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A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
About this time, John High (a son of William High, lived near the present site of Kenyon's Mills east of Sandy Hill) and Albert Baker Jr. (son of one of the early proprietors, and mill owners, at Sandy Hill, after whom the third fall on the Hudson was named) were employed to take a couple of led horses up to some of the officers at Fort George.
They were delayed in starting by waiting to catch a horse in the fields back of the present brick dwelling known as the Baker house on Main street.
The horse had a trick of raising its head in a peculiar manner when it did not want to be caught, and it played this trick so persistently on this fateful morning that young Baker was provoked beyond measure at the delay thus caused.
After a weary chase and many trials he at length succeeded in getting the bridle on to the horse, and they started on the way.
Baker in after years used to relate this event and its attendant delay as a Providential interposition in their behalf, for when they reached the Half-way brook, they found the bodies of four dead laborers, recently killed, the bodies still warm, and the scalps taken.
Among them was one they recognized as a neighbor, by the name of Koon.
If Baker and his companion had been half an hour earlier, they would probably have shared the same fate. 12
From the beginning of the campaign, rumors had been borne to the American camps of active and extensive preparations in Canada, for the invasion of the frontier posts and settlements of northern New York.
In anticipation of this event, as early as the 20th of May, the regiments of Colonels Yates, Van Woert, Schoonhoven, and McCrea, were gathered at Saratoga, 13 and General James Clinton was assigned to the command of the department.
On the 26th of July the noted Indian chieftain Brant, with a body of 800 well armed Indians and tories, made their appearance in the Mohawk valley.
Making first a feint upon Fort Schuyler, he descended on the village of Canajoharie, which, with several of the adjacent settlements, was utterly laid waste, with the usual accompaniments of pillage, butchery, and house burning.
From time to time, all through the season, other outrages of a similar character were perpetrated on a smaller scale, here and there, along the wilderness front, showing that the enemy were continually alert, active and aggressive.
12 Relation of Miss Keziah Baker.
13 Hough's Northern Invasion, p. 27.
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PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
An occasional bit of news from an escaped prisoner, or an intercepted dispatch, bore witness to the continuance of martial preparations at the north.
At length the storm burst.
The long threatened inroad took shape on the 10th of October, by the sudden 14 appearance before the little post of Fort Anne, of a force of 800 British regulars, one company of German Yagers, 200 tories, and 175 Indians, under the command of Major Christopher Carleton of the 29th regiment. 15
They had advanced about the first of the month from St. Johns with a fleet of eight vessels, and twenty-six boats, and landed during the night of the eighth on the shore of South bay.
Here a small party with boats was detached to return to Ticonderoga, and thence across the carrying place to Lake George, with a view to cooperate in an attack upon the post at its southern extremity. 16
The garrison of Fort Anne consisted at this time of seventy-five men all told, officers included, under the command of Captain Adiel Sherwood; men and officers being a part of the raw and undisciplined militia of the western border of Charlotte county.
14 It appears by a letter from Capt. Chipman, that Capt. Sherwood had been notified by his scouts, on the 8th, of the approach of the enemy, which information he had immediately transmitted to Col. Henry Livingston in command at Fort Edward, but the latter failed to communicate the same to the officers at Fort George, in consequence of which neglect that garrison suffered heavily in the action that ensued on Carleton's approach. Col. Livingston took great credit to himself for diverting the attention of the enemy from Fort Edward by the following ruse. It is quite probable, however, that the small party of tories who swept through the towns of Kingsbury, Queensbury and Fort Edward, burning and destroying as they went, as far south as Saratoga, and east to White Creek, had neither intention or desire of meeting an armed force either great or small. "The invading troops approached Fort Edward, but were probably prevented from making an attack, by a stratagem of Colonel Livingston who commanded there. Hearing of the incursions of the enemy, he wrote a letter to Captain Sherwood, on the morning of the day on which Fort Anne was surrendered, saying he was very strong, and would support that garrison if attacked. He gave this letter to a messenger, who he had little doubt would carry it to the enemy, which he is presumed to have done, and thus to have saved that post from the fate which had befallen the others. The garrison did not amount to seventy men. Parties of the enemy penetrated near to Saratoga. Thirty-five houses were burned." — Letters of Col. Livingston, Oct. 12th and Col. Warner, Oct. 30th. Sparks's Life and Writings of Washington, vol. VII, p. 270.
15 Colonel Ebenezer Jessup's battalion, raised in this neighborhood, was stated to have composed a part of this force; perhaps comprised the tory element.
16 "There is a report that the enemy retired after destroying Fort Anne, Fort George, and burning some houses. It is thought, and perhaps not without foundation, that this incursion was made upon a supposition that Arnold's treachery had succeeded." — Gen. Washington to the President of Congress. 21st October, 1780. ''A branch of this expedition, consisting of about four hundred regulars, tories and Indians, under the command of Major John Munro, a tory, formerly a merchant at Schenectady, having left their boats at Bulwagga bay near Crown Point, proceeded by an interior route west of Lake George [via Johnsburgh and Crane's mountain in Warren county to the Sacandaga], with the original intention, it is believed, of surprising Schenectady." They laid waste and burned the little settlement of Ballstown." — Hough's Northern Invasion, p. 45.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
An occasional bit of news from an escaped prisoner, or an intercepted dispatch, bore witness to the continuance of martial preparations at the north.
At length the storm burst.
The long threatened inroad took shape on the 10th of October, by the sudden 14 appearance before the little post of Fort Anne, of a force of 800 British regulars, one company of German Yagers, 200 tories, and 175 Indians, under the command of Major Christopher Carleton of the 29th regiment. 15
They had advanced about the first of the month from St. Johns with a fleet of eight vessels, and twenty-six boats, and landed during the night of the eighth on the shore of South bay.
Here a small party with boats was detached to return to Ticonderoga, and thence across the carrying place to Lake George, with a view to cooperate in an attack upon the post at its southern extremity. 16
The garrison of Fort Anne consisted at this time of seventy-five men all told, officers included, under the command of Captain Adiel Sherwood; men and officers being a part of the raw and undisciplined militia of the western border of Charlotte county.
14 It appears by a letter from Capt. Chipman, that Capt. Sherwood had been notified by his scouts, on the 8th, of the approach of the enemy, which information he had immediately transmitted to Col. Henry Livingston in command at Fort Edward, but the latter failed to communicate the same to the officers at Fort George, in consequence of which neglect that garrison suffered heavily in the action that ensued on Carleton's approach. Col. Livingston took great credit to himself for diverting the attention of the enemy from Fort Edward by the following ruse. It is quite probable, however, that the small party of tories who swept through the towns of Kingsbury, Queensbury and Fort Edward, burning and destroying as they went, as far south as Saratoga, and east to White Creek, had neither intention or desire of meeting an armed force either great or small. "The invading troops approached Fort Edward, but were probably prevented from making an attack, by a stratagem of Colonel Livingston who commanded there. Hearing of the incursions of the enemy, he wrote a letter to Captain Sherwood, on the morning of the day on which Fort Anne was surrendered, saying he was very strong, and would support that garrison if attacked. He gave this letter to a messenger, who he had little doubt would carry it to the enemy, which he is presumed to have done, and thus to have saved that post from the fate which had befallen the others. The garrison did not amount to seventy men. Parties of the enemy penetrated near to Saratoga. Thirty-five houses were burned." — Letters of Col. Livingston, Oct. 12th and Col. Warner, Oct. 30th. Sparks's Life and Writings of Washington, vol. VII, p. 270.
15 Colonel Ebenezer Jessup's battalion, raised in this neighborhood, was stated to have composed a part of this force; perhaps comprised the tory element.
