^m M -r iZ ■' '-A i-> tSHi^^'^BHHl ■■■■K ^■■t[ « -^ ggg ^jjULts^^^ i^^^ Bss HiHHf ^^^mum ^^^^S^9 ^^Bbbbi ^^^^r ^mn^ IBBHBHklHJi^^i^ *■ ■ '.^^^j^mjumgiiij^ mhk^ ■^V ii^>: >« C^^^BMi I9JmS« l^^4iHiHlta||^«aMkid«^ sjr^»w ''"^MHHK tpBBB^Pi' ^ ^ MMM ^flMMMflHP Hd ^. s « /I .' .v7 / i// IM ^J.% V /^% -.'^.^ : y ^* ' ■ ,, REPORT OF THE COMMISSION TO LOCATE THE SITE FRONTIER FORTS OF PENNSYLVANIA. ^ ^.-.^.rj/^^ VOLUME ONE SECOND EDITION Edited by THOMAS LYNCH MONTGOMERY, LITT. D HARKISBURG, PA.: WM. STANLlEY RAY, STATE PRINTER 1916 PREFATORY NOTE An act authorizing the Governor of this Commonwealth to appoint five persons to make inquiry and examine into and make report to the next session of this Legislature, at its next regular session, the advisability of erecting suitable tablets, marking the various forts erected as a defense against the Indians by the early settlers of this Commonwealth prior to the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That on and after thirty days from the passage of this act, the Governor of this Common- wealth is hereby authorized and required to appoint five per- sons to make inquiry in relation to the various forts erected by the early settlers of this Commonwealth prior to the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, as a defense against the Indians. Said five persons are hereby authorized to make inquiry and examination as to the number and loca- tion of said forts and the propriety of erecting tablets to mark said forts and do such things as they may deem best to carry out the provisions of this act, and make report to the next regular session of the Legislature of this Commonwealth with- in thirty days after it shall convene. Section 2-. The persons appointed to serve in making such examination and report shall be allowed no compensation for their services, only such actual expenses as they shall incur in making such examination and report and such railroad fare, not exceeding three cents per mile for each mile actually traveled thereon, and such other expenses of other conveyances as may be necessary in making such investigation and report. An itemized account and statement whereof shall be certified to by the Governor and attested by the Auditor General of the Commonwealth before paid by the Treasurer, which shall ac- company the report to the Legislature. Approved— The 23d day of May, A. D. 1893. KOBT. E. PATTISON. (iii) iv PREFATORY NOTE. In accordance with the provisions of the foregoing act, Gov- ernor Pattison appointed as Commissioners the following gen- tlemen : JOHN M. BUCKALEW, of Columbia county. SHELDON EEYNOLDS, of Wilkes-Barre. HENRY M. M. RICHARDS, of Reading. JAY GILFILLAN WEISER, of Snyder county; GEORGE DALLAS ALBERT, of Westmoreland county. This Commission shortly after convened at Harrisburg, and nominated Captain Buckalew as their chairman, and at once proceeded to arrange a programme for carrying out the work as directed by law. It was then decided, on the ground of economy and expediting the work that Five Divisions be formed of those portions of the State where the Frontier Forts were erected, one of which should be confided to each member of the Commission. These were as follows: I. That section of the State lying between the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna river, with the addition of Fort Augusta at Sunbury, to John M. Buckalew. II. That section known in history as the Wyoming Valley Region, to Sheldon Reynolds. III. That section between the Delaware and the Susque- hanna rivers, south of the Blue Mountains, except Fort Hali- fax and Fort Augusta, to Henry M. M. Richards. IV. That section comprising the Juniata and Cumberland Valleys, including Fort Halifax, east of the Susquehanna river, to Jay Gilfillan Weiser. V. That section lying west of the Allegheny mountains designated as Western Pennsylvania, to George Dallas Albert. Each member of the Commission visited nearly all of the localities in person, thus covering every section of the country, celebrated in the annals of Frontier warfare; and the reports made, which are here published, were presented to the Gov- ernor of the Commonwealth, at the opening of the Session of the Legislature of 1895, and by him transmitted to the Senate and House of Representatives. The Assembly at once passed the following resolution : PKEFATORY NOTE. v In the Senate, January 10th, 1895. Kesolved (if the House concur), That the State Printer be directed to print and bind in cloth, under the supervision of the State Librarian, five thousand (5,000) copies of the report of the Indian Forts Commission, filed with the Executive of the Commonwealth as required by act of Assembly, approved the 23d day of May, A. D. 1893; 2,500 copies being for the use of the present members of the House of Representatives, 1,000 copies for the use of the Senate, 500 for the Executive Depart- ment, 500 for the use of the State Librarian, and 100 for each of the five Commissioners who have made said report. E. W. SMILEY, Clerk of the Senate. The foregoing resolution concurred in January 23, 1895. A. D. FETTEROLF, Clerk of the House of Representatives. Approved— The 24th day of January, A. D. 1895. In obedience thereto, the report of tbat Commission is here with submitted to the people of the Commonwealth. In most respects it is interesting and valuable. As a historial docu- ment the report of the Commission will compare favorably with any heretofore published by the State. There may be errors of opinion, and perchance, errors in facts, but this is to be expected when so little that is reliable has ever been pub- lished in regard to the Frontier Forts. Whether it be sentiment or historical pride, the General As- sembly of Pennsylvania should take prompt action upon the recommendations of the Members of the Commission. They have done their duty well and faithfully. They have presented a report creditable to the Commonwealth, and invaluable as a contribution to the history of the State. The issue remains with the authorities. Let them act promptly and ef&ciently; and generations to come will rise up and bless their memories. WILLIAM HENRY EGLE, M. D., State Librarian. vi PREFATORY NOTE. During the Legislative Session of 1913 the State Librarian was asked bj Senator and Mrs. Endsley to suggest the titles of State publications, then out of print, which might be re- printed for the benefit of historical workers. Among others the Librarian suggested ^'Pennsylvania at Gettysburg'' and the ^'Frontier Forts." An act was prepared by Senator Endsley authorizing a new edition of the "Frontier Forts" and appointing the State Li- brarian as the editor thereof, The Editor requested Dr. George P. Donehoo of Goudersport, a well known authority upon the history of the Indian tribes, as related to Pennsylvania, to prepare a preface for the new edition, and Doctor Donehoo responded as follows : ''The author of the introduction of the first edition of Fron- tier Forts states, 'It is not within the scope of this report to analyse the reasons which induced the Indians to commit their terrible depredations in the Province of Pennsylvania, where the policy of the government had always been of a peaceful character and was based on the principle of fair dealing with the aboriginies.' While this statement is, in the main, true, it is nevertheless necessary for a right understanding of the history which is covered by these 'Border Wars,' that something be known of the conditions which made these wars possible. The author of this brief introduction realizes that it is not possible, in a mere introduction of this sort, to give a complete history of all of the causes which led to the alienation of the aboriginies, who welcomed the first white settlers to the shores of the Delaware. A whole volume would be needed to cover the history of this most interesting and vital epoch in Pennsylvania, and Ameri- can history. But, this brief sketch may help the reader to understand why the friendly Delaware was changed to a re- lentless foe, and to a certain extent give the reason back of the hostility of the period in which Pennsylvania was drenched in blood. When William Penn was ready to embark upon the ship which was to carry him to the New World, in which he had received a grant of land from King Charles, he requested that he be given an audience by his sovereign. When this request PRE:FAT0RY note. vii was granted, the King, in jest, said to him, "It will not be long until I hear that you have gone into the savages' war- kettle: what is to prevent it?" "Their own inner light," said Penn. "Moreover, as I intend equitably to buy their lands- I shall not be molested." "Buy their lands," replied the King, in surprise, "Why, is not the land mine?" "No, your Majesty, you have no right to their lands; they are the original occu- pants of the soil." "What, have I not the right of discovery ?" "Well, just suppose that a canoe full of savages should by some accident discover Great Britain. Would you vacate, or sell?" Needless to say, the King was surprised, but he was no doubt more surprised by the results of Penn's policy. New England commenced its conquest by trying to convert the Indian, in the menwhile taking possession of the soil. Penn commenced the conquest of his possessions on the Dela- ware by buying the land from the occupants and treating with them in friendly conferences, in order that he might win them to friendly relations with him and his people. The conquest of Pennsylvania was entirely different from that of any other part of the continent. It began with a Treaty of Peace, held under the spreading elm tree at Shackamaxon. Many writers have attempted to make this supposed scene, according to their views, entirely mythical. No matter where it was held, or when it was held — at Shackamaxon before William Penn arrived in the country, or at Chester after his arrival — it was most cer- tainly held at the commencement of the settlement of the Province, for the 'League of Amity' made with William Penn upon his taking possession of the land on the Delaware, is mentioned at nearly every Council held in the^Province in after years. The author can see no reason for changing the traditional site at Shackamaxon, or the year 1682. This place was a prominent gathering place for the Indians. Its very name, Sakimaxing, 'place of chiefs,' made it the most promi- nent village, or meeting place, in the region, Penn wrote to the Commissioners, whom he had sent out to make the arrangements for the settlement of the Delaware, *Be tender to the Indians. Soften them to me and to the peo- ple. Let them know that you are come to sit down lovingly among them. Bead to them, in their own tongue, the conditions viii PREFATORY NOTE. made with the purchasers, that they shall deal justly with them. Make a friendship and league with them according to these conditions, which carefully observe.' To the Indians he wrote, ''God, to whom you and I and all people owe their being, has written His law in our hearts, by which we are commanded to love, and to help, and to do good to one another, I desire to win and gain your love and friendship by a kind, just and peaceable life, and the people I send are of the same mind, and shall in all things behave themselves accordingly." To Thomas Holme he wrote, "When the great God brings me among you, I intend to order all things in such a manner that we may live in love and peace, one with another. Which I hope the great God will incline both you and me to do." These were the sentiments upon which William Penn com- menced his conquest of Pennsylvania, and these were the principles which entered into the ''League of Amity," which was to endure "as long as the sun gives light." The belt of wampum which is supposed to have been given at the first Treaty with the Indians is preserved in a case in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The inscription upon this case is, "Not Sworn to but Never Broken." This state- ment is correct. For seventy years this "League of Amity" was kept inviolate by the Indians, as well as by the Penns. Year after year the old chiefs of the Delawares went to Philadelphia to renew this agreement. In 1718 Civility, the old chief of the remnant of the once powerful Susquehanna, or Conestoga, Indians went to Philadelphia. In his "speech" to Sir William Keith, he said, in speaking of the visit of his tribesmen, "that they came, not to make any new Treaty or League of friendship, but only to renew or confirm those which had been made, and were hitherto inviolably kept on both sides." At a Council at Conestoga in 1721 Sir William Keith refers to the settlement of the Province, and said, "Some of your ancient men can yet remember the first settlement of the Province of Pennsylvania by William Penn. He was a good man, and had a great affection for the Indians; he entered into Leagues of friendship with them, and treated them as brethren." The Indian speakers said that they remembered those treaties with William Penn. PREFATORY NOTE. ix At a Treaty at Albany the following year Sir William Keith said, "You have likewise told us how William Penn, who was a good man, did, at his first settlement of the Province of Penn- sylvania, make leagues of friendship with the Indians, and treated them as brethren ; and that, like the same good man, he left it in charge to all his Governors who should succeed him, and to all the people of Pennsylvania, that they should always keep the covenant and treaties he made with the Five Nations, and treat them with love and kindness. We acknowledge that his Governors and people have always kept the same honestly and truly to this day; so we, on our part, have always kept and forever shall keep firm peace and friendship with a good heart, to all the people of Pennsylvania.'' For seventy years this peaceful policy of William Penn was carried out in all of the dealings of the Province with the Indians. At the Council at Easton in 1750 Tedyuskung, the leading Delaware chief, said, ''I remember well the leagues and covenants of our forefathers- We are but children in compari- son with them. What William Penn said to the Indians is still fresh in our minds; this we all remember and IT IS NOT A SMALL MATTER THAT WOULD HAVE THEN SEPA- KATED US." It truly was not a small thing which led to the breaking of the friendship between the Delawares and the English settlers in the Province. The alienation of the Delawares was the cause which led directly to the fearful years of bloodshed and strife. With the Delawares went the Shawnee, and also the Seneca on the Ohio — called Mingo in many of the articles deal- ing with this period. The first real step of the Indians in Pennsylvania from the "League of Amity" with the Province was caused by the ne- farious "Walking Purchase" of 1737, by which the Delawares lost, through a clear case of fraud, the most prized lands of their ancestors. Various attempts were made by the Provincial authorities, as well as by the Iroquois, to show that no fraud had been committed in this purchase. But, no method of argu- ment can make such a transacton just. It certainly was not wise. But whether just or wise it marked the commencement of the movement of both the Delaware and Shawnee away from X PREFATORY NOTE. English interest. The Delawares felt that they had been cheated in the "home of their friends," and as they were driven by the Iroquois to find refuge along the upper Susquehanna, in the Wyoming Valley, or moved westward to the Ohio, they felt that they had been wronged by the very ones whom they trusted most. But, more galling than even the fraud which had been practiced upon them in this sale, was the realization that henceforth they were to take a seat in the background in all of the affairs of the Province, while the Iroquois assumed the position of the Master, not only of them, but also of all of the lands upon which they lived. When the Province of Pennsylvania paid the Iroquois for the lands upon the Dela- ware river, south of the Blue Mountains, in 1736, a precedent was made which the Iroquois were not slow to make the most of in the years to come. This was the first claim which the Iroquois had ever set up for ownership of land occupied by the Delawares. From 1682 until 1736 the Delawares had dealt directly with the Provincial authorities in the sale of all of the lands upon which they lived. From 1736 until the last purchase of Indian lands in Pennsylvania the Iroquois dealt directly with the Province, ignoring the right of the Delawares to a foot of the ground upon which they lived. At the Council in Philadelphia in 1742 the Iroquois ordered the Delawares to remove at once to Shamokin or Wyoming, from their lands in the Minisinks, which they supposed had been reserved for them. The Delawares went away from this Council thoroughly humiliated because of the treatment given them. We can possibly realize what such treatment meant to the proud chiefs, who remembered the days when their fathers had been treated by William Penn with honor, as the rightful owners of the lands, which were now sold under their very feet by the Iroquois. They had not even been invited to go to this Council, but were informed that they could go if they so wished — at their own expense. The Delaware and Shawnee moved to Wyoming, and west- ward to the Ohio. There is no doubt but that the chief factor in the ascendancy of the Iroquois in the affairs of the Province was Conrad Weiser, the famous Indian interpreter and diplo- PREFATORY NOTE. xi mat. All of his sympathy was with the Iroquois. He cared nothing for the Delawares. He came upon the scene just at the time when the pacific policy of Penn.was declining. Walton truly says, in his "Conrad Weiser," "Weiser helped Shikellamy sow the seed which drenched Pennsylvania in blood from 1755 to 1764. — Penn-sylvania suffered that a nation might live. She brought upon herself after many years a Delaware war, but escaped a Six Nation war, a French alliance with the Iroquois, and the threatened possibility of the destruction of all the English colonies on the coast." This statement is true. In bringing the Iroquois into the foreground in the affairs of the Province the neutrality of that powerful confederation was assured. Weiser was the chief power back of all of these efforts at this time. In the impending struggle between Great Britain and France it was absolutely essential for the preser- vation of the British Colonies that the Iroquois, as a Confedera- tion, remain neutral. This neutrality was assured by the Pro- vince in the recognition of the Iroquois claims for the lands occupied by the Delawares. But, the recognition of the Iroqouis as the owners of the Delaware lands "by right of cpnquest,'' lost for Pennsylvania the friendship of the Delaware and Shawnee, who had been driven to the Ohio by the various land sales and by the en- croachments of the white settlers upon the lands which had not been bought by the Province. From the time of the Purc|iase of 1736 the Delawares awak- ened to a realization of the wrong which had been done to them. They retreated from the Delaware across the Blue Mountains to Wyoming and Shamokin, to the West Branch and to the Ohio, seeking a place of refuge from the rum traffic and the horde of land-hungry settlers. But, no sooner had the lands been bought south of the Blue Mountains than the white settlers began to cross the Susquehanna and then the Kittatinny Mountains, into the lands which had not been pur- chased from the Indians. Again and again the Delaware and Shawnee complained to Shikellamy, the Iroquois deputy at Shamokin, concerning these "white squatters" who were sett- ling upon Indian lands along the Juniata river and in the Tuscorara Valley, Shikellamy complained to the authorities xii PREFATORY NOTE. of the Province. The Governor issued "Proclamations/^ no- tices were posted, but still the settlers remained. At the Treaty of Albany in 17^4 the Commissioners from Pennsylvania decided that something must be done to silence these com- plaints, which were assuming a dangerous tone. It was de- cided that the only thing to do was to buy the lands beyond the Allegheny mountains. This was finally accomplished. At the same time the Agents of the Busqftehanna Company, of Connecticut, were working on the quiet through the Mo- hawks for the purchase of the lands in the Wyoming Valley. The Mohawks had absolutely no more right to sell this land than a Delaware had a right to sell the lands of the Seneca. This fraudulent deal was carried through. Another sale had been made at the Treaty at Lancaster in 1744, in which the lands westward '^to the setting sun" were deeded by the Iro- quois to the Colony of Virginia. By this deed Virginia claimed the lands beyond the mountains including the lands on the Ohio river. Thus in 1754 the Delaware and Shawnee awoke to a realization that all of their lands were gone. The Mini- sinks, on the Delaware, had been sold in 1736 ; the lands along the Susquehanna had been disposed of by various sales, and now the lands in the Wyoming Valley and on the Ohio had been sold by the Iroquois. They had not a foot of ground which they could call their own. The chiefs of the Delaware and Shawnee went back to their villages on the Ohio, brooding over their wrongs and waiting for the day of vengeance. This day was not long in coming. Right at the very time when these warriors of the Delawares and Shawnee had been cheated out of all of their possessions, Braddock was slowly cutting his way over the mountains of Pennsylvania to Fort Duquesne. Braddock's fearful defeat and slaughter was no sudden ''Indian uprising." It was the logical result of long years of injustice to the Delawares, and their kindred, the Shawnee. Braddock had to bear the con- sequences of the alienation of these Indian tribes. His defeat was not the cause of the bloodshed which followed. It was a result, which neither Washington or Forbes could have avoided had they led this ill-fated expedition. Braddock and his army, and the frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia had to pay in PREFATORY NOTE. xiii blood for the splendid bargains which had been made by the English in the ^'Walking Purchase," and in the land grab in the Wyoming Valley. Truly, as Tedyuskung said at Easton, after speaking of William Penu's memory, "It is not a smalJ matter that would have then separated us." The Delaware and Shawnee would have been base cowards had they silently and meekly retreated beyond the Ohio without a struggle. In 1742 the Iroquois had declared that the Delawares were "women," having no right to bear arms or to sell land. In 1755 the Delawares threw away their "skirts" and took up the arms of a man to avenge their wrongs. They had complained at every Council which was held during this entire period concerning these land sales, the rum traffic and the settlemeni of lands which had not been purchased from the Indians. When all of these appeals failed they appealed to the only Court in America in which an Indian ever had any standing — the Supreme Court of Arms the last court of appeal of savage, as well as of civilized man. From 1682 until 1755 the Dela- wares were at peace ^ith the English in this Province. From 1755 until the last Delaware was driven beyond the Ohio river he was at war, simply because none of his claims had any recognition in any court of Justice. After over 150 years the Ked Man, with claims aggregating over a billion dollars, finds himself in exactly the same con- dition so far as Courts of Justice are concerned, as did the Delaware of 1754 who was expected to meekly move on, when told to do so by some settler who wanted his land. The fearful slaughter of Braddock's troops and the entire route of his army by the comparatively small army of French and Indians opened the eyes of the Delaware and Shawnee. They, for the first time in the history of their relations with the white man, real- ized their own power. The Indians on the Ohio hesitated no longer but went over as a body to the side of the French. The Iroquois as a Confederation remained neutral, but great num- bers of the Seneca, who had been associated with the Dela- wares, because of the easy access to the villages on the Ohio by way of the Allegheny river, took up the hatchet^ and "the dogs of war were turned loose" upon the defenceless frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Some of the eastern Delaware xiv PKEPATORY NOTE. remained neutral, through the efforts of the friendly chiefs, but the great body of Delaware west of the Susquehanna river, led by Shingas, Tamaque (King Beaver), and other chiefs, carried death into the white settlements on the frontiers. The West Branch of the Susquehanna, the Allegheny river, and the winding Indian trails across the mountains became veri- table "trails of blood." The "Border Wars" of Pennsylvania were caused because the Delaware and Shawnee refused to leave the land which they loved, without a struggle^ and because every treaty which they had ever made with the white man had been broken. Again and again these people "reserved" by a treaty a place of refuge "which it shall not be lawful for us or our children to sell, or for you or your children ever to buy" — only to find out that no such spot existed on the face of the earth for an Indian. When the tide of Scotch-Irish settlers swept over the moun- tain ridges and into the valley beyond the "Endless Moun- tains," seeking to drive "the heathen from the Land of Promise" it is small wonder that the "heathen" refused to be driven — hence the Frontier Forts, and the border warfare which makes the period covered by this work one of the most thrilling in American history. In order to understand this Epic of Pennsylvania one must know, not only the Indian but also the frontiersman, whose rugged character was moulded by the environment in which he was placed. Stretching along the foothills of the Alle- ghenies, at the commencement of the period which is pictured in these volumes, lived a class of people who were the pro- ducts of an environment almost as remarkable as that in which they found themselves after they were transplanted to the American continent. With but few exceptions they were Scotch-Irish or German, as their names in the Colonial Records show. As the 18th Century dawned, big with tremendous events, these pioneers had crossed the narrow strip of level land along the seaboard and were pushing their way to the long ridges of mountains along the western horizon. Their cabins dotted the mountain sides^ far beyond the limits of civilization, in the very heart of the great forest enshrouded wilderness. PREFATORY NOTE. xv Along this skirmish, line of civilization, out beyond the ad- vance guard of the German and English lived the Scotch- Irish, who had little in common with the quiet Quakers who lived along the Delaware. Long before the outbreak of the Indian hostility their cabins were builded in the little clear- ings beyond the mountains of the Juniata and the West Branch valleys. One must live in such environment in order to under- stand its influence. The mountains and brooding forests pro- duce men of a different type than is produced in the artificial life of any community, however large or small it may be. The mystery, the silence, the solemn grandeur, the lurking danger of the environment of mountains and forests get into a man's very soul. The diflSculties and dangers of life in such an atmosphere make the small things of mere political expe- diency seem small indeed. Each man acts for himself. Self, and the little group within the cabin, becomes a center of life and of life's aims. It is small wonder then that the very same motive which led the Delaware to seek the protection of his wigwam, led the frontiersman to the protection of his cabin. Both were alike under the spell of the savage life of the forest and mountain, and both used the same methods of protecting that which he loved. The frontiersman of Pennsylvania, living as an Indian lived^ became an Indian in everything but his religion. He hunted, fished, fought, not as his father had done these things beyond the eastern hills, but as the Indians did in the trackless forests. It is not difiQcult to understand why these frontiersmen were little effected by the "Proclamations" which were issued by the Provincial authorities, warning them to give up the land upon which they had built their cabin. Philadelphia was a long distance away, and the questions of Indian policy were just as far removed from the quiet cabin beyond the outskirts of civilization. So, before he was fully aware of its coming, the storm had broken, and his cabin was a smoking ruin. The tale of these years is a sad one indeed. But out of the hardship and suffering of those years was produced the type of men who made possible the existance of the great Nation which now sweeps westward to the Pacific. The Boarder Wars of Pennsylvania and Virginia were but the prelude to the Revo- xvi PREFATORY NOTE. lution. These frontiersman made possible the Nation, which sprang out of the rugged manhood which was produced during this epoch of struggle against savagery. These were the men who were with Braddock and Washington, who were with Forbes and Bouquet^ who were with Crawford and Wayne, and these were the men who were with Washington at Valley Forge and with Stark and Morgan at Saratoga. Without them there would have been no Declaration of Independence and no United States of America. Chancellor MacCracken, of the University of New York, said at the dedication of the Saratoga Battle Monument, in speaking of the Germans with Herkimer, ''The German-Americans who followed Herkimer were by no means the only Germans who fought the battles of Saratoga. Over twenty-two per cent, of the so-called Virginia riflemen, of whom we shall hear, are declared upon good authority to have been Pennsylvania Germans." And again he says, "If I turn to the men who followed Morgan, being detached by George Washington from his army, the most of these were Scotch- Irish from the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies.'^ Sir George Trevelyan says of these, in his "History of the American Revo- lution," "History knows them as Morgan's Virginians^ but full two-thirds of them were from the western frontiers of Pennsylvania, and two-thirds of these were Scotch-Irish who traced their descent back to Ulster." While the fashionable people of New York were declaring themselves openly against the Revolution, and were paying court to Tryon, the British Governor, on his ship in the harbor, the frontiersmen of Penn- sylvania and Virginia were rallying to the support of the army of Washington. Cut out of the Revolutionary army the frontiersmen of Pennsylvania and Virginia and there would be little left. The men who were being trained in the hardships of the frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia during the period of these border wars were the men who were to drive France from the Ohio, and then place Washington at the head of a new Nation. History has not yet done justice to the Red Men who fought for the land which they loved, nor has History yet done justice to the Frontiersman of Pennsylvania who drove out the Red PREFATORY NOTE. xvii Man and then the Frenchman and then the Britishman. And yet — the history of the Indian and the History of the Frontiers- man is the only thing in our literature which saves it from being merely commonplace. The student of history will find these volumes of the Frontier Forts a most valuable storehouse. Pennsylvania is a small state in area, but it is large in the great world of History. Fort Duquesne, Braddock's Field, Fort Necessity, Bushy Run, Valley Forge, Gettysburg — these, and many more spots upon her soil, have been the scenes where World History was made." The recommendations of the Commission upon Frontier Forts were submitted in 1895, but no active measures were taken by the Legislature to carry them out until the Penn- sylvania Historical Commission was appointed by Governor Tener. The Sons of the Revolution and the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution, the Enoch Brown Memorial Association and the various historical societies have shown a commendable in- terest in marking these sites. The Historical Commission has assisted in placing appropriate markers at Fort McCord, at Fort Augusta, on Penn's Creek, Fort Loudon, and Harris' Ferry ; and has arranged for placing others at Fort Necessity, Ligonier, Fort McDowell, Fort Hunter and Fort Granville. The Berks County Historical Society has marked Fort North- kill, Fort Henry and Fort Dietrich Snyder during the past year. The indications are that within the next year all the more important forts will be adequately marked, and that thus one of the wise recommendations of the Frontier Forts Commission will be satisfactorily carried out. In the opinion of the Editor certain of those sites, such as Fort Augusta, should be purchased by the State and con- verted into small parks. The Bushy Run battlefield should also be purchased, and an adequate monument placed there in honor of the brave and efficient Colonel Bouquet — the hero of that affray. THE EDITOR. M ( xviii ) o ^ ^i^^ 5/^f.^h^l!: ^. L 5- o / ^ N D ^HAMOV CJ< 3 C H.,U Y L K r LL .tf'- ivw^ N. B fW?MEiS90«f^J fORT MMsnm * >'■ >4 ^ ^.t.^iS' ^^UH M.$0 HARRIS F£«Ry A«» FORT HAft.R«5. ^ ^ ^«^.&^ .^^ & '^''HV, V.^^''^'^^ ..^JH^I'^.^I?'*^"^ '^^ L A N C A S t\ R \ '-^~ -4, SITE OF FRONTIER FORTS BETWEI NkO N H Q E. CARBON c^ #fO«^" x>>>i o A>"!» r^^^'ii' l^'^'^Crge-K-^^ ^^L E H I G H 5^ E^fTOW >^^"^ •^:rA^^ tro^ <^ /^ ^^ iCHtvLKj '>f ■ C H g 5 '.T_.£ R A^ ^.^ \.. >^ THE DELAWARE AND SUSQUEHANNA. MOM R O £- + I''- PapialuEL N. Lai ^ CARBON l*-?*l<:s*' ii'h^'.yi'vi'' c ..«. ^^'4 ,^fe .V LANCASTER 'C H E 5 T e R >^^ > ■• .^^ SITE OF FRONTIER FORTS BETWEEN THE DELAWARE AND SUSQUEHANNA. THE INDIAN FORTS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS By H. M. M. RICHARDS (1) (2) THE INDIAN FORTS OF THE BLUE MOUN- TAINS It is not within the scope of this report to analyse the rea- sons which induced the Indians to commit their terrible depre- dations in the Province of Pennsylvania, where the policy of the government had always been of a peaceful character and was based on the principle of fair dealing with the aborigines. It is sufficient to say, that, as they daily saw themselves pushed back by the onward march of the white man, their hunting grounds, teeming with game, and streams, filled with fish, lost to them, either through fair purchase or more likely fraudulent action on the part of the settlers, it needed but a spark to fire the savage nature in their breasts and create a flame which blood alone could extinguish. That spark came from the field of Braddock's defeat in 1755, and, in its train, there swarmed amongst the frontier settlements of the Province hundreds of scalping parties, carrying death and destruction with them everywhere, whose work did not finally cease until the year 1783. At this time the Blue Mountains practically marked the limit of actual settlement on the part of the white men, and it was along this range that the storm burst in all its fury. Standing as it did on the verge of civilization, and forming in itself a natural barrier, it was but in accordance with reason to occupy it for the purpose of defense and to there stay the further encroachment of the enemy. It is well here to bear in mind the fact that the attacks and depredations of the Indians were not made by large bodies or any numbers combined, neither were the tactics of civilized warfare followed, but parties of from three to ten or twenty would creep noiselessly past alert and watchful sentries and suddenly fall upon their unsuspecting victims, just as suddenly disappearing after (3) 4 THE INDIAN FORTS their horrible work had been completed, long before the alarm could be spread and the most active troops overtake them. This required peculiar methods of defense, necessitating the erection of forts, not very distant from each other, which would occupy prominent points of approach, if possible be situated on elevated ground thus furnishing a view of danger in advance, convenient of access to the settlers who might and did constantly flee to them for refuge, and, last, but by no means least, be provided with an abundance of water near by. Upon the occurrence of the first murders, blockhouses were erected by the settlers themselves, or farm houses used as such, which were located where the danger seemed most imminent and without respect to any general plan. In 1756, however, the Provincial Government took the defense of the people into its own hands. A chain of forts was established along the Blue Mountains, reaching from the Susquehanna to the Delaware, at distances of from ten to fifteen miles apart, depending upon the comparative situation of the promi- nent Gaps, which gateways were invariably occupied. Some- times the chain of defenses ran on the south side of the range, then again on the north side, and frequently both sides of the mountains were occupied, as the needs of the population demanded. Some of these forts consisted of the defenses pre- viously erected by the settlers, which were available for the purpose, and of which the government took possession, whilst others were newly erected. Almost without exception they were composed of a stockade of heavy planks, inclosing a space of ground more or less extensive, on which were built from one to four blockhouses, pierced with loop holes for musketry, and occupied as quarters by the soldiers and refugee settlers. In addition to these regular forts it became necessary at var- ious points, where depredations were most frequent, to have subsidiary places of defense and refuge, which were also garrisoned by soldiers and which generally comprised farm houses, selected because of their superior strength and con- venient location, around which the usual stockade was thrown, or occasionally block houses erected for the purpose. The soldiers who garrisoned these forts were Provincial troops, which almost without exception were details from the First OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 5 Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment, under the com- mand of that brave and energetic officer, Lt. Colonel Conrad Weiser. When, by 1758, the fury of the first Indian outbreak had somewhat spent its force, and the terrors of Pontiac's war, which broke out in 1763, belonged as yet to the unseen future, the Government deemed it wise to abandon all but the larger and most important of the stations in the chain of defense, thereby materially reducing their number. It is with these Indian forts of the Blue Mountains I have to do, of which, in this year of our Lord, 1894^ but the slightest traces remain of a couple only, and of which the true location of many others had become a matter of mere conjecture, and, in the briefest time, would have been entirely lost to history, by so slender a thread did an authentic knowledge of their situation hang, had it not been for the wise appointment of the Commission whose labors have just been completed. It is therefore a source of much gratification to me to be able to report that I have ascertained, after much personal search and labor, the exact spot where stood each of the many de- fenses in the territory allotted to me. I beg to subjoin a map on which is correctly located every fort, and will proceed with a detailed and separate report of each one, beginning at the Susquehanna River and following the mountains to the Dela- ware. FORT HARRIS. About the year 1705, John Harris^ Sr., built his log house on the bank of the Susquehanna where now stands Harris- burg, the Capital City of the Commonwealth. This building became, later. Fort Harris. He was more especially a trader but also engaged extensively in agriculture. It is said of him that "he was the first person who introduced the plough on the Susquehanna," and, moveover, that "he was as honest a man as ever broke bread" (H. Napey's Harrisburg Directory- Intro.,). There still remains, in the inclosure near the mag- 6 THE INDIAN FORTS niflcent bridge of the Cumberland Valley Kailroad opposite Mulberry street, a portion of the stump of the old mulberry tree, which stood near his house and to which he was bound by a party of drunken Indians to whom he had refused more rum, with the intention of burning him to death. From this death he was only saved after a struggle by another party of Indians, from across the river^ who were more friendly dis- posed. When he died in 1748 his remains were interred, at his own request, beneath the shadow of this memorable tree. He was succeeded by his son, bearing the same name, John Harris, who was born in the old house in 1726, and was a most energetic and influential man. It was he who founded the city of Harrisburg, upon the site of what, for three quar- ters of a century, was known as Harris' Ferry. After Braddock's defeat, the earliest onset of the savages was naturally felt along the Susquehanna. Mr. Harris was amongst the first to take up arms and otherwise arrange for defense, in which he became a leader. On October 28, 1755, he writes to the Governor detailing the massacre at Penn's Creek, on the West branch of the Susquehanna, together with the attack on the party which he led, whilst returning from that neighborhood, whither he had gone to protect the settlers (Col. Rec, vi, p. 654). On October 29, 1755, he writes to Edward Shippen, esq'r, of Lancaster, as follows: ''We expect the enemy upon us every day, and the inhabi-' tants is abandoning their plantations, being greatly discour- aged at the approach of such a number of cruel savages, and no sign of assistance. The Indians is cutting us off every day and I had a certain account of about 1,500 Indians beside French being on their march against us and Virginia, and now close on our borders, their scouts scalping our families on our frontiers daily. Andrew Montour and others at Shamokin desired me to take care, that there was forty Indians out many days, and intended to burn my house and destroy my- self and family. I have this day cut holes in my house, and is determined to hold out to the last extremity if I can get some men to stand by me, few of which I yet can at present, every one being in fear of their own families being cut off every hour (such is our situation)" ****** (Col. Rec, vi, p. 655.) OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 7 Besides providing port holes for musketry, Mr. Harris erected a substantial stockade around his home and otherwise made an actual fort of it. Edw'd Shippen in his letter of April 19, 1756, to Governor Morris, says * * * * "John Harris has built an excellent stockade round his house which is ye only place of security that way for the provisions of ye army, he having much good cellar room, and as he has but six or seven men to guard it, if the Government would order six more men there to strengthen it, it would in my opinion be of great use to the cause, even were no provisions to be stored there at all; tho' there is no room for any scarce in Captain McKee's Fort * * * * * * I speak with submission, but this stockade of Harris' ought by all means to be supported, for if for want of this small addition of men above mentioned, the Indians should destroy it, the conse- quence would be that most of ye inhabitants within twenty miles of his house would immediately leave their plantations,, the enemey can come over the hills at five miles distance from McKee's Fort." * * * * (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 635). Mr. Harris writes to R. Peters, under date of Novem'r 5th, 1756, "Here is at my Fort Two Prisoners y't came from Shamokin ab't one month ago. Be pleased to inform his Honor, Our Governor that Directions may be given, how they are to be disposed of, they have been this long time confined. I hope that his Honor will be Pleased to Continue some men here During these Calamitous times on Our Frontiers, as this place and the Conveniences here may be of Servis if Defended" * * * (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 33). The following extract from the Journal of James Burd, in 1758, shows the presence of troops here at that time: Thursday, 16th February, 1758. This Morning Sett out from Lancaster to Visit the Troops from Susquehanna to Delaware, took Capt'n Hambright along with me. ***** 18th, Saturday. Obliged to leave Capt'n hambright here (sick at Barny Hughes's) I sett off this morning at 9 A. M.