History of Montgomery & Fulton Counties by F. W. Beers & Co. Montgomery County, Ch9

THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

CHAPTER IX.

SCHUYLER'S EXPEDITION TO JOHNSTOWN AND DISARMAMENT OF TORIES.-THE FLIGHT OF SIR JOHN JOHNSON.

Sir John Johnson continued to make defensive preparations about the Hall. These, with his numerous tory adherents, the military organization of the Scotch Highlanders in his immediate vicinity, and the increasing alienation of the Indians, kept the people of Tryon county in continual alarm. It was also reported that military stores were collected at the Hall, and that three hundred Indians were to be stationed there to be let loose on the settlers when it should be deemed expedient. It was evident that the tories were actively preparing to take up arms for the king. Congress having been notified of this state of things, ordered General Schuyler to take proper steps for capturing the material of war reported to be stored at Johnstown and the tory leaders thereabouts and disarming their followers. Schuyler had at the time no force with which to execute this order, but soon mustered seven hundred men and proceeded toward Johnstown. The Mohawks at the lower castle, under Little Abraham, had not been drawn away by Brant and Guy Johnson, and still kept their pledge of neutrality. To preserve the good will of these Indians and guard against giving them any unnecessary surprise and alarm, General Schuyler sent an interpreter to their castle, who addressed them as follows;

" Brothers : I am sent by the Commissioners of the United Colonies to acquaint you that the brethren of Albany have received information that several persons in and about Johnstown are busy in collecting men to cut our throats, and are making other hostile preparations to assist in enslaving this country, and to prevent and stop up the road of communication to the westward. Your Albany brothers on this alarming occasion have collected their warriors, and are now sending them up the river in order to inquire into the truth of the report and act thereupon as they may judge needful.

" Brothers, be not alarmed at these preparations; nothing is intended against you; our own safety and liberty impel us to this measure. You can rest perfectly satisfied that we will invariably pursue our friendly disposition toward you, and expect that you will, agreeable to the promises you made at Albany, take no part in the present struggle.

"Brothers, we promised you last summer that Sir John and his family should not be molested while he took no measures against us. We are yet of that mind, and if he has acted as an honest man he need not fear any danger.

"Brothers, lest the preparations and march into your country should alarm the Six Nations, we desire that you will send some of your young men with this speech to the end of the House of the Six Nations, that no uneasiness may take place in their minds."

The Mohawk sachems, in spite of their friendly attitude toward the colonists, were roused to serious apprehensions by this address, heralding as it did an expedition hostile to their friend, Sir John Johnson. They took the matter into grave consideration and sent back by the interpreter a message desiring that the troops that were on their way should be halted, suggesting that, perhaps, a mode might be pointed out by which the trouble could he more quietly settled, for example, by sending three or four persons to speak with Sir John ; but promising that if the commissioners did not reconsider their intention their message should be forwarded to the other tribes as requested. In the meantime, three of the Mohawks would go to Sir John and desire him and the other tories at Johnstown to remain at peace, and allay their uneasiness, which was caused by reports from Albany that people were coming from New Kngland to destroy them and their possessions. To this message the squaws of the tribe added one of their own to the same effect. Such was the anxiety of the tribe that a deputation shortly set out from the castle for Albany to further remonstrate against the proposed invasion.

At Schenectady they met General Schuyler, who had advanced without waiting for the return of his messenger. Little Abraham, who led the Mohawk embassy, addressed the General at length, and in a more vigorous tone than that of the message which he and his warriors had sent. He desired General Schuyler to consider the plan of sending a few persons to inquire into the state of things at Johnstown and keep his army at home. He thought it strange that cannon were being brought along the path of peace so lately opened between the Six Nations and Albany, and which was not to be stained with blood. The Mohawks, he said, were mediators between the hostile parties, and would consider themselves the enemies of whichsoever side began aggressions. Sir John had promised them he would not, but he would defend himself if necessary. The speaker thought the Baronet was disposed to shut up the path of peace, but he had not the force to do it. The sachems had been all along exhorting their warriors to peace, but they might be unable to restrain them if so large a body of armed men marched into their country; at least they were determined to be present at the interview between General Schuyler and Sir John, if the former persisted in going forward, and if he pushed things to extremes, they would not be accountable for anything that might happen.

General Schuyler assured the Mohawks that no hostile intentions were entertained against any of the Indians; if they had been, a message would not have been sent to the castle, nor would they have been furnished with powder, as had recently been done. The troops were moving to prevent the Johnstown tories from closing up the path of peace between Albany and the Six Nations, and no blood would be shed unless the Johnson party refused to come to an agreement. General Schuyler promised to invite Sir John to meet him on the way to Johnstown, and hoped the Indians would be present. This was satisfactory to the Mohawk deputation, who immediately returned to their castle, while General Schuyler dispatched a letter to the Baronet, announcing his intended march toward Johnstown on the following day, Jan. 17, 1776, inviting Sir John to meet him at any point on the route, and assuring him of his safety in so doing.

