would arouse the enemy to the most determined resistance. To send a force fully adequate to the object to be accomplished, was obviously the only effective, and consequently the most economical policy. An invasion during the winter had been proposed, but was wisely relinquished.*

Preparatory to a summer campaign, Gen. Hand, then at Minisink, by order from his Excellency, addressed a series of inquiries to Col. Zebulon Butler, in command at Wyoming, embracing every point on which information could be desirable. The distance and route to the nearest Indian settlements; their position and extent; facilities of obtaining subsistence; means of transportation in boats up the Susquehanna, &c. In his reply, Col. Butler takes pleasure in expressing his particular obligations to Lieut. John Jenkins, whose thorough knowledge, and judicious observations upon the subject, were of eminent service.

A letter from Col. Patterson, dated at Northumberland in March, 1779, to Col. Butler, throws light upon other measures adopted to obtain correct information. "Mr. Lemmon," says Col. P., "goes to your post, to wait the return, and take into his care Gershom Hicks, who is not to be examined or searched until he goes before his Excellency Gen. Washington. I inclose you his Excellency's letter. Be careful that your people, who are out on duty, or fatigue, receive Hicks, who may appear painted, and in a canoe. His regimentals I have sent by Mr. Lemmon." We cannot withhold the remark, that the duties of Washington, embracing generally all the civil, as well as military affairs of the country, and descending to the minutest details of every expedition, would seem to have been great and perplexing, beyond human power to perform. A frame of iron, and a mind of steel, would appear to have been requisite for the mere labour. But when to this is added his views, comprehensive, liberal, and accurate; his thorough knowledge of human nature; his profound wisdom and spotless patriotism, the whole warp and woof of his soul being composed of devotion to his country, without one single thread of selfishness or personal ambition, it is impossible to look

* A letter from Gen. Hand, dated Minisink, January 13th, 1779, to Col. Butler, says :"Your favour of the 10th inst. now lies before me. I am much obliged to you for the diligence you have used, and the candour with which you give your information and advice on so important a subject. Your sentiments and those of Capt. Stoddart justify his Excellency General Washington's apprehensions of the impracticability, or at best the doubtful success of an expedition at this season, insomuch that I am persuaded the intelligence I now receive from the Susquehanna, which he has desired me to transmit to him, will determine him to give over all thought of it."

upon the great and good man, without reverently believing that he was specially raised up, and imbued with wisdom and strength from above, to rescue a nation from bondage, and establish freedom in America.

Savage hate, instead of being satiated by the sufferings of Wyoming, seemed, like the tiger that has tasted human blood, to be aroused to inappeasable fury.

The chief part of Col. Hartley's regiment having been withdrawn, Col. Butler was left in command of the fort at Wilkesbarre, with only about one hundred men. That vigilant officer, respectfully, but with spirit remonstrated with Gen. Hand, who returned for answer, that the power did not rest with him to remedy the evil.

In December of the preceding year several murders are recorded in our last letter as having been perpetrated. Scarcely sixty days of repose had been allowed to Wyoming even amid the cold and storms of winter. In March bands of savages began to make their appearance, as if, from the contiguity of their towns, an incursion into the Valley, instead of being a toil, was but a pleasure party. On the 21st of the month, unapprised of danger, Josiah Rogers and Capt. James Bidlack, both aged men, were crossing the flats, on their way to Plymouth. Springing from their covert, the savages failed in an attempt to seize the bridles of their horses. A race ensued of intense interest. The girth of Capt. Bidlack's saddle breaking, he was thrown and made prisoner. Several bullets perforated the clothes of Mr. Rogers, who happily escaped the painful captivity of his companion, whose misfortune was doubly distressing to his family, as his son James had fallen in the battle. A large number were seen advancing over the Kingston flats, towards a block-house erected on that side of the river, and in full view from the Wilkesbarre fort. The boldness of their advance showed confidence in their strength, and left no doubt but they were informed of the feeble state of the garrison. Plunder appeared to be their object, for while a small portion acted as a guard, the remainder, dividing into small parties, began to drive off all the horses and cattle they could find. Col. Butler immediately detached twenty-five men to the aid of those in the block-house. A charge was made on the enemy, who retreated, keeping at a respectful distance, evidently intending to draw the detachment into an ambuscade. On approaching the woods, a larger portion was discovered, which rendered a retreat prudent; whereupon the enemy advanced. A smart skirmish ensued, several men were wounded, but none mortally. Our people had to suffer the

deep mortification of seeing sixty head of cattle, and twenty horses carried away by the marauding horde, without the power (from the most ill advised policy) of either protection or chastisement.

On the 23rd, the savages and tories, finding that their strength had been discovered, and an ambush was hopeless, boldly developed themselves, and showed by their numbers that this was in truth, a second invasion. Two hundred and fifty warriors, in a semicircle, approached the Wilkesbarre fort, as if with intent to carry it by storm. A brisk fire was opened upon them, the four pounder being brought to bear. After peace, it was ascertained the Indian chief who led the charge was killed by a cannon ball. What further loss they sustained is not known, but they were repulsed, not, however, until they had made themselves masters of fifty-one head of cattle, ten horses, and burnt three barns containing hay and grain, and two houses. A heavy snow fell on the 24th. Smoke from Indian fires, where they encamped at night, or burnt some house or barn, left by accident or caprice the preceding campaign, continued to mark their presence and route until the 28th. When these disgraceful and distressing particulars were communicated by Col. Butler to the Board of War, one of the members said hastily, in presence of the messenger:-"It is impossible-it can't be so!" So fatal was the folly or delusion, that Wyoming, on the very borders of the Six Nations of warriors, needed no defence. On learning the remarks of the gentleman, with the spirit of a soldier Col. Butler immediately wrote "That no officer who properly regarded his own honour, would, without the slightest evidence, call in question the honour of a bro. ther soldier."

