USA > New York > Oneida County > Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York; > Part 2
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146
The foregoing pen picture of the route will give but a faint idea of the Wood Creek and its surroundings of 140 years ago. and but dimly outlines the difficulties attending travel over this route in the early days of the colony. The heavy trees which lined the banks of Wood Creek and the massive ones which fell across the stream, rendering navigation slow and toilsome, indicate why it was thus named. General Shirley dare not stir from Oswego towards Niagara. The disheartening news of Braddock's death, the failure before Crown Point, his Indian allies deserting him, the winds and storms of autumn, and the fear of an ap. proach of the French from Fort Frontenac, paralyzed Shirley and he remained helpless at Oswego until the last of October, when he returned to Albany by the same route he traversed two months before, leaving 700 men at Oswego. The campaign of 1755 was now closed and nothing gained by the English. The country for many coming months
8
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
was wrapped in snow and little else could be done by the contending forces, except the guarding of forts or lonely blockhouses, or scouring the forest in small war parties. But preparations were being made by both sides for a more vigorous campaign the next year. The English planned for the campaign of 1756 as for the year before, and in addition to clear the French vessels from Lake Ontario and obtain complete command of that lake. The French strengthened all of their fortifica- tions and laid plans to capture Oswego. It does not clearly appear in history whether or not the French were fully advised of the condition of the Oneida Carrying Place, and the number or condition of the Eng- lish forts upon it. Certain it is, however, that the French were deter- mined to investigate and destroy whatever was there, to better enable them to capture Oswego. It was known by the French that Oswego was supplied by the English with troops, munitions of war, and provis- ions from Albany by the water route via Wood Creek and Oneida Lake, and if the Oneida Carrying Place could be captured or rendered use- less, a great point would be gained. The best, and probably the only, way for the French to reach it in those days, was by the route they took. In March, 1756, M. de Lery left Montreal with a force of French and Canadian Indians 362 strong. of which 103 were Indians, went across the country through what are now St. Lawrence and Lewis counties, to strike this portage. They left Montreal, came up the St. Lawrence on the ice to La Presentation (called by the Indians, Oswegatchie, now Ogdensburgh), waded through deep snows, forded or crossed on ice or logs Oswegatchie, Black, and Mohawk Rivers and other swollen streams and lost their way in the forest, led astray either by accident or design by their Indian guides. They were fifteen days on the journey, two days wholly without food, and most of them came near perishing from cold and fatigue. It is not easy at this late date to locate the route of that expedition across the country. The general course of Indian travel in the forest was to avoid hills and keep near streams and in valleys. Not unlikely that expedition struck Black River at or near what is now Carthage in Jefferson county, followed up the valley of that stream to the vicinity of what is now Boonville, and down the valley of the Lan- singkill and the Mohawk to Rome. They reached this locality some hours before daylight, on the morning of March 27, 1756, and remained
9
1754-1756-FORT BULL, ETC.
until four in the morning ; at that hour they resumed their march, much weakened by hunger and fatigue, and at half past five in the morning reached the head of the carrying place, towards the Mohawk. The scouts in advance brought to De Lery two Englishmen who were going from Fort Bull along the portage (supposed to be what is now Dominick street, Rome, or near it). They were threatened with death if they concealed the truth or told a falsehood. They said the fort nearest to Wood Creek was Fort Bull, named after the captain then in command, and had a garrison of 60 soldiers; that in this fort was a considerable quantity of provisions and munitions of war, and that the fort was con- structed of heavy pickets, fifteen to eighteen feet above ground, doubled inside to a man's height, and the fort was nearly in the shape of a star ; that it had no cannon, but a number of grenades which had been sent on by Sir William Johnson from down the Mohawk, who had received news of this expedition through friendly Indian runners; that fifteen bateaux were to leave that evening for Oswego, loaded with supplies ; that at that moment sleigh loads were going along the portage from the Mohawk to Wood Creek with nine bateau loads; that the fort on the Mohawk River side of the portage was of much larger pickets and well planked, having four pieces of cannon and a garrison of 150 men, com- manded by Captain Williams, whose name the fort bore [This was Capt. William Williams of Sir Wm. Pepperell's regiment ; he was a native of Massachusetts. His regiment was disbanded in Dec., 1756; he died in 1787.] They said they had not been in that fort and hence did not know whether or not there were provisions in it. This account of the expedition, taken from the archives in Paris, and published in the Documentary History of N. Y. and in XII of Paris Documents, goes on to say :
