Burning of Wawarsing
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The inhabitants of Napanock never lost sight of their gratitude to that old cannon. It was given a carriage, and restored to a condition becoming an “arm of war.” After peace was declared, at each recurring Independence Day, the old nine-pounder was brought out where its presence was sure to evoke great enthusiasm, and patriotic hearts beat faster as they voted it the position of honor in the procession. Blooming maidens crowned it with wreaths, as did their daughters for successive generations after them. Fourth of July orations bestowed upon it the meed of unbounded praise. And often as the sterling patriots met to live over again in memory the struggle of the Revolution, and to march to the sound of fife and drum, around the liberty pole on the hill at Capt. Simon Bevier's, amid the strains of martial music was heard the roar of the ancient nine-pounder, multiplied into a score of voices in the echoes that were hurled back from the sides of old Shawangunk, as though the grim old mountain itself had joined in sounding the peans of liberty.
After the captors of Hine and Bouck had obtained all the information they wished, the prisoners were taken apart from each other, tied to trees, and left in that situation until the Indians returned. Here they were compelled to remain for the most part of three days and nights, without anything to eat or drink, and liable to attack in their defenseless condition from wild beasts. In addition to their physical sufferings were added their well-founded apprehensions that their wives and children would fall a prey to the scalping-knife, and also that they themselves might meet with a like fate if the enemy were in an irritable mood on their return.
It had been the intention of the enemy to detach one hundred of their number, under the command of Shanks Ben, who were to proceed through the forest from the Delaware river to New-town, to commence the work of death there, and meet their comrades at some place in the valley of the Rondout. But by an accident which occurred in drying some damaged powder, several of their number were burned, among them Shanks Ben, so that he was unable to enter upon that service. It is said they made the proposition to Silas Bouck that if he would perform that duty, they would grant him his liberty the moment he came to Newtown; but the noble-hearted patriot rejected the proposal with disdain!
Shanks Ben, who were to proceed through the forest from the Delaware river to New-town, to commence the work of death there, and meet their comrades at some place in the valley of the Rondout. But by an accident which occurred in drying some damaged powder, several of their number were burned, among them Shanks Ben, so that he was unable to enter upon that service. It is said they made the proposition to Silas Bouck that if he would perform that duty, they would grant him his liberty the moment he came to Newtown; but the noble-hearted patriot rejected the proposal with disdain! After securing their prisoners, as above stated, the enemy set forward. On that ever-memorable Sabbath, the 12th of August, 1781, at the dawn of the morning, they arrived at the old stone fort at Wawarsing, which was situated near the old church. Having taken the spies, no notice had been received at the fort of their approach, and most of its occupants were yet in their beds. Two men had gone out of the fort that morning,.- Mr. Johannis Hornbeck and a colored man named Flink. Catherine Vernooey was also about leaving the fort to go and milk, when she saw the Indians coming. She returned to the fort, closed the door, and called Chambers to assist her in getting the huge brace against it. Chambers was stationed on the sentry-box at the time, but being somewhat deranged, he did not fire his gun. Fortunately, however, he sung out “vyand, vyand, “-enemy, enemy. No sooner had the door been secured than the Indians came against it with all their might, in order to burst it in. Had not the door been secured at that instant, the enemy would inevitably have gained admittance to the fort, and the fate of its inmates would then have been sealed.
Mr. Johannis Hornbeck and a colored man named Flink. Catherine Vernooey was also about leaving the fort to go and milk, when she saw the Indians coming. She returned to the fort, closed the door, and called Chambers to assist her in getting the huge brace against it. Chambers was stationed on the sentry-box at the time, but being somewhat deranged, he did not fire his gun. Fortunately, however, he sung out “vyand, vyand, “-enemy, enemy. No sooner had the door been secured than the Indians came against it with all their might, in order to burst it in. Had not the door been secured at that instant, the enemy would inevitably have gained admittance to the fort, and the fate of its inmates would then have been sealed. The negro, Flink, soon discovered the Indians approaching the fort. He concealed himself until he saw they did not obtain an entrance; then leaving his milk-pail, he made his way with all possible speed to Napanock, to apprise the people there of the arrival of the enemy. Mr. Hornbeck, the other individual who had left the fort, was on his way to see his corn-field, and heard the alarm when about a mile away. Being a large fleshy man, unable to travel fast on foot, he caught a horse and rode with all speed to Rochester. When he arrived there, so overcome was he by excitement and fatigue, that he fell upon the floor as one dead. He recovered sufficiently to be able to return home in the afternoon in company with the troops that were sent in pursuit of the Indians.
Flink, soon discovered the Indians approaching the fort. He concealed himself until he saw they did not obtain an entrance; then leaving his milk-pail, he made his way with all possible speed to Napanock, to apprise the people there of the arrival of the enemy. Mr. Hornbeck, the other individual who had left the fort, was on his way to see his corn-field, and heard the alarm when about a mile away. Being a large fleshy man, unable to travel fast on foot, he caught a horse and rode with all speed to Rochester. When he arrived there, so overcome was he by excitement and fatigue, that he fell upon the floor as one dead. He recovered sufficiently to be able to return home in the afternoon in company with the troops that were sent in pursuit of the Indians.Table of Contents