^/I n 7- ^l \N^^ im!ii-fJfi\'i^,^i^.i:i'lpth ■m "i;s,?,.* IS 3 3 > > ^^ S^^ : ^ I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.' Shelf M-^-J'A- ^^ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. o.^ 5 > ^^^ r^ ^ 3 5 5 > J> ■'> .^*. ^^^e.^ >2> 5^V^ ^^^^^^B^SI^ -50 -2> . ^^^% -^S^ :^3 1^2^ . >a>I>T3*:» ^->Z>^v '^^-^^^""^ 3, ^>^1>: ^:>3>^ m^ 3m mw HISTORICAL ADDRESS A.T THE DCLCE ET PRO PATRIA :J(1 of JULY 1878, ON THE 100th A.NNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE AND MASSACRE OF WYOMING, BY STEUBEN JENKINS. " WILKES-BARRE, PA. PRINTED BY ROBERT BAUR, 104 MAIN STREET. NO>^«IT|G"^^;T^[j^E ADDRESS CAN BE PLACED o''^HJHI ^' S I D E . H J-t/ ^Z^co^xn^ /y^u^y^^-^ ^ /Z-^'^-c^ac) i yilan%*^ G. t — /-t- /x- N It Strett, Philad'a Dealer in Historical Cards. 25 for 50 c.. too for fi.so. post 1 i *1 HISTORICAL ADDRESS mCE ET ^ \ DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI. fe ..,,^11. d .pM. Sa of JULY 1878, ON THE lOOtli c\WISriVERSA.RY BATTLE AMD MASSACRE OF WYOMING. BY STEUBEN JENKINS. WILKES-BARRE, PA. \^'>». PRINTED BY KGEERT DAUE, 104 MAIN STREET, - ■-• . V>^^ ■ Xvv . Vv- . ^ ADDRESS. Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : There is no event of equal magnitude, that occupies so large and conspicuous a place ; none that has made the scene of "its enactment so celebrated in history and song, as has that of the Battle of Wyoming, with its attendant massacre and conflagration ; none that has so largely called forth the , execrations of mankind against the one side, and th^ feel-#l/ ings of compassion and sympathy for the other. We are met to day to recount the scenes enacted here on this ground just one hundred years ago, and to com- memorate the valor and patriotism of that little band of heroes who went forth to stay the march of the ruthless in- vaders of their soil and save their families, their homes, their flocks and their harvests from havoc and destruction. They were not soldiers, trained and inured to martial service, well armed and equipped for the fray. They had no great commander with an army of veterans, goiu'^' forth conquering and to conquer ; to sate his mad ambition or . wreak his vengeance upon . an innocent, nnoftending people. There was no one among them who possessed an an absolute command. Tliey were principally old men and IjOys unflt for the active and arduous duties of the field ; who, 4 Iroiii iiiotiiciency had remained at home, while tljo young ' men, better iitted for those active and arduous duties, were serving in tlie distant ranks of our country's defenders. It was no w.ir of ambition, of pluucbjr, or i>f revenge on their part ; it was to save themselves ;iiid their families from butchery, their homes from the torch of the incen- diary, tlicir iiocks and herds from being slaughtered or driven off, their harvests from being destroyed, and their liberty from being overthrown. We cannot talk or judge of them as soldiers, for soldiers they were not. We cannot talk of them as an arm}', for an army they were not. Tliey were simply a hasty gathering of a rural settlement for defense against their invaders. As sucli I shall speak ot them to-day. As such we must judge of their acts. To more fully understand the position of affairs on that terrible day and night of carnage, devastation and blood, go back with me in the history of the Valley for one liundred years ; for it is of that period of its history we are met here to-da}^ to talk and reflect. We find quite a differ- ent state of affairs existing here then, from that which sur- rounds us liere to-day. Instead of cities and towns, the abodes of wealth, of luxury and ease, we see only a little hamlet or two, with log houses scattered here and there, occupied by busy toilers winning from the willing earth in tlie sweat of their brows, the means of subsistence. Instead of cleared fields, stretch- ing from mountain top to mountain top, dotted with fine farm houses, palatial in size and in grandeur of adornment, surrounded with large fiehls, finely fenced and subdued to the wish of the cultivator ; we find an almost forest waste, with here and there only a cleared spot, encumbered with stumps and brush, mostly bordering on the river. Instead of ttie screech of the locomotive, as it wheels its course through the valley at more than race horse speed, communicatinu: and exchano-ino- the interests and business 5 of tlie wh(i!e couiitrv, and bearini>; a share of the eoinraerce of the worid to and fro througlj it ; we hear the howls of voracious wolves, the screech of the stealtlij pantlier, and the frightful j^ell of the more stealthy and blood-thirsi y Indian savage, bearing terror, desolation and death to the nngnarded settler. Their communications with the outer world, instead of l)eiug borne upon the lightning's i-apid wing, instanta- neously throughout the whole continent, were borne on horseback or on foot, through an unbroken forest, withont roads or bridges ; and it was a live or six days' journey out, and as many to return again, and then only the nearest and feeblest settlements were reached. In passing from house to house through the settlement, instead of hearing the organ or the piano swelling forth their rich strains of harmony, or the hum and clatter of machinery gathering the abundant harvest and preparing it for the market, we hear tlic hum of the spinning-wheel, the bang of the loom, the whack of the threshing flail, the stroke of the felling axe, the grinding of grain with the pestle and mortar. The people were few and scattered, covering a hundred miles up and down the Susquehanna, limited in means and resources, and yet, with brave and true hearts, they battled nianfally against the toils, tlie sufferings, the privations and dangers that pressed tliem on every side. Such was the condition of the settlement here, one hundred years ago, x\nd who were these people thus isolated from the rest of the civilized world, the pioneers of a new colony, strug- gling with poverty and want, battling with foes without and foes within, and yet maintaining their ground amidst all their dangers, afflictions and sufferings? They were principally born and raised in the land of "steady habits;" were the sons and daughters of the honest yeomanry of Conncctient and Rhode Island; jiot the refuse of towns, not gold hunters or greedy speculators, or reck- less adventurers, but the young, the energetic and enterpris- ing part of a rural population, whose parents were minis- ters, deaccMis, and members of Evangelical churches. Those from Rhode Island were mostly Quakers, or Friends. They came to fell the forest, cultivate the land, and establish a society on the banks of the beautiful Susquehanna, where, under a more genial sun, and on a more fertile soil, they might enjoy all the privileges of their ancestors, and trans- mit to their posterity homes possessing all the character- istic excellencies of those of New England. They were joined in this enterprise by a company of settlers from Dauphin and Lebanon counties, of Presbyterian stock, who settled the town of Hanover. These were chiefly Scotch- Irish and German. They brought the gospel and the gospel minister with them and provided liberally forthcirsupport. They established schools and made ample provisions for education throughout the settlement, laying broad and deep the foundations for a religious, intellectual and moral community. Such were the sources whence came the people whose story we are tellins:, such the people themselves. The labors, the suft'er- ings, the dangers and deaths they endured in preparing the ground and sowing the seeds of future prosperity and greatness for their descendants accomplished their work, and have given, not alone to their descendants, but to hun- dreds of thousands from all parts of the civilized world, abundant cause ftir gratitude and joy. The soil they hal- lowed Avith their blood yields to us a bountiful su[)ply of all that can gladden the heart and make life happy. "With these introductory remarks I will at once enter upon the history of the events of the day we have met to commemorate, and yet, to treat of them properly, it becomes necessary to detail, to some extent, the preceeding history of the times which wrought out these events and their sad ter- mination. The country was engaged in a great and earnest strug- o-le for freedom from the exactions and tyranny of the British o-overnmsnt. It was the common canse of all the colonies, and nowhere was that cause more earnestly espoused and more ardently sustained than here, at Wyom- ino;. In addition to this cause for anxiety and disquiet among the settlers, another existed, which had, up to this time, o-iven them more troul^le and been productive of greater alarm" This was the struggle with the Penn proprietors, and those claiming under them, for the supremacy in gov- ernment, and the right of soil where they inhabited. Although this struggle had much to do in framing the destiny of the people here, and, in tact, in bringing the o-reat evils about, that wrought ruin, desolation and death to the settlers, there is no occasion to go into a history of that struggle, beyond a statement of its grounds and what it may be necessary to mention in passing on in our narrative. In 1620, Charles I., of England, granted to the Duke of Lenox, the Earl of Warwick, and others, under the name of "The Council of Plymouth," "All that part of America "lying and being in breadth from forty degrees of north "fatitude to the forty-eighth, inclusively, and in breadth "throughout the main lands from sea to sea." Robert, Earl of Warwick, in 1(330, obtained from the "Council at Plimouth," and the next year, 1631, having obtained confirmation of his title, by royal patent from Charles I., conveyed to Lord Say and Seal, Lord Brook, and others, "All that part of ^'cw England, in America, between " the fortieth and forty-third degrees of north latitude, " from I^arraganset river on the east, to the South sea on the " west, throughout the main lands." This grant was confirmed by royal patent from Charles II., on the'^P.Oth of April, 1662, from Narraganset bay on the east to the South sea on the west. The Pacific ocean at that time was known as the South sea. Wyoming lies within these bounds. On the 4th of March, 1681, Charles II., by royal 8 charter, g-raiited to William Penn, as