the unreliability of the Indians, and defeated its further prosecu tion.

A half idiot, named Hon Yost 4 Schuyler, a nephew to

General Herkimer,

who had been taken to Canada by Walter

Butler, burst into the British camp almost out of breath, and delivered the story that the Americans, in numbers like the forest leaves, were approaching ; that he himself had barely escaped with his life, in testimony of which he appealed to his coat which

The old fort was erected during the French and Indian war of 1755, and its site.

subsequently became a point of much importance in transactions with the Six

Nations.

Johnson's Royal Greens.

Leger's detachment was sent to Oswego, there to unite with Butler's refugees and Brant's Indians, and with them to penetrate the country from that St.

point, capture Fort Schuyler,

sweep the

valley of the Mohawk, and join Burgoyne at

Albany.

Colonel Claus (Colonial History, viu, the following particulars:

721) gives

"

During the action (at Oriskany), when garrison found the Indians' camp

the

(who went out

against

their reinforcements) empty, they boldly sallied out with three hundred men and two field pieces, and took away the Indians' packs, with their clothes, wampum and silver

work, they having gone in their shirts, or naked, to action. The disappointment was rather greater to the Indians than their loss, for they had nothing to cover themselves with at night, against the weather, and nothing in our camp to supply them." *

Jan jfoost, John Justus.