The New Student's Reference Work/Wyoming Valley

Wyoming Valley is a beautiful valley on Susquehanna River in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, inclosed by mountains. During the Revolutionary War 400 British troops, with 700 Indian allies, entered the valley, where there was a town of 2,000 inhabitants. Many of the defenders of the place were absent in the Continental army, and only 300 men could be gathered to meet the attack. After a desperate struggle, July 3, 1778, they were driven back to the fort, which surrendered on July 5, when the Indians indiscriminately massacred all who could not escape by flight. Campbell has preserved the story in his poem of Gertrude of Wyoming. It is now thought that Brant, the Mohawk chief, according to Campbell one of the chief actors, was not present at the attack. In 1843 a monument was erected on the battlefield. Consult Peck's Wyoming.