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127-636: Fort Stanwix is historically significant because of its successful defense by American troops during an August 1777 siege . The fort had been built by the British in 1758 at a strategic site along the water route from Lake Ontario to the Hudson River. After American forces captured and rebuilt the fort during the American Revolutionary War , they were besieged by a British army that invaded from Canada via Lake Ontario, hoping to reach

254-561: A British flag , four camp colours, and a letter the British had intercepted from Gansevoort's fiancée. The story about recovering actual wagon loads of materials is probably untrue. It likely dates to a memoir by Marinus Willett written late in his life. No contemporaneous accounts of the sortie, including Willett's earlier journals, mention the need for wagons. When the indigenous warriors and Royal Yorkers returned from Oriskany they arrived at camps that had been stripped of much, including blankets, kettles and personal belongings. Combined with

381-665: A 20-year friendship although they wrote about different sides of the war. Macaulay wrote from a loyalist British perspective whereas Warren wrote about her support for the American Revolution. Macaulay's work include History of England and Warren wrote History of the Rise , Progress , and Termination of the American Revolution. Although both women's works were unpopular, during this time, it pushed them to learn from social critique. Rebel agents were active in Quebec (which

508-472: A British officer to carry." Taking advantage of the brief truce, Gansevoort sent Willett and another officer out through the British lines to notify Schuyler of their situation. After making their way through the swampy ground near the fort they continued down the Mohawk Valley, eventually meeting a relief column under the command of Major General Benedict Arnold . Sniping and periodic shelling of

635-463: A blue field, representing a new constellation." There was a delay in displaying this flag. The resolution was not signed by the secretary of the Congress until September 3, though it was previously printed in the newspapers. Massachusetts reinforcements to Fort Schuyler brought news of the adoption by Congress of the official flag. Soldiers cut up their shirts to make the white stripes; scarlet material

762-585: A deception to sow trouble in the British camp. The delegation captured at Shoemaker Tavern was held prisoner at Fort Dayton and among them was Hon Yost Schuyler , a member of the Royal Yorkers who grew up with many of the Mohawks attacking Fort Stanwix. Arnold persuaded Hon Yost to return to Fort Stanwix and spread rumors that large numbers of Americans, under the command of the "Dark Eagle", were about to descend on St. Leger's camp. Hon Yost's good conduct

889-511: A garrison at the fort, with smaller outposts along the Mohawk, Arnold then hurried back with about 1,200 men to rejoin the main army. While still on Oneida Lake, St. Leger learned from an Indian messenger of the true state of Arnold's force. On August 27, St. Leger wrote to Burgoyne from Oswego that he intended to join him by traveling via Lake Champlain. He reached Fort Ticonderoga on September 29, too late to assist Burgoyne. Burgoyne blamed

1016-414: A large concentration of Loyalists, many of whom were refugees from other states. According to Calhoon, Loyalists tended to be older and wealthier, but there were also many Loyalists of humble means. Many active Church of England members became Loyalists. Some recent arrivals from Britain, especially those from Scotland, had a high Loyalist proportion. Loyalists in the southern colonies were suppressed by

1143-412: A large detachment of St. Leger's forces. While the battle did not involve the fort's garrison, some of its occupants sortied and plundered the nearly empty indigenous and Loyalist camps, which was a blow to the morale of St. Leger's indigenous allies. The siege was finally broken when American reinforcements under the command of Major General Benedict Arnold approached, and Arnold used a ruse to convince

1270-461: A loyalist or a patriot; the label was dependent on their husband's political association. However, some women showed their loyalty to the crown by continually purchasing British goods, writing it down, and showing resistance to the Patriots. Grace Growden Galloway recorded the experience in her diary. Her writings show the difficulties that her family faced during the revolution. Galloway's property

1397-575: A master plan for Fort Stanwix in 1967, and in 1970, the NPS began a three-year archaeological investigation. Reconstruction of the fort began in 1974, and the partially completed structure was opened to the public in time for the United States Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The current reconstruction—an earth-and-timber-clad, reinforced concrete structure surrounding three freestanding buildings—was completed in 1978. From 1976 until

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1524-401: A messenger from Gansevoort notified him of St. Leger's departure. Pushing on, they reached the fort that evening. Early the next day, Arnold detached 500 men to pursue St. Leger, whose column was also being taunted and harassed by his formerly supportive Indian allies. An advance party reached the shores of Oneida Lake in heavy rain just as the last of St. Leger's boats were departing. Leaving

1651-458: A proclamation authored by Major General Burgoyne. Gansevoort declined to respond, however, Tice was able to gather valuable intelligence about the fort's defenses. Construction of breastworks began the following day. Jägers and indigenous snipers began to harass the fort's defenders, killing one and wounding several. On August 5, the main body of Seneca and Cayuga warriors arrived. The same day, Brant received word from his sister, Molly , who

1778-617: A regular army status, enrolled 19,000 Loyalists (50 units and 312 companies). The maximum strength of the Loyalist provincial line was 9,700 in December 1780. In all about 19,000 at one time or another were soldiers or militia in British forces. Loyalists from South Carolina fought for the British in the Battle of Camden . The British forces at the Battle of Monck's Corner and the Battle of Lenud's Ferry consisted entirely of Loyalists with

1905-628: A son of Loyalists, participated in the Upper Canada Rebellion which sought relief from oligarchic British colonial government and pursued American style Republicanism . He was arrested, tried and executed in Toronto , and later became heralded as a patriot to the movement which led to Canadian self-governance. The wealthiest and most prominent Loyalist exiles went to Great Britain to rebuild their careers; many received pensions. Many Southern Loyalists, taking along their slaves, went to

2032-484: A token of compensation when he returned from England in 1796, his son was allowed to regain the family house. In many States, moderate Whigs, who had not been in favor of separation from Britain but preferred a negotiated settlement which would have maintained ties to the Mother Country, aligned with Tories to block radicals. Among these was Alexander Hamilton in 1782–85, to wrest control of New York State from

