Synopsis:
This is the second volume of Michael Logusz’s epic work on the Wilderness War of 1777, in which the British Army, with its German, Loyalist, and Indian auxiliaries, attempted to descend from Canada to sever the nascent American colonies, only to be met by Patriot formations contesting the invasion of their newly declared nation.
In his first volume, on the Saratoga campaign, the author described how Burgoyne’s main thrust was first stalled and then obliterated during its advance down the Hudson River. Burgoyne had hoped to be met by a corresponding British thrust from New York City, but this never materialized, Lord Howe opting to attack Philadelphia instead. But the British had indeed launched a third thrust from the west, embarking from Lake Ontario at Oswego and thence forging its way down the Mohawk Valley.
This third British thrust, under General Barry St. Leger, was perhaps the most terrifying of all, as it overran a sparsely populated wilderness where every man and boy had long needed to bear arms to protect against the ravages of the Iroquois Federation. Yet now the British—imitating the French before them—had made common cause with those same Indians, who now roamed across the frontier as the warpainted spearhead of the Empire’s new attack.
At Fort Stanwix in upstate New York a Patriot (former British) fort held fast, though surrounded by St. Leger’s forces and his Mohawk and Loyalist auxiliaries. A relief column some 800 strong under Nicholas Herkimer attempted to relieve the fort, but it was ambushed en route with most of its men—including the entire male population of several nearby communities—killed or wounded. At this Battle of Oriskany, the basis for the movie “Drums Along the Mohawk,” Herkimer himself was mortally wounded. Fortunately a sally from Fort Stanwix raided the Indian camp during the battle, compelling many of the warriors to desist from annihilating the entire column.
In the end, Fort Stanwix was relieved only when Benedict Arnold—soon to excel at Saratoga, just as he had done at Valcour Island and elsewhere throughout the Revolution—marched his troops through and forced the British to give up their western onslaught.
In this book, as in his highly acclaimed first volume, the author captures the terrain, tactics and terror of this brutal, multifaceted wilderness war as few writers have done before. It was neighbor against neighbor, native Americans on both sides, and European professionals against Colonial Patriots, in a desperate campaign that helped determine America’s fate.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 St. Leger’s Preparations in Canada
2 General Herkimer Meets with Chief Joseph Brant
3 St. Leger Moves Into the Western Wilderness
4 The Patriots Advance Into the Western Theater
5 St. Leger Assembles His Army
6 General Herkimer’s Preparations for War
7 St. Leger’s Advance to Fort Stanwix
8 The Siege Begins
9 General Herkimer’s March to Fort Stanwix
10 The Battle of Oriskany
11 The Patriots Raid St. Leger’s Camp
12 Retreat from Oriskany
13 The Siege Continues
14 General Herkimer Returns to the Mohawk Valley
15 Continuing Actions at Fort Stanwix
16 Loyalist Raids and Probes into the Mohawk Valley
17 Cushetunk’s Resistance
18 The Battle for the Schoharie Valley
19 Patriot Plans to Relieve Fort Stanwix
20 The British Abandon the Siege
21 The End of St. Leger’s Army
Bibliography
Index
About the Author:
Michael O. Logusz has served in both the Regular and Reserve branches of the U.S. Army, most recently during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007–08. He holds a B.A. from Oswego State College and an M.A. in Russian Studies from Hunter College in New York. The author of numerous articles and a previous book on WWII, Lt. Colonel Logusz has personally examined the ground of each battle he describes. He currently lives in Florida.
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