History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 36

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 36

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The destruction wrought by Brant at the German Flats was amply revenged a few weeks later by a force under Colonel William Butler, consisting of the 4th Pennsyl- vania Regiment, a detachment of Colonel Morgan's rifle- men, then stationed at Schoharie, and a body of twenty rangers, which the colonel led against the Indian settle- ments at Unadilla and Oghkwaga, and in a campaign of sixteen days completely destroyed, with vast quantities of corn and other provisions. The Indians had all fled on the approach of this force, and nothing was seen of them. The command lost one man, killed while straggling ..

In revenge for these inroads into their territory, the In- dians and Tories, under Walter Bulter and Thayendanegea; to the number of seven hundred, made a sudden onslaught upon Cherry Valley, on the 11th of November, and cap- tured and destroyed, with many appalling barbarities, that flourishing settlement. Colonel Alden, who was in com- mand of a small garrison, had timely warning, but he per- sisted in the belief that nothing would be attempted at that season of the year, and so fell an easy prey to the merciless band.

Brant held a subordinate position under Walter Butler, and was therefore not responsible for the barbarities com- mitted. It is believed that these were mostly committed by the Senccas, and it is a well-authenticated fact that Brant saved many of the prisoners from destruction. The

whole region was swept by fire and tomahawk, and the destruction was as complete as at the German Flats. Col- onel Alden and 16 of his men were killed, and 32 of the inhabitants ; and between 30 and 40, mostly women and children, were taken prisoners.

It is something to the credit of Walter Butler that on the succeeding day he released all the women and children, except Mrs. Colonel Campbell and Mrs. Moore, and their children. These were detained on account of the promi- nent part their husbands had taken in the war. How far this act of humanity was prompted by Brant, or the fact that the mother of Walter Butler was then a prisoner in the hands of the Whigs, is not known.

The prisoners were sent back, with the following letter directed to General Schuyler :

" CHERRY VALLEY, Nov. 12, 1778.

"Sın,-I am induced by humanity to permit the persons whose names I send herewith to return, lest the inclemency of the season and their naked and helpless situation might prove fatal to them, and expect you will release an equal number of our people in your hands, amongst whem I expect you will permit Mrs. Butler and family to come to Caoa'da; but if you insist upon it, I do engage to send you, moreover, an equal number of prisoners of yours, taken either by the Rangers or Indians, and will leave it to you to name the persons. I have done every thing in my power to restrain the fury of the In- dians from hurting women and children, or killing the prisoners who fell into our hands, and would have more effectually prevented them, but they were much incensed by the late destruction of their village' of Angungat hy your people. I shall always continue to act in that manner. I look upon it beneath the character of a soldier to wage war with women and children. I am sure you are conscious that Colonel Butler or myself have no desire that your women or children should be hurt. But, he assured, that if you persevere in detaining my father's family with you, that we shall no lunger take the same. pains to restrain the Indians from prisoners, women and children, that we have heretofore done.

" I am your humble servant,

" WALTER N. BOTLER,

"Capt. Commanding of the Rangers.

"GENENAL SCHUYLER."

, After all, it was only the fear of trouble to his father's family that restrained his bloodthirstiness.

This letter of Captain Butler was eventually handed to. General Schuyler by the person most deeply interested in the proposed exchange of prisoners,-Colonel Campbell, who was absent from Cherry Valley at the time of the at- tack, and consequently escaped. General Schuyler was not then in command of the department, and the letter was transmitted some time after to Governor Clinton. The fol- lowing manly reply was written by General James Clinton, brother to the Governor, and strikingly illustrates the dif- ference in the character of the two correspondents :

" ALBANY, January 1, 1779.

" Sin,-A letter, dated the 12th of November last, signed by you and directed to General Schuyler, and which was delivered by John Camp- bell, is come to hand. As its contente related to persons who were cit- izens of the State, with which the military do not interfere, the letter was not delivered to Brigadier-General Hand, who commanded in this department, but transmitted to his Excellency, Governor Clinton, that his pleasure might be known on its contents. He bas authorized me. to make the exchange you request. I am at a loss to know not only when to direct to you, but also in what part of the country the unhappy prisoners taken in this State have been carried. I therefore send the bearers, A. B. and C. D., with a flag, to carry this letter to any place

# Meaning, probably, some small village on the head-waters uf the Unadilla, and not the main town by that name.

t Report of Major Cechrane to Colonel Gansevoort. [Stone.]

