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49-772: Previous violence between the Iroquois and settlers was one of the contributing factors to the events of the Sugarloaf Massacre. In 1780, there were a large number of attacks by Natives in the vicinity where the massacre took place, including an attempted attack on Moses Van Campen . On June 15, 1780, a group of militia in Northampton were commissioned to serve for seven months, led by Captain Johannes Van Etten. The communities of Bloomsburg and Catawissa were home to large numbers of Loyalists who aided

98-611: A few months later, and again in returns the following year, as substitutes (volunteers, not drafted) in Captain William Moyer's (father of Lieutenant John Moyer) company of militia and again a year later, in 1783. Peter Crum lived long enough to file a pension in 1833. It is likely that Van Etten did not know who had been killed (his company was spread over two dozen miles, east to west, along frontier forts in Northampton County) or these men had deserted after

147-400: A tract of land near Briar Creek and remained there for five years. He moved to a little-settled area of New York in 1795, near the community of Almond . He then moved to the community of Angelica in 1805. In New York, he was employed as a surveyor and surveyed approximately 150,000 acres of land over the course of several years. He also aided in the creation of a number of important roads in

196-511: Is difficult to confirm. The earliest and best source, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Balliet, reported that ten men were buried. Samuel Rea, the County Lieutenant of Northampton County, indicated that Balliet's numbers were probably the most accurate: "Col. Baliort [Balliet] informs me that he had Given Council a relation of the killed and wounded he had found Burned near Neskipeki as he was at the place of action his Accts must be as near

245-591: The Delaware Water Gap , where Van Campen spent most of his childhood. Van Campen was educated at home until the age of nine, when he was sent to a nearby school. Here, he learned surveying and navigation , and aspired to become a sailor. After he turned 16, he often hunted deer and wild turkey in the forests around his home. In 1769, Van Campen and his father moved to the Wyoming Valley . In 1773, Van Campen and his family moved to an area near

294-881: The Presbyterian Church of Angelica, New York, was ordained in 1812, and served at the church from 1812 to 1831. Van Campen became paralysed due to illness in 1845, but recovered in 1847. He died in Angelica, New York , on October 15, 1849, at age 92. In 1933, the Hotel Moses Van Campen opened in Benton, Pennsylvania . There was once a Moses Van Campen chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution . Pennsylvania Route 93 Too Many Requests If you report this error to

343-569: The Six Nations community Genesee. In 1780, Van Campen was captured by Indians of the Seneca tribe during a raid, who planned to take him to Niagara. However, at night, he and two other men who were taken prisoner killed nine of the ten Indians guarding them (the tenth escaped). Van Campen and the others then went to the Wyoming area. Van Campen then returned to Fort Jenkins. Later in 1780, he

392-530: The Susquehanna River and went to Sugarloaf Valley in southwestern Luzerne County. The men of the volunteer detachment had just sat down to eat dinner on September 11, 1780, according to survivor Peter Crum, when the Loyalists and Natives started firing muskets at them. Ten militiamen were killed, according to Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Balliet, who had gone with a small force of 150 militia to bury

441-609: The West Branch Susquehanna River in Northumberland County . Van Campen also purchased a tract of land along Fishing Creek . While living here, according to a book by John Niles Hubbard, he commonly met Native Americans on his hunting expeditions, and commonly hunted with a Seneca person named Tom Shenop . Van Campen's first military experience was in 1775, although he did not play a significant role during this experience. At this time, he

490-778: The British during the American Revolutionary War , and a detachment of 41 of Van Etten's men headed to Northumberland to investigate these settlements in 1780. They were placed under the command of Lieutenants Moyer and Fish, and they left Northampton County in the beginning of September 1780 from Fort Allen and headed into Sugarloaf Valley to search for Loyalist sympathizers and spies. On September 6, approximately 250 to 300 Native warriors and Loyalist soldiers arrived at Fort Rice , near Chillisquaque Creek in Lewis Township, Northumberland County . They attacked

539-618: The Fishing Creek watershed. The group then continued to Chillisquaque Creek , then over the Muncy Mountains to Muncy Creek . Finding no trace of any Indians, Van Campen then returned to Fort Wheeler. In 1779, Van Campen was a participant in the Sullivan Expedition , a military campaign against Loyalists and Iroquois . He was appointed to the role of quartermaster and charged with gathering provisions for

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588-543: The Indians and determine how many there were, so he headed in the direction of a nearby Indian camp. He and his companion crossed the Chemung River and ascended a mountain, where they could see the campfires of the Indians. They continued down the mountain to the campfires. Van Campen then approached the campfires and estimated that there were 700 Indians there. The afternoon after he returned from this expedition, he

