The Journal of Lieut. John L. Hardenbergh of the Second New York Continental Part 10

A peculiar interest is attached to this locality and village, from the fact that here the representatives of a once powerful people, sought to preserve for a brief period, the last remaining spark of a council fire that from time immemorial had burned brilliantly in the presence of a.s.sembled nations, numbering their warriors by thousands. They were called by the Iroquois TODERICHROONES, one of the tribes known to the English as Catawbas, sometimes called Saponies. They formerly resided between the Potomac and Roanoke rivers, east of the Alleghanies. A most inveterate hostile feeling existed between them and the Iroquois, which reached back to near the middle of the seventeenth century. A peace was arranged as early as 1685, through negotiations with the government of Virginia, and again what was expected to be a "lasting peace" and firm alliance, was concluded in 1714, but in the night after the close of the council, the Iroquois deputies, while reposing in fancied security were treacherously murdered while asleep. This aroused the Iroquois to vengeance, and the war was renewed with unexampled ferocity, with a determination to totally extirpate the base, faithless and treacherous people. In 1717 through the intercession of Governor Hunter, at the request of Governor Spottswood of Virginia, a truce was arranged, and in 1722 delegates from the Five Nations met Governor Spottswood at Albany to conclude what was to be an "everlasting peace," in which the Iroquois bound themselves not to cross the Potomac or go over the Alleghanies, without a pa.s.sport from the Governor of New York, Governor Spottswood engaging that the tribes in his locality should not pa.s.s to the north or west of same lines.

The tribes mentioned by the Governor were the "NOTTOWAYS, MEHERINS, NANSEMONDS, PAMUNKEYS, CHICOHOMINYS, and the CHRISTANNA INDIANS whom you call TODERICHROONES," and others--in all, ten nations. This council was conducted with great formality, and valuable presents were presented, among which were a "_fine coronet_" and a "_gold horse shoe_" with an inscription. In 1738 they were again at war, and in 1742 at peace. In 1731 Governor Clinton says "the Governor of South Carolina sent six chiefs of the Catawbas, to make peace with the Five Nations," and says that "they had been at war as long as any one in this country can remember." In 1753 Sir William Johnson mentions the fact that the Cayugas "_are about to strengthen their castle by taking in the_ TEDARIGHROONES." In the same year they are mentioned as attending a conference at Mt. Johnson and are described as "one of the nine confederate nations." The town is indicated at the head of Cayuga lake on the Guy Johnson map of 1771, in the same position where it was found by Colonel Dearborn in 1779, under the name of TODEVIGHRONO, the name of the people. In 1750 Zeisberger, the Moravian missionary, pa.s.sed through this valley while on his way to visit the Cayugas, but makes no mention of an Indian village in the vicinity. Undoubtedly they settled there in the summer of 1753. Their cleared fields were found on the present site of Ithaca on the first settlement of the country by the whites and were the first lands occupied in the county.

The town is indicated but not named on the map of Mr. Lodge, the surveyor who accompanied Colonel Butler's detachment. To stand on the identical spot from which this people sunk into oblivion, appeared like standing on the grave of a nation. Their history, the beginning of which extends far back into the unknown and unattainable, ends where that of civilization begins, and adds another name to the long list of extinguished nationalities that preceded us in sovereignty.

Here their council fire, fanned by the last expiring breath of a once brave and numerous people, was extinguished forever.

RECAPITULATION.

INDIAN TOWNS DESTROYED IN SULLIVAN'S CAMPAIGN, 1779.

1. NEWTYCHANNING, an Indian town of about 20 houses, located on the west side of the Susquehanna, near North Towanda, Bradford County, Pa.

Destroyed by Col. Proctor, Aug. 8, 1779. See note 60.

2. OLD CHEMUNG, an Indian town partially abandoned, located on the north bank of Chemung river, half a mile above present Chemung village. Destroyed Aug. 13, 1779. See note 66.

3. NEW CHEMUNG, an Indian town of fifty or sixty houses, located on the left bank of the Chemung river, three miles above the present village of Chemung, in Chemung County. Destroyed Aug. 13, 1779. See note 66.

4. NEWTOWN, an Indian town of about 20 houses, located on the north bank of Chemung river, five miles below Elmira. It gave the name to the battle fought near it Aug. 29, 1779. Destroyed August 31, 1779.

See note 74.

5. A village of 20 to 30 new houses, located on both sides of Baldwin's creek, about a mile and a half from Chemung river, at the exact point where Gen. Poor commenced the ascent of the hill.

Destroyed Aug. 29, 1779. See note 74.

6. A small village on Baldwin's creek, near the works of the enemy, at Newtown, the timbers of which were used in the construction of the fortifications. See note 74.

7. A small village on Seely creek, near present Southport, south of Elmira. Destroyed Aug. 30, 1779. See note 74.

8. ALBOUT, a Scotch, tory settlement on the east side the Unadilla, about five miles above Unadilla. Burned August 12, 1779, by Gen.

Clinton. See note 129.

9. SHAWHIANGTO, a small Tuscarora town, four miles below Onoquago, of ten or twelve houses, located on the west side of the Susquehanna, near present Windsor, in Broome County. Burned August 17, 1779, by Gen. Clinton. See note 134.

10. INGAREN, a Tuscarora town of five or six houses, sometimes called Tuscarora, at Great Bend, Susquehanna county, Penn. Destroyed Aug. 17, 1779, by Gen. Clinton. See note 135.

