USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > The Wyoming Valley, upper waters of the Susquehanna, and the Lackawanna coal-region : including views of the natural scenery of northern Pennsylvania : from the Indian occupancy to the year 1875 > Part 4
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Susquehanna > The Wyoming Valley, upper waters of the Susquehanna, and the Lackawanna coal-region : including views of the natural scenery of northern Pennsylvania : from the Indian occupancy to the year 1875 > Part 4
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
19
THE APPEARANCE OF NEW ENEMIES.
This action occasioned an open and definite partisan feeling between the Whigs and Tories, and from that time, the result was evident, in the frequent visits of strange Indians, prowling around the outskirts, and occasionally venturing into the villages. The more powerful tribes, far in the interior, were consulted as to these spying parties, by the anxious settlers, and in all cases assurances of good will were received, together with a de- sire for further peace, and a clear understanding as to all that existed between each other.
These warm protestations of friendship were well calculated to allay any fears, and the thrifty little villages buzzed along again in their daily routine of hum and industry.
It was not long before the more sagacious could discern external action, which could not consistently meet the assurances of the Indians, and the most far-seeing were clearly right when they denounced the allegations of the tribes as deceptive.
During the month of March, an Indian, one of a small party, whose purpose was evidently that of scouting, became intoxicated and very demon- strative in his language concerning the future action of his tribe, declaring that the pacific measures thus far adopted, had been for the pur- pose of soothing the whites, but that indeed the warriors were intent, as soon as preparations were complete, to descend upon, and destroy them. The Indian, together with his associates, was im- mediately arrested and placed in confinement, the women of the party being sent home with a flag.
The alarm which followed this intelligence spread with an amazing rapidity to all of the branch settlements, some being thirty miles up the river. The outposts of civilization instantly fled their locations and sought refuge with the more populous towns. Preparations commenced for a more effectual defense, and barriers were placed along the border, in the shape of rude for- tifications, with which the frightened yeomanry hoped to repulse any invasions that might come upon them. These were mostly block-houses with loop-holes for muskets, and the traveler through the valley to-day may have pointed out to him the exact locality upon which their simple fortifications rested.
At the approach of spring, during the months of April and May, the annoyances which the set- tlers suffered assumed a grave aspect. The num- bers of the incursionists increased, composed of Tories and Indians, and plundering was carried on with a bold and defiant hand. In June, the malicious spirit of these invasions culminated in the murder of several persons, which aroused the entire community to a deep sense of its condition. Many of the Indians who participated in these raids were total strangers to the citizens of Wy- oming, a fact which increased the alarm to the fullest extent, for it signified the approach of more enemies than were expected to be in the vicinity. Historians differ as to the tribe or na- tion to which they belonged, but it is supposed that they were from Detroit, and led on by British officers, as reenforcements at that time were approaching east, to aid in swelling the de- pleted numbers in the New York forests.
The principle fort which had been constructed for the defense of the valley, was situated on the west side of the Susquehanna, about two miles above where the city of Wilkes-Barre now stands, and was called Forty Fort, because the original structure was built by forty pioneers, who entered the valley in the winter of 1769. It had by this time been strengthened and materially enlarged, so much so, that in its contines rested the last hope of the settlers in the event of a defeat.
The marauding parties still barrassed the peo- ple, but affairs had not assumed a general terror. until towards the close of June, when it was de- termined by the British Commandant, at Niagara, to push down upon the settlements in the valley, in force sufficient to overwhelm them.
This movement had been anticipated, and right heartily had the young province prepared for it. Although many of the able-bodied men had been called away for the defense of the common cause, under the Continental commands, the remaining portion, including the aged, and the women and children, hal unsparingly devotol their most un- tiring energies to the matter, and their efforts were put forth, conscious that everything was at &take.
Miner, who is ever in the closest and most de- tailed intimacy with his subject says, in his his- tory :
20
THE WYOMING VALLEY.
"Justice and gratitude demand a tribute to the praiseworthy spirit of the wives and daughters of Wyoming. While their husbands and fathers were on public duty, they cheerfully assumed a large portion of the labor which females could do. They assisted to plant, made hay, husked and garnered the corn. As the settlement was main- 'y dependent on its own resources for powder, Mr. Hollenback caused to be brought up the river a pounder : and the women took up their floors, dug out the earth, put it in casks, and run water through it (as ashes are leached); then took ashes in another cask, and made ley ; mixed the water from the earth with weak ley, boiled it, set it to cool, and the saltpetre rose to the top, Charcoal and sulphur were then used, and pow- der produced for the public defense."
