USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Ransom > History and directory of Newton and Ransom townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; > Part 9
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Newton > History and directory of Newton and Ransom townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; > Part 9
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
most of the inhabitants of the township. The fort remained standing until some years after the close of the war, when the buildings were removed and the fort lot became a common, and was used for several years as a public parade.
THE REDOUBT
This was the name given to a rocky spur that projected at right angles across the river common from the main hill about ten rods above Union street, near the new court house (in Wilkes-Barre). Its precipitous sides reach- ed nearly to the edge of the river bank. Stand- ing some seventy feet above the water it was a prominent land-mark, and an advantageous po- sition in the local military operations. On the occasion of siege of Fort Wyoming in 1771 a gun was mounted here by the Yankees; and
of the rest of the common and down to the city grade. The name, however, has always adhered to it, and although no vestige of the eminence remains, the "Redoubt" is a familiar name that still marks the spot.
STEWART'S BLOCK HOUSE
The Stewart block-house was situated in Han- over township, a few rods from the bank of the Susquehanna river, on a slight rise of ground, on lot No. 3, First Division. It was built by Captain Lazarus Stewart in the year 1771, and is said to have been the first building in the township. It was built of logs and was one and a half stories high. It contained four rooms on the first and ample space in the floor above for convenience of its defenders. The part above the second floor projected beyond the
STEWART'S BLOCKHOUSE (Courtesy of Wyoming Historical Society)
though no execution seems to liave been done, the practice was doubtless of benefit. Again, in 1784, during the second Pennamite war, a like use was made of the eminence by the Con- necticut people. They took possession of the Re- doubt, which lay between the fort and the grist mills on Mill Creek that were also in the hands of the Pennamites, and thereby cut off the sup- plies of the fort. However well the Redoubt was situated for the uses mentioned, its location in respect to the march of modern improve- ments was quite unfortunate; it seems to have been planted directly in its path. The North Branch canal, by a sweeping turn at this point, sheared off of the rocky faces of the barrier. The extension of River street cut a deep channel through it in another direction, severing it from the main hill. The Lehigh Valley railroad, successor to the canal, to obtain room for its tracks, took off another portion, and the city deported the remainder, bringing it to the level
walls of the first story; this overshoot, as it was called, enabled the occupants of the house to protect the walls from assault of an attack- ing party, in a manner as effective as from flanking towers. A number of families were gathered there on the 3d and 4th of July, 1778. After the battle, they, in common with all the inhabitants, departed from the valley. This block-house was occupied by the people of Hanover upon their return, and afterward, un- til peace was proclaimed. It afforded a safe retreat for the families of the place in time of alarm. A band of Indians made an attack upon it in June, 1781. The house was defend- ed with great spirit, the women taking an active part in the defense. The attacking party was repulsed with some loss and were pursued by a detachment sent from the fort at Wilkes-Barre.
There was another block-house in this town- ship, some distance south of Stewart's on lot seventeen or eighteen, occupied as a dwelling
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
by Roswell Franklin. Its exact location is not known. It was several times the object of attack by the savages, and in April, 1782, Franklin's wife and several of the younger children were carried away.
A third block-house was situated in the pres- ent limits of Plains township, called Rosen- cran's block-house. On the approach of the enemy prior to the battle of Wyoming, the in- habitants of the neighborhood gathered at this house. Owing to the weakness of the work and the lack of means of defense, it was deemed unsafe to remain there, and the people sought other places of refuge, part of them crossed the river to Forty Fort and others went to Wilkes- Barre Fort.
THE NUMBER OCCUPYING THE FORTS
There is no record of the number of the peo- ple who were gathered within the forts and block-houses. One intelligent witness who was in Forty Fort, says of that place "the settlers generally moved into the fort, it was crowded full." From the circumstances it is reasonable to conclude that the other forts were also crowd- ed full.
The population of the valley may be ascer- tained by taking the original list of taxables in the central townships for 1777, and multiplying by six. This figure is selected in making the cal- culations, because of its general use at that day for similar estimates under like conditions.
Kingston had 92 taxable, multiplied by six is 552 Wilkes-Barre had 99 taxables, by six is. 594 Pittston (and Exeter) had 99 taxable, by six is 594 Plymouth had 113 taxable, by six is. 678 Hanover had 82 taxables, by six is 492
A total of 2,910
Deducting 200 absent in the Continental Army, and nearly 300 engaged in the Wyoming Massacre, we have over 2,400 non-combatants in the valley.
