USA > New York > Ulster County > Kingston > History and legend, fact, fancy and romance of the Old Mine Road, Kingston, N.Y., to the mine holes of Pahaquarry > Part 16
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The Indians proceeded as far as the Cohonkson, a small stream, about three and a half miles northeast of the old fort at Wawasink, near which they shot John Kettle, the father of Henry Kettle, above men- tioned. Jacobus Bruyn had removed with his family over the mountain, for safety from the Indians, and it appears that Mr. Kettle had been about his premises, to see to some of his things, and was there at the time when the alarm occurred. He took a route over the fields to go to the fort at Pinebush, and struck the road near the Cohonkson, where he was shot. His was the only scalp which they took in this expedition.
While the above mentioned events were transpiring the forts at Naponoch and Pinebush were the scenes of intense interest and suspense. When the firing ceased for a moment, they were ready to conclude that the Indians had gained the ascendency, and that they were engaged in
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BURNING OF WAWASINK.
scalping and mangling the dead bodies of their friends and brethren. Then again they would hear the report of one of the old Holland guns which could be plainly distinguished from the light arms of the Indians, and told in unequivocal terms that all as yet was well; and then they would break forth in fervent ejaculations thanking God for their pres- ervation. The first firing in the morning at Wawasink was distinctly heard at Pinebush; and as it was unlawful to fire a gun, except in self- defence, or as an alarm, they immediately knew that the enemy was there. Alarm-guns were immediately fired at Pinebush. at Millhook, and so along the frontier towards Kingston. Col. John Cantine of Mar- bletown was then the first in command at Pinebush. It appears that this officer possessed a large share of prudence and caution-but whether his prudent movements were "ill-timed" or not on this occasion, or whether he deserved the charge of cowardice I shall leave the reader to conclude, and shall content myself with stating the facts, as given by one then in the service.
There was a Capt. Burnet from Little Britain, then in the service at Pinebush, under Col. Cantine. Capt. Benjamin Kortrite, of Rochester, was a brave and resolute officer-willing to stare danger in the face, and go wherever duty and his official oath required, and the writer feels a pleasure in bearing testimony to his noble and soldier-like deportment on this occasion. He and Burnet, had their men in readi- ness at an early hour, anxious to proceed to the scene of action, but Cantine made no move to that effect. When the flames of the burning buildings were seen ascending in the lower part of Wawasink, either Bur- net or Kortrite addressed Col. Cantine as follows: "How can you re- main here, when, in all probability, the Indians are murdering our friends
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INDIAN NARRATIVES.
at Wawasink? How can you stand it?" Then and not until then, he put the troops in motion for Wawasink. He sent a guard in advance, and when they arrived at the place where the Middleport School-house now stands, the guard returned, and told the Colonel that the Indians were at the Cohonkson. He immediately wheeled about, with a few others, and went back to the fort. Capts. Burnet and Kortrite marched their companies to the summit of the hill, southwest of the school-house, ready to meet the enemy, if they should advance, at the same time mak- ing the greatest possible show of numbers, by marching in columns to the brow of the hill, then wheeling suddenly in the rear, and then ad- vancing again to the summit, from which they might be seen by the enemy. The Indians not making their appearance, and apprehending that they might take a circuitous route and pass them unnoticed, they returned to the fort, and addressed Col. Cantine as follows :- "This will not do; the Indians may pass the fort on either side, and murder the women and children below the fort." Then Col. C. ordered out a guard some distance from the fort on each side, to watch the enemy. It is said that Capt. Kortrite was indignant at the tardy movements of the Colonel.
We must now give an account of the proceedings at the fort at Naponoch, where the widow of Conradt Bevier now lives. It has al- ready been stated that the negro Flink escaped to this place, from whom they obtained some account of the number of the enemy, &c. The con- duct of Capt. Pierson on this occasion, is worthy of particular notice. Although he had been laboring under an indisposition for some time when the alarm came at Naponoch, he left his bed, took off his hand- kerchief from his head, stepped out in front of the fort, and called out
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BURNING OF WAWASINK.
