USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 17
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Murphy, as he found the path unobstructed, exclaimed in hearing of the enemy, "Clear again, Tim., by -," shaking his fist at the same time at his pursuers.' He now pressed forward in the direction of the army, and soon observed that he was pursued by only two
1. Captain John Salmon's account.
2. Among the slain were Nicholas Hungerman, Sergeant in Captain Mears' Company, and the following privates of this regiment, viz: John Conrey, William Fanghey, William Harvey, James Meklroy and John Miller; also John Putnam, mentioned later in the text, and Benjamin Curtin (or Custin) of Schoharie.
3. Here again there is disagreement among the journalists of the expedition a- to numbers, which it is impossible to reconcile.
Mr. Treat's Oration.
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Indians, a tall and a short one. As they neared him from time to time, he pointed toward them with his well known but now unloaded rifle, and they, at every menace, slackened their pace. His mocca- sins, taken in the morning from the dead Indian, were growing too tight for comfort, and while under full headway he opened his knife and cut away the thongs which bound them about his feet and ankles. the blade accidentally entering and severely wounding his flesh. Shortly after this he reached a swale, where, his feet becoming en- tangled in the long grass and rank weeds, he fell. The spot proved fa- vorable for concealment and he did not immediately rise. His pursuers soon broke over a knoll so as to gain a view of the grass plot, and not discovering him, although he did them, they altered their course. Murphy now loaded his rifle and cautiously proceeded on his way to the camp. He well knew his fate if taken prisoner with the Indian's scalp in his pocket and the moccasins on his feet. Again setting forward, he soon found himself headed by an Indian. The discovery was instant and mutual and each took to a tree. After dodging each other for some time Murphy drew his ramrod, placed his hat upon it and quietly pushed it a few inches beyond the tree. The Indian, supposing it contained a head, fired a ball through it. The hat drop- ped, and running up to scalp his man the savage received the bullet of Murphy's rifle through his breast, and as he fell dead exclaimed, "()-wah. "1
I. Murphy's life deserves a hook to give his exploits at full length. The Schoharie valley is full of traditions of his bravery and daring. It would he difficult to magnify his astonishing skill with the rifle, or his courage and address as a horder fighter. He is buried on the farm he had owned near Middleburgh. The Onistegrawa mountain, whose sides often echoed back the sharp ring of his death-dealing rifle, looks down upon his humble resting place. His simple tombstone bears this inscription :
"Here, too, this warrior sire with honor rests, Who braved in freedom's cause his valiant breast, Sprang from his half-drawn furrow as the cry Of threatened liberty came thrilling by. *
* * * * Lo, here he rests, who every danger braved, Marked and honored, mid the soil he saved."
He died June 27, ISIS, aged 67 years.
"After the battle of Monmouth, in 177s, Morgan's riflemen were sent to protect the settlement- near Schoharie. Among those whose term of service had expired before the autumn of ';y was the hold Virginian, Timothy Murphy. Instead of returning home, he enlisted in the militia, and con tinned to wage a desultory war against the savages then hovering over the Mohawk settlements. By his fearless intrepidity, his swiftness of foot, his promptness for every hazardous enterprise. he was, though a mere private, entrusted with the management of every scouting party sent out
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Murphy, David Ellerson, Edward McDonald, John Youse. Garret Putnam of Fort Hunter, afterwards in command of a spirited com- pany of rangers in the Mohawk valley, a French Canadian and two others regained the American camp. Putnam and the Canadian secreted themselves early in the flight under a fallen tree around which was growing a quantity of thrifty nettles, and thus escaped observation, although the two Indians in pursuit of Murphy passed over the log.
John Putnam, a cousin of Garret above named, also from the vicinity of Fort Hunter, lost his life in this affair. At his burial it was found that he had been shot while in the act of firing, as a ball and several buckshot had entered the right armpit without injuring the arm. A soldier named Benjamin Curtin (or Custin), who belonged to the troops from Schoharie, attempted to follow Murphy, but was overtaken and slain after he had killed his first antagonist in a hand- to-hand encounter. Poor Hanyerry, who had performed marvels of valor in the conflict of Oriskany, and who had rendered the American cause much real service, fell in this ambuscade, and was found literally hacked to pieces.
