USA > Wyoming > Wyoming; its history, stirring incidents, and romantic adventures > Part 7
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
97
BRANT AND HIS TORY ASSOCIATES.
of his savage cruelties in the border war, and particu- larly in Wyoming. It is said that on that account Sir Frederick Haldemand, then Governor of Canada, re- fused to see him .- See Lossing's Field-Book.
It is claimed that Colonel Butler was not so infa- mously cruel as his son Walter, and that he might have dictated more severe terms to Colonel Denison and the settlers in Forty Fort after the battle. All this we admit, and yet it is not saying much in favor of the great Tory leader. There may be many shades between the brutal and diabolical cruelties of Walter Butler and the modified savageism of Brant which are still at a vast distance from the laws of civilized war- fare, and which are entitled to little respect from the historian. No man knew better the character of the warfare carried on by Tories and Indians than Colo- nel John Butler. He set on these bloodhounds, and, in some instances at least, encouraged them to do their worst. Prisoners of war and the wounded, while beg- ging for quarter, were cruelly tortured, after the bat- . tles of Oriskany and Wyoming, under his immediate command. What great relief to the character of the Tory is it to say that he did not order the old men, women, and children in Forty Fort to be butchered ? He might almost as well have done it, for he allowed them to be plundered of their food and clothing, and driven to the mountains to starve and be devoured by wild beasts. Sure enough, "The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."
After the war Colonel Butler settled in Canada, and lived till about the year 1800, when he went to his ac- counts. He applied to the British government to be knighted, but failed, as we judge from the fact that we have never seen him dignified with the title of Sir. E
98
WYOMING.
He is not, even by historians but too tender of his rep- utation, called Sir John Butler, but simply Colonel Butler. An interesting anecdote touching his efforts to secure the honors of knighthood we shall insert in another connection.
99
COLONEL MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK.
III. COLONEL MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK.
THE materials for the following sketch of one of the leading characters concerned in the stirring events of the history of Wyoming are derived partly from our own personal knowledge of the man, but principally from members of his family who are now living. To Mrs. H. D. ALEXANDER, Colonel Hollenback's step- daughter, we are indebted for the greatest portion of the facts; and we owe many thanks to her grand- daughter, Miss E. P. Alexander, for a beautiful manu- script, in which these facts are neatly and comprehens- ively written down. We have found little occasion for alteration in the manuscript, excepting in cases in which the statements have to be somewhat modified in view of other information. We have also to ac- knowledge our obligations to Hon. G. M. Hollenback, only son of Colonel Hollenback. Mrs. Alexander's father was killed in the battle when she was but a few weeks old, and Colonel Hollenback subsequently mar- ried her mother. Her knowledge of the history and incidents in the life of Colonel Hollenback is more com- plete than that of any person now living, and her rec- ollections of facts and conversations of ancient date are exceedingly clear and definite. She has stored away in her memory a vast mass of facts which she learned from her mother and her stepfather in relation to the days of Wyoming's troubles. A portion of them are here given to the public. Many more might have been incorporated in this sketch did our space permit.
100
WYOMING.
What we give may be relied upon with the utmost confidence.
Matthias Hollenback was born on the Swatara Creek, at Jonestown, Lebanon County, then Lancaster, Penn- sylvania, on the 17th day of February, A.D. 1752. He was the second son of John Hollenback and El- eanor Jones, a lady of Welsh descent: his paternal grandfather came from Germany.
Mr. Hollenback came to Wyoming in 1769, in a com- pany of forty young men from that part of the coun- try. They were Stuarts, Espys, Youngs, and others, and they came with the intention of settling and be- coming citizens under Connecticut laws, and aiding the Yankees in keeping possession of the country. They became entitled to lands under Connecticut claims, which they drew after they had been a short time in the valley. When Mr. Hollenback came to Wyoming he was about seventeen years of age; for enterprise, foresight, and force of character he was, however, "a man, every inch of him." The company encamped where Mauch Chunk is now situated ; and, after the coal interest had called into existence a thriving town there, Colonel Hollenback often humorously remarked that he ought to put in a claim to that place, for he was first in possession. The forty adventurers came into Wyoming through a notch of the mountain in what is now Hanover ; and when the beautiful valley first broke upon their sight, young Hollenback, the young- est of the company, threw up his hat, and screamed out, "Hurrah ! that's the place for me." His com- panions laughed, one of them remarking, "Never mind, Mat ; he'll do well enough."
