New Britain herald., 1929-07-16
HART STREET GIRL
 WINS ESSAY PRIZE
Writes Best Article on General Sullivan, Revolutionary Hero

postage stamp mas been won by FL rose U. Bickerton of 214 Hart street. Elrose is but nine years old and is the same girl who wrote letter to Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, receiving a reply from him, when he made his historical airplane trip across the At lantic.
 The prize winning essay is as fol- lows:
 Tn August of this year, the cities and towns in the Finger Lakes re- zion are celebrating the sequicenten- nial year of General John Sullivan s expedition against the British and SIX Nations, which took him through this land.
 General John Sullivan was born in Berwick, Maine, in the year 114o. He was the son of Irish immigrants He worked on his fathers farm in his very young life. He studied law, later, and had a large practice, owing probably, to his strong power of reasoning, easy elocution and clear voice, more than to his pro- found knowledge of law.
 About this time war was begin ming with the mother country. and men were leaving their positions to enter more exciting subjects of poli- ties and war.
 Sullivan received a commission as major of militia in 1772, car eer which occupied many years of his life. He did many brave and daring deeds for the colonists. He served on very important commit tees in congress. He was in com mand of troops at the Battle of BrandyWine and through some mis- take which he made charges were brought against him.
 The reproaches which were un- just rendered it necessary for him to appeal to those who witnssed his conduct during the battle. Lafay cite, who was wounded on this oc- casion, was one of these. George Washington was also witness Both these men sent testimonials. He was honorably acquitted by d court of inquiry.
 His greatest honor came when he marched against the Six Nations. They were the Mohawsk. Oneidas Gnondagas, Cayagus, Senecas and TuScaroraS Qater called Iroquois by the French.) The Six Nations had been asked by the coIonists to re- main neutral. but with the eXcep- ton of portion of the One1das J | l., Americans.
 After the messacres of Wyom- ing and Cherry Valley. Washington began to plan new way 10 invade their country. He gave the com mand to General Sullivan, with or ders to completely destroy the set dement's of~the Six Nations and cap ture as many prisoners as possible. The main body of the army were to meet in Wyoming and then go on to Tioga, the nearest route to the heart of the Indian settlements.
 The army began it's march into the vast wilderness with Indian spies watching them. The first con tact came at Newtown. The Sene- cas and six other tribes were on the field under the command of Joseph Brant. Although the number Of dead and wounded is not known it is believed to be much larger than six dead and fifty wounded, which was the loss suffered by the Ameri- can forces. Thus, on Sunday, Aug ust %, 11T9, the white man and the red came together in battle ami for the first time in history cannon woke echoes between hills of the lake region.
 The Americans were victorious and red men and Britons fled The torch was borne everywhere and settlements and fields of growing grain were destroyed. On this bat tlefeld in 1912 monument was erected to General Sullivan.
 Red Man Wiped Out
 After the battle of Newtown, Sullivan's troops moved up the east side of Seneca lake destroying crops and villages, as they went. At Gen. eva they turned westward going as far as Genescc country in their march of ruin. Part Of the western side of Seneca lake was also laid to waste, also along both sides of Cay uga lake. and past Owasco and Skaneatelcs lakes.
 Present towns which once felt the tread of Sullivan's soldiers are Auburn, Gneva, Elmira, Ithaca, NInnf0ur 'al Ipfn laken, Waterloo, Watkins Glen and many others. The majority of these towns occupy sites of Indian villages that were burned. All of them were chiefly built by Revolutionary sol diers, drawn to the military tracts by the wonderful stories told by Sul- lNan's returning veterans.
 And still other communities of this region where soldiers never passed owe their settlement also 10 Sullivan's campaign which opened up the Great West" to civilization.
 Tn this sequi- centennial year the state of New York will place several hundred markers to designate where the greatest American offensive mili- tary movement in the Revolution woke the forest fastness Of the Fin ger lake region q century and a half ago with crackle of musketry. Among these lakes this mighty ex- petition of Sullivan's found it's eli max and proved a turning point in war for independence"
 poo1 Ec4oto Nou,c