USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections > Part 24
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Company K .- Officers: Captains: Charles E. Foster, Auguet 27, 1861; resigned July 9, 1862. Cyrus W. Straw, October 27, 1861; promoted from first lieutenant May 1, 1863; discharged June 20, 1863. James McKinley, October 27, 1861; pro- moted from corporal to second lieutenant September 1, 1863; to captain April 22, 1864; resigned June 4, 1865. First lieutenants: Alonzo E. Bennett, October 27, 1861; promoted from first sergeant July 13, 1863; transferred to veteran reserve corps October 12, 1863. Peter Dougherty, October 27, 1861; promoted from first sergeant to second lieutenant October 3, 1864; to firet lieutenant October 30, 1864; discharged April 16, 1865; veteran. Second lieutenants: William Belford, October 27, 1861; discharged May 7, 1863. Emanuel C. Hoover, October 27, 1861; pro- moted from sergeant June 6, 1864; killed at Ream's Station, Va., August 25, 1864; veteran. Washington Setzer, October 27, 1861; promoted from first sergeant Feb- ruary 18, 1865; resigned May 27, 1865; veteran. John Graham, September 24, 1861; promoted from first sergeaut Company B June 16, 1865; veteran. First ser- geant, Alexander Kocher, October 27, 1861; promoted to sergeant November 1, 1864; wounded April 7, 1865; absent at muster out; veteran.
Ninety-second Regiment .- Company D from this county and parts of Companies K and L. Officers of Company D as follows: Captains: Jacob Bertles; resigned August 7, 1862. Michael O'Reilly, promoted from first lieutenaut August 8, 1862. First lieutenants: George Smith, promoted from second lieutenant September 8, 1862; captain Company L September 1, 1863. Christopher Walthers, promoted second lieutenant from Company L May 30, 1864. Second lieutenants: Louis Praetorius, resigned October 31, 1862. David R. P. Barry, October 24, 1861; pro- moted from sergeant Company M May 22, 1863; resigned July 24, 1864. Frederick Smith, promoted from first sergeant May 19, 1865; veteran. First sergeant: Jacob Hassler, promoted from sergeant May 20, 1865; veteran.
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
Ninety-sixth Regiment .- Part of Company E of this command from this county. Officers as follows : Captain: James Russell, September 23, 1861; mustered out with company October 21, 1864. First lieutenant: John S. Oberrender, September 23, 1861; discharged September 22, 1864. Second lieutenants: John F. Robbins, September 23, 1861; resigned January 27, 1863. Thomas H. Reed, September 23, 1861; promoted from sergeant March 19, 1863; discharged September 27, 1863. Charles C. Russell, September 23, 1861; promoted from first sergeant September 28, 1864; transferred to Company E, Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania, October 18, 1864.
One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment (nine months men) of which were Com- panies I and K of this county. The colonel was Richard A. Oakford; the lieutenant- colonel Vincent M. Wilcox, both of this county. The regiment went into the battle of Antietam as fresh troops and most gallantly acquitted itself; thirty killed and 114 wounded. Among the killed was Col. Oakford. The regiment moved to Harper's Ferry after the battle, participated in two reconnoissances while encamped on Bolivar Heights, and moved with the army toward Fredericksburg'on the last of October. From Falmouth, where it first encamped, it went to Belle Plain, and after a month returned to Falmouth. In the battle of Fredericksburg it was actively engaged and participated in a charge on Mary's Heights, where it displayed a coolness and brav- ery that would have done honor to veterans. Out of 340 men who went into action, the regiment lost 140.
At the battle of Chancellorsville, though the term of a portion of the men had expired, all took part in the action. On the third day of the battle the regiment made a gallant bayonet charge in which a number of prisoners were taken. Its loss in this action was about fifty. It was relieved from duty on the expiration of the term of service, and was mustered out on May 11, 1863. It is said two-thirds of the men entered the service again.
