History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 3

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112

USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 3
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 3
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 3
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 3

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Their motto, Ad majorem, Dei gloriam, was ever before them ; and but for the constantly-recurring wars they would without doubt have left a spirit of Christian civilization among the savages of this land. In many localities they wrought a truly wonderful work in inculcating a temperance spirit among the Indians, who suffered severely from the unprincipled trader, who took their furs and gave the poor savage liquor in return.

Several attempts were made by England and France to extirpate the Confederaey of the Six Nations, but without success. The first incursion into their country was headed by M. Delabarre, the governor-general of Canada, in 1683; the second by M. Denonville, also governor-general of Canada, in 1687 ; and the third by Count de Frontenae, in 1697.

These incursions failed to accomplish the subjugation of

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

the proud Confederaey, and the year 1700 dawns and finds them in the zenith of their glory. They had reared a colossal Indian empire, and as far as their unsophisticated vision extended, destined to remain.

CHAPTER III.

THE REVOLUTION-SULLIVAN'S CAMPAIGN.

The Six Nations and their Neutrality, 1776-Their Declaration of War in 1777-Old Friends and British Gold-Washington and the Plan of the Campaign-Summary of the Expedition and its Results -Sullivan's Army-His Brigadiers-The Battle of Chemuug-The first Blow of the Campaign-General Clinton as an Engineer-A Flood without a Rain-The March from Tioga-Battle of New- town-Tory Dead and Indian Scalps-The Location of the Battle- field-Ilalf-Rations and Roasting Ears -- Catherine's Town and a Captive-A Generous Enemy-Fire and Axe-Plank Houses and Indian Orchards-Brave Defense-Capture, Torture, and Death of Boyd-Genesee-" About Face !"-The Return Mareh-A Council of War-No Mercy to the Cayugas-Their Country ravaged-Fort Stanwix deereed to Desolation-A Dastardly Aet condemned-Fort Reed-The First Celebration in Chemung Valley-Programme of Exercises-A Jolly Timc-Toasts-Big Flats destroyed-Return to Tioga-Salutes and Fêtes-Departure of Oneida Guides-Win- ter Quarters-General Poor's March to Owego and Choeonut-An Image to be worshiped without Idolatry-General Sullivan retires.

THE REVOLUTION.

THE struggle for American Independenee, made memora- ble by the sacrifiees of its heroes and its far-reaching re- sults, was not confined to the sea-board, or the settlements immediately contiguous thereto, nor yet to the borders, but its echoes reverberated amid the fastnesses of the Allegha- nies, and its red tide of blood flowed in the rivers and moistened the soil of Western New York. At the open- ing of the Revolutionary war, on June 14, 1776, the Six Nations met General Schuyler in council at German Flats, where, after a grave and friendly discussion of the situation, the chiefs of the Confederaey agreed that they and their people should remain neutral in the struggle then begun. This was all that the colonists desired of them. Subse- quently, in July, 1777, the Confederaey met Sir John John- son and Colonel Walter Butler and other English officers in eouneil at Oswego, and upon the representations of those gentlemen as to the power of the king and the weakness of the colonists, the arguments the while being backed up by the exhibition of rewards promised for their adhesion to the royal cause, the Iroquois threw off the guise of neutrality and made an offensive and defensive alliance with the British eause. From thenceforward, under the command of Brant and Cornplanter, and in conjunction with Tory rangers led by the Butlers, Guy Johnson, and others, they ravaged our borders with a fiendish ferocity surpassed only by the bloodthirsty brutality of the renegade Tories beneath them. Wyoming, Cherry Valley, and the Minisink attest the bloody success and terrible visitation of the Iroquois. The terrible seenes and slaughter of Wyoming, July 3, 1778, brought a wail from every colony in the land, and roused a feeling for vengeance so deep and so imperative that even the great and magnanimous heart of Washington,

whose affections and desires were all enlisted in the uplifting of the Indian, was checked in its generous impulses, and he calmly and wisely drew the plan of

THE SULLIVAN CAMPAIGN,

a campaign so far-reaching in its anticipated results, so terrible in its proposed execution, its conception marks the great captain, however much of sorrow it must have eost the man. It was no less than meeting the Iroquois on their own ground, and, adopting their own desolating tacties, to lay waste their country, destroy their villages, burn up their crops, cut down their orchards, and thus break their power for future operations against the colo- nists. The chief command of the expedition was in- trusted to General Sullivan, though at first it was pro- posed to give it to General Gates. The army was to march from their winter quarters on the Hudson to Wyoming ; thence up the Susquehanna to Tioga, where another divi- sion, under General James Clinton, marching tie Otsego Lake, after a diversion into the Onondagas' country was to effect a junction, when the combined army, consisting of four brigades of infantry and riflemen, and a park of artil- lery, was to proceed through the valley of the Chemung ; thenee northward to Genesce River, destroying erops and houses and everything of value to the Indian as far as could be reached on either side of the trail of the army.

