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 68
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a party of men on their way to Gordon, expecting . - either as a civil or militia offi- cer would head them according to promise. He refused, and advised them [to go] home. They obeyed his orders, & the night after a number of Tories assembled & took sd Gordon prisoner as above.
"After the sd Gordon got his liberty, &, with others of the prisoners taken with lıim, came home, Sq! industriously propagated a report that sd Gordon was a Tory, and that he could prove it. Gordon requested the Comtee (of which Col. Denison and Anderson Dana, Esq., are members ) to cite the sd Gordon & -
** -, Esq!, before them and make Sq! produce his evidence. *
"Your memorialists beg leave to observe further that Sq! is not a man of an exemplary life, which your memorialists can abundantly prove; neither would he suf- fer one of his sons either to go a soldier in the Continental service nor as an officer. *
* To sum up all in one word-his partial temper of mind, and an arbitrary mode of pro- ceeding, render him very unfit for either a Justice or Judge of the County Court. We therefore pray your Honours [to] supply his place with a gentleman of known abilities, whose character may be the very reverse of Sq! - - * * -'s.'
The Westmorelander at whom these shafts were aimed learned in a general way what had taken place, and, under the date of June 1, 1778, wrote to Governor Trumbull, in part as follows :
" I hear from common report that a number of disaffected persons have, in a private manner and without giving me the least notice to defend, undertaken by a petition, or some such like instrument, to take from me one of the best of Heaven's blessings-a good name. By which means I understand that it has pleased the Assembly, for the aforesaid reasons, not to appoint me to the offices which I sustain; which also tends to bring me into contempt, shane and disgrace."
* See pages 912 and 913.
i See page 910.
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Towards the close of the May session of the Assembly the follow- ing petition* (in the handwriting of Representative Anderson Dana) was presented and read :
" To the Honorable Ginnarell Assembly of the State of Connecticutt Now seting at Hartford the Memorial of Anderson Dana of Westmoreland In said state humbly sheweth: " that since the seting of this Assembly your Memorilist has had Intilligence from said Westmoreland that the Indians have kill'd and taken 25 persons on the West branch of the Susquehannah River: and have killed and Destroyed many persons Near the head of the East Branch West of Albany and appear very surly and Insolent in the upper part of sd Westmoreland. Which gives grate Reason to the Inhabitants of said Westmore- land to believe that the Indians Intend to make Warr:
' Whereupon your Memorilist would begg leve to observe: that unless there can be a company raised to Defend sd town it Will oblige the militia of sd town to go a scout- ing & garding to defd sd town: and oblige thiem to Neglect raseing Provision for the support of the Inhabitents: and your Memorilist would beg leve further to observe that the Honorable Congress has commissioned officerst in sd town for a company to gard sd. town, with only the Incorragement of 40/- per month to a soldgier, without any Bounty; and by long tryel it is found that said company in that way cannot be raised;
"Whereupon your Memorilist humbly Prays your Honours to take the Distrest case of the town of Westmoreland into your wise consideration and order such further Incorgement to each non commissioned officer and soldier to be paid out of the Treasury of this State to induce sd company to be fitted for the Defence of said town; or In sum other way grant Relieff as your Honours in your grate Wisdom shall think proper, and your memorilist in Duty bound shall ever pray.
" Dated Hartford June 10th, 1778. [Signed] "ANDERSON DANA."
This memorial having been duly considered, the following action was taken by the Assembly# :
"Resolved by this Assembly, That for further Encouragement of Raising the Com- pany in the Memorial referd to, that the sum of thirty shillings pr month be and the same is hereby allow'd and granted to each non commission'd officer and soldier who shall inlist into & serve in sd company from the time of their respective inlistments, as a bounty, untill the 1st day of December next, unless sooner discharged." * *
Let us now turn in the direction of Fort Niagara and learn what has been going on in that locality since the beginning of the year 1778.
Early in January Major Butler entered into a new treaty with the Indians, making them many presents-in particular, 300 of Burgoyne's silver medals to their young warriors. About that time Butler's Rang- ers mustered in the neighborhood of 125 men. Under the date of Feb- ruary 2, 1778, Major Butler made to Sir Guy Carleton, Governor of Quebec, a "return of the Corps of Rangers to serve with the Indians," and at the same time wrote to him the following letter, now published for the first time. §
* The original is now preserved in the collection of MSS. entitled "Susquehannah Settlers"- referred to on page 29, Vol. I.
