The Sullivan The Sullivan CampaignCampaign

1779 - ??1779 - ??Pennsylvania/New YorkPennsylvania/New York

By Rachel ShirleyBy Rachel Shirley

GoalGoal To eliminate Iroquois To eliminate Iroquois

forces in New Yorkforces in New York John Sullivan was John Sullivan was

chosen to lead chosen to lead campaigncampaign Other officers:Other officers:

James ClintonJames Clinton William MaxwellWilliam Maxwell Edward HandEdward Hand

"we have it in our "we have it in our power to carry war power to carry war into their country." into their country."

Sullivan’s MenSullivan’s Men

4 brigades4 brigades 4,500 men4,500 men

MarksmenMarksmen Familiar with Indian strategiesFamiliar with Indian strategies Men from New Hampshire, Men from New Hampshire,

Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvaniaand Pennsylvania

IssuesIssues

Parts of the journey, the army would Parts of the journey, the army would be cut off from supply linesbe cut off from supply lines Had to become self sufficientHad to become self sufficient

Speed was essential in their planSpeed was essential in their plan Washington ordered him to proceed Washington ordered him to proceed

without all his requested supplieswithout all his requested supplies Other parts of the army suffered, too; Other parts of the army suffered, too;

Sullivan had to think realisticallySullivan had to think realistically

The JourneyThe Journey

Sullivan reached Easton in early Sullivan reached Easton in early MayMay

Setbacks:Setbacks: Their original path was impassable; had Their original path was impassable; had

to cut themselves a path through the to cut themselves a path through the woodswoods

The longer the men were idle, the more The longer the men were idle, the more supplies was usedsupplies was used

Washington’s IdeasWashington’s Ideas

““Total destruction and devastation”Total destruction and devastation” Burn and destroy; capture hostagesBurn and destroy; capture hostages No peace offerNo peace offer ““Our future security,” Washington Our future security,” Washington

wrote, would rest on the “Terror” wrote, would rest on the “Terror” inflicted upon them.inflicted upon them.

Sullivan should act aggressively and Sullivan should act aggressively and let his men charge in a let his men charge in a loose/dispersed wayloose/dispersed way

The Journey (cont.)The Journey (cont.)

Wyoming road cleared in JuneWyoming road cleared in June Left from Easton to Wyoming to more Left from Easton to Wyoming to more

suppliessupplies Colonel John Butler (Loyalist leader)Colonel John Butler (Loyalist leader)

Knew of the Continental’s coming, but Knew of the Continental’s coming, but was unable to do anything about itwas unable to do anything about it

Sullivan in WyomingSullivan in Wyoming Acquired hundreds of pack horses/beef Acquired hundreds of pack horses/beef

cowscows

The Journey (cont.)The Journey (cont.) July- Sullivan still had not left Wyoming July- Sullivan still had not left Wyoming

basebase Complained about lack of supplies, and soon Complained about lack of supplies, and soon

lack of supportlack of support Penn. broke their promise to supply hundreds Penn. broke their promise to supply hundreds

militiamilitia Made Sullivan even moodierMade Sullivan even moodier

Began denying locals help, replying with sarcasmBegan denying locals help, replying with sarcasm

Washington wrote a letter, explaining the Washington wrote a letter, explaining the importance of speed in this missionimportance of speed in this mission By the time the letter arrived, the army had By the time the letter arrived, the army had

left for Tiogaleft for Tioga

On the MoveOn the Move

Army well guarded, made there way up Army well guarded, made there way up Susquehanna RiverSusquehanna River Reached Tioga in August without incident Reached Tioga in August without incident

Attacked Chemung (Iroquois Village) at Attacked Chemung (Iroquois Village) at nightnight Found it deserted, looted/burned itFound it deserted, looted/burned it

Sullivan sent men to meet Clinton (who Sullivan sent men to meet Clinton (who was in Iroquois territory)was in Iroquois territory) Iroquois attacked Sullivan’s men while Iroquois attacked Sullivan’s men while

waitingwaiting

On the Move (cont.)On the Move (cont.)