Much of the greater part of the residents of Plymouth, and probably all of Hanover sought shelter in their own block-houses .. All the others, more than 1,400 gathered into the three forts at Wilkes-Barre, Forty Forty and Pitts- ton. Of these, from the evidence adduced, it is believed there were 700 in Forty Fort, 400 in Wilkes-Barre and 300 in Pittston.
In ascertaining the number of fugitives after the disaster, it is necessary to include the people in the outlying townships, Capouse, Hunting- ton and Salem, who seemed so far removed from danger that they did not seek the forts, but joined in the exodus, thus swelling the total to over 3,000. Most of the fugitives turning from the desolated valley plunged into the wilder- ness, wandering in the marshes as chance or fear directed, without clothing, or food or guide, seeking their way to the Delaware and thence to Connecticut. So great a number perished from hunger and exhaustion, that these swamps have since been called the "Shades of Death."
CHAPTER SIX
THE WYOMING MASSACRE
The year 1778 brought great distrust and fear to the frontiers generally, but particularly to Wyoming. The defeat and surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga (Oct. 17, 1777) had left the British without sufficient available force in America to carry on a regular campaign for that year, and, as the war was to be continued, the only resource left to the British government and her commanders, was to employ the In- dians and Tories almost exclusively, in carry- ing on a war of desolation on the frontier. This was their declared policy, and it was at once suspected and feared that Wyoming would be among the first to be attacked, for none were so hated and exposed as the people on the Sus- quehanna. They had been among the first to declare against British usurpations, and had been the most active and earnest in supplying men and means to support that declaration.
As early as May, 1778, it was expected from
the appearance of Indian scouts in the vicinity that an attack on the Wyoming valley was meditated, and these suspicions were confirmed when, on the 2nd of June, Lieutenant John Jenkins, who was captured by the Tories a few inonths before, and turned over to the Indians, who had taken him to Niagara and afterward to Montreal, where he escaped and returned. He informed the settlers that the plan had been formed at Niagara to invade the frontier. At about the same time an Indian spy who came into the settlement was made drunk, and while in that condition revealed the fact that an attack on the valley was soon to be made.
In the later part of June it became known that the forces of the enemy were concentrating at Newtown and Tioga, preparatory to a descent on the valley. These forces consisted of about 400 British and Tories, under Major John Butler, and 400 or 500 Indians, largely com-
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
posed of Senecas. They descended the Susque- hanna and landed not far from the mouth of Bowman's creek, where they remained until they were joined by about 200 more Senecas, who had been to the west branch of the Sus- quehanna river. They left their large boats here and passed with the smaller ones down to the "Three Islands," fifteen miles above the valley. They marched thence to the mouth of Sutton's creek (Corey creek), where they en- camped by a spring.
INDIAN AND TORY HOSTILITIES
During the month of June several acts of hostility by the Indians and Tories occurred. On the 5th there was an alarm from Indians and six Tories coming in the neighborhood of Tunkhannock, and taking Elisha Wilcox, Pierce and some others prisoners, and robbing and plundering the inhabitants of the neigh- borhood.
News of this incursion was brought to the Valley on the night of the 6th, and on the 7th, although Sunday, the inhabitants completed and strengthened their fortifications. On the 7th there was an alarm form Shawnee. On the 12th William Crooks and Asa Budd went up the river to a place some two miles above Tunk- hannock, on the west side of the river, formerly occupied by a Tory named John Secord, one of the committee of inspection appointed Aug. 8, 1875, who had been absent at Niagara since the fall before. Crooks was fired upon by a party of Indians and killed. On the 17th, a party of six men, from Jenkins' Fort, in two canoes, went up the river to observe the move- ments of the enemy. The party in the forward canoe landed about six miles below Tunkhan- nock, on the west side of the river, opposite LaGrange, or Osterhout, and ascended the bank. They saw an armed force of Indians and Tories running toward them. They gave the alarm, returned to their canoe, and endeavored to get behind an island to escape the fire of the enemy, which was being poured in upon them. The canoe, in which were Miner Robbins, Joel Phelps and Stephen Jenkins, was fired upon and Robbins killed and Phelps wounded. Jen- kins escaped unhurt, although his paddle was shot through and shivered to pieces in his hands. In the party that fired upon the canoe was Elijah Phelps, the brother of Joel and brother-in-law of Robbins. Captain Hewitt, with a second party, went up the river on the 26th, and returned on the 30th of June with news that there was a large party of Indians and Tories up the river.
