USA > New York > Otsego County > History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 3
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While the colonists were struggling with a well-disciplined and determined foe upon the seaboard, the frontier settle- ments were being harassed by the savage and the parricidal American Tory, both animated by a spirit of vandalism, destroying the habitations, devastating the cultivated fields. and waging an inhuman war against helpless women and innocent children.
In July, 1778, a force numbering about 1600 Indians
and Tories, under the command of Colonel John Butler, appeared at Wyoming, a flourishing settlement on the Sus- quehanna. Butler informed the inhabitants that he came with no hostile feelings, and that none should be molested. At nightfall, however, the savages and half-breeds,
" More fell than tigers on the Lybian plain,"
rushed upon their vietims. Men were shot down upon their own thresholds, women were dragged from their homes and tomahawked, while the cries of tortured infants floated through the midnight air. The light of the burning village shone over the most inhuman scene that stains the page of history. Many of those who eseaped the toma- hawk of the murderous savage were lost in a great swamp in the neighborhood, which from that circumstanee acquired the name of the "Shades of Death," and retains it to this day. Butler and his band of half-breeds returned to their haunts in triumph, and the surrounding hills doubtless blazed with many a cauip-fire, around which was brandished the glittering tomahawk in the triumphal war-dance.
As it is our purpose only to relate so much of the history of the border warfare as is prominently associated with the present county of Otsego, we must go back to 1775, and note a few of the movements of the loyalists and colonists in Tryon county.
The Continental congress, which met in Philadelphia in September, 1774, sent forth a number of patriotic addresses and resolutions stigmatizing the " blocking up of the port of Boston" as "oppressive and arbitrary," and otherwise stating their grievances, and ealling upon the people to maintain their rights.
The resolutions and measures adopted by the congress were well calculated to rouse the ire of the loyalists, and at a court held in Johnstown, in the spring of 1775, a declara- tion was framed and circulated by the loyalists of the county denouncing the measures adopted by the congress. This declaration met with some opposition, but finally was signed by the majority of the juryinen and magistrates. This bold assertion of the supremacy of the king, and opposition to the just and inalienable right of the colonists, caused great excitement among the people, and committees to cor- respond with the general congress were appointed in each district, and sub-committees were formed in every hamlet in the county.
A meeting was immediately held in the little church in Cherry Valley, which was filled with the liberty-loving in- habitants of that small village, to discuss the situation and sign the article of association which had been framed for the patriotic people of Tryon county. The meeting was ad- dressed by an Indian interpreter named Thomas Spencer, who roused the spirit of patriotic fire in the breasts of his hearers, and at the close of the meeting the following article of association was signed by nearly all present :
Whereas, the grand jury of this county and a number of the magistrates have signed a declaration declaring their disapprobation of the opposition made by the colonies to the oppressive and a: bi- trary uets of parliament, the purport of which is evidently to entail slavery in America ; and as the said declaration may in some measure be looked upon as the sense of the county in general if the same be passed over in silence, we, the subscribers, frechoklers, and the in-
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
habitants of the said county, inspired with a sincere love for our country, and deeply interested in the common cause, do solemnly declare our fixed attachment and entire approbation of the proceed- ings of the grand Continental congress, held at Philadelphia last fall, and that we will strictly adhere to, and repose our confidence in the wisdom and integrity of the present Continental congress; and that we will support tho same to the utmost of our power, and that we will religiously and inviolably observe the regulations of that august body.
Thus it will be seen that the inhabitants of Cherry Val- ley early espoused the cause of liberty, and were ever after ready to repel the invasion and avarice of the mother coun- try ; and when, on the following 4th day of July, the col- onists declared themselves "free and independent," the declaration was received with mingled feelings of enthusiast and joy.
During the summer of 1776 nothing of any importance occurred in the vicinity, and a temporary feeling of ease and security settled over the people.
In the month of June, 1777, a conference was held at Unadilla between Brant and the Rev. Mr. Johnson, who was accompanied by a number of the militia officers. Brant as usual had many grievances to relate, and stated that the Indians were in want of provisions, and that if necessity required foree would be resorted to to secure the same. The inhabitants thereupon gave them cattle, sheep, ete., and they retraced their trail to Oquago (now Windsor, Broome county).
