USA > Wyoming > A sketch of the history of Wyoming > Part 8
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river might close, and fasten their boats in the ice, in which case their situation would be extremely unpleasant, they concluded to abandon the enter- prise, and accordingly commenced their return down the river. Thus terminated the last milita- ry enterprize ever undertaken by the Provincial Government of Pennsylvania.
The following year (1776) commenced a new era in the history of the American Colonies, and in some measure gave peace to Wyoming in the midst of war, by removing from Pennsylvania the authority of the Proprietaries, and royal Gov- ernors. During this interval of comparative re- pose, three companies of troops were enlisted at Wyoming for the service of the United Colonies. They were attached to the Connecticut line and made part of the troops of that Colony. At this time a full enumeration of the population at Wyo- ming was made, and the settlements were found to contain five thousand souls. Their militia at the same time amounted to one thousand one hundred men, capable of bearing arms ;* and of this force about three hundred enlisted to serve against the common enemy. After their march, the settlers continued to guard themselves with increased vigi- lance. Regular garrison duty was performed in the several fortifications by classes of the militia in successive order ; in addition to which, a patroll called the " Scout," was established through the
*See memorial to the Legislature of Connecti- tut, Oct. 20, 1784.
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Valley, which was on duty night and day in suc- cession, exploring all thickets and unfrequented grounds, in search of any lurking enemy which might have come to disturb their peace, or spy out the land.
The frontier settlements of the different Colo- nies were at this time continually harrassed by in- cursive parties of British troops and Indians, from Canada ; and the surrender of General Burgoyne which took place in October (1777) did not pro- duce an abandonment of the system. Early in the spring of 1778 a force consisting of about eight hundred men, and composed of British regulars, tories and Indians, under the command of Colonel John Butler, assembled at Niagara and marched to the reduction of Wyoming. The Indians were in number about four hundred, and were commanded by Brandt, * a warlike chief, of mixed blood. At Tioga Point these troops procured boats and rafts of wood upon which they floated down the Susque- hanna until they arrived about twenty miles above Wyoming Fort. Here they landed the latter part of June. On the evening of the 2d. of July they took possession of a Fort which the settlers had built on the bank of the river about a mile below the head of the valley, called Fort Wintermoot. From this Fort, which the British commander made his head quarters, were sent small scouting parties in `search of plunder and provisions, as well as to
*Brandt is said to have been a son of Sir Will- iam Johnson by an Indian woman.
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ascertain the situation and strength of the force which remained for the defence of the settlement ..
Upon the arrival of these troops the settlers col- lected their principal forces in a fortification situ- ated on the west bank of the river, at a large eddy. in the stream below Monockonock Island and about three miles above Wyoming Fort. This fort had been built and defended by forty of the settlers in that vicinity, and had thence obtained the name of: " Forty Fort." The Garrison now assembled here, consisted of the most active of the settlers, and amounted to three hundred and sixty eight men, a small party being left in the other forts for the protection of the settlement in their immediate vicinity. About a month previous messengers had been sent from the settlers to the Continental army, to inform the commander in chief of their situation, and to request that a de- tachment might be sent to their assistance.
On the morning of the 3d. of July, the officers. of the garrison at Forty Fort held a council to de- termine on the propriety of marching from the fort, and attacking the enemy whereever found. The debates in this council of war are said to have been conducted with much warmth and animation. The ultimate determination was one on which de- pended the lives of the garrison and the safety of the settlements. On one side, it was contended that their enemies were daily increasing in num- bers-that they would plunder the settlements. of all kinds of property, and would accumulate the means of carrying on the war while they themselves
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would become weaker ; that the harvest would soon be ripe, and would be gathered or destroyed by their enemies, and all their means of sustenance during the succeeding winter would fail ; That probably all their messengers were killed, and as there had been more than sufficient time, and no assistance arrived, they would probably receive none, and consequently now was the proper time to make the attack. On the other side it was ar- gued that probably some or all the messengers may have arrived at head quarters, but that the absence of the Commander-in-chief may have produced de- lay ; that one or two weeks more may bring the desired assistance, and that to attack the enemy, superior as they were in number, out of the limits of their own fort, would produce almost certain destruction to the settlement and themselves, and captivity and slavery-perhaps torture, to their wives and children. While these debates were progressing, five men belonging to Wyoming, but who, at that time, held commissions in the conti- mental army, arrived at the Fort. They had re- ceived information that a force from Niagara had marched to destroy the settlements on the Susque- hanna, and being unable to bring with them any re-enforcements, they resigned their appointments and hastened immediately to the protection of their families. They had heard nothing of the messer- gers, neither could they give any certain informa- tion as to the probability of relief.
