Oneida Castle

In July, 1780, Col. Joseph Brant led an expedition against American allied Oneida and Tuscarora villages as well as American settlements. On July 25, Brant’s warriors arrived at the abandoned Village of Oneida Castle and burned the village. After destroying the village, he proceeded to attack Fort Schuyler (Stanwix).

The raid resulted in the displacement of Oneida and Tuscarora supporting the American cause. The raid at Oneida Castle and nearby Tuscarora settlements served to loot or destroy considerable numbers of houses, barns, personal possessions, crops, stored grains and livestock. The Oneida inhabitants were generally forced to go east down the Mohawk Valley. The British assaults during 1780 had the general effect of weakening the overall resolve and strength of the general populace supporting American forces. The destruction of crops and supplies were major losses to both civilians and the military in this theater of operations. The attacks were, in part, reprisals for the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign of 1779.