The success of the expedition was most complete. Forty towns and more than 200,000 bushels of eorn were de- stroyed, besides vast quantities of pumpkins, beans, melons, and other vegetables, and peach- and apple-orchards, and a most desolating march executed through the richest portion of the enemy's country, with small loss to the invaders. Washington was afterwards ealled by the Indians Hano- dogarear,-" the town destroyer."

One pitched battle was fought, and several skirmishes were had; the most distressing and shoeking loss of ours being that of Lieutenant Boyd and his command of twenty- six men, of whom more than one-half were slain.

The campaign, in its results, realized the fullest anticipa- tions of its projector. The Indians were most thoroughly overawed by the destruction of their country by an army they fully believed never eould penetrate successfully twenty miles into it. They never again appeared in large numbers on any battle-field of the Revolution. They were driven north to Niagara by the destruction of their supplies, where, owing to the provisions issued to them by the gar- rison being salted, the scurvy broke out among themu, and the winter being exceptionally severe, they died in large numbers, suffering excruciatingly. Terribly had the border settlements suffered from the ravages of the Confederacy, and most terribly were they avenged.

As the deeisive battle of the campaign, and its opening movements which gave the first promise of success, were all within our territory, we herewith give extracts from the journals of certain officers connected with the campaign from the arrival at Tioga until its return there, after achieving the objeets for which it was planned and organ- ized.

Colonel Adam Hubley, of the 13th Pennsylvania Regi- ment, in his journal, published in full in Miner's " History

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

of Wyoming," gives the command of General Sullivan as follows :

General Hand's brigade, Pennsylvania troops-Colonel Hubley's and a German regiment, Colonel Shott's and Spalding's independent companies, Colonel Butler's regi- ment of rangers, and Major Parr's riflemen ; General Max- well's brigade, New Jersey-Colonels Dayton, Shrieve, Ogden, and Spencer; General Poor's brigade, New Hamp- shire-Colonels Cilley, Reed, Scammel,* and Olden; Gen- eral Clinton's brigade, New York-Colonels Livingston, Dubois, Gainsworth, f and Courtland. Colonel Proctor commanded the artillery, which came in with General Clinton. The force was 4000 strong.

The army, with General Sullivan, arrived at Tioga from Wyoming Aug. 11, 1779, where it awaited the arrival of General Clinton's brigade and the artillery, from Otsego. In the mean time a fortifieation was thrown up, running aeross the point of land between the two rivers, the Tioga and Susquehanna, some 190 yards, behind which the army lay safe from attaek.

On the 11th seouts were sent out to discover the where- abouts of the enemy, and returned on the 12th, reporting him at Old Chemung, twelve miles above, and an expedition was at onee prepared and ordered forward for the capture of the place. The three brigades (with the exception of two regiments left to guard the works and supply-trains), all under the command of General Sullivan, marched at eight P.M. on the 12th, but owing to the darkness of the night, the absence of roads, and the lack of proper guides, the command did not arrive at Chemung until after daylight. " Even then," says Colonel Hubley, " our pilot, on our arri- val, from some disagreeable emotions he felt, could not find the town." However, another hour's march brought them to the main town, and the morning being a foggy one, dispo- sitions of the troops were made to surprise it, but on reach- ing it, at five A.M., it was found evacuated. General Hand then pushed forward Captain Bush and his infantry eom- pany of Colonel Hubley's regiment for about a mile, who discovered fires burning, and the balance of the regiment and the two independent companies were brought up and an advance of another mile was made, when the Indians, ambushed on a high hill, fired upon them. Captain Bush immediately attempted to flank the savages, while the colonel led the rest of his regiment directly up the hill, the men pressing forward with great intrepidity, under a severe fire. The Indians, seeing the determination evineed by the troops, retreated before Captain Bush eould gain their rear, and carried off their dead and wounded. The ground beyond being unfavorable for pursuit, the retreat- ing savages eseaped. The loss, which, with the exception of two, fell wholly on Colonel Hubley's regiment, was as follows : two captains,-Walker and Carberry,-Adjutant Huston, a guide, and eight privates wounded, and one ser- geant, one drummer, and four privates killed. Generals Poor and Maxwell's brigades were also fired upon, and lost one man killed and several wounded. Major John Frank- lin, of Wyoming, was also seriously wounded. The town,

which consisted of about seventeen houses, and several fine fields of eorn were destroyed.