# One of the old names of Unadilla.

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where they may learn you are, or any other officer who can accomplish the exchange in your nhsence. Should the prisoners be in nay of the Indian villages, und in a condition to be muved, you will please to sead them to the nearest of our settlements; or, if you do not choose to de that, I will send preper persons to meet and receive them at any plnce you may appoint. " I am not informed if Mrs. Butler, her family, and such others as will be given in exchange for these you have in captivity, and theso you have suffered to return, as mentioned in your letter, would choose to move at this inclement season. If they do, they shall be sent; if not they may remain until spring; and then they may go either to Oswego or Canada, at their option. Should the prisoners taken at Cherry Valley, or any others belonging to the State of New York, be at Niagara, it will be impossible for them to return until spring; and then I request that they may he sent to Oswego or Fort Schuyler, and that you will send notice of your determination, that provision may be made accordingly.

"Do not flatter yourself, sir, that your father's family have been detained on account of nny consequence they were supposed to be of, or that it is determined they should be exchanged in consideration of the threat contained in your letter. I should hope, for the sake of human nature and the honor of civilized nations, that the British uffi- cers had exerted themselves in restraining the barbarity of the savages. But it is difficult, even for the most disinterested mind to believe it, as numerous instances of barbarity have been perpetrated where savages were not. present-or, if they were, the British feree was sufficient to restrain them, had there been a desire so to do. The enormous mur- ders committed at Wyoming and Cherry Valley would clearly huve justified n retaliation ; and that your mother did not full a sacrifice to the resentment of the survivors of these families who were se harhar- ously massacred, is owing to the humane principles which the condnet of their enemies justifies a belief that they are utterly strangers to. The flag will carry their arms with them, that they may furnish them- selves with provisions, should what they set out with be expended before they reach any places where they can be supplied. As Captuin Butler may be absent, I inclose a copy of this letter to General Schuy- ler.

"I am, etc., "JAMES CLINTON."

"To CAPTAIN WALTER BUTLER, OR ANY OFFICER IN THE BRITISH SEA- VICE TO WHICH THIS MAY BE HANDED."*

" This letter reached its destination in due season, and called forth the following reply from Captain Butler, writ- ten in behalf of his father and himself;" which we insert at length, in order to give this remarkable correspondenee complete; and, to a certain extent, to allow the Butlers, whose reputation has always been an intolerable stench to the American people, a chance to be heard in their own ·defense :

"NIAGARA, 18th Feb., 1779.

"Sia,-I have received a letter dated the Ist January Inst, signed hy you, in answer to mine of the 12th November.

" Its contents I communicated to Lieut .- Colonel Bolton, the com- manding officer of this garrison, etc., by whom I am directed to ac- 'quaint you that he has no objection that an exchange of prisoners, as mentioned by yon, should take place; but not being fully empowered by his Excelleney-General Haldimandt-to order the same immedi- ately to be put in execution, has thought proper that I should go down to the Commander-in-chief, for his direction in the matter.

" In the menn time, Colonel Butler, as he ever has done en every other occasion, will make every effort in his power to have all the prisoners, as well those belonging to your troops as the women and children in captivity among the different Indian nations, collected and sent in to this post to be forwarded to Crown Point, should the ex- change take pince by way of Canada, or to Oawege, if settled there. In either case, Colonel Bolton desires me to inform you that the prisen- ors shall receive from him what ussistance their wants may require, which prisoners have at all times received at this post.

" The disagreeable situation of your people in the Indian villages,

as well as ours amongst you, will induce me to make all the expe- dition in my power to Canada (Quehec), in order that the exchange may be settled as soon as possible. For the good of both, I make ne doubt that his Excellency, General HIaldimand, will acquiesce ic the proper exchange. The season of the year renders it impossible that it should take place before the 10th or 15th of May next. How- ever, I shall write yon, by the way of Crown Point, General Haldi- mand's determination, and when and where the exchange will be most agreeable to him to be made. I could wish Mrs. Butler and her family, including Mrs. Scheeban, and son, and Mrs. Wall, were permitted to go to Canada in the Spring, even should the exchange be fixed at Outario.

