies, had succeeded in preventing
his people from taking up the hatchet against them, in opposition to the
views of his rival chief, Captain _Pipe._ But in the Spring of the present
year, the policy of the latter had well nigh prevailed, through the
revengeful machinations of three celebrated loyalists, named _McKee,
Elliot,_ and _Simon Girty,_ who had been confined at Pittsburgh as Tories;
but who, effecting their escape, traversed the Indian country to Detroit,
proclaiming, as they went, that the Americans had resolved upon their
destruction, and that their only chance of safety was to espouse the
cause of the Crown, and fight. Availing himself of the excitement created
by those fugitives, [FN-1] Captain Pipe assembled a large number of his
warriors, and proclaimed "every one an enemy to his country who should
endeavor to persuade them against fighting the Americans, and declared
that all such ought surely to be put to death." But White-Eyes was by no
means inactive in his efforts to preserve peace. Collecting the people of
his tribe, he addressed them with great earnestness and pathos. Observing
that some of his warriors were preparing to take up the hatchet, he
admonished them strongly against such a course, which, in the end, could
only bring upon them sure destruction. Still, if they believed he was
wrong--if they were disposed to place more confidence in the tales of
those whom he knew to be fugitives, than to himself, they should not go
out without him. "But he would not go out with them like the bear-hunter,
who sets the dogs on the animal to be beaten about with his paws while he
keeps at a safe distance. No! He would lead them on, place himself in
their front, and be the first who should fall. They only had to determine
what they meant to do. As for his own mind, it was fully made up not to
survive his nation. And he would not spend the remainder of a miserable
life, in bewailing the total destruction of a brave people who deserved
a better fate." [FN-2]
* * * * *
[FN-1] The names of these men will be of frequent recurrence in the
subsequent volume of this work, in connexion with the Indian wars of
1789--1794.
[FN-2] Drake's Book of the Indians.
The counsel of White-Eyes, supported by a conciliatory message, which was
received just in good time, from the Americans, prevailed for the moment,
and the Delawares came to the unanimous determination to follow his
advice, and his alone. Availing himself of the hour of success,
White-Eyes forthwith despatched the following energetic letter to the
Shawanese of the Scioto, who had also been visited by McKee, Elliot, and
Girty.
"Grand-children, ye Shawanese: Some days ago a flock of birds, that had
come on from the East, lit at Goschochking, imposing a song of theirs
upon us, which song had nigh proved our ruin. Should these birds, which,
on leaving us, took their flight toward Scioto, endeavor to impose a song
on you likewise, do not listen to them, for they lie."
But the hostile action of these people was only suspended for a short
time, and it became necessary for more extended and efficient operations
against nearly the whole race. [FN-1] In the project of Congress already
adverted to, it was intended that one expedition should move upon Detroit,
while General Gates was instructed by resolution to co-operate with that
expedition by carrying the war into the Seneca country, and also to
dispossess the enemy of Oswego, should he be found in the occupancy of
that post. It appears, that at the very moment of the invasion of Wyoming,
there was a delegation of Seneca chiefs at Philadelphia; but having taken
their departure without communicating with the government, a resolution
was passed by Congress, immediately upon the receipt of Colonel Z.
Butler's despatches, instructing the Board of War to send after the
chiefs, and ascertain from them in what character, and for what purposes,
they had made the said visit; and also to inquire whether the Seneca
warriors had not been engaged in hostilities against the United States.
On the 16th of July information was received that the chiefs refused to
return, and instructions to General Schuyler were proposed, directing him
to intercept and detain them at Albany. The motion was negatived; but on
the 25th of July, Congress having ascertained that the Senecas were
actually engaged in the invasion of Wyoming, "aided by Tories and other
banditti from the frontiers of New-York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania,"
it was resolved that the expedition against the hostiles of the Six
Nations should be forwarded with all possible despatch. In the mean time,
however, from the expensiveness of the undertaking, the expedition against
Detroit was reluctantly abandoned; but in lieu thereof, General McIntosh,
commanding the Western department, was ordered to proceed from Pittsburgh
against those of the Indian towns the destruction of which, in his
opinion, would tend most effectually to intimidate and chastise them.
[FN-2] McIntosh had been stationed at Pittsburgh early in the Spring, and
with a small party of regulars and militia, had descended the Ohio about
thirty miles, and erected a fort, which was called by his own name, at
Beavertown. It was a small work, built of strong stockades, and furnished
with bastions mounting one six pounder each. The situation was well
chosen, as a point affording the best facilities for intercepting the war
parties of the western Indians, in their frequent hostile incursions the
present year.
