Burning at Wawarsing
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When they came to Grahamsville they saw where the Indians had lodged the night before, and where they had attempted to make bread out of ground plaster. Towards night the pursuers arrived at Peenpack, along the Delaware, when the advance-guard returned and informed the officers that they had come to a fire of small sticks, and that the sticks were not burned through. This was evidence that the Indians could not be far in advance. It having been proposed to double the advance-guard, Captain Kortright offered to go with his whole company. While consultation was going on among the officers, a gun in the hands of Dr. Vanderlyn, of Kingston, was discharged. The report alarmed the enemy; the Indians of the party instantly fled in small squads, leaving their white commander Caldwell alone with the Tories and the scouts, Hine and Bouck, whom they had released on their return march and were conducting to Niagara. At this place large packages of spoils, including quantities of clothing, were left by the Indians in the confusion of their hasty flight; but they were not found by the whites until several months afterwards. A council of war was held to determine whether to advance or retreat, at which it was resolved to give up the pursuit and return home. Capt. Hardenburgh and some others were anxious to pursue, but Col. Cantine opposed it. Capt. Hardenburgh, vexed at what he considered Cantine`s somewhat questionable prudence, observed to his Colonel that “he could not die before his time;” to which the latter replied that if the Indians held a tomahawk above his head his time would be then and there.
Dr. Vanderlyn, of Kingston, was discharged. The report alarmed the enemy; the Indians of the party instantly fled in small squads, leaving their white commander Caldwell alone with the Tories and the scouts, Hine and Bouck, whom they had released on their return march and were conducting to Niagara. At this place large packages of spoils, including quantities of clothing, were left by the Indians in the confusion of their hasty flight; but they were not found by the whites until several months afterwards. A council of war was held to determine whether to advance or retreat, at which it was resolved to give up the pursuit and return home. Capt. Hardenburgh and some others were anxious to pursue, but Col. Cantine opposed it. Capt. Hardenburgh, vexed at what he considered Cantine`s somewhat questionable prudence, observed to his Colonel that “he could not die before his time;” to which the latter replied that if the Indians held a tomahawk above his head his time would be then and there. A German by the name of Vrooman deserted the Indians on Honk hill, while Wawarsing was in flames. He had been with them three years; and becoming tired of his allegiance, he left his gun at a distance and approached the troops, making signs of peace. Some of the soldiers wished to kill him, but this was not permitted. From this man much of the matter embraced in this narrative was obtained. Vrooman said the invading horde was a party from Niagara, and that they consumed more than a month on their journey to Wawarsing. During this time they were so much distressed for want of provisions that they ate up their pack-horses and dogs. He reported, that the garrison at Niagara was in a melancholy situation for want of provisions, and that the Tories there most bitterly execrated the day that they were deluded by a tyrant's emissaries to take up arms against their native country. It is said that the efficiency of the Indians at the descent upon Wawarsing was greatly impaired by reason of their previous privations, and from eating the soft corn they had taken from the corn-fields at Wawarsing. The squaws met them, on their return to Niagara, with parched corn.
Vrooman deserted the Indians on Honk hill, while Wawarsing was in flames. He had been with them three years; and becoming tired of his allegiance, he left his gun at a distance and approached the troops, making signs of peace. Some of the soldiers wished to kill him, but this was not permitted. From this man much of the matter embraced in this narrative was obtained. Vrooman said the invading horde was a party from Niagara, and that they consumed more than a month on their journey to Wawarsing. During this time they were so much distressed for want of provisions that they ate up their pack-horses and dogs. He reported, that the garrison at Niagara was in a melancholy situation for want of provisions, and that the Tories there most bitterly execrated the day that they were deluded by a tyrant's emissaries to take up arms against their native country. It is said that the efficiency of the Indians at the descent upon Wawarsing was greatly impaired by reason of their previous privations, and from eating the soft corn they had taken from the corn-fields at Wawarsing. The squaws met them, on their return to Niagara, with parched corn.Table of Contents