The Battle of Oriskany

The British planned to divide the northern and southern colonies by controlling New York Colony. This to be accomplished by a three prong attack. Major General John Burgoyne would come south from Canada down the Champlain Valley. General Sir William Howe would come up the Hudson Valley from New York City. The third prong of the attack on Albany would be led by General Barry St. Leger who would march from Oswego down the Mohawk Valley.

At Fort Stanwix (Rome) General St. Leger met much resistance. Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer, hearing of the British attack, led his Tryon County militia west from Fort Dayton to aid Col. Peter Gansevoort at Fort Stanwix. Tory leaders Sir John Butler were sent with troops to ambush Herkimer and his troops.

The Tryon County militia under               Although Gen. Herkimer 
the command of General Herkimer              was wounded he continued
are about to be ambushed in a                to direct his men from
ravine about 2 miles west                    protection of a tree.
of Oriskany.

The Mohawk Indians led by Chief Joseph Brant also accompanied the loyalists and set a trap for Herkimer's troops in a swampy ravine several miles west of the present village of Oriskany.

It was during this bloody battle that Nicholas Herkimer was wounded in the leg, yet he continued to direct the battle from the base of a tree. The stubborn resistance by the militia forced the British and Tories to withdraw.

The remaining militia returned down the Mohawk to their homes. General Herkimer was carried back to his home where he died 10 days later after an unskilled amputation of his leg.

The loyalists returned to Fort Stanwix to find their nearby camp raided. With this disappointment the Indian allies left forcing St. Leger to retreat to Canada.

              Oriskany Monument

                             A monument has been erected on this spot.
                             It was dedicated in August 6, 1884.