The Sullivan Expedition, also known as the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition, was a campaign led by Major General John Sullivan and General James Clinton against Loyalists ("Tories") and the four nations of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American Revolutionary War. For other men with the same name see John Sullivan (disambiguation. James Clinton ( August 9, 1733 &ndash September 22 1812) was an American Revolutionary War soldier who obtained the rank of This article concerns Loyalists in the American Revolution. For information on the role of those Loyalists in Canadian history after their emigration see United Empire The Iroquois Confederacy (also known as the "League of Peace and Power" the "Five Nations" the "Six Nations" or the "People of the Longhouse The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The expedition occurred during the summer of 1779 and only had one major battle, at Newtown along the Chemung River in western New York, in which about 700 (mostly) Iroquois and Tories were decisively defeated by an army of nearly 4000 Continental soldiers. Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Battle This battle which was the most significant military engagement of the Sullivan Campaign of 1779 and played a crucial role in America’s Revolutionary War took place The Chemung River (shuh-MUHNG is a Tributary of the Susquehanna River, approximately 45 mi (72 km long in south central New York and northern New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Sullivan's army then carried out a scorched earth campaign, methodically destroying at least forty Iroquois villages throughout what is now upstate New York, in retaliation for Iroquois and Tory attacks against American settlements earlier in the war. A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method (possibly more often referred to as a tactic but this is not entirely correct as there is a difference between Upstate New York is the region of New York State north of the core of the New York metropolitan area. The devastation created great hardships for the thousands of Iroquois refugees outside Fort Niagara that winter, and many starved or froze to death. Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. The survivors fled to British regions in Canada and the Niagara Falls and Buffalo areas. ^[1]

Contents 1 Background 2 Expedition 2.1 Onondaga Village 2.2 Main expedition 2.3 Brodhead's expedition 2.4 Tiononderoge 3 Aftermath 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links

Background

When the American Revolutionary War began, British officials as well as the colonial Continental Congress sought the allegiance (or at least the neutrality) of the influential Iroquois Confederacy. The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the The Iroquois Confederacy (also known as the "League of Peace and Power" the "Five Nations" the "Six Nations" or the "People of the Longhouse The Six Nations divided over what course to pursue. Most Mohawks, Cayugas, Onondagas, and Senecas chose to ally themselves with the British. Mohawk ( Kanienkeh, Kanienkehaka or Kanien’Kahake, meaning "People of the Flint" are an indigenous people of North America The Cayuga nation ( Guyohkohnyo or the People of the Great Swamp) was one of the five original constituents of the Haudenosaunee ( Iroquois) a confederacy The Onondaga ( Onöñda'gega' or the People of the Hills) are one of the original five constituent nations of the Iroquois ( Haudenosaunee) Confederacy The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. But the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, thanks in part to the influence of Presbyterian missionary Samuel Kirkland, joined the American revolutionaries. The Oneida ( Onyota'aka or Onayotekaono, meaning the People of the Upright Stone or standing stone, Thwahrù•nęˀ in Tuscarora The Tuscarora ("hemp gatherers" are an American Indian tribe with members in New York, Canada, and North Carolina. Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity A missionary is a member of a Religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith someone who proselytizes. Rev Samuel Kirkland (1741 &ndash 1808 was a Presbyterian Missionary among the Oneida and Tuscarora people in North America For the Iroquois, the American Revolution became a civil war. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" A civil war is a War between a State and domestic political actors that are in control of some part of the territory claimed by the state

