Monday 16th.—This morning a very heavy dew and fog, which is very customary in this country, was relieved of my Guard and the day proved exceedingly warm, a heavy shower of rain this afternoon, at 12 o'clock Major Church with the 4th P. Regt. went out 5 or 6 Miles to meet 4 or 500 Militia[133] who we expected to join us here, but he returned in the evening and saw nothing of them.
Tuesday 17th.—Marched off from Onoquaga this morning 8 o'clock, proceeded down the river 3 miles to one of the Tuscarora towns, which was burnt by one of our Detachments last fall, here waded the river about 4 feet deep to the west side, went on one Mile when we came to another of the Tuscarora towns called Shawhiangto[134] consisting of 10 or 12 houses which we burnt, then marched on over a very barren mountainous country 10 or 12 Miles, came to a Tuscarora settlement called Ingaren[135] consisting of 5 or 6 houses, but a good deal scattered, encamped at the lower end of the settlement after burning the houses, here they had planted a good deal of corn, potatoes, &c., which we destroyed, a few yards in front of our comp'ys encamping ground there was a tanfat farm with several Hides at a tannery which the soldiers got, and close by it they discovered in a little hole, a man which was laid there and a little dirt thrown over him just to cover him. We had his head uncovered, but he was too putrified, we could not discover whether he was a white man or Indian but supposed to be a white man, as there was a Scotch Bonnet found near him. Marched to-day 15 miles.
Wednesday 18th.—Marched off from Ingaren 7 o'clock through a very fine rich country very well timbered but poorly watered, scarce any; arrived at Chinango River at 4 o'clock where we forded it about 4 feet deep, and almost as wide as the Susquehanna but not so deep, as soon as we got over we halted and Major Parr with 100 men went up the River to destroy the Chinango town[136] which lay 4 miles up the River, but when we came there, we found the town was burnt, which consisted of about 20 houses. It seems when the Indians evacuated it last winter they destroyed it, therefore we Returned and found the army encamped 2 Mile below the Chinango River. Marched to-day 22 miles, and burnt several Indian houses on the road. This evening came up the River 2 Runners who informed us that Gen'l Poor with 1000 Men was within 9 miles of us coming to meet us and that Genl. Sullivan lay at the mouth of the Tyoga and that he had sent part of his army up to Shamong which they had destroyed, and had returned to Gen'l Sullivan with the loss of 9 men killed and some more wounded, which was in small skirmishing. The Indians had taken off all their [property] from Shamong, except a few cattle which our people got.
Thursday 19th.—Marched this morning 7 o'clock, went 2 Miles where we burnt 7 or 8 houses on the East side of the River, 4 miles further at the Chuggnuts[137] we fell in with Gen'l Poor's army who was ready to march, they had burnt this settlement which lies on the East side of the River about 20 houses, made no halt here but went on 4 mile, Gen'l Clinton's army in front and Gen'l Poor's in the rear. Came to a middling large Creek where we made a halt for one hour, then marched on 12 Miles without halting and arrived at Owego[138] about sundown after a very fatiguing march of 22 Miles. This afternoon fell a small shower of Rain.
Friday 20th.—Rained a little last night, and successively all this day therefore did not move, went a party down to Owego town which lies one mile lower down and burnt it, consisted of about 20 houses.
Saturday 21.—Clear weather this morning but a very heavy fog, marched a little after 7 o'clock, forded Owego creek which is about * * * one third of the Susquehanna, at this place it was about three feet deep and about 50 yards wide—Went thro. the * * * of Owego town, crossed a pretty large brook, went 12 miles, halted at a small brook one hour for refreshment. Proceed on 3 Miles further when we encamped at 4 o'clock opposite Fitzgerald's farm[139] in the woods, it is a very fine farm but no house on it, nor any body living on it. On this ground where we encamped Mr. Sawyers a man who was made prisoner by Indians, along with his Neighbor Mr. Cowley who both lived on the head of the Delaware, after the Indians having them so far on their Journey, they rose in the Night killed the Indians which was 3 or 4 and made their escape, we saw the * * * of the Indians * * * when we came on the ground. To-day we met with a bad accident, two of our Boats of Ammunition overset in the River and Damaged a good many boxes of cartridges and a few casks of powder, to-night went on Guard.
Sunday 22d.—Marched off this morning 7 o'clock, proceeded on, we crossed two middling large brooks. Arrived at Tyoga 11 o'clock, where we found Genl. Hand's Brigade encamped one Mile above the mouth of the Tyoga where they was building 4 Block houses, the other troops was encamped over the point which was Gen'ls Poor's and Maxwell's Brigades, we encamped on the Right of the whole. On our coming into camp we was saluted by 13 Pieces of cannon which was Returned by our two little pieces on the River. We found Gen'l Hand's Brigade under arms with a Band of Music which played Beautiful as we passed by them, We encamped on a very * * * pretty piece of ground and spent the Remainder of the day in seeing our friends in the different Regiments, likewise when we arrived here our Infantry was disbanded and ordered to join their respective Regts. Very heavy shower of rain this afternoon. Marched 7 miles to-day.
FOOTNOTES:
[127] Joachim Van Valkenberg, afterwards killed in battle near Lake Utsayunthe in 1781.