Item 8: Letter from John Armstrong to Redding Beety, 1784 March 21
Item — Box: 12, Folder: 48
Dates
- Created: 1784 March 21
Creator
- Armstrong, John (Jr.) 1755-1843 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
6 ⅝ in. x 8 ⅜ in. (cover); 8 ½ in. x 6 ¾ in. (letter)
Description:
A letter written by John Armstong, informing Doctor Beatty about what happened during the flood on March 20, 1784. The flood was known as the Great Ice Flood. It was the result of the thick ice that laid on the Susquehanna, melting rapidly and causing the river to rise at an alarming rate. Masses of ice swept down and lodged into the lower part of the valley until the pressure got to be too much, breaking the flood through the icy barrier sweeping everything in its path off the ground. John Armstrong was an officer in the Continental Army. He also served as Minister to France and Spain under Thomas Jefferson, and as the Secretary of War under James Madison. During the time this letter was written Amerstrong was a Colonel in the Pennsylvania Militia during the Third Pennamite War.
In 1784, fighting broke out between settlers in the Wyoming Valley, a region that was claimed by both Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was able to claim ownership and wanted to remove the Connecticut settlers.Armstrong Jr. and another representative, Alexander Patterson, were sent to the Valley to help restore peace. However, Armstrong found himself involved in yet another political controversy. Armstrong Jr. and Patterson gave the settlers six months to leave, but their homes were wiped out by a flood. When the settlers started to move back onto the land they believed was rightfully theirs, Patterson had some of them whipped, and Armstrong gathered militia forces in Lancaster and marched them into the Valley to keep more settlers from returning. To read more on the flood see here.
Location:
Wyoming County; Cross Roads, Bucks County
Transcription:
First Page:
In Pencil: Flood Letter
Wyoming 21st March 1783 Sir I have to regret that the subject of this letter is of so melancholy a nature- suffice it to say Its altogether suited to our situation— from the Window at which I am now sitting I can scarcely see one Hundred yards for the mountains of Ice by which we are surrounded. On the night of the 15th, the River rose 10 feet in thirty six Minutes, over flowed all this country swept off greatest part of the Houses in the settlement, with Horses Cattle & Grain- several houses with families in them were swept four miles down the river, and landed safe on higher ground.--- Some saved them selves (sic) by climbing trees. where they continued for several hours- we were obliged to evacuate the Fort in which the water was four feet deep. The ground at this time for several miles is covered with Ice four & five feet thick- what will become of the poor Inhabitants God only knows, Our Dist[rict] at present is baild (sic) wheat & salt Beef
Page 2:
Rum, Wine, &c [etcetera] we have plenty there is not a mill dam left standing in the settlement for buildings would have been swept off had not the strength of the Works prevented the Ice coming with its full forse(sic)-- I sincerely Pitty(sic) the Inhabitants the women & children in a particular manner-
Be so good as give my Love to my good friend Mr. Cahalls family Betsy in a particular manner, Compliments to your Brother Aceurious(sic) [Erkuries] & believe me to be with friendship you humble servant John Armstrong Doctor Beaty (sic)
Back Cover When Folded: Doctor Redding (sic) Beaty(sic) Mr. Cross Roads, Bucks County Craige The river was 30 feet above low water Mark
Reverse direction, Bottom of the page: J. Armstrong 21 March
In Pencil and Another Hand: See annals of Luzerne County by Stuart Peance page 478 Flood of March 20, 1784
Wyoming 21st March 1783 Sir I have to regret that the subject of this letter is of so melancholy a nature- suffice it to say Its altogether suited to our situation— from the Window at which I am now sitting I can scarcely see one Hundred yards for the mountains of Ice by which we are surrounded. On the night of the 15th, the River rose 10 feet in thirty six Minutes, over flowed all this country swept off greatest part of the Houses in the settlement, with Horses Cattle & Grain- several houses with families in them were swept four miles down the river, and landed safe on higher ground.--- Some saved them selves (sic) by climbing trees. where they continued for several hours- we were obliged to evacuate the Fort in which the water was four feet deep. The ground at this time for several miles is covered with Ice four & five feet thick- what will become of the poor Inhabitants God only knows, Our Dist[rict] at present is baild (sic) wheat & salt Beef
Page 2:
Rum, Wine, &c [etcetera] we have plenty there is not a mill dam left standing in the settlement for buildings would have been swept off had not the strength of the Works prevented the Ice coming with its full forse(sic)-- I sincerely Pitty(sic) the Inhabitants the women & children in a particular manner-
Be so good as give my Love to my good friend Mr. Cahalls family Betsy in a particular manner, Compliments to your Brother Aceurious(sic) [Erkuries] & believe me to be with friendship you humble servant John Armstrong Doctor Beaty (sic)
Back Cover When Folded: Doctor Redding (sic) Beaty(sic) Mr. Cross Roads, Bucks County Craige The river was 30 feet above low water Mark
Reverse direction, Bottom of the page: J. Armstrong 21 March
In Pencil and Another Hand: See annals of Luzerne County by Stuart Peance page 478 Flood of March 20, 1784
Creator
- Armstrong, John (Jr.) 1755-1843 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu