A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. II, Part 115

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre [Raeder press]
Number of Pages: 683

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. II > Part 115

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Match of the Ener ferment at Lackawannay

mountains

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While the head of the army arrived at the camping-place at Lackawanna about five o'clock

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in the afternoon, the rear-guard did not reach there until nine o'clock the next morning.

The illustration on the opposite page is a reduced photo-reproduc- tion of an original sketch of the Lackawanna encampment made by Col- onel Hubley at the time. (See page 1192.) In the Susquehanna, near the head of Scovell's Island, the fleet of boats is noted. Opposite the center of the fleet, on the left bank of the river, the letters "H. Q." indicate General Sullivan's headquarters. Then, to the right, is seen the loca- tion of the camp of the light-troops, or Hand's brigade, and then the camps of the brigades of Generals Maxwell and Poor. On the right bank of the river, nearly opposite Campbell's Ledge (see page 47, Vol. I), the camping-place of Captain Gifford's "party of sixty men" is noted, with their boats lying near by in the river. A chain of sentinels was stationed around the entire encampment on the left bank of the river. Owing to the fact that some of the boats were not properly loaded, and that it was difficult to get the majority of all the boats past the rapids known as "Wyoming Falls" (see page 36, Vol. I), the last of them did not reach the mouth of the Lackawanna until about two o'clock in the afternoon of Sunday, August 1st. Two boats-one loaded with ammu- nition and the other with provisions-were sunk at the "Falls," but their contents were saved.

At three o'clock in the afternoon of the 1st, upon the firing of a cannon, the tents of the army were struck and the march was continued. The route of the marchers lay along the base of Campbell's Ledge, through the narrows beyond, and then onward to a large, level and open tract of land near the river, known as Quilutimack,* where formerly there had been an Indian settlement. The distance was about seven miles from the previous camping-ground, but as the way was rough the march was attended with many difficulties. Several of the pack-horses gave out, while the packs on many others kept continually falling off, scattering the contents all along the path. A considerable number of the flour kegs burst, and the flour was lost. The boats all arrived in good order and time at Quilutimack, but the rear-guard (Colonel Cilley's regiment) did not arrive at the camping-ground until after sunrise on August 2d. Orders having been issued for the continuance of the camp at that place over the 2d, the light-troops began their march at six o'clock in the morning of the 3d, and the main body set off at seven. The march this day covered twelve miles, and is described by Chaplain Rogers in his journal in these words :

"The major part of the way we met with trifling difficulties. We had to encounter a few bad places, such as swamps, steep hills and thickets; however, in comparison with Sunday's march, it deserves the appellation of excellent. On an exceedingly high spot we had the pleasure of viewing many adjacent mountains. * * Tunkhannunk is a beautiful creek eight poles in breadth. The place where we crossed it, about three-quar- ters of a mile from the Susquehannah, into which it empties, was very rapid. On the path along which we came, and on each side of it as far as we could see, wild grass had grown in abundance. * * * * The country all along abounds with snakes-particu- larly the rattlesnake and blacksnake. At two o'clock P. M. we arrived at Tunkhannunk, and encamped on the banks of the Susquehannah, about a mile from where we crossed the creek of the same name."

The camping-ground of the light-corps at Tunkhannock was near the abandoned plantation of Adam Wortman, mentioned on page 948. The army was again in motion at five o'clock in the morning of August 4th, and moved up the river for three miles-" chiefly on the beach, * Mentioned on page 818, and now known as Keeler's.

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close under an almost inaccessible mountain." They then ascended the same with great difficulty, and continued along on it for nearly seven miles. The march Fetch of Landhannank hondment. - this day covered about fourteen miles, and the main body of the army went into camp on the abandoned plantation of Frederick Vanderlip (a Tory, who had joined But- ler's Rangers, as herein- before mentioned), while the light-troops encamped about a mile farther up the river on the abandoned farm of one Williamson. By reason of the boats not arriving at the encamp- ment until late in the morning of August 5th, the SKETCH OF THE TUNKHANNOCK ENCAMPMENT. (From Colonel Hubley's journal.) light-troops did not march until half past eight o'clock.

