The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter dated head-quarters, Tioga, August 15, 1779.

"On the 11th instant we arrived at Tioga without damage or opposition. I will not attempt a description of the country between this and Wyoming, lest you should suppose it impossible for an army to move with such rapidity through it. Every difficulty that mountains, swamps, and defiles could throw in our way we encountered; and notwithstanding the many dangerous situations we were placed in, not an Indian ever presented himself to our view.

On our way up, Colonel Proctor, who commanded the fleet of batteaux, landed a few men and burnt a town called New Kittanning, about fifteen miles below this. On a rock before the town the Indians had painted a face, one half red and the other black, emblematical of their dark and bloody method of prosecuting war.

On the night of the 12th instant, the whole army moved from this place to Chemung, in order to surprise a number of Indians that lay there: About day break we arrived, but they having previous intelligence of our march, evacuated the town, and retired to a height several miles back. The town was set on fire, and the light infantry ordered to move forward; some distance from the town the Indians fired on them, fifteen fell, six killed and nine wounded, among the latter Captain Carbury and Adjutant Hutton of the 11th Pennsylvania regiment. Our men, without being the least staggered, returned the fire, and instantly charged them with fixed bayonets. General Hand led on the charge with that intrepid firmness which never fails of success. The Indians not willing to wait the approach of our bayonets, fled with precipitation. What loss they sustained we have not been able to ascertain. I believe it very trifling.

A party was sent over the Cayuga branch to cut down a large field of corn opposite to Chemung. A few Indians having crept up near the field fired upon them, killed one man and wounded five, so that our whole loss amounted to seven killed and fourteen wounded.

After we had completed the destruction of the corn, the army retired immediately back to Tioga. Perhaps a greater and difficult march never was performed; in 24 hours we marched at least 40 miles through a wild and mountainous country. During the whole of this time, General Sullivan, with the most unwearied diligence, attended to every part of his army, practising every stratagem of war to effect a complete surprise, and would in all probability have succeeded had not the distance been so great. Notwithstanding the General's ill state of health, he has in every instance exerted himself in a most surprising manner, and plainly shown that nothing but his industry could have put this army so soon in motion. What we are to expect from his activity and enterprise some future time must unfold."