From the “Rome Citizen”
Published 19 Dec 1862

Fort Stanwix

The following is a Prize Essay, written by Miss Wager, a pupil in Rome Academy.

The site of Fort Stanwix is connected with so many historic, interesting and thrilling associations and events that an attempt to enumerate or describe them all within the limits of an essay would be nearly as futile as an effort to crowd the history of the Revolution within the same narrow bounds.

It was on these grounds and within this vicinity, that some of the most important events and tragic scenes of the Revolution were enacted - From this building can be viewed the locality, where the savage Indians with tomahawks and scalping knives waged their war of death - where hostile forces met in the fierce conflict of battle, struggling for the capture of a Fort, the possession of which, was to exert such a powerful influence in the subsequent events of the Revolutionary war, then at its commencement.

Come with me and from the windows of this room, (or trace the situation out upon the map) observe that the Mohawk River comes sweeping from the north, until it reaches this village, and then bends to the eastward, which course it pursues until it reaches and flows into the Hudson.  Observe again, that a short distance west of here, Wood Creek, like the Mohawk River, flows southerly until it reaches this village; the Creek then bends to the westward, pursues its course to Oneida Lake, whence  is an outlet to Lake Ontario and the River St. Lawrence.  The distance between the bends of the two streams where one flows to the east, and the other to the west, is less than a mile.  One hundred years ago, when Railroads and Canals were unknown, and the country from Lake Ontario to Hudson River, was an almost unbroken wilderness, boats and canoes laden with arms, ammunition and supplies, coming from New York City, and destined for the interior of this State and Canada, followed the Hudson and the Mohawk Rivers to this place;  then by land transportation of a mile, were transferred to Wood Creek and thence was an uninterrupted water communication, as before stated, to the River St. Lawrence and the Ocean.  Articles or troops from Canada for Albany and the east generally took the same route.  A glance at the geography of the country and a few moments reflection show at once the importance of a Fort at this point.  It was built for the purpose of protecting the settlers in the vicinity from the incursions of the savages, and at the same time served as a link in, the chain of communication between the Hudson and the Canadas.

Prior to the "French War" of 1756, the Canadas belonged to France - these United States were then colonies of Great Britain.  Frequent invasions of, or inroads upon the colonists were made by the French and Indians, by the way of Mohawk River, Wood Creek and Oneida Lake. - This led to the idea of the erection of a Fort at this point - the "Oneida Carrying Place" then called.  A petition to the Colonial Assembly in 1736, pointed out the necessity and importance of such a Fort.  There is a tradition that two Forts had been previous to that year erected on or near the site of Fort Stanwix and that the first was destroyed by flood and the second by fire.  History however furnishes no reliable accounts of them.

In 1758 the importance of a Fort at this point was again so strongly pressed upon the attention of the English Government and so clearly seen by it, that early in that year, Fort Stanwix was erected by an English officer named Gen. Stanwix, at an expense of sixty thousand pounds sterling, (which is about $300,000 of United States money).

The Fort was built on the ground now occupied by the residences of Messrs. John Stryker, Virgil Draper, Alva Mudge, Dr. Kingsley and D. B. Prince.  It covered about one acre of ground, and was surrounded on the  north, west and south, by a broad ditch eighteen feet deep.  The enclosure was of earthwork, somewhat in the form of a star.  Under each corner of the Fort was erected, six feet under the ground, bomb-proof apartments for powder and balls - The east side was not protected by earthworks, but instead, three rows of pickets, ten to twelve feet in length and sharpened at the top, were placed in the ground; in addition to this defense of pickets, a small stream called "Cold Spring Brook," which takes its rise from a spring in the embankment a short distance east of the Catholic Church; passed but a few rods east of the Fort making the ground there swampy and miry, and the Fort quite difficult of approach from that direction.  In the centre of the Fort was a Block House made of square hewn timber, the upper story projecting over the under so as to enable the garrison to fire upon outside assailants.

The French War ending in the possession of Canada by the English, and the driving out of the French from all this northern section of country, Fort Stanwix became comparatively useless and was suffered to go into decay.

On the breaking out of the American Revolution in 1776, the colonists saw at once the importance of possessing themselves of the Fort and putting it in repairs.  Its importance is the more clearly seen when we bear in mind that the English held Canada and New York City, and by that Government establishing and holding a line of Forts and communications between those two points via the interior of this State, the colonists could the more easily be held in subjection. - Water communication and transportation at that period through a wilderness of two hundred miles where even common roads were unconstructed, was important in a commercial point of view and how much more so when viewed from a military stand-point.  Hence, we see, that a Fort like Stanwix, situated in the midst of an almost unbroken forest, at the bend of the Mohawk, where land transportation commenced and but half a mile to Wood Creek, where Fort Bull was situated, would not only protect the inhabitants, but intercept and cut off hostile forces and supplies, passing on this route between Canada and the east.