. In consequence of the close proximity of Brant, the people were in a constant state of excitement, and, in the ensuing July, General Herkimer with a force of 380 militia marched to Unadilla, and was there mnet by Brant at the head of 135 warriors. He reiterated his many grievances, and when asked if his tribe intended to remain at peace, made the following answer : "The Indians were in concert with the king, as their fathers and grandfathers had been. That the king's belts were yet lodged with them, and they could not falsify their pledge. That General Herkimer and the rest had joined the Boston people against their king. That Boston people were resolute, but the king would hunible them. That Mr. Schuyler, or general, or what you please to call him, was very smart on the Indians at the treaty at German Flats, but was not at the same time able to afford them the smallest article of clothing. That the Indians had formerly made war on the white people all united ; and now they were divided the Indians were not frightened."
This conference ended with no satisfactory results having been reached.
During the council Brant became incensed at a remark of one of the officers, to the effect that if he intended " to espouse the cause of the king the matter was ended," and immediately roused his warriors and sounded the war- whoop. He was soon silenced by General Herkimer, who, in an address, informed the dusky warrior that he had met him with no warlike resolves, but Brant was defiant, and exclaimed that he was ready for war. With this unsatis- factory termination the conference ended, and in all proba- bility was the last held with the Six Nations,-except the Oneidas,-at which an effort was made to prevent the league from participating in the war.
CHAPTER V.
THE MASSACRE OF CHERRY VALLEY.
The Summer of 1776-Exposed Condition of the Village-Captain MeKean Organizes a Company of Rangers-Ordered to Remove- Protest of the Inhabitants-Petition to tho Provincial Congress- Defenseless-Fort Erected in 1776-Another in 1778-Brant's Approach in 1776-Intended Attack-Amusing Incident : " Colonel Campbell has got his House well guarded, I perceive"-Visit of Colonel Wormwood-Starts on his Return-Is Tomahawked and Sealped by Brant-Brant's Rock-Captain Mckean's Challenge- Brant's better to Pereifer Carr-1778-Arrival of Colonel Ichabod Alden and Soldiery-Precautionary Measures Adopted-Approach of the Enemy-Tho Attack Opened-The Seneeas head the On- slaught-Colonel Alden Killed-Butchery of the Wells Family aud others-Capture of Mrs. Campbell and Children-Incidents-1779 -The Garrison Abandoned.
" Hark ! hark ! methinks I hear some melancholy moan, Stealing upon my listening ear, As though some departing spirit was about To soar, amid the horrors of a massaere !
Yes, the savage fiend, with glittering knife And tomahawk, reeking with infant blood, Stands in awful prospeet before my vision."
As Cherry Valley was the principal settlement in the county south of the Mohawk, it was greatly exposed to the incursion of the Indians from the south, one of whose fre- quented trails passed through the village. To guard the people against any attack of the Indians which might be made, a company of rangers was raised during the summer of 1776, by Robert McKean, of that village. Time passed on, and no indications of an attack being made, Captain Mckean and his rangers were ordered to remove. This occasioned much surprise, and the following letter was written to the committee by the Rev. Samuel Dunlop, bearing date June 3, 1776:
SIRS,-We, the inhabitants of Cherry Valley, being assembled yesterday at a publie town-meeting, and among other things taking the present eritieal situation of affairs into consideration, looked upon ourselves and the neighborhood around us, Springfield and Newtown-Martin, as a frontier, lying very open and unguarded, and very much exposed to the enemy, in caso an Indian war should break out, or any party of the enemy should take it into their heads to come down upon us; and that it would be absolutely necessary to have a party of wen stationed here among us, in order to keep & sharp lookout, and to seout all around our frontiers, lest at any time we be taken by surprise. And therefore have appointed me to write to you, to lay this matter warmly before the committee, and earnestly to impress thein with the absolute necessity of the thing, and to beg of thewi that if Captain MeKean and his company bo removed from this place that they would bo pleased to send some others in his stead, that we may not lie altogether naked and exposed to tho assaults of the enemy.
The committee being unable to comply with this request, several of the inhabitants signed a petition, of which the following is a copy, under date of July 1, 1776:
TO THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE PROVINCIAL. CONGRESS OF NEW YORK.
