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 95
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119
Charles Miner, the author of the " History of Wyoming," came to Wilkes-Barre to reside in the Summer of 1800, and in various news- paper articles written by him a number of years later he declared that
Digitized by Google
1099
when he came here some of the outlines of Fort Wyoming could still be traced, "on the river bank, in front of the Butler house." In some of his writings Mr. Miner stated that the site of the fort was "in front of " the Butler house, and in other writings that it was "opposite " that house. Some subsequent writers (without doubt drawing their infor- mation from Mr. Miner's writings) located the site of the fort at the same place.
The Butler house (see page 637)* stood facing the river, at the south corner of Northampton and River Streets-these streets being located in 1778 and 1779 exactly as they are located now, except that Northampton Street extended across the Common to the margin of the river, where the Wilkes-Barre ferry was located. The words "in front of" and "opposite" have, of course, been assumed as indicating that Fort Wyoming stood on the Common between the Butler house and the edge of the river bank immediately opposite. It is quite possible-in fact it is very probable-that the old Fort Wyoming (erected by the Pennamites in 1771) stood at that point ; but if it was located there, it is indisput- able that the new Fort Wyoming (built by Colonel Butler in 1778) was not erected on that site.
In the archives of the New York Historical Society is the " De Witt Collection of Maps"-containing original manuscript maps carefully plotted by certain skilled and experienced geographers, or topographical engineers, of the Continental army, after surveys made by them in the Spring of 1779 preliminary to the construction of what was subse- quently known as the " Sullivan Road "-which terminated in North- ampton Street, as it then existed, in the old town-plot of Wilkes-Barre. (See Chapter XVIII.) Since page 678, ante, was printed, the present writer has had the privilege of carefully examining these maps, and on two of them-one being plotted on a scale of two inches to one mile, and the other on a scale of one inch to two miles-he has found North- ampton Street (as it then existed), the Susquehanna River, Fort Wyo- ming and the two small block-houses adjoining it, the house of Colonel Butler (so designated), and two buildings (not named, but undoubtedly barracks) on River Street a little way north of Northampton Street, all carefully and plainly noted. The lower, or south-western, end of Fort Wyoming (shown on these maps as being located on the River Common) is represented as standing on the line of Northampton Street extended to the river. This would indicate that the gate of the fort (mentioned by all writers who have described the fort as being at the west or south-west end, or side, of the structure) opened on the extension of Northampton Street-in other words, on the road running directly along the south-western wall of the fort to the ferry.
Undoubtedly, then, if we may rely on these maps (and there is no known reason why we should not), Fort Wyoming, erected in October, 1778, stood on the River Common just north of the junction of River and Northampton Streets, and extended up the Common to a point oppo- site the residence of the late Sheldon Reynolds. In common parlance this location was "opposite the Butler house," although it was not "in front of " it. The fact that this was the location of Fort Wyoming is
* The writer has been unable to find any where any evidence to indicate that Col. Zebulon Butler's house (erected in 1778, as noted on page 636) was destroyed when Wilkes-Barre was burnt in July, 1778. If it was, it was rebuilt before June, 1779. It is very probable, however, that the house was one of the few in the town-plot which escaped total, or even partial, destruction at the time mentioned.
Digitized by Google
1100
further substantiated by the pen and ink sketch made by Lieut. Colonel Hubley at Wilkes-Barre in the Summer of 1779, and reproduced in Chapter XVIII, post, with the title, "A Sketch of the Encampment at Wyoming in 1779." While this sketch was not drawn to a scale, yet it plainly indicates that Fort Wyoming was located on the River Common, close to the edge of the bank, and north-east of the extension of North- ampton Street-the location of which street, as a part of the " Sullivan Road," is shown in the sketch by a dotted line. In this Hubley sketch a "redoubt " is noted at a point on the Common south-west of Fort Wyoming. This was a substantial work of defense which was erected after the "Sullivan Road " was opened, about which time the block- houses which had stood on the upper side of the fort were demolished .* The "redoubt " stood nearly in front of the Butler house, and, provided Mr. Miner had not in mind the traces of the fort farther up the Com- mon which perhaps were visible when he came to Wilkes-Barré, it may have been the outlines of this latter work which "could still be traced " about the year 1800.
