Marching about one Mile Gen'l Poor Received an Exspress from General
Clinton Informing him that the Latter exspected to be hear by 10
o'clock A.M. this day in Consiquence of which we Return'd to our Old
Incampment where General Clinton, Joined us at 10 o'Clock with two
Thousand Men--Including Officers, Boatsman &c. he has two Hundred and
Eight Beautoes with Provisions Ammunition &c. after Mutual
Congratulations and Complements the whole Proceeded down the River to
Owagea and Incampt this Evening, the town of Owegea was made a
burnfire of to Grace our Meating * * * * *"
[70] FORT SULLIVAN--near the centre of the present village of Athens,
where the two rivers approach near each other. It was about one
hundred yards square, with a strong block house at each angle, two
opposite ones resting on the banks of the rivers, and the two others
about midway between. The curtains were made by setting logs endwise
in the ground, the whole being surrounded by a ditch, making a work of
ample strength. Col. Shreve was left in command with a garrison of two
hundred and fifty men beside the invalids, with two pieces of
artillery.
[71] The order of march was arranged to form a hollow square, General
Hand's Brigade in front; General Poor's on the right; General
Maxwell's on the left; and General Clinton's in the rear. Within the
square was Col. Proctor's artillery, and eight lines of led pack
horses, and the beef cattle. On the right of General Poor was a
flanking division, and flank guard, of two hundred and fifty men under
Col. Dubois; and a like flanking division and guard, on the left of
Maxwell, under command of Col. Ogden. A strong advance guard of light
infantry covered the front.
[72] Encamped on the site of Old Chemung, burned Aug. 13th. See note
66.
[73] Encamped on the flats, near New Chemung, see note 66. The army
passed a very difficult defile, known as the "Narrows" west of present
Chemung; the artillery forded the river twice.
[74] Four towns were destroyed in the vicinity of the battle field,
viz.:
1st. NEWTOWN, an Indian village of about twenty houses, occupied in
1779, located on the left bank of the Chemung river about five miles
below Elmira, and a mile above the fortified position between
Baldwin's creek and the river. It gave the name to the battle fought
near it Aug. 29, 1779.
2d. A small village north east of the battle field of Newtown on both
sides of Baldwin's creek, of twenty to thirty houses which had never
been occupied, and were supposed to have been built for storing the
crops grown in the vicinity. This was located at the point where Gen.
Poor commenced the ascent of the hill; and was destroyed by Clinton's
brigade.
3d. A small village near the angle in the works of the enemy on
Baldwin's creek, the timbers of which were used by them in the
construction of the fortifications. One house in front of their works
was occupied by the enemy as a block house during the engagement.
4th. "Monday, Aug. 30. * * * Went up the river about two miles, then
took up a long branch of the river (which runs near S.W.) one mile,
burnt five houses and destroyed all the corn in our way."--_Beatty's
Journal._
[75] THE BATTLE OF NEWTOWN was fought on Sunday, Aug. 29, 1779, near
the Indian village of the same name, on the left bank of the Chemung
river six miles south east of Elmira. The enemy's force of British
regulars, two battalions of Royal Greens, and Tories, were led by
Colonel John Butler, with Captains Walter N. Butler and Macdonald as
subordinates; the Indians by the great Mohawk Captain Thayendanegea,
alias Joseph Brant, Butler being in chief command. The design of the
enemy appears to have been primarily, an ambuscade. They had artfully
concealed their works, and posted their forces in positions to attack
simultaneously, both flanks, front, and rear; the position naturally
strong, was admirably adapted to their purposes. From Elmira,
extending south easterly for several miles, is a mountainous ridge,
running parallel with the river, something over six hundred feet in
height near the Indian village, but gradually melting away to the
level of the plain where it terminates about a mile below; on this
south eastern slope was the battle of Newtown. To the north and east
of this ridge is a similar one, which also terminates near the battle
field, and between them is a considerable stream, which, running
nearly parallel with the river in its general course, enters the
Chemung a mile and a quarter below. The river here sweeps around in a
graceful curve, making a full semi-circle, enclosing several hundred
acres of rich bottom lands, on which were the Indian cornfields; the
Wellsburg north and south road dividing it into two nearly equal
parts. Rising abruptly from this plain is a sharp, narrow ridge, known
locally as the Hog Back, this extends from the river across the plain
nearly to the creek, a distance of about a third of a mile. The crest
of this ridge was occupied by the enemy in force, protected by rude
log breast works and rifle pits, which extended to the eastern
extremity, and from thence turning north, connected with the steep
banks of the creek above. The lines to be defended were these two
sides of a triangle, their right resting on the river, their left on
the mountain, the path of the army passing between the two lines,
along which was also the enemy's line of retreat. From the angle in
the works a thin line extended to the mountain, on which was a body of
the enemy and also another small body on the mountain to the east. The
results at Chemung a few days previous, led the enemy to hope that a
like blunder might be repeated, and that Wyoming and Minnisinks were
to be re-enacted. Presuming that the army, after crossing the creek,
would follow the Indian trail without discovering their works, they
flattered themselves that an unexpected fire on the exposed flanks
would create great confusion, which if augmented by simultaneous
attacks in front and rear by the forces in that quarter, might result
in a panic, and a possible stampede of the pack horses and cattle,
which would be quite as disastrous as the defeat of the army. But
three companies of Morgan's riflemen, the pride of Washington, were in
the advance; these veterans of a hundred battles were in no way
inferior to the enemy in Indian craft; the works and position of the
enemy were discovered when afar off, and this ingenious device of
drawing our forces into an ambuscade was frustrated. The ambuscade
failing, the alternative was presented of forcing a direct attack in
front, under great disadvantage, or of a flanking movement, over very
difficult ground, where nearly the entire force of the enemy could be
brought to bear on the attacking force at any point on interior lines,
possibly in time to repulse one division of the army before the other
could come to its relief. The attack in front was invited by repeated
sorties of a body of about four hundred of the enemy, who would
deliver their fire, and immediately retreat to their works. After
three hours of skirmishing, deliberation, and reconnoitering, General
Sullivan determined to divide his force, turn the enemy's left, and
attack simultaneously in front and flank.
The artillery was posted on a rising ground, three hundred yards from
the enemy, in position to enfilade the main line of their works, and
sweep the ground in the rear, Gen. Hand was to support the artillery,
the left flanking division to threaten the enemy's right, and Gen.
Maxwell's brigade to be held in reserve. Gen. Poor's brigade of four
regiments, the right flanking division, and the three companies of
riflemen, were to make a circuit of about two miles and turn the
enemy's left and attack in flank and rear, to be supported by General
Clinton's brigade of four regiments following as a second line. One
hour was allowed for this movement, at the expiration of which, the
artillery was to open, to be followed by a general assault of the two
divisions. Poor almost immediately after commencing his march, found
himself involved in a thicket of underbrush, almost impenetrable, but
after great difficulty reached the foot of the hill on which the enemy
was posted, just at the moment the artillery fire commenced. Forming
his line of battle with Lieut. Col. Reid's 2d N.H. on the extreme
left, next to him Lieut. Col. Dearborn's 2d N.H., then Alden's 6th
Mass., and Col. Cilley's 1st N.H. on the extreme right. To the right
of the brigade was the right flanking division of two hundred and
fifty men under Col. Dubois, the whole preceded by three companies of
riflemen under Maj. Parr. General Clinton's brigade formed line of
battle with Col. Gansevoort's 3d N.Y. on the left, next Dubois 5th
N.Y., then Livingston's 4th N.Y., with Van Courtlandt's 2d N.Y. on the
extreme right, following in the rear of the first line. Poor when
about half way up the hill encountered the enemy, but not in
sufficient force to materially check the advance of the flanking
division, or the regiments on his right; on reaching the summit of the
hill, these rapidly pushed forward to seize the defile near the river,
a short distance above Newtown, which was the only avenue of escape
for the enemy. Almost at the commencement of the cannonade, the main
force of the enemy adroitly abandoned their works without being
