[Transcriber's Note: Every effort has been made to replicate this textas faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellingsand other inconsistencies. ] COLONEL JOHN BROWN _OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS_ THE BRAVE ACCUSER OF BENEDICT ARNOLD An Address DELIVERED BEFORE THE FORT RENSSELAER CHAPTER OF THE D. A. R. AND OTHERS BY ARCHIBALD M. HOWE AT THE VILLAGE OF PALATINE BRIDGE, NEW YORK SEPTEMBER 29, 1908. W. B. CLARKE COMPANY 26 AND 28 TREMONT STREET BOSTON 1908 GEO. H. ELLIS CO. , PRINTERS, 272 CONGRESS ST. , BOSTON. This address was delivered for the purpose of calling attention to thepresent condition of the marble monument erected at Stone Arabia, N. Y. , to the memory of Colonel Brown in 1836, now insecure because thecemetery in the rear of Stone Arabia church is not properlymaintained. The form of the address is slightly changed, but the writer will neverforget the kindness of the Canajoharie and Palatine friends whogreeted him and the wonderful beauty of Stone Arabia, a plateau northof the Mohawk at Palatine where our ancestors maintained a strongoutpost against Indians and other adversaries. THE BRAVE ACCUSER OF BENEDICT ARNOLD. John Brown, of Pittsfield, Mass. , now almost forgotten, was a patriotin our Revolution of 1775 whose career has been described more thanonce by men in New York and in Berkshire County, but, as it is nowtime to give more impartial views of the controversy, perhaps anothersketch of the life of this leader may encourage others to search forclearer views of the ways by which our ancestors established theinstitutions which we hope are to endure. Daniel Brown, the father of Colonel John Brown, came from Haverhill, Mass. , to the western part of the Commonwealth in 1752, when his sonJohn was eight years old. He seems to have been first in the beautifultown of Sandisfield to take part in its local government, both secularand ecclesiastical. "Deacon Brown" is called prosperous when this newtown on the banks of the Farmington River, east of the hills of theHousatonic, bade fair to equal Pittsfield as a trading-place. "TheDeacon" was a local magistrate under the king, when laymen served asjudges. John, his youngest son, is described as tall and powerful, anathlete able to kick a football over the elm-tree on the college greenat New Haven when he entered at twenty-three years of age, older inyears than most college students of the year 1767. It is believed that he prepared for college with some citizen of theneighborhood, and it is known that he married before graduating in1771. While at New Haven, he was fully informed of the peculiarities ofBenedict Arnold, then a storekeeper, already disgraced in the eyes ofrespectable citizens because of his desertion from the British armyand his reckless disregard for the rights of his creditors; for thenthe debtor was not allowed to retain his respectability, if he faileddishonestly. Furthermore, his self-assertion was recognized as toooften a display of arrogance and vanity. Brown's sister Elizabeth hadmarried Oliver Arnold, attorney-general of Rhode Island, a cousin ofBenedict, and it is reasonable to suppose that he was well informed ofArnold's misdeeds, which thus became known to John Brown. In 1771, when he was graduated from Yale, only twenty men were of hisclass. Quite a large number of Yale graduates took part with thepatriots, and Humphreys, one of the class of 1771, was aide-de-camp toWashington. He, I believe, is the only writer in verse who extolledthis John Brown. How often we are indebted to poets for our heroes! Ifthis John Brown had incited an insurrection and been hanged forkilling his fellow-men contrary to law in time of peace, "his soulmight be marching on. " If, when he rode from Ticonderoga on horse at ahigh rate of speed to Philadelphia, to inform the Continental Congressthat his friend Ethan Allen had taken possession of the fortress withits guns and materials for war, some poet had described his ride, asLongfellow portrayed Paul Revere's, the school children would stillrecall Brown of Pittsfield; but, my friends, 'tis of little momentthat we are soon forgotten, if it be certain that, while we live, welive with moral courage in the life of every day. I do not intend to put much emphasis upon military glory. I am tryingto show that Brown's life by reason of its entire sincerity, althoughat times unsuccessful, was led, so far as we can know, by "_a manevery inch a man_, " holding fast to his ideals, fearless in theassertion of truth as he saw it, and directed by high principle; that, having all these noble attributes, his part in public affairs shouldnow and then be rehearsed to show the value of goodness even amid thehorrors of war. On December 10, 1772, a few months after graduation from Yale College, he was admitted to practise law in New York in the courts of TryonCounty, a part of which is now Montgomery County, bearing the name ofone of our noblest American generals, who led the attack on Quebec inDecember, three years later, where Brown served under him as a majorof a Berkshire County regiment. Some writers call Brown king'sattorney at Caughnawaga, whether rightly I know not, nor do I know whyhe came to the Mohawk Valley from Berkshire, for Pittsfield was agrowing frontier town. Perhaps Sir William Johnson's influence and hisbusy settlement offered some inducement to the young attorney, but itdid not long have weight with him, for we find him in 1773 atPittsfield, where another attorney of Loyalist tendencies had lefttown under coercion. Before I attempt to describe the civil and military career of JohnBrown from 1773 to his thirty-sixth birthday, when he was killed atStone Arabia, I wish to call your attention to the peculiarities ofthe political situation in Berkshire County and its vicinity. On thenorth the New Hampshire Grants (now Vermont) had recently beendisputed territory where local partisans, Ethan Allen and others, usedcoercion to maintain the claims of settlers against New York menclaiming title. New York Colony on the west, though directed largelyby men of high character like Philip Schuyler, was torn by bitterpolitical differences, the Loyalist element being strong in social andpolitical affairs. Then, although the Berkshire towns were active fromthe earliest days of 1774 in sharing with other towns the plans forresistance to royal authority, they were very jealous of anycontinuance of unnecessary power in the Provincial Congress. Pittsfield by the quill of a cousin of Ethan Allen, the Rev. ThomasAllen, asserted that the town would remain "in a state of nature" [seeNote 1] (i. E. , simple democracy without representative government)unless it obtained new privileges. If the right of nominating tooffice is not vested in the people, they said, "_we are indifferentwho assumes it, whether any particular persons on this or the otherside of the water_. " They did not want any bosses, but no doubt wouldhave voted for Governor Hughes. They were of the belief that thegovernment of the respective committees (County and Town, Committeesof Correspondence and Inspection) was lenient and efficacious, butthey hoped for a new Constitution "on such a broad basis of civil andreligious liberty as no length of time will corrupt as long as the sunand moon shall endure. " They wished to elect judges by votes of thepeople of the county, justices of the peace by the voters of thetowns, and of course allow soldiers to elect their company officers. Brown was chosen judge of the Common Pleas by the General Court ofMassachusetts for 1779, but never held court, probably because hisfellow-citizens were not submissive to the existing authority of theGeneral Court as exercised before the adoption of the new Constitutionof Massachusetts. In such a state of affairs Berkshire took her partlargely in her way when she sent men to fight the battles of theUnited Colonies. Her officers and men were often too independent tosubmit willingly to proper military authority, and in some tryingemergencies the Berkshire men were insubordinate or were disposed tofollow their leaders in attacks not always wisely chosen. It wasCaptain Asa Douglas, of Hancock, the man who had done much to promotethe capture of Ticonderoga by skilful recruiting and by pledge of hisestate, who in May, 1776, was Chairman of a convention of Berkshiretowns which, deluded by false rumors and influenced by their ownprejudices against the noble General Schuyler, sent to GeneralWashington their doubts concerning his loyalty, although expressingtheir hope that his name might be handed down to posterity as one ofthe great pillars of the American Cause. Their hope is grandlyfulfilled, but the Berkshire men have left us with some doubt as totheir skill in judging of current events. However, on the twenty-sixthday of May, 1776, Mark Hopkins, as Secretary of this Convention, wroteto Washington to tell him their fears concerning Philip Schuyler weregroundless. John Brown was twenty-nine years of age when he began his activecitizenship at Pittsfield. He had lived in Berkshire more thanone-half his life. His experience on a farm, at college, near the sea, and for a short time in the Mohawk country among the Indians and whitemen of varying views about the king, made him worthy the confidence ofBerkshire men; and he always had their support and their respect. Whathis literary attainments were we cannot tell. A few letters to GeneralLincoln and letters relating to military affairs which appear in thearchives give little opportunity for judging of his literary andprofessional skill. The inventory of his estate, giving in detail thenames of law books, a surveyor's guide, a theological treatise, and aBible, with farm implements and military clothing, show something ofthe life of his time, when