GETTING THE STORY County Historian John Conway, center, describes the events of 1779 while the Fort Delaware Fife & Drum Corps waits to strike up a tune at an event commemorating the battle of Minisink Ford. Oriah Diaz photo
A semiquincentennial historic conflict redux
Revisiting the battle of Minisink Ford
By Oriah Diaz | Manor Ink
BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE Reenactor Noah Lewis portrays Ned Hector, an African American who fought on the side of the Patriots during the Revolutionary War. Oriah Diaz photo
Barryville, NY – Did you know that the Battle of Minisink Ford was the only major Revolutionary War battle fought in the Upper Delaware River Valley? Here’s more about this historic battle and the annual event that keeps its story alive.
On July 20, 1779, about ninety Iroquois warriors and Loyalists led by Mohawk leader Joseph Brant attacked the settlements of Peenpack and Mahackamack, destroying farms, a school, a church and other buildings. The next day, Revolutionary militia units led by Lt. Col. Benjamin Tusten of Goshen, NY, and Maj. Samuel Meeker of Sussex County, NJ, set out to recover stolen supplies and surprise Brant’s men. It didn’t go as planned.
A militia scout accidentally – or perhaps intentionally – alerted Brant, whose forces outnumbered the Patriots and ultimately defeated them. About 45 to 50 Patriots were killed, while the Loyalists lost around seven men. Because many of the Patriots were local farmers, tradesmen, and frontiersmen, the loss was deeply felt throughout the region.
Revisiting a historic battle
On Saturday, July 18, Manor Ink had the opportunity to visit the Battle of Minisink Reenactment at Minisink Battleground Park in Barryville. The event was organized by Sullivan County Historian and Delaware Company President John Conway, whose mission is to preserve and share the history of the Upper Delaware River Valley.
“The Minisink battle represents the beginnings of not just our country, but even our county,” Conway said. “It grows out of divisiveness ... and we’ve managed to, nonetheless, create a country or a county where we’re united in a sense.” Even while standing on a battlefield where so many lives were lost, his message was one of hope.
Daniel and Joshua Lopez are brothers who have been involved with the Fort Delaware Museum in Narrowsburg since 2022. Joshua pointed out the obvious fact that “the history of this area gets overshadowed by the history of New York and Philadelphia.”
THE WAY IT WAS A muster of Patriots prepares to drill at Minisink Battleground Park in Barryville prior to a reenactment of the fight. Joshua Lopez is second from right and Daniel Lopez is third from left. thedelawarecompany.org photo
A more nuanced story
Another highlight of the July 18 event was Noah Lewis’s presentation regarding African Americans in the American Revolution. Portraying Revolutionary War hero Ned Hector, Lewis made history engaging, interactive and funny while reminding his listeners that America’s story is more complicated – and more diverse – than many textbooks suggest.
The reenactment itself took an unexpected turn. Because black powder can’t be fired in the rain, and it was raining off and on during the reenactment, the participants had to improvise musket shots by throwing ... apples!
If you missed it this year, the 250th anniversary of the founding of this country, the Ink definitely recommends going next year. It’s a fun, memorable and educational way to experience local history. For information about the Delaware Company and the Fort Delaware Museum, visit thedelawarecompany.org.