637-507: The Indians to come with them, and the Indians were captured by a Captain Robinson. The Indians were then taken to Northumberland, where Colonel Hunter commanded that they leave the area for the duration of the war. In the first few months of 1781, Van Campen did active service as a lieutenant. His work during this time consisted mostly of scouting around settlements and searching for small groups of Indians. His typical route on such missions

686-551: The Loyalist and Native forces while burying the dead, as Balliet went on to report: "We also have great Reason to beleve that several of the Indians have been killed by our men, in Particular one by Col. Kern & an other by Capt. Moyer both of whome went Volunteers with this partie." Most of the militiamen escaped, with Lieutenant John Moyer, Ensign Scoby, and an unnamed private taken prisoner. Moyer managed to escape, but

735-534: The Peace from 1812 to 1814. He was chosen to be the Commissioner of Loans for Allegany County in 1808, and he held this position until 1831, when he moved to Dansville . Van Campen was Allegany County's county treasurer from 1814 to 1826 and a constable in 1815. He was also an election inspector in 1824, an Assessor in 1824 and 1826, and Deputy County Clerk of Allegany County in 1828. Van Campen helped build

784-536: The Revolutionary War began, Van Campen began dealing with defending settlements on the frontier . Later, Van Campen was made a sergeant under the command of Thomas Gaskins and John Kelly. The regiment that Van Campen was in first went to Reids Fort near Big Island on the Susquehanna River. While stationed here, Van Campen was sent to a place called Young Woman's Town, 30 miles upstream along

833-483: The Revolutionary War was over, Van Campen lived in Angelica, New York . He was friends with Captain Horatio Jones, met Van Campen when Van Campen was captured in 1782. Van Campen was a freemason since at least 1808. He also enjoyed wrestling . After retiring from the army, Van Campen married Margaret McClure, a daughter of James McClure, and owned a farm and estate for several years. He later purchased

882-479: The Sullivan Expedition. He started gathering the provisions between two and three months before the beginning of the expedition. On July 31, 1779, Van Campen, under the command of John Morrison, began moving up the Susquehanna River with 120 ships and 2000 horses carrying supplies for the Sullivan Expedition. They stopped at Tioga on August 11 to wait for their army. Annoyed at persistent ambushes by

931-730: The Susquehanna River valley to Pine Creek and from there through the Pigeon Woods to the Genesee River and Niagara. They were then taken to an Indian village in New York and beyond to near Buffalo Creek . Van Campen and the other prisoners were then taken to Fort Niagara and given to the British army. The British soldiers then took him to Montreal . He was then sent down the Hudson River to New York in December 1782. He

980-412: The Susquehanna River, in pursuit of a group of Native Americans who were camping there. After several days, Van Campen and the others were unable to find them, so they returned to Reids Fort. Van Campen was promoted to Lieutenant in 1778 and was subsequently placed under the command of Colonel Samuel Hunter. Near the beginning of April 1778, Van Campen and 20 other men marched to an area three miles above

1029-439: The Susquehanna River. On Rocky Island, Van Campen discovered signs that Indians had been there not long before. As they passed this area, four Indians arrived to kill Van Campen, but they opted not to attack when they realized that he was going with six others. Van Campen also was based at Fort McClure for part of 1781. During this time, he was involved in protecting locals from Indian attacks. While stationed at fort McClure, he

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1078-431: The abundance of ice , so the entire company continued upriver on foot towards Fort Wyoming . However, before reaching the fort, they reached Shawnese Mountain and were fired at, although the attack was not devastating. The company crossed the river, but encountered an opposing force there as well. Since Plunket's men were not equipped for a long siege, they retreated down the Susquehanna River at this point. Shortly after

1127-554: The area. In 1807, Van Campen was appointed to be one of the judges of the first court in Allegany County, New York . In the same year, he was appointed treasurer of Allegany County, a position he held until 1822. He also was a freeholder in 1808, 1809, and 1811. He, along with two other people, was chosen to build the Allegany County Courthouse and Allegany County Jail . Van Campen was a Justice of

1176-661: The dead. He wrote in his report: "On the first notice of this unfortuned event the officers of the militia have Exerted themselves to get Volunteers out of their Respective Divissions to go up & Burry the Dead, their Labour Proved not in Vain we collected about 150 men & officers Included from the Colonels Kern, Giger & my own Battalions who would undergo the fatique & Danger to go their & pay that Respect to their slautered Brethren, Due to men who fell in support of

