The Massacre of Wyoming

TH MA SACR F MI E S E O WYO NG.

THE

A CTS OF C ON GR ESS

FOR THE E FE E OF THE M I V A LLEY E S V D NS WYO NG , P N N YL AN IA ,

1 7 76 - 1 7 7 8 :

W ITH THE PETITION S OF THE

SU FFE RE RS BY THE MASSAC RE OF

Y 1 8 JUL 3 . 7 7

FOR CO N GRESS IONAL A I D .

w rr H A N I N T ROD UCTOR Y C HA PTER BY

W N HAY D EN M . A . R EV . HOR AC E ED I ,

‘ ‘ ’ L I C A L SO C I ETY C OR R ES P ON D I N G S ECR ET A R Y W Y OM I N G H I STOREC A L A N D GE O OG . N N

“TH E SO I ET P R I N TE D FOR C Y .

- WI LKES BA R R E, P A .

S E E P A G E X V I I I E CONT NTS .

P A GE

n du o — I tro ct ry Chap ter M assacre of Wy o mi ng A c ts of Congress

e on of th e S uffe ers of W o m n 1 8 P titi r y i g, 37 R eso u on o f enn vani A se m 1 8 l ti s P syl a s bly , 37 e on of S mue u and o h e s P titi a l T bbs , t r A c t of C on ess 1 8 8 A dve s to h gr , 3 , r e t e P e titio n e o n of the Suffer e s of W o m n 1 8 P titi r y i g , 39

fﬁd v s of the S ur v vo of h M s s t e s c e 1 8 . A a it i r a a r , 39 M h r s . Sara Bidlack Huldah C arey B ertha J e nki ns h M S ara y ers . n Catheri e C ourtright . Ph eb e C oop er C olon el Edward I nman o o n C l el G eorge P . Ranso m G e neral W illiam R oss M aj or El eaz ar Blackman n m n R e v . B e j a i B idlack S t ephen Abb o tt I shma el B enn ett Eb en ez er M arcy J ose R og ers J os eph Sl eeu ni Corn elius Courtright A nderson Dana Elisha Hardi ng ’ Colon el Z ebulon Butl er s L e tt er to Washington G en eral Hand

mu e R ns m to Con ess P e tition of heir s of Capt . Sa l a o gr R e of W e mo e nd 1 8 1 atabl s st r la , 7

P R E F A C F

The cont ents of th ese pages w ill b e new to many readers of Wyo h o h mi ng histo ry . T e A c ts f Congress relative to the defenc e of t e To wn of VV estinor eland ar e here fully prese nted for the ﬁrst time s n d in h The e i ce th ey app eare t e J o urnals of Co ngress in 1 800 . P ti tions of the S ufferers and S urvi vors of the M assacre to Congress for “ co m ens on w e e u hed n e x e s a o in th e W omin p ati , r p blis arly si ty y ar g y g ’ R e ubl ican a nd F a r now r me s H er ald of K n s on P a . and in th e p i g t , , ve r e Con e s o n docu me n s of 1 8 8 and 1 8 to b e found on ry ra gr s i al t 3 39 , ly in h old h d h o n e nu t e es s e u c r es. e e e s w e , tabli P bli Lib ari T s P titi r

’ dou ed w e n b H on . Ch es M ne the Histor ian wh0 in the bt ly ritt y arl i r , , “ ” W o m n R e u c n o f A u us 1 8 ove the n m e o f us c e y i g p bli a g t 9 , 3 7 , r a J ti , “ ” addr essed a c o mmuni c atio n To the P eopl e of Wyoming urging h s h e fo o w ed the presen tation to Congre ss of such a P e titi on . T i ll w ith o th er c o mmuni c ati ons on the subj ec t in the same p ap er duc on A u us 1 6 2 and 0 . To hese he efe s in the n o g t , 3 3 t r r I tr ti “ h do d the fi s to his History of Wyo mi ng . The me e ting whi c a pt e r t e on was h e d W es- r e ove m e 1 8 and the e P titi l at ilk Bar , N b r , 7 , 37 , P ti “ " on a fi u hed in th e R e ublica n of o vem e 1 in wh ch ti w s rst p blis p N b r 5 , i “ th d o s es h The M e mo u on the fi s e in f vou of e e it r tat t at , rial p r t pag a r

the W o m n C ms is we unde s nd f o m th en of C . M ne Es . y i g lai , r ta r e p i r , q d h commun c ons f om M r . M ine hou h non e ar e ne Ot er i ati r r , t g sig w h his n me wi b e found in the R e ubl ican of M a and 2 and it a , ll p y 9 , 3 , m 22 v es in fu the ec em e 1 8 . The su e of ove e D b r 5 , 39 is N b r , gi ll m n s to the Connec cu A sse m b e M e morial of th e Wyo i g S e ttl er ti t bly , The ssue of e r u 6 f 1 . ing in substanc e that to Congress o 837 i F b ary , 1 8 c on ins the e on of 1 8 w h the dve se R e o of Con 39 , ta P titi 39 , it a r p rt h n he ﬁ s e on d ed ul 2 1 8 8 o mi n how eve , t e gress o t r t P titi , at J y , 3 , tti g , r valuabl e and v ery important referenc es and afﬁdavits of the survi vors h s o on of the s econd included in this pap er fro m page 39 to 77 . T i p rti

m n s of 1 8 . P e titio n w as publish ed o nly in the Congressi o nal D ocu e t 39

n of 1 8 was o u shed w h the om ss on of e , Th e p e titio 37 als p bli , it i i a pag ” ’ “ f he M n er s H or of W om n A end x e . O t in M r . i ist y y i g , pp i , pag 75 n of W o m n on M n e and S on e e to h ve vari o us historia s y i g , ly i r , t app ar a n h ffid v wh ch con a n the c efu w en ecol ec ons se e t e a a its , i t i ar lly ritt r l ti wn u v vo s of th e M s of n early twenty pr omine nt and well kno s r i r as — d n of c e of u 1 8 m e i of the h hes v ue to the u e a r J ly 3 , 77 , at r al ig t al st t documen s ar e d. hese the history of the R evoluti onary p erio T t all e n d f w b e no c ed h r pri t e ro m copi es in my pri vate library . It ill ti t at c c ed M r . M n e in th n od on hi H o ves e e i r e I tr ucti to s ist ry , gi sp ial r it fo s ar e h e e e en ed r information to the v ery p ersons whose affidav it r pr s t , d o i ndic ating that these affidavits w ere written at his soli c itati on an pr b

ably under his i nsp ec ti on .

The n oduc o Ch e a n d in in th e L ibr ar I tr t ry apt r w s pri t e part , y N ews-l etl er of the Os e hou for ul 1 8 b ut is he e ex e nded t r t Library J y , 93 , r t The and enri ched with data n ev er b efore p ublished in this s ec ti o n . ’ ﬁc e of o ec o n to origi nal manuscript o f Col . John Butl e r s c erti at pr t ti

o and his a f nd m n the e s o f H o n . Charl es Li eut . Sc vell party w s ou a o g pap r The Histor d i f o m h R mm in 1 8 . M ne who ec e ve t e . S s i r , r i r J p t a i 47 i cal S oc i ety of P e nnsyl va n ia has ge n erously loan ed it to th e Wyo - for h u os of h s e and for exhib i m n H s . Geo . Soc e t e e i g i t l i ty p rp t i pap r ,

’ o d eﬁn e se e the ti o n in the S oc i e ty s c oll ec ti o ns . It app ears t it ly ttl m n question as to who was th e I ndian l eader at the M assacre of Wyo i g .

HOR A CE ED W I N HA Y D EN .

- F b 1 1 I K S A R R P a . e . 8 8 . W L E B E , , , 95 THE E MASSACR OF WYOMING .

No one with a love for the beautiful in nature can stand the of e e e on top Prosp ct Rock on a summ r day, and gaz upon the exquisite love lin e ss of the Wyoming Vall ey with o ut a h of h t rill admiration . Nor will e wonde r that Indians and white men could have battled with each oth er for the poss ession of so fair a domain . e r e e Its b auty was doubtl ess fa. g at r one hund re d and e ef e e e e e the f e thirty y ars ago , b or art had nt r d to chang ac of e e the f e e e e e natur , wh n or st was brok n only h r and th re few e the e e e by a cl arings and cabins , and sil nc unbrok n e e the e of e xc pt by voic s natur . It doubtl ess app e ared a Paradis e to the littl e band of colonists who came here in 1 6 2 e e de ffe e the 7 , and w r ma to su r so sor ly in Indian f 1 E e o 6 . e e f Massacr 7 3 ls , why did a s cond colony rom Conn e cticut e ssay in 1 76 9 to reco ve r what had b ee n so m e rcile ssly wrested from them six ye ars before ? e e e e e of e fo r Willing to ndur , as th y did , a s ri s disast rs the e e e e e e e e e u n xt tw nty y ars or mor , th y s ttl d , cl ar d, b ilt and sowed with the d e sp e rate resolve to retain possession th f an f at e p e ril of li e d ortun e. the e e e the e f m D uring y ars pr c ding R volutionary War , ro 1 6 1 f e e e e the e 7 9 to 7 7 5, so r qu nt w r conﬂicts r sulting in e the o f e m e b e bloodsh d within town W st or land , that it may said to have be en in a state of contin ual war. It was a e e of the e e e e of e N e w E e r p tition xp ri nc th ir ngland anc stors , who we nt to the plow and the church with the trusty riﬂ e slung ove r th e ir should er . e e e e e the e e B coming us d to dang rs how v r , Wyoming p opl did not n e gle ct the m e ans of d efe nc e n ee d ed to protect e e e f of the eve o c th e i r famili es . Nor w r th y unmind ul nts The e e curring b eyond the limits of th eir town . int rcours ke pt up with kindre d in N ew England did not l eave th e m in ignorance of the storm of war which threate n e d to burst e of the e on the whol e of the thirtee n Coloni es . N ws battl s v iii THE WYOM ING MASSAC RE .

of e e e . Concord , and L xington , promptly r ach d Wyoming the l S t of 1 the e e e r e On August, 7 7 5, propri tors and s ttl rs “ solved to unanimously j oi n our bre thren in Am e rica in e e the common caus e of d efending our lib e rty . And d spit nnamite ee the the land difﬁculti es b e tween P e and Yank , s ettle rs were thoroughly in earnest in acting upon the re solu ~ ’ e tions o f the Contin e ntal Congress fo r the country s d efens .

During the summ e r o f 1 7 74 the p eopl e built five princi ’< pal forts fo r the d e fense o f the valleyfi M aj or El e aze r Blackman who aid e d the building of the fort at Wilke s “ " "e e e e 1 8 8 the Barr , num rat d th m in 3 , as Plymouth Fort ; h e - e e f e en t e Wilk s Barre Fort , cov ring n arly hal an acr , h f e closing t e public buildings , and orm d by digging a ditch 1 1 6 fe e e e set in which logs , sharp at top , 5 o r t long , w r in end e o e e the e e on clos ly t g th r, with corn rs round d so as to “ n the f o ne e the fla k ort, and with gat ; Forty Fort, at n e e e Kingsto similarly plann d , larg r and with two gat s ; “ ” e n E e e the J nki s Fort, in x t r township , built around e o f e the e e e hous J ohn J nkins , at Pittston F rry, w st sid ; ’ v e the e e e Pittston Fort , at Brown s just abo F rry, ast sid ; ” and Winte r moot the f of e Fort , built by amily that nam h e e e e e e e e e v n ear the h e ad of t e Vall y . B sid th s th r w r ari e v The f ous block hous s built by indi iduals . Act o Con e 2 1 6 fo r e of gr ss , August 3 , 7 7 , calling two compani s troops to s e rve through the war met imm e diate respons e in the 1 6 a tains D ur k ee n e e . 1 C R a Vall y, and by S pt 7 , 77 , p and e e the o f e es e v e som had ach fill d quota th ir r p cti command . The of e e e Act Congr ss sp cifi d ,

That two compani es on the Contin e ntal establishm e nt b e rais e d in the Town of Westmore land and station e d in prop e r plac es fo r the d efenc e of the inhabitants of said n e f e e of e Tow and parts adjac nt, till urth r ord rs Congr ss ; the commission e d o fﬁc e rs of the said two compani es to b e imm e diately appointe d by Congress

“ o of h A nc i en t F rts t e Distri c t of W yo mi ng . Fo ra full descriptio n d i f of th e Forts the r e a er s re erred to this exhaustive and admirabl e e e ed b the e She do n R e no ds s es d en o f pap r pr par y lat l y l , E q , Pr i t this “ m n S oci e and r e d the e ul e e D e c . 1 8 . A o ty , a at r g ar ti g , , 94 ls Pittston W o m H - H n . S . en ns n s . o o b o Ge . S oc . P oc . V ol F rt , y J ki , y i g i t l r , . I I " 1 11 1s WY OM I N G SS C E MA A R . ix

the of the me n b e e f e That pay to rais d as a or said , com e e e e are e e e m nc wh n th y arm d and must r d , and that they b e e e e of the e e e liabl to, s rv in any part Unit d Stat s, wh n ord e re d by Congress “ the b e inlisted e e the That said troops to s rv d uring war, e e e unl ss soon r discharg d by Congress . ee f e e e e e e D e Within thr months a t r th y w r must r d in , ce mb e r 1 2 1 6 e , 7 7 , Congr ss ,

e e the e e h R solv d , that two compan i s rais d in t e Town of W e stmore land b e orde re d to j oin gen e ral Washington ” e e with all possibl xp edition . Thus th ey b e came partici pato rs in the v arious actions o f the Contin ental Army in N ew e e the the J rs y d uring winte r . But Vall ey was left without imm e diate and ad e quate d efe nc e against the com

mon ene my . M e anwhil e Conn e cticut was not e ntirely unmind ful of he r e e the he m p opl on Susqu ehanna . T Ass e bly passe d an e 1 6 e e the 2 th e e o f Act in Octob r , 77 , to compl t 4 R gim nt e b e f e of e e Conn cticut Militia, to orm d W stmor land com anies ove e e e e the o f e e p , and in N mb r r ct d town W stmor n The f e ffi e f h 2 land i to a Co unty . i ld o c rs o t e 4th Regi me e e nt w r ,

e e e e 1 Colon l ; Z bulon Butl r, appoint d May, 7 7 5, suc cee ded 1 e o o e f May , 7 7 7 , by Nathan D nis n prom t d rom n Li e utenant Colo el .

e e e e m e f Li ut nant Colon l ; Lazarus St wart , pro ot d rom 1 e e e 1 ee e Captain , May , 7 7 7 , r sign d Octob r , 7 7 7 , and succ d d e e e e f m n e by G org Dorranc , promot d ro Captai , Octob r , 1 7 7 7

n e e f n e Major ; Joh Garr t, promot d rom Captai , Octob r, I 7 7 7

The o f the e e e e e . Captains R gim nt w r , J am s Bidlack , Dr m e m e e Willia Hook r S ith , John Garr t , Nathani l Landon ,

. M c Kar achan e e m n e e . Asaph Whittl s y, Wm , J r iah Bla chard , e ee e e e E R zin G r, St ph n Harding, Rob rt Carr and lijah “ e e of the n e e e e the R e Farnam . S v ral compa i s w r lik '

fo r mado es . e , as Captain Wm Hook r Smith s company was men The men the e e f e of . call d , orm d old young , bon and THE \V YOM I N G MASSAC RE . sin ew— the chivalry of the Vall ey— had mainly enliste d in The the two Congress compani es of Durk ee and Ransom . efe f th f e e e d at o e patriot orc s by How at Brandywin , and f 1 1 8 e e e the N ew J e rs ey campaign o 7 7 7 and 77 , k pt th s two compani es with Washington . The situation of the inhab 1tants of the Wyoming Valley The e e was th e refore at this tim e most d eplorabl e . n ar st e e e the of e e e E s ttl m nts within limits P nnsylvania w r aston , e e e e 6 0 e the and B thl h m , ach mil s to southward , and Sun 6 0 e the e e bury, or Fort Augusta, mil s to w stward th ir pe opl e un fri e ndly to the Conn e cticut s ettl e rs on the North of the e e e e Branch Susqu hanna , whom th y r gard d as e intrud rs .

the e the e e To north dw lt Six Nations , as cru l as th y e e f e e f w e the w r cra ty, whos pow r ul hand had ip d out in e of 1 6 the e e e of the Massacr 7 3, Wyoming s ttl m nt whom e e e S a en uara hto n e e S n ca Chi f, Old King, or y g g , had d clar d , d f e th ey have tak e n th e i r lan rom us . Stimulat d by the for e e e the e ffe e the thirst r v ng , and r ward o r d by British ve n e for e e e e th Go r m nt Am rican scalps , th s only await d e e e e e ﬁt opportunity to mak a s cond d sc nt on Wyoming .

ffe e . e e the This opportunity soon o r d Colon l Dani l Claus , e e en of ff British Sup rint nd t Indian a airs , in his manuscript

of ose h e e . 1 8 e for history J p Brant, writt n S pt 7 7 , and publish d the ﬁrst tim e in state d that afte r the Battl e of Brandy wme ,

The plan of Op e rations fo r the e nsuing campaign was e e e the laid and M r . Brant d t rmin d to harass Fronti e rs of the Mohawk Rive r abt Ch erry Vall e y [illegibl e] whil e S akayenguaraghton took the Opportunity of this dive rsion to cut off the settl e ments of Wayoming on the Susqu ehanna

Rive r. (Bryant

It is tru e that b e twee n the Wyoming Vall ey and the e e e e e e e e e e e e Mohawk r gion th r w r h r and th r whit s ttl rs . But th ese in 1 7 76 had re c e iv ed such s eve re tre atm ent at

C n B n and the Old K n . The ed of W om aptai ra t i g Trag y y ing . A e e d efo e th e Buff o H s o c Soc e I 1 88 b pap r r a b r al i t ri al i ty, April , 9 , y

eme B n . 2 . 1 88 . Wm. Cl nt rya t p 5 9 THE E WYOM ING MASSAC R . xi the hands of the Wyomi ng p eopl e that th e ir fri e ndship was e e e e e e e e fo r turn d to nmity , and b ing Tori s , ag r to r taliat the e ffe e e e e wrongs th y had su r d , th y mad common caus with the Indians against the in habitants of the Wyoming e e e e Vall y, and w r doubtl ss important factors in the ’ eve e of d lopm nt Brant s plan of campaign . But it is not c e rtainly known that th ey had anything to do with the of the m e e inauguration Wyo ing xp dition .

The c v e Claus manus ript , which is a ry important e e e m of docum nt , was discov r d by M r . Willia Kirby, e e e Ontario , Canada, among som oth r pap rs of the ev e the e of R olutionary p riod , in poss ssion the e - e of . gr at grand childr n Col Claus . It Shows conclusively that whil e Bran t was a directi ng spirit of the of 1 8 the Indian campaign 7 7 , acting in council with he not e f e e Old King, was hims l pr s nt at Wyoming, J uly 3, 1 8 Saka e n uar a hton he 7 7 , and that Old King, or y g g as was the e e of the e known , was l ad r Indians who participat d in f h e the e . e o e t e Massacr In J un that y ar , as manuscript stat s , S akaye nguar aghto n ass e mble d his me n at his Town Canadasege without calling upon any white p e rson to join e e the e e of the f e th e m . How v r R fl ctions O fic rs at Niagara ’ 1 e S ak a en uar a hton s rous e d C0 . Butl r to march to y g g Town who at the sam e tim e res e rve d the command of his men to hims e lf. es This state m e nt of Colon el Claus is Significant . It do e of the f eve f e e not re li eve Col . J ohn Butl r stigma or r ast n d his e the e e upon nam by Massacr , but it confi rms his ass r the f e the e he e tion on day a t r battl , that could not r strain

e f e the e e . e his Indian alli s rom plund ring p opl Min r says , ’ 1 e n e e e C0 . e that in r spons to D nison s r mo stranc , John But “ le r gave pe re mptory ord e rs to the Chi ef ; Th es e ar e you r ” e e f e effe I ndians , you m ust r strain th m ; and a t r an in ctual e effort he said I can do nothing with th em . (Min r 2 34 e ef e the of the e e It was th r or not Brant, but King S n cas , S a e n uar a hto n o e e y g g , as C lon l Claus shows , who with a larg of the e e of e f body Six Nations , and a d tachm nt Tori s rom ’ Sir Joh n J ohnston s Royal Greens und er the command of T1—1E S C E xii WYOM ING MA SA R ,

e e f 00 Colon l J ohn Butl r , in all rom 9 to strong , e e the e of the e e 0 app ar d at h ad Wyoming Vall y, J un 3 , 1 8 e e e e of Winter moot 7 7 , and took p ac abl poss ssion Fort whose occupants we re always susp ected o f Tory proclivi e e e e e e e e e ee de ti s . In Fort J nkins th r w r th n only s v nt n fe e e e i n the enkinses the nd rs , mostly ag d p rsons , ncludi g J ,

e e e e r . e H ardings , (Captain St ph n , St ph n J , B njamin and e e e Hudsall e Stuk l y) J am s , Samu l Morgan , Ichabod Philips ,

e e e . Min r Robbins , John Gardn r and Dani l Carr

On the of the oth e of e e e morning 3 , ight th s , arm d with

e the e . e only two guns , w nt to ﬁ ld to work R turning at e of th eve ning th ey w re ﬁ red on by the Indians . Two e E H ardings we re kill e d . lisha Harding in his statem e nt e f e e n says , th y ought brav ly as long as th y could sta d , but be ing overpowere d by numb e rs we re cut to pi e c es in the e e of the e most shocking mann r, many hol s sp ars in th e ir e e e e e e Sid s , th ir arms cut to pi c s , tomahawk d , scalp d and ”

e . e e e e e th ir throats cut Oth rs w r captu r d , thus l aving but ten e the o f e e e me n p rsons in Fort ; two th m w r old , and the 2 nd o f thre e boys . On J uly wh en J ohn Butl e r de manded the e e of the ee surr nd r Fort , it was s n that re sist e e e the e e e anc was us l ss and surr nd r was mad . ’ M e anwhile the n ews of Butl e r s invasion had arous ed the e e the e e e s ttl rs in Vall y , who hastily ass mbl d at Forty Fort, the e e e fe e the e larg st an d strong st d nsiv post in Vall y. e e e e e e f f Colon l Z bulon Butl r, th n h r on urlough rom the e e e e Contin ntal Army, was imm diat ly plac d in command . His e xpe ri e nc e as a soldi e r for twe nty ye ars made his se r v ic es at this mo me nt invaluabl e. His military care e r be gan f e he e e the a e of e - H soon a t r had r ach d g tw nty o ne . e was e E the e e 8 mad an nsign by Conn cticut Ass mbly, May, , 1 8 the of e 7 5 , (although his diary, still in hands his d sc e nd e e 1 the e h ants , b gun J un , 7 57 , on day wh n e starte d in his ” e e E n ﬁrst campaign , r cords his rank at that tim as nsig ) e e 1 1 6 0 e n Li ut nant 7 59 , Captain 7 , s rvi g th rou gh the Fre nch the e e and Indian War, participating in v ntful e xp edition to he v 1 6 1 . e t e o f e Ha anna, 7 Wh n battl L xin gton occurred he e e of the e e was a m mb r Conn cticut Ass mbly , and was at onc e commission e d Colon el of the 24th Connecticut Re gi THE S C E WYOM I NG MA SA R . xiii

e . e 1 8 he e e 01 m nt At this tim , J uly 3 , 7 7 , was Li ut nant C onel of the r d e e e e e 3 Conn cticut R gim nt, Contin ntal Lin , ee e 1 1 8 . He e having b n appoint d J anuary , 7 7 was promot d

e . 1 1 8 f e 1 1 8 . He Colon l , Nov 5, 7 7 , to dat rom March 3 , 7 7 ee the n n had b n a participator in actions at Da bury, Con , e P a . e tc . the e Whit M arsh , , , and had won conﬁd enc and f e of ri ndship Washington . He was said to have b ee n a kins man of the Loyalist J ohn Butl e r commanding the forc es n the e e e now invadi g Vall y, but it has not b e n prov n . On the of ul r d of e morning J y 3 , a council war was h ld in Forty e e e e th Fort, wh n Colon l Z bulon Butl r advis e d d elay until e companie s of Spalding and Franklin could r each the Val l ey. B ut this council was oppose d by Li e ute nant Colon el e e o f M c Kar ach Lazarus St wart, th n in command Captain ' e the e e e e e of an s company, who urg d d sp rat m asur antici ’ the e e e e pating n my s attack by a surprise . Colon ls D ni e e e e the son and Dorranc coincid d with Colon l Butl r , but ee e fe majority agr d with St wart, (who nobly laid down his li the e e e e in battl that day, ) and Colon l Butl r r luctantly con s e nte d .

’ About 3 o clock that afte rnoon the Am ericans l eft the f e e of the ene e e of ort and advanc d in s arch my , th ir lin bat tle e xte nding from the marsh to the rive r at distance of 1 6 00 fe e e e e m the about t, Colon l Z bulon Butl r com anding h f The e e e t e e . right , and Colon ls D nison and Dorranc l t e e the e advanc was mad with spirit, and British pu rpos ly fe ll back until the Am e ricans we re drawn to a p oint in the e e e e ef e the ex ﬁ ld wh r th ir l t wing, Oppos d by Indians , was e S a e n ue r a hton pose d to a ﬂank move m e nt . Th n y q g with ’ his savage warriors gain e d the re ar of Colon el D e nison s e e wing and sudd enly fell upon his men. Colon l D nison at ’ e e e e e e e Whittlese s onc p rc iv d his dang r , and ord r d y com pany to fall back so as to form an angl e with the main lin e . ” The The ord e r was misund erstood as o ne to re treat . f the f e e e e the r e mistak e was atal , alling back b cam a r tr at ,

a the e f e the tre at panic , and massacr ollow d , Indians pur suing the flying troops and attacking th em with te rrible “ the e e slaughte r. Historians say that British lin gav way E xiv THE WYOM ING MASSAC R . b efore the galling fir e of the Am ericans in spite of all th eir ’ office rs eff ev e f orts to pr nt it . It is a singular act that ’ only two white me n in Colon el John Butl e r s command we re

e the C e e e . kill d , and asualti s includ d about a doz n Indians Doubtless the falling back of the British lin e be fore the ﬁr e e of the patriots was a part o f th eir plan of battl e . Colon l 1 8 the en e fe e su r a e . Claus , in docum t r rr d to , p , dat d Nov 77 , e ev e e says , that whil Brant was d astating Sch n ctady and e e Ch rry Vall y, Sakayenq uaraghton at the sam e tim e put his plan in E e e e e x cution , making v ry pr paration , Disposition and M aneouvr e with his Ind us hims elf and wh en the R eb els e of Wayoming cam e to attack him desired Col . Butl r to ke ep his p eople s eparate from his for fe ar o f Con fusion and the e of the e f for e e e e stood whol Brunt Action hims l , th r w r e e e but two white men kille d [ille gibl e] . And th n d stroy d the whole S ettle ment without hurting or mol esting Woman weh e e ef e b e or Child , th s two Chi s, to th ir honour it said , agree d upon b efore th ey [we nt into] Action in the

Spring .

