A Somber Subject
The Sullivan Expedition is a somber topic. For many Americans, the Revolutionary War is the most revered period in the nation’s history. Some people proudly celebrate their ancestors’ service in that war and consider all of the war’s military engagements with equal reverence. For Haudenosaunee and other Indigenous people, the tactics of Washington's 1779 military campaign, which involved the erasure of whole towns, hundreds of homes, ancient orchards, stored foods, and living crops, were horrifying and are nothing to celebrate. For Indigenous people whose ancestors were targeted by the soldiers, and thus by the campaign’s mastermind, George Washington, this was a time of terror.
This is thus a challenging history to summarize or even consider. We include here a historical summary of the expedition, links to scholarly works by professional historians for those who wish to learn more, and a section with links to primary sources. These include official sources, such as Washington’s orders to Major General John Sullivan and Sullivan’s report back to Washington, as well as eyewitness accounts from several Native Americans, such as Seneca warrior Cornplanter, and Seneca woman Mary Jemison.