A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. II, Part 77

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 77

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Isaac Baldwin, Jr., was a member of the class of 1774 in Yale College, but "at the time of the grad- uation of tris class he was undergoing rustication for some offense, and he did not receive his first degree until 1775." (See F. B. Dexter's "Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College", III : 517.) In 1778 he received his M. A. degree. After leaving college he pursued the study of law, and in 1775 was admitted to the Bar of Litchfield County. The same year, or early in 1776, he removed to Wyoming Valley and settled in Kingston. In certain documents drawn up by him in 1794 and 1796 at Litchfield (where he was then living), he certified that "between the years 1774 and 1779 he bought rights of land [in the Susquehanna Purchase] from John Jenkins and Major [ Ezekiel] Peirce and had deeds for the same; but that all his papers were lost, or destroyed by the enemy, at Wyoming." Shortly after settling in Kingston Isaac Baldwin, Jr., was appointed Adjutant of the 24th Regiment, Connecti- cut Militia, and also Register and Clerk of the Probate Court of the District of Westmoreland; and upon the erection of the county of Westmoreland in October, 1776, he was appointed Clerk of the County Court. These several offices he held until about the end of 1778. As noted on page 1005, Lieut. Colonel Butler despatched Adjutant Baldwin in the morning of July 3, 1778, from Forty Fort to the Board of War.

So far as can be learned now, Adjutant Baldwin did not return to Wilkes-Barre after reporting to the Board of War; nor did he join Colonel Butler at Fort Penn, but went to his former home at Litch- field. There, under the date of November 7, 1778, he wrote in part as follows to Colonel Butler, sending the letter by the hands of Colonel Denison, who was then in Connecticut. (The original letter is now in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society.) "When I was at the Board of War, in Philadelphia, on express from you, I could not get any pay for my expenses, as I understood was customary in such cases. I expended £31. * * I should have been at Westmore- land before now, but have been hindered by business. I expect to be there in March at furthest. The ingratitude of the General Assembly [of Connecticut] towards the people of Westmoreland is amaz- ing; owing to what cause I am unable to determine. Yet I am fully of opinion that the [ Wyoming] settlement will yet flourish, even under all the discouragements that it has met with from a set of Damned designing Villins." In an original account rendered by Lieut. Col. Zebulon Butler against the United States in December, 1778 (a duplicate of which, in the handwriting of Colonel But- ler, is now in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society), occurs the following charge: "To paying Isaac Baldwin as Express from Wyoming to Board of War, 3 July, £38 15s."

If Isaac Baldwin ever returned to Wyoming Valley it was only for a brief stay, for he settled down in Litchfield in the practise of law. For some years he bore the military title of "Captain." He rep- resented the town of Litchfield in the General Assembly of Connecticut in the years 1782-'84, being Clerk of the Lower House in the last-mentioned year. He was married in October, 1779, to the widow Hannah Delancey, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Sacket of Yorktown, Westchester County, New York, and in 1811 they removed, with their children, from Litchfield to Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, where Isaac Baldwin died December 19, 1818. Isaac and Hannah (Sacket) Baldwin were the parents of four sons and one daughter, all born in Litchfield, as follows: (i) Samuel Sacket, born in 1782; graduated at Yale College in 1801; died in 1854. (ii) Isaac, born February 1, 1784; graduated at Yale College in 1801; died at Pompey, New York, in 1844, unmarried. (iii) Anne, born December 19, 1786; married July 17, 1821, to Stephen, son of Gen. John Sedgwick of Cornwall, Litchfield County, Connecticut. (iv) James, born June 25, 1788; was a lawyer at Salina, New York; died April 28, 1810. (v) Charles A., born May 23, 1790; graduated at Williams College in 1810; became a lawyer; died March 14, 1818.

* Jonathan Terry, who was in Forty Fort at the time, stated, a number of years later, that Butler's demand was in writing, and that he (Terry) saw and "read the letter". (See Craft's "History of Brad- ford County," page 489.)

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tal officers and soldiers on the ground. This was coupled with a promise that he (Butler) would, if he should gain possession without bloodshed, give the inhabitants of the Valley good terms of capitulation, and with a threat that, in case of refusal, he would move upon them at once in full force. Daniel Ingersoll was accompanied by a " Ranger" and an Indian to serve both as guards and spies, and he was not allowed to have, beyond their hearing, a word with either Colonel Denison or any one else. Effectual care was taken that he should not communicate any- thing that he had discovered while in the hands of the enemy. But his guards had a good opportunity to observe, in some measure, the character and condition of the fort, as well as the number and the spirit of its defenders. Colonel Denison refused the demands of Major Butler, but the refusal was accompanied with a suggestion that he would like time and opportunity to consult with Lieutenant Colonel Butler and other officers who were not then present.

