History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 25

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 25

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" KINGSTON, July 21, 1777.

" DEAR MonnIs,-The situation in Tyron County is both shameful and alarming. Such abject Jejeetion and despondency as mark the letters we have received from thence disgrace human nature. God koows what tu do with them or for them. Were they alone interested io their fate, I should be for leaving their cart in the slough till they would put their shoulders to the wheel.

"Schuyler has his enemies here, and they use these things to his disadvantage. Suspicions of his having been privy to the evacua-

# The following ext net from an orderly-book, captured at the time of Colonel Willett's >or.ie at Fort Stanwix, explains this point :

" BUCK's ISLAND, July 12, 1777.

" His Majesty has been pleased to appoint Colonel Clans to be Su- perintendent of the Iodiau Department for this expedition."

Buck's Island, mentioned above, lies in the St. Lawrence River, at the outlet of Lake Ontario, and was the rendezvous of St. Leger's foree when preparing for the Muhawk expedition .- [ IHISTORIAN.] 13

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

tion of Ticonderoga sprend wide; and twenty little circumstances, which perhaps arc false, are trumped up to give color to the conjec- ture. We could wish that your letters toight contain paragraphs for the public. We are silent because we have nothing to say ; and the people suspect the worst because we say nothing. Their curiosity must he constantly gratified, or they will be uneasy.

"Indeed, I do not wonder at their impatience, the late Northern events having been such as to have occasioned alarm and suspicion. I have not leisure to add anything more than that I am, very sin- cerely, yours, ctc., JOHN JAY."

In a note to this letter Colonel Stone makes the following just comments upon the treatment of General Schuyler :

" There was probably no officer in the service, the commander-in- chief alone excepted, who was considered by the enemy so great an obstacle to the success of their arins. A narrow sectional prejudice existed against him in New England. The failure of the Canadian campaign had been most wrongfully attributed to him in 1776; and with equal injustice the fall of Ticonderoga was now charged to his remissness by his own countrymen. The enemy were not slow to avail themselves of these prejudices and groundless imputations, and through the agency of the Tories the most artful and insidious means were employed to destroy the public confidence in his integrity and capacity. The flame of suspicion was fanned by them until it be- came general, and was openly avowed. Committees, towns, and dis- tricts assembled and passed resolves expressing their distrust in him, and both Congress and the Provincial Legislature of New York were addressed upon the subject. General Schuyler-than whom there was not a truer patriot, nor a more carnest and active io the public service, was well aware of these movements. To a committee of the Provincial Congress, who had formally communicated the charges to him, he returned an answer worthy a brave and mag- nanimous soldier. The character of this answer will be understood from this single sentence : ' We must bear with the caprice, jealousy, and envy of our misguided friends, and pity them.'"

There was trouble in every direction. The loyalists in the vicinity of Ballston were in arms, and the spirit of dis- affection had spread even to the troops in the field. Colonel Robert Van Rensselaer wrote a friend in April that his men were not trustworthy, and that numbers of them had taken the oath of allegianee to Great Britain. Seventeen had been arrested and were then in confinement. Early in May the Scotch Roman Catholics remaining about Johns- town had fled to Canada, accompanied by a few loyalist Germans, all headed by two men named MeDonald, whom General Schuyler had permitted to visit their families.

The wives and families of the Tories were in correspond- ence with their husbands and friends, and matters finally became so serious that some four hundred of these people were arrested and removed from their homes to places where correspondence was impossible. This harsh measure was approved by General Herkimer and his officers.

Alarming reports respecting the movements of the enemy were constantly in circulation, and the inhabitants had no rest from military duty. If any labor was undertaken in the field, it was necessary to have a guard upon the look- out. Nobody felt secure; and to crown all the evils press- ing upon them, numbers of the men were stealing away and joining the ranks of the enemy. In the midst of this state of things, the country was called upon to reinforce Fort Schuyler, though at the very time when this call was made the Committees of Safety of Palatine and Schoharie were calling on the Council of Safety at Albany for pro- tection. Mr. Paris wrote repeatedly on the subject, and the Schoharie committee wrote on the 17th of July, that

" the late advantages gained by the enemy had such an effect, that many who had been counted as friends of the State were drawing back. Our situation," said they, "is deplorable,-excepting those who have sought protection from the enemy. We are entirely open to the Indians and Tories, whom we expect every hour to come upon us. Part of our militia are at Fort Edward; and of the few that are bere, many are unwilling to take up arms to defend themselves, as they are unable to stand against so many enemies. Therefore if your booors do not grant us immediate relief to the amount of about five hundred men, we mast either fall a prey to the enemy or take pro- tection also."

