Places: Fort Stanwix

Forts on the frontier not only provided protection to the surrounding countryside and symbolized colonial or national power, they also served as important meeting places for treaty councils and other key events in history.  One such historic location is Fort Stanwix, near Rome, New York.

Construction of Fort Stanwix was begun at the order of British General John Stanwix in 1758, but not completed until 1762 as the French and Indian War (1755-1762) wound down.  It was built to guard an important portage area known as the Oneida Carrying Place, connecting the Hudson River to Wood Creek, through to Lake Oswego and on to Lake Ontario and the Great Lakes.  Thus, like many forts of the area, it was built along an important Native trading trail and war path.  In 1764, during Pontiac's War, Native tribes were directed to bring any White captives to Fort Stanwix for return to their families.  There were many tearful scenes as Natives and captives, many of whom knew no other family or way of life, were forcibly parted by British soldiers.  Fort Stanwix hosted its first major treaty in 1768, when British Agent Sir William Johnson, whom we've already met, arranged a treaty council among various tribes to put a final end to Pontiac's Rebellion.  The result of this treaty was a new boundary line set several hundred miles back of the one in the Proclamation of 1763, which unfortunately led to more strife on the frontier.  After this treaty, the Fort was abandoned and allowed to go into ruin.

It was reoccupied by Patriot forces during the Revolutionary War.  It was officially renamed Fort Schuyler after General Philip Schuyler, though people continued to call it Fort Stanwix.  British forces under General Barry St. Leger besieged the Fort.  According to legend, the flag flown over the Fort during the siege was an early version of the Stars and Stripes, but most likely it was the flag of New York and had no relation to the present national flag.  The Battle of Oriskany, which we've already covered, was fought between Patriot militia on their way to relieve the siege, and Loyalist and Iroquois auxiliaries attached to St. Leger's units.  The British forces withdrew without breaking the Fort.  In 1779, an expedition against the Onondaga was staged at Fort Stanwix.  As the structure was made almost entirely of wood, it burnt to the ground in 1781 and was not rebuilt.   The ruined Fort played host to another Treaty in 1784, settling Native land claims after the Revolution.  Like the First treaty, these arrangements caused more conflict then they settled and yet more fighting ensued.  Although a blockhouse was erected on the parade ground of the old fort during the War of 1812, it was dismantled in 1828.

The location of Fort Stanwix was designated a National Monument in 1935, but reconstruction did not begin until 1974-1978.  It remains open today under the care of the National Park Service.