Revolution in the Mohawk Valley

Revolution in the Mohawk Valley. Herkimer County Historical Society. , [First Frame of Text]: Fort Dayton, During the American Revolution the residents of this area were protected by Fort Dayton. It stood right here, in the area bounded by North Main, East German, North Washington and Court Streets. The fort was built in the summer of 1776 by the Third New Jersey Regiment of the Continental Army under the command of Colonel Elias Dayton., In 1777 General Nicholas Herkimer mustered the Tryon County Militia here to march west to the aid of Fort Stanwix. They were fatally ambushed at Oriskany, five miles short of their goal. By 1781 Fort Dayton had become the westernmost military outpost in New York State. It was dismantled shortly after the close of the American Revolution., Colonel Elias Dayton, a veteran of earlier frontier wars, directed the rebuilding of Fort Stanwix before constructing Fort Dayton. His son Jonathan served under George Washington and later speculated in western lands, including what is now Dayton, Ohio. , Col. Dayton, New York Public Library, [Second Frame of Text]:, During the American Revolution, almost half of the military actions in New York State occurred along the strategic corridor of the Mohawk Valley. In 1777 British, Native American and Loyalist battalions attacked from the west and north. Defeats at Fort Stanwix and elsewhere forced a British surrender at Saratoga, the war's turning point., The bloodshed at Oriskany in 1777 was one of many encounters between former neighbors on the battlefield. In this region the Revolution was a civil war that divided families and communities, both European and Native American. Many stayed loyal to the British King and were forced to move, forfeiting their property. The remainder took up arms or struggled to remain neutral., For seven long years enemy raids terrorized the Mohawk Valley, periodically burning the fertile farms of this "bread basket" of New York. By 1783, the region had been reduced to little more than fortified homesteads, militia posts and abandoned fields., Explore the many sides of America's revolution for independence. Visit the Revolutionary War Heritage Trail sites of the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor., [Revolutionary War Heritage Sites by Regions]:, Western Region , 1. Shako:wi Oneida Cultural Center, Oneida , 2. Fort Stanwix National Monument, Rome , 3. Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site, Oriskany , 4. Steuben Memorial State Historic Site, Remsen , 5. Oneida County Historical Society, Utica , 6. Herkimer County Historical Society, Herkimer , 7. Fort Herkimer Church, German Flatts , 8. Herkimer Home State Historic Site, Little Falls , 9. Indian Castle Church, Danube, Central Region , 10. Margaret Reaney Memorial Library, St. Johnsville , 11. Nellis Tavern, St. Johnsville 12. Fort Klock, St. Johnsville 13. Fort Plain Museum, Fort Plain , 14. Palatine Church, Town of Palatine , 15. Stone Arabia Preservation Society, Stone Arabia , 16. Van Alstyne Homestead, Canajoharie , 17. Cherry Valley Museum, Cherry Valley , 18. Johnstown: Johnson Hall State Historic Site, Battle of Johnstown, Drumm House, Tryon County Courthouse, Fort Johnstown , 19. Montgomery Co. History and Archives, Fonda , 20. Old Fort Johnson, Fort Johnson , 21. Guy Park, Amsterdam , 22. Old Stone Fort Museum, Schoharie , 23. Palatine House, Schoharie , 24. Battle of Flockey, Fultonham, Eastern Region , 25. Mabee Farm, Rotterdam Junction , 26. Schenectady Stockade, Schenectady , 27. Philip Schuyler Country House, Schuylerville , 28. Saratoga National Historical Park, Stillwater , 29. Van Schaick Mansion, Cohoes , 30. Crailo State Historic Site, Rensselaer , 31. Albany: Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, Ten Broeck Mansion ,