Part 3
Tuesday, 31st Aug't.[77]--At 9 o'clock in the morning marched off; marched ten miles above Newtown and encamped on a large pine plain, forming a square with our camp to secure our pack horses and cattle.
Wednesday, Sept. 1st.--The signal gun fired at 8 o'clock in the morning. We marched at half past nine, marched about 6 miles through a flat level road at the end of which we entered a dark pine swamp, which continued four miles with almost impassable hills and valleys and arrived at 11 o'clock at night at Catharine's town.[78]
Thursday, 2d.--Laid still. Our line of march being confused by the badness of the road the day before.
Friday, Sept 3d.--The signal gun fired at 7 o'clock, the army marched off at 8 o'clock, marched about twelve miles and encamped in the wood on the east side of the Seneca Lake.[79] The land good and well timbered.
Saturday, ye 4th Sept.--The Gen'l beat at 9 o'clock in the morning. The army marched at 10 o'clock, marched 4 miles and halted.[80]
Sunday ye 5th.--The Gen'l beat at half past 9 o'clock, the army marched at 10 o'clock and encamped in a town called Candaya,[81] or Appletown.
Monday, Sept 6th.--At two o'clock in the afternoon left Appletown and marched about three miles and encamped in the wood.[82]
Tuesday ye 7th.--At 8 o'clock in the morning struck tents, marched off and crossed the outlet of the Ceneca Lake, where we expected to meet some opposition, but the enemy had left the town. We entered it, found a white child[83] in the town, supposed to be about 4 years old, it was supposed they had taken away from the frontiers, where they had destroyed and burnt. The Ceneca Lake is supposed to be thirty-six miles in length from south to north. The land along the east side appears to be a rich soil and well timbered. At the north end is the outlet which is a continual stream and considerable large. About three miles and a half from the outlet is the town Cannadasago or Ceneca Castle.[84]
Wednesday ye 8th Sept.--Laid still at Cannadasago.
Thursday ye 9th.--Marched from Cannadasago about 8 miles and encamped in the wood.[85]
Friday 10th.--At 7 o'clock marched off about 7 miles and crossed the outlet of a small lake, a few miles from which stood a Town called Canandagui,[86] about 15-½ miles from Ceneca Castle, which we entered, and encamped at 3 o'clock, about a mile north of the town in a large cornfield.
Saturday ye 11th Sept.--Struck our tents at 9 o'clock and marched about 9 miles through an open country, halted at 11 o'clock for refreshment, moved at one o'clock, and arrived at a small town called Honyuga.[87] At this town we left a small garrison of one Capt., one Lieut. and fifty men, exclusive of invalids, with some flour, horses and cattle.
Sunday 12th.--Left Haunyuga at 12 o'clock, marched about 11 miles and encamped in the wood.[88]
Monday, 13th.--At five o'clock in the morning marched about two miles to a small town called Adjutoa,[89] from this place the Gen'l sent out a scout of one Sub. and 19 men to reconnoitre a town that was in front. On his return he was attacked by about 100 Indians and were all killed but 2 men who had the good fortune to make their escape.[90] The army remained in town till about 12 o'clock. Some were employed in destroying corn and some in building a bridge (across a mirey swamp and creek) for the artillery to pass. While we were so employed the surveyor[91] had advanced a little in front of the advanced guard, was fired upon by the Indians and had one of his party wounded.[92] At 12 o'clock we left the town, and arrived at a town called Cassawauloughly[93] 7 miles from Adjutoa, which we entered at sunset.[94]
Tuesday, 14th Sept.--At one o'clock left the town crossed the Chenesee flats and forded the River which was about four feet deep and about thirty yards wide and arrived at the capital town of the Chinisees, called the Chinisee Castle.[95] We entered the town about 6 o'clock, found Lieut. Boyd and one soldier[96] whom they had murdered in an inhuman manner. Said Boyd was one of the party that was sent to reconnoitre a town as is mentioned before. The Chinisee Castle consisted of about one hundred commodius dwelling houses compactly built and pleasantly situated.
