History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 26

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 26

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o'clock, and he early in the forenoon at the entrance of the creek.

"I am, sir, your most obedient and humble servant, " BARRY ST. LEGER.

" LIEUTENANT BInn, 8th Regiment."

It would appear from this letter that St. Leger actually thought there was a probability that Colonel Gansevoort would surrender on the first appearance of Lieutenant Bird's party, and he was exceedingly anxious that such a thing should not occur until he arrived. His excuse for delaying the surrender on the score of humanity does honor to him as a man and an officer, but it is evident he little comprehended the mettle of the commanders in the fortress he was already (in imagination) the master of. A very few days sufficed to enlighten him.

CHAPTER XI.

ST. LEGER'S PROCLAMATION.

Investment of Fort Stanwix-Battle of Oriskany and Incidents of the Day-The Siege-Sortie of Colonel Willett-Correspondence and Proclamations-Lieutenant Walter N. Butler.

THE following copy of the bombastic proclamation of Colonel St. Leger is copied from Jones' " Annals of Oneida County." At the date of the publication of that work, 1851, the original manuscript was in the hands of the Messrs. Sanfords, editors and publishers of the Roman Citizen. It was obtained of Bernard F. Yates, who at that date resided in the town of Western. Although this doc- ument bears date Ang. 10, 1777, four days subsequent to the battle of Oriskany, it would seem most probable that it was prepared in the commencement of the campaign, and possibly before the army left Canada .* No mention is made of the battle of Oriskany, which it would seem could not have been the case had it been written subsequent to that occurrence. It was evidently intended for distribution at the advent of the army in the valley of the Mohawk, and as both a feeler and an intimidator. Notwithstanding its bombastic tone it bears evidence of having been written by a person of cultivation, and one familiar with the world. It was most cunningly worded, for the double purpose of encouraging the Tory element and intimidating those luke- Warm friends of the American cause who were ready to abandon it the moment the horizon darkened, or the chances of war seemed unpromising or doubtful.

"BY BARRY ST. LEGEN, ESQ.,

"Commander-in-Chief of a Chosen Body of Troops from the Grand Army, as well as an extensive Corps of Indian Allies from all the Six Nations, etc., etc.

"The forces entrusted to my command are designed to aet in oon- cert, aod upon a common principle, with the numerous Armies and Fleets which already display in every quarter of America the power, the justice, and, when properly sought, the merey of the King.

" The cause in which the British arms are thus exerted applies to the most affecting interests of the human heart, and the military servants of the Crown, at first called forth for the sole purpose of re- storing the rights of the Constitution, now combine with love of their country, and duty to their Sovereign, the extensive incitements which spring from a due sense of the general privilege of mankind .. To the eyes and ears of the temperate part of the public, and to the breasts of suffering thousands in the Provinces, he the melan- choly appeal, whether the present unnatural rebellion has not been made a foundation for the completest system of tyranny that ever God, in his displeasure, suffered for a time to be exercised over a froward and stubborn generation.

"Arbitrary imprisonment, confisection of property, persecution and torture unprecedented in the Inquisitions of the Romish Church, are among the probable enormities that certify the affirmative. These are inflicted by assemblies and committees, who dare to profess them- selves friends to liberty, upon the most quiet subjects, withont dis- tinetion of age or sex, for the sole crime, oftea for the sole suspicion, of having adhered in principle to the Government under which they were boro, aod to which, by every tie, divine and bumnan, they owe alle- ginoce. To consuiamate these shocking proceedings the profanation of religion is added to the most profligate prostitution of common reason, the consciences of men are set at naught, and multitudes are compelled not only to bear arme, but also to swear subjection to an usurpation they abhor.

" Animated by these considerations, at the head of troops in the full powers of health, discipline, and valor,-determined to strike where necessary, and anxious to spare where possible,-I, by these presents, invite and exhort all persons, in all places where the progress of this army may point,-and, by the blessing of God, I will extend it,-to maintain such a conduct as may justify protecting their lands, habitations, and families. The intention of this is to hold forth security, not depredation, to the country.

