Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-07-12

some Oh lnelll dangerously.
TIE commcmoratng exercises OF the
centennial anniversary Of the battle of
Wyoming or more properly the mas
saero Of Wyoming, were largely attend
ed July Sd and 4th. The president
and several members Of his cabinet and
u large number Of senators, congress-
men and other officials were present.
The battle Of Wyoming was the out
growth of trouble that had existed for
many years between the patriots and
loyaists of the Wyoming Valley. The
battle, or massacre, occurred on the Bird
Of July, ITS, with great disaster 70 the
patriots. The Delawarcs, and after
them the Five Nations Of Indans-pro-
prietors Of the Wyoming Vallcy-had
long manifested hostile spirit towards
the white settlers which had in 1863
brought on an engagement III which
largo number Of the latter were killed
or driven back to the east. But after u
few years the proprietaries Of lennsyl-
vania made treaty with the Indians
and resumed the settlements of tho val
Icy. III the early years Of the reyolu
tionary war there were many Tories
among the white inhabitants, and the
party feeling among ncighbors, md
even members of the same family, was
bitter in the extreme. The patriots were
in u majority, nnd succeeded in driving
away from their homes, and with much
cruelty, most Of their Tory associates.
Martial spirit had been stirred among
I'LL 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 country
organized in the early summer
sc ITS IN expedition, consisting
of body Of Colonel John Buffers RAN
gers. Il detachment Of British troops
and some seven hundred Indians, the
entire force numbering 100 mon. The
Indians we're inllamcd with their old
hostility against the whites, and the
Tories were eager to avengc the wrongs
they had suffered. Colonel Iebulon
Butler happened to he ut homo when
the news ot the impending attack first
reached the people Of Wyoming lie
hastily organized such forces Ms hecould
collect, consisting Of company Of
forty OF fifty troops, some lmprovised
militia and the old mon and boys, and
marched out to meet the invaders en-
peeting to surprise them, on the after
noon Of the 81 Of July. lie found, how
ever thnt the enemy We're prepared Tor
him and considerably outnumhored him
The battle was brief and disastrous.
The Americans were outilankcd and at
tackled from every quarter and COM
plotcly routed. In this battle almost
every officer was killed, and but Il frag-
ment Of the forces escaped 70 the fort
where most of the women and children
were collected. During the night the
Indians and Tories burned and pillaged
the houses Of tho inhabitants, and TN
doubtedly committed many atrocities,
On the morning of the 18th Colonel Den
ison i'll command of the Americans,
surrendered the fort, Colonel Butler
agreeing to make terms IN accordance
with the usages Of civilized warfare;
but the Indians paid no attention 70
these terms and continued burning and
plundoring the houses and numbering
the deicnseless people, Of whom 500
were killed or died Of exposure III the
woods.