At " Camp Westmoreland," Wilkes-Barre, under the date of Octo- ber 9, 1778, Colonel Butler issued the followingt :
"Garrison Orders. That the officers of the guard see that no horses or cattle be suffered to be within the lines of the fort ;; and to see that there be no cooking in the fort excepting in the houses that have chimneys; and to see that the fort be swept clean every morning before the guard is relieved; and likewise to still all noises within hearing of the fort after tattoo-beating; and to take up all straggling persons in and about the fort after tattoo-beating.
"A garrison court-martial held at Westmoreland October 9, 1778, by order of Col- onel Butler, for to try such prisoners as may be brought before them. Captain Kenney, President; Lieutenants Peirce, Gore, Forseman and Tubbs, members. Prisoner Benjamin Clark brought before the Court for disobedience of orders, the prisoner plead guilty, but says the reason was because he had no shoes for to march in. The Court finding the prisoner guilty, are of opiniou he shall have seventy-five lashes well laid on his bare back, at retreat-beating. The Colonel approves the sentence, and orders it put in execu- tion accordingly.
"As Benjamin Clark has the character of a good soldier, the commanding officer thinks proper to forgive him for this time, and hopes this will be sufficient warning to him and his brother soldiers not to refuse doing their duty for the future."
On October 14th William Jameson, § while on his way from the garrison in Wilkes-Barre to the ruined homes of his father and brother in Hanover, in order to ascertain the condition of things there, was shot by Indians near where the bridge crosses Buttonwood Creek, a short distance below the city of Wilkes-Barre. Being wounded, he fell from his horse, and attempted to gain the woods, but was overtaken, toma- hawked and scalped by his foes. Although a portion of his brains was dashed out by the blow of the tomahawk, nevertheless he lived for two days in that condition-dying on October 16th.
At "Camp Westmoreland, October 19, 1778," Colonel Butler issued the following :
"Orders that the whole of the Continental soldiers and * * that are off duty, and the militia of Capt. [William Hooker] Smith's company, turn out to-morrow morning
* For a more detailed account of these works of shelter and defense, see Chapter XVIII.
t See "Proceedings and Collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society," VII:123. # This was the new Fort Wyoming, in process of construction.
§ WILLIAM JAMESON, born at Voluntown, Windham County, Connecticut, December 19, 1753, was the fourth child of Robert and Agnes (Dirson) Jameson, then of Voluntown, but later of Hanover, in Wyoming Valley. He removed to Hanover in 1776, and in 1778 was a private in the 5th Company. 24th Regiment, Connecticut Militia. He was with his company in the battle of Wyoming, was wound- ed, and had the lock of his gun shot off, but managed to escape from the battle-ground by the aid of his brother John. With the other Jamesons he fled to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, whence he returned with his brother and joined the detachment of militia under the command of Lieut. Colonel Butler-as noted on page 1096. Near the spot in Hanover Township where William Jameson fell, Stewart Pearce, Esq., a kinsman, erected about 1879 a marble pillar bearing an appropriate inscrip- tion commemorative of the event. (For a sketch of the Jameson family, see a subsequent chapter.)
Digitized by Google
1101
at half after six, with all the tools they can collect; and the inhabitants are desired to lend a hand, with themselves and teams all to work on the fort; and the officers are desired to attend. The commanding officer flatters himself that they will turn out so generally that the fort will be so near done that the next day we can attend to bury the remains of our friends that lost their lives in the late battle at this place; and that for the [present] there be no fatigue rum issued, only to fatigue parties and scouts."
On the next day the following was issued :
"Orders that, as the fort is not so far finished as was expected, all the troops off duty turn out to-morrow morning at half after six o'clock to work at the fort; and the teams be collected for that purpose. The commanding officer expects it will be so far finished that he can afford a sufficient guard the next day for burying the remains of our friends, now lying above ground, that lost their lives in the late battle at Westmoreland."
At "Camp Westmoreland, October 21, 1778," Colonel Butler issued the following orders* :
"A garrison court-martial held at Westmoreland by order of Colonel Butler, for to try such prisoners as may be brought before them. Capt. [Simon] Spalding, President; Lieutenants [Phineas] Peirce, [William] Lemon, Gore and Forseman, members.
"Isaac Benjamin, confined for being drunk when he was to mount guard. The prisoner pleads not guilty. Sergeant Gardner and Mr. Hyde testify that said Benjamin this morning complained that he was sick, and did not drink one drop of liquor this day. Sergeant Eveland says that Benjamin acted as if he had been drunk this morning. The Court is of opinion that said Benjamin is not guilty, and request him to be released from his confinement.
