USA > New York > New York City > History of the New Netherlands, province of New York, and state of New York : to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Vol. II > Part 17
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" The fort was repeatedly assaulted during the day, and at times with spirit ; but Indians are not the right description of troops for such service, and being received by a brisk fire of grape and mus- ketry from the garrison, they avoided the fort, and directed their attention chiefly to plundering and laying waste the village, having sated themselves in the onset with blood. In this work of destruc- tion they were unmolested, since, numbering more than twice as many as the garrison, a sortie was felt to be unwarrantable.
" Among the families which suffered from the tomahawks of the Indians and Tories-for the latter, as at Wyoming, were not to be outdone by their uncivilized allies-were those of the Rev. Samuel Dunlop, and a Mr. Mitchell. Mrs. Dunlop was killed outright, and thus shared the fate of Mrs. Wells, who was her daughter. Mr. Dunlop and another daughter would likewise have been murdered but for the interposition of Little Aaron, a chief of the Oghkwaga branch of the Mohawks, who led the old gentleman, tottering beneath the weight of years, to the door, and stood beside him for his protection. The Indians attempted to plunder him of some of his attire, but the sachem compelled them to relinquish that portion of their spoil. The venerable servant of God, shocked by the events of that day beyond the strength of his nerves, died within a year afterward.
" The case of Mr. Mitchell was still more painful. He was in the field at work when he beheld the Indians approaching ; and being already cut off from his house, his only course was to betake himself to the woods. On returning to his home, after the enemy
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had retired, he found his house on fire, and within its plundered walls the murdered bodies of his wife and three of his children. The fourth, a little girl of ten or twelve years of age, had been left for dead. But signs of life appearing, the parent, having extin- guished the fire, which had not yet made much progress, brought his little mangled daughter forth to the door, and while bending over her, discovered a straggling party of the enemy approaching. He had but just time to conceal himself, before a Tory sergeant, named Newberry, rushed forward, and by a blow of his hatchet extinguished what little growing hope of life had been left, by a darker though less savage enemy than himself. It is some conso- lation, while recording this deed of blood, to be able to anticipate the course of events, so far as to announce that this brutal fellow .paid the forfeit of his life on the gallows, by order of General James Clinton, at Canajoharie, in the summer of the following year. On the next day, Mr. Mitchell removed his dead to the fort with his own arms, and the soldiers assisted in their interment. Several other families were cut off-the whole number of the inhabitants slain being thirty-two, mostly women and children. In addition to these, sixteen soldiers were killed. Some of the inhabitants es- caped, but the greater proportion were taken prisoners. Among the former were Mrs. Clyde, the wife of Colonel Clyde, who was absent, and her family. She succeeded in reaching the woods with her children, excepting her eldest daughter, whom she could not find at the moment; and although the savages were frequently prowling around her, she yet lay secure in her concealment until the next day. The eldest daughter, likewise, had made a success- ful flight, and returned in safety. Colonel Campbell was also absent ; but hastening home on hearing the alarm, he arrived only in time to behold the destruction of his property by the conflagra- tion of the village, and to ascertain that his wife and children had been carried into captivity. The torch was applied indiscrimi- nately to every dwelling-house, and, in fact, to every building in the village. The barns, being filled with the combustible products of husbandry, served to render the conflagration more fierce and terrifick ; especially to the fugitive inhabitants who had escaped to the woods for shelter, and whose sufferings were aggravated by the consciousness that their retreating footsteps were lighted by the flames of their own households.
" The prisoners taken numbered between thirty and forty. They were marched, on the evening of the massacre, down the valely about two miles south of the fort, where the enemy encamped for the night. Large fires were kindled round about the camp, into the centre of which the prisoners, of all ages and sexes, were pro- miscuously huddled, and there compelled to pass the hours till morning-many of them half naked, shivering from the inclemency VOL. II. 20
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of the weather, with no shelter but the frowning heavens, and no bed but the cold ground. It was a dismal night for the hapless group -- rendered, if possible, still more painful by the savage vells of esultation, the wild, half-frantiek revelry, and other manifestations of joy on the part of the victors, at the success of their bloody en- terprize. In the course of the night, a division of the spoil was made among the Indians, and on the following morning the march was resumed ; although parties of the Indians returned to prowl among the ruins of the village or hang upon its outskirts, during the greater part of the day, and until reinforcements of militia from the Mohawk Valley began to arrive, when they dispersed.
