USA > New York > Fulton County > The border warfare of New York, during the revolution; or, The annals of Tryon county > Part 19
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
1
304
APPENDIX TO
in much disorder. The savages considered this a flight, and, commencing a most hideous yell, rushed forward with their rifles and tomahawks, and cut the retiring line to pieces. In this situation it was found impossible to rally and form the troops, and the rout became general throughout the line. The settlers - fled in every direction, and were instantly followed by the savages, who killed or took prisoners whoever came within their reach. Some succeeded in reach- ing the river, and escaped by swimming across ; others fled to the mountains, and the savages, too much oc-
cupied with plunder, gave up the pursuit. When the first intelligence was received in the village of Wilkes- barre that the battle was lost, the women fled with their children to the mountains, on their way to the settlements on the Delaware, where many of them at length arrived after suffering extreme hardships. Many of the men who escaped the battle, together with their women and children, who were unable to travel on foot, took refuge in Wyoming fort, and on the following day, (July the 4th,) Butler and Brant, at the head of their combined forces, appeared before the fort, and demanded its surrender. The garrison being without any efficient means of defense, surren- dered the fort on articles of capitulation, by which the settlers, upon giving up their fortifications, prisoners, and miltary stores, were to remain in the country un- molested, provided they did not again take up arms.
"In this battle about three hundred of the settlers were killed or missing, and from a great part of whom no intelligence was ever afterward received.
" The conditions of the capitulation were entirely
305
ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
disregarded by the British and savage forces, and after the fort was delivered up, all kinds of barbarities were committed by them. The village of Wilkesbarre, consisting of twenty-three houses, was burned; men and their wives were separated from each other, and carried into captivity ; their property was plundered, and the settlement laid waste. The remainder of the inhabitants were driven from the valley, and compell- ed to proceed on foot sixty miles through the great swamp, almost without food or clothing. A number perished in the journey, principally women and chil- dren ; some died of their wounds; others wandered from the path in search of food, and were lost, and those who survived called the wilderness through which they passed the shades of death, an appellation which it has since retained."
Catrine Montour, who might well be termed a fury, acted a conspicuous part in this tragedy. She followed in the train of the victorious army, ransack- ing the heaps of slain, and, with her arms covered with gore, barbarously murdering the wounded, who in vain supplicated for their lives.
Halleck, in allusion to the massacre at Wyoming, has the following interesting lines :
"There is a woman, widowed, gray, and old, Who tells you where the foot of battle stept Upon their day of massacre. She told Its tale, and pointed to the spot, and wept, Whereon her father and five brothers slept Shroudless, the bright dreamed slumbers of the brave, When all the land a funeral mourning kept. And there wild laurels planted on the grave,
By Nature's hand in air their pale red blossoms wave."
14
306
APPENDIX TO
" MASSACRE OF WYOMING. (Pa.)
" Perhaps the last survivor of this event, which has been made the subject of the interesting poem of the gifted Campbell, is the person whose death is recorded in the annexed notice. The actual horrors of the scene of death and conflagration, or the dramatic inci- dent embodied in the fiction founded upon it, must be vivid in the recollection of our readers.
" A MOTHER OF WYOMING
" We find in a Connecticut paper, an account of the recent decease of Mrs. Esther Skinner, of Torringford, in the one hundredth year of her age. Mrs. S. lost a husband, a brother, and two sons, in the war of the American Revolution. She, with her family, was a resident of Wyoming, at the massacre of its inhabit- ants by D. and T. and the Indians and Tories. Her two sons fell beneath the tomahawk, but the mother, almost by miracle, escaped with six of her children. Her son-in-law was the only man that escaped out of twenty, who threw themselves into the river, and attempted to hide themselves beneath the foliage that overhung the banks. All the others were succes- sively massacred as they hung by the branches in the river. He alone was undiscovered. The mother travelled back to Torringford, where she has led a useful life ever since-often cheerful, though the cloud of pensiveness, brought on by her sorrows, was never entirely dissipated. But one of her children survives her."-Journal of Commerce, Aug. 16, 1831.
ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
307
/
NOTE I.
Extract of a Letter from Captain Courish, of the New England militia, dated Albany, March 7th, 1782.
