History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 16

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen
Number of Pages: 1422

USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 16

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).

Seeing that "matters were drawing to a happy conclusion, " he resigned his commission on the 9th of November, 1779. much against the wishes of Washington. The expedition, though conducted with eminent success, was keenly criticised in Congress, where political animosity must thus early be gratified, and he felt that certain mem- bers, especially of the Board of War, who appear to have blamed him for disasters which were inevitable, had deeply wronged him. His health, too, was impaired by rough service and a bilious disorder that had seized him at the commencement and continued during the whole of the march, and his private affairs needed attention. Like other

1. This bold act was "consummated by the seizure of the King's property and the disarming and imprisonment of his soldiers; and this, too, at a time when the universal language held in public was that of peace and anticipated reconciliation. It was not until four mouths afterwards that the first blood was shed at Lexington."

159

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

officers of the Revolution, his support had been drawn mainly trom private means; but his personal concerns, less favorably situated than many, had become greatly embarrassed. On quitting the army, he resumed his profession ; but the task of righting finances, shattered by long neglect, proved too great, and he died, as for years he had lived, surrounded by importunate creditors. Even death did not close the rugged chapter of a life of rugged fortunes. Under an old provincial statute. a debtor's corpse might be attached and held from burial until redeemed. Availing of this on the day of the funeral. Sullivan's creditors sent an officer to execute the infamous law on his remains. Closing the house, the relatives dispatched a messenger for General Cilley, a former comrade in arms, who resided a short dis- tance away. On arriving, the old soldier directed the doors to be opened and the services to proceed. Said he, "The funeral of this dear General must not be interrupted." He then drew from his coat two horseman's pistols carried by him through the Revolution and, as he cocked them, added "Go on with the ceremonies." Prayer was offered, and the remains were placed on a bier: the bearers took it up and proceeded to the grave. General Cilley, pistol in hand, following close after. The rites were completed without interference from creditor or civil officer ; Cilley then turned sorrowfully away, mounted his horse, and rode slowly homeward.

Brigadier-general James Clinton, the officer next in rank on this occasion, was of that honorable family which gave two generals to the Revolution, two governors to New York, and we had almost said, two vice presidents to the Republic.1 Born in Ulster county, New York, three years earlier than Sullivan, his father was likewise an Irishman, and, on the mother's paternal side, was related to an officer in Cromwell's army. After receiving a liberal education, he served as a captain in the French war under Bradstreet, and at twenty took a gallant part in the capture of Fort Frontenac. Seven years later. he held command of the regiments raised to protect the frontiers of

1. George Clinton, brother of the General, was Vice President of the United States during the second term of Jefferson. In 1812 DeWitt Clinton, his nephew, was favored with the nomination of the Republican members of the New York Legislature, for the Presidency. The Federalist- made no nomination, and indirectly gave him their support. He received sy electoral votes while Mr. Madison received 128 and was thus reelected. Before the amendment to the Constitu- tion in 1803, the person, after the choice of the President, receiving the greatest unmber of elec- toral votes was Vice President. Had this provision been continued nine years longer DeWitt Clinton would have been Vice President, as he stood next highest to Madison in that canva ...

160

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Ulster and Orange counties against Indian incursions. In 1775, with the rank of colonel, he went with the chivalric Montgomery to Canada. In 1777, promoted to brigadier-general, he, with his brother Governor George Clinton, was in command of Fort Clinton and Fort Mont- gomery. just below West Point. On the 6th of October, the Fort was stormed by the British with three thousand men, as a diversion in favor of Burgoyne, who was moving down from the upper Hudson, and who, a few days later, lost the field of Saratoga, that decisive battle of the Revolution. After a gallant resistance the garrison of only five hundred men were overpowered, but succeeded in making their escape. Clinton, the last to leave the works, was pursued, fired at, and his attending servant killed. Still flying, he was severely wounded by a bayonet, but escaped on horseback; yet pursued, he dismounted, and slid down a percipice a hundred feet to the creek ; whence, covered with blood, he made his way home, a few miles distant. He was stationed at West Point during the greater part of 1778, engaged in throwing the great chain across the Hudson, to prevent the ascent of the enemy's ships. He was in charge of the Northern department during most of the war, and was present at the capture of Cornwallis. In 1779, he was directed to cooperate with Sullivan in this expedition. In order to effect the junction, his force of sixteen hundred men was conveyed up the Mohawk in batteaux, about fifty miles above Schenectady, thence across to Otsego lake, a source of the Susquehanna river. Cooper, our great novelist has seen in Clinton's expedient of damming the outlet of that beautiful sheet to collect its waters, then tearing away the obstruction in order to create an artificial current for floating his boats to the place of meeting with Sullivan, an episode of romantic interest. Clinton's appearance at this council is deferential, yet soldierlike. He has well endured the fatigues of the great march, for his constitution is like iron. His nature is affectionate and mild, but at the mention of danger ahead he is roused to interest. His counsel is wise, and is received with the attention due to so experienced an officer. 1

