The Battle of Fort Stanwix, and Oriskany

During this fight the British and their Indian allies attempted to take Fort Stanwix from the Americans. The attempt prompted the Americans to dispatch several expeditions to relieve the garrison and drive the British away. The first under Brigadier General Nicholas Herkimer was ambushed and nearly annihilated by Native American and Loyalists forces dispatched from the besiegers. The tactical defeat soon turned into a relatively major patriot victory because during the absence of such a large portion of the besieging force, the garrison at Fort Stanwix made a sortie and captured much of the baggage in the British camp. This almost completely demoralized the Native Americans (who lost much of what they possessed) and caused them to desert. The British commander, faced with the loss of such a large portion of his force and the advance of another American force approaching under Benedict Arnold, abandoned the siege. The de facto American victory parried the British thrust up the Mohawk valley and foiled their plan to join both armies at Albany, New York.