Progress of the war in the South--Fall of Charleston--Brilliant
achievements--Rigorous winter of 1780--Destruction of the Oneida Castle
and villages--Third marriage of Brant--Irruption into
Harpersfield--Captivity of Captain Harper, Freegift Patchin, and
others--Conduct of Brant--Consultation whether to put the prisoners to
death---Sagacity and firmness of Harper--Marched off for
Niagara--Remarkable adventures by the way--Murder of an old man--Cure
of the fever and ague--A thrilling scene--Sufferings for food--Justice
and impartiality of Brant--Approach to Niagara--The ordeal--Humane
device of Brant to save his Prisoners from the trial--Arrival at
Niagara--Farther irruptions of the Indians--Shawangunk--Saugerties--
Captivity of Captain Snyder and his son--Arrival at
Niagara--Examination--Guy Johnson, Butler and Brant--Prisoners sent to
Montreal--The Mohawk Valley--Bravery of Solomon Woodruff--Irruption to
Little Falls--Burning of Ellis's Mills--Incidents on the Ohio--Bold
exploit of McConnel--Attack of Colonel Bird, with his Indians, upon the
Licking Settlement--Colonel Clarke takes vengeance upon the Shawanese.
The succeeding year opened inauspiciously to the American arms. No sooner
had Sir Henry Clinton heard of the departure of Count D'Estaing from the
Southern coast with the French fleet, than he prepared for a formidable
descent upon South Carolina. Charleston was the first and most prominent
object of attack. The expedition destined upon this service left New-York
about the close of January, and in due season the troops effected their
landing about thirty miles from Charleston. The object of the enemy could
not be mistaken, and General Lincoln made every exertion for the defence
of the important post entrusted to his command, by increasing his forces
and strengthening his works. Before the middle of April the town was
invested by sea and land, and Lincoln was summoned to surrender--which
summons with modest firmness he declined to obey. Clinton having succeeded
in all his preliminary operations--Tarleton having cut up Colonel White's
cavalry on the Santee, and Fort Moultrie having surrendered to the Royal
Navy--the garrison, finding itself without reasonable hope of relief,
proposed terms of capitulation, which were rejected by the British
commander. Hostilities were meantime prosecuted with great energy, and
after a tremendous cannonade and bombardment, lasting from the 6th to the
11th of May, General Lincoln was forced into a capitulation. His garrison
consisted, all told, of about five thousand men--of whom no more than two
thousand were continental troops. The loss was heavy--including upward of
four hundred pieces of cannon.
Having accomplished this object, Sir Henry divided his forces into three
columns, dispatching them in as many directions, with a view of
overrunning the whole Southern states. Clinton, himself, returned to
New-York; and then commenced that remarkable course of partizan warfare
in the South, which called forth so much of high and chivalrous daring
in Marion, Sumpter, and their associates in arms, and which was attended
with so many brilliant exploits. There are no more vivid and thrilling
pages in American history than the records of those partizan operations,
the incidents of which amounted to little in themselves, separately
considered; but in the general results they were of infinite importance
to the cause of the republic--since the invaders were, in fact, weakened
by every victory, while defeat did not discourage the Americans, who were
gaining both moral and physical strength by the protraction of the
struggle. But these distant glances are incidental--the North being the
main field of research.
The devastation of their country by General Sullivan--the destruction of
their houses, as well as their means of subsistence--had driven the
Indians back upon Niagara for the winter of 1779-80--the usual
winter-quarters of Brant, Guy Johnson, and the Butlers--father and son.
As had been anticipated by the American Commander-in-chief, the Indians
suffered greatly by destitution and consequent sickness during that
winter, which was one of unexampled rigor in North America. [FN-1] But
neither the inclemency of the weather, nor the wants of the Indians at
Niagara, prevented them from fulfilling the threat of Sir Frederick
Haldimand against the Oneidas. Their villages and castle were invaded by
the hostile Indians, aided by a detachment of British troops, or more
probably by a corps of Butler's rangers, and entirely destroyed--their
castle, their church, and their dwellings being alike laid in ashes;
while the Oneidas themselves were driven down upon the white settlements
for protection and support. They were subsequently planted in the
neighborhood of Schenectady, where they were supported by the government
of the United States until the close of the war. [FN-2]
* * * * *
[FN-1] The harbor of New-York was not merely choked with ice for a time
during the Winter of 1779-80, but so thoroughly frozen that cannon were
wheeled over to the city on the ice from Staten Island.
[FN-2] There is difficulty in ascertaining the exact time of Brant's
invasion of the Oneida towns. Although an important event in the border
ware, the author has not been able to obtain dates or particulars. The
fact is well known; and President Kirkland, (son of the Oneida
Missionary,) has spoken of the incident several times in his
communications to the Massachusetts Historical Society--published in
their valuable collections. In one of those communications, Dr. Kirkland
remarks that this dispersion of the Oneidas, and the devastation of
their country, were greatly detrimental to their nation. When the war
came on, they had attained to some degree of regularity, industry, and
prosperity. But, driven from their homes, reduced to want, dependence,
and abject poverty, their habits became more intemperate and idle than
ever, and they never recovered from their depression.
