History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 13

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 780

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"A. lIe did."

"Q. What passed at that council ?"

"A. Gen. Burgoyne threatened the culprit with death, insisted that he should be delivered up, and there were many gentlemen of the army, and 1 own I was one of the number, who feared that he would put that threat in execu- tion. Motives of policy, I believe, alone prevented him from it; and if he had not pardoned the man, which he did, I believe the total desertion of the Indians would have ensued, and the consequences, on their return through Canada, might have been dreadful, not to speak of the weight they would have thrown into the opposite scale had they gone over to the enemy, which I rather imagine would have been the case."

"Q. Do you remember Gen. Burgoyne's restraining the Indian parties from going out without a British officer or proper conductor, who were to be responsible for their behavior ?"

"A. I do."

"Q. Do you remember Mr. St. Lue's reporting discontent among the Indians soon after our arrival at Fort Edward ?" "A. I do."

"Q. How long was that after enforcing the restraints above mentioned ?"

"A. I can't exactly say ; I should imagine about three weeks or a month."

"Q. Does your lordship recollect Gen. Burgoyne's telling Mr. St. Luc that he had rather lose every Indian than eonnive at their enormities, or using language to that effect ?"

'A. I do."

"Q. Does your lordship remember what passed in council with the Indians at Fort Edward ?"

"A. To the best of my recollection much the same ex- hortation to act with humanity, and much the same rewards were offered for saving their prisoners."

"Q. Do you recollect the circumstance of the Indians desiring to return home at that time ?"

"A. I do, perfectly well."

"Q. Do you remember that many quitted the army without leave ?"

"A. I do. immediately after the council and the next morning."

"Q. Was it not the general opinion that the desertion of the Indians, then and afterwards, were caused by the restraint upon their cruelties and habits of plunder ?"

"A. It was."

This testimony was given, it should be remembered, by the earl only two years after the affair occurred, and the matter could not have been otherwise than fresh in his mind.

Burgoyne's statement of the affair was that after Jeanie had been taken by one band of Indians, another band coming up claimed her, and to settle the dispute one of the Indians killed her on the spot. If this be true, of course there was a culprit in the case. This also was the belief of the family relatives of Jeanie ever after her death .*

# See Silliman's Jour., second edition, and Charles Neilson's Bur- goyne's Campaign. As to the conflicting versions, see appendix to W'm. L. Stone's Burgoyne Campaign, published in 1877, and author- ities there cite l.

* See Burgoyne's State of the Expedition, page 66.

HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

To-day the modern village of Fort Edward stands on this classic ground, made famous by more than a century of forest warfare, and more than a hundred years of smiling peace have passed over the old "great carrying-place" of the wilderness.

The old fort at the mouth of the creek, the barracks on the island in mid-river, the royal block-house upon the south bank of the river, have crumbled into ruins, and for a hun- dred and one summers the sweet wikl-flowers have bloomed over the grave of Jeanie McCrea, the one maiden martyr of the American cause, whose innocent blood, crying from the ground, aroused her almost despairing countrymen to renewed effort to vengeance, and to final victory over the invader at whose hands her young life was ended.

II .- ORISKANY AND BENNINGTON.

The affair at Oriskany, which took place in the upper Mohawk valley, while it exerted great influence upon the fortunes of the campaign, was yet so far away from Sara- toga, the subject of this work, that merely a passing notice seems appropriate to these pages.

It was at Oriskany, on the 6th day of August, that the gallant Herkimer, the Palatine general, while on his march to the relief of Fort Stanwix, which was already invested by the British forces under Col. St. Leger, fell into the am- buscade prepared for him by Brant and his Mohawks, and Butler with his Tory rangers, and where his men met their old neighbors with whom they had been reared together on the banks of the Mohawk in a hand-to-hand conflict, cach dying in the other's arms in the terrible rage of battle. But the affair at Bennington, occurring as it did in an adjoining county, needs something more at our hands.

