The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-04-28
VO 4, NO. 25.
81ngraphifs.
IroR THE rEEss.I
Col. zebulon Butler.

[coxrIsUEDI

ton of the settlement when Col. Butler arrived.
This was the latter part of June, 1778, and but
few days before the great battle.
On the 1st of July, the Militia under the com
mand of Col. Denison, with all others who were
capable and willing to bear arms, assembled at
the fort in Wilksbarre, being the principal fort.
They made an excursion against the enemy,
killed two Indians and found the bodies Of the
men who had been murdered by them
When they returned, each man was obliged
to go to his own house and furnish himself with
provisions, as there were none collected at the
Fort In consequence Of this dispersion, they
were not able to assemble again until the third of
July, when their whole strength amounted to
about three hundred and fifty men.
1t probably would have been greater but
many of the settlers chose rather to remain in the
other forts for the purpose of defending their
families and property in which they naturally felt
greater interest, than in the general welfare
Ut the whole force, consisting of the militia,
Capt Hewitt's company of rangers, and few
volunteers, including several officers and soldiers
of the regular army, who happened to be in the
Valley, Col. Butler was requested to take the
command.
The whole, as before stated, amounted to
about three hundred and fifty men, indifferently
furnished with arms and ammunition, many of
the guns were nothing but old foavling pieces
and very poor at that.
AS the enemy had entered the valley at the
upper end and had advanced directly towards
the fort in which the settlers were assembled. the
object of the savages was supposed to be to at
tack them in the fort
The enemy had taken fort Wintermote. and
one other small fort, and burnt them, and were
burning and laying waste the whole country in
their progress.
Col. Butler held consultation with the Off
GERS, and it was decided best to go out and
intercept the progress of the enemy, if possible,
and put an end to the scene of devastation which
they witnessed
Being perfectly acquainted with the country,
they marched out some distance from the fort,
and formed on the bank of creek, in very adj
yantageous situation.
Here they lay concealed, expecting that the
enemy would advance to attack the fort, and
knowing that if they did 50, they would pass the
| place where the Americans were in ambush
In this situation they remained near half of the
day, but 40 enemy appearing, council was call
ed in which there was difference of opinion as
to the expedieney of advancing and attacking
the enemy, or of returning to the fort there to
defend themselves until the arrival of Capt Spald-
ing's company, which was daily expected. On
the one hand the hope of succor and their I'M
certainty as to the strength of the enemy, were
urged as reasons for returning, and on the other,
the destruction of the whole country which
would inevitably follow such step, together with
the insuficiency of the fort, and the want of
provisions to enable them to stand siege, were
powerful reasons in favor OF risking an immediate
battle.
Capt Lazarus Stewart, a brave man, famous
in the country for his exploits among the Indians,
and whose opinion had much weight, urged an
immediate attack; declaring that if they did not
march forward that day and attack the enemy he
would withdraw with his whole company.
This left them no alternative, and they adj
vanced accordingly. They had not gone mile
before the advance guard fred upon some Indians
who were in the act of plundering and burning
house. These fled to their camp and gave the
alarm that the Americans were approaching
Fort Wintermote was at this time the head
quarters of the enemy. Their whole force con-
sisting of Indians, British, and Tories, was as
near as could afterwards be ascertained, about
one thousand men, and was commanded by Col
John Butler an officer of the British army, and
an Indian chief called Brandt. They were APP
parently unapprised of the movements of the
Americans, until the return to the main body of
those Indians who had been fired upon. They
Immediately extended themselves in line from
the fort, across plain covered with pine trees
and underbrush. When formed the right of the
enemy rested on swamp, and their left on fort
Wintermote The Americans marched to the
attack, also in line, COL Zebulon Butler leading
on the right wing, opposed by Col John Butler,
at the head of the British troops, painted to re-
semble Indians; Col Dension was on the left,
and opposed by Brandt and the Indians In
this position the parties engaged, and each sup
ported its ground for some time with much firm
ness. At length the Americans on the right
had the advantage of the fight having forced
the enemy's left wing to retire some distance
But on the Americans left the battle soon wore
a different aspect
Indians how ofod fha