In his journal Chaplain Rogers describes the march of the light-troops on August 5th, as follows :

" We soon entered another defile, or narrows, three-quarters of a mile in length. ** * Leaving the narrows we ascended a steep but short hill, and traveled over a con- siderable open part of the country-the land in some places very indifferent, in others rich and fit for meadow. * * After we left this height, having marched over a low and swampy piece of ground, we came to Wyalusing Mountain. The ascent was gradual, and at the top we had a pleasing view of the Susquehannah. * * From the top of the mountain the plains of Wyalusing settlement are also visible. *

* The mountain is two miles over. . On reaching the foot we entered a thicket containing the largest trees of the sycamore, or button-wood, kind my eyes ever beheld-being in circumference (take one with another) between twenty and thirty feet, and in diameter between nine and twelve feet. Notwithstanding these trees the bottom is called Sugar Bottom, on account of the sugar-maple. * * On the mountain and in the bottom we saw several spots where the Indians had encamped. Fresh Indian tracks were discovered, and one of their canoes was taken by Mr. Lodge [the Geographer]; also, by some of our soldiers, a raft with a pair of moccasins. An engagement was expected throughout the day ; but, granting that the enemy had a fair view of us-of which we had not the least doubt- they suffered us to pass unmolested, notwithstanding the many advantageous posts they might have occupied in annoying us. From the foot of the mountain to Wyalusing the distance is one and a-half miles.

"Wyalusing, which we reached in good season, consists of about 1.000 acres of clear land, amazingly fertile and containing beds of extraordinary fine English grass. Since the present contest the town, which was inhabited by Moravian Indians,* has been partly destroyed by our people and partly by the Indians. It contained upwards of eighty good square log houses, and a fine ornamented Moravian church in the center, with a bell. The minister resided in the town ; there was also a tavern and other public buildings-all of which, without exception, were demolished or rafted down the Susquehannah. No sign of even the smallest hut was left standing. * * On this fine, open plain, like a bed of down, the main army encamped. The light-troops marched a mile farther on, contiguous to an excellent spring, the place abounding with good pasture and distant from the river about half a mile, where we made our fires and took up our abode for the night. * * Wyalusing plains are exactly fifty miles from Wyoming, agreeably to the actual survey of Mr. Lodge."

In the afternoon of August 9th the army arrived at the upper plains of Sheshequin, on the left bank of the Susquehanna, and, erecting their tents, remained there until the morning of August 11th. In the mean-

* See page 733, ante.

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time General Sullivan, accompanied by his three Brigadiers and escorted by two regiments of troops, reconnoitered the country in the vicinity of Tioga Point .* Agreeably to orders the army moved at eight o'clock in the morning of the 11th, the usual formation being adhered to. Says Lieut. Colonel Hubley in his journal :

"The light-corps moved half an hour before the main army, and took post on the banks of the river near the fording place. On the arrival of the main army and boats, Colonel Forrestt drew up his boat at the fording place and fixed several 6-pounders on the opposite shore, in order to scour the woods and thickets and prevent any ambuscade from taking place. In the meantime the light-corps marched by platoons, linked together, on account of the rapidity of the water, and forded the same, and effected a landing about nine o'clock. They immediately advanced about 100 yards from the river and formed in line of battle, in order to cover the landing of the main army, which was safely effected about ten o'clock A. M., after which came on pack-horses, cattle, etc., covered by a regi- ment which composed the rear-guard. Previous to our arrival on the [Tioga] Flatst we had to pass about one and a-half miles through a dark, difficult swamp, which was cov- ered with weeds and considerable underwood, interspersed with large timber, chiefly but- tonwood. We then entered the flats near the place on which Queen Esther's palace stood, ¿ and was destroyed by Colonel Hartley's detachment last Fall. * * We continued along the same for about one mile, and arrived at the entrance of Tioga Branch into the Sus- quehanna about one o'clock. We crossed the same and landed on a peninsula of land (which extends towards Chemung, and is bounded on the east by the Susquehanna and on the west by the Tioga Branch), and continued up the same for about two miles and a-half and encamped."

Chaplain Rogers gives in his journal the following account of the march of the army from Sheshequin to Tioga Point.

" Proceeding about one mile and a-half we arrived at a fording place on the Sus- quehannah unknown to any of our guides, but found out on the preceding day by the General officers. The troops, pursuant to orders, taking off their overalls and tying them about their necks, crossed in platoons, under cover of the fleet, each soldier grasping the hand of his comrade next to him for support. The current being strong, and the water for a considerable distance coming up to the middles of the men, some considerable difficulties were encountered ; but notwithstanding every impediment the whole body got over without suffering any peculiar disadvantage. General Hand, in order to animate his brigade, dismounted and marched through on foot at the head of his soldiers. Such an army, crossing a river with so much regularity at a place so rapid, and in width 330 yards, afforded the spectator a pleasing sight, and must have struck our enemies with awe. I must doubt whether the army of Alexander the Great encountered as many difficulties with as much good humor as ours has evinced.

