History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 8

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664

USA > New York > Fulton County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 8
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 8

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manding on the right, seeing the centre in such a critical situation, brought up reinforcements, and by his courage and skill restored order. He soon fell mortally wounded ; dismay seized the British soldiers, and a panic spread all along the line, which was increased by the appearance of Gene- ral Ten Broeck with a reinforcement of New York militia. Burgoyne finding himself unable to keep up the sinking courage of his men, aban- doned his artillery and ordered a retreat, and the whole force fell back precipitately to their intrenchments. The Americans pursued them, and scarcely were they within their fortifications when, under a terrific shower of grape and musket balls, Arnold assaulted them from right to left, forcing the outworks, and driving the enemy to the interior of their camp. Here he was overtaken by Major Armstrong, who delivered to him Gates' order to return to camp, fearing he "might do some rash thing." He returned, but not until he had achieved a glorious victory, and put his life in great peril without a command, while Gates had remained in camp, receiving the honors that justly belonged to others. Night came on and the con- flict ceased, and before dawn Burgoyne abandoned his encampment, now rendered untenable, and the Americans early in the morning took pos- session of it.

Burgoyne, who in the beginning of the campaign had boastfully ex- claimed, in general orders, "Britons never retreat," now found that there was no alternative for him but retreat, and when night came on again he began his retrograde movement in the midst of a drenching rain. This had been anticipated, and General Fellows, previous to the action on the 7th inst., had been sent with a detachment to take a position opposite Saratoga ford, on the east side of the Hudson. Another detachment of two thousand men, was now sent to occupy the heights beyond Saratoga, to prevent Burgoyne's retreat upon Fort Edward ; and still another was stationed at the ford ahove. On the evening of the 9th Burgoyne halted for the night at Fish Creek. The main portion of his army forded the creek and encamped on the opposite bank, while he, with a brigade as a guard, passed the night racher merrily with some companions in a house belonging to General Schuyler. This delay lost him his army. Finding the ford across the Hudson strongly guarded by the detachment under Fellows, he concluded to continue his retreat up the river to Fort Edward. He sent forward a party to repair the bridges, and a detach- ment to take possession of the fort, but finding the Americans stationed in force upon the heights, they fell back to the main army. In the after- noon of the Toth General Gates came up with the bulk of the American army in pursuit, and occupied the high ground on the south side of Fish Creek, opposite the enemy's encampment. The detachment sent forward to Fort Edward led General Gates to believe the rumor that the main army of Burgoyne had retreated, and he resolved to fall upon what he supposed was the rear guard. Burgoyne was aware of Gates' error, and hoping to profit by it, concealed his troops for the purpose of falling upon the Americans as soon as a favorable opportunity should be afforded. Early the next morning, and in a thick fog. which both parties coo- sidered favorable to their respective designs, the army of Gates advanced. Morgan was ordered to cross the creek and begin the action, and at once fell in with the British pickets, who fired upon him and killed several of his party. His reception led him to believe that the rumor of the enemy's retreat was false; that the main body of Burgoyne's force was still near, and that the position of his own corps was critical. Another brigade had already . rossed and captured a picket-guard, and another was about to follow, when a deserter from the enemy came in, reporting that the entire British army was at hand, and prepared for battle ; which statement was shortly after confirmed by the capture of a reconnoiter- ing party. As the fog cleared away and exposed the position of hoth armies, a retreat was deemed advisable by the detachments that hand crossed the creek. As soon as they turned about, the British, who were watching their movements and awaiting their advance, opened fire upon them, but they made their retreat with the loss of only a few men.

Burgoyne was now completely environed. On the opposite bank of the Hudson, Fellows was entrenched, with heavy batteries to open on him if he should attempt to cross the river. Fort Edward was held by an American force of two thousand men. On the south and west the main hody of the Americans was posted, while small detachments were in all directions watching his every movement, and continually harrassing his outposts. His provisions were almost exhausted, and none could be ob- tained, and it was extremely hazardous to attempt to get water from the river or creek. There was no place of safety for the sick and wounded.

