Oriskany << aw RIS kuh nee >> , Battle of, was a hard-fought battle of the American Revolution (1775-1783). It took place near what is now Rome, New York, on Aug. 6, 1777. That morning, a British force ambushed a New York militia (citizen army). The British force was made up of Mohawk and Seneca warriors and Loyalists––that is, American colonists who had remained loyal to Britain. The New York militia was attempting to come to the aid of Fort Schuyler, an American fort that was under siege.
The New York militia was weakened and never continued to Fort Schuyler. However, heavy Native American losses during the battle led the British forces to abandon the siege of the fort. Many historians believe that the United States flag, the Stars and Stripes, first flew at Fort Schuyler at the time of the siege.
Background.
In 1758, during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the British began constructing Fort Stanwix on the Mohawk River in what is now central New York state. The fort protected a trail called the Oneida Carrying Place. The British later abandoned the fort. In 1776, the Americans rebuilt the fort and renamed it Fort Schuyler. It was named for Philip Schuyler, a major general and a New York delegate to the Second Continental Congress.
In early August 1777, a British force led by Lieutenant Colonel Barry Saint Leger arrived near Fort Schuyler. His forces included about 800 British, Canadian, German, and Loyalist troops, as well as up to 1,000 Native American warriors. Inside the fort, Colonel Peter Gansevoort led about 750 Continental Army troops from New York and Massachusetts.
On August 4, a New York militia force of about 800 men from Tryon County led by Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer began to march from nearby Fort Dayton to Fort Schuyler. By the evening of August 5, they were within about 10 miles (16 kilometers) of Fort Schuyler. They camped near Oriska, an Oneida village. St. Leger, however, learned of the militia’s movements. He ordered a force of Native Americans and Loyalists to intercept the militia. The force hid in a deep ravine about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the fort.
The battle.
On August 6, Native American warriors sprang a surprise attack as the unsuspecting militia passed through the ravine. Mohawk leader Joseph Brant directed them (see Brant, Joseph ). Two hundred of General Herkimer’s militiamen fled before the enemy could completely encircle them. Though shot in the leg, Herkimer rallied his remaining troops and directed a desperate defense.
The two sides engaged in fierce, close combat. Fighting paused when a heavy thunderstorm struck. After the storm, the Native American troops and the Loyalists attacked the militia’s position again. But the British forces then heard gunfire from the direction of Fort Schuyler, and they returned to their positions near the fort. Herkimer’s militia, badly weakened, returned to Fort Dayton. During the fighting at Oriskany, up to 250 Continental soldiers from Fort Schuyler raided the Loyalist and Native American camps. The Continentals carried off 21 wagonloads of enemy supplies.
The losses on both sides of the battle are uncertain. Probably about 160 militiamen were killed in the battle, and about 50 were captured. Hundreds more were wounded. Herkimer later died after his leg was amputated. About 90 pro-British Native Americans and 30 Loyalist troops were killed.
Aftermath.
In the weeks after the battle, St. Leger attempted to force the surrender of Fort Schuyler. He then received news of the approach of American forces under Major General Benedict Arnold. Many of St. Leger’s Native American troops, having suffered many casualties and other hardships, abandoned the siege.
On August 22, the British began a retreat to Canada. St. Leger’s retreat led to the failure of the British war strategy in the North. Without St. Leger’s aid, British forces under Lieutenant General John Burgoyne were forced to surrender at Saratoga, New York, in October.
