History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 12

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

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Capt. Dethic Hewitt's company, about forty men.

Capt. Asaph Whittlesey's company, from Plymouth, consisting of forty men under Stewart after reaching the fort.

Capt. William McKarrican's company, from Hanover, numbering about forty men. Being also the schoolmaster, and little used to war, though a brave, active, and valuable man, he gave up the command to Capt. Lazarus Stewart; Rosewell Franklin was his lieutenant.

The Lower Wilkes-Barre company, commanded by Capt. James Bidlack, Jr., con- sisting of thirty-eight men.

The Upper Wilkes-Barre company, commanded by Capt. Rezin Geer, smaller, but the number not known.

The Kingston company, commanded by Capt. Aholiab Buck, Lieut. Elijah Shoemaker second in command.

In addition to those in the trainbands, the judges of the court and all the civil officers who were near went out. Many old men-some of them grandfathers- took their muskets and marched to the field. For instance, the aged Mr. Searle, of Kingston, was one. Having become bald, he wore a wig. Taking out his silver knee-buckles, he said to his family, " If I fall, I shall not need them. If I come back, they will be safe here." Nothing could have been more incongruous, more pitiably unfit, than the mingling of such aged men in the rough onset of battle. Dire was the necessity that compelled it. The old gentleman had a number of grand- children. Several boys, from fourteen to sixteen, are known to have been on the field. There was a company at Pittston of thirty or forty men, under Capt. Blanch- ard, stationed at the fort, to guard the people gathered there. To leave them, and march to Forty fort, would be to expose them to certain destruction, for the enemy were in sight, on the opposite bank of the river. Capt. Franklin's company from Huntington and Salem had not arrived. The other companies of the regiment were at Capouse and at the "Lackaway " settlement, too far off to afford assistance; so that there were about 230 enrolled men, and seventy old people, boys, civil magis- trates, and other volunteers.

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Every movement of Col. Z. Butler was watched by a vigilant and wary foe. No sooner had the march commenced than the news was communicated to Col. John Butler, at Wintermoot's, who immediately despatched a messenger up to Fort Jen- kins, for the party there, who were destroying the defences, to hasten down, for the Yankees were coming out to battle. This was between 2 and 3 o'clock. A few sentinels alone were left at Forty fort; and one of these by name of Cooper, more brave than obedient to orders, said " Our people need all their strength on the field. If defeated or successful, my being here will do no good." And he hur- ried off to join his neighbors.

Miss Bennett (Mrs. Myers) was one of the crowd of women and children who had resorted to the Forty fort. After the troops had been gone about half an hour, three men were seen spurring their jaded horses up the road. As they came to the gate and dismounted, the sweat flowed from the panting flanks of their generous steeds. Two of them were Capt. Durkee and Lieut. Pierce. In a moment they learned the state of things. "We are faint-give us bread; we have not broken our fast to-day." Such provisions as were at hand were placed before them. Pierce was a lieutenant in Capt. Spalding's company, then about forty miles off, through the Great swamp. They had ridden nearly all night. Having snatched a morsel of food, they hastened to the field.

Among many patriotic volunteers, justice requires that Anderson Dana should be particularly mentioned. He had just returned from duty as a member of the assembly at Hartford. It is impossible that any man could have conducted with a more cheerful spirit, or a more animating zeal. Christopher Avery, one of the justices of the court, who had filled many important stations, and possessed a large share of public confidence, though exempt by law, took post beside his neighbors. Many officers are mentioned, who strictly held no command. Capts. Durkee and Ran- som were in the battle, and no doubt were referred to, and obeyed by the militia officers, but they held no official station.

As our troops approached Wintermoot's they perceived that the fort was in flames. The motive for setting it on fire is not yet understood, probably to prevent its sud- den assault and capture; probably to draw attention and conceal their number and movements.

At this point there are two plains, the upper and the lower flats, divided by a steep bank of about fifteen or twenty feet in hight; the lower a rich, sandy loam; the upper a coarse gravel. The fort was on the bank dividing the two plains.

