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 early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume II > Part 116
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The centennial anniversary of the battle of Newtown was celebrated on the battle-ground Au- gust 29, 1879, under the auspices of "The Newtown Monument Association." A monument, which had been erected on the ground by this association, commemorative of the battle, was duly dedicated by the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, and addresses and poems were delivered and read by various gentlemen of prominence-among whom were the Rev. David Craft, D. D. (previously re- ferred to), the Hon. Steuben Jenkins of Wyoming, and the Hon. Edmund L. Dana and the Hon. Henry M. Hoyt (Governor of Pennsylvania) of Wilkes-Barre.
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possible. Should they generally fall in with the proposal, he promises they shall be paid that part of the rations which is held back at the full value in money.
" ' He flatters himself that the troops who have discovered so inuch bravery and firm- ness will readily consent to fall in with a measure so essentially necessary to accomplisli the important purpose of the Expedition, to enable them to add to the laurels they have already gained. The enemy have subsisted for a number of days on corn only, without either salt, meat, or flour, and the General cannot persuade himself that troops, who so far surpass them in bravery and true valor, will suffer themselves to be outdone in that fortitude and perseverance which not only distinguishes, but dignifies, the soldier. He does not mean to continue this through the campaign, but only wishes it to be adopted in those places where vegetables may supply the place of a part of the common ration of ineat and flour, which will be much better than without any. The troops will please to consider the matter, and give their opinion as soon as possible.'
"Agreeably to the above address the army was drawn up this evening, in corps separately, and the same, through their commanding officers, made known to them, and their opinious requested thereupon ; when the whole [army], without a dissenting voice, cheerfully agreed to the request of the General, which they signifled by unanimously holding up their hands and giving three cheers. This remarkable instance of fortitude and virtue cannot but endear those brave troops to all ranks of people, more particularly as it was so generally and cheerfully entered into without a single dissenting voice."
On August 31st the army marched from Newtown, and in the event- ing of September 1st arrived at Catharine's Town-mentioned in the last paragraph on page 207, Vol. I. The town was deserted, save by an aged squaw ; but plenty of " plunder " was found and appropriated -horses, cows, hogs, corn, beans, etc. Having destroyed the town, the army marched thence on September 3d. In the evening of September 7th Kanadesaga (see page 967) was reached, and, like the other Indian towns lying in the path of the army, was found deserted by its inhabit- ants. Relative to the arrival of the army at Kanadesaga, Lieut. Erkuries Beatty states in his journal :
"We again filed off to the left and marched along the beach [of Seneca Lake] till we came to ' Butler's buildings,'* which is two or three houses on the banks of the lake, in a very beautiful situation. Here we again formed columns and marched through a corn- field near, where the men had orders to pluck corn as they marched through-which they did. We then proceeded on towards the town. ** * This is the chief town in the
Seneca nation. * * There is about seventy or eighty houses in it, and built very com- pact, and the chief of the houses very good. Likewise I heard there was two or three old block-houses in it ; but I did not see them, as it was dark when we came in, and the men began immediately to pull down the houses for fire-wood. I believe the Indians had left it several days before, as there was not much appearance of their having been here lately. On the first entrance of our brigade a young child-I believe about three years old -was found running about the houses, which one of our officers [Capt. Thomas Machin ] picked up and found it to be a white child ; but it was so much tanned and smoked that we could hardly distinguish it from an Indian child. It could talk no English-nothing but Indian, and I believe but little of that. The officer took great care of it, and clothed it, as it was naked when he found it."
In some of the houses of the town were found a considerable num- ber of deer and bear skins, some corn, and other plunder. A few horses and a cow were also found, running at large. The army destroyed the entire town, with all the growing crops of corn and vegetables, girdled the fruit trees, t burned the stacks of hay, and entirely devastated the place. Sergeant Moses Fellows states that, when the army marched from Kanadesaga on September 9th, " what corn, beans, peas, squashes, potatoes, onions, turnips, cabbages, cucumbers, watermelons, carrots, parsnips, etc., our men, horses, cattle, &c., could not eat, were destroyed." From this point all the sick and invalids of the army were sent back to Tioga Point, under an escort of a Captain and fifty men. On Septeni-
* See page 967.
