USA > New York > Schoharie County > History of Schoharie County, New York : with illusustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 8
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"In November I went under the command of Captain Butler (Walter Butler) to Cherry Valley and destroyed that whole settlement and returned to Niagara in December."
Hearing of such invasions and massacres it is not to be wondered that the people of Scho- harie felt fearful and insisted upon the presence of soldiers.
Through the year 1779, also, the three forts were well supplied with soldiers, while the militia belonging to the settlements were busy scouting and foraging for the subsistence of the garri- sons. During that season several despicable Tories were captured or killed by them, among whom was one Service, living upon the Char- lotte who was in the engagement at Cobleskill and who furnished the invaders with provision. [See Summit.] It was in August of that year that Lieutenant-Colonel William Butler of a Pennsylvania regiment and a company of rifle- men from Morgan's corps came to the valley and took. command of the middle fort. Among the riflemen were the brave Tim Murphy and David Elerson whose strategy and courage won the ad- miration of the people, and who permanently set- tled in the County. Other equally as brave men came with them but did not either have an opportunity of displaying that characteristic, or had not the tact to impress it upon the mind of the people as forcibly. They were Thomas Boyd (who was ruthlessly butchered while on the Invasion of the Indian country under Sulli- van in 1779, and whose ashes lie in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester, as one of " liberty's mar- tyrs,") William Leek, Wm. Lloyd, John Wilber, Frederick Ullman, (who afterwards joined Wil- let's force at Fort Plain,) Elijah Hendricks, Philip Hoever, Richard Tufts, Derrick Haga- dorn, Joseph Evans and others whose names have been lost. It is supposed all of the regu- lars that were stationed in the valley in 1778 and '79 joined Clinton's force to form a junc- tion with Sullivan at. Tioga for the destruction of the Indian towns to the west and north-west of that place. The Indians hung upon the rear of the army and among them were Captain Mc-
Donald and Lieutenant Crysler. The report of the latter says :-
"Went to Shemung where we faced the whole army of the Rebels and was forced to retreat to Oyenyange (now Elmira,) where we attacked them again and from whence we retreated again to Niagara."
At the close of the campaign, Colonel Wm. Butler, with his followers, returned to Schoharie, where they remained during the winter, and which no doubt they appreciated as they were in a scction, in which plenty and hospitality abounded.
Winter passed away with all its pleasures and hostile quietude, and the spring of 1780 came.
The farmers planted and sowed bountifully as their countrymen in arms were to be fed and clothed, and were looking to their spacious fields for a share of their subsistence. Already had large amounts been furnished by the unselfish patriots for such uses, without recompense, ex- cept the worthless currency that the distressed government had in good faith issued, and the slow but sure success of the cause of Inde- pendence. Liberty was the object, and their products, labors, privations and endurances the beaconage.
Burning under the chastisement Sullivan gave to them the summer previous, and acting under the command to devastate all points that gave the Colonial armies supplies, the Indians and Tories under their inhuman comman- ders, made several advances. The first upon Schoharie, was in July, under Adam Crysler, who appeared in Turloch (New Dorlach, now Seward,) and took nine prisoners, [see Sew- ard,] besides horses and household goods. Crysler's report says :-
"On the 25th of May, 1780, I received Colonel Johnson's instructions to proceed to the Indian country, and collect all the Indians that laid in my power, and to join Captain Mc- Donald, with a party of Rangers, to go to Scho- harie. We proceeded as far as Oneida, where we had a consultation with the Oneidas, and brought of the Oneidas as far as Canas- sarago (Canajoharie,) where I turned back with seven Indians, and proceeded to Turlough, where I took nine prisoners, and returned to Niagara."
45
INVASION OF SCHOHARIE BY JOHNSON AND BRANT.
What caused the force to divide and not come in full, we are unable to tell. Crysler had a brother living near the scene of the "Turloch" transaction, who was a true " congenial spirit" in the unholy cause, and near him lived a staunch patriot, Sebastian France, whose cap- ture was designed, but not being at home, they took the Hynds family instead. Had France been at home, undoubtedly what few colonists there were in the neighborbood would have been taken or killed, and their property de- stroyed. But they left this time, without doing so, to return in the future.
