History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 19

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418

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In the beginning of June, 1757, the Gover- nor of the province visited Fort Henry, having been escorted thither by sixty substantial free- holders of the county on horseback, completely armed. "They presented a very dutiful ad- dress to his honor, in which they expressed the warmest loyalty to the King and the greatest zeal and alacrity to serve His Majesty in defense of their country."

Michael La Chanvignerie, a French officer, was captured at Fort Henry, and examined in Reading, October 16, 1757, by Conrad Weiser, James Read and Thomas Oswald, but nothing of any particular importance was developed except that he had been in this part of the country once before and that his party killed

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and scalped a German and took seven children prisoners. He stated that the Indians had a great number of prisoners which they would not part with.

Fort at Dietrich Snyder's .--- A fort was situ- ated on the top of the Broad Mountain, north of Fort Northkill. It occupied one of the most prominent spots on the mountain. Being within two miles distant from Fort Northkill, it is supposed that this fort was designed for an observatory or watch-house. It is mentioned in the "Historical Map of Pennsylvania."

Fort Northkill was situated in Upper Tulpe- hocken township, near the Northkill-a branch of the Tulpehocken Creek-about two miles east of Strausstown and about a mile south from the base of the Blue Mountain. It was built in the early part of 1754.

With regard to the dimensions of the fort Commissary Young says, June 20, 1756 : "The fort is about nine miles to the westward of the Schuylkill, and stands in a very thick wood, on a small rising ground, half a mile from the middle of Northkill Creek. It is intended for a square about 32 feet each way ; at each corner is a half-bastion of very little service to flank the curtains-the stockades were ill fixed in the ground, and open in many places-within is a very bad log-house for the people; it has no chimney and can afford but little shelter in bad weather."

Ensign Harry had command of the fort in June, 1754. " Harry marched out of the fort about 12 o'clock with his men to Fort Lebanon, according to orders. Provisions I found in the fort as follows: 5 pounds of powder, 198 pounds of flour, 10 small bars of lead, 15 pounds of beef and pork, 32 pounds of can- dles." 1

In 1879 there was a heap of ground close by. This was caused by the excavation of the cellar or underground chamber into which the women and children were placed for security. Some of the ground has fallen into the opening, and the autumn leaves have been blown into it for

one hundred and twenty-five years, so that now it is nearly full. Mr. Jonathan Goodman, of Strausstown, a man nearly eighty years of age, who was born and who lived all his lifetime in the neighborhood of the fort, said then that he remembered that the stockades were still in position, higher than the ceiling of a room, and that the form of the fort could still be seen in his younger days.2

There was an attack in the neighborhood of Fort Northkill on the 1st of October, 1757. Application was made to Conrad Weiser (who was in Reading at the time) for immediate as- sistance. Captain Oswald (who commanded the guards about Reading) sent two lieutenants with forty men to their relief.

Fort Lebanon was situated " on the forks of the Schuylkill," in that section of the county beyond the Blue Mountain, near the outlet of the "Little Schuylkill." This was at a point just above Port Clinton. It was erected in the beginning of the year 1754. In 1758 it was known as "Fort Williams ;" and it was also called sometimes "Fort Schuylkill." It is frequently mentioned in the Pennsylvania Ar- chives. Two years after its erection it was described as follows : "Fort Lebanon, about 24 miles from Gnadenhutten, in the line to Shamokin. Fort 100 feet square. Stockades 14 feet high. House within built 30 by 20, with a large store-room. A spring within. A magazine 12 feet square. On a barren, not much timber on it. One hundred families pro- tected by it within the new purchase. No township. Built in three weeks ; something considerable given by the neighbors towards it."

Fort Franklin .- The fourth and last fort on the frontier of Berks County was situated sev- eral miles above the Blue Mountain, on Lizard Creek. It was built about two years later than the other forts. It was sometimes called Fort Allemangael, or Fort above Allemangael, or Alle Mangel (all wants), afterward changed into Albany.

The first information of this fort is from Ben- jamin Franklin, who (while superintending the

1 2 Penna. Arch, 159. He delivered possession of the fort to his successor on the 15th of June, 1754; the name of the commander is not mentioned.

