*Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784)*

    Following the American Revolution, the Confederation Congress needed money. The Articles of Confederation did not permit the government to easily tax its citizens. To raise funds to operate the government, the Confederation Congress hoped to sell land in the Ohio Country to the American people. Government officials realized that Native Americans controlled the land. Before any sales could take place, the United States would have to convince the natives to give up their claims on the land.

   An agreement was reached in 1784 with certain members of the Iroquois, who surrendered claims to lands in western Pennsylvania and Ohio. Other tribal members were critical of the treaty, claiming that it was concluded under duress and that those Indians who signed it did so without proper authorization. The inevitable result was continued warfare in the area. A final resolution was not reached until the tribes' power was broken during the War of 1812. The motives of the United States in the second Treaty of Fort Stanwix included more than simply answering the frontiersmen’s pleas for more land. Thomas Jefferson, who crafted American land policy during the mid-1780s, was attempting to fashion a revenue-generating procedure to fund pensions for the soldiers of the recently concluded war. If the government were to acquire lands in the Old Northwest, it was hoped that settlers would purchase tracts and provide a means to honor the nation's obligation to the veterans.

The United States of America give peace to the Senecas, Mohawks, Onondagas and Cayugas, and receive them into their protection upon the following conditions:

ARTICLE I.

Six hostages shall be immediately delivered to the commissioners by the said nations, to remain in possession of the United States, till ail the prisoners, white and black, which were taken by the said Senecas, Mohawks, Onondagas and Cayugas, or by any of them, in the late war, from among the people of the United States, shall be delivered up.

ARTICLE II.

The Oneida and Tuscarora nations shall be secured in the possession of the lands on which they are settled.

ARTICLE III.

A line shall be drawn, beginning at the mouth of a creek about four miles east of Niagara, called Oyonwavea, or Johnston's Landing-Place, upon the lake named by the Indians Oswego, and by us Ontario; from thence southerly in a direction always four miles east of the carrying-path, between Lake Erie and Ontario, to the mouth of Tehoseroron or Buffaloe Creek on Lake Erie; thence south to the north boundary of the state of Pennsylvania; thence west to the end of the said north boundary; thence south along the west boundary of the said state, to the river Ohio; the said line from the mouth of the Oyonwayea to the Ohio, shall be the western boundary of the lands of the Six Nations, so that the Six Nations shall and do yield to the United States, all claims to the country west of the said boundary, and then they shall be secured in the peaceful possession of the lands they inhabit east and north of the same, reserving only six miles square round the fort of Oswego, to the United States, for the support of the same.

ARTICLE IV.

The Commissioners of the United States, in consideration of the present circumstances of the Six Nations, and in execution of the humane and liberal views of the United States upon the signing of the above articles, will order goods to be delivered to the said Six Nations for their use and comfort

°Battle of The Cowpens°

   From his camp, eastward of the Pedee, Greene sent Morgan, with the Maryland regiment and Washington's dragoons of Lee's corps, across the Broad River, to operate on the British left and rear. Observing this, Cornwallis left his camp at Winnsborough, and pushed northward between the Broad River and the Catawba, interposing his force between Greene and Morgan. Aware of Tarleton's approach, Morgan retired behind the Pacolet intending to defend the ford, but Tarleton crossed 6 miles above when Morgan made a precipitate retreat. On his right was a hilly district, which might afford him protection, but rather than be overtaken in his flight, he prepared to fight on the ground of his own selection. He chose for that purpose the place known as “The Cowpens," about 30 miles west of King's Mountain.

   He arranged about 400 of his best men in battle order on a little rising ground. There were the Maryland light infantry composing the centre, under Lieut. John Eager Howard, and Virginia riflemen forming the wings. Col. William Washington with eighty dragoons were placed out of sight as a reserve, and about 400 Carolinians and Georgians, under Colonel Andrew Pickens, were in the advance to defend the approaches to the camp. North Carolina and Georgia sharpshooters acted as skirmishers on each flank. At eight o'clock on the morning of January 17, Tarleton with 1,100 troops rushed upon the republicans with loud shouts causing a furious battle. In a skilful movement, Morgan turned so suddenly upon his pursuers, who believed the victory was secured to them, that they wavered. Seeing this, Howard charged the British lines with bayonets, broke their ranks, and sent them flying in confusion. Washington's cavalry broke from their concealment, and made a successful charge upon Tarleton's horsemen. The British were completely routed, and were pursued about 20 miles. Seventy-two Americans were killed and wounded. The British lost over 300 killed and wounded, and nearly 500 made prisoners. The spoils were two cannon, 800 muskets, horses, and two standards. The cannon had been taken from the British at Saratoga, and retaken from Gates at Camden. The Congress gave Morgan the thanks of the nation and a gold medal, and to Howard and Washington each a silver medal.

