houses of squared logs, located on the south line of the town of
Springport in Cayuga County, on the north bank of Great Gully brook,
and from one to two miles from the lake.
[144] UPPER CAYUGA, an Indian town of fourteen very large houses
located near the north line of the town of Ledyard in Cayuga County,
on the south bank of Great Gully brook, and as appears on the map,
between one and two miles from the lake.
[145] EAST CAYUGA, or _Old Town_, contained thirteen houses located in
the south-east corner of the town of Springport, as indicated on the
map, from three to four miles from the lake. A site in the south-west
corner of Fleming was a site of this town at about this date.
[146] CHONODOTE, so named on Capt. Lodge's map, an Indian town of
fourteen houses, on the site of present Aurora in Cayuga County;
according to George Grant's journal it contained fifteen hundred peach
trees.
[147] On the hill north of Ludlowville.
[148] The first of these falls was probably on Mill Creek, two and a
half miles south-west of Northville; the second near Lake Ridge in the
town of Lansing.
[149] COREORGONEL was burned by the detachment under Colonel Dearborn.
See his account September 24, and note 161.
[150] Goi-o-gouen, of the Jesuit Relations, and site of the Mission of
St. Joseph, called also Cayuga Castle, and the same described as three
towns by Thomas Grant under the names of Cayuga Castle, fifteen
houses; upper Cayuga, containing fourteen houses; and Cayuga,
containing thirteen houses. The houses were very much scattered, and
on both sides of Great Gully brook on the south line of the town of
Springport in Cayuga County. Greenhalgh, an English trader, passed
through the Cayuga country in 1677, and found them there occupying
"three towns about a mile distant from each other; they are not
stockaded. They do consist in all of about one hundred houses and
intend next Spring to build all their houses together and stockade
them. They have abundance of corn, and lie within two or three miles
of lake Tichero."
[151] These salt springs were located on the opposite side of the
river from Choharo, see note 142. Luke Swetland, a prisoner in 1778,
made salt at these springs, which he says was of excellent quality.
[152] CHONODOTE. See note 146.
[153] COREORGONEL, two miles south of Ithaca, destroyed by the
detachment under Col. Dearborn on the 24th. See note 161.
[154] KANAWLOHALLA, on the site of present Elmira. See note 77.
MARCH OF COLONEL DEARBORN ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF CAYUGA LAKE.
On the return march, after crossing the outlet of Seneca Lake east of
Kanadaseaga, the army encamped on the high ground at Rose Hill, near
the east shore of the lake. Here Lieutenant Colonel Henry Dearborn
commanding the Third New Hampshire regiment, was detached with two
hundred men and ordered to march along the west shore of Cayuga lake
to co-operate with Colonel Butler in devastating the country of the
Cayugas.
Colonel Dearborn was born in Hampton, N.H., in March, 1751. He was a
captain at Bunker Hill, and accompanied Arnold in the march through
the woods against Quebec, in which expedition he was captured. He was
exchanged in 1777, and soon after was appointed Major of Scammel's
regiment. At Saratoga he commanded a separate battalion under General
Gates, and was afterwards at Monmouth, where he distinguished himself
and the regiment by a gallant charge. In 1779 Colonel Scammel was
acting as Adjutant General of the army, leaving Lieut. Colonel
Dearborn in command of the regiment during Sullivan's campaign. He was
at the siege of Yorktown in 1781, and afterward on garrison duty at
Saratoga and West Point until 1784. He served two terms in Congress,
was for eight years secretary of war under Jefferson, and in the war
of 1812 was senior Major General of the army. In 1822 he was minister
to Portugal, from whence he returned after two years' service, and
died in Roxbury, Mass., June 6, 1829. After his death, his son, Henry
Alexander Scammel Dearborn, collected and arranged the valuable papers
of his father, transcribed the journals, which extended through the
entire period of the revolution, and added important historical
sketches, the whole making forty-five large volumes handsomely bound
in morocco, the exterior approximating in elegance to the inestimable
value of the material within. On the death of the son, all of these,
excepting seven volumes, were taken apart, and the contents, made up
of valuable autograph letters of the revolutionary period, scattered
to the four winds by a sale at public auction. The original manuscript
Journal of Sullivan's campaign fell into the hands of Dr. John H.S.
Fogg, of Boston. The manuscript Orderly Book of Valley Forge, was
purchased by John H. Osborne, Esq., of Auburn. The seven volumes,
containing no autographs, were reserved at the sale and remain intact
In one of these is the Journal kept during Sullivan's campaign, as
transcribed by the son, of which the following is an extract:
PART OF COLONEL DEARBORN'S JOURNAL, 1779.