THE following interesting document was origi- nally copied by the author from a newspaper pub- lished in the county of Dutchess during the Revolu- tion. It appeared in the paper without further note or comment than is given below. It was long sup- posed to be authentic. It seems, however, that the article was written by Dr. Franklin. Still it embodies only statements, the counterparts of which were con- stantly occurring on the frontier. The grandmother of the author, who was an Indian prisoner, and was also detained nearly a year a prisoner at Fort Niagara, saw, while in that fort, large bundles of scalps brought in by the Indians.
The peltry taken in the expedition will, as you see, amount to a good deal of money. The possession of this booty at first gave us pleasure ; but we were struck with horror to find among the packages eight large ones, containing scalps of our unhappy folks taken in the three last years by the Seneca Indians, from the inhabitants of the frontiers of New York,
308
APPENDIX TO
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and sent by them as a present to Col. Haldiman, Governor of Canada, in order to be by him transmitted to England. They were accompanied by the following curious letter to that gentleman :
" Tioga, January 3d, 1782. " May it please your Excellency-
" At the request of the Seneca chiefs, I send here- with to your Excellency, under the care of James Boyd, eight packs of scalps, cured, dried, hooped, and painted with all the Indian triumphal marks, of which the following is invoice and explanation.
No. 1. Containing 43 scalps of Congress soldiers, killed in different skirmishes ; these are stretched on black hoops, four inch diameter; the inside of the skin painted red, with a small black spot to note their being killed with bullets. Also 62 of farmers, killed in their houses ; the hoops red ; the skin painted brown, and marked with a hoe ; a black circle all round to denote their being sur- prised in the night; and a black hatchet in the middle, signifying their being killed with that weapon.
No. 2. Containing 98 of farmers, killed in their houses ; hoops red ; figure of a hoe, to mark their profession ; great white circle and sun, to show they were surprised in the daytime ; a little red foot, to show they stood upon their defense, and died fighting for their lives and families.
No. 3. Containing 97 of farmers ; hoops green, to show they were killed in their fields ; a large
309
ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
white circle with a little round mark on it for the sun, to show that it was in the daytime; black bullet mark on some-hatchet on others.
No. 4. Containing 102 of farmers, mixed of the seve- ral marks above; only 18 marked with a little yellow flame, to denote their being of prisoners burnt alive, after being scalped, their nails pulled out by the roots, and other torments ; one of these latter supposed to be of a rebel clergyman, his band being fixed to the hoop of his scalp. Most of the farmers appear by the hair to have been young or middle-aged men ; there being but 67 very grey heads among them all; which makes the service more essential.
No. 5. Containing 88 scalps of women; hair long, braided in the Indian fashion, to show they were mothers ; hoops blue ; skin yellow ground, with little red tadpoles, to represent, by way of tri- umph, the tears of grief occasioned to their rela- tions ; a black scalping-knife or hatchet at the bottom, to mark their being killed with those instruments ; 17 others, hair very gray ; black hoops ; plain brown color, no mark but the short club or cassetete, to show they were knocked down dead, or had their brains beat out.
No. 6. Containing 193 boys' scalps of various ages ; small green hoops; whitish ground on the skin, with red tears in the middle, and black bullet marks, knife, hatchet, or club, as their deaths happened.
No. 7. 211 girls scalped, big and little ; small yellow hoops; white ground ; tears, hatchet, club, scalp- ing-knife, &c.
310
APPENDIX TO
No. 8. This package is a mixture of all the varieties abovementioned, to the number of 122; with a box of birch bark, containing 29 little infants' scalps of various sizes ; small white hoops ; white ground.
" With these packs the Chiefs send to your excellen- cy the following speech, delivered by Coneiogatchie, in council, interpreted by the elder Moore, the trader, and taken down by me in writing.
" Father !- We send you herewith many scalps, that you may see that we are not idle friends. A blue belt.
" Father !- We wish you to send these scalps over the water to the great King, that he may regard them and be refreshed ; and that he may see our faith- fulness in destroying his enemies, and be convinced that his presents have not been made to ungrateful people. A blue and white belt with red tassels.
