Morrison's Pensions
Captain Henry Deifendorf
Oriskany
Battle. - Col. Vischer, as soon as the alarm of the attack, called
out in Dutch, "O Lord God Almighty, run, boys, or we are all gone!" & set
the cowardly example.
Jacob
Casler (grandfather of informants) was in the advanced guard, & the
only one who escaped - which he did by throwing himself flat upon the ground,
the moment he discovered the enemy in ambush in the act of firing; & after
the first fire he betook himself to a tree. Stone erroreonously says more
of the advanced guard escaped.
Capt. Henry
Deifendorf of Fort Plain (Geo. Casler's Captain - & this Geo. C. related
as follows to his nephew, my informant) got into a personal encounter with
an Indian, & Deifendorf threw him & then ran him through with his sword.
Deifendorf then treed: George Casler now seeing an Indian runing up, evidently
to revenge the death of his fellow, called out to Col. Cox to look out for
the Indian approaching Capt. Deifendorf. Hearing his name pronounced, Deifendorf
thrust out his head, & was shot dead by the Indian, who now turned in
flight & was in turn shot by Cox, bounded several feet into the air, & fell
dead. - Dr. Chs Deifendorf, of Fort Plain, is a relative or descendant.
Maj. Danl
Casler (Tailor & Dep. Sheriff) is the oldest brother of Abm
Casler.
Mr. Thayer,
with his son Elbridge Thayer - Lee Center, Oneida Co: N.Y. Peter Burke,
Lee, Oneida Co. - in Oriskany battle.
Cold
Spring, Feb. 17 - 1850.
SOURCE: LYMAN DRAPER MANUSCRIPTS, WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, WISCONSIN, SERIES F, VOL. 1O, pp 13O-131.