Rome Free Academy - De O Wain Sta Yearbook (Rome, NY)

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+ At this time, when the people were filled with dread ard ready to surrender at the first sign of the British, General Herkimer issued a stirring proclamation calling upon all able-bodied men be- tween the ages of sixteen and sixty, to arm themselves and muster at Fort Day- ton, now Herkimer village. All others were to arm themselves to protect their homes and families. Cn the third of August, St: Leger arrived before Fort Stanwix with Colonel his entire force. The inhabitants of the valley respond- ed nobly to General Herkimer’s proclam- ation. On August fourth eight hundred, including the Tryon County militia and the members of the Committe of Safety, had assembled at Fort Dayton. , lhey north side of the Mohawk and camping ’Ts I'he next day now set out, marching on the upon that side at night. they crossed the river at old Fort Schuy- ler, and when the Indians, with their hideous yells, were attacking Fort Stan- wix, General Herkimer was at Whites- town, eight miles away, with his undis- ciplined but brave troops, eager to face the enemy. While there, he Adam Helmer and two other trusty scouts to apprize his sent Colonel Gansevoort of approach. Upon the arrival of the scouts at the fort, three signal guns were to be fired plainly heard at Then, acting which could be Herkimer’s encampment. in co-operation with the garrison, they forward, scatter the siegers, and enter the fort. The woods were infested with Tories would move be- and lurking savages and it was necessary to be extremely cautious. The scouts were expected to reach the fort early the next morning but they did not reach it until nearly eleven o’clock in the fore- uoon. The signals were promptly fired, but at that moment m atters of fearful taking place between import were 16. Tur SENIOR ANNUAL. General Herkimer’s forces and those under Brant and Sir John Johnson. As soon as General Herkimer left Fort Dayton, Molly Brant sent a swift Indian runner to her brother Joseph with the news of The reached Colonel St. Leger on the evening of the fifth and immediately he spatchedeighty men of Sir John Johnson’s Royal Greens and the entire force of Brant, to intercept the his advance. message de- Indians under Americans. It was decided to draw Herkimer’s men ambuscade. Brant selected a into an spot admirably suited for this purpose, which is situated about two miles north- west of Oriskany and six from Whites- boro. At this point are two ravines, extending north and south and opening toward the north. They are separated by a level plateau, about fifty feet above the bottom of the ravines. The plateau gradually merges into the swampy flats which extend north to the Mohawk river, three-quarters of a mile away. Across the swampy bottom of the ravine Colonel Gansevoort had constructed a rude log road for the easier carriage of supplies to Fort Stanwix. On: the morning of the sixth, General Herkimer wished to remain where he was until he heard the signal guns from the fort. But his men were impatient, hot words the General and Colonel Bellinger on one side and Colonels Cox and Paris on the other. At last, the brave old general was denounced as a tory and a traitor. This shameful taunt sank deep in his answered calmly, “I am and ensued between heart, but he placed over you as a fatherand a guard- ian, and I will not lead you into difficul- ties from which I may not be able to extricate you.” Still the hot words ensued cries of “lead louder and louder. Herkimer sprang upon and the “lead on” became Suddenly General the upon on”, log