Proprietary and Gov- ernor, the territory embraced in the present State of Penn- sylviuiia, which covered two degrees of latitude ot the same territory previously granted by him to tlie proprietors of the New England grant. The !N"ew England settlers claimed Wyoming under the grant of 1662; the Pennamites claimed it under the grant of 1681, from the same king. This was the ground of controversy, and out of this controversy, and from the efforts made on both sides to effect a settlement of the disputed territory, each side to the exclusion of the other, the struggle between the claimants arose. Tliis struggle existed at the first inception of the Revo- lutionarj^ contest, and Avas raging with great fierceness when th<^ oppressive acts of Great Britain, and (he battles of Con- cord and Lexington called off the tlioughis of the settlers from their own petty conflict, where a few acres of land only, were involved, to that mighty conflict in which their liber- ties and the fate of empires were swinging in the balance. Accordingly, on the first of August, 1775, immediately on receivino the news of those battles, the settlers assem- bled in town meeting and offered terms of compromise and accommodation to the Pennsylvania claimants, during the o-reat struo'ole with the common enemv. The proceedings of that town meeting are entered on their records as follows : "At a meeting of the proprietors and settlers of ye town of Westmoreland," (this was the town name b\ which Wvoming was then known) "legally warned and held August 1, 1775. Mr. John Jenkins was chosen Moderator for ye work of ye day. Voted, That this town does now vote that they w^ill strictly observe and follow ye rules and regulations of ye Iloitorablc Continental Congress, now sitting in Philadel- phia. Resolved, by this town, that they are willing to make any acconmiodations vrith ye Pennsylvania party that shall conduce to ye best good of ye whole, not infringing on the 9 property of any person, and come in common canse of Lib- erty in ye defense of America, and that we will amicably give thein ye offer of joining in ye proposals as soon as may be. Voted, This meeting is adjourned nntil Tnesday, ye 8tii day of this instant, August, at one of the clock in ye after- noon, at this place. This meeting is opened and held l)v an adj(nirnnient, August the 8th, 1775. Voted, That this town has but of late been incorpor- ated and invested with the privileges of the law, both civil and military, and now in a capacity of acting in conjunc- tion with our neighltoring towns, within this and the other colonies, in opposing ye late measures adopted by Parlia- ment to enslave A.merica; also, this town having taken into consideration the late plan adopted by Parliament, of enforc- ing their several oppressive and unconstitutional acts of depriving us of our property, and of biiuling us in all cases, without exception, whether we consent or not, is considered by us highly injurious to American or English freedom; therefore, we do consent to and acquiesce in the late pro- ceedings and advice of the Continental Congress, and do rejoice that those measures are adopted and so universally received throughout the continent, and in confornuty to the eleventh article of the association, we do now appoint a committee to attentively observe the conduct of all persons within* this town, touching the rules and regulations pre- scribed by the Honorable Continental Congress, and will UNANIMOUSLY JOIN OUR BRETHREN IN AMERICA IN THE COMMON CAUSE OF DEFENDING OUR LIBERTY. Voted, Tliat Mr. John Jenkins, Josepli Shuman, Esq., ISTathan Dennison, Esq., Mr. Obadiah Gore, Jr., and Lieuten- ant William Buck, be chosen a committee of correspond- ence for ye town of Westmoreland. Voted, That Jonathan Fitcli, Mr. Anderson Dana, Capt. Wm. McKarrachen, Mr. Caleb Spencer, Capt. Samuel Ran- som, Lieut. George Dorrance, Mr. Asahel Buck, Mr. Stephen Harding, Mr, John Jenkins, Jr., Mr. Barilla Tyler, Jr., Mr. Elijah" Witer, Mr. Nathan Kingsley, Mr. John Secord, and Mr. Robert Carr, be chosen a c(mimittee of in- spection for ye town of Westmoreland," The resolutions passed at both these town meetings 10 wore drawn by their' Moderator, and the, meetings were called and held at his suggestion. These proceedings cast the die for the settlers of Wy- oming. They now girded their loins and immediately commenced putting themselves in readiness to meet the re- sponsibilities of tJieir position. These terms of compromise, tlms offered by the settlers to the Pennsylvania claimants, were made known to tliem, and also to Congress. On the 4th of IS^ovember following. Congress passed a resolution recommending the Pennsylva- nia claimants to accept of the terms proposed. Congress was supposed to speak the sentiments of the Pennsylvania party, and it was presumed that they would be governed in their action by its recommendations, and hence the settlers neither suspected nor feared any further difficulty in that direction. It appears, however, that the Pennsylvania party, su[)posingthat the settlers, relying on the just recom mendations of Congress, would have all their suspicions lulled to rest, and would be unprepared to meet and success- fully coml)at a stealthy attack, set in motion a force of seven hundred men to make a secret expedition against Wyoming. Intelligence of this movement being received in Philadel- phia, Congress immediately, on the 20th of Deccmbev, 1775, resolved, "that it is the opinion of this Congress, and it is accordingly recommended, that the contending parties im- mediately cease all hostilities, and avoid every appearance of force until the dispute can be legally decided, etc." These recommendations, however wise and just, were all unheeded by the highwayman Plunket, who had charge of the expedition. He was thirsting for plunder, and was not to be choked off in this way. With the order of the Governor of Pennsylvania In his pocket, he hastened his movement "to expel the Connecticut settlers from Wy- oming." Well supplied with arms, ])rovisions and military stores, loaded on a large boat, he marched with his force, called a "posse," from Fort Augusta, in the early part of 11 December, accoiiipanieil by Williiim Cook, Sheritt" of NorthnniberUind county, to ^-ivc tlie iiiovenieiit the appear- ance of a civil proceeding. The progress of his force M'as necessarily reguhited by the movement of the boat containing their provisions and stores, and as the boat had to be propelled against the current, very much impeded by floating ice, the expedition did not reach Nanticoke tails, atthe lower end of the Valley, until the 24th of December. Here Plunket left his boat, loaded liis men with provisions and ammunition, and started on foot for an attack upon the settlements above. Their route lay on the west side of the river. They had not proceeded a mile when they observed before them a ridge of rocks, presentino- to them a precipitous front, rising from a foot or two liio-h near the river to a point 800 feet high on the mountain. Behind defenses built on this ridge, were posted the settlers to the number of about 300, waiting the advance of Plunket. Each side had skirmishers out, and considerable skirmishing was done, in which some were killed on both sides. As Plunket approached, the settlers arose and dis- charged a volley of musketry which threw Plunket's force into disorder, and it at once retreated. An examination of this natural rampart showed it to be impregnable, and the expedition seemed utterly thwarted. Plunket, however, fell back on his boat, and taking a batteau which he had l)rought with him, commenced conveying his troops across the river. The settlers, foreseeing that some move of this kind might be made, had stationed men there under Lieutenant Stewart to prevent it. As the boat neared the shore it was fired into and one man killed, when the others, includino' Plunket, lay down fiat in the boat and suft'ered it to fioat down the river over the falls. The troops on tlie western shore discharged a volley into the hushes wlience the firino- proceeded and killed one of the settlers named Bowen. Plunket at once retreated and abandoned his enterprise. At a town meeting held March 10, 1776 : "Voted, That the first man that shall make fifty weio-ht 12 of good saltpetre, in this town, sliall be entitled to a boiint}' of ten *j)ounds lawfnl money, to be paid out of the town treasury.'" Mrs. Bethiali Jeideople on the Susquehanna. They had been among the first to declare against British usurpations, and had been the most active and earnest in supplying men and means to support that declaration. The position was known to be, in a measure, defense- less, and tar removed from immediate support, and their situation seemed to invite rather than re}>el the design of an invasion. A portion of the enemy, particularly the Tories who had settled up the river under the Proprietary govern- ment, were exasperated by the efforts of the people in the cause of Independence, and their careful watchfulness of the movements of all not co-operating with them, and especially by the arrest of some of their number, who had betrayed certain of them and delivered them into the hands of the enemy, and it was strongly suspected that they would incite 21 a niovemcnt against Wyoming, if it were possible to do so> It v/as known early in the spring of 1778, that a, large force was collecting at Niagara, for the purpose of laying waste the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Virginia and I^ew York; and as early as February, General Schuyler wrote to Con- gress to inform them that such was his belief In March lie wrote again to Congress, saying: "A number of Mohawks, "and many of the Onondagoes, Cayugas, and Senecas, will *' commence hostilities against us as soon as they can. It ^' would be prudent, therefore, early to take measures to "carry the war into their country. It would require no "greater body of troops to destroy their towns than to "protect the frontier inhabitants." In this state of affairs, the people of the frontiers ap- pealed to Congress for forces for their protection. The peo- ple of Wyoming in particular, represented to Congress the threatening situation of their locality, and made an earnest appeal for aid. Moved by their entreaties. Congress cam3 to the rescue of Wyoming, in the following