[FN-2] Major Sammons.
The Shawanese and other western Indians seem to have remained comparatively quiet during the Spring and Summer of 1781. The Kentucky settlements were for the most part unmolested, save by a feeble attack upon McAfee's station near Harrodsburgh. The assailants, however, were but a straggling party of Indians, who hung about the stockade, and were ultimately punished severely for their temerity. Two of them were killed by an equal number of the McAfees, whom, having left the fort for some purpose, the Indians attempted to cut off on their return. The Indians then commenced an attack upon the fort, but a party of cavalry arriving suddenly from Harrodsburgh, the garrison sallied forth, and the savages were quickly dispersed, with a loss of six killed outright, and several others, whom they bore away, wounded. A few days afterward, Bryant's station, which was yet more exposed, was visited by the Indians. Bryant, who was a brother-in-law of Colonel Boon, having arranged a large hunting party of twenty men, left his fort on an expedition down the Elk-horn. Having divided his company in order to sweep a broader extent of country for game, by reason of a fog, and other untoward circumstances, they failed of uniting at the points designated. Meantime the Indians were hanging about both divisions, and by stratagem succeeded in defeating both. In one of their skirmishes Bryant was mortally wounded, and another man severely. It was reported that the hunters, taken by surprise, were deficient in firmness, when Bryant fell. On the following day they encountered the Indians again, and defeated them.
[CHAPTER VI.]
Increase of disaffection in the North—Seizures of prominent citizens by bands of loyalists from Canada—Captivity of John J. Bleecker—Plot against General Gansevoort—Daring attempt upon General Schuyler in the city of Albany, by John Waltermeyer—Intrepidity of Margaret Schuyler—Arrest of loyalists at the Beaver Dams—Mysterious movements of the enemy on Lake Champlain—Controversy with the New-Hampshire Grants—Sketch of its origin—Outrages of the Vermont insurgents—Declaration of Independence by the Grants—Interposition of Congress—Its authority disregarded—Progress of the controversy—-Difficult situation of General Gansevoort—Suspected intercourse of the Vermontese with the enemy—Letter of Governor Clinton—Invasion of the Mohawk country by Major Ross—Warrens-bush ravaged—March of the enemy to Johnstown—Followed by Willett with the levies and militia—Battle of Johnstown—Ross defeated—Pursued by Willett, and routed at Jersey field—Death of Walter N. Butler—General progress of the war—Arnold in Virginia—Returns to the North, and destroys Groton and New London—Siege of Yorktown and capture of Cornwallis—Affairs of the North—Meditated treachery of Vermont—Message of Governor Clinton—British open a correspondence with the Vermont insurgents—Mission of Ira Allen to Canada—Separate armistice with Vermont—Stipulations for erecting Vermont into a royal colony—Correspondence with the enemy during the Summer—Negotiations renewed at Skenesborough—St. Leger ascends the lake with a strong force—An awkward occurrence for the Vermontese—Excitement at the seat of Government of the Grants—Throwing dust in the eyes of the people—News of the surrender of Cornwallis—Its effect in Vermont—Causes the nasty return of St. Leger to Canada—Insurrection in the north-eastern towns of New-York, in connexion with the Vermontese—Troubles of General Gansevoort—Unable to quell the insurgents—Cherokee Indians—Close of the year.
Emboldened by the feeble state of the country, and by the increased numbers of the disaffected in the neighborhood of Albany, especially at the north of that city, in consequence of the equivocal indications in Vermont, the scouting parties of the enemy were exceedingly active and audacious in their incursions. Their chief object was to seize the persons of the most conspicuous and influential inhabitants, for transfer into Canada as prisoners. Among the notable leaders in this species of warfare were two bold partisans, named Joseph Bettys and John Waltermeyer. The daring misdeeds of Bettys, if collected, would of themselves furnish materials for a small volume. Waltermeyer was perhaps equally daring, but less savage in his disposition. In the month of April, a party of fifteen or sixteen of the enemy broke in upon the town of Coxsackie and the contiguous settlements, carrying off several prisoners; among whom were David Abeel and his son, residing a few miles south of Catskill.
At the north of Albany several active citizens were seized and carried away in the course of the season; among whom was Mr. John J. Bleecker, of Tomhanic, whose family had been broken up on the approach of Burgoyne, four years previous. After the surrender of Burgoyne, Mr. Bleecker returned to his sylvan plantation, where he had lived in tranquility until the month of August of the present year; at which time he was surprised in the field, while assisting his laborers in the wheat harvest, and carried away with two of his men. The enemy having stolen upon him in silence, and seized him without permitting an alarm, Mrs. Bleecker was ignorant of the occurrences. But, her husband not returning, as he was wont, on the approach of night, her suspicions were awakened that all was not right. When she sent to the field, he was not there, nor could trace of him or his laborers be found. But as such sudden disappearances were not unusual, his fate was not difficult of conjecture. The neighborhood was alarmed, and search for him made, but in vain. Mrs. Bleecker, overwhelmed with grief, gave him up as lost, and once more set her face for Albany. Fortunately, however, the captors of her husband fell in with a party of militia-men from Bennington, who rescued the prisoners; and Mr. Bleecker had the happiness to rejoin his wife after six days' absence. [FN]
[FN] The joy experienced by Mrs. Bleecker on again beholding her husband, so far overcame her as to bring on a fit of sickness, so severe as nearly to prove fatal. Indeed, the events of 1777, particularly the loss of her daughter, made so deep an impression upon her mind, that she never recovered her happiness. Hence the pensive character of her writings. She died at Tomhanic in 1783, at the early age of 31.
An attempt was also made, during the same season, to seize the person of General Gansevoort. Although, as has already been stated, General Gansevoort was no longer in the regular service, yet, as an experienced officer, and the commander of the militia in that part of the state, his services and his counsels were in continual requisition; nor was there a more active officer in the service, regular or irregular, or one more burdened with duties. It was therefore an object with the enemy to remove him from his post if possible. A scheme was therefore devised to seize him at one of the ferries which he was about to cross; the execution of which was entrusted to a hostile partisan named Tanckrey. By some means, however, Colonel Henry Van Rensselaer, at Half Moon, obtained information of the project, and lost no time in admonishing the General of his danger by letter. Having also heard of the rendezvous of Tanckrey and his gang, Van Rensselaer despatched a detachment of troops under Major Schermerhorn, for their apprehension. They were found at the house of a Mr. Douglass; but before Schermerhorn's troops had surrounded the house, their approach was discovered, and they were fired upon by the marauders; all of whom, with a single exception, succeeded in getting off through the rear of the house. Two of Schermerhorn's militia were wounded. [FN]