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 91
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* See "Wyoming Memorial," page 124.
+ See ibid., page 323.
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Briefly, and in conclusion : The battle of Wyoming, properly and impartially considered, must be regarded as one of the memorable events in American history; and it cannot be gainsaid that those who died on Wyoming's field, and whose ashes lie beneath the Wyoming Monument and in unknown places, gave their lives for more than they thought and more than their generation thought and more than succeeding genera- tions have given them credit for.
"O martyrs of the matchless vale! no feet That ever trod Wyoming's lovely ways Went shod with valor such as thine to meet The fiercest foe of all the by-gone days.
*
" But who shall say ye fought and died in vain, Looking a-down this peerless vale to-day, Counting its beauty and its garnered gain, And listening to the tuneful toiler's lay !
*
"O patriots of the peerless vale! we bow In gratitude to thee for countless good ;
The noble heritage we garner now Is fruitage of the seed ye sowed in blood."
CHAPTER XVI.
WILKES-BARRÉ TAKEN POSSESSION OF AND OCCUPIED BY CONTINENTAL SOLDIERS AND WESTMORELAND MILITIA-THE HARTLEY EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS-FORT WYOMING ERECTED-WYOMING'S DEAD INTERRED.
"The equipment of the early American : He had two tools, the ax and the rifle. With the one he built, with the other he fought and lived. *
* Each man was a master of weapons, and incapable of fear."
"The path of empire in America-the path of corn and venison-was a highway which never ran backward."-Emer- son Hough, 1901.
In pursuance of orders issued by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania July 14, 1778 (see page 1058), Col. Thomas Hartley, com- manding "Hartley's Regiment " of the Continental Line, marched from Philadelphia for Sunbury a few days later with such companies of his regiment as were then in Philadelphia, together with some militia. At Sunbury, under the date of August 1, 1778, Colonel Hartley reported to the Supreme Executive Council as follows *:
"I came here a few days since with a detachment of my regiment, and some militia. Upon my arrival I have taken command. Upwards of 200 militia have come to Sunbury. *
* Four-fifths of the inhabitants fled with such effects as they could carry from this country. Many of the men are returning. *
* * A most extraordinary panic seems to have struck the people. The Wyoming settlement is almost totally destroyed. The most of the surviving inhabitants have fled to Connecticut, or are now removing as paupers to that State. There is 110 prospect of their returning or re-establishing them- selves at Wyoming this Fall. * * The two Wyoming companies were to have joined me here according to my instructions. They are now in Northampton County, where there is also a detachment of my regiment. I have applied to the Board of War for the detachment of my regiment to join me, and the two Wyoming companies to remain there."
Prior to the writing of the foregoing letter Lieut. Col. Zebulon Butler had (as previously noted) repaired from Fort Allen to Fort Penn, where he had established his headquarters and, by order of the Board of War, taken command of Spalding's Westmoreland Independent Company, as well as of such of the Westmoreland militia as came that way in the course of their flight from the Valley. On August 1st, as shown by an
* See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, VI : 674.
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1
1080
original "return " now in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society,* Spalding's company comprised four commis- sioned officers, seven non-commissioned officers, and sixty-seven rank and file, making a total of seventy-eight men, while the militia num- bered thirty-four inen-including one Captain, one Lieutenant and two Sergeants. The militia were under the immediate cominand of Dr. William Hooker Smith, Captain of the 2d Alarm List Company in the 24th Regiment. This made a total force-including Lieut. Colonel Butler-of 113 men, and on Sunday, August 2, 1778, they set out on their toilsome march over the "Lower Road " for Wilkes-Barre-those of the militia who were without arms and ammunition having first been furnished therewith from Continental stores forwarded to Fort Penn. By rapid marching and few halts this little body of Continentals and Westmoreland militia arrived in the afternoon of August 4th at " Bill- lock's " (see page 1039), nine miles from Wilkes-Barré. There the men were halted, and Lieut. Colonel Butler sent forward two small detach- ments to reconnoiter the Valley-one under the command of Matthias Hollenback (formerly an Ensign in the Continental service, but since his resignation therefrom enrolled as a private in the 24th Regiment), and the other under the command of Lieut. John Jenkins, Jr.