The prospects of receiving assistance became now extremely uncertain. The adypcates for the
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attack prevailed in the council, and at dawn of day on the morning of the third of July, the garri- sou left the Fort, and began their march up the river under the command of Colonel Zebulon But- ler. Having proceeded about two miles, the troops halted for the purpose of detaching a reconnoiter- ing party to ascertain the situation of the enemy. Col. Butler rode along the flank of the column to invite volunteers for this service. Abraham Pike and an Irish companion, offered their services, and they being the only volunteers, were accepted. The scout found the enemy in possession of Fort Wintermoot and occupying huts immediately around it, carousing in supposed security ; but on their return to the advancing column, they met two strolling Indians by whom they were fired up- on, and upon whom they immediately returned the fire, without effect. The settlers hasteneil their march for the attack, but the Indians had giv- en the alarm, and the advancing troops found the enemy already formed in order of battle a small distance from their fort, with their right flank co- vered by a swamp, and their left, resting upon the bank of the river. The settlers immediately dis- played their column, and formed in corresponding order ; but as the enemy was much superior in numbers their line was much more extensive. Pine woods and bushes covered the battle ground in con- sequence of which, the movements of the troops could not be so quickly discovered, nor so well ascertained. Col. Zebulon Butler had command of the right, and was opposed by Col. John But-
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ler at the head of the British troops on the left. Col. Nathan Denison commanded the left, op- posed by Brandt at the head of his Indians on the enemy's right. The battle commenced at about forty rods distant, and continued about fifteen min- utes through the woods and brush without much execution. At this time Brandt with his Indians, having penetrated the swamp, turned the left flank of the settler's line, and with a terrible war-whoop and savage yell, made a desperate charge upon the troops composing that wing, which fell very fast, and were immediately cut to pieces with the toma- hawk. Col. Denison having ascertained that the savages were gaining the rear of the left, gave or- ders for that wing to fall back, in order to prevent being surrounded by the enemy. At the same time Col. John Butler finding that the line of the settlers did not extend as far towards the river as his own, doubled that end of his line, which was protected by a thick growth of brushwood, and ha- ving brought a party of his British regulars to act in column upon that wing, threw Col. Zebulon But- ler's troops into some confusion.
The orders of Col. Denison for his troops to fall back, having been understood by many to mean a retreat, the troops began to retire in much disorder .. The savages considered this as a flight, and com- mencing a most hideous yell, rushed forward with their rifles and tomahawks, and cut the retiring line to pieces. In this situation it was found im- possible to rally and form the troops, and the rout became general throughout the line. The settlers
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fled in every direction and were instantly followed by the savages, who killed or took prisoners who- ever came within their reach. Some succeeded in reaching the river and escaped by swimming across ; others fled to the mountains ; and the savages, too much occupied with plunder, gave up the pursuit. When the first intelligence was received in the vil- lage of Wilkesbarre that the battle was lost, the women fled with their children to the mountains, on their way to the settlements on the Delaware, where many of them at length arrived after suffer- ing extreme hardships. Many of the men who es- caped the battle, together with their women and children who were unable to travel on foot, took refuge in Wyoming Fort, and on the following day (July 4th. ) Butler and Brandt at the head of their combined forces appeared before the fort and de- manded its surrender. The garrison being with- out any efficient means of defence, surrendered the fort on articles of capitulation, by which the settlers, upon giving up their fortifications, pris- eners, and military stores, were to remain in the country unmolested, provided they did not again take up arms .*
In this battle about three hundred of the settlers were killed or missing, and from a great part of whom no intelligence was ever afterwards received. The officers killedt were one Lieutenant Colonel,
*See Articles of Capitulation, Note No. II. at the end of the volume.
