The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-07


secretary Whitehall Of the nrst quoncc anu II
had received marked attention any army which
kng George ever 10, loose upon mo coioulss For ITS
leader Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Lrscr had been
chosen by the King himself on Burroughs nomination
lie deserved the confidence II We judge by his advance
by his precautions by his str.tage AT Orskany and
the conduct Of the soge up tho panic tho rumor
that Arnold coming Inferior to 81. Iger Ia rank,
but superior 10 ham in natural powers and personal
magnetism, was Joseph Brant Thaycrdanegca chief Of
ihe Mohiwks He had been active arraying the six
nations on the side OF King George. and oniy the
Oncdas and Iuscarorus had refused 10 follow his lead
Among Tho Indians he was prc-cni.ncnt, and IN any
circle 10 would have been conspicuous.
The forces were like the leaders and we're especially
Designated by orders from headquarters Briiain.
St. Lcger cnumerAtes bis artcry, the thirty. fourth
and the whole corps OF Indians" with him. while his
advance, cons sting OF detachment under Lieutenant
Bird, had gone before, and ho rest of the army led
by Sir John Johns son, days march tho
Johnson's whoic regiment was with him. together
with Buffers Tory rangers, with At least company
OF Canadians. The country from Scioharie westward
had been secured Of oyasts to add 10 tn column
For such an expedition tho force could have been
better chosen. Tho pct name OF the ''klng's rcgi-
mont" Is significant The artillery such could
be carried by bout and adapted 10 the
fore IT, II had been especially designated from White
soldiers Tho lncians- were the terror OF the land
Altogether the corps counted no. less than 100 gnt
Ing men With this force ST. Legcr was sure the fort
would "iall without single shot"
tux PATRIOT RISING
ST. Lcger was therefore surprised we'll as annoyed
by tho news that tho settlers the Mohawk had been
aroused aud we're marching haste 10 relieve fort
he found that his path to JON Burgoync be
tested. Ho watched by skul SCOUTS the gathering OF
the PATRIOTS lhc,r quick and somewhat irregular as
scmbing; he knew Of. their march from Fort Day
and Their malt AT Orskany Brant told him that they
advanced, bravo, unframed militia without throw
ing out skrmshers, and WITH Indian guile ths Mohawk
chose the pass IN which an ambush should be sct
them. Tho BRUSH commander guarded the way for
several miles from his position by scouts within speak
Ing distance of each other. He knew tho importance
OF h's movement aud ne was guilty OF no neglect
PATRIOT MOVEMENTS
The patriot forces werc neary all by blood Gcrmans
and Low Dutch with lew Of other natonaies. Tho
Foster so lar can now DO collected, indicates the
prcsehcc OF persons OF English, Scotch, Irish. Welsh
AMI French blood, but these are EXCEPTIONS and tho
majority or the force was, beyond question: Ger man.
They gathered from thor tarms ami clenrings carry
Ing their equipments with them. They met at Fort
Dayton, near tho mouth OF the West Canada Creek.
THIS post was hold NJ the time by part Of Colonel
NELSON'S Massachusetts regiment also represented in
the garrison at Fort Stanwix The little army d.
vidcd into tour regiments or battalious. rho hrst,
which hcrkiincr MAD once commanded, was now led
BY Colonel EbeneZer Cox, and from the district OF
CannJoharie; OF the second, from Paaline jacob
Klock WAS COLONEL the lhrd was under Colonel Fred
erlck Visscher, anu canio IRON Mohawk tho fourth,
gathered from German Flats and Kingsland, Peter
COUNCILS wcre divided whcthcr they would await for
further accesslons or pasten TO Fort stanwix Finally
Herkmer gave the order TO "march on"
THE FIGHT.
He led his littlo band II he had before been
cautious now he was audacious. His course lay on
the country loses the general level which tho rude
road sought to follow, when II could be found. For
three or IUur mis- rOso upon Valleys with
casona gueys The trickling spr,n2s aud the spring
fresnets mad cut than rsvino where. even la
tho summer, the water still moistcncd tho earth.