At ten in the forenoon the savages captured 10 men, who were conducting sleighs loaded with provisions from the Mohawk side of the portage to Wood Creek at Fort Bull. They stated in addition that 100 men arrived the preceding evening from down the Mohawk, who, it is said, were followed by a large force sent on by Sir William Johnson. While De Lery was distributing the captured provisions among his troops he was told that a negro who accompanied the sleigh loads had escaped, taking the road to Fort Williams, on the Mohawk, and that it was apprehended that Captain Williams from that fort would sally out to attack the French force. De Lery thereupon resolved to forthwith, and in great haste, attack Fort Bull, where he was assured the greater part of the provisions and stores were. The Indians were reluctant
2
10
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
to join in the attack, but favored an immediate return to Canada. Some 20 Indians, however, started with De Lery to attack Fort Bull, while the rest remained to guard the road and provisions and prevent an advance from Fort Williams. The orders were for the detachments to move rapidly, without firing a shot or making noise, and seize the guard on entering the fort. When near the fort and without being discov- ered, the Indians, in their eagerness and excitement, gave a whoop; then De Lery ordered an advance on double quick in order to carry the gate of the fort before it could be closed, but the garrison had bare time to close it. Only 6 Indians followed the French on this attack ; the others pursued some six of the prisoners who tried to escape. De Lery set some men to cut down the gate, and called upon the comman - der of the fort to surrender, which he refused, and answered defiantly by throwing a hand grenade and a fire of musketry [a brave and loyal officer], and throwing a quantity of grenades; the French and Canadians ran at full speed to the fort, got possession of the port holes, and through these fired at these inside. In about an hour the gate was cut down, and the French rushed in with shouts of " Vive le Roi" and put every one to the sword they could lay hands on. One woman and a few soldiers were fortunate enough to escape. The powder and other stores were thrown into the creek ; one of the magazines caught fire, and as it could not be extinguished, orders were given to retire as quick as possible. There was hardly time to do this when the fire communicated to the powder, which blew up at three points. The ex- plosion was so violent that portions of the debris was thrown at some distance, and wounded some, and in great danger of killing the whole force. News was brought that a sortie from Fort Williams was being made, whereupon De Lery rallied his forces and caused bombs, grenades, bullets, and all the provisions that could be found thrown into the stream, and which were stored in fifteen loaded bateaux, and then set out to meet the sortie; but he learned that the Indians had repulsed it, having killed seventeen men. De Lery then moved with his force and encamped in the woods three-quarters of a league away. The Fort Bull prisoners were then ex- amined, and it was learned that Sir William Johnson had sent notice to all the posts of De Lery's rumored coming, but it was regarded impossible on account of the rigor of the season. Fort Bull is situate near a creek. Fort Williams on the Mo- hawk. The carrying place from one fort to the other is about four miles long, over a pretty level country, though swampy in some places.
No mention was made of Fort Craven, from which it may be right- fully inferred that this fort did not then exist, although it seems well authenticated that it once stood on the Mohawk near the bend of that stream and below where the railroad bridge of the New York Central now crosses the river. The French commander estimated that over 40,000 pounds of powder were burned or thrown into the water, besides balls, bombs, grenades, clothing, provisions and other stores. It was a great loss to the English.
Fort Bull covered about an acre of ground, was in the shape of a star and inside were a well and magazine, and the whole enclosed by pickets,
11
1754-1756-FORT BULL, ETC.
as above stated, and surrounded by a ditch into which water could be easily turned from Wood Creek when necessary. Its shape is yet (1896) plainly discernible, although 140 years have elapsed since its destruc- tion. For years past the curious and students of history have taken from the bed of Wood Creek close by the fort a large number of balls and other relics. In September, 1893, the location of Fort Bull and the events connected with its history were duly celebrated by proces- sions, speeches, etc. De Lery, after his victory, retreated by rapid marches to Canada, taking the route, as near as can now be ascertained, over the country towards Cape Vincent, reaching Lake Ontario in seven days, where he was met by a convoy of provisions in bateaux and proceeded down the St. Lawrence to Montreal.' The loss of the English is stated at ninety, men, of whom thirty were prisoners.
