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 38
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On the night of the 19th, 20th of July, Brant took the town completely by surprise, destroyed all the buildings, killed a number of the people, and retreated towards his maiu body with considerable spoil and a few prisoners. At the first knowledge of the affair the militia, to the number of 149 men, were hastily collected, and started in pursuit. The wily Mohawk lured them on and into an ambuscade, where be turned upon them with his whole force and completely cut them to pieces, only 30 escaping with their lives. The slaughter of prominent officers of that region was greater in proportion to numbers engaged than at Oriskany. This battle took place at a point near the Delaware River, and not far from the fording-place at the mouth of the Lacka- waxen Creek. From this point Brant made a rapid move- ment into the Mohawk Valley, where he made a few prisoners, and soon after joined the British, Tories, and Indians, under the Butlers and Johnsons, who were preparing to oppose Sullivan's advance.
A most remarkable project was put in operation and suc- cessfully carried out by General Clinton while lying at the foot of Otsego Lake waiting on the movements of General Sullivan. The outlet of this lake, which forms the main branch of the Susquehanna River, is but a small streamo, and capable only of floating canoes. General Clinton had with him for transportation purposes, as has been seen, upwards of 200 bateaux, a species of boat, when loaded, requiring considerable depth of water.
The problem of General Clinton was how to get these bateaux in the easiest possible manner down this stream to its junction with the large branches which unite with it from the north and west. But he was equal to the emer- gency, and adopted a perfectly original plan, which is worthy to be recorded with the great feat performed by Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey in extricating Admiral Porter's fleet from the shallows of Red River during the War of the Rebellion.
Clinton constructed a dam at the outlet which raised the waters of the lake several feet ; and when orders were re- ceived for a forward movement, on the 9th of Angust, the
dam was cut away, and the whole flotilla sailed down the stream on a majestic flood, which swept the entire valley and astonished the Indians beyond measure. Their grow- ing corn was all destroyed, and they looked upon it as a di- rect visitation from the Great Spirit. It was at the dryest season of the year, and the savages, knowing nothing of the cause of the terrible flood, naturally attributed it to supernat- ural canses.
Clinton's force formed a junction with Sullivan on the 22d of August, at Tioga. The army now amounted to 5000 men, consisting of the brigades of Generals Clinton, Hand, Poor, and Maxwell, the artillery under Proctor, and a small independent corps of riflemen.
The expedition had been so long in progress that the enemy had a minute knowledge of its strength and objects; and had made the best possible preparations to meet it. No attempt was made to attack it on the march, however, until its arrival at Newtown, now the city of Elmira, in Chemung County, in front of which the enemy had constructed very strong lines covering Sullivan's line of march. Why they did not fall upon Clinton's brigade before its junction with the main army is certainly inexplicable, unless they were at that time unprepared; for, most assuredly, if they could not check the advance of one brigade, and even put it to a disastrous ront, they could not hope to beat the consoli- dated army.
The utinost circumspection was observed in moving up the Chemung River to guard against surprise. On the morning of the 29th of August the enemy's line was dis- covered, and dispositions were at once made to dislodge them. Their strength was estimated by Sullivan and his officers at 1500 men, while the enemy stated it at 800 to 850. They admitted, however, that there were in addition to the British and Tory troops Six Nations of Indians, be- sides the Senecas, engaged in the battle. Brant was at the head of the Indians and made a gallant fight, but after a long contest the enemy were routed, and fled in the utmost disorder. The losses in Sullivan's army, considering the obstinate defense, were very small, amounting to only 5 or 6 killed and from 40 to 50 wounded. The loss of the enemy was not known, but from the number of dead found on and near the field, and other unmistakable signs of slaughter, it must have been severe. The small loss of the Americans was no doubt principally owing to the fact that the enemy occupied high ground, and, as is invariably the case, fired too high. This principle has been repeatedly illus- trated, and it is well understood among military men that so far as mere firing is concerned the party occupying high ground have no advantage. The assaults upon Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, at Chattanooga, are cases in point.
The army remained on the field until the 31st. From this point all the heavy and surplus baggage, and the ar- tillery, excepting four brass three-pounders and a small howitzer, were sent back. The army was placed upon short allowance, and virtually became a flying column stripped to rapid marching trim.