a man was farmer, surveyor, lawyer, andsoldier altogether, and, if as active as John Brown, not much moreable to write well-considered essays and books than if he had neverseen Yale College. Alas! his fate in that regard is not unlike manygraduates of our present time, who, having fine natures, strong traitsof character, and ability enough to express themselves, are driven bycommercial or other present activities to and fro from typewriter totelephone, often to die without using their minds calmly and withoutimparting to others much that they might have given to help the world, had they been able to have peace in the midst of their busy lives. Pittsfield frequently employed Brown. In January, 1774, he was chosento instruct the representative to the General Court in reference tothe destruction of the tea at Boston. He was quite discriminating. While he opposed the useless waste of property by disguised men, hestrongly denounced the British tyrannies. Within six months he was oneof the Committee of Correspondence and a delegate to the CountyCongress at Stockbridge. In the fall of 1774 he acted as arbitratorwith others to settle disputes following the common law and theProvince laws when they did not interfere with the democracy ofBerkshire. He was chosen Ensign of the Company of Minute Men, and finallydelegate to the First Provincial Congress. This Congress appointed himto a very important Committee on Correspondence with Canada, and thatwinter the committee sent him to Canada with full power to getinformation, confer with Canadians, whether English or French, andreport back the condition of affairs and whether they would act withthe Colonies. This mission was peaceful in its aim. He conferred withmen from Montreal and Quebec, assuring all whom he met that theColonies desired peace with Great Britain, but, if war came, theywould surely respect the rights of all men to worship God in their ownway and would maintain a democratic form of government. Mr. Brown showed himself to be diplomatic and faithful. He enduredmuch personal hardship and risk during the winter, and his report wasmost valuable. The part of it best known is under date of March 29, 1775, wherein he recommended that, if war came, Ticonderoga should betaken. "The people in the New Hampshire Grants, " he wrote, "haveengaged to do the job. " Recently it has been stated that in February, 1775, he was at Chesterfield, Mass. , and that about that time he led aparty of Berkshire and Hampshire men to Deerfield and arrested a Toryor some Tories who were suspected of being in direct communicationwith General Gage at Boston. April 27, 1775, there appeared in theHartford _Courant_ a notice signed "John Brown" by order of theCommittee of Inspection in the towns of Pittsfield, Richmond, andLenox, in the following words: "Whereas Major Israel Stoddard andWoodbridge Little Esq. , both of Pittsfield in the County of Berkshire, have fled from their respective homes and are justly esteemed thecommon pests of society and incurable enemies of their country and aresupposed to be somewhere in New York Government moving sedition andrebellion against their country, it is hereby recommended to allfriends of American liberty and to all who do not delight in theinnocent blood of their countrymen, to exert themselves that they maybe taken into custody and committed to some of his Majesty's jailstill the civil war which has broken out in this Province shall beended. " Surely, Brown was an active partisan, though not at Lexingtonin April, 1775. In May he was at Ticonderoga with Ethan Allen, notholding any military rank. Allen commended him to the government asfit for military command. The oft-told tale of how Ethan Allen took the fortress, proclaimingits capture in the name of "Almighty God and the ContinentalCongress, " need not be rehearsed here. Allen took possession ofTiconderoga, its garrison, and its valuable military property with theaid of Connecticut and Berkshire men, and at his request Brown rodehis horse rapidly to Philadelphia to announce to the ContinentalCongress the capture which was attained without their authority oraid. At this point Benedict Arnold must be referred to. In April, 1775, he had broken open an arsenal at New Haven, and with his militiacompany hurried to Cambridge. As he rode one day from New Haventowards Cambridge, he met Captain Parsons, who was going to Hartfordto plan with some Connecticut leaders for the capture of Ticonderoga. Hearing Parsons's plan, Arnold pushed on to Watertown and got acommission from the Massachusetts government as colonel as well as anorder for power to recruit men, for horses and ammunition. MeetingEthan Allen on his way to Ticonderoga, Arnold produced hisMassachusetts authority, but not his men, on the same day that Allenwas fully prepared for his work. Arnold began his interference withthe concerted plan, hoping for a separate command and the glory ofvictory. He promised payments of money to Berkshire men from thesouthern towns, which he failed to pay from funds given him for thatpurpose. This was the beginning of an angry and long-continued disputebetween Easton, Brown's colonel, and Brown, on the one hand, andArnold, on the other. Unhappily for Easton and Brown, as for all menwho possess the truth about the characters of men who are undoubtedlyable to fight battles, though brutal and even wicked in their lives, the controversy was long and bitter, but, while war exists, the commonlaw and legal procedure rarely have weight and even martial lawbecomes ineffective. "War is hell, " said the great Sherman. Hell is irrational, as is war. Reason fails to have even its usual part in man's destiny during allwars. Chance has sway, and men often get what is called glory whenothers, almost unknown to fame, should win the approval of all men. Whether Washington had his doubts about Arnold's character may neverbe known, but more than once he gave him opportunities to hold highcommand because he fought battles through. So Lincoln, when told thatGrant drank whiskey, asked for more such whiskey for other generals. Sparks, the historian, a Unitarian clergyman, when writing Arnold'slife, detailed his sins, his youthful desertion from the British army, his financial dishonor at New Haven, his overbearing self-assertion, and yet he added, when telling of the attitude of the members ofCongress towards Arnold, that "these stern patriots, regarding virtueas essential to true honor, did not consider great examples of valor, resource, and energy even of arousing and sustaining the militaryardor of a country as an adequate counterpoise to a dereliction ofprinciple and a compromising integrity. " "How far a judicious policyand a pure patriotism were combined on this occasion, " writes Sparks, "as to what extent party zeal contributed to warp the judgment, weneed not now inquire. " And here, my friends, is our solemn warning against war. No inquirywill ever justify war. War is justified only upon the sad assumptionthat, as men are "poor weak mortals" and naturally wicked, they willgo to war, and justice fails where might makes right. Who thinks I canhere and now fully justify John Brown as a soldier, if he was tooaggressive in attack or too ardent in his antagonism of a dastardlytraitor whom he knew through and through, but whom Washington, Schuyler, and other generals felt obliged to support? Perhaps notfully justify on the grounds that seem necessary to the success ofwar, but I can fully support Brown as a man who fought nobly for hiscountry and in defence of the unprotected inhabitants of the MohawkValley, who was never false to his aims as an American patriot, whoserved with distinction under Allen, Montgomery, Schuyler, Arnold, Lincoln, and Van Rensselaer, and finally died while attempting todefend the Canajoharie settlements from the hostile attack of amurderous foe and acting in obedience to the command of his superiorofficer. When the Massachusetts government understood the situation at LakeChamplain, Brown was appointed major of the Berkshire Regiment, andsent again to Canada with four scouts. This time the business was verydangerous. The French Canadians often helped him, but he might havebeen treated as a spy, and a military police chased him for many mileswith two parties of fifty men each. On his return he reached CrownPoint within a day of the time General Schuyler had expected him, after five days on the lake in a canoe. Early in August, 1775, heurged by letter and every other means in his power the immediateinvasion of Canada. Soon he was put in command of a flotilla on LakeChamplain, and then followed his well-known exploits at St. Johns andChamblee, where he co-operated with James Livingston, a brave NewYorker. His capture of Chamblee on the 19th of October, 1775, justfive years before his death, brought promises of reward from Congress. Then came the reckless expedition of Ethan Allen which led to hiscapture, and which has long been believed to be the result of afailure on the part of Brown to co-operate with Allen when he couldhave supported him. Here the burden of proof rests on the accusers ofBrown, and they never have had other proof than an implication drawnfrom the "Allen's narrative" that he did not make his best effort tohelp him, although Allen does not make any direct charge. Furthermore, the narrative is often far from correct; and as Allen was reckless inact and statement, and as Brown was continued in service underMontgomery, who was friendly to him, we may infer that Brown's failurewas unavoidable. Allen's plan was not approved by Schuyler orMontgomery. Washington hoped that Allen's misfortune "would teach alesson of prudence and subordination to others who may be anxious tooutshine their general officers. " It has been intimated that