discovered, and precipitated themselves on Col. Reid's regiment in
greatly superior numbers. They swarmed about him in a semi-circle, and
for a few moments made the forest ring with their exultant shouts, but
for a few minutes only; for Col. Dearborn having reached the summit of
the hill, and missing Col. Reid on his left, on his own
responsibility, faced his regiment to the rear and moved to his
assistance. At the same moment the two regiments on the left of
Clinton's brigade by a left oblique movement, came up from the rear to
Reid's support, and the enemy soon found themselves dangerously
threatened. The conflict was short, sharp and decisive, and the war
whoop soon gave place to the retreat halloo. Poor with the remainder
of his brigade, followed by the two regiments on the right of Clinton,
had pushed rapidly for the defile. In the meantime Hand had advanced
in front, and the left flanking division under Col. Ogden had worked
its way along the river on the enemy's flank, when, the enemy
admirably commanded, and wisely discreet, sounded the signal for
retreat just in time to escape. A British account says: "In this
action Col. Butler and all his people was surrounded, and very near
being taken prisoners. On the same day a few miles from this he
attempted again to stop them, but in vain. The Colonel lost four
rangers killed, two taken prisoners and seven wounded." Twelve Indians
were found dead on the field, the number of wounded unknown. The enemy
were pursued for two or three miles above Newtown by the light troops,
where Salmon says they made another stand, which appears to be
confirmed by the account above quoted, but no details are given, and
the matter is not alluded to in Gen. Sullivan's official report. The
loss in killed according to the Indian official account, found four
days after, near Catharine's town is as follows: "Sept. 3d.--This day
found a tree marked 1779, Thandagana, the English of which is Brant,
12 men marked on it with arrows pierced through them, signifying the
number they had lost in the action of the 29th ultimo. A small tree
was twisted round like a rope and bent down which signified that if we
drove and distressed them, yet we would not conquer them."
[76] The loss of our army is variously given in different accounts of
the action. Major Livermore (Journal Aug. 29) says that "but four or
five" were killed and three officers and about "thirty others" were
wounded. Lieut. Barton (Journal) that two or three of ours were killed
and "thirty-four or five wounded." Gen. Sullivan, in a despatch
written the next day after the fight, makes the entire loss _three_
killed and thirty nine wounded.
[77] During the march this day two towns were burned, viz.:
MIDDLETOWN.--A small Indian town mentioned in several Journals as
lying between Newtown and Kanawlohalla, on the north side of the
river, consisting of eight houses, destroyed Aug. 31 by the army while
on the march.
KANAWLOHALLA.--Signifying _a head on a pole_, located on the present
site of Elmira, destroyed by Sullivan's army Aug. 31. In some Journals
this town is called Newtown, and the one near the battle field Lower
Newtown, but a majority designate it by its Indian name, which,
according to Mr. Maxwell should be spelled Canaweola, as pronounced by
Red Jacket, and who also gave the signification, and the legend
connected with it.
Col. Dayton with the 3d N.J. regiment and a detachment of riflemen
were detached here and sent up the river in pursuit of the enemy, whom
the advanced guard saw escaping in their canoes. He failed to overtake
them, but found an Indian village at or near present Big Flats, which
he destroyed. He encamped here for the night and rejoined the main
army the next morning, by a march north-east through the valley, where
the main body were encamped near present Horse Heads.
[78] CATHARINE'S TOWN--_She-o-qua-ga._--An Indian village located on
the high ground a little south of the present village of Havana. The
town was on both sides of the inlet and about three miles from the
head of the lake. This was the residence of the famous Catharine
Montour, by many writers incorrectly confounded with Madame Montour,
and by others with Queen Esther, of Wyoming notoriety.
MADAME MONTOUR, a noted personage in the Colonial history of
Pennsylvania, resided at one time at the present site of
Montoursville, in Pennsylvania, on the west branch of the Susquehanna,
afterwards on an island near Shamokin; and about 1749, when very aged
and blind, removed to the vicinity of Lake Erie, where she probably
died previous to 1752. She had several sons and one daughter, all
distinguished characters in Pennsylvania annals.