Colonels: Richard A. Oakford, August 21, 1862; killed at Antietam, Md., Sep- tember 17, 1862. Vincent M. Wilcox, August 26, 1862; promoted from lieutenant- colonel September 18, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate January 14, 1863. Charles Albright, August 21, 1862; promoted from major to lieutenant- colonel, Sep- tember 18, 1862; colonel, January 24, 1863.
Lieutenant-colonel: Joseph E. Shreve, August 15, 1862; promoted from captain Company A to major September 18, 1862; to lieutenant-colonel January 24, 1863.
Company I .-- Officers. Captains: James Archibald, Jr., August 18, 1862; dis- charged on surgeon's certificate January 7, 1863. Philip S. Hall, August 18, 1862; promoted from second lieutenant January 14, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 4, 1863; absent at muster out. First lieutenants: Robert R. Miller, August 18, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate December 19, 1862. Benjamin Gardner, promoted from sergeant January 14, 1863. Second lieutenant: Michael Houser, promoted from private January 14, 1863.
Company K .- Officers: Captains: Richard Stillwell, August 18, 1862; dis- charged May 31, 1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862. Jacob B. Floyd, August 18, 1862; promoted from first lieutenant March 31, 1863. First lieutenant: Noah B. Jay, promoted from second lieutenant March 31, 1863. Second lieutenant: Sylvester Ward, promoted from sergeant to first ser- geant December 25, 1862; and lieutenant March 31, 1863. First sergeant: Fran- cis Orchard, promoted from sergeant, March, 31, 1863.
One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment. - (Nine months) Company B recruited in this and Tioga counties. Its officers were as follows:
Captain: William N. Monies, August 2, 1862. First lieutenants: Nelson Doty, discharged on surgeon's certificate March 31, 1863. Frederick J. Amsden, August 26, 1862; promoted from second lieutenant April 1, 1863. Second-lienten- ant: David Edwards, promoted from first sergeant April 1, 1863.
One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment .- Company K was from Luzerne county, as was Maj. John Bradley.
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
Company K .-- Officers: Captains: Charles H. Flagg, September 1, 1862; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863; Joshua W. Howell, August 30, 1862; promoted from corporal to captain May 1, 1864. First lieutenant: Jeremiah Hoffman, Sep- tember 1, 1862; commissioned captain July 4, 1863; not mustered; discharged November 21, for wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863. John W. Dis- singer, September 2, 1862; promoted from sergeant September 21, 1864. Second lieutenant: Cyrus K. Campbell, September 1, 1862; commissioned first lieutenant July 4, 1863; not mustered; discharged March 9, 1863, for wounds received at Fred- ericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862.
One Hundred and Forty-third Regiment was, except Companies H and K, a Luzerne county regiment. Organized October 18, 1862. Colonel, Edmund L. Dana; lieutenant-colonel, George E. Hoyt; major, John D. Musser. Col. Dana was a veteran of the Mexican war, and his appointment was made without his knowledge. Soon after organization they moved to Harrisburg and to Washington. In February, 1863, went to Belle Plain, thence on the Rappahannock, below Fred- ericksburg. Next to Pollock's Run, where it was under fire while fighting was going on in Chancellorsville. On its way to the latter place was under fire on May 3 and 4. Went into camp on 8th at Falmouth. This command was in the first to reach Gettysburg, where it took up position July 1. Col. Dana soon was in com- mand of a brigade, and Col. Musser of the regiment. The position the regiment held at Gettysburg was a most severe one, sustaining repeated charges of the enemy, and was finally compelled to fall back. Among the killed in the three days' fighting here were Lieutenants Lee, D. Grover, Lyman R. Nicholson and Charles D. Betzinberger. Late in 1863 the regiment received 365 recruits. Lieut .- Col. Hoyt died in June, 1863, succeeded by Maj. Musser; Capt. Charles M. Conyng- ham became major. Early in May the regiment was sent to the Wilderness, and there Col. Dana was wounded and taken prisoner; Lieut .- Col. Musser was killed; Lieut. Michael Keenan was mortally wounded; Capts. Gordon and Little and Lieut. Kauff were taken prisoners. The regiment was in a severe action at Laurel Hill. Lieut. Charles H. Keelly was killed, and Maj. Conyngham wounded. The regiment was in the battle of Hanover Junction, crossed the James and marched for Petersburg on June 16. On the 18th, in a general advance on the enemy's works, Lieut. E. L. Griffin was mortally wounded. Col. Dana returned from imprisonment about the middle of September and took command. October 1 the regiment was in the expedition on the Vaughn road, and soon quartered in Fort Howard, until the movement on Hatcher's Run. It was with its division in a charge on the enemy, and in skirmishing. Early in December was on the Weldon raid, and succeeded in effecting the destruction of about twenty miles of the rail- roads and its fixtures, as well as rebel stores and other property. On the return of the corps from this raid the. One Hundred and Forty-third was a portion of the rear guard, and was frequently attacked by the enemy's pursuing column. This was the last active service of the regiment during that year.
