USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. I > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
Toward the terror-stricken victims Who stood helpless from alarm.
As he neared the lofty summit, Quickly turned he toward the south,
Gliding in a circle round them, Till his tail had joined his mouth,
Forming thus a wall about them, Covered o'er with scales and slime,
Through which there appeared no gateway, Over which they could not climb. At last the people saw their danger And rousing from their dream-like trance,
Rushed- into their tents and quickly Armed themselves with spear and lance.
With a loud and ringing war-whoop Then they fell with deadly strife On the scaly wall around them, Fighting for their very life.
But, alas! their weak frail weapons Bounded from his scaly form
f -
Like the raindrops from the house roof In a heavy thunder storm.
-
All in vain was every effort, Hope was turned to deep despair,
Men and women in confusion Raged and shrieked and tore their hair.
Time and time again they vainly, Frantic dashed against the coils
Which were slowly closing round them With their grim and deadly toils. Ever smaller grew the circle, Nearer came that loathsome mass,
While the people crowd together, Struggling till the very last. Now the walls are close about them, Death confronts them face to face, Shriek on shriek goes wildly upward, As they feel his cold embrace.
Closer yet, and struggling, moaning, Help imploring o'er and o'er ;
Closer yet, and gasping, groaning, Stagger, sink and rise no more. All is over, all is quiet, Death has thrown its sahle shroud
'Round the spot where just a moment Since there lived a happy crowd. One fell stroke! and all this people Blotted from the face of earth! In a moment death and sorrow, Where was gladness, joy and mirth! Did we say this mighty people ALL were gone beyond the vale ? No, thank God; there yet remaineth Two who live to tell the tale. Melikeewahn and Keuna, A youth and maiden who had ran To a small cave lying near them
37
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
When the struggling first began. Now they stood all trembling, fearing, Closely linked in wild embrace, Gazing on the scene around them -. Sole survivors of the race. As they gazed in silent sorrow O'er their hearts came fast and strong
A wave of fierce and burning longing To revenge the awful wrong. "Melikeewahn," said Keuna, "Let us to Sun God pray,
Surely he who guards and saves us, To revenge will show some way."
So they kneeled with hands uplifted, And from hearts o'er filled with woe, Pray for guidance and direction To revenge the cruel blow.
Even while they yet are kneeling, And their tale of woe proclaim,
As if borne on angel pinions, Quickly back the answer came: "Rise, my children, hark and listen What is given you to know,
How you may avenge your people And kill the monster at one blow.
When his head with staring eyeballs Comes between thee and the sky, Take the arrow from thy quiver, Aim and shoot him in the eye."
So they waited till the serpent Showed his head above the spot,
1
Then with quick, unerring eyesight Melikeewahn aimed and shot. Forward on its deadly mission, Swift the fatal arrow sped,
Reached its mark and piercing through it Hung there quivering in his head.
First a slight and gentle tremor Of the earth was felt around,
Then a wild convulsive throbbing As the monster lashcd the ground.
Then with threshing, writhing, twisting, As the death dart pierced his frame,
Rolled he back with mighty splashing To the lake from whence he came. Thus it was that Melikeewahn By the Sun God's aid and power Took revenge and killed the serpent For the murder of that hour. (And 'tis said the mighty Senecas
To these two their source retrace As the founders of their nation And the fountain of their race.)
And here upon that lofty hill top, Where the awful deed was done, Lies that bare spot bleak and lonely Where the grass has never grown.
We have thus briefly traced some of the leading features of Indian tradition bearing on this locality and the surrounding and adjoining territory; the incidents and narratives of historic in-" terest, the domains of tradition or fancy are not bounded by or confined to county or municipal lines. Neutral or inaccessible lo- calities, made interesting and fertile fields for research and in-
.38
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
vestigation, by reason of stirring events and deeds of heroism, bravery and fidelity, are not the exclusive product of any locality bounded by the lines of the surveyor or cartographer. The battle of Bennington is now generally admitted to have been fought within the limits of the state of New York, and not in the state of Vermont. No true history of that important and far-reaching engagement can be written by excluding the events of either state, connected with or resulting from that event.
