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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
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 Posted - September 21 2003 : 7:29:49 PM
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I attended the 225th Anniversary of the Cherry Valley Massacre Re-enactment today, in the tiny and quaint little village of Cherry Valley, NY. The massacre took place on Nov. 11, 1778.
It was a small re-enactment, compared to a couple of others I have watched. I would say there were about 100 or so soldiers and camp followers all together, which was enough to give a nice little massacre and battle scenario. There were a good number of Native American re-enactors, which made it look quite authentic (complete with scalpings)... and pretty scary!
But what really surprised me were the number of spectators who were there. That tiny little village was chock full of cars and people walking up and down the main street (which is almost the only street there is!). I'm not too sure where they all came from, because Cherry Valley is really tucked into the hills, away from all the main cities.
Anyway, it was great. Lovely early fall day. Lots of colorful people involved. Fun.
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richfed
Sachem
USA
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May 13 2002
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Posted - September 22 2003 : 05:23:48 AM
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And where might Cherry Valley be? Sounds familiar, but I cannot place the town.
PS - What, exactly, happened there? |
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
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May 19 2002
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Posted - September 22 2003 : 06:50:46 AM
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Cherry Valley is south and east of Glimmerglass and Cooperland about 15-20 miles. It is a quaint, relatively unspoiled village which contains many original homes from the "massacre" days of 1778. The village cemetery stands on the site of Ft. Alden now.
I used to go 'play' there on the hill in a copy of Sir William Johnson's blockhouse built back in the 30's or 40's. A buddy owned it and about 100 acres there and he would host 18th c. weekends. Fun and frolic galore! He grew up in CV and has given us the tour of the village in intimate detail. It remains one of my very favorite places. I can easily see the battle and massacre as it unfolded.....The Indians and Butler's Rangers lying in wait all night in the drizzle, snow and fog in the ravine, watching the carriage with the young Wells boy leaving CV for school and allowing it to pass unharmed for fear of tipping their hand, Alden running from the Wells house and getting clubbed to death, the Wells house on fire, the girl's arm hanging in the tree, the children huddled in the brush while the Indians pass so close by, the Indians protecting, on Brant's orders, certain homes and people, and on and on. My friend has a spike tomahawk which one of his ancestors picked up in their yard that day. I sit and hold it and just allow my mind to drift..............
http://www2.whidbey.com/jerod/cherry.htm
Sorry about the edits......oughta read before I hit the Post button!
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Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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Grenouille
Colonial Settler
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
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Posted - September 22 2003 : 09:20:22 AM
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Hi Seamus,
Out of curiousity, does your friend still own the blockhouse? Is it still used today?
Regards,
G. |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
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Posted - September 22 2003 : 09:25:18 AM
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That's really cool, Seamus! Thanks for posting the link to the info.
When I get my photos developed, hopefully there will be some good ones of the re-enactment to post here.
It's such a lovely, peaceful little valley and community. But it's not difficult to imagine the horrible event that took place there 225 years ago, is it? |
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Grenouille
Colonial Settler
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
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Posted - September 22 2003 : 10:25:17 AM
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Hi Jim,
No, unfortunately he sold it and moved to NC, following a doe in heat he ruined a marriage over! Long, sad story.............I'll not tell it all here. Next time I see you, remind me. The newest owners...been sold again......have indicated that it is available for play, but the old gang really got burnt on it, so I doubt if much will happen there....many, many guys were crapped on over it all. Too bad, too, because the whole place just reeked with 'the way it was back then'. BTW.......great links you posted!