On the 18th of July, General Schuyler wrote the Hon. Pierre Van Courtlandt, from Saratoga, and again on the 21st from Fort Edward, to the same effect.

" I am exceedingly chagrined," says he, " at the pusillanimous spirit which prevails in the County of Tryon. I apprehend much of it is to be attributed to the iofidelity of the leading persons of that quarter. If I had one thousand regular troops, in addition to those now above and on the march, I should venture to keep only every third man of the militia, and would send them dowo.

" The substance of Colonel Harper's information had been trans- mitted about a month ago. Io consequence whereof, I sent Colonel Van Schaick into Tryon County, with as many troops as I could collect. After the improper agreement made by General Herkimer,* these troops were marched back ; but as soon as I was informed of the march, I ordered them to remain in Tryon County, where they are still, and I have sent up Colonel Wesson's regiment to reinforce them. But if I may be allowed to judge of the temper of General Herkimer and the committee of Tryon County, from their letters to me, nothing will satisfy them unless I march the whole army into that quarter. With deference to the better judgment of the Conacil of Safety, I cannot, by any means, think it prudent to bring on no open rupture with the savages at the present time. The inhabitants of Tryon County are already too much inclined to lay down their arms, and take whatever terms the enemy mny please to nfford them. Half the militia from this (Tryon ) County, aod the neighboring State of Massachusetts, we have been under the necessity of dismissing ; but the whole should go. I enclose you the proceedings of a council of general affairs, held at this place on the 20th inst. You will per- ceive that we have been driven to the necessity of allowing some of the militia to return to their plantations. The remainder have prom- ised to remain three weeks looger,-that is to say, unless they choose to return soooer, which will doubtless be the case, and for which they have many reasons."

In a letter to the Committee of Safety, dated July 24, 1777, the general says,-

" If Burgoyne can penetrate to Albany, the force which is certainly coming hy way of Oswego will find no difficulty in reaching the Mo- hawk River; and, being arrived there, will be joined by Tories not only, but hy every person that finds himself capable of removing and wishes to make bis peace with the cnemy, and by the whole body of the Six Nations."

The following letter, written during the campaign of General Burgoyne, and when the prospect of success for the American arms was anything but encouraging, is sup- posed to have been from the pen of Rutger Bleecker, of Albany. It was found among the papers of Hon. Morris S. Miller, who married a daughter of Mr. Bleecker. Mr. John Elmendorph, to whom it was directed, was afterwards the executor of Mr. Bleecker's estate, and was then residing at Kingston.

The letter graphically portrays the military situation, and the feeling among the people :

"ALBANY, IItb August, 1777.

" DEAR SIR,-My wife and children are this minute gone to the IIellebergh, with my father and mother. I intend to stay in my

# Referring to the meeting between Herkimer aud Brant, at Una- dilla.

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

house uatil I see the enemy approach towards the eity. If the northere department had but been committed to the care of the 4th New York Regiment, I believe they would have made such a defense ng the world would have deemed manly and vigorous (iustance Fort Staowix)." The bearer is able to give you more minute particulars of our distress and dangerous situation than I can possibly recollect ia the course of writing this letter. It's the Tories are here, the sav- nges youder, and the regulars there. Our forlorn hope is at Still- Water, daily diminishing, and ne prospect of a sufficient reinforce- ment; and unless 5000 able-bodied troops are here within a week, this place must, I think, inevitably fall into the hands of General Borgoyoe, wheo God help us from the cruel massacres of the savages. Behold the difference between foreign and civil wars. You have been repeatedly requesting me to come to your house. I must thank your family for the offer, but we remain under the sarde fear and apprehen- sioos which we at preseot labor under. My view is to get to a place which is out of the course of the enemy's object. Yva lay in the stream, and, moreover, this province, or State, is deeincd by some members of the Convention of se little consequence in the present dispute that it's scarce worth defendiog. Then where is the use of our leaving one part for another, when the whole is of so little weight ? Yet our all is in it; we cannot all pussibly leave it ; the Congress ennnot, or at least do not, protect it. It follows, we must trust to the wvercy and generosity of the conqueror. Do you recollect ia Virgil's 9th Pastoral-