While this tragedy was transpiring almost within rifle shot. the army, ignorant of the cause of delay. was uneasily watching for the return of the scouting party. As hour followed hour and still they
le always carried a favorite double rifle, an object of the greatest terror to the Indians, who for a long while were awe-struck at its two successive discharges. In the hands of so skillful a marks- man, the greatest execution always followed its unerring aim. He had been several times sur- prised by small Indian parties; but with remarkable good fortune had as often escaped. When the savages had learned the mystery of his double rifle knowing that he must reload after the second discharge, they were careful not to expose themselves until he had twice fired. Once when separated from his troops he was surrounded by a large party of savages. Instantly he struck down the nearest foe and fed at his utmost speed. Being hard pushed by one runner, whom alone he had not ontstripped in the flight, he suddenly turned and shot him on the spot. Stopping to strip his fallen pursner, he saw another close upon him. He seized the rifle of the dead Indian, and brought down his victim. The savages, supposing all danger now passed, rushed heedlessly on with yells of frantic rage. When nearly exhausted, he again turned, and with the undischarg. ed barrel, fired, and the third pursner fell. With savage wonder the other Indians were riveted to the spot; and exclaiming that 'he could fire all day without reloading,' gave over the pursuit. From that hour, Murphy was regarded by the savages as possessing a charmed life. When Clinton passed along the Mohawk, on his way to Tioga Point, he again joined his rifle corps, to share the dangers of the march into the wilderness."-Treat's Oration.
Murphy was a member of Captain Michael Simpson's riffe company, in Col. Butler's regiment. Lient. Boyd was also an officer of this company. John Salmon, late of Groveland, likewise served in the same company. In the autumn of 177s, after the battle of Monmouth, Morgan's riflemen, to which Simpson's company belonged, marched to Schoharie to go into winter quarter -. It was here that the orders to proceed to the Indian country found them the following spring.
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came not vagne fears of evil began to be entertained. Sullivan had carefully estimated the time necessary for their return march, and again called up and questioned the four messengers who had arrived in the morning from Boyd, anxiously looking meanwhile for his brave Lieutenant or further tidings from him. The first hint of the danger reached Sullivan through the party still engaged at the bridge, and was doubtless brought by Murphy, who preceded the others. From this source the General was informed that Boyd and most of his de- tachment had been surrounded a short distance beyond the hill by the enemy in overwhelming numbers.
General Sullivan had established a line of sentries along the base of the hill next the morass to guard the pioneers against surprise while repairing the bridge. Benjamin Lodge, who was the surveyor for the expedition, and with chain and compass had measured the entire route from Easton, had, about half an hour after the fight on the hill, gone a short distance beyond the picket line, when he was set upon by a party of Indians, who were pursuing the fugitives of the scouting party. Thomas Grant, one of the surveying party, thus tells the story: "Myself and four chain carriers who were about one and a half miles advanced of the troops, were fired on by several Indians who lay in ambush; a corporal by the name of Calhawn, who came voluntarily with me, was mortally wounded and died the next day. The Indians pursued us a fourth of a mile, but without success. We being unarmed were obliged to run." Lieut. Lodge was com- pelled to leave his compass and run toward the nearest sentinel, who shot the Indian chasing him with upturned tomahawk and Lieut. Lodge escaped. General Sullivan ordered Hand's Brigade to cross the morass, push up the hill and dislodge the enemy.
Butler on returning to his forces on the crest of the hill found them in confusion, and, discovering the preparations made to attack them, he beat a hasty retreat, leaving hats, packs, etc., behind. Being thus thwarted in his plans to surprise the army, he withdrew his forces to Gathtsegwarohare and thence to Can- awaugus. General Iland remained on the hill in line of battle until the army had crossed and formed for the advance up the hill.
Having destroyed Kanaghsaws and completed the bridge across the creek, General Sullivan pushed forward on the trail taken by Boyd the night before to Gathtsegwarohare.