2 Brunner's "Indians of Berks County," p. 23.

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erection of Fort Allen, where Weissport now stands) wrote to Governor Morris after it was finished, and said : "Foulk is gone to build another between this (Fort Allen) and Schuyl- kill Fort (Lebanon), which I hope will be finished (as Texter is to join him) in a week or ten days. As soon as Hays returns I shall detach another party to erect another at Surfas' which I hope may be finished in the same time, and then I hope to end my campaign." This letter was written January 25, 1756. A " Block-House " and several other buildings stood between Fort Franklin and Fort Allen, in which soldiers were stationed, and Surfas was evidently the name of a man upon whose prop- erty one of the forts was located. The fort was named in honor of its projector, Benjamin Franklin.

James Young, " commissary of ye Musters," visited the fort on June 21st. He reported the road from Fort Lebanon " a narrow path, very hilly and swampy ; about half-way we came through a very thick and dangerous pine swamp; very few plantations on this road, most of them deserted and the houses burnt down ; half of a mile to the westward of this fort is good plantation ; the people retire to the fort every night. This fort stands about a mile from the North Mountain ; only two planta- tions near it. This fort is a square of about forty feet, very ill stockaded, with two log houses at opposite corners for bastions ; all very unfit for defence; the stockades are very open in many places ; it stands on the bank of a creek, the woods clear for 120 yards; the lieu- tenant (Igle) ranges towards Fort Lebanon and Fort Allen about four times a week ; much thunder, lightning and rain all night."

Fort Augusta .- The first allusion to this fort is in a letter by Governor Morris, on 1st of February, 1756, in which he states that he pro- posed to build a fort at Shamokin, at the forks of the Susquehanna, as soon as the season would admit a passage of that river. And in a letter dated July 20th following, he stated that a fort was then building at Shamokin (where a camp was stationed for some time) by Colonel Clap- ham, who had five hundred men with him. Shortly afterward (August 14, 1756), the colo-

nel addressed a letter to the Governor, dated at " Fort Augusta," in reference to a necessary supply of military stores. This fort was there- fore built during July and August, 1756. No dimensions are given. But it was large and commodious, affording room for many men and a large quantity of military stores at a time. Frequent reports of the supplies on hand and of the forces stationed there appear in the records and archives ; and cruelties by the Indians were committed in the vicinity. These matters are not included in this narrative. Though the fort was within the territorial limits of the county, it was many miles beyond the settle- ments of its inhabitants.

In order to give some idea of the activity of the soldiers in the northwestern part of the county, the journal of the commander 1 at Fort Northkill is presented in this connection. It begins June 13, 1754, and ends on August 31st. It contains an account of what was done every day during this time, and it also furnishes the first information relating to the actual invasion of the county by the Indians so far as to and even on this side of the Blue Mountain, and to the murders committed upon our inhabitants.

The commander says in his journal 2-,

" Accordingly I set ont from Reading by break of day on the 14th, and arrived at Lieut .- Colonel Weiser's, where I received orders to march with the company, or detachment, to Fort Henry, and from there take a detachment of twenty men and continue till to Fort on Northkill. Accordingly, on the

" 15th .- In the morning I took the said twenty men from Fort Henry of the new levies, and marched straitway to the said fort (Northkill), accompanied with Captain Busse and Captain Smith. As soon as I arrived, I gave ensign Harry (then commander at Fort Northkill) notice of my orders, and sent off two men immediately to Col. Weiser with a report of the condition I found the fort in, and sent him a list of the new levies who were detached from Captain Busse's fort (Henry) with me to this fort.

"16th .- Captains Busse and Smith set off about 10 o'clock with a scout often men, which Captain Busse had ordered of his company on the 15th. [Here a description of the fort appears, quoted before].

"17th .- I, with a corporal and twenty men, accord- ing to orders from Lieut .- Col. Weiser, went a scouting

1 Name not given in Archives.

2 2 Pennsylvania Archives, 159-166. Some of the days have been omitted, being of no interest or consequence.

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and ranging the woods till to Fort Lebanon, where we arrived at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. We staid there all night, being not able to scout any farther or return home because of a heavy rain.

