History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 3

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 826

USA > New York > Steuben County > History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 3

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An odious task was thus imposed upon Steuben ; for the people of Virginia, in the exposed condition of their own State, with Portsmouth still occupied by the British Gen. Leslie, would be unwilling to surrender so large a portion of their scanty resources to augment an army whose opera- tions at best afforded them but a doubtful protection.

Gen. Greene, in a letter, laid his plans before Gov. Jeffer- son, recommended the baron in strong terms, and invoked for him the aid and co-operation of the State executive.

The quota of troops fixed by Congress to complete the Virginia line amounted to nearly six thousand. The As- sembly, under the circumstances, with apparent reluctance, and after much debate, voted to raise three thousand by a draft, which was appointed to be held on the 10th of Feb- ruary, 1781. All the troops Steuben had been able to send to Gen. Greene up to this time was a force of about four hundred (out of a destitute squad of nine hundred, who had been left at liberty by the withdrawal of Leslie from Portsmouth, on the 24th of November), for whom only, with great labor, he could find equipments. The others had been ordered to Chesterfield Court-House, and the baron had made strennous exertions to procure for them the necessary articles of equipment.

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

We mention these particulars to show how limited were the resources of Steuben, either to comply with the urgent calls of Greene for " more troops and supplies," or in case of an invasion by a naval expedition, to which their situation peculiarly exposed them, to be in readiness promptly to defend the State.

While the draft was pending, such a naval expedition suddenly surprised the country. The traitor, Benedict Arnold, with a flotilla of twenty-seven sail and sixteen hundred effective men, entered the James River, and crowded rapidly up to the capital of the State. On the 4th they landed at Westover, twenty miles below Richmond, which now appeared to be the object of attack. No force had yet been collected. Seeing that Richmond was likely to fall into the hands of the enemy, great exertions were made to remove the archives, arms, and military stores to the south side of the river, which object was in a great measure accomplished. Most of the stores were sent to Westham, seven miles from Richmond, where they were ferried across the river, and guarded by a small body of Continentals.

Arnold landed nine hundred of his men at Westover, and commenced his march on the afternoon of the 4th on Richmond, which place he reached at noon the next day. Baron Steuben dispatched one or two hundred militia, all that could be collected, to harass the British on the march, but the service was ill-performed, and they entered the capital without the loss of a man. Arnold with five hundred men re- maining in the town, Col. Simcoe with the remainder pushed forward to Westham, where he burned a valuable foundry, boring-mill, laboratory, and some smaller buildings .* Five brass four-pounders, which had been suuk in the river, were discovered, raised, and carried off, and six tons of powder were thrown into the water. But, as they had no means of crossing the river, the major part of the stores were out of their reach, and Simcoe returned immediately to Rich- mond. Arnold sent a flag to Steuben, offering not to burn the town if the ships should be allowed to pass up un- molested and carry off the tobacco which was there de- posited. This proposition was rejected, and the enemy concluding to leave the tobacco, after burning the public buildings and plundering many private houses, commenced their retreat to Westover, where they arrived on the 7th. In forty-eight hours they had passed thirty miles into the country, occupied the capital of the State, destroyed much publie property, and returned to their shipping without the loss of a man.

Deeply sensible of the insult they had received, Steuben strained every nerve to collect troops and harass the British on their way down the river. Rightly judging that Arn- old's foree would land at Hood's, the baron ordered Col. Clarke to form an ambuscade, with two hundred militia, at a short distance from the landing-place. On the 10th the shipping anchored, as was expected, and a party of five hundred men drove in the American picket. When they came within forty paces, the militia poured in a general fire, which killed seven men and wounded twenty-three others. The British returned the fire without effect, and

then pushed forward with fixed bayonets, when the militia immediately fled. On the 20th the fleet reached Ports- mouth, which Arnold proceeded to fortify, in order to estab- lish it as a permanent post.

We need not follow the account further, the details of which are familiar to the readers of Revolutionary history. Gov. Jefferson wrote, on the 10th of Jannary, to the Pres- ident of Congress,-

" Baron Steuben has descended from the dignity of his proper com- mand to direct our smallest movements. Ilis vigilance has in n great measure supplied the want of force, in preventing the enemy from crossing tho river, the consequences of which might have been very fatal. Ile has been assiduously employed in preparing equipments for the militia, as they assembled, pointing them to a proper object, and in other offices of a good commander."

