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 78
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Englanders, taught from their earliest youth to reverence the laws- civil and military-by which they were governed, and to respect and obey the officers charged with the execution of those laws; and they well knew-every man of them-that they were embodied there, on that important occasion, as a part of the lawfully-established militia of the State of Connecticut. If ever there was an occasion when harmony and accord were desirable and wrangling and insubordination undesirable, it was then.
To every one of that company of Wyoming patriots it must have been obvious that delay meant ruin to the Valley; that the enemy surely purposed to plunder the settlements of all kinds of property-thus accu- mulating the means of carrying on hostilities against the inhabitants, who would themselves become gradually weaker; that the harvest would soon be ripe, and would be gathered or destroyed by the eneiny -. where- by the inhabitants would be deprived of all their means of sustenance for the succeeding Winter; that the work of devastation and death would be urged on with savage cruelty. No reasonable ground exist- ing for supposing that any help would come from abroad that day, surely the only hope was in a decisive blow.
A large majority took this view of the case, and, disastrous as the issue was, it appears to us at this day that the conclusion was the only one to which, in the circumstances, they could come; and the result was no worse than it would have been had they remained within the wooden walls of Forty Fort-without cannon, with a small supply of provisions, with a limited quantity of ammunition, and with a helpless crowd of women and children. We see no reason whatever for seeking extraneous influences to account for the determination of the patriots to march against the invaders, with the bold design of driving thein back or perishing in the attempt. The influence which impelled them to this determination was a sentiment of no uncommon character. In all ages and in all countries it has existed, and is tersely expressed in these verses of an unknown poet :
"On to the strife ! for 'twere far more meet To sink with the foes who bay you, Than crouch, like dogs, at your tyrants' feet, And smile on the swords that slay you."
It was shortly after three o'clock when Colonel Butler gave the order to cross Abraham's Creek, form in column, and march up the road* in the direction of Wintermute's Fort. Without making a halt, and without the occurrence of any unusual incident, the patriots marched about two miles in a north-easterly direction. They were now within a mile of Wintermute's Fort, and again they were halted by their com- mander, who immediately sent forward Capt. Robert Durkee, Capt. Samuel Ransom, Lieut. James Wells, Sr., and Lieut. Peren Ross to select and mark off the ground on which to form in line of battle. These preliminaries having been attended to, the columnn advanced and then deployed to the left, and in a few minutes the little army was arranged in battle-formation. The right of the line rested near the edge of the slope, or declivity, separating the bottom-lands, or flats, from the elevated plain (as described on page 991), and from that point the line extended
* From Abraham's Creek, up the Valley, the road of that day lay nearer the river than the present Wyoming Avenue lies.
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some 300 or 400 yards across the plain in a northwesterly direction. In other words, the line was formed some fifty yards south-west of and parallel with the boundary-line of the townships of Kingston and Exeter -almost exactly where the present Fourth Street, in the borough of Wyoming, is located.
Captain Hewitt's company of Continentals was stationed on the extreme right; next in line was the Lower Wilkes-Barré Company (Cap- tain Bidlack); next, the Upper Wilkes-Barré Company (Captain Geer); next, the Kingston Company (Captain Buck); then the Hanover Company (Captain Stewart temporarily in command), and then the Plymouth Com- pany (Captain Whittlesey) on the extreme left. Lieutenant Bowen and the men of the Huntington and Salem Company were attached to Whit- tlesey's company, while the several commissioned officers and the rank and file of the two "Alarm List " companies were distributed among the various companies named above. Captains Durkee and Ransonı, Lieu- tenants Wells, Ross, Timothy Peirce and Phineas Peirce, and Ensign Hol- lenback (some of them being then, and the others having been a short time previously, Continental officers of experience, "in whom great con- fidence was placed"), were given positions on the field as aids-Captain Durkee and Ensign Hollenback being assigned to the right wing, and Captain Ransom to the left wing. Lieut. Colonel Butler, in addition to acting as commander-in-chief, was, more particularly, in command of the right wing ; Major Garrett being second in command of that wing. Colonel Denison took command of the left wing, and was aided by Lieut. Colonel Dorrance.