* * * * *
[FN-1] Indeed, the Shawanese had not been remarkably quiet antecedent to
the visitation of McKee, Elliot, and Girty, since they had for several
years been engaged in a system of predatory warfare against the
celebrated Colonel Daniel Boon and his adventurous companions, almost
from the day they made their appearance upon the banks of the Ohio, with
their families, in 1773, when the settlement of the present Slate of
Kentucky was commenced. Boon had been engaged with Lord Dunmore in his
war against the Shawanese in 1774. In the following year he was attacked
in Boonsborough, his principal settlement; and through the entire years
of 1776 and 1777, hostilities were actively prosecuted by the savages
against the advancing Colonists. In one of the earlier battles Boon had
lost a son. A second son fell afterward, and his daughter was taken a
captive, but bravely rescued by the chivalrous father. In April, 1777,
the Indians so divided their forces as to fall upon all the infant
settlements at once, and their little forts only saved the people from
destruction. On the 15th of April, Boonsborough was attacked by one
hundred Indians, at which time the inhabitants suffered severely. On the
19th, Colonel Logan's fort was attacked by a force of two hundred
Indians, but they were repulsed by the garrison, consisting of only
thirteen men--two of whom were killed. Reinforcements arriving from
Virginia, the skirmishes became almost daily. In February of the present
year, (1778) Boonsborough was again attacked, and the gallant Colonel
himself taken prisoner. He was taken first to Chilicothe, and thence to
Detroit, where he was treated with humanity by Colonel Hamilton, the
Governor, who offered the Indians 100 pounds if they would surrender him
into his hands, that he might liberate him on his parole. But having
imbibed a strong affection for their most subtle and successful enemy,
the Indians declined the offer. Taking him back to Chilicothe, the
Colonel was duly adopted into one of the Shawanese families as a son,
to whom his new parents became strongly attached. He soon acquired their
confidence to such an extent, that they allowed him to wander off, and
hunt by himself. Ascertaining, however, that they were meditating another
descent upon Boonsborough, he absconded, and, eluding pursuit, reached
his home on the 20th of June.
[FN-2] Journals of Congress, vol. iv. pages, 343, 398, 415, 427.
This expedition was doubtless judged the more important from the
increasing audacity of the Indians on the Ohio border of Virginia, now
forming the State of Kentucky. In August, Colonel Boon had led a small
band of nineteen men against one of the Indian towns on the Scioto,
before reaching which he fell in with and dispersed a party of forty
Indians then on their way to Boonsborough. The Colonel found the town at
Point Creek deserted; and learned that their whole force had gone against
his own settlement, to the defence of which he was consequently compelled
to hasten back. Fortunately he anticipated their arrival by a few hours,
and was enabled to prepare his little garrison for defence. On the 8th of
August the Indians, to the number of about four hundred and fifty,
arrived before the fort, led, in addition to their own chiefs, by Captain
Duquesne, and eleven other Canadian Frenchmen, The garrison was formally
summoned to surrender, which summons was peremptorily refused. A treaty
was then proposed by the besiegers, and acceded to; the Indians requiring
that nine men should be sent out to them as negotiators. But this movement
proved to be an artifice, by means of which they hoped to gain access to
the fort. An attempt to grapple with and carry off the nine negotiators,
though happily unsuccessful, disclosed their treacherous design. The
besiegers then attempted a regular approach from the river's brink by
mining; but finding that the garrison had discovered their purpose, and
were engaged in countermining them, the siege was abandoned on the 20th
of August. The loss of the enemy was thirty-seven killed and a much larger
number wounded. The loss of the garrison was only two men killed and four
wounded.
But, as we have seen, the expedition of General McIntosh, as authorized by
the vote of Congress recently cited, was specially destined against the
Sandusky towns. It was commanded by the General himself, and consisted of
one thousand men; but such were the delays in getting it on foot, that
the officers, on arriving at Tuscarawa, judged it imprudent to proceed
farther at such an advanced season of the year. They therefore halted at
that place, and built Fort Laurens, in which McIntosh left a garrison of
one hundred and fifty men under the command of Colonel John Gibson, and
returned himself to Fort Pitt for the winter. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] Doddridge's Indian Wars.
Connected with these distant Indian operations, of the Summer of 1778,
was one equally distinguished by the boldness of its conception and the
brilliancy of its execution. The increasing hostility of the remote tribes
upon the waters of the Mississippi and its tributaries, had induced a
belief that a powerful influence must have been exerted upon their minds
by the settlements planted long before at Kaskaskias, and in the country
of the upper Mississippi, by the French, in connexion with Canada. For
the purpose of striking at once at the root of the evil, an expedition
was organized early in the season, the object of which was to invade and
take possession of those settlements. The command was entrusted to Colonel
George Rogers Clarke, of Virginia, a bold and experienced border officer,
and his whole force, destined to penetrate twelve hundred miles through
a wilderness, which was in fact the enemy's country, did not exceed two
hundred men. The rendezvous of this little army was at the great Kanhawa,
where they were attacked by a superior Indian force before their
embarkation. But finding they were not able to make any impression upon
the fort, the assailants drew off, having killed but one man and wounded
one or two more. Descending to the falls of the Ohio, a small fort was
erected at that place, in which a garrison was left of ten or twelve
families. Arriving within about sixty miles of the mouth of the Ohio, the
troops were landed, and, with only four days' provisions, marched for the
Illinois. They reached the precincts of Kaskaskias at midnight on the
sixth day, having marched two days without food, and determined forthwith,
and unanimously, to take the town or die in the attempt. The town was
strongly fortified, and contained about two hundred and fifty well-built
houses; but the approach of the invaders was unknown; the people and the
garrison were alike slumbering in security; and both town and fort were
taken--the latter being carried by surprise, although the defences were
sufficiently strong to resist a thousand men. The commanding officer,
Philip Rocheblave, was made prisoner; and among his papers, falling into
the hands of Colonel Clarke, were the instructions which he had from time
to time received from the British Governors of Quebec, Detroit, and
Michilimackinack, urging him to stimulate the Indians to war by the
proffer of large bounties for scalps. Rocheblave was sent a prisoner to
Williamsburgh in Virginia, and with him were sent the papers taken from
his portfolio.
