The Journal of Lieut. John L. Hardenbergh of the Second New York Continental Part 8

Tuesday 10.--Rained, a little last night and this day till 10 o'clock--marched off the ground at 3 o'clock and went 5 miles to Yorkham's where we encamped, the men in the Boats encamped on the farm which lies on the East side of the River and the Remainder on the other side opposite, went on guard to-night.

Wednesday 11.--Marched off this morning at Sunrise and proceeded on 14 miles down the River where we encamped on a small farm, pa.s.sed several farms to-day with very poor houses on them and some none, the Riflemen in front saw fresh Indian tracks to-day on the Path and found a * * *

at one of their * * * To-day we crossed a large creek called Otego, and pa.s.sed several Indian encampments, where they had encamped when they were going to destroy Cherry Valley or returning, likewise we pa.s.sed one of their encampments yesterday, we encamped to-night at Ogden's farm and very bad encamping ground.

Thursday 12.--Marched off this morning 7 o'clock, had the advanced Guard to-day, proceeded down the West side of the River as usual, 12 Miles came to a small Scotch settlement called Albout[129] on the other side of the River 5 miles from Unadilla which we burnt, but the people had gone to the Enemy this last Spring, went on to Unadilla, crossed the River to the East side and encamped, the River was about middle deep when we waded it. This settlement was destroyed by our detachment last fall excepting one house which belonged to one Glasford who went to the enemy this Spring, his house was immediately burnt when we came on the ground to-day. We pa.s.sed several old Indians encamp'ts where they encamped when they destroyed Cherry Valley, the road middling hilly.

Friday 13th.--This morning very foggy and a great deal of dew. Marched off at 6 o'clock, went 2 miles, waded the River about 3 foot deep, proceeded on to Conihunto[130] a small Indian village that was, but was Destroyed by our Detachment last fall, its 14 miles from Unadilla.[131] A little below this town there is 3 or 4 Islands in the River where the Indians raised their corn. On one of those Islands our troops encamped with the boats and cattle, the light Infantry went 2 miles from Conihunto where they encamped a little after 3 o'clock in the woods. Middle good Road to-day.

Sat.u.r.day 14th.--Marched this morning at 8 o'clock, very hilly road for the Right flank, arrived at the fording 2 miles from Onoquaga[132]

about 2 o'clock which is 8 from where we started, the ford being too deep to wade, crossed in our Boats to the East Side, went over a high hill and got to Onoquaga at 3 o'clock where we encamped on very pretty ground. This town was one of the neatest of the Indian towns on the Susquehanna, it was built on each side of the River with good log houses with stone chimneys and gla.s.s windows, it likewise had a church and burying ground and a great number of apple-trees, and we likewise saw the Ruins of an Old Fort which formerly was here many years ago.

The Indians abandoned this town last fall when they heard of our detachment coming to destroy it, they had but just left it when we came in it, but we did not catch any of them, but burnt their town to ashes, and the detachment returned. This evening we fired an evening gun.

Sunday 15th.--Very heavy dew this morning, went on Guard, the Army Remain at Onoquago to-day quiet, no news stirring as I hear of particular.

Monday 16th.--This morning a very heavy dew and fog, which is very customary in this country, was relieved of my Guard and the day proved exceedingly warm, a heavy shower of rain this afternoon, at 12 o'clock Major Church with the 4th P. Regt. went out 5 or 6 Miles to meet 4 or 500 Militia[133] who we expected to join us here, but he returned in the evening and saw nothing of them.

Tuesday 17th.--Marched off from Onoquaga this morning 8 o'clock, proceeded down the river 3 miles to one of the Tuscarora towns, which was burnt by one of our Detachments last fall, here waded the river about 4 feet deep to the west side, went on one Mile when we came to another of the Tuscarora towns called Shawhiangto[134] consisting of 10 or 12 houses which we burnt, then marched on over a very barren mountainous country 10 or 12 Miles, came to a Tuscarora settlement called Ingaren[135] consisting of 5 or 6 houses, but a good deal scattered, encamped at the lower end of the settlement after burning the houses, here they had planted a good deal of corn, potatoes, &c., which we destroyed, a few yards in front of our comp'ys encamping ground there was a tanfat farm with several Hides at a tannery which the soldiers got, and close by it they discovered in a little hole, a man which was laid there and a little dirt thrown over him just to cover him. We had his head uncovered, but he was too putrified, we could not discover whether he was a white man or Indian but supposed to be a white man, as there was a Scotch Bonnet found near him.