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Boyd and Sergeant Parker were hurried forward, immediately after the affair, with the retiring enemy to the vicinity of Beardstown. On finding himself a prisoner, the Lieutenant, it is said, though the truth of the account may be accepted with much reservation, "obtained an interview with Brant, who, as well as Boyd, was a freemason. After the magic signs of brotherhood were exchanged, Brant assured him that he should not be injured. But Brant not long after being called off on some enterprise, the prisoners were left in charge of Walter Butler, who, placing them on their knees before him, a warrior on each side firmly grasping their arms, a third at their backs with tomahawk upraised, began to interrogate them about the purposes of General Sullivan, threatening them with savage tortures if true and ready answers were not given. Boyd, believing the assurances of Brant ample for his safety, and too high minded in any situation to betray his country, refused, as did Parker, to reply"1 to questions touching the more immediate purposes of the army. The more than savage Butler was true to his threat, and when the prisoners peremp- torily refused to answer he handed them over to Little Beard and his warriors, who were already full of vindictiveness. The prisoners were seized, stripped and bound to trees; then commenced a series of horrid cruelties, directed especially against Boyd. When all was ready Little Beard lifted his hatchet, stained with recent blood, and with steady an sent it whistling through the air. In an instant it quivered within a hair's breadth of the Lieutenant's devoted head. The younger Indians were now permitted to follow the Chief's example, and from right, front and left their bright tomahawks cleave the air and tremble about the unflinching persons of the victims. Wearied at length of this work, a single blow severed Parker's head from his body and mercifully ended his misery. Poor Boyd, however was reserved for a worse fate. An incision was made in his abdomen and a severed intestine was fastened to a tree. He was then scourged with prickly ash boughs, and compelled to move around until the pain became so exquisite that he could go no further .? Again pinioned,
1. Treat's Oration.
2 "If I mistake not," says Treat's oration, "it was Judge Jone, who informed me that when his father, the late . Captain Horatio Jones, visited the spot a few years afterwards he found the intestines still wound around the tree." This supposed tree called Boyd's Oak, is still standing.
Tradition has made this Oak, near the Boyd and Parker Mound, one of the Instruments of Boyd's Torture.
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his mouth was enlarged with a knife, his nails dug out, Ins tongue cut away, his ears severed from head, his nose hewn off and thrust into his mouth, his eyes dug out and the flesh cut from his shoulders, and, when sinking in death after these enormities, he was decapitated and his disfigured head raised by the frenzied savages upon a sharpened pole. Thus fell a brave young soldier, whose life possesses more than ordinary material for a romance. 1
As the advance of the army approached the town of Gathtsegwaro- hare about dusk of September 13th, they found themselves confronted by a strong force of Indians and rangers, drawn up in battle array to dispute their further progress. The infantry and artillery were at once pushed to the front. Maxwell's brigade with the left flanking division were directed to gain the enemy's right, and Poor's brigade to move round to their left, while the right flanking division and two regiments from Clinton's brigade moved to Poor's right flank. The infantry were prepared to rush on in front supported by the remainder of Clinton's brigade. Thus disposed, the army moved forward and took possession of the town without opposition, the enemy retreating across Canaseraga creek, through a thicket where it was impossible for the army to follow. Word was now passed to encamp for the night.
On the morning of Tuesday, the 14th, parties were ordered out to destroy the corn, found in great plenty about Canaseraga, which they did by plucking the ears and throwing them into the river. About eleven o'clock, after having fired all the huts in the village, the army resumed march for the great Genesee town. After crossing Canaser- aga creek at the fording place, they moved through a small grove and then over a "considerable swamp, and formed on a plain on the other side, the most extensive I ever saw," says Colonel Hubley, "contain- ing not less than six thousand acres of the richest soil that can be con- eeived, not having a bush standing, but filled with grass considerably
1. I.ient. Boyd was a native of Northumberland County, Pa. He was of ordinary height, strongly built, fine looking and very sociable and agreeable in his manners, qualities which gained him many friends in Schoharie.
He was born in 1757. His father and only sister died before the Revolution. His mother sent her three sons into the field, with the parting injunction, says Major VanCampen, "never to ili -- grace their swords by an act of cowardice, or by a moment's fear or reluctance when called to the defense of home and freedom." Lieut. Wmn. Boyd, the second son, fell at Brandywine, in 1777. Thomas, who was the youngest, was at the surrender of Burgoyne and at the battle of Mon- mouth, before joining Sullivan. He went to Schoharie in the autumn of 1778, under Major Posey, whose command consisted, it is believed, of three companies of Morgan's celebrated rifle corps, under Captains Long, Pear and Simpson. Boyd belonged to the latter company.