In August, of the same year, when the peo- ple of Schoharie Valley were busy upon their lands, and but few men were in the forts, there appeared a band of Indians, supposed to have been led by Brant, in the central part of Vro- man's land, and fell upon the Vroman neigh- borhood, without notice, and killed five men, women and children, among whom were Capt. Tunis Vroman and wife.
We do not think Brant was in this invasion, as Crysler would have so mentioned, had he been. We find, when a superior officer was in company with him, Crysler invariably makes mention of it. He says, in his report referring to this massacre :---
"June 7, 1780, Rec'd. Colonel Johnson's in- structions to proceed with a party of Aughqua- gas, &c., to Schoharie, where I had a skirmish with the Rebels, took five scalps, two prisoners, and burnt some houses and barns, lost one man and one wounded, from thence returned to Ni- agara."
Instead of only two prisoners being taken Simms says the number was about thirty. The old report of Crysler's was in a very bad state, dim and much torn, and a mistake might have been made in copying. It would be supposed that Crysler would make out as many as con- sistent that he might receive the pat of his su- periors and the encouraging words "well done thou good and faithful servant." For further information in regard to this invasion the reader is referred to Fulton.
Scarcely had the embers ceased to glow where stood the prosperous Vroman settlement and the abundant harvest been safely secured from inclement weather in barns, barracks and stacks,
than the shadow of destruction was drawn over the valley and happy hearthstones destroyed. Colonel John Johnson and Brant, the much vaunted Mohawk chief, entered the valley in the early part of October following the invasion referred to, at the head of nearly one thousand British Regulars, Tories and Indians, bent on the despoilation of the valley.
It was very fortunate for the patriots' cause in the Schoharie valley that this invasion was not made at the beginning of the struggle, when so many were undecided which cause to advocate. Nearly all really were in favor of free government, yet they truly believed it was an impossibility to establish one owing to the superior strength of the mother government, and in rebelling they would forfeit their property and citizenship. The victory over Burgoyne, St. Leger and McDon- ald was the most fortunate affair of the whole war. It encouraged the firm, strengthened the weak and determined the majority of the unde- cided. It is a fact not to be denied that then, as ever before and since, and for all time to come, the majority of the people have, and will have, an especial eye to the security of their personal effects, above their political privileges, unless they are bound down to excessive bond- age. There are exceptions it is true and es- pecially during the Revolution. That of Han- cock of Boston who urged the burning of the city and his entire property, if it would advan- tage the cause of Independence. Also of Mrs. Rebecca Motte of South Carolina, of Adams, Franklin, Washington, and others of less note. But we are speaking of the majority elsewhere as well as here in the valley, where dwelt a few whose patriotism could not be excelled. The enemy encamped above the upper fort and appeared opposite of it after daylight on the 17th of October. The garrison was commanded by Captain Jacob Hager, whose bravery upon all oc- casions was truly meritorious. The fort contained only about one hundred citizen soldiers, militia and regulars. Had Johnson known that it was so feebly defended he would undoubtedly have besieged it, but supposing it to be well strength- ened and knowing its stubborn commander, be- sides it being the most impregnable against an armed force of either fort in the valley, they passed on to the middle fort, as they supposed,
46
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
without being noticed. Their rear was discov- ered and an alarm given from the fort by firing the cannon, which was heard at the middle fort and its occupants began to make ready to re- ceive them. The middle fort's construction was the weakest of the three and Johnson there- fore made an attack upon it, thinking that if either could be taken his chances were better on that, besides Colonel Vroman, the superior offi- cer was within it, and if he surrendered the other two would be easily compelled to. It is very doubtful whether either Captain Hager or Major Becker would have done so if such had been the case, as they were men of pluck and energy, with the same characters to assist them.
The supply of powder at the middle fort was very limited, and perhaps the enemy was ap- prised of the fact through some pretended friends of the patriots. The garrison to which Johnson bent his steps consisted of two hun- dred Continental troops and about one hundred and fifty militia. The fortress was commanded by a Continental Major by the name of Wool- sey, but he was either a coward or traitor, as he insisted upon giving admittance to the flag of truce, upon which Col. Vroman took command and made a bold and determined defense.