16 "There is a report that the enemy retired after destroying Fort Anne, Fort George, and burning some houses. It is thought, and perhaps not without foundation, that this incursion was made upon a supposition that Arnold's treachery had succeeded." — Gen. Washington to the President of Congress. 21st October, 1780. ''A branch of this expedition, consisting of about four hundred regulars, tories and Indians, under the command of Major John Munro, a tory, formerly a merchant at Schenectady, having left their boats at Bulwagga bay near Crown Point, proceeded by an interior route west of Lake George [via Johnsburgh and Crane's mountain in Warren county to the Sacandaga], with the original intention, it is believed, of surprising Schenectady." They laid waste and burned the little settlement of Ballstown." — Hough's Northern Invasion, p. 45.
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PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
A demand was made for the surrender of the fort and its feeble garrison.
With a supply of only ten rounds of ammunition to a man, it was agreed, after a brief conference among the officers, that any attempt at defense with such overwhelming odds, and no known succor within possibility of reach, would be worse than useless, as it would thereby exasperate a vindictive and unrelenting foe, and entail a wanton and needless waste of life.
The fort with its garrison was accordingly surrendered, a stipulation having been made that the women and children in the fort should be sent in safety to their homes.
The barracks and wood work of the fort 17 was burned, and the force divided, a portion of which marched down through Kingsbury street, burning houses, destroying property and taking prisoners as it went.
The larger portion of the invaders, led by Carleton in person, advanced across the country 18 to Fort George, where Captain John Chipman was stationed with a portion (a part of two companies as inferred), of Warner's regiment.
He had, in the early part of October, received advices through his scouts, of the arrival of the enemy's vessels at Crown Point, a fact which he had communicated to Colonel Malcom, the officer then commanding the northern department.
On the morning of Wednesday, the 11th, being destitute of provisions, an express was despatched to Fort Edward, for fresh supplies.
The messenger shortly returned with the intelligence that he had discovered a party of Indians, about twenty-five in number, near Bloody pond.
This was Carleton's advance.
Supposing it to be a marauding party, and being but scantily supplied with ammunition, it was thought best to send out a sufficient force 19 to drive them from the road.
Accordingly the following garrison order was issued to Capt. Thomas Sill.
"Oct'br 11, 1780."
"Sir; as it is reported to me that there is a small party of savages near Bloddy pond, you will immediately take Forty Eight men, officers included and proseed on the main road, until you make discoveries of them, keeping a Sufficient advance and Flank gards in Such a manner as to prevent being surrounded."
"If you find a large party you will Emmediately Retreat to the fort except they should be savages only, in which case you will attack and immediately Charge upon them."
"John Chipman, Capt. Com'dt."
For some cause, not explained, Captain Sill did not take the main road directed by his orders, and thus unobserved, on a bye road, he passed the invading party on its way to the fort.
Falling into the rear and following up the trail they speedily discovered the superior force of the enemy, but finding their retreat thus cut off, they resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible, and so rushed to the attack.
The engagement, which took place between Bloody pond and Gage's hill, was short, sharp, and decisive.
The enemy perceiving the smallness of the attacking force, 20 speedily surrounded it, and the survivors of the brief struggle were made prisoners.
The severity of the action may be judged of by the large proportionate number of killed.
17 The fort was hardly worthy of the name, being only a block house built of rough logs, and surrounded by a stockaded inclosure. — Vide Hough's Northern
Invasion, p. 43.
18 A reference to Gov. Tryon's map, in vol. I of the Documentary History of N.Y., shows the existence of a road at this time, leading from the post at the Half-way brook (Fort Amherst), to intersect near Kingsbury street, the great military route from Fort Edward to Fort Anne. Judge Hay states in his MSS. that at the time of Burgoyne's advance, there was a road leading direct from Fort Anne to the upper picket post near George Brown's Half-way house.
19 "Captain Chipman, supposing the party to consist of a scout from the enemy, sent out all his garrison except fourteen men. * * * Colonel Warner and Lieutenant Colonel Safford were absent. ***** Two days previously, Captain Sherwood had surrendered Fort Anne, and the whole garrison, consisting of seventy-seven men." — Col. Livingston's Letter. Sparks's Life and Writings of Washington, vol. VII, p. 269.
20 Ensign Grant with fourteen men, in the melee became separated from the main body, and keeping clear of the garrison, fortunately made their escape. — Capt. Chipman's Letter.
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A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
A demand was made for the surrender of the fort and its feeble garrison.
With a supply of only ten rounds of ammunition to a man, it was agreed, after a brief conference among the officers, that any attempt at defense with such overwhelming odds, and no known succor within possibility of reach, would be worse than useless, as it would thereby exasperate a vindictive and unrelenting foe, and entail a wanton and needless waste of life.
The fort with its garrison was accordingly surrendered, a stipulation having been made that the women and children in the fort should be sent in safety to their homes.
The barracks and wood work of the fort 17 was burned, and the force divided, a portion of which marched down through Kingsbury street, burning houses, destroying property and taking prisoners as it went.
The larger portion of the invaders, led by Carleton in person, advanced across the country 18 to Fort George, where Captain John Chipman was stationed with a portion (a part of two companies as inferred), of Warner's regiment.
He had, in the early part of October, received advices through his scouts, of the arrival of the enemy's vessels at Crown Point, a fact which he had communicated to Colonel Malcom, the officer then commanding the northern department.
On the morning of Wednesday, the 11th, being destitute of provisions, an express was despatched to Fort Edward, for fresh supplies.
The messenger shortly returned with the intelligence that he had discovered a party of Indians, about twenty-five in number, near Bloody pond.
This was Carleton's advance.
Supposing it to be a marauding party, and being but scantily supplied with ammunition, it was thought best to send out a sufficient force 19 to drive them from the road.
Accordingly the following garrison order was issued to Capt. Thomas Sill.
"Oct'br 11, 1780."
"Sir; as it is reported to me that there is a small party of savages near Bloddy pond, you will immediately take Forty Eight men, officers included and proseed on the main road, until you make discoveries of them, keeping a Sufficient advance and Flank gards in Such a manner as to prevent being surrounded."
"If you find a large party you will Emmediately Retreat to the fort except they should be savages only, in which case you will attack and immediately Charge upon them."
"John Chipman, Capt. Com'dt."
For some cause, not explained, Captain Sill did not take the main road directed by his orders, and thus unobserved, on a bye road, he passed the invading party on its way to the fort.
Falling into the rear and following up the trail they speedily discovered the superior force of the enemy, but finding their retreat thus cut off, they resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible, and so rushed to the attack.
The engagement, which took place between Bloody pond and Gage's hill, was short, sharp, and decisive.
The enemy perceiving the smallness of the attacking force, 20 speedily surrounded it, and the survivors of the brief struggle were made prisoners.
The severity of the action may be judged of by the large proportionate number of killed.
17 The fort was hardly worthy of the name, being only a block house built of rough logs, and surrounded by a stockaded inclosure. — Vide Hough's Northern
Invasion, p. 43.
18 A reference to Gov. Tryon's map, in vol. I of the Documentary History of N.Y., shows the existence of a road at this time, leading from the post at the Half-way brook (Fort Amherst), to intersect near Kingsbury street, the great military route from Fort Edward to Fort Anne. Judge Hay states in his MSS. that at the time of Burgoyne's advance, there was a road leading direct from Fort Anne to the upper picket post near George Brown's Half-way house.
19 "Captain Chipman, supposing the party to consist of a scout from the enemy, sent out all his garrison except fourteen men. * * * Colonel Warner and Lieutenant Colonel Safford were absent. ***** Two days previously, Captain Sherwood had surrendered Fort Anne, and the whole garrison, consisting of seventy-seven men." — Col. Livingston's Letter. Sparks's Life and Writings of Washington, vol. VII, p. 269.