The action of Steuben in the defense of Petersburg was gallant and courageous. This was on the 24th of April, 1780. Arnold, at Portsmouth, had baffled all attempts to dislodge or capture him on the part of a large force of infantry under Lafayette and a French fleet sent from Newport under command of Destouches, and had been reinforced by Gen. Phillips, with two thousand English troops. The combined forces, amounting to two thousand five hundred men, under the command of Gen. Phillips, sailed up the James River on the 18th, with the view of attacking Petersburg and Richmond. Simcoe, with a small party, entered Williamsburg, and destroyed some stores. The main body, on the 24th, landed at the conflu- ence of the Appomattox and James Rivers, and marched up the banks of the former towards Petersburg.

Baron Steuben was there with one thousand militia, to defend the city against two thousand three hundred regular troops; but his measures were so well taken that he was able to dispute the ground more than two hours, during which time the enemy gained but one mile. Their lines were twice broken before their superiority of numbers compelled the brave baron to retreat and assume a new position about. twelve miles up the river. The loss was equal, amounting to sixty killed and wounded on each side.

Lafayette, by forced marches, had arrived at Richmond in time to prevent an attack on that city. The British burned the tobacco and warehouses in Petersburg and vicinity. By the 1st of May Lafayette and Steuben had collected such a considerable force that Phillips dared not cross to the north side of the river, and soon abandoned the campaign and returned again to Portsmouth.

When Cornwallis entered the State of Virginia Steuben had charge of the State arsenal at the Point of Fork, on the James River, above Richmond, and of the military stores which had been collected there. The post was guarded by Steuben with six hundred newly-levied troops. Cornwallis, learning his situation, detached Simcoe against him with five hundred regulars. Tarleton, with two hun- dred and fifty horse, was also ordered to proceed to Char- lotteville, and thenee to join Simcoe at the Point of Fork. This double movement rendered Steuben's situation very perilous. It was useless to attempt to defend the place against such odds, and even the utmost dispatch could hardly promise a successful retreat. Still the baron set to

* There was here an armory during the Revolution.

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

work with his accustomed energy. He transported the stores to the south side of the river with such celerity that, when Simeve appeared on the 3d of June, only thirty of the rear-guard remained, who were captured. The river was deep and unfordable, and as Steuben had taken the precaution to secure all the boats, the main object of the British was defeated.

The autumn of this year was signalized by the march of the combined French and American armies to Virginia, and the measures which led to the capitulation of Corn- wallis on the 18th of October. In the operations before Yorktown Baron Steuben had a full and honorable share. Washington respected his indefatigable exertions, and soothed him under the disappointments he had suffered by conferring upon him a command in the regular line. It was during the baron's tour of duty in the trenches that the negotiations for surrender commenced. At the reliev- ing hour next morning Lafayette approached with his division. The baron refused to be relieved, assigning as a reason the etiquette in Europe, where the officer who re- ceives the overtures remains on his post till the capitula- tion is signed or broken. The marquis applied to the com- mander-in-chief, but Steuben with his troops remained in the trenches till the British flag was struck. He returned with the main army to the North, and continued at head- quarters till the close of the war, occupied in the discharge of his duties as inspector-general.

On the day that Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief, he wrote to Steuben the following letter :

" ANNAPOLIS, 23d December, 1782.

" MY DEAR BARON.

" Although I have taken frequent opportunities, in public and in private, of acknowledging your great zeal, attention, and abilities in performing the duties of yuur office, yet I wish to make use of this last moment of my public life to signify, in the strongest terms, my entire approbation of your conduct, and to express my sense of the ob- ligations the publie is under to you for your faithful and meritorious services.

" I beg you will be convinced, my dear sir, that I should rejoice if it should ever be in my power to serve you more essentially than by expressions of regard and affection ; but, in the mean time, 1 am persuaded you will not be displeased with this farewell token of my sincere friendship and esteem for you.

" This is the Inst letter I shall write while I continue in the service of my country. The hour of my resignation is fixed at twelve to-day, after which I shall become a private citizen on the banks of the Poto- mac, where I shall be glad to embrace you, and testify the esteem nnd consideration with which

" I am, my denr Baron, etc., " GEORGE WASHINGTON."

PRIVATE LIFE AND LAST DAYS OF STEUBEN.