Left Tioga August 26Left Tioga August 26 Efficiency of travaling formation Efficiency of travaling formation

impressed the Britishimpressed the British John Butler- “the best of the Continental John Butler- “the best of the Continental

Troops commanded by the most active of the Troops commanded by the most active of the Rebel Generals”Rebel Generals”

John planned to ambush them before they got too John planned to ambush them before they got too closeclose

One advantage to the late campaignOne advantage to the late campaign The harvest would be ready, so they The harvest would be ready, so they

plundered fields for foodplundered fields for food

NewtownNewtown

Butler tried to ambushButler tried to ambush Scout realized the ambush and warned Scout realized the ambush and warned

the rest of the armythe rest of the army Fierce fighting left Sullivan the victorFierce fighting left Sullivan the victor

Plundered NewtownPlundered Newtown

Sullivan continued attacking townsSullivan continued attacking towns

Catherine’s TownCatherine’s Town

Another night march through rough, Another night march through rough, muddy terrainmuddy terrain ““Had the savages availed themselves to Had the savages availed themselves to

this opportunity,” one officer realized, this opportunity,” one officer realized, “it might have proven very fatal to us.”“it might have proven very fatal to us.”

The town was abandonedThe town was abandoned

On the Move (cont.)On the Move (cont.)

Continued storming townsContinued storming towns Found many desertedFound many deserted

Canadasaga being the largestCanadasaga being the largest

Began wondering how much further Began wondering how much further they had to gothey had to go Goal: to destroy the largest town, Goal: to destroy the largest town,

Genesee CastleGenesee Castle

Boyd’s BlunderBoyd’s Blunder Boyd and his men were sent to scout Boyd and his men were sent to scout

GeneseeGenesee Became lost, attacked a town above Genesee Became lost, attacked a town above Genesee

before reaching Geneseebefore reaching Genesee Said that they would waitSaid that they would wait

Became impatient and headed to main forceBecame impatient and headed to main force Fell into an ambush, almost wiping them Fell into an ambush, almost wiping them

outout Sullivan came just in timeSullivan came just in time

Boyd saved the army from a potentially Boyd saved the army from a potentially costly ambushcostly ambush

GeneseeGenesee

Arrived at GeneseeArrived at Genesee Deserted, but found Boyd’s mutilated Deserted, but found Boyd’s mutilated

bodybody Sullivan’s men destroyed that town Sullivan’s men destroyed that town

“with great cheerfulness”“with great cheerfulness” Indians demoralized, retreated to Fort Indians demoralized, retreated to Fort

NiagaraNiagara Sulivan returned to Honeaye and Sulivan returned to Honeaye and

“Fort Cummings” in September“Fort Cummings” in September

ConclusionConclusion

Sullivan divided forces to cover more Sullivan divided forces to cover more groundground Destroying more villagesDestroying more villages

Army together once more and headed Army together once more and headed back to Wyomingback to Wyoming

Expedition = outstanding successExpedition = outstanding success Marking Sullivan’s most successful campaignMarking Sullivan’s most successful campaign

And his lastAnd his last He resigned because of deteriorating health and a wish He resigned because of deteriorating health and a wish

to be with his family (Congress didn’t mind)to be with his family (Congress didn’t mind)

BibliographyBibliography

PicturesPictureshttp://wennawoods.com/users/wennawoods-cgi/listpage.cgi?cathttp://wennawoods.com/users/wennawoods-cgi/listpage.cgi?cat=newyork&store=books=newyork&store=books

http://freepages.books.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cayuga/1779/map.jpghttp://freepages.books.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cayuga/1779/map.jpg

SourcesSources"Revolutionary War Campaigns: Sullivan's Campaign." "Revolutionary War Campaigns: Sullivan's Campaign." The American The American Revolutionary WarRevolutionary War. . Genealogy Inc, 19 Sep 2010. Web. 15 Sep 2010. Genealogy Inc, 19 Sep 2010. Web. 15 Sep 2010. <http://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/campaigns/1779-sullivan.htm>. <http://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/campaigns/1779-sullivan.htm>.

Adamiak, Stanley J. "The 1779 Sullivan Campaign." Adamiak, Stanley J. "The 1779 Sullivan Campaign." Archiving Archiving Early AmericaEarly America. . Archiving Early America, n.d. Web. 15 Sep Archiving Early America, n.d. Web. 15 Sep 2010. 2010. <http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/1998/sullivan.html>. <http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/1998/sullivan.html>.

"Sullivan Expedition." "Sullivan Expedition." Wikipedia: the Free EncyclopediaWikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia. . Wikimedia Foundation, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 31 Aug 2010. Web. 15 Sep 2010. Inc, 31 Aug 2010. Web. 15 Sep 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sullivan_Expedition>. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sullivan_Expedition>.