There are three places in the Mohawk Valley that when I visit, my hair stands up on the back of my neck, Oriskany Battlefield is one of them. I have spent many hours there looking over this ravine, and hillside, and gaze upon this 85 foot tall monument, and there, at the base are four bronze plaques that tells of the battle, and here on one of them is a list of some of the men who fought here. On this plaque is my ancestor, Robert Flint's five sons, known as the 'Five Fighting Flints,' all fought, and survived this horrible, bloody battle on August 6, 1777. I stood there, and read the names of these men, and when I came to my ancestors, I felt a strange sensation go through my whole body, and again, I felt their presence, as I have at the Ancient Flint Burial a few years earlier. I knew they were there watching me, and I knew all 500 militiamen who died out of 800 men were there as well. A few years earlier, when I located, and restored my ancestors final resting place, I felt the same feeling, that's when I was told by Robert Flint the Pioneer to write their story, and write about what the Mohawk Valley had gone through. This battle was a major fight to protect the un-protected Mohawk Valley, it was here that the Tryon militia brigade led by General Herkimer marched from Fort Dayton to Fort Stanwix forty miles away to stop the advancing St. Ledger from taking Fort Stanwix, and gaining a foot hold into the valley. In a days march General Herkimer camped at Whitesboro, and made camp with his men with nearly 400 ox carts of supplies. He never knew that St. Ledger could not capture Fort Stanwix, and he never knew that the Mohawks, and Seneca, along with John Johnson and his Royal Greens, as well as Joseph Brant were already taking up position across the ravine that was a dense forest overlooking the military road. This was the only way any force, or wagons could move from Fort Stanwix into the Mohawk Valley. General Herkimer knew his brother, was maybe with his enemies, as he knew, as well as many, that his brother was a Torie. Many distrusted General Herkimer for this, but many knew his loyalty as well. On August 6, Colonel Cox, one of General Herkimer's commander as well as Colonel Isaac Paris demanded General Herkimer to quit stalling, and move forward. I can only imagine what took place in that camp, with so many distrusting, and so many true followers torn between these two brave men. In time General Herkimer yelled out, "Prepare to march!"
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