HISTORY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

thelivyjr
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Re: HISTORY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925

Chapter 41: A Period of Growth and Development — 1748-1755., continued ...

The governor's council suggested that Colonel Johnson endeavor to restore good relations between the Iroquois and the Colony.

Colonel Johnson at once called and held a council with the Mohawks at Mount Johnson at which he announced a council at Onondaga for September.


This was conducted so successfully by Johnson that the covenant chain of friendship again bound fast the red and white "brethren."

Governor Clinton was succeeded by Sir Danvers Osborn on October 10th, 1753.

Justice James DeLancey, at the same time was commissioned lieutenant-governor.

Osborn, who was ill and depressed, committed suicide that night by hanging.

DeLancey thereupon became acting governor.

From an advocate of popular rights, the Justice became, overnight, a strong proponent of the rights of the Crown.


Early in 1754, the Lords of Trade and Plantations directed the governors of the English colonies in America to urge their assemblies to send delegates to an American Colonial congress which would make a treaty of friendship and alliance with the wavering Indian tribes.

Seven colonies complied and sent delegates to the convention, which was held in Albany, beginning June 29, 1754.

New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire sent delegates.

While the Iroquois were still disaffected toward the English, the influence of Sir William Johnson and his friend, the Mohawk chief, King Hendrick, brought about the attendance of a number of chiefs of the Six Nations.

The congress was barren of immediate results.

Benjamin Franklin, a delegate from Pennsylvania, prepared a plan of Colonial confederation, which was rejected by the Crown because it gave the Colonists too much liberty and disapproved by the Colonists because it gave them too little.

The "Albany plan" as it was called was the seed from which the later Constitution of the United States developed, and it was a subject of discussion for years thereafter in the Colonies.

Through Johnson's influence, the Iroquois maintained their English allegiance.

TO BE CONTINUED ...
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Re: HISTORY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925

Chapter 41: A Period of Growth and Development — 1748-1755., continued ...

King Hendrick, leading sachem of the Mohawks, made the best speech of the council.

He promised that the Six Nations would securely hold the covenant chain.

Referring to the fact that many of the Iroquois had gone to live at Oswegatchie under French protection, Hendrick said this was because the English had neglected the Six Nations and that many of their people were starving.

Continuing he said:

"Brethren, we have not as yet confirmed the peace with them."

[Meaning the French-Indian allies.]

"'Tis your fault, brethren, we are not strengthened by conquest, for we should have gone and taken Crown Point, but you hindered us."

"We had concluded to go and take it, but were told it was too late, that the ice would not bear us."

"Instead of this you burned your own fort at Sarraghtogee [near old Fort Hardy] and ran away from it, which was a shame and scandal to you."

"Look about your country and see; you have no fortifications about you — no, not even to this city."

"'Tis but one step from Canada hither, and the French may easily come and turn you out of doors."

"Brethren, you were desirous we should open our minds and our hearts to you; look at the French, they are men — they are fortifying everywhere; but, we are ashamed to say it, you are like women, bare and open, without any fortifications."

Abraham, brother of King Hendrick, and chief of the Lower Castle, then made a speech asking for the reinstatement of Colonel Johnson as Indian agent.

Governor DeLancey's reply to the Indian orators was conciliatory and the results of the Indian side of the conference were satisfactory.

Johnson prepared a plan for the management of the Six Nations and for the best method of preventing the success of French designs.

The commissioners took home to their respective Colonial governments Johnson's plan for consideration.

In this epochal convention, Colonel Johnson was one of the foremost figures and fully equal in influence and constructive ability to Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania.

TO BE CONTINUED ...
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Re: HISTORY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925

Chapter 41: A Period of Growth and Development — 1748-1755., concluded ...

In the seven years of peace, between the ending of the Old French war, 1748, and the beginning of hostilities of the Seven Years' war in the Province of New York in 1755, the population of Albany County had greatly increased while that of the Mohawk Valley probably had nearly doubled.

The population of Albany County, in 1749, was 10,634 and in 1756, it had grown to 17,424, while that of the Mohawk Valley probably was 5,000, including the white and black people of the entire watershed which also comprehended the Schoharie Valley.

Including Indians, the people of the Mohawk Valley, probably numbered close to 6,000 at the beginning of 1756.

There were no separate returns for the Mohawk Valley and the local population has to be estimated.

The population of Albany County in 1756, was the largest of that of the ten counties of the Province of New York, which then had a total population of 96,765.

The French and Indian or Seven Years' war tended again to greatly decrease the population of the Mohawk Valley, always the most exposed frontier of the Colony.

However, at the close of the great French war, the Province and the Mohawk Valley experienced a growth and development which was proportionately the greatest of any period in our Valley's history.

