The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-10-09 00:00:00, page 2

SIR
IN mine of the 30th ultimo to his Excellency General
Walhiagton, and by him traufmittcd to Cqngrefs, I
gave'an account of the victory obtained by this army o
ver the enemy at Newtown, on the 29th of August. I
now do uiyfelf the honor to inform Congress of the pro
gress of tins army, and the most material occurrences
which have since taken place.
The tune taken up in destroying the corn, in the neigh
bourhood of Newtown, employing the army near twb
days, and there appearing a probability that the destruc
tion of all the crops might take a much greater length of
time than was at rirft apprehended, and being likewise
convinced, by an accurate calculation, that it would not
be possible to eft^H the destruction of the Indian country,
with the provffion on hand, which was all I iiad in Hore,
and indeed all I had pack horses to transport from Teaoga;
in thisJituation I could think of but one expedient to an
swer the purposes of the expedition, which was to prevail
if possible, on the foidiers, to content themselves with half
a pound of flour, and the fame quantity of frelh beef per
day, rather than leave the important business unfinished.
I therefore drew up an address to them, a copy of which
I have the honor to inclofe you, which being read, was
atifwered by three cheers from the whole army. Not one
diffenhog voice was heard from either officer or soldier. I
had then on hand, from the best calculation I could make,
twenty-two pounds of flour, and sixteen pounds of beef
per man ; the former liable to many deductions by rains,
crossing rivers and defiles ; the latter much more so, from
the aimoft unavoidable lots of cattle, when fuffered to
range the woods at night for tneir support. I was, howe
ver, encouraged in tne belief, that I Ihould be enabled to
effect the deltruftion and total ruin of the Indian territories,
by this truly noble and virtuous resolution of the army,
or which, I know not, whether the public Hand more in
debted to the perfua five arguments which the officers began
to use, ®r to the virtuous disposition of the foidiers, whose
prudent and chearfui compliance with the requisition an
ticipated all their withes, and rendered persuasion unneces
sary. I lent back all my heavy artillery on the night of
the 30th, retaining only four brass three plunders, and a
small howitzer, loaded the necessary ammunition on horse
back, and marched early on tne 31st for Catherine's.town.
On our way we destroyed a small settlement of eight hou
ses, and a town called Knawaholee, of about twenty hou
ses, situated on a peninsula at the conflux of the Teaoga
and Cayuga branches. We also destroyed several fields of
corn. From this Col. Dayton was detached with his regi
ment and the rifle corps up the Teaoga ab®ut fix miles,
who destroyed several large fields of corn. The army re
sumed their march, and encamped within thirteen miles
and an half of Catharine's town, where we arrived the
next day, altno' we had a road to open for the artillery,
through a swamp nine miles in extent and aimoft impervi
ous. We arrived near Catharine's-town in the night, and
moved on in hopes to furprize it, but found it forfaken.
On the next morning an old woman of the Cayuga nation
was found in the woods, who informed, that on the night
after the battle of Newtown, the enemy having fled the
whole time, arrived there in great confufion early the
next day ; that the heard the warriors tell their women,
they were conquered and must fly; that they had a great
many killed and vast numbers wounded. She likewise heard
the lamentations of many at the loss of their connections.
In addition to this, file assured us, that some other warri
ors had met Butler at this place, and desired him to re
turn and fight again. But to this request they could ob
tain bo fatisfaCtory answer, for as they observed, “ But
ler's mouth was doled." The warriors who had been in
tie action were equally averle to the proposal, and would
think of nothing but flight and the removal of their fami
lies ; that the, kept runners on every mountain to observe
the motion of our army, who reported early in the day on
which we arrived, that our advance was very rapid, upon
which all those who had not been before sent off, fled with
precipitation, leaving her without any possible means of
elcape. She laid that Brandt had taken most of the wound
ed up the Teaoga in canoes. I was from many circum
flances fully convinced of the truth, and Sincerity of her
declaration, and the more so, aS we had, on the day we
left Newtown, difeovered a great number of bloody packs,
armsand accoutrements, thrown away in tne road and in
the woods on each fide of it. Besides which, we difeover
ed a number of recent graves, one of which has been since
opened, containing the bodies of two persons whohad died
by wounds. Tuofe circumstances when added to that of
so many warriors being left dead on the field, a circum
stance not common with Indians, were fufficient to corro
borate the woman's declaration, and to prove what I be
fore conjectured, that the loss of the enemy was much
greater than was at firfl apprehended. I have never been*
able to afeertain, witii any degree of certainty, what force
the enemy opposed to us at Newtown, but from the best
accounts I have been able to celled, and from the opinion
@f General Poor and others, who had the best opportuni
ty of viewing their numbers, as well as from the extent of
their lines, I suppose them to have been fifteen hundred,
tho' the two prisoners, whom I believe totally ignorant of
the numbers at any post but their own, as well as of the
enemy's disposition, estimate them only at eight hundred,
while they allow that five companies of rangers, all the
warriors of Seneca, and fix other nations were collected
at this place. In order to determine their force, with as
much accuracy as in my power, I examined their breast
work, and found its extent more than half a mile. Several
bastions ran out in its front to flank the lines in every part.
