History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 29

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 29

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MARINUS WILLETT."

" For this gallant exploit Congress passed a resolution of thanks, and directed the Commissary-General of military stores to procure an elegant sword, and present the same to Colonel Willett in the name of the United States." This resolution was carried out, and the sword is now in posses- sion of his deseendants.

Following what may be termed the drawn battle of Oris- kany, St. Leger set himself with renewed energy to the task of compelling Colonel Gansevoort to a capitulation. He considered himself safe, for the present at least, from an attack in the rear, and even boasted that the militia of the Mohawk Valley could never rally. Availing himself of every circumstance which seemed to be in his favor, he compelled Colonel Bellinger and Major Frey to sign a note addressed to Colonel Gansevoort, setting forth the military situation, and couched in the following terms :

" CAMP BEFORE FORT STANWIX, NINE O'CLOCK P.M., " 6th August, 1777.

"SIR,-It is with concern we are to acquaint you that this was the fatal day in which the succors, which were intended for your relief,

# Written also Ament.

+ Major Watts was not killed, but severely wounded and left on the field. It appears from this letter that some of the wounded had already arrived from Oriskany, which battle must have commeneed very early in the morning.

# This statement would indicate that Sir John had returned from the battle-field, with a convoy of wounded, previous to the sally of Colonel Willett. From this it would seem that he was not present in the latter part of the battle.

¿ Captain Ancrom is undoubtedly meant, as Sir John Johnson's orderly book shows bim to have been St. Leger's adjutant-general.

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have heen attacked and defeated, with great loss of numbers killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. Our regard for your safety and lives, and our sincere advice to you is, if you will avoid inevitable ruin and destrnetien, to surrender the fert you pretend to defeed against a formidable body of troops and a good train of artillery, which we are witnesses of; when at the same time, you have no farther relief ur support to expect. We are sorry to inform you that most of the principal officers are killed, to wit: General Herkimer, Colonels Cox, Seeher, Isane Paris, Captain Graves, and many others too tedious to mention. The British army from Canada being now, perhaps, before Albany, the possession of whieb place of course in- eludes the Mohawk River and this fort."

On the back of this document Colonel St. Leger, or his adjutant-general, made the following indorsement :

" General St. Leger, on the day of the date of this letter, made a verhal summons of the fort by his Adjutant-General and Colonel Butler, and who then handed this letter, when Colonel Gansevoort refused to answer aby verbal summons, unless made hy General St. Leger himself, but at the mouth of his eannon."

The letter so cunningly written, and signed by the cap- tive officers under duress, failed entirely to make any impression upon Colonel Gansevoort and his brave officers and men; and the gallant commander very properly ro- turned a bold and soldierly answer. Finding this ruse would not effect the desired object, the British commander, on the following day, sent forward a white flag, accompanied by three officers of the garrison, and a request that Colonel Butler and two other officers might be admitted into the fort as bearers of a message to the commanding officer. The request was granted, and the officers were blindfolded and conducted inside, and were received by Colonel Ganse- voort in his dining-room. The windows were closed and candles lighted, and a table was spread with refreshments, crackers, cheese, and wine. Three chairs were placed at one end of the table for the British officers, and a like number at the other end for Colonels Gansevoort, Willett, and Mellon .* Seats were also placed around the table for others, and the room was as full of the officers of the garrison as it could comfortably be.

After passing round the wine, with a few commonplace compliments, Major Ancrom,; one of the messengers, with a very grave, stiff air, and a countenance full of importance, spoke in nearly the following words : "I am directed by Colonel St. Leger, the officer who commands the army now investing this garrison, to inform the commandant that the colonel has, with much difficulty, prevailed on the Indians to agree that if the garrison, without further resistance, shall be delivered up, with the publie stores belonging to it, to the investing army, the officers and soldiers shall have all their baggage and private property secured to them. And, in order that the garrison may have a sufficient pledge to this effect, Colonel Butler accompanies me to assure thiem that not a hair of the head of any one of them shall be hurt." (Here, turning to Colonel Butler, he said, " That, I think, was the expression they made use of, was it not ?" To which the colonel answered, " Yes.") " I am likewise directed to remind the commandant that the defeat of Gen- eral Herkimer must deprive the garrison of all hopes of relief, especially as General Burgoyne is now at Albany ;

