Posted on 08/08/2012 7:13:57 AM PDT by Pharmboy
ORISKANY—Nearly 200 people gathered Monday to remember the 235th anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles during the Revolutionary War at The Battle of Oriskany.
It was a commemorative ceremony held by members of the Oneida Nation and representatives from the National Parks Service at Fort Stanwix.
During the ceremony flags were lowered to half-staff, wreaths were placed at the monument, and men wore military costumes while firing off muskets.
“There were hundreds of people who lost their lives here in this battle and it’s really important to remember those people who gave their lives for our freedom today,” said Superintendent at Fort Stanwix National Monument Debbie Conway.
On that day in 1777 General Nicholas Herkimer along with 800 militiamen and 40 allied Oneidas marched from Fort Dayton to Oriskany to stop the British from invading Fort Stanwix. But the British found out about Herkimer’s plan and attacked the American troops in a ravine near Oriskany Creek.
Conway mentioned that if the British had won, they would have cut the colonies in two. She attributed some of the success of that battle to the Oneidas, who were the first allies.
Several relatives of those who fought in the battle also attended the ceremony to honor and remember those who died.
“The legacy from 235 years ago to pursue justice and freedom were principals that were near and dear to the hearts of the Oneida people,” Oneida Indian Nation Bear Clan representative Brian Patterson said. “It’s an expression and a commitment to our children and the future of our child least we not forget the sacrifices of our nation and the principals and values that we hold dear as a people.”
Fort Stanwix will continue to honor and remember the siege and is currently hosting other educational events until August 23.
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Agreed.
Thanks for posting this. ‘Pod.
My ancestors were imprisoned in Fort Dayton during 1777
A 60 yo grandmother her children and grandchildren..
My 4th great greatmother was 10..
I believe a large number of the ‘british’ in this battle were American loyalists.
GMT Game company is producing a Combat Simulation of this battle soon. It is a fun way to learn about history.
http://www.gmtgames.com/p-375-newtown.aspx
I helped as a play tester in this game, but, receive no benefits from it’s sale. Just want to see it published.
The series is also very fun and informative.
http://www.gmtgames.com/c-3-battles-of-the-american-revolution.aspx
Also, the british employed a large number of indian allies as part of the ambushing force as well. Might as well mention them also.
In July 1783 General George Washington toured Fort Dayton, when he visited the Mohawk Valley on an inspection tour. The fort was eventually abandoned, and was razed in 1832 to make way for the Erie Canal. A memorial marker of the site of Fort Dayton can be found at the Historic Four Corners intersection on North Main Street in Herkimer.
The 1778 attack and the 1782 siege are represented in the historical novel Drums Along the Mohawk and the 'based upon the book' movie of 1939.
General Washington sent General John Sullivan (Sullivan St., NYC; Sullivan County, NY and more), the son of Irish immigrants to visit retribution against the Iroquois of NY. This he did.
Yes...the Mohawks laid a devastating trap for Herkimer. Washington and John Sullivan remembered that well. Thanks for your additions.
Interesting...thanks for letting us all know.
Sullivan Trail is a road leading north out of Easton, Pennsylvania. It was cut by those men on their march to the frontier.
Yes...and when they got into NY State, they had to kill their horses, and that’s where Horseheads, NY gets its name (I just learned that).
Unfortunately, white Americans after the war screwed them over just about as thoroughly as they did those who fought against America.
That’s interesting. Thank you. Have you got any info on “Painted Post”?
Yes they did. That’s one reason why there are now more Oneidas in Wisconsin than in NY State.
In the summer of 1779, a party of tories and Indians, under the command of a loyalist named McDonald, returned from an incursion into the Susquehanna settlements, bringing with them many of their number wounded. At the confluence of Tioga and Conhocton [sic] Rivers, Captain Montour, son of the famous Queen Catharine, a Seneca chief of great promise, died of his wounds. "His comrades buried him by the riverside, and planted above his grave a post on which were painted various symbols and rude devices. This monument was known throughout the Genesee Forests as 'The Painted Post.' It was a landmark well known to all the Six Nations, and was often visited by their braves and chieftains."
This account of the origin of the Painted Post was given to Benj. Patterson, the hunter, by a man named Taggart, who was carried to Fort Niagara a prisoner by McDonald's party, end was a witness of the burial of Capt. Montour, or at least was in the encampment at the mouth of the Tioga at the time of his death. Col. Harper, of Harpersfield, the well known officer of the frontier militia of New York in the Revolution, informed Judge Knox, of Knoxville, in this co., that the Painted Post was erected over the grave of a chief who was wounded at the battle of the "Hog-Back" and brought in a canoe to the head of the Chemung, where he died. It was well understood by the early settlers that this monument was erected in memory of some distinguished warrior who had been wounded in one of the border battles of the Revolution and afterward died at this place. The post stood for many years after the settlement of the co.; and the story goes that it rotted down at the butt, and was preserved in the bar-room of a tavern till about the year 1810 and then mysteriously disappeared. It is also said to have been swept away in a freshet. — McMasters's Hist, of Steuben. Simm's Hist, Schoharie, p. 333.
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Thanks Pharmboy, an especially nice one. |
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