USA > New York > Livingston County > Nunda > Centennial history of the town of Nunda : with a preliminary recital of the winning of western New York, from the fort builders age to the last conquest by our Revolutionary forefathers > Part 4
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gates and never slumbered or slept till the great pre-historic nations that included ume that the Jesuits called "foreigners" and who still fought from a fort unlike other savages, who were giants in size, glorious in physique, valorous in battle, but greatest in peace, when for centuries they were arbiters in peace but who figura- tely "took up the sword" and "perished by the sword." They fought unto death the Senecas and met the fate of all the red race who fought with the Nunda-wah-o- 1 ... Some hundred or more captive youth were spared that the future nation might be in size what they were in valor. Some of these were brought to Nunda-o, among them the ancestor of Kenjockety.
By comparing Indian tradition with the authentic records of the Jesuits we find that Shoupowana's death occurred in 1640 and the treaty by the Queen must have lasted unbroken for a number of years, that the territory bordering on the lake was given over to eighteen mile creek and this greatest concession resulted in a temporary peace. Its end is eleven years after in 1851 as has already been de- scribed. The great size of these Kah Kwa warriors was an inducement to spare a large number of their youth and merge them with the Senecas that the next gen- cration might be alike strong and valient.
CHAPTER VII.
THE ERIES: THE MASSAWOMEKES . ( PROBABLY ) OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY ANNIHILATED BY THE IROQUOIS.
T HE Jesuits give very little information concerning the Eries except to locate them south of Lake Erie, and because they wore the skins of an animal of the feline order called them the Cat Nation. They could not, however, induce them to accept their religion and hence they have little to say of them.
Ilowever friendly the Senecas and the Eries were when they were on oppo- : ite sides of the Gen-nis-he-yo. immediately after the subjugation and destruction vi the Neutrals, these new neighbors, now the "House of Peace," was removed. became rancorous enemies. So nearly equal were they in numbers and prowess that war between them would result in great losses even to the winners. The cause of their quarrel does not appear but probably boundary lines were unsatis- factory or the Eries had shown a preference for some of their western enemies. A bloody war broke out between them that was fought to a finish, neither nation a king for or granting favor or mercy. The duration of their contentions or the time of their beginning has not been stated for Indian statement always lacks defi- niteness. It is, however, conceded that it commenced about the year 1653 and terminated in 1655. As this is only ten years after the subduing by the Senecas vi the Neutrals some have supposed the two nations were identical but the Jesuits are good anthority for their unlikeness in several particulars, size. dress, and the friendliness to religion of the Kah Kwas, except in one village (called by them foreigners), and the utter hostility to their religious teachings on the part of the Fries. The final battle between these valorous foes was said to have taken place sear a great bend in the Genesee River. These bends are so numerous and In- dian traditions are so unreliable that only some skilled Indianologist may yet dis- cover the spot.
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A
According to southern writers we have this statement: "The Senecas have a tradition that the scene of the final conflict was at a bend in the Genesee River on ground afterward contained in the Cancadea Reservation, in the present County of Allegany. In the history of Cattaraugus County is found a more definite state- ment. "Here the doomed Eries mustered all their force to the last warrior for they well understood that the result would be victory or annihilation. Against them were arrayed 5.000 Iroquois braves of whom 1,000 were held in reserve and in concealment. The Eries were the first to assault and they did so with a fury which drove the confederates from their position ; but they soon rallied and hurled the Eries back in the greatest disorder. And so with the alternate charge and recoil of each the tide of battle ebbed and flowed seven times across the red field, which was thickly strewn with the wounded warriors of Seneca and Erie, grapling at each other's scalp locks even in the agonies of death. At last by a well feigned retreat of their opponents, the impetuous Eries were drawn into the ambush of the Iroquois reserve, and there a thousand fresh warriors uttering their wild war whoop leaped upon them. The Eries wavered and gave way and the fight became a route and a massacre, for quarter was neither asked nor given. The victors pur- sued them to their villages and there slaughtered all who came in their way, sparing neither age nor sex. The remnant of the Erie warriors who escaped the terrors of the field fled to the southwest along the valley of their own Oheeyo, but even here they found no rest for the conquerors still followed, bent on nothing short of extermination of their foes. The flight and pursuit was continued, says the tradition, until the last Erie had crossed "the Father of Waters" and five moons had passed before the Seneca braves returned to celebrate their victory in the villages of the Gennishceyo." The settlement of the conquered territory did not result at first in the founding of Seneca villages along the upper Genesee and the adjoining territory; it was only used as additional hunting grounds for their numbers were much decreased. After the attack of the Senecas by the French in 1687 when the villages in the beautiful valley were destroyed the Senecas built new ones, Onondao nearer to the river and Chennissio and later Beardstown be- came successively the central fire of the nation.