so that, sooner or later, the fort must fall into our hands. Colonel St. Leger, from an earnest desire to prevent further bloodshed, hopes these terms will not be refused ; as in that ease it will be out of his power to make them again. It was with great difficulty the Indians consented to the pres- ent arrangement, as it will deprive them of that plunder which they always calculate upon on similar occasions. Should, then, the present terms be rejected, it will be out of the power of the colonel to restrain the Indians, who are very numerons and mueh exasperated, not only from plundering the property, but destroying the lives of prob- ably the greater part of the garrison. Indeed, the Indians . are so exceedingly provoked and mortified by the losses they have sustained in the late actions, having had several of their favorite chiefs killed, that they threaten-and the colonel, if the present arrangements should not be entered into, will not be able to prevent them from executing their tlireats-to march down the country and destroy the set- tlement with its inhabitants. In this case, not only men, but women and children, will experience the sad effects of their vengeance. These considerations, it is ardently hoped, will produce a proper effect, and induce the commandant, by complying with the terms now offered, to save himself from future regret when it will be too late."

With the approbation of Colonel Gansevoort, Colonel Willet made the following reply. Looking the important major full in the face, he observed, " Do I understand you, sir ? I think you say that you come from a British colonel, who is commander of the army that invests this fort ; and by your uniform yon appear to be an officer in the British service. You have made a long speech on the occasion of your visit, which, stripped of all its superfluities, amounts to this, that you come from a British colonel to the eom- mandant of this garrison to tell him that if he does not deliver up the garrison into the hands of your colonel, he will send his Indians to murder our women and children. You will please to refleet, sir, that their blood will be on your heads, not on ours. We are doing our duty. This garrison is committed to our charge, and we will take care of it. After you get out of it, you may turn round and look at its ontside, but never expect to come in again, unless you come in a prisoner. I consider the message you have brought a degrading one for a British officer to send, and by no means reputable for a British officer to carry. For my own part, I declare, before I would consent to deliver this garrison to such a murdering set as your army, by your own account, consists of, I would suffer my body to be filled with splinters and set on fire, as you know has been done by such hordes of women- and children-killers as belong to your army."} These sentiments were received with a round of applanse by the Provincial officers, who, far from being intimidated by the threats of the mes- sengers, only the more strongly suspected that this pomp- ous harangue was intended to cover up their own weakness, and was, therefore, a mere bravado,

Before the elose of the interview, Major Anerom re- quested that an English surgeon, who accompanied him, might be permitted to visit the British wounded who were

* Written also Mellen.

Sometimes written Ankrum.

He was St. Loger's adjutant- general.

# From Colonel Willett's Narrative, page 56,

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prisoners, which was granted. He also proposed an armis- tice for three days, which was also agreed to, as the garrison had more reason to fear a lack of ammunition than pro- visions. The flag soon after returned to the besiegers' lines, and the garrison enjoyed a brief interval of repose.

On the 9th of August, Colonel Gansevoort having re- fused to recognize any verbal messages from the British commander, Colonel St. Leger sent the following written communication, at the same time protesting that no in- dignity was intended by the verbal message of Major Ancrom :

"CAMP BEFORE FORT STANWIX, August 9, 1777.

" SIR,-Agreeable to your wishes, I have the honor to give you on paper the message of yesterday, though I cannot conceive, explicit and humane as it was, how it could admit of more than one con- struction. After the defeat of the reinforcement and the fate of all your principal leaders, in which naturally you built your hopes, and having the strongest reasons from verbal intelligence and the matter contained in the letters which fell into my bands, and knowing thoroughly the situation of General Burgoyne's army, to be confident you are without resources, in my fears aod tenderness for your per- sooal safety from the hands of the Indians enraged for the loss of some of their principal and most favorite lenders, I called to council the chiefs of all the nations; and after having used every method that humanity could suggest to soften their minds, and lead them patiently to hear their own losses by reflecting on the irretrievable misfortunes of their enemies, I at last labored the point my humanity wished for, which the chiefs assured me of the next morning, after a consultation that evening with each nation at their fire-places. Their answer in its fullest extent they insisted should be carried by Colonel Butler, which he has given in the most categorical manner. You are well acquainted that Indians never send messages without ac- companying them with menaces on non-compliance, that a civilized enemy would never think of doing. You may rest assured, therefore, that no insult was meant to be offered to your situation by the King's servants in the message they peremptorily demanded should be car- ricd by Colonel Butler.