The Iroquois homeland lay on the frontier between British Canada and the American colonies. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page After a British army surrendered at Saratoga in upstate New York in 1777, Loyalists and their Iroquois allies raided American Patriot settlements in the region, as well as the villages of American-allied Iroquois. Background See also Saratoga campaign The British plan and Howe's blunder The original conception of the campaign had been for Burgoyne with some eight Year 1777 ( MDCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This article concerns Patriots in the American Revolution. For other uses see Patriot (disambiguation. Working out of Fort Niagara, men such as Tory commander Colonel John Butler, Sayenqueraghta, Mohawk Captain Joseph Brant, and Seneca Chief Cornplanter led the Tory-Indian raids. Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. For other people named John Butler see the John Butler disambiguation page Sayenqueraghta (c1707 &ndash 1786 was the war chief of the eastern Seneca tribe in the mid 18th century Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant ( c 1743 &ndash 24 November 1807) was a Mohawk leader and British military officer during Gaiänt'wakê (c 1750&ndash1836 or Kaintwakon generally known as Cornplanter, was a Seneca war-chief Commander-in-chief General George Washington never provided any substantial regular army troops for the defense of the frontier and he told the frontier settlements to use local militia for their own defense. George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the

On June 10, 1778, the Board of War of the Continental Congress concluded that a major Indian war was in the offing. Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the Since a defensive war would prove to be inadequate the board called for a major expedition of three thousand men against Fort Detroit and a similar thrust into Seneca country to punish the Iroquois. Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit or Fort Détroit was a Fort established by the French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701 Congress designed Major General Horatio Gates to lead the campaign and appropriated funds for the campaign. Horatio Lloyd Gates ( circa 1727&ndash 10 April 1806) was a British soldier turned American General during the Revolutionary ^[2] In spite of these plans, the expedition did not occur until the following year.

On July 3, 1778, Colonel Butler led his Rangers with a force of Senecas and Cayugas (led by Sayenqueraghta) in an attack on Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley (a rebel granary and settlement along the Susquehanna River near present Wilkes-Barre), practically annihilating 360 armed Patriot defenders at Forty Fort. Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Butler's Rangers (1777–1784 was a British provincial regiment composed of Loyalists (or "Tories" in the American Revolutionary War, raised by Loyalist Sayenqueraghta (c1707 &ndash 1786 was the war chief of the eastern Seneca tribe in the mid 18th century The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern Background In 1777 after a British Army surrendered at Saratoga in Upstate New York, Loyalists and their Iroquois allies in the region The Susquehanna River (originally "Sasquesahanough" per the 1612 John Smith map is a River located in the northeastern United States. Wilkes-Barre (ˈwɪlksbɛrə or /-bɛri/ is the central city of the Wyoming Valley and County seat of Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania Forty Fort was a stronghold on the Susquehanna River in Westmoreland County Connecticut now Pennsylvania

In September, 1778, revenge for the Wyoming defeat was taken by American Colonel Thomas Hartley who, with 200 soldiers, burned 9-12 Seneca, Delaware and Mingo villages along the Susquehanna River in northeast Pennsylvania. Events in September It is the start of the academic year in many countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or

In September, 1778 Butler's Rangers attacked German Flatts destroying all the houses and fields in the area. Events in September It is the start of the academic year in many countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Butler's Rangers (1777–1784 was a British provincial regiment composed of Loyalists (or "Tories" in the American Revolutionary War, raised by Loyalist Herkimer is a Village in Herkimer County New York, about southeast of Utica. (see Attack on German Flatts (1778))

Further American retaliation was soon taken by rebel army units under William Butler and John Cantine, burning the substantial Indian villages at Unadilla and Onoquaga on the Mohawk River.

On November 11, 1778, Loyalist Captain Walter Butler (the son of John Butler) led two companies of Butler's Rangers along with about 320 Iroquois led by Cornplanter, including 30 Mohawks led by Joseph Brant, on an assault at Cherry Valley in New York. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Walter Butler (1752&ndash October 30, 1781) was a British Loyalist officer during the American Revolution. Gaiänt'wakê (c 1750&ndash1836 or Kaintwakon generally known as Cornplanter, was a Seneca war-chief Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant ( c 1743 &ndash 24 November 1807) was a Mohawk leader and British military officer during Cherry Valley is a town in Otsego County, New York, USA. The population was 1266 at the 2000 census While the fort was surrounded, Indians began to massacre civilians in the village, killing and scalping about 33 people, including women and children. In vain, Brant, who was blamed for the attack, actually tried to stop the rampage. The town was plundered and destroyed.