for volunteers. He said he did not want a man to go that would not face the enemy, and fight like a hero. He was solicited by the women, and others to remain for their protection,* but he replied that he was bound by his official oath, to go where the enemy was, and go he would. [The reader will observe the contrast between the conduct of this officer, and that of Col. Cantine, in precisely similar circumstances.] Among the first who responded to this call, were Conradt Bevier and Jacobus De Witt-two of the bravest of the brave. Both had served in the regu- lar army, and were present at the surrender of Burgoyne. The writer regrets that he is not able to ascertain, at this late day, the number who volunteered on this occasion. It was probably not more than 12 or 13. A negro servant having a particular attachment to C. Bevier, resolved that he would go with him, and die in his defence, if circumstances should require it! This little band of veterans, resolving to live or die together, set forward for the scene of action. When they came to the schoolhouse, half a mile from the fort at Naponoch. they found it on fire,-no doubt fired by the Indians. They carried water in their hats and put it out. They then advanced cautiously over the lowland, until they came in sight of the fort. About this time an Indian sentinel who had been stationed on a hill, to give notice of the arrival of rein- forcements at the fort, fired his gun, which made the Indians withdraw farther from the fort. At this moment those within the fort discov- ered Capt. Pierson and his volunteers, and made signs for them to approach and enter, an undertaking which they effected with safety.
. In the midst of this deep euspense and alarm, when the enemy were hourly ex- pected, a man by the name of De Witt, very deliberately strapped his razor and com- menced shaving! He was asked by another "if he wanted to have a nice scalp for the Indians ?"
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INDIAN NARRATIVES.
Encouraged by this addition to their force, the besieged men waxed bold, and went out of the fort, and fought the Indians from behind trees, out-buildings, &c. In the mean time the Indians entered the church, and amused themselves by throwing their tomahawks at the numbers, which, according to the custom of the times, were placed on the panel's of the pulpit, designating the psalm or hymn to be sung. This served as a mark to throw at. Two or three gashes were made clear through the pulpit, which was never repaired, but left as a me- morial, like the gashes in the door of Col. Jansen's house in the town of Shawangunk, made by Shank's Ben. But in compliance with the orders "of our most gracious Lord and Sovereign, King George," the building was not destroyed. He probably thought that after his re- fractory subjects had been sufficiently chastised for their rebellion, and had returned to their allegiance, they might want it to worship in. Two Indians were seen standing in the church door, and Wm. Bodly and Conradt Bevier, determined to have a crack at them. They crept along the fence in the bush until they came within gun-shot. Bevier levelled his piece and drew the trigger, but unfortunately it snapped. The Indian looked round as though he heard it. He tried it again, and again it snapped. Bodly then fired, and they both ran for the fort. about a quarter of a mile. As Bevier passed under the boughs of an apple tree, a shot from the Indians cut off a limb just above his head. It is remarkable that Bevier's gun missed fire at this time, as he said it was very sure at other times. We may suppose that God, whose providence extends no less over savage than civilized man, had some- thing more for him to do in this world. Perhaps he was to be the instrument of wrath, in the hands of God, on some of his disobedient
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BURNING OF WAWASINK.
children. Bodly's shot struck in the door post, just grazing the crown of the Indian's head.
A circumstance occurred, long after, which may be interesting to the reader, as it shows a peculiar trait in the character of a "warrior." Long after the war, a brother of Jacobus De Witt was in the western part of New York, and accidentally met with the Indian who made so narrow an escape in the church door. On hearing that De Witt was from Wawasink, he asked him if he knew who it was that shot at him while standing in the church door. De Witt told him it was Wm. Bodly; whereupon he said, "It was a good shot; and that if ever he met with that man, he would treat him well."
Towards noon, when most of the Indians were in the lower part of the town, Cornelius Bevier went from the fort to water his cattle, where E. Vernooy now lives, and Jacobus De Witt went with him. While there, he ascended the hill towards the old burying ground. Here he discovered two Indians walking directly from him, in Indian file; he thought he could shoot them both at once, but just as he got ready to fire, they stepped aside of each other; so he shot one of them, and then ran for the fort. His corpse was afterwards found near the place. He had put on new moccasons, and other apparel, before he died-doubt- less as a preparation for entering upon those Elysian fields and spa- cious hunting grounds, which the Indian imagines will be his place of abode in a future state of existence. In passing under an apple tree, De Witt stubbed his toe, and fell. Just at that instant, the shot from the surviving Indian passed directly over his head. Here again, we are called upon to adore and magnify that almighty Being, who presides
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INDIAN NARRATIVES.
alike over the fate of empires and individuals, and in whose hands our breath is.
