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Transcriber's Note:
Inconsistent hyphenation and archaic spellings in the
original document have been preserved.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For
a complete list, please see the end of this document.
This work includes parts of journals of Maj. Erkuries
Beatty, Thomas Grant, George Grant, and Col. Henry
Dearborn.
COLLECTIONS
OF
CAYUGA COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
NUMBER ONE.
1879.
THE JOURNAL
OF
LIEUT. JOHN L. HARDENBERGH
OF THE
SECOND NEW YORK CONTINENTAL REGIMENT
FROM MAY 1 TO OCTOBER 3, 1779,
IN GENERAL SULLIVAN'S CAMPAIGN
AGAINST THE
Western Indians
With an introduction, copious Historical Notes, and Maps of the
Battle-field of Newtown and Groveland Ambuscade
BY GEN'L JOHN S. CLARK
And parts of other Journals never before published.
ALSO A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
BY REV. CHARLES HAWLEY, D.D.
President of the Society.
Auburn, N.Y.
1879.
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY COPIES.
Number 7
KNAPP & PECK,
Book, Job and Commercial Printers,
AUBURN, N.Y.
CONTENTS.
Pages.
BIOGRAPHICAL, 7 to 19
INTRODUCTION TO JOURNALS, 20 to 22
BATTLE OF NEWTOWN, MAP, 44 to --
HARDENBERGH'S JOURNAL AND NOTES, 23 to 59
GENERAL JAMES CLINTON'S MARCH, 60 to --
BEATTY'S JOURNAL AND NOTES, 61 to 68
GROVELAND AMBUSCADE, MAP, 50 to --
EXPEDITION AGAINST THE CAYUGAS, 69 to 70
THOMAS GRANT'S JOURNAL AND NOTES, 70 to 73
GEORGE GRANT'S JOURNAL AND NOTES, 73 to 75
COLONEL DEARBORN'S MARCH, 76 to 77
DEARBORN'S JOURNAL AND NOTES, 77 to 81
INDIAN TOWNS DESTROYED, 82 to 87
LIST OF JOURNALS AND NARRATIVES, 88 to 94
BIOGRAPHICAL.
John Leonard Hardenbergh, the author of the following Journal, was a
native of Rosendale, Ulster County, in the Province of New York, born
in the year 1748. He was the son of Leonard and Rachel Hardenbergh,
and the youngest of seven children. The family name is one of the
oldest in the State, and is prominent both in its colonial and
revolutionary annals. As early as 1644, Arnoldus van Hardenbergh a
"free merchant" emigrated from Holland to New Amsterdam "with a cargo
of wares for sale in the colony." He was soon after selected as one of
the original Nine Men of New Netherland, and served in this board from
1647 to 1650.[1] He was followed in, or about, the year 1652, by his
brother Johannes van Hardenbergh, also a merchant from Amsterdam, who
at this date was purchaser of "a house, lot and garden" on Manhattan
Island. (Calendar, Hist. MSS. in office of the Secretary of State,
Albany, Part I, vol. iii).
The branch of the family that was subsequently settled at Rosendale,
is traced to the year 1706, when Johannes Hardenbergh, with six
others, obtained from the crown of Great Britain a grant of land which
comprised, as computed at the time, 1,500,000 acres, located in
Northern Ulster, then including a portion of the present county of
Sullivan,--the western boundary extending to, or near the head of, the
Delaware river. The terminal syllable of the name, _bergh_, indicates
that the earlier ancestors in Holland were from the hills; and it was
quite natural that their descendants should have found permanent
location in the hilly districts of Shendaken and Shawangunk,
stretching westward from the valley of the Hudson; neither is it
surprising that they should have loved freedom and have given their
best efforts for its establishment in their adopted land.
At the outbreak of the Revolution, Col. Johannes Hardenbergh, Jr. was
placed at the head of the Committee of Safety for Ulster
County--Kingston, its chief town, being at the time the seat of the
New York Provincial Congress of which he was also a member. He had
ranked as Colonel in the English colonial service, and been active in
military affairs as early as 1748, when Sir William Johnson was in
command of the New York troops for the defence of the frontier against
the French and Indians. He was also given command by the Provincial
Congress of one of the earliest regiments raised for the immediate
defence of the Hudson above the Highlands, at the opening of the war
of Independence, and from his experience and position was enabled to
render distinguished service at that critical period. In 1786, three
years after the return of peace, he removed from his farm in Rosendale
to New Brunswick, N.J., to spend the remnant of his days with his son,
Rev. Dr. Jacob R. Hardenbergh, the first President of Rutger's
College.
Leonard Hardenbergh, a younger brother of Col. Johannes, Jr., and the
father of the subject of this sketch, died July 7, 1776, only three
days after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and as his
neighbors of the hardy yeomanry of Ulster, were leaving their harvests
ungathered and marching to the defence of Fort Montgomery, one of the
principal fortifications guarding the passes of the Hudson. In the
official returns for the same month (July) the name of John L.
