War Over, Washington Visited Clinton’s Dam Site At Susquehanna Source

2-12-10

By JIM KEVLIN : COOPERSTOWN

Some historians say nay, but they would have to argue with Jeptha R. Simms.
In response to 1931-32 reports that George Washington, on his farewell tour as commander of the Continental Army in 1783, had completely avoided the Mohawk Valley.
In seeking to disprove this canard, Simms, a “well-known historian of the Mohawk Valley,” dug up considerable detail about Washington’s visit to the mouth of the Susquehanna River, which Gen. James Clinton had dammed in 1779 and, blowing it up, floated his troops past Oneonta to modern-day Afton, where they destroyed the Iroquois headquarters village of Oquaga.
Simms findings, which relied on diaries and letters of settlers in Herkimer County during the Revolution, as well as family stories handed down for a generation or two, were reported in The Freeman’s Journal of Wednesday, July 31, 1935, and discovered recently by Town of Otsego Historian Tom Heitz in the archives of the New York State Historical Association.
The report lays detail upon detail of Washington’s visit to Fort Plain and Palatine.
On July 31, 1783, for instance, Washington dined with a Colonel Clyde, “a true Whig and brave officer” whom he later appointed Montgomery County sheriff.
After dinner, Washington’s party proceeded to Cherry Valley, where the spent the night at Colonel Campbell’s, who had returned not long before (from the war) and erected a log house,” where they were agreeably entertained.”
The next morning, Washington, seeing the Campbell boys at play, said to their mother, “they would make fine soldiers in time.”
Mrs. Campbell – she and her sons had been kidnapped in the Cherry Valley massacre and kept hostage throughout the war – replied “she hoped their services would never be thus needed.”
And Washington said, “I hope so too, madam, for I have seen enough of war,” Simms related.
“After breakfast,” Simms continued, “the party were early in the saddle to visit the outlet of Otsego lake, and see where Gen. Jaems Clinton dammed the lake, just above its outlet.”
The party returned to Fort Plain “that same evening ...via the portage road opened by Clinton to Springfield from Canajoharie.”  Today, that would be the Continental Road, East Springfield.