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verned him was unavailing.

The continental soldiers, amounting to about seventy, were hacked to pieces. The remaining men, with the women and children, shared the fate of their brethren in Kingston. They perished in the flames.

All show of resistance was now terminated; but the ruin contemplated was not yet complete. Near three thousand persons had escaped. Flying without money, clothes, or food, they sought for safety in the interior country. To prevent their returning, every thing remaining behind them was doomed to destruction. Fire and the sword were alternately applied; and all the houses and improvements which the labour of years had provided, as well as every living animal which could be found, were destroyed. The settlements of the tories alone were preserved. "They appeared," says Mr. Gordon, "as islands in the midst of surrounding ruin."

Some peculiar instances of barbarity have been related, in the details given of this expedition, at which human nature recoils. Parents were murdered by their children, and brothers and sisters fell by the hands of brothers. Of such crimes are we capable, when the torch of civil discord is once lighted among us, and all the endearing social ties which sweeten life are made to yield to political fury!

The incursions of irregulars may be often re

peated,

peated, but are seldom of long duration. The invaders of Wyoming withdrew from the country they had laid waste, before the arrival of the continental troops which were detached to meet them.

To cover every part of the United States from the ravages of their enemies, would have required forces infinitely more numerous than they could raise. Different districts were therefore unavoidably exposed to all the calamities ever to be experienced by those into the bosom of whose country war is carried. Fatigued and worn out by perpetual calls into the field, the militia every where required to be relieved and protected by continental troops. Their applications were necessarily resisted, and the regular regiments distributed in such manner as, on a general view of the situation of the whole, would best promote the great object of the contest. The sufferings of the western frontier, however, were now such, and the danger which threatened it was so imminent, that it became necessary to spare for its defence a more considerable portion of the army, than had been allotted to that part of the union, since the сарture of Burgoyne. On July the 15th Colonel Hartley's regiment, and two companies of militia, were ordered, on the first intelligence of the destruction of Wyoming, to repair thither, and af ford all the protection in their power to the country generally. The Colonel set out on an expe

dition against the Indian towns, some of which he destroyed, and made some prisoners; but on hearing that they were collecting in very great force, he thought it advisable to retreat. His rear was attacked with spirit; but his troops behaved so well, that the assailants were repulsed with loss. The 4th Pennsylvania regiment, raised in the western frontier of that state, under the command of Lieutenant-colonel William Butler, a partizan of great merit, and the remnant of Morgan's rifle corps, led by Major Posey, were also detached to the immediate assistance of the distressed people; and took a position at Schoharie, a small village on a river of that name, which runs into the Mohawk. With his continental troops, assisted by about thirty rangers, Colonel Butler entered the enemy's country, and, after a march attended with infinite labour and difficulty in crossing high mountains and deep waters, penetrated as far as their towns at Unundilla and Anaquaqua,* which, with a considerable quantity of corn laid up for their winter's supply, he entirely destroyed. Having effected this service, he returned to Schoharie, without having been able to fall in with any party of the enemy.

* The head-quarters of the celebrated Colonel Brendt, an Indian chief of the half breed, distinguished for his courage and cruelty.

The

The expedition of Lieutenant-colonel Butler had rendered some service to the western inhabitants. Though the numbers of the enemy had not been diminished, they had been compelled, by the loss of their towns and provisions, to withdraw to a greater distance from the frontiers, and, of consequence, their future incursions would be rendered more difficult. Pending these transactions, Congress received a letter from Colonel Hartley, giving an account of his expedition, and informing them that the enemy were fortifying at Chemung, a large settlement about twelve miles from the mouth of the Cayuga, a river emptying itself into the Susquehanna; at which place a large body of tories was collected. Chemung and Niagara were represented to be the principal places of rendezvous for the tories who could not reach the city of New York. A resolution was immediately passed, directing General Washington to take measures for preventing the enemy from occupying a post at Chemung, and for repelling the inva sions of the savages on the frontiers of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

The season of the year had now come on when the frequent rains swell the waters of that country, so as to render them impassable; in addition to which, it was impossible, unless the roads should be opened, to transport artillery, without which any attempt on the fortifications must be unsuc

cessful.

cessful. These difficulties, which had escaped the attention of Congress, were adverted to by the commander in chief. He however took immediate measures for executing the resolution, should it be practicable, and for that purpose put Clinton's brigade in motion. Apprehensive, however, that the season of the year must necessarily defeat the expedition, a council of general officers was called at Albany, consisting of Generals Schuyler, Hand, and Clinton, at which Governor Clinton also assisted, who unanimously declared against it. Their opinion was transmitted to Congress, and the expedition laid aside for the present campaign.

Before the expedition against Chemung was relinquished, a body of about five hundred men, composed of Indians, tories, and a few regulars, broke into the Cherry-valley settlement, where Colonel Alden was posted with a continental regiment. A serjeant with a small patrole was cut off, in consequence of which the colonel was completely surprised. In attempting to gain the fort he was killed with ten of his soldiers, and the lieutenant-colonel and two subaltern officers were made prisoners. The fort was then assaulted; but a resolute defence being made, and it being understood that assistance was approaching, the enterprise was abandoned; and his party, after having repeated the horrors practised in Wyoming, retired out of the settlement.

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