The humble petition of the inhabitants of Cherry Valley, Newtown- Martin, and Springhiobl, in the county of Tryon, humbly showe'h :
That we, the aforesaid inhabitants, from the most authentic intelli- gence we have received from our missionaries and Indian friends, learn that we are in imminent danger of being eut off by the savages. our enemies, whom we understand are bribed by Sir John Johnson and Colonel Butler to execute the same. Know, also, honorable gen-
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
tlemen, that the spirit of our inhabitants has been such for the Ameri- ean eanse that, out of the small and scattered bound- of Cherry Val- ley and Newtown-Martin, no less than thirty-three has turned out for immediate service, and good of their country, and thereby left us in a defenseless condition. We, therefore, your humble potitioners, hum- bly pray you would forthwith take this, our deplorable and distressed state and condition, under your immediate consideration, and mnedi- tate some speedy relief for us before it be too late, especially as the inhabitants of the Old England district and Unadilla are daily flying into our settlement, so that we shall immediately, in all appearance, become an open, defenseless, and unguarded frontier, and very much exposed to the insults of the enemy, especially scalping-parties; and are at present without either ammunition or men, anyway sufficient to defend ourselves; and unless you, gentlemen, that can help us, will help us, by sending ammunition to the inhabitants, and a suffi- cient number of men, such as you may think proper, to guard our frontiers, we must expeet to fall victims to the rage and fury of our merciless enemies. And, therefore, must once more heg you may take this, our deplorable circumstances, under your consideration, and send us immediate relief; and your petitioners shall ever pray.
This petition, signed by Samuel Dunlop, Samuel Camp- bell, James Scott, Robert Wells, James Richey, James Moore, and Samuel Clyde, was granted, and a company of rangers, under command of Capt. Winn, were ordered stationed at the place.
Still the settlement was in a defenseless condition, and it was deemed expedient to erect a fortification. The house of Colonel Samuel Campbell, which occupied a commanding position on elevated ground, was selected for the fort, and a strong embankment of logs and earth was thrown up, the whole inclosure embracing the house, two large barns, and two block-houses which were subsequently erected.
This was the only fortification in the settlement until 1778, when a fort was built by the direction of General . La Fayette, at the earnest solicitation of Colonel Campbell and Mr. Wilson.
An incident of these times is related by Judge Campbell :
" As all the exercises and sports were of a military na- ture, the younger boys, in imitation of their elders, formed themselves into a military company. Those who were ae- quainted with military evolutions instructed them. Armed with wooden guns, they paraded with all the pride of soldiers.
" It was a fine, pleasant morning, towards the latter part of May, that these miniature soldiers sallied out, and paraded upon the green east of the house. That morning Brant, having come up from Oquago with a party of his men, had posted them upon the hill about a mile farther east, and, eoneealed by the thick woods which covered it, was look- ing down upon the little fortification. His intention, as afterwards explained by a Tory who accompanied him, was to make an attack the following night, and either to kill or earry away prisoners some of the principal persons, and especially the committee. This sagacious warrior was deceived when he saw this little company of boys. Look- ing down from an elevation, and the view being obstructed by the trees, he supposed them to be men. Turning round to his followers, he remarked, ' Colonel Campbell has got his house well guarded, I perceive.' During the day he ascer- tained that the inhabitants were in garrison, but that no militia or soldiers from abroad were there. Wishing to gain definite information as to the force and the preparations for defense, he moved his party to a place near the main road
leading to the Mohawk river, about two miles to the north. Here he lay in wait behind a large rock. A short distance from this, the road wound along near the top of a ledge of rocks forming a precipice one hundred and fifty feet high. It was slraded by evergreens, and was dark even at mid-day.
" Its wildness was increased by the dashing of a small stream which fell over this precipice, called by the Indians the falls of the Tekaharaica. That day, Lieutenant Wormu- wood came up from the Mohawk river, and informed the garrison that Colonel Klock would arrive the next day with a part of his regiment of militia. It was almost night when he started to return, accompanied by Peter Sitz, the bearer of some dispatches. Throwing down his portmanteau, he mounted his horse, saying he should not need it until his return on the morrow with his company. The fine personal appearance of this young offieer, who was clad in a rich suit of ash-colored velvet, attracted much attention during his stay, and many persons remained at the door looking at the horsemen until they were hid by the hill over which they passed. The clattering of hoofs had scareely died away upon the ear when the report of a volley of musketry was heard. Soon after, Wormwood's horse returned; the saddle was covered with blood, which excited fears as to his fate but too well founded. A party went out that evening, but could make no discoveries. The next morn- ing the body was found behind the rock before mentioned. They had arrived near the rock, when they were hailed, and ordered to stop; disregarding the order, they put spurs to their horses and endeavored to pass. The Indians im- mediately fired. Wormwood was wounded and fell from his horse, when Brant, rushing out, tomahawked him with his own hand."
