tending parties immediately cease all hostilities, and avoid every appearance of force until the dispute can be legally decided; That all property taken and detained be immediately restored to the original owners; That no interruption be given to either party to the free passing and re-passing of persons behaving themselves peaceably through the disputed territory, as well by land as by water without molestation of either persons or property; That all persons seized and detained on account of said dispute on either side, be dismissed and permitted to go to their respective homes, and that things being put in the same situation they were before the late unhappy contest, they continue to behave themselves peaceably on their res pective possessions and improvements until a legal decision can be had on said dispute, or this congress shall take further order thereon, and nothing herein done shall be construed in prejudice of the claim of either party."

99*

Notice of this resolution was immediately given to the respective parties, but it produced very little effect; no counter orders were sent to Colonel Plunket, who continued his march very slowly up the Susquehanna. The provisions for the troops could be conveyed only by the boat, and as the march of the troops along the shore was necessarily regulated by its progress, and its ascent against the current very much impeded by floating ice, the expedition did not arrive at the foot of Nanticoke

*See Journal of congress, vol. I. p. 279.

At this place

falls until the 24th. of December. Plunket found the river so full of ice as to render the ascent of the falls impracticable; and it was accordingly concluded to leave the boat at that place, to supply the men with provisions for a few days in their knapsacks, and to proceed with all possible expedition to the attack upon Wyoming Fort. Accordingly a small guard was left for the defence of the boat, and the troops commenced their march along the road leading through the gap of the mountain into Wyoming Valley. On the West side of the river, at the point of the Shawanese mountain a short distance above Nanticoke falls, is a projecting rock, which lies in the form of an inclined plane descending towards the Valley, and extending its point towards the river. This rock presents down the river an abrupt precipitous front; and has the road winding around the point of it. As Plunket advanced through the defile, this brow of the rock suddenly presented to his view a long rampart constructed by the Wyoming settlers, who had received notice of his approach, and who, rising from behind it, discharged a vole Ley of musketry at his troops, which, on account of the distance, took little effect. Plunket's troops were thrown into great confusion, and immediately retreated behind the point of the mountain, where he again collected them to consult on what further measures should be pursued. With their boat they had brought a batteau for the greater convenience of crossing the river in difficult pla-. cee, and it was now resolved to bring the batteau

above the falls, and by means of it convey the troops in small parties across the river, under the protection of those on shore, and when the whole force should have thus crossed, to enter the Valley on the East side of the river. The Wyoming settlers, aware that this course might be attempted, had provided against it by placing a small detach, ment in the defile upon that side under the command of Lieut. Stewart who lay with his men concealed in the thick woods on the bank of the river, and as Plunket and a few men were attempting to land from the batteau fired upon them, killed one man and it was supposed wounded some others, when they immediately pushed the boat from the shore, and without attempting again to land floated down through the falls, Plunket himself lying down in the batteau to escape the shots that were fired at him. The troops which remained upon the west ern shore, observing that the fire upon the batteau proceeded from the bushes on the opposite bank, discharged a volley into them and killed one of the settlers of the name of Bowen. Plunket's troops then returned to their boat where they again held a consultation relative to future operations. To force the breast work on the rock was deemed im practicable the amount of the force on the opposite shore was unknown. To ascend the steep and rocky mountains against a force which could attain the summit before them, and thence precipitate rocks upon them, was considered equally imprac ticable. To reduce Wyoming at one blow was no longer to be expected-and as in a few days the

river might close, and fasten their boats in the ice, in which case their situation would be extremely unpleasant, they concluded to abandon the enterprise, and accordingly commenced their return down the river. Thus terminated the last military enterprize ever undertaken by the Provincial Government of Pennsylvania.

The following year (1776) commenced a new era in the history of the American Colonies, and in some measure gave peace to Wyoming in the midst of war, by removing from Pennsylvania the authority of the Proprietaries, and royal Governors. During this interval of comparative repose, three companies of troops were enlisted at Wyoming for the service of the United Colonies. They were attached to the Connecticut line and made part of the troops of that Colony. At this time a full enumeration of the population at Wyoming was made, and the settlements were found to contain five thousand souls. Their militia at the same time amounted to one thousand one hundred men, capable of bearing arms; and of this force about three hundred enlisted to serve against the. common enemy. After their march, the settlers continued to guard themselves with increased vigilance. Regular garrison duty was performed in the several fortifications by classes of the militia in successive order; in addition to which, a patroll called the "Scout," was established through the

*See memorial to the Legislature of Connecticut, Oct. 20, 1784.

Valley, which was on duty night and day in succession, exploring all thickets and unfrequented grounds, in search of any lurking enemy which might have come to disturb their peace, or spy out the land.

The frontier settlements of the different Colonies were at this time continually harrassed by incursive parties of British troops and Indians, from Canada; and the surrender of General Burgoyně which took place in October (1777) did not produce an abandonment of the system. Early in the spring of 1778 a force consisting of about eight hundred men, and composed of British regulars, tories and Indians, under the command of Colonel John Butler, assembled at Niagara and marched to the reduction of Wyoming. The Indians were in number about four hundred, and were commanded by Brandt, a warlike chief, of mixed blood. At Tioga Point these troops procured boats and rafts of wood upon which they floated down the Susquehanna until they arrived about twenty miles above Wyoming Fort. Here they landed the latter part of June. On the evening of the 2d. of July they took possession of a Fort which the settlers had built on the bank of the river about a mile below the head of the valley, called Fort Wintermoot. From this Fort, which the British commander made his head quarters, were sent small scouting parties in search of plunder and provisions, as well as to

*Brandt is said to have been a son of Sir Will iam Johnson by an Indian woman. K