In the concerted instructions prepared for Baum for what was known as " a secret expedition to the Connecticut river," the name Bennington was not mentioned, yet there is no doubt that Bennington was the first objective point of the expedition. It was known to Burgoyne that the Americans had formed there " a considerable depot of cattle, cows, horses, and wheel carriages, most of which were drawn across the Connecticut river from the provinces of New England; and as it was understood to be guarded by a party of militia only, an attempt to surprise it seemed by no means unjustifiable." Some time after the battle, and after his return to England, Burgoyne was blamed because he had sent out Baum with instructions which did not apply to Bennington, and that the destination of the expedition had then been changed. To this charge Burgoyne replied as follows:

" But it still may be said the expedition was not orig- inally designed against Bennington. I really do not sec to what it would tend against me, if that supposition were in a great degree admitted. That some part of the force was designed to act there, will not be disputed by any who read Col. Baum's instructions and consult the map. The blame or merit of the design altogether must rest upon the motives of expediency ; and it is of little consequence whether the first and principal direction was against Bemmington or Ar- lington, or any other district, as my intelligence might have varied respecting the deposits of corn and cattle of the enemy. At the same time I must observe it is begging the

question to argue that Bemmington was not the real, orig- inal object, because Bennington was not mentioned in the draft of instructions. A man must indeed be void of mili- tary and political address to put upon a paper a critical design, where surprise was in question, and everything de- pended upon scerecy. Though it were true that I meant ouly Bennington, and thought of nothing less than the progress of the expedition in the extent of the order, I certainly would not now affirm it, because I could not prove it, and because it would seem that I searched for remote and obscure justification, not relying upon that which was manifest ; but surely there is nothing new or improbable in the idea that a general should disguise his real intentions at the outset of an expedition, even from the officer whom he appointed to execute them, provided a communication with that officer was certain and not remote."

INSTRUCTIONS TO BAUM.

The instructions to Baum commenced by stating that the object of the expedition was "to try the affections of the country ; to disconcert the councils of the enemy; to mount the Ricdesel's dragoons ; to complete Peters' corps, and to obtain large supplies of cattle, horses, and carriages." He was ordered to proceed from Batten Kill to Arlington, and take post there till the detachment of the Provincials under Capt. Sherwood should join him. Then he was to go to Manchester and secure the pass of the mountains on the road from Manchester to Rockingham, on the Connecti- cut river, and send the Indians of the party and the light troops towards Otter creek. On their return, in case he should hear that there was no enemy in force on Connecti- cut river, he was to go by the road over the mountains to Rockingham, and there, at the most distant part of the expedition, take post. If prudent, the Indians and light troops were to be sent np the Connecticut, and on their re- turn, the force was to descend the river to Brattleborough, and thence proceed by the quickest march " by the great road to Albany." They were to bring in all horses fit to mount the dragoons or to serve as bat-horses ; also saddles, bridles, " wagons and other convenient carriages," draught oxen, all cattle fit for slaughter except milch cows, which were to be left for the use of the inhabitants. Receipts for articles taken for the use of the troops were to be given to such persons as had remained in their habitations and other- wise complied with the terms of Burgoyne's manifesto, but not to rebels.

Particular directions were also given as to the disposition of' the force, and people were to be led to believe that the force was the advanced corps of the army on the road to Boston, and that the main army from Albany was to be joined at Springfield by a corps of troops from Rhode Islaud. A wholesome dread of Col. Warner doubtless led to the introduction of this passage in the instruc- tions : " It is highly probable that the corps under Mr. Warner, now supposed to be at Manchester, will retreat before you ; but should they, contrary to expectation, be able to collect in great foree and post themselves advan- tageously, it is left to your discretion to attack them or not ; always bearing in mind that your corps is too valuable to let any considerable loss be hazarded on this occasion."

HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

DEPARTURE FOR BENNINGTON.

Preparations having been thus completed, at five o'clock ou the morning of August 12, Col. Baum set out from Saratoga with his command, which consisted of his two hundred dragoons, the Canadian rangers, a detachment of provincials, about one hundred Indians, and Capt. Fraser's marksmen, with two pieces of small cannon, numbering in all about five hundred men. Ile was also accompanied by Col. Philip Skene, who joined the expedition by the special request of Burgoyne, in order that he might give advice to Baum " npon all matters of intelligence." Having marched a mile, Baum received a dispatch from Burgoyne to post his force advantageously on the Battenkill till he should receive fresh instrnetions. Continuing his march, he reached the Battenkill at about four o'clock in the afternoon and eneamped there. At about eleven o'clock the same night he was reinforced by a company of fifty chasseurs, sent forward by Gen. Burgoyne. By four o'clock the next morning the whole body were again in motion, and, after a march of sixteen miles, reached Cam- bridge at four o'clock in the evening, having had a few skirmishes with the Americans, and having taken some cattle, carts, wagons and horses, and having also received the disagreeable intelligence that the Americans were about eighteen hundred strong at Bennington. On the morning of' the 14th the little army were on the march long before sunrise. As they approached the northern branch of the Hoosick river, a party of Americans were discovered in front of the farm of " Sankoick," who, on the approach of the British, took to the underwood, whence they fired on the British until they were dislodged. On their retreat they abandoned a mill which they previously fortified, and broke down the " bridge of Sankoick."