"18th .- Set off from Fort Lebanon in the morning, being rainy weather, and ranged the woods, coming back, as before, with the same number of men, and arrived at Fort on Northkill about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

" 19th .- Gave orders to Sergeant Peter Smith to seout to Fort Lebanon and to bring me report the next day of his proceedings. Accordingly he arrived on the 30th about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and made report that he had done according to his orders, and that he had made no discoveries. Received a letter from Captain Morgan, 1 informing me that he had no news, &e.

"20th .- Sent off Corporal Shafer to scout as be- fore.

"21st .- Minister Shumaker2 came and preached a sermon to the company. The seout arrived from Fort Lebanon. The corporal reported that nothing strange had come to his knowledge. A seout of Captain Bnsse's arrived about 11 o'clock, and returned abont 4 towards their fort, but upon the Indian alarms, they immediately returned back to my fort and gave me notice; in the midst of the rain I sent on the first notice Sergeant Smith with eighteen men, and ordered them to divide themselves in two parties.

"23d .- Sergeant Smith returned and made report that he arrived at Dietz's house about 10 o'clock in the night, where they heard a gun go off at Jacob Smith's, ahont a mile off. They immediately set off again from said Smith's towards the place where the gun went off, and surrounded the house (according to my orders). They searched all the house bnt found no marks of Indians. From this they marched to Falk's house in the Gap, and surrounded it, but found no Indians. From there they went to the mountain, and arrived there at 2 o'clock in the morning, where Sergeant Smith, according to orders, waylaid the road in two parties, and as soon as it was day went back and bnried the man that was killed, to wit: Peter Geisinger, who was shot and killed the day before. At burying him, they heard five guns go off about two miles from said place, whereupon Sergeant Smith immediately repaired to the place, and divided them- selves into two parties. (I have sent off Corporal Shafer with eight men, on the 22d, to their assistance). Sergeant Smith also makes report that this morning, abont 7 o'clock, a girl about 15 years, daughter of Balser Schmidt, was taken prisoner by two Indians, whose tracks they saw and followed, but to no pur- pose. A party of Captain Busse's company went along from this and remained with my men all the time. Fifteen or sixteen of the inhabitants came to

1 Commander at Fort Lebanon.

2 Pastor of Trinity Lutheran congregation at Reading.

me and applied for assistance. I ordered out several detachments to assist them.

"June 24 .- I set off with twenty men from this to Captain Busse's fort, along the mountain, and called at the place where the murder was committed. Went up as far as the gap of the mountain, but as I found no tracks there I thought the Indians would be on this side the mountains, therefore I went up along the monntains withont opposition, till to Captain Busse's fort, and as it rained very hard all day and we went far about, we arrived there towards the evening.

"June 25 .- Set off in the morning with the same number of men, and scoured the woods nearly the same way back again, and arrived towards evening in the fort, being rainy weather.

" June 26 .- Received in the morning a letter for me, positively not to negleet my scouting toward Fort Lebanon ; accordingly, immediately called in my de- tachments. This afternoon a woman living about one and a half miles from here came to the fort and said she had seen an Indian just now in her field, almost naked, and had a gun, but said she did not stay to look long. I immediately sent off Sergeant Smith with two parties, consisting of about 20 men. They searched the place and found nothing, but saw two bare feet tracks. They divided into small partics, and scoured the woods till evening and then returned to the fort, and as I had to-day but men sufficient to guard the fort, I sent out no scout. This evening in- telligence came to me from the Colonel [Weiser] in- forming me that he had notice from Captain Orndt of fifteen going to fall on this settlement on hereabouts. He ordered me therefore immediately to send notice to Captain Bnsse's fort, in order that it might be from there conveyed to Fort Swatara. I did accordingly.

"June 27 .- Gave orders to Sergeant Smith to go scouting the woods between this and Fort Lebanon, and, if Captain Morgan thought that it wasserviceable, to range some way up Schuylkill (as that gap is their common rendezvous).

June 28 .- A seont of Captain Busse arrived in the forenoon, and set off again this afternoon.

" June 29 .- In the evening there came two men to the fort, and reported that the Indians had invaded about six miles from this, abont nine o'clock this morning. I was somewhat concerned that I had no sooner intelligence of it; however, I immediately sent off twelve men under two corporals.