I will have to see if I have any photos that will show anything interesting. |
Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - September 22 2003 : 4:28:34 PM
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After what I expected to be an exhaustive search I found a few photos (in the first place I looked!) from a weekend several years ago in Cherry Valley at what we called Ft. McKean. It is hard to get the real ambience of the place from these shots, but maybe you can get the idea. Most of the time we had 40 or so guys, some with their families, there doing tacticals, raids, impromptu stuff.....one never knew what might happen! At night the tavern was ALIVE with music, games, drinking and general mayhem. One memorable sight sticks with me:
I walked outside to get fresh air because the wood and tobacco smoke was doing a real job on my eyes. I walked over to the flagpole you see below and leaned against it, looking back at the building. The air was crystal clear and very cool, and was quite refreshing. There were no clouds in the sky, and the stars shone brightly in the moonless sky! From where I stood you could see and hear the activity inside: fiddle music, singing, laughter, fellows at the bar arguing loudly and coarsely with each other and the Tavern-keeper, and all was seen through the grey haze of the smoke from a multitude of clay pipes and the fire, whose odor clung to me like a blanket. I asked myself at that point, "How do you explain this scene to someone who has never experienced it?"
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Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - September 22 2003 : 8:41:47 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Seamus
The air was crystal clear and very cool, and was quite refreshing. There were no clouds in the sky, and the stars shone brightly in the moonless sky! From where I stood you could see and hear the activity inside: fiddle music, singing, laughter, fellows at the bar arguing loudly and coarsely with each other and the Tavern-keeper...
Oh Wow, Seamus! That is incredible!
Those photos look like something right out of... well... a movie... or real 18th century life. You must long to go back there to enjoy those times all over again. You are wrong, though. Words can describe it. You just did.
And just imagining it all is so "deeply stirring to my blood." |
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Grenouille
Colonial Settler
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
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Posted - September 22 2003 : 9:34:37 PM
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Hi Seamus,
The blockhouse looked like a real neat site. Thanks for sharing your pics. Wish I could have done an encampment there.
Take care,
Jim |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - November 09 2003 : 2:07:57 PM
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I finally have some photos of the 225th re-enactment of the Cherry Valley Massacre. Here they are...
This was the brief memorial ceremony that was held at the Monument to the Massacre in the village cemetery. The large monument marks the place where the victims are buried.
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Part of the Continental camp on the grounds of the historic Tryon Inn, in the village of Cherry Valley.
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The Massacre re-enactment. The woman who is on her hands and knees was murdered, scalped, had her pockets and her basket ransacked, and even had her apron taken off. The apron was then tied around the waist of the "savage" who scalped her, so that it hung over his rump and fluttered in the breeze as he ran back to battle.
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The resulting battle.
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lanceman
Pathfinder
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 20 2004
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Posted - May 20 2004 : 10:18:26 PM
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| I am reading Allan Eckert's "Wilderness War" which gives a vivid description of the Cherry Valley Massacre. Although I grew up in the Mohawk Valley, I never appreciated the local history until reading this book. |
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comanche_woman
Lost in the Wilderness
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
January 17 2006
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Posted - December 04 2007 : 5:10:23 PM
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The below search at YOUTUBE found a very lengthy recording of the reenactment, including a lot of musketyr, an indians chasing down a fleeing settler girl, who loses her apron to a breechclout wearing painted indian. Quite a lot of participation and planning when into it.
I think you'll find it interesting.
"cherry valley reenactment" at YOUTUBE.COM
Second Albany re-enactment at Cherry Valley NY
18th Century raid on Cherry Valley NY...Revolutionary war 18th Century Battle Cherry Valley NY re-enactment
From: AlexanderArts
Views: 1,457
Added: 1 year ago
Tags: Revolutionary war 18th Century Battle Cherry Valley NY re-enactment
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - December 05 2007 : 08:27:32 AM
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Very nice! Well done little video. I especially enjoyed the use of the background classical music.
I do wish they had included more footage of the women and children being "massacred", but you can see from the little bit they did show, that it looked pretty realistic. And near the end of the video, you can even see the Indian walking away with the stolen apron fluttering off of his behind! He looks like he is wearing a white petticoat from the back.
Very cool stuff. Thanks for posting that! |
"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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Dark Woods
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 18 2002
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Posted - June 05 2019 : 9:14:35 PM
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| Quite an interesting event six years ago! |
We become what we think about. |
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Cherry Valley Massacre