On the day after the fall of Kaskaskias, Captain Joseph Bowman, at the
head of thirty mounted men, was sent to attack three other towns upon the
Mississippi, the first of which, called Parraderuski, distant fifteen
miles from Kaskaskias, was surprised, and taken without opposition--the
inhabitants at once assenting to the terms of the conqueror. The next town
was St. Philips, distant nine miles farther up. The force of Captain
Bowman was so small, that he wisely determined to make a descent upon St.
Philips in the night, that his strength, or rather his weakness, might be
concealed. The precaution ensured success; and the inhabitants, with whom
the whole negotiation was conducted in the night, acceded to the terms
prescribed. From St. Philips, Captain Bowman directed his course upon the
yet more considerable town of Cauhow, distant between forty and fifty
miles. This town contained about one hundred families, and was also
approached secretly, and entered in the night. Captain Bowman, with his
troop, rode directly to the quarters of the commander, and demanded the
surrender of himself and the whole town, which was immediately complied
with. Taking possession of a large stone house, well fortified, the "bold
dragoon" immediately established his quarters therein, and awaited the
morning's dawn, which would disclose to the people the diminutive force
to which they had surrendered. Enraged at the discovery, one of the enemy
threatened to bring a body of one hundred and fifty Indians against the
little American squadron, and cut them off. But he was secured, and in
the course of ten days upward of three hundred of the inhabitants became
so reconciled to their change of masters, as to take the oath of
allegiance to the United States. Leaving a small guard at Cauhow, Captain
Bowman returned to Kaskaskias. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] The facts connected with this expedition of Colonel Clarke, are
drawn from a letter of Captain Bowman to Colonel John Hite of Virginia.
See Almon's American Remembrancer, vol. vi. pp. 82, 83. The settlements
thus taken were immediately erected by Virginia into a county, called
Illinois.
But the enemy on the New-York frontiers were by no means inactive. In
addition to the severe affair in the Cobleskill settlement, in which
Captain Christian Brown was the leader of the American militia and a small
band of regulars, as noted in the last preceding chapter but one, a large
band of Indians and Tories, under the conduct of Brant and Barent Frey,
broke into the same district at the close of May, and inflicted no small
degree of damage by the destruction of both life and property. They were
met by Captain Patrick, belonging to Colonel Alden's regiment, and a
handful of troops, who were entirely cut to pieces. Captain Patrick fell
early in the engagement. His lieutenant, a corporal, and nineteen men,
were also killed. The command then devolved upon a sergeant, who fought
bravely, as all had done. But they were surrounded by a force greatly
superior in numbers, and but four men, exclusive of the sergeant,
escaped--all wounded. The bodies of Patrick and his lieutenant were
shockingly mutilated. A portion of the settlement was burnt, and the
settlement of Turlock, in the same vicinity, was also ravaged. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] The only account of this affair which the author has discovered,
was found accidentally among the papers of General Gansevoort, after the
fourteenth chapter had been printed. It is contained in a letter from
Colonel Richard Varick to Colonel Gansevoort, dated Schenectady, June 3,
1778, which states that the invasion took place on the preceding
Saturday. Had this letter been sooner discovered, the incident would
have been inserted in more exact chronological order--since the affair
in which Captain Brown was the American commander, occurred, as related
in the fourteenth chapter, from Brown's narrative, more than a month
afterward.
Nor was this all. In the course of the Summer, and probably at about the
time of Colonel Hartley's expedition into the country above Wyoming, one
of the McDonalds, who had fled from Johnstown, a loyalist officer,
distinguished for his activity, made a sudden irruption into the Schoharie
settlements, at the head of about three hundred Tories and Indians,
burning houses, and killing and making prisoners such of the inhabitants
as came in his way, and were not able to make their escape. The little
fortress of Schoharie was occupied by a small garrison, commanded by
Colonel Vrooman--one of that class of men who, though officers, are
certain never to be called soldiers. They saw the ravages of the
enemy--the conflagrations by night rendering visible the acts of outrage
committed by day--but from their own weakness dared not to venture forth,
or make a show of opposition. The brave Colonel Harper was in the fort
with Vrooman, and was little satisfied with the course of that officer.
Leaving the fort, therefore, himself, he succeeded in making his way
through the enemy, mounted his horse, and started express for Albany. His
movement was discovered, and several Tories and Indians were despatched
in pursuit. They overtook him in the night at an inn at Fox's Creek, after
he had retired to bed. Hearing the noise below, the Colonel sprang up in
full panoply, and as they broke open the door which he had locked, he
presented his arms with such earnestness, that they recoiled. Standing
upon the watch until the dawn of morning, he again succeeded in getting
to horse, and rode off. One of the Indians followed him almost to
Albany--the Colonel being obliged frequently to turn upon his dusky
pursuer, who as often took to his heels as his pursuit was discovered.
Having communicated the situation of affairs in the Schoharie valley to
Colonel Gansevoort, a squadron of cavalry was forthwith detached to their
assistance. The detachment rode all night, and early on the following
morning, to the great joy of the terrified inhabitants who remained, the
tramp of hoofs announced the approach of succors. The spirited
light-horse-men had no sooner sounded a charge and made a dash upon the
besiegers, led on by Harper, than the troops sallied out from the fort,
and a precipitate retreat of the enemy was the consequence. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] Letter of Rev. Mr. Fenn, of Harpersfield.