Though Brant was considered a mereiless savage, and has by most writers been stigmatized as a heartless wretch, there are many instances on record where he conducted himself in a manner entirely at varianee with this character. It is related of him that when he burned Springfield, in the summer of 1778, he gathered together the women and children and left them unharmed.
Captain MeKcan, who raised the first company of rangers in Cherry Valley, was not only a good soldier, but enjoyed the reputation of being an excellent scout, and often penetrated the forest in search of the Indians, and was very instrumental in gaining trustworthy information of their movements. While Braut was at Unadilla, Cap- tain Mckean, with five others, was dispatched on a scouting expedition, and during this scout the courageous captain, becoming incensed at Brant's predatory warfare, wrote him a letter, and fastening it to a stick left it in the trail. In this missive he spoke of him in nowise flattering terms, and politely informed him that if he would come to Cherry Valley he would meet him single-handed, and change him from a Brant to a goose. This imprudent challenge of Captain MeKean's was received by the warrior, as is shown by the following, which is a verbatim copy of a letter writ- ten by Brant soon after to Pereifer Carr, one of the first settlers in the present town of Echmeston.
TUNAPILLA, July 9, 1578. Sut:,-I understand by the Indians that was at your house last werk, that one Smith lives nene with you, has little more corn to
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
apare. I should be much obliged to you if you would be so kind as to try to get as much corn as Smith can spare ; he has sent me five skipples already, of which I am much obliged to him, and I will see him paid, and would be very glad if you could spare one or two your men to join us, especially Elias. I would be glad to see him, and I wish you could sent me as many guns you have, as I know you have no use for them, if you any, as I mean now to fight the cruel rebels as well as I can. Whatever you will able to sent'd me, you must sent'd by the bearer.
I am your sincere friend and humble ser't,
JOSEPH BRANDT.
To MR. CARR.
P.S .- I heard that Cherry Valley people is very bold, and intended to make nothing of us. They call us wild geese, but I know the con- trary. Jos. B.
In the summer of 1778, Colonel Ichabod Alden, with a regiment of Continental soldiers, were ordered to Cherry Valley, and took command of the fort. Precautionary measures were at once adopted for the safety of the set- tlement, and stockades were placed around the church by the militia and rangers.
In October, 1778, an Indian interpreter and agent named Dean informed Major Cochrane, then in command of Fort Schuyler, that an attack was intended on the frontier during the coming autumn. This intelligence was transmitted to Colonel Alden, at Cherry Valley, as will be seen by the following letter :
SIR, -- We were just now been informed by an Oneida Indian that yesterday an Onondaga Indian arrived at their castle, from one of the branches of the Susquehanna called the Tioga. That he was present at a great meeting of Indians and Tories at that place, and their result was to attack Cherry Valley, and that young Butler was to head the Tories. I send you this information that you may be on your guard.
This admonitory letter was duly received by Colonel Alden, as shown by his reply,-
CHERRY VALLEY, Nov. 8, 1778.
SIR,-Received yours of the 6th inst. by express, informning me of the intelligence you obtained by one of the Oneida Indians of a large body of the enemy who were collected on the Susquehanna, and were destined to attack this place. I am much obliged to you for your information, and am,
Sir, your very humble servant, ICHABOD ALDEN.
P.S .- General Hand is now here; arrived at this place the day before yesterday ; will return soon to Albany.
Naturally enough, this intelligence alarmed the inhabi- tants, and they requested of Colonel Alden permission to remove into the fort, or at least be allowed to store their property there. Colonel Alden assigned various reasons for not granting their requests. He thought the repert doubt- less unfounded, and reassured them by stating that he would keep a strong scouting force out. Scouts were dis- patched in various directions, and the detachment sent. down the Susquehanna exhibited their lack of knowledge of Indian warfare by kindling a fire on the night of the 9th of November, and, reposing in its genial warmth, soon fell asleep. They awoke on the following morning to find themselves surrounded and captives in the hands of the Indians.
We have now traced the movements of the Indians and Tories in this vicinity to the night of Nov. 10, 1775, the eve of the savage butchery which has gone down in history as the " Massacre of Cherry Valley."