Aside from the destruction of the Oneida country, it is believed that no
important object was undertaken by Thayendanegea until the opening of
Spring. It may be noted, however, incidentally, as an illustration of the
character of the Mohawk chief, that during this winter he was married to
his third wife, at the fort of Niagara, under circumstances somewhat
peculiar. Among the prisoners taken to that post from Cherry Valley, was
a Miss Moore, who, being detained in captivity with Mrs. Campbell and
others, was courted and married by an officer of the garrison.
Thayendanegea was present at the wedding; and although he had for some
time previous been living with his wife, bound only by the ties of an
Indian marriage, he nevertheless embraced the opportunity of having the
English marriage ceremony performed, which was accordingly done by
Colonel Butler, acting as one of the King's commission of the peace for
Tryon County.
But the chief was seldom inactive. The month of April found him on the
war-path, at the head of a small party of Indians and Tories, whom he
led against the settlement of Harpersfield, which was taken by surprise
and destroyed. In consequence of their exposed situation, most of the
inhabitants had left the settlement, so that there were but few persons
killed, and only nineteen taken prisoners. Proceeding from Harpersfield,
it was Brant's design to make an attack upon the upper fort of Schoharie,
should he deem it prudent to encounter the risk, after duly
reconnoitering the situation of the fort and ascertaining its means of
defence. The execution of this part of his project was prevented by an
unexpected occurrence. Harpersfield was probably destroyed on the 5th or
6th of April. It happened that nearly at the same time, Colonel Vrooman,
who was yet in command of Old Schoharie, had sent out a scout of fourteen
militia-minute-men, with directions to pass over to the head waters of
the Charlotte river, and keep an eye upon the movements of certain
suspected persons living in the valley of that stream. It being the
proper season for making maple sugar, the minute-men were likewise
directed to remain in the woods and manufacture a quantity of that
article, of which the garrison were greatly in want. On the 2d of April,
this party, the commander of which was Captain Alexander Harper,
commenced their labors in the "sugar-bush," at the distance of about
thirty miles from Schoharie. They were occupied in the discharge of this
part of their duty, very cheerfully and with good success, for several
days, entirely unapprehensive of danger; more especially as a new fall
of snow, to the depth of three feet, would prevent, they supposed, the
moving of any considerable body of the enemy, while in fact they were not
aware of the existence of an armed foe short of Niagara. But their
operations were most unexpectedly interrupted. It seems that Brant, in
wending his way from Harpersfield toward Schoharie, fell suddenly upon
Harper and his party on the 7th of April, at about two o'clock in the
afternoon, and immediately surrounded them--his force consisting of
forty-three Indian warriors and seven Tories. So silent and cautious had
been the approach of the enemy, that the first admonition Harper received
of their presence, was the death of three of his little band, [FN] who
were struck down while engaged in their work. The leader was instantly
discovered in the person of the Mohawk chief, who rushed up to Captain
Harper, tomahawk in hand, and observed--"Harper, I am sorry to find you
here!" "Why are you sorry, Captain Brant?" replied the other. "Because,"
rejoined the chief, "I must kill you, although we were school-mates in
our youth,"--at the same time raising his hatchet, and suiting the action
to the word. Suddenly his arm fell, and with a piercing scrutiny, looking
Harper full in the face, he inquired--"Are there any regular troops at
the forts in Schoharie." Harper caught the idea in an instant. To answer
truly, and admit that there were none, as was the fact, would but hasten
Brant and his warriors forward to fall upon the settlements at once, and
their destruction would have been swift and sure. He therefore informed
him that a reinforcement of three hundred Continental troops had arrived
to garrison the forts only two or three days before. This information
appeared very much to disconcert the chieftain. He prevented the farther
shedding of blood, and held a consultation with his subordinate chiefs.
Night coming on, Harper and his ten surviving companions were shut up in
a pen of logs, and guarded by the Tories, under the charge of _their_
leader, a cruel fellow named Becraft, and of bloody notoriety in that war.
Controversy ran high among the Indians during the night--the question
being, whether the prisoners should be put to death or carried to
Niagara. They were bound hand and foot, but were so near the Indian
council as to hear much of what was said, and Harper knew enough of the
Indian tongue to comprehend the general import of their debates. The
Indians were for putting them to death; and Becraft frequently tantalized
the prisoners, by telling them, with abusive tones and epithets, that
"they would be in hell before morning." Brant's authority, however, was
exerted effectually to prevent the massacre.
* * * * *
[FN] The late General Freegift Patchin, of Schoharie, was one of
Harper's party, as also were his brother, Isaac Patchin, Ezra Thorp,
Lt. Henry Thorp, and Major Henry. It is from Priest's Narrative of the
captivity of General Patchin, that the author obtained the facts of this
transaction.
