USA > New York > Onondaga County > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 19
USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 19
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In 1773 the Six Nations summoned the Piankeshaws and other trouble- some western nations to Onondaga, saying: "We have already called upon them twice, and agreeably to our ancient customs, shall do so the third time before we strike." They objected to being called to account for the death of every lawless trader. The French were much more reasonable. Johnson himself complained of the pioneers. He was but fifty-nine years old when, in April, 1774, he nominated Colonel Guy Johnson, his son-in-law, as his sneees- sor at his death, agreeably to the wish of the Six Nations. His health, he said, was very precarious, and death might come at any time. The chiefs, his old and esteemed friends, also realized this, and the disasters that might come if he died having no authorized successor. Events showed the wisdom of this. In the midst of a great council at his home, July 11, 1774, he suddenly died.
Soon after the funeral the eouneil broke up, but in September two hun- tired and thirty-five Iroquois chiefs and warriors came again to confer with Gny Johnson. Among these were their best men, who went through formal condolences, the Bunt being especially eloquent. Teyawarunte, the Onon- daga speaker. with three strings, covered the grave, wiped away tears, re- moved grief, ete. The Bunt's oldest son produced the several marks of Sir William's regard for him, and, according to custom, laid them down before Colonel Johnson, who restored them. Others did the same. They renewed the old covenant chain of twenty-one rows, and gave Guy Johnson an new name, U'raghquadirha, Rays of the Sun Enlightening the Earth. The Onon- dagas, considering the great age of the Bunt, Sir Williams' friend, had nomi- nated "Onagogare, who is to succeed the Bunt at Chenughivata." This should be alias Chenughivata, one form of Otischiniata. His name occurs later.
At this time eighteen western nations had deputies at Onondaga, where a council opened November 5. The great union belt of thirty rows, given before the last war,' and always kept at Onondaga, was now placed with the Senecas. Another, now given them by Colonel Johnson, would be carefully kept among their great belts at Onondaga. They would often look at it that they might forget no part. A vigorous message was sent to the Shawnees as an extraet will show :
"We have been twice here to advise you to peace, but you have not attended, and in compliance with our ancient customs, we are come the third time to tell you you must be at peace, this is the third time, and the last that you shall hear from us if you do not hearken to us. . . Leave the business of war, repent and mind peace alone and then you will be preserved. Quarrel- some people are dangerous. We advise you for your good, we pity you. Mind our words, they are strong. they are words of the Six Nations."
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CHAPTER XV.
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Hostilities had not actually begun when Guy Johnson held a conference with some Oneidas and others, February 10-16, 1775, when he told them to look to the king as their protector in all difficulties, and to shun all evil advice. They chose a Mohawk and an Oneida to carry his words, who would ask the Bunt at Onondaga to send two of his family with them. Colonel Johnson approved, and sent a "belt with a particular message from himself to the Onondaga fireplace."
A little later thirty-two Indian "chiefs of the two tribes at Chenango, the Chugnuts, Owego, and Tioga, being five several nations," came with con- gratulations and with complaints of the boundary. Producing a map he showed how the mistake came. It affected four villages, but would be con- sidered, and all would be satisfied. It was a time of good promises, nor were the royalists inactive in other ways, for in July King George ordered Colonel Johnson, in consequence of the rebellion, "to lose no time in taking such steps as may induce the Six Nations to take up the hatchet against His Majesty's rebellions subjects in America."
May 14 Colonel Johnson heard that the Americans were coming to arrest him, and fortified himself. He complained of illegal acts, and resolved to move westward with two Inumdred and fifty Mohawks and some white men. At Fort Stanwix he conferred with the Oneidas and others, whom he soon left, the country being in arms behind him. Going through Oneida lake and river. he stopped at Oswego, where he held another council at Fort Ontario, fourteen hundred and fifty-eight Indians, and one hundred white men being present. With some difficulty he secured the aid of the former, and left for Montreal July 11, reaching there July 17 with two hundred and twenty Indians. Joseph Brant was then his secretary.
A council followed at Montreal, with sixteen hundred and sixty-four In- dians of Canada, who promised aid and were placed in eamps. Little was done. and on August 12 some of the Six Nations and St. Regis Indians "re- turned with their war belts to Onondaga, after assuring Colonel Johnson they would be ready to return whenever there was a prospect of vigorous meas- ures." Desultory hostilities followed, and a message came from "the Six Nations that the rebels had employ'd agents to negotiate a treaty with the Caughnawagas."
