HISTORY OF VERMONT. 12t 



fclaUghter however was great on both sides ; one 

 hundred and sixty of the militia were slain, and 

 several wounded ; among the slain was the 

 brave but unfortunate Herkimer. But though 

 unfortunate to the Americans, the battle was the 

 most discouraging and irritating to tiie Indians, 

 Seventy of their number were slain orwoundedj 

 and among these were several of their most fa- 

 mous warriors ; the loss of so many of their fa- 

 vorite chiefs, rendered the whole body of the 

 Indians jealous, surly, and wavering. 



St. Ledger left no means untried to avail him- 

 self of this victory. On the eighth of August 

 he sent a threatning message to the commander 

 of the fort to intimidate him to surrender. The 

 next day he tried the same scheme again. Co- 

 lonel Gansevoort, the commander, conducted 

 with wisdom and firmness, and returned as his 

 answer, " That having been entrusted with the 

 charge of that garrison by the United States, he 

 would defend the trust committed to him at ev- 

 ery hazard, and to the utmost extremity." In 

 ©rder to rouse up the country for their relief,- 

 eolonel Willet and a lieutenant Stock well under- 

 took one of the most dangerous enterprises that 

 ever was attempted. They passed by night 

 through the besieger's camp and works, craw- 

 ling upon their bellies for near half a mile, till 

 they reached the Mohawk river. In contempt 

 of every danger, and of ull the vigilance and 

 cruelty of the savages, they made their way 

 through pathless woods and morasses, till they 

 arrived safely at the German flats ; and alarmed 

 the country, with an account of the state and 

 c4anger of the fort. The information ^vas con- 



