8, and the massacre
of Cherry Valley in November.[38]

To protect the frontier against further raids, an expedition was
planned, consisting of two divisions: one under General John Sullivan,
which was to cross from Easton to the Susquehanna, and thence ascend the
river to Tioga Point (Athens, Pa.); the other, under General James
Clinton, was to proceed from Albany up the Mohawk to Canajoharie,
crossing to Otsego Lake, and going thence down the Susquehanna to Tioga
Point, where the two divisions were to unite in a combined attack upon
the Indian settlements in Western New York.[39] This expedition involved
one-third of Washington's whole army.

General Clinton's force included about 1,800 men, bringing three months'
provisions and 220 boats from Schenectady up the Mohawk to Canajoharie,
where the brigade went into camp.

The twenty miles overland to Otsego Lake was traversed during the
latter part of June, 1779, the boats and stores being carried in wagons,
several hundred horses having been made ready for this purpose at
Canajoharie. Part of the brigade reached the lake by means of the
Continental road, of which traces still remain, leading to the shore
near the mouth of Shadow Brook in Hyde Bay.[40] Here they launched their
fleet of bateaux and floated down the lake to their landing at the
present site of Cooperstown. "This passage down the lake was made on a
lovely summer's day, and the surrounding hills being covered with living
green, every dash of the oar throwing up the clear, sparkling water, a
thousand delighted warblers greeting them from the shores as the
response of the martial music from the boats--the whole being so
entirely novel--the effect must have been truly enchanting and
picturesque."[41]

Apparently not all the regiments took the same route. Lieut. Erkuries
Beatty, of the Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment, says in his journal[42]
that "the regiment marched by Cherry Valley to the lower end of the
lake," while the baggage of the detachment went to the Springfield
landing, with a proper guard. From this point, himself being in the
party, "we put the baggage on board boats," he says, "and proceeded to
the lower end of the lake, and found the regiment there before us."

During the first week in July the entire brigade had become encamped at
the foot of the lake, to remain here, as it turned out, for a period of
five weeks. The present Cooper Grounds, where the Indians, long before,
had planted their ap