Wargame Scenarios Involving Indians

Iroquois: Chemung Valley
in New York. 1779

by Rudy Scott Nelson


Background

In retaliation for the Wyoming Valley and Cherry Valley raids, a large Patriot force under Gen. Sullivan planned to knock the Iroquois out of the war by destroying their towns and crops. It is interesting to note that most of the burned towns would belong to the Seneca nation, the main participants in the above raids.. The main battle of the expedition occurred at a ford which was the main pathway into Iroquois country. The Loyalist and Indians fortified the ridge that overlooked the ford but were vastly outnumbered. The patriots crossed at several points and tried to encircle the defenders. The Tories retired early upon seeing the danger of encirclement. The Iroquois stayed as long as possible and was barely able to retreat through the swamps. After the battle, the Sullivan expedition continued its pillaging of Iroquois towns with only a few minor skirmishes. The Iroquois moved their people to the protection of British forts whose commanders fed them. The Sullivan plan did not work since the Iroquois returned to raid again the next year.

Forces

Loyalist = 315 Tories under Col J. Butler, 200 Butler's Rangers, 100 Royal Green, 15 from the 8th Foot + 500 (some as high as 1000) Iroquois under Brant.
Patriot under Sullivan = Maxwell's NJ Brigade of 1400: 1st NJ- 351, 2nd NJ-371, 3rd NJ- 353, Spencers Rgt- 319 + Poor's NH Brigade of 1300 : 1st NH- 447, 2nd NH- 332, 3rd NH- 288, 2nd NY- 248 + Hand PA Brigade of 800: 11th PA- 366, German Bn- 372, Schott's Company- 51, other independent troops- 89 + Artillery consisting of 2 x Lgt 6 pdrs, 4 x 3 pdrs, 2 Lgt howitzers. A second column under Gen. James Clinton of 1800 men attacked the Iroquois from a different direction so were not at the battle.

Wargame Scenarios

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© Copyright 1999 by Rudy Scott Nelson
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