"'O Lycides, at last the time is come, I never thought to see- (Strange revolution for my farm and me), When the grim captain, in a surly tone, Cries out, pack up, ye rascals, and be gone ! Kick'l out, we set the best face on't we could; And these two kids, to appease his angry mood, I bear; of which the Furies give him good.'

" We must look up to the Director of the Universe, who can soon check the whole; may he protect us all! Adieu, my dear friend, But alas ! my poor helpless infants. The ideas and shocking apprelien- sions that haunt me eoccerning them and woy wife torment my heart and soul.

"I am yours, etc., R. B.t

" To MR. JOHN ELMENNODPH, Kingston."

General Schuyler had just reasons for complaint, and the situation was anything but encouraging ; but no man was better fitted for a difficult position, and he bore all the contumely and abuse without betraying himself into any useless display of resentment. Both the regular troops of the Continental army and the militia seemed to have lost all courage and interest, and every possible excuse was made to avoid active service. Out of two hundred militia ordered to join the garrison at Fort Stanwix only a small part obeyed, and two companies of regulars, ordered upon the same service, very reluctantly did so, complaining that scouting service had unfitted them for garrison duty.#

Under these depressing circumstances the various Com- mittees of Safety had a difficult duty to perform. "Tryon County had early espoused the cause of freedom, and appa- rently with greater unanimity than any other county in the State; and the extensive defection, or criminal apathy, which we have just been contemplating, was altogether unexpected."§

But the end was near, for a crisis was at hand which of necessity compelled immediate action in one direction or the other.

General Herkimer took the initiative, and on the 17th of July issued the following stirring proclamation :

" Whereas, It appears certain that the enemy, ahout 2000 strong, Christians and savages, are arrived at Oswego, with the intentioa to invade our frontiers, I think it proper and most necessary for the defense of our country, and it shall he ordered by me as soon as the enemy approaches, that every male person, being in health, from six- teen to sixty years of age, in this couoty, shall, as in daty bound, repair immediately, with arms and accoutremcots, to the place to be appointed in my orders, and will then march to oppose the enemy with vigor, as true patriots for the just defeuse of their country.

" And those that are above sixty years, or really uuwell and inca- pahle to march, shall then asseoible, also armed, at the respective places where women and children will be gathered together, in order for defcose against the enemy, if attacked, as much as lies io their power. But concerning the disaffected, and who will not directly obey such orders, they shall be taken, along with their arms, secured under guard, to join the innin body. And as such au in vasion regards every frieod to the country in general, but of this county in particular, to show his zeal and well-affceted spirit in actual defense of the same, all the members of the committee, as well as all those who, by former commissions, or otherwise, have been exempted from any other mili- tary duty, are requested to repair also, when called, to such place as shall be appointed, and join to repulse our foes. || Not doubting that the Almighty Power, upon our homble prayers and sincere trust in Him, will then graciously suecor our arms ia battle for oor just cause, and victory caonot fail on our side.

" NICHOLAS HERKIMER. "T

The Oneida Indians, as we have already seen, were on the alert, and kept a watchful eye upon the movements of St. Leger and Thayendanegea. They were intensely in- terested in the movements of the enemy. Having resolved not to take sides with their brethren of the Six Nations, and been denied the privilege of taking an active part with the colonies, they had nobly determined to at least remain neutral, though from the peculiarity of their location they were likely to be the first sufferers in case Fort Stanwix was taken. They well understood the situation, and kept the inhabitants of the valley informed of every movement of the enemy, while at the same time urging the utmost diligence and dispatch in preparing for battle.

On the 29th of July the watchful Spencer sent the fol- lowing letter to the Palatine committee, which was received on the next day :

" At a meeting of the chiefs, they tell me that there is but four days remaining of the time set for the king's troops to come to Fort Schuyler, and they think it likely they will be here sooner.

