A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. II, Part 88

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 88

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"Colonel Dennison, the present commander of the fort, seeing the impossibility of any effectual defence (not having force sufficient even to man the works for one effort), went with a flag to Butler, to know what terms he would grant on a surrender. To this application of weakness and misery Butler, with all the phlegm of a real savage, answered in two short words, 'The hatchet!' In these dreadful circumstances the unfortunate governor, having defended his fort until most of the garrison were killed or disabled, was at length compelled to surrender at discretion. Some of the unhappy persons in the fort were carried away alive; but the barbarous conquerors, to save the trouble of murder in detail, shut up the greater part promiscuously in the houses and barracks, which having then set on fire, they enjoyed the savage pleasure of beholding the whole consumed in one general blaze.

"They then proceeded to the only remaining fort, called Wilkesborough, which, in hopes of obtain- ing mercy, was surrendered without resistance, or without even demanding any conditions. Here the tragedy was renewed with aggravated horrors. They found here about seventy of that sort of militia who are engaged by the different Provinces merely for the guard and defence of their respective fron- tiers, and who are not called to any other service. With these, as objects of particular enmity, the slaughter was begun, and they were butchered with every possible circumstance of the most deliberate, wanton and savage cruelty. The remainder of the men, with the women and children, not demanding so much particular attention, were shut up as before in the houses, which being set on fire, they per- ished all together in the flames.

"A general scene of devastation was now spread through all the townships. Fire, sword, and the other different instruments of destruction alternately triumphed. The corn-fields were set on fire, and the standing corn, now almost ready for the sickle, burnt as it grew. The houses, furniture, valuables of every kind, together with all those improvements which owed their rise to the persevering toil, and patient industry of man, were as completely destroyed as their nature, or the industry of the spoilers, would adinit. The settlements of the Tories alone generally escaped, and appeared as islands in the midst of the surrounding ruin.

"It has been often observed, that the practice and habit of cruelty with respect to any particular object begets a facility in its execution, and a disposition to its commission, with regard to all others. Thus these merciless savages, when,the main objects of their cruelty were exhausted, seemed to direct their animosity to every part of living nature; and, as if it were a relaxation or amusement, cut out the tongues of the horses and cattle, leaving them still alive only to prolong their agonies.

"The following are a few of the more singular or detached circumstances of barbarity which are related as parts of this massacre. A Captain Bidlack, who had been taken prisoner, being stripped naked, had his body stuck full of sharp pine splinters, and then a heap of knots of the same wood being piled round him, the whole was set on fire; and his two companions, the Captains Ransom and Durgee, thrown alive into the flames. It is said that the returned Tories, who had at different times abandoned the settlement in order to join in those savage expeditions, were the most distinguished for their cruelty. Among these, one-whose mother had married a second husband-butchered with his own hands both her, his father-in-law [ sic], his own sisters and their infant children. Another, who, during his absence, had sent home several threats against the life of his father, now not only realized them in person, but was himself, with his own hands, the exterminator of his whole family; mother, brothers, and sisters, mingled their blood in one common carnage, with that of the ancient husband and father.

"However painful the task of reciting such horrible barbarities (many of the worst circumstances of which are spared), it may not be totally useless if they serve to produce a dislike of that promptitude of entering into wars (which is but too natural to people, as well as to princes), when they see the con- sequences which their passion, often for trivial and contemptible objects, so frequently produce; and by which they are led gradually, not only to great crimes and great misfortunes, but even to a total change and degradation of their nature.

"It is necessary to observe, with respect to the destruction of Wyoming, that, as no narrative of the exploits of the leaders in that transaction-whether by authority or otherwise-has as yet appeared in this country, we can only rely, for the authenticity of the facts which we have stated, upon the accounts published by the Americans. As these have already been long exposed to the view of all Europe, with- out their yet producing a single contradiction, any natural (but improper) partiality, which might be a temptation to induce us either to draw a veil over the whole, or to suppress any of the parts of that transaction, would therefore, of course, be as fruitless in the effect as disgraceful in the design. Happy should we deem it, for the honour of humanity, that the whole account was demonstrated to be a fable! The event has already shown the impolitic nature of these proceedings, which have only served to fix a bitter and lasting resentment in the minds of the colonists.

