The Battle of Devil’s Hole Road, also known as the Devil’s Hole Massacre, was fought on September 14, 1763 between a detachment of the British 18th Regiment of Foot and a local Seneca tribe during Pontiac’s Rebellion.

The battle began as the result of an ambush of a passing wagon train, from Fort Schlosser on route to Fort Niagara, while passing through Devil’s Hole. An area known for its difficult terrain, one point of the trail in particular was a heavily wooded area and a deep ravine on either side, ideal for an ambush, as a force between 300-500 Seneca Indians attacked the supply train.

The defenders led by Porter Master John Stedman, caught completely off guard, were defenseless as animals broke off in a stampede or were driven into the ravine with their drivers. Fighting in close quarters made musket fire almost useless and after the battle, only three (including Stedman) of the twenty five members had managed to escape to Fort Schlosser for help.

A rescue party from Fort Gray at nearby Lewis Town (located north of Devil’s Hole) responded after hearing the Indian war cries. The Seneca Indians waited for the arrival of  British reinforcements and sprung a similar ambush upon them as well. Not a single person survived the Indian attack. 

By the time troops arrived from Fort Schlosser, they found only the dead. Victims had been scalped. By some accounts there were as many as 100 dead, many thrown into the gorge by the Indians following the ambush. Fearing a similar attack, the British quickly withdrew to Fort Schlosser.

Colonel John Bradstreet (c.1711-74) was assigned to the Great Lakes region in the Pontiac Rebellion, where his efforts to conclude treaties with the resident tribes came to nothing.  8” x 4 ½”; Fine, fascinating and rare.                                                                                            $500. - up