2159-574: A treaty of neutrality in the interior community of Ninety Six , South Carolina . For actively aiding the British army when it occupied Philadelphia, two residents of the city were tried for treason, convicted, and executed by returning Patriot forces. As a result of the looming crisis in 1775, the Royal Governor of Virginia , Lord Dunmore , issued a proclamation that promised freedom to indentured servants and slaves who were able to bear arms and join his Loyalist Ethiopian Regiment . Many of

2286-528: Is more likely that the flag flown at Fort Schuyler was one that consisted only of thirteen stripes, an early version of the Flag of New York , or the Grand Union Flag . The Battle of Oriskany was fought a few miles away when an American relief column, led by General Nicholas Herkimer , was ambushed by Tories and their Native American allies. While many of the besiegers were attending to that battle,

2413-590: Is now modern-day Ontario , the rest to Nova Scotia and PEI. Realizing the importance of some type of consideration, on November 9, 1789, Lord Dorchester , the governor of Quebec, declared that it was his wish to "put the mark of Honour upon the Families who had adhered to the Unity of the Empire ." As a result of Dorchester's statement, the printed militia rolls carried the notation: Those Loyalists who have adhered to

2540-572: The 2nd New York ), which were already on guard duty in the Mohawk River valley. These two units were still en route when the siege was lifted, and turned back. By August 20, Arnold, Willett and 700 Continental Army regulars had arrived at Fort Dayton. In an attempt to enlarge his force, Arnold tried to recruit the Tryon County militia in another attempt against St. Leger, but raised only about 100 men. He then decided to wait, hoping that

2667-683: The Act Against Slavery tried to suppress slavery in Upper Canada by halting the sale of slaves to the United States, and by freeing slaves upon their escape from the latter into Canada. Simcoe desired to demonstrate the merits of loyalism and abolitionism in Upper Canada in contrast to the nascent republicanism and prominence of slavery in the United States , and, according to historian Stanley R. Mealing: However

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2794-570: The American Revolutionary War widened in 1776 to include the frontier areas between New York and the Province of Quebec , the site again became strategically important. British Colonial Secretary Lord Germain and General John Burgoyne developed a plan for gaining control of the Hudson River valley that included an expedition that King George described as a "diversion on the Mohawk River". In March 1777 Germain issued orders assigning

2921-773: The Cayuga , the Onondaga , the Mississaugas , and from the Upper Great Lakes area. The expedition ascended the Oswego and Oneida rivers to Oneida Lake , then followed the north shore of the lake to Wood Creek . Wood Creek had been blocked by the Stanwix defenders just a week earlier by felling trees across the creek which slowed St. Leger's forces and forced then to rebuild an old military road in order to reach

3048-461: The Chesapeake area. Eventually the camp that they had set up there suffered an outbreak of smallpox and other diseases. This took a heavy toll, putting many of them out of action for some time. The survivors joined other Loyalist units and continued to serve throughout the war. African-Americans were often the first to come forward to volunteer and a total of 12,000 African Americans served with

3175-654: The English-speaking settlers had arrived following the British conquest of Canada in 1759–1760, and were unlikely to support separation from Britain. The older British colonies, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia (including what is now New Brunswick ) also remained loyal and contributed military forces in support of the Crown. In late 1775 the Continental Army sent a force into Quebec , led by General Richard Montgomery and Colonel Benedict Arnold , with

3302-516: The Mohawk Valley was a severe setback and helped lead to the defeat of General John Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga . In April 1779, an expedition from Fort Schuyler against the Onondaga people was begun by the Continental Army led by Col. Goose Van Schaick . The fort burned to the ground on May 13, 1781, and was not rebuilt. It was abandoned and the garrison took up quarters at Fort Herkimer . The second Treaty of Fort Stanwix

3429-636: The Oneida Carry , between the main waterway southeastward to the Atlantic seacoast, down the Mohawk and Hudson rivers, and an important interior waterway northwestward to Lake Ontario , down Wood Creek and Oneida Lake to Oswego . In 1768, Fort Stanwix was the site of an important treaty conference between the British and the Iroquois , arranged by William Johnson . By the time of this treaty,

3556-491: The Oneidas and Tuscaroras could be convinced to join the effort, or that a request to Schuyler for another 1,000 men would be fulfilled. However, news reached him that the siege had reached a critical stage, and that action was necessary. Gansevoort reported that St. Leger's siege trench was approaching striking distance of one of the fort's bastions. Uncomfortable with the number of troops available to him, Arnold opted for

3683-508: The Tryon County militia were mustered at Fort Dayton (near modern Herkimer, New York ) by Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer , the committee chairman. By late the next day Herkimer's column had arrived within 10 miles (16 km) of Fort Stanwix where they were joined by about 60 Oneida led by Han Yerry Tewahangarahken . In planning their ambush, Johnson and Butler deferred to Brant, Cornplanter and Sayenqueraghta. On August 6, at

3810-729: The West Indies , particularly to the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas . Certain Loyalists who fled the United States brought their slaves with them to Canada (mostly to areas that later became Ontario and New Brunswick ) where slavery was legal . An imperial law in 1790 assured prospective immigrants to Canada that their slaves would remain their property. However, a law enacted by eminent British lieutenant general and founder of modern Toronto John Graves Simcoe in 1793 entitled

3937-510: The bloody confrontation near Oriskany Creek , the Tryon militia suffered catastrophic casualties, including Herkimer, who received a serious wound to the leg. In a battle that lasted several hours, roughly half of Herkimer's men were killed or captured. St. Leger's indigenous allies also suffered significant casualties. Late in the afternoon St. Leger's detachment withdrew back towards Fort Stanwix. Herkimer (who eventually died of his wounds) and