The Cherry Valley Massacre made it clear to the American revolutionaries that something needed to be done on the New York frontier. Aftermath Butler purchased the captured officers from the Indians and arranged for some of the women and children prisoners to be freed When the British began to concentrate their military efforts on the southern colonies in 1779, Washington used the opportunity to launch the planned offensive towards Fort Niagara. Washington first offered command of the expedition to Horatio Gates, the "Hero of Saratoga," but Gates turned down the offer. Horatio Lloyd Gates ( circa 1727&ndash 10 April 1806) was a British soldier turned American General during the Revolutionary Major General John Sullivan, who had Washington's confidence despite a mixed war record, was then given command. For other men with the same name see John Sullivan (disambiguation. Washington's orders to Sullivan made it clear that he wanted the Iroquois threat completely eliminated:

Orders of George Washington to General John Sullivan, at Head-Quarters May 31, 1779

The Expedition you are appointed to command is to be directed against the hostile tribes of the Six Nations of Indians, with their associates and adherents. The immediate objects are the total destruction and devastation of their settlements, and the capture of as many prisoners of every age and sex as possible. It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the ground and prevent their planting more.

I would recommend, that some post in the center of the Indian Country, should be occupied with all expedition, with a sufficient quantity of provisions whence parties should be detached to lay waste all the settlements around, with instructions to do it in the most effectual manner, that the country may not be merely overrun, but destroyed.

But you will not by any means listen to any overture of peace before the total ruinment of their settlements is effected. Our future security will be in their inability to injure us and in the terror with which the severity of the chastisement they receive will inspire them. ^[3]

Expedition

The British Commander for North America, Frederick Haldimand, while kept informed of Sullivan's invasion by Butler and Ft. Sir Frederick Haldimand, KB ( August 11, 1718 &ndash June 5, 1791) was a British army officer and governor Niagara, did not supply sufficient troops for his Iroquois allies' defense. Late in September, he dispatched a force of about 600 Loyalists and Canadian Iroquois, but this was too little, too late.

Onondaga Village

In April, 1779, Colonel Goose Van Schaik (son of a former Albany mayor), commanding 558 soldiers, led the first attack on the Iroquois. The Iroquois Confederacy (also known as the "League of Peace and Power" the "Five Nations" the "Six Nations" or the "People of the Longhouse He headed west from Fort Stanwix where they surprised and destroyed the main Onondaga village killing 12 and taking 33 prisoner. Fort Stanwix was a colonial fort whose construction was started on August 26[[ 758]] by British General John Stanwix, at the location of present-day Onondaga is a Town located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. Since the pro British warriors had already left, the village consisted mostly of neutrals and women and children. The Onondaga accused the soldiers of raping and killing the women. The Continental Congress congratulated him on his success. The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the

Main expedition

Washington instructed Gen. Sullivan and his men to march from Easton, Pennsylvania to the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania and to follow the river upstream to Tioga Point, now known as Athens, Pennsylvania. Easton is a city in Northampton County, in the eastern region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Susquehanna River (originally "Sasquesahanough" per the 1612 John Smith map is a River located in the northeastern United States. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern Athens is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, two miles (3 km south of the N He ordered Gen. Clinton and his men to travel from Albany, westward up the Mohawk River to Canajoharie, New York, to cross overland to Otsego Lake, and then travel down the Susquehanna to meet Sullivan at Tioga Point (near today's Athens, Pa). Albany is the Capital of the State of New York and the County seat of Albany County. The Mohawk River is a long River in the US state of New York. Canajoharie New York may refer to Canajoharie (town New York Canajoharie (village New York Otsego Lake is a small Lake located in Otsego County New York in the USA and is the source of the Susquehanna River.