Our knowledge of the aborigine is still in part dependent upon tradition or conjecture only. But from stray threads of fact and story, consistent theories have been woven, while research among tumuli and other traces of Indian occupancy, and the every busy study of still living representatives of this strange peo- ple, serve to make their character better known, besides affording light upon their origin.
Quitting the domain of tradition, we shall find the veritable history of this region extends only about three hundred years in- to the gulf of the past. In 1614 the Dutch founded a trading post on an island in the Hudson river immediately below the present site of Albany. Here. they speedily acquired a thorough knowl- edge of the then Five Nations, and for about fifty years the most friendly relation uninterruptedly prevailed between the two races. Thereafter the English succeeded to and acquired both the ter- ritory and this good understanding, and with singular fidelity this covenant chain was mutually preserved and brightened for more than one hundred years, to the opening of the Revolution; a fact that was potent and went a great way towards predisposing the Iroquois to take the English side in that struggle; . as we found, and now well know, they did with most bloody and terrible effect, making the character of the Redman abhorrent and chilling to every American. Those barbarities and massacres have made the char- acters of the Senecas and their British instigators and allies for- ever infamous. It must be conceded that the Indian had a griev- ance for their cruelties in the Wyoming valley, because of the dishonesty of the transaction by which they had been, as they believed, cheated out of the beautiful valley of the Susquehanna at Wyoming by people of Connecticut, who were adherents of the colonists in the struggle for Independence. The Indians believed in the English, whose friendship and aid they had enjoyed for more than one hundred years, and were ready to serve in any incursion they were incited to undertake. The British ministry hoped by these murderous expeditions to terrify and alienate the Colonials from further aid, and also to draw away from the Amer- ican forces along the Hudson river, and thereby render the Hud- son valley incapable of successfully resisting an invasion; and, if successful, separate the New England states from the other states, and so end the contest. This, from the commencement of the war, had been the hope and object of the English statesmen and mili- tary commanders; but it was never to be realized.
: The inhabitants of New York and Pennsylvania called aloud for protection. The entire United States demanded the subjection or extinction of these offending Indians and their allies, the Tor- ies. The latter were most to be dreaded by the patriotic inhabi- tants, because they- resided among them, knew of their vulnerable
39
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
and undefended localities; who were the best objects of plunder, rapine and murder; and in many instances advised, encouraged and incited unprovoked attacks to avenge some real or fancied in- jury, personal to themselves.
WYOMING AVENGED AT NEWTOWN.
The land of the Senecas was the plague-spot to be wiped out, or cleaned out. It was a rich region, its fertile soil supplying without much physical effort all the sustenance necessary without recourse to the chase or to plunder. So insistent became the call. for protection, and the cry for vengeance, that congress resolved to act. The western expedition was ordered and organized and the command given to General John Sullivan in the spring of 1779. It did not at first meet with the approval of Washington, whose policy of warfare was wholly defensive and on the Fabian plan-the policy pursued by the Roman commander who gave the name to history in the campaign of Hannibal against Rome. Afterwards, Washington gave his assent. By its influence upon the settlement of this whole region, it gives the event the impor- tance of an epoch in our local history. While, therefore, the general features may properly be claimed, the details of the op- eration and results of the campaign belong to the entire territory between the Genesee river and Cayuga lake, not to any particular county. The valley of the Cohocton river is, with the exception of an inconsiderable portage, a continuation of that of the Gene- see river. It is not a far cry from Bath to Genesee, from Corning to Avon, from Painted Post to Canawaugus; nor from Ken-is-tio to Little Beard's Town. The steam shuttle now daily and hourly plies between these places, weaving the woof of life in the web of human existence. No history of one part of this contiguous ter- ritory can be written to the exclusion of events occurring in the other. What is now Steuben county, was not the theater of active events, save the incursions of scouting, exploring and foraging parties, connected with the invasion and the defense of this region. In later and modern times it has been politically and socially con- nected and related. It has ever been a part of the Seventh Indian district; erstwhile it was the same congressional district; now the counties of Livingston and Steuben form the Forty-third senatorial district of the state of New York.