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4064-586: The jägers , and a company of the Royal Yorkers. The Canadiens, many of the Indian Department rangers, and the rest of the Royal Yorkers were tasked with clearing Wood Creek and the Oneida Carry , which the Americans had blocked with fallen trees. St. Leger's artillery and stores were held up by the same tactic used to slow down Burgoyne's army after the surrender of Fort Ticonderoga . Earlier, Gansevoort had his men systematically fell trees across

4191-658: The 1790s attracted by Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe 's policy of land and low taxes, one-fifth those in the US and swearing an oath of allegiance to the King. The 36,000 or so who went to Nova Scotia were not well received by the 17,000 Nova Scotians, who were mostly descendants of New Englanders settled there before the Revolution. "They [the Loyalists]", Colonel Thomas Dundas wrote in 1786, "have experienced every possible injury from

4318-459: The 18-man delegation. On August 15, the delegation was taken prisoner at Shoemaker Tavern in German Flats . Schuyler received early reports of the action at Oriskany on August 8, and dispatched Ebenezer Learned 's 4th Massachusetts Regiment to relieve the besieged fort the next day. On August 12, even before Willett could reach him, Schuyler held a war council to decide how to deal with

4445-455: The Americans had occupied Fort Stanwix in force when prisoners captured from its garrison were brought to him on the St. Lawrence River . He learned from the prisoners that the fort had been repaired and was "garrisoned by upwards of 600 men" and that "the rebels are expecting us, and are acquainted with our strength and route". Daniel Claus , a British Indian Department superintendent accompanying

4572-541: The Bahamas, and about 13,000 went to Britain (including 5,000 free blacks). The total is 60–62,000 whites. A precise figure cannot be known because the records were incomplete and inaccurate, and small numbers continued to leave after 1783. The 50,000 or so white departures represented about 10% of the Loyalists (at 20–25% of the white population). Loyalists (especially soldiers and former officials) could choose evacuation. Loyalists whose roots were not yet deeply embedded in

4699-492: The British forces were stationed. Elsewhere there were few British troops and the Patriots seized control of all levels of government, as well as supplies of arms and gunpowder. Vocal Loyalists recruited people to their side, often with the encouragement and assistance of royal governors. In the South Carolina back country, Loyalist recruitment outstripped that of Patriots. A brief siege at Ninety Six, South Carolina in

4826-547: The British from 1775 to 1783. This forced the Patriots to also offer freedom to those who would serve in the Continental Army, with thousands of Black Patriots serving in the Continental Army . Americans who gained their freedom by fighting for the British became known as Black Loyalists . The British honored the pledge of freedom in New York City through the efforts of General Guy Carleton , who recorded

4953-457: The British or the Americans. Although some Canadians took up arms in support of the rebellion, the majority remained loyal to the King. French Canadians had been satisfied by the British government's Quebec Act of 1774, which offered religious and linguistic toleration; in general, they did not sympathize with a rebellion that they saw as being led by Protestants from New England , who were their commercial rivals and hereditary enemies. Most of

5080-399: The British side in the Revolution went to London and joined the free black community of about 10,000 there. While men were out fighting for the Crown, women served at home protecting their land and property. At the end of the war, many loyalist men left America for the shelter of England, leaving their wives and daughters to protect their land. The main punishment for Loyalist families was

5207-430: The Crown, and to British Caribbean possessions. Northern Loyalists largely migrated to Ontario , Quebec , New Brunswick , and Nova Scotia . They called themselves United Empire Loyalists . Most were compensated with Canadian land or British cash distributed through formal claims procedures. Loyalists who left the US received over £3 million or about 37% of their losses from the British government. Loyalists who stayed in

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5334-630: The De Lancey, De Peyster, Walton and Cruger families undercut the interlocking families that largely owned and controlled the Hudson Valley. Likewise in Pennsylvania, the departure of powerful families—Penn, Allen, Chew, Shippen—destroyed the cohesion of the old upper class there. Massachusetts passed an act banishing forty-six Boston merchants in 1778, including members of some of Boston's wealthiest families. The departure of families such as

5461-550: The Ervings, Winslows, Clarks, and Lloyds deprived Massachusetts of men who had hitherto been leaders of networks of family and clients. The bases of the men who replaced them were much different. One rich Patriot in Boston noted in 1779 that "fellows who would have cleaned my shoes five years ago, have amassed fortunes and are riding in chariots." New men became rich merchants but they shared a spirit of republican equality that replaced

5588-522: The Hudson River. The British force abandoned the siege, a consequence that helped lead to the defeat of a larger British army during the Saratoga campaign . Fort Stanwix was also the site of the 1768 Treaty of Fort Stanwix between Britain and Native American tribes, as well as of the 1784 Treaty of Fort Stanwix between the tribes and the American government. Besides the fort reconstruction itself,

5715-472: The Loyalists. In areas under Patriot control, Loyalists were subject to confiscation of property , and outspoken supporters of the king were threatened with public humiliation such as tarring and feathering , or physical attack. It is not known how many Loyalist civilians were harassed by the Patriots, but the treatment was a warning to other Loyalists not to take up arms. In September 1775, William Drayton and Loyalist leader Colonel Thomas Fletchall signed

5842-527: The Oneida Carry, creating abatises , and St. Leger needed to clear the path before his artillery could proceed. This work took several days and, as a result, the arrival of the artillery was delayed. On the afternoon of August 3, St. Leger paraded his troops, including the Mohawk in their war paint, in view of the fort. He then sent Indian Department Captain Gilbert Tice under a flag of truce with

5969-400: The Patriots were in control, but Loyalist civilian government was re-established in coastal Georgia from 1779 to 1782, despite the presence of Patriot forces in the northern part of Georgia. Essentially, the British were only able to maintain power in areas where they had a strong military presence. Historian Robert Calhoon wrote in 2000, concerning the proportion of Loyalists to Patriots in

