Forty Fort was a stronghold built by settlers from

Westmoreland County, Connecticut Westmoreland County, Connecticut was a County (United States), county established by the State of Connecticut in October 1776, encompassing the present-day area of Wyoming Valley, in northeastern Pennsylvania. Both colonies claimed this territory an ...

, on the

Susquehanna River The Susquehanna River (; Lenape: Siskëwahane) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, overlapping between the lower Northeast and the Upland South. At long, it is the longest river on the East Coast of the ...

in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolutionary War, both Connecticut and Pennsylvania claimed this territory, as Connecticut laid claim to a wide swath of land to its west based on its colonial charter. These competing claims were settled by exchanges and agreements with resolution by the national government after the United States gained independence. This fort became a refuge for displaced settlers during the Battle of Wyoming in 1778.

Zebulon Butler Zebulon Butler (January 23, 1731July 28, 1795) was an American military officer and politician from Connecticut who served with the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War. He represented the Wyoming Valley (now i ...

's force of Continental and allied Indians was defeated by the far larger force of Loyalists and their Indian allies.

References

{{reflist Forts in Pennsylvania American Revolutionary War forts Buildings and structures in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania 1770 establishments in Pennsylvania History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania