The Indian portion of this expedition was chiefly collected at Tioga Point, whence they ascended the Susquehanna to Unadilla, where a junction was formed with Sir John Johnson, whose forces consisted, besides Mohawks, of three companies of his own regiment of Greens; one company of German Yagers; a detachment of two hundred men from Butler's rangers; [FN-1] and one company of British regulars, under the immediate command of Captain Richard Duncan, the son of an opulent gentleman residing, previous to the war, in the neighborhood of Schenectady. [FN-2] The troops of Sir John were collected at Lachine, near Montreal, whence they ascended the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario and Oswego. From this point they crossed the country to the Susquehanna, where they were joined by the Indians and Tories from Tioga. Sir John had with him two small mortars, and a brass three-pounder, called a grasshopper, from the circumstance of its being mounted upon iron legs instead of wheels. These pieces of ordnance were transported through the woods upon pack-horses. Every soldier, and every Indian, was provided with eighty rounds of cartridges. [FN-3]
[FN-1] MSS. of Major Thomas Sammons.
[FN-2] Giles F. Yates, Esq.
[FN-3] Major Sammons.
The Indians never breathed more fiercely for vengeance than at this time, and they went forth upon the war-path with a determination that nothing should impede their march or prevent their depredations. [FN] Their numbers have been variously estimated at from eight hundred to fifteen hundred and fifty—all descriptions of troops included. The latter estimate is probably the nearest to the truth, judging from the results of the campaign.
[FN] Mary Jemison, who seems to have been present at the gathering.
Their course was by their old route, along the Charlotte river, (sometimes called the eastern branch of the Susquehanna,) to its source, and thence across to the head of the Schoharie-kill, for the purpose of making thorough work in the destruction of the continuous chain of settlements through that beautiful valley to its junction with the Mohawk. The enemy had designed to keep the movement a profound secret, until proclaimed by his actual presence. Two of the Oneidas, in their service, having deserted, frustrated that design by giving information of their approach to the settlements. [FN] Whether from weariness of continual alarms, or from ignorance or doubt as to the quarter where the blow was to be struck, or from criminal negligence, cannot be told; but it is certain that the surprise was as complete as the success of the campaign was discreditable to those who did not prevent it.