Morrison's Pensions
John Smith
Information
of John Smith(1) Soldier in the Continental Artillery taken near Fort Herkiman
on the 5th of July 1781.
That he
belonged to the Garrison of Fort Stanwix(2) for these several years past.
That the Barrack
of Fort Stanwix were accidentally Set on fire the 18th of May last- in which
were Burnt two months provisions for three Hundred men, the flames Communicated
to the Laboratory, which was plentfully Supply'd and nothing could be saved.
The 4th
of June the Cannon were Removed to fort Herkiman(3) and on the 9th of Sd month
after demolishing the Fort the Garrison(4) abandoned it and arrived at Fort
Herkiman on the 11th.
The Cannon
Consisted of the following pieces of Ordinance
9 pounders Iron 3
6 ditto ditto 4
3 ditto ditto 2
3 ditto brass 1
two 12 pounders were left at fort Herkiman in the winter
Barrels of Powder
now at Fort Herkiman 32
Boxes of fsad ammunition 130
Round Shot and Grape
shot inpreportion
The Present
Garrison arrived two days before he was taken (artillery excepted) under
the Command of Coll Willett(5) The Fort Stanwix Garrison went downwards to
join Washingtons Army-
The Present
Garrison of Fort Herkiman & its Environs(6) amounts nearly to the following
numbers
4 Companys of Coll Willetts
9 months men 160
Continental Artillery 35
Militia(7) 60
Total 255
The rebels
are preparing to build a fort on Franks's Hill(8) near Fort Herkiman
under the direction of a french Engineer(9) of the rank of major. Nearly
the same as that of Fort Stanwix and more men from the militia were daily
expected to their assistance.
The Oneidas
inside at present near Albany have brought in 3 prisoners from Canada also
several Prisoners have escaped across the lakes.
It was always
meant to evacuate Fort Stanwix but the accidental fire hastened it.
There is at
present in Fort Stanwix one months salt provisions for the troops.
Information
of John
Smith a Rebel Prisoner
Rec. in Major Ross'(10)Letter
of 14 July 1781
Source: Gen. Frederick Haldimand Papers, British Musuem, MSS 21842, Secret Intelligence.
FOOTNOTES
(1) Smith
was serving in the Second Regiment of Continental Artillery under Captain
Andrew Moody.
(2) Fort Stanwix was renamed Fort Schuyler in 1776 in honor of
General Philip Schuyler of Albany. This fort is situated in the present day
City of Rome,N.Y.. The National Parks Service now is in the possession of
this site and a reconstructed fort was built and
is open to the public.
(3) Fort Herkimer was the home of Johan Jost Herkimer and in
1756 walls etc. were built to make it a fort to garrison about 200 men. Unfortunately
the remains of the fort and buildings were destroyed when the Erie Canal
was built. The site is in the present day Town of German Flatts, Herkimer
County. The site was marked with a cast iron marker erected by the Stone
Arabia Battle Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution.
(4) The garrison was comprised of the Second New York Regiment
under Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt and one company of the Second Regiment
of Continental Artillery under Captain Andrew Moody.
(5) Lieutenant-Colonel Marinus Willett formerly of the Fifth
New York Regiment was appointed in April of 1781
to command a regiment of levies to garrison the forts and
defend the Mohawk Valley.
(6) The "Environs" included a blockhouse about a mile
east of the fort and the Dutch Reformed Church which was made of limestone
and had loopholes in the walls to fire from.
(7) The "Militia" was the Fourth Battalion of Tryon
County Militia under Colonel Peter Bellinger.
(8) In June of 1781 the Second New York Regiment had started
to clear land to build a new Fort Herkimer but it never was finished as the
Second New York Regiment was ordered to join the main army under General
Washington.
(9) The French Engineer was Major Jean Villefranche. He supervised
the repair of Fort Herkimer and improvements at Fort Rennselaer which stood
in the present day Village of Fort Plain, Montgomery County.
(10) Major John Ross of the Second Battalion of the Kings Royal Regiment
of New York.