USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Ransom > History and directory of Newton and Ransom townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; > Part 10
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Newton > History and directory of Newton and Ransom townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; > Part 10
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"The position was well chosen. The creek at this point makes a complete elbow, round a hill
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IIISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
which rises, abruptly, about twenty feet above the stream, largely protecting their right and front, while a branch of the stream and a marsh, on the left, covered that part of their force, and their rear was open for retreat to the fort, should that be- come necessary. The position was well calculated to be successfully held against a largely superior force, at least it gave them a great advantage in case of an attack upon them.
"From this point a flag was again sent out, and other scouts, and their return awaited. This flag was also fired upon and returned. Scouts that had been previously sent out, had, by great skill and energy, succeeded in making a reconnoisance of the enemy, by passing along the foot of the moun- tains on the west of the Valley; but on their re- turn, when in Western Wyoming, near the present site of Shoemaker's Mills, were shot, one fatally; the other slightly wounded, made his way back to headquarters. The information brought was to the effect that the enemy were in commotion, but what their design or which way they were moving, could not be told, but the supposition was they were pre- paring to leave the Valley. All the information gained was too indefinite and too slight to be of any use in judging of either the number or design of the enemy. All was douht and uncertainty.
"Speculation and discussion now began to arise as to the intent of the enemy. The march upon Forty Fort, which had been threatened hy Major Butler in the morning, unless a surrender was made, had not taken place. What did it mean? Had the threat any meaning, or was it mere brag- gadocio? It was suggested that the invading force had been over estimated by the timid; that if Ma- jor Butler had the overwhelming force pretended, he would, long ere this, have put his threat in execution, instead of breaking camp and leaving the Valley, as now appeared most probable. In the heat of the discussion, scouts returned reporting that the enemy were burning all the settlements above, and collecting all the cattle within thelr reach, and, from appearances, it was supposed they would not risk an immediate attack on Forty Fort, at least, did not intend to do so, but would burn, plunder and destroy all the upper settlements, pro- bably cross the river to Pittston, take possession of that fort, destroy that and the neighboring settle- ments, massacre the people or make them prisoners, and then return back with their booty from whence * * they came. *
"At this point in the debate, Lieutenant Timothy Pierce arrived with information that the company of Spalding was on its way, and would probably arrive on Sunday, for their assistance. This news did not, however, calm the troubled waters. It was contended that Sunday would be too late. That the enemy by that time could prowl through the Valley, rob and burn their homes, kill or take cap- tive the women and children, drive off their horses and cattle, and destroy their harvests, while they like base cowards, were standing by with arms in their hands, without making an attempt to prevent it. * * *
"The discussion became heated and personal. Charges of cowardice were made by Captain Laza- rus Stewart, then a private in Captain McKarra- chen's Hanover company, against all who opposed advancing, particularly against Colonel Butler, the principal commander, who was against an advance, and he threatened to report him as such to head- quarters. Stewart was ordered under arrest by Colonel Denison.
"The Hanover company became mutinous. Cap- tain McKarrachen resigned, and the company im-
mediately elected Stewart in his place. They now threatened a revolt, unless a march should be im- mediately made against the enemy.
"Colonel Denison, a cool and quiet man, who had taken little or no part in the discussion, as yet, urged the propriety of careful and considerate ac- tion, and the impropriety and danger of hasty and inconsiderate action. That it would be far better to wait until more was known of the number and movements of the enemy, and in the meantime, Spalding's and Franklin's companies would arrive, the latter certainly. But, these suggestions did not meet the feelings and views of the men generally. They had been warmed up by the fiery words of Captain Stewart.
"When it was decided to advance and attack the enemy, Colonel Butler discharged Captain Stew- art from arrest, saying: 'We will march and meet the enemy, if he is to be found, and I will show the men that I dare lead where they dare follow.'
"The order to march was immediately given, and they proceeded cautiously on their way as far as the hill, just below the monument, where another halt was made. * * * After a short time they moved on toward Wintermoot Fort, making another halt about a mile below the fort, on the plain. Here the companies lined up.