Hardenbergh appears as First Lieutenant in the Second New York Militia
under command of Col. Morris Graham, and assigned to the Brigade of
Gen. George Clinton, who had remained in the Continental Congress to
vote for the Declaration, when he hastened home to his command. Having
served several months in this regiment raised under special call,
Hardenbergh was commissioned Nov. 21, 1776, First Lieutenant in the
Second New York Continental Regiment, under Col. Rudolphus Ritzema,[2]
who was superseded Nov. 30, 1776, by the appointment of Col. Philip
Van Courtlandt, a gallant officer and a personal friend of Washington
whose confidence he shared to an unusual degree.[3] The regiment had
the previous month been in the battle of White Plains, under
Lieutenant-Col. Weissenfels, where it did some hard fighting; and was
ordered by Washington to Fishkill for the winter, to be recruited and
disciplined, and thus ready for active service in the Spring. But few
enlistments, however, were obtained, though several recruiting parties
were sent out for the purpose; and in the Spring of 1777, it was
ordered to Peekskill, a point for the collection of military stores,
and where at this time large quantities had been gathered under
protection of General McDougall's brigade. Soon after, a fleet of ten
British ships or transports appeared in Peekskill Bay, and landed a
force of five hundred men with four pieces of artillery, which
compelled Gen. McDougall, who had scarcely half that number of troops,
to retreat to Gallows Hill, about ten miles in the rear, leaving what
stores could not be removed, in the hands of the enemy, who remained
in possession of the town until McDougall was reinforced, when they
retired to their ships and returned to New York.
After several weeks of hard and perilous service, Col. Van Courtlandt
with his regiment, was ordered to Albany and thence to the relief of
Fort Stanwix, then besieged by Colonel St. Leger with a party of
Indians; but on information that the enemy had retired, he joined
General Poor, then on the advance to Stillwater, to whose brigade the
regiment became attached, and thus made a part of General Arnold's
command, forming a portion of the left wing in the first battle of
Stillwater, which was fought on the 19th of September. The loss of
killed and wounded of the Second New York was two out of eleven, which
was a larger proportion than of any other regiment engaged, the next
largest being that of Col. Cilley's First New Hampshire, which was one
out of seven, all of General Poor's Brigade.[4] At the second battle,
which occurred on the 7th of October, the regiment sustained its
reputation for determined bravery and hard fighting, and thus bore an
honorable part in the most important engagement, thus far, of the war,
the results of which changed the whole aspect of the American cause.
After the battle of Stillwater, which compelled the surrender of
Burgoyne, and rendered fruitless the previous successes of the enemy
along the Hudson, the regiment returned to Fishkill, and soon joined
the army under Washington, then confronted by the British forces under
General Howe, in the vicinity of Philadelphia. It shared the
privations and sufferings of the terrible winter encampment at Valley
Forge, (1777-8) the march to which of the half naked, half-starved,
shoeless army might be tracked in blood through the December snows. It
appears from an orderly book[5] found among the papers of Colonel,
afterwards Gen. Henry Dearborn, also in the Sullivan expedition, that
at Valley Forge, Hardenbergh was Lieutenant and Adjutant of his
regiment and often served as Adjutant of the Day at Head Quarters. The
whole encampment consisted of about eleven thousand troops; and when
it was broken up the following Spring, upwards of three thousand men
unfit for duty were left behind, under charge of Colonel Van
Courtlandt, while his regiment proceeded with the main army, and
participated in the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, winning
commendation for bravery and good behavior in that hotly contested
engagement.
While at camp with the main army at White Plains the same season, the
Second New York Regiment was sent to guard the frontiers in Ulster
County against the depredations of the Indians under Brant, who had
already destroyed several houses and murdered men, women and children.
It remained in the neighborhood of Laghawack, on this duty, during the
winter of 1778-79; and in the Spring while on the march to surprise
Brant stationed on the Delaware with about one hundred and fifty
Indians, an express from General Washington overtook the regiment with
orders to proceed to Fort Penn, there to await orders from General
Sullivan. It is at this point that the Journal of Lieutenant
Hardenbergh, herewith published, dates.
On its return from the Expedition, the regiment proceeded to Easton,
Pennsylvania, and from thence to Morristown, N.J., where it was hutted
for the winter. In the spring of 1780 it was sent to Fort Edward for
temporary service, and in June proceeded to West Point, and in
expectation of an attack from the enemy, was posted on the mountain
west of Fort Putnam. This proved, however, to be a feint to cover an
invasion of the Jerseys. During the treason of Arnold the regiment was
at Tappan, whither Andre was taken after his capture, and where he was
tried and executed.
From the autumn of 1776 to the winter of 1780, Lieutenant Hardenbergh
was identified with the Second New York, sharing its fortunes, and
participating in the important battles in which it was engaged, when
the five New York regiments were consolidated into two, in which
arrangement he fell into that class of officers who were retained in
service but not attached to any battalion. But in July 1782 he was
made Captain of Levies under Lieut. Col. Weissenfels, in which
capacity he continued for the remainder of the war.