On the following morning Harper was brought before the Indians for
examination. The Chief commenced by saying, that they were suspicious he
had not told them the truth. Harper, however, had great coolness and
presence of mind; and although Brant was eying him like a basilisk, he
repeated his former statements without the improper movement of a muscle,
or betraying the least distrustful sign or symptom. Being satisfied,
therefore, of the truth of his story, Brant determined to retrace his
steps to Niagara. This he did with great reluctance--admitting to Captain
Harper that the real object of his expedition was to fall upon Schoharie,
which place, as they had been informed, was almost entirely undefended.
He had promised to lead his warriors to spoils and victory, and they were
angry at being thus cut short of their expectations. Under these
circumstances of chagrin and disappointment, it had only been with great
difficulty that he could restrain his followers from putting them to
death. Brant then said to Captain Harper, that he and his companions
should be spared, on condition of accompanying him as prisoners of war to
Niagara.
Their march was forthwith commenced, and was full of pain, peril, and
adventure. The prisoners were heavily laden with the booty taken from
Harpersfield, and well guarded. Their direction was first down the
Delaware, where they stopped at a mill to obtain provisions. The miller
was a Tory, and both himself and daughters counseled Brant to put his
prisoners to death. On the following day they met another loyalist, who
was well acquainted with Brant, and with Captain Harper and his party.
He assured the former that Harper had deceived him, and that there were
no troops at Schoharie. The Captain was, therefore, brought to another
scrutiny; but he succeeded so well in maintaining the appearance of
sincerity and truth, as again to avert the upraised and glittering
tomahawk. On the same day an aged man, named Brown, was accidentally
fallen in with and taken prisoner, with two youthful grandsons; the day
following, being unable to travel with sufficient speed, and sinking
under the weight of the burden imposed upon him, the old man was put out
of the way with the hatchet. The victim was dragging behind, and when he
saw preparations making for his doom, he took an affectionate farewell
of his little grandsons, and the Indians moved on, leaving one of their
number, with his face painted black--the mark of an executioner--behind
with him. In a few moments afterward, the Indian came up, with the old
man's scalp dangling from between the ramrod and muzzle of his gun.
Having descended the Delaware a sufficient distance, they crossed over to
Oghkwaga, where they constructed floats, and sailed down the Susquehanna
to the confluence of the Chemung, at which place their land-traveling
again commenced. Being heavily encumbered with luggage, and withal
tightly pinioned, the prisoners must have sunk by the way, at the rate
the Indians traveled, and would probably have been tomahawked but for the
indisposition of Brant, who, providentially for the prisoners, was
attacked with fever and ague--so that every alternate day he was unable
to travel. These interruptions gave them time to rest and recruit. Brant
wrought his own cure by a truly Indian remedy. Watching upon the southern
side of a hill, where serpents usually crawl forth in the Spring to bask
in the sunbeams, he caught a rattlesnake, which was immediately made into
soup, of which he ate. A speedy cure was the consequence.
But a new trial awaited the prisoners soon after they reached the
Chemung. During his march from Niagara on this expedition, Brant had
detached eleven of his warriors to fall once more upon the Minisink
settlement for prisoners. This detachment, as it subsequently appeared,
had succeeded in taking captive five athletic men, whom they secured and
brought with them as far as Tioga Point. The Indians sleep very soundly,
and the five prisoners had resolved at the first opportunity to make their
escape. While encamped at this place during the night, one of the
Minisink men succeeded in extricating his hands from the binding cords,
and with the utmost caution unloosed his four companions. The Indians
were locked in the arms of deep sleep around them. Silently, without
causing a leaf to rustle, they each snatched a tomahawk from the girdles
of their unconscious enemies, and in a moment nine of them were quivering
in the agonies of death. The two others were awakened, and springing upon
their feet, attempted to escape. One of them was struck with a hatchet
between the shoulders, but the other fled. The prisoners immediately made
good their own retreat, and the only Indian who escaped unhurt, returned
to take care of his wounded companion. As Brant and his warriors
approached this point of their journey, some of his Indians having raised
a whoop, it was instantly returned by a single voice with the _death
yell!_ Startled at this unexpected signal, Brant's warriors rushed
forward to ascertain the cause. But they were not long in doubt. The lone
warrior met them, and soon related to his brethren the melancholy fate
of his companions. The effect upon the warriors, who gathered in a group
to hear the recital, was inexpressibly fearful. Rage, and a desire of
revenge, seemed to kindle every bosom, and light every eye as with
burning coals. They gathered round the prisoners in a circle, and began
to make unequivocal preparations for hacking them to pieces. Harper and
his men of course gave themselves up for lost, not doubting that their
doom was fixed and irreversible. But at this moment deliverance came from
an unexpected quarter. While their knives were unsheathing, and their
hatchets glittering, as they were flourished in the sunbeams, the only
survivor of the murdered party rushed into the circle and interposed in
their favor. With a wave of the hand as of a warrior entitled to be
heard--for he was himself a chief--silence was restored, and the prisoners
were surprised by the utterance of an earnest appeal in their behalf. It
has already been observed that Captain Harper knew enough of the Indian
language to understand its purport, though unfortunately not enough to
preserve its eloquence. In substance, however, the Chief appealed to his
brother warriors in favor of the prisoners, upon the ground that it was
not they who had murdered their brothers; and to take the lives of the
innocent would not be right in the eyes of the Great Spirit. His appeal
was effective. The passions of the incensed warriors were hushed, their
eyes no longer shot forth the burning glances of revenge, and their
gesticulations ceased to menace immediate and bloody vengeance.