remarkable reso- lution : "March 16, 1778. Resolved, That one full company of foot be raised in the town of Westmoreland, on the east branch of the Sus([Uehanna, for the defense of the said town and the settlements on the frontier in the neighbor- hood thereof against the Indians and the enemies of these States ; the said company to be enlisted to serve one year from the time of their enlisting, unless sooner discharged by Congress; and that the said company find their own ARMS, ACCOUTREMENTS AND BLANKETS." — Joumal of CongTCSS, vol. iv, p. 118. It would not be difiicult to estimate just how much this resolution of Congress added to the effective force at W}^- oming. It was erpiivaleut to a suggestion of this sort : Wyoming has appealed to Congress for help. She needs help, undoubtedly. Let her help herself She has the per- mission of Congress to do so ; provided she builds her own forts, and furnishes "her own arms, accoutrements and 22 KLANKETS," uiul defends the settlements on tlie fn^ntier in her neighborhood. If there was ever a ease in wlilch the asking for hread and reeeiving a stone was exhibited in all its enorinity and ungratefulness, more than in this, history has refused to re- eord it. This faet will stand out more ])roininently wlien it is nnder3t<)od that the Wyoming people liad exhausted all their means and force, available for active service, in fitting up and sending out the companies of Durkee and Ransom, in addition to those who had gone back to Connecticut and entered the service there, and those Avho had under Lieut. Gore joined Col. Wisner's regiment. This astonishing magnanimity of Congress was not sat- isfactory to the people of Wyoming. Having received in- telligence of a meditated attack upon them, they again in- formed Congress — that same Congress — of the threatening danger, and their exposed and defenseless position, and prayed that the two Wyoming companies of Durkee and Ransom might be returned home, toguarvl and protect them through the impending peril. They felt that there should ])e no difficulty about this demand being granted, as those companies had been raised for the express purpose of de- fending their homes, and by tlie resolution of Congress, were to be '•'■ stationed in proper places, for the defense of the inhabitants of said town and parts adjacent.'" When called upon, however, to go on the distant ser- vice of the Republic, in an liour of peril, and leave their homes defenseless, they marched with the utmost alacrity, not a murmur was heard, for every man felt that the case was one of urgency and imperious necessit}', and not one of tliem, or those they left defenseless behind, entertained a doubt but that the agreement, "to be stationed in proper places, to defend their homes," would be religiously observed, and, when occasion re(piiri'd, they would be or- dered back to the A^alley. 23 But there was undoubtedly an influence at work on Congress, looking more to private advantage than public good, whose purpose would be better subserved by the de- struction of the settlement at Wyoming, than by its preser- vation. That influence prevailed, and Wyoming was left to tJie flite that they knev.' so immediately impended over her devoted people. A few straggling Indians and Tories, lurking about the settlement, pretending to be friendly, had been closely watched by the settlers, and they had become fully satisfied that the presence of these strangers boded no good, but that their designs were evil, and mischief was meditated for Wyoming. In the midst of the fear, the doubt, and uncertainty that prevailed among the people, Lieut. John Jenkins ap- peared upon the scene, having escaped from his captors and returned home. He, with York and Fitch, had been taken by the Indians early in April to Montreal, where the British authorities discharged York and Fitch, they not having been found in arms, were not considered as properly i)risoners of war. They were put on board a British transport, to be conveyed to some point in New England, for release. Fitch died of a fever on the voyage ; York survived until he reached the residence of his father-in-law, Manassah Miner, in Vol unto wn. Conn., where he was taken sick, and died eleven ened to be training, for boys caug'bt the martial spirit of the times, as Brant, like the eagle from his eyrie, was looking down from his hiding place, upon the devoted hamlet, seeking his prey. Mistak- ing these miniature sohliers for armed men, he deferred the attack for a more favorable opportunity. After killing Lieut. Wormwood, a promising young officer, from Palatine, who had left the fort but a few min- ites before, on horseback, and taking Peter Sitz, his com- rade, prisoner, Brant directed his steps to Cobleskill. — Sims' Scoharrie, p. 28. Border Warfare, p. 126. On the 1st day of June, was fought the battle of Co- bleskill. The Indian forces, commanded by Brant, amounted to about three hundred and fifty. The American forces, commanded by Capts. Patrick and Brown, amounted to about fifty. The battle was mostly in the woods, and l)oth parties fought in the Indian style, under cover of trees. Of the American force, twenty-two were slain and their scalps borne off in triumph, among them Capt. Patrick. Six were wounded and two made prisoners. The Indians had about an equal number killed. — Sims — Campbell — Stone, p. 353. From here, Brant, after committing a few further dep- redations in that quarter, led his forces to Tioga, where lie joined the main body of the army, marching to the invasion of Wyoming. At the same time that Brant started on his expedition, from Kanadaseago, Major John Butler, commonly called and known as Col. Butler, being at that time, however, only a major, with the British and Tories, amounting to about four hundred, and a party of Indians, under Gucingerachton and Xaviiiiiwaurto, both Seneca chiefs, amountin"' to about four hundred, passed up Seneca Lake and proceeded to Che- mung and Tioga, at which point Butler and Kayingwaurto engaged in preparing boats for transporting themselves and their baggage down the Susquehanna. A considerable body of Indians, under Gucingerachton, 27 were detaclied at Knawaliolee, or Newtown, and sent across tlie country to strike the West Branch of the Susque- hanna and lay it waste, wliile the boats were being pre- pared, and Brant sliould rejoin the main party witli his forces. Gucingerachton, with his party, arrived on the West Branch near the month of Bald Eagle creek, on the 16th of May, and at once commenced liis work of death and desolation. He continued at this work, overrunning the whole line of the lower West Branch, until the 10th of June. He and his savage horde swept that whole region as with the besom of destruction, and the final catastrophe in the bloody work occurred on tliis latter day. Aieginness says — " This was indeed a bloody day. The savages glutted " themselves with murder and plunder, and retired in tri- " umph. A gloomy pall seemed to have fallen over the " infant settlement, and weeping and wailing were heard " on every hand. Children were murdered before their " parents'" eyes ; husbands were compelled to witness the " horrid deaths of their wives, and in turn, children were "■ compelled to gaze upon the mangled bodies of their " parents. Neither age, sex, nor condition were spared ; the "wails of helpless infants, the imploring cries of defenseless " women, failed to awaken a chord of pity in the adaman- " tine bosom of the tawny savage. He laughed their pitiful " appeals to scorn, and with a fiendish grin of pleasure, plied " the knife, and tore the reeking scalps from their heads." The harvest of scalps they reaped in these fields counts up to forty-five — add to these a large number of prisoners, and a vast amount of plunder, and we have (Otzinachson, ]>. 211, etc.) a slight account of the work done. It will readily be seen, from these facts, what the scope of the Indian warfare for 1778 embraced. The whole fron- tier was aglow with fire, desolation and death, beneath the fagot, tomahawk, rifle and seal ping-knife of the Indians, and 28 tlu'ir cruel and implacable allies, the British and Tories, Our narrative now returns to Wyoming, for this is becoming the gathering point of all these scattered parties. A glance shows at once that the storm is gathering, dark and fearful, in that tlirection, boding deatli and destruction through all its borders. ( )n the 12th of June, William Crooks and Asa Budd went up the river to a place some two miles above Tunk- hannock, on the west side of the river, formerly occupied by a Tory named John Secord, one of the committee of inspection apppointed August 8, 1775, who had been absent at Niagara since the fall l)efore. Crooks was fired upon by u party of Indians and killed. On the 17th, a party of six men, from Jenkins' Fort, in two canoes, went up the river to observe the movements of the enemy. The party in the forward canoe hmded about six miles below Tunkhannock, on the west side of the river, opposite LaGrange, or Osterhout, and ascended the bank. They saw an armed force of Indians and Ten for retreat to the fort, shouhl that l>ecome neces- sary. The [tosition Avas well calculated to be successfully held against a largely superior i'orce, at least it gave them a great advantage in case of an attack u[»on them. From this point a tiag was again sent out, and other scouts, and their return awaited. Tliis tiag was also tired upon and returned. Scouts that had been previously sent out, had, by great skill and energy, succeeded in making a reconnoisance of the enemy, by passing along the ioot of the mountains on the west of the Valley; but on their return, when in Western Wyoming, near the present site of Shoemaker's mills, were shot, one fatally : the other, slightly wounded, made his way back to headquarters. The infor- mation brought was t?a the effect that the enemy were in commotion, but what their design or wliicli way they were moving, could not be told, butthe supi>osition was they were preparing to leave the Valley. All the information gained was too indefinite and too slight to be of any use in judging of either the numbers or design uf the enemy. W\ was doubt and uncertainty. Speculations and discussion now began to arise as to the intent of tlie enemy. The march upon Forty Fort, which had been threatened by