"June 30 .- About noon the two corporals returned and made the following report : That yesterday they could not reach the place, as they were tired, but staid at a honse till nigh break of day, and then set off again. He did not immediately go to the place where the man, ete., were killed, but went somewhat further down towards the Schuylkill, thinking that the Indians had invaded lower down, but as it was not so he took another route towards the place where the murder was committed, and as he came there he found the man's wife (Frederick Myers), who had been at a

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plough, and shot through both her breasts and was scalped. After that he went to look for the man, whom they found dead and scalped some way in the woods. They took a ladder and carried him to his wife, where the neighbors came and helped to bury them, after which they went towards the mountain, and scouted along the same and arrived here about four 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 had heard the shot which killed his wife, went to run off with only the youngest child in his arms, as the man was shot through his body, and the child is one and a half years of age and is scalped, but yet alive, and is put at a doctor's. The other three, who were with their father, are taken prisoners ; one of them is a boy about ten years old, the other a girl of eight years and the other a boy of six 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 Reichard, of eight years, was taken prisoner at the same time. This was all done within half an hour, as some neighbors had been there in that space of time." 1

A squad of soldiers were ranging the woods daily between Forts Henry, Northkill and Lebanon, but no Indians were seen for three weeks. On the 23d of July the commander of

This heart-rending tragedy occurred about a mile and a half north of Shartlesville, in Upper Bern, on the farm owned by Frederick Moyer, the grandson of the little child that had such a narrow escape from cruel death.

Tradition says that the child found in the ditch was scalped and otherwise hurt, and died afterwards.

The child Frederick, who was scalped and put to a doctor, was also shot through the arm, probably pierced by the bullet that killed the father, but recovered and in due time became the owner of the farm and died at theage ofseventy- eight years. The property then came into the possession of his son, Jacob M., and after his death into the possession of his grandson, Frederick, who is the present owner.

The Reichard mentioned in the report belonged to a family living on the farm owned by Mr. Daniel Berger. Tradition says that the Reichard family was murdered, except one of the boys, whom the Indians had intended to take prisoner. Mr. Reichard used to tell his children that if the Indians should come and attempt to take any of them alive they should resist to their utmost. This young boy, wishing to carry out his father's request, resisted the Indians who, after conveying him as far as to Moyer's, and, chafed by his insubmission, killed him with their tomahawks and scalped him.

It was also about this time that the Hostetter family was killed near the forge west of Shartlesville .- Brunner's " Indians of Berks County," p. 29-30.

Fort Northkill marched along the mountain as far as to the east side of the Schuylkill, and re- mained at Fort Lebanon during the night. Then he continues in his journal,-

"July 24th .- Returned, and as soon as we came over on this side of the mountain (it being yet early in the day), I took quite another route through the woods, but made no discovery, so we arrived at Fort Northkill in the evening. I had not been there one- half an hour before 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 dam- age. I immediately sent off a party, but as it hap- pened, the boy being taken prisoner in the morning, night came on before my men could get there.

"25th .- In the morning I heard that the boy had escaped, and that he made report, and that there were four white men and four Indians with him, and that at night he escaped ; they had tied him and he was obliged to lie 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 and told him to be silent. I imagine they saw me with my men go over the day before yesterday. The Indians were this night about the fort, but it was very dark, there- fore I did not sally out.

"26th .- This morning sent out Sergeant Smith with five men to search about 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 tracks. It rained all day, therefore I could send no scouts.

[Scouts were sent out every day, but nothing was seen of the Indians for a week.]

" August 4th .- A scout of Captain Busse arrived and returned the same day. The inhabitants desir- ing assistance to bring in their harvest, I gave them some men, and went scouting, but as I left few men in the fort I returned this evening."

[The soldiers often guarded the fields while the farmers took off their grain and hauled it away, because when they were engaged in this work, the Indians could approach them more closely without being observed.]

"7th .- This being Sunday, I took a party and went to church,2 as the church lies near the moun- tain and the minister could not come without a guard.

