From his description of Vermonters, it becomes clear that Haldimand’s attempt to bring them into the British fold was as much from a desire to remove a potent enemy, as it was to discomfit the United States. He continued:
[They have a] Knowledge of the Country and the facility with Which Bodies, now used to Arms & to Danger can on the Shortest Notice present themselves — In Such a State are at present the Inhabitants of Vermont & its neighbourhood, the Former Much Superior, the Latter very little Inferior to the Continental Troops. — Too Much Cannot be Said upon the advantages that would Result from a Reunion of Vermont and the Evil Consequences Which Must attend Her uniting With the Other States against us. [I]n this Conviction, I have Spared no pains to bring about the former.
In yet another dispatch, he revisited the subject of the Indian Department:
I have been Reflecting upon Means to controle the Expense … and cannot devise any other than by appointing Some Person of Rank, Influence, Knowledge, Activity and Perfect Honor to Superintend the Northern Confederacy, and Make an Annual Visit to the Several Posts, to Examine into the Transactions of them, and Make Such Reformations from time to Time as he Shall find necessary, first having laid down a Regular System calculated for the local Circumstances of Each. Such a Salary to be annexed to this Employment as would be adequate to the Laborious Duties of it, and every Consideration from Contracts, or Connections with Supplying Presents, to be positively prohibited, these to rest entirely to the Crown, but Subject to Inspection With Regard to the Qualities, Shipping &c of the Goods, by Such persons as the Superintendent shall appoint. Sir John Johnson being the only Person here, or any where Else within my knowledge, Whose Qualities in every Respect Come within the above Description, I would humbly Propose for Your Lordship’s Consideration, the Expediency of this measure. Knowing that Sir John Johnson from other Views, formerly declined this Office, it was necessary for me, before I could Mention it to Your Lordship, to ask him if it would be agreeable to him to accept of it, provided Such a Measure Should take Place, which I have Just done and Find that in Consideration of the ruinous State of his Private Affairs, the great uncertainty of their being Repaired, and having a growing Family, it would not be unacceptable to him, and if he does undertake it, I have that Confidence in his Virtuous Zeal for the King’s Service that I have not a doubt he would be indefatigable in forming a Reformation of infinite moment to the State. Sir John Johnson would be better Received, and assisted than any other Person by Colonel Johnson & Mr. Claus from his Family Connection With them. I have long Wished to give him the Rank of Brigadier General, but my aversion from Multiplying appointments and Expense has hitherto prevented it. This would be a favorable opportunity for me to promote him to that Rank, and it would have this good Effect, by being Joined to the appointment, it would give him the entire Command of the Lieutenant Governor & Superintendents who, in the latter Capacity, appear too apt to considere Themselves independently with Regard to the Expense they incur. The Appointment of a Brigadier General While it existed, Might in Some Measure diminish the Salary of the other — Should this Plan take Place, an interior arrangement must be naturally Considered of as every Circumstance relating to the Department should Come thro’ the Superintendent. All Bills before they appear for acceptance Should be Certified by Him, as from the Separate directions. He would give, He would be enabled to judge of the Propriety, and to cheque Expenses Which appeared unnecessary — It is not in nature that a Person residing at the distance I do from these Posts, Can have any Personal Knowledge of the Variety of Contingencies, Which put together, amount to amazing Sums — when, after writing Volumes upon the Subject of Economy, I am told Such and Such Expences are Absolutely Necessary to the Service, I must Submit, or Stand by the Consequences — These Centering in one Person, whose Duty It becomes Personnally, to investigate every Circumstance, and be responsable for the Propriety of the Charges, Cannot fail to controle, and keep within Bound, the Expences.
In another dispatch, the governor addressed the topic of his problematical Provincials, duplicating an earlier report that had gone missing. He mentioned the new footing on which the king had placed the Provincial Corps appeared to have “removed a Jealousy and Langour which promised but little Success in New Levies.” He had given a beating order to Sir John for a second battalion, which was currently “in great forwardness.” He had “likewise directed Messrs Jessup and Peters to Compleat their Battalions … with all possible Dispatch, and Recruiting Parties have been Some time in the Colonies for that Purpose;” however, he worried that:
[M]ore Should be expected from those Gentlemen than they can perform, [as] that they are by no means possessed of the Influence and Abilities represented by their Friends at Home…. Many of the Officers proposed for their Corps (by whom assistance alone they Can expect to raise them) have Expressed a disinclination of Serving under them, and they wished to be allowed to raise independent Companies. This I have discouraged, in order to Support Messrs Jessup and Peters who certainly are not without Some Merit.
The small corps had “Suffered Much by the Death of Major McAlpin, an Old and Valuable Officer, Who had been Settled Some Years in the Neighbourhood of Albany, and being generally beloved, had great Influence with the People.” He had hopes that the new recruiting parties would “favor the Escape of a great Number of Loyal Subjects said to be in those Parts in waiting for opportunity and by that means compleat Sir John Johnson’s and the two other Battalions.”
On a related topic, he advised that farming at the upper posts was in a forward state and families of loyalists were established for that purpose. New settlements had been carefully selected in the Niagara region for the Six Nations’ Indians; however, “these People are So averse from Labour that Little Progress can be expected …While the King’s Stores remain open to their demands.” (By this, he revealed a typical white prejudice against native men, as native women, in their own fashion, worked as hard and as productively as any white farmer. It was a societal division of labour that was ill-understood or accepted by Europeans.) The governor closed by commenting that rations were being issued to both natives and loyalists according to age; children under twelve received a half ration, as did the natives when they were not on campaign.12
Shifting the scene to the Mohawk region — while St. Leger’s Provincials were setting fires along Lake George and Willett was pursuing Ross’s troops through the woods north of Fort Dayton, four Tryon militiamen went to New Dorlach to harvest peas and pen in some hogs. The day was cold and raw with rain and snow falling alternately. They searched the nearby woods for the swine without realizing that a war party was hidden nearby in a barn. After looking for some time, the four were thoroughly wet and cold and retired to the house to get warm. After propping their guns against a wall, they gathered around the fireplace to enjoy a fire. The Indians crept into the house and had the men surrounded before one fellow recognized the danger and lunged for his firelock. He was easily thwarted. A chair was stripped from the grasp of another and the men bowed to the inevitable. After plundering the house, the natives led the prisoners away in falling snow. The captives experienced the usual ordeal — horrid depravation on the trip to Niagara and the mandatory running of the gauntlet at several native villages. One man was singled out for very heavy beatings and gave up and died. Another was sent to Coteau-du-Lac from where he successfully escaped with several others.13
In late September, Lieutenant Adam Crysler, 6NID, had been instructed by Colonel Guy Johnson to raid the Schoharie Valley. Crysler’s frequent appearances there prompted militiaman John Bellinger to recall that the country was in a continual state of alarm. Over a span of six months, Bellinger had only farmed for a total of six weeks, and, even while doing so, he “was never without his gun near him & within a moment’s reach.”
Over a month after leaving Niagara, Crysler’s band emerged in the Schoharie. Where they had been during October and what mischief they had committed is a mystery. Early on the chilly morning of November 9, the twenty-eight-man party of Oquagas