Brown was one of these junior officers whochafed under the limitations set by his superiors, but he certainlyretained his position as a regimental officer, and achieved suchresults in this Canadian invasion during the advance to Quebec that hewas highly commended by his associates, promised promotion byMontgomery, and finally given his Lieutenant-colonelcy by Congress. Hetook part in the attack of December 31, 1775, on Quebec, and on thedeath of Montgomery served under Arnold for months, commanding adetachment of Berkshire and other men who were willing to re-enlist ifhe stayed. [See Note 2. ] One of his letters written to his wife, March15, 1776, when commanding an outpost near Quebec, says he expects tobe "another Uriah because he does not agree very well with Mr. GeneralArnold. " He had been "ordered to attack with his attachment of twohundred men, one-half of whom were sick in the hospital" (his bravebrother, Captain Jacob Brown, died of small-pox). He himself marchedout with his men, but the enemy retired into their fort too soon forhim to attack them. He "expected another storm from Arnold, or to bepunished for disobedience to orders. " Truly, he was not easilysubordinate to Arnold, but he was not again "set in the forefront ofthe battle, that others might retire from him and that he might besmitten and die, " as David planned for Uriah, because he was trulyloyal to the cause he so nobly served, and Arnold did not dare todestroy him. To fully describe his conduct in denouncing Arnold and Arnold'stergiversation and intrigues against him would lead me far afield. Nodoubt his accusations interfered with Arnold's promotion byCongress, --promotion he earned as a great leader in battle, --but as anofficer responsible for property he was repeatedly unsuccessful. Brownagain and again renewed his charges against the arch-traitor, but wasnot able to get proper attention from the tribunals that should haverelieved him from Arnold's false charges. [See Note 3. ] Again and again historians declare that Arnold was led to treasonbecause he had been unjustly treated by the Continental Congress. Whata false view this is! He is willing enough to throw himself intobattle for glory and for his country's honor at Saratoga withoutdefinite authority, and again he was ready for a fight or anexpedition for the relief of this valley _when he could lead_, but hewas always in trouble financially. His Philadelphia extravagances andthe increase of his indebtedness did not escape all censure. Although Washington mildly rebuked him, he gave him new offers of highcommand. It is clear to me that any such statements as are indulged inby historians are of no weight or consequence. I cannot help referring to Colonel Brown's hand-bill of the winter of1776-77, published and posted in public places, wherein he attackedArnold with great severity, concluding with the words, "_Money is thisman's God, and to get enough of it he would sacrifice his country_. " Aprophecy! Unhappily, the same might be said of too many men of to-day. Another incident painful to recall, but characteristic, was told to mygreat-uncle in 1834 by Colonel Morgan Lewis, a friend of ColonelBrown's, and printed elsewhere. At the camp and in the tent whereArnold sat with other officers at some time during the Saratogacampaign, Brown faced the arch-traitor and denounced him as ascoundrel, and then, apologizing to those present, left the tent. Hisreiterated charges were not regarded as worthy of him as a soldier, although he had resigned from the Continental service because he couldnot get justice and because Arnold was not tried for his crimes. Schuyler deplored Brown's conduct as an accuser though respecting himas a brave man. I am unable to account for the record which accredits him withthirteen months' and eighteen days' service at German Flats, New York. From April 1, 1776, to May 18, 1777, he was Lieutenant-colonel ofElmore's Connecticut Regiment, which was stationed at Albany and laterat Fort Stanwix. I suppose his resignation from the Continental armywas accepted about May 18, 1777, but, whatever his loyal service inNew York may have been, he again marched in September, 1777, incommand of Massachusetts militia under direction of General Lincoln, from Pawlet, Vt. , with a separate detachment to harry the British atTiconderoga and Lake George. On the 18th of September, 1777, early inthe day he made sudden and successful attacks on the landing-placenear Ticonderoga, Mount Defiance, and that neighborhood, demanding thesurrender of the fortress; but this time General Powel, of theBritish army, made a manly reply. His captures of men and materialwere very valuable. Some American prisoners were released, and aContinental standard of colors was recaptured and sent to GeneralLincoln with much delight. All the joy of conquest is expressed in hisreport from Pawlet, Vt. , October 4, 1777, but in his letter ofSeptember 20, written at eleven o'clock at night to General Lincoln, he said he was censured by officers and men for not suffering them tomake a rash attempt to carry the fortress at Ticonderoga, although onmature consideration he thought it impossible to take possessionwithout too great loss of life. Here as late as 1777 appears thetendency of the militia to be insubordinate. He withdrew from LakeChamplain, and planned the capture of Diamond Island in Lake George, aplace where some German troops were guarding a large amount ofsupplies. He had manned an armed sloop and boats, but was thwarted bythe escape of a prisoner and a sudden and violent storm on the lake. The prisoner gave warning to the garrison, and the result of the stormgave time for the preparation of a defence, so that after two hours'hot engagement he withdrew after destroying some of his boats. GeneralLincoln commended him highly for the success of this expedition. Hewrote to General Lincoln September 19, 1777, telling him he had giventhe men all the plunder to encourage them before the attack, although"going beyond the letter of the law. " This action General Lincolnapproved. The question of plunder and the martial law governing it must havebeen a great source of trouble in this war among Indians and white menin the invasion of Canada and the Tory invasions hereabouts. [See Note4. ] It seems probable that, when Arnold falsely charged Easton andBrown with plundering the baggage of British officers at the Sorel, hecould easily cast a shadow because of the uncertainty about the rulesof war and the orders given by general officers. Plunder was promisedthe men by recruiting officers as early in the war as when the planwas laid by Ethan Allen to capture Ticonderoga in April or May, 1775. [See Note 5. ] In the early part of the summer of 1780 rumors were received tendingto show that Sir John Johnson might again invade the Mohawk Valley, this time by way of Lake Ontario and Lake Oneida. Therefore, on thetwenty-second day of June, 1780, the General Court of Massachusetts, at the earnest request of General Washington, directed that 4, 726 menshould be raised from the militia by draft, lot or voluntaryenlistment, to serve three months in New York territory after theyarrived at Claverack on the Hudson. These levies, by reason ofapparent danger to the cause in Rhode Island, with the exception of315 or more men raised in Berkshire County, were sent to General Heathat Tiverton, R. I. Various meagre statements are in print in referenceto the men who served under Brown at this time. I find in theMassachusetts Archives the names of officers and privates, in all 381men, who served in the Mohawk Valley probably after August 5, 1780. [See Note 4. ] It may be that some of his men were stationed indifferent forts or block-houses in other places than Stone Arabia, andthat only 217 men of the Berkshire Regiment were in the battle ofOctober 19, 1780. The killed and wounded are all from three of thefive companies. [See Note 4. ] Some writers say that Colonel Brown hadNew York men with him, and one statement refers to Captain JohnKasselman, of Tryon County Rangers, as being in conference with Brownon the day he fell. [See Note 4. ] Each soldier was equipped at his own expense with a good fire-arm, with a steel or iron ramrod and a spring to retain the same, a wormpriming wire and brush, and a bayonet fitted to his gun, a scabbardand belt therefor, and a cutting sword or a tomahawk or hatchet, apouch containing a cartridge-box that will hold fifteen rounds ofcartridges at least, a one-hundred buckshot, a jack-knife and tow forwadding, six flints, one pound of powder, forty leaden balls fitted tohis gun, a knapsack and blanket, a canteen or wooden bottle sufficientto hold one quart. Long after the Stone Arabia fight, claims were presented to theGeneral Court of Massachusetts for felt hats, coats, vests, linenoveralls, shirts, shoes, blankets, canteens, and handkerchiefs, and ofcourse for muskets, --all lost on the 19th of October, 1780. Brown's major was Oliver Root, his adjutant James Easton, Jr. , son ofhis old colonel. Dr. Oliver Brewster was surgeon, and Elias Willardquartermaster. He assumed command July 14, 1780, at Claverack, andmarched probably August 5 to some of the Mohawk settlements or forts. His mission was to protect various neighborhoods from sudden raids. September 5 he was sent with two hundred men from Fort Rensselaer toFort Schuyler to guard twelve boats with provisions for the relief ofthe garrison. September 11 he is reported as one of the officers ofVan Rensselaer's force at Fort Rensselaer (part of which--a wellpreserved stone house--remains at Canajoharie under the care of youngcitizens of that town, being the place where the Tryon CountyCommittee of patriots met). I cannot tell where he was for the monthprior to the 19th of October, when he