Charles Tubbs

“ The ex-officers retained their titles by courtesy. Once a captain, always a captain. In the Wyoming histories, and upon the monument erected on the battlefield, confusion results, from giving the courtesy titles of ex-officers as much prominence as is given the titles of men who were in commission, and exercised actual command. In view of these and similar facts I have been to much pains to make the roster of those in actual command accurate as it was in the last formation of the regiment. ”

“ It did not, however, withdraw them from the Wyoming Valley.
I will here explain the changes in the officers of the regiment. Under the militia laws of Connecticut there were two general muster days in the year—first Monday of May, first Monday of October. On either new officers could be elected to fill vacancies or for other reasons. Able and ambitious men coveted and strove to become officers of the regiment and of the companies. In the larger and stronger companies the rivalry was great and the officers were in a continual state of flux. In this way there were a large number of ex-officers. ”

“ If the splendid uniform, the glittering bayonet, the evolution rapid and precise, with the imposing band of music, did not grace their trainings, there was yet upon the ground the strong banded old French musket, the long duck shooting piece, and more efficient than either the close drawing rifle, little known in New England, but becoming familiar on the banks of the Susquehanna. ”

“ Zebulon Butler, one month from the day of surrender, returned to the valley at the head of some Continental soldiers and 40 militiamen and went into garrison at Wilkes-Barrie. A muster roll of these men is extant. Many of them were men who had been surrendered. Captain John Franklin, with a company of Wyoming militia, went out in Hartley's expedition the same year, and in Sullivan's expedition the next year, and on other occasions. ”

“ The citizen liable to serve in the Connecticut militia was a man, between 16 and 50 years of age, but for specified reason many were exempt from the service. [12]
There was an almost immediate call for all the skill and ability of the newly commissioned officers not only in the training field, but in the arena of actual war. The Governor of Pennsylvania had made up his mind to completely destroy the Connecticut settlement at Wyoming. Wyoming was within the Pennsylvania county of Northumberland of which William Cook was Sheriff. ”

“ Scouting parties of the regiment were continually going out and coming in. They heralded the approach of an invading army. Premonitory signs of its coming had not been wanting.
It consisted of about 1,100 British soldiers, Indians and Tories, under the command of Major John Butler. [35] This force had been gathered at Kanadaseago and other points in Western New York. The time was the month of June, when nature puts on her best apparel. It approached Wyoming in boats. ”

“ In the Articles of Capitulation signed at Forty Fort was this: "Art. 7. That the inhabitants Col. Denison capitulates for, together with himself, do not take up arms during the present contest." Some undoubtedly considered themselves bound by this article. Colonel Denison for one is no longer heard of in our military annals, although Westmoreland remained more than four years longer under the jurisdiction of Connecticut. The Twenty-fourth regiment was never reorganized. ”

“ At the fourth town meeting held that year "Votes were passed to form themselves into companies in a military way," [5] each district in Westmoreland to be a company and Zebulon Butler, Esq., Major Ezekiel Pierce and Mr. John Jenkins were appointed a committee to repair to the several districts and lead each company to a choice of officers.
From this it is clear that the officers were chosen by a vote of the men in each company. The subsequent "estab [Pg 10] lishment" of the rank of officers by the Connecticut Assembly was but a ratification of what had already been done by vote of the men. ”

“ Of this company John Franklin, Jr., was ultimately to become the Captain and Stoddart Bowen the Lieutenant.
In December, 1776, a supplement to the militia law was enacted by the Connecticut legislature, by which the age limit of those liable to serve was extended to persons from 50 to 60 years of age, and many theretofore exempt were brought into the service. These persons were to be formed into companies to be called the "Alarm List," to elect their own officers and to be attached to already existing regiments. ”

“ The Twenty-fourth regiment availed itself of other means of becoming efficient. Two deserters from the British army—Abraham Pike and Sergeant Boyd—were employed as drill masters, and spent much time in putting the men through their evolutions. [34]
It had need of the skill of all its officers, of the efficiency of all its men. While I have been talking about officers, important events have been hastening toward a conclusion, on the northern border. They now claim attention. Up to this time (1778) no murders had been committed by the Indians. They now became frequent. ”