" The retiring enemy had not proceeded far on their way, before the prisoners, with few exceptions, experienced a change in their circumstances, as happy as it was unexpected. They had been separated, for the convenience of travelling, into small groups, in charge of different parties of the enemy. On coming to a halt, they were collected together, and 'informed that it had been deter- mined to release all the women and children, excepting Mrs. Camp- bell and her four children, and Mrs. Moore and her children. 'These it was resolved to detain in captivity as a punishment to their husbands, for the activity they had displayed in the border wars. With these exceptions, the women and their little ones were imme- diately sent back.
" Having thus, in a great measure, disencumbered themselves of their prisoners, the enemy procceded on their journey by their usnal route at that period, down the Susquehanna to its confluence with the Tioga, thence up that river into the Seneca country, and thence to Niagara. Mrs. Canon, an aged lady, and the mother of Mrs. Campbell, was likewise held in captivity; but being unfitted for travelling by reason of her years, the Indian having both in charge despatched the mother with his hatchet, by the side of the daughter, on the second day of their march. Mrs. Campbell was driven along by the uplifted hatchet, having a child in her arms eighteen months old, with barbarons rapidity, until the next day. when the was favoured with a more humane master. In the course of the march a straggling party of the Indians massacred an English family named Buxton, residing on the Butternut Creek, and reduced their buildings to ashes.
" Thus terminated the expedition of Walter N. Butler and Jo- seph Brant to Cherry Valley. Nothing could exhibit an aspect of more entire desolation than did the site of that village on the fol- lowing day, when the militia from the Mohawk arrived, too late to afford assistance. ' The cocks crowed from the tops of the forest trees, and the dogs howled through the fields and woods' The inhabitants who escaped the massacre, and those who returned from captivity, abandoned the settlement, until the return of peace should
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enable them to plant themselves down once more in safety ; and in the succeeding Summer the garrison was withdrawn and the post abandoned.
" Next to the destruction of Wyoming, that of Cherry Valley stands out in history as having been the most conspicuous for its atrocity. And as in the case of Wyoming, both in history and popular tradition, Joseph Brant has been held up as the foul fiend of the barbarians, and of all others deserving the deepest execra- tion. Even the learned aud estimable counsellor, who so long reported the adjudicated law of the State of New York, in the tri- bute to the memory of the late John Wells, with which he closed the last volume of his juridical labours, has fallen into the same popular errour ; and applies the second stanza in the striking pas- sage .of ' Gertrude of Wyoming,' which called forth the younger Brant in vindication of his father's memory, to the case of his de- parted and eminent friend. It was indeed most true as applied to the melancholy case of Mr. Wells, of whose kindred 'nor man, nor child, nor thing of living birth,' had been left by the Indians. But it may be fearlessly asserted that it was not true as coupled with the name of Joseph Brant. It has already been seen that Brant was not the commander of this expedition ; and if he had been, it is not certain that he could have compelled a different re- sult. But it is certain that his conduct ou that fatal day was neither barbarous nor ungenerous. On the contrary, he did all in his power to prevent the shedding of innocent blood ; and had it not been for a circumstance beyond his control, it is more than proba- ble that the distinguished counsellor referred to, would not have been left ' alone of all his race.' Captain Brant asserted, and there is no reason to question his veracity, that on the morning of the attack, he had left the main body of the Indians, and endeavoured to anticipate their arrival at the house of Mr. Wells, for the pur- pose of affording protection to the family. On his way it was ne- cessary to cross a ploughed field, the yielding of the earth in which, beneath his tread, so retarded his progress, that he arrived too late.