6096-539: The Patriots who took control nearly everywhere in the Thirteen Colonies in 1775–76. Yale historian Leonard Woods Larabee has identified eight characteristics of the Loyalists that made them essentially conservative and loyal to the King and to Britain: Other motives of the Loyalists included: In the opening months of the Revolutionary War, the Patriots laid siege to Boston , where most of

6223-472: The Royal Yorkers), 90 jäger from Hesse-Hanau , and 50 Canadien laborers. His artillery consisted of two six-pound pieces, two three-pounders and four coehorn mortars. He expected these to be adequate for the taking of a dilapidated fort with about 60 defenders, which was the latest intelligence he had when the expedition left Lachine , near Montreal , on June 26. St. Leger first learned that

6350-570: The Thirteen Colonies and expelled all royal officials. No one who openly proclaimed their loyalty to the Crown was allowed to remain, so Loyalists fled or kept quiet. Some of those who remained later gave aid to invading British armies or joined uniformed Loyalist regiments. The British were forced out of Boston by March 17, 1776. They regrouped at Halifax and attacked New York in August, defeating George Washington 's army at Long Island and capturing New York City and its vicinity, and they occupied

6477-487: The Thirteen Colonies: Historians' best estimates put the proportion of adult white male loyalists somewhere between 15 and 20 percent. Approximately half the colonists of European ancestry tried to avoid involvement in the struggle—some of them deliberate pacifists, others recent immigrants, and many more simple apolitical folk. The patriots received active support from perhaps 40 to 45 percent of

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6604-465: The US were generally able to retain their property and become American citizens. Many Loyalists eventually returned to the US after the war and discriminatory laws had been repealed. Historians have estimated that between 15% and 20% (300,000 to 400,000) of the 2,000,000 whites in the colonies in 1775 were Loyalists. Families were often divided during the American Revolution, and many felt themselves to be both American and British, still owing loyalty to

6731-590: The United States provided the strength needed to keep Canada independent and distinct in North America. The Loyalists' basic distrust of republicanism and " mob rule " influenced Canada's gradual path to independence . The new British North American provinces of Upper Canada (the forerunner of Ontario) and New Brunswick were founded as places of refuge for the United Empire Loyalists. In an interesting historical twist Peter Matthews ,

6858-445: The United States were more likely to leave; older people who had familial bonds and had acquired friends, property, and a degree of social respectability were more likely to remain in the US. The vast majority of the half-million white Loyalists, about 20–25% of the total number of whites, remained in the US. Starting in the mid-1780s a small percentage of those who had left returned to the United States. The exiles amounted to about 2% of

6985-580: The United States. According to Jasanoff, the majority of these Loyalists – 36,000 – went to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia , while about 6,600 went to Quebec and 2,000 to Prince Edward Island . About 5,090 white Loyalists went to Florida, bringing along their slaves who numbered about 8,285 (421 whites and 2,561 blacks returned to the States from Florida). When Florida was returned to Spain, however, very few Loyalists remained there. Approximately 6,000 whites went to Jamaica and other Caribbean islands, notably

7112-541: The United States; they stayed on and were allowed to be citizens of the new country, retaining for a time the earlier designation of "Tories". Some became nationally prominent leaders, including Samuel Seabury , who was the first Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and Tench Coxe . There was a small but significant trickle of returnees who found life in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick too difficult. Perhaps 10% of

7239-645: The Unity of the Empire, and joined the Royal Standard before the Treaty of Separation in the year 1783, and all their Children and their Descendants by either sex, are to be distinguished by the following Capitals, affixed to their names: U.E. Alluding to their great principle The Unity of the Empire. The post-nominals "U.E." are rarely seen today, but the influence of the Loyalists on the evolution of Canada remains. Their ties to Britain and/or their antipathy to

7366-521: The actual law was a compromise. According to historian Afua Cooper, Simcoe's law required children in slavery to be freed when they reached age 25 and: Thousands of Iroquois and other Native Americans were expelled from New York and other states and resettled in Canada. The descendants of one such group of Iroquois, led by Joseph Brant (Thayendenegea), settled at Six Nations of the Grand River ,

7493-452: The arrival of the British artillery. The regulars, the six-pounders and the coehorns were positioned on a low rise north of the fort, while most of St. Leger's indigenous allies and the Royal Yorkers were positioned to the south with the three-pounders. St. Leger took advantage of the victory at Oriskany to once again demand the fort's capitulation. Following a brief barrage from the coehorns, St. Leger sent three officers including Butler with

7620-514: The besiegers that he had a much larger force. This misinformation, combined with the departure of many of the indigenous warriors, led St. Leger to abandon the effort and withdraw. St. Leger's failure to advance on Albany contributed to Burgoyne's surrender following the Battles of Saratoga in October 1777. Although St. Leger reached Fort Ticonderoga with some of his forces in late September, he

7747-602: The breakup of ice on the St. Lawrence River and the arrival of British transports in May and June. There would be no further serious attempt to challenge British control of present-day Canada until the War of 1812 . In 1777, 1,500 Loyalist militia took part in the Saratoga campaign in New York, and surrendered with General Burgoyne after the Battles of Saratoga in October. For the rest of

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7874-572: The businesses and residences of downtown Rome. During the 1960s, Rome city leaders lobbied for a fort reconstruction as part of an urban renewal program to help revitalize downtown Rome. Under political pressure from Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY), who was seeking political support in upstate New York, the Park Service reluctantly agreed to build a reconstruction of the Revolutionary War-era fort. The Park Service completed

8001-576: The combined threats of St. Leger and Burgoyne, whose large army was at Fort Edward on the Hudson River. Amid concerns that the withdrawal from Ticonderoga by Major General Arthur St. Clair would be repeated at Stanwix, the council decided, with near unanimity, not to send a relief column to Fort Stanwix. In opposition to the council, Schuyler insisted on a relief expedition, which Arnold offered to lead. In addition to Schuyler's actions, Major General Israel Putnam , based in Peekskill, New York , on August 14 dispatched two regiments (the 1st Canadian and

