The New York herald., 1878-08-14
Dedication Of a Monument in Memory Of Its
Revolutionary History.
BURNED BY BRANT'S BRAVES.
Fate 0! a Frontier Outpost Whose Inhabitants
Resisted English Tyranny.
CELERY VALLEY, n. Y, Angus. l2, ls7a

pletion Of century since the massacre that devss-
tated this Ans valley the llth OF November ITS
Cherry Valley organized from the town OF CanrJo
harie, Montgomery county. on February To- 1871,
moro than half century after the nrst settlement
was made within its borderG 1t retained It's original
dimensions until 1897 when the towns OF M'ddehed,
Springfield ana Worcester were set on and II was
sill further reduced in by tho erection Of Rose
boom in 1854. Its surface is generally hiiy; Mount
Independence attains elevation OF about Two thou
sand iest above lido lovo and is the highest summit
IN Otseeo county. The wners OF the centre and south
part OF ine now into the Susquchanna, while tho
northern part drained BY tributaries OF the Mohawk.
Tue soil FERTILE particularly In the Valleys where
found many Of the finest farms in the county. The
history OF Cherry Valley from the planting OF civza
by John Lndssy In 174o down to tho Revolution,
10 record OF pioneer lie. with It's attendant priva
mons and .inconvenenees The courageous spirits
who penetrated the forest aud were earning for them
selves homes and rearing families had thus far been
unmo'estsd by the roaming savageA 1t was season
u comparative repose Tho grand old hills pie
,urssque IN their primsval sarO. the soil which had
been laid bare by the husbandman found TO yield
In abundance, the Inhabitants were those OF sterling
character, Christianity was railing guido and tho
little settlement OF Cherry Valley was rapidly ad-
vancing in importance, with every indication OF an
exceedingly prosperous iuture
ise VANS sTERN ALARMs.
The breaking out of the Revolution and the menaclng
alliance OF the Six Nations to The English crown
brought this dream OF peace 10 Close and from that
Time 10 the fatal hour OF the massacre was period Of
apprehension and alarm. The savages, who bad here
tofors treated The settlers with uniform kind
esss. new began TO show signs OF preju-.
dice. which were soon developed into intense
nifty By Johnsons and their coserie Of counsslors
No other representative OF England welded In
Guencs among the Indians OF this land equal 10 that
or Sir William johnson. He cnmc to this country
when twenty years OF ago TO superintend an estate
bcioE to his uuois Sir Peter Warren located In
tho Mohawk valioy. Young Johnson soon sue.
ssedsd In gaining tho friendship OF the Monawk Iu
dams, and eventually, through the diplomacy which
subsequently gave him an snyiabie reputation, con-
troled nearly every tribe e the dusky legion Of the
confedcracy. This was the situation OF Affairs when
nrst gun fred ~ Concord, aud from bAs heur
when the intelligence reached HIM Of the conflict, he
directly indirectly the savage spirit OF the
Indian against lns coonists; and 10 him. moro ihan
other ono man, attributed the border wars OF
she RevsIuriop which for cruelty aad nhumsnisy are
unparalleled In the annals OF country. AZ Cherry
Valley WAS the principal settlement IN the country
south OF the Mohawk IL was greatly exposed TO the
lncursons OF tho Indians from the south, ono OF
lrsqusntsd trails passed through the village 10
guard the people against auy attack which might be
summer OF i776 By Robert McKean, oi that village.
~lme passed on and indications OF attack being
10 remove. This accustomed much surprise, as one
Brapt, chief Of the hshswkss MAS known 10 b hoe.
lists ana the terisa is,tsr bearing date June. g.
