1 principal leaders in thefe expeditions. The vast extent of the frontiers, the fcattered and remote fituation of the fettlements, the nature of the combined enemy, which feemed to coalefce in one point of action, all the properties of British, American, and favage warfare, together with the exact knowledge which the refugees poffeffed of every object of their enterprize, and the immediate intelligence which they received from their friends on the Spot, afforded them fuch advantages in thefe expeditions, that the wretched fettlers found all perfonal refiftance as ineffectual, as public protection was impracticable. To complete their calamity, fubmiffion could procure no mercy, nor was age, fex, or condition, in too many inftances, capable of allaying the fury of their enemy. 1 nies, in which they engaged with fuch earnestness, that it was not even terminated by the conteft with the mother-country, until the danger grew fo near and fo imminent to both fides, as of neceffity to fuperfede for the prefent all Their reother confiderations. fpective charters, and the grants of land under them, interfered ftrangely with each other. It may be prefumed, that the crown in thofe days did not take much trouble in fetting the geography of boundlefs waftes, which afforded no immediate value, and whofe future cultivation, or any disputes about their limits, appeared to be matters of fo remote and uncertain a fpeculation, as to excite no great degree of prefent attention. In this courfe of havock, the deftruction of the fine, new, and flourishing fettlement of Wyoming, was particularly calamitous to the Americans. That district, fituated on the eastern branch of the Safquehanna, in a moft beautiful country, and delightful climate, although claimed by, and in the natural order of things feeming properly to appertain to Penfylvania, was notwithstanding, fince the last war, fettled and cultivated with great ardour, by a numerous fwarm from the populous hive of Connecticut. This measure was, however, fo much oppofed and refented by Penfylvania, and fo obftinately fupported by its antagonist, that after much altercation, it became at length the foundation of an actual war between the two Colo The Colony of Connecticut obtained by their grant, all the lands weftward, within their proper degrees of latitude, to the South Seas, which were not already occupied by other powers. New York, and New Jerfey, were then within that exception, being both foreign, and they ftretched directly acrofs, in the way of that grant. Penfylvania was afterwards granted to its proprietors, lying on the farther fide, and in a parallel line, with thefe two provinces. The Connecticut men acknowledged the validity of the exception with refpect to New York and Jerfey; but infifted, that their right emerged on the western boundary of thofe provinces, in the courfe of the fuppofed line, and could not in any degree be affected by a later grant made to Penfylvania. A claim which, if eftablished, would narrow the li mits of the laft province to a degree, which would moft materi ally ally affect its power and interefts; and which lying open, as it ftill does, may poffibly be productive of very material confequences with respect to the future ftate of America. The fettlement of Wyoming confifted of eight townships, each containing a fquare of five miles, beautifully fituated on both fides of the Sufquehanna. In fuch a country, fituation, and climate as we have described, and bleft with a foil luxuriantly fertile; where every man poffeffed an abundance, which was, however, the fruit af moderate labour and industry; where no man was very rich, nor very great; the inhabitants exhibited, upon the whole, fuch a picture of primeval happiness, as has feldom been equalled; and fuch, indeed, as humanity in its present ftate feems fcarcely capable of exceeding. The fettlement increafed and throve accordingly. And notwithstanding its infant ftate, and the oppofition they met from Philadelphia, population was already become fo vigorous amongst them, that they had fent a thousand men to ferve in the Continental army. Yet, with this exceffive drain from the cultivation of a new Colony, their farms were ftill fo loaded with plentiful crops of every kind, and their paftures fo abundantly covered with cattle, that their fupplies to the army in thofe refpects, were at least in full propertion to that which they afforded in men. Nor had they been deficient in providing against thofe dangers, to which, from their remote fituation, they were particularly expofed; and had accordingly conftructed for that purpofe no less than four forts, which feemed, at least, fully fufficient to cover the fettlement from the irruptions of the favages. But neither the happiness of climate, the fertility of foil, nor the remoteness of fituation, could prevent the evils of party and political discord from springing up amongst them. It might indeed appear from the fupply of men which they had