The people of Schoharie had suffered severely from the scouts and scalping
parties of the enemy during the Summer; but their bravery in individual
contests had amply avenged their wrongs. On one occasion a party of seven
Indians made prisoner of a Mr. Sawyer, whom they bound, and marched off
into the wilderness. Having proceeded eight or ten miles, they laid
themselves down to sleep for the night. But their prisoner had been less
effectually secured than they supposed. In the course of the night he
succeeded in disengaging his hands, and cautiously taking a hatchet from
the girdle of one of the Indians, he despatched six of them in rapid
succession, and wounded the seventh, who made his escape. Having thus
relieved himself of his keepers, Sawyer returned home in safety, and at
his leisure. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] Campbell's Annals.
Soon after the battle of Monmouth, Lieutenant Colonel William Butler,
with one of the Pennsylvania regiments and a detachment of Morgan's
riflemen, was ordered to the North, and stationed at Schoharie. Butler
was a brave and experienced officer, especially qualified for the service
upon which he was appointed. [FN] His arrival in Schoharie had a salutary
effect, by discouraging the disaffected, and by the presence of a stronger
force than had yet been among them, establishing the confidence and
reviving the spirits of the people. Several of his scouting parties also
returned with good success. Attached to the rifle corps, under Captain
Long, were several bold spirits, who signalized themselves so greatly in
the partisan warfare in which they were engaged, that many of their
exploits are freshly remembered among the inhabitants of Schoharie to
this day. Of this number were David Elerson, and a Virginian named Murphy.
The first expedition of Captain Long was directed to the valley of the
Charlotte river--one of the upper tributaries of the Susquehanna, flowing
from the mountains south of Schoharie. The object was to arrest and bring
to the fort a conspicuous Tory living upon that stream, named Service.
His house being a point of rendezvous and supply for the Tory and Indian
scouts, it was desirable that it should be broken up. While on his way
to the place of destination, it was the good fortune of Captain Long to
intercept a company of Tories, enlisted for the King's service, in the
neighborhood of Catskill, by a Captain Smith, who were then on their way
to join Sir John Johnson at Niagara. Smith was killed by the simultaneous
shots of Elerson and his Captain--they being a few rods in advance at the
moment when the Tory leader emerged at the head of his men from a thicket.
His followers fled in every direction. They had intended to lodge that
night with Service; but that unfortunate man had guests of quite another
character. While unapprised of danger, his house was surrounded by the
troops of Long, when in an instant Murphy and Elerson rushed in, and made
him a prisoner. Having been informed that he must accompany them to
Schoharie, on leaving his house he seized an axe standing by the door,
which he poised, and directed for a blow at the head of Murphy. The
latter was too quick-sighted to receive it; but as he sprang aside to
avoid the descending weapon, Service fell dead from the rifle of Elerson.
* * * * *
[FN] Letter of Washington to General Stark.
After his term of enlistment had expired. Murphy remained in Schoharie,
and made war on his own account. He was as remarkable for his fleetness,
as for his courage and great precision in firing. He used a
double-barreled rifle; and the fact of his frequently firing twice in
succession, without stopping to load, and always bringing down his man,
rendered him a terror to the Indians. Not knowing the peculiar
construction of his rifle, they were impressed with the belief that it was
a charmed weapon, and supposed he could continue firing as long and as
often as he pleased without loading at all. He fought the savages after
their own fashion--was more than their equal in stratagem or with his
heels--and the greater the apparent danger he was encountering, the
greater was his delight. When he had opportunity, he took pattern of the
Indians in scalping those who fell by his unerring aim; and it was said
that he killed forty of their warriors with his own hands.
Colonel Gansevoort yet remained in the command of Fort Schuyler, and was
continued there during nearly the whole year, although, wearied by
inaction, Willett, and others of his officers, made a strong and formal
effort to be relieved, that their regiment might have an opportunity to
distinguish themselves in the field with the main army. At Fort Schuyler
they could have little else to do than observe the motions of the enemy
on the lakes and the St. Lawrence, and to watch, and occasionally cut off,
a hostile party when venturing too near the garrison. But from the
correspondence of the officers, it would appear that the troops of the
garrison must have been the severest sufferers from this petty mode of
warfare, since the enemy seemed ever to be hovering in the precincts,
ready to bring down or carry into captivity such straggling soldiers as
ventured beyond musket-shot from the fort. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] As an example of these individual murders, the following passage is
copied from a MS. letter from Major Robert Cochran to Colonel Gansevoort,
dated Sept. 8, 1778. During the occasional absences of Colonel
Gansevoort, Major Cochran was in command of the post:--"This morning,
Benjamin Acker, of Captain De Witt's company, who was out in the meadow,
was killed and scalped by a party of Indians, who were seen and fired at
by the sentinel near Brodack's house. I heard the firing in my room, and
ran to the officer of the guard to know what was the matter. I was
informed that a party of Indians had fired upon one of our men who had
gone to catch a horse, and that he had either been killed or taken
prisoner. I ordered Captain Bleecker to go out immediately, with the
guard just parading, to see if he could find him dead or alive. They
found Acker lying dead. He was scalped, and a weapon about two feet and
a half long, like this,"--[here Major Cochran gave a drawing of the
instrument--a war club, with a blade like the spear of a lance inserted
in the side, near the upper end of it,]--"lying near him. This lance-head
had been stuck several times in his body. It is supposed to have been
left behind on purpose, as there were several marks on it, denoting the
number of persons killed and scalps taken by the means of it."--[Captain
Bleecker mentioned in the foregoing extract, is the venerable Leonard
Bleecker, yet living at Sing Sing. He was a very active and efficient
officer at Fort Schuyler for a long time.]
