Look Back: Last shot fired during the 1778 Battle of Wyoming

Jun. 19—Many militia and armed farmers who escaped the Wyoming Massacre 244 years ago took refuge on Monocanock Island in the Susquehanna River.

One such survivor was George Cooper, who is believed to have fired the last shot during the battle fought on the flatlands of today's Wyoming and Exeter boroughs on July 3, 1778.

There have been many different accounts, versions and stories written in books, research papers and newspaper articles about the Battle of Wyoming.

Collectively, Cooper was said to have been paired with Cherrick Westbrook standing near a marsh with many pine trees and bushes. Each was armed with a musket, a powder keg and shot.

As they stood guard, they noticed Indians slowly moving to their right as Col. Zebulon Butler, Col. Nathan Denison and Lt. Col. George Dorrance led an army of approximately 300 men and boys from Forty Fort toward Fort Wintermoot, which was deliberately set ablaze.

"The American force consisted of only six organized companies and were joined as they marched out of Forty Fort at about two o'clock p.m. by such of the old and young in the Fort," reported the Times Leader on July 4, 1878.

The 1878 story version of the battle continued, "Thence, on approaching Fort Wintermoot, then in flames, they found themselves in front of the enemy and deployed to the left. The Indians in overwhelming numbers and with fearful yells reinforced by hiding Tories and British rangers, shot down the American force in rapid succession."

Cooper and Westbrook were protected by taking shelter behind pine trees. A ball struck a tree just above Westbrook's head as he fired his musket toward an rushing Indian.

Westbrook noticed retreating colleagues as the battle was coming to a close.

As Cooper and Westbrook began running toward the river, they came upon a wooden fence with Indians in pursuit.

Cooper is said to have stopped at this fence, turned and fired his musket striking an Indian who fell near his feet.

Westbrook and Cooper jumped into the river and joined others swimming to Monocanock Island as Indians reached the river bank to escape the massacre.

The battle lasted less than 45 minutes. Those who surrendered and the injured were scalped and murdered.

According to ancestry.com, Cooper was born in Dutches County, N.Y., on May 16, 1751, and came to the Wyoming Valley about 1771 or 1772. After the Battle of Wyoming, Cooper returned to Dutches County but again came back to the Wyoming Valley permanently settling on a 100 acre farm in Pittston Township, reported in old newspaper stories as Pottstown Township.

With his wife, Phebe, they had three sons and a daughter.

Cooper died Nov. 11, 1824, and was initially buried in Cooper Cemetery, now in Jenkins Township, but his remains were removed to Hollenback Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre, according to ancestry.com.

As the Wilkes-Barre-Wyoming Valley Airport was being constructed in the mid-1930s, workers unearthed Indian relics and a piece of history from the battle.

"Digging in long-undisturbed soil near the Susquehanna River, WPA workers on the runway job have been unearthing many pieces of Indian relics and recently found a flint-lock gun," reported the Wilkes-Barre Record Sept. 17, 1936.

The story reported the butt of the gun was rotted and broke off when the worker picked it up.

"The rusted steel barrel remained. The gun was found about seven feet under the surface. Another interesting find was a row of six Indian signal fireplaces," the Record reported.

The Wyoming Commemorative Association will host their 144th annual observance of the battle at the Wyoming Monument at 10 a.m., Monday, July 4. Keynote speaker is Dr. Carla J. Mulford, professor of English at Pennsylvania State University. Candice Kelly, WBRE/WYOU anchor, is scheduled to be master of ceremonies.