Schuyler's march up the valley was accordingly resumed, the militia joining him in such numbers that by night his force exceeded three thousand men. At Guy Park, about sixteen miles from Schenectady, Sir John and several of his leading Tory friends were met with. In the interview the Baronet told General Schuyler that he (Johnson) was sustained by the Indians, a considerable number of whom were already at Johnson Hall. In answer to this threatening intimation Schuyler assured the Tory chief that resistance on his part would produce serious consequences, and stated his terms for an amicable arrangement. Sir John asked for twenty-four hours to consider them, which being granted, he returned to the Hall. The following were General Schuyler's stipulations:

"Terms offered by the Honourable Philip Schuyler, Esq., Major General in the army of the Thirteen United Colonies, and commanding in the New York department, to Sir John Johnson, Baronet, and all such other persons in the county of Tryon as have evinced their intentions of supporting his Majesty's ministry, to carry into execution the unconstitutional measures of which the Americans so justly complain, and to prevent which they have been driven to the dreadful necessity of having recourse to arms.

" FIRSTLY. That Sir John Johnson shall upon his word of honor immediately deliver up all cannon, arms and other military stores of what kind soever which may be in his own possession, or which he has caused to be delivered into the possession of any persons whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, or that to his knowledge may be concealed in any part of the said county; that he shall distinguish all such military stores of what kind soever as belong to the crown, or were furnished with the design of arming the Indians or the inhabitants of Tryon county, from those which may be private property, in order that a proper inventory may be taken of the last articles, that the same may be restored or the value of them refunded when this unhappy contest shall be over.

" SECONDLY. General Schuyler, out of personal respect for Sir John, and from a regard to his rank, consents that Sir John shall retain for his own use a complete set of armor and as much powder as may be sufficient for his domestic purposes.

" THIRDLY. That Sir John Johnson shall remain upon his parole of honour in any part of Tryon county which he may choose to the eastward of the district of --, unless it should appear necessary to the Honourable the Continental Congress to remove him to some other part of this or any other colony; in which case he is immediately to comply with such orders as they may think proper to give for that purpose.

" FOURTHLY. That the Scotch inhabitants of the said county shall, without any kind of exception, immediately deliver up all arms in their possession of what kind soever they may be; and that they shall each solemnly promise that they will not at any time hereafter during the continuance of this unhappy contest take up arms without the permission of the Continental Congress or of their general officers, and for the more faithful performance of this article, the General insists that they shall immediately deliver up to him six hostages of his own nomination.

" FIFTHLY. That such of the other inhabitants of Tryon county as have avowed themselves averse to the measures of the United Colonies shall also deliver up their arms of what kind soever they may be, and enter into the like engagement as is stipulated in the preceding article, both with respect to their future conduct and the number of hostages.

" SIXTHLY. That all blankets, strouds and other Indian articles belonging to the crown and intended as presents to the Indians, shall be delivered up to a commissary appointed by General Schuyler in the presence of three or more of the Mohawk chiefs, in order that the same may be dispensed amongst the Indians for the purpose of cementing the ancient friendship between them and their brethren of the United Colonies, for which sole purpose they ought to have been furnished.

" SEVENTHLY. If Sir John Johnson and the people referred to in the aforegoing articles shall justly abide by and perform what is required of them, the General, on behalf of the Continental Congress, doth promise and engage that neither Sir John Johnson nor any of those people shall be molested by any of the other inhabitants of the said county, or by any of the inhabitants of the thirteen United Colonies; but that on the contrary they will be protected in the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of their property; the sole intent of this treaty being to prevent the horrid effects of a civil and intestine war betwixt those who ought to be brethren; that all the arms which shall be delivered up in consequence of the preceding articles shall be valued by sworn appraisers; that if the Continental Congress should have occasion for them they may be taken. If not, they will be delivered to the respective proprietors when this unhappy contest shall be at an end."

On the 18th, General Schuyler advanced to Caughnawaga, where he met Col. Herkimer with the Tryon county militia. In the evening of that day he received from Sir John a communication stating that the Baronet had no military stores or Indian supplies belonging to the crown; stipulating that only such arms as were not private property should be surrendered; demanding that he should be permitted to go where he pleased, and saying no one had power to give hostages for the Scotch or other Tories.

General Schuyler replied, insisting upon his terms, giving the Baronet until twelve o'clock that night to accept them; warning him of the dreadful consequences of a refusal, and requesting the retirement of Lady Johnson from the Hall. upon which he proposed to march immediately.

Soon after this dispatch had been sent, General Schuyler was visited by all the men of the lower Mohawk castle and several from the upper castle. They had come from Johnson Hall, four miles distant, where the Baronet had informed them of Schuyler's requirements. They entreated the latter to accept Sir John's proposals. This was, of course, refused, but at their solicitations the General granted him four hours longer in which to frame his answer, during which time the Indians hoped to " shake his head and bring him to his senses." In compliance with the appeals of the Mohawks, Schuyler also consented not to remove. Johnson from the county, telling them he did so to show the regard of the colonists for the Indians, and to leave Sir John within the reach of benefit from their example and advice.