" But this is not all. On entering one of the dwellings, he found a woman employed in household matters. "Are you thus en- gaged,' inquired the chief, 'while all your neighbours are mur- dered around you?' The woman replied that they were in favour of the king. 'That plea will not avail you to-day,' replied the warriour. " They have murdered Mr. Wells's family, who were as dear to me as my own.' ' But,' continued the woman, 'there is one Joseph Brant : if he is with the Indians, he will save us.' 'I am Joseph Brast!' was the quick response : 'but I have not the command, and I know not that I can save you ; but I will do what is in my power.' At the moment of uttering these words, he observed the Senecas approaching. 'Get into bed quick,' he
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commanded her, 'and feign yourself sick.' The woman obeyed, and when the Indians came up, he put them off with that pretext. Instantly as they departed, he rallied a few of the Mohawks by a shrill signal, and directed them to paint his mark upon the woman and her children. 'You are now probably safe,' he remarked- . and departed.
" Another instance, from the same authority, will serve farther to illustrate the conduct and bearing of this distinguished Indian . leader on that occasion. After the battle was over, he inquired of one of the captives for Captain M'Kean, who had retired to the Mohawk Valley with his family. 'He sent me a challenge once,' said the chief; 'I have now come to accept it. He is a fine sol- dier thus to retreat!' It was said in reply : 'Captain M'Kean would not turn his back upon an enemy where there was a proba- bility of success.' 'I know it,' rejoined Brant : 'he is a brave man, and I would have given more to take him than any other man in Cherry Valley : but I would not have hurt a hair of his head.'"
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SULLIVAN'S EXPEDITION.
CHAPTER XII.
Sullivan's Erpedition - Van Schaick's Expedition against the Onondagas-Capture and Recapture of Stony Point-Exploit of Major Lee-Other military operations-Hot summer -- Second great fire in New York-Explosion in the Harbour-Severe Winter-Unsuccessful attempt on Staten Island. .
1779 This murderous affair, and a similar massacre at Wyoming,
led to the determination of sending a force to lay waste the Indian settlements. General Sullivan accepted the command, refus- ed by Gates, and marching through part of New Jersey and Pennsyl- vania, arrived at the desolated Wyoming, on the 17th of June, 1779. Here, every thing being prepared, on the last of July the army pushed forward upon the Indian settlements, the stores and artil- lery passing up the Susquehanna in one hundred and fifty boats. Having destroyed an Indian town, and built a fort, Sullivan awaited the junction of another portion of his army, which approached (under General James Clinton) by the way of the Mohawk. The expedition was complete in its effect. The Six Nations sustained a signal defeat, with the loss of about thirty men on the part of the Americans. Eighteen of their villages were destroyed, and their whole territory laid waste .*
About the same time a spirited and successful expedition was · led by Colonel Van Schaick against the Onondagas, of which I - will extract an account from the work of an anonymous writer, t bearing strong marks of authenticity, and which he declares to be derived from a source known by him to be correct, and by access to private papers of a most interesting kind :
"The defeat of Burgoyne did not free the frontier of this state from the most harassing alarms. Sir John Johnson and the famous Brant, assisted by the Senecas and the upper nations, were con- stantly, during this year and the following, engaged in the detesta- ble pursuit of plunder, in firing settlements, in taking scalps and murdering defenceless women and children. So complete was the
. Marshall's Washington, Vol. IV. chap. üi.
+ The Sexagenary or Reminiscences of the American Revolution, pp. 136 to 147.
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VAN SCHAICK'S EXPEDITION.