Early in February, 1865, the regiment participated in a movement against the enemy at Hatcher's Run, where the rebels and the Union troops were alternately driven. Capt. Gaylord was killed in this fight, and the regiment suffered greatly. Soon after this, with three other regiments in the same brigade, went north. It was placed on duty at the rendezvous on Hart island, in the East river, New York, and remained there during the remainder of its term of service; mustered out on June 12, 1865, and on its return to Wilkes-Barre was received with those marks of esteem to which its severe and efficient service in the field entitled it.
Col. Dana had suffered severely during his imprisonment, and was one of fifty imprisoned officers who were placed under the fire of the Union artillery at the city of Charleston. After his return, though holding the rank of a colonel, he was, during a long time, kept in command of his brigade. The officers of that brigade
Granich In Aarding
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
drew up and subscribed a memorial to the war department protesting against such injustice, and asking that he be promoted. This paper, from some cause, never reached the department, but on the facts of the case becoming known through other channels, he was brevetted a brigadier-general, and retained in the service on special duty till the following August.
Field and Staff Officers .- Colonel: Edmund L. Dana, November 18, 1862; wounded aud captured at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; brevet brigadier-general, July 26, 1865; discharged August 18, 1865.
Lieutenant-colonels: George E. Hoyt, September 6, 1862; promoted from cap- tain Company D November 8, 1862; died at Kingston, Pa., June 1, 1863; John D. Musser, October 1, 1862; promoted from first lieutenant Company K to major November 8, 1862; to lieutenant colonel June 2, 1863; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864; George N. Richard, August 27, 1862; promoted from captain Com- pany C June 8, 1865.
Majors: C. M. Conyngham, August 26, 1862; promoted from captain Company A September 1, 1863; discharged July 26, for wounds received at Spottsylvania Courthouse May 12, 1864. Chester K. Hughes, October 18, 1862; promoted from captain Company I October 27, 1864; brevet lieutenant-colonel and colonel March 13, 1865.
Adjutants: John Jones, Jr., December 18, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certi- ficate September 12, 1863. F. M. Shoemaker, October 31, 1863; discharged on surgeon's certificate, September 7, 1864. Charles H. Campbell, September 8, 1862; promoted from second lieutenant Company F, December 13, 1864.
Quartermasters: Milton Dana, November 18, 1862; promoted to captain and assistant quartermaster U. S. Volunteers May 17, 1865; mustered out May 19, 1866. William D. Warfel, September 6, 1862; promoted from private Company E to quartermaster-sergeant October 1, 1863; quartermaster June 5, 1865.
Surgeons: Francis C. Reamer, September 16, 1862; resigned February 3, 1865. C. E. Humphrey, May 25, 1863; promoted from assistant surgeon One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers March 22, 1865.
Assistant surgeons: James Fulton, August 20, 1862; transferred from One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers November 18, 1862; discharged April 8, 1864. David L. Scott, September 18, 1862; discharged April 8, 1864. I. C. Hogendobler, April 27, 1864; promoted to assistant surgeon U. S. Volunteers September 7, 1864; brevet major; mustered out December 8, 1865. Edward Brobst, December 27, 1864.