On the 31st it moved in the direction of Catherine's town, near the head of Seneca Lake, the residence of the notorious Catherine Montour.
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
The town of Kan-aw-a-ho-lee, situated at the confluence of the Tioga and Conhocton Rivers, and containing about twenty houses, was burned on the march. Large corn- fields were also destroyed in the valley of the Tioga by a detachment of riflemen under Colonel Dayton.
The army made a most laborious march from the Che- mung to Catherine's town, and had the enemy displayed their wonted prowess and sagacity it might have been badly harassed by the way. But they scemed to be com- pletely demoralized and attempted nothing.
Disappointed in the expected support of the Oneidas, Sullivan dispatched one of those who remained with the army to carry to the Oncida castles an account of the battle of Newtown, and to tell them that he expected their war- riors to join him immediately. The messenger did not return until near the close of the campaign, when he ex- plained the reasons for their not joining hin. They had mustered their warriors and seventy of them had set out, when they met their hrother, Conowaga, coming from the army, who informed them that the general was then at Kanasadugea, and had men enough, " only wanting a few good guides."
In consequence of this information the Oneida warriors had returned home, sending by him an address in which they intereeded for one elan of the Cuyugas, which, they claimed, had always been friendly to the Americans.
The general replied, commending them for their fidelity to the United States, but expressing surprise that they should intercede in behalf of any portion of the Cayugas, who had been always hostile, and he assured them that the Cayugas should be chastised.
The brigade of General Clinton, which had been sepa- rated from the main body for several days, rejoined the army on the 2d of September.
The work of destruction was hegun in earnest on the 3d, when Catherine's town was entirely destroyed, with all the orchards and corn-fields. The place consisted of thirty very good houses. It is said that some of the officers re- moustrated against the wanton destruction of fruit-trees, as a business altogether discreditable to a soldier ; but their savage warfare against the borders was remembered this time with feclings of revenge, and nothing was spared. It is said that Sullivan made this remark, when objections were raised against such wanton destruction, "The In- dians shall see that there is malice enough in our hearts to destroy everything that contributes to their support."*
The army pushed on rapidly through the enemy's country, destroying everything in its path, including all the villages, crops, stock, and orchards of the Cayuga and Seneca nations. The evidences of wealth and a high de- gree of civilization found throughout the entire Indian re- gion, and especially in the beautiful valley of the Genesee, were surprising to those who had supposed the Six Nations but a race of savages. Their dwellings were comfortable and commodious, and their cultivated fields and orchards extensive and fruitful. The amount of property destroyed was enormous. Forty Indian towns, the largest containing one hundred and twenty-eight houses, were burned ; and,
by a careful estimate, corn-gathered and in the field-to the amount of one hundred and sixty-eight thousand bushels was destroyed. The orchards were so extensive that fifteen hundred trees were cut down in a single one.
The army began its return march on the 16th of Sep- tember, and on the 20th erossed the outlet of Seneca Lake, at which point a detachment of five hundred men, under Colonel Zebulon Butler (of Wyoming memory), was sent to destroy the Cayuga towns on its eastern shore, and at the same time Lieutenant-Colonel Dearborn was detached, at the head of two hundred men, to accomplish a like work on the western shore. Colonel Dearborn destroyed six towns, and rejoined the army on the 26th ; and Colonel Butler, after destroying three villages, including the Cayuga capital, returned on the 28th. During the same time Colonels Van Cortlandt and Dayton had performed similar services in the valley of the Tioga River. The entire army reached Tioga on the 30th of September. It was the orig- inal intention to carry the expedition against the British post at Niagara, which was the grand point of supplies for all Indians in Western New York and a great portion of Canada. Why Sullivan did not carry out this portion of the plan has never been satisfactorily explained. The general's excuse was a want of provisions, but these could easily have been supplied from the immense stores of the Indians.