The short-lived peace, between the Old French war and the Great French and Indian war, was now drawing to a close.

Former settlers had returned to their Valley homes at the close of the last war in 1748 and newcomers had come in in considerable numbers.

The six years had constituted a period of wonderful development along the Mohawk but this brief time of peace was soon to merge into the third French and Indian war, which ravaged this fair Valley.

TO BE CONTINUED ...
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Re: HISTORY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925

Chapter 42: Battle of Lake George — 1755.

Victory of American-British army over French-Canadian-Indian army, under Baron Dieskau — Johnson's scouting party ambushed — Hendrick slain — French-Indian attack on Johnson's camp repulsed — Johnson wounded and General Lyman commands — General Johnson made a baronet and presented with 5,000 pounds by the British crown for his services in the victory of Lake George, which had heartening effect on the colonists — Mohawk Valley militia and Mohawk Indians, form detachments of General Johnson's army.

The French power in America had been gradually strengthening and extending its dominion since the close of the Old French war in 1748.

The French had a line of communication and a series of forts and trading posts, extending from the mouth of the St. Lawrence nearly three thousand miles along the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi to its outlet into the Gulf of Mexico.


The Canadian French had powerful Indian allies along the entire route.

In 1754, they started to rule the waters of the Ohio, in which, as we have seen, they came into conflict with the claims of the Six Nations to that entire region.

The English attempted to build a fort at the forks of the Ohio and Allegheny on the present site of Pittsburgh.

The French seized the post and completed the fort which they named Fort Duquesne.


Colonel George Washington moved against this post, engaged the French in battle, but was defeated and compelled to return.

This opened the great conflict in America.

The English Colonists appealed to Great Britain and three expeditions were planned for 1755, one against Fort Duquesne, one against the French Lake Ontario forts, and the other against Crown Point on Lake Champlain.

The first two failed, but the third, under command of Major-General Sir William Johnson, fought and won a victory at Lake George.

This was one of the three pitched battles won by the English-American forces during the war, the others being Quebec, under Wolf, and Niagara, also under Johnson.

Thus Johnson nominally won two of the three English victories of the war, although General Lyman, second in command under Johnson, was the actual victor of Lake George, as Sir William was severely wounded early in the attack on the American camp.

General Braddock was sent to America, in 1755, as commander-in-chief of the English and Colonial forces.

He led an expedition for the capture of Fort Duquesne and was terribly beaten and mortally wounded in a French-Indian ambuscade on July 9, 1755.

This reverse, at the beginning of hostilities, had a very depressing effect upon the Colonists.

TO BE CONTINUED ...
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Re: HISTORY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925

Chapter 42: Battle of Lake George — 1755., continued ...

Governor Shirley of Massachusetts, was at the head of the expedition to capture the French Fort Niagara.

He had previously appointed Colonel Johnson a major-general, with orders to lead the English and provincial expedition against Crown Point.

As both movements had to start from Albany and as each commander needed all the sober and reliable Indian scouts available, each general competed for these red men and there grew up a strong animosity between the two leaders which worked injury to both military movements.

The Niagara campaign, if successful, would have shut off the Ohio Valley from the French.

It was doomed to failure as Shirley did not get beyond Oswego.

If the two forces of Shirley and Johnson had been combined in one army and directed against one point more would have been gained.

Shirley, as chief-in-command, had appointed Major-General Johnson to command the army against Crown Point, "thus gratifying that important province and pleasing the Five Nations, who at this time looked on Johnson with even more than usual favor."

A New England leader could not be appointed because it would have aroused too many dangerous jealousies.

Shirley was a strong leader but extremely dictatorial and he soon estranged both Johnson and Governor DeLancey.

The governor and Johnson, from being enemies thereupon became allies united in opposition to Governor Shirley.

For the Crown Point expedition, Connecticut raised 1,200 men, Massachusetts 1,200, New Hampshire 500, Rhode Island 400, New York 800, all American militiamen.

Of Johnson, Parkman says: "By birth he was Irish, of good family, being nephew of Admiral Sir Peter Warren who, owning extensive wild lands on the Mohawk, had placed the young man in charge of them nearly twenty years before."

"Johnson was born to prosper."

"He had ambition, energy, an active mind, a tall, strong person, a rough, jovial temper, and a quick adaptation to his surroundings."

"He could drink flip with Dutch boors or Madiera with royal governors."

"He liked the society of the great, would intrigue and flatter when he had an end to gain and foil a rival, without looking too closely at the means."

TO BE CONTINUED ...
thelivyjr
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Re: HISTORY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925

Chapter 42: Battle of Lake George — 1755., continued ...

