USA > New York > Schoharie County > History of Schoharie county, and border wars of New York > Part 36
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Major Andrew Mitchell, of Ballston, having visited Schenec- tada on business, there learned, possibly through the Oneida run- ners, that a small detachment, mostly tories, had left Canada, the destination of which was unknown. In the afternoon, Mitch- ell set out for home on horseback, accompanied by one Arm- strong, a neighbor. After proceeding several miles, and arriv- ing on the north side of Allplass creek, the thought occurred to him, that possibly he might not be free from danger, as a liberal reward was paid for the persons or scalps of officers. He was riding through the woods at the time, and scarcely had the thought visited his mind, which caused him to quicken the speed of his horse, when he was hailed in a commanding voice to stop, by a man who sprang upon a fallen tree near the road. The Major put spurs to his gallant steed and was soon out of sight of the highwayman, who fired at him as he passed. Armstrong could not keep up with his companion, but as his person was not sought for, he escaped unmolested.
Before the Revolution, Jo. Bettys and Jonathan Miller, another celebrated tory, dwelt, one on each side of Maj. Mitchell. After the transaction occurred which is noticed above, it was satisfac- torily ascertained that the man who fired on the major, was his old neighbor Miller; who had accompanied Bettys in his expedi- tion, and then had at his beck some half a dozen genial spirits. The ground being sandy, the horse's hoofs made but little noise, and the militia officer was not observed until opposite the party, secreted on both sides of the road expressly to capture him.
An enterprise of Bettys in the Ballston settlement, within a few days of the affair related, proved more successful. He sur-
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priscd and captured Aaron Banta, and his sons, Henry and Chris- tian, Ensign Epenetus White, and some half a dozen others. The elder Banta was left on parole, and the rest of the prisoners, who were among the best citizens in the vicinity, hurried off to Canada. The escape and return of part of them with Col. Gor- don, who was taken the year before, is already known to the reader .- Charles and Hugh, sons of Maj. Mitchell.
A scout, consisting of Timothy Murphy, Bartholomew C. Vroo- man, William Leek, and Robert Hutt, under the command of Sergeant Lloyd, left the Middle fort only a day or two after the celebration of Murphy's marriage, expecting to be gone eight or nine days. Their absence was protracted to the thirteenth day, when they were welcomed at the fort, on the evening preceding the invasion of Schoharie by Sir John Johnson. The scout while absent, visited Punchkill, Sharon, Cherry-Valley, Unadilla, Susquehanna, Delhi, Minisink, and Cairo; seeing the tracks of Indians in several places, but none of their persons. They how- ever captured a tory prisoner at Prattsville, and brought him to the fort. The return of this scout was most opportune for the welfare of the garrison, as will soon appear.
In the latter part of September, 1780, Sir John Johnson left Niagara with about five hundred British, Royalist, and German troops, and pursued the road opened the year before by Gen. Sul- livan, most of the way from the Genesee valley to the Susque- hanna; where he was joined by a large body of Indians and tories there assembled under Capt. Brandt ; making his effective force as estimated at the several forts, one thousand men. There is a tra- dition, that several hundred of the Indians who left Niagara with Brant, returned, owing to a quarrel. Johnson's object in making this long journey so late in the season, was to ravage the beauti- ful valleys of the Schoharie and Mohawk rivers, when the crops of the husbandman were secured and could be burned, and if pos- sible to capture and destroy the three Schoharie forts.
From Charlotte river, the eastern branch of the Susquehanna, the enemy proceeded toward the Schoharie, and passing down Panther creek, arrived near its shore in the evening of October
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16th, and encamped just above Ottegus-berg,* a romantic moun- tain on the west side of the river, near the upper end of Vroo- man's Land.
Judge Brown assured the author, that two days before the ar- rival of the enemy, he obtained a knowledge of their approach through a sister who was tory-fied, and communicated the fact to Col. Vrooman; whereupon Marcus Bellinger, the supervisor, was sent to Albany to procure a wagon-load of ammunition, in antici- pation of such an event. Bellinger was detained in the city from some cause, but arrived in safety at the Lower fort, on the eve- ning of the 16th inst.
