USA > Wyoming > Wyoming; its history, stirring incidents, and romantic adventures > Part 11
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that he was noticed he galloped off. Colonel John Butler now sent orders to the people in the fort to sur- render, which was promptly refused.
The question was now mooted whether they should " go out and fight the enemy on the plains above, or keep within the fort until re-enforcements should ar- rive. Captain Spaulding was coming on with an effi- cient, well-trained company, and Captain Franklin was on his way from Huntington with a company. of volun- teers, and it was the opinion of Colonels Butler and Denison that it was best to delay until the recruits should arrive. Captains Lazarus Stuart and William M'Karrican headed the party which were for march- ing out of the fort at once and meeting the foe. A warm debate upon the question followed, which closed with high words. The belligerent captains, perceiv- ing that the majority was on their side, intimated that it was cowardice which influenced the views of the colonels, and that, if they should decline the command, they-the captains-would lead on the brave men who would volunteer to go out and flog Butler and his In- dians. These insulting insinuations roused the spirit of Colonels Butler and Denison, and they resolved to hazard all upon the chances of a battle. Colonel But- ler said, " We go into imminent danger ; but, my boys, I can go as far as any of you." Those who were fierce for fight seemed to be under the impression that the enemy was about to retreat, or that they would run as soon as they saw danger. They were anxious to meet and punish the Indians while they were within reach, and to chase them out of the country. This, as they might have known, and as the event proved, was all erroneous. In this case, as in many others, hot-head- ed and reckless men prevailed against sober counsels.
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The little army formed, and set out in the line of march in high spirits, with drums and fifes playing, and colors flying. Mr. Bennet was one of the "old men" who volunteered to defend the country. He, however, was so certain that the little army were about to be drawn into a snare and cut off, that he declared he would go with them no farther than "Tuttle's Creek"-the distance of one mile, or a little more-and he carried out his purpose. He left them at the creek, but his son Solomon went on. Soon after the little patriot army had left the fort, Major Durkee, Captain Ransom, and Lieutenant Pierce came up upon a gal- lop. They had left Captain Spaulding at Merwine's, about thirty miles from Wyoming, and hastened to the point of danger. Dashing into Mrs. Bennet's cabin, one sang out, "Can you give us a mouthful to eat ?" They were furnished with a cold cut. Swallowing a few mouthfuls, they took a piece in their hand and pushed on. They left the fort never to look upon it again ; they were all slain in the battle.
"Whence is this rage? What spirit, say, To battle hurries me away ? 'Tis Fancy, in her fiery car, Transports me to the thickest war, Where giant Terror stalks around, With sullen joy surveys the ground, And, pointing to the ensanguined field, Shakes his dreadful Gorgon shield."
WHARTON.
When they came to Swetland's Hill, about one mile farther, it was reported that the invaders were flying, and they resolved to pursue them. They saw several straggling Indians, who, being fired upon, ran off as if terribly frightened. The enemy was lying in ambush, in three companies, disposed in the form of a crescent,
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extending from Fort Wintermoot in a westerly direc- tion into the marsh which lies along at the foot of the mountain. Their advance line fell back upon the main body without much resistance. Their plan was well laid, and they had now succeeded in leading the little band into the trap which they had set for them. When the moment arrived to strike, the whole body of Indians and Tories opened a galling fire upon the patriot ranks, and cut down a large number. The noise of the musketry and the whistling of the bullets were terrible, but the wild yells of the savages were still more so. The men stood the first shock bravely, returning the fire with great spirit, but without much effect on the left wing, the enemy being covered by the steep slope which borders the marsh and a thick undergrowth. Colonel Denison, discovering that he was about to be outflanked and surrounded, ordered his wing to " fall back." This order was mistaken for an order to retreat, and confusion and a panic followed, which all the efforts of the officers failed to arrest. Every captain fell either at the head of his men, or deserted and alone. Colonels Butler and Denison rode along the line, and endeavored to rally their men un- til they were left nearly alone, and exposed to most imminent danger. But the day was lost, and every man made shift for himself as best he might. Some ran down the plains, some took to the mountain, but most fled in the direction of the river. Many were struck down with the tomahawk; and others were taken prisoners, and suffered a still more terrible fate.