8128-403: The command of Brigadier General Barry St. Leger , as part of a three-pronged campaign to divide the American colonies. Gansevoort refused the terms of surrender offered by the British, and the siege commenced. According to local folklore , when the Colonial troops raised the flag over the fort on August 3, 1777, it was the first time that the Flag of the United States was flown in battle. It

8255-399: The command of Brigadier General Barry St. Leger . St. Leger's expedition was a diversion in support of Lieutenant General John Burgoyne 's campaign to take control of the Hudson River Valley to the east. One attempt at relief was thwarted early in the siege when a force of New York militia under Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer was ambushed on August 6 at the Battle of Oriskany by

8382-423: The defenders of the fort sallied forth and attacked the enemy camp, looting and destroying enemy stores. Demoralized and reduced in strength, the British withdrew when they heard reports of the approach of yet another relief column, led by General Benedict Arnold . The British forces withdrew through Canada and joined Burgoyne's campaign at Fort Ticonderoga . The British failure to capture the fort and proceed down

8509-406: The disgust of the Radical Whigs the moderate Whigs were advertising in New York newspapers in 1782–83 that Tories who would make no trouble would be welcome on the grounds that their skills and money would help the State's economy. The Moderates prevailed. All anti-Tory laws were repealed in early 1783 except for the law relating to confiscated Tory estates: "... the problem of the loyalists after 1783

8636-510: The exception of the commanding officer ( Banastre Tarleton ). Both white and black Loyalists fought for the British at the Battle of Kemp's Landing in Virginia. Estimates for how many Loyalists emigrated after the war differ. Historian Maya Jasanoff calculated 60,000 in total went to British North America, including about 50,000 whites, however Philip Ranlet estimates that only 20,000 adult white Loyalists went to Canada, while Wallace Brown cites about 80,000 Loyalists in total permanently left

8763-447: The expedition to Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger , an experienced frontier fighter who had served in the French and Indian War . In April 1777, Continental Army Major General Philip Schuyler ordered the 3rd New York Regiment under the command of Colonel Peter Gansevoort to occupy and rehabilitate Fort Stanwix as a defense against British and indigenous incursions from Quebec. Arriving in May, they immediately began working on

8890-587: The expedition, convinced St. Leger to proceed to Oswego on Lake Ontario rather than ascend the Salmon River as originally planned. They arrived at Oswego on July 25, where about 100 British Indian Department rangers from Fort Niagara led by deputy superintendent John Butler joined the expedition. Also at Oswego were Joseph Brant with his Loyalist volunteers and a large contingent of Mohawk warriors. In total about 800 indigenous warriors joined St. Leger's expedition. Many were Seneca led by Cornplanter and Sayenqueraghta , but there were also warriors from

9017-409: The expropriation of property, but married women were protected under " feme covert ", which meant that they had no political identity and their legal rights were absorbed by their husbands. This created an awkward dilemma for the confiscation committees: confiscating the land of such a woman would punish her for her husband's actions. In many cases, the women did not get a choice on if they were labeled

9144-499: The fact that the battle at Oriskany had resulted in many indigenous casualties, this greatly upset the Seneca and Cayuga. They had been told that the regulars and the Loyalists, who had thus far fought relatively little, would do most of the fighting. This breach of trust damaged relations between St. Leger and his indigenous allies, and became instrumental in the eventual failure of the siege. Siege operations began in earnest following

9271-492: The faction of the George Clinton . Most States had rescinded anti-Tory laws by 1787, although the accusation of being a Tory was heard for another generation. Several hundred who had left for Florida returned to Georgia in 1783–84. South Carolina which had seen a bitter bloody internal civil war in 1780–82 adopted a policy of reconciliation that proved more moderate than any other state. About 4500 white Loyalists left when

9398-431: The failure of his campaign in part on St. Leger's failure to penetrate the Mohawk valley, and the lack of sufficient Loyalist support. He believed that a well-placed Loyalist uprising in upstate New York would have diverted enough American resources that either his advance or St. Leger's would have succeeded. He was also hopeful that St. Leger's arrival at Ticonderoga would be sufficient to assist in his retreat. However, he

9525-556: The fall of 1775 was followed by a rapid rise in Patriot recruiting. In what became known as the Snow Campaign , partisan militia arrested or drove out most of the back country Loyalist leadership. North Carolina back country Scots and former Regulators joined forces in early 1776, but they were broken as a force at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge . By July 4, 1776, the Patriots had gained control of virtually all territory in

9652-421: The former elitism. The Patriot reliance on Catholic France for military, financial and diplomatic aid led to a sharp drop in anti-Catholic rhetoric. Indeed, the king replaced the pope as the demon Patriots had to fight against. Anti-Catholicism remained strong among Loyalists, some of whom went to Canada after the war most remained in the new nation. By the 1780s, Catholics were extended legal toleration in all of

9779-417: The fort early on August 2 was too late. The supply convoy, which was accompanied by 100 men from the 9th Massachusetts Regiment, had arrived and been unloaded. Bird and Brant were able to capture the convoy's bateaux captain, however, the supplies and Massachusetts soldiers safely reached the fort. St. Leger arrived at Fort Stanwix on the evening of August 2 with the regulars from the 8th and 34th regiments,

9906-514: The fort had become dilapidated and inactive. The purpose of the conference was to renegotiate the boundary line between Native American lands and white settlements set forth in the Proclamation of 1763 . The British government hoped a new boundary line might bring an end to the rampant frontier violence, which had become costly and troublesome. Native Americans hoped a new, permanent line might hold back white colonial expansion. The final treaty

