Note 1368 — Chapter VIII · (continued 2)

Historical writers have been greatly at variance on this point. John M. Brown (pamphlet History of Schoharie County, quoted by Simms and Stone) says the event took place in June or July, 1776; but Stone (Brant, ii. p. 313), in giving Brown's account, corrects the date to July, 1778. In the Gansevoort Papers Stone found the affair assigned to the close of May, 1778, corresponding with the date in Thacher, and with the account given in McKendry's journal of the disaster to "Capt. Partrick" at "Coverskill;" this was adopted by Simms in his Frontiersmen (ii. p. 151), and Stone put his narrative under this date in his Brant (ii. p. 354). Campbell (Border Warfare) places it in 1779, but Stone (Brant, ii. p. 412) says that Capt. Patrick could not possibly have commanded the troops, as he was killed in the attack of the previous year. It seems to me that Simms clearly establishes that there was but one attack on Cobleskill.