By Sullivan's account, forty of the Iroquois villages were destroyed, including Catherine's Town, Goiogouen, Chonodote, and Kanadaseaga, along with all the crops and orchards of the Iroquois. Catherine's Town was an Iroquois town named for the Seneca leader Catherine Montour. Goiogouen, or Cayuga Castle was a major village of the Cayuga nation of Iroquois Indians in west-central New York State. Chonodote was an 18th-century village of the Cayuga nation of Iroquois Indians in what is now Upstate New York, USA Kanadaseaga, or Seneca Castle was a major village of the Seneca nation of the Iroquois Confederacy in west-central New York State, United States Prior to the main battle at Newtown, there were several skirmishes: on August 13, 1779 General Edward Hand pursing the enemy near Chemung was ambushed with casualties commonly reported as being 21 killed or wounded;^[4] small parties under Generals William Maxwell and Enoch Poor sent to cut down corn were also ambushed – although one journal reports total casualties as 4 killed and 8 wounded; ambushes also occurred on August 15, 1779 and August 17, 1779^[5] with combined casualties of 2 killed and 2 wounded. Events 3114 BC - According to the Lounsbury correlation the start of the Maya calendar. Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Edward Hand ( December 31, 1744 &ndash September 3, 1802) was a physician farmer congressman and a general officer in the Continental Enoch Poor ( June 21, 1736, Old Style &ndash September 8, 1780) was a Brigadier general in the Continental Army Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 986 - A Byzantine army was destroyed in the pass of Trajan's Gate by the Bulgarians under the Comitopuli Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common These totals are based on figures from a contemporary Journal Account. On August 23, 1779 the accidental discharge of a rifle in camp resulted in one Captain killed and one man wounded. Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[5] The campaign had only one major battle, the Battle of Newtown, fought on August 29, 1779. Battle This battle which was the most significant military engagement of the Sullivan Campaign of 1779 and played a crucial role in America’s Revolutionary War took place Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common It was a complete victory for the Continental Army. The American Continental Army was an Army formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America

Later a small detachment of the Continental Army was captured and killed at the Boyd and Parker ambush. The Boyd and Parker ambush was a small military engagement in Groveland New York on September 13, 1779, during the American Revolutionary War On September 1, 1779 Captain John Combs died of an illness. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[6]

Brodhead's expedition

Further west, a concurrent expedition was undertaken by Colonel Daniel Brodhead. Daniel Brodhead (IV ( October 17, 1736 &ndash November 15, 1809) was an American military and political leader during the American Brodhead left Fort Pitt on August 14, 1779, with a contingent of 600 regulars and militia, marching up the Allegheny River into the Seneca and Munsee country of northwestern Pennsylvania and South Western New York. Fort Pitt was a Fort in what is now the city of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County Pennsylvania. Events 1183 - Taira no Munemori and the Taira clan take the young Emperor Antoku and the three sacred treasures Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Allegheny River is a principal Tributary of the Ohio River and is located in the Eastern United States. The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. The shannon (later named Delaware Indians by Europeans were in the 17th century organized bands of Native American peoples with shared cultural and linguistic Since most native warriors were away to confront Sullivan's army, Brodhead met little resistance and destroyed about 10 villages, including Conewango. Conewango Township is a township in Warren County, Pennsylvania, United States. The plan was to eventually link up with Sullivan at the Seneca village of Geneseo for an attack on Fort Niagara, but Brodhead turned back after destroying villages near modern day Salamanca, New York, never linking up with the main force. Geneseo ( is the name of a Town and a Village in Livingston County in western New York, USA. Salamanca New York, is the name of two municipalities in Cattaraugus County New York.

