The Battle of Newtown 1779

FOOTNOTES TO HISTORY 9 The Battle of Newtown 1779 In a companion piece to his article “Clash of Empires” (The Standard Volume 2 No.41), James H. Hillestad relates George Washington’s emphatic response to colonial frontier raids by the British and their Indian allies. NEW YORK n early 1779, the Con- tinental Congress in- structed General George Washington to send an expedition of the Continental Army into TOP northeastern Pennsylvania and Looking out toward the Chemung Valley lower New York. This foray in- from Sullivan’s Hill volved one-third of Washington’s — the river is just entire army — a measure of the beyond the tree line. relative importance attached to the mission. Its purpose was to chastise the Iroquois Nation, which had been attacking colonial frontier settlements for the last two years. In 1778 the Wyoming Massacre occurred in Pennsylvania, when more than 300 Colonial militia- men were killed or taken prisoner. This was followed by the Cherry Valley Massacre in eastern New York. 10 FOOTNOTES TO HISTORY The purpose of the campaign The constant threat of attack Continental regulars, two compa- of terror, which was supported and devastation was intended to nies of militia, and 10 field pieces. by the British, was to divert the weaken support for the cause of They were joined by 1,500 troops attention of the Continental forc- independence. of Brigadier James Clinton’s New es which were threatening their On June 18, 1779, under the York Continental Brigade. occupation of New York City. The command of Major General John Their mission was the total attacks also kept the back-coun- Sullivan, the American expedition destruction and devastation of the try alarmed — which interfered set off over the Pocono Moun- settlements of the Iroquois Nation. with recruiting and damaged the tains, headed for the Wyoming Destroying the Iroquois crops and Continental Army’s supply system. Valley. The force numbered 3,200 villages would force them to leave Chief Joseph Bryant directs the ambush Butler’s Rangers supported by British regulars defend the ridge FOOTNOTES TO HISTORY 11 Battle of Newtown diorama, 24” x 45” Who Were “Butler’s Rangers”? “Butler’s Rangers” was the name given to a provincial regiment of Loyalists (or “Tories”). Most members were from upstate New York. The Rangers were accused of participating in the 1778 Wyo- ming Massacre and the Cherry Valley Massacre. These actions earned them a reputation for exceptional savagery. The Rangers were made up of American loyalist refugees who had fled to Canada following the outbreak of the American Revolution. John Butler himself was a French and Indian War veteran who owned a 26,000-acre estate in the Mohawk Valley of New the area and rely on the British at The Iroquois settlement of Newtown. There, York. Fort Niagara, straining the British fire from their they confronted a force of 1,000 The Rangers wore a dark entrenched position logistics in Canada in the process. Iroquois, chiefly of the Seneca, green woolen coat with white Sullivan’s expedition travelled up Cayuga, Onondaga, and Mohawk facings, a white woolen the Chemung River into southern nations, led by Joseph Brant. waistcoat, and Indian buckskin New York on August 26, where Allied with them were 15 British leggings. they approached the Iroquois regulars of the 8th Regiment of 12 FOOTNOTES TO HISTORY Supported by Colonia militia, the Continentals attack Iroquois casualties Foot and 200 of the notorious But American reconnaissance Butler’s Rangers. discovered the trap. Supported by Butler expected the American artillery, they advanced against the army to advance along the banks breastworks while attacking the of the Chemung River or through left flank of the enemy’s position. the woods on an Indian trail. Fac- Nearly surrounded, the warriors, ing the direction of the American rangers, and redcoats made their approach was a ridge that domi- escape to the west as best they nated the area. At the foot of the could, carrying many of their dead ridge was a swamp which would and wounded. The rout had been impede an American assault when complete. Butler’s forces opened fire from By nightfall, only smoke and concealed positions. ashes marked the Iroquois village Using wood from nearby cabins of Newtown. The cabins had been “A fight to the death” and logs of trees, Butler’s men burned to the ground and their constructed a breastwork that was cornfields trampled. masterfully concealed from enemy The Sullivan campaign was one agricultural fields yielding some view by bushes and other foliage. of the largest offensive move- 160,000 bushels of corn and oth- Most of the Iroquois warriors ments in the entire eight years of er foodstuffs. Also destroyed were were posted at the foot of the the War of Independence, and the hopes and prestige of the an- ridge. Butler and Brant, with the the Battle of Newtown played cient league of the Ho-De-No-Sau- rangers and a war party of Cayuga the most significant part in it. The Nee “Long House” confederacy of Indians, took position on the campaign resulted in the destruc- the Iroquois Six Nations. ridge. The ambush was set. tion of 40 Indian towns and major Note: The author thanks Bill Farrand, Park Manager of the Newtown Battlefield, for his guidance with this article. Jim Hillestad is a frequent ABOVE contributor to The Standard Sullivan’s Monument and is proprietor of The Toy atop Sullivan’s Hill Soldier Museum. His museum, containing more than 35,000 figures and a large collection of militaria, is located in LEFT Advancing through the Pocono Mountains of the swamp northeastern Pennsylvania. For directions and hours, call him at 570 629-7227 or visit his website: www.the-toy-soldier.com.

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