When Thomas Bennet returned to the fort, he paced the bank of the river back and forth in the greatest excitement. When the firing began, he listened until he noticed the reports scattering down the plain. He
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then hastened to his cabin, exclaiming, "Our boys are beat; they will all be cut to pieces !" He was a man of strong nerves, but no stoic; he walked back and forth, and seemed all but distracted.
Colonels Butler and Denison, being mounted, came in first. A few of the fugitives came in in the course of the evening, but no news came to the Bennet fami- ly with regard to Solomon until the next day at about two o'clock, when he made his appearance, and gave an account of his escape. He was at the extreme right, in Captain Bidlack's company. When they came up to Fort Wintermoot it was in flames, and the hostile army lay just above. When the firing commenced he had twenty-two balls in his pouch, and he shot them all away but one. They drove the enemy about eighty rods, the dead, British regulars and Indians, lying strewed quite thick upon the ground. He used his own rifle, which would prime itself, and required no ramming down. He loaded quick, and took fair aim, and his man fell. When it was discovered that the Indians had turned Colonel Denison's left flank, and that our men were flying, it was now evident that the day was lost; then every man shifted for himself. Sol- omon Bennet steered his course toward the river; he gained the river bank against Monocasy Island, but a little in advance of several Indians who were in pur- suit of him. He plunged into the river, and swam upon his back; the Indians fired upon him repeatedly, but, accurately watching their motions, he was always able to avoid the ball by dropping his head under the wa- ter at the moment they fired. The Indians seemed to enjoy the sport, indulging in a hearty laugh whenever young Bennet arose after dodging the ball. He reach- ed the island, not knowing whether he was safe there
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from the merciless foe. He cautiously crept across the island, and then swam to the eastern shore. He was nearly exhausted, and, crawling up the bank on his hands and knees, he saw a naked man in the bushes, whom he recognized as Matthias Hollenback-the late Judge Hollenback, of Wilkesbarre. Bennet had cross- ed the river in his shirt and pants, and now he divided his scanty supply of clothes with his friend, loaning him one of his two garments, while he wore the other. Thus furnished, they found their way to the fort at Wilkesbarre.
When it was ascertained that arrangements were in progress for a capitulation, Solomon Bennet said, "I will never give myself up to an Indian." Mrs. Bennet then demanded, " What will you do, then ?" and added, " You must clear out immediately." Mr. Bennet then expressed some doubts as to his fate, when Mrs. Bennet answered, "You must go too." Andrew, a lad about eleven years old, began to cry when the mother said, with emphasis, " And you must go too, for if we are killed you can do us no good." Accordingly, all three left for Stroudsburg. These are the simple facts ; but the bitter grief which attended these trying circum- stances has never been written. There were many such sad partings on that terrible day, and some much more aggravated. The depth of sorrow which filled the hearts of husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, on that day and the day before, will only be brought to light by the revelations of the last Judgment. The parting of the Bennet family was brief, but the separation was long.
Colonel Butler left the fort upon the day of the bat- tle, but not until he and Colonel Denison had agreed upon articles of capitulation, which were drawn up in
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Mrs. Bennet's cabin. The ta- [4 ble upon which those articles were written was preserved by Mrs. Myers until the day of her death, and is still in possession of the family. Mrs. Myers says, "Dr. Gustin went up to Fort Wintermoot with a white flag three times before the articles were fully agreed upon. They stip- ulated that the fort should be given up, but the inhab- itants were not to be molested in their persons or prop- erty. The day but one after the battle, I think, Indian Butler, as he was called, marched his Indians into the fort in regular order, and, after drilling them a little, dismissed them. They ran about among the inhabit- ants, earnestly looking to see how they were situated, but for that day molested no one. Butler was a large, corpulent man, with a fair skin. I looked at him with astonishment, wondering how such a fine-looking man could come with the Indians to kill us.
"The next day the Indians began to plunder the peo- ple. Colonel Denison remained in our cabin, but when Butler came into the fort he sent for him, and they sat down by the table and entered into conversation. Colonel Denison remonstrated with him upon the sub- ject of the aggressions of the Indians, urging that it was a breach of a most solemn engagement, such as are respected among all nations. Butler said, 'My men shall not molest the people. I will put a stop to it.' But when he went out of the fort the Indians re- sumed their plundering. Colonel Denison again sent for Butler, and again he came into our room and re- peated his promises that it should cease. The In- dians were quiet until the next day about two o'clock.
