USA > New York > Schoharie County > History of Schoharie county, and border wars of New York > Part 29
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Gordon gave out, and was left, at his request, by his friends, who proceeded to a settlement, obtained assistance, returned, and bore him in a state of entire helplessness to a place of safety, where he recovered.
While the party were journeying, they agreed that if either of them obtained any thing to eat, he should be permitted to enjoy or distribute it as he chose. In the forest, to which the trapper had not been a stranger, one of the number found a steel-trap, in which an otter had been caught, and suffered to remain. It was mostly in a state of decomposition. The leg in the trap was whole, how- ever, and a sight of that, Col. Gordon afterwards assured his friends, looked more inviting to him than the most savory dish he had ever beheld ; but pinching hunger did not compel a violation of their agreement-his mouth watered in vain, and the finder ate his dainty morsel undisturbed. When the fugitives arrived at a house, and asked for bread, the woman told them she had not seen a morsel in three years. After crossing the St. Lawrence, two Indians accompanied them as guides, but under some pretext left, and finally abandoned them. The party, after suffering almost in- credible hardships, all reached their homes in Ballston to the great joy of their friends .- Charles and Hugh, sons of Major Mitchell.
In the fall of 1779, several stockades in the vicinity of the Mo- hawk river were under the command of Col. Fr. Fisher, as ap- pears by a journal of that officer's military correspondence, placed in the hands of the author by his son Maj. Daniel Visscher. Col. Fisher established his head quarters at Fort Paris. The following facts are gleaned from the memoranda. His first patrol for the several garrisons was " Washington," and countersign "Sulli- van." Subject to his direction were the troops stationed at the Johnstown Fort, Fort Plank, and the block-houses at Sacandaga, and Reme Snyder's bush. The last named was a little distance northeast of Little Falls.
About the 10th of November, as reported to Gen. Ten Broek, then commanding at Albany, Col. Fisher mentions the burning of a dwelling in the back part of Mayfield. The owner, Harmanus Flanke, suspected of disaffection to the American cause, was then
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living in Johnstown. The house was supposed to have been de- stroyed by some one from the block-house at Sacandaga. The roof of another house, the owner of which was of similar politics, was torn off, such was the spirit of party animosity.
In a letter to Maj. Taylor, then commanding the Johnstown Fort, dated November 27, Col. Fisher states that he is under the necessity of convening a court martial on the following day, and that he, the Major, should attend, bringing with him another offi- cer, also to act as a member. The same letter states that an ac- cident happened at that fort the same morning, by which two men were wounded-one mortally. The nature of the accident is perhaps explained in a letter from Col. Fisher to Gen. Ten Broek, dated the 28th instant. In it he states, that during his ab- sence to visit Fort Plank, a detachment of men from. Col. Stephen J. Schuyler's regiment mutinied, and expressing a determination to leave the fort, charged their pieces with ball, in presence of the officers. They were at first persuaded to unsling their packs and remain until Col. Fisher returned, but seeing Captain Jelles Fonda, (known afterwards as Major Fonda,) then in temporary command of the garrison, writing to Col. F., the mutineers again mounted packs, and knocking down the sentinels in their way, be- gan to desert in earnest. Capt. Fonda ordered them to stand, but not heeding his command they continued their flight, when he or- dered the troops of the Fort to fire upon them : the order was obeyed, and Jacob Valentine, one of the number, fell mortally wounded, and expired the next morning. The letter does not so state, but I have been advised that the deserters considered their term of enlistment at an end. The court martial, I suppose, con- vened to try Capt. Fonda, as I have been credibly informed that he was thus tried for a similar offence, and honorably acquitted.
Early in December, as the season was so far advanced that an enemy was unlooked for, and provisions were becoming scarce, it was resolved, at a meeting of Colonels Fisher, J. Klock, and Lt. Col. B. Wagner, with the sanction of Gen. Ten Broek, to dismiss the three months militia from further service ; and some of the gar- risons were for a time broken up.
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The early and energetic measures adopted in 1779, against the enemy, prevented the sallies of the latter upon most of the fron- tiers of New York, and that year was one in which the pioneers suffered comparatively but little, from the tomahawk and scalping knife.
