Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-03-25

of years in duration, involving long and ex-
pensive legislation, shall not enter, but the
reader will find in the History of the Valley,
by Mr.. Miner, much that will deeply interest
him, in the events that preceded the period
at which we begin. The same historian
paints the scene Of peace, plenty, and enjoy
ment, that dwelt in the Valley at the opening
o: the Revolutionary War, as ali but Eysian,
and even after it broke out, those quiet people
we're so far from its scenes, that they might
have hoped to escape the personal experince
of its horrors But the fear of the savages
all around them, and the tories who had set
tied in the northern part of the valley, and
there built Wintermoot's Fort, kept the Co.
/ lony in state of alarm. Flfey had forti6-
cation some few miles below, called Forty
/ Fort, from the number of Connecticut pioneers
who settled the valley, and this they strength
ened: it afterwards became famous in hsto-
nv. Almost the whole number of able bodied
men, were drawn off to recruit the army un-
der Gen. Washington, and the Valley was
left in a .defenceless state. All the aged
men, and the young who were able to carry
weapon, were formed into companies to de-
iend the women and children. 1t was ru-
lnorcd that the Tories and Indians were pre-
pairing nm expedition to ravage the Valley.
Congress, in session at Phladelbhia, was ap-
prised of the intention, but with blindness
TO consequences scarcely credible, to say
nothing of the nhumanity of their indiffer-
ence, fook no steps TO provide against the ap-
preaching storm. The inhabitants were left
to shift for themselves, while the men who
were capable of protecting their wives and
children were detained in the regular army.
In the northern part of the State of New
York, body of Tory Rangers under the CON-
mand of Col. John Butler, with some five or
six hundred Indians, making an invading ar
my of more than thousand men, prepared
10 come down on this peaceful valley, and
lay it waste with fire and sword. In the
month of June, IT'S, they gathered at Tio-
"a Point, and embarking in canoes and flats,
they foated gently down the river at the rate
OF four or FIVE miles an hour, and before their
approach was suspected, they landed above
/ Wyoming and took possession of Winter
moot's Fort, at the head of the Valley.
Col. ZebdIon Butler, of the American ar
my, then at home on a visit, was called by
acclamation to take command of what forces
could be raised in the valley to resist the in
vason He is said by some writers to have
been cousin of the Col. John Butler COM
sanding the enemy's forces, but there is no
eproOf of this relationship, and the worthy de-
scendants of Zebuon repudiate it altogether
Immediately the British commander sent to
Col. Z. Butler, in cammand at Forty Fort,
and demanded a surrender of all the forts,
and the valley, which demands were prompt
ly refused. A council of war was called, and
the only question to be considered was wheth-
er they should march out to meet the enemy,
or remain in the fort and receive the alta OK,
which would be made so soon as their refusal
to surrender was reported. In favor of mold
ing on within the fort, it was urged that in
short time the absent militia companies
might be expected TO return from the regular
army, and with their aid the enemy could be
repealed. On the other hand it was obvious
that delay was ruin to the valley; the work
Of devastation and death would be urged on
with savage cruelty, and the only hope was
in u decisive blow. No reasonable ground
existed for supposing that any help would
come FROM abroad. A large majority took
this view of the case, and disastrous as the
issue was, itappears to us at this day, that the
conclusion was the only one to which they
could come, under the circumstances, and
the result was no worse than it would have
been had they remained in the fort We see
no reason whatever for seeking extraneous
influences to account for the determine ton to
march against the enemy, with the bold de-
sign Of driving them back or perishing in the
hS tOiCC Siiob INV iOib e'ie
fort was "forlorn hope" of only three hun
dred men and boys; and with them were
Judges of the Courts and all the civil officer:
!, near at hand. Grandfathers took their mus
kets and marched TO the fight. One of thes,
old men had several grandsons on the field
, Some heroic women were at hand, of whom
, it may be said, as of Washington--women
" FIRST in war, first in peace, and first in th'
hearts of their countrymen." Col. z. Butle
made short address to his followers, exhort
, ing them to withstand the first shock,and th'
Indians would give way. AS soon as the.
reached the enemy they were to fire. and a
each discharge 10 advance one step. The.
! opened with spirit, and the British lines be
-. 49,, The Indians in amhuS