Member-only story

Daring Raids From Canada Against The New York Frontier In The Fall Of 1780

Cristian Cox

·16.1k Followers· Follow

Published in The Burning Of The Valleys: Daring Raids From Canada Against The New York Frontier In The Fall Of 1780

7 min read · 2 weeks before

776 View Claps

93 Respond

Save

Listen

In the fall of 1780, a daring raid was launched from Canada against the New York frontier. The raid was led by Captain Walter Butler and consisted of a force of about 800 British soldiers, Loyalists, and Native Americans. The raiders burned and looted several settlements, including Johnstown and Schoharie, and killed or captured over 100 people.

The raid was part of a larger British strategy to divide the American colonies and to secure control of the frontier. The British hoped that by attacking the frontier settlements, they could force the Americans to withdraw their troops from the southern states, where they were fighting the British army. The raids also served to terrorize the American settlers and to discourage them from supporting the Revolution.

The Burning of the Valleys: Daring Raids from Canada Against the New York Frontier in the Fall of 1780

by Gavin K. Watt

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6721 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	392 pages

The raiders entered New York from Canada on October 11, 1780. They quickly captured Fort Stanwix, which was the only American fort on the frontier. The raiders then divided into two columns and marched south. One column, led by Butler, attacked the Mohawk Valley, while the other column, led by Sir John Johnson, attacked the Schoharie Valley.

Butler's column burned and looted several settlements, including Johnstown and Cherry Valley. He also killed or captured over 100 people. Johnson's column was less successful. He was defeated at the Battle of Klock's Field by a force of American militia. However, he did manage to burn and loot several settlements, including Schoharie.

The raids caused widespread panic and devastation on the New York frontier. The American settlers were terrified and many of them fled their homes. The raids also dealt a serious blow to the American war effort. The loss of Fort Stanwix meant that the British now controlled the only major supply route between the colonies and the west. This made it difficult for the Americans to supply their troops in the southern states.

The raids also had a long-term impact on the American frontier. The terror and devastation caused by the raids led many settlers to abandon their homes and move to safer areas. This resulted in the depopulation of much of the New York frontier. The raids also helped to strengthen the British position in the war and to prolong the conflict.

Captain Walter Butler

Captain Walter Butler was the leader of the raiders who attacked the New York frontier in the fall of 1780. Butler was a Loyalist who had fought for the British in the American Revolution. He was a cruel and ruthless leader, and his raids were marked by brutality and violence.

Butler was born in Ireland in 1752. He came to America with his family in 1764 and settled in the Mohawk Valley. He became a successful farmer and businessman, and he was also active in local politics.

When the American Revolution began, Butler sided with the British. He raised a company of Loyalists and fought against the Americans in several battles. In 1780, he was given command of the raiders who attacked the New York frontier.

Butler's raids were characterized by extreme violence. He and his men burned and looted settlements, and they killed or captured over 100 people. Butler was also known for his cruelty towards prisoners. He often tortured his captives and killed them in cold blood.

Butler's raids caused widespread panic and devastation on the New York frontier. He became one of the most hated figures in the American Revolution. He was eventually killed in a skirmish with American militia in 1781.

The Battle of Klock's Field

The Battle of Klock's Field was fought on October 17, 1780, between a force of American militia and a column of British raiders led by Sir John Johnson. The battle was a victory for the Americans, and it helped to put an end to the raids on the New York frontier.

The battle took place near the town of Schoharie, New York. Johnson's column had burned and looted several settlements in the Schoharie Valley, and he was planning to attack the town of Schoharie itself.

A force of American militia under the command of Colonel Peter Vrooman was sent to intercept Johnson's column. Vrooman's force was made up of about 400 men, many of whom were farmers and frontiersmen.

The two forces met at Klock's Field, a clearing near the town of Schoharie. The battle began with a long-range firefight. The Americans were outgunned by the British, but they were able to hold their ground.

As the battle progressed, the Americans began to gain the upper hand. They charged the British lines with bayonets, and they forced the British to retreat. The Americans pursued the British for several miles, and they eventually drove them out of the Schoharie Valley.

The Battle of Klock's Field was a significant victory for the Americans. It helped to put an end to the raids on the New York frontier, and it boosted the morale of the American troops.

The Legacy of the Raids

The raids on the New York frontier in the fall of 1780 had a long-term impact on the American frontier. The terror and devastation caused by the raids led many settlers to abandon their homes and move to safer areas. This resulted in the depopulation of much of the New York frontier.

The raids also helped to strengthen the British position in the war and to prolong the conflict. The loss of Fort Stanwix meant that the British now controlled the only major supply route between the colonies and the west. This made it difficult for the Americans to supply their troops in the southern states.

The legacy of the raids is still felt today. The depopulation of the New York frontier made it difficult for the United States to expand westward in the 19th century. The raids also helped to create a distrust between the United States and Canada that persists to this day.

The Burning of the Valleys: Daring Raids from Canada Against the New York Frontier in the Fall of 1780

by Gavin K. Watt

4.1 out of 5