“Having
proceeded a few hours on the march, an Indian was discovered who was
immediately fired upon, when the rangers found themselves involved in
an inextricable ambuscade, and completely surrounded by an Indian
force double their own numbers. The conflict that followed was severe
and sanguinary, as might well have been expected from the character
of the combatants engaged, and a hand to hand fight left but fifteen
of the Americans, who escaped to tell the sad fate of their brethren.
Some of this party were taken prisoners, but Woodworth and about half
of his men were killed on the spot.
This
fatal encounter took place about three miles north of Herkimer
village, on the east side of the West Canada creek, in a deep ravine,
where now may be seen the mound of earth, under rest the remains of
the gallant Woodworth and his brave companions. The killed, it
appears, were all collected and buried in one common grave,
unshrouded and uncoffined, with no monument to tell where rest the
brave but unfortunate defenders of American liberty.”
Although
the mound -if there was one- marking the final resting place of these heroes has
vanished, a monument was erected in 1959 on
Smith Road north of Shells Bush Road (County Route 94), on the left
when traveling north. (Milo Smith lived on this road and made a hobby
of carving circus figures. His replicas of the Sautelle Circus Boats,
which traveled from town to town of the Erie Canal, are exhibited at
Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts)
Note: Although Benton believed that the slain were buried near where they fell, it appears that Lt. Woodworth and Sgt. Phelps were buried at Mayfield. This site also describes his earlier heroism in that area.
Note: Although Benton believed that the slain were buried near where they fell, it appears that Lt. Woodworth and Sgt. Phelps were buried at Mayfield. This site also describes his earlier heroism in that area.
map courtesy of Herkimer County Historical Society
Another
tragic and nearly forgotten battle took place a year later at a blockhouse built
by the Schell family a few miles away. The site was near the
present-day Shells Bush Road which intersects Route 169 between
Little Falls and Middleville. Johann Christian Schell was a veteran
of the battle at Oriskany and clearly a man of exceptional courage.
Benton describes his response to the raiders:
“On
the 6th of August, 1781 a German settlement called Shell's
Bush, three or four miles north of Fort Dayton, was visited by a
party of these formidable asserters of the rights of the crown.
Donald McDonald, a Scotch refugee from Johnstown, with a party of
about sixty Indians and Tories, with whom was Empie and Cassleman,
two famous traitors, the latter being the same man who was with the
party that attacked Rheimensnyder's bush in April, 1780, made their
appearance in the Shell settlement in the afternoon of the above day,
when most of the inhabitants had retired to Fort Dayton, for
protection. Some indications of this hostile movement must have been
previously discovered, or the inhabitants would not have sought the
protection of the fort. There was, however, one man, John Christian
Shell, the husband of a brave and resolute wife, and the father of
six sons, who determined to brave out the storm, let come what would.
He had a strong blockhouse on his farm, well constructed for purposes
of defense against marauding parties of Tories and Indians; and he
resolved to fight rather than run. The first story of logs had no
openings except a doorway or entrance, well protected by a massive
door, and loopholes through which the besieged could fire upon their
assailants. The floor of the second story projected over the lower
part of the building, and had apertures in the projecting floor,
affording ample means of annoying the enemy who might approach the
building to fire it or break open the door below. Shell had a good
supply of arms and ammunition to stand an ordinary siege. When the
enemy made their appearance, Shell and his sons were in the field at
work, but his two youngest, being twins only eight years old, were so
far off he could not save them when he retired to his blockhouse, and
they were taken and carried to Canada. Having gained his castle and
secured the entrance, Shell and his little garrison were resolute and
alert, and kept up a spirited fight from two o'clock until dark. Some
of the incidents are worthy of particular notice. Shell's wife was
active in loading the pieces fired by her husband and four sons.
McDonald several times attempted to set fire to the building, but
failed. His men were several times compelled to retreat, in
consequence of the galling fire received from the party in the
blockhouse, McDonald made an effort to force the door with a crowbar,
but was wounded in the leg while so engaged, and none of his party
being near enough to rescue him, Shell did not hesitate a moment to
unbar the door and drag the wounded Tory leader into his fortress.
This capture not only secured Shell against being burnt out by the
enemy, but afforded an ample supply of ammunition to the little
garrison, whose stock was becoming rather short. To save his life,
McDonald gave up his cartridges to be used against his followers. A
short respite took place between the belligerents, but the enemy
returned and made a vigorous effort to take the blockhouse by
assault. They came up to the walls and thrust the muzzles of their
pieces through the loopholes, when Madam Shell by a blow upon five of
them with an axe, rendered them useless; this being followed by
several deliberate shots from the little garrison, compelled the
assailants to retire to a respectful distance. Just at dark, Shell
practiced a little stratagem which induced the enemy to suppose that
troops were approaching from Fort Dayton, whereupon they fled to the
woods, taking with them Shell's two little sons. After providing for
the Tory commander in the best manner they could, the family started
for the fort, which they reached in safety. Some of McDonald's
Indians visited him, after the family went away, but finding he could
not be removed, they left him to the mercy of the Americans, with the
message to Shell that the welfare of his little boys depended on the
treatment bestowed on McDonald. The wounded prisoner was taken to the
fort the next day, when his leg was amputated. The enemy's loss on
the ground was quite severe, eleven killed and six wounded. The
little boys, on their return after the war, stated that nine out of
twelve wounded which the enemy started with, died before they reached
Canada.
In
the following year Shell and two of his sons, being at work in the
field not far from his blockhouse, were fired upon by a party of
Indians secreted in a wheat field, and he was dangerously wounded.
The sons remained with their father until a party from the fort came
to their relief. One of the sons was, however, shot dead and the
other wounded, before the guard arrived. John Christian Shell did not
long survive his wounds, and thus closed the life of a brave and
resolute man and a pure and devout Christian. During the short
cessation in the attack on the blockhouse, Shell addressed his Maker
in a hymn of deliverance from peril, used by the early German
reformers.
The
Shellsbush settlement is on what is usually called Gens Purchase,
embracing perhaps some portion of the Royal Grant, and it will be
observed that the name of Shell, Schel or Shaul does not occur among
the patentees of Burnet field, nor is the name found in the list of
Palatines remaining in New York, or taken to Livingston Manor, of the
first two companies that emigrated. Enough is still known of him to
authorize the conclusion that he was a German Lutheran, and he or his
ancestors may have come over with the third body of immigrants in
1722, or at a later period. The singularly rude and unharmonious
account of Shell's conflict with the Tories and Indians, contained in
Campbell's Annals of Tryon county, has contributed very much to keep
that event fresh in the recollection of the descendants of his German
neighbors.”
The
site of Schell's blockhouse was commemorated by a monument erected by
the Daughters of the American revolution in 1908. The site is on
private land a couple miles east of the intersection of Smith Road
and Shells but I am not sure if the monument is still there.
Judge
Benton's history is a very rare book but the entire text may be read
at Google Books. In addition I have made available an abridged version at $5.45 in paper and free as an e-book.
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