True, it so happened that the Chief who had thus thrown himself
spontaneously between them and death, knew all the prisoners--he having
resided in the Schoharie canton of the Mohawks before the war. He
doubtless felt a deeper interest in their behalf on that account. Still,
it was a noble action, worthy of the proudest era of chivalry, and in the
palmy days of Greece and Rome, would have ensured him almost "an
apotheosis and rites divine." The interposition of Pocahontas, in favor
or Captain Smith, before the rude court of Powhattan, was perhaps more
romantic; but when the motive which prompted the generous action of the
princess is considered, the transaction now under review exhibits the
most of genuine benevolence. Pocahontas was moved by the tender
passion--the Mohawk sachem by the feelings of magnanimity, and the
eternal principles of justice. It is matter of regret that the name of
this high-souled warrior is lost, as, alas! have been too many that
might have served to relieve the dark and vengeful portraitures of Indian
character, which it has so well pleased the white man to draw! The
prisoners themselves were so impressed with the manner of their signal
deliverance, that they justly attributed it to a direct interposition of
the providence of God.
The march was now resumed toward Niagara, along the route traveled by
Sullivan's expedition the preceding year. Their sufferings were great
for want of provisions--neither warriors nor prisoners having any thing
more than a handful of corn each for dinner. A luxury, however, awaited
them, in the remains of a horse which had been left by Sullivan's
expedition to perish from the severity of the winter. The wolves had
eaten all the flesh from the poor animal's bones, excepting upon the
under side. When the carcass was turned over, a quantity of the flesh yet
remained, which was equally distributed among the whole party, and
devoured. On reaching the Genessee river, they met a party of Indians
preparing to plant corn. These laborers had a fine horse, which Brant
directed to be instantly killed, dressed, and divided among his famishing
company. They had neither bread nor salt; but Brant instructed the
prisoners to use the white ashes of the wood they were burning as a
substitute for the latter ingredient, and it was found to answer an
excellent purpose. The meal was partaken of, and relished as the rarest
delicacy they had ever eaten. In regard to provisions, it must be
mentioned to the credit of Captain Brant, that he was careful to enforce
an equal distribution of all they had among his own warriors and the
prisoners. All fared exactly alike.
On his arrival at the Genessee river, and in anticipation of his own
departure with his prisoners for Niagara, Brant sent forward a messenger
to that post, bearing information of his approach, with the measure of
his success and the number of his prisoners. But it was not merely for
the purpose of conveying this intelligence that he dispatched his _avant
courier._ He had another object in view, as will appear in the sequel, the
conception and execution of which add a link to the chain of testimony
establishing the humanity and benevolence of his disposition. Four days
more of travel brought the party to within a few miles of the fort; and
the Tories now took special delight in impressing upon the prisoners the
perils and the sufferings they must endure, in the fearful ordeal they
would have to pass, on approaching the two Indian encampments in front
of the fort. This ordeal was nothing less than running the gauntlet, as
it is called in Indian warfare--a doom supposed to be inevitable to every
prisoner; and one which, by direct means, even Thayendanegea himself had
not sufficient power to prevent.
The running of the gauntlet, or rather compelling their prisoners to run
it, on the return of a war-party to their camp or village, is a general
custom among the American aboriginals--a preliminary that must precede
their ultimate fate, either of death or mercy. It is not always severe,
however, nor even generally so, unless in respect to prisoners who have
excited the particular animosity of the Indians; and it is often rather
a scene of amusement than punishment. Much depends on the courage and
presence of mind of the prisoner undergoing the ordeal. On entering the
village or camp, he is shown a painted post at the distance of some
thirty or forty yards, and directed to run to, and catch hold of it as
quickly as possible. His path to the post lies between two parallel lines
of people--men, women, and children,--armed with hatchets, knives, sticks,
and other offensive weapons; and as he passes along, each is at liberty
to strike him as severely and as frequently as he can. Should he be so
unfortunate as to stumble, or fall in the way, he may stand a chance to
lose his life--especially if any one in the ranks happens to have a
personal wrong to avenge. But the moment he reaches the goal he is safe,
until final judgment has been pronounced upon his case. When a prisoner
displays great firmness and courage, starting upon the race with force
and agility, he will probably escape without much injury; and sometimes,
when his bearing excites the admiration of the savages, entirely unharmed.
But woe to the coward whose cheeks blanch, and whose nerves are untrue!