The force being thus disposed it was determined to send forward a small reconnoitering party to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy. Lieut. Colonel Butler rode along the line to invite volunteers for this service, and Abrahanı Pike (see page 982) and an Irish companion hav- ing offered to performn it, were accepted. They went forward, found the enemy gathered in considerable numbers in the immediate vicinity of Wintermute's Fort, and, without being discovered, started back to report the situation to Lieut. Colonel Butler. When within a short distance of the position occupied by the patriots they met two Indian scouts be- longing to the enemy, by whom they were fired upon, and upon whom they immediately fired in return, but without effect. The Indians hast- ily withdrew in the direction of Wintermute's Fort, while Pike and his companion proceeded on their way.
Every movement of the patriots was being watched by a vigilant and wary foe, and no sooner had the march from Forty Fort begun than news of it was carried by fleet-footed Indian scouts to Major Butler at Wintermute's. Thereupon he despatched a messenger to Jenkins' Fort with orders to the detachment of " Rangers " on duty there to set fire to the fort and repair, with the prisoners in their charge, to Wintermute's. Here, by three o'clock in the afternoon, was gathered the whole force of the invaders, with the exception of a small number of scouts and pickets out on duty. When, about four o'clock, Major Butler learned from his scouts that the patriots were forined in line of battle less than a inile away, he ordered that Wintermute's Fort should be vacated and set on fire. This was done without delay.
Adjoining the fort on its north-westerly side was an open field of six or seven acres, along the upper boundary of which, for some dis-
VIEW FROM HOSPITAL, HILL, PITTSTON, OF THE BATTLEFIELD OF WYOMING. Mount Lookout is in the middle background, and Mount Lookout Colliery is seen near the left-hand margin of the picture. From a photograph taken in July, 1904.
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tance, ran a log fence. * Beyond this fence was the "fine, open wood," referred to by Major Butler,t and at a considerable distance from the end of the fence farthest from the fort was located the swamp, or morass, previously described. Major Butler posted his "Rangers " behind the log fence, where, in order that they might be more effectually concealed, they lay down. The main body of the Indians was stationed in tlie swamp, forming, under the command of Sayenqueraghta, the right wing of the enemy's line. Major Butler, divested of his military hat and coat, and with a black handkerchief knotted about his head, took command of the left wing of his force. In the vicinity of the burning fort, and also scattered here and there in the open field, a considerable number of Indians lay-in concealment, so far as possible-for the purpose of serv- ing as skirmishers. The prisoners held by the enemy were sent under
View from Wyoming Avenue, looking east, of a part of the Wyoming battle-field, showing the Jenkins house, which stood on the site of Wintermute's Fort. From a photograph taken in 1878.
guard to the rear-to a point near the river, and about half way between the sites of Jenkins' Fort and Wintermute's. Thither repaired, also, the squaws of the Indians, and such others of the invaders as, for one reason or another, would not take part in the impending conflict.
* The site of Wintermute's Fort, marked by the scanty remains of the dwelling-house erected on the spot by Col. John Jenkins (as mentioned on page 807), may be described by present-day conditions or landmarks as lying four or five rods south of the junction of Valley Avenue and Battle Street, in that part of the borough of Exeter locally known as Sturmerville. Just a short distance north of where Val- ley Avenue lies, and in a course almost parallel with it, ran the log fence mentioned above.
" See his report to Lieut. Colonel Bolton, on page 1046.
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About four o'clock Lieut. Colonel Butler, having received the report brought by Abraham Pike and his fellow-scout, decided to move upon the enemy. Whereupon he made a short address to the men under his command. "Men, yonder is the enemy," he said. "The fate of the Hardings tells us what we have to expect if defeated. We come out to fight, not only for liberty, but for life itself ; and, what is dearer, to pre- serve our homes from conflagration, our women and children from the tomahawk. Stand firm at the first shock, and the Indians will give way. Every man to his duty !" The order to advance was then given, and, without any change in formation, the thin, but unwavering, line of Wyoming's defenders moved forward for almost a mile-the extreme right of the line keeping near the edge of the declivity previously described.
When the right had arrived within about 150 yards of the blazing ruins of Wintermute's Fort a halt was ordered. The line was now only a short distance off from, and almost parallel with, the lower edge of the open field previously mentioned, and the enemy was believed to be close at hand. Final instructions and orders were here given to the mnen by their officers, and everybody made ready for the coming action. By this time it was nearly five o'clock, but as the sun, shining brightly and hotly from a clear sky, would not set for two and a-half hours yet, there was ample time, before the close of the day, for the patriots of Wyoming to attempt to carry out their plans.