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Tue SENIOR ANNUAL. 15, rendered Ingersoll’s “‘Visions of the Civil War’. The presentation of this piece required much ability and careful practice. Miss Wilson’s voice was good, her presence effective and her interpreta - tion of the highest order. “An Appeal for Dreyfus”, by Emile Mr. Arthur S. It is the protest of a patriotic Zola, was delivered by Hopkins. man against the delusions of his country- men into an act of injustice, of a strong, the friend. honorable man against prejudice displayed toward his Perhaps the recent steps taken in France toward the revision of Drefus’ sentence were the inspiration cf Mr. Hopkins in the closing the His appearance lines of passionate protestation of innocence of Dreyfus. was good, his voice very clear and steady; he did full justice to his oration which deeply interested the audience. The last speaker was Richard Williams. He “The Soldier”, clearly and effectively and in an impres- sive manner. delivered Union He was perfectly at ease and his interpretation was excellent. One felt as seldom before the respect which should be accorded the bronze button of the Union soldiers. Supt. Crane announced the retirement of the committee of that the young man receiving the high- est ranking would represent the Rome Free Academy at the interacademic contest to be heid at Hamilton College in May. George Griffiths, Superintendent of the Utica schools, A. J. Merril, R. B., Super- intendent of Schools at Little Falls and Henry White, A. B., Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Hamilton College deliberated, the orchestra played two selections. award; he added While the committee, Messrs. When the committee returned the Chairman, Superintendent Griffiths, an- nounced the award as follows: The Davis prize of thirty-five dollars to Miss Janey Bielby. The second prize of fifteen dollars to Mr. Perry Armstrong. The third prize of ten dollars to Mr. Richard Williams. Awarded the prize of a ten-dollar gold piece offered annually by the Daughters of the American Revolution for the best oration. General Herkimer. BY FLOYD BELL. ENERAL Herkimer was the son of a J Palatine who settled on a tract called Burnet’s Field, now in Herkimer County. He was made a lieutenant of provincials in 1758, and was in command at Fort Herkimer during the attack of the French and Indians upon that year. In 1775 he was appointed Colonel of the First Battalion of the Tryon County militia. He was Chairman of the County Committee of Safety, and in September, 3rigadier General Convention of New 1776 he was made a by the Provincial York. Let us now pass to the great event of his life, the Battle of Oriskany. Colonel St. Leger left Lachine, near Montreal, for simultaneous with Burgoyne’s through Champlain valley. At Oswego, he was met by a body of Tories under Sir John Johnson and Indians under Joseph Brant. In June, 1777, information was brought by aspy, a friendly half-breed Oneida, named Spencer, that Colonel St. Leger about to attack Fort Stanwix. This information, instead of arousing the phlegmatic Germans of the Mohawk Valley to prompt action, seemed to paralyze them with fear. Oswego, expedition Thomas was

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THE SENIOR ANNUAL. 1%: been sitting, and cried, which he had “Tf you will have it so, the blood be up- on your heads!” Waving his sword in the air, he gave the sharp command in which all the eight hundred “Vorwarts!” The troops were soon pressing forward the a voice could hear, all unconscious of ambuscade two miles away. General Herkimer’s forces entered the east side of the ravine, crossing on the log road. As they were pressing up the western slope, a rifle shot rang out and Colonel Cox fell this was a signal for action, from his horse. As if rifle shot and war whoop now rang out from behind every tree and bush. At the first shot, down General Herkimer spurred the hill, and rallying his men, succeeded in drawing his horse them up the slope. Colonel Visscher Caugh- nawaga the eastern hill when the firing began, now fled, followed by many of the Indi ans. At this moment when General Herki- mer had got his troops into a semblance the were on and company, who of order, he received a bullet in his leg, which at the same time killed his horse. He was placed upon his saddle under a nearby beech tree, and having lighted his pipe, continued to order the battle with the utmost firmness and composure until the enemy retreated. The struggle continued with great fury for three-quarters of an hour. ‘The enemy discontinued the fire and charged with the bayonet. Never did brave men stand a charge with more dauntless cour- age and the enemy made no impression. At this moment a severe storm burst upon the fighters, causing them to seek shelter. I can see the brave old patriot leader seated calmly underneath the beech tree while the storm rages fearfully around him. His buff-faced, blue coat is ordered and blood-stained. On his face dis- is a look of pain, but his eager eyes scan the His now obeyed and every movement of enemy. orders are implicitly with the utmost confidence. In the early part of the engagement, Indian the now when a rifle was discharged, an would rush forward and tomahawk marksman. General Herkimer formed his men farther up the plateau the south and ordered two men fire, toward to stand behind each tree, one to while the other loaded. On one of the most untimely hot days, the battle was renewed with increasing fury. About 3 p. m., Willett made his sortie from the fort. Hearing Colonel the guns, the British wished to close the engagement, and Colone! Butler executed a stratagem which nearly accomplished that object. a detachment of Royal Greens, that they They approached from the direction of Fort Stanwix directly toward Captain Gardi- 3ut his sharp eye detected the He so changed the dress of closely resembled the Americans. nier. disguise and many of them were slain, while the rest fled in The Indians, weary and discouraged, after six hours of hard fighting, now raised the retreating cry of “Oonah!”, ““Oonah!” and fled in every direction, leaving the Tryon County militia and confusion. volunteers masters of the field. Sad, but yet victorious, was the re- turn down the valley of those who sur- vived the ever to be remembered Battle of Oriskany—one of the bloodiest, hard- est fought and most decisive battles of the American Revolution. Burgoyne expected Colonel St. Leger to join him with his forces at Albany. Had this happened, the British would have had control of the Hudson, and New England would have been separated from the other colonies. But now Colonel St. Leger could never join Burgoyne and the whole British army was captured at Saratoga. This honor and glory is due,