In the summer of 1781, he is accredited in the chronicles of the time,
with a daring exploit, which indicates the kind of service in which he
was engaged after he ceased to be attached to the Second New York. A
body of three hundred Indians and ninety Tories under Captain
Cauldwell, an officer in Butler's Rangers, appeared on the frontier of
Ulster County, in the neighborhood of Warwasing, having passed
unobserved the stockade forts at the north of Lackawaxen and
Neversink, expecting to surprise the settlements and repeat the scenes
of massacre which had desolated other regions in the vicinity. Captain
Hardenbergh, at the time, was stationed with a guard of nine[6] men,
near the house of J.G. Hardenbergh,[7] and at a point some three
miles distant from a small fortress at Warwasing. As the enemy passed
the fort just before the break of day they were fired upon by the
sentinel. The report alarmed Captain Hardenbergh, who with his little
band proceeded immediately in direction of the sound, and on his way
met the enemy directing their course toward the settlement, which is
now called Rochester. Nothing daunted he gave them battle; but being
closely pressed he soon discovered that his retreat was cut off by a
party of Indians who had gained his rear. In this dilemma the Captain
resorted to stratagem which admirably answered the purpose. It was as
yet barely light, and turning aside in the woods with the little
company, to conceal the smallness of his force, he took off his hat
and huzzaed with all his might, at the same time advancing toward a
small stone house near by, and in face of the Indians, who supposing
that the troops were coming up from Pinebush, took the alarm and
skulked off in every direction. But no sooner had Hardenbergh and his
company reached the house, when the Indians discovering the ruse,
poured a shower of bullets after them just as they were safely within
the door. Here they found six militia men besides, making sixteen in
all, and being well armed, made all preparations to hold their
position against the invaders. With an ax they broke a series of
loop-holes in the rear of the house and through the sides of the steep
roof, thus commanding its approaches on all sides. The enemy advanced
several times to carry the house by assault, but as some of their
number were doomed to fall at every onset, they as often gave way, and
at length were compelled to relinquish the attack, leaving thirteen
dead upon the field. In the meanwhile the firing had aroused the
neighborhood, and Col. Henry Pawling with a detachment of State
Levies, stationed about six miles from the scene of action, hastened
forward, but arrived too late to have a brush with the enemy, and only
in season to capture a straggler, who had lingered for fruit, near an
apple orchard. Cauldwell was in full retreat, and though pursued by
Colonel Pawling with his regiment of Levies and Colonel Cantine with a
regiment of State Militia, for some days, finally escaped. The enemy,
however, suffered severely and besides losing a number of men, were so
near starvation that they were obliged to eat their dogs before they
reached Niagara, the point from which they had started on their errand
of pillage and murder. This was the last attempt of the kind made upon
the frontier settlements, which had suffered so severely from repeated
invasions of Indians and Tories during the Revolution. It was designed
to be a finishing blow upon that region, and as we have seen, it was
largely due to the bravery and military tact of Captain Hardenbergh
that the stroke was averted.[8]
At the close of the war, during the entire period of which he had been
in active service, he returned to his native place, to share the
fruits of Independence with peace, which he had done so much to
secure. He had justly acquired the reputation of a brave and skillful
officer, and his name still appears on the Roll of Honor in the
cabinet of Revolutionary memorials kept at Washington's Head-Quarters
at Newburgh. He was for a time on Washington's staff; and his whole
record is that of a devoted patriot and a faithful soldier, at a time
when the country needed every heart and hand for its defence.
In 1789, the Indian titles to most of the lands in the State of New
York, having been extinguished, the Legislature provided for the
survey of a certain portion of these lands, already set apart for the
soldiers of the State, who had served in the war of the Revolution.
This tract embracing 1,680,000 acres, and denominated the Military
Tract, included the present counties of Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and
Cortland, also the larger part of Tompkins with portions of Oswego and
Wayne. It was surveyed into twenty-eight townships, containing each
one hundred lots of six hundred acres. Each private soldier and
non-commissioned officer had one lot assigned him. The officers
received larger shares in proportion to their rank. Colonel
Hardenbergh was appointed on this survey, in immediate association
with Moses Dewitt, brother of Simeon Dewitt, at the time
Surveyor-General of the State, and was occupied in this work during
the years 1789-90. His field books, neatly kept and carefully
preserved, are now in possession of the Cayuga County Historical
Society, one of several valuable donations from the family to the
Society's archives. The lands which fell to him on the assignment of
military bounties, were located in Onondaga, disposing of which, he
purchased lot Forty-Seven, within the present limits of Auburn, from
Ogden and Josiah Hoffman, and originally patented to Captain Thomas
Doughty also of the Second New York. The deed bears date Feb. 16,
1792, and the consideration was one hundred and eighty pounds N.Y.
currency. Colonel Hardenbergh was familiar as a surveyor with its
comparative advantages, for a settlement, and especially with its
superior water power, and had already indicated the lot on his map of
survey as a "good mill site." He came on to his lands the same year
(1792) bringing with him several negro slaves, and built a bark
shelter near the site of the present Hardenbergh mansion, and on the
spot where the City Hall now stands. He made a visit in the fall or
winter of that year, to Rosendale and was united in marriage to Mary
Bevier, also of one of the most substantial and prominent families of
that part of the State, and soon after returned to make further
preparations for a permanent home. This year also he received a
commission as Major in the Battalion of Herkimer County, having
previously been appointed a Captain in a Battalion for Montgomery,
which until 1791 included the counties of Herkimer and Tioga. He was
also appointed, in 1793, by Governor George Clinton, his old Brigade
commander on the Hudson in the beginning of the war, an Associate
Justice for Herkimer County, and designated the same year as one of
the three Commissioners to lay out and construct the Genesee Turnpike.
His last military promotion was that of Lieutenant Colonel of a
regiment of Militia in Onondaga County, in April, 1796, by Governor
John Jay, and gave him the title of Colonel, by which he is most
commonly known in the early annals of Auburn.
In 1794 he had completed a saw and grist mill, on the Owasco Outlet,
near where the Stone Mill now stands, opposite the junction of Genesee
and Market Streets, thus forming the nucleus of a settlement known as
Hardenbergh's Corners until 1805, when it took the name of Auburn.