Brigadier-general Edward Hand, the leader of the vanguard, was a

1. General Clinton was the father of Governor De Witt Clinton. He made his last appearance in arms on the evacuation of the city of New York by the British. He held civil positions after the war, and died at Little Britain, in Orange county, greatly loved and honored, in December, 1>12,

Cut of section of Big Tree, now on grounds of Hon. James W. Wadsworth

161

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

native of Clyduff. Ireland, where he was born on the last day of December, 1744. At twenty-eight he entered the British army as ensign in the Royal Irish Foot, then on duty in this country. After serving two years, he settled in Pennsylvania. But his retirement was brief: for, at the beginning of the Revolution, he entered the Continental service as a lieutenant-colonel. Made colonel of a rifle regiment in the spring of 1776, he was engaged in the battle of Long Island in the same year, and shared in the retreat from Brooklyn. He was also in the battle of Trenton in the following December. He commanded at Pittsburg during the succeeding summer and fall. In October, 1778, he was on duty at Albany, in command of the Northern department, and in April following was appointed brigadier-general, and assigned to command of the light corps in this expedition. In the previous autumn, Washington had called his particular attention to the subject of such an undertaking, and asked him to consult General Schuyler as to its practicability. The correspondence reveals the de- gree of confidence reposed in his judgment. Afterwards, in Sep- tember, 1780, Washington, recognizing his standing, placed him on the board of general officers convened in the old Dutch church at Tappan, for the trial of Major Andre, the famous British spy. Lord Stirling, Lafayette, Baron Steuben, Knox, Stark and other distin- guished officers to the number of fourteen, composed that tribunal. In the same year he succeeded Scammel as Adjutant-general of the army, and held that important post until the war closed. 1 In char- acter he was bold and chivalric. His love for horses, especially for his fine roan charger, an animal remarkable for lofty carriage and spirit, which he had brought on this expedition, though he generally rode an active gray, gained him no little notoriety, as also did his excellent horsemanship. His military knowledge was valuable and extensive, and his general reading considerable. In this expedition he had exhibited ability and zeal, and, doubtless, at the council his opinions were heard with attention.

Brigadier-general William Maxwell, in command of the New Jersey brigade, was also present at the consultation. He was commissioned

1. General Hand died at Rockford, Lancaster county, Penn., on the 3d of September, 1-02, aged 58 years. Judge James L .. Campbell, of Cherry Valley, had a lively recollection of General Hand's being entertained with Wasbington at his father's, Col. Samuel Campbell's house, in Cherry Valley, in 1783. On this occasion Governor George Clinton, General Humphrey, Colonel Marinus Willet and other officers were also present.

162

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

a general officer in October, 1776, having entered the Continental service as colonel of a New Jersey regiment, and served under Mont- gomery in the Canada campaign of that year. Ile commanded the Jersey brigade at the battle of Brandywine, and also at Germantown. His caustic letter to the governor and legislature of New Jersey in re- spect to arrearages of pay due his officers and men, on the eve of leav- ing for the rendezvous of Wyoming, exhibits the positive side of his character, and shows his regard for the soldiers' welfare and his selec- tion by Lord Stirling, as the army lay at White Plains, to accompany his lady and daughter to the British lines, and the "great politeness" with which, in the words of the Countess of Stirling, he received them on their return, proves him to have been a gentleman of refinement and courtesy. 1

