The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-17
THE HISTORY OF CHEMUNG VALLEY
Adventures of the acknowledgements
tOwn-Red Jacket.

An interesting pamphlet entitled "An Histori-
callSketch OF Chemung Valley, etc., by I. Napo-
leon Cheney" has been published at Watkins, in
this State, the authors residence. 1t gives an
account of the early settlement of that beautiful
region, with such notices of its history before il
was occupied by the white race as can be
gathered from the records of the French and
knglish expeditions and explorations of the
country, and from its first colonization by the
whites brings down the narrative TO the present
day.
DR.. Cheney has shown great research in
gathering materials for his work, aud has col
lee ed a pass of information which has enabled
him to construct q narrative more capable of
fixing the attention of the general reader than
such local histories commonly are. Yet let us
2ot speak dlsrespectfully of local histories.
Some writer's have earned great fame In writirg
them. Camden's Britannia is wholly composed
of special histories of the different counties of
Great Britain, and is read yet with interest. The
annals of the Chemung Valley, during the first
twenty or thirty years OF its occupation by a
civilized race, were exceedingly eventfu aud
the adventures of some of its hardy colonsts
are full of interest. We copy the narrative of
one of these:-
'Colonel Campbell returned, with bis family,
to Cherry Valley in the spring of 1884. and to-
wards the close Of summer ne constructed log
house on his farm, as place OF residence. Soon
after he had moved into the log dwelling-for on
his first return TO the valley he had hastily put
up rude cabin in which the family lived until
the more substantial leg building was erected
he received information that General Washing
"
through Cherry Valley, etc. Colonel Campbell
received the visit of the illustrious Washington
who was accompanied by Governor George Cln-
ton, General Hand, etc., within the log house
pushed guests of this worthy family were
more generous and cordial feeling, than
amid the courts of Europe. Governor Clinton
sent for Mr.. Robert Shankiand, who was a
resident OF the vicinity, and had been dstn-
gushed in the time. of the Revolution as one of
most earnest and daring patriots along the from
tier, and the bold borderer soon came and joined
in the pleasant diversions Of the party. When
Cherry Valley was attacked by the Indians, and
destroyed, Mr.. Shanklands house, which was
situated in a remote part of the settlement,
escaped the devastation that awaited all the
buildings within the village; Mr.. Shankland fed,
with his family, to the Mohawk Valley, but
returned in the ensuing year with son, Thomas
Shankland, then fourteen years of age, to his
former home. Soon after he had resumed resi-
0ence in his house, the Indians made an attack
upon it, but he bravely and successfully
defended this temporary fortress against
the assault OF the savages. The Indians
then brought comoustible materials and placed
them about the house, and then applied fire; the
building was soon completely enveloped in
flames; in the meanwhile his son had jun ped
out OF q window and fled towards the woods, but
was captured by the Indians, who surrounded
the crumbling domiciie upon every side. MIR.
Shankland effected a successful escape. AT
this time, during the visit made by General
Washington, the patriotic and fearless borderer
was requested to give narrative OF his exploits
while engaged Ill these partisan Conlicts-aDd
which he accordingly oid-contriOuting by his
narrative much to the enjoyment of the party.
During the visit of General Washington, gun
to which attached much interest in connection
with "reminiscences OF the Rev volutonary strug-
gle, was exhibited to the party. This
gun belonged to MIR. Joseph Mayall, patriot
residing at Laurens now included as one
of the towns OF Otsego county,. Mr.. Mayall had
| once, while returning from a hunting excursion,
met with party of three men whom he under
took, at their request to pilot across the Susque-
| hanna river, when, taxing advantage of his
situation while thus engaged in guiding the boat
over the stream, they took possession of his gun,
| and removed the lock from 1t, then informed
him that he must go TO Canada as their prisoner.
| The patriot demonstrated but without avail, and
| EN- mbracing favorable opportunity he seized his
| gun, with which he struck and killed one of the
| another of the enemy. and made his escape from
| the other loyast. This gun had been kept as u
memento OF this conflict; it had been much
shattered in the encounter, and 1t was now
| viewed by General Washington and his COM
panioDs in this journey with interest. While
General Washington and his party were staying
here, Governor Clinton incidentally inquired of
Mrs. Campbell in regard to the numOer of her
| children, aud upon informing him how many
| she had, the Governor added in reply, They
| will make fine soldiers in time and iu answer
to this remark, Mrs. Campbell said that she
! hoped her country would never need their
servces;' when General Washington made the
concluding remark, Il hope so, too, madame;
ioI have seen enough Of war;
The pamphlet contains particular account of
the settlement of Cooperstown, with anecdotes
| OF Judge Cooper, the father of Fenimore Cooper,
and Of his eminent son. Talleyrand, it seems,
! while in exile, was O visitor TO this place, and
here the willy 6ipomatist. then in bis early
manhood, amused himself with such light tasks
as celebrating young ladies in acrostics:-
This place has also been visited at various
times by other distinguished gentlemen.
! Talleyrand, the eminent diplomatist, during his
sojOurn in our country, had passed number of
days in the village of CooperetowD, making his
home, whilst here, beneath the hospnabe roof
OF Judge Cooper. An acrostic, written TO Miss
Anna Cooper. and which was inserted in the
| Otseeo Herald of October 2, 1876, has been
ascribed to the facle pen of the accomplishe d
French dplomatist. This verse commenced as
| iOlloWs:-
| G"'Amiable philosophe, an prlntems du son age.'
"It may be mentioned that Miss Cooper, to
| whom these lines were addressed, was killed in
| falling from horse in the town of Butternuts,
| on the 18th of September, 1900; and her funeral
| sermon was preached 6y Rev. D. Nash, aud she
! was buried in accordance with the rites OF the
| Protestant Episcopal Church, then for the first
| time performed in the village of Coopersto wn.
1t Is said that Taleyrand was much delighted
with bis visit here, in the midst OF the quiet and
romantic scenery of the 0tseeo Lake, and ming
ing In society which might challenge favorable
con p9rson with the aristocraCy OF the proud
The indian chief Red Jacket Was q native O.