Looking at all the facts from the standpoint of to-day, it is at least questionable whether the great expense of Sullivan's army, and the destruction wrought by it, were ever justified by the results. Unquestionably the only effect it had upon the Indians was to stimulate and nerve them to still more desperate and bloody warfare against the people of the frontiers ; and the destructive raids which repeatedly desolated the valleys of New York and Pennsylvania were the results, in a great measure, of the spirit of revenge en- gendered by the wholesale destruction wrought by this expedition.
The Indians reasoned correctly that the terrible vengeance meted out to them was by authority from Congress and the commander-in-chief; and Washington was over afterwards known among the Senecas and Cayugas as the " Town Do- stroyer." The army reached Easton, Pa., on the 15th of October, having traversed since their setting out a distance of two hundred and eighty milcs.
There was a single episode in this campaign which cast a gloom over the whole army. This was the destruction of a party under Lieutenant Boyd. The lieutenant had been detached on the 13th of September with a company of 26 riflemen, including the celebrated Virginian, Murphy, and an Oncida warrior named Honyerry, for the purpose of reconnoitering Little Beard's town. He had accomplished his purpose, and was returning, when he encountered a band of Indians who were in pursuit of an Oneida prisoner. It is also said that the Mohawk chieftain, Brant, came upon him suddenly with 300 men. Other accounts claim that Brant was not present. The Indians immediately sur- rounded and attacked the party, who made a gallant attempt to eut their way through and escape. The fighting was desperate, for the riflemen were all noted shots, and the Indians suffered severely. But after a short and murderous contest, the men were all shot down but Boyd and a few
# Gordon.
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
others. The brave Oneida, Honyerry, who had done great execution among the enemy at Oriskany, was literally hacked to pieces. Murphy, and one or two others, dashed through the Indians and escaped. Boyd, and a soldier named Parker, were taken prisoners. The Indians suffered such losses that they had not time to bury all their dead before the approach of General Hand's brigade obliged them to fly. They left a wagon-load of packs, blankets, etc., on the field.
Boyd made himself known to Brant as a Mason, and the chief promised him protection; but being called away, he was left with Colonel Butler, who, failing to get the desired information from him concerning the strength and move- ments of Sullivan's army, inhumanly turned him over to the tender mercies of Little Beard and his band, who inn- mediately put him to death by the most savage torture. His companion, Parker, was also put to death, but not tor- tured. The mutilated bodies were found on the 14th and buried on the bank of Beard's Creek, in a clump of wild plum-trees, in the present town of Groveland, Livingston County .*
One other incident of this campaign deserves notice in this connection. It will be remembered that one clan of the Mohawk nation had declined to follow Brant in their migration to Canada, and had remained behind at the lower castle, where they had been assured by the Committee of Safety that they should not be disturbed so long as they behaved themselves consistently. For some reason General Sullivan formed the opinion that those Mohawks were fur- nishing information to the enemy, and he resolved to put a stop to their proceedings.
# An incident illustrating the peculiarities of the Indians in a re- markable degree occurred a little earlier in the campaign. The advance ef the army had a slight skirmish with a strong force of Indians posted in ambush between Heoeoye Creek and Conesus Lake, in which the troops were compelled to fall back upen the main hedy. In this affair two Oneida Indians were captured. One of them was General Sullivan's guide and had rendered very efficient service, and oo this account he was a prisoner of more than ordinary consequence. This guide had a brother who belonged to the enemy's party, wbo bad tried every means io his power tu persuade him te jein the British, but without success. The memeut he recognized his brother be approached him in a haughty manger aud addressed him as follows : .
"Brother : You have merited death ! The hatchet er the war-club shall finish your career ! When I begged of yoo to follow me in the fortunes of war, you were deaf to my eries; you spurned wy eutreaties.
" Bretber, you have merited death, and shall have your deserts ! When the rebels raised their hatchets to fight their good master, you sharpened your knife, you brightened your rifle, and led on our foce to the fields of our fathers.
" Brother: Yon have merited death, and sball die by eur bands ! When those rebels bad driven us from the fields of our fathers to seek out new homes, it was you who could dare to step forth as their pilot, and cenduet them evea to the deors of eur wigwams, to butcher our children and put us to death ! No crime can be greater. But though you have merited death and shall die on this spot, my hands shall not be stained with the blood of a bretber ! Who will strike !" [Stene.]
