THE PRELUDE AND THE WYOMING MASSACRE
6/25/08
The Prelude
Revolutionary War broke out on April 19, 1775 and the Valley Wars were called off for the duration. The loyalties of the settlers were mixed, however for the first call for the Revolutionary Army about three hundred men left their wives and homes to join Washington's Army. This contingent of men came from both sides of the long drawn out struggle for the possession of the valley. This drained most of the able-bodied men from the region and left their families without substantial protection from the Indians. The Revolution gaining momentum in favor of the British, but they were becoming exhausted. The expenses of a war being fought oversees was a drain on the Crown's assets. King George wanted this war with the rabble of the Colonies to be over. Sept 1776 The proprietary government of Pennsylvania was replaced by state government.
The use of the term "fort" was a very loose word and in many cases it was used for a stockade around a cabin and a few barns. A town meeting was held at Wilkes- Barre on August 24, 1776 where it was decided to build forts where an appointed committee considered it most appropriate. It was quickly attended to and soon there were eight forts erected in the Valley. The Continental Army had been placed in a perilous position after a series of British Victories. The Congress ordered two Companies of men from the Valley to be raised with all haste. When these men left for the Army, the Valley was left comparatively defenseless. The Indians along the upper Susquehanna were being encouraged to regain their possession of the Wyoming Valley. They were wildly joyous about this as a possibility. The Iroquois under the leadership of the New York Tory John Butler who had been harassing the Frontier since the Revolution commenced. He was joined by Joseph Brant a well educated and well traveled. He spoke several languages including English. Brent and Butler gathered about 400 Tory Rangers and about 600 Indians for the purpose of repossessing the Wyoming Valley and surrounding areas. Indians had been seen in the valley from time to time but there was no discordance.
Their mere presence however produced some extreme anxiousness among the Settlers. Scouts were sent out daily to ascertain if the Indians were in force. The first blood was spilled at Tunkhannock by Indians.
The following day a scouting party of six settlers were fired upon by a body of Indians. The settlers ran to their canoes and fled down stream and sounded an alarm. Two Indians with their squaws, formerly having lived in Wyoming and acquainted with the people came into the valley on a visit. Suspicions were raised and with some whisky one of them confessed that his people were going to isolate the settlement. He said that it would happen soon. The two Indians were arrested and held at Forty Fort. Now the fat was in the fire and preparations became urgent and with all haste. As all preparations were being made The British, Tories and Indians were moving down the Susquehanna from their rendezvous on the Tioga River with a very large fleet of canoes, river boats, rafts or anything that would float. At Bowman's Creek just above Tunkhannock the fleet landed on the west side of the river and proceeded south toward the Wyoming Valley.
Fort Jenkins, located a short distance above Fort Wintermoot had been occupied by the Harding family of eight people. They had neither notice nor suspicion of any danger and had gone up to Exeter to work on their farms. It was close to finishing for the day when they were surrounded by some of the Tory militia. The militia were there to take prisoners for interrogation. The settlers fortunately had their muskets at hand and made a fight of in rather that surrender. They killed a few of their attackers, three Tories and two Indians. Four of their number fell and were hacked to death and scalped, three were taken as prisoners, however one boy managed to escape by way of the river in the dim approaching darkness. One of the Indians that was killed was the son of the infamous Queen Ester who had traveled with her tribe and who vowed vengeance. Two Indians remained at the scene, waiting to ambush any settlers who might come to recover the bodies. They were both shot from the opposite side of the river by Zebulon Marcy. He became the object of Indian vengeance for some time thereafter, with a double price for his scalp. Strangely his house was the only one left standing along the Lackawanna and he was never harmed.