Gen. Lincoln having resigned his place at the head of the war department, Baron Steuben and Gen. Knox were the prominent candidates for the office of secretary of war. The objection to the former, and it proved to be a decisive one, rested in the fact that he was a foreigner. Of his qualifications for the office there can be no reasonable doubt. In March, 1784, he submitted to Washington a plan for establishing a Continental legion, and training the militia in time of peace, which the latter returned with his entire approval.

For seven years after the close of the war Baron Steu- ben was occupied in ineffectual attempts to obtain from Congress the promised recompense for his services. Con- gress never expressly denied the justice of his claim, but the poverty of the country at first induced delay, and in succeeding sessions the matter was crowded out by a multi- plicity of other duties and responsibilities. He at last col- lected a number of papers and documents bearing upon his claim, and submitted his statements and accompanying proof's to Mr. Jay, Mr. Livingston, Col. Hamilton, and others, all of whom declared the evidence to be satisfactory and the demand just. It was not until after the settlement of the Federal Constitution that the urgent recommendation of the President and the exertions of Hamilton procured for him tardy and imperfect justice. On the 4th of June, 1790, Congress passed an act granting to the veteran a life-annuity of two thousand five hundred dollars. Individual States had already shown their sense of his ill-requited services by complimentary resolutions and gifts of land. Virginia and New Jersey had each given him a small tract, and the As- sembly of New York, by a vote dated May 5, 1786, made over to him one-quarter of a township, equal to sixteen thousand acres, out of the territory recently purchased of the Queida Indians. The site selected was in the immedi- ate vicinity of Utica, where he caused a log house to be erected as the home of his declining years. This was his baronial estate and castle, in the midst of a wilderness stretching far away in unbroken solitude on every hand. Hle had no kindred in this country, and his family consisted only of dependents and friends, whom his various acts of kindness had caused to eling to him with all the affection of children for an aged parent. He distributed nearly a tenth part of the tract to his aides and servants, and the rest of the land was let on casy terms to twenty or thirty ten- ants. About sixty acres were cleared in front of the house, and afforded him wheat and nourishment for a small stock of cattle.

As the surrounding country was but thinly settled, the want of society led him to pass a portion of cach winter in the city of New York. He was never perfectly a master of the English language, though he made few mistakes in speaking, except as a matter of jest. Once, when dining with the commander-in-chief, Mrs. Washington asked him what amusements he had now that the business of his office was less pressing. " I read and play chess, my lady," said the baron, "and yesterday I was invited to go a-fishing. It was understood to be a very fine amusement. I sat in the boat two hours, though it was very warm, and canght two fish."

" Of what kind, baron ?" asked the lady.

" Indeed, I do not recollect perfectly, but one of them was a whale."

" A whale, baron, in the North River !"

" Yes, on my word, a very fine whale, as that gentleman informed me," said the baron, turning to the gentleman who had been his companion in fishing. " Did you not tell mne it was a whale, major ?"

" An eel, baron," replied the major, courteously.

" I beg your pardon, my lady," returned the baron ; " but the gentleman certainly called it a whale. It is, how-

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ever, of little consequence. I shall abandon the trade, not- withstanding the fine amusement it affords."

At his house, near Utien, the baron had little society, except from the passing visit of a stranger or a friend. A young man named Mulligan, whose literary powers and destitute situation, when a boy, had attracted his notice, resided with him, and read to him in his solitary hours. His favorite andes-de-camp, Walker and North, also spent much time at his house, and their affectionate attention continued to cheer him till the close of life. His farm and garden afforded him some pastime, but. it was chiefly from a well-stored library that he derived relief from the weari- ness of a situation that harmonized ill with the active duties of his former life. The comforts of religion and the perusal of the Seriptures prepared him to meet his end with com- posure and humble trust.

Though the sedentary life he followed was unfavorable to his health, no failure of mind or body was apparent till November, 1791. On the 25th of that month, he returned in the evening to his chamber in his usual health, but was shortly after struck with paralysis, and partly deprived of speech. The nearest physician was called, though the case was immediately seen to be hopeless. He died on the 28th.

Agreeably to former directions, his body was wrapped in a military cloak, ornamented with the star he had always worn, and interred in the neighboring forest. A few neigh- bors, his servants, and the young man, his late companion, followed his remains to the grave. A public highway was laid out some years afterwards, which passed directly over the hallowed spot. Walker caused his body to be removed to a little distance, where a monument was erected and in- closed with an iron paling. He also gave an adjoining lot. as a site for a church, on condition that its members and their successors should preserve the remains from any further violation.