We are led to believe that however peaceful the Keshequa Valley and the upper Genesee and all the section northeast of the Niagara frontier after its settlement by the Senecas it was not so in the few previous centuries. The Andastes or Satanes lived here once and did not lose their possessions without a struggle. The Kha Kwas were too powerful and numerous for casy conquest and the Eries in the memorable battles recorded must have passed over what became in 1808 the extensive town of Nunda. Any skilled Indianologist can find evidences of Indian occupancy and Indian contests far more convincing than many scattered dark flint arrows. Strange as it may seem, within a mile of Nunda may be found a battle field where one or both of the contestants used David's weapon, the sling.
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CHAPTER VIII.
THE BATTLE OF THE MARQUIS DE NONVILLE AND THE SENECAS IN THE GENESEE VALLEY, 1687.
T HIS battle was aggressive on the part of the French. It was to humble the Senecas and, if possible, win possession of their lands. The Marquis de Nonville had succeeded De la Barre as Governor of New France in 1685. He was a colonel of French dragoons. As the Iroquois had carried their wars into the West after the destruction of the Eries, and these tribes were allies of the French. Governor de Nonville determined to humiliate the Senecas. He employed the winter of 1687 in preparation.
The French army consisted of about 1,600 men, besides 400 Indian allies. This strong force set out from Montreal June 13th in 350 batteaux, and after a tardy voyage arrived at Fort Frontenac ( Kingston) on the 30th. On the 4th of July it again started for the country of the Senecas and arrived at Ganniagatason- tagonat (Irondequoit ) on the 10th. Five hundred and eighty French and Indians from Fort Niagara and the west were to meet him there. No Napoleon could have better planned for a great battle. Both armies arrived within the same hour. On the 12th, after completing pallisades for protection of provisions, batteaux and canoes, he detached 400 men to garrison this, their landing place. The rest of the ariny took up their line of march toward the village of the Senecas. They en- camped that night near the present village of Pittsford. The Indian village of Gannagora ( Boughton Hill, near Victor) was to be the first point of attack, con- tinuing their march on the 13th they arrived about 3 o'clock at a defile near the Indian village, where they, instead of attacking, were attacked by a large body of Senecas who lay in ambush.
From De Nonville's Journal we find that "They were better received than they anticipated and were thrown into such consternation that most of them threw away their guns and clothing to escape under favor of the woods. He gives credit to the Ottaways and their Christian savages, who were the only ones who acquitted themselves with honor. Though the brave colonel had brought with him a formidable force of the very flower of France and its army, the terrors of the war whoop of 800 Senecas and their guns and tomahawks made the engage- ment a short one. As the Senecas left 27 killed on the field they thought it best to retire and the victory was claimed by the French, though the valor belonged to the Senecas. Then the brave colonel ( ?) who knew that in France they would know nothing of the short distance from Irondequoit Bay to Boughton Hill. plead- ed extreme fatigue as an excuse for remaining all that day and the next day until noon in camp, besides it rained the second day and they had "to protect themselves from the rain." If these Frenchmen's valor had equalled their vanity the Senecas would not have taken themselves so easily away to a place of safety. The field was won by the French through their allies, but the glory by their foe. The victory proved a barren one. The Senecas burned their own villages and the French in the next ten days claim to have destroyed for the "Sonnontonans," as they called the Senecas, 1.200,000 busliels of corn. A great exaggeration. Had the French warred as valiantly against the 800 Seneca braves as they did on the growing corn more would have been accomplished.
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The Pre-Glacial Course, G.c., of c Cin F.