was in command at Fort Paris, apalisaded enclosure of stone block-houses fit for a garrison of overtwo hundred men, built in 1776-77 by Captain Christian Getman'sRangers on a most commanding position on the beautiful plateau calledStone Arabia, north of the Mohawk between Garoga Creek and Johnstown, where Sir William Johnson's baronial hall was. The fort was more thana dozen miles from Johnstown, and was named for Isaac Paris, who tookpart in the terrible affair at Oriskany. Sir John Johnson and hiscareer in Tryon County and elsewhere in New York is well known. To methe whole subject of Indian warfare in all our wars seems to openevery possible avenue to the extremest horrors and brutalities of war. Philip Schuyler, one of the noblest men who ever lived in New YorkState, had from his early youth been friendly to Indians. In fact, before he reached twenty-one years of age, he was given a chief's nameamong the Oneidas for his services to that tribe. His skill andpatience made him all important in making treaties and negotiationswith "_The Six Nations_" and other Indians. The Patriots very earlyrealized that the Indians were to become a stumbling-block to anyattempt at treating with Canada or maintaining what is calledcivilized warfare (can any warfare be civilized?). Schuyler, Hawley, Oliver Wolcott, and other distinguished men of high characterattempted in vain to hold the Indians to neutrality. Congress at onetime voted that Indians should not be employed in the serviceexcepting where a whole nation, after full consideration, decided toact together. At another time Congress asked Schuyler to employ twothousand Indians for military service. Sir John Johnson's career, hisapparent acquiescence in Schuyler's demands, his conduct when takingand when breaking his parole, his apology being that the Patriots hadno established authority, and his repeated invasions of this countryshowed him to be the growth of the treachery which is bred among menwho use the sordid and brutal nature of savages for evil purposes. It is interesting to me that Lieutenant-colonel Mellen ledMassachusetts militia to Fort Schuyler to aid Gansevoort, and that, when in August, 1777, Arnold set out to the relief of Gansevoort heled Massachusetts volunteers from Colonel Learned's battalion, andthat again in the summer and fall of 1780 Brown led Massachusetts mento defend this neighborhood from the murderous invasion of Sir JohnJohnson. At Oriskany, Herkimer was hurried into action by his inferiorofficers in the manner characteristic of the independent and valorousspirit of his time, and Oriskany in 1777 was one of the most brutalconflicts between Tories and Patriots. Sullivan's retaliatingexpedition of July, 1778, was as bad in its character and effects asanything ever done on behalf of any cause, good or bad. Thedestruction of many Indian villages by Sullivan and General JamesClinton was no doubt thorough, but of little avail, although it wasthought wise to retaliate for the horrors of Wyoming. Early in May, 1780, the information came to this neighborhood that SirJohn Johnson was moving from Lake Champlain towards Johnstown with aconsiderable force, that Brant was marching against the Canajohariesettlements with a body of savages and that the Tories would jointhem. Johnson landed at Bulwagga Bay, near Crown Point, and, pushingthrough the forest and down the valley of the Sacandoga, he appearednear Johnstown. On the 21st of May, 1780, his forces divided, andpoured into the lower valley of the Mohawk along a line of ten miles. From Tribes Hill upward they plundered, murdered, and destroyed. Everyman capable of bearing arms was said to have been killed. Johnsonwithdrew hastily, as he was pursued by militia. Of course hundreds ofpeople fled to Albany and Schenectady. Governor Clinton hurried at thehead of troops from Kingston to Fort George, and, ordering others tomeet him at Ticonderoga, he pushed on to Crown Point, but was too lateto capture Sir John. Brant delayed his attack until late in July, 1780, and then made afeigned attack on Fort Schuyler. General Van Rensselaer, then at StoneArabia, hastened to the relief of Fort Schuyler, and Brant in earlyAugust fell upon the Canajoharie settlements and destroyed themmercilessly. Troops were sent from Albany to protect the settlements, but they were not sufficient. September 7 an extra session of the New York legislature sat atPoughkeepsie, and authorized Governor Clinton to order out such numberof militia as he thought necessary. Brigadier-General James Clintonwas assigned command at Albany and authorized to call for assistancefrom the brigades of Generals Ten-Broeck and Van Rensselaer. As I havealready said, Colonel Brown on the 18th of October was in command atFort Paris, subject to orders of General Robert Van Rensselaer. FortParis was two or three miles north of the Mohawk. In September andearly October Sir John Johnson led his forces by way of the OswegoRiver, Oneida Lake, and across country to the Susquehanna Valley. Heravaged the Schoharie Valley, laid siege to Middle Fortunsuccessfully, then, turning north, raided all the country from FortHunter. He let loose his forces for the general purpose ofdevastation. He again did his work thoroughly, --brutally, as wascustomary in Indian warfare at that time. Major Jelles Fonda, one ofthe victims of this ruthless destruction, who had been a confidentialofficer under Sir William Johnson, was absent, being a State senator. Sir John's forces burned his homestead, "The Nose, " at Palatine, anddestroyed, it is said, $60, 000 worth of his property. On the night ofOctober 18 Sir John encamped with his forces nearly opposite or ratherabove the Nose, and on the 19th he crossed the river to the north atKeder's Rifts, near Spraker's Basin. A detachment of 150 men proceededat once against Fort Paris, but, after marching two miles, the mainbody joined them. October 18 General Van Rensselaer found Caughnawaga in flames. He wasin camp on a hill near Stanton Place in Florida, perhaps twenty milesfrom Fort Paris, when he heard that that fort was to be attacked thenext morning. 'Tis said he sent a messenger with a letter to ColonelBrown and another to Colonel Dubois at Fort Plain, telling Brown tomarch out of the fort at nine o'clock the next morning and hold theenemy in check, while Dubois and he with his force were to co-operate. Furthermore, it is said, Brown's officers and men advised him todisobey the order, as that was not the time to leave the fort. However, he marched forth at the head of his detachment, but, beingdeceived by the false advice of persons pretending to be patriots, hewas led to turn aside from the road upon which he marched out into asomewhat narrow clearing in the forest near a small work called FortKeyser, and was killed nearly two miles from Fort Paris, beingattacked on every side in what amounted to an ambuscade. Captain John Ziele, of the Second Regiment of Tryon County militia, Colonel Klock's Regiment, had charge of Fort Keyser that day; andafter Brown's defeat George Spraker, John Wafel, Joseph and ConradSpraker, William Wafel, and Warner (?) Dygert, with two or three otheryoung men, were ready to defend the place from attack, but the enemyfled, whereupon William Wafel, Joseph and Conrad Spraker, and W. Dygert proceeded to where Brown lay and carried his body to FortKeyser. His scalp was entirely removed, and he was stripped of allhis clothing excepting a ruffled shirt. After hard fighting, thirtymen or more being killed, some of his men got back to Fort Paris anddefended themselves successfully, thus saving the refugees thereinfrom harm. Major Root was in command, and acted skilfully and bravely. Mr. Grider describes the battle as a running or moving fight extendingfrom the eastward to the south-west at least across six farms, and youall know how valuable the evidence is showing that the large boulderwith its inscription was the stone behind which six men found refugeand shelter until surrounded and killed. Washington wrote to the Continental Congress: "It is thought, andperhaps not without foundation, that this invasion [of the MohawkValley] was made by Sir John Johnson upon the supposition thatArnold's treachery was successful. " If Johnson acted upon that supposition, Arnold was in some measure thecause of Brown's death, but, however that may be, _John Brown diedhonorably after living honorably at Stone Arabia the 19th of October, 1780, --it is said between nine o'clock and ten o'clock in themorning_. I said that poets had not presented him to popular imagination, buthis devoted classmate at Yale, David Humphreys, aide-de-camp toGeneral Washington in 1780, wrote verses to his memory. Among hiswords are these:-- "And scarce Columbia's arms the fight sustains, While her best blood gushed from a thousand veins. Then thine, O Brown, that purpled wide the ground, Pursued the knife through many a ghastly wound. Ah! hapless friend, permit the tender tear To flow e'en now, for none flowed on thy bier, Where cold and mangled, under northern skies, To famished wolves a prey, thy body lies, Which erst so fair and tall in youthful grace, Strength in thy nerves and beauty in thy face, Stood like a tower till, struck by the swift ball, Then what availed to ward th' untimely fall, The force of limbs, the mind so well informed, The taste refined, the breast with friendship warmed (That friendship which our earliest years began), When the dark bands from thee expiring tore Thy long hair, mingled with the spouting gore. " We do not know whether the news of Arnold's flight from West PointSeptember 25 reached Brown's ears. Perhaps, if it did, he would haveappreciated the patriotic and lofty self-control of Washington whenthe next day he wrote to Rochambeau: "General Arnold, who has