By 1781, the sixth year of the American rebellion, British strategic focus had shifted from the northern states to concentrate in the south. Canada's governor, Frederick Haldimand, was responsible for the defence of the Crown's largest colony against the threat of Franco-American invasion, while assisting overall British strategy. He cleverly employed his sparse resources to vigorously raid the rebels' frontiers and create anxiety, disruption, and deprivation, as his Secret Service undermined their morale with invasion rumours and threatened their Union by negotiating with the independent republic of Vermont to return to the British fold.

Haldimand flooded New York's Mohawk and Schoharie valleys with Indian and Loyalist raiders and, once the danger of invasion passed, he dispatched two coordinated expeditions south. One was launched onto Lake Champlain to alarm Albany and further the secret talks with Vermont. The second struck deep into enemy territory, fought a battle at Johnstown, and retreated precipitately. The rebels effectively countered both expeditions.

The Battle of Johnstown or Hall Battle as some of the pensioners called it; was the last battle fought in the Revolutionary War. This is intended to present a short version of the battle; it was a large and important battle for the Whigs. Some of the material in this book has never been published; it is from Mr. Morrison's private collection. The Battle of Yorktown where Cornwallis surrendered was on October 19, 1781, and was just a short time before the Battle of Johnstown.

Collection of some of our favorites. William Crolius -This is a widow's application for pension and it interesting because it gives some of the hardships suffered by the women. Joel Bower-Joel's story begins with his birth and goes through the War of 1812. He was wounded several times and was in some of the major battles. Thomas Machin-Thomas Machin was known for his part in chaining the Hudson River. His son received a pension, fraudulently, and hired a Fort Plain Attorney to represent him. If you feel you must cheat, don't tell your neighbor what you did. John Winn-A capable leader who accidently killed one of the men under his command. Sarah Osborn-Sarah is a survivor. She went to war with her husband, bore children and cooked, did laundry and serviced the five or so men assigned to her. She lived to be over 100 years. Her descriptions of events and the men are priceless. Henry Myers.-This is another widow's application for pension and it takes place not far from present day St. Johnsville, but on the south side of the Mohawk River. Henry Cool-As you read this pension you might wonder why he made such a point of claiming he was a good and faithful soldier; and then where he was for the rest of the war. If you feel you must cheat, don't tell your neighbor what you did. Joseph DeLong-This poor sod seems to have misplaced a wife.

This is a continuation of the Pension series. A must read in this book is the Pension Application for William Crolius. The widow's deposition in the file tells about the privations and hardships that many women faced and coped with on their own. Still they survived and bore children, and survived managed. Another must read is the pension for Jacob Youker. This pension mentions that so many thought there was just one fort, not two in the western part of Fort Plain. He says there was just one, absolutely The cover of the book bears an image of a family record, probably torn out of the family bible. The pensions have many family records torn out for proof of marriage. Too many records were lost during the Revolution. The longest pension applications are from the widows, they had a dreadful time proving their marriage. Many times the preacher wouldn't baptize a baby unless the parents were married and this is another reason why the family record of births are included in the applications.

The Cherry Valley Massacre was a horror that was remembered by those participants, for the rest of their lives. This was an attack, and not even a directed attack. In this massacre, Men, Women, Children, Whigs, and Tories were killed without discrimination. There were constant raids and destruction, but this was pure horror. It was also outside of the season of war, and unexpected. In these early times of our country, war was called off during the winter. No one had adequate clothing, and there was no snow removal.

The pension applications presented in this unique book are original source material and are interesting to read because the men tell their own stories. James F. Morrison has collected information on the Revolutionary War patriots for decades and sorted out the confusion in the depositions by adding end notes to the pension applications. Many of the men were very young and inexperienced but they hung on like bulldogs and did as they were told; 'hold fast or die with the holt'. In the pension applications you will find horror, humor, and unchanging human nature. Two stories are a must read. First, the story of Thomas Machin Junior's attempt to defraud the government and collect money by changing the death date of his mother. His father, Thomas Machin, Sr. worked on the chaining of the Hudson. Second, the other must read story is about Captain John Winn and the soldier in his command who he killed out of frustration. One thing is certain; you will be treated to a whole new view of the Revolutionary War from the perspective of the service men.

The pension applications presented in this unique book are original source material as told by the men themselves. However, the men did the service many years previously to their claims and didn't always remember their service correctly; some were old and forgetful and, for the most part, illiterate. Those who served in the Continental or State Line troops were wintered and served their terms continuously; most received discharges when the service was completed, and so their service was easily proven with a discharge or by an officer. The militia or county troops served as needed or as they were called. They defended their home turf for as long as necessary. Some were called for a day here and there, some for a few weeks, and some for a few months. They would enlist in different companies or the same company, and they would do it when needed. To collect a pension, a man had to prove service of at least 6 months. With no discharge, because the militia generally didn't give discharges, it was more difficult to prove this amount of service. Even those with discharges generally would lose them because they thought the paper of no value, and then their service had to be proven with witnesses filing an affidavit to support their service claim. This is where the interesting stories come from and with great details.