In connection with the destruction of Fort Bull, an extract from the narrative of Robert Eastburn, published in 1758, is of interest. Mr. Eastburn was born in England in 1710, and when four years of age was brought to this country by his parents. Robert had six children, and was a blacksmith by trade. In :756 he, with thirty other mechanics, came from Philadelphia to what is now Rome, probably under the call of General Shirley for men to escort provisions over the carrying place and down to Oswego, as will be hereafter detailed. They reached this point March 26, 1756, on their way to Oswego. Fort Williams being full, he says they took up quarters in the " Indian House." It is diffi- cult to say where that was, but possibly on or near the site of Sink's opera house. He goes on to say :
Abont 10 o'clock the next day, March 27, a negro came running down the road and reported that the sleigh-men who were transporting loads over the carrying place were all taken prisoners. Captain Williams thereupon sent a sergeant and twelve men to ascertain if the report was true. I, being at the Indian House, asked to go along, and I did. When we had advanced a quarter of a mile, a man was shot down. I got behind a large pine tree and shot two of the enemy. I then ran, got into a swamp, and by reason of the snow, the enemy tracked and captured me. They stripped me of my hat and clothing, so that I had nothing left but a flannel vest without sleeves. They put a rope around my neck, bound my arms fast behind me, put a long band around my body and a large pack on my back, struck me on the head a severe blow and drove me before them through the woods. Seventeen or eighteen prisoners were soon added. In the meantime the enemy determined to
' See route of Belletre's expedition, 1757, in next chapter.
12
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
destroy Fort Bull, which they soon effected, all being put to the sword, except five, the fort burned, the provisions and powder destroyed, when they retired to the woods and joined their main body. As soon as they got together, having a priest with them, they fell on their knees and returned thanks for their victory. The enemy had sev- eral wounded men with them, which they carried on their backs; besides which about fifteen of their number were killed, and of us about forty. It being near dark and some Indians drunk, they marched only about four miles and encamped ; the Indians untied my arms, cut hemlock boughs and strewed around the fire, tied my band to two trees with my back on the green boughs by the fire, covered me with an old blanket and lay down across my band, on each side, to prevent my escape while they slept. Sunday, March 28, rose early and the commander ordered a hasty retreat towards Canada, for fear of Sir William Johnson. After seven days march we ar- rived at Lake Ontario, where I eat some horse flesh. One of our men being so weak he could not keep pace, was killed and scalped. I was almost naked, traveling through deep snow and wading through rivers as cold as ice.
The narrative goes on further to say they were taken down the St. Lawrence to Montreal and thence farther back into Canada ; that he finally went to England and after an absence of a year and a half he returned to his family in Philadelphia, who had mourned him as dead. It will be observed that the only forts mentioned in the foregoing are Forts William and Bull and that the former was the larger fort. It has been generally supposed that Fort Bull was the larger and more for- midable one.
CHAPTER IN.
1756 TO 1758. - OSWEGO. - HERKIMER.
The destruction of Fort Bull did not dampen the efforts of the Eng- lish to strengthen the forts at Oswego, which they had occupied since 1727. General Shirley was at Albany, and his favorite plan was to strengthen Oswego and from that point later on to attack Niagara. He continued in the spring and summer of 1756, even after Fort Bull was destroyed, to supply Fort Williams and send supplies, munitions of war, and troops by this route to Oswego. Having no troops to escort and guard his provisions along the route, he invented the novel plan of taking into his pay 2,000 boatmen gathered from all parts of the coun-
13
1756-1758-OSWEGO-HERKIMER.
