Massacre at Fantinekill
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Among the women who went to the spring was Jesse Bevier's daughter, Catherine. While at the spring she heard the groans of the dying in the swampy grounds near by. Among them she recognized some Tories-she could distinguish them by their striped pantaloons, and by the streaks which the sweat made in their painted faces. The fire was happily extinguished, and this family saved from an awful catastrophe.
Colonel Cortland`s regiment had been lying in the vicinity of Napanock for some time preceding this event, but their time of service had expired a few days before the attack on Fantinekill; and it is supposed that the Tories had made this fact known to the Indians. But the soldiers, having received some money, had got into a frolic at a tavern at Wawarsing, and were there on the morning of the alarm. They were mustered with all possible speed, and when they came to Napanock, were joined by Capt. Andries Bevier's company, and the united forces marched to the scene of action. When they came to the Napanock creek, the Indian yells and war-whoops were heard on the western hills, and the savages fired upon them as they were crossing the stream, and continued to fire upon them as they passed on toward Fantinekill. Their fire was returned by the regiment, but it is not known that any loss was sustained on either side at this stage of the action. The Indians bore off west, setting fire to the woods as they went to avoid pursuit.
Capt. Andries Bevier's company, and the united forces marched to the scene of action. When they came to the Napanock creek, the Indian yells and war-whoops were heard on the western hills, and the savages fired upon them as they were crossing the stream, and continued to fire upon them as they passed on toward Fantinekill. Their fire was returned by the regiment, but it is not known that any loss was sustained on either side at this stage of the action. The Indians bore off west, setting fire to the woods as they went to avoid pursuit. When the war-whoop was heard on the hills west of Napanock, and the soldiers were seen leaving the place to go to Fantinekill, the women, children, and invalids made a precipitate flight to the Shawangunk mountain, expecting the Indians would enter Napanock and burn the place, which they could have done with ease. Two sons of Andries Bevier, aged twelve and fourteen, ran across the mountain, through the burnt woods, barefooted, a distance not less than five miles. They first came to the residence of a Mr. Manse, on the east side of the mountain, then passed on to Shawangunk village, and gave the alarm. Several members of Jacob Bevier's family also made their way through the woods; but some of the neighbors missed their way, got lost, and were all night in the mountain, which was full of people from both sides, with horns, looking for them. The small children, and those of the inhabitants that were feeble and infirm, went only to the base of the declivity, and secreted themselves among the scraggy rocks, especially along the sides of a noted defile known as “Louis Ravine.” In their flight they were joined by the young black, Robert, who escaped from Fantinekill.
Mr. Manse, on the east side of the mountain, then passed on to Shawangunk village, and gave the alarm. Several members of Jacob Bevier's family also made their way through the woods; but some of the neighbors missed their way, got lost, and were all night in the mountain, which was full of people from both sides, with horns, looking for them. The small children, and those of the inhabitants that were feeble and infirm, went only to the base of the declivity, and secreted themselves among the scraggy rocks, especially along the sides of a noted defile known as “Louis Ravine.” In their flight they were joined by the young black, Robert, who escaped from Fantinekill. In fording the Rondout creek a child of Andrew Bevier came near being swept down with the current. He was caught by a friendly hand and helped ashore. When they arrived at the foot of the mountain an invalid soldier climbed a tree to see if Napanock was on fire. When he heard the sound of musketry he said he could distinguish the firing of Cortland's regiment from that of the Indians, because the former “fired by platoons.” Towards night the men came to look for their families; but the women and children who were in hiding, apprehending they might be Tories, gave no heed to their calls until they were certain they were friends.
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