 On July 20, Joseph Brant, a Mohawk chief and commissioned officer in the British army, led a strong party of Indians to raid Minisink and the surrounding valley settlements.They by-passed the blockhouses set up for defense and burned over 20 buildings, killing and capturing civilians.The militia of Goshen, NY, led by Col. Tusten marched to Minisink to help the inhabitants, where he was joined by the neighboring Sussex county, NJ, militia company led by Major Samuel Meeker, both groups gathering together on July 21.