Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1851-11-27

Correspondence Of the New York Observer.
The Flight from Wyoming.

ger to Forty Fort, demanding its imm0>
date surrender. There was no POSSIBLE
ity Of making an effectual defence, and
terms were seon completed. With a
wise foresight, COL Butler desired that
any wh'skey in the fort might be destroy
ed before it was given up, as he would
not be answerable for the conduct of the
Indians after they had taste Of it. The
barrels were rolled to the edge of the ri
yer, and the heads knocked in. At an
hour agreed upon, the victors marched
10, Butler at the head of the whites, and
Queen Esther at the head Of the savages.
Brandt with his horde entered with them.
The late Mr.. Stone, whose notes on 'thc
Gertrude Of Wyoming" have been wide
" read, rejects the idea that Brandt was
present in this fight. Campbell had in
corporated this Indians name,
"Accursed Brant he left, Of all my tribe,
Nor man, nor child, nor thing Of living birth. !"
Some years after this poem was pub.
lished, a son of this chieftain visited Eng
land, and seeking an interview with the
poet, laid before him documents to prove
that his father could not have been pre-
sent at the battle of Wyoming. These
proofs convinced the poet that he had
been misled by the histories, which inva-
riably spoke Of the monster Brant as the
leader Of that bloody scene. Stone was
convinced that great injustice had been
done to tie Indian, and in his notes he
has indicated his memory. Mr.. Miner,
whose history has furnished me with all
the facts I have stated. and to whom l
am indebted for much of the language,
evidently believes that Brant was there,
and he has given strong presumptive ev-
idence in favor Of that opinion. The late
Col. Dorrance. who was in the fort at its
surrender, often spoke of the suspicious
look Of the wary chief as he entered. l
prefer Mr.. Miners conclusions as far
more likely to be correct. He has given
the subject more attention, with better
opportunities Of arriving at the truth than
any one else who has written upon it.
After the surrender Of tho Fort. the
Indians threw off all restraint, and stole
or destroyed all the property they could
lay their hands on. But there was no
murders committed after the surrender.
Col. Butler apprehsnding that the In
dams would proceed to greater violence,
speedily marched out of the valley, with
all The forces he could command.
Within the last fsw years we have re-
peatedly heard of the death of the 'last
survivor" Of the Wyoming massacre.
Since / &C mmenced writing these sketch
es. have received letter communicar
ting the name Of still another "last" man
Of that fatal day. But there is one still
living, and living too, on the very ground,
who remembers the day Of blood. Isaw
him, and when he is gone, which must
be soon, for though he was but boy of
Eve years then, he is an octogenarian
now, the last survivor will be numbered
with tie dead. ... .s =. .-.-..s...
No trace of the Forty Fort now re-
mains. have been ON the spot where
it stood q beautiful spot on q bend Of
the Susqushanna; now common, COM
handing delicious prospect of the river
above and below. Near by, is an old
house that stood here when tho Fort
surrendered, and not far away is grave
yard and neat house for public worship
not owned by any particular body o.
Christians, but occupied by any who
choose to hold service in it, which is We,
ry seldom, except on funeral occasions.
The battle field 10 marched by a mon.
ument of hewn blocks of granite, sixty
feet an height. and reared on the spot
where the dead were buried. Some for
ty years ago an effort was made to erect
a monument here. but only very lately,
and chiefly through the active agency Of
the ladies Of the Valley, has it been COM
pleted. 1t stands ON a fine bluff of ia
bic land. silent but sublime memorial
Of the past. bearing onits sides ',s names
Of all those who fought ir me great pat
tie, both those who ..sre siam ana shose
who survived The following inscription
| is upon .ae side that faces the street.
Near this spot was fought,
On the afternoon of Friday, the Sd day
Of July, 1878,
The Battle Of Wyoming,
In whicha small band of patries
Americans,
Chiefly the undisciplined. the youthful,
and the aged,
Spared by inefficiency from the distant
ranks Of The republic.
Led by Colonel Zebulon Butler, and
Colonel Nathaniel Denison,
With courage that deserved success,
Boldly met and bravely fought
A combined British. Tory, and Indian
| force Of twice their number.
Numerical superiority alone gave success
| to the invader,
and wide spread havoc,
deso!ation and ruin marked his
savage and bloody footsteps through th'
valley.
Th;a Monuuoark