1 . terrour excited by their movements that at one time our disheartened citizens were on the point of abandoning their homes forever, and in the words of Colonel Van Schaick, in an official letter to Gene- ral Washington, 'Schenectady, under present circumstances, must inevitably become our frontier settlement.' The expedition of Ge- neral Sullivan and General James Clinton, one of the bravest and most resolute of soldiers, had their effect in one quarter, while that of Colonel Van Schaick was also productive of the best conse- quences in another. The Onondagas had become so faithless as to act in alliance with the English, and from their position were of immense detriment to onr cause. On the morning of the 19th of April, 1779, Fort Schuyler was a scene of busy preparation. After long continued inaction, which was only interrupted by par- tial skirmishes between our foragers and the Indians that continu- ally hung about the fort, orders were given to the men to prepare for their departure. It was an early hour, while the fog and grey mist of the morning in some measure concealed their movements, that the detachment sallied forth, consisting of 55S men, including of- ficers. Colonel Van Schaick,-the gallant Marinus Willet, then Lieutenant Colonel,-and Major Cochran, were the field officers of the detachment. They were accompanied by 29 batteaux, into which were placed provisions for eight days, and which were on the previous night cautiously and skilfully removed over the carry- ing place into Wood Creek. A sufficient number of soldiers with five officers, were left in charge with them to assist the batteaux men, and hurry them on. The others pushed on smartly to the old " scow place," as it was called, twenty-two miles by land from the fort. They reached this place at three o'clock in the afternoon, but the distance being greater by water, the boats did not all arrive until ten o'clock at night. Indeed the numerous obstructions of- fered by the trees that had fallen into the creek, were of themselves very formidable difficulties, overcome only by the determined spirit of the men. As soon as the boats reached the place of rendezvons, the troops were all instantly embarked, and the flotilla moved to- ward Oneida Lake. Once in the night the boats in front were or- dered to lie too while those in the rear came up. A cold and dreary head wind made their progress slow and tedious, but the oars were plied with unremitting diligence. It was not until eight o'clock in the morning that they arrived in Desser's Bay, where the batteaux were again to rendezvous. The detachment then moved forward with as much expedition as possible for the Onondaga landing at the head of the lake opposite old Fort Brewerton, where they arrived at three o'clock, P. M. The boats were then left at that place under proper guard, and the detachment pushed forward towards the enemy. Nine miles, however, was all the distance achieved during the remainder of the day. The night was a dark
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cold one-the heavens gathered blackness around, and the men could fancy withont the aid of very lively imaginations, that the woods teemed with savages, ready to fah upon them. Indeed the movements of the hostile Indians, aided by powerful bands of tories and refugees, under the command of Jolison and Brant, had been marked by such fatal celerity, as to leave room for apprehen- sions at every assailable point throughout the western wilderness. The troops, therefore, lay on their arms all night, and were not permitted to light their evening fires. Silently were the watches kept, and with a few words the weared soldier partook of his evening meal. Silence and secrecy were indeed indispensable to the success of the expedition, and the soldier of two wars, who was responsible for its success, made every arrangement with pro- found judgment.
" Early the next day, as soon as it was practicable to proceed, the detachment moved on to the Salt Lake, since so celebrated for the villages that adorn its shores, the wealth poured into the coffers of individuals, and for its salines more precious than mines of gold. At nine o'clock they reached an arm of the lake. This was forded at a place where the distance was two hundred yards across, and the depth of the water was for most of the distance four feet. The men, however, marched in good order through, and pushed on with redoubled speed to the Onondaga Creek. Here it was that a war- riour of that celebrated tribe was captured by Captain Graham, who commanded a light infantry company. He was the first Indian dis-
covered, and was instantly taken. Had he escaped, the result of the expedition would have been somewhat uncertain. At this point it was that arrangements were made to effect a complete surprise. Captain Graham was ordered on in advance to attack the nearest settlement of the Indians only two miles distant, while the old Colo- nel hurried his men by companies as fast as they could cross the creek on a log, (which fortunately served as a bridge,) where the stream was not fordable. One by one the troops passed over in safety. The circumstance of this log remaining in its place over the stream, is a remarkable one; it was of immense service and ob- viated the delay of seeking a place to ford at a critical moment. It was the redman's Thermopylae. On this occasion a few could have kept off our troops, for a time at least, which might have enabled their warriours to rally if not to defeat the expedition. It allowed the commander to get into the heart of the enemy's country before they were apprised of his coming. The careless shouting of soldiers on similar occasions, and the heedless discharge of fire arms, would have led the wary and powerful Onondagas to a knowledge of their impending danger.
