JOURNAL OF SERGEANT MOSES FELLOWS.
Moses Fellows, of
Salisbury, Vt, was Orderly Sergeant in Capt. James Gray's Company of Scammel's
3d N. H. Regiment. This company was of Salisbury men. He has worthy
descendants, grandsons, residing in that vicinity. The original journal is in
possession of A. Tiffany Norton Esq., Lima, N. Y. The following is a literal
copy, the first thirteen pages are missing.
Chouder Camp: our
Course To Day about Northerly. No house from where we marched this morning to
wioming [Wyoming, Pa.]
June the 21st
marched 20 miles through a rough Country and a new Rode, the Land Coverd with
Pine Hemlock Spruce &c: we Eat Breakfirst at a Small river Cald Tunkhannah.
Passd another Stream Cald Tobehannunk and another the Leahigh; we passed what
is Cald the Shades of Death a Glomey thick Part of The Swamp.
22d we marched but
5 miles to Day to a Disolate house where one Mr. Bullock once Livd But was
Drove off by the Savages.
23d we marched to
the fort at Wyoming 7 miles where Sevral Regt are Encamped: Our General Course
to day we Past north w., the whole Country from Eastown to Wyoming is very poor
& Barren and I think as never will Be Settled; it abounds Chiefly in Deer
and Rattle Snake; the Land At Wyoming on Both Sides the river is Good, But the
Good Land Extends But a Small Distance from the river; the inhabitance have
been very much Distresed by the *
The next Day being
the First of august & in the afternoon we marched About 8 miles & came
to a place called tunkhannak & their we tarrid all night and the Next Day
it being the 2st Day of august we Drew Five Days allowance & on the — Day
we marched at 7 o'clock and marched 12 miles to a Place Calld whywomick on Susquehanah
River; the Path was Very Good Considering Such a rough Country but a vast sight
of hills Exceding Steep: the forth Day we marched Fourteen miles & Came to a
Place Calld Disolate farmes. This way was No road but an old foot Path &
high hills, never was known, for their was mountains Seven miles Long &
Exceding Steep, after we Left these mountains We Came on a trackt of Land Such I
never Saw before: the 5th Day we marched 10 miles and Came to a place Calld
Wildlucit; know Person would Have thout of Seein Such Lands as here was for such
a Groth I beleive never Was known, for button wood Trees was Eight or nine feet
Though: & the Land was all Intervail; the next Day being rainy & our
troops Could not march
7th We marched at 7
o'clock, Proceeded 3 miles to a Disolate farm upon the mouth of a Small River
Calld Wesuking, where our Light troops Encampt last night ; Halted an Hour
& then Proceeded to a Large Tract of Beautiful Cleard Intervail Covered
with very High Grass, this is with in 4 miles of Tioga and is Called
Shesheamunk: it has Ben Inhabited By Both Indians & white People: we
marched over a Large Body of Excellent Land this Day, the weather Being very
warm and our men Gave out With fatigue Especially those on the Right flank Who
were obliged to Cross Several High mountains.
* Several pages missing.
