Lewiston citizens pay tribute to Tuscaroras on 212th anniversary of attack

Submitted

On Dec. 19, a group of Lewiston citizens gathered to thank the Tuscarora Nation for saving the lives of early settlers who were attacked by British forces during the War of 1812. It was the 212th anniversary of the attack that occurred in 1813, when the “Tuscarora Heroes” intervened and bought enough time for the local residents to escape and flee down Ridge Road.

The brief ceremony took place at the Tuscarora Heroes Monument at Portage Road and Center Street, and included speakers Rocco DelGrosso, who was the contractor for the monument platform; Neil Patterson Sr., who represented the Tuscarora Council and is a direct descendant of one of the Tuscarora heroes; and volunteer Lee Simonson, project director, who briefly described the Tuscaroras involvement in the American Revolution. He believes that, had the Tuscaroras and Oneidas not been present at the Battle of Oriskany, there would have been a good chance the Americans would have lost the Revolution.

The Tuscarora alliance with the American militia at that moment was crucial in the Americans keeping Fort Stanwix in Rome, New York, which in turn prevented needed supplies and reinforcements from getting to British Gen. Burgoyne. Subsequently, Burgoyne lost the Battle of Saratoga, which convinced the French to join the American cause. And without the French alliance, most historians believe America would have had only a 10% chance of victory.

Patterson presented a strawberry ornament to Lewiston Museum curator Tom Collister, which symbolizes Iroquois culture. Strawberries were the first crop of the season and provided the Iroquois medicinal therapies.

Patterson also stood with Molly Robinson who is a descendant of one of the survivors of the attack.

A fellowship breakfast was held immediately afterward at Syros.