Goose Van Schaick

Goose Van Schaick , 1736-89, American Revolutionary soldier, b. Albany, N.Y. He fought in the French and Indian War, becoming (1760) lieutenant colonel of a New York regiment. As a colonel in the Revolution, he led (1779) a successful expedition against the Onondaga. Gen. James Clinton placed him in command of forces completing the Sullivan-Clinton campaign against the Native Americans in the Mohawk valley. He was brevetted brigadier general in 1783.

Van Schaick, Goose væn ˈskīk (1736–1789) Revolutionary War army officer. Born in Albany, New York into a wealthy family, Goose Van Schaick picked up his first military experience as a militia officer during the French and Indian Wars. He began the Revolutionary War as colonel of the Second New York Regiment, which saw limited service during Gen. Richard Montgomery's invasion of Canada. In 1776 Van Schaick took command of the First New York Regiment of the Continental army. He spent most of the war organizing state defenses against Indian and British incursions, though he did join George Washington's army for the Battles of Monmouth and Yorktown. Van Schaick's most notable military feat was his successful April 1779 raid against the Onondaga Indians, which was a precursor to Gen. John Sullivan's Indian campaign and earned praise from Washington and Congress. Van Schaick was breveted brigadier general in October 1783 and retired from the army the next month.