; A little to the north of Kanadesaga was a large peach-orchard, that was destroyed by the army; but in a few years it was again in a flourishing condition, and in 1797 one hundred bushels of peaches were sold from it to a neighboring distillery. The same year a farmer on one of the "Old Castle" farms sold .cider to the amount of $1,200., which was made from apples grown in the old Indian orchard, the trees of which had been girdled by Sullivan's army, but had sprouted from the roots and were again in full bearing .- "Documentary History of New York."
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ber 13th the army arrived at Kanaghsaws, Conesus, or Adjutsa, clescribed in the note on page 1041. From this point Lieut. Thomas Boyd, of " Morgan's Riflemen," with eighteen riflemen, seven mus- keteers, "Captain" Jehoiakim (the Stockbridge Indian, previously men- tioned), and Hanyarry, an Oneida Indian chief (who had served with the Continental army since the beginning of the war), was sent out at night to reconnoiter the country in front of the advancing armny, with orders to return at day-break. The party having proceeded to within a short distance of Gathtsegwarohare-a small Indian town near Cana- seraga Creek, somne six or seven iniles west of Kanaghsaws-four of the inen were sent forward to the town. They found it abandoned, but near by, about sunrise, they ran across three or four Indians, one of whom (who was riding a good horse, and had three guns) they killed and scalped. They returned immediately to Lieutenant Boyd, who, with the remainder of his party, lay at some distance from the town. Boyd then moved slowly towards Kanaghsaws, but sent on, in advance, four of his men (including Jehoiakim1) to report to General Sullivan relative to the results of the reconnoissance.
When within about two miles of the main army Boyd and his men were attacked by a body of several hundred Indians and "Rangers," under the command of Joseph Brant and Maj. John Butler. Eight of the party escaped and made their way to Kanaghsaws, but Boyd, Han- yarry, and fourteen of the riflemen, forming the center of the party, were shut in on all sides. Their defense against overwhelming odds was not less gallant than it was hopeless. In their extremity they posted themselves in a small grove, with a considerable open space around it, and there they continued to fight. Some of the enemy were so near that the powder from their muskets burned the clothing and persons of the Americans. The conflict was continued until all were killed save Lieutenant Boyd and Sergeant Michael Parker, who, being severely wounded, were inade prisoners and conveyed to Genesee Castle, or " Little Beard's Town " (see pages 967 and 1042), where they were put to death with inhuman and incredible tortures. Lieut. Colonel Hubley states that "the savages inassacred them in the most cruel and bar- barous manner, having put them to the inost excruciating torments possible, by first plucking their nails from their hands, then spearing, cutting and whipping them, and mangling their bodies; then cutting off the flesh from their shoulders by pieces, and then tomahawking and severing their heads from their bodies, and then leaving theni a prey to their dogs." The Rev. Dr. Craft states (in his address hereinbefore referred to):
" It has been currently reported that, after his capture, Boyd approached Brant under the sign of a Free Mason-of which ancient Fraternity both were members ;* that the chieftain recognized the bond of brotherhood and promised him protection, but, hav- ing been unexpectedly called away, the captives were placed in charge of Butler (prob- ably Walter N.), who, becoming exasperated with Boyd's persistent refusal to disclose any information in regard to the army, handed theni over to the Indians to be put to death. The whole story, however, is extremely doubtful, and it is now difficult to ascer- tain how much of it, if any, should be received as true. The most that can be said witli certainty is, that the next day the bodies of the unfortunate men were found by our troops, horribly mangled, and bearing marks of having suffered unspeakable torture."+
* As to Brant, see note on page 299, Vol. I.
As to the Masonic incident above referred to, Colonel Stone, in his "Life of Brant" (II : 31), deals with it at some length, while Sidney Hayden, in his "Washington and His Masonic Compeers" (page 336), tells the story in the following words: "Boyd was wounded, and with one of his party was taken prisoner.
He had been captured once before, at the storming of Quebec, but then was
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In the afternoon of September 13th the army advanced to Gathtseg- warohare, where they bivouacked for the night. Early the next morn- ing a force of 2,000 men was detailed to destroy the extensive corn-fields in the vicinity of the town-in performing which task six hours were consumed ; the ears of corn being plucked and thrown into the creek. Towards noon the army began its march to Genesee Castle (previously mentioned), distant some five miles, in a north-westerly direction. Can- aseraga Creek was forded, and then a swamp of considerable extent was traversed. Soon afterwards the troops forded the Genesee River-about twenty yards in width, but with such a rapid current that the inen were obliged to cross in platoons, with locked arms, to resist the force of the current. "The route was down the Genesee Valley-then in its autum- nal glory-covered with grass from six to ten feet high. Ascending the high land on the west side of the river, the scene was one of inde- scribable beauty. For miles not a hill nor bush could be seen-only here and there a clump of trees broke the monotony of the landscape." " There was spread out a spectacle of beauty which was gazed upon with delight by the rudest soldier. The name of Genesee became thence- forth but a new appellation for the perfection of fertility and beauty."
