^r?V ^■^'f^ .lij- •f '.^"^^^ » 1 1 ' ■% > ^-^ v^ .0 r^. ■<^-'- 'w; * A. O . o " " - -1 Vj> J ,0*^ .v..-?:^ -^^ ^^-•t.^ rO 4^ « "P. A*^ ^^'•-^ .<^ ... -^ '^o ^o -fif'\o^ .*'•■' '■■^- o .0' ^ Vol* A^' '^^'^ ^y^^^*" 4^\ o ,0 %. «^, ,<(, ,>^^/,*o '^^ -'<' ■^^ V < ■^. ^\ ,^ a\^ ^ -^ ^ > / /■' ^^ ) ^> '^^ ^ ■ ^^ &' ^^/p^^*^ v^^ .0' 0°"°*^ O. A >'J4.x)' C ^^^,^«:^,^-,. O __^^- / "*,; c ;=^. ,^ -V^^^^;^ % .c:^ A o V .G^ 4 o '' .^ o ^% ^^'^ >^- '^0 ^^ > Col. MARINL S WILLETT. THE HERO OF MCHAWK VALLEY. AN ADDRESS BEFORE THE Oneida Historical Society. BY DAKIEL E. WAGER UTICA, N. Y. PRINTED FOK THE SOCIETY, By the Utica Herald Publishing Company. 1891. 6V •OAK-t^ffft JUN 3 Idio COL. MARINUS WILLETT. Among tlic.ol)jects i5^^ Ji COL. MAEINDS WILLETT. becoming modesty of a true soldier, but a brief narration is- given. But a few copies of that " narrative " are in existence, and those very difficult to be obtained. The details are too scant and meager to satisfy the longings of those who wish to know more of Col. Willett'ri life and character — specially those of Tryon county, wherein he achieved his greatest victories, and won his grandest triumphs. So, too, the histories of the stirring times in which Col. Willett lived have not the space to do more than to mention incidentally, or briefly narrate the more prominent events of the stormy period of his life. Hence, it has been no easy matter, though to me a very pleasurable occupation, to glean from the various and widely separated fields of his. active labors materials for a paper that will be full and accurate, and do justice to his merits and memory, and worthy of preservation in the archives of this society. Thomas Willett, tlie first one of that family name who crossed the Atlantic to make his home in this western world, was born in England, where his father and grandfather had been ministers of the gospel. He came in the good ship Lion in 1632, when he was but twenty-two years of age, and settled in the Plymouth colony, not far from the State line of Rliode Island. The records in that colony frequently/ mention his name, and furnish evidence that he became a ])(n'son of wealth and prominence. In his young man- hood he was a surveyor of highways, captain of a military com- pany, and held other similar positions. He engaged in mercantile pui'suits ; was interested in sea-going vessels ; owned large tracts of land, one of which was formed into a township by the name of "Swansea." In 1650, while a merchant of Plymouth, he was appointed by Peter Stuyvesant, then the Dutch colonial executive of New York, one of the boundary commissioners, to settle the disputed line between the English and Dutch.' That line was adjusted, and has passed into history as the " Hartford boundary treaty of 1650." After the English came into power in New York, Capt. Willett was appointed one of the councilors of thab colony, and held that office from 1665 to 1673. In 1667 he was appointed by the English governor, Richard Nichols, the first English mayor of New York, from Avhich it would appear he had, in the meantime, become a resident of the metropolis. When the Dutch, in 1673, regained ascendency in New York, the property of Thomas Willett was confiscated ; he died the next year, at the age ADDRESS or D. E. WAGEK. 3 sixty-four years, and his remains werebnried at East Providence, in Rliode Island. At page 59 of Lossing's liisLory of the Empire State, a /^^hc s/mzYg of Thomas Willetl's signature can be found. Pie was the great grandfather of Col. Marinus Willett, whose name and fame are so closely and dearly associated with the history of Tryon county, dining tl.e stormy period of the revolu- tionary struggle. Edward Willett (the father of Col. Willett,) was a Quaker and a farmer of moderate means, near J.jmaica, on Long Island; at that homestead Marinus was born on July 81, 1V40, (old style.) He was the second son and child in a family of thirteen children — • the same number that was born unto his great grandfather afore- mentioned. That father died in J794, at the age of ninety-four years, and, although he belonged to a denomination that was on principle, opposed to war, yet he was destined to see two of his sons, before they were eighteen, enter the military service of their country, and the one to become a prominent leader; the other to be a lieutenant on an English privateer, and the vessel on which he was engaged swept away in a hurricane in the French war of 1758, and all on board lost at sea. Marinus, until he was nearly eighteen years of age, pursued the quiet and peaceful pursuits of a farm life at his father's homestead. About that period of his life, he was moved by a spirit of self-reliance to leave the paternal roof and provide for himself. With a resolute will and a determined spirit, and with only twenty shillings in his pocket, ho crossed over to New York to seek in that great city employment, and, if possible, make his fortune. It was about the time of the French war of 1758, when the colonists were greatly excited by reason of raising of troops, and the activity of the contending forces. In the early spring of that year, three English expeditions were being fitted out, with a view to attack the French at different points, and drive them out of this country. One of those expedi- tions, and in which New York took the greatest interest, was under the command of General Abererombie, and to be led by him from Albany to lakes George and Cham plain to attack Fort Ticonderoga, then garrisoned by 4,000 troops under Montcalm, a a field marshal of France. Here were to be raised in the vicinity of New York three battalions of 900 men each, to be under tho command of Col. Oliver DeLancey, a brother of the acting governor of New York. It required no great effort to raise the requisite number of 4 COL. MARINUS WILLETT. troops, for the whole country was in commotion, and the people running ov^er with enthusiasm. Young Willett caught the prevail- ing spirit of the times and, following his own ambition and the example of others, he enlisted in the army and raised a company of soldiers on Long Island among his neighbors and acquaintances. Through the influence of friends, he was appointed second lieu- tenant of his company, and, although not then eighteen years old, he was as full of patriotism and spirit as those of maturer years. In his "narrative" is the following description of the uniform he wore on receiving his commission as lieutenant, viz. : " Green coat trimmed with silver twist; white under clothes and black gaiters, a cocked hat with large black cockade of silk ribbon, with silver button and loop." The three battalions were raised, and the first week in May the troops left New York in sloops, ascended the Hudson to Albany, thence marched overland to Schenectady, and for two weeks were employed in patroling the Mohawk to watch the settlements and prevent an attack from the French, if one should be made in that quarter. Orders then carae to march to Lake George, where they arrived the fore part of June, and found that active preparations were there going forward to cross the lake. The last of the month Gen. Abercrombie arrived, but the soul of the expedition and the idol of the army was young Lord Howe, then thirty-four years of age; young Willett has left on record his high appreciation of the ability and soldierly qualities of that gallant officer. Soon after daybreak on Sunday, July 5th, the whole army, 16,000 strong, embarked in 1,000 boats, to cross Lake George, from its southern extremity, to its northerly shore. The day was bright and clear, the soldiers were clad in their scarlet coats, and as this armament floated upon the glassy surface of this inland sea, accompanied by martial music, while ensigns and banners floated in the breeze and glittered in the sunbeams, it looked more like a holiday occasion than an army going to battle. At dawn the next morning, the troops landed at the north end of the lake, some four or five miles from Fort Ticonderoga, and while reaching the shore, had a slight skirmish with the occu- pants of a French outpost at that point, in which a couple of Frenchmen were killed. A few of the Stockbridge tribe of Indians accompanied this expedition, and as soon as they saw the two dead soldiers they rushed forward and secured their scalps. This was young Willett's first experience in witnessing the scalping process, but those scenes became fiimiliar to him later in life.. The country ADDRESS OF D. E. WAGER. between Lake George and Fort Ticonderoga was covered by a dense forest and tangled morasses; the troops formed in good order, and commenced marcliing by coUunns through the woods. Lord Howe led the advance guard, near whom was the regiment in which young Willett marched, moving forward to exposed points of danger and expecting every moment to fall into an am- bush or to. be met by ii strong French force. The eve of battle is always one of breathless anxiety, especially to those who have never been in an engagement or witnessed one. This was Willett's first experience, and he has left an account of his feelings on this occasion ; he states that he did not at this time, nor ever subse- quently in his life, experience the slightest degree of fear, but on the contrary he was quite elated, and his S])irits highly exhilarated as the crisis approached. The troops had not proceeded two miles before an ambush was discovered near where young Willett was marching. A sharp engagement ensued and Lord Howe was soon to the front rallying and cheering his men, when he was struck by a bullet and instantly killed. The French were dispersed, but the sudden death of Howe threw his troops into confusion and disorder. There then seemed to be no leader or any one to issue orders. The troops wandered about following incompetent guidoSj crossing each other's track, and firing at their own friends, mistaking them for the foe. While thus moving Willett and his companions accidentally fell in with Gen. Abercrombie, who stood under a huge tree, with a large cloak wrapped about him, while two regi- ments of regular troops were drawn up around his person to guard and protect bira from harm. He issued no orders and the troops continued to wander the rest of the day, lost and bewildered in the woods. As night ovei'took them, they halted and rested until morning; on awaking it was found that most of the men had encamped near the spot where they had landed from the boats the morning before. It Avas afternoon before the army was again in motion for Fort Ticonderoga, and when three miles from the fort, they halted and passed another night in the woods. The next day, which was the . 