Two years before, in the month of March, on the twenty-second day, 1775, the records show that Westinoreland, at a town meeting took such action, as to make it an inducement pecuniarily, to any person who chose to manufacture gunpow- der :
"At a town meeting, held March 10, Voted, that the first man that shall make fifty weight of good saltpetre in this town, shall be entitled to a bounty of ten pounds, lawful money, to be paid out of the town treasury."
"Voted, that the seleetmen be directed to dis- pose of the grain now in the hands of the treas- urer, or collector, in such way as to obtain pow- der and lead to the value of forty pounds, lawful money, if they can do the same."
Measures more extensive and on a broader scale were necessary, however, at this perilous time, and the united energies of every adult in- habitant were needed to prepare for the on- slaught which was daily expected.
As to the fortifications, the records show that in the month of August, 1776, on the twenty- fourth day, publie measures had been deemed necessary, as by the following :
"At a town meeting legally warned and held, in Westinoreland, Wilkes-Barre District, August 24, 1776,
"Colonel Butler was chosen Moderator for the work of the day.
"Voted, as the opinion of this meeting, that it now becomes necessary for the inhabitants of this
town to erect suitable forts, as a defense against our common enemy."
The Wyoming settlement had one acknowl- edged regiment of militia, which had been re- cruited from the citizens of the vicinity, and another motion before the above mentioned town meeting, embraced the following :-
"That the three field officers should be a com- mittee to fix on the sites of the forts, lay them out, and give directions how they should be built."
The supplement to this motion has drawn fort !! many an encomium on the frankness of public ex- pression of those days, to which Mr. Miner alludes as "the following beautiful vote, which we leave in its simplicity to speak its own eulogium :"
. "That the above said committee do recommend it to the people'to proceed forthwith in building said forts, without either fee or reward from ye town."
The forts were constructed pursuant to orders. and with the limited military knowledge, and capacity for resources, it is safe to venture, that the fortifications were creditable for the times.
The Wyoming forts, in 1778, were six in num- ber, with the addition of the three "Pittstown stockades." The farthest one up the river was Fort Jenkins, situate on the west side, just below the junetion of the Lackawanna river with the Susquehanna. Directly across the river, were the three "Pittstown stockades." But a short distance below on the west side, stood Winter- moot's Fort, which had been constructed by a Tory, bearing that name. He was active in bringing destruction upon the valley, and, after doing all the mischief he could to the settlement, removed to Canada. During the war with Eng- land in 1812-15, while the British were investing Fort Erie, a son of this same old Mr. Wintermoot, a lieutenant in the enemy's service, was killed by a volunteer from the neighborhood of Wyom- ing. Young Wintermoot was reconnoitering one of the American pickets, when he was shot by the son of Wyoming, who was engaged in the same service against the pickets of the enemy. The volunteer returned into the fort, bringing iu the arms and commissions of the officer he had slain, as a trophy-a fit retaliation in remembrance of former days.
Part of the present town of Pittston covers
,
1
,
.
.
21
THE APPEARANCE OF NEW ENEMIES.
the locality formerly designated as Wintermoot's. Forty Fort, on the west, and Fort Ogden on the east side of the river, faced each other, both three and a half miles above the present bridge at Wilkes-Barre. The "Pittstown Stockades" were eight miles above the same point. Fort Durkec was a half a mile below on the left bank, while Wilkes-Barre Fort was situated on the spot now occupied by the city which carries the name.
These fortifications were not sufficiently manned at this juncture, 1778, for the reader must carry to conviction the following facts, which greatly hindered the settlements from . furnishing a just protection to themselves :
It was only the year before, 1777, that the Six Nations had determined to take the field, as auxiliaries of the British forces, and their line of conduct would naturally lead them to make war on just such settlements as Wyoming. Had the Six Nations expressed by any action prior to that time, the husbands, brothers, and fathers of Wy- oming would not have enlisted to fight away from home, as early as 1775-6. Thus, unfortu- nately, Wyoming was deprived of its best soldier material at the crisis. The small colony was by itself and alone, away in the wilderness sixty miles distant from friendly aid. Congress had been appealed to, but to no purpose. Connecti- cut was asked to protect her own, but no guar- dian care could be extended.