Sept. 21.--I was ordered with 200 men to proceed to the west side of
the Cayuga Lake, from thence down the side of the lake to the south
end, to burn and destroy such houses and corn as might be found and to
intercept the Cayugas if they attempted to escape Col. Butler. At 8
o'clock I marched, proceeded an east course about 8 miles and found 3
wigwams in the woods[155] with some small patches of corn, squashes,
water-melons and cucumbers and 15 horses which we could not take.
Destroyed this village, proceeded 4 miles to the lake where we found a
very pretty town of 10 houses[156] and a considerable quantity of
corn, all which we burnt. We discovered another small town about a
mile above this, we likewise destroyed. This place is called
Skannautenate.[157] After destroying this town I marched on one mile,
and came to a new town[158] consisting of 9 houses which we destroyed,
and proceeded one mile and found one large house which we set fire to,
and marched 2 miles and encamped. The land we marched over this day is
exceeding fine.
Sept. 22.--I marched 1/2 an hour before sunrise, proceeded 5 miles and
came to the ruins of a town which a part of our army burnt when it was
advancing who missed their way and happened to fall in with it, 1/2 a
mile distant found a large field of corn and 3 houses. We gathered the
corn and burnt it in the houses. This town is called Swahyawana.[159]
Moved on 5 miles and came to a wigwam with 3 squaws and one young
Indian who was a cripple. I took 2 of the squaws who were about 40
years of age and marched on 3 miles and found 1 hut and a field of
corn which was burnt. Went 4 miles further and encamped.
Sept. 23.--Marched at sunrise, proceeded without any path or track, or
any person who was ever in this part of the country before to guide
us, and the land so horribly rough and brushy that it was difficult to
advance, however with great labor and difficulty we proceeded 8 miles
to the end of a long cape[160] which I expected was the end of the
lake. We then marched off 2 or 3 miles from the lake, and went by a
point of compass 8 miles to the end of the lake and encamped. This
lake is 40 miles in length and from 2 to 5 miles in width, and runs
nearly No. and So. parallel to the Seneca lake which is from 8 to 10
miles distant.
Sept. 24.--Marched at sunrise, proceeded 3 miles on the high land and
came to an old path which led us to 2 huts and some cornfields, which
we burnt. I then sent several parties in different directions to look
for a large town that I had been informed was not many miles from the
end of the lake. The parties found 10 or 12 scattering houses and a
number of large cornfields on and near the stream that falls into the
lake. After burning several fields of corn and houses they discovered
the town, 3 miles from the lake, on the above mentioned stream, which
contained 25 houses and is called Coreorgonel[161] and is the capital
of a small nation or tribe. My party was employed from 9 till sunset
in destroying the town and corn. I expected to have met Col. Butler
with his party at this town.
Sept. 25.--Marched at sunrise for Catherine's Town, where I was
ordered to join the main army. Proceeded a due west course over a
very rough, mountainous country 18 miles, and at 4 o'clock reached the
town, but the army was gone forward. Advanced 6 miles in what is
called the Bear Swamp and encamped.
Sept. 26.--Marched at sunrise and at 12 o'clock joined the main army
at Kanawalahola which is 4 miles from where we fought the enemy on the
29th of August. The army had a day of rejoicing here in consequence
from the news of Spain.
Sept. 27.--Some detachments were sent up the Teago river to destroy
such houses and corn fields as they might find.
Sept. 28.--The same parties that were sent out yesterday were sent
again further up the river to destroy a Tory settlement which was
discovered yesterday, and a large detachment was sent off to complete
the destruction of the corn, &c., at and about New Town. At 12 o'clock
Col. Butler and his party arrived in Camp. In their route round the
lake they destroyed several towns and a vast quantity of corn.
FOOTNOTES:
[155] This hamlet appears to have been located on the farm of Thomas
Shankwiller, near the south-east corner of lot 15 in the town of
Fayette, Seneca County, probably on Sucker brook.
[156] A town of ten houses, located on the west bank of Cayuga lake at
the north-east corner of the town of Fayette, in Seneca County, about
a mile and a half from present Canoga village. Destroyed Sept. 21,
1779.
[157] SKANNAYUTENATE, a small village located about forty rods from
the shore of the lake, on the south bank of Canoga creek, about half a
mile north-east of present Canoga village. On the north bank of the
creek, between the site of the old Indian town and the north and south
road passing through Canoga, is said to be the birth-place of the
renowned Seneca orator, Sagoyewatha or Red Jacket. Destroyed Sept. 21,
1779.