QUEEN ESTHER, notorious as the "fiend of Wyoming," "who followed in
the train of the victorious army, ransacking the heaps of slain, and
with arms covered with gore barbarously murdering the wounded who in
vain supplicated for their lives." She was living at Sheshequin six
miles below Tioga point in 1772, and removed about that date six miles
north, and founded a new town, afterward known as Queen Esther's town;
this was afterward destroyed by Col. Hartley in 1778, when she
probably removed to Chemung. She had a sister Mary, and one son, who
lost his life a short time previous to the massacre of Wyoming, which
was probably the exciting cause of her fury at that place. She
afterward settled on the point south of Union Springs, in Cayuga
County, and died there of old age.
CATHARINE MONTOUR was young enough to be the grand daughter of Madame
Montour. At the time of Sullivan's campaign and for some years
previous she had resided at her village near present Havana. She had
two sons, Roland and John, and a daughter Belle. Her sons were
conspicuous characters at Cherry Valley, Wyoming and in Sullivan's
campaign, where John was wounded in the battle of Newtown. Roland
married the daughter of Siangorochti, the chief sachem of the Senecas;
both sons were known as captains in the many Indian raids against the
border settlements. Catharine's reputed husband was Edward Pollard, a
sutler at Fort Niagara, who was also the father of the famous Seneca
warrior, Captain Pollard, by another Indian wife. There was at this
time another Capt. John Montour near Fort Pitt, who accompanied
Colonel Brodhead in his expedition up the Allegany, who was loyal to
the American cause throughout the war. In this expedition of Col.
Brodhead, the husband of Belle Montour was killed.
[79] PEACH ORCHARD, a small Indian town, was destroyed here, August
3d, on the point, called Apple-tree town in Nukerck's Journal. Jenkins
says "the army encamped about 4 in the afternoon near a small Indian
settlement," &c.
[80] CONDAWHAW.--An Indian town occupied in 1779, located on the east
side of Seneca Lake on the present site of North Hector, was so called
in 1778 by Luke Swetland, who passed through it while on his way to
Kendaia. It was burned by the army Sept. 4, 1779. It is called Apple
Town in William Barton's Journal.
[81] KENDAIA, a town containing about twenty houses, located on lot 79
Romulus, on the east side of Seneca lake, on land now owned by Edward
Van Vliet. It was about half a mile from the lake, on both sides of a
small stream. Luke Swetland resided here for a year as a prisoner,
until rescued by the army. Several journals give interesting accounts
of this town, and especially of the Indian tombs, which appear to have
been arranged with more than ordinary care. It was the custom on the
death of distinguished personages to paint on their monumental posts a
record of important events relating to the history of the deceased
person. The fact that these tombs were different in construction and
style of ornamentation from others, suggests the idea that they were a
remnant of some subjugated tribe, differing in mode of burial from the
Iroquois. A noted Seneca warrior named Kendaia was conspicuous at the
siege of Ft. Niagara in 1759.
[82] LIEUT. HARDENBERGH mentions the fact of being "drafted on the
right flank, which was commanded by Col. Dubois." He was probably one
of the one hundred men drafted from the line, as part of the right
flanking division, and consequently would be on the extreme right of
the army while _en route_. The centre line of the army was the regular
Indian trail, which was opened to a sufficient width for the passage
of the artillery. Along Seneca Lake, the present lake road follows
substantially on the line of the trail.
At this point, Beatty says "we encamped close along the edge of the
lake, and opposite to us on the west side of the lake, we could
perceive a small Indian town." See note 84, Gothseungquean.
[83] This child was tenderly cared for, adopted by Capt. Machin, an
officer in the artillery, and christened Thomas Machin. After the
return of the army it was placed in a family near Kingston, N.Y.,
where it died some two years after of small pox. No clue was ever
obtained as to its parentage.
[84] KANADASEAGA, the _grand village_, so called from being the
residence of the chief sachem of the Senecas, located one and a half
miles north-west of present village of Geneva on both sides of
Kanadaseaga Creek. This was the capital of the Seneca nation and
contained about sixty well built houses. A stockade fort was built
here in 1756 by Sir William Johnson, the remains of which were in
existence in 1779 Rev. Samuel Kirkland was a missionary here in
1764-6. Was destroyed Sept. 9.
BUTLER'S BUILDINGS.--A small village called Butler's Buildings was
found on the shore of the lake, near present canal bridge, in the
village of Geneva.