fent to the army, that only one political principle pervaded the fettlement; a fupply fo ill fuited to the ftate and ftrength of an infant colony, that it feems difficult whether to admire more, the excess of zeal from which it proceeded, or the total want of prudence, policy, and wifdom, under which it was directed. But notwithstanding this appearance, they had no inconfiderable mixture of loyalifts among themselves, and the two parties were actuated by fentiments of the most violent animofity. Nor were these animofities confined to particular families or places, or marked by any line of diftinction; but creeping within the roofs, and to the hearths and boards where they were leaft expected, ferved, as it afterwards fatally appeared, equally to poifon the fources of domestic fecurity and happiness, and to cancel the laws of nature and humanity. It would feem extraordinary, if fuch inftances had not occurred upon other occafions, that this devoted people had frequent and timely warnings of the danger to which they were expofed by fending all their best men to fo great a diflance, without their taking any timely measures for their re call, call, or even for procuring a fubftitute of defence or protection. Their quiet had been interrupted by the favages, joined with marauding parties of their own countrymen, in the preceding year; and it was only by a vigorous oppofition, in a courfe of fuccefsful fkirmishes, that they had been driven off or difperfed. Several of thofe whom they called Tories, and others who had not before been fufpected, had at that time and fince abandoned the fettlement, and along with a perfect, and confequently dangerous knowJedge of all the particulars of their fituation and circumftances, were well known to have carried along with them fuch a flock of private refentment, from the abafement and infults they had fuffered from the prevailing party, as could not fail to give a direction to the fury, and even a new edge to the cruelty, of their favage and inveterate enemies. A fort of public act which had taken place in the fettlement fince the laft invafion, was preceded with, and productive of circumftances, which afforded caufe for the greatest alarm, and for every poffible defenfive precaution. An unufual number of ftrangers had, under various pretences, and the fanction of that univerfal hofpitality which once fo much diftinguished America from the old world, come into the Colony, where their behaviour became fo fufpicious, that they were at length taken up and examined, when fuch evidence appeared against feveral of them, of their acting in direct concert with the enemy, on a fcheme for the destruction of the fettlements, that about twenty were fent off 4 under a flrong guard to Connecticut, in order to be there imprifoned and tried for their lives. The remainder of these frange Tories, against whom no fufficient evidence could be procured, were only expelled. It was foon well known, that this meafure of fending their fellows to Connecticut, had excited the rage of thofe called Tories,, in general, whether in arms on the frontiers, or otherwife, in the most extreme degree; and that all the threats which had ever been denounced against this people, were renewed with aggravated vengeance. now As the time approached for the final catastrophe, the Indians practifed a more refined diffimulation, if not greater treachery, than had been cuftomary with them. For several weeks previous to the intended attack, they repeatedly fent fmall parties to the fettlement, charged with the ftrongeft profeffions of friendship, declarations of the fulleft deûre and intention to preferve the peace inviolate on their fide, and requefts, that the fame favourable and pacific difpofition might be entertained and cultivated on the other. Thefe parties, besides lulling the people in their prefent deceitful fecurity, anfwered the purposes, of communicating with their friends, and of obferving the immediate ftate of affairs in the Colony. Some alarm, or fenfe of their danger, began, however, to spread among the people, and letters were fent to General Wathington, and to others in authority, reprefenting their fituation, and demanding immediate affiftance. As the time more nearly approached, approached, fome fmall parties of the enemy, more impatient than the reft, or more eager and covetous to come in for the first fruits of the fpoil, made fudden irruptions into the fettlement, and committed feveral robberies and murders; in the courfe of which, whether through ignorance, or whether from a total contempt of all ties and obligations, they maffacred the unhappy wife and five children of one of thofe men, who had been fent for trial, in their own caufe, to Connecticut. At length, in the beginning of July, 1778, the enemy appeared fuddenly, but in full force, on the Sufquehanna. They were led by Butler, that diftinguished partizan, whofe name we have already mentioned; who was affifted by mott of thofe