" The advance of Captain Graham could, however, be no longer concealed when in the vicinity of the castle he was employed in
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making prisoners. When the whole detachment arrived at this place which was the principal town situated in the hollow, and was large and well peopled, the alarm spread. Concealment of their purpose was no longer possible. The Indians gave way on all sides, making for the woods. Colonel Van Schaick then despatched different parties by different routes to get in the rear of the other settlements, which were scattered over in different directions eight miles, and they were ordered to move on with the greatest despatch. The alarm spread, however, in spite of every previous precaution, but such was the haste in which they fled, and such was the ardour with which they were pursued, that they had not time to carry off a single article. Thirty-three savages were captured, and twelve killed in the melec. One white man was also taken prisoner. The whole of their settlements were destroyed, and upwards of fifty of their best houses burned. A large quantity of corn and beans was also given to the flames. A hundred English muskets, a few rifles, and some uncommon fine horses, together with some other animals, were among the booty. Hard as was the task, and severe the punishment, yet it was judged necessary to put the cattle to death, and the horses were shot without hesitation. This act of severity was a blow which the Onondagas long remembered. A conside- rable quantity of ammunition was found at the council-house. Af- ter the men had loaded themselves with as much spoil as they could carry, the residue was doomed to destruction, and
"The wide field, a waste of ruin made.'
The detachment then drew off and commenced their return. In crossing the creek, however, a party of Indians, who had arrived there during their absence, fired upon them unexpectedly from the opposite side. Lieutenant Evans was ordered to beat them off with his riflemen, which he effected in very gallant style without auy loss.
" The weather, during this day, was propitious. The next day the troops reached the place, and, finding their boats in good order, sailed to the Seven Mile Island, where the troops encamped, and had time to rest themselves after their great fatigue. A more pic- turesque bivouack never was witnessed. The lake was quiet. Its calmness was in keeping with the hour, the gratification of success and the anxiety for repose. The evening fires threw their blaze of light over the waters, and communicated warmth and comfort to the sleeping groupes around. There was one who surveyed the scene with unmingled satisfaction. He had accomplished the desirable object for which he had been selected, and by a bold stroke liad broken down the strength of the most powerful tribe of all the In- dian nations. Numerous and warlike, they had filled the country with alarm, and the cabins of the white man with blood. It was the opinion of General Schuyler that had not something been done
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at this crisis, we should not have had a settlement beyond Schenec- tady. Nor were the emotions which belonged to the hour, those of the more obvious feelings of conquest. The recollection that all had been accomplished without the loss of a single man, was a source of pleasure that surpassed the excitement of pride and the flush of victory. The next day the detachment crossed the lake, and landed two miles from the mouth of Wood Creek, at two o'clock in the afternoon, and while two companies were left to guard the batteaux men in their navagation up the creek, the re- mainder of the detachment marched eight miles further and en- camped for the night on the bank of Fish Creek. The next day several showers of rain impeded their progress to the fort, but not- withstanding, the troops arrived there at noon, after an absence of five days, and a journey of one hundred and eighty miles.
" The thanks of congress were voted to Colonel Van Schaick on this occasion, and to his brave companions, to whom, in his of- ficial report, he declared he was ' under peculiar obligations' for their cheerfulness 'throughout a severe and laborious march, and for the truly determined spirit' shown by them on the occasion.
" It was but a short time after Colouel Van Schaick's expedi- tion, that the Oneidas appeared in all the pomp and circumstance of an embassy, at the fort, to enquire into the reasons of the expedi- tion, and perhaps with secret instructions from the Onondagas, to threaten or conciliate the Americans, as circumstances should per- mit. Their orator was priest Peter, as he was called ; and the famous Skenandoah, the principal sachem was present. The inter- preter, Mr. Dean, followed the speaker with these words :
"'Brother, you see before you, some of your friends, the Onei- das, they come to see you.
"' 'The engagements that have been entered into between us and our brothers, the Americans, are well known to you.
" We were much surprised a few days ago, by the news which a warriour brought to our castle with a war-shout, informing us that our friends, the Onondagas, were destroyed.
" We were desirous to see you on the occasion, as they think you might have been mistaken in destroying that part of the tribe.
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