In June 1776 the Americans took possession of the Fort; an attempt was made about this time to change the name to Fort Schuyler, after a worthy American General commanding in this vicinity.  The attempt seems not to have succeeded, although every thing with a British name like that of Stanwix was held at that time in utter detestation by the colonists.

In April 1777 an American force under Cols Gansevoort and Willet were ordered to the Fort.  The repairs were yet unfinished, and the summer was spent in completing them.

Gen. Burgoyne, who commanded the British army in Canada, was instructed in 1777 by the English Government to proceed with his army via Lake Champlain to Albany, thence to New York (which city was held by another British force under Sir Henry Clinton), and on his route establish a chain of forts and fortifications.  This project was a grand one, and if successful, would have isolated the New England from the Middle States, and resulted quite likely in the separation and eventual subjugations of the colonies.  To assist in this great enterprise of Burgoyne's, St. Leger, another British officer, was ordered to proceed through the wilderness from Oswego City via Oneida Lake, Wood Creek, and Mohawk River, to take Forts Stanwix, Bull, and other points on that route, and to meet and cooperate with Gen. Burgoyne at or near Albany.  With this object in view, St. Leger in July with one thousand Indians, under the leadership of the savage Brant, and six hundred Tories, marched from Oswego to Fort Stanwix.

The fore part of July of that year, the garrison of the Fort was admonished that an attack would be made by seeing hostile Indians prowling about; it was not however until August 3d that St. Leger arrived and with this force besieged the place.  The garrison consisted of but seven hundred men, and they not well supplied with arms, ammunition, and provisions; and to add to the critical condition of the garrison, the repairs on the fort were not fully completed.

St. Leger demanded a surrender of the Fort, but the demand was indignantly rejected by Col. Gansevoort.

The siege was prosecuted by St. Leger with the greatest vigor and activity.  On the brow of the hill where the Baptist and Catholic Churches now stand, three batteries were erected.  St. Leger fixed his headquarters at Wood Creek, not far from where the Arsenal now stands; the Indians were stationed in the edge of the swamp not far from the toll-gate on the road to Lowell;  whilst another force was near the bend of the Mohawk, opposite in an easterly direction, from Mr. Draper's residence.  By this it will be seen that the Fort was completely surrounded.  The besiegers pushed their advances with such activity that by August 22nd the approaches were almost to the ditch, and a mine in a state of forwardness under one corner of the Fort, where the magazines were situated, as before stated.

The condition of the garrison was truly critical, and had been for some days;  This condition was fortunately known to the American forces near Albany, and to the colonists between that city and this place.  A force of eight hundred men under Gen. Herkimer was accordingly sent forward from the east to the assistance of the garrison.  The fore part of August Gen. Herkimer encamped with his army for the night at Oriskany, where a creek of that name enters the Mohawk, little dreaming that to one fourth of their number, it was their last rest before that sleep which knows no waking.

On the morning of the 6th, Gen. Herkimer did not deem it prudent to advance further until he had learned the condition and position of the enemy; deeming it prudent to inform Colonel Gansevoort of the assistance at hand, and to advise that Colonel to make a sortie from the Fort against the besiegers, Gen. Herkimer sent a messenger to the garrison advising a sortie and then awaited the result.  But it seems that the officers of Gen. Herkimer did not possess his discretion; he was overruled in his cautious course, and an "on to Richmond" party ruled the hour then, as it has unfortunately in the later period of our history.  The order to march was reluctantly given by Gen. Herkimer, which was received by shouts from officers and men as they hurried on pell-mell toward the Fort.

They had not proceeded far ere they fell into an ambuscade prepared for them by St. Leger.  In a deep ravine, and in a thick wood about a mile this side of Oriskany, St. Leger's ambuscades poured into that devoted band of Americans such a deadly fire, as to destroy one-fourth of their number, the conflict was terrible, and it was sometime before the Americans, thus taken by surprise, could rally or make a stand.  General Herkimer was mortally wounded, yet he heroically refused to leave the field, but sat leaning against a tree, whilst issuing orders to his army.

After the battle had raged a while, a brisk fire in the vicinity of the Fort, admonished the enemy that a sally had been made by the garrison and that St. Leger's forces at the fort had been attacked by Col. Gansevoort.  The ambuscades then beat a hasty retreat, "to assist at the Fort, leaving the Americans" in possession of the ground.