Col. Johnson intended to resume his march sufficiently early on the morning of the 17th,t to pass the Upper fort, situated about three miles from his encampment, unobserved, and arriving at the Middle fort, just at daylight, surprise and capture it ; supposing, with very good reason, that the possession of it would soon cause the surrender of the other two more feebly garrisoned. The enemy, passing along the bank of the river, crossed it nearly opposite, and not one third of a mile distant from the Upper fort. Owing to some unknown delay, the troops were not in motion as early as they had intended, and the rear of the army was yet upon the bank of the river, when Peter Feeck, who had started to go after cows just as day began to dawn, discovered it, and notified a sen- tinel, who discharged his musket. The troops were instantly called out, and the alarm gun thrice fired. Captains Jacob Ha-
* This mountain was so called by the early German settlers, and signified the Panther-mountain, the creek taking its name from it near which it enters the Schoharie. A mountain situated on the opposite side of the river above Panther mountain, distant from the latter not more than a mile or two, was called by the early Germans, Wock-holter-berg; and signified the Berry mountain-so called from the unusual quantity of juniper or other berries found upon it. The Schoharie by its serpentine course, flows at the base of both mountains, giving its banks a rugged appearance.
t Col. Stone, in the " Life of Brant," erroncously dates this transaction oa the 16th of October. Campbell, who wrote at an earlier period, has given its true date, and so far as it goes, a much more authentic account of the inva- sion. Col. Stone blended part of the invasion in August, with that in Octo- ber, and incorporated several popular errors in the narrative.
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ger, and Joseph Harper, both men of acknowledged courage, with two companies of troops, numbering it is believed, less than one hundred men, were in this fort at the time. The command of the garrison devolved on Capt. Hager, the senior officer, who sent a party of volunteers to the river early in the morning, among whom were Henry Hager, his son, Lawrence Bouck, and Isaac Vrooman. They saw several of the enemy on the opposite shore, and crossed the river and captured an Indian who lagged behind his fellow. As they approached him he fired upon them, the ball striking the powder-horn of Vrooman. When they drew up to fire, he sprang behind a tree, which received three of the bul- lets discharged at him : he then fled, abandoning his horse, a poor black mare with a sore back, which, with a heavy pack on, was taken to the fort.
The Middle fort, at this, time was under the command of Major Woolsey, a continental officer, unfitted for the important duties of the station he held, who is said to have been a broken officer be .. fore going to Schoharie .* Col. Vrooman was fortunately in the fort, as were Lieut. Col. Zielie and Maj. Thomas Ecker, officers belonging to his regiment. Captains Lansing, Pool, Hall, Miller and Richtmyer, were in the fort on that day, several of whom were continental officers, and all, it is believed, were men of real courage. The fort was garrisoned by about two hundred conti- nental troops, or nine months' men, as then called, and between one and two hundred militia. Once during the night preceding the invasion, the sentinels gave a partial alarm, caused by the ap- proach of a hostile scout.
Some of the citizens and soldiers were already up at the Middle fort, and hearing the alarm gun of the fort above, the drums were quickly beating to arms. Livingston, an officer of artillery, was looking for a match to respond to the evidence of danger, when Susannah Vrooman ran to the house and brought him a live coal,
·When Major Woolsey, who was remarkably spry, first went to Schoharie, and was seen to leap fences, and give other evidences of agility, he was ta- ken to be very smart, and was, of course, much respected, until found want- ing in courage. He was the first man who wore a garment, since called a roundabout, in the Schoharie valley, considered at the time a novelty .- Mrs. Angelica Vrooman.
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with which the gun was instantly fired. The voice of a brass nine pounder was thrice responded to from the Lower fort, and war's thunder rolled along the valley. The discharge of the alarm guns at the forts, became the signal for the foe to apply the in- cendiary torch, which was accordingly done to the buildings of Frederick Mattice, situated on the east side of the river in Clauver- wy, (where Edward Pindar now resides) and opposite that part of Vrooman's Land which was desolated the preceding August. The barn of Mattice was the first of the beacon lights seen at the Mid- dle fort that day, the number of which, from buildings, barracks of grain, and stacks of hay, viewed at that place, was estimated by an eye-witness, at three hundred. An invasion having been anticipated, the citizens lodged at the several garrisons, and the movement of the hostiles commencing thus early, no individuals were found in their dwellings except such as were either tinctured with royalty, or chose to brave the coming dangers to save their property.
A strong northeast wind continued to blow throughout the day, and served to fan the flames of destruction. The weather was also exceedingly cold, and snow in squalls almost constantly filled the air. Maj. Ecker called for volunteers soon after daylight, and nineteen bold spirits left the fort with him to learn the cause of alarm, just as the fire of Mattice's buildings was discovered. As the wind then blew almost a gale, the soldiers left their hats, and substituted kerchiefs tied closely about their heads. The head of Timothy Murphy was adorned by the one that had concealed the pretty neck of his young bride, placed there by her own trembling hands; the head of Bartholomew C. Vrooman with that of Susan- nah Vrooman, his intended, (to whom he was married about two weeks afterwards,) and those of others by the shawls of friends or lovers. Maj. Ecker, among whose followers were Lieut. Martin- us Zielie, Sergeant Lloyd, Murphy, Elerson, Hoever, Vrooman, Richard Hanson, Peter Van Slyck, Wilbur, Joachim Folluck, Ad- am Shell, Tufts, and Leek, proceeded from the fort in the direction of the present village of Middleburgh, and fell in with the ene- my's advance not far from the site of the Brick church. Murphy
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was on the extreme right toward the river. Ecker's men now fired upon the enemy from behind a board fence, and some of them se- veral times. From his position, Murphy discovered that the ene- my was extending his right to cut off their retreat to the fort, and communicated the fact to Maj. Ecker, who instantly ordered a re- treat. Murphy, although he had the greatest distance to run, was the last man who left the ground, and remained at the fence until he obtained a fair extra shot, when he also fled to the fort. Hun- dreds of balls were fired within gun-shot at the volunteers, and several boards in the fence from which Murphy fled, were literal- ly riddled with bullets ; and yet not one of the party was wound- ed. Most of the volunteers were riflemen, and wore short linen frocks, through which several of the enemy's shot passed, as also they did through other parts of their dress, and one struck the powder-horn of Vrooman.
