ascertain the situation and strength of the force which remained for the defence of the settlement.

Upon the arrival of these troops the settlers collected their principal forces in a fortification situated on the west bank of the river, at a large eddy in the stream below Monockonock Island and about three miles above Wyoming Fort. This fort had been built and defended by forty of the settlers in that vicinity, and had thence obtained the name of "Forty Fort." The Garrison now assembled here, consisted of the most active of the settlers, and amounted to three hundred and sixty eight men, a small party being left in the other forts for the protection of the settlement in their immediate vicinity. About a month previous messengers had been sent from the settlers to the Continental army, to inform the commander in chief of their situation, and to request that a detachment might be sent to their assistance.

On the morning of the 3d. of July, the officers of the garrison at Forty Fort held a council to determine on the propriety of marching from the fort, and attacking the enemy whereever found. The debates in this council of war are said to have been conducted with much warmth and animation. The ultimate determination was one on which depended the lives of the garrison and the safety of the settlements. On one side it was contended that their enemies were daily increasing in numbers that they would plunder the settlements of all kinds of property, and would accumulate the means of carrying on the war while they themselves

would become weaker; that the harvest would soon be ripe, and would be gathered or destroyed by their enemies, and all their means of sustenance during the succeeding winter would fail; That probably all their messengers were killed, and as there had been more than sufficient time, and no assistance arrived, they would probably receive none, and consequently now was the proper time to make the attack. On the other side it was ar gued that probably some or all the messengers may have arrived at head quarters, but that the absence of the Commander-in-chief may have produced delay; that one or two weeks more may bring the desired assistance, and that to attack the enemy, superior as they were in number, out of the limits of their own fort, would produce almost certain destruction to the settlement and themselves, and captivity and slavery-perhaps torture, to their wives and children. While these debates were progressing, five men belonging to Wyoming, but who, at that time, held commissions in the continental army, arrived at the Fort. They had received information that a force from Niagara had marched to destroy the settlements on the Susque hanna, and being unable to bring with them any re-enforcements, they resigned their appointments and hastened immediately to the protection of their families. They had heard nothing of the messengers, neither could they give any certain information as to the probability of relief.

The prospects of receiving assistance became now extremely uncertain. The advocates for the

attack prevailed in the council, and at dawn of day on the morning of the third of July, the garrison left the Fort, and began their march up the river under the command of Colonel Zebulon Butler. Having proceeded about two miles, the troops halted for the purpose of detaching a reconnoitering party to ascertain the situation of the enemy. Col. Butler rode along the flank of the column to invite volunteers for this service. Abraham Pike and an Irish companion, offered their services, and they being the only volunteers, were accepted. The scout found the enemy in possession of Fort Wintermoot and occupying huts immediately around it, carousing in supposed security; but on their return to the advancing column, they met two strolling Indians by whom they were fired upon, and upon whom they immediately returned the fire, without effect. The settlers hastened their march for the attack, but the Indians had given the alarm, and the advancing troops found the enemy already formed in order of battle a small distance from their fort, with their right flank covered by a swamp, and their left, resting upon the bank of the river. The settlers immediately displayed their column, and formed in corresponding order; but as the enemy was much superior in numbers their line was much more extensive. Pine woods and bushes covered the battle ground in consequence of which, the movements of the troops could not be so quickly discovered, nor so well ascertained. Col. Zebulon Butler had command of the right, and was opposed by Col, John But,

ler at the head of the British troops on the left. Col. Nathan Denison commanded the left, opposed by Brandt at the head of his Indians on the enemy's right. The battle commenced at about forty rods distant, and continued about fifteen minutes through the woods and brush without much execution. At this time Brandt with his Indians, having penetrated the swamp, turned the left flank of the settler's line, and with a terrible war-whoop and savage yell, made a desperate charge upon the troops composing that wing, which fell very fast, and were immediately cut to pieces with the tomahawk. Col. Denison having ascertained that the savages were gaining the rear of the left, gave orders for that wing to fall back, in order to prevent being surrounded by the enemy. At the same time Col. John Butler finding that the line of the settlers did not extend as far towards the river as his own, doubled that end of his line, which was protected by a thick growth of brushwood, and having brought a party of his British regulars to act in column upon that wing, threw Col. Zebulon Butler's troops into some confusion.

The orders of Col. Denison for his troops to fall back, having been understood by many to mean a retreat, the troops began to retire in much disorder.. The savages considered this as a flight, and commencing a most hideous yell, rushed forward with their rifles and tomahawks, and cut the retiring line to pieces. In this situation it was found impossible to rally and form the troops, and the rout became general throughout the line.

K*

The settlers

fled in every direction and were instantly followed by the savages, who killed or took prisoners whoever came within their reach. Some succeeded in reaching the river and escaped by swimming across.;. others fled to the mountains; and the savages, too much occupied with plunder, gave up the pursuit. When the first intelligence was received in the village of Wilkesbarre that the battle was lost, the women fled with their children to the mountains, on their way to the settlements on the Delaware, where many of them at length arrived after suffering extreme hardships. Many of the men who escaped the battle, together with their women and children who were unable to travel on foot, took refuge in Wyoming Fort, and on the following day (July 4th.) Butler and Brandt at the head of their combined forces appeared before the fort and demanded its surrender. The garrison being without any efficient means of defence, surrendered the fort on articles of capitulation, by which the settlers, upon giving up their fortifications, prisoners, and military stores, were to remain in the country unmolested, provided they did not again take up arms.

*

In this battle about three hundred of the settlers were killed or missing, and from a great part of whom no intelligence was ever afterwards received. The officers killed were one Lieutenant Colonel,

*See Articles of Capitulation, Note No. II. at the end of the volume.

See Note No. III. at the end of the volumes