Chaplain: Solomon W. Weiss, November 28, 1862; resigned April 30, 1863.
Sergeant-majors: Jacob W. Burke, September 6, 1862; promoted from sergeant Company D May 16, 1865. Patrick De Lacy, August 26, 1862; promoted from sergeant Company A October 6, 1864; second lieutenant Company D May 24, 1865. John M. Conner, August 27, 1862; promoted from first sergeant Company C December 1, 1863; first lieutenant Company B September 18, 1864. Wesley M. Cooper, August 15, 1862; promoted from sergeant Company K; transferred to Com- pany K December 1, 1863. Alonzo S. Holden, August 26, 1862; promoted from sergeant Company A January 1, 1863; transferred to Company A July 1, 1863.
Quartermaster-sergeant: Elhannan W. Wert, September 6, 1862; promoted from private Company E to commissary sergeant July 17, 1864; to quartermaster sergeant June 6, 1865.
Commissary sergeants: Augustus Atherton, August 26, 1862; promoted from private Company B June 7, 1865. Myron S. Town, September 6, 1862; promoted from private Company H April 20, 1864; to quartermaster Forty-fifth U. S. C. T. July 21, 1864; mustered out November 4, 1865.
Hospital steward: Josiah L. Lewis, September 6, 1862; promoted from private Company E October 1, 1863.
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
Company A. - Officers: Captains: C. M. Conyngham, promoted major Septem- ber 1, 1863. Oliver K. Moore, promoted from first lieutenant September 16, 1863; resigned January 24, 1864. Charles C. Plotze, promoted from second to first lieu- tenant September 16, 1863; captain February 1, 1864. First lieutenants: Charles H. Riley, promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant February 5, 1864; to first lieutenant February 5, 1864; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 10, 1864. Barton M. Stetler, promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant April 21, 1864; first lieu- tenant September 25, 1864. First sergeants: Lee D. Groover, commissioned sec- ond lieutenant June 2, 1863; not mustered; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863. William H. Bennett, promoted from corporal December 25, 1862; commissioned second lieutenant June 1, 1865; not mustered.
Company B .- Officers: Captains: Joseph H. Sornberger, discharged February 1, 1863. William G. Graham, promoted from first lieutenant February 4, 1863; discharged October 26, 1863. Jacob M. Lingfelter, promoted from first sergeant to second lieutenant July 1, 1863; to first lieutenant February 9, 1864; to captain February 29, 1864. First lieutenants: Asher M. Fell, promoted from second lieu- tenant February 4, 1863; discharged December 3, 1863. Edward P. McCreery, September 6, 1862; promoted from sergeant Company I February 28, 1864; dis- charged May 5, 1864. John M. Connor, August 27, 1862; promoted from sergeant- major September 18, 1864. Second lieutenants: Paul R. Barrager, promoted from sergeant to first sergeant August 15, 1863; second lieutenant February 15, 1864; discharged July 29, 1864. Martin Chandler, promoted from corporal to sergeant October 6, 1863; first sergeant June 3, 1864; second lieutenant September 25, 1864.
Company C .- Officers: Captain: George N. Reichard, promoted to lieutenant- colonel June 8, 1865. First lieutenants-Charles B. Stout, discharged on surgeon's certificate November 7, 1864. Rufus W. Marcy, promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant September 25, 1864; to first lieutenant November 28, 1864. Second lieu- tenants: John C. Cropp, killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. Max Burkhart, promoted from sergeant December 3, 1864.