’ e e eme e This conﬁrms Colon l Ston s stat nt , viz It do s not app e ar that anything lik e a massacre followed the capit ” ulati n . e f l o . e o u 1 8 8 And M r J nkins in his addr ss J y 3 , 7 , “ e e far the e e e e acknowl dg s that , So as known to p opl h r , not a woman or child was Slain by the e n e my in the ” Valley .

But it do es not disprove the fact that b etwee n the 3 r d of the of the t h of e e J uly and mornin g 4 J uly , th r was a e of the e e e o f the e en massacr mal s ttl rs , and Am ricans e the of the r d of ul e gag d in conﬂict 3 J y , qualling anything of the kind in Indian history fo r cru e lty and atrocity The capitulation of the Am ericans occurre d on the 4 th of J uly the 8 e e f at Forty Fort, and on th , J ohn Butl r withdr w rom the e h 2 2 Vall y with his command , and wit 7 scalps which he e e e . e e e r port d as tak n at Wyoming Th s scalps , valu d fo r the 1 0 e e and paid by British at $ api c , in all e e e e the o f men e w r not m r ly scalps kill d in actual combat . The high est e stimate of the slain give n by Am e rican r e xvi THE WYOM I NG MASSAC R E .

The e had his child in his arms . Indians tomahawk d him the f e the and gave the child to its moth er . On n ight a t r e ee e e e e e the e battl , s ing ﬁ r s und r som larg oaks n ar riv r, he f e e e with his ath r, Squir Whitak r and old Captain e the e e e see Blanchard , w nt down to riv r sid , th y could ’ n the ﬁr e co uld e the nake d white me running around , h ar e o f see the e f e cri s agony, could savag s ollowing th m with

e e e df . . th ir sp ars , it was a dr a ul sight (p m 1 the e of the e e e W . e G n ral Ross , ag d 7 at tim battl , “ The e e testiﬁ es to what he saw on the ﬁ e ld . sc n was e e e e e e e ee Shocking . Th r w r two rings wh r prison rs had b n e e e e e e massacred . Th r w r according to his r coll ction 9 bodi es in o ne and in the othe r (p .

I f to e e n e e e e massacr m a s , as W bst r d ﬁn s it, to mu r de r e of e the e with circumstanc s cru lty, qu stion as to ’ ’ ’ wh e th e r the [ Massacr e of Wyoming pr emam the capitula ’

o f o r ollowm e . tion Forty Fort, f it is hyp rcritical No hist “ orian has ye t publish e d the Petition of the Su ffere rs of e e e m e Wyoming , P nnsylvania, by d pr dations com itt d by ” the n the e e en e the India s in R volutionary War, pr s t d to t e f 2 th e he e o . 5 Cong r ss , containing stat m nts M rs Sarah

e e e . Bidlack , Mrs . H uldah Car y, Mrs . B rtha J nkins , M rs E e e e . My rs, Mrs Courtright, dward Inman , St ph n Abbot, m m n E e e e e Ge o . . e e e P Ranso , Ish a l B n tt, b n z r Marcy, J os E m R e e e ev . e e Rog rs , l az r Black an , B nj amin Bidlack , J os ph n e . e e e Ge . Slocum , Corn lius Courtright, M rs Pho b Coop r , E Wm . e . e Ross , And rson Dana, lisha Hardin g Many writ rs o f Wyoming history have evid e ntly n eve r r e ad this Petition e f 1 - The with its overwh e lming t stimony o 9 eye witn ess es . sufferings e ndure d by the wom e n and childre n on this fate ful d of the e e f b e e 3 J uly, and w k ollowing it, cannot sti E e e e of the e e f th mate d . xagg rat d as Som arly r lations o e ffe n e ee e e e the v su ri gs may hav b n , th r is truth nough in ari e e f the eme ous auth ntic accounts and r cords to j usti y stat nt , e f e e e e f e that languag ails to giv an ad qu at d scription o th m . Could the survivors of the Massacre o f Wyoming have an tici ate d the e e of the e e p d structiv criticism pr s nt day, cast ing doubt on so many state m ents of fact unive rsally known 1 8 e e e f e e in 7 7 , th y would assur dly hav ortiﬁ d th ir state THE WYOMING MASSAC RE xvii

e n f m nts with swor a fidavits . A c entury had not passe d over the bloody fi eld of Wyoming e r e It b e cam e n ec essary fo r the of e e e e f e me grandson Gil s Slocum , in a l tt r now b or , to e e e the of the f e of e e ass v rat truth ratricidal mu rd r H nry P ncil , rec e ive d by him from the lips o f his grandfath e r we ll known of e ne as a man cautious and accurat spee ch . O can find no word of d enial of the narratives of Chapman or Min e r mad e the ve of the d uring li s survivors of the Massacre . Nor did n e e e e e e n the Co gr ss in r j cting th ir app al , in any way qu stio of e e accuracy its stat m nts . ’ Ve ry strong corroborative evid e nc e of Old King s l e ad ’ er ship at the Massacre has com e into the writ e r s han ds e the e en the e of Sinc abov was writt , in shap an orig inal do cume nt f e rom Colon l J ohn B utl e r . It will b e re m e mbe re d that Fort Winte r moot was prompt l e e e d h y surr nd r to t e e n e my at the first d emand . This f d o f e e n E o e of the ort was in comman Li ut ant lisha Sc v ll , e e 2 th e e e e e S v nth company , 4 Conn cticut R gim nt, St ph n e the e Harding , Captain . Scov ll was a patriot , but Wint r o e the f e e e the f moots and th rs in ort w r Tori s , and ort was e e e e e e e 1 s urr nd r d to Butl r through th ir tr ach ry, J uly , 1 8 e e e 2 7 7 Min r giv s on pag 54 , a

’ of the e of o for Winter moot s Copy Articl s Capitulati n ,

1 1 8 . Fort , J uly , 7 7 “ e E h e e e the Art . I st . That Li ut . lis a Scov ll surr nd r Fort, the e m ar e with all stor s , arms and a munition , that in said

f e e n e . ort as w ll public as privat , to Major J oh Butl r

the not e n the 2 d. That garrison shall b ar arms duri g e e the me n pre s e nt contest ; and Major Butl r promis s that , me C e b e e e wo n and hildr n shall not hurt , ith r by Indians or ” e Rang rs .

Butl e r retire d from the Vall ey on the 8 th of J uly . On ve the f e r e the 5th he gav e to Li e ut . Sco ll ollowing c tiﬁcat

o f prote ction from Indians and Ran gers . This important

docum e nt cam e into the hands of the late J eptha R . Es of N ew who 1 8 r e Simms , q , Fort Plains , York , in 4 7 p e e the s ente d it through Hon . Charl s Min r to Historical ’

f . e Soci ety of Pennsylvania . It was ound in Mr Min r s v TH x iii E WYOM ING MASSAC R E .

e f e e ee f e the e of . pap rs a t r his d ath , and ind d a t r d ath M r nu . . e 0 e Wm P Min r . 5 that its existenc e was doubtl ss the known to latte r ge ntleman .

Through the gre at kindn e ss of the Historical Soci e ty of e ve b e the e e of Us P nnsylvania I ha o tain d privil g ing it, and retaining it in the Wyoming Historical and G e ological h Soci ety until t e ﬁrst Soci ety shall recall it . It is as follows

W eftmo r eland 5th J uly This doth h e reby c e rtify that Li e ut Elifha Scove ll has Surre nd e red his Garrison with all his p e opl e to Geove r nme nt and to re mai n as N e ute r al during this pr efent co nte ft with e e co nfider atio n Gr at Britain and Am rica, on f e e e e o which Col . J ohn Butl r Sup rint nd nt of the of e e &C Six Nations Indians th ir Alli s , with Kayingwaur to the Chi e f of the Sanak e Nation and the oth e r Chief Warriors of the - Six Natio ns do promife that th ey Shall live in the qui et pofsefsion o f the ir plac es with th eir Famili es and shall b e d aily protected from infult as far as li es in th eir Powe r and prov id e d th ey should b e take n it is our deﬂ r e that th ey may forthwith b e

R eleafe d.

e E [S al] J OHN BUTL R . [a turtl e ] KA Y I N GWA UR TO “ E e e e e e e ndors d , This pap r pr s nt d through Charl s e Es of W ilkes~ B ar r e the e of Min r, q , to Historical Soci ty the Stat e of Pe nnsylvania by

J . R . Simms .

v e e Co . . Y . 1 1 8 . Fulton ill , Montgom ry , N , M ay 3 , 4 7

“ E e the e of Wh o min ndors d on back Conv ntion y g .

(Se e frontispi e c e . )

the e e This manuscript , pap r on which it is writt n , its b earing on the te rms of the capitulation of Winte rmoot T HE SS C E WYOMI NG MA A R . xix

the e of the e e e Fort , tot m Indian l ad r who authoriz d his e b e e e of authen nam to attach d to it , carri s conviction its tic it y on its fac e . It shows b eyond a doubt that Saye nqua r a hta Ka in waur to e g , or y g , as Old King was call d , was in of the e e command Indians who unit d with Col . John Butl r the v o f the e 1 8 . in in asion Wyoming Vall y in J uly , 77

b e e e e e the . e e e It will r m mb r d that Hon St ub n J nkins , who clung te naciously to the beli ef that Brant was the l e ad er the e of e A d in massacr Wyoming , stat d in his Historical “ e at the e 1 8 8 ﬁve e dr ss Monum nt , J uly 3 , 7 , that hundr d d e Ka in waur to e e ef In ians , command d by y g , a S n ca Chi , and e e e e the S us ue Capt . Jos ph Brandt a Mohawk , d sc nd d q e e e the m o f hanna riv r in boats , and land d n ar outh Bow ’ e e e e e e e e e fo r man s Cr k , wh r th y r main d som tim waiting m n e the W e st Branch party to join th e . This party co sist d of about two hundred Indians und er the command of Gu f f e the of the cin er achte n e e e . g , a S n ca Chi A t r junction all f e e e e e even e e orc s , n umb ring altog th r about l hundr d , th y move d forward to the invasion of Wyoming .

H w esaus o f e ev N ew e e . e Mr . G org S Conov r, ( y ) G n a, e e e e York, who has giv n much r s arch to this matt r, pub lished 1 8 86 e he e e and e in , a pap r which had pr par d r ad he e 2 8 1 8 8 e n b efore t Cayuga Historical Soci ty , March , 5, “ e Sa en ue r a hta of the e e . titl d , y q g , King S n cas In this a en uer a hta n pap e r he de cid e d that S y q g or Old Ki g, was not the le ad er in the attack on the Wyoming s e ttle m ent . e e 1 8 86 he e e e in In Nov mb r, , publish d a suppl m nt which “ e f e e e ve e he stat s that , In ormation lat ly r c i d is quit con he e e of 1 8 8 e e clusive that t stat m nt March , 5, was rron ous , and the fact is now establish e d that Old King was not only the instigator of the e xp edition but was the actual l e ad e r the n e e o f the Indians on occasio , and was a much gr at r ” man than history e ve r gave him cre dit for be ing .

the ce r ~ e 1 8 86 . e In the pap e r publish d i n , Mr Conov r prints

e Ka in waur to . tiﬁcate of Butl r and y g , stating that Mr Simms of Ka in waur to e e claim ed on the stre ngth it that y g , a S n ca But he Chi ef command ed the Indians at Wyoming. adds : X X THE WYOM ING MASSAC RE .

The e Ka in waur to Gien uah nam y g , although similar to g to could not possibly have refe renc e to Old King. Col he o nel Butler was a man of e ducation familiar with t Mo hawk dial ect and with the records of the proc eedings with h He e fe e e the e of the t e Indians . p r ctly w ll kn w that nam principal S eneca Chi e f was Sayenq uer aghta and would thus ve e e fe e e e ha writt n it, had it r rr d to Old King, as som hav ass e rte d .

me e . Th ese state m ents le d. to writ to William C Bryant, the e e e Es . e e q , and also to M r Conov r, wh n c rtiﬁcat cam he m of r ea into my hands, giving t an account it, and my e e e sons for b elieving in its auth e nticity. Both g ntl m n e and e e e ar e f m promptly repli d, th ir r pli s so ull and so uch h e the ee e to t e point, conc ding claim which had b n mad by imms ve e e e e r atiﬁ M r . S that I gi both l tt rs h r with much g cation .

e me M r . Bryant wrot thus 8 ff e 8 1 . Bu alo , F bruary , 9 5 My D ear Sir I have your favor of the I st instant touching the name of the Indian Chi ef join ed with that o f Colon el h e Butle r in an anci e nt protection Ce rtiﬁcate . I av no doubt it is that of the Old King who at the tim e was the

e e e e f of the . p ronounc d l ad r and Chi Iroquois warriors, not ’ H e e m n e e e e . e one of e v n xc pting Brant was natur s gr at . e e e e e His nam vari s in its tymology, in ou r old tr ati s it is e e e - an- de r—e n- Ka in uar a htoh Ca en r nd r d , Kay qua ; y g g ; g q uar ichton ; Kaj ugar iciten ; Sayenqueragha ; Sayengar “ ”

tc . The r etc. e e w a zz l o agta, , ﬁnal syllabl s in you r word , , “ “ ar e e e e e m /am S a ezz am /zza suppos d to r pr s nt g , that is y g g , the d in which way wor is usually rend ered . Indian words ar e usually badly mangle d by the ofﬁcial e e e The int rpr t rs . I roquois dial ects ar e written phon e tic e e e e the e e ally g n rally, and som tim s with Fr nch alphab t to represent nasal and gutte ral words which defy the powers “ ” e h of ou r English alphab t. T e letters K and IV ar e f e e e G and r qu ntly inte rchange d . Th n the Indians fre qu ently clip or abridge th eir words in rapid pro THE S C E XX I WYOM ING MA SA R . nunciati n e o . It b ing an unwritten language it was quite e e The liabl to such chang s and misappreh ensions . initial “ “ ” syllabl e S a or 5 51k would very likely b e dropp e d e f colloquially. I hav o ten notic e d this habit among care “ “ ful e Indian sp ake rs . Kaying w aur to l hav e e e e for Sa- e n- a- - littl doubt was int nd d Old King, y g rah ta , f e e as it is r qu ntly sp ell e d . Still th ere may b e som e mis e he e the e h e tak , but that Sign d docum nt, or aut oriz d his ” e b e e I/ a ur - to e e . V nam to attach d to it is v ry c rtain , R ag /z-to O has the short sound repr es e nted by It is n eve r a long O at the end of a syllable and is hardly “ “ i e f lz a distingu sh d rom a or lz.

e Yours v ry truly,

WM . C . BRYA NT .

me . e e e e of e 1 M r Conov r wrot to und r dat F bruary 3 ,

1 89 5.

My D e ar Sir : I e nclos e a l eaﬂ e t [the suppl em e nt refe rred to above] e the e e r lating to Old King matt r, which mat rially changes som e of the conclusions I arri ve d at in my pam e e e e the e the phl t , and mphatically s ttl s matt r as to who was e e Indian l e ad e r at Wyoming . Th re is in addition a v ry large mass in the Canadian Library at Ottawa of original e e e of m e docum nts which throw a gr at d al light on this att r , ' and very e mphatically and fre qu ently is Old King s name m entione d as b e ing the principal Indian l e ad e r at Wyom ing and in all the d ev iltry that was committe d during the e e e the e e revolution . In th s pap rs nam s Sang r hto n a en war a hton Ca e n ua achta S eka e n uar a S . , y g g , y g g y g r aghto n is dire ctly named in som e instanc e s as Old King . In 1 7 7 9 or 1 7 8 8 Lord Ge orge G e rmaine s ent a c o mmission signe d by the King appointing Brant as a Colon el of Ind ' e f ians , and a box with prints , tak n rom Lord Warwick s e o f e of e pictur him , som which you will s nd into his nation , an d dispose o f the oth e rs as you think most honourabl e fo r the e e o f e of e e . him , as a m morial his s rvic s Upon r c ipt this the Gove rnor of Canada re plie d E xxii THE WYOM I NG MASSAC R .

’ I have rec eived His Maj esty s commission fo r J os eph n e ve e Bra t , and your Lordship obs r s v ry j ustly that his con e n e duct m erits eve ry mark of our att tion and r gard , but ’ J os e ph s S ituation amongst the Six Nation I ndians is ve ry diffe re nt from the id e a thos e who ar e not acquainted with e it must from his sup e rior tal ents conc eive . To sp ak in

e e he ee ve e the . th ir styl , has b n ry lat ly known on war path n himself in e b e He is now distinguishi g that lin , but it will som e tim e b e fore he is ack nowl e dge d by the m ev e n upon a footi ng with ve ry many (as th ey con c e ive) more expe r ienc ed e e e e the e and gr at r warriors , b sid s notic that has b een tak e n by us in cons e qu e nc e o f his conn e ction with e v e e ar tic u Sir William J ohnson , his b ing ci iliz d , and mor p lar l fo r e v e f e y his good s r ic s , has , rom a j alousy paramo unt the n e m e e e among India s , procur d as any n mi s among his e e e ow n p eopl e as fri e nds . Among this n umb r is Sch nd r achto o f the e e e ee the , King S n cas , and by many d gr s most e n and the of e e e e e l adi g , man most cons qu nc and inﬂu nc , the e of the e e e in whol Six Nations , and by Whos int r st and intrigues Major Butl e r has b ee n abl e to carry through H ve e f m e e . e e e any ss ntial points is bra , prud nt and p r ctly e ve e e e the attach d to Go rnm nt , mor strongly so Sinc alli e the e he e e anc with Fr nch , to whom has an unconqu rabl e e e m f av e rsion . W r so gr at a ark o distinction as is pro e fo r e e pos d Jos ph to pass him it might , and I am sur it b e e of e e e e e fo r would , productiv v ry dang rous cons qu nc s , which re ason I must tak e it up o n me to suppress the com ’ mission and lik ewis e the pictures until I have His Maj esty s f e e ff urth e r pl easur . I Should hop this a air has not b e e n so ’ publicly m e ntion e d at hom e as to r e ach J os e ph s know e e f the e e l dg , which rom past I ﬁnd n c ssary to adopt, would e h e qually pr j udic e t e s e rvic e . e e f the e of From what I hav writt n , and rom gr at mass conclusiv e evid e nc e that Old King was the Indian l e ad e r at m the e e we e Wyo ing, and with all knowl dg that now hav it is evid ent to my mind that Kayingw aur to was in fact Old b e e King . It cannot oth rwis e. Yours truly O E GEO. V S . C NO R . xxiv THE WYOM ING MASSAC RE .

C 0 1. Lette r from Captain John D ese ronto to Claus , now e of s in poss ssion William Kirby, Niagara, Ontario , tran late d from the Mohawk by Isaac B e arfoot . My Eld e r Broth e r l I rec e ive d j ust now a l ette r from Mary D egonwadinti. She says Te ll the G o v ernor that I have h e ard that 2 Or aghgwatr ihon is coming back again .

She says : I want to h e ar What happ e n e d to his band who were with him 0 11 the Lak e .

I r ee t She says : Gove rnor A shar ek owa. g and thank e e e him mu ch fo r what he did . His m essag i s h r at Niag him e e f e ar e v e e a . e ara . His words ry pl as nt T ll th r or , e the e e of the e ar e Broth r, that p opl Long Hous much gratiﬁ e d .

She also says : W e ar e now awaiting what will happ e n to the whole Long Hous e .

4 e Abo ut 500 l e ft h e re Octob e r 2 3 r d fo r Kar ito nge h. Th y 8 Kar ito n eh b e e e Sa e n uar a h said in days g will d stroy d , y g g 5 don is th e ir l ead e r.

M ntr e il . o To Col Claus, ,

f’ n D esser o nt on e e I , J oh y hav writt n this ,

D ec . d 1 e 8 . La Chin , 3 , 7 7 “ En e 1 ( dors d Mary Brant to C0 . Claus .

M n — n — on nd m s e n n e of M r n . a y agai t , I ia a ary B a t n fﬁ Ide tity of this o c e r unk now n . “ ” “ A shar k ow a G en e H d m n o h r 1 i e t e w s e B Swo d . , ral al i a , g r

- - - c e of th e o s Che r V e . Pla ak , r y all y

l ” l Old K n . ( i g “ h — i h nin - — eser onto T e t has s uc . D , L g g tr k T HE

AC T S O F TH E C O N T I N E N TAL C O N G R E S S

FOR TH E

E E CE OF THE E PA D F N WYOM ING VALL Y,

1 6 —1 7 7 7 7 8 .

The of e of 1 6 e f Act Congr ss August, 7 7 , was call d orth by the following app eal from the Pe nnsylvania Conve ntion

“ e for the e of e In Conv ntion Stat P nnsylvania,

e 1 1 6 . . Tu sday . August , 7 7 , A M The Committee appointe d to consid e r the Petition and e f N e e e the M morial rom orthumb rland County, r port d that " facts the re in set forth ar e well supporte d by evid ence ; and the refore recomme nd the imm ediate conside rati on th e re of to this Conve ntion .

the e e e e e e was And hous having d lib rat d th r on , it

e the of e h Resolv d, That it is Opinion this Conv ntion t at the inhabitants of the said County and of the County of are e e e No r thampton gr atly xpos d to Indian incursions, e e e e efe e without b ing abl to m ak a prop r d nc , on account he e e of the e e o f t scatt r d situation inhabitants, th y b ing s ettle d in such a mann e r as to b e unabl e to afford each oth e r n ec essary assistanc e.

e the of e Resolv d , That it is opinion this Conv ntion that it will b e prop e r to raise and keep up a body of troops fo r f e o f the of the d efe nc e of the ronti r, not only County North r land l of the of N the umb e , but a so County orthampton , latte r County be ing e qually expos ed to Indian incursions . e a the of e Resolv d , Th t it is opinion this Conv ntion that the d efe nc eless situation of those parts of our frontiers b e 2 T HE E WYOM ING MASSAC R .

e the e the e e e o f e mad known to Congr ss by D l gat s this Stat , and that th ey furth e r inform th e m that the Battalion ord e red to b e raise d fo r the d efe nc e of the we ste rn fronti e r can e e two e the afford no assistanc to thos Counti s , and that quota o f the Militia o f Northampton ﬁ rst required fo r the e e the e e o f the Flying Camp , is alr ady march d , and r sidu ee e the e e e of Militia is about to march , agr abl to lat r qu st Congress ; by which m e ans they will b e without the l e ast efe e e e e e e e e d nc , and r qu st Congr ss to tak th s matt rs into ” f e e 1 e . e consid ration (Forc , Fi th s ri s At the sam e tim e that the Pe nnsylvania Conve ntion p r e e e e the e e s nt d this action to Congr ss s ttl rs at Wyoming , e e e e e for through Colon l Z bulon Butl r, appli d to Congr ss the e the d efe nc e of the Town of Westmoreland . In P nn b f e e f e 1 e . sylvania Archiv s , vi , 37 , will ound a l tt r rom Hon e e of e f e v n J onathan B . Smith , m mb r Congr ss rom P nnsyl a ia, ” the e e of the e o f e v n e to Pr sid nt Stat P nnsyl a ia, dat d “ l th 1 8 he : York Town , March g , 7 7 , in which says f the e e Upon an application rom s ttl rs at Wyoming, or as ‘ ’ e The of e e e ee th y call it, Town W stmor land , Congr ss agr d to establish one Company of troops th ere fo r its imm e diate e e e e in d efe nc e for o ne ye ar . Congr ss has xpr ss d this the sam e te rms in which a similar resolution passed two v e ars e e e e the e of ago , and which I b li v was adopt d on cons nt the D ele gates from Conn e cticut and this State ; at the sam e tim e establishm ents we re form e d for the d efe nc e of the oth e r fronti e rs b y establishing oth er corps both with r egard n to Pen sylvania and Virginia .

2 1 6 . AUGUST 3 , 7 7

The e e e f e v e D l gat s rom P nnsyl ania and Conn ctic ut , to whom the applications from the Convention of P ennsylva the n e e e e in the nia, and i habitants s ttl d und r Conn cticut, of e e efe e town W stmor land , was r rr d , brought in a Report which was take n into consid e ration e e e e e th Wh r upon , R solv d , That six compani s on e Con tine ntal E e b e e e stablishm nt rais d in P nnsylvania , and poste d along the fronti ers of the Counti es of Northampton and e e f Northumb rland , and parts adjac nt . till urther ord e rs of

Congress . THE WYOM ING MASSACRE. 3

That suitable p ersons b e recomm end e d to Congress by the Conve ntion of Pe nnsylvania fo r a Lie utenant Colon el the and Maj or, to command said Forces and that the said ve the e Con ntion appoint Captains and Subalt rns . That two Compani es on the Contin e ntal Establishm e nt b e e the of e e rais d in Town W stmor land , and station ed in prop e r plac es for the d efe nc e of the inhabitants o f the said e f e e o f Town and parts adj ac nt, till urth r ord rs Congre ss ; the Commission e d Ofﬁc e rs of the said two Comp ani es to b e e e n e e imm diat ly appoi t d by Congr ss . the of the men b e e f e That pay to rais d as a or said , com e e e e ar e e e e e m nc wh n th y arm d and must r d, and that th y b e e e e of the e e e liabl to s rv in any part Unit d Stat s , wh n e e ord r d by Congress . the b e inliste d e e the That said troops to s rv during war, e e e f unl ss soon r discharg d by Congress . (J ournals o Con e 06 gr ss ii , 3 , ii ,

26 1 6 . MONDAY, AUGUST , 7 7

e ee e the e e of f e Congr ss proc d d to l ction sundry O ﬁc rs , wh e n Jonathan Dayton was e l e cte d R egim ental Paymaste r ’ of Colon el Dayton s Battalion ; Rob e rt D urkee and Samu e l Ransom w e re ele cted Captains of the two Compani e s ord e re d to b e rais e d in the Town of westmoreland J am es Wellis and Pe rin Ross First Li e ute nants ; Ashb el Buck and e e e e f Simon Spalding, S cond Li ut nants , and H man Swi t and E f the e Matth e w Ho llomb ack nsigns o said Compani s .

2 1 6 . AUGUST 7 , 7 7

e e e e Es b e e R solv d , That Z bulon Butl r q , appoint d to supply the two Compani es orde red to b e rais e d in the Town of Westmoreland with provisions ; and that he b e allowe d e f the e o f 1 - 1 2th of er th re or at rat part a dollar p ration .

f e e of e . 0 until urth r ord rs Congr ss ( ii , 3 7

2 1 6 . AUGUST 7 , 7 7 On application from the Convention of the State of e P nnsylvania, e e b e e the R solv d , That Dollars l nt to said Con e b e the o f the ve ntio n of P nnsylvania , to put into hands

of fe the e b e c e . Council Sa ty, said Stat to a countabl E 4 THE WYOM ING MASSAC R .

e e the e e ee b e e e e R solv d , That s cr t Committ dir ct d to s nd to captain Durkee 200 lb of powd er an d a proportionable quantity o f l ead fo r the use of the Westmore land Compa ni es . (ii

E E E 1 0 1 6 . S PT MB R , 7 7

e e b e e e e R solv d , That dollars s nt to Z bulon B utl r Esq : fo r the use o f the two Compani e s ord e re d to b e rais ed the of e e he b e e for in Town W stmor land , to accountabl the e the e b e e e e f e sam , and that mon y d liv r d to and orward d e e e by the Conn e cticut d l gat s . That major William J udd b e authorize d to m uste r the ” said compani es . (ii .