Unfortunately, Captain Hewitt did not re- turn to Jenkins' Fort to warn the occupants of the impending danger until after the Hard-
ings and Hadsalls had left the fort that morn- ing and gone up the river to their work. In this group were Benjamin Harding, Stukley Harding, Stephen Harding, Jr., John Gardner and a boy named Rogers (about eleven years of age), James Hadsall and his sons, James and John (the later a boy), with his sons-in- law, Ebenezer Reynolds and Daniel Carr, to- gether with Daniel Wallen and a negro, named Quocko (twelve in all), went up the river about five or six miles (above Sutton's creek), to their work, some of them, particularly Benjamin and Stukley Harding, taking their guns. The Hardings, with Gardner and the boy Rogers, worked in the cornfield of Stephen Harding, Jr., the Hadsalls and the others, part in Hadsall's cornfield, on an island, part in his tanyard, close at hand, on the main land.
"Towards evening, Michael Showers, or Shores, and Jacob Anguish, or Ankers, two well-known Tories, came to Stephen Harding's cornfield, and told them they might call in their sentries and they would stand guard for them. Suspecting them of treachery, and that danger threatened, Stephen went at once to get the horses and make for home. When the Tories saw what Stephen was doing, they left to give information to the Indians and Tories, who were not far off in a large body."
"When Stephen returned with the horses, he saw that his brothers had quit work and passed down the river. On the way down was a deep, narrow ravine, through which a small brook found its way to the river. In this ravine, a body of Indians and Tories had concealed them- selves, waiting their coming. This spot is in the neighborhood of the Baptist church, be- tween that and the river. As the party was passing this point, the savages fired upon them, wounding both Benjamin and Stukley Hard- ing. They returned the fire, and then quite a contest ensued. The Indians rushed upon them with spears and tomahawks. They resist- ed until they were pierced through with spears and hacked and cut to pieces with the toma- hawks. John Gardner was taken prisoner. Having no gun, he took no part in the fight. In the meantime, a party of Indians had cap- tured the elder James Hadsall, Carr and the negro, at the tannery, which was situated just above the mouth of Sutton's creek.
"Those on the island came off in their canoes, and as they were ascending the bank, a party of savages, lying in wait, fired upon them, shooting James Hadsall down and wounding Reynolds, who fled with Wallen, to the woods. John Hadsall, the boy, remained behind fast- ening the canoe. Upon hearing the firing he plunged into a thicket of willows and drift that overhung the waters near by. The Indians. missing one from the party in the canoe, went
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
to the river to search for him. One of them walked out on a log just over where he was hid, but did not discover him. He could see the Indian's eyes as he peered about to find him. After night set in, he ventured out of his hid- ing place, and made his way back to the fort, arriving after midnight. He was the first to arrive and bring news of the fate of his com- panions to their waiting, anxious friends.
"The elder Hadsall, Gardner, Carr and the negro were taken up Sutton's creek about a mile or two, to what is known as the Bailey farm, where the enemy were camping for the night. Here Hadsall and the negro were put to death by the most insulting, lingering and excruciat- ing tortures, giving a most delightful evening's entertainment to Major Butler and his demon- iac crew; the Indians and Tories being the ac- tors in the horrible drama, the Tories in par- ticular displaying a lively relish in the per- . formance of their several parts."
Stephen Harding, Jr., with the boy Rogers, Reynolds and Wallen, fled through the woods, and after wandering all night, succeeded in reaching the fort next morning. Reynolds took his wife and children, departed, and has never been heard from. Carr returned after a captivity of seven years.
His wife, supposing him to be dead and thinking she had waited a proper time, had engaged herself to be married to another man, and was preparing for the wedding. One day she heard some one come into the house; she went to see who it was, and met her husband face to face. She was so overcome she fainted. Of course the new match was never completed.
Major John Butler and his army of Tories and Indians, then entered the head of the val- ley, and took possession of Fort Wintermoot without opposition.
