Washington telegraph., 1856-02-20

~
Alas twas but to die.
In vain their rifles deadly flash
ScOrched eagle plume and wampum sash
The hatchet hissed on high:
AID down they fell in crimson heaps.
Like the r;pe the sickle reapsr
IN the spring of III. the celebrated In
8 dian chief, Brant, invaded New York from
Canada. with over FIVE hundred warriors.
Gen. Herkimer, who commanded a small
rarty of American troops. held conference
with Brant in an open field near UnadiIla
and endeavored 10 treat with the sava ees.
His attempt was unsuccessful and after a
stormy council, during which the Indians
were very insulting. the two forces separa-
ted. and Brant joined the British armv.
which. under the command of Sir John
Johnson. and Col John Butler, was Or
ganizng at Oswego, preparatory to an
expedition against the defenceless settle
meuts of the Schobarie aud Mohawk val
leys
Il is a stain upon the British character
(if such thing is pOs~ible) thar both in the
revolutionary war and the contest of 1872
the royal government hired savage butch
ers to follow their armies into the feld.-
During the Indian Outrases, many dreadful
massacres eOnhagrations and buteheries
were instigated aud allowed by British off
GERS and British agents. On this occasion
the Indians were invited to grand war
fea>t by the royal officers. and they then en-
listed a. enemies OF the patriotic cause
The fort at OswegO was crowded with the
grim sons Of the wilderness They were
furnished with say dresses. new arms. and
"fre-water in abundance, and before the
council concluded, the great tribes of the
Six Nations, numbering at that time sever
al thousand warriors, entered into firm al
8 lance with the British, and they agreed to
& fight Uu;il King George had subdued his re-
baIiou- subjects Each Indian was then
presented with gun, tomahawk, scalping
knife, brass kettle, a piece of gold. ana a
suit of scarlet clothes. In this manner
England engaged her savage allies 1t was
shameful bargain, but characteristic o. the
British government. noted for Its rapacIty.
cruelty and faithIessuess
kumCrs Of the British preparations reach
ed the patriot settlements in Tyrcn cou:ty.
and Col GansevOOrt. who commanded a
small half-inished fertilization known as
Fort Schuyler. implored the sid Of Congress
ard Of the State of New York. But at
that period the American army had enough
to do with the forces of England in the
field, and Congress could not afford much
assistance On the frs; of august. II77.
Gen St Leger, Cob Butler, and Brant.
with ever l.l00 British and Indians
commenced their invasion, and soon appear
ed before Fort Schuyler, Col GaHsevoort'S
force numbered seven hundred and fiftv
men- with few small cannon They had
no fag, But this latter article was soon
supplied: shirts were cut up for white
stripes and sewed upon the red lining of a
CLOAK belonging to one of the officers, anc
1t was thrown proudly out TO the forest
Wild
The siege Instantly commenced Bombs
we're thrown into the fort, while the sava-
geS with their rifles. watched every oppor-
tunIty for shot at the besieged. Every
night they hlled the air with horrible vefls
and endeayOred to set the works on fire
1he Americans, however, were not intimi-
GATED They refused to listen to st. Le-
gers summons TO surrender, and maintained
avi gOrOus defence
In the meantime. Gen. Herkimer, abrave
old soldier, rallied the militia of the sur
rounding country, and was soon on his way
to relieve the garrison, with force of eisiIt
hundred men But younger men endeay-
OTed 10 supercede MIN IN command They
leProached him for being too cautious, and
hnally charged the gallant officer with being
tory and coward. Colonels Cox and
Paris were loud in their taunts, but General
Herklmer answered calmly that he was
placed IN command as guardian and a
la'ner, and that the troops should not be led
into unnecessary danger. Accordingly he
advanced with great caution. at the same
time telling those who were so anxious to
lace the enemy. that he feared they would
De the first to retreat
On the morning of August 6. the patri-
ois neared the fort Herkimer found means
70 warn GansevoOrt of his approach, and
requested when he should hear the sound Of
guns, TO make sortie upon the British
camp St. Leger sent strong force TO
meet Herkimer. and formed strong am
Duscade for bis troops in narrow, deep "a
vine 1t was about 9 clock in the morn
ing, dark and sultry. when the relieving ar
ny entered the valley. In spite of the
denerals Instructions, the vanguard were
very careless. OF the ambuscade would have
neen discovered. One regiment of the force
FAD entered the ravine, when Brant gave
'ne signal, and his warriors, sounding the
war wh0op, poured in a CALLING volley frou
theIr rIses, and rushed forward, tornahawI
IN hand A portion of the militia, as Her
Almer predicted, instantly broke and fec
70 the rear. but those under Herkmer bold
y and firmly held their ground HetkiInel
was instantly wounded, and Col Cox ant
DaPt Van Slyk killed at the first fire
Herklmer was carried beneath beach tree
where, seated upon his saddle. be calmly di