Wednesday, 15th Sept.--The whole army[97] (except the guards to which I belonged) were employed in destroying corn from 6 o'clock in the morning till two in the afternoon. In the meantime a white woman[98] with a small child came to us who had been taken prisoner at Weyoming. At about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we set the town on fire, marched off, re-crossed the River and encamped after sunset on the Chinicee flats.
Thursday, 16th Sept.--Decamped at 11 o'clock, marched six miles and encamped at the town of Adjutoa at half past five P.M.
Friday 17th.--Decamped at 6 o'clock, marched off and arrived at the town of Haunyuga at one o'clock P.M.
Saturday, 18th Sept.--At 5 o'clock in the morning marched, at 7 o'clock crossed the outlet of a Lake at Cannandagui,[99] and encamped at sunset on the east side of the outlet.
Sunday 19.--At seven o'clock in the morning struck tents, marched at 8 o'clock and arrived at sunset at Canadasago.[100]
Monday, 20th Sept.--At two P.M. struck tents, marched off at 3 o'clock from Canadasago, crossed the outlet of Ceneca Lake and encamped at sunset near the lake.[101] Previous to our march from Canadasago Col. Butler of the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment was sent with a detachment to the Kiyuga[102] Lake to destroy some Indian settlements that were there. Col. Gansevort sent with one hundred men to fort Stanwix[103] in order to send down some baggage which was left on the Mohawk River by troops that had been stationed there the preceding year.
Tuesday, 28th.--Struck tents at 8 o'clock, marched at 9, left Candaya[104] or Appletown about two miles in the rear, and encamped in the wood, along the east side of the Ceneca Lake, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Wednesday 22d.--At 6 o'clock the Gen'l beat; marched at 8, halted at one o'clock, about one hour for refreshments, and encamped at sunset along the east side Ceneca Lake.
Thursday, 23d Sept.--Marched at 8 o'clock, left French Catharine about 3 miles in the rear, and encamped at sunset.[105]
Friday, 24th.--About 6 o'clock in the morning the Gen'l beat, marched at 8 o'clock and arrived at the forks of the Tiyuga or Newton. At this place there was a post established by order of General Sullivan, and provision for the army at their return.[106]
Saturday, 25th Sept.--Laid still. An ox and 5 gallons of rum was given to the officers of each Brigade.[107] A fu-de-joy was held in consequence of the arrival of the news of Spain declaring us Independent[108] with 13 rounds of cannon was discharged, followed by two round of musketry interspersed with cannon. The evening was celebrated in our camp with much joy and gladness.[109]
Sunday 26th.--Laid still.
Monday, 27th Sept.--A detachment under the command * * * was sent out and returned at night.[110]
Tuesday 28th.--A detachment under the command of Col. Cortlandt was sent up the Tiyuga[111] branch on purpose to destroy some corn. Col. Butler with his detachment joined us. The invalids were sent to Tiyuga in boats.
Wednesday, 29th Sept.--The Gen'l beat at 8 o'clock in the morning, marched at 9 o'clock and encamped in the afternoon three miles below Shemung.
Thursday 30th.--At nine o'clock in the morning marched off and arrived at Tiyuga at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. At our arrival we were saluted with a discharge of 13 cannon from the Garrison, and an elegant dinner was prepared for the officers.
Friday, Oct. 1, 1779.--Laid still at Tiyuga.[112]
Saturday 2d.--Laid still. Orders were given to load the boat with stores, artillery, &c., and to demolish the fort[113] the next day.
Sunday, ye 3d Oct.--Agreeable to the orders of the preceding day the boats were loaded, the fort demolished and every thing got in readiness to march the next morning.
Monday, 4th Oct.--At 7 o'clock in the morning the Gen'l beat, struck our tents, the army marched at nine from Tiyuga. The boats with the stores, artillery and sick set off at the same time, and encamped at evening at Wysaukin creek.
Tuesday, the 5th Oct.--The main part of the army embarked on board the boats, the best were mounted on horses, left Wysaukin about 7 o'clock in the morning and arrived at Vanderlips'[114] farm, and stayed at night.
