USA > New York > Livingston County > A history of Livingston County, New York : from its earliest traditions, to its part in the war for our Union : with an account of the Seneca nation of Indians, and biographical sketches of earliest settlers and prominent public men > Part 14
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
It is said that Sullivan's requisitions embraced many articles deemed extravagant by the Board of war. Among other things a large number of eggs were called for, while the quantity of rifle powder was greater, the board thought, than could in any event be necessary. It is certain that Congress received the requisitions with disfavor, and tardily granted orders for such supplies as by them were regarded essen- tial. All this tended to delay the movement, and give publicity to what it had been designed to keep secret. Washington meantime grew anxious, and urged that success depended upon celerity. The commissariat, even at last, was but illy supplied either in quantity or quality. On reaching Wyoming not a pound of salted meat remaining was fit to eat, and in other departments contractors had equally wronged the public service. Sullivan says that more than a third of his men were without a shirt to their backs. Many of the cattle furnished him were too poor to walk and some were even unable to stand. Of the fourteen hundred horses provided, full fifty were worn out and unable to travel further than a single day's march beyond the Chemung river, where they were abandoned and ordered shot. The Indians afterwards gathered the heads of these slaughtered animals and arranged them beside the trail. From this circum- stance the locality derived its present name of Horse- heads.
On the 11th of August the army arrived at Tioga. A mile above the junction of the Tioga and Susque- hanna rivers they approach each other to within a few rods. " Here a fort was built called Fort Sullivan, while the army, somewhat fatigued, lay on what might almost be called an island below," awaiting the arrival of Clinton's division. The water of the Sus- quehanna, through which the troops had to pass, was.
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up to their arm-pits, and to preserve the ammunition dry, they hung their cartouch-boxes upon their bayo- nets, carried high above their heads. From this point Sullivan detailed General Poor with a detach- ment of seven hundred men, to meet Clinton. The precaution proved a wise one, for, after traversing thirty miles or more of wilderness, the detail came upon a body of Indians lying in ambush beside a well-beaten trail at Round Hill, near Choconut creek, awaiting the coming of Clinton. The Indians were surprised, and being driven down the bank and dis- persed, the detachment moved on and soon after came up with Clinton's division. After a brief halt the latter's march southward was resumed.
The advent of Clinton's army into the region of Otsego lake with a well-appointed force, was an event so unexpected to the Indians and so formidable in character, that a wide-spread terror seized their fam- ilies and they fled in large numbers across the country, first, to near Newtown, and, after the battle of the latter place, to the homes of the Senecas on the Genesee, where, remote from white settlements, they fancied themselves secure, little suspecting the blow, now preparing through the agency of this very force, to fall upon those distant towns .*
* In 1860, Judge Avery, of Flint, Michigan, saw, on the Grand river, in Canada, a venerable squaw, (nearly a hundred years old,) of the Nanticoke tribe, named Way-way, who was born at Choconut, and resided near that place at the time Clinton's army was on its way to form a junction with Sullivan. She recollected perfectly the dismay occasioned by that event, and also the flight with her people to the Genesee to seek safety, and when driven from the Seneca villages along the latter river by Sullivan, the con- tinued flight with others, to Niagara. On the return of peace, Way-way and her mother, (she lost her father in the Newtown battle) came back with others, and settled near Owego, where they recovered their kettles and other valuables left buried when they fled westward. Judge Avery, to whom I am much indebted for facts, has used his interesting pen with marked suc- cess in rescuing many a fugitive leaf of early history from destruction.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
At ten o'clock on Sunday morning, the 22d of August. General Clinton appeared with his division, in two hundred and ten boats. Salvos of artillery announced their arrival. The light corps was drawn up, Colonel Proctor's music was advanced to the front, and, while drums were beating and fifes play- ing, the division floated past the light corps to the camp of the main army. The force, with this addition, now numbered about five thousand men.