Major Butler in the morning, unless a surrender was made, had not taken place. What did it meari ? Had the threat any meaning, or was it mere braggadocio ? It was suggested that the invading force had been over estimated by the timid; that if Major Butler had the overwhelming force pretended, he would, long ere this, have; put his threat in execution, instead of breaking camp and leaving the Valley, as now appeared most probalde. What did it mean ? Was it a mere threat to frighten, and thus evade pursuit ? Such were the queries the situation 40 giiVQ rise to, and in consequence of no satisfactory answer beini;- at liand, tlie discussion grew warm — liot, I may say. In tlic heat of the discussion, scouts returned reporting- that the enemy were burning all tlie settk^ments above, and collecting all the cattle within their reach, and, from appear- ances, it was supposed they would not risk an immediate attack on Forty Fort, at least, did not intend to do so, but would burn, plunder and destroy all the upper settlements^ probably cross the river to Pittston, take possession of that fort, destroy that and the neighboring settlements, massa- cre tlie people or make them prisoners, and then return back with their booty from whence they came. This report put an entirely new feature on the face of affairs. Although speculative to a great extent, yet it afforded those who had been fierce to march and meet the enemy, new grounds on which to urge their views. They had become tired of seeking the enemy T)y flags, and de- manded to march, ineet and attack him wherever found. They insisted that his force was small, too small to cope with them, or he would, ere this, have executed his threat of the morning. The cool and more judicious of the officers, on whom the responsibilities rested, thought prudence the better part of valor, and decided that their present position, being ten- able against a supei'ior force, and serving to protect the lower and main part of the valley from the encroachments of the enemy, Avould answer the purpose of protection to that part of it, until the expected reinforcements should ar- rive. At this point in the debate, Lieut. Timothy Pierce ar- rived with information that the company of Spalding was on its way, and would })robably arrive on Sunday, for their assistance. This news did not, however, calm the troubled waters. It was contended that Sunday would be too late. That the enemy by. that time could prowl through the Valley, rob 41 and burn their liomes, kill or take captive the women and children, drive off tlieir horses and cattle, and destroy- their harvests, while they, like base and cowardly- poltroons, were standing by with arms in their hands, and sceino- him ,^]o it without making an attempt to prevent it. Besides, were they to remain wliere they M-ere, or i^^o back to the fort and shut themselves up in it, to await de- liverance, they had not collected and in store sutlicient pro- visions to hold out a long siege, or endure a long delay. The discussion Ijecame heated and personal. Charges of cowardice were made by Capt. La;^arus Stewart, then a private in Capt. McKarrachen's Hanover company, against all who opposed advancing,particularly against Col. Butrerthe principal commander, who was against an advance, and he threatened to report him as such to headquarters. Stewart was ordered under arrest by Col. Denison. The Hanover company became mutinous . Capt. Mc- Karrachen resigned, and the company immediately elected Stewart in his place. They now threatened a revolt, unless a march should be immediately made against the euemy. Col. Dennison, a cool and quiet man, wlio liad taken little or no part in the discussion, as yet, urged the pro- priety of careful and considerate action, and the^impropriety and danger of hasty and inconsiderate action. Thatitwould be far better to wait until more was kn(nvn of the number and movements of the enemy; that it was hardly possible that they would attebipt to overrun the ValKy as nuitters then stood ; that a little delay would give them more information upon these points, when they could act intelligently, and in the meantime, Spaldinrs and Franklin's conTpanies would arrive, the latter, certainly. These suggestions did not meet tlie teelings and views of the men generally They had become warmed up by the fiery words of Capt. Stewart, and declared that it would be a disgrace never to be forgotten or'forgiven, should they remain there, or lie cooped up in the fort, while the enemy 42 should devastate the Valley, plunder and burn their homes, and then draw ott" with their booty, and the}' too cowardly to otter the least resistance. It was therefore determined to march, and meet or attack the enemy. Those who would be disposed to blame the comman- ders of the settlers for jiermittlng th.e decision of the ques- tion whether to march or remain in position to be made by the rank and tile, should remember that the freest Republic existed here, the world has ever known. The people were their own rulers, in tlie strictest and fullest sense of that term. The}' met in town meeting and dis- posed of all their affairs. The town meeting was a legisla- tive, judicial and executive body, all in one. There was no veto on its enactments ; no appeal from its decisions, and no escape from its execution. All were accustomed to take part in its deliberations and debates ; all voted on its final decisions, and all submitted to its authority. Could they do less on this occasion ? It may be objected that this was a military body, and as such, ought to have ]>een submissive to the commands of its officers. This was not the view they took of it. It was oidy a town meeting, met for military purposes, in which they all had an equal interest, and from the acts of which flowed a common danger or safety. When it was decided to advance and attack the enemy, Col. Butler discharged Ca]tt. StcA\art from arrest, saying: "We will march and meet the enemy, if he is to be found, and I will show the men that 1 dare lead where they dare follow." The ord^r to niarcli was immediately given, and they proceeded cautiously on their way as far as the hill, just below the monument, whore another halt was made, and wliere scouts met them with infoiMuation that the enemy had set fire to Wintermoot Fort and were leaving the Valley. In confirmation of this report, they pointed out the smoke from the fire oi" the bni-iiing fort. The men now became eagei- to advance and pursue the 43 enemy. Here, Richard Iiiman, one of tlie Hanover men, wearied with the long march and the burden he was carry- ing, \aj down alongside of a log fence, while they were halted, and went to sleep. After a short halt they moved on toward Wintermoot Fort, to test the accuracy of the infor- mation brought in by the scouts. They advanced to a point directly in line with the south-western boundary of the Fair ground, where they formed in battle order, their line ex- tending from the hill which forms the plain, up in a north- western direction, about 1500 or 1600 feet. Captains Durkee and Ransom, and Lieutenants Ross and -Welles, having no immediate command, were detailed to mark off the ground and form the line of battle. Their march had been in column along and just on the hill mentioned, and on coming up to tlie line marked off, the column deployed to the left, and every company took its designated station and advanced in line to the proper posi- tion, where it halted, the right resting on the liill, the left extending to the northwest. Yellow and pitch-pine trees, with scrub-oaks about breast high, were everywhere over the plain. There were very few trees of any size. The Indians were accustomed to burn the plain over every year, to make pasture for deer and other game, and thus destroyed the growth of trees of large size. The line was formed with Captain Hewitt's company on the right; next,CaptainBidlack's; and next, Captain Geer's. Captain Whittlesey's company was placed on the left; next, Captain Stewart's, and next Captain Buck's. Captains Durkee and Ransom, and Lieutenants Ross, Welles and Pierce were assigned positions on the tield, rather as aids than commanders. Lieutenant 8toddart Bowen had arrived with a few men, from Salem, and they were added to Whit- tlesey's company on tWe left. Captain Blanchard remained at the Pittston Fort with his force. The Indians and Tories had taken possession of 44 all the water craft in the upper part of the VuUey, and con- SL'(|uent1y Blanchard's company could not get over to join our men, had it been prudent and proper for them to have (lone so. Col. Butler, supported by Major Jonathan Waite Gar- ret, assisted by Anderson Dana as adjutant, commanded tlie right wirtg. Col. Denison, supported by Lieut.-Colonel George Dorrance, commanded the left wing. Such was the ground, such the forces, and such the order of battle. While these arrangements were being made, scouts were coming in bringing information of the movements of the enemy. They had succeeded in making their recon- noisance to the immediate vicinity of the fort, saw it burn- ing, and a few Indians and others lingering near. The enemy, in the meantime, had not been idle. From their scouts they nad learned the movements and progress of the settlers in their march ; had called in their scattered forces, particularly those at Jenkins' Fort, and had placed them in position to receive the settlers upon their advance. Major Butler, Captain -BCTJttmiit and Captain Wm. Caldwell, Lieutenant Tumey, with the British, were located on the left of their position, from the hill toward the marsh ; next, and on their right, were^the Tones, under Captains Benjamin and William Pawling and Hopkins; and to the right of these were the Indians, under Kayingwaurto, Guciugerachton and Thay^^denegea, reaching beyond the marsh and ;s\bIe effort to have their orders understood, and to restore order and l)rin2; the men to face the enemv and stand their ground, but in vain. Col. Dorrance fell, severely wounded, while riding along the line gallantly laboring in this vain attempt. The mistake was a fatal one and could not be retrieved. The Indians, meantime, rushed in upon them, yelling, brandishing their spears and tomahawks, and the British and Tories pressed down upon them in front, pouring in a terrible fire. Broken, borne down by overvvlielining numl)ers, and pressed by an irresistible force,the left gave way and fell back on the right. The movement w\as rapid and confused and brought confusion on the right. From confusion to disorder, from disorder to broken lines, and thence to Hight were but steps in regular gradation. The flight became a slaughter, the slaughter a massacre. Such was the battle. It was impossible that the result of the battle should have been different. The enemy were nearly three to one, and had the advantage of position. Our men fought bravely, but it was of no avail. Every Captain fell at his position in the line, and there the men lay like sheaves of wdieat after the harvesters. Indulge me while I recount to you some of the inci- dents of that flight, that slaughter, tliat massacre. The flight from the battle-field, a'though confused and made under overwhelming pressure, by a furious onslaught of the enemy, yet, was not entirely devoid of system. The men, generally, gathered in squads, and commenced moving off, frequently turning back, like the hunted lion, and hold- ing in check their pursuers, by their threatening attitude and the mutual support they gave each other. On the left, a squad of a dozen or more, unconscious of the fatal state of affairs by whicli they were surrounded. 