A small block-house, formerly a dwelling, was also man
ned in front. The breast-work appeared to have been ful
ly manned, tho' I suppose with only one rank. Some part
@f their works being low, they were obliged to dig holes in
the ground to cover themselves in part. This circumflance
enabled me to judge the distance between their men in the
works. A very thin Scattering line, designed, as I sup
pose, for communicating Signals, was continued from those
works to that part of the mountain which General Poor
afeended, where they had a very large body, which was
designed, I imagine, to fall on our.flank. The distance
from the breast-work to this, was at least one mile and an
half. From thence to the hill in rear of our right, was
another scattering line of about one mile, and on the hill
a breast-work with a ftreng party, destined, as it is sup.
posed, to fall in our rear. But General Clinton, being
P H I L A bE LPHI A,
Teaoga, September 30th, 1779'
ordered so far to the right, occasioned nisflank to pals this
mountain, which obliged them to abandon their post.
From those circumstances, as well as from the opinion of
others, I cannot conceive their numbers less than what I
have before mentioned.
The army (pent one day at Catharine's in destroying
corn and fruit-trees. We burnt the town, consisting of
about thirty houses; and the next day encamped near a
small scattering settlement of about eight houses, and in
two days after reached Kendaia, which we also fouhd de
serted. Here one of the inhabitants of Wyoming, who
had been last year captured by the enemy, escaped from
them and joined us. He informed that the enemy had
left the town in the greatest confufion three days before
our arrival. He said, he had converted with some of the
Tories, on their return from the a&ion of Newtown, who
assured him, they had great numbers killed and wounded,
and there was no Safety but in flight. He heard Butler tell
them, he must try to make a stand at Kanadafega ; but
they declared, they would not throw away their lives in a
vain attempt to oppose such an army. He also heard ma
ny of the Indian women lamenting the loss of their con
nexions; and added, that Brandt had taken most of the
wounded up the Teaoga in water crafts, which had been
provided for that purpose in case of necessity. It was his
opinion, the King of Kanadafega was killed, as he faW
him go down but not return, and gave a description of his
person and dress corresponding with those of one found
on the field of adion. Kendaia consisted of about twenty
houses, which were reduced to alhes ; the houses were
neatly built and finished. The army spent near a day at
this place in destroying corn and fruit trees, of which there
was great abundance ; many of the trees appeared to be of
great age On the next day we crossed the outlet of the
Seneca lake, and moved in three divisions thro' the woods
to encircle Kan idafega, but found it likewise abandoned;
A white child of about three years old, doubtless the off
fpring of some unhappy captive, was found here and car
ried with the army 3
A detachment ot four hundred men was sent down on
the weft fide of the lake to destroy Gothfeunqueau, and
the pi stations in the fame quarters; at the fame time a
number of volunteers, under Col. Harper, made a forced
march towards Cayuga lake, and destroyed Schoyere while
the residue of the army were employed in destroying the
corn at Kanadafega, of which there was a large quantity.
This town consisted of fifty aoufes, and was pleaftndy si
tuated. In it we found a great number ot iruit-tr ,es,
which were destroyed with the town Tue army then
moved on, and in two days arrived at K aan^que, nav
ing been joined on the maren by the det^enment lent along
the Senecca lake, which had been aimoft two days employ
ed in defiroying the crops and settlements in that quarter.
At Kanandaque we found twenty-three very d ?gant houses,,
mostly framed, and in general fr;e. Here ve also found
very extensive fields of corn, which having been destroyed,
we marched for Hanneyaye, a small town of ten houses,
which we also destroyed.