The dead were brought back to Tioga on the 13th, the day of the battle, and on the 14th buried with full military honors. "Parson Rogers delivered a small discourse on the oeeasion," says the journalist.

On the 15th August, Sunday, a column of 700 men, under command of General Poor, was ordered to march up the Susquehanna to meet General Clinton on his march down to Tioga, and on Monday the command left on its mission. During the absence of General Poor alarıns were of daily oecurrenee, and though not resulting seriously to any great extent, yet they served to keep the army on the qui vive, expecting an attaek hourly.

On the 22d, General Clinton, with a flotilla of 220 boats and 1500 men, accompanied by General Poor and his colunin, arrived at Tioga, and was received with joyous demonstrations. He had been delayed by his raid into the Onondagas' country, and arrived at the outlet of Otsego Lake late in the season, to find the summer heats had diminished the water therein to such an extent as to preclude the pas- sage of his boats, loaded with his artillery and supplies. But nothing daunted, this leader, fruitful in expedients and skillful in wooderafc, at onee eontrived a plan to increase the carrying power of the Susquehanna as unique as it proved successful. He threw a dam aeross the outlet of the lake, eleared the same of its drift-wood, launched his boats, and when the waters in the lake had gained as heavy a head as his dam would bear, he eut the latter, and ou the flood of waters that rushed out floated to Tioga, the waters at that point setting back up the Tioga some distance. The sight of a freshet in the Susquehanna when there had been no rain for weeks exeited the superstitious awe of the In- dians, and they fled from before the soldier favored, as they believed, by the Great Spirit, and against themselves.

On the 24th of August the army were busily engaged in making bags out of their tents to earry their flour in, and in preparing for the expedition northward into the Indian country. Colonel Butler's regiment and Major Parr's rifle- men joined the light corps which formed the advanee. Colonel Shreve was left in command of Fort Sullivan, and the liue of march was taken up at eleven A.M., August 26, in the following order : light corps, commanded by General Hand, marched in six columns, the right held by Colonel Butler and the left by Colonel Hubley. Major Parr, with the riflemen, covered the entire front a short distance in advance, and reeonnoitered every suspicious-looking spot or point of advantage for the concealment of an enemy, to pre- vent surprise or an ambuscade. The pioneers followed next preceding the artillery, and the main army followed in two columns, in the centre of which moved the pack-horses and cattle, the whole flanked right aud left by divisions com- manded by Colonels Dubois and Ogdeu ; the rear was brought up by General Clinton's brigade. The army moved three miles and encamped, and the 27th marched in the same order six miles, and eucamped at the " lower end of Chemung," near the narrows, where Colonel Hubley says he " made an agreeable repast of corn, potatoes, beans, cueumber, watermelons, squashes, and other vegetables which grew in abundance there."

# Colonel Dearborn was in this brigade, but is not named by Colonel Hubley.

7 Gainsvoort.

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

August 28 was spent in reconnoitering and to find a ford for the artillery and trains, to avoid a high hill over which General Poor and General Clinton marched with their brigades. The ford was made and the river recrossed still farther up, and the army encamped at six o'clock, having made but two miles' advance. Scouts reported the enemy in force at Newtown and evidently intending to give battle. On Sunday, August 20, the march was resumed in the same order as on the 26th, the riflemen covering the ad- vanee of the light corps, which moved with the greatest precision and caution. On arriving near the ridge on which the action of the 13th commenced the advance discovered several Indians, one of whom fired upon the colunm, and the

