History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 21

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 812

USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 21

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Two hundred and fifty men, properly officered, exclusive of the invalids and boatmen, were left as a garrison at Fort Sullivan, under the command of Col. Shreve, under whose eare were placed the women and servants, the baggage, in short, everything which it was deemed would be a hindrance to the rapid march of the army.

The first object of Col. Shreve was to strengthen his forti- fications so that they would be secure against any attack the enemy might bring against him. In order to husband his stores, all women who were not expressly left in care of their husbands' baggage were sent to Wyoming, and the boatmen were hastened to Wyoming to bring up a new cargo of supplies for the returning army. For about a fortnight he was busy in attending to the wants of the sick and wounded in the hospitals, keeping his camp in good condition, and securing supplies.

Sept. 14, he ordered a detachment of one hundred men, one three-pounder cannon, to proceed in twenty boats, manned with one hundred boatmen, all under command of Capt. Reid, to proceed to Newtown, and there construct a small fortification for the relief of the army on its return. To this were transferred supplies of flour, cattle, and spirits for the use of the troops.

Such had been the diligenee, energy, and forethought exhibited by Col. Shreve, that in general orders " the com-

# In Doty's History of Livingston Co., N. Y., is a very full and vivid account of the movements of the expedition in the central part of New York.

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

mander-in-chief returns his most sincere thanks to Col. Shreve and his garrison, for their industry and attention to the safety and comfort of the army while absent, and the very prudent steps which he pursued to render the situation of the army comfortable on its return."

The army returned to Tioga Oct. 1, having lost in this remarkable expedition less than fifty men. The second was spent as a day of general rejoicing. Says one of the jonrn- alists of this campaign, " Joy beamed in every countenance." They had accomplished with great success the object of the expedition, and were now out of the woods and on the great highway to civilization. On the third, the fort was de- stroyed, and the next day the army marched as far as Wysox. From this place all the troops, except what were necessary to drive the pack-horses and cattle, were embarked on boats, and reached Wyoming on the 7th of October, where, after a rest of three days, they set out for Easton, to join the main army.

Numerous incidents have been related by the various journalists* of this campaign ; only one or two can be men- tioned. At Canadia, Luke Swetland was found, who had been captured by the Indians at Nanticoke, in August, 1778. In the Genesee valley, Mrs. Lester and her child, who had been captured at Wyoming the November previous, came into the camp. Mrs. Lester afterwards became the second wife of Capt. Roswell Franklin, subsequently a resident of this county.

Lieut. Boyd, of one of the New York regiments, was sent forward with a party of twenty-five men, to recon- noitre the principal town on the Genesee; wlien on liis re- turn, he was ambushed, fourteen of his men were killed, himself and one of his men captured and put to death by the Indians. Boyd was made to suffer most cruel tortures.

The result of this campaign was the breaking up of the power of the Iroquois confederacy. Owing to the loss of their crops, and the destruction of their dwellings, the Indians were compelled to go to the British post at Niagara. The winter proved to be one of unusual severity. Snow fell to a great depth, and the cold was intense. Unable to hunt, they remained through the winter cooped up in barracks, and compelled to eat salted provisions, they died in great numbers from scurvy and other camp diseases. Their losses in battle had been comparatively small, but by sickness enormous. Of the survivors some returned to their ancient seats, others remained in Canada. Small parties continued to come down as far as Wyoming, and commit atrocities upon the settlers, but the nations were never after able to organize any large force of warriors.

Gen. Sullivan and his army received the thanks of con- gress for the efficient manner in which he had conducted the campaign, and a day of thanksgiving was appointed for his victory over the savages. At the beginning of the campaign, Sullivan had been chagrined that his requisitions were ignored, and that congress had so tardily and scantily supplied him with the stores and equipments which had been promised. In general orders as well as in private conver-

sation, he had severely criticised the conduct of the board of war, which had produced alienation of feeling ; and when, at the close of the campaign, he asked leave to resign in order to recruit his health, which had been impaired by the exposures and fatigues of the expedition, it was readily granted, and he left forever the service.t

As the fugitives from the battle of Wyoming began to return to their homes, for the purpose of securing the crops which had escaped the devastation of the Indians, they were organized into a militia company under the command of Capt. John Franklin, in which Roswell Franklin was first lieutenant, Daniel Gore second lieutenant ; and there were four sergeants, three corporals, and sixty-four privates on the muster-roll on the 1st of May, 1780. This company was almost constantly on duty.}

Besides taking part in the expeditions under Hartley and Sullivan, they were employed in watching the Indian paths and bringing back to the settlements reports of any signs of the approach of hostile Indians, of defending the settlers against the attacks of marauding bands of savages, or pur- sning those parties for the purpose of recovering the pris- oners and plunder they had taken.