C E 1 1 6 . O TOB R 3 , 7 7

e e b e e e R solv d , That dollars advanc d to colon l Ze bulon Butl e r fo r the use of the two Compani es raise d in he b the of e e e e . Town W stmor land , to accountabl n e e e e ve b e . e That l a gra t d to colon l Z Butl r, or his ag nt, to e of the e the e f purchas salt b longing to contin nt, ﬁ ty e fo r the use of the e e bush ls , contin ntal troops rais d in

e e . W stmor land (ii ,

ECE E 1 2 1 6 . D MB R , 7 7

e v e the e e the of R sol d , That two compani s rais d in Town Westmoreland b e ord e re d to join G en eral Washington with ”

e e e . all possibl xp dition (ii , 1 1 1 APRIL , 7 77 .

e e 1 fir e e e mus ue ts e R solv d , That 7 5 arms, ith r q or rifl s, 200 e 8 00 of e 00 flint wt powd r, wt l ad , and 5 s b e s e nt to the town of Westmoreland on the e ast branch o f the Sus uehanna ve the e of e e q ri r, to car colon l Nathan D nnison , to b e use d by the malitia th e re fo r the d efenc e of the said if e e the b e e town , n c ssary ; arms to r turne d wh e n the f ” e v e e e o . s r ic th r will admit it (iii ,

C 1 6 1 8 . MAR H , 77

e e one f m o f R solv d , That ull co pany foot b e rais e d in the wn o f e e the e o f the to W stmor land , on ast branch S usque fo r the efe e of the hannah , d nc said town and the s e ttl e m ents the f e inthe e e e f on ronti r n ighbourhood th r o , against the THE W M G MASSAC E. YO IN R 5.

Indians and the en emi es of these States ; the said company to b e e nliste d to s erve one ye ar from the tim e of their e e e e nlisting, unl ss soon r discharg d by Congress .

That oﬂice rs b e commission ed only in p roportio n to the e of men b e e e n umb r who shall nlist d .

That the sam e pay and rations b e allowe d to the com pany as to o ﬂicers of the like rank and soldi e rs in the Con tine ntal army .

That the commissary general of purchases contract with e e the a suitabl p rson to supply company with provisions .

the e e e That company ﬁnd th ir own arms , accoutr m nts, cloth es and blankets .

the e e e the e That colon l , and in his abs nc , n xt command ing fi eld offic e r of the militia at the said town of Westmore land b e d e sire d and empowe re d to sup e rintend the said company ; give ord ers relative to the stations it shall take fo r the efe e of the e e e e d nc country, or oth r prop r military s rvic s , and to see that the ofli cer s and men faithfully pe rform th ei r duty and on failure to give notic e th e reof to the board of ” war . (iv,

2 1 8 ES E . TU DAY, JU N 3, 77 “ The of e the two e e e board war r port, that ind p nd nt e e the o f e e e compani s rais d in town W stmor land, lat ly e the ee ar e command d by captains Durk and Ransom, reduce d by various caus es to about 8 6 non -commission e d ofﬁc e rs and privates ; and that the re is no chance of the ir be ing compl e ted to the establishm e nt ; that the said com panics are now detached from the main army for the defence e f e e e of th ronti rs ; wh r upon ,

e the e e e e e Resolv d, That two ind p nd nt compani s, lat ly ee commande d by the captains Durk and Ransom, which the of e e b e e we re rais e d in town W stmor land , unit d and form one company

m b e e That Lie ute nant Si on Spalding appoint d captain , e e ea e e e and Li eute nants Timothy Pi rc and Phin s Pi rc , li u the e e s tenants of said company ; said li ut nant to rank, 6 THE E WYOMING MASSAC R .

d e e e f the l oth o f . an Timothy Pi rc rom J an last , Phin as e e f the of the e e e e Pi rc rom I st April last, tim s th y w r r e sp e ctively appointed to act as li e utenants in the said e compani s .

e f the of e e e A r port rom board war was r ad ; wh r upon ,

e e e — e f e e R solv d , That ach non commission d o ﬁc r and soldi r who hath e nliste d or shall e nlist in the company o f foot e e b e e the o f e e the ord r d to rais d in town W stmor land , on e of the e the e of the ast branch Susqu hanna . by r solution 1 6 of e e e the fo r th March last, shall r c iv sums ﬁnding his e e e e e e own arms , accoutr m nts and blank ts , as w r allow d by

the - e f e a resolve of the 1 6 th inst . to non commission d o ﬁc rs and soldi ers of the two re gim ents raising in Virginia and e v e ve fo r one e the b e P nnsyl ania, to s r y ar ; said sums to paid th em immediate ly upon th e ir passing muste r before the e e e the e f e colon l , or in his abs nc , n xt commanding o ﬁc r of the the the e e r militia in said town , and producing n c ssa y articl es of e quipm e nt m ention ed in the sai d resolve of the 1 6 th inst .

That the sum o f dollars b e grante d to the board o f e e f b . e n o e e f e war , to issu d to Col D nniso , W stmor land a or

e e the e - said , to nabl him to pay allowanc s above m e ntion ed ; ” he b e e for the e . 26 to accountabl sam (iv, 3 ,

E 8 THE WYOM I NG M ASSAC R .

e b e e of introduction . Ou r app al shall mad to you r j udg W e e f e e . m nts would addr ss acts to your r ason , and argu m e nts to your und e rstanding ; looking to your d elib e rate iudgme nts fo r a fav orable response to ou r p etition .

The Wyoming s ettl em ents we re mad e und er the authority e e e e e e o f Conn e cticut . A town call d W stmor land was r ct d e e e the of Litchfield e ee h r , attach d to county , n ar thr hundre d mil es distant ; the laws of Conn e cticut prevail ed ; C ivil and military offic e rs d e rive d th e ir commissions from that State ; re prese ntatives we re s e nt from h e re to he r Legislature ; and the troops rais e d in Westmoreland we re part of the Conn ecticut lin e on the contine ntal establish f nnecticu e r e the e . e e o Co t w m nt S v ral towns . bu rnt by e e N ew e e Fair field n my ; London , Danbury, W stmor land , , h e e e e t e e . Groton , and oth rs , w r among numb r Conn cticut a e of e e e one fiill e has m d , all thos towns, xc pt , and ampl f r e e o e e . e e r mun ration th ir loss s W stmor lan d , or Wyoming, f e e e e . ve e u e o alon , r c iv d nothing Fi hundr d tho sand acr s the e e e e e e e e 1 2 land , in W st rn R s rv , w r grant d in 7 9 to

e e 6 s. 8d. e er e thos towns , valu d at ( a Fr nch crown , ) p acr amounting to b e tween ﬁve and six hundre d thousand b e ne ﬁcent dollars . This was a act on the p art of Connec

ticut and e f e h r . e e . , will r dound , in all utur tim , to honor Was the e b ene fice nt the not grant also j ust, as w ll as Did not e e e e ve e e e e e ? r cipi nts d s r , w r th y not ntitl d to , this grant Was not th e ir claim found ed in the principl es of e ternal equity and eve rlasting justic e Who eve r h eard a doubt e xpress ed of the e e of e ? I f e right ousn ss th ir claim , th n , it was j ust e e N ew Fairfield and quitabl that London , Danbury, , and e e b e e e C e thos oth r towns , Should ind mnifi d , is it not l ar as e o e e d monstrati n , that W stmor land or Wyoming, wh ere a e e e of fe far ee e e fferi h avi r sacrific li , d p r p rsonal su ngs , and e e e e e e e e mor xt nsiv loss s , w r sustain d , was also entitle d to remun e ration

W e e e e e e e anticipat h r that honorabl m mb rs may say, Your claim is doubtl ess j ust ; standing on its own m e rits of ser vices sa er in s losses , ﬁ g , and , it is a strong claim ; and when it is conside re d relative ly to those oth e r towns of THE WYOM I NG MASSACRE . 9

e e for e of e e Conn cticut provid d , it app ars unqu stionabl validity . But wh en your parent State was m aking so ample fo r e e provision oth rs similarly Situat d , why did not you not th en apply to he r fo r aid ? Whil e we admit the claim we see e t the e e e e j ust , cannot , as y , how G n ral Gov rnm nt " b e e e e can h ld liabl to mak you compensation . To this we e would r ply, with all truth and simplicity

The re ason why no provision was mad e fo r Westmore e b of e . o ut the land is simpl , and asily told ﬁ conclusion the the e ee of e n e e the war , by d cr Tr ton , which s ttl d long e e e e e e the ur isdic xisting controv rsy in r sp ct to th s lands , j e e e e e e tion ov r W stmor land c as d in Conn cticut, and was n transfe rre d to Pe nnsylv ania. It was not until about te e f e e e e far e ve e he r y ars a t r this v nt, that Conn cticut so r co r d reso urc e s as to b e abl e to mak e remune ration to thos e e o e suffe ring towns which S he ind emniﬁed . B ing no l ng r a of the e e fo r as e e portion Stat , no provision was mad us , th r e e e e e e e doubtl ss would hav b n , had W stmor land continu d a compone nt part o f Conn e cticut.

e e c P nnsylvania, with a lib rality and publi spirit most e he r e has e e ho norabl to patriotism and j ustic , grant d ampl f e e of he r e e re wards to o ﬁc rs and soldi rs lin , and to oth rs whos e m e rits and su ffe rings in the caus e comm end e d th e m v ee to her consid e ration . Not ha ing b n harmon iously a e v e of part of P nnsyl ania, but maintaining an attitud oppo itio n if of e e for e e s , not hostility, during, and ind d som tim the b e e e e e She afte r war, it could not ask d or xp ct d that e the e e for the ffe would mak good loss s , or grant r wards su r

of the e e . use ings , Wyoming p opl So that, to a common “ e e e e e we e the but expressiv phras , b tw n two stools cam to ” e e the e of the e ground . Mor ov r, disast rs war utt rly pros of tr ated the p eople of Wyoming . Most our natural e e e e guardians and prot ctors w r slain , and amongst th m ef men e ve many of our chi ; widows and orphans, ag d or ry men e e e ef o u yo ung , d stitut and poor, constitut d ou r chi p p The e e f e lation . unhappy disput (sinc so satis actorily adj ust d e and e e e by our pres e nt par nt prot ctor, nobl and lib ral e as e Pennsylvania) still continu d , you doubtl ss know, to [ 0 THE WYOM ING MASSAC RE .

“ p e rpl ex and impoverish us . To obtain this day our daily ” e e the s e e of br ad occupi d thought and x rtions us all , and no application was mad e to Conne cticut to share in the e we bounty She was so libe rally disp nsing . But ask your e e e we as we ar e e we the pati nc whil Show, sur can , that to

G en e ral Gove rnm ent we have a right fairly to look fo r aid . The e e f e the ffe e e the s rvices p r orm d , su rings nd ur d, and e e e e the e e fo r the loss s sustain d , w r all in public s rvic , e e the e end of e e e e . e g n ral caus Th y all t nd d to gr at , a com lishin e e e e p g national ind p nd nc , which has brought pros the pe r ity so unbou nd ed to ou r beloved co untry . All e f e havin b een e e d bts ound d on con tract g paid , Congr ss hav e e e ee e r c ntly, with j ust and lib ral hand , b n m ting out to b contr act in e ui e e fo r claimants , not y , but q ty, lib ral r wards

ser vices er or med su er in s endur ed losses sustained. p f , f g , or e ee b e e In thos thr particulars , no claim can strong r than that o f Wyoming .

e e e e we e Mor ov r, th r is a strong point which m an to e e e e e indicat , but not now to argu at l ngth , which stat sm n , f the of eve e e amiliar with Springs nts , w ll know to hav truth fo r the f h ar en the f . e o t e w its oundation About clos , wh e e e e e of e e e issu was c rtain , and a gr at mpir ind p nd nt and e f e e e was the n p ow r ul sov r ignti s taking rank among ations , it was d ee med of the utmost importan ce that all disputes e about t rritory and j urisdiction should b e put to re st . Powerful States we re to b e conciliate d by the favorabl e adj ustm ent of th eir claims . I ndemnifications we re to b e e allowe d to othe rs . Littl would thos e statesm e n and patriots have d es e rve d the award we all yi eld th e ir wisdom if e e and sagacity, th y had not adopt d prope r m e asures to e e e harmoniz conflicting int r sts, and to consolidate the i far the Un on . How national policy we sp eak of influ enced the various m easures and final d ecision which confirm e d to e the w e e e of her e e P nnsylvania hol xt nt chart r d limits , and

e e e o w e ee grant d to Conn cticut an ind mniﬁcation in Ohi , n d

e e e e . e was not h r d monstrat C rtainly that policy , in a of e e— a e — national point vi w, wis b n eﬁt to Conn ecticut a e e if for the bl ssing to P nnsylvania ; and , common good , it THE W E YOM ING MASSAC R . I I e xclud e d Westmoreland from a participation with oth e r e e the e towns ind mniﬁ d , is it not right that common pu rs should afford he r such re mun eration as may b e j ust ?

: the e e e e Again old Conn cticut Congr ss pass d a r solution , e 1 0 1 80 e e efe e e Octob r , 7 , in which it was d clar d , in r r nc to t he unappropriate d lands which may b e ce d ed to the Unite d “ e the e e e e e e e Stat s , that n c s sary and r asonabl xp ns s which e ve e e the any particular Stat Shall ha incurr d , sinc com mence ment of the e e pr s nt war , in subduing any British , in mainta inin or ts a nd a r r isons w ithin and or posts , or g f g f the de ence of the e f , or in acquiring any part t rritory that b e e e e e the e e shall be may c d d or r linquish d to Unit d Stat s , ” ' r m r e the o f the e ei bu s d. Although words r solution do not ' e we e e f e its s ir it e r ac h us , do r sp ct ully sugg st that p mak s n strongly in favor o f the Wyomi g claim .

the e e e e Du ring r volutionary war , Wyoming stood an xtr m f e the e s of the e e e o f the ronti r , an outpost , on bord r s ttl m nt the e e e e e e e . r savag n my To Sunbu y , n ar st inhabit d plac t e e t m e the down h Susqu hanna , it was six y il s ; through m m e e e e Great Swa p it was Sixty il s , a pathl ss wild rn ss , to The e E . B ethleh e m or aston warlik and bloody Mohawks , e e e of the e the S n cas , and oth rs , Six Nations , occupi d all of the e e few uppe r branch es Susqu ehanna , and w r within a ’ e e e e e e e hou rs sail of our s ttl m nts , which w r xpos d to con e e e stant attacks . Our pathways w r ambush d , and midnight glare d with the constant co nﬂagr atio n of ou r dwellings .

e we s e the e e e Thus expos d , stood as a hi ld to all s ttl m nts ev e b e b e low us . In this Situation , ry man might j ustly Eve r e consid e re d as on duty continually . y man might w ll b e consid e red as enlisted for and during the whole war. h e e e . T e Th e re was no p ac , no s curity, at Wyoming hus one e the bandman took his hoe in hand , and his riﬂ in e e f e e e the e . , oth r , to cornﬁ ld S v ral orts w r built and garri “ the e e sons steadily maintained . Such was cas with Wint r

' f the f e e . moot s fort , Forty ort, and ort at Wilk sbarr This e e the m e was don e by the p opl , by ilitia , by common cons nt I 2 THE WYOM ING MASSACRE.

* ee e e f Con and common exertio n. Thr hundr d mil s rom necticut n e f her e e , it was vai to ask assistanc rom , x rting f r the m efe e the every n e rve as she was o co mon d nc , and I f protection of her extensiv e and exposed se aboard . State s which c ede d lands we re e ntitl e d to b e reimb urse d for ee f we e e e e e k ping up orts , submit wh th r a p opl situat d like thos e of Wyoming may not prope rly ask for reimburs e — l e m e e e e e o f m ent sinc e not on y th s lv s , but a wid xt nt n e e e e e cou try b low , sl pt in comparativ s curity through th i r

position and exe rtions .

But Congress e arly saw and fe lt for the extrem e ly e xposed the 2 d 1 6 e situation of Wyoming. On 3 August , 77 , r solu e e e e e o f w one in e e : tions w r nt r d into , hich is th s words “ That two companie s o n the contin ental establishm e nt b e n of We m e e e rais ed in the tow st or land , and station d in prop r e or the de ence o the inha bitants o said to wn a nd plac s, f f f f , ”

ar ts ad acent f e e of e . The p j , till urth r ord rs Congr ss Monday f 26 th e ee e the e e ollowing , August , Congr ss proc d d to l ction o n f e e e ee e f su dry o ﬁc rs , wh n Rob rt Durk and Samu l Ran som were chos e n captains of the two companies ord ere d to b e raised in the town o f We stmoreland ; J am es We lls and e e em f Perrin Ross , ﬁrst li ut nants ; H an Swi t and Matthias

e e of e . Holl nback, nsigns said compani s

* m stmo E x tr act f r o We r eland R ecor ds.

A t own mee in e l w ned and he d in Wes mo e nd in a t t g l gal y ar l t r la , Wi e b e di ic A u us e 2 th 1 6 lk s arr str t , g t y 4 , 77 ,

Col . Bu l e was cho en M ode o for e wo of da t r s rat r y rk ye y . Vot ed— I t is the opi nion of this meeting that it now b ecom es n ec essary for ye inhabitan ts of this Town to erect suitabl e fort or mmo fo defence ns our co n enem . rts , as a agai t y “ A u u 28th 1 6 h me e n is o ened and h d b g st , 77 , t is ti g p el y adj ourn ‘ ment . — Voted That ye thr e e Fi eld Ofﬁcers of ye R egiment in this Town b e appointed as a committee to v i ew the most conveni ent places in aid own for u d n fo s for e defenc e of s d own and s T b il i g rt y ai T , det ermine on some parti cular spot or place or plac es in each distric t “ m out th for h u o e and e m . t at p rp s , ark sa e — Vot ed That the ab ove said committ ee do r ecommend it to the eo e in e ch r as hall b e set off b hem to b e on to an fo p pl a pa t s y t l g y rt , “ to oc eed fo hw h in uil d n id fo & c . withou pr rt it b i g sa rts , , t either ﬁre or r ewar d f r om ye sa id Town . THE C E 1 WYOM ING MASSA R . 3

the e e e e the e e Thus G n ral Gov rnm nt, Contin ntal Congr ss , the e efe e of e took sp cial d nc Wyoming into th ir hands . e e e e ee the ev e Th y w r satisﬁ d , it s ms , that militia, how e r w ll e e e fﬁ e for efe e organiz d , w r not su ci nt its d nce. A r gular f e was ee e e e e e orc d m d n c ssary, and ord rs w re issu ed for f e or the s ecial de ence o a to raising that orc , f p f f th t w n a nd ' ar ts ad acent B p j . y anoth e r claus e it was pro vid ed that the me n should b e liable to s erve in any othe r part of the

e e . e Unit d Stat s This provision , notwithstanding th y we re “ e e or the de ence o the inhabita nts e c . rais d xpr ssly f f f , & , was p e rfectly prop e r ; fo r if the savages on the uppe r wate rs of the Susqu e hanna should b e driven off by a forc e from e e e e the e of e Albany , or ls wh r , so that sourc imp nding e b e e e e e e dang r should r mov d , th r was nothing mor prop e r e e e e e ee e fo r th than that th s compani s , b ing no long r n d d e efe e of the d b e e e e e e d nc inhabitants , shoul march d ls wh r , h t e e of e . e e e at discr tion Congr ss Imp rious n c ssity, how eve ed e e e the r, almost imm iat ly induc d Congr ss , without e e of the e e e e e e impli d conting ncy proximat n my b ing r mov d , th to call fo r th eir se rvic es in anoth e r quarte r . On e 2 5th e 1 6 the e of e f Octob r , 7 7 , battl Whit Plains was ought, and

n e e e . e e I 6 Washi gton r tr at d Nov mb r , Fort Washington e e e the e e e e e surr nd r d to n my, who imm diat ly push d his of the e victorious troops in pursuit Am rican army, and on the 2d D ec embe r His Excell ency re tired through Princ e e e ton to Tr nton , Lord Cornwallis pushing upon his r ar . “ " The no e the e e army, says Marshall, at tim during r tr at, e ee e f men e the e e xc d d our thousand , and on r aching D lawar was re duc ed to l ess than three thousand of whom not quite ” - The one third we re militia of N ew J e rsey . command er in- chi ef found himse lf at the h e ad of this small band of e e e e f e e e soldi rs , dispirit d by th ir loss s and atigu s , r tr ating, e ef e the of e e almost nak d and bar oot d, in cold Nov mb r and e e e ef e e e e victor i D c mb r , b or a n um rous , w ll appoint d , and ” ous army .

he 1 2th e e e e e e On t D c mb r Congr ss pass d a r solution , “ f e e the e e of the e e setting orth , that wh r as mov m nts n my e e e e s e the e of hav now r n d r d thi city (Philad lphia) s at war, 1 THE 4 WYOM ING MASSAC RE .

The e . &c . e e ve e e , th y r sol to adjourn to m t at Baltimor “ E e e the f e : e e SAM DAY th y adopt d ollowing r solution R solv d , that the two compani es raise d in the town o f Westmore land b e orde red to join G ene ral Washington with all possible n expeditio .

le f f the e Thus , within ss than our months rom ﬁ rst ord r e e e n e to rais compani s, and probably within l ss than in ty f e e e the e e e days rom th ir nlistm nt and organization , xtr m and pressing exige nc e of the ge n e ral caus e re quired that th e y should b e withdrawn from the country th ey we re e efe e the rais d to d nd , to aid Washington in r sisting alarm th e ing advanc es of e en my .

The conse qu e nce which followe d it r e quire d but little n sagacity to fores ee. Stimulated to reve ge by the aid sent f e the e e rom Wyoming to Washington , incit d by cons qu nt e e of the e e e n e and e w akn ss s ttl m ts to attack th m , u rg d by policy to comp el the withdrawal from the commander- in ef of of men f n e e efe chi part his , by orci g th m hom to d nd e ﬁr esides the e e e e th ir own , n my w r not long in planning

th e ir attack .

The v n e e of e British ha ing obtai d poss ssion Philad lphia, in evitable n e c essity did not allow His Exc e ll ency to d isp e ns e with the s e rv ice s of the We stmoreland compani es ; but the re i te rate d rumors o f preparation to attack Wyoming again e e the e f o e . e fe ngag d att ntion Congr ss Th y saw, lt, and e e e e e acknowl dg d , th ir xpos d situation ; but whil e the h e art e the e f e of the was assail d , and whol orc country was con c entr ate d fo r e e its prot ction , littl aid but e ncouraging words b e ff e the e e e e e e could a ord d to thr at n d xtr miti s . In March , 1 8 e ef e the 7 7 , about nin ty days b or invasion , Congress “ re sol ved That o ne full company of foot b e raise d in the n of e e , the E of e tow W stmor land on ast Branch Susqu hanna , for the efe e of the the d nc said town , and s ettl e m ents on the f e in the e e e f ronti rs and n ighborhood th r o , against the I ndians e e e f and oth r n mi es o th ese States : the said company to b e e e fo r one e f the e of e e nlist d y ar rom tim th ir nlisting, u nl es s

1 THE Y 6 W OM ING MASSA C RE .

the he doubl e the ir numb e rs . On right wing t conﬂict was

e e fo r e e and the e e e . sharply cont st d som tim , n my gav way the ef o utflanked the e the me n f On l t, by savag s , ought and fe e v e f e e ll rapidly, till an ord r was gi n to all back and pr s nt a longer front to the e n emy ; a manoevr e which could not h b e e xecute d und er the d estructive fir e of t e Indian rifl es . f e e e e f e Con usion nsu d , a disastrous r tr at ollow d , and a most cru e l massacre consummated the bloody tragedy . We h cannot dwell on the battl e and t e subs equ ent horrors . It f the f would b e usel ess if we could . Broth er ell by sid e o f e brothe r ; ath e rs and sons p e rish e d in the sam e fi e ld . Mor than half our littl e army we re slain many of the rest were wound ed ; and the whol e settle m e nt— ve ry age d men and e e e e e e e h lpl ss childr n , widows and orphans , w r now xpos d ,

- e the fe . without prot ction , to tomahawk and scalping kni In utte r con fusion and di stress th e y all ﬂed— som e in boats the v e f the e e . down ri r, but most on oot through wild rn ss m e e for Your i aginations must conc iv , words cannot paint, the e r h un quall e d mis e y o f th e ir situation . In t e Simplicity of truth we Will state two instan ce s— those of the chairman and e s ecr tary of this m ee ting .

e e e e of the P rrin and J r miah Ross , broth rs chairman , e e in the nd f e a e . . e w r battl , both ll Mr Ross, th n a lad , his f e e e the e of the f e ath r b ing d ad , was only mal amily r main

. e e the of his e e ing His moth r, six sist rs , widow broth r P rrin he r ﬁve C e ﬂed— the e and orphan hildr n , such was t rror and f — e e in ee e e e con usion not tog th r, but thr s parat parti s two the ve b e e e down ri r to Harris urg , and th nc to Orang county, N ew e e e e York ; two to N scop ck , and th nc to Fort Alle n ; the e e e e e r st by a mor ast rn rout .