Two commissioners of "the twelve united colonies" met the Iroquois chiefs and warriors at German Flats, August 15, 1775, inviting them to meet them and the other three at Albany, to rekindle the fire their ancestors had placed there. Other matters were brought up, and then an Oneida said: "The day is far spent, and we defer a reply till to-morrow, as we are weary from
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having sat long in council. We think it time for a little drink, and you must remember that the twelve United Colonies are a great body," evidently ex- pecting full glasses.
It was an Iroquois principle not to hurry business. A proposal must be carefully considered and not answered the same day. The next day they accepted the invitation for themselves, but it would take a year to invite their distant allies. So the Albany council met August 23, being the last one held there, and effecting little. Colonel Barlow said that about five hundred In- diaus came. They were "very likely, spry. lusty follows, drest very nice for Indians. The larger part of them had on ruffled shirts, Indian stockings and shoes, and blankets richly trimmed with silver and wampum." On the day of the council he said they made "a very beautiful show, being the likeliest. brightest Indians I ever saw."
The Indians proposed to be neutral, as the Americans wished, stay at home in peace and smoke their pipes. The commissioners had the great pipe lighted and sent around, and then made a long speech which they wished might remain at Onondaga, giving a calumet to be kept at the same place. This would be done. The Indians said it was usual, when a council fire was kindled or a tree of peace planted. to appoint some one to watch them, having a wing to keep the hearth elean. The Americans should appoint one, as they had done, and two were named.
In Novemebr. 1775, Brant and other chiefs went to England with Colonel Johnson, where they spoke in March and May, 1776. They said: "We are tired out in making complaints and getting no redress." This, of course, was promised when the troubles were over. Brant landed- at Staten Island in July. and became active alnost at once. Congress also wished the aid of the Six Nations, and while deputies from four of these were at Philadelphia on a peace embassy. the Onondaga speaker conferred on John Hancock the name of Karanduaan, or the Great Tree.
Meanwhile Sir John Johnson was seeretly active at his home. General Philip Schuyler wrote him in January, 1776. that this was well known, and asked for a meeting. The reply was unsatisfactory, but the baronet at last was paroled. As his acts continued orders were given for his arrest in May, and he fled through the woods to Montreal. His house was seized by the Americans, and Captain Bloomfield made some interesting notes. May 22d he said :
"I had a view of Sir Win. Johnson's picture, which was curiously sur- ronuded with all kinds of beads of Wampum, Indian enriosities and trappings of Indian finery, which he had received in his treaties with the different Indian nations-curiosities sufficient to amuse the eurious; indeed this search gave me an opportunity of fully satisfying my curiosity in seeing everything in Johnson hall. We saw all Sir Wm's papers on all the treaties he made with the different Indian nations, with medals of various sorts sent him from Europe and others. which he distributed at his treaties to the Indians, ete .: with innumerable testimonials, ete .; which showed Sir Wm. Johnson's char-
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acter in every important station of life, and that he merited, greatly merited, the warmest thanks of his country."
November 20, 1776, Captain Fraser was directed to have British officers reside in Indian villages; preferably those who had served with Indians. Presents were to be made only by Fraser's order as Indian superintendent.
The years had been a gloomy one for the Americans, and with the inspira- tion of success, the British made great preparations for the work of 1777. Burgoyne invaded New York by way of Lake Champlain, and the history of his campaign is well known. Colonel Barry St. Leger went to Oswego with a force of regulars, Canadians and Indians, intending to sweep through the Mohawk valley and join Burgoyne at Albany. Both expeditions failed.
Colonel Butler had left Niagara July 13, and arrived at Oswego on the 25th. where he found Brant with a large party. He had sent one hundred and fifty Indians to St. Leger, who arrived at Oswego July 23, with two regiments and two hundred and fifty Indians. July 26 the first detachment left Oswego under Lieutenant Bird, the main body following. Three River point had been chosen for the Indian rendezvous, and Bird reached it on the 28th, having trouble with his Indians there and afterward. Fort Stanwix was reached August 2, but the siege need not be now described, though one of the most important events of the war.
