Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-08-22
The Battle Of Oriskany.

patriot forces in the State of New York
had become one Of pressing peril. II
conderogn had been lost. There were
five counties in possession Of the me
my in three others there vas neither
order nor government Tyron county
prayed for assistance IN Westminster
the militia were caring for their W
defense. Menaced," says Bancroft,
from the Susquehanna to Lake Cham
plain, and on every part of the Hudson,
New York became the battlefield for
the life of the young republic" The
demands made upon Washington for
succor were such as he found it inpossi-
bic to comply with. He had already
conceded to the northern department
more than its share OF men and sup
plies. He had the country to guard
from the Hudson to Maryland. He
however ordered Arnold to the north,
and also Lincoln, who was popular with
the eastern soldiers, and a brigade Of
continental troops under Glover. He
wrote to Schuyler, who apprehendcd the
advance of BuIgoyne, never to de
spair :" he promised that Arnold should
20 to the relief of Fort Stanwix and
to the council Of New York he predicted
that the success of Burgoync would be
temporary.
To add to the difficulties of the situa-
ton, the British were employing the
Indian warriors Of the Mohawk valley
in considerable numbers. About one
thousand braves had joined the white
brigade Of st. Leger. Advancing from
Montreal by the way Of Oswcgo he en-
countcred ut the division of the waters
of the st. Lawrence and the Hudson II
fortress garrisoned by six or seven hun
drcd men under Lieut.. Col. G~ansevoort.
Information was received that Hcrki-
mer and the militia of Tyron county
were marching TO their relief. The in
vcsting forces numbered some seven
teen hundred men, including a large
number Of Mohawk Indians under
Brandt, and of American tories under
Sir Willis j. johnson and the wcll-known
Butler. Active hostilities were com
menccd on the Ith Of August, and con
tinucd on the 9TH. Hcrkimcr, who had
with HIM Thomas Spencer, Il faithful
sachem Of the Oncidas, crossed the Mo-
hawk ut the present site Of Utica, and
on the 9th cncampcd mt Orisklny, near
the present village Of Whitesborough.
From this point Gen. Herkimor sent
messages to announce to Col. Ganse-
WORT his approach, and to concert
measures of cooperation. st. Lcgcr,
who was in possession of the same in
formation, sent forward II detachment
under Sir John Johnson, with all
tkr,N 49, 10 l.. "a "a ,AA - !
progress. The savage commander laid
an ambush of his warriors when within
six miles of the fort. Into this ambus-
cade the van of the American forces
carelcssly entered front and flank. They
were attacked with great iierccncss, but,
falling back to n better position, the
patriot troops renewed the fight. All
accounts concur in describing the action
as severely contested. Gen. Herkimer
was severely wounded by II musket ball,
which killed his horse and shattered his
OWN leg. He remained on the ground,
however, and gave his orders to the end,
seated upon his saddle, which had been
removed from his horse, and smoked
his old clay pipe A heavy thunder
storm enabled the little band, by inter
rupting the battle, to attain II more
favorable position. At one period the
Indians were wavering before the per-
slstcnt attacks of the patriots, when a
band of tories, dispatched 10y st. Lcger,
came to the relief of these allies. Fort
StanwiN Tor Schuyler, it is to be noticed,
was at this time without II flag but the
garrison had information of the ensign
which had been adopted by the Cont
mental Congress, and the brave defend
erS manufactured q banner as best they
might out of their shirts and bits Of scar
let and blue cloth, SO that before sun
set on the ID of August the stars and
stripes were floating over one Of the
hastions.
Gen. Gansevoort had received in
formation from Gen. Herkimer that he
intended ON hearing the signals To- cut
his way to the fort through the cncmy's
camp, and desiring him to make Il sor-
tie ut the same time. The detachment,
consisting of two hundred and fifty
men, half of New York and half of
Massachusetts, under the command of
Lieut.. Col. Marinus Willctt, made Il
sally in the direction of Oriskany They
took with them an iron thrcc-pouudcr.
Rain was falling ~copiously at the mo-
ment, but ii ceased before Wilictt's little
band left the fort, The daring courage
Of the leader had been proved upon
previous occasions, and was noblv dis
played upon this. Passing through the
quarters of the " Workers, the rangers,
and the Sayagcs, they captured Sir John
JohnSon'S papers. five British flags,
other plumber. and our prisoners, So
suddenly was Sir Johns camp assaulted
that he had not time to put on his coat.
He fled across the river to the camp of