Col. Z. Butler, on approaching the enemy, sent forward Capts. Ransom and Durkee, Lieuts. 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 advanced 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 Capt. Bidlack's company, next was Capt. Hewitt's, Daniel Gore being one of his lieutenants. On the extreme left was Capt. Whittlesey's. Col. Butler, supported by Maj. John Garrett, commanded the right wing. Col. Denison, supported by Lieut. - Col. George Dorrance, com- manded the left. Such was the ground and such the order of battle. Everything was judiciously disposed and conducted in a strictly military manner. Capts. Durkee and Ransom, experienced officers, in whom great confidence was placed, were stationed, Durkee with Bidlack on the right wing, Ransom with Whittlesey on the left. Col. Butler made a very brief address just before he ordered the column to display. "Men, yonder is the enemy. The fate of the Hardings tell us what we have to expect if defeated. We came out to fight, not only for liberty, but for

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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 on which our right rested. On its dis- play as Denison led off his men, he repeated the expression of Col. Butler-" Be firm, everything depends on resisting the first shock."

The left of the enemy rested on Wintermoot's fort, now on fire, and was com- manded by Col. John Butler, who appeared on the ground with a handkerchief around his head. A flanking party of Indians was concealed behind some logs and bushes under the bank.

From Wintermoot's fort to the river in a straight line was about eighty rods; to Monockasy island, over the low flats in a south direction, about a mile. The weather clear and warm.

About four in the afternoon the battle began; Col. Z. 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, on the more open ground the Yankees were doing most execution. As our men advanced, pouring in their platoon fires with great activity, the British line gave way, in spite of all their officers' efforts to pre- vent it. The Indian flanking party on our right kept up from their hiding places a galling fire. Lieut. Daniel Gore received a ball through the left arm. "Capt. Durkee," said he, "look sharp for the Indians in those bushes." Capt. D. 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. As the battle waxed warmer, that fearful yell was raised again and again, with more and more spirit. It appeared to be once their animating shout, and their signal of com- munication: As several fell near Col. Dorrance, one of his men gave way; " Stand up 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 superior numbers of the enemy began to develop its power. The Indians had thrown into the swamp a large force, which now completely outflanked our left. It was impos- sible it should be otherwise; that wing was thrown into confusion. Col. 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 bravest 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 order to fall back, as one to retreat, and that word, that fatal word, ran along the line. Utter confusion now prevailed on the left. Seeing the disorder, and his own men beginning to give way, Col. 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.

Still on the fated left men stood their ground. "See," said Westover to George Cooper, "our men are all retreating, shall we go?" "I'll have one more shot first," was his reply. At that moment a ball struck a tree just behind his head and an Indian springing toward him with his spear, Cooper drew up his rifle and fired; the Indian sprang into the air and fell dead. "Come," said Westover. "I'll load first," replied Cooper; and it is probable this cool audacity saved them, as the body of the savages had dashed forward after the flying, thus leaving them in the rear.

On the right, one of his officers said to Capt. Hewitt, "The day is lost; see, the Indians are sixty rods in our rear, shall we retreat ?" " I'll be damned if I do," was his answer. "Drummer, strike up!" and he strove to rally his men; every effort was vain-thus he fought and there he fell!

Every captain that led a company into the battle was slain, and in every instance fell on or near the line; as was well said, " They died at the head of their men."

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Men never fought more bravely, every man did his duty, but they were overpowered by superior numbers, a force that was overwhelming.

David Spafford, who had just married Miss Blackman, was fatally shot and fell into the arms of his brother, Phineas. "Brother," said he, "I am mortally hurt; take care of Lavinia." Stephen Whiton, a young schoolmaster from Connecticut, was also a bridegroom, married a daughter of Anderson Dana; son-in-law and father fell together.