The death of his wife occurred in the Spring, a little more than a
year after their marriage, leaving an infant daughter, and before his
arrangements were complete for bringing them to their new home in the
wilderness.
In 1795 a colony of ten families from Gettysburgh, Pa., made a
settlement about three miles up the Owasco Lake, and at once organized
a Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, which subsequently took corporate
form and title, Sept. 23, 1796, at a meeting held at the house of
Colonel Hardenbergh, who identified himself with this society in the
faith and order of which he had been educated. His copy of the New
Testament with the Psalms in a single volume, and in the Dutch
language, is still preserved; and bearing on the fly-leaf, under his
own signature, the same date with that of his first army commission,
it shows the signs of ordinary use not only, but the unmistakable
marks of the exposure and hardships incident to a soldier's life.
His second marriage, in 1796, was with Martina, daughter of Roeliff
Brinkerhoff, one of the first deacons of the Owasco church, and the
names of his two children by this marriage, Maria and John Herring,
appear on the baptismal register of that church for the years 1798 and
1800. The only son, John H. Hardenbergh, was in subsequent years one
of Auburn's most prominent and public spirited citizens. As the heir
to the landed estate of his father, originally covering a large
section of the territory now occupied by the city, his wise and
generous policy toward purchasers of lots and tenants, contributed
much to its growth and prosperity. The lot, in the centre of the city,
on which stands the First Presbyterian church, one of the most
substantial and elegant structures of the kind in the State, if not in
the country, was his gift, before he had become of age; as were also
eight acres of land comprised in the spacious grounds occupied by the
Auburn Theological Seminary. These and similar deeds of generous
foresight, together with an amiable character and a blameless
Christian life, preserve in esteem and honor the name so closely
identified with the origin of our favored city.
Colonel Hardenbergh died after a brief illness, on the 25th of April,
1806, in the 59th year of his age, and was buried with military honors
in the North Street Cemetery. The Rev. David Higgins, then pastor of
the Congregational Church of Aurelius, and the founder of the First
Presbyterian Church of Auburn, preached the funeral sermon from the
Epistle to the Philippians, iii; 20, 21: _For our conversation is in
heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like
unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able
even to subdue all things unto himself._ The horse bearing the sword
and uniform of the deceased officer, was led by Harry Freeman, one of
the Colonel's slaves to whom he had given his freedom. A long
procession of military and citizens followed the remains to the grave.
The whole scene was imposing, as a sincere tribute of the respect and
esteem cherished for the man who had braved the perils of the then
recent struggle for national independence, and with generous hand had
laid the foundations, in the wilderness, of a well-ordered community.
He had passed thirty years of his life as a soldier, a surveyor, and a
pioneer settler, and had occupied the most responsible trusts in the
rising settlement which owed to him its origin. He was moreover a
great favorite with his fellow pioneers, and with all who were seeking
new homes in the immediate vicinity, ambitious rather for the thrift
of the place than for personal gains, or the promotion of selfish
ends--forward and generous in all plans to establish religion,
education, justice and good order, with whatever tended to the
permanent prosperity and true character of the infant settlement. He
was not always careful of his own interests, and was sometimes imposed
upon by those in whom he confided as if they were as trustworthy as
himself. If a neighbor wanted a bushel or two of grain, he might be
trusted to measure it himself and render his own account. In this way
and in others characteristic of him, he doubtless now and then lost
pecuniarily, but they gave him a strong hold upon the better and
larger class of his co-pioneers, and a leading influence at this
forming period in our history. Indeed, Auburn owes very much to the
spirit, foresight and enterprise of its founder.
In person, Colonel Hardenbergh was tall, of swarthy complexion, robust
frame, and is said to have been a most commanding figure on horseback,
in his regimentals, on military occasions. He took an active part in
the politics of the day, and was decided and open in the expression of
his opinions. He was a warm friend and ardent supporter of Governor
George Clinton, under whom he had served in the first year of the war,
and whose confidence he largely shared in the distribution of military
promotions and civil appointments. A sturdy patriot, a brave soldier,
a civilian, honored and trusted in public station and in private life,
he has fairly won the gratitude with which communities are wont to
remember their founders.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The original NINE MEN were selected by the Director-General from
eighteen delegates chosen by the people, and composed of merchants,
burghers and farmers. Six of the nine retired annually and their
places were filled by appointment from twelve of the "most notable
citizens." Their powers were advisory and limited, as they were only
to give advice on such propositions as the Director or his council
might submit to them. The object of establishing such a Board, and as
rehearsed in the colonial charter, was: "That the colony, and
principally New Amsterdam, our capital, might continue to increase in
good order, justice, police, population, prosperity and mutual
harmony; and be provided with strong fortifications, a church, a
school, trading places, harbor, and similar highly necessary public
edifices and improvements; that the honor of God and the welfare of
our dear Fatherland to the best advantage of the Company and the
prosperity of our good citizens be promoted; and that the pure
reformed religion as it is here in the churches of the Netherlands may
be inculcated and preserved." For further account of the NINE MEN and
the part taken by Arnoldus van Hardenbergh in the affairs of the
colony, see Col. Hist. N.Y.I, 258, 261, 270, 305, 310, 318, 324.