"I am now to repeat what bas been told you by my Adjutant- General. 'That, provided you will deliver up your garrison, with everything as it stood at the moment the first message was sent, your people shall be treated with every attention that a humane and generous enemy can give.'

" I have the boour to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, "BARRY ST. LEGER, "Brig .- Gen. of bis Majesty's forces."

" P. S .- I expect an immediate answer, as the Indians are ex- tremely impatient ; and if this proposal is rejected I am afraid it will be attended with very fatal consequences, not only to you and your garrison, but the whole country down the Mohawk River,- such consequences as will he very repugnant to my sentiments of humanity, but after this cotirely out of my power to prevcot.

" BARRY ST. LEGER. "COLONEL GANSEVOORT, commanding Fort Stanwix."

To this summons Colonel Gansevoort sent the following terse and soldierly reply :

" FORT SCHUYLER, Aug. 9, 1777.

"Sın,-Your letter of this day's date I have received, in answer to which I say that it is ioy determined resolution, with the forces uR- der my comoland, to defend this fort to the last extremity, in behalf of the United Americao States, who have placed me here to defend it against all their enemies.

" I have the bonor to be, Sir, "Your most obedient, humble servant, " PETER GANSEVOORT,

"Colonel commanding Fort Schuyler. "GENERAL BARRY ST. LEGER."

The relief of the fort from the outside being a matter of great uncertainty since the check of the militia at Oris- kany, and it being very necessary that something should

be done immediately to inform the inhabitants of the valley of the situation of the garrison, it was determined after a full consultation of the officers to send out messengers for reinforcements ; and Colonel Willett, being very popular among the inhabitants of Tryon County, was selected as the person best fitted to accomplish the purpose designed.

Accordingly, at ten o'clock on the evening of the 10th of August, accompanied by Lieutenant Stockwell, an intelli- gent officer and thorough woodsman, he set out. Passing quietly through the sallyport, the two men proceeded with great caution on their perilous journey, armed only with spears. The works were completely environed by the camps of the enemy, and every avenue was carefully guarded; but Willett and his companion crept along the marsh until they reached the river, which they crossed by crawling over on a fallen tree or log, and, though it was only a few yards from the enemy's sentinels, they passed undiscovered, and pushed on into the woods ; but in a short time they found themselves in such darkness that they could not determine their proper course. In the midst of their uncertainty they were alarmed by the barking of a dog, a sure indication that the Indians were near. In this dilemma they concluded to remain where they were until it was light enough for them to direct their course. Placing themselves against a large tree, they remained perfectly quiet for several hours. At length the morning star shone out, when they again started out, but, instead of taking the nearest course to the settle- ments, they walked in a northerly direction for several miles until they again struck the river, probably in the vi- cinity of Westernville. Pursuing their way along the river, they frequently followed its channel, and occasionally crossed to the right bank, in order to throw the enemy off their track should they pursue. After a while they again left the river and traveled a north course a few hours, when they turned east and traveled until night without making a single stop.

They took no baggage of any kind, not even a blanket, and their provisions consisted of a few crackers and some cheese, which they carried in their pockets, and a quart canteen filled with spirits. Halting for the night, they dared not kindle a fire, and lay down to sleep wrapped in each other's arms. Though it was midsummer, the night was quite cool, and they were very uncomfortable; and with the hard traveling the day before, and sleeping on the damp ground without covering, in the morning they were stiff and sore. The colonel had so severe an attack of rheuma- tism in one knee as to cause him to limp for several hours. Directing their course farther to the south, about nine o'clock on the morning of the second day they came to an opening in the woods occasioned by a wind-fall. Here they found a field of raspberries and blackberries, upon which they made a delicious repast. Resuming their journey, they reached the settlements about three o'clock in the afternoon, having traveled about fifty miles.