"The sufferings of the refugees (consisting mostly of women and children), the broken parts and scattered relicks of families (who had escaped to the woods during the different scenes of this devasta- tion), were little less deplorable than those of their friends who had perished in the ruins of their houses. Dispersed and wandering in the forests, as chance and fear directed their steps; without any mutual knowledge or communication; without provision or covering, they had a long tract of desert to traverse without guide or direction. They accordingly suffered every degree of distress. Several women were delivered alone in the woods, at a great distance from every possibility of relief. If these,

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ley's Annual Register for the year 1779, published early in 1780 at London, England. The famous Edmund Burke (see page 593, Vol. I) was at that time editor of the Register, and was (we have it on the authority of Col. Timothy Pickering) the author of the account in ques- tion. It will be noticed that the author states-in the third paragraph from the end-that he relied "for the authenticity of the facts " stated "upon the accounts published by the Americans." In 1788 Dr. William Gordon's "History of the United States" was published in London, and in it appeared a very fanciful account* of the battle and massacre of Wyoming, drawn largely, if not entirely, from the article printed in the Annual Register, as mentioned above. (See Vol. I, page 19.)

In the petition of Capt. Alexander Patterson, printed in 1804, and referred to on page 868, ante, was a brief but fabulous account (inspired by vindictive passions) of some of the incidents connected with the bat- tle of Wyoming. The account read, in part, as follows :

" It was well known at that time [1776] on the frontiers of Northampton and Northumberland Counties that the conduct of those [Wyoming] Yankees occasioned the secession of the Five Nations from the United States. As was natural to imagine, those Pennsylvania settlers who had been so cruelly robbed of their property would endeavor to regain it. Their address and moving complaints induced Joseph Brant, a well-known Indian chief, and a Colonel Butler, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, to come with them to Wyoming, with a number of Indians, for the recovery of their goods and chattels. The party had arrived at Abraham's Plains; the Yankees were apprized of their being at that place, and must needs go fight them, led on by that old murderer, Lazarus Stewart -first having drunk two barrels of whisky to stimulate their spirits. They marched in riot, with drums beating and colors flying. The result was that a number of them were killed; those who asked quarter were humanely treated, nor was a woman or child molested, only enjoined to quit the country and leave it for the rightful owners. Surely there was no propriety in calling that transaction a massacre or murder! The wretches brought it upon themselves-and so be it !

"Your petitioner had at that time been assigned a district in the Quartermaster General's Department, north of the mountainst in Jersey and Pennsylvania. Notwith- standing the former enmity all the vagrants that left Wyoming at that time came to him for succor. His charity superceded prejudice, and for their support [he] ordered them rations out of the public stores. If there were any widows among them, they were very merry ones, and their conduct induced no respect; nor could it be expected, as most of their women, like their men, were of the lowest order of beings."

In 1805 the first edition of the Hon. John Marshall's "Life of Washington" was published, containing a very erroneous account of the events following the battle of Wyoming, based on the story told in Gor- don's history. In a revised edition of his book published in 1831, Judge Marshall not only gladly corrected the errors in the text of the first edition, but appended a note in which he stated that he had followed Gordon and Dr. Ramsay (in his "History of the American Revolution," published in 1790), but was now convinced of their errors.

Prior to 1820 Charles Botta, the Italian historian, wrote a "History of the War for the Independence of the United States of America," which was translated into English and published in this country in 1820. Botta's account of the battle and massacre of Wyoming-which

through vigour of mind, or strength of constitution, escaped, undoubtedly others, in similar and in dif- ferent circumstances, perished.

"Although the fate of Wyoming, and the lamentations of the survivors, had served alternately to freeze every breast with horror, and to melt it with compassion, yet the various objects and exigencies of the war rendered the Americans incapable, for the present, of executing that vengeance on their sav- age enemy; which was, however, fully intended at a proper season. Some small expeditions were, indeed, undertaken; which, from the difficulties attending them, and the spirit of enterprise under which they were conducted, were not destitute of merit, and consequently are not unworthy of observation in the narrative of a campaign not distinguished by any activity in the great and splendid operations of war."

