Doug: It wasn't Oscar Homolka, he wasn't even in it. You're thinking of Roger Imhof. One of my favorites, Edna Mae Oliver, got an Oscar nomination for her role, and of course, I've always been madly in love with Claudette Colbert. The statement that was made was: "See also the Henry Fonda film "Drums Along the Mohawk" for the story of the Battle of Oriskany." It doesn't tell the "story of the Battle of Oriskany", not even close. It has absolutely nothing to do with the battle of Oriskany. Naming a character Nicholas Herkimer doesn't make it a story about the battle any more than naming a character George Washington would make it a movie about the Battle of Trenton. From the Internet Movie Database: "Before the Revolutionary War farmer Martin brings bride Magdelana to the Mohawk Valley where they are burned out by Indians. Neighbors take them in and Martin joins the militia to fight the Indians." Best regards, Ed For Revolutionary War Info on the Internet, your first choice should be: www.AmericanRevolution.org

Ed- Ah, next you'll be telling me Roger Imhof wasn't even related to Oscar Homolka! Yes, I was indeed wrong about that. The lady who earlier said "Drums..." was "the" story of the Battle of Oriskany, was I guess, technically inaccurate. But saying "Drums" has "absolutely nothing" to do with the battle of Oriskany is also inaccurate. There's enough information presented to logically assume Oriskany is the battle in question: Mohawk Valley, 1777, Indians, Herkimer, militia ambush, repulse and subsequent Herkimer death. And the wounds the hero (Fonda) receive from that battle certainly affect him, his wife and the subsequent plotline rather profoundly. A Google search using the words "Drums, Mohawk and Oriskany" brought up numerous hits, so I'm not alone in understanding the battle to be Oriskany. I suppose the most conclusive results would be obtained from actually looking in the novel, but alas I no longer have a copy. Maybe somebody out there has one, could look it up and report back? In any event, I didn't know that old Edna Mae got an Oscar nomination, for her portrayal. It shouldn't have surprised me though. She was always a great character actress and adept scene stealer as in "Tale of Two Cities." Back to "Drums." For me, the most ridiculous part of the movie was when the fort was being stormed by Indians and the garrison opened the gates! Deliberately letting waves of screaming attackers into an otherwise secure position has not typically been a preferred defensive tactic. Regards, - Doug ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed St.Germain" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 9:51 PM Subject: NOT Oriskany > Doug: > > It wasn't Oscar Homolka, he wasn't even in it. > > You're thinking of Roger Imhof. > > One of my favorites, Edna Mae Oliver, got an Oscar nomination for her > role, > and of course, I've always been madly in love with Claudette Colbert. > > The statement that was made was: "See also the Henry Fonda film "Drums > Along > the Mohawk" for the story of the Battle of Oriskany." It doesn't tell the > "story of the Battle of Oriskany", not even close. It has absolutely > nothing > to do with the battle of Oriskany. Naming a character Nicholas Herkimer > doesn't make it a story about the battle any more than naming a character > George Washington would make it a movie about the Battle of Trenton. > > From the Internet Movie Database: "Before the Revolutionary War farmer > Martin brings bride Magdelana to the Mohawk Valley where they are burned > out > by Indians. Neighbors take them in and Martin joins the militia to fight > the > Indians." > > Best regards, > Ed > For Revolutionary War Info on the Internet, your first choice should be: > www.AmericanRevolution.org > > ______________________________

Sybil Ludington The Female Paul Revere http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/1789/sybil.html Sybil Ludington was a typical 16 year old girl in 1777. She was the eldest of 12 children and was often responsible for taking care of her younger siblings. She was putting the younger children to bed on the night of April 26, 1777, when word reached her house that the British were burning the town of Danbury, Connecticut, which was only 25 miles away. Her father was a colonel in the local militia. His men were scattered over a wide area around the Ludington house in Fredericksburg, New York (now Ludington). Sybil convinced her father to let her ride and summon the men. She rode on horseback over 40 miles on dark, unmarked roads to spread the alert. Her course took her down through Carmel, on to Mahopac, and around to Kent Cliffs and Farmers Mills and back home. She rode alone with only a stick to prod her horse Star and to knock on the doors spreading the alert in time. The men whom she helped to gather arrived just in time to help drive the British, under the command of General William Tyron (who was also colonial governor of New York), back to their ships in Long Island Sound. In this day and age a sixteen year old girl alone on a darkened street is not safe. One can only imagine what it was like being a 16 year old girl aiding the rebellion during war-time within such a short distance from the fighting and alone with no one for protection. Sybil Ludington was a true American Hero. Sybil's contribution to the war was not forgotten. Present day visitors to Putnam County New York can trace her path on that midnight ride by following markers placed along the route, and view a statue of her erected in 1961 on Route 52 beside Gleneida Lake in Carmel on the route. There is a smaller copy of the statue located in Washington, D.C. in Constitution Memorial Hall in DAR headquarters. Written by Mrs. Todd James. And this site http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/history_for_children/113431 History For Children - The Female Paul Revere Author: Mary M. Alward Published on: February 5, 2005 Hi! My name is Sybil Ludington. I was born in 1761, in Fredericksburg, New York. (Now known as the Ludington section of Kent.) I was the oldest of twelve children. I spent most of my time taking care of my younger siblings and doing household chores. Those were the things that girls did in that era (time). My world changed suddenly on April 26, 1777. I was 16 years old at the time and was putting the younger children to bed when a rider galloped up to our house. He informed us that British troops were burning the town of Danbury, Connecticut. It was only a few miles from our house. My father was colonel of the local militia. His men were scattered over the countryside. Since the exhausted rider who had warned us of the British destruction could go no further, I convinced father to allow me to take my horse, Star, and ride to the homes of his men telling them to band together to defend our community. Father finally agreed and I jumped on Star and rode 40 miles alerting his men. The night was dark and I rode alone, using only a stick to prod Star and knock on doors. It was quite a trip, but I succeeded in alerting all the men. They banded together and drove the British back to their ships. The ride was kind of scary. After all, there was a war going on and I was alone with no one to protect me. Because of what I did, people hailed me as a heroine. I was just doing what I felt I had to do. If you would like to follow my path, you will have to visit Putnam County, New York. Markers have been placed along the route. A statue of me has been erected on Route 52, beside Gleneida Lake in Carmel. A smaller statue can be seen in Constitution Memorial Hall in Washington, DC. In 1975, a stamp was issued in my honor. After the war, I married Edmond Odgen, a lawyer from Catskill. We had one son, Henry. I died in 1839, and was buried in Maple Avenue Cemetery near my father. Janet