leaders, who, like him, had rendered themfelves terrible in the prefent frontier war. Their force was estimated at about 1,600 men, of whom, fomething, lefs than one-fourth were Indians, led by their own chiefs; the others were disguised and painted in fuch a manner, as not to be diftinguished from the favages, excepting only their officers, who, being dreffed in regimentals, carried the appearance of regulars. One of the fmaller forts, which was mostly garrisoned by thofe called Tories, was by them given up, or as it was faid betrayed. Another was taken by ftorm, where, although they maffacred the men in the most inhuman manner, they fpared the women and children. It feems odd enough, if not fingular, that another Colonel But ler, and faid to be a near relation to the invader, fhould chance to have the defence of Wyoming, either committed to his charge, or by fome means fall to his lot. This man, with nearly the whole force of the fettlement, was ftationed in the principal fort, called Kingston; whither alfo, the women. children, and defenceless of all forts, as the only place of common refuge, crowded for shelter and protection. It would feem, from his fituation and force in that place, that he might there have waited, and fuccefstally refifted, all the atterapts of the enemy. But this man was fo wretchedly weak, that he fuffered hrnfelf to be enticed by his namefake and kin man, to abandon the advantage and fecurity afforded by his fortrefs, and to devote thofe under his charge to certain deftruction, by expofing them naked to fo fevere an enemy. Under the colour of holding a parlev for the conclufion of a treaty, he was led into an agreement, that upon the enemy withdrawing their force, he thould march out to hold a conference with them in the open field, and that at fo great a diftance from the fort, as shut out every poffibility of the protection which it otherwife afforded To render this measure still more unaccountable, he, at the fame time, fhewed fo great a diftruft of the enemy, and feemed fo thoroughly apprehenfive of their defigns, that he marched 400 men well armed, being nearly the whole ftrength of his garrifon, to guard his person to the place of parley. Upon his arrival there, he was greatly furprized at finding nobody to treat with; but not being willing to return without finishing his bufinefs, he advanced towards the the foot of the neighbouring mountains, ftill hoping that he might hear or fee fomething of those he wanted. As the country began to grow dark and woody, a flag at length appeared, at a confiderable diftance among the bushes, the holders of which feemed fo much afraid of treachery and danger from his fide, that they retired as he advanced; whilft he, endeavouring to remove this ill impreffion, ftill pursued the flag. This commander of a garrifon did not once perceive his danger, until his party was thoroughly enclosed, and he was fuddenly awakened from his dream, by finding it attacked at once on every fide. His behaviour in this wretched fituation, could fcarcely have been expected from the conduct which led him into it. He and his party, notwithstanding those circumstances of furprize and dan-, ger which might have difconcerted the most veteran troops, fought with refolution and bravery; and kept up fo continual and heavy a fire for three quarters of an hour, that they seemed to gain a marked fuperiority over their numerous favages, and the fierceness of the whole, together with the manner in which the vanquished had been originally furrounded, it affords no fmall room for aftonishment, that the commander of the garrifon, with about feventy of his party, fhould have been able to effect their escape, and to make their way good to a fmall fort on the other fide of the river. The conquerors immediately invefted Fort Kingston, and to cheer the drooping fpirits of the weak remaining garrison, fent in for their contemplation the bloody fcalps of 200 of their late relations, friends, and comrades. Colonel Dennison, the prefent commander of the fort, feeing the impoffibility of any effectual defence, not having force fufficient even to man the works for one effort, went with a flag to Butler, to know what terms he would grant on a furrender; to this application of weakness and mifery, Butler, with all the phlegm of a real favage, anfwered in two short words, "the hatchet." In these dreadful circumftances, the unfortunate governor having defended his fort, until most of the garrifon were killed or difabled, was at length compelled to furrender at difcretion. Some of the unhappy perfons in the fort were carried away alive; but the barbarous conquerors, to fave the trouble of murder in detail, shut up the great, er part promifcuoufly in the houses and barracks, which having then fet on fire, they enjoyed the favage pleasure of beholding the whole confumed in one general blaze. They then proceeded to the only remaining fort, called Wilkesborough, which, in hopes of ob taining |