48 Olio man niilv, Joliii Caldwell, having fallen in lines, stood their ground and loaded and fired, not onl}' after all their friends had tied and were gone, but until the enemy had passed by them in their pursuit. They eommenced moving off the held together, hut one by one broke off, seeking safety in separate flight, by hiding in the bushes, and fleeing out of the line of pursuit. Part of them were taken pris- oners, and with others, to the number of ten, were taken about half a mile above the battle-field, about midway be- tween Wintermo(^t and Jenkins' Fort, on the top of the hill, on the line between Exeter, and West Pittston, near the river, where they were put to death with savage torture. Capt. Blanchard and others, at Pittston, seeing fires burning below on the opposite side of the river, went down to see what was going on. They beheld a scene of torture of the most horrible and revolting character. Several naked men were being driven round a stake, in the midst of fiames. Their groans and shrieks were most }iiteous, while the shrieks and yells of the savages, who danced around, urging the vi(^tims on with spears, were too horrible to be endured. Tliey were powerless to pre- vent or avenge these atrocities, and withdrew, heartsick, from the sight of the terrible orgies. Among the prisoners was Joseph Elliott, who, seeing the horril)le fate that awaited him, if he remained, sprang, and ]>rokc through the death circle of the savages, and fled to the river and plunged in. When out about twenty rods, a ball fnnn his pursuers struck him in the shoulder, wounding him slightly. He continued on, crossed the river, and pro- ceeded safely to Wilkes-liarre Fort. A body of the fugitives surrounded Col. Butler, and all moved off together. Another body surrounded Col. Denison, and kept together until they reached Forty Fort. On their way, with the Indians in hot pursuit, Rufus Ben- neit, who held Col. Denison's horse by the tail, and was the 49 hindmost of the party, remembered that Richard In man liad lain down at the hill, at their second halting place, and not gone on with the others. As they came near to where Inman lay, Bennett turned his head in that direction and saw Inman sitting up, rubbing his eyes. "Is your gun loaded, Inman?" "Yes, it is!" "Shoot this Indian!" Inman raised his rifle and the foremost Indian, as he passed the fence, was shot through the heart. He sprang up, utter- ing a fearful yell, and fell prostrate. The other pursuing Indians turned and fled hack, leaving the party unmolested. Col. Butler repaired to the Wilkes-Barre, or Wyoming- Fort. Col. Denison took up his quarters at Forty Fort. They at once took all necessary precautions to hold their positions and keep safely their inmates tor the nio-ht, and until other arrangements could he made for their security. The men fled generally back to the fort on the route they had marched out, or to the river, pursued closely by the British, Indians and Tories, and it would be diflicult to tell which took most delight in shooting and cutting down the fugitives. 'No quarter was granted. All were in- discriminately slaughtered, wherever found. It was a dread- ful hour. Men seemed transformed into demons. Lieut. Elijah Shoemaker, who had fled into the river and was quite out of harm's way, was hailed by Windecker, a Tory, who had worked for him and received many favors at his hands, and requested to come back and put himself under Windecker's protection. Shoemaker stopped, hesi- tating what course to pursue. "Come out ! Come out !" says Windecker. "You know I will protect you !" Shoe- maker, trusting to the assurance, came back, and as he ex- tended his hand to take Windecker's to help him up the bank, Windecker struck his tomahawk into the head of his victim, who fell back into the river and floated away. Many other fugitives were in like manner lured to 60 shore, by promise of quarter or safety, and in like manner bhiin, too many to be recounted on this occasion. The account of the horrible orgies at what has since l>(.'cii known as Queen Esther's Bloody Rock must close this part of this most bloody event. On the evening of the battle, sixteen of the prisoners taken on the field uf battle and in the fiight, under promise of ([uarter, were collected together by their savage captors around a rock, near the brow of the hill, at the southeast of the village of Wyoming, and a little more than a mile from the field of action. The rock at that time was about two feet higli on its eastern front, with a surface four or five feet square, running back to a level with the ground and beneath it at its western extremity. The prisoners were arranged in a ring around this rock, and were surrounded with a body of about two hundred savages, under the lead- ership and inspiration of Queen Esther, a fury in the form of woman, who assumed the oflice of executioner. The victims, one at a time, were taken from the devoted circle and led to the east front of the rock, Avhere they were made to sit down. They were then taken by the hair and their heads pulled back on the rock, when the bloody Queen Esther, with death-maul would dash out their brains. The savages, as each victim Avas in this manner immolated, would dance around in a ring, holding each others' hands, shout- ing and hallooing, closing with the death-whoop. In this manner fourteen of the party had been put to death. The fury of the savage Queen increased with the work of blood. Seeing there was no other way or hope of deliverance, Leb- bens Hammond, one of the prisoners, in a fit of despera- tion, with a sudden spring, broke through the circle of Indians and fled toward the mountain. Rifles cracked ! Tomahawks flew I Indians yelled ! But Hammond held on his course for about fifty rods, when he stumbled and fell, but sprang up again. Stopping for a moment to listen, he lomul his [)ursuers on each side of him, or a little ahead. 51 running and yelling like demons. He stepped behind a large pine tree to take breath, when, rejecting tliat liis pursuers being already ahead of him, he would gain noth- ing by going on in that direction, he turned and ran for tlie river in such a course as to avoid the party around the fatal rock, and yet to keep an eye on them. He passed by with- out being seen, went down and plunged into tlie high grass in the swampy ground at the foot of the hill, where he remained concealed for about two hours, watching the move- ments and listening to the yells of his savage pursuers. He finally crawled out of his concealment, cautiously made his way to the river, and thence down to the fort. Let us go back to the battle-field. On the fatal left we find only the body of John Caldwell, of Captain Whittle- sey's company. He was killed by the first fire of the Indi- ans ; in fact they fired but once, and dropping their guns rushed in with spears and tomahawks. Not a living, breath- ing soul is found on the field. All who had not been able to fly, except Col. Dorrance, were put to death and scalped. The wounded were killed where they lay, or were dragged to the burning fort and thrown upon the fire, pierced and held on with spears. They plead in most piteous terms to be spared, but they appealed to hearts of adamant, that rejoiced in their sufferings and laughed at their merciful supplications. The body of Captain Ransom, who was a fleshy man, was lying near the fort ; his thigh was split with a knife all around from the knees to the hips. Captain Buck was lying by his side, his head cut off. Captain Bidlack lay a short distance oft'; he had been held on a fire in a heap of old logs and brush and burned to death. All were shockingly mutilated. It was a terrible sight. The stench from the burning bodies polluted the atmosphere with its noisome odor. Night came, but it did not put an end to the work of death. All through its dark shadows, the Indians and 52 Tories, like beasts of prey, prowled along the line of flighty luinting out those who had concealed themselves, slaying tliem on the spot, and tearing oif their reeking scalps, or capturing and reserving them for torture. To those who were in the forts, and those who had escaped the pursuit of the murderous savages, that was a night of consternation, of alarm, and of terrible agony. The shrill whoop of the Indians, mingled with the yells and hootings of the Tories and British, as they gathered near, proclaimed a fate as horrible to the survivors, as that of any who had fallen into their hands. All through the night was heard the voice of lamentation for the fate of hus- bands, fathers, sons, brothers and friends, who had fallen by the hands of the enemy; and weeping and wailing for tribulation, danger and death, that seemed to await them on the morrow. To the survivors it was "a night long to be remembered," never to be forgotten. The morning of the 4th dawned amid the deepest sor- row and the most gloomy forebodings. Wliichever way the afflicted people turned their eyes, death stared them in the face. The victorious foe seemed but to have whet their appetite for blood by the carnival