Some local notes may be given of incidents on the way. Thus the Oneidas were exeited and interested. Thomas Spencer, an Oneida chief, wrote to the Americans, July 29: "To-morrow we are going to the Three Rivers to the treaty. We expect to meet the warriors there, and when we come and declare we are for peace, we expect to be used with indifference and sent away." The details of this council may be in St. Leger's unpublished journal, but are not available now. Bird was joined there by sixteen Senecas and seventy or eighty Mississaugas. He encamped seven miles up the river. probably at Oak Orchard, a delightful spot, with a fine spring of water. The next night he was at Nine Mile point on Oneida lake, on the north shore. Sir John Johnson's orderly book has given us a good idea of the British force and preliminary operations, but it abruptly ended at Oswego Falls. Familiar names were often used as passwords, and on the loth of July the password was Onondaga, and the countersign Fort Bull.
The failure of this expedition ended one great danger, but there were frontier ravages all through the war. The discomfited invaders retraced their steps, disappointed of their prey. Oswego was abandoned as a post. St. Leger led his regulars back to Montreal, Johnson's Royal Greens went to Oswegatehie, and Butler and Brant to Niagara. Returning to Niagara from an eastern trip December 14, Colonel Butler wrote to Carelton that he would have come back by Ontario (Oswego), but was told the Onondagas. Tuscaroras and Oneidas were in the rebel interest. They had taken the hatchet and made prisoners, but were then behaving well. The Six Nations were preparing to act vigorously against Pennsylvania and Virginia. He had been unable to send Indians to Burgoyne until too late. They wished to have Oswego occu- pied again.
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Another couneil met at Johnstown March 9, 1778, with seven hundred Indians present. Few Cayugas and no Senecas were there. The latter had lost heavily at Oriskany, and wanted revenge. All but the Oniedas and Tus- caroras were accused of treachery, and these warned the Americans against the Onondagas. An Onondaga chief, however, truly said the sachems were all for peace, but, like the whites, could not always restrain the young men.1 little later a small band of Onondagas joined the hostile warriors.
Early in July Colonel Gansevoort sent some men under Lieutenant MeClel- lan, to destroy Fort Ontario at Oswego, to prevent its possible occupation by the British. As far as possible all the works were destroyed, and all the houses but one, which was left for a woman and her children, who were found there. Parlow's house was one of those burned.
Though the American attack on Onondaga in 1779 was intended to be a sur- prise, some intimations of it were heard earlier. December 6, 1778, Captain Aubrey wrote from Carleton island to General Ilaldimand: "Some Indians have come in here and have given me some strings of wampum, they have acquainted me of their having come from Onondago castle, where they say the rebels are expected every Day. as they have ben informed there is a large party of the rebels coming there from Fort Stanwix with an intention to destroy that Castle." It was said they would also attack Carleton island.
This alarm passed away, and Aubrey again wrote to Haldimand, February 25, 1779, "sending a message from the Five Nations that a large body of rebels had left Albany to take post at Oswego, and that half of the Onondagos intend- ed to join them." April S HIaldimand wrote to Colonel Butler on reported rebel intrigues among the Indians, and their success in reducing the Onon- dagas. chiefly through the influence of the Oneidas.
Then came conjectures to Powell. April 9, from Sergeant Cooper, as to the destination of bateaux building at Saratoga. He did not think they were for the Mohawks, nor were there any extra bateaux at Schenectady.
In January, 1779, the Oneidas were again invited to join Brant, but de- termined to adhere to the Americans. Some principal Onondaga chiefs. then on their way to Fort Stanwix, approved of their answer. They had been asked by the western nations to extinguish the council fire, but would not do so. On returning home they would insist that all in their nation should declare what they would do. In this the Oneidas fully trusted, and were in high spirits. Unfortunately the fourteen Onondaga chiefs who went to Nia- gara to bring their people back, and who might have saved trouble, were not allowed to return. It does not appear that many of the Onondagas had yet mingled in the strife, and it seems certain that the older men kept the hostile element in check as far as they could. Now a blow was to fall which would make every Onondaga an enemy.