" The chief's desire the commanding officers at Fort Schuyler not to make a Ticonderoga of it ; but they hope you will be courageous.

" They desire General Schuyler may have this with speed, and send a good army here; there is nothing to do at New York; we think there is men to be spared ; we expect the road is stopped to the io- habitaots by a party through the woods; we shall be surrounded as soon as they come. This may be our last advice, as these soldiers are part of those to hold a treaty. Seod this to the committee. As soon as they receive it let the militia rise up and come to Fort Schuyler.

"To-morrow we are ngoing to the Three Rivers,## to the treaty.

" We expect to meet the warriors, and when we come there and declare we are for peace, we expect to be used with indifference and sent away.

" Let all the troops that come to Fort Schuyler take care on their march, as there is a party of Indiaos to stop the road below the fort, about 80 or a 100. We bear they are to bring their cannon up Fish Creek. We bear there is 1000 going to meet the enemy. We advise not-the army is too large for so few men to defend the fort. We send a belt of eight rows to confirm the truth of what we say.

# The regiment which defended Fort Stanwix was the 3d New York.

t From the original letter, in possession of Henry S. Miller, Esq.

# Campbell's Annals of Tryou County.

¿ Campbell's Annals.

| How well this latter class responded to the call is best shown by the list of killed, wounded, and missing.

{ This proclamation was undoubtedly written in German, and the translation shows many imperfections.

## The junction of the Seneca, Oneida, and Oswego Rivers.

100

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

"It looks likely to me the troops are near ; hope all friends to liberty, and that love their families, will not be back ward, but exert themselves ; as one resolute blow would secure the friendship of the Six Nations, and almost free this part of the country from the ineur- sions of the enemy."#

One thing can certainly be said of the Oneida Indians, and particularly of Thomas Spencer,-they did all that was in their power to give accurate information in time for the people to rally ; and notwithstanding the opposition mani- fested by the American leaders to their doing active service in the field, a gallant band of them joined Herkimer on his march and took part in the bloody battle which fol- lowed, where the heroic Spencer and several others laid down their lives in defense of the common cause.

The information furnished by the Oneida sachem and the various scouting parties at length brought the inhabit- ants of the Mohawk Valley to a full realization of the dan- ger which was approaching, and to their honor they rallied around the banner of the brave Herkimer with an alacrity and spirit that was in remarkable contrast with their late supineness and indifference. From various authorities it is evident that a body of from 800 to 900 men soon assem- bled, at the call of Herkimer, at Fort Dayton, now Herki- mer village, where a part of Colonel Weston's Massachusetts regiment was doing garrison duty. These men consisted of the militia of the four regiments belonging to the four districts of Tryon County, and quite a number of volun- teers, members of the Committees of Safety, etc.

The first regiment, from the Canajoharie district, formerly commanded by Colonel (now General) Herkimer, was led by Colonel Ebenezer Cox ; the second, from Palatine, was under command of Colonel Jacob Klock ; the third, from Mohawk, was under Colonel Frederick Visscher; and the fourth, raised at the German Flatts and King's Land, was led by Colonel Peter Bellinger. The regiments were the merest skeletons, containing not over 100 men cach, and the remainder were volunteers. In the regiment of Colonel Cox was included a body of Scotch-Irish from Cherry Val- ley, under Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Campbell.

These 800 men had gathered from their hayfields, their workshops and offices, in their homespun, every-day attire, and with such arms as they happened to possess,-a brave and patriotic, but undisciplined and somewhat unruly body of men,-to march instantly to the relief of Fort Stanwix, which they well knew, if not already beleaguered, would soon be surrounded by a mixed army of British regu- lars, American loyalists, and painted Indians, from whom, in case of their success, no mercy need be expected either for the garrison of the fort or the inhabitants of the valley below.

Herkimer's army was composed mainly of the descend- ants of the German Palatinates and Low Dutch ; but there were also men of English, Irish, Scotch, Welsh, and French blood in their ranks, all actuated by the same spirit of deter- mined resistance to the oppressions of the mother-country.

Leaving the gathering battalions of Herkimer to organize and prepare for the march which was to end so disastrously to many of them, we will return once more to St. Leger.