It was the latter part of June, 1779, when General Sullivan established his headquarters at Wyoming, where a month was passed with his preparations for the march. This place had been a prosperous village, but was now a desolate waste. The crumbling ruins as well as scores of bereaved widows and orphaned children, which the soldiers found here, told the story of the fatal blow which the savages had struck the year before, which they were now preparing to avenge.
. Much embarrassment was felt by the delay in filling the com- mander's requisitions and furnishing the quotas of men promised him. The impoverished condition of the public treasury was partly responsible for this. The dishonesty and inefficiency of contractors and commissaries added to the delays and difficulties. Other causes were at work, however, which not only delayed the expedition, but seriously threatened its inception and success.
40
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
Pennsylvania had been relied upon to furnish the bulk of the supplies, as well as most of the volunteers for the independent companies. Yet, from the beginning, the people of that state failed to give the project their warm support and encouragement. The Quakers were opposed to any chastisement of the Indians; they advocated mild and conciliatory actions. Another party of the men of that commonwealth were offended because a New England man had been selected to command the expedition, in- stead of a Pennsylvanian. Still others who owned grants cover- ing the Wyoming valley, which had involved them in heated and expensive controversies and litigation with the Connecticut set- tlers of that place, whom they regarded as only squatters on their lands, were rejoiced that the Indians had visited the settlement, asserted their claims, and openly and publicly declared that the fate of the settlers was richly deserved, and instead of being punished, the Indians should be rewarded. These persons dis- couraged the expedition, and secretly threw every obstacle in its way that was in their power, or had the courage to do. Another cause contributed to the difficulties which had to be met at the outset. Congress had laid an embargo on flour, which had reduced its price. Pennsylvania, being a large exporter of this commodity, found her income seriously affected, and demanded the embargo should be removed, threatening with the assertion that she would hesitate to sell any flour until the embargo was removed and her demands complied with. Not satisfied with secret opposition, these malcontents carried their animosity to the doors of congress, and that body, by reason of these clamors, hesitated to act promptly. The supplies were tardily and reluctantly granted; were inferior in quantity and quality, and much less than the needs of the army demanded.
Preparations for the undertaking having been completed, Gen- eral Sullivan, on the 31st of July, 1779, began his difficult march to Tioga, eighty miles distant, where he was to be joined by General Clinton's brigade, at the junction of the Chemung and Susquehanna rivers. Clinton's force was organized in the eastern part of the state of New York; assembled at Canajoharie, Mont- gomery county, and thence proceeded to the head of Otsego lake. On the first of July, he had at that place his entire force of 1,200 men. Boats numbering 210 were built at Schenectady and sent up the Mohawk river to Canajoharie, where they were trans- ported overland to the head of Otsego lake. Here Clinton's entire force embarked on the lake, and having reached its foot, the boats passed through the narrow outlet which forms the east bank of the Susquehanna. There he built a dam across the foot of the lake, with the design of raising the water, and when this had been done, to tear away the dam and float his boats down the stream on the flood. Because of the delay in furnishing supplies to Sullivan's army at Wyoming, Clinton was held at Otsego lake until the second week of August, to his great vexation and im- patience. On the 9th of August, 1779, orders came to move for- ward; the dam at the foot of the lake was torn away, and the boats glided swiftly down on the swollen current. The same course was pursued during the war of 1861. Gen. N. P. Banks, in an expedition up the Red River in Louisiana, was supported
41
1
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
by a flotilla of gunboats. By reason of low water, occasioned by an unexpected drouth, the gunboats were stranded on the numerous bars and could not descend the river. Colonel Bailey, in com- mand of a New York regiment largely made up of Susquehanna river raftsmen, was in the expedition and conceived the raftsman plan in such a dilemma. With the approval of General Banks he dammed the river above the shoals; then suddenly tearing it away, released the accumulated water and the gunboats went down the river with the swollen tide to a place of safety, and were saved from the Confederates who had adroitly drawn the in- vaders into the situation.