On arriving at Fort Dayton, a stockade-fort at the Ger- man Flats, they received a hearty welcome from Colonel Weston, who was stationed at that point with the balance of his regiment .* From this officer Colonel Willett ob-

# It will be recollected that Lieutenant-Colonel Mellon had joined Colonel Gansevoort on the 2d of August, with 200 of this regiment.

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tained the agreeable intelligence that General Larned had been ordered by General Schuyler to send a brigade to the relief of the fort. Starting again the next morning, the two offieers at evening met the troops on their march. They kept on to Albany, where they found General Arnold, to whom was intrusted the command of the forees destined fur Fort Stanwix. Colonel Willett also learned that the 1st New York Regiment was on its way to join his bri- gade. On the following day Culonel Willett, in company with General Arnold, joined the troops, and two days later they arrived at Fort Dayton, where the whole force was assembled.

Leaving the army of Arnold at Fort Dayton, let us go baek a little and notice a few incidents which occurred soon after Colonel Willett left the fort.

Failing in all his attempts to indnee Colonel Gansevoort to surrender, another expedient was tried on the 13th. This was an appeal to the inhabitants of Tryon County, of which the following is a copy from the Appendix to Stone's " Life of Brant" :

"CAMP BEFORE FONT STANWIX, Ang. 13, 1777.

" To the inhabitants of Tryon County :

"Notwithstanding tho many and great injuries we have received in person and property at your hands, and being at the head of vic- torious troops, we most ardently wish to have pelee restored to this once happy country ; to obtain which we are willing and desirous, upon a proper submission on your parts, to bury in oblivion all that is past, and hope that you are, or will be, convinced in the end that we were your friends and good advisers, and not such wicked, de- signing men as those who lel you into error and almost total rain. You have, no doubt, great reason to dread the resentment of the In- dians, on account of the loss they sostained in the late action, and the mulish obstinacy of your troops in this garrison, who have no resource but in themselves ; for which reasons the Indians declare that if they do not sorrender the garrison without further oppo- sition, they will put every soul to death, -not only the garrison, but the whole country,-without any regard to age, sex, or friends ; for which reason it is become your indispensable duty, as you must an- swer the consequences, to send a deputation of your principal people to ohlige them immediately to what, in a very little time, they must be forced,-the surrender of the garrison ; in which ease we will en- gage, on the faith of Christians, to protect you from the violence of the Indians.

" Surrounded, as you are, by victorious arms ; one-half (if not the greater part) of the inhabitants friends to government ; without any resource,-surely you cannot hesitate a moment to accept the terms proposed to you by friends and well-wishers to the country.

" JOHN JOHNSON, " D. W. CLAUS, "JOHN BUTLER,

" Superintendents."

Shortly after this proclamation was drawn up, Major Walter N. Butler,* a son of Colonel John Butler, taking a party of fourteen soldiers, and an equal number of In- dians, proceeded to the residence of a Mr. Shoemaker, about two miles above Fort Dayton. This man was a Tory, and held his majesty's commission as a peace officer. A clandestine meeting had been arranged at Shoemaker's house, for the Tories of the vicinity, and Butler was pres- ent, armed with the address above given.

Colonel Weston, at Fort Dayton, in some manner heard of this gathering, and seeretly dispatching a body of troops,

they came upon the assembly by surprise, and took them all prisoners.

Major Butler was in the midst of a speech to the people assembled, when an officer in the Continental uniform stepped in, and, tapping the speaker on the shoulder, very quietly informed hitu that he was a prisoner. Butler's astonishment was beyond deseription ; but there was no escape, and the whole party was marched to Fort Dayton, and imprisoned under close guard.

Upon the arrival of General Arnold he ordered a court- martial convened, which tried Major Butler as a spy. Colonel Willett officiated as judge advocate, and Butler was convicted and senteneed to death ; but upon the inter- eession of a number of officers who had known him before the war, when a law student at Albany, a reprieve was granted, and he was sent to Albany and imprisoned until the following spring. When the Marquis de La Fayette assumed command of the northern department, it is said the friends of Butler intereeded and begged for a miti- gated form of imprisonment on account of ill health, which request was granted, and he was removed to a private house and kept under guard ; but from which he managed to escape,-some accounts say through treachery,-and fled to the British lines. His subsequent career in arms was anything but an honorable one, and his death such as might have been expected.

