Oriskany Battlefield

During our visit to Fort Stanwix, we learned of the fort's contribution to the cause of the War for Independence.  In August 1777, it was attacked by a combined force of British, German, Canadian, Loyalists and Indian forces led by Lieut. Col. Barry St. Leger.

While Fort Stanwix (then called Fort Schuyler) was being attacked, Brig. Gen Nicholas Herkimer led 800 militiamen and 60 allied Oneida warriors from Fort Dayton (now Herkimer, NY) to aid the fort against the siege.  Before reaching the fort, they fell into a trap set up by British and loyalist troops (who were sent from Fort Stanwix ) in a ravine west of Oriskany Creek about 6 miles east of the fort. The ensuing battle fought on Aug. 6, 1777 was described as "one of the bloodiest battles of the war."  Only about 150 of the 800 rebels survived without serious injury and many of them were taken prisoners by Tory Indians. The Battle of Oriskany caused the death of General Herkimer 10 days after sustaining a wound to his leg. The battle only ended when the Tory Indians (followed by the British-Loyalists) left after hearing news that their camps have been raided by rebels.

Back at Fort Shuyler,  Leger's Native American allies, discouraged by the failure of the siege and wary of the coming reenforcement led by Major General Benedict Arnold, abandoned him causing Leger to end the siege and retreat to Canada.  Leger's forces were supposed to go to Albany to join Gen. Burgoyne's campaign to capture the Lake Champlain-Lake George-Hudson River waterway. Leger's retreat lead to Burgoyne's defeat in Saratoga. The American victory in Saratoga and Fort Schuyler lead directly to alliances with France and Netherlands.  With these alliances, the United States was able to sustain the fight for independence leading to their final victory and British surrender in Yorktown in 1781.

On Aug. 6, 1884, an 85-foot high monument was dedicated on the site of  this battle as a memorial to those who fought bravely for freedom. The Oriskany Battlefield was designated a New York State Historic site in 1927 and a National Historic Landmark in 1963.

 
Now, visitors can explore the site and read interpretive signs.  A mowed path leads to the ravine where General Herkimer's troops were ambushed.  We wanted to follow the entire trail which according to cnyhiking.com is only 0.8 mile.  We were however being inundated by a driving rain, somewhat akin to what occurred during the battle. Unlike the brave combatants who regrouped, we decided to retreat and come back another day.