Fort Jenkins was now in the hands of Tory Capt. On the evening of June 30 they arrived just above the Tory Fort Wintermoot. Caldwell. Butler and Brant were camped at Fort Wintermoot which consisted of a log palisade around the home of Wintermoot a long time Tory. The scene was now set for the execution of the plans to rid the valley of all settlers. The settler's militia were gathering at Fort Wyoming as women and screaming children were heading for Forty Fort seeking security from the tomahawk. The militia consisted of three hundred and sixty ill equipped and barely trained old men and young boys, they were the principal protection of the Wyoming Valley. Across the river from Wintermoot at Pittston was Fort Borwn. It had been erected by the settelers of the lower Lackwanna and Pittston. It posted about forty men under the command of Capt. Blanchard. There was also another company at Capoose on the Lackawanna. The records for the Capoose occupancy by militia were burned in a fire and so there is no verification for this event.
Torry Col John Butler by now realized how open and unprotected the settlers were. He was fearful that the Indians would get out of hand and the settlers, men, women, and children, would never get passed the Indian tomahawks. He enlisted one of the prisoners and sent him to Fort Wyoming to Col Zebulon Butler with a Tory and an Indian. He demanded not only the surrender of the fort but also the other forts in the valley along with all of the public property. Some of the people felt that they should wait in the hope that reinforcements would arrive but the majority felt that the Tories should be confronted and defeated. Little did they know how precipitous their situation was. Much to his credit, Butler suggested that the settlers should dispose of all whisky, as drunken Indians could not be controlled. After all of the debate had ended the settlers refused to surrender and the message went back to Butler. As the frontier developed the love of rum developed with it. It was the great delight of the settlers and was always available in copious quantities on any occasion. When a new fort was built the first priority was to build a still and get it into operation. It was a universal custom that was practiced everywhere on the whole frontier and was no stranger along the Susquehanna and the Lackawanna River Valleys. At least one of the survivors had related that the debates were very warm and animated however all of the liquor barrels, except one for medicine, were rolled down to the river and the heads smashed. When the militia left the fort to face the Tories a gourd of whisky was passed to all how felt the need for it. Col George Dorrance, a very prudent officer had counseled to remain in the fort had been called a coward for his realistic perceptions.
The battleWyoming County PA.". It is quoted here below.
Inpart
The plan that was agreed upon was to silently move through the forest for a surprise attack on the enemy. On the afternoon of July 3rd 1778 the Militia numbering 350 under the command of Col. Zebulon Butler left the fort. As they passed through the gate a hollowed gourd of whisky was passed along the line. The women and children were gathered to see the men off, children crying and holding onto their mothers or running alongside of their father. There was not a sound heard, only the beat of the marching men muffled by the sounds of grief from those left behind. The men were deep in their thoughts of the coming battle, fully aware that they would not all be returning. They
marched side by side up th west side of the river toward Fort Wintermoot. Then within a half mile or so of Wintermoot they halted. The Tories were aware when the Militia left the fort and had prepared for their arrival. Two scouts were sent forward. They were fired upon and any surprise, if indeed there was ever any real surprise, disappeared in the twinkling of an eye. The certainty of a grim and fateful struggle was upon them. The Tories for some unknown reason had put the torch to the fort. The British colonel formed up his troops with the Tories and Provincials facing the River. The Indians were secluded in the brush and their number was unknown and unseen. Col Zebulon Butler formed up his Militia among the pines to better receive the first clash of John Butler and his Tories. No man, boy or grandfather on the line that afternoon was in full control of his mind or body, it was all jelly. A numbness, distinctively generated by deadly fear.