An Indian was seen from the fort, going with a fire-brand to burn the house where C. Hoornbeek now lives. Benjamin Hoornbeek, brother of Daniel, now living, having one of the long Holland pieces, fired at him. The ball struck a stone on the hill, and bounded against the house in contact with his majesty's person. He dropped his fire- brand, gave a tremendous leap, and suddenly disappeared in the woods. This single shot was the means of saving that house from the general conflagration of that eventful day.
The old neighborhood of Wawasink, on the morning of that day, must have been the scene of sublime and awful grandeur. Five or six dwelling houses, seven barns and one grist-mill, were all enveloped in flames, which mounted up in curled columns to the clouds of heaven, sweeping all before them-no one being able to offer any resistance to their raging fury. The houses were stored with the products of the industry of many years; consisting of the articles requisite for the comforts and conveniences of civilized life; and the barns had just been filled with a plenteous harvest.
Such are the effects and consequences of war. May God save us from another scene like this.
About Monday, the Indians left the town, heavily laden with spoils, consisting of stock, bedding, wearing apparel, &c. They took some lime, or plaster, supposing it to be flour, as far as Graimsville, where they tried to make bread of it, and found out their mistake.
At Esquire Hardenbergh's, it is said, they fared sumptuously. They took the whortleberry pie, of which there was a good batch on hand,
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BURNING OF WAWASINK.
and broke it up in tubs of sweet milk, and then ate it. The Esquire had barely time to escape with his family and two teams, which carried them to Old Hurley.
Large quantities of clothing were taken from this place, some of which was left by the Indians when closely pursued, as the reader will see in the sequel. The Indians were very intent on getting as much plunder as possible. Had they not occupied so much of their time in this, they might probably have gotten more scalps. Some individuals. who had concealed themselves in the brush, along the fences, made narrow escapes, when the Indians came to drive the cattle from the fields-some threw little sticks at the cattle, in order to turn them away from the places where they were concealed. When the Indians were leaving the place, a personage of no ordinary appearance and pretensions was seen emerging from the woods into the highway near the old church. The sight was truly imposing. He was mounted on a noble steed, which they had taken from Esq. H.'s, and was arrayed in gor- geous apparel, according to Indian notions. He had silver bands about his arms-had on silver broaches; and a bunch of some forty silver broaches hanging about his majesty's person. He was discovered by some soldiers who were constantly on the alert, watching for a chance to get a crack at the enemy, as they were leaving the town. John Mack, brother of Jesse Mack, levelled his rifle at him, and fired. He was seen to sag over on his horse, but the other Indians soon turned the horse into the woods, and for the present he disappeared. Some time afterward, Cornelius Bevier found his corpse in the woods, near the place where he was shot. His ornaments and trinkets were still about him. It is probable that the loss of this chief did much to in-
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INDIAN NARRATIVES.
timidate the Indians, and hasten their retreat from the town.
In the course of the afternoon, Capt. Paulain, of the State troops, came up with his company from Hurley, and was joined by Col. Can- tine's troops at Rochester. Among the Captains were Burnet, J. L. Hardenbergh, and Kortright. They lodged at the old stone fort on Sunday night. Early on Monday morning, the 13th of August, they set out in pursuit of the enemy. My informant, who was in the service at the time, thinks that their whole force did not exceed 400 men, in- cluding those who went from the fort at Wawasink.
I should have stated before that one of the British troops, a Ger- man, by the name of Vrooman, deserted the Indians on Honkhill, and surrendered to the whites. He left his gun at a distance, and thus ap- proached, making signs of peace. Some of the soldiers were indig- nant at him, and wished to kill him, but this would have been murder. From this man, and from the spies, who both returned, much of the matter embodied in this narrative has been obtained.