"Garrett Walsh, a soldier of Colonel Hartley's regiment, Captain Kenney's detach- ment, confined for being drunk on guard. The prisoner pleads guilty. The Court sen- tence him to receive fifty lashes on his bare back.
"Samuel Ransom, confined for firing off his gun repeatedly, contrary to orders and rules of this garrison. The prisoner says that he did fire, but he did not think it was any harm. as it was such a practice in that place. He says that Sergeant Lawrence told him it was contrary to orders; but he says that Sergeant Lawrence had practiced it himself. It is the opinion of Court that the prisoner should stand five minutes on a sharp picket with his bare foot.
. "Phineas Coleman, confined for firing his gun repeatedly, contrary to orders and the rules of this garrison. The prisoner says that he has fired his gun, and had heard that it was contrary to orders to fire; but it was a practice in that place, and [he thought that] he might fire as well as other people. It is the opinion of this Court [that] the prisoner be picketed for five minutes.
"The commanding officer approves of the judgment of the above court-martial on each of the prisoners, and orders that it be put in execution at retreat-beating this evening."
The remains of those Westmorelanders who had lost their lives in the battle and massacre of the previous 3d of July were, at this time, still lying unburied where they had fallen. For various good reasons it had been impossible for the survivors of that fearful day to gather up the remains and inter them ; but the time had now come when this could be safely and conveniently done, and so, at Camp Westmoreland, on October 21, 1778, Colonel Butler issued the followingt :
"Orders. That there be a party consisting of a subaltern, two Sergeants, two Cor- porals and twenty-five privates to parade to-morrow morning with their arms, &c., to go as a guard to those that will go to bury the remains of the men killed at the late battle at and near the place called Wintermute Fort; and it is expected that the main inhabitants of this place [ will] universally turn out and assist in burying their late friends, that lost their lives in said battle."
Early in the morning of the next day (October 22d) the burial party, under the command of Lieut. John Jenkins, Jr., set out from Camp Westmoreland for Abraham's Plains. They took with them two carts and a number of spades, mattocks and wooden pitchforks, and, arriving at a point about half way between Forty Fort and the battle-ground, they began to gather up the remains of the dead with their pitchforks. They found that, owing to the intense heat of the weather, and prob- ably the dryness of the air, the bodies were dry, shriveled up, and inof-
* See "Proceedings and Collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society," VII: 124. t See ibid.
Digitized by Google
1102
fensive; and, with a single exception, that their features could not be recognized. By the time the party had gone but a short distance their carts were filled up; whereupon they stopped, dug a big hole in a field near the highway, and deposited the contents of the carts therein. After putting in what bodies they had, they found that the hole would hold more ; therefore they proceeded on their way to the battle-field, whence they brought to this common burial-place all the remains they could find. The hole was then filled in with earth, heaped up into a mound of some size.
Gen. William Ross of Wilkes-Barre, who, as a young man of eighteen years, was a member of the burial party, declared in 1838* that the scene on the battle-field when the party went there was shock- ing; that there were two rings where prisoners had been massacred, there being, according to his recollection, nine bodies in one ring and fourteen in the other ; that from one of these rings Lebbeus Hammond had sprung and escaped, and from the other, Joseph Elliott had got away in a manner very similar; that he (Ross) understood that his brother Jeremiah was in the ring from which Elliott escaped ; that the bodies of Darius Spafford and Captain Durkee were the only ones recog- nized-the latter being identified because, at some time in his life, Dur- kee had lost a portion of one of his fingers; which fact was known to some of the burial party. The body of Lieut. Peren Ross was identified by means of a ring on one of the fingers.
That the remains of all the dead lying on and near the Wyoming battle-field were not buried in the Autumn of 1778, we learn from the following paragraphs extracted from journals of officers in the Sullivan Expedition. Under the date of July 2, 1779, Lieut. Col. Henry Dear- born wrote :
"I went with General Poor and several other gentlemen to-day to view the field of action where the battle between the two Butlers was fought. We found a great number of bones at and near the field of battle. Among a number of skull bones that we found, none was without the mark of the tomahawk. I saw one grave where seventy-five of our men were buried, and was shown a place where seventeen of our men, after being taken, were made to sit down in a ring-sixteen of whom they immediately tomahawked ; the other leaped over the ring and made his escape."