of the preceeding day and night. They spread themselves everywhere throughout the Valley, and their pathway was marked by the shrieks of falling victims, tho conflagration of their dwellings, and the destruction of their teeming harvests. Al)out eight o'clock in the morning. Major Butler des- patched a messenger with a flag to Forty Fort, requesting Col. Dcnison to come up to headquarters and agree on terms of capitulation. lie went, accompanied by Obadiah Gore, P]sq., and Dr. Lemuel Gustin. A demand was made for the delivering up of all Continental troops, as prisoners of war, epecially naming Col. Z. Butler, Lieut. J. Jenkins and the remains of Hewitt's company. Denison desired time to consult, which was given. It was determined that these parties should at once leave the Valley, and the capitulation 53 should be only for the inhabitants. Col. Butler at onco lied across the mountains to the Lehigh, and Hewitt's company fled down the river. Terms were agreed upon, on a renewal of negotiations, in all respects favorable to the inhabitants, excejtt that it provided, "that the property taken from the people called " Tories, up the river, be made good ; and they to remain in "peaceable possession of their farms." This was the only provision against the settlers and in fiv.)r of tlie enemy, or any part of them. "Nevertheless," says Col. Denison, "the enemy, being powerful, proceeded, plundered, burned and destroyed almost everything that was valuable; murdered several of the remaining inhabitants, and compelled most of the re- mainder to leave their settlements, nearly destitute of cloth- ing, provisions and the necessaries of life." William Gallop, on oath in the case of Van Horn vs. Dorrance, says : "We were not to be plundered, but they plundered us of everything. They kept us three or four days, then told us to go. One hundred and eighty women and children, accompanied by only thirteen men, went together. They suffered extremely, all on foot, barefoot, bareheaded, in great want of provisions. Two women were delivered in the woods. Those of the men who had been in the battle made their escape before the fort surrendered, as the enemy said they would kill all that had been in the battle. The savages burnt all our improvements ; scarcely a house left that was valuable. About twni hundred men were then ab- sent, serving in the Continental army. The greater part of the men, women and children had fled east and down the river on the night of the massacre. Crossing the river at Forty Fort, they [)lunged into the wil- derness and made their way to the mountains. Many iled on the night of the 4th. The number of fugitives fleeing east from the Valley 54 was about two thousand. The savages, finding the}' had fled, pursued them. Many were sUiin by tlie pursuing sav- ages in their flight, some died of excitement and fatigue, others of liunger and exposure, wliile many were lost who never found their way out. Hundreds were never seen again after they turned tlieir l)acks on Wyoming. By what sufi:ering8 and torture they died tlie world will never know. On their way was a long and dreary swamp to be trav- ersed by them, which, on account of the number who fell and perished in its mire and among its thorny brambles, was called "The Shades of Death." On the evening of tlie 5th, the advance party fell in with Capt. Spalding's company, at Bear Swamp. On the the morning of the 6th, Lieut. Jenkins joined the company and they continued their march toward Wyoming. When they arrived on the top of the mountains, within sight of the afflicted valley, they halted and sent out parties to pro- tect the fugitives ajid drive back the pursuing savages. They remained here engaged in this work for two or three days, when they fell into the rear of the fugitives, scatter- ing themselves through the woods, picking up those vvdio had fallen by the way, exhausted from hunger and fatigue, giving them food, and encouraging and helping forward the women and children. But for the timely aid thus furnished, many, very many, would have perished, who passed through the wilderness in safety. The number slain in the battle and massacre has been variously stated. It may be put down at 300. Those who perished in the wilderness may be put at 200 ; making a total of 500, in the battle, massacre and flight. Major John Butler, in his report, says 227 scalps were 55 . taken at Wyoming. Many were shot in the river, whose scalps were not obtained. NUMBER OF THE SLAIN. As the exact number of the slain is a matter of ffreat doubt, I give the numbers as stated by various parties who may be presumed to know somewhat about it. Major John Butler says 227 seilps were taken; Col. Zeb. Butler says 200, about ; Lieut. Jolin Jenkins says 300, and a number of officers ; Col. N". Donison says 268 privates, 1 colonel, 2 majors, 7 captains, lo lieutenants, 11 ensigns; Captain John Franklin, 204 ; Isaac A. Chapman, 300 ; Hon. . David Scott, 300; T. F. Gordon, 330; Rev. James May, 300; George Grant, 300 ; Dr. David R;iinsay, 360 ; B irtram Galbraith, Jr., 340 ; Abram Scott, 340 ; Col. W.L.Stone, 300; Dr. Geo. Peck, over 200; Charles Miner, 160; Col Pickering, 170. • The story of the sad fate of Col. Dorrance remains to be told. On the 4th, as the victors were moving down to Forty Fort, to avail themselves of the full fruits of their vic- tory,the captors of Col. Dorrance, two Indians, started to take him down to that post. Being an offi.eer of prominence, dressed in a new uniform, with new sword and equipments, he had been spared when the slaughter of the wounded on the battle field had taken place, under the idea that more could be obtained for his ransom tlian could be made from his slaughter. About a mile from the lield he beca.ne exhausted, and was' unable t.> proaea 1 farther. W!i it to do with him was a matter of pressing inquiry witli the savages. Behind them was a desolation, ahead, new fields of plunder. To remain where they were and take c.ire of their prisoner was out of the question. Stepping aside they held a short consultation. Returning, they put hi in to death, one takin^j his scalp and sword, the other his coat and cocked hit wltli feather. The latter at once doffed his own habil iments and donned the coat and hat of their victim, in all el-^e h^^in^ in piiris naturalihas, and thus proceeded to the fort with his 5G companion. Gaily and proudly as the veriest dandy in new toggery, he strutted about and through the fort, before, as he supposed, an admiring audience. He took particular pains to exhibit himself to Mrs, Dorrance, who sat grieving over the sad fate of her husband. Ludicrous and comical as the sight would be as a comedy, it was a sad and mourn- ful one as part of a bloody trairedy. 1 have thus gone over the leading events connected with the Battle and Massacre of Wyoming, as we have learned it from our ancestors, and it may appear to some to be but a one-sided story, told with the views and in the interests of that side only. Deeming it but fair and proper that both sides should be heard here to-day, I will give you the story, as written by a historian on the other side. I will quote from Capt. Alexander Patterson's petition to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, in 1804. "Li the year 1770, there were a number of inhabitants, " settlers on the north-east branch of the Susquehanna, near " Wyalusing, under the Pennsylvania title. Amongst these " were tw6 brothers b}' the name of Pawling, of a respecta- " ble family from the county of Montgomery. They had " paid one thousand pounds in gold and silver for their farm "at Wyalusing, unto Job Gilaway, a useful, well-informed " Indian, who had obtained a grant for said land from the late " proprietors of this State. Among the settlers were the " xMessrs. Secord, Depew,Vanderlip,and many others, weathy " farmers. The Yankees at Wyoming being more ijumer- " ous, and tiiough at the distance of sixty miles, insisted " that the Pennsylvania settlers should come to Wyoming " and train and associate under Yankee officers of their own ." appointment. As may be supposed, the proposals were " very obnoxious to tlie inliabitants of Pennsylvania, and very "properly refused, alleging tliey would associate by tlieni- *' selves and would not be commanded by intruders, who had " 80 repeatedly sacked the well disposed inhabitants of 57 " Pemisylvama, and at that time bid defiance tc. its laws " and jurisdiction. Tliis gave a pretext to the Yankees for " calling them Tories. They therefore went in force and " tied the Pennsylvania settlers, and brought them to Wy- " oming, with all their moveables, and confimMl them in a log "honse^until the Indians who lived in the neighboi-hood of " Wyalusing— and loved the Pcnnsyl vanians, and at that time " were weiraffected to the United Stated— some of whom "had joined our army." "These Indians came to Wyoming and requested that the Pennsylvania people sliould be released from confine- ment. After some altercation, and the Indians declaring they would complain to Congress, they were released, and on their return, without property, were ambushed and fired upon by the Yankees. The event of all this was that the Pennsylvania people were so harrassed by the intruders, that they were driven to seek an asylum with the Indians, and at length retired to Niagara for protection. It was well known at the time, on the frontiers of Northumberland and Northampton counties, that the conduct of these Yankees occasioned the secession of the Five Nations from tlie United States. As was natural to imagine, those Pennsylvania settlers who had been so cruelly robbed of their property would en- deavor to regain it. Their address and moving complaints induced Jos^eph Brant, a well-known Indian chief, and a Col. Butler, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, to come with them to Wyoming with a number of Indians, for the recov- ery of their property, goods and chattels. The party arrived at a place called Abraham's Plains, about five miles above Wyoming. The Yankees were ap- prised of their being at that place, and must needs go and fight them, led on by the old murderer, Lazarus Stewart, first having drank two barrels of whiskey b^ stimulate their spirits. They marched in riot, with drums beating and colors flying. The result was that a number of them was 58 killed. Those who asked quarter were humanely treated, nor was a woman or child molested, only enjoined to leave the country to the rightful owners. Surely there was no propriety in calling that transaction a massacre or murder. The wretches brought it upon themselves, and so be it." In another petition, presented by Patterson to the Pennsylvania Legislature, August 27, 1784, he says : "The Connecticut settlers continued to harrass and dis- tress all those who had the honesty to declare they held their lands under this State, with vexatious suits and fines insupportable, until many of the unhappy suflerers, cut oif from every support from this State, grew desperate, joined the savages, and in revenge, deluged Abraham's Plains with blood." Benjamin Pawling, in a letter dated at Niagara, in 1784, to Edward Bartholomew, at Philadelphia, states that the Pennsylvania claimants were the people that cut off the Connecticut settlers, at Wyoming. I will call one more witness — Col. Guy Johnson to Lord George Germain. New York, 10th Sept., 1778. No. 9. Extract. * * " Your Lordship will have learned, before this can reach you, of the successful incursions of the Indians and loyalists from the northward. In conformity to the instructions I conveyed to my officers, they assembled their forces early in May, and one division, under one of my dep- uties (?