In the latter part of March, 1780, a party of forty or fifty Indians came down the river, and when near Wyo- ming separated into four or five bands, for the purpose of ' striking the settlements at as many different points. March 27, one of these parties captured Thomas Bennett and his son, near Kingston, and took them to the woods, where they found Lebbeus Hammond, who, it will be remembered, made his escape from his captors at the battle of Wyoming. The party started for Tioga, and reached Meshoppen on the evening of the 28th. While here the prisoners formed a plan of escape. Seizing a favorable opportunity, they rose upon their captors, four of whom were slain, another wounded, and only one escaped unhurt. "The evening of the 30th the captive victors came in with five rifles, a silver-

t I had intended to have given a much more detailed account of this campaign, but want of space compelled mne to limit the account to those events which occurred within our county or on its immediate borders. A history of the Sullivan campaign is a desideratum in our historical literature.

# CAPT. JOHN FRANKLIN'S COMPANY .- A pay-roll of the Com- pany of militia commanded by Capt. John Franklin, in the service of the United States, at the post of Wyoming, for the months, viz., from 30th of April to 4th of May, 1780.

John Franklin, captain ; Roswell Frauklin, first lieutenant; Daniel Gore, second lieutenant; Daniel Ingersol, Asa Chapman, Henry Barney, Christo. Hurlbut, sergeants ; James Sutton, Wm. Jackson, Andrew Blanchard, corporals ; William Williams, Stephen Gardner, John Hyde, Princo Alden, Joseph Elliott, John Tilberry, Abram Til- berry, Benjamin Harvey, Manasseh Cady, Asahel Richard, James Frisbie, James Nesbit, Abram Nesbit, Jonathan Frisbie, Richard Brockaway, Jonah Rogers, Josiah Rogers, Elisha Harvey, John Hurlbut, Jonathan Corey, Nathan Bullock, Joseph Corey, Turner Johnson, Nathan Walker, David Sanford, Joseph Hagerman, Joseph Thomas, Ishmael Bennett, Ishmael Bennett, Jr., John Fuller, Nathaniel Fuller, Noah Pettibone, Asa Budd, Frederick Budd, Jonathan Wash- burn, James Atherton, Peleg Comstock, Arnold Franklin, Walter Spencer, Solomou Bennett, Elijah Harris, Ezekiel Browu, John Gore, Nathan Smith, Jonathan Forsythe, Joseph Jamison, John IInribut, Jr., Thos. Stodard, Caleb Spencer, Robert Hopkins, Thomus Bennett, Andrew Bennett, Frederick Fry, Roswell Franklin, Jr., Henry Elliott, Naphtali Hurlbut, Wm. Huyck, Millard Green, Ephraim Tyler, Sale Roberts, E. Sale Roberts, Jr., Jacob Tilberry, John Sharer, David Sherwood. Total, 74.

# The author has found that at least nineteen daily diaries were kept by officers connected with this expedition, copies of fourteen of which are in his possession.

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

mounted hanger, and several spears and blankets as trophies of their brilliant exploit."-Miner, p. 279.

March 27 a band of ten Indians-one doubtless of the larger party-made their appearance in Hanover, and shot and killed Asa Upson. On the day following one man was killed and another taken prisoner near Nanticoke. On the 29th, they passed over the river, near Fish island, found Jonah Rogers, a boy, then fourteen years of age, whom they took and went down the river to Fishing creek, and on the following day took Moses Van Campen, a young, athletic man, killed and scalped his father, brother, and uncle. On the same day they captured a lad named Pence, about eighteen years of age. From Fishing creek they passed northerly through Huntington, where they fell in with a scont of four men, under Franklin ; two of the scout were wounded, but all made their escape. In the southern part of what is now Lehman township, Luzerne county, they found Abraham Pike and his wife making sugar. Here they stayed overnight. In the morning they took Pike and his wife prisoners. Wrapping up a child of Mrs. Pike's in a blanket, they tossed it on the roof of the sugar-cabin, and hastened on with their prisoners. After traveling a few miles they halted, painted Mrs. Pike, saying, " joggo, squaw,"-go home, woman. She returned to the cabin, got her child, fled to the settlement, and gave the -alarm ; but the Indians were beyond reach.