After a moment's pause the hatchet of Little Beard flashed sud- denly in the air, and the young Oneida lay dead at his feet. The other captive was told by Little Beard that he was fighting enly the whites, and his life should be spared, and he should eventually be set at liberty. The Oneida, however, distrusted the chief, and took the first opportunity to escape; and it was while in pursuit of bim that the Indians encounterod Lieutenant Boyd's party.
Accordingly, while lying at the foot of Seneca Lake, on the 20th of September, he detached Colonel Gansevoort with. 100 men to Fort Schuyler. From thence he was ordered to proceed down the valley to the lower castle of the Mohawks, make the Indians prisoners, and destroy their castle. He was then to proceed immediately to headquar- ters with his prisoners,-being expressly forbidden to leave any of them at Albany. At the same time he was directed that they should be shown " such necessary marks of civility and attention as might engage a continuance of their friend- ship, and give evidence of our pacific disposition towards them." This most extraordinary order was soon demon- strated to have been without a shadow of exteuuation, and cruel and incomprehensible.
To Colonel Gansevoort these orders were no doubt ex- tremely unwelcome and distasteful ; but, like a good soldier, hie hastened to obey them.
The following is the colonel's report to General Sullivan :.
" ALBANY, Oct. 8, 1779.
"SIR,-Agreeably to my orders, I proceeded by the shurtest reute. to the lower Mohawk castle, passing through the Tuscarora and Oneida castles (towns), where every wark of hospitality and friend-, ship was shewo the party.
" I had the pleasure to find that net the least damage or insult was offered any of the inhabitants. On the 25th I arrived at Fort Sehuy- ler, where, refreshing my party, I proceeded dowa the river, and en the 29th effectually surprised the luwor Mohawk castle, making priso -. ners of every Indiaa iohabitant. They theo occupied but four houses. I was preparing, agreeable te my orders, tu destruy them, but was interropted by the inhabitants of the freotiers, who have been lately driven froio their settlements by the savages, praying that they might. have liberty to enter into the Mohanoks' houses until they could pro- cure other habitations; and well knowing those persons to have lately lest their all, humanity teinpted me in this particular to act in some degree contrary tu orders, although I could det but be confident ef your apprebatiuo, especially when you are inferiaed that this castle. is in the heart of our settlements, aod abounding with every ueces- sary ; se that it is remarked that these Indians live much better than mest of the Mohawk River farmers. Their houses were very well l'uraished with all necessary household utensils, great plenty of ginin,' several horses, cows, and wagons: ef all which I have an inventory, leaving them in the care of Majer Newkirk, ef that place, who dis- tributed the refugees in the several houses. Such being the situation, I did not allow the party to plonder at all.
"The prisoners arrived at Albany en the 2d instant, and were closely secured in the fort. Yesterday, the 7th, I received a letter froi General Schoyler (of which I inglese a copy ), respecting the prisoners, desiring that the seading the priseners dewn might be postponed ontil ao express shall arrive from General Washingtoo. Agreenbly to this request, a sergeant and twelve men are detained 'to keep charge of the prisoners antil his pleasure is koown.
"It is with the greatest regret I meotieo wy iudisposition being so great as to binder my taking charge of the party to headquarters. I have been several days confined, and my surgeon informs me that my compluiat is bilious fever. Captain Sytez takes coinmaud of the detachment, and will preceed with all expedition te headquarters with the baggage of the several regiments, where I hope shortly to join the army. I am," etc.
General Schuyler was then at the head of the Northern Commission of the Indian Department, and hearing of the harsh treatment of the Mohawks, had at once interposed in their behalf. Colonel Gansevoort inclosed his own letter and a copy of General Schuyler's to the commander-in-chief, who immediately ordered the release of the Indians.
Congress, on the 14th of October, passed a resolution of thanks to General Washington for directing this great ex- pedition, and to " General Sullivan, and the brave officers
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
and soldiers under his command, for its effectual execution." But at the same time there was a strong feeling in Congress against what were deemed Sullivan's fault-finding procliv- ities and extravagant expenditures, and he soon after tend- ered his resignation (November 9) under pretense of ill health. It was accepted on the 30th, but the act was somewhat softened down by a vote of thanks for past services.