Colonel Denison believed that, upon the return of Ingersoll and his guards to Major Butler, the latter would immediately march against Forty Fort. Therefore a messenger was despatched in haste to Lieu- tenant Colonel Butler at Wilkes-Barre apprizing him of the situation and requesting his immediate presence at Forty Fort. At the same time orders were sent to the two Wilkes-Barre companies and the Hanover and Pittston companies of the militia, and those members of the "Alarm List" companies who had not been detailed to gar- rison the several forts and stockades, to march forthwith to Forty Fort. All these companies, except the Pittston company, reported there for duty by noon of the 3d. The enemy having taken possession of all the water-craft at Jenkins' Ferry, opposite Jenkins' Fort, the Pittston company had no way of crossing the river, unless they should march down its east bank to the ferry opposite Forty Fort. Inasmuch as there was a considerable number of women and children in Pittston Fort, who would have to be left behind, unprotected, if this plan were pursued, it was deemed advisable by Captain Blanchard and his men that they should remain where they were-which they did.

Captain Hewitt and his Continentals* were already on duty at Forty Fort with the 2d (or Kingston) Company of the 24th Regiment. The force, then, collected in Forty Fort at noon on Friday, July 3d, comprised : Lieut. Col. Zebulon Butler, and Capt. Dethick Hewitt and his company, of the Continental establishment ; the field and staff offi- cers of the 24th Regiment, Connecticut Militia, and the officers and men of the 1st, 2d, 3d, 5th and 6th Companies of that regiment; some of the officers and many members of the two "Alarm List" companies attached to the 24th Regiment ; the remnants of the 7th and 9th Com- panies of the 24th Regiment, and the squad of men belonging to the 10th Company (which, under the command of Lieut. Stoddard Bowen, had reached Forty Fort at mid-day, after a march of twenty-one miles); the twenty-five or thirty enlisted men and former officers of the West- moreland Independent Companies (for example: Capt. Samuel Ransom, Lieut. James Wells, Sr., Lieut. Peren Ross, Ensign Matthias Hollen- back, Rufus Bennet, John Peirce and John Franklin) who were then in Wyoming, for reasons previously mentioned. According to the best evi-

' Under the resolution of Congress providing for the raising of this company, and for its duties, it was directed that the company should be subject to the orders of the commanding officer of the 24th Regiment.

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dence extant there were " between 300 and 400 men "-probably 375- assembled in the fort, and as many, or more, women and children. At Fort Wilkes-Barre Capt. William Hooker. Smith and Ensign Elisha Blackman, Sr., of the 2d Alarm List Company, with a handful of their men, served as a garrison ; while James Bidlack, Sr., of Plymouth, Captain of the 1st Alarm List Company, in command of a very small number of his men, performed a similar duty at Shawnee Fort in Plymouth. Lieut. Lebbeus Tubbs and Ensign John Comstock of the 1st Company (being residents of Kingston), and Lieut. Flavius Waterman of the 2d Com- pany (residing in upper Wilkes-Barre), had repaired to Forty Fort.

At the desire of Colonel Denison and Lieutenant Colonel Dorrance, seconded by the unanimous wish of all the other officers present, Lieut. Col. Zebulon Butler again, as on the 1st of July, assumed temporary command of the military force at Forty Fort. Immediately thereafter a conference of all the officers in the fort was held, at which the situa- tion was fully discussed, resulting in a unanimous decision not to sur- render the fort, but to hold it at all hazards. About that time Lieut. Timothy Peirce, of Captain Spalding's Westmoreland Independent Com- pany, appeared on the scene, having been hurried forward by Captain Spalding with the information that his company was en route to the Valley and would probably arrive about Sunday, July 5th. Soon after Lieutenant Peirce's arrival Colonel Butler despatched Adjutant Isaac Baldwin from Forty Fort to the Board of War (at Philadelphia, where the seat of Government had been re-established), with a report concern- ing the critical condition of affairs in Wyoming.