The first land owned by Mr. Hollenback was the
101
COLONEL MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK.
tract now owned by the Lazarus family in Button- wood, in Hanover Township.
He immediately commenced business as a merchant, having brought a small stock of goods with him. His first store was at or near the Block-house, at the mouth of Mill Creek. The stock comprised such articles as were then actually needed by the settlers, such as gro- ceries, ammunition, etc. He did not continue long at Mill Creek, but came to Wilkesbarre; and, having purchased a lot on what is now the west side of the public square, built a large frame house for a store and dwelling, and considered himself permanently estab- lished, having brought on his younger brother Johń, and sister Mary Ann, to live with him; the one took charge of his business in his many absences, and the other managed his household.
His goods were purchased in Philadelphia, taken in wagons to Middletown on the Susquehanna, and then transported by water. The first method of transporta- tion was by Indian canoes ; and he literally "paddled his own canoe" up the winding, rapid Susquehanna the whole distance, 150 miles, many times before he was able to procure a more capacious vessel and to employ men to manage it. Then he purchased a Dur- ham boat, which he kept steadily employed. At this period, the present road leading through the swamp was but a single bridle-path.
Mr. Hollenback, in his business enterprises, was prospered in a remarkable manner, and soon acquired distinction, and was promoted to positions of public trust and responsibility.
His first military commission is now before us, and is dated "17th day of October, in the 15th year of the reign of our sovereign lord, GEORGE the Third, King
102
WYOMING.
of Great Britain, &c., Annoque Domini 1775." It is an ensign's commission in the "trained band in the 24th regiment in his majesty's colony of Connecticut.
On the 26th of August, 1776, he was appointed by Congress to serve as ensign in Captain Durkee's com- pany of "minute-men," a band raised for the protec- tion of the people in the Valley; but when the Wy- oming companies were ordered to join General Wash- ington's army, he went with his companions in arms to the post of danger. Mr. Hollenback was with the army in New Jersey in 1776 and 1777, and fought in several battles. He was in the battles of Millstone, Trenton, Princeton, and Germantown. That he was a man of more than ordinary courage and tact is evi- dent from the fact that he was more than once em- ployed by Washington as a runner to visit the frontier settlements and outposts, and report their danger or safety. About the close of 1777, the face of things beginning to wear a terrifying appearance in Wyo- ming, many of the men who were with the army came home, and among them was Mr. Hollenback. Those who remained were transferred to the command of Captain Simon Spaulding.
After leaving the army, Mr. Hollenback not only addressed himself to his own affairs, but also kept a vigilant eye on events of public interest; and, with the natural sagacity for which he was remarkable, saw omens of the danger and trial which were in a brief space of time so fearfully realized, holding himself in readiness for action the moment that the war-cry should sound its dread call to the strife.
About the last day of June or the first day of July, 1778, the people of the Valley, learning that the enemy were on their way down the river, and that there was
103
COLONEL MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK.
danger of being surprised by them, sent out scouting- parties to observe and report the movements of the Indians and Tories. The last scouts who went up were Hollenback, and a man whose name is not now known. They proceeded fifteen or sixteen miles di- rectly up the river, and found the trail of the Indians, which led across the mountain; and also found the bodies of the two young Hardings, who had just been killed, being freshly scalped and much mutilated. They found a canoe, in which they embarked, bring- ing the murdered men with them, and returned down the river to Jenkins's Fort, where they were met by the survivors of the Harding family. The men who were killed had gone up for the purpose of hoeing corn, and had taken their arms with them, but were surprised by the Indians, some killed, and the rest taken pris- oners, with the exception of a boy who hid himself in the river and escaped.
The man who was with Mr. Hollenback was so over- come by the sight of his dead friends that he begged to be put on shore, declaring that he would die with fear if he staid in the canoe. Mr. Hollenback en- deavored to prevail on him to stay, but at length land- ed him, and came in alone to the fort; and upon ar- riving there reported that it would be useless to send out more scouts, as the foe were so near at hand, and all the men they had were needed where they were ; that the allied fiends were rapidly approaching the Valley, and in great strength compared with those who were to resist them.