sulliedhis former glory by the blackest treason, has escaped to the enemy. ""This is an event that occasions me equal regret and mortification, but traitors are the growth of every country in a revolution of thepresent nature. It is more to be wondered at that the catalogue is sosmall than that there have been found a few. " Arnold's flight to the enemy was his flight from what all men, excepting Brown and a few others [see Note 6], supposed was his soul'sdesire; _i. E. _, to serve the people of America to the death. Fortwenty-one years after 1780 he lived, pursuing a checkered career. John Fiske said he often looked at the sword given him for his valorat Saratoga, and bemoaned the results of his treason. However that maybe, his name is remembered with harshness and disgust, the result ofan untruthful life. NOTE 1. "in a state of nature. " See "The Struggle for American Independence, "Fisher, vol. I, p. 27 _et seq. _ Burlamaqui's "Principles of _NaturalLaw_. " NOTE 2. See "New York in the Revolution, " vol. I, p. 61. "_The Line, Additional Corps, Green Mountain Boys, Major Brown's Detachment inGeneral Arnold's Regiment_. " 244 men. _I take great pleasure in this record. Some writers have intimatedthat Brown was insubordinate at Quebec_ because Montgomery referred toone of his friends as going beyond proper bounds in objecting toArnold. If so, why does Arnold permit Brown to remain in command? Somemen went home after the defeat of December 31, 1775, others fled. Fisher says Arnold had only seven hundred men, of which the Browndetachment is a large part, --no doubt induced to stay _because theytrusted him_. NOTE 3. Smith's History of Pittsfield, 1734-1800, p. 271:-- _To the Honorable Horatio Gates, Esq. , Major-General in the Army of the United States of America, commanding at Albany_. Humbly sheweth, that, in the month of February last, Brig. -Gen. Arnold transmitted to the honorable Continental Congress, an unjustifiable, false, wicked, and malicious accusation against me, and my character as an officer in their service, at the time when I was under his immediate command; that, had there been the least ground for such an accusation, the author thereof had it in his power--indeed, it was his duty--to have me brought to a fair trial by a general court-martial in the country where the pretended crime is said to have originated; that I was left to the necessity of applying to Congress, not only for the charge against me, but for an order for a court of inquiry on my own conduct in respect thereto; that, in consequence of my application, I obtained a positive order of Congress to the then general commanding the Northern Department for a court of inquiry, before whom I might justify my injured character; that the said order was transmitted to your Honor at Ticonderoga, in the month of August last; and, notwithstanding the most ardent solicitations on my part, the order of Congress has not yet been complied with; that, upon my renewing my application to your Honor for a court of inquiry, you were pleased to refer me to the Board of War. Thus I have been led an expensive dance, from generals to Congress, and from Congress to generals; and I am now referred to a Board of War, who, I venture to say, have never yet taken cognisance of any such matter; nor do I think it, with great submission to your Honor, any part of their duty. I must therefore conclude, that this information, from the mode of its origin, as well as from the repeated evasions of a fair hearing, is now rested upon the author's own shoulders. I therefore beg that your Honor will please to order Brig. -Gen. Arnold in arrest for the following crimes, which I am ready to verify, viz. :-- 1. For endeavoring to asperse your petitioner's personal character in the most infamous manner. 2. For unwarrantably degrading and reducing the rank conferred on your petitioner by his (Gen. Arnold's) superior officers, and subjecting your petitioner to serve in an inferior rank to that to which he had been appointed. 3. For ungentlemanlike conduct in his letter to Gen. Wooster, of the 25th of January last, charging your petitioner with a falsehood, and in a private manner, which is justly chargeable on himself. 4. For suffering the small-pox to spread in the camp before Quebec, and promoting inoculation there in the Continental army. 5. For depriving a part of the army under his command of their usual allowance of provisions, ordered by Congress. 6. For interfering with and countermanding the order of his superior officer. 7. For plundering the inhabitants of Montreal, in direct violation of a solemn capitulation, or agreement, entered into with them by our late brave and worthy Gen. Montgomery, to the eternal disgrace of the Continental arms. 8. For giving unjustifiable, unwarrantable, cruel and bloody orders, directing whole villages to be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof put to death by fire & sword, without any distinction to friend or foe, age or sex. 9. For entering into an unwarrantable, unjustifiable & partial agreement with Capt. Foster for the exchange of prisoners taken at the Cedars, without the knowledge, advice, or consent of any officer then there present with him on the spot. 10. For ordering inoculation of the Continental Army at Sorel, without the knowledge of, and contrary to the intentions of the general commanding that Northern Department; by which fatal consequences ensued. 11. For great misconduct in his command of the Continental fleet on Lake Champlain, which occasioned the loss thereof. 12. For great misconduct during his command from the camp at Cambridge, in the year 1775, until he was superseded by Gen. Montgomery, at Point Aux-Tremble, near Quebec. 13. For disobedience of the orders of his superior officers, while acting by a commission from the Provincial Congress of the Province of Massachusetts Bay; and for a disobedience of the orders of a committee of the same Congress, sent from that State to inspect his conduct, and also for insulting, abusing, and imprisoning the said committee; as also for a _treasonable attempt_ to make his escape with the navigation men, at or near Ticonderoga, to the enemy at St. Johns, which oblidged the then commanding officer at Ticonderoga and its dependencies to issue a positive order to the officers commanding our batteries at Crown Point, to stop or sink the vessels attempting to pass that post, and by force of arms to make a prisoner of the said Gen. Arnold (then a colonel), which was accordingly done. JOHN BROWN, _Lieutenant-Colonel_. ALBANY, 1st Dec. , 1776. PITTSFIELD 9th June 1779 Sir I send you the enclosed hope you will present it to Congress the first opportunity not doubting their Disposition to do equal Justice to Persons of every Denomination in these united States, and that in justice in my instance must be owing rather to misinformation than anything else, altho in the present Case it is scarcely supposable. The very extraordinary trial alluded to in the Petition is truly a Matter of Surprize to every Officer and Citizen in this part of the World and is of such a dangerous tendency that I think it ought to be attended to, what is more extraordinary it is I am told the only trial of the kind ever had in Congress. --In the Year 1776 I petitioned to Congress for a trial who refused me, giving for reason that Congress was not a proper tribunal and therefore refered me to the Officer commanding the northern Department. Genl. Arnold on the First application obtained a hearing and determination on that Principle I am a Stranger I am with the greatest Respect Your hons. Most obedt most hmbl Sert. JNO. BROWN. The honle. JNO. JAY ESQ. Predt. Congress (Continental Congress Papers, no. 42, Petitions, vol. I. 179. ) THE HONle THE CONGRESS The Memorial and Remonstrance of John Brown of Pittsfield in the State of the Massachusetts Bay humbly sheweth-- That in the Month of Novr. 1777 Your Petitioner was passing through York Town to the Southord when he waited on the honble Charles Thompson Esqr Secy to Congress, who favoured your petitioner with a Copy of the very extraordinary Trial of Genl. Arnold of which the following is an Extract Viz "In Congress May 20th 1777-- A Letter this Day from Genl. Arnold with a printed Paper inclosed signed John Brown was read, order'd that the same be refered to the Board of War together with such Complaints as have been lodged agt. Genl. Arnold. " By this your Petitioner would suppose that the Board of War were directed not only to take into consideration his Complaint, but all others that have been lodged agt. Genl. Arnold, particularly those lodged by a General Court Martial composed by thirteen of the principle Officers at Tycondoroga in the Year 1776 as well as those lodged by Colo. Hazen & others altho it does not appear that any other Matter of Complaint was determined on, but that contained in the hand Bill signed John Brown on which the Board of War Report-- "That the Genl. Laid before them a variety of original Letters orders and other papers, _which together with the General's own account of his Conduct_, confirmed by Mr. Carroll one of the late Commissioners in Canada now a Member of this Board, have given intire Satisfaction to this Board concerning the General's Character and Conduct, so cruelly and groundlessly aspersed in the Publication. " Your Petitioner begs leave to affirm that Mr. Carroll whatever he might wish knew nothing more or less as a Witness concerning the Charges laid agt. Genl. Arnold owing to an unlucky Alieubi, which happened with respect to him in regard to all the Charges laid in the Complaint. Still how far his evidence might go in assisting Genl. Arnold in proving his negatives your Petitioner does not pretend to say, as this is an intire new mode of Trial. First Because one of the Parties was not notified or present at the same, consequently the trial ex parte unconstitutional and illegal on every principle. Secondly Because there was not one Witness at the Trial who will pretend he even had it in his Power to disprove one of the Charges in the Complaint. Thirdly with the greatest Respect to Congress they had not the least Right to take cognizance of the Crimes enumerated in my complaint, for the truth of this assertion I beg leave to refer them to the military Laws by them compiled and instituted for the Regulation of the Army, which are the only security and protection of the Officers and Soldiers belonging to the same, consequently no other Court or Tribunal would have any Right to take cognizance of the Crimes enumerated but that of a Court Martial, and therefore the trial of the Genl. Above recited was strictly a nullety to all intents and purposes it being Coram non Judice. However should Congress be of a Different opinion with respect to this Matter, and that that the Trial of Genl. Arnold was legal & constitutional, he then expects that Congress will give him the same indulgence and latitude, and that he may be heard by congress on the subject of his Impeachment of Genl. Arnold, in which Case the General's presents & witnesses will not be necessary. Your Petitioner therefore esteems it as a very great grieveance that the Honle. Congress by the trial aforesaid have resolved and published and authorised Genl. Arnold to publish to the World that he your Petitioner has been guilty of making and publishing false and groundless aspertions agt. A general Officer, when at the same time every article in the Complaint was sacredly true, and would have been proved so had a proper tribunal been obtained, of which Genl. Arnold was well apprised. 'Tis possible that Genl. Arnold might have suggested to Congress that your Petitioner was not an Officer at the time of trial afd. As to this Matter your Petitioner has not as yet been informed whether his Resignation has been accepted or not, indeed he cannot suppose it compatible with the Wisdom Dignity and Justice of Congress to descharge any of their Officers for the Reason set forth in your Petitioners Letter accompanying his Resignation as he then stood impeach'd to Congress by the same Genl. Arnold of every high Crimes which if true effected the Reputation of the united States and Genl. Arnold's sacred Character stood then impeached by your Petitioners of thirteen capital Charges, which in the opinion of those most knowing would have effected the life of a more honest Man, in consequence of a proper trial before a generous Court Martial--on these considerations your Petitioner presumes his Resignation was not accepted but on Supposition it was, yet your Petitioner conceives that to make no material odds, as it can not be presumed that congress would try a Citizen without a hearing, whatever they may imagine their authority to be. However let this matter be as it may Congress are sensible that your Petitioner notwithstanding the most flagrant abuses received was not out of Service from the commencement of the War untill the reduction of the british Army under the Commandg genl. Burgoyne, in which he challenges to himself some show [?] of merit since no one else (to his knowledge) has been willing to give it him. Your Petitioner is sensible that Congress at the time of Genl. Arnold's application for a trial were imbarrassed on all Quarters, and no doubt laboured under high prejudices with Respect to your Petitioners Character owing perhaps to the Representations made them by Genl. Gates, who 'tis possible has been mistaken to his Sorrow with respect to his Friend--which prejudices your Petitioner hopes time and events have eradicated, he therefore can assure Congress, that he hopes and wishes for nothing more than common justice altho the History of the War and his present infirmities received therein, might entitle him to something more. But to stand conviction by a Decree of Congress of publishing cruel and groundless assertions or Libels without a hearing when actually fighting for Liberty is intolerable in a free Country and has a direct tendency to check the ambition, and even disaffect those Men by whose wisdom Valour and perseverance America is to be made free, not to mention the dangerous president such trials may afford. Your Petitioner therefore implores Congress to reconsider their determination on the impeachment of Genl. Arnold, as there cannot at this Day remain a possibility of Doubt but that the same was premature, and furnished Genl. Arnold with a foundation to establish a Character on the Ruins of a Man who to speak moderately has rendered his Country as essential [?] Service as that Donquixote Genl. Whose reasons for evading a trial at a proper tribunal are very obvious and fully set forth in my impeachment & which the Genl. Has had his pretended trial by which impeachment it fully appears that Genl. Arnold was resqued from Justice by mere dint of unlawfull authority exercised by Genl. Gates. Your Petitioner relying on the Wisdom and Justice of Congress begs leave to submit [?] himself most Respectfully their very obedt. Humble Svt. JNO. BROWN. Petition [?] 9th June 1779 Honle JNO. JAY Esq. Presidt. Congress NOTE 4. §1. MILITARY RECORD OF JOHN BROWN. _First. _ Fourteen (14) days in Ticonderoga expedition, engaged incapture. (See "Connecticut in Revolution, " p. 32. ) _Second. _ _Major_, Colonel Easton's Regiment, service from May 10, 1775, to December 30, 1775, in list of men who marched to Canada. (See"Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, " vol. Ii. P. 642. ) _Third. _ _Major of the New York Line, Additional Corps_, GreenMountain Boys. "Major Brown's detachment in Genl. Arnold's Regiment. "Colonels Ethan Allen and Seth Warner, Quebec, 1776. (See "New York inthe Revolution, " vol. I. P. 61. ) On list sent Provincial Congress ofNew York, 4 July, 1775. _Fourth. _ _Lieutenant-colonel. _ Colonel Samuel Elmore's Regiment, raised for one year from Connecticut and Massachusetts, appointed byCongress July 29, 1776, resigned March 15, 1777. Regiment took fieldJuly, 1776, under General Schuyler. August 25, marched from Albanyinto Tryon County. Posted remainder of term at Fort Stanwix. Broke upin spring of 1777. (See "Connecticut in Revolution, " p. 113. ) TheMassachusetts roll states that John Brown was among the men who wentto German Flats April 1, 1776, and was discharged May 18, 1777. Service, thirteen months, eighteen days. _Fifth. _ _Colonel Third Berkshire Regiment. _ Commissioned April 4, 1777. Services in Northern Department not stated. April 14, 1780, further appointment as Colonel. Service, three months, five days. Killed October 19, 1780. (See Massachusetts Rolls. ) The above memoranda are imperfect, but I print them from printedrecords. I have not searched the original sources, believing thepublic officials have done all that could be done. §2. COLONEL JOHN BROWN'S COMMAND JULY 14, 1780, TO OCTOBER 19, 1780. _Claverack to Stone Arabia, N. Y. _ Colonel, John Brown. Major, Oliver Root. Adjutant, James Easton, Jr. Quartermaster, Elias Willard. Surgeon, Dr. Oliver Brewster. CAPTAIN WILLIAM FOORD'S COMPANY. Foord, William, _captain_. Spencer, Alpheus, _lieutenant_. Pearson, Abel, _lieutenant_. Benden, Timothy, _sergeant_. Rothborn, Daniel, _sergeant_. Sloson, Eleazer, _sergeant_. Wheaton, Samuel, _sergeant_. Barber, James, _corporal_. Bond, Bartholomew, _corporal_. Tobie, Nathaniel, _corporal_. Goodrich, Gilbert, of Lenox, _private_. Austin, Shubael, _drummer_. Andrews, Colman, _private_. Alcock, Stephen, _private_. Adams, Aaron, _private_. Burt, Thomas, _private_. Baker, William, _private_. Bell, Henry, _private_. Bateman, Jonathan, _private_. Blen, Solomon, _private_. Balding, Oliver, _private_. Bond, Seth, _private_. Cumington, John, _private_. Case, Ezekiel, _private_. Clarke, David, _private_. Carlton, Peleg, _private_. Carlton, Reuben, _private_. Carter, Elisha, _private_. Cogswell, Levi, _private_. Dean, Joel, _private_. Easton, Calvin, _private_. Ellison, James, _private_. Foot, Asahel, _private_. Gleason, Benoni, _private_. Goodrich, Nathaniel, _private_. Gates, Jonah, _private_. Hatch, William of Nobletown, N. Y. , _private_. Harrison, Asahel, _private_. Hewitt, Zadok, _private_. Huet, Jeremiah, _private_. Hull, Warren, _private_. Handy, Joseph, of Stockbridge or Lee, _private_. Hide, Charles, _private_. Ingraham, Nathan, _corporal_. Juhel, Joseph, _private_. Knolton, Thomas, _private_. Ladd, Joel, _private_. Lewis, John, _private_. McKnite, Thomas, _fifer_. Meres, John, _private_. Milliken, William, _private_. McKnight, William, _private_. Mack, Warren, _private_. Noble, John, _private_. North, John, _private_. Newell, Seth, _private_. Phelps, John, _private_. Parks, Nathan, _private_. Porter, Joseph, Jr. , _private_. Porter, Joseph, Sr. , _private_. Robbins, Jason, _private_. Reed, Joseph, _private_. Reed, James, _private_. Smith, Ezekiel, _private_. Stearns, Zehiel, _private_. Stiles, Josiah, _private_. Stoddard, Philemon, _private_. Sears, David, _private_. Tailor, David, _private_. Tomblin, Moses, _private_. West, William, _private_. Wilson, Shubael, _private_. Woodroof, Amos, _private_. Wollison, Shubael, _private_. Thomas (surname undecipherable), _private_. Dunham, Calvin, _private_. CAPTAIN LEVI ELY'S COMPANY. Ely, Levi, _captain_. Smith, Martin, _lieutenant_. Fowler, Bildad, of West Springfield, _lieutenant_. Stiles, Gideon, _lieutenant_. Smith, Jonathan, _quartermaster sergeant_. Kendal, William, _sergeant_. Noble, Jacob, _sergeant_. Ainsworth, Luther, _private_. Ashley, James, of Westfield, _private_. Allen, William, _private_. Anderson, Samuel, Jr. , of