thumb|350px|right|herkimer at the battle of oriskany, august 6, 1777. nicholas herkimer (herchheimer) (c. 1728âaugust 16, 1777) was a militia general in the american revolutionary war, who died of wounds after the battle of oriskany. ==early life and career== herkimer was the son of palatine german immigrants catherine petrie and johann jost herchheimer &ndash; one of various spellings &ndash; from the german electorate of the palatinate, living in german flats in the mohawk valley of the colony of new york, and the elder brother of captain johan host herkimer. he was of slender build, dark complexion, black hair, and not quite 6 feet tall. he could speak both german and iroquois. during the attack on german flatts in the french and indian war, he was involved in its defense. he was made a captain in the militia on january 5, 1758, and he repelled a second attack on german flatts in april of that year. herkimer built his new house in 1764 near the present day city of little falls on the south shore of the mohawk. he used a large number of slaves on his estate.falk, cynthia g. "forts, rum, slaves, and the herkimerâs rise to power in the mohawk valley," new york history, 89 (summer 2008), 221â34. ==american revolution== in july and august 1775 herkimer headed the tryon county committee of safety, and became colonel of the district militia. after the split in which loyalist militia members from the area withdrew to canada, he became a brigadier general in the tryon county militia by the provincial congress on september 5, 1776. in june 1776, he led 380 men of the tryon county militia to confront joseph brant at unadilla, new york. herkimer requested that the iroquois remain neutral while brant said the indians owed their loyalty to the king. when herkimer learned of the siege of fort stanwix to the west in late july 1777, he ordered the tryon county militia to assemble at fort dayton. he then marched them out to fort stanwix, about 28 miles to the west. his force marching in column was ambushed on august 6 by a mixed force of british regulars, tory militia, and mohawk indians in the battle of oriskany. herkimer's horse was shot, and he was seriously wounded. in spite of his injuries, he had himself propped up against a tree, lit his pipe, and directed him men in the battle, rallying them to avoid two panicked retreats. when they withdrew they carried him home. the brigade surgeon, william petrie, dressed herkimer's wound in the field and placed him on a litter. the wound quickly became infected, but the decision to amputate the leg was delayed for about ten days after the battle. the operation was performed by an inexperienced surgeon, robert johnson, because william petrie was wounded in the bat
1728_births 1777_deaths American_people_of_German_descent British_military_personnel_of_the_French_and_Indian_War Deaths_from_surgical_complications Military_personnel_killed_in_the_American_Revolutionary_War Militia_generals_in_the_American_Revolution New_York_militiamen_in_the_American_Revolution People_from_German_Flatts,_New_York