In addition to the precautions herctofore described, lie

had detached Lieutenant Bird on the 28th of July, with a portion of the 8th Regiment and a small body of Indians, to keep a day's march in advance of the main body. The duty of this detachment was to act as a scouting party, and the commander was required to report regularly to St. Leger.

A few extracts from Lieutenant Bird's diary, or journal, will give the reader an idea of his duties, and the perplex- ities with which he was surrounded. It is probable that no more unruly body of savages ever accompanied a British expedition than those whom St. Leger had recruited in Canada :

" Tuesday, July 28, 1777 .- After going two miles, and no savages coming up, waited two hours for them. Sixteen Senecas arriving, proceeded to the Three Rivers; waited there two bours; seventy or eighty Messesaugues coming up, I proposed moving forward. They had stolen two oxen from the drove of the army, and would not advance, but stayed to feast. I advanced without Indians seven miles farther, -in all nineteen miles. Posted four sentinels all night from a ser- geant's guard of twelve men, relieved every hour, visited every half- hour. All fires put out at nine o'clock.

" Wednesday .- Set off next morning at six, baving waited for the savages till that time, though none arrived. Ordered the boats to keep seventy rods behind each other, half the men keeping their arms in their hands while the other half rowed. Ordered, on any of the boats being fired upon, that the men should jump ashore, the rest to support them with all expedition. Rowed all night. En- camped at Nine-Mile Point.

" Thursday, July 30 .- With twenty-seven Senceas and nine Mes- sesaugues, joined Mr. Hair's party.f Many savages being with us, proceeded to Wood Creek, a march of fifteen miles. . . .

" Friday .- The savages hinted an intention to send partics to Fort Stanwix, but to proceed in a body no farther. I called a council of the chiefs; told them I bad orders to approach near the fort ; that if they would accompany me I should be content; but if they would not go, I should take the white people under my command and proceed myself. The Messesangues said they would go with me. The Senecas said I had promised to be advised by their chiefs; that it was their way to proceed with caution. I answered that I meant only as to fighting in the bush; but that I had communicated my intentions to them in the former camp, of preventing them (the Americans) from stopping the ereek, and investing their fort. But since I had promised to be advised by them, I would take it so far as to wait till next morning, and would then certainly march by day- break. After some counseling, they seemed pleased with what I had said, and said they would send out large scouts to prepare the way. Accordingly, eighteen or twenty set off this evening."

On the 2d of August, however, Bird wrote to St. Leger that, with the exception of Henriques, a Mohawk, and one other of the Six Nations, an old acquaintance of his, none of the savages would advance with him. He says,-

" Those two, sir, I hops to have the honor to present to you. A savage who goes by the name of Commodore Bradley was the chief cause of their not advancing to-day. Twelve Messasangnes came up two or three hours after my departure. Those, with tho seout of fifteen I had the honor to mention to you in my last, are sufficient to invest Fort Stanwix, if you favor me so far as not to order to the contrary."}

This braggadocio document reached St. Leger the same day, at Nine-Mile Point, from whence he sent the following reply, praising the zeal of his subordinate, but at the same time checking his ardor somewhat :

# Annals of Tryon County.

t Hair was subsequently killed at Oriskany.

# The lieutenant was evidently not a veteran. Had he been he would have known better than to attempt to invest a fortress garri- soned by 750 men with a few score of regular troops, and a band of cowardly and unruly Indians.

101

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

" NINE-MILE POINT, Aug. 2, 1777.

"Sın,-I this instant received your letter containing the account

of your operations since you were detached, which I with great pleasure tell you have been sensible and spirited. Your resolution of investing Fort Stanwix is perfectly right ; and to enable you to de it with greater effect, I have detached Joseph (Thayendanegea) aod his corps of Indians to reinforce you. You will observe that I will have nothing but an investiture made; and in case the enemy, ob- serving the discretion and judgment with which it is made, should offer to capitulate, you are to tell them that you are sure I am well disposed to listen to them. This is not to take any honor out of a young officer's hands, but by the presence of the troops to prevent the barbarity and carnage which will ever obtain where Indians make so superior part of a detachment. I shall move from hence at eleven

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 25

Author: Durant, Samuel W Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 920

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920