BATTLE OF NEWTOWN

was opencd. The Indians fled, and the advance pushed on for about a mile and into marshy ground, where it again drew the fire of the Indians, who again retreated. Major Parr then began to take even more precautions than he had before done, and ordered one of his men to elimb a tree. The order was obeyed, and the lookout soon discovered the movements of some Indians, whose paint rendered them conspicuous, behind an extensive breastwork nearly half a mile in length, and artfully con- eealed by green boughs and trees, their right secured by the river, and their left by a high hill or mountain. " It was situated on a rising ground about one hundred yards in front of a difficult stream of water, bounded by the marshy ground before mentioned on our side, and between it and the breast- work was an open and clear field. Major Parr immediately gave intelligence to General Hand of his discoveries, who immediately advanecd the light corps within about three hundred yards of the enemy's works, and formed in line of battle ; the rifle eorps, under cover, advanced, and lay under the bank of the creek, within one hundred yards of the lines. General Sullivan, having previous notice, arrived with the main army, and ordered the following disposition to take place : the riflemen and light corps to continue their position ; the left flanking division, under the command of Colonel Ogden, to take post on the left flank of the light corps ; and General Maxwell's brigade; some distance in the rear, as a corps de reserve ; and Colonel Proctor's artillery in front of the centre of the light corps, and immediately opposite the breastwork. A heavy fire ensued between the rifle corps and the enemy, but little damage was done on either side. In the mean time, Generals Poor and Clinton's brigades, with the right flanking division, were ordered to march, and gain if possible the enemy's flank and rear, whilst the rifle and light corps amused them in front. Colonel Proctor had orders to be in readiness with his artillery and attack the lines, first allowing a sufficient space of time to Generals Poor and Clinton to gain their intended stations.

" About three o'clock P.M. the artillery began the attack on the enemy's works, the rifle and light corps in the mean time prepared to advance and charge ; but the enemy, find- ing their situation rather precarious and our troops deter- mincd, left and retreated from their works with the greatest precipitation, leaving behind them a number of blankets, gun-covers, and kettles with corn boiling over the fire.

Generals Poor and Clinton, on account of several difficulties which they had to surmount, could not effect their designs ; and the enemy. probably having intelligence of their ap- proach, posted a number of troops on the top of a moun- tain over which they had to advanee. On their arrival near the summit of the same the enemy gave them a fire, and wounded several officers and soldiers. General Poor pushed on and gave them a fire as they retreated, and killed five of the savages."

Captain Daniel Livermore, of General Poor's brigade, gives the following aecount of the part taken by his brigade in the battle : " General Poor's brigade is sent round their left flank to gain the encmy's rear, which he nearly con- pleted, falling in with their flank, or rather their main body, lying off in the woods in order to cut off our rear. A very warm action ensued between about 600 chosen savages, commanded by Brant and Captain Butler, of the Queen's Rangers, and Poor's brigade, commanded by himself in per- son. The brigade marched on with coolness with charged bayoncts, not a gun being fired till within a short distance, when the enemy were obliged to give back, leaving their dead on the ground, amounting to about 20. We took three prisoners. At sunset, after a complete victory, en- camp near the field of aetion, carrying off our dead and wounded. Among the latter was Major Titcomb, Captain Clayes, Lieutenant McCauley, and about 30 others .* The killed amounted to about four or five. During the whole of the action Colonel Reed's and Colonel Dearborn's regi- ments fared the hardest. Lieutenant McCauley died of his wounds August 30."

Resuining Colonel Hubley's journal, he says, "In the course of the day we took nine sealps (all savages) and two prisoners, who were separately examined, and gave the fol- lowing accurate account: 'that the encmy were 700 men strong, viz. : 500 savages and 200 Tories, with about 20 British troops, commanded by a Seneca chief (Cornplanter), the two Butlers, Brant, and McDonald.' They further informed us that the whole of their party had subsisted on corn only for this fortnight passed, and that they had no other provisions with them, and that their next place of rendezvous would be at Catherine's town, an Indian village, about twenty-five miles from this place.' "

It is said that it was the vigilant eye of Brant that dis- covered the movement of Clinton and Poor, which threat- ened to eut off the retreat of the forec behind the breast- work, and he gave the signal of retreat when the cold steel of the New Hampshire and New York men pressed over the summit of the mountain, unchecked by the rifle-shots of his faithful warriors. The slogan of the great war-chief, which had rung through the aisles of the forest and reached from hill to hill, was changed to a dirge-like wail, calling his discomfited braves from their fastnesses, and they fled up the valley, and made no further stand against the victo- rious army of patriots, retreating sullenly before them as Sullivan's morning gun woke the echoes in the forest, giv- ing the signal for marching, and conveying information to the Indians of the whereabouts of the invading column as well.