1225-490: The end of March 1782. Van Campen passed through Northumberland before heading towards Muncy . Here, he was directed to rebuild a fort that was once located there until it was destroyed by Indians in 1779. In April 1782, shortly after the rebuilding of the fort commenced, Van Campen and a number of others went with a man named Mr. Culbertson to Bald Eagle Creek , where Clubertson's brother was killed by Indians. After selecting twenty men to go with him and Culbertson, Van Campen and

1274-483: The fort and the surrounding residences, but Colonel Hunter sent some troops from Fort Jenkins to their aid. Approximately 200 men arrived at Fort Rice, and the Loyalists and Natives dispersed. Upon retreating, these people went over Knob Mountain and a group of 30 to 40 of them went down the stream known as Cabin Run to Fort Jenkins, which they burned down, along with numerous buildings in the fort's vicinity. They then crossed

1323-515: The freedom of their Country. On the 15th we took up our line of march (want of amunation prevented us from going Sooner) on the 17th we arrived at the place of action, where we found Ten of our Soldiers Dead, Scalped, Striped Naked, & in a most cruel & Barborous manner Tomehawked, their throads Cut, &c. &c. whom we Buried & Returned without even seeing any of these Black alies, & Bloody executors of British Tirany." Balliet's burial detail apparently skirmished with some scouts from

1372-419: The hideout by force, but the loyalists were quickly subdued. Later in 1778, Van Campen received orders from Colonel Hunter to lead a company of men from Lancaster County and patrol nearby settlements and search for groups of Indians. The group travelled through the woods for three days without encountering any Indians, until they reached Eve's swamp, an area between Green Creek and Little Fishing Creek in

1421-436: The local Indians, General Sullivan ordered Van Campen to head a company ambush the Indians. The orders to approach the Indians and then move out onto a nearby plain . They had a sentinel keep watch and planned to ambush the next group of Indians who went past. After some time, Van Campen's sentinel signaled that there were 15 Indians nearby, although it turned was a false alarm . General Sullivan then ordered Van Campen to spy on

1470-463: The massacre and returned to their farms. The number commonly believed, 15, is not sustainable according to the evidence. Thus the plaque at the site listing that many names is inaccurate. Rogan Moore asserts that a Captain Daniel Klader commanded a detachment at of 41 men at Sugarloaf. However, Thomas Verenna asserts that no historical evidence exists which places a man named Daniel Klader at

1519-716: The massacre spread the news as far as the Delaware River . In 1933, the Pennsylvania Historical Commission , the Wyoming Historical and Genealogical Society, and the Sugarloaf Commemorative Committee built a memorial near the location of the massacre. In 1947, a historical marker was installed on Pennsylvania Route 93 , near Conyngham . The number of militiamen killed in action at the skirmish

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1568-482: The mouth of Fishing Creek. Van Campen began building a fort in that area and named it Fort Wheeler. Its purpose of which was to defend local settlers against Native American attacks. In May 1778, while the fort was under construction, the Native Americans attacked it. The Indians besieged the fort until its supplies of ammunition and gunpowder were low. The siege failed, as more supplies were brought from

1617-492: The nearby Fort Jenkins . However, the fort was attacked again in June 1778. This time, Van Campen and ten other men fought them, causing the Indians to retreat. Later in the summer of 1778, Van Campen and five other men were ordered to track down a group of loyalists who were hiding nearby. After traveling for one night, they discovered the Loyalist hideout. The loyalists barricaded themselves in, so Van Campen and his men entered

1666-399: The other two men were taken to Niagara . Moyer traveled to Fort Wyoming , which he reached on September 14. After the skirmish, the Loyalist and Native war party searched the surrounding area for several hours. The next day, they took their prisoners down Nescopeck Creek and towards the Susquehanna River before turning towards Berwick and Catawissa, Pennsylvania . The soldiers who escaped

1715-498: The others travelled upriver to an island known as Big Island. The group set out overland to Culbertson's farm, where they spent the night. At this point, approximately 85 Indians of a Seneca tribe who were sailing downriver discovered Van Campen's group and set out to pursue them. When the Indians did catch up to Van Campen's group, the group fought them. Three of Van Campen's men escaped, a total of nine were killed, and several more were wounded. The remaining soldiers were then taken up

1764-430: The others went up to kill them, but they awoke. Six of the Indians were killed in the skirmish, but the rest escaped. He and his company then returned to Northumberland, where Van Campen remained until near the end of the autumn of 1781. In late autumn, 1781, Van Campen was chosen to travel with his company down to Lancaster . He and his company went by boat as far down the Susquehanna River as Middletown before leaving

1813-513: The river and marching to Reading . Here, he and his company were joined by portions of the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment , 5th Pennsylvania Regiment , and one company of the Congress Regiment . These soldiers had been assigned to guard a group of Hessian soldiers that had been taken prisoner by General Burgoyne. Van Campen remained in the vicinity of Reading until the spring of 1782. Van Campen and his companies returned from Reading at