LAKE
ONTAR
,
0
Tonawanda
Batavia
PakajAllery Cree
d Leroy 866/
So Avon
Attico 202
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Perry
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Silver LMT MOBBIS
Hemlock
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Cashaqua
4 9 Nunda 947
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134
Hunts
1
Wiscore
Dalton
Fittaone of
Hornellsville
R
Honeoye
NEWYORK
Rose L'axe
Pine Crest
Indian villages in Nunda and the Upper Genesee marked A. Dotted lines indicate boundary of the Basin.
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creek
+
Portageville s
1753003
The bark villages destroyed could be replaced in three days and the other confederated tribes would willingly divide with them their surplus of corn.
Over 2,000 men had put to flight 800 savages, while 800 Senecas had terror- ized more than twice their number of gallant Frenchmen who, in their confusion. fired on each other till their death list was far greater than that of their foe. Baron La Hontau, who was present and whose record was not written for the reading of a crowned head, said :
"We lost on this one occasion ten savages and a hundred Frenchmen. We had twenty-two wounded, including the good Father Angelran, the Jesuit. If von could have seen the disorder into which our militia and regulars were thrown among the dense woods you would agree with me that it would require many thousand Europeans to make head against these barbarians. Our battalions were immediately separated into platoons, which ran without order, pell mell, to the right and left, without knowing whither they went. Instead of firing upon the Iroquois we fired upon each other. It was in vain to call 'help soldiers of such a battalion' for we could scarcely see thirty paces. In short, we were so disordered that the enemy were about to fall upon us, club in hand, when our savages having rallied, repulsed and pursued them so closely, even to their villages, that they killed more than eighty, the heads of which they brought away, not counting the wound ed who escaped.
.
"The French Indians were prevented by De Nonville from going in pursuit of the Senecas for they knew they could overtake and massacre the aged, the chil- dren and the women, but De Nonville pleaded with them not to leave him. This offended his allies so much that the greater part went back to their country, saying that the French had come for an excursion rather than to carry on war * that they would never trust them in future.'"
The four Indian villages which De Nonville visited were Gannagora ( Fr) or Gaosachga-ah, Boughton Hill, Victor. Ganogarie near East Bloomfield, Titiakto or Deyudihaakdoh (in Seneca) near West Mendon, Gannonnata ( Fr.) or Dyndonsot (in Seneca) southeast of East Avon.
The Senecas never rebuilt these villages but went farther up the Genesee. where we find them at the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, with their great village at Onondao, two miles west of Nunda village.
Within a few years, while grading for an electric road from Rochester through Macedon, a pit hole was found with 80 skeletons, and as this was not far from the scene of the slaughter of the Senecas by the hostile savages there is little doubt that the Senecas gathered together, as was their custom, their braves and buried them in this place. The number exactly corresponds with the record of the truthiful Baron La Hontan.
Colonel George Hosmer of Avon, the father of Livingston's most famous poet, tells of witnessing the finding in the spring of 1793 on the Genesee bottom near the river on a farm owned by his father a short French sword or conteau. The blade was about twenty inches in length and three inches wide. It was cov- ered with rust which, being removed, exhibited the "fleur de lis" of France and a date of the time of Louis XIV. It excited only a transient interest and, being ground to an edge, was used as a kitchen utensil. Yet this was one of the swords used in the "battle of the corn stalks" 225 years ago.
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CHAPTER IX.
THE BRITISH WINNING OF WESTERN NEW YORK FROM FRANCE, AIDED BY THE IROQUOIS AND COLONISTS-1759.
I N 1758 Mr. Pitt, being the British minister, determined on a vigorous and de- cisive campaign which should end in the annihilation of French power and dominion on this continent. Both public opinion and the public press caught the spirit of conquest, and increased hatred for France was everywhere manifest. The King and Parliament joined in the policy of Pitt and voted liberal supplies. An empire was to be lost or won. Cordial and vigorous co-operation of the colo- nists was eagerly and dexterously sought, for they were weary of war and its rav- ages of harvests and the destruction of their homes. To overcome this the King graciously commiserated their perils and losses and pledged indemnification, and still better than promises, Parliament voted the colonists £ 200,000 as compensa- tion for losses and expenses consequent upon the war. The Iroquois were mostly won over to the British interests though British encroachments had begun to excite in them caution. The French and her western allies were still their foes, and Sir William Johnson was to lead them, and was he not, with his Indian pro- clivities, a white chief among them?