7 Capt. DETHICK HEWITT and Lieut. TIMOTHY HOWE, previously mentioned.
See "Records of the State of Connecticut," II : 57.
§ The original letter will be found in the "Haldimand Papers"-B. M. 21,756-1, XCVI : 117. The collection of documents known as the "Haldimand Papers" comprises a vast number of letters, reports, muster-rolls, etc., accumulated by Sir FREOERICK HALOIMANO during a long and eventful military and official career. This collection is now preserved in the British Museum, London.
Sir FREOERICK HALOIMANO, abovementioned, was born in the Canton of Neufchatel, Switzerland, in October, 1718. He was appointed a Captain in the regiment of Swiss guards in the service of Hol- land, May 1, 1755, and January 4, 1756, was appointed, from the Dutch service, Lieutenant Colonel of the "Royal American Regiment," or "62d Foot," described in the note on page 346, Vol. I. Very shortly afterwards he set sail for America, and during the portion of the year 1756 following his arrival here he was commandant of the British troops garrisoned at Philadelphia. In 1757 he was in command of the royal troops protecting the western frontiers of Pennsylvania against the Indians. In June, 1758, he was at Fort Edward, New York, and later in that year at various posts on Lake Champlain. In September, 1759, he was in command of his regiment at the battle on the Plains of Abraham, pre- ceding the fall of Quebec (see note "}", page 578, Vol. I), and in the campaign of 1760 he was in com- mand of the second division of Amherst's army, as noted in the third paragraph on page 482, Vol. I. In 1763 and '64 he was still in the British military service in this country, having attained the rank of Brigadier General.
In 1775 General Haldimand (then in England, and a Major General) was appointed Inspector Gen- eral of the British forces in the West Indies. In August, 1777, he was notified by Lord George Ger- main that he had been appointed "Captain General and Governor-in-chief of the Province of Quebec, and General and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's forces in said Province and the frontiers, etc.", to succeed Sir Guy Carleton. (See page 927.) He was desired to sail for Quebec immediately, but was unable to do so, and it was not until June 30, 1778, that he landed at the city of Quebec. The same day he wrote I,ord Germain that he had "taken command of the troops, as well as assumed the government,"
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"Sir .- In my last to your Excellency of the 14th ult. I did myself the honor of acquainting you with the favourable event of our conferences with the Indians, the par- ticulars of which I now transmit to you.
" Your Excellency will perceive from their own sentiments the reasons they have for not alarming the rebels this winter on the Frontiers of the Province of New York, which, by certain accounts they have from their spies, they find are too well guarded by the prudent measures of Mr. Gates* (in cantoning a considerable part of his army in those parts most exposed to be attacked), with any prospect of success-particularly at a season when they could not retreat without a certainty of being pursued by a force too great for them to contend with.
" This cautious measure they hope will deceive the Rebels & divert their attention in the spring from that Quarter, where they intend to make a very formidable Irruption with their whole collected force into the frontiers of New York & glut that revenge they so impatiently wish for, for tlie loss of so many of their inen near Fort Stanwix.
" Since the conclusion of the Council I have the strongest assurances of the fidelity of the Senecas & Cayugas, who are the leading Peopleof the Six Nations. Upon the first Report of an intended incursion into their country by the Rebels from the Susquehanna, they have unanimously resolved to defend themselves with that spirit & obstinacy for which they are remarkable, & also to retaliate as soon as the season of the year will permit To strengthen their resolution they have had recourse to some superstitious rites which has often produced effects upon a fierce & Barbarous People.
"But, what gives nie more satisfaction, is the pleasure I have to inform your Excel- lency that, upon receiving a Belt of Invitation from [General] Schuyler to attend a Coun- cil with the rebels and the Indians still adhering to them, at Johnstown, the 17th instant, the Chief of the Senecas rejected the invitation and sent back the Belt, telling tlie Messen- gers, who were an Oneida & a Tuscarora, that they had no ears to hear any Messages from theni, neither would they nor any of their people attend their calls; adding that the blood of their people was still reeking which he [Schuyler] was the occasion of spilling. However, to know the result of this Council, they are determined to have spies amongst them. When it is ended, I shall faithfully transmit to your Excellency all the particulars.