Colonel Johnson early took precautions to guard the frontiers at the very beginning of hostilities.

As early as June 6, 1754, he issued orders to the Albany County militia, including that of the Mohawk Valley, to be ready to repel any threatened French attack.

On August 30, 1754, at Mount Johnson, he issued orders to the Schenectady militia to guard that town.

On February 7, 1755, Johnson held a council with the Mohawks and the "Canajoharies," as the Mohawks of the Upper Castle, in the Canajoharie district, were called.

On February 24, 1755, Colonel Johnson was nominated by Governor Shirley to lead the Crown Point army.

He attended the Provincial council in New York, on February 28th and March 12th.

He left New York City for Mount Johnson, March 19th and on April 7th, he set out from Mount Johnson for Alexandria, Virginia, where General Braddock then had his headquarters.

Braddock there made Johnson superintendent of Indian affairs for all the British colonies in America and commissioned him commander of the Crown Point expedition.

On April 16th, Governors Shirley of Massachusetts, and DeLancey of New York, commissioned Johnson a major-general of the Provincial forces.

Following his return to Mount Johnson, Major-General and Indian Commissioner Johnson held a number of important Indian councils, concluding with one with nine Indian nations from June 21 to July 24, 1755, at which 1,100 red men were present.

Mount Johnson had been stockaded and fortified and henceforth became Fort Johnson, one of the most important British-American army and militia posts in the English colonies.

Parkman writes of this council as follows:

"This meeting took place at his own house known as Fort Johnson; and, as more than eleven hundred Indians appeared at his call, his larder was sorely taxed to entertain them."

"The speeches were interminable."

"Johnson, a master of Indian rhetoric, knew his audience too well not to contest with them the palm for insufferable prolixity."

"The climax was reached the fourth day and he threw down the war-belt."

"An Oneida war chief took it up; Stevens, the interpreter, began the war-dance, and the assembled warriors howled in chorus."

"Then a tub of punch was brought in and they all drank the King's health."

"They showed less alacrity, however, to fight his battles and scarcely three hundred of them would take the war-path."

"Too many of their friends and relatives were enlisted for the French."

TO BE CONTINUED ...
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Re: HISTORY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925

Chapter 42: Battle of Lake George — 1755., continued ...

The main reason why more of the Six Nations did not join Johnson was that Shirley, then in command of the Niagara expedition, was competing with Johnson for Indian recruits and foolishly depreciated Johnson in the councils he held with the Six Nations.

Johnson's American Provincial troops mobilized at Albany.

From there General Johnson sent General Lyman ahead to the carrying place between the Hudson and Lake George, and he followed on August 9th, arriving there, August 14th, with about 3,000 men.

On August 15th, he held a council of war which asked for a reinforcement of 1,000 men from Massachusetts and Connecticut.

A fort was begun at the Great Carrying Place and named Fort Lyman by its builders.

On August 28th, General Johnson arrived at Lake Saint Sacrament.

This beautiful lake had received its name from Father Jogues when he passed it on his way to his death in the Mohawk country.

On September 1, 1755, General Johnson announced that he had changed the name to Lake George, in honor of the English sovereign.

On September 3rd, Johnson wrote a letter to the Lords of Trade complaining of Governor Shirley's interference with his plans.

On his arrival at the lake a fortification was begun at once.

Learning of the British-Colonial attempt to capture Crown Point, New France prepared to defend it.

An expedition originally intended for the capture of Oswego was sent to defend Crown Point under the command of Baron Dieskau, who expected an easy conquest of the "mob of countrymen" opposed to him.

The French force sailed down Lake Champlain in boats and canoes.

TO BE CONTINUED ...
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Re: HISTORY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925

Chapter 42: Battle of Lake George — 1755., continued ...

Johnson's Provincial army had in it many able military leaders, chief of whom was General Phineas Lyman of Connecticut, second in command, who was the real victor of Lake George.

Others were Col. Ephraim Williams of Massachusetts, the founder of Williams College, who was killed in the first battle.

Israel Putnam, then a private in a Connecticut regiment and later the famous American Revolutionary general; Lieutenant John Stark of the New Hampshire regiment, who, as a Revolutionary general, stopped the British at Bennington in 1777.

Only one of the regiments was uniformed in blue, the rest wearing their daily clothing, as the militiamen of the Revolution did usually.

They were not soldiers but farmers and farmers' sons who had volunteered for the summer's campaign.

"Blankets had been served out to them by the several provinces, but the greater part brought their own guns; some under the penalty of a fine if they came without them, and some under the inducement of a reward."

"They had no bayonets but carried hatchets in their belts as a sort of a substitute."

"At their sides were slung powder horns, on which, in the leisure of the camp, they carved quaint devices with the points of their jack-knives."