Early in July, Lieutenant McClellan, an active and efficient officer, was
sent with a small party to destroy the buildings and public works at
Oswego, which it was ascertained were not at that moment in the occupation
of the enemy. The object of the expedition was accomplished and the
buildings where burnt to the ground, together with a quantity of
ammunition, provisions, and other public stores. It seems unaccountable
that this post should have been left thus wholly unprotected; the only
occupants found by the American party being a woman and her children, and
a lad fourteen years old. The woman and her family, together with her
furniture and a suitable supply of provisions, were placed in an
out-building, and left without farther molestation. The boy was brought
off as a prisoner, and furnished some important information touching the
movements of the enemy between their island rendezvous in the St.
Lawrence, and Niagara. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] MS. draft of a letter from Colonel Gansevoort to General Stark,
July 10, 1778.
But Colonel Gansevoort had some serious troubles to encounter within the
garrison, and some painful duties to execute. Notwithstanding the high
character which the forces constituting the garrison had acquired, and
the sound patriotism of his officers, the spirit of disaffection appeared
among them in the Spring, and the early part of the Summer, to an alarming
extent. Distant as was the post of Fort Schuyler from New-York, Sir Henry
Clinton had succeeded in the introduction of an emissary within the fort,
in the character of a recruit. His name was Samuel Geake. He was an
American soldier, and had been corrupted while a prisoner in New-York,
whence he was sent forth, in company with Major Hammell, also an American
prisoner, whose virtue yielded to the all-subduing power of gold. [FN-1]
Geake accompanied Hammell to Poughkeepsie, where, in furtherance of his
iniquitous designs, he enlisted in Captain Abraham Swartwout's company,
[FN-2] and was transferred to Fort Schuyler, to join Colonel Gansevoort's
regiment; into which place, for specific objects, he was instructed to
insinuate himself by an aide-de-camp of Sir Henry Clinton. After Hammell's
arrest, Colonel Varick wrote to Gansevoort, putting him on his guard as
to the character of Geake. A sergeant named Kartele was employed by
Colonel Gansevoort to ingratiate himself in Geake's confidence, and, if
possible, ascertain his true character, and penetrate his designs. The
commission was successfully executed by the sergeant, and the whole
circumstances of Hammell's employment by the enemy, and his own, were
elicited. Geake was thereupon arrested, but not until he had made great
progress in his designs, and was on the eve of desertion, for the purpose
of joining the British army in Philadelphia. He was tried by a
court-martial made a full confession, and, with his confederates, was
sentenced to death. [FN-3] The sentence was not carried into execution
against Geake, not only because the constitution of the court was
irregular, but because of the desire of the Commander-in-chief to spare
him as a witness against Hammell, as will presently appear. The following
documents will complete this section of the proceedings at Fort
Schuyler:--
* * * * *
[FN-1] Hammell was Brigade-major to General James Clinton, and had been
taken by Sir Henry Clinton at the storming of Fort Montgomery. According
to Geake's confession, Hammell was employed in the commissary of
prisoners' department, by the British officers in New-York, before he
was sent out upon his mission of treason. General James Clinton, by the
way, was not taken at Fort Montgomery, as stated in the text account of
that affair. Though wounded, he escaped; although his-brother, the
Governor, supposed him to be a prisoner, when he wrote his official
account to the Committee of Safety.
[FN-2] Captain Swartwout was with Gansevoort at the siege of Fort
Schuyler, and gave his cloth cloak to form the blue stripes of the flag
spoken of in the account of the siege, as being made up for the occasion.
[FN-3] These facts have been gathered from the proceedings of the
court-martial, preserved among General Gansevoort's papers. The president
of the court was Captain Greece, who had been shot, tomahawked, and
scalped, the year before. According to Geake's confession, Hammell was
promised a Colonelcy of a new Irish regiment to be raised from deserters
from the American army, and such others as they could enlist. Geake was
to receive a commission as lieutenant. His mission to Fort Schuyler was
to acquire accurate knowledge of its strength and the extent of its
supplies--to induce as many of the garrison to desert as possible--and
to spike the cannon on their departure.
"Colonel Gansevoort to General Washington.
_Fort Schuyler, August 13, 1778._
"Sir,
"I have the unhappiness to inform your Excellency that desertion has
lately been very frequent from this garrison. Since the 26th of last
March we have had three sergeants, two corporals, and twenty privates
desert from this battalion, besides one bombardier, one gunner, and one
other from the artillery. Before the date above mentioned, several
soldiers had been tried by a general Court Martial at this garrison for
desertion, but never received the punishment due their crimes. The
sentences of these different courts martial were carefully sent to the
commanding General of this Department, [FN] but no returns have been ever
received. Some time in June last, Colonel Varick informed me that a
recruit, who had just joined our battalion, was suspected of being a
confederate with Major Hammell. I ordered his conduct to be narrowly
inspected. He was detected in the fact of corrupting and enticing the
soldiers to desert. Upon being apprehended, he confessed that he came
upon such designs, and was sent by an aid-de-camp of Sir Henry Clinton as
a spy--to endeavor to enlist what Irishmen he could from the American
army. There was every appearance of his being a spy. He was immediately
tried by a general court martial--the sentence was directly sent down for
approbation, but no answer has been received, and the man still lies
confined in irons."
* * * * *
[FN] General Stark was then in command at Albany.
"Finding the spirit of desertion to increase, and the men in general to
be exceeding uneasy,--probably arising from their being so long stationed
on this frontier post. They have been frequently heard in their private
conversations to say that they would sooner die than stay here the ensuing
winter. My officers, as well as myself, were convinced, that unless some
example was made, we should not be able to check this growing evil. A
party of five men deserted on the 10th of August. They were taken by the
Tuscarora Indians, on their way to Canada, fifty miles from this fort.
