Battle of the Flockey

{{Short description|Battle during the American Revolution resulting in the first US Army Cavalry charge, a minor victory}}

{{Short description|Battle during the American Revolution resulting in the first US Army Cavalry charge, a minor victory}}

The '''Battle of the Flockey''', fought on August 13, 1777, occurred near present-day [[Middleburgh, New York|Middleburgh]] in what is now [[Schoharie County, New York|Schoharie County]] (then [[Albany County, New York|Albany County]]), New York. It stemmed from a [[Tory (American)|Tory]] uprising aiming to support British Lieutenant‑Colonel [[Barry St. Leger]]'s northward advance. Loyalist leaders Captain John McDonell and Adam Crysler—backed by local tavern-owner Captain George Mann - mobilized an estimated 73 - 100 Tory [[militia]] and allied [[Mohawk people|Mohawks]] at Crysler's farm, a low-lying, swampy plain known as "die Flache" (later "Flockey").<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stone |first=William |title=Life of Joseph Brant—Thayendanegea: Including the Border Wars of the American Revolution (Vol. I & II) |publisher=Applewood Books |year=1970 |isbn=9781429022576 |pages=315}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Simms |first=Jeptha |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/01014248/ |title=History of Schoharie County, and the Border Wars of New York... |publisher=Munsell & Tanner |year=1845 |location=Albany, NY |pages=245, 248}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Talman |first=James |date=1946 |title=Loyalist Narratives from Upper Canada |journal=Crysler Journal |volume=27 |pages=57}}</ref>

The '''Battle of the Flockey''', fought on August 13, 1777, occurred in Fultonham near present-day [[Middleburgh, New York|Middleburgh]] in what is now [[Schoharie County, New York|Schoharie County]] (then [[Albany County, New York|Albany County]]), New York, and was a part of the [[Saratoga campaign]]. It stemmed from a [[Tory (American)|Tory]] uprising aiming to support British Lieutenant‑Colonel [[Barry St. Leger]]'s northward advance. Loyalist leaders Captain John McDonell and Adam Crysler—backed by local tavern-owner Captain George Mann - mobilized an estimated 73 - 100 Tory [[militia]] and allied [[Mohawk people|Mohawks]] at Crysler's farm, a low-lying, swampy plain known as "die Flache" (later "Flockey").<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stone |first=William |title=Life of Joseph Brant—Thayendanegea: Including the Border Wars of the American Revolution (Vol. I & II) |publisher=Applewood Books |year=1970 |isbn=9781429022576 |pages=315}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Simms |first=Jeptha |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/01014248/ |title=History of Schoharie County, and the Border Wars of New York... |publisher=Munsell & Tanner |year=1845 |location=Albany, NY |pages=245, 248}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Talman |first=James |date=1946 |title=Loyalist Narratives from Upper Canada |journal=Crysler Journal |volume=27 |pages=57}}</ref>

It is widely recognized as the site of the first recorded [[United States Cavalry]] charge by American forces during the Revolutionary War, executed by the 2nd Continental Light [[Dragoon|Dragoons]] under Captain Jean‑Louis de Vernejoux on August 13, 1777.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Revolutionary War, Schoharie County |url=https://visitschohariecounty.com/blog/american-revolution |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=visitschohariecounty.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Destinations |url=https://www.mohawkvalleyhistory.comdestinations/listing/george-mann-tory-tavern |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Mohawk Valley History |language=en-us}}</ref>

It is widely recognized as the site of the first recorded [[United States Cavalry]] charge by American forces during the Revolutionary War, executed by the 2nd Continental Light [[Dragoon|Dragoons]] under Captain Jean‑Louis de Vernejoux on August 13, 1777.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Revolutionary War, Schoharie County |url=https://visitschohariecounty.com/blog/american-revolution |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=visitschohariecounty.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Destinations |url=https://www.mohawkvalleyhistory.comdestinations/listing/george-mann-tory-tavern |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Mohawk Valley History |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Background ==

In the summer of 1777, Loyalist forces in the Schoharie Valley sought to rise in support of British Lieutenant-Coloney Barry St. Ledger's campaign in the Mowhawk Valley.

