Chapter X

Expedition against the Mohawk Valley from Oswego--Despondency of the
people in Tryon County--Letter of John Jay--Arrest of several of the
disaffected--Flight of others to Canada--Schuyler's complaints of the
cowardice of the people--Great discouragements--Proclamation of General
Herkimer--Letter from Thomas Spencer--St. Leger's approach--Caution and
plan of his march--Diary of Lieut. Bird--Fort Stanwix invested--Colonel
Gansevoort takes command--Its deplorable condition--Gansevoort joined
by Willett--Story of Captain Gregg--Situation of the garrison--Arrival
of St. Leger--His proclamation--Burgoyne's affairs becoming
critical--Affair of Bennington--General Herkimer, with the Tryon County
militia, advances to the relief of Gansevoort--Battle of Oriskany--Bloody
upon both sides--Unexampled bravery of Captain Gardenier--Major
Watts--Dissatisfaction of the Indians--Sortie and success of Colonel
Willett--Death and character of General Herkimer.
209

CHAPTER XI.

Siege of Fort Schuyler continued--Forced letter from prisoners to Col.
Gansevoort--St. Leger summons the garrison to surrender--Refusal of
Gansevoort--Appeal of Sir John Johnson to the people of Tryon
County--Secret expedition of Colonel Willett and Major
Stockwell--Schuyler orders Arnold to the relief of Gansevoort--Willett
proceeds to Albany--Arrest of Walter Butler, and others, at German
Flats--Tried and convicted as a spy--Reprieved--Sent to
Albany--Escapes--Arnold's proclamation--Advance of the
besiegers--Uneasiness of the garrison--Sudden flight of St. Leger and
his forces--Stratagem of Arnold--Story of Hon-Yost Schuyler--Merriment
and mischief of the Indians--Arrival of Arnold at the Fort--The spoils
of victory--Public estimation of Gansevoort's services--Address to his
soldiers--His promotion--Address of his officers.
Page 249

CHAPTER XII.

Recurrence to the invasion of Burgoyne--General Schuyler again superseded
by Gates--Causes of this injustice--Battle of Stillwater--Both armies
entrench--Battle and victory of Behmus's Heights--Funeral of General
Frazer--Retreat of Burgoyne--Difficulties increasing upon him--His
capitulation--Meeting of Burgoyne and Gates--Deportment of Gates toward
Gen. Washington--Noble conduct of Gen. Schuyler.
265

CHAPTER XIII.

Sir Henry Clinton's attempt to co-operate with Burgoyne--Storming of Forts
Clinton and Montgomery--Burning of AEsopus--Review of military operations
elsewhere--Expedition to Peekskill--Of Gov. Tryon to Danbury--Progress
of Sir William Howe in Pennsylvania--Battle of Brandywine--Massacre of
the Paoli--Battle of Germantown--Death of Count Donop--Murder of Captain
Deitz and family at Berne--John Taylor--Lady Johnson ordered to leave
Albany--Exasperation of Sir John--Attempts to abduct Mr. Taylor--An
Indian and white man bribed to assassinate General Schuyler--Fresh
alarms in Tryon County--Address of Congress to the Six Nations--The
appeal produces no effect--Articles of confederation--Close of the year.
280

CHAPTER XIV.

Treaty of alliance with France--Policy of France--Incidents of the
Winter--Projected expedition against St Johns--Lafayette appointed to
the command of the North--Failure of the enterprise for lack of
means--Disappointment and chagrin of Lafayette--Unpleasant indications
respecting the Western Indians--Indian council at Johnstown--Attended
by Lafayette--Its proceedings--And result--Reward offered for Major
Carleton--Letter of Lafayette--He retires from the Northern
Department--Return of the loyalists for their families--Unopposed--Their
aggressions--Prisoners carried into Canada--Their fate--Re-appearance
of Brant at Oghkwaga and Unadilla--Anecdote of Brant--Comparative
cruelty of the Tories and Indians--Murder of a family--Exposed situation
of the people--Captain McKean--Sends a challenge to Brant--Burning of
Springfield--First battle in Schoharie.
298