Marched to-day 15 miles.

Wednesday 18th.--Marched off from Ingaren 7 o'clock through a very fine rich country very well timbered but poorly watered, scarce any; arrived at Chinango River at 4 o'clock where we forded it about 4 feet deep, and almost as wide as the Susquehanna but not so deep, as soon as we got over we halted and Major Parr with 100 men went up the River to destroy the Chinango town[136] which lay 4 miles up the River, but when we came there, we found the town was burnt, which consisted of about 20 houses. It seems when the Indians evacuated it last winter they destroyed it, therefore we Returned and found the army encamped 2 Mile below the Chinango River. Marched to-day 22 miles, and burnt several Indian houses on the road. This evening came up the River 2 Runners who informed us that Gen'l Poor with 1000 Men was within 9 miles of us coming to meet us and that Genl. Sullivan lay at the mouth of the Tyoga and that he had sent part of his army up to Shamong which they had destroyed, and had returned to Gen'l Sullivan with the loss of 9 men killed and some more wounded, which was in small skirmis.h.i.+ng. The Indians had taken off all their [property] from Shamong, except a few cattle which our people got.

Thursday 19th.--Marched this morning 7 o'clock, went 2 Miles where we burnt 7 or 8 houses on the East side of the River, 4 miles further at the Chuggnuts[137] we fell in with Gen'l Poor's army who was ready to march, they had burnt this settlement which lies on the East side of the River about 20 houses, made no halt here but went on 4 mile, Gen'l Clinton's army in front and Gen'l Poor's in the rear. Came to a middling large Creek where we made a halt for one hour, then marched on 12 Miles without halting and arrived at Owego[138] about sundown after a very fatiguing march of 22 Miles. This afternoon fell a small shower of Rain.

Friday 20th.--Rained a little last night, and successively all this day therefore did not move, went a party down to Owego town which lies one mile lower down and burnt it, consisted of about 20 houses.

Sat.u.r.day 21.--Clear weather this morning but a very heavy fog, marched a little after 7 o'clock, forded Owego creek which is about * * * one third of the Susquehanna, at this place it was about three feet deep and about 50 yards wide--Went thro. the * * * of Owego town, crossed a pretty large brook, went 12 miles, halted at a small brook one hour for refreshment. Proceed on 3 Miles further when we encamped at 4 o'clock opposite Fitzgerald's farm[139] in the woods, it is a very fine farm but no house on it, nor any body living on it. On this ground where we encamped Mr. Sawyers a man who was made prisoner by Indians, along with his Neighbor Mr. Cowley who both lived on the head of the Delaware, after the Indians having them so far on their Journey, they rose in the Night killed the Indians which was 3 or 4 and made their escape, we saw the * * * of the Indians * * * when we came on the ground. To-day we met with a bad accident, two of our Boats of Ammunition overset in the River and Damaged a good many boxes of cartridges and a few casks of powder, to-night went on Guard.

Sunday 22d.--Marched off this morning 7 o'clock, proceeded on, we crossed two middling large brooks. Arrived at Tyoga 11 o'clock, where we found Genl. Hand's Brigade encamped one Mile above the mouth of the Tyoga where they was building 4 Block houses, the other troops was encamped over the point which was Gen'ls Poor's and Maxwell's Brigades, we encamped on the Right of the whole. On our coming into camp we was saluted by 13 Pieces of cannon which was Returned by our two little pieces on the River. We found Gen'l Hand's Brigade under arms with a Band of Music which played Beautiful as we pa.s.sed by them, We encamped on a very * * * pretty piece of ground and spent the Remainder of the day in seeing our friends in the different Regiments, likewise when we arrived here our Infantry was disbanded and ordered to join their respective Regts. Very heavy shower of rain this afternoon. Marched 7 miles to-day.

FOOTNOTES:

[127] JOACHIM VAN VALKENBERG, afterwards killed in battle near Lake Utsayunthe in 1781.

[128] Van Hovenberg's Journal says Burris Farms.

[129] ALBOUT.--A Scotch, tory settlement on the east side of the Unadilla river, five miles above Unadilla, was burned Aug. 12, 1779, by Clinton's detachment. Most of the Scotch Settlers went to Canada at the beginning of the difficulties; those who remained were more in sympathy with the British than with the Americans.