"To those whom spirit and principle may induce to partake the glorious task of redeeming their countrymen from dungeons, and re- establish the blessings of legal government, I offer encouragement and employment, and, upon the first intelligence of their associa- tions, I will find means to assist their undertakings. The domestie, the industrious, the infirm, and even the timid inhabitants, I am de- sirous to protect, provided they remain quietly at their houses; that they do not suffer their cattle to be removed, nor their corn or forage to be secreted or destroyed; that they do not break up their bridges or roads, nor by any other act, directly or indirectly, endeavor to ob- struet the operations of the King's troops, or supply or assist these of the enemy.

"Every species of provisions brought to my Camp will be paid for at an equitable rate, and in solid eoin.

" If, notwithstanding these endeavors, and sincere inclinations to effect them, the phrensy of hostility should remain, I trust I shall stand acquitted in the eyes of God and men in denouncing and exe- cuting the vengeance of the State against the willful outcasts. The messengers of justice and of wrath await them in the field, and devas- tation, famine, and every concomitant horror that a reluctant but indispensable prosecution of military duty must occasion will bar the way to their return.

" BARNY ST. LEGER. " CAMP BEFORE FONT STANWIX, August ye 10, 1777.

" By order of the Commander-in-Chief. " WILL. OSE. HAMILTON, Secretary."

There is something about this proclamation that smacks of the Johnson family, and it is not uulikely that some of its paragraphis were written at suggestions from Sir John Johnson, who, with his brother-in-law Colonel Dan. Claus and Colonel John Butler, were intimately acquainted with

" A copy of Burgoyne's proclamation was brought to the fort under flag of truce on the 3d of August.

102

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the political affairs of the colony. It also closely resembles a similar document from the prolifie pen of General Bur- goyne, which was scattered far and wide over New York and New England. They were both carefully considered and ably written, but, like the boomerang in the hands of the unskillful, they returned to plague those who sent them forth.

The fort was invested by Lieutenant Bird and Thayen- danegea upon the 3d, and on the same day St. Leger him- self arrived and prepared for active operations at once. A flag was sent into the fort on the morning of that day, bearing a copy of Burgoyne's proclamation, and demanding an immediate surrender, which was peremptorily deelined. The fort was at onee surrounded on all sides, as can be scen by referring to the accompanying map, and St. Leger began

fate, on the same post. The crack of the rifle was heard, but from whence it eume none could conjecture, and the alarm being given, no enemy could be discovered. Of course, on the third night this station was dreaded as bringing certain death, and the soldier to whose lot it fell quailed and hung back ; but to the surprise of the whole guard, a comrade offered to take his place, and was accepted. Towards morning the substitute sentinel drove a stake into the ground at the spot where his predecessors had been shot, on which he placed his hat and watch-coat, and with the help of a cord and a well-stuffed knapsack he soon had a very good apology for a portly soldier, who stood to the life at 'support arms,' with his trusty shining musket. Having thus posted his not exactly 'man of straw,' he quietly sat down behind the parapet, closely watching

ROAD TO

ELEVATED PLAIN.

WOOD

600 YARDS.

GROUNDS

CULTIVATED

REFERENCES.

A-Fort Stanwix.

B-Site of Old Fort Craven. C- =

D-

Newport.

E-Besiegers' Approach.

1-3-Gun Battery. 2-4 Mortars,

IEGE . FORT STANWIX, FROM A SVETCH

3-3-Gun Battery.

4-Redoubts.

5-Willett's Attack.

G-English Encampment.

17-Royalist

8-Indians.

ROAD TO ALBANY

SCALE -1500 FEETPER INCH.

the erection of batteries as soon as the proper positions were designated by the engineers. The small number and inferior calibre of his guns rendered it necessary that their fire should be concentrated upon a single angle of the works ; and they were accordingly placed in battery at a distance of six hundred yards to the northeast.

In the mean time the enemy's sharpshooters annoyed the garrison considerably, as they worked industriously at their unfinished parapets. It was during this sharp skirm- ishing that the following incident occurred, which we find narrated in Mr. Jones' work. It is given on the authority of Jabez Spicer, who was a member of the garrison at the time, and afterwards lived at Rome.

" A sentinel posted on the northwest bastion was shot with a rifle while walking his stated rounds in the gray of the morning; the next morning a second met the same

LAND.

PRESENTED TO COL. GANSEVOORT BY L.FLURY.

CLEARED

Williams.