For the purpose of securing, by delays in negotiations, sufficient time to admit of the arrival of Captain Franklin and his company from Huntington and Salem, Captain Spalding's company, and. possibly Cap- tain Clingman's, a messenger with a flag of truce was sent to Major Butler to ask for a conference with him upon the subject of his demands made in the morning. At the same time scouts were sent out to learn, if possible, the situation as well as the strength of the enemy. In fact, such scouts had been sent out during all the morning, but they were unable to form a satisfactory estimate as to the number of the invaders. Later in the day it was realized that, unfortunately, they had greatly underestimated the number. The messenger with the flag had not pro- ceeded half way to Wintermute's Fort when he was fired upon by prowl- ing Indians, and compelled to return. After consultation another flag was sent out, and its bearer, being also fired upon, returned to Forty Fort.

Shortly afterwards it was learned from incoming scouts (states Col. John Franklin in his article on this subject, previously referred to) " that the enemy were burning all the settlements above, and collecting all the cattle within their reach; but from appearances it was apprehend- ed that they would not risk an attack upon Kingston, but would burn, plunder, and destroy all the upper settlements, and would probably cross the river to Lackawanna [Pittston], take possession of that fort, destroy the settlement, and probably massacre the people or make them prison- ers, and return back with their booty from whence they came. To pre- vent which it was proposed by some of the officers to go and attack them on their own ground, which was finally agreed to, though reluc- tantly by some. Colonel Denison informed me that he said as much against it as he could say, without being called a coward. It was his

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wish to wait for more strength-for the arrival of my company, which he expected would be on the following morning; and further, for the arrival of Captain Spalding's company. But, fearing that it would then be too late-that the enemy would draw off with their booty before any further assistance could be had-it was determined to attack them."

Therefore, about two o'clock in the afternoon of July 3d, the entire armed* force collected in Forty Fort (with the exception of a handful of men, detailed to garrison the fort under the command of Ensign John Jenkins, Jr.) marched forth in column formation, headed by Colonels Denison and Butler, mounted. Closely following these officers was a stalwart color-bearer, carrying the new national flag-the "Stars and Stripes"-adopted and established less than a year previously.t To the tune of "St. Patrick's Day in the Morning," played by the fifers and drummers of the several companies, the column marched in a north- easterly direction-approximately along the course of the present Wyo- ming Avenue-upwards of a mile to Abraham's Creek, at the point where the "stone-arched bridge " (mentioned on page 53, Vol. I) now spans that stream. This was less than fifty rods from the home of Colonel Denison. Here a halt was made, and the little army was arranged in proper form to resist an attack from the enemy. At the same time another messenger with a flag of truce was despatched in the direction of Wintermute's Fort with a request for a conference with Major Butler, and scouts were sent out in different directions.

Soon after the departure of the Westmorelanders from Forty Fort three horsemen were seen galloping up the road towards the fort, their steeds covered with foam, and sweat dripping from their sides. When the men drew up at the gate of the fort and dismounted it was discovered that they were Capt. Robert Durkee, Lieut. Phineas Peirce (of Spalding's company) and Gershom Prince§ (a negro servant of Captain Durkee's), who, having procured horses at a settlement a few miles north of the Wind Gap early on the previous day, had left Spalding's company- slowly, but with earnestness, pursuing its toilsome march toward Wyo- ming-and hastened along the rough and narrow way to the Valley (a distance of some forty miles) to apprize the people of the coming re-en- forcements, and to encourage and assist them to repel the invading enemy. These three men had ridden nearly all the preceding night, and were

* Excepting a small number of men who had rifles, the rank and file of the Americans were armed with "nothing but bad muskets without bayonets." (See "Journals of the Sullivan Expedition," page 251.)

t See note, page 448, Vol. I. # See picture facing page 786.

& GERSHOM PRINCE was born about the year 1733 in either Rhode Island or Connecticut (accord- ing to Pearce's "Annals of Luzerne County"). If it was in the year mentioned, then he was the same age as Captain Durkee. He is said to have been a servant of Durkee's, but it is more than probable that he was his slave. He accompanied Robert Durkee on some, or all, of his campaigns as a commissioned officer during the French and In- dian War, and it is quite likely that he was one of the "hands" Captain Durkee wrote Colonel Butler in January, 1774, he intended to bring to Wilkes- Barré. (See page 893.) When, in September, 1776, Captain Durkee again entered the military service, Prince accompanied him; and with the Captain he fought on Abraham's Plains and yielded up his life in defense of the people of Wyoming, July 3, 1778.

