New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-11-22
THE PATRIOT AND TORY,
A REVOLUTIONARY SKETCH.

.- TIL PATRlUT a u III hI.
A REVOLUTIONARY SKETCH.
1t is well known that during the years 1777
and 177S some of the interior towns of Pennsyl-
vania and New York were the scenes of the
most abominable atrocities; among which may |
be mentioned the massacres of Wyoming, Cherry |
Valley and Tappan, the burning of Wilkesbarre |
and Others These remote villages being utterly |
| defenceless, became an easy prey to the preda-
| tory bands of British troops, always accom-
panied as they were by o sufficient number Of
| savage Indian allies and Tories to make sure
| their work of sanguinary cruelty But even
| there, amid the quiet scenes of Nature, remote
| from the principal line of military operations,
\ even there the most yindictiye foes Of American
| Independence, the most implacable and venge-
full haters of the struggling patriots and their
4 cause, the most barbarous and unnatural enc
mics, were the I0ries-men born on the soil,
I yet leagued with their country's oppressors.
| With these demons in human shape all ties Of
social attachment were torn asunder; all friend
ships expunged, and even the laws of consan-
| guinity utterly cast aside. To use the words OF
writer of those times: &C Having cast their lot
with the foes of their country, it seemed as
though they thought it necessary, as proof OF
loyalty, to surpass even the savages themselves
in acts of barbarity and treachery."
i At the time Of which we write, the village Of
Wilkesbarre, lying on the east side OF the Sus-
ming, the scene of Col Jno. Butler's infamous ex-
plot, contained all told, but twenty three; yet
like Wyoming, it sent good quota OF men to
the ranks of the Continental army. Like Wyo-
ming, too, it harbored number Of Tories; and
it was no uncommon thing to see members OF
the same family engaged in hostile opposition on
the great question of the day. Among the pio-
neers of that Eden-like spot in the wilderness,
was John Crawford, his wife and two sons, Will
liam and Henry They had ernigrated from
Connecticut; and the old man, having settled
his family comfortably in their new paradise,
and arranged his temporal affairs prosperously,
was gathered to his fathers. He died IGNORED
and respected by every inhabitant of the new
village, leaving his wife and boys the inheritors
| of a thriving estate. William, the elder, had
just arrived at the age of manhood when his
father died. Henry was about two years
younger, and yielded without murmur to the
! assumed authority of his elder brother IN tht
affairs of the farm. Thus, the affairs OF th'
family went on peaceably and harmonlously
until the commencement of the difficulties be
tween the Colonies and the mother country.
Then arose the contest of opinion between pa
triotism and servility; or, as the Tories demon
mated it, ssRebellion and Loyalty and in tina
contest none appeared more earnest than ,t,., om
two brothers. Henry was the advocate; WI
liam, or, as he was called !" Hiccoughing Bill,
-, caused by recently acquired habit of visltin
ed the village 'sstll house very often, took side
OF with the crown, and was frequently heard t
49, denounce his brother as a ssrascally youn
AZ. rebel'' The feud between them grew stronge
49, and stronger, and Bill was the more exasperate
because aged mother took part with the youn
patriot. She was often the arbitress betwee
raj them, and while taking sides with the younges
n never omitted an opportunity to urge upon hi
ST eldest son the dangerous error into which !
e had fallen. The war was at length fairly b
am gun. Gen. Washington led the patriot force
The Declaration of Independence had been sci
sold forth into the world, and the spirit of liber
mst asf had infused its inspiring enthusiasm IN u
evil hearts of the Colonists to such degree IN
z sl the Tories found it necessary to conceal the
VI VII opinions, or fly to the ranks of the inyadll
who enemy. Many adopted the latter course, b
saes the greater number OF them chose to rema
and seemingly neutral, while at the same time tn
~ were acting as spies upon the acts of their neig
bors and countrymen, or as guides TO the preo
tory bands of the ssred coats.
ssHiccoughing Bill F." being too much coWa
to enter the British ranks, was found amo
. this latter class He remained about the villa
nntil few days previous to the massacre
M wyoming, when he suddenly disappeared
the meantime his brother Henry had joined {
Of the militia g train bands raised in the tn
villages of Wyoming, Pottstown and Wilksbar
=. for mutual protection. ,i.
AS 1t is not our intention to relate the oft t
Sspg tale of the scenes Of Wyoming, in the horrors
a cam which the infant settlers Of Wilkesbarre W
/ participants; suffice it for our object to Sc
ana aEin that in consequence of the threatened att
upon Wyoming by the combined forces OF Iol
" OF and Indians, Henry Crawford was summon
with his company to the defence Of that devo
- ~. settlement. On the 3D. of July, l77o, the
Z - nrotected settlers of the valley were confron
hy their merciless enemies, having gathered
with pether every man and boy capable of bearin
rss IN weapon under the command of Iebulon But
MA a cousin to the wretch who led the attack u
ETC., the village, they sailed forth to drlVe oaok
,5vr invaders Of their peace They were overpowe
and bv numbers and driven back to therfort for
cK. ter: every one taken outside the fort was bu
--- cred in cold blood Some fled to Plttstown,
others to Wilkesbarre, giving the alarm to
affrighted people, who, leaving their homes,
sa tor toward the eastern mountains over Wilder
MS and swamp, many dying Oh Iatgue' expo
how and starvation in their fight, yet urged onv
hy the whoop of the merciless savages who
syee lowed on their track. But even these, witt
their sufferings, escaped. the still more teri
evss. fate of their neighbors of Wyoming, who
soon wholly in the power OF their lnfuri
"a. at. enemies. To those who were taken no qua
.osos | was shown; the men were put to death u
the most frightfnl tortafes thaa sasage osV
alaga eoaid hasn aaa' natbsred and fastened within
rest. wooden fort, the building was set on hre
hoord the whole consumed to ashes.
'"l Among the last of those who fed from
treet. a-,o,sl m ssacre was Henry Crawford, who
DE- ex an associate, threw away their guns, plu
s.fsst. into the susquehanna, and swan for Ii
lie by inconsistencies Aslalu' nniSa iosaI,, ,,sra
street. | and the EASTERN snore. Nv fsioeoiy WV
Al t,e1iS f4aV thn rpy
sale pursued tnae a ao ee Tar;os ,ub;stIed ahmnt
zee sis. rifles OF q pshu y 80 ".ss, =: -.
l,pyS III
ny the island unharmed. and perceiying that
saess.- pursuers we're already in the stream on
q, for they deemed it most prudent to conceal
el.. selves in the thioket hoping that in shor'
es, in the enemy would give mp the search and re
Leyas. M - 4nf tho nnrsuinp party landed, bri