They were brought in on the 13th. A general court martial was convened on
the 15th. They were sentenced to die. The officers in a body desired
their immediate execution, as the only way effectually to stop the
increasing spirit of desertion.
"While these men were under sentence of death, a party returned from the
German Flats, who had been to drive cattle to this garrison. They had
lost six men by desertion, who were pursued, but without effect. This,
together with the above reasons, and being apprehensive of some design of
the enemy, and hearing a report which they had carefully spread among the
savages, of having upward of seventy men enlisted in this garrison, who
would rise upon their appearance, convinced me of the necessity of a rigid
example, and resolved me to take the advice of my officers by ordering the
prisoners to be executed. They were accordingly shot at the head of the
regiment on the 17th. [FN] In doing of which, although I could not find
that the articles of war gave me the fullest authority, yet, as commanding
officer of a frontier post, far distant from the Commander in-chief, and
having a separate commission from Congress as commandant of this post, I
considered myself fully empowered in a case of such great necessity. I
hope your Excellency will be convinced of this necessity, and approve of
the justness of the execution. Inclosed your Excellency has a copy of the
proceedings of the court martial. I am, &c."
* * * * *
[FN] Notwithstanding this severe example, it is noted in the private
diary of Adjutant Hutton, of Colonel Gansevoort's regiment, that on the
same day on which these five men were tried and sentenced to death, six
others deserted; and two others deserted five days after their
execution.--_Vide Gansevoort's papers._
"General Washington to Colonel Gansevoort.
_Head-Quarters, White Plains,_
29th _August,_ 1778.
"Sir.
"I have just received your favor of the 13th instant. Inclosed is a copy
of a letter sent you some time ago respecting the court martial you
transmitted.
"The spirit of desertion which possessed your soldiers, was certainly
very alarming, and required a serious check. I hope the intention of the
example you have made will be fully answered; and although the proceeding
was not strictly in the prescribed form, yet the necessity of the case
may justify the measure.
"I have spoken to Lieut. Colonel Willett on the application of the
officers of the garrison. It is impossible to comply at present with their
request, things are so circumstanced--but I shall take steps to relieve
it before winter. [FN-1]
"I am, sir, your obedient, humble serv't.
Geo. Washington.
"_Col. Gansevoort._" [FN-2]
* * * * *
[FN-1] In November following, Gansevoort's command was relieved by
Colonel Guise Van Schaick, whose regiment was assigned to that post.
[FN-2] These letters have been copied by the author from the originals.
The enclosure mentioned in the above letter from General Washington reads
as follows:--
[Copy.]
_"Head-Quarters, White Plains,
August_ 13, 1778.
"Sir,
"I have received the proceedings of a court-martial held by your order,
respecting Samuel Geake. As neither the articles of war, nor any resolves
of Congress, authorise the constituting of general courts-martial by any
other than the Commander-in-chief, the commanding officer of a separate
department, or a general officer commanding in a particular State, I
should have been under the necessity of ordering a second trial, and
appointing a court for the purpose, if it had been judged expedient to
bring Geake to punishment. But as his confession contains information
very pointedly against Major Hammell, which concurs with other accounts
I have received, I think it of more importance to the public to save
Geake, as a witness against Hammell, than to make an example of him. You
will therefore keep him in such a kind of confinement as will effectually
prevent his escape, till matters are ripe for the prosecution of Major
Hammell, and at the same time will be as little rigorous as the nature
of the case will admit. He need, however know nothing of my intention. I
am, &c.
"Geo. Washington.
"_Col. Gansevoort._"
The position of Fort Schuyler was of the first importance, as the key to
the western entrance of the Mohawk country; but it was nevertheless too
remote from the upper German settlements of the valley, to afford them
protection from sudden irruptions of the enemy avoiding that fortress in
their approach. The consequence was that the work of destruction was
actively prosecuted among the settlements referred to, during the Summer
of this year. The first blow was struck upon a small and rather secluded
hamlet, called Andrus-town, situated about six miles south-east of the
German Flats, [FN-1] on the 18th of July, by a small party of Indians led
by Brant in person. This settlement consisted of seven families, planted
upon a lot of one thousand acres. [FN-2] They were in affluent
circumstances for borderers, and the object of the invasion was plunder.
The settlement was utterly destroyed--every thing of value that could be
removed, was carried away--the houses and other buildings were reduced to
ashes--an aged man named Bell, with his son and two others, was
killed--one other inhabitant perished in the flames of his own house--and
the remainder of the little colony were carried into captivity. Advices
of this catastrophe had no sooner reached the Flats, than a party of
resolute Whigs determined to pursue the marauders, among whom was John
Frank, one of the Committee of Safety. [FN-3] Arriving at the scene of
desolation, they hastily buried the dead, and continued their march,
accompanied by six or seven friendly Indians, to the Little Lakes, [FN-4]
where, also, was a small white colony known as "Young's Settlement," from
the name of its founder. Here it was discovered that the enemy was so far
in advance, that the chase was relinquished. But as Young, the head man
of the settlement, was a Tory, as also was his next neighbor, a man named
Collyer, the exasperated Whigs avenged, to a small extent, the destruction
of Andrus-town, by plundering and burning their habitations.
* * * * *
[FN-1] In the North part of the present town of Warren.
[FN-2] The names of the proprietors were Bell, Frank, Oosterhoudt, Crim,
Staring, Lepper, and Hoyer.
