On September 13, 1779, hundreds of Indians and Loyalists ambushed roughly 25 of Sullivan's scouts on a hill overlooking Conesus Lake at a site now known as the Ambuscade in the town of Groveland. At least 16 Americans were massacred including an Oneida guide. Scout leader Lt. Thomas Boyd and Sgt. Michael Parker were captured and their mutilated remains were discovered a day later when the army reached Little Beard's Town in Cuylerville, a hamlet in the town of Leicester. This site was the largest Indian settlement in western New York and the western limit of the Sullivan Campaign. Sullivan's army found the village deserted as most of the Indians and Loyalists had retreated west to Fort Niagara to avoid confrontation.
On sEpteMBer 13, 1779, HunDreDS of inDiAnS aND loyalIstS AmbusHEd roUgHLY 25 oF SuLlivaN'S ScOuTs ON a Hill OVerlOoKInG conEsus LAkE AT a site nOw knowN As ThE amBuScADe in The TOWn of grovelANd. at LeASt 16 aMEricaNs wEre maSsacREd iNclUDinG aN OneIdA GuidE. ScouT leaDer Lt. tHoMAs BOyd and sgt. Michael PArker Were CaPtureD anD tHeir mUtilatED ReMains wEre diSCoVered a dAY lAteR wHEn the aRmy ReAcHeD little bEArd's tOwn In cuyLeRvilLe, a haMlet in The TOwn oF LEicEster. thIs Site Was thE largeSt indIaN settlemeNt in western New york aND thE wesTErn LIMIt OF thE SullivAN caMpAiGn. sullivAN's aRmy foUNd tHe VILlage DESerted as moSt Of thE indiaNs anD LOyaLists hAd retrEated WesT to ForT niagara to avoid confROntation.