"Yellow and pitch-pine trees, with scrub-oaks about breast high, were everywhere over the plain. There were very few trees of any size. The Indians were accustomed to burn the plain over every year, to make pasture for deer and other game, and thus destroyed the growth of trees of large size.
"After the settlers had formed their line of bat- tle, they marched, in single line as formed, nearly a mile, and to within forty or fifty rods of Winter- moot Fort, their right still resting on the hill, and their left extending about 1600 feet toward the marsh, and to within 400 feet of it, where they halted and sent forward scouts for further recon- noisance. On the advance of the scouts, Indians would pop up, fire at them and flee, some in one direction, some in another.
"The line at this point was counted off into odds and evens, from right to left. The advance was made by the odds marching forward five steps and halting, and then the evens marching ten steps and halting, and so on, alternately, each division or section marching ten steps, halting, firing and load- ing, while the other was golng through the same exercise, until more than half the distance to what finally became the field of battle had been gone over.
"As they advanced in this manner, a number of Indians, here and there over the field, would arise, deliver their fire and flee before them. The fire would be returned and our people would continue to advance. Soon a squad of British arose, de- livered their fire and fell back. Our commander cries out, 'See! the British retreat! Stand firm and the day is ours!' They continued to advance and soon another squad of British arose, delivered their fire and fell back. Again the cry, 'The British re- treat! The day is ours!'
"Our men had now arrived at a point just oppo- site Wintermoot Fort, on their right, and on the edge, in front, of the only cleared space on the plain, which was an open field of three or four acres. They continued their advance slowly and cautiously, when they soon found the British in full force in front, standing up to the work, though apparently yielding ground. The firing now became general along the lines on both sides. Our people felt they were gaining ground and driving the enemy before them."
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
PREPARING FOR BATTLE
"Colonel Zebulon Butler, on approaching the enemy, sent forward Captains Ransom and Dur- kee, Lieutenants Ross and Wells, as officers whose skill he most relied on, to select the spot, and mark off the ground on which to form the order of battle. On coming up, the column deployed to the left, and under those officers every company took its station, and then ad- vanced in line to the proper position, where it halted, the right resting on the steep bank noted, the left extending across the gravel flat to a morass, thick with timber and brush, that separated the bottom-land from the mountain. Yellow and pitch-pine trees, with oak shrubs, were scattered all over the plain. On the American right was Captain Bidlack's com- pany. Next was Captain Hewitt's, Daniel Gore being one of his lieutenants. On the extreme left was Captain Whittlesey's. Colonel Butler, supported by Major John Garret, commanded the right wing. Colonel Denison, supported by Lieutenant-Colonel George Dorrance, com- manded the left. Such was the ground, and such the order of battle. Everything was ju- diciously disposed, and constructed in a strictly military and prudent manner. Captains Dur- kee and Ransom, as experienced officers, in whom great confidence was placed, were sta- tioned, Durkee with Bidlack on the right wing, Ransom with Whittlesey on the left. Colonel Butler made a very brief address just before he ordered the column to deploy: 'Men, yonder is the enemy. 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 preserve our homes from conflagration, our women and children from the tomahawk. Stand firm the first shock, and the Indians will give way. Every man to his duty.'
"The column had marched up the road run- ning near the bank on which our right rested. On its display, as Denison led off his men, he repeated the expression of Colonel Butler, 'Be firm ; every thing depends on resisting the first shock.'
THE BATTLE BEGINS
"About four in the afternoon the battle be- gan ; Colonel Zebulon Butler ordered his men to fire, and at each discharge to advance a step. Along the whole line the discharges were rapid and steady. It was evident that on the more open ground the Yankees were doing most exe- cution. As our men advanced pouring in their platoon fires with great vivacity, the British line gave way, in spite of all their officers' efforts to prevent it. The Indian flanking party on our right kept up from their hiding-
places a galling fire. Lieutenant Daniel Gore received a ball through the left arm. ‘Captain Durkee,' said he, 'look sharp for the Indians in those bushes.' Captain Durkee stepped to the bank to look, preparatory to making a charge and dislodging them, when he fell.
"On the British Butler's right his Indian warriors were sharply engaged. They seemed 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 signal of communication. As several fell near Colonel Dorrance, one of his men gave way: 'Stand to your work sir,' said he firmly, but coolly, and the soldier resumed his place.