A portion of the Indian flanking party pushed forward in the rear of the Con- necticut line to cut off the retreat to Forty fort, and then pressed the retreating army toward the river. Monockasy island affording the only hope of crossing the stream, the flight was toward the island across the fields. Cooper and those who remained near the line of battle saw the main body of the Indians hastening after the fugitives.

At Forty fort the bank of the river was lined by anxious wives and mothers, awaiting the issue. Hearing the firing sharply continued, now, hopes arose; but when the shots came irregular and approached nearer and nearer, the hope sank in dismay.

Among the most melancholy paragraphs in history are the after-battle reports told by fugitives who escaped from the bloody sacrifice. Pity it is now after the lapse of more than a century and all the parties to that sad day are long since rest- ing in the silent city, we can not know that the most and worst of the frightful tales of the battle of Wyoming were the imaginings of heated minds, strung to breaking in the horrid hour. Some were but too true, but time, with its covering pall of char- ity, has now given us the assurance that in some of the most revolting things that found their way into the accounts of the contemporary history of the times were errors. The Canadians and Indians won a signal victory, and when the settlers were flanked, instead of holding together and obeying their officers-the only place and mode of safety on such occasions-they fled, throwing away their arms, while the victors pursued and struck down many in a most merciless fashion. Had our people stood together under their commander it is now evident that the British com- mander would have respected a flag of truce and those lives that were so cruelly sac- rificed might have been saved. True, a part of Col. John Butler's command were Indians and when our people fled he could do little or nothing in restraining pur- suit, even had he tried. It is not known that he had tried to do so. The contrary

was charged to be true at the time by the survivors.

The battle of Wyoming first went into history as a cold-blooded and pitiless massacre; the post-prandial orgie being the curdling story of Queen Esther and the Bloody Rock, where prisoners of war were led out by Indians, stood around in rows and this she-monster walking along the line with a war club or tomahawk braining the poor fellows. The first stories that found their way into priut were gleaned from the flying fugitives that found their way to the Delaware, when each one had told the other of the dreadful sights they had seen, and then the writers who listened to the narratives had allowed nothing to be lost in the transmission. There never was a battle but that the first flying reports that went out from the opposing sides differed widely on important facts.

Night closed in on the dreadful scene of havoc. The pursuit of the flying sol- diers could not have been very long or rapid, as the enemy only approached Forty fort the next morning and demanded an unconditional surrender. Col. Zebulon Butler and seventeen of his soldiers had escaped to the mountains during the night. Col. Denison remained and was in command; in command of a lot of women and children and a few wounded and aged men; this was not much to surrender-women, children and broken hearts. The victors granted terms of honorable capitula- tion; agreeing to respect private property and requiring the soldiers taken to pledge not again to take up arms against the king of England. These were not only hon-

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orable but, under the circumstances, very liberal terms. A fact that should not be lost sight of is, that in the articles of capitulation Col. John Butler had inserted the clause allowing the "suspects" that had been driven away by the Yankees, to return and live here in peace and quiet and to repossess their property. There is historical significance in this clause

The observance of the terms of surrender was kept only so far as no further massacre or human life was taken. But private property was not fully respected. The beautiful valley was devastated-the torch applied to the homes and build- ings, and blackened waste took the place of the whilom pastoral scenes. Wilkes- Barre, where there were twenty-five buildings, was left with but three houses in the place-all else was in ashes. The Indians, drunk, engaged in plundering and destroying. The English commander, Butler, tried to restrain the red devils, but not to much purpose. And it is now believed this fact hastened his departure.

The invading army remained in possession in the captured fort four days, or until July 8, when Col. John Butler called his army together and took up his return march northward.

The women and children had fled the country; several. had floated down the river as soon as the news of the disaster on the night of the 3d of July was known. Many others fled across the mountains and through the terrible wilderness back to Connecticut. These were new widows and freshly orphaned children mostly whose protectors lay dead and unburied on the fatal and bloody field. Here was the pitiful story that the century of years has but little modified. The ghastly details of each family in these dread days has not and never will be written. There were a few old men with these fleeing crowds of sufferers-so old and helpless mostly as to be like the infants, but an additional burden; children were born and children died on the long, terrible way. The heroes were dead-the greater heroines lived and hov- ered their helpless broods, baring their breasts to the elements and even the brutal savage in the protection of the young lives God had given. When we talk of war and its grim brutalities we think of strong, rough, brave men, but here were widows and young mothers tasting the bitterest dregs of woe-broken hearts and a forti- tude sublime.