Wednesday ye 6th Oct.--At 6 o'clock in the morning set off and arrived at sunset at Lechawauny[115] about 10 miles from Weyoming.
Thursday, 7th Oct.--At 9 o'clock in the morning left Lechawauny and arrived at Weyoming[116] about 1 o'clock in the afternoon.
Friday, Oct. ye 8th.--Laid still.
Saturday, ye 9th.--Remained at Weyoming, but received orders to march at 6 o'clock the next morning.
Sunday, Oct. 10th.--At 6 o'clock next morning were ordered to march, but on account of our pack horses being strayed we did not march till 2 o'clock in the morning, when we left Weyoming and arrived at Bullock's[117] at dark.
Monday, 11th Oct.--At 9 o'clock in the morning decamped from Bullock's and encamped about two miles through the Shades of Death.[118]
Tuesday, 12th Oct.--At 7 in the morning proceeded on our march. The after part of the day rainy and windy weather, we arrived at White Oak Run[119] at evening and encamped.
Wednesday 13th.--Decamped from White Oak Run at 8 o'clock in the morning and arrived at Brinker's Mills[120] and encamped.
Thursday 14th.--Decamped from Brinker's Mills, marched from thence, and arrived within 11 miles from Easton and encamped[121] on the side of the road in a wood.
Friday, 15th Oct.--Decamped at 7 o'clock, marched for Easton[122] and arrived there about 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Saturday 16th.--Laid still.
Sunday 17th.--Laid still.
Monday, 18th Oct.--Capt. Bevier and myself set out from Easton at 11 o'clock for Marbletown,[123] traveled about twenty miles and put up at the Widow Sweezer's.
Tuesday, 19th Oct.--At half past 7 o'clock in the morning, traveled about 27 miles and put up at Cary's Tavern.
Wednesday 20th.--At 7 o'clock A.M., left Cary's, dined at Bard's in Warick,[124] set out from thence and put up at Bruster's Tavern about 11 miles from New Windsor.[125]
Thursday, 21st.--Left Bruster's at 8 o'clock in the morning and arrived at Newburgh, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Friday 22nd.--Set out from Newburgh at 8 o'clock in the morning and arrived at the Poltz[126] and staid that night.
Saturday, 23d Oct.--At three o'clock in the afternoon set out and arrived home the same night.
From the 23d Oct., 1779, I remained home till the 9th of Dec., when I set out to join the Reg't, which I did on the 15th, and found them employed in building huts for winter quarters, about 3 miles from Morristown.
(The Hardenbergh Journal here closes. The Nukerck Journal continues the history of the regiment for the year 1780 and until the five regiments were consolidated near the close of that year.)
FOOTNOTES:
[9] WAWARSING--An Indian word, said to signify "a black bird's nest," the name of a town and village in south-west part of Ulster County, N.Y., containing a post village of same name, located on Rondout Creek on the line of the Delaware and Hudson Canal. The surface of the town is mostly mountainous uplands, intersected by deep valleys. The Shawangunk Mountains extend along the east border, and spurs of the Catskills occupy the central and west parts, the highest peaks being from 2,000 to 3,000 feet above tide. The eastern and north-western parts are rocky and precipitous, and unfit for cultivation. There was a stone fort in the village on the site of B.C. Hornbeck's house. On Aug. 12, 1781, a large party of tories and Indians under one Caldwell, appeared in the town with a design of falling upon Napanock, but being informed that the place was defended by cannon they came to Wawarsing before the inhabitants were up in the morning. Two men and a young woman discovered the enemy before they reached the fort, and the young woman succeeded in closing the door just in time to prevent it from being burst open by the savages. Finding further attack to be dangerous they dispersed and burned and plundered the out settlements, and next day withdrew laden with spoils. Several lives were lost on both sides and much property destroyed.--The Indians--or Narratives of Massacres and Depredations on the frontiers of Wawarsink and Vicinity, p. 21.