11th we march'd at
8 o'clock In the morning & marched one mile & Came to the Main River
& their we all forded across & a tedious time we had for the warter was
up to our Brest & the Current run very swift Indeed and we had Exceding Hevy
packs at the Same Time & after we waided a cross we marched one mile
further & Came to Place where Queen Easter had her Palace: But it was Burnt
Down: we marched one mile Further and Came to another Large River but Not Equal
to the other: we forded that With Little or No harme & marched one mile
further and Came to tyoga [Tioga, Pa.]; this days march was only four miles:
the Next Day being the 12 Day of august we Lay Still: Likewise the 13 day: this
Day we had intelligence of the Enemy were about moving of, in Consequence of
which the main Body of our army Marched at 8 o'clock this Evening in order to
suprise the enemy at Chemong [Chemung, N. Y.] By Day Brakes; on our march We
Passed Several Defiles and thick Swamps and Arrived near the town by Brake of
Day: and marched into the town with fixt Bayonets and our Peaces charged; this
Town Consisted of about thirty or forty houses: these houses was Considerable
Convenient But they had know Chimeys or no flores Except the Earth: and about
Sunrise found the town abandoned two or three Indians only to Be Seen and they
making their Escape; about sun rise the Whole town was Burnt; on Examination we
found that a part of the Enemy Had Encamp'd about 50 or 60 rods from the town
Last Night: and from all appearance the Inhabitance Had Left the town But a Fue
hours Before we Arrived: Genl. Hand With Some Lite Troops Persued them about a
mile, When they were fired on from the top of a hill by about 30 Indians Who
Run off as soon as the fire was Returned; they unfortunately for us wounded
three officers killed Six Privates and wounded Seven: The Enemy were persued
But Escaped: Distroyed 40 acres of Indian Corn: when a Small Party of Indians
and tores Fired upon our men across the River & kild one man and wounded
five more of our N. Hampshire troops; after Compleation of The Distruction of
the town and Corn we Returned to tioga where we arive at Dark very much
fatigued: Having marchd 24 miles within 24 houers: the Weather Exeding Hot.
16th Day 1000
Chosen men under the Comand of Genl. Poor were ordered up the River to meet
Genl. Clinton who is on his Way to Join in with his Brigade & is in some Danger
of Being attacked By the Enemy Before he can form a Junction With our main armey,
and on the 21 Day they riv'ad to our Camp where we Received them with Great Joy
and Saluted them with 13 Canon fired and a tune on Col. Proctors Band of
musick.
The 26, our armey
marched at 12 o'clock acording to the order of march Heretofore Laid Down, Col
Procters artilery in Senter, Genl. Hand Brigade in front, Genl Poor Brigade on
the Rite of Col Procter, and a rite flanking Division on the rite of Genl Poor;
and on the Left of Col Procter Genl. Maxwil Brigade and another flanking Partey
on theire left, and Genl. Clintons Brigade In the rear of the whole armey, and
the Pack horses Sc Cattle marched in Betwixt the Coloms within the two flanking
Divisions.
We marched the 26th
at 12 oclock, Proceeded 5 miles and Encamped.
27th we marched,
much Impeded by the Artilery and amunition Waggons threw thick wood and
Dificult Defiles, Such Cursing, Cutting and Diging, over seting Wagons, Cannon
and Pack Horses into the river &c is not to Be Seen Every Day—the army
obliged to Halt 7 houers at one Place, for what we Should have Been Beter
without the heavy artilery, at 10 o'clock we arived at a large Place of Corn
Containing about 80 Acres as Good as I ever beheld, with Great Quantities of
Squashes Beenes &c. As Genl. Clinton Brigade did not Git up last night and Having
all the Corn to Cut down this afternoon we did not march until 2 o'clock, our
Brigade & Part of another & the artilery Baggage & Pack horses &
Cattle forded the River twice this afternoon, the warter was waist Deep and
Very rapid. Some of our Baggage & flower and ammuntion Was Lost In
the ford. Our march to Day not More than three mile, at 10 o'clock in the
Evening the rear of the baggage Past the last ford; the armey Encamped at
Chemung. By a Small Scout of ours that Came in the afternoon we are Informed
that their is a Large Encampment of the Enemy About 4 miles from Chemong a
Small Party of them fired on a Party of ours that was Setting fire to Some
Houses But no Damage. —
29 the army marched
at 9 o'clock, Proced 5 miles Where our light Troops Discovered a Line of
Breastwork about 80 Rods In their front, Which upon Reconnoetering we found to
