USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > Reports and papers. Fairfield County Historical Society, Bridgeport, Conn. 1882-1896-97 > Part 42
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directed their movements, and by sales of its land rights and through popular subscriptions obtained by its agencies, had furnished them with both ploughshares and swords as well as other needed supplies : had assisted them when in prison and had aided their families when expelled, and now that peace and security had been reached, the tide of emigration to Wyoming set in like a flood.
"For the next two or three years" says Miss Larned the historian of Windham County, "that town alone sent scores of valuable families and leaders of the colony; these sent back such glowing reports to the rocky farms of Windham County that emigration raged like an epidemic and seemed likely to sweep away a considerable part of the population " The General Assembly now took more courage and although there was as yet no formal adoption of the company and its work, there was no longer any hesitation in claiming that the settle- ments were withun Connecticut's Charter limits. Under this quasi recognition the stock of the company rose to $100 per share. Population and prosperity flowed into the valley. New townships were located. New foits were also built and military companies were kept in training; for while the set- tlers trusted God they had not equal faith in the peacefulness of Quakers and meant to keep their powder dry. Comino- dious houses began to be erected; fanns were planted and fenced, and mills and ferries established: there was shad fish- ing and shad eating, marnage and giving in marriage. There was however no organized government, all questions of polity or morals being settled by town committees to whose decrees all rendered obedience. Thus matters continned through 1772. Says Miner, "the year passed without justice or lawyer, judge or sheriff, don or constable, civil suit or crime; and from the representations of the old people.it may be considered as a season of wild, joyous, unalloyed hap- piness."
It was now time however that something in the nature of Civil Government should be established Accordingly the Susquehanna Company at a meeting held at Hartford in 1773, adopted for the settlements what might be called a constitu-
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tion but which was in fact a social compact pure and simple. By the terms of this instrument the settlers recognized them- selves as under the authority of the King of England and the laws of Connecticut. They conferred all the local executive and judicial powers of each township on three directors for the purpose of keeping order and suppressing vice, with a constable to enforce their decrees and judgments. These several boards of directors were to meet quarterly in general court with a high sheriff in attendance, in order to hear ap- peals from the local boards and to try high crimes and mis- demeanors. A system of taxation was established and a militia force provided for. It was also declared that this- plan of government should continue in force "until the country should be annexed to Connecticut or some other form be provided by the King:" thus hinting at a possible inde- pendent colony if Connecticut should fail to adopt them.
This compact was accepted by all the townships in the Wyoming valley and was signed by every adult male inhabi- tant within their borders; every new comer was also required to subscribe to it.
In 1773 overtures were made by Connecticut to Pennsyl- vania for an amicable arrangement between the colonies for the occupation of Wyoming, but the men of peace and broth- erly love refused to consider any propositions whatever. Thus repulsed the General Assembly caused a case to be made up presenting the Colony's claims and transmitted to England for the ablest legal opinions that could be obtained upon it. The case was submitted to Thurlow, Wedderburn, Jackson, and Dunning, the four highest authorities in England, who gave their united opinion in favor of the Connecticut juris- diction Thus fortified the General Assembly in October 1773, resolved that the Colony would recognize the settlements as under its protection, and further resolved that they would "make their claim to those lands and in a legal manner sup- port the saine."
In 1774 when two years lind passed away without any at- tempt on the part of Pennsylvania to disturb the settlements the General Assembly took more formal and decisive action.
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It passed an act erecting all the territory extending from the Delaware river to a point 15 miles west of the Susquehanna, between the Parallel's of 41' and 42º north latitude into a town under the jurisdiction of Connecticut with the name of West- moreland, and attaching it to the County of Litchfield, with two delegates to the General Assembly. Governor Trumbull thereupon signed a proclamation forbidding any settlement therein except under the Connecticut authority. The Governor of Pennsylvania followed with a counter proclamation against any such settlement without the sanction of Pennsylvania.