The slightest manifestation of fear will deprive him of mercy, and
probably of his life. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] Heckewelder. "In the month of April, 1782, when I was myself a
prisoner, at Lower Sandusky, waiting for an opportunity to proceed to
Detroit, I witnessed a scene of this description which fully exemplified
what I have above stated. Three American prisoners were one day brought
in by fourteen warriors from the garrison of Fort McIntosh. As soon as
they had crossed the Sandusky river, to which the village lay adjacent,
they were told by the Captain of the party to run as hard as they could
to a painted post which was shown to them. The youngest of them, without
a moment's hesitation, immediately started for it, and reached it
fortunately without receiving a single blow; the second hesitated for a
moment, but recollecting himself, he also ran as fast as he could, and
likewise reached the post unhurt. But the third, frightened at seeing so
many men, women, and children, with weapons in their hands ready to
strike him, kept begging the Captain to spare his life, saying he was a
mason, and would build him a large stone house, or do any work for him
that he should please. 'Run for your life,' cried the Chief to him, 'and
don't talk now of building houses!' But the poor fellow still insisted,
begging and praying to the Captain; who, at last, finding his
exhortations vain, and fearing the consequences, turned his back upon
him, and would not hear him any longer. Our mason now began to run, but
received many a hard blow, one of which nearly brought him to the ground,
which, if he had fallen, would at once have decided his fate. He,
however, reached the goal, not without being badly bruised, and he was,
besides, bitterly reproached and scoffed at all round as a vile coward;
while the others were hailed as brave men, and received tokens of
universal approbation"--_Idem._
Such was the scene which Harper and his fellow-prisoners now had in near
prospect. They of course well knew the usages of Indian warfare, and must
expect to submit. Nor was the chance of escape from injury very cheering,
enfeebled and worn down as they were by their journey and its privations.
Miserable comforters, therefore, were their Tory guards, who were
tantalising them in anticipation, by describing this approaching
preliminary cruelty. But on emerging from the woods, and approaching the
first Indian encampment, what was the surprise of the prisoners, and the
chagrin of their conductors, at finding the Indian warriors absent from
the encampment, and their place supplied by a regiment of British
soldiers! There were only a few Indian boys and some old women in the
camp; and these offered no violence to the prisoners, excepting one of
the squaws, who struck young Patchin over the head with an instrument
which caused the blood to flow freely. But the second encampment, lying
nearest the fort, and usually occupied by the fiercest and most savage of
the Indian warriors, was yet to be passed. On arriving at this, also, the
Indians were gone, and another regiment of troops were on parade, formed
in two parallel lines, to protect the prisoners. Thus the Mohawk chief
led his prisoners directly through the dreaded encampments, and brought
them safely into the fort. Patchin, however, received another severe blow
in this camp, and a young Indian menaced him with his tomahawk. But as he
raised his arm, a soldier snatched the weapon from his hand, and threw it
into the river.
The solution of this unexpected deliverance from the gauntlet-race was
this:--Miss Jane Moore, the Cherry Valley prisoner whose marriage to an
officer of the Niagara garrison has already been mentioned, was the niece
of Captain Harper--a fact well known to Brant. Harper, however, knew
nothing of her marriage, or in fact of her being at Niagara, and the
chief had kept the secret to himself. On his arrival at the Genessee
river, his anxious desire was to save his prisoners from the cruel
ordeal-trial, and he despatched the runner, as before mentioned, with a
message to Jane Moore's husband, whose name was Powell, advising him of
the fact, and proposing an artifice, by which to save his wife's uncle,
and his associates, from the accustomed ceremony. For this purpose, by
concert with Brant, Powell had managed to have the Indian warriors
enticed away to the Nine Mile Landing, for a frolic, the means of holding
which were supplied from the public stores. Meantime, for the protection
of the approaching prisoners from the violence of the straggling Indians
who remained behind, Powell caused the two encampments to be occupied in
the manner just described. It was a generous act on the part of Brant,
well conceived and handsomely carried through. The prisoners all had
cause of gratitude; and in the meeting with his niece in the garrison,
Captain Harper found a source of pleasure altogether unexpected.
The prisoners, nevertheless, were doomed to a long captivity. From
Niagara they were transferred to Montreal, thence to a prison in
Chamblee, and thence to Quebec. They were afterward sent down to Halifax,
and only restored to their country and homes after the peace of 1783.
Their sufferings, during the three intervening years, were exceedingly
severe, particularly in the prison at Chamblee, which is represented as
having been foul and loathsome to a degree. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] In the early part of this narrative of Harper's and Patchin's
captivity, the name of Becraft, a Tory, occurs as one of their captors.
His conduct toward the prisoners was particularly brutal throughout. On
one occasion, when he and his Tory associates were enumerating their
exploits, Becraft boasted of having assisted in massacring the family
of a Mr. Vrooman, in Schoharie. The family, he said, were all soon
despatched, except a boy of fourteen years old, who ran from the house.