“ The slaughter of captured men by the Indians constitutes what is known in history as the Wyoming Massacre. Some of the fugitives reached Forty Fort; some Wilkes-Barre. Lieut. Col. Zebulon Butler escaped with his life. He and the remnant of Hewit's regulars left the valley. They did not surrender.
PITTSTON FORT.
What of the Twenty-fourth Regiment? Col. Denison reached Forty Fort alive. Lieut. Col. George Dorrance was mortally wounded. Major John Garret was killed. The Captain of every company fell upon the field, as also did three Lieutenants and three Ensigns. ”

“ Eliab Farnham, of the Lackaway Company, captured 18 tories [27] that had been disturbing his vicinage and sent them to Hartford under the escort of Lieut. Jonathan Haskell. The legislature declared that these persons should be treated as prisoners of war. This action was necessary, because the frontiersmen held that the prisoners ought to be hanged as cattle thieves. In May, 1778, Nathan Denison memorialized the legislature to be reimbursed as Colonel of the Twenty-fourth regiment, in sending out detachments as scouts and for guards during 1776, 1777 and 1778. ”

“ Wherever there were breaks in this natural rampart, Butler's men filled in the space with logs and stones. Behind this breastwork the Twenty-fourth regiment and its co-operating forces were stationed. About 11 o'clock Alden and his men became conscious that the enemy was moving, and they withdrew. They announced the approach of the enemy to Col. Butler and joined him behind the fortification. When the enemy advanced it was met with a fusilade of shots along the whole line, killing one man, wounding others and throwing the whole force into the utmost confusion. ”

“ William Judd, the newly elected Major, does not seem to have had any military experience outside of the militia.
The accessible records are silent about the progress made with the regiment during the summer of 1775, but it is fair to assume that the newly commissioned field officers did not neglect their duty in perfecting their organization and in training their men.
At the October session of the Connecticut legislature the election of the officers of nine of the companies were ratified. They were as follows: [10]
First (Lower Wilkes-Barre) Company, Stephen Fuller, Captain ”

“ Many of its names are identical with those who served in the Twenty-fourth regiment.
After the flight of the people from the valley the dead lay unburied on the plain where they fell for nearly four months. On the twenty second day of October a detail of thirty men was sent from the garrison at Wilkes-Barre as a guard to protect those of the inhabitants that had returned, in performing that solemn duty. ”

“ It took time to bring it about—perhaps a year. At a meeting of the inhabitants held March 22, 1773, it was voted: "That the Comtee of settlers be Desired to send to the several towns or to their Comtee. ”

“ Art. 1st. That the different Commanders of the said Forts, do immediately deliver them up, with all the arms, ammunition and stores in the said forts.
2d. Major Butler promises that the lives of the men, women and children shall be preserved intire.
IV.
Westmoreland, July 4th, 1778.
Capitulation made and completed between Major John Butler, on behalf of His Majesty King George the Third, and Col. Nathan Denniston, of the United States of America.
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Art. 1. That the inhabitants of the settlement lay down their arms, and the garrisons be demolished. ”

“ Wilkes-Barre. 1878.
Jenkins, Steuben.—Wyoming, Connecticut, Pennsylvania. Historical Register. Vol. II. Harrisburg. 1884.
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Johnson, Frederick C., M. D.-The Pioneer Women of Wyoming. An Address before the Wyoming Valley Chapter D. A. R. Wilkes-Barre. 1901.
Meginness, John F.—Biography of Frances Slocum, the lost Sister of Wyoming. A complete Narrative of her wanderings among the Indians. Williamsport, Pa. 1891.
Miner, Charles.—History of Wyoming in a Series of Letters. Philadelphia. 1845.
Military Expedition of General John Sullivan, Journals of. Auburn. 1887. ”