PLAN OF THE

SCALPING TREE,

through an embrasure for coming events. At early dawn the well-known report of the same rifle was heard, and the column of smoke ascending from the thick top of a black- oak tree some thirty or forty rods distant showed the where- abouts of the marksman. The sergeant of the guard was soon on the spot, and the commandant notified that the pereh of the sharpshooter had been discovered. A four- pounder was quickly loaded with canister, and the sound of this morning gun boomed 'o'er hill and dale' in the distance, immediately succeeded by a shout from the garri- son, as they beheld one of Britain's red allies tumbling head foremost from the tree-top. On examining the coun- terfeit sentinel, the holes through the various folds of the knapsack were more than circumstantial evidence that the aim was most sure, and that had the owner stood in its place he would have followed to his account those who had

103

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

preceded him. It is hardly necessary to add that the sentinels on the northwest bastion were not afterwards molested."

Hostilities commenced in earnest on the 4th, and on the 5th the batteries were so nearly completed that a few shells were thrown into the fort. On the evening of this day, soon after it was dark, the Indians, who were at least one thousand in number, spread themselves through the woods, completely encircling the fort, and commenced a terrible yelling, which was continued at intervals the greater part of the night .*

When thus fairly set down before the works, Colonel St. Leger managed (probably by an Indian runner through the wooded country to the north of the Mohawk) to send word to General Burgoyne, giving him an account of his proceedings, which induced that officer to commence at once a forward movement to prevent any reinforcement being sent to Gansevoort. The fatal expedition to Bennington was planned, and every effort was made to create a diversion in favor of St. Leger; but the yeomanry of New Hampshire and the " Grants" were able to give a good account of Baume and Breyman, and Schuyler deemed himself strong enough to allow the Tryon County militia to proceed, as we have seen, to the relief of Fort Stanwix.

The moves upon the military chess-board at this critical juncture were made with consummate ability on both sides. Burgoyne thrust out his strong left arm towards Benning- ton, and made a demonstration to move his main army towards Albany. At the same time St. Leger was pressing the siege of Fort Stanwix, and Gansevoort and Willett were gallantly replying,

" O'er dusty plain and smoky skies, With fires that answered fast and well, The summons of the Infidel."

Every portion of all the armies was in motion. Herkimer with his impetuous men was pushing towards the beleagured fortress. The Oneidas were mustering for the fray, and a band of Indians was threading the forest, sent by Molly Brant, with news to St. Leger of Herkimer's approach. A most remarkable concatenation of circumstances had thus far favored the Americans. St. Leger had met with diffi- culties which enabled Colonel Mellon to throw himself into the fort with a reinforcement and supplies. The right men had by uncommon good fortune been placed in com- mand of the garrison, and Burgoyne had been so impeded in his march from Lake Champlain that the Eastern troops aod militia had been given ample time to concentrate against him, and this had permitted the Mohawk militia under Herkimer to be spared to decide on the field of Oris- kany the destinies of the hydra-headed campaign.

Herkimer began his march from Fort Dayton on the 4th. On the 5th, he crossed the Mohawk at old Fort Schuyler (Utica), and encamped on the evening of that day most probably on the site of Whitesboro'. The same night an express, consisting of Adam Helmer and two others, was sent forward to apprise Colonel Gansevoort of his approach, and to arrange signals for a sortie from the fort, which were to be three consecutive cannon-shots. It

is supposed that at Whitesboro', the half-breed Oneida sachem, Thomas Spencer, joined the advancing column with a small band of Indians from his tribe. At all events they were in the engagements of the following day, and did good service in the battle, and in pursuit of the flying enemy.

The messengers who had been sent forward by General Herkimer did not get into the fort until about eleven o'clock the next morning,t and consequently the signals were not made until Herkimer was in the midst of the Indian ambuscade.

It appears that on the morning of the 6th, General Herkimer was doubtful of the propriety of advancing farther until the arrival of reinforcements, or, at least, until the signal-guns were heard from the fort. Discretion had been by far the better part of valor on this eventful morn- ing, and had the hot-headed though brave and chivalrous officers listened to the counsel of the sound-hearted patriot who led them, had they been content to wait even the firing of the signal-gun, or had the advice of the Oneida sachem been heeded and strong scouting-parties and flankers thrown out, the lives of scores of brave and good men, which were offered on that bloody day, might have been saved for future service to their country. It was not to be : confident of their strength and eager to chastise the daring enemy who had invaded their beautiful valley, they scorned all attempts at delaying the march, even for an hour, and clamored to be led forward.