These toward the river from southerly toward the
NORTH Corduroy roads had boon constructed over
marshes for this was the limo OF such travel sought
Fort Stanwx aud the river otherwise IMAM
tho deepest OF these ravincs, ten or
twelve roas wide running narrower up 10 the hills At
the south, aud broadening toward tho Mohawk into
the fiat bottom land Where tho forests thick.
where tho rude roadway ran down into the marsh aud
Not In sodierly order, not watching against the
enemy out In rough haste, the 500 marched. They
reached tho ravnsat ten IN the morning Tho ad-
vance had gained the higher ground. Then, as 80
often, the woods became alive. Black eyes flashed
from behind every tree; rifles biazed from
Thousand unexpected coverts. The Indians
rushed out Ratchet III nand, decked In pai6t and
feathers The brave band WAS checked. 1t was cut
in Two. The assailan,s aimed nrst of all 10
seiZo the supply train Colonel Visscher, who
commanded ITS guard, showed his courage before
ani afer. and doubtless fought wc hore as the best
Informed descendants VI other heroes battle be-
licve. But his regiment was driven northward towsrd
the river was cut up " in great part captured with the
Sn1 I'm sne ma ms' Sos:
to back, shoulder 10 shoulder, they laced The toe
Where shelter could be had two stood together that
might fight ire while ths 0iher loanod Oflrn Aha
fight grow closer, and the knife ended tho personal
contest Eye 10 eye, hand to hand, this fight OF
men. Nerve and Drawn md muscle tho price oi
ute. Rifle and knife, spcar and tomahawk were the
only weapons or the clobbcd butt OF the rifle 1t
lest OF science, not weighing Of cngincry, not
anism. Men stood against death, and death struck at
them with the simplest implements
OF KLEMKArs.
During the carnage storm OF wind and rain and
lightning brought a respite. The elements caused
only short ui. In came at the thick Vi the strife
u detachment OF Johnson's Greens, and they sought
10 appear rein iorcencnts Tor tho patriots. They paid
dearly tor the fraud, for thirty were quickly killed
Captain Gardiner slew three with his spear ono after
the otucr. Captain Diiicnbach, assaulted by three
braiued one shot the other and bayOn0 ed the third
William Merckcy, morally wounded, to friend Of
nm. M Nuka .f
leave mo to my taIcn Such mon could not be whipped
The Indians, hnding they losing many, became
suspicious that their allies wished 20 destroy then
ana lrea on them. giving unexpected ard TO the pa
tr,ot baud Tradition relates that an Oneida mad,
only fifteen years Old daughter OF CHIEF, fought on
the OF the patriots, firing her rifle ana shouting
her battle The Indians raised the cry OF retreat
"Oonah !" "Oonah!" johnson hoard the firing OF a
s0rtie the Tort The Brush Tell back after ve
hours OF desperate fight. Herkimer and his gallant
mon held the ground.
soRrIE.
The sortie from Fort Stanwlx, which Herkimcr
p,cted was made avs soon AS mis- messengers arrived
They were delayed, aud yet got through al critical
moment. Colonel Wett made sally AT tho head OF
$50 men, totally routed TWO OF the cDeinys cncamp-
mcnis and Captured their contents, including live
British hags The exploit did not cost single patriot
life, whio at least six of the enemy were killed and
four made prisoners. IL aided 10 f0rco the British re
treat from OrIskany The captured 1ugs were noacd
beneath tue Stars and Stripes, fashioned in the fort
from cioaks and Shirts ana here for the first Time,
the flag OF tho Republic was raised In victory over
British col0rs
The slaughter at Orskauy was terrible. St Lcgcr
claims that 400 Of Herkimcrs werc killed aud 200
captured leaving only 200 TO escape. No such number
OF prisoners was ever accounted ior The Americans
admitted 200 kilied-one- fourth OF the Whole army
81 Lcger places the number OF Indians killed ut thirty
ana the Ike number wounded, including IavOrito
chiefs and confidential wirriors. IL Was doubte ss
greater for the Scnccas alone lost thirty Killed,
and in all the tribes Twice many must have been
killed.
Frghttul barbarit.cs were wrcaicd the bodies OF
the dead, the prisoners who tell ipto the hands
OF the Indians The patriots held the deld NJ tho close
OF the ght and were able to carry OF their Wounded
Among these was the niavc aud sturdy hcrkimcr, WHO
taken on litter of boughs 10 his nome, and, alter
suffering the smputaton Of his leg. died the l8.h Of
August like Christian nero. Oi the dead some AZ
least lay unburIed unul, egntec. days iac Arnold
column rendered to them mat last service.
Alter tho battle Colonel Samuel Campbell, aftcrwaru
Conspicuous In Otscso county, became senior officer
and organized the shattered PATRIOTS leading them in
good order 10 Fort Dayton. Their march was unno.
tested, Tor the hghtng capacity OF 81. Lcgcrs army
was exhausted ut OrIsAahy.
riiE sfhu.
81 Icgcrs advance was checked. HIS junction
Win Durgoync prevented The rising oil ioyalists
in.the valley did not occur He claimed indeed, the
''compricsl victoryn At Oriskany. He noIihcd tho
garrison mat burgoync victorious ut Albany and