Thirty bateaux carried five hundred and fifty-eight American officers and men through Oneida lake, and they landed opposite Fort Brewerton at three p. m., April 20. There are three published accounts of the expedition in detail ;
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one by Lieutenant E. Beatty, of the Fourth Pennsylvania regiment, one by Cap- tain Thomas Machin, of the Second New York artillery, the third appeared in the New Jersey Gazette, May 12, 1779, and closely resembles Captain Machin's account, which follows :
"Early on Monday morning, 19th of April. 1779, marched from Fort Schuyler, with a detachment of troops, consisting of five hundred and fifty- eight men, including officers, and after moving eaight Days provision into battows, wich had been conveyed over a carving place in the night, and leav- ing sufficient Number of Soldiers to assist the Battows men to get the boats down Wood Criek, with five officers to hurry them on-
'The Remainder of Troops marched to the old scowplace, twenty-two miles by land, but much more by water: the Troops ar'vd by three o'clock p. m., but the Baots did not all arrive until 10 o'clock, having been much obstrueted by trees which had fallen across the Crick; as soon as the Boats arrived the whole of the Troops Embarked, and on entering the onidahogo was much Impeded by a cold head wind. Made one halt in the night for the rearmost Boats to come up, and then proceeded to Posser's bay, whare we Arrived at S o'clock in the morn- ing of the 20th, to wait again for the Coming up of all the Boats. when we continued with as much Expedition as possible to the Onondago Landing. opposite the old fort, and arived there at 3 o'clock p. m .; from whence after leaving the Boats with Proper Guard, we marched Eaight or nine miles on our way to the Onondago Settlement, and lay on our Arms all Night without fire, not being able to continue our marching. Dark. The Night eold. Very early on the 21st proceaded to the old Salt lake, and at 9 o'clock a. m. Forded an arm of that Lake, two hundred yards over, and four feet Deep a con- siderable part of the way. Pushed on to the Onondaga Breech (ereck) whare Captain Graham, with his Company of Light Infantry, took an Onondago War- rior prisoner, which was the first Indian discovered-ordered Captain Graham to Endeavor to surround the first onondago Settlements, wich ware about Two miles of, and hastning on the troops By Company as fast as he erost the Creek upon a Log. the Creek not being fordable. I soon arrived with the whole De- tachment at the principle Castle, but was before apprised of their haveing discovered our advanced Partie while they ware takeing some prisoners, upou which I ordered Different Routs to be taken by several Different Detachments. in order to surround as (many) of their settlements as possible at the same time, which Extended Eaight Miles in Length, with some scattered habitations laying back of the Costs, and on the opposite side of the Creek; but notwith- standing entred their first settlement in the most secret manner, and quite un- discovered by them. thay soon reed the alarm throughout the whole, and fled to the woods, but without being able to carry off anything with them. We took thirty-three Indians & one white Prisoner & killed twelve Indians; the whole of their Settle ment, consisting of about fifty Houses, with a quantity of corn, and every other kind of Stock we found whare killed ; about one hundred guns, some of which ware Rifles, was among the Plunder, the whole of which.
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after the men had Loaded with as much as they could carry, was Destroyed, with a Considerable quantity of ammunition. One Swivel taken at the Counsel Ilouse had the Trunions Broke off and otherways Damaged; in fine, the De- struction of all their Settlements ware compleat; after which we began our march back, Recrossing the Creek and forded the arm of the Lake, along side of which we Eneamped on very good ground. Haveing been once Interrupted in our Return by a Small party of Indians, who fired at us from the opposite side of the Creek, but were soon beat off by Lieut. Evens Rifle, with the Loss of one killed on the part of the enemy, and none on our own. Fair Weather all this Day, 22d, marched Down to the Landing. Found Bateaus in good order; Reimbarked, and Rowed to the Seven Miles Island, whare we Eneamp.
"Fair Weather-23d. Crossed the Lake and Landed two miles up Wood Creek at two o'clock ; left two companies to guard and assist the Bataus Men in getting up the Boats, marched Eaight Miles, and Encampt along side Feals Creek.
"Fair Weather, Saturday 24th. Small showers of Rain on our march to the fort, whare we arrived at twelve o'clock, having been out five Days and half, the whole distance of going out and Returning Being One Hundred Eighty miles, not having (lost) a Single Man."
The Onondagas did not have three warnings, or the loss might have been on the other side, nor would it have taken a whole day to divide the spoils on the return. Concerning this a noted collector of curios wrote to Governor Clinton the next year: "I am credibly informed that the quantity of plunder of all kinds, particularly of articles in use among the Indians (and with men's sealps and valuable curiosities) was immense ; perhaps from that quarter, your Excelleney might procure Something for my Collection."