The gallant defence of his father's house, by Serjeant Thomas Williams, deserves to be specially recorded. An officer in Capt. Spalding's company, he was now stationed in the Valley. Within eighty rods of the fort, and supposed to be within its protection, lived Mr. Thaddeus Williams, originally of Fairfield county, Connecticut. On the day the fort was attacked, a party of Indians made an assault on the house. The father, sick and confined to his bed, was unable to lend any assistance. Serjeant Williams, and a brother, quite young, were the only persons capable of offering the least resistance. Twice the Indians rushed up to the door, and attempted in vain, to force an entrance. Several balls were fired into the house through openings in the logs, one of which severely wounded the sick father. All this was accompanied by horrid yells, as if demons had visited the upper air. Having lost a brother the

preceding fall, and belonging himself to the army, Mr. Williams knew his fate depended on his own coolness and courage. He could hope nothing from their mercy. He had two guns, one of which the lad loaded while he fired the other. Watching his time, and taking careful aim, one of the Indians fell, and was dragged away. Redoubling their shouts the Indians returned with brands of fire, but another discharge, which wounded their leader, finally repelled them, leaving Serjeant Williams victor, and his aged father and mother, rescued from death.

The Savages it was supposed had retired with their booty, but although the utmost caution was exercised, no vigilance could effectually guard every point from danger. A band of twenty Indians suddenly returned, and on the Kingston side of the river, in sight from the Wilkesbarre fort, in broad daylight, murdered three valuable citizens; Mr. Elihu Williams, Lieut. Buck, and Mr. Stephen Pettebone. Frederick Follet, who was with them, fell pierced by seven wounds from a spear, and with the others was scalped, and left for dead. Instantly a detachment of men was sent over; the Indians had fled. Follet, weltering in blood, gave signs of life, and was taken to the fort. Dr. William Hooker Smith, on examining his wounds, said, that while every thing should be done that kindness and skill could suggest, he regarded his recovery as hopeless. Yet he did recover. One spear thrust had penetrated his stomach, so that its contents came out at his side. Mr. Follet lived many years, and removed to Ohio, where he left a large family. DR. SMITII gained great credit for restoring Follet to health and usefulness.

Reinforced by a German regiment of about three hundred men, Col. Butler was enabled, not only to defend his position, but to clear the open portions of the Valley, of his cruel and insolent visiters; but small parties of Indians still hovered around Wyoming, like wolves around a sheep-fold. They waylaid the passes through the mountains, and occasionally exhibited extraordinary instances of courage and audacity.

Major Powell, commanding two hundred men of a regiment, which had been much reduced by losses in the battle of Germantown, having been ordered to Wyoming, arrived at Bear Creek, about ten miles from the fort, on the night of the 19th of April. Deeming themselves out of danger from a surprise by the Indians, orders were given that officers and men should dress in their best apparel, their arms be newly burnished, and every thing be put in order to appear respectably on entering the Valley. As was the fashion of the day, the

officers wearing ruffles, were also powdered. The music, partaking in the excitement of the hour, played their liveliest strains as the party advanced. Deer were reported to have been seen by the vanguard, when Capt. Davis, and Lieut. Jones, armed with rifles, immediately hastened forward. Near the summit of the second mountain, by the Laurel Run, and about four miles from the fort, a fire was opened upon them by the Indians in ambush, by which Capt. Davis, Lieut. Jones, a Corporal by the name of Butler, and three men under his command, fell. Major Powell, not far in the rear, hastened forward at a moment when an Indian, with surprising audacity, had seized a woman, the wife of one of the soldiers who had fallen, and was dragging her from the path, into the thicket. A soldier in the act to fire, was stopped by Major Powell, but the woman escaped. The Major, it was thought, lost the self-possession so indispensable to a soldier, and his command thrown into confusion, retreated in disorder. Uncertain as to the power, though too fatally assured of the prowess of his enemy, Major Powell undoubtedly experienced a degree of fear, which the force of the enemy disclosed, or probably present, did not warrant; and seems scarcely to have remembered that he still commanded nearly two hundred veteran soldiers. Dispatching his Surgeon, who volunteered for the occasion, and John Halstead, a soldier of Capt. Spalding's company, who had met him, and acted as guide to Col. Butler, the German Battallion was immediately called to arms, and marched to the mountain, to escort Major P. and his men to the Valley.*

Major Powell, having leave to resign, soon left the army.

During the spring and early part of summer, vigorous preparations had been making for the contemplated invasion of the Indian country. A brigade from New York, under the command of General James Clinton, had wintered on the Mohawk. The brigades commanded by Maxwell, Hand and Poor, with Colonel Proctor's regiment of artillery, and a battalion of Morgan's riflemen, under the command of Major Parr, were ordered to rendezvous at Wyoming :-Major General John Sullivan, of New Hampshire, being appointed to the supreme command.

* The bodies of the two officers, hastily buried, were exhumed the July following, and on the 29th reinterred with military and masonic honours, by the brethren of General Sullivan's army, and the regiments of Col's. Proctor and Hubley. A band of music, the first whose soul arousing strains were ever heard in Wyoming, added interest to the solemn pomp, and gloomy splendour of the display. A rude stone, but the best and neatest the condition of the country allowed them to obtain, was erected by the masons, at the head of the grave, in Wilkesbarre burying ground, with a suitable inscription.