History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 12

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Wyoming County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 12

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

During the year 1:77 the situation in the Wyoming valley was not materially changed. The alliance between the British and Indians, which had from the first been feared, notwithstanding the professions of neutrality of the latter, was formed on the 20th of June, when the Indians were taken by General Burgoyne into the Brit- ish service and the price of $10 each for human scalps was offered them by him. Tories resided on the north- ern border of the settlement, as well as between Tunk- hannock and Wyalusing; and between these and the Indians in the vicinity of Tioga, Chemung and Newtown it was learned that communication was kept up. Evi- dences of sympathy with the British government on the part of settlers to the north and west from the valley who came from New York, Delaware and lower Pennsylvania, became more and more apparent. Several persons who were suspected of tory sentiments had been arrested and sent to Connecticut by the committee of inspection, and in the autumn of this year several scouting parties were sent by the same committee up the river and between thirty and forty tories were arrested, some of them taken "vith arms in their hands. A conspiracy among them to

THE BURDENS OF WESTMORELAND-PROTECTION WITHDRAWN.

bring the Tioga Indians on the settlement was broken up by the arrest of these tories.

Hon. Peter M. Osterhout relates that Zebulon Marcy was with one of these scouting parties a short distance above Tunkhannock, and that "a tory by the name of Adam Wortman (a Dutchman) came out of his house armed with a gun. His wife called to him, 'Shoot, Adam! Shoot !' Adam fired, and the ball struck an old fashioned iron tobacco box in the vest pocket of Marcy and lodged, making an indentation of the size of the bullet but doing no other damage. One of the party fired, giving Wort- man a mortal wound. He begged for help and asked that they should send for a physician. Dr. William Hooker Smith, a noted surgeon who was called, remarked as he set out that if he was not dead when he arrived he would not live long afterward. The tobacco box is still in possession of the family."

It is proper here to state that these tories alleged they had been driven to their affiliation with the British and Indians by the hostile attitude of the Yankees at Wyo- ming, who had persecuted and annoyed them because they had obtained the titles to their lands from the State of Penn- sylvania; and that the Indians became hostile to the Amer- icans because of the conduct of the Connecticut settlers.

Although the Indians had up to the close of this year made no descent on the valley, they had taken prisoners some whom the tories had betrayed into their hands, and among them Lieutenant John Jenkins, who was taken to Niagara and afterward to Montreal. He subsequently escaped, and arrived home in June of the next year.

The patriotism of the people here is attested by the fact that burdens greatly disproportioned to those of other citizens of Connecticut were imposed on them and borne for the sake of the cause with but few murmurs. The two companies that had been raised in Westmoreland tor the defense of the town, and ordered to the field in an emergency, were retained to contribute toward the half filled quota of Connecticut. According to a calculation by the excellent historian Miner, Westmoreland had in the field more than eight times its proportion of the quota of that State ; and these troops were retained as before stated to swell the quota of Connecticut, leaving only old men and boys to defend the settlement against sudden irruptions of Indians, notwithstanding its isolated con- dition. Six forts were in process of construction by these people "without fee or reward," and the military organ- izations of these exempt men were constantly in requi- sition to guard against surprise or to go upon scouts. The town was taxed by the State of Connecticut to the amount of £2,000. In view of the fact that the town had steadfastly maintained its allegiance to the province, without assistance from the latter, when it was repeatedly invaded, and had sent the flower of its youth to help fill the quota of the State, it is, as Miner says, a matter of surprise "that a sum so considerable, or indeed any suni, should be demanded of Wyoming for the purposes of the State treasury at Hartford."

A few quotations will show by what kind of a spirit the people were animated at that time:

"At a town meeting legally warned, holden December 30th, 1777, John Jenkins was chosen moderator for ye work of ye day."

" Voted by this town, that the committee of inspection be empowered to supply the sogers' wives and the sogers' widows and their families with the necessaries of life."

Of this vote Miner says: "Let it be engraved on plates of silver! Let it be printed in letters of gold! Challenge Rome in her republican glory, or Greece in her democratic pride, to produce, circumstances con- sidered, an act more generous and noble."

Of the women it was said: "Justice and gratitude de- mand a tribute to the praiseworthy spirit of the wives and daughters of Wyoming. While their husbands and fathers were away on public duty they cheerfully assumed a large portion of the labor which females could do. They assisted to plant, made the hay, husked and gathered the corn and gathered the harvest."