The Nation had bled the States for material, hence their mother commonwealth was unable to succor; the Nation itself was fatigued from ex- haustion and no relief could be sent.
The touching appeals by letter, from mothers, wives, and daughters to their kindred in the army, urging them to come and shield their homes from danger, had no response, for the nation's cause was supreme, despite the desire of the Wyoming men in the ranks, to return and .
defend their own firesides. Many of the com- missioned officers resigned their offices and hast- ened to the scene of action which called for their strength.
But, the forces under Washington were even then retreating, and sadly in need of greater numbers. It would have required a more der- nite showing of actual danger ahead, to have warranted the returning to their homes, the com- panies of Captains Durkee and Ransom.
No real organized attack had as yet been made upon Wyoming, and the shrewdest milita- ry mind of the day, would hardly have dreamed of a change of base from Lake Ontario to Sus- quehanna, for the sake of destroying an almost helpless community.
Toward the close of June, the British forces at Niagara were well on the march toward the settlements. Colonel John Butler was in com- mand, having under him about three hundred white men, consisting in part of regular troops, but principally of refugec Loyalists, together with about five hundred Indians. Arriving at Tioga Point, the command constructed rafts and floats, upon which the force descended the Susquehanna below the mouth of Bowman's creek, in the vi- cinity of the present county seat of Wyoming county-Tunkhannock, where they landed, whence they marched twenty miles, and on the last day of the month of June, at twilight, they found themselves almost facing the two forts - Jenkins above, and Wintermoot below, both for- tifications being on the same side of the river.
It does not appear from record, that any dem- onstration was made on the night of the thirtieth of June, nor is there any historical narration which would convey a clear understanding as to the movements of Colonel Butler throughout the entire night.
wie-
CHAPTER V.
COLONEL ZEBULON BUTLER IN COMMAND OF THE AMERICANS-ENCOUNTERS THE ENEMY-THE FORTS BESEIGED.
"Why shulde I not as well eke tell you all The purtreiture that was upon the wall."
-Chaucer.
"He is painted blind, To show us, if we fondly follow him,; The precipice we may fall into."
-Southern.
The significance of the operations of the Brit- ish command for the next three days, determines absolutely, the mooted issue concerning the mas- sacre at Wyoming.
And here let it be premised, that the author of this work is loath to differ, or in any sense dissent from the views of older minds, which have been accepted hitherto as conclusive, and the ground which the next few pages covers, will beyond a doubt, meet with opposition in nearly every material point.
.
That the matter herein set forth is a challenge to precedent is eandidly admitted, but that it is not altogether erroneous will merit a sincerity equal to the conscious belief of the writer, which - eannot easily be shaken, for, after diligent re- search, unwearied investigation, and unprejudiced conelusions, the burden rests here, to state, that history is grievously at fault in recording the de. tails of the horrors at Wyoming. Without a desire for renown as a historian, with no feeling of emulation as to superior knowledge, and with an innate dread of begetting an open controver- sy, we are constrained to force the utterance that the British arms, and the Indian allies were not responsible for the massacre, and that the en- tire tragedy rests at the thresholds of local Tory settlers, who planned and consummated the diaboli- cal, and extra military measures which were re- sorted to on the third of July, 1778, and here- with the proof is submitted.
Colonel John Butler was a man of years and discretion, besides having held a commission in the royal service, from the line to his field posi- tion. Nothing appears against his military abil- ity up to the Susquehanna campaign, while much of his experience in former struggles commends him to a disinterested soldier, as one who was orthodox to the profession. That his deportment as an officer was ereditable to the crown, is at- tested by all of the commissioned rank that were contemporary, however slight this evidence may appear to Americans, who do not give a British . soldier one-tenth the eredit which they bestow upou any adventurer of another nation. His mind entertained no prejudice toward Wyoming, for he had never been there, nor had he any per- sonal revenge to satiate. He came from another base of operations, because he was ordered upon the Susquehanna to attend to the crown service. His lines from Detroit to Ontario could not, by any possibility, have engendered within him any vindictive hate toward the Continentals, and certainly as a soldier, following his profes- sion, he would not harbor toward the Americans more than would any officer who fights in a for- eign land. The Indian allies which came with his eominand were strangers to the citizens of the valley. The idea that Brant, with a portion of the Iroquois, assisted him, cannot for a moment be entertained, although nearly every historian alleges such to be the fact, and in a subsequent chapter we will prove beyond a reasonable doubt
23
COLONEL ZEBULON BUTLER IN COMMAND.
that neither Brant, nor any of his command were present at the battle.
