battle fought august battles north american theater significant engagement campaign american party trying relieve siege fort ambushed party loyalists allies native american tribes battles war participants north american loyalists allied indians fought patriots allied absence british soldiers early siege american relief force general numbering men party warriors approached attempt raise siege british commander authorized intercept force consisting light infantry detachment sir king indian allies nations particularly tribes north west totaling men loyalist indian force ambushed force small valley miles east near present day village new_york battle mortally wounded battle cost patriots approximately casualties loyalists indians lost approximately dead wounded result battle remains ambiguous apparent loyalist victory significantly affected sortie fort loyalist camps sacked morale allied indians nations battle marked beginning civil war warriors colonel louis allied american cause fought members nations internal divisions went canada allies british site known oral histories nations place great sadness site designated marked battle monument battlefield state historic site background june british_army command general launched attack quebec objective split new_england colonies gaining control new_york main thrust came south command second thrust led colonel intended come meet army near albany expedition consisted men mix british regulars loyalists indians tribes including rangers traveled saint lawrence river shore lake ontario ascended reach carry present day rome new_york later developed began continental_army post guarding prelude alerted possibility british attack head issued proclamation july warning possible military activity urging people respond needed warned friendly july british days arms force raised totaled composed primarily poorly trained farmers chiefly german descent setting august column camped near village august number militia dropped column lack conditioning forces augmented company warriors led primarily strong supporter patriot cause evening sent men fort messages fort commander colonel signal message cannon shots sortie meet approaching column difficulties penetrating british lines deliver message late morning battle underway learned august messenger sent brother leader led portion indian contingent relief expedition way sent detachment light infantry sir position evening monitor position followed early morning indians indians armed muskets carried spear battle morning august held war council force heard expected signal fort wanted wait captains pressed continue accusing brother serving accusations ordered column march miles fort road feet stream feet wide war chiefs chose place set ambush king waited nearby rise indians concealed sides plan stop head column indians attack extended column column horseback near descended crossed stream began ascending contrary plan indians lying wait near rear column apparently unable contain longer opened fire taking column completely surprise leading colonel shot horse killed volley turned horse action shortly struck ball shattered leg killed horse carried officers beech tree men urged retire danger replied face enemy sat leaning tree smoking pipe giving directions words encouragement men nearby trap sprung early portions column entered men panicked fled attacking indians pursued resulting string dead wounded extended miles loss column rear killed wounded initial half men likely fighting thirty minutes battle attackers notably armed muskets waited flash opponent musket fire rushing attack enemy time highly effective tactic men warrior fighting men shot enemy fire devastating accuracy noting time rises kills men men eventually rallied fighting way crest west concerned militia returned british camp requested reinforcements shortly thunderstorm broke seventy men headed battle thunderstorm caused hour break fighting militia higher ground instructed men fight pairs man fired waited fired attacked ordered fire pairs try weapon loaded times reduce effectiveness attacks leader rangers took time thunderstorm question captives learned cannon signal johnson reinforcements arrived butler convinced turn coats inside disguise relief party coming fort fighting restarted johnson rest joined battle patriot captain recognized face loyalist neighbor close combat times hand hand fighting neighbors continued time sortie fort reached fort colonel began organizing requested sortie heavy thunderstorm passed lieutenant colonel led men fort proceeded raid nearly deserted enemy camps south fort driving away british indians left camps included women taking prisoners way patriots collected blankets personal possessions indian camps successfully raided camp taking letters writings including intercepted letter fiancée indians stayed guard camp ran battlefield alert fellow warriors camps raided cries signal retire headed camps protect women possessions forced smaller number german loyalist combatants withdraw aftermath patriots battered remnant force seriously wounded captains killed retreated wounded carried men battlefield leg operation went poorly died august indians retrieved dead battlefield following day dead wounded patriots left field relief column marched scene weeks later scene according accounts memorable general learned retreat immediately organized additional relief sent area siege fort eventually lifted august relief column led general approached fort arnold sent british camp convinced british indian force larger fact loyalists loyalist promoted lieutenant colonel role battle authorized raise regiment known siege lifted loyalists returned quebec including numerous warriors tribes joined campaign hudson native americans principal chief proposed day continue fighting pursuing german turned proposal battle marked beginning civil war confederacy time peoples fought nations allied british camp met council decided send rebel allied bloody raided burned settlement later siege retaliation plundered castles later raided prompting remaining central new_york flee quebec according mid-19th century account indians said tortured eaten prisoners modern historians dispute likely prisoners taken killed europeans extremely similar torture appear evidence ritual reported prisoners held indians indian custom killed winners battle based percentage casualties suffered war half force killed wounded british force claimed battle victory stopped american relief column americans maintained control battlefield withdrawal opposing indians british victory tempered discontent indians battle joined expedition expected british forces fighting dominant fighters action suffered loss personal belongings taken american sortie fort blow morale contributed eventual failure expedition legacy indians battle interviewed years recalled thought time blood shed stream running sic ground monument commemorating battle erected battlefield preserved site recognized added national_register_of_historic_places honored town new_york named representation popular culture colonial settlement wars including novel film adaptation battle honored naming aircraft carrier uss launched battle acts novel
Battle of Oriskany