What Happened to 7,000 People (cont.)

The Iroquois (or Six Nations) Confederacy, was a crucial source of fighting men for the raiding parties. Most historians believe the confederacy was formed in 1500 A.D.; however, new research suggests that it may have been formed as early as 1100 or 1200 A.D. Whatever the year of its inception, the confederacy had a long history. At the outset of the Revolutionary War, the Iroquois remained neutral. The Sachems (or Chiefs) saw no value in getting embroiled in a “family quarrel”. In 1777, the British persuaded a number of warriors, particularly the Seneca, to come and watch as they set off to defeat the Rebels at Fort Stanwix and march down the Mohawk Valley to Albany. Instead, the Indians found themselves in the Battle of Oriskany. They discovered they were fighting not only the militia, but also a number of their own brothers – the Oneidas and Tuscaroras. While four nations joined the British ranks, a majority of Oneidas and Tuscaroras joined the Patriots.

The great confederation was broken. With the Oneidas and Tuscaroras fighting their brothers, the Iroquois Confederacy was extinguished. Only individual Indian nations remained. The Battle of Oriskany was particularly devastating to the Seneca. Five of their Sachems were killed — by Seneca standards, a terrible loss. Nothing like this had happened in the entire history of the Seneca Nation.

via What Happened to 7,000 People.

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Very in-depth history of the Mohawk Valley and nearby areas.

– CAA

 

What Happened to 7,000 People

When hostilities broke out in 1775, the effects of the war began to intrude on the political isolation in the valley. Tryon County, which then encompassed most of the Mohawk River Valley, formed a Committee of Safety, as did other counties throughout the colonies. The committee was charged with maintaining civil order and raising a militia. In 1776 and 1777, the committee was also charged with determining which men in the valley supported the revolution and which remained loyal to the crown. This “sorting out” was accomplished by a requirement that the men sign an association supporting the Continental Congress:

“Whereas the grand jury of this county, and a number of the magistrates, have signed a declaration, declaring their disapprobation of the opposition made by the Colonies to the oppressive and arbitrary acts of Parliament, the purport of which is evidently to entail slavery on America; and as the said declaration may, in some measure, be looked upon as the sense of the County in general, if the same be passed over in silence; we the said County, inspired with a sincere love for our country, and deeply interested in the common cause, do solemnly declare our fixed attachment and entire approbation of the proceedings of the grand Continental Congress held at Philadelphia last fall, and that we will strictly adhere to, and repose our confidence in the wisdom and integrity of the present Continental Congress; and that we will support the same to the utmost of our power, and that we will religiously and inviolably observe the regulations of that august body. [sic]” 2

via What Happened to 7,000 People.

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Visit for much more detail.

– CAA