Brigadier-general Enoch Poor was also at this council board. His brigade was ordered from Connecticut, where it lay unemployed at the time. He entered the continental service in command of the New Hampshire regiment. John Poore, the ancestor of the family. came from Wiltshire, England, in 1635, and settled in Massachusetts. The General was descended from Lieutenant Daniel of the Colonial militia, who died at Andover in 1713. General Poor served under Lafayette, and gained that distinguished officer's respect and affec- tion. During Lafayette's last visit to this country, he gave as a toast on one occasion, "Light Infantry Poor and Yorktown Scammel:" and when shown the grave of Poor, he was much affected, and turn- ing away, said, "Ah! that was one of my Generals." He survived this expedition only a year, dying on the eighth of September, 1780. aged forty-four years. He died from the effect of a wound received in a duel with a French officer, the difficulty growing out of a con- troversy on the subject of state policy. So beloved was he by the soldiery, that it was deemed unwise to allow the real cause of his death to transpire, for fear of serious results; hence the army was permitted to believe that he died of bilious fever, and this error long remained uncorrected. He sleeps far away from his native hills, in the graveyard of the Protestant Dutch church at Hackensack, New Jersey. There, underneath a willow, rests a horizontal stone which marks the grave of this gallant officer. The army lay at Kiner-

1. General Maxwell resigned his commission on the 23d of June, 1750, and retired from the service.

163

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

hamach, near the boundary between this State and New Jersey, at his death. His coffin, draped with the national banner, was borne to the grave by officers of rank; and a long line of soldiers, both foot and horse, swelled the funeral procession, which extended from the upper end of the town to the church. Washington and Lafayette took part in the rites. Two field pieces, drawn by artillery horses, followed the hearse, but were not discharged on account of the enemy's vicinity.1

Other officers were present at this council. Colonel William Butler, whose regiment, stationed at Schoharie when ordered on this expe- dition, and which numbered on its rolls the names of Lieutenant Boyd, Timothy Murphy and others of the scouting party, was doubt- less there. The Connecticut missionary, Samuel Kirkland, who, a dozen years before, had been successfully employed among the Senecas in this region, and now serving as brigade chaplain, as well as guide and interpreter, was probably present. This good man was of Scotch descent, and had come to this region under the auspices of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Six Nations.

No account of the proceedings on this occasion has come down to us. We only know that Sullivan expressed anxiety at the prolonged delay of the scouting party; and most likely he produced and read the instructions of Washington, which were drawn up by Hamilton and bore the signatures of those two immortal men. They direct the total destruction of the property of the Indians. Certainly before many hours had elapsed these orders in their fullest extent were carried into literal execution.

When the concil broke up the army still lay encamped in full view before its commanders. The surroundings were picturesque. Five thousand soldiers had improvised their camp upon the plain and its immediate hillsides, their white tents contrasting vividly with the autumnal tint of woodland foliage. Anon the drum beat and sentry call emphasized at intervals the undertone of warlike preparation. The resounding echoes as the forest trees gave way for the bridge and the fruit trees loaded with apples and peaches fell before ringing axe strokes: the rustling of crisp corn trampled under heedless feet ;

1. The inscription ou the tombstone reads as follows: "In memory of the Hon. Brigadier general Enoch Poor, of the State of New Hampshire, who departed this life on the sth of Septem- ber, 1780, aged 44."-Barber & Howe's Hist. Coll. of New Jersey.

164

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

all lent their busy music to the scene which had heretofore been the domain of solitude and silence. The situation of the army was in itself novel. Its arms now carried far into the heart of this remote and barbarous country were unsupported from behind through hundreds of miles of forest wilderness stretching eastward back to the main force under Washington. Before these martial pioneers all was unknown. Nothing indeed was felt to be certain save the reso- lute purpose of every soldier to waste the hostile soil and to extin- guish the last vestige of Indian occupancy.

While the American army lay encamped almost undisturbed, the devoted Indian villages of Beardstown, Canaseraga, Big Tree, Canawau-

HIS HORN

JOHN COON

1780

CHEMUNG

WAYCA

5800

CAULUA

SULLIVAN'S ROUTE AS TRACED ON A SOLDIER'S POWDER HORN.

gus and other towns on the river, were scenes of consternation. As stated in a previous page, Colonel Doty in October, 1865, visited the Cattaraugus Indian reservation, near Buffalo, for the purpose of con- sulting Philip Kenjockety, a representative of the almost extinct tribe of the Kah-kwas. His parents resided with the Senecas on the Gene- see during the early years of the Revolution. In 1779 they were living at Beardstown, and Philip recollected with marvelous distinct- ness some episodes of Sullivan's invasion. To the Indians residing on the Genesee river, and perhaps to the Six Nations generally. the American troops were known as Yankees, or, more familiarly, as "Bostonians" (Wah-stoh-nah-yans), and were looked upon, especially by the women and children, with great dread. The whole population of the Seneca villages became speedily aware that the army was forcing

MAP

SHOWING THE ROUTE OF SULLIVAN'S ARMY and

GROVELAND AMBUSCADE.