The town government of Westmoreland was speedily or- ganized under the Connecticut Act and its delegates were an- nually chosen to the General Assembly for several years thereafter and regularly attended its sessions at New Haven and Hartford. New settlers kept pouring into the valley, churches and schools were organized and put in operation. flocks and herds and wealth increased, the shad continued abundant and savory, crops were plenteous, and thus prosper- ously passed away the year 1774 and most of 1775.
In the meantime the stormy clouds of the coming Revo- lutionary War had risen above the horizon, and a Continental Congress had assembled at Philadelphia The settlers of Wyoming, true sons of Connecticut had voted in town meet- ing that they would support the Congress and would "unani- mously join our brethren in America in the common cause of defending our liberty." Resolutions these, which in view of their frontier situation were full of danger, and which were afterwards sealed by devotion, sacrifices and sufferings un- equalled by any other part of the nation in the course of that long and arduous struggle.
In September 1775 the Governor of Pennsylvania inspired with martial ardor by the events which had occurred at Lex- ington, Concord and Bunker Hill, and possibly in view of the fact that the attention of Connecticut was closely occupied in thit direction, availed himself of an opportunity to seek for rival laurels in the Wyoming valley.
Two small settlements just started about five miles west of the township line, and out of reach of any fort presented a
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tempting prize for the cupidity of any band which would take the risk of raiding them. Accordingly one Col. Plunkett, a con- spicuous tory who had fled from England to escape prosecu- tion for highway robbery, applied for and obtained orders from Governor Penn to break them up. Secretly collecting a strong force he surprised the settlements, killing one person and wounding several others. burned all the buildings and property which could not be moved, and distributed the remainder as pillage to himself and followers All the men who were found were taken to Sunbury jail; the women and children were driven back to Wyoming. The authorities of Connecticut on learning of this proceeding and that preparations were being made for a general attack on the other settlements in the valley, appealed to the Continental Congress at Philadelphia to remonstrate with Pennsylvania against the repetition of such hostilities as "calculated and probably intended to break up the union of the Colonies." Congress at once complied, and by a formal vote entreated the Pennsylvania Assembly to take effectual measures against further conflict. The Assembly answered by directing Gov. Penn to give orders for a due execution of the laws of the Province in the Counties of Northampton and Northumberland. Gov. Penn without a day's ·delay sent a letter to Col. Plunkett dated November 25th in which he said, "I do most cheerfully order you to use your utmost diligence and activity in put ing the laws of this Province in execution throughout the County of Northumber- land; and you may depend on the faith of the House and my concurrence with them that every proper and necessary ex- pense that may be incurred on the occasion will be defrayed. Thus commenced the Second Pennymite War.
Early in December a force of seven hundred men composed of several military companies and volunteers all under the charge of Col. Plunkett, fully equipped with warlike muni- tions including a cannon, were on their way in a fleet of boats up the Susquehanna river. The avowed purpose of their commander was to subjugate and disperse the entire Yankee population. and he encouraged his troops with the promise of an easy victory and plunder enough to enrich every man
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in the army. For the Wyoming people the prospect was indeed alarming. The whole valley could not muster over three hundred men and boys and there were not arms enough for anything like that number. Numerous tories and other disaffected persons had settled among them and were in secret sympathy with the invaders. During the previous four years of quiet and security the population had become diversified like that of an ordinary peaceful community with women and children, and the usual proportion of the helpless and infirm and the prospect of being driven from their homes in the depth of winter as on former occasions, and of seeing the accumulations of four years labor swept away in sack and flames, brought consternation to every face. An earnest ap- peal was forwarded to Congress to interpose in their behalf, at the same time every preparation was made for defence. The heroic Zebulon Butler whose valor and judgment had saved the settlements in the previous war was placed in com- mand. The three hundred who could carry arms were collect- ed, those who had no guns were furnished with scythe blades fastened to poles; and the approach of the invaders was anxiously awaited.