[10] FANTINE KILL, a settlement, on a stream of that name, about a mile from the present village of Ellenville, in the town of Wawarsing, Ulster County. The attack was made at day-break by a party of thirty or forty Indians under Brant, who came by the way of the Indian trail to Grahamsville, and from thence through the woods to the settlement. Widow Isaac Bevier and two sons were killed, also the entire family of Michael Socks, consisting of the father, mother, two sons who were young men, two children, and one or two others. They attacked the house of Jesse Bevier, but the inmates being good marksmen and having plenty of ammunition succeeded in defending themselves until Col. Van Cortlandt came to their relief.
"As I was about marching from my encampment, having called in my guard, I discovered smokes rising from the village about six miles south, and a lad sent from its vicinity informed me that the Indians were there burning and destroying. It was occasioned by two of my men deserting in the mountains, when I received the order to return; for they went to Brant and informed him that I was ordered away, and he expected that I was gone. * * * On my approach Brant ran off. He had about one hundred and fifty Indians, and as I approached him, he being on a hill, and seeing me leaning against a pine tree waiting for the closing up of my men, ordered a rifle Indian to kill me, but he overshot me, the ball passing three inches over my head."--Col. Van Cortlandt's manuscript statement, 1825.
"General, while you were standing by a large tree during that battle, how near to your head did a bullet come, which struck a little above you?"
The General paused for a moment, and replied--"About two inches above my hat."
Brant then related the circumstances. "I had remarked your activity in the battle," said he, "and calling one of my best marksmen, pointed you out and directed him to bring you down. He fired and I saw you dodge your head at the instant I supposed the ball would strike. But as you did not fall, I told my warrior that he had just missed you, and lodged the ball in the tree." Conversation between Brant and General Van Cortlandt--Stone's life of Brant, II., 460, incorrectly located at the battle of Newtown.
[11] "Col. Cantine commanding a regiment of militia arrived during the day. I then pursued but could not overtake him, as he ran through a large swamp beyond the hill; and Col. Cantine being also in pursuit, I returned, not having any prospect of overtaking him."--Col. Van Cortlandt's statement, 1825.
[12] "The second day after, pursued my march to Fort Penn as ordered by the commander-in-chief, and there received General Sullivan's orders to make a road through the wilderness."--Col. Van Cortlandt's statement, 1825.
[13] The present name of a stream flowing south-easterly two miles south of Ellenville.
[14] On the Lurenkill two miles south of Ellenville.
[15] Present WURTZBORO in town of Mamacating on Sauthier's Map of 1779, said to have been named in honor of an Indian chief, is about fourteen miles south-west of Wawarsing. A block house was here occupied during the revolution.
[16] WEST BROOKVILLE, formerly called Bashusville, near the southern line of town of Mamakating in Sullivan County. So called from a squaw named Bashe, who lived on the bank of the creek. The first house built was of stone and used as a fort.
[17] MAHACKAMACK or Neversink River, the crossing appears to have been near Cuddebackville in the town of Deer Park.
[18] DEWITT--A brother of Mrs. James Clinton, the mother of DeWitt Clinton; where he is said to have been born, March 2, 1769, while Mrs. Clinton was on a visit with her brother. General James Clinton in 1763 raised and commanded a corps of two hundred men, called the Guards of the Frontier. This position called Fort De Witt was one of the posts occupied. Other accounts say he was born at the homestead of the Clinton family at Little Britain.
[19] NOW PORT JERVIS, formerly called MOHOCKAMACK FORK, at the junction of the Neversink and Delaware Rivers. The route taken appears to have been over the "_old mine road_" as it was called, constructed by the early Dutch settlers of Esopus to reach a copper mine in Walpack Township, Warren Co., N.J. It follows the Mamakating Valley, the first north of the Shawangunk mountains, and continues in that of the Mahackamack branch of the Delaware river, and penetrates the Minnisinks east of that river. The mine was about three miles north-west from Nicholas Depew's house.