CHAPTER XIL.

RELIEF OF FORT STANWIX.

Arnold's Expedition-His Counter-Proclamation-A ruse-de-guerre- Hon Yost Schuyler-Panic in St. Leger's Army-Interesting Documents-Supplementary-Roster of Oriskany-Poem.

IMMEDIATELY upon receiving information of the battle of Oriskany and the failure of Herkimer to relieve Fort Stanwix, General Schuyler, who was yet in command of the Northern army, ordered Generals Larned and Arnold, with the Massachusetts brigade and the First New York Regiment, to march to the relief of the fort. Orders had also been sent to various officers by Governor Clinton, among others to the veteran General Israel Putnam, then in command at Peekskill, as the following letter shows :

" PECK'S KILL, Aug. 14, 1777.

"DEAR SIR, -Received yours of the 14th inst. In consequence of it, and former orders received from General Washington, have or- dered Colonel Cortlandt's and Colonel Livingston's regiments to march imne liately to the northward to the relief of Fort Sebuyler, or as you shall see fit to direct them. -

"I wish them a speedy an I safe arrival, an'l you most successful enterprise against those worse than infernals. With great respeet, I am your obedient hamuble servant,

" ISRAEL PUTNAM." " To His Execllency, GOVERNOR CLINTON."

The following is a copy of a letter from Governor George Clinton, relating to matters at that time, copied from the original, in the State Lil ary at Albany, and published in the Oriskany Centennial V lume :

" ALBANY, August 22, 1777. " General Harehheime dead of his wounds. His leg was taken off aud he survived it bi a few hours. General Arnold, with his

# Colonel Dan. Claus, in his account of the campaign, calls Walter Butler an ensign. We use the title by which he is generally known.

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party, is at Fort Dayton. About 100 of the militia of Tryon County are with him. I have issued my positive orders to the officers com- manding the respective regiments there to detach one-half to join General Arnold's army. Colonels Cortlandt's and Livingston's regi- ments marched this evening for his further reinforcement.

" The enemy in that quarter having acquired a considerable acees- sion of numbers from Indians and Tories, the above measures were rendered necessary. The garrison, however, by very late accounts, are high in spirits and well provided, and I have no doubt we shall, in a few days, receive the most agreeable intelligence from that quar- ter. From the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, whose chieftains are now with General Arnold, we have the fullest assurance of assistaner, but have nething to expect from any other tribes of the Six Nations, until our successors intimidate them into friendship. Since the affair at Bennington the scalping business seeins to have ceased."

Under the same date Governor Clinton addressed the fol- Jowing letter to the several colonels in Tryon County :

" HEADQUARTERS, HALF MOON, 22d August, 1777.

"SIR,-While I have the highest sense of the loyalty, valor, and bravery of the militia of Tryon County, manifested in the victory gained by them under the command of their late worthy General IIer- kimer, for which, as the chief magistrate of the free and independent State of New York, they have my most hearty thanks, it gives me the greatest pain to be informed that any difficulty should arise in their joining the army under General Arnold, and thereby enabling hita to finish the war in that quarter, by raising the siege of Fort Schuyler, and destroying the enemy's army in that quarter, and re- storing peace and safety to the inhabitants of Tryon County. Their noble exertions against the common enemy have already gained them the greatest honor, and their perseverance will secure them peace and safety. Tu both I am greatly interested, and it is my doty and I hereby most positively order that you immediately join General Ar- nold with ouc-half your regiment completely armed, equipt, and ae- coutred, and march under his command to the relief of Fort Schuyler. As soon as the service will admit General Arnold will dismiss you. If any are hardy enough to refuse to obey your orders given in con- sequence of this, yon are immediately to report the names of the samo to General Arnold, who will transmit the same to me, that they inay be dealt with with the utmost rigor of the law.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 29

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