try, dividing them into companies of fifty, eached armed with a gun and a hatchet, and placing them under command of Lieut .- Col. John Bradstreet. Not unlikely Robert Eastburn and his associates helped to make up this escort in March, 1756, when he was captured and Fort Bull destroyed, as narrated in the previous chapter. In May, 1, 100 French troops prowled around Oswego to cut its communications with Albany ; nevertheless, Bradstreet safely conducted into Oswego a convoy of provisions and military stores, and July 3 set out on his return with his empty boats. He fell in with the French about nine miles from Oswego and several engagements took place, in which Bradstreet had the final advantage and returned to Albany with his empty boats. The French returned towards Frontenac and encamped at or near what is now Sackett's Harbor, or in the vicinity of Black River Bay. General Shirley continued his efforts to reinforce Oswego, when the astounding news came to him that he was superseded in command. It was an- nounced that Col. Daniel Webb would be sent to America, followed by General Abercrombie, who in turn was to be followed by the Earl of Loudon ; Shirley to resign to Webb, the latter to Abercrombie, and the latter to Loudon. Notwithstanding this news, Shirley continued his efforts in the direction of Oswego. Webb and Abercrombie arrived in June, Loudon in July, 1756. It was the general understanding among the English that the French were preparing to attack Oswego from the direction of Frontenac, and the attack in May on Bradstreet was con- firmatory of this understanding. In July a French commander with 700 men had gone from Frontenac and joined the French troops near Sackett's Harbor, as before stated. On the 21st of July Montcalm and the French governor of Canada left Montreal and by eight days of hard rowing up the St. Lawrence, reached Fort Frontenac. A French engineer had secretly reconnoitered the forts at Oswego and returned with the report that success was certain. On the 4th of. August, 1756, all was ready ; 3,000 men were destined for the enterprise. Montcalm embarked at night from Frontenac and crossed over to Wolf Island with a portion of the troops and on that island were hidden all day, embarking again in the evening. They joined the other troops at Sackett's Harbor, the next morning at 7 (August 7). On the Sth all were united at the bay. On
14
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
the 9th, covered by the universal forest, a portion of the force marched in advance to protect the landing of the troops. Montcalm followed, coasting the shore in bateaux and at midnight of August 10th landed within a mile and a half of Oswego. The English knew nothing of the coming army until in the morning, when a reconnoitering canoe discov- ered the invaders. There were three forts at Oswego, and after three or four days hard fighting, all were captured and 1,600 troops sur- rendered to the French. The latter destroyed the forts, burned the vessels on the stocks, destroyed such provisions as they could not carry away, and made the place a desert. Then the army decamped loaded with prisoners and spoil, crossed over to Fort Frontenac, descended the St. Lawrence to Montreal, hung the captured flags in the churches and sang Te Deum in honor of their triumph.
This detailed account of that capture is given, as it had much to do with the subsequent history of this part of the country and in shaping its destiny. In the mean time, the plans of Shirley to reinforce Oswego were continued. On the 12th of August Webb was sent from Albany with a regiment of troops up the Mohawk, thence to go to Oswego via Oneida Carrying Place. He had scarcely reached the Carrying Place when the stunning news came to him of the disaster at Oswego, accom- panied by the alarming rumor that Montcalm with a force of 6,000 was en route for Oneida Lake and Wood Creek. Webb took fright, felled trees in Wood Creek so as to impede the coming of the French, burned Fort Williams on the Carrying Place and beat a hasty retreat down the valley of the Mohawk. His conduct on this occasion, as well as his action at Lake George, has caused his name to come down in history as either a coward or a very inefficient officer. The destruction of Fort Williams and the conduct of Webb left this part of the country defence- less, and exposed the Valley of the Mohawk and the territory of the Six Nations to the attacks of the French, and tended strongly to win over to the latter the friendship of the Iroquois Confederacy.
The war between the French and English continued around Lake Champlain and at other points, but not in this vicinity or in what is now Oneida county. The French did not, however, cease their efforts to learn the condition of the Oneida Carrying Place, and of the route between Oswego and Albany. In 1757 a French spy was sent over
15
1756-1758-OSWEGO-HERKIMER.