* It is printed in full in Miner's "History of Wyoming," page 257.

t He was stationed at Brinker's Mills, later called "Sullivan's Stores," on the "Lower Road" from Wyoming to Easton and the Delaware.

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was probably based on Burke's article in Dodsley's Register-was even more fanciful and mythical than Gordon's, and it was reprinted in several newspapers throughout the United States. On December 6, 1820, it appeared in the National Gazette, and a copy of that issue of the paper falling into the hands of Gen. Lord Butler of Wilkes-Barre, eldest son of Col. Zebulon Butler, then deceased, he wrote to the editor of the Gazette a letter, to which the written and signed statements of three survivors of the battle of Wyoming were appended. These com- munications were not designed to form a full historical relation of the events of July 3d and 4th, 1778, but were intended, simply, to point out and correct the 'errors in Botta's history, and to remove the false and injurious impressions which such an account was calculated to make upon the public mind with reference to the principal actors in the events described. General Butler's communication and the accompanying statements were not only printed in full in the National Gazette, but were reprinted in other newspapers, and they read as follows :

"The account as given in the extract is, perhaps, the most incorrect narrative of events that ever found its way into the history of any transaction ever before published, and particularly of one so highly interesting. Indeed, there is scarcely a solitary truth in the whole extract. Most of the circumstances are wholly fabrications; and others are so misrepresented and distorted as hardly to be recognized. That a true estimate may be put upon it, I will point out some of its most prominent deviations from truth and fact.

"In the first place, Col. Zebulon Butler, at the time spoken of, had not the com- mand of the ' whole colony,' as stated in the extract. He was a [Lieutenant] Colonel in Washington's army, but, happening to be in this part of the country on a furlough, he was requested to give his assistance, and take the command of the men in case it should be necessary to fight. Further, it is not true that Zebulon Butler was a cousin of John, the commander of the enemy's forces. There was no relationship subsisting between them, [so] of course the influence which the writer of the extract would seem to draw from that circuinstance, must fail. It is not true that Col. Zebulon Butler was drawn out of the fort by the 'lavish promises' of his enemy 'that, if he would consent to a parley in the open field, the siege would be raised, and every thing accommodated.' Nor is it true that he [Col. Zebulon Butler] marched out for that purpose, and ' from motives of caution took with him four hundred men, well armed.' The fact is, the only conference he marched out to was a battle; the only parley he expected was the point of the bayonet.

" The whole number of men under his [Zebulon Butler's] command that day was about 350, and it has since been ascertained that the enemy's force amounted to from 1,000 to 1,500. The battle was fought sooner than Colonel Butler wished. He advised delay, hoping to ascertain the force, position and intentions of the enemy; [hoping] that succours would arrive, and that he then would be able to meet the enemy to more advan- tage. But as he had no right to the submission of either the officers or their men-except what they voluntarily paid him-he was obliged to forego his own opinion, and consent to lead them on. Another circumstance obliged him to take this course. There were some brave men among them, but who were as rash and imprudent as they were brave, who were determined to fight that day, or leave the fort and return to their homes.

" It is not a fact that Colonel Butler and his men were enticed into the ' dismal soli- tudes ' and 'thick forests ' by a ' flag,' and there ' completely surrounded ' by the enemy. All that is said in the extract about the ' unfortunate American ' being ' without suspicion of the peril he was in,' continuing ' to press forward,' &c., and ' being awakened but too soon from this dream of security,' &c., is false ! So far from the Americans having been ' surprised' by the British and Indians-had it not been for the imprudence of a few men (sent forward as an advance guard) in firing upon some Indians whom they discov- ered setting fire to a house, the enemy themselves would in all probability have been taken by surprise, and obliged to engage under many disadvantages.

"The Americans, instead of forming into ' a compact column,' fought in a line, on the left of which there was a marsh. The British and Indians, being more than twice as numerous as the Americans, endeavored to outflank them by going around and through this marsh. Colonel Denison, who was a Colonel of the militia, and properly the com- mander of the 'whole colony,' and who had taken charge of the left wing, perceiving the intentions of the enemy, took prompt measures to defeat their expectations, and gave the necessary orders to effect it. It was in the execution of these orders that the confu- sion began ! And though Colonel Denison, and the other officers on that wing, did all that men could do to prevent it, the left wing gave way. The right wing was at this time beating the enemy back and advancing upon them.

