On Friday, July 3, 1778 about 2:00 P.M. some three-hundred and seventy- five men marched out of Forty Fort to the fife and drum’s “St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning”. It is reported that they carried the “stars and stripes”, our new national flag, for the first time. Colonel Zebulon Butler, who was on leave from the Continental Army at the time, led the small army. Colonel Nathan Denison was second-in-command. The men marched up what is now Wyoming Avenue. They stopped at a bridge which crossed Abraham’s Creek. In fact, Thomas Bennet boldly declared that they were marching into a snare and would be destroyed; and he left them at Abraham’s Creek and returned to the fort. Another halt was made at Swetland’s Hill. This time scouts reported the enemy was in full retreat. Here Butler, Dorrance and Denison wanted to hold the line until reinforcements arrived from General Washington and John Franklin. But Lazarus Stewart prevailed. After 4:00 P.M. they marched on toward Exeter flats and defeat.
Additional Information
- Features:
-
Monument