8th of July, the army again started on its march for the fort, and about noon was re-enforccd by six hundred Indians under the command of Sir William Johnson. But the want of a leader and competent guides had not been supplied. The same confusion, disorder and bewilderment prevailed, and before the troops wei'e aware of it, or knew the danger they were in, they became en- 6 COL. MARINUS WILLETT. tangled in a network of fallen trees, and found tliey were directly under the enemy's breastwork?, and exposed to a murderous fire. For four or five hours tlie battle raoed, to the great disadvantage of the British troops, and it was not imtil sunset the firing ceased, and the latter retired to spend another night in the forest, expect- ing to renew the attack the next day, before daylight. The next morning Lieut. Willett was awakened from a sound sleep and told that the army was rapidly making its way to their boats, with a view to recross the lake. About eight that morning the troops re-embarked, and, although there was no enemy near, great confusion and disorder prevailed, and this expedition, which, three days before, came with such pomp and splendor, returned in disgrace, leaving behind it, killed and wounded, some two thousand of its numbers. No doubt Gen. Ab^rcrombie felt mu^li safer when he had put thirty-eight miles of Lake George between him- jself and Montcalm. In that expedition were two other persons prominent in the history of New York, and who have been more or less connected with affairs in Tryon county. Tlie one was Gen. Philip Schujder, •whose name was given to Fort Stanwix during a portion of the revolutionary war; the other. Gen. John Bradstreet, a prominent officer in the colonial service, and who was, for years, part owaier of Cosby's manor, which includes the site of Utica, and whose widow, by another marriage, was grandmother to that Martha Bradstreet who made her name famous, not only by reason of her legal and other abilities, but by the long, tedious and expensive litigation which, over half a century ago, she inflicted upon XJticans and others, regarding their land titles. Gen. Bradstreet was but a major in that expedition, yet he burned with indignation because of its shameful failure. At a council of war held at the head of the lake the very evening the troops returned from Ticonderoga, he urged the adoption of measures that would tend to wipe out or relieve the disgraceful blunder. He suggested an expedition against P'ort Frontenac (now Kingston,) and offered to lead it. Some looked upon such an undertaking as wild and chimerical, and its successful execution improbable, for it was considered a . strong fortress for tliose times, well supplied Avith men, cannon and ammunition; but Bradstreet urged his offer v\'ith so much earnestness that Gen. Abercrombie at last reluctantly consented to commission him to go and take with him three thousand troops. Among the number was young Willett and the regiment to whick ADDRESS OF D. E. WAGEII. T l»e beloiisferl. The destinntlon was kept secret from all l>ut the leadint^ officers. They started the next day and were moved with greatest rapidity to Albany, thenoe to the ^lohawk, and they "fairly flew," as it is said, up the river in boats, to the " Oneida carrying^ place," now the site of Rome. And here let me add, by way of ])arenthesis, that besides Schuyler and Willett, who accom- panied (xcn. Jiradstreet to Fort Fiontenac, were many others who subsequcnlly became noted in the history of this country. Among them Nathaniel Woodhull, then a major, subsequently a general in the revolutionary array, and the first president of the provincial congress. Horatio dates, then a captain and in the revolutionary war a brigadier general, and who captiired Burgoyne and his army; C>>1. Charles Clinton, then stationed at Fort Herkimer, and near seventy years of age ; also his two sons, James Clinton, then a captain and twenty-two years old, afterward a general, and his brother George, then nineteen years old, and afterwards for twenty-five years governor of Xew York; the great war governor of the infant State. Although Gen. Bradstrect moved his men up the vallej' Avith great celerity, yet it took tvv'o weeks' time for the men to pole the boats up tlie river to the "carrying place." On reaching this portage, Gen. John Stanwix was found with six thousand troop?:, having been previously ordered there to erect a formidable fort in the place of Forts Williams, Craven and Bull, destroyed two years before. The first two named forts had stood upon the banks of the Mohawk, below the bend of that river, a little further down stream than the present railroad bridge. Fort Bull was upon the lower landing of Wood Creek, some two or three miles to the westward of Forts Craven and Williams. Across this portage Bradstreet transported his men, boats and munitions of war and stores. Adam was constructed across Wood Creek, at the upj)er landing near the late United States arsenal, to Taise the water of that stream, to aid in floating the loaded boats "to Oneida Lake. Two weeks' time was occupied in making these preparations, and in removing the fallen trees and other obstruc- tions from the creek. These mov'ements indicated to the troops the direction of the expedition. The troops started August 14 and in six days Oswego was reached; after resting there for a few hours to repair the boats, inspect the arms and accoutrements, the troops were again on their way passing over the lake, but keeping 'iiear shore. On the third day after leaving Oswego, the troops landed on the evening of the 25th, about two miles from the fort. 3 COL. MAPdNUS WILLETT. and the next day commenced active preparations to take it hy storm. Tlie fort' was a square one, fifteen feet liigh, built of stone and nearly three-fourths of a mile in circumference, and well pro- tected hy cannon; the garrison had no intimation of the approach of an enemy, until the British troops appeared before the fortress. Breastworks were erected to protect the assailants, and Willett was much of the time in exposed points of danger, and one entire night he and his men were under a constant tire of grape shot and musketry. The siege was continued for three days, and on the 29th of August the garrison surrendered; the capture included sixty cannon, sixteen mortars, a vast amount of small arms, a large quantity of powder and balls of all sorts, nine vessels and about one hundred men. The magazine was blown up, the buikhngs destroyed, and the whole fortress reduced to a heap of rubbish. The captured vessels were used to transport the stores to Oswego, and there burned to the w^ater's edge. The capture of this fort was considered at the time, as one of the greatest blows inflicted upon the French in America, considering the consequences, as that fort was the storehouse from which other forts to the south were supplied. It reflected great credit upon Bradstreet and his men, although it involved incessant toil, great fatigue and hardship, and a great sacrifice of human life. When Oswego Falls (now Fulton) was reached by the troops on their return from Oswego, it took the men three days to drag the boats and stores over that portage of a mile, and so excessive was the labor, and so great the fatigue and exposure of the men in the whole expedition that near one hundred deaths occurred at that point, and when Fort Bull was reached half of the men were unfit for duty. It required four days to transport the boats and stores from Wood Creek across the portage at Rome, to the Mohawk, and by that time the men were completely exhausted. Smith's Colonial History of New York says that five hundred men died and were buried at this "carrying place." The cause of these deaths and sickness, is attributed to the stagnant water of Wood Creek, the exposure and fatigue of the men, and the haste in cooking the food. The expedition on its return, reached Fort Stanwix September 10, and that very night young Willett was taken ill and confined to' his tent until November by a dangerous illness. As before stated, that was the season Fort Stanwix was constructed. The work was commenced August 23 and completed November 15, 1758. It was a square work, bounded by what are now Domiuick, ADDRESS OF I). E. WAGEIJ. 9 Spring and Liberty streets, and was about 20 rods westerlj^ from the Mohawk. It was surrounded by a deep, wide ditch, with long pickets in the center, sharpened at the top, and a row of horizontal ones projected from the embankment. It w\as among the most formidable structures of the times and cost the British govern- ment over $206,000. After Lieutenant Willett partially recovered his health and strength he was put in a boat and taken down the river to Schen- ectady; thence overland to Albany where he remained until December 1. The ice in the meantime having left the Hudson, he went down that river in a boat and reached New York the 7th of December, just seven months to a day from the time he had h ft that city in such good health and high spirits to join Abercrom- bie's expedition. His feeble health and the wishes of his friends prevented his taking any further part in the war. In fact, that war was near its close, for the success of the British arms the next year, the taking of Quebec in September, witnessed the culminating genius and crowning glory of Wolfe, and the valor and heroic death of Montcalm, and practically put an end to French domination on this continent. I have not learned the occupation of Col. Willett between the close of the French war and the commencement of the revolution. The eldest son writes me, that he never heard it mentioned, but that when he Avas a lad, a piece of household furniture was pointed out in the dwelling as the workmanship of his father, which leads to the inference that Col. Willett might have been a cabinetmaker in his early manhood ; but nothing further has been ascertained. Certain it is, however, that in whatever vocations he engaged, he was always abreast of the times and kept himself well informed as to politics and the current events of the day, and was ever found arrayed on the side of freedom and the rights of man. In 1765 occurred the popular and universal outbreak in the colonies, caused by the threatened enforcement of the odious stamp act; but for the timely repeal of that law, the revolutionary conflict in the colonies, might have been precipitated ten years sooner than it was. In October, 1765, while a colonial congress of delegates was in session in New York city, a vessel arrived in port, bringing the obnoxious stamps. The law was to go into effect November 1. The stamps were unloaded from the'' vessel and hurriedly conveyed to and lodged in the fort in that city, then 10 COL. MARnS'US WILLETT. ^•arrisoned by British troops. A body of men called "The Sons of Liberty" were orajanized and among the prominent leaders, was young Marinus Willett, then twenty-five years old. When it was known the stamps had arrived and lodged in the fort, the whole city was in commotion ; a large and tumultuous assemblage convened in the present city hall pai-k, a gallows was erected and on it was hung an efligy of Gov. Colden. Another effigy of the governor was borne by an excited and exasperated crowd through the streets to the gate of the fort where soldiers were drawn up on the ramparts, but dare not fire. The stamps were demanded of the governor who refused to give them up, whereupon his carriage was seized, his effigy set upon it, the crowd marched to the battery, spiked the cannon and there burned carriage and effigy to ashes. The house of Major James, the commander of the royal artillery was attacked and gutted and the contents destroyed by fire and the colors of the regiment carried off by the populace. The feel- ing was so intense and the excitement so great, the collector appointed to sell the stamps was afraid to act and resigned and no one dare use them. The people were appeased by assurances that the stamps sliould not be used, and in four months that law was repealed, never having been executed in any of the colonies. It was in times like these that young WUlett took his first lessons in patriotism and learned to vindicate the rights of the people and prepared himself as an important factor in the revolutionary strug- gle which achieved American independence. On Sunday, April 23, 1775, rumors spread through the city of New York that there had been a conflict between the people and the troops the Wednesday before at Lexington and Concord. The gale that carried that news over the land was but the slightest breeze of the approaching spirit of the storm. The feeling which incited brave old Gen. Putnam to unhitch his team in the field where he was at work, leave the plow in the furrow, mount his horse and tear along the highway for one hundred miles to be- leaguered Boston was the same which then spread itself into every hamlet throughout this broad land. The people of New York city, as if moved by one impulse, proceeded to the arsenal, forced open the door, took possession of six hundred muskets with bayonets and cartridge boxes and balls, and distributed these arms among the most active of the citizens; they formed themselves into a committee of safety and assumed the control of the city government. They took possession of the custom house and of all ADDRESS OF D. E. WAGER. 11 the public stores, cut loose two transports at the wharf, emptied tffe vessels hnleu with provisions for J-Joston of their contents, seized the powder house, attempted to take possession of the maga- zine, published a declaration that no vessel should leave the fort for Boston; formed themselves into military companies and paraded the streets, but apparently with no definite object in view. In the midst of this general commotion orders came from the British commander for the troops to proceed to Boston. The execution of this order could easily have been prevented, but for the timidity of some who were afraid to provoke a collision. The citizens held a meeting and agreed to allow the soldiers to depart with their own arms and accoutrements, but nothing else. One fine morning news spread like wildfire that the troops were em- barking and were carrying off cartloads of chests of arms. Young Willet!, who was one of the most active of the ])atriots, started out in one direction to notify his friends what was going on; •while crossing Broad street he noticed the troops with five cart- loads of arms coming down that street; without waiting for aid or advice he proceeded up the street, met the carts, took the foremost horse by the head. This brought things to a halt, and the major in command came forward to learn the cause; soon a crowd col- lected, and some of the committee opposed, and some approved the course of young Willett. Being encouraged and advised by his friends he mounted a cart, made a brief, stirring speech which was loudly cheered. lie then turned the head of the forward horse into another street, those behind followed, and all of the carts were driven to a vacant lot and a ball alley on John street, and thus the arms were prevented from leaving the city. Those arms and those taken possession of when the news of the battle of Lexington first reached the city were used by the first troops raised in New York under the orders of Congress. The troops meeting with no other obstacle marched to the wharf ar.d em- barked for Boston amid the hisses of an excited people. This prompt and decided action of the citizens struck dismay to the hearts of the adherents of the crown, gave them a foretaste of 'what might be expected, and at the same time, made the recruiting of troops for the colonies a much easier task. By order of Congress, the colony of New York was required to raise four regiments, each to consist of ten companies and eacli company to be com])osed of some seventy-two men, making about 3,000 troops to be raised in New York. Of this number New 13 COL. MARmUS WILLETT. York city was to raise one regimeut. Each regiment was to be commanded by a colonel, a lieutenant-colonel and a majdi. Alexander McDougall was colonel of tlie first New York regiment, and young Willett was appointed second captain. He received his appointment June 28, 1775. He was then in his thirty-fifth year, and as he says in his " narrative," his health, strength, buoyancy of spirit and enthusiasm were his principal qualifications. His company was one of the first recruited and ready to take the field. Colonel Ethan Allen, the May preceding, had captured Ticonderoga in "the name of the Great Jehovah and the Con- tinental Congress," and this was considered the key to tlie gate- way of Canada, and had mucli to do in turning the attention of Congress, Washington, General Scliuyler and others in this direction, as the proper one for the invasion of th;it province There was a garri^^on of some 500 men at St. Johns on this route to Canada; another force at Chatnblee, lower down the river, and some 300 tories and Indians at Montreal, which constituted about all of the efl:ective troops of the British in Canada. It was believed all of these places and troops could be captured and Canada thereby prevailed upon to link its fortunes with the thirteen colonies. On the 8th of August, 1775, Willett and his men took passage in a sloop up the Hudson, and reached Albany after a passage of four days. They were armed with the muskets which Willett had taken from the enemy, as before stated. At Albany this company was joined by three others, and there reviewed by General Montgomery, who was to accompany them. Their destination was Canada, via Lake Chjmplain. They reached Ticonderoga in the course of two weeks, and were on the same grounds occupied by Willett w^hen he was in the Hrst battle seventeen years before. On the 29th of August 1,000 troops under Gen. Montgomery embarked in boats, proceeded down the lake, and on the 4th of September they were joined at He Aux Noix, at the foot of the lake, by Gen. Schuyler. The 6th they proceeded to St. Johns, but found it too well fortified to take it by- storm, with the small force and light guns of the Americans, and the next day they returned to the island. On the 10th of the month Gen. Montgomery, with 1,000 men, again proceeded to St. Johns, and landed just at dusk two miles from the fort. A detachment of 500 men, with which was young Willett, was sent below the fort to cut off the sui)plies of the enemy. This expedi- tion, by reason of the bad conduct of the colonel in command^ ADDRESS OF D, E. WAGER. 13 "was unsuccessful, and again the troops returned to tlie island. Here they remained for a week. When the American force was augmented to 2,000 men, and had received an additional supply of ammunition and larger guns, the army again embarked for St. Joinis, under Gen. Mont- gomery, and late in the day landed at the place where tlie troops first disembarked. Again a detachment of 500 men was ordered below the fort, and this time Gen. Montgomery accompanied it, and it was successful in' taking position and planting batteries. The siege slowly continued, large guns arrived and the garrison was severely annoyed. There was a fort at Chamblee, tv/elve miles from St. Johns, lower down the River Sorel, and on the route to Canada, garrisoned by abotit 170 men, A detachment was sent to lay siege to that fort, and in less than two days, on October 18th, it surrendered with 168 men, seventeen cannon, six tons of powder. The colors of the seventh regiment were also captured and sent as a trophy to Congress, This capture was of great benefit to the besiegers of St, Johns. Nevertheless that garrison held out bravely, but on the 3d of November, after a siege of fifty days, that fort surrendered, and the prize was 500 regular troops and 100 Canadians (among whom were some of the French gentry) and a large quantity of military stores. This was indeed a great success and was received by Congress and the country with feelings of delight; and well it might, for the troops were raw and undisciplined, tlie army supplies scant, the weather cold and rainy, the grounds where the troops encamped damp and iinhealth}', yet, in spite of all, a great victory was achieved, Cajit. Willett was charged with the duty of escorting the prisoners to Ticonderoga, while Gen, Montgomery pushed on w^ith an armed force to Montreal. As soon as the prisoners were safely placed in Fort Ticonderoga, Willett hastened to Montreal, and arrived there November 22, ten days after ^Montgomery had reached that place. The latter ordered Capt. Willett to return to St, Johns and take the command of that fort. This showed the high appreciation in which he was held by his superior officer, Willett remained at St. Johns until in January, 1776, when the term of the enlistment of his troops having expired, he was relieved and again went to Montreal. On the 18th of February, by order of Gen, Mont- gomery, he left that place for Albany in charge of British officers and their families, and reached the latter place the last of the month. On the 1st of March he set out on horseback for New York, where he arrived the 5th. 14 COL. MAKINUS WILLETT. The war having now assumed a severer aspect than was supposed by many it would, it was found necessary to raise more troops with longer terms of enlistment. New York was required in 1776 to raise four battalions. Of the Third New York Regiment thus raised, Peter Gansevoort of Albany was appointed colonel and Marinus Willett lieutenant-colonel. The latter received his appointment the latter part of November, 1776, and with his appointment came orders to repair to Fishkill on the Hudson to recruit for his regiment. He was diligently employed there all winter in recruiting, drilling and clothing the men, and getting ready for the coming campaign. At the opening of the spring of 1777, Col. Willitt was ordered to take charge of Fort Constitution, opposite what is now West Point. It was so called because of the measure* then being taken to form a state constitution for New York. During the whole war of the revolution it was a favorite scheme of the British government to obtain control of the Hudson, estab- lish a chain of forts along that river and keep open a communica- tion between New York city and Canada. As soon as the ice was out of the Hudson, about the middle of March, 1777, sloops loaded with troops, started up that river to capture Forts Clinton and Montgomery and Peekskill. A body of troops landed at the latter place, set fire to the wharf and buildings, and made such a formidable demonstration as to cause the American commander at that port (Col. McDougall) to move the army stores to a place of safety, and his troops to the passes in the highlands, and to send to Col. Willett for help. The express reached the latter on Sun- day, March 23, while Col. Willett's men were out parading for a field review. The troops hurried to Peekskill and took post on an eminence that commanded a full view of the surrounding country. The practiced eye of Col. Willett noticed that a detachment of 100 men was separated from the main army of the enf?my by a ravine, and he conceived the project of cutting them oflfand capturing the detachment; he took a circuitous route, crossed fences and other obstructions, but, as it was near dark and the detachment fled so precipitately to the shipping, he was unsuccessful. He captured, however, baggage, which had been left, consisting of blankets and cloaks; a blue camlet cloak, captured on that occasion, served afterwards to make the blue stripes to the flag that was first hoisted over Fort Stanwix, as will be hereafter narrated. The enemy were thoroughly frightened and took refuge on board of the ships, weighed anchor, and by the light of the moon, the whole ADDRESS OF D. E, AVAGER. 15 squadron swept clown the Hudson back to the city. Col. Willeti returned to Fort Constitution and there remained until May 18, ■when he was ordered to Fort Stanwix. He set out with his regi- ment in three sloops, and, in three days, reached Albany, thence up the Mohawk in boats, and arrived at Fort Stanwix May 29, nineteen years later than his first visit under Gen. Bradstreet. Col. Gansevoort had precL'ded him in the arrival at that fort, and was chief in command. In 177G Washington saw the importance of Fort Stanwix, and wrote to Gen. Schuyler, in command of the northern frontier of New York, that Fort Stanwix should be put in repair and in a state of defense, but it seems, however, that bu.t little was done. It was known early in the year 1777 that the British plan of the campaign for that year was for an army to enter New York via Lake Cham plain, proceed to Albany, and to meet Gen, Howe, who was to go up the Hudson with his forces. It was to carry out that plan and to capture the forts on the Hudson that the incursion was made to Peekskill in March, 1777, as before stated. It was a part of the same plan for another force to proceed from Canada, via Oswego, Oneida Lake and Wood Creek, capture and garrison Fort Stanwix, proceed down the Mohawk, overrun the settlements of the valley and join the other British troops at Albany, This plan, if successful, Avould have been the death knell of American independence, as it would have separated the New England colonies from the other provinces and put the settlements of Tryon county at the mercy of the Tories. When Col. Willett reached Fort Stanwix he found it was greatly out of repair; the ditch was filled up, the embankments crumbled away, the pickets had rotted down and the barracks and magazine gone to ruin. It is hardly worth while to relate in this connection the difficulties attending the repairs, the inefiiciency, if not the culpable heedlessness, of the engineer in charge, a detection of his blunders by Col. Willett, and his arrest and dismissal to Gen. Schuyler at Albany, and the necessity of doing over again much, of the wori<, and how it was not completed when the enemy arrived; all of these have been pretty fully narrated in the general, as well as the local history of the times. About five p. m., August 2, batteaux loaded with supplies for the garrison and guarded by 200 men, reached the landing place on the Mohawk from down the river, and barely had time to get within the fort when an advance guard of sixty men of the enemy ajjpeared in the skirt of the woods from the direction of Fort Bull. In fact, the captain had 16 COL. MAEINUS WILLETT. carelessly lingered behind and was taken prisoner. The garrison, "by this 200 addition, consisted of 750 men, with six weeks' provi- sion, but a scanty supply of powder — enough for six weeks if only nine cannon were fired each day. For a flag, this fort was up to that time without one. The garrison heard, doubtlesi?, in due time, in this far-otf wilderness, the kind of flag Congress, on the 14th of June preceding, had adopted as the emblem of the nation that was to be, and, as necessity is the mother of invention, the troops devised the means for making a flag of the regulation style. For the white stripes shirts were cut up; to make the blue, the camlet cloak was used, captured by Col. Wiilett in March before, and for the red, old garments found by the garrison were impro- vised; some authorities say, the red was made from a petticoat, captured at the time of the camlet cloak. The army that was to come by way of Oswego, was under the command of Gen. St. Leger, of the regular army, and under him was Sir John Johnson in command of the Tories, and Brant in command of the savages — about 1,000 in all. That force started from Montreal about June 21st, proceeded down the St. Lawrence, across Lake Ontario to Oswego, where it arrived about July 25th, and left the 28th for Oneida Lake, reaching the mouth of Wood Creek August 1st. After the troops left Oswego, their progress was closely watched and daily reported to the garrison, by the friendly Oneidas, so that Col. Wiilett knew to a day when the army would arrive at Fort Stanwix. An advance guard of sixty men under Lieut.