All being in readiness Lieut. Colonel Butler gave the command to advance, and the line moved forward. Soon it emerged into the open field in front, and was displayed in its entirety to the watchful and eager enemy. Slowly and steadily the patriots held their onward way, while here and there the enemy's skirinishers, singly and in couples, emerged from their lurking-places in the field and in the thickets near Winter- inute's, fired their muskets at the advancing line, and then fled to cover in the depths of the morass or beyond the log fence previously inentioned. When the line had moved up to within about 200 yards of this fence- being parallel with it and extending for nearly the same distance-the discovery was made that the enemy was lying in wait behind the fence, from end to end. In quick response to the immediate order of Lieut. Colonel Butler the whole line fired a volley straight at the fence. Halt- ing long enough to reload, the unbroken line moved forward a short distance and then fired another volley. Once again these same tactics were pursued, without drawing a single shot from the enemy, and appar- ently without causing any particular commotion among the men behind the fence. By this time the Americans had arrived within about 100 yards of the enemy, and, as they raised their muskets to fire a fourth volley, the "Rangers" sprang up from their hiding-place, fired at the Americans, and, deliberately and in order, fell back some distance. "See, the enemy retreat! Stand fast, and the day is ours!" cried Lieut. Colonel Butler. His men answered him with a hearty cheer, which was echoed by a yell of defiance from the enemy. The battle was now on.
At once the firing became general along the lines on both sides, and soon the Americans felt that they were making headway and driv- ing the enemy before thein-that is, the body of the enemy stationed on the other side of the log fence. This impression prevailed particu- larly among the men on the right, where Captain Hewitt's company
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had gained about thirty yards of ground. No part of the left wing had advanced as near to the log fence as had the extreme right, but the entire left wing, under the animating influence of its fearless and watch- ful officers, was maintaining its position well. However, too much atten- tion was being devoted to the movements of the enemy in front, to properly observe and understand the situation in another quarter.
Up to the time that the Americans had advanced to within 100 yards of the fence the Indians under the command of Sayenqueraghta, lying concealed in the dense thickets of the morass (which was situated at a considerable distance to the left of the Americans' left wing), had not shown themselves, nor had they fired a single shot. Thus their presence in the swamp was actually unknown to and unsuspected by the Americans. But now, breaking forth from their covert, they rushed
Photo-reproduction of the "Massacre at Wyoming," painted by Alonzo Chappell in 1857.
tumultuously forward, firing their pieces and yelling like demons. They concentrated their attack on the left wing of the American line-par- ticularly on Captain Whittlesey's company, only one inan (John Caldwell) of which had fallen up to the time the Indians made their onslaught. Miner says ("History of Wyoming," page 223): "On the British Butler's right his Indian warriors were sharply engaged. They seenied to be divided into six bands, for a yell would be raised at one end of their line, taken up, and carried through, six distinct bodies appearing at each time to repeat the cry. As the battle waxed warmer that fearful yell was renewed again and again, with more and more spirit. It appeared to be at once their animating shout and their sig- nal of communication."
The battle having been waged furiously by both sides for nearly half an hour, the effect of vastly superior numbers commenced to tell upon the Americans. Then came the beginning of the end, wlien Sayenqueraghta's savages managed to outflank completely the left wing
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of the Americans. The perils which, in consequence, menaced that wing, were quickly comprehended by Colonel Denison, who forthwith ordered the Plymouth company (on the extreme left) and the Hanover company (stationed next) to fall back and form a line at right angles with the inain line-" to flank off to the left," states Colonel Franklin in his account of the battle-so as to present an unbroken front to the flanking enemy. The Colonel's orders were fully understood by some of the officers and men of the companies mentioned, and they attempted to execute them; but by the other members of those companies the order to fall back, or "flank off," was understood to be an order to retreat, and accordingly these mnen began to retire-some of them rather pre- cipitately. The mistake was an irreparable and a fatal one, and utter confusion and disorder ensued, of which the practised enemy, familiar- ized with warfare on many a battle-field, was quick to take advantage.
Setting up their blood-curdling war-whoop, dropping their guns and brandishing their spears and tomahawks, the savages rushed like a whirlwind upon the broken and confused left wing of the Americans. Then a fierce hand to hand conflict took place. Meanwhile the officers of the left wing made every possible effort to restore order, to have their commands understood, and to bring their men to face the enemy and stand their ground. But it was too late. "Broken, borne down by overwhelming numbers, and pressed by an irresistible force, the left gave way and fell back on the right. The movement was rapid and con- Iron spear-head found on the battle-field of Wyoming, and now in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. fused, and brought confusion to the right. From confusion to disorder, from disorder to broken lines, and thence to flight, were but steps in regular gradation." The rout became general along the whole line, and the Americans fled in every direction.