Under the date of July 8, 1779, the Rev. William Rogers, D. D., Chaplain of Hand's Brigade, in the Sullivan Expedition, wrote :
"The place where the battle [of Wyoming] was fought may with propriety be called 'a place of skulls ;' as the bodies of the slain were not all buried. Their bones were scattered in every direction all around-a great number of which for a few days past hav- ing been picked up, were decently interred by our people. We passed a grave where seventy-five skeletons were buried ; also a spot where fourteen wretched creatures who, having surrendered upon being promised mercy, were nevertheless made immediately to sit down in a ring ; and after the savages had worked themselves up to the extreme of fury in their usual manner, by dancing, singing, halloaing, etc., they proceeded deliber- ately to tomahawk the poor fellows one after another. Fifteen surrendered, and com- posed the ring. Upon the Indians beginning their work of cruelty, one of them provi- dentially escaped, who reported the matter to Colonel Butler, who, upon his return to Wyoming, went to the spot and found the bones of the fourteen lying as human bodies in an exact circle. It is remarkable that on this spot grows a kind of grass different from all other grass around it. The bones of seven or eight other persons were found nearly consumed, they having been burned to death."
Under the date of July 8, 1779, Lieut. Samuel M. Shute wrote :
" Went to the field where the two Butlers fought last Summer There are a great many men's skulls to be picked up on the field-some with part of their hair on, the other part taken off with the scalps ; others with bullet holes in, or with the skull split with the tomahawk, which was a very affecting scene."
* See Hayden's "The Massacre of Wyoming," page 63.
Digitized by Google
i
1103
At Camp Westmoreland, October 25, 1778, Colonel Butler issued the following :
"Orders. That for the future no man belonging to the Continental troops or militia, doing duty at this post, sleep out of camp or stay out of camp any night on any pretence whatever, without special orders or liberty. And it is once more ordered that no one be- longing to the Continental troops or militia, doing duty at this post, absent themselves by night or by day without liberty from the commanding officers of their company; and the officers not to allow more to be absent at one time than Captain Kenney, two, Captain Spalding, three, Lieutenant Gore, one, and Captain Smith, one. The commanding officer expects this order will be strictly attended to without repeating-and that there be a re- turn of the joiners, carpenters and masons belonging to the troops, and that there be a return of those that are best skilled as artillerymen.""
About this time Fort Wyoming, being fully completed, was occupied by the garrison. Under the date of October 30, 1778, Colonel Butler wrote to the Board of War as follows* :
"As my orders are immediately from the Board of War, I must trouble the Board with my returns of different kinds. Inclosed I send you the state of this post. As Colonel Hartley has likely given a state of affairs in this quarter till the time he returned from his expedition, I shall only mention what happened since. About two weeks ago a single man,t as he was traveling about two miles from the fort, was shot off his horse and scalped. The last accounts we got from our enemy in this quarter was by two men that made their escape from them. [They] say they were frequently talking that they designed another attempt on us this Fall ; but I think if they should come we have such a fortification that, with some more ammunition, we can defend against large bodies. By the inclosed returns the Honorable Board will be made acquainted with what we have, and of course will know what further is necessary. Should be very glad that there might be an order for them to be forwarded as soon as possible; and as there is some expense for forage for horses, for iron work, and the transporting of provisions, should be glad to be furnished with money for that purpose by Captain Spalding. Should be glad that Captain Spalding might have liberty to purchase some necessary clothing for myself, and the other officers, in the Continental Store; and that he might be furnished with sufficient orders for clothing for the troops, as there is not any to be had here. If there should be any further directions and orders for me, should be glad to receive them by Captain Spalding."
About the first of November the foregoing letter was carried to Philadelphia by Captain Spalding, who also took with him the returns referred to in the letter. The original duplicates of those returns (retained by Colonel Butler) are now in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society .; They are dated October 28, 1778, and show that the garrison at Wilkes-Barre at that time comprised the following : Lieut. Col. Zebulon Butler, Lieut. Obadiah Gore, Jr., and two enlisted men of the 3d Regiment, Connecticut Line; the West- moreland Independent Company, in the Continental service, commanded by Capt. Simon Spalding and numbering seventy-seven officers and men; a detachment from Colonel Hartley's regiment, in command of Capt. James Kenney, numbering fifty-five officers and men ; a company of Westmoreland militia, commanded by Lieut. Daniel Gore, numbering twenty-one officers and men (the 2d Lieutenant being absent on leave of absence); a squad of Westmoreland militia, commanded by Capt. William Hooker Smith, numbering twelve officers and men. This made a total force-including the sick and those absent on furlough-of 169 officers and men. These soldiers were all well armed, and furthermore, Fort Wyoming was equipped with two iron 4-pounder cannon and one swivel- gun (carrying either a 3-1b. ball or case-shot, as desired), together with a fair supply of ammunition.