Genesee Castle was reached about six o'clock in the evening of the 14th, and was, of course, found to be deserted. It was learned later (as stated in the note on page 1106) that the Indians and Tories had set out from the town for Fort Niagara on the 13th, in great haste and confu- sion. They left behind them large heaps of husked and unhusked corn. The remains of Lieutenant Boyd and Sergeant Parker were found in the outskirts of the town, and were, without delay, interred with the honors of war .* Under the date of September 15, 1779, Maj. James Norris states in his journal :
" At six o'clock the whole army was turned out to destroy the corn in and about this town, which we found in great plenty. We were from six o'clock to two o'clock P. M. in destroying the corn and houses. It is generally thought we have destroyed 20,000 bushels of corn at this place. The method we took to destroy it was, to make large fires with parts of houses and other wood, and then piling the corn on the fire, which effectually destroyed the whole of it."
Under the same date Lieut. Colonel Hubley states in his journal :
"This morning the whole army, excepting a covering party, were ·engaged in destroying the corn, beans, potatoes, and other vegetables, which were in quantity immense, and in goodness unequalled by any I have ever yet saw. Agreeable to a moderate calcu- lation there was not less than 200 acres, the whole of which was pulled, and piled up in large heaps, mixed with dry wood taken from the houses, and consumed to ashes. About three o'clock P. M. the business was finished, and the immediate objects of this Expe-
exchanged. From the private ranks he had risen to that of Lieutenant of a rifle-company of the Penn- sylvania division, and was about twenty-two years of age. Hc was the largest and inost muscular man of his company, but, having been wounded, he was now in the power of the enemy. Lieutenant Boyd was a Free Mason, and, knowing the ferocity of the Indians after seeing their towns burned, he gave to Brant, who was also a Mason, a sign of the Fraternity, claiming protection. The dusky chief recognized it and at once promised him his life. But, being called away soon after, Boyd was left in the care of General [sic] Butler [Maj. John Butler, in command of the "Rangers"], who, as before stated, had formerly been a member of St. Patrick's Lodge, on the Mohawk.
"Butler demanded of the captive information which his fidelity to his own commander would not allow him to give. The scene became one of tragic interest. Enraged at the silence of Boyd, Butler had him placed before him, kneeling upon one knec, with an Indian on each side holding his arms, and another standing behind him with a tomahawk raised over his head. Butler inquired the number of Sullivan's men. 'I cannot answer you,' was Boyd's reply. He then inquired how his army was divided and disposed. 'I cannot give you any information, sir,' again replied the heroic captive. Again, for the third time, Butler harshly addressed him: 'Boyd, life is sweet; you had better answer me.' 'Duty forbids,' was the reply. 'I would not, if life depended on the word.' Reader, contemplate the scene! Both were Free Masons-the one haughty, imperious, and forgetful of his vows; the other a captive in his hands, with fortitude undaunted and fidelity unshaken, thrice refusing to betray his trust. His last refusal cost him his life, for, before Brant returned to his captive, and unknown to him, Butler delivered Boyd into the hands of the infuriated Indians about him; and, amidst tortures too horrid to describe, he fell a martyr to his trust."
* In August, 1842, the remains of these two soldiers were exhumed and removed to Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, New York, where they were reinterred.
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dition completed, viz .: the total ruin of the Indian settlements, and the destruction of their crops.
"The following is a part of the Orders issued this day : 'The Commander-in-Chief informs this brave and resolute army that the immediate objects of this Expedition are accomplished, viz .. Total ruin of the Indian settlements, and the destruction of their crops, which were designed for the support of those inhuman barbarians while they were desolating the American frontiers. He is by no means insensible of the obligations he is under to those brave officers and soldiers whose virtue and fortitude have enabled him to complete the important design of the Expedition, and he assures them he will not fail to inform America at large how much they stand indebted to them. The army will this day commence its marchi for Tioga.'"