At noon, on August 22, 1779, Clinton joined Sullivan at the meeting of the rivers. The combined forces now moved up the Chemung river, and on the 29th of August found the enemy strongly located on a hill, in the town of Ashland, five miles be- low the city of Elmira, New York. The attack was made by the Americans with vigor, the Indians, Tories and British regulars obstinately defending their position with skill, determination and bravery. The invaders were supplied with light pieces of artil- lery, with which they threw grapeshot and shells among the In- dians. This was their first real experience of an assault with grapeshot and bursting shells and they raised the peculiar yell (the signal for a retreat), abandoned their position, and they precipitately fled down the hill, through the Indian village of Newtown, leaving many of their packs and arms and quite a num- ber of their dcad. This showed their haste and disorder in re- treat, as they were always careful to prevent the bodies of their slain in battle from falling into the hands of the enemy. The conflict lasted six hours.
Careful investigation shows that the enemy must have had at least eight hundred Indians, commanded by Brant, the Mohawk chieftain, and also three hundred rangers and regular troops. Colonel Butler had with him his regiment of rangers. Sir John Johnson was there with the "Johnson Greens." McDonald com- manded a force of British regulars. Guy Johnson and Captain Walter Butler were also there. It is not unreasonable to assert that the enemy were twelve hundred strong, behind their breast- works, not considering the Indians, who were located outside in the woods for the purpose of picking off from their coverts the men guarding the camps, animals and supplies.
The Indians, by the result of this battle, were disheartened. They now perceived the falsity of the representations of the British and Tories. Now that it dawned upon them that their homes were in danger they hastened to save them, with yells not of triumph but defeat, despair and mourning; their confidence de- stroyed, with no refuge but in flight for their homes.
The battle at Newtown proved the decisive engagement of the campaign, and made the further progress of the army compara -. tively an easy march. Had it resulted in defeat to the invading force, it is difficult to measure the degree of misfortune that would have resulted to the cause of the colonies.
Without further considering the victory of that day in detail, it assured the success of the campaign, and the influence of that success subsequently directed the march of civilization towards and
42
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
into the rich country of all western New York. Therefore it may be assumed confidently that the battle at Newtown was one of the most important and far-reaching engagements of the Revolutionary war, and as worthy of commemoration as Bunker Hill, Oriskany or Bennington.
RAID CONTINUED INTO SENECA-LAND.
On the morning of the last day of August, 1779, the army broke camp and moved up the Chemung river, to the present loca- tion of the city of Elmira; whence, the next day, a detachment under Colonel Dayton, was sent further up the river about fifteen miles, destroying on the march many large and ripened fields of corn. They encamped for the night at a recently abandoned In- dian village, consisting of several log houses, better than the or- dinary Indian huts. Several canoes were seen as they approached moving up the river and away. The Americans gave pursuit, firing several volleys after the fugitives, but with distance and darkness they were lost sight of. At this deserted village, the pursuers destroyed the houses and crops. Several feather beds ยท were found in the deserted houses. A number of chests containing household utensils not before found in an Indian village were here buried, probably stolen from murdered or captured white settlers. All were destroyed, with the bountiful fields of corn. This same valley, under civilized cultivation, is nowhere surpassed in this state; yielding crops of tobacco for successive years unsur- passed in quantity and quality by any locality in this country. This destroyed village was on the north side of the Chemung river, several miles above Big Flatts. It was called Runonver, and was within the limits of the town of Corning, Steuben county.
The next day this detachment joined the main army in camp near the present village of Horseheads. Here General Sullivan was compelled to order the shooting of fifty of his horses, which were unable to proceed farther. Afterwards the Indians arranged the heads of these horses beside the trail in fantastic positions, and the place acquired the name of Horseheads, and is now known by that name. Sullivan resumed his march to the northward on the east side of Seneca lake. On the second of September Clin- ton's brigade joined the main army at Catherine's Town, now the site of Montour Falls, Schuyler county. This was the home of the famous Catherine Montour, sometime "Queen Catherine," heretofore and herein mentioned.