20 Ensign Grant with fourteen men, in the melee became separated from the main body, and keeping clear of the garrison, fortunately made their escape. — Capt. Chipman's Letter.
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A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
This spirited onset it is quite probable contributed largely to the favorable terms granted in the capitulation.
The fort 21 was immediately invested by the enemy, who were met with a spirited resistance from its one piece of ordnance (a six pounder), and fifteen muskets, until a surrender was demanded, when upon conference the capitulation was made upon the following conditions, alike honorable to victors and vanquished. 22
"Articles of Capitulation between Major Carleton, commanding a detachment of the King's troops, and Capt. Chipman, commanding at Fort George."
"Article 1st. The troops of the garrison to surrender themselves prisoners of war."
"Article 2d. That the women and children be permitted to return to their homes, with two waggons and their baggage."
"Article 3d. Each officer shall be allowed their servants."
"Article 4th. No Indian to enter the fort until a British detachment takes possession of the fort."
"Article 5th. Major Carleton passes his honor that no levies in the fort shall be lost, nor any person be molested."
"Article 6th. Each Soldier to carry his knapsack."
"Article 7th. Ensign Barrett shall be permitted to return home with his family and the regimental books, on giving his parole to Major Carleton." 23
"John Chipman, Capt. Comg 2d Battalion."
"James Kirkman, Lt. 29th Regt."
"Wm. Johnston, Lt. 47th Regt."
"Ch' Carlton, Major 29th Regt., etc., etc., etc."
21 Capt. Chipman in a letter of explanation, speaks of the fort as "the wretched production of a cantrous Jebb;" and in another place says "the fort, which though dignified with that term, is but an unfinished angle of the intended fort."
22 A bateau with a party of observation sent out the day before on a reconnoisance to the lower end of the lake, was prevented from returning by the detachment despatched from Skenesborough, whose advancing boat was armed with a howitzer. This party also escaped by land.
23 For this document, the author tenders his acknowledgments to Dr. F. B. Hough, author of the Northern Invasion and other historical works of note, several of which are referred to in this work.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
This spirited onset it is quite probable contributed largely to the favorable terms granted in the capitulation.
The fort 21 was immediately invested by the enemy, who were met with a spirited resistance from its one piece of ordnance (a six pounder), and fifteen muskets, until a surrender was demanded, when upon conference the capitulation was made upon the following conditions, alike honorable to victors and vanquished. 22
"Articles of Capitulation between Major Carleton, commanding a detachment of the King's troops, and Capt. Chipman, commanding at Fort George."
"Article 1st. The troops of the garrison to surrender themselves prisoners of war."
"Article 2d. That the women and children be permitted to return to their homes, with two waggons and their baggage."
"Article 3d. Each officer shall be allowed their servants."
"Article 4th. No Indian to enter the fort until a British detachment takes possession of the fort."
"Article 5th. Major Carleton passes his honor that no levies in the fort shall be lost, nor any person be molested."
"Article 6th. Each Soldier to carry his knapsack."
"Article 7th. Ensign Barrett shall be permitted to return home with his family and the regimental books, on giving his parole to Major Carleton." 23
"John Chipman, Capt. Comg 2d Battalion."
"James Kirkman, Lt. 29th Regt."
"Wm. Johnston, Lt. 47th Regt."
"Ch' Carlton, Major 29th Regt., etc., etc., etc."
21 Capt. Chipman in a letter of explanation, speaks of the fort as "the wretched production of a cantrous Jebb;" and in another place says "the fort, which though dignified with that term, is but an unfinished angle of the intended fort."
22 A bateau with a party of observation sent out the day before on a reconnoisance to the lower end of the lake, was prevented from returning by the detachment despatched from Skenesborough, whose advancing boat was armed with a howitzer. This party also escaped by land.
23 For this document, the author tenders his acknowledgments to Dr. F. B. Hough, author of the Northern Invasion and other historical works of note, several of which are referred to in this work.
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A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
The following are the returns of losses at Forts Anne and George, the large proportion of killed and wounded being the result of the action near Bloody pond.
Americans, killed, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 ensign, 23 privates.
Wounded, 1 lieutenant, 1 private.
Prisoners, 2 captains, 2 lieutenants, 114 privates.
English forces: 3 killed, 4 wounded.
Traditions have been handed down of cruelties inflicted on this occasion by the savages, as was their wont on the hapless prisoners who came into their possession.
The following reminiscence of this action was related to the author in 1849, by one of the surviving pensioners of the revolution.
Benjamin Knapp was one of the prisoners taken at the surrender of Fort Anne.
He, with the other prisoners, was marched forward with the party advancing toward Lake George.
They were pursued and overtaken near Bloody pond, when a sharp skirmish took place, during which the prisoners were conducted to a hollow in the rear of a considerable elevation or hill, where they were compelled to lie flat on their faces on peril of their lives, and warned not to make any noise, or give any signal by which their presence could be known.
The Americans were finally defeated with considerable loss, and the survivors made prisoners.
The tradition, it will be seen, conforms very closely to the historical record.
The prisoners taken at the two forts "were conveyed by the way of Lake George and transferred to the vessels on Lake Champlain, and Fort George was destroyed." 24
The detachment of tories and Indians that proceeded south from Fort Anne hastened without delay through Kingsbury street, burning and destroying as they went. 25
In the local traditions it has ever since been known as "the year of the burning."
Among the number comprising this expedition, was a former resident of Sandy Hill named Adam Wint, who, espousing the royal cause, went to Canada in the early part of the war.
He with another tory from the same neighborhood, acted as guides to a party of Indians to whom was assigned the incendiary work of destruction.
At this time Albert Baker sr. 26 was attending court in the eastern part of the county.
While his sons and hired men were at work, a part of them in the barn, and the rest in the fields near by, a neighbor by the name of Thomas Lyon came rushing by exclaiming, "Boys, what are you about?"
"Don't you see that all Kingsbury's ablaze?"
"You'd better be getting out of this!"
After warning the family, the boys hitched up two yokes of oxen to a cart and loading it hastily with what few things came readily to hand they made their escape by the way of Fort Edward.
24 Hough's Northern Invasion, p. 44. Also Letter from Governor Clinton, Sparks's Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. III, p. 121.
25 "Tuesday the 10th, about noon, Col. Livingston was informed by two gentlemen who had occasionally rode out, and narrowly escaped being taken, of the enemy's having captured Fort Anne, and were making a rapid progress through Kingsbury, burning and destroying all before them." — Letter of Capt. Chipman.
26 The Bakers were of Scotch or North English origin. For political reasons the original or pioneer emigrant of the name was obliged to flee his country, and seek refuge in this country, during Cromwell's protectorate. Albert Baker jr. was born 10th of November, 1765. When he was 4 years of age his father moved to Sandy Hill. Caleb Baker, son of Albert, was the first child born of white parents in the town of Kingsbury. Albert jr. was sent to school at Glen's Falls before there was any school at Sandy Hill. He boarded at Abraham Wing's.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
The following are the returns of losses at Forts Anne and George, the large proportion of killed and wounded being the result of the action near Bloody pond.
Americans, killed, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 ensign, 23 privates.
Wounded, 1 lieutenant, 1 private.
Prisoners, 2 captains, 2 lieutenants, 114 privates.
English forces: 3 killed, 4 wounded.
Traditions have been handed down of cruelties inflicted on this occasion by the savages, as was their wont on the hapless prisoners who came into their possession.
The following reminiscence of this action was related to the author in 1849, by one of the surviving pensioners of the revolution.
Benjamin Knapp was one of the prisoners taken at the surrender of Fort Anne.