"Father !- Attend to what I am now going to say ; it is a matter of much weight. The great King's enemies are many, and they grow fast in number. They were formerly like young panthers ; they could neither bite nor scratch ; we could play with them safely ; we feared nothing they could do to us. But now their bodies are become big as the elk, and strong as the buffalo; they have also got great and sharp claws. They have driven us out of our country by taking part in your quarrel. We expect the great King will give us another country, that our children may live after us, and be his friends and children as we are. Say this for us to the great King. To enforce it we give this belt. A great white belt with blue tassels.
" Father !- We have only to say further, that your
311
ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
traders exact more than ever for their goods ; and our hunting is lessened by the war, so that we have fewer skins to give for them. This ruins us. Think of some remedy. We are poor, and you have plenty of everything. We know you will send us powder and guns, and knives, and hatchets ; but we also want shirts and blankets. A little white belt."
" I do not doubt but that your excellency will think it proper to give some further encouragement to those honest people. The high prices they complain of, are the necessary effect of the war. Whatever pres- ents may be sent for them through my hands shall be distributed with prudence and fidelity. I have the honor of being,
Your excellency's most obedient, And most humble servant, JAMES CRAUFURD."
312
N
APPENDIX TO
NOTE J.
CHRISTIAN SHELL.
AMONG the persons who distinguished themselves by their personal courage was Christian Shell, of Shell's Bush, in the now county of Herkimer. He refused to go into any of the forts, but built a blockhouse upon his farm. These houses were usually built of hewn timber. The first story had no windows, but several loop-holes, through which those within could fire upon the enemy. The second story projected over the first two or three feet. Through this projection there were likewise apertures, through which the persons within could fire upon, or cast down missiles upon the assailants if they approached the house to force an entrance. The statements contained in the following specimen of rude poetry are true. The year following this rencontre, the Indians stole the march upon Shell, and shot him while engaged in his work on his farm. His wife and children then removed to some of the forts.
A story, a story, Unto you I will tell, Concerning a brave hero, One Christian Shell,
ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY. 313
Who was attacked by the savages And Tories, as is said, But for this attack Most dearly they paid.
The sixth day of August, He went to his field, Determined if the enemy Came, never to yield.
Two sons he had along with him, Resolved were the same ; About the middle of the afternoon, These invaders, they came.
He fled unto his blockhouse, For to save his life, Where he had left his arms In the care of his wife.
The enemy took prisoners, Two sons that were twins, About eight years of age ; Soon the battle it begins.
They advanced upon him, And began to fire, But Christian with his blunderbuss Soon made them retire.
He wounded Donald McDonald, And drew him in the door, Who gave an account There was strength sixty-four.
They fought from two in the afternoon Until the closing of the light ; 14*
314
APPENDIX TO
Shell's son was slightly wounded Before that it was night.
The old woman she has spoiled Five guns, as I have since been told, With nothing but a chopping axe, Which shows that she was bold.
Six there was wounded, And eleven there was killed, Of this said party, Before they quit the field.
The Indians were forty-eight, And Tories full sixteen,
By old Shell and his two sons, Oh, the like was never seen.
Not like to get assistance, Nor any body's help,
They thought for to affright him By setting up their YELP.
But God was his assistant, His buckler and his shield,
He dispersed this cruel enemy, And made them quit the field.
. Come all you Tryon County men, And never be dismayed, But trust in the Lord, And he will be your aid.
Trust in the Lord with all your might, And call upon his name, - And he will help you as he did Shell To his immortal fame,
315
ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
An account similar to the foregoing was related to me by Col. Nicholas Fish. In the spring of 1779, and a few days before the army broke up its encamp- ment near the Hudson, the Indians and Tories burned the settlement of Warwarsing. A detachment from the army was sent to the assistance of the place. Before their arrival it was mostly destroyed. They succeeded, however, in relieving a part of the inhabi- tants, and especially one man, who had defended himself bravely. His house was in the woods, and in advance of all the others in the settlement. He fled into his house with his wife on the approach of the Indians. Here he defended himself with such spirit that he drove the party who had attacked him back, and forced them to seek shelter behind the trees. The Indians then collected combustibles, and setting them on fire, rushed up, and threw them on the house. The flames caught. He then took two pails, and ran to a spring several rods distant, and filling them hastily with water, returned to the house. The Indians again rushed up, determined to take him, and threw their tomahawks, and were at the door almost the same instant that it was closed. He succeeded in extin- guishing the fire. At this juncture the detachment came up, and the Indians fled. The officers, as a tes- timony of their admiration of his courage, made a liberal present of money to him, which they raised by contribution.