Extend about Half a Mile with a Large Brook in front of the Breastwork on their
right a mountaing on their Left a Large Settlement In their rear Cald new town,
their workes were very Seasonabley artfully maskd With Green Bushes, that I
think our Discovering of them was very accidentaly as well as fortunate, the
Ground they occupied was well chosen; Scurmishing on Both Sides was Commanded
mmediately after our first Discovering their Work which Held until our disposion
was made, Which is as folowes: the artilery to form in front of the works,
While Genl. Poors Brigade with the Right flanking Devision and the rifle men
turned The Enemy Left, By ascending the mountaing and fell in with the Enemy
Rear, Supported By Genl Clinton Brigade; Genl Maxwell Brigade formd a Corps
Reserved; Genl. Hands Brigade and the Left flank Covered the artilery to Persue
the Enemey when they Began to Retreat; at 3 o'clock Genl Poor Brigade Began
their rout By Colums from the Right of the Regt, Passd a very thick Swamp
Secured with Bushes for Near a mile that the Column found Great Dificulty In keeping
their order But By Genl. Poor Good Conduct we Proceeded in much Better order than
we Expected we Posibely Could Have Done, after Passing the Swamp we forded a Large
Creek on Both Sides of which there was a Considerable Number of Houses
[Newtown, N.Y.] which Apred to Be lately Built and no Land Cleard about them,
after Passing this Crick We Soon Began to asend the mountain where we Were Soon
Salluted By a Brisk fire and an Indian Yell or a war Hoop, the Riflemen keept
up a Scattering firing which we formed the Line of Battle, then we advanced
with Fixed Bayonets without Firing a Shot although they kept up a Steady fire
upon the whole of the way up the Hill, Which is about Half a mile; Col Reeds
Regt which was on the Left of the Brigade was more Severely attacked Which
Prevented His Being able to advance as fast as the rest of the Brigade; after
the Brigade Expected Col Reed Regt. Had Gained the Submit of the Hill We Commenced
a heavey fire upon the Enemy which they were not able to with stand But Were
oblige to take to there Heels;—Colo. Reed Still Sustaining a heavy fire from a
Large Body of the Enemy which Prevented His asending the Hill, Induced Col
Derbon, as he was next to Him, to reverse the front of the regt and move to his
asistance, as Genl Poor was on the right of the Line and at such a Distance as Rendered
it Imposible for Colo. Derbon to obtain Seasonable Orders Whether to go to the
asistance of Colo. Reed or not, but he moved With out, found a body of the
Enemy turning Colo. Reed Right which upon Receiving a full fire from our Regt
Left the field of action with Precepiation, Which Proved a very Seasonably
relief to Colo. Reed, who had at the very moment that Colo. Derbon Commanded
the fire on those that were turning His Right, Being Reduced Extremely of
Retreating or Charging Bayonets upon Double his numbers that had formed a
Semicircle Round Him, He put the Latter in Practice, the Enemy finding
themselves So Severely Handled Quit the field of action and made the Best of
their way off about 5 o'clock, our troops that were in action Discovered
Greatest Bravery and Good order; Half a hour Befor the action became Serious
With us the artilery Began a very heavy fire which obliged them to Retire and
being Persued By our Lite troops about 3 miles so as to oblige Enemy to Leave a
Great Part of their Packs &c.; our Whole Loss killed and wounded in Genl.
Poor Brigade was
1 majr. wounded.
1 Capt. Do
1 Lt. Do Died the
Same night
Non Commisond
Privates 2 kild 29 wounded.
The number of the
Killd & wounded in the whole armey Exept Genl. Poor Brigade was 4 wounded;
The Enemey Loss found on the Ground 11 Indians Wariers Dead & one Squah, 1
tory Prisoners one negro from Which prisoners we Learns that the Enemy Strength
was 200 whites and 600 Indians and that they Had a Great many Kild and wounded
and the Remainder most Horridly Pannic Struck; at Sun Set the army Encamped on
the Ground Lately occupied By the Enemy where we found a number of new Blankets
Inserted with many Packs trinkets.
30th Remained on
the Ground this Day Distroyed a vast number of acres of Corn & Burnt about
four houses; the army By a Request of Gen. Sulivans have agreed to Live on Half
alowance of meat and flower When we Can Get Corn; this Night all our wounded
With 4 of our Heaviest Pieces of artilery and all the amunition Waggons were sent
off by Warter to tioga which Will Enable the armey to march With much greater Ease
and Rappidity; our Course from Chemong about North w.