Blandford, _private_. Bruk, Wainwright, _private_, killed. Bills, William, of Westfield, _private_. Baird, John, _private_. Blackwood, Albright, of Soudon, _private_. Badcock, Nathan, _private_. Blair, Alexander, _private_. Church, John, of Westfield, _private_. Colgrove, Joseph, _private_. Chapin, John, _private_, killed. Crooks, James, _private_. Colhiren, Abner, _private_. Conners, Abraham, _private_, killed. Converse, Isaac, _private_. Crow, John, _private_. Copley, Matthew, _private_. Day, Moses, _private_. Day, Asa, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Dewey, Heman, of Westfield, _private_. Dewey, Oliver, of Westfield, _private_. Dimmouth, John, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Ely, Edmond, _private_. Farmar, Elisha, _corporal_. Francis, Aaron, _private_. Francis, Simeon, _private_. Gleason, Daniel, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Hill, Dan, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Hough, Justus, _private_. Herrick, Ebenezer, _private_. Haley, William, _private_. Hubbard, Jonas, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Hill, Primus, _private_. Ingowol, Stephen, _drummer_. Jones, Judah, _corporal_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Jones, Ithamar, _private_. Kent, Ezekiel, _private_. Kellegg, Daniel, _private_. Leonard, Russel, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Loomis, Josiah, _private_. Loyhead, Thomas, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Miller, Abner, _corporal_. Morgan, Simeon, _private_. Moor, William, _private_. Mathew, Nathan I. , _private_. Nott, Selden, _private_. Noble, Paul, of Westfield, _private_. Noble, Jared, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Plumm, Jared, _private_. Pepper, William, _private_. Pitts, Gideon, _private_. Rimington, Jonathan, _private_. Rogers, Isaac, _private_. Read, Amos, _private_. Stewert, Jesse, _corporal_. Smith, David, _fifer_. Smith, James, _private_. Stewart, Moses, _private_. Shephard, Elijah ? Taylor, Joseph, _corporal_. Taylor, Jonathan, _private_. Taylor, Thomas, _private_. Vanslow, Justus, _private_. Worthington, Seth, _sergeant_. Worriner, Lewis, _corporal_. Worthington, Stephen, _private_. Whitney, David, _private_. Williams, Roswell, _private_. Walker, John, _private_. Woodworth, Roswell, _private_. Woolworth, Samuel, _private_. Walton, Elijah, _private_. CAPTAIN JOHN SPOOR'S COMPANY. Spoor, John, _captain_. Brooks, Jonathan, of Lanesborough _lieutenant_. Ball, Isaac, of Stockbridge, _lieutenant_. Fish, John, _sergeant_. Jones, William, _sergeant_. Davis, William, _corporal_. Edmun, Andrew, _corporal_. Edy, Briant, _private_. Foster, Jeremiah, of Williamstown (also given Weston), _corporal_. Lemmon, Moses, _sergeant_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Tylor, Russell, _corporal_. Jones, Josiah, _fifer_. Cetcham, Joseph, _drummer_. Adams, Peter, _private_. Abbe, John, _private_. Bennett, Jeremiah, _private_. Babcock, Jonathan, _private_. Bradley, Josiah, of Stockbridge, _private_. Bush, Japhet, _private_. Bondish, Asa, _private_. Bigsbey, Peletiah, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Barry, John, _private_. Moses, Charles, of Stockbridge, _private_. Comstock, Medad, _private_. Curk, John, _private_. Chapman, Gershom, _private_. Calender, Ezekiel, _private_. Charles, Darius, _private_. Campbel, Sam, _private_. Dickerman, Joel, _sergeant_. Davis, Robert, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Dewey, Lalson, of Stockbridge, _private_. Egleston, Elijah, _private_. Fuller, Boswell, _private_, discharged September 28. Fitch, Nat, _private_. Foster, Jeremiah, Jr. , of Williamstown (also given Weston), _private_. Gaff, Jacob, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Giles, James, _private_. Gregory, "Isband, " _private_. Hubbard, Baley, _private_. Heart, Leveret, _private_. Horsford, Ambrose, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Hatch, Solomon, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Holmes, John, _private_. Ingersole, Moses, _private_. King, George, of Sheffield, _private_. Lorris, Jacob, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Meeken, Oliver, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Mansfield, Josiah, _private_. Mash, Abijah, _private_. Monrsurir, Gabriel, _private_. Noble, Joseph, _private_, killed Oct. 19, 1780. Orton, James, _private_. Pixley, Jonah, _private_. Pior, Abner, _private_. Raymond, John, _private_. Rool, "Hewek, " _private_. Ransom, Elias, _private_. Root, Roswell, of Sheffield, _private_. Rool, Stephen, _private_. Standish, Asa, _private_. Starr, Thomas, _private_. Saxton, Jesse, _private_. Sprague, Barnabas, _private_. Shearwood, Jonathan, _private_. Tylor, Bezaleel, _private_. Winchel, David, _private_. Watson, Samuel, _private_. Wright, Miles, _private_. Winchel, Ephraim, _private_. Wood, Amaziah, _private_. Webb, Will, _private_. CAPTAIN SAMUEL WARNER'S COMPANY. Warner, Samuel, _captain_. Norton, Jonathan, _lieutenant_. Chadwick, Ebenezer, of Tyringham, _lieutenant_. Tracy, David, _sergeant_. Jackson, Joshua, _sergeant_. Brown, Nathaniel, _sergeant_. Rand, James, _sergeant_. Greppen, Alpheus, _sergeant_. Bush, Caleb, of Sandisfield, _corporal_. Jewet, Joseph, _corporal_. Down, Stephen, _corporal_. Powel, Joseph, of Sheffield, _corporal_. Belton, Stephen, _corporal_. Griffins, Thomas, _drummer_. Pope, Gideon, _fifer_. Noble, Saul, _private_. Allen, Rufus, _private_. Bogworth, Frederick, of Sandisfield, _private_. Bogworth, John, of Sandisfield, _private_. Brooks, Shadrack, _private_. Bradle, Isaac, _private_. Bond, Joseph, _private_. Brown, Reuben, of New Marlboro, _private_. Blackmer, Isaac, _private_. Bird, Amos, of Tyringham, _private_. Benton, David, Jr. , of Sheffield, _private_. Brookner, Reuben, _private_. Beckett, William, _private_, killed Oct. 20, 1780. Boods, Joel R. , _private_. Bradle, Isaac, _private_. Core, Noah, _private_. Clark, Reuben, of Sheffield, _private_. Clark, Wells, _private_. Cooper, Benjamin, _private_. Carter, Elisha, _private_. Cole, Elisha, _private_. Conch, William, of Sandisfield, _private_. Comstock, Rufus, _private_. Callender, Daniel, _private_, received bounty at Sheffield. Denely, John, _private_. Dunham, Calvin, _private_. French, Ebenezer, _private_. ? French, Elisha, _private_. Graten, Care, _private_. Gichel, Joseph, _private_. Gillet, John, _private_. Glaston, Willard, _private_. Guild, Orrange, _private_. Hodg, Daniel, _private_. Huggins, Joseph, of Sheffield, _private_. Heath, George, _private_. Hines, Ezekiel, _private_. Hoskins, Anthony, _private_. Hyde, Theophilus, of Sheffield, _private_. Higgins, Zenas, _private_. Hatch, Seth, of Bennington, _private_. Jaqua, Seth, _private_. Keyes, Elias, _private_. Kilbernt, Robert, _private_. Kelegg, Joel, _private_. Kingsbury, Nathaniel, _private_. Lummis, Noah, _private_. Marel, Abner, _private_. Marcone, Stephen, _private_. Mack, Warren, _private_. Orten, Roger, _private_. Owen, William, of Sheffield, _private_. Remington, Simeon, _private_. Rhods, Adam, _private_. Root, "Rosel, " _private_. Sage, David, _private_. Smith, Henry, of Sandisfield, _private_. Spring, Henry, _private_. Skinner, Samuel, _private_. Shed, Samuel, _private_. Shed, Daniel, _private_. Todge, Elias, _private_. Turner, Uriah, _private_. Tuttle, Benjamin, _private_. Underwood, Silas, _private_. Warner, Levi, of Sandisfield, _private_. Warker, Thomas, _private_. Webster, Daniel, _private_. Wollen, Moses, _private_. Whitne, Silas, _private_. White, Solomon, _private_. Bradle, Isaac, _private_. Wording, John M. , _private_. CAPTAIN WILLIAM WHITE'S COMPANY. White, William, _captain_. Beckit, Silas, _lieutenant_. Sprague, John, _lieutenant_. Day, Elkanah, _sergeant_. Stearns, Isaac, _sergeant_. Barker, Ezra, of Lanesborough, _corporal_. Allen, Benjamin, _corporal_. Brown, Luther, of Windsor, _fifer_. Allen, John, _private_. Arnold, Jonathan, of Hancock, _private_. Bundee, Elisha, _private_. Barnes, Asa, Jr. , _private_. Bryant, John, _private_. Barus, Aaron, _private_. Briggs, Benjamin, _private_. Cleaveland, Jedediah, _private_. Cook, Amasa, _private_. Coree, Josiah, Jr. , _private_. Chafee, John, _private_. Coree, Josiah, _private_. Carpenter, Benjamin, of Hancock, _private_. Cole, Solomon, _private_. Cowing, Elisha, _private_. Cole, William, Jr. , _private_. Doolan, Patrick, _private_. Eddy, Andrew, _private_. Gallop, William, _private_. Hanks, Levi, _private_. Haringdon, William, _private_. Holt, Titus, _private_. Harris, Joseph, _private_. Hall, Calvin, _private_. Hill, Gardner, of Hancock, _private_. Harringdon, Peter, _private_. McFarling, William, _private_. Jarvis, Joseph, _private_. Keeler, James, _private_. Lewis, Richard, of Lanesborough, _private_, killed October, 1780. Leanord, Soloman, _private_. Lusk, Asa, _private_. McGuire, James, _private_. Morehouse, Matthew, of Hancock, _private_. Narramore, Asa, _private_. Oles, Horace, _private_. Parker, Charles, _private_. Pettabone, Amos, _private_. Pearce, Levi, _private_. Parker, Philip, _private_. Parker, Giles, _private_. Powel, Daniel, of Lanesborough, _private_. Pettabone, Roger, _private_. Richardson, Nehemiah, _private_. Ross, Willard, _private_. Robbins, Jonathan, _private_. Reed, Simeon, _private_. Rice, Daniel, _private_. Smith, Jonathan, _private_. Stevens, John, _private_. Smith, Simeon, _private_. Slater, James, _private_. Tracey, William, _private_. Thrasher, Charles, of New Ashford, _private_. White, William, Jr. , _private_. Wollcut, Moses, _private_. SUMMARY. Captain William Foord's Company may have been stationed at MiddleFort, Schoharie Valley, under command of Major Melancton L. Woolsey. See his report of Sept. 27, 1780. It had 2 Lieutenants, 4 Sergeants, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 4 Corporals, and 63 men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Captain Levi Ely's Company had 3 Lieutenants, 1 Quartermaster Sergeant, 3 Sergeants, 6 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer and 66 men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Captain Ely and 15 men were killed Oct. 19, 1780. Captain John Spoor's Company. 