At this place we established a post, leaving a Strong gar
rison, our heavy Stores and one field piece, and proceeded
to Chinefee which, the prisoners informed, was the grand
capital of the Indian country ; that Indians of all nations
had been planting there this spring ; that all the Rangers
and some BritiSh had been employed in affixing -them, in
order to raise fufficient fuppiies to support them while de
ftroying our frontiers; and that they themselves had work
ed three weeks for the Indians when planting. This in
formation determined me at all events to reach that settle
ment, though the state of my prov'fioias, much reduced by
unavoidable accidents, aimoft forbad the attempt. My
flour had been much reduced by the failure of pack-horses,
aud in the paflage of creeks and defiles, and twenty (even
of the cattie had been unavoidably loft. We, however,
marched on for the Chinefee town, and on the second day
reached a town of twenty-five houses, called Kaneghfaws^
Here we found some large corn-fields, which part of the
army destroyed, while the other part were employed in
building a bridge over an unfordable creek between this and
Chin -fee.
I had the preceding evening ordered out an officer with
three or four riflemen, one of our guides, and an Oneida
Chief, to reconnoitre the Chinefee town, that we might,
if possible, furpri^e it. Lieutenant Boid, of the rifle corps,
was the officer entrusted, who took with him twenty-three
men, volunteers from the fame corps, and a few from Col.
Butler's regiment, making in all twenty fix, a much larger
number than I had thought of fending, and by no means
so likely to answer the purpose as that which had been di
rected. The guides were by 110 means acquainted with the
country, mistook the road in the night, d ad at day-break
fell in with a castle, fix miles higher up than Chinefer, in
habited by a tribe called Squatehakas. Here they saw a
few Indians, killed and scalped two; the rest fled. Two
runners were immediately dispatched to me with the ac
count, and informed that the party were on their return.
When the bridge was aimoft completed, some of them
came in and informed, that Lieutenant Boid, and most of
his party, were almost surrounded by rhe „nemy, that the
enemy had been difeovering themselves before him for some
miles ; that his men had killed two, and were eagerly pur
suing the rest ; but soon found themselves almost surround
ed by three or four hundred Indians and Rangers Those
of Mr. Boid's men, who were sent to secure In flanks, for
tunately made their escape. but he ith fourteen of his
party and the Oneida Chie, being io the centre, wi re com
pletely encircled. Ail the light troops f tne a'ri and
the Banking divisions, were immediately detached to their
relief; but arrived too late, the enemy having destroyed
the party and escaped.
It appeared that our men had taken to a small °rove of
trees, the ground around it being clear on every" fide for
several rods, and there fought till Mr. Boid was shot thro'
the body, and every manned except one, who with his
wounded commander, warmade prisoner. The firing was
so close before this brave party was destroyed, that the
powder of the enemy's naufkets were driven into their
fiefh. In this confit the enemy must have fuffered great
ly, as they had no covert, and our men were possessed of
a very advantageous one. This advantage of ground the
ebftinate bravery of the party, with some other circuir
ftances, induced me t® believe their loss must have been
very considerable. They were so long employed in re
moving and secreting their dead, that the advancing of
General Hand's party obliged them to leave one along fide
the riflemen, and at least a waggon load of packs, blan
kets, hats and provisions, which they had thrown off to
families were undoubtedly left to answer those purposes,
and to keep possession of their lands. The upper castle,
now inhabited by Orkefkes, our friends, he was directed
not to disturb. With him I sent Mr. Deane, who bore
my anwer to the Oneidas. I then detached Colonel
Butler with fix hundred men to destroy the Cayuga
country, and with him sent all the Indian warriors,
who said if they could find the Cayugas they would
endeavour to persuade them to deliver themselves up
as prisoners ; the Chief of them called Tegattelawana,
being a near relation to the Sachem I then crossed the
Seneca river, and detached Col Dearborme to the weft fide
of the Cayuga lake, to destroy all the feftlements which
might be found there, and to intercept the Cayugas, if
they attempted to escape Col. Butler. The residue of the
army putting on between the lakes towards Katherine's.
Col. Dearborns burnt in his rout fix towns, which, in
cluding one which had been before partly destroyed by a
small party; destroy ng at the fame time large quantities
of corn. He took an Indian lad aud three women prison
ers ; ,one of the women being very ancient, and the lad a
cripple, he left them, a^d brought on the other two, and
joined the army on the evening of the 26th. Col. Cortland
was then detached with 300 men up the Tioga branch, to
seek for fettiements in that quarter ; and in the space of
two days destroyed several fields of corn, and burnt seve
ral houses. Col. Butler joined the army on the 28th,
whereby a compleat jund.ion was formed at Conowaloha
la, on the 29th day after our leaving Newtown. Here we
were met by a plenty of provisions from Teaoga, which t
had previously dire&ed to be sent on. Col. Butler destroy
ed in the Cayuga country five principal towns and a num
ber of scattering houses, the whole making about one hun
dred in number, exceedingly large and well built. He al
so destroyed two hundred acres of excellent corn, with a
number of orchards, one of which had in it 1500 fruit
trees. Another Indian settlement, was difeovered near
Newtown by a party, consisting of 39 new houses, which
was also destroyed. The number of towns destroyed by
this army, amounts to 40, besides scattering houses. The
quantity of corn destroyed, at a moderate computation,muft
amount to 160,000 bushels, with a vast quantity of vegi
tables of every kind. Every creek and river has been traced.