[2] Col. Ritzema was a Hollander by birth, and educated as a soldier
in the Prussian army. Being refused the advancement to which he deemed
himself entitled, he left the American service, but not before he was
suspected of disaffection, if not of treachery. During the battle of
White Plains, where his regiment was engaged, he was some four or five
miles away, and was shortly after displaced from his command. He
subsequently joined the British army.
[3] Col. Van Courtlandt gives the following account of the manner of
his appointment: "This commission was sent by General Washington, by
express, and was of his own direction, having been furnished with
blanks from Congress signed by John Hancock, President, for him to
fill up as he thought proper, appointing me Colonel of the Second New
York Regiment, dated November 30, 1776." _Autobiography, &c. The
Magazine of American History for May, 1878._
[4] Autobiography of General Van Courtlandt.
[5] Mss. in possession of Mr. John H. Osborne, of Auburn, N.Y.
[6] Some accounts make the number even less.
[7] This house was pillaged about the same time, and large quantities
of clothing and vegetables taken by the Indians. One Indian, a chief,
emerged from the scene of plunder, mounted on a horse taken from the
stable, profusely arrayed in stolen apparel, with silver bands about
his arms and a bunch of some forty silver broaches hanging about his
person. He was discovered by some soldiers who were on the alert to
get a shot at the invaders as they were leaving the place, when one
levelled his rifle at him and fired. He was seen to lay over on his
horse, but turning into the woods, disappeared. Some time after, his
body was found near the place where he was shot with his plunder still
about him. _Narrative of Massacres and Depredations in Wawarsing, &c.,
&c., Rondout, 1846._
[8] _Stone's Life of Brant. Narrative of Massacres and Depredations
in Wawarsing, &c., &c._, _Rondout_, 1846.
INTRODUCTION TO JOURNALS.
The following is printed from the original manuscript, in possession
of the family, in the hand-writing of Lieutenant Hardenbergh,
undoubtedly an original journal made by him during the campaign of
General Sullivan against the Indians.
The route covered by the Journal, begins at Wawarsing, in Ulster
County, New York, passing south-westerly along the Mine road and
Delaware river to Stroudsburg, Penn.; thence westerly over the
mountains, by the Sullivan road to Wilkesbarre; thence up the
Susquehanna river to Tioga Point near present Athens, where General
Clinton's brigade on August 22d, joined the main army; thence up the
Chemung river to present Elmira, and northerly to Havana; thence along
the east shore of Seneca lake to present Geneva, and by way of
Canandaigua, Honeoye, and Conesus to the Genesee river near present
Cuylerville, in Livingston county, where was found the great Seneca
town of Chenandoanes, or Genesee Castle, the most westerly point
reached by the expedition.
The return was over nearly the same route to Easton, and thence up the
Delaware to Morristown, N.J., where the regiment went into winter
quarters.
In addition to Lieutenant Hardenbergh's journal, will be found that
part of the journal of Major Erkuries Beatty, which relates to the
march of General Clinton's brigade from the valley of the Mohawk,
down the Susquehanna river to join General Sullivan at Tioga Point.
On the return march, Sept. 20th, when the army reached Kanadasega, an
Indian town near present Geneva, Lieutenant Colonel William Butler
commanding the Fourth Pennsylvania regiment, was detached with six
hundred men, with orders to proceed around the north end of Cayuga
lake, and devastate the Indian settlements on the east side. Thomas
Grant accompanied this detachment; that portion of his journal which
relates to the operations of this force, is also presented.
On the next day, September 21st, Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Dearborn
commanding the third New Hampshire regiment, with two hundred and
fifty men, was detached to proceed along the west shore of Cayuga lake
to complete the destruction in that quarter. That part of Colonel
Dearborn's journal describing his operations on this march, also
appears. The journals of Lieutenant Hardenbergh, Major Beatty and
Colonel Dearborn, have not hitherto appeared in print.
Notes have been added mostly from cotemporary writers illustrating the
text, and giving descriptions of events and places mentioned, also
introducing, at the proper place, descriptions of important matters
referred to and described in other journals, but not appearing in any
of the preceding.
Especial attention has been given to the descriptions of Indian towns,
and it is confidently believed, that here for the first time, can be
found, at least, an approximation to a complete list, and the exact
location of the entire number destroyed. The descriptions in nearly
all cases are from personal knowledge obtained by actual survey; the
evidences of aboriginal occupation being plainly apparent.
The maps and descriptions of the battle field of Newtown, and of the
Groveland ambuscade, it is believed will be an important addition to
the literature of the campaign, and a valuable aid to those engaged
in its study; and will present a more correct description of these
important matters than has hitherto appeared in print. The conclusions
reached, are the result of a most patient examination of all
authorities accessible, and will be likely to stand the test of the
most intelligent and critical scrutiny. The list of journals and
narratives relating to this campaign, though not as perfect as might
be desired, will be found useful to those who wish to obtain authentic
sources of information, and undoubtedly, many will be surprised to
learn that so much original material is in existence and accessible.
The text of the several journals, has been followed literally, from
the original manuscript when possible. Proper names, especially those
of Indian towns, even in the same manuscript, are often found with
material variations in spelling, and in many instances, different
authors give entirely different names for the same place; in other
cases wrong names are applied, and frequently are transposed. The
great Seneca town, on the Genesee river, is honored with several
distinct names, one of which has seventy variations in spelling; and
Appletown has three distinct locations, several miles distant from
each other. Care has been taken, to avoid confusion as much as
possible, by explanations in the notes, and in the use of names most
in accord with those in modern use.