[158] NEWTOWN--An Indian village of nine houses, located on the west
bank of Cayuga lake, on the Disinger farm, a mile south of present
Canoga village, and directly opposite the village of Union Springs on
the east side of the lake. Destroyed Sept. 21, 1779.
[159] SWAHYAWANA, was on the farm of Edward R. Dean, in the north-east
corner of the town of Romulus, in Seneca county, on the north bank of
Sinclair Hollow creek, near the shore of the lake, and almost exactly
opposite the important town of Chonodote, on the east side, at site of
present Aurora. Was burned September 6, by a party that wandered from
the track of the main army when they passed up on the east side of the
lake.
[160] TAGHANIC POINT, formerly known as Goodwin's Point. The bank of
the lake both north and south of this, is very much cut up with
ravines, and the lake shore is too rocky and precipitous for an Indian
path. For several miles the trail was back two miles from the lake,
along the heads of the ravines, probably passing through Hayt's
corners and Ovid Centre. From this high ground the lake appears to end
at Taghanic Point.
[161] COREORGONEL, called De-ho-riss-kanadia by George Grant, was
located on the west side of Cayuga inlet, about three miles from the
end of the lake, and two miles south of Ithaca. The main village was
on a high ground south of the school-house on the farm of James
Fleming, nearly opposite Buttermilk Falls. Several skeletons have been
exhumed here within a few years, and the usual variety of relics
found, such as hatchets, wampum, beads, &c. A solitary apple-tree
still remains, a fit memento to represent the race by which it was
planted. When first known to the whites there were five boles starting
from the ground, but these are now reduced to two, and are probably
shoots from the original tree cut down or girdled by Dearborn. The
town was destroyed September 24, 1779. At this time it contained
twenty-five houses, besides ten or twelve scattered between the main
village and the lake. Colonel Butler after passing up on the east side
of Cayuga Lake halted here on the 25th, and found Rev. Dr. Kirkland's
horse in the vicinity of the smoking ruins.
A peculiar interest is attached to this locality and village, from the
fact that here the representatives of a once powerful people, sought
to preserve for a brief period, the last remaining spark of a council
fire that from time immemorial had burned brilliantly in the presence
of assembled nations, numbering their warriors by thousands. They were
called by the Iroquois TODERICHROONES, one of the tribes known to the
English as Catawbas, sometimes called Saponies. They formerly resided
between the Potomac and Roanoke rivers, east of the Alleghanies. A
most inveterate hostile feeling existed between them and the Iroquois,
which reached back to near the middle of the seventeenth century. A
peace was arranged as early as 1685, through negotiations with the
government of Virginia, and again what was expected to be a "lasting
peace" and firm alliance, was concluded in 1714, but in the night
after the close of the council, the Iroquois deputies, while reposing
in fancied security were treacherously murdered while asleep. This
aroused the Iroquois to vengeance, and the war was renewed with
unexampled ferocity, with a determination to totally extirpate the
base, faithless and treacherous people. In 1717 through the
intercession of Governor Hunter, at the request of Governor Spottswood
of Virginia, a truce was arranged, and in 1722 delegates from the Five
Nations met Governor Spottswood at Albany to conclude what was to be
an "everlasting peace," in which the Iroquois bound themselves not to
cross the Potomac or go over the Alleghanies, without a passport from
the Governor of New York, Governor Spottswood engaging that the tribes
in his locality should not pass to the north or west of same lines.
The tribes mentioned by the Governor were the "NOTTOWAYS, MEHERINS,
NANSEMONDS, PAMUNKEYS, CHICOHOMINYS, and the CHRISTANNA INDIANS whom
you call TODERICHROONES," and others--in all, ten nations. This
council was conducted with great formality, and valuable presents were
presented, among which were a "_fine coronet_" and a "_gold horse
shoe_" with an inscription. In 1738 they were again at war, and in
1742 at peace. In 1731 Governor Clinton says "the Governor of South
Carolina sent six chiefs of the Catawbas, to make peace with the Five
Nations," and says that "they had been at war as long as any one in
this country can remember." In 1753 Sir William Johnson mentions the
fact that the Cayugas "_are about to strengthen their castle by taking
in the_ TEDARIGHROONES." In the same year they are mentioned as
attending a conference at Mt. Johnson and are described as "one of the
nine confederate nations." The town is indicated at the head of Cayuga
lake on the Guy Johnson map of 1771, in the same position where it was
found by Colonel Dearborn in 1779, under the name of TODEVIGHRONO, the
name of the people. In 1750 Zeisberger, the Moravian missionary,
passed through this valley while on his way to visit the Cayugas, but
makes no mention of an Indian village in the vicinity. Undoubtedly
they settled there in the summer of 1753. Their cleared fields were
found on the present site of Ithaca on the first settlement of the
country by the whites and were the first lands occupied in the county.