[130] CONIHUNTO, called Gunnagunter by Van Hovenberg, an Indian town 14 miles below Unadilla, destroyed by Col. William Butler in 1778. It appears to have been on the west side of the river.

[131] UNADILLA, an Indian town at the junction of the Unadilla with the Susquehanna, destroyed by Col. William Butler in 1778. "Returning to Unadilla, that settlement, on both sides of the river was burned, as also a grist-mill and saw-mill, the only ones in the Susquehanna Valley."--_Letter of Col. William Butler._

[132] ONOQUAGA, an Indian town on both sides of the Susquehanna river, eight miles below Conihunto near present Ouaquaga in the town of Colesville, Broome Co. When destroyed by Col. Butler in 1778 he mentions a lower or Tuscarora town three miles below, this would be near present Windsor. The old fort mentioned is probably one built for the Indians by Sir William Johnson in 1756. Rev. Gideon Hawley was a missionary here at an early date.

[133] Col. Pawling, commanding a regiment of New York levies, was to meet Clinton at this point, but arriving after the army had pa.s.sed, they returned to Wawarsing.

[134] SHAWHIANGTO, a small Tuscarora town four miles below Onoquago, burned by General Clinton August 17, 1779; it contained ten or twelve houses, located on the west side of the river, near present Windsor in Broome County.

[135] INGAREN, a small Tuscarora town, at or near Great Bend in Susquehanna county, Penn. It was called Tuscarora by Van Hovenberg, and described as being sixteen miles from the camp, four miles below Chenango river; and twelve miles by land and twenty by water, from Onoquaga, where the army encamped on the 16th. Was destroyed by General Clinton, August 17, 1779.

[136] CHENANGO, also called Otsiningo, an important Indian town located four miles north of Binghamton on the Chenango river, in present town of Chenango, near the present village of the same name.

The twenty-two miles travel mentioned, evidently includes the march up the Chenango to this town, and from thence to the camp. Van Hovenberg estimates the day's march of the army at 16 miles. Many writers incorrectly locate this town at Binghamton.

[137] CHOCONUT, or _Chugnutt_, an important Indian town of fifty or sixty houses, mostly on the south side of the Susquehanna at the mouth of Big Choconut creek, on the site of the present village of Vestal, in town of Vestal, Broome county. Burned Aug. 19, 1779, by Gen. Poor's detachment which encamped on the north side of the river near present Union where the two detachments united. Gen. Clinton's camp the same night, was six miles distant up the river.

[138] OWAGEA, an Indian town of about twenty houses. Occupied in 1779, located on Owego creek about a mile from the Susquehanna near the present village of Owego in Tioga County. Gen. Poor's detachment encamped Aug. 17th on the site of present village, where was a small Indian Hamlet. Owagea was burned Aug. 19.

[139] MANCKATAw.a.n.gUM, or Red Bank, here called Fitzgerald's Farm, appears to have been on the south side of the Susquehanna, in the town of Nichols, nearly opposite the village of Barton. Major Norris'

Journal, in going up, says on the 16th the detachment "encamped near the ruins of an old town called MACKTOWANUCK" (see p. 41); Lieut.

Jenkins' Journal; says "10 miles from Tioga at a place called MANCKATAw.a.n.gUM or _Red Bank_," and mentions encamping at same point on the return march. A table of distances in Canfield's Journal says "from the mouth of the Tioga (Chemung) to Mackatowando 10 miles." This would locate the Indian town at or near present Barton. On the Tioga county map, Mohontowonga Farm appears on the south side of the river opposite Barton, and an island in the river named Mohontow.a.n.go.