^ for Hunter's Fort at 2 P. M., arrived at Harris's, found Lieut'ns Broadhead & 8 THE INDIAN FORTS Paterson & Commissary Galbraith here, & 20 men" * * * * * * (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 352). And on June 11, 1756, Colonel Clapham writes that he has detached Serjeant Mc- Curdy, with twelve men to remain in garrison at Harris's and receive and stow carefully whatever provisions and stores which may arrive. (Penn. Arch., ii^ p. 663). There then remains no doubt that the long house, erected about 1705, by John Harris, Sr., and later occupied by his son John Harris, was the Fort Harris at Harris' Ferry, now Har- risburg, as the large stone house constructed by Mr. Harris on Front street below Mulberry, was not built until 1766-69. What then was its appearance and where did it stand? For- tunately^ we have a representation of the building, taken from the original in the possession of General Simon Cameron, shown in the ^'History of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties" by Dr. W. H. Egle, p. 293, from which I have reproduced the following sketch: It was the typical log cabin of the early settler, with its hugh chimneys, although somewhat more pretentious in size. "it stood on the lower bank of the river, about one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet below the spot where now re- pose his remains. The foundation walls of this house have been seen by some of our oldest citizens (about 1820 the cellar was visible — Penna. Hist. Collections — Sherman Day, p. 283). A well, dug by Mr. Harris, still exists about one hun- dred feet east of his gra^e. It was covered over about thirty years ago (1850) but its site is easily distinguished by a small circular mound of earth. In connection with his mansion-house he erected a large range of sheds, which were sometimes literally filled with skins and furs, obtained by him in trafi&c with the Indians, or stored there by Indian traders, who brought them from the western country." (History of Dau- phin and Lebanon Counties, Dr. W. H. Egle, p. 292). The exact location of Fort Harris admits of no doubt, if indeed it ever did. It would seem a matter of prime import- ance that its position and history should be perpetuated by a monument. #fe- P£NN, C&^ OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS FORT HUNTER. Six miles north of Fort Harris, or Harrisburg, at the junc- tion of Fishing Creek and the Susquehanna river surrounded by beautiful scenery, stood Fort Hunter, the next in the chain of defenses. It was about two and one-half miles below the present romantic village of Dauphin, and about one-half mile above that of Rockville. Whilst its distance from Fort Harris was but six miles, not more than half as far as were from each other the remaining defenses planned by the Government, yet its very important situation "where the Blue hills cross the Susquehanna" gave it command of the passage around the same into the settled districts, and made it an admirable place of rendezvous for the batteaux which carried supplies up the river to Shamokin and Fort Augusta. It was this which, on several occasions, prevented its proposed abandonment, and insured its continu- ance when so many other forts were dismantled. Exactly when built and by whom is not on record. It is very probable^ however, that the defenses were originated by the settlers about October or November, 1755, at the time when the Indians made their first raid and committed the murders at Penn's Creek, and were afterwards completed by the Gov- ernment troops when taking charge of them in January, 1756. The derivation of its name is somewhat interesting and has a slight touch of romance about it. The first person to avail himself of this beautiful location was Benjamin Chambers, in 1720, the senior of four brothers, sturdy Presbyterians from the north of Ireland, himself a man of remarkable de- termination. Being, later on, joined by his brothers, we find that in 1735-6, the brothers Chambers^ save Thomas, removed to the Cumberland Valley. A son-in-law of Thomas subse- quently fell heir to the mill, and from henceforth it went by his name, and thus the Fort at Hunter's Mill — or Fort Hunter. The first orders, on record, relating to Fort Hunter, were issued January 10, 1756, by Governor Morris to Adam Read, of Hanover township, Lancaster county, and were as follows; 10 THE INDIAN FORTS Orders to Adam Read, Esq,, 1756. Carlisle, January 10, 1756. ''The Commissioner thinking that the Company of fifty men under your Command are sufficient to guard the frontier along the Kittektiny Hills, from your own house to Hunter's Mill, Have refused for the present to take any other men in that quar- ter into the pay of the Government, and requested me to Order, and I do hereby accordingly Order you to detach twenty-five of the men now at your House, to the fort at Hunter's Mill, upon Susquehanna, under the command of your Lieutenant or Officer next under yourself, or in case there be none such appointed by the government, then under the command of such person as you shall appoint for that Service; and you are to give orders to the Commander of such detachm't to keep his men in order and fit for duty^ and to cause a party of them, from time to time, to range the woods along and near the mountains toward your House; and you are in like manner to keep the men with you in good order, and to cause a party of them, from time to time, to range the woods on or near the mountains towards Hunter's Mill ; and you and they are to Continue upon this Service till further order. You are to add ten men to your Company out of the town- ship of Paxton, and to make the Detachment to Hunter's Mill of twenty more men, which with those ten, are to complete 30 for that service, and Keep an acc't of the time when these ten enter themselves, that you may be enabled to make up your muster roll upon oath." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 545). Hardly had this detachment entered upon its duties when further instructions were sent Mr. Read by Governor Morris, dated Jan'ry 26 1756, from Reading, containing the following : "I have also appointed Thomas McKee to take post at or near Hunter's Mills, with thirty men ; you are to continue that part of your Company stationed there upon that service till they are relieved by him, when you are to give orders for their being dismissed, and you are to give directions to the officer commanding that detachment to deliver to Cap't McKee such Provincial arms, accoutrim'ts. Blankets, tools and stores as OP THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 11 he may at any time have received, and to take McKee's re- ceipt for them, which you are also to transmit to me." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 551). At the same time the following instructions were sent to Capt'n McKee. Reading y Jan^y 26, 1756. T. McKee : You are to receive from the officer now commanding the detachment of Oap't Read's Company at Hunter's Mill, and who you are to relieve such Arms, Accoutrements, Blankets, Tools and Stores, as he may have in his hands belonging to the Province, with which you are to furnish your Company, but if that be not sufficient you are to apply to Cap't Frederick Smith for a further supply out of what he will receive from Cap't Read and Cap't Hedericks. But as the Province is at present in want of Arms and Blankets, if any of the men you shall inlist, will find themselves with those articles, they shall receive half a dollar for the use of their gun, and half a dollar for the use of a Blanket." (Penn. Arch., ii. 553). In connection with these instructions to Captains Read and McKee was a letter from the Governor, under the same date, January 26, 1756, to James Galbraith^ Esq., a Provincial Com- missioner, which rehearses sundry orders given, amongst them those just quoted, to which he adds, "I have also instructed Cap't. McKee to advise with you whether to finish the fort already begun at Hunter's Mill, or to build a new one, and as to the place where it would be best to erect such new one. I therefore desire you will assist him in those matters, or in anything else that the King's service and the safety of the in- habitants may require." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 554). The matter in which the Governor speaks of finishing the "fort already begun" indicates, of course, its incompleteness, and yet the order to Capt. Read, of January 10, 1756, distinctly directs him to "detach twenty-five of the men now at your House, to the fort at Hunter's Mill," so that a defense of some sort undoubtedly existed there prior to that date. We have nothing on record to indicate the fact that the Government made any systematic arrangement for defense in that locality 12 THE INDIAN FORTS before January, 1756, and can reasonably presume that Capt. Kead's detachment were the first provincial soldiers to occupy Fort Hunter. It can therefore fairly be taken for granted that the settlers themselves began some sort of stockade or defense, which, with equal reason, we can presume was about the time when the first real danger threatened them, in No- vember, 1755, and can easily understand how the soldiers would naturally strengthen and complete what had already been started. I feel, therefore, that we are justified in naming the time about November, 1755, as the date of the' erection of Fort Hunter. This is further borne out by the fact that in the report made by Edward Shippen to Governor Morris, from Lancaster, April 5, 1756, of ammunition distributed, he speci- fies "Dec'r 9, 1755, By Thomas Forster, Esq., & Thos. McKee, at Hunter's Fort^ 12^ lb, powder and 25 lb. swan shot" (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 614) at which time Mr. McKee was probably oc- cupying the position with the neighboring settlers. He was temporarily relieved in January by the detachment of pro- vincial soldiers from Capt. Read's house, and immediately after given a command himself and placed in charge of that district including Fort Hunter. No stone was left unturned by the French in their efforts to enlist the Indians of the Province, the Delawares, in their cause. Their intrigues, aided by the natural disposition of the savage, too often met with success, as is shown by the following letter from Captain McKee to Edward Shippen: Foart at Hunters Mill^ Ap'l 5th, 1756. Sir: I desire to let you No that John Secalemy, Indian^ is Come here ye Day before yesterday, about 4 o'clock in ye afternoon, & Gives me an account that there is a Great Confusion amongst ye Indians up ye North branch of Susquehanna ; the Delawares are a moving all from thence to Ohio, and wants to Persuade ye Shanowes along with them, but they Decline Goe- ing with them that course, and as they still incline to join with us, the Shanowes are Goeing up to a Town Called Teoga, where there is a body of ye Six Nations, and there they Intend to Remain. He has brought two more men, so in women & OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 13 som children along with him, and Sayeth that he Intends to live & Die with us, and Insists upon my Conducting him down to where his Sister and children is, at Canistoga, and I'm Loath to leave my Post, as his Honor was offended at ye last time I did, but can't help it, he Desires to acquaint you that his sister's son was kill'd at Penns Creek, in ye scrimege w'th Cap't. Patterson. This with Due Kespect from Sir, your Hum'l Ser't, THOMAS McKEE, (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 616) In view of the alarming condition of affairs it was deter- mined to select a place for the rendezvous of troops^ and stor- age and forwarding of supplies. From its admirable location, both on land at no great distance from the source of these supplies, and on water by which, in batteaux, they could readily be forwarded and distributed. Fort Hunter was at once named for that purpose, and on April 7, 1756, Governor Morris wrote as follows to Colonel William Clapham, in com- mand of that territory: Philad% 7th Ap'r., 1756. Sir: As a Magazine of Provisions and other warlike stores will very soon be formed at or near Hunter's Mill upon the river Susquehanna, I think it necessary for the Protection thereof, and for other Purposes, to order that you appoint the said place, called Hunter's Mill, or some convenient place near it, for the Gen'l Kandezvous of your regiment now raising, and that you order all the men already enlisted, not employed upon some other service, to march immediately to the said Randezvous, and all your recruiting parties to send their rescruits thither from time to time. You will order proper guards upon the magazine, and upon the boats & cannoes which shall be collected there pursuant to my orders^ you will give directions that the officers and men keep themselves in good order, and ready to go upon duty at an hour's warning. You will inform the Commissioners of these my orders, and 14 THE INDIAN FORTS apply to them for the things necessary to carry them into exe^ cution. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 616.) The next day Governor Morris, himself, writes to the Com- missioners giving them a synopsis of the above orders. One of them, Edward Shippen, realizing how well Fort Harris was adapted for storage purposes, does not approve of erecting a multiplicity of stockades all over the country and even doubts the advantage of making a storehouse of Hunter's Mill. He writes from Lancaster, under date of April 19th, 1756^ amongst other things "Hunter's house indeed would answer such a purpose were it Stockado'd; but as it is quite naked, and stands five or six hundred feet from the Fort, the enemy may Surprise it in ye night, and kill the people, and set ye roof on fire in three or four places at once, and if the Centerys Should discern the fire as soon as it begins to blaze, it might be too difficult a task for them to quench it without buckets or pails. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 635). In the same letter he men- tions the fact that Captain McKee's Plantation is 25 miles above Fort Hunter. Hunter's Mill was, however a very important place, and needed for other purposes besides that of mere storage, and Colonel Clapham's orders are not countermanded. He writes from Fort Halifax, July 1st, "I shall leave a Sergeant's Party at Harris's, consisting of twelve men. Twenty-four at Hunter's Fort, Twenty-four at McKee's Store, each Under the Com- mand of an Ensign, and Cap'n Miles with Thirty men at Fort Halifax;" (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 686)^ and still further writes August 17th, from Fort Augusta that the garrisons at Fort Halifax, Hunter's and McKee's Store had very little ammuni- tion. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 751). On June 11, 1756, Col. Clapham notifies the Governor from his camp at Armstrong's, that he has stationed a party of twenty-four, men under the command of Mr. Johnson, at Hunter's Fort^ with orders to defend that Post and the neigh- borhood, and to escort any provisions, that should come to him, up to McKee's Store. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 663). The fol- lowing orders to the Commanding Officer at Hunter's Fort are recorded: "Whither Mr. Johnson or Mr. Mears is ordered to furnish an OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 16 escort of Fifteen men, under command of a Sergeant, to con- duct 4he waggon Master General, Mr. Erwin, to Fort Halifax, there join a Detachment from Captain Jemisons Company, to be Commanded by Lieutenant Anderson, and march to Fort Augusta. The Commanding officer, at Hunter's Fort, is to take great Care of the Battoes, and not to suffer them to be us'd unless by my particular Orders; he is likewise to weigh the two Cannon which now lie in the water and place them on the Bank, at some convenient Place for Transportation, till further Orders. Fort Augusta, November 3rd, 1756. A copy of Orders to the Commander at Hunter's Fort. Indorsed: Orders to the Commanding officer at Fort Hunter. Inclosed in Col'el Claphams, of 23d Nov'r, 1756. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 17). Novr. 13, 1756, the State of the Garrison was: Number of men — 2 Sargants, 34 private Men. Ammunition — 4^ lb. Powder, 28 lb. of Lead. Provision — one thousand wight Flower, Two thousand of Be^f. Men's Times Up — 2 Men's Times. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 52.) About this time Kobert Erwin, on his way from Philada. to Fort Augusta, with a draft of horses for the use of that garrison, applied to Mr. Mears, the Commandant of Fort Hunter, for an escort, claiming that such were the instructions of Col. Clapham, but was refused it, Mr. Mears informing him "that he should not pay any Kegard to these Orders of Colonel Clapham or the Governour's, for how coul'd the Gov- ernor give him Command of that Fort and yet Command it himself," whereupon, learning that there was the greatest want of the horses at Fort Augusta, Mr. Erwin felt obliged to pro- ceed without his escort. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 64). On March 14th, 1757, Lord Loudoun arrived at Philadelphia, where he remained two weeks, in consultation with Governor Denny. As a result of the conference on the defense of the Province, at which Col. Clapham and Lieut. Colonels Weiser 3 16 THE INDIAN FORTS and Armstrong were present, amongst other things it was decided that 400 men should be kept at Fort Augusta, and the works there completed; that 100 men should constitute the garrison of Fort Halifax, and that Fort Hunter should be demolished, only 50 men being retained there temporarily until the removal of the Magazine, which was to take place as soon as possible. The long frontier, of the Blue Range, between the Susquehanna and Delaware was to be defended by Col. Weiser's Battalion, and the forts reduced to three in number. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 119). This at once caused consternation amongst the settlers in its neighborhood and brought forth from them an earnest appeal to the Government, mention of which is made in the Minutes of the Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday, August 25th, 1757, as follows : "A Petition from the Inhabitants of the Township of Paxtang was read, setting forth that the evacuating Fort Hunter is a great Discouragement to that Township ; that Fort Halifax is not necessary to secure the Communication with Fort Augusta, and is not so proper a Station for the Battoe Parties as Fort Hunter, and praying the Governor Avould please to fix a sufficient number of men at Hunter's under the Command of an active ofificer, with strict orders to range the Frontiers daily." ^'Commissary Young attended, and informed the Governor and Council that Fort Halifax was built by Col. Clapham, without the Order of Governor Morris; that it is a very bad Situation, being built beyond Two Ranges of Hills, and no body living near it, none could be protected by it; that it is no Station for Battoe parties, having no Command of the Channel, which runs close on the Western Shore, and is be- sides covered with a large Island between the Channel and Fort, so that numbers of the Eenemy may even in the day time, run down the River without being seen by that Garrison. He further said that tho' the Fort, or Block-house, at Hunter's was not tenable, being hastily erected, and not finished, yet the Situation was the best upon the River for every Service, as well as for the Protection of the Frontiers." (Col. Records, vol. ii, p. 724). OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 17 \ Fearing tMs appeal might fail for lack of a little influence, the Kev'd John Elder, of Paxton, adds a personal entreaty in a letter to Eichard Peters, Esq., of Phila., secretary of the Council, dated July 30, 1757, thus: Sir:^ As we of this Township have Petition'd the Gov'r for a re- moval of the Garrison from Halifax to Hunter's, I beg the favour of you to use your interest with his Hon'r on our be- half. The Defense of Halifax is of no advantage, but a Gar- rison at Hunter's, under the Gomniand of an active Officer, will be of great Service; it will render the carriage of Pro- visions & Ammunition for the use of Augusta more easy & less expensive, and by encouraging the Inhabitants to con- tinue in their Places, will i^revent the weakening of the fron- tier Settlements; we have only hinted at these things in the Petition, which you'll please enlarge on in Conversation with the Gov'r & urge in Such a manner as you think proper. It's well known that Eepresentation from the back Inhabitants have but little weight with the Gentlem'n in Power, they look- ing on us either as uncapable of forming just notions of things, or as biass'd by Selfish Views; however, I'm Satisfy'd that you Sir, have more favorable conception of us; and that, from the knowledge you have of the Situation of the Places mentioned in our Petition, you'll readily agree with us, & use your best Offices with the Gov'r to prevail with him to grant it ; and you'll very much oblige. Sir, Y'r most obed't & hu'l Ser't, (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 251.) JOHN ELDER. It is gratifying to know that this letter met with the success it so well deserved. Fort Hunter was not demolished, but, on the contrary, strengthened, and, on Feb'y 5th, 1758, we have a return of Adjutant Kern which gives, under Cap't. Patter- son and L't Allen a garrison of 40 men, having 44 provincial and 3 private muskets, with 15 lbs. of powder and 20 lbs. of lead, (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 340) ; whilst, on Feb. 9, 1758, Jas. Young, Commiss'r of the Musters, reports the force on duty 18 THE INDIAN FORTS at that point in the pay of the Province, as one company of 54 men, (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 341). James Burd, in his Journal, says, Saturday, Feb'y 18th, 1758, "sett off for Hunter's Fort (from Fort Harris), arrived at dark, found the Cap'ts Patter- son & Davis here with 80 men, the Cap'ts informs me that they have not above 3 loads of Ammunition A man, ordered Mr. Barney Hughes (commissary of supplies) to send up here a Barrel of powder & lead, answerable in the mean time, bor- rowed of Thomas Galloher 40 pound of poudder & 100 pound of lead ; Ordered a Review of the Garrison to-morrow morning at 9 A. M. 19th, Sunday. Had a Eeview this morning of Capt'n Patterson's Co. and found them Compleat, 53 men, 44 Province arms, & 44 Car- touch boxes, no powder, nor lead, divided J pint of poudder & lead in Proportion a man, found in this Fort 4 months Pro- vision for the Garrison. Capt'n Davis with his party of 55 men was out of Ammu- nition, divided J pint of poudder & lead in proportion to them. Capt'n Davis has gott 12 Thousand weight of flour for the Battoes, Sundry of the Battoes are leeky, that they can't swim and must be left behind. Capt'n Patterson can't Scout at present for want of officers. Ordered him to apply to the Country to Assist him to Stock- ade the Fort aggreable to their promise to His Hon'r the Gov- ernor. 3 men sick here. This day at 11 A. M. march'd for Fort Swettarrow, got to Crawfort's, 14 miles from Hunter's, here I stay all night, it rain'd hard.'' (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 352). Nothwithstanding its apparent necessity, the work of com- pleting the Stockade seems to have gone slowly as we notice by the following letter to Gov. Denny : Fort Himter, ye 22d July, 1758. Please your honour: Whereas, I have the honour to bear a Commission in your Regiment, I was left in the Garrison of Fort Hunter, and re- ceived Orders from Gen'l Forbes to repair it, and sent an En- OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 19 gineer to inspect into the condition, who found necessary to Stockade it, for which purpose I was to get the Country- People; and accordingly apply'd to the several Justices of the Peace for the Townships of Paxton and Donegal, which latter I never had any answer from, but was informed by Parson Elder, of Paxton, whose word is the same w'th that of the Justices, as they act in conjunction in such affairs, that till harvest be over the Country People can do nothing; there- fore thought propper to acquaint you of this, as a duty in- cumbent, also that I am relieved, and that should the work of the fort be Pospon'd till harvest be over, 'twill be yet three weeks before they begin. I am, your Honours most obed't & most hum'le Ser't, G. PKICE. P. S. — The stockades are cut. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 488.) In spite of the constant vigilance of the soldiers, depreda- tions were committed by the savages almost within the shadow of the fort, as is shown by the following, Extract of a Letter from Mr. Bertram Galbraith at Hunter's Fort, dated Octob'r, 1757: ^^Notwithstanding the happy Situation we thought this place was in on Captain Bussee's being stationed here, we have had a man killed & scalped this Evening, within twenty rods of Hunter's Barn. We all turned out, but night coming on so soon we could make no pursuit. We have advice from Fort Henry by Express to Cap't. Bussee that the Indians are seen large Bodies, 60 together." (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 277). This is confirmed by the following report of Capt. Christian Busse to Governor Denny : Hunter's Fort, the 3d Octoler, 1757. May it Ple_ase Your Honour : In my Coming Back from Kainging allong the Fruntears on Saturday the first Instant, I Heard that the Day Before, Twelve Indians ware seen not fare off from hear, as it was Leat, and not knowing their Further Strength, I thought To Go at 20 THE INDIAN FORTS Day Braek nixt morning, with as many Soldiers and Battowe- men as I could get. But In a Short Time we Heard A Gun fire off, and Eunning Deirectly To the Spot, found the Dead Boddey of one William Martin, who went into the woods To pick up Chestnuts where the Indians was lying in ambush. I ordered all the men to Run into the woods, and we Rainged till it Grew Quite Dark; the Continual Rain that Has Been Sins, Has Hindered my following them; there was a Number of the inhabitants Came Here to assist in following them, but the wether prevented. There ware onley 3 Indians onley Seen By Some people, Who Ware siting Before the Dore of Mister Hunter, and they say, that all Was Don In Less than four minutes; that same night, I warned the Inhabitants to Be upon their Guards, and in the morning, I Rainged on this side the mounton the Nixt Day. But my men Being few in Num- ber, By Rason of their Being fourteen of them sick, I Could Not Be Long from the Garrison ; and it seems yet probable To me, that there is Great Numbers of the Enimy Indians on this River. The Townships of Paxton and Derry, Have Agreed to keep a Guard for Some Time in the frunteer Houses, from Manaday to Susquahannah, and Expects that your Honour will be pleased to Reinforse this Detachment. If thease ToAvn ships should Break up, the Communication Between Port Augusta and the Inhabitants would Be Great- ley Endaingred. I am, with Greatest Respect, Your Honours, Most Obedient Humble Servant, CHRISTIAN BUSSE. Directed: To the Honourable William Deney, Esq'r, Governour and Commander In Chief of the Provance of Pennsylvania. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 279.) Captain James Patterson, who was later in Command at Fort Hunter, sent, on Jany 10, 1758, to Gov'r Denny, the fol- lowing interesting Extracts from his Journal of duties per- formed at that place from Deer. 5, 1757, to date : OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 21 Fort Hunter, Jan'ry ye 10th, 1758. "I took with 19 men & ranged from this Fort as far as Kobinson's Fort, where I lodged, keeping a guard of six men & one Corporal on Gentry that night. The sixth day I marched towards Hunter's Fort, ranging along the mountain foot very diligently till I came to the Fort that evening, my men being so afflicted with sickness I could not send out till the eighth day, Lieu't Allen, with 14 men, went to Eange for three days. On the 12th day Lieu't Allen, with Eighteen men & one Ser- jeant ranged along the mountain about 14 miles from this Fort, where he met Cap't. Lien't Weiser with his party & re- turned back towards this Fort the next day & came to it that night. The fifteenth, Lieu't Allen, with 18 men, kept along the Frontier til the 25th & came to this Fort that night. Hearing of Indians harbouring about Juniatta, on the 28th of Decem- ber, I took 15 men with me up the Creek, and about 14 miles from the mouth of it I found fresh tracks of Indians on both sides of the Creek & followed the tracks about four miles up the said Creek, where I lost the tracks. But I still kept up the Creek 'till I gott up about twenty-five miles from the mouth of said Creek, where I encamped that night. The In- dians I found were round me all the night, for my Dogg made several attacks towards the Woods as if he saw the Enemy and still run Back to the Centry. On the 3d of January I returned down the Creek in some Canoes that I found on said Creek, and when I came about nine miles down I espied about 20 Indians on the opposite side of the Creek to where I was. They seemed to gett themselves in order to fire upon the men that were in Canoes. I immediately ordered them all out but two men that let the Canoes float close under the shore, and kept the Land in readiness to fire upon the Enemy, as soon as they moved out of the place where they lay in Ambush, but I could see no more of them. On the 5th day of January, I came to this Fort. On the sixth day I sent a Serjeant & Corppral with 15 men along the Frontiers of Paxton and Mannadys, about fourteen miles from this Fort, and on the seventh day they returned back to said Fort. On their march one of the Soldiers espied two Indians Just by one of the Frontier plan- tations; the Soldiers gave the Serjeant notice and the Serjeant 22 THE INDIAN FORTS kept on his course, as if he had not know anthing of the In- dians, till he gott some Bushes between the party & the In- dians and then gott round the place where the Indians were seen, but they happening to see the party run off, when our party came to the place they saw the Tracks of the Indians plain where they run off. As I am recruiting to fill up my Comply again, and my recruits are not all qualfied as yet, it is not in my power to send y'r Hon'r a Roll of my Comply, but expect in a few days to be in Capacity of doing it. As I am insensible there are Enemy Indians upon the Coast, I thought it fitting to send y'r Hon'r this Journal, & remain, Y'r Honour's Most obedient humble Servant, (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 332.) JAMES PATTERSON, Truly the days of the Provincial Soldier of the French and Indians Wars were not passed in luxury and ease nor his nights upon a bed of roses. However, with the success of the British arms and consequent discomfiture of the French, the scene of action was shifted during 1758, and the garrison of Fort Hunter had a rest until 1763, when Pontiac and his fol- lowers burst like a storm upon our western frontiers and again deluged its fair fields with blood. Hunter's Mill was once more selected as a place of rendezvous for men and stores, and, in June, 1763, we find Joseph Shippen, Jr., Gov- ernor Hamilton's Secretary, there in person, giving attention to the recruiting of soldiers, collecting of batteaux, and gather- ing of stores to be sent up the river to Fort Augusta. (Penn. Arch., iv, p. 111). A list of ten canoes hired from sundry parties at a cost of £5-10 is given, (Penn. Arch., iv, p. 112). The danger was imminent and it was determined to recruit seven hundred men for the defence of the frontier. Full in- structions to that effect are given, July 11th, to Col. Arm- strong. (Penn. Arch., iv, p. 114). As the stores went forward to Fort Augusta they were accompanied by small detach- ments of soldiers as guards, to whom full and implicit orders were given to guard against surprise. (Penn. Arch., iv, p. 113). Fortunately the strife though bloody was short, and, with OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 23 its close, the Angel of Peace took the place alike of warlike man and merciless savage. Fort Hunter remained such in name only until its last log had disappeared and now its mem- ory alone exists. When the Due de la Kochefoucauld-Lian- court, a French traveller, passed up the Susquehanna in 1796, he stopped at three settlements only, the first of which was Fort Hunter. It had then passed into the hands of Mr. Mc- Allister. He says, in substance, ''McAllister owns about 300 acres — about 120 cultivated. Price of lands near to him is |8 for woodland ; |50 for cleared. The houses, all of wood ex- cept the inn, stand on the Susquehanna and in the precincts of Fort Hunter, erected many years ago." (Penn. Hist. Col- lections, Sherman Day, p. 281). Mr. E. McAllister, of Harrisburg, has written the following interesting statement : — "The site of Fort Hunter is situated exactly six miles above Harrisburg on the Susquehanna river, at its junction with Fishing Creek. There are no remains of this fort, as upon its ancient foundations there is a very large storehouse, built by my grandfather Archibald McAllister, in 1814, and now owned by my father, Captain John C. McAllister. The situation of this house is very commanding, about 80 feet above the river Susquehanna and the surrounding scenery is of the most ro- mantic character. "During the Kevolutionary War and the early periods of our history, a block-house or fort occupied the site upon which now stands my father's large stone residence. This fort was called the 'English Fort Hunter.' About a mile above this point, where the river has evidently forced its way through a mountain pass, and where the river is narrow, deep and swift, immediately below the romantic village of Dauphin, where immense rocks (not yet worn away by the hand of time or the friction of the water) jut out of the water, at this point, at the very base of the Kittattiny Mountains, the river is called 'Hunter's Falls.' "In distinction from the 'English Fort Hunter,' there was another fort about one mile below this on the summit of the second mountain, a very high peak, entirely commanding the Susquehanna river, overlooking Harrisburg, and called the 24 ' THE INDIAN FORTS 'Indian Fort Hunter.' At this point tradition informs us that the Indians had some sort of an erection from which they would occasionally emerge, and after committing great dep- redations they would again retire to their stronghold, which was the terror of the country. To keep these Indians in check I have always understood that the English Fort was built. Tradition still delights to recount many fierce conflicts occur- ing between the inhabitants of these forts. Of the Indian Fort Hunter, which as a boy, I have frequently visited, there are yet distinct remains (1856). There is still to be seen a circular excavation of about four feet in depth and thirty feet in diameter. In this can yet be found heads of Indian arrows and other evidences of its former use." (Penn. Arch., xii, p. 378). The property built on the site of the Fort is now owned by the Estate of Daniel Boas, and occupied by John W. Keily. I give a sketch showing in detail the location of Fort Hun- ter and its various surroundings. All evidence and concurrent testimony locate the fort as shown, on a narrow elevation of gravel and boulders, about 40 feet high, at the mouth of the Fishing Creek where it empties into the Susquehanna Elver. It is also on the Harris- burg and Daui)hin Pike, about one-half mile north of the rail- road bridge at Kockville. The Susquehanna Eiver is here about seven-eighths mile wide, and the space, of about 150 feet, between the pike and the river, which constitutes the grounds of the present substantial stone house built on the site of the fort, is very beautiful. The Pennsylvania Canal, Northern Central, and Schuylkill and Susquehanna Eailroads, all close together, pass by, to the west, distant about 600 yards. In the rear of the barn, now standing on the opposite side of the pike from the Fort, were formerly erected barracks for the better accommodation of the soldiers forming the garrison, and recruits gathered for other points. A house and barn occupy the site of Hunter's house and barn, as shown. Hunter's Mill proper, was located where now stands the mill owned by iVbr. Eeam, which is built on its site, distant about 500 yards west of the fort. This will explain the various remarks made with regard to the unprotected nature of OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 25 Hunter's Mill, when it was suggested that it. should be used for a storehouse. We can readily see, also, how the command- ing position of Fort Hunter, on the spot where actually built, made it most important, whilst its location, at the Mill proper would have had the opposite effect, even if better protection had been afforded, thereby, to said building. A little over one mile in a southeasterly direction from the Fort is the base of a prominent peak of the Blue Mountains on which, for a number of yearsj was displayed a flag marking the position of the so-called ''Indian Fort Hunter," of which Mr. McAllister speaks. It is to be regretted that this misleading term has come into such general use. It was contrary to the custom and nature of the Indian to erect any defense which might properly be called a ''Fort." Especially in the French and Indian wars, so far as they relate to this vicinity, the savages never attempted to gather together at any one place, as head- quarters, and fortify the same; least of all did they do so near Fort Hunter. We have seen from the records, that the marauding parties of the enemy were not of that immediate neighborhood, but, as at every other place, they consisted of small parties, from great& or less distances, bent solely on murder and plunder. I have learned nothing about the cir- cular excavation of which Mr. McAllister writes, but have as- certained that there are still to be seen places in the rocks which have been hollowed out, of a smaller size, where, prob- ably the women were accustomed to grind their corn. The place evidently marks the site of an Indian village, existing prior to the French and Indian wars. The large excavation mentioned may have been a natural hollow, or, if made by the aborigines, could have been used for many different pur- poses. Fort Hunter, it is true, was merely a block-house surrounded by a stockade, not so pretentious, perhaps, in size or appearance as some of its neighbors, but, after, reviewing its history, we can hardly fail to realize its great importance and the prom- inent part it played in the history of the times. It would certainly be a source of regret were its location not to be per- petuated by a monument of some sort. 26 THE INDIAN FORTS MANADA FOET. The passage through the Blue Mountains, called Manada Gap, is distant from Fort Hunter about twelve miles. Be- cause of this fact, and the necessity for guarding such a prominent gateway to the populous district below, the Gov- ernment occupied said locality as its next station, in accord- ance with its general plan of defense. In the few descrip- tions 'given of this position more or less confusion exists. Fortunately, by extensive personal research, I have been able to solve the problem. To understand it more thoroughly it will be well, first, to glance at such records of the place as exist. Immediately after the outbreak of the savages along the Susquehanna, during the Fall of 1755, they began to threaten the settlements further east. We accordingly find the in- structions issued to Adam Bead, under date of January 10th, 1756, of which mention has already been made, to detach twenty-five men from the Compaq at his house and send them to Hunter's Mill, so that they might range the moun- tains between that place and his residence. With the rest of his command, which remained at his house, he, in turn, was likewise to range the mountains towards Fort Hunter. (Penn. Arch, ii, p. 545.) These in.structions were soon followed by the notification, Jan. 26th, to Mr. Bead that "Capt. Frederick Smith having been appointed to take post with an Indepen- dent Company at the Gap where Swehatara passes the Moun- tains, and to station a detachment of his Company at Mona- day," there would no longer be any necessity for him to guard that frontier and that accordingly he was relieved from said duty. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 551.) In connection with these in- structions to Mr. Bead, and of the same date, were the orders sent to Capt. Smith, viz : Sir: — "Having appointed you Cap'n of a Company of foot to be paid and supplied, I think it necessary to give you the following orders and Instructions, according to the following Establishm't, viz: for your better government in the Execu- tion of the trust reposed in you. *****♦*♦ < < < CO o z < z o CD < < z < t/) cr o IL U. O Ui OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 27 You are to leave at Swehatara a part of your Company, suffi- cient to maintain that post under one of your officers, and with the remainder of your Company you are to Proceed to the gap where the river Monaday passes the Mountains, and Either take possession and strengthen the Stuccado already erected there, or erect a new one as you shall Judge best, and then you are to Eeturn to the fort at Swehatara, which you are to make your headquarters, leaving twenty men under the Command of a Commissioned Officer at the fort at Mona- day, and relieving them from time to time, in part or in whole as you shall think proper. You are to Communicate these Instructions to your Officers, that are stationed at the fort at Monaday, and if you Judge it necessary you may give them coppys for their better gov- ernment. As you are unacquainted with the situation of the country, on the northern frontier of the county of Lancaster (now Lebanon), where you are to take post, I have Directed James Gelbreth, Esq'r, to furnish you with all the information in his Power, and to afford you his advice and assistance, not only in the Choice of ground proper to erect the forts upon, but as to any other matters that may relate to the service you are upon, and you will apply to him for such assistance from time to time as you stand in need of it. You are to receive of Cap't. Bead & Cap't. Hedericks, such arms, accoutriments. Blankets and stores, as belong to the Province of which you are to return an exact account to me, and take care of such as shall remain in your Hands, and Having ordered Cap't. Thomas McKee to raise a company of Thirty men, and to take post and to scour the country between Sasquahana & Monaday, you are upon his application to sup- ply him with such of the s'd arms, accoutriments, tools. Blankets and stores as you can spare from your own Company, taking his receipt for the same, and inform me of what you supply him with." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 552-553.) In conjunction with these orders to Capt. Smith, the Gov- ernor wrote as follows to James Galbraith, the Commissary: "I have ordered Capt. Smith, with a Company from Chester County, to take post at the Gap at Swehatara, and to station 28 THE INDIAN FORTS a detachment of his men at Monaday, either in the Stockades already built there, or to erect such others as he may Judge best; but as he is a stranger to that part of the country, I must desire you will assist him with your advice, not only as to the most advantageous situations for the forts, in case it should be resolved to erect new ones, but in anything else that the service may require, and let me know from time to time what is done in that quarter." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 554.) These records indicate that a stockade had already been erected, or commenced, prior to 1756. Like Fort Hunter it is probable that it was built by the settlers, during the latter part of 1755, for mutual protection, and later, in January, 1756, occupied by the soldiers. Whilst the instructions of the Governor gave license to erect a new fort, if deemed advisable, yet it is most likely Capt. Smith, the commanding officer, ac- cepted the already completed work of the settlers, placed ac- cording to their good judgment. Amongst the comparatively few papers which give an account of Manada Fort there is nothing stated to the contrary, and my personal investiga- tions tend to prove the same fact. On July 11th, 1756, Col. Conrad Weiser gives Gov. Morris a statement of his disposition of the troops, wherein '^nine men are to stay constantly in Manity Fort, and Six men to range Eastward from Manity towards Swataro, and Six men to range Westward towards Susquehannah. Each Party so farr that they may reach their Fort again before Night." (Penn Arch., ii, p. 696.) Notwithstanding these apparently active preparations and the faithful scouting doubtless done by the soldiers, yet the Indians were not to be thwarted in their murderous work, and, before long, some of their own number were to fall vic- tims to the unfailing vigilance of the savage, owing, it must be admitted, to a temporary relaxation of their own watchful- ness. In a letter of August 7th, 1756, to Edward Shippen this interesting and unfortunate event is related by Adam Head, as follows : Sir: ^'Yesterday Jacob Elles a Soldier of Cap't Smith's at Brown's forth, a Liver before, 2J Milles over ye first Moun- tain just within the gape at s'd forth, having some wheat grow- OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 2d ing at Ms place preveVd with Ms officer for some of ye men to help him cut a Little of ye same, accordingly 10 of them went, set guards Bound & fell to work, about 10 of ye Clock, they had reaped down & went to ye head to Begin again, and before they had all well Begon, 3 Indians Crep't to ye fence just at their Back, & all 3 at one penal of the fence fired upon them, killed their Corprall dead and another that was stand- ing with his gun in one hand & a Botle in ye other was wounded, his left arm is Brock in 2 places so that his gun fell, he Being a little more down the field, the field Being about 15 or 16 poll in length, them that Keape'd had their arms about half way down at a large tree as soon as ye Indians found they did not load their guns but leap'd over ye fence into the middle of them & one of them left his gun Behind him without ye fence, they all run thorow one another & thorow one an- other, ye Indians making a tarable Holo, and looked liker ye devel than an Indian, the Soulders fled to their Arms & as 3 of them stood Behind ye tree with their Arms ye Indian that came in wanting his gun, came within a few yards of them & took up the wounded Solder's gun & would ahave killed another had not one that pursued him fired at him, so that he dropped ye gun, the Indian fled, and in going off, 2 Soldiars stood about a Kod apart, a Indian run thorow Betwixt them, they both fired at him, yet he went off Cleer, when they were over ye fence a Soldier fired at one of them upon which he stooped a little and so went all 3 off, a litle after they left ye field they fired one gun and gave a hollo, the Solder hid the one that was killed, went home to the forth found James Brown that lives in ye forth one of their Solders a Missing, the Lieutinant went out with more men and Brought in the dead man but still Brown was missing. I herd shooting that night, I went up next morning with some hands, Captain Smith had sent up more men from the other fort, went out next morning & against I got there word had come in from them they had found James Brown Killed and Scalped. I went over with them to bring him home, he was killed with the last shot about 20 poll from the field of Battle, his gun, his showes & jacket carried off, the soulders that found him told me that they track'd the 3 Indians to the Second Moun- 30 THE INDIAN FORTS tan & they found one of the Indians guns a little from Browns Corps Brock to in pieces as she had been good for little, they showed me where ye Indians fired thorow ye fence & it was full Elevan yards to where the man lay dead ; ye Kising ground above ye feild was clear of standing timber & the grubes low, so that they kept a Bad look out. The above acc't you may depend upon me, we have almost lost all Hopes of anything but to move off and loose our cropes we have Keap'd with so much defickulty." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 738). On the same subject and about the same time Commissary James Galbraith wrote, August 10, from Derry, to Governor Hamilton, as follows : "Honored Sir, There is nothing heare allmost Evry day but murder Commited by the Indians in som part or oather ; about five mills above me, at Monaday Gape, there was two of the provance solders kild, one wounded; there wase but three Indians, and they came in amongst ten of our men and com- mitted the murder, and went off safe; the name or sight of an Indian maks allmost all mankind in these parts to trimble, there Barbarity is so Cruel where they are masters, for by all appearances the Devall Commitans, God permits, and the French pays, and by this the Back parts, by all apparance, will be Laid west by flight, with what is gon and agoing, more Espesaly Cumberland County.-' (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 740). How many more unfortunates in this neighborhood fell victims to the merciless tomahawk, which was fast laying waste all the frontier settlements, as Mr. Galbraith said, is not stated, but in October, 1756, Adam Read sends another letter to Mr. Shippen, &ca, pleading for assistance, which was duly laid before the Provincial Council and appears on its minutes as follows : "Friends and Fellow Subjects: I send you, in a few lines, the maloncholly condition of the Frontiers of this County ; last Tuesday the 12 of this Instant, ten Indians came on Noah Frederick plowing in his Field, killed and scalped him and carried away three of his children that was with him, the Eldest but Nine Years old, plundered his House, and carried away everything that suited their pur- OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 31 pose, such, as Oloaths, Bread, Butter, a Saddle and good Riffle Gun &ca, it being but two short Miles from Captain Smith's Fort, at Swatawro Gap, and a little better than two from my House. Last Saturday Evening an Indian came to the House of Philip Eobeson, carrying a Green Bush before him, said Robe- son's Son being on the Corner of his Fort watching others that was dressing flesh by him, the Indian perceiving that he was observed fled; the watchman fired but missed him; this being three quarters of a mile from Manady Fort ; and Yester- day Morning, two Miles from Smith's Fort, at Swatawro, in Bethel Township, as Jacob Fornwal was going from the house of Jacob Meyler to his own, was fired upon by two Indians and wounded, but escaped with his life, and a little after, in the said Township, as Frederick Henley and Peter Stample was carrying away their Goods in waggons was met by a parcel of Indians and all Killed, five lying Dead in one place and one Man at a little distance, but what more is done is riot come to my Hand as yet, but that the Indians was continuing their Murders. The Frontiers is employed in nothing but carrying off their Effects, so that some Miles is now waist. We are willing, but not able without help ; You are able if you be willing (that is Including the lower parts of the Country), to give us such assistance as will enable us to redeem our waist Land; You may depend on it that without Assistance we in a few days will be on the wrong side of you, for I am now a Frontier, and I fear that the Morrow Night I will be left some Miles. Gentlemen, consider what you will do, and not be long about it, and let not the World say that we die as fools dyed. Our Hands is not tied, but let us exert our- selves and do something for the Honour of our Country and the preservation of our Fellow Subjects. I hope you will communicate our Grievances to the lower parts of our County, for surely they will send us some help if they understand our Grievances. I wou'd have gone down myself, but dare not, my Family is in such Danger. I expect an Answer by the Bearer, if Possible." I am, Gentlemen, Your very humble Servant, ADAM READ, 32 THE INDIAN FORTS Before sending this away 1 have just rec'd information that there is seven Killed & five Children Scalped a Live, but not the Account of their names." On reading these Accounts the Governor was advised to lay them and the other Intelligence before the Assembly, and in the Strongest Terms to press them again for a Militia Law, as the only thing that woul'd enable the Country to exert their strength against these cruel savages. (Col. Kec, vii, p. 303). This was immediately done by the Governor but action on the part of the Quaker Assembly was very slow and the terrible work still went on. Here practically ends the narrative of recorded events in and about Manada Gap, except the interesting journal of Captain James Patterson, stationed at Fort Hunter, which is dated Dec'r, 1757. His duties kept him ranging along the mountains between that place, Manada and Swatara Gaps, and the journal has already been given under the head of Fort Hunter. In addition to this journal is a diary of James Burd whilst on his tour of inspection to the various forts. At 11.00 A. M., on Sunday, February 19, 1758, he left Fort Hunter on his way to Fort Swatara. He says "got to Crawford's, 14 miles from Hunter's, here I stay all night, it rain'd hard. Had a Number of applications from the Country for Pro- tection, otherwise they would be immediately obliged to fly from their Settlements, appointed to meet them to hear their Complaints, and proposaels on Tuesday at 10.00 A. M., at Fort Swetarrow; the Country is thick settled this march along the blue mountains & very fine Plantations." Upon his arrival at Fort Swatara he reviewed the garrison, inspected the fort and its stores, and gave orders for a sergeant and twelve men to be always out on the scout towards Crawford's, near Manada Gap. On Tuesday, Feb. 21st, the country people came in ac- cording to appointment, when, after hearing their statement, he promised to station an officer and 25 men at Kobertson's Mill "situate in the Center between the Forts, Swatarrow & Hunter," which gave the people content. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 352-353). After reading over these various records we notice that four places are mentioned where soldiers were stationed and ~^«/) ROAP cc o u. CO z o CO z o Ll O KU CO '^'"iiinmm SITE OF ROBINSON'S FORT. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 33 which were used for defense: — Kobinson's, Kobeson's, or Eobertson's Mill (as the writer saw fit to spell the name), Manada Fort, Brown's Fort and Squire Bead's house. The misunderstanding with regard to Manada Fort has been caused by the confounding of these names in the effort to produce one or two places only out of what are really four separate and distinct stations. At this point there is back of the First Mountain, or Blue Bange proper, a series of other ranges, known as the Second, Third, Fourth, Peter's Mountain, &c. Manada Gap is the nar- row passage in the First Mountain where the Manada Greek, formed between it and the Second Mountain, has forced its way through, on its journey towards its larger sister, the Swatara Creek. Bight at this entrance stands to-day the grist mill of Mr. Jacob Early on the site of the old Bobinson Mill. Mr. Early showed me at the time of my visit November 22, 1893, an old deed of property dated November 23, 1784, to John and James Pettigrew, for over 350 acres of land of Timothy Green, on part of ^hich the mill now stands. He then explained that his present mill was built in 1891, taking the place of a frame structure erected some 55 years ago, which, in its turn, rested on the foundation of the original mill. This latter was a stone building, and Mr. Early was told by the old inhabitants that it had loop holes in it, larger in- side than outside and undoubtedly intended for musketry. It was admirably adapted for defense and, as we have seen, was so used. It was from this building, called ^'Bobeson's Fort," that a lad standing at a corner window, whilst watch- ing some of the men dressing meat, noticed the approach of an Indian who was endeavoring to conceal himself behind a green bush, and who fled when discovered and fired upon. Whilst excellent, however, in itself, as a place of defense, it was too close to the mountain to be conveniently located as a place of refuge and protection for the settlers, whose dwell- ings were generally more distant from the Gap proper. The real Manada Fort, therefore, was built a short distance below the Mill, probably by the settlers themselves, in accordance with their own judgment, as already stated. Justice Adam Bead, in his appeal to the Provincial Council for assistance, 34 THE INDIAN FORTS in speaking of the above incident of the lad discovering the Indian, distinctly says that ''Robeson's Fort" (the Mill) was three-quarters of a mile from Manada Fort. Diligent search on my part finally resulted in ascertaining the exact and au- thentic location of the latter fort, vrhich corresponds precisely with the record. My principal information was obtained from Mr. John N. Hampton, an old gentleman 94 years of age, now residing near Grantville, some miles distant, who still remains in perfect possession of all his mental faculties and physical powers. It so happened that Mr. Hampton, when a young man, was engaged in cutting wood at the very spot where the fort had stood, the property then of Wm. Thome. Noticing an unusual quantity of dead timber he inquired of young Mr. Thome the reason and was informed that this was the place where stood the Indian Fort. Old Mr. Thome who died 80 years ago an aged man, also stated the same thing. The fact, acquired in this unusual way, became indelibly impressed upon his memory. More recently I have had this location cor- oborated by Mr. Ziegler, an intelligent elderly gentleman re- siding near Harper's, Lebanon county, who remembers hear- ing old people mention it in his youth, and also others. I give a topographical sketch showing more in detail the situa- tion. As will be seen Robeson's or Robinson's Mill and Fort stood right in the Mountain Gap, beside the Manada creek. Three- quarters of a mile below was Manada Fort, as shown. It stood at what is now the west end of the field on which Wm. Rhoad's house is built, about 350 yards from the same, and about 300 yards distant from Manada creek, beyond it to the west. The ground is level and somewhat elevated, falling away from the fort to a run of water, immediately below, which originates in a spring near Mr. Rhoad's house and flows west into Manada creek. About one-half mile to the southeast is the Methodist Meeting House, and probably an equal dis- tance to the southwest the Manada Furnace. No trace of the fort remains, nor any knowledge of its appearance, although, from the fact that it was not one of the larger stations, we are justified in presuming that it consisted merely of one block house surrounded by a stockade. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 35 1 have previously said that some confusion exists with re- gard to the number and location of forts in this vicinity, owing principally to the letter written by Mr. Bead to Edward Shippen detailing the fight which the soldiers had with the Indians in the Gap and death of James Brown. Before taking this matter up fully it is well to remember that the most populous part of the district was not close to the mountains, where stood Manada Fort and Bobeson's Mill, but down towards the region of the Swatara creek. The first position was necessary as it commanded the passage through the mountains; the other was equally necessary for protec- tion to the inhabitants and as a place of refuge for them. Accordingly, in the early history of savage depredations we read of the farmers organizing into companies which made the house of Adam Bead their rallying point, and later of a body of provincial troops stationed likewise at his home and under his command. It might be well here to explain that he was a very influential and patriotic gentleman, one of the most prominent in the neighborhood. Being a justice of the peace he is frequently called Squire Bead, and, holding a commis- sion under the Provincial Government we sometimes hear of him as Captain Bead. In addition to his house we also read of Brown's Fort. To aid further explanation I submit a map embracing the entire district. It will be noticed that the Swatara creek, which takes a southwesterly direction after leaving Swatara Gap, suddenly tends to the northwest until once more near the mountain when, at the village now called Harper's, it makes a sharp turn around and then pursues its regular southwesterly course to the Susquehanna river. About one and one-fourth miles southeast from Harper's a creek, called "Bead's creek," empties into the Swatara. On a road running off from the main road to Jonestown, and one-fourth mile above where the latter crosses Bead's creek by a bridge, stood Adam Bead's house, on property now owned by Sam'l Beigel. This location is fixed by Mr. C. D. Zehring, an old gentleman residing at Jones- town, who has made frequent surveys thereabouts and obtained the information from old deeds and papers in his possession. It is corroborated by his brother John, now 79 years old, who 36 THE INDIAN FORTS lived the greater part of his life on Bead's creek, and further proven by Mr. Bead himself who, in speaking of the murder of Noah Frederick, states that it took place between his home and Fort Swatara ^'but two short miles" from the latter and ''a little better than two" from the former. In other words his home was exactly four miles from Fort Swatara, which agrees precisely with its position as marked. (Col. Eec, vii, p. 303). About two miles distant from Harper's and one and a half miles south of the village of Mt. Nebo, on the Swatara creek, are still found caves which local tradition unites in saying were used by the settlers as places of refuge from the Indians. I was shown, by Mr. J. A. Baumgardner, at Harper's, the site of what he called an Indian Fort. He remembers very dis- tinctly hearing the old people talk about this fort when he was a boy, some 40 years ago. The sketch given will indicate its position. Here, at the bend in the Swatara, Mr. Adam Harper settled himself at an early period. His location was the most western in the county at that time. He was surrounded by Indians, who had a string of wigwams hard by his home. He kept the first public house in all that region of country. The place is still known as ''Harper's Tavern," and stood as shown. Not half a mile distant from this place, in 1756, the Indians killed five or six white persons. A woman — a sister of Major Leidig — was scalped by the Indians, and, incredible, as it may appear, survived this barbarous act and lived for years afterwards. (Bupp, p. 353). Of course the so called Fort at Harper's was not, strictly speaking, -a fort, but merely a place of refuge. It is very probable that it was connected in some way, with the Indian massacre mentioned above. We are now prepared to discuss the remaining defense of those centering about Manada and called OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 37 BROWN'S FORT. So little is known of this fort, and what little is known is of such an indefinite character, that it has been variously placed in different counties if placed at all. In the Appendix to the Pennsylvania Archives, p. 346, it is said that "there is nothing to determine the site of this fort (if indeed there was a fort of that name), and the other one not far from it; as the letter (Adam Read's) is dated Hanover it was probably either in Beaver or Washington county." Whilst it is true that there is but little on record concerning Brown's Fort, yet a state- ment such as the above is certainly inexcusable. Our chief knowledge of this fort is obtained from the letter written by Squire Adam Read to Edward Shippen, already given in full, wherein he details the shooting of the soldiers. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 738). It is dated "Hanover, August 7th, 1756." His residence, just located, stood in what has always been called Hanover Township of Lebanon (then Lancaster) county, from this time to the present. What more natural then, in the ab- sence of our present villages and postoffices, than that he should head his communication "Hanover," and what more unnatural than to locate the said Hanover in Beaver or Washington county. Indeed the postoffices to this day are called East and West Hanover. I believe if we consider his letter carefully, which does not seem to have been done in the past as it should, we may get some light on the matter. Let us do so : A soldier, named Jacob Ellis, belonging to Capt. Smith's command, was stationed at Brown's Fort. We will here re- member that whilst Capt. Smith himself was at Fort Swatara, his headquarters, yet a commissioned officer and certain num- ber of men from his company, and under his command, were stationed at and near Manada Gap. This man Ellis "lived two and one-half miles over the first mountain, just within the gap at said fort." So we find that Brown's Fort was near the gap, and we know that it was Manada Gap from a letter writ- ten August 9th by James Galbraith to Edward Shippen in which he says, speaking of this very affair "there wase two 38 THE INDIAN FORTS Solders killed and one wounded about two miles from Monaday fort." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 740). He had some wheat growing at his home and wanted to harvest it, so accordingly prevailed upon his officer to give him an escort of ten men to aid in the work. Any one who has made a study of this portion of our history will readily see that an important part of the soldiers duty was guarding the settlers at their work whilst harvesting their crops. For that purpose they were divided into small parties which were stationed at various suitable farm houses. The time of harvest was now at hand, and the mere fact that so little mention is made of Brown's Fort is evidence in itself that it was no fort at all, strictly speaking, but merely a private house temporarily occupied by a squad of soldiers. I say a ''squad" of soldiers because, in all such cases, the num- ber was limited. If that were so, and it certainly was, then there was no commissioned officer with them, and yet we read that he obtained the necessary permission from his officer, a lieutenant, who gave him so considerable an escort that un- doubtedly a part were furnished from his headquarters, which was Manada Fort. This would indicate that Brown's Fort was at no great distance from Manada Fort. Indeed I was somewhat inclined to believe, at first, that they were one and the same place, but undoubted information received, to be given later, showed me such was not the case. To continue our narra- tive, the soldiers went up into the gap, where Ellis lived, and got to work, keeping a poor look out. About ten o'clock A. M., they were surprised by three Indians, who killed the cor- poral and wounded another. For awhile there was quite a scene of excitement when finally the Indians fled, giving a war whoop and firing a farewell shot. Having hid the dead man the other soldiers returned to the fort only to find another of their number missing, one named James Brown, who lived in the fort. We are then told that the Lieutenant immediately went out with more men and brought in the dead body but could not find Brown. Here we have several facts mentioned, one that the fort was, as I have already said only a private house, the residence of a man named Brown, although not necessarily James Brown, who may have been merely a son or OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 39 relative living there, but still of some person so called or the fort would not have been recorded as Brown's Fort; and the other fact suggested is that Brown's Fort and Manada Fort were near each other and easy of access, because during a comparatively short time in the afternoon, the Lieutenant is informed of the calamity, takes a body of men to the spot, spends some time in searching for the missing man, and brings back the dead body, all before evening, which he could haTdly have done had the distances been otherwise than short. As will be shown on the map given, the position of Brown's Fort was really but one and three-fourths miles east of Manada Fort, and, in going from the former to the Gap and back, it was almost necessary to pass by the latter. Mr. Bead adds that he heard shooting that night. These were probably alarm guns, which may have been fired at Brown's Fort to alarm the people, or even by some of the farmers themselves. Although the location to be given presently of Brown's Fort places it near the mountains and about five miles distant from Mr. Bead's house, yet the reverberating sound of fire arms near the mountain, in a still night, could have been heard at that distance without much difficulty. During my tour of investigation I several times heard guns so fired which, although several miles off, seemed very loud and near; even the stroke of a woodchopper's axe, a mile distant, was very distinctly heard. I doubt, however, whether he could so readily have heard a musket if fired at Manada Fort. The next morning, he tells us, he went up with some hands, to ascertain the cause of the alarm and render assistance, if needed. Upon arrival he found Capt. Smith had sent up more men from the other fort. Please note the words which I have placed in italics. It has been a query as to which is meant by the "other fort." Let us not forget that Capt. Smith had his headquarters at Fort Swatara, where he probably was. Of course that same evening the Lieutenant, if he was any kind of an officer, sent notice to his Captain of what had oc- curred. The distance from Fort Swatara to Brown's Fort was about nine miles, and what more natural than that Capt' Smith should send some temporary reinforcements up from Fort Swatara, the other fort, where he was, not knowing but 40 THE INDIAN FORTS what the Indians were in force and that more troops would be needed. Finding that his kindly meant assistance was unnecessary Mr. Eead returned home, but the following morn- ing went back, when he found that the body of James Brown had been discovered. He was killed by the last shot which the Indians had fired, and had been scalped. Let us now consult the map given. I cannot think otherwise but that a glance at this location of Brown's Fort will show how thoroughly it corresponds and agrees with all records we have of it. It stood on the main road between Fort Swatara, Manada Fort and Manada Gap. Being merely a farm house, intended to be occupied only dur- ing harvest time, it was well situated for that purpose, being adjacent to quite a number of farms. As corroborating evi- dence of the correctness of my arguments I would say that diligent search reveals the fact that the Browns then lived in that locality. There were several families of that name, none of them apparentl}^ of any prominence, but all residing there- abouts. I found none of that name elsewhere. Within this century, some 80 years ago, a Sam'l Brown lived just south of Manada Furnace; Philip Brown lived about one-half mile north of Grantville on what is now the farm of Dan'l Ulrich, and Adam Brown, who died some 60 years ago, lived on the farm now owned by Amos Walmer. On the map will also be noticed an old stone house, standing about one mile north of Shellsville, which is the original building then occupied by John Crawford, (where it will be remembered Maj. James Burd stopped over night on Sunday, February 19, 1758, when on his tour of inspection), who instead of fleeing away from his enemies, as did others, took especial pleasure in hunting them up and despoiling them of their scalps. All the elderly people in the neighborhood agreed in saying that the building which I have marked, on the property of Mr. Jno. L. Ramler, was an Indian Fort. They did not know it by the name of Brown-s Fort, but called it the "Old Fort." This, however, is not to be wondered at, as Brown's Fort was never really its name, but merely the name of its occupant used by Mr. Eead the better to describe it in his letter. Mr. Ramler, who lives at the place, whilst but a young man himself, remembers OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 41 very distinctly of his grandfather, who died four years ago at the age of eighty-three, telling him that this place was a fort, and that there was another fort at or near Manada Gap. Whilst, as yet, I have not had opportunity to trace the owner- ship of this particular property back beyond our century and so ascertain if, at the time named, it was owned by a Mr. Brown, yet I have no doubt of that fact, and the universal opinion of Mr. Kamler and other gentlemen there is that this is Brown's Fort. As a further proof of this they say posi- tively that no other fort (except Manada) existed any where about that locality. Part of the walls of the building are still standing, about six feet high, alongside the road. It was of stone, therefore well adapted for the purpose, and was pierced with five port holes. It is close to the foot of the mountain. As elswhere, many atrocities were committed by the savages in the vicinity of Manada Gap. In August, 1757, two miles below the Gap, as Thomas Mc- Guire's sera was bringing some cows out of a field, a little way from the house, he was pursued by two Indians and narrowly escaped. Leonard Long's son, while ploughing, was killed and scalped. On the other side of the fence, Leonard Miller's son was ploughing, who was made prisoner. Near Benjamin Clark's house, four miles from the mill, two savages surprised Isaac Williams' wife and the widow Williams, killed and scalped the former in sight of the house, she having run a little way after three balls had been shot through her body. The latter they carried away captive. (History of Penn., W. H. Egle, vol. ii, p. 865). The following interesting incident is related by Dr. Egle in his History of Dauphin County, p. 424 : ^'The Barnetts and their immediate neighbors erected a block house* in proximity to Col. Green's Mill (Eobinson's, now Early's Mill on land of Timothy Green) on the Manada, for the better safety of their wives and children, while they cul- tivated their farms in groups, one or two standing as senti- nels. In the year 1757, there was at work on the farm of Mr. Barnett a small group, one of which was an estimable man named Mackey. News came with flying speed that their wives *Mr. N, W. Moyer, of Linglestown, has called the Editor's attention to an excellent photograph of this block house in the collection of the Dauphin Co. Historical Society. 42 THE INDIAN FORTS and children were all murdered at the block house by the Indians. Preparations were made immediately to repair to the scene of horror. While Mr. Barnett with all possible haste was getting ready his horse, he requested Mackey to examine his rifle to see that it was in order. Everything right they all mounted their horses, rifle in hand, and gallopped off, tak- ing a near way to the blockhouse. A party of Indians lying in ambush rose and fired at Mr. Barnett, who was foremost, and broke his right arm. His rifle dropped; an Indian snatched it up and shot Mr. Mackey through the heart. He fell dead at their feet, and one secured his scalp. Mr. Bar- nett's father, who was in the rear of his company, turned back, but was pursued by the Indians, and narrowly escaped with his life. In the meantime Mr. Barnett's noble and high spirited horse, which the Indians greatly wished to possess, carried him swiftly out of the enemy's reach, but, becoming weak and faint from the loss of blood, he fell to the ground and lay for a considerable time unable to rise. At length, by a great effort, he crept to a buckwheat field, where he concealed himself until the Indians had retired from the immediate vicinity, and then, raising a signal, he was soon perceived by a neighbor, who, after hesitating for some time for fear of the Indians, came to his relief. Surgical aid was procured, and his broken arm bound up, but the anxiety of his mind respecting his family was a heavy burden which agonized his soul, and not until the next day did he hear that they were safe, with the exception of his eldest son, then eight or nine years of age, whom the Indians had taken prisoner, together with a son of Mackey's about the same age. The savages on learning that one of their captives was a son of Mackey, whom they had just killed, compelled him to stretch his father's scalp, and this heart-rending, soul-sickening office he was obliged to perform in sight of the mangled body of his father. The Indians escaped with the two boys westward, and, for a time, Mackey's son carried his father's scalp, which he would often stroke with his little hand and say, ^^my father's pretty hair." Mr. Barnett lay languishing on a sick bed, his case doubtful for a length of time, but, having a strong constitution, he, at OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 43 last, through the blessing of God, revived, losing about four inches of a bone near the elbow of his right arm. But who can tell the intense feeling of bitterness which filled the mind and absorbed the thoughts of him and his tender, sensitive, companion, their beloved child traversing the wilderness, a prisoner with a savage people, exposed to cold and hunger, and subject to their wanton cruelty? Who can tell of their sleepless nights, the anxious days, prolonged through long, weary months and years; their fervent prayers, their bitter tears, and enfeebled health? The prospect of a treaty with the Indians, with the return of prisoners, at length brought a gleam of joy to the stricken hearts of these parents. Accordingly, Mr. Barnett left his family behind and set off with Col. Croghan and a body of five hundred "regulars" who were destined to Fort Pitt for that purpose. Their baggage and provisions conveyed on pack horses, they made their way over the mountains with the greatest difficulty. When they arrived at their place of desti- nation. Col. Croghan made strict inquiry concerning the fate of the little captives. After much fruitless search, he was informed that a squaw, who had lost a son, had adopted the son of Mr. Barnett and was very unwilling to part with him, and he, believing his father had been killed by the In- dians, had become reconciled to his fate, and was much at- tached to his Indian mother. Mr. Barnett remained with the troops for some time with- out obtaining or even seeing his son. Fears began to be enter- tained at Fort Pitt of starvation. Surrounded by multitudes of savages, there seemed little prospect of relief, and, to add to the despondency, a scouting party returned with the dis- tressing news that the expected provisions, which were on the way to their relief, were taken by the Indians. They almost despaired — five hundred men in a picket fort on the wild banks of the Allegheny river without provisions. The thought was dreadful. They became reduced to one milch cow each day, for five days, killed and divided among the five hundred. The three following days they had nothing. To their great joy on the evening of the third provisions arrived. Every sunken, pale, despairing countenance gathered brightness, but. M THE INDIAN FORTS owing to its imprudent use, which the officers could not pre- vent, many died. While the treaty was pending many were killed by the Indians, who were continually prowling around the fort. One day Mr. Barnett wished a drink of water from Grant's Spring (this spring is near Grant street, in the city of Pittsburgh, known to most of the older inhabitants) ; he took his "camp- kettle" and proceeded a few steps, when he suddenly thought the adventure might cost him his life, and turned back ; imme- diately he heard the report of a rifle, and, looking towards the spring, he saw the smoke of the same, — the unerring aim of an Indian had deprived a soldier of life. They bore away his scalp, and his body was deposited on the bank of the Alle- gheny. The treaty was concluded and ratified by the parties ; never- theless great caution was necessary on the part of the whites, knowing the treachery of many of their foes. Mr. Barnett was most unhappy. His hopes concerning his child had not been realized, and he had been absent from his family already too long. Soon after the conclusion of the treaty a guard, with pack horses, started to cross the moun- tains, and he gladly embraced the opportunity of a safe re- turn. After injunctions laid upon Col. Croghan to purchase, if possible, his son, he bade him, and his associates in hard- ships, farewell, and, after a toilsome journey, reached home and embraced, once more, his family, who were joyful at his return. But the vacancy occasioned by the absence of one of its members still remained. He told them that William was alive, soothed their grief, wiped away the tears from the cheeks of his wife, and expressed a prayerful hope that, through the interposition of a kind Providence, he would eventually be re- stored to them. Faithful to his promise. Col. Croghan used every endeavor to obtain him. At length, through the instrumentality of traders, he was successful. He was brought to Fort Pitt, and, for want of an opportunity to send him to his father, was re- tained under strict guard, so great was his inclination to re- turn to savage life. On one occasion he sprang down the bank of the Allegheny river, jumped into a canoe, and was OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 45 midway in the stream before lie was observed. He was quickly pursued, but reached the opposite shore, raised the Indian whoop, and hid himself among the bushes. After several hours' pursuit he was retaken and brought back to the fort. Soon after, an opportunity offering, he was sent to Carlisle. His father, having business at that place, arrived after dark on the same day, and, without knowing, took lodg- ing at the same public house where his son was, and who had been some time in bed. As soon as he was aware of the fact he asked eagerly to see him. The landlord entreated him to let the boy rest till morning, as he was much wearied by travel- ing. To this the father would not assent, replying, "If a son of yours had been absent for three years could you rest under the same roof without seeing him?" The hardy host felt the appeal and led the way to the chamber. The sleeping boy was awakened and told that his father stood by his bed. He re- plied in broken English, ''No my father.'^ At this moment his father spoke, saying, ''William, my son, look at me; I am your father!" On hearing his voice and seeing his face he sprang from the bed, clasped him in his arms, and shouted, "My father ! My father is still alive !" All the spectators shed tears, the father wept like a child, while from his lips flowed thankful expressions of gratitude, to the Almighty disposer of all events, that his long lost child was again restored. Early the next day the father and son were on the road homewards, where they arrived on the second day in the dusk of the evening. The rattling of the wheels announced their approach; the mother and all the children came forth. She, whose frequent prayers had heretofore been addressed to the Throne of Divine Grace for the safety and return of her son, now trembled and was almost overcome as she beheld him led by his father and presented to her, the partner of her sor- rows. She caught him to her bosom and held him long in her embrace, while tears of joy flowed. His brothers and sisters clustered eagerly around and welcomed him with a kiss of affection. It was a scene of deep feeling not to be described, and known only to those who have been in similar circum- stances. The happy family, all once more beneath the parental roof, knelt down and united in thanksgiving to Almighty God 46 THE INDIAN FORTS for all His mercies to them in protecting and restoring to their arms a beloved and long absent child. The children scrutinized him with curiosity and amazement. Dressed in Indian costume, composed of a breech-cloth around the waist, with moccasins, and leggins, his hair about three inches long and standing erect, he presented a strange appear- ance. By degrees he laid aside the dress of the wilderness, which he greatly preferred, forgot the Indian language, and became reconciled to his native home. But the rude treatment which he received from the Indians impaired his constitution. They frequently broke holes in the ice on rivers and creeks and dipped him in to make him hardy, which his feeble system could not endure without injury. Kespecting the son of Mackey, he was given by the Indians to the French, passed into the hands of the English, and was taken to England, and came as a soldier in the British army to America at the time of the Eevolutionary war. He pro- cured a furlough from his officers and sought out his widowed mother, who was still living, and who had long mourned him as dead. She could not recognize him after the lapse of so many years. He stood before her, a robust, fine-looking man, in whom she could see no familiar traces of her lost boy. He called her "mother,'' and told her he was her son, which she did not believe. "If you are my son," she said, "you have a mark upon your knee that I will know." His knee was ex- posed to her view, and she instantly exclaimed, "My son in- deed !" Half frantic with joy, she threw her arms around his neck, and was clasped in those of her son. "Oh, my son," said she, "I thought you were dead, but God has preserved you and given me this happiness. Thanks, thanks to His name! Through long years I have mourned that sorrowful day which bereft me of my husband and child. I have wept in secret till grief has nearly consumed me, till my heart grew sick and my poor brain almost crazed by the remembrance. I have become old more through sorrow than years, but I have endeavored to ^kiss the rod' which chastised me. My afflictions have not been sent in vain, they have had their subduing and purifying effect; heaven became more attractive as earth became dark and desolate. But I now feel that I shall yet see earthly CO H m o m ■n O H > > DO > Blue (owifr P.O.;) OLa Weio MAtlsion /IS' so YfiROSmoM ROAO USED AS A BLOCKHOUSE THIS IS ORIOinAL BUILDIt/0 NOW IVCATHCR 80AMED I SITE OF FORT SWATARA. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 47 happiness. Nothing in this world, my son, shall separate us but deaths' He never returned to the British army, but re- mained with his mother and contributed to her support in her declining years. There was another interesting meeting, that of Mackey with the son of Mr. Barnett. They recapitulated the scenes of hardship through which they passed while together with the Indians, which were indelibly impressed upon the memory of both. They presented a great contrast in appearance — Bar- nett a pale, delicate man, and Mackey the reverse. The former sank into an early grave, leaving a wife and daughter. The daughter married a Mr. Franks, who subsequently removed to the city of New York. Mr. Barnett, the elder, after experiencing a great sorrow in the loss of his wife, removed to Allegheny county, spending his remaining days with a widowed daughter. He died in November, 1808, aged eighty-two years, trusting in the merits of a Divine Providence. His eventful and checkered life was a life of faith, always praying for a sanctified use of his trials, which were many. His dust reposes in the little churchyard of Lebanon, Mifflin township, Allegheny county." Of all the places used for defense about Manada none seem to have played a prominent part in history, yet all served faithfully in the several parts assigned them. Only one of these, Manada Fort, belonged to the chain of forts established by the Government. If only such are to be marked with tab- lets, I would recommend that the stone intended for it be placed on the side of the public road, opposite its site. FOETSWATAKA. About twelve miles east of Manada Gap is the still more important passage through the Blue Mountains by which the Swatara creek makes its way to the fertile regions below. This gap, at what is called ^^The Hole in the Mountain," or more commonly "The Hole," is known as Swatara Gap or 48 THE INDIAN FORTS Toliliaio Gap. In its vicinity was located Fort Swatara or Smith's Fort. Through a very peculiar mode of expression on the part of Gov. Morris it has been also known, although incorrectly, as Fort Henry or Busse's Fort. This has occa- sioned several errors on the map published in 1875, by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, where Fort Swatara is lo- cated on the Swatara creek at a place where neither it nor any other fort ever stood, and that at Swatara Gap is named Fort Henry. Fort Swatara was, in reality, never called Fort Henry, but always Fort Swatara or occasionally Smith's Fort after the Captain who commanded it. Fort Henry was the Fort erected at Dietrich Six's near Millersburg in Berks county, and was always known as such, except when occasionally mentioned as Busse's Fort after its commanding officer. Whenever the name Fort Henry occurs in the Pennsylvania Archives it in- variably applies to the station in Berks county and never to that at Tolihaio Gap, even if the actual language used may seem otherwise. But more of that hereafter. The news of the Indian murders up the Susquehanna near Shamokin (Sunbury) spread fast. From an interesting letter written October 30, 1755, by Conrad Weiser to Governor Morris, (Col. Kec, vi, p. 656) we learn that he immediately alarmed the neighborhood. The farmers at once gathered together, armed with guns, swords, axes or pitchforks, what- ever they chanced to possess, until some two hundred had rendezvoused at Benjamin Spickers, near Stouchsburg, about six miles above Womelsdorf. Then Mr. Kurtz, the Lutheran minister who resided about a mile away, delivered an ex- hortation and prayer, after which Mr. Weiser divided the people into companies of thirty, each under the command of a Captain selected by themselves, and at once took up his march towards the Susquehanna, having first sent some fifty men ^^to Tolkeo in order to possess themselves of the Capes or Nar- rows of Swahatawro, where we expected the euemy would come through, with a Letter to Mr. Parsons who happened to be at His Plantation. Their numbers increased rapidly on the way until they arrived at Squire Adam Read's on the Swatara creek, where they received intelligence of the surprise and slaughter of the settlers who, under the leadership of Cap't w- ROBINSONS ROAD 1 o o u < SITE OF LINE OF FORTJ UNTAlHS KO^pL ^LONG BLUE MOUNTAINS. »-' "-"'-;,. ,0.,, >*<%>^:?^C> "^(ifi!«r "^''IIHF SITE OP LINE OF FORTS ALONG BLUE MOUNTAINS. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 49 McKee, John Harris and others, had gone up the Susquehanna to Penn's creek to protect the people there and bury the dead. This seems to have dampened the ardor of the party somewhat, who wisely concluded they could afford more protection to their families by remaining home, and accordingly wended their way back, being hastened somewhat by the rumor, which reached them as they were returning, that five hundred Indians had already made their Way through Tolheo Gap and killed a number of people. The letter which Conrad Weiser speaks of having forwarded to Wm. Parsons was duly received by him, as we learn from a communication which on Octo. 31st, he sent Mr. Peters at Philadelphia. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 443). He tells how he met the advance guard of farmers, with their motley array of arms, and advised them to make a breatswork of trees at the Swatara Gap with their axes, promising to procure for them and send them a quantity of bread and ammunition. They got as far as the top of the mountain, fired their guns off in the air, alarming the whole neighborhood, and then came back again, firing the whole way to the great terror of the inhabitants. Soon came the news of the murder of Henry Hartman, just over the mountain. As Mr. Parsons, with a party, were on their way to bury the body, they were told of two more who had recently been killed and scalped, and of others who were missing. Having decently interred the dead they returned. The roads were filled with persons fleeing from their homes, and confusion reigned supreme. It was a terrible time, and, whilst we may smile at the actions of the settlers, owing chiefly to their inexperience, we must not forget that, at heart, they were brave and true as men could be. Amongst them all none possessed more bravery, judg- ment, or sterling qualities than did Conrad Weiser, a man whose deeds for his State and country have been so little known and appreciated. There was a person, however, who saw immediately that he was the one best able to cope with the emergency, and that was Governor Morris, who, on Oct. 31, 1755, writes the following complimentary letter to Mr. Weiser: 50 THE INDIAN FORTS ''Sir: I have the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 30th Instant, and of being thereby set right as to the Indians passing the mountains at Tolheo, which I am glad to find was a false alarm. I heartily commend your conduct and Zeal, and hope you will continue to act with the same Vigor and Caution that you have already done, and that you may have the greater Authority, I have appointed you a Colonel by a Commission herewith. I have not time to give you any Instructions with the Com- mission, but leave it to your Judgment and discretion, which I know are great, to do what is most for the safety of the people and service of the Crown. (Col. Eec, vi, p. 660). The necessity of occupying the position at Swatara Gap was very apparent, and measures were at once taken to that end. Now appears the misleading order of Governor Morris, or rather letter of his to Colonel Weiser referring to the order. On January 25, 1756, he says : ''I have ordered Cap'n Christian Busse with a company of fifty men in the pay of this Province, to proceed to the Gap at Tolihaio, and there to erect a stoccado fort of the form and dimentions given him, and to take posts there and range the woods from that fort westwards towards Swehataro and eastwards towards a stoccado to be built by Cap. Morgan, about half way between the said fort and fort Lebanon. I have ordered Cap'n Jacob Morgan, who is posted at a fort in the forks of Schuylkill, called Fort Lebanon, to leave twenty men in that fort and proceed with the remaining thirty to some convenient place about half way between that fort and Fort at Tolihaio, and there to erect a stoccado of about 40 foot square, where he is to leave 20 men under a Com- miss'd officer and to return to fort Lebanon which he is to make his headquarters, and from that Stoccado & from fort Lebanon, his men are to Range and scour the woods both eastward and westward." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 547). Again on Feb. 1, 1756, Gov. Morris writes to Gov. Din- widdle telling him that he has just recently returned from a month's tour through the back parts of the Province, w'here he had tried to encourage the people and had arranged to build a chain of forts. He says "those between Delaware & OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 51 Susquehanna are to be ab't 10 or 12 miles asunder; ye most considerable of them is built at an important Pass thro' ye Kittahteny Hills, on our Northern Frontier, & I have called it Fort Henry." (Penn. Ar(^h., ii, p. 561). Once more on Feb. 2, the next day, he writes to Col. Wash- ington on the same subject, saying, "On the East side of the Susquehanna the Forts are about ten to twelve miles asunder among which the most Considerable are Fort Henry, at a pass through the mountains, called Tolihaio, Fort Lebanon, on the Forks of Schulkill, and Fort Allen, upon the West Branch of Delaware, where the Moravians had a town called Gnaden Hutten." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 565). In all these in- stances the Governor distinctly speaks of Fort Henry at Toli- haio, or Swatara Gap, and yet in no case does he literally mean what he says. Captain Busse was never stationed at Swatara Gap. He had command invaribly at Dietrich Six's place, the real Fort Henry, and he never was ordered by the Governor to proceed to Tolihaio Gap proper, as apparently stated. In the orders given Cap't Busse the Governor distinctly says he directed him to proceed to the Gap at Tolihaio, there erect a fort and range from it "westwards towards Swehataro," meaning the fort erected at Swatara Gap, and nothing else; also to range "eastward towards a stocca-do to be built by Capt. Morgan about half way between the said fort and fort Lebanon," which could have been only Fort Northkill. The truth of my statement is further evidenced by these orders to Capt. Jacob Morgan, just quoted. Capt. Morgan had command of Fort Lebanon above Port Clinton. The stockade which he was directed to build half way between Fort Leba- non and Fort Henry was unquestionably Fort Northkill, which was half way between Fort Lebanon and Fort Henry at Die- trich Six's, and could not have meant the fort at Dietrich Six's which is not half way between Fort Lebanon and Swatara Gap, but is half way between Fort Northkill and Swatara Gap. If any other proof were needed we might refer to Conrad Weiser's letter of July 11th, 1756, to Gov. Morris, giving the various assignments of the troops under him. He states in 52 THE INDIAN FORTS detail where the men of Cai)t. Smith are to be placed, all of them in and about Swatara Gap and the Manada Fort; then gives the men under Capt. Busse, all of whom are in and about Fort Henry, and after him Capt. Morgan's men at Fort North- kill and Fort Lebanon. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 696). As we follow the course of events recorded about these several forts, I feel assured that no doubt can remain as to the fact that the statements made by Governor Morris relative to Fort Henry at Tolihaio Gap, whilst possibly clear to him and those to whom he wrote, are certainly misleading to us. I be- lieve the explanation to be this. In writing or speaking of localities at that time it must certainly have been difficult to do so intelligently. There were no towns or villages along the mountain as now, and it was impossible to say that a fort was located near such a village or settlement, where none existed. It was unsatisfactory to speak of locations in connection with a private residence, although that was occasionally done when a person was prominent, like Adam Read. It only remained to refer to a position as being near a mountain gap. Now, no such gap exists between Swatara Gap and that at Port Clin- ton, so the Governor could not do otherwise than say "Fort Henry at Tolihaio Gap." More definite, and possibly personal instructions to the commanding officer could make clear to him the exact spot. Whatever may be the explanation, it was a wrong which it is high time to make right. The only name for the fort at Tolihaio Gap is Fort Swatara, and Fort Henry belongs at Dietrich Six's alone. Indeed even to this day the fort near Dietrich Six's in Berks county is there known as Fort Henry. After a personal investigation made some time ago by Hon. D. B. Brunner, of this city, he remarks, in 1881, "It might be supposed that there is a mistake in the name of this fort, but a number of the old men who were brought up in the vicinity of the fort told me that this (Fort Henry) was the name that was applied to it by their parents and grand- parents." (Brunner's Indians of Berks County, Penna., p. 23). Having therefore removed the discrepancy wjiich existed with regard to the names of these two forts, let us consider the history of the real fort at Swatara Gap, Fort Swatara. In STATE ROAD TO HAmfSBimG^^^^ woQOl m house: Q'hC.NEY fOnMEBLY H£SS*s OL0 BARfl STiLlSTANOiNG S i TE /iESS BL OCH hOUSi ^^£r FROM BARN To ^^ ^^?_I^M!^^OALe SITE OF FORT SWATARA M OUNTfiiiHS W-~- --E 'SM/LEs mm:'^0i:b'4M Moms FREOERICKmun^ U¥ttM' ^^fKrmh > HESS* BLOCK HOUSE. SITE OF FORT SWATABA A^D HESS' BLOCK HOUSE. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 53 The first and most prominent commander of Fort Swatara was Captain Frederick Smith, whose company came from Chester County. On Jany. 6, 1756, orders were sent him from Beading, as follows: "Captain Frederick Smith: You are, as soon as you possibly can, to Draft out of your company, fifty of the best men belonging to that Company, and with your Lieutenant and Ensign, march to the town of Eeading, where you will be mustered by James Kead, Esq., and from the time of such muster, you and the Company are to enter into the Government pay, according to the Establish- ment herewith given you. You are to engage your men for a certain time, not less than two months nor more than three months. You are to remain in the town of Eeading till you receive further orders, and while there, you are to post your men in such a manner as best to defend that town in case it should be attacked. You are to cause such of your men as are able to bring with them, each a gun and a Blanket, and either an axe or a grubbing hoe. You are to keep your men sober and in order, and at all times fit for duty, and to hold yourself & them in readiness to march from Heading, at an hour's warning." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 544). It was soon seen, however, that the line of the Blue Range was the proper position to occupy, so, on Jan. 26th, the orders were sent Capt. Smith, already given in connection with the history of Manada Fort, to proceed as soon as pos- sible with the company under his command to the "gap at Tolehaio where Swehatara comes through the mountain, and in some convenient place there to erect a Fort, of the form and dimentions herewith given you, unless you shall Judge the Staccado, already erected there, conveniently placed, in which case you will take possession of it, and make such addi- tional works as you may think necessary to render it suf- ficiently strong and defenceable." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 552). He was also ordered, with a part of his company to occupy the Manada Gap. Owing to his lack of knowledge of the country. 54 THE INDIAN FORTS James Galbraith was directed to confer with and advise him. Capt. Adam Read, wjio had been previously ranging the moun- tains with his men was ordered to now dismiss them and turn over his arms and supplies to Capt. Smith, as was also Cap't Hederick who had been engaged in like work, all of which was done. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 551-553). Referring to these ar- rangements the Governor in his letter of same date to James Galbraith says, "I have ordered Oapt. Smith, with a Company from Chester County, to take post at the Gap at Swehatara, and to station a detachment of his men at Monaday, either in the Stockadoes already built there, or to erect such others as he may Judge best; but as he is a stranger to that part of the country, I must desire you will assist him with your advice, not only as to the most advantageous situations for the forts, in case it should be resolved to erect new ones, but in any thing else that the service may require, and let me know from time to time what is done in that quarter." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 554). No further mention is made of the erection of the fort. As in the case of Manada Fort, it is very probable that the Stock- ade erected by the settlers during the latter part of 1755 was occupied by the soldiers. It was not an extensive work. In his letter to Col. Washington of Feb. 2, 1756, Gov. Morris says the principal forts East of the Susquehanna were Fort Henry, Fort Lebanon above Port Clinton and Fort Allen at Weissport "the others being only Block Houses." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 565) . We may presume, therefore, that it consisted of a single build- ing surrounded by a stockade. The mai^ murders committed by the savages and their stealthy approach made it necessary to distribute the soldiers around amongst various farm houses, especially during the harvest time now at hand. Col. Weiser held a consultation with Captains Smith, Busse and Morgan, in July, 1756, at Fort Henry the central point, and arranged for the distribution of the men. Eight men of Capt. Smith's company were to assist the people in the Hole (the place Vhere twice murder was committed) to gather in their harvest, and stay over night in the Moravian House; eight of his men to range westward of his fort under the hill, OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 65 and if occasion require to be stationed in two parties to guard the reapers; sixteen men to be in and about the fort to help and protect the neighbors, but constantly ten out of the six- teen are to stay in the fort; nine men to remain constantly in Manada Fort, and twelve men to range east and west of that place. Although this arrangement did not leave men enough in the forts to relieve those on duty, and barely enough to defend the forts and send provisions to the various posts, yet it was not sufficient for the settlers, who, becoming enraged at the loss of family, friends and property, even threatened to go to the French for protection if the English Provincial Gov- ernment would not afford it. Some of the number, without giving their action due consideration, even seem to have com- plained to the Governor that Capt. Smith, who appears to have been a brave and faithful officer, was negligent in his duty. To the credit of the inhabitants generally it must be said that as soon as they learned this, the people about Swatara and the Hole wrote a letter to Col. Weiser in his favor, which the Colonel sent to Governor Morris by his son "Sammy" Weiser who might translate it to His Excellency, (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 696). It might be well to refer here to the Journal of the officer in command at Fort Northkill, which will be given in proper order, and in which frequent mention is made of Capt. Smith and his command. In the Penn'a Archives, Vol ii, p. 159, it is called "A Journal in 1754," another unfortunate error, probably made at some time in transcribing records, or of a typographical character, but which has caused confusion as to the date of erection of the sundry forts. The time when this Journal was written was unquestionably from June to August of 1757, and not 1754, as at the latter time the country thereabouts was at peace with the Indians, and we have just seen that Capt. Smith and his command were not mustered into the service of the government until 1756. Notwithstanding all efforts of the government and soldiers the enemy seemed to be successful in theiir work of destruc- tion. It was felt that, perhaps, the methods of defense were unequal to the occasion but how to remedy the matter was 56 THE INDIAN PORTS no easy conclusion to readh. In the early part of 1757, Major Burd suggest to the government the desirability of doing away entirely with all the forts and defenses except three, one to be Fort Lytleton in the extreme west, another Fort Augusta, in the centre, and a third to be erected at Easton, with Col. Weiser's battalion, numbering 500 men, in charge. At these forts were to be stationed 100 men only, the balance to be engaged in active operations against the savages, march- ing into their own country instead of waiting their attack at home. He suggested uniforming the troops in green hunt- ing shirts for better concealment. The plan was certainly wise and was acted upon, to a certain extent, with success, but it seemed impossible to carry it out in full, so the original forts were continued until gradually diminished in number. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 99.) In 1757 was held the Treaty with the Indians at Easton where Conrad Weiser once more acted as the Agent of the Government, and interpreter for the Governor. On that oc- casion he arranged for a guard of 110 men, who were to come from sundry forts, amongst them Fort Swatara. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 218.) On Feb. 5th, 1758, Adjutant Kern reports at Fort Swatara Lieut. Allen with 33 men, and its distance to Fort Hunter, on the Susquehanna, as 24 miles (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 339). In another report under the same date, of the fort, he gives the name of Lieut. Marshloff, with 33 men, 28 provincial muskets, 23 private guns, 10 lbs. of powder, 10 lbs. of lead, 2| months of provisions, and 14 cartridges. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 341.) On Feby. 9th, Jas. Young, Commissary of Musters, re- ports one company of 46 men on duty at the Fort on Swatara. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 341.) James Burd, during his tour on inspection, visited Fort Swatara and has the following to say of it at this time : Sunday, Feby. 19th, 1758. ^^This day at 11 A. M., march'd for Fort Swettarrow, got to Crawford's, 14 miles from Hunter's (Fort Hunter), here I stay all night, it rain'd hard. Had a number of applications from the country for protec- tion ♦ * * * OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 57 20th, Monday. March'd this morning at 11 A. M., mett a Serg't & 12 men here, who march'd with me back to Swettarrow, this day it rain'd much, gott to Swettarrow Fort at 4 P. M., the roads extream bad, the soldiers march with great diflficulty, found Capfn Lieu't Allen & 38 men here per report; this is 11 miles from Crawford's. 21st, Tuesday. Keviewed the Garrison this morning at 10 A. M., & found 38 men, Vis't, 21 belonging to Cap't. Leu't Allen, & 17 de- tached from Capt'n Weiser's Co.; of Capt'n Allen's 13 men for 3 years, no province arms fitt for use, no kettles, nor blankets, 12 lb of poudder & 25 tb of lead, no poudder Horns, pouches, nor Cartouch boxes, no Tomahawks nor Province tools of any kind, 2 months provision. Some Soldiers Absent and others hyr'd in their place which has been a custom here, the soldiers under no Dissipline. Ordered a Serg't & 12 men to be always out upon the Scout from hence to Crawford's, keeping along the blue mountain, altering their routs, & a targett to be erected 6 inches thick, in order to practice the Soldiers in Shooting. This day 12 M. D., the Country people came here, I promise them to station an officer & 25 men at Kobertson's Mill, this mill is situate in the Centre between the Forts Swattarrow & Hunter, this gave the People Content. March'd at 1 P. M., for Fort Henry * * » » (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 353.) Upon his arrival there he ordered Ensign Craighead with 18 men to march to Fort Swatara, there obtain 7 men from Capt. Allen and with his command proceed to Robinson's Mill, in accordance with his promise made the farmers. He also sent a Serg't., Corporal and 8 men to Squire Read's house, and in- structed Capt. Weiser, whose company was added to that of Capt. Busse at Fort Henry, to range from Fort Henry to Fort Northkill on the East aiid Fort Swatara on the West. From Fort Henry he proceeded to Conrad Weiser's house, from which place he ordered to Fort Swatara one cask of powder, and, later, from Reading, eleven blankets and 100 pounds of lead. 68 THE INDIAN FORTS Here ends our record of Fort Swatara, whicli, with, the success of the British troops and consequent cessation of hos- tilities in that neighborhood, gradually passed out of exist- ence. There is nothing in what has been written to definitely fix its location. Fortunately memory and authentic tradition supplies this deficiency. In Eupp's History of Berks and Lebanon Counties, p. 364, the following appears: "Fort Smith, it is believed was in this part of the country (Lebanon County) within the limits of Union township. Not a few seem to think, each of them has the honor of having it perpetuated, that Fort Smith was on his farm. Some with Whom we have conversed, locate it at Union Forge. An in- telligent gentleman, Jacob Weidman, Esq., in a communication of Feb. 13, 1844, says: — 'The following facts I obtained from Mr. Daniel Musser, who is nearly seventy years old. He sug- gests that there may probably be an error to locate Fort Smith where Union Forge is. Mr. Musser's maternal grand- father, Peter Heydrich, who emigrated from Germany and located previous to 1738, about three-fourths of a mile due north from this place it appears, owned the place on which Fort Smith was erected. My informant says, he knows that a fort had been erected on his grandfather's farm, to which, in great emergencies, the neighbors fled for safety. The persons whom Mr. Musser remembers having heard of that resided in this township, as old settlers, were Mr. Noacre or Noecker, who was shot dead in his field while ploughing, on the farm now owned by John Zehring. He says that one Philip Maurer was shot dead while cradling oats on the farm now occupied by John Gross. Martin Hess, who es- caped unhurt, his house also had been a place of refuge — often half a dozen families would resort to Hess's house, which was about one mile southwest from Peter Heydrich's, and a half a mile west from this place. Mathias Boeshore (your mother's relative) was also an old settler, who, on one occa- sion retreated from the enemy, the Indians, towards Hess's. Just as he had got inside the house, seized his gun, and turned upon his pursuers, levelling his deadly weapon at them, and while in the act of drawing the trigger, he received a shot from an Indian, which wounded him but slightly. The bullet of fii ir z 01 ei^ -► X :£ « - a. & > - ~ 3 z •^ :: < a: :J . O D < > ; h 2 ■ < O ' ^ HI OB 1- 0 ' • ill ' >" O t '>'/ *f4 u " • ;;/ jr^'-^ . - ff L t J — , » - > at 2 > ■ - " % ., < ; '"' 1 r ift I K-;''; z « 3 o X ; \ i {''i X - 2S ' a: o "" ** -J M^ 21 z> + (0 O I o o -I CD CC o QC O z o o UJ t CO OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 59 one savage's gun stru.ck that part of Boeshore's rifle, to wliich the flint is attached; the ball glancing a little to one side, wounded him in the left side. Boeshore lived to be a very old man. The land on which this fort was erected, is now owned by widow Elizabeth Shuey. The old people are unanimous in locating the fort on Mrs. Shuey's farm, at that time the prop- erty of Peter Heydrich. None of them seems to know that the house on Mr. Weidman's place here was ever used as a fort. May it not, like the house of Mr. Hess, have been only a kind of blockhouse; as the house of Hess, as well as the one here, has also some apertures, or port holes, which were evi- dently used to fire out upon the enemy ? Of Peter Heydrich, it is related, that on a certain occasion, the Indians appeared in great numbers — and nearly all the neighbors being in their own houses — Heydrich gave imme- diate notice to the people to resort to the fort, and in the meantime, (having both fife and drum in the fort, and could beat and fife well), took the drum and fife, marched himself into the woods or thicket, now beating the drum then blowing the fife; then and again gave the word of command, loud and distinct, as if it had been given to a large force — though he was the only one to obey orders — by this Guerre de ruse, slight of war, he managed to keep the savages away, and collect his neighbors securely. HotTi hricht EisenJ' This interesting letter gives the true situation of the fort without doubt. I personally made a careful investigation of the entire neighborhood, with the result of only confirming what has just been said. The unanimous verdict of the people located Fort Swatara or Smith's Fort on the Shuey property, now the Behny Farm. The sketch given will be more explicit. Fort Swatara stood in what is now a field, at the end of the private farm road leading from the State road to the farm of Joseph Behny, distant from the former some 80 yards, and from Inwood Station, at Swatara Gap, three-fourths mile southwest. The farm was sold by Mrs. Shuey to Wm. Coppen- haver and by him to Jacob Behny, whose home is near that of Joseph. It is on the left side of the road, with a spring 60 THE INDIAN FORTS at the southwest corner of the fort, and a fine run of water directly south of it, flowing east and west. The ground is not elevated but comparatively level. ' A number of old resi- dents testified as to the correct situation of the fort. Amongst them Jacob Kohr, 72 years old, whose mother and grand- mother told him of it, the latter, Mrs. John Wallis, dying 50 years ago, 87 years old. He stated that it was a log house, with port holes cut in it. As will be noticed the fort com- mands the roads to Harrisburg, Swatara Gap and the country below. I would recommend a monument at the entrance to the lane, on the State road. On the sketch is also located the Weidman house, at Lick- dale, formerly Union Forge, of which mention has been made, and which was used as a house of refuge. The original old mansion still stands, but its former appearance has been com- pletely changed by the weather boarding placed over it. It is beautifully surrrounded by a grove of trees, and stands about 50 yards back of the road. The numerous murders committed by the Indians made nec- essary the occupation by soldiers of various buildings besides the forts proper. The settlers themselves frequently used other houses, strongly built and centrally located, as places of refuge. Each of these had its own tale of terror and possible death. It is but right, wherever known, to fix their positions on the map and tell somewhat of their history, if in existence. In this vicinity, besides the Weidman house, stood the Hess house, the block house at Fredericksburg, and the Moravian Church at the same place. I give herewith a general sketch, embodying the position of each. Mr. Bead's house, on the Swatara Creek, might properly be included here also, but as its history was more intimately connected with that of the Manada Fort, I have noted it under that heading. Mention has been made heretofore of Hess's house, and I have marked its location above. Of its history I have learned nothing in especial, beyond the fact of its use as a place of refuge. It is said there is an excavation where the old house stood. It is about one mile from Fort Swatara and about the same distance from Lickdale. The site of the block house near Fredericksburg was ^^oiswHatox > H Z D O o z o z < CO u bf 0 < o o h CO X cs 3 X Q < > O O u OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 61 originally on the farm of John Groh, one of the first settlers of Bethel Township. It was sold to J. H. Lick and Joseph Gibber, the present owner. About four years ago it was torn down and the logs used in the new building which stands nearly if not quite on the site of the old house. At the time it was torn down it was noticed that the loop-holes were blackened with powder, showing the active use to which it had been put. It was on the road leading from Jonestown to Fredericksburg, about 300 yards from the latter place, and on the banks of a small stream. It was some 32 feet long, 16 feet wide, and one story high, and had a garret, or cornice, extending out over the sides, with loop-holes in the floor to enable the inmates to shoot downwards. It was a house of refuge. This information was kindly furnished by Gideon Schnaterly, who is 68 years old, and received it from Eliza- beth Herman, who died 20 years ago at the age of 92, as well as from his father who died 15 years ago at the age of 80. The Moravian Church, which was used as a place of refuge and defense, was located 3 miles northwest from Fredericks- burg and 5 miles north from Jonestown, on the road leading from Fredericksburg to Lickdale, along the mountain. It is on the property of Josiah Shugar, about 50 yards north of the Fredericsburg road, and 200 yards northeast from the New Church. The Grave Yard, in which it is said a number of the persons murdered by the Indians lie buried, is about 200 feet in the rear of the barn. The barn and house which now stand on the property were partly built of logs from the Old Church, which looked to be in an excellent state of preserva- tion. It was torn down fifteen or eighteen years ago. This information was obtained from Josiah Shugar living on the place, as well as from Mr. Gideon Schnaterly, men- tioned above. The Indian Forts were erected solely for the purpose of protecting the lives and property of those who lived near them. Had there been no murders there would have been no forts. I feel, therefore, that the history of the forts would be incomplete without reference at least to such of the terrible sufferings endured by the people in their neighborhood as are on record. The inhabitants of Lebanon ^and Berks Counties 62 THE INDIAN FORTS endured even more than their share of the terrible atrocities perpetrated by the savages. The town of Lebanon, being already densely settled, was resorted to, as a place of safety by hundreds of families who fled from the frontier settlements. Sixty families had, at one time, taken shelter in the house of John Light, which is still standing, and known among the people there as the ''Old Fort." Of it the Eev. P. 0. Croll of that city, has just written me "The John Light Forf' is a dilapidated stone structure, fast going to ruin, in the northwest section of our city, lately owned by one Gingering, but now in possession of the Brocks and Colemans. It was a house of refuge, having still the arched vault under the first floor (which is stone and earth) spacious enough to shelter comfortably one hundred people. It used to have a running spring in this cellar, which is dried up. The house was used as a Mennonite meeting house, and residence, and fort, and later distillery, and now furnishes shelter for goats and sparrows and a colored family." The house of Mr. George Gloninger was also a place of usual resort, also that of Mr. Ulrich near Annville, and the Zellers property near Newmanstown. Concerning these three buildings Rev. P. C. Croll, of Lebanon, has kindly furnished the following interesting information : "The Gloninger and Ulrich forts, so called, I judge have been simply strongly built houses of refuge. The former is now used, with some alterations, as a farm house. The latter was erected in 1751, a quarter of a mile north of Annville rail- road depot, by Mr. Ulrich, over which his descendants erected a stone dwelling, which has been recently remodelled, but the fort has remained intact. It is nothing but a mural dungeon, or vault, built into a hillside, with an air hole walled out. It has a stone with this inscription : ^SO OFT DIE DIEE DEN ANKEL WENT AN DEINEN TOD, OMENSCH, GEDENK.' 1751. (a free translation.) 'Whene'er this door its hinge does turn, may thought of death to thee return.' LU CO 3 O X o o CO (£ o o UJ O z z o OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 63 Mr. CroU says of the Zeller house of refuge that it is an old and well preserved building built of solid masonry, and, in part, ornamented with carved stone door- jambs and head stones or lintels. It was erected in 1745 on land owned by Heinrich Zellers and now in possession of his eighth lineal descendant, Mr. Monroe P. Zellers. Even then it was built for protection and to guard against attack, the original win- dows being mere port holes, as ishown in some still pre- served. Many traditions still cluster about this old land mark. It is related of the original Mrs. Zellers that she super- intended the construction of the house, whilst her husband was out on an expedition against the Indians, and that her laborers were colored slaves. It is said, also, of this same Christine Zellers that one day, whilst alone in the fort, she saw three prowling savages approaching and heading for the small hole in the cellar shown on the picture attached. She quickly descended the cellar steps and stationed herself at this window with an uplifted ax. Presently the head of the first Indian protruded through the hole when she quickly brought down the weapon with an effective blow. Dragging the body in, she disguised her voice and, in Indian language, beckoned his companions to follow, which they did and were all dispatched in like manner. It was here that the com- munity found refuge during the Indian troubles, at which time it is said to have been attacked. In addition to these buildings, the Moravian Church, erected in 1750, a mile and a half east from Gloninger's was oc- cupied by refugees, the principal part of whom had fled from the Moravian settlements in Bethel township. (Loskiel p. 11, p. 180.) One John Spitler, son-in-law to Jacob Miley, was shot dead while fixing up a pair of bars, and his body cruelly mangled. Mrs. Miley escaped by taking refuge in the watch house at her father's, a few miles from Stumptown. This happened in May, 1757. Spitler's mangled corpse was interred in the grave yard at Hebron, near Lebanon. The following, touch- ing his murder, is found in the Eecords of the Hebron Church, "1757, May den 16, wurde Johannes Spitler, Jr., ohnweit von selnem Hause, an der Schwatara von moerderischen Indian- 6 t,. 64 THE INDIAN FORTS ern ueberfallen und ermordert. Er war im acht unddrei- sigsten Jahr seines Alters, und verwichenes Jahr im April, an der Sehwatara auf genommen. Seine uebelzugericht tette Leiche wurde den ITten May hieher gebracht, und bei einer grossen Menge Leute begleitet auf unsern hiesigen Gottesacker beerdigt." (Rupp, p. 310.) In Bethel township the people suffered greatly. In No- vember, 1755, twenty persons were killed and some children carried off. "Shocking," says the Secretary of the Province, "are the descriptions given by those who escaped of the horrid cruelties and indecencies, committed by the merciless savages, on the bodies of those unhappy wretches who fell into their hands, especially the women, without regard to age or sex, these far exceed those related of the most abandoned pirates.'' On June 8th, 1756, at "The Hole," Swatara Gap, they crept up, unobserved, behind the fence of Felix Wuench, shot him, as he was ploughing, through the breast — he cried lamentably and ran, but the Indians soon caught up to him, and, al- though he defended himself sometime with his whip, they cut his head and breast with their tomahawks and scalped him. His wife, hearing his cries and the report of two guns, ran out of the house, but was soon taken by the enemy who carried her with one of her own and two of her sister's children, away with them, after setting the house on fire and otherwise destroying property. A servant boy, who was at some distance, seeing this, ran to his neighbor, George Miess, who, though he had a lame leg, ran, with his son, directly after the Indians, raising at the same time a great noise, which so alarmed the Indians that they immediately ran off, leaving behind them a tub of butter and a side of bacon. Mr. Miess then went to the house, which was in flames, and threw down the fences in order to save the barn. The Indians had drunk all the brandy in the spring house, and took several gammons, a quantity of meal, some loaves of bread, and a great many other things with them. Had it not been for the courage of Mr. Miess they would have attacked another house. They shot one of the horses in the plough, and dropped a large French knife. (Penn. Gaz., June 17, 1756.) SHtRiOAN 5C -^ ■^ ^ w o r 1 It LL£R HOMasTSAp. ^tW t^^ v^ fi^ FORT ov^^ SITE OF ZELLER FORT BLOCK HOUSE. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 65 Shortly after committing the above murder the Indians killed a child of Lawrence Dippel's, a boy about four years old who was found cruelly murdered and scalped. Another lad, about six years old, was carried off. (Penn. Gaz., June 17, 1756.) On June 26, they surprised and scalped two men, Franz Albert and Jacob Haendsche, also two lads, Frederick Weiser and John George Miess, who were ploughing in the field of one Fischer, and shot two horses. (Schwatarer Kirchen Buch.) In August, 1757, as John Winklebach's two sons, and Joseph Fischbach, a Provincial Soldier, went out about sun- rise to bring in the cows, they were fired upon by about fifteen Indians. The two lads were killed, one being scalped, the other reaching the house before he died. The soldier was wounded in the head. (Hist. Penn., Egle, ii, p. 865.) The Kev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg relates, in the Hal- lische Nachrichten, p. 1029, a touching incident, which has been frequently told, but is so ^'apropos'' to this record that it should not be omitted. It was of the widow of John Hartman who called at his house in February, 1765, who had been a member of one of Rev. Kurtz's congregations. She and her husband had emigrated to this country from Reutlingen, Wur- temberg, and settled on the frontiers of Lebanon County. The Indians fell upon them October 16th, 1755, killed her husband, one of the sons, and carried off two small daughters into captivity, whilst she and the other son were absent. On her return she found the home in ashes, and her family either dead or lost to her, whereupon she fled to the interior settle- ments at Tulpehocken and remained there. The sequel to this occurrence is exceedingly interesting. The two girls were taken away. It was never known what became of Barbara, the elder, but Regina, with another little girl two years old, were given to an old Indian woman, who treated them very harshly. In the absence of her son, who supplied them with food, she drove the children into the woods to gather herbs and roots to eat, and, when they failed to get enough, beat them cruelly. So they lived until Regina was about nineteen years old and the other girl eleven. Her mother was a good. Christian woman, and had taught her daughters their prayers, 66 THE INDIAN FORTS together with many texts from the Scriptures, and their beau- tiful German Hymns, much of which clung to her memory dur- ing all these years of captivity. At last, in the providence of God, Colonel Bouquet brought the Indians under subjection in 1764, and obliged them to give up their captives. More than four hundred of these unfortunate beings were gathered together at Carlisle, amongst them the two girls, and notices were sent all over the country for those who had lost friends and relatives, of that fact. Parents and husbands came, in some instances, hundreds of miles, in the hope of recovering those they had lost, the widow being one of the number. They were many joyful scenes, but more sad ones. So many changes had taken place, that, in many instances, recognition seemed impossible. This was the case with the widow. She went up and down the long line but, in the young women who stood before her, dressed in Indian costume, she failed to recognize the little girls she had lost. As she stood, gazing and weeping. Colonel Bouquet compassionately suggested that she do something which might recall the past to her children. She could think of nothing but a hymn which was formerly a favorite with the little ones : "Alone, yet not alone am I, Though in this solitude so drear; I feel my Saviour always nigh. He comes the very hour to cheer; I am with Him, and He with me. E'en here alone I cannot be." She commenced singing, in German, but had barely com- pleted two lines, when poor Kegina rushed from the crowd, began to sing also and threw her arms around her mother. They both wept for joy and the Colonel gave the daughter up to her mother. But the other girl had no parents, they having probably been murdered. She clung to Regina and begged to be taken home with her. Poor as was the widow she could not resist the appeal and the three departed to- gether. (Todd's Sabbath School Teacher.) In reply to a letter addressed to Mr. Sarge he wrote Mr. Rupp thus; OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 67 "In 1834, an uncle of mine purchased a farm, three miles from Fort Smith, the house, then on this farm, was evidently also a Fort — tradition has it so — there are besides — or were at least when I saw the house in '34 — marks of corroborating evidence to conclusively show this to have been the case. The port-holes, though plugged when 1 saw the house, and the scores of partial perforations made in the logs by bullets or balls, concur to sustain the truth of tradition. The house has, however, been since removed, and in its stead, another is erected. The workmen, in sinking the cellar deeper, discovered a subterranean cave, which, it is surmised, served as a place of concealment and greater security for their wives and little ones, should the fort be surprised by the Indians in the ab- sence of the men on their farms at work. Mr. Meiss, some years ago, informed my father that two of his brothers fell a victim to gratify the destructive propensity of the Indians. The two brothers were ploughing, and thus were surprised by the Indians. One of them was shot dead on the spot; the other, for his life, made for the house; having nearly reached his goal, and while in the act of leaping a fence, a ruthless Indian, hard on his heels, sunk his tomahawk in the head of his victim — he expired instantly." (Kupp., p. 321). In Hanover Township, on November 16, 1755, a party of Indians crossed the Susquehanna, commenced their bloody deeds, and murdered thirteen persons. In the autumn of 1756, a company of ten Indians came to the house of Noah Frederick, while ploughing, killed and scalped him, and carried away three children that were with him, the eldest but nine years old. A correspondent from this township of the Penna. Gazette, says, in its issue of May, 1757, that the house of Isaac Snevely was set on fire and entirely consumed, with eighteen horses and cows, and that, on May 17th, five men and a woman were killed and scalped about thirty miles from Lancaster. In an- other letter, dated August 11th, it is stated that, on Monday, the 8th, George Mauerer was killed and scalped whilst cutting oats in George Scheffer's field. "There is now," says the same writer, "such a severe sickness in these parts — the like has 68 THE INDIAN FORTS not been known — that many families can neither fight nor run away, which occasions great distress on the frontiers. Had it not been for forty men, which the province has in pay in this township, little of the harvest could have been saved, and as the time for which they have been engaged is nearly elapsed, the inhabitants hope the government will continue them in the service, else the consequences will be dreadful." On Monday, May 22, Barnabas Tolon was killed and scalped in Hanover Township, ''and we are,'' says the Editor of the Penn'a Gazette, "well informed that one hundred and twenty- three persons have been murdered and carried off from that part of Lancaster (Lebanon) County, by the Indians, since the war commenced and that lately three have been scalped and are yet living." On June 18th, 1758, Squire Bead writes to Edward Shippen that as Leonard Long was riding along the road, about a mile from Bead's house, he was killed and scalped. Mr. Bead, with some of his company, immediately went to the scene where they found the body lying in the road, bleeding, but could not track the Indians. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 426). The Indians continued to commit murders and depredations till December, 1763, when they were seen for the last time within the limits of Lebanon County. Londonderry Township being more towards the interior was not so much exposed to the depredations of the savages as those on the northern frontiers. Nevertheless, in the more sparsely settled parts they committed various murders. June 19, 1757, nineteen persons were killed in a mill on the Quitapa- hilla Creek, and on the 9th of September, 1757, one boy and a girl were taken from Donegal township, a few miles south of Derry. (Loudon's Narratives, p. 200-208). About the same time, one Danner and his son Christian, a lad of twelve years, had gone into the Conewago hills to cut down trees; after felling one, and while the father was cutting a log, he was shot and scalped by an Indian, and Christian, the son, taken captive into Canada, where he remained until the close of the war when he made his escape. Another young lad, named Steger, was surprised by three Indians and taken captive whilst cutting hoop-poles, but, fortunately, after remaining with the Indians some months made his escape. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 69 Jacob and Henry Boman, brothers, both young men, having been taken captive were tied in a secluded thicket by the In- dians, who left, it is presumed, to go to the Conestoga Indians, intending to return, but, in the interim, a Mr. Shally, who was returning from Lancaster to Lebanon, chanced to pass, and, upon their calling him, released them, and they returned to their parents living near the present Palmyra. (Rupp, p. 334) . In Heidelberg Township nothing special occurred not com- mon to the other townships in the county. The Indians com- mitted several murders in the northern part, now Jackson. They carried off several children, one of whom, William Jack- son, was returned, who had been held captive for some time, in 1762, at Lancaster. (Rupp, p. 344). In Jackson Township, near Stouchsburg, was the house of Benjamin Spycker, where the farmers under Conrad Weiser, rendezvoused in 1755, as previously described. In this, as well as the other townships, were several block houses, or places of refuge, one of which stood on the farm owned by Mr. Breitenbach in 1844, a short distance east of Myerstown. Philip Breitenbach, the father of Mr. Breitenbach, purchased the tract of land, on which the block house stood, from Martin Noacker. Philip Breitenbach was wont, on many occasions of alarm, to take his drum and beat it on an eminence near his house, to collect the neighbors from work into the fort. On one occasion the Indians pursued them close to the house, when one of the inmates took up a gun and shot the Indian dead on the spot. (Rupp, p. 363). About one mile northeast from Millerstown the first public house, in this region of country, was kept by the grandfather of Adam Ulrich, the occupant in 1844. Mr. Ulrich also kept a small store and traded with the Indians, many of whom staid weeks with him. Adam Ulrich's father, when a boy, frequently played with the Indians in the thickets. It appears there was a burying ground near Ulrich's house. One evening, about 1756 or 57, Adam Ulrich's father and grandfather w^ere feeding their cattle when they were sur- prised by the Indians, fortunately escaped and eluded their pursuit, whereupon the Indians killed all the cattle by cutting out their tongues. (Rupp, p. 360). 70 THE INDIAN FORTS This completes the record of a few of the said occurrences in Lebanon County, and the vicinity of Fort Swatara, which have been preserved. It is not pleasant to pursue them and the reader is doubtless quite ready to pass from their con- sideration to that of FORT HENRY.* Following the plan of defense which had been laid out, the next fort along the mountains was placed some fourteen miles to the East of Fort Swatara, and called Fort Henry. Some- times it is mentioned as Busse's Fort, from the name of its Commanding Officer. It was the most important fort between the Susquehanna and Lehigh Rivers, owing to the fact that it was about equally distant from each, and also because it was on the main road to Shamokin (Sunbury) and protected the most populous portion of the entire region. It lay near no village, nor any prominent stream from which it might derive a name or location; neither did it stand at any Gap in the mountain, of which none exists between Swatara Gap and that at Port Clinton, so that it could not be named or located with reference to any such pass. It did, however, practically command the connecting roads between the Swatara or Toli- haio Gap, and the numerous settlements near it, as the savages were obliged to come through the former to reach the latter. It is, therefore, occasionally referred to as "Fort Henry at Tolihaio," using the name ''Tolihaio" in a general sense to apply to the surrounding country, not necessarily right at Toli- haio or Swatara Gap itself. This subject has already been discussed and is only mentioned at this time to impress upon the reader the fact that no matter what may be said of Fort Henry, or under what conditions the name "Fort Henry" may be used it invariably refers to the one now under dis- cussion. It is also called, sometimes, the "Fort at Dietrich Six's" or "at Six's," because the murders which took place, at the outbreak of hostilities, near Dietrich Six's house, had much to do with the selection of its site on his farm. The history of Fort Henry is very appropriately introduced by this letter of Conrad Weiser written, Nov. 19th, 1755, to Governor Morris: •The site of this fort was marked by the Berks Co. Historical Society in 1915. Ed. 03 m o r- ■n f- m T| ^ O (A X m H c X m z j< m 09 O o c z ^ 6 liiiE - V 3?i ^lillilljiiillll- in- mm UAH,. """"A'l'"""' sncos into FOKT H£NKY % ffOUflD TOP. J^S.B^TZ \—- 1 * Mw Eui. p/r^i£«. -J^^ u - C''* \ ... ^ '.. ^..''"''P, . r^\ ^^m\m^ SITE OF FORT HENRY, BERKS COUNTY. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 71 "Honoured Sir: On my return from Philadelphia I met in the township of Amity, in Berks County, the first news of our cruel Enemy having invaded the Country this Side of the Blue Mountain, to witt. Bethel and Tulpenhacpn. I left the Papers as they were in the Mesengers Hands, and hasted to Beading, where the Alarm and Confusion was very great. I was obliged to stay that Night and part of the next Hay, to witt, the 17th of this Instant, and sot out for Heidleberg, where I arrived that Evening. Soon after, my sons Philip and Frederick arrived from the Persuit of the Indians, and gave me the following Eelation, to witt, that on Saturday last about 4 of the Clock, in the Afternoon, as some Men from Tulpenhacon were going to Hietrich Six's Place under the Hill on Shamokin Boad to be on the watch appointed there, they were fired upon by the Indians but none hurt nor killed. (Our People were but Six in Number, the rest being behind). Upon which our People ran towards the Watch-house which was about one-half a mile off, and the Indians persued them, and killed and Scalped several of them. A bold. Stout Indian came up with one Christopher Ury, who turned about and shot the Indian right through his Breast. The Indian dropt down Dead, but was dragged out of the way by his own Companions. (He was found next day and scalped by our People). The Indians devided themselves in two Parties. Some came this Way to meet the Best that was going to the Watch, and killed some of them, so that six of our men were killed that Day, and a few Wounded. The Mght following the Enemy attacked the House of Thos. Bower, on Swatara Creek. They came to the House in the Dark night, and one of them put his Fire-Arm through the window and shot a Shoemaker (that was at Work) dead upon the spot. The People being extreamly Surprised at this Sudden attack, defended themselves by firing out of the windows at the Indians. The Fire alarmed a neighbor who came with two or three more Men ; they fired by the way and made a great noise, scared the Indians away from Bower's House, after they had set fire to it, but by Thomas Bower's Deligence and Conduct was timely put out again. So Thos. Bower, with his Family, went off that Night to his Neihbour 72 THE INDIAN FORTS Daniel Schneider, who came to his assistance. By 8 of ye Clock Parties came up from Tupenhacon & Heidleberg. The first Party saw four Indians running off. They had some Prisoners whom they scalped immediately, three children lay scalped yet alive, one died since, the other two are like to do well. Another Party found a woman just expired, with a male Child on her side, both killed and Scalped. The Woman lay upon her Face, my son Frederick turned her about to see who she might have been and to his and his Comapions Sur- prize they found a Babe of about 14 Days old under her, raped up in a little Cushion, his nose quite flat, which was set right by Frederick, and life was yet in it, and recovered again. Our People came up with two Parties of Indians that Day, but they hardly got sight of them The Indians Ran off Imme- diately. Either our People did not care to fight them if they could avoid it, or (which is most likely) the Indians were alarmed first by the loud noise of our People coming, because no order was observed. Upon the whole, there is about 15 killed of our People, Including Men, Women and Children, and the Enemy not beat but scared off. Several Houses and Barns are Burned; I have no true account how many. We are in a Dismal Situation, some of this Murder has been committed in Tulpenhacon Township. The People left their Plantation to Avithin 6 or 7 miles from my House [located at the present town of Womelsdorf] against another attack. Guns and Ammunition is very much wanted here, my Sons have been obliged to part with most of that, that was sent up for the use of the Indians. I pray your Honour will be pleased, if it lies in your Power, to send us up a Quantity upon any Condition. I must stand my Ground or my neighbours will all go away, and leave their Habitations to be destroyed by the Enemy or our own People. This is enough of such melancholy Account for this Time. I beg leave to Conclude, who am, Sir, Your very obedient, CONRAD WEISER. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 73 Heidleberg, in Berks County, November 19th, 1755. P. S. — T am creditably informed just now that one Wolf, a Single Man, killed an Indian the same Time when Ury killed the Other, but the Body is not found yet. The Poor Young Man since died of his Wound through his Belly. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 503). To Governour Morris : This first and violent onslaught of the Indians took place, as has been noted, in the vicinity of Dietrich Six's House, located near what is now the village of Millersburg, in Be*thel Township, Berks County, where already a watch-tower seems to have been erected. The excitement amongst the settlers, caused by the depreda- tions of the Savages, was of such a character and brought about such action on their part, that it dare not be passed by in this recital, and will be here given before taking up further matters pertaining directly to Fort Henry. All was alarm and confusion. In the absence of Weiser who had just been commissioned a Colonel at Philadelphia, where he was doubtless arranging the plan of campaign with the Governor, the farmers arranged to meet again at Benja- min Spickers, near the present Stouchsburg, just as they did in the previous month of October at the time of the alarm at Swatara Gap, and there organize for defense. Just then Mr. Weiser returned, and the following letter written by him to the Governor, immediately after the one given above, and of the same date, well portrays what happened : May it please the Governor : That night after my Arrival from Philadelphia, Emanuel Carpenter and Simon Adam Kuhn, Esq'rs, came to my House, and lodged with me. They acquainted me that a meeting was appointed (of the People of Tulpenhacon & Heidleberg and adjacent places) in Tulpenhacon Township [then occupy- ing the whole northwestern part of Berks county. — Author], at Benjamin Spicker's early next morning. I made all the 74 THE INDIAN FORTS hast with the Indians I could, and gave them a Letter to Thos. MoKee, to furnish them with necessaries for their Journey. Scarujude had no Creature to ride on. I gave him one. Before I could get done with the Indians 3 or 4 Men came from Benja. Spickers to warn the Indians not to go that way, for the People ware so enraged against all the Indians, & would kill them without Distinction, I went with them; so did the Gentlemen before named. When we came near Benjamin Spicker's I saw about 400 or 500 men, and there was a loud noise, I rode before, and in riding along the Koad (and armed men on both Sides of the Koad) I heard some say, why must we be killed by the Indians and we not kill them! why are our Hands so tied? I got the Indians to the House with much adoe, where I treated them with a small Dram, and so parted in Love and Friendship. Capfn Diefenback undertook to con- duct them (with five other men) to Susquehannah. After this a sort of a Counsel of warr was held by the officers present, the before named and other Freeholders. It was agreed that 150 men should be raised immediately to serve as outscouts, and as Guards at Certain Places under the Kittitany Hills for 40 Days. That those so raised to have 2 Shillings a Day, & 2 Pound of Bread, 2 Pounds of Beaff and a Jill of Kum, and Powder & Lead. (Arms they must find themselves). This Scheme was signed by a good many Freeholders and read to the People. They cried out that so much for an Indian Scalp they would have (be they Friends or Enemies), from the Gov- ernor. I told them I had no such Power from the Governor nor Assembly. They begun, some to Curse the Governor; some the Assembly; called me a Traitor of the Country who held with the Indians, and must have known this murder be- fore hand. I sat in the House by a Lowe window, some of my Friends came to pull me away from it, telling me some of the People threatened to shoot me. I offered to go out to the People and either Pasefy them or make the Kings Proclama- tion ; But those in the House with me would not let me go out. The cry was. The Land was betrayed and sold. The Comon People From Lancaster (now Lebanon) County were the worst. The wages they said was a Trifle and said some Body pocketed the Best, and they would resent it. Some Body had put it OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 75 into their Head that I had it in my Power to give them as much as I pleased. I was in Danger of being Shot to Death. In the mean Time a great smoke arose under Tulpenhacon Mountain, with the news following, that the Indians had committed murder on mill Creek (a false alarm) and set fire to a Barn, most of the People Kan, and those that had Horses Rode ofi: without any Order or Regulation. I then took my Horse and went Home, where I intend to stay, and defend my own House as long as I can. There is no Doings with the People without a Law or Regulation by the Governor and Assembly. The people of Tulpenhacon all fled; till about 6 or 7 miles from me some few remains. Another such attack will lay all the Country waste on the West side of Schuyl- kill. I am, Sir, Your most obedient, * (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 504). Although I can trace a quiet touch of sarcasm in Mr. Weiser's account of how the people fled upon the first rumor of danger, after their threats against him, yet the gravity of the situation cannot be questioned. It was so great, indeed, that some of the more prominent gentlemen present deemed it best to draw up a paper to be sent the Governor. On Novr. 24th the following statement was forwarded : Honoured Sir: We the Subscribers hereof, being met together to think on means how to withstand our cruel Indian Enemy, thought fit to acquaint your Honour of the Miserable Condition the Back Inhabitants of these parts are in : (1st) Since the last cruel murder committed by the Enemy, most of the People of Tulpenhacon have left their Habitation ; Those in Heidelberg moves their Effects. Bethel Township is entirely deserted. (2d) There is no Order among the People, one cries one Thing, and another another Thing. They want to force us to 76 THE INDIAN FORTS ' make a Law, that they should have a Eeward for every Indian which they kill; They demanded such a Law of us, with their Guns Cocked; pointing it towards us. (3d. The People are so incensed, not only against our cruel Enemy the Indians, but also (we beg leave to inform your Honour) against the Governor and Assembly, that we are afeard they will go down in a Body to Philadelphia and comit the vilest Outrages. They say they will rather be hanged than to be butchered by the Indians, as some of their Neigh- bors have been lately, and the Poverty that some are in is very great. (4) Yesterday we sent out about Seventy men to the moun- tains to take Possession of several Houses, and to range the Woods along the mountain in Berks County, on the west Side of Schu^dkill. The same Number are sent to the back Parts of Lancaster (Lebanon) County, we Promised them two Shil- lings a Day, two Pounds of Bread, two Pound of Beaff, and a Jill of Kum a Day, and Ammunition, and that for forty Days, or till we shall receive your Honours Order. We persuaded ourselves Your Honour will not leave us in the Lurch; We must have done such a Thing or else leave our Habitation. If no worse; and all this would not do, we and others of the Freeholders have been Obliged to promise them a Reward of four Pistoles for every Enemy Indian man they should kill. Many Things more we could mention but we don't care to Trouble your Honour any Farther, do therefore conclude, and beg leave to Subscribe ourselves. Honoured Sir, your very humble Servants, CONRAD WEISER, EMANUEL CARPENTER, ADAM SIMON KUHN. P. S. — I cannot forbear to acquaint your Honor of a certain Circumstance of the late unhappy Affair: One Kobel, with his wife and eight children, the eldest about fourteen Years and the youngest fourteen Days, was flying before the Enemy, he carrying one, and his wife and a Boy another of the Children, when they were fired upon by two Indians very OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 77 nigh, but hit only the Man upon his Breast, though not Dangerously. They, the Indians, then came with their Tom- hacks, knocked the woman down, but not dead. They in- tended to kill the Man, but his Gun (though out of order so that he could not fire) kept them off. The Woman recovered so farr, and seated herself upon a Stump, with her Babe in her Arms, and gave it Suck, and the Indians driving the chil- dren together, and spoke to them in High Dutch, be still we won't hurt you. Then they struck a Hatchet into the woman's Head, and she fell upon her Face with her Babe under her, and the Indian trod on her neck and tore off the scalp. The children then run; four of them were scalped, among which was a Girl of Eleven Years of Age, who related the whole Story; of the Scalped, two are alive and like to do well. The Kest of the Children ran into the Bushes and the Indians after them, but our People coming near to them, and hallowed and made noise ; The Indians Kan, and the Kest of the Children were saved. They ran within a Yard by a Woman that lay behind an Old Log, with two Children, there was about Seven or Eight of the Enemy. I am, Honoured Sir, your obedient, C, WEISER. I intend to send a wagon down to Philadelphia for Blankets and other Necessaries for the People, on their Guard under the mountain, and I hope it will be then in your Honours Power to supply us. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 511). The Governor was fully aroused by these horrible atrocities and endeavored to perform his whole duty. The correspond- ence received, together with his recommendations, were at once laid before the Assembly as well as all the prominent officials of Philadelphia County. His success will better be shown by a letter written Nov. 17th (probably 27th) to Gen- eral Shirley: Dear Sir : Since writing the Letter herewith I have received Intelligence that the Indians have cross'd the Sasquehanna, 78 THE INDIAN FORTS and fallen upon the inhabitants to the Southward of the Mountains at and near a place called Tulpihockin, about sixty miles from hence, where they had, when the express came away, Burnt several houses and killed such of the inhabitants as could not escape from them. The settlement they are now destroying is one of the finest in this Province, the Lands are very Eich and well improved. My Assembly have now been sitting ever since the 3d Instant, but have done nothing for the defence of the Province, nor raised any supplys. The Bill they have proposed for that purpose, being of the same kind of one I had before refused to pass and which they know I have no power by my Commission to pass it. Such a Conduct while the Country is bleeding, seems to me to merit the severest censure. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 525). It was not until the latter part of the year that action was taken which finally enabled the Governor to organize a system of defense. Troops were regularly enlisted, officered and equipped. Stations for forts, from ten to twelve miles apart, were selected, and companies asigned to each, under the com- mand of Lt. Col. Conrad Weiser. It was at this time, simul- taneously with those of Fort Swatara and Fort Lebanon, that the history of Fort Henry really began. It was on Jan. 25, 1756, that Captain Christian Busse, with a company of fifty Provincial Soldiers, was ordered ^'to proceed to the Gap at Tolihaio, and there to erect a Stoccado fort of the form and dimensions given him, and to take posts there, and range the woods from that fort westward towards Swehataro and east- wards towards a stoccado to be built by Capt. Morgan, about half way between the said fort and fort Lebanon." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 547). On Feb. 1, 1756, Gov. Morris wrote to Gov. Dinwiddle ex- plaining his arrangements for a chain of forts, and says of those between the Susquehanna and Delaware ^'ye most con- siderable of them is built at an important Pass thro' ye Kit- tahteny Hills, on our Northern Frontier, & I have called it Fort Henry." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 561). In similar strain, on Feb. 2d, he writes to Col. Washington '-on the East side of the Susquehanna the Forts are about ten or twelve miles assunder among which the most consider- OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 79 able are Fort Henry, at a pass through the mountains, called Tolihaio, Fort Lebanon, on the Forks of Schuylkill and Fort Allen * * *." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 565). These orders and letters have already been quoted under the head of Fort Swatara, and their misleading language com- mented upon, and therefore need no further attention here. They go to prove, however, the time when Fort Henry was erected to have been in February, 1756, because in the case of this important position the fort was of considerable size and built by the Government troops. The watch tower, origin- ally erected by the farmers was no longer used. Where this latter stood we do not know, but my opinion is, after a careful examination of the ground and talk with the people, that it was at the spot where the fort stood later, into which it was incorporated, or else torn down. It is to be regretted that we do not have a complete record of all the occurrences at Fort Henry. The first mention is that noted in the diary of an officer sent to Fort Northkill. wherein he states that on June 13, 1756 (incorrectly given as 1754), he received orders from Col. Weiser to march from Beading. Upon his arrival at Col. Weiser's house he was di- rected to proceed with his detachment to Fort Henry, obtain from Capt. Busse 20 men and, with them, go to Fort Northkill and take charge of same, which was done. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 159). As this Journal will be given in full later, it can be dispensed with at this time. Fort Henry seems to have been so well known and in such good condition as not to need as much attention as some of the other places. This is evidenced by the fact that when James Young, the Commissary General of Musters, made his tour of inspection in June of the same year he passed over the mountains after leaving Fort Northkill and went to Fort Lebanon, without stopping at Fort Henry. He says, June 21st, "At 8 o'clock A. M., Capt. Busse, from Fort Henry, Came here (Fort Northkill) with 8 men on horse Back, he Expected to meet Col. Weiser here, in order to Proceed to the Several Forts on the Northern Frontier, but Col. Weiser wrote him that other Business Prevented him, and desired Cap't Busse to proceed with me, and return him an Acc't how he found the 80 THE INDIAN FORTS Forts, with the quantity of Ammunition and Stores in Each of which I was very Glad, as the Escort on horse back would Expedite our Journey very much, and be much safer." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 676). Captain Christian Busse, the commander of Fort Henry here mentioned had been a doctor at Beading, Pa., before entering the military service. Notwithstanding the terrible depredations committed by the Indians, the officers in command of the troops made every effort to prevent them, and their unceasing vigilance is well worthy of commendation. The following report of Col. Weiser to Gov. Morris, made in July, 1756, bears witness to this statement : Honoured Sir: Immediately after my Beturn from Philadelphia, I sent Orders to the Captains Busse, Morgan and Smith, to meet me at Fort Henry, on the 9th of this Instant, to consult together over certain measures, how to oppose the Enemy of killing the People in Beaping and gathering in their Harvest. The Evening before, to witt, on the 8th of this Instant, Mr. Young arrived with your Honours Orders to me, I therefore sent out next morning about 5 o'clock for Fort Henry, in Company with Mr. Young, as farr as Benjamin Spyckers. I arrived at Fort Henry by 10 o'clock. Capt. Busse met me with an Es- cort of Eight men on Horse Back, about Six Miles on this Side of Fort Henry; about 12 o'clock the Captains Morgan and Smith arrived. I immediately made your Honours Orders known to them, and the following Deposition was made: That eight men of Capt. Smith's Company shall assist the People in the Hole (The place where twice Murder was committed) to gather in their harvest, and stay over Night in the Moravian House ; Eight of his men to range westward of his Fort under the Hill, and if occasion require to be stationed in two Parties to guard the Beapers ; Sixteen men are to be in and about the Fort to help and protect the neighbours, but constantly 10 out of the Sixteen are to stay in the Fort; Mne men are to stay constantly in Manity Fort, and Six men to range East- ward from Manity towards Swataro, and Six men to range westward towards Susquehannah : Each Party so farr that OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 81 they may reach their Fort again before Night. Cap't. Basse's Company stationed as follows : Ten men at Bernhard Tridels, next to the Moravians, Eight men at Casper Snebelies, Six men at Daniel Shue's or Peter Klop's. All these are west- ward of Fort Henry. Eastwards Capt. Busse is to Post four men at Jacob Stein's, Three men at Ulrich Spies, Six men at the widow Kendal, the Best, consisting of nineteen men, to remain in the Fort. Cap't. Morgan's Company, as follows: Six men to range from the little Fort on the Northkill, west- ward to the Emericks, and stay there if the People unite to work together in their Harvest, Six men to range Eastward on the same footing, Eight men to stay in that Fort, fifteen men are to stay in Fort Lebanon, Eight men to protect the People over the Hill in harvest Time, Ten men to range con- stantly Eastward or Westward, and if the People return to their Plantations thereabouts, to protect those first that join together to do their work. All the aforesaid men are posted as much in a Kange as was possible, and would sute the Settlement best. Your Honour will observe that there is not Men enough left in the Forts to change or relieve the Men on Duty, but scarce sufficient to keep the Forts, and send Provisions to the several Posts. I did propose to the Captains to make a draft of about twenty-five men out of the three Companies, and send them over the Hills to a certain Place on Kind Creek, to lie in Ambush there for the Enemy, for about Ten Days, but the large Frontier which they have to guard with their men, would not Admit of it at this Time, so I was therefore obliged to give over that Point. A great number of the Back Inhabitants came to the Fort that Day, and cried out for Guards. Their situation is indeed desperate. About forty men from Tulpenhacon have been out for their Protection, but they got soon tired, and rose Disputes and Quarrels in Order to get home again. I hear that the People over Susquehanna will have Pro- tection, cost what it will ; If they can't obtain it from the English, they will send to the French for it. I believe (by what I hear) that some on this Side of the River are of the 82 THE INDIAN FORTS same Oppinion, at least there is such a Mummbling among the back Inhabitants. I must mention to your Honour that when the People about Swatara and the Hole heard of Capt. Smith's being accused for neglect of Duty, they wrote a Letter to me in his Favour, which I send by Sammy Weiser, who can translate it if your Honour orders him to do it. I also send a Letter from Capt. Busse, which contains the Particulars of the last murder. I received it by the way coming from Philad'a, and stopt the Express (as it was only to me) in Order to save Changes. As I had no Clerk for some time, I wrote a General Letter yesterday to all the Commanding Officers Eastward from Fort Henry to Easton, with a Copy of your Honours Orders in- closed. I could not send every one a Copy, but ordered them to take it themselves and send it forward immediately. Just this moment my Son Sammy arrived from Fort Henry, and tells me that there had been an Engagement at Caghncka- cheeky, wherein twelve on our side were killed, and Six In- dians; That our People kept the Field and scalped the In- dians, and that the Indians ran off without any Scalp. As bad news as it is, I wish it may be true. I have at Present no more trouble your Honour with. But Eemain, Sir, Your very obedient and humble Servant, CONEAD WEISER. Heidleberg, in the County of Berks, July the 11th, 1756. P. S. — I should have told your Honour that I keep a Ser- jeant, with nine private men of my Company at Fort Henry, under Capt. Busse, with that Proviso, that they shall stay in the fort and defend it when the Capts' men are on their sev- eral posts or Ranging; the Capt'n must keep a Ranging party all along; to-morrow another Serjeant marches from Reading with nine men, to relieve those of my Company that have been out two weeks. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 696). OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 83 On Nov. 16tli, 1756, Sec'y Peters notifies Capt. Orndt, in accordance with the Governor's orders, ^'that measures are taking, as well at Shamokin (Sunbury) as in the Forts in Berks County, to pursue the Enemy Indians who have lately committed murders on the Inhabitants near Fort Henry, Fort Lebanon & Fort Franklin, of which the Governor desires our Friendly Indians may be advised least our Parties should meet w'th these Indians, mistake them for the Enemy & if so fall upon them." (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 51). The reader will please notice that Fort Henry is mentioned as a "Fort in Berks County," whereas if it had been literally situated at Swatara Gap it would have been in Lancaster (Now Lebanon) County. The consultation of the Governor with Lord Loudoun, at Philad'a in April, 1757, has previously been referred to, and the fact mentioned that it was then decided to reduce the number of forts East of the Susquehanna to three, of which Fort Henry was one, and the only one, between the Susque- hanna and the Lehigh. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 119) . It was found impracticable, however, to carry this plan into immediate operation. In June of that year Fort Henry was honored by a visit from Governor Denny, the successor of Governor Morris, under peculiar circumstances. The Government had been notified of ^ a threatened attack in force on Fort Augusta at Shamokin (Sunbury) just at a time when the terms of en- listment of the troops composing its garrison had expired. No persuasion could induce more than forty men to re-enlist. In the emergency it became necessary to order immediately three Companies from Col. Weiser's regiment to the scene of action, whilst the Governor, in person, hastened from Lan- caster into the County of Berks to encourage the raising of these one hundred and fifty-nine men. When he came there he found men enough but met with an unexpected obstacle. The country people, supported by their Magistrates and the leading men of the County, refused to serve under the Pro- vincial officers but insisted upon choosing their own. This, it seems, was put into their heads at Lancaster, by some of the Commissioners and Assembly men, who made them think 84 THE INDIAN FORTS it was a most valuable privilege. The Governor adds: — "In- tending to go to Fort Henry, the only Garrison my Time would allow me to visit, I desired Col. Weiser to acquaint the Leaders of these infatuated People, that I shou'd be glad they would come and speak with me at the Fort. Accordingly, above Fifty substantial Freeholders, well mounted and armed, joined the Escort, & attended me to Fort Henry, where I had an Op- portunity of undeceiving them. Convinced of their Error, they presented me a very respectful Address, assuring me of their Desire to have a proper Militia Law, and that they were de- termined under such a Law to serve and do their duty to their King and Country. Forty instantly were inlisted by Colonel Weiser out of this Neighborhood, and a Magistrate about twenty Miles off wrote me he had inlisted forty more." (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 194). We have already seen that there was a lack of soldiers for the proper protection of the people, and can readily imagine what a sad deficiency was caused by the withdrawal of three Companies to Fort Augusta. It is, therefore, a matter of no surprise to read the following letter written Octo. 1st, 1757, from Heading, by Col. Weiser to Gov. Denny: "I humbly intreat your Honour to pity our Cause and give orders that the men belonging to the first Battalion of Penn- sil'a Kegiment, now at Fort Augusta, may all return to their proper or former Stations. When this present trouble is over I will very gladly send a reinforcement again either to Fort Augusta or wherever your honour please is. It is certain that the enimy is numerous on our Frontiers, and the people are coming away very fast, so that the Forts are left to them- selves with the men in them, but no more neighbours about them." (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 277). So urgent is the matter that Col. Weiser, three days later, writes to the Governor's Secretary, Mr. Peters : Sir: I did not think on the Post till he entered my doors, else I would have wrote particularly to the Governor, tho' I have been very Buisy with writing to the Commanding officers of the several forts under my Care. It is now Come so Farr OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 85 that murder is Oomited AUmost every day; there never was such a Consternation among the people, they must now leave their houses again, with their Barns full of Grain; five Chil- dren have been carried off last Friday, some days before a sick man killed upon his bed, begged of the Enemy to shoot him through his heart which the Indian answered, I will, and did so. A girl, that had hid herself under a Bedsted, in the next room, heard all this, two more families were about that time destroyed. Inclosed is the Journal of last month of my Ensign at North Kill. Capt. Bussey lies dangerously sick at John Harris. I hear he is tired of everything; I have neither men nor a sufficient n^br of officers to defend the Country. If his Honour would be pleased to send me orders for to recall all the men belonging to my Battalion, from fort Augusta, he would justly bring upon him the blessing of the most high. I can not say no more. I think meselfe unhappy, to fly with my family in this time of danger I can't do. I must stay, if they all go. I am now preparing to go to fort Henry, where I shall meet some officers to consult with, what may be best to be done. I have ordered ten men, with the Governor's last orders, to fort Augusta; I shall overtake them this Evening at Fort Henry, and give them proper instruction. For God's sake, dear Sire, beg of the Governor, press it upon him in my behalf, and in behalf of this distrest inhabitants, to order my men back from fort Augusta. I will give my reason after- wards, that I am in the right. I Conclude with my humble respects to his Honour, And remain. Kind Sir, Your most humble Servant, CONEAD WEISER. Excuse my hurry. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 283). Who can fail to sympathize with Col. Weiser as he en- deavors to faithfully perform his duties surrounded by these many trials and difficulties. It is with much satisfaction, therefore, that we find, on Nov. 8th, orders sent by the Gov- ernor for Capt. Busse to return with his detachment to his former Post. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 38). 86 * THE INDIAN FORTS In the midst of all his discouragements Col. Weiser does not forget his sick friend Capt. Busse, and snatches a moment's time from his multitudinous labors to pay him a visit at Fort Harris. Here, by chance, he was informed of the capture of a French deserter at Fort Henry. We will let him tell the incident in his own words, as we find them in a letter of Octo. 16, 1757, to Gov. Denny, written from Reading. He says, Honoured Sir: According to my last I went up to John Harris's Ferry to visit Captain Busse, where I found him in a very poor Con- dition, but he told me he was much better than he had been the day before; and after about two Hours Conversation, he went to Hunter's Fort by Water, though against my Advice, as he had Lieut. Philip Marsloff with him, and Ensign Kern by my Order (not knowing that Marsloff was there) was come up to wait on the Captain, &c. Kern had but an half hour to stay when he was ordered by me to follow the Captain by Land, with an Escort of four men of the Battalion under my Command. Before he sat off he inform'd me that on the 12th Instant, a French Deserter or Spy came down the Hill near Fort Henry, and made towards Deitrich Six's house, which the Centry of the Fort observing, acquainted the Commanding Officer of the Fort thereof, who sent an Officer and two Sol- diers to seize and bring him into the Fort, which was ac- cordingly done. I order'd, by Express, my Son Samuel, who Commanded at the Fort on Sweetara, to march with a ranging party with all possible speed and care and take the said prisoner and convey him safe down to my House in Heidelberg, where he arrived safe with the prisoner about noon yesterday. I examined the Prisoner by such an Interpreter as I could get, but thought fit to bring him down hither to have a more full Examination by the Assistance of Capt'n Oswald and Mr. James Read, and accordingly came here with him last night. The paper enclosed and a Fusee were found in his Possession. The Examination I left to Captain Oswald and Mr. Read, who will transmit a fair Copy to your Honour. As I've no Men to Spare in this dangerous Time, and Capt. Oswald hath been so kind as to offer a Party of the Regulars under his Com- OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 87 mand here to guard the Prisoner to Philadelphia, I have ac- cepted of his Offer, and accordingly put him into Custody of the Guards appointed by the Captain, which I hope will not be disagreeable to your Honour. I am, Honoured Sir, Your most Humble Servant, (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 293). CONRAD WEISER. We have then recorded the examination of t]je prisoner at Reading, and later his more complete examination at Phila- delphia, both of which abound in interesting statements, but have no proper place in this history and must therefore be omitted. Suffice it to say, briefly, that his name was Michael La Chauviguerie Jun, and his age seventeen. His father was a Lieutenant of French Marines and Commandant of Fort Machault, just building, which was seventy-two leagues up the Allegheny River from Fort Du Quesne (Pittsburgh) and near the Lakes. The son had been given command of a party of thirty-three Indians, principally Delawares, who were sent out on a maruading expedition. As they neared the Blue Mountains he tells the sad tale of Prisoners taken and num- erous deserted homesteads. By accident one day he dropped a piece of bread and whilst looking for it his party of Indians became separated from him and he found he was lost. After wandering around for seven days he was forced to surrender at Fort Henry to save himself from starvation. In this connection, I desire to call attention to the fact that Fort Henry is mentioned as being in close proximity to Diet- rich Six's house, which fully corroborates the position which will be given presently. James Burd, in the Journal of his inspection of various forts, has this to say of Fort Henry : Tuesday, Feby. 21st, 1758. March'd at 1 P. M., for Fort Henry (from Fort Swatara) at 3 P. M., gott to Soudder's 7 miles, left Lieut. Broadhead to march the party 4 miles to Sneevlys there to hault all night 88 THE INDIAN FORTS & to march to Fort Henry in the morning, 6 miles, the roads being very bad, march'd myself with Adjutant Thorn and 8 men on horse-back arrived at Fort Henry at 5 P. M., found here Capt'n Weiser, Adjutant Kern & the Ensigns Biddle & Craighead, doing duty with 90 men. Ordered a Eeview of the Garrison to-morrow at 9 A. M. 22d, Wednesday. Had a Eeview this morning at 9 A. M., found 90 soldiers under good Command, & fine fellows. Examined the stores, & am informed by the Comd'g Officer there is 2 mo's more ab't 6 miles from here at Jacob Myers Mill; no poudder, 224 lbs. of lead, no flints, ab't 80 Province Arms belonging to these two Comp'ys, good for nothing. Ordered Ensign Craighead with 18 men of this Garrison to march to-morrow morning to Fort Swetarrow, & there to apply to Capt'n Allen and to Keceive from him 7 men, & with this party of 25 men to march from thence to Robertson's mill, there to take post to order from thence a Serg't Corporall & 8 men to the house of Adam Read, Esq'r, & to Employ his whole party in Continual ranging to Cover these Fronteers; This I found myself under a Necessity of doing otherwise several Townships here would be Evacuated in a few days. Ordered Ensigne Heller to march back my Escort to Hun- ter's Fort to-morrow morning, & Capt'n Weiser to Continue to range from this to Fort Northkill & Swetarrow, to Employ all his Jugm't to waylay the Enemy & Protect the Inhabitants. This is a very good Stocliaded Fort, & everything in good order, & duty done pritty well. March'd to-day at 11 A. M., & arrived at Conrad Weiser's, Esq'r., at 3 P. M., 14 miles, where I found 4 Quarter Casks of poudder belonging to the Province, 3 of which I ordered to Forty Henry, and 1 to Fort Swetarrow, no lead here, very bad roads & cold weather, stayed all night. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 553). Before considering the matter of location I submit the fol- lowing letter from Captain Busse to Colonel Weiser, written at Fort Henry on June 19th, 1758, which has an important bearing on the subject: dF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 89 Dear Sir : At noon I received news that this morning about 8 o'Clo'k, the Indians took and carried away the wife of John Frantz, with 3 children, 6 miles from here, deep in the Coun- try. I sent momently Lieut. Johnson with a party of 9 men to go along the Mountains, and to Stay at the Hole to inter- cept them. Them being gone, a Farmer was following on Horseback, came back and told that he Saw 3 Indians near the Fort at the place of Six. Being not able to Spare more men, as just a Detachment was out to meet the wagon with pro- vision, I sent Serg't Christ Mowrer only whit two men to look for their Tracts. It is a cruel fate where wee are brought to that, wee shall fight without Powder or Led. If some is there, be pleased to send it to us. I hope you will be so kind as to give Capt. Blakwood Notice hereof, whit my Compliments. I am. Dear Sir, Your very Humble Servant, (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 425). CHRISTIAN BUSSE. In this letter Capt. Busse speaks of the Frantz family, who lived 6 miles from Fort Henry. I have just recently talked with Mr. Wm. Frantz, 73 years old, residing at Millersburg, about this very event in his family, he being a descendant of those mentioned. He informed me that the event hap- pened at their home which was on the Little Swatara Creek, some two miles north from Millersburg, which would make it six miles from Fort Henry if located at Dietrich Six's house. Indeed Capt. Bussee, himself, in the letter, refers to the Fort as being at Six's place. But I especially desire to call atten- tion to the fact that a detail was sent to the Hole (Swatara Gap) to intercept the Indians as they retreated and possibly rescue the captives. This clearly shows that the Swatara Gap was looked upon and used as the ordinary passage way through the mountains to the whole locality in said neighbor- hood, and that it would be but natural, as I have already argued, to speak of Fort Henry as at Tolihaio Gap although actually fourteen miles distant from it. 90 THE INDIAN FORTS * It only remains to say, what the reader has already dis- covered, that Fort Henry was located near the home of Diet- rich Six. This property was on the old Shamokin (Sunbury) Eoad, three miles north of Millersburg, in Bethel Township, Berks County. Dietrich Six owned the farm during the French and Indian War. It was purchased from him by Frantz Umbenhauer, born Oct. 23, 1751, died Mar. 31, 1812, and buried in the Union Church Yard near Millersburg, who came to that locality when a young man and settled there. From him it descended to his son Peter Umbenhauer, who always kept the place intact and sacred, for the benefit of the many visitors who came to see it. It afterwards came into the possession of Mr. George Pott, and is now owned by James Batz. It was my privilege to interview Mrs. Elizabeth Ditzler, a bright, active old lady 83 years old, who was the daughter of Peter Umbenhauer and still lives with her married daughter but a short distance from the site occupied by the fort. She has frequently seen it, but even when she was 15 or 16 years old it was in ruins, and not much more than a heap of stone remained. Her father, who died at the place some 60 years ago when 63 years old, told her all about the fort and its exact location, which agrees precisely with what is recorded, and is corroborated by the testimony of many other reliable au- thorities. The following map will now give a more clear insight into the matter: The fort stood in what is now a cultivated field, about 25 yards northeast one-fourth east from the shed with stone base standing by the roadside. It was on slightly elevated ground and commands a splendid view of the approaches from the Blue Mountains and of the valley to the West. At the foot of the elevated ground runs a little stream of water, originating at the Spring back of the fort. Mr. Batz still ploughs up stone belonging to the fort, as well as pieces of common clay pipe stems, and finds chips of flint at the Spring, all, un- doubtedly pertaining to the garrison. This spring, which is the origin of the stream, is in a gully about 175 yards from the shed, and must therefore have been comparatively near the fort. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 91. We have already discussed and settled the time when this fort was built. With regard to the fort itself unfortunately we know nothing definite, except that it was a stockade. In our generaion it has been merely a heap of ruins, but we are assured from them that it was more pretentious in size than usual. This we would have reason to expect because of its importance, and from the number of soldiers in the garrison. I have been unable to get any description of it from any one, except from Mr. Daniel Hostetter, of Springsville, who is some 60 years old. Even this is of a rather vague character. He says most of the stone belonging to the fort was taken by the farmers for building purposes, but when he first saw it the marks of the building were plain, and that even fourteen years ago about a quarter of the wall was still there. To him it seemed to be shaped like a half moon, and in the centre was a house which evidently had a cellar underneath. The walls of the fort were about three feet thick and about two hundred long, and Mr. Hostetter adds that he never saw such a place in his life and doubts if there is any other like it in the State. About one mile east of the fort rises abruptly from the plain Round Top Mountain. So abruptly does it rise that it is almost impossible to scale the side facing the fort. Dr. W. C. Kline, of Myerstown, who has at various times visited this locality and who twenty-five years ago also saw traces of the walls of Fort Henry, at one time made an effort to reach the summit of Round Top. With much difficulty he clambered up its steep face until he reached a point about half way from the top where he was surprised to find what seemed undoubt- edly an artificial plateau, about 40x150 feet formed by spread- ing out stones taken from the hill behind, thus making a wall in the rear. The stones seem to have been broken to a small size and were entirely different from the rock comprising the other part of the mountain over which he had climbed. They were much harder and made somewhat of a ringing sound when knocked together. The Doctor was entirely unable to give any explanation of the fact, nor did the farmers living there know of it. I here mention it as a matter, certainly of interest and possibly of value. It has suggested itself to me 92 THE INDIAN FORTS that the Indians, who occupied that part of the country be- fore the advent of the white man, there obtained the stones from which to make their axes, arrowheads, etc., as the more prevalent stone in that neighborhood is too soft for such pur- poses. I have also thought that the soldiers of the garrison may have obtained some of their flints from this place, but as they would have needed only a very few compared to the large number of stones seen, I am rather inclined to my former opinion. There may also be some connection between this theory and the numerous flint chips even now found at the spring in the gully back of the fort, too many to have been made by the soldiers. Does it not indicate an Indian village or villages, in the distant past at that point? That Fort Henry's position should be perpetuated by a monument hardly admits of controversy. In my judgment the spot on which to place it would be on the site of the public road near the shed having a stone base. At the time of the conference with the Indians at Easton in July, 1757, Col. Weiser's guard of soldiers from Forts Swatara, Henry, Lebanon and from Allemangle, were under the command of Capt'n Busse. (Penna. Arch., iii, p. 218). On Feb. 5, 1758, Adjutant Kern reports Captains Busse and Weiser at Fort Henry, with 89 men in their two companies, and its distance from Fort Swatara 14 miles. In his detailed report of same date he specifies, besides the two Captains, Lt. & Adjt. Kern, Ensigns Beedle & Craighead, 92 Provincial arms on hand, 26 men with their own arms, 12 lbs. of powder, no lead, 2 months provisions, 14 cartridges, and the Messrs. Weisers as Commissaries for the Station. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 339-340). Here comes to an end the recorded history of Fort Henry, but not its actual existence, as in July, 1763, we find a letter of instructions from Governor Hamilton to Col. Armstrong, in which he says that he has appointed one hundred men for each of the three counties of Lancaster (Lebanon), Berks and Northampton, to be reinforced from other points as occasion may demand. (Penn. Arch., iv, p. 115). We have every right to presume that Fort Henry, the most important of the chain of OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 98 forts, was then occupied. During the interim, however, be- tween 1759, when the Indians had retired with their French ally, and 1763 which signalized the new outbreak under Pon- tiac, comparative peace existed and we need not be surprised at a lack of stirring events on record. Prior to 1759 there certainly was no laclf of such events in the neighborhood. Many of the merciless acts committed by the savages in the general locality of Fort Henry have been given under Fort Swatara. Others in it» more immediate vicinity still remain to be told. In the Penn'a Gazette of Dec. 18, 1755, it says, "We hear from Beading, in Berks County, that on Sunday last, about nine o'clock at night, the guard belonging to that County, about seventeen miles from that town, were attacked by some In- dians, with whom they exchanged several fires, and put them to flight; that none of the guard were wounded; though one of them had the skirt of his jacket shot away, and that they supposed some of the Indians were badly burnt, as they heard a crying among them as they ran off; but that the guard hav- ing spent their ammunition, could not pursue them." On March 7, 1756, Andrew Lycan, who lived over the moun- tain, 25 miles below Sunbury, at or near the Wiskinisco Creek, was attacked by Indians. He had with him a son, John Lycan, a negro man, a boy, and two of his neighbors, John Bevolt and Ludwig Shut. As Andrew Lycan and John Bevolt went out early that morning to feed the animals, two guns were fired at them, but they escaped unhurt, ran to the house and prepared for an engagement. The Indians then got under cover of a log house near the dwelling, whereupon John Lycan, Bevolt and Shut crept out to get a shot at them, but were fired at by the Indians instead, and all wounded, Shut being hit in the abdomen. Andrew Lycan then noticed one of the Indians and two white men run out of the log house and get a little distance from it. Upon this the inmates of the house endeavored to escape but were immediately pur- sued by the Indians to the number of sixteen or more. John Lycan and Bevolt being hadly wounded, were able to do noth- ing, and so went off with the negro, leaving Andrew Lycan. Shut and the boy engaged with the enemy, who pursued so 9i THE INDIAN FORTS closely that one of them came up with the boy, and was about to strike his tomahawk into him when Shut turned and shot him dead. At the same time Lycan shot another, whom he is positive was killed, saw a third fall and thinks others were wounded by them. Being now bpth badly wounded and al- most exhausted, they sat down on a log to rest themselves, whilst the Indians stood a little way off looking at them. One of the Indians killed was Bill Davis, and two others they knew to be Tom Hickman and Tom Hayes, all Delawares and well known in those parts. All of the farmers escaped through Swatara Gap into Hanover Township, and recovered under the care of a doctor, but lost all they were worth. (Penn. Gazette, March 18, 1756). The Editor of the Gazette, of June 24, says: ^^we have ad- vice from Fort Henry, in Berks County (Bethel Township) that two children of one Lawrence Dieppel, who lives about two miles from said fort, are missing, and thought to be car- ried off by the Indians, as one of their hats has been found, and several Indian tracks seen." In relation to this state- ment the Editor adds on July 1st, "we learn that one of Lawrence Dieppel's children, mentioned in our last to be car- ried off, has been found cruelly murdered and scalped, a boy about four years, and that the other, also a boy, eight years old, was still missing." On Nov. 19, 1756, Col. Weiser writes to Gov. Denny that the Indians had made another incursion into Berks County, killed and scalped two married women and a lad fourteen years of age, wounded two children of about four years of age, and carried off two more. One of the wounded was scalped and likely to die, and the other had two cuts on her forehead, given by an Indian who had attempted to scalp her but did not succeed. There were eight men of Fort Henry, posted in different neighbor's houses, about one mile and a half off, who, when they heard noise of the guns firing, immediately went towards it but came too late. The Penna. Gazette of Dec. 9, also says they had heard of a woman who had been missing from Heidelberg Township for three weeks past, and was sup- posed to have been carried off by the sav^ages. Again in the issue of July, 1757, the Penn'a Gazette gives OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 95 this extract from a letter dated, Heidelberg, July 9tli : "Yester- day, about three o'clock in the afternoon, between Valentine Herchelroar's and Tobias Bickell's, four Indians killed two children; one of about four years, the other five; they at the same time scalped a young woman of about sixteen ; but, with proper care, she is likely to live and do well. A woman was terribly cut with the tomahawk, but not scalped — her life is despaired of. Three children were carried off prisoners. One Christian Schrenk's wife, being among the rest, bravely defended herself and children, for a while ; wrest- ing the gun out of the Indian's hands, who assaulted her, also his tomahawk, and threw them away; and afterwards was obliged to save her own life — two of her children were taken captive in the meantime. In this house were also twenty women and children, who had fled from their own habitations, to take shelter; the men belonging to them were about one- half mile off, picking cherries — they came as quick as possible and went in pursuit of the Indians, but to no purpose, the Indians had concealed themselves." In August, 1757, people were murdered by the Indians in Bern Township, and others carried off. At Tulpehocken a man named Lebenguth, and his wife, were killed, and scalped. On Oct. 4, 1758, a letter from Fort Henry says, ^The first of October, the Indians burnt a house on Swatara, killed one man, and three are missing. Two boys were found tied to a tree and were released. We are alarmed in the fort almost every night by a terrible barking of dogs; there are certainly some Indians about us." (Penn. Gazette, Octo. 19, 1758). On Sept. 9, 1763, a letter from Eeading says: — "A few of the Kangers who had encamped in Berks County, were apprized of the approach of Indians by their outscouts ; the Indians ad- vanced cautiously to take them by surprise; when near, with savage yells they rushed forward, but the Kangers, springing on their feet, shot the three in front; the rest fled into a thicket and escaped. The Indians were armed with guns and provided with ammunition. These Indians, it is supposed by some, had been on their way from the Moravian Indians, in Northampton County, to the Big island. Eunners were sent 96 THE INDIAN FORTS to the different parties of Eangers with information and others sent in pursuit of those who fled." (Rupp, p. 77). During the same month, eight well armed Indians came to the house of John Fincher, a Quaker, residing north of the Blue Mountains, in Berks County, about twenty-four miles from Beading, and within three-quarters of a mile of a party of six men of Captain Kern's company of Eangers, com- manded by Ensign Scheffer. At the approach of the Indians, John Fincher, his wife, two sons and daughter, immediately went to the door and asked them to enter in and eat, express- ing the hope that they came as friends, and entreated them to spare their lives. To this entreaty the Indians turned a deaf ear. Both parents and two sons were deliberately mur- dered, their bodies being found on the spot. The daughter was missing after the departure of the Indians, and it was sup- posed from the cries heard by the neighbors that she also was slain. A young lad, who lived with Fincher, made his escape and notified Ensign Scheffer, who instantly went in pursuit of these cold-blooded assassins. He pursued them to the house of one Miller, where he found four children murdered; the Indians having carried two others with them. Miller and his wife, being at work in the field, saved their lives by flight. Mr. Miller himself was pursued near one mile by an Indian, who fired at him twice in hot pursuit. Ensign Schef- fer and his squad continued after the savages, overtook them, and fired upon them. The Indians returned the fire, and a sharp but short conflict ensued, when the enemy fled, leaving behind them Miller's two children and part of the plunder they had taken. These barbarous Indians had scalped all the persons they murdered, except an infant about two weeks old, whose head they had dashed against the wall, to which the brains and clotted blood adhered as a silent witness of their cruelty. The consequence of this massacre was the desertion of all the settlements beyond the Blue Mountains. A few days after these atrocious murders, the house of Frantz Hubler, in Bern Township, eighteen miles from Read- ing, was attacked by surprise. Hubler was wounded, his wife OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. VI and three of his children were carried off, and three other of his children scalped alive, two of whom died shortly after- wards. On Sept. 10, 1763, five Indians entered the house of Philip Martloff, in Berks County, at the base of the Blue Mountains, murdered and scalped his wife, two sons and two daughters, burnt the house and barn, the stacks of hay and grain, and destroyed everything of any value. Martloff was absent from home, and one daughter escaped at the time of the murder by running and secreting herself in a thicket. The father and daughter were left in abject misery. (Eupp, p. 78). A brief mention has already been made of the Frantz family, in Bethel Township. The Penn'a Gazette of June, 1758, gives the following account of the case, which substan- tially agrees with the tradition told me by one of the descend- ants, still living in that locality : "At the time this murder was committed, Mr. Frantz was out at work ; his neighbors having heard the firing of guns by the Indians immediately repaired to the house of Frantz; on their way they apprised him of the report — ^when they arrived at the house they found Mrs. Franz dead (having been killed by the Indians because she was rather infirm and sickly, and so unable to travel), and all the children gone; they then pursued the Indians some distance, but all in vain. The chil- dren were taken and kept captives for several years. A few years after this horrible affair, all of them, except one, the youngest, were exchanged. The oldest of them, a lad of twelve or thirteen years of age, at the time when captured, related the tragical scene of his mother being tomahawked and shamefully treated. Him they compelled to carry the youngest. The anxious father, having received two of his children as from the dead, still sighed for the one that was not. When- ever he heard of children being exchanged he mounted his horse to see whether, among the captured, was not his dear little one. On one occasion he paid a man forty pounds to restore his child, who had reported that he knew where it was. To another he paid a hundred dollars, and himself went to Canada in search of the lost one — but, to his sorx'ow, never 98 THE INDIAN FORTS could trace his child. A parent can realize his feelings — they cannot be described.'^ The Eev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, D. D., in the Hallische Nachrichten, tells the soul-stirring story of Frederick Keichels- dorfer, whose two grown daughters had attended a course of instruction, under him, in the Catechism, and been solemnly admitted by confirmation to the communion of the Ev. Luth- eran Church, in New Hanover, Montgomery county. ^'This man afterwards went with his family some distance into the interior, to a tract of land which he had purchased in Albany township, Berks county [see under Fort Everett also]. When the war with the Indians broke out, he removed his family to his former residence, and occasionally returned to his farm, to attend to his grain and cattle. On one occa- sion he went, accompanied by his two daughters, to spend a few days there, and bring away some wheat. On Friday even- ing, after the wagon had been loaded, and everything was ready for their return on the morrow, his daughters com- plained that they felt anxious and dejected, and were im- pressed with the idea that they were soon to die. They re- quested their father to unite with them in singing the familiar German funeral hymn, '^Wev weiss wie nahe meine Ende?" (Who knows how near my end may be?) after which they commended themselves to God in prayer, and retired to rest. The light of the succeeding morn beamed upon them, and all was yet well. Whilst the daughters were attending to the dairy, cheered with the joyful hope of soon greeting their friends, and being out of danger, the father went to the field for the horses, to prepare for their departure home. As he was passing through the field, he suddenly saw two Indians, armed with rifles, tomahawks and scalping knives, making towards him at full speed. The sight so terrified him that he lost all self command, and stood motionless and. silent. When they were about twenty yards from him, he suddenly, and with all his strength, exclaimed "Lord Jesus, living and dying, I am thine!" Scarcely had the Indians heard the Port North HttL. ( 4B./i t^.ii.t ?ROM FARM t£yj W. Rfr2as*>i.\^ TEKftST N5CH. RJTIMA*^ I? STATE ROAO. Ml 1 ^ o: \ VU \* -1 1* v» jm Id J o . FAftftd soi.som (^ o \ i- tf.«ANT V < OAN 8.0TH. J' o y a; / A50UT ONE Mite. J -^^.„„ ^_i i^ rtJOM STRAVSSTOWftf. STRAWSSTOWN. STATfc ROAD TO HAMBUnSN NORTHKIIL CREEK. ^.ttt-tf H»i.». m ft«A!7 WE*fi PRESENT SITE OF FORT NORTHKILL. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 99 words ''Lord Jesus" (which they probably knew as the white man's name of the Great Spirit), when they stopped short, and uttered a hideous yell. The man ran with almost supernatural strength into the dense forest, and by taking a serpentine course, the Indians lost sight of him, and relinquished the pursuit. He hastened to an adjoining farm, where two German families resided, for assistance, but, on approaching near it, he heard the dying groans of the families, who were falling beneath the muderous tomahawks of some other Indians. Having providentially not been observed by them, he hasten- ed back to learn the fate of his daughters. But, alas ! on ar- riving within sight, he found his home and barn enveloped with flames. Finding that the Indians had possession here too, he hastened to another adjoining farm for help. Keturn- ing, armed with several men, he found the house reduced to ashes and the Indians gone. His eldest daughter had been almost entirely burnt up, a few remains only of her body be- ing found. And, awful to relate, the younger daughter though the scalp had been cut from her head, and her body horribly mangled from head to foot with the tomahawk, was yet living. "The poor worm," says Muhlenberg, "was able to state all the circumstances of the dreadful scene." After having done so she requested her father to stoop down to her that she might give him a parting kiss, and then go to her dear Saviour : and after she had impressed her dying lips upon his cheek, she yielded her spirt into the hands of that Eedeemer, who, though His judgments are often unsearchable, and His ways past finding out, has neverth'^less said, "I am the resurrection and the life, if any man believe in me, though he die yet shall he live." FOET NOKTHKILL.* Unpleasant as is the duty, it becomes necessary for me here to refer to the inaccurate positions of various forts, whose history has just been given or will presently be taken up, on the Historical Map of Pennsylvania, published by the *The site of this fort was marked by the Berks Co. Historical Society in 1915— Ed. 100 THE INDIAN FORTS Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1875. Fort Harris and Fort Hunter are correctly marked; Fort Manada and Eobin- son's Mill are at the right place but each on the wrong side of Manada Creek; Fort Henry at Swatara Gap is placed where Fort Swatara belongs, but also on the wrong side of the Swatara Creek; Fort Swatara as given on Swatara Creek is entirely wrong and should be obliterated; Six's Fort is cor- rect except that the name should be properly given as Fort Henry; Fort Northkill's position on the Tulpehocken Creek is altogether wrong, as it belongs at the base of the Blue Moun- tains just below the Fort at Dietrich Snyder's, which is right ; Fort Lebanon should be nearer the mouth of the Bohundy Creek and on the other side of the stream. The remaining forts are placed very nearly at their correct locations. At Lehigh Gap, however, the fort above the mountains has been omitted. It was on the north bank of the the Aquanshicola Creek, almost at the entrance of the Gap. With this digression we are prepared to follow along the mountains to the next station, called Fort Northkill, eleven miles distant from Fort Henry to the west, and equally dis- tant from Fort Lebanon to the east; that is to say. Fort Northkill was half way between its two neighbors. This state- ment practically explains its existence, which was owing to the fact that the rich and thickly populated county of Berks demanded for its protection more than the two forts which were twenty-two miles apart. Indeed the utmost vigilance of the garrisons in all three forts did not save its settlers from their merciless enemy, except in part. On Jany. 25th, 1756, Captain Jacob Morgan, in command of Fort Lebanon, above what is now Port Clinton, was ordered to leave twenty men at his fort and with the remaining thirty proceed "to some convenient place about half way be- tween that Fort and Fort at Tolihaio, and there to erect a stoccado of about 400 foot square, where he is to leave 20 men under a commiss'd officer and to return to Fort Leba- non, which he is to make his Headquarters and from that stoccado & form fort Lebanon, his men are to Kange and scour the woods both eastward and westward." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 547.) OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 101 In choosing the ground for the stockade he is to take care that there is no hill near it which will overlook or command it, from whence an enemy might annoy the people within, and also to see that there is a spring or running stream of water either in the fort or least within command of their guns. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 548.) The orders were duly carried out and the stockade erected, but evidently with somewhat less care than should have been exercised. Commissary James Young, when making his tour of inspection in 1756, has this to say of its shape and ap- pearance : June 20th, at 2 P. M., I set out from Beading, Escorted by 5 men of the town, on horseback, for the Fort at Northkill; at i past 6, we came to the Fort, it is ab't 19 miles from Kead- in, the Eoad very hilly and thick of wood; the Fort is ab't 9 miles to the Westw'd of Schuylkill, and Stand in a very thick Wood, on a small Kising Ground, half a mile from the middle Northkill Creek; it is intended for a square ab't 32 ft. Each way, at Each^ Corner is a half Bastin, of very little Service to Flank the Curtains, the Stoccades are very ill fixed in the Ground and open in many Places; within is a very bad Logg house for the people, it has no Chimney, and can afford but lit- tle shelter in bad weather; when I came here, the Serjant who is Commander, was absent and gone to the next plantation, half a mile off, but soon came, when he had intelligence I was there; he told me he had 14 men Posted with him, all De- tached from Capt. Morgan's Comp'y, at Fort Lebanon, 5 of them were absent by his leave, Vist. two he had let go to Beading for three days. One he had let go to his Own house, 10 miles off, and two more this afternoon, a few miles from the Fort, on their own business ; there was but Eight men and the Serjant on Duty. I am of opinion there ought 'to be a Com- mission'd Officer here, as the Serjant does not do his Duty, nor are the men under proper Command for want of a More Superior Officer; the woods are not Clear'd above 40 Yards from the Fort; I gave orders to cut all down for 200 y'ds; I inquired the reason there was so little Powder & Lead here, the Serjant told me he had repeatedly requested more of Capt. Morgan, but to no purpose. Provisions here. Flower 102 THE INDIAN FORTS and Eum, for 4 Weeks ; Mr. Seely, of Heading, sends the Officer money to purchase meal as they want it. — Provincial Arms & Ammun'tn at North Kill Fort, vizt: 8 Gd. muskets, 4 Eounds of Powder — Lead, pr. man, 15 Blankets, 3 Axes. The next day he left for Fort Lebanon, and upon his ar- rival there informed Captain Morgan that the Sergeant in command at Northkill was derelict in his duty, and requested him to send a commissioned officer to relieve him, whereupon his Lieutenant was detailed for that purpose, and started for the post accompanied by two additional men taking with them 4 pounds of powder and 10 pounds of lead. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 675-676.) In July Col. Weiser directs Capt. Morgan to order "Six men to range from the little Fort on Northkill westward to the Emericks, and stay there if the people unite to work together in their Harvest, Six men to range Eastward on the same footing. Eight men to stay in that Fort.'' (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 696.) From the foregoing we see that Fort Northkill was built by the Government troops in the beginning of February, 1756. We have just read a description of its size and appearance. Not very extensive and hastily constructed, it was never in- tended for more than a station, which it was absolutely neces- sary to sustain between the two large forts. From the journal of its commanding officer, which will follow in full, we notice that in the summer of 1757 preparations were made for the erection of a more substantial place of defense. It is very doubtful whether this latter was ever constructed, for in the beginning of March, 1758, as we will see presently, the stock- ade was abandoned. The position, now determined, corre- sponds precisely with the description given above of the origi- nal fort, and nothing is known of any other in that locality. It is possible, of course, that the new fort may have been built beside the other, although there is barely room on the little elevation on which it stood for that. The new fort, again, may have only meant a general putting in order of the old, but I am inclined to believe that the project of its erection was abandoned after it had been commenced, and that we have only OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 103 to deal with the original stockade. The maps herewith given will Illustrate its position. This is one of the very few forts of which any trace exists. The cellar is still visible, although now nearly drifted full with forest leaves. This is unquestionably owing to its iso- lated location. Its site is about two miles distant from Strausstown in Upper Tulpehocken township, Berks county, and about half a mile from one of the branches of the Northkill creek, from which it derives its name. It stood directly at the base of the mountains, and, even now, is still on the edge of the wood land. Its position, however, was good. It was but a short distance from the main. State road, and on slightly elevated ground which gave it a full view of the cultivated valley lying all around it. A small stream of water, emanat- ing from a spring, was close to it. At the time of the Indian troubles, as now the land was cultivated almost up to the fort, but, even now, as then, its site stands on the edge of waste mountain land, and it is owing to its undisturbed con- dition that some trace of it can still be seen. Mr. Jonathan Goodman, of Strausstown, a gentleman who in 1879 was nearly eighty years old, and who was born and lived all his life, time in that neighborhood, remembered that, in his younger days the stockades were still in position and higher than the ceiling of a room, and that the form of the fort could still be seen. (Indians of Berks County, D. B. Brunner, p. 23.) To this day the location of Fort Northkill is well known in and about Strausstown. Whilst it may have been a comparatively insignificant sta- tion, it was a most important one. We will see from its records that its garrison and officers were always most actively en- gaged. In fact they probably had more than their share of actual encounters with the savages. It would certainly be an ill-advised act not to erect a monument to mark the location of Fort Northkill. It should be placed on the site of the fort. A number of these interesting occurrences are, fortunately, on record, and their perusal will add much to the interest which attaches itself to this fort. One of these encounters is related in a letter from Lieut. Humphreys, in command, to Col. Weiser: 104 THE INDIAN FORTS Thursday, Nov. 4th, 1756. Fort above the Northkill. May it pleace the Colonel : Yesterday we were alarmed by a number of Indians, who came and took a Child away. Immediately upon hearing the News, I, with nine men, went in Pursuit of 'em, leaving a Number of Farmers to guard the Fort 'till we should return. But we found nothing 'till this morning, we went out again; and, in our Return to the Fort, we were apprized of 'em by the firing of several Guns; when I ordered my men to make what speed they could. We ran till we were almost out of Breath, and, upon finding Nicholas Long's House attack'd by the Indians, the Farmers, who were with us to the Number of Twenty, deserted and fled, leaving the Soldiers to Fight. We stood in Battle with 'em for several minutes 'till there was about Sixty Guns discharged and, at length, we put the In- dians to Flight. We have one Man wounded, and my Coat was shot through in four Places. The Number of the Indians was twenty. Our Number at first was twenty-four. But they all deserted and fled except seven. Two old men were killed before we came, one of whom was Scalped. Ten Women & Children were in the Cellar and the House was on Fire; But we extinguished it and brought the Women and Children to the Fort. I de- sire the Colonel to send me a Reinforcement; for the men solemnly say they will not go out with the Farmers, as they deserted in the Battle and never fired a Gun. The Indians cryed the Halloo during the Battle. We have one of their Guns and a Blanket, which had two Holes with a Bullet in, and is Bloody. The Indians had all red Hats and red Blankets. Sir, This in Distress (wanting Reinforcement) from Yours to command, SAMUEL HUMPHREYS. May it please the Colonel to send by the Bearer, Adam Hayerling, as much Powder and Lead as you can spare. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 28.) OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 105 Lieut. Humphreys also made his report to Capt. Morgan, who, in turn, on Nov'r 4th writes to Gov. Denny, giving him details of occurrences around Fort Lebanon, and this account of the fight at Northkill: "At 12 of the clock at Night I Kec'd an Express from Lieu't Humphres, Commander at the Fort at Northkill, who informed me that the same Day about 11 o'clock in the Fore- noon (about half a Mile from his Fort), as he was returning from his Scout, came upon a Body of Indians to the Number of 20 at the House of Nicholas Long, where they had killed 2 old Men and taken another Captive, and doubtless would have kill'd all the Familly, they being 9 Children in the House, the Lieut's party tho' 7 in number, fired upon the Indians and thought they killed 2, they dropping down and started up again, one held his Hand (as they imagined) over his Wound, and they all ran off making a Hallowing Noisejj. we got a Blanket and a Gun which he that was shot dropt in his Flight. The Lieut, had one Man shot through the right arm and the right side, but hopes not mortal, & he had 4 Shotts through his Own Cloaths. I this day went out with a party to burry the dead nigh here; we are all in high spirits here; if it would please his Honour to order Keinforcement at both Forts, I doubt not but we should soon have an Oppor- tunity of Kevenging the Loss." (Penn Arch., iii, p. 30.) It is gratifying to know that Lieut. Humphreys received at least a fair amount of credit for his gallant action. James Bead, Esq., in writing Nov. 7th, to Gov. Denny, observes that "By concurrent Accounts from several Persons, whose char- acter will not suffer me to doubt what they tell me, I am per- suaded that Mr. Humphreys behav'd in a most laudable Man- ner, and manifested that calm courage and Presence of Mind which will ever gain an Advantage over superior Numbers, whose Leader is too precipitate and void of Discretion" (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 36). Immediately upon receipt of this the Gov- ernor directs Capt. Morgan to "thank Lieutenant Humphreys and the men under him on my part for ye gallant Behaviour in the later Action ag't the Indians." (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 39.) The next record of events at Fort Northkill is the following 106 THE INDIAN FORTS copy of an interesting Journal kept by the officer in command, extending from the middle of June to September 1st, 1757, and fortunately preserved. I say in 1757, although the Penn. Archives, Vol. ii, page 159, speaks of it as a ^'Journal in 1754." This is simply impossible, and so evidently an error of some description as to hardly need comment. Suffice it to say that in 1754 the settlers were at peace with the Indians, at least in that vicinity, neither in 1754 were there such officers as Capt. Smith and Capt. Busse, both frequently mentioned, who were not commissioned until Nov., 1755, and Jan'y, 1756. It could not therefore be a "Journal of 1754." Neither was it written in 1755, because Fort Northkill of which it speaks and to which it unquestionably refers, was not built until Feby., 1756. It could not have been written from June to Sept., of 1756, because in June, 1756, Commissary James Young paid a visit of inspection to the fort, and, as we have seen, found there a sergeant in command, and made com- plaint of his inefficiency, recommending at the same time that a commissioned officer replace him, which was imme- diately done. The person who wrote this journal was un- questionably a commissioned officer. It could not possibly have been written in 1758, because we are told that in the beginning of March in that year the stockade had been aban- doned and partly demolished. It could only then have been in 1757, and the journal bears evidence of that fact in its contents. It will be recalled that during the latter part of May and beginning of June, 1757, it became necessary to reinforce Fort Augusta at Shamokin (Sunbury) and that three companies from Col. Weiser's battalion were ordered there for that purpose. We will also recall how the Forts in Berks county suffered for the lack of these troops, so much so, in fact, that Col. Weiser was obliged to order an officer and detachment from his own company at Reading to Fort Northkill (the rest of the company being ordered to Fort Augusta). This is distinctly specified in the Journal. The officer also says that he relieved Ensign Harry, whom we know to have been in command of Fort Northkill about this time, and probably immediately after Lieut. Humphreys. Moreover on Octo. 4, 1757, Col. Weiser in writing to Mr. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 107 Peters, tlie Governor's Secretary, says "Inclosed is the Jour- nal of last month of my Ensign at Northkill (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 283), most likely referring to the very one here given. A Journal of Fort Northkill, 1757. June 13. Keceived Orders from Lieutenant Colonel Weiser, to march from Beading with all the Company remaining there (the rest being commanded to Fort Augusta.) Accord- ingly I sat out from Eeading by Break of Day, on the 14th. Arrived at Lt. Col'l Weiser's where I rec'd Orders to march with the Company or Detachm't, to Fort Henry, and from there take a Detachm't of 20 Men, & .continue 'till to Fort Northkill. Accordingly on the 15th, In the morning took the said 20 men from Fort Henry of the New Levies and marched strait Way to the said Fort accompanied with Capt'ns Busse and Capt'ns Smith, as soon as I arrived I gave Ensign Harry (then Commander of said Fort) Notice of my Orders, and Sent off two Men immediately to the Colonels with a Eeport of the Condition I found the fort in, & sent him a List of the new Levies who were detached from Captain Busse's Fort with me to this Fort. 16th. Capt'ns Busse & Smith sat otf ab't 10 o'clock with a Scout of 10 men, which Capt'n Busse had ordered from his Company on the 15th. And Ensign Harry march'd out of the fort ab't 12 o'clock (after delivering it to me), with his Men to Fort Lebanon, according to Orders. Provision I found in the fort as follows, 5 lb Powder, 198 lb Flower, 10 Small Barrs of Lead, 15 lb of Beef and Pork, 34 lb Candles. 17. I, with a Corporal & 20 Men, according to Orders from Lt. Col'l Weiser, went a scouting & Banging the Woods till to Fort Lebanon, where We arrived ab't 2 o'clock in the Afternoon. We staid there all Night, being not able to scout any further, or return home because of a heavy Bain. 18. Sat off from Fort Lebanon in the morning being rainy Weather, and ranged the Woods coming back, as before, with the same number of men, & arrived at Fort on Northkill about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 19. Gave Orders to Serj't Pet'r Smith to Scout to Fort Lebanon & to bring me Beport the next Day of his Proceed- 108 THE INDIAN FORTS ings. Accordingly He arrived on the 20th ab't 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and made Eeport that He had done according to his Orders, and that He had made no Discoveries. Eec'd a Letter by him from Capt'n Morgan, informing me that He had no News, &c. 21. Sent off Corporal Shafer to scout as before. 22d. Minister Shumaker came & preached a Sermon to the Company. The scout arrived from Fort Lebanon. The Cor- poral reported that Nothing strange had come to his knowl- edge. A scout of Capt'n Busse's arrived about 11 o'clock, and ret'd ab't 4 towards their forts, but upon the Indian Alarms they immediately ret'd back to my fort and gave me Notice. In the midst' of the Rain, I sent on the first Notice, Serj't Smith, with 18 men, and ordered them to divide them- selves in two Parties. June 23d. Serj't Smith ret'd and made Eeport that he ar- rived at Dietz's House about 10 o'clock in the Night, where they heard a Gun go off at Jacob Smith's about a mile from there. They immediately sat off again for said Smith's to- wards the Place where the Gun went off, and Surrounded the House (according to my Orders). They searched all the House but found no marks of Indians. From there they marched to Falks House in the Gap, and surrounded it, but found no Indians. From there they went to the Mountain, and arived there at 2 o'clock in the morning, where Serj't Smith according to Orders, Waylay the Eoad in two Parties, and as soon as it was Day went back and buried the man that was killed, to wit, Peter Geisinger, who was shot, and killed the Day before. At Buruying him, they heard 5 Guns go off ab't 2 miles from said Place, whereupon Serj't Smith Im- mediately repaired to the Place, & divided themselves in two Parties (I had sent off Corporal Sheffer with 8 men on the 22d to their assistance) . Serj't Smith also makes Eeport that this Morning at 7 o'clock a Girl ab't 15 years. Daughter of Balser Schmidt, was taken Prisoner, by two Indians, whose Tracts they saw and followed, but to no Purpose. A Party of Capt'n Busse's Company went along from this and remained with my men all the Time. 15 or 16 of the Inhabitants came to OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 10& me and apply'd for assistance. I ordered out several De- tachm'ts to asist them. 24. I sat off with 20 men from this to Capt'n Busse's Fort along the mountain, & called at the Place where the Murder was committed. Went up as far as the Gap of the Moun- tain, but as I found no Tracts there, I thought the Indians would be on this Side the mountains, therefore I went up along the mountains without opposition, till to Capt'n Busse's Fort, and as it rained very hard all Day and We went far about. We arrived there towards the Evening. 25. Sat off in the morning with the same number of men, and scouted the Woods back near the same Way back again, and arrived towards Evening in the fort, being rainy Weather. 26. Rec'd in the morning a Letter, for my positive Orders not to neglect my scouting towards Fort Lebanon, accord- ingly immediately called in my Detachm'ts. This afternoon a Woman living ab't IJ miles from here, came to the fort, and said she had seen an Indian just now in her Field, almost naked, & had a Gun, but said she did not stay to look long. I immediately sent off Serj't Smith with 2 Parties, consisting of ab't 20 men. They searched the Place, and found nothing, but saw 2 Barefeet Tracks. They divided into small Parties & Scoured the Woods til Evening & then ret'd to the Fort, and as I had to Day but men sufficient to guard the fort, I sent out no scout. This evening Intelligence came to me from the Colonel's, informing me that He had notice from Capt'n Orndt of 15 Indians going to fall on this Settlement or here- abouts. He ordered me therefore immediately to Send Notice thereof to Capt'n Busse's Fort, in order that it might be from there conveyed to Fort Swatara, accordingly I did. June 27. Gave Orders to Serj't Smith to go scouting the Woods between this and fort Lebanon, and if Capt'n Morgan thought that it was serviceable, to range some Way up Schuyl- kill (as that Gap is their common Rendevouz). 28. A scout of Capt'n Busse arrived in the Forenoon, & sat off again this afternoon. 29. In the Evening there came two men to the Fort, and reported that the Indians had invaded about 6 miles from 110 THE INDIAN FORTS this, ab't 9 o'clock this morning, I was somewhat concerned that I had no sooner Intelligence of it, however, I immediately sent off 12 men under 2 Corporals. 30. About noon the 2 Corporals returned and made the fol- lowing Eeport. That Yesterday he could not reach the Place as they were tired, but staid at a House til nigh Break of Day, and then sat off again. He did not immediately go to the. Place where the man, &c., were killed, but went some- what further down towards Schuylkill, thinking that the In- dians had invaded lower down, but as it was not so, He took another Eout, towards Schuylkill, thinking that perhaps the Indians had invaded lower down, but as it was not so he took another Eout towards the place, where the murder was com- mitted, and as he came there, he found the Man's Wife (Fred. Myers) who had been at a Plough, and shot thro' both her Breasts, & was scalped. After that he went to look for the Man, whom they found dead & scalped some Way in the Woods. They took a Ladder & carried him to his Wife where the Neighbors came, & helped to bury them, after which they went towards the mountain, and scouted along the same & arrived here about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. It is reported by the Farmers who saw the deceased a short while before, that he was mowing in his Meadow, and that his Children were about him, which makes them Believe that the Man, after he heard the Shot (which killed his Wife) he went to run off with only the youngest Child in his Arms, as the Man was Shot thro' the Body, and the Child is IJ years of Age and is scalped, but yet alive, and is put to a Doctor's. The other three, who were with their Father, are taken Pris- oners; One of them is a Boy ab't 10 years old, the other a Girl of 8 years, & the other a Boy of 6 years. There was a Baby, whom they found in a Ditch, that the water was just to its Mouth. It was lying on its Back crying. It was taken up, and is like to do well. A Boy of one Eeichard, of Eight years, was taken Prisoner at the same time. This was all done within half an Hour, as some Nenghbors had been there in that Space of Time. July 1. Serj't Pet'r Smith ret'd with the Scout, and re- ported that when he came to Ft. Lebanon, Capt'n Morgan sent OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. Ill a Detaclim't under Ensign Harry to the Gap of the Schuyl- kill. And that on the 28th last past, they ascended the Moun- tains, and when they came on the other side, they found an encamping Place of the Indians, which, after Ensign Harry had surrounded with his Party, he sent off Serj't Smith with another Party to lay in ambush on the Indian Path all Night, but as nothing was to be heard of the Indians, they met again the next Day; The Indians, as he supposes, having left that Place the Day before. However, they found 2 Match Coats, one Spear, one Scalping Knife, some Virmilion, and 800 Blank Wampum, also a great variety of Salves. The 29th they yet lay in Ambush in several Parties, but all to no pur- pose. The Indians having without Doubt discovered them, in Case any was thereabouts. The 30th they sat off from the Hills, and arrived within a few Miles of this fort. And the 1 July, they arrived Accordingly in the Fort. July 2. Being rainy Weather I sent no Scout, but put the Men to work to repair the Stoccadoes. 3. Early in the Morning my Men were all gathered, & I ordered a Corporal to Scout with a Party to Fort Lebanon, & return part of the Way and encamp in the Woods upon a rising Ground, that He might the easier discover a fire. 4. In the Morning a Scout of Captain Busse's arrived & re- turned again in the Afternoon. The Scout from Fort Lebanon returned & the Corporal made Keport, that he had ranged* as directed but had made no Discoveries. 5. Being a very rainy Day, could send no Scout. 6. Sent Serj't Smith on a Scout to range on this Side the Mountains, towards Schuylkill. 7. A Scout of Capt'n Busse's arrived & set off again di- rectly. In the afternoon my Scout ret'd, but had no News. It rained hard, they lay in a House about 12 Miles from here. 8. Being appointed by his Honour the Govern'r a Day of Fast, I sent no Scout, but had a Sermon read in the fort, where numbers of the Neighbors had assembled. A Scout of Capt'n Busse's arrived & ret'd directly. 9. Sent off Corp'l Shefer with a Scout to Fort Lebanon, who ret'd on the 112 THE INDIAN FORTS 10. But brought no Intelligence. I rec'd Orders to repair to Reading, where I arrived this afternoon. 11. Returned again to the Fort, where Serj't Smith in- formed me a Scout of Capt'n Busse's had arrived at the fort & ret'd. That he had ranged the Gap about 2 Miles from this, and had been over the Mountains, but had discovered nothing. 12th. A Scout of Capt'n Busse's arrived & ret'd Immediately. Sent a Corporal and a Scout to Range to Fort Lebanon. 13. My Scout from Fort Lebanon returned. The Corporal reported he had ranged as ordered, but had no Discoveries. 14. Capt'n Busse arrived this morning with a Party of Capt'n Smith's and his own, to the Number of ab't 28. I gave him 15 of my Men, in order to escort the Treaty at Easton. 15. It being a rainy Day I sent no Scout. 16. Continuing rainy Weather, I could send no Scout. In the Evening repaired some Stoccadoes, the Rain having held up. 17. The Water being high & the Bushes wet, I could send no Scout to Day. A Scout of Capt'n Busse's arrived, there being no Water between his & this fort. 18. Sent a Scout along the Mountains. They arrived in the Evening & had no Intellig-ce. 19. A Scout of Captn. Busse's arrived and ret'd directly. Sent Serj't Smith with a Scout to Fort Lebanon. 20. Serj't Smith ret'd & reported that he had been at Fort Lebanon & ret'd some Part of the Way & laid in the Woods, but had made no fire. They made no Discovery. A Scout of Capt'n Busse's arrived & ret'd Instantly. 21. Having laid out part of my Men to protect the Farmers & the Rest fatigued with Yesterday's Scout, I could send none to Day. 22. Sent a Scout along the Mountain who ret'd without Discovering any Thing. July 23d. I went Scouting with a Party over the Moun- tains, and as it was very warm, I ordered the Men about Noon to rest themselves a Couple of Hours when We were over the Mountains, I then ordered them to march, and as We OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 113 came to Schuylkill, I saw it was too high for the Men to wade through. I then got Horses, & towards Evening We got over Schuylkill. We arrived at Fort Lebanon towards Night, & was obliged to stay there that Night. 