Becraft pursued and overtook him at a fence which he was attempting to
climb. He there deliberately cut his throat, took his scalp, and hung
his body across the fence! After the peace, he had the hardihood to
return to Schoharie. But no sooner was it known, than a party of several
indignant citizens, among whom were the prisoners who heard him make the
confession here given, assembled and seized him. They stripped him naked,
bound him to a tree, and ten of them, with hickory whips, gave him a
tremendous castigation. They plied the whips with full vigor, and at
intervals paused, and informed him for what particular misdeeds they
were to inflict the next ten scorpion lashes, and so on. Having punished
him thus, they dismissed him with a charge never to show himself in that
county again. He never did.
Another of these Tories, who were guarding Harper and his party during
the same night of their journey, made a yet more horrible confession
than that of Becraft. His name was Barney Cane. He boasted of having
killed, upon Diamond Island, (Lake George,) one Major Hopkins. A party of
pleasure, as he stated, had been visiting the island on a little sailing
excursion, and having lingered longer upon that beautiful spot than they
were conscious of, as night drew on, concluded to encamp for the
night--it being already too late to return to the fort. "From the shore
where we lay hid," said Cane, "it was easy to watch their motions; and
perceiving their defenceless situation, as soon as it was dark we set
off for the island, where we found them asleep by their fire, and
discharged our guns among them. Several were killed, among whom was one
woman, who had a sucking child, which was not hurt. This we put to the
breast of its dead mother, and so we left it. But Major Hopkins was only
wounded, his thigh bone being broken; he started from his sleep to a
rising posture, when I struck him," said Barney Cane, "with the butt of
my gun, on the side of his head; he fell over, but caught on one hand;
I then knocked him the other way, when he caught with the other hand, a
third blow, and I laid him dead. These were all scalped except the
infant. In the morning, a party from the fort went and brought away the
dead, together with one they found alive, although he was scalped, and
the babe, which was hanging and sobbing at the bosom of its lifeless
mother."--_Gen. Patchin's Narrative._
The Indians were likewise early busy in other directions. Some scattering
settlements, situated between Wyoming and the older establishments, were
fallen upon by them, and a number of persons killed, several houses
burned, and eight prisoners carried away.
But the Dutch border settlements along the base of the Kaatsbergs, or
Catskill mountains, from Albany down to Orange county, were again severe
sufferers during this period of the revolutionary war. Many of the
inhabitants were friendly to the royal cause, and numbers of them had
joined the royal standard. Some of these served as leaders and guides to
the Indians, in parties for prisoners, scalps, and plunder. This petty
mode of warfare was reduced to such a system, that those engaged in it
were supplied with small magazines of provisions, concealed in the earth
and among clefts of rocks at suitable distances from the western sides of
the Kaatsbergs, over to the Delaware, and thence down to the point whence
they were wont to cross with their prisoners and booty to the Susquehanna,
and thence again by the usual track, along the Chemung and Genessee rivers
to Niagara. The sacking of Minisink, and the incursions into Warwasing,
in the preceding year, have already been chronicled. But there were
several irruptions into the Dutch settlements farther north, along the
western borders of Ulster County, in the Spring of 1780, some of which
were marked by peculiar features of atrocity, or of wild adventure. Among
these was an attack, by a small party of Indians and Tories, upon the
families of Thomas and Johannes Jansen, wealthy freeholders in a beautiful
but secluded portion of the town of Shawangunk. One of these gentlemen
was a colonel of militia. Both had erected substantial stone-houses, and
were living in affluence. Their mansions were plundered by Indians and
Tories, who were known to them; several of their neighbors and their
Negroes were made prisoners; and among those who were slain, under
circumstances of painful interest, were a Miss Mack and her father,
residing somewhat remote in one of the mountain gorges; and also a young
lady on a visit at Shawangunk, from the city of New-York. From
considerations of acquaintanceship with the Jansens, however, the females
of their families were not injured, although their houses were plundered
and their barns laid in ashes. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] An elaborated narrative of this tragic visitation was published
fifteen or twenty years ago by Charles G. De Witt, Esq.
The same savage party, or rather a party composed in part of the same
band of Tories and Indians who had committed the outrages just related,
fell upon a settlement in the town of Saugerties, in May of the same
year--making prisoners of Captain Jeremiah Snyder and Isaac Snyder his
son. After plundering his house of provisions and money, they marched the
Captain and his son over the mountains to the Delaware, and thence to
Niagara, by the same route traversed by Thayendanegea and his warriors
in conducting Harper and his fellow captives to that post. The adventures
of these prisoners during their rough and wearisome journey were but the
counterpart of those endured a month before by Captain Harper and his
company, excepting that their captors, being acquaintances, rendered
their sufferings less severe. Their supplies of food, though coarse, were
sufficient. They were pinioned at night, and the Indians lay upon the
cords by which they were fastened to saplings, or other fixtures of
security. They met several parties of Indians and Tories after crossing
the Susquehanna, and on one occasion fell in with a beautiful white woman,
married to an Indian. By all these they were treated kindly. While
traversing the valley of the Genessee, their principal Indian conductor,
named Runnip, pointed them to a couple of mounds by the way-side. "There
lie your brothers," said he to Captain Snyder, in Dutch. "These mounds
are the graves of a scout of thirty-six men, belonging to Sullivan's army,
which had been intercepted and killed by the Indians." [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] The Indian referred to the company of Lieut. Boyd.