Colonel Johnson had given orders to his troops to spare the churches in Schoharie, but the Dutch church, standing opposite the burying ground, and near the present residence of Dr. James Van Gaasbeck, in Middleburgh, was burned. It is said to have been set on fire by William Crysler, a tory, owing to a grudge he held against some of its members .- Andrew Loucks. This church was built after the model of the ancient Dutch church in Albany, with a steeple rising from the centre. It was well finish- ed within, and painted white outside .- Mrs. Van Slyck.
Early on the morning of the 17th, Maj. Joseph Becker, then in command of the Lower fort, knowing the lack of powder at the Middle fort, sent two men, each with a bag containing the necessary article on his back to that garrison. Hearing the alarm guns of the Upper fort, and the response of the other two, they increased their speed, and fortunately arrived at their destination just as the enemy invested that post. Mattice Ball, one of the two, and from whose lips this fact was obtained, said they were detained there during the day.
The enemy, crossing the flats obliquely, passed the fort near the hill east, and halted on a small eminence nearly north of it, in the orchard of Peter Becker, near the present residence of Peter
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I. Borst. At this time many of the Indians were scattered over the flats, engaged in the work of destruction. As the enemy were proceeding from the river toward the hill east of the fort ; Lansing, a captain of the Albany militia, followed by a party of volunteers, sallied in that direction and met the advance, with which he ex- changed several shots. Elerson, stated that at this time he was behind a board fence near the wood, beyond his comrades, when he observed an officer in a red coat advance from the British ranks, at whom he discharged his rifle. He saw the enemy's guns lev- eled at him, and instantly fled to the fort. He supposed that seven hundred fired at him in this flight, yet he escaped from them untouched. The fence from which he ran, like that which had concealed Murphy just before, was completely peppered with bullets. Capt. Miller, who commanded a company of Claverack militia, then in the fort, called to Elerson's wife, to see her hus- band run. Col. Vrooman, also, as Elerson was informed, watched his flight with intense anxiety. A shot sent among the Bri- tish troops from the brass-cannon, while they were firing on El- erson, caused some confusion among Johnson's Greens. They were then passing the most exposed part of the fortress. There was a small gate on the east side, through which Capt. Lan- sing and his men entered.
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 in Becker's orchard, and a cannonading and bombardment commenced, while a constant firing was kept up with small arms, but generally 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 can- non-shot were fired but with less precision, the most of them pass- ing 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
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sprang from it, and went below, 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 exposed to its explosion had ample time to gain a respectful distance, and it scattered its fragments without injuring any one .* The third shell fell through the roof of the main building, and lodging on a pile of feather-beds in the chamber, 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 bachelor, who chanced to be in the room, almost to death. The explosion com- pletely 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 hap- pened, he replied in Low Dutch, (as kindly rendered by a Dutch friend, at my elbow) " Ik donk de duyvel is op de solder, de veri vlie- gen so rondt dat ik niet zien con."-I think the devil is in the cham- ber, for the feathers fly around so that I cannot see. The beds were set on fire but were easily extinguished, as water had been provided for such emergency.
After the firing had been continued for some time by the ene- my, and several shells thrown, it suddenly ceased, and a white flag was seen to leave the British ranks and advance toward the fort. The flag-bearer was accompanied on his right by an officer in a green uniform, and on his left by a fifer, playing Yankee- doodle. When the flag was discovered approaching, Maj. Wool- sey 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
*It is stated in the Life of Brant, that a woman brought several buckets of water from a well without the works exposed to the enemy's fire, for the thirsty soldiers ; one of whom, when required, dared not perform the feat. This story has no foundation in truth. The well was within the pickels, and af- forded an abundant supply of water, as I have been assured by nearly a do- zen credible witnesses, who were in the Middle fortat the time alluded to.
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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 should shoot Woolsey himself. On that day, Murphy used his double-barreled rifle,* and as the flag drew near he fired upon it-not with the intention of killing its bearer, or either of his companions, as is generally supposed, but to say, in effect, " approach any nearer and you are a dead man." The trio. with the flag halted, faced about and marched back to their former station.