It is estimated that about 160 were killed the day and evening of the battle and 140 escaped. This estimate is given by Hon. Charles Miner and we accept it as the nearest correct now ascertainable.

Reinforcements. - On the evening of July 3, that had closed on the awful field of carnage, Capt. John Franklin arrived at Forty fort, with the Huntington and Salem company, about thirty-five men all told. He and Col. Denison consulted and determined to send to Wilkes-Barre for the cannon, call every possible aid to Forty fort and defend themselves to the last extremity. A messenger sent out early on the next morning reported the people flying and the scheme therefore wholly imprac- ticable. Following on the " Old Warrior's path," he reported seeing a fleeing crowd of 100 women and children and only one man with the fugitives. This was Sheriff Jonathan Fitch.

It should be here mentioned that Capt. Blanchard surrendered the fort at Pitts- ton, Fort Brown, on the morning of the 4th to a detachment of Col. John Butler's command.

When the fight occurred Capt. Spalding was only forty miles away and hurry- ing to Forty fort as fast as possible. With his and Franklin's men-thirty-five, who reached the fort during the fight-the invading army could have been success- fully repulsed, and, standing on the defensive in chosen localities, in time the English and Indians as an army destroyed in all probability. Capts. Durkee and Bidlack had ridden all night and were at the fort in time to go into the battle, where both died. Hence the patriots knew just where Spalding and his command were at the moment they so rashly marched out to engage the enemy.

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One of the theories that is read between the lines in this chapter of history is something like this: A number of families that had come to be known as anti- Yankee in sentiment had settled in the upper end of the valley. They had been driven out, some ordered togo, and other- persecuted until they felt compelled to leave. These had taken refuge in northern New York and were eager to return to the val- ley and even up old scores. And it is said they suggested the expedition and some of these were in Col. John Butler's command, and that some of the darkest of the colors in the picture were the results of their presence.

Col. Z. Butler, as soon as possible, wrote Gen. Washington an account of the bloody day, and solicited succor, in order that, if possible, a portion of the harvest standing in the fields might be saved.

Joining Capt. Spaulding early in August, he returned to Wyoming. A new stockade was built in Wilkes-Barre and put in the best possible defence. A number of the settlers were now encouraged to return, among others John Abbott, who had been in the battle, and Isaac Williams, a young man, in attempting to harvest their wheat on Jacob's plains, were waylaid and both shot and scalped. The widow of Mr. Abbott, who had fled to Catawissa, with nine children (their house and barn having been burned, and all their property destroyed), set out on foot, a jour- ney of nearly 300 miles, and begged their way home to Hampton, Conn.

About this time three Indians took prisoners on the Lackawanna, Isaac Tripp, the elder; Isaac Tripp, his grandson, and two young men, by the names of Keys and Hocksey. The old gentleman they painted and dismissed, but hurried the others into the forest (now Abington), above Leggett's Gap, on the warrior's path to Oquago. Resting one night, they rose next morning and traveled about two miles, when they stopped at a little stream of water. The two young Indians then took Keys and Hocksey some distance from the path, and were absent half an hour, the old Indian looking anxiously the way they had gone. Presently, the death-whoop was heard, and the Indians returned brandishing bloody tomahawks, and exhibiting the scalps of their victims. Tripp's hat was taken from his head, and his scalp examined twice, the savages speaking earnestly, when at length they told him to fear nothing, he should not be hurt, and carried him off as a prisoner. Luke Swet- land and Joseph Blanchard were taken prisoners, near Nanticoke, on August 24, and carried away captives to the Indian country.

