Near Oriskany in Oneida County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
I Will Face The Enemy
— 8th stop on the walking tour —
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 15, 2010
1. I Will Face The Enemy Marker
Gen. Nicholas Herkimer, wounded early in the battle, was carried to a safer spot beneath a beech tree now marked by a stone monument. Although urged by his militiamen to retire from danger, he replied: "I will face the enemy!"Directing the battle while leaning against his saddle and smoking his old black pipe, Herkimer noticed that the Indians were watching the white puffs of smoke from the militamen's muskets. The Indians knew that in the few seconds it would take to reload, they could rush in to attack with their tomahawks.
After a violent thunderstorm caused a one-hour lull in the battle, Herkimer had his men regroup on higher ground. This time they would fight by twos, so that while one reloaded the other fired. This strategy quickly discouraged the Indians, who soon retreated from the battlefield.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • Military • Native Americans • War, US Revolutionary.
Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 43° 10.559′
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Near This Spot (a few steps from this marker); The Ambush: August 6, 1777 (a few steps from this marker); Aftermath of a Tragedy (within shouting distance of this marker); The Military Road (within shouting distance of this marker); Ambush Started Here (within shouting distance of this marker); Here the Battle of Oriskany Was Fought (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Relief for Fort Stanwix (about 500 feet away); Welcome to Oriskany Battlefield (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oriskany.
More about this marker. This historical marker is the 8th stop in a walking tour of the Oriskany Battlefield.
Regarding I Will Face The Enemy. I stopped by this historic site on my journey to visit with my daughter's family in Connecticut. Upon arriving at in the parking area I noticed that there were some new markers, so I took the full walking tour and noticed several changes to this park site.
First, when I made my original trip here
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 15, 2010
2. I Will Face The Enemy Marker
View of the historical marker with the number eight on it's support stand, indicating that this marker is the 8th stop on the Oriskany Battlefield walking tour.
Second, it appeared that the National Park Service had made some improvements to the park, including changing the course of the steep walking trail through the ravine at the ambush site, removing some old and faded markers, and added some new and different markers.
From talking with the park ranger it would appear that this marker was one of the old and faded historical markers that was removed and that there is no intention of replacing this specific historical marker.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 15, 2010
3. I Will Face The Enemy Marker
View looking northwest of the historical marker in the right foreground and of the Oriskany Battlefield Monument in the left background.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 15, 2010
4. I Will Face The Enemy Marker
View looking west, from the backside of the historical marker, of the stone marker, next to the beech tree that marked the spot where the wounded General Herkimer had been carried to direct the battle.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 683 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 20, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.