Forty Fort, on the west side of the river, was the place of rendezvous for the patriots, and they now be- gan to collect in earnest, coming to the fort from Wilkesbarre and the country below, mustering all
104
WYOMING.
who were able to take part in the fight, and some of them bringing their families. This was on Thursday, 2d of July.
On Friday morning they marched from the fort in order to give battle to the foe, under the principal command of Colonel Zebulon Butler, an officer belong- ing to the standing army, who was here at the time on leave of absence, and had been requested to take the command by Colonel Nathan Denison, which he did, taking charge of the right wing, Denison taking the left.
Upon issuing from the fort, they moved toward a high bank or rise of ground above Shoemaker's, where Colonel Butler proposed to halt, and form the army to better advantage for giving the enemy battle, think- ing it a good position for them to take, and, if possi- ble, maintain. But Captain Lazarus Stuart opposed the plan, declaring that if Butler did not move on and take a stand farther up, he would report him at head- quarters as a coward. Butler replied that he did not fear to go, but that it was throwing away an advan- tageous position, and they would have cause to repent it; and so the event proved. Mrs. Alexander says :* "In passing the house of Mr. Sutton, they were met by him and requested to halt, he telling them that, as the day was very sultry, he had made some hasty prep- aration for their refreshment, by setting out a table in his house with pails of water and cups to drink from, and that all were in readiness for them. His kindness was very acceptable, and the men were formed into companies of twelve, and, by marching in order around
* What is here related must have taken place just before the little army left the fort, as Mrs. Bedford distinctly informs us that Mr. Sutton and his family were at the time in the fort. .
105
COLONEL MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK.
the table, drank, many of them, their last draught of fair water. There was one bottle of rum given, but it was hardly tasted. This was told me by Mrs. Sutton when we went to be present at the raising of the bones of the slain in 1832, and proposed to erect a monument to commemorate the massacre. So the infamous re- port, which has been current for some years past, and told for truth by men who had no interest in or regard for the good name of our fathers, that those martyrs who fell on the day of Wyoming's doom were under the influence of rum, is a base lie! and admits of no milder name. Those true men were driven to death and flight, not by force of liquor, but by fearful odds, and the combined force of four hundred Tories and five hundred Indian demons thirsting and eager for their blood. That devoted band of three hundred and fifty, who went out to battle for all that was dear to them, were of too strong a mould to be led into the satisfac- tion of an unholy thirst for rum, and their descendants should fight as valiantly to remove the foul stain from their names as they did upon that fatal day when all was lost but honor.".
As the little army marched up the plains, they were met by a white flag, the signal of a truce, which, in- stead of advancing, began to recede, and, strange as it may seem, the patriots followed it. Mr. Hollenback, who was at that time acting as one of Colonel Butler's lieutenants, opposed this measure, and proposed halt- ing and considering the unmilitary action of the flag. But Colonel Butler had resolved upon his measures, influenced by the banters of the fighting party, and he thought it was too late to hesitate. The enemy gave way on the right as our men commenced the action. For a brief space the fortunes of the day seemed to be
106
WYOMING.
on our side. " But Butler perceiving," says Mrs. Alexander, " the enemy to be pressing on Denison's wing, sent him the order to flank on the left wing, and be ready to receive their shock. Denison, mistaking the order for that of retreat, and unused to military tactics, gave the word to 'Retreat a little,' instead of ' 'Fall back and flank out.' It was necessary for them to fall back, as there was a swamp to be avoided. Rufus Bennet, who was near Denison at the time, told me this, and that it was the want of Denison using the proper military terms, more than his fright, that caused - the order to be so construed, by which means our men were thrown into confusion, and totally unprepared for the terrible slaughter that awaited them, as they broke and turned to fly upon hearing the order. Colo- nel Butler endeavored to rally them, but they were so panic-stricken that the effort was without effect, and the enemy had possession of the field.
" Our men took to flight, such of them as had es- caped death on the field, and the Indians, in full chase, commenced their work of slaughter."
The substance of the following account of Mr. Hol- lenback's escape has been furnished by his son, Hon. George M. Hollenback, of Wilkesbarre.