JOURNAL OF THE CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR 1779, COMMENCING MAY 1ST.
Saturday, May ye first.--Drew out of our Winter Quarters at
Wawasink[9] and encamped in a field near Jacobus Brown's at that
place.
Sunday, May 2nd.--Laid still in camp.
Monday 3d.--Drew provisions and prepared for a march.
Tuesday, 4th.--Struck our tents. Loaded our baggage in order to
proceed on our march for Weyoming, but being alarmed by an express
that the savages were murdering the inhabitants at Fantine Kille,[10]
about five miles in our front, Coll. Cortlandt marched to their
assistance, but before we arrived at the place they were gone. At 4 in
the afternoon returned to Wawasink and remained in houses.[11]
Wednesday, 5th.--Remained in the Quarters of yesterday.
Thursday, 6th.[12]--At 7 in the morning loaded baggage, marched to
Lurenkill[13] and halted at Broadhead's[14] for refreshment about two
hours, and marched for Mamacotting,[15] where we arrived at 7 o'clock
at night.
Friday, 7th.--At 4 struck tents, marched at 5, halted at
Bashesland[16] for refreshment for about two hours, proceeded on our
march. Crossed Denanasink[17] Creek at Dewitt's[18] and arrived at
Major Decker's, crossed the creek with wagons and encamped in the
field near Decker's house.
Saturday, May 8th.--Drew provisions; marched at about 11 o'clock and
encamped at Haurnanack.[19]
Sunday, 9th.--Discharged four wagons which we had taken from Wawasink;
loaded our provisions on board the canoes, sent them down the
Delaware. At 8 o'clock in the morning began our march; marched to
Esquire Vancamp's;[20] the weather very hot, we rested ourselves and
marched for Decker's Ferry[21] on Delaware, where we arrived at
sundown and encamped.
Monday, 10th.--Laid still for refreshment and washing.
Tuesday, 11th.--Struck tents and marched at 7 in the morning; got over
the ferry, proceeded on our march; rested for refreshments, at
Smithfield at or near Depew's,[22] at 5 P.M.; marched for Fort Penn
where we arrived at dusk of the evening.
May 12th and 13th.--Laid still at Fort Penn[23] on account of rainy
weather.
Friday, May 14th, 1779.--The weather clear, we received orders to
march at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Struck tents, marched for
Learn's;[24] marched about five miles and encamped in the wood.
Saturday, 15th.--About 7 in the morning struck tents and marched to
Learn's; pitched camp, and proceeded with a party to mend the road to
Weyoming.[25]
Sunday, 16th.--Our camp remained, and were joined by Coll.
Spencer's[26] regiment; we continued making the road. At night seven
men deserted from our regiment.[27]
Monday, 17th.--Decamped from Learn's about 7 in the morning, and
encamped at about 7 o'clock in the afternoon, just on the west side of
a small creek called White Oak Run.[28]
Tuesday, 18th.--Our camp remained; we continued working on the road; I
was ordered to remain in camp with the guard.
Wednesday, 19th.--Last night about 11 o'clock, an alarm happened by
the firing of one of the sentinels, but soon found it to be false
alarm.[29] The weather being wet, we remained in camp all day.
Thursday, 20th.--Rainy weather with some thunder; we remained in camp.
Friday, 21st.--Foggy, rainy weather with thunder and lightning;
remained in camp. This day Ensign Swartwout[30] arrived in camp from
the State of New York, brought news that the Indians were lurking
about Rochester and Wawasink; and the inhabitants chiefly moved off
their families.
Saturday, 22nd.--The weather continued rainy. Remained in camp. At
sunset the weather cleared off.
Sunday, 23d.--The morning fair and clear. Received orders to march. At
8 o'clock the General beat; struck tents, proceeded on our march till
over a creek in the Great Swamp[31] called Tackhanack, the road very
bad, the baggage could not come up; went back and mended the road and
encamped where the baggage was. In the evening, Sergeant Jonas
Brown[32] with five men, was sent off to Weyoming with letters from
General Sullivan to General Hand.[33]
Monday, 24th.--About 9 o'clock in the morning struck camp, marched
across the Tackhanack[34] and encamped on a hight, about half a mile
from the creek, but continued making the road which was very bad about
that place.
Tuesday, 25th.--Left our camp standing, and continued making the road;
built a bridge and causeway at Tobehanna[35] of one hundred and
fifteen paces in length. The creek is considerable large and abounds
with trout.[36] Some good land along the creek; the road very
difficult to make.
Wednesday, 26th.--Laid still in camp on purpose to refresh the men,
and washing. Sergeant Brown returned from Weyoming.
Thursday, 27th.--Went out to work.
Friday, 28th.--Finished the bridge across the Tobehanna and returned
to camp.
Saturday, 29th.--John Curry and Michael Sellers were tried at the
drum-head, for stealing rum from the commissary,[37] found guilty, and
sentenced to receive, Curry seventy-five lashes, and Sellers fifty,
which was directly put in execution. Our camp remained; we continued
work on the road. After we returned from fatigue, Gen. Sullivan and
Col. Hoopes[38] arrived in our camp.
Sunday, 30th.--In the morning Gen. Sullivan and Col. Hoopes returned
to Easton. At 7 o'clock in the morning struck tents, the regiment
marched to Locust Hill and encamped there;[39] myself was ordered to
remain with the Commissary stores which could not move with the
baggage for want of teams.