The f e ath r of Mr . Dana had then rec ently re turn e d from f e e he ee e e Hart ord , wh r had b n a m mb r o f the Asse mbly o f e f the of e e He Conn cticut , rom town W stmor land . was in the e battl , and M r. Whiting , a young man who had a few ef e e e the e months b or marri d his daught r, was also in battl . e e . e e e Both w r slain And rson Dana, our S cr tary, the n a of ee e lad thirt n , his widow d moth e r and widowe d Siste r the e e e e ee e of ( latt r in d licat h alth) with thirt n oth rs, whom THE \V YOM I N G MASSACR E. I 7

he th — - was e eld est mal e having one pack hors e to carry the few e e things th y could hastily gath r, set out through the wild e rn ess on foot to join th ei r fri e nds thre e hundre d e f e f mil s distant, in Ash ord , Conn cticut , rom wh e nc e they e originally cam e. D ath and d e solation we re be hind th em ; e f e e e de e e e b or th m , hung r, and sorrow, and spair. Th y w r e e e v e tw nty days on th ir j ou rn y, li ing chi ﬂy on C harity . e ve e o f ffe e e of f e e S ral wom n di r nt parti s ugitiv s , gav birth to children on th eir way who we re indee d

Ch d en o f m se z d i e n e . il r i ry , bapti t ars

the e the e of e In Vall y, d mon d struction c o mplete d his

. e an n e E e work Scarc ly i habitant r main ed . v ry hous e was e h riﬂ d and burnt . T e swe e p was u nive rsal ; eve rythi ng h e e . T e e d ve n the ve was d stroy d cattl ri away, and har sts laid waste . War and woe n e ve r look e d upo n a sc en e o f such utte r sorrow and desolation "

e e e e e e ff G ntl m n , is it not plain that th s disast rs and su e r i ngs b e fe ll the inhabitants from th e ir e xe rtio ns in the caus e o f th e ir co un try ? Is it not manife s t that the withdrawing o f the two compani es rais e d fo r the d e fe nc e of the p e ople e the m e f e ? occasion d attack , assacr , and ruin that ollow d e the e And is it not right , j ust, now, wh n public Tr asury is f the e e e ev m e ull , and all oth r quitabl r olutionary clai s hav e en e e n e me o b e b r cogniz d by Co gr ss , that so thing sh uld ? grante d to the old Wyoming su ffe re rs and th e ir h e irs Why e e ve e and we e f suf Should all r c i boun ty or j ustic , , t n old fe r e r s ? the e e , obtain nothing In honor to d ad , as w ll as

e the v we n . e j ustic to li ing , ask it at your ha ds Nobl Virginia e e e e e e e e n grant d Colon l G org Rog rs Clark and his r gim t ,

e . e one who march d with him to Kaskaskias and St Vinc nt, th hund re d and ﬁfty thousand acres of land on e Ohio . Should not Wyoming re c e ive as much ? The portion of N ew London must have e xc ee d ed one hundre d and ﬁ fty m e e e ? thousand . Ought not Wyo ing to r c iv as much

e e n r e the v e e o e Having no oth r r sti g plac , survi ors w r blig d

e e e e e e e e . to r turn , d solat and m lancholy as w r th ir hom s The battl e ﬁeld was still strewe d with the unburie d Slain ; E 1 8 THE WYOM I NG MASSAC R .

e e b e e and th eir r mains , as soon as th y could approach d in e e e e e e e affe c that sultry s ason , w r gath r d and int rr d with tionate and pious care .

e e the e e e After th ir r tu rn , savag s k pt war parti s around he e e e e e e e . t s ttl m nts , and many w r murd r d J on athan Slocum ’ e e fe f e Es . and his Wi s ath r, Isaac Tripp , q , who had b n a o e e f e repres e ntative to the C nn cticut Ass mbly, rom W st e w e e e e e e e e the mor land , r butch r d and scalp d tog th r, n ar f ef e e of Wilkesbarre ort ; and shortly b or , anoth r party M r sav ages m urd ere d two childre n n e ar the doo r o f . e e e e e Slocum , and took captiv Franc s , th ir daught r, ag d f he e e ﬁve e . e t th en about y ars A t r war, dilig nt s arch through the r e e her all Indian count y , to D troit, was mad by broth f e e e rs fo r e e . , th ir lost sist r, but in vain A t r all hop was e e e the e e e the e extinguish d . r c ntly, within pr s nt y ar, sist r ,

e e e o f a e ee f . now n e arly s v nty y ars g , has b n ound Not o f e fe o f abl e to sp e ak a word our languag , a long li habit has id e ntiﬁ e d her with the Indians ; and though th e re is a e e the e n the e m e lancholy pl asu r in r cognitio , and c rtainty of he r f e et the of ef fo r the ve at , y it is joy gri , gra could r e scarc ely have more effe ctually separate d he r from he fri nds . Such were among the d e e p wo es and sorrows of Wyoming " e e e e e e e e Th er was no p ac till G n ral Sullivan , aid d by G n rals e e Clinton , Poor, Maxw ll , H and , Colon l Proctor, with his e and e e the n 1 artill ry, oth rs , invad d India country in 779 , v e and d rove the sa ag s to Niagara .

e of e o f 1 1 By a r solution Congr ss March 4 , 7 7 7 , it was “ ord e re d That G e n e ral Washington b e in form ed that no provision has b ee n mad e by Congress fo r the support o f ” e ve e widows whos husbands ha b e n slain in battl e .

e e the e e of e e e At a lat r day, wh n distr ss s war w r mor f e e e e ev e 1 6 ully r aliz d , b tt r thoughts pr ail d , and , August , 1 the f e f e e 7 79 , ollowing j ust and b auti ul r solution was adopt d v e : b e e e by an almost unanimous ot That it , an d h r by is , re com mend e d to the s eve ral States to make such pro vision

This and the following ﬁve p aragraphs with the foo t no t e ar e ’ m d in M n e o — o e H s end x . 80 . itt i r s i t ry , App i , pp 75 THE S C E WYOM I NG MAS A R . 1 9 for the of of e f e widows such th ir o ﬁc rs, and such of the e e e for the e e die soldi rs nlist d war, as hav di d , or may , in the e e e e s rvic , as shall s cur to th em the sweets of that libe rty for the attainm ent of which the husbands have so nobly ” e laid down th ir lives .

e of 2 1 80 the e By a r sol ution August 4 , 7 , r solution of 1 8 f M ay , 77 , granting hal pay to thos e ofﬁc e rs who con ne the end of the e tin d to war, was xtend ed for Seve n ye ars ' f e f e e a t r such o ﬁc r s d ath , to his widow or orphan children .

Though the letter of the resolutions may not re ach us so f e e e C we e e f as to ound th r on a l gal laim , do r sp ct ully sub e e e e mit to you r honorabl Hous s , that th ir quity and spirit e e the of e do xt nd to widows and orphans thos who , at e Wyoming , nobly laid down th ir lives to obtain the swe ets of e e e e e e h . t e lib rty and ind p nd nc to th ir country For, in e of e ffe e e e vi w patriotism and j ustic , what di r nc can it mak , in re sp e ct to a claim fo r assistanc e to the widow and orphan ef e e the e of e f e l t d stitut by d ath th ir husband or ath r, wheth e r the y we re e ngage d to s e rve fo r a longe r or Shorte r e ? The e o f e e e e e e f ea tim t rm ith r c as d with d ath , and l t ch in e qual sorrow and d estitution .

S eve ral widows appli e d to the c o mmand e r o f the Indian e e 1 e fo r xp dition in 7 79 , on his passag through Wyoming , e e e ve onl on condition that the w ould bre ad . Th y r c i d it y y

‘ w ar h f or the public in r etur n so Ill we re the re gulations of those disastrous

The blood and tears sh e d at Wyomi ng we re not sh e d in e few e n the e vain . P rhaps incid nts duri g war produc d

What a no bl e contras t do the proce edi ngs of Wyo ming pres ent .

W e copy fro m the record . “ A t own m e e n e w ned and he d W e mo e nd a t ti g l gally ar l at st r la ,

ec e m e e th 1 : ohn en n Es . was cho en M ode o D b r y 9 , 777 J J ki s , q , s rat r for y e w ork of y e day ; Ez eki el P i erc e Was chosen town cl er k for m n i o n d the e en u n ece m e 0th 1 . h s e e s e e y ar s i g , D b r 3 , 777 T i ti g p and held b y adj ournmen t . “ o d— B h s Town that e Committee o I ns ector s be em V t e y t i , y f p ’ ’ l the OG R S wives and SOG R S widows and thei r power ed to supp y S E E , ” amilies with the necessar ies o li e. f , f f THE M E 20 WYOM IN G ASSAC R .

e e of E e strong r s nsations horror and pity, th roughout urop , e few e than the Wyoming massacre . P rhaps circumstanc s e fu e e e e had so pow r l a t nd ncy to discr dit , in public stima the e ff o f the e e e tion , arms and orts n my , or had a strong r inﬂu enc e in aro using the p eopl e of the whol e civilize d world in behalf of the Am e rican cause .

f e the e e o f the A t r surr nd r Lord Cornwallis , and war b e e e e e e e might r gard d as nd d , Congr ss issu d a proclama for e e e tion a g n ral thanksgiving, calling on all class s to e e the e o f ff d acknowl dg goodn ss Almighty God , in a or ing “ aid to our arms— I n confounding the councils of ou r ene

e ffe e e e e e mi s , and su ring th m to pu rsu such m asur s as hav contributed to frustrate th e ir own d esires an d exp e ctations ; ve e extr eme cr uelt t he abo all , in making th ir y to inhabitants of e e e en e e e sa va e th s Stat s , wh in th ir pow r , and th ir g devasta tion o r o er t the ve e o f e e f p p y, ry m ans c m nting our eve eff Union , and adding vigor to ry ort in opposition to ” th em .

e e e e e of the e e e Thus , honorabl R pr s ntativ s Stat s and P opl , e we e e e e f hav stat d our cas , and r sp ct ully pray that Con gress would appropriate a tract of land e qual to that grante d by the State of Virginia to Colon e l G eorge Roge rs ’ Clark e s regim e nt ; or in proportion to that granted by e N ew he r e b e Conn cticut to London and oth r towns , to divid e d by commission e rs to b e appointe d by the Presid en t of the e e — the ffe e e Unit d Stat s to old Wyoming su r rs , th ir e e e e e widows , h irs, and l gal r pr s ntatives .

e e e f of the ee Sign d by ord r and in b hal m ting .

Chair m n WI LLIAM ROSS , a .

E ecr eta r S . AN D RSON DANA , y THE O S CRE WY MING MA SA . 2 1

2 TH ESS . . 8 . Ho OF 5 CONGR , DOC N O 3 5 . REPS .

2 d S ession .

IN E E WYO M G SUFF R RS .

e f h R solution O t e Legislature of the State of Pennsyl in avor o r antin r elie to the o vania, f f g g f Wy ming ’ for their losses dur in the R evolutionar Ha g y r .

M AY 2 1 , 8 3 8 .

R efe r ed to the Comm e e on R evo u on r itt l ti ary Claims.

R esolution r elative to the claim o the old W omin u er e s f y g S ﬁ r .

e e e ee e e e h Wh r as , a m morial has b n pr s nt d to t e Congress of the e e e f of th Unit d Stat s, in b hal e old Wyoming suf fer er s e e e e e e e , th ir widows , h irs and l gal r pr s ntativ s , praying e e of satisfac that Congr ss would grant th m a tract land , in tion o f th e ir claims for losse s and suffe rings sustain ed at the o f the e e e e e hands common and savag n my ; and wh r as, said losse s and suffe rings were incurred und e r circumstances e the e le e the p culiar to Wyoming s tt m nt , inasmuch as two e e e of the e compani s rais d at Wyoming, in pursuanc r solu of e of the 2 d of 6 for the efe e tion Congr ss 3 August, I 77 , d nc of the of e inhabitants said town and parts adjac nt, till f e e f e e e e urth r ord rs rom Congr ss , w r , by anoth er r solution of the 1 2th e e e f e e e e D c mb r ollowing, ord r d to join G n ral e e e the e Washington with all possibl xp dition thus , at sam tim e exciting the anger of the e n emy by aid furnish ed the e e i the e e e of e contin ntal army, and d priv ng s ttl m nt its m ans of efe e e e s e f e ustiee d nc and wh r a , said claim is w ll ound d in j e e e e ee and quity, and no comp nsation v r has b n in any way e e ffe e as e e e e mad to thos su r rs ; and th r is no sourc , oth r the e of the e e the than Congr ss Unit d Stat s, to which claimants can now look with any hope of remun e ration : e ef e Th r or , 2 2 THE E WYOM ING MASSAC R .

“ R esolved b the S enate a nd House o R e r esenta tives o , y f p f the Commonwealth o P enns lva nia in Gener a l A ssembl met f y y ,

e e b e e R e ~ That our S nators in Congr ss instruct d , and ou r p r ese ntatives b e r e e e e e e and e e q u st d , by th ir inﬂu nc th ir vot s , C to e if e the to support said laim , and procur , possibl , pass age o f such a law as will ad equat ely comp e nsate the Wyo ffe e fo r e e the e r ming su r rs th ir loss s during r volutiona y war .

R esolved the ve b e e e e f , That Go rnor r qu st d to orward a copy o f the above pre am bl e and res o lution to e ach of our e e e e e S nators and R pr s ntativ s in Congress .

EW EW L IS D ART,

S enher o the House o R e r esenta tives p f f p .

ES . E E C HARL B P N ROS ,

S ea her o the S enate p f .

e the 1 6 o f 1 8 8 . Approv d th day April, 3

E R I TN E J OS PH R .

EXE E E C UTIV C HAM B R, Har r isbur A r il 2 1 8 8 g , p 4 , 3 .

SIR In conformity with the requ est of the Legislature o f e e e the this Stat , I nclos to you resolution late ly adopte d ” e ve the of the ffe e r lati to claim old Wyoming su r rs .

am e e e f I , sir, v ry r sp ct ully,

e e e You r ob di nt s rvant,

S E J O PH RITN E R . HON . PETRI KI N DAVI D ,

Washin ton D . C . g ,

24 THE WYOM ING MASSAC R E .

7 H or E . N 1 2 o. TH E R ER o. 0 S CONGR SS , [ 3 ] R PS

io 2 d S ess n.

M WYO M I NG CLAI S .

2 1 8 8 . J ULY , 3

R e d and d u on the e . a , lai p tabl

E f the the m ee e M r . UN D RWOOD , rom Co mitt on R volutionary

m e the f l Claims , ad o lowing R EPORT

ee on R evolutionar Cla ims to w hich w er e r e Committ y , f er r ed sundry petitions pr aying Cong r ess to ma he compen sa tion to the sur vivor s a nd to the descenda nts of those who w er e slain in the ma ssacr e of Wy oming f or losses sus ta ined r e or t : , p

That the C laim of the p etitione rs is not bas ed upon any e of n e sof the ev n r solution or act Co gr s R olu tio , upon which any allowanc e or comp ensatio n can b e mad e the su ffe rers o r th e ir de sc e ndants on the principl e o f disc ha r ging a con he e e f e e the e tract . T application , th r or , r sts upon propri ty o f granting a gratuity u nd e r the p e culiar C ircumstanc es o f The e e the the ease . hardships and privations ndur d by e e the m n e the ev and s ttl rs in Wyo i g vall y, and d astations e e e e e v e e ne m ar e e au murd rs p rp trat d by th ir sa ag y , w ll the nticated o nd fo fee n e en e by hist ry, a rcibly and li gly pr s t d the men a v the C m o f he in docu t d ocating lai s t p e tition e rs . e e o ne It is th r in sh wn that, in all probability , Con cticut would have mad e a suitabl e prov ision in b e half o f the ffe e e e e e e e su r rs and th ir d sc ndan ts , had that Stat r tain d ve the The f jurisdiction o r country . act that the p e opl e o f o n e e e e e e e o f h Wy mi g w r xclud d , in cons qu nc t e j u risdiction and o f e v f the e e f t claim P nnsyl ania , rom b n ﬁts o he l e gisla of e e eve tion Conn cticut , which r li d oth e r portions of her THE E WYOM ING MASSAC R . 2 5

e ffe e the e citiz ns who su r d during R volution , upon principl es e e the e e f qually applicabl to Wyoming s ttl rs , is not su fici ent - e e id the e We to giv th m a val claim against Unit d States . must test the validity of the C l aim ind e p e nd ent of that cir c umst n a ce . e e e th Wh n that is don , it pr sents e singl e qu estion wh e th e r the Gove rnm ent o f the Unite d States e f ought, at this day, to mak provision o r comp e nsating the e e the e m e loss s sustain d by in roads , d vastations , and urd rs i of e e e th a savag n my during e R evolution . I f it b e prop e r e the ee n to mak such provision , committ ca not re c eive any suffici ent re ason fo r discriminating in favor of the Wyoming ffe e e e ef to em su r rs , so as to grant ind mnity and r li th , and f withhold it rom oth e rs . Why may not the famili es wh o s e husbands and fath e rs we re d efeat ed and slain in the battl e o f the Bluelicks C e ? e m , laim comp nsation Th y arch ed to ee e e e e e n efe d e m t a savag n my, to r p l an invasio , to d n th ir fir e - e w m n e e n . a ot e sid s , and r slai Why y all thos whos e e e e e o e e the hous s w r burnt by savag s , and wh s childr n , in e e of e f e e e f e n e e ed o ff abs nc th ir ath rs , w r o t murd r d , or carri the n e e into captivity , during I dian wars which pr vail d at the pe riod o f the e arly s e ttl e m ents in K entucky and Ten nessee C e if the e e , laim comp nsation , Gov rnm n t allows it in ? b e half o f the Wyoming p etitions The committe e p e rc e ive no f e e n e and ar e of su fici nt r ason to discrimi at , opinion that r b e all or non e should b e provid ed fo . Ought any to pro vide d r The e n fo ? We think not . principl upo which Gov e rnm e nts ar e charge d fo r damage do ne by a public e ne m e e the b e the e en e o f y , r quir s that loss should cons qu c m I f fo r n the Gov the actio n o f the Gove rn ent . ( illustratio ) e r nme nt occupi es the hous es o f the citize n fo r military e e e e the e e m de e m purpos s , and th r by induc s n y to stroy th r e e e fe the ffe C e n in o d r to dislodg or d at an army, su ring itiz n e e the e e may j ustly claim compe nsatio . But wh r n my n C n e f m mur wanto ly burns a ity , or tow , or pillag s a ar , or e the e of f e e no f d rs h ad a amily, th r is just oundation to I f the ve e ack nowl C laim compe nsation . Go rnm nt should e e e e the n e e e dg its r sponsibility in such cas s , co s qu nc s might n The e b e d estructive to the patriotism o f the cou try . rul would tend to influ e nc e the citiz e n to abandon his prop e rty 2 6 THE Y W OM ING MASSACR E.

e of efe se t C the inst ad d nding it , and up a laim against Gov

er nme nt for e of r oteetin e fe e . its loss , inst ad p g it by manly d nc The praye r of the p etitioners fo r comp e nsation on account of the of e e the burning Charl stown , Massachus tts , d uring ev e e e the m e e e R olution , was r j ct d by Co mitt on R volution of the 2 th e we e fe the e ary Claims 4 Congr ss , and r r to r port in that cas e fo r principl e s applicable to this .

The committee ar e of opinion that the praye r o f the e e b e e p tition rs ought not to grant d . THE AS E WYOM ING M SAC R . 2 7

2 TH E . . 20 H 5 . F o. O E CONGR SS , DOC NO 3 R PS . d S ession 3 .

R E OLU O A R Y WA R —WY OM V TI N ING SUFFER ER S .

PETITION

o THE SU ER ER S OF WY OM G SY A FF IN , PENN LV NIA ,

B de r eda io i y p t ns comm tted by the I ndia ns in the r evolutiona ry w r a .

E 8 1 1 8 . F BRUARY , 39

d on th e and d d L e o e e to b e n . ai tabl , r r pri ted

’ To Con r ess on behal o the W omin su er er s g , f f y g j

We e e e e one of mak our p tition short, that v ry your honors e may r ad it in two minute s . e e e e e e f A m morial was pr s nt d at last s ssion , s tting orth e e e fe e the m e e l our cas at l ngth , r rr d to Com itt on R evo u tio nar f v e e e y Claims , and an un a orabl r port was mad J uly 2d e the e o f the e b e e o n n ar clos s ssion to act d . The ground tak en in that r e port is contain e d in two S hort s entenc e s “ That the claim is not base d upon any resolutio n or act of the e of the e Congr ss R volution , upon which any allow e e b e e the ffe e e anc or comp nsation can mad su r rs , or th ir e e the e of d sc ndants , on principl discharging a contract . Again : The principle upon which Gove rnm e nts ar e charged fo r damages don e by a public en e my re quires that the loss should b e in consequ ence of the action of the ” Governmen t e e we e e v e f e May it pl as your honors , w r ry un ortunat in not e xpressing ou rselves more cl e arly . On thos e ve ry o ne f the e of principles rests o strong st grounds our claim . W e charge distinctly that the Contin e ntal Congress mad e e e a contract with us, and violat d it, which occasion d our We e e e e of the of ruin. av r that it was in cons qu nc action the Gove rnm ent our loss es we re sustain ed . 2 8 THE E WYOM I NG MASSA C R .

" The e of 2 1 6 e R e r solution August 3 , 7 7 , r ads thus e e the e e e solv d , that two compan i s on contin ntal stablishm nt b e e the of e e e rais d in town W stmor land , and station d in e e fo r the efe e of the of prop r plac s , d nc inhabitants said f e f e e o e . town and parts adj ac nt, till urth r ord rs Congr ss of e e e the men e e In violation this sol mn pl dg , w r not e e f e e e e e e . e station d h r Th y w r orthwith , imm diat ly on b ing e e e the e rais d , d rawn away , m arch d b low mountains mor o ne e e e the settlme nts ef than hund r d mil s , k pt away , l t wholly d efe nc e l ess ; wh e re upon the e ne my cam e down and e e e f e e e f e e e d estroyed it . W th r or r sp ct ully r n w ou r pray r fo r such re mun e ration as shall b e j ust and equitabl e . e e of e \V e refe r to our m morial and docum nts last s ssion . e e the e e e e It is our int ntion to argu matt r in a s parat pap r , f and s e nd it to y o ur honors in a ew days . e e f of the ffe e Sign d , on b hal Wyoming su r rs ,

hair ma n C . WI LLIAM ROSS ,

E ecr e ar S t . AND RSON DANA , y

THE ' ARGU M ENT .

To the honor a ble the S ena te a nd House o R e r esentatives f p , constituting the Cong r ess of the United S ta tes :

The o ee e f of the ffe e e c mmitt , on b hal Wyoming su r rs , hav e f ed ne w e e ene alr ady orward a p tition , sign d by G ral William C of the ee e Es Ross , hairman m ting , and And rson Dana , q , e e the fo e o f e the s cr tary ( rm r whom lost two broth rs , slain in e of 1 8 and the e f e o battl J uly 3 , 7 7 , latt r his ath r and a br th e r in— e o of e e law, ) asking a r c gnition ou r claims . Thos g ntl e me n f m e e e f the e e , ro th ir own p rsonal charact r , rom r sp ct e mee e e e e f the ee ff abl ting th y r pr s nt , and rom d p su e rings o f e f m e ar e e e b e e th ir a ili s , ntitl d to h ard ; and the re qu e st e e to b e f e e th y u rg , airly and impartially consid r d . of the e of e the In support pray r that p tition , committee b e e e to the fo e ef g l av submit llowing argum nt , bri and stro ng we m e e the as can ak it, controv rting Opinion of J udge n e w o e e e e f U d r o d , xpr ss d in his r port rom the Committee of ev o e ef e R oluti nary Claims , mad j ust b or the C lose o f your last s essio n . THE E 2 WYOM ING MASSA C R . 9

The g ist of that re port is contained in the two followi ng e : propositions , nam ly “ - I st . That the Claim of the p etition e rs is not bas e d upon any resolution or act o f the Congress of the R evolu~ a tion , upon which any llowance or comp ensatio n can b e e the ffe e e e e n the e of mad su r rs or th ir d sc nda ts , on principl discharging a contract . 2 “ Th d. e principl e upon which Gove rnm e nts ar e C harge d fo r damages don e by a public en e my re quires that the loss should b e the cons equ e nce of the action o f the Govern m e nt .

Our e We fee e purpos is to Show, and l conﬁd nt that we shall b e able to satisfy e ve ry inte llige nt and impartial mind h I st . That t e claim of the p e tition e rs is bas e d o n a reso lution of the e o f the e h Congr ss R volution , on w ich com e nsation b e m e the ffe e the p can and ought to ad su r rs , on e of principl discharging a contract . 2 the d. That loss sustaine d was in cons e qu enc e of the of the e action Gov rnm ent . It Should b e born e in mi nd that the Contin e ntal Con e e e m gr ss l gislated by resolution . Th ir most sol e n contracts with the ofﬁc e rs and soldie rs of the revolutionary war we re f n n e e e . e o e mad by r solution alon No ormal instrum t ; Sign d , e e e e e e e e o r s al d , and d liv r d pap r or parchm nt, was us d he e ee e e e . e e t S e e d m d n c ssary Congr ss , b ing upr m pow r the e e e e n in Stat , by r solution pr scrib d conditions accordi g e e e e e e e e r e to its own wis pl asur , which , wh n acc pt d , w r

- e of f e . e e e gard d as binding orc Thus , wh n ighty ight battalions we re require d to b e raise d to s e rve during the e e e 1 6 1 6 e e e : war, S pt mb r , 7 7 , Congr ss r solv d “ That twe nty dollars b e give n as a bounty to e ach non comm iss ion e d ofﬁc e r and pri vate Soldi e r who shall e nlist e ve the e e e e e and s r during pr s nt war, unl ss soon r discharg d ” by Congress . e e fo r the That Congr ss mak provision granting lands, in

f the f e e & c . : ollowing proportions , to o ﬁc rs and soldi rs , To e 00 e e e e 0 e a colon l , 5 acr s ; to a li ut nant colon l , 4 5 acr s and so on . 0 THE 3 WYOM I NG MASSAC RE.

e if e e if e e e e P rmit us to ask th r is a doubt, or th r v r was e e e a doubt , wh th r this r solution was not a bind ing compact of the e e e e e most imp rativ , l gal , and quitabl obligation , e ee the e e o ne the f e b tw n Gov rnm nt on part , and o ﬁ c rs and e e e e e e the the soldi rs who , und r it, ngag d to s rv in war, on oth e r part . he e e e e e ar e the e of T qu stion th n pr s nts its lf, what t rms the resolution on which we re ly ; what its provisions ; what f e v e e the e is its air and id nt m aning , according to most acc pt abl e rul e s of construction ? The e of the e e we r solution Contin ntal Congr ss , to which e fe e e : r r, is in th s words R esolved e the e e , That two compani s on contin ntal stab lishment b e e the o f e e rais d in town W stmor land , and stati o n e d in prope r plac es fo r the d efe nc e of the inhabitants o f and e f e e of said town parts adj ac nt, till u rth r ord rs Con

e . See . 2 gr ss ( J ournal , Aug 3 , By anoth e r C lause it was provid ed that the me n should b e e ve o f the e e liabl to s r in any part Unit ed Stat s . It will strik e the intelligent re ad er that th e re is som ething e v peculiar in this resol ve . Thos con e rsant with the jour nals will see that the proposition by Co ngress to raise troops e if in a particular town is quit unusual , not wholly without e e n e e The pr c ed t or xampl . usual cou rs e was to o rd e r the numb e r of battalions w hich each State should raise ; but to de n e a n e m e sig at a p rticular tow , and dir ct what co pani s V b e he e n e the f e of e Should t r i rais d , is , on ac it , xtraordinary . the ? v It prompts instant inquiry , how is this Why this d e ia ? tion from the c o mmo n course But two compan i e s ar e to b e raised in Westmoreland ; two full compani e s ; what " ? in o ne town was such a thi ng eve r h eard o f b efore ? Ce r tainly th ere must have b e en g o od re asons th at move d o e e e C ngr ss to this unusual proc ding . That august body e W m e e act d ith wisdo and d lib ration . Th ey did not mov e o fﬁ e e. Le t e with ut good and su ci nt caus us , th n , examin e the e e e e e the whol matt r with car , xplor reasons which occa sio ned e e e e this p culiar st p , and nd avor to asc e rtain what ve e e e , e e he w r th ir moti s th ir int ntions , and t ir acts .