When the troops came to Graimsville, they saw where the Indians had lodged on Sunday night-where they had tried to make bread of lime, &c. Towards night they got to Peenpeck, along the Delaware. The advance guard returned, and informed the officers that they came to a fire kindled of small sticks, and they were not burnt through. This was evidence that the Indians could not be far in advance. It was pro- posed to double the advance guard. Capt. Kortright offered to go with his whole company. While a consultation was going on among the officers, an accident occurred which was very unfortunate in its results. Dr. Vanderlyn, of Kingston, was sitting on a log, with his gun in his hands, when by way of amusement, he unthinkingly cocked
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HINE AND BROUCK TAKEN TO NIAGARA.
it, and on returning it to its place it was discharged. The Indians were alarmed, and instantly fled in small parties, leaving their white com- mander alone with the Tories and the prisoners-Hine and Bouck. At this place large packages of spoils were left by the Indians, in their hasty flight, but these were not found by the whites until several months afterwards. The result of the consultation of the officers, was to return home. Capt. J. L. Hardenbergh, and some other brave spirits, who knew not what fear was, were anxious to pursue; but Col. John Can- tine opposed it. In an interview on this occasion between Col. Cantine, who manifested as usual, a very reluctant disposition, or, to say the least, a very questionable prudence, like General Lee in his retreat before the British in New Jersey, in the American Revolution, he was told by Capt. H., "that he could not die before his time came;" to which he replied, that "if the Indians had their tomahawks above his head his time would be there." The reader will perceive that he did not put much faith in the doctrine of predestination. Had they advanced, they might have taken Colwell and the Tories, and released the prison- ers. One thing is certain, they would have recovered a large portion of the spoils.
It is said that the efficiency of the Indians was greatly impaired by eating soft corn, raw, or but partially cooked, which they had taken from the corn-fields at Wawasink; that they were scant of food, and much intimidated by the loss of their chief, as before intimated; but all this was not known to the whites at the time. The squaws met them, on their return, with parched corn.
The commander, Colwell, being forsaken by his Indian guides, told Silas Bouck that if he would pilot him through to Niagara, he would
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INDIAN NARRATIVES.
do all in his power to save him from running the gantlet when he came to the fort. This he consented to do. On their arrival at Niagara, Philip Hine proposed allegiance to the British Crown, and was per- mitted to have some liberty, and went with the British troops to Troy, It does not appear that he served in any engagement against the Americans. One tradition says that he came back after peace was re- stored; another, that he escaped under pretence of going on a hunting expedition. Be this as it may, in the good providence of God, he ar- rived safe among his friends, and was received as from the dead.
His brother prisoner, Silas Bouck, met with quite a different fate. He was taken to Montreal, and put in a log hut, or prison, with two other prisoners, and kept scant in provisions, and that of the filthiest and meanest kind.
They succeeded in raising up one of the boards of the floor, and dug a hole under the side of the building, with the help of an old knife which they found in the building. In the day time they lay still and peaceable-at night they dug, carefully concealing the dirt under the floor, and replacing the board before morning. Having some reason to apprehend that the time of their execution was at hand, and a dark night coming, they made their exit through the subterraneous passage, and entered the St. Lawrence. Bouck was ahead. They had not gone far, before one cried out, in anguish, that he was sinking; but no as- sistance could be afforded-each had work for himself. When near- ing the opposite shore, the same cry was heard from the other. Bouck was growing very weak as he advanced towards the shore. He thought perhaps he might reach the bottom, but was afraid to try. At last he attempted and found it, and soon after reaching the beach, he made his
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ESCAPE OF BOUCK.
way into the wilderness, not knowing where he was going. At length morning came, the sun rose, and by the assistance of that celestial luminary, he was enabled to direct his course with more certainty. Never were his benignant rays more welcome to a traveller, than on this occasion. But hunger soon began to torture his already emaciated frame; and then it was that He who "hears the ravens when they cry," and who "satisfies the desire of every living thing," interposed in his behalf. He saw a rattle-snake in his path. Fortunately he had pre- served his jack-knife, with which he cut a crotched stick and put it over his neck, and then cut off his head. This snake he dressed and ate, raw. But this did not last long, and hunger again began to pinch him hard. In this extremity he came in sight of a small house. He watched it closely, and discovered that its occupants consisted of a man and woman only. He resolved to wait until the man should leave the house, when he would rush in, kill the woman, get provisions, and then be off. He had not waited long before the husband left the house and went off in an opposite direction. He then went to the house. The moment he entered the door, the woman screamed out, "you are a de- serter!" There lay some bread and meat on the table, which she told him to take, and be off, or he was a dead man. She told him that there was a large body of Indians near by, and that her husband was gone to them. He took the bread, and hastened into the woods, where see- ing a hollow tree lying down, he crawled into it,-a hole towards the top serving for air and light. He had been here but a short time, when he heard the Indians traversing the forest in search of him. In the night he came out and resumed his journey; and after enduring a de- gree of suffering seldom equalled, he arrived at Catskill, along the Hud- son River, about fourteen months after he was taken by the Indians.