At Crown Point, in the Summer of 1761, Gershom Prince made himself a powder-horn, which thereafter he wore when he had occasion to carry or make use of a gun. This horn was taken from his lifeless body on the battle-field of Wyo- ming, and ultimately passed into the possession of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. A photo-reproduction of it is herewith given. Various designs are rudely carved upon the horn, together with the following inscriptions: "GARSHOM PRINCE his horn made At Crownpoint Septm. ye 3rd day 1761," and "PRINCE + NEGRO HIS HORNM."

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almost exhausted through hunger and overexertion; but, as soon as they had learned from the inmates of the fort the situation of affairs, they exclaimed : "Give us a morsel of food, and we will follow on !" Hav- ing eaten hastily they hurried up to Abraham's Creek, where they found their compatriots still arrayed along the right bank of the creek, await- ing the return of the scouts and the messenger with the white flag. These soon returned and reported that the flag had been fired on, and that the enemy were in commotion, but what their design was-whether to move forward to battle or to retire from the Valley-could not be told. "All was doubt and uncertainty," declares Steuben Jenkins .* "Speculations and discussion now began to arise as to the intent of the enemy. The march upon Forty Fort, which had been threatened by Major Butler in the morning, unless a surrender was made, had not taken place. What did it mean ? Had the threat any meaning, or was it mere braggadocio? It was suggested that the invading force had been overestimated by the timid ; that if Major Butler had the overwhelming force pretended, he would, long ere this, have put his threat in execu- tion, instead of breaking camp and leaving the Valley, as now appeared most probable. What did it mean ? Was it a mere threat to frighten, and thus evade pursuit? Such were the queries the situation gave rise to, and in consequence of no satisfactory answer being at hand, the dis- cussion grew warm. * The cool and more judicious of the officers, on whom the responsibilities rested, thought prudence the better part of valor, and decided that their present position, being tenable against a superior force, and, serving to protect the lower and main parts of the Valley from the encroachments of the enemy, would answer the purpose of protection to that part of it, until the expected re-enforcements should arrive.

" It was contended that the enemy by that time could prowl through the Valley, rob and burn their homes, kill or take captive the women and children, drive off their horses and cattle, and destroy their harvests; while they, like base and cowardly poltroons, were standing by with arms in their hands. * * Besides, were they to remain where they were, or go back to the fort and shut themselves up in it, to await deliverance, they had not collected and in store sufficient provisions to hold out a long siege, or endure long delay. The discussion became heated and personal. . Charges of cowardice were made by Capt. Lazarus Stewartt (then a private in Captain McKerachan's Hanover company) against all who opposed advancing, particularly against Lieutenant Colonel Butler, who was against an advance, and he (Stewart) threatened to report him as such [sic] to headquarters. Stewart was ordered under arrest by Colonel Denison. The Hanover company became mutinous. Captain McKerachan resigned, and the company immediately elected Stewart in his place. They now threatened a revolt, unless a march should be immediately made against the enemy.

" Colonel Denison, a cool and quiet man, who had taken little or no part in the discussion, as yet, urged the propriety of careful and con- siderate action, and the impropriety and danger of hasty and inconsider- ate action. *

* These suggestions did not meet the feelings and views of the men generally. They had become warmed up by the fiery words of Captain Stewart, and declared that it would be a disgrace never

* In an "Historical Address" delivered at the Wyoming Monument, July 3, 1878, and subse- quently published. t See page 640.

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to be forgotten or forgiven should they remain there, or lie cooped up in the fort, while the enemy should devastate the Valley. * When * * it was decided to advance and attack the enemy, Colonel Butler dis- charged Captain Stewart from arrest, saying: 'We will march and meet the enemy, if he is to be found, and I will show the men that I dare lead where they dare follow !'"

