9/11/1780. Indians and loyalists surprised Northumberland County miliiia.
Where: 40.98869 -76.04820 Sugarloaf Massacre
Maps: [map notes]
- Elvin Birth, The 1779 Western Campaigns, Raleigh: 2003, privately published, "Markers.pdf", p.112.
- Wiki: Hazleton, PA
During the height of the American Revolution in the summer of 1780, British sympathizers, known as Tories, concentrated from New York's Mohawk Valley, began attacking patriot outposts located along the Susquehanna River Valley in Northeast Pennsylvania. Because of the reports of Tory activity in the region, Captain Daniel Klader and a platoon of 40 to 50 men from Northampton County were sent to investigate. They traveled north from the Lehigh Valley along a path known as "Warrior's Trail," which is present-day State Route 93, since this route connects the Lehigh River in Jim Thorpe (formerly known as Mauch Chunk) to the Susquehanna River in Berwick.
Heading north, Captain Klader's men made it as far north as present-day Conyngham when they were ambushed by members of the Seneca tribe and Tory militiamen. In all, 18 men were killed on September 11, 1780 in what was to become the Sugarloaf Massacre.
- Historical marker
Near this spot occurred
The Sugarloaf Massacre
Sugarloaf PA, in Luzerne County
On September 11, 1780 a detachment of Captain John van Etten's Company, Northampton County Militia, resting at the spring was surprised by a band of Indians and Tories led by the Senece Chief Roland Montour.
Those who perished were:
Captain Daniel Klader
Corporal Samuel Bond
Jacob Arndt Peter Croom Philip George Abraham Klader John Kouts James McGraw Paul Neeley George Peter Renhart Jacob Row George Shilhamer Abraham Smith Baltzer Snyder John Weaver
Erected 1983 by the Pennsylvania Historical Commission, the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, and the Sugarloaf Commemorative Committee
40° 59.322' N, 76° 2.892' W' (40.98869 -76.04820) Basis of location
- Sep 1780 listing.9/11/1780 Sugarloaf Massacre (Nusquepack,
Scotch Valley). American defeat.