The immediate result of Sullivan's campaign against the Indians was great suffering, amounting almost to starvation, among them. They were compelled to fall back upon the British post of Niagara for supplies, which could not be furnished in sufficient quantities to relieve their necessities. Sickness followed, and distress was everywhere among them. They had received a terrible blow, the severest by far of any ever administered to them, but it did not tame them or bring about the peace which had been hoped for. On the" contrary, it rendered them more hostile and far more vin- dictive than before, and they neglected no opportunity of glutting their revenge.
The winter of 1779-80 was exceedingly severe, but neither sickness, nor destitution, nor storm could keep the savages within their cabins or prevent them from taking the war-path. At some period during that cold winter, the date of which is uncertain, Brant led a party of Indians and Tories, or British troops, against the offending Oneidas, who were taken entirely by surprise, and their castle, church, and dwellings completely destroyed, together with all their household utensils and provisions. The miserable people were driven out of their beautiful country and scattered among the white settlements in an entirely destitute condi- tion. They were afterwards settled in the neighborhood of Schenectady, and supported by the United States Govern- ment until after the close of the war. This was the only movement attempted during the winter, and the marauding force did not penetrate beyond the country of the Oneidas.
Neither the Western nations of the Confederacy nor the Oneidas ever recovered from the effects of these destructive campaigns. From henceforth they ceased to be the power- ful people whose rule a century before had extended from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi, and from the highlands of Canada to the mountains of Georgia. Their council-fire went out in blood, and the Hodenosaunee disappeared from history as a great confederacy.
Early in April Brant led a war-party on a raid, intending to capture Schoharie, but on his way he captured a party of fourteen soldiers under Captain Alexander Harper, on the Charlotte River, who had been sent out from Old Scho- harie by Colonel Vrooman, ostensibly for the purpose of making maple-sugar, but really to watch the movements of certain suspected parties living in the valley of the Char- lotte River. Three of Captain Harper's party were killed and the rest taken prisoners. Brant questioned the cap- tain very closely as to whether there were any regular soldiers at Schoharie, and upon being informed that a de- tachment of three hundred had lately been sent there, he concluded to abandon the main part of his projected enter- prise and return to Niagara. The captain's information was given purposely to deceive, and probably saved the Schoharie region from another desolation, These prisoners
were not returned to their homes until after the peace of 1783.
Nearly at the same time a party of Tories and Indians fell upon the small settlement at Little Falls, which con- sisted of a few families located around the grist- and saw- mills of Alexander Ellis. Their object was accomplished with the loss of one man killed and five or six carried away prisoners by the enemy. The mills and settlement were completely destroyed.
In May of this year occurred the invasion of the lower Mohawk Valley by Sir John Johnson, who fell upon Johns- town on the 21st of the month with a force of five hundred men, composed of a few British troops, a portion of his own regiment of "Greens," and about two hundred In- dians. He had come by way of Lake Champlain to Crown Point, and most probably via Lake George, across the country to the Hudson, and thence up the Sacandaga River, falling upon the valley from an entirely unexpected quarter.
This raid was made for the ostensible purpose of recov- ering a chiest of plate left behind at the baronial hall when Sir John fied the country in 1776, but he took occasion to desolate a region occupied by his former neighbors and friends, and which he had repeatedly declared he would never be found guilty of. The country for many miles around, including the villages and settlements of Caughna- waga and Tribes' Hill, was plundered, many of the people killed, and the property of every Whig destroyed. Among others, the dwelling of Colonel Frederick Visscher, near Caughnawaga, was attacked by a portion of Sir John's force. The house was occupied by the colonel, his mother, and two brothers. The men made a desperate defense, but were overpowered, two of them killed, and the colonel him- self and his aged mother scalped and left for dead, and the buildings set on fire. But the colonel revived, and, not- withstanding his desperate condition, succeeded in dragging the dead bodies of his brothers from the flames, and in car- rying his mother to a place of safety. Among others mur- dered near Caughnawaga was Mr. Douw Fonda, an aged and prominent citizen.
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