Monday, 31st.--The Coll. sent the wagons back to fetch the stores. We
loaded them on the wagons and proceeded to Camp and arrived there at 2
o'clock in the afternoon. The troops worked on the road.
Tuesday, June 1st.--Worked on the road. The Camp remained on Locust
Hill.
Wednesday, June 2d.--Lt. Weissenfels[40] of our regiment was sent to
Weyoming as an escort to guard a number of pack horses. The troops
continued working the road. I was ordered on court martial, of which
Captain Graham was President.
Thursday, June 3d.--The troops did not work for want of provision.
Friday, June 4th.--The camp remained on Locust Hill. Captain Graham,
myself, and two other officers were ordered to inspect pork which was
chiefly Condemned on account of its being Spoiled.[41] On the 3d of
June, John Ten Eyck, soldier in Captain French's company of light
infantry was drowned in the Lehi by accident.
Saturday, 5th.--The regiment was ordered on fatigue with three days
provisions, that night lay out in the woods.
Sunday 6th.--I was relieved by Lt. Fairlie[42] and went to Camp, this
day we worked through the great Swamp.
Monday, 7th June.--At about 8 in the morning decamped from Locust
Hill, crossed the Lehi and encamped on the side of a Swamp called the
Shades of Death,[43] about six miles from Locust Hill.
Tuesday, 8th June.--About 2 o'clock in the afternoon, struck our
tents, marched through the Shades of Death, and encamped at night
about one mile from the Shades.
Wednesday, 9th.--The Camp remained.
Thursday 10th.--The Camp remained. The troops worked on the road.
Friday, 11th.--The regiment decamped and marched within seven miles
from Weyoming. Capt. Wright and I remained behind to guard the
Commissary Stores.
Saturday, 12th.--The guard and Commissary Stores came up to Camp.
Sunday, 13th.--Laid still.
Monday, 14th.--At six o'clock the General beat, struck tents and
marched to Weyoming[44] and arrived there at about 12, and pitched
Camp.
June 15th and 16th.--Laid still.
Thursday, 17th.--Moved the camp about four miles up the River, to a
placed called Jacob's Plains.[45]
18th and 19th.--Laid still.
Sunday, June 20th.--I was ordered to go down the River Sisquehannah
with a party in boats[46] under the command of Captain Graham. Left
Weyoming about 7 o'clock in the morning and arrived with the boats at
Fort Jenkins[47] at sunset and stayed that night.
Monday, 21st.--Left Fort Jenkins in the morning, proceeded down the
River and arrived at Northumberland town,[48] dined there, and
proceeded to Sunbury and arrived there at 7 o'clock at night.
Tuesday, 22nd.--Laid still at Sunbury and loaded the boats with flour
and beef.
Wednesday, 23d.--At 9 o'clock in the morning left Sunbury, proceeded
up the River about eight miles.
Thursday, 24th.--Proceeded up the River till night and lodged on board
the boat. In the night lost my hat.
Friday, 25th.--Proceeded up the River as far as Fort Jenkins and
lodged there.[49]
Saturday, 26th.--Left Fort Jenkins and arrived at the falls.[50] Got
half the boats up the falls, which were drawn up by ropes.
Sunday, 27th.--Got up the rest of the boats, and proceeded up the
River and halted along shore over night. Coll. Ogden's regiment from
Jersey was sent down as a guard to us from Weyoming.
Monday, 28th.--At Revelle beat proceeded up the River to the upper
falls. Got all the boats up, (one of which overset in going up) and
arrived at Shawny flats about 4 miles from Weyoming.
Tuesday, 29th.--Left Shawny flats in the morning and arrived at
Weyoming[51] about 7 o'clock in the morning, unloaded the boats and
went up to camp in the afternoon to Jacob's Plains.
Wednesday, 30th June.--The regiment was mustered in camp at Jacob's
Plains. While I was out on my voyage down the river, Gen. Sullivan
arrived at Weyoming with troops to be employed on the expedition.[52]
Thursday, July 1.--Laid still.
Friday, July 2d; Saturday, July 3d.--Remained at Jacob's Plains.
Sunday, July ye 4th.--Decamped from Jacob's Plains, crossed the river
Sisquehannah and encamped on the west side the River, near forty
fort[53] on a fine plain called Abraham's Plains.
Monday, 5th July.--Went out on a scouting party in order to hunt. Went
up the River as far as Laghawanny Creek and returned at sunset. Met
with no success.
During our stay at Weyoming we had nothing to do but to keep guard,
and disciplining our troops; only a few that were employed in boating
to carry provisions[54] up the River from Sunbury to Weyoming.
(From July 5th to July 31st no entry was made in the Journal).
Saturday, the 31st of July.--About 3 o'clock in the afternoon we left
Weyoming on our expedition. Our baggage being carried on pack horses,
the provisions and artillery in boats, we marched as far as
Lackawannick,[55] ten miles from Weyoming, and encamped.[56]
Sunday, Aug. first.--At 1 o'clock in the afternoon struck our tents
and marched 7 miles to a place called Quialutimack.[57] The road was
very difficult, the baggage did not arrive till towards day.
Monday, August ye 2d.--Laid still at Quialutimack.
Tuesday, Aug. 3d.--At 7 o'clock in the morning struck our camp, loaded
our baggage, proceeded on our march and encamped at night in the wood.
