Fort Edward, NY | Jul 30, 1777
Native Americans captured two local women, Mrs. McNeil and Jane McCrea, and while heading back to Lieutenant General John Burgoyne’s encampment, they came under attack by militia. After engaging with the local militia, the Native American party split into two groups, each taking a woman. Mrs. McNeil made it to Burgoyne’s camp but Jane McCrea was killed and thrown into a ravine. The militia found her body and buried her before escaping Burgoyne’s army.
The fighting at Fort Edward had little impact on the outcome of the overall war or even Burgoyne’s campaign. However, the death of Jane McCrea became an effective propaganda story that was used to draw additional American forces to the fight. The effectiveness of the propaganda was noticed at Saratoga.