- Bird were sent forward by St. Leger, to formally invest the fort, and that detachment arrived a little after five in the afternoon as heretofore stated. On Sunday, August 3d, the remainder of the enemy reached the upper landing on Wood Creek (the site of the late United States arsenal) and there formed into line, to march with pomp 'and display over the intervening space to the fort. The day was bright and clear, and the pathway over the portage of sufti- cient width to enable the troops to show ofi" to good advantage. The garrison were purposely paraded on the ramparts, not to fire, Tout to view the class of troops they were to meet, and to observe their movements and count their numbers. Not a gun was fired on either side. The garrison simply watched and counted. The martial music was first heard, next came in sight the scarlet uniforms, and then the burnished firearms of the i'cgular soldiers, the glittering tomahawks of the savages, and the wild feathers waving and tossing on their head gear. As they advanced the regular troops ADDRESS OF, D. E. WAGEK. 1*^ -marched with precision and stately tread, deploying to the right and left, while the Indians spread out on the flanks, and with yells and war whoops made the forest resound with their leverberatious that drowned the sound of the bugle and tlie drum. In the midst of all, banners, ensigns and streamers floated to the breeze, and the whole display was intended to strike terror to the hearts of the garrison, but it had the opposite ettect. They comprehended the situation, and saw the kind of foe they were to meet. St. Leo-er placed a portion of his troops on the site of the late United Stales arsenal ; another portion, with cannon and mortar with which to shell the fort, upon the rise of ground now occupied by St. Peter's Church. Sir John Johnson and his to.ies were stationed southeast of the fort, near the bend of the Mohawk, below where the railroad bridge now crosses that stream, and out of the reach of the guus of the fort, while the Indian camps were in the woods near the site now occupied by the railroad freight house; the river a few rods easterly, prevented the garrison from escaping in that direction It will thus be seen how closely the investure was made, and how snugly the garrison was cooped up within the iortifications Very early on the morning of Monday, August 4, a brisk fire from the rifles of the Indians was commenced, which annoyed the o-arrison in their work on the parapets. The greater part of the'oth was occupied by both sides in tiring at each other. Soon after dark of that evening the Indians spread themselves through the woods completely encircling the fort, and almost the entire nioht kept up terrific yelling, so as to keep the garrison awake ancf on the qui V eve. Early on the morning of Wednesday, August 6, it was noticed that the Indian and Sir John Johnson's camps were nearly deserted, and that the enemy were stealthily stealing alono- the edge of the woods, on the south side of the river, towanl Oriskany Ihe reason for this movement was not guessed by the garrison for the Americans were not then aware that Herkimer was comin- to their relief. About eleven in the forenoon two men sent by (.en Herkimer two days before, succeeded in eluding the vi<.ilance oi the besiegers and in getting into the fort. They brouo^it the ^^^y.^^ ot Gen. Herkimer's approach, and it was then evidcmt that the Indians and Tories had gone down the river to intercept the coming troops. Then it was that Gen. Gansevoort resolved to make a sortie and attack the two camps that had been partially deserted The men within the fort were paraded in a square and the intelligence of Herkimer's coming was communicated to them 18 COL. MAKINUS WILLETT. Col. Willett, who was to lead the sortie, went down into the es- planade and addressed the men substantially as follows: "Soldier?, you have heard that Gen. Herkimer is on his march to our relief. The commanding officer feels satisfied that the Tories and Queen's rangers have stolen off in the night with Brant and his Mohawks to meet him. The camp of Sir John is therefore weakened. As many of you as feel willing to follow me in an attack upon it, and are not afraid to die for liberty, Avill shoulder your arms and step out one pace in front." Two hundred men obey* d the impulse almost at the same moment ; fifty more with a three pounder were soon added. A rain storm nearly at that instant came up, which delayed the sortie until three p. m., but as soon as the storm ceased the men issued from the sally port at a brisk pace, and rushing down on Sir John .Johnson's camp, near the bend of the river, below the present railroad bridge, carried it at the point of the bayonet, drove the enemy into and across the Mohawk at that point, and captured a large amount of army stores and a number of prisoners, among whom was Col. Singleton, who was at the battle of Oriskany a few hours before, but had returned to camp in the meantime. He informed Col. Willett, as the latter states in his "narrative," that Sir John was also in camp, and fled across the river. If this was correct information, Sir John must also have returned from Oriskany, for the reliable accounts show he was in that battle. After Sir John's camp was scattered, Col. Willett turned his attention to the Indian camp, on or near the site of the present railroad freight house, and soon drove the Indians into the woods. When St. Leger, at his camp on the present site of St. Peter's Church, learned of the sortie he hurriedly crossed the Mohawk at that point and followed doAvn stream to where "Factory Village " now is, on the opposite side from the fort, with a view to cut off Col. Willett's return. St. Leger had two brass field pieces, and, partly concealed in a thicket on the east side of the river, he opened a brisk fire on Col. Willett's men, but the latter returned it so effectively that they soon put St. Leger's force to flight and returned to the fort; without the loss of a single man. Col. Willett captured twenty-one wagotdoads of supplies, with five British flags, all of Sir John's papers, including his orderly- book, and also letters from down the valley, which were being sent to the garrison from their friends, and which had been cap- tured from Gen. Herkimer a few hours before, but which the enemy had not opened. The following is what Col, Willett says ADDRESS OF D. E. WAGER. 19 in his "narrative" was done on liis return to the fort: "The five flags taken from the enemy were hoisted on tlie flagstaff, under the Continental flag, when all the troops in the garrison, having mounted the parapets, gave three as hearty cheers as perhaps were ever given by the s;ime number of men." That account by Col. Willett himself establishes the fact that a fl ig of the regula- tion kind, (as he calls it the Continental flag) as adopted by Con- gress, was raised on Fort Stanwix as early as August 6, 1777. I have not seen in any historical work that a flag us ordered by- Congress was raised within the thirteen colonies prior to that time. In the afternoon of Thursday, August 7, a white flag from the enemy approached t!ie fort, accompanied by three oflicers, with a request they might enter with a message from St. Leger. Per- mission was granted, and, according to custom, they were first blindfolded and then conducted into the dining-room, where the windows were darkened, candles lighted, the table spread with some light refreshments, and they were then received by Col. Gansc- voort in the presence of his oflicers. The bandage wa,s then femoved from the eyes of the British oflicers and the principal speaker (Major i^ncram) made known his errand, tiie purj)ort of which was a demand of the surrender of the fort, accompanied by intimations that if surrendered the prisoners would be treated humanely, but if taken by force St. Leger would not hold himself responsible for the acts of cruelty of the Indians. Col. Willett was deputed to reply in behalf of the garrison and no one had more fire or greater spirit or was better qualified to speak on that occasion. lie looked Major Ancrara full in the face and with an earnestness and emphasis that admitted of no mistake or equivo- cation said in substance: "This garrison is committed to our charge and we will take care of it. After you get out of the fort you may turn around and look at its outside, but never expect to come in again unless you come a prisoner. I consider the message you have brought a degrading one lor a British officer to send and by no means reputable for a British officer to carry. For my own part, I declare that before I would consent to deliver this garrison to such a murdering set as your army, by your own account consists of, I would suffer my bodi/ to be jilled loith splinters and set onfire^^s you know has at times been practiced by such hordes of women and children killers as belong to your army." These sentiments were re-echoed with applause by all officers present of 20 COL. MARINUS WILLETT. the garrison, A cessation of bostililies for three clays was agreed upon. As nothing had been heard from down the valley since the battle of Oriskany the garrison was getting uneasy. They needed more amunition and might soon need provisions. It was discussed within the fort that if Coh Willett, who was very popular in the Tryon County settlements, could show himself there a spirit of enthusiasm would be awakened and they would rally to the relief of the fort. Influenced by these considerations Col. Willett agreed to make the hazardous attempt to reach the people down the river. Accordingly, at ten o'clock at night, Sunday, August 10, he, accompanied by Lieut. Stockwell, a good woodsman, each armed with a spear eight feet long, as his only weapon, with no provisions but crackers and cheese in their pockets and a quart canteen of spirits, no baggage or blankets, stole silently out of the sally ])ort, crossed the river by crawling on a log, and when on the opposite side of the stream, where "Factory Village" now is, it was pitch dark and they in the middle of a thick forest. In rambling aboiit they lost their way and bearings and became alarmed by the barking of a dog not far away. They were near an Indian camp, some of the Indians having taken a position on that side of the river after the sortie of Col. Willett. They stood perfectly still by the side of a large tree, not venturing to move for hours and until the morning star appeared. They then took a northerly course and struck the Mohawk again not far from what is now known as the " Ridge," two miles north of the fort. They kept close to the river, w^adcd in it, and some of the way crossed over from one side to the other, so as to conceal their trail and not be followed. They pursued this course for several hours and then turned easterlj'^to strike the settlements down the river. In those days the Indian path was south of the Mohawk and seldom, if ever, was there traveling in the pathless woods north of that Btream; nevertheless when night came those two dare not strike a £re or a light, lest it mJght attrnct attention of prowling Indians; and so they camped in the thicket, without fire, light, blankets or covering. At peep of day they were on their feet, although both "were tired, lame and sore lor the day's travelirg, and night's chill, and Col. Willett's rhcumatisjn, yet they kept on their journey, but eteered more southerly, and about nine in the morning they struck a heavy w^indfall where were growing large patches of ripe black- berries. From this luscious fruit and the crackers and cheese and sj)irits the two had a hearty breakfast. The sun and points o£ ADDRESS OF D. E. WAGER. 