Battle of Klock's Field
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Klock's Field, also called the Battle of Failing's Orchard; and occasionally as the Battle of Nellis Flatts, was an encounter between Albany County, New York
militia and a British-supported expedition of Indians and Loyalist
led by Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Johnson
and Captain Joseph Brant
.
, Butler's Rangers
, and Brant's Volunteers
—proceeded to destroy homes and farm buildings in Stone Arabia (a village about one mile (1.6 km) north of Fort Keyser, in modern Palatine Township
in Montgomery County, New York
). Colonel John Brown
, commanding a force of Massachusetts levies and New York militia and rangers, advanced from his post at Fort Paris with the aim of defeating one of Johnson's detachments, which British deserters had told him was isolated and smaller than his 360-man garrison. Instead, Johnson met Brown with his main force and, gradually outflanking and enveloping the rebels, defeated them in a running battle, during which Brown was killed.
, commanding units of the rebel militia from central Albany County, New York
and New York State Levies under the command of Colonels John Harper and Lewis DuBois, caught up with Johnson on a farm owned by George Klock in the easternmost portion of Lot 16 of the Francis Harrison Patent. A running battle ensued which lasted until the Loyalist forces were outflanked by the left column of Van Rensselaer's force on the flatts of George Klock's farm on Lot 17 of the Harrison Patent just to the south of the modern rock quarries of Hanson Aggregates about one and a half miles (2.4 km) west of Saint Johnsville. The fighting continued quite briskly until it became painfully apparent to General Van Rensselaer that his right and left flanks were firing upon one another and the General ordered his men to retreat to the house of George Klock near Timmerman's Mill where they could finally be properly victualed and rested after having been on the march and in battle for approximately 26 hours with only a couple of hours rest. Becoming aware of Van Rensselaer's cease-fire, Sir John and Brant ordered their men to cross the Mohawk River at King Hendrick's Ford to avoid the necessity of approaching either Fort House on the west bank of the East Canada Creek or Fort Windecker [formerly known as Fort Hendrick] immediately opposite. During their precipitous escape Johnson's men were forced to abaondon their cannon, their baggage, and most of the prisoners they had captured earlier.
to Stone Arabia", a twenty mile (32 km) swath of the Mohawk Valley.
In his book The Bloodied Mohawk, Ken D. Johnson questions the motives of the rebel colonels on October 19, 1780. He documents that Colonels Brown, DuBois, and Harper had orders to march at the earliest possible occasion for the area of Anthony's Nose, an extremely narrow pass through which the Mohawk River and the King's Highway passed, yet were all in garrison as late as 10 am for Colonel Brown and 2 pm for DuBois and Harper. Harper and DuBois made not even the slighest effort to reinforce Colonel John Brown as his Levies were waylaid by Sir John a few short miles east of their positions. Lieutenant Colonel Volkert Veeder of the Mohawk District Regiment of Tryon County Militia made no attempt to harass Sir John's force as they passed from Fort Hunter onto the Caughnawaga Flatts. And, finally Colonel Peter Bellinger of the German Flatts and Kingsland District Regiment of Tryon County Militia made no effort to guard King Hendrick's Ford, a well known and documented crossing point on the Mohawk River. And finally, no reference(s) can be found to either Colonel Jacob Klock or Lieutenant Colonel Peter Waggoner of the Palatine District Regiment having any role in this event. As a result of this debacle, Van Rensselaer was court-martialed, but universally found innocent of cowardice or collusion with the "enemy" in this battle.
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
militia and a British-supported expedition of Indians and Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
led by Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Johnson
John Johnson (Loyalist)
Sir John Johnson, 2nd Baronet of New York was a Loyalist leader during the American Revolution, a politician in Canada and a wealthy landowner. He was the son of Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet, who had been the British Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the province and accumulated much land...
and Captain Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant
Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known American Indian of his generation...
.
Prelude
On October 19, 1780, Johnson and Brant's army of Indians and Loyalists—consisting of units from the King's Royal Regiment of New YorkKing's Royal Regiment of New York
The King's Royal Regiment of New York was one of the first Loyalist regiments raised in Canada during the American Revolutionary War....
, Butler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers was a British provincial regiment composed of Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War, raised by Loyalist John Butler.Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York...
, and Brant's Volunteers
Brant's Volunteers
Brant's Volunteers was an irregular corps raised in spring of 1777 during the American Revolutionary War by Joseph Brant which fought on the British side in the Province of New York....