When Murphy fired on the flag, Maj. Woolsey was not present, having visited his quarters to prepare himself to enforce submis- sion 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. Maj. W. then threatened the brave soldier with instant death if he repeated the act ; and the latter, who believed the willingness of the commandant to admit the flag proceeded from cowardice alone, retorted with warmth-" Sooner than see that flag enter this fort, will I send a bullet through your heart." Seeing an evident disposition in all the officers present to sustain Murphy-for they had rallied round him to a man, (not from a desire to see just commands violated, but to defend the fort at all hazards,) the major walked towards the house. In this time, the flag attended as before, had again advanced, and Maj. W. 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 Col. John- son, from his great desire to get a flag into the fort, despatched it by the same party a third time. It is possible that from his posi- tion he had, with a spy-glass, observed the movement of Maj.
· Much has been said about Murphy's double-barreled gun-and more than it merited : at least, so a son of Murphy assured the writer he had often heard his father say. He had scuh a gun, while at Schoharie, but it was so heavy he seldom used it, except on garrison duty. An anecdote told by Campbell, of the use of this gun, I have not been able to authenticate so as to warrant its insertion.
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Woolsey. They had not 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.
Maj. Woolsey, after the spar with Murphy, entered the dwelling where the women and children were confined; but their jeers sa- voring too much of satire, he left their presence and sought safety elsewhere. The cellar under the kitchen part of the dwelling was occupied as a magazine, and Col. Vrooman, to conceal the deficiency of powder, brought it himself when wanted. All the officers in the fort, except Woolsey, divested themselves of their hats early in the siege and substituted cravats : while several of them laid off their coats, and taking guns, all fought manfully .* As powder was needed Col. Vrooman laid down his gun and sword and went to get it. Near the cellar door he encountered Maj. Woolsey, who had just left the presence of the women, as may be supposed, not in very good humor. " Maj. Woolsey, is this your place," intorrogated the brave colonel, " who are placed here to defend this fort ?" He replied, half dead through fear- " Col. Vroonian, the men will not obey me, and I give up the com- mand to you." At this moment a cannon shot struck the house and fell harmless at their feet. The colonel instantly caught it up, and playfully extended it to the major, with the simple excla- mation-" Send that back to them !" With perfect indifference the coward replied, " That I think would be s-n work." The fire of the Dutch colonel was instantly ignited at the indifference and filthy expression of the commandant, and speaking in his usually quick manner, he rejoined-" Maj. Woolsey, had I my sword I would run you through with it." The major, perhaps ashamed of his conduct, wheeled and walked off, and the colonel got his powder and returned to his men, exclaiming as he gave them the necessary article, " Fire away my brave lads, we have plenty of ammuniton." The troops were gratified to learn that
* In the early part of the war the captains all carried guns, but at a later period they were prohibited from bearing them, from a complaint that while loading they neglected duties to their men.
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the command of the fort was surrendered to him, and obeyed his orders with alacrity. More than once when he went for powder, as he afterwards confessed, did his hair rise on his head, not from fear of the enemy, but lest the small supply of ammunition should be completely exhausted, and the foe, becoming conscious of it, storm their works .- Mrs. Angelica Vrooman.
The firing of shells was not renewed by the enemy, and the discharge of grape and round shot was only continued at inter- vals from the fort, as the supply of powder would not warrant its constant use. Destructionists were to be seen at this period of the siege, scattered over the flats in almost every direction. The garrison was too weak to make a bold sortie, but many small par- ties were sent out during the day to harass the enemy, and save, if possible, a large barn belonging to John Becker, which stood almost in the direction of Col. Johnson's position : around which clustered numerous stacks of hay and grain. As several Indians were scen approaching the barn, a party from the fort went to meet them. Several shots were exchanged, and Sergeant Coop- er, of Albany, received a wound in one leg ; and was instantly borne off by two of his comrades to the fort : but while proceed- ing thither, he received a ball through his body, of which his car- riers were unconscious. As they entered the fort, Susannah Vroo- man enquired where Cooper was wounded ? The reply was, " in the leg." She remarked that he bled from the body, and on lay- ing him down, it was ascertained that he had received a wound there, of which he soon after died.
About this time, several volunteers entered the fort, who had been pursued by the enemy. Miss Vrooman stood near the en- trance in an exposed situation, and Samuel Reynolds, as he en- tered, said to her-" Susannah, get away from here or you will be shot !" The words were scarcely uttered before a ball entered his own head, of which wound he died nine days after. He was from New Jersey : was a likely soldier, and died lamented. Je- remiah Loucks was also wounded in one arm, and Tufts slightly in the head-the latter, while entering the fort-who, with the two mortally wounded, it is believed, were all that were injured
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