The commencement of the year 1778 found the aspect of affairs somewhat changed in America. General Bur- goyne had been defeated and had surrendered at Sara- toga, and there was no effective British force to prosecute a campaign for that year. The avowed policy of the enemy was therefore to carry on a devastating frontier warfare by tories and Indians. Under these circum- stances, of course, the fears of the inhabitants of this valley were excited for their own safety. By their ener- getic measures against the tories up the river they had incurred their deadly hatred, and they had well grounded reasons to apprehend an attack from these and the Indians of the Six Nations beyond. They also had reason to fear that for strategic purposes the settlement would be at- tacked. Its destruction would remove the only barrier to a descent on the German settlements farther south, or an attack on it would divert the American forces from other points. Early in the year it became known that preparations were being made for attacks on the frontiers of New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and appeals were made to Congress for protection. To these ap- peals Congress responded by authorizing the town of Westmoreland to raise a company of infantry for the defense of the town and the settlements of the neighborhood against Indians and other enemies, "and that the said company find their own arms, accou- trements and blankets." In other words, they appealed for help and received a gracious permission to help them- selves, after their means for doing so had been exhausted. Miner justly says: "Wyoming seems to have been doomed by a selfishness which cannot be designated except by terms which respect forbids us to employ."

As early as May it was expected from the appearance of Indian scouts in the vicinity that an attack on the valley was meditated, and these suspicions were confirmed when, on the 2nd of June, Lieutenant John Jenkins re- turned from his captivity and informed the settlers that the plan had been formed at Niagara to invade the fron . tier. 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

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

was soon to be made. During the month of June attacks were made on frontier settlements at various points. Jenkins says: " The whole frontier was aglow with fire, desolation and death, beneath the fagot, tomahawk, rifle and scalping knife of the Indians and their cruel and im- placable allies the British and tories."

During the month of June some acts of hostility by the Indians and tories occurred. On the 12th William Crooks was shot and scalped about two miles above Tunkhannock at the abandoned house of the tory John Secord; and on the ryth a reconnoitering party of six were fired on about six miles below Tunkhannock, and one of the party, named Miner Robbins, killed, and another, named Joel Phelps, wounded.

When the threatening aspects of affairs in the valley came to be known in the field, Captains Durkee and Ransom, of the companies from Westmoreland, with Lieutenants Wells and Ross and about 20 privates, left and hastened home. The companies were then, by a resolution of Congress passed June 23d, 1778, consoli- dated, under Captain Simon Spalding; and afterward, it is said, were ordered to march to Lancaster, and still later to Wyoming, but not in season to be of service.

In the latter 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 four hundred British and tories, under Major John Butler, and four or five hundred Indians, largely composed of Senecas. They descended the Susquehanna and landed not far from the mouth of Bowman's creek, where they remained until they were joined by about two hundred more Senecas, who had been to the west branch. They left the large boats here and passed with the smaller ones down to the "Three Islands," fifteen miles above the valley. They marched thence to Sutton's creek, where they were encamped on the evening of the 30th. On the morning of that day a party of twelve from Fort Jenkins passed up the river a few miles to their work. Toward evening they were attacked by the Indians ; several were killed, others taken prisoners and four escaped, arriving at the fort on the morning of July Ist. While the settlers were march- ing on that day, under the command of Colonel Zebulon Butler, of the Continental army (then at home), and Colonel Denison and Lieutenant Colonel Dorrance, 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. On the morning of the 2nd Fort Wintermoot was opened to them by its tory occupants, and on the evening of the same day the garrison of Fort Jenkins capitulated. The day was spent by the settlers in gathering the women and children in places of safety, mostly in Forty Fort, which was about four miles below Fort Wintermoot, and in making pre- parations for defense. Steuben Jenkins thus describes the condition of things in the valley on the 3d:

"The upper part of the valley, on the west side of the river, was in the hands of the enemy, numbering 1,100 men, well arined and equipped, thirsting for conquest and blood.

"So complete and effective was their possession that no person had been able to pass their lines to give information of either their numbers, position or purpose.

"Jenkins's Fort, on the Susquehanna, just above the west end of the Pittston ferry bridge, was in their posssession, having capitulated the day before, but possession had not been taken until this morning.

" 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 pos- session all the day before, and was used as their headquarters.

"Forty Fort, some four miles further down the river, situate on the west bank of the Susquehanna, 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 forees, such as they were, were distributed throughout the val- ley somewhat as follows :

" The Kingston company, commanded by Captain Aholiab Buck, num- bering 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 William MeKar- rachen, 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 Bid- lack, jr., numbering about thirty-eight men, was at Wilkes-Barre.

"The Pittston company, commanded by Captain Jeremiah Blanchard, numbering about forty inen, wasat Pittston Fort.

"The Huntington and Salem company, commanded by Captain John Franklin, numbering about thirty-five men, was at home.

"These were the militia, or train-bands, of the settlement, and in- cluded 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 company, formned and kept together under the resolution of Congress, to which reference has al- ready been made.

