Letter written by Lt. Alexander Thompson to his brother
Fort Rensselaer on Mohawk River
February 24th, 1783
My Dear Brother: - The day after I wrote you by Mr. Lee, a wounded officer, I left Albany for my station on this river, which I assure you far exceeds my expectations. The idea I entertained of this country, was here and there, at some very considerable distance, to find a little cleared land and a small log house, to be destitute of all society, and entirely confined to the walls of the garrison, but to my satisfaction my expectations are exceeded. This fort is situated on a height about half a mile from the river, which affords a beautiful prospect of the country around, and shows you at one view, as far as the eye will carry, fine fields like those of Bottle Hill, and likewise of the ruins of buildings and improvements you would little expect to find in this supposed hidden country, which has been destroyed by the fury of the savages. All the settlements from Caughnawaga, 20 miles below this place, until you get to old Fort Stanwix, fifty miles above, are destroyed, except a few houses, which the inhabitants by their great exertions have secured with stockades, and cut loop-holes thro’ the walls to prevent their coming near to set fire. Six and seven families are crowded in one of these houses. It would really cause a tender feeling from you to visit and see the suffering of these unhappy people. Among the whole you will find but three or four men to help them through their difficulties. The savages made it an invariable rule to put every man to death they took, which they have exervised to a great amount. The widow and daughter, to stop the cries of the hungry infant, have taken up the fatigues of the farm. You will see the poor creatures cutting of wood, threshing of grain and performing the other laborious kinds of work. The people of this country are of the High Dutch, altogether, which affords us but little society among them. They seem so much attached to their own language that few of them will speak to you in any other. The produce of this country has been unusually great, and I am induced to believe this country will soon flourish again if the savages remain quiet.
On the morning of the 8th instant, just before the sable curtain was drawn, I left this fort with a detachment of four hundred troops in 120 sleighs, on an expedition against Oswego – a British garrison, about one hundred and eighty miles north-west from this place, which we intended to surprise. We passed by old Fort Stanwix and arrived at the Oneida Lake the evening of the twelfth, and for fear of being discovered we crossed the same night on the ice which is about thirty miles over. We left our sleighs at the lake and marched along the Oneida River for Oswego. After we got below Oswego Falls we took the ice, but were frequently obliged to take the land for fear of being discovered by the enemies, Indians that were out on hunting parties. We found but one track during the march, which was but one Indian that had killed a deer a little in front of us. He left the skin on the snow which was warm when we came to the spot. When we got within nine miles of the enemy we halted and made our ladders to execute our business. We carried them with us, and when within three miles of the garrison our guide took a circuit in the woods with an intention, he said, of advancing on the works on the lake side. We were lead over hills and through the swamps to a considerable distance from our object, until the day began to break, which advanced so fast as to make it impossible to arrive at the works before broad daylight. Our guide confessed he was lost, and the glorious pursuit was given over - - the orders we had from the Commander-in-Chief were positive, that if we did not attack before day to return. Col. Willett was under the necessity of ordering us to rightabout. You may be assured that we are sensibly mortified at the disappointment to be within three miles of the important object, entirely undiscovered, and then to be lead a more tedious way by an Indian. On our return we immediately took the ice, because the marching was better. I am fully persuaded the enemy were not apprised of our approach. When we got within two miles of Oswego Falls on our return we discovered a party of Indians on the other shore. Three of them came immediately to us, supposing we were their own troops going down the country to commit depredations. When they found they were among other troops they were a good deal alarmed. We told them we intended to surprise the garrison, but losing our way, we were on our return, that we did not want to hurt them, that they were at liberty – which last expression altered their countenance much. They left us with a seeming satisfaction, and I believe this treatment has prevented their harassing our rear, which we momently expected. The garrison consisted of three hundred regular troops and two hundred Indians. The snow was very deep, and we found much difficulty tracking roads. We had two days a most severe storm, and the whole of the time exceeding cold weather. We had three men perish before we could return to the lake, and we dare not make fire for fear of being discovered when advancing. We had 130 bit with the frost, some very dangerously. I am myself one of the unfortunate number, but by the frequent applications I have made, my feet is much better and I flatter myself will soon be well. I have not heard from you since by Staats. Think of me often. I long to hear from you. I must conclude. With my love to each of the family.
Your affectionate
A. Thompson
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