l776, Was written by the Rev samuel Dunlop 70 the
Town committee asking Tor the rc.ent,on Of captain
Mexican and his rangers, but ~ the committee oouid
DO nothing petition. signsd by all the coonisss IN
iavor. Of their county's freedom, wa: sent 10 tho
Provincial Legislature OF New York on July asking
tor protection This petition was granted, and CON-
pany oil rangers. under command OF Captain VIM,
was ordered s,aLionod at tho piscs StI tho settle
mont not In q satisfactory condition Tor dsienee
and it was deemed sxpedieat 10 erect iorti0-
cation. The house oi Colonel Samuel Camp
bell which occupied - commanding position
on elevated ground was selected Tor the
o, .aa sO"s Mnos sn,os 2, no sos
tbc house, two large barns and Two niockhoussS
which were subsequently, erected THIS was the oHly
forincaiior in the settlement until 117S whom fort
was bu, by the droclion OF General Lafayette at shs
ssrnes. solicitation OF Colonel Campbell
ARANT IN AMBUSH
Judge William w. Campbell, thc grandson OF Colonel
Campbell who resides here, relates tho following in
ali tbs exercises and sports were OF military nature
tho younger boys In Imitation OF their edors formed
themselves intoa military company. Those who were
acquainted with military cvosutiOns instructed them.
Armed with wooden guns, they paraded with oil The
pride OF soldier. II was nne pleasant morning. to-
ward the latter part o May, I716, that those miniature
soldiers sailed out and paradcd up on the grecn' cast
OF the house. That morning Brant having come mp
them upon the Mil abou: mile furiher east, and,
concealed by the thick woods which covered IT, Was
looking aown upon Tho little fort,neaiion His inten
tion, as alerward exclaimed by tory VINO aocomps-
MED him. was 10 make an attack tho following night
abd other to Kill or carry away prisoners
vomo OF the principal persons, and especially
the town commnses. This ssgas,ous wnrrier was
deceived when lie said this lhtIe company OF boys.
ioQk ng down from elevation, ana The view being
obstructcd by the trcos, he supposed them to be
men Turning round TO his followers. he remarked,
perccivs' During The day hcascsrainsd that tho In
hnbiants were In garrison, but that no militia or
deaui,s as TO the force and tho prepara-
tons for defence hc moved hts party 70 place near
tho main rosd Leading 10 tho Mohawk river, abou!
two miles the north. Here no laid In wait behind
large rock. A short disiapcc from this the road
vodhd along near the top Of ledge Of rocks forming
q procipice i50 feet high. II was shaded by ever.
greens and was dark even ut midday. Its wildnsss
increased by the dashine OF small stream which
rsils Of ihs rexnnarawa That day L,eu,ehsnt worm
wood came up from tho Mopawk River and informed
me garrison ma. ooioneI h'ocs !ou,a a, a,rss 70
militia IL was almost night whom he started
TO return, accompanied by Pstor smz the bearer OF
certain dispatches to General washington, and,
throwing down his pertcmantsau he mounted hts
horse, saying he should not need u until his return
on the morrow with his company The nne per.
sonal appear Of this youag o1cer, VINO was clad
In . rich SUIT OF velvet nttracted much attention
coor looking al Tho horscmen NTH ,hey were hidden
by the hill over which they passed The clauering
OF n.ois had scarcely died swny upon tho car when
The report OF voiley OF musketry wus heard. Soon
alter Wormwood's horse returned The saddie was
covered with blood, which excited fears as to ms
fate but too well founded. party went out that
evening, but could nske no discoveries. Tho next
morning tho body was found behind the rock before
mentioned. rhey had arrived near the rock, when
they we're nailed and ordered 70 stop Disregarding
tho order tho Indians Immediately bred. NORWOOD
was wounded and isll from his morse, when Brant,
cbief OF the Mobawks. rushing out. totnahawked him
with hts own hands and tnen scaipsd him."
BKAST SoT SAVAGE.
Thougk k'Brant was considered q mcrciIess savage
sud has by writer's bcen stigmatzed As heart
iess wretch, tnere are many instances on record
whsrc he conducted himself In manser entirely mt
variance With this character. Ii Is related Of him
that when he burned sprnxne'd. in the summer OF
IT'S, ne gathered togetner the woman and children
and lett them uuhsrrned.
AN NErriciKyT pyyEssivg WATCH.
In the sumner o, ITS Colonel Iohsvod Alden,
with regiment OF Contincnls soisters, was ordered
20 Cherry Valley and took msnd OF ths FORT Pro
cautiouary measures wero At once adopted Tor the
safety OF tho settlement and stockadcs wero placed
around the church Dy tho militia nnd rangers. ln
OCTOBER ITS Iudian interpreter aud agent named
Dean informed Major Cocnersne, then In command OF
Fort SchuyIc Ter, that attack was intended on tho