The greater portion of the warriors who came to Wyoming, had been with Butler as far west as Detroit, and from indisputable traces, more than one nation and type were found in the five hundred who were attached to the expedition. They had no demands upon the new villages, farther than their eode of warfare permitted them to exact ; the tacties to be pursued by them did not eall for more strenuous efforts than they had displayed at the lakes, and in western New York forests, although their actions proved that they overreached former precedents, not from any desire or motive of their own, but because of the instigation upon the part of the Tory whites which allured them to deeds unparalleled in their former history, and for which, it is here endeav- ored to hold them, as principals, guilty, not the accessories.
.
Take for illustration, as an instance of histori- cal irregularity, from which affairs at Wyoming have been misrepresented,-that of Marshall, in his Life of Washington,-and who does not re- vere the name of the venerable historian ? Yet, even his diligent care and research did not pre- vent him from falling into error eoneerning this vexed question of Wyoming. A quarter of a century afterward, Mr. Chas. Miner, an eminent historian, a resident of Wilkes-Barre, who had become as familiar with the valley and its historie incidents as one could be, he too, has accepted tradition, which has rendered his account of the massaere as unaceeptable, in so far as he alleges the Indian element to have been led on by Brant.
Writers without number,-even our own, and England's gifted poets have wooed the Muse to enable them to portray the eventful day at Wy- oming, yet all borrow heavily upon imagination.
With these, a few of the thoughts which erowd upon an earnest investigation, the disconnected thread is again taken up, and the position of Colonel John Butler, on the night of the thirtieth of June, is to be canvassed in detail, and experi- enced soldiers can readily notice the irregularity of accepted record.
Marshall, in his Life of Washington, after de- scribing the manner in which the British and Indians descended the Susquehanna, states that
the forees entered the valley of Wyoming through a gap of the mountain near its northern extremity. To every resident of the valley it is clearly plain, that Marshall meant the head of the valley, at the confluence of the Lackawanna and the Susquehanna rivers. Marshall did not commit himself as to a minute narration of the march of Colonel John Butler, after arriving at that point.
Colonel Stone, the biographer of Brant, whose authority must be acknowledged as creditable, records that "they," meaning the British and In- dian forees, "took possession of two small forts on the 2ud of July, the first of which was ealled the Exeter fort." He calls the other fort below, "Lackawanna."
According to the Westmoreland records, which were the local minutes of all that transpired, and which should be taken as the most reliable, Col- onel Stone must be understood, when naming the upper fort "Exeter" as meaning Fort Jenkins. The second fort he named "Wintermoot," which is correct, and agreed to on the part of every historian of the valley. Ahnon's Remembrancer, which was intended to be a full and perfeet diary of the proceedings of the day, gives no authority which would underrate Stone.
Chapman, Miner, and Pearce, all versed in every tradition and memorable event of the val- ley, do not carry a clear conviction as to the mil- itary movements on the part of Butler.
Hollister, in his second edition, states that "on the 30th of June, just at the edge of the evening, they arrived on the western mountain, a little distance above the Tory fort of Wintermoot's. This fort, standing about one mile below Fort Jenkins, probably owed its inception to some ulterior design of the British and Tories, whom it served so well."
Dr. Peck, who had facilities for research which ean be considered in no other light than enviable, says, "on the 29th or 30th of June, 1778, Colonel John Butler, with about four hun- dred British provineials, partly made up of Tories together with six or seven hundred Indians, en- tered the head of the valley, and took possession of Fort Wintermioot without opposition."
With all historical dates and facts, none bear the mark of precision as to the movements of the
24
THE WYOMING VALLEY.
British forces upon the first night's encampment at the head of the valley.