Before the rout began the Americans had, unquestionably, fought boldly and courageously. Lieut. Colonel Dorrance was wounded and cap- tured by the enemy, who subsequently put him to death. Major Garrett was killed at the height of the conflict. Captain Durkee was wounded, and later killed, as described on page 1023, post. Captain Ransom was wounded, captured, and tortured to death. (See page 895.) Captain Bidlack was wounded, captured, and burned to death by the savages, as described on page 1000 .* Near the close of the conflict one of Captain Hewitt's officers said to him : "The day is lost ! See, the Indians are sixty rods in our rear. Shall we retreat ?" "I'll be damned if I do !" was his answer. "Drummer, strike up !" he then cried, and strove in vain to rally his mnen. Thus he fought, and there he fell. "Every Captain that led a company into action was slain, and in every instance fell on or near the line," states Miner. "As was said of Bidlack, so of Hewitt, Whittlesey, and the others-' they died at the head of their men.' They fought bravely-every inan and officer did his duty-but they were overpowered by twofold their force."
George Cooper and Cherrick Westbrook were privates in the Upper Wilkes-Barré company. "Our men are retreating; we are nearly alone. Sliall we go?" said Westbrook. "I'll have one more shot first," replied
* Colonel Franklin states, in one of the articles referred to on page 994: "Capt. James Bidlack had been placed on a heap of logs and brush set on fire, and held on with a pitch-fork and burnt to death. Mr. [Daniel] Ingersoll, who was then [a prisoner] in [near] the fort [ Wintermute] heard him pleading for his life, and heard his shrieks while in the flames, in the agonies of a most cruel death."
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Cooper. At that instant an Indian sprang towards them with uplifted spear. Cooper fired and the savage was sent sprawling to the ground. Reloading his piece Cooper fled towards the river, with several Indians in pursuit. Escaping to Monocanock Island he found there his friend and neighbor John Abbott, who was aided by him in reaching the oppo- site shore-as described on page 722.
The Americans who fled from the field of carnage were hotly pur- sued by both the British and the Indians, who either killed or took pris- oners all who came within their reach. The battle being ended, a mnas- sacre was begun. The flight was chiefly in the direction of Forty Fort and the river. A portion of the Indian flanking-party pushed forward in the rear of the American line in order to cut off a retreat to Forty Fort, and then, so far as possible, pressed the fleeing patriots towards the river. Monocanock Island-dis- tant about one and a-half miles, in a bee-line, from the battle-field- Portion of a sword found on the battle-field of Wyoming, and now in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. afforded the chief hope of crossing the river, and so the principal stream of flight flowed in that direction. Although confused and made under overwhelming pressure, yet the flight was not entirely devoid of system. The men generally gathered together in squads, frequently halting in their retreat to check their pursuers by their threatening attitude and the mutual support they gave each other. A handful of men surrounded Colonel Denison, who was mounted, and they kept together until they reached Forty Fort. Lieut. Colonel Butler, who was among the last to leave the field, was accompanied by four or five fugitives, two of whom were Rufus Ben- net* and James Stark. t When the party had got some distance from the
* See page 1070 for a sketch of his life.
" This was James Stark, Jr., later known as "Captain" Stark. Christopher Starke (for thus the family name seems to have been originally spelled), who was born in Connecticut prior to 1700, the son of William and the grandson of Aaron Starke, was an early member of The Susquehanna Company, and his name appears among the names of the grantees in the Indian deed of 1754. (See page 273, Vol. I.) Between 1754 and 1769 Christopher Starke removed with his family from Connecticut to Pawling Precinct, Dutchess County, New York, and in the Summer of 1769 his sons James, Christopher, Aaron and William joined the settlers at Wilkes-Barre under the auspices of The Susquehanna Com- pany. (See page 512, Vol. I.) These men were among the settlers who were driven out of Wyoming by the Pennamites in November, 1769. Christopher and Aaron Stark were again in Wyoming in June, 1770 (see page 659), but later were, with other settlers, driven off by the Pennamites. Aaron Stark came to Wyoming again in October, 1771 (see page 715), and later in that year or early in 1772 was joined by his brother James (see note on page 715), his brother Daniel, and his father Christopher, Sr. .Soon thereafter the last-named died.