The of the of e e e e situation town W stmor land , consid r d ,

2 THE E 3 WYOM ING MASSAC R .

“ of persons and a fort nam ed Augusta ; but the exposed of r the limited e o f situation Sunbu y , and numb r inhabitants, e h would have re nd ered aid from that quarte r hopel ss . T e f t b e m e e the ac should also distinctly i pr ss d on mind , that E o e e em and t he e en of ast n , B thl h , Sunbury , with Gov rnm t e n v e e the \/V omin eo e e P n syl ania , r gard d y g p pl with a j alous e e n u e v l o f e e e y , as i tr d rs and ri a claimants a d sirabl t rritory I n e of f e b e ee cas attack , aid rom thos points , it will s n , was hardly to b e exp ected .

h Th en c o m es the third consid e ration . What was t e situ ? ati o n o f Westmoreland in regard to the en emy Was th e re d e r ? the C e o e e e o f ang What was haract r , p w r , and n arn ss , ? that e nemy This is a po int o f the utmost consequ enc e to m t he right und e rstanding o f this atte r.

I n e we e the e - o f the e answ r , stat w ll kn wn act that savag s nh e the e e o f the S us ue hanna and , i abit d all upp r branch s q , their settl e ments extend ed through the whol e lak e and Gen f e e o . e e e e sc c u ntry Not a Singl wand ring trib , hal brok n by o n h e men e e e e c tact wit whit , and th ir str ngth with r d by indulgenc e in s pirituous liquors — not the emasculated D ela e e ed a e o e and e e war , conqu r by sup ri r trib , oblig d to w ar the garb and name of wom en — but it was the m o st powe r ful and dre adful c o n fede racy of India ns the white man had eve e n e e n r count r d on this conti ent . Th eir victorious arms e ed to the of o e o of r ach Catawbas Car lin a , and d alt out b lts v en e n e the h o f N e w E h g a c upon Mo icans ngland . T e Six o the fe e e trib es w er e o o ur Nati ns , or con d rat , kn wn in history as the m ost powe rful and the most warlike of the whol e rac e of r ed men. . e e of e e e e e Dr Cold n , in vi w th ir str ngth , xt nd d em e d e ve e the e of pir , and boun l ss ambition , ga th m nam the m he v e Ro an Indians . T y ga th ems elves the l o fty nam e o f

' n w h c m n O e onu , f e e e g Signi ying surpassing all oth rs , sup to the e of n e e rior r st manki d ; and th r was not a man , o d C , , e of e w man or chil within a ircl a thousand mil s , who , even e e e a s ty y ars ago , did not tr mbl nd tu rn pal e at K the nam e . A MO HAW "a MOHAW K "was a cry of h eart ’ e e e in ee e e with ring t rror ; and wh n , Qu n Ann s r ign , the re

‘ e of e r ufﬂans aros a band ruthl ss and bloody , in London , THE W A S E YOM ING M S ACR . 33 who e e e e e e s iz d and wantonly maim d th ir victims , to d signat * he e e e e e e t m as supr m ly savag , th y w r called MOHAWKS . This confederacy of warlike nations inhabited the upper e of the e e e e fo e A ua o s ction riv r ; th y w r in rc at q g , at Una N e . e e e dilla , at Tioga , and at wtown From Tioga , wh r th y e ez e e e of e can would r nd vous , at a mod rat ris wat r , boats e e e -f Th d sc nd to Wyoming in tw nty ou r hours . e navigation e e e is sm ooth and xc ll nt , so much so that , by moonlight , our f e f e fe ra tm n o t n run , and with sa ty. So that a d esc ending e e e e e wat r communication , r nd ring an attack sudd n and asy , plac ed Westmoreland in a more exposed situation than any e of the er f e The e oth r portion Am ican ronti r . hiss and rattl ' could b e heard from th e doo rsill "The howling from the den ear- of the f " e e was within shot old A num rous , warlik , and cru el enemy was within striking distance "Thus near the e e if was danger. Thus xpos d was Wyoming " These were the peculiar circumstanc es which rend ered Westmoreland an obj ect of special attention on the part of

the e e . e Contin ntal Congr ss Nor was this all . Anoth r con e f e e e The sid ration o w ight b ars dir ctly on this point . savage gen erally attacks the n earest or outer settlem ent e e e e e e e e both as most xpos d , and to pr v nt b ing int rc pt d and off he e e ee e the e cut , should v ntur d p r within inhabit d I f the e e e country . Wyoming p opl should abandon th ir e e of e e e e ne the e poss ssions , th n , cours , an xt nd d li along Blu

e e b e e e . mountains, sixty mil s low r down , would xpos d e and ﬁr e e f the e - Slaught r , havoc , would rag rom Wat r gap N the m e e ffe to Fort Augusta. ot only would i m diat su rings of the e e e b e e e e E e e e p opl xist to d pr cat d , but aston , B thl h m , e e e l e the r e and p rhaps R ading , b ing constant y harass d , ’ sourc es of men and provisions for Washington s army on

M o e over if an h n cou d add to the ccumu ed d e d and r , y t i g l a lat r a ho o of he e n on was the c h he w e e c nn rr r t s ati s , fa t t at t y r a ibals , “ ” devou e s of hum n fl e h . Th e v e ons fo me s the r r a s Fi Nati r rly , say “ ” d b H eck ew elder did eat hum n fl esh . R e v . C . P r laeus as uo e y , t y , a q ” to niach oeh uar i id he in devo u n the who e b od of E t q , sa t y , ri g l y a “ nch so d wh ch ein in e e ed is hum n fl e h s es e Fre l i er ; i , b g t rpr t , a s ta t lik b ear me at " (S e e transac tions of the H istorical and Lit erary Committee of the A m ic n hi n h o s S ocie ub shed in P hi de hi 1 8 1 er a P la t r pi t ty , p li la lp a , 9 , P age THE C E 34 WYOM ING MASSA R .

he e f e b e ffe e t maritim ronti r would most inj uriously a ct d . the e e of ﬁr e e e e Bringing war , lik two lin s , so n ar ach oth r , the e the the the savag s on north and British on south , must if e the e e e. e e occasion inﬁnit distr ss , not dang r to caus H nc it will b e seen that there w ere consid erations of the most weighty character to induc e Congress specially to interpose

in respect to Wyoming.

We use the words Wyoming or Westmoreland with the sam e m eaning ; the ﬁrst b eing the popular and well - known e the e the e a e e nam , s cond t chnic l d signation , and that us d h e f e e the t e e . by r solution As th y must r qu ntly occu r , irksom en ess of too frequ ent repetition is th e reby in som e

m easure avoid ed .

W e have drawn out those particulars relating to the e e h e e e we the matt r som w at at l ngth , b caus know that present Congress and the country at large have b een und er the e e e f e e e e impr ssion that this stood , lik oth r ronti r s ttl m nts , e e e e of ffe without anything p culiar in its cas , xc pt that su ring m e e The aSD ect of the e e or d eply . It was not so . cas abov e e e aid w e e the e e pr s nt d will , trust , to corr ct rror , and plac the f t e e f The e ac s in th ir prop r point o vi ew . Contin ntal e the e e e Congr ss saw subj ct in its j ust light , int rpos d with t e ar tic u its wisdom and authori y , took Wyoming und r its p “ e e e the lar prot ction , and provid d , That two compani s on continental establishm ent b e r aised in the town of West e E E C ES FOR THE D E mor land , and STATION D I N PROP R PLA , E CE OF THE OF e F N IN HABITANTS SAID TOWN and parts adjac nt, f e e of e he 2 d . t of until urth r ord r Congr ss Thus , on 3 1 6 e e . August , 77 , was it r solv d

The qu estion arises : What is the tru e interpretation of this resolution ? Was it in the nature of a contract entered into between the Gov ernment and the peopl e of Westmore ' land ? What ar e the ter ms of the agreem en t ? Were th ey compli ed with by the p eopl e ? Were they fulﬁlled by the e e e e e v e h Gov rnm nt , or w r th y iolat d by t e Governm ent ? And were the losses that occu rred the cons equ ences of that h , the a e of e e violation w ich , in langu g J udg Und rwood , give “ a claim on the principle of discharging a contract ? Or THE WYOM ING MASSAC RE . 3 5

th “ was e loss sustained in cons equ ence of the action of the ” Gove rnm ent ?

W e b e e e the f m the g l av to lay down ollowing , as a ong e of e the j ust rul s construction applicabl to cas e. It would

ee e e we e we e e fo r e s m lik p dantry, r to quot authoriti s th m , e ve f V attel f V l d ri d rom Grotius to , and rom atte to Black

e . The e e e ar e f e e e ston g n ral rul s ound d in common s ns , ar e e d the e e en e of e conﬁrm by wisdom and xp ri c ag s , and ar e we e e of e uall ust o e e , appr h nd , q y j applicati n , wh th r quot e d by thos e authors as havi ng re fe re nc e to the inte rpre ta o f e e e . e e e : tion tr ati s, compacts , statut s d ds , or r solutions

R ules o onstr uction f C .

1 . e e e the e of e we That , to d t rmin m aning a statut , m ust the e e n the e m e look to circumstanc s xisti g at tim it was ad , the ev e b e e e and ils m ant to r m di e d .

2 . b e e e e m It Shall not pr sum d , in a sol n contract, that any words we re us e d without due consid e ration and a d eﬁnite m ean ing .

3 . That to eve ry word or sente nc e shall b e ascrib ed a e if b e e m aning, it possibl . f b e m 4 . That doubt ul words tak en ost strongly agai nst h f t e grantor or mak e r o the instrum e nt . e e e e n 5 . That wh r a b n ﬁt is stipulate d a d an e quiv al e nt e e e the e v le f r quir d , yo u may not d mand qui a nt withou t ully he m e ting out or according t b e n eﬁt stip ulated . That ' faith e o e e f 6 . is not l ss w und d by a r usal to admit a

e e e f . right int rpr tation , than by an op n in raction the e f eve b e e 7 . That in t erpr tation o ry act ought to mad such as the parti es conc e rne d must naturally have und e r

stood th e m . Ev e e e e 8 . ry int rpr tation that l ads to an absurdity ought

to b e rej e cte d . I f e e e b e e let e e e a li th s rul s corr ct , th m hav th ir j ust pp the e w e e e cation to r solution , and pr sum that not a doubt m could longe r e xist o f the j ustic e of the Wyoming clai . “ e b e e — e and e e That two compani s rais d [this is cl ar , n ds no inte rpr e tation ; each company consiste d o f 84 me n] the e e e — e e on contin ntal stablishm nt [this also is pr cis , an d requires no explanationJ— in the town of Westmoreland 6 THE E 3 WYOM ING MASSAC R .

the e e e set for th — A N D E [ plac wh r is distinctly J STATION D . One f e would think this word su ﬁci ntly common and plain . It would b e scarc ely resp ectful to refe r inte lligent minds to E e - a dictionary fo r its m eaning . v ry school boy knows that to be sta tioned m e ans to b e ﬁxe d at a particular point— not b e e f e to drawn away or march d rom plac to plac e . But the v e f e — the men ar e b e sta tioned pro ision go s urth r to , not e e e e e e w e e e till th y w r want d ls h r , not till Congr ss Shall think “ er e m e ar e b e e prop to call th away, but th y to station d in r h e en e e inh i n prop e r plac es f o t e d f c of th a b ta ts. The re is a particula r pu rpos e in v i e w in raising th ese two companie s ; th e re is an obj ect in calling on a singl e town fo r so large a body of men as two compani es ; it is fo r their ow n pr otec “ tion— th ey shall b e station ed in prop e r plac es fo r the de ” ? fenc e oi the inhabitants . From whom Wh e re was the e o f e ? f e sourc dang r Not rom Lords How or Cornwallis . m the e f e e e e e Fro maritim ronti r th r was nothing to appr h nd . The dange r was fro m the Mohawks— from the confed e rate e the e e of the ve savag nations on upp r branch s ri r.

The qu estion tu rns on this— wh eth e r th e s e words have an o any me aning . C a doubt exist ? A r e n t the expressions ? plain A r e not the reasons of the thing abundant and C lear ?

“ e the e e e e e But do s subs qu nt claus , until oth rwis ord e re d e e e i by Congr ss, annihilat and mak vo d what go e s b efore ? That would b e contrary to ev e ry rul e of interpretation f w e f e the brought or ard or l t b hind , in books or out of the b e v — books . It would a iolation o f common s ense an th absurdity on e fac e o f it .

Can both positions b e reconcil e d — that the me n Sh ould b e stationed e e and e t e h r , y that Congr ss at its discretion em w ? e o might call th a ay C rtainly, c mmon s e ns e and com mo n e ﬁnd the e fﬁ . e hon sty would not slight st di culty Judg s , the e e the E e e ar e L gislatur , and x cutiv , all investe d with A r e discretionary powe r . th e y th e re fore d espotic and irresponsibl e ? God forbid "Th e ir discretion must b e ex er cised efe e e the of the in r r nc to laws land , the principl es of e the of the e quity , and ri ghts citiz n . The abus e of THE W SS CRE YOM ING MA A . 37 discretionary powe r is not l ess odious than the violation of e positiv law . A simple and j ust paraphrase o f this resolution will Show more cl e arly its m eaning and prop e r con st ruction : “ “ e e of e e n e w P opl W stmor la d , says Congr ss, e see your e e e u p culiar and xpos d sit ation . Far remove d from Con necticut e e e t , yo ur prop r Stat cannot prot ct you . On he e of the fe e e e bord rs con d rat savag nations, your dange r is

e . the n e e of the e immin nt For i t r sts whol country below, e e e e e b e e u We it is d si rabl that you r s ttl m nt k pt p. have e to f w not troops to spar garrison your orts, but e will do e all in ou r pow r to protect you . Raise two compani es on the contin ental establishm ent and we pledge ourselves that e s b e e e b e e th y hall arm d , disciplin d , and station d among e e fo r efe e the e yo u in p rop r plac s you r d nc , so long as dang r e if we c an e e e the shall xist ; but mak p ac with Indians, or e e off f e e e e e e driv th m rom th ir s ttl m nts , b yond r ach , so that f e b e e e e we the your amili s will s cur , th n claim right to the men e e e the e e e march wh r v r public s rvic may r quire . ee the the men ar e e Agr d , say inhabitants ; and rais d . - in e e e. We This , our vi w, is plain common s ns blush to b e obliged to argu e a matter so clear .

et e e e e e the And y , disr garding this sol mn pl dg , und r claim that Congress might march the me n away at th eir e the e b e e ee discr tion , compani s cannot said to hav b n e an e e station d hou r at Wyoming, but w r d rawn instantly E e e e r the e e e away. arly in S pt mb r solution to rais th m e e e e e e e the e was r c iv d at Wyoming ; arly in D c mb r, mom nt the men b e e e e e e e n could nlist d, Congr ss ord r d that th y joi

Ge neral Washington . I e e e e e e if s this giving to v ry word or s nt nc a m aning, it b e possible ? Do es not such interpre tation involve an absurdity ? Is it not manifestly contrary to the und e rstanding of the p arti es at the tim e ? Can any one doubt but the me n e nlisted under the full e e e e e e impression that th ir hom s, th ir wiv s , and th ir littl e e e b e e e e e e on s , w r to guard d by th ir n rollm nt , and b ing arm ed against a hostil e invasion o f the savages ? 8 THE 3 WYOM I NG MASSAC RE .

Did Congress use th ese words foolishly and without ? m e aning ? Such a qu estion is an insult e use e m e e el f e Did Congr ss th d c ptiv y, and thus raudul ntly e the e- e me n of the e e e e lur all abl bodi d s ttl m nt to nlist, e e em e e e m aning to ch at th , and m arch th m a hund r d mil s e the e e f e e e b low mountains , l aving th ir amili s xpos d to the v e e e ? e e sa ag , without pow r and without hop Blist r d b e the tongu e that should utte r such ve nomous Sland er against that ve n e rabl e and virtuous ass emblage " W e ar e told in the o ld books of a Roman gen e ral who agree d with Antiochus to restore half his vess els ; but he “ f cause d the vess els to b e sawed in two . Anoth e r case o f e e e ve : e e f e v raudul nt int rpr tation is gi n Tam rlan , a t r ha ing e e the o f S ab asta e e the e ngag d city to capitulat , und r promis s b e e the S e of the that no blood hould spilt, caus d all oldi rs b e e ve garrison to buri d ali . H e re Congress promis es that the me n Shall b e r e tain e d fo r the efe e of the n and e e e e d nc inhabita ts ; , und r r s rv d e e b e e e the e n e pow r, impli dly not to us d whil dang r conti u d , f e e 1 0 e the e e orthwi th dr w th m all away 5 mil s , and n my e e e the e I f cam down and d solat d whol se ttl e m e nt . this e e e e the e e e e was int nd d , wh r in was act l ss bas and tr ach rous “ than that o f Tamerlan e or the Roman ge n e ral ?Both k ept ” the e the e ar e the e e . promis to , but brok it to s ns e The m n Congr ss did not so inte nd . agre e e t was made in good faith . It was honestly intend ed that the compani es should b e station e d h e re so long as the d ange r continu e d

the — ~ to exist . But e xigenci es of the country below the ’ state o f Washington s army— th e ir d efe at at the White Plains in Octob e r— the surre nd er of Fort Washi ngton in e e — the of f N ew Nov mb r march Lord Cornwallis rom York , w e e e e e ith a larg , w ll arm d , and w ll appoint d army, pressing in the rear of his Exc e ll ency as he r etre ate d with his dis spirited troops through the J e rs eys— the reduction of ou r me n— n the army to and , ﬁ ally , d ete rmination of Congress to remove from Philad e lphia to Baltimor e— all go e e e e e e e e m to Show that th r xist d an xtr m distr ss , an i p e ri

e e e all e o ous n c ssity, sup rior to law , sup ri r to all contract . e e the e e Thus pr ss d , on day Congr ss r solve d to adj ou rn to

0 THE E 4 WYOM ING MASSAC R .

ee e the e Committ on R volutionary Claims , with docum nts e e fe w e e f efe e e the evi pr par d , a r marks , with bri r r nc s to d e nc e in suppo rt of our m e morial . In re sp e c t to those ge n e ral facts which ar e matte r of e ar e e e e nec public history , no particular obs rvations d m d r essa y . For the resolutions of C o ngress ord e ring two compani es “ to b e rais e d at Westmoreland ( fo r defence of said town and ’ parts refe r to Way 81 Gid eon s e ditions of the the e 26 1 6 . J ournals , vol . I , p . 4 53, August , 7 7 For ord r m 1 2 e e e vol . . e e e to join G n ral Washington , sam p 57 7 , D c b r , the ve the e e of the 1 6 . 7 7 For uni rsal turn out, on d sc nt e e m e n e e e e o e the e e n y , r d r d n c ssary and occasi n d by abs nc of the e fo r the u e u hic h e e two compani s , and sla ght r nsu d f 2 f e see the e me N o o . in amili s , stat nt , I , M rs Bidlack ; me n E . e e . Mrs . Car y ; 3 , Colon l Inman That old , grand f e of e e a e e e e e ath rs , and boys t nd r g , w r oblig d to go to battl ,

f . se e . e e o No 4 , stat m nt S Abbott ; which also Shows e e ve the f n e e e att mpts mad to sa grain , and atal co s qu nc s, ’ e n n e and also the total loss of eve rything . Mrs . J ki s s stat the e e o f the e e en . m t . No 5, shows that d pr dations n my began a fe w months aft e r the me n we re march e d away the horrid cru e lti es practis e d — the labor our peopl e had to e e en to e e e — the und rgo , v making, at tim s , th ir own powd r n e of t he v e 1 8 0 the e co tin u d in roads sa ag s up to 7 , as in cas ’ n f m of Roswe ll Frankli s a ily.

6 he e e . t e e e v of Mrs . My rs , No , shows arn st nd a ors Col one l D enniso n to restrain the e n e my from plu nd e ring ; the ge n e ral c o nfl agr ation ; expulsion ; the attacks o f the e n e my the e the e e f e n e f n xt Spring, and brav and succ ss ul r sista c o he r f e e Hammond , ath r , and broth r . M rs . Courtright, No . M r 1 0 . e . e . . e e ef 7 , M r Marc y, No , Rog rs , No I I , r lat bri ffe e of the th but a cting incid nts flight, Showing e su ffe rings of e e e e the de e o f e our xil d p opl in wil rn ss ; that M r . Rog rs the e of the v e going also to Show continu d attacks sa ag s , f e of e e e . e and a succ ss ul instanc r sistanc Colon l Ransom , 8 e f e e th . e No , s ts orth , as n ar as p ossibl , n umb e r of me n in the two compani es ; the active s e rvic e th ey saw ; the e e e b e e e efe e e ntr ati s to allow d to r turn , to d nd th ir hom s , THE Y 1 W OM IN G MASSAC RE . 4 on the n ews of the invasion ; app e aranc e of the battle fi eld ; e of f e d ath his ath r ; and his own captivity in 1 7 80 . E . . 1 2 the nuin b e r of f Major Blackman , No , shows orts “ e of the e e fee e mann r building by p opl , without or r ward ; me n f e ee . Se e e old orm compani s to k p garrison , also , xtract f e e e m m rom old W stmor land r cords in our e orial .

e e e h e . t e Ishma l B nn tt , No 9 , shows that , in xpulsion , an e e f e e y att mpt to tak away goods was ollow d with d ath , the e th e as in case of St . J ohn and L ach ; shows e cru l tor e o f the e the e of e e tur s prison rs ; ﬂight , and d struction v ry R . ev. . 1 e e thing B Bidlack , No . 3 , shows his s rvic as a the e e of f m e m ilitiaman , without pay ; s rvic s his a ily ; his ag d

' fath e r commanding a company of old men garrisoning a f l e e of . . ed ort, whil his son (broth r M r B Bidlack) a com the e and fe the e of men the pany into battl , ll at h ad his ;

“ of f e f e w en e captivity his ath r a t r ards ; his own listm nt , with

ten e ve e men . e or tw l oth r , at Wyomin g J os ph Slocum , h ffe of f the . 1 t e No 4 , shows su rings his amily, and constant 1 of the e . e . attacks savag s Corn lius Courtright , No 5, show the e ev e e e ef men ing that in battl , n on our d vot d l t , our

e f e e ve e e . did not ﬂy till th y had ought , and w r o rpow r d a e e e M r e . 1 6 s . Coop r , No , Shows , mong oth r int r sting e the e e e e e o me n matt r , r p at d att mpts mad to btain so thi g to e the e e e the e e e e h lp xil s on th ir way, and xtr m hung r to d e e e of e e e e e . which som th m w r r uc d G n ral William Ross , e e e e e N O. 1 e e 7 , b sid s much int r sting matt r in r sp ct to his f e f e the v o f 1 own amily, is mor ull in r gard to in asion 7 79 ; the numbe r of forts ; the gen e ral duty p e rform ed without the e me o pay ; and esp e cially sustains ass rtion in our m rial , that eve ry man in Wyoming might b e co nsid e re d as e u ”

n . 1 8 r the war . e liste d fo an d during And rson Da a, No , of fe f of showing the loss li to his amily, and total ruin

prop e rty .

1 f e e of e e the No . 9 , o ﬁcial l tt r Colon l Butl r , showing inva

sion in the spring of 1 779 .

’ he ee 20 E E e e . No . , lisha H arding, sq s stat m nt T committ f e e e e e forward the state m e nt o this ag d and r sp ctabl citiz n , fo r b e e as he s ent it ; marking omission , should it print d , 2 THE W E 4 YOM ING MASSAC R . o ne e e e e I t f of e e or two immat rial s nt nc s . is ull int r sting e m att r . The ee e e e Wyoming committ would obs rv that , in answ r e e of the e e e fo r f to th ir inquiri s ag d p opl in ormation , as was e v e f the e e of e in itabl rom gr at laps tim , much that was e e f m f e n e e e e l arn d ro ri ds , now d c as d , was mix d up with what was p e rsonally known ; and it th e refo re s ee me d hardly f r e ee e prop e r to ask an oath o its v riﬁcation . This was d m d the e e e e e e e e e of l ss n c ssary, as thos anci nt and r sp ctabl r lics e e e one f that trying p riod , standing , as it w r , with oot on the e o f the e e b e thr shold j udgm n t s at, could hardly sup e e e e ve e s e pos d to add mor sol mnity to th ir a rm nt , or inspir e e e e e e e e e f mor cr d nc in th ir d clarations , by any m r l gal orm f o attestation . Th eir statem ents w ere tak e n by o ne o f the committee e e e e e and much mor in d tail , and abridg d , omitting r p titions

e ev e . e e e e o f 1 8 1 irr l ant matt r Th r is an old ass ssm nt 7 , and e the e e o f e e n a passag or two i n anci nt vot s W stmor la d , e e of e e which a s ns duty r quir s us to bring to your notic e . not fee of e e eve It is without a slight lin g mortiﬁ d prid , how r e b e e w e e e the the improp r to indulg d , that xpos to world utte r poverty and nak e dn ess of the land ; how compl ete ly this fair and ﬂourishing settle me nt was prostrated and im i he the e f over s d e o . e p , by mis ri s war To awak n your com e n w e e mis ratio c rtainly should not do it . But ou r app e al the the e of is not to pity but to j ustic our country . Th es e f e e e e e n e e mis ortun s , this ov rwh lming and un quall d rui , w r the e e d fo r the brought on us by Gov rnm nt , in with rawing, e e of the e e e e the e f e s rvic country ls wh r , whol orc which e e fo r efe e e God and natur had provid d our d nc at hom , and e e fo r e e . which Congr ss had rais d that sp cial purpos No . 2 1 the e e o f e m e fo r 1 8 . , ass ssm nt or tax list W st or land , 7 1 It Shows at onc e the numbe rs and prop e rty o f the s e ttle

e . the of e m nt By laws Conn cticut , a poll tax was laid ; f 1 2 thos e rom 6 to 1 b e ing rate d at £9 ; thos e from 2 1 to 0 £ 1 8 e of the e few e e 7 at ; minist rs gosp l , and a oth rs , w re

e e . he e e e x mpt By t ass ssm nt, it will app ar that W estmo re e for the land , which rais d contin ental establishm ent in — 1 6 7 7 e 2 0 men ef 1 8 1 1 1 77 mor than 5 , had l t, in 7 , but 4 THE W YOM ING MASSAC RE . 4 3 men f 2 1 0 2 f m 1 6 2 1 in rom to 7 , and 4 boys ro to , making , 1 0 e fr m 1 6 0 e all, but 4 mal s o to 7 ; and that , d ducting the e en e rsons e e e m ass ssm t on , th r r ains only valu e of prop e rty in the whol e country on which to e e e e e e n l vy a tax a consid rabl l ss sum , it is pr sum d , tha me ee a The e so individuals on your committ r e assessed . ox n e e e e e 2 e e e e e w r r duc d to l ss than 3 pair. Th r w r 7 hors d o f 1 e old of 2 e 2 ve e kin , y ar ; 4 y ars old ; and Sil r watch s — o ne e the w ee e n fe b longing wido Durk , whos husba d ll in the battl e . the e e e fo r the e we the In old W stmor land r cord y ar, ﬁnd following : “ At a town m ee ting l egally warne d and h e ld in West e the 8th of e e e 1 8 1 v e mor land , on day S pt mb r , 7 , ot d , that E s e f r e e b e o . J ohn H urlbut, q , mod rator said m ting e d b e e of . the Vot d , that a tax grant d 4 on pound , as the b e e e b e e e soon as list can compl t d , to paid ith r in hard

e e the f e : 1 0d. er mon y, or in produc at ollowing pric s ﬂax, p d r e r e 23 e s. 6 . e . 6 d. pound ; wh at, 3 p bush l ; y , ; and corn , ”

e r e . at 2s. p bush l e t e b e e Vot d , tha Obadiah Gor and J ohn Franklin ag nts e e e fo r e e of e to n gotiat a p tition , praying an abat m nt tax s fo r the e e of 1 8 1 the e e e in pr s nt list 7 , at G n ral Ass mbly

Octob e r n ext . W e e e the e of e do not know, but pr sum Ass mbly Conn c ti e nt granted the re qu est ; for to have insisted on the full e of the e e e paym nt tax , in th ir impov rish d condition , would have b ee n like wringing the last drop of blood from the

h eart of mise ry . e of the the d of e e e the e By a vot town , 3 D c mb r , tim for paying the tax in ﬂax and grain was exte nd e d to “ of 1 8 2 the e in the I st day J anuary, 7 ; and constabl s The structed to conform th emselve s accordingly. com mittee e b e e e e ho w the may, p rhaps , pl as d to l arn grain was f e e e fo r the dispose d o , Conn cticut having probably r mitt d it

use of the town . “ e e e e for the toWn At a town m ting, l gally warn d , in and e e 8 1 8 2 of W stmor land , April , 7 “ e the e e b e e e Vot d , that town tr asur r d sir d to grind up 44 THE WYOMI NG MASSAC RE. so much of the public wh e at as to make 200 pounds of ee e e e the nec biscuit , and k p it mad and so d posit d as that e b e e f e e ssary scouts may instantly suppli d , rom tim to tim , as the occasion requires . Th es e bri ef refe re nc es and statem e nts we trust may not b e d e e m e d intrusive by the honorabl e committee ; and with th em we respectfully submit ou r cause .

