The Oswego Expedition
The Last Mission of the American Revolution
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| In June of 1782 General Washington received word that the British had once again reoccupied Fort Ontario in Oswego. Throughout the war the fort had been a staging area for attacks on the Mohawk Valley. Now Washington became concerned that, even with peace so close at hand, the British were planning a new assault on the northern and western frontiers. Fort Stanwix was in ruins and had been abandoned by the Americans the previous year so Washington sent the following directive to the Deputy Quartermaster at Albany
"Col. Reid has informed me of the ill condition of Fort Plain and of the magazine at that place. As it is of the greatest importance that they should be repaired I must request you to make every possible exertion to supply the necessary materials"
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Small raids continued along the Mohawk frontier supporting Washington's fear of another invasion on the Mohawk Valley. In November 1782 Washington meant with Marinus Willett to discuss the possibility of a secret operation against the fort at Oswego. Willett accepted the assignment and an exchange of letters to work out the mission's details took place.
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From the Washington Papers
Marinus Willett to George Washington
Plan to Attack Fort Ontario
Fort Rennselear December 1782
Sir
From Albany I wrote to your Excellency on the prosecution of the plan proposed by you when I was last at Headquarters. I then promised to endeavour to make further inquiry after my arrival at this place, and although I have not yet been able to compleat my inquiry so pointedly / Without affording room for surmise as to determine on the exact route which it would be best to take. I am pretty clear that the march may be accomplished in the way mentioned by your Excellency. It is true I have found out some obstacles with which I was not before acquainted, such as the uncertainty of sufficient ice in some rivers lying in the most direct and easy route. This is a matter however which I should be able fully to ascertain in time, and should the ice prove insufficient to enable us to take those routes, other routes may be taken the attended with some difficulties. Difficulties which are by no means I humbly conceive such as ought to supersede the attempt which I confess I am very desirous of making.
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I have thought it might not be amiss to give your Excellency some description of the Fort which according to the accounts I have received is a regular built fortification on the north side of the river, consisting of five angles, with a bastion to each angle. The angles are all nearly of a length supposed about one hundred yards each. The fosse is about twenty feet wide and nine feet deep. From the bottom of the fosse to the top of the Parapet is about thirty feet, except the angle where the Sally port is placed at which part it is represented to be not more than twenty feet. And the fosse not so wide as in other forts. It is said the fort is surrounded with a Glacis but which does not appear to be protected with any kind of Fraise work. There is a row of Pickett’s perpendicularly fixed in the center of the fosse and another row of horizontal ones placed along the wall about seven or eight feet above the Berm. The gateway is secured by a draw bridge.
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At the entrance of the gate on one side is the guard house and on the other and on the other side a house for the Commandant. Within one of the Bastions is placed the magazine. The other four Bastions and Curtains are filled with Barracks. All the buildings are made of logs and are said to be Bomb proof. Three of the angles of the fort front the lake as the River and in some parts lay very near those waters. It is not improbable but the Ditch may be may be nearly filled with snow, which may in some measure facilitate the business. But be this matter as it may it appears to me that the most familiar way to ascend the wall would be to lay boards from the parapet of the Glacis to the top of the pickets, which stand in the fosse, on top of which boards, I humbly conceive, the feet of the ladders might stand secure. In this way ladders of about fourteen feet long I think would answer. I should suppose six of those ladders would not be too many and they might be easily carried in the Slays (sleighs) with a few boards for the purpose before mentioned.
The season in this quarter at present is remarkable open. I have been thinking that about the 12th or 13th of February would be sufficiently early to put the affair in execution, and I would pitch on one of those days on account of benefiting by the Moon which will then set between three and five o’clock in the morning, so that we may profit by its light in our march and execute the business just after it has withdrawn its light, at which time it is generally darkest and will be likely to serve us in giving us opportunity of approaching nearer undiscovered.
All these things however and everything else I have said on this subject I do most humbly beg leave to submit to the consideration of your Excellency. And only beg leave to assure you that whatever directions your Excellency may think proper to give in this or any other matter no person will more cheerfully strive to accomplish the ____.
Sir Your most obedient and very
humble servant.
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George Washington to Marinus Willet, January 22, 1783
Newburgh, January 22, 1783.
Dear Sir:
On the 20th by your Pay master, I informed you that besides the usual proportion of Clothing I had sent to your orders Woolen Caps, Socks, and Mitts for the intended Enterprise, to be made use of or not according to the circumstances. I have also written to Mr. Duer* who is now at Albany, to lay in a Months Provisions for a hundred men at each of the Posts of Forts Renselaer and Herkimer* And, till farther orders have placed the Rhode Isld. Regiment under your direction.
[*Note 1: William Duer.]
[*Note 2: On January 22 Washington wrote Duer that it was necessary "That One Months Provision for One hundred Men should be always kept on hand at Fort Herkimer and at Fort Rensalaer on the Mohawk River," and ordering such supply to be laid in. This draft is in the Washington Papers. The letter sent is in the New York Historical Society.]