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A large party then came into the fort, some of them drunk. Doctor Gustin wrestled and talked French with them. This was designed to divert them, but they again resumed their plundering. Toward night Butler came in again, and Colonel Denison had an- other conversation with him, earnestly chiding him for the breach of a solemn treaty. Butler finally waved his hand and said, 'To tell you the truth, I can do nothing with them.' Colonel Denison chid him se- verely, but received the same answer, 'I can do noth- ing with them.' The colonel then vehemently urged the articles of capitulation, and that they had not sup- posed it possible for him to allow so wicked a breach of faith on the part of his men. His final answer was as before, 'I tell you, sir, I can do nothing with them.' He then arose and left, and we saw no more of him. In fact, he left us to the tender mercies of the savages, without any regard to the articles which he had signed with his own hand.
" The Indians were now worse than ever. They came into our house, and a stout Indian claimed Colo- nel Denison's hunting-shirt, a very nice one, made of fine forty linen, with a double cape, fringed around the cape and wrists. The colonel objected; but, upon the Indian raising his tomahawk, and mother begging him to give it up, he consented. While she was unbutton- ing the wristbands the colonel stepped back, and Polly Thornton, who sat by me, received a package of money from his pocket. It was the town money, in Conti- nental bills; it afterward did the needy much good. The Indian, observing that something passed back to us, sang out, 'What's that?' 'You are taking the man's shirt,' replied mother. The hunting-shirt ob- tained, the Indian retired. Soon after another came
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in and demanded the colonel's new beaver hat. As in the former case, he objected; but, as in that instance, the lifted tomahawk and mother's entreaties brought him to terms.
"Our great chest, now in my possession, contained our valuable clothing. It was now robbed of all its contents. An Indian took mother's bonnet from her head and her shawl from her shoulders. She then covered her head with an old straw hat which was lying upon the ground. Captain Henry, an old In- dian who had lived upon terms of intimacy with our family, and who was a prisoner in the fort when it was given up, came in with father's fine broadcloth coat on, which had been taken from the chest. He demanded, 'Where old Bennet?' Mother replied, 'Gone through the swamp to Stroudsburg.' 'Ah !' says he, stroking his sleeve, 'me old Bennet now. Where Solomon, that good marksman ?' 'Gone to Stroudsburg.' 'Where Andrew, the little boy ?' The same answer was given as before."
One circumstance Mrs. Myers-probably from mo- tives of delicacy-does not relate, which has been com- municated by another eye-witness. From the history thus far, it will be seen that Mrs. Bennet was a woman of great spirit, and an unusual amount of physical strength. even for those times. She could stand being robbed by an Indian with a tomahawk in his hand, but she could not endure to have her clothing pulled from her person by an Indian woman. A filthy squaw undertook forcibly to deprive her of one of her gar- ments, when the spirit of the Yankee woman, even by all the fearful circumstances by which she was sur- rounded, could not be held down. She drew her clenched hand, and gave the old hag a blow in the
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face which felled her to the ground. The squaw, re- . covering, grappled the pale-faced woman, but was soon worsted in the struggle. It was an anxious moment with the friends of Mrs. Bennet who were present. Would she be tomahawked on the spot ? was the ques- tion revolved in every mind. That question was soon settled by a roar of laughter from the Indians, one of them patting her on the back with the complimenta- ry words, " Good squaw." The vanquished old thief then sneaked off, woefully crestfallen. The mascu- line nerve of the women of those times seems to have been given them for the occasion, or which, perhaps, is a more truthful theory, were developed by the times. Circumstances originate characters. By'a law of Providence, human nature adjusts itself to the cir- cumstances by which it is surrounded. But let us pro- ceed a little farther with Mrs. Myers's story in her own language.
