The previous few months had not been good ones for the British war effort. In Canada the former strongholds of Sorel, Montreal and Trois Rivieres had fallen to Americans. Continental Army units under Generals Montgomery and Benedict Arnold lay siege on Quebec and on New Years Eve of 1775 their attack on Quebec failed when repelled by 1200 men including British regulars and seamen, Canadiens, and Royal Highlanders. Their long siege of Quebec, however, continued through the winter into May of 1776.

That same month, John Deserontyon and his scouts learned the Continental Army was preparing once again to attack Johnson Hall owing in response to Johnson’s continued arming of his Loyalist tenants despite being on parole. The rebels had been justifiably heartened by the Battles in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, and Congress has issued orders instructing the Thirteen Colonies to form their own governments. Emboldened, General Schuyler dispatched Colonel Elias Dayton with 300 men to arrest Johnson.

Deserontyon was able to send warning that the rebels were en route. Johnson prepared to escape to Canada while Deserontyon and other Mohawk leaders held up Dayton with protracted negotiations to permit American troops to cross their lands. This allowed Johnson enough time to gather Mohawk guides and approximately 170 of his tenants, and set off across the Appalachians for Canada. The trip was much harsher than expected and the party eventually had to eat plants such wild onions and any other edible vegetation simply to stay alive. They arrived at the St. Lawrence exhausted and close to death.

Meanwhile Guy Johnson and Joseph Brant had gone to England but were unsuccessful in securing authority to negotiate on behalf the Iroquois. They returned to Montreal via New York and John Deserontyon joined them there.