Tiononderoge

To end the campaign, Clinton's soldiers dispossessed the remaining Mohawks at Tiononderoge who had hoped to remain neutral. Peter Gansevoort wrote "It is remarked that the Indians live much better than most of the Mohawk River farmers, their houses [being] very well furnished with all [the] necessary household utensils, great plenty of grain, several horses, cows, and wagons". Peter Gansevoort ( July 17, 1749 – July 2, 1812) was a Colonel in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War

Aftermath

Historians disagree as to whether an Iroquois nickname for Washington, "Town Destroyer", originates from this expedition. Town Destroyer, also translated as Town Taker, Burner of Towns, or Devourer of Villages, was a Nickname given to George Washington

The devastation created great hardships for the more than 5,000 Iroquois refugees that winter, and many starved or froze to death. But, this was not entirely because of the expedition since in May, 1778, John Butler wrote: "The Indians in this part of the Country are so ill off for Provisions that may have nothing to subsist upon but the roots and greens they gather in the woods. John Butler may refer to John Butler (American Football (d2003 General Manager in the National Football League John Butler (baseball "^[7]

Fearing attack, large number of Tuscarora and Oneida defected to the British cause.

In February, 1780, General Schuyler sent a party of pro-rebel Indians to Fort Niagara to appeal for peace with the British-allied Iroquois. Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. The Iroquois Confederacy (also known as the "League of Peace and Power" the "Five Nations" the "Six Nations" or the "People of the Longhouse Suspecting a trick by Schuyler, those Iroquois rejected the proposal. The Iroquois Confederacy (also known as the "League of Peace and Power" the "Five Nations" the "Six Nations" or the "People of the Longhouse The four messengers were imprisoned where one of them died.

Although the Sullivan Expedition devastated the Iroquois crops and towns and left them at the mercy of the British for the harsh winter of 1779-80, one officer noted "The nests are destroyed, but the birds are still on the wing. " Washington was underwhelmed by the lack of a decisive battle and the failure to capture Fort Niagara. However, the homelands and infrastructure of Iroquois life was devastated by the Campaign. Sullivan soon resigned his commission. The Iroquois warriors continued their devastating raids throughout the war (Burning of the Valleys campaign of 1780), rolling back white settlement to Albany for a time. Year 1780 ( MDCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a

But in the long term, it became clear that the expedition forever broke the Iroquois Confederacy's power to maintain former crops and utilize some town locations. The Iroquois would never again obtain their standard of living they had before the attack. The Iroquois Confederacy (also known as the "League of Peace and Power" the "Five Nations" the "Six Nations" or the "People of the Longhouse The expedition amounted to little more than famine and dispersion. Following the war, much of the Iroquois lands would be secured in the peace Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784), later to be absorbed by controversial treaties with the State of New York. The Treaty of Fort Stanwix was a Treaty signed in October 1784 at Fort Stanwix, located in present-day Rome New York, between the United States Some of its native population would move to Canada, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, but most resumed life at Buffalo Creek (today's Buffalo). In the wake of the Treaty of Paris (1783), European-Americans began settling the newly vacant areas in relative safety, eventually isolating , by land controversial land treaties with New York State, the remaining pockets of demoralized native peoples into villages and towns.

Notes

References

• Boatner, Mark Mayo. Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. New York: McKay, 1966; revised 1974. ISBN 0-8117-0578-1.
• Calloway, Colin G. The American Revolution in Indian Country: Crisis and Diversity in Native American Communities. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-521-47149-4 (hardback).
• Cruikshank, Ernest, Butler's Rangers and the Settlement of Niagara, 1893
• Graymont, Barbara. The Iroquois in the American Revolution. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, 1972. ISBN 0-8156-0083-6; ISBN 0-8156-0116-6 (paperback).
• Mintz, Max M. Seeds of Empire: The American Revolutionary Conquest of the Iroquois. New York: New York University Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8147-5622-0 (hardcover).
• Taylor, Alan. The Divided Ground. New York: Alfred Knopf, 2006. ISBN 0-679-45471-3 (hardcover)
• Williams, Glenn F. Year of the Hangman: George Washington's Campaign Against the Iroquois. Yardley: Westholme Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1-59416-013-9.

External links

• "The 1779 Sullivan Campaign" by Stanley J. Adamiak
• Sullivan/Clinton Campaign by Robert Spiegelman
• Retracing the Route of the Sullivan Expedition through Pennsylvania

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