At midnight the colonial General received the expected " answer to the terms proposed by the Honourable Philip Schuyler, Esq., Major General in the army of the thirteen United Colonies and commanding in the New York department, to Sir John Johnson, Baronet, the inhabitants of Kingsborough and the neighborhood adjacent." In this communication the Baronet demanded to be allowed to go to any part of the county not west of the German Flats and Kingsland districts, and to every part of the continent south of the county. He again refused to give hostages for the Scotch Highlanders, but said that any six of them might be taken prisoners, with the understanding that they should be " maintained agreeable to their respective ranks," and " have the privilege of going to any part of the province of New Jersey or Pennsylvania, which the General or the Continental Congress may appoint." The hope was expressed that General Schuyler would persuade Congress to provide for the support of the prisoners' families. The baronet refused to give hostages or make any engagements for other Tories, except that they should, so far as depended upon him, give up their arms. The General might seize as many of them for hostages as he pleased. The Indians had remained with General Schuyler until this letter was received, when they were told that the trouble was likely to be settled peaceably, and took their departure, highly gratified.

Schuyler then sent his ultimatum to Sir John. The latter was allowed, together with his friends, to retain a few favorite family arms; he was permitted to go to any part of New York east of the specified districts of Tryon county and excepting seaport towns; permission for more extended traveling might probably be obtained from Congress. Prisoners would be taken from among the Scotch, and the Baronet's suggestions in regard to them complied with, except that they would be located for a time, at least, at Reading or Lancaster, Pa. They were to go at once, however, to Albany, where they might remain long enough to settle up their affairs.

To General Schuyler's original stipulations as thus modified, Sir John agreed. The Tories not covered by them were brought together by detachments sent out through the neighborhood. Jan. i9th the expedition moved forward to Johnson Hall, and the Baronet gave up the arms and ammunition in his possession, to a much less amount than was expected. On Saturday, the 20th, General Schuyler paraded his troops to receive the surrender of the Scotch Highlanders, some three hundred in number, who on delivering their arms, were dismissed with an assurance of protection while they remained peaceable. The report of a concealed deposit of military stores at a particular spot was found, by a search, to be false. On the same day General Schuyler began his return march to Albany, stopping that night at Caughnawaga. A hundred or more prominent Tories were brought into Johnstown from the neighboring country and disarmed by Col. Herkimer, who remained for that purpose, and to receive the prisoners' hostages, two days after Schuyler's departure.

The energetic measure carried out by General Schuyler allayed the Whigs' fears of immediate molestation ; but their apprehensions were soon revived by the conduct of Sir John Johnson, who violated, at least in spirit, the compact which he had made, by constantly exerting his influence to create sentiment hostile to the Whigs. As a consequence, the Highlanders became as bold as ever in their opposition to Congressional rule. Gen. Schuyler obtained sufficient evidence that the Baronet was instigating the Indians to hostilities along the frontier, and believed that more evil would result from his remaining at liberty than from his arrest and imprisonment. Accordingly, an expedition commanded by Col. Dayton was sent in May to capture Johnson and quell the rising disaffection about Johnstown. Sir John was seasonably informed of this movement by loyalist friends at Albany, and prepared to flee with his retainers to Canada. He had scant time for preparations, and as Cot. Dayton arrived at the eastern side of the village of Johnstown, the Baronet and his party struck into the great northern forest, poorly provided with food and equipments for their arduous journey. Their little store of provisions was soon exhausted, and the danger of starvation was among the perils that beset them, as for nineteen days they threaded the wilderness from the head waters of the Hudson to Montreal. Some of their number they had to leave by the way, to be brought in afterward by a party of Indians sent out for the purpose. So hurried was Johnson's departure from the Hall, that his most valuable effects were hustled into an iron chest and buried in the garden by one of his black slaves. This fellow was bought by the patriot Col. Veeder, but he faithfully kept the secret of the concealed property of his former master, and was able four years later to point out the position of the chest to its owner.

Col. Dayton remained with his troops several weeks at Johnstown. Such papers as the Baronet had left there were examined, and Lady Johnson was removed to Albany, where she was detained as a hostage for the peaceable conduct of her husband. He, however, immediately took a commission as Colonel in the British service, and organized two battalions from the Tories who accompanied him in his flight and others who followed them. Johnson's men were called the Royal Greens, and were during the Revolution the bitterest enemies of their former neighbors in the Mohawk valley, visiting them repeatedly with fire and sword, and even surpassing their Indian allies in deeds of cruelty.

Sir John's estate, the largest, with one exception, then owned by any man on the continent, was confiscated under an act of attainder covering himself and some sixty other Tories, whose property shared the same fate. After Sir John escaped to Canada, parties of Tories were continually taking the same course. Eighty went at one time, taking with them a pair of stolen oxen as food for their journey. While they were disputing as to who should command them on their way, a party of Whigs came upon them, aided by some militia and State troops, and took them all prisoners except fourteen. These were pursued still further, and five more secured, and all lodged in the Johnstown jail.