No . I .

n r B idlach Sta teme t of M s. .

fe o f e e Mrs . Sarah Bidlack , wi B njamin Bidlack , now ighty h e e the e of the e . S e y ars old , was about tw nty at tim battl He r e th e o f e Es . was e daught r Obadiah Gor , q broth r, a a e e e the On Ob di h Gor , was a li ut nant in army , and out

e r e the e of the . He r e e s vic at tim invasion broth rs , Dani l ,

e e e we e the e. Samu l , Asa, G org , and Silas , r in battl e e M ur fe e e he r e Timothy Pi rc and J ohn , who marri d sist rs , ﬁ e e e e the e of e e e e ve e . w r both in battl ; th s s v n , w r kill d

e e ed and e e . . Samu l scap unhurt , Dani l was wound d Mrs f e e the in e e e . B . was Forty ort wh n it surr nd r d Und r cap itulation e ten ee the e th y staid days or two w ks , but savag s

n e e e e e . continuing to plu d r and burn , th y w r oblig d to ﬂy e e e ne e e Th ir prop rty was stol n , bur d , or d stroy d ; nothing was l e ft th e m .

2 No . .

a tement o M r Hulda h a S t s. r f C ey . f . e e o ee ﬁve Mrs H uldah Car y, daught r Philip W ks , was years old the March b e fore the battl e ; her fath er was th en e man her e an ag d ; broth rs , Philip , J onathan , and Barthol ’ m w e e e o e . e ; Silas B n dict , who marri d M r J onathan W ek s ’ e e e e he r e e daught r ; J ab z B rs, moth r s broth r ; Josiah Car ' he r e e e e man , moth r s cousin ; and Rob rt Bat s , who board d with them— making seve n from one farm — went out to the H r f e e e . e e e battl , and w r all slain ath r, with tw lve grand e the e of the f e childr n, and r st amily that r main ed , ﬂed h e e e through t e wild rn ss . Th y bu rn ed his hous es and barn ; THE E WYOMING MASSAC R . 4 5

e e e he his harv sts w r lost, and l eft destitute and almost childless .

No . 3 .

S tatement o Colonel Edw in I nman f . m M r. In an was he re at the tim e o f the battl e ; he had ﬁve brothers in the Indian battle ; th e re w e re s eve n broth e rs of e of e E e e e e the th m two th m , lijah and Isra l , w r kill d in e e e the e e ngag m nt ; a third , David , lay in wat r to conc al e f f m the the e f m hims l ro Indians , having got to riv r, ro which he contracted an illn ess which soon te rminate d his f fe. e e the f ﬂ ed li His ath r, an ag d man , with amily, through the e e e e the e e e wild rn ss ; on th ir r tu rn , hous and barn w r e e e e e e e rve e e burn d , th ir cattl w r gon , th ir ha st ntir ly lost . e e the e e e e In Nov mb r, sam y ar, his broth r Isaac w nt out e f the e a Short d istanc rom hous , and, as was customary , e n e e e e of arm d gu s w r h ard , but nothing mor was known e The fe e him that wint r. snow soon ll , and it was suppos d he e ee e e the might hav b n tak n away prison r, but in spring ' f e e far a his body was ound in a cr k not dist nt, shockingly had e e e e e e . He mangl d b n shot , b at n with a club, and scalp d ;

f of e fe . . e ee f thus , ou r his broth rs ll M r Inman was b tw n our teen and fifteen at the time of the battl e ; he had b ee n out f e e e e e one r qu ntly on scouting parti s , as v ry had who could The me n e e carry a gun . old k pt garrison th y took arms to the fi elds with th em wh e n th ey went to work the whol e e e e was e e e e e s ttl m nt an arm d s ttl m nt, though too w ak to prote ct th ems elves from the murd e rous in roads o f the sav r e e e e he ages . M . Inman r c iv d no pay wh n out on duty ; is su re his broth e rs did not ; he do e s not think any of the e e e of e e e e e for militia did ; n v r kn w th ir r c iving any, ith r The building forts or doing d uty in the fi e ld or in garrisons . e e e e e o ne di he for tim s w r distr ssing, and ach d all could The e e e e e the common d efe nc e . buildings w r g n rally burn d imm e diate ly afte r the battl e ; the few that w e re l eft we re e the f e the e e me mostly burn d spring ollowing, wh n n my ca eve e e e e e C e down , s ral hundr d strong, but w r k pt in som h ck ’ by Captain Spalding s company . THE E 4 6 WYOMI NG MASSAC R .

No . 4 .

n A o S tatement of Stephe bb tt.

Steph e n Abbott is Sixty- e ight y e ars old ; resid es on his f f e e e arm in Wyoming ; his ath r, J ohn Abbott, was a s ttl r e e the e v the e h r in r olutionary war , and was in battl in J uly, ' 1 8 in t me B idlack s he 77 , Cap ain J a s company was among the few who escap ed the fath e r and family ﬂe d down the ve e of e e the e of ri r, having no m ans sust nanc ; latt r part f e a e e e o f J uly , his ath r c m back , in hop s to sav a part his ve em e har st ; in att pting to do so , b ing at work with Isaac m e e e e of Willia s , th y w r attack d by a party Indians , and e The we e w e C e the both kill d . wido d moth r, ith n in hild r n , e e e one set the e e f d pon nt b ing , out through wild rn ss on oot , to go to Conn e cticut to th eir fri ends on the way th ey li ve d e C e e e e e e chi ﬂy on harity , but w r h lp d to provisions wh n th y

f h . pass ed d etachm e nts o t e army. M rs Abbott was grand daughter to Constante S e arl e ; he r grand fath e r was in the e and e he v e d fe he had e e battl , was kill d was ad anc in li thr e e e of e childr n marri d , and a n umb r grandchildr n Captain D eathick e - in-law e e e H witt was his son ; his son , Rog r S arl , e ee e e ee e ee a young man b tw n s v nt n and ight n , was also in the e e e e a of battl ; Rog r S arl and Willi m Buck , a boy about f e e e e the e e e e ourt n , stood tog th r in ﬁght , and wh n th y w r e e e ﬂ e d o e e the e oblig d to r tr at , t g th r, Indians in clos pur “ an e e suit ; Indian or whit man call d , Stop , and you shall ve e e e f en ha quart r ; B uck , almost xhaust d , was ain to list e e e e e e to th m , and stopp d young S arl look d ov r his e e me e the Should r, and as th y ca up with Buck , th y struck e e e e e tomahawk into his h ad ; S arl pass d on and scap ed . ’

. o e e and e e e Mr Abb tt s hous , with its cont nts , barn , w r burn d , e e e v e e . th ir cattl lost , th ir har st lost , nothing was sav d

No . 5 .

S tatement o M r s. enhin f f s.

. e e o f the M rs B rtha J nkins , widow late Colon el J ohn e 2 e the e of the e 8 J nkins , was 4 y ars old at tim battl , now 4 , e e e e fe H in good h alth , and r coll ction p r ct. e r husband had b ee n taken prisoner while out on a scouting party to Wya

8 THE W E 4 YOM I NG MA SSAC R .

“ W e h mad e saltp e tre to man ufacture powde r . took up t e the e n we e ﬂoors, d ug ou t arth , put it i to casks , as do ash s

ee e . e e to l ch , and run wat r through it Th n took ash s , put in e e lie e the e anoth r cask , and mad mix d wat r ru n through the e e lie e set the e e arth with w ak ; boil d it , it , and saltp tr he W e e e t . ros on top us d charcoal and sulphur . Mr . Hollen back we nt down to the river and brought up a pounde n The e e the d of ul battl took plac Friday , 3 J y ; and on the 6 th the e e e Monday , , prison rs who capitulat d in J nkins f set the e e the e e Her ort out on xil through wild rn ss . b n e e the hus a d , Colon l J nkins , had a commission in conti u and e ve the e f the e o . n tal army, s r d to clos war The childre n o f Rosw ell Franklin staid at th eir house the The e m e ﬁ rst night afte r th eir return . Indians took th ir oth r th C d e n f e o e . e f e f and hil r n , an in ant Th ir ath r was rom ﬁr e e e e e . e e hom Th y put b tw n two b ds , so that it might e th e not kindl e till th ey w ere far away . Wh n e fath r and " ’ the ve the e f e eve a e party o rtook savag s , a t r s r l davs trav l , e e the the m e — the and a battl b gan , Indians shot oth r two d e f The f chil r en ran to th ir ath er . in an t was n eve r after f e o f. e e th h ard This was two y ars a t r e battl e .

6 . No . S ta tement o M ’ s M er s f . y .

e 6 e Mrs . My rs is 7 y ars of age . Her family we re from de e . e e e e e e Scituat , Rho Island Th y w r arly s ttl rs at Wyo m n . . . f the e f the i g M rs M was in Forty ort at tim o battle . He r e m he t e . ee broth r Solo on was in battl Captain Durk , e en Phinean e e one e Li ut ant P arc , and or two oth rs , had d e n — e e e ri d all night got in j ust as th y w r marchin g out , w e e ed . e e o ut and r all kill Th y march d with colors , drums,

ﬁfes . f e the n the e e and A t r capitulatio , savag s b gan to burn and plund e r . e e e n fo r e . e e Colon l D nnison s t Colon l J Butl r . Th y sat e e e . . e e e down n ar wh r Mrs M and anoth r girl w r sitting . n m e . e of the f of the e Colo l D co plain d in raction articl s . I ” a sto e will put p to it , said Colon l Butl e r . The savage e e e e e e e d pr dations b cam wors , and Colon l D nnison , once or THE WYOMI NG MASSACRE. 49

e e fo r e e e twic , s nt Butl r , and arn stly expostulate d against e s e th ir conduct, aying, articl s so agreed on were consid e re d binding, in honor, by all nations . “ ” e the e e To t ll you truth , said Colon l Butl r, waving his “ e — hand impati ntly, I can do nothing with them I can do nothing with th e m . To Show th ey would do as they e e e the pl as d , an Indian cam in and took hat from Colon e l ’ e e e e e e e D n nison s h ad ; anoth r cam in and ord r d him to , tak ff the f he o e . h e e e . T e rock wor This Colon l D . r sist d I e e of the f ndian s iz d hold rock and raise d his tomahawk . f e Colon e l D . was orc d to comply ; but s eeming to ﬁnd difﬁ l e o ff e e cu ty in g tting it , st pp d backward wh ere a young who e e. h h woman sat, liv d at his hous S e und e rstood t e oe e f the e e f he e man uvr , and took rom pock t a purs o t pittanc f the e e he r o . town mon y, and hid it und r apron So , though

was e . The e e the f . but a triﬂ , it sav d Indian th n got rock

e e e e . Fir s w r lighting all around th m M rs . M . would go ’ out to se e if her fath e r s house was safe ; for a few days it ef o ne she e the e was l t ; but morning w nt to look , and flam s The e fi we re j ust bursting out . vall y th en s eem e d all on r e ; fir e e f smoke and ros rom all quarte rs . f the the e . e e In flight that ollow d , M rs My rs w nt down f the f th ri ve r most o amily through e wild e rn ess . The e s e e he r f e e n xt pring having r turn d , ath r and broth r w e nt out to pre pare som e ground to plant ; we re waylaid

e I ; e e n e e and tak n by ndians L b s Hammond , who had scap d f the f l the of the e ee rom ata ring on day battl , had also b n

take n . ' The prison ers saw enough to b e satisﬁ ed that th ey we re the e e e doome d to d eath . On third night th y ros on th ir e f e e e e e o ne o r en my ; a ter a d sp rat struggl , kill d all but ﬂ ed e e e the of e two, who , and r turn d hom , with arms th ir captors as trophi es . ff:

N O. 7 . h o r tr i t. Statement of M r s . C u g

e fe of e M rs . Catharin Courtright, wi Corn lius Court f s 1 2 e the e of the Es . o right, q , Pitt ton , was y ars old at tim

battle Her maiden nam e was Ken nedy . H SO T E WYOM ING MASSAC RE .

th e of the e S he the e e At e tim battl was in Wilk sbarr fort . e the e o f e e e e e e Wh n ov rthrow our p opl b cam c rtain , th y e set out through the wild e rn ss . First night staid at the

- he r f e e e e e e . . e e S v n mil hous Mrs Dana and amily w r th r , ’ her and n ews was brought that Mr . Dana and daughter s The e e e . e husband , Mr . Whiting , w r both slain wom n walk d th e . e wa the round , crying and wringing th ir hands On y, le fe o f Tr e us al e . Tr e usda d e s con d day , M rs , wi J ohn , had a The e e e f child born . childr n w r told to go orward a Short Tr e usdale e f e e e . e e distanc . A t r som tim , M rs and baby w r e f e e e e e e brought along on a sh e t ast n d b tw n two hors s . In

e the e and . . e e e about a y ar child di d , Mrs T said it s m d he een e s . mor hard to part, as had s with it so much sorrow A S e e e n the - e th y w nt , th y saw , Sitti g by way sid , a woman ' f ur tr i h 8 e . Co t s and or 9 childr n , without any ood ; M rs g e moth e r share d with th em the little she had . Th ir prop e rty e e e f e e was all lost . Th y w nt to th ir ri nds , in Orang county,

N ew York .

8 No .

t t men o lonel R a n om S a e t f Co s .

f a e 1 e e . 6 e o e he e G org P Ransom is 7 y ars g , wh n 4 , join d ’ The e o f m n h his fath e r s company. n umb r e e do es not e e e e of e e e e r m mb r xactly, but a pay roll S p t mb r to Octob r,

1 e e e e e e 6 2 e . . e 7 7 7 , show d th r w r th n nam s ; M r R r m em b ers the nam es o f 1 0 more who b e longe d wh e n th ey we nt : e \/ e e out Port r, Vord n , Austin , Colton , two broth r Saw er s e o f the e e e e y , both di d camp dist mp r ; Smith , Sp nc r, e e e e di d ; Gaylord , di d ; Und rwood was discharg d , having a e e e ruptur ; Port r was kill d at Millston e . He thinks the company had 8 0 me n wh e n th ey went out ; Captain Dur ’ ee k s company was about as large . In twe nty days from e e e we e e e e our b ing ord r d to march , w r in activ s rvic e . At e the e the e Millston two Wyoming troops , call d ind p end ent e o f N ew e e e compani s , with a party J rs y militia , und r the of ve e e command Go rnor Dick rson , attack d a large foraging party of the en e my that had com e out with three pi e c es o f we e e e cannon ; took 4 7 wagons , mor than a hundr d hors s , THE WYOM I N G E 1 MASSA C R . 5 and re cove red all the cattl e and hogs the e n e my had plun

e e . u e e of d r d J stic Port r , our company , was cut in two by in the ff r a cannon shot a ai .

The e e e the ff of compani s w r at a airs Boundbrook , at e e f e e Brandywin , G rmantown , and Mud ort . A d tachm nt from the compani es shared in the honor o f that bombard e e e e he m nt ; Li ut nant Spalding command d t d e tachm e nt . e one o f e ve me n fe Constant Math rson , our b st and bra st , ll e e th e re. Fr qu nt rumors re ach e d us that the e n e my m edi tated e we an attack upon our hom s at Wyoming , which

we re rais ed to d efend . Our office rs p e tition e d to b e s e nt e e e e e e l t th r , but Congr ss and his xc ll ncy could not e us go . e the e e e m e the e n At l ngth d ang r b cam so im in nt , and e e f e e e fur tr ati s rom hom so pr ssing, that many obtain d e e e the two loughs to r turn , and Congr ss consolidat d com anies o ne e e e p into , und r Captain Spalding , and d tach d it r e e e few of the fo Wyoming ; but it got th r too lat e . Som f e e e e e the e o fic rs , Li ut nant P arc among numb r, by riding all the e e me e die night through wild rn ss , got in j ust ti nough to ’ I w a the e . s d n on fi ld with Captain Spal i g s company , at Shu s the of the e e e e n 0 and 0 e p , day battl , b tw 4 5 mil s We f e e o n . e e distant a t rwards w nt in with C lo l Butl r, to e the e of the e e the r strain ravag s Indians , and h lp d to bury The e e n e de ad as soon as it could b e don e. battl efi ld pres t d e e e 1 8 a distr ssing sight ; in a ring , round a rock , th r lay or ' n e o n the fi l e 2 0 mangl ed bodi es . Priso e rs tak n e d wer e e n e n n set plac d in a circl , surrou d d by I dia s , and a squaw Leb eu m fo r m f e e . s e e to butch r th m Ham ond , any y ars a t r w a e e e e of t N ew o ards r sp ctabl citiz n Tioga coun y, Y rk , was f e one of the devoted . S ee ing one a te r anoth r pe rish by her he e the e bloody hand , sprang , brok through circl , out

e e e e . stripp d his pursu rs , and scap d

f All around the ﬁ eld th ere was evidenc e o cru el torture . m the 6 th of e e e 1 8 0 . e On D c mb r , 7 , M r Ranso was tak n ’ e ﬁv e e o f e e prison r , with oth rs , by a party Butl r s rang rs , 0 e v e ffe e with 7 Indians , and carri d into capti ity th y all su r d e he was e f gre atly . From Mon tr al s nt to Prison island , rom h e e e e wh enc e e mad his scap , with John Brown and J am s E 52 THE WYOM ING MASSAC R .

B utte r ﬁeld the e f e e the , in J un ollowing , and r join d army at

West Point . ’ He do es not know the numbe r o f men in Captain H ewitt s men e e . e e e company . Li ut nant O Gor nlist d at Wyoming he e fo r the continental s e rvic e ; do s not know how many .

Captain Strong also raised me n h e re. Captain J udd was a f e men n lawye r do es not know o his nlisting at Wyomi g. The s e ttl em ents we re continually harass ed by parti es of the

e e the e of the . . n my , to clos war Captain Ransom (M r ’ f e e the e f Ransom s ath r) was kill d in battl , as was Ru us ' f e e e e e e . e e Lawr nc , a n ar r lativ His ath r s buildings w r u e e er e e e the e b rn d , and v y thing tak n or d stroy d in pow r

of the savages .

N o . 9 . n I s ael ennet S tateme t of hm B t. Ishmael Benn e tt is 7 5 years old ; the family w e re from He f e f Rhod e Island . was with his ath r in Pittston ort at The f e the the tim e of the battl e . ort was und r command f e the e the e e o f Captain J e re miah Blanchard . A t r battl n my

the e . e e ve f . cam o r, and ort capitulat d St J ohn and L ach we re moving o ff with an ox te am and th e ir goods one of .

the e . e e ox n was Shot down , St J ohn wound d and tomahawk d Le ach had a child in his arms ; the Ind ians tomahawked ’ e e the e e f e him , and th n hand d child , all cov r d with its ath r s the e The e e the f blood . to moth r . widows r turn d to ort. It s ee med the purpos e of the Indians to exp el the inhab i e e Th . e tants , but not to allow th m to tak away any thing e the e e of the e e battl was on opposit sid riv r , just b low . On the of the e ee e e e e night battl , s ing ﬁr s und r som larg oaks ,

e the e . e e f e E e a e n ar riv r, Mr B nn tt, his ath r, squir Whit k r, e the e and old Captain Blanchard , w nt down to riv r sid e ; th ey could see nake d white men running round the ﬁ res could h e ar the cri e s of agony ; could see the savages fol e e e e e lowing with th ir sp ars , and h ar th ir y lls ; it was a

. e e dreadful sight . M r B nn tt marri ed the widow of Captain h D ethic H e witt . S e has told him that Captain H ewitt had a full company he do e s not know how many ; (oth e rs think f e it was not ull, but contain d about THE W YOM ING MASSACR E . 53

The prison e rs were k e pt at the fort 7 or 8 days ; squaws e e o f e e e e would com ov r with scalps our p opl strung tog th r , and worn as a band round their waist ; th ey we r e th en all e off 6 0 e e e and if s nt ; about start d tog th r, , as the re was e o f e ef e let e som touch m rcy l t, th y th m take a cow or two ; ﬁres we re burn ing all around them ; th e ir houses we re e ve . e se the burn d and har st lost Th y pas d bodies o f St . e e J ohn and L ach , on th ir way out ; Ze bulon Marc ey and f e e e . . e e H amily w r with th m M r Marc y had gon before. e one of the ve the the had shot Indians, abo Narrows, day ef e the e the e e e b or battl , and savag s swor th y would have his if e for eve e f scalp th y had to hunt it s n y ars . A child o

. e e e M r Marc y di d on th ir way out . The loss and ruin Seem ed unive rsal the distre ss no e e I f few e e f . e o ne e tongu can t ll a w r l t, no could t ll why, e e o f e e e e e e unl ss , ti r d slaught r and plund r, th y w r allow d to re main fo r future venge anc e and b efore anoth e r year was e f ff out they had th ir tu rn o su e ring .

1 0 . No .

tatement o Ebenez er M ar ce S f y .

E e e e a e the of E e e e e M r . b n z r M rc y is son b n z r Marc y, ’ Es e e the e of the e f . . e q , who was h r at tim battl His ath r s f e e en e e e e e e amily w r driv into xil , th ir hous burn d , and th ir e e e ve e barn ; the ir cattl driv n away ; th ir har st chi fly lost. e the e e His moth r had a child born in wild rn ss , but was com elle d the e the p to go on ; first day, only a mil or two ; e five e f e she e s cond day mil s, on oot, wh n was tak n in a ’ ee e 1 20 e f the e wagon , and in a w k s tim was mil s rom plac h f th the ffe of t e . of the birth o e child . Such was su ring day

No . I I .

S ta tement of j ose R og er s.

J ose Rogers is now 6 7 ye ars old ; was at Wyoming at f e the e of the e f . tim battl , in Plymouth ort His grand ath r, e the the f ﬂed the e . with amily, down riv r pass d through e e er e e f wild rn ss, v y long and d solat , rom Sunbury, towards the e e Reading ; on way, his grandmoth r, an ag d woman , THE 54 WYOM I N G MASSAC RE .

e e fati ue . alar m e e the e ov rcom by g , and distr ss, di d in wild r e e ffe e e the e n ss . Th y all su r d much . On r aching G rman e eme e e e e e e e s ttl nts , in B rks county, th y w r tr at d with gr at e e e e e e f e e pity and t nd rn ss , w r suppli d with ood , and h lp d he e e . t e on th ir way In ﬂight th y took two hors s , and on e e f of e e e th ir r turn ound two th ir cows ; but th ir hous s , barns , e e ﬁr e e e e e e and v ry thing that could d stroy , w r burn d ; th ir e e e e e e harvest all lost. Th y w r in that Short tim r duc d h - from t e comp e te nc e of we ll liv ing farm ers to poverty. But th r e such was th en e lot of the ir n eighbors . Having got e e the e o f 1 8 0 e s ttl d in arly part 7 , his broth r J onah , with ee e e e e the n e thr oth rs , w r tak n by India s , on th ir way h h t e e . e t rough north rn wilds , going into captivity Th y e the the e e f of e ros in night on savag s , kill d our th m , e e n e wound d anoth r ; o e only escap ed unhurt . Th y brought e in th ir arms .

1 2 . No . ta tement o M a or E B laekma n S f j . .