The town is indicated but not named on the map of Mr. Lodge, the
surveyor who accompanied Colonel Butler's detachment. To stand on the
identical spot from which this people sunk into oblivion, appeared
like standing on the grave of a nation. Their history, the beginning
of which extends far back into the unknown and unattainable, ends
where that of civilization begins, and adds another name to the long
list of extinguished nationalities that preceded us in sovereignty.
Here their council fire, fanned by the last expiring breath of a once
brave and numerous people, was extinguished forever.
RECAPITULATION.
INDIAN TOWNS DESTROYED IN SULLIVAN'S CAMPAIGN, 1779.
1. NEWTYCHANNING, an Indian town of about 20 houses, located on the
west side of the Susquehanna, near North Towanda, Bradford County, Pa.
Destroyed by Col. Proctor, Aug. 8, 1779. See note 60.
2. OLD CHEMUNG, an Indian town partially abandoned, located on the
north bank of Chemung river, half a mile above present Chemung
village. Destroyed Aug. 13, 1779. See note 66.
3. NEW CHEMUNG, an Indian town of fifty or sixty houses, located on
the left bank of the Chemung river, three miles above the present
village of Chemung, in Chemung County. Destroyed Aug. 13, 1779. See
note 66.
4. NEWTOWN, an Indian town of about 20 houses, located on the north
bank of Chemung river, five miles below Elmira. It gave the name to
the battle fought near it Aug. 29, 1779. Destroyed August 31, 1779.
See note 74.
5. A village of 20 to 30 new houses, located on both sides of
Baldwin's creek, about a mile and a half from Chemung river, at the
exact point where Gen. Poor commenced the ascent of the hill.
Destroyed Aug. 29, 1779. See note 74.
6. A small village on Baldwin's creek, near the works of the enemy, at
Newtown, the timbers of which were used in the construction of the
fortifications. See note 74.
7. A small village on Seely creek, near present Southport, south of
Elmira. Destroyed Aug. 30, 1779. See note 74.
8. ALBOUT, a Scotch, tory settlement on the east side the Unadilla,
about five miles above Unadilla. Burned August 12, 1779, by Gen.
Clinton. See note 129.
9. SHAWHIANGTO, a small Tuscarora town, four miles below Onoquago, of
ten or twelve houses, located on the west side of the Susquehanna,
near present Windsor, in Broome County. Burned August 17, 1779, by
Gen. Clinton. See note 134.
10. INGAREN, a Tuscarora town of five or six houses, sometimes called
Tuscarora, at Great Bend, Susquehanna county, Penn. Destroyed Aug. 17,
1779, by Gen. Clinton. See note 135.
11. OTSININGO or _Chenango_, an important Indian town abandoned and
destroyed by the Indians in the winter of 1778-9, located four miles
north of Binghamton in Broome County. See note 136.
12. CHOCONUT, or _Chugnutt_, an important Indian town of fifty or
sixty houses mostly on the south side of the Susquehanna river, at the
mouth of Big Choconut creek, in Broome County. Destroyed by Gen. Poor
Aug. 19, 1779. See note 137.
13. OWAGEA, an Indian town of about twenty houses, on Owego creek,
about a mile from the Susquehanna river, in the north part of present
Owego,--was a small hamlet, also near the river. Destroyed August 19,
1779. See note 138.
14. MANCKATAWANGUM, or _Red Bank_,--an Indian town on the south side
of the Susquehanna river, nearly opposite the present village of
Barton, in Tioga county,--near Fitzgerald's Farm, according to Beatty.
See note 139.
General Sullivan under date of Aug. 30th, says: "The number of Indian
towns destroyed since the commencement of the expedition, including
those burnt by General Clinton previous to the junction, is, I think,
fourteen, some of them considerable, others inconsiderable."
15. MIDDLETOWN, an Indian hamlet of eight houses, located on the north
bank of Chemung river, between Newtown and present Elmira. Destroyed
Aug. 31, 1779. See note 77.
16. KANAWLOHALLA or _Canaweola_, on the site of present Elmira in
Chemung county. George Grant says it contained twenty houses. This was
the site of Fort Reid. Destroyed while the army was on the march,
August 31, 1779. See note 77.
17. BIG FLATS, on the north bank of Chemung river, eight miles above
present Elmira. An early French map calls a village at this point
Runonvea, Destroyed by a detachment under Col. Dayton Aug. 31, 1779.
See note 77.
