In 1779, President George Washington ordered Major General John Sullivan to lead the Continental Army on a mission to destroy the power of the Iroquois, whether they were allies, enemies or neutral to the American Revolution. Congress approved Washington's plan on February 25, 1779 'directing him to take all measures necessary to protect the settlers and to punish the Indians.' Washington wrote to Sullivan on May 31, 1779 'â¦The immediate objects are total destruction and devastation of their settlements and the capture of as many prisoners of every sex and age as possible. It will be essential to ruin their crops in the ground and prevent their planting more.' The village was destroyed by these American troops on September 23, 1779. The Cayuga Indian Nation, also known as "The People of the Great Swamp," is one of the five original nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Iroquois). They originally inhabited the region around Lake Cayuga in central New York State. The Cayuga people are known for their rich history and culture, being part of a powerful alliance formed around 1570, which included the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas.
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