Clinton's division, consisting of sixteen hundred mon, had come from the valley of the Mohawk by way of Otsego lake, and the easterly bank of the Susquehanna. As he neared Sullivan he despatched a small detachment under command of Lieutenant Boyd, whose untimely fate a few days later near Con- esus lake, gives a tragic coloring to the expedition's history, to announce his coming, which arrived at the general head-quarters in a soaking rain.
The baggage was now got ready for the march. Several tents were cut up and a considerable force was detailed for work through the day and night to make up this material into flour sacks convenient for trans- porting on horse-back.
Having attained a comparatively open country the line of march was arranged in the following order : Gen. Hand's brigade, in front, in eight columns ; Gen. Poor's brigade on the right, in eight columns, flanked by a strong body of light troops ; Gen. Max- well's brigade on the left in eight columns, flanked by light troops; Gen. Clinton's brigade, in eight col- umus, in the rear ; Col. Proctor's artillery in the centre, flanked on the right and left by double files of pack-horses, which separated his command from Poor's and Maxwell's brigades ; Major Parr, with the riflemen, disposed considerably in front of the whole, with orders to reconoitre all suspicious places previ-
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ous to the arrival of the army. Colonel Cortland's regiment was added to Clinton's division, Olden's to Poor's brigade, and Butler's regiment and Major Parr's corps to Hand's brigade.
On the 26th of August the signal-gun was fired, and the whole army took up its line of march. A great and unknown wilderness-formidable obstacles to the movement of an army-spread before them. Un- bridged creeks and rivers were to be forded, mountain defiles to be threaded, and morasses to be crossed. The maps of the country were full of errors, while the guides, even the best that could be procured, were so little acquainted with the route that they "could not conduct a party out of the Indian path by day nor in it by night." General Hand had been informed that the region between the Chemung river and the Gen- esee, was in great part particularly low, wet, and swampy, and could be travelled only with difficulty, and so informed Washington in March, yet nothing, as we know, could well be further from the truth. A wily foe, perfectly familiar with every pass, and at home on every trail, hovered always upon their flanks. Pioneers moved invariably in advance, and riflemen were disposed in front to reconnoitre suspicious places, and thus to prevent surprise. But while these precautions were taken to guard against disaster, con- fidence and good nature prevailed throughout the ranks, and neither officers nor men were unmindful of the demands of the palate. Besides the usual sup- plies, the Commander carried dried tongues and other articles of like character ; and a number of live cattle were driven along to supply them with fresh meat. The general officers were entertained at Sullivan's table, where, with characteristic freedom, he criticised the Congress, and particularly the Board of war. This impolitic course, though evincing independence,
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was cause of much after controversy and personal embroilment.
Six light brass field-pieces and two howitzers were carried by the artillery. The morning and evening guns were always fired, even in the deepest recesses of the forest ; and much as Sullivan was criticised, even on the floor of Congress, for thus notifying the Indians of his progress and whereabouts, he never justified his course as he might have done, by quoting his orders from the Commander-in-chief himself. These orders, in the handwriting of Hamilton, and bearing Washington's autograph signature are still in existence.
Sullivan was familiar with Indian warfare, and was well aware of the terror which the discharge of cannon occasioned in the Indian mind. The peace of New England had in a measure been preserved by provid- ing a " big gun" for exposed settlements. to be now and then fired from the little garrison house. Indeed, the shaking of a linstock by a woman over an unload- ed cannon, proved enough on a notable occasion to hold at bay a band of savages. As the expedition was no longer a secret he determined to make the most of this feeling of dread on the part of the red- man. In his special orders of the 31st of May, Washington said, "the immediate objects (of the expedition ) are the total destruction and devastation of their settlements and the capture of as many prisoners of every age and sex as possible." Wash- ington had hoped to keep the route of the army a secret, but the fact had transpired, hence, as the natives, oneumbered by little or no baggage, and familiar with the country. could easily keep out of the way of an army whose progress at best must be necessarily slow, it at once became clear that his attention must be confined to the principal object, that
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of destruction to their settlements, since he could take no prisoners, and even if he had been able to do so, no suitable provisions could be made for their support or transportation. The morning and evening guns afforded little information as to the army's whereabouts, for the Indian runners were constantly watching its progress and reporting its movements to the retreating chieftains.