2 He e e the El e azer Blackman is 7 years old . was h r at e o f the t e e e e ee ] 1 2 tim Indian ba tl , b ing th n b tw n I and f e e o a . e he y ars g Though too young to carry his musk t , e ed he f h lp to build t orts . Th ere was a public fort at Ply ’ m o ne n f Winte r moo t s outh , at Ki gston , Forty ort ( , its e e e f e E e e o ne int grity always susp ct d , ) ort J nkins in x t r , at the f e e e e e e e e Pittston , and ort at Wilk sbarr ; b sid s th s , th r e e - e of e e w r block hous s l ss Siz , built by individuals , or two m e f . ee e e e . or thr a ili s That at Wilk sbarr contain d , M r . B f e f h e . e t e thinks , rom a quart r to hal an acr It surround d f . e public buildings It was orm d by digging a ditch , in which 1 1 6 fee e e set e nd logs , sharp at top , 5 or t long , w r in on e e e the e e clos ly tog th r, with corn rs round d , so as to ﬂank The the fort . Wilkesbarre fo rt had one gate that o f Forty e fort had two gat s . M r . B . h elp ed to build that at Wilkes e e e e H e barr th y w r all built by common labor . e rec eiv d he e e e e e nothing , and b li v s th r was nothing eve r charged or fo r e paid building th m . The forts were garrisoned by compani es form ed o f old men Captain Wm . Hooke r Smith (a physician and su rgeon

6 THE WY M I N E 5 O G MASSAC R .

e the e of e e Had a broth r in battl Long Island , tak n prison r, e the - e he e e e e conﬁn d in Sugar hous , and , as b li v s , starv d to

f ve . e . 1 e e e e d ath In 7 7 7 cam to Wyoming , wh r his ath r li d Was out on s everal scouting partie s — o ne und e r Captain e e f e the ve e 0 Whittl s y , rom Plymouth ; march d up ri r n ar 5 e e e mil e s ; th e n ove r 30 odd in the party . Ther w r rumors e e e e that the Indians we re m editating an attack . Th r w r non e abl e to bear arms but what turn e d out and acted as e H e soldi rs . e w nt to Tunkhannock and Black Walnut bottom saw signs that the I ndians had been th e re . Old - e e me n e e fo r e f e gray h ad d pass d this tim activ duty , orm d e e e the f e the men compani s to k p garrison in ort , whil young e e e e e e e e n gag d in mor activ s rvic ; this was n c ssary , as so many of the able - bodi ed men were out in the contin e ntal ’ e se rvic e with Washington s army . Captain Wm . Hook r

Smith command ed one company o f the Old men ; his (Mr . ’

Bidlack s f e e e he e . ) ath r command d anoth r, as has und rstood e e led the e e His broth r, J am s Bidlack, Wilk sbarr company the e of t e fe the e of me n in ﬁ ld bat l , and ll at h ad his without e e the e he e e e r tr ating ; and savag s , as was told and b li v d , e h f thr w his body on the burning logs of t e ort . His f e f ﬂed o f 1 the e . ath r and amily down riv r In March , 7 79 , f e e e o f his ath r was tak n prison r by a party Indians . and e e e e k pt s v ral y ars in captivity. M r. B . Bidlack was not e e the e of the e v e e 1 1 1 2 h r at tim battl , ha ing nlist d with or ’ oth er Wyoming boys in Captain Thomas Worl e y s me ’ e e e e e e chanics artill ry company, Carlisl , wh r th y work d and e f r e use o e e . train d , making arms and practising th ir som tim

. e e e E e e e St J ohn , Cal b Forsyth , B nj amin Tillman , b n z r e e the men en e Goss , w r among Wyoming who list d with m He e hi . march d into J e rsey und er Colon el D e Hart and

. e e H . e the of Captain Wm H lin was at taking Cornwallis , the e of h at York , in Virginia ; thund r t e cannon and ﬂash ing ﬁr e lighting up the night see m e d yet pres e nt to his n f e e e e the e e imaginatio and a t rwards in activ s rvic in J rs ys . e Whil in Wyoming, and doing d uty as a militiaman , or on e he e e ve He scouting parti s , r c i d no pay. thinks none o f the e e e e e fo r f militia r c iv d pay , ith r building orts or acting

‘ fo r the efe e Of the e as militia d nc s ttl em ent . ‘ THE WYOM I N G MASSAC R E . 57

1 No . 4 . S tatement o ose /t locum f j p S .

e e e the e o f the e e J os ph Slocum was h r at tim battl , b ing e e e e The e f he th n a child too young to r m mb r . arly acts e e ar e e ve f f l and he e r lat s d ri d rom his ami y, has no qu stion of e e e . e e o e e the th ir corr ctn ss His ld st br th r , Gil s , was in e and e -in- e battl , his broth r law , H ugh Forsman . Gil s escap ed M o nockes e e f the to y island , and buri d hims l in sand and e the e e f e bush s , Indians in s arch ; th y ound anoth r man , who had also re ache d the island h eard th eir conve rsation ; he e e fo r fe e e e b gg d hard his li , but th y sl w him . Gil s lay e the e e e e he e till night ; wh n n my had r turn d , wad d back e e e me t r e e e to shor , and th r Nathan Ca y, who had scap d e e e e nd l a fe to f . o th y w nt tog th r , got sa Forty ort Mr . S ’ cum s fath e r was n am e d J o nathan he was Of the socie ty of e H he e e . e e e t e Fri nds , or Quak rs did not r mov in g n ral fo r e he e e flight ; a Short tim was unmol st d . Mr . Forsman ’ f e e e the was an o fic r in Captain H witt s company, p rhaps ’ e only man who brought in his gun . Captain H witt s com the m the Of the pany was on right , and Fors an on right en e e e off f the ef e e company . Ou r m w r br aking rom l t, wh r tfl e e e the e we we re ou anked. Captain H witt ord r d drumm r e e f e e the to strik up , and call d his O fic rs to parl y , but con fusion was too gre at many from our l eft wing w e re already 6 0 e the e ef e rods ah ad , and Indians clos in pursuit, b or ’ e e e he H ewitt s company gav way . H witt swor would not

fe 1 of e e . n run , and ll ; only 5 his company scap d Forsma saw that wh e re two or three of our p e opl e ran to gethe r the He Indians gath e re d and we re more e age r in pursuit . took ’

f . e e e e . a cours alon , and got in sa Mr Slocum s hous was the e a of on the e ast corn e r of the town plot . In arly p rt m ve e f e the e the me e . No mb r, a t r battl , Indians ca upon th Two e e e fe e the lads , nam d Kingsly , w r grinding a kni n ar the e e e the n fe door ; th ey shot ld st, and scalp d him with k i e e e e n o f he was grinding ; b li v s his nam was Natha , a boy

The the f the . I 4 or 1 5 . ﬁrst alarm amily had was gun e e E e e e e e M r . Slocum , with his sons , xc pt b n z r, w r at work

M r . the e . on the ﬂats , ﬁnishing corn harv st Old Kingsly , f the ee e the e fath e r O two boys , had b n tak n by Indians som 8 E 5 TH WYOM I N G MASSAC RE .

e e f e e tim b or , and was th n in captivity . M r. Slocum had

ffe e . he r e e kindl y o r d to M rs K . and childr n a hom with i e fo r e e wa et him , t ll th y could look out som oth r y to g l The n me n t he e u a ong . India s ca i to hous and took p Eb e n eze r ; the moth e r ste pp ed up and be gge d him Off he e — e the e said was lam wh n savag s put him down , and e e e ﬁve e e caught up Franc s , a daught r, ag d y ars ; carri d h r th h e and e younge r Kingsly boy away. In t e m ean tim e the e Of the f ﬂ e d the f the r st amily had to ort, o r hid in The ed the e e e e e e bush es . en e my plund er hous ; th r wer thr

of e . e the e e the f th m On h aring gun , ou r p opl at ort took the e e e e o f alarm , and Colon l Butl r ord r d out a company ’ men . e . e . . , who march d up to M r Slocum s hous Mrs S ﬂ ed th e fe e e e e e . had to swamp , b yon d a log nc S ing som

e the e me n e ﬁre . thing mov in bush s , our dr w up to M rs

S . v e e her e e e f , ha ing discov r d husband , show d h rs l , and

v h r f . e f probably sa ed e li e. Mr Slocum th n move d his amily n h f The f e e e e f th e t e . e i to ort hay and odd r w r l t at plac , and Colon el Butl e r used to se nd a ﬁle o f me n to guard fe d he e e e e e t . e e th m whil th y cattl I n D c mb r , (no Indians ’ f r ee ee o e e . fe having b n s n som tim , ) M r Slocum , his wi s f e Es ee e e e e ath r , Isaac Tripp , q , (who had b n r pr s n tativ f e e d the e rom W stmor lan in Ass mbly. ) and William Slocum , e n e f e v tur d out to odd r without a guard . Pres e ntly a cry o f Indians was raise d by o ne of th em ; the savages had lain ’ m the b ill - e in a bush on by (now) Bowman s tan yard . Th y

. e an Old e e ran Mr Tripp , b ing man , was soon ov rtak n and

e e n ne e e . n sp ar d i tim s and scalp d Mr . Slocum a d William the e e — M r . ee ran towards public squar , but part d S . k ping the Off o the path , William taking thr ugh burying ground .

e . e Th y shot Mr Slocum and scalp d him . A Sp e nt ball e the le did e the e wound d William in g, but not br ak bon , he th f e . The e of and got into ort bodi s M r . Slocum an d

. e e f e f e e M r Tripp w r ound , dr ad ully mangl d , and buri d .

the e of Thus , in spac two months , a sister was carri e d

, f e f e e into captivity a ath r and grand ath r c ru lly Slain , a o e de e e e e br th r woun d , and th i r hous plund r d . The f m e n Of e e f a ily h ard no tidi gs th i r sist r . A te r the war was e inte r couse ov r, and with the lak e country was THE WYOM I N G M S C E A SA R . 59

’ e e . e E e e e e n Op n d , M r Slocum s broth rs , b n z r , B njami , Isaac , e f set e fo r he r e e he and hims l , out to s arch . Th y w nt into t e Of the lak country , inquiring Indians and of eve o ne who could p robably give th e m any information ; trave ll e d on to ffe e e fo r he ve N iagara ; O r d r wards disco ry , and ﬁnally vis ite d D etroit . But all the ir inquiries we I e in vai n ; nothing b e e e e e e e r f e could l arn d to giv th m any cl w to h ate . Tim e e e she m pass d on , and th y suppos d must b e ould e ring in the e Her . e e e ve v grav r c nt xtraordinary disco ry , ha ing ee e the e e me b e e e b n publish d in pap rs , is pr su d to g n rally e ef e e e e e . known , and is not , th r or , d tail d h r

1 . No . 5 Statement or nelius our tr i ht Es o C C . f g , q m e Es . fo r e ve e e e Corn lius Courtright , q ( s ral y ars a m b r of the Asse mbly from Luze rn e county) is now s ev e nty - four H e . e e e the e o f the e y ars old was not h r at tim battl , but ee ne e e having b n a ighbor to , and v ry intimat with , Captain e e an d e e e n me e Dani l Gor G org Coop r , havi g in old ti s , wh n e e e e the n at th ir hunting cabins , h ard th m talk ov r India e he e w he e and e e e e e battl , will stat hat h ard , sinc r ly b li v s to e b e tru . Ge orge Coop e r and the son o f big Abraham Westbrook the e e e e the e f e e . stood tog th r in battl Th y w r on l t wing, The m e e ee n ear the marsh . ground had any y llow pin tr s ev e the and scrub bush e s wh e re th ey we re . I t was id nt

Indians in gre at n umb e r we r e turni ng the ir le ft ﬂank . A ’ e ball struck a tre e just above We stbrook s head . Coop r n e e e e e e a d W stbrook had both discharg d th ir pi c s , wh n an e e Indian rush ed on Coop e r with his sp e ar. Coop r dropp d e the fe e in a ball hastily , ﬁ r d , Indian ll d ad within two rods ”

me n ar e e e n e . f . o him O ur r tr ati g , said W stbrook e one e e the e e I will hav mor Shot, said Coop r ; but n my e e e e e e e e pr ss d so clos , and in such n umb rs , th y w r oblig d

e . . e to ﬂy . W stbrook has told this to M r Courtright Coop r He e ﬂ the e e e n . ed towards riv r, s v ral India s in pursuit cam fe e he e e the n to a log nc , which cl ar d at a bound ; India s e m e o e sprang on it with such w ight it tu bl d d wn , rolling th m He e e the e ove r ; this gave him an advantage. r ach d riv r ; 6 0 THE WYOM ING MASSAC R E .

He the e o lfe r in lI im e . Indians call d , g quart r would not the he d e . e trust th m Passing ov r island , saw, stan ing in the e the e e of the one of men riv r, Opposit Sid island , our , " e who could not swim . Put you r hand on my Should r, e the ee e far S O e said Coop r d p wat r was not , th y both got t f e e e the ve . o r It was J ohn Abbo t , a t rwards murd r d by

Indians .

1 6 . No .

a men r s. oo er S t te t of M C p .

e Of e e e e e Mrs . Coop r, widow G org Coop r, is now s v nty He r m e e oe e eight ye ars Old. aid n nam was Ph b Billings ; N e w He r f she e . was born in Duch ss county, York amily cam e to Wyo ming in 1 7 74 ; S he was marri ed two ye ars

e f e the e e e eve e e e Old. b or battl , b ing th n s nt n y ars

- e e f the e e e . Th r was a ortiﬁcation by block hous , n ar, B nj ’ Co ur t r i ht s e f e the e l e e e g , call d a t r p rson who iv d th r , Cap ’ h h e e f . T e Of t e tain Ros cran s ort inhabitants n ighborhood , e Of the e e e e e e at on n ar approach n my, had gath r d tog th r ’ e the 2d f Ros cran s . On J uly, a scouting party had ound a e e e e e f e strang cano , with s v n paddl s , rom which th y con clud ed a party of Indians we re on th e ir Sid e Of the rive r. The e me e e f e e f e sam day a ss ng r rom Wilk sbarr ort cam up , n o f e an d the e e e warni g dang r , advising p opl to go ov r to fo of e e e e Forty rt, or down to that Wilk sbarr . Th r was m uch alarm and c o nfusion famili e s we re s eparate d som e ne f e e o Of e e e . moth rs w nt to ort, part th i r childr n to anoth r ’ e f he r nd r . e a he f e M rs Coop r w nt to Forty ort, husband ath r s f her . ee e e e amily with Cap tain Durk , Major Pi rc , and anoth r f e f m the m e e O ﬁc r ro ar y , who had ridd n all n ight , cam in , e ef e me e e e got som hasty r r sh nt, and w nt out imm diat ly to Her the battle . husband had bee n out on pick et guard he e the e e e e h ard drum , and kn w th y w r marching out ; e in e f e e e cam , got som ood , and hast n d to join ou r littl

. . e e e e army M r Coop r mad his scap , as told by Mr . Court n e e e f . e e right , and w t to Wilk sbarr ort N xt morning, cam o ve r to Forty fort for he r th ey cross ed the rive r and we nt the o w the e e e v e up mountain t ards Wild rn ss , l a ing M rs . Coop r e the and oth rs on mountain . Mr . Coop e r and J am es Stark T HE 6 1 WYOMI NG MASSAC R E .

e e e Of e e f r turn d , in hop g tting provisions, and two hors s rom the e e e e e e the e e e e ﬂats wh n th y cam n ar wh r hors s w r , th y of and e e e saw a body Indians , w r obliged to r turn e mpty The a e . e da e e e e e h nd d n xt y th y r turn d again , and w r not more successful ; the Indians we re spread ove r the whol e e e e n he e e o . t vall y, and hous s w r burning in all dir cti s On the e e e e me ee way through wild rn ss , coming to wh r al had b n spill e d on the ground by som e one more fortunate than e the me n e e e e l e th y , , w ari d and xhaust d , lay down and app d the e e th e . e up m al , to support natur On sixth day th y

met . e e e the e . He Mr Holl nback , who had b n in battl had He ee an d e e e ef e e . b n out, hast n d back with a littl r r shm nt e b e of ee for e of e bid th m good ch r, a packhors br ad would W the me who b e brought on prese ntly . Isaac illiams ( sa was murd e re d a Short tim e afte r with J ohn Abbott) soon e the e e e o ne e e cam up with br ad , and v ry had a small pi c the eve it was divid e d among all that we re th ere . On s nth ’ e met n night th y got to Stroudsburg, Captain Spaldi g s

e e ef. . company, and got som r li From Stroudsburg , M rs e her e e f ee f ee Coop r , moth r, and oth rs , ourt n or ﬁ t n in n um b e r e e e e f e e , wom n and childr n , w nt on to th ir orm r hom , in e the of the e e e Dutch ss county , living on charity p opl as th y ' e e e e e passe d . M r . Coop r join d with oth rs und r Colon l e e Butle r and Captain Spalding , and r turn d to Wyoming, e ee and h e lp e d to bury the d e ad . Mr . Coop r had b n in He fr e active servic e most Of the pre c e ding ye ar . was qu ently o ut on scouting parti es ; was in the party that went She e e e Of up to Wyalusing the March previous . n v r kn w

- he e e . his re c e iving any pay, and thinks n v r did Provisions ee f e e he might som e tim es have b n ound him , but g n rally Of the e e e e e found his own . littl th y had gath r d , th y lost

eve ry thing.

No . I 7 .

R oss S tatement of Gener al Willia m .

the e Of the e e William ROSS was h e r e at tim battl , b ing e f e f m e th en s eve ntee n years of ag . His ath r an d a ily mov d the e N ew e , from Montvill , London county , Conn cticut in 2 THE E 6 WYOM I NG MASSAC R .

f e e e e 1 . e e e 1 . y ar 7 74 His ath r , J r miah , di d in 7 7 7 G n ral e the e e Ross had two broth rs in battl ; his only broth rs , e e ef Pe rrin and J e re miah ; both we r slain . P rrin l t a widow n of e e and ﬁve children he wanted o e day being thirty . J r ’ f th e e e e . e e . f miah was nin t n A t r battl , M r Ross s amily ﬂ ed of e e e the ; two his sist rs , Al ph and Polly, w nt down ve fe now e e e ri r to H arris rry, ( Harrisburg ) and th nc to R ad in e N ew g, to Stroudsburg , and on to Dutch ss county, York , e f w e e e e . . e h r th y had r lations M r ROSS hims l , and his Sist r, fe Of e e the N es Sarah Slocum , wi Gil s Slocum , w nt out by the e cop e ck path to fort All en . Passing through G rman m e e v e e e e . s ttl nt, th y Shar d pro isions with th m hospitably From fort All en th ey w e nt to Stroudsburg ; th e re met the ’

Of . e company Captain Spalding, M r Ross s moth r, and ' ee e e e he r ve thr Sist rs his broth r P rrin s widow, with fi e e the e orphan childr n , w nt out upp r Warrior path , having ne e e e e e te n e o . only hors with th m , th r b ing in th ir company e e e e e n e the e e Th r w r mor tha a hundr d flying at sam tim , f e e ff f e o ne . O and only man , M r Fitch , orm rly sh ri W st e e w N e moreland . His moth r and sist r ent on to w London the e v me t e e n oth rs ha ing at Stroudsburg, cam in wh Cap tain Spalding marched in with his company the middl e of eve e f August . About s n mil s rom Wilke sbarre a party e n e ff und e r Li ute na t J . J nkins turn ed O and struck the rive r of the Lac kawana at Pittston , mouth , and marching down , met n e e e e e . e two India s fir d on th m , but th y scap d Anoth r e the of E n e ef party, und r command nsig Holl nback , l t at the me e the the sa point, w nt down mountain , and struck e the n e o f ve f riv r at li Hano r and N ewpo rt . Saw a party o fl e d the v e , . One e e Indians who to ri r , man fir d on th m , e o ne e the e and wound d , who sprang out, but h ld to cano e o ve e e the n f th till th y got r and scap d into woods . O e O e the ve the e e party swam ri r and brought cano ove r. Th y e e the e me t The th n m arch d up , and parti s at Wilk esbarre. Old f e e the - e no w ort , which stood wh r court hous stands ,

e e e e . o e e had b n d stroy d Col n l Butl r , who had tak e n the command with What forc e he c o uld m uste r from ou r fugitive ’ e e n p opl and Captain Spaldi g s company , took poss ession o f

’ e e e e e e a log building n ar wh r G n ral Ross s hous now stands ,

THE C E 6 4 WYOMING MASSA R .

1 8 e e e . qu ntly call d out on scouting parti s In March , 7 7 , e e e a party was call d out to go to Wyalusing, und r Colon l

e e e e. D nnison , and aid som Whigs at Wyalusing to r mov About 2 50 me n w ere in the party ; each o ne was ord e red ’ v de m e f e o ne to pro i hi s l with ight days provisions, pound

f Of e . e e e Of e . powd r, our pounds l ad Pik and Boyd w r along e e e e e e M r . ROSS w ll r m mb rs , whil ou r Wyoming boys cross d ee o e e f e e e e e a tr v r Butt rmilk alls cr k, with as , Pik and Boyd , the the e E ﬁrst an I rishman , oth r an nglishman , could not * ve the b e e e . run o r log , and had to h lp d across Boyd was m e e e e e en. an xc ll nt disciplinarian , and h lp d to train our The e e e e the f e f party arriv d at Wyalusing, r li v d amili s, ound ‘ ee e e the ef e f that Indians had b n th r day b or , built ra ts , and re turned down hom e ; cam e down in o ne day s eve ral days n the o f ul ef e the e marchi g up . Upon I st J y, b or battl , M r . Of e 00 m e Ross was out with a party n ar 4 , who arch d up to E e e e e the e ee le x t r, to wh r Hardings and Hads ll had b n kil d

e e e . shortly b efore . Th y surpris d and kill d two Indians The d ead and mangl e d bodi es Of ou r p eopl e we re brought h e f f e e . T e e e down and buri d n my in ull orc , it is und r e e e e e in ee e the stood , w r th n ncamp d a d p ravin on moun e e e tains . Oth r scouting parti s w nt out at various tim e s ; one e e e we the e und r Colon l Dorranc , who nt up riv r in con l e e e — c m side r ab e forc e . Mr . Ross r c iv d no pay no o pen H sation for his s ervic e or prov isions . e does not know that H e . e e e e any oth rs did pr sum s th y did not . Our pe opl e built ﬁve principal forts the one at Wilk es e one f e barr , at Plymouth , Forty ort at Kingston , J nkin s ’ f the fe the f ort at rry at Pittston , and Pittston ort at Brown s , " ve the fe the e e Of th e j ust abo rry, on ast sid e rive r . B sides ’ th es e were Winter moot s and smalle r fortiﬁcations or block houses .

1 ef e e In March , 779 , b or Sullivan arriv d with his troops , th e re was an invasion o f the s ettlem ent by a large numb e r

* N ote by one of the Committee of Cor r espondence — B oyd was in o fo when it su ende ed and eco n ed b Co on hn F rty rt rr r , r g is y l el Jo B utl er . ” GO to h e e s d ut e o n n to on e ou s d t at tr , ai B l r , p i ti g t i e the gat e . I ” ho e our hono w ow me th e h s of on e of war d p y r ill all rig t a pris r , sai

o d . Go to h e e instantl s d u B y t at tr " ai B tl er . A S he rea ched the r e e Si n he was Sho de d? t , at a g al , t a THE WYOMING MASSAC R E 6 S

Of the e ’ e . Williams s n my An attack was mad e on M r. e e e f e f the f ve ho us in Wilk sbarr , hal a mil rom ort, and bra ly efe e e e o f the d nd d by his son , S rg ant Thomas Williams , e e e . f I e r gular army, th n at hom H is athe was badly wound d . It Is suppose d seve I al Of the Indians were kill ed ; and the f fe the fOI t amily got sa into .

A party of our p e ople we re attack ed 0 11 the Kingston e e m e e flats by about tw nty Indians , Wh n Willia s , P arc , and d e e e e e . e e d P ttibon , w r kill Foll t was shot and scalp , but e v Th got in and r co e re d . e fort o pen ed a fir e on the e n emy ; ’ ' N il the n O e was gu n er . It was evid e nt execution was e e f e the don ; but it was not until two y ars a t rwards , on e e of e w e e e the d n ef scap a prison r, l arn d that In ia chi who comm and e d that expedition was cut in two by a cannon The e the f e ball . Indians su rround d ort on all sid es exc pt the e e m e — e riv r , and advanc d to stor it in a s mi circl ; our e e fir e h 2 0 peopl e op n d a upon th e m . T ere we re about 5 The - e e e e e e e Indians . 4 pound r disp rs d th m . Th y burnt v ry e e b e ef the e e e thing in th ir way that chanc d to l t pr c ding y ar , e e e e o had f de or that had b n r cted sinc e . M r . R ss his od r f e f mthe f ed fee about hal a mil ro ort , and us to go out to d

t e e . The e e his ca tl , arm d with his gun n my burnt his hay r e ff and killed or d ov O his creatures . Thus it was almost a p erpe tual contest ; blood ﬂowed on every sid e ; ﬁr e and e e B i n des t. a d ee e . es S Slaught r w r all around us J ohn L ch , Ca o use m the at p Abbott and Willia s, at plains ; and Slocum , e e e Tripp , and young Kingsl y, at Wilk sbarr and Inman , at

e e e e e . e e . H anov r , th r w r M r J amison slain in Hanov r, M ssrs S estr e the e m J ackson and at mill in N wport , and any on the f e the oth e r Sid e of the rive r . Mr . Ross was at ort wh n e e e v e B nn tt , his son , and Hammond , cam in , ha ing ris n on

e o ne e . th ir captors , slain all but , and brought in th ir arms e e e e e It was j udge d a nobl e e nt rprise . Colon l Butl r r mark d b e s if e e e r that it would gloriou Rog rs , Pik , and th i com s e e e Off b e panion , who , it was known , w r also tak n , could e e e in the as fortunat . In a day or two th y cam with arms The e e Of e . th ir captors , having Slain all but two n my, in e e e e th ir incursions , though th y g n rally laid in wait to mur

‘

r me t t f e en e . Of e fe . e de , wi h r qu t loss s Many th m ll Bitt rly THE 6 6 WYOM ING MASSAC R E .

ffe e she n e n e as Wyoming su r d , was not wholly u av g d . But e the en em y w e re much supe rior on all sid es . Our p opl e e e e e e e e e w r oblig d to con tract th ir s ttl m nts , and gath r round u e e the forts ; but little land co ld b e cultivat d . O ur numb rs e e e e e e e e w r gr atly r duc d , and our prop rty mostly d stroy d . e e e if the e e My d lib rat Opinion is , that two compani s rais d ee e e me e at Wyoming had b n compl t ly ar d and disciplin d , e em e e e e ffe e and allow d to r ain h r , th s su rings and loss s would n eve r have happ en e d .

1 8 . No .

n o n er s n a na Sta teme t f A d o D .

1 8 8 . JANUARY 3 , 3

e e he e o f the And e rson Dana was h r at t tim Indian battl e . ’ f e in f e . e e e Born Ash ord , Conn cticut Mov d h r with his ath r s He 1 e Old the e family at the age of 7 . was 3 y ars at tim f e f of the e ngagem e nt . His ath e r had r turn e d rom Con ne ctic ut few ef e the e e e he but a days b or battl , wh r had f e e e th b een as m emb e r o f Ass e mbly. His ath r b long d to e “ Of Old men— ef e — Of company Old R ormado s which Dr .