General Amherst, as commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America, had at his disposal a larger force than had ever before been mustered on this continent. The most advanced settlements in New York were less than fifty miles from Albany, so we must look to the older colonies for the main sup port of the large force of British regulars: Massachusetts furnished 7,000 men, Connecticut 5,000, New Hampshire 1.000. The French posts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point were on the route to Montreal which, with Quebec and Niagara, were to be conquered.
As it is only Western New York that is of greatest interest to us and the change of our local region from "New France" to "New York Colony" by the capture of Fort Niagara. the only stronghold of France in Western New York, we will briefly review the oft told tale of the siege and surrender of Fort Niagara.
The force destined for Niagara consisted of two British regiments, a detach- ment of Royal Artillery, a battalion of Royal Americans, two battalions of New York Provincials and Sir William Johnson's Indian allies, most of whom were Mohawks. Oneidas and Onondagas, with a less number of Senecas and Cayugas, and some western allies won over by the British. Brigadier General Prideau was first in command and Sir William Johnson second. On the first of July, 1709, this force reached Lake Ontario and embarked and coasted along the shore towards the solitary fortress. Never before or since have the waters of this inland sea borne on their bosom such a formidable armament. All the appliances of British warfare for the reduction of a strong fortress, by regular approaches, as planned before starting, camp equipage and supplies for this large force, and all these sol- diers and sailors.
Imagine the complexity of these forces of various nations and races. The proud commissioned and titled Briton, who was far more familiar with the refine - ments of courts, with all their luxury, than of the hardships of camps in this vast and gloomy wilderness. Veteran officers from European wars, inured to cam-
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joign life. The sons of rich colonists who had obtained commissions and were novices in war. All classes from the cities and sturdy plow boys from the rural districts ; and seemingly best fitted for the work in hand were the Iroquois braves decked out with war paint. feathers, claws, new broadcloth garments, blankets and silver ornaments, the personal gift of the King to his red sons and brothers.
Openly, without stealth, they approached their destination with booming can- non to inspire the Senecas with courage and the Neutrals with terror. Arriving at Eighteen Mile Creek (Olcott ). within eighteen miles of Fort Niagara, a halt was made to reconnoiter and ascertain the movements of the French.
France had been equally vigilant and reinforced every fort and had brought all hier colonists and Indian allies to swell their numbers. General Montcalm was commander-in-chief. Captain Pouchot, a skilled engineer, was sent to strengthen and command Fort Niagara.
From July 8th to IIth little was gained but advanced position. At 5 P. M. the English opened their fire with eight mortars. Day after day the siege con- tinued and night to night with but short intermissions the pounding of the fort continued. The walls of the devoted fortress began to tumble, while the French, too few in numbers to attempt a sortie, kept up an active fire on the besiegers, seriously hindering and annoying them in their work of destruction. On the 14th the besiegers had so far extended their works that their work became more effec- tive. Nearly perishing for want of sleep and worn out with toil, the brave de- fenders of the fortress proved stronger than their walls, and kept on with valor in hopes of aid from the West. On the 19th General Prideaux, who had so well planned, and, so far, so well executed what he planned, was accidentally killed by the premature bursting of a shell. It is said 30 such bombs were fired in one night. The work went on under Sir William Johnson. On the 23d the besieged had a gleam of hope that was destined to end in disappointment. Runners had been sent to Presque Isle (Erie. Pa.). Le Boeuf, Venango and Detroit, ordering them to come with all available aid to Niagara. At a time when the end seemed nearing two Western Indians made their way into the fort bringing word of 2.500 French and Indians at Navy Island opposite Fort Schlosser. Four Indians were sent to Monsieur D'Aubrey to tell of their critical condition and to urge him to hasten to their relief. Johnson had anticipated reinforcements from D'Aubrey and had kept Indian runners ( at this the Mohawk were most expert ) looking for them, and was advised of their proximity. On the 23d he sent out strong detachments of troops and posted them along either side of the trail leading from the fort to the falls. About two miles from the fort they awaited in ambush, their adversaries. Early on the 24th he sent other detachments of his best troops to reinforce the others. The opposing forces soon met in battle array and D'Aubrey gave the order to attack. The Western Indians, who were concealed in the forests, swarmed iron the woods and gave their terrfic war whoop and rushed upon the British. The British regulars and such provincials as had never known Indian warfare. vailed for a moment but the Iroquois and practical veterans, real Indian fighters, sad firm, meeting the shock as firmly as it had been impetuous. Volley after volley from British and their allies was too much for the Western Indians and atvy gave way and left the field.
