Background
Ichabod Alden was born on August 11, 1739 in Duxbury, Massachusetts, United States. He was a descendant of John Alden of Plymouth and the son of Samuel and Sarah (Sprague) Alden.
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Ichabod Alden was born on August 11, 1739 in Duxbury, Massachusetts, United States. He was a descendant of John Alden of Plymouth and the son of Samuel and Sarah (Sprague) Alden.
Alden was appointed lieutenant-colonel in 1775, and was assigned to the 25th Continental Infantry January 1, 1776, and promoted to be colonel of the 7th Massachusetts on November 1 of that year. A brave and honorable man but inexperienced in warfare and especially in Indian methods, he was appointed to command in Cherry Valley, New York. This was a prosperous frontier community south of the Mohawk. On this valley fell one of the most fearful blows of the war, due, it is said, to a desire for retaliation on the part of Butler and the Indians. Alden received on November 8, 1778 a letter from Fort Schuyler giving warning of an attack, through information obtained from an Oneida Indian. He was unconcerned, discouraged those of the inhabitants who wished to take refuge in the fort, and promised assurance of safety. He commanded about 200 or 300 soldiers, and dispatched scouts in the direction of possible danger. The attacking party was led by Walter Butler and Brant, and consisted of about 600 Indians, and about 200 Tories and British. It proceeded from Tioga Point, and surprised Alden's scouts, who had imprudently built a fire and fallen asleep. Good information was obtained regarding the position of the officers and the general condition of affairs, and the attack on the valley--November 11, 1778--had the usual features of an Indian surprise, and was marked by appalling acts of atrocity. A considerable number of the garrison and of the dwellers in the valley perished in the massacre or were made prisoners. Alden in attempting to escape from the house to the fort was killed by an Indian. The blame for his share in the disaster was only partially offset by the excuse of his unfamiliarity with frontier warfare. His body was buried within the fort.
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Alden married Mary Wakefield on January 8, 1774. They had two children.