"The river being forded, we entered upon what is properly called the Indian coun-

try. * * The army being formed as usual we proceeded, sometimes in single files, and then in double, through a thicket, till we entered those beautiful plains where the Tioga Branch unites itself with the main river. On this level spot stood Queen Esther's palace, burned by Colonel Hartley last Fall. Over those plains our army marched towards the mouth of the Tioga in order of battle, the light-troops being joined by two 3-pounders from the regiment of artillery. The view of this was grand beyond description, as the ground for a great circuit was level, and the grass high and green. Drums were beating, fifes playing, colors flying. Getting to the mouth of the Tioga we found it in width 142 yards, and the water much deeper than had been imagined. * * Possessing ourselves of the north side of the Tioga, and passing through a swampy piece of ground, we entered upon other plains, pleasing to the eye, though not so grand as those on the south. Here the main body encamped. The light-troops proceeded farther on-one column on the bank of the Susquehannah, and another on the bank of the Tioga. Having advanced a mile and better, our [the light-corps'] tents were pitched from river to river-judged to be about 200 yards. Just below our encampment we took a view of the Indians' carrying- place, thirteen yards across ; so called from their carrying or dragging their canoes from river to river to save themselves the trouble of paddling round the neck [point]."

In the night of August 12th a considerable detachment of the army, under the command of General Sullivan himself, marched from the camp at Tioga Point for the Indian town of Chemung-mentioned on page 972-intending to surprise and destroy it. Arriving about five o'clock the next morning at the town-consisting of fifty or sixty log houses-it was found to be deserted. Thereupon, in order to make, if

* See page 34, Vol. I. t Lieut. Col. Thomas Forrest of Procter's Artillery. # On the right, or west, bank of the river. § See page 1001.

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possible, some discoveries as to the whereabouts of the enemy, a portion of the detachment was ordered to advance up the river a few miles far- ther. They had proceeded about a mile when they were fired upon by a party of forty Indians under the command of Roland Montour, am- bushed on a high hill. Two Captains, one Adjutant, one guide (Capt. John Franklin) and eight privates of the detachment were badly wounded, and one Sergeant, one drummer and four privates were killed -the first to fall by the enemy's bullets in this campaign. The survi- vors, taking with them their dead and wounded, returned to Chemung, and thence (having first destroyed the town and the growing crops near by) marched with the remainder of the detachment back to Tioga Point. While the troops were destroying the crops near Chemung they were fired upon by Indians in ambush, and one man was killed and four men were wounded. On Saturday, August 14th, the seven soldiers who had been killed on the previous day were buried at Tioga (in one grave) with military honors-Chaplain Rogers preaching a funeral sermon.

In pursuance of orders issued on August 12th the erection of a forti- fication was begun at Tioga, for the protection of the stores and boats to be left there during the absence of the army. The site selected for this work of defense was at the narrowest part of the Tioga peninsula, where the two rivers approach very near each other. The work, which was built of logs, and was surrounded by a ditch, was diamond-shaped, with a strong block-house at each corner, or angle. It was so near completion on August 16th that it was then named " Fort Sullivan," in honor of the Commander-in-Chief of the Expedition.

At the encampment of the light-troops (General Hand's brigade), on Wednesday, August 18, 1779, the Rev. Dr. Rogers preached the funeral sermon, "in Masonic form," which he had prepared to deliver at Wilkes-Barre at the time of the burial of Captain Davis and Lieuten- ant Jones, but which had to be postponed on account of a heavy rain- storm. (See page 1197.) The sermon was preached at eleven o'clock in the morning, at the request of Military Lodge No. 19, and was listened to by the members of that lodge, by other Free Masons belonging to the Expedition, and by General Sullivan and his staff, the 11th Pennsylva- nia Regiment, and Procter's Artillery Regiment. The text of the Chaplain was from Job, VII : 7-" Oh ! remember that my life is wind."