Meantime Congress had received and acted on their appeal. On the 20th of December it passed resolutions urging the cessation of hostile demonstrations as prejudicial to the com- mon cause, "the restoration of all captured property and the release of all prisoners taken in this unhappy contest," and "the general restoration of the previous condition of affairs until the dispute could be settled in a legal manner."
The remonstrance came too late to be of any avail, if it would have availed in any case, an don the day it was adopted (December 20th, 1775) Plunkett with his army and fleet of boats was already approaching Wyoming. Capt Butler and his motley force were watching them and constructing a bar- ricade of logs on the bank of the liver just below the settle- ments. On the 23d Plunket's army appeared before the breastworks prepared for attack and were saluted with a volley, fired over their beads. When the whistling of bullets was heard the advancing body showed such lack of
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interest in the success of the movement that Plunkett with- drew his forces to a safe distance and determined to turn the the enemy's position with the aid of his fleet. A boat loaded with several men with a dog for a lookout was dispatched across the river to make a landing; but Butler had foreseen this maneuvre and as the boat approached the shore there was a shot from the bushes followed by a yelp from the dog which dropped to the bottom of the boat with a curtailed caudal appendage With a simultaneous movement his human comrades followed his example, and the craft being thus left to steer itself was quickly caught in the rapids and whisked with violent plunges and gyrations helplessly down stream. After several narrow escapes from capsizing, it finally bumped against a rock and the naval contingent without waiting for orders scrambled safely ashore. This closed the first day's operations and Col. Plunkett very much exhausted drew off his army for rest and reflection. The next morning he again appeared and made a vigorous assault on the front of the breastwork while a picked body of men scaled the mountain side endeavoring to get unobserved to Butler's rear, but that vigilant and wary veteran of the French War was too old a campaigner to be caught in this way. and the flanking party soon found itself in front of a strong barricade where it met with a warm reception. A sharp contest ensued, several assailants were killed and the rest returned to Col. Plunkett with the report that the road in that direction was not a con- venient one for public travel.
Mr. Miner accounts for the easy discouragement of the Pennsylvania troops in these several encounters, on the ground that they sympathized for the most part with the Wyoming people and were quite willing that the expedition should prove a failure. However this may be, the situation was now one which a better general than Plunkett though in command of a more zealous army would have found embarrass- ing. Wyoming was evidently not to be conquered without stubborn resistance. It was the 24th of December. He was not prepared for a winter campaign and was liable at any mo- ment to be cut off by a heavy snow from either supplies or re-
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treat. There was nothing to do but to withdraw, and the following day his army and navy retired down the river, escort- ed for same distance by the Yankees who cheered their parting guests by shouting their hearty wishes for a merry Christmas.
Col. Plunkett on reaching Philadelphia found Gov. Penn in a less amiable mood than he had shown on his departure. His expenses also were paid with less alacrity than had been promised and not without careful scrutiny and comments which were neither complimentary nor pious. Thus ended the Second Pennymite War, and with it the year 1775.
CHAPTER IV.
The year 1776 brought the full force of the Revolutionary storm and with it new and critical dangers to Wyoming. At the headquarters of the Susquehanna and within 24 hours journey lay the country of the Iroquois, the most warlike and powerful race of savages in America. It was known that Great Britain was making every effort to win them over to hostility against the Colonies. An uneasv. restless and threatening spirit had for months been displayed by them and was constantly increasing. Deputations of savages appeared in the settle- ments from time to time ostensibly to declare friendship, but in reality as was believed to quiet suspicion, and no reliance was placed in their good faith.
These apprehensions were fully justified. Before the close of 1776 the tribe had pledged themselves to a British alliance and took part in Burgoyne's expedition the following year. The situation of Wyoming was indeed critical.