The army moved on that day to the castle Taft menti
oned, which consisted of 25 houses, and had very exten
sive fields of corn, which being destroyed, we moved on
the next day to Chinefee, crossing in our rout a deep creek
and the Little Seneca river; and after marching fix miles
we reached the Callle, which consisted of 128 houses, most
ly very large and elegant. The town was beautifully situ
ated, almost encircled with a clear fiat which extends for
a number of miles, where the most extensive fields of corn
were, and every kind of vegetable that can be conceived.
The whole army was immediately engaged in deftroyhig
the crops. The corn was collected aud burned in hoyfes
and kilns, that the enemy might not reap the least advan
tage from it, which method we have pursued in every
other place. Here a Woman came to us who had been cap
tured at Wyoming. She informed us the enemy .Mad eva
cuated the town two days before; that butler at the fame
time went off with three or four hundred Indians and Ran
gers, as he said, to get a shot at our army. This was
Undoubtedly the party which cut off Lieutenant Boyd.
She mentioned, they kept ruhners conftatitly out, ana tnal
when our army was in motion the intelligence was com
municated by a yell, immediately on which the greatest
terror and confufion apparently tock place among them.
She said, the women were constantly begging the warriors
to sue for peace, and that one of the Indians had attempt
ed to flioot Col. Johnson fur the falfhoods by which he had
deceived and ruined them; that file overheard Butler tell
ing Johnson it was impassible to keep the Indians together
after the battle of Newtown ; that he thought they must
soon be in a miserable situation, as all their crops would
be destroyed, and that Canada could not supply them with
provisions at Niagara ; that he would endeavour to collect
the warriors to assist in the defence of that fort, which he
was of an opinion this army would lay siege to, and the
women and children he would fend into Canada. After
having destroyed this town ; beyond which I was inform
ed ther^ was no settlement, and destroyed all their h®ufes
and crops in that quarter, the army having been advancing
seventeen days with the supply of provisions before - menti
oned, and that much reduced on the march by accidents,
and the Cayuga country being as yet impenetrated, I
thought it necessary to return as soon as possible, in order
th effect the deftrudion of the settlements in that quarter.
The army therefore began its march for Konadafagea the
eighteenth day from its leaving Newtown. At Konada
fagea I was met by a Sachem from Oneida and three war
riors, one of whom I had sent from Katherine's with a let
ter, a copy of which I have the honor to inclofe Congress;
they delivered me a message from the warriors of that na
tion refpeding the Cayugas ; copies of that, and my an
swer, 1 also enclose. Fr@m this place I detached Colonel
Smith with a party down the weft fide of Seneca Lake, to
destroy the corn which had been cut down, and to destroy
any thing further which might be difeovered there. I then
detached Col. Ganfworth with one hundred men to Alba
ny to forward the baggage of the York regiments to the
main army, and to take with him such foidiers as were at
that place. I directed him to destroy the lower Mohawk
cattle in his route, and capture the inhabitants, consisting
only of fix or seven families, who were constantly employ
ed in giving intelligence to the enemy, and in fuppertiog
their scouting parties when making incursions on our fron
tiers. When the Mohawks joined the enemy those lew
enable them to ad with more agility in the field; most of
them appeared to have appertained to the Rangers. Ano
ther reason which induces me to suppose they fuffered much
was, the unparalleled tortures they mfli€ttd upon the brave
and unfortunate Boid, whole body, with that of his equally
unfortunate companion, we found at Chinefee. It appear
ed they had whipped them in tne molt cruel manner, pull
ed out Mr. Boid's nails, cut off his nose, plucked out one
of his eyes, cut out his tongue, stabbed him with spears in
sundry places, and infiided other tortures which decency
will not permit me to mention; lastly, cut off his head,
and left his body on the ground with mat of his unfortu
nate companion, who appeared to have experienced near:
ly the fame savage barbarity. The party which, it seems,
Mr. Boid fell in with, was commanded by Butler, and had
been polled on an advantageous piece of ground, in order
to fire upon cur army when advancing ; but found their
design fruftated by the appearance of tuis party in their
rear.