He, with the other prisoners, was marched forward with the party advancing toward Lake George.
They were pursued and overtaken near Bloody pond, when a sharp skirmish took place, during which the prisoners were conducted to a hollow in the rear of a considerable elevation or hill, where they were compelled to lie flat on their faces on peril of their lives, and warned not to make any noise, or give any signal by which their presence could be known.
The Americans were finally defeated with considerable loss, and the survivors made prisoners.
The tradition, it will be seen, conforms very closely to the historical record.
The prisoners taken at the two forts "were conveyed by the way of Lake George and transferred to the vessels on Lake Champlain, and Fort George was destroyed." 24
The detachment of tories and Indians that proceeded south from Fort Anne hastened without delay through Kingsbury street, burning and destroying as they went. 25
In the local traditions it has ever since been known as "the year of the burning."
Among the number comprising this expedition, was a former resident of Sandy Hill named Adam Wint, who, espousing the royal cause, went to Canada in the early part of the war.
He with another tory from the same neighborhood, acted as guides to a party of Indians to whom was assigned the incendiary work of destruction.
At this time Albert Baker sr. 26 was attending court in the eastern part of the county.
While his sons and hired men were at work, a part of them in the barn, and the rest in the fields near by, a neighbor by the name of Thomas Lyon came rushing by exclaiming, "Boys, what are you about?"
"Don't you see that all Kingsbury's ablaze?"
"You'd better be getting out of this!"
After warning the family, the boys hitched up two yokes of oxen to a cart and loading it hastily with what few things came readily to hand they made their escape by the way of Fort Edward.
24 Hough's Northern Invasion, p. 44. Also Letter from Governor Clinton, Sparks's Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. III, p. 121.
25 "Tuesday the 10th, about noon, Col. Livingston was informed by two gentlemen who had occasionally rode out, and narrowly escaped being taken, of the enemy's having captured Fort Anne, and were making a rapid progress through Kingsbury, burning and destroying all before them." — Letter of Capt. Chipman.
26 The Bakers were of Scotch or North English origin. For political reasons the original or pioneer emigrant of the name was obliged to flee his country, and seek refuge in this country, during Cromwell's protectorate. Albert Baker jr. was born 10th of November, 1765. When he was 4 years of age his father moved to Sandy Hill. Caleb Baker, son of Albert, was the first child born of white parents in the town of Kingsbury. Albert jr. was sent to school at Glen's Falls before there was any school at Sandy Hill. He boarded at Abraham Wing's.
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Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
Even then the tories had formed their ambuscade by the road side, for Gil Harris, who was of the party, with others, laid concealed behind a log on the route between Sandy Hill and Fort Edward, afterwards told Mrs. Baker that he saw her passing with a tea kettle in her hand, and that she would have been taken a prisoner to Canada, had it not been from a fear of being pursued by the soldiers at Fort Edward.
A portion of the same party followed down the river on the west side as far as Stillwater, burning and destroying as they went.
The fugitive settlers from Kingsbury and Queensbury are said to have been guided on their retreat by the blaze of the burning buildings.
A widow Harris, who kept tavern nearly opposite the Baker house, had a little daughter captured by the enemy, but they shortly let her go again, and she returned to her mother; home she had none, for it was burned.
There were seventeen families living in Kingsbury at this time.
Of all the buildings and betterments every thing was destroyed but two, viz: The building leased and occupied by Adam Wint before the war (the frame still exists, enclosed as a barn, 27 in the lower part of the village) and the dwelling of William High, still standing near Kenyon's mills about a mile east of the village.
This was probably either too insignificant or too far out of the way, 28 for the marauding party to venture.
At this time, Queensbury was abandoned by its inhabitants, 29 its dwellings and improvements were again burnt and destroyed, and the settlement remained deserted for the next fifteen months, during which no record exists of town meetings, nor is there any other evidence of occupancy. 30
27 It is now moved from its original site, and is the property of Henry Howe. The other house near the five combined locks on the Glen's Falls feeder, is now owned and occupied by Joseph Fish.
28 Relation of Miss Keziah Baker.
29 It was at this time that Polly Wing with her infant son Daniel W. took refuge and passed the night in the swamp back of the old McDonald mansion.
30 "I had scarcely lost sight of Fort Edward, before the spectacle of devastation presented itself to my eyes, and continued to distress them as far as the place stopped at. Peace and Industry had conducted Cultivators amidst these antient forests (who) were content and happy, before the period of this war. Those who were in Burgoyne's way alone Experienced the horrors of his Expedition; but on the last invasion of the Savages, the desolation has spread from Fort Schuyler (or Stanwise) sic, even to Fort Edward; I beheld nothing around me but the remains of conflagrations; a few bricks, proof against the fire, were the only indication of ruined houses; whilst the fences still entire, and cleared out lands, announced that these deplorable habitations had once been the abode of riches and of happiness." (30th December, 1780.) — Travels in North America, by the Marquis de Chastellux. (Translation.) London, 1787.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
Even then the tories had formed their ambuscade by the road side, for Gil Harris, who was of the party, with others, laid concealed behind a log on the route between Sandy Hill and Fort Edward, afterwards told Mrs. Baker that he saw her passing with a tea kettle in her hand, and that she would have been taken a prisoner to Canada, had it not been from a fear of being pursued by the soldiers at Fort Edward.
A portion of the same party followed down the river on the west side as far as Stillwater, burning and destroying as they went.
The fugitive settlers from Kingsbury and Queensbury are said to have been guided on their retreat by the blaze of the burning buildings.
A widow Harris, who kept tavern nearly opposite the Baker house, had a little daughter captured by the enemy, but they shortly let her go again, and she returned to her mother; home she had none, for it was burned.
There were seventeen families living in Kingsbury at this time.
Of all the buildings and betterments every thing was destroyed but two, viz: The building leased and occupied by Adam Wint before the war (the frame still exists, enclosed as a barn, 27 in the lower part of the village) and the dwelling of William High, still standing near Kenyon's mills about a mile east of the village.
This was probably either too insignificant or too far out of the way, 28 for the marauding party to venture.
At this time, Queensbury was abandoned by its inhabitants, 29 its dwellings and improvements were again burnt and destroyed, and the settlement remained deserted for the next fifteen months, during which no record exists of town meetings, nor is there any other evidence of occupancy. 30
27 It is now moved from its original site, and is the property of Henry Howe. The other house near the five combined locks on the Glen's Falls feeder, is now owned and occupied by Joseph Fish.
28 Relation of Miss Keziah Baker.
29 It was at this time that Polly Wing with her infant son Daniel W. took refuge and passed the night in the swamp back of the old McDonald mansion.
30 "I had scarcely lost sight of Fort Edward, before the spectacle of devastation presented itself to my eyes, and continued to distress them as far as the place stopped at. Peace and Industry had conducted Cultivators amidst these antient forests (who) were content and happy, before the period of this war. Those who were in Burgoyne's way alone Experienced the horrors of his Expedition; but on the last invasion of the Savages, the desolation has spread from Fort Schuyler (or Stanwise) sic, even to Fort Edward; I beheld nothing around me but the remains of conflagrations; a few bricks, proof against the fire, were the only indication of ruined houses; whilst the fences still entire, and cleared out lands, announced that these deplorable habitations had once been the abode of riches and of happiness." (30th December, 1780.) — Travels in North America, by the Marquis de Chastellux. (Translation.) London, 1787.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
ln a letter from Governor Clinton to General Washington dated Albany 18th October, he states that a party had appeared at Ballston and destroyed some buildings there, and that the settlement of White Creek, in the eastern part of Charlotte county, had been burned the day before. 31
On the 18th Governor Clinton at Albany writes to General Washington, that "the post at Fort Edward, after the removal of the stores is evacuated, the levies who were stationed there, having insisted that their time of service is expired, and Col. Livingston, the commanding officer, with the other officers are now on their return." 32
Among the prisoners taken at this time by a flanking or flying party of savages and tories accompanying the expedition to Fort George, were Eben Fuller, 33 and his son Benjamin; Andrew Lewis who remained a prisoner in Canada until after the close of the war; James Higson, who was soon after liberated the intercession of his brother-in-law Daniel Jones, Moses Harris the elder and his son William.
