Burning at Wawarsing
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     While these events were transpiring at Wawarsing, the forts at Napanock and Pine Bush were the scenes of intense interest and suspense.  When the firing ceased for a moment, the affrighted inhabitants were ready to conclude that the beleaguered garrison had been overpowered, and that the savages were engaged in mangling and scalping the bodies of their friends and brethren.  Then again would be heard the report of one of the Holland guns, which could be plainly distinguished from the sharp crack of the light arms of the Indians, telling that the patriots yet lived, and were waging a heroic defense for their homes.  The rattle of musketry in the first attack on Wawarsing was heard at Pine Bush; and as it was unlawful to fire a gun on the Sabbath, except in self-defense, or as an alarm, it was known that the place was attacked.  Alarm guns were immediately fired at Pine Bush, at Millhook, and so along the frontier towards Kingston.
       Colonel John Cantine, of Marbletown, was then first in command at Pine Bush. Capt. Burnet, of Little Britain, and Capt. Benjamin Kortright, of Rochester-both brave and resolute officers-had their companies ready at an early hour, anxious to proceed to the scene of conflict; but Colonel Cantine made no move to that effect.  When the flames of the burning buildings were seen ascending in the lower part of Wawarsing, the captains addressed him as follows:--"How can you remain here, when, in all probability, the Indians are murdering our friends at Wawarsing?"   There, and not till then, did he put the troops in motion to go to their relief.  He sent a guard in advance; and when they arrived at the site of the Middleport school-house, the guard returned and told the Colonel that the Indians were at Herhonkson.  Cantine immediately wheeled about, and with a few others, marched back to the fort.  Captains Burnet and Kortright advanced with their companies to the summit of the hill, south-west of the school-house, in order to confront the enemy if they should advance, at the same time making the greatest possible show of numbers by deploying their men along the brow of the hill, then wheeling suddenly and marching again to the summit, where they might be seen by the enemy.  The Indians not making their appearance, and apprehensive that they might take a circuitous route and pass them unnoticed, Burnet and Kortright returned to Pine Bush.  At their suggestion Colonel Cantine ordered out a guard some distance from the fort on each side to watch the movements of the enemy and protect the women and children below the fort.
     As already stated, the negro Flink escaped from the Wawarsing fort as the Indians attacked the place, and ran with all speed to Napanock.  Capt. Pierson was in command at that place; and although suffering from indisposition, he left his bed, stepped out in front of the fort, and called for volunteers.  He said he did not want a man to go that would not face the enemy, and fight like a hero.  He was solicited by the women and others to remain for their protection, but he replied that he was bound by his official oath to go where the enemy was.   Conradt Bevier and Jacobus DeWitt, and some ten or twelve others, tendered their services, and the little band set forward.  When they came to the school-house, half a mile from the fort at Napanock, they found it in flames-no doubt fired by the Indians.  They carried water in their hats and saved the building.  They then cautiously advanced over the lowland until they came in sight of Wawarsing. At this time, an Indian sentinel who had been stationed on a hill to give notice of the arrival of reinforcements to the garrison, fired off his gun, which caused the Indians to withdraw farther from the fort.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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