Attack on German Flatts (1757)

The Attack on German Flatts (1757) was a raid conducted by a mixed force of French soldiers, Canadien militia, and allied Native Americans against the fortified settlement of German Flatts (present-day Herkimer, New York) on November 12, 1757, during the French and Indian War. Led by François-Marie Picoté de Belestre, the attacking force aimed to disrupt British supply lines and weaken the frontier defenses of the Province of New York.

The raid resulted in significant destruction of property. Houses, barns, and mills were burned, livestock was killed or driven off, and supplies were destroyed. While the settlement was fortified, the garrison was relatively small and unable to prevent the widespread destruction. Many settlers fled to the fort for safety. Although significant damage was inflicted, the attack did not result in heavy casualties amongst the settlers, as most were able to find refuge within the fort.

The attack on German Flatts was part of a larger French strategy to harass the British colonies and divert resources away from larger military objectives. It served as a blow to colonial morale and exposed the vulnerability of frontier settlements to French and Native American raids. The destruction caused by the raid also had a detrimental impact on the local economy and agricultural production. The incident further fueled resentment towards the French and their Native American allies, hardening colonial resolve to defeat them in the ongoing war.