The foot of Seneca lake was reached on the seventh of Sep- tember, 1779, after a tiresome march of more than forty miles from Catherine's Town. Frequent detours were made for the purpose of destroying Indian villages, crops and fruit trees of large size, loaded down with fruit of the choicest quality, and capturing and dispersing demoralized and frightened Indian bands. Many places showed a high degree of Indian civilization. At the present site of Lodi Landing, in the town of Romulus, Seneca county, was found a town of about twenty houses, neatly built and finished, situated about half a mile from the lake. This place was known as Appletown to the early settlers. The tombs found here, especially of the warriors, were beautifully painted boxes built over the graves, made of planks hewn from the timber. A
43
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
great many apple trees were growing in the vicinity, some of them of great age, showing that the place and vicinity had long been peopled by the Indians.
At the northeast corner of Seneca lake, a small Indian town, well built, was found and destroyed. Beyond this a short dis- tance was Kan-a-de-saga, or Seneca Castle, of which much had been heard by the soldiers, and a strong desire was felt to sur- prise and capture it, before the Indians should discover their ap- proach. Situated on the Great Trail leading from Albany to Niagara, it was frequently visited not only by Indians of the neighboring villages and tribes of the surrounding country, but by the Butlers, Brant and other Tory leaders, and often was the resting place of predatory bands on their way to, or returning from the ill-fated settlements. Here Brant and the Butlers halted to divide the prisoners and spoils of the Cherry valley and other massacres, and many a prisoner had within its bounds experienced the most excruciating torture which savage ingenuity could devise, or ferocious hatred and unappeased anger could in- flict. Kan-a-de-saga was situated on the present castle road, two miles west of the present flourishing city of Geneva, Ontario county, New York. As Sullivan approached the town, he sent one brigade to the right and another to the left, through the woods, while the main army advanced in front, intending to sur- round it and cut off the Indians from any means of escapc.
They had, however, already escaped, and the town and castle were entirely deserted, except by a male white child, about three years old, which was found by the soldiers, playing in front of one of the dwellings. This child was evidently of Dutch parentage, and had probably been captured on the Pennsylvania border. It could only speak a few Indian words. When found it was en- tirely naked, and nearly starved. General Sullivan took great interest in the little captive. He caused it to be placed in a pan- nier or basket, strapped on a pack horse and in this conveyance it remained with the army until its return to Wyoming. Captain Machin had the little fellow christened Thomas Machin. Its sus- tenance was derived from an excellent cow, which shared all the vicissitudes of the campaign, and returned safely to Wyoming. The child was taken to New Windsor near Newburg, at the end of the campaign, where it soon after sickened and died of small- pox. No trace of or clue to its identity was ever discovered.
The town was found to consist of fifty houses, and in the vicinity were extensive apple and peach orchards, loaded with ripening fruit, all of which were cut down and destroyed. In the center of the town was a stockade or fort, built by Sir William Johnson in 1756, which had long been disused and had gone to decay and ruin. The soldiers found in the houses many skins and Indian trinkets; large quantity of corn, but recently gathered, which the hasty flight of the Indians had caused them to aban- don. Very large fields of corn, potatoes, squashes and melons and a considerable quantity of hay in stacks were found, which were destroyed and burned; also several horses and cows were found here, all showing that these Indians were agriculturists of no mean skill, intelligence and industry.
On September 10th the invading army moved west, after a
44
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
detachment of riflemen of about two hundred had been sent up the west side of Seneca lake to destroy an Indian village of about twenty houses and all the crops and orchards thereabouts grow- ing, about seven miles from Geneva, near the site of Earl's station. This plan was all carried out and the detachment joined the main body of the army at the fort of Canandaigua lake. Here was found an Indian village of about twenty-five houses, which Sul- livan says were very elegant, mostly frames, and in general large, having the appearance of having been inhabited by white peo- ple, as some of the houses had very neat chimneys, while those of the Indians have not. After destroying this place completely and many fields of corn and orchards, the army encamped. Here it was joined by the detachment sent out to destroy the village on the west side of Seneca lake and the crops and orchards, hav- ing been employed nearly two days in this business.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.