If the traveler on his road to Utica, will turn when a mile this side of Oriskany, thirty rods to the north, he will see the ravine where this work of death was carried on, and which in the history of the country, is known as the "Oriskany Battle Ground."

But to return to the Fort; the garrison under Col. Willett had made a sally, attacked and defeated the enemy's force stationed at the bend of the Mohawk, opposite Mr. Draper's residence, then attacking the Indians near the toll-gate, defeating them, and taking a large quantity of arms, ammunition and baggage.  On the return of Col. Willet from this successful sortie, he was met by St. Leger who had marched from his headquarters near the Arsenal and got between Col. Willet and the Fort with a view to prevent the return hereto of the American Commander.  Another sharp contest ensued; Col. Willet aided by the guns from the Fort, gained another complete victory, and drove St. Leger back, and returned without the loss of a single man.  This defeat did not however cause St. Leger to raise the siege; he continued it until August 22nd, when he learned that a force under Gen. Arnold was coming to the rescue of the Colonels Willet and Gansevoort.  It was evident then that the Fort could not be taken, and the siege was therefore abandoned.

Thus was Fort Stanwix saved! The only fort during the whole Revolution, which successfully resisted the attacks of the British!  Thus terminated a campaign, glorious to the American arms, and fraught with grand results to the nation.  St. Leger was prevented from uniting with Burgoyne at Albany; and from taking a part in the great battle which was fought in September of that year at Saratoga - a battle which resulted in the defeat and capture by Gen. Gates of Burgoyne's army.  That victory put the seal to American Independence.

From this historical sketch, it will be seen that Fort Stanwix has acted no mean part in the great struggle for our nation's freedom.  This point was one of the great stakes sought after and played for, by the contending armies of the American Revolution.  If it had surrendered to St. Leger, the whole country to Albany would have been conquered and overrun by British soldiers, and that general and his forces would have joined Burgoyne - a union of their forces might have won the battle of Saratoga, and quite likely have resulted in the subjugation of the colonists.

We live then upon historic ground, and can claim that this favored spot is fruitful in themes for the poet, the painter, and the historian; my feeble pen cannot do Fort Stanwix justice, even if greater limits than an essay were allowed me.

We hear of Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Yorktown, and Mt. Vernon - venerated spots and enshrined in every true American heart; they claim our love and veneration; those at a distance are extremely anxious to visit those places of national interest and renown, and to bear away with them relics, as evidences of their pilgrimage.  This is natural and commendable; but let us not forget old Fort Stanwix - dear and consecrated to every true American heart - a place which has acted as conspicuous a part in our nation's history as any other in this favored land.

Whilst other spots less deserving perhaps, have monuments to commemorate the tragic scenes there enacted, we have here on the site of old Fort Stanwix no such superstructure;  Colonels Gansevoort and Willet sleep in honored graves whilst here nothing is retained to perpetuate their memory, if we except a military company and a hotel!

Fort Stanwix, a name so beautiful to be given this place, was crowded out to make room for another, more ancient it is true, but far less appropriate.  It would seem as if we had tried to erase from our memories all remembrance of the heroic deeds performed here, as we have not given the name of Fort Stanwix to anything except a Cross-Street, a Bank, and a Brewery!

In 1821, or thereabouts, the vacant grounds where Fort Stanwix stood, were sold for twelve hundred dollars and converted into a corn-field; and residences now occupy the site, where a proud monument should have been erected.

On this spot monumental marble should have reared its shaft towards Heaven, bearing on its sides the names of the defenders of Forts Stanwix.

One of the parks in this village would be, (now that the site of the Fort is otherwise occupied,) an appropriate place; so that from this Seminary of learning, where youthful minds are properly instructed in the arts and sciences - from the Court House, where justice is meted to man, and from the several surrounding Churches, where we receive the principles of a true Christianity, the rising and future generations as they go to and fro, where all are, or should be, duly impressed with patriotism and taught to revere the memory of our revolutionary sires, the country they defended and the Government they framed, we could have daily presented a sight that would admonish us that Washington has not lived, and that such men as Colonels Gansevoort and Willet did not conquer, in vain.
 

Transcriber's note:  Today there is a reconstructed Fort Stanwix upon this site which is much more appropriate than a park and/or monument that this writer has spoken of.  One may visit and enjoy a detailed history of the fort and some of its relics, found during the reconstruction, as well as gain a true understanding of the details of the fort itself.  Also, the Oriskany Battlefield spoken of herein is an historic park that one may also visit.