As soon as the signal was heard from the gun at the upper fort, that of the middle re- sponded, and soon the echo of the ever-ready " grass-hopper," as Johnson called it, came from the lower fort as if to answer "aye!" to the roll- call. Those sounds, too, were the signals for destruction to the yeoman's well-filled barns, stacks and hearth-stones. As soon as they knew they were discovered they applied the torch, and the flames soon began to lap the precious fruits of faithfut labor, as if jubilant to assist in the devastation. A scout was sent from the middle fort to learn the cause of alarm and met the foe near the present village of Mid- dleburgh. A few shots were exchanged by the daring party and they returned to the fort with quick step to receive their visitor "outside the gate." The force passed the fort to the east and made a stand upon an eminence to the northeast. The Indians carried on the work of burning and plundering along the flats while Johnson's regulars made preparation for a bom- bardment. In relation to the siege, we will
copy fronı "Simms' Border Wars," as that au- thor was fortunate in being personally acquaint- ed with several of the actors in the conflict :-
"Col. Johnson had with him a small mortar and a field piece-the latter a brass six-pounder. The carriage for the cannon was carried in parts and required screwing together. They were made ready to fire at the stand he had chosen at Becker's Orchard, and a cannonading and bombardment commenced, while a constant firing was kept up with small arms, but gener- ally at too great a distance for the latter to take effect. Three shells were well thrown from this position by the enemy at the fort, and many cannon-shot were fired but with less pre- cision, the most of them passing entirely over the destined object. The first shell fired, sung in the air like a pigeon, and exploded directly over the house, and as its fragments fell upon the roof, Mrs. Richtmyer, an old lady, then in an upper room, who had been an invalid and unable to rise alone from her bed for a long time, was so frightened that she sprang from it and went be- low, surviving the effect but a short time. The second shell fell within the pickets near the well, and while the fuse was burning off and the ball dancing in a mud hole, every person ex- posed to its explosion had ample time to gain a respectful distance, and it scattered its frag- ments without injuring anyone. The third shell fell through the roof of the main building, and lodging on a pile of feather beds in the cham- ber, which were deposited upon several chests of bedding. It exploded tearing the beds in pieces, doing little other mischief, except that of frightening Christian Rickard, an old bach- elor, who chanced to be in the room, almost to
death. The explosion completely filled the room with feathers, and groping his way down stairs, Rickard made his appearance below, where many of the women and children were, covered with feathers, and spitting down from his mouth, which sudden fear had caused him to open too widely for such an atmosphere. When asked what had happened, he replied in Low Dutch: ‘I think the Devil is in the chamber, for the feathers fly around so I cannot see.' The beds were set on fire but were easily extinguish- ed, as water had been provided for such an emergency.
47
BATTLE AT THE "MIDDLE FORT."
" After the firing had been continued for some time by the enemy and several shells thrown, it suddenly ceased, and a white flag was seen to leave the British ranks and advance to- ward the fort. 'The flag-bearer was accom- panied on his right by an officer in green uni- form, and on his left by a fifer playing Yankee Doodle. When the flag was discovered ap- proaching, Major Woolsey gave orders to have it admitted, but not another officer in the fort, to their credit be it said, was in favor of its admission ; and Murphy and Elerson, who conjectured what their fate might be should the enemy learn the actual strength of the garrison and succeed in its capture, determined, so the latter informed the author, that before the flag should enter the fort one or the other of them. would shoot Woolsey himself. * * *
" When Murphy fired on the flag Major Woolsey was not present, having visited his quarters to prepare himself to enforce submission to his commands, for soon after he returned pistol in hand and demanded who had dared to disobey his orders ? 'I fired on the flag,' said Murphy. Major Woolsey then threatened the brave soldier with instant death if he repeated the act ; and the latter, who believed the will- ingness of the commandant to admit the flag proceeded from cowardice alone, retorted with warmth: 'Sooner than see that flag enter the fort will I send a bullet through your heart.' Seeing an evident disposition in all the officers present to sustain Murphy, for they rallied round him to a man, the Major walked towards the house. In this time the flag attended as before, had again advanced, and Major Woolsey had not proceeded two rods when Murphy again fired, and its bearer faced about and retired.
" During this parley the firing on both sides had ceased with the exception stated, and was not resumed until after Colonel Johnson from his great desire to get a flag into the fort, dis- patched it by the same party a third time. It is possible that from his position he had, with a spy-glass, observed the movement of Major Woolsey. They had proceeded as far as at first however, when a third bullet from Murphy's rifle passed over their heads, saying in effect, 'thus far, but no farther,' and they returned to the ranks. The firing was then renewed."