As previously mentioned, the Northern, or Right, Division of the Sullivan Expedition (constituting the 4th Brigade of the army) was commanded by Brig. Gen. James Clinton,* and it had not yet joined the forces under the Commander-in-Chief. The troops under Clinton in the Spring of 1779 were stationed at Schenectady, New York, and there, in preparation for the Sullivan Expedition, they built over 200 small boats. From Schenectady these troops proceeded with their boats up the Mohawk River to Canajoharie. Thence, by the aid of many teams of horses and oxen, the boats and stores of the brigade were transported a distance of twenty miles, over a rough and hilly road, to the head of Lake Otsego-the source of the Main, or North, Branch of the Susque-

* Brig. Gen. JAMES CLINTON, a brother of Gov. George Clinton of New York, was born in Orange County, New York, August 9, 1786, the son of Col. Charles Clinton. When only twenty years of age he was an officer under Bradstreet in the French and Indian War. With the rank of Colonel he was with Montgomery in the invasion of Canada in 1775. He was commissioned Brigadier General August 9, 1776, and was in command of Fort Clinton when in October, 1777, it was captured by the British. After the war he held various important offices in New York. He died in Orange County, New York, December 22, 1812. DeWitt Clinton, well known at a later period as Governor of New York, and the "father" of the Erie Canal, was a son of Gen. James Clinton.

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hanna River. With the exception of one regiment, that marched over- land by way of Cherry Valley, the entire brigade came down the lake in their boats; the last of the troops reaching the site of the present Cooperstown about July 5, 1779. There the brigade went into camp, and awaited orders from General Sullivan. In the meantime General Clinton had found that the outlet of the lake was too narrow and shal- low for the passage of his boats. Therefore, being a practical engineer, he devised an ingenious plan to overcome this difficulty ; which was accomplished by damming the small gorge through which the Susque- hanna flows as it leaves the lake. By this simple means the lake level was raised two or three feet, and an increased flow of water was insured when the dam, or dike, should be removed.

Clinton and his brigade remained in camp at the foot of Lake Otsego for a little more than a month. On their last Sunday there (August 8, 1779) the Brigade Chaplain, the Rev. John Gano, preached to them from the text, " Ready to depart on the morrow "-from The Acts of the Apostles, XX : 7. Later in the day orders were issued for the departure of the troops on Monday, and at six o'clock in the even- ing of Sunday-the fleet of 220 or more boats being loaded and ready to proceed down the river-the dam was knocked out and, according to the journal of Lieut. William McKendry, "the water filled the river immediately, where a boat could pass, which was almost dry before." It is said that the Indians along the banks of the Susquehanna, miles away from its source, beholding the overflow of the river in Summer, without any apparent reason, thought that it was caused by an inter- position of the Great Spirit, and fled in terror. Besides the invalids of the brigade who were placed in the boats with the stores and baggage, three men went in each boat. All the rest of the troops marched- some on one side, and some on the other, of the swollen river-the advance southward from the lake beginning at ten o'clock in the morn- ing. "So they proceeded through the hot August days, destroying vari- ous Indian villages along the route, and keeping a sharp lookout lest Brant, with his whooping retinue, should surprise them, as they had heard that he meant to do." At three o'clock in the afternoon of August 12th the troops arrived at Unadilla (mentioned on page 971), and on the 14th they reached Oghwaga (mentioned on pages 257 and 667).

At Tioga Point, on Sunday, August 15, 1779, General Sullivan ordered that a detachment of 1,084 men-including field and line offi- cers and musicians-to be commanded by Generals Poor and Hand, and to be supplied with ammunition and provisions for eight days, should march at six o'clock the next morning, to go up the Susquehanna to meet the forces of General Clinton. In pursuance of these orders the detachment marched late in the morning of the 16th-General Poor being first in command. A distance of eleven or twelve miles having been covered, the detachment bivouacked at Macktowanunk, or Red Bank. Thence Serg't Asa Chapman and Justus Gaylord, Jr. (of the Westmoreland contingent), were despatched up the river by General Poor to inform General Clinton of the approach of the detachment. In the evening of August 18th General Poor's command bivouacked at Choconut, or Chugnuts (mentioned in the note on page 421, Vol. I). " Here," states Lieut. Colonel Dearborn in his journal, " we found plenty of cucumbers, squashes, turnips, &c .; and we found about twenty houses,

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which we burnt. * * At sunset we were very agreeably alarmed by the report of a cannon up the river, which we supposed to be General Clinton's evening gun."