"They took our feather beds, and, ripping open the ticks, flung out the feathers, and crammed in their plunder, consisting mostly of fine clothing, and, throw- ing them over their horses, went off. A squaw came riding up with ribbons stringing from her head over her horse's tail. Some of the squaws would have on two or three bonnets, generally back side before. One rode off astride of mother's side-saddle, that, too, wrong end foremost, and mother's scarlet cloak hanging be- fore her, being tied at the back of her neck. We could not help laughing at the ridiculous figure she cut, in spite of the deep trouble which then all but over- whelmed us all.
"Few of the Tories came into the fort ; but a young man by the name of Parshal Terry, who was in the battle under Butler, came in painted, and called
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to see his friends at their cabin. His brother had been in the battle on our side. He was shy, but was recognized.
"Indians came in who appeared to be friendly; they painted us, and tied white bands around our heads, as they said, that we might be known as prisoners of war, and not be in danger of being killed by strange In- dians."
Something more than a week after the battle the houses throughout the settlement were fired. The smoke arose from all quarters at the same time. Soon after this, the widows of Timothy Pierce and John Murphy-their maiden name was Gore-with Ellis and Hannah Pierce-maiden ladies-requested Mrs. Bennet to visit the battle-ground with them, to see if they could identify the bodies of Pierce and Murphy. They found the bodies of the slain broiling in the hot sun, but so changed that they could not distinguish one from another. The husbands of the two young widows, and three brothers -Silas, Asa, and George Gore-lay upon the ensanguined field, but the heart- broken visitors had not even the poor satisfaction of identifying their remains. The company returned to the fort sick at heart, to have their imaginations haunt- ed for long years with the awful spectacle which they had witnessed, of the mangled and wasting bodies of their neighbors, brothers, and husbands.
General Washington had projected an expedition into the Indian country effectually to chastise the sav- ages, and to make an end of their incursions upon the frontier settlements. The people in the fort, not fully appreciating the time which would be necessary to pre- pare for such an expedition, entertained hopes of the arrival of the army of relief daily, and so remained
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there about two weeks. At the expiration of this pe- riod, Colonel Denison was making arrangements to go down the river in a canoe to bring up his family. Martha Bennet had lost all her best clothes, and found that it was necessary for her soon to make a move of some sort to replenish her exhausted wardrobe. She finally ventured to sob out, "If I could leave mother and sister, I would go with Colonel Denison down to Sunbury, to Captain Martin's, and work, and get me some clothes." Esquire Pierce, coming up, inquired into the cause of Martha's grief. Upon learning the facts, he addressed her in his quaint style : "Go along, gal, go along, and I'll take care of mother and child." She accordingly took passage in Colonel Denison's ca- noe, and arrived at Sunbury the next day. She found a company of between thirty and forty persons from the Valley quartered in a house. One of the company was Desdemona Marshall, the late Mrs. Wadsworth, of Huntington. Miss Bennet was received with great cordiality, and invited to remain with them, and be one of the household.
This family of fugitives, united by common suffer- ings and common dangers, was not to remain long to- gether. There was a rumor of hostile Indians on the west branch of the Susquehanna, and a woman and a boy were tomahawked and scalped in the immediate neighborhood. Miss Bennet and others went to see them while they were yet alive. It was soon rumored that the Indians and Tories had again visited Wyo- ming, and all the settlers had left. A company com- menced making preparations to go across the mount- ains to Stroudsburg, and Miss Bennet accepted an in- vitation to go with them. All the means of convey- ance they had was a small cart drawn by a yoke of
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steers. There were some small children in the com- pany, who were allowed to ride when they were tired, but as for the rest they all walked. Their journey- was of the distance of about seventy-five miles, and nearly all the way through the wilderness, and cross- ing the high ridges which lie between the Susque- hanna and the Delaware. The Misses Bennet and Marshall, with three other girls, outstripped the com- pany, and saw nothing of them during the day. They became hungry, and turned aside and picked berries to satisfy the demands of nature. The path was ex- ceedingly rough, and Miss Bennet's shoes gave out in consequence of the constant contact with stubs and sharp stones, and her feet were so injured as to leave blood behind them. "But," says she, " we made our- selves as happy as possible, amusing ourselves with singing songs and telling stories." They were con- stantly annoyed with fears of "the Indians," knowing that those dreadful scourges of the country might chance to cross their path at any moment. As the darkness of night began to approach, they met two men whom they first supposed to be Indians; but, per- ceiving them to be white men, they sung out, "How far is it to a house ?" The answer was as cheering as it was cordial. "Two miles; be of good courage; we are hunting for some cows, and will soon be in." The young pedestrians soon arrived, and found the house guarded by several men. The family had gone, and most of the goods were removed. They made a sup- per of bread and milk, and lay down upon sacking bottoms from which the beds had been removed. They waited for the arrival of the company with great anxiety until about two o'clock in the morning, when, to their great joy, they arrived in safety.