D' Aubrey, though deserted by his allies, pressed on against his assailants, .. tid! was pressing them back valorously when Johnson's Indian reinforcement ar-
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rived, assaulting his flanks, and the battle turned against him. Forced to retreat, after fighting for a time right, left and front, his retreat took form as a rout. Eng- lish and Indian pursued, shooting down most of the French and capturing many officers, including D'Aubrey. Short as the contest was, the ground for miles was strewn with the dead contestants.
Pardon this repetition of a well told tale of battle, one of the many episodes of empires lost and won. France lost an empire in that well fought fight. Eng- land added the utmost limits of the Indian, Ga-nun-no, to her New World acquisi- tion, added also a Province of Canada to her wide domain, in her other battles of this campaign. And no part of Western New York, and no part of Ga-nun-no, was left under French control for New France was no more.
For Captain Pouchot, by the advice of his officers, surrendered, dictating terms honorable to himself and country. Himself, D'Aubray and eight other officers, including two half-blood sons of Joncaire, who was the first white settler of Western New York, and 600 men, were all there were left of the gallant de- fenders of the fort and of those who came to their aid and became sharers of their captivity. France had lost an empire and England was the winner. Little then could be forseen that before a quarter of a century would pass the map of America would be again changed and that this historic fort would again be taken.
The taking of Fort Niagara was a battle in one of the wildest of nature's solitudes. Two trans-Atlantic hostile nations here contended, with all the para- phernalia of their then modern warfare, thousands of miles from France and Eng- land. A "Pioneer Historian" whose imagination revels in the grandeur of the surroundings gives us, though at a remote day, a vivid picture of this national struggle for supremacy and possession till we can almost hear,
"The shout of battle, the barbarian yell, the bray Of disonant instruments, the clang of arms, The shrieks of agony, the groan of death In one wild uproar, and continued din Shook the still air."
But not content with this which might describe a battle elsewhere lie har- nesses the chariots of ordinary European warfare to the cataract, the wilderness and its solitudes and sublimities, and makes nature a participant. "There were no spectators of that sudden clash of arms, of that protracted siege ; all were partici pants. Hundreds of miles, beyond the heaviest sounds, that like earthquake shocks, went out from the conflict, were the nearest of our race, save those who were at Frontenac and Oswego and a few missionaries and traders on our interior rivers, there were none to hear. The outlet of vast inland lakes, the shores of which had been scarcely tread by Europeans, hushed to comparative stillness, after hav- ing tumbled over the mighty precipice, and madly rushed through the long narrow gorge that succeeds, was rolling past, its eddies dashing heavily against the shore, moaning a requiem over the dead that were thickly strewn upon it. Death and carnage, the smoke of battle, the gleaming of steel, had chosen for their theater a marked spot, romantic and beautiful as any that arrests the eye of the tourist in the region of sublime and gorgeous landscapes. There was the roar of mus- ketry, the terrible war whoop, the groans of the dying. the fierce assault and firm repulsion, precipitate retreat, and hot and deadly pursuit. the red warrior loading
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!!!. elf with trophies of the tomahawk and scalping knife that would signalize 1. valor in the war dance or tell out his deeds of blood at a place of reward.
It was a new scene in the wilderness; nature in her solitude and fastnesses wa. affrighted ; the wild beasts hurried farther and farther into the recesses of the forest, or huddled in their lairs, trembling as each successive crash came upon their unaccustomed ears.
It was a calm July morning. The surface of that wide expanse of water smooth and unruffled, mirrored the scene of fire and smoke, of waving banners and advancing columns. Stunning and deafening came the sounds of battle ; then a hushed silence as if war and carnage stood appalled at the work of death they had wrought ; in which brief pause would come the roar of the mighty cataract. rushing in as if impatient to riot in its accustomed monopoly of sound. The "great thunderer" was contending with its first rival.
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