11. OTSININGO or _Chenango_, an important Indian town abandoned and destroyed by the Indians in the winter of 1778-9, located four miles north of Binghamton in Broome County. See note 136.

12. CHOCONUT, or _Chugnutt_, an important Indian town of fifty or sixty houses mostly on the south side of the Susquehanna river, at the mouth of Big Choconut creek, in Broome County. Destroyed by Gen. Poor Aug. 19, 1779. See note 137.

13. OWAGEA, an Indian town of about twenty houses, on Owego creek, about a mile from the Susquehanna river, in the north part of present Owego,--was a small hamlet, also near the river. Destroyed August 19, 1779. See note 138.

14. MANCKATAw.a.n.gUM, or _Red Bank_,--an Indian town on the south side of the Susquehanna river, nearly opposite the present village of Barton, in Tioga county,--near Fitzgerald's Farm, according to Beatty.

See note 139.

General Sullivan under date of Aug. 30th, says: "The number of Indian towns destroyed since the commencement of the expedition, including those burnt by General Clinton previous to the junction, is, I think, fourteen, some of them considerable, others inconsiderable."

15. MIDDLETOWN, an Indian hamlet of eight houses, located on the north bank of Chemung river, between Newtown and present Elmira. Destroyed Aug. 31, 1779. See note 77.

16. KANAWLOHALLA or _Canaweola_, on the site of present Elmira in Chemung county. George Grant says it contained twenty houses. This was the site of Fort Reid. Destroyed while the army was on the march, August 31, 1779. See note 77.

17. BIG FLATS, on the north bank of Chemung river, eight miles above present Elmira. An early French map calls a village at this point Runonvea, Destroyed by a detachment under Col. Dayton Aug. 31, 1779.

See note 77.

18. SHEOQUAGA or _Catharine's Town_, an Indian village of thirty houses, located on the site of present Havana in Schuyler County.

Destroyed Sept. 2, 1779. See note 78.

19. PEACH ORCHARD, an Indian town of an unknown name on the site of present Peach Orchard, ten miles north of Havana, on east sh.o.r.e of Seneca lake. Destroyed Sept. 3, 1779. See note 79.

20. CONDAWHAW, a small Indian town on the east sh.o.r.e of Seneca lake, at present site of North Hector, so called by Luke Swetland in 1778.

Destroyed Sept. 4, 1779. See note 80.

21. KENDAIA, or _Appletown_, located on lot 79, Romulus, on the east side of Seneca lake. It contained about twenty houses. Destroyed Sept.

6, 1779. See note 81.

22. BUTLER'S BUILDINGS, so called, consisting of a few buildings, located near present ca.n.a.l bridge in the village of Geneva. Destroyed while on the march Sept. 7, 1779. See note 84.

23. KANADASEAGA, _the grand village_, and capital of the Senecas, located one and a half miles north-west of present Geneva. It contained about sixty well built houses. Destroyed Sept. 9, 1779. See note 84.

24. GOTHSEUNGQUEAN or _Shenanwaga_, a village of twenty houses located on both sides of Kershong creek, near the west sh.o.r.e of Seneca lake, seven miles south of Geneva. Destroyed by a detachment under Major Parr, Sept. 8, 1779. See note 84.

25. KANANDAIGUA, an Indian town of twenty-three houses, located about a mile from the lake, in west part of present village of Canandaigua.

Destroyed Sept. 10, 1779. See note 86.

26. HANNEYAYE, an Indian town of twenty houses, located at foot of Honeoye lake, east of the outlet. One house was occupied as a fort by Capt. c.u.mmings. Destroyed Sept. 11, 1779. See note 87.

27. KANAGHSAWS, also called _Adjutoa_, an Indian town of eighteen houses located three-fourths of a mile south-east of the head of Conesus lake on the farm of Dr. McMillen. Destroyed September 13, 1779. See note 89.

28. GATHTSEGWAROHARE or _Ca.s.sawauloughly_, an important Indian town of twenty-five houses, located on the east side of Canaseraga creek, about two miles from its confluence with the Genesee, at the "Hermitage," formerly owned by Judge Caroll. Destroyed Sept. 14, 1779.

See note 93.

29. CHENANDOANES or _Great Genesee Castle_, sometimes called Little Beard's Town,--contained one hundred and twenty-eight houses, located on the west side of Genesee river, mostly on the north side of Beard's creek, north-east of Cuylerville. Destroyed Sept. 15, 1779. See note 95.

TOWNS DESTROYED BY LIEUT. COL. BUTLER.

30. SCAWYACE, or _Long Falls_, an important Indian town on the north bank of the Seneca river on present site of Waterloo, in Seneca County,--was partially destroyed by a volunteer force under Col.

Harper, Sept. 8, 1779,--destruction completed Sept. 21, by Major Scott, of Colonel Butler's detachment. See note 140.

31. CHOHARO, a hamlet of two houses at the foot of Cayuga lake, where Colonel Butler's detachment forded the river. This was the ancient Tichero of the Jesuit Relations. Destroyed Sept. 21, by Colonel Butler. See note 142.

32. GEWAUGA, a small hamlet located on the east side of Cayuga lake, on the site of present Union Springs in Cayuga County. Destroyed Sept.

22, 1779. See note 141.

33. GOIOGOUEN, of the Jesuit Relations, made up of three separate towns, viz:

(1). CAYUGA CASTLE, containing fifteen very large houses built of squared logs, located near the south line of the town of Springport in Cayuga County, on the north bank of Great Gully Brook, from one to two miles from the lake. See note 143.