The morning following the surrender of the fort, the dwelling where they lived was surrounded by the invading party and before they could make any preparations either for defense or escape, they were made prisoners.
The elder Harris was treated with uncalled for severity and harshness.
His shoes and stockings were taken off, and he was loaded with a heavy pack of plunder, with which, after his house and out buildings were burned, he was compelled to travel the rough road which led along the western banks of Lake George to a point on Lake Champlain north of Ticonderoga, probably Bulvvagga bay. 34
The son begged the privilege of carrying his father's pack, and also to allow the old gentleman the use of his shoes and stockings while he would go barefoot.
Through the malignity of one of the tories, who had an old grudge to revenge, this request was denied, and the old man's trail might, for many miles, have been traced by his bloody footprints.
After reaching Lake Champlain, the party, consisting of eighteen prisoners with their captors, were embarked in boats and bateaux, which had been concealed at that place on their way up, and after many privations, hardships and indignities were finally landed at Quebec.
31 Sparks's Correspondence of the American Revolution, vol. III, pp. 121-3. "Those upon the northern quarter had repassed Lake George, and were again proceeding towards St. Johns, but suddenly returned with a reinforcement, and were, by accounts from General Schuyler of the 1st inst., assembled in so considerable a force at Ticonderoga, that I have thought proper to send up the remainder of the New York brigade from West Point to Albany, that they might be ready to act as circumstances may require. " — Genl. Washington to President of Congress. Sparks's Life and Writings of Washington, vol. VII, p. 286.
32 Sparks's Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. III, p. 120. "As you approach Fort Edward (from the south), the houses become more rare. The fort is built at sixteen miles from Saratoga, in a little valley near the river, on the only spot which is not covered with wood, and where you can have a prospect to the distance of a musket shot around you. Formerly it consisted of a square, fortified by two bastions on the east side, and by two demi bastions on the side of the river; but this old fortification is abandoned, because it was too much commanded, and a large redoubt, with a simple parapet and a wretched pallisade, is built on a more elevated spot; within are small barracks for about two hundred soldiers. Such is Fort Edward, so much spoken of in Europe, altho' it could in no time have been able to resist five-hundred men with four pieces of cannon." — Chastellux's Travels in North America. Eug. Translation, vol. 1, pp. 419, 20.
33 Eben Fuller was a brother-in-law of Wm. Robards.
34 It is proper to state that this narrative and the other Harris traditions were taken down by the author about the year 1850 from the relation of Moses Harris, nephew of William, the principal actor in this life drama, by whom my informant had heard the events related many times. In one respect, and perhaps without sufficient cause, I have varied my account from the original version as given to me; which made the date of the capture of the Harrises and other prisoners at the time of Burgoyne's advance, which the following reminiscence would seem to confirm; for William's son Benjamin informed me that his father's name was afterwards found on the muster and pay rolls in Sherwood's possession, as one of the militia drafted for that emergency, and that he was present in the fort as a soldier, and was made a prisoner at the time of the surrender of Fort Anne. It is gratifying, also, to record his justification of the surrender; inasmuch as, according to his judgment, the fort was wholly untenable against any considerable force. Previous to the descent of Burgoyne from the north, the colonial authorities had taken the precaution to disarm the disaffected, so far as they were known to be such, among the residents of Charlotte county. Among others thus deprived of their arms was one Joseph Brayton, a tory, who had lived in Hartford, Washington county. After William Harris had recovered from his wounds sufficiently to bear the fatigues and hardships of the camp, he was drafted into a company of militia then stationed at Fort Edward. Being destitute of arms, the commandant of that post, after listening to the narrative of his captivity and escape, told him to go into the armory, and select any gun that he liked, and he would make him a present of it. He selected a handsomely mounted, highly finished rifle, which had been taken from the tory above named, to which Harris gave the name of Old Brayton. This gun he used during his term of service, and took home with him when he was discharged. Sometime after peace was declared, Moses Brayton purchased from his father a farm in the north part of Kingsbury. He called one day with his brother Joseph at the Harrises, and invited William to meet him at a certain tree which constituted a part of the boundary of the Brayton farm, remarking casually that he had better bring his gun along, as they might see some game. Harris assented and taking the precaution to load the gun, met the Braytons at the hour and place agreed upon. After some irrelevant conversation, Moses inquired of Harris, if that was not his brother Joseph's gun. To this Harris replied that it was a present to him, and detailed the circumstances connected with the gift. Moses then asserted his brother's title to the gun and that Harris must give it up. The latter declared very emphatically that he should not, whereupon Moses approached him in a threatening manner saying they would have it, if they had to take it by force, upon which Harris stepped back, cocked the gun and presented it, exclaiming with an oath "if you do, you will get it blazing." Appreciating his resolute and determined manner, they desisted, and allowed him to return home with his gun, without further molestation.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
ln a letter from Governor Clinton to General Washington dated Albany 18th October, he states that a party had appeared at Ballston and destroyed some buildings there, and that the settlement of White Creek, in the eastern part of Charlotte county, had been burned the day before. 31
On the 18th Governor Clinton at Albany writes to General Washington, that "the post at Fort Edward, after the removal of the stores is evacuated, the levies who were stationed there, having insisted that their time of service is expired, and Col. Livingston, the commanding officer, with the other officers are now on their return." 32
Among the prisoners taken at this time by a flanking or flying party of savages and tories accompanying the expedition to Fort George, were Eben Fuller, 33 and his son Benjamin; Andrew Lewis who remained a prisoner in Canada until after the close of the war; James Higson, who was soon after liberated the intercession of his brother-in-law Daniel Jones, Moses Harris the elder and his son William.
The morning following the surrender of the fort, the dwelling where they lived was surrounded by the invading party and before they could make any preparations either for defense or escape, they were made prisoners.
The elder Harris was treated with uncalled for severity and harshness.
His shoes and stockings were taken off, and he was loaded with a heavy pack of plunder, with which, after his house and out buildings were burned, he was compelled to travel the rough road which led along the western banks of Lake George to a point on Lake Champlain north of Ticonderoga, probably Bulvvagga bay. 34
The son begged the privilege of carrying his father's pack, and also to allow the old gentleman the use of his shoes and stockings while he would go barefoot.
Through the malignity of one of the tories, who had an old grudge to revenge, this request was denied, and the old man's trail might, for many miles, have been traced by his bloody footprints.
After reaching Lake Champlain, the party, consisting of eighteen prisoners with their captors, were embarked in boats and bateaux, which had been concealed at that place on their way up, and after many privations, hardships and indignities were finally landed at Quebec.
31 Sparks's Correspondence of the American Revolution, vol. III, pp. 121-3. "Those upon the northern quarter had repassed Lake George, and were again proceeding towards St. Johns, but suddenly returned with a reinforcement, and were, by accounts from General Schuyler of the 1st inst., assembled in so considerable a force at Ticonderoga, that I have thought proper to send up the remainder of the New York brigade from West Point to Albany, that they might be ready to act as circumstances may require. " — Genl. Washington to President of Congress. Sparks's Life and Writings of Washington, vol. VII, p. 286.
