Sullivan Expedition Strikes Deep into the Heart of the Iroquois Nation

In spring of 1779, General George Washington developed a plan to strike deep into the heart of the Iroquois Nation. Washington recognized he must destroy the bases that the American Indians were using to launch their raids, or the depredations would never cease, and the settlers would never return to the Mohawk Valley. On August 26, General John Sullivan and his force of 4,000 men began their trek up the Susquehanna River from the Wyoming Valley into the Iroquois homeland, destroying any American Indian settlements they encountered.

Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, discusses how the Sullivan Expedition broke the back of the Iroquois Nation, and why it still matters today.

Photo Credits:
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art
New York Public Library
Library of Congress
National Portrait Gallery
Smithsonian American Art Museum

[miguelgil]

How somebody can talk aboult the Sullivan's expedition with a smile on the face?

[MissRailfan]

I was born and raised in one of the areas where general Sullivan March through and where I live now is not far from another part of his march. The battle of Newtown was now present day just outside Elmira, New York. My hometown is filled with historical markers all around along New York 17. /I-86 even on old 17 which parallels i-86 between The entrance of Newtown battlefield all the way to what is called the valley at Sayre, Athens and Waverly. Where I live now is about an hour from part of Sullivan's March and I believe the Sunbury area but I know he went up toward Towanda so I'm not too far from that section as well.
There is also a few things that are named after him in the New York and Pennsylvania area. For example, Sullivan County where dushore is, sullivanville which is just above horseheads,