While death stared the little band of patriots in the face and would have been a certainty to every one of them if the British force had been commanded by a brave and ingenious officer, that heroism was displayed by men and women that has been the admiration of the world for ages. Our own national orators and poets fondly, too fondly look back beyond our borders and far beyond our time to find commendable patriots. The history of Sparta and Athens is scoured to find examples to please the fastidious and radical minds, while among the common yeomanry of our country may be found ex- amples that have not been excelled by any countryman, and which would have long since been enshrined upon public memorials if supe- rior positions had been their lot. During the siege at the middle fort was displayed unflinch- ing patriotism and bravery by the weaker sex that deserved mention and which add lustre to that memorable day. Angelica and Susannah Vroman's names may well be classed among the pure heroines of our country, whose chastity linked with their fidelity and activity in the cause of freedom, were as diamonds placed with sapphires in the crown of their characters.
During the siege they moulded the bullets that kept at bay the blood-thirsty enemy, and bravely stood by the side of their patriotic brothers, to repel an attack, and by voice and example encouraged them in their firmness. Another one, on that day, at the upper fort, when preparations were being made to repel the invaders if they returned from the middle fort, stood boldly before the captain who command- ed the women to seek safety in the cellar, and declared, " I shall not go into that cellar ! Should the enemy come, I will take a spear, which I can use as well as any man, and help de- fend the fort !" Mary Hagadorn took a spear and stood at the pickets until it was known that the enemy had marched on to the lower fort, and danger had passed.
When Woolsey was so boldly overruled by the riflemen, he sought freedom from the jeers of the women, as the same author says elsewhere :-
" The cellar under the kitchen part of the dwelling, was occupied as a magazine, and Colonel Vroman, to conceal the deficiency of powder, brought it himself, when wanted. As
48
HISTORY OF SCHOHARIE COUNTY.
powder was needed, the Colonel laid down his gun and sword, and went to get it. Near the cellar door he encountered Major Woolsey, who had just left the presence of the women, as may be supposed, in not very good humor. 'Major Woolsey, is this your place, who are placed here to defend the fort ?' interrogated the brave Colonel. He replied, half dead through fear : ' Colonel Vroman, the men will not obey me, and I give up the command to you.' "
The bombardment continued only for a short time, and the little garrison answered only at intervals, as their stock of powder was very limited.
About three o'clock the enemy resumed their march down the valley to attack the lower fort, burning everything along the route,excepting two houses and the church and parsonage at Foun- taintown, of which a more definite account may be seen in the chapter upon "Schoharie."
During the presence of the enemy in the orchard, several scouts went out from the fort, to defend buildings and other property, but were only successful in returning. The patriots were very fortunate through the day, as but two were mortally, and one slightly wounded.
Those that were known to be at the middle fort, were Major Woolsey, Colonel Peter Vroman, Mattice Ball, Peter Becker, Timothy Murphy, David Elerson, Christian Rickard, Samuel Reynolds, of New Jersey, (mortally wounded,) Jeremiah Loucks, (slightly wounded,) Doctor John King, (surgeon,) Nicholas Loughter, Lieu- tenant Martinus Zeilie, John Wilbur, Jacob Win- ne, (commissary), Samuel Van Vechten, Douw Fonda, Captain Miller, of a company of Clave- rack militia, Major Ecker, Sergeant Lloyd, Richard Hanson, Peter VanSlyck, Martin Zei- lie, Joachim Folluck, Adam Shell, Philip Hoever, Tufts and Leek. A short time previous to the appearance of the enemy before the mid- dle fort, Major Becker's messenger from the lower fort arrived with a bag of powder, which was opportune, and perhaps enabled the besieged to impress the ability to cope with upon the in- vaders. With the force that Colonel Johnson had under his command, he could have sur- rounded the garrison and forced a capitulation, or an entrance within the pickets, and why he did not is another one of the unexplained mili-
tary acts of that feather example of royal pom- posity.
