Major Watson's American Revolution Service

This man was a veteran of both the American Revolution and the War of 1812 and was captured in both wars.  he is buried in the Hebron-Linn Cemetery in Hebron, Illinois, the only known American Revolution veteran buried in McHenry County, Illinois.

Despite his first name, major, he is listed as a private.  (Too bad he wasn't a major then he would have been Major Major Watson.)

He is listed as enlisting on March 11, 1777, and deserted September 7, 1777.  He joined again in March 5, 1778 and was taken prisoner at Fort Stanwix in July 1779 and never exchanged until the end of the war.

I doubt that his desertion is of the type we usually consider desertion.

--Cooter

Battle of Oriskany

From Wikipedia.

Fought August 6, 1777.  Part of the Saratoga Campaign

The American force consisted of about 800 Tryon County militia.  They were ambushed about six miles east of Fort Stanwix, which they were heading for to relieve it from the siege.  It  took place near present-day Oriskany, New York.

The Americans suffered about 450 casualties and their commander, Nicholas Herkimer was mortally wounded.  The Loyalists and Indians lost about 150.

American casualties: 385 killed, 50 wounded and 30 captured.

--Cooter

Fort Stanwix-- Part 4: The Battle of Oriskany

The Battle of Oriskany was fought a few niles away from Fort Stanwix.  An American relief column under General Nicholas Herkimer was ambushed en route by Tories and their Indian allies.

While this was underway, the fort's defenders sallied out and attacked the enemy camp and began looting and destroying it.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Stanwix-- Part 3: Important Indian Treaty and First U.S. Flag?

In 1768, Fort Stanwix was the site of an important treaty between the British and Iroquois Indians.  This treaty promised to preserve areas west of the Appalachians as an Indian reservation and prohibited colonial settlement there.  See how well that worked out.

Local folklore has it that the new U.S. flag was raised over the fort for the first time in battle anywhere on August 3, 1777,   But, more likely it was the Grand Union Flag.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Stanwix, N.Y.-- Part 2

The British failure at Fort Stanwix and the battles of Oriskany, Bennington and Saratoga thwarted their coordinated effort to take the northern colonies.

Fort Stanwix was built by the British in 1758 and named for British General John Stanwix.  The British abandoned it in 1774.  In 1776, Americans occupied the fort and renamed it Fort Schuyler.

The fort underwent a 21-day siege in August 1977.

--Cooter

Fort Stanwix, N.Y.-- Part 1

From the National Park Service.

Back in 2014, I wrote about a Revolutionary War and War of 1812 veteran by the name of Major Watson who is buried in McHenry County, Illinois.  He is the only known Revolutionary War veteran buried in McHenry County.  Major Watson was at Fort Stanwix.

Fort Stanwix National Monument in New York was built to protect the Oneida Carrying Place, a six-mile portage connecting the Mohawk River and Wood Creek.  This was a vital link when one was traveling from the ocean to the Great Lakes.  Rome, New York, was built over it.

It is known as the fort that never surrendered.  While under the command of Colonel Peter Gansevoort, Americans fought off a prolonged siege in 1777 by British, German, Loyalist, Canadians and Indians.

--DaCoot