GOTHSEUNGQUEAN, also called _Shenanwaga_ and many other dialectical
variations, an important town, was also destroyed Sept. 8, by a
detachment of riflemen under Major Parr. The name is perpetuated in
Kershong creek, on which it was situated, on Seneca lake, seven miles
south of Geneva. It contained twenty houses.
[85] From Kanadaseaga the route was first south west for about two
miles to the line of the present turnpike, and thence nearly due west
along the line of the turnpike to Canandaigua lake. Beatty mentions an
ancient stockade fort between Kanadaseaga and Canandaigua. This was on
Flint creek on lot 92 in N.W. corner of the town of Seneca. The
encampment was on Flint creek.
[86] KANANDAIGUA, an Indian town of twenty-three large houses mostly
framed, located about a mile from the lake shore, in west part of
present village of Canandaigua. The corn fields, which were very
extensive, were located on the ridge north of the town. The usual
variety and quantity of fruit trees were found here, all of which were
destroyed. From Kanandaigua the route of the army was nearly south
west, substantially on the line of the present road through Bristol to
the foot of Honeoye Lake, a distance of sixteen miles, to the next
village of Hanneyaye.
[87] HANNEYAYE, an Indian town occupied in 1779, located at the foot
of Honeoye lake, about half a mile east of the outlet, and south of
Mill creek. It contained about twenty houses, one of which was
occupied as a fort under command of Capt. Cummings of the 2nd N.J.
regiment. Beatty gives the following description of the work which he
says was occupied by three hundred men in all: "They was encamped
round the house where we had left our stores, and the camp was
abbateed in, and round the house they had made a small Fort of kegs,
and bags of flour, and had three pieces of artillery in it, and the
house they had made full of loop holes, so as to fight out of it in
case of necessity, and upon the whole I think they was very safe."
[88] On leaving Hanneyaye the army forded the outlet near the lake,
and taking a west course, nearly on the line of the present east and
west road leading west from present village of Honeoye, to the summit
of the dividing ridge, and thence in a south west course, crossing the
outlet of Hemlock lake at its foot, and continuing over the hill on
same course to present Foot's corners, in the town of Conesus, where
the army encamped on level ground two miles north of the Indian town
Adjutoa or Kanaghsaws.
[89] KANAGHSAWS, or Adjutoa according to some Journals, an Indian town
of 18 houses, located about a mile north west of Conesus Centre, on
the north and south road that passes through the McMillen farm.
Between the town and the lake on Henderson's flats were the
cornfields. The village appears to have occupied the grounds in the
vicinity of the McMillen residence, and extended north across the
creek, and southward to the plateau now covered by an orchard which
was probably an ancient palisaded site of the town. The main body of
the army encamped on the night of the 12th nearly two miles north on
the flats, south-west of Foot's corners. A local tradition exists that
Hand with the light troops followed the road through Union Corners and
encamped on the L.B. Richardson farm, south west of Conesus Centre at
the False Faces, but nothing of the kind is found in any of the
journals, and is probably incorrect. George Grant says a fine stream
of water ran through the town, and that "Captain Sunfish, a negro,
resided here, a very bold, enterprising fellow, who commanded the
town." Several Journals mention the fact that Big Tree, a noted Indian
warrior, also made this his home. President Dwight describes him as a
man of lofty character and dignified deportment, and that he had
strenuously urged his countrymen to observe strict neutrality, but
without success. The chieftain stood on an elevated spot and saw his
own possessions destroyed. "You see how the Americans treat their
friends," said some of those around him, favorable to Great Britain.
"What I see," calmly replied the chief, "is only the common fortune of
war. It cannot be supposed that the Americans can distinguish my
property from yours, who are their enemies." The army was engaged
until near noon in destroying the crops and re-building the bridge
which had been destroyed by the enemy.
[90] GROVELAND AMBUSCADE.--This, one of the most important matters
connected with Sullivan's campaign, has, for a hundred years, remained
a stumbling block and mystery to historians. This has arisen in part
from erroneous views as to the location of Gathtsegwarohare and the
trails, but mainly from the mistaken idea that Boyd's party was the
force against which the efforts of the enemy were originally directed,
rather than that it was a formidable attempt to ambuscade the main
army.