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INDIAN NARRATIVES.
The freemen of Rochester were assembled at a public house, situ- ated on the present stand, in front of the Rochester Parsonage, to transact some public business. The long and bloody war with Great Britain was about coming to a happy and glorious termination, and every patriot's pulse beat high with the bright and animating prospect of domestic happiness and peace, and national honor and glory. In the midst of this "feast of reason and flow of soul," one was discovered in the distance, having the appearance of "a wayfaring man." As he ap- proached, some dared to hint that it might be Silas Bouck. As he advanced it became more evident that they were not mistaken-they thought it was possible that he was yet alive. But they were not long in suspense; the joyful news resounded throughout the assembly that Bouck was coming, when with one simultaneous rush, they left the house and went to meet him. They could scarcely believe their own eyes. They seized him, and carried him into the house* while the air resounded with their shouts of joy. If ever there was perfect joy on this side of heaven, it was felt on this occasion. They had been part- ners in the trials and vicissitudes of a seven years' war; and now they were to enjoy, in common, the dear-bought and blessed boon of liberty.
On the return of the Indians to Niagara it was ascertained that eighteen of their number were missing; one of them, however, returned late in the fall, having driven a cow all the way and lived on the milk; making their loss in this expedition, seventeen men.
Thus ended the depredations of the Indians on this frontier.
· Intoxicating drinks were, in those times, the universal badge of friendship. My informant says, "he believes they would have given him five quarts, if he would have swallowed ft."
HISTORICAL NOTES.
NO. I.
TREATMENT OF TOBIES AFTER THE WAR BY THE WHIGS.
It has already been stated in the Introduction that the most bitter animosity existed between the Tories and the "sons of liberty," as those were called who were in favor of the "Revolution,"- the long and patri- otic struggle for achieving political independence of Great Britain. The reader will readily apprehend that that feeling did not subside immedi- ately at the close of the war. The inhabitants of the frontier could not soon forget how they had taken their smiling infants out of the cradle, and dashed out their brains against the wall-how they had fed and harbored the Indian who acted as spies for them, and joined them in their expeditions against the whites, and even excelled them in acts of cruelty. This being the case, the reader will not be surprised to learn that they were treated rather roughly when they fell into the power of the heroes of '76, after the cessation of hostilities.
The following events occurred probably in '82 or '3, before the treaty of peace was ratified between the two nations.
A notorious Tory, by the name of Joe Westbrook, on his way home from the war to Minisink, where his father John Westbrook lived, called at Andries* Bevier's at Naponoch, and made some inquiries as if
· The names Andrew and Andries, as used in this publication, denote the same individual. This is true also of the names Kortrite, Kortright, end Contrite,
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HISTORICAL NOTES.
he were a stranger. It has been well observed, "that there would be little chance for detecting hypocrisy, were it not always addicted to overact its part;" and a few warm-hearted patriots made suitable prepa- rations, and embarked in a wagon in time to reach Minisink early in the evening. They looked through the window, and saw the old man and his son Joe sitting at the fire, much engaged in conversation. It was supposed that Joe was telling of his exploits in the war. They surrounded the house, and Jacobus Chambers, a brave and hardy vet- eran, went in. Joe went into an adjoining room the moment he heard the tap at the door. The old man was asked where his son Joe was, to which the old hypocrite replied with an interjection, that "he had not seen his son since the war." Chambers told him if he would give him a candle, he would show him his son. He said he had no candle. Chambers swore he did not want his candle, for he had one in his pocket, which he then lit, and went to the door. The old Tory then sung out in Dutch, "Loop, jongen, loop!" (run, boy! run!). He started to escape out of the window, but it was well guarded, and he cried out, "Yes, dad, but it is full here, too." He was taken to Napo- noch, where a council was held over him. Some were for hanging, others for tarring and feathering. At last they decided on the latter. It is said that he shivered and shook like Belshazzar when he saw the hand-writing on the wall of his palace, and was extremely glad to see the tar bucket and feathers come. This was judiciously applied to his person, in preference to the paint with which the Tories used to disguise themselves. A hog-yoke and a bell were then fastened to his neck, from which a rope passed to a man on horseback, by which he was led out of town. On being released, he hired a negro in Rochester for
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