Washington was well aware of the effect of dash and clamor, and he particularly suggested that when going to attack the Indians, "it should be done with as much impetuosity, shouting, and noise as possi- ble," and that it should be "impressed upon the minds of the men whenever they have an opportu- nity, to rush on with the war-whoop and fixed bayonet. Nothing will disconcert and terrify the Indians more than this."
On Sunday, the 29th of August, the expedition arrived at Newtown, near the present city of Elmira. The Indians and Tories, one thousand strong, under the Butlers and Brant, were here found entrenched behind well constructed earth-works, a short distance below the modern city, at a point wisely chosen for defence. Sullivan at once began to engage them, by opening his field-pieces upon their defences-mean- time detaching General Hand's light troops to the left and Poor to the right around the mountain, the latter to fall upon their left flank, and thus cut off their retreat in that direction. Poor was obliged, however, to march over a mile in full view of the enemy, who readily penetrated his design. They observed, too, that when he opened signal fire other movements were making to surround them ; and see- ing that opposition was useless, they delayed no longer, but sounding the wild retreating whoop, at once quitted their works and betook themselves to
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precipitate flight, the artillery's well-directed cannon- ade serving, meantime, to quicken their motions. The engagement lasted two hours. Sullivan had seven men killed and about thirty wounded. The enemy suffered more seriously, and were pushed so closely that in their retreat Walter Butler's commis- sion, and the warrant of another tory officer, together with several orderly books, fell into our hands. The defeat proved decisive. The leaders could not, during the whole progress of the expedition, again bring the savages face to face with the army marching to invade their homes, and though ever on the watch to embar- rass its movements and to strike a stealthy blow, they were obliged constantly to retreat,-slowly and sul- lenly,-before the steadily advancing expedition.
After the war, Brant told General Peter B. Porter, that Red Jacket, whose great influence was first fully exerted in connection with this expedition, sought to perplex the Indians by holding private councils with the young chiefs, and more timid sachems, to induce them to sue for peace, even on humiliating terms. Colonel Stone says, that at one time Red Jacket so far succeeded in his plan as to send secretly a runner into Sullivan's camp to make known the divisions existing among the Indians, and to advise the General to dispatch a flag of truce with certain propositions calculated to increase these divisions and to secure a peace dishonorable to them. Brant was privately informed of these proceedings, but fearful to disclose them, detailed two confidential warriors to waylay and kill the bearer of the flag of truce before he should reach the Indian camp.
The little Indian village of Newtown was laid in ashes, and the surrounding crops of corn and beans were also destroyed. From this point, on the night succeeding the battle, General Sullivan sent back to
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Pennsylvania his heavy artillery, retaining only four brass three pounders, and a small howitzer. Having loaded the necessary ammunition on horse-back, and being otherwise ready, the army resumed the march early next morning for Catherine's Town, the home of the half-blood Queen Catherine Montour, which lay on a creek about three miles from Seneca lake, encamping at night-fall within thirteen miles of that village. The next day a road was opened for the artillery, through a hemlock swamp, nine miles in extent. Over, this, as well as through several danger- ous defiles, the army was now to pass. It had also to ford a swift running river which in many places was considerably broad and waist deep, while its course was so serpentine that it had to be crossed seven or eight times in the day's march. Sullivan was cautioned by his scouts against entering the swamp until daylight, and Clinton, who brought up the rear and was much fatigued, on reaching its entrance at night-fall, was so strongly assured that the lives of his horses and cattle, if not of his men, would be risked if he tried to go through before morning, that he did not attempt the task till the next day. Sullivan, however, pressed on, determined to cross that night. Flanking parties were accordingly sent forward, and other precautions taken against surprise ; but such was the boldness of the hills and so narrow were the defiles, that a score or two of Indians might easily have obstructed the progress of the troops and thrown the army into confusion. The night was intensely dark, and as the men slowly groped their way, often sinking deep in the treacher- ous ground, they became weary and scattered, and not a few lay down here and there on the pathway for the night, unable to go farther. The situation was one of no little peril ; but fully alive to its demands
