Area History: Massacre at Wyoming Followed by "The Great Runaway" on July 5, 1778: Luzerne (then Northumberland) Co, PA

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                   HISTORICAL  ADDRESS


First Page of Book
Book Title - Daily Stories of Pennsylvania
Prepared for publication in the leading daily newspapers of the State 
by Frederic A. Godcharles
Milton, Pennsylvania

Former Representative in the General Assembly, State Senator, 
Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth, Member Historical Society of 
Union County, Historical Society Lycoming County, and others.
Author of Freemasonry in Northumberland and Snyder Counties, Pennsylvania

Milton, PA.
1924

Page 460

MASSACRE AT WYOMING FOLLOWED BY "THE GREAT RUNAWAY" ON JULY 5, 1778

    The great massacre at Wyoming occurred on July 3, 1778, and as the news
passed down the North Branch of the Susquehanna and spread over the hills and
valleys leading to the West Branch Valley it caused a general stampede, a
wild, precipitate flight of the settlers from the upper region which has ever
since been known as the "Great Runaway"
     The history of Pennsylvania has failed to record any flight of its
inhabitants, either in numbers or the harrowing details of its movement,
comparable with this catastrophe.

page 461

      Within two days following the massacre the news had penetrated the
entire North Branch Valley and had reached as far up West Branch Valley as
Fort Antes, now Jersey Shore.
       On July 9 Colonel Samuel Hunter, the county  lieutenant and commandant
of the garrison at Fort Augusta (Sunbury), wrote to the Governor:
" Nothing but a firm reliance upon Divine Providence and the virtue of our
neighbors induces the few to stand that remain; and if they are not speedily
re-enforced they must give way ; but will have this as consolation, that they 
had stood in defense of their liberty and country as long as they could.  
In justice to this county (Northumberland) I must bear testimony that the 
States never applied to it for men in vain."
      "I am sure the State must know that we have reduced ourselves to our
present feeble condition by our readiness to turn out upon all occasions, when
called for in defense of the common cause.  Should we now fall for want of
assistance, let the neighboring counties reconcile themselves, if they can,
the breach of brotherly love, charity and every other virtue which adorns and
advances the human spies above the brute creation.  I will not attempt to
point out the particular cruelties or barbarities that have been practiced on
our unhappy inhabitants, but assure you that for the number history affords no
instance of more heathenish cruelty or savage barbarity than has been in this
county."
      Colonel Matthew Smith wrote from Paxtang July 12 that he " had just
arrived at Harris' Ferry and beheld the greatest scenes of distress I ever
saw.  It was crowed with people who had come down the river, leaving
everything."
       If the distress was the worst this old patriot ever beheld, it was
truly a sad scene, for colonel Smith had suffered in both the French and
Indian Revolutionary Wars.  He was in command of a company in the Arnold
expedition to Quebec,  when the troops for long months experienced nothing but
suffering and distress.
        On the same day Peter DeHaven wrote from Hummelstown: "This day there
were 20 or 30 passed through this town from Buffalo Valley (Union County) and
Sunbury, and the people inform me that there are 200 wagons on the road coming
down."
     Another letter, written by William Maclay, later the first United States
Senator from Pennsylvania, dated Paxtang, July 12: "I left Sunbury and almost
my whole property on Wednesday last.  I will not trouble you with a recital of
the inconveniences I suffered while I brought my family by water to this
place.  I never in my life saw such scenes of distress.  The river and roads
leading down it were covered with men, women, and children flying for their
lives.  In short, Northumberland County is broken up.

page 462

"Colonel Hunter only remained, using his utmost endeavors to rally the
inhabitants to make a stand. I left him with a few - I can not speak
confidently as to numbers- but he had not 100 men on whom he could depend.
Mrs. Hunter came down with me.  As he is now disencumbered of his family, I am
convinced he will do everything that can be expected from a brave and
determined man.  Something in the way of charity ought to be done for the
miserable objects that crowd the banks of this river, especially those who
fled from Wyoming.  You know I did not used to love them, but I now sincerely
pity their distress."
    Colonel Hunter the same day sent a pathetic appeal to the president of the
Supreme Executive Counsel, dated Fort Augusta, July 12:
    "The calamities so long dreaded and of which you have been more than once
informed must fall upon this country, if not assisted by Continental troops or
Malitia of the neighboring counties.  At this date the towns of Sunbury and
Northumberland are the frontiers were a few virtuous inhabitants and fugitives
seem determined to stand, though doubtful whether tomorrows sun shall rise on
them free men, captives, or in eternity."
    Robert Covenhoven wrote: "I took my family safely to Sunbury and came back
in a keel-boat to secure my furniture.  Just as I rounded a point above
Deerstown (now Lewisburg) I met the whole convoy from all the forts above.
Such a sight I never saw in all my life.  Boats, canoes, hogtroughs, rafts
hastily made of dry sticks, every sort of floating article had been put in
requisition, and was crowded with women, children and plunder.  there were
several hundred people in all.
     "Whenever an obstruction occurred at any shoal or ripple, the women would
leap out into the water and put their shoulders to the boat or raft, and
launch it again into deep water.  The men of the settlement came down in
single file, on each side of the river to guard the women and children.  The
whole convoy arrived safely at Sunbury, leaving the entire range of farms
along the West Branch to the ravages of the indians. "
    Several persons are known to have been killed by the indians during the
"Great Runaway,"  but it remains a most remarkable fact that almost the entire
population moved from the settlements and for several days were in the open
along the river and yet but few were killed.
    In answer to the appeal from Colonel Hunter and those who really knew the
situation,  Colonel Daniel Brodhead with his eight regiment, then on a march
to Fort Pitt, was suddenly ordered to the West Branch.  He arrived at Fort
Muncy, July 24.
    Colonel Thomas Hartley, with a small regiment, was ordered to the
Susquehanna and arrived at Fort Augusta August 1, and marched to

page 463

the relief of Colonel Brodhead at Fort Muncy, reaching there a week later.
    Colonel Hartley was the master of the situation and using the good advice
of General Potter, Colonel John Kelly, Colonel Samuel Hunter and others, who
knew how to fight indians, lead a successful expedition against them, which
allowed the more venturesome of the settlers to return to their fields and
reap their harvests.

End