CHAPTER IV.

General progress of the War--Design against New-York--Glance at the Southern Campaigns--Treason of Arnold--Execution of Andre--Indian deputation to Count de Rochambeau, in Rhode Island--Invasion of the Schoharie-kill and the Mohawk Valleys, by Sir John Johnson, Brant, and the Corn-planter--Surprise of the upper fort--The middle fort invested--Conduct of Murphy in firing upon a flag--Singular prosecution of the siege--Murphy's contumacy--The flags fired upon thrice--Sir John proceeds to the lower fort--After a brief halt, advances again to the Mohawk, destroying every thing in his way--Murder of the inhabitants--The Vroomans--Heroism of a woman--Sir John arrives at Fort Hunter--Ravages the Mohawk Valley--Battle of Stone Arabia and death of Colonel Brown--His character--Remarkable anecdote of General Arnold--Sir John proceeds to Klock's Field--Is pursued by Van Rensselaer, though with unaccountable delay--Battle of Klock's Field--Flight of the Indians--Strange retreat of Van Rensselaer--Affairs of the night--Secret flight of the Greens and Rangers--The pursuit--General Van Rensselaer prematurely relinquishes it--Capture of Captain Vrooman and his company, by Brant, in the neighborhood of Oneida--Touching incident at Fort Hunter--Singular story respecting the Corn-planter--Major Carleton's expedition against Forts Anne and George--Correspondence on the subject of prisoners--Affairs at Niagara--Setting in of Winter.

98