All in all, they were the same type of Americans who later fought and won the War for Independence.

With them was a battalion of men from the Mohawk Valley, in which Hendrick Frey, Jelles Fonda and others held command.

Our Valley militia fought bravely in the following battle.

Johnson's Indian scouts reported the advance of the French, consisting of 3,500 French regulars, Canadians and Indians, with the German Baron Dieskau at their head.

The French moved forward to capture Fort Lyman (later Fort Frederick) at the Great Carrying Place.

The Indians, as usual refused to join in an assault on a fort and so Dieskau changed his plans to an attack on Johnson's fortified camp at the head of Lake George.

Both the French and the Americans had trouble with their Indian allies, whose idea of a successful military expedition seemed to be a prolonged eating and drinking bout, with incidental bloody barbarities.

TO BE CONTINUED ...
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Re: HISTORY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925

Chapter 42: Battle of Lake George — 1755., continued ...

Dieskau's advance guard captured some wagoners from Fort Lyman, but some escaped and ran into the American camp with the news of the approaching enemy.

Johnson's plans of attack and defense do not seem very professional.

At a war council, on September 8th, Johnson proposed sending out two parties of 500 men each, although he only had about 2,200 men and less than 300 Indians.

Hendrick, the Mohawk war chief, strongly objected.

"He picked up a stick and broke it and then he picked up several sticks and showed that together they could not be broken."

Johnson thereupon proposed joining the detachments in one.

Hendrick shook his old gray head, saying, "If they are to be killed, they are too many; if they are to fight, they are too few."

In spite of his objections, Hendrick led his Indians in the reconnoitering force, which Johnson sent out toward the enemy.

He was too old and fat to walk, so Johnson lent the veteran a horse.

Previous to going out, Hendrick harangued the red men in one of his most famous speeches.

Colonel Ephraim Williams commanded this advance force.

On the morning of September 8, 1755, the French commander prepared an ambush for the approaching Americans who walked into it, led by Hendrick, with his Mohawks and other Indians.

Volleys from three sides shot the men down in files.

Hendrick's horse was shot down and the old chief was killed with a bayonet as he tried to rise.

The sudden attack threw the American force into confusion but the Americans and Indians soon rallied and retreated to their camp in good order, firing as they retired and killing a number of the enemy.

The Canadian commander of the advance party was killed and the Canadians and the Indians showed signs of having had enough.

Baron Dieskau finally rallied his army and, with the French regulars leading the way, the enemy finally moved forward to attack the American camp.

The Americans lay behind a redoubt of logs, wagons and inverted batteaux, when the retreating party piled into the camp after their defeat of the morning.

Order was soon restored and the men were disposed to meet the advancing enemy.

The French regulars came on in good order but Dieskau's Canadians scattered behind trees and fought in the Indian fashion.

TO BE CONTINUED ...
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Re: HISTORY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925

Chapter 42: Battle of Lake George — 1755., continued ...

The French regulars advanced, firing by platoons, but were stopped by the American artillery.

Both sides now opened a furious fire.

Johnson was shot in the thigh and the command passed to General Lyman, who successfully directed the fight for four hours, when the French were finally driven off.

Lyman was everywhere in the front of the battle but escaped uninjured.

The French fire failed to make an opening in the American line, where wagoners and camp followers joined in the battle.

The Mohawks, however, did little, evidently thinking that they had done and suffered enough in the morning fight, where many of them were killed.

Baron Dieskau was shot in several places.

About five o'clock the Americans rushed from behind their line with a yell and attacked the enemy with their hatchets and gun butts and routed them completely.

Dieskau was again shot and carried wounded to Johnson's tent, where the American general ordered him to be immediately cared for.

By General Johnson's care, Dieskau was saved from being murdered by the Mohawks who were furious at their losses in the battle of the morning.

The casualties of the battle are given as 262 Americans killed, wounded and missing and 228 in the enemy army, both of which seem to be greatly understated as the fighting covered five hours and four hundred Americans were later required to bury the dead.

Only two American surgeons and two assistants were with the American army and these four men cared for the many wounded.

Parkman says: "Johnson did not follow up his success."

"He says that his men were tired."

"Yet five hundred of them had stood still all day and boats enough for their transportation were lying on the beach."

"Ten miles down the lake, a path led over a gorge of the mountains to South Bay, where Dieskau had left his boats and provisions."

"It needed but a few hours to reach and destroy them; but no such attempt was made."

"Nor, till a week after, did Johnson send out scouts to learn the strength of the enemy at Ticonderoga."

"Lyman strongly urged him to seize that important pass; but Johnson thought only of holding his own position."

TO BE CONTINUED ...
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