While the settlers were marching on that day (July 1st), under the command of Colonel Zebulon Butler, of the Continental army, and Colonel Denison and Lieutenant-Colonel Dor- rance, to bring down the bodies of their slain neighbors, the enemy were marching toward the valley on the northwestern side of the mountain, on the eastern side of which they encamped, in full view of the valley.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN GATHERED TO PLACES OF SAFETY
On the morning of the 2nd, Fort Winter- moot was opened to the enemy by its Tory occu- pants, and on the evening of the same day the garrison of Fort Jenkins capitulated. The day was spent by the settlers in gathering the wo- men, children and aged in places of safety, mostly in Forty Fort, which was about four miles below Fort Wintermoot, and in making preparations for defense.
"Colonel Zebulon Butler, who was at that time an officer of the Continental army, know- ing the perilous condition of the people, and destrous to give his personal aid in any way possible, had obtained leave to visit the valley, and now, by common consent, assumed the command of the little army. The whole con- sisted of two hundred and thirty (230) enrolled men, and seventy (70) old people, boys, civil magistrates, and other volunteers; the whole embracing six companies, which were mustered at Forty Fort, where the families of the set- tlers on the east side of the river had taken refuge. "Indian Butler," as he was called, summoned the Connecticut people to surrender Forty Fort and the valley. A council of war was called on the 3rd of July, and though it was the opinion of Colonel Butler, Colonel Denison and Lieutenant-Colonel Dorrance, and others, that a "little delay would be best," in hopes of the arrival of re-inforcements, which was thought might be on the way, yet a large majority were for marching at once upon the enemy and giving them battle.
"Colonel Butler mounted his horse, saying, "I tell you we go into great danger, but I can go as far as any of you," and "the column, con- sisting of about three hundred men, old men and boys, marched from the fort," at about three o'clock in the afternoon, with drums beat- ing and colors flying. The devoted little band marched up the plain, with the river on the right and a marsh upon the left, until they reached Fort Wintermoot, which was on fire- fired to make the impression upon the minds of the patriots that the enemy was retiring from the valley."-Peck's History of Wyoming.
FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1778
This is a small portion of the historical ad- dress delivered by Steuben Jenkins, at the Wy- oming Monument, July 3, 1878 on the one hun- dredth anniversary of the Battle and Massacre of Wyoming:
"Let us look at the position of affairs as they existed on the 3rd of July, 1778.
"The upper part of the Valley, on the west side of the river, was in the hands of the enemy, num- bering 1,100 men, well armed and equipped, thirst- ing for conquest and blood. So complete and ef- fective was their possession, that no person had been able to pass their lines to give information of either their numbers, position or purpose.
"Jenkins' Fort, on the Susquehanna, just above the west end of the Pittston Ferry Bridge, was in their possession, having capitulated the day before, but possession had not been taken until this morn- ing.
"Wintermoot Fort, situate on the bank of the plain, about a mile and a half below and about half a mile from the river, had been in their possession all the day before, and was used as their head- quarters.
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
"Forty Fort, some four miles further down the river, situate on the west bank of the Susque- hanna river, was the largest and strongest fort in the valley. Thither had fled all the people on the west side of the river, on the 1st and 2nd, and this was to be the gathering point of the patriot band. The Wilkes-Barre and Pittston Forts were the gathering points for the people in their immediate neighborhood.
"The forces such as they were, were distributed throughout the Valley somewhat as follows:
"The Kingston company, commanded by Captain Aholiab Buck, numbering about forty men, was at Forty Fort.
"The Shawnee company, commanded by Captain Asaph Whittlesey, numbering about forty-four men, was at Forty Fort.
"The Hanover company, commanded by Captain Wm. McKarrachen, numbering about thirty, was at home in Hanover.
"The upper Wilkes-Barre company, commanded by Captain Rezin Geer, numbering about thirty men, was at Wilkes-Barre.
"The lower Wilkes-Barre company, commanded by Captain James Bidlack, Jr., numbering about thirty-eight men, was at Wilkes-Barre.
"The Pittston company, commanded by Captain Jeremiah Blanchard, numbering ahout forty men, was at Pittston Fort.
"The Huntington and Salem company, command- ed by Captain John Franklin, numhering about thirty-five men, was at home.