It must be taken for granted, that on the thir- tieth of June, Butler was at the head of the val- ley, with his command, for no authority gives a later date for his appearance .. If this point be admitted, then arises the question, what in the name of common sense was Butler doing for the next two days, if the battle at Wyoming oeeurred three days after. His movements must have been directed by his will for he was the superior in command, and being an experienced officer, it is presumed that he acted as any man in like eireunistances would. The moment his forees had gained the first view of the valley, on the evening of the thirtieth of June, the picket line of the entire encampment must have been placed for the night, for the reserve encampment was in sight of Forts Wintermoot and Jenkins, on their own side of the river, while it, would not be a flagrant streteh to state that the three Pittstown Stockades directly across were in full view.
With an enemy thus in close proximity, the British and Indian lines must have been well strengthened for the night. That patrols were sent out in different directions to study the exact state of things, is but in accordance with the natural order of things under such circumstances, but proof is had of one of these parties being far to the left of their own lines, away in the town- ship of Exeter.
.
Eight persons had left Fort Jenkins during the day to repair to their daily labor upon the small farms which were tilled up the valley. That Butler's movements had been soldier-like and rapid, is known by the fact that these men were totally unaware of any force of the enemy being at hand, yet according to the most accurate ac- counts, Butler must have gone into camp as early as six o'clock in the evening, and about the same hour, these men were engaged by a seout- ing party which had gone out in a direction at right angles to the line of Butler's column as it moved down the Susquehanna. The settlers had taken the precaution to arm themselves as they set out for their work, and were thus prepared to show fight with the enemy's patrol. This little affray must have been a close and stubborn one, for of the eight, four were stricken down, while
the attacking party lost five, a proportion on both sides to the number engaged, which clearly de- monstrates the vindictive manner in which men fought in the early days of forest warfare. This firing at the foot of Campbell's Ledge, at the ap- proaching enemy was certainly heard at Winter- moot's, Jenkins's and across the river in the stockades. Miner mentions the fact, that Zebu- lon Marcy who was on the opposite side of the river shot two Indians who were endeavoring to decoy any of the friends of the slain who might under cover of the night attempt to secure the bodies. Taking this fact in conjunction with the skirmish as it opened upon the farms in Exeter, and it is clearly proven that the affray was a run- ning skirmish fight, and the eight by successful maneuvering had almost reached Fort Jenkins, and that some of the dead bodies were in a posi- tion to be seen from across the river by Marey, this? then brings the skirmish lines of Butler down to the river. It seems that the British commander approached the two forts, Winter- moot and Jenkins, with due caution, and an am- ple allowance of time, as will be seen by dates hereafter mentioned, for, taking the greater por- tion of his force himself, he approached the for- mer, while a detachment under Captain Caldwell neared Jenkins a mile above the main force, and both forts yielded without a struggle. "
Wintermoot was filled with Tories, and there is every reason to believe that the occupants of this structure assisted with their might in paying of old scores, on the fated 3d of July following. John Butler established his headquarters at Wintermoot on the Ist of July. There is a vari- ance of record upon nearly every step from this time on to the battle which closed the drama.
Colonel Jolin Butler, in his report dated the 8th of July, 1778, five days after the battle, says : "On the 30th of June I arrived with about 500 Rangers and Indians at Wyoming, and en- eamped on an eminence which overlooks the greatest part of the settlement, from which I sent out parties to discover the situation and strength of the enemy, who brought in eight prisoners and scalps."
This portion of his report agrees exactly with the theory which has been herein advanced, as to Butler's resting until he could hear from his.
25
COLONEL ZEBULON BUTLER IN COMMAND.
scouting parties. His eight prisoners were not captured in Exeter, for the real state of the case, after all authorities are examined, explains itself here,-that four of eight fell, whether mortally wounded or killed does not appear, nor can it on a running skirmish fight. Hollister says, "three were taken alive, while a single boy leaped into the river, and, aided by the gray twilight of evening, was enabled to escape by a hundred pursuing bullets." Every citizen of the valley knows the width of the river at this point, and this knowledge will convince any mind, that the boy who escaped had space sufficient between him and the enemy to let him swim with ease. The accounts of war are ever overdrawn, and it would be a plainer way to express the matter,- that a clever fire was thrown at the youth when he jumped into the river. The whole number of the eight are here accounted for.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.