Mr. Hollenback was fighting on the right wing, beside Captain Durkee. The firing having ceased on the left, Captain Durkee requested him to run around the smoke and learn the cause. He returned with the answer, " The left wing is all broken up; the men are flying, and the Indians are killing them in all directions ;" adding, "Captain Durkee, we must look out, or we shall soon be surrounded." At this moment the captain was shot in the thigh, and fell, exclaiming, ' Hollenback, for God's sake save me!' His faithful
107
COLONEL MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK.
brother in arms seized the wounded hero and carried him some distance toward the river, the murderous savages being in hot pursuit. About to be overtaken, he was obliged to leave the unhappy man and run for his life. The Indians scalped Captain Durkee. Three or four pursued Hollenback, who had but a few mo- ments the start. The fearful race was for a mile and a half down the river toward Monocasy Island. Hol- lenback intended to cross the rift at the head of the island. Seeing, however, that point full of his hunted comrades, and the Indians tomahawking them in the river, he changed his mind. The Indians close upon him, at a point some sixty rods above the point of the island, he suddenly sprang from the bank of the river among the willows into a bank of sand.
He had thrown off his clothing in the chase, retain- ing, however, some Continental money and a bill of exchange. These he put in his hat, and a piece of gold in his mouth, and plunged into the river. The Indians immediately commenced firing at him. The balls struck the water on both sides of him. He dove and swam under water as long as he could hold his breath. Rising again to the surface, he swam for his life, dodging under the water at the flash of the gun. In one instance he was not quite quick enough. A
ball grazed his skin, when he opened his mouth and lost his piece of gold. He, however, retained his hat, his Continental money, and bill of exchange. He reached the eastern shore, and, supposing himself to be shot, he felt for the ball-hole, but found none. En- tirely destitute of clothing, he reached the top of the bank, and entered the woods at what was called Coop- er's Swamp. He there met Solomon Bennet, who had come out of the battle ahead of him. Bennet had
108
WYOMING.
his hunting-shirt and pantaloons, and Hollenback beg- ged him to divide, which, with the characteristic gen- erosity of a patriot and a soldier, he promptly did, giv- ing him the hunting-shirt, and retaining the panta- loons for himself.
Remaining in the swamp about an hour to rest, our hero then made the best of his way through the woods, over the hills, avoiding all paths; exhausted by his prodigious efforts, and scratched with briers, he reached his home about one o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July.
The noble citizen soldier sought no permanent re- pose or exemption from the common danger. He re- mained at his own house only long enough to put on some clothing, and walked directly to Fort Wyoming, the site of the present old court-house. He announced his name at the gate, heard it repeated within : "Hol- lenback has come !" was the joyful exclamation. "No, no," responded the familiar voice of Nathan Carey, " you'll never see Hollenback again. He was on the right wing. I am sure he is killed." The gate was opened, however, and Hollenback stepped in. It be- ing dark, and there being no candles, Nathan Carey lit a pine knot to see if it was really Hollenback, and then, overwhelmed with joy, embraced him with a brother's affection.
At four o'clock, this heroic man, without waiting to sleep a wink, pushed out on an Indian path, braving all dangers, to meet Spaulding with his seventy men, with a view of getting them into Wyoming Fort, to hold it against their savage foes. He met them at Bear Creek, but Captain Spaulding declined the hazard. Hollenback, however, so far prevailed as to induce fif- teen or twenty of the men to accompany him, and on
109
COLONEL MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK.
reaching the slope of the mountain near "Prospect Rock," he discovered his own house on fire; and a greater calamity soon appeared. The savages were in possession of the fort. Seeing all lost, he promptly directed his energies to the relief of the sufferers. He had procured from Spaulding's commissary all the pro- visions he could pack on his horse, and, following the fugitives, mostly women and children, he overtook them and fed them through the wilderness. He went to the Wind-Gap, and at Heller's and Easton followed grubbing a few weeks at twenty-five cents per day. He then returned to the Valley and set about repairing his loss. His credit at Philadelphia being good, he obtained a few goods, and began the world anew.
We now return to a few circumstances narrated by Mrs. Alexander, which occurred upon his reaching his house on the night of the fatal 3d of July.