A description of the battle is vividly described by "Local History: Luzern County, PA , Lackawanna County PA. " Colonels Butler and Dorrence each urged the soldiers to meet the first shock with firmness, as their own lives and homes depended on the issue. Hardly had the words rang along the line, before the bullets of the enemy , pouring in from a thousand muskets. began to thin the ranks of the Connecticut party. About four in the afternoon the battle began. Col. Z Butler ordered his men to fire, and with each discharge advance on step. Along the whole line the discharges were rapid and steady. It was evident, on the more open ground the Yankees were doing most execution. As the men advanced, pouring in their platoon fires with great vivacity, the British line gave way, in spite of all their officer's efforts to prevent it. The Indian flanking party on our right, kept up from their hiding places a galling fire. Lieut Daniel Gore received a ball through the left arm. 'Captain Durkee', says he 'look sharp for the Indians in those bushes.' Captain D stepped to the bank to look preparatory to making a charge and dislodging them when he fell. On the British Butler's right, his Indian warriors were sharply engaged. They seemed to be divided into six bands, for a yell would be raised at one end of the line, taken up and carried through, six distinct bodies appearing at each time to repeat the cry. As the battle waxed warmer, that fearful yell was renewed again and again with more and more spirit. It appeared to be at once their animating shout and their signal of communication. As several fell near Col. Dorrance, one of his men gave way, 'Stand up to your work, sir,' said he, firmly but coolly, and the solider resumed his place. "For half an hour a hot fire had been given and sustained, when the vastly superior numbers of the enemy began to develop its power. The Indians had thrown into the swamp a large force, which now completely out flanked out left, It was impossible it should be otherwise'; that wing was thrown into confusion.
Col Dennison gave orders that Whittlesey's company of should wheel back, so as to form an angle with the main line, and thus present his front instead ot flank to the enemy. The difficult of performing evolutions, by the bravest militia on the field, under hot fire is well known. On the attempt the savages rushed in with horrid yells . Some had mistaken the order to fall back, as one to retreat ., and that word, that fatal word, ran along the line. Utter confusion now prevailed on the left. Seeing the disorder, and his own men beginning to give way. Col Z. Butler threw himself between the fires of the opposing ranks and rode up and down the line in the most reckless exposure."Don't leave me, my children and victory is ours.'But it was too late." When it was seen that defeat had come, the confusion became general. Some fought bravely in the hopeless conflict, and fell upon the battle-ground bayonet-pierced; others fled in wilddisorder down the valley toward Forty Fort or Wilkes Barre without their guns, pursued by Indians whose belts were soon reeking with warm scalps.
"A portion of the Indians' flanking party pushed forward in the rear of the Connecticut line, to cut off retreat from Forty Fort, and then pressed the retreating army toward the river. Monocakasy Island affording the only hope of crossing the stream of flight flowed in that direction through fields of grain." The Tories more vindictive and ferocious than the red-men, hastened after the fugitives. Mr Carey and Judge Hollenback were standing side by side when the victorious forces of the enemy appeared in view; Carey ran with the speed of a deer, while Hollenback, throwing his gun and stripping to the waist , followed him toward Wilkes Barre. Being thus divested of his clothing the was enabled to leave his weaker companion in the rear and swim the river in safety and was the first to tell the tale of defeat to the village of Wilkes Barre, then consisting of twenty three houses. Carey fled to the river, where, under its deep worn bank he found shelter, as he sank too exhausted to swim, still retaining his musket. He heard the quick foot-steps of the fugitives, and as they were plunging in the water to reach Pittston Fort, saw the swift-sent tomahawk overtake many a neighbor struggling in the river in vain. Upon the bank below him, three soldiers were clubbed to death by the Tories. His own musket he grasped still more firmly, determined to sell his life a dearly as possible, if required, escaping detection, he swam the river at night and escaped.
Of the cruelities practiced by the Tories and Indians after the battle, one instance will suffice to illustrate. A little below the battle-ground there lay, and still lies in the divided waters of the Susquehanna, an island green with willows and wild grass, called "Monockonock Island". As the path down the valley swarmed with warriors, few of the fleeing settlers pursued it, but scattered through the fields. Others fled to this island for refuge, This was perceived by the Tories, ruthless in pursuit, who reaching the island deliberately wiped their guns dry to finish the murderous drama. "One of them, with his loaded gun soon passed close by one of these men who lay concealed from his view and was immediately recognized by him to be the brother of his companion who was concealed near him, but who being a Tory, had joined the enemy. He
passed slowly along carefully examining every covert, and directly perceived his brother in his
place of concealment. He suddenly stopped and said 'So it is you, is it?' His brother, finding that he was discovered, immediately came forward a few steps, and falling to his knees, begged him to spare his life, promising him to live with him and serve him, and even to be his slave as long as he lived, if only he would spare his life. 'All this is mighty good' replied the savage-hearted brother of the supplicating man,'but you are a d--d rebel' and deliberately presenting his rifle, shot him dead on the spot. The name of the Tory was John Pencil and the miserable wretch, shunned by the Indians whom he accompanied to Canada, was afterwards killed and devoured in the Canadian forest by wolves. Such was the spirit of the Wyoming massacre.