Early in the spring of 1779, two men named Sawyer and Cowley were captured near Harpersfield, by four Schoharie Indians, named Han Yerry, Seth's Henry, Adam and Nicholas. One of the captives was an Irishman, the other a Scotchman. They were refugees from Harpersfield, who had sought safety in Schoharie at the beginning of the difficulties. The prisoners could not speak Dutch, which the Indians understood, nor could the Indians understand English. When captured, they claimed by signs to be friends of the King, and were not only willing, but anxious to accompany their captors. The prisoners set off with such apparent willingness on the journey, that the Indians did not think it necessary to bind them, but permitted them to procure wood and water. They had been captives eleven days without finding a favorable opportunity for escape, but on arriving at a deserted hut at this point, the captives were sent to cut wood a few rods distant, using for this purpose an ax belonging to one of the prisoners. On such occasions, usually one cut and the other carried to the camp fire; but this time, while Cowley was chopping, and Sawyer waiting for an armful, the latter took from his pocket a newspaper, and pretended to read its contents to his fellow, but really proposed a plan for regaining their liberty. After procuring a sufficient quant.i.ty of wood, and partaking of a scanty supper, they laid down for the night as usual, a prisoner between two Indians. When the Indians were sound asleep, the prisoners arose, secured the guns, shaking the priming from them, Sawyer securing the tomahawk of Han Yerry, and Cowley the ax. At a given signal, the blows descended, and the weapons sank deep into the brain of their victims, but unfortunately, Sawyer in attempting to free his weapon from the skull, drew the handle from its socket. These two Indians were killed, but the noise awoke the others, who instantly sprung to their feet; as Seth's Henry arose, he received a blow partially warded off by his right arm, but his shoulder was laid open and he fell back stunned; the fourth, as he was about to escape, received a heavy blow in the back from the ax; he fled to a swamp near by and died. On returning to the hut and consulting as to what course they should pursue, Seth's Henry, who had recovered, but feigned death, again sprang to his feet, caught his rifle and snapped it at one of the prisoners, ran out of the hut and disappeared. The two friends primed the remaining guns and kept vigilant watch until daylight to guard against surprise. They set out in the morning to return, but did not dare to pursue the route they came, very properly supposing there were more of the enemy in the vicinity, to whom the surviving Indian would communicate the fate of his comrades. They re-crossed the river in a bark canoe which they had used the preceding afternoon, and then directed their course for the frontier settlements. On the first night, Cowley, carried away by the excitement was deranged for hours, and his companion was fearful that his raving would betray them, but reason returned with daylight. As they had feared, a party of Indians was soon in hot pursuit--from a hill they saw ten or a dozen in the valley below; but they concealed themselves beneath a sheltering rock, and remained there one night and two days. When there an Indian dog came up to them, but after smelling for some time, went away without barking. On the third night they saw the enemy's fires literally all around them. They suffered much from exposure to the weather, and still more from hunger, but finally arrived at a frontier settlement in Pennsylvania, and afterward returned to Schoharie, where they were welcomed as though risen from the dead. Sawyer is said to have died many years after in Williamstown, Ma.s.s., and Cowley in Albany.--_Symm's Schoharie_, 291, 2, 3.

EXPEDITION AGAINST THE CAYUGAS.

MARCH OF COLONEL BUTLER ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF CAYUGA LAKE.

On the return march, when the army reached Kanadaseaga on September 20, Lieutenant Colonel Butler commanding the Fourth Pennsylvania regiment was detached with six hundred men, with orders to proceed around the north end of Cayuga lake, and devastate the country of the Cayugas on the east side of the lake. At the same time a force under Lieutenant Colonel Henry Dearborn was ordered to move along the west side, the two detachments to unite at the head of the lake and from thence to join the main army at Catharinestown.

WILLIAM BUTLER was the second of five brothers, all of whom served with distinction in the Revolution and the succeeding wars. Their names were Richard, William, Thomas, Percival and Edward. Thomas, the third brother, is said to have been born in Pennsylvania in 1754, and Richard the elder in Ireland, so that William was either born in America, or came here from Ireland when very young. He was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel October 25, 1776, on the organization of the Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment. Immediately after the battle of Monmouth, in which he bore an important part, his regiment and six companies of Morgan's riflemen were sent to Schoharie County, New York, where he was actively engaged in protecting the frontier settlements from the marauding parties of tories and Indians. After the Wyoming ma.s.sacre in 1778, as a part of the aggressive policy determined on by Was.h.i.+ngton, he marched to the Delaware, and descended that stream for two days, and from thence moved across the country to the Susquehanna at Unadilla in pursuit of the enemy, who fled at his approach. From here he moved down to Onoquaga, which was a well built town, with many good farm houses in the vicinity belonging to the tories, located on both sides of the river. He destroyed Onoquaga, and a Tuscarora town lower down, Conihunto eight miles above, and Unadilla, with the grist and saw mill there, the only ones in the valley, and forced the enemy to remove westward to the Chemung where they were found by Sullivan the next year. He was in garrison in the Middle fort of Schoharie during the winter, and in August, 1779, accompanied Clinton down the Susquehanna to Tioga point where he was transferred to General Hand's Brigade August 23d of that year. This was the Colonel Butler to whom General Sullivan entrusted the responsible duties of conducting this important expedition, second only in importance to that of the main army. Two journals give an account of Colonel Butler's march, viz., Thomas Grant, who appears to have been one of the surveying party under Captain Lodge, and George Grant, Sergeant Major of the Third New Jersey regiment, the latter evidently copied from some other journal.