21 compass were observed and witliout other guides they struck Fort Dayton (now Herkimer vilhisje) about three in the afternoon, having traversed a distance of (ifty miles through an unknown forest, crossing streams and morasses, climbing hiils and sur- mounting many other obstacles. The general route those two traveled is indicated as above by Col. Willett's "narrative;" it must have been northerly of Floyd Corners, througli Trenton and into Russia, Flerkimcr County. "Simna's Frontiersmen of New York" says that years before the revolution a hurricane began in the westerly part of Oneida County and swept through the forest in an easterly direction across the present towns of Camden and Trenton, entering Herkimer County at a place called the " dugway " in Poland, and continued onward through the towns of Russia, Salsbury and Norway — extending a distance of fifty or sixty miles in length. Its breadth ranged from 60 to 100 rods and so great was its fury that almost every ti'ee in its course was torn up by the roots. Its traces were visible for more than half a century afterward and a portion of the ground over wliich that tornado passed is called "the hurricane" to this day. It was doubtless in the track of that tornado Col. Willelt found those patches of berries. Jones' Annals of Oneida county, state, that in the month of that siege, a hurricane of tremendous power passed through Westmoreland from west to east — its ravages extended from Oneida L ike to Coopsrstown, half a mile and in some places a mile in width, prostrating the entire forest in its sweep ; the severest eifects were in that town. If both of those historical accounts of tornadoes are correct, there were two of them, six or seven ye:irs apart, passing over this county, one north and the other souih of the Mohawk. On the arrival of Col Willett and Lieut. Stockvvell at Fort Dayton, it was ascertained that Gen. Schuyler had ordered a brigade of Massachusetts troops, stationed some ten miles above Albany, to the relief of Fort Stanwix, and that Gen. Arnold was to be in comm;ind. Having rested for one night, Col. Willett and Lieut. Stockwell started early the next morning for Albany, on horseback to meet the troops and interview Gen. xVrnold. The troops were met the same evening on their way. It was then learned that the First New York Regiment was also on its way to relieve the fort. On Saturday, August 16, Gen. Arnold and Col* Willett reached Fort Dayton, were the troops were assembled; on the way from Albany, Col. W. stopped to see Gen. Herkimer 22 COL. MARINUS WILLETT. at his residence near Little Falls, who that day had his leg am- putated by reason of the injury in the battle at Oriskany ten days before; the latter died next day after the anputation. About the time tliat Col. Willett started down the valley for assistance, Walter N. Butler, a tory, who was in the battle of Oriskany, and was in the seige of Fort Stanwix, also went down to the Mohawk Settlements to rally his Tory friends. A number of them had assembled by appointment on Friday evening, August 15, at the house of one Shoemaker, one of the king's justices of the peace of Tryon county, there to be addressed by Butler. Shoemaker then resided at or near what is now Mohawk village, nearly opposite Herkimer village. The garrison of Fort Dayton received news of the assemblage and a detachment was sent to surround the house and capture the inmates. "When Butler was in the midst of his harangue, the detachment swooped down upon the as- semblage, and captured the whole posse, consisting of six or eight soldiers, and as many Indians, besides a number of tories, among whom was an ignorant, halfwitted fellow by the name of Han Yost Schuyler. Gen. Arnold at once ordered a court martial to try Butler and Schuyler as spies, for being found within the American lines. Col. Willett was appointed judge advocate; the two were convicted and sentenced to be executed. Gen. Arnold approved the sentence and ordered the execution to take place the next morning. Through the intei cession of friends, the sentence of Butler was resi^iled and he sent to Albany as a prisoner. Through carelessness or treachery he subsequently escaped and fled to Canada, and for years thereafter was the greatest scourge, by rea- €on of his temper and cruelties ever inflicted upon the County of Tryon, and his name has been handed down through history, as the worst hated, and most detested of all the tories of those times. As to Han Yost Schuyler, his brother and widowed mother strongly interceded in his behalf and as he was a well known Tory and regarded by the Indians with a sort of superstition they always entertain toward such unfortunates. Gen. Arnold conceived the idea of using him to frighten away the besiegers at Fort Stanwix. That r?«sc and its success, have been so often told, that the story need not be repeated here; suffice it to say that by reason of the exaggerated stories Han Yost com- municated to St. Leger, of the near approach of an overwhelming relieving force, the siege was abandoned August 22, and the besiegers hurriedly returned by the route they came 20 days be ADDRESS OF D. E. WAGER. 23 fore, leaving behiii'l tlio boinbadier asleop in the boml) proof, St. Leber's private writing desk, tlie tents of the soldiers, provisions, artillery, ammunition, the entire camp equipage, and large quant- ities of other stores. Han Yost Schuyler tied with the fugitives as far as Oneida Lake; there he found means to leave them and to return to the fort, and apprise Col. Gansevoort of the 7-xise. This was the first notice the latter received of Gen. Arnold's approach, and explained why St. Leger had left in such haste. At four o'clock of the afternoon of the next day, Gen. Arnold arrived with his men, and with four brass field pieces, banners displayed, drums beating, music playing, they marched 'into the fort amid the booming of cannon, the discharge of musketry and the cheers of the garrison. The successful defense of Fort Slanwix to which Col. Willett so largely contributed, affixed the seal to American independence. Within two months thereafter, Burgoyne and his army laid down their arms on the field of Saratoga. Ticonderoga was abandoned, the British gave up the control of the Hudson and retreated down Ihe river and New York was redeemed. These victories and others, commencing at that lone fortress in the then far off wilder- resf=, sent a glow of joy throughoiit the tliirteen colonies, and paved the way for France in less than four months thereafter to acknowledge our independence. The British press spoke in the highest praise of Col. Willett's achievements, of his journey down the river through pathless woods in quest of succor. Congress voted him a sword, and the next October, one was sent him, accompanied by a copy of the resolution of Congress, and a complimentary letter from John Hancock, president of that body. That testimonial is now in the possession of a descendant of Col. Willett, and a description of it is furnished tne as follows: "It is one of ordinary length, rapier kind, running to a sharp point, and of Damascus steel; the handle is gold, platina and other metal, and on it is this inscription, '■Congress to Col. Wil'eif, Oct., 1777.'" After St. Leger's retreat Col. Willett passed several months in comparative inactivity. He completed the unfinished works of Fort Stanwix, and drilled the troops stationed there. The last of September, Col. Gansevoort having returned to that fort, Col. Willett set out to visit his family at Fishkill, where he arrived October 4, the very day the British captured P^orts Clinton and Montgomerj', and thereby obtained for a short time, control of the H'ulf^on. Col. Willett remained for awhile in that vicinity. 24: COL. MAEINUS WILLETT. assisting in ihe defense of the country about that river. That fail he visited the array under Washington, a dozen of miles from Philadelphia, and remained there until January, 1778, when he returned to Fort Stanwix. Wearied with this inactive and monot- onous life, he set out in June, 1778, to join the army under Washington; on reaching Fishkill, he found there Gen. Gates, and. on the 21st of that month, news came that the British had evacuated Philadelphia. As Gen. Gates had important informa- tion to communicate to Washington, Col. Willett was sent as the confidential messenger. He remained with the main army, and took part in the battle of Monmouth on the 28th of June, and continued with that army the rest of the year 1778. The great campaign for the year 1779, was to be an invasion of the country in the western part of New York, occupied by the Onondaga, Cayugft and Seneca Indians. Those tribes. had taken sides with the British, and from their territory many of the incur- sions into the Mohawk settlements were planned ; their rich agri- cultural fields had afforded support to the armies, and to the Indian families, while the war was thus carried on against the colonists. Those tribes possessed large cultivated fields, of great productiveness, also extensive gardens and orchards, and lived in frame houses, and had acquired some of the arts, and were in the enjoyment of many of the comforts of civilized life. They raised in profusion apples, pears, peaches, ])lums, melons, squashes, grapes, cranberries, beans and tobacco; corn was raised in large quantities; ears of that grain measured twenty-two inches in length; the first sweet corn ever seen in New England was carried thither from the country of the Six Nations by a soldier in his knapsack, during the war of the revolution. This Indian country included some fifty to sixty towns, all rudely built for those times. Washington, Schuyler and others and Congress felt that a country which furnished so much aid and comfort to the enemy, should be as thorouglily devastated as had been the valley of the MohaAvk. To accomplish that j)urpose, two armies, one under Gen. Sullivan was to proceed from Pennsylvania, to meet another under Gen. Clinton at or near the junction of Tioga and Susquehanna rivers* below Newtown, now near EIraira, and thence proceed via Seneca and the other inland lakes into the heart of the Indian country of western Nesv York. In April of that year, and as a part of the same campaign, some 600 troops, in charge of Cols. Willett and Van Schaack, were ordered from Fort Stanwix to go down Wood^ ADDRESS OF D. E. WAGER. 25 Creek and into Oneida Lake to the Onondaga River, and tlionce into the country of the Onondagas, to lay their settlements waste, destroy their buildings and inflict the same kind of chastisement upon them that had been inflicted upon the white settlements. This expedition started from Fort Stanwix April 18, and was gone six days, traveling 180 miles, and most effectually accomplishing the work it set out to perform. About a dozen villages, extending a distance of some ten miles along the valley of the Onondagt streams, were burned, grain, cattle and other property de^troye"^}, the swivel of their council house disabled, and the destruction of the settlements rendered complete. After this work Col. VVillett returned to Canajoharie and then joined Gen. Clinton's army, for its destination to meet Gen. Sullivan. Four weeks Gen. Clinton was occupied in making the needed preparations; in August he and his army went overland to the head of Otsego Lake, the head waters of Susquehanna River, taking 200 boats from Canajoharie, each drawn by four horses, to that lake. The waters of the lake and river were raised by a dam, and the loaded boats were launched, to be carried down the river by the rushing waters. For the energy and ability displayed by Col. Willett in the part he took to start that flotilla. Gen. Clinton paid him a high compliment in a letter to Gen. Sclmyler. The two armies of Gens. Sullivau and Clinton united, and on the 29th of August was fought the bloody and hotly contested battle of Newtown, in which thelndians under Brant and the Tories under Sir John Johnson and Col. John Butler were totally routed. The enemy fought with desperation, for they were fighting for their homes, and they knew that d ADDKESS OF D. E. WAGEK. 