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the General encouraged his army forward, and by midnight had the satisfaction of reaching the already deserted town. The Indian scouts had keenly watched the army until evening, but having no thought that they would continue the march in a night so dark, over a route presenting so many difficulties, and to so late an hour, they made their way to the town at dusk where, roasting their corn, they passed the evening in busily planning for the next day, while the resolute commander of the invading forces was pushing forward his troops, amid difficulties whose daring character, singularly enough, secured him from the dangers, incident to the movement. Such a stroke was characteristic of Sullivan. Washington, well aware of his intrepidity and dauntless courage, had selected him as chief officer of the expedition, which involved risks like this, risks for which he had a relish. Though when the troops had safely accomp- lished that night's march, Sullivan, it is said, declared he would not repeat it for the honor of a command. Several of the cattle had been killed, and a number of pack horses lost in the mazes of the swamp. The men, however, all arrived safely, those who had drop- ped out coming in with Clinton in the morning. The army halted here until the second day to rest from the unusual fatigues. Catherine's Town, it was found, consisted of thirty houses, several of which were quite good. These were destroyed together with the orchards and growing crops of corn, beans and other vegetables.
An incident here occurred which proves the absence of personal hatred on the part of the army, however ready they were to destroy the towns and crops of the Indians, as a military necessity. An old Cayuga squaw, of great age, had been left in Catherine's Town by the Indians, in their precipitate flight, and was
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found in the neighboring woods. The soldiers at once provided for her present wants, and treated her with kindness during their stay. Before leaving, the town having meanwhile been burnt, they erected a hut for the old woman, and gathered a quantity of wood for her use. They also left her a supply of provisions, which she was found using on the army's return. Such unexpected usage, drew grateful tears from her venerable eyes, and made her quite communicative. She assured the officers that the squaws generally were anxious for the Indians to remain in their vil- lages, and make peace with the Yankees.
On the 30th of August, Sullivan addressed an order to the army in which, reflecting severely on the colonial authorities for neglect in furnishing supplies of food and horses, he requested the officers to ascer- tain if the troops were willing to draw half rations of flour, meat and salt, until the leading purpose of the expedition should be accomplished. The necessity of this measure, so essential to success, since the supplies, never sufficient in quantity, were now much reduced by loss in various ways, was fully appreciated, and the suggestion was received with cheers by the whole army, resolved as they were to execute the orders of Congress for the devastation of the Indian country at any personal sacrifice. But they really suffered noth- ing from hunger, since vegetables, common to the country through which they were passing, were found in profusion, and their wants were thus supplied from day to day by the several localities. Hominy or paune, made from corn, the camp-kettles serving as graters, was especially palatable, but caused bowel complaints to such an extent that its use was discontin- ued for a time. On the 8th of September, a captain and fifty men were detached with all the sick and lame, and ordered to return to the garrison at Tioga.
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The work of destruction to Indian property was pursued relentlessly, and desolation marked the army's route. Grains and crops were destroyed. Orchards of apple, pear and peach trees, raised in most instances from the seeds and stones, under advice of the Jesuit missionaries, met the fate common to other species of property. In one place fifteen hun- dred peach trees, bending under the ripened fruit, were cut down. This is much to be regretted. Indeed, the Indians themselves, in their incursions upon the white settlements, were in the habit of sparing fruit trees, the growth of many years ; and some of the officers desired Sullivan to mitigate his orders in this regard, but his instructions from Washington were specific and he insisted that they should be literally carried out. This was effectually done. "The blow must be sure and fatal," said Sullivan, "otherwise the Indians will derive confidence from our ineffectual attempts and become more insolent than before."
