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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 - October 04 2003 : 4:44:52 PM
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Well, tomorrow I'm off to the Mohawk Valley. More precisely, to the home of Gen. Nicholas Herkimer, near Little Falls, for this weekend is the 225th Anniversary Re-enactment of the Raid on German Flatts.
I wrote about it recently in another forum. Sorry for the repeat, but the story more appropriately belongs here:
On Sept. 17, 1778, Lt. Adam Helmer and 8 other scouts were sent south toward Unadilla (NY) to see what Chief Brant and his warriors were up to. While on this mission, they were attacked and several of the scouts were killed. Adam escaped and began his famous run. He ran from present day Edmeston to Fort Herkimer, at German Flatts, on the Mohawk River, a distance of at least 30 miles, following an old Indian trail.
Along the way he yelled a warning to residents of farms he came across. He arrived at the fort with clothing in tatters, bloodied and bruised and thoroughly exhausted. The general alarm was sounded at the fort and citizens began gathering there for protection, where they watched their homes and farms being burned.
Adam collapsed into a deep sleep and didn't awaken until about 36 hours later. Folks feared that his heart had been so taxed by his run that he would never awaken. But he did and was back on duty a few days later. Adam Helmer is credited with saving the lives of many valley residents on that day.
The home of Gen. Herkimer is a New York State Historic Site, and is beautifully preserved in its 18th century state. Well-versed living historian/guides give tours through the home and do demonstrations of 18th century living and crafts. They give excellent events and programs throughout the summer season.
On the property, near the house, is a small cemetery where the General was buried when he died from a botched leg amputation after being wounded at the Battle of Oriskany. A tall monument marks his grave.
Also near the house, is a modern barn that houses an excellent little museum that is chock full of artifacts and well-designed exhibits about life (both colonial and Native American) in the Mohawk Valley in the 18th century. Admission to the museum is free, and the tour of the home is a paltry $3.00 for adults.
I highly recommend this site for a good old-fashioned dose of American colonial history!
The following is an excellent link to information about the Herkimer Home State Historic Site.
www.littlefallsny.com/HerkimerHome/Page1.htm
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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 - October 06 2003 : 11:18:04 AM
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While it wasn't precisely a Mohican Moment... it was good to be back in Leatherstocking Country. I gave it a Mohicanland Salute on behalf of everyone here.
The weather wasn't the best, and the fall colors are not yet at their peak, but it was still gorgeous by its very nature. I adore the Mohawk River and its beautiful valley.
The encampment was a fair size... maybe about 50 tents there. I've seen much larger, of course, but it was enough to give a good representation. Col. Morrison and the Tryon County Militia were there, as well as Butler's Rangers and a couple of other Loyalist Regiments. There actually could have been more Native Americans to make it really authentic.
All in all, a very 18th century day! |
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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 - October 07 2003 : 08:43:36 AM
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Can't believe I forgot to mention this!
So, I'm driving merrily along Rte 8, traveling north along the gentle little Unadilla River... just passed through the quaint little village of South Edmeston... and I see a brand new, blue and yellow NY State Historical Marker sign. Something makes me turn around and go back to read it.
It reads something like this: "1/4 mile down this road (pointing down a narrow dirt track) is the site of the historic Carr Farm, where Brant's Warriors and Tory allies held a meeting." What the sign does not say is that this meeting was held just prior to the raid on the German Flatts area.
So I risk getting stuck in mud and drive down the dirt track... which stops dead-end at the banks of the little river, bridge no longer there. Across the stream, sitting back against a low hill, I see some some buildings that are apparently sitting on the old Carr Farm. Take a couple of photos, turn car around, and continue my trek northward.
Grin on my face, because I know that I have just seen the very place where Adam Helmer encountered Brant's forces... and began his famous run to warn German Flatts.
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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 : 2:32:14 PM
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I now have photos to post of this event.
The Continental encampment on the grounds of the Herkimer Home State Historic Site. The tall monument stands in the little cemetery where Gen. Nicholas Herkimer is buried.
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Another view of the encampment, taken from inside the cemetery. The red brick house is Gen. Herkimer's home.
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The re-enactment was not a true representation of the raid. There was no fort, and the surrounding farms could not be burned, so a field battle was portrayed.
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The Tryon County Militia, along with some soldiers from a Continental Regiment. The large man with his back to the camera is Col. James Morrison, commander of the Militia. My ancestors were part of this Militia.
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And finally, my favorite photo. This was taken from the front of the General's home, looking toward the Mohawk River. You can see it in about the middle of the photo, where the little road ends. And directly across the river, up on the ridge, was the area where my 6th great-grandfathers, Jacob Zimmerman and Johan Jost Snell, settled on the Snell-Zimmerman Patent in 1752.
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Chris
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 25 2002
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Posted - November 09 2003 : 4:30:26 PM
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Wow, was that last picture a blast from the past (in more ways than one). In the summer of 1996 my sisters and I drove from Syracuse to Ft. Ticonderoga, visiting all the historical sites along the way. We stopped and toured the Herkimer home. It's a beautiful area. Thanks for the memories.
Chris |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
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German Flatts