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higher than a man. We moved up this plain for about three miles, in our regular line of march, a beautiful sight. indeed, as a view of the whole could be had at one look, and then came to the Genesee river, at the fording place, which we crossed, being about forty yards over and near middle deep, and then ascended a rising ground, which afforded a prospect so beautiful that to attempt a comparison would be doing injury, as we had a view as far as the eyes could carry us of another plain besides the one we crossed, through which the river formed a most graceful winding, and, at intervals, cataracts which rolled from the rocks and emptied into the river." The army itself presented a novel appearance as it moved in regular order through the rank grass. which grew so thick that motion was slow. Often nothing could be seen but the guns of the soldiers above the grass. Passing next over a rougher section the advance troops arrived about sunset at the "Capital town," or Little Beard's village, which was much the largest Indian town met with in the whole route. Here they encamped. The fires in some of the Indian huts were yet fresh. Sullivan says of it: "We reached the Castle, which consisted of one hundred and twenty-eight houses, mostly very large and elegant. The place was beautifully situated. almost encircled with a cleared flat which extended for a number of miles, where the most extensive fields of corn were and every kind of vegetable that can be conceived." The location of this great Genesee Castle, the "Western Door of the Long House," was on the west side of the Genesee river, on the flat immediately in front of Cuylerville. It appears on Evans's map as Chenandoanes; in 1778 it was called Chen- ondanah; by Morgan it is called De-o-nun-da-ga-a, a Seneca name sig- nifying "where the hill is near." but more often it is called Little Beard's Town, from the name of the noted chief who resided there in 1779.
Just before quartering here, Paul Sanborn, afterwards for many years a resident of Conesus, then a private soldier on the extreme right of Clinton's brigade, was moving with his detachment and, as it wheeled quickly around in the direction of the village, he discovered the headless corpse of Boyd. Leaping over this, Sanborn alighted beside that of Parker's, as it lay in the long grass. At once making known his dis- covery, the remains were placed under guard of Captain Michael Simpson's rifle company, to which both Boyd and Parker belonged, and that evening the mutilated bodies and disfigured heads of these
Burial Mound of Boyd and Parker, Showing where the Creek has cut it Away
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heroic men were buried with military honors under a wild plum tree which grew near the junction of two small streams, formally named at the meeting in Cuylerville in 1841, hereinafter described, Boyd's creek and Parker's creek, respectively. The heads of these two men were at once recognized by their companions, to whom Boyd's features were so familiar, and Parker's was identified beyond doubt from a scar on his face and his broken front teeth. Major Parr, who com- manded the rifle battalion to which Boyd's company belonged, was present at the burial; and John Salmon, late of Groveland, then a private in Captain Simpson's company, assisted on the occasion.1
On Wednesday morning, September 15th, at six o'clock the whole army were set to the work of destroying the orchards (one of which, it is asserted. contained 1,600 trees), the crops of corn, beans, potatoes and other vegetables. The corn was collected and burned in kilns. It is said that ears were found here measuring 22 inches in length. Colonel Hubley says the crops "were in quantity immense, and in goodness unequalled by any I ever saw. Agreeable to a moderate calculation, there was not less than 200 acres, the whole of which was pulled up and piled in large heaps, mixed with dry wood taken from the houses and consumed to ashes. "2
"By three o'clock in the afternoon, " says Col. Hubley, "the work was finished, the total ruin of the Indian settlements and the destruc- tion of their crops was completed. "3 General Sullivan here issued an order during the day, announcing to the "brave and resolute army,"' that the immediate object of the expedition was secured, acknowledg- ing his obligation alike to officers and soldiers, whose virtues and for- titude had enabled him to effect so much, and assuring them that "he
1. A rude mound partly worn away now marks the spot of the burial, which is close by the present hridge across Beard's creek, on the road from Geneseo to Cuylerville. Beard's creek is formed hy the two streams, Boyd's creek and Parker's creek, referred to ahove. The old Cuyler- ville grist mill yet stands a few rods west of the mound.
2. See appendix No. " for Major VanCampen's letter- to Judge Treat.
3. Several writers claim that Canawangus, on the west side, and Big Tree on the east side of the river were destroyed in this campaign. No reliable authority has been furnished in support of the theory. Sullivan says distinctly that he went no farther than the Great Town. beyond which, as he was informed, there was no settlement, and no villages are mentioned in any account as existing on the east side of the river, nor is mention made of any portion of the army heing on that side; on the contrary, several mention the fact that all the army were engaged in the destruction of the town and cornfields, and when completed at 3o'clock on the afternoon of the 15th, the whole army came to an about face, and returned on the same route and in the same order in which they advanced. Butler left Canawaugus on the morning of the 15th for Niagara
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would not fail to inform America at large how much they stand in- debted to them." The order closed by directing that "the army will this day commence its march for Tioga." Eighteen days had now elapsed since it left Newtown on its way thither, during which time forty Indian towns, large and small, had been destroyed, together with 160.000 bushels of corn and a "vast quantity of vegetables of every kind."
While the army remained at this town, Mrs. Lester with a child in her arms came to our troops. On November 7th previous her hus- band with others was captured near Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, by the Indians; he was slain and his wife was carried into captivity. In their haste to escape from our army, her captors left her behind and she escaped to our lines. Her child died a few days later. She sub- sequently became the wife of Captain Roswell Franklin, who was in the first party that settled Aurora, on Cayuga lake.
A few of the leading Indians lingered near their beautiful homes while the work of destruction was in progress. President Dwight relates an incident in this connection. The Seneca chief, Big Tree, whom he describes as a man of lofty character and dignified deport- ment, had strenuously urged his countrymen to observe a strict neu- trality, but without success. This chieftain stood with others, on an elevated spot and saw his own possessions destroyed. "You see how the Americans treat their friends," said some of those around him, favorable to.Great Britain. "What I see," calmly replied the chief, "is only the common fortune of war. It cannot be supposed that the Americans can distinguish my property from yours, who are their enemies. ")
The Indian warriors and their allies, together with 150 British reg- ulars from Niagara, by whom they had been reinforced on the eve of quitting the Genesee. fled to Fort Niagara, which they reached on the 18th of September. Meantime, the Indian women, children and old men were flocking thither from their burning towns, and, as the plain far and near became covered with knots of fugitives, it strikingly resembled, says an eye witness, the diversified landscape formed by groups returning from an English fair.2
1. This incident is also located at Kanaghsaws.
2. Ketchum's Buffalo, Vol. 11, appendix, p. 339.
Burial Mound of Boyd and Parker at Cuylerville.
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Temporary homes in a few days were provided elsewhere for these refugees, but, as they still expected that British arms would triumph and their homes would be restored, they refused to quit the protection offered by the fort. Indeed, the Senecas were now urged to make their future dwelling place in Canada, but they continued to remain here until the following spring, when the larger remnant of the tribe settled near Buffalo creek.
Scanty supplies awaited the fugitive Indians at Niagara, and the winter was remarkably cold, the snow very deep and multitudes of deer and other animals perished from starvation. The refugees, fed on salted provisions, a diet so new to them, suffered from scurvy, of which they died in great numbers.
The army set out on its return on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 15th, on the same route by which it had advanced. The bodies of the slain of Boyd's scouting party were found on the 16th by Captain William Henderson, of the 4th Pennsylvania regiment, who with sixty men had been detailed to search for them, and buried with mili- tary honors, that of Hanyerry with the others. The return march was continued without special incident to Easton, Pennsylvania, where the troops went into temporary quarters.
The intelligence of the success of the expedition preceded the army, and everywhere it was received with tokens of gratitude. Congratu- latory addresses were voted by corporations to officers and men; mili- tary bodies complimented them, and the Continental Congress, on motion of Elbridge Gerry, resolved that its thanks "be given to his excellency General Washington for directing, and to Major-General Sullivan and the brave officers and soldiers under his command for effectually executing, an important expedition against such of the Indian nations as, encouraged by the councils and conducted by the officers of his Britannic Majesty, have perfidiously waged an unpro- voked and cruel war against the United States, laid waste many of their defenceless towns, and with savage barbarity slaughtered the inhabitants thereof." It was further resolved, "that it will be proper to set apart the second Thursday in December next, as a day of Gen- eral Thanksgiving in these United States, and that a committee of four be appointed to prepare a recommendation to the said United States for this purpose." The proclamation in fitting language owns the hand of Providence, in "that He had gone out with those who went
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