Raids on the Canajohary 1780

The raids of 1780 were widespread and very personal. The battles were on a few organized battlefields, but many raids were taken to individuals. One never knew if it was safe to sleep in his or her home, if it was safe to tend the fields, or who was hiding behind trees and ready to kill. One never knew. The terror these people went through was almost beyond imagination. The state government was new and not well organized at this time, defenses were inadequate and funds very low. Even...
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The raids of 1780 were widespread and very personal. The battles were on a few organized battlefields, but many raids were taken to individuals. One never knew if it was safe to sleep in his or her home, if it was safe to tend the fields, or who was hiding behind trees and ready to kill. One never knew. The terror these people went through was almost beyond imagination. The state government was new and not well organized at this time, defenses were inadequate and funds very low. Even if there were funds, supplies were very scarce. If the enemy didn't get you, starvation just might. Because of such widespread raiding, it was not clear where the enemy might be planning to strike next. In the case of the 1780 raids, no organized military action was taken at the time of the raids. The raids started in the spring, and grew worse throughout the summer and of course in the fall of 1780 the Battles of Stone Arabia, and Battle of Klock's field or Fox's Creek were fought. Caughnawaga and Schoharie were also targets of punishment. The three men who viewed this war as personal were local men, they knew the terrain and people well. They knew who to harm, kill, torture. Sir John Johnson (Johnstown), Walter Butler (Fonda); and Joseph Brant (Indian Castle) were the culprits, and they dealt a terrible blow to their neighborhoods. Vengeance was brought on the women and children, whose men were responding to other emergencies.There was no real warning for the raids, they were small affairs, done in stealth. The various parts of the army (Militia, Levies, New York Line) were not able to respond in time to confront the enemy. This means there are not many pensions which mention the raids. Many times the local soldiers had been called away to another emergency. The only hope for the local residents were the forts. There were three types of forts, the major forts such as Fort Stanwix and after that was abandonded, Fort Plain, which became a major fort. Smaller military forts such as Fort Plank sheltered many and then the picketed homes sheltered smaller groups of people. If the enemy was spotted, a warning shot would be fired and people made haste to reach safety if they could. Who would win the war? It was important to be on the winning side, it could mean keeping or losing one's farm. It could also mean gaining a farm. It was not unknown for the blue-eyed Indians to join the raids. In that case it might be a neighbor who coveted his neighbors farm! It was a desperate time to live in the Mohawk Valley. The challenge was to stay alive. Following are the official documents to the governor, George Clinton, regarding the state of affairs and the military actions. The stories of personal trials telling the stories of the personal side of the war are next. Last are the pensions which mention the raids. There were not many of the pensions to mention the summer raids of 1780 on the south side of the Mohawk River.