The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-03-04

VlSllant und savage zoe. 10 uefeat aud
murder such an army, deficient in arms
as well as inefficient by reason of the in
frmities of age and the inexperience of
youth noticeable in its ranks, would seem
but a play-spell for the savage warriors,
who alone were more than twice their
number. Every step of their advance was
watched, and when, about four o'clock in
the afternoon, the fight began, their hap
less ranks we're fankcd on right and left
and by hosts of ambushed Indians. The
fearful yell Of savage warfare rent the air.
From their hiding places, the Indian
marksmen coolly selected their victims.
A CALLING fire on right and left and front
soon threw the Wyoming companies into
confusion, and an order for one company
to wheel back and form an angle was mis-
taken for an order to retreat, and that one
fatal word ran all along the line, and utter
confusion prevailed. Col. Zebulon Butler
rode up and down between opposing fires,
to check the flight; but all in vain. The
overwhelming numbers Of the enemy made
futher effort idle, nd disordcrly flight and
massacre began.
To the thickets, to the river, here and
there, the survivors fed for their lives,
closely pursued by the blood-thirsty say
ages whose hour of glory now had come.
One sergeant was chased into the river,
and, while struggling for life, was run
through by spear, and left to float away
upon the water. A man by the name Of
Pensil concealed himself among some
willows in the stream, where he was dis
covered by Tory brother. He was au-
swered by taunting oath and death
shot from his brothers hand. A number
of fugitives were taken, placed in a circle,
round large stone, thus held while an
Indian queen, muttering incantations,
passed around from one to another, dash
ing out their brains with tomahawk.
The stone is still pointed out and known
as Queen Esther's Bloody Rock. The
pursuit and massacre continued until night
spread its welcome curtain on the scene Of
woe. But on number of miserable cap
tives, special objects Of savage hatred and
vengeance, the work of Indian cruelty was
continued until midnight. They had been
reserved for the more refined tortures that
were to accompany the horrid orgies Of
the war.dance of victory.
Col. John Butler, commander Of the in.
vading force, declared that it was not in
his power to restrain the savages But
his name will doubtless ever be held in
detestation and contempt as inseparably
associated with the horrors Of the Wyom.
ing massacre. Terms of capitulation were
the next day agreed upon between the
two forces, and the British, Tories and
indians soon after withdrew from the val
ley, But strolling bands Of Indians re.
mained, or returned and perpetrated their
savage crueties wherever they could find
a victim. Most of the settlers fed from
the valley. A few returned and attempt
ed to gather in the ripened harvest Of
wheat, but found themselves constantly
exposed to death by the hand of lurking
Indians, John Abbott, great grandfather
of Rev. W. P. Abbott, great-grandfather
Of Rev. W. p. Abbott, Of New York, was
shot and scalped in attempting to harvest
his wheat on the fats just north Of Wilkes
barre. Many others, whose descendants
now dwell in the valley in peace and pros
perity, were killed or taken prisoners by
the unrelenting foe. More than one hun
dred and sixty persons perished on the
day of battle, And such terror hung
over Wyoming that it was not until the
latter part of October that the remains Of
the dead were gathered up and buried
where the monument now stands. A
marble tablet in the monument bears their
honored names.