The main differences in Beatty's and Machin's accounts are in matters of detail. Thus Colonel Schaiek took command, with three companies of his regiment. His field officers were Lieutenant Colonel Willett and Major Cochran. The men marched in two columns one hundred yards apart. Cap- tains Graham, Gray, Hicks and Henshaw forming the right with their com- panies ; Captains Louis. Johnston, Fowler and Blecker on the left. the rifle company being equally divided between the two flanks. The inoffensive Onondaga warrior was shooting pigeons. Beside Indians, men and women, they killed several horses and a number of hogs. On the whole it will rank very well with the raids made by the Indians themselves. If it was not a breach of faith it certainly proved a colossal blunder.
The Oneidas were astounded. not knowing but their turn might come next. The Onondagas treated it in a manly way. They asked "whether all this was done by design, or by mistake. If it was a mistake, we hope to see our brethern the prisoners-if by design, we will still keep our engagements with you and not join the King's party. But if our brethern, the Americans, mean to destroy us also, we will wait here and receive our death." Peace was still possible had there been a soft answer. Colonel Van Schaiek replied: "They were ent off not by mistake but by design. I was ordered to do it, and it is done."
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The first camp may have been near Woodard station, the second between Liverpool and Salina, the arm of the lake being between those two places. The creek may have been crossed near Colvin or Brighton avenue, the principal town being on Webster's Mile Square.
It was reported that a child of Brant's was among the prisoners and he was mueh concerned about this. British officers hoped that the Onondagas would be enraged by this blow, as they were.
A few of the Onondagas adhered to the Americans for sometime longer, but the most of them went to Niagara, or to the Genesee valley, where they planted corn with the Seneeas, to be again dispossessed before the winter's snows. Most of the men went on the war-path, having lost their homes. This they felt deeply for the time, complaining that the British had given their country up, after drawing on them the resentment of the Americans. They even threatened to make terms with the latter, but presents and fair promises held them still.
Sullivan's desolating expedition need not be described, as the whole course of his and Clinton's army did not toneh our present borders. Colonel Ganse- voort's party, however, passed directly through Onondaga on its return from the main body. No details of this have been accessible until quite recently. The journal is that of Lieutenant Robert Parker, Second Continental Artillery, and is given in full in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History for 1903. He was with Clinton's army, which left Otsego lake August 9, 1779. The larger part of the journal is much like several others, though it has much also of individu- ality. When the army reached the site of Binghamton, called by him the mouth of the Sheninga river, "a party was sent to Shenango, two miles above, to destroy it." It was already deserted.
The main army was left on the return at Seneca lake, September 20, and the party of one hundred men encamped that night at Scharovos. now Water- loo. Thenee it went east by way of Skaneateles and Owaseo lakes, crossing Onondaga county, and that portion follows :
"September 21st. Marched at sunrise, the country open and free from hills and withall very fertile for six miles; then we crossed some low land and deep swamps, arrived at the Cayuga lake, ten o'clock, distance ten miles. erossed the mouth of the lake, which was about four hundred yards wide and in most places four feet deep, with at least a foot of mud in the bottom. then proceeding about a mile up the lake struck off near a N. E. corner. The country continued open for ten miles, and the timber chiefly oak. Then we entered thick beech and elm land. (He evidently meant to say here that they came to Owasco lake). Crossed the outlet of it and eneamped on the bank. (Where Owasco Lake Park now is). This lake is about a mile and a half in width and the length uncertain, some say thirty miles. There is a beautiful beach here of a very great extent, the outlet forms a considerable stream of a gentle descent. Distance today thirty miles.
"September 22d. Marehed at sunrise. The land and timber the same as yesterday. Arrived at the outlet of a lake (Skaneateles) that appeared nearly
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of the same dimensions of the Wasco, halted a few minutes and then descended into a very deep valley, where there was a considerable brook (Nine Mile creek), then ascended a very high hill, and the land and the wood nearly the same as before. Arrived at Onondaga (Webster's Mile Square) about sunset ; this was the capital of the Onondaga nation and was destroyed last Spring by a detachment of our army from Fort Sehuyler under the command of Colonel Vanschaiek. Distance thirty miles.
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