nnsylvania. From this
conflict of pretensions and consequent laxity of law, there had been the
freer license for rigours against the Loyalists. Few of them in that
district but had undergone imprisonment, or exile, or confiscation of
property; and thus they were provoked to form a savage alliance and to
perpetrate a fierce revenge." (Lord Mahon's History, etc., Vol. VII.,
Chap. lviii., pp. 382, 383.)]

[Footnote 86: Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol. V., Chap.
ix., p. 165.]

[Footnote 87: Brant was not at Wyoming. This appears from Butler's
report; and compare Broadhead documents, Vol. VIII., p. 572 (note by Mr.
Bancroft).]

[Footnote 88: This is what Dr. Ramsay, in his account quoted above, on
pages 85 and 86, erroneously states was a proposed conference as to
terms of capitulation.]

[Footnote 89: _Note._--Mr. Hildreth says that "Wyoming did not number
three thousand inhabitants." (History of the United States, Vol. III.,
Chap. xxxviii., p. 262.) The number of the slain could not have been
greater than those mentioned above by Dr. Ramsay (p. 86), who states
that, instead of those in the garrison being "indiscriminately
butchered," they were allowed to cross the Susquehanna and make their
way through the woods to neighbouring settlements.]

[Footnote 90: Colonel Stone states that the Provincials "intended to
make a quick movement, and take the enemy by surprise;" but their
purpose was discovered by an Indian scout. He then gives the following
account of the battle and of the "massacre" which followed:

"The Provincials pushed rapidly forward; but the British and Indians
were prepared to receive them, 'their line being formed a small distance
in front of their camp, in a plain thinly covered with pine, shrub, oaks
and undergrowth, and extending from the river to a marsh at the foot of
the mountain' (Marshall). 'On coming in view of the enemy, the
Americans, who had previously marched in a single column, instantly
deployed into a line of equal extent, and attacked from right to left at
the same time' (Col. Z. Butler's letter). 'The right of the Americans
was commanded by Colonel Zebulon Butler, opposed to Colonel John Butler,
commanding the enemy's left. Colonel Dennison commanded the left of the
Americans, and was opposed by the Indians forming the enemy's right'
(Chapman). The battle commenced at about forty rods distance, without
much execution at the onset, as the brushwood interposed obstacles to