BURGOYNE'S SURRENDER-AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE RECOGNIZED BY FRANCE.

and the women and children, as well as soldiers and officers, were con- stantly exposed to the cannon balls that were flying about the encamp- ment On the 12th he held a consultation with his generals, and it was decided to retreat that night, but the returning scouts brought such discouraging intelligence that the movement was postponed till morning. During the night the Americans crossed the river on rafts, and erected a battery on Burgoyne's left flank. Retreat was now hope- less. The next morning a general council was called, when it was unani- mously decided to open negotiations with General Gates for an honor- able surrender. This conclusion was hastened by the passage of a cannon ball across the table at which Burgoyne and other generals were seated. The negotiations were not completed until the 16th, when the terms of his surrender were agreed upon, and were to be signed by the commander on the following morning. During the night a Tory succeeded in reach- ing the British camp, from down the river, who reported that Clinton had taken the forts on the Hudson and ascended the river as far as Esopus. This news so excited Burgoyne's hopes that he resolved not to sign the articles of capitulation, and to gain time he wrote Gates that he had been informed that a part of his army had been sent toward Albany, which, if true, should be considered a breach of faith, and that he could not give his signature until convinced that the strength of the Americans had not been misrepresented. He was informed by Gates t this army was as strong as it had been before these negotiations took place, and unless the articles were signed immediately, he should open fire upon him. Burgoyne thereupon reluctantly signed the articles of capitulation.

The surrender of Burgoyne was of the utmost importance to the Ameri- cans in their struggle for independence, The preponderance of success, up to this time, had been on the side of the British. The reverses on Long Island and at New York in the previous year, together with the recent defeats in Pennsylvania, had darkened the military horizon with thick clouds of doubt and dismay. All eyes were now anxiously watching the army of the north, which had also been forced to relinquish Ticonderoga and Fort Edward at the commencement of the campaign, and shaded the prospect of successful resistance in that direction. The news of a com- plete victory filled the patriots with joy and hope, and appalled the Tories, who now began to tremble.

CHAPTER XII.

SIR HENRY CLINTON'S HUDSON RIVER CAMPAIGN-FRANCE RECOGNIZES THE UNITED STATES-WARS WITH THE INDIANS.

When Burgoyne first perceived the difficulties gathering around him, he urged Sir Henry Clinton to hasten the expedition up the Hudson to join him, but Clinton was obliged to wait for the arrival of reinforcements, and it was the 4th of October before he was ready to move. The first object to be accomplished was the reduction of Forts Montgomery and Clinton, in the Highlands. These had been constructed to prevent the ships of the enemy from ascending the river, and each was indefensible in its rear, and feebly garrisoned. Clinton landed first at Verplanck's Point, and under cover of a fog dropped down with a part of his force to Stony Point, where he landed, and marched toward the forts. These were commanded by Gov. George Clinton, and his brother, James. Governor Clinton, on learning that the enemy were moving up the river, sent out a scouting party to watch their movements, and from them he first learned of their having landed at Stony Point. A small force was then sent out by Gov. Clinton, which met the advance guard of the British about three miles out. Shots were exchanged, and the Americans retreated to the forts. Gov. Clinton then sent out a stronger detachment to oppose the enemy's advance, and as this was soon engaged in a sharp conflict, another was sent to its assist- ance. They were pressed back by a superior force, but not until the enemy had met with considerable loss U'pon nearing the forts the British were divided into two columns, and made a simultaneous assault upon them. After an incessant fire for several hours the British general demanded an instant and unconditional surrender. The proposition was rejected, and the conflict continued until evening, when part of the besieged fought their way out. Governor Clinton made his escape, and likewise his brother, though wounded. Fort Constitution was abandoned on the approach of the British, which gave them command of the river. A detachment, under Vaughn and Wallace, landed without much opposition, and burned Kings- ton. On hearing of the disastrous termmation of Burgoyne's campaign the expedition returned to New York.

It was obvious that France had no sympathy with Great Britain, but looked upon the revolt of her colonies with secret satisfaction, and earnestly desired their separation from England. By the war which closed in 1763 she had been compelled to relinquish her extensive possessions in North America, and she rejoiced to have an opportunity to assist in the infliction of a like dismemberment of territory upon Great Britain. The commis- sioners at the Court of Versailles, from the revolted colonies, although not always openly countenanced, were by no means discouraged, and aid was frequently extended to the Americans in a clandestine manner. When in- telligence of the capture of Burgoyne reached France, her vacillating policy ended, and, casting off all disguise, she entered into a treaty of alli- ance with, and on the 6th of February, 1778, acknowledged the indepen- dence of the United States. This event made the patriots almost certain of ultimate success.

