Major Erkuries Beatty.
Major Erkuries Beatty, was born October 9, 1759, son of Rev. Charles Beatty, who came to America from Ireland in 1729. He was an apprentice in Elizabethtown, N.J., at the beginning of the revolution, and served with the Jersey troops; was at Long Island Aug. 9, 1776, under General Sterling, and served as a sergeant at White Plains, Oct 28. He was commissioned an Ensign in the 4th Penn. regiment, with rank from Jan. 3, 1777; was promoted to Lieutenant May 2, and was engaged in the battle of Brandywine, Sept. 11th of same year. He was badly wounded at Germantown, but rejoined his regiment at Valley Forge in January, 1778. He was at Monmouth June 28 of that year, and shortly after accompanied his regiment to Schoharie, N.Y. He was with Col. Van Schaick in his expedition against the Onondagas in June, 1779, and with his regiment accompanied Gen. Clinton down the Susquehanna to participate in Sullivan's campaign, during which he wrote a Journal covering the period from June 11 to Oct. 22 of that year, of which the following is a part, the original of which is now in the archives of the New York Historical Society, to whose courtesy we are indebted for permission to make a copy. He was at the surrender of Cornwallis Oct. 19, was mustered out of service Nov. 3, 1783, and died at Princeton, N.J., Feb. 23, 1823.
Part of Beatty's Journal, 1779.
Monday, Aug. 9.—Agreeable to yesterday's order the Gen'l beat at 6 o'clock, the troops marched about 8, excepting 3 Men which was to remain in each boat to take them down the River. The Infantry march in front which I now belong to, and the Remainder of Battalions next, marched on 16 miles within 5 miles of Yorkham's[127] where we encamped on a small improvement called Burrows'[128] farm where there was a great many Rattlesnakes and very large, there was one killed with 15 rattles on.
Tuesday 10.—Rained, a little last night and this day till 10 o'clock—marched off the ground at 3 o'clock and went 5 miles to Yorkham's where we encamped, the men in the Boats encamped on the farm which lies on the East side of the River and the Remainder on the other side opposite, went on guard to-night.
Wednesday 11.—Marched off this morning at Sunrise and proceeded on 14 miles down the River where we encamped on a small farm, passed several farms to-day with very poor houses on them and some none, the Riflemen in front saw fresh Indian tracks to-day on the Path and found a * * * at one of their * * * To-day we crossed a large creek called Otego, and passed several Indian encampments, where they had encamped when they were going to destroy Cherry Valley or returning, likewise we passed one of their encampments yesterday, we encamped to-night at Ogden's farm and very bad encamping ground.
Thursday 12.—Marched off this morning 7 o'clock, had the advanced Guard to-day, proceeded down the West side of the River as usual, 12 Miles came to a small Scotch settlement called Albout[129] on the other side of the River 5 miles from Unadilla which we burnt, but the people had gone to the Enemy this last Spring, went on to Unadilla, crossed the River to the East side and encamped, the River was about middle deep when we waded it. This settlement was destroyed by our detachment last fall excepting one house which belonged to one Glasford who went to the enemy this Spring, his house was immediately burnt when we came on the ground to-day. We passed several old Indians encamp'ts where they encamped when they destroyed Cherry Valley, the road middling hilly.
Friday 13th.—This morning very foggy and a great deal of dew. Marched off at 6 o'clock, went 2 miles, waded the River about 3 foot deep, proceeded on to Conihunto[130] a small Indian village that was, but was Destroyed by our Detachment last fall, its 14 miles from Unadilla.[131] A little below this town there is 3 or 4 Islands in the River where the Indians raised their corn. On one of those Islands our troops encamped with the boats and cattle, the light Infantry went 2 miles from Conihunto where they encamped a little after 3 o'clock in the woods. Middle good Road to-day.
Saturday 14th.—Marched this morning at 8 o'clock, very hilly road for the Right flank, arrived at the fording 2 miles from Onoquaga[132] about 2 o'clock which is 8 from where we started, the ford being too deep to wade, crossed in our Boats to the East Side, went over a high hill and got to Onoquaga at 3 o'clock where we encamped on very pretty ground. This town was one of the neatest of the Indian towns on the Susquehanna, it was built on each side of the River with good log houses with stone chimneys and glass windows, it likewise had a church and burying ground and a great number of apple-trees, and we likewise saw the Ruins of an Old Fort which formerly was here many years ago. The Indians abandoned this town last fall when they heard of our detachment coming to destroy it, they had but just left it when we came in it, but we did not catch any of them, but burnt their town to ashes, and the detachment returned. This evening we fired an evening gun.
Sunday 15th.—Very heavy dew this morning, went on Guard, the Army Remain at Onoquago to-day quiet, no news stirring as I hear of particular.