r two days, and from thence moved across the country to
the Susquehanna at Unadilla in pursuit of the enemy, who fled at his
approach. From here he moved down to Onoquaga, which was a well built
town, with many good farm houses in the vicinity belonging to the
tories, located on both sides of the river. He destroyed Onoquaga, and
a Tuscarora town lower down, Conihunto eight miles above, and
Unadilla, with the grist and saw mill there, the only ones in the
valley, and forced the enemy to remove westward to the Chemung where
they were found by Sullivan the next year. He was in garrison in the
Middle fort of Schoharie during the winter, and in August, 1779,
accompanied Clinton down the Susquehanna to Tioga point where he was
transferred to General Hand's Brigade August 23d of that year. This
was the Colonel Butler to whom General Sullivan entrusted the
responsible duties of conducting this important expedition, second
only in importance to that of the main army. Two journals give an
account of Colonel Butler's march, viz., Thomas Grant, who appears to
have been one of the surveying party under Captain Lodge, and George
Grant, Sergeant Major of the Third New Jersey regiment, the latter
evidently copied from some other journal.
PART OF THOMAS GRANT'S JOURNAL.
Sept. 20.--This day a detachment of six hundred men with a sufficiency
of officers under the command of Col. Wm. Butler were sent into the
Cayuga country, with which detachment I was ordered. They marched from
Cannadesago at 3 o'clock P.M. Marched this day 8 miles to an Indian
town by the name of Scawyace[140] where about 8 acres of corn was
destroyed.
Sept 21.--The detachment marched this morning at 7 o'clock A.M. 16-1/2
miles to a small Indian settlement[141] 1-1/2 miles short of Cayuga
Castle, where we encamped for the night. At 8-1/2 miles crossed the
outlet of Cayuga, which in breadth was about 70 perches, and more than
middle deep to the men. Near the outlet we destroyed two Indian
houses. The name of the place Choharo[142] and destroyed on the lake
in different places * * * houses and * * * acres of corn, but saw no
enemy. The general course since we crossed the outlet, nearly south,
the road not more than half a mile from the lake at furthest, the land
middling.
Sept. 22, 1779.--Marched this day at 6 o'clock A.M. 2 miles to the
Cayuga Castle,[143] an Indian town of that name containing in number
about 15 very large square log houses. I think the build
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