^lr. Butler), proceeded with great success down the Susquehanna, destroying the posts and settlements at Wyoming, augmenting their nuTubers with many loyal- ists, and alarming all the country ; whilst another division, untler Mr. Brandt, the Indian chief,cutoff 294 men near Scho- harie, and destroyed the adjacent settlements, with several magazines, from whence the rebels had derived great resources, thereby attbrding encouragement and opportunity to many friends of government to join them." * * These 294 scalps of men cut off by Mr. Butler and the 59 chief, Brandt, and their associates, and sold in the British market, were gathered on the following Holds : Cobleskill, - - . _ . 22 West Branch of Snsquehanna, - 45 Wyoming, - - - - . 227 294 It is said by some that Brandt was not at Wyoming. The story as told by both sides is that he was. If these be not the fields wherein were harvested and prepared for the British market these 294 scalps of hmnan victims, please tell me from what fields they were gathered. The number is sure to be correct, for the report comes from the purchaser, a high dignitary of the British crown, a wholesale dealer in the article, for which he paid $2940 in British gold and silver. A few more may have been gath- ered and lost by the wayside, but this was the number taken to market. At ten dollars each they were too valuable to be counted loosely. The number agrees with the stumps upon the ground in these localities. Until we know better we must accept the story as told by both sides at the time of the transaction. Truth and justice require that another fict, which has been omitted, should be told at this time. So fixr as known to the people here, not a woman or child was slain by the enemy in the Valley. How many, if any, were slain by them in the woods and mountains, whitlier they pursued them, was never known. There was no shutting up of whole families in their houses, and then fire set to them and the whole consumed together. ISTo slaughter of whole families, men, women and children, in that or any other way. The wickedness and devihshness of the savage horde needed not tliat extent of atrocity to make them execrated throughout tlie civilized world. The humane in England, of every degree, " reprobated, " in strong terms, the circumstances attending tlie destruc- " tion of several parts of America, particularly of the set- *' tlemeiit of Wyoming, and tlie cruelties exercised by Cot " Butler and his savage horde." (See Dodslej^'s Annual Register, 1770, p. 91.) TlIP] FRATRICIDE. The story of the fratricide, as told in our histories^ Avouhl socni to he disproved b}'- the following document, on tile in the State Department of Connecticut, at Hartford. Doc. 133 To the Honorable General Assembly of the State of Con- necticut, or in their recess, to his Excellency, the Gov- ernor, and Council of Safety of said State — The memonal of the subscribers sheweth, That your Honors' memorialists enhsted into the service of this State, in ye Continental army, under Captains Strong and Judd, in ye year 1777; that we cheerfully went out into ye service of our country, leaving our families in this town;" that in ye yr. 1778 the enemy destroyed this place, as j^our Honors xVell know, but by special favor of his Excellency, General Washington, we have since that time been continued here, where we have done duty under ye command of Captain Simon Spalding, who is now, by a late resolve of ye Conti- nental Congress, ordered to leave this garrison, where some of our families are, and all of us are inhabitants of this town which IS a frontier, and are daily exposed to ye ravages of ye enemy, where our families must either be left or removed out into ye country or cam}> Wherefore your Honors' memorialists humbly beg leave to lay this our state and condition before your Honors, that your Honors in your great goodness will order that we may be discharged from our enlistment, that we may, without expense to the State, support ourselves and families, and that in wisdom your Honors interpose in our behalf, or some way grant relief ^ and we, a^ in duty bouiul^^ will ever prav. JOHN RYON, LEMUEL WHITMAN, JOHN JACKSON, JOHN OAKLEY, JOHN PLATMORE, JOHN l^ENCIL. Westm'or'eland, ye 2!8d day of January, 1781. ENDORSED. Th« withiw ivs a true Fopresentation of facts, and we,tlve" ei ^.,l«eriboi- be- leave to request yom- Honors tlial iWs ^enm^'n'J-be grantcl, as these "-" -- S-' J""^- ^-'^' -^t:ft ^f ^^i^^n^rs^nh^vrrl:;;^;!:::!. ye ;^- S i^rtorthS Stat'c for if this ,ownl,c notag^ destroyed by ye enemy, we hope, in a few years, to be ab e to thir a i^ulerabfe s.m %^^ "^^y^^^ZZ^t^ State, and make some retnrns for your ."°»"' ^f'^;;'; =,^,45. ness in granting so many 01 our requests. And you, petr tioners, as in duty bound, ^^^^-^}:^,,. J AUKS NESBIT, V Selectmen. JABEZ STLL, j Wp«tmoreland, 2Bd January, 1781. . , , ■. . ^ Sed at\ho particular request of ye mkabitant. The allegation is that John Vvndl killed Ins brothei, Henry, on Monockonoek Ishuul, after the battle _ The .tory of the battle, the nu.ssa.re and flight ha e been briefly told. I shall now proceed to dispose of the .ral aciors in them, who survived, and tnen mv ta>k scvei will be completed. -• i ^ Major Butler, on the nvorning of the th, received a letter from a messenger. He at once ealle.1 his otfa.e^ and tlie Indian chiefs armuul liim anersi te, Gau tot ■corn. Gucingerachton and Kayifigwaurto went up the bu,- -cpiehanna, accomjianicd by the Tories. ^ f„„itives Ca.pt. Spalding's company, accampan.ed the fngituc. flvino- east as t\,r as Strou.lsburg, where the,,' remained untd ' « August, when they rc.unied to the Yalley. acconr- mied by mSiy of the fugitives. They took pos^ess.o,, Ld held it till the close of the "^'-V"*",^,';:'^,^' ;^^ although often assailed, and many ot them killed oi t.ikc« iprisoners. 62 Tlio dead, who had fallen on the fatal 3d, remanied un- buried until the 22d of October. On the preceding day the following order was issued : "'Camp Westmoreland, Oct. 21, 1778. Ordered, That there be a party, consisting of a Lieuten- ant, two sergeants, two corporals and twenty-five men, to ]3arade to-morrow morning, with arms, as a guard to those who will go to bury the remains of the men who were killed at the late battle, at and near the place called Win- termoot Fort." In pursuance of this order, Lieut. John Jenkins, on the morning of the 22d, took charge of a party and went forth on the mournful duty assigned them. They took with them two carts, some shovels and some two-tined wooden forks. The weather having been dry for some time after the battle, the bodies had dried and shriveled up so that few could be recognized. They had become so light that two men, one at the head and the other at the knees, could take a body up on their forks and toss it into the cart without difficulty. Passing along up from Fort}' Fort they had reached but little more than half way to the field of conflict before their carts were full. They then stopped and dug a hole in the earth, to bury them. After putting in what bodies they had, they found the hole still capal)le of holding more. They therefore proceeded on to the battle-field and gathered up all they could find there and on the way, and hauled them all to this spot, making for them one common grave. It was well it was so done, for they went out and fell to- gether in the same glorious cause, and in death they should not have been divided. After they had deposited all that could readily be found, they closed the grave and left them to their rest, where they remained until the 4th of July, 1832, when they Avere ex- humed for the purpose of erecting a monument to their memory, which it is gratifying to record has been done. What bodies were not found and buried on that day in that grave, were afterwards l)uried wlien discovered, on the spot 63 where they lay. The nmiiber buried at that time, where the monument now stands, was 96 — 60 of whom were from the battle-field, the rest on the line of flight. You ask, did this terrible atrocity go unavenged? Was no effort made to punish its perpetrators ? I answer, it was avenged. How, I will briefly narrate. Upon the reception of the horrible tidings from Wy- oming, Washington directed Col. Thomas Hartley to form a rendezvous, gather troops and move against the invaders on their own ground. At the same time, Col. William Butler, of the 4th Pennsjdvania regiment, was ordered from Fort Stanwix to go down and form a junction witli Col. Hartley, at Tioga, and together operate against the enemy. Col. Hartley went as flir as Tioga, took some Indians prisoners, burnt Queen Esther's town and palace, and destroyed Tioga ; but Col. Butler did not appear to join him. He returned to Wyoming. On his way he was attacked by a consider- able body of Indians, between Wyalusing and Laceyville, on Indian Hill, and quite a sharp fight was had. The In- dians were beaten and fled, leaving ten of their number dead on the field. Col. Butler mistook his way. He went