32 Sparks's Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. III, p. 120. "As you approach Fort Edward (from the south), the houses become more rare. The fort is built at sixteen miles from Saratoga, in a little valley near the river, on the only spot which is not covered with wood, and where you can have a prospect to the distance of a musket shot around you. Formerly it consisted of a square, fortified by two bastions on the east side, and by two demi bastions on the side of the river; but this old fortification is abandoned, because it was too much commanded, and a large redoubt, with a simple parapet and a wretched pallisade, is built on a more elevated spot; within are small barracks for about two hundred soldiers. Such is Fort Edward, so much spoken of in Europe, altho' it could in no time have been able to resist five-hundred men with four pieces of cannon." — Chastellux's Travels in North America. Eug. Translation, vol. 1, pp. 419, 20.
33 Eben Fuller was a brother-in-law of Wm. Robards.
34 It is proper to state that this narrative and the other Harris traditions were taken down by the author about the year 1850 from the relation of Moses Harris, nephew of William, the principal actor in this life drama, by whom my informant had heard the events related many times. In one respect, and perhaps without sufficient cause, I have varied my account from the original version as given to me; which made the date of the capture of the Harrises and other prisoners at the time of Burgoyne's advance, which the following reminiscence would seem to confirm; for William's son Benjamin informed me that his father's name was afterwards found on the muster and pay rolls in Sherwood's possession, as one of the militia drafted for that emergency, and that he was present in the fort as a soldier, and was made a prisoner at the time of the surrender of Fort Anne. It is gratifying, also, to record his justification of the surrender; inasmuch as, according to his judgment, the fort was wholly untenable against any considerable force. Previous to the descent of Burgoyne from the north, the colonial authorities had taken the precaution to disarm the disaffected, so far as they were known to be such, among the residents of Charlotte county. Among others thus deprived of their arms was one Joseph Brayton, a tory, who had lived in Hartford, Washington county. After William Harris had recovered from his wounds sufficiently to bear the fatigues and hardships of the camp, he was drafted into a company of militia then stationed at Fort Edward. Being destitute of arms, the commandant of that post, after listening to the narrative of his captivity and escape, told him to go into the armory, and select any gun that he liked, and he would make him a present of it. He selected a handsomely mounted, highly finished rifle, which had been taken from the tory above named, to which Harris gave the name of Old Brayton. This gun he used during his term of service, and took home with him when he was discharged. Sometime after peace was declared, Moses Brayton purchased from his father a farm in the north part of Kingsbury. He called one day with his brother Joseph at the Harrises, and invited William to meet him at a certain tree which constituted a part of the boundary of the Brayton farm, remarking casually that he had better bring his gun along, as they might see some game. Harris assented and taking the precaution to load the gun, met the Braytons at the hour and place agreed upon. After some irrelevant conversation, Moses inquired of Harris, if that was not his brother Joseph's gun. To this Harris replied that it was a present to him, and detailed the circumstances connected with the gift. Moses then asserted his brother's title to the gun and that Harris must give it up. The latter declared very emphatically that he should not, whereupon Moses approached him in a threatening manner saying they would have it, if they had to take it by force, upon which Harris stepped back, cocked the gun and presented it, exclaiming with an oath "if you do, you will get it blazing." Appreciating his resolute and determined manner, they desisted, and allowed him to return home with his gun, without further molestation.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
Here the captives were ransomed from the savages, and became prisoners of war.
For a period they were held in close confinement, but after a while, the rigor of their discipline was somewhat relaxed, and the old man was permitted to follow the occupations of farming and also of dressing and tanning deerskins with which he was familiar.
In due course of time, he with other prisoners was sent to Halifax, and exchanged, after which he returned to his former home in Dutchess county.
The younger Harris, with thirteen other prisoners, through the same tory influence that had made both his march, and imprisonment, of unusual rigor and severity, was placed for more perfect security, where they were guarded by a patrol of soldiers and kept at work.
With the opening of spring, a yearning for freedom possessed the hearts of the prisoners, and they concerted a plan for escape, which was afterward matured and carried into effect as follows: A boat from the main land furnished them daily with provisions, and such necessary supplies as their condition required.
From these supplies, they commenced saving up from their daily rations, such portions as could be most easily preserved, until they had accumulated sufficient to last them for three days.
When the critical moment of departure arrived, however, only seven of the fourteen could be prevailed upon to undertake the perilous journey.
The most the others would do, was to take a solemn oath not to make any disclosure or raise any alarm which would lead to their apprehension, until the evening following, when the sentries were changed, and the discovery would be inevitable.
They seized the boat which brought their provisions in the morning, and made their escape during the forenoon, landing upon the south shore of the St. Lawrence, on the borders of the vast wilderness stretching towards the New England colonies.
Harris being an excellent woodsman here took the lead, and they struck boldly into the wilderness, pursuing their way southward for several days and nights with but little rest and scant refreshment, husbanding their slender stock of provisions to the utmost.
These soon gave out and they were obliged to depend upon such chance fare as the forest afforded.
At length, utterly worn out with fatigue they made a halt, and to avoid the intolerable annoyance of the musquitos and flies, it was proposed to build a fire, or more properly a smudge as it is called in woodman's parlance.
Harris opposed the project, and endeavored to dissuade them from it, on the ground that it would inevitably lead to their discovery and recapture, if they were pursued, which was exceedingly probable.
He was overruled, however, by the majority, and a place was selected on a low marshy spot of ground, where the fire was started and then smothered with damp, rotten wood, which prevented it from blazing and made a dense, heavy smoke which kept off the insects.
Around this they camped for the night, and exhausted with the protracted march, and unwonted fatigue the entire party were very shortly buried in a profound sleep.
About midnight they were aroused from their slumbers by a volley of musketry, by which one of their number was killed outright, and two others were desperately wounded.
Harris, who was a large, muscular man, with limbs powerfully knit together, and of herculean proportions and strength, arose in time to parry a blow from a tomahawk, which was aimed by a gigantic savage at one of his companions.
The Indian immediately grappled with him, and after a struggle for some minutes Harris succeeded in throwing him upon the now brightly blazing fire, when putting his feet upon his neck he pressed the savage's head beneath the flames.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
Here the captives were ransomed from the savages, and became prisoners of war.
For a period they were held in close confinement, but after a while, the rigor of their discipline was somewhat relaxed, and the old man was permitted to follow the occupations of farming and also of dressing and tanning deerskins with which he was familiar.
In due course of time, he with other prisoners was sent to Halifax, and exchanged, after which he returned to his former home in Dutchess county.
The younger Harris, with thirteen other prisoners, through the same tory influence that had made both his march, and imprisonment, of unusual rigor and severity, was placed for more perfect security, where they were guarded by a patrol of soldiers and kept at work.
With the opening of spring, a yearning for freedom possessed the hearts of the prisoners, and they concerted a plan for escape, which was afterward matured and carried into effect as follows: A boat from the main land furnished them daily with provisions, and such necessary supplies as their condition required.
From these supplies, they commenced saving up from their daily rations, such portions as could be most easily preserved, until they had accumulated sufficient to last them for three days.
When the critical moment of departure arrived, however, only seven of the fourteen could be prevailed upon to undertake the perilous journey.
The most the others would do, was to take a solemn oath not to make any disclosure or raise any alarm which would lead to their apprehension, until the evening following, when the sentries were changed, and the discovery would be inevitable.
They seized the boat which brought their provisions in the morning, and made their escape during the forenoon, landing upon the south shore of the St. Lawrence, on the borders of the vast wilderness stretching towards the New England colonies.
Harris being an excellent woodsman here took the lead, and they struck boldly into the wilderness, pursuing their way southward for several days and nights with but little rest and scant refreshment, husbanding their slender stock of provisions to the utmost.