Seplombe. 13º 1979

--- PACCO OF ENCAMPMENT AND POSITION OF INDIAN TOWN. - THE VICINITY

TRUM ACTUAL DURVRY

LAHE

BY GENE JOHN S CLARK AUBURN NY

1879

TI PLANATIONF

.. ET.

Map showing Route of Sullivan's Army and Groveland Ambuscade.

165

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

its way through the wilderness to destroy their homes and possessions. The corn that year was remembered to have been a great crop, and they were just engaged in gathering it when the army reached Conesus lake. Every day or two during the progress of our forces the arrival of messengers and wounded braves announced that the Yankees were drawing near. One of these runners had been taken prisoner by the invaders but managed to escape. His relation was full of detail and gave great aların. The air seemed to grow heavy with omens, and the very birds gave signs of approaching evil. A small party of young warriors from Beardstown met the advance force of our army on a hillside, not many miles from the Genesee, and one of them, a favorite of the village, was wounded, but his companions conveyed him to his home. Skirmishes of this kind were frequent, and the wounded Indians managed to get back to their lodges only to add to the general gloom. After Sullivan reached Conesus lake a young Indian named Sah-nah-dah-yah, who could neither run nor walk well, because of a previous wound received in one of these skir- mishes, said he must again go out to fight the Yankees. His orphan sisters begged him to remain with them. One of them clung about his person to keep him back, but he pushed her aside and left the hut. Arriving just at daybreak in the little Indian village near where Boyd's scouting party had passed the night, he was discovered by Murphy and sank under his death-dealing rifle. His moccasins, worked with a sister's care, were transferred to Murphy's feet and his scalp soon hung from Murphy's belt.

Though the commotion in the Indian villages increased with the march of our men, none fled until, on the evening that witnessed the enemy's arrival near the lake, a "noise like thunder" was heard in that direction. An old warrior said to the wondering village that this was the echo of the Yankee's big guns-those terrible engines which em- bodied to Indian superstition all the dread mysteries of hostile "medicine men." On hearing this portentous word, the women set up a wail, the children bawled out a wild accompaniment and the excitement grew every moment greater. By laying the car to the ground the Indians could hear the tread of the troops in Sullivan's camp. The day was misty and rainy by turns, but preparations for quitting their villages went actively forward, and in a brief space the few horses that could be collected were ready to begin the long journey

166

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

to Fort Niagara, whither the families were told to direct their pilgrim- age. Soon after their departure the shrill notes of a bugle, belonging, perhaps, to Boyd's party were borne to them upon the night air, creat- ing intense alarm among the fugitives. Kenjockety recollected that the Indians were followed next day for some distance by a small body of Yankees, but that they were protected by a detachment of British troops dressed in green uniform. This ended Kenjockety's relatior.

After the battle of Newtown, Butler and Brant with their demoraliz- ed forces sullenly retired, powerless to prevent the advance of the devastating army. Butler had reached the last Indian village of Can- awaugus, located on the west side of the Genesee, twelve miles north of the great Genesee Castle. Here he received reinforcements of reg- ulars from Niagara and determined to make one more effort against the invaders. Gathering all his available forces of regulars, Tories and Indians, he left Canawaugus on the morning of the 12th of September, and probably reached the position on the hill west of Kanaghsaws on the evening of the same day. Here they posted themselves north of the trail at the heads of the ravines, about three-fourths of a mile west of the bridge and a mile and a half from Kanaghsaws, from which point all the movements of the expeditionary forces were under the eye of Butler who, according to a British account, "lay undiscovered, though only a musket shot from the rebels, and even within sight." This was a most admirable position for an ambuscade, and the plan appears to have been to attack a portion of the army after it had crossed the bridge, or to ambuscade the head of the column while ascending the hill; but whatever may have been the original design, it was com- pletely frustrated by the fortunate movements of the unfortunate Boyd. It will be remembered that the army went into camp on the flats near Foot's Corners, two miles north of the vil- lage of Kanaghsaws. Boyd and his party passed through the abandoned Kanaghsaws and, pressing forward for nearly half a mile along the base of the hill, turned to the left and marched actively up the acclivity. The trail they were following divided; one path led to the abandoned Chenussio, the other and principally travelled one took a direction quite unexpected to them to an important town two. miles farther up the Canaseraga, the only one between the army and the Genesee. This was Gathtsegwarohare. The town was seven miles directly west of Kanaghsaws, on the cast side of Canaseraga Creek