31 we marched at 10
o'clock, the Right Colum on the Hill, the Left By the River, the Land Very Good
Several Large Fields of Corn; we Proceeded 9 miles to where there was a Very
prity town Calld Kannawahalla Which from appearance was abandand this morning.
Some Boats Was Seen Going of by our advance Gard, a Large number of feather
Beds were emtied In the houses, our Soldiers found Several Chest Buried filld with
varity of Household furniture and other things; after halted Here about an Hour
we Proceeded up Between the two Rivers on a fine Plain about 5 miles and
encampd, the whole armey forming a Holow Square which Enclosed our Horses and
Cattle; a Detachment of our army persued a partey of the Enemy up the Allegany [Chemung]
River about 9 miles; Could not overtake them But found & Distroyed Several
Very Large Cornfields.
Sepr. 1st. We
marched at 9 o'clock, after the Detachment Before mentioned Joind and Preceded
3 miles on a plain, then Passd a narrow Defile Between a high mountain and a
Deep marsh, then Proceeded one mile & Entered What is Cald the 9 mile Swamp
and a most horrid Road for the artilery Between and Pack Horses were obliged to
ford thirty times, the rite hand Hand Colom were obliged to march over the mountains
the whole way, our advance guard Arived at a Town Cald French Cathrene at Dusk,
found fires Burning and Every appearance of the Enemy Having Left the Place but
a fue minits, the main army at dark Was 2 miles from the town, In one of the
thickest & Most Miry Swamps I ever Saw, it was with the Greatest Difculty
we Got through the mire to the town where we arived all But Genl Clinton
Brigade at 10 o'clock Very much fatigued; this town Contains about 30 Houses
Some of Which were Very Good for Indians Houses, there is a number of fruit
trees in the town, the Streame we forded So often runs through the town and
into Connadaga or Sineca Lake the South End of which is But 3 miles from this
Town.
2d we found an old
Squaw In the Bushes that was not able to go off, By whome we learn that Butler
with the tories Went from this Place with All the Boats the Day Before yesterday,
the Indians Warriors moved off their famelies & Efects yesterday morning and
then Returned to the Town where they Staid till Sun Set. She Says that the
Squaws and Indians were Loth to Leave the town and were for giving themselves
up, But the warriors would not agree to it. She likewise Says that Butler met a
reinforcement of Indians here who would
* * * (pages 50
& 51 missing) * * *
Battle their and
was adopted into a family in this town Where he Has Lived or rather Stayed
until Now; he appeared Quite overjoyed at meating Some of His old acquaintance
of Wyoming Who are Volonteers In this army; he Says the Savages were very much
Distressed for Provision from april till Corn was fit to Eat, that their Whole Dependance
was Hunting, he Say the Indians Were Very much alarmed & Dejected at their Being
Beat at new town, they say they had 7 warriors killd And a Great many Wounded
which were (sent) To Conadasaga By water; Distroyed the town orchard Cornfield
&c.
6 Day we marched &
Preceded 5 miles and Encamped; Opposite to the Shore the Ground we Encamped on we Discovered a Settlement Where we
Could See a number of Indians Driving Horses; pased the ford march about 3
miles by the Side or rather the north End of the Lake and to a Small Settlement
which We Distroyed & Proceeded 2 miles frrther to the Capital of the Sineca
Cald Connadasaga Where we Rived at Sun Set; here We Expected to have taken Some
Prisoners, two Brigades Being ordered to march round the town, one on the right
the other on the Left but found no Persen in or about it Exept one White Child
about 3 years old Which we Suppose is a Captive; this town is Cald the Sineca
Castle; in the Center of the town has Been a Stockade fort & a Block Hous
Which are gone to ruin; their was left in the Houses a Great number of Skins, Some
Corn and Many of their Curiosities.