There were in the valley about 2,500 inhabitants, hardly 300 of whom as had been shown in the Plunkett invasion. could bear arms and the supply of weapons was inadequate even for these; moreover thirty of the most capable men had since enlisted in the Continental Army and had taken the best of the arms with them. Suspicious persons had of late been settling in the valley in considerable numbers and erecting private stock houses or forts in the outlying districts. Many of these were more or less avowed tories in their politics and were believed by the majority of the settlers to be secretly
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engaged in plotting their destruction. Under these circum- stances it was voted in town meeting to erect suitable forts for defence against the common enemy : every inhabitant to labor on them without fee or reward The town also applied to Congress for aid and especially for arms In reply Congress authorized them to raise two companies as a part of the Con- tinental line, to be stationed in and about the town for the defence of the inhabitants, but liable to serve in any part of United States when called on. Under this very meager en- couragement two companies of 84 men each were raised in sixty days. and it is supposed that arms were supplied to them by Congress.
Then followed what have been called "the dark days of the Revolution." Washington retreated through the Jerseys, his army diminishing daily. On the Sth of December be crossed the Delaware. On the 20th. Congress fled to Baltimore but not until it had passed an order for the Westmoreland com- panies to join Washington with all possible despatch. Before the end of December these companies were in Washington's camp and Wyoming was defenceless.
The year 1777 was one of auxions expectation in the valley, and domestic troubles. The smallpox broke out, a fearful visitation in those days, and spread through the settlements, raging for several months. The year previous the town bad been promoted to be a county, and in tiue Connectient fashion a controversy almost as virulent as the smallpox began to be waged over the location of the county buildings. The hardly concealed plottings of the tories and the occasional suspicious visits of straggling Indians were constant sources of appre- hension. Most of the able bodied men were in the army, and those who remained. together with all the old men and boys, exhausted as they were with other labors and special burdens from the sickness, worked unremittingly in strengthening the forts. Some of the more dangerous tories were expelled.
Scouting parties were kept constantly out to guard against surprise and these occasionally came into collision with roving bands of Indians and tories when lives were lost and prisoners taken on both sides. Meantime the two military companies
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which had been raised for the defence of the valley were de- tained in Washington's Army. Under the command of Col. Zebulon Butler they were actively employed and did gallant service in several expeditions and engagements. They were known as the Independent Companies of Westmoreland, and not incorporated with any corps or regiment-it being under- stood that they were liable to be returned at any time to their homes
A letter from Col. Butler to Gen. Washington dated May 29th, 1777 thus speaks of their condition, "Many soldiers of the Independent Companies have received no clothes since they entered the service and are almost naked. Many of their arms are useless and some of them are lost. They are also destitute of tents and every kind of camp equipage. I hope Your Excellency will give special directions how they are to be supplied with these articles."
To appreciate the sacrifices and the defenceless condition of Wyoming at this time it should be known that Westmore- land's proportionate quota of troops for the Continental Army was 21 men. She had sent 180, and this at a time when every man was needed at home. The two Independent Companies bad been raised with the express understanding that they were mainly for home defence, but now that they had been drawn into the army they counted as part of the general quota of Connecticut. and no great effort seems to have been made by the state authorities to relieve them by sending a substitute force. Notwithstanding the unequale burden of . military service thus imposed on Westmoreland. its full pro- portion of state taxes was rigidly exacted and it was now called upon to send to Hartford an assessment of £2,000. This was nearly one pound to every inhabitant and in addition to this, county and town taxes were also levied.
Yet heavy as these financial burdens must have been, and wearing as were the excitements and anxieties of the people they did not lose their interest in education and literary improvement. An additional tax of a penny in the pound was levied for free school purposes, and money was raised by . private subscription to establish a fortnightly post to furnish
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the valley with the Hartford newspapers. In this year also for the first time a student was sent from Wyoming to Yale College, but as that institution then paid no attention to base ball, foot ball or other "athletics." it is probable that the young man derived little benefit from his college course.
