Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-07-11

TIE commemorating exercises of the
centennial anniversary of the battle Of
Wyoming, or more properly the mas
sacre of Wyoming, were largely attend
ed July 3rd and 4th. The president
and several members of his cabinet and
large number of senators, congress
men and other officials were present.
The battle of Wyoming was the out
growth of i trouble that had existed for
many years between the patriots and
loyalists of the Wyoming Valley. The
battle, or massacre accurred on the 3rd
of July, ITS, with great disaster to the
patriots. The Delawares, and after
them the Five Nations of Indians-pro-
prietors of the Wyoming Valley-had
long manifested hostile spirit towards
the white settlers which had in 1853
brought on an engagement IN which a
large number of the latter were killed
or driven back to the east Bus after
few years the Proprietaries of Pennsyl-
yania made q treaty with the Indians
and resumed the settlement of the val
ley. In the early years of the revolu-
tionarv war there were many Tories
among the white inhabitants, and the
party feeling among neighbCrs, and
even members of the same family, was
bitter IN the extreme. The patriots were
in majority, and succeeded in driving
away from their homes, and with much
cruelty, most of their Tory associates.
Martial spirit had been stirred among
all the inhabitants. and most of the able
bodied men enlisted III the continental
army, and left their homes to the aged,
the women and the children. The
Tories who had been expelled from the
valley, taking advantage of the
exposed condition of the count.
~, organized in the early Sum-
mer of ITS an expedition, consisting
of a body of Colonel John Buffers Ran
gers, a detachment of British troops
and some seven hundred Indians, the
entire force numbering LOO men. The
Indians were infamed with their old
hostility against the whites, and the
Tories were eager to avenge the wrongs
they had suffered. Colonel Zebulon
Butler happened to be at home when
the news of the impending attack first
reached the people of Wyoming. He
hastily organized such forces as he could
collect, consisting of a company of forty
or fifty troops, some lmprovised militia
and the old men and boys, and march
ed out to meet the invaders, expecting
TO surprise them, on the afternoon OF
the 5rd of July. He found, however,
that the enemy were prepared for him
and considerably outnumbered him.
The battle was brief and disastrous.
The Americans were outfanked and at
tackled from everEguarter and com,
pletelv routed In this battle almost
every officer was killed, and but frag
ment of the forces escaped to the fort
where most of the women and children
were collected During the night the
Indians and Tories burned and pillagec
the houses of the inhabitants, and un
doubtedly committed many atrocities
On the morning of the 4th Colonel Den
ison, in command of the Americans
surrendered the fort, Colonel Butle
agreeing to make terms in accordanc,
with the usages of civilized warfare
but the Indians paid no attention t.
these terms and continued burning ant
plundering the houses and murderin.
the defenseless people, of whom 30t
We're killed or died of exposure in tn,
woods.