24th. Eeturned, and as soon as We came over on this Side of the Mountains (it being early in the Day) I took quite an- other Kout thro' the Woods, but made no Discovery, so We arrived at the Fort in the Evening. I had not been there one half an hour befr. three Farmers came and informed me that this Morning the Indians had taken a Boy of about 14 Years Prisoner, but had done no other Damage. I immediately sent off a party, but as it happened, the Boy being taken Prisoner in the Morning, Night came on before my Men could get there. 25. In the Morning I heard the Boy had escaped, and that he made Eeport that there were 4 white Men & 4 Indians with him, & that At night he escaped, they had tied him and he was obliged to lay between them, but as they all got drunk, and fast asleep, he untied himself and ran off. He further says that when he was taken Prisoner he made a noise, and that they struck him & told him to be silent. I imagine they saw me with my Men go over the Day befr. yesterday. The Indians were this Night ab't the fort, but it was very dark, therefr, I did not sally out. 26. This morning sent out Serj't Smith, with 5 Men to search ab't the fort for Tracks, but he only found one which was in a muddy Place. But it being nothing but Stones, He could not follow the Tracts. It rained all Day very hard, therefr. I could send no Scout. July 27th. Sent a Scout down on this Side of the Moun- tain. The Scout ret'd in the Evening having no intelligence. 28th. A Scout of Capt'n Busse's arrived and ret'd ab't Noon ; Nothing Extraordinary happened. 29th. Sent Serj't Smith with a Scout along the Mountains. He ret'd having nothing particular. 30th. A Scout of Lt. Philip Weiser, from Cap't Busse ar- rived. Having laid aside out several Detachments to assist the Farmers, I could send no Scout to Day. 114 THE INDIAN FORTS 31. Lieut. Weiser ret'd from his Scout. I called in the De- tachm'ts this Day, and sent out a Scout which ret'd this Even- ing. Augt. 1st. The Men being tired & their Feet in Blisters, I let them rest this Day. 2d. Sent a Scout along the Mountains with Orders to range to Schuylkill. 3d. The Corporal ret'd from his Scout and reported he had ranged as ordered. 4. A Scout of Capt'n Busse's arrived & ref d the same Day. The Inhabitants desiring Assistance to bring in their Har- vest, I gave them some men & went altho' a scouting, but as I left few Men in the Fort, I ret'd this Evening. 5. A Scout of Capt'n Busse's arrived & went off aft'r they had rested awhile. Sent. Serj't Smith with a Scout & ordered him to range the Woods on this Side of the Mountains. He ret'd and had nothing particular. 6. Sent off a Scout. They went along on the foot of the Mountains & ret'd the Evening without any Intelligence. 7th. Being Sunday, I took a Party & went to Church with a Party, as the Church lies near the Mountain & the Minister could not come without a Guard. 8. The Centry fired at an Indian. The Indian stood be- hind a Bush ab't 300 Yards off, and was viewing the fort. I went off with 18 Men and parted them in 6 Parties and went after the Indians, but could not come up with them. Went to clearing ab't the fort, it being thick with Bushes. 9. Continued Clearing & burning Brush so that on the South Side of the Fort, it is cleared a full Musket Shot. A Party of Captain Busse's arrived. 10. Sent off a scouting Party, who ret'd and brought no Intelligence. This Night the Centry ab't an Hour after Dark perceived that a fire had been kindled to burn Brush, but was befr. Night gone out, began to burn afresh; upon which he called the Serjeant of the Guard, who perceiving the same ordered the Guard to fire, on which the Indians ran off. The Dogs pursued 'em, & kept barking after 'em, ab't half a Mile. I had the Men all under Arms; but everything being now quiet, dismissed 'em, ordering them to be in continual Eeadi- OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 115 ness with their Accoutrements on. In ab't an Hour, the In- dians ret'd and took a Firebrand out of the Fire & ran off. They were immediately fired on, but in vain. Aug. 11. Ensign Biddle arrived at the fort with the Detach- ment of our Company that were in Easton. 12. A Scout of Capfn Busse's arrived & ret'd directly. 13. This day I left the fort in Order to go to the Cols, agreeable to his Orders. I left Ensign Biddle in the fort. Sent a Corporal to range towards Schuylkill, who ret'd the same Evening & the Corporal reported that he ranged as di- rected and had made no Discoveries. A Scout of Capt'n Busse's arrived, & ret'd the same Evening. 14. Being Sunday, Minister Shumaker came here, & the Soldiers being fatigued with continual Scouting, there was no Scout to Day. 15. Ensign Biddle sent a Corporal with a Scout to range Eastwards towards Schuylkill & return under the Mountains. The Scout ret'd towards Evening, & the Corporal made Ke- port, he had ranged as directed, and had no Intelligence. 16. Sent an express Serjeant with 15 Men to range East- ward along the Mountain. A Scout of Capt'n Busse's ar- rived & ret'd immediately. In the Afternoon, the Scout ret'd. The Serj't made Eeport he had ranged as directed, but had no news. 17. Early this Morning Ensign Biddle sent Serj't Smith with 10 men to escort Lieut. Col. Weiser, who was expected here this Day. This Day Col'l Weiser arrived, accompanied with Capt'n Busse and myself, together with the said Escort. The Col'l returned the same Day homewards, after We had chosen a place where to build a New Fort. Ensign Biddle went along with Capt'n Busse. 18. Sent off a Scout to Fort Lebanon, and ordered them to range the Woods between here & that fort till Night. 19. The Scout ret'd ab't 4 o'clock & informed that he had done according to his Orders. Capt'n Morgan came with the Scout and ret'd the same Evening. 20. Sent a Scout of 15 Men to range the Woods towards Schuylkill, into Windsor Township, & with Orders to call in 116 THE INDIAN FORTS some Detachments lying in said Township, according to Lieut. Col's Orders. 21. The Scout ret'd with the Detachm'ts. The Corporal re- ported he had done according to his Orders, but had no News. The same day Capt'n Busse & Ensign Biddle arrived from Fort Henry. Captain Busse ret'd the same Evening. 22d. Kece'd an Express from Lieut. Col'l Weiser, with Orders to come to his House. In Pursuance of which, I sat off im- mediately, leaving Ensign Biddle in the fort. 23d. A Scout of Capt'n Busse arrived. The Centrys heard the Indians distinctly whistle this Night in the fort Woods. 24. Ensign Biddle, acording to Orders, with a Scout of 20 Men, went over the Mountains to Captain Morgan's Fort. 25. Lieut. Philip Weiser came here from Fort Henry, with a Scout. 26. Ensign Biddle ret'd from his Scout, having been at Cap't Morgan's Fort, & from thence scouted over the Moun- tains into Allemangle & from thence along the foot of the Mountains till here. This Day I also arrived in the fort from Lt. Col'l Weiser's. 27. Having Orders from Lt. Col'l Weiser's to look out for a proper Place to build a new fort, this being so bad^ I began to lay out one on a spot which had been befr. pitched upon by the Colonel and Capt'n Busse, But night coming. We could not finish. 28. Laid out the remaining Part of the fort. 29. Had some Brush cut, round the new intended fort, till Evening. 30. Sent off a Scout towards Schuylkill. They ret'd in the Evening, but made no return with the remaining party of the Men. I continued clearing & burning of Brush. 31. Sent off Serj't Smith with a scouting Party, towards Schuylkill. He ret'd but made no Discovery. After this there seems to have been more or less irregu- larity with regard to the occupation of Fort Northkill. Prob- ably the Government was already considering the matter of its abandonment, in connection with the plan of consolidating the various defences into a fewer number. It would seem as OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 117 if the officer writing the above Journal was ordered away, with his command, in the beginning of September, because in a letter of Octo. 1st, 1757, to Gov. Denny, Col. Weiser says that Captain Oswald, who commanded a company of regular troops, from the Koyal American Kegiment, stationed at Bead- ing, sent immediately two Lieutenants, with 40 Privates, to the assistance of the people about Northkill who were in distress, which could hardly have been the case if the Fort had been still garrisoned. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 277). James Burd, in his Journal of inspection, Feby., 1758, visit- ed Fort Henry and directed its commander to continue rang- ing to Fort Northkill on the East. He also visited Fort Leba- non, or Fort William as then called, found Lieut. Humphreys and Ensign Harry there, and likewise directed its commander to patrol to Fort Northkill on the west. He paid no visit to Fort Northkill. This would indicate, without much doubt, that the Fort was no longer occupied by a regular body of soldiers, under the command of a commissioned officer, as here- tofore, although it is possible that detachments many have still temporarily taken possession of it. By March, 1758, it was completely abandoned as shown in the following petition to Gov'r Denny from Berks county, and its history ceases: March 15, 1758. The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Township of Bern and parts adjacent in the County of Berks in the said Province, Sheweth ; That from the beginning of the Indian Incursions into this Province, the Neighborhood wherein your Petit'rs live hath been frequently harass'd by the Enemy, and numbers of their Neighbours cruelly murder'd, others captivated, and many of your petit'rs obliged to fly from their Dwellings to avoid the same Unhappy fate, to their unspeakable Terror and Distress. That during this winter the Severity of Weather hath prevented those Barbarians from committing their wonted Cruelties ; but as the Snow is now melting, and the weather is growing fair, your Petitioners are every moment dreading an attack from the Enemy, and find themselves less secure than heretofore. 118 THE INDIAN FORTS from their attempts, as the Blockhouse at Northkill is de- stroyed and no Garrison kept in those parts. Your Petitioners, in the deepest Distress, implore your Honour's Protection, and most earnestly beg that they may not be left a Prey to the Savage Enemy, protesting that with- out Assistance from the Public, they are utterly unable to defend themselves, and must on the first attack, abandon their Habitations, and rather embrace the most extreme poverty than remain subject to the merciless Kage of those bloody murderers; And that they have the greatest Keason to expect an Attack is obvious from the many former Suc- cessfull attempts of the Enemy, three or four Indian Paths leading into their Neighborhood. Your Petit'rs therefore most humbly beg your Honour to compassionate their miserable Circumstances, and order Soldiers to be Stationed for their Defence in some of the most exposed Farm Houses, or take such other effectual Measures for their Security and Protection as to your Honour's Wisdom shall seem meet. And as in duty bound they will every pray, &c. (Here follow the signatures in German.) (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 361). Besides the occurrences already mentioned, the Penn'a Ga- zette of May 19 1757, says 'We have an account from Fort Babel (Northkill) that on Friday last, a boy was killed and scalped; and another who had the small pox, was dangerously wounded by the Indians, within a mile and a half of said fort. Lieut. Humphreys went out, but could find nothing of the enemy. The wounded lad says, he saw but two Indians, one was painted black, the other red; they cut him badly, but would not scalp him for fear of the infection, as is supposed." The same paper in its issues of Octo. 6 and 13, 1757, men- tions about four persons being killed and four made prisoners near the Northkill, by a party of Indians, supposed to be about fifty. In April, 1758, at Tulpehocken, a man by the name of Lebenguth and his wife were killed and scalped. At North- OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 119 kill, Nicholas Geiger's wife and two of his children were killed; and also Michael Ditzelar's wife was killed — these were all scalped. The Indians divided themselves into small parties, and surprised the settlers unawares. (0. Sauer's Ger- man Paper, April 1758). Hon. D. B. Brunner, in his Indians of Berks County, p. 23, speaks of seeing, in Nov'r, 1879, an interesting relic consist- ing of an old chest, the property of Mr. John W. Degler, who lived a short distance from Fort Northkill on a farm, settled by his great grandfather before the Indian War. Old Mr. Degler, who possessed the virtues of honesty, kindness, gen- erosity and hospitality, was on excellent terms with the In- dians, who frequently visited him, and to whom he always gave food and such other things as they might need. When the war broke out, and the Indians began murdering his neighbors, although he had not, as yet, been molested Mr. Degler feared treachery and moved his family in close prox- imity to the fort. The Indians, seeing this, believed he had become hostile to them and joined their enemies, so they at once proceeded to his home, ransacked the house, and de- molished things generally. Amongst these things was the chest in question, which was of cedar, unpainted, and pro- tected on the edges with iron. This was split completely through the midflle. It was afterwards repaired by placing small iron bands around the ends, but the lid still remained in two pieces. The chest. bears the date 1757, at which time it is presumed the Indians committed the deed just mentioned. FORT AT DIETRIGH SNYDER'S.* No mention is made of this fort in the old records. It is, however, properly given on the Historical Map of Pennsyl- vania. In reality it was no fort, but merely a settler's log house used as a lookout station. It will be recalled that no gap exists in the mountains between Swatara Gap and the Schuylkill Gap. Whilst the enemy generally made use of these natural passages, they also, not infrequently, crossed *The site of this fort was marked by the Berks County Historical Society In 1915.— Ed. 120 THE INDIAN FORTS directly over the mountains, especially when they could take advantage of a roadway leading over them. Such was the case in this instance. Not far distant from the locality of Fort Northkill is a road leading over the mountain to Potts- ville, the only one in that vicinity. On this road, at the top of the Blue Mountains, on one of its most conspicuous points, Dietrich Snyder had built for himself a one story log house, about 20x40 feet. From this a view of the surrounding coun- try could be had, and the approach of marauding parties of savages, easily discovered by the trail of buring farm houses in their tracks, reported at once to the commander of Fort Northkill which stood but a mile and half, or two miles, below them. Then again this building, properly garrisoned, com- manded the road over the mountains. Its advantages were so great that it is hardly likely they would have been overlooked, and we have good reason to presume that soldiers occupied the house. To corroborate this fact, Mr. D. B. Brunner was told, in 1879, by Mr. Jonathan Goodman, of Strausstown, an old gentlemen thoroughly familiar with the place, that a fort was located there. Mr. Henry Brobst, of Eehrersburg, a gentlemen 73 years old, also well acquainted with the vicinity informed me that, upon the death of Dietrich Snyder his wife still re- mained in the old house. She lived to be 115 years old. Upon her death the property was sold to a Mr. Millar, who tore down the old building and erected a new hotel, now owned by Mr. Harry Nine, which is still standing. The old blockhouse stood a short hundred yards directly north of the hotel. Mr. Brobst was acquainted with Mrs. Snyder and frequently saw the old building. Mr. Jos. Potteiger, of Strausstown, 65 years old, corroborated Mr. Brobst's statement, and added that the house was boarded inside and not plastered. FOKT LEBANON (AND WILLIAM).* Not far distant from Fort Northkill to the East is the im- portant gap in the mountain made by the Schuylkill Elver, where Port Clinton now stands. Some six miles north of *Marked by Mahantongo Chapter, D. A. R., 1913. ._.oV9« ox ~>~ :i * f ' ^ < o W I . ^ ' 5 / ■^ X Oi "- /. - ^» /S' ' tx- <«: w |5 < ll «- « \ ^^ Z -J ■ .. \ \\ \p^>^ 5» s S <_> ^_^ '^ 5> S 5 t^ nj ii* \^si 1 ^1 r^ 1 »' « x^ ^ 1 m 2 ''^ % "1 IS s \« S 'h\ ^ ■ 11 -o \ « * r» ] / / » u. I ,_ ._ A <» " •'• . ' _ , ■ ^ •«"• — l\ 3 sn . ^ y •^_J ■ f* . y: ^ X i3 ot ^ / "^u. o o / :? vi ■: ^"^ { 2 o at ' ' . y s I o => o \ 2 -; \ / •<</ • - . J> ' \ "' « \^ o ^ >^ w^ fi. -» « o n y • «> fcj / -h4^ " - ^4^t4^H^^y^ N3<i / •^^^'^ n,.n^^^'' N >i n 9 n y • _ ^'^ > '* * ■ .-, .,. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 121 Port Clinton is the town of Auburn, and about 1^ miles east of Auburn stood Fort Lebanon, distant eleven miles from Fort Northkill, by the route usually taken, which was along the northern base of the Blue Kange, then across the moun- tain. This fort, during the latter part of its history, was also called Fort William. The first mention made of it is in a letter of instructions sent by Gov. Morris to Col. Weiser, on January 25, 1756, in which he speaks of having ordered "Captain Jacob Morgan,* who is posted at a fort in the forks of Schuylkill, called fort Lebanon," to take twenty men and build Fort Northkill. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 547). The order, itself, as sent Capt. Morgan, is dated January 26th, 1756, and begins, "As you are Captain of a Company of foot in the pay of this Province, now posted in a fort in the forks of Schuylkill, I think it necessary to give you the follow- ing Orders and Instructions for your better government and direction, (in the execution of the trust reposed in you. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 555). Then follows the order relative to Fort Northkill. When writing to Col. George Washington, February 2, 1756, Gov. Morris mentions "Fort Lebanon, in the Forks of Schuyl- *Captain Jacob Morgan was boru in the district or shire of Caernarvon, in the northern part of Wales, in 1716, and emigrated with his father, Thomas Morgan, to Pennsylvania some time previous to 1730. In connection with a colony of Welsh people they migrated up the Schuylkill Valley from Philadelphia to the mouth of the French creek, and thence along its waters and beyond until they reached the headwaters of the Cone.«!toga creek, in Caernarvon township of Berks County, where they settled. The tract of land taken up by Thomas Morgan was in the vicinity of the present Morgantown, which was laid out by Jacob in 1770, and named after the family. At the outbreak of the Revolution, although nearly 60i years of age, he at once became very prominent, and retained this position until his death. In June, 1776, re was re-elected to represent Berks county as a delegate to the Provincial Conference, and in July following as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. In 1777, upon the creation of that office, he was appointed Lieutenant of the county, being selected from a number of prominent and influential citizens. He filled this office with great credit until his resignation in December, 1780. He officiated as a judge of the county for the years 1768, 1769, 1772, and from 1774 to 1777, also as a justice of the peace for the southern district of Berks county, which in- cluded Caernarvon township from 1777 to 1791. He was a man of great courage, and a most distinguished citizen of his adopted county and State. He died at Morgantown on November 11, 1792, at the age of 76 years, and was buried in the graveyard of St. Thomas Episcopal Church of that place. He left two sons, Jacob and Benjamin, and three daughters, Sarah (married to Jenkins), Mary (married to Nicholas Hudson), and Rebecca (married to John Price, an attorney at Reading). 122 THE INDIAN FORTS kill," as being one of the forts erected East of the Susque- hanna. (Penn. Arch, ii., p. 565). The date when this defense was built is not given, but, on January 25, 1756, it is already mentioned as in existence. Knowing, as we do, that the Indian depredations did not reach this vicinity until about November, 1755; knowing also that the Fort was built by the Government as one of the chain of defenses erected about November, 1755, and then too, know- ing that Capt. Morgan, its commander and undoubtedly its first commander, was not commissioned until December 5, 1755, we are entirely justified in saying that it came into ex- istence during the month of December, 1755, and we have good reason to think that it was built by Capt. Morgan, and his soldiers. Fortunately we have this description of the fort, which tends to prove the correctness of my reasoning : Description of Fort Lebanon, 1756. Fort Lebanon, about 24 miles from Gnadenhutten (Fort Allen at Weissport), in the Line to Shamokin (Sunbury). Fort, 100 Foot Square. Stockades, 14 Foot high. House within built 30 x 20, with a large Store Room. A Spring within. A Magazine 12 Foot Square. On a Barren not much Timber about it. 100 Families protected by it within the new Purchase. No Township. Built in three weeks. Something considerably given by the neighbors toward it. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 665). It was one of the larger and more important forts. Commissary James Young has this to say of it during his tour of inspection : elune 21st, 1756 — Accordingly we sett out for Fort Lebanon (from Fort Northkill) ; all the way from North Kill to Lebanon is an Exceeding bad road, very Stony and mountanus. About 6 miles from North kill, we Crossed the North Mountain, where we met Captain Morgan's Lieut, with 10 men. Ranging OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 123 the woods between the Mountain and Fort Leb'n ; we past by two Plantations, the Rest of the Country is Chiefly Barren Hills, at noon we came to Fort Lebanon, which is situated in a Plain, on one side is a Plantation, on the other a Barren Pretty Clear of Woods all round, only a few trees about 50 yards from the Fort, which I desired might be cut down. This Fort is a square of ab't 100 ft well staccoded with good Bastians, on one side of which is a Good Wall Piece, within is a good Guard house for the People, and two other Large houses built by the Country people who have taken refuge here, in all 6 Families. The Fort is a little too much Crowded on that acc't; I acquainted Cap't Morgan that the Serjeant at Northkill did not do his Duty, and I believ'd it would be for the good of the Service to have a Com'd Officer there, on which he ordered his Lieu't, with two more men to go and take post there, and sent with him 4 lbs Powder & 10 R) Lead. Provincial Arms & Ammun'tn: 28 G'd Muskets, 10 wanting Repair, 9 Rounds of Powder & Lead, 4 lb Powder, 24 lb Lead, 30 cartooch boxes, 40 Blankets, 1 Axe, 1 Wall Piece. By Capt. Morgan's Journal, it appears, he sends a Party to Range the woods 4 or 5 times a week, and Guard the In- habitants at their Labor. At 1 P. M. I mustered the People and Examined the Certificates of Inlistments which appear in the muster Roll, after which I ordered the men to fire at a Mark, 15 of 28 hit within 2 foot of the Center, at the Distance of 80 yards. Provisions here : Flower and Rum for a Month ; the Commissary sends them money to Purchase meal as they want it. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 676.) On July 11th, 1756, Col. Weiser writes to Gov. Morris that his orders to Capt. Morgan, with regard to the garrison at Fort Lebanon, are that 15 men shall stay in Fort Lebanon, 8 men protect the people over the hill in harvest time, 10 men range constantly eastward or westward, and, if the people return to their plantations thereabouts, to protect those that first join together to do their work. (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 696.) I think it is well to give at this time a sketch showing the location of Fort Lebanon. Fort 'Lebanon stood on what is now the farm of Lewis Mar- burger, on the north side of the road between Auburn and 124 THE INDIAN FORTS Pine Dale, about 1^ miles from each. In the olden time this was not much more than a path, but still the line of communi- cation between the East, West and South. We are told that there was a spring inside of the fort. There are still traces of an old spring (now dry) some 15 feet back of the oak tree which stands on the south side of the road immediately oppo- site the site of the fort. It is more than likely that the old road did not run exactly as the present one. It may have been somewhat nearer the creek, and the fort may have ex- tended across the present road so as to include the spring mentioned. It is also possible that another spring may have been north of the road, and inside of the fort, which has long since dried up and disappeared, but of such an one the people know nothing. This position of the fort, besides agreeing with all records extant, comes from a most authentic source. Mr. Thos. J. Ebling, 56 years old, now living on his farm about f mile east of the fort, is a son of Gideon Ebling, who died in 1893, about 80 years old, and a grandson of John Ebling, who died 40 years ago, aged 85 years. Mr. Thomas Ebling was born in an old blockhouse, which was burned down some 30 years ago and which stood about 50 feet from the road, back of where Jared Wagner's house is at this time. I have marked its site on the map. Paul Heim lived in it during the Indian troubles, when it was used as a house of refuge. It was planked inside with heavy timbers. At one time Mr. Heim saved a family near him from being burned to death. The Indians had set the building on fire and fastened the door to prevent any one from getting out. Hearing of this, Mr. Heim jumped on his white horse, took his gun, and managed to draw the enemy off, or frighten them away. He then returned and rescued* the people before the house was destroyed. Mr. Thomas Ebling is an intelligent man, as was also his father, Gideon Ebling, recently deceased. Outside parties testify to this fact also, and say that he retained all his facul- ties until his death. He delighted to tell about occurrences that happened in the past. His widow, a very old lady, lives yet. The grandfather, John Ebling, was personally acquainted with Paul Heim, of whom we have just read. Mr. Thomas OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 125 Ebling says that both his father and grandfather frequently showed him the place where the fort stood and told him about it. They told him that it measured one hundred feet from the road north, which is verified by the official report previously given, and that they had frequently ploughed up grubbing hoes, stones, etc., used in the construction of the fort. This position was corroborated by the statement of people at Pine Dale. Mr. Ebling was moreover told by his father and grandfather that the soldiers obtained their water from the spring at the oak tree. About 75 feet west of the oak tree* there still remains a part of the stump of a tree near an apple tree in which quite a number of bullets have been found. The soldiers were probably in the habit of firing at it as a mark. The fort stood about 60 yards west of the road to Port Clinton, which there crosses Pine creek by a bridge. It is about the same distance north of Pine creek. The ground is level and somewhat elevated, falling down to the creek just below the oak tree. Pine creek is the old Bohundy creek, and it is not long since that a boat plying on the canal at Auburn was called the "Bohonto" after it. Of the old fort nothing remains, except a hollow place in the field, 20 feet north of the road, which marks the location of the cellar. Just to the north of the bridge, about midway on that part of the road which runs north and south, and on the west side of the road, tradition has it that an Indian was buried. Fort Lebanon was unquestionably of much importance, occupying or rather commanding the Schuylkill Gap. A monu- ment should certainly be erected to mark its position. I would recommend that it be placed by the public road, immediately opposite the oak tree and fronting the site of the fort. The location of the fort being now defined, we can the more intelligently turn to the record of events which are given as having transpired in its vicinity. The first mention is in the following report made by Cap- tain Morgan to Gov. Denny: 126 THE INDIAN FORTS Jacol) Morgan to Gov. Denny, 1756. November Fourth, 1756. Hon'd Sir, Yesterday Morning at Break of Day, one of ye Neighbours discovered a Fire at a distance from him; he went to ye top of another Mountain to take a better Observation, and made a full Discovery of Fire, and supposed it to be about 7 miles off, at the House of John Finsher; he came and informed me of it; I immediately detach'd a party of 10 Men (we being but 22 men in the Fort) to the place where they saw the Fire, at the said Finsher's House, it being nigh Skulkill, and the Men anxious to see the Enemy if there, they ran through the Water and the Bushes to the Fire, where to their disappointment saw none of them, but the House, Barn, and other out houses all in Flames, together with a Considerable Quantity of Corn ; they saw a great many tracks and followed them, came back to the House of Philip Culmore, thinking to send from thence to alarm the other Inhabitants to be on their Guard, but instead of that found the said Culmore's Wife and Daughter and Son-in Law all just kill'd and Scalped ; there is likewise missing out of the same House, Martin Feirs Wife and Child about 1 Year old, and another Boy about 7 Years of Age, the said Martin Fell was Him that was kiird, it was just done when the Scouts came there, and they seeing the Scouts ran off. The Scout divided in 2 partys, one to some other Houses nigh at Hand, & the other to the Fort, (it being within a Mile of the Fort) to inform me; I immedi- ately went out with the Scout again, (and left in the Fort no more than 6 men) but could not make any diso every, but brought all the Famileys to the Fort, where now I believe we are upwards of 60 Women and Children that are fled here for refuge, & at 12 of the Clock at Night I Kec'd an Express from Lieut. Humphres, commander at the Fort of Northkill, who informed me that the same Day about 11 o'clock in the Forenoon, (about a Half a Mile from his Fort) as he was re- turning from his Scout, came upon a Body of Indians to the Number of 20 at the House of Nicholas Long, where they had killed 2 old Men and taken another Captive, and doubtless would have kilPd all the Familey, they being 9 Children in OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 127 the House, the Lieut's party tho' 7 in Number, fired upon the Indians and thought they killed 2, they dropping down and started up again, one held his Hand (as they imagined) over his Wound, and they all ran off making a hallowing Noise; we got a Blankett and a Gun which he that was shot dropt in his Flight. The Lieut, had one Man shot through the right Arm and the right side, but hopes not mortal, & he had 4 .Shotts through his Own Oloathes. I this day went out with a party to bury the dead nigh here; we are all in high spirits here; if it would please his Honour to order a Keinforcement at both Forts, I doubt not but we should soon have an Oper- tunity of Kevenging the loss, from Honour'd Sir your most Humble Serv't to Command, JACOB MORGAN. Fort Lebanon, Wednesday, the 4th of November, at 3 of the Clock, post Miridian. To the Honourable William Denny, Esq'r, Lieut. Governour and Commander in Chief of the Province of Pennsyl'a, and County of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex, on Delaware. The Humble Petition of Jacob Morgan, Cap'n. Commander at Fort Lebanon, most Humbly sheweth : That having two Forts belonging to one Company, and my Men to the Number of 19 was drafted from me, being total but Fifty-Three, Your Petitioner thinks himself too weak to be of any Service to the Frontiers, seeing the Enemy com- mits violet Outrages nigh the Forts; as Yesterday, the 3d of November, I found 3 Persons Scalped, and their is 3 more missing within a Mile of Fort Lebanon, & 2 Men killed and one took Captive within J Mile of the Fort at Northkill, and dangerous it is to keep ye Forts if their was a Superiority in Number to besiege them, So your Petitioner in Humility begs that your Honour would take ye Premising into Con- sideration, & do as it shall seem meet or expedient to your Honour, which is in distress from him that for your Honour shall ever Pray. JACOB MORGAN. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 30). 10 128 THE INDIAN FORTS This was sent by express to Col. Weiser, tlien in Philadel- phia, with the request that he present it to the Governor after his own perusal of its contents. The express passed through Beading and of course told the news, leaving, at the same time, a letter from James Read, Esq., who chanced to be ab- sent at Lancaster. Upon his return he likewise writes to the Governor giving him an account of the occurrences at Fort Lebanon. He says, ^'What I can gather from a Person who was near Fort Lebanon, (where Captain Morgan is Stationed) at the Burial of the People kill'd thereabouts is. That on Wednesday last, about noon, a Party of Savages came to the farm of one Jacob Finsher, about Six miles from that Fort, and set Fire to his House, Barn, and Barracks of Corn and Hay; upon first notice whereof, Captain Morgan detach'd ten men from his Fort, and soon after followed with a few more, who, as they were returning from their Pursuit, not having met any Enemy, found Pinchers Barn, &c. consumed, and at Martin Fell's House, about a Mile from the Fort, found Mar- tin and his Wife's Sister and her Mother scalp'd, the young woman being not yet quite dead, but insensible, and Stuck in the Throat as Butchers kill a Pig; she soon died, and was buried with the others. Martin's Wife, and two Children, one about a Twelve month, the other about Seven years old, were carried off Captives. By a Gentleman who left Fort Lebanon yesterday afternoon, I hear that Sixty Women and Children have fled into it for Refuge, and several Families have come further into the Settlements, with their Household Goods & Stock. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 36). On June 24th, 1757, Captain Morgan writes : ^^On Wednesday last we were alarmed by one of the neigh- bours that came to the Fort, and acquainted us that one Jno. Bushy had seen an Indian at his house, (which was about 3 miles from Fort Lebanon). I immediately went out with a party of men to the place where we found the tracts of three, but could not see any of them. Yesterday morning about 8 of the clock, the son of one Adam Drum, (whom the Indians had killed the night before in AUemingle, and took the Son Captive) found an oppor- OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 129 tunity to make his Escape, and came to the Fort; he informed me that the Indians, (8 in number) had got a quantity of Liquor out of his Fathers House, and came to a Hill about 7 miles from the Fort, where they got a dancing, and made themselves drunk, he took the opportunity and escaped to the Fort, the Indian followed him near a mile and half whom our men afterwards tract'd; so as soon as the young man came I sent out a party to the place where the man left them, but when they came there they only found an old pair of Moga- sins, and a Deer Skin whom they had left, but the Indians were fled; they tract'd them as far as they could but night coming, obliged them to return home. I have this Day sent out a Party to intercept them in the way, to the Gap of the second Mountain, (where Schuylkill comes through) being the place which I often found where they retreat back; the men will range about 2 days." (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 190). A portion of the guard which attended Col. Weiser at Easton, during the conference with the Indians in July, 1757, came from Fort Lebanon. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 218). The Governor, or Col. Weiser, seems to have given instruc- tions to the various commanding officers of the forts that they should keep a daily record of events and duties per- formed at their stations. We have several of these preserved. Amongst them is the Journal of Capt. Morgan for the month of July, 1757, which now follows: Monthly Journal for July, per Jacoh Morgan, 1757. July the 1st. Sent a Corporall with 11 men on a Scout to Clingaman Hausaboughs, at AUemingle, who staid all Night; sent Serj't Mathews with several men to Beading, to be Quali- fyed & be supplied with necessaries. 2d. The Scout return't from AUemingle, and reported they had made no discovery of the Enemy. 3d. Sent a party to range to AUemingle, same date came a Scout from Northkill Fort & return'd again the same day, bringing no news. 4th. Our men returned to AUemingle, and reported, that some of the inhabitants that were afraid, near the mountain. 130 THE INDIAN FORTS were removing downwards; Serj't Matthews returned with the men from Reading, the rest guarding at the Fort. 5th, 6th, 7th. Was exceeding heavy rain, & the water very- high. 8th. Being a day of Humiliation we appl'd our selves there- to. 9th. Rainy weather, we could not Scout. 10th. I sent out a party to range to Allemingle; this Day Serj't Matthews return' t from Colonel Weisers, with orders for me to station 10 men in Windsor Township, & to keep 10 men in readiness to go to Easton. 11th. The Scout return'd back, I prepared the men in readi- ness according to orders, & sent some men to guard the Farmers in their Harvest. 12th. I went with the 10 men to Windsor Township & sta- tioned them there, where I found the most proper. In the Evening was very heavy rain & thunder, obliged me to stay all night; we sent some partys from the Fort to guard the farmers. 13th. I returned in the morning to the fort, I received a Letter from Lieut. Colonel Weiser, to send 10 men to Easton to Guard at the Treaty; partys went to Guard the Farmers, & this Day, in my return, I met the Scout which I had posted in Windsor township, ranging about the farmers houses. 14th. I sent Serj't Matthews with 9 men to Easton to the Treaty to Guard, & sent out some partys to range and Guard the Farmers, who did return in the Evening by reason of the heavy rain and thunder, which fell in the Evening. 15th. Being all Day very heavy rain, & the Creeks so high that Schuylkill rose perpendicular fifteen feet in about nine hours time, being considerable higher than ever was known in these parts; the Guards could not return, and we remained in the Fort, with only 8 men to Guard. 16th. The rain continued but more moderate, our partys could not return, we staid in the Fort and Guarded as usual ; the party ranging up Long Run among the vacant houses, they found old tracts but none new. 17th. Some of our Guards returned, being relieved by others in their lieu — the Creeks fell very much this Day. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 131 18th. I sent a party to Guard the farmers at their Harvest, and left some at the neighboring houses, the rest to Guard at the Fort. 19th. I likewise sent a party to guard who returned in the Evening, the residue guarding at the Fort. 20th. I sent out two partys to range and Guard the Farmers, who both returned in the Evening. 21st. I likewise sent out a party to Guard, we were adver- tis'd by Jacob Shefer that an Indian was seen near his house, we having 2 men ranging there they saw nothing of their tracts, & believe it was a mistake. 22d. Sent out a party to range to the Fort, at Northkill, with Ensign Harry for Ammunition, who staid all night, the rest guarding at the Fort and farmers. 23d. The party from North Kill return'd with a Command of Cori Weiser's men, with Lieut. Weiser himself, who staid here all Mght; sent out a party to Guard the Farmers, who return'd in the Evening to the Fort. 24th. Lieut. Weiser retun'd with his Company, sent a party of ten men to relieve the party in Windsor township; the rest to Guard. 25th. The party return'd from Windsor township to the fort, when a party of them enlisted for three years. 26th. Sent Serj't Eobert Smith with a Company of men to Beading to be Qualifyed, and being but a few at the fort could not range; have two Commands at the Farmers. 27th. I went down to Windsor among the men to see whether they kept good orders; I found everything very well, and enlisted more men and staid there all Night, the Com- mand remaining at the Farmers. 28th. I returned back to the fort and found everything well ; Serj't Smith, with his party, returned from Heading, the guard remaining still with the Farmers. 29th. Ensign Harry went out with a party to range among the farmers, and sent out two partys to Guard the Neigh- bours at their Harvest; they return'd without any discovery or signs of the Enemy. SQth. I went over the Hill to Windsor township, in order to 132 THE INDIAN FORTS send some men to Reading to be Qualifyed, I sent a Corporall with Sixteen men; I return'd in the Evening to the fort. 31st. The party return'd from Reading; we had partys at the neighbouring houses, who remained there on Guard (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 252). As we have already learned, Captain Morgan was in com- mand of Fort Lebanon. He was its first commanding officer and retained the position. His commission was dated Decem- ber 5, 1755. Andrew Engel was his Lieutenant at that time, commissioned January 5, 1756, and Jacob Kern his Ensign, whose commission dated from the same time. Later on, En- sign Harry seems to have taken the place of Mr. Kern, and Lieut. Humphreys of Mr. Engel, transferred to Allemingel. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 88). In February, 1758, Adjutant Kern reports Capt. Morgan still on duty at the same place, and gives its distance from Fort Henry as 22 miles. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 339). Here, how- ever, for the first time we find it called Fort William instead of Fort Lebanon. When and why its name was changed we do not know. It was probably done towards the latter part of 1757 or beginning of 1758, but the reason for so doing can- not be surmised. Fort William, however, is unquestionably one and the same place as Fort Lebanon. The name of its officers, and the distance from Fort Henry, as given by Adju- tant Kern, are ample proof of this fact. It is verified, how- ever, in the journal of Mr. Burd, which follows, wherein he likewise names its officers and speaks of its situation between Forts Northkill and Franklin. On February 5, 1758, Adj. Kern reports, in addition to the above, at Fort William Capt. Morgan, Lt. Humphreys, Ensign Harry 50 men, 30 province arms, 23 private guns, 75 lbs of powder, 80 lbs of lead, 14 days' provisions, 12 cartridges, and Jonas Seely as the Commissary of the Station. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 340). The Journal of James Burd has this to say of the Fort : Friday, Feb. 24th, 1758. This morning sett out (from Reading) for Fort William, OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 133 arrived at Peter Eodermils at 2 P. M., 15 miles from Reading, it snowed and blowed so prodigeously I stayed there all night. 25th Saturday. March'd this morning, the snow deep, for Fort William, arrived at Fort William at 12 M. D., here was lieut. Hum- phreys & Ensign Hary, ordered a Review of the Garrison at 2 P. M. ; at 2 P. M. Reviewed the Garrison & found 53 good men, difificient in Dissipline, stores 3 Quarter casks of poudder, 150 It) of lead, 400 flints & 56 blankets, no arms fit for use, no kettles, nor tools, nor drum, 2 months Provision. Here I found a target erected ordered the Company to shout at the mark, sett them the Example myself by wheeling around & fireing by the word of Command. I shott a bullott into the Centre of the mark the size of a Dollar, distance 100 yards. Some of them shott tolerable bad, most of their Arms are very bad. Ordered Cap't Morgan to continue to pattroll to Northkill & Alemingle. 26th Sunday. Marched from hence at 10 A. M., went over the Mountains to Mr. Everitt's, where Captain Weatherholt is stationed. * * * (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 354). The Penn'a Gazette of September 1, 1757, says, ^'We hear from Berks County, that several Indians have lately been seen near Fort Lebanon ; and that on Sunday, the 21st August, the house and barn of Peter Semelcke were burnt, and three of his children carried off; himself, wife and one child, being from home at the time. This was done within two miles of the fort." The Gazette goes on to say, October 6 and 13, that their ac- counts from the frontiers, are most dismal; that some of the inhabitants are killed or carried off; houses burnt and cattle destroyed daily; that, at the same time, the people are af- flicted with severe sickness and die fast, so that in many places they are neither able to defend themselves, when attacked, or to run away. Our history of Fort Lebanon here ends. It is to be re- 134 THE INDIAN FORTS gretted that there is not extant a more detailed report of events at what was one of the important stations on the line of defense. FOET FKANKLIN. Continuing along the northern base of the Blue Mountains, for about nineteen miles from Fort Lebanon, we reach the next garrison at Fort Franklin. This fort is of especial interest from the fact that it was one of those erected by order of Benjamin Franklin. Imme- diately after the massacre at Gnadenhutten (Weissport) in November, 1755, Franklin, accompanied by James Hamilton, later Governor of Pennsylvania, set out for the scene of opera- tions to arrange for the defense of that part of the Province. They were at Bethlehem on January 14, 1756, where sundry preparations wer made and orders given. Capt. Wayne was directed to build a fort at Gnadenhutten, and another com- pany raised, under Capt. Charles Foulk, to aid him in the work. On January 25th, this fort was in a fair state of com- pletion, the flag was hoisted in the midst of a general discharge of musketry and swivels, and the name of Fort Allen was given it by Mr. Franklin, who was present in person. He im- mediately sent Capt. Foulk "to build another, between this and Schuylkill Fort, which I hope will be finished (as Trexler is to Join him) in a week or 10 Days." (Col. Rec, vii, p. 16). This tells us definitely when and by whom the station under consideration was erected. It was undoubtedly finished during the early part of February, 1756, and, when completed, was named Fort Franklin after Benjamin Franklin, even then a distinguished man and actively engaged in caring for the wel- fare of his adopted Province. The first reference we have to Fort Franklin is in the post- script of a letter from Wm. Edmonds to Sec'y K. Peters, writ- ten June 14th, 1756, in which he speaks of inclosing the copy of a letter sent there, which unfortunately is not extant (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 669). •J -( j- X jfc- tn ^ , •»«» < s Sv <65 /' ^ ^ o -■ 1 "S^ - ■ . ;|, ^ /,;i / ■' \ ■\ 1 ' ■ -Is ^ / \ 1 z \ ■■ if^. ■ ^ .. :* Q \ ■ V ^'^ ^***««.,^ r< ^ ^^-^ s. 1 Ii ^ "> 'o>^ ^\ > 4/) / ^ ^ ^ w 1- 1^ X •*-* "o aj\ J ■ 3» o f 2;: / 5 0 5C >- 0 > v,\ * d\ == ^ z < >r 2: *" iV / ua »- J>C ~i z \-f- 11^ I f 7 a. «t ^ bj $ 15 \ 0 ii ' / \ K »- I* ^5 ^ r -i O > Mf .. ■ ■ ■. " / o X X -LtiOd ^ oT a; O ^ .1 : : J u- ac \ I CO 1 *"^ - :f o ^-7 / JO . ^' ^<^ j ^(C ' ^ :x. OC z \^ />5 ; ■ itci :c '- -It > > >- a. Wat - 0 ^ <; 5 . Q w - ijn ^ ^ . X 5^ : < >" ft ^i^ " ^ 0 X X ^ 0 <a ~ «/> iZ ■-' \tit - 0£ X \^ X ^ ^ *^ /.? \cJ) ui !