The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-07-02
Gen. smiiivnn'. Expeditions into the Gene.
see valley.

ENptutbOu buto tine vsfut-
4 see valley.
Mr.. IIeadly, in his second volume
of "Washington and his Generals, u
describes in his usual felcitous style,
the expedition of Gen. Sullivan into
the Genesce Valley.
The Indians of the Five Nations
had committed terrible ravages on
our frontiers, and Sullivan was sent
to burn their villages in the wilder
ness, from the SusGuehanna TO the
Lake of the Iroouois. -The army
made its toilsome way, first through
the vast extent of woods from the
Delaware to the Susquehanna.
cat length the whole force assem-
blad at Wyoming, and on the 3lst
: of July took their final departure.
SO imposing a spectacle those sell
tudes never before witnessed. An
amy of three thousand men slowly
wound along the picturesque banks
Of tie SnSquehanna-now their va,
riegated uniforms sprinkling the
open fields with gay colors, and anon
their glittering bayonets fringing the
dark forest with light, while by their
side Hoated hundred and fifty boats,
laden with cannon and stores--slow-
ly stemming the sluggish stream.
Officers dashing along in their uni
forms, and small bodies of horse be-
tween the columns, completed the
scene-while exciting strains OF
martial music rose and fell in pro-
longed cadences on the summer air,
and swept, dying away, into the
deep soitudes. The gay song of the
oarsman, as he bent to his toll, min
glcd in with the hoarsc words OF
command, and like some wizard Gre
- - III ..---~.;~~" ~iIuerHesS,
the mighty pageant passed slowly
along> The hawk. flew screaming
from his erye at the sight, and the
Indian gazed with wonder and a
fright, as lie watched it from the
mountain-top, winding miles and
miles through the sweet valley, or
caught from afar the dealening roll
of the drum, and shrill blast of the
bugle. At night the boats were
moored to the shore, and the army
encamped beside them-the innu-
merable watch fires stretching for
miles along the river. AS the morn
ing sun rose over the green forest,
the drums beat the reveille through
out the camp, and again the pageant
of the day before commenced. Ev-
cry thing was in the freshness OF
summer vegetation, and the great
forest rolled its sea Of foliage over
their heads, atfording welcome
shelter from the heat of an August
sun. Thus, day after day, this host
toiled rSard, and on the twelfth
from the date Of their march, reach
Tioga. Here they entered on the In
dian settlement, and the work of de-
vastation commenced. Here also,
Clinton, coming down the Susque-
hama, joined them with his brigade
and when the head Of lis column
came in sight of the main army, and
the boats iloated into view, there
went up such shout as never before
shook that wilderness.
"Sulivan in the mean time had
destroyed the village Of Chemung ,
and Clinton, on his passage, had laid
waste the settlement of the Ononda-
gas. The whole army, now a.
mounting to nearly five thousand
men, marched on the 2Gth of August
up the Tioga river, destroying a, it
went. Having reached Seneca
Lake, they followed its shores north
ward to kendata, beautiful Indian
village, with painted houses and
monuments for the dead, and richly
cultivated fields. 1t smiled like an
oasis there in the wilderness; but the
smoke Of the connagration soon
wrapped it, and when the sun again
shonc upon it, smouldering heap
alone .remained-the waving corn
had disappeared with the dwellings,
and the cattle lay slaughtered a.
round. Our troops moved like an
awful, resistless scourge through this
rich country--open and beautiful
fields and smiling villages were be-
fore them-behind them a ruinous
waste. Now and then, detachments
sent off from the main body were at
tackled, and on one occasion seven
slain; and once or twice tho Indians
threatened to make stand for their
homes, but soon fled in despair, and
the army had it all their own way
The %,s,itol of the Senecas, town
consisting ofsixty houses, surround
ed with beautiful cornfelds and
orchards, was burned to the ground,
and the harvest destroyed. Canaan
daigua fell next, and then the army
stretched away'for the Genesee flats.
The fourth day itreached this beau.
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