BAUM AT " WALLOOMSCOICK."

A considerable quantity of provisions was left in the mill, and after the bridge had been repaired, Baum sta- tioned a proper force to guard them both, and that night " bivouacked at the farm of Walmscott, about four miles from Sankoick and three from Bennington." This farm lay upon both banks of the Walloomsac, and was occupied at this time by six or eight log huts, scattered here and there over its narrow expanse of cultivated ground.

Heavy rains fell on the morning of the 15th, accompa- nied with a " perfect hurricane of wind," which rendered the shelter of the farm-buildings very grateful to the forces of Baum. Soon, however, shooting was heard at the ad- vaneed sentry posts, whereupon Baum sent forth the pro- vincials, supported by Fraser's marksmen, to assist the pickets. It was then discovered that the Indians were threatened by a body of American militia. On the ap- proaeh of the British, the Indian allies uttered a yell, which seemed to have an effect upon the Americans, who soon after retired. The Americans advanced a number of times during the day, but the weather was so stormy, and the rain fell so incessantly, that no effective service conld be performed by either party of an offensive nature.

During the remainder of the day Baum was engaged in strengthening the position he had taken. To the left of the " farm of Walmscott" was a height which he hastened 8

to occupy. " IIe posted here the dragoons, with a portion of the marksmen on their right, in rear of a little zigzag breastwork composed of logs and loose earth. Such of the detached houses as came within the compass of his posi- tion he filled with Canadians, supporting them with detachments of chasseurs and grenadiers, likewise in- trenched behind breastworks ; and he kept the whole, with the exception of about a hundred men, on the north side of the stream, holding the woods upon his flanks in his front and rear by the Indians." Such was the situation of affairs when the night of the 15th of August closed around Baum and his faithful dragoons.

THE BATTLE OF THE 16THI OF AUGUST.

We cannot give a better description of the battle of Bennington than is to be found in the following extract from the narrative of Glich, one of Lieut .- Col. Banm's officers. Among other things it pays a decided compliment to the bravery and dash of Gen. Stark, who so distinguished him- self on the occasion :

" The morning of the 16th rose beautifully serene. The storm of the preceding day having expended itself, not a cloud was left to darken the face of the heavens; whilst the very leaves hung motionless, and the long grass waved not, under the influence of a perfect calm. Every object around, too, appeared to peculiar advantage; for the fields looked green and refreshed, the river was swollen and tumultuous, and the branches were all loaded with dew- drops, which glittered in the sun's early rays like so many diamonds. Nor would it be easy to imagine any scene more rife with peaceful and even pastoral beauty. Looking down from the summit of the rising ground, I beheld im- mediately beneath me a wide sweep of stately forest, inter- rupted at remote intervals by green meadows or yellow corn-fields, whilst here and there a cottage, a shed, or some other primitive edifice reared its modest head as if for the purpose of reminding the spectator that man had begun his inroads upon nature, without, as yet, taking away from her simplicity and grandeur. I hardly recollect a scene which struck me at the moment more forcibly, or which has left a deeper or more lasting impression on my memory.

" I have said that the morning of the 16th rose beauti- fully serene, and it is not to the operations of the elements alone that my expression applies. All was perfectly quiet at the outposts, not an enemy having been seen, nor an alarming sound heard for several hours previous to sunrise. So peaccable, indeed, was the aspeet which matters bore, that our leaders felt warmly disposed to resume the offensive, without waiting the arrival of the additional corps for which they had applied, and orders were already issued for the men to eat their breakfasts, preparatory to more active oper- ations. But the arms were scarcely piled, and the haver- sacks unslung, when symptoms of a state of affairs different from that which had been anticipated began to show them- selves, and our people were recalled to their ranks in all haste, almost as soon as they had quitted them. From more than one quarter seouts eame in to report that col- umus of armed men were approaching; though whether with a friendly or hostile intention. neither their appearance nor actions enabled our informants to ascertain.

HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

" It has been stated that during the last day's march our little corps was joined by many of the country people, most of whom demanded and obtained arms, as persons friendly to the royal cause. How Col. Baum became so completely duped as to place reliance on these men I know not ; but having listened with complaeeney to their previous assurances that in Bennington a large majority of the popu- Jace were our friends, he was, somehow or other, persuaded to believe that the armed bands, of whose approach he was warned, were loyalists, on their way to make a tender of their services to the leader of the king's troop. Filled with this idea, he dispatched positive orders to the outposts that no molestation should be offered to the advancing eol- umns ; but that the pickets retiring before them should join the main body, where every disposition was made to receive either friend or foe. Unfortunately for us, these orders were but too faithfully obeyed. About half-past nine o'clock, I, who was not in the secret, beheld, to my utter amazement, our advanced parties withdraw without firing a shot from thickets which might have been maintained for hours against any superiority of numbers; and the same thickets quiekly occupied by men whose whole demeanor, as well as their dress and style of equipment, plainly and in- contestably pointed them out as Americans.

" I cannot pretend to deseribe the state of excitation and alarm into which our little band was now thrown. With the solitary exception of our leader, there was not a man amongst us who appeared otherwise than satisfied that those to whom he had listened were traitors; and, that unless some prompt and vigorous measures were adopted, their treachery would be crowned with its full reward. Capt. Fraser, in particular, seemed strongly imbued with the conviction that we were willfully deceived. He pointed out, in plain language, the extreme improbability of the story which these deserters had told, and warmly urged our chief to withdraw his confidence from them; but all his arguments proved fruitless. Col. Baum remained eon- vineed of their fidelity. He saw no reason to doubt that the people, whose approach excited so much apprehension, were the same of whose arrival he had been forewarned ; and he was prevented from placing himself entirely in their power only by the positive refusal of his followers to obey orders given to that effect, and the rash impetuosity of the enemy.

" We might have stood about half an hour under arms, watching the proceedings of a column of four or five bun- dred men, whe, after dislodging the pickets, had halted just at the edge of the open country, when a sudden trampling of feet in the forest on our right, followed by the report of several muskets, attracted our attention. A patrol was in- stantly sent in the direction of the sound, but before the party composing it had proceeded many yards from the lines, a loud shout, followed by a rapid though straggling fire of musketry, warned us to prepare for a meeting the reverse of friendly. Instantly the Indians came pouring in, earry- ing dismay and confusion in their countenances and gestures. We were surrounded on all sides ; columns were advancing everywhere against us, and those whom we had hitherto treated as friends had only waited till the arrival of their support might justify them in advaneing. There was no

falschood in these reports, though made by men who spoke rather from their fears than their knowledge. The column in our front no sooner heard the shout than they replied cordially and loudly to it; then, firing a volley with de- liberate and murderous aim, rushed furiously toward us. Now then at length our leader's dreams of security were dispelled. He found himself attacked in front and flank by thriee bis numbers, who pressed forward with the confidence which our late proceedings were calculated to produce ; whilst the very persons in whom he had trusted, and to whom he had given arms, lost no time in turning them against him. These fellows no sooner heard their comrades ery, than they deliberately discharged their muskets amongst Riedesel's dragoons, and dispersing before any steps could be taken to seize them, escaped, with the exception of one or two, to their friends.

" If Col. Baum had permitted himself to be duped into a great error, it is no more than justiee to confess that he ex- erted himself manfully to remedy the evil and avert its con- sequences. Our little band, which had hitherto remained in column, was instantly ordered to extend, and the troops living the breastworks replied to the fire of the Americans with extreme celerity and considerable effect. So close and destructive, indeed, was our first volley, that the assailants recoiled before it, and would have retreated, in all proba- bility, within the woods ; but ere we could take advantage of the confusion produced, fresh attacks developed them- selves, and we were warmly engaged on every side, and from all quarters. It became evident that each of our detached posts was about to be assailed at the same instant. Not one of our dispositions had been concealed from the enemy, who, on the contrary, seemed to be aware of the exact number of men stationed at each point, and they were one and all threatened by a force perfectly adequate to bear down opposi- tion, and yet by no means disproportionately large or such as to render the main body inefficient. All, moreover, was done with the sagacity and coolness of veterans, who perfectly understood the nature of the resistance to be expected and the difficulties to be overcome, and who having well considered and matured their plans, were resolved to carry them into execution at all hazards and at every expense of liľe.