Before we close the annais of this trying year oue more vote of this impoverished people deserves to be recorded. It was passed at the last town meeting of the year, December 30th. 1777, and is in these words: "Voted by this town, that the Committee of Inspection be empowered to supply the Solger's wives and the Solger's widows and their families with the necessaries of life " When we consider the situation of these straggling frontier settlements, crippled by poverty, wasted with sickness, and woin with toil, anxiety and constant con- fliet with the savage foe, and recount their sacrifices amid it all, for patriotism, education and benevolence we may well ask, what community can show a nobler record ?
The year 1778 dawned on a rejoicing and hopeful American people. Burgoyne had suriended in the previous October and that great event had awakened universal anticipations of a speedy French alliance, and of an early and successful termination of the war. These patriotic exultations were fully shared by the people of Wyoming, but they could not conceal from themselves that the very circumstances which largely relieved the apprehensions of other parts of the country furnished ground for an increase of their own. The fierce warriors of the Six Nations who had been absent with Burgoyne's Army were now released inflamed with disappoint- ment and eager for revenge to murder aud plunder in other quarters. Early in January rumors came thick and fast that an expedition of tories and savages was preparing for- descent on Wyoming The two companies with their officers who were detained in the Continental line became more and more restless under the appealing letters which they received from their families. and clamored for release ; but through some potent influence never explained their requests were unheeded.
Gen. Schuyler called the attention of Congress to the danger of attack on Wyoming, and the importance of prepar-
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ation for it. The only action taken by that body was to authorize the town of Westmoreland to raise another company of foot for its own defence, the Company to find its own arms, accoutrements and blankets : not even powder was sent them and the women of the settlements in desperation seraped the ground beneath their floors aud leached out saltpetre that their husbands and brothers might manufacture material with which to defend their lives.
In May the seouting parties reported that bands of Indians were hovering within 20 miles of the settlements. Soon after a party of scouts was fired on and one man killed. The people began to take refuge in the forts and frantic appeals were again sent to Congress to permit the two companies to come home. Still the appeals were answered only by obstinate neglect. But the men could resist the calls of their families no longer. Every commissioned officer but two resigned and with 25 of the men who left the ranks, leave or no leave, hurried to the valley. At last at the end of June, Congress authorized the remainder who were fast deserting, and who now numbered 86 to be formed into a single company and to march to Wyoming. But it was too late.
. It was now the 1st of July. The forts were crowded with women and children : outside were their forsaken homes with all their possessions abandoned to the rapacity of the approach- ing foe. Every man and boy able to hold a weapon was under arms. The old four-pounder was at Wilkesbarre but there were no balls and it could only be used as an alarm gun. The greater part of the fighting foree was collected at Forty Fort which was nearest the enemy, with Col. Zebulon Butler in command On the 2d, the enemy numbering 400 Tories and Canadians and 600 Indians commanded by Major John Butler suddenly appeared at Wintermoot's block house, about 4 miles north of Forty Fort, a place long suspected as being a Tory headquarters, and took possession of it. On the same day they attacked another block house a mile nearer occupied by Connecticut men, and killed and captured its garrison of seventeen old men.
On the 3d a messenger was despatched by them to Forty
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Fort demanding that the whole Wyoming Valley with all its forts and defenders and public property be unconditionally surrendered. The demand was refused. A council of war was then held in the fort. Col. Butler and the military offi- cers generally favored awaiting the arrival of the company which had been just released from the army. The majority argued however that iu the meantime the enemy would ravage the valley and overpower the other forts which were but feebly manned, and that the men in Forty Fort could not be held there while their families were being slaughtered around them. They believed it better to take a desperate chance; to risk everything on a single throw, and to attack the enemy in the open field. The chance was desperate indeed. Three hundred men and boys ranging from fourteen years of age to seventy, untrained and half armed to attack more than a thousand hardy fighting soldiers and warriors in their own chosen position. But human nature could not endure the suspense and agony which the other alternative presented and the minority yielded.
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