"The request miade to your Excellency by the Indian chiefs in Quebec they fre- quently renewed in council to Colonel Bolton and myself; namely, the establishing a Post at Ontario. The reasons they give are many. By so doing, they say, the King's Troops [will] have an easy entrance into the country of the Six Nations; which, if not done, they think the Rebels will seize upon it themselves, as they apprehend the meeting at Johnstown is called to sound the disposition of the Indians upon that head. Tliat Ontario being in possession of the King's Troops would especially prevent the rebels front building vessels on the Lake, and at the same time put a stop to any designs that may have been formed against this post. That it would afford a safe refuge to their women and children in case their attachment to the King should bring the [ Rebel] Army into their Country in such numbers as they (if unassisted) would be too weak to oppose. They also observe that the fidelity of the Onondagas & Tuscaroras, who, from their vicinity to the Rebels are more exposed & therefore not so firm as if their situation was more secure, would by that means be effectually secured. For these reasons and others the principal men of the Senecas & Cayugas have warmly requested the taking possession of that Post. * * *
"Mr. Joseph Brantt with about 30 Mohawks have a few days ago set out for the Indian Boundaries, with a view of being near in case the enemy should put their threats of Entering into the Indian Country in execution. The Indians have their spies out all along their Frontier to discover if the rebels are assembling. I have wrote and sent mes- sages to the Chiefs to know if my assistance with as many Rangers as I have would be wanted before the return of those people, whom they have sent out, not thinking it pru-
and that he had presented his commission as "Vice Admiral." Under the date of July 25, 1778, General Haldimand wrote to Lord Germain that he had "been installed into the civil and military government of the Province-Sir Guy Carleton transferring all papers, records," &c., to him. Immediately afterwards Sir Guy set out for the city of New York.
The character of Haldimand as Governor of Quebec has been described in most unfavorable terms. Garneau says (in his "History of Canada") that he was an imperious old soldier, good at the head of troops, but little suited by his training for the government of a people accustomed to the rule of law; that he only enforced obedience by inflexible rigor; imprisoned citizens by hundreds-making no dis- tinction between the innocent and the guilty. There are two events of great interest to Canada in which General Haldimand took a leading part. One was the negotiation with Vermont for its reunion with the British Crown, and the other was the reception and settlement in Canada of the American Loyal- ists before and during the Revolutionary War and after its conclusion.
By the Indians-or at least the Mohawks-General Haldimand was called "Governor Asharekowa" ("Big Sword"). In 1784 Governor Haldimand signed a decree by which a tract of land six miles wide, on both sides of the Grand River, from its mouth to its source (in what is now the Province of Ontario), was ceded to the Mohawk tribe and certain allied tribes as a reward for their fidelity to the British Crown during the American Revolution. This tract of country became known as the "Brant Reserve" and later as the "Grand River Reserve." The present county of Brant, including the city of Brantford, Ontario, comprehends a part of this Reserve.
General Haldimand continued to serve as Governor of Quebec until 1786, when he was succeeded by his predecessor, Sir Guy Carleton, and returned to England. He died in Neufchatel, June 5, 1791. In 1857 the papers of Sir Frederick Haldimand were presented by his nephew, Mr. W. Haldimand-by whose care they had been preserved-to the British Museum, and they form the collection now known as the "Haldimand Papers," as before remarked.
" Gen. HORATIO GATES of the American army.
¡ See pages 933 and 965.
-
965
dent to make any motions towards the inhabitants till Spring, unless the Indians should be in danger of being attacked. For those reasons given by Siengerochte,* in the name of the whole nations, in his last answer, I hope & wish Mr. Brant's attempt may not bring upon them those consequences they seem to be aware of.
" Mr. Brant (who is, I believe, known to your Excellency, & [is] very deserving of the character of an active & intelligent [man], and very willing to do everything in his power for the public good) having represented that he has been employed two years past without any allowance, & out of hopes of receiving any reward for his past services from Col. Guy Johnson, has desired me to lay his situation before your Excellency, praying that you would allow him some certain pay for his future support. I humbly hope your Excellency would be pleased to attend to his request, as he is very deserving of your favor.
