Kortright's Expedition
During the Revolution three men were living, with their families, in the vicinity of Pine Bush, in the town of Rochester, named Shurker, Miller, and Baker. Shurker had been suspected of being a Tory. A Whig neighbor had once intimated as much to him, personally; but Shurker denied the charge, and made the strongest attestations of fidelity to the cause of liberty. This conversation was overheard by the Tories, and by them communicated to the Indians. Living thus on the outpost, these people had the strongest temptations to keep the good will of the enemy, in order to save their lives and property, though at heart they were Whigs.
Shurker, Miller, and Baker. Shurker had been suspected of being a Tory. A Whig neighbor had once intimated as much to him, personally; but Shurker denied the charge, and made the strongest attestations of fidelity to the cause of liberty. This conversation was overheard by the Tories, and by them communicated to the Indians. Living thus on the outpost, these people had the strongest temptations to keep the good will of the enemy, in order to save their lives and property, though at heart they were Whigs. One morning, at early dawn, the alarm of "Indians" was heard at the military posts at Pine Bush. The report of firearms rent the air; and in the twilight, flames were seen ascending from the doomed buildings in awful grandeur to the heavens, telling, in unequivocal terms, that the destroyers were there. Capt. Benjamin Kortright, who knew not what fear was, marshalled his band and marched to the scene of action. When they came in sight, they saw the enemy were already retiring. They halted a moment to extinguish the flames of a burning building, where they found Shurker with his brains dashed out. While the whites were at this place the Indians fired a volley on the hill near by. After putting out the fire, they pursued the enemy. When they came on the hill, they found Miller, literally perforated with bullet-holes. It is remarkable that the women and children were not molested on this occasion; the most reasonable explanation is that a large proportion of the enemy were Tories; and that there may have been some ties of relationship or affinity that restrained them in this instance from their usual barbarity.
Capt. Kortright continued the pursuit until they came to Vernooey creek; then their provisions being exhausted, they returned to Pine Bush. On their way they buried the unfortunate Shurker and Miller, who fell martyrs to the cause of liberty. The fate of Baker is wrapped in impenetrable mystery. Nothing more was ever heard of him. He was the bravest and most muscular man of the three. It is probable he was reserved by the Indians as the object on which to wreak their vengeance in return for the three savages killed by Anderson.
At the time of this massacre a body of three hundred troops were stationed at the Fort on Honk hill. The officer in command, on being informed of the above facts, resolved to fit out an expedition to waylay the Indians on their return at the Chestnut woods, now known as Grahamsville, about thirteen miles from Napanock. The officer called out for volunteers, and John Graham stepped from the ranks. He was asked how many men he would have, to which he answered that he would take no more than “his honor” gave him, which was a sergeant's guard, and consisted of eighteen men and a sergeant and corporal. He was offered more men, but refused to take them. One of Graham's party was Abraham Van Campen, a noted hunter and expert Indian fighter. The others were from the old settlements east of the Shawangunk mountain, and unused to border warfare.
Abraham Van Campen, a noted hunter and expert Indian fighter. The others were from the old settlements east of the Shawangunk mountain, and unused to border warfare. Graham's company marched on immediately, and reached the Chestnut woods in advance of the enemy. He selected his position where the Chestnut brook enters the Papacton creek. At this place the hills form a triangle, and there is a space of nearly level ground at the junction of the streams. Here he resolved to remain and surprise the Indians if they came that way, in the meantime dispatching Van Campen to procure some fresh vein-son. Before he returned, the Indians came, discovered the plot of the whites, and made their dispositions for attack.
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