" It was at this moment, when the heads of columns began to show themselves in rear of our right and left, that the Indians, who had hitherto aeted with spirit and something like order, lost all confidence and fled. Alarmed at the prospect of having their retreat eut off, they stole away after their own fashion, in single files, in spite of the strenuous remonstranees of Baum and of their own officers, leaving us more than ever exposed by the abandonment of that angle of the intrenchment which they had been ap- pointed to maintain. But even this speetaele, distressing as it donhtless was, failed in affeeting our people with a feeling at all akin to despair. The vacancy which the retreat of the savages occasioned was promptly filled up by one of our two field-pieces, whilst the other poured de- struetion among the enemy in front as often as they showed themselves in the open country or threatened to advance.

" In this state things continued upwards of three-quar- ters of an hour. Though repeatedly assailed in front,

HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY NEW YORK

noscibacy aé En inspire a hope that the enemy might even Fer be kept at bar idl the arrival of Breymana's bicye. D.Ir momentary expected. when an sevileot covmrred which at voce put an end sa this expectativa and expired us i'mist deemedless :. om: face. The siticary rumbeil which ovo- cained the whole of emy spare ammneiting became ignited. amd blew up with a violence which sbook the very good under war feec. and caused a momentary cessation in aring boch on our side and that of the enemy. But the cessation The chịy he a moment. The American -Scen. guessing the extent of our calamity, cheered their men na so fresh exercioms. They mustved my the ascent with redombied andet in spite of the heavy v.bey which we posted in : check them. ind. L_ling our gane silent. they spring over the garagec and dashed wir in our works. For a few settori the scene which ensued dodes al power of langage to describe. The bayred. : be ban of' the ride, the sabre, the pike, were in fal play, ani men fell as they rarely AMI in modern war. under the direct hints of their enemies. Bat rach a straggle coali mor, in the margre of things. be c2 leg continuance. Ontemmbered. becken. ani some- whas dishentered by late erenti, ser peuple wirerei and fel back. az Begh: singly and anconnectedly. all they were either es: down at their posts. odsdinmely leftodling themselves, or compelled :u surrender. O/ Riedesel's dis- mounted dragoons. few survived to tell bow nobly they Lai behaved. Col. Baum, shop though the body by x

being lost fight or submission was alone thought of Fus my vin part. whether the feeling arise from desperdice :: seiden: I canmit tel. bu: I resolved moc to be taken. As pet I had escaped almost unhurt. a sigh: desh womod ia the led arm having alone fallen to my share, and. gathering amvand me about thirty of may comrades. we made a rash where the enemy'i rinks appeared weakest. and birst :Moongh. This d.oe. each man made haste to shit f .: himself without pausing to consider the fate of his beigh- boor: and Using one-third of our number from the em- emy i åre. the remainder took refage in groups of two e three sichin the forest. "

EDNUND DAY'S BATTLE

Sach was the condition of things when Col. Brermana received ceders from Gen. Bangorpe in the morning cf August 15. as : o'chek. to stan an once with his company ci yigers, a battalion of chasseurs and grenadiers. and :w. encore to reinforce the corrs of Baum. Each schüler car- rel with him forty cartridges. Breymann left an bons after receiving orders. bms owing to the difalty be ex- perienced in eresing the Battenkill .-- che men being com- pelled to wade through the water,-the great number of Lily he was oliged to emiss. - the bottomless moods." 1 severe and continuoms rain-storm, the difficulty of' moving the cannon. and being the way through the ignorance of the guide, he was able to proceed that day only to a poin: abone seven mies westerly from Cambridge, There be en- camped for the night. Early on the morning of the 16th he xgiin sec out. his horses enfel and over rods almost impassable, and proceeded very slowly on his way. bu: no-

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History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 13

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894 Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 780

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 780