See Note No. III. at the end of the volume.
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one Major, ten Captains, six Lieutenants, and two ensigns.
A considerable number of the inhabitants of the- different settlements on the Susquehanna, who, from their attachment to the British cause, were denominated tories, joined the British and savage troops previous to the battle, and exhibited instan- ces of the most savage barbarity in the manner in which they carried on the war against their former neighbors and friends. One instance may serve to shew the desperate feelings which those times produced. A short distance below the battle ground there is a large island in the river called " Monockonock Island." Several of the settlers while the battle and pursuit continued, succeeded in swimming to this island, where they concealed themselves among the logs and brushwood upon it, Their arms had been thrown away in their flight, previous to their entering the river, so that they were in a manner defenceless. Two of them in particular were concealed near and in sight of each other. While in this situation they observed sev- eral of the enemy who had pursued and fired at them while they were swimming the river, prepa- ring to follow them to the island with their guns. On reaching the island they immediately wiped their guns and loaded them. One of them with his loaded gun soon passed close by one of these men who lay concealed from his view, and was immedi- ately recognized by him to be the brother of his companion who was concealed near him, but who, being a tory, had joined the enemy. He passed
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slowly along, carefully examining every covert, and directly perceived his brother in his place of concealment. He suddenly stopped and said, % so it is you, is it ?" His brother finding that he was discovered, immediately came forward a few steps, and falling on his knees, begged him to spare his life, promising to live with him and serve him, and even to be his slave as long as he lived, if he would only spare his life. " All this is migh- ty good," replied the savage hearted brother of the supplicating man, " but you are a d *** d rebel ;M, and deliberately presenting his rifle, shot him dead upon the spot. The other settler made his escape from the island, and having related this fact, the tory brother thought it prudent to accom- pany the British troops on their return to Canada.,
The conditions of the capitulation were entirely disregarded by the British and savage forces, and after the fort was delivered up, all kinds of barbar- ities were committed by them. The village of Wilkesbarre, consisting of twenty-three houses, was burnt ; men and their wives were separated from each other and carried into captivity ; their property was plundered and the settlement laid waste. The remainder of the inhabitants were driven from the Valley, and compelled to proceed on foot sixty miles through the great swamp almost without food or clothing. A number perished in the journey, principally women and children- some died of their wounds, others wandered from the path in search of food and were lost, and those who survived, called the wilderness through which
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they passed " The Shades of Death ;" an appel- lation which it has since retained. On their way through the swamp, the unhappy fugitives met a detachment of regular troops from the continental army under the command of Capt. Spalding, which, in consequence of the representations made by the messengers, had been sent to the relief of the in- habitants at Wyoming ; but as all was now lost, they returned to the Delaware, and the remnant of the inhabitants proceeded to their former homes in Connecticut.