1862-548: The scene. No correspondence or militia returns mention his name. No birth record, marriage record, or death record for him exists. No survivor mentions his name or his death in their depositions and no surviving pension file from any of the Volunteers indicate that they served under a Daniel Klader of any kind. 41°00′40″N 75°59′20″W  /  41.011°N 75.989°W  / 41.011; -75.989 Moses Van Campen Major Moses Van Campen (1757–1849)

1911-401: The settlement and returned to the army. On August 31, the army continued heading in the direction of Catherine's town, destroying Indian homes and croplands in their path. On their route, the army traveled into areas that were previously unexplored by people of European descent. The army continued up the eastern side of Seneca Lake, destroying several more Indian communities before turning towards

1960-401: The top of the hill, causing 16 casualties. The advance guard pursued the Indians and killed several of them. On August 29, 1779, the battle between General Sullivan's army and the Indians began. Later in the Sullivan Expedition, Van Campen and a group of other soldiers went to an Indian settlement at the headwaters of Baldwin's Creek . They burned down all of the approximately twenty houses in

2009-642: The truth as any I could procure..." Lieutenant Moyer, upon his return, said he had seen thirteen scalps on the belts of his captors, but it is hard to believe that they let him count the scalps while he was detained. Captain Van Etten did take a return at the end of the Volunteer's tour of duty, in January, 1781. He indicates that 14 men were killed on September 11, 1780. But at least three of these men—George Schellhammer, Peter Crum, and Baltzar Snyder—show up on

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2058-506: Was a soldier during the American Revolutionary War . He was a prominent figure in Pennsylvania and parts of New York . His primary involvement in the Revolutionary War was in fighting against hostile Native American tribes. He began work as a soldier in 1775 and retired from military service in 1783. Van Campen was familiar with Native American methods of warfare. He also participated in the Sullivan Expedition in 1779. Van Campen

2107-474: Was born in Hunterdon County , New Jersey on January 21, 1757. His father was a farmer named Cornelius Van Campen. He was of Dutch descent on his father's side and French descent on his mother's side. He was the oldest of six sons and four daughters, and was named after Moses Depue, his grandfather. Shortly following Moses Van Campen's birth, his family moved to Northampton County, Pennsylvania , near

2156-486: Was ordered to destroy a nearby group of Senecas. He went to Northumberland with a number of other soldiers, then crossed the Susquehanna River and returned past Mahoning Creek to Roaring Creek . He and the soldiers disguised themselves as Indians and encountered a Loyalist hunter by the name of Wilkinson. Van Campen and the others convinced Wilkinson to take them to the Indian settlement. From there, Van Campen convinced

2205-581: Was paroled and eventually returned to Northumberland via New Jersey. Near the beginning of the spring of 1783, Van Campen travelled to the Wilkes-Barre Fort to take command of it and the company of soldiers inside it. The purpose of this was to protect nearby settlers from Indian attacks. Van Campen commanded the fort until November 1783, when he retired from military service due to illness. His father and younger brother died in 1780, during an Indian attack, which Van Campen himself survived. After

2254-534: Was recruited as part of a company of about 700 men under Colonel Plunket to fight an opposing company of British troops in the Wyoming Valley. Plunket's men went upriver for some distance, before beginning to march on December 1, 1775, while the boat continued traveling upstream as well. The company reached the Nanticoke falls on December 24, 1775. At this point, the river was found to be impassable due to

2303-477: Was selected by Colonel Hunter to command a group of five soldiers who were to travel to Sinnemahoning Creek in disguise and spy on a group of 300 Indians who were based there. This expedition was known as the 'Grove party'. On the Sinnemahoning Creek, Van Campen and the others discovered a group if Indians, but there were far fewer than the claimed 300. When the group of Indians slept, Van Campen and

2352-477: Was selected by General Sullivan to lead the advance guard in the army's upcoming battle. Van Campen and 26 other men then went as far as a place known as the Narrows, near Chemung, New York . Upon arriving at the location of the Indian village, the army found that it was deserted, and burned it down. They then proceeded to a ridge called Hogback Hill. The Indians attacked Van Campen's advance guard as it arrived at

2401-482: Was to travel down the Susquehanna River, then up the West Branch Susquehanna River to the headwaters of Chillisquaque Creek, Little Fishing Creek, and Muncy Creek. Van Campen was chosen for such scouting missions because of his skill as a marksman and his familiarity with the area. Later in 1781, Van Campen went to Wilkes-Barre with a guard of six men. Along the route, he and his men passed through an uninhabited area, which included an island known as Rocky Island on

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