[FN-3] John Frank, Esq. yet a resident of German Flats, very old, but
with mental faculties unimpaired. The author has known him these
twenty-five years, and in September, 1837, paid him a visit. Most of the
information respecting the events now immediately under consideration,
is derived from him.
[FN-4] Two small lakes in the South-east part of the town of Warren,
discharging their waters into Otsego Lake.
But the most considerable event of the season in that vicinity, was the
entire destruction of the comparatively extensive and populous settlement
of the German Flats. This settlement, originally called Burnetsfield, from
the circumstance that the patent had been granted by Governor Burnet,
extended over the richest and most beautiful section of the Mohawk Valley,
comprehending the broad alluvial lands directly beyond the junction of
the West Canada creek and the river, and including about ten miles of the
valley from east to west. Midway of the settlement, on the south side of
the river, yet stands the ancient stone church, the westernmost of the
line of those structures built under the auspices of Sir William Johnson.
A short distance east of the church stood the large and massive-built
stone mansion of the Herkimer family, which, like the church itself, was
used as a fort. [FN-1] Hence it was called Fort Herkimer. On the north
side of the river, upon a gravelly plain, elevated some ten or fifteen
feet above the surrounding Flats, stood Fort Dayton. [FN-2]
* * * * *
[FN-1] It was at this place that the first Liberty Pole in the valley was
reared, in the Spring of 1775. The sheriff of Tryon County, White, with
whose subsequent history the reader is already acquainted, came up to
the Flats with a large body of militia from Johnstown, and cut it down.
White had been a captain in the French war.
[FN-2] The present site of the village of Herkimer, in the town of the
same name, and one of the most beautiful localities in America. The name
of German Flats was designed for this town, which would have been the
most appropriate, as Herkimer would have been for the town on the south
side of the river, now called German Flats, where the Flats are far less
extensive, and where the Herkimer family resided. The mistake was made
by the legislature when the towns were named. This explanation, together
with the geographical description in the text, is necessary to prevent
confusion in regard to the localities of Forts Dayton and Herkimer, in
the record of subsequent events.
At the time of which we are writing, the settlement on the south side of
the river numbered thirty-four dwelling-houses, and there were about an
equal number upon the north side, together with as many barns and other
out-buildings, and several mills. The population, for the number of
houses, was numerous. The lands, rich by nature, and well cultivated, had
that year brought forth by handfuls; so that the barns were amply stored
with their products.
It was at the close of August, or early in the month of September, that
this fine district was laid waste by the Indians under the direction of
Brant. Most providentially, however, the invasion was attended with the
loss of but two lives--one man being killed outright, and another, named
McGinnis, perished in the flames. The particulars of this hostile
irruption were these:--Entertaining some suspicions of Brant, who was at
Unadilla, a scout of four men had been despatched into that vicinity for
observation. Three of these men were killed at the Edmeston settlement.
The fourth, John Helmer, succeeded in making his escape, and returned to
the Flats at half an hour before sundown, just in time to announce that
Brant, with a large body of Indians, was advancing, and would, in a few
hours, be upon them. All was, of course, terror and alarm through the
settlement; and the inhabitants--men, women, and children--were gathered
into Forts Dayton and Herkimer for security. In flying to those defences,
they gathered up the most valuable of their stuff, and by means of boats
and canoes upon the river, succeeded, in the course of the evening, in
collecting a large portion of their best articles of furniture. But they
had no time to look after their flocks and herds.
Early in the evening Brant arrived at the edge of the settlement, but as
the night came on excessively dark and rainy, he halted with his forces
in a ravine, near the house of his Tory friend Shoemaker, where the
younger Butler and his party were captured the preceding year. Here the
chieftain lay with his warriors until the storm broke away toward
morning--unconscious that his approach had been notified to the people by
the scout in season to enable them to escape the blow of his uplifted arm.
Before the dawn he was on foot, and his warriors were sweeping through
the settlement; so that the torch might be almost simultaneously applied
to every building it contained. Just as the day was breaking in the east,
the fires were kindled, and the whole section of the valley was speedily
illuminated by the flames of houses and barns, and all things else
combustible. The spectacle, to the people in the forts, was one of
melancholy grandeur. Every family saw the flames and smoke of its own
domicile ascending to the skies, and every farmer the whole product of
his labor for the season dissolving into ashes.
Having no fire-arms larger than their rifles, the Indians avoided even a
demonstration against the forts, notwithstanding their chagrin that
neither scalps nor prisoners were to grace their triumph. But as the light
of day advanced, their warriors were seen singly, or in small groups,
scouring the fields, and driving away all the horses, sheep, and black
cattle that could be found. Nothing upon which they could lay their hands
was left; and the settlement, which, but the day before, for ten miles had
smiled in plenty and in beauty, was now houseless and destitute. [FN-1]
Happily, however, of human life there was no greater sacrifice than has
already been mentioned. After the Indians had decamped with their booty,
a force of between three and four hundred militia-men collected, and went
in pursuit--following as far as Edmeston's plantation on the Unadilla
river, where the bodies of the three scouts were found and buried. But no
other results attended this expedition. [FN-2] A party of the Oneida
Indians was more successful. They penetrated into one of the Unadilla
settlements, burnt several houses, retook some of the cattle driven from
the German Flats, and brought off a number of prisoners. The results of
this little expedition were communicated to Major Cochran, then in command
at Fort Schuyler, on or about the 25th of September, by a deputation of
about one hundred of the Oneida and Tuscarora warriors, in the following
speech:--
* * * * *
[FN-1] The Remembrancer states that there were 63 dwelling-houses, 57
barns, 3 grist-mills, and two saw-mills burnt, with most of the furniture
and grain kept therein; and 235 horses, 229 horned-cattle, 269 sheep,
and 93 oxen, taken and carried away. Judge Frank informed the author that
he was upon guard on the morning of the conflagration, standing upon the
corner of the fort (Herkimer,) which afforded him the best view of the
scene when the flames broke forth. He also saw the dusky swarms of
savages rush down the hill-slopes into the meadows after the cattle, as
soon as it was sufficiently light to discern objects with tolerable
distinctness. The whole scene, he says, was picturesque and sublime.
