The Scorched Earth Of 1779

During the American Revolutionary War, George Washington ordered the systematic destruction of over 40 indigenous villages to cripple their food supplies. This brutal campaign turned the Haudensosaunee people into refugees overnight.

General John Sullivan led this operation to neutralize the British-allied tribes who were raiding frontier settlements. His troops methodically burned every home and cornfield they encountered across New York, leaving thousands to face a starving winter. This scorched-earth policy permanently reshaped the map of the region and forced many indigenous families to flee for their lives toward British protection. The devastating impact of this single campaign remains a haunting chapter in American history.