"For half an hour a hot fire had been given and sustained, when the vastly superior num- bers of the enemy began to develop their power. The Indians had thrown into the swamps a large force, which now completely outflanked our left. It was impossible it should be other- wise: that wing was thrown into confusion. Colonel Denison gave orders that the company of Whittlesey should wheel back, so as to form an angle with the main line, and thus present his front, instead of flank, to the enemy. The difficulty of performing evolutions by the brav- est militia on the field under a hot fire is well known. On the attempt, the savages rushed in with horrid yells. Some had mistaken the or- der to fall back as one to retreat, and that word, that fatal word, ran along the line. Utter con- fusion now prevailed on the left. Seeing the disorder, and his own men beginning to give way, Colonel Z. Butler threw himself between the fires of the opposing ranks and rode up and down the line in the most reckless exposure. 'Don't leave me, my children, and the victory is ours.' But it was too late.
"Every captain that led a company into ac- tion was slain, and in every instance fell on or near the line. As was said of Bidlack, so of Hewitt, Whittlesey, and the others: 'they died at the head of their men.' They fought bravely; every man and officer did his duty ; but they were overpowered by threefold their force. In point of numbers the enemy was overwhelmingly superior."-Miner's History.
A DREADFUL HOUR
It was a dreadful hour. The few old men who were left in the fort, and the women and children, lined the bank of the river with throbbing hearts, listening to the noise of the battle; and as the firing became more scatter- ing, and advanced down the plain towards the
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IHISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
fort, the fearful reality of a defeat was but too plainly indicated. "The boys are beat-they are retreating-they will be all cut to pieces," exclaimed one who had been pacing the bank, and catching every indication borne upon the breeze from the scene of action.
A portion of the numerous, strange, and fearful scenes which followed the battle are upon record, for which we must refer the reader to the historians. Mr. Miner says, "About one hundred and sixty of the Connec- ticut people were killed that day, and one hun- dred and forty escaped. The loss of the enemy was never known ; probably from forty to eighty fell." According to the best information which we have been able to gain, more than two hun- dred of the patriots fell in this fearful conflict, while about sixty of the British and Indians were slain. Many were first made prisoners, and then massacred in the most cruel and bar- barous manner by the savages. Colonels But- ler and Denison, being mounted, first came to Forty Fort, and confirmed the apprehensions of the poor defenseless people, then waiting in a most fearful state of anxiety and suspense. They sat down by a table in Thomas Bennett's cabin, and adjusted the terms of capitulation which were to be proposed to the enemy. Col- onel Butler then crossed over to Wilkes-Barre, and the next day, throwing a feather-bed across his horse, and seating his wife upon the animal behind him, left the valley. He was a brave officer, and having distinguished himself in several gallant enterprises in the Revolutionary struggle, had reason enough for not wishing to be made a prisoner of war. At nightfall the fugitives came into the fort, exhausted with the toils and terrors of the day. But oh, how many husbands and sons came not! The sadness of that night will never be adequately sketched.
The people in the fort at Wilkes-Barre, on the east side of the river, early on the 4th, commenced their fight, but in such haste as not to furnish themselves with provisions for a long and toilsome journey through the wilder- ness. A large number of women and children, with a few men, took the old war-path toward the Delaware, some perishing on the way through fatigue and hunger in a dense pine forest which has ever since been called "The Shades of Death." The few regular soldiers who had escaped, knowing that they, if taken, would be doomed to exemplary punishment, made a hasty escape, under the orders of Col- onel Butler.
On the evening of the fatal 3rd, Captain John Franklin arrived at Forty Fort, with a company of militia from Huntington and Salem, which gave a little strength to the rem- nant which were left. On the morning of the
4th, Major John Butler summoned Colonel Denison to surrender Forty Fort, inviting him to head-quarters to agree upon the terms. After some negotiations, the following articles of ca- pitulation were duly executed :
CAPITULATION AGREEMENT
Westmoreland, July 4, 1778.