Hollenback's party went in a southerly direction, along the eastern base of Wilkes-Barré Mountain, and entered the Valley opposite Nanti- coke Falls. Near the river they saw a small party of Indians, who fled to their canoe and started to cross the river. A shot from the rifle of one of the militia-men wounded an Indian, who sprang into the water, but was buoyed up by his companions till they reached the opposite shore, when they carried him off into the woods. One of the Westmore- landers swam the river, secured the canoe, and with it as a trophy returned to his companions. The party then inarched up along the river to Wilkes-Barre. Lieutenant Jenkins' party marched from " Bul- lock's " in a northerly direction and struck the Susquehanna near the imouth of the Lackawanna. They then turned southward and inarched in the direction of Wilkes-Barre. On their way down the Valley they met two Indians, upon whom they fired without effect-except to cause them to make a rapid retreat to the woods. In the early evening of August 4th Lieut. Colonel Butler reached Wilkes-Barré with the main body of his command, and very shortly afterwards was joined by Hol- lenback and Jenkins and their detachments. Fort Wilkes-Barré having been destroyed by the enemy, the Westinorelanders established them- selves at a large log house on the east side of Main Street, below Nortlı- ampton Street. Around this building-which had escaped destruction when the village was burned-the mnen erected within a couple of days a rude palisade of pickets, and this temporary station, or encampment, was formally designated "Camp Westmoreland."
Under the date of August 5, 1778, Colonel Butler wrote from Wilkes-Barré to Col. Thomas Hartley (previously mentioned) at Sun- bury, as follows t:
" I arrived at this place yesterday [Tuesday, August 4th] with about sixty Conti- nental troops and about forty militia. We discovered two small parties of Indians yester- day, and fired at them, and discovered two other parties this day. What number there is about is uncertain. If your Honor should think it consistent to have some part of the
* See Volume VII, page 127, of the Society's published proceedings.
+ See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, VI : 690.
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troops under your command advance as far up the river as this place, or as far as you should think proper, I think it will be a means of keeping the savages fron murdering and robbing the inhabitants of these froutiers."
The following extract, from the original "Orderly Book* " of Col. Zebulon Butler, is entitled "Detachment Orders," and is dated at " Camp Westmoreland, August 7, 1778."
" Our present situation appears rather dangerous and alarming, and as our whole interest and the little remaining prospect of our crops depends on our maintaining this Post aud keeping possession of the country, therefore every person will consider hinself under the strongest tie and obligation to do his utmost in the defence of the place against our common enemy. And as it is impossible that we can make ourselves formidable in auy degree without submitting ourselves to good order and discipline, therefore the mar- tial law is to be strictly adhered to, and obeyed as well by the militia as [by the] Conti- nental troops and all who join the detachment under the command of Colonel Butler.
"The pernicious practice of strolling about in small parties, and absenting themselves without leave, is not only hurtful to good order but dangerous; therefore the Colonel forbids it in the most strongest manner. And because complaints have been exhibited that some evil persons have been plundering and making waste of what little private property has escaped the merciless hands of our common enemy, the Colonel forbids, in the most posi- tive manner, any kind of plundering or making waste of property-as killing sheep, swine or poultry; or in any manner injuring the interest of any man-as removing hidden things out of their places; unless it be such as is taking damage, and then to bring it into store, where it may be taken proper care of.
"For [the] future the guard is to be relieved at 6 o'clock in the morning, and the roll [is] to be called twice a day, viz .: morning and evening. It is expected that the officers will be particularly attentive to see that the above order be complied with; and the non-commissioned officers required to enjoin it on the soldiers, and give early infor- mation of all breaches that come to their knowledge. And all who are found guilty of the breach of this order may expect to suffer the consequences of the martial law in their cases.
" Officer of the Day-this day, Lieutenant Gore; to-morrow, Lieutenant Peirce."