316
APPENDIX TO
NOTE K.
THE SACRIFICE OF THE SENECAS.
THE following account of the sacrifice of the Sene- cas, is taken from the 4th volume of Dwight's Travels, and was communicated to him by the Rev. Mr. Kirk- land.
" At the time when the Senecas return from hunt- ing in January or February, they annually keep a feast seven days ; the professed object of which is, to render thanks to the Great Spirit for the benefits they have received from him during the preceding year, and to solicit the continuance of them through the year to come. On the evening before the feast commences they kill two dogs, and after painting them with various colors, and dressing them with or- naments, suspend them in the centre of the camp, or in some conspicuous place in the village.
" The whole of this solemn season is spent in feast- ing and dancing. Two select bands, one of men, and another of women, ornamented with a variety of trinkets, and furnished each with an ear of corn, which is held in the right hand, begin the dance at the council house. Both choirs, the men leading
317
! ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
the way, dance in a circle around the council-fire, which is kindled for the occasion, and regulate their steps by music. Hence they proceed to every house in the village, and in the same manner dance in a circle around each fire.
"On one of the festival days they perform a pe- culiar religious ceremony, for the purpose of driving away evil spirits from their habitations. Three men clothe themselves in the skins of wild beasts, and cover their faces with masks of a hideous appearance, and their hands with the shell of the tortoise. In this garb they go from house to house, making a horrid noise, and in every house take the fuel from the fire and scatter the embers and ashes about the floor with their hands.
" Toward the close of the festival they erect a fu- neral pile, place it upon the two dogs, and set it on fire. When they are partly consumed, one of them is taken off and put into a large kettle, with vegeta- bles of every kind which they have cultivated during the year. The other dog is consumed in the fire. The ashes of the pile are then gathered up, carried through the village and sprinkled at the door of every house. When this ceremony is ended, which is al- ways near the close of the seventh day, all the inhab- itants feast together upon the contents of the kettle ; and thus the festival is terminated.
" This mode of exhibiting their gratitude is cer- tainly far from gratifying the feelings of a Christian, yet I think several of the American States might learn from these savages the important lesson, that it be- comes a people possessing the light of revelation, to
318
APPENDIX TO
render annually a public tribute of thanksgiving to the Great Benefactor of Mankind for the blessings which they have received during the year from his bountiful hand.
" This, however, is not the only religious service which has existed among the Six Nations. Mr. Kirk- land informed me that while he was crossing the Oneida Lake with a fleet of canoes, a violent storm arose, from which the fleet was in the utmost danger of perishing. The chief sachem, in whose canoe Mr. Kirkland was, took from a box in the stern a small quantity of fine powder, made of a fragrant herb un- known to Mr. Kirkland, and scattered it on the water. This he found was intended as an oblation to the Deity acknowledged by the sachem."
1
ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
319
-
NOTE L.
NUMBER OF INDIAN WARRIORS EMPLOYED IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
AN estimate of the Indian nations employed by the British in the Revolutionary war, with the num- ber of warriors annexed to each nation ; by Captain Dalton, superintendent of Indian affairs for the United States, who, after being several years a prisoner with the enemy, arrived at Philadelphia, where he pub- lished the following account, 5th August, 1783.
Choctaws
600
Tuscaroras 200
Chickasaws
400
Onondagas -
300
Cherokees
500
Cayugas -
230
Creeks
700
Jeneckaws (Senecas)* 400
Plankishaws
400
Sues and Sothuse - 1300
Oniactmaws -
300
Putawawtawmaws - 400
Kackapoes
500
Tulawin - - 150
Munseys -
150
Muskulthe, or Nation
Delawares
500
of Fire -
-
-
250
Shawanaws -
300
Reiners, or Foxes
- 300
* In 1783 Mr. Kirkland estimated the whole number of fighting men in the Seneca tribe at 600.
320
APPENDIX TO
Mohickons -
60
Puyon
-
-
350
Uchipweys
3000
Sokkie -
-
450
Ottaways
300
Abinokkie, or the St.