[20] John Adams, while attending Congress during its session at Philadelphia, as late as 1800, passed over this same "Mine Road" as the most eligible route from Boston to that city. He was accustomed to lodge at Squire Van Campen's in the Jersey Minnisinks.
[21] DECKER'S FERRY at Flatbrookville, about thirteen miles from Fort Penn at Stroudsburg.
[22] SAMUEL DEPEW'S, in the town of Smithfield, Monroe Co., Pa., on the west side of the Delaware, three miles above the Water Gap, where he settled prior to 1730. He was one of the Walloons who came to New York about 1697. Rev. H.M. Muhlenberg, who lodged at his house in 1750, states he had been Justice of the Peace, was a prominent man in Smithfield, and at that time advanced in life. The river is fordable at the head of Depew's Island, a little above the house. The old homestead is still in the Depew family; Nicholas, one of Samuel's sons, is well known in provincial history between 1750 and 1770. On the Pennsylvania side of the river on Depew's land, stood the _Smithfield_ or old _Shawne_ church, removed about 1854.
[23] Ft. Penn, at Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pa., built in 1763, on the site previously occupied by Ft. Hamilton, built in 1755.
[24] LARNED'S log tavern, north-west of Stroudsburg, twenty-eight miles from Easton. The main army encamped here June 19th, at camp called Pocono Point. This was the last house on the road between Easton and Wyoming. On the 3d of July, 1781, Mr. Larned was shot and scalped near his house, as also was his son George. Another son, John, shot one of the Indians who was left on the spot where he fell. The Indians carried off George Larned's wife, and an infant four months old, but not wishing to be encumbered with the child, dashed out its brains.
[25] The 2d New York Regiment, Col. Van Cortlandt, and Col. Spencer's N.J. Regiment were ordered to precede the army and construct a road over the mountains to Wyoming. They followed the well known Indian trails mainly, one of which led from Easton by way of the Wind Gap, directly north, along the high lands between the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers, to New York State line near Oghquaga; the other leaving Fort Penn at Stroudsburg, passed through the townships of Pocono, Tunkhanna, Tobyhanna, Buck, Bear Creek, to Wyoming. Much of this road is still in use and is known as the "old Sullivan road." At Easton Gen. Sullivan published the following order:
HEAD-QUARTERS, Easton, May 31, 1779.
* * * The commander-in-chief returns his most sincere thanks to Colonels Cortlandt and Spencer, and to the officers and soldiers under their command for their unparalleled exertions in clearing and repairing the road to Wyoming. He cannot help promising himself success in an expedition, in which he is to be honored with the command of troops who give such pleasing evidence of their zeal for the service, and manifest so strong a desire to advance with expedition against the inhuman murderers of their friends and countrymen. * * * *
Order Book Lieu.-Col. GEORGE C. BARBER, of 3d N.J. Regt., Adjutant Gen'l of the Western Army.
[26] COL. OLIVER SPENCER, Commanding the Independent regiment, 5th Continental of New Jersey.
[27] General Sullivan reached Wyoming with the main body of the army June 23d; the following appeared in orders on the 25th:
HEAD-QUARTERS, WYOMING, June 25, 1779.
* * * At a general court martial held on the eighth instant, whereof Major Fish was president, Oliver Arnold of the 2nd New York regiment, was tried for desertion, found guilty, and sentenced to be shot to death; the General approves the sentence and orders it to be executed at the head of the regiment to-morrow afternoon at six o'clock. Edward Tyler of the same regiment tried by the same court for desertion, found guilty and sentenced to run the guantelope through Cortlandt's, Spencer's and Cilley's regiments, with a centinel at his breast to regulate his pace; the General approves the sentence and orders it executed to-morrow afternoon at five o'clock. John Stevens of the same regiment, tried for desertion, found guilty and sentenced to receive one hundred lashes; the General approves the sentence and orders it executed at the head of the regiment, to-morrow afternoon at six o'clock. * * *
Order Book, Lieu.-Col. GEORGE C. BARBER, Adjutant Gen'l of the Western Army.
[28] Near the west line of Pocono Township, also called Rum bridge.