Company D .- Officers: Captains: George E. Hoyt, promoted lieutenant-colonel November 8, 1862. Asher Gaylord, promoted from second lieutenant November 3, 1862; killed at Hatcher's Run, Va., February 7, 1865. Milton T. Bailey, promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant February 12, 1864; captain May 20, 1865; pris- oner from August 21, 1864, to February 22, 1865. First lieutenants: James A. Raub, resigned December 28, 1862. Hiram H. Travis, promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant November 3, 1862; first lieutenant August 22, 1863; resigned December 29, 1863. George A. Reese, promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant September 20, 1863; first lieutenant January 22, 1864; discharged March 30, 1865. Wilbur F. Rice, promoted from first sergeant May 24, 1865; prisoner from July 1 to September 29, 1863. Second lieutenant: Patrick De Lacy, August 26, 1862; promoted from sergeant-major May 24, 1865. First sergeant: George N. Foster, promoted from sergeant May 22, 1865.
Company E .- Officers': Captain: M. Lewis Blain. First lieutenants: Zebulon M. Ward, resigned January 14, 1863. Ezra S. Griffin, promoted from second lieutenant January 30, 1863; died July 11, 1864, of wounds. H. N. Greenslitt, promoted from first sergeant to second lieutenant December 13, 1864; first lieu- tenant April 4, 1864. Second lieutenants: William La France, promoted from first sergeant February 2, 1862; commissioned first lieutenant July 27, 1864; not mustered; discharged November 16, 1864. Levi B. Tompkins, promoted from sergeant April 4, 1865. First sergeant: David C. Sterling, promoted from sergeant December 31, 1864.
Company F .- Officers: Captains: Henry M. Gordon, September 13, 1862; pro- moted from first lieutenant May 8, 1865. William A. Tubbs, September 13, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate April 15, 1864. First lieutenant: Robert P.
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY. .
Crockett, September 13, 1862; promoted from second lieutenant June 23, 1864. Second lieutenants: Nathaniel J. M. Heck, September 13, 1862; promoted to sergeant December 1, 1862; to first sergeant; second lieutenant December 17, 1864. Charles H. Campbell, promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant July 1, 1864; adjutant December 13, 1864. First sergeants: Hiram Campbell, promoted from corporal to sergeant February 28, 1863; first sergeant, December 17, 1864; David P. Good, died at Wind Mill Point, Va., June 7, 1863.
Company G .- Officers: Captains: Edward W. Wendell, November 16, 1862; dis- charged November 19, 1863. Daniel J. Morton, September 18, 1862; promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant March 15, 1864; captain September 25, 1864. First lieu- tenant: George Collings, October 10, 1862; promoted from second lieutenant November 1, 1863; commissioned captain November 20, 1863; not mustered; discharged August 8, 1864. L. R. Nicholson, September 18, 1862; died July 13 of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863. Second lieutenants: Alfred Groff, September 18, 1862; promoted from sergeant November 1, 1863; discharged May 8, 1864. Frank H. Montonye, September 18, 1862; promoted from private to sergeant June 22, 1863; first sergeant; second lieutenant December 2, 1864.
Company I .- Officers: Captains: Chester K. Hughes, October 18, 1862; pro- moted major October 27, 1864; Harlow Potter, September 20, 1862; promoted from corporal to sergeant December 1, 1863; from first sergeant to first lieutenant Janu- ary 2, 1865; captain April 15, 1865. First lieutenants: Thomas Davenport, Sep- tember 20, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate October 21, 1864. William H. Blain, September 20, 1862; promoted from private to corporal November 1, 1863; sergeant February 29, 1864; first sergeant April 15, 1865. Second lieutenants: Samuel F. McKee, October 18, 1862; promoted adjutant One Hundred and Forty- seventh Pennsylvania December 6, 1862. C. W. Betzenberger, September 20, 1862; promoted from sergeant January 1, 1863; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863. Jairus Kauff, September 20, 1862; promoted from sergeant to second lieutenant September 1, 1863; commissioned captain October 15, 1864; not mustered; capt- ured; died at Columbia, S. C., October 31, 1864.
Bucktait brigade .- There were several men in the Bucktail regiment-the One Hundred and Forty-ninth-from Luzerne county.
One Hundred and Sixty-third Regiment contained several squads recruited from Luzerne.
One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment also had a number of Luzerne men, though no one separate command or company.
