NickSampsell.com

Horseheads (such a morbid name)

Written: May 4, 2006 at 1:48AM EST

September 24, 1779 - this date hallmarks the time and hallowed ground where lie the true relics and sun-bleached skulls of the American Military Pack horses of the armies of Major-General John Sullivan. These peaceful servants of General Sullivan and his officers, with about 5000 “ragged rebels” (as expressed by King George III) brought forth a gallantry in the American Revolutionary War’s western campaign against the Six Nations of Indians (Iroquois).

Burdened down with heavy military equipment in their 450-mile journey through a wooden wilderness from Easton, PA over to Wyoming, and on up the Susquehanna River Trail to Elmira, NY, they continued north through Horseheads to the Finger Lakes Region and west to Geneseo. Returning the same route to Horseheads, these military pack horses had reached the end of their endurance. Here, General Sullivan, through humanitary reasons was compelled to dispose of these partners in the cause of American freedom.

A few years later, the skulls of the horses were arrayed along the trail in defiant fashion by a few returning Indians, as a gesture that the same fate would be met by any settler, should he attempt to homestead on this location. The first settlers, reading these Indian signs, promptly built their homes on the spot. The Town and Village of Horseheads rose in tribute to glorify the event. This location, first known as “The Valley of Horses Heads” was later changed to Horseheads, New York.

(Taken from http://www.horseheads.org/)

Isn’t that lovely. A town named after a road “paved” with decapitated horse heads. Don’t ask why i shared, was talking to Georgie, was inspired to tell her, so now I must tell you.