18. SHEOQUAGA or _Catharine's Town_, an Indian village of thirty
houses, located on the site of present Havana in Schuyler County.
Destroyed Sept. 2, 1779. See note 78.
19. PEACH ORCHARD, an Indian town of an unknown name on the site of
present Peach Orchard, ten miles north of Havana, on east shore of
Seneca lake. Destroyed Sept. 3, 1779. See note 79.
20. CONDAWHAW, a small Indian town on the east shore of Seneca lake,
at present site of North Hector, so called by Luke Swetland in 1778.
Destroyed Sept. 4, 1779. See note 80.
21. KENDAIA, or _Appletown_, located on lot 79, Romulus, on the east
side of Seneca lake. It contained about twenty houses. Destroyed Sept.
6, 1779. See note 81.
22. BUTLER'S BUILDINGS, so called, consisting of a few buildings,
located near present canal bridge in the village of Geneva. Destroyed
while on the march Sept. 7, 1779. See note 84.
23. KANADASEAGA, _the grand village_, and capital of the Senecas,
located one and a half miles north-west of present Geneva. It
contained about sixty well built houses. Destroyed Sept. 9, 1779. See
note 84.
24. GOTHSEUNGQUEAN or _Shenanwaga_, a village of twenty houses located
on both sides of Kershong creek, near the west shore of Seneca lake,
seven miles south of Geneva. Destroyed by a detachment under Major
Parr, Sept. 8, 1779. See note 84.
25. KANANDAIGUA, an Indian town of twenty-three houses, located about
a mile from the lake, in west part of present village of Canandaigua.
Destroyed Sept. 10, 1779. See note 86.
26. HANNEYAYE, an Indian town of twenty houses, located at foot of
Honeoye lake, east of the outlet. One house was occupied as a fort by
Capt. Cummings. Destroyed Sept. 11, 1779. See note 87.
27. KANAGHSAWS, also called _Adjutoa_, an Indian town of eighteen
houses located three-fourths of a mile south-east of the head of
Conesus lake on the farm of Dr. McMillen. Destroyed September 13,
1779. See note 89.
28. GATHTSEGWAROHARE or _Cassawauloughly_, an important Indian town of
twenty-five houses, located on the east side of Canaseraga creek,
about two miles from its confluence with the Genesee, at the
"Hermitage," formerly owned by Judge Caroll. Destroyed Sept. 14, 1779.
See note 93.
29. CHENANDOANES or _Great Genesee Castle_, sometimes called Little
Beard's Town,--contained one hundred and twenty-eight houses, located
on the west side of Genesee river, mostly on the north side of Beard's
creek, north-east of Cuylerville. Destroyed Sept. 15, 1779. See note
95.
TOWNS DESTROYED BY LIEUT. COL. BUTLER.
30. SCAWYACE, or _Long Falls_, an important Indian town on the north
bank of the Seneca river on present site of Waterloo, in Seneca
County,--was partially destroyed by a volunteer force under Col.
Harper, Sept. 8, 1779,--destruction completed Sept. 21, by Major
Scott, of Colonel Butler's detachment. See note 140.
31. CHOHARO, a hamlet of two houses at the foot of Cayuga lake, where
Colonel Butler's detachment forded the river. This was the ancient
Tichero of the Jesuit Relations. Destroyed Sept. 21, by Colonel
Butler. See note 142.
32. GEWAUGA, a small hamlet located on the east side of Cayuga lake,
on the site of present Union Springs in Cayuga County. Destroyed Sept.
22, 1779. See note 141.
33. GOIOGOUEN, of the Jesuit Relations, made up of three separate
towns, viz:
(1). CAYUGA CASTLE, containing fifteen very large houses built
of squared logs, located near the south line of the town of
Springport in Cayuga County, on the north bank of Great Gully
Brook, from one to two miles from the lake. See note 143.
(2). EAST CAYUGA, OLD TOWN, containing thirteen houses, located
in the south-east corner of the town of Springport, from three
to four miles from Cayuga lake. A site in the south-west corner
of Fleming, was probably a site of this clan. Destroyed Sept.
22. See note 145.
(3). UPPER CAYUGA, containing fourteen large houses, located
near the north line of the town of Ledyard in Cayuga County, on
the south bank of Great Gully Brook, from one to two miles from
Cayuga Lake. Destroyed Sept. 22. See note 144.
George Grant describes the three preceding towns as one town
containing fifty houses, with many scattering towns within two
or three miles. Gen. Sullivan's official report says that
"Colonel Butler destroyed five principal towns and a number of
scattering houses,--the whole making about one hundred in
number." Capt. Lodge's Map designates three towns by name.