At this period of the contest the states were beginning to gain favor in Europe. Early in 1779, the king of Naples opened his ports to the striped bunting of the United States; and in the course of the season Spain declared war against England. John Jay was appointed by Congress, of which he was then a member, a minister to the court of Spain. ·
Although no great enterprises were achieved to the United States during this season, if we except the destruction of the In- dian possessions in western New York; still many events oc- curred in the length and breadth of the land, to raise and depress the hopes of the Americans. The south became the theatre of some of the most important events. An attempt was made by the American troops under Gen. Lincoln, and the French under the Count d'Estaing, to take Savannah; and notwithstanding the allied forces displayed great bravery, they were repulsed with a loss of 1000 men. Several good officers were killed in this un- fortunate attack, among whom was the noble and generous Pole, Count Pulaski, then a brigadier-general.
Although several brilliant exploits were performed at the south by the American troops, still the year closed without any event transpiring to greatly accelerate the close of the contest. In the course of the season, Gen. Tryon and Gen. Garth wantonly de- stroyed much property along the coast of Connecticut. After sacking New Haven, they laid Fairfield and Norwalk in ashes, committing numerous outrages upon the helpless citizens. As the militia turned out promptly on those occasions, the British sought safety on shipboard. While the enemy were thus en- gaged in Connecticut, Gen. Wayne most gallantly stormed the fortress of Stony Point in the Highlands of the Hudson.
It was also in the autumn of this season that Com. John Paul Jones, a meritorious and distinguished naval officer in the Ameri-
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can service, alarmed several towns in Scotland, and in an en- gagement off that coast, took the British frigate Serapis, after one of the most bloody battles ever fought upon the ocean. Both ships were repeatedly on fire, and when the enemy struck his co- lors, the wounded could scarcely be removed to the conquered vessel, which was also much crippled, before the Bon Homme Richard, Jones's ship, went down.
At the close of the season, part of the northern army went into winter quarters under Gen. Washington a second time at Morris- town, New Jersey, and the remainder in the vicinity of West Point. Owing to the almost valueless currency of the country, which would not buy provisions, a want of proper management in the commissary department, a lack of suitable clothing, and the extreme severity of the winter, the American troops suffered in- credible hardships. But this suffering was endured, for their be- loved commander suffered with them, and the object for which the soldier had taken up arms, had not yet been accomplished.
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CHAPTER XI.
If the Indians had been severly chastised in New York in 1779, and had been obliged to seek out new habitations for their fami- lies, and consequently were not very troublesome that season ; they were early treading the war path the succeeding year, to revenge the lasting injuries done them.
The following incident transpired in the spring of 1780, in the Mohawk valley. The facts were related to the author by John S. Quackenboss, and Isaac Covenhoven, the latter one of the ac- tors :
George Cuck, a tory who had become somewhat notorious from his having been engaged with the enemy at Oriskany, Cherry-Valley, and elsewhere, entered the valley of the Mohawk late in the fall of 1779, with the view of obtaining the scalps of Capt. Jacob Gardiner, and his Lieut. Abraham D. Quackenboss, (father of John S.,) for which the enemy had offered a large bounty. Cuck was seen several times in the fall, and on one oc- casion, while sitting upon a rail fence, was fired upon by Abra- ham Covenhoven, a former whig neighbor. The ball entered the rail upon which he sat, and he escaped. As nothing more was seen of him after that event, it was generally supposed he had returned to Canada. At this period, a tory by the name of John Van Zuyler, resided in a small dwelling which stood in a then retired spot, a few rods south of the present residence of Maj. James Winne, in the town of Glen. Van Zuyler had three daughters, and although he lived some distance from neighbors, and a dense forest intervened between his residence and the river settlements, several miles distant, the young whigs would occa- sionally visit his girls. Tory girls, I must presume, sometimes made agreeable sparks, or sparkers, especially in sugar time.