—proceeded to destroy homes and farm buildings in Stone Arabia (a village about one mile (1.6 km) north of Fort Keyser, in modern Palatine Township
Palatine, New York
Palatine is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 3,240 at the 2010 census. The named is derived from the Palatinate in the Rhineland, the homeland of the early settlers of this region....
in Montgomery County, New York
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
). Colonel John Brown
John Brown of Pittsfield
Colonel John Brown , often known as John Brown of Pittsfield because of his common name, was a Patriot, spy, soldier, and military leader, in the American Revolutionary War...
, commanding a force of Massachusetts levies and New York militia and rangers, advanced from his post at Fort Paris with the aim of defeating one of Johnson's detachments, which British deserters had told him was isolated and smaller than his 360-man garrison. Instead, Johnson met Brown with his main force and, gradually outflanking and enveloping the rebels, defeated them in a running battle, during which Brown was killed.
Battle
Late in the day Brigadier General Robert Van RensselaerRobert Van Rensselaer
Robert Van Rensselaer was a New York militia officer during the American Revolutionary War.-Life:He was born December 16, 1740, at Fort Crailo in Rensselaer, New York. His father was Johannes Van Rensselaer, and his mother was Angelica Livingston...
, commanding units of the rebel militia from central Albany County, New York
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
and New York State Levies under the command of Colonels John Harper and Lewis DuBois, caught up with Johnson on a farm owned by George Klock in the easternmost portion of Lot 16 of the Francis Harrison Patent. A running battle ensued which lasted until the Loyalist forces were outflanked by the left column of Van Rensselaer's force on the flatts of George Klock's farm on Lot 17 of the Harrison Patent just to the south of the modern rock quarries of Hanson Aggregates about one and a half miles (2.4 km) west of Saint Johnsville. The fighting continued quite briskly until it became painfully apparent to General Van Rensselaer that his right and left flanks were firing upon one another and the General ordered his men to retreat to the house of George Klock near Timmerman's Mill where they could finally be properly victualed and rested after having been on the march and in battle for approximately 26 hours with only a couple of hours rest. Becoming aware of Van Rensselaer's cease-fire, Sir John and Brant ordered their men to cross the Mohawk River at King Hendrick's Ford to avoid the necessity of approaching either Fort House on the west bank of the East Canada Creek or Fort Windecker [formerly known as Fort Hendrick] immediately opposite. During their precipitous escape Johnson's men were forced to abaondon their cannon, their baggage, and most of the prisoners they had captured earlier.
Aftermath
In spite of the Loyalist losses, Johnson's campaign to destroy the agriculture and settlements of the area was enormously successful. It was said afterwards that "everything except the soil is destroyed from Fort HunterFort Hunter, New York
Fort Hunter is a hamlet in the town of Florida in Montgomery County, New York, on the Mohawk River at Schoharie Creek.In the 18th century, Fort Hunter was built as a fort near the location of one of the two primary Mohawk settlements. The Mohawk name for the village was rendered variously in...
to Stone Arabia", a twenty mile (32 km) swath of the Mohawk Valley.
In his book The Bloodied Mohawk, Ken D. Johnson questions the motives of the rebel colonels on October 19, 1780. He documents that Colonels Brown, DuBois, and Harper had orders to march at the earliest possible occasion for the area of Anthony's Nose, an extremely narrow pass through which the Mohawk River and the King's Highway passed, yet were all in garrison as late as 10 am for Colonel Brown and 2 pm for DuBois and Harper. Harper and DuBois made not even the slighest effort to reinforce Colonel John Brown as his Levies were waylaid by Sir John a few short miles east of their positions. Lieutenant Colonel Volkert Veeder of the Mohawk District Regiment of Tryon County Militia made no attempt to harass Sir John's force as they passed from Fort Hunter onto the Caughnawaga Flatts. And, finally Colonel Peter Bellinger of the German Flatts and Kingsland District Regiment of Tryon County Militia made no effort to guard King Hendrick's Ford, a well known and documented crossing point on the Mohawk River. And finally, no reference(s) can be found to either Colonel Jacob Klock or Lieutenant Colonel Peter Waggoner of the Palatine District Regiment having any role in this event. As a result of this debacle, Van Rensselaer was court-martialed, but universally found innocent of cowardice or collusion with the "enemy" in this battle.