"It is not our present business, sir, to enter into an altercation or to reflect on the conduct of either the British or the Continental forces, or on that of each other; but since you have charged (on report, I must suppose) the British officers in general with inhumanity, and Colonel Butler and myself in particular, in justice to them, and in vindication of hie und my own honor and charneter, I am under the disagreeable necessity to declare the charge unjust nnd void of truth, and which can only tend to deceive the world, though a favorite cry of the Congress on every occasion, whether in truth or not.

" We decy any cruelties to have been committed ot Wyoming, either by whites or Indians; so far to the contrary, that not a man, woman, or child was hurt after the capitulation, or a woman or child before it, and none taken into captivity. Though should you call it inhumanity the killing men in arms in the field, we in that case plead guilty. The inhnbitents killed at Cherry Valley does not lay at my door,-my con- science nequits. If any are guilty (as accessories) it's yourselves; at least the conduct of some of your officers. First, Colonel Hartley, of your forces, sent to the Indians the inclosed, being a copy of his letter charging them with crimes they never committed, and threatening them and their villages with fire and sword and no quarters. The burning of one of their villages, thec inhabited by only a few families, -your friends,-whe imagined they might remain in peace and friend- chip with you, till assured, a few hours before the arrival of your troops, that they should not even receive quarters, took to the woods; and, to complete the matter, Colonel Dennisten and his people appearing in arms with Colonel Hartley, after a solemn capitulation and enguge- ment not to bear arms during the war; and Colonel Denniston not performing a promise to release a number of soldiers belonging to Celonel Butler's corps of rangers, then prisoners among you, were the reasons assigned by the Indians to me, after the destruction of Cherry Valley, for their not acting in the same manner as at Wyoming. They added that, being charged by their enemies with what they never had done, nnd threatened by them, they had determined to convince you it was not fear which had prevented them from committing the one, and that they did not want spirit to put your thrents against them in force against yourselves.

" The prisoners sent back by me, or any now in our er the Indians' hands, must declare I did everything in my power to prevent the In- dians killing the prisoners, or taking women and children captive, or in any wise injuring them. Colonel Stacey# (Stacia) and several other officers of yours, when exchanged, will acquit me; and must further declure that they have received every assistance, before und since their arrival at this post, that could be got to relieve their wants. I must, however, beg leave, by the by, to observe that I experienced no humanity, or even common justice, during my imprisonment among you.

" I inelose yen a list of officers and privates when I should be gind were exchanged likewise. The list of the families we expect for these ns well sent back, as others in our hands, you have likewise inclosed.

" Colonel Stacey, and several officers and others, your people, ure at this post, and have leave to write.

" I am your very humble servant,

" WALTER N. BUTLER, "Captain Corps of Rangers.

" BRIGADIER-GENERAL CLINTON, "Of the Continental forces."

These explanations and apologies of Captain Butler shed a somewhat different light upon the subject of Indian atroc- ities, and the part taken by British officers; but, after all

* Copied hy Colonel Stone from the original draft among the papers of General Clinton.

t Then Governer-General of Canada.

# Taken prisener at Cherry Valley.

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that can possibly be said in extenuation, the prominent fact remains that the British government, with a full knowledge of the savage nature of the Indians, and the utter impossi- bility of restraining them to any considerable degree, and after pointing with horror for years to their terrible out- rages against humanity under the French rule, did deliber- ately bire and employ them to carry on their merciless warfare against the colonies without discrimination be- tween peaceful inhabitants and troops in the field, and the damnable evidence is still on record that their most bloody atrocities were committed in the presence, if not with the sanction, of British officers ; and there is little doubt but re- wards were offered and paid for the scalps of the unfortu- nate who fell into their hands, both upon the battle-field and in the more peaceful walks of life. Not only was this true in the Revolution, but the records of the River Raisin, of the Maumee, and many other localities, bear witness against the British nation, and leave an ineradicable stain upon her escutcheon. To the honor of the Republic be it said that its people have ever manifested an extreme un- willingness to make use of this element against a civilized foe, even when every instinct of self-preservation and re- taliation demanded it.