At Carlisle, Pennsylvania, under the date of August 6, 1778, Gen. John Armstrongt wrote to Vice President Bryant of the Supreme Executive Council of the State, at Philadelphia, suggesting plans for an " excursion into the enemy's country, northward," and then continued as follows :
"This Northern Expedition I have very much at heart. * ** * The place of rendezvous at Wyoming, or, if more convenient, the junction to be formed still higher on the Susquehanna, at Tioga; thence to proceed by the most direct route to the Seneca towns, as the first inark. *
* * For this great purpose, together with the notice to be taken of some whites?, who have lately done us much injury, not less than 3,000 men, under a good commander, ought to penetrate that country, in order to do effectual service." * * *
At the War Office, Philadelphia, under the date of August 7, 1778, Col. Timothy Pickering wrote to Vice President Bryan, by direction of the Board of War, as follows|| :
"We do not order the detachment of Colonel Hartley's regiment to join him, because it is not improbable the whole may be recalled by the tinie they would unite, in case the Northern Expedition proceeds. Besides, we do not know what has become of the Wyoming Company [Spalding's]; but suspect it may have marched to that place [Wyoming Valley]. Our only wish is to provide in the best manner for the security of the frontier."
On the same day that the foregoing letter was written, the Supreme Executive Council sent to the Pennsylvania Assembly a communica- tion containing the following cold-blooded paragraphI-inspired be- yond question by the Pennainites in the Council.
" The late fatal catastrophe which has befallen the Connecticut settlers on the river Susquehanna, deplorable as it is, recollects the disputed footing on which these sufferers
* Now in the possession of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. See the Society's published Proceedings, VII : 111.
¡ Mentioned on pages 259 and 301, Vol. I.
§ The Torics.
# See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, VI : 680.
| See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, VI : 684.
I See ibid., page 686.
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stood. Compassion for them, as well as justice to this State, require that they be reminded of the precarious nature of their tenure, before they re-establish themselves."
At Sunbury, under the date of August 9, 1778, Colonel Hartley wrote to Colonel Butler at Wilkes-Barré, as follows* :
"Your letter of the 5thi instant came to this place whilst I was up the West Branch, and was forwarded on by express to me. I arrived here last night, and dispatched the express to-day. I am pleased to hear that you have collected so many men, and that you have been able to make the progress you mentioned. I should be still happier to hear you were able to maintain your ground, and that I was capable of sending you a reinforcement.
"The troops belonging to the Continental service now with you I had instructions to order to join me, but as you seem to be in a fair way of being of service to the frontiers, where you now are, they are to remain with you till further orders. I understand troops are marching from Easton to support you. I hope this will enable you once more to look the enemy in the face, and revenge those cruel murders and injuries your worthy coun- trymen have suffered. I expect another part of my regiment to join me every day, and some more militia. I have established a post, and a work is built, at one Jenkins', about six miles below the Nescopeck Falls. There is now a garrison there which is to be strengthened to-morrow. When I am reinforced my wish is to extend our post to Wio- ming. Should you not think yourself able to maintain yourself at Wioming you are to march your troops to Jenkins' Fort, at the place I have mentioned. I am ordered up to assist the frontiers, which I shall do in the best manner I am capable. It will give me great pleasure to have it in my power to support and maintain yours.
"The enemy have, yesterday morning, appeared near Loyal Sock, on the West Branch. They killed a soldier of mine and one militiaman. One other is missing. Cap- tain Brady's son was wounded and scalped, but there are some hopes of his recovery. There were about thirty Indians; they were pursued, but made off towards the moun- tains. You will from time to time inform me of anything remarkable in your department. You will receive a box of cartridges by William Stewart. When you want more, let me know."
At Camp Westmoreland, Wilkes-Barré, August 9, 1778, Colonel Butler issued the following orderst :
"Orders that for the future a subaltern officer visit the guards by day and by night and inspect the soldiers' huts and cooking [utensils], and see that they keep them clean, and air their clothing, &c .; and the Sergeant of the guard to make a report in writing to the officer of the day, and the officer of the day to the commanding officer. That no canoe be taken on any pretense whatsoever, without an order from the commanding officer. That a court-martial sit to-morrow morning at nine o'clock, at the President's marquee, to try such prisoners as shall be brought before them. Captain [Simon] Spalding, Presi- dent; Lieutenant [Phineas] Peirce, Lieutenant [John] Jenkins, Ensign [John] Comstock, Ensign [Elisha] Blackman, members. Officer of the Day to-morrow-Ensign Comstock."