2 Lieutenants, 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, and 59 men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 One man taken prisoner, 11 killed Oct. 19, 1780, 2 killed Oct. 20, 1780. Captain Samuel Warner's Company may have been left at Fort Paris or stationed elsewhere. 2 Lieutenants, 5 Sergeants, 5 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, and 73 men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Captain William White's Company. 2 Lieutenants, 2 Sergeants, 2 Corporals, 1 Fifer, and 56 men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 1 private killed, 1 private wounded, 1 taken prisoner. --- Whole force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381 Total killed Oct. 19, 1780, 29; wounded, 1; prisoner, 1. Besides these Berkshire men, perhaps Captain John Kasselman's TryonCompany Rangers were at Fort Paris, and Captain John Zelley's Companyat Fort Keyser. From "New York in the Revolution":-- _Tryon County Rangers. _ Captain, John Kasselman. Lieutenant, John Empie. Ensign, George Gittman. Badier, John. Bickerd, Adolph. Dusler, Jacob. Empie, John. Ettigh, Conrad. Fry, Jacob. Gittman, Peter. Harth, Daniel. Hayne, George. Hortigh, Andrew. House, Peter. Kasselman, John. Kutzer, Leonard. Kulman, Henry. Shnell, John. Smith, Henry. Smith, William. Strater, Nicholas. Tillenbach, Christian. Vanderwerke, John. Walter, Adams. Walter, Christian. Probably at Fort Paris. Captain John Zelley's Company, Second Regiment, Tryon County, ColonelJacob Klock. Also John Wafel, William Wafel, Conrad Spraker, George Spraker, William (?) Dygert. Probably at Fort Keyser. NOTE 5. See "Rules and Articles for better Government of the Troops of theThirteen United English Colonies of North America. " Printed by Williamand Thomas Bradford, 1775. John Hancock, President. Philadelphia, Nov. 7, 1775. (Massachusetts Historical Society Collections. ) Plunder or pillage always incident to war, and, whatever rules existfor restraint, the conflict usually leads to authorized devastationand plunder, retaliatory to exhaust the enemy. For instances, in CivilWar of 1861-65, Sherman's destruction of property in march throughSouthern territory, Sheridan's destroying agents in the ShenandoahValley. By Hague rule of 1899, July 29, pillage of a town or place even whentaken by assault is prohibited. How about Allies in Pekin? See Instructions to United States Army in the field. General Orders, April 24, 1863, War of Rebellion:-- All wanton violence committed against persons in the invaded country, all destruction of property not commanded by the authorized officer, all robbing, all pillage and sacking even after taking a place by mainforce, all rape, wounding, maiming or killing of such inhabitants areprohibited, under penalty of death or such other severe punishment asmay seem adequate to the gravity of the offence. A soldier, officer, or private may be killed by superior officer forsuch act. See John Bassett Moore's "Digest of International Law. " NOTE 6. Brown was more outspoken than General Wayne. See "Major-generalAnthony Wayne, and the Pennsylvania Line, " by Charles J. Stillé, President Historical Society of Pennsylvania. J. B. LippincottCompany, 1893. (Pages 235 _et seq. _) GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE TO H. A. SHEEL. HAVERSTRAW NEAR STONEY POINT 2d Oct 1780. _Dear Sheel_ I am confident that the perfidy of Genl. Arnold will astonish the multitude--the high rank he bore--the eclat he had obtained (whether honestly or not) justified the world in giving it him. But there were a few Gentlemen who at a very early period of this war became acquainted with his true character! when you asked my opinion of that officer I gave it freely & believe you thought it rather strongly shaded. I think I informed you that I had the most despicable Idea of him both as a Gentleman & a Soldier--& that he had produced a conviction on me in 1776 that honor & true Virtue were Strangers to his Soul and however Contradictory it might appear--that he never possessed either fortitude or personal bravery--he was naturally a Coward and never went in the way of Danger but when Stimulated by liquor even to Intoxication, consequently Incapacitated from Conducting any Command Committed to his charge. I shall not dwell upon his Military Character or the measures he had adopted for the surrender of West Point--that being already fully Elucidated but will give you a small specimen of his _peculate_ talents. What think you of his employing Sutlers to retail the publick Liquors for his private Emolument & furnishing his Quarters with beds & other furniture by paying for them with Pork, Salt, Flour &c. Drawn from the Magazine--he has not stopped here, he has descended much lower--& defrauded the old Veteran Soldiers who have bled for their Country in many a well fought field--for more than five Campaigns among others an old Sergeant of mine has felt his rapacity by the Industry of this man's wife they had accumulated something handsome to support them in their advanced age--which coming to the knowledge of this cruel Spoiler--he borrowed 4500 dollars from the poor Credulous Woman & left her in the lurch. The dirty--dirty acts which he has been capable of Committing beggar all description--and are of such a nature as would cause the _Infernals to blush_--were they accused with the Invention or Execution of them. The detached & Debilitated state of the Garrison of West Point--Insured success to the assailants--the enemy were all in perfect readiness for the Enterprise--& the discovery of the treason only prevented an Immediate attempt by open force to carry those works which _perfidy_ would have effected the fall of, by a slower & less sanguine mode. --Our army was out of protecting distance the troops in the possession of the Works a spiritless Miserabile Vulgus--in whose hands the fate of America seemed suspended in this Situation his Excellency (in imitation of Cćsar & his tenth legion) called for his Veterans--the summons arrived at one o'clock in the morning & we took up our line of March at 2. HUGH A. SHEEL TO GENERAL WAYNE. PHILA Oct. 22, 1780 _My dear General_ . .. The character you gave me in confidence of Arnold _several months_ ago made a strong impression on my mind it has been verified fully--his villany & machinations never could have been carried on but through the medium of his Tory acquaintance in this place. .. . APPENDIX. A very valuable map of the Province of New York, by Claude JosephSauthier, drawn for Major-general William Tryon in 1779, is found in"The Documentary History of New York, " showing the Mohawk Valleygrants, old forts, etc. _Fort Paris_, Dec. 19, 1776, Captain Christian Getman's Rangers, TryonCounty militia, were stationed at Stone Arabia, and were ordered, whennot ranging, to cut timber for building a fort, under direction ofIsaac Paris, Esq. (Mr. Paris was in Provincial Congress and later inState Senate. ) It was a palisaded enclosure of stone and block-housesfor a garrison of from two to three hundred (200-300) men. Begun inDecember, 1776, it was completed in the spring of 1777. It wassituated on a most beautiful plain three or four miles north-east ofFort Plain, one-half a mile north of Stone Arabia churches, twelve(12) rods from the road. North of it water would run into theSacondaga, and thence into upper waters of the Hudson; south intoMohawk waters. It is easily reached from Palatine Bridge, and isnearly one thousand feet above sea-level. In the fall of 1779, ColonelFred. Fisher (Visscher), of Third Regiment, Tryon County militia, wasat Fort Paris. May 12, 1780, Colonel Jacob Klock, Second Regiment of Tryon Countymen, was there. June 24, 1780, General Robert Van Rensselaer, of Second Brigade ofAlbany militia, was ordered to Fort Paris. July 26, 1780, he left there (perhaps, however, to return), to assistthe Canajoharie men at Fort Schuyler. When John Brown took command there I do not know. The conclusion of the matter of Oct. 19, 1780 was _battle of Klock'sField_ or _Fox's Mills_. On that day and the 18th Sir John Johnsonlaid waste the whole of Stone Arabia district after burningCaughnawaga. Brown's defeat in the morning of October 19 did not, however, involveFort Paris, which was held by Major Root. Although immediate relief ofthe fort and pursuit of Johnson were essential, Van Rensselaer did notcross the Mohawk until afternoon, crossing at Fort Plain. The enemywas entrenched on the north side of the river, about St. Johnsville, near a stockade or block-house at Klock's. Fort House, a smallblock-house, was the exact place where just before night a "smartbrush" occurred between the British and the Americans under ColonelDubois. Colonel Dubois took a position above Johnson, on the heightsof the north side, to prevent his passage up the river. ColonelHarper, with the Oneida Indians, was on the south side of the river, nearly opposite. General Van Rensselaer after all this forwardmovement and the slight attack, did not hold his position, but fellback three miles down the river. The enemy camped on land of the late Judge Jacob G. Klock, I suppose, colonel of Second Regiment, Tryon County militia, and, "soon after themoon appeared, " moved to a fording-place just above a well-knowncitizen's (Nathan Christie) residence, and retreated on the south sideof the Mohawk, passing Oneida Castle, and pushing westward forCanaseraga on Chittenango Creek, near Lake Oneida.