The prisoners were all exchanged and returned to their friends in the course of the following summer, though the Seneca family who had adopted Mrs. Campbell were very loath to give her up. It was only when the aged and peace- fully-inclined king, Guy-au-gu-ah-ta, made a journey and personally interceded in her behalf, that she was allowed to depart. She returned via Niagara, Montreal, and Crown Point. She was soon after, at Albany, joined by her hus- band, who had been stationed at Fort Schuyler most of the time during her captivity.

The British government made an attempt to treat with the colonies in the month of June of this year. A com- mission, consisting of the Earl of Carlisle, Governor Johns- tone, William Eden, Esq., and General and Lord Howe, had been appointed ; but their letter to Congress was se- verely rebuked for its unjust language against the French government, and the offer of negotiation was peremptorily declined, except upon the basis of a recognition of independ- ence. On the 6th of August, M. Gerard, the French Minister Plenipotentiary, was publicly received, and on the 14th of September, Dr. Benjamin Franklin was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Versailles.

The season closed with the capture of Savannah, Georgia, by a strong British force under Colonel Campbell, who de- feated General Robert Howe, the American commander, on the 29th of December, and immediately took possession of the city.

In February, 1779, occurred the remarkable exploit per- formed by Colonel George Rogers Clark,-the capture of Vincennes, on the Wabash,-whereby the British Governor of Detroit, Colonel Hamilton, who had proceeded to Vin- cennes for the purpose of organizing and directing an ex- pedition against the frontiers of Virginia, was made a pris- oner. Several campaigos had been projected by Hamilton, and Brant figured conspicuously in arranging the details. There is no doubt that he had made the necessary arrange- ments for a descent upon the frontiers of New York and

Pennsylvania, with a large body of Indians, simultaneously with the attack upon Virginia ; but the capture of Hamil- ton and the wonderful successes of Colonel Clark deranged the whole grand plan.

Evidence of a design against the New York settlements was furnished by Colonel Van Dyck, then in command of Fort Schuyler, who on the 1st of January, 1779, wrote to General Clinton " that the Oneidas had just received in- formation that the enemy seemed determined to strike some capital blow during the winter." Colonel Van Dyck also stated that " one of the principal Oneida warriors had received a private letter from Joseph Brant, inviting him to join the Six Nations with his adherents, that he might avoid the danger to which his tribe was exposed." The Quiquoga Indians had also sent the Oneida Indians an invitation to join them.

These invitations, in accordance with Indian custom, were taken into consideration by the Oneidas, who held a council on the 16th and 17th of January, the result of which they communicated to Colonel Van Dyck on the 18th. They informed him that, after giving any who desired it permis- sion to withdraw, the council unanimously passed a resolu- tion " to stand by each other, in defense of their lives and liberty, against any enemy that might be disposed to attack them ;" and to the message of the Quiquogas they also unanimously agreed to return the following answer, viz. : " That as they had ever behaved themselves in a quiet and peaceable manner towards the Confederacy, they could not conceive that their conduct could be considered reprehensi- ble by them. They likewise put them in mind of their long and unwearied efforts to prevent the Six Nations in- volving themselves in the calamities of war, and that they had exerted themselves, so far, by their influence to relieve from close confinement some of their people whom the for- tune of war had put into the hands of their enemies. But that they now utterly despaired of ever being able to effect a reconciliation between the Confederacy and the United States, and that the only hope they had of them was that some of them would in time abandon the cause thus im- prudently espoused ; that they would never violate their allegiance with the United States; and though they would not be the aggressors, or wantonly provoke any tribe to war, yet that they should henceforth be on their guard against any enemy whatever."*

Seven of the principal chiefs of the Onondagas, who were on their way to Fort Schuyler, were acquainted with the above resolution, to which they replied in pacific terms, expressing their gratification at the position assumed by the Oneidas, and asserting their determination to follow a similar course and join them and the Tuscaroras. Both the Oneidas and this branch of the Onondagas joined in a request that troops be stationed in their respective can- tons for their protection.