At Camp Westmoreland, under the date of August 14, 1778, Col- onel Butler wrote and despatched to the President of the Board of War at Philadelphia the following lettert :
"Honourd Sir .- After receiving your letter of the 15 July I repaird to Fort Penn, found Capt. Spalding's Company there and had some encouragement of troops to join me to go on to Wyoming, and I waited till the 2d instant and found there was no pros- pect nor even a design of any assistance. In the meantime I kept spies going to Wyo- ming, by whom I found the enemy were gone excepting small parties. I collected about forty of the Westmoreland Militia. They with Capt. Spalding's Company made about 100.§ With them I marched the 2d instant, and on the 4th at evening I arrived at this place.
"Previous to my coming in I sent small parties to fall in up the River, who came on some small parties and retook about 20 head of horses and cattle the three first days we were here. We discovered small parties and had some skirmishing. We have found since that we killed one Indian, and have lost none. Can see nor hear of none lately. I have built a picket fort since I came here, and shall be able to stand if I get provision in. We have 60 or 70 of the Militia of this place here well armd I expect more daily, but they are imployed in securing the crops, so that I have only Capt. Spalding's Company to do all the scouting and guarding. I expect 10 or 12 of Capt. Hewitt's company to join me soon.
"I think it would serve for 3 or 4 Hundred men to go to [up?] the River. There is a number of Tories and some Indians, supposed to be about 100, on
* See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, VI : 690.
t See "Collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society," VII : 112.
# An original draft of this letter, in the handwriting of Colonel Butler, is now in the collections
of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. § 113, as noted on page 1080.
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the River. The lowest down is about 20 miles above us, and so extend up the River 50 or 60 miles. Some part of them have come out of the States of York and Jersys, and there is a large number of horses and cattle with them since our defeat at this place.
"I will send you Col. Hartley's & Kowarts letters. You'll see by them there is no prospect of any assistence here with out further orders. So far from that, that Col. Hart- ley says he has orders for the Continental Troops to join him, which I hope will not be the case except he comes as far up, * * for if the Continental troops are called from this place the Frontiers will lose 150 or 200 good Militia who belong to this place. The building of this fort and some Barracks at [this] place has been done without any ex- pense to the Continent. Should be glad, if the Honrle Board should think it is necessary, to receive Orders for the further employment of the troops at this place.
" The bearer, Mr. [John] Hegeman, waits on the Board with this and with Capt. Spalding's Pay Abstracts. [I] Desire the Board will direct Mr. Hegeman how to get the money, who I desire may receive it for the use of said Company, and his receit will be sufficient.
" Can only say I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most Obedient Humble Servt, [Signed] "ZEBN BUTLER, Lt. Col."
At Camp Westmoreland, August 17, 1778, Colonel Butler issued the following orders* :
"Orders that there be a court-martial held this day at the President's marquee at 9 o'clock this morning, for the trial of such prisoners as shall be brought before it. Cap- tain Spalding, President; Lieutenants Gore, Peirce and Jenkins, members.
" It is once more ordered that the Sergeants or Corporals commanding guards, pick- ets, or scouts, immediately on their relief or return report to the commanding officer, and their neglect will be deemed disobedience of orders, and they will be treated accordingly. And it is ordered that the Commissary issue one pound and one-quarter of flour to each station, and meat as usual-the quarter of a pound of flour being in lieu of money. And as there is a number of logs now on the ground fit for pork, and their proper owners not present, and it being best to have them killed for the use of the soldiers-ordered that all such as are and may be brought to the Commissary have their description and weight taken, and the Commissary to pay the money, at the usual price, into the hands of Lieut. ASAHEL BUCK, for the use of the owners when called for by the proper owner or owners; and Lieutenant BUCK to be accountable for the same till paid out as abovementioned.
"Orders that for the fatigue the quarter guard, picket guard, and scout parade together at six of the clock in the morning; the quarter guard to relieve the picket, to keep in the fort for fatigue, &c., till evening, and then take orders from the commanding officer how to conduct for the night following."
Under the date of August 22, 1778, Colonel Hartley wrote from Sunbury to Colonel Butler, at Wilkes-Barré, as followst :
"My firm intention is to act offensively against the enemy adjoining these frontiers. I go to Muncy to-morrow, and am collecting a clever body of men there. The detach- ment of my regiment which was in Northampton County is now ordered to Wyoming. This will strengthen us with upwards of 100 good men. I order Capt. [George] Bush of my regiment to join them. I expect also a number of militia from Cumberland and York Counties.