10033-546: The fort on July 8. Later that month the 3rd New York were joined by a 150 man detachment of the 9th Massachusetts Regiment . St. Leger, who was brevetted a brigadier general for the expedition, assembled a diverse force consisting of about 240 British regulars from the 8th Regiment of Foot , 34th Regiment of Foot and the Royal Artillery , 250 Loyalists from the King's Royal Regiment of New York (also known as

10160-408: The fort resumed on August 9. Work also began on a siege trench that could allow St. Leger's forces to breach the walls of the fort. On August 13, Johnson, Claus and Butler convinced St. Leger that a delegation be sent under a flag of truce to convince the inhabitants of the Mohawk Valley to abandon their support for the rebellion. John Butler's son Walter Butler of the 8th Regiment was chosen to lead

10287-475: The fort's defenses. Although officially renamed Fort Schuyler , it was still widely known by its original name. Warnings from the Oneida that the British were planning an expedition were confirmed by mid-July, spurring the pace of the work. In early July, Gansevoort reported on the state of affairs to Schuyler, noting that provisions and ammunition were in short supply. Schuyler ordered additional supplies sent to

10414-491: The fort, the Americans evacuated the post. Fort Stanwix was eventually destroyed in the 19th century. The site was designated a U.S. National Monument in 1935, although the land itself was then occupied by private businesses and residences in downtown Rome, New York . In 1961 the site was designated a National Historic Landmark , and in 1966 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places . The fort

10541-401: The fort. Shortly after leaving Oswego, a report reached St. Leger that more supplies for the fort were en route via a convoy of bateaux on the Mohawk River. St. Leger immediately dispatched Lieutenant Henry Bird and 30 men from the 8th Regiment to intercept those supplies. Bird was later joined by Brant with his volunteers and the Mohawk. Bird and Brant's arrival at the lower landing near

10668-610: The goal of convincing the residents of Quebec to join the Revolution. Although only a minority of Canadians openly expressed loyalty to King George, about 1,500 militia fought for the King in the Siege of Fort St. Jean . In the region south of Montreal that was occupied by the Continentals, some inhabitants supported the rebellion and raised two regiments to join the Patriot forces. In Nova Scotia , there were many Yankee settlers originally from New England, and they generally supported

10795-627: The influx was greatest in Halifax. Britain in any case built up powerful forces at the naval base of Halifax after the failure of Jonathan Eddy to capture Fort Cumberland in 1776. Although the Continentals captured Montreal in November 1775, they were turned back a month later at Quebec City by a combination of the British military under Governor Guy Carleton , the difficult terrain and weather, and an indifferent local response. The Continental forces would be driven from Quebec in 1776, after

10922-445: The largest First Nations reserve in Canada. (The remainder, under the leadership of Cornplanter (John Abeel) and members of his family, stayed in New York.) A group of African-American Loyalists settled in Nova Scotia but emigrated again for Sierra Leone after facing discrimination there. Many of the Loyalists were forced to abandon substantial properties to America restoration of or compensation for these lost properties, which

11049-567: The largest free black community in North America. However, the long period of waiting time to be officially given land grants that were given to them and the prejudices of white Loyalists in nearby Shelburne who regularly harassed the settlement in events such as the Shelburne Riots in 1784, made life very difficult for the community. In 1791 the Sierra Leone Company offered to transport dissatisfied black Loyalists to

11176-544: The local Patriots, who controlled local and state government. Many people—including former Regulators in North Carolina —refused to join the rebellion, as they had earlier protested against corruption by local authorities who later became Revolutionary leaders. The oppression by the local Whigs during the Regulation led to many of the residents of backcountry North Carolina sitting out the Revolution or siding with

11303-425: The loss of their possessions, threatened to leave. On August 22, St. Leger broke camp and began the trek back to Oswego, leaving behind a sizable amount of equipment. A number of men from St. Leger's party deserted or were captured by the fort's garrison, including Hon Yost. Arnold, whose force was augmented by the arrival of friendly Indians, advanced about 10 miles (16 km) toward Fort Stanwix on August 23 when

11430-452: The mid-1990s, the national monument explained the significance of the national monument to visitors using first-person interpretation to portray the fort immediately after the siege (1777–78), emphasizing life during the American Revolution. More recently, third-person interpretation has extended visitor understanding to the French and Indian War as well as the role played by the fort during

11557-455: The mother country. Maryland lawyer Daniel Dulaney the Younger opposed taxation without representation but would not break his oath to the King or take up arms against him. He wrote: "There may be a time when redress may not be obtained. Till then, I shall recommend a legal, orderly, and prudent resentment". Most Americans hoped for a peaceful reconciliation but were forced to choose sides by

11684-403: The mouth of the Hudson River until 1783. British forces seized control of other cities, including Philadelphia (1777), Savannah, Georgia (1778–83), and Charleston, South Carolina (1780–82). But 90% of the colonial population lived outside the cities, with the effective result that Congress represented 80 to 90 percent of the population. The British removed their governors from colonies where

11811-569: The names of African Americans who had supported the British in a document called the Book of Negroes , which granted freedom to slaves who had escaped and assisted the British. About 4,000 Black Loyalists went to the British colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick , where they were promised land grants. They founded communities across the two provinces, many of which still exist today. Over 2,500 settled in Birchtown, Nova Scotia , instantly making it

11938-535: The nascent colony of Sierra Leone in West Africa, with the promise of better land and more equality. About 1,200 left Nova Scotia for Sierra Leone, where they named the capital Freetown . After 1787 they became Sierra Leone's ruling elite during the colonial era and their descendants, the Sierra Leone Creoles , are the cultural elites of the nation. About 400 to 1,000 free blacks who joined

12065-408: The national monument includes three short trails that encircle it, one of which follows a portion of the Oneida Carry . The Marinus Willett Collections Management and Education Center preserves the monument's 485,000 artifacts and documents, displays exhibits about Fort Stanwix and the Mohawk Valley , and serves as a regional tourism center. Fort Stanwix was constructed in 1758 to guard a portage,