The main force kept near the river through Fountaintown, while small parties of Indians and Tories applied the torch to the dwellings, until they reached the present Schoharie Rail- road station, when they divided ito pass to the east and west of the stone fort, undoubtedly to burn the few dwellings that stood near. Upon their arrival opposite that fortress, they were re- ceived with that warmth which such braves as Major Becker are capable of exhibiting when required. Having only two small cannon, they were brought into service, especially the one upon the northwest block house. Trusty rifle- men were placed in the belfry, and work began in earnest. The day before, this garrison re- ceived a supply of powder from Albany, from which a bag-full was sent to the middle fort. A few shots with small arms were exchanged, when Johnson's Regulars drew in view an object which the yeomen thought was a "peeled log," as a feint, but which, when arranged, proved to be a brass cannon. Shot after shot was made, but with what effect upon the enemy is not known, but upon the patriots the most pleasing. " The peeled log " lodged one ball partly in the plate, and partly in a rafter that rested upon the plate of the building. The hole may yet be seen, and is the only mark left commemorative of the invasion.
Major Joseph Becker, Captain Peter Snyder, Captain Christian Strubach, Ensign Jacob Law- yer, Jacob VanDyck, John Ingold, Senior and Junior, Jacob H. Shafer, Hendricus Schaeffer, Wilhelmus Entis, Anthony Broutner, Barney Cadugney, George Snyder, John Hutt, Jacob Becker, John VanWart, Jacob Endlers, John Kneiskern, John Rickard, George Merenes, Christopher France, John Merckley and Wm. Kniskern, were in the lower fort upon that day, besides a company of Normanskill militia and Valley Associate Exempts, making a force of about one hundred and seventy men.
There were several women from the neighbor- hood, who sought safety in the fort, and wliose courage was undaunted, -here as at the other, two,-among whom was the wife of Captain Snyder, whose assistance and encouragement were worthy to receive homage from the de-
49
MASSACRE OF MICHAEL MERCKLEY.
scendants of that noble band that none can re- flect upon but with patriotic admiration.
Although the invasion we have noticed was terrible in the extreme in destruction of prop- erty, laying the labors of years in ashes, yet the loss of life was small. Owing to the numbers engaged, a more modern military observer would think but little of the transaction, but when we consider the position in which the patriots were placed and the circumstances attending their position, their discouraging supplies, weakness in force, future prospects, etc., we cannot but think that, on their part, a stability of purpose, undaunted endurance, and determined patriot- ism, was exhibited that made the day memor- able, their names immortal, and the occasion important.
The enemy encamped near Sloansville for the night, having laid over three hundred buildings in ashes, besides an innumerable number of stacks of both hay and grain. The Indians were guided by the famous Brant, and regard- less of the eloquent defense of his character by his historian, the people of Schoharie, for this and other heartless crimes, hold his name in contempt. The very people that had extended to him brotherly hospitality, he robbed of their homes, and silently consented to deprive of their scalps. Blood, torture, devastation and ruin marked his course, if not at Wyoming, truly in the vale of the Mohawk, Schoharie and Cobleskill. At the latter place, especially; knowing that the aroused passions of his fol- lowers could be calmed by his orders, as a ven- erated chief, when such cruelties as those practiced upon the body of the gallant patriot, whose bowels were opened, and entrails wound around a tree, had he possessed a heart less hardened than a demon, he would have ignored such an act and forbidden it.
The following day Colonel Vroman collected all the troops that dared to be spared from the forts, and followed the enemy to the Mohawk. Upon arriving there they were united with the force of Robert VanRensselaer, whose dis- loyalty or cowardice restrained his army from gaining complete victory over the invaders near Stone Arabia, where the brave Colonel Brown fell. VanRensselaer's conduct upon that mission was, and should have been a subject of censure, 1
as by his dilatory maneuvers, the murderous clan was privileged to pass off to their rendez- vous to gloat over their deeds and enjoy their spoils, and be encouraged to again invade the happy and prosperous homes of struggling patriots.
On the day following the invasion of the Schoharie valley-while the soldiers were skir- mishing with the rear of Johnson's force, a party of Indians and Tories led by Seth's Henry, a Schoharie Indian, and Philip Crysler, a brother of Adam, appeared along the West-kill, in the present town of Seward, and after bathing their hands in the blood of Michael Merckley, his niece Catharine, besides two boys, they burned several buildings and led in captivity several inoffensive persons and passed off to follow the Charlotte trail to Niagara. A more minute account of this act may be seen in the events chronicled in the chapter upon the town of Seward, and which was but another lesson of the perfidy of the unprincipled de- mons that continually lurked around the pa triots' homes through the days that truly " tried men's souls."
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