When it was known that he had returned, every one was eager to question him concerning the fate of the day, and one Betsy Smith came in great haste to make inquiries after some of her friends, but was una- ble to speak with him, being met by his servant Jeanie, who demanded of her, " Could she na let the mon alane, gin his claithes were put on ?" when Miss Smith ten- dered her apologies, not knowing the state of his entrée into town.
Jeanie was a lass from the land o' cakes, and was always spoken of as "Scotch Jeanie." Mr. Hollenback had paid her passage-money from the old country, as was quite customary in those days; and Jeanie not only worked out the amount, but remained in his family for some time, very much trusted, and was the last to leave his house, saying that she would stay and protect her master's property as long as she could.
110
WYOMING.
After a little relaxation, Mr. Hollenback visited Spaulding's company to obtain, if possible, some men to return to Wyoming with him. Spaulding opposed his returning then, and ordered him into the ranks. He obliged him to stay there, near the Delaware, for nearly six weeks. At length he, with Lieutenant Jen- kins, John Carey, and others, to the number of fifteen, came back to Pittston to learn what they could of the enemy's movements. In looking about, they observed a smoke issuing from the old block-house on the other side of the river, and a canoe moored near it, of which they concluded to possess themselves. Hollenback swam over, took the "dug-out," and was fired at, but not hit. They then started for Wilkesbarre, some in the canoe, the others on foot. Among the latter, Ca- rey, Jenkins, and Hollenback.
On the way down they came upon a party of In- dians who were driving a yoke of oxen loaded with plunder. Jenkins, being the superior officer of the party, ordered to "Halt !" but Hollenback shouted, " Rush on !" and, with Carey at his heels, flew after the Indians, who fled, leaving their booty, which the party took, and came on to the fort in Wilkesbarre.
Then, hearing of some disturbance in the lower part of Hanover, they asked Butler to let them have some more men, and they would go down and see about it. They wanted a company, but only got fifteen, making thirty in all. They proceeded down as far as Al- den's, or Forge Creek, now Lee's, to Commer's Mill, where they found the Indians had been plundering, but had not got over the river. They were in a canoe. The party divided, and followed them on each side of the creek to its mouth, where they surprised and fired on them: one appeared to reel, as if to fall in the river,
111
COLONEL MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK.
but recovered himself, being only wounded. The In- dians left the plunder which they had taken at the mill ; it consisted of a bag of flour, a bag of cucumbers, a bag of meat, a pair of boots, and a hat, all of which the men brought up to town with them.
The remains of the slain were collected and buried in a common grave, on the 22d of October. In rela- tion to that event, Mrs. Alexander remarks: "I have conversed with several, besides Mr. Hollenback, who were present at the burial, and recognized many of the dead, though it was hard to identify them, as they had lain so long in the hot sun, and had been scalped and otherwise mutilated. Mr. Cooper, who afterward lived at the 'Plains,' told my mother, the late Mrs. Matthias Hollenback, that he saw my father, Cyprian Hebberd, her first husband, interred with the others.
"My father had gone up with the others on the 2d of July from Hanover, where he resided, and had left my mother, with her parents and friends, in Stuart's block-house, in Buttonwood, giving her all the money he had at the time, between sixteen and seventeen pounds, a good horse and saddle for her to ride, and another to be led, as he was certain they would be obliged to flee. I was then an infant of about two weeks old, having been born on the 18th of June.
" Father had an idea that he would not return, and accordingly made the best preparation he could for the welfare of his family in case he should not. He was in the Hanover company, who were stationed in the left wing, under command of Colonel Denison; and, after the fatal order of retreat had been given, seeing that it was useless to remain upon the field, he joined the oth- ers in the flight to the river. He was a very active man, and remarkably agile. Samuel Carey, who was
112
WYOMING.
with him, has told me that he would certainly have made his escape, but that, in running through a field of tall rye, instead of springing over it, he broke it down to make the way easier for his fugitive compan- ions, and by so doing retarded his own flight, and was overtaken by the Indians and surrounded. Carey man- aged to reach the river and get into the water; but my father, exhausted with running and breaking down the grain, was just stepping in, when a stalwart Indian overtook him, and, plunging a spear into him, gave him his death-wound. He fell in the edge of the wa- ter, in sight of Carey, who told me the fact. Carey was taken prisoner by the Indians, and remained with them five years in captivity.
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.