12192-587: The nature of Loyalist support as follows: The largest number of loyalists were found in the middle colonies : many tenant farmers of New York supported the king , for example, as did many of the Dutch in the colony and in New Jersey . The Germans in Pennsylvania tried to stay out of the Revolution, just as many Quakers did, and when that failed, clung to the familiar connection rather than embrace

12319-545: The negotiation of a series of treaties with Native Americans. A new visitor center was added in 2005. The monument is currently open year around, operated by the National Park Service. Siege of Fort Stanwix The siege of Fort Stanwix (also known as Fort Schuyler ) began on August 2, 1777, and ended on August 22, 1777. Fort Stanwix , at the western end of the Mohawk River Valley ,

12446-588: The new. Highland Scots in the Carolinas , a fair number of Anglican clergy and their parishioners in Connecticut and New York , a few Presbyterians in the southern colonies , and a large number of the Iroquois stayed loyal to the king. After the British military capture of New York City and Long Island it became the British military and political base of operations in North America from 1776 to 1783, prompting revolutionaries to flee and resulting in

12573-470: The old inhabitants of Nova Scotia, who are even more disaffected towards the British Government than any of the new States ever were. This makes me much doubt their remaining long dependent." In response, the colony of New Brunswick , until 1784 part of Nova Scotia, was created for the 14,000 who had settled in those parts. Of the 46,000 who went to Canada, 10,000 went to Quebec, especially what

12700-409: The principles of the revolution. The allegiance toward the rebellion waned as American privateers raided Nova Scotia communities throughout the war. As well, the Nova Scotia government used the law to convict people for sedition and treason for supporting the rebel cause. There was also the influence of an influx of recent immigration from the British isles, and they remained neutral during the war, and

12827-656: The refugees to New Brunswick returned to the States as did an unknown number from Nova Scotia. Some Massachusetts Tories settled in the Maine District . Nevertheless, the vast majority never returned. Captain Benjamin Hallowell, who as Mandamus Councilor in Massachusetts served as the direct representative of the Crown, was considered by the insurgents as one of the most hated men in the Colony, but as

12954-495: The royal governor of New Jersey and son of Patriot leader Benjamin Franklin , became the leader of the Loyalists after his release from a Patriot prison in 1778. He worked to build Loyalist military units to fight in the war. Woodrow Wilson wrote that "there had been no less than twenty-five thousand loyalists enlisted in the British service during the five years of the fighting. At one time (1779) they had actually outnumbered

13081-438: The siege, although it was a dangerous and unpopular posting because of regular harassment by Loyalists and hostile Indians. In the spring of 1779 the Continental Army used the fort as a staging ground for the destruction of Onondaga Castle . In 1780, the garrison was blockaded for several days by a large force of Indians led by Joseph Brant. Finally, in the spring of 1781, when flood and fire (most likely arson) destroyed most of

13208-615: The slaves in the South joined the Loyalists with intentions of gaining freedom and escaping the South. About 800 did so; some helped rout the Virginia militia at the Battle of Kemp's Landing and fought in the Battle of Great Bridge on the Elizabeth River , wearing the motto "Liberty to Slaves", but this time they were defeated. The remains of their regiment were then involved in the evacuation of Norfolk , after which they served in

13335-488: The surviving militia also retreated rather than continue their advance. The confrontation came at a cost to St. Leger. Gansevoort's besieged troops took advantage of the absence of a sizable part of St. Leger's force to make a sortie , in which Gansevoort's second-in-command, Lieutenant Colonel Marinus Willett , led 250 men out and looted the nearly empty indigenous and Royal Yorkers camps of "several wagon-loads of spoils", including Johnson's personal papers and orderly book,

13462-420: The terms. Threats were made that the indigenous troops would massacre the garrison and destroy the Mohawk valley communities from which the garrison was drawn if the fort did not surrender. In an eloquent refusal, Gansevoort responded, "By your uniform you are British officers. Therefore let me tell you that the message you have brought is a degrading one for a British officer to send and by no means reputable for

13589-580: The time. They were opposed by the Patriots or Whigs, who supported the revolution, and considered them "persons inimical to the liberties of America." Prominent Loyalists repeatedly assured the British government that many thousands of them would spring to arms and fight for the Crown. The British government acted in expectation of that, especially during the Southern campaigns of 1780 and 1781. Britain

13716-533: The total US population of 3 million at the end of the war in 1783. After 1783 some former Loyalists, especially Germans from Pennsylvania, emigrated to Canada to take advantage of the British government's offer of free land. Many departed the fledgling United States because they faced continuing hostility. In another migration-motivated mainly by economic rather than political reasons- more than 20,000 and perhaps as many as 30,000 "Late Loyalists" arrived in Ontario in

13843-441: The war ended, but the majority remained behind. The state government successfully and quickly reincorporated the vast majority. During the war, pardons were offered to Loyalists who switched sides and joined the Patriot forces. Others were required to pay a 10% fine of the value of the property. The legislature named 232 Loyalists liable for the confiscation of their property, but most appealed and were forgiven. In Connecticut much to

13970-493: The war, Quebec acted as a base for raiding expeditions, conducted primarily by Loyalists and Indians, against frontier communities. The Loyalists rarely attempted any political organization. They were often passive unless regular British army units were in the area. The British, however, assumed a highly activist Loyalist community was ready to mobilize and planned much of their strategy around raising Loyalist regiments. The British provincial line, consisting of Americans enlisted on

14097-448: The white populace, and at most no more than a bare majority. Before Calhoon's work, estimates of the Loyalist share of the population were somewhat higher, at about one-third, but these estimates are now rejected as too high by most scholars. In 1968 historian Paul H. Smith estimated there were about 400,000 Loyalists, or 16% of the white population of 2.25 million in 1780. Historian Robert Middlekauff summarized scholarly research on