"CAPITULATION AGREEMENT made and com- pleted between John Butler, in behalf of his Majesty King George the Third, and Colonel Nathan Denison of the United States of America :
"Art. 1. It is agreed that the settlement lay down their arms, and their garrison be demolished.
"Art. 2. That the inhabitants are to occupy their farms peaceably, and the lives of the in- habitants be preserved entire and unhurt.
"Art. 3. That the Continental stores are to be given up.
"Art. 4. That Major Butler will use his utmost influence that the private property of the inhabitants shall be preserved entire to them.
"Art. 5. That the prisoners in Forty Fort be delivered up, and that Samuel Finch, now in Major Butler's possession be delivered up, also.
"Art. 6. That the property taken from the people called Tories be made good; and that they remain in peaceable possession of their farms, and unmolested in a free trade through- out the settlement.
"Art. 7. That the inhabitants, which Col- onel Denison captiulated for, together with him- self, do not take up arms during the contest.
(Signed) John Butler, Nathan Denison.
INDIANS PLUNDER THE FORT
"Accordingly, on the 5th of July, the gates of the fort were thrown open, and Butler, at the head of his rangers, and a Seneca chief by the name of G-n, at the head of the Indians, marched in. The arms of the men were stack- ed, and given as a present by Butler to the Indians, with these words: "See what a present the Yankees have made you." The Indians went about sneakingly peeping into the doors of the cabins, but for that day molested no one. On the next day, however, they began to plunder the people. Colonel Denison remained in Mr. Bennet's cabin, a place formerly occu- pied as a horse-shed. When Butler came into the fort, Colonel Denison sent for him, and remonstrated with him upon the conduct of the Indians, alleging that it was a breach of a most solemn engagement. Butler said, "My. men
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
shall not molest the people; I will put a stop to it." But he was no sooner gone than the plundering was resumed. Colonel Denison again sent for Butler, and again . he came into the shed and gave assurances that "the plunder- ing should cease." Toward night a company of Indians came in, some of them drunk, and commenced ransacking the houses and rifling them of their movables. Colonel Denison had another conversation with Butler, who now said, "To tell the truth, I can do nothing with them." Colonel Denison chided with him severely, but, waving his hand, he repeated the same words, and finally left the fort no more to return."-Peck's History of Wyoming.
QUEEN ESTHER'S ROCK
On the evening of the battle, (July 3, 1778) sixteen of the prisoners taken on the field of battle and in the flight, under promise of quar- ter, were collected together by their savage cap- tors around a rock, near the brow of the hill, about a half mile above the monument, and a little more than a mile from the field of action. The rock at that time was about two feet high on its eastern front, with a surface of four or five feet square, running back to a level with the ground and beneath it at its western ex- tremity. It is now surrounded by an iron fence.
The prisoners were arranged in a ring around this rock, and were surrounded with a body of about two hundred savages, under the leader- ship and inspiration of Queen Esther, a fury in the form of woman, who assumed the office of executioner. The victims, one at a time, were taken from the devoted circle and led to the east front of the rock, where they were made to sit down. They were then taken by the hair and their heads pulled back on the rock, when the bloody Queen Esther, with a death-maul would dash out their brains. The savages, as each victim was in this manner immolated, would dance around in a ring, holding each others' hands, shouting and hallooing, closing with the death-whoop. In this manner fourteen of the party had been put to death. The fury of the savage Queen increased with the work of blood.
Seeing there was no other way or hope of de- liverance, Lebbens Hammond, one of the pris- oners, in a fit of desperation, with a sudden spring, broke through the circle of Indians and fled toward the mountain. Riflles cracked ! Tomahawks flew! Indians yelled ! But Ham- mond held on his course for about fifty rods, when he stumbled and fell, but sprang up again. Stopping for a moment to listen, he found his pursuers on each side of him, or a little ahead. running and yelling like demons. He stepped behind a large pine tree to take breath, when, reflecting that his pursurers be-
ing already ahead of him, he would gain noth- ing by going on in that direction, he turned and ran for the river in such a course as to avoid the party around the fatal rock, and yet to keep an eye on them. He passed by with- out being seen, went down and plunged into the high grass in the swampy ground at the foot of the hill, where he remained concealed for about two hours, watching the movements and listen- ing to the yells of his savage pursuers. He fi- nally crawled out of his concealment, cautious- ly made his way to the river, and thence down to the fort.