William Hook er Smith was captain . ’ h m f e . ad e M r. Dana s ath r and M r Whiting, who arri d his

the e. e e e e e . sist r , w r in battl Both w r Slain About dusk e e the e e f M r. Holl nback cam into Wilk sbarr ort , and told Ellid t f the . t e e e the issu e o ﬁght ; J o soon aft r. Gr at distr ss the f an d e e e e in ort , anxi ty to know who w r kill d and who had Th e e e . e . scap d battl was on Friday On Saturday, Mr . Dana ,

e e . e his moth r , his sist r, Mrs Whiting, two sist rs , Susannah e e f e e e n e and Sarah . Old r than hims l , thr broth rs , you g r e ve e E e e — se t the e Azi l , Syl st r, and l az r out th rough wild r M r n e . f th . e n ss Old Dow ing and his amily, widow of ee f e e e . Captain D urk , and ou r childr n , w nt out with th m o ne e Mr . Dana had hors to take th e ir things . Youngest

- broth er 6 in August . Staid ﬁrst night at S even mile house ’ l s He tw o e the e (Bu lock ) had sons kill d in battl . N e xt Poko no M e r win day down to es. In th e ir ﬂight took noth in b ut the C e e had - e Of e g loth s th y on , a pillow cas pap rs , THE WYOMING MASSAC R E . 6 7

f e ve of e v e e . which a t rwards pro d valu , and ry littl provision

. e e th n e a d e e . e Old M r Downing had b n in ﬁght, scap d Th y e f n e . e w nt on to Ash ord , Co n cticut M r . A . Dana remain d e e e e e e in Conn cticut 7 y ars , and l arn d a trad . His Old r e e e e e fo r broth r , Dani l , th n a stud nt at L banon , ﬁtting col e e e f e e f n l g , cam in a t r a tim ; ou d th eir hous e burn e d what e the v es e e the e was not tak n away by sa ag , all d stroy d cattl e e e e the e and hors s w r all gon ; harve st utte rly l o st . Dani l e e e e e f e . . r turn d and w n t to Yal , assist d by his ri nds Mr e e the f 1 Dana r turn d with am ily in 7 86 .

1 No . 9 .

Colonel B utle to en r G er al Hand.

M ar e/t 2 1 . GARRISON , WYOM ING , 3 , 7 79

HONORE D S I R The inte nt of this is to inform you of a e ff the z l t e e e e lat a air at this post . On s instant th r app ar d e Of the e the f a numb r Indians on flats , opposit ort, who had e one Old ef e e e e the tak n man b or th y app ar d on flats, and e e Of e the e e in the w r in pursuit anoth r, whom p opl block e e e m e e hous sav d by advancing upon th . But our p opl e e e e e ee u e m e w r soon oblig d to r tr at, s ing a s p rior nu b r , e e e fir e e The e e m though th r was a v ry hot on both Sid s . n y th e e e e e e . imm diat ly ran about flats , coll cting hors s and cattl e e a ve o e o e d the I ord r d a p rty o r , who , with th s stati n in - e m e f - Office rs block hous , ad about orty, and two sub , who push e d upon th em with such brave ry that th ey re treate d the fir e e through flats , with a constant on both sid s , till e e the e e men ve e th y cam to woods, wh r our disco r d two large bodi es ove r a little cree k ; suppos e the whol e to b e me n e e e of e . upwards two hundr d Our r tr at d slowly, firing, e e e e ur suI n - e which pr v nt d th ir p g, Indian lik , and got back - v The the e e e fir e . to block hous w ll , throu gh a h a y Indians we nt imm e diate ly in pursuit of hors es and c attle again our

me n e e . , in small parti s , pu rsuing and ﬁ ring upon th m But , the v of o f e eve e notwithstanding acti ity our tr ops , a t r s r n for f the e e m e off skirmishi g two hours and a hal , n y carri d e Of e e 20 e my Sixty h ad horn d cattl , hors s, and Shot riding 6 8 T HE WYOM ING MASSAC R E .

e e five hors , which th y could not catch , and bu rnt barns e e f Of 1 0 e w that w r partly ull grain and hay, and hous s , hich e the inhabitants had d es e rted . Th y shot a numb e r o f hogs W e e e ef . e one and Sh p , that th y l t lying had not m an e e e e e the one men kill d , tak n , or wound d , xc pt man first tioned ; though a consid e rabl e numb er of our men had . e e bull ets through th eir cloth es and hats . Li ut nant Pe tti ’ e ve f e of e e e e gr w , a bra O fic r Colon l Hartl y s r gim nt, had his e s ramrod Shot to pi e c s in his hand . It is aggravating to ee the v e e o ff e e n e sa ag s driv cattl and hors s , bur ing and d stroy h we e e Of t e f . e ing , and not abl to attack th m out ort I hav e the e e e s nt by xpr ss , who will hand this to Captain Patt r b e f e of son , to orward d to you r honor , a particular account the ff and the e o f e ex a air, particular stat this plac , to his cellency G en e ral Washington . I m e n tion th ey have taken Off e &c e ve he of e we cattl , ; th y ha got t m out r ach , but e e n e e ef the e e hav no r ason to thi k th y hav l t plac , as a n umb r e e e e the e f e of fires w r discov r d in sid o th mountain last night .

e the b e e e n e v I hav honor to you r ob di t s r ant , ZEB ’ N BUTLER .

TO GE N . HAN D .

— f the e e B . O e e e the N . hors s and cattl that w r tak n in e ar e e e 8 e lat actions 7 contin ntal hors s and contin ntal cattle . S I R : What happ e n e d at the clos e o f this l ette r will ’ f e e n Of the e e e j usti y my appr h nsio s n my s not b ing gon e. ’ 1 o f e e e e e At O cl ck , a t rnoon , a larg party w r discov red on e Of the ve v the f e this Sid ri r, ad ancing towards ort . Th y e the f es ve e surround d ort on all sid , ﬁ ring ry briskly , whil e o thers w e re coll ecting cattl and hors es . I s e nt out about f men small iece e e orty and a p , and drov th m back to a e e the e e e thick wood , across a marsh , wh r n my mad a stand . The e e e skirmishing h ld to suns t , at this tim .

' Colonel B utler to Gener al Was/tzn ton g .

A r il 2 1 80 WYOM I NG , p , 7 , M AY 1T PLE AS E YOU R EXCE LLE NCY I arrive d at this post the 2 2d f e e e e ultimo , a t r a t dious journ y . b ing oblige d to e f e Of the o f f the trav l about orty mil s last it on oot , snow THE E 6 WYOM I NG MASSAC R . 9

e b ing so d eep . It is ye t too d ee p to get a horse through the woods . I am making preparation to join as soon as possibl e .

I think it my d uty to in form your exc ell ency of the late

of the e e e . the 2 th transactions n my n ar this post . On 7 ee men e e M arch , as thr w r at work about three mil es above the the e e e h 2 th e e . t e 8 garrison , by riv r, th y w r tak n On , e the men e e arly in morning, as two w r making sugar, about 8 e the e ne h o was e t e e e . mil s down riv r, kill d and oth r tak n the 2 th e the e e On 9 , arly in morning , about tw nty mil s f e ee ee men e e e urth r down on Fishing cr k, thr w r kill d and he e the f e ee e . t e thr tak n On sam day, in a t rnoon , on th ir e e e e e r turn , th y cam across a party that w nt out to giv notic e to som e men that we re out maki n g sugar wounde d two of th e m but th ey all save d th e mse lves by taking to a e the e ar e e the hous , and all, with two wound d , com in ; h e e are e e e . the ot two wound d lik to r cov r On 3 , as th y e e e one fe wer still r turning, th y took man , his wi and child , e e the who were out making sugar . Th y dismiss d woman e e e e 0 e and child , who say th y w r abov 3 in numb r, and conﬁ rm the account Of the above -m ention ed prison ers and the e e of the e the ee men e e on v ning sam day, thr m ntion d ’ ee e the 2 th e as having b n tak n 7 March cam in , with Indians

&c . e e e e guns , tomahawks, , and say that th y w r tak n as e - e e e 0 e the e abov m ntion d , and carri d about 4 mil s up riv r ; t the 2 8th f e e met and hat, on March , a t rnoon , th y a party of about thirty Indians ; o ne white man and one of the Indians the y kn ew ; and they met two small parties afte r

the ve . e e wards , pushing down ri r Thos parti s told our e e 00 e men that there w r 5 out, and a larg party coming on th e . e e after th m B rant , with a party, has gon to Mohawk e the e riv r , a party to Minisink, and a party to w st branch of the Sdsquehanna.

e men e the n Of the 2 th Those thre , arly in mor ing 9 March , e e ee e the f aros e on th ir captors , kill d thr , wound d ourth , and two ran ; which is conﬁ rm ed by the ir bringing in 5 — one ve e e e , Indian guns , sil r mount d hang r , som tomahawks I The e e met the a8th and othe r ndian affairs . parti s th y on 0 THE Y C E 7 W OM I NG MASSA R .

f e e e e f e e et as March , a t rnoon , hav not don any mischi h r y , it was impossibl e for th em to b e down so low as wh e re the

- W e ar e fo r e above m e ntion ed was don e . looking th m he e e men f e the e eve . T ry hour thr urth r say , that by app ar e Of o - e far e e e e anc sn w sho tracks , as up as th y w nt , that th r ' had b e en n umb ers of Indians th e re fo r so me months . the e e e e ve ef From abov r pr s ntations , which I ha car ully e ve e the Of e tak n , and ha no r ason to doubt truth th m , your exc e ll e ncy will b e abl e to j udge what is n ec essary fo r the d e fe nc e Of the fronti e r in these parts and can only say I ’ e e e le e e am , with all att ntion , your xc l ncy s most ob di nt e s rvant, ’ l Z EB N E Colone . B UTL R ,

His Excell ency Gen. WASH INGTON .

20 . N O.

' o l s a Ha in S tatement f E z /t r d g .

I R : e e e e the S In answ r to your r qu st, I will b gin with " the o of e 1 Of e f . building J nkins ort In m nth J un , 77 7 , it h e e e f fo r efe e was t ought prop r to comm nc building orts , d nc the e e We e against n my . w nt to work ; I , but a boy, could do e e e e the but littl , xc pt d riving ox n to haul logs ; logs e e e ee e fee e w r about ight n or tw nty t long , and plac d in a ditc h of a sufﬁci ent d epth to stand against any thing that could b e brought by the en emy against it ; the corn ers so constructed as to rak e any thing on the outsid e of the fort em m e e and e e that should att pt to assail it ; it was co pl t d , v ry man to his own work ; eve ry thing p e ac eabl e until som e m in v e e e e e . e of ti No mb r, wh n J ohn J nkins , jun , a coll ctor e e the e far e e e he tax s , w nt up riv r as as Standingston , wh r me t Of e e e a party tori s and Indians , and was tak n and carri d — ' e a . Elemuel to Niagara , with two oth rs M r York and

. e . e Old Fitch Th y also took a M r Fitzg rald , an man , and ﬂaxb r eak if he e sat him on a , and told him , did not r nounce e e e e e fo r the e his r b l principl s , and d clar King, th y would him h . e e Old and kill Fitzg rald said that was an man , could not live but a few years at most ; and that he had e die die f e e rath r now, and a ri nd to his country, than liv a

2 7 THE WYOM I NG MASSAC RE . the e e e ee me n brook to wat r th ir hors s , thr and a boy, whilst the e f e e one oth r our w nt on , and had not got mor than hundre d and fifty rods b efore they were fi red on by the e e the fir e e e n my , and was r turn d by our party two only e f had guns , who , it was said by Butl r , ought as long as e e ve e e e e e th y could stand , but b ing o rpow r d by numb rs, w r e e e e of cut to pi c s in a most shocking mann r, many hol s the e e e e m e e sp ars in th ir Sid s , th i r ar s cut to pi c s , toma he e e e e . T hawk d , scalp d , and th ir throats cut oth r party at the cre e k saw a large party run from the hous e to wh e re the firing was ; thought it would b e throwing aaWay th e ir ve f e e e e f the li s to go urth r ; stripp d th ir hors s rom plough , e e m e the and turn d th loos , and took to woods , an d soon e the n f cam on I dian trail , which was a plain path to ollow ; e o e e e for e th y cr ss d it , and took th ir cours hom , and soon ’ e Of the e e e a cam in Sight Indians fir s ; th n , turning w st gain , e e fo r me e the took th ir cours ho , but soon cam again on ’ ’ e e e e e e e Indians fir s , str tch d along Sutton s cr k ; th y th n ed e and e e e e e e the turn w stward , cl ar d th ir fi r s , and r ach d f e e l Hudsall e . Th O d ort n xt morning about sun ris man , , e e the e the fir e was tak n at his yard thos on island , h aring f ve e n n Off. The e so rom abo , cam you g r , J ohn H ard ing, e tie the e the e e the stopp d to cano , oth r asc nding bank, e e e and e e w r fir d on , J am s Harding was kill d , and Carr n n h f e e . e t e fir e the o tak priso r John , h aring and groans ames um ed the ve e f e the J , j p into ri r and sunk hims l und r e the ve f e of e willows that hung ov r ri r , with his ac out wat r, e e S O e e the I n and lay th r until dark, and scap d , although e he fo r him e e e e e e the dians s arc d , known th r w r thr in cano e . Som etim es J ohn said th ey we re n ear enough to e the Old man e touch him ; th y took , Carr, and Gardn r , to e the e Hudsall th ir camp , and Martin , color d man ; and Martin w e re killed in the most cru el mann e r ; th e ir bon es remai ned above ground until aft e r the war was over ; w e re e e e th n coll ct d and buri ed .

the Of e of m n On I st day J uly, a larg party ou r e went e for e e e e to s arch thos missing, command d by Colon ls Butl r , e e e e the ve D nnison , and Dorranc ; th y march d up ri r , and the Of the e Indians down by way mountain , and n ve r we re THE WYOM ING MASSAC RE . 7 3

e e e e r e n discov r d by ith r pa ty, although not mor than o e mile a part ; our party went as far as where the Hardings e e e e e two e ee w r kill d , th r finding Indians Sitting und r a tr , supposed to watch to see if any one cam e to se arch for the slain th ey n e ve r discove red our party until our advanc e e e e e e e e e got abov th m ; th y strov to mak th ir scap , but, e e e fo r h d t e e . One e an b ing surround d , start d riv r was kill d , the e e the e f e oth r (wound d) took to wat r , was ollow d and e men e e The e C kill d ou r th n r turn ed . Indians w nt to S O ’ ve l s mountain and encamp e d fo r the night ; and som e tim e the f e Of the 2d Of e e e e the f in a t rnoon J uly, th y nt r d ort the e e the h without l ast r sistanc e . I n course Of t e afte r e e f de e e noon , Butl r s nt a flag to our ort, manding a surr nd r th e re of ; Captain Harding and Esquire J e nkins met Butl e r e e e five e - e men Old and th r b ing but abl bodi d , and two me n ee ef the f the , and thr boys . l t in ort, and Indians in ’ e of Winter moo t s e poss ssion , it was thought most advisabl to surre nd e r on the following conditions : that nothing b e e f the of the f e e Should tak n rom inhabitants ort , xc pt s e e e fo r the b e such thing as w r want d army, and that to paid for ; the inhabitants to have lib e rty to r eturn hom e e f e e e and occupy th ir arms in p ac . but not to tak up arms

during the war.

The fort was tak e n possession Of by a Captain Colwell . h e the d e set de T e n xt morning, 3 J uly, th y about molishing ’ the f the e of the one e ort , and in cours day, say o clock, ord rs e e the Winter moot f the ee SO cam to r pair to ort, as Yank s ,

e e e fo r e . e call d , w r coming out battl Nothing mor was ’ ee f o e the h eard until about thr or our clock , wh n fi ring e and We e e b gan , thought it cam n ar towards us , but soon f e Off e e e e found it to draw urth r , and in som tim app ar d e e more scatt ring , which mad us think that our army was E the e e e b e e . d efeat d , which soon prov d to tru arly n xt morning we could se e th e m fixing the ir scalps on littl e of and e bows mad e small sticks , , with th ir moccasin awls e e e e m the and a string , w r s wing th round bows , and the e ef e scraping off fl sh and blood , car ully drying th m , and - h f e of e fe at the sam e tim e smoking . As to t e at som who ll f e in the battl e I will relate as was told at the tim e . A t r HE W 74 T YOMING M ASSACR E .

the e Of e e e e one fe h at battl was ov r, v ry sought sa ty by

e the f e the e . ﬂight som towards ort, and som to riv r Cap e e the e e e tain Sho mak r, plunging into riv r, was s n and e e e e e e f ee r cogniz d by a H nry Wind ck r, whos amily had b n f e fe d S . . e by M r . ; W call d to him in a ri ndly way, and

if he n . e e he b e said (Captai S ) would com on Shor , should

e e . Sz e e e e ex prot ct d Captain , knowing Wind ck r , r turn d , e e ed pecting such fri endly treatm e nt as he (W . ) had r c iv f e e met e e e rom him , cam to shor and Wind ck r, who h ld out f v e e e e S . his l t hand to r c i Captain , and with his right hand e fe sunk his tomahawk into his h ad , who ll backwards and e w the e e f ﬂoat d do n riv r, and was tak n up at Forty ort and

buri ed .

h the f I will h ere m e ntion t e story of Isaac Tripp . In all f e the e he e f f e a t r Indian battl , said hims l , his grand ath r, Hockse e Es e . s t Isaac Tripp , q , Timothy Ki s , and M r y, out C a o use e e see if e to go to p , now Provid nc , to th y could ﬁnd ef f e ffe e e e far any thing l t O th ir e cts . Th y trav ll d as as e e e e e ve e e ve e n ar wh r Ki s us d to li , w r disco r d by a party f o e e . e le e Indians and tori s , and tak n Th y kil d Ki s and Ho ck se the Old E e e e y, told man , squir Tripp , to r turn hom , e and took young Isaac with th m to Niagara .

e e e e the o f E e e e mb I will h r r lat story l az r W st, an i abi of E the w e e tant aton , to n in which I liv d , who w nt to Pitts e the e e o e the f ton , wh n p opl m v d to ort ; but ﬁnding that ’ fe e e e e e he e his wi s par nts had r mov d to Wilk sbarr , w nt f to e e the e with his amily Wilk sbarr , and was in battl , and e the e e ee was wound d , ball nt ring at his h l and passing f he he Of through his oot ; said ran until , by loss blood and f e he e e atigu , lay down in som small bush s not high enough ve e e the e to co r him ; whilst lying th r , a man ran in sam e e w as e e e the dir ction n ar him , kill d , scalp d , and stripp d , Indian taking the jack et and holding it up b e tween him e the h (W st) and Indian , and walking on until e had got e ve past W st , without disco ring him , who lay until dark , th e n taking the mountain and mov ing on slowly towards Shawne ef e he e e e the I n y garrison but b or could r ach th r , e e set ﬁr H dians had got th r and it on e. e th e n moved down

76 THE WYOM ING MASSAC RE . ner rolling it over ; the Indian Often looking und e r his ar m at B enn e tt ; but being more thoughtful of his d e er h e ad o f the Old v e e n e e than man , ga B n tt an opportunity to rais

e and w th o ne r . e his Sp ar , i th ust put it through him Th n , e fe the e Of the loosing Hammond , th y ll to work with h lp SOOII e e the e e o ne he boy, d spatch d Indians , all xc pt , and Off e the e e e ran with a sp ar in his back, and prison rs r turn d hom e .

E D ecember 2 8 . ATON , 9 , I 37

S I R : e e e e e e fe w In answ r to your l tt r , I hav m ntion d a One things relative to the troubles in our country . thing e eve v e e e e e w I b li I ha omitt d , which you r qu st d to kno ; f the f e of e . . T e e that is, at L ach and St J ohn h y start d rom the - e the e e block hous at Park r plac , in Pittston with a e e f e e e wagon or cart load d with hous hold urnitur , and trav ll d ’ n w e e e e . e o to Ki s s saw mill , or n ar wh r Mr J ohn Ath rton n f th m n the ve . e o e e li s O was on cart or wagon , with a

m in his the e the e . s all child . arms , and oth r driving t am e e e met of the men Th y w r by a party Indians , and both kill ed the Indian who kill e d the man on the load took the “ ”

C e e he . e hild , gav it to his moth r , saying, no hu rt Th y e one ef the e e the kill d ox , and l t wom n and childr n by load , and the oth e r oxen stood th e re until a man passing along e m e e e the men unyok ed th m . My i pr ssion is th y kill d

e e e e e d . b caus th y w r carrying away goo s . A M r Hickman , fe e e e Ca ouse e e wi , and child w r kill d at p , now Provid nc , in E e e the e set OII ﬁr e squir Tripp s hous , and , hous , and all h I x e he burnt ; t e bodi es we re n e arly consum ed . e p ct t Indians that kill ed Hickm an and family we r e the sam e that h e e . e e f kill d L ach and St J o n , as th y cam rom that way, e e and w r going towards Pittston .

’ I think I have not m e ntion ed som e part o f the Indians w n e the conduct ith J oh Gardn r, who was with Hardings

e e . the e e wh n kill d I saw him with Indians wh n a prison r, e e le d bound and load d with plund r , and by an Indian , as e e ve The th y would l ad or dri a hors e . Indian allowe d him fe he r e e him to stop with his wi , who took littl childr n to , THE M N E WYO I G MASSAC R . 77

e see e that th y might bid him a last farewe ll . To a moth r and child ren standing around him weeping was a sight that I can n ever think of without a feeling Of gri e f n eve r to b e “ f e f e e the ve orgott n but a t r a short tim word was gi n go , e for he e go , a t rm marching ; and was driv n with a load fo r one e e e far too much man to b ar , comp ll d to carry it as e e e f m e e Of e e W he e as S n ca castl , about our il s w st G n va , r he e e S O he f e and b cam worn out that could go no urth r, was tom ahawked "H is life was only res e rve d fo r to rture . The e e e e fo r e " H ardings w r d spatch d , ﬁghting lib rty I have within a fe w ye ars past e rected a sto n e to th eir “ e ee the ee Of e m mory, with this inscription , Sw t to Sl p thos ” e fe e ve e e e who pr r d ath to sla ry . Th y w r brought down the f the Of e the 2 d to ort on I st J uly, and buri d on , j ust ’ e e fe the e b low J nkins s rry , by road l ading to Kingston , wh ere th e re is now a goodly n umb e r buri e d .

ELISHA HARDING .

e fe E e e e e e e Thos who ll at x t r w r , Min r Robbins, B njamin e e e Of E Harding, Stuk l y Harding (broth r lisha Harding , the m ee e Hudsall Es . e q , who giv s com itt this account , ) J am s , '

f b the e Of . m Hudsall . o J a es , j un , a man color y nam Martin er s— e e e e f e e Prison Dani l W ll r , J ohn Gardin r, (a t rwards kill d , ) e who e the e and and Dani l Carr, was k pt till war was ov r, e th en return d . 0 > 0 O 0 O 0 O 0 O 0 N 0 0 N 0 O 0 N 0 O 0 O 0 u 0 0 O m m u 0 e o m m m m m ” mw m 3 m

0 43 v

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Y a n S h o n wo E g 5 v 5 v o o 5 — u C x n c x e m t d O o o 9 o 3 E h s s o n e o m > 5 — 5 z u a “ 5 m u m 8 o 8 z 3 t fi 5 o o : E < 5 m e m mmm 3 m n x . 5 s c b a < E 5 — c m mm < m 9 o fl c 3 a fl E 7 E S n m o fl m8 o £ u o x a m g 1 O a m 5 mm t n a 8 3 v 3 3 s o u 8 E m e m 5 3 fi 2 E s c S R 3 s E a a — 0 O 5 9 8 — 0 9 F 3 A S m n m W a c c o m c 5 m 0 0 5 H m mm 2 5 m h . 4 3. H . Q < h Z Q

THE WYOM ING MASSAC R E .

— TH I RTI ETH CON GRESS FI RST SESSI ON .

8 2 . REPORT N O. 3

R . N o . [To acco mpany H . bill

HOUS E OF R EPR ES E NTATI V ES .

HEIR S OF CA PTA IN S A M UEL R A N SOM .

8 1 8 8 . AUGUST , 4

t‘ E f the ee R evolutI onaI‘ ClaI ms BUTL R , rom Committ on y ,

mad e the following REPORT

C ommittee on R evolutionar Claims to whom w as r e y ,

er r ed the etition o tlze lieir s o Ca tain S a muel Ra nsom f p f f p ,

deceased r e or t , p

’ That the p etition e rs claim s eve n ye ars h alf pay due e f e the of Captain Sam u l Ransom , who was an O fic r in war the e i e the e o f the r volut on and kill d at battl Wyoming , on f 1 d O 8 . e the e Of 3 day J uly, 77 It app ars on r cords Con e e o ne e of the e gr ss , volum , pag 4 53 , journal , that Congr ss , the 2 d 1 6 : R esolved on 3 August, 7 7 , That two companies on the continental esta blis/zment b e rais ed in the town of e e e e e for the W stmor land , and station d in prop r plac s efen e Of the of en d c inhabitants said town and parts adjac t, till furth e r orde rs from Congress ; the commission e d Offic e rs Of the said two companies to b e imm ediately appointed by he 2 th e . t 6 of 1 6 e Congr ss On day August, 7 7 , Congr ss ee e the e e of ffi er e proc d d to l ction o c s, wh n Jonathan Day ’ ton was electe d regimental paymaste r of Colon e l Dayton s THE A E 8 WYOM ING MASS CR . 5

e e e ee S a muel R a nsom Of r gim nt ; Rob rt Durk and , captains the two companies ord ere d to b e raised in the town of e e e e e W stmor land ; J am s Willis and P rrin Ross , ﬁrst li u e s e e lie uten t nant ; Asah l Buck and Simon Spaulding, s cond e f e e ants and H man Swi t and Matthias Holl nback , nsigns

of e . said compani s . Othe r resolutions Show that th ese compani es we re on the con tin e ntal e stablishme nt and we re f e Fin n 1 2 h f e e e e . all o the t O urnish d with suppli s y, , D c mb r, 1 6 the f e e e : R esolved 7 7 , ollowing r solv was pass d , viz , that the two compani es raised in the town of Westmoreland b e ord e red to j oin Gen e ral Washington with all possibl e ’ e e . e e e xp dition Th y did join G n ral Washington s army, e e the e e e the e and w r in ngag m nt at Millston , in J anuary, 1 e i e th e the 7 7 7 . Th y cont nu d with e contin ntal army until thre ate ned invasion of the Wyoming vall ey by the British e e e e e e and Indians was about to tak plac , wh n th y hast n d e f e to the d efenc e of th e ir famili es and hom es . Som o th m e e e the Of arriv d in tim to participat in bloody ﬁght J uly 3, 1 8 8 the o f of e 7 , on plains Wyoming , and many th m , among

e ve in the e . whom was Captain Ransom , lost th ir li s battl Th es e compani es having been raised by Cong ress and plac ed on the n e e e the ffi e ee co tin ntal stablishm nt, o c rs having b n e e e e e ve the e l ct d by Congr ss , having s r d in contin ntal army, ee e e the e e ar e and b n kill d in battl with common n my, , in the of the ee e e the e e of Opinion committ , ntitl d to b n fits all the resolves and promises mad e by Congress to the most e favored Of the revolutionary offic ers and soldi e rs . It app ars ’ e e the e e e f the five e too , that n ith r s v n y ars hal pay, or y ars e e e e e commutation , hav v r b n paid to Captain Ransom , or The m ee e ef e ar e of ne . to any o in his right com itt , th r or , the the e e e e e e ar e Opinion , that h irs and l gal r pr s ntativ s ’ f a due e entitle d to s eve n ye ars hal p y to Samu l Ransom , as th e e e e a captain on e contin ntal stablishm nt, and r port a

bill accordingly .