Pike was a deserter from the British army, under whose flag he had fought at the battle of Bunker Hill. An Irish- man by birth, and full of the idea of liberty, he had made his escape and volunteered in the American army, where he served for two years, and then came to the Susquehanna. His situation was, therefore, a critical one, and led him to hazard any danger rather than fall into the hands of the British authorities, by whom he would be held as not only guilty of desertion but of fighting against the British flag.

The course of the capturing party lay aeross the mount- ains to the river, near Tunhannoek, where they crossed and proceeded on their way up the east side. When they reached Meshoppen, where Bennett and Hammond had liberated themselves a few days before, the prisoners ob- served that their captors were much excited. They scanned the ground closely, and talked rapidly between themselves, with fieree gesticulations. On the night of the 3d of April they encamped under a large elm on the Strope farm, near the bank of the river and the mouth of the Wysox creek. They were now on the border of the Indian country, and, deeming themselves safe from pursuit, relaxed somewhat their watehfulness of their prisoners, and all lay down to sleep, five Indians on each side of the captives. The prison- ers were all tightly bound except Rogers, whom the chief took in his arms and covered with his blanket. Col. H. B. Wright gives the following as substantially the narrative of Rogers :

" In the afternoon of the day before we reached the place of encampment we came to a stream. I was tired and fatigued with the journey ; my fect were sore, and I was just able to proceed. Pike told the chief of the gang that he would carry me over on his shoulders. The old chief in a gruff voice said, 'Well.' Pike whispered in my ear as we were crossing the stream, 'Jonah, don't close your eyes

to-night. When they sleep take the knife from the chief and ent the eords with which I am bound.' I was the only one of the prisoners who was not bouod, and every night the old chief took me under his blanket. The nights were raw and cold, and though protected in this way I thought I should perish. This much of the project was communieated to the other prisoners by Pike. Towards nightfall they halted, kindled a fire, partook of their evening meal, and were soon stretched on the ground. In a few minutes the old chief was asleep, and in the course of half an hour the savages were all snoring, but he knew his friends were awake from the occasional half suppressed cough.

" Pike was the nearest to me, and not over two feet in distance. It was a terrific effort for me to make up my mind to perform my part of the business, for I knew that instant death would be the penalty in case of a failure. But as the time passed on, and the snoring of the savages grew louder, my courage seemed to gather new strength. I had noticed that when the old chief lay down the knife in his belt was on the side next to me. I peered ont from under the blanket, and I saw the embers of the fire still aglow, and a partial light of the moon. I also saw the hands of Pike elevated. I thought the time had come, and these two hours of suspense I had passed were more terrible than all the rest of my life put together. I cautiously drew the knife from the scabbard in the chief's belt, and creeping noiselessly out from under the blanket, I passed over to Pike and severed the cords from his hands.

" All was the silence of death save the gurgling noise made by the savages in their sleep. Pike ent the eords that bound the other prisoners. We were now all upon our feet. The first thing was to remove the guns of the Indians, the work for us to do was to be done with tomahawks and knives. The guns were carefully removed out of sight, and each of us had a tomahawk. Van Campen placed himself near the old chief, and Pike over another. I was too young for the encounter, and stood aloof. I saw the tomahawks of Pike and Van Campen flash in the dim light of the half-smoul- dering flames, the next moment the erash of two terrible blows ; these were followed in quick succession, when seven of the ten arose in a state of momentary stupefaetion and bewilderment, and then came the hand-to-hand confliet in the contest for life. But though our enemy were without arms they were not disposed to yield. Pence, however, seizing one of the guns, fired and brought down his man, making four killed and two of them dangerously wounded ; they fled, with a terrific yell, on the report of the gun. As they were retreating Van Campen hurled his tomahawk, which buried itself in the shoulders of one of the retreat- ing foe. And this Indian, with a terrible scar in his shoulder-blade, I saw years afterwards, and who acknow]- edged that he got the wound upon this occasion."

