Just what part the Mohawk Highlanders, if any, had in the Massacre of Cherry Valley on October 11, 1778, may not be known. The leaders were Walter N. Butler, son of Colonel John Butler, who was captain of a company of Rangers, and the monster Brant.

Owing to the frequent depredations made by the Indians, the Royal Greens, Butler's Rangers, and the independent company of Alexander McDonald, upon the frontiers, destroying the innocent and helpless as well as those who might be found in arms, Congress voted that an expedition should be sent into the Indian country. Washington detached a division from the army under General John Sullivan to lay waste that country. The instructions were obeyed, and Sullivan did not cease until he found no more to lay waste. The only resistance he met with that was of any moment was on August 29, 1779, when the enemy hoping to ambuscade the army of Sullivan, brought on the battle of Chemung, near the present site of Elmira. There were about three hundred royalists under Colonel John Butler and Captain Alexander McDonald, assisting Joseph Brant who commanded the Indians. The defeat was so overwhelming that the royalists and Indians, in a demoralized condition sought shelter under the walls of Fort Niagara.

The lower Mohawk Valley having experienced the calamities of border wars was yet to feel the full measures of suffering. On Sunday, May 21, 1780, Sir John Johnson with some British troops, a detachment of Royal Greens, and about two hundred Indians and Tories, at dead of night fell unexpectedly on Johnstown, the home of his youth. Families were killed and scalped, the houses pillaged and then burned. Instances of daring and heroism in withstanding the invaders have been recorded.

Sir John's next achievement was in the fall of the same year, when he descended with fire and sword into the rich settlements along the Schoharie. He was overtaken by the American force at Klock's Field and put to flight.

Sir John Johnson with the Royal Greens, principally his former tenants and retainers, appear to have been especially stimulated with hate against the people of their former homes who did not sympathize with their views. In the summer of 1781 another expedition was secretly planned against Johnstown, and executed with silent celerity. The expedition consisted of four companies of the Second battalion of Sir John's regiment of Royal Greens, Butler's Rangers and two hundred Indians, numbering in all about one thousand men, under the command of Major Ross. He was defeated at the battle of Johnstown on October 25th. The army of Major Ross, for four days in the wilderness, on their advance had been living on only a half pound of horse flesh per man per day; yet they were so hotly pursued by the Americans that they were forced to trot off a distance of thirty miles before they stopped,—during a part of the distance they were compelled to sustain a running fight. They crossed Canada Creek late in the afternoon, where Walter N. Butler attempted to rally the men. He was shot through the head by an Oneida Indian, who was with the Americans. When Captain Butler fell his troops fled in the utmost confusion, and continued their flight through the night. Without food and even without blankets they had eighty miles to traverse through the dreary and pathless wilderness.

On August 6, 1781, Donald McDonald, one of the Highlanders who had fled from Johnstown, made an attempt upon Shell's Bush, about four miles north of the present village of Herkimer, at the head of sixty-six Indians and Tories. John Christian Shell had built a block-house of his own, which was large and substantial, and well calculated to withstand a seige. The first story had no windows, but furnished with loopholes which could be used to shoot through by muskets. The second story projected over the first, so that the garrison could fire upon an advancing enemy, or cast missiles upon their heads. The owner had a family of six sons, the youngest two were twins, and only eight years old. Most of his neighbors had taken refuge in Fort Dayton; but this settler refused to leave his home. When Donald McDonald and his party arrived at Shell's Bush his brother with his sons were at work in the field; and the children, unfortunately were so widely separated from their father, as to fall into the hands of the enemy.

"Shell and his other boys succeeded in reaching their castle, and barricading the ponderous door. And then commenced the battle. The besieged were well armed, and all behaved with admirable bravery; but none more bravely than Shell's wife, who loaded the pieces as her husband and sons discharged them. The battle commenced at two o'clock, and continued until dark. Several attempts were made by McDonald to set fire to the castle, but without success, and his forces were repeatedly driven back by the galling fire they received. McDonald at length procured a crow-bar and attempted to force the door; but while thus engaged he received a shot in the leg from Shell's Blunderbuss, which put him hors du combat. None of his men being sufficiently near at the moment to rescue him, Shell, quick as lightning, opened the door, and drew him within the walls a prisoner. The misfortune of Shell and his garrison was, that their ammunition began to run low; but McDonald was very amply provided, and to save his own life, he surrendered his cartridges to the garrison to fire upon his comrades. Several of the enemy having been killed and others wounded, they now drew off for a respite. Shell and his troops, moreover, needed a little breathing time; and feeling assured that, so long as he had the commanding officer of the beseigers in his possession, the enemy would hardly attempt to burn the citadel, he ceased firing. He then went up stairs, and sang the hymn which was a favorite of Luther during the perils and afflictions of the Great Reformer in his controversies with the Pope. While thus engaged the enemy likewise ceased firing. But they soon after rallied again to the fight, and made a desperate effort to carry the fortress by assault. Rushing up to the walls, five of them thrust the muzzles of their guns through the loopholes, but had no sooner done so, than Mrs. Shell, seizing an axe, by quick and well directed blows ruined every musket thus thrust through the walls, by bending the barrels. A few more well-directed shots by Shell and his sons once more drove the assailants back. Shell thereupon ran up to the second story, just in the twilight, and calling out to his wife with a loud voice, informed her that Captain Small was approaching from Fort Dayton with succors. In yet louder notes he then exclaimed—'Captain Small march your company round upon this side of the house. Captain Getman, you had better wheel your men off to the left, and come up upon that side.' There were of course no troops approaching; but the directions of Shell were given with such precision, and such apparent earnestness and sincerity, that the stratagem succeeded, and the enemy immediately fled to the woods, taking away the twin-lads as prisoners. Setting the best provisions they had before their reluctant guest. Shell and his family lost no time in repairing to Fort Dayton, which they reached in safety—leaving McDonald in the quiet possession of the castle he had been striving to capture in vain. Some two or three of McDonald's Indians lingered about the premises to ascertain the fate of their leader; and finding that Shell and his family had evacuated the post, ventured in to visit him. Not being able to remove him, however, on taking themselves off, they charged their wounded leader to inform Shell, that if he would be kind to him, (McDonald,) they would take good care of his (Shell's) captive boys. McDonald was the next day removed to the fort by Captain Small, where his leg was amputated; but the blood could not be stanched, and he died within a few hours. The lads were carried away into Canada. The loss of the enemy on the ground was eleven killed and six wounded. The boys, who were rescued after the war, reported that they took twelve of their wounded away with them, nine of whom died before they arrived in Canada. McDonald wore a silver-mounted tomahawk, which was taken from him by Shell. It was marked by thirty scalp-notches, showing that few Indians could have been more industrious than himself in gathering that description of military trophies."[132]