In vain the gallant veteran reminded the impatient and clamorous throng of officers, civilians, and soldiers that he was placed over them to look after their welfare as a father would care for his children, and that it was his duty to use the utmost caution in approaching the enemy's lines. They would listen to no explanations and hear to no delay. High words ensued between the general and Colonels Cox and Paris, during which they denounced the brave old soldier as a Tory and a coward. Expostulations were of no avail, and at last, reminding them that those who had bestowed bitter epithets upon him would be the first to run when the enemy were upon them, and stung to the soul by their fierce denuncia- tions, he gave the stern command, " Close ranks, and march on !"

As the undisciplined militia are rapidly pushing forward to the mouth of the volcano awaiting to swallow them, let us go back a few hours and see what preparations were making by the British commander for this new danger which threatened him in the rear.

The Mohawk runners dispatched by " Molly Brant" had been true to their instructions, and brought to St. Leger accurate information of the numbers and movements of the troops under Herkimer.

St. Leger was too good an officer, and had seen too much service, not to understand the peril of an attack by Her- kimer's troops in his camp, which would give the Americans the opportunity of doubling their forces and placing him between two fires. He chose at once the alteroative of

Colonel Stone states that the Oriskany tribe of the Oneidas joined the army under their chiefs, Cornelius and Honyerry. The latter was afterwards commissioned as captain by the Board of War.

# Willett's Narrative.

# Sco Colonel Willett's letter to Governor Trumbull.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

sending out a strong force to meet the advancing reinforce- ment on the road, while with the remainder he could keep the garrison within their works. There is little doubt but he considered the crisis a desperate one, for in footing the total of the American forces in the fort and on the march against his own, the odds were only slightly in his favor ; but it was better to run the risk of a sortie from the garrison than to await a combined attack upon his lines. At least 1000 of his men were Indians, and they would be much more reliable in attacking Herkimer in an ambuscade, than in receiving a desperate onslaught from the Americans in their camps. It is next to certain that had the two bodies of American troops been united under Herkimer and Gansevoort and Willett, the result would have been a total and disastrous defeat of St. Leger's army.

The British commander, therefore, at once adopted the only plan which gave promise of success, by detaching a force of probably about 1000 men, under the command of Sir John Johnson and Thuyendanegea, to proceed a few miles towards Oriskany and give battle to Herkimer. The force selected consisted of a portion of Sir John Johnson's regiment of " Greens," under his brother-in-law, Major Watts ; Colonel John Butler's Rangers, under their own commander; and the greater part of the Indians, under the immediate command of Joseph Brant, or Thuyendanegea. The force left the camp before Fort Stanwix in the evening of the 5th, and marched southeastward, on the trail or military road leading down the Mohawk. The place of ambush was no doubt selected by the Mohawk chieftain, and was as fine a position for the purpose as could be found on the route.

The location was about two miles north west of the present village of Oriskany, on lands now owned by David Land- fear and William Ringrose, and very near the line between the towns of Rome and Whitestown. A small stream, since called " Battle Brook," crosses the road and runs thence, a little east of north, towards the Mohawk. The ravine, at the present crossing of the turnpike, is shallow, but it deepens quite rapidly, and at the crossing of the mili- tary road is about thirty feet below the general level on either side. On the east side the bank or bluff is quite steep, but on the western side the rise is more gradual. The eastern bank, at the distance of forty rods from the old road, bears suddenly to the east, or southeast, and runs for some distance parallel to the general valley of the Mohawk. On the west the rising ground sweeps around towards the northwest, and the ravine widens out into the bottom-lands that skirt the river. The military road at the point where it passed the ravine was about ten rods north from the present turnpike, and after crossing bore to the northwest.

From a careful study of the ground, the writer is of the opinion that the ambuscade was laid in a circle on both sides of the ravine, opening towards the east where the road ap- proaches the steep bank. By thus inclosing the ravine the Indians would have been enabled to pour a concentric fire from all directions upon the column struggling below ; whereas, if the ambuscade had been laid upon the high ground to the west of the ravine, as stated in " Campbell's Annals," the enemy would have had little advantage of position. Undoubtedly the attack was begun from the sloping hill-sides, and the greatest destruction fell upon the

command of Herkimer when crossing the corduroy, in the middle of the little valley.