Col. North caused a tablet, with the following inscrip- tion, to be placed in the Lutheran church in Nassan Street, New York, where the baron used to worship when residing in that city :

Sacred to the Memory of FREDERIC WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, BARON STEUBEN, A German Knight of the Order of Fidelity, Aide-de-Comp to Frederic the Great, King of Prussia, Major-General and Inspector General In the Revolutionary War. Esteemed, respected, and supported by Washington, Ho gave Military Skill and Discipline To the Citizen Sobtiers, who ( Fulfilling the beerers of Heaven) Achieved the Independence of the United States. The highly-polished Manners of the Baron were graced By the most noble Feelings of the Heart ; His Hand, open as Day to meRing Charity, Closed only in the trump of Death.

This Memorial in inscribed by an American, Who had Honor to ho his Aide-de Camp, The Happiness to be his Friend. Ob. 1795.4

" Jared Sparks, in his biography of Steuben, decides that this date is an error, and gives, ns we have given it elsewhere, Nov. 28, 1791.

CHAPTER IL.

THE INDIANS.

League of the Iroquois -Their Extent and Power- Formation of the Confilerney- Peculiarities of their Government -Tribal Relations and Character.

Tuk Indians who inhabited this locality prior to the advent of the white man were the debris of once-powerful tribes, broken and senttered by long series of revolutions. Like the modern remnants of some of the old wealthy and powerful Eastern nations, sitting in squalid poverty amidst. the old seenes of luxury and magnificence, these broken tribes dwelt amidst the symbols and tokens of a former Indian empire, whose glory had departed and whose strength had been wasted in desolating wars.

The immediate territory of this county was included in the domain of the Senecas, the most western ation of that once-powerhid Confederacy known as the League of the Iroquois, or Five Nations.

At one time the domain of these Confederated Nations extended from the Sorrel River south, by the fireat Lakes to the Mississippi on the west, thence cast to the Santee, und coast-wise back to the Hudson.

The territory of the Froquois embraced more fertile land, combined with a temperate and healthy climate, than any other tract of equal extent on the globe. And their power and dominion extended far beyond these geographical bonn - daries. Although they occupied, as their proper home, what they metaphorically termed the " Long House,"- that is, the territory of New York extending from the Hudson to Lake Erie, yet they extended their power and influence far beyond these limits, and hold the tribes both of the East and the West in subjection.

Says Smith, in his history of New York, " When the Dutch began the settlement of this country, all the Indians on long Island and the northern shore of the Sound, on the banks of the Connecticut, Hudson, Delaware, and Sus- quehanna Rivers, were in subjection to the Five Nations, and acknowledged it by paying them tribute." The French historians of Canada, both ancient, and modern, agree that. the more northern Indians were driven far back to the West. und Northwest by the martial prowess of the confederates. " The Ho-de-no-sau-nee occupied our precise territory, mud their council-fires burned continually from the Hudson to the Niagara. Our old forests have rung with their war- shouts, and been enlivened with their festivals of peace. In their progressive course they had stretched round hall' the republic, and rendered their names a terror nearly from ocean to ocean, when the advent of the Saxon race arrested their career, and prepared the way for the final extinguish- ment of the fires of the Confederacy."+

The Five Nations have been called by some the " Romans of the Western World." Their warriors, in the prime of the Confederacy, were noted for their valor and their far- extended conquests. " At one period," says Schoolcraft, " we hear the sound of their war-ery along the Straits of St. Mary's and at the foot of Lake Superior ; at another,

f Letters on the Iroquois, North American Boyjow.

