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Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander), 1862-1919

"The Scouts of the Valley"

Most of the houses were in disorder,
showing the signs of hasty flight, but the town lay wholly at the
mercy of the advancing army. Henry and his comrades withdrew
with the news, and the next day, when the troops advanced,
Kanawaholla was put to the torch. In an hour it was smoking
ruins, and then the crops and fruit trees were destroyed.
Leaving ruin behind, the army continued its march, treading the
Iroquois power under foot and laying waste the country. One
after another the Indian towns were destroyed, Catherinetown,
Kendaia, Kanadesaga, Shenanwaga, Skoiyase, Kanandaigua, Honeyoye,
Kanaghsawa, Gathtsewarohare, and others, forming a long roll,
bearing the sounding Iroquois names. Villages around Cayuga and
other lakes were burned by detachments. The smoke of perishing
towns arose everywhere in the Iroquois country, while the
Iroquois themselves fled before the advancing army. They sent
appeal after appeal for help from those to whom they had given so
much help, but none came.
It was now deep autumn, and the nights grew cold. The forests
blazed with brilliant colors. The winds blew, leaves rustled and
fell. The winter would soon be at hand, and the Iroquois, so
proud of what they had achieved, would have to find what shelter
they could in the forests or at the British posts on the Canadian
frontier.


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