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PAPERS RELATING TO THE ONEIDA COUNTRY AND MOHAWK VALLEY.
angles of this parapet which is at the back of the ditch, form as it were, four little bastions thatreciprocally hank each other. I On the West side there is a house apart from the large one. It backsagainst the parapet of the palisades and serves as a barrack and guard house. There are two doorsto the large building ; the one at the North is a small swing door. It is used only in going to theriver for water. At this side of the house there is no ditch; only palisades fixed in boards setagainst the brow of the right bank of the river to support the earth. The large door of the houseis on the south side ; it is folding but not ironed. To go outside the palisades and ditch through thislarge door, you must leave the house to the left and turn to the Eastward where there is a passage.The ditch has not been excavated. The earth serves as a bridge and road. There are palisades tothe right and left, on both sides of the way the whole width of the ditch. Outside the ditch thereis a folding gate. There is no oihir barrier nor chevaux-de frise in front. The nearest house out-side the fort is about 150 paces. Opposite this fort in the river is a small cultivated island whichcan be reached at low water by fording.
From, Fort Kouari to that of Cannatchocary is four leagues. Some twenty houses are located at adistance one from another, within the space of one league of this road, which is through a flat country.After making this league we go up a mountain that occupies two hours to ascend and descend. Thecountry throughout the whole of this space is covered with wood. After descending, two housessomewhat distant the one from the other are in the league which is still to be travelled to get toCannatchocari.
The Inhabitants of this Country are Palatines or Germans . They form a Company with some whodwell above the Fall 1 on the other side of the River which is the left bank. This company consistsof about 80 men. The road from one to the other of these two forts is good for all sorts of carriages.
Fort Cannatchocari is situated at the side of the Mohawk River on the right bank. It is a squareof four bastions of upright pickets joined together with lintels. They are fifteen feet high, aboutone foot square with port holes inserted from distance to distance with a stage all around to fire from.
This Fort is one hundred paces on each side. It is not surrounded by a ditch. There are somesmall pieces of cannon at each of its bastions, and a house at each curtain to serve as a store andbarrack. Five or six families of Mohawk Indians reside outside the fort.
From Fort Cannatchocari to Fort Hunter is about 12 leagues ; the road is pretty good; carriagespass over it; it continues along the banks of the Mohawk river. About a hundred houses, at agreater or less distance from one another are found within this length of road. There are somesituated also about half a league in the interior. The inhabitants of this section are Germans whocompose a company of about 100 men each.
Fort Hunter is situated on the borders of the Mohawk river , and is of the same form as that ofCannatchocari, with the exception that it is twice as large. There is likewise a house at each curtain.The cannon at each bastion are from 7 to 9 pounders. The pickets of this Fort are higher than thoseof Cannatchocari. There is a church or temple in the middle of the Fort ; in the interior of thefort are also some thirty cabins of Mohawk Indians , which is the most considerable village. Thisfort, like that of Cannatchocari, has no ditch; there’s only a large swing door at the entrance.
Leaving Fort Hunter a creek 2 is passed at the mouth of which the fort is located. It can be forded,and crossed in batteaux in summer and on the ice in winter. There are some houses outside underthe protection of the Fort in which the country people seek shelter when they fear or learn that anIndian or French war party is in the field.
From, Fort Hunter to Ckenectedi or Corlar is seven leagues. The public carriage way continues alongthe right bank of the Mohawk river. About 20 to 30 houses are found within this distance separatedthe one from the other from about a quarter to half a league. The Inhabitants of this section are
1 Little Falls.