Oneida Warriors Served As Scouts For The American Soldiers At The Battle Of Barren Hill, Fought On May 20, 1778

The Oneida were able to contribute the most physically to the war from late 1777 to early 1778. At the Battle of Oriskany, Herkimer's militiamen engaged American Loyalists and British allies from the Six Nations League. Han Yerry Tewahangarahken, an Oneida War Chief, his wife Two Kettles Together (Tyonajanegen), and their son Cornelius stood out in particular. Han Yerry murdered nine of the adversaries by the end of the conflict. 150 soldiers were supplied by the Oneida to Gen. Horatio Gates' army during the final stages of the Burgoyne Campaign. This gang was successful in intimidating British forage expeditions and sentry stations. The Oneida sent 50 men to serve with Washington's army at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777–1778.

The Oneidas served as skirmishers and scouts alongside Daniel Morgan's Virginia riflemen, giving early notice of the approaching British forces. This made it possible for the Marquis de Lafayette's army to conduct a well-organized combat retreat. There is a plaque in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania's St. Peter's Lutheran Church commemorating the six Oneidas who lost their lives in the battle. When they heard the approaching British soldiers, as many as 9,000 of them, the Oneida and the riflemen were scouting the area. The small group of Oneida and riflemen continued to fire at the British from the trees, unafraid. The British mounted a horse charge after realizing they were facing a force of about 100 men when they first recognized how small the attack force was.