" The Indians of the Six Nations & those from the westward have exerted them- selves in laying waste the Country most exposed to them. From the east [sic] branch of the Susquehanna to the Kiskismenitas Creek upon the Ohio, and from thence down to Kankawa River (an extent of many hundred miles), is now nothing but an heap of ashes. Such of those miserable people as have escaped have taken refuge in small forts. Affairs appear to be now growing desperate about Fort Pitt. A number of those people having sent a Deputation to the Six Nations, requesting a passage through their country, received for answer that their country was always free & open to the King's good sub- jects, being only shut against rebels, & that they might pass when they pleased. They are said to be about 200 in number, & may be expected here or at Detroit early in the spring.
"I have now given your Excellency a full detail of everything relative to His Majesty's Interest amongst his Indian allies, & have the greatest hopes it may be attended with the desired success. I have the honor to be
[Signed] "JOHN BUTLER."
Under the date of April 8, 1778, Lieut. Col. Mason Bolton, in com- mand at Fort Niagara, wrote from that place to Sir Guy Carleton at Quebec, in part as followst:
" I received the honour of your Excellency's favour dated November the 8th, and am happy to find my conduct has been such as to merit your approbation. It is possible and probable I may err. However, I will venture to assure you, Sir, that no man can have the King's service more at heart than I have. * * * The savages, if I can credit reports, are determined to assist us, and from my own observation I have no reason to doubt them. They are now calling in all their people most exposed to the Rebels, and assembling their fighting men in each village, who will be ready to oppose Schuyler whenever he attempts to put his threats in execution against them on this Post.
"Major Butler intends leaving this Post in a few days with his Corps, in order to consult with Siengorachtet (chief warrior of the Senecas). who has now an almost unlimited command over the Six Nations, by what Joseph [Brant] informs me. There- fore, when your Excellency will favour me with your orders, I have no doubt but the Major will put them in execution However, it's not improbable the savages may think it necessary to commence hostilities sooner. In that case I believe he must acquiesce; but at the same time I am convinced lie will do liis utmost to prevent any attempts the Rebels may have in view against this Post, as far as it lies in his power. * * * I have received the following intelligence by the Indians employed to watch Schuyler's inotions. * They say the northern army is commanded by a French Marquis, one Difiat.§ *
* All accounts confirin Washington being killed and his army defeated in December last, and that Gates was sent for to take the command." * *
On April 8th Lieut. Colonel Bolton wrote also to Capt. Francis Le Maistre, Deputy Adjutant General in Canada, in part as follows :
"I have also acquainted Major Butler his own name is to be mentioned in the accounts of expenditure for the Indian Department which will be observed for the future. The Major, I believe, intends appointing Sergeant Turney|| a Second Lieutenant in his corps of Rangers. He [Turney] left this place two days after his arrival with the express for Detroit." * * *
* SAYENQUERAGHTA. See page 968.
t See the "Haldimand Papers"-B. M. 21,756-1, XCVI-I : 195.
# SAYENQUERAGHTA, previously mentioned.
¿ Undoubtedly the Marquis de LAFAYETTE was meant General Gates was at that time President of the Board of War, and it was part of the scheme of the "Conway Cabal," evolved early in 1778, to secure the alliance of LAFAYETTE by offering him the command of an expedition to invade Canada.
I JOHN TURNEY, SR .. was one of the original -ergeants of the "Rangers." Cruikshank (in "The Story of Butler's Rangers") refers to him as "a veteran soldier of many years' service " In the Spring of 1778 Major Butler appointed Turney a lieutenant in the "Rangers," but he was not commissioned as such by the Governor until February 8, 1779 His name is mentioned several times hereinafter. John Turney, Jr., was a private in the "Rangers."
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At Fort Niagara, under the date of April 10, 1778, Major Butler wrote to Sir Guy Carleton, as follows *:
'Sir .- As the season of the year is now hastening on for action, the Indians of the Six Nations are busied in bringing off such of their people and friends as are nearest to the Rebels, to places of more security. When they have done, they are more than ever determined to strike that stroke they resolved upon last fall, in Council-the minutes of which I did myself the Honor of sending to your Excellency in my last.
"I am in daily expectation of a message from them, to acquaint me that they are ready; and as I am convinced that my being with them may be of use to accelerate their departure & direct their motions, I intend to march with what ' Rangers' I have witlı nie to act with them, when I hope to be considerably reinforced by those Rangers I have ordered in from the Susquehanna, as well as by a number of Loyalists from the back settle- ments-near one hundred men being already engaged to serve as 'Rangers' by an officer whom I sent out for that purpose.