From Cruikshank's " The Story of Butler's Rangers " we learn that, when the Americans appeared on the banks of the Genesee River, "all the Indians except forty at once deserted " Major Butler, and he aban- doned Genesee Castle. " Before night he arrived at Buffalo Creek, on his way to Niagara. He then learned that Caldwell's company had been ordered down from Detroit, and that Sir John Johnson, with 380 inen, was daily expected from Carleton Island, with instructions to pro- ceed to his [Butler's] support, by way of Oswego. 5,000 famishing Indians had taken refuge at Niagara. Bolton, who was seriously alarmed for the safety of his post [Fort Niagara], sent the light-company of the 8th Regiment to Butler's assistance, followed by the 34th Regi- inent immediately on its arrival from Carleton Island. Many of the ' Rangers' who had been disabled by the ague had recovered sufficiently to bear arins again, and they cheerfully returned to join their comrades. Caldwell, with a small party, was sent to pursue Sullivan, who was reported to be already retiring."
At Fort Niagara, under the date of September 16, 1779, Lieut. Col. Mason Bolton wrote to Gen. Sir Frederick Haldimand in part as follows :*
" I enclose your Excellency an account of expenses incurred on Major [John] But- ler's expedition ; * * * also copies of letters from Major Butler, which will inform you of 4,000 Rebels being encamped at Genesee, within seventy or eighty miles of this Post. * * I have sent orders to the officers commanding at Forts Erie and Schlosser to hold themselves in readiness to join this Garrison at a moment's notice. I expect daily the detachments from Detroit, and hope the next vessels will bring a reinforcement from Carleton Island. The Rebels have destroyed most of the Indian villages and corn-fields ; therefore I wish soon to see their [the Indians'] families come in. Otherwise, I shall give over all hopes of their assistance any longer. They are extremely dissatisfied that troops were not sent to Oswego or to this Post-notwithstanding all that Major Butler, Sayenqueraghta, t and Joseph [Brant] can say or do to keep them in temper. I have sent orders to the Major upon no account to suffer his retreat to be cut off, nor to risk the Light Infantry companies of the King'st or 34th Regiment, which would be no small loss to this Garrison. Captain Harris has also received private instructions how he is to act, as I have very little dependence on the Indians. Our works are almost finished, and I have no doubt will be defended with spirit, notwithstanding our weak Garrison. By the last accounts the 'Rangers ' have not more than 150 men fit for duty, and we have forty sick in this Garrison.
"September 17th .- Joseph Brant, who, upon all occasions, deserves everything I can say in his favor, is just arrived, and informs me that a considerable number of Indians, with their families, are coming in to-morrow. Sayenqueraghta is with them, and has behaved extremely well. I could wish some handsome present was niade to hin, as he has great weight with the Six Nations. Joseph [Brant], some time ago, was not on the best terms with him. They had their quarrels like other great men. However, now they are perfectly reconciled, and determined to return in a day or two to take ample revenge. Major Butler is also under the necessity of coming in with the Light Infantry and 'Rangers' for want of provisions ; but leaves a party, with several scouts, to watch
* the enemy's motions. * The Rebels have done all the mischief they can, there- fore cannot remain long in the Indian country unless they intend to attack this Post, which I believe they will scarce venture to attempt without getting a supply of cannon
* See the "Haldimand Papers," B. M. 21,760, Vol. 100, p. 269.
¡ See page 968.
# Sir John Johnson's regiment, designated "The King's Royal Regiment of New York." See page 983.
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and provisions by way of Oswego or Presque Isle. But without an enemy's approach I can now plainly foresee I shall have many difficulties to encounter, for the Indians are extremely attached to Major Butler. * * I have sent down to Montreal Lieut. Colonel Stacey and Lieutenant Holden, as the Indians are extremely enraged. They have been prisoners here since the affair of Cherry Valley, and in my opinion should not be exchanged for some time."