14224-516: The whole of the continental muster under the personal command of Washington." When their cause was defeated, about 15 percent of the Loyalists (65,000–70,000 people) fled to other parts of the British Empire ; especially to the Kingdom of Great Britain itself, or to British North America (present day Canada ). The southern Loyalists moved mostly to Florida , which had remained loyal to

14351-527: Was a major issue during the negotiation of the Jay Treaty in 1794. Two successive boards were formed, and under a new convention signed in 1802 by the United States and Great Britain for the mutual payment of claims, the US paid the sum of £600,000, while only £1,420,000 of nearly £5 million in claims considered by commissioners in Britain were judged to be good. The great majority of Loyalists never left

14478-412: Was a primary defense point for the Continental Army against the British and indigenous forces aligned against them during the American Revolutionary War . The fort was occupied by Continental Army forces from New York and Massachusetts under the command of Colonel Peter Gansevoort . The besieging force was composed of British regulars , Loyalist soldiers, Hessians , and indigenous warriors, under

14605-453: Was abandoned in 1768 and allowed to go to ruin. The fort was reoccupied by Colonial troops under the command of Colonel Elias Dayton on July 12, 1776. They began reconstruction and renamed it Fort Schuyler, although many continued to call it Fort Stanwix. Colonel Peter Gansevoort took over command of the fort on May 3, 1777. On August 3, 1777, the fort was besieged by The King's 8th Regiment of Foot , Loyalists, and Native Americans, under

14732-658: Was able to effectively protect the people only in areas where they had military control, and in return, the number of military Loyalists was significantly lower than what had been expected. Due to conflicting political views, loyalists were often under suspicion of those in the British military, who did not know whom they could fully trust in such a conflicted situation; they were often looked down upon. Patriots watched suspected Loyalists very closely and would not tolerate any organized Loyalist opposition. Many outspoken or militarily active Loyalists were forced to flee, especially to their stronghold of New York City . William Franklin ,

14859-440: Was already surrounded by the time St. Leger arrived at Ticonderoga, and surrendered after the Battle of Bemis Heights (second Saratoga). In an analysis after the surrender, Burgoyne noted that the failure of General William Howe to support him made it possible for Washington to divert resources from the area around New York City to assist both in the relief of Stanwix and at Saratoga. Fort Stanwix itself saw little action after

14986-421: Was assured by holding his brother hostage. Arnold's stratagem met with some success. St. Leger recorded on August 21 that "Arnold was advancing, by rapid and forced marches, with 3,000 men", even though Arnold was still at Fort Dayton on that day. When St. Leger held a council, about 200 of his indigenous allies had already abandoned the camp, and in the council those that remained, unhappy with siege warfare and

15113-479: Was conducted at the fort between the Americans and the Native Americans in 1784. During the War of 1812 a blockhouse was built on the parade ground. Beginning in 1828 the fortifications were dismantled. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed enabling legislation that created the national monument on August 21, 1935; at that time, the land that would ultimately be used for the monument was occupied by

15240-564: Was living at Canajoharie , that an American relief column was marching up the Mohawk Valley. Upon receiving the news from Brant, St. Leger immediately dispatched Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Johnson with a company of his Royal Yorkers, Brant with his volunteers, Butler with a detachment of rangers, a detachment of jägers , and several hundred indigenous warriors to block the American advance. The Tryon County Committee of Safety received news of St. Leger's movements on July 30 and began to assemble reinforcements. On August 4, about 800 men from

15367-492: Was reconstructed in the 1970s by the National Park Service , creating the current Fort Stanwix National Monument . The first official US flag was flown during battle on August 3, 1777, at Fort Schuyler. The Continental Congress adopted the following resolution on June 14, 1777: "Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white, on

15494-468: Was resolved in their favor after the War of Independence ended." In 1787 the last of any discriminatory laws were rescinded. The departure of so many royal officials, rich merchants and landed gentry destroyed the hierarchical networks that had dominated most of the colonies. A major result was that a Patriot/Whig elite supplanted royal officials and affluent Tories. In New York, the departure of key members of

15621-650: Was secured from red flannel petticoats of officers' wives, while material for the blue union was secured from Captain Abraham Swartwout's blue cloth coat. A voucher shows that Congress paid him for the coat. Loyalist (American Revolution) Loyalists were colonists in the Thirteen Colonies who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War , often referred to as Tories , Royalists , or King's Men at

15748-472: Was seized by the Rebels and she spent the rest of her life fighting to regain it. It was returned to her heirs in 1783, after she and her husband had died. Patriots allowed women to become involved in politics in a larger scale than the loyalists. Some women involved in political activity include Catharine Macaulay (a loyalist) and Mercy Otis Warren who were both writers during this time. Both women maintained

15875-520: Was signed on November 5 and extended the earlier proclamation much further west. The Iroquois had effectively ceded Kentucky to the whites. However, the tribes who actually used the Kentucky lands, primarily Shawnee , Delaware , and Cherokee , had no role in the negotiations. Rather than secure peace, the Fort Stanwix treaty helped set the stage for the next round of hostilities. Fort Stanwix

16002-626: Was then frequently called "Canada", the name of the earlier French province ) in the months leading to the outbreak of active hostilities. John Brown , an agent of the Boston Committee of Correspondence , worked with Canadian merchant Thomas Walker and other rebel sympathisers during the winter of 1774–1775 to convince inhabitants to support the actions of the First Continental Congress . However, many of Quebec's inhabitants remained neutral, resisting service to either

16129-568: Was too late to aid Burgoyne. Fort Stanwix occupied a strategic western portage known as the Oneida Carrying Place (site of modern Rome, New York ) between the Mohawk River , which flowed southeast to the Hudson River , and Wood Creek , whose waters ultimately led to Lake Ontario . Built by the British in 1758 during the French and Indian War on the only dry ground in the area, the fort had fallen into disrepair. When

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