We quote this narrative at length, because it agrees with all contemporary accounts. After the death of his com- panions, Mr. Van Campen, in a published memorial to congress, asked for remuneration for his sufferings and services, made himself the hero of the occasion, and branded Pike as an arrant coward. But this was so different from the known character of Pike, and the story differed so materially from the accounts given by others of the party,

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

that it has uever gained credence among those who have written the history of Wyoming. Mr. Miner remarks, " There was honor enough for all. No nobler deed was performed during the Revolutionary war."

After scalping the dead and recovering the scalps the Indians had taken, making a hasty raft, the party descended the river, and reached Wyoming on April 5. They took as a booty twelve guns and thirty blankets, besides toma- hawks, spears, etc.

Mrs. Whittaker (Jane Strope) says that Pike often visited her father after the war, and she frequently heard him relate the particulars of this exploit, and not only point out the tree,-which was standing many years after,-but describe where the party lay, where they placed the guns, and, in short, point out the identical spot where each act was performed. " April 4," Franklin says, " Pike, Van Campen, and company returned. Made their escape at Wysox the 1st. Killed three and took all their arms, etc."

In the early part of June of this year (1780), Frank- lin, with five men, was on a scout above Wyoming. Reach- ing Tunkhannock, they discovered fresh tracks in the path, and pursued the trail with all possible speed. When on the mountain now known as York's Narrows, they heard a report of a gun in the valley below then, and Franklin ex- claimed to his men, " Now, boys, we'll have them ! They don't expect us or they wouldn't be shooting." It was now late in the afternoon, and it was determined to follow the trail carefully until they came to the camp, and take the party by surprise. In a short time they discovered a smoke about a mile back of where Mr. Lanning now lives, in Wysox, and, cautiously making their way up to it, they found the party sitting around the fire dressing a duck they had killed on the way, and to consist of four white men who were on their way from New York to Niagara, evi- dently as bearers of dispatches for the British forces. Seiz- ing a favorable opportunity, they captured the whole party, but one of them subsequently made his escape. "They took," says Miner, according to the language of the day, " a fine lot of plunder, valued at £46 18s. 11d. Capt. Franklin and Sergeant Baldwin each shared a silver watch, several pocket compasses, silver buttons, and sleeve- buttons. A scarlet broadcloth coat, several gold-pieces, and a beautiful spy-glass, attest the consequence of the prisoners. Col. Z. Butler purchased the spy-glass from the vietors, estimated at three guineas, hard money." This spy-glass was subsequently purchased by Judge Gore, and is now in the possession of Major W. H. H. Gore, of Sheshequin.

Under date of June 9, Franklin says, "Took prisoners at Wysox." Col. John Jenkins has the following memo- randa : "June 10, A party of our men brought in three Tories whom they took at Wysox. These men set out from New York with the intention of traveling through the country to Niagara. Their names were Jacob Bowman and his son Adam, and Henry Hoover. Philip Buck was in their company, but he made his escape when the others were taken. July 11, . Bowman, Hoover, and Sergeant Leaders were sent to headquarters for trial. Adam Bowman was exchanged for Elisha Harvey, who had been captured by a band of Indians in December, 1780."

The venerable Burr Ridgeway, deceased, said that Col. Franklin was at his house in Wysox in 1805, and, after re- lating the occurrence, took out of his pocket a large silver watch, saying, "I took that from the pocket of one of the number." About a year after the above was related to me by Col. Franklin, Cyrus H. Brookins, a blacksmith, who lived near the place where the capture was made, plowed up a large, straight sword, which was supposed to have belonged to one of the party. I called at Brookins' shop and saw the sword. The blade was nearly devoured by rust, but the brass hilt and guard were in a good state of preservation.

On Saturday, Sept. 2 (1780), Franklin, in company with Sergeant James Wells, William Terry, and Richard Halstead, set out for Tioga. Arriving at this place, they found where quite a large party of the enemy had recently encamped. Under date of September 6, Franklin says, "Sec two Indians at Tioga, and chased them to Chemung." Returning to Tioga, they found a canoe, and reached Wyo- ming in safety on the 10th.

