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<b>First Posted:</b> 9/27/2009<br><br>By Sherry Long slong@www.timesleader.comStaff Writer 
EXETER &amp;ndash; The path the 24th Connecticut Militia members marched in July 1778 to defend their home against the British sympathizers during the Revolutionary War was traveled again &amp;ndash; this time by 10 people interested in learning what happened during the Battle of Wyoming.

The Historical Society Walking Tour presented by the Luzerne County Historical Society on Saturday morning took participants to the battle site in the open fields at Wintermute Fort, located near what is now present-day Exeter.
Historical society board member Stephen Killian led the tour educating the 10 walkers on the history and little known tidbits about the battle.
Wintermute Fort, was actually a farm of the Wintermute family, Killian explained. The British loyalists took over the fort, setting up headquarters at the site before burning it on July 3.
When the &amp;ldquo;citizen soldiers,&amp;rdquo; which were mainly farmers throughout the valley &amp;ndash; which stretched southward from present-day Nanticoke and West Nanticoke and northward to present-day Pittston and West Pittston &amp;ndash; saw the smoke they mistakenly believed the British were retreating, Killian said.
In actuality, the Iroquois Indians and Tories, loyalists to the British monarchy, were pulling the militia into a six to seven acre open field around 5 p.m. to surround them for what became a massacre.
It is not known exactly known how many men fought in battle, but it is estimated to be between 300 and 375 men ranging in age from the young to middle-aged men.
This tour held extra special significance for Jay Stevens of Tunkhannock. His ancestor, Lt. Asa Stevens, a Connecticut settler, was living in Wilkes-Barre with his family at the time of the battle.
Asa Stevens was one of the more than 100 men who died on that hot July day as they marched into battle.
Jay Stevens said participating helped him feel a stronger connection to his ancestor, even it was five generations ago.
&amp;ldquo;I&amp;rsquo;ve read quite a lot about it because of my connection. I can picture grandpa Asa marching up here to get slaughtered,&amp;rdquo; Jay Stevens said.
Walking Tours
1778 Battle of Wyoming Tour
When: 1:30 p.m. today  starting at the corner of 4th Street and Susquehanna Avenue in Wyoming
Hollenback Cemetery Tour
When: 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Oct. 10, 17 and 24
Call 823-6244 ext. 3 to make a reservation.
$7 for members and $10 for non-members of the Luzerne County Historical Society
    
Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.

Tour takes participants to Revolutionary War battle site in Exeter