Before we were a country

By Ginny Privitar
GOSHEN — On a beautiful summer day, a small group of citizens, veterans and members of the Minisink Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution gathered at the mass gravesite at the Minisink Monument in Church Park. They were there to honor the men from Goshen who gave their lives at the Battle of Minisink, during the American Revolution.

Under the ornately decorated obelisk lie the bones of Goshen militiamen who went to avenge a raid by Mohawk Chief Thayendanega, also known as Joseph Brant, or Brandt, and his Indian and Tory allies. They raided the settlement what is now Port Jervis, plundering, killing settlers and burning homes.

Word reached Goshen and the militia commander, a Goshen doctor, Col. Benjamin Tusten, who tried to dissuade the angry group that wanted revenge. He knew they were neither trained nor equipped for such a mission. He was overruled and went with the men to seek out Brant’s army.

It was to be a bitter, deadly defeat: more than 40 local militiamen were killed according to most accounts. A detachment under General Hathorn survived the battle, but Col. Benjamin Tusten and most of his men were slaughtered.

Not until 43 years later, in 1822, did the citizens of Goshen go to the site to recover what bones they could. They were interred on July 22, 1822, in two walnut coffins at this spot. A simple monument, inscribed with the names of the fallen patriots, was erected at a ceremony attended by more than 15,000 people. The cornerstone of this monument was laid by Colonel Hathorn, who had participated in the battle, and who was then 80 years old.

The Rev. James B. Wilson delivered an eloquent and patriotic address, which was repeated at today’s ceremony by guest speaker William H. Chellis, M. Div., J.D. The original monument was replaced in 1862 with the obelisk, paid for by a gift of Merritt H. Cash, M. D.

The site of the battle, a hilly terrain known as the Minisink Battleground Park in the town of Highland, in Sullivan County, has remained largely untouched. Visitors can readily visualize the fight that took place there.

Morgan O’Leary, 9, of Walden, laid a wreath at the foot of the monument. D.A.R. Regent Kathleen Alevras was the mistress of ceremonies. Members of American Legion Post 377 and VFW Post 1708 provided an honor guard, and Bruce Crandall, of Ellis Camp 124, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, played Taps for the fallen.

Minisink Battleground Park is the site of the only Revolutionary War battle fought in the Upper Delaware River Valley. The park, operated and maintained by the Sullivan County Division of Public Works, is open from Mother's Day weekend through Columbus Day and is located about one mile northeast from New York State Route 97 at Minisink Ford in the Town of Highland on County Route 168. The Battleground Trail begins at the Visitor Interpretive Center near the parking area and after ascending to the level of the battleground, loops around and returns to the parking lot. The Battleground Trail is a groomed trail.