The ambush was most probably arranged on the morning of the 6th, as the attacking party did not leave St. Leger's camp until five o'clock in the evening of the 5th, and the distance marched was about seven miles. That the arrange- ments for a complete surprise of the American force were perfect we can have no doubt, when we remember that Brant and Johnson and Butler were at the head of the de- tachment. The whole country, except now and then an opening along the river, was covered with a dense growth of timber, and the sides of the ravine were overgrown with thickets of hemlock, which formed an impervious screen for the dusky warriors who swarmed the covert. The proba- bilities are that the Indians, who must have amounted to about 800, formed the circle which inclosed the ravine, while the regular troops and Tories were disposed en échelon upon either side of the road, to the west of the ravine.

Let us return to Herkimer. The discussion and wrangling of the morning must have taken up considerable time in addition to that required for the troops to get their break- fast. There is nothing mentioned in any account of this march about tents, and they probably encamped under the forest-trees, with a few blankets or bed-quilts to cover them.

The order of march was resumed with Colonel Visscher's regiment forming the rear-guard, and with the baggage- wagons following the advance regiments. Accounts vary materially as to whether Herkimer had any knowledge of the enemy's ambuscade, and as to the matter of flanking- parties and an advance guard. There can be no doubt that had the general obtained a knowledge of the enemy's move- ments and preparations to surprise him, he would certainly have taken the necessary precautions; and had there been scouts in advance, or on the flanks, at proper distances from the main body, the ambuscade would have been discovered and the surprise prevented.

It is evident, from all the known facts in the case, that General Herkimer had no knowledge of the presence of the enemy in the fatal ravine; and it is equally certain that no precautions were taken to guard against a catastrophe.

The brave commander had made up his mind that in the absence of all reason and discretion on the part of his offi- cers, his only course was to lead them forward as rapidly as possible, and in the event of a sudden attack to make the best fight he could.

The head of the gallant column, composed of the regiment of Colonel Cox, passed rapidly down the steep bank of the ravine, and pushed on over the causeway and up the sloping hill-side beyond, followed closely by the commands of Klock and Bellinger. The surrounding forest was still as the grave, and not a movement was made until the head of the column was abreast of the British and Tory companies and the baggage-wagons were just descending the castern bank, when, on a sudden, the shrill signal was given by Brant, and simultaneously, like the levin-bolt which follows the flash and roar, came the deafening yell of a thousand throats, and the crash and blaze of a thousand well-aimed rifles, pouring a leaden storm of death upon that devoted but heroic band before which scores went down and many a

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

105

noble leader fell, while consternation and confusion for a moment paralyzed both officers and men. Seeing the hell of conflict which was boiling in the ravine, the men of Colonel Visseher's regiment, according to many accounts, becaine panic-strieken, and, turning on their heels, inglori- ously fled, pursued by the yelling savages, who shot and

Staggered and diseoneerted for a moment by the havoe in his command, and the terrible fire and blood-eurdling yells of the savages, who swarmed, tomahawk in hand, from every tree and bush, the veteran Herkimer speedily eom- prehended his peril and made the best possible dispositions for a desperate resistance; while the officers who were

PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF ORISKANY, FOUGHT AUGUST 6, 1777.

Drawn on the ground.

Scale, 20 rods per inch.

SLOPING

Low GROUND

HILL

WOODE D

BLUFF

VOONG

STEEP

SIDE

BATTLE

MARSH

FLAG STAFF

RINGROSE

MILITARY ROAD

OLD

DAVID LANDFEAR

7-1

PRESENT

TURNPIKE

LLLLL

GEO. PARKHURST

S.W. D.

REFERENCE .- The parallel lines crossing the military road denote Herkimer's column. The zigzag lines show the Indian ambuscade. The short double parallel lines show the positions of the English troops and Tories at the commencement of the battle. The circles show Herkimer's final order of battle which repulsed the enemy. The flag-staff in the centre of the circle is near the place where Herkimer was wounded, aod from which he issued his orders. Col. Visscher's command is showo to the right of the ravice.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 26

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