One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Regiment .- In this command was Company C, drafted new from Luzerne county. The regiment was organized in December, 1862. From which date it may be seen that drafting in this county occurred in the early part of the war.
One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Regiment (100 days' men) was partly obtained from Luzerne; organized July 24, 1864.
CHAPTER VIII. SUGAR LOAF MASSACRE.
DESTRUCTION OF FORTS RICE, BOSLEY'S MILLS AND FORT JENKINS-CAPT. KLADER'S COM- PANY AMBUSHED-BURIAL PARTY-JOHN BALLIETT-THE WALK PURCHASE-CHIEF NUTIMUS-PETER HESS MASSACRED, ETC.
B Y the kindness of C. F. Hill, Esq., of Hazleton, the following facts concerning this sad event are herewith given. The bloody day was September 10, 1780, near what is now the village of Conyngham, Sugar Loaf township, in this county.
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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
Within the four days preceding this event was the attack on Fort Rice and the destruction of Bosley's mills, a fortified station near Washingtonville, and the destruction of Fort Jenkins and surrounding buildings. These all occurred between the 6th and 10th of September. There was a small settlement, Friends, and supposed tories, on the North Branch of the Susquehanna at a place called Cata- wissa and on Fishing creek. All other settlements in this region had been deserted, the inhabitants having fled to places of safety-the forts along the river. The set- tlement mentioned occupied their farms in apparent security-probably the chief
cause of their being suspected. And it was said they gave the Indians information
of the movements of the whites. The militia had lost several men who had strayed from the camps; Col. Hunter, the commander of Northumberland county, had been thus killed. Therefore Capt. Robinson was ordered to take his company and bring in these inhabitants. The authorities of Pennsylvania had considerable correspond- ence in regard to the people of Catawissa and Fishing creek as to their treasonable practices, and several were arrested, and supposed evidence of their giving aid to the enemy elicited.
Col. Hunter had determined to make a demonstration against this tory settle- ment, and arranged with Capt. Klader, of Northampton county, to join him in the enterprise, but the enemy heard of the contemplated movement and proceeded to thwart it. Before Capt. Klader was to meet Col. Hunter, the enemy, it is said, 250 to 300 strong, on September 6, 1780, appeared at Fort Rice and made an attack, keeping up the attack until after nightfall, when they set fire to the near buildings and haystacks adjacent. The garrison from Fort Jenkins was sent to their relief. Col. Kelly, 100 men, and Col. Purdy from Juniata with 100 men reached the place, when the enemy broke into small bodies and retreated. One of these squads (said to be forty strong) went via Knob mountain, passing near the spot where Van Cam- pen's father, brother and uncle had been slain the previous spring: thence by way of Cabin run to Fort Jenkins, which had been evacuated, and destroyed that fort and the buildings in the vicinity. They had destroyed Bosley's mills near Fort Rice.
It is now pretty well known that this party knew that Capt. Klader intended to join Col. Hunter in the expedition up the river. They therefore proceeded up the river to Berwick, crossed the river and followed the path a distance of about seven miles from Nescopeck, and there lay in ambush awaiting Capt. Klader and his com- pany. At high noon, September 10, while these unfortunate patriots were nooning, having stacked their arms and scattered about, many of them in the trees gathering grapes, they were surrounded, and, unaware of danger, attacked, and nearly all killed or taken prisoners. Capt. Klader was left dead where he fell fighting, and his lieutenant, John Moyer, was taken prisoner. The spot at that time where this occurred was known as Scotch Valley. Moses Van Campen afterward thus described the affair substantially as follows: The men had made a long and tire- some march and were nearing the end of their journey-it being only seven miles to Nescopeck Falls. When they reached what was the Scotch settlement, and entered upon the smooth, open fields, they were delighted, and they stopped to enjoy the scenery and refreshments, and many were engaged in innocent amusements and were scattered about over the meadow grounds. The Indians secretly hovering there saw their opportunity and swooped upon them. All were killed, it is said, by Van Campen, but three, who escaped and one other was taken a prisoner to Niagara -Ensign James Scobey.
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