|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 2
_CHAPTER I._
The territory comprised within the present boundaries of the town of
Oneonta, previous to the war of the Revolution, was little known
except as the scene of many a sanguinary conflict between different
Indian tribes which contended with each other for its possession. The
Delawares, whose home was on the river bearing their name, had been in
peaceful possession of the upper Susquehanna valley from time
immemorial; but long before the outbreak of hostilities between
England and her trans-Atlantic colonies, the Tuscaroras, a warlike
tribe from Virginia, wandered up the Susquehanna from Chesapeake Bay
and laid claim to the upper portion of the valley as their
hunting-grounds. From that time, with brief and uncertain intervals of
peace, up to the close of the Revolutionary struggle, the war between
the contending tribes was waged with relentless fury. Many a proud
chief and valiant warrior fell beneath the tomahawk and became the
victim of the merciless scalping-knife.
Eventually the strife between these aboriginal tribes terminated in
favor of the invaders, or Tuscaroras, who thereupon allied themselves
with the Six Nations occupying the more northern and western portions
of the state. They formed small settlements, one within the present
town of Oneonta, at the mouth of the Otego creek, and another at or
near the mouth of the Charlotte. The former was on the farm now owned
and occupied by Andrew Van Woert; the other on what is known as the
Island on the farm of James W. Jenks. At both these places Indian
utensils and implements of war have been found in large numbers; at
both, Indian orchards of some extent were standing a few years ago.
These Indian settlements were destroyed by a detachment of American
troops under Gen. Sullivan, who passed down the river from Cooperstown
in the summer of 1779. Making a dam across the outlet of the lake,
Sullivan succeeded in causing the water of the lake to rise
considerably above the common level, when by removing the dam the
stream was greatly swollen, and upon its current the colonial force,
numbering about 1,000 men, was borne down the valley. It is related
that the natives had become terrified at the sudden diminution of the
water of the river and had fled in great haste from their homes,
leaving the way unobstructed for the safe advance of the patriot
force. Between the source of the stream and Unadilla, it is supposed
that but few Indian orchards, cornfields or huts were left standing
near the river. At the mouth of the Schenevus creek, a notable
exception was made in favor of the Van Valkenburg family, residing
then on the old Deitz farm across the river to the east of
Colliersville, where now may be seen a number of ancient apple trees
of Indian planting, still in a vigorous and fruitful condition. This
Van Valkenburg family being half-breeds and friendly to the American
cause, their property and possessions were not molested.
Sullivan's passage down the stream was effected by means of batteaux
and strong rafts, and owing to the windings of the channel, and the
necessary army luggage, his progress, notwithstanding the increased
volume of water that bore his barks along, was somewhat slow.
Unopposed by an enemy, through a country marked with rare beauty of
scenery,
"Each boatman bending to his oar,
With measured sweep the burden bore,"
and with the advance of this small but daring patriot force, the
Susquehanna valley ceased to be the permanent abiding place of the red
men. A few scattered representatives of the once proud Tuscaroras and
Oneidas built their temporary wigwams where convenience suggested, and
derived such subsistence as the chase and stream afforded, but they
were no longer a terror to the settlers.
In the expeditions sent out to the southwestward from Albany, and
likewise in the marauding expeditions of the savages against the
frontier settlements along the Schoharie, the Susquehanna valley,
wherein is situated the village of Oneonta, became the common highway
to both parties. The old Indian trail, it has been ascertained, from
the Schoharie fort to the west, passed down the Schenevus creek to its
mouth, there crossed the Susquehanna, and continued down the northwest
side of the stream, passed through the village of Oneonta nearly along
the line of Main-st., thence crossing the river near the lower end of
the village, it continued westward on the south side of the stream for
some distance down the river, on toward the Chemung and the fort at
Oswego. There was also another trail leading from Schoharie to
Harpersfield and thence down the Charlotte creek to the Susquehanna.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|