James and Aaron Stark were admitted inhabitants of Wilkes-Barre, and participated in the allot- ment of lands which took place in April, 1772. (See page 728.) James Stark settled in that part of Wilkes-Barre which is now Plains Township, and died there, of small-pox, July 20, 1777. He was sur- vived by his wife Elizabeth (who was the eldest daughter of the Rev. Henry Cary of Dutchess County, New York) and several children, among whom were James, Jr., John, William, Henry, Aaron and Paul. After the battle of Wyoming they fled to Dutchess County, but subsequently returned to Wilkes-Barre, where the widow Elizabeth died in 1780. Letters of administration upon her estate were granted to her son James by the Probate Court of Westmoreland November 30, 1780. Aaron Stark, brother of the abovenamed James, removed from Wilkes-Barre to Pittston in 1774 or 1775, and was a tax-payer there in 1776, 1777 and 1778. In 1777 and 1778 his son William was also a tax-payer there. He had another son, Jonathan, who was living in Pittston in 1787. Aaron Stark was killed in the battle of Wyoming, as was also his brother Daniel.
James Stark, Jr., eldest son of James and Elizabeth (Cary) Stark, and grandson of Christopher Stark (and the first of the name mentioned in this note), was a soldier in Captain Spalding's West- moreland Independent Company in 1779 and later (see page 981), and it is quite probable that he had previously been a member of either Captain Durkee's company or Captain Ransom's company, and was one of those who left the ranks without leave and hastened to Wyoming-as related on page 978-where he took part in the battle of July 3. (See P. H. Smith's "History of Dutchess County, New York," pub- lished in 1877.) He was living in Wilkes-Barre in 1787, and his brothers Henry and Paul were living here in 1796. Henry Stark, above named, son of James and Elizabeth (Cary) Stark, was born April 19, 1762. He fled with his mother and the other members of the family from Wyoming to Dutchess County after the battle of July 3, 1778. Subsequently he returned and made his home in what is now Plains Township, where he continued to reside until his death. About 1800 he held the rank of Major in the Pennsylvania militia. His wife was Elizabeth (born April 12, 1773; died December 24, 1851), and they were the parents of nine children, the eldest of whom was James Stark, born in Wilkes-Barre April 4, 1792. The names of three of the other children were John, Hiram and Henry, and all four of the brothers named were members of Lodge No. 61, FF. and A. M., Wilkes-Barre, as early as 1821. Maj. Henry Stark died at Wilkes-Barre January 22, 1807.
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battle-field they discovered that they were being pursued by a number of Indians. Colonel Butler hurried his horse onward, while the men on foot increased their pace. Rufus Bennet, who was the hindinost of the party and was becoming short-winded, seized hold of the long tail of the Colonel's horse and was thereby enabled to increase his speed and keep up with his com- panions. But the pursuing Indians were close behind, and the foremost one of them-a stalwart warrior Pistol found on the battle-field of Wyoming, and now in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. with a tomahawk in one hand and a scalping-knife in the other-was gaining on the fugitives.
On the march of the Americans to the battle-field Richard Inman, of the Hanover company, being overcome by the effects of an undue indulgence in whisky before leaving Forty Fort, dropped out of the ranks beyond Abraham's Creek and went to sleep in a fence corner. By the time the fugitives had begun to rush down from the battle-field Inman had come to himself, and when he heard the hoof-thuds of Col- onel Butler's horse he sat up and took notice of things. As Colonel Butler came near to where Inman sat the former espied the latter, and, pointing to the rear with his sword, shouted: "Inman, shoot that Indian !" , Inman was a dead shot, and this order was no sooner given than it was obeyed. The Westmorelander's rifle cracked, and the savage who was in the lead-and who, with uplifted tomahawk, was within only a few yards of Rufus Bennet-leaped into the air with a yell, and fell to the ground dead. The other pursuing savages paused in their tracks, turned back after a few moments, and soon disappeared from sight. Colonel Butler and his party, joined by Richard Inman, then proceeded to Forty Fort, where they arrived without further molestation. "At the river, near Monocanock Island, the scene was exceedingly distressing," states Miner. "Many prisoners were lured to shore by promise of quarter, and then butchered." John Franklin, in his account of the battle of Wyoming, mentioned on page 994, ante, states :
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