On their arrival at Niagara, the prisoners were less fortunate than Harper
and his companions had been, since they were compelled to run the gauntlet
between long lines of the savages--a ceremony which they looked upon with
great dread, particularly on account of their debilitated condition and
the soreness of their feet. But in this operation they were favored by
their captors, who interposed to prevent injury. In his narrative, Captain
Snyder described fort Niagara at that time as a structure of considerable
magnitude and great strength, enclosing an area of from six to eight
acres. Within the enclosure was a handsome dwelling-house, for the
residence of the Superintendent of the Indians. It was then occupied by
Colonel Guy Johnson, before whom the Captain and his son were brought for
examination. Colonel Butler, with his rangers, lay upon the opposite, or
northern side of the river. At a given signal, the Colonel, with two of
his subalterns, crossed over to attend the examination. Indeed, the
principal object for the capture of Captain Snyder seems to have been to
obtain information. Their examination was stern and searching, but the
examiners were unable to elicit enough of news to compensate for the
trouble of their taking.
Captain Snyder described Guy Johnson as being a short, pursy man, about
forty years of age, of stern countenance and haughty demeanor--dressed
in a British uniform, powdered locks, and a cocked hat. His voice was
harsh, and his tongue bore evidence of his Irish extraction. While in
the guard-house, the prisoners were visited by Brant, of whom Captain
Snyder says--"He was a likely fellow, of a fierce aspect--tall and rather
spare--well spoken, and apparently about thirty (forty) years of age. He
wore moccasins, elegantly trimmed with beads--leggings and breech-cloth
of superfine blue--short green coat, with two silver epaulets--and a
small, laced, round hat. By his side hung an elegant silver-mounted
cutlass, and his blanket of blue cloth, purposely dropped in the chair
on which he sat, to display his epaulets, was gorgeously decorated with
a border of red." He asked many questions, and among others, from whence
they came. On being answered AEsopus, he replied--"That is my fighting
ground." In the course of the conversation, Brant said to the younger
Snyder--"You are young, and you I pity; but for that old villain there,"
pointing at the father, "I have no pity." Captain Snyder was of course
not very favorably impressed toward the Mohawk chief, and has recorded
his dislike.
The Snyders found many acquaintances at the head-quarters of the Indians
and loyalists, some of whom were prisoners like themselves, and others in
the ranks of the enemy. From Niagara, the two prisoners were transported
by water, first to Carleton Island in the St. Lawrence, and thence, at a
subsequent period, to Montreal. At the latter place they were employed at
labor, and regularly paid their wages, which enabled them to purchase
various little comforts to meliorate their condition. Indeed, they were
so fortunate as to fall into the hands of humane people at every stage
of their captivity, and their lot was far less severe than that of most
of their countrymen in the like situation. At the end of two years,
having been transferred from Montreal to an island some distance higher
up the St. Lawrence, both father and son, with several other prisoners,
succeeded in effecting their escape. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] Captain Snyder lived until the year 1827, and his narrative, taken
from his own lips, was written by Charles H. De Witt, Esq.
The Mohawk Valley proper, during the Winter of 1780, had enjoyed a period
of comparative repose--interrupted only by the common alarms incident to
an unprotected border, at all times liable to invasion, and the people,
as a consequence, feeling continually more or less insecure. Still, there
was not a single demonstration of the enemy in the lower part of the
country, during the cold season, worthy of note. Among the prisoners
taken by the Tories who two years before had returned from Canada after
their families, and who had most unaccountably been suffered to depart
unmolested, was a very brave fellow by the name of Solomon Woodworth. He
was entrusted to a party of Indians, acting in concert with the Tories
on their arrival at the Sacondaga, from whom he effected his escape on
the following day. These Indians, it appears, mortified at his successful
flight, had resolved either upon his recapture or his destruction.
Woodworth, in the Winter or Spring of 1780, was occupying, alone, a
block-house situated about eight miles north of Johnstown. While thus
solitary, his castle was attacked in the dead of night, by a small party
of Indians, who set fire to it. Regardless of danger, however, he ran
out amidst a shower of bullets, extinguished the fire, and retreated
within the walls again, before the Indians, who had withdrawn some
distance from the blockhouse, could re-approach sufficiently near to
seize him. As the night was not very dark, Woodworth saw a group of the
savages through the port-holes, upon whom he fired, not without
effect--one of their number, as it subsequently appeared, being severely
wounded. This disaster caused the Indians to retire. But Woodworth was
not satisfied. Collecting half a dozen kindred spirits, the next morning
he gave chase to the intruders, and after following their trail three
days, overtook them--they having halted to dress the wound of their
companion. The pursuers came so suddenly upon them, as to succeed in
despatching the whole number without allowing them time to offer
resistance. The little band returned to Johnstown in triumph; and their
leader was immediately commissioned a lieutenant in a regiment of nine
months men--in which service he had again an opportunity of showing his
prowess, as will be seen hereafter. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] Information from the Rev. John I. Shew, of Northampton, N. Y.,
residing near the place where the block-house stood.
