of August 1762. Despite his relatively junior
rank, he had acquired the reputation as a skill-
ful frontier fighter.
The onset of the American Revolution in
April 1775 found St. Leger functioning as lieu-
tenant colonel of the 34th Foot. In this capac-
ity he assisted Governor-Gen. Sir Guy Carle-
tonin his efforts to drive American forces
from Canada in the summer and fall of 1776.
However, the following spring Sir John Bur-
goyne arrived in Quebec with authorization
to mount a major offensive intent upon cap-
turing Albany, New York. Such a move was
envisioned to sever New England from the
rest of the colonies, thereby hastening the
revolution’s demise. Burgoyne, in concert
with Lord George Germain, secretary of
state for the colonies, proposed a three-
pronged operation to maximize British fight-
ing potential. The general would lead 8,000
men from Canada, down the Lake Champlain
Valley, to menace Albany directly. Concur-
rently, a second column under Gen. William
Howewas to advance up the Hudson River
to the south, taking Albany from the rear. To
facilitate these two operations, a third, diver-
sionary force would march from Oswego,
New York, into the Mohawk Valley and
siphon off American resources from the prin-
cipal theater. This expedition would also rally
numerous Loyalists to the colors. Burgoyne
selected St. Leger specifically to conduct this
offensive, based upon his reputation for fron-
tier warfare, and granted him the local rank
of brigadier general.
St. Leger’s expedition assembled at Mon-
treal, departing there on June 23, 1777. It con-
sisted of nearly 1,000 men, including British
regulars, some Hessian marksmen, some
Canadians, and various Loyalist rangers
under John Butlerand John Johnson. En
route they were joined by nearly 1,000 Mo-
hawk Indians under Chiefs Joseph Brant
and Cornplanter. St. Leger’s initial objective
was Fort Stanwix (present-day Rome, New
York), built by England during the French and
Indian War, since abandoned, and believed to
be in poor condition. For this reason, and to
facilitate rapid movement, St. Leger took only
two six-pounder and two three-pounder can-
nons and a handful of small mortars. Trans-
porting heavier ordnance through the wilder-
ness was viewed as impractical and—at the
time—unnecessary. With Fort Stanwix se-
cured, he would sweep through the Mohawk
Valley, gathering strength as Loyalists joined,
and rendezvous Burgoyne somewhere in the
vicinity of Saratoga, New York.
St. Leger departed Oswego on July 25,
1777, and groped inland toward Fort Stanwix.
However, unknown to him, the Americans
under Col. Peter Gansevoort had strength-
ened that post since the spring and rendered
it quite impregnable. Indian advanced parties
arrived outside the fort only moments after a
column of 200 reinforcements entered, which
brought Gansevoort’s garrison up to 750 men.
Once St. Leger personally inspected the
works, he dejectedly concluded that it was
beyond his means to storm and decided upon
a regular siege. Beforehand, he tried awing
the garrison into submission by parading his
entire force before them. The expedient back-
fired, however, when the Americans noticed
the large proportion of Indians present and
realized what defeat entailed for themselves
and their families. Ganesvoort consequently
rejected all surrender demands and prepared
to fight to the last. The siege commenced in
early August and made little progress owing
to the lack of heavy cannons. Worse, word
was received that an 800-man relief force
under Gen. Nicholas Herkimer was en route
to the fort. On August 6, 1777, St. Leger sent
his rangers under Butler and Johnson, and all
of his Indians, to deal with the newcomers.
The ensuing Battle of Oriskany was techni-
cally a British victory, for the Americans were
successfully ambushed and driven back. The
Mohawks did most of the fighting, however,
and took the heaviest losses. Worse, while the
battle was under way, a successful sortie was
launched from Fort Stanwix under Lt. Col.
Marinus Willett, who stormed St. Leger’s
camp and plundered all the Indians’ supplies
and blankets. The loss of such essentials en-ST. LEGER, BARRY