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The morning's light came, and our travelers were early on their way. They passed through Easton, where they bought provisions. That day "the girls" kept within sight of their companions in travel. The third day, at night, they arrived at Stroudsburg. Miss Bennet there met her mother and sister, but was great- ly disappointed in not finding her father and brothers. Her brother Solomon had been to Middletown in pur- suit of her, had returned that day, and set out imme- diately, with Colonel Butler and Captain Spaulding, for Wyoming. Mrs. Myers says, in relation to the events of that day, "One disappointment followed an- other in quick succession, and I seemed almost left without hope."
"Come, Disappointment, come ! Though from Hope's summit hurled, Still, rigid nurse, thou art forgiven, For thou, severe, wert sent from heaven To wean me from the world ; To turn my eye From vanity,
And point to scenes of bliss that never, never die."
HENRY KIRKE WHITE.
Soon after Martha Bennet left the fort, Indians came in, who seemed any thing but friendly and trustwor- thy. "More Indians come," said they, " right away ; eat Yankees up." This tale was told undoubtedly to intimidate those of the settlers who still remained, and to frighten them away. Whatever was thought of it, the fact that parties of those hated, murderous, plun- dering wretches kept prowling about was a sufficient, reason for the last white person to quit the Valley. Mrs. Bennet, with her child, came over the mountain in company with Major Pierce and his family, perhaps the last of the settlers who were left. The child, aft-
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erward Mrs. Tuttle, was then five years old, and she always recollected that dreadful journey. At that ten- der age she had to walk nearly the whole distance on foot, having no beasts of burden in the company. She remembered camping out, or rather lying on the ground, under the open heavens, in what has ever since been called "The Shades of Death." Hungry and weary, they laid themselves down upon the bare ground, and invoked oblivious sleep. Mrs. Bennet drew out a portion of her skirt, and told little Polly to lie on it as close to her as possible. Mrs. Tuttle lived to a great age, and we learned these facts from her mouth not long before her death.
It may be a matter of wonder how so many of the settlers subsisted in the fort for more than two weeks, after having been robbed of every thing by the In- dians. This mystery is explained by a curious fact. There was a capacious cellar under a building in the fort where a considerable quantity of provisions was stored. When the Indians commenced the work of plundering, as a company of them approached this place of deposit, some witty individual sang out, with apparent concern, "Small-pox ! small-pox !" The old brave who was on the lead grunted out "Oh !" and sheered off, the others following him ; they jabbered in Indian, and looked back at the reputed " pock-house" with no little consternation. After this the Indians kept at a distance from the place, invariably going round it, and casting at it one of those significant In- dian glances so indicative of a horror of being caught in some trap. The "wit" of our brave fathers and mothers did not always "come afterward," but often "hit the nail on the head," and stood them in stead when all other resources were utterly exhausted. This
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happy hit probably saved the lives of many of the settlers ; for "humane" as the Tory leaders boasted of being, and "magnanimous" as some authorities con- tend that the "Red Man" is, not a hoof, nor a kernel, nor a morsel of bread or meat which the cruel invad- ers could either seize and carry away, or consume by fire, was left to the people to keep them from perish- ing with hunger.
Soon after the arrival of Major Pierce's company of fugitives, Mrs. Bennet heard a young Philadelphia law- yer uttering terrible threats against the Yankees, de- claring that he would go to Wyoming with a company, and a Yankee should not set foot upon the ground. She immediately made it her business to communicate the matter to Colonel Butler. The very next day Col- onel Butler and Captain Spaulding mustered their men and set off for Wyoming, preferring the hazard of meeting the Indians to that of allowing the Pennamites to take possession of the country.
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