These soon gave out and they were obliged to depend upon such chance fare as the forest afforded.
At length, utterly worn out with fatigue they made a halt, and to avoid the intolerable annoyance of the musquitos and flies, it was proposed to build a fire, or more properly a smudge as it is called in woodman's parlance.
Harris opposed the project, and endeavored to dissuade them from it, on the ground that it would inevitably lead to their discovery and recapture, if they were pursued, which was exceedingly probable.
He was overruled, however, by the majority, and a place was selected on a low marshy spot of ground, where the fire was started and then smothered with damp, rotten wood, which prevented it from blazing and made a dense, heavy smoke which kept off the insects.
Around this they camped for the night, and exhausted with the protracted march, and unwonted fatigue the entire party were very shortly buried in a profound sleep.
About midnight they were aroused from their slumbers by a volley of musketry, by which one of their number was killed outright, and two others were desperately wounded.
Harris, who was a large, muscular man, with limbs powerfully knit together, and of herculean proportions and strength, arose in time to parry a blow from a tomahawk, which was aimed by a gigantic savage at one of his companions.
The Indian immediately grappled with him, and after a struggle for some minutes Harris succeeded in throwing him upon the now brightly blazing fire, when putting his feet upon his neck he pressed the savage's head beneath the flames.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
At this juncture, a near neighbor and former friend of Harris before the war, a tory by the name of Cyrenus Parks, approached him with his musket clubbed, and ordered him to release the savage. 34
This he refused to do, and as he drew back, to strike him, Harris exclaimed, "you wont kill an unarmed man will you Parks, and an old neighbor too ?"
Parks made no reply, nor for an instant wavered in his fell purpose, and the blow descended.
Harris warded it off as well as he could with his arm, which was broken by its force, the remainder of the blow falling upon his head, the lock of the gun cutting a large gash through the scalp, down the sides of the head to the ear.
Harris fell stunned, and remained insensible for many hours.
When he awoke to consciousness, he found another gash on the opposite side of his head, caused by the blow of a tomahawk, two wounds upon his forehead caused by the muzzle of a musket, jammed down with considerable force, with the intent of despatching him, and a bayonet thrust in the chest, which had been given, to see if he was still alive.
All his companions were gone, as well as his coat, shoes, and knapsack, which he had taken off the evening before, and which had served him as a pillow during his fatal sleep.
He staggered to his feet, dressed his wounds as well as he could, slung his broken arm through his neck handkerchief, and maimed and crippled, resumed his slow and toilsome progress towards home.
He subsisted upon roots, leaves and herbs such as he could find suitable for the purpose upon his route, and an occasional frog dressed with his remaining hand, aided by his teeth, and eaten raw.
At length he came out on the bank of a stream.
While standing upon its gravelly beach, looking around for materials with which to construct a raft, the stream being deep and rapid, and he unable to swim, he suddenly caught sight of two men cautiously reconnoitering from some distance above him.
He immediately concealed himself among the thick bushes and rank vegetation along the stream, and crept back in the woods to an old tree top, which had been his place of concealment and lodging the night before.
After awaiting some time, and reflecting that his situation could be made but little worse even by a return to captivity, he resolved to go back and surrender himself to the lurking foe.
He accordingly went back and again discovered the two men cautiously peering at him through the brushwood.
Stepping boldly out in sight, he beckoned to them to approach, when, to his great joy, he found that they were two Dutchmen from the Mohawk valley, comrades of his, who had also escaped on the night of the attack.
34 Cyrenus Parks had a brother named Joseph, who, after the war, lived on his brother's place, near neighbor to William. As he was a whig and patriot in sentiment, he and the Harrises were very amicable in their relations, until a misunderstanding arose between them in regard to some business transaction, when a gradual coolness ensued, which, for a while, estranged them. One morning Joseph called upon William, manifesting a disposition to conciliate and make friends again. In great good humor, he related several anecdotes, and border adventures, until he thought his listener had reached a genial frame of mind; when leading his way quietly and gradually to the subject, he asked William if he would not be willing to overlook the past, and forgive his brother Cyrenus, if the latter would make a suitable acknowledgment, and ask his forgiviness. Springing from his seat in a tempest of rage, the old scout replied with an oath: "No, he tried to kill me in cool blood, and if I ever get a chance I'll shoot him." Joseph still pressed and argued the matter until Harris's suspicions were aroused, and he exclaimed: "Joseph, Cyrenus is at your house, and if he wants to live he had better keep out of my way." The next night Cyrenus made his escape to Canada. The popular tradition that Harris tracked him to the St. Lawrence river and shot him as he was crossing that stream, is declared by the family to be without warrant, and untrue.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
At this juncture, a near neighbor and former friend of Harris before the war, a tory by the name of Cyrenus Parks, approached him with his musket clubbed, and ordered him to release the savage. 34
This he refused to do, and as he drew back, to strike him, Harris exclaimed, "you wont kill an unarmed man will you Parks, and an old neighbor too ?"
Parks made no reply, nor for an instant wavered in his fell purpose, and the blow descended.
Harris warded it off as well as he could with his arm, which was broken by its force, the remainder of the blow falling upon his head, the lock of the gun cutting a large gash through the scalp, down the sides of the head to the ear.
Harris fell stunned, and remained insensible for many hours.
When he awoke to consciousness, he found another gash on the opposite side of his head, caused by the blow of a tomahawk, two wounds upon his forehead caused by the muzzle of a musket, jammed down with considerable force, with the intent of despatching him, and a bayonet thrust in the chest, which had been given, to see if he was still alive.
All his companions were gone, as well as his coat, shoes, and knapsack, which he had taken off the evening before, and which had served him as a pillow during his fatal sleep.
He staggered to his feet, dressed his wounds as well as he could, slung his broken arm through his neck handkerchief, and maimed and crippled, resumed his slow and toilsome progress towards home.
He subsisted upon roots, leaves and herbs such as he could find suitable for the purpose upon his route, and an occasional frog dressed with his remaining hand, aided by his teeth, and eaten raw.
At length he came out on the bank of a stream.
While standing upon its gravelly beach, looking around for materials with which to construct a raft, the stream being deep and rapid, and he unable to swim, he suddenly caught sight of two men cautiously reconnoitering from some distance above him.
He immediately concealed himself among the thick bushes and rank vegetation along the stream, and crept back in the woods to an old tree top, which had been his place of concealment and lodging the night before.
After awaiting some time, and reflecting that his situation could be made but little worse even by a return to captivity, he resolved to go back and surrender himself to the lurking foe.
He accordingly went back and again discovered the two men cautiously peering at him through the brushwood.
Stepping boldly out in sight, he beckoned to them to approach, when, to his great joy, he found that they were two Dutchmen from the Mohawk valley, comrades of his, who had also escaped on the night of the attack.
34 Cyrenus Parks had a brother named Joseph, who, after the war, lived on his brother's place, near neighbor to William. As he was a whig and patriot in sentiment, he and the Harrises were very amicable in their relations, until a misunderstanding arose between them in regard to some business transaction, when a gradual coolness ensued, which, for a while, estranged them. One morning Joseph called upon William, manifesting a disposition to conciliate and make friends again. In great good humor, he related several anecdotes, and border adventures, until he thought his listener had reached a genial frame of mind; when leading his way quietly and gradually to the subject, he asked William if he would not be willing to overlook the past, and forgive his brother Cyrenus, if the latter would make a suitable acknowledgment, and ask his forgiviness. Springing from his seat in a tempest of rage, the old scout replied with an oath: "No, he tried to kill me in cool blood, and if I ever get a chance I'll shoot him." Joseph still pressed and argued the matter until Harris's suspicions were aroused, and he exclaimed: "Joseph, Cyrenus is at your house, and if he wants to live he had better keep out of my way." The next night Cyrenus made his escape to Canada. The popular tradition that Harris tracked him to the St. Lawrence river and shot him as he was crossing that stream, is declared by the family to be without warrant, and untrue.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
They dressed his wounds which were found in a putrid condition, and swarming with maggots.
