Attack on German Flatts (1778)
Encyclopedia
On September 17, 1778, during the American Revolutionary War
, a force of Loyalist
s and Iroquois
made an attack on German Flatts, New York
(the present-day location of the village of Herkimer
).
, under the command of William Caldwell (ranger)
, and Brant's Volunteers
, under the command of Joseph Brant
, in mid-September planned to attack the most westerly inhabited settlement on the Mohawk River, German Flatts. It was a settlement of Palatine German refugees who had come to New York in 1710 and first settled along the river in 1723. (The village is now known as Herkimer
due to a survey error in 1788 that reversed the names of Herkimer and what is now German Flatts
on the south shore.) The village was defended by the 4th Regiment of the Tryon County militia
under the command of Colonel Peter Bellinger
. There were two main forts: Fort Dayton
on the north shore and Fort Herkimer
on the south bank of the Mohawk.
Colonel Peter Bellinger
sent out scouts in the direction of Unadilla
. The Loyalists overwhelmed the scouting party of nine, killing two and scattering the rest. One of the survivors was Adam Helmer
, who ran non-stop nine miles to German Flatts to warn the settlers. Colonel Bellinger sounded the call to arms of his regiment, sent a request to Colonel Jacob Klock
for the assistance of his regiment, and told the inhabitants to come into the forts for safety.
and Fort Herkimer
, but were driven off.
Brant's forces destroyed 63 homes, a similar number of barns, three grist mills, and one saw mill. They drove off a large number of horses, cattle, and sheep, killing those they could not take with them. The only buildings left standing were the forts, a barn, the church, and the homes of the minister and two known Tories. The raiders left at around noon. Klock's regiment did not arrive until after the raiders had left. The militia took off after the raiders, but were unable to catch them.
wrote "would have in all probability killed most of the inhabitants of German Flatts had they not been apprised of our coming by one of the scouts getting in and warning of our approach, and perhaps got to their forts".
The Americans launched retaliatory raids a few days later that destroyed Unadilla and Onaquaga
.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, a force of Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
s and Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
made an attack on German Flatts, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(the present-day location of the village of Herkimer
Herkimer (village), New York
Herkimer is a village in Herkimer County, New York, United States, about southeast of Utica. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 7,498 people. The village is named after the Herkimers, Palatine German immigrants who settled in this area in 1723...
).
Prelude
A force of several hundred men from Butler's RangersButler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers was a British provincial regiment composed of Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War, raised by Loyalist John Butler.Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York...
, under the command of William Caldwell (ranger)
William Caldwell (ranger)
William Caldwell , was a Scots-Irish immigrant to North America who became a soldier with the British Indian Department, . He fought against the American rebels in the American Revolutionary War, especially with Butler's Rangers, based near upstate New York...
, and Brant's Volunteers
Brant's Volunteers
Brant's Volunteers was an irregular corps raised in spring of 1777 during the American Revolutionary War by Joseph Brant which fought on the British side in the Province of New York....
, under the command of Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant
Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known American Indian of his generation...
, in mid-September planned to attack the most westerly inhabited settlement on the Mohawk River, German Flatts. It was a settlement of Palatine German refugees who had come to New York in 1710 and first settled along the river in 1723. (The village is now known as Herkimer
Herkimer (village), New York
Herkimer is a village in Herkimer County, New York, United States, about southeast of Utica. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 7,498 people. The village is named after the Herkimers, Palatine German immigrants who settled in this area in 1723...
due to a survey error in 1788 that reversed the names of Herkimer and what is now German Flatts
German Flatts, New York
German Flatts is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 13,629 at the 2000 census.The Town of German Flatts is in the south part of Herkimer County, across from the of Village of Herkimer on the south side of the Mohawk River, and southeast of Utica.-Herkimer:This...
on the south shore.) The village was defended by the 4th Regiment of the Tryon County militia
Tryon County militia
-Militia regiments:On March 8, 1772, The Province of New York passed a bill for the establishment of organized militia in each county. In 1775, at the start of the American Revolution, the Tryon County militia comprised four regiments, formed according to their geographical locations:* 1st...
under the command of Colonel Peter Bellinger
Peter Bellinger
Colonel Peter P Bellinger was commander of the 4th Regiment, Tryon County militia under General Nicholas Herkimer. Peter P. Bellinger married Delia Herkimer, sister of General Herkimer, in January 1750. His homestead was located in Herkimer, New York, just west of the Foley Place on German Street....
. There were two main forts: Fort Dayton
Fort Dayton
Fort Dayton is located on the North side of the Mohawk River at West Canada Creek in what is now Herkimer, New York. A fort had previously been built on the same site during the French and Indian War.-American Revolutionary War:...
on the north shore and Fort Herkimer
Fort Herkimer
Fort Herkimer was a fort located on the southern side of the Mohawk River, opposite West Canada Creek, in central New York, United States.The fort was first built in 1740, around the homestead of the Herscheimer family...
on the south bank of the Mohawk.
