ring the winter, were under the necessity of leaving their habitations and returning to their friends in New England.

In the month of February, 1770, a number of people from Lancaster county, at the head of whom was Lazarus Stewart, accompanied by a number of the Connecticut people, under arms, proceeded to Wyoming, and finding in Fort Durkee a garrison of only 8 or 10 men, took possession of the Fort without opposition. They then sent a party to Ogden's house at Mill creek and took from it the four pounder which was deposited there, and conveyed it to the Fort, Ogden being then absent. On being informed of these transactions, Ogden returned to Wyoming and collected his party into his house which they again fortified. On the 28th. of March about fifty armed men from the garrison of Fort Durkee, proceeded to Ogden's house in order if possible to make him prisoner, but a Deputy of the Sheriff was then in the house, having accompanied Ogden home, and he immediately proceeded with the force which was then in the house to arrest the party from the Fort. On the approach of the deputy and his party a skirmish ensued in which several of the Connecticut party were wounded, and one man of the name of Stager killed. Which party commenced the fire is not known, as each accused the other of doing it. The party from the Fort finding that Ogden and his par ty in the house were armed and could fire at them without being exposed, his house being a well built block-house fitted for a siege, returned to Fort

Durkee to devise means of expelling Ogden and his party from the settlement before reinforcements could arrive, each party being too strong in its fortification to be taken by storm with the forces the other possessed. In pursuance of the resolution agreed upon in full council at Fort Durkee, the Connecticut party, on the 9th. of April commenced the erection of a block-house on the West side of the river, opposite Ogden's block-house, which they fortified in a strong manner, and in which they mounted the four-pounder which they had taken from Ogden. With this piece they commenced a cannonade upon Ogden's house, which was removed at intervals for several days; but finding that it did not force Ogden to surrender, and their shot nearly expended, they resolved upon a different manner of attack. Accordingly on the 23d. of April, the Connecticut party marched in columns from Fort Durkee with drums beating, and having advanced near Ogden's house, they formed into three divisions, and each division commenced the erection of a breast-work which was completed about noon, when a fire opened from each upon the block-house. This fire was returned by Ogden and his party, and was continued at intervals between the two parties for five days. On the 25th. the third day of the siege, a detachment from the Connecticut party advanced from one of the breast-works under a fire from the block-house, and set fire to one of Ogden's houses which was consumed together with a considerable quantity of goods and provisions, On the 28th

Major Durkee who had returned from Philadelphia, and who commanded the Connecticut party, sent a flag with a note to Capt. Ogden requesting a conference. Ogden accordingly waited on the Major for that purpose, when a cessation of hostilities until the next day at 12 o'clock were agreed upon. On the next day (the 29th. of April,) articles of capitulation were entered into by which it was agreed that Ogden and his party, who had no improvements upon the land, should depart the territory by the first of March-and that six men of Ogden's party should remain to take care of the property belonging to that party, and should occupy one of the houses. After Ogden had departed in pursuance of these articles, some difficulties arose between the six men and the Connecticut party, and the latter remembering the last capitulation, took possession of Ogden's property and burnt his house. Among the prisoners that were found in Ogden's block-house after the capitulation, were eight men from New England, and three Germans who had never been at Wyoming, and whe mistook Capt. Ogden's house for the Fort. The number of killed and wounded during the siege of Ogden's block-house, is not now known. After the attack of the 28th of March, Ogden despatched a messenger to Goy. Penn, informing him of the investment of his block-house, and the necessity of reinforcements; but as dissatisfaction to a very great degree had already manifested itself between the American Colonies and the Government of Great Britain, Governor Penn, like other Colonial

Governors, found his authority very fast declining, and not being able to afford the relief so immediately necessary to Ogden, he wrote from Philadelphia on the 6th. of April to General Gage who then commanded his majesty's troops in the city of New York, for the assistance of the force under his command. In his letter, after informing the General that the Connecticut people were forming settlements in Pennsylvania, that they had built a large stockade fort at Wyoming, &c. he says:"They have lately gone so far as to fire upon a party of our people who had several of their associates under legal arrest which obliged them to return the fire, and it unfortunately happened that one of the rioters was killed and another wounded." He goes on further to add: "Not having any militia in the Province, I find myself under the disagreeable necessity of applying for the aid of the military to support the civil power." Gen. Gage, in his answer dated New York, April 15, 1770, among other things says: "The troops in all the Provinces have orders in general to assist the civil power when they shall be legally called upon, but the affair in question seems to be a dispute concerning property in which I cannot but think it would be highly improper for the King's troops to interfere." Not succeeding in this attempt to obtain assistance, the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania concluded to assemble such forces as their per-sonal exertions could raise, for the recovery of Wyoming; and accordingly in September a force of one hundred and forty men was placed under

the command of Capt. Ogden. A Proclamation had been published at Philadelphia by Gov. Penn on the 28th. day of June, directing all intruders to depart from Wyoming, and forbidding any settlements to be made there without the consent of the Proprietaries, and Ogden marched with his forces, accompanied by Aaron Van Campen, Esq. and other civil officers, ostensibly for the purpose of carrying this Proclamation into effect. Ogden, knowing his strength was insufficient for the reduction of the settlement in case the settlers should be in garrison, concluded if possible to attack them by surprize; and to effect this the more safely, he commenced his march by way of Fort Allen on the Lehigh near the Water-gap, and thence by the warrior's path to Wyoming. Having arrived in sight of the Wyoming mountains they left the path for the greater safety, and on the night of the 21st. of September encamped on the head waters of Solomon's creek. In the morning of the 22d., Ogden with a few attendants ascended the high nob of Bullock's mountain, now called "Penobscott," which commands a view of the whole Valley of Wyoming, from which with his glasses he observed the settlers leave the fort and go into the fields in detached parties at a distance to their work. He concluded to attack them in this situation unprovided with arms, and accordingly divided his forces into several detachments which commenced their attacks nearly at the same time. The working parties were immediately dispersed in every direction, and many of them were taken

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