After the pursuit of the fugitives had ceased, scenes of torture began. Opposite the mouth of the Lackawanna and almost under the shadows of "Campbells Ledge", a band of Indians, wild with exultation, had gathered their prisoners in a circle, stripped of their clothing and with sharpened spears drove them into the flames of a large fire, amidst their agonizing cries and the yells of the infuriated savages. On the battle-ground was cleft each scalp of the dying and the dead, before the bloody work was carried to the "Bloody Rock". "This rock is situated east of a direct line between the monument and the site of Fort Wintermoot, on the brow of the high steep bank which is supposed to have been the ancient bank of the river. The rock is a bowlder, and it is a sort of conglomerate, principally composed of quartz." It formally rose some two feet above the earth but the constant attrition of the frequent visitor desiring a fragment of the interesting boulder to carry away as a relic, has scalped or shorn it almost even with the ground. Around the rock standing distinctly out on the plain, otherwise smooth and rockless, some eighteen of the prisoners who had been taken under the solemn promise of quarter, were collected and surround by a ring of warriors under the command of Queen Esther. In the battle she led her column with more than Indian bravery and now around the fatal ring was she to avenge the loss of her first-born, slain in the encounter with the settlers, at the head of the valley, a day or two before. Swinging the war club or merciless hatchet, she walked around the dusky ring, and as suited her whim, dashed out the brains of the unresisting prisoners. Two only escaped by superhuman efforts. The bodies of fourteen or fifteen were afterward found around this rock, scalped and shockingly mangled. Nine more were found in a similar circle some distance above. About160 people perished in the battle and massacre; 140 escaped. The surviving settlers fled toward the Delaware. Before them frowned the foodless forest, since known as "Shades of Death", clambering up the mountain side by the light of their burning homes. all was silence and desolation. The forest dwellers had cruelly revenged their wrongs; the Tory by his club and bayonet had surpassed the wild man in ferocious instinct, the British soldier, led hither by command, turned from the unsolder-like scenes of the day and night with aversion, and all sank exhausted on the grounds of the old Indian empire for repose.
The Pittston forts surrendered to Colonel J. Butler on the morning of the fourth, upon the following terms-"Articles of Capitulation for three Forts of Lacuwannack, 4th July 1778. Art. 1st-That the Commanders of the said Forts do immediately deliver them up, with arms, ammunition and stores, in said forts." "2nd- Major Butler promises that the lives of men, women and children be preserved. "These terms were honorably complied with, and not a person in Pittston was molested by the Indians all prisoners in the forts were marked with black war-paint which exempted them from immediate harm. Forty Fort was surrendered the same day to Major John Butler.
Five days after the battle, Col. Butler retired from Wyoming with his forces so elated with his success that he reported to his government that he had"taken 227scalps and only five prisoners". "taken eight palisades. (six) forts and burned about one thousand dwelling houses, all their mills, etc."having."on our side one Indian, two Rangers killed and eight prisoners wounded."We have also killed and drove off about one thousand head of horned cattle and sheep and swine in great numbers."After Butler had gone northward some Indians remained in the Wyoming for scalps and plunder A party of rangers and Indians whom Butler had sent, went "to the Delaware to destroy a small settlement there and to bring off prisoners.