The following version of this saeritice of human life is 3
given by Hon. William W. Campbell, of Cherry Valley, and is the most authentic narrative of the massacre ever written :
" On the night of the 10th the enemy encamped on the top of a hill thickly covered with evergreens, about a mile soutliwest of the fort. On the morning of the 11th the enenty moved from his encampment toward the fort. They had learned from the scout which they had taken that the officers of the garrison lodged in different private houses out of the fort ; their forces were so disposed that a party should surround every house in which an officer lodged nearly at the same time, while the main body would attack the fort. During the night the snow fell several inches. In the morning it turned to rain, and the atmosphere was thick and hazy. The whoie settlement thought themselves seeure. The assurances of Colonel Alden had in a con- siderable degree quieted their fears. Everything favored the approach of the enemy undiscovered. Colonel Alden and Lieutenant-Colonel Stacia, with a small guard, lodged at Mr. Wells'. A Mr. Hamble was coming up that morn- ing from his house, several miles below, on horseback ; when a short distance from Mr. Wells' house he was fired upon and wounded by the Indians. He rode in great haste to inform Colonel Alden of their approach, and then hastened to the fort. Still incredulous, and believing them to be only a straggling party, he ordered the guard to be ealled in. The delay of a few minutes gave the Indians time to arrive. The Rangers had stopped to examine their firelocks, the powder in which had been wet with the rain. The Indians, improving this opportunity, rushed by. The advance body was composed principally of Senecas, at that time the wildest and most ferocious of the Six Nations. Colonel Alden made his escape from the house, and was pursued down the hill toward the fort by an Indian. When challenged to surrender he peremptorily refused so to do; several times he turned round and snapped his pistol at the Indian. The latter, after pursuing some distance, threw his tomahawk and struck him on the head, and then, rush- ing up, sealped him. He thus' was one of the first victims of this most criminal neglect of duty.' Lieutenant-Colonel Stacia was taken prisoner. The guard were all killed or taken.
" The Senecas who first arrived at the house, with some Tories, commenced an indiscriminate massacre of the family, and before the Rangers had arrived had barbarously mur- dered them all, including Robert Wells, his mother and wife, and four children, his brother and sister, John and Jane, with three domesties. Of this interesting and excel- lent family not one escaped, except the late John Wells, of New York city. His father had left him in Schenectady the previous summer with an aunt, that he might attend the grammar school there. He might almost have ex- claimed, with Logan, that not a drop of his blood ran in the veins of any human being; or, as it has been beanti- fully expressed by Campbell in his . Gertrude of Wyoming.'
"" They left of all my tribe Nor man, nor eltill, nor thing of Pvins buth. No : Got the dog, that watched my household beuth, Escapert-that morn' of blood upon our plains All perished ! I alone am left on carth ! To whom nor relative nor Wood remains, No! not a kin Irel drop that runs in human soins."
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
" A Tory boasted that he killed Mr. Wells while at prayer. The melancholy fate of Jane Wells deserves a more particular notice. She was a young lady, not dis- tinguished for her personal beauty, but endeared to her friends by her amiable disposition and her Christian chari- ties : one 'in whom the friendless found a friend,' and to whom the poor would always say, 'God speed thee.' She fled from the house to a pile of wood near by, behind which she endeavored to screen herself. Here she was pursued by an Indian, who, as he approached, deliberately wiped his bloody knife upon his leggings, and then placed it in its sheath ; then drawing his tomahawk he seized her by the arm. She possessed some knowledge of the Indian language, and remonstrated and supplicated, though in vain. Peter Smith, a Tory, who had formerly been a domestic in Mr. Wells' family, now interposed, saying she was his sister, and desiring him to spare her life. He shook his tomahawk at him in defiance, and then turning round, with one blow smote her to the earth. John Wells, Esq., at this time deceased, and the father of Robert Wells, had been one of the judges of the courts of Tryon county ; in that capacity, and as one of the justices of the quorum, he had been on intimate terms with Sir William Johnson and family, who frequently visited at his house, and also with Colonel John Butler, likewise a judge. The family were not active for or against the country : they wished to remain neutral, so far as they could, in such turbulent times. They always performed military duty, when called out to defend the country. Colonel John Butler, in a con- Versation relative to them, remarked, 'I would have gone miles on my hands and knees to have saved that family, and why my son did not do it God only knows.'
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