Patriot forces were led by Colonel John Harper of the [[Schoharie County in the American Revolution|Schoharie militia]]. Harper had elicited support from a 28-man detachment of the 2nd [[Continental Army|Continental]] Light Dragoons, under Captain Jean‑Louis de Vernejoux; part of Sheldon's Horse. They first relieved Fort Defiance (Johannes Becker's stone house), then moved south to confront the Loyalists hidden at the Flockey.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hayes |first=John |title=The French Horn at the Flockey |publisher=Saddlebag Press |year=1984 |location=Fort Lauderdale, FL |pages=24}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Watt |first=Gavin K. |date=2013-08-12 |title=Continental Dragoons in the Schoharie Valley |url=https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/08/continental-dragoons-in-the-schoharie-valley/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Journal of the American Revolution |language=en-US}}</ref>

Patriot forces were led by Colonel John Harper of the [[Schoharie County in the American Revolution|Schoharie militia]]. Harper had elicited support from a 28-man detachment of the 2nd [[Continental Army|Continental]] Light Dragoons, under Captain Jean‑Louis de Vernejoux; part of Sheldon's Horse. They first relieved Fort Defiance (Johannes Becker's stone house), then moved south to confront the Loyalists hidden at the Flockey.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hayes |first=John |title=The French Horn at the Flockey |publisher=Saddlebag Press |year=1984 |location=Fort Lauderdale, FL |pages=24}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Watt |first=Gavin K. |date=2013-08-12 |title=Continental Dragoons in the Schoharie Valley |url=https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/08/continental-dragoons-in-the-schoharie-valley/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Journal of the American Revolution |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Opposing Forces ==

* '''Patriot forces''': Schoharie militia led by Colonel John Harper with a detachment of 28 men of the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons under Captain Jean-Louis de Vernejoux (part of Sheldon's Horse).

* '''Loyalist forces:''' Tory militia led by Captains McDonell, Crysler, and Mann, estimated at 73–100 men, with support from Mohawk allies.

== Battle ==

As the dragoons neared, Tory militia opened fire - killing a dragoon and wounding two others. Captain De Vernejoux immediately ordered a cavalry charge, which routed the Loyalists; many fled into the woods rather than stand and fight. No further pursuit occurred due to darkness and the muddy terrain. Patriot casualties totaled two killed (Lt. David Wirt was killed during the engagement, another soldier was mortally wounded and died three days later) and one wounded.<ref name=":2" /> Tory losses remain unspecified in official records, though several may have been wounded or dispersed; no contemporary Loyalist casualty roll survives.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

As the dragoons neared, Tory militia opened fire - killing a dragoon and wounding two others. Captain De Vernejoux immediately ordered a cavalry charge, which routed the Loyalists; many fled into the woods rather than stand and fight. No further pursuit occurred due to darkness and the muddy terrain. Patriot casualties totaled two killed (Lt. David Wirt was killed during the engagement, another soldier was mortally wounded and died three days later) and one wounded.<ref name=":2" /> Tory losses remain unspecified in official records, though several may have been wounded or dispersed; no contemporary Loyalist casualty roll survives.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

== Casualties ==

* '''Patriot:''' 2 killed, 1 wounded.

* '''Loyalist:''' Unknown, no official casualty record survives

== Significance ==

The Battle of the Flockey was a small but notable victory for American Patriot forces during the Revolutionary War. It marked the first recorded use of a cavalry charge by the Americans during the war. The engagement, while strategically insignificant, helped suppress Loyalist support and activity in the Schoharie Valley.

== See Also ==

* [[Saratoga campaign|Saratoga Campaign]]

* [[Schoharie County in the American Revolution]]

* [[Barry St. Leger|Lieutenant‑Colonel Barry St. Leger]]

* [[Mohawk people|The Mohawk People]]

== References ==

== References ==