THE GREAT RUNAWAY
6 / 25 / 08
Jonathan Tripp and Ruth Tripp Slocum had moved to Wilkes-barre with their were children and her father Isaac Tripp. On November 2, 1778 the daughter Frances Slocum was captured near Pittston and carried into the forest by some Delaware Indians. About six weeks after her capture, her father, grand-father and a boy named William were feeding cattle near the Fort when they were attacked by Indians. Her father was shot dead; her grand-father was felled with a spear; tomahawked and both were scalped. William took a ball in the heel but was able to escape and sound the alarm. The mother of Francis had three of her nearest relatives murdered by Indians. when Francis was taken prisoner she was resettled by the Indians at Niagara. While she was there she met her eighteen year old cousin Isaac Tripp Jr. They plotted their escape but their plan was discovered and they were separated. They were never to meet again. The relatives and brothers of Frances searched for fifty nine years without result. During those years The captured child of five years grew into womanhood. She had become an Indian in every way; she was given the name of Mocanaqua meaning little bear and was raised in the ways and customs of the Delawares. She was found on September 22, 1837, then sixty six years old. When she was found she was the widow of a Miami chief and had two married daughters. Her brothers endeavored to persuade her to come home but she felt that she was too old to start a new life and would miss her daughters and her Indian friends. Frances lived the life of an Indian until death on May 6,1807, aged 72 years.
Cornelius Atherton was living with his family in the Wyoming Valley in the Spring of 1778. Cornelius was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He lived near Boston and had worked in an armory that was owned by Sam Adams and John Hancock making guns for the Revolutionary Army. The British burned down the armory and Cornelius moved to West Point. It was Cornelius who recognized the British ship anchored off of West Point for what it was. He procured an old cannon and proceeded to fire on the ship. His second round found it's mark and the British moved down stream. It was his action that brought about the revelation of Benedict Arnold's treachery. Cornelius married Mary Delano in 1774 and eventually had nine children. They moved from West Point to New Jersey and thence to the Wyoming Valley, where he worked at his trade as blacksmith. The events developing in the valley made it apparent to Cornelius that there was going to be an armed conflict between the Tories and the settlers. The settlers had formed a home guard that consisted mainly of old men and young boys, most of the able bodied men had left the valley and had joined the Continental Army. In the spring of 1778 news of a large force of Indians and Tories were descending down the Susquehanna River.
The force consisted of 400 "green coats" and Tories along with some 700 Iroquois warriors. There was a number of forts in the valley for the settler's defense but the able-bodied men had gone to join the Continental Army. The defenders were composed of six companies of old men and boys. They were led by Col Zebulon Butler a regular army officer at home on leave. Cornelius', oldest boy Jebez, who was eighteen years old, begged his father to let him take his place with the settlers militia. His father's death he pleaded would leave the family destitute. Jebez was with the militia at the Battle of Wyoming and was taken prisoner by the Indians and mutilated at Queen Ester's Rock.
When the news reached Cornelius and his family, it was realized that they were in certain danger. Cornelius took up the plank floor boards of their cabin, made a raft and placed his wife and children with a few necessities, on the river. They floated down the Susquehanna to Nanticoke. The two remaining boys drove the horses and cattle. The family were rejoined at Nanticoke, formed a party and fled across the mountains to New Jersey. They were a part of great exodus of settlers that fled the valley in panic and hysteria. Cornelius' wife Mary died soon after having survived the massacre. See the End Notes for Atherton family history. As the Indians and Tories left, Butler sent a party to the Delaware to destroy a small settlement there and to bring back prisoners. This mixed party of Indians remained in the Wyoming a few days to collect more scalps.
Presumably a group of Indians from the Wyoming Valley came up the Lackawanna River on the established trail east and came upon the little settlement at Keyser Creek. The settlers, being unaware of the events a few miles away in the Wyoming Valley, were taken by surprise. Andrew Hickman his wife and child were slain. Timothy Keys and Solomon Hocksey were taken captive along with Isaac Tripp, whose place was at Capouse (Scranton). They were taken into the Abingtons . Near Clark’s Green, Keys and Hocksey were taken into the woods, tomahawked and scalped. Tripp was allowed to depart after having his face painted to distinguish him as an Indian friend On the following day a party of six people, also fleeing from the massacre in the Wyoming Valley, came upon the Key’s settlement. The party consisted of two men, Daniel St. John and --- Leach, with their children and a yoke of oxen. They stopped to rest under the willows that stood near the Key’s place and were also taken by surprise by Indians. One of the men was instantly tomahawked. The other ran into the forest where he was murdered by the Indians. The women and children escaped into a thicket of willows. The women and children, without food or shelter, made their way east over the uncharted mountains to Stroudsburg and safety. The Indians returned and feasted on the tongue of one of the oxen. This story was crudely carved into the trunk of a large willow by a passerby. It survived the ravages of time and travelers were apprized of the tragedy that had unfolded there. This is the story as I heard it as a child and it told and told again. I suspect that it was not carved on a willow at Kaiser Creek but on the tree in Capouse Meadow that was used a central news station, a frontier kiosk so to speak.