^ -^ - o / . •«^ — * O f ^ * / A tu o / \ 0 a 1 \v- J' \\ :r ^ I —CO z z < Ik h cc o bu U. O U h (0 h Z u CO u 0. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 135 It is occasionally referred to as the Fort above Allemangle," because pi its location immediately across the mountain from Albany Township of Berks county. The name AUemangle or Albany means "All Wants," and was given because of the arid condition of part of the land. Commissary Jas. Young, whilst on his tour of inspection, visited Fort Franklin. The following account is taken from his journal: Fort above Alleminga,— At i past 3 P. M. (June 21st, 1756) we sett out with the former Escort & 2 of Cap't Morgan's Comply (from Fort Lebanon) for the Fort above Alleminga, Commanded by Lieu't Ingle (of Capt. Morgan's Company, who was relieved by Lieut. Sam'l Humphreys) ; at i past 7 we got there ; it is Ab't 19 miles N. E. from Fort Lebanon, the Koad a Narrow Path very Hilly and Swampy; ab't half way we came thro' a very thick and dangerous Pine Swamp; very few Plan- tations on this Koad, most of them Deserted, and the houses burnt down; ^ a mile to the Westward of this Fort is good Plantation, the people retires to the Fort every Night. This Fort stands ab't a mile from the North Mountain; only two Plantations near it. This Fort is a square ab't 40 foot, very ill staccaded; with 2 Logg houses at Opposite Corners for Bastions, all very unfit for Defence; the Staccades are very open in many Places, it stands on the Bank, of a Creek, the Woods clear for 120 yards; the Lieu't Kanges towards Fort Lebanon and Fort Allen ; ab't 4 times a Week ; much Thunder, Lightning, and Kain all Night. Provincial Stores: 28 G'd Muskets, 8 wants Kepair, 16 Cartooch Boxes, 8 lb Powder, 24 m Lead, & 12 Bounds for 36 men, 36 Blankets, 1 Axe, 1 Adse, 1 Auger, 2 Plains, 1 Hammer, 2 Shovels, 9 Small Tin Kettles. June 22d — At 6 A. M. I ordered the People to fire at a mark; not above 4 in 25 hit the tree at the Distance of 85 yards; at 7, Mustered them, found 25 Present, 2 Sick, 2 Ab- sent on Furlough, 2 Sent to Reading with a Prisoner, and 5 at Fort Allen on Duty. Provisions, One Cask of Beef Ex- ceeding bad. Flower and Rum for 3 Weeks. At 8 A. M. We sett out for Fort Allen, at Gnadenhutten. * * * (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 677) . 136 THE INDIAN FORTS In his journal, under date of November 5, 1756, Col. Weiser makes mention of a warning which had been given him of a proposed attack of the Minisink Indians on Easton and the capture of Gov. Denny, who was there in Conference with Teedyuscung. It was reporte'd that the Minisink Tribe was very much averse to peace with the English, and, that if Teedyuscung showed any inclination to treat with their enemy, they proposed to kill both him and the Governor, lay waste Easton and then destroy Bethlehem, thus making themselves masters of the whole country. Col. Weiser immediately sent an express to Lieut. Engle, at Fort Franklin, to come with a detachment of 20 men, including a Sergeant, in all possible speed, to reinforce the Town Guard during the time His Honor, the Governor, should stay in Easton. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 32). With great difficulty I succeeded in definitely and correctly locating Fort Franklin. I drove on various occasions through the entire neighborhood, covering many miles of territory, but without obtaining information which I considered suf- ficiently satisfactory. This part of the country is not thickly populated now, and was very sparsely settled then. I saw a number of very interesting buildings, many partly in ruin, which must date from the time of the French and Indian war. Not a few of them are still pierced with portholes. If any of them, however, have a history, at all unusual, I could not learn of it. At last I ascertained from a Mr. Joseph Miller, an intelligent, elderly man with an exceedingly good memory, living not far distant from Snydersville, that a place known as the ''Fort Field," amongst his elders, was to be found on the Bolich farm, now owned by Mr. J. W. Kistler, not far from West Penn Station, of the Lehigh and Schuylkill R. R. or, as sometimes called, the Lizard Creek Branch of the Le- high Valley R. R. I drove there instantly and was fortunate in meeting Mr. Jonas Hill, residing in the immediate vicinity of the spot, who at once confirmed Mr. Miller's statement and pointed out the exact location of the fort. Mr. Hill is about 60 years old, and obtained the information from his father. He states that there can be no doubt of the fact, and, of this there can hardly be any question, as it corresponds in all re- OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 137 spects with the information we have about it. Its isolated position will readily account for the general lack of knowledge concerning it. I may add that, later, I again visited the place, driving across the mountains from the site of Fort Everett, to still more fully satisfy myself on the subject, when I met Mr. Kistler, who corroborated the information obtained from Mr. Hill. The sketch herewith given shows more fully its position. Fort Franklin was situated on a hill, a part of what was at one time the Bolich Farm, now owned by J. Wesley Kistler. It had a most commanding view of the entire country. It was distant from Snydersville about f mile, on the North, and distant one mile from the base of the Blue Mountains on the South. It stood directly on the road across the mountain to Lynnport, the location of Fort Everett, but a few rods distant from the main road between Fort Allen and Weissport, and Fort Lebanon, at Auburn. At the base of the hill is a fine creek of water, coming from the mountain and emptying into Lizard creek, about | mile distant. It may be almost literally said that ^'it stood on the banks of a creek." It may be well, however, to correct, at this time, the error made by some writers, who have stated, without due investigation, that it stood on the banks of the Lizard creek, taking it for granted that when Commissary Jas. Young said it stood on the banks of a creek he means Lizard creek. It is well to take nothing for granted in this world until we are sure of its accuracy. If we did so there would be more real history written, and less romance. Its distance from Fort Lebanon is some nine- teen miles, and from Fort Allen some fourteen miles, all as stated. We could wish, from the name it bore, that this fort, might have been amongst the more important ones. Unfortunately such was not the case. Poorly constructed in the first place, in the next place its location was in a part of the Province as yet but poorly settled. Being north of the Mountain, the dis- trict was entirely open to the assaults of the savages. Already many of the plantations, so called, had been deserted; build- ings and property had been destroyed or were fast going to ruin, and their owners had fled across the mountains to Al- 138 THE INDIAN FORTS bany Township, or elsewhere, to find a more thickly settled region and greater safety. I think it is doubtful whether the fort would ever have been built except to fill in the long gap in the chain of defences between Forts Allen and Leba- non. We are not then surprised to read what Col. Weiser wrote November 24, 1756, after the Conference with the Indians at Easton was over. He was then at Fort Allen. He says: ^'I took my leave of them (certain Indians) and they of me very canditly; Capt. Arnd sent an Escort with me of twenty men to Fort Franklin, where we arrived at three o'Clock in the afternoon, it being about fourteen miles distant from Fort Allen. I saw that the Fort was not Teanable, and the House not finished for the Soldiers, and that it could not be of any Service to the Inhabitant Part, there being a great Mountain between them. I ordered Lieut'n Engel to Evacuate it, and come to the South side of the Hills himself with Nineteen men at John Eberts Esq'r., and the Eest being Sixteen men more, at John Eckenroad, both places being about three miles distant from each other, and both in the Township of Linn, Northampton (Lehigh) County, until otherwise ordered. 23d. Left Fort Franklin. The Lieut., with Ten men, es- corted me as far as Probst's, about Eight mile, where I dis- charged him, and arrived at Eeading that Evening." (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 68). Whether the garrison was entirely removed at once, or whether, as is more likely, it was still occupied, after a fashion, by some of Capt. Wetterholt's men, we cannot positively say. It is certain, however, that it was more and more neglected if not actually abandoned. To such an extent was this true that the remaining settlers, for some still remained, felt obliged to present the following petition, which was read in the Pro- vincial Council on Saturday, May 7th, 1757 : To the Honourable William Denny, Esq'r, Lieutenant-Gov- ernor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New Castle, Kent & Sussex, on Delaware, &c. The Petition of George Gilbert, Adam Spittleman, Henry OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 139 Hauptman, Casper Langeberger, Nicholas Kind, George Merte, Henry Norbech, the widow of Mark Grist, Deceased, the widow of George Krammer Deceased, (which said Grist and Krammer have lost their Lives in the Defence of their Country lass fall) William Ball, Phillip Annes, Jacob Leisser, Will'm Weigand, Anthony Krum, Philip SchoU, Jacob Keim, John Frist, Philip Kirsbaum, William Gabel, John Wissemer, George Wartman, Jacob Richards, Christopher Speeher, John Scheeffer & George Sprecher, all Inhabitants of Berks County [now Schuylkill], within four miles of and about Fort Franklin, over the blue Mountains : Most Humbly Sheweth — That your Petitioners are informed that Fort Franklin afore- said is to be removed to this Side of the said mountains and a considerable way into Albany Township; That if in Case the said Fort is to be Removed your Peti- tioners will be Obliged to Desert their Plantations, for their Lives and Estates will then lye at Stake, and a greater part of this Province will lye waste and your Petitioners humbly conceives that it would be the Safest way to have the said Fort continued & rebuilt, as it is very much out of order and Repair. Therefore your Petitioners humbly prays your Honour to take the Premises in Consideration and Issue such orders as will Prevent the Removal of the said Fort & order a Suffi't Number of Men in it, and to grant your Petitioners such other relief as to you in your wisdom shall seem Mete, and your Pe- titioners, as in Duty bound, will Ever Pray for your Eternal welfare. Signed at the Request & in behalf of all the petitioners. GEORGE GILBERT, ADAM SPITTLEMEYER. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 153.) About the same time a petition was presented by the peo- ple of Lynn Township, on the South side of the mountain, praying that Lieut. Weather hold, who was daily expecting marching orders, be not sent away with his detachment. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 152.) 140 THE INDIAN FORTS These several petitions seem to have had their weight with the Government. Fort Franklin was put in a better condi- tion and soldiers retained there. In November, 1757, it fur- nished its quota for Col. Weiser's guard at Easton, during the Conference with the Indians at that time. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 218.) Shortly after however, it seems to have been again abandoned, probably about the end of 1757, when there came a lull in the frequency of Indian depredations. When James Burd made his visits to the various forts in February, 1758, his journal makes no mention whatever of Fort Franklin. True, he directs Capt. Morgan to continue patrolling between his fort, Lebanon, and Alemingle, but we must remember that Alemingle refers to Albany Township south of the mountains, and undoubtedly Fort Everett is meant at this time. Fort Franklin was the ''Fort above Alemingle,'' and never at Ale- mingle. Then again Mr. Burd speaks of leaving Fort Allen and arriving at "Lieut. Ingle's Post," 15 miles distant. Whilst Lieut. Engle had formerly commanded at Fort Franklin, a moment's thought will show that what is here called "Lieut. Ingle's Post" could not have been Fort Franklin. Mr. Burd had left Fort Everett, continued East to Fort Allen, and was now leaving Fort Allen to cover territory towards the Dela- ware. No other construction is possible. Lieut. Engle had long since, in May, 1757, been transferred from Fort Franklin to the command of Fort Norris. Besides the distance from Fort Franklin to Fort Allen was but fourteen miles and not fifteen, which is the distance from Fort Allen to Fort Norris. No, our history of Fort Franklin ends with the year 1757. If we may judge from the published records, it did not play such a part in the history of our State as did its great name- sake. For that we dare not blame it or its faithful garrison, but can only attribute it to the force of circumstances. Had the necessity for action come, as at other places, the duty would doubtless have been faithfully performed. It was one of the regular chain of forts and its position should be marked; I would recommend a tablet, in close proximity to its site, along the public road to Lynnport. I have said that in this general neighborhood are many points of interest, of which, however, the history is unknown. J^NVH:! IHQ^ o^ ^Ob^SN^X OX QVOy — o ? s CD X 2 ay 3 LU cc Hi > UJ QC O li. u. O LU (0 z LU <0 UJ cc CL OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 141 I picked up, nevertheless, several traditions which are worthy of note. Mr. Chas. Focht, at New Einggold, a gentleman 80 years old, was told by a Mr. Zimmerman some 60 years ago, the latter then an old man, that the settlers were accustomed to take refuge in a mill, known 60 years ago as Stein's Mill, now as Stout's Mill, located about 2 miles S. W. of Snyders- ville, near the base of the Blue Mountains, on a creek which flows into Lizard Creek. In this vicinity the Indians had cap- tured a Mr. Fies and his son. The bones of Fies were discov- ered a long time after, about J mile from his house, being recognized as his by sundry buttons and a frying pan lying near by. The son was never heard of. This incident was cor- roborated by Mr. Abr. Focht, his brother, who also mentio-ned a block house of refuge on what was formerly the Schwartz farm, but is now in the Borough of New Einggold, about i mile east of the railroad station. Mrs. Koch, the mother of Mr. H. B. Koch, who is proprietor of the excellent New Einggold Hotel, an intelligent old lady, 73 years of age, called my attention to a place where persons had been buried during the Indian War. They were sup- posed to have been Indians, but were more likely settlers who had been killed by them. She had been told about it by her grandmother who lived at the time. It is on the upper side of the Summer Mountain, about 3 miles directly north of Kepners, but a short distance from the house of Mr. Kelch- ner, and also near the creek which empties into Lizard Creek at Snydersville. I visited the spot, and found, as I had been told, that it was kept sacred and never ploughed over. Through the kindness of Mr. H. B. Koch I have also been informed by Mr. E. F. Leidy, an old gentleman of that locality who obtained his information from a Mr. Shellhamer, that a house of refuge, or so called Indian Fort, stood about 1^ miles north of Kepnersville, of which part of the stone wall can yet be seen. FOET EVEEETT. This fort is located very near the town of Lynnport, in Lynn township, of Lehigh county. During the Indian wars the 142 THE INDIAN FORTS territory covered by the adjacent township of Albany, in Berks county and Lynn township, in what was then North- ampton county, from which Lehigh county was taken, was known as ''Allemeangel," meaning ''All- Wants," from the arid character of a part of the land, as previously mentioned. That part of the State was already well settled, and, with the outbreak of Indian hostilities in the Fall of 1755, an es- tablished military organization became a matter of necessity. Plans were accordingly laid and Benjamin Franklin sent up the Lehigh Valley to execute them. Our introduction to the subject now under consideration is an extract from a letter written Jan. 14, 1756, from Bethlehem, by Franklin to the Governor, in which he says, 'To secure Lyn and Heidelberg Township, whose Inhabitants were just on the Wing, I took Trexler's Company into Pay, (he had been before commis- sion'd by Mr. Hamilton) and I commissioned Wetterholt, who commanded a Watch of 44 men before in the Pay of the Prov- ince, ordering him to compleat his Company." (Penn. Arch., ii, p. 549.) It also mentions the name of Wetterholt, which will appear before the reader more or less frequently in connection with the history of Lehigh and Northampton Counties. There were two Provincial olbcers of the same name, who were brothers. From "Murders by the Indians in Northampton County," written by Joseph J. Mickley in 1875, I glean the following brief account of each : "Johann Nicholaus Wetterholt arrived in Philadelphia, Oc- tober 22d, 1754, in the Ship Halifax, Thomas Coatam, captain, from Eotterdam. He was either a Hollander or a German, most likely the latter. In the same ship came a large number of German emigrants. He entered the military service, prob- ably soon after his arrival in this country, as it appears by his having been commissioned Captain in the First Battalion Pennsylvania Kegiment, December 21st, 1755, and by the dif- ferent sums of money paid to him for his and his company's services, and for provisions, viz: OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 143 1756— April 29— To Captain John Nicliolaus Wetterholt, for his Com- pany's pay, £332 3s. Od. 1756 — May 28 — ^^To Captain John Nicholaus Wetterholt, for pay for him- self and Company and allow- ance for thirty-six guns fur- nished by his men, £166 5s. 6d. 1756 — June 21 — Samuel Depuy, in full, for his account for purchasing provi- sions for a detachment of Captain Wetterholt's Com- pany, £33 Is. 8d. 1756 — Dec'r 15 — Samuel Depuy's order for vict- ualling Captain Wetterholt's Company, &c., £108 Is. 8d. In the year 1762 Captain Nicholaus Wetterholt resided in Heidelberg Township, Northampton County, now Lehigh, and his name is on the tax list of 1764, at the same place." "Johann Jacob Wetterholt came to this country in the same vessel with his brother Nicholaus. He was commis- sioned Lieutenant in Major Parson's Town Guard, December 21st, 1755; in April, 19th, 1756, as Lieutenant, stationed at Dietz's; and as Captain, in September 21st, of the same year; 1757, September 2d, he was paid, for enlisting 53 men in the Provincial service, £88 6s. 6d. Captain Jacob Wetterholt possessed undaunted courage, which was accounted for in his firmly believing he had the power of making himself invulnerable (kugelfest) ; that is that he could not be killed by a gun shot; he was therefore well suited for the military service on the frontier. (He bravely met his death, however, in 1763, as will appear later.) In 1762, he resided in Lynn Township, now Lehigh County; his widow still resided there in 1764, as per tax list. George Wetterholt, formerly Sheriff of Lehigh County, living in AUentown, is his grandson." It so chances that the two brothers, both eventually of the same rank, operated in the same general territory. They 11 144 THE INDIAN FORTS practically had charge of the country along the southern base of the Blue Kange from Fort Everett to the Delaware Kiver, and both reported to the same superior officer, Timothy Hors- field. Unfortunately, in the records of the time, the last name only is given in most cases, so that it becomes difficult in many instances to know which is meant. Wherever pos- sible I will endeavor to specify the one intended. It may be generally taken for granted, in the case of Fort Everett, that wherever Captain Wetterholt is mentioned it refers to Mcholaus, and where the term "Lieutenant" is used it refers to Jacob. Whilst it is true that the district of Allemeangel, south of the Blue Mountains, was quite populous, and that therefore. Fort Everett occupied an important position, yet, unfortu- nately, we have practically nothing recorded concerning it. This was doubtless owing to the fact that it was the only de- fensive station on that side of the mountain between the Schuylkill and Lehigh Elvers, and, because the territory was so large, the garrison was ranging around the country liter- ally all the time. Events, of any consequence, in and about the fort were probably, of necessity, few. We need not be surprised therefore to read much of the two Wetterholts and their doings, and but little of Fort Everett. In fact. Fort Everett held somewhat of an anomalous posi- tion. Captain Wetterholt, who had charge of that part of the country, seems to have been in it but little, and it is even possible that it was not constantly occupied by a garrison of soldiers. Whilst many occurrences were continually taking place, some of which will be given later, the first actual mention of the station is by Col. Weiser, on November 24th, 1756. He had just visited Fort Franklin and seen its poor condition; he also saw that most of the inhabitants lived south of the mountain, and concluded that its condition was of but little value. He accordingly says, "I ordered Lieu't Engle to Evac- uate it, and come to the South side of the Hills himself with Nineteen men, at John Eberts, Esq'r, and the Best being Six- teen men more, at John Eckenroad, both places being about OF THE BLUB MOUNTAINS. 145 three miles distant from each other, and both in the Township of Linn, Northampton County, nntill otherways ordered." (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 68.) We do not know definitely whether Lieut. Engle did actually proceed as directed, or not, but it is altogether likely he did, for whilst Fort Franklin was not entirely abandoned until the Fall of 1757, we have no reason to doubt that during the latter part of 1757 it was certainly in charge of Capt. Wet- terholt, and it is therefore possible that he may have gar- risoned it even previous to that time, and that Lieut. Engle occupied Fort Everett as originally ordered. Even if such were the case Lieut. Engle was ordered away in the latter part of May, 1757, to take command of Fort Norris, and Fort Everett once more resumed its former status. During this period the following petition was forwarded to the Governor. Whilst eminating from Lynn Township, it was intended to apply, in a general sense, to the whole of Northampton County, south of the moutains, as far east as the Delaware: Northampton County, Lynn Township, May 4 Day, 1757. To His Onner, the Governor and Commander in Cheaf of the Provence of Pennsylvania : Youre Most Humbly S'vant — These is to Acquant youre Honner of the Difficultyes, Hard- ships and Dangers that youre Poore Pertitioners Ly Under at this Present Time, Being the Frunteeairs, and being yester Day A Coppy of an Express Sent to us and others from Mr. Parsons, Major, Which he reseaved from Cornel Wiser, that He was Credebly Informed by A frind Indian that a Grat Body of French and Indians Was one there march from Ahio Fort, Desined against Som Parts of Pennsylvania, Minnesink, Patter Co. and som Murder Has Lately ben Don at the Minne- sinks in this County, and Like Wise at Scoolkill in Barks County, and this is what wee was Desired and Warned to be one of our Cards, and to associate our Selves and others Imme- diately into Companies under Discreet officers of oure one Choice, But as youre Honner Vere well knows the Natour and Mis Manegment of the Generaty Part of the People, when that 146 THE INDIAN FORTS these are at thaire one freedom, without Some Paresns in Shap Authority to Compel them, and further wee Do Think it A Great Hard Ship that wee the Frontears, that is Almost Already Euened By being Cep So much out of oure Laboure. Being the Poorer Sort of People at the Beginning, and the Loer Inhabentance the mean time Lyes Quiat and Ease and out of Danger, and wee Desire and Humbly Beg that your Honner Will Take, oure Case into Consideration, and Cause Us to be Better Garded by Soldiers, at the expence of the Provence, while the Loer Inhabitance will be obliged to Baire Part of the Burden as Well as wee, and wee Do think that if the Gerresens that is Now Lying over the Blue Mountaine in the Forts was all Eemoved to This side of the Mountaine and Laid 4, 6, 8 or 10 men in a Good House at Not a grate Dis- tance apart, and a Koad Cut from one Plantation to the other, of About 3 or 4 Perches Broad, as the Plantations is Prete Neaire to Gether, on this Side of the Mountaine. We do think that it would Cause the Indians to be Afraid to Com in small Companies over the Koad, as theaire yousel way is to Goo, for faire of Being taken agoing Back, for when Ever there is Mur- der Don within the Eoad there must be A Good Watch Cept on that Koad to Take them as they Pas Back, and by Larem Guns there Can be many People Cald to Gether in Short Space of Time Besides the Soldiers, and further, the People in General is Kemoved from the other Sid of the Mountain and Dayre Not Goo to Live on theaire Plantations til Better times Excepting 2 or 3 famelyes Kound Each Fort, and from the other Settlers on this Side of the Mountaine to the Forts is som 10, Som 16 miles to Fort Franklen, is to Fort Allen 10, to Fort Norres 16, to Fort Hambelton 16 miles. So that in Case of Nesety the Soldiers Can't Com to oure Assistance, nor Wee to Theairs Not in any Kesenable Time, Til the Eneme wold Be Gone Againe, for Wheaire they fal in They make No Long Stay, and Besides the Hills and Hallows is so bad over the Mountaine that the Indians might Destroy all the Wagens and Provishens Coming to the Fort, if they take Care to Way- ley them in Som Deep Hallows, and the Soldiers as they are Scouting and marching from one Fort to the other, and at Present Leftenant Wetherhols Lyes in our Township with OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 147 About 40 Men Against Fort Franklin, which is Now Empty of Soldiers, and he Expects Every Day to Keceave order to March from us, there wil then Ly open without any Sholders abot 28 M'lds that there will be no Soldiers, and youre Pati- sionners Do umbly Beg that youre Honner Would Take oure Case Into Consideration, and not Let these Soldiers be Ee- moved But Bather order more in these Parts, as in Dute Bound Wee shall Ever Pray. (Signed by 41 persons, whose names appear chiefly in Ger- man). (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 151). From this we see that Lieut. Wetterholt was then in Lynn Township '^against Fort Franklin," that is south of Fort Franklin. The petition of the people, urging the retention of soldiers with them, was successful. In February, 1758, Ad- jutant Kern reports Capt. Wetterholt still on duty at Fort Everett with 41 men, distant from Fort William 12 miles, and having 12 men stationed at ^'A Block House," 10 miles from Fort Everett and 20 miles from Fort Allen. The detailed report shows at Fort Everett, Capt. Wetterholt, 41 men, 22 Province arms, 21 Private guns, 4 ms. provisions, 10 cart- ridges, and at the Block House Lieut, Geiger (absent), who had relieved Lieut. Hyndshaw then at duty at Teads Block House, below wind Gap, 12 men, 8 Province Arms, 5 Private Guns, 4 mos. provisions, 8 cartridges. Jacob Levan, Esq'r, was their Commissary. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 340). Fort Everett was visited by Jas. Burd during his tour of inspection, in February, 1758. His journal gives the following record : 26th Sunday. Marched from hence (Fort William) at 10 A. M., went over the Mountains to Mr. Everett's, where Captain Weatherholt is stationed, the snow exceedingly deep could make little way, at 3 P. M. arrived at Valentine Phileprots, 20 miles, here I stay all night. 27th Munday. Marched this morning at 8 A. M. for Mr. Everett's, arrived at 9 A. M., 4 miles, ordered a Review of that part of the Com- 148 THE INDIAN FORTS pany that is here, found Cap't Weatherholt, Lieut. Geiger & 24 meuj 3 being sick & absent, 3 months' Provisions, 5 pounds powder, no lead, each man has a pound of powder in his Car- touch box & lead in proportion, no Kettles, nor blankets, 25 Province Arms. Ordered to Cap't Weatherholt 56 blankets, 25 lb of powder & 50 bars of lead & 400 flints, Cap't Weatherholt to Scout to the Westward 10 miles & to the eastward 10 miles, Lieut. Geiger from thence to his post in Coll. Armstrong's Battalion. Marched from hence to Fort Allen at 11 A. M., gott to the top of the Blue Mountain at 2 P. M., from hence saw AUa- mingle, it is a fine Country, but the Country on the North side of the Mountain is an intire barren wilderness, not capable of Improvements. Arrived at Fort Allen at i after 2 P. M. a prodigious Hilly place, and poor land, 15 miles from Mr. Everett's, ordered a review of this Garrison tomorrow at 8 A. M. (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 355). The accompanying topographical map gives the exact loca- tion of Fort Everett. It stood in what is now a level, ploughed field, about ^ mile north of Lynnport, Lynn township, Lehigh county, distant about 150 feet from the house of M. K. Henry, a tenant of Mrs. David Stein, to the East, and about 250 feet from the creek to the West, which flows past the Slate works and empties into Ontelaunee creek. A spring, but a few feet south of where the fort was erected, marks the position of what was then a well of water. It was a blockhouse, about 25 ft. x 30 ft. It stood on the property of John Everett, a man of prominence at the time, and of the same family as Edw. Everett, of Massa- chusetts, whence he came. Whether, however, the building was the house of Mr. Everett, or whether the fort was a sepa- rate building erected on his place, it is difficult to say. From what I could learn I am inclined to believe that it was a sepa- rate building, erected as a house of refuge and defense, con- sisting of a log house surrounded by the regulation stockade. In that case we may very properly fix upon the beginning of 1756 as the time of its birth, otherwise we are unable to name OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. U9 any date fixing the time of its erection. Mr. Henry stated that, even to this day, he occasionally ploughs up some of the foundation stones. For this information I am indebted to Mr. Charles Everett, residing near the spot, whose great grandfather was a brother of John Everett. Mr. Charles Everett is now 75 years old. He was told all about the fort, and the soldiers which occupied it, by his father, Jacob, who died 25 years ago, 80 years old; also by his grandmother, Mary Miller, who died 60 years ago, aged about 70 years. I would recommend a tablet to mark the position of Fort Everett, to be located by the public road near the site. It will be remembered that mention was made of orders given Lieut. Engel to proceed himself to Fort Everett, and to send a detachment of sixteen men to John Eckenroad's, three miles distant. I made diligent inquiry concerning this latter place, but, whilst many had heard of the Eckenroth family, none ever knew of a fort at his house. There certainly was none. If anything his own house was merely used temporarily as a station. Besides Mr. Eckenroth's house I also learned of several other interesting places between New Tripoli and Lynnport. One of these is the old block-house at Benj. Oswald's, which I visited. It is a curious old relic, well worth examination. The building is one story high^ now weather-boarded on the outside, but inside almost exactly the same as it was 150 years ago. Its preservation, unaltered, is owing to the fact that it is only used as a wash house and for storage purposes. The hugh old fire place still stands as of old, and over the door is cut a port hole at an angle to command the entrance. It was then the home of a Mr. Seisloch, who was killed whilst fleeing away from it. It stands about one mile from New Tripoli. The above information Mr. Oswald, who is 65 years old, obtained from his father, Benj. Oswald, who died 21 years ago, at the age of 75. Sam'l Eeitz, 67 years old, living about one mile beyond Lynnport on the road to New Tripoli, says there was a house of refuge on the bank of Ontelaunee creek, right down from the dwelling of Cornelius Peter. He also stated that immediately 150 THE INDIAN FORTS in front of his own home there stood a similar building, hav- ing a cellar, the entrance to which was covered by a large stone. In this cellar the people would secrete their effects when obliged to flee away. He was told these facts by his grandfather, Lawrence Keitz, who died over 50 years ago, aged nearly 80 years. The vicinity of Fort Everett was not exempt from its scenes of violence and death. Timothy Horsfield writes to Gov. Denny from Bethlehem, November 30th, 1756, that "John Holder came here this Even- ing from Allemangle, and Informed me that last Sunday Evening, ye 28th Inst, three Indians Came to the House of a Certain Man Named Schldsser, and Nockt at the Door, the People within called who is there? Answer was made, A good Friend; they within not Opening the Door, they Nockt Again, they within answer'd Who is there? Noi Answer being made from Without, Then one of the Men Named Stone- brook, Lookt Out of the window, when an Indian Discharged a gun and kill'd him on the Spot. They then Open'd the Door, the Woman & two Children Endeavoring to Escape, and the Indians pursued & took Both the Children; One of the Men Fired at the Indians, and Saw One of them fall, when one of the Gairls he had possession of, made her Escape from him, but the other they took away ; the Indian y't was fired at which fell Cr^^ed Out Very much, but in a Short time he got up & made off. The above said Holder Informs me he had this Acco't from good Authority, said Schlosser's House is situated in Alle- mangle." (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 771). We now give a characteristic letter which, in itself, would show that it came from Jacob Wetterholt, even if his name were not signed to it. It is written to Major William Par- sons at Easton, and is headed: (Lehigh) Northampton County, Lynn Township, July 9, 1757. Honored Sir: These are to Acquant you of A murder Hapened this Day at the Houce of Adam Clance, in said Township of Lynn, whaire three or fore Nabors was Cutting said man's Corn; as they Was Eating thaire Dinner they waire fell one By A OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 151 Perty of Saviges, Indians, and Five of the Whits Took to there Heals, two men, two Women, and one Gerl, and Got saf out of theire hands. Was killed and Scalped, Martin Yager and his Wife, and John Croushores, wife and one Child, and the Wife of Abraham Secies and one Child of one Adam Clauce and the Wife of John Coucehere, and the wife of Abram Secies was Sculpt and is yet Alive, But Badly wounded, one Shot Thro' the Sid and the other in the Thy, and two Children kild Be- longing to said Croushere, and one to said Secies, and one Belonging to Philip Antone Not Sculpt, and this Was Don at Least three Miles within the out side Settlers, and 4 miles from John Everett's, and Philip Antone's wife was one that Took her Tilit and came horn and acquainted her husband, and he came and Acquainted me, and I went Emeaditly to the Place with Seven men Besides my Self and Saw the Mur- der, But the Indians was Gon and I Derectly Purs'ed them About 4 Miles and Came Up with them in the thick Groves weaire Wee met with Mne Indians, and one Sprung Behind a Tree and took Site at me and T run Direct at him, and another one the sid Flast at me, and then Both took to there Heals, and I shot one as I Goge Thro' the Body, as he fell on his face. But I Loaded and after another that was Leding A maire, and ye meane time he Got up and Eun away and I fired on the other, and I think I shot him in ye Buttux, and my Soldiers had ippertunity to shot three times, and then they Got out of oure Site in the thick Groves, and Wee Cold Not find them No more, But I Got from them one maire and two Saddels, one Bridel and Halter, & on^e Bag with a Cag of Stil Licker in it, and Cloths and one Brace Cittel and fore Indian Cake Baked in the ashes of wheat meal and to Aquat you fur- ther, that I have Several New Soldiers that has No Guns, and were Little Powder and Led, and I have sent this Express to you Hoping that you Wold Help me with Arms and Amme- nishan, and so I Eemaine yours friend and Umble Servent (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 211). JACOB WETHEEHOLD. Eeferring to this sad occurrence, Col. Weiser writes Gov. Denny from Easton on July 15th : *'In coming along thro' the Maxitawny, I heard a melan- 152 THE INDIAN FORTS choUy Account of Ten People being killed by the Enemy In- dians. They passed by two or three Plantations on this side of the mountain before they attacked. A certain woman ran off towards her Place and told her Husband of the attack, who cut the Gears off his Horses then in the Plow, and rid as fast as he could to Lieut. Wetherholts, about three miles off. Lieut. Wetherholt, with a small Detachment, I am told Seven in number, came away immediately, and came to the Place where the murder was committed, where, by that time, a number of People had gathered. Wetherholts proposed to pursue the Enemy but none would go with him, so he took his Seven men & pursued the Enemy a few miles from the House & found the Place where they rested themselves, and in ab't three miles He overtook them in thick Brushes, at a very little Distance. It seems they saw one another at once. One of the Indians was before hand with Wetherholts & aimed at him, but his Gun flashed. Wetherholt, a moment after, fired at the Indians, and thinks he hit him, but is not sure. Several Guns were fired by our People but did no Execution, and the Indians Guns missing Fire they ran off & left two Horses behind them, one belonging to the man they killed, laden with the best of his Household Goods." (Penn. Arch., iii, p. 218). In a letter written by Valentine Probst to Jacob Levan, of Maxatawney, dated February 15, 1756, he gives the following account of another murder : Mr. Levan: I cannot omit writing about the dreadful circumstances of our township, Albany [see this under Fort Henry also]. The Indians came yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, to Fred- erick Eeichelderfer's house, as he was feeding his horses, and two of the Indians ran upon him, and followed him into a field ten or twelve perches off; but he escaped and ran to- wards Jacob Gerhart's house, with a design to fetch some arms. When he came near Gerhart's, he heard a lamentable cry. Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus! — ^which made him run back to- wards his own house; but before he got quite home, he saw his house and stable in flames; and heard all the cattle bellow- ing, and thereupon ran away again. OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 153 Two of his children were shot, one of them was found dead in his field, the other was found alive, and brought to Haken- brook's house, but died three hours after. All his grain and cattle are burnt up. At Jacob Gerhart's thej have killed one man, two women, and six children. Two children slipped under the bed; one of which was burned; the other escaped, and ran a mile to get to the people. We desire help, or we must leave our homes. Yours, VALENTINE PKOBST. Mr. Levan immediately repaired to Albany Township, but before he reached the scene of horror, additional intelligence was received by him of other murders. In a letter from him to James Eead and Jonas Seely, of Eeading, he says : "When I had got ready to go with my neighbors from Maxatawney, to see what damage was done in Albany, three men that had seen the shocking affair, came and told me, that eleven were killed, eight of them burnt, and the other three found dead out of the fire. An old man was Scalped, the two others, little girls, were not scalped." (Rupp, p. 58). On the 24th of March following, ten wagons went to Alle- maengle (Albany) to bring down a family with their effects, and as they were returning, about three miles below George Zeisloff's, were fired upon by a number of Indians from both sides of the road; upon which the wagoners left their wagons and ran into the woods, and the horses frightened at the fir- ing and terrible yelling of the Indians ran down a hill and brake one of the wagons to pieces. That the enemy killed George Zeisloff and his wife, a lad of twenty, a boy of twelve, also a girl of fourteen years old, four of whom they scalped. That another girl was shot in the neck and through the mouth and scalped, notwithstanding all of which she got off. That a boy was stabbed in three places, but the wounds were not thought to be mortal. That they killed two of the horses, and five are missing, with which it thought the Indians carried off the most valuable goods that were in the wagon." (Penn'a Gazette, April 1, 1756). In November, 1756, the Indians carried off the wife and 154 THE INDIAN FORTS three children of Adam Burns, the youngest child being only four weeks old. In June, 1757, they murdered one Adam Trump. They took Trump's wife and his son, a lad nineteen years old, prisoners, but the woman escaped, though upon her flying she was so closely pursued by one of the Indians (of whom there were seven) that he threw his tomahawk at her and cut her badly in the neck. (Kupp, p. 124). The following extract from a letter written by James Read, from Eeading, June 25th, 1757, refers to the Trump murder: "Last night eTacob Levan, Esq., of Maxatawney, came to see me and showed me a letter of the 22d inst. from Lieuten- ant Engel, dated in Allemangel, by which he advised Mr. Levan of the murder of one Adam Trump in Allemangel, by Indians, that evening, and that they had taken Trump's wife and his son, a lad nineteen years old, prisoners; but the woman es- caped, though upon her flying, she was so closely pursued by one of the Indians, (of which there were seven) that he threw his tomahawk at her, and cut her badly in the neck, but 'tis hoped not dangerously. This murder happened in as great a thunderstorm as has happened for twenty years past; which extended itself over a great part of this and Northampton counties. ***** I had almost forgot to mention (but I am so hurried just now, 'tis no wonder), that the Indians after scalping Adam Trump left a knife, an^ a halbert, or a spear, fixed to a pole of four feet, in his body. (Rupp, p. 70). In March, 1756, the Indians laid the house and barn of Barnabas Seitle in ashes, and the mill of Peter Conrad, and killed Mrs. Neytong, the wife of Baltser Neytong, and took his son, a lad of eight years old, a captive. Next morning Seitle's servant informed Gapt. Morgan of the injury done by the Indians, whereupon the Captain and seven men went in pursuit of the enemy, but did not find any. On his return he met a person named David Howell, who told him that when on his way to the watch-house, these Indians shot five times at him — the last shot he received a bullet through his arm. And on March 24th, the house of Peter Kluck, about four- OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. 155 teen miles from Eeading, was set on fire by the savages, and the whole family killed — while the flames were still ascend- ing, the Indians assaulted the house of one Lindenman, in which there were two men and a woman, all of whom ran up stairs, where the woman was shot dead through the roof. The men then ran out of the house to engage the Indians, when Lindenman was shot in the neck, and the other through the jacket. Upon this Lindenman ran towards the Indians, two of whom only were seen, and shot one of them in the back, when he fled and he and his companion scalped him and brought away his gun and knife. (C. Saure's German Paper, March, 1756). About the same time the Indians carried off a young lad named John Schoep, about nine years old, whom they took by night, seven miles beyond the Blue Mountain; where, accord- ing to the statement of the lad, the Indians kindled a fire, tied him to a tree, took off his shoes and put moccasins on his feet ; — that they prepared themselves some mush, but gave him none. After supper they marched on further. The same In- dians took him and another lad between them, and went beyond the second mountain, having gone six times through streams of water, and always carried him across. The second evening they again struck up fire, took off his moccasins, and gave him a blanket to cover himself; but at midnight, when all the Indians were