A garrison of about 100 men was in the Wilkes-Barre stockade-Capts. Garrison's and Spalding's companies; these were the militia of Westmoreland town. Armed parties labored in the fields and on the hills around were placed sentinels. Late in the fall Isaac Inman was murdered in Hanover. He supposed he had heard some wild turkeys and went out to kill one. His scalped body lay under the snow and was not discovered until spring.

On October 2 four of Capt. Morrison's men were attacked on the west side of the river, three of whom were killed, and one escaped. October 14 William Jame- son, returning home from Wilkes- Barre, was shot near where the canal crossed the road below Careytown. Being wounded, he fell from the horse, and attempted to gain the woods, but was pursued, tomahawked and scalped. A valuable young man in the prime of life, being twenty-six years of age. He had been in the battle and escaped, and his scalp was therefore a doubly valuable prize to the Indians.

November 7 Mr. John Perkins was killed in Plymouth; a victim also most grat- ifying to the revengeful savage, as Mr. Perkins had a son in Spalding's independent company. William Jackson aud Mr. Lester, taken from the mill at Nanticoke, were marched three miles up into Hanover and then shot down. An aged man, spoken of as "old Mr. Hageman," a prisoner, escaped with six wounds, and sur- vived. November 9 Capt. Carr and Philip Goss, in attempting to fly in a canoe, were shot below Wapwallopen and left, the latter dead, the other dying on the shore. Robert Alexander and Amos Parker were, about the same time, found mur- dered in the lower part of the valley.

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A whole family was brutally massacred November 19, near Nescopeck-John, Elisha and Diah Utley; the first two shot down. Diah fled and swam the river, but as he came to the opposite shore was brained by an Indian, The savages then entered the house, murdered and scalped the aged mother, and in savage glee placed her body mockingly in a chair.

March 21, 1779, Capt. James Bidlack and Josiah Rogers, both aged, were cross- ing the flats on their way to Plymouth. The savages suddenly sprang from ambush and attempted to seize their horses' bridles, but failing in this, a race ensued. The girth of Capt. Bidlack's saddle broke, he was thrown and made prisoner. Rogers was fired at several times, but escaped. Hardly had he carried the news to the fort when a large force of Indians was seen advancing over the Kingston flats toward the block-house; all this in full view of the Wilkes-Barre fort. They, however, made no determined attack, but did drive off considerable stock. Col. Butler at once sent out twenty-five men in pursuit and to succor those in the Kingston block-house, and the enemy was driven off; none of our people killed, but several wounded.

The miserable affair of Maj. Powell and his regiment of nearly 200 men occurred on April 19. He had been ordered to report at Wilkes-Barre. Arriving at Bear creek, ten miles from this place, a halt was made to dress and come in the valley with an imposing array of fine feathers, arms burnished and ruffled shirts put on, and the music struck up. They resumed marching, when they were fired on from ambush; the Major hastily retreated. This action took place near the summit of the second mountain, by the Laurel run, about four miles from Wilkes-Barre. Capt. Davis, Lieut. Jones, a corporal named Butler, and three men fell. Maj. Powell soon after left the army. It should be here explained that Maj. Powell's regiment was the first of the gathering for Sullivan's expedition, soon to be followed by the First and Third New Jersey regiments, two regiments of New Hampshire, and Col. Proctor's artillery-all a part of the rendezvous at Easton.

The year 1780 brought its renewal of troubles to the settlers. The sense of security and repose, so welcome to the wearied settlers after the distressing scenes of the two preceding years, they were not long permitted to cherish. Effectual as the punishment of the savages seemed, instead of subduing, it only appeared to have exasperated their thirst for revenge. Being confident that Sullivan had left in the whole Indian country nothing for them to subsist upon, it was not doubted but the savages were necessarily within the British lines at Niagara, beyond striking distance; and the settlers resumed their farming at Kingston, Hanover and Plymouth. The main settlement had block-houses built, in case of attack, wherein to seek shelter and make defence.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 12

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532