[Capt. Spalding and his company remained at Stroudsburg about four weeks, and learning that but few Indians continued at Wyoming, came im- mediately to Wilkesbarre and took possession of the desolated country, under the command of Col. Z. Butler, by whom they had been joined, to- gether with some others of the settlers, about the time of their departure. Soon after their arrival, they built a fort on the bank of the river a short distance below the centre of the present borough of Wilkesbarre. This they occupied as a home about eleven months, when Gen. Sullivan and his army · arrived. During this period small parties of In- dians occasionally made their appearance, killing or taking prisoners, all who were so unfortunate as to fall into their hands. The Americans in return despatched an Indian whenever an opportunity presented itself. Sometime in March, 1779, the fort was surrounded by about 250 Indians and painted tories. They commenced an attack upon the fort, but upon a cannon being fired by the garrison, the
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Indians with their abettors retreated, burning and destroying everything of consequence before them. On account of the superior numbers of the ene- my, the Americans did not pursue them. ]
The battle and massacre at Wyoming having produced much public sensation, the commander -in-chief of the American armies, sent a detach- ment of two thousand five hundred men under the command of Gen. Sullivan, to drive the British and Indians from that place and to lay waste the Indian country along the north-western frontier. These troops were to receive their military stores at Easton and to open a road through the swamp by which their baggage was to be transported to the
Susquehanna. Some unexpected delay occurred in the departure of the expedition from the Dela- ware, and the inhabitants, many of whom had re- turned to Wyoming in anticipation of the protec- tion to be afforded by Gen. Sullivan's army, were under apprehensions of an attack from lurking hordes of Indians who continued among the moun- tains notwithstanding the departure of the Canadi- an troops. To afford the requisite protection in case of such an attack, a company of troops under the command of Major Powell, was directed to march by the small path through the swamp, and form a garrison in Wyoming fort until the arrival of the main army. These troops not apprehensive of any danger proceeded in an irregular manner along the small path which admitted the passage of single files only, and were fired upon on the 20th of April by a body of Indians in ambush, while crossing the
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head of Laurel Run, near the summit of the first mountain. In this attack, Capt. Davis, Lieut. Jones, and four men, were killed, and the remain- der of the troops having retreated a short distance, and formed for battle, succeeded in dispersing the Indians who fled after a few scattering discharges, when the troops entered the Valley. The remains of Capt. Davis and Lieut. Jones were removed to the burial ground in Wilkesbarre, where the Brotherhood erected a rough stone monument with a suitable inscription over their graves.
On the 22d of June, (1779,) General Sullivan arrived with the main body of the troops.
On the 22d day of July, a company of Pennsyl- vania militia, who had marched to Lackawaxen for the protection of the settlements in that vicinity.,: were attacked by a body of one hundred and forty Indians, and between forty and fifty of the militia were either killed or made prisoners.
Gen. Sullivan, having ascertained that the Ca- nadian troops and their Indian allies had removed up the Susquehanna where they continued their plunders, resolved to follow them, and if possible give them battle. Accordingly on Saturday the 31st. of July, his whole army departed from Wy- oming and moved up the river on the eastern shore. His baggage occupied one hundred and twenty boats and two thousand horses, the former of which were arranged in regular order upon the river, and were propelled against the stream by soldiers with setting poles, having a sufficient guard of troops to accompany them. The horses, which carried
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the provisions for the daily subsistance of the troops .. passed along the narrow path in single file, and formed a line extending about six miles. The boats formed a beautiful appearance as they moved in order from their moorings, and as they passed the Fort received a grand salute, which was re- turned by the loud cheers of the boat-men. The whole scene formed a military display surpassing any which had ever been exhibited at Wyoming, and was well calculated to form a powerful impress- ion upon the minds of those lurking parties of sav- ages which still continued to range upon the moun- tains from which all these movements were visible for many miles. Gen. Sullivan found the enemy, consisting of about one thousand men, collected near Newtown on the Tioga river, where they had strongly entrenched themselves behind a breast- work extending across a bend of the river, which covered their rear. In this position he attacked them on the 29th of August, and obtained a com- plete victory, having driven them from the breast- work across the river, whence they fled precipi- tately into the woods. He then proceeded into the Indian country, and having destroyed eighteen villages, and laid waste the country as far as the Genisee river, returned by the way of Tioga Point to Wyoming. The army arrived at Wyoming on the 7th. of October, 1779-and on the following day an entertainment was given by order of Col. Butler. On the 10th. of this month the army left the Valley, and on the 15th. arrived at Eas- ton.