Having accomplished the principal object of his Expedition, Sulli- van, at three o'clock in the afternoon of September 15th, commenced his homeward march over the same route by which he had come. Before leaving Genesee Castle many of the soldiers from "The Old Granite State " stowed away in their haversacks ears of corn from sixteen to twenty-two inches in length, to show their friends at home. When nearing Kanaghsaws, on September 16th, parties were ordered out to reconnoiter the woods in search of the bodies of the men of Lieutenant Boyd's detachment who had been killed on the 13th. Fourteen, includ- ing Hanyarry, the Oneidan, were found, "all tomahawked, scalped, and most inhumanly inangled." They were gathered up and buried together, with military honors. Fearing no large gathering of the enemy at any point along his line of march, Sullivan sent various detachments of his army around both sides of Cayuga and Seneca Lakes to destroy the Indian towns and crops there-thus carrying out Washington's orders to inake the country uninhabitable for years to come. While these operations were in progress Capt. John Reed built a fort (named Fort Reed) at Kanawlohalla, at the junction of Newtown Creek with the Chemnung River, where the present city of Elmira is located. There the different detachments rejoined the main body of the Expedition between the 25th and the 29th of September. At Fort Reed, under the date of Saturday, September 25, 1779, Lieut. Colonel Hubley made the following entry in his journal :
"In consequence of the accession of the King of Spain to the American alliance, and the generous proceeding of the present Congress in augmenting the subsistence of the officers and men of the army, General Sullivan ordered five head of the best cattle (one for the use of the officers of each brigade), witli five gallons of spirits each, to be delivered to them respectively ; thereby giving them an opportunity of testifying their joy on this occasion. In the evening the whole [army] was drawn up, and fired a feu de joie, thirteen cannon being first discharged. The infantry then commenced a running fire through the whole line, which, being repeated a second time, the whole army gave three cheers-one for the United States of America, one for Congress, and one for our new ally, the King of Spain.
"The army being then dismissed, General Hand, with the officers of his brigade, attended by the officers of the park of artillery, repaired to a bower erected for that pur- pose, where the fatted bullock was served up ( dressed in different ways )-the whole [coni- pany] seating themselves around the same-which afforded them a most agreeable repast. The officers being very jovial, the evening was spent in great mirth and jollity. After dinner the following toasts were drunk, the drums and fifes playing at intervals. (1) 'The Thirteen States and their Sponsors.' (2) 'The Honourable, the American Congress.' (3) 'General Washington and the American Army.' (4) 'The Commander-in-Chief of the Western Expedition.' (5) 'The American Navy.' (6) 'Our Faithful Allies, the United Houses of Bourbon.' (7) 'May the American Congress, and all lier legislative Representatives, be endued with Virtue and Wisdom; and may her Independence be as firmly established as the Pillars of Time.' (8) 'May the Citizens of America, and her Soldiers, be ever unanimous in the reciprocal support of each other.' (9) 'May Alter- cations, Discord, and every degree of Fraud be totally banished the peaceful Shores of America.' (10) 'May the memory of the brave Lieutenant Boyd and the Soldiers under his command, who were horribly massacred by the inhuman Savages, or by their more barbarous and detestable Allies, the British and Tories, on the 13th instant, be ever dear to their Country.' (11) 'An honourable Peace with America, or perpetual War with her Enemies.' (12) 'May the Kingdom of Ireland merit a Stripe in the American Stand- ard.' (13) 'May the Enemies of America be metamorphosed into Pack-horses and sent on a Western Expedition against the Indians.'"
In the morning of September 29th the army marched from Fort Reed to Chemung, and early the next morning continued on to Tioga
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Point. When within a mile of Fort Sullivan the troops were halted and formed in columns, the musicians and colors were brought to the head of the columns, and then, about three o'clock in the afternoon, with the musicians playing and the colors flying, the whole army marched down the peninsula. Each brigade moved to the ground it had formerly occupied, and erected its tents. When the troops passed Fort Sullivan the garrison was paraded and presented arms, thirteen rounds were fired from the cannon of the fort, and then the garrison gave three cheers. In response the returning troops gave three cheers, and Colonel Procter's artillery fired thirteen rounds. Relative to the return of the Expedition to Tioga Point Lieut. Colonel Hubley states : " Colonel Shreve, governor of the Garrison, had an elegant dinner pro- vided for the general and field officers of the ariny. We regaled our- selves, and great joy and good humor was visible in every countenance. Colonel Procter's band and the drums and fifes played in concert the whole time." Lieutenant Beatty has recorded that "the officers of each regiment had a dinner provided for them in the Garrison, where they immediately repaired and dined and took a hearty drink of grog and went to sleep." On this same day General Sullivan wrote, and despatched to the Hon. John Jay, President of Congress, a report of the doings of the Expedition since August 30th. Among other things he stated :
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