29 CaDajoharie, discovered aboiit uoon, fire and smoke in the direction of Corrytown. The Indians had commenced their work of })illage and destruction. Col. Willett at once dispatched to CorrytOAvn, Capt. McKean, with sixteen levies and with orders to collect as many militia on the route, as he could gather, and at the same time he sent a messenger post haste after Capt. Gross to inform him of the fire, and of the i)robable proximity of the enemy in New Dorlach, v\ith instructions to discover their location. Capt. Gross struck the trail the enemy made, when it left the swamp for Corrytown, and by its width, estimated the number to be three or four hundred ; he sent two or three of his men to follow the trail to its starting place, while he retired to a safe and convenient point of observation, and waited for his men to return; after following . the trail about a mile, the men reached the encampment in the swamp, discovered a large number of packs, and that some of the Indians left behind were engaged in cooking, as if expecting the main body to return for the night. They, undiscovered, stole a blanket from one of the tents and then hurried back to report to Capt. Gross. The latter at once sent a man on horseback to Col. Willett. In the meantime the latter was busy all the afternoon in collecting the militia and getting ready to start at a moment's notice. Capt. McKcan reached Corrytown in time to quench the flames in one or two of the dwellings after the enemy had left, but not in time, nor would he have been able had he arrived sooner, to gavethedozen othcrbuildings, whichDockstader and his men burned to the ground, nor to have protected the inhabitants, which were murdered or carried away captives by that superior force. There was a picketed block house in that settlement into which a few hurried and were saved, while others sought safety by hiding in the woods, or by being fleet of foot. Cattle and horses were killed or driven away, and, when the Indians left, about 4 p. m., they left behind them a sad and sickening scene of desolation. When word from Capt. Gross reached Col. Willett it was near night, and he at once set off for the swamp, with orders for Capt. McKean and Capt. Vedder at Fort Paris (two miles northeast of Fort Plain) to follow. It was Col. Willett's intention to reach the camp in the night, surprise and attack it before daylight, but the woods were thick, with no road better than a bridle path; the night was dark, and the guide lost his way. so that it was six in the morning before Col. Willett and Capts. McKean and Gross reached the camp. In the meantime the enemy had news of the approach 30 COL. MARINUS WILLETT. and had changed their ground to a more advantageous position, about one-eighth of a mile northwest of Sharon Centre, instead of- one-half a mile to the southwest, where they encamped. Col. Willett divided his forces into two parallel lines, or in the form of a crescent aud placed them in a ravine and sent a small detachment over the brow of the hill to show themselves to the enemy with orders at the first tire to retreat and draw the Indians into the ravine — much like the trap into which Herkimer was caught at the battle of Oriskany. The decoy succeeded and the Indians came rushing on, yelling, whooping, hallooing, until they met Col. Willett's men ; there they were checked, the tide of battle turned, and after a sharp fight of nearly two hours, the enemy fled, Col. Willett following vigorously in the pursuit, calling on his men "to follow, while he waved his hat and shouted at the top of his voice, " Come on boys, the day is ours. I can catch in my hat all the bullets the rascals can send," and at the same time, gave orders in a loud tone of voice, as if directing a detachment to reach the rear of the enemy to cut off their retreat. The Indians and Tories were thoroughly frightened and fled in great confusion, leaving behind the plunder and booty taken the day before, killing some of their captives and hurrying off with the rest. They also left behind forty of their own dead and all of their camp equipage. The victory was complete, and produced inspiriting effect upon the Americans. The loss of Col. Willett was five men, among whom was the brave and meritorious Capt. McKean and his son. The captain was shot in the battle, but died after he had reached Can- ajoharie. Uockstader and his men hurriedly left the valley, he without earning the commission of major, which he expected, and that party did not again molest the Mohawk settlements. A brief sketch of some of the incidents attending this invasion will be sufficient to indicate the trials and sufferings the inhabitants of Tryon county passed through during the whole period of the rev- olutionary war. The attack upon Corrytown was so wholly un- expected the settlers were not prepared for it : most of them were at work in the fields, and but few had an opportunity to reach the picketed inclosure. Jacob Diefendorf, a pioneer settler, with his two young sons, were at work in the field; one of the sons, 12 or 14 yeai's old, was tomahawked and scalped, and after lying several hours insensible, bathed in his blood, he crawled to the picketed enclosure, without knowing what he was doing. On reaching his friends he imploringly raised his hands and besought ADDKESS OF D. E. WAGEIJ. 31 them not to kill hiin ; liis wounds were dressed, and he recovered and lived for several years thereafter. The other son was taken captive and carried to the cedar swamp, and when thelndians vvhero routed by Col. Willett, younc; Diefendorf was scalped and left for dead. He covered himself Avith the leaves of the trees to keep off the flies from his wound, and when discovei'ed, covered and be- grimed- with blood, ho was at first supposed to be an Indian. He was taken back to his friends, his wounds dressed, and, although his head was five years in healing, he eventually recovered and became one of the wealthiest farmers in Montgomery county. He died in 1859 at the age of 85 years. A girl a dozen years old, was also taken prisoner to that cedar swamp, and when the enemy were defeated and found they could not take their young captive with them to Canada, the Indians took her scalp, as they did not wish to lose the bounty the British goverment had oiibred for scalps. When the settlers at Corrytown saw the enemy approach- ing, a husband and father started from his house with his family to reach the picketed block house. He had a small child in one hand and his gun in the other, followed by his wife with an infant in her arms and several children on foot hold of her dress. A savage fired at them, the bullet ])assed near the head of the child in the father's arms and lodged in the pickets. That was the last family that reached the fort. As before stated, the Indians plundered all of the buildings in the neighborhood and set them on fire, and all where burned except one. The news of Dockstader's defeat was received with great joy throughout the country. The common council of the city of Albany, on the 19th of the month the battle was fought, passed complimentary resolutions in favor of Col. Willett and his officers and men for their bravery and intrepidity in that battle and voted to Col. Willett the freedom of that city. That battle took place on July 10, 1781, and has passed into history as "the battle of Sharon." Its centennial anniversary was observed in July, 1881, by the inhabitants of that part of the State. As I learn from residents of that locality that cedar swamp yet remains, covered with trees, about as impassable as ever, except in very dry seasons or in the coldest of weather, when the grounds and the small lake in the center are frozen hard. Soon after that battle news came to Col. Willett at one o'clock at night that a party of fifty 6r sixty Indians were hovering around a settlement five or six miles distant. In an hour's time he had a captain of militia company. 32 COL. MARINUS WILLETT. "with seventy men, in pursuit, but the Indians wisely took to their heels. It was by reason of such promptness and the celerity of Col. Willett's movements, his dash in battle, and his seeming ubiquity that the Indians had such a dread and fear of him; they believed he possessed supernatural powers; they called him " the devil." During that summer the enemy a])peared at intervals in small numbers in different parts of the valley, but nothing occurred to dignify it with the name of an invasion or a raiih. Over three months had passed since the irruption of Dockstader; the farmers had gathered their crops, filled their granaries, and partially settled down into the belief that the year 1781 would pass along without any more formidable invasions of the valley, with its attendant consequences. If such a hope was entertained, it proved illusory, and the expectation was doomed to disappoint- ment. In the forenoon of Wednesday, October 24lh, a hostile force of 700 men, composed of British, Indians and Tories under the command of Majors Ross and Walter N. Butler was first dis- covered in the valley near Argusville in Schoharie county, making its way towards Corrytown. That expedition was organized at Bucks, now called Carleton Island in the St. Lawrence, and thence it proceeded across Lake Ontario to Oswego, thence by the water rovite to Oneida Lake as far as Chittenango Creek; at that point, the boats were secreted, and the men struck across the country through Onondaga, Madison and Otsego counties, to the vicinity in Schoharie, where first discovered. The enemy proceeded to Corrytow^n, plundered the dwellings, made prisoners of the inhabitants, but avoided setting fires, lest they might alarm the garrison of Col. Willett, and thereby be frustrated in accomplish- ing their undertaking. From that point they proceeded to the Mohawk, followed it down on the south side, to Fort Hunter, where Schohai-ie Creek empties into the river; they arrived at that point at nightfall, crossed over the creek into what was then called Warrensburgh, now the town of Florida in Montgomery county. PY-aring they were going too far to the eastward, they crossed the next morning to the northerly side of the Mohawk, east of Tribe's Hill, and by a circuitous route went to Johnstown and the old baronial hall of Sir William J6hnson, where they arrived ortance, dignity and consequence than in these days to be governor of the State. The grandfather of Col. Willett was sherift' of Queens county in 1820, and his ances- tors sheriffs of that county as follows: Thomas Willett in 1083, Elbert inl705, Thomas in 1707, Cornelius in 1708 and Thomas in 1770. In 1790 Col. Willett was appointed by President Washing- ton commissioner to the Creek Indians, on a peace mission, that tribe having assumed a hostile attitude. He left in March and was absent four mouths, and was eminently successful in his errand, and w^ar was av(ried. Col. Willett's thorough acquaintance with Indian character, habits, modes of thought and reasoning, pe- culiarh^ fitted him for such a mission. In 1791 he was again ap- pointed sheriff of Nt-w York, and held the office this time for four years. Col. Willett was of powerful frame and of great ADDRESS OF D. E. WAGER. 