BUTLER AND HIS INDIANS LEAVE THE VALLEY
"Indian Butler" soon made his exit from the valley. The following is a picture of the de- parture :
"With Butler a large portion of the Indians withdrew, and their march presented a picture at once melancholy and ludicrous. Squaws, to a considerable number, brought up the rear, a belt of scalps stretched on small hoops around the waist for a girdle, having on, some four, some six, and even more, dresses of chints or silk, one over the other; being mounted astride on horses (of course all stolen), and on their heads three, four, or five bonnets, one within another, worn wrong side before,"-Miner's History, p. 237.
BURYING THE SLAIN. From Peck's History of Wyoming
"Colonel Zebulon Butler returned to the Valley in August (after the massacre), but no attempt was made to gather up the remains of those who fell upon the battle-field until October. On the 21st of October he issued an order "that there be a party, consisting of a lieutenant, two sergeants, two cor- porals, and twenty-five men, to parade to-morrow morning, with arms, as a guard to those who will go to bury the remains of the men who were killed at the late battle at and near the place called Wintermoot's Fort." On that day the settlers, who had returned to the valley, assembled and pro- ceeded, protected by the military escort provided by Colonel Butler, to perform the melancholy duty of interring what remained of their comrades, re- lations and neighbors in as decent a manner as possible. The late General William Ross, who was present, informed Professor Silliman, when he was in the valley in 1829, that, 'owing to the intense heat of the weather, and probably the dryness of the air, the bodies were shriveled, dried, and inof- fensive, but, with a single exception, their features could not be recognized.'
"The bodies were taken up with pitchforks and carried upon a cart to the place of sepulture, where they were buried in a common grave."
FINDING AND OPENING THE GRAVE AFTER FIFTY YEARS
From Peck's History of Wyoming
"Strange as it may seem, the grave of the patriots who fell in the fatal 'Indian battle' was for years wholly lost. It was known to be located not far
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
from the main road, in a field belonging to Fisher Gay, Esq. This had long been cultivated, the plow and the scythe alternately passing over the remains of the relatives and friends of nearly every leading family in the valley, and yet there was none to rise up and claim for Wyoming's heroes the respect ac- corded in all civilized countries to the ashes of the common dead. Public sentiment was finally di- rected to the subject, and there was an awakening of the feelings of virtuous shame for a delinquency so strange and unnatural. A suitable monument over the bones of the patriotic band finally came to be talked of as a matter of decency, to say nothing of the gratitude to which their memory was entitled. So early as 1809, Hon. Charles Miner published several essays upon the subject in a Wilkes-Barre paper, but it was not until 1832 that anything like a decided movement was made to carry out the project.
"Several leading citizens of the valley becoming deeply interested in the question of the proposed monument, the first thing which it was thought necessary to settle was the precise spot where the bones of the patriots lay. The ground was origin- ally owned hy 'the widow Lee,' and she subsequent- ly married Philip Jackson, long after her death a resident at Forty Fort. Jackson remembered the mound which indicated the place of interment, and was employed to identify it. But little effort was necessary to effect the object. The comomn grave, where were mingled together the bones of brothers and neighhors, officers and common soldiers, in close contact, was opened in the presence of several of the citizens residing in the vicinity.
"Some of the most interesting specimens of the remains were deposited in a box, and were kept for examination by curious visitors, until most of them finally disappeared. We saw them before any of them had been conveyed by sacrilegious hands to parts unknown. The skulls exhibited the marks of the tomahawks and scalping-knife. Some of them had been broken in with the head or spike of the tomahawk, and others chipped with the edge hy a glancing stroke. One had been broken in with the rim of the pipe of a smoking-tomahawk. We can imagine with what gusto the murderous wretch tasted the fumes of 'the weed' taken in from the bowl of his favorite smoking hatchet while it was yet stained with the blood of his victim. One skull was perforated by a bullet, and a thigh-bone had a bullet hole in the centre, which was made without effecting a lateral fracture, leaving the bone en- tlrely sound with the exception of the smooth per- foration.
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