Mohawks
300
Lawrence
200
Oneidas* -
150
Warriors
12,690
* The Rev. Mr. Kirkland informed Dr. Stiles that there were 410 souls before the war, and that 120 joined the enemy. '
10th vol. Mass. Collections, page 123.
V
321
ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
NOTE M.
The Direct Agency of the English Government in the employment of the Indians in the Revolutionary War. By William W. Campbell. Read by Mr. Campbell, October 7th, 1845, before the New York Historical Society.
NEARLY forty years before the commencement of the Revolutionary war, a young man arrived in the valley of the Mohawk, who was destined to exert a greater influence than any other individual since the settlement of the province of New York, over the Indians who dwelt within its borders. He was in early manhood, but little over twenty years of age, and was entrusted with an extensive and important agency. He was of a good family-an Irishman by birth-a nephew of Sir Peter Warren, and had charge of a large landed property belonging to his uncle, which was situated in that vicinity. He rose rapidly in public estimation, for he had talent and opportu- nity for its exercise. He early entered the provincial army-leading sometimes the provincial troops, and sometimes the warriors of the Six Nations. In 1755 he gained a signal victory over the French on the northern frontiers of New York. The English gov- ernment created him a baronet, and granted him five
322
APPENDIX TO
thousand pounds, and he was appointed a superin- tendent of Indian affairs for the northern provinces, with a salary of a thousand pounds a year. The fame and the fortune of Sir William Johnson were made.
He continued in the exercise of his important du- ties down to the period of his death. He was a man of stern and determined purpose, but urbane and con- ciliatory when necessary, and held a controlling influ- ence over the Indians and most of the inhabitants of the frontier. For nearly twenty years he resided at his place, called Fort Johnson, and which is situated in the valley of the Mohawk, about three miles west of Amsterdam. He afterwards removed to Johnson Hall, near the village of Johnstown, and where he spent the remaining years of his life. In the month of July, 1774, an Indian council was called at John- son Hall, and besides a large number of the Six Na- tions, there assembled at his house, Governor Frank- lin of New Jersey, the judges of the Supreme Court of New York, and other gentlemen of consideration and influence in the province. During the sitting of this council, on the 11th July, 1774, Sir William died suddenly. He had been, it is said, previously unwell, and the exertion which he made was greater than he could bear. It was alleged at the time, by those who espoused the American cause, that he purposely has- tened his death, having determined never to lead his Indian warriors against a people with whom he had so long dwelt on the most friendly terms; and at the same time, being unwilling to disregard the instruc- tions and wishes of a government which had so highly honored and enriched him.
323
ANNALS OF TRYON COUNTY.
An eye-witness, under date of 13th of July, 1774, thus writes : "The corpse of the late Sir William Johnson was carried from Johnson Hall to Johnstown, and deposited in the family vault in the church which he erected, attended by upwards of two thousand persons from the neighboring country, with the In- dians, who all behaved with the greatest decorum, and exhibited the most lively marks of real sorrow. The pall was supported by his Excellency, the Gov- ernor of New Jersey, the Judges of the Supreme Court of New York, and other persons of note who happened to be at Johnstown at that time; and on their return from the funeral to Johnson Hall, the Indians acquainted Colonel Johnson that they would perform the ceremony of condolence the next day." They wished, they said, " to kindle up anew the fires at Johnstown and Onondaga."
Johnson Hall, the residence of Sir William at the time of his death, was situated upon an eminence, and overlooked the village and the church, from which it was distant about one mile ; and the scene must have been one of an imposing character, as the long fune- ral procession moved slowly down the winding ave- nue, conveying to its last resting-place all that re- mained of him who had for so many years been the first man upon the borders. They who were soon after to be 'known as patriot and loyalist, as Whig and Tory, walked side by side, and mingled their tears together. The dusky Indian warrior bowed his head in sorrow by the side of the pale face, with whom he was not to meet again, except in the fierce and bloody contests which were soon to be waged. Some,
324
APPENDIX TO
perhaps, met for the first time afterwards in bloody strife upon the same ground over which they bore the corpse of the good old chieftain.
Thus died Sir William Johnson; and he died as he had lived, surrounded by Indian warriors. The In- dian superintendency was to pass into other hands, and new and perilous scenes were preparing for the inhabitants of the frontiers of New York.
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.