The Indians and Tories, who had been dispersed at Fort Schuyler, were meditating mischief, and making preparations through the winter of 1877-8 to invade the Mohawk Valley. Brant, the Indian chief who had prepared the ambuscade at Oriskany, was foremost in these threatening movements. Sir John Johnson and Colonel John Butler were also active in enlisting Tory refugees. A council was called by the Revolutionary authorities, to secure, if possible, the neutrality of the Indians. It met at Johnstown in March. None of the Senecas, the most powerful of the Six Nations, were present, and but few of the Mohawks. General La Fayette, who was to command a proposed expedition against Canada, attended the council. His attention was called to the exposed condition of the settlements, and he directed the building and strengthening of fortifications for their protection. The first hostile movement of Brant was the destruction of the small settlement of Springfield, at the head of Otsego Lake. On the 2d of July an engagement occurred on the upper branch of the Cobleskill, be- tween an Indian force of four hundred and fifty, and fifty-two Americans. The latter were overpowered. The Indians burned the dwellings, and slaughtered the cattle and horses they could not take with them. The settlers generally were continually harrassed by marauding parties of Indians during the summer, but on the approach of winter, Brant withdrew with his forces toward Niagara, and hostilities apparently ceased. On his way to Niagara he was met by Walter Butler, a fugitive from justice. He had been arrested as a spy, and condemned to death, but had been re- prieved through the intercession of friends, sent to Albany, and con- fined in prison, from which he made his escape. He joined his father, Col. John Butler, at Niagara, and obtained the command of two hundred Tories, to unite with Brant in an incursion into the Mohawk Valley. Upon meeting Brant he prevailed upon him to return and attack the settlement of Cherry Valley. Colonel Alden, who was in command of the fort at that place, received information of the intended attack, but treated it with un- concern. He refused to permit the settlers to move into the fort, believ- ing it to be a false alarm. He, however, assured them that he would keep scouts on the look-out, to guard against surprise, and he did send them, but they fell into the hands of the savages, who extorted from them all necessary information respecting the situation. On the morning of the 11th of November the enemy entered the settlement, under cover of a thick and misty atmosphere, and began an indiscriminate slaughter of men, women, and children. The house of Mr. Wells, of which Colonel Alden was an inmate, was surrounded, and the whole family brutally massacred. The colonel, in attempting to escape, was tomahawked and scalped. Thirty- two of the inhabitants, mostly women and children, and sixteen soldiers of the garrison, were slain in the most horrible manner. The whole settle- ment was plundered, and every house burned. Nearly forty prisoner, were taken, and conducted down the valley to encamp for the night, promis. cuously huddled together, some of them half naked, without shelter, and no resting-place but the cold ground. The next day, finding the women and children cumbersome, the captors sent most of them back The infamous Butler was not only the author of this savage expedition, but he was the director of all the cruelty practiced. With the destruction of this settlement hostilities ceased along the frontier until the following spring.

Through the winter Brant and his colleagues were making preparations for a renewal of their incursions, and necessity seemed to demand the infliction of severe punishment upon the savages who threatened to deso- late the border settlements. Accordingly on the 18th of April, 1779, Col- onel Van Schaick was sent out with a force, from Fort Schuyler, to make a descent upon the Onondagas. They had approached to within a few miles of their villages and castle before their occupants were aware of the

OUTLINE HISTORY OF STATE OF NEW YORK.

expedition against them. The Indians fled to the woods, leaving every- thing behind them, even to their arms. Their villages, three in number, consisting of about fifty houses, were burned, and their provisions and cattle destroyed. The council-house, or castle, was spared from the flames, but a swivel found in it was rendered useless. Thirty-three of the Indians were taken prisoners, and twelve killed. The expedition then returned to Fort Schuyler, arriving on the 24th, having accomplished its object in six days, without the loss of a man. While this short campaign was in progress. the lower section of the Mohawk was visited at different points by scalping parties, and the settlements menaced with the fate of Cherry Valley. The Onondagas, fired with indignation at the destruction of their villages, re- taliated by a descent upon the settlement at Cobleskill, and more than twenty of the militia were killed in defending it. The settlement at Min- isink, being unprotected, Brant resolved to ravage it. On the night of the 19th of July, at the head of a party of Indians and Tories, disguised as savages, he silently approached the town and had set fire to several houses before the inhabitants were aroused to the danger of their situation. All who could sought safety in flight, Jeaving everything to the invaders, who plundered and destroyed all their property, and retired to Grassy Brook, where Brant had left the main body of his warriors. When intelligence of this outrage reached Goshen, Doctor Tusten, Colonel of the local militia, ordered them to meet him at Minisink, and one hundred and borty-nine responded to the call. A council was held, and it was resolved to pursue the invaders. Colonel Tusten was opposed to such a hazardous undertak- ing with so small a force, but he was overruled, and the line of march taken up. The next morning the pursuers were joined by Colonel Hathorn, with a small reinforcement. On coming to the place where the Indians had encamped the previous night, it was obvious from the number of camp-fires that the force was much larger than had been expected, and the leading officers advised return rather than pursuit, but their rash associates were determined to proceed. Soon after, Captain Tyler, who was with a scouting party, was shot by a hidden foe, but this circumstance, although it gave the company some alarm, did not check the pursuit. When the party reached the hills overlooking the Delaware, they saw the enemy marching toward the fording place near the mouth of the Lackawaxen. Hathorn determined to intercept them, and arranged his men accordingly. Hills intervened between the opposing forces, and they soon lost sight of each other. Brant was watching the movements of the whites, and antici- pating their design turned as soon as they were lost to view, and throwing his whole force in their rear, formed an ambuscade. Not finding the enemy where they expected, Hathorn's men were greatly perplexed, and retracing their steps discovered the Indians in an unexpected quarter and greatly superior in numbers. The latter managed to cut off from the main body of Hathorn's troops about one-third of his entire force in the com- mencement of the skirmish. From the summit of a hill the militia maintained the unequal conflict until their ammunition was exhausted, and then attempted to retreat, but only thirty succeeded in making their escape from their merciless enemies. When the retreat began, there were seventeen of the wounded behind a ledge of rocks under the care of Doctor Tusten, and in this helpless condition they were ruthlessly murdered, together with the doctor, by the Indians.

