The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-08
From the New York Tribune
THE BATTLE OF oRIsKANY.

luton ansevoort, Herkimer, willott and
Arnold.
In July, 1777, the position of the patriot
army in the state of New York had become
one of pressing peril. Ticonderoga had
been lost. There were five counties in pos
session of the enemy; in three others there
was neither order nor government Tryon
county prayed for assistance in Westches-
ter the militia were caring for their own
defense. "Menaced, says Bancroft, 'from
the Susquehanna to Lake Champlan, 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 1t impossible to comply with. He
had already conceded to the northern de-
partment more than its share of men and
supplies. He had the country TO guard
from the Hudson to Maryland. He, how
ever, ordered Arnold to the north, and al
so Lincoln, who was popular with the east
ern soldiers, and brigade Of continental
troops under Glover. He wrote to Schuy-
Ter, who apprehended the advance of Bur
goyne, ''never to despair :" he promised
that Arnold should go to the Ieliet of Fort
Stanwix and to the council of New York
he predicted that the success of Burgoyne
would be temporary.
To add to the difficulties of the situation,
the British were employing the Indan war
riors OF the Mohawk valley in considerable
| numbers. About 1 900 braves had Joined
the white brigade of st. Leger. Advanc-
ing from Montreal by the way of Oswego,
| he encountered at the division of the waters
| of the st. Lawrence and the Hudson for
tress garrisoned by GOO to 700 men under
Lieut-Col. GausevOort. Information was
received that Herkimer and the militia of
Tyron county were marching to their re-
| lief. The investing forces numbered some
LOO men, including large number of Mo-
hawk Indians under Brandt, and of Amer
| lean tories under Sir William johnson, and
| the well known Butler. Active hostlites
| were commenced on the 4th of August, and
| continued on the 9th. Herkimer, who had
| with him Thomas Spencer, faithful sachem
| Of the Oneidas, crossed the Mohawk at the
present site of Utica, and on the 9th en-
| camped at Oriskany. near the present viii
lage of Whitesborough. From this point
Gen. Herkimer sent messages to announce
to Col. Gansevoort his approach, and to
concert measures of cooperation. st. Lee
| ger, who was in possession of the same in
| formation, sent forward detachment I'M
| der Sir John Johnson, with all Brandt's In
dams, 10 intercept his progress. The saw
| age commander laid an ambush of his war
riors when within six miles Of the fort.
| Into this ambuscade the van of the Ameri-
can forces carelessly entered front and
| flank. They were attacked with great
| tierceness, but, falling back TO a better po-
sition, the patriot troops renewed the fight.
All accounts concur in describing the ac-
ton as severely contested. Gen. Herkimer
was severely wounded by musket ball,
which killed his horse and shattered his own
| leg. He remained on the ground, how
ever, and gave his orders to the end, seated
| upon his saddle, which had been removed
| from his horse, and smoking his old clay
pipe" A heavy thunderstorm enabled the
little band, by interrupting the battle, to
attain a more favorable position. At one
period the Indians were wavering before
the persistent attacks of the patriots, when
a band of Tories, dispatched by st. Leger,
came to the relief of these allies. Fort
Stanwix Cor Schuyler it is to be noticed,
was at this time without flag but the
garrison had information of the ensign
which had been adopted by the continental
congress, and the brave defenders manufac-
tured banner as best they might out of
their shirts and bits of scarlet aud blue
cloth, so that before sunset on the Cd of
August the stars aud stripes were floating
over one of the bsstions.
Gen. GansevoOrt had received informa-
ton from Gen. Herkimer that he intended,
on hearing the signals, to cut his way to
the fort through the enemy's camp, and de-
| string him to make q sortie at the same
time. The detachment, consisting of $50
men, half of New York and half Of Massa.
chusetts, under the command of Lieut.. Col
Marinus Willett, made sally in the drec-
ton of Oriskany. They took with them
an iron three FOUNDER. Rain was falling
copiously at the moment, but il ceased be-
fore Willett's little band left the fort. The
daring courage of the leader had been
pioved upon previous occasions, and was
nobly displayed upon this. Passing through
the quarters of the workers" the rangers
and the savages, they captured Sir Johr
Johnson's papers, five British flags, other
plumber aud four prisoners. So suddenly
was Sir Johns camp assailed that he haC
not time to put on his coat. He fled across
thd river to the temporary camp of ST.
Leger. The party of Willelt returned tc
the fort with q wagon loads of spoil and
the Americans did not lose a man. The
five British colors were raised in full view
of the enemy below the unfurled American
standard, and the garrison, mounting the
parapeis gave three rousing cheers. Fol
this exploit congress presented to Col. Will
lett an elegant sword.
Meanwhile the battle between the maiI
bodies was renewed at Oriskany. Tho
struggle is said to have been terrible, and
in consequence of the presence of the In
dams, to have been marked by peculiar
brutality and cruelty. OF Herkimert
forces 1t is stated that over fourth were
killed outright, while the Tories and Iu
diaps suffered still more severely. TIT
combatants, it ia stated, ''leaped upon eact
other with the ferceness Of tigers ant
fought hand to foot with bayonets ant
knives" The conflict lasted for six hours
and it was the bloodiest encounter in pro
portion to the number engaged, that occur
red during the war. Nor could either par
ty claim decided victory. The patriots
remained masters of the field, but the for
was not then relieved. Gen. Herkime
was taken to his residence below Littl
Falls on the Mohawk, where he died II
days afterwards. His death Is said to hav,
been occasioned by the unskillful treatmen
of his surgeon. After his leg had been am
putsted Col. Willett called to see him, anC
| found him sitting ND In bed, cheerful an,