Harpersfield, New York

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Harpersfield, New York

HARPERSFIELD, NEW YORK. 2 April 1780. This exposed settlement, twenty miles south of Cherry Valley and fifteen miles southwest of the Lower Fort of Schoharie Valley, was completely destroyed by Indians and Loyalists under Joseph Brant. Most of the inhabitants had already vacated the settlement, but several were killed and the militia captain and eighteen others were captured. After overhearing the Indians say they planned to attack Upper Fort (near modern Schoharie) if it was not too strongly held, Alexander Harper gave Brant the false information that it was defended by three hundred Continentals. The raiders therefore shifted their focus eastward and attacked Minisink on 14 April before withdrawing.

SEE ALSO Border Warfare in New York.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Roberts, Robert B. New York's Forts in the Revolution. Rutherford, N.J.: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1980.

                        revised by Robert K. Wright Jr.