Drums Along the Mohawk 1939

Lana Borst, the eldest daughter of a wealthy colonial family, marries Gilbert Martin. They leave her family’s luxurious home to begin a frontier life on Gil’s Deerfield farm in the Mohawk Valley of Central New York. In July 1776, as the American Revolutionary War erupts, the valley’s settlers have formed a militia in anticipation of conflict, and he enlists.

As he and his neighbors clear land for farming, Blue Back, a friendly Oneida, arrives to warn them that a Seneca raiding party led by Caldwell is in the valley. The settlers hurriedly abandon their farms and seek refuge in Fort Schuyler. Lana, who is pregnant, miscarries during the frantic ride to the fort. Martin’s farm is destroyed by the raiding party. With no home and winter approaching, the Martins take work on the farm of a wealthy widow, Mrs. McKlennar.

During a peaceful interlude, Mrs. McKlennar and the Martins prosper. Then word comes that a large force of Loyalist troops and Native Americans are approaching the valley. The militia sets out westward to intercept the attackers, but their timing is flawed and they are ambushed. Although the enemy force is eventually defeated at Oriskany, more than half of the militiamen are killed. Gil returns home, wounded and delirious, but slowly recovers. Lana is again pregnant and delivers a son.

Later, the Loyalists and Native Americans mount a major attack to take the valley, and the settlers again seek refuge in the fort. Mrs. McKlennar is mortally wounded and ammunition runs short. Gil makes a heroic dash through enemy lines to secure help from nearby Fort Dayton. Reinforcements arrive just in time to drive back the attackers, who threaten to overwhelm the fort. The Mohawk Valley settlement is saved. Shortly afterward, a regiment arrives at the fort to announce that Lord Cornwallis has surrendered to George Washington at the siege of Yorktown and the war is over. The settlers look forward to their future in the new, independent United States.