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James Cromwell, a young man who lived near the Mohawk, went out one pleasant summer evening in the month of March, to see one of Van Zuyler's daughters. Most of the settlers then made maple sugar, and Cromwell found his fair Dulcinea, boiling sap in the sugar bush. While they were sparking it, the term for courting in the country, the girl, perhaps thinking her name would soon be Mrs. Cromwell, became very confiding and com- municative. She told her beau that the tory Cuck, was at their house. Cromwell at first appeared incredulous-" he is surely there," said she, " and when any one visits the house, he is secret- ed under the floor." The report of his having been seen in the fall instantly recurred to his mind, and from the earnestness of the girl, he believed her story. Perhaps Cromwell was aware that the girl when with him was inclined to be whiggish-be that as it may, he resolved instantly to set about ascertaining the truth or falsehood of the information. In a very short time he com- plained of being made suddenly ill, from eating too much sugar. The girl whose sympathy was aroused, thinking from his motions that he was badly griped, finally consented to let him go home and sugar off alone. Away went Cromwell pressing his hands upon his bowels, and groaning fearfully until he was out of sight and hearing of his paramour, when the pains left him. Taking a direct course through the woods, he reached the dwelling of Capt. Jacob Gardinier, some four miles below his own, and with- in the present village of Fultonville, about 12 o'clock at night, and calling him up, told him what he had heard. Capt. Gardin- ier sent immediatly to his Lieut. Quackenboss, to select a dozen stout hearted men and meet them as soon as possible at his house. The lieutenant enquired what business was on hand-the mes- senger replied-" Capt. Gardinier said I should tell you that there was a black bear to be caught." In a short time the requisite number of whigs had assembled, and the captain, taking his lieutenant aside, told him the duty he had to perform. He de- clined going himself on account of ill health, and entrusted the enterprise to his lieutenant. He directed him to proceed with the utmost caution, as the foe was no doubt armed, and as his
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name was a terror in the valley, to kill him at all hazards. The party well armed, set off on the mission.
The snow yet on the ground was crusted so hard, that it bore them, and. having the advantage of a bright moon-light night, they marched rapidly forward. Halting a quarter of a mile from Van Zuyler's house, the lieutenant struck up a fire, and as his men gathered round an ignited stump, he addressed them near- ly as follows : "My brave lads! It is said the villian Cuck, is in yonder house, secreted beneath the floor. The object of our visit is to destroy him. He is a bold and desperate fellow- doubtless well armed, and in all probability some of us must fall by his hand. Those of you, therefore, who decline engaging in so dangerous an undertaking, are now at liberty to return home." " We are ready to follow where you dare to lead !" was the re- sponse of one and all. It is yet too early, said the lieutenant, and while they were waiting for the return of day, the plan of attack was agreed upon. At the stump was assembled Lieut. Quackenboss, Isaac and Abraham Covenhoven, twin brothers, John Ogden, Jacob Collier, Abraham J., and Peter J. Quacken- boss, Martin Gardinier, James Cromwell, Gilbert Van Alstyne, Nicholas, son of Capt. Gardinier, a sergeant, Henry Thompson, and Nicholas Quackenboss, also a sergeant. It was agreed that the party should separate and approach the house in different directions, so as not to excite suspicion. The appearance of a light in the dwelling was the signal for moving forward, and se- lecting Ogden, Collier, and Abraham J. Quackenboss to follow him, the lieutenant led directly to the house. As they approach- ed it, a large watch dog met them with his yelping, which caus- ed the opening of a little wooden slide over a loophole for ob- servation, by a member of the family ; but seeing only four per- sons, the inmates supposed they were sugar-makers. On reach- ing the door and finding it fastened, the soldiers instantly forced it-the family, as may be supposed, were thrown into confusion by the unexpected entrance of armed men. "What do you want here ?" demanded Van Zuyler. "The tory George Cuck !" was the lieutenant's reply. Van Zuyler declared that the object of
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their search was not in his house. The three daughters had al- ready gone to the sugar-works, and their father expressed to Lieut. Quackenboss, his wish to go there too. He was permitted to go, but thinking it possible that Cuck might also have gone there, several men then approaching the house, were ordered to keep an eye on his movement. Abraham Covenhoven was one of the second party who entered the house. There was a dark stairway which led to an upper room, in which it was thought the object of their search might be secreted. Covenhoven was in the act of ascending the stairs with his gun aimed upward, and ready to fire, as Abraham J. Quackenboss, drew a large chest from the wall on one side of the room, disclosing the object of their search. Discharging a pistol at Nicholas Gardinier, the tory sprang out before Quackenboss, who was so surprised that he stood like a statue, exclaiming, " dunder ! dunder ! dunder !" The wary lieutenant was on his guard, and as Cuck leaped upon the floor from a little cellar hole, made on purpose for his secre- tion, he sent a bullet through his head, carrying with it the eye opposite. He fell upon one knee, when the lieutenant ordered the two comrades beside him to fire. Ogden did so, sending a bullet through his breast, and as he sank to the floor, Collier, placing the muzzle of his gun near his head, blew out his brains. Thus ended the life of a man, who, in an evil hour, had resolved to imbrue his hands in the blood of his former neighbors and coun- trymen.