In addition to the garrison, a considerable number of the inhabit- ants of Westmoreland (including some women and children) made their
. See "Proceedings and Collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society," VII:142. + William Jameson, mentioned on page 1100.
# See Vol. VII, pages 129 and 130, of the Society's printed "Collections."
Digitized by Google
1104
headquarters in Wilkes-Barre at that period, occupying the few houses and barracks in the town-plot which were not needed for the uses of the garrison. Early in October a town-meeting of the inhabitants of West- moreland was held at Wilkes-Barre, and Col. Nathan Denison and Lieut. Asahel Buck (see page 977) were chosen to represent Westmore- land in the General Assembly of Connecticut at its coming session. Colonel Denison soon set out for Hartford, but Lieutenant Buck, for some reason or another, failed to go. The Assembly convened on Octo- ber 21st, and on the 27th the following memorial, signed by Colonel Denison and by John Jenkins, Sr., of Westmoreland (the latter being in Hartford at the time), was presented to the Assembly, and read. (This memorial has never heretofore been printed.)*
"To the Hon'ble General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, now setting at Hartford within sd State :
"The Representation of us the subscribers of Westmoreland, in the County of West- moreland on the Susquehannah River, is as follows, viz: that on or about the last day of June last the Inhabitants of sd county were much alarmed by Intelligence from a scout- ing Party of them then returned, that a large Body of the enemy, consisting mostly of Indians and Torys, were then advancing down the River towards the settlement, at the distance of about thirty miles. On the next [day] after which the enemy fell upon a small party of sd Inhabitants (returning from labour), kill'd four and captivated two or three; the next morning said Inhabitants obtained Intelligence where the enemy had encamped the night before, and thereupon as soon as possible the militia were collected to the Number of about four hundred, and marched on to the ground where the enemy had so encamped, finding that the enemy had retired and gone back of the mountains, so as to place themselves West of and opposite the settlement.
"The militia now fearing least the enemy should hastily march in, attack, murder and destroy the defenceless familys, marched directly back to the Place of their assem- bling, viz: in the Town of Kingston; that Night most of the militia were oblidged to retire, and each to take care and secure his family, so well as the then distressing circumstances would admit. On the morning next after, viz! on the 2d day of July, the enemy (in their whole body) marched in (or rather were guided in by false & treacherous Brethren) and took Possession of one of our Forts (in the District of Exeter ) without opposition; the able bodyed men and militia were then as speedily and universally assembled as possible at Kingston Fort, three miles distant from the then situation of the main Body of the Enemy; the whole Number thus collected was between three & four hundred.
"The best means of Defence were now consulted, and concluded that if we should not be able to stand a Battle with them in the woods, it was not probable that we could long hold the Forts, as Provisions could not be at that time collected sufficient to hold out a long seige; Thereupon about three hundred of the best able & furnished marched . out of the Fort and advanced within one mile of the enemy's then encampment, and formed in order for Battle, and in that Form advanced near to the line which the enemy had formed-when the Fire instantly began upon our Right Wing, and soon became general. The enemy had little or no advantage of us in the Begining of the action, but being much superior to us in Numbers, they soon surrounded our Left; the Fire being now very severe in Front and Flank we were compell'd to retreat with the loss of about 200 of our Party -- the loss of the enemy by the best acc" was between seventy and eighty. "On the morning of the 4th July a Flag was sent from the Enemy, demanding Possession of the Fort, and proposing Terms of Settlement, upon which it was concluded that the Fort should be demolished-the Inhabitants not to bear arms during the Ameri- can Contest-the Continental stores to be delivered to the enemy-and the Inhabitants to improve their Farms, and enjoy their possessions and property unmolested. Neverthe- less the enemy (being powerful) proceeded, plundered, burnt & destroyed almost every thing that was valuable-murdered several of the remaining Inhabitants and compell'd most of the remainder to leave their settlements nearly destitute of cloathing, Provisions, and the necessarys of life.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.