8th the armey Lay
Still to Day, the Rifle men were Sent to Distroy a town about 8 miles from here
on the Side of the Lake, Gaghasieanhgwe; we found a Very large fields of Corn
and Grass about this town, A Considerable Quantity of Hay In Stacks which We St
on fire; one of our Scouts Burnt a town yesterday Cald Long falls 10 miles N. E
of this town on the way to Cayyuga.
9th By Reason of
the Heavy Rain last night we were Not able to move this Morning till 12 o'clock
for Geneses; what Corn, Beans, peas, Squashes Potatoes, Inions, turnips, Cabage,
Cowcumbers, watermilions, Carrots, pasnips &c. our men and horses Cattle
&c could not Eat was Distroyed this Morning Before we march; all the Sick
and Invalids were Sent Back this morning under an Escort of 50 men to tioga; we
Preceded about 3 miles, the Great Part of the way through Old fields that are
Grone up with Grass. Trees & Bushes, then Entred a thick Swamp through
which we Proceeded with Great Dificulty 4 miles, then Crosst a Stream & Encamped
in an old field. Before we marched this We totally Distroyed the town &
orchard.
10th the armey
marched at 8 o'clock. Preceded 3 miles through a thick Swamp, then Came to
Large fields that have Been Cultivated formerly But are Grone over with Grass and
trees, these field Continued about 5 Miles with Intervail; after Leaving the
fields one mile we Came to a Very Pleasant Pond or Lake Cald Connondaguah, We
forded the outlet of the Lake, marched About Half a mile and Came to an Indian
town Cald Connondaguah Consisting of about 30 Houses Which were much Better
Built and Situated than any I have Seen Before; the army would Have marched Six
miles further to day after Burning the town, finding at Some Distance from the
town Several Large fields of Corn we were ordered to march to the fields and
Encamp, Which we did at 3 o'clock p. m. Several Parties Were ordered out this
afternoon to Distroy the Corn.
11th the army
marched this morning at Sun rise to an Indian town Cald anyayea or Honneyayeu,
Consisting of about 8 or 10 Houses, as Situated on a Large Body of Cleared
Land, a Small Lake around it Several Large Corn fields; the Greatest Part of which
We have marched to Day is Covered over With Grass and Some Scattering trees, it
had Been the appearance of being formerly Cultivated
12th the weather
being foule the army did not march until 12 o'clock; a Small Post is. Established
Here at Which the Provision, Pack Horses &c will Be Left until we Return; What
is nesseray for to Cary With us to Geneses (25 miles and Back Here); Piece of
artilery Will Be Left also; the armey marched 11 miles this afternoon over an
Exelent Body of Land and Encamped at Sun Set.
13th marched at 7 o'clock proceeded 1 1/2
miles and Came to a town Cald Kagnegasas, Consisting of about 18 Houses
Situated on a fine Piece of Intervail where we found Large field of Exelent
Corn with a Great Plenty of Beans & Squashes, Potatoes, mush milions; Here
the armey Halted 4 Houres to Build a Bridge over a very bad Crick & destroy
the corn and at this town Lived a very noted Warior Cald the Great tree who Has
Pretended to be very friendly to us and to His Exellency Genl. Washington and
from Congress;* a Party of Rifle men & some others 26 in number under the
Command of Lt. Boyd of the Rifle men was Sent Last night to reconnoiter a town
7 miles from this and was ordered to return at Day Break, they killed and
Scalped an Indian of the town in the morning and Returnd about Half way to Camp where they Imprudently halted
and Sent 4 men To report to the Genl what they Had Discoverd; after Laying
Still Some time they Had Discoverd Some Small Indian Scouts Between them and
Camp Which they Persued until they Had Killd one of them, they were then
attackd By a Body of two or three Hundred and Indians, Lt Boyd Sustaind the
fire for Some time But Being nearly Surounded attempted to make His Escape But
was So Closely Presued that himself & 19 men were taken and kild; the enemy
left all their Packs, Hats and many other things Where the action Commenced,
which we found; Immediately after the army marched on, we Proceded to the above
Mentioned town and Encamped; this town is Cald Gaghehewarahare it Consists of
above 22 Houses and is situated on a Small River the Falls into the Geneses
River 2 miles from the Town.