Evidence constantly accumulating that Brant intended to make a raid into the valley of the Mohawk during the winter, General Clinton marched Colonel Van Schaick's regiment to Caughnawaga, where it was ordered to go into quarters and await events. On the 26th of February,

# Stone.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Captain Copp, who was in command of Fort Van Dyck, a small stockade in the Oneida or Onondaga country, wrote to Captain Graham, then temporarily in charge of Fort Schuyler, announcing that " two Oneidu messengers of dis- tinguished Indian families had just returned from Niagara, where they had obtained positive evidence of Braut's pur- pose."

The Mohawk chief had received information that the Delawares and Shawunese were to strike a powerful blow upon the frontier of Virginia, and a diversion was to be made by sending a small force to fall upon Schoharie, while Brant himself should lead the main expedition against the Mohawk Valley. There was much uneasiness felt with re- gard to the Onondagas, and the Tory element was watched with continual distrust. Major Jelles Fonda wrote General Clinton that there were yet remaining 300 Tory families in the region of Johnstown, who were keeping up a con- tinual correspondence with the enemy in Canada; and urged upon the general the feasibility of erecting a strong block-house, to be garrisoned by 50 rangers, on the Sacan- daga River, north of Johnstown.

However, the threatened blow did not fall, most probably on account of the capture of Colonel Hamilton ; and the winter passed away without any actual outbreak of hostil- ities. But the conduct of the Onondagas had been so equivocal and uncertain, that it was finally resolved upon the opening of spring to make an example of them for the benefit of the remaining nations of the Confederacy who remained hostile to the Americans.

Accordingly, early in April an expedition was detailed by order of General Clinton, under the sanction of Wash- ington, consisting of detachments from the regiments of Colonels Van Schaick and Gansevoort, in all amounting to about five hundred men, under the command of Colonel Van Schaick. This force was sent as expeditiously as pos- sible to Fort Schuyler, where thirty bateaux were collected for the purpose of transporting the troops down Wood Creek and across Oneida Lake to Three Rivers .*

Every precaution was adopted to prevent the Indians from obtaining knowledge of the expedition, and rumors were set afloat that it was destined for Oswego. The com- mander was instructed to burn and destroy every species of property belonging to the Onondagas, including all their stock and household goods; but he was at the same time eautioned to perinit Do useless sacrifice of human life, and to take as many prisoners as possible. The following pas- sage occurs in the instructions furnished by General Clin- ton, which does bonor to the man and the officer, and speaks volumes for the savage : " Bad as the savages are, they never violate the chastity of any women their pris- oners. Although I have very little apprehension that any of the soldiers will so far forget their character as to attempt such a crime on the Indian women who may fall into their hands. yet it will be well to take measures to prevent such a sta it upon our army." Colonel Van Schaiek was further enjoined to dissuade any of our Indian allics from accompanying him; and Lieutenant-Colonel Willett and Major Cochran were nidered to accompany the expe- dition.

Colonel Van Schaick received his orders on the 9th of April; and such was the promptitude with, which the arrangements were perfected, that the expedition was ready to move from Fort Schuyler on the 18th. The little army, consisting of exactly 558 men and officers, was put in motion carly on the morning of the 19th, and moved as rapidly down Wood Creek as the numerous obstructions would permit, favored by a dense mist that concealed its movements from any spies or scouts who might be lurking near. The whole body reached the landing at Fort Brew- erton at three P.M. on the 20th. At this latter point the bateaux were left in charge of a suitable guard, and the army pushed on through the tangled forest nine miles farther the same afternoon, and encamped without fires for the night.

Resuming the march early on the morning of the 21st, the army forded an arm of Onondaga Lake, about 200 yards in width and four feet deep. At the head of this lake, Captain Graham, in command of the advance-guard, cap- tured a warrior, which was the first one seen, although they were now within a few miles of some of their villages. The force was now divided into small detachments, and pushed rapidly forward with a view to surround the castle and villages and take the Indians by surprise. The line of villages is said to have extended along the valley of Onondaga Creek for a distance of ten miles.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 36

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