41 physical strength, and, of course, perfectly fearless. It is stated that wliile sheriff, to quell a riotous assemblage, he collared the ringleader, a brawny, broad shouldered, two-fisted butcher, and laid his prostrate form on the floor, where he was held as poAver- less as a hoppled sheep. In 1792 Col. AYillett was elected one of the directors of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Canal, the object being internal impi'ovements, to connect the waters of the Hudson Avith Lakes George and Champlain and those of the Mohawk wath Wood Creek at Rome. In the same year a general Indian Avar AA'ith the Avestern tiibes was apprehended, and Col. Willett was tendered the oflice of brigadier general in the United States army. This position he declined as he Avas not in favor of thus dealing with the Indians ; his advocacy of peace policy Avas adopted and Avar avoided. In 1807 he was appointed mayor of New York in place of DeAVitt Clinton and was, a year later, succeeded by Mr. Clinton. That office in those times of Col. Willett was one of great honor, dignity and emolument, and was sought after by men of ability and high standing. It is said to have been worth from $10,00u to $15,000 a year, and Col. Willett said that office yielded him a greater revenue during the year he held it, than did the scA^en years' office of sheriff'. In 1803 AA'hen DeWitt Clinton was first appointed to that office, he resigned the office of United States Senator to accept it, and he had for his competitors Edw^ard Livingston, Morgan Lewis, then Justices of the Supreme Court of the State, and the next year elected Governor. The great-grandfather of Col. Willett, it will be remembered, Avas the first English mayor of New York. In 1811 DeWitt Clinton was the nominee for the oflice of lieutenant-governor of one branch of his party, and Col. Willett of the other branch. Col. Nicholas P'ish. of the army of the revolution, father of Hamilton Fish, afterward governor, Avas the Federal nominee. The latter received an overwhelming majority in New Y^ork city as the opponents of Mr. Clinton, in his OAvn party, voted direct for jMr, Fish, as the surer Avay of defeating Mr. Clinton. But the latter was elected, as he was strong in the rural districts. Ham- mond's Political History of Ncav York, in referring to this contest, says that Col. Wilktt had been an officer of great merit in the revolutionary Avar, and in private life Avas regarded as an amiable and worthy citizen, but he had been somcAvhat wavering in politics and, in former days, had been inclined to support the faction of Aaron Burr. In the war of 1812 an immensely large public w^ar 42 COL. MARINUS WILLETT. meeting was held in City Hall Park in August, 1814, to siipport that war and approve the measures of President Madison. Col. Willett addressed that meeting and, while standing beneath the flag of the nation, which waved over his head, he made a brief, but telling speech, which awakened unbounded enthusiasm and applause. He said it was a favorite toast in the war of the revolu- tion that "May every citizen become a soldier, and every soldier a citizen," and that the time had again come when our citizens must be soldiers. He concluded his brief speech as follows: "In the war of the revolution thei-e was a chorus to a song Ave used to sing in camp, in days of much more danger, which ran as follows: Let Europe empty all her force, We'll meet them iu array And shout Huzza, Huzza, Huzza, For life and liberty. This pithy discourse from an old man, near seventy-five years of age, whose services in behalf of his country were well known, was applauded to the very echo. In the Gi-eek revolution of 1823 Col. Willett warmly sympa- thized with the oppressed of that countr5\ He was chairman of a committee appointed to aid the Greeks in their struggle for in- dependence. A large meeting was held in the park in New York city, which was addressed by Col. Willett. In that speech, he referred to the fact that it was in the same place, where he assisted in 1Y65 in burning efligies of those who aided in the passage of the odious stamp act; the same park, where enthusiastic meetings were held in 1775, in favor of American independence in which he took part; that those were glorious times for him, and that the struggle of the Greeks was not unlike that of the Americans for freedom. He oifered to aid the cause of Greece by donating 2,000 acres of land to wdiich he was entitled by an act of the legislature of New York, passed in March, 1781. He said his labors in defending the frontiers of New York, by which he earned that bounty, were bj^ far the most arduous of any that he performed during the whole revolutionary ■war ; that there was more fatigue, more hazard and more anxiety in one of those campaigns than iu seven such as he had served under Washington. Such is Col. Willett's testimony as to his labors in Tryon county. In 1824, presidential electors in New York were appointed by the legislature; Col. Willett was one of the appointees, and was elected president of the electoral college. ADDRESS OF D. E. WAGER. 43 Wbetlier be voted for John Quincy Adams, Gen. Jackson, Henry Clay or William H. Crawford, all them candidates, I have not ascertained. In 1824, President Monroe, i)iir.su;u5i to a resolve of Congress invited LaFayette to become the guest of this nation; he accepted tlie invitation, but modestly declined the offer of a conveyance to this country in a United Slates ship of the line. He left Havre .July 12, 1824, and after a voyage of 34 days, arrived off Sandy Hook quite early in the morning of Sun(la\, August 15. Forty thousand people crowded the Battery to cheer and welcome his coming. Among the very first to meet and taki- LaFayette by the hand, was .Tosejtli Bonaparte, then residing at Bordentown, New Jersey, ex-king of Spain, and I)rother of the great Napoleon. At 9 o'clock in the morning, a small vessel steamed up to quaran- tine to take LaFayette direct to the city, but as it was Sunday and he was to have a public reception in New York on the mor- row he declined to go, but, instead, went straightway to the residence of Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins on Stateu Island. It was near forty years since LaFayette had left this country, and when his feet once again touched American soil, the memories of the past, the great changes since his first coming, came rushing to the front in the thoughts of the thronging multitude who witnessed his landing, and the emotions were loo great for suppression — too great to find utterance, except by salutes from all the ships in the harbor, the roaring of cannon, the ringing of bells and the loud acclaim of the people that the illustrious guest of the nation might receive a joyous and universal welcome. Nothing like it had ever before'been witnessed on this continent. In the afternoon a vessel steamed over to Staten Island, taking a deputa- tion from the common council of New York and a number of offi- cers and soldiers of the revolutionary army, who had served under or with LaFayette. Among the number was Col. Willett. Those two became acquainted in 1778, while with Washington in the Jerseys and at the battle of Monmouth on June 28 of that year. A correspondence had been kept up between them subse- quent to the close of the war, and many of LaFayette's letters are now in possession of the youngest son of Col. Willett and are in an excellent state of j)reservation and show, in their perfect legibility and neatness, the care with which 'LaFayette's correspondence was always conducted. The English of the letters is faultless iu construction and orthography. For the purpose of preservation, and as showing the strong friendshij) existing between those two 44 COL. MARIIS'US WILLETT. soldier?, I herewith copj^ the whole of one letter and extracts from others: Paris. July i:J. 1822. My Dear Sir : I avail mysi'lf of a good opportunity 1o remind you ol youi' old friend and fellow-soldier in whose heart no time or distance can abate the patriotic re- membrance and personal affections of our Revolutionary career. We remain-' but two survivors of that glorious epoch in which the fate of the two hemis- pheres has been decided. It is an additional reason to cherish more and more the ties of brotherly friendship which unite us. I find mys«»lf again engaged in a critical struggle between right and jirivilege. May it be in my power before T join our (lejjarted companions to visit such of them as are still inhabitants of the Luiited States and to tell you person- ally my dear Willett. how affectionately I am Your sincere friend LaPayette. Under date of July 1, 1S24, a short time before LaFayette- sailed from Europe he wrote Col. Willett in which he says: "The time most happy to me approaches Avhen I shall embrace my old friend and brother soldiers," and concludes, "most truly and affec- tionately yours, LaFayette." Under date of April 12, 182G, after his return to France, he "writes : " Happy I am in every opportunity to renew and to form American connections. In so ]>leasino^ company T enjoy those feelings of American homo Avhich were never obliterated in my mind. Be pleased dear Willett, to let me hear from you and of the state of your health. Present my affectionate res>ards tirst in your house, then to your neighbors and to all our military com- panions and other friends in New York. Ever truly and affec- tionately your old friend and br;)ther in arms, LaFayette." Under date of April 6, 1828, he writes : " My dear Willett : It is fit I should present to our senior revolutionary comrade a son of the illustrious and unfortunate Marshal Ney, who intends to visit the United States. I doubly rejoice in every opportunity to hear from you and to offer the best wishes and tender regards of your affectioviate brother soldier, LaFayette." Under date of Christmas, 1828, he writes again and concludes his letter as follows: Be pleased to remember me most affectionately to all our dear comrades ia New York and vicinity and to your family knowing mc to be forever Your affectionate friend luid l>rother in arms. LaFayette. Col. Willett. ADDKESS OF D. E. WAGER. 45 Tlie meeting between LaFayette and Col. Wilk\tt, at the bouse of Vice President Tompkins is described by an eye-witness as extremely affectionate and touching. They embraced and kissed each other over and over again, like devoted lovers, and LaFayette talking to Col. Willett very tenderly. The former was then sixty- seven years old, and Col. Willett eighty-four. During the time LaFayette was in New York he was a frequent visitor at Col. Willett's residence, and the two were as mucli together as LaFay- ette could find time to spare from the receptions and ovations almost constantly awaiting him. On Friday, August 20th, the nation's guest left New York for Boston, in a coach drawn by four white horses, accompanied by numerous delegations and escorted by the military. That same eye-witness, who describes that visit of LaFayette, says that the cavalcade which escorted him from the city, passed in i"ts route fields of cabbages, and other agri- cultural products then growing upon the site now occupied by the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Those yet alive, whose memories go back sixty-five years, may remember LaFayette's tour through this valley in 1825. The legislature of New York, by an act })assed in October, 1779, attainted fifty-eight persons (three of whom were ladies) of treason, and confiscated their property. x\mong the number was John Tabor Kempe, the last Tory Attorney General of New York, and then the owner of one-sixteenth of Coxe's Patent, or tract of 47,000 acres, which stretches across Avhat are now Rome, Westmore- land, Whitestown, Kirkland, New Hartford, Marshall, Paris and Bridgewater, in Oneida county. His wife before marriage was Grace Coxe, one of the patentees and also part owner of that patent. On a subdivision of that patent and a sale of Mr. Kempe's share under that confiscation act, George Washington, Governor George Clinton and Col. Willett became owners of land in the patent. Col. Willett became purchaser, in August, 1784, of over seven hundred acres, part of it not far from Hampton village in Westmoreland. Alex. Parkman, who moved into that town in 1790, obtained title to one hundred acres from Col. Willett. The latter was also the owner of two thousand acres, known as "Wil- lett's patent," in the north part of the town of Steuben, in this county, next to the Ava town line; he, with Elias Van Benscoten, owned fifteen hundred acres in the town of Ava, next north of above two thousand acre tract, and called "Willett's small patent." Col. Willett also owned lauds in Bayard's patent and iu 4G COL. MAlJINUl-; WILLEIT. Twenty Township tract, Chenango county, hence, it is evident' Oneida county people should be farther attracted and drawn toward one who was largely interested in lands in this county and vicinity so soon after the revolution, and fourteen years be- fore Oneida county was organized. Not long after the close of tlie revolutionary war, and probably within the last decade of the last century, Col. Willett purchased^ for a homestead, a large parcel of vacant ground in what is now the thirteenth ward of New Yoric city, near Corlear's Hook, ex- tending from East River to what is now Willett street on the west. It is bounded northerly by DeLancey and southerly by Broome street. It was then quite out of the city and far into the suburbs. A long range of hillg loomed up between that purchase and Broadway, so that a sight of the then seeming busy city was shut out from the view, and a long space of vacant ground intervened and had to be traversed before schools, churches and the marts of trade were reached from that homestead. The land toward East River was shelving, so that the rushing waters made frequent inroads and gradual encroachments upon the lower portions, to obviate which the dirt from the range of hills in front was, in due time, moved to the rear of the lot next to the river, and in that way the waves were stayed and a fine water frontage created. To improve and naake that home pleasant and attractive. Col. Willett expended much money and labor, and many years of his life. The grounds were tastefully laid out into a garden, walks, carriagewa3's and arbors, with fruit and shade trees planted upon and around the enclosure. A long row of poplars fringed the garden on one side, while cedar and other evergreens embellished or shaded the walks and other parts of the grounds. These trees were planted some years before the present century, for the eldest son alive of Col. Willett, now eighty-seven, writes me they were full grown at his earliest recollection. Not far from the center of those grounds the owner built a large, commodious and roomy dwelling, and there, for over a quarter of a century, he entertained his numerous visitors and callers, with a welcome and a generous hospitality, that no one knows better, if so well, how to extend, than an army officer who has seen much of the world ; ^there too, he furnished a home and a cordial welcome to dependent relatives, to whom he was all that the most kind and indulgent parent could be. Although not a millionaire, yet he was in comfortable cir- cumstances, kept his horses and carriage, lived generously foir ADDRESS OF D. E. AVAGER. 