" Besides these, there was 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, who had been designated to command the forces in the valley, was at Wilkes-Barre, placing things in order for defense there. On the morn- ing of the 3d a flag was sent by Major Butler demanding the unconditional surrender of Forty Fort, with Captain Hewitt's company and the public stores, and threatening to move on them at once in case of a refusal. Colonel Denison, who was in command of the fort, refused, and sent immediately for Colonel Butler, who ordered up the two companies . from Wilkes-Barre and the one from Hanover. It was decided on consultation to hold the fort; and in order to secure delay for the possible arrival of the company of Captain Spalding, who it was learned was on the way, and also that of Captain Franklin, a flag was sent to Major Butler, asking for a conference. This flag was fired on, as were two others that were afterward sent out. At 3 P. M. a force of about four hundred including old men and boys, left Forty Fort and marched up the valley to protect it against the prowling Indians. They proceeded about a mile and halted at Abraham's creek, where the road now crosses it on a stone bridge. Another flag was sent from that point, but it was fired on, and up to this time the scouts which had been sent out had brought no definite information as to the strength and probable designs of the enemy. A discussion arose here as to the measures proper to be adopted in view of the circumstances, and the debate became very earnest, and even personal. Some of the most sanguine demand- ed to be led forward and attack the enemy at once, while the more cool and judicious opposed this

THE BATTLE OF WYOMING.

course. Scouts reported that the enemy was prob- ably preparing to leave the valley. Charges of cow- ardice were made, and the Hanover company be- came mutinous and threatened a revolt. An ad- vance was decided on, and they proceeded to a point near the hill just below the monument, where they were met by scouts who reported Fort Wintermoot on fire and the enemy leaving the valley. They advanced to a point near the southwestern bounds of the fair ground, where they formed in line of battle, extending some 1,600 feet north westerly from the edge of the terrace which forms the plain. In this order they advanced cau- tiously about a mile, and when within forty or fifty rods of Fort Wintermoot they counted the line off into odds and evens, and each advanced alternately ten paces and fired while the others loaded. As they advanced the enemy fell back before them. When the line had reached a point as far up as Fort Wintermoot, the line of the British and tories was formed behind a log fence on the opposite side of a cleared field. The firing had become general along these lines. The Indians, who were con- cealed behind the shrubbery of a marsh to the left, broke from their cover and made an impetuous attack on that flank. To prevent them from gaining the rear, Colonel Denison, who commanded the left wing, gave the order to fall back and form an oblique line. This order was misunderstood and confusion was the result. Jenkins says of the battle after this:

"The Indians, meantime, rushed in upon them, yelling, brandishing their spears and tomahawks, and the British and tories pressed down upon them in front, pouring in a terrible fire.

" Broken, borne down by overwhelming numbers, and pressed by an irresistible foree, the left gave way and fell baek on the right. The movement was rapid and confused and brought confusion on the right. From confusion to disorder, from disorder to broken lines, and thence to flight, were but steps in regular gradation. The flight became a slaughter, the slaughter a massacre. Such was the battle.

"It was impossible that the result of the battle should have been dif- ferent. The enemy was three to one, and had the advantage of position. Our men fought bravely, but it was of no avail.

"Every captain fell at his position in the line, and there the men lay like sheaves of wheat after the harvesters."

The fugitives were pursued by the Indians and tories, who vied with each other in the work of slaughter. Space will not permit a detail of all the horrors of that night. The following account of the tragedy at what is known as Queen Esther's Rock (which still lies on the field), is taken from Jenkins's centennial address:

" On the evening of the battle sixteen of the prisoners taken on the field of battle and in the flight, under promise of quarter, were collected together by their savage captors around a roek near the brow of the hill at the southeast of the village of Wyoming, and a little more than a mile from the field of action. The rock at that time was about two feet high on its eastern front, with a surface four or five feet square, running back to a level with the ground and beneath it at its western extremity. The prisoners were arranged in a ring around this roek, and were surrounded with a body of two hundred savages, under the lead- ership and inspiration of Queen Esther, a fury in the form of woman, who assumed the office of exeentioner. The victims, one nt a time, were taken from the devoted cirele and led to the cast front of the rock, where they were made to sit down. They were then taken by the hair and their heads pulled back on the rock, when the bloody Queen Esther with death-maul would dash out their brains. The savages, as cach vietim was in this manner iminolated, would danee around in a ring, holding each others' hands, shouting and hallooing, closing with the death-whoop. In this manner fourteen of the party had been put to death. The fury of the savage queen inereased with the work of blood. Secing thore was no other way or hope of deliverance, Lebbeus Hammond, one of the prisoners, in a fit of desperation, with a sudden spring broke through the circle of Indians and fled toward the mountain. Rifles cracked !