But a fearful retribution was at hand, and soon fell on the Indians with destructive force. In the spring it was determined to send a large expedi- tion into the Indian country, and so severely chastise the savages, and Tory allies as to discourage them from renewing their depredations upon the settlements. General Sullivan was placed in the chief command of this expedition, the plan of which was a combined movement in two divis- ions ; one from Pennsylvania, to ascend the Susquehanna, under Sullivan himself, and the other from the north, under General James Clinton. The two divisions were to unite at Fioga. On the 17th of June, General C'lin- ton commenced the transportation of his boats across the country from Canajoharie to Otsego Lake, and proceeded to its outlet, where he awaited orders from Sullivan. While there be built a dam to confine the water within the lake, hoping by its sudden removal to render the navigation of the river more certain in case of a long drought. This not only facilitated the transportation of his boats upon the river, but it caused an overflow of its banks and destroyed the corn-fiekls belonging to the Indians, who being ignorant of the cause of their loss were greatly astonished and alarmed. General Clinton formed a junction with Sullivan at Tioga on the 22d of August, and the combined force moved cautiously up the Tinga and Chemung. On the 29th the enemy were discovered occupying an advan-

tageous position near the present city of Elmira. The light infantry in the advance formed for battle, and while waiting for the main body to come up, skirmishing was carried on with small parties of Indians who would sally out from their works, fire, and retreat, and make the woods echo with their hideous war-whoops. The Indians occupied a hill on the right, and Sullivan ordered Poor, with his brigade to advance against them, while the main body of the army attacked them in front. As Poor began to ascend the hill he was fiercely opposed by the savages under Brant, and the Tories under Sir John Johnson. It was some hours before the latter began slowly to give way. Having gained the summit of the hill, Poor moved against the enemy's left flank, which he soon carried, and perceiving that they would be surrounded they abandoned their works and made a precipitate retreat. Sullivan's army encamped upon the battle- field that night, and the next day the wounded were sent back together with the heavy artillery, and the march was resumed toward Catharines- town, where the expedition arrived on the 2d of September ; on the follow- ing day the place was destroyed, together with the corn-fields and orchards. The Indians fled before the invaders, who continued their work of destruc- tion, pillaging the villages of their enemies and thus depriving them of all means of subsistence. On the 7th, Sullivan's army reached Kanadaseagea, the capital of the Senecas. This they destroyed, as well as all the smaller villages on their way to the Genesee river, which was reached and crossed on the 14th. The Genesee Castle was doomed to meet the fate of the rest, and the whole surrounding country, including the town which comprised 120 houses, was swept as with the besom of destruction. On the 16th the expedition recrossed the Genesee river, and retracing their steps, arrived at Tioga, the starting point, on the 3d of October. The Indians, although subjected to great suffering, were not wholly crushed by these severe losses. Their numerical force was but slightly reduced, and they retaliated upon the frontier settlements with savage vengeance when- ever a favorable opportunity offered.

CHAPTER XIII.

ARNOLD'S TREASON-CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION-ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION-INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Early in June of 1779, Sir Henry Clinton conducted an expedition up the Hudson, and attacked two small forts, one at Stony Point, on the west side of the river, and the other at Verplank's Point, nearly opposite. The former had only about forty men to defend it, and they retreated on the approach of the British ; but the latter, with its garrison of seventy men. resisted, and was captured. Washington much regretted the loss of these posts, and although they had been enlarged and strengthened after the British took possession of them, he resolved to make an effort to regain them. Stony Point was surprised on the night of the 15th of July follow- ing, and, after a short and fierce conflict, the garrison, of more than five hundred men, together with the cannon and military stores, were captured, and the works demolished and abandoned.