Roswell Franklin, of Hanover, had been an active patriot, and, for some reason, seems to have been selected as an object to be peculiarly harassed by the Indians. Ou the 7th of September, 1781, they captured his son, Roswell, and nephew, Arnold Franklin (whose father had been killed in the Wyoming battle), burned his grain-stacks, and stole his horses, and a few months before had killed his eldest son, Joseph.

At midday, on Sunday, April 7, 1782, Mrs. Franklin sent one of her daughters, Susanna, a girl eleven years of age, to the spring near by for water, with which to prepare their noonday meal. Stooping down to dip the water, she was seized by a party of Indians, and told to keep 'still. Mr. Franklin was absent looking for some swine which had strayed away. The family, surprised at the delay of the little girl in not returning, began to fear that some accident had befallen her. They were not left long in suspense. In a few minutes eight stalwart Indians rushed into the house, took the remainder of the family, and started for the mountains. The captives were Mrs. Franklin, her danghter Olive, aged thirteen ; Susanna ; Stephen, four years of age ; and Ichabod, a year and a half.

The party took an unfrequented path until they got beyond the settlements, and, as they supposed, beyond dan- ger of pursnit. On the second day's journey they were joined by five more Indians, making thirteen in all. They moved slowly and with great caution. One night, after they had encamped at the foot of a hill, one of the Indians, who could talk English, said to Mrs. Franklin, " Rebels up there," pointing to the top of the hill.

Mr. Franklin returned to his home in a short time after the Indians had left. A brief examination of the premises eonvinced him who were the depredators, and hastening to Wilkes-Barre, aroused the people to start in pursuit. The captives heard the alarm-gun at the fort giving the people notice of danger. Several parties were at once organized to overtake, if possible, the retreating foe. One of these was under the direction of Sergeant Thomas Baldwin, with Joseph Elliott second in command. The others of this party were John Swift (afterwards a general, slain on the Niagara frontier in the War of 1812), Oliver Bennett,

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Watson Baldwin, Gideon Dudley, - Cook, and Taylor, eight persons all told.

This party struck across the hills back of Meshoppen, and reached Wyalusing by a short route. Here they beeame convinced they were in advance of the Indian force and their captives, but went on for the purpose of selecting more advantageous ground for attack. Reaching the Frenchtown mountain about opposite Asylum, they erected a slight fortification of fallen trees, and concealed it with green bushes, and here awaited the approach of their foes. They remained here nearly two days, until they had begun to think their wary enemy had escaped them, but finally determined to remain one day longer.

The Indians were compelled to proceed slowly on account of the children in the party. On Friday night they rested near the present Frenchtown depot. They were without food, and the children were crying with hunger. They caught a few small fish, which they boiled, and gave the prisoners the water to drink. The next morning they were slow about starting. In the narrative of the daughter, Olive, she says, " The Indians seemed to know not what to do." They went on their way moderately, and before noon came to a halt. After resting a while, the Indians began to look carefully around, and peep through the oak-bushes which covered the hill. Mrs. Franklin thought they were looking for deer, and that the deer were not far off.

Soon a shot was fired and then another. Mrs. Franklin and her family were compelled to lie down between the combatants, where they could hear the whistling of the bullets, and hear the shouts of the men,-the white men derisively calling the Indians "copperheads," and they re- turning the taunt by calling the others " rebels." Dudley fired the first shot, and the foremost savage fell. While in the act of reloading his musket he was wounded in the arm. A fieree and desperate strife ensued. Each party fought behind cover of trees, and the whites had the additional advantage of their slight breastwork. Taylor shot another Indian, a medicine man, and rushed up to take his scalp, but in the operation broke his knife. Two Indians started to take him, of which he was apprised by his companions, when he cut off the Indian's head, and made his escape.

The Indians then attempted to gain the hill above where the whites were posted, but were driven back, with the loss of one or two killed. The fighting was kept up for several hours with great desperation. Swift had gone out in the morning to hunt, the party of white people being out of provisions. Coming up he was warned to be on his guard or the Indians would shoot him ; to which he replied, if there were any Indians there he would have a shot at them if he had to follow them to the Genesee. Opportunity was soon afforded. An Indian, in his eagerness to hear the talk and learn the cause of the new excitement in the white people's ranks, stepped beyond the cover of the tree, and was shot by Swift, who immediately rushed up with reck- less daring and rent off his scalp.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 21

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 812

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 812