# Sergeants Lane and Thurston were wounded.

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

Among the wounded of the American troops, too, was Ensign Thomas Baldwin, afterwards Colonel Thomas Bald- win, of Ulster, Pa., and still later, in 1787, a resident on or near the battle-field whereon he received the British token of brotherly affection, the bullet. The number of killed was four, including Lieutenant McCauley, who died of his wounds, and 33 wounded. It was ascertained that besides the nine Indian dead left on the field, seven of the Tories also were slain, and that the enemy acknowledged to having suffered severely.

There has been some dispute in times past as to the exact location of the battle-field of Newtown, but the best authori- ties agree that it was from seven to eight miles below Elmira, at a point called Hogsbaek. Ephraim Bennett, who was an officer in the Revolution, located his farm in 1794 on the old battle-ground at Hogsback, and lived there until 1799, at which time the fortifications were distinctly visible.

The further progress of the army, according to Colonel Hubley, was as follows :

Monday, August 30, was spent by the army in destroy- ing the extensive corn-fields on the plains and the vegeta- bles, which were also abundant. The army drew eight days' rations, the soldiers doing their own carrying for the lack of pack-horses. There seemed to have been a sad lack of proper management in the commissary department, which, considering the great abundance of forage and supplies de- stroyed belonging to the enemy, is difficult to find a good reason for, looking at it from the stand-point of to-day. General Sullivan requested the troops to content themselves with half-rations of flour and beef as long as the necessity for such reduction existed, and while the enemy's country furnished abundant supplies of corn and vegetables, the soldiers very cheerfully complied with the reasonable re- quest, and pushed on with alacrity in the accomplishment of their work.

On Tuesday, August 31, the march was resumed, and about noon crossed the Chemung at the junction of Newtown Creek, where an Indian village stood, which was destroyed, as also furniture which was discovered hidden away. The march was continued till five P.M., when the army encamped on the plains on the site of the present village of Horse- heads. On Wednesday, September 1, the transit of the swamp before reaching Havana was made, occupying all the day and a greater part of the night, the encampment being made at Catherine's town, which was evacuated by the enemy precipitately, Queen Catherine Montour fleeing with the rest. The passage of the swamp was most difficult, and several pack-horses and cattle were killed in effecting it. An old squaw was left in the flight, her age prevent- ing the Indians from taking her with them. She was found by the command, and upon examination said that the women and children had fled to the mountains to await the passage of the army, under the promise of Butler to send warriors afterwards to conduct them to a place of safety, and that before they went there was a sharp contention between the women and warriors, the former desiring to submit to the generosity of the troops, and the latter being opposed to it. The old squaw was provided with provisions and wood, and a hut erected for her, the entire village of fifty houses being destroyed before her discovery. The colonel

says, " All these favors had such an effect on her that it drew tears from her savage eyes." From this point villages were destroyed on the east side of Seneca Lake, the first one being twelve miles from Catherine's town, September 3, a place called Canadia, September 5, where a prisoner, cap- tured the year before, was retaken by our forces, who in- formed the general " that Brant with near 1000 savages, including Butler's rangers, left that town on the Friday before (September 3), seemingly much frightened and fatigued ; that they were pushing for Kanadauga (Canan- daigua), where they meant to make a stand and give battle." He further stated that, " exclusive of a considerable number of savages killed and wounded in the action of the 29th, seven Tories were killed ; that all of their wounded' and some of their dead were carried in canoes up the Cayuga branch, and that they allowed they had sustained a very heavy loss in that action." Canadia was a fine village of forty well-finished houses, with everything about it neat and well improved. A village was destroyed on the 4th by some stragglers, who, having lost their way, came upon the same in the woods, and gave it to the flames. Kanadasaga (Ge- neva) was reached September 7, and given to the torch, with its grand council-house and fifty comfortable dwellings, its fine apple-orehard girdled, and its immense corn-fields destroyed, after drawing largely from them for supplies. Gaghsiungua met with a like fate September 8, and on the 9th a detachment of fifty men left for Tioga as an escort for the sick and disabled, who were encumbering the army in its march. Kanadalaugua, a village of between forty and fifty well-built houses, chiefly of hewn plank, and extensive corn-fields, were destroyed September 10, and Anyayea was added to the list on the 12th. It was a village of a dozen or more hewn-log houses, and was made a post garrisoncd with fifty men, composed of soldiers unable to march, and the stores of flour and ammunition left there, while the rest of the army pushed on for Genesee, the capital of the Senecus, and the last objective-point of the expedition.

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 3

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 1112

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112