By 1781, the sixth year of the American rebellion, British strategic
focus had shifted from the northern states to concentrate in the south.
Canada's governor, Frederick Haldimand, was responsible for the defence
of the Crown's largest colony against the threat of Franco-American
invasion, while assisting overall British strategy. He cleverly employed
his sparse resources to vigorously raid the rebels' frontiers and create
anxiety, disruption, and deprivation, as his Secret Service undermined
their morale with invasion rumours and threatened their Union by
negotiating with the independent republic of Vermont to return to the
British fold.
Haldimand flooded New York's Mohawk and Schoharie valleys with Indian
and Loyalist raiders and, once the danger of invasion passed, he
dispatched two coordinated expeditions south. One was launched onto Lake
Champlain to alarm Albany and further the secret talks with Vermont. The
second struck deep into enemy territory, fought a battle at Johnstown,
and retreated precipitately. The rebels effectively countered both
expeditions.