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

under the walls of Quebec, where they finally defeat the Hurons under the eyes of the French. They put out the fires of the Gahkas and Eries. They eradicated the Sus- quehannocks. They placed the Lanappes, the Nanticokes, and Muncees under the yoke of subjection. They put the Metoacs and Manhattans under tribute. They spread the terror of their name all over New England. They trav- ersed the whole length of the Appalachian chain, and descended like the enraged yagisho and megalonyx on the Cherokees and Catawbas. Smith encountered their war- riors in the settlement of Virginia and La Salle on the dis- covery of the Illinois."*

Such had become the Iroquois-the conquerors and terror of all the surrounding tribes-by the force of their energy and by the principle of confederation. The French computed the number of their warriors, in 1660, at between two and three thousand, and a later census, taken by an English agent, confirmed the statement. Their geographi- cal position made them the umpires in the contest of the French for dominion in the West. Their political impor- tance was enhanced by their conquests. " Not only did they claim some supremacy in northern New England, as far as the Kennabeck, and in the south, as far as New Haven, and were acknowledged as absolute lords over the conquered Lanappe; the peninsula of Upper Canada was their hunting-ground by right of war; they had extermi- nated the Eries and Andasties, both tribes of their own family, one dwelling on the southeastern shore of Lake Erie, the other on the head-waters of the Ohio; they had triumphantly invaded the tribes of the West as far as Illi- nois ; their warriors had reached the soil of Kentucky and Western Virginia ; and England, to whose alliance they steadily inclined, availed herself of their treaties to encroach on the empire of France in America."t

Precisely at what period the confederacy between the tribes was formed is not known. Schoolcraft thinks it was at a comparatively recent date, probably early in the fifteenth century. Mr. Webster, the Onondaga interpreter, says this great league of confederation was arrived at about two gen- erations before the whites became traders with the Indians. Mr. Clark has a different opinion. From the permanency of their institutions, the intricacy of their civil affairs, the stability of their religious beliefs, and the uniformity of their pagan ceremonies, differing from other Indians in important particulars, he is inclined to the belief that their federative existence must have had a much longer duration. All their traditions agree that the union was effected on the banks of Onondaga Lake, where the village of Liverpool is now situated.

It is well known that these tribes attributed the origin of their confederacy, as well as most of their chief national blessings, to the supernatural interposition of Ta-oun-ya- wat-ha, the deity who presided over streams and fisheries. A long time ago this deity came down from his place in the clouds to teach them how to cultivate the soil, and to be united, happy, and prosperous. While he was living among them-having thrown aside his divine character and as-

sumed the name of ITi-a-wat-ha, a very wise man-there was an alarm caused by the sudden approach of a ferocious band of warriors from north of the great lakes. Many had been slain, and ultimate destruction seemed to be the con- sequence either of bold resistance or of quiet submission to the enemy. At this trying moment Hi-a-wat-ha was sought for advice, and no statesman of to-day could have given better counsel in as few words. " Become a united people and you will conquer your enemies. Dispatch runners in all directions and notify the chiefs of a grand council to be held on the banks of the Oh-nen-ta-ha (Onondaga Lake ). I shall sit in council with you." The council-fires had been kindled three days, but the venerable Hi-a-wat-ha had not made his appearance. On approaching his cabin, he was found in a melancholy state of mind. The old man told them he had evil forebodings, and that he had concluded not to attend the Great Council. But the chiefs had de- termined not to deliberate in council without the presence of Hi-a-wat-ha, and he was finally prevailed upon to go, accompanied by his darling child, an only daughter, twelve years of age. On the approach of the venerable wise man, a general shout of joy resounded through the assembled host, and every demonstration of respect was paid to his presence.

As he landed and was passing up the steep bank towards the council ground, a loud sound was heard like a rushing, mighty wind. All eyes were instantly turned upwards, and a dark spot was seen rapidly deseending from on high among the clouds. It grew larger and larger as it neared the earth, and was descending with fearful velocity into their midst. The utmost confusion prevailed throughout the assembled multitude, and all but the venerable Eli-a- wat-ha sought safety by flight. He gravely uncovered his silvered head, and besought his danghter to await the ap- proaching danger with becoming resignation, at the same time reminding her of the great folly and impropriety of attempting to prevent or obstruct the designs or wishes of the Great Spirit. No sooner had his resolution become fixed and his last words uttered, than an immense bird, with a long and pointed beak and widespread wings, came down with a mighty swoop and crushed the beautiful girl to the earth. Ilis darling daughter has been killed before his eyes in a marvelous manner, and her destroyer has perished with her. It was found on examination that the creature in its descent had completely buried its beak and neck up to its body in the ground. It was covered with a beautiful plumage of snow white, and every warrior as he advanced plucked a plume from this singular bird, with which to adorn his crown, and from this incident the braves of the Confederate Nation forever after made choice of the plumes of the white heron as their most appropriate mili- tary ornament while on the war-path.

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History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 3

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 826