[FN-1] Statement of Philip Graft.
[FN-2] The Sexagenary.
The desultory battle was again renewed—small parties of the garrison occasionally watching opportunities to sally forth and do what mischief they could to the enemy, retreating within the gates again when likely to be borne down by superior numbers. Sir John, perceiving at length that neither shot nor shells made any impression upon the garrison, formed his disciplined troops under shelter of a small building more immediately in the neighborhood of the fort, and prepared for an attempt to carry it by assault. A flag again approached, and Murphy, brought up his rifle to fire upon it the third time. He was admonished, as before, to desist, and an effort was made to arrest him. But he was a universal favorite, and the soldiers would not allow the procedure. A white flag was then ordered to be raised from the fort, but Murphy threatened instant death to any one who obeyed the direction; and as the enemy's flag continued to approach, he was again preparing his piece, when an officer once more interposed. Captain Reghtmeyer, of the militia, standing by the side of Murphy, gave him the order to fire. The continental officer made a demonstration toward Reghtmeyer, by attempting to draw his sword; but immediately desisted as the latter clubbed his fusee, and gave an impressive motion with its breech, of an import not to be misunderstood; whereupon the Major stepped back, and there the matter ended. [FN-1] The officer bearing the flag, having been thus a third time repulsed, Sir John convened a council of war, and after a brief consultation, abandoned the siege, and proceeded on his Vandal march down the valley. The reason of this hasty change of purpose has never been known. Some have asserted that a pretended loyalist gave the Baronet an exaggerated account of the strength of the garrison and its means of resistance. [FN-2] Others have said that rumors of approaching reinforcements induced him to hasten forward, lest his projected march of desolation should be interrupted. But it is likely that the repeated violations of the flag had created an impression that such an indomitable garrison might not prudently be engaged steel to steel and hand to hand, by assailants not to be relied upon with much confidence in such emergencies.
[FN-1] {illegible word—Idem.?}
[FN-2] Campbell.
The march of the invaders was rapid in the direction of Fort Hunter, at the confluence of the Schoharie-kill with the Mohawk river, in the course of which they destroyed the buildings and produce of every agricultural description. [FN-1] On arriving in the vicinity of the Lower Fort at Old Schoharie, Sir John divided his forces—the regulars continuing down on the bank of the creek to the left of the fort, while the Indians skirted the meadows half a mile distant on the right. Having thus gained the north side of the fort, they made a stand for a brief space of time, and a few shots were interchanged. Some sharp-shooters having been stationed in the tower of the church, the enemy brought one of their field-pieces to bear upon it. A single shot only struck, which lodged in the cornice, and a discharge of grape from the fort drove the invaders back, [FN-2] whereupon their march was resumed and continued to Fort Hunter; at which place they arrived in the night without interruption. In their course the whole valley was laid in ruins. The houses and barns were burnt, the horses and cattle killed or taken; and those of the inhabitants who were not safely within the walls of their little fortifications, were either killed or carried into captivity. Not a building, known by the Indians and Tories to belong to a Whig, was saved. Sir John had ordered his forces to spare the church at the upper Fort, but his mandate was disobeyed, and the structure was laid in ashes. The houses of the loyalists were passed unmolested; but, exasperated by the destruction of their own habitations, the Whigs soon caused these to be numbered in the common lot. [FN-3] Thus was the whole Valley of the Schoharie-kill made desolate.
[FN-1] The destruction of grain was so great as to threaten the most alarming consequences, in respect to the forming of magazines for the public service at the North. But for that event, the settlement of Schoharie, alone, would have delivered eighty thousand bushels of grain.—Letter of Washington to the President of Congress, Nov. 7, 1780.