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After the return of Gen. Sullivan, several par- ties of Indians, stimulated by revenge for the loss- es they had sustained, continued to range among the mountains of Wyoming in thirst of vengeance upon the white people, and occasionally caught, and tortured in the most cruel manner, any de- fenceless individuals who came in their way .- Several companies of rustick troops were enlisted in the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania to pro- tect the inhabitants against these incursions, and one from Northampton County, commanded by William Moyer, having proceeded on their march to the Susquehanna, were refreshing themselves at a small stream which falls into the little Nesco- peck Creek a short distance above the present vil- lage of Conyngham, when they were suddenly at- tacked by a party consisting of forty Indians and one white man, who killed eleven of the company and mortally wounded two others. As soon as the troops could recover their guns, the fire was returned, and in the attack, ten of the Indians were killed and one mortally wounded. The In- dians in their retreat carried away three prisoners, who however, escaped from them the next night at Nanticoke where the wounded Indian died.
The danger of Indian wars being in a great measure removed, the inhabitants returned in great numbers to their possessions at Wyoming, where their settlements again flourished, and their Vil-
lage was rebuilt. The State of Pennsylvania how- ever, viewed with great displeasure the growth of a Colony within her territorial limits, which refus- L
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ed to acknowledge her jurisdiction, and totally dis- regarding the authority of her laws, had set up a' government of its own. 9
Under these circumstances the State applied to the Continental Congress, requesting the appoint- ment of a tribunal which should be authorized to determine the matter in dispute between Pennsyl- vania and Connecticut concerning the jurisdiction of the respective States over the territory in ques- tion. The Congress accordingly appointed a board" of Commissioners"to hear and determine this ques- tion ; and this respectable body met at Trenton in New Jersey, where the parties were notified to at- tend. The State of Connecticut appointed Messrs. Dyer, Johnston and Root, as agents to attend the board on behalf of that State, and Messrs. Brad- ford, Reed, Wilson and Sergeant, were appointed . on the part of Pennsylvania. After a deliberation" of more than five weeks, the board, on the SOth of December 1782, pronounced their opinion in the" following words, viz:
" We are unanimously of opinion that the State "of Connecticut has no right to the land in con-" " troversy.
" We are also unanimously of opinion that the, " jurisdiction and preemption of all lands lying " within the charter bounds of Pennsylvania, and " now claimed by the State of Connecticut, do of " right belong to the State of Pennsylvania."
* The inhabitants at Wyoming considered the question before the court at Trenton to be a ques- tion of jurisdiction only, and not one which would
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in any degree effect the right of soil. They con- sidered that the State of Connecticut had convey- ed her interest in the soil to the Susquehanna Com- pany, and had therefore strictly, in the language of the court, "no right to the land in controversy." They therefore acquiesced without the least hesi- tation in the decision of that court, and immediate- ly signified their willingness to conform to the con- stituted anthorities of the State of Pennsylvania by a memorial to the General Assembly, from which the following is an extract :
"The honourable Congress established a Court ; both sides were cited and appeared; the cause was heard for more than forty days, and the ground stated on which each asserted their right of juris- diction. On which the court finally adjudged in favour of the State of Pennsylvania, by which the , jurisdiction of the disputed territory on which your memorialists live is adjudged yours. By this ad- judication we are under your jurisdiction and pro- tection. We are subjects and free citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, and have now to look up to your honours, as our Fathers, guardians and pro- tectors-entitled to every tender regard and res- pect as to justice, equity, liberty and protection."
"It is impossible that the magnanimity of a powerful and opulent State will ever condescend to distress an innocent and brave people, that have unsuccessfully struggled against the ills of fortune. .We care not under what State we live, if we live protected and happy. We will serve you, we ¿will promote your interests, we will fight your
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battles, but in mercy, goodness, wisdom, justice, and every great and generous principle, leave us our possessions, the dearest pledge of our brothers, children and fathers, which their hands have culti- vated, and their blood, spilt in the cause of their country, enriched."
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