Fort Keyser
RETURN TO INDEXVictory: British
Troops: United States 360 - Great Britain 450
On October 19, 1780, Johnson and Brant's army of Regulars, Indians and Loyalists—consisting of units from the 8th Regiment of Foot, 34th Regiment of Foot, King's Royal Regiment of New York, Butler's Rangers, and Brant's Volunteers—proceeded to destroy homes and farm buildings in Stone Arabia, a village about one mile north of Fort Keyser, in Tryon County. The plan of invasion was to proceed along the Charlotte River to its source, thence across to the head of the Schoharie, sweep all the settlements along its course to its junction with the Mohawk, and then devastate the valley down to Schenectady. The valley of the Schoharie was devastated, acts of cruelty by the Indians were committed, and the dwellings, barns, and recent harvest were destroyed. On October 17, Johnson and his mixed forces arrived. progressed from Fort Hunter on the Mohawk River. They destroyed everything belonging to the Whigs. On October 18, he began his devastating march up the Mohawk Valley. Caughnawaga was burned and every dwelling on both sides of the river as far west as Fort Plain was destroyed, John advancing with the main body on the south side and Duncan's division on the north.
On October 18, he began his devastating march up the Mohawk Valley. Caughnawaga was burned and every dwelling on both sides of the river as far west as Fort Plain was destroyed, John advancing with the main body on the south side and Duncan's division on the north. Conspicuous among the sufferers was Jelles Fonda, a faithful and confidential officer under Sir William Johnson, but who, having turned his back upon the royal cause, was singled out as a special mark of vengeance. His mansion at the "Nose" in the town of Palatine was destroyed, together with property estimated at sixty thousand dollars. The Major was absent. Under the cover of a thick fog his wife escaped and made her way on foot to Schenectady, 26 miles away. J. Johnson's forces had encamped, above W. Johnson. While the detachments of the 8th and 34th regiments advanced directly upon the front of the enemy' s position, Brant with a party of Indians made a circuit through the woods to turn their right flank, and Capt. John Macdonnell led a body of rangers in the opposite direction to turn their left. The position was carried with trifling loss to the assailants, while Colonel Brown and about 100 of his men were killed or taken.
On October 18, he began his devastating march up the Mohawk Valley. Caughnawaga was burned and every dwelling on both sides of the river as far west as Fort Plain was destroyed, John advancing with the main body on the south side and Duncan's division on the north. Conspicuous among the sufferers was Jelles Fonda, a faithful and confidential officer under Sir William Johnson, but who, having turned his back upon the royal cause, was singled out as a special mark of vengeance. His mansion at the "Nose" in the town of Palatine was destroyed, together with property estimated at sixty thousand dollars. The Major was absent. Under the cover of a thick fog his wife escaped and made her way on foot to Schenectady, 26 miles away. J. Johnson's forces had encamped, above W. Johnson. While the detachments of the 8th and 34th regiments advanced directly upon the front of the enemy' s position, Brant with a party of Indians made a circuit through the woods to turn their right flank, and Capt. John Macdonnell led a body of rangers in the opposite direction to turn their left. The position was carried with trifling loss to the assailants, while Colonel Brown and about 100 of his men were killed or taken.