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"Col. [Zebulon] Butler, who had continued on horseback throughout the day, finding that the right was doing well, left it and rode towards the left. When he got a little more than half-way down the line he discovered the men were retreating, and that he was between the two lines, near the advancing line of the enemy. The rout soon be- came general, notwithstanding the extraordinary efforts of the officers, most of whom were killed in their attempts to rally the men, and bring them again to the charge. It is not true that 'about sixty men escaped,' and with Zebulon Butler made their way good to 'a redoubt on the opposite bank of the Susquehanna;' for Colonel Butler, when he found it impossible to rally the scattered troops, instead of seeking his own safety by leaving the field instantly, collected four or five men, made them retain their arms and keep together. These he ordered to fire when any of the enemy approached, and by this means brought them safe to the fort at Kingston.

" As it was impossible to defend this fort [Forty Fort], all the men having been killed in the battle except about forty or fifty (not more than ten or twelve of whom came to the fort), he proceeded to Wilkesbarre, which is about two miles distant, and on the opposite side of the river. Colonel Denison having had a conference with the enemy. next morning sent Col. Zebulon Butler word that they [the enemy] would give no quar- ter to Continental officers or soldiers. He [Colonel Butler] then hastened into North- ampton County. Colonel Denison well knew that the fort in Kingston could not be defended with any prospect of success. He therefore did not make the attempt, but obtained what terms he could from the enemy, and surrendered. There were but few men left, and the fort was crowded with women and children.

"It is not true that Colonel Denison ' surrendered at discretion,' nor is it true that the savages 'enclosed the men, women and children promiscuously in the houses and barracks, to which they set fire, and consumed all within.' True they robbed and plundered, contrary to the articles of capitulation, but they killed no one. Finally, it is not a fact that at Wilkesbarre the 'soldiers of the garrison,' were (as stated in the extract) ' put to death;' nor were the ' men, women and children burned, as before, in the bar- racks and houses.' The British and Indians did not come to Wilkesbarre until the second day after the battle, and then they found the fort and town entirely abandoned. They plundered and burnt every house, except two or three small ones, but there was not an individual killed.

"To perpetuate truth is, or ought to be, the object of history; at all events, history should never be made the vehicle of falsehood. If it be deemed of sufficient interest and importance to the public that any account of the battle of Wyoming should be registered, it certainly is of importance that that account should be correct and authentic. That a true narrative of that transaction may be incorporated into history, is one reason why I have noticed the extract. But it is also due to the memory of Col. Zebulon Butler, and to the feelings of his numerous descendants, that the odium which the account in the extract has so unjustly heaped upon his character should be removed. To do this the more effectually, I add a brief abstract of his military career. * * * *

"Upon the breaking out of the American Revolution, he entered the service of his country in the army under Washington; was a Lieutenant Colonel, and at the close of the war commanded one of the best regiments in the whole army. Colonel Butler was the personal friend of General Washington. I have seen letters from the General to him after the close of the war, written in very friendly terms, proving that Washington, at least, had full confidence in his capacity, integrity and patriotism. It is indeed strange, that after so long a service in both British and American armies, he never before was discovered to have been a coward and a traitor, if he really were such. And yet perhaps this need not be wondered at, when even the brave, the intrepid Putnam has, since his death, been accused of cowardice !

" A desire to be strictly and critically correct in my statement of facts, has unavoid- ably occasioned some delay in forwarding my letter to you. What I have stated are facts-you may rely on their accuracy. For your satisfaction on this head, however, I send you the certificates of Judge Hollenback and others (who were in the battle) corrob- orating and substantiating my allegations. Certificates to the same effect might have been obtained from all the survivors of that day's disasters, who yet live in this part of the country, but it was not tho't necessary. It is my intention, at some future period, to send you an authentic narrative of the battle of Wyoming, embracing the transactions of several weeks, and perhaps months, both previous and subsequent, which if it should meet your approbation, you will be at liberty to publish.