"Although the Indians of the Six Nations have not acted with their collective force this last winter, for reasons which they gave in Council, yet I can with great Truth assure your Excellency that they have not been idle. I have frequently sent out parties to the Susquehanna, from whence, after having destroyed their upper settlements, they have brought in some Prisoners & about 70 scalps. Some Parties are yet out, [of] whose suc- cess I have not heard.
"A few days ago an Indian arrived, whom I had sent down to attend Schuyler's meeting.| He tells me Schuyler recommended in the strongest terms to the Indians a neutrality in the present troubles; not through fear (he said) of them, but purely for their own safety, & to prevent their losing so many of their people as they did last Sum- mer. He [Schuyler] also observed that as he saw to his sorrow but very few of the Six Nations there, that he did not look upon them as a Council. He therefore advised them that, upon their return home, they should call a general Council of their nations at the Onandago, & consider well what he had told tliem; which when they had done, & had agreed to the proposed neutrality, he declared his intentions of coming to Oswego- observing that as they had not hindered the King's Troops from coming through their country last year, he hoped as friends and Brethren they would not hinder him, adding that if they did not agree to what he proposed, that he should for the future treat them as enemies wherever he met them. He finished by telling them that his Intention of coming through their Country was only to remove those People who had given them bad advice, & occasioned the loss of so many of their principal Warriors. I have the peculiar satisfaction, arising from the fidelity of the Six Nations, to assure your Excellency that the majority of them are inclined to pay little regard to his advice, as they are now busily employed in preparing to act quite opposite to it, and have also positively refused to hold the meetings at Onondago.
"The last accounts I have from Albany contradict the Report of the Rebels build- ing Boats & making preparations for coming to Oswego. They also say there are 700 men at Fort Stanwix, & that considerable Fortifications have been added to it, as well as large quantities of Provisions and Stores deposited there. That large numbers of the Rebels had gone off for Canada as if for a winter Expedition (great quantities of hand- slays & creepers having been provided), & that they intend to pass the Isle au Noix & St. John's & surprize Montreal; and that the Marquis DE FIRTt commands the northern army, in place of Mr. Gates.
"A few days ago I received a Letter from Mrs. Butler acquainting me with the ill state of health of my son Walter, occasioned by his long & severe confinement in Goal at Albany .? I would therefore beg leave of your Excellency to request (if not improper) the favor of having him exchanged, & hope your Excellency will be pleased to take this request into your consideration. His treatment has, I believe, been the more severe for no other reason than that of being my son !
"By this opportunity I transmit a Pay-list of the officers & rangers of the Indian Department, not yet incorporated, from the 24th of June to the 24th of Decem- ber, 1777, ammounting to £1.020, 10sh. 93d., Halifax; also an account current for the pay of the Two Companies of 'Rangers,' &c., for the same time, in which there remains a balance in my favor of £1,331, 18sh. 23d., Halifax. These accounts, with the proper drafts, will be presented by Mr. Phynn, & will, I hope, meet with your Excellency's approbation.
"I have the honor to be, Sir, &c., [Signed] "JOHN BUTLER."
At Fort Niagara, under the date of May 1, 1778, Major Butler wrote to Sir Guy Carleton at considerable length concerning the fidelity of the Six Nation Indians to the British cause, the prisoners taken by them,
* See the "Haldimand Papers"-B. M 21,765, CV : 27.
¡ At Johnstown, New York, on March 9th. See page 954.
Į Marquis de LAFAYETTE. ¿ See page 929, last two paragraphs.
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etc., and stated that he was preparing for his expedition against the frontiers and expected to set out from Niagara for "the Seneca country" the next day. Accordingly, on May 2d, Major Butler began his marchi from Niagara at the head of his corps of "Rangers," then comprising but two complete companies, one of which was commanded by Capt. William Caldwell, mentioned on page 940. The Captain of the other company was Walter N. Butler (who was the senior Captain of the corps); but, as previously mentioned, he was then a prisoner in the hands of the Americans. Who commanded his company at that time we are unable to state, but in all likelihood it was Lieut. Benjamin Pawling, a former resident of Westmoreland, who was, about 1780, promoted to a captaincy in the "Rangers."
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