47 tbose times, all of which could be done in those days of frugality and simplicity, on an income of five or six thousand dollars a year. One day last summer that eldest son crossed over from Jersey City to revisit the scenes of his childhood, that he might give a better description for this paper prepared in memory of his father, of that old homestead and of the grounds where his feet rambled when a boy. But indeed how changed; seven or eight busy streets now cross those grounds, while the site of the garden, the walks, the' carriage-ways, the trees, the arbors, is now occupied by solid brick structures like Hoe's Printing Press Works, large Catholic Church, and buildings of that description; yet in his mind's eye he again saw the home as it was early in the present century, the long range of hills, over which he climbed on his way to school, the play ground, the boys of his youth, the fruit trees which yielded profusely, the large favorite cherry tree, capable of holding a small army of boys upon ^its huge and wide spreading branches, stood out a conspicuous figure as he looked back over the vista of years; many an afternoon in summer at the close of school, a hundred boys could be found ensconced in that generons tree, partaking of its seeming inexhaustible supply, with a zest and a relish that no one can enjoy so well as a schoolboy. He of all others, in that great city, was probably the only survivor who could remember, in all its details, those groimds as they were years ago. During Col. Willett's residence there and for years there- after that old homestead was widely known as "Cedar Grove" or "The Willett Place." In 1783, Col. Willett was among the active persons who formed tlic Society of Cincinnati, having for its object the promotion of brotherly feeling among the officers who served in the war of the revolution. When LaFayette visited this country in 1824, he was the only surviving major general who belonged to that society, so too, Col. Willett was a member of the Tammany society, formed about the same time, more for the purpose, however, of keeping in check the apprehended tendency of the government to monarchy; not until many years later, did it become an organization to promote the success of a political party. Col. Willett was three times married. The first marriage was to Mary Pease in April, 1760, before he was quite twenty years of age. By that marriage one son was born, who became a noted surgeon in the United States army, and who died unmarried. Unto the second marriage no children were born. The third wife 48 COL. MARINUS WILLETT. vas Margaretta Bancker, married not far from 1800; by her he had four children. The eldest son, Marinus, was a physician, and married and had children ; he is now deceased. William M. was the second son by that marriage; married and now eighty-seven years old, and living in Jersey City, a retired divine of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church ; was a member of the Methodist Episcopal General Conference in 1826; later, an instructor in Hebrew and Biblical literature in Wesleyan University and editor. In 1843 he founded the Biblical Institute in Vermont, of which he was presi- dent until 1848. Edward, the other son, is a lawyer by profession, now eighty-six years old, and residing at Brook Green, S, C. The fourth child was Margaretta, who married James H. Ray and died years ago. The widow of Col. Willett died in 1867, at the age of ninety-six. Col. Willett was tall, erect, commanding figure, finely propor- tioned, with the air and build of a military man. His face was handsome, his eyes blue, his countenance very pleasing and at- tractive, and his manners those of a courteous and cultivated gentleman. One of his fall length portraits, taken when he was thirty-five years old, in continental uniform, by Trumbull, is now in possession of his youngest son, as are the sword and hanger worn by Col. Willett during the war. A portrait of Col. Willett is shown on page 272 of Lossing's History of the Empire State. Col. Willett was a plain, blunt man, outspoken, perfectly fearless, a hater of all shams and an enthusiastic patriot. His acquaintance and correspondence with the prominent men of his day were ex- tensive. His son has dozens of letters to his father from Governor Clinton, Aaron Burr, LaFayette, Lord Stirling, and men of like character. He and Burr were in early times intimate friends, but after the duel with Hamilton, and Burr's trial for treason, they lived to meet and pass each other on the street without recognition. Col. Willett admired the political writings of Thomas Paine, but after the publication of "Paine's Age of Reason" his works were altogether discarded by Willett. He was a faithful attendant at the Protestant Episcopal Church, (St. Stephen's), then located on Christie street, one block from the Bowery, and about a mile from Col. Willett's residence. In a foot note in Lossing's Empire State it is stated Col. Willett graduated from King's, now Columbia College. This may admit of some doubt, when it is remembered that Col. Willett entered the army before he was eighteen, and married before he was twenty. Nevertheless he was a person of unusually strong mind, ADDRESS OF D. E. WAGER. 49 strongthcned by observation and extensive reading. His corres- pondence and otficial array reports are clear and marlced with accuracy and precision. As a public speaker he was a model. The fact that Col. Gansevoort deputed hitn to reply to St. Leger's demand for the surrender of Fort Stanwix, indicates thit his ability in that line was recognized by the commanding officer. That speech deserves a place in every history and rhetorical school book in the land, alongside of Patrick Henry's " Give me liberty, or give me death." Among the last public acts of Col. Willett were, in 1824, while acting as chairman of the Greek committee, presidential elector, nnd welcoming LaFayette. During the last few years of his life he mingled but little in public affairs and with the outside world; surrounded by his family and immediate friends, he yielded slowly, but not reluctantly, to the gradual progress of decay. He had outlived his generation, and passed his fourscore years; his mind was constantly fixed upon the approaching change with trust and entire resignation; with the greatest humility, but at the same time with the liveliest feelings of piety. A few months before his death he was attacked with paralysis, from which he recovered; yet his body and constitution were much enfeebled by the stroke; medicine had to be frequently resorted to; the absence of his regular physician, in one of his attacks, induced him to neglect the usual remedies, and he was so severely attacked that his strength wasted rapidly away. On Sunday, August 22, 1830, the fifty-third anniversary of the abandonment of the siege of Fort Stanwix, Col. Willett passed peacefully away — twenty-two days past his ninetieth birthday. It is related, that as the shadows of death were curtaining the earthly vision of Stonewall Jackson, he, in the delirium of his dy- ing, was again in ihe roar of battle, and amid the clangor of arms, and called out — "Order A.F.Hill to prepare for action. Pass the infantry to the front rapidly. Tell Major Hawkes" — then he stopped, leaving the sentence unfinished. Presently a smile of in- effable sweetness spreid itself over his wan face, "as if his soul had seen a vision," and then he said calmly and quietly, " let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees;" then without pain or a struggle, his spirit passed peacefully away. Col. Willett had been amid scenes of carnage and bloodshed; he had lived in turbulent times, and been exposed to innumerable perils; he had braved dangers, faced death, escaped the hissing bullet, the poisoned arrow, the glittering tomahawk, and the murderous 50 COL. MAEINUS WILLETT, scalping knife, and survived to the grand old age of 90, to receive the homage and plaudits of a grateful people, and to die at last surrounded by his family and friends. He too, crossed over the river, and rested under the shade of the trees. His death cast a deep gloom over the whole city, and called forth deep and heart- felt expressions of sorrow. The Common Council of New York, the Court of Errors, then in session in that city, the society of Cincinnati, and other public bodies passed suitable resolutions, and resolved to attend his funeral in a body. The military of the city directed that appropriate honors should be paid at the interment, and that minute guns should bs fired, corresponding with his age. The public journals of the day, not in New York alone, but throughout the country, paid handsome and well-deserved tributes to his memory. The remains were enclosed in a cedar coffin, which the deceased had prepared ten years before ; at his own re- quest the body was habitated in his ordinary dress and wiih his hat on, as he was accustomed to be seen in the street. The coffined remains were placed in an arbor upon the grounds of the old homestead on the day of the funeral, that all who chose might take a farewell look. It was estimated that over ten thousand persons availed themselves of the opportunity. The funeral took place in the afternoon of Tuesdaj-, August 24, at which officiated Rev. Dr. DeVYitt, a son of an old officer of the revolution under Col. Willett. The procession started at 4 P. M. for the place of burial, and it extended from Broome street to Trinity Clmrch yard, where the remains were to be interred. It was after dark before the grave was reached and by the light of torches all that was earthly of Col. Marinus Willett was lowered to his last resting place amid the firipg of guns, the strains of martial music and the sorrows of millions of his admiring countrymen. Other heroes of the revolution may stand out more prominent- ly on the pages of recorded history; other namas may be perpet- uated in poetry and song, in flowing numbers and in brighter colors ; other men may be kept alive in the world's remembrance by lettered inscriptions, of their heroic deeds emblazoned tipon chis- eled marble or sculptured monuments, but none who lived in the trying and troublous times of Col. Willett more faithfully or efficiently than he, and certainly none within the county of Tryon, performed the important work assigned to him, which in the re- sult worked out the grand problem of his country's destiny. He was a fearless leader, an enthusiastic patriot, a worthy citizen and an uncompromising friend of the rights of man, 12-54 ■s^».Ss <^ ^ ^>#|\p;^ . ^\ ^^K^ .^\ ^^'^C^^ . ^^^% O ■ .>^ ,4q .-^^ ^^ .^^ >-'i ^-^ oT '^^ . -^^ , o « a , ^ ■V s.o-n ^. .0 vv '• "^" ,**' .'Ma; ■.j>9- vj) ^. ^^c; v^^. ^ , ^ % .^^ c, yf ,c,^ yl\ ■\ '-♦ ■» *b ,\^ -^^\^ i>' .^" ..- ^' .^^ > •j^r . <^^ ^ " ^ « n^ V* o •^0^ ^^^ o V i^.-: c * • »- :ps^ « o . ^ -^o. ^^n^ ^^n^ •si, _,--:■•- O' N O .0' MM ^0 ,0'