It was at about the same time that a party of Tories and Indians made a
descent upon the small settlement at the Little Falls of the Mohawk, for
the purpose of destroying the mills erected at that place by Alexander
Ellis. This gentleman was a Scotch merchant, who, under the favor of Sir
William Johnson, had obtained a patent of the wild mountain gorge through
which the Mohawk leaps from the upper into the lower section of the
valley. He had himself returned to his own country; but his mills were
particularly important to the inhabitants, and also to the garrisons of
Forts Dayton and Herkimer--more especially since the burning of the mills
at the German Flats by Thayendanegea two years before. Hence the present
expedition for their destruction, which was easily accomplished--the
enemy having stolen upon the settlement unawares, and the flouring mill
being garrisoned by not more than a dozen men. Only a few shots were
exchanged, and but one man was killed--Daniel Petrie. As the Indians
entered the mill, the occupants endeavored to escape as fast as they
could--some leaping from the windows, and others endeavoring to conceal
themselves below. It was night, and two of the number, Cox and Skinner,
succeeded in ensconcing themselves in the race-way, beneath the
water-wheel--Skinner having previously made fight hand to hand, and been
wounded by a cut from a tomahawk. Two of their companions, Christian
Edick and Frederick Getman, leaped into the race-way above the mill, and
endeavored to conceal themselves by keeping as much under water as
possible. But the application of the torch to the mills soon revealed the
aquatic retreat, and they were taken. Not so with Cox and Skinner, who
survived the storm of battle, and the mingled elements of fire and water;
the showers of coals and burning brands being at once extinguished as
they fell around them, while the water-wheel served as an effectual
protection against the falling timbers. The enemy retired after
accomplishing their object, carrying away five or six prisoners. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] Conversations of the author with John Frank, Esq., of German Flats.
A few incidents of the more distant border operations of the opening
season will close the present chapter. The Shawanese and their immediate
allies continued to be exceedingly troublesome along the Ohio. Among the
single captives taken by them, by stratagem, early in the Spring, was a
man named Alexander McConnel, of the Kentucky settlers. He found his
captors, five in number, to be pleasant tempered and social, and he
succeeded in winning their confidence, by degrees, until they essentially
relaxed the rigors of his confinement at night. His determination was of
course to escape. At length his fastenings were so slight, that while
they were asleep he succeeded in the entire extrication of his limbs.
Still he dared not to fly, lest escape from so many pursuers should be
impracticable, and his life, should he be re-taken, would surely be
required in payment for the rash attempt. To strike them successively
with one of their own tomahawks would be impossible. His next plan was
cautiously to remove three of their loaded rifles to a place of
concealment, which should, nevertheless, be convenient for his own
purpose. Then placing the other two at rest upon a log, the muzzle of one
aimed at the head of one Indian, and the other at the heart of a second,
with both hands he discharged the rifles together, by which process two
of his enemies were killed outright. As the three others sprang up in
amazement, McConnel ran to the rifles which he had concealed. The work
was all but of a moment. Seizing another rifle, and bringing it in range
of two of the three remaining savages, both fell with the discharge, one
dead and the other wounded. The fifth took to his heels, with a yell of
horror which made the forest ring. Selecting the rifle which he liked
best, the subtle hunter pursued his way back at his pleasure.
On the 23d of June, Colonel Bird, at the head of five hundred Indians and
Canadians, or American refugees, with six pieces of light artillery, fell
upon the Kentucky settlement at the forks of the Licking river. Taken by
surprise, the inhabitants seem to have made little, if any, resistance.
Only one man was killed outright, and two women. All the others were
taken prisoners, the settlement plundered, and the inhabitants marched
off, bending beneath the weight of their own property for the benefit of
the spoiler. Those who sank under their burdens by the way, were
tomahawked. This outrage was promptly and severely avenged by Colonel
Clarke, commanding at the falls of the Ohio, who immediately led his
regiment into the heart of the Shawanese country--laying their principal
town on the Great Miami in ashes, and taking seventy scalps, with the
loss of only seventeen of his own men. [FN]
* * * * *
[FN] Adventures of Colonel Daniel Boon. The British account of Colonel
Bird's expedition, as published in New-York, stated that he destroyed
several small forts, and made a number of prisoners. "Most of the
inhabitants of these new settlements," it was added, "from the
extraordinary mild treatment of the Colonel, accompanied him, preferring
to settle in the countries under the King to those of the Congress.
Several of them have gone to Detroit, Niagara, &c."--_Vide Almon's
Remembrancer, Part II._ 1780, _page_ 347.