The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-09-13
THE LEGEND OF JANE meCREA

When will the final and correct word
of history be written in relation to any
noteworthy eventp Who would, for
instance, in this region feel to rise and
dispute the long-accepted narrative OF
the death of Jane McCrea, which took
place near Fort Edward at the time Of
the Burgoyne invasion in 17772
The current story is that David Jones,
British officer connected with the ex-
petition, sent two Indians to bring MISS
McCrea, to whom he was engaged to be
married, to the camp. On the way the
savage escort quarrellcd about the re-
ward which they were TO have, and to
end the stiife one of them slew her with
tUmahawk. This was thought to have
been her fate by General Gates, who re
preached by letter General Burgoyne for
having such murderOus allies with him,
and the reply OF the British commander
show that he believes the girl was killed
as we have related.
But here comes a work Just published
entitled, THE British Invasion from the
North being for the most part, the
journal of Lieut., William Dlgby. who
accompanied Burgoyne on his luckle>s
incurs on tn the plains OF Saratoga. in
1t this chronicler gives very different
version of Jane McCrca's death. We
quote
MISS McCrea had been invited by
Ddyid Jones t. visit the British camp
and accompany several ladies there in
All excursion on Lake George. He was
troubled by her exposure to danger by
the Indians, and intended t. press her
to marry him at once, that he might be
better able to afford her protection. Mrs.
Mcneil and she were just about to en-
bark under the charge of Lieut.. Palmer
and few soldiers, when, knowing that
the Americans were in the vicinity. the
lieutenant left them for few minutes
to reconnoitre. While the British sol.
diers were absent. some OF the Indian
allies came up and seized Mrs. Mcneil
and Miss McCrea, aud placing the latter
upon horse, hurried away, pursued by
party Of Americans who were close al
hand. The Americans firing upon the
flying Indians, one of whom, Wyandot
Panther, was leading the horse upon
which Miss McCrea sat. Mrs. Mcneil
became separated from Miss McCrea and
did not witness her death, but said after.
ward that the Americans fired so high
as not to Injure the Indians who were
on foot. Wyandot Panther, when ex
amined by Burgoyne, affirmed that Mis-,
McCrea was killed by the Americans
who we're pursuing him; and Genera
Frazer at a post norton investigation
gave it az his opinion that she was thus
killed by the Americans aiming toe
high, when the mark was on the ground
as had occurred at Bunktr's Breeds
hill But, in addition to this, we now
have more positive proof in the testi
mony of Gen. Morgan Lewis, to the ef
feet that she had three distinct gunsho
wounds upon her body, and from tn,
additional fact that when the body wa
removed, a few years ago, to a new
burial place, no mark of tomahawk no
injury of any kind was found upon tn,
skull.
Which version is true: Is it possibl,
that Digby, in order to shield the British
arms from the approbrium under which
they naturally fell because of the repor
ed bar barous manner in which Jane NJ
Crea was slain, incorporated this excu
pating account in his diary Or is her
the truth at length, after more than tn,
lapse Of hundred years, revealed to
British American public2 Clearly Bur
goyne himself did not credit Wyando
Panther's story, according to his re
spouse to the American general,
Who can tell The effect of this mar
rative is to raise suspicion that mucl
else believed to be correct history il
con Hection with the revolution may b.
truth distorted into romsnce.-IrO.
Times.