When the first gun was fired, Covenhoven said the report was so loud and unexpected that he supposed it fired by Cuck him- self, and came near falling down stairs. Had the party not divi- ded into several squads, the peep from the slide window would have betrayed the object of their visit, and more than one would doubtless have fallen before the villain had been slain, for he had two loaded guns in the house, and a brace of well charged pistols, only one of which he had taken into his kennel. They also found belonging to him, a complete Indian's dress, and two small bags of parched corn and maple sugar, pounded fine and mixed to- gether, an Indian dish, called by the Dutch quitcheraw-intended as food for a long journey.
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After his death, it was ascertained that Cuck had entered the valley late in the fall-that he had been concealed at the house of this kindred spirit, who pretended neutrality in the contest, whose retired situation favored the plans of his guest, and was watching a favorable opportunity to secure the scalps mentioned, and return to Canada. The making of maple sugar he had sup- posed would favor his intentions, as an enemy was unlooked for so early in the season, and the persons whose scalps he sought, would probably expose themselves in the woods. He had intend- ed, if possible, to secure both scalps in one day, and by a hasty flight, pursue the nearest route to Canada. As the time of sugar- making had arrived, it is probable his enterprise was on the eve of being consummated ; but the goddess of liberty, spread her wings in his path, and defeated his hellish intentions.
Van Zuyler was made a prisoner by the party, and lodged in the jail at Johnstown ; from whence he was removed not long af- ter to Albany. When they were returning home with Van Zuy- ler in custody, as they approached the sugar bush of Evert Van Epps, near the present village of Fultonville, one of them, put- ting on the Indian dress of Cuck, (which, with the guns and pis- tols were taken home as trophies,) approached the sugar makers as an enemy, which occasioned a precipitate retreat. The fugi- tives were called back by others of the party, when a rope being provided, their prisoner was drawn up to the limb of a tree ser- eral times by the neck ; but as he had been guilty of no known crime, except that of harboring Cuck, although suspected of burn- ing Covenhoven's barn in the fall, his life was spared and he was disposed of as before stated. Cuck was a native of Tryon county, and was born not many miles from where he died.
On the 2d day of April, 1780, a scout of fourteen individuals, commanded by Lieut. Alexander Harper, (not Col. John Harper as stated by some writers,) were sent from the Schoharie forts by Col. Vrooman into the vicinity of Harpersfield, to keep an eye on the conduct of certain suspected persons living near the head wa- ters of the Delaware, and if possible to make a quantity of ma- ple sugar. The party were surprised after being there a few days,
22
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by a body of Indians and tories under Joseph Brant, and hurried off to Canada. The scout consisted of Lt. Harper, Freegift Pat- chin,* Isaac Patchin his brother, Ezra Thorp, Lt. Henry Thorp, Thomas Henry, afterwards major, and his brother James Henry, Cornelius Teabout, one Stevens and five others. About the time they arrived at their place of destination, a heavy snow fell, and not anticipating the approach of a foe, they began their sugar manufacture. The preceding winter has justly been designated in the annals of mercury as the cold winter, and the spring was ve- ry backward. They were busily engaged in sugar making- which can only be done while the weather thaws in the day time and freezes in the night-from the time of their arrival until the 7th, when they were surprised by forty-three Indians and seven tories.