"8th,-The sentry fired at an Indian, The Indian stood behind a bush about 300 yards off, and was viewing the fort. I went off with eighteen men, and parted them in six parties, and went after the In- dians, but could not come up with them. Went to clearing about the fort, it being thick of bushes.

2 The old church situated half a mile east of Strausstown.

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"9th .- Continual clearing and burning bush,

" 10th .- Sent off a scouting party who returned and brought no intelligence. This night the sentry about an hour after dark perceived that a fire which had been kindled to burn brush, but was before night gone out, began to burn afresh, upon which he called the Ser- geant of the guard, who, perceiving the same, ordered the guard to fire, on which the Indians ran off. The dogs pursued them and kept barking after them about half a mile. I had the men all under arms, but everything being now quiet, dismissed them, ordering them to be in continual readiness with their accoutre- ments on. In about an hour the Indians returned and took a fire-brand out of the fire and ran off. They were immediately fired on, but in vain.

"14th .- Being Sunday, Minister Shumaker came here and the soldiers being fatigued with continual scouting, there was no scout to-day.

" 20th .- Sent a scout of fifteen men to range the woods towards Schuylkill, into Windsor township, and with orders to call in some detachments lying in the said township, according to Lieut .- Colonel's order.

" 23d .- A scout of Captain Busse arrived. The sentry heard the Indians distinctly whistle this night.

" 26th .- Ensign Biddle returned from his scout having been at Captain Morgan's Fort [Lebanon], and thence scouted over the mountains into Al- bany, and thence along the foot of the mountain till here."

In June, 1756, James Young, "commissary general of ye musters," was sent "to examine into the state and condition of the forts, arms, ammunition, provisions, blankets, accoutre- ments, tools and other stock and things belong- ing to his majesty or the province," and report to the Governor. He rendered his report July 2, 1756. That part of the journal 1 which re- lates to the forts of Berks County is as fol- lows :

" READING, June 19 .- At 11 o'clock in the morn- ing I came to Reading. I sent an express to Lieut .- Col. Weiser, to acquaint him of my intended journey to the northern frontier, that I inclined to muster the company here, and that I should want some men to escort me to the next fort. Ammunition at Reading, 25 good muskets, 25 muskets want repairs, 11 broken muskets, 9 cartouch boxes, 250 pounds of powder and 600 pounds of lead.

" At 6 P.M., Col. Weiser came here, I mustered his company that is posted for a guard to this place. They consist of 30 men, viz: two sergeants and twen- ty-eight private soldiers ; two of them were absent at Col. Weiser's house.

" FORT NORTHKILL .- June 20, at 2 P.M. I set out from Reading, escorted by five men of the town, on horseback, for the Fort at Northkill; at half-past 6 we came to the fort, it is about 19 miles from Read- ing, the road very hilly and thick of woods. When I came here the Sergeant, who is commander, was ab- sent 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 Captain Morgan's company, at Fort Leb- anon, five of them were absent by his leave, viz., two he had let go to Reading for three days, one he had let go to his own house, ten miles off, and two more this afternoon, a few miles from the fort, on their own business ; there were but eight men and the Sergeant on duty. I am of opinion there ought to be a commissioned officer here, as the Sergeant does not do his duty, nor are the men under proper command for want of a superior officer; the woods are not cleared above forty yards from the fort ; I gave orders to cut all down for two hundred yards; I inquired the reason there was so little powder and lead here, the Sergeant told me he had repeatedly requested more of Captain Morgan, but to no purpose. Provisions here, flour and rum, for four weeks; Mr. Seely, of Reading, sends the officer money to purchase meal as they want it. Provincial arms and ammunition at Northkill Fort, viz., eight good muskets, four rounds of powder and lead, per man, fifteen blankets and three axes.

"June 21 .- At eight o'clock, A.M., Captain Busse, from Fort Henry, came here with eight men on horse- back, he expected to meet Conrad Weiser here, in or- der to proceed to the several forts on the northern frontier, but Colonel Weiser wrote him that other bus- iness prevented him, and desired Captain Busse to proceed with me, and return him an account how he found the forts, with the quantity of ammunition and stores in each, of which I was very glad, as the escort on horseback would expedite our journey very much, and be much safer.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 19

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards Number of Pages: 1418

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418