They also adjusted his broken arm, dressing it with splints prepared from barks of trees and bound it together with his handkerchief.
The next day they constructed a raft, and crossed the stream.
Fortunately, Harris had a hook and line in his pocket, and coming to a good sized brook, they encamped, and caught a fine string of trout, which they cooked and ate, the first warm meal they had enjoyed since they left the island.
Continuing their journey, they came after some days' travel upon a small clearing and log house.
One of the three went forward, after carefully and cautiously reconnoitering to see that no enemy was around, and begged of the woman of the house.
She proved to be French.
They were still in Canada.
She gave the messenger to understand that she had no food to give, that her husband was away from home, and that their place was visited almost daily by armed bands of Indians and tories.
A loaf of corn bread baked in the ashes was, after some search, discovered carefully hidden away, which the fugitive eagerly seized and carried to his companions.
They made what haste they could to get out of this dangerous locality.
After many more days' wandering, they came out upon the settlements of the Lower Coos, now Bellows Falls, on the Connecticut river.
Here the trio parted, the two Dutchmen proceeding to Cherry Valley by the way of Albany, and Harris repaired to New Perth, now Salem, 35 in Charlotte county, where his wounds were first regularly and properly dressed by Dr. Williams, then member of the colonial legislature, and colonel of militia.
His wounds were a long time in healing. 36
35 During his convalescence, he stayed with Abner Carswell of Salem, who was a distant relative.— Relation of Benjamin Harris.
36 The following story is related by the late David Wilson, Esq., in an article entitled "The Pioneer's Revenge." "An Indian doctor, in his periodical peregrinations was passing Harris's house, on his route to a neighboring swamp to gather herbs and roots for his simple materia medica. Harris's children, who inherited all their sire's antipathy for the aborignes, insulted the medicine man with blackguard and missives until he lost all patience and threatened to tomahawk them. His menace, though intended only to frighten the troublesome urchins, was sufficient for Harris; seizing his rifle, he followed the unsuspecting and unoffending disciple of Esculapius to the woods, and, if tradition may be credited, shot him through the head, and sunk the body in the deep, sluggish brook which found its way through the middle of the morass. Although no one at the time knew with certainty what had become of the Indian doctor, the report darkly hinted that Harris had done his business for him, amply confirmed by his well known antipathy to the red race, reached the tribe, and according to their invariable custom, a powerful warrior was deputed to retaliate the injury, by the death of the murderer. ***** The brave, sent to avenge the death of the medicine man, lurked about the precincts of Harris hollow for some days without discovering himself, lest he should excite suspicion. At length observing a single man hoeing corn in a field adjacent to his retreat, he made up to him and civilly requested to be directed to Harris's cabin. The savage had never seen the foe of his race and knew not that he was addressing the redoubtable Leather Stocking himself, or the mission might have found a speedy end in the death of one or the other of the implacable foes. Harris at once penetrated his design, and comprehended at a glance the extent of his own danger, and with a characteristic coolness proceeded to anticipate it. "Harris is a neighbor of mine," he said, "it is two miles to his house by the road, but if the other pleased he himself would conduct him thither by a short route." The savage assented, and the settler, shouldering his hoe, led the way to the adjoining woods. Watching a favorable opportunity, the treacherous guide leveled a blow at the head of the confiding savage with his hoe, and felled him to the ground with a single stroke. Quickly dispatched, the son of the forest was as quickly buried, and Harris returned home from the deed of blood in moody silence. ***** Harris hollow was thenceforth unmolested, and its original proprietor lived to rehearse, in garrulous old age, to its prosperous and rapidly increasing population, the oft repeated tale of the " Pioneer's Revenge."
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER XIV., continued ...
They dressed his wounds which were found in a putrid condition, and swarming with maggots.
They also adjusted his broken arm, dressing it with splints prepared from barks of trees and bound it together with his handkerchief.
The next day they constructed a raft, and crossed the stream.
Fortunately, Harris had a hook and line in his pocket, and coming to a good sized brook, they encamped, and caught a fine string of trout, which they cooked and ate, the first warm meal they had enjoyed since they left the island.
Continuing their journey, they came after some days' travel upon a small clearing and log house.
One of the three went forward, after carefully and cautiously reconnoitering to see that no enemy was around, and begged of the woman of the house.
She proved to be French.
They were still in Canada.
She gave the messenger to understand that she had no food to give, that her husband was away from home, and that their place was visited almost daily by armed bands of Indians and tories.
A loaf of corn bread baked in the ashes was, after some search, discovered carefully hidden away, which the fugitive eagerly seized and carried to his companions.
They made what haste they could to get out of this dangerous locality.
After many more days' wandering, they came out upon the settlements of the Lower Coos, now Bellows Falls, on the Connecticut river.
Here the trio parted, the two Dutchmen proceeding to Cherry Valley by the way of Albany, and Harris repaired to New Perth, now Salem, 35 in Charlotte county, where his wounds were first regularly and properly dressed by Dr. Williams, then member of the colonial legislature, and colonel of militia.
His wounds were a long time in healing. 36
35 During his convalescence, he stayed with Abner Carswell of Salem, who was a distant relative.— Relation of Benjamin Harris.
36 The following story is related by the late David Wilson, Esq., in an article entitled "The Pioneer's Revenge." "An Indian doctor, in his periodical peregrinations was passing Harris's house, on his route to a neighboring swamp to gather herbs and roots for his simple materia medica. Harris's children, who inherited all their sire's antipathy for the aborignes, insulted the medicine man with blackguard and missives until he lost all patience and threatened to tomahawk them. His menace, though intended only to frighten the troublesome urchins, was sufficient for Harris; seizing his rifle, he followed the unsuspecting and unoffending disciple of Esculapius to the woods, and, if tradition may be credited, shot him through the head, and sunk the body in the deep, sluggish brook which found its way through the middle of the morass. Although no one at the time knew with certainty what had become of the Indian doctor, the report darkly hinted that Harris had done his business for him, amply confirmed by his well known antipathy to the red race, reached the tribe, and according to their invariable custom, a powerful warrior was deputed to retaliate the injury, by the death of the murderer. ***** The brave, sent to avenge the death of the medicine man, lurked about the precincts of Harris hollow for some days without discovering himself, lest he should excite suspicion. At length observing a single man hoeing corn in a field adjacent to his retreat, he made up to him and civilly requested to be directed to Harris's cabin. The savage had never seen the foe of his race and knew not that he was addressing the redoubtable Leather Stocking himself, or the mission might have found a speedy end in the death of one or the other of the implacable foes. Harris at once penetrated his design, and comprehended at a glance the extent of his own danger, and with a characteristic coolness proceeded to anticipate it. "Harris is a neighbor of mine," he said, "it is two miles to his house by the road, but if the other pleased he himself would conduct him thither by a short route." The savage assented, and the settler, shouldering his hoe, led the way to the adjoining woods. Watching a favorable opportunity, the treacherous guide leveled a blow at the head of the confiding savage with his hoe, and felled him to the ground with a single stroke. Quickly dispatched, the son of the forest was as quickly buried, and Harris returned home from the deed of blood in moody silence. ***** Harris hollow was thenceforth unmolested, and its original proprietor lived to rehearse, in garrulous old age, to its prosperous and rapidly increasing population, the oft repeated tale of the " Pioneer's Revenge."
TO BE CONTINUED ...