Washington's specific orders were thus stated : "The immediate objects (of the expedition) are the total destruction and devastation of their settlements. It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the ground and prevent their planting more. * I would recommend that some post in the centre of the Indian country should be occupied with all expe- dition with a sufficient quantity of provisions, whence parties should be detached to lay waste all the settlements around, with instructions to do it in the most effectual manner, that the country may not be merely overrun but destroyed. ** After you have thoroughly completed the destruction of their settlements, if the Indians show a disposition for peace, I would have you encourage it. * * But you will not by any means listen to overtures of peace
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before the total destruction of their settlements is effected."
Between Cayuga and Seneca lakes the enemy fled so suddenly before the army that the advance guard occasionally found kettles of corn boiling over the fire. At the Indian village of Kanadaseago, just west of Geneva, a fine white child, about three years old was discovered by the army. It was entirely alone, nearly famished and quite naked, the only article on its person being a string of glass beads about its neck. When first seen it was playing at the door of a hut with a number of small sticks. On being spoken to it replied "Sago," ("How are you ?") and used a few other Indian words. It evidently was of Dutch par- entage, and probably had been captured the year before, on the Pennsylvania border .* A number of deer and bear skins were also found at the place, showing that the enemy had quit in haste.
On the morning of Saturday, the 11th of September, the army resumed its march at six o'clock, moving for a mile, through a thicket and swamp, before the main path was gained. The infantry, owing to this cause, was considerably dispersed, and the movement forward was thus delayed. After marching three
Gen. Sullivan took no small interest in the little fellow's welfare during the return march. It was placed in a rough pannier or basket across a horse, balanced by an equal weight of baggage on the opposite side. On one occasion in crossing a stream, much swollen by a storm, the water was freely spattered over it. Observing this, Sullivan rode up, and taking out his handkerchief carefully dried the child's face. Captain Machin, of the Engineer party, became the child's godfather, and had it christened Thomas Machin. An excellent milch cow, which accompanied the expedition from first to last, and which on the return of the army to Tioga point, was care- fully returned with the officer's horses to Wyoming, afforded nourishment for the little stranger. After the return of the army the child was taken to Major Logan's house at New Windsor, near Newburgh, where it soon caught the small-pox and died. Its birth-place, and parentage romain, alike unknown.
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miles, the foremost ranks reached a spot of rising ground. The rich country through which they were about to pass could be seen stretching for miles to the westward-a broken forest, mainly of oak and hick- ory, with intervals of broken fields covered here and
there with remarkably high wild grass At one o'clock they descended to a beautiful valley, and, after a march of thirteen hours, encamped at Honeoye, an Indian town, situated on a fine plain, half a mile from the lake. This consisted of twelve houses of hewn logs. Around it were several large cornfields, and orchards of apples and other fruit trees. There was left at this point a garrison of fifty men, under Captain Cumming, of the Second Jersey Regiment, together with such soldiers as were not able to march. The garrison was directed to remain at this temporary post, and guard, until the army's return, the extra stores of ammunition and flour which otherwise would encumber the movement forward, now to become more active. Captain Cumming at once set about erecting a small fort at Honeoye, the works consisting of bags of flour with abatis of apple-trees. A three-pounder field-piece, and some of Colonel Proctor's artillery, were also left here, and were duly disposed within the works.
At Honeoye, Sullivan was informed by two prison- ers that the Indians, a few rangers, and some British soldiers, had labored diligently during the previous season about the Genesee river, in planting crops to serve for their support while they were marauding along the frontier. These men had acted under the immediate orders of Walter Butler, who had passed several months of the summer along the Genesee, making his head-quarters at the cabin of Mary Jemi- son, the White Woman. Here he was supplied with port wine by the barrel, and amused his leisure hours
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in fishing and hunting. The information communi- cated to the army gave additional stimulus, and de- termined men and officers alike to make clean work when they should reach the richer planting grounds near the river.
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