"These were the militia, or train-bands, of the settlement, and included all who were able to bear arms, without regard to age. Old men and boys were enrolled in them.
"Then there was Captain Detrick Hewitt's com- pany, formed and kept together under the resolu- tion of Congress, passed March 16, 1778. This company enlisted to serve for one year, unless sooner discharged by Congress, and that the said company find their own arms, accoutrements and blankets.
"Besides these, there were a number who were not enrolled in any of the companies, numbering about one hundred; and in addition, there were a number in the Valley who had been driven from the settlements up the river. Making altogether in the Valley, a force of men of all ages and boys, numbering about four hundred.
"Colonel Zebulon Butler was at Wilkes-Barre, putting everything in that neighborhood in a de- fensible position, and awaiting developments.
"On the 2nd, Colonel Denison had sent a mes- senger express to Captain John Franklin and Lieu- tenant Stoddard Bowen, to hurry forward to the scene of danger, with their Huntington and Salem company, without delay.
"Such was the situation, when, on the morning of Friday, the 3rd of July, Major John Butler sent a flag to Forty Fort, demanding an unconditional surrender of that fort, the public stores, and Cap- tain Hewitt's company, with a promise that he would, when in possession, give them good terms of capitulation, and with a threat that in case of refusal, he would move upon them at once in full force. The demand was refused by Colonel Deni- son, then in command, but the refusal was accom- panied with a suggestion that he would like time and opportunity to consult with Colonel Zebulon
Butler and other officers, who were not then pre- seut. The flag was horn by Daniel Ingersoll, a prisoner, taken at Wintermoot Fort, who was ac- companied by a Tory and au Indian, to serve hoth as guards and spies. They returned, bearing the refusal of surrender, and it was supposed that upon their return and report to Major John Butler, he would immediately march upon them.
"A messenger was forthwith despatched to Col. Butler, at Wilkes-Barre, informing him of the situa- tion, and requesting his immediate presence with all the available force at command.
"Colonel Butler at once ordered the two Wilkes- Barre companies and the Hanover company, to march directly to Forty Fort. They promptly re- sponded, and at one o'clock they were all at the place of rendezvous. Information had been sent to other parts of the Valley, for every man to hasten to Forty Fort, as an attack was hourly expected.
"Immediately upon Colonel Butler's arrival, a consultation of the officers was held, in which the situation was fully discussed. It was decided not to surrender, but to hold the fort at all hazards.
"For the purpose of securing, by delays in nego- tiations, sufficient time to permit the arrival of Franklin and Spalding's companies, and possibly Clingman's, a flag was sent to Major Butler, for a conference with him, upon the subject of his de- mand of the morning. At the same time scouts were sent out to make reconnoisance, and learn, if possible, the strength and situation of the enemy, and watch his movements. In fact, such scouts had been out all the morning. The flag had not proceeded half way to Major Butler's camp, when it was fired upon by prowling Indians and Tories, probably out as spies, and compelled to return. After consultation, another flag was sent out. It was also fired upon and compelled to return.
"The scouts sent out returned with the news that they had not heen able to get near enough to the British camp to ascertain more than that they were still occupying the neighborhorhood of Winter- moot Fort, and that the Indians were prowling about in every direction, many of them moving down the Valley, capturing horses and cattle which were roaming about in the woods.
"Other scouts were sent out, and it was resolved to try another flag. This had not proceeded far, when it was fired upon and compelled to return. Scouts that had been out returned with reports that the enemy were moving down toward the fort, and that their number was not greater than that in the fort.
"It was at once resolved to go out and meet them, and, if possible, beat and drive them back, at least stay their progress of destruction down the Valley.
"Accordingly, the force gathered at Forty Fort, numbering about four hundred, including old men and boys, marched out, at about three o'clock in the afternoon, to defend their homes and harvests against the invaders, leaving the fort with a few old men and young hoys, women and children, many of them sick, under the command of Lieutenant John Jenkins. They marched from the fort in martial array, with the Stars and Stripes at their head to the tune of 'St. Patrick's Day In the Morning,' play- ed on the fife hy a true son of Erin, and drums beating, and proceeded as far as Abraham's creek, at the point where the road now crosses it at the stone bridge, a little over a mile from the fort. Here on the hill a halt was made, and the party properly disposed to resist an attack.
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