"I am Yours, &c., [Signed] "LORD BUTI.ER."

" Wilkesbarre, Dec. 26, 1820.

" I do certify that I was in the battle of Wyoming, fought on the 3d day of July, 1778, and that I am well acquainted with the facts as they took place on that day, and subsequently. I have read the account published in the National Gazette of the 6th inst., and know that most of the circumstances related, and especially the material ones, are absolutely false. I have read, also, the above letter of Lord Butler, Esq., and from personal knowledge, as well as from the information obtained at the time, know the facts therein stated to be correct. I also certify that I was stationed about the centre of the line

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[of battle], and saw Col. Zebulon Butler, about the time the retreat commenced, riding from the right to the left, between the two contending lines, and saw him turn his horse, ride after his men, and endeavor to stop them. I never heard, until I saw the account above referred to, any blame imputed to Col. Zebulon Butler for his conduct on that, or any other occasion.

[Signed] "ELISHA BLACKMAN .* " "December 26, 1820.

. ELISHA BLACKMAN, the third of this name in his line, was born in Lebanon, New London County, Connecticut, April 4, 1760, the third child and eldest son of Elisha and Lucy (Polley) Black- man. So far as known, the American progenitor of this particular family of Blackmans was John Blackman, who lived at Dorchester, Massa- chusetts, and died there in 1675. His wife was Mary Pond, and their fourth child was Joseph, who was born June 7, 1661. The last-named removed, in early manhood, to Little Compton, Rhode Island, and thence, about 1709, to Freetown, Massachusetts. In 1717 he settled in Lebanon, Connecticut, where he died three years later. His wife was Elizabeth Church, and their fifth child and third son was Elisha Blackman, who was born September 23, 1699, at Little Compton. Thence be removed with his parents and the other members of the family to Lebanon, Connecticut, where he was married January 2, 1724, to Susanna, daughter of Capt. John and Hannah (Drake) Higley, and a sister of Hannah, wife of Capt. Joseph Trumbull, mentioned on page 470, Vol. f.

Elisha and Susanna (Higley) Blackman became the parents of three sons and one daughter, and Elisha, the father, died about the year 1767. His second child was Elisha, who was born at Lebanon September 19, 1727. During the French and Indian War (see pages 297 and 481) Elisha Blackman, last mentioned, served as a private in the Colonial army in three campaigns, as follows: From April 10 to October 18, 1755, in the 8d Company (Robert Denison of New Lon- don, Captain) in the 1st Regiment of Con- necticut troops, commanded by Phineas Ly- man. From April 8 till November 23, 1756, in the 1st, or Colonel's, Company, in the 4th Regiment of Connecticut troops, commanded by Col. Andrew Ward, Jr., of Guilford. From March 24 till November 14, 1762, in the 10th Company (Azel Fitch of Lebanon, Captain) in the 2d Regiment of Connecticut troops, commanded by Col. Nathan Whiting. ELISHA BLACKMAN. (1760-1845.) From a portrait taken late in life. (See "Connecticut Historical Society's Col- lections," IX : 10, 144, 340.) Elisha Black- man came to Wyoming for the first time in June, 1778, and in the following October, at Wilkes-Barre, he signed the petition reproduced on page 751, ante. About that time he was admitted an inhabitant in the township of Wilkes-Barre, and became the owner of a lot in the "Third Division" of the township. His name will be found in the Wilkes-Barre tax-lists for 1776, '77 and '78. In May, 1777, he was established and commissioned Ensign of the "2d Alarm List Company in the 24th (or Westmoreland) Regiment of Connecticut Militia," as noted on page 922. During the battle of Wyo- ming he was one of those who garrisoned Fort Wilkes-Barre. The next morning (July 4th) Ensign Blackman said to his wife: "Take the children and make the best of your way to a place of safety; we must stay and defend the fort." The family set out by the "Warrior Path," taking with them two horses; but in their alarm and distress took no provisions. They got on their way a scanty sup- ply of huckleberries, but on the third day, having reached the German settlements in Northampton County, they were kindly cared for and supplied with proper food. They finally arrived at their old home in Connecticut.

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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 88

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