Captain Alexander Mitchell to George Washington, 14 March 1781
From Captain Alexander Mitchell
Wyoming [Pa.] March 14th 1781
May it pleas your Exelency
Agreeable to Orders I Arrived at this place the 18th of Jany last, Since Which time I have been Makeing the Necessary preparations for the defince of this Post against the Opening Campaign.1
I have Arrected a New Magazine & a New Store both Within the Works; & have provided Timber for Raising the fort all round as it Wass Much Impaired, I have Made and stored a quantity of Cartredges; so that I am in no Apprihention of danger if an Attact Should hapen.
On the Night of the Ninth Instant the enemy Made an Attect on the Inhabitince of Shawane about three Miles on my left;2 the brave handfull defended thimselves agains every Attempt Without the loss of a Man, Young Ransome Wass Wounded but Not Mortal, one of the savages Were left dead On the Ground on reciveing Intiligience I Sent off a party Who followed them some Miles but could not over take them.3 I Am your Exely Most obediant and humble servent
Alexr Mitchell Capt. Comdt
LS, DLC:GW. “Camp” and “Pulick service” are written on the cover under GW’s name.
1. Mitchell’s command replaced troops that complicated a jurisdictional dispute between Pennsylvania and Connecticut officials (see GW to Mitchell, 30 Dec. 1780, and n.2 to that document).
2. The Shawnee Indians had abandoned a village known as Shawnee Flats in an area about three miles west of Fort Wyoming that has become part of Plymouth Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
3. After gunfire had broken his arm, Samuel Ransom, Jr., killed one of the Indian raiders (see , 241).
Samuel Ransom, Jr. (1759–c.1807) had been a Connecticut militia private. He moved near Tioga Center, N.Y., after the war, became a New York militia major in 1797, and died in a boating accident. Ransom’s father was killed at Wyoming in July 1778 while serving as captain of a ranger company.