The Oriskany Battle of Having played a key role in repulsing St. Leger's western army, Oneidas rushed east to Saratoga where they served with distinction in the campaign ending in another British defeat. American victories in 1777 prompted France and other European nations to join the war against Great Britain. For England, now embroiled in a world war against European rivals, the revolt of the American colonies became a sideshow. France's aid proved to be decisive in the winning of American independence. The events of 1777, therefore, were crucial to the outcome of the Revolutionary War. In that year of destiny, the Oneida Nation contributed more to the birth of the United States than any other community of comparable size in the colonies. The biggest winner in Oneida involvement led by Hanyery was the United States. Vengeance No one knows whether Hanyery and Brant met at Oriskany. A series of retaliatory measures after the battle suggests each one sought revenge against the other.
1. Tory Iroquois destroyed Oriska because Hanyery and his people helped the Americans at the battle. The Oneidas of Oriska about fifty in number, including women and children, had all their habitations stock and provisions destroyed by the enemy because they had joined General Herkimer. -- (American Philip Schuyler, 15 March 1778)[Penrose 1981:119-20] The Indian action near Fort Stanwix happening near a settlement of Oneida Indians in the rebels interest, who were at the same time in arms against our part; the Six Nation Indians, after the action, burnt their houses, destroyed their fields, crops, &c. Killed and carried away their Cattle. -- (British Daniel Claus, 6 November 1777) [DRCHSNY 8:725] 2. Then Hanyery seized property from Molly Brant, Joseph's sister who had warned of the approaching Americans: the rebel Oneidas, after our retreat, revenged upon Joseph's sister and her family (living in the Upper Mohawk town) on Joseph's account; robbing them of cash, clothes, cattle &c and driving them from their home. -- (Daniel Claus, 6 November 1777[ibid.]
Hanyery, it was said, moved into Molly Brant's house (Graymont 1972:147; Kelsay 1984:209). The otherwise homeless Oriska Oneidas apparently lived in Mohawk houses at Canajoharie throughout the rest of the war (Hammond 1939 3:133; Kelsay 1984:335). 3. Brant lashed out at the Oneidas whenever he could. Hanyery received a commission as captain in the American army in 1779 (Penrose 1981:99). His exploits during the remainder of the war are undocumented.
Property losses suffered by Brant and Hanyery in 1777 were listed as follows (Pickering 62:160; Guldenzopf 1986:206):
Brant was the richer man (372 v. 287 pounds in claimed personal property). Brant said that he owned 592 acres. Hanyery was not listed as private owner of any land because Oneida land was property held in common by the Oneida Nation. The British government reimbursed Brant for all of his claimed losses -- promptly and completely (Kelsay 1984:390-91). The American government never compensated Hanyery. Finally, in 1795, the U.S. reimbursed Hanyery's widow less than half the amount claimed lost (120 pounds). Excusing themselves for awarding Hanyery so little, the Americans noted that he was already "greatly reimbursed by the Mohawk's property" -- presumably meaning Molly Brant's possessions. Brant lost his Mohawk Valley homeland. The Crown, however, awarded Brant and his followers an estimated one million acres on the Grand River in Ontario (Kelsay 1984:371). Now known as the Six Nations Reserve, the tract still inhabited by the descendants of the Tory Iroquois who relocated there with Brant after the war. Brant won great renown during the war, becoming probably the best known American native person in the world. Though often the center of controversy, he enjoyed considerable prestige and civil power on the reserve. Hanyery won little fame for his part in the war. In 1784, New York State confiscated Hanyery's village of Oriska by legislative act (end note 3). But "these poor people of Orisca fought with you," an incredulous Oneida protested to New York's governor in 1788 (Hough 1861 1:238). Hanyery was always proud of the heroic services he rendered to his American allies. His last recorded act was to request American uniforms for himself and his sons as they undertook a mission to the West on behalf of the U.S. (O'Reilly Papers 9: Israel Chapin to Timothy Pickering, June 1793).
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Molly fled but there is no evidence Oneidas drove her from her home or threatened her. However, Oriska Oneidas did join with other Mohawk Valley residents to loot the homes of Tories (including Mohawks) around Canajoharie. "At the head of these affairs" was Peter Dygart, chairman of the German Flats (district) Committee of Safety (