So unlooked for was the approach of an enemy, and so com- plete was their surprise, that the Americans did not fire a gun. Two of them were shot down, and eleven more, who were in the sugar bush, surrendered themselves prisoners. Poor Stevens, who was on that day sick in bed, and unable to proceed with the pri- soners, was killed and scalped in cold blood. Brant, on recognis- ing Harper, approached him. " Harper !" said he, " I am sorry to find you here !" " Why ?"-asked the latter. " Because" re- plied he, " I must kill you, although we were once school mates !" The ostensible object of Brant's mission had been, to lay waste the Schoharie settlements. Confronting Harper, with his eyes keenly fixed upon him, he enquired-" Are there any troops at Schoharie?" Harper's anxiety for the settlers prompted the ready answer-" Yes, three hundred continental troops from the castward, arrived at the forts but three days since." The intelligence-false, although the occasion justified it-was unwelcome to the great chief, whose countenance indicated disappointment. The eleven prisoners were then pinioned, and secured in a hog-pen. Several tories were stationed to guard them during the night, among
· Mr. Patchin was a fifer during the war, and a general of militia after its close. He was a very worthy man, and once represented his county in the Legislature.
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whom was one Beacraft, a notorious villain, as his after conduct will show.
The Indians built a large fire near, and were in consultation for a long time, about what disposition should be made with the pri- soners. Harper could understand much of their dialect, and ov- erheard several of the Indians and tories urging the death of the prisoners, as they did not consider the enterprise sufficiently ac- complished. The opinion of Brant, which was that the party re- turn immediately to Niagara, finally prevailed. Often during the night, while an awful suspense was hanging over the fate of the prisoners, would Beacraft comfort them with this and similar salu- tations-" You d-d rebels ! you'll all be in hell before morning."
Lieut. Harper discovered, while the enemy were consulting the preceding evening, that his word was doubted by many of the par- ty, and early in the morning he was ordered before an Indian council consisting of Brant and five other chiefs. He was told that his story about the arrival of troops at Schoharic was unbe- lieved. The question as to its truth was again asked, while the auditors-tomahawk in hand-awaited the answer. Harper, whose countenance indicated scorn at having his word thus doubt- ed, replied that what he had before told them was true, and that if they any longer doubted it, they should go there, and have their doubts removed. Not a muscle of the brave man's countenance indicated fear or prevarication, and full credit was then given to the statement. Fortunate would it be if every falsehood was as productive of good, for that alone prevented the destroyers from entering the Schoharie valley, when it was feebly garrisoned, and where they intended to strike the first effectual blow in revenge of the injuries done them the year before, by the armies under Van Schaick and Sullivan.
The rest of the prisoners were now let out of the pig-stye, when Brant told them in English that the intended destination of the party was Schoharie, which he had been informed was but feebly garrisoned-that his followers were much disappointed at being obliged thus to return-that it had been with difficulty he and his chiefs had restrained the desire of their comrades to kill the pri-
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soners and proceed to the Schoharie valley-that if they would accompany him to Niagara, they should be treated as prisoners of war, and fare as did their captors. The latter expressed a wil- lingness to proceed. They were compelled to carry the heavy packs of the Indians, filled with plunder taken at the destruction of Harpersfield but a few days before, and all set forward for Ca- nada. They were still bound, and as the snow was several feet deep, they at first found it very difficult to keep up with the In- dians, who were provided with show-shoes. Some ten or fifteen miles from the place of capture, the party halted at a grist-mill, upon the Delaware river, owned by a tory. This royalist told Brant he might better have taken more scalps and less prisoners ; and his daughters, sensitive creatures, even urged the more gene- rous chieftain to kill his prisoners then, lest they might return at some future day and injure their family. The enemy obtained of this tory about three bushels of shelled corn, which was also put upon the backs of the prisoners, and they resumed their march. They had proceeded but a few miles down the river, when they met Samuel Clockstone, a tory well known to Brant and most of the prisoners. When Brant made known to him the intended ex- pedition, and its termination from what Lieut Harper had told him, Clockstone replied-" depend upon it, there are no troops at Schoharie-I have heard of none." With uplifted tomahawk Brant approached Harper, who was confronted by Clockstone. " Why have you lied to me?" -- asked the Indian, with passion de- picted in every feature and gesture. Harper, apprised of what the tory had said, in his reply, thus addressed the latter. "I have been to the forts but four days since, the troops had then ar- rived, and if Capt. Brant disbelieves me, he does so at his peril.', Noble, generous hearted fellow, thas to peril his own life to save the lives of others. He had alone visited the forts after the party were at the sugar-bush, which Clockstone happened to know, and the latter admitted that possibly troops had arrived. Brant was now satisfied that his prisoner had not deceived him, and the march was resumed.
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