In the spring of 1780 Brant was again upon the war-path, and with a band of Indians and Tories, destroyed Harpersfield in April. It was his design to attack the upper fort of Schoharie, but on his way he captured Captain Harper, who represented to him that the fort had lately been rein- forced, and he returned to Niagara with his prisoners. Sir John Johnson, with a force of five hundred Tories and Indians, very unexpectedly ap- peared at Johnstown on the night of May 21, and the next day swept the country between that neighborhood and the Mohawk. Several persons were murdered, others taken prisoners, and all buildings not belonging to the Tories were burned. On the following afternoon the party retreated toward Canada. On the zist of Angust, Canajoharie and the adjacent settlements were att.u ked by Brant, at the head of a large body of Indian- and Tories, who did even more damage than Johnson's party.

General Benedict Arnold, wounded at the last battle with Burgoyne, and unable to take any active position, was appointed Military Governor of Philadelphia in the spring of 1778. Feeling the importance of his station, and fond of making a show, he began living in such an extrava- gant manner as to become pecuniarily embarrassed ; and rather than retrench, and live within his income, he resorted to a system of fraud which brought him into unpleasant relations with the citizens of Philadel- phia. By order of Congress he was tried before a court-martial, and sen- tenced to the mildest form of punishment-simply, a reprimand from the

TREASON OF ARNOLD-CAPTURE AND EXECUTION OF MAJOR ANDRE-CLOSE OF THE WAR.

Commander-in-chief. He appeared to acquiesce in the sentence, but his pride was wounded, aud he thirsted for revenge. While in Philadelphia he had married the daughter of a Tory residing in that place. She was accustomed to receive the attentions of British officers during their ocen- pancy of the city, and through her intimacy with Major Andre a corres- pondence had been initiated between him and Arnold, by which means his treacherous schemes were developed, and culminated in a most infamous treason. Still he was loud in his professions of patriotism and attachment to his country's cause, and pretended to be anxious to again join his com- panions in the field. He solicited the command of West Point, then the most important post in the possession of the Americans. Washington had assigned him to the command of the left wing of the army, but upon his repeated and earnest request, the command of West Point was given him instead on the 3d of August, 1780. He established his head-quarters on the opposite side of the river, at the house of Colonel Beverly Robinson, whose property had been confiscated on account of his espousal of the British cause. Arnold well knew that Sir Henry Clinton would richly re- ward him for being instrumental in placing West Point in his hands, and hinted as much to Major Andre, between whom and himself letters passed in disguised hand-writing, and over fictitious signatures. In order to settle the terms of this infamous treachery it became necessary for Sir Henry Clinton to send Major Andre for a personal interview with Arnold, not only to agree upon the conditions of his contemplated surrender, but to guard against a counterplot. Major Andre sailed up the Hudson on board of the Vulture, and a meeting was finally effected. Near the village of Hav- erstraw resided Joshua H. Smith, who was duped by Arnold to assist in carrying out his designs. It was he that brought Major Andre on shore, where Arnold was awaiting him, and concealed in a thicket they plotted the ruin of the patriot cause from about midnight until day began to dawn, and then repaired to Smith's house to complete their plans. Arnold was to receive ten thousand pounds and the office of Brigadier-General in the British army, while West Point was to be given up on the approach of the English fleet. Major Andre was supplied with papers explaining the mili- tary condition of the fort, which were concealed in his stockings; while a pass was given him under the name of John Anderson. In the morning a cannonade was opened upon the Vulture, and she was obliged to fall far- ther down the river, which reminded Andre of the fact that he was within the American lines. Smith's fears were so much aroused that he refused to convey him by boat to the Vulture, but offered to accompany him a con- siderable distance by a land route. They crossed the river and proceeded toward White Plains. Near Pines Bridge they parted, and Andre continued his journey alone. When near Tarrytown he was stopped by three militia- men, who were watching for stragglers from the British lines. From what they said to him he was led to believe they were loyalists, whereupon he avowed himself a British officer, but upon discovering his mistake he pre- sented Arnold's pass, and endeavored to explain his previous statements; they insisted upon searching him, and he was forced to submit, and the important papers were found. His liberal offers of money, if they would release him, were of no avail, and he was conducted to the nearest mili- tary post.

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 8

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub Publication date: 1878 Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 664

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664