Colonel Peter Bellinger
Peter Bellinger
Colonel Peter P Bellinger was commander of the 4th Regiment, Tryon County militia under General Nicholas Herkimer. Peter P. Bellinger married Delia Herkimer, sister of General Herkimer, in January 1750. His homestead was located in Herkimer, New York, just west of the Foley Place on German Street....
sent out scouts in the direction of Unadilla
Unadilla
Unadilla may refer to:* Unadilla, California, a former settlement in Kern County* Unadilla, Georgia, a city in Dooly County* Unadilla, Nebraska, a village in Otoe County* Unadilla , New York, a town in Otsego County...
. The Loyalists overwhelmed the scouting party of nine, killing two and scattering the rest. One of the survivors was Adam Helmer
Adam Helmer
Adam F. Helmer , also known as John Adam Helmer and Hans Adam Helmer, was an American Revolutionary War hero among those of the Mohawk Valley and surrounding regions of New York State. He was made nationally famous by Walter D...
, who ran non-stop nine miles to German Flatts to warn the settlers. Colonel Bellinger sounded the call to arms of his regiment, sent a request to Colonel Jacob Klock
Jacob Klock (colonel)
Colonel Jacob Klock was the colonel of the 2nd regiment of the Tryon County militia during the American Revolutionary War.He was the son of George Klock and Margaret Catherine Walrath. George Klock was a farmer and trader who kept a disreputable store and tavern next to the Mohawk village of...
for the assistance of his regiment, and told the inhabitants to come into the forts for safety.
Raid
Brant and his men arrived at German Flatts that night, but delayed their attack until shortly before dawn on September 17, 1778. He divided his force in half with each half proceeding on opposite sides of the Mohawk. They plundered what they could and burned everything in their path they could not carry. The raiders tried attacking Fort DaytonFort Dayton
Fort Dayton is located on the North side of the Mohawk River at West Canada Creek in what is now Herkimer, New York. A fort had previously been built on the same site during the French and Indian War.-American Revolutionary War:...
and Fort Herkimer
Fort Herkimer
Fort Herkimer was a fort located on the southern side of the Mohawk River, opposite West Canada Creek, in central New York, United States.The fort was first built in 1740, around the homestead of the Herscheimer family...
, but were driven off.
Brant's forces destroyed 63 homes, a similar number of barns, three grist mills, and one saw mill. They drove off a large number of horses, cattle, and sheep, killing those they could not take with them. The only buildings left standing were the forts, a barn, the church, and the homes of the minister and two known Tories. The raiders left at around noon. Klock's regiment did not arrive until after the raiders had left. The militia took off after the raiders, but were unable to catch them.
Aftermath
Because of Helmer's warning only three Americans were killed. Captain William CaldwellWilliam Caldwell (ranger)
William Caldwell , was a Scots-Irish immigrant to North America who became a soldier with the British Indian Department, . He fought against the American rebels in the American Revolutionary War, especially with Butler's Rangers, based near upstate New York...
wrote "would have in all probability killed most of the inhabitants of German Flatts had they not been apprised of our coming by one of the scouts getting in and warning of our approach, and perhaps got to their forts".
The Americans launched retaliatory raids a few days later that destroyed Unadilla and Onaquaga
Onaquaga
Onaquaga was a large Iroquois village, located on both sides of the Susquehanna River near present-day Windsor, New York...
.
In popular culture
- Walter D. EdmondsWalter D. EdmondsWalter "Walt" Dumaux Edmonds was an American author noted for his historical novels, including the popular Drums Along the Mohawk , which was successfully made into a Technicolor feature film in 1939 directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert.-Life:In 1919 he entered The...
' novel, Drums Along the MohawkDrums Along the Mohawk (novel)Drums Along the Mohawk is a novel by American author Walter D. Edmonds which follows the lives of fictional Gil and Lana Martin, settlers in the Mohawk Valley of the New York frontier during the American Revolution...
(1936), recounts the story of Adam Helmer's run, together with an overview of the Germans' settlement along the river. - It was adapted as a film by the same nameDrums Along the MohawkDrums Along the Mohawk is a 1939 historical Technicolor film based upon a 1936 novel of the same name by American author, Walter D. Edmonds. The film was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and directed by John Ford. Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert portray settlers on the New York frontier during the...
, released in 1939 and directed by John FordJohn FordJohn Ford was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath...
.
External links
- Hamilton Child, "History of German Flatts, New York", Gazetteer and Business Directory Of Herkimer County, N. Y. For 1869-70, Syracuse, NY: 1869, hosted at Rays-Place