PART OF THOMAS GRANT'S JOURNAL.

Sept. 20.--This day a detachment of six hundred men with a sufficiency of officers under the command of Col. Wm. Butler were sent into the Cayuga country, with which detachment I was ordered. They marched from Cannadesago at 3 o'clock P.M. Marched this day 8 miles to an Indian town by the name of Scawyace[140] where about 8 acres of corn was destroyed.

Sept 21.--The detachment marched this morning at 7 o'clock A.M. 16- miles to a small Indian settlement[141] 1- miles short of Cayuga Castle, where we encamped for the night. At 8- miles crossed the outlet of Cayuga, which in breadth was about 70 perches, and more than middle deep to the men. Near the outlet we destroyed two Indian houses. The name of the place Choharo[142] and destroyed on the lake in different places * * * houses and * * * acres of corn, but saw no enemy. The general course since we crossed the outlet, nearly south, the road not more than half a mile from the lake at furthest, the land middling.

Sept. 22, 1779.--Marched this day at 6 o'clock A.M. 2 miles to the Cayuga Castle,[143] an Indian town of that name containing in number about 15 very large square log houses. I think the building superior to any yet have seen. [Here] cattle were killed and three days beef issued to the troops. The fatigue parties were sent to destroy the corn to the amount of about 110 acres, though not all destroyed this day. Two other towns were discovered, one 23- miles from the Seneca Lake, which we called Upper Cayuga,[144] containing 14 large houses, the other about two miles east of the Castle which we called Cayuga,[145] containing 13 houses. The troops were all employed this day in destroying corn till after dark. We found at this town apples, peaches, potatoes, turnips, onions, pumpkins, squashes, and vegetables of various kinds and great plenty.

Sept. 23, 1779.--This day the troops were employed till 3 o'clock P.M.

in finis.h.i.+ng the destruction of the corn and burning the aforementioned towns within. Marched 5 miles to an Indian town by the name of Chandot[146] or Peach Town, remarkable for a large Peach orchard containing * * * hundred fine thriving peach trees, likewise * * * acres of corn. This town contained about 12 or 14 houses chiefly old buildings. Part of the corn was destroyed this evening.

Sept. 24, 1779.--This morning the troops were employed in finis.h.i.+ng the destruction of the corn and peach trees. At 10 o'clock A.M. fire was set to this town and the detachment went off the ground. Marched this day 16- miles and encamped on a pleasant hill[147] near a fine creek about one hour after dark. The land we pa.s.sed this day well timbered, and the soil very good, but very scarce of water. 9 miles from Chondote we crossed a stream of water which fell over rocks 80 feet perpendicular. 3 miles from [this] we crossed a second stream[148] which fell about 50 feet perpendicular, which empty themselves into Cayuga lake. Saw no enemy this day. The general course S. 30 E.

Sept. 25, 1779.--Marched this morning about 6 o'clock and encamped at an Indian town 3- miles above Cayuga Lake. The town appeared to be just consumed, supposed to be burnt by a detachment from Gen'l Sullivan's army.[149] The town was situated on a rising ground in a large, beautiful valley. The soil equal to or rather superior to any in the country, through which runs several fine streams of water, the first a creek about 4 poles wide, which falls from the mountain on the east side of the valley about 120 feet perpendicular into which creek three other fine streams empty, the second creek is the princ.i.p.al supply of the Cayuga Lake navigable for large canoes or boats to the town.

[The journal here ends abruptly]

PART OF GEORGE GRANT'S JOURNAL.

Sept. 20, 1779.--I return to the 20th to follow Col. Butler, who left us at Kanadasago, and proceeded along the outlet of Seneca Lake for 8 miles and halted at Schoyerre, formerly destroyed by Col. Harper.