Battle of King´s Mountain

   Soldiers in these opposing forces were irregulars and as such, many Revolutionaries from the frontier areas would have dressed as for a hunting expedition. The Loyalist militia were issued with muskets and bayonets and may well have worn red uniform coats, but probably wore civilian garb. The Revolutionaries brought with them their hunting weapons, in many cases small bore rifled muskets made by the German gunsmiths of Pennsylvania, which they used with devastating effect on the Tories.

   The winners in this battle were the Patriots, leaving the Loyalist force annihilated. In September 1780, Major General Lord Cornwallis, after beating Major General Gates and the American Revolutionary army at Camden, advanced north with the intention of invading North Carolina and Virginia. Major Ferguson occupied an outpost well to the West of the main British army with a small force of his own riflemen and a larger band of Loyalist militia. The militia on each side remained consistently unreliable in battle during the war. The one area in which the Loyalist militia excelled was in plundering their enemies. Ferguson had built for himself an unenviable reputation for ferocity against the rebels.

   Major Patrick Ferguson was sent by Lord Cornwallis to embody the Loyalist militia among the mountains west of the Broad River. A substantial Revolutionary force gathered against Ferguson from west of the mountains, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Many men with considerable skill joined his standard, armed with rifled weapons. They decided to cross the river at the Cherokee Ford, October 1, 1780 and encamped among the hills of King's Mountain. The Revolutionary force caught up with Ferguson encamped on the steep and wooded King’s Mountain, on 7th October 1780.

   The Revolutionaries surrounded the Loyalist on the top of the mountain and a classic battle between the bayonet and the rifle ensued. The Revolutionaries attacked with the battle cry of “Tarleton quarter”. The Loyalist militiamen, attempting to drive back the assaulting Revolutionaries at the point of the bayonet, were shot down until they were huddled in a confined group on the summit. Ferguson suppressed all attempts to surrender until he was shot from his horse and killed. The Loyalist threw down their weapons but the Revolutionaries continued to shoot, in spite of the efforts of their officers to bring about an end to the carnage. The battle exactly reflected the savagery of the war in the Southern Colonies. Finally, 300 Loyalist were killed or wounded. The spoils of victory were 800 prisoners and 1,500 stand of arms. Only a party that had been out foraging escaped to warn Cornwallis of the disaster. The defeat of the British changed the aspects of the war in the South; it awed the Loyalist and encouraged the Patriots.

Cornwallis Surrender

  The Battle of Yorktown in 1781 was the last major battle of the American Revolution. American forces led by General George Washington combined with French forces led by General Comte de Rochambeau to fight the British Army commanded by General Lord Cornwallis. The campaign plan first started in 1780 when General Comte de Rochambeau and 5,500 French soldiers landed in Rhode Island to help the Americans attack British-occupied New York City. The two armies met North of New York City in the summer of 1781. Rochambeau convinced Washington that an attack on New York City would be very difficult and may not succeed. He suggested it would be easier for the French Fleet to assist in an attack further south. They agreed to attack General Lord Cornwallis and his army of 9,000 men at Yorktown, Virginia. Washington decided to move his troops south. His plan was to trap Cornwallis in Yorktown, but for his plan to work timing was crucial. Washington, needed the warships fleet to arrive on time to prevent the British navy enter and provide them an exit. Although Washington thought the British were coming on his way, he wasn’t certain on the timing.

  

   In early September, the French fleet led by Comte de Grasse defeated a British Fleet sent to relieve Cornwallis. This blocked any escape by sea for Cornwallis. Marquis de Lafayette decided to contain Cornwallis in Yorktown until Washington and Rochambeau arrived with their troops. By late September, the American and French forces had Cornwallis surrounded and began an artillery bombardment with no way to escape. Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781. General Washington and his French allies had captured 8,000 British troops. This was a decisive victory for the American and French forces. The surrender of General Cornwallis and his army was the second major surrender of the war. This led the British to negotiate an end to the war, and the signing of the Treaty of Paris.