this route to obtain information for his government. His report, with other valuable documents, are published in the Colonial History of New York. He started from Oswego and went up Oswego River to Oneida River, the outlet of Oneida Lake, and then to Wood Creek. The lake is about twenty-one miles long and several miles wide ; the distance from the mouth of Wood Creek to Fort Bull, following that crooked stream, is about twenty-seven miles and about one half that distance in a straight line. The distance from Oswego to Fort Bull is 108 miles, and it took a loaded boat five days, and about three and a half to go the other way. In low water a loaded boat could not go from Oneida Lake within a mile and a half of Fort Bull ; it must be partly unloaded and the boat return for the remainder of the cargo The narrative of the French spy, goes on to say :
Wood Creek is full of sinuosities, narrow and sometimes embarrassed with fallen trees. Its navigation is difficult when the water is low. Fort Bull was burned in 1756, and was situate on the right bank of Wood Creek. From Fort Bull to Fort Williams is one league and a half. This is the carrying place across the height of land. The English had constructed a road there, over which all carriages passed, and the English were obliged to build a portion of the way from Fort Bull because of the marshy ground ; near a small stream [Stony Creek] a fort had been begun [Fort Newport, site of late U.S. Arsenal, now now bath tub factory] but not finished. It was to be intermediate between Forts Bull and Williams on the summit level. Fort Williams was on the right bank of Mohawk River, at the east end of the carry- ing place; it was abandoned and destroyed by the English in 1856 [ De Lery's ex- pedition ]. Leaving Oswego is a road over which the English drove cattle, on the border of Oswego River, to Oneida Lake, and around to Oneida village, and they can go to Forts Bull and Williams. [This is probably the route over which Gen. Shirley drove his beef cattle to Oswego in 1755, as mentioned in a previous chapter. ] From Fort Williams to Herkimer is thirty-six miles. The road follows on the right bank [south] of the Mohawk; leaving Fort Williams there is a road north of the river but it can be traveled only on foot or horseback ; there is another road which joins that [ at Stanwix village probably] by which horses and cattle pass from Her- kimer to Oswego. This road is bad for about four leagues [Whitesboro]. The country is marshy, and carriages travel it in winter and during summer, and it can be easily passed on horseback at all times, though in some places there is a great deal of mud. After these four leagues, carts can easily go to Fort Herkimer. Five leagues this side of Fort Herkimer, are the forks of two roads, one of which to the left leads, by fording the river, to the Palatines village [village of Herkimer. ]
The forts on the carrying place being destroyed in 1756, the French had easier access from Canada to the English settlements down the Mohawk valley. In the fall of 1757 a French expedition under Belletre
16
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
left Kingston and on the 12th of November, 1757, made an attack about three in the morning on the forts and Palatine settlements (now the village of Herkimer, formerly Fort Dayton), murdering the settlers and destroying the property. The question is, which route did that ex- pedition follow ? The histories of Herkimer county say that it went via Black River; if this be correct, it must have followed the valley of the stream and struck West Canada Creek above Herkimer village not far from "Hess Rifts," where some authorities say, Walter Butler crossed at the time he was killed, on his way back to Canada in 1780, after his Johnstown invasion, when pursued by Colonel Willett. The French spy who gave the account of the itinerary from Oswego to Albany, above quoted, writes as follows of Belletre's expedition :
He went from the mouth of La Famine river 30 miles below Oswego, ascended that river four leagues [12 miles] and leaving it on the left, and followed the path leading to Oneida lake, which he left on his right, and came to the level summit to Fort Williams, [at the Oneida Carrying Place]. He forded three rivers, the water being very high, during the four days he was going from La Famine to Fort Will- iams, from 24 to 30 leagues [af or 90 miles. ] The soil is soft only in the latter part of the season, the country is fine and but few mountains.
It has always been an unanswered point in history as to the location of river La Famine. Some maps and authors locate it as Chaumont Bay ; others at the month of Salmon River; some at Henderson Bay ; some in Ellisburgh. The French spy places it thirty miles from Oswego, which would locate it near the mouth of Sandy Creek in the town of Henderson, Jefferson county ; following up that stream twelve miles, would reach Adams, and the distance from the starting point to Fort Williams (now Rome) is about seventy-five miles, as stated by the French spy. Again, the description of the route would closely resemble the route from Henderson to Rome, and the three rivers crossed might have been, and quite likely were, Salmon River, Mad River and Fish Creek, all large and turbulent streams at times in those days ; that route might have led through Adams, Lorraine, Boylston, Redfield and Flor- ence. It will be observed that the Itinerary of the spy makes no men- tion of a single fort standing in 1757 at the carrying place, and only those of Forts Bull and Williams which had been erected and were de- stroyed the year before. Nothing is said of Fort Craven, although the latter, on the site of it, is shown on the topographical map in the next
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.