[FN-2] "Captain Gilbert Tice came from Niagara a few days before Brant
set out with his party to destroy the German Flats. He had 33 Indians
with him, mostly Mohawks. Brant's whole party at the German Flats was
300 Tories, and 152 Indians. There were no regular troops amongst
them."--_MS. letter of Major Cochran to Colonel Gansevoort, Sept._ 28,
1778.
"Brothers: We have now taken the hatchet and burnt Unadilla, [FN] and a
place called the Butternuts. We have brought five prisoners from each
of those places. Our warriors were particular that no hurt should be done
to women and children. We left four old men behind, who were no more able
to go to war. We have re-taken William Dygert, who was taken about nine
weeks ago by Brant on Fall Hill. We now deliver him to you, so that he
may return to his friends. Last year we took up the hatchet at
Stillwater, and we will now continue it in our hands. The Grasshopper,
one of the Oneida chiefs, took to himself one of the prisoners to live
with him in his own family, and has adopted him as a son."
* * * * *
[FN] The Indians must have meant one of the upper settlements on the
Unadilla, somewhere between the Butternuts and the "Forks," about
twenty-five miles north of the embouchure of that river into the
Susquehanna. The principal town of the Indians was at the mouth of the
river, and was destroyed two or three weeks afterward by Colonel Butler,
as will presently appear.
"Brothers: We deliver you six prisoners, with whom you are to act as you
please.
"Brothers: You had a man scalped here some time ago. We Oneidas and
Tuscaroras have now taken revenge, and have brought you some slaves. We
do not take scalps. We hope you are now convinced of our friendship to
you and your great cause. The warriors detain two of the prisoners till
tomorrow morning. The Canasaragas have one in their possession. They will
bring him to-morrow or the next day." [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] MS. report of Major Cochran to Colonel Gansevoort.
The Oneidas, with very few exceptions, were ever faithful to the cause of
the Whigs, and sometimes fought with great personal bravery. The Oriskany
clan of that nation joined General Herkimer on the morning of his
disastrous battle, under their chiefs Cornelius and Colonel Honyerry, and
sustained themselves valiantly in that murderous conflict. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] This fact was derived from Judge Frank, after the chapter containing
the account of the battle of Oriskany was written, Honyerry, or Hansjune
Tewahongrahkon, as his name stands in the archives of the war department,
was commissioned a captain by the Board of War in 1779.
But the acquisitions of booty by the Indians at the German Flats were more
than counterbalanced, a few days afterward, by their losses in their own
chief towns, Unadilla and Oghkwaga, which were invaded, and in turn laid
waste, by Colonel William Butler, with the 4th Pennsylvania regiment, a
detachment of Colonel Morgan's rifle-men, then recently stationed at
Schoharie, as we have already seen, and a corps of twenty rangers. Having
marched from Schoharie to the head waters of the Delaware, and descended
that stream two days' march, Colonel Butler struck off thence to the
Susquehanna, upon which he emerged in the neighborhood of Unadilla. He
approached the settlement with great caution; but the enemy had left the
place several days before. Two of the white settlers, Tories, were made
prisoners, however, one of whom was compelled to guide the forces of
Butler to Oghkwaga, which service he performed. The town was taken
possession of without interruption, the Indians having fled the day
before in the greatest confusion--leaving behind a large quantity of corn,
their dogs, some cattle, and a great part of their household goods. The
march of Butler's troops had been fatiguing, and the vegetables and
poultry, which they found here in great abundance, enabled them to fare
sumptuously during their stay. The town was uncommonly well built for an
Indian settlement, there being a considerable number of good farm-houses
on either side of the river. These were all destroyed, together with the
Indian castle three miles farther down the river, as also large quantities
of provisions, intended for their winter's supply. They saw nothing of the
enemy, and lost only one man at that place, who was shot by an Indian
straggler lurking in ambush. Returning to Unadilla, that settlement, upon
both sides of the river, was burnt, as also a grist-mill and saw-mill--the
only ones in the Susquehanna valley. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] Letter of Colonel William Butler to General Stark.
But although, so far as fighting was concerned, it was an easy campaign,
still the difficulties encountered by the expedition were very great, and
such as could not have been undergone but by men "possessing a large share
of hardiness, both of body and mind. They were obliged to carry their
provisions on their backs; and, thus loaded, frequently to ford creeks
and rivers. After the toils of hard marches, they were obliged to camp
down during wet and chilly nights without covering, or even the means of
keeping their arms dry." [FN] They completed their work in sixteen days,
and returned to Schoharie. But the Indians were not slow in taking their
revenge for this destruction of their towns. An Indian's vengeance
slumbers no longer than until an opportunity is afforded for sating it,
as will appear in the ensuing chapter.
* * * * *
[FN] Ramsay.