35^ NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



spoke, begging the Indians to join. He reported 700 Indians 

 and 400 regular troops at Oswego, with 600 Tories on an island 

 above Oswegatchie, and advised prompt action. Herkimer called . 

 out the militia, reinforced Fort Stanwix, and commenced repairs. . 

 The Oneidas were excited, fearing harm from the other Indians. . 

 Jul)- 29, Thomas Spencer wrote to the Americans : '' To-morrow 

 we are going to the Three Rivers to the treaty. We expect to ) 

 meet the warriors there, and when .we come and declare we are 

 for peace, we expect to be used with indifference and sent away." 



St Leger's force moved in boats and has been estimated at 1 

 1700; but J. W. de Peyster reasonably made it some hundreds 

 less. Lieutenant Bird's party went ahead, reaching Three Rivers 

 July 2S, where 16 Senecas and over 70 Mississagas joined him, 

 others following later. He was at the east end of Oneida lake 

 July 30, and Brant and his men were sent to his aid. ^lolly 

 Brant gave notice of the advance of Herkimer, whose men met 

 at Fort Dayton, leaving there Aug. 4, and encamping near Oris- 

 kany on the 5th. Thence an express went forward to arrange 

 signals and a sortie. Herkimer waited for the signal ; his officers 

 were impatient and charged him with cowardice. Stung by this, 

 he gave the fatal order to advance, and fell into an ambuscade 2 

 miles west of Oriskany, a spot now marked by a stately monu- 

 ment. Spencer had warned him that this might happen, but 

 the surprise was complete. The bloody battle was briefly inter- ■ 

 rupted by a storm. It was a terrible struggle in every way. 

 Brother fought with brother, neighbor against neighbor, liaiid 

 to hand and relentless, neither victorious. The Americans lost 

 200 killed, besides the wounded. The Indians alone had 100 

 killed, of whom 36 were Senecas. When the Indian survivor- 

 reached home, the dead were mourned by '* the most doleful 

 yells, shrieks and bowlings, and by inimitable gesticulations. 



Terrible as was this blow to both, neither party as yet gav^ 

 up. The Americans knew the lightness of the English guns ami 

 refused to surrender; St Leger dared not risk an assault. Tlu 

 siege dragged on, and Johnson wished to go dowm the Mohawk 

 with some force, assured that many would join him there, but 



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