* So in original.
14th we marched at
12 o'clock; after fording Small river Which this Town Stands on and Passing a
Small Grove we Enterd upon the Great Geneses flats which is a vast Body of
Cleard Intervail Covered With Grass that was from 4 to 8 feet High, these flats
Extend 12 or 14 miles on the River, our army moveing in the order of march Laid
Down appeard to great advantage, after marching about 2 miles we came to what
Is Cald Genese Lake or River the Largest we Have Pased Since we have Left
Sisquehannah, after fording the River and Pased over a Body of flats we asending
a hill marched 3 miles and Came to the Great town Chenese; this town is
Situated on a Beautiful Tract of Land in a Bow of the River and Consists of
about 130 Houses the Greatest Part of Which are Verry Compact. When we Entered
the Town We found Lt. Boyd & one man [Sgt. Parker] Dead and most Horribly
mangled, they were Laying near a tree which we Suposed they were tyed To While
they were massacred as their was Blood & other Signs near the tree; it
appeared they first whipt them and Very Severely, then Cut Out their tongues
& Plucked out their Eyes and nails, then Stabd them With Spears and after
Venting all their Hellish Spite Cut off their Heads and Left them, this was a
Horrid Spectacle to Behold Indeed, and from which we are taught nesesity of
fighting those more then Devil as Long as we have Life Rather then to Surender
Ourselves prisoners; it appears that the Savages Left this Place in a Great
Hurry as they Left a Quantity of Corn Gathered and Some Husked hung up to Dry
and Some Laying in Heaps husked and unhusked
15th at 6 o'clock
the whole Army was turned out to destroy the Corn one Regt. From Each Brigade
With the rifle men and artilery to guard the army while the Corn was Destroyed.
We were from 6 to 2 o'clock Very Bussy until we Compleated our Work; it is
thought we have Destroyed 15,000 Bushels of Corn, Besides Beans, Squashes, Potatoes
in abundance, a great Part of this Corn was Planted By the tories under Butler
and Intends for a magasine to aid them to Carry on their war against our
Fronteers as we are informed By Some Prisoners; the method we took to Gather it
into the Houses Putting wood and Bark with it then set fire to the Houses; thus
it was effectually Destroyed. Some we hove into the River; this is the End of
our journey we are now turning of our face homeward; a woman With her Child
came to us this day who was Brought a captive from Wyoming.
* * *
pages 74, 75 of journal missing * * *
At Diferent Places
This morning which Employed the armey till 11 o'clock to Distroy. We Crossed
the Crick at Gaghehegwarahare and at 4 arived at Kanaghsas and Encamped—13 of
Lt. Boyd Party Were found to Day dead and scalpd near to gether and as they were
all shot it appears they Bravely fought till Every man was kild and of
Consequence kild a number of the Enemy; Honyose oneida Indian who was one of
the Party among the Dead and Very much mangld
17th we Marched at
Sun rise Preceded to anyaye where We Left our Stores and found all Safe to our
Great Joy as we were much afraid that the Party that Cut off Lt. Boyd would
have found out the Cituation of our Small Garrison and make an atempt to Surprise
it Which Would have been a fatal affair to our army; our Soldiers in High
Spirits and are Willing to make great marches; the Reason is obvious we are
Going Homeward.
18th the armey
march at 8 o'clock, Proceded to Kanandaguah & in camped.
19th. we marched to
Kannadasagea the 13th in this town we found hung up about 10 or 12 feet from
the Ground on a Pole Set up we Suposed, two dogs Which is their method of
Sacrafising to their Imaganary Gods of war in time of Danger.
the following to Be
added to the 15th. this woman informs us that the Dogs spoke of yesterday were
Sacrifised on hearing of the Battle of Newton and of Desolation of their Country
as we march thrue it.
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