down the head waters of the Delaware, instead of the Susque- hanna. Discovering his mistake, he struck across to the Susquehanna, but too late to co-operate with Col. Hartley. He, however, destroyed the Indian castles and villages in the neighborhood of Unadilla, up and down the river. This, however, was more than balanced by the massacre of Cherry Valley, on the 11th of November, following. The whole country had now become aroused to the ter- rible state of aftairs on the frontiers, and vigorous and ample means for subduing these inhuman monsters were demanded on all hands. Accordingly an expedition against them was devised during the winter of 1778-9, and set in motion in the following spring. This expedition was put in charge of Major-General John Sullivan, who marched into the Indian country as far as the Genesee river. He met 6i the enemy in several pitched battles, the most important of whicli was at T^cwtown, and defeated them in alL He destroyed forty of their villages and towns, with 160,000 bushels of corn, and devastated their whole country along the line of march. Among the slain in a battle at Chemnng was Kayingwanrto, one of the chiefs who led the Indians at "Wj'oming. Tliis expedition, while inflicting serious injury upon them in the destruction of their homes and means of subsistence, as well as by their utter demoralization as a warlike force, was not so seriouslj' destructive to them in the loss of life, as the results which flowed from it. By the destruction of their toAvns and crops they were thrown completely on the hands of the British, who were compelled to take them in and provide for them at Niagara. The ensuing winter was one of great rigor and severity. The snow fell early and to a great depth, as much as eight feet, and remained upon the ground all winter. The cold was intense and continuous, so that it was quite impossible to travel or get about. Shut up inf narrow quarters, and fed on salt provisions^ the scurvy broke out among them^ and a large number died. They never recovered from these com- plicated calamities, and the once mighty Indian confederacy melted away with the opening of spring, and ceased, from that time forth, to be a power of any consequence or impor- tance in the contest in which they had previously acted such a conspicuous and terrible part. The haughty and chivalric spirit of this splendid race of savages, whose skill and eloquence in council, and whose mighty conquests and long-continued domination over sur- rounding tribes attracted the attention and won the admira- tion of the enlightened world, seemed to have been worthy of a better fate, but the degrading and demoralizing influ- ence of association with the British and Tories, dragged them down to the lowest depths of depravity and terminated 65 tlieir career amidst the execrations of man kiiKl, with none to monrn their unhappy cn(L How was it witli Great Britain ? The British government, from the time when the news of the terrible atrocities committed at Wyoming reached that country, had all tho moral power of her people ag;vinst her in a further prosecution of the war. The opposition became strong and zealous, and it was with difficulty sup- plies were obtained for that purpose. Tlie war lingered alono- w^ithout moral force or power for some years, became a scheming witli treason and a work for incendiaries, and finally resulted in a glorious victory for the Americans, and an io-nominious defeat of the British, who lost not only all they had fought for, but thirteen of the brightest jewels from their imperial diadem. The Tories fled to Canada, losing everything, gaining nothing but an immortality of infamy. The conquered and the slain, and their descendants, how is it with them ? They arose from this holocaust of blood and flame with renewed hfe and vigor. They built up the waste places, cleared away the forests, erected homes, established institu- tions, embellished this beautiful Valley, and have grown to be what you see them around you here to-day, and, perchance, may see to-morrow. The nation they fought and sacrificed and died to estab- lish, is great and miajhty, the home of freemen, the abode of liberty. In all that enriches and ennobles mankind, in all that honors and dignifies a nation, she stands without a peer. Steam navigation, the telegraph, phonograph, tele- phone, microphone, electric pen, and other wonders in science and in practical life, have been invented and wrought out by the genius and skill of her people. They have given 66 a mighty impetus to the human mind, and wiped out all the bounds that have hitherto been set to control its onward progress. The dark, tlie stone, the brazen, the silver, the goklen, tlie iron, and all other ages have been swept away and superseded by the electric, or lightning age, and this ffi^eat and mio-htv people have realized in themselves the mythological Jupiter Tonas of the ancients, grasping and wielding the lightnings of heaven, though directing them to bless instead of curse mankind. MASSACRE OF AVYOMING. BY STEUBEN JENKINS. Head at Monument, 3d July, 1S7S. To rid us of a tyrant's chain Our fatliers fell; and not in vain They marched to battle and were slain, And with their blood bedewed this plain; They fought for home and liberty. A British— Tory— Savnge band Had come to desolate their land ; Should they like cowards ily ? or stand And meet th' invaders hand to hand And drive them back if that they may? Like freemen, valiant, true and brave, They marcii to victory or the grave. While at tneir head their banners wave. And from their God tlicy blessings crave. To guide them on to'victory. They met in battle's stern array. Dire was the conrtict, dire the day ; Borne down by odds, in short sharp fray, The gallant patriot band gave way. And tied from horrid slaughtering. Th' invading host was fierce and strong, They swift pursued the flying throng. They swept the plain, they passed along And killed oy captured old and young; The living saved for torturing. They gave no quarter, spared no life Of iill, who, in tlie battle's strife, Had fought for home, for children, wife— With spear, and tornaliawk, and liiiife. They gave them o'er to butchery. While time shall in full torrent swell. Queen Esther's blood.v rock shall tell Of demon orgies, Indian yell, That stunned the victims ere they iiimy fell On that dread night of massacre. Nations and people all unite To damn the deeds done that dread night On tortured men, homes blazing l)right, And call on God to curse and blight The cause that works such infamy. But few of that heroic band. Who marched th' invaders to withstand, And save from ruin their loved land. Survived the battle's bloody brand To see their country's victory. A hundred years have rolled away Since on that sad, ill-fated da.y. Our fathers fell in bloody fray"; And we are gathered here to pay Due honors to their memory. They who beneath these tablets lie, This lesson tauglit posterity: 'Tis sweet and glorious to die For country, home and liberty. Yea, sweeter far that slavery. Then let us, o'er their honored grave, The glorious flag of freedom wave ! Keep green the memory of the brave ! Wave, freemen! all your banners wave! In honor of their memory. BATa^LE OF WYOMING. liY STEUBEN JENKINS. Strike the lyre in warning strain ! Wake tlie hearts of daring men ! Bid tlioni for their country stand, (iiiai'd Uu'ir liomes and cherished land! Tyrants trampling on their rights, Savage hordes whose presence blights, March their homes to desolate ; Bid them rise ere yet too late ! Btrike the lyre in martial strain! Rouse to action valiant men ! See ! they meet in battle's shock, Meet as waves meet frowning rock ! Crushed beneath o'erwhelming force. Carnage marks their flight's fell course. Three to one the forces prove, Three opposed to one we love. Strike the lyre in mournful strain ! Let it peal a sad refrain ! Let its notes a requiem prove O'lM' the graves of those we love. Martyrs for our liberty ! Dying that we might be free ! Honored be the patriot dead! Glorious be their gory bed ! Strike the lyre in .joyful strain ! Strike, O, strike it yet again ! Let its Joyful tones resound! Let it echo all around ! P.id it tell of glorious deeds ! Bid it tell how freedom .speeds! Tell what VBica± gallant men have done! Tell how liberty was won! Strike the lyre in dulcet strain ! Strike: for all good-willing men ! Fruitful blessings on each hand Flow throughout our happy land. Perfect love in full accord. Peace and plenty crown the board ! AH from bondage now are free! All rejoice in Liberty! (Inscription on front tablet of Monument.) Near this spot was fought, on the afternoon of Friday, the third day of July, 1778, THE BATTLE OF WYOMING, In which a small body ot patriotic Americans, chiefly the inidisciplined, the youthful and the aged, spared, by inefficiency, from the distant ranks of the Republic, led by Col. Zebulon Butler and Col. Nathan Denison, with a courage that deserved success, boldly met and bravely fought a combined British, 'Tory and Indian force, of thrice their number. Numerical superiority alone gave success to the invader, and wide-spread havoc, desolation and ruin, marked his savage and bloody .footseps through the Valley. THIS MONUMENT, commemorative of these events, and of the actors in them, has been erected over the bones of the slain, By their descendants, and others, who gralefuUy appreciated the services and sacrifices of their patriotic ancestors. (Inscn'jition on right and left sides.) „^CE ET DECOKUM EST P A T R ,., „^^^ SLAIN IN BATTLE, FIELD Ol'TICKKS. Lt.-Col. Csoi-go Dorrance, Major Jonathan Waite Garrett. CAPTAIN'S. James Bidlack, jr., Aholiab I5uck, Robert Dyu-lcee,^ . ^ A. Atherton, Aaron Gaylord. Perrin Ross, Lazarus Stewart, jr., Jeremiah Bigford, Silas Gore, LIEUTENANTS, Jabcz Atherton, Christopher Avery Ackke, A. Benedict, Jabez Beers. Samuel Bigford, David Bixby, Elias Bixby, John Boyd, John Brown, Thomas Brown, William Buck, Josepli Bud'j>jjr>- ^ ^ "^ •; ■■-::> > v:z> > > :> :> :^ :> I> _» :> . 3 i3> -j 3> >:x3i^ '"> 'X> J> 3er_> ^ ^ m 3 4 -3> -^'-^ ^ -yy. ■.,'> .3>'- ^ ^ '-.^ ■"3> >'> 3S> ■>"■'■> 3> V, >"•.> : .t> • 3> • > 35 >•: . > i^-i.'^ -:*.: 2>:.>J ■'3> ^ "> ^%.ll ^ > ^-^ f,^ ^1 ^ >^ ^ . 3> _- :3»>:3> ^^a 3» -^J^ ^ r^ ^ 1>J>Z^ -^ ^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 011 800 175 8 #