Letter from Jim Howarth

Sign Ill-advised, History Flawed

The new plaque at Council Rock Park notes that the local Native Americans described George Washington as “the burner of villages.” While I have no doubt that these people did, in fact, characterize George Washington that way, it does not make it an accurate assessment of the man, nor does it offer any historical context.

In Russia today there is a nostalgic revival of Stalin, and he is often revered as a great leader and father figure for Russia. But that opinion does not align with the facts of his rule or history’s judgement. Likewise, the Native Americans’ assessment of Washington is not correct in the broader context of the history of this country.

The Sullivan Campaign of 1779 was a military operation of the Revolutionary War and was under the command of George Washington. The campaign was a direct result of years of raids and massacres by the British and their loyalist and Iroquois allies.

Locally, these forces perpetrated the Cherry Valley massacre. Cherry Valley was burned and many of its inhabitants killed. This was not an isolated incident. Native Americans and their British leaders burned and terrorized settlements throughout central New York. This is well documented in the excellent book, “Bloody Mohawk” by Richard Berleth. Sadly, these Native Americans were cynically used by the British, who had no better fate in mind for them than did the local settlers. Both sides in the war committed atrocities.

George Washington did command the troops of the new nation at war—but this is a small part of his legacy. That legacy is—by force of arms—implementing the most progressive and truly revolutionary government ever envisioned to that point. In a time when the world was ruled by kings, tribal chiefs, and war lords—and “rights” were unheard of—Washington put in place a vision that even today has not been realized by most of the world.

The application of the nation’s vision and the man himself were indeed flawed. But I would rather people remember George Washington as “the father of his country” instead of “the burner of villages.” Sadly, many will leave Council Rock Park with a description of the man that does not do justice to his legacy.

Jim Howarth
Cooperstown