Relative to the alleged happenings thus described by Mr. Jenkins, we have the following statement made by the Rev. George Peck, * D. D .: "Captain Lazarus Stewart and William McKerachan headed the party which were for marching out of the fort at once and meeting the foe. A warm debate upon the ques- tion followed, which closed with high words. The belligerant Captains, perceiving that the majority was on their side, intimated that it was cowardice which influenced the views of the Colonels, and that if they should decline the command they (the Captains) would lead on the brave men who would volunteer to go out and flog Butler and his Indians. These insulting insinuations roused the spirit of Colonels Butler and Denison, and they resolved to hazard all upon the chances of a battle. Colonel Butler said: 'We go into imminent danger; but, my boys, I can go as far as any of you.' Those who were fierce for fight seemed to be under the impression that the enemy was about to retreat, or that they would run as soon as they saw danger. They were anxious to meet and pun- ish the Indians while they were within reach, and to chase them out of the country. This, as they might have known, and as the event proved, was all erroneous. In this case, as * in many others, hot-headed and reckless men prevailed against sober counsels. * + "Captain Stewart threatened to withdraw his company if the commanding officers refused to go out and meet the enemy. * * Stewart and his party were confident of success. They had no idea of the odds they would have to contend with, but were phren- sied with the idea of shooting down a few scattered bands of Indians and Tories. Many of the people in the fort were not at all sensible of the awful hazards of the movement. * * * Upon issuing from the fort they moved toward a high bank or rise of ground above Shoemaker's [at Abraham's Creek], where Colonel Butler proposed to halt and form the army to better advantage for giving the enemy battle; thinking it a good posi- tion for them to take and, if possible, maintain. But Captain Stewart opposed the plan, declaring that if Butler did not move on and take a stand further up, he would report him at headquarters as a coward. Butler replied that he did not fear to go, but that it was throwing away an advantageous position, and they would have cause to repent it."

The foregoing statements of Dr. Peck concerning Lazarus Stewart were based on information derived from three or four aged ladies, who, at the time of the battle of Wyoming, were young women, and were among the occupants of Forty Fort. Whence Mr. Jenkins drew his information for his detailed account of the preliminaries to the battle of Wyoming I know not. Some writers of Wyoming history following him have told the same story, and have stated that "Lazarus Stewart was undoubtedly responsible for the battle and massacre of Wyoming"; but I have been unable to find a statement similar to Mr. Jenkins' in the publications of any responsible writer (excepting the Rev. Dr. Peck) who preceded him. The nearest approach to the story of the latter is con- tained in a statement made by Jonathan Terry (a brother of Parshall Terry, Jr., previously mentioned), a young man who was in Forty Fort prior and subsequently to the battle of July 3d. Years after the event Mr. Terry saidt:

"The leading officers in the fort were for delaying the attack until the expected reenforcements arrived, or perhaps keep the fort and defend themselves therein. Stewart was of a contrary opinion. A very warm altercation now in a special manner took place between Stewart and Colonel Denison as to the expediency of attacking the enemy under present circumstances. He would fight that very day, or else march his men back and never attempt to aid them any more, and finally charged Denison and those of his opinion with cowardice. Denison, well known to be a candid man, now became provoked; anger took place, and he said he would not hear that. If Stewart would go out and die (oaths passed), he would venture himself in it.";

* In his "Wyoming; its History, Stirring Incidents, and Romantic Adventures," pages 104, 157 and 205. t See Craft's "History of Bradford County," page 489.

# It may be mentioned, in this connection, that there was a strong friendship subsisting between Colonel Denison and Captain Stewart. The former was the younger (by six years) of the two men, and he had named his eldest child-Lazarus Denison, five years old in 1778-for Captain Stewart.

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Isaac A. Chapman, who resided in Wilkes-Barre and was person- ally acquainted with many of the survivors of the battle of Wyoming, makes in his " History of Wyoming " (written in 1818 and published at Wilkes-Barre in 1830) the following statement concerning some of the preliminaries of the battle of Wyoming.

"On the morning of the 3d of July the officers of the garrison at Forty Fort held a council, to determine on the propriety of marching from the fort and attacking the enemy wherever found. The debates in this council of war are said to have been conducted with much warmth and animation. The ultimate determination was one on which depended the lives of the garrison and the safety of the settlements. On one side it was contended that their enemies were daily increasing in numbers-that they would plunder the settlements of all kinds of property, and would accumulate the means of carrying on the war, while they themselves would become weaker; that the harvest would soon be ripe, and would be gathered or destroyed by their enemies, and all their means of sustenance during the succeeding Winter would fail; that probably all their messengers [sent to headquarters] were killed, and as there had been more than sufficient time, and no assistance had arrived, they would probably receive none, and consequently now was the proper time to make the attack. On the other side it was argued that probably some or all the messengers may have arrived at headquarters, but that the absence of the com- mander-in-chief may have produced delay; that one or two weeks more may bring the desired assistance, and that to attack the enemy-superior as they were in number-out of the limits of their own fort, would produce almost certain destruction to the settlement and themselves, and captivity and slavery-perhaps torture- to their wives and children."

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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 77

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