Having burned what there was of Chugnuts, General Poor's troops -with the exception of a few who remained on the south side of the river-pitched their camp on the north side of the river, where the pres- ent village of Union is located. At this place the main body of Clin- ton's brigade joined Poor's detachment in the morning of August 19th. After a few hours the combined forces moved forward about twelve miles to Owego, a deserted Indian village of nineteen houses, which Clinton ordered burned, to make " a bonfire to grace the arrival of the united forces." On Sunday, August 22d, between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning, the head of General Clinton's column and the foremost boats of his fleet arrived at Tioga Point. As the boats passed down by the camp of the light-corps they were saluted by thirteen rounds fired from two 6-pounders. As the detachment commanded by Generals Poor and Hand marched down the peninsula, it was received by that part of Hand's brigade which had remained at Tioga, under arms, and with the fifes and drums and Procter's band playing alternately. Gen- eral Clinton's brigade-which numbered from 1,600 to 1,800 men, includ- ing the boatmen-went into camp on the right of General Maxwell's brigade, not far from the southern Il. Com extremity of the "Point."

The accompanying re- duced photo-reproduction of Lieut, Colonel Hubley's sketch of Tioga Point encampment (taken from his journal, mentioned on Nurquehancho page 1192) shows the loca- tion of the camp of the Oliga- branch light-corps (Hand's brigade) at the narrow neck of the peninsula; then, next be- low, Fort Sullivan, with its four block-houses; then, near the extremity of the " Point," the camp of Clin- ton's brigade; next, the camp of Maxwell's brigade, in front of which is noted the location of General Sul- TIOGA POINT. Reduced photo-reproduction of the sketch made by Lieut. Colonel Hubley in August, 1779. livan's headquarters; then, lowermost of all, the artil- lery park, and then the camp of Poor's brigade. The dotted lines in the sketch indicate the routes, or roads, traversed by the troops.

After the arrival of General Clinton and his command at Tioga Point a rearrangement of the several brigades of the army was made by order of General Sullivan, and then preparations were begun for an

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immediate advance into the enemy's country. Colonel Shreve, of the 2d New Jersey Regiment, was appointed to command Fort Sullivan ; the garrison to be composed of about 250 officers and men, provided with two brass 6-pounders. The "flying hospital" and the reserve stores of the Expedition were moved to the fort, and the various women who accompanied the army were ordered to take up their quarters there. On August 26th the army, numbering upwards of 4,000 men, marched to the upper end of Tioga flats, about three miles above Fort Sullivan, and there bivouacked. In the morning of the next day the march was resumed, the bounds of the town of Westmoreland were passed, and about seven o'clock in the evening the army went into camp at the lower end of Chemung flats-three miles distant from the site of the town of Chemung, which had been destroyed two weeks previously. After encamping, the troops " had an agreeable repast of corn, potatoes, beans, cucumbers, watermelons, pumpkins, squashes and other vegetables, which were found growing in great plenty and the greatest perfection in the extensive fields at that point." One of the journalists of the Expe- dition states : " We sat up until between one and two o'clock, feasting on these rarities." On Saturday, August 28th, the army destroyed sixty or eighty acres of growing corn on the Chemung flats, and then moved forward to the site of Chemung, where they erected their tents about sunset.

Now, turning our attention to Fort Sullivan, for a brief space, we glean from the journal of Chaplain Rogers (who did not accompany the Expedition beyond Tioga Point) the following items of information concerning the situation there.

"Captain Bush, Dr. [William] Kinnerly [Surgeon of the 3d Brigade] and myself erected our living abode within the lines of Fort Sullivan [August 26th], proposing to spend our time as comfortably as possible together until some of the boats set off for Wyoming. The command of the garrison being committed to so vigilant and worthy an officer as Colonel Shreve, affords much confidence and good humor in all those who are to continue with him, although their sufferings may be great and duty must be hard. * * Friday, August 27th .-* * The garrison at Fort Sullivan is very short of provisions; the salted beef much tainted. Divers cattle, which, since our arrival at this post have strayed away, were this day discovered by a scouting party sent out by the commandant. The party could bring none in, as they were apparently as wild as deer. * August

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A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. II, Part 115

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Wilkes-Barre [Raeder press] Number of Pages: 683

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre [Raeder press]
Number of Pages: 683