Tomahawks flew ! Indians yelled ! But Hammond held on his course for about fifty rods, when he stumbled and fell, but sprang up again. Stopping for a moment to listen, he found his pursuers on each side of him, or a little ahead, running and yelling like demons. He stepped be- hind a large pine tree to take breath, when, reflecting that his pursuers being already ahead of him he would gain nothing by going on in that direction, he turned and ran for the river in such a course as to avoid the party around the fatal roek, and yet to keep an eye on them. He passed by without being seen, went down and plumged into the high grass in the swampy ground at the foot of the hill, where he remained concealed for about two hours, watching the movements and listening to the yells of hs savage pursuers. He finally erawled out of his eon- cealment, cautiously made his way to the river, and thenee down to the fort."

On the morning of the 4th, Major Butler sent a flag to Forty Fort, inviting Colonel Denison to come to his headquarters and agree on terms of capitulation. During the time that was granted for consultation Colonel Zebu- lon Butler and the survivors of Captain Hewitt's company fled, to avoid being given up as prisoners, as demanded at first by Major Butler. The terms of capitulation agreed on were honorable, and it is believed that Major Butler exerted himself to have them strictly carried out. The Indians, however, as he alleged, could not be con- trolled. They set fire to the village of Wilkes-Barre, which was consumed and plundered, and burned the property of the settlers, in violation of these terms. He said to Colonel Denison: ' Make out a list of the prop- erty lost, and I pledge my honor it shall be paid for." It is just to state that Major Butler requested to have a quantity of whiskey which was in the fort destroyed be- fore he took possession, to prevent the Indians from being made mad with it; and that the barrels, sixteen in number, were rolled into the river, and the heads were knocked in after they were afloat.

It is but justice to say of Major Butler that his con- duct was not marked by the atrocities that some have imputed to him. Miner says of him that his laste to de- part from the valley " can only be accounted for on the supposition that he was sickened by the tortures already committed, dreaded the further cruelties of the Indians, and desired by his absence to escape the responsibility of their future conduct." He left the valley on the 8th. A portion of the Indians remained after his departure and continued the work of wanton destruction.

The statements of the number slain in this battle and massacre have varied from 160 to 360. Probably it may be safely estimated at 300. The names which have been ascertained, and inscribed on the monument that has been erected to the memory of the heroes of this battle, are given in the history of the village of Wyoming.

On the night of the massacre most of the inhabitants of the valley had fled, either down the river or to the east and many of those who remained escaped on the night of the 4th. The number who thus became fugitives is not known, but it has been estimated at 2,000. Most of them were women and children, whose protectors were in the Continental army or were lying dead on the battle field. On crossing the river they plunged into the moun- tain wilderness, beyond which lay a wide and dismal swamp. How many perished in their flight over the mountains and through this swamp, or by what sufferings and lingering tortures they died, will never be known.

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

It is known, however, that hundreds were never again seen after they left the valley, and because of the number that perished in the swamp it was called " The Shades of Death."

At the time of the battle Captain Spalding's company was within forty or fifty miles of the valley, marching toward it. On the evening of the 5th they met the fore- most of the fugitives. They continued their march till they arrived at the top of the mountain range overlooking the valley, when they separated into parties to protect the fugitives, and after a few days followed them in their flight, scouring the forest and assisting those who were exhausted by fatigue and hunger. In this way they saved many from perishing. They thus assisted the fugitives in their flight as far as Stroudsburg and remained till the 4th of August. They then, accompanied by many of these fugitives, returned to the valley, of which they held possession until the close of the war.

Although no force was afterward during the year 1778 sent against the valley, the Indians continued to prowl around the settlements, and from time to time steal on those whom they found in their fields or houses unpre- pared to defend themselves, for the purpose of obtaining scalps, prisoners or plunder.

In September Colonel Hartley, of the Pennsylvania troops, with a force of 130 men, including a company of Wyoming volunteers commanded by Captain Franklin, made a successful expedition against the Indians on the west branch and at Tioga, destroying their towns and property. After the return of this expedition the Indians re-appeared in this vicinity, and from their secure hiding places in the mountains continued their predatory attacks on such settlers as returned and at- tempted to cultivate their fields. Many were killed by savage scalping parties in their stealthy descents, and many others carried into captivity. Among the latter was Frances Slocum, whose romantic story has often been told. She was taken on the 2nd of November, when only five years old, from her father's house near Fort Wilkes-Barre and carried into captivity. No tidings were ever received of her till about sixty years later, when she was discovered near Logansport, Ind., and visited by her brothers. She had forgotten her native language, had survived her Indian husband and reared a family of children. She refused to return to her kin- dred, preferring to remain with her family and the people among whom her life had been passed, and whose habits, religion, etc., she had adopted.

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History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 12

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York Publication date: 1880 Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co. Number of Pages: 900

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900