"My plan is this: That on the 31st of August [1778] I march with all the force I can collect to Wyalusing, where we will arrive on the 2d or 3d of September. (Wyoming is about the same distance from Wyalusing that Wallace'st is. ) That to provide against any misfortune, you remain at Wyoming in garrison, with between 80 and 100 men of those who are worst prepared for an expedition to the woods; and that Captain Bush should take command of all the remainder of the forces at Wyoming-regulars and others -and march on the same 31st of August towards Wyalusing, to effect a junction with me on the 2d or 3d of September-taking care.to send on spies to inform me of their approach and situation. The troops that move from Wyoming must draw forty rounds of cartridges per man, carry four days' provisions on their backs, and twelve days' more of flour with them on pack-horses-which Mr. [William] Stewart must provide. If a few beeves could be drove with them with convenience, it miglit be done; otherwise they must trust to Providence, who, I make no doubt, will favour us.
"I should be happy of your company on this expedition, but as it is of the last consequence to support the post of Wyoming, where you are so well acquainted, I must deprive myself of your assistance on this service. Mr. Stewart has promised to forward on expresses for my men at Fort Penn, and I hope they will soon be with you. An ex- press went from Philadelphia also. The expedition from the north and the expedition to the westward into the Indian country will appear about the beginning of September, [and] our movement may have a happy effect. I trust these frontiers will soon be cleared of the savages.
* See "Collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society," VII : 112.
¡ See "Collections and Proceedings of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society," VII:136.
# Undoubtedly the plantation of Samuel Wallis, mentioned on page 653, ante.
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" My orders for the present are that you may have everything in readiness for the proposed expedition by the 31st of August, inst. The troops are not to march till they receive my further instructions, which I will give by express. If anything should hap- pen in your quarter which would make the proposed expedition improper, you are to send an express to Wallace's, at Muncy, giving me information, by the 30th of August. You will at any rate give me notice of the arrival of the detachment of my regiment with you, and of anything remarkable in your department. Mr. Stewart will inform you of other particulars. These matters require the utmost secrecy. From your character, I dare say you will consider them accordingly."
A few days after Colonel Butler received the foregoing letter the detachment from " Hartley's Regiment" which had been ordered from Easton, or its vicinity (and which is referred to in Colonel Hartley's letter), arrived at Wilkes-Barré via the "Lower Road." It comprised two Lieutenants, six Sergeants, four musicians, and seventy-nine rank and file-a total of ninety-one effective men. Two or three days later Capt. George Bush arrived at Wilkes-Barré and took command of this detachment.
On August 25th Luke Swetland* and Joseph Blanchard went down
* LUKE SWETLAND was born July 26, 1729, at Lebanon, then in Windham, but now in New Lon- don, County, Connecticut. William and Peter Swetland of Connecticut were early members of The Susquehanna Company, and in the list of grantees set forth in the Indian deed of July, 1754, their names appear. About that period the family name was often spelled "Sweetland." Luke Swetland was married April 1, 1762, to Hannah Tiffany (born April 8, 1738), of Lebanon, and shortly after- wards they settled in Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut. Luke Swetland came to Wyoming Valley first in July, 1772, at which time (as noted on page 757) he became the owner of one "right" in the Susquehanna Purchase. Under this "right" he was allotted lands in Kingston Township, and with his family he settled there. Shortly afterwards he moved up the river to Mehoopany, but soon returned to Kingston. His name appears in the Kingston tax-lists for 1776, '77 and '78. Upon the organiza- tion of the town of Westmoreland in 1774 Luke Swetland was elected one of the seven Tything-men of the town. He was a private in Capt. Robert Durkee's Westmoreland Independent Company in the Continental service (see page 892), and served therein from September, 1776, till January 8, 1778, when he was discharged-undoubtedly for disability. IIe returned to his family at Wyoming, and, being here at the time of the battle of July 3d, it is quite probable that he participated in it as a mem- ber of the 24th Regiment. Escaping from the Valley, lie came back on August 4, 1778, as a member of the detachment of militia commanded by Colonel Butler, and presumably was still serving with this detachment at the time of his capture by the Indians. His wife and children (the eldest child a boy of fifteen years) had left Forty Fort a day or two after its surrender, and inade their way to their former homc in Kent.
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