For the reasons you assign, I approve of the time proposed for the Attack*, and suppose it will be necessary for you to begin your March from Fort Herkimer at the time you mention, viz. on the 8th or 9th of next Month. If the Sleighing should be good, and business does not prevent it I will endeavour to be at that place, or Fort Renselaer by that time; but of this you will take no notice to any body nor suffer it to have any influence on your preparations or conduct before or at the time as many things may intervene to detain me.
[*Note : On Oswego, N. Y.]
All that remains to be done is now with you to do, and as the matter is between ourselves and you have better information of the situation of the enemy and difficulty in getting at them than I; I have only to request you to act from your best judgment under a firm perswasion that the enterprise in contemplation was even better known than it is no imputation could fall on you for having laid it aside if the difficulties in the way, or a want of information should be greater than appeared at first view. Let me hear from you and if possible by the 3d. or 4th. of next Month. I am etc.*
[*Note: Washington wrote on the address cover: "The Qr. Master at Albany is to forward this with dispatch."]
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| Supply Receipt |
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George Washington to Marinus Willett, February 2, 1783
Newburgh, February 2, 1783.
Dear Sir:
Your letters of the 28th ulto From Fort Renselaer, and 30th from Albany both came to my hands last Night.One hundred and fifty Blankets (all that are in the Clothiers Store at this place) and twenty five Axes are now packing to be sent to you; and the Qr Master Genl will endeavor, if possible, to have them at Albany on the 4th.; from whence you must take measures to get them to Fort Herkimer in time. If any of Olneys Men (on the Enterprise you are going) should be in greater need than yours, they must be supplied out of this parcel, that the whole may be as comfortable as it is in my power to make them.I do not send Medicines, Bandages and Instruments because it would take some time to procure them, and not a moment is to be lost in dispatching the Sleighs with the Blankets, that they may arrive in time; and because (tho' I wish you not to be unprovided) it is to be remembered, and I wish to impress it upon you, that, if you do not succeed by Surprise the attempt will be unwarrantable. The Wounds received in the former, more than probable, will be trifling.Every plausible deception should be used to mask the object of your Expedition to the latest moment. Your movements afterwards should be quick, and pains must be taken to discover, by tracts or otherwise, whether intelligence has out gone you. If you should be fully convinced of this, the further prosecution of the Enterprise would not only be fruitless, but might prove injurious.To an Officer of your care, attention and foresight, I shall not dwell upon circumspection and caution. The consequence of a Surprize (not only to the party you command, but to your own reputation) is too serious and self evident, to stand in need of illustration. A Vast deal depends upon having good Guides to Oswego; and every thing, in a manner, upon persons who can carry you without hesitation or difficulty, to the points of Attack when you arrive there. How far a few Indians would be useful to you for the first purpose; and how far they are to be confided in, you, from a better knowledge of them than I possess, must judge and act accordingly.Guides who are pressed into the Service must be well secured, lest they desert from you in a critical moment. From having recourse to the Almanack I am led to Wish that the Night for the Attack may not be delayed beyond the 12th Instt.; as I find that the sitting of the Moon (even at that time) approaches so near day light, that the intervening space is short; and consequently must be very critical; as accidents unforseen, and consequently unprovided for, may embarrass your movements towards the Works and retard the Attack of them beyond the hour designed, to the entire disappointment of the plan. Let me caution you therefore against being too exact in your allowance of time for your last Movement; reflect that you can always waste time, but never recover it. Halts, or slow Marching will accomplish the first, but nothing can effect the latter, consequently in such an Enterprise as yours want of time will be a certain defeat.Let your disposition be such, that in any circumstances your retreat to your Sleigh, and afterwards with them, may be secure.If success should crown your endeavors, let your first object be to secure your Prisoners, whom you will treat with lenity and kindness; suffering no Insult or abuse to be offered to them with impunity. Your next object must be to destroy the Works, Vessels (if any should be found there), and every thing else that cannot be brought away. Such Works as cannot be consumed by Fire, nor easily razed by the labor of the Soldiers, must be, if practicable, blown up. In a Word they are to be effectually demolished, if it is within the Compass of your power to do it.Whatever is found in, or about the Works belonging to the Enemy, and is agreeable to the Rules and Customs of War, humanity and generosity; shall be given to the Party as the reward of their Gallantry and fatigue; to be distributed in proportion to their pay; the drivers of Sleighs, if Countrymen, should receive a part as an extra encouragement for their Services. Make me the earliest report (if successful from the Scene of Action, at any rate on your return) of your progress, and the Issue of the Expedition. The Inclosed Letter will shew you what I have done respecting Spirits and Subsistence for your Officers. Seal it before delivery, and make your own arrangements with the Contractor. I begin to doubt the practicability of my being up. My sentiments however you are possessed of, as well as all the Aid I can give. Your own judgment must govern where my Instructions are deficient. I heartily wish you honor and success, and am etc.27
Note 27: An impress warrant, dated February 2, empowering Willett to impress from the inhabitants such a number of sleighs and horses as may be requisite was inclosed by Washington in a brief note dated February 13. The originals of both the warrant and note are in the Morgan Library.]
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For more information on the Oswgo Expedition visit Fort Ontario
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