Wednesday, Aug. 4th.--At 7 o'clock in the morning the General beat,
struck our tents, proceeded on our march and encamped at night at
Venderlips[58] Plantation. This day's march was very fatiguing. Our
regiment was on the Rear Guard, the road very mountainous and
difficult. We had the care of all the pack horses and cattle, which
was very troublesome.
Thursday, Aug. 5th.--About 10 o'clock decamped, proceeded on our march
and arrived at Wyalusing[59] and encamped there.
Friday, Aug. 6th.--Laid still at Wyalusing for refreshment.
Saturday, Aug. 7th.--Laid still on account of rainy weather.
Sunday, August 8th.[60]--At six o'clock in the morning struck camp,
moved from Wyalusing and encamped at evening at a place called
Standing Stone.[61]
Monday, Aug. 9th.--At six o'clock in the morning struck our tents,
proceeded on our march and arrived at Sheshehung flats[62] and
encamped there.
Tuesday, Aug. 10th.--Laid still at the Flats.
Wednesday, Aug. 11th.--At 6 o'clock in the morning struck tent,
marched at 7 o'clock for Tyuga.[63] Our regiment and the 2d New
Jersey regiment was ordered to cross the River at our encampment and
proceed up the River on the opposite side, to take possession of the
ground at Tyuga to cover the fording place for the army and horses to
cross the River, arrived at Tyuga about 11 o'clock in the morning.[64]
At night Gen. Sullivan sent off a small scout[65] to discover
Shemung[66] (of one Captain and seven men,) which lay about twelve
miles up the Tiyuga branch.
Aug. 12.--The scout returned with news that the enemy seemed to be in
great confusion and seemed to be moving off. The Gen'l left a guard
at Tiyuga sufficient to guard the camp and marched with the rest of
the army under cover of the night for Shemung, marched all night, the
weather very dark, and nothing but an Indian path through the wood
made it difficult.[67]
Friday, Aug. 13th.--About six o'clock in the morning we arrived at
Shemung and found the enemy had left the town. On our approach we
burnt the town, destroyed the corn, &c., and returned to Tiyuga. A
small party of the Indians who had concealed themselves in the wood,
fired on a small party of Gen'll Hand's Brigade, killed six men and
wounded two without loss on their side.[68] A party of Gen'l Poor's
Brigade was destroying corn, were fired upon by the enemy, killed one
and wounded one.
Saturday, Aug. 14th.--Laid at Tiyuga waiting for the arrival of Gen'l
Clinton's Brigade, who came down the Susquehanna from the Mohawk
River. A large detachment from the army was ordered up to join
him.[69] The remainder of the army were employed in building a
garrison at Tiyuga.[70] On the 22nd day of Aug't we were joined by
Gen'l Clinton's Brigade.
Monday, Aug't 23d.--Laid still. Capt. Kimble of Col. Cilley's
Regiment, Gen'l Poor's Brigade, was killed in his tent by accident
with a gun being snapped by a soldier.
Tuesday, 24th Aug't.--The disposition was made and everything got in
readiness for marching. The army encamped that evening agreeable to
the order of march,[71] myself being drafted on the right flank, which
was commanded by Col. Dubois.
Wednesday, 25th.--Laid still not being able to get ready to march on
account of our pack horses.
Thursday, 26th.--Struck tents at 1 o'clock and marched about 3 miles
up the Tiyuga Branch and encamped.
Friday, Aug't 27.--At 8 o'clock in the morning the Gen'l beat, struck
tents at 9 o'clock marched off and encamped that night about 3 miles
below Shemung by a large cornfield.[72]
Saturday, Aug't 28th.--At 3 o'clock in the afternoon marched as far as
Shemung and encamped.[73]
Sunday, 29th Aug't.--At 8 o'clock in the morning the signal for march
was given. We marched about 4 miles when our Light corps fell in with
the enemy on the opposite side of a defile with some slight works
thrown up in their front. The light troops exchanged some shots with
them and amused them whilst Gen's Clinton's and Poor's Brigades with
the right flank were ordered to file off by the right and gain the
enemy's rear, which to effect, we had to ascend a very steep hill
which the enemy had possessed themselves of. Whilst we were gaining
the rear, Col. Proctor with the artillery kept up a brisk fire on
their works. On our ascending the hill they began to attack us. Our
men undauntedly pushed on and gained the hill. The enemy went off in
confusion, left their dead on the ground.[74]--About sunset we
encamped on the enemy's ground.[75] We had one major, one Capt. and
one Lt. wounded. The Capt. and Lieut. died of their wounds, also a few
men wounded.[76]
Aug't 30.--Remained on the ground of yesterday. The greatest part of
the army were employed in destroying corn which was in great
abundance.
[Illustration: Map _SHOWING THE ROUTE OF SULLIVAN'S ARMY_ and
_BATTLE FIELD OF NEWTOWN_ FOUGHT AUGUST 29TH 1779. ALSO THE
LOCATION OF THE INDIAN TOWNS IN THE VICINITY, AND _CHEMUNG
AMBUSCADE_. _FROM ACTUAL SURVEY_ BY GENL., JOHN S. CLARK AUBURN,
N.Y. 1879.
THE HELIOTYPE PRINTING CO. 220 DEVONSHIRE ST. BOSTON.]
Tuesday, 31st Aug't.[77]--At 9 o'clock in the morning marched off;
marched ten miles above Newtown and encamped on a large pine plain,
forming a square with our camp to secure our pack horses and cattle.