Scene on westshore of Conesus Lake near head -The field in foreground was probably traversed by the Boyd scouting party on their ill-fated expedition.

167

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

about two miles above its confluence with the Genesee River. Here is a beautiful plateau of about six acres admirably adapted for an Indian town, at present occupied by the house and surrounding grounds of the widely known "Hermitage," the ancestral home of the Carrolls, and now the property of Major William A. Wadsworth. The town contained twenty-five houses, mostly new, and appears to have been lo- cated on both sides of the stream north of the residence. The tribe resid- ing here, called Squa-tche-gas by Sullivan, was the same that settled at Squakie Hill and to whom was reserved the two square miles in the Big Tree treaty of 1797. They were probably a remnant of one of the tribes of the historic Eries, occupying the territory to the south and east of Lake Erie, whose blood, language and league did not differ materially from the Iroquois Five Nations. As stated in a previous chapter, the Eries were finally overthrown about the year 1655 and a remnant was incorporated with the League. They were permitted to live by themselves, to have a separate council fire and keep up a show of tribal rites.

Boyd had passed Butler's right flank in the darkness, without either party having discovered the other, and early in the morning reached the town which the inhabitants had abandoned. Halting his party at the outskirts, he with one of his men made a reconnaissance of the town, after which they all concealed themselves in the adjoin- ing woods. From here he sent four' men back to camp to report his discoveries and waited for day-break. Soon four Indians were seen entering the town, one of whom was the wounded young warrior Sah-nah-dah-yah mentioned above. A ball from Mur- phy's rifle quickly sealed his fate, another was wounded but with the two others escaped. Murphy, as was his custom, took off the slain Indian's scalp, his thirty-third trophy. Boyd with

his entire party immediately set out for camp. Having gone about five miles and thinking the army must be on its march towards him, he halted and dispatched two of his men to inform the General where he was and that he would there await the coming of the army. These men shortly returned with the information that they had discov- ered five Indians on the path. Boyd then resumed the march, and had gone but a short distance when he discovered the same party and fired on them. They ran, and Boyd, against the advice of Ilanyerry, pur-

1. General Clark says two.

168

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY

suted them. The chase was kept up for some distance, the Indians alluring the scouting party to the enemy's lines, by allowing them to approach sufficiently close to draw their fire, but keeping out of danger. Butler, hearing the fight on his right, his force facing Conesus, and fearing that he had been discovered and that an attempt was being made to surprise his camp, hastened to the spot where he found Boyd's party still following the Indians. With- out being aware of their presence, Boyd was already in the fatal em- brace of the enemy and Butler had given such orders as to completely surround him. Twice he attempted to break the enemy's line, but with- out success. The odds were fearful-eight hundred of the Indians and Tories to twenty-five Americans-but the scouts determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible, and relief from our army, which was only about a mile distant, was expected every moment. Covered by a clump of trees, our men poured a murderous fire upon the enemy as they were closing around them, numbers of whom were seen to fall. "At the third onset of the Americans, the enemy's line was broken through, and Murphy, tumbling a huge warrior in the dust who obstructed his passage-even to the merriment of his dusky companions -led forward the little band. Boyd, justly supposing if any one escaped with his life it would be Murphy, determined to follow him ; but not being so fast a runner, he was soon overtaken and with him his Sergeant, Michael Parker. "1 Sullivan says that Boyd was shot through the body during the melee; if so, bis inability to escape is thus account - ed for. £ In all fifteen of Boyd's party, including Hanyerry, were slain2 and eight escaped.$

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.

History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches, Part 16

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen Number of Pages: 1422

Author: Doty, Lockwood R., 1858- [from old catalog] ed; Van Deusen, W. J., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Jackson, Mich., W. J. Van Deusen
Number of Pages: 1422