Battle of Devil's Hole

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Battle of Devil's Hole
Part of Pontiac's Rebellion
Date September 14, 1763
Location near present Niagara Gorge
Result Seneca victory
Belligerents
Seneca Great Britain
Commanders
Cornplanter
Honayewus		 John Stedman
Strength
300–500 134
Casualties and losses
Unknown 81 soldiers and 21 wagoners killed,
1 teamster and 8 soldiers wounded
v • d • e
Pontiac's Rebellion
Fort Detroit – Fort Pitt – Bloody Run – Bushy Run – Devil's Hole

The Battle of Devil's Hole, also known as the Devil's Hole Massacre, was fought on September 14, 1763, between a detachment of the British 80th Regiment of Light Armed Foot (light infantry formed from Rogers' Rangers) and a local Seneca tribe during Pontiac's Rebellion.

The battle took place after the ambush of a wagon train en route from Fort Schlosser to Fort Niagara as it passed through Devil's Hole, an area known for its difficult terrain. One part of the trail was in a heavily wooded area with a deep ravine on either side, ideal for an ambush; it was there that a force 300 to 500 Seneca Indians attacked the wagon train. The teamsters, led by Porter Master John Stedman, were caught completely by surprise and were helpless as animals broke into a stampede or were driven into the ravine along with their wagons and drivers. Fighting at close quarters made musket fire useless and only three of the twenty four teamsters (including Stedman) managed to escape to Fort Schlosser for help.

Camped nearby at Lewiston was a detachment of the British 18th Regiment (although other sources state that the unit was the 80th Regiment of Foot (disambiguation) {British 80th Regiment of Light Armed Foot} [1] and that the 18th Regiment of Foot is claimed to have not come to America until 1767) from Fort Grey. They heard the news of the ambush and immediately rushed off to rescue the wagon train. However, the soldiers were themselves ambushed in turn and routed, reportedly suffering 81 dead and 8 wounded before withdrawing (though other sources claim the entire rescue party was killed).

Reinforcements from Fort Schlosser under the command of Capt. Wilkins arrived shortly after this second battle, but soon withdrew to the fort, fearing another attack. When they returned several days later, they found the victims had all either been scalped or their bodies thrown into the ravine.

Shortly after the battle, Sir William Johnson was informed that the attack had been planned by a Seneca chieftain known as Farmer's Brother, who led a group of Seneca that supported Pontiac. However, it is also possible the event was caused by discontent among the Seneca laborers who found themselves out of work after Stedman improved the trail and made the use of wagons possible.

The Seneca attacks would later cause the British to reinforce their position in Niagara, instead of their intended effect of discouraging further settlement in the area. The Seneca would eventually be forced to cede a strip of land four miles wide along the eastern bank of the Niagara River from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie as well as the islands upriver of Niagara Falls to Sir William Johnson.

[edit] References

  • Keenan, Jerry. Encyclopedia of American Indian Wars, Santa Barbra, California: ABC-CLIO Inc., 1997.
  • Ahrens, Edward W., The Devil's Hole Massacre, Rissa Productions, 2004.

[edit] External links