The close of the Revolution found the First Battalion of the King's Regiment of New York stationed at Isle aux Noix and Carleton Island with their wives and children to the number of one thousand four hundred and sixty-two. The following is a list of the officers of both Battalions at the close of the War:

"Return of the Officers of the late First Battalion, King's Royal Regiment of New York."

Rank Names Place of Nativity Length of Service Former Situations and Remarks
Lt Col Com Lt Sir John Johnson Bart America 8 yrs. Succeeded his father, the late Sir Wm. Johnson, as a Maj. Gen. of the Northern Dis. of the Prov. of New York; was in possession of nearly 200,000 acres of valuable land, lost in consequence of the rebellion.
Maj James Gray Scotland 26 yrs. Ensign in Lord London's Regt., 1745; Lieut, and Capt. in ye 42nd till after taking the Havannah, at which time he sold out. Had some landed property, part of which is secured to his son, ye remnant lost in consequence of the rebellion.
Capt Angus McDonell Scotland 25 yrs. Ensign in 60th Regt. July 8th, 1760; Lieut, in same regt., 27th Dec., 1770. Sold out on account of bad state of health, 22nd May, 1775. Had no lands.
Capt John Munro Scotland 8 yrs. Had considerable landed property, lost in consequence of ye Rebellion, and served in last war in America.
Capt Patrick Daly Ireland 9 yrs. Lieut, in the 84th Regt. at the Siege of Quebec, 1775-76.
Capt Richard Duncan Scotland 13 yrs. Five years Ensign in the 56th Regiment.
Capt Sam'l. Anderson America 8 yrs. Had landed property, and served in last war in America.
Capt John McDonell Scotland 8 yrs. Had landed property, 500 acres, purchased and began to improve in April 1774.
Capt Alex McDonell Scotland 8 yrs. 200 acres of land in fee simple under Sir John Johnson. Bart., ye annual rent of £6 per 100
Capt Arch. McDonell Scotland 8 yrs. Merchant. No lands.
Capt
Lt 		Allan McDonell Scotland 8 yrs. Held 200 acres of land under Sir John Johnson, at £6 per 100.
Lt Mal. McMartin Scotland 8 yrs. Held 100 acres of land under Sir John Johnson, at £6.
Lt Peter Everett America 7 yrs. Had some landed property.
Lt John Prentiss America 9 yrs. A volunteer at the Siege of Quebec, 1775-76.
Lt Hugh McDonell Scotland 7 yrs. Son of Capt. McDonell.
Lt John F. Holland America 5 yrs. Son of Major Holland, Surveyor-General, Province of Quebec.
Lt William Coffin America 3 yrs. Son of Mr. Coffin, merchant, late of Boston.
Lt Jacob Farrand America 7 yrs. Nephew to Major Gray.
Lt William Claus America 7 yrs. Son of Col. Claus, deputy agent Indian Affairs.
Lt Hugh Munro America 6 yrs. Son of Capt. John Munro.
Lt Joseph Anderson America 6 yrs. Son of Capt. Sam'l Anderson.
Lt Thomas Smith Ireland 4 yrs. Son of Dr. Smith.
Ens John Connolly Ireland 2 yrs. Private Gentleman.
Ens Jacob Glen America 3 yrs. Son of John Glen, Esq., of Schenectady. Had considerable landed property.
Ens Miles McDonell Scotland 3 yrs. Son of Capt. John McDonell.
Ens Eben'r Anderson America 6 yrs. Son of Capt. Sam'l. Anderson.
Ens Duncan Cameron Scotland 14 yrs. In service last war preceding this one.
Ens John Mann America 8 yrs. Private Gentleman.
Ens Francis McCarthy Ireland 28 yrs. Formerly Sergeant in the 34th Regiment.
Ens John Valentine America 24 yrs. 18 years in 55th and 62nd Regiments.
Ch'p John Doty America 8 yrs. Formerly minister of the Gospel at Schenectady.
Adjt James Valentine Ireland 4 yrs. Son of Ens John Valentine.
Q.M. Isaac Mann America 8 yrs. Merchant.
Surg. Charles Austin England 22 yrs. 14 years in hospital work.
M'te James Stewart Scotland 14 yrs. Surgeon's mate in the 42nd Regt. the war before last.