Lazarus Stewart a Captain with the Militia at the Battle of Wyoming who had strongly recommended that the Militia leave the security of the fort and they would profit by a surprise against the Indians and Tories at Fort Wintermoot. When the news of the defeat and the depredations of the Indians and Tories, Martha Stewart joined the exodus fleeing from the carnage. She strapped two canoes together and loaded their nine children. The youngest was only two days old. They floated down Susquehanna and navigated the rapids at Nanticoke and Nescopeck to her sister ( the widow of James McClure ) at their farm near today's Bloomsburg. Mary McClure then joined her sister with her children. It was reported that eighty percent of the white occupants on both branches of the Susquehanna hd fled their homes with whatever personnel effects they could carry. This time of fearsome flight amid carnage and destruction has been called the "Great Runaway". Robert Covenhoven had taken his family to Fort Augusta and was returning up stream in a keel boat to recover his belongings. As he rounded a point met a flotilla from all of the forts up stream. A sight never to be forgotten. Every float able objects from boats, canoes. sticks all crowded with women and children. Whenever an obstruction was in their path, a shoal, a ripple the women would leap into the water, put their shoulders to the boat or raft and launch it again into deep water. The men came down the river walking in single file, on each side of the river to protect the women and children.
Isaac Tripp Sr. was prominent in the affairs of the colonies, the Indians asked why he was not killed. The British answered that he was a good man and a Quaker. He had been very friendly to the Tories in an effort to protect the interests of the Wyoming Company who at one time he had represented at Hartford and now was aggressive in the pursuit of the American Revolution. He had always friendly with the Indians. It was a perilous time to be living on the frontier. Loyalties could change like the wind. Isaac Tripp's grand-father Isaac Tripp Senior was shot dead near Wilkes-Barre Fort. After the massacre there were no settlers left alive in the either the Susquehanna or the Lackawanna Valleys. They had been thoroughly scourged of all things white. Neither did they venture in to harvest their crops nor bury the dead. It was several months before anyone had the courage to return and view the carnage. In September Col Hartley was sent to chastise the Indians and secure the crops if there were any to be had. Col Hartley made his way up the Susquehanna to Wyalusing with twenty eight men where he ran out of rum and flour and returned to Wyoming There were three people killed in Wyoming and another was sent in scalped down close to his eyebrows.
In the fall of 1878 the area of Capouse Meadows that had been so completely abandoned but had a few returning hardy souls. They salvaged some of their crop that the Indians did not destroy and with plenty of wild game managed unmolested through the winter. That spring (1779) one of the last bands of of savages turned up the Lackawanna to the Capouse area Isaac Tripp had removed the war-paint which signaled to the Indians that he no longer considered himself friendly. He was killed by Indians while working in the field unconscious of any danger. Three other men named Jones, Avery and Lyons were taken prisoner and never heard from again. In April a band of thirty Indians attacked three families that were living near Fort Jenkins. They killed one and took twenty four prisoners, The men in the fort sent out a squad of twenty to effect a rescue. When the Indians were overtaken a battle began. The prisoners all escaped back to the fort. The Indians killed four soldiers and wounded five and disappeared into the forest. The next month a similar incident occurred when a settler sent his two children to Catawissa to buy some flour. On their way there they found some signs of Indians and hurried home to find the house burning and the four other family members slain and scalped.
