BATTLE OF NEWTOWN
ELMIRA NEW YORK
AUGUST 27, 28, 29, 1779.
(MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT LINKS)
THE FOLLOWING WAS TAKEN FROM THE BOOKLET ABOUT THE
225TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF NEWTOWN.
TAKEN PLACE AUGUST 27, 28, 29, 2004 NEWTOWN BATTLEFIELD
PARK, ELMIRA NEW YORK.
THE ACTUAL BATTLE TOOK PLACE ON THE SAME DATE AS WAS
THE REENACTMENT ON THIS YEAR.
With the expedition of Sullivans march through the
area in retaliation of the Massacre of the Wyoming Valley in Pa., he brought
disastrous to the Indians by burning their fields, orchards and villages
as he cut a swath throughout the territory that now is the twin tiers area.
The Indians when returning to their villages found nothing to survive the
upcoming winter so they migrated to Niagara where huts were built for them
around the fort. The winter was reported as the coldest ever known and
prevented the Indians going on their winter hunts. They were forced to
survive on the salted provisions. The scurvy broke out among them and hundreds
died. The Iroquois strength was destroyed. The power and influence that
had held everyone under the fear of them was now nothing but a memory.
Even though some small bands continued it never came to the point of having
another Cherry Valley and Wyoming Valley massacre at their hands.
Colonel Stone was reported as saying "With the exception
of Newtown, the achievements of the army in battle were not great. but
it had scoured a broad extent of country and laid more towns in ashes than
had ever been destroyed on the continent before. the red men were driven
from their beautiful country their habitations left in ruins, their fields
laid waste, their orchards
uprooted and their altars and the tombs of their fathers
over thrown."(Excerps from: journals of the military expeditions of Major
General John Sullivans against the six nations of the Indians in 1779 By
Frederick Cook, Secretary of NY state.)
LINK TO PICTURES OF REPLICA OF INDIAN
VILLAGE AT NEWTOWN BATTLE FIELD AREA
THE BATTLE OF NEWTOWN
Due to the destruction brought on by the British Loyalist
and Indians attacks at Cherry Valley, New York and Wyoming Valley Pennsylvania.
General George Washington in 1779 set in motion plans to destroy the British
and Indian strongholds along the New York and Pennsylvania frontier. The
Continental Congress appropriated almost one million dollars for this expedition,
which would involved an army of Continental soldiers, not militia, under
the command of Washington's hand picked choice, Major
General John Sullivan. He was to destroy Indian villages and
sources of food supply, drive the Indians westward, cut off food supplies
of corn, dried vegetables and fruits for the British Army and capture the
forts of Owego and Niagara which were store houses of the British and bases
for their military operations. ON Sunday August 29,1779 the American
Army of five thousand soldiers approached Newtown Indian village. Opposing
the Americans was a hastily drawn force of Loyalist rangers. British
regulars and loyal Iroquois Indians numbering approximately twelve hundred
under the command of Colonel John butler and Chief Joseph Brant, chief
Brant knowing he was out numbered by the American forces set up an ambush
in the area of Baldwin Creek near the Chemung River. His forces spent
three days constructing concealed timbered fortifications and rifle pits
along the slope of the hill overlooking the Indian path that Sullivans
Army would have to follow westward into Indian country. From these positions
the Indians and loyalists troop could fire a devastating broadside into
the right flank of the Americans as they marched along the trail. The left
flank of the Indian forces would then swing south and hit the rear of the
expedition causing confusion and hopefully destroying the supply wagons
of the expedition. The plans success depended on complete concealment and
surprise. From the treetop observations, advance scouts of the American
forces discovered the Indian forces laying in ambush. The leading
brigade under Brig. General Hand deployed in battle formation on the easter
side of Baldwin Creek facing westward toward the Indian fortifications.
Chief Brant sent several groups of Indians to attack the American positions
and then fall back with the hopes to lure the Americans into the trap.
The American refused to take the bail. The other Brigades of the expedition
arrived. Major General Sullivan met with his commanders to devise in plan
of attack. Hand supported by Brig. General Maxwell in reserved, would
face the enemy front and attack from that position while Brig. General
Poor and Brig. General Clinton would lead their brigades on a sweep around
the left flank of the enemy hoping to gain their rear and drive them from
the field. Meanwhile Colonel Ogden would lad his division south and then
west along the Chemung river to attack the right flank of the Indians and
hopefully encircle their forces so they would be trapped. Poor and Clinton's
forces were slowed by a congested swampy bog and therefore were not in
the proper position to attack when Colonel Proctor opened up with is artillery
fire. As Poor and Clinton crossed the Baldwin Creek and began to ascent
the east slope of newtown Hill, their movements were detected by Indian
scouts posted on a hill to the east who alerted the main Indian force.
Chief Brant immediately knew that his forces were about to be out flanked
and directed many of his warriors to turn toward the left flank to stop
this attack. Hand to hand fighting the Indians attempted to surround
and wipe out Reed's regiment, the 2nd New Hampshire, however the 3rd New
Hampshire and 5th and 3rd New York regiments forced the Indians to retreat
and flee northward. The battle lasted approximately seven hours.
The Indians and Loyalist suffered 17 killed, unknown number of wounded
and 2 captured. the Americans suffered 11 killed and 32 wounded. During
the next month the Sullivan Expedition roamed at will throughout the Finger
Lakes area of New York State destroying numerous Indian villages, burning
crops and fruits orchards, while facing little Indian resistance.
Many of the Indians were forced to live near Fort Niagara and be
supported by the British while many others suffered diseases caused by
starvation and infection. Sullivans expedition failed to halt future raids
of vengeful Indians and loyalists from attacking numerous small frontier
settlements over the next few years.