USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 3
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About the same time that Levi Trump wrote to Governor Denny, Peter Bard also addressed him, in which he says: "Your Honour has doubtless hear'd of the French building a fort uppon the West branch of this river, at a place called Shingelaclamoos, &c."
From extracts taken from the journal of Frederick Post on this perilous mission, we observe as follows :
"July 15th .- This day I received orders from his Honour, the Governor, to sett out on my intended Journey, & proceeded as far as Germantown, where I found all the Indians drunk ; Will'm M'Kaking returned to Philada for a horse that was promised him.
" 16th .- This day I waited for the said M'Kaking, 'till most dinner time, & when he came, he could hardly stand, being very drunk, & seeing he could Proceed no farther, I left with him and the rest, & went on to Bethlehem.
" 17th .- I arrive at Bethlehem, & prepared for my journey.
" 18th .- I read over both Treatties, that held at East town, and that at Philadelphia, and made myself acquainted with the particulars of each.
" 19th .- With much difficulty I perswaded the Indians to leave Bethlehem, and traveled this day no farther than Hazes. Had a hard shower of Rain."
For the next ten days a greater portion of the time was employed in pre- vailing upon the Indians to proceed further than Fort Allen. They had become frightened by unfavorable reports from up the West Branch Valley. However, their fears were removed and the party proceeded. Again referring to the journal :
" 27th .- They furnished us here (Fort Augusta) with everything necessary for our Journey, and we sett out with good courage ; after having rode about ten miles, were caught in a hard shower of rain.
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
" 28th .- We came to Weheeponal, where the road turns off for Wioming, and slept this night at Quenashawakee.
" 29th .- We crossed the Susquehanna over the Big Island, my companions were now very fearfull, and this night slept a great way from the Road, with- out a fire, but we could not sleep for bugs and mosquetoes.
"30th & 31st .- We were glad when it was day, that we might sett out ; we got upon the Mountains, heavy Rains all night, the Heavens alone were our covering, and we accepted of all that poured thence.
" August Ist .- We saw three Hoops on a Bush, to one there remained long white hair ; our horses left us, I suppose not being fond of the dry food they met with on the Mountain, tho with a good deal of trouble we found them again. We slept this night on the same mountain.
" 2nd .- We came across several places where two Poles Painted Red, were stuck in the ground, in order to tye their Prisoners ; we arrived this night at Shinglimuce (Clearfield), where was the above marks; 'tis a disagreeable and melancholy sight to see the means they make use of, according to their critical way, to punish Flesh & Blood.
" 3rd .- We came this day to a part of the River Tobees (Toby), over the mountains, a very bad road."
Having now passed this vicinity, the journal recites the unimportant fea- tures of the trip until the arrival at Fort Venango.
" 7th .- We arrived at Fort Venango, situated between two mountains in a fork of the Ohio River. I prayed the Lord to Blind them as he did the enemies of Lot and Elisha, that I might pass unknown ; when we arrived, the Fort being on the other side of the River, we haled, and desired them to fetch us over, which they were afraid to do, but showed us a place where we might ford ; we slept this night within half gun shot of the fort."
Having fulfilled the object of their journey, the party started to return, and on the fifteenth day of September reached the " Susquehanna, & crost 6 times, & came to Calamawesink, where had been an Old Indian town; in the Even- ing there Came 3 Indians, and said they saw two Indian tracts where we Slept turn Back, so we were Sure that they followed us.
" 16th & 17th .- We Crossed Over the big Mountain (Allegheny.)
" 18th .- Came to Big Island, where we had nothing to live on, we were Oblidg'd to lye to hunt.
" 19th .- We met with Twenty Warriors who were Returning from the Inhabitants, with five Prisoners & I Scalp, Six of them was Delawares, the Rest Mingoes, we Sat Down all in one Ring together, I Informed them where I had been & what was done, they asked me to go back a Little, and so I did, and Slept all night with them, and inform'd them of the Particulars ; they said they did not know it, if they had, they would not have gone to war: be strong if you make a Good peace, then we will bring all the prisoners Back again ; they kill'd two Deer, & gave us one."
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THE INDIANS IN THE FRENCH WAR.
The party arrived at Fort Augusta on the 22d of September, as the jour- nal reads, "very Weary and Hungry, but Greatly Rejoiced at our Return from this Tedious Journey."
Frederick Post, who has thus far taken such an active part in the affairs of the pioneers, and who acted as mediator between the provincial authorities and the Indians in this vicinity, came to this country about sixteen years prior to the time of the events narrated. His full name was Christian Frederick Post. At the time of his coming he had no other views than to preach the gospel among the heathen. He was a member of the Unitas Fratram Church, which church had two settled congregations of Indians. During the war he was intrusted by the government with negotiations to secure the assistance of the various Indian nations, and in every trust committed to his charge he fulfilled its mission promptly and well.
In July, 1758, about the time that Levi Trump and Peter Bard wrote to Governor Denny, a party of French and their Indian allies appeared upon the West Branch at the village known to the Indians as Achtschingi Clammui (now Clearfield) where they commenced the erection of a fort, intending evidently to make this a central point of operations on this branch of the Susquehanna. They fitted out a war expedition and embarked down the river on rafts to attack Fort Augusta They found the fort much stronger in construction and garrison than they anticipated, and being without the artillery necessary for its siege, left without making an attempt against it.
To epitomize the events that occurred from time to time in the territory now embraced within the limits of the county of Clearfield or immediately adjoining it, reference is made to the several messages addressed by Governor Denny to the proprietaries, concerning which he says : "In my last I men- tioned that the Augusta Batalion were employed in building and carrying on the works at that Fort (Augusta), their duty and labor very severe, even under these Circumstances of the Garrison, I ordered a strong Detachment under Colonel Clapham towards the Ohio, to act offensively, and if possible destroy an Indian town ; but Intelligence arriving before these orders could be carried into Execution, that a large body of French and Indians were coming to besiege the Fort, they were obliged to lay the expedition aside. This account proving false, Colonel Clapham who was employed in finishing the Fort, sent out a Captains Command to attack an Indian Town called Shinglecalamouse, situate near the head of West Branch of Susquehanna, where was supposed to be a great resort of Indians. Captain Hambright entered the Town, found the Cabins all standing, but deserted by the Indians. Agreeably to his orders he did not touch anything, nor destroy the Town, in hopes the Indians would come and settle there again. This was the only Indian Town that could be at- tacked ; and we found by a second Expedition that they had returned, set their Town on Fire, and were retired to Venango situate where the River au Bœuf 5
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
runs into the Ohio. Since the affair of Kittanning the Indians on this side of the Ohio have mostly retired with their Wives and Children under the French Forts on that River."
Still later on in this summary of the events, the governor says: "An Expressed arrived from Shamokin with an Account of the Arrival of a Number of the Six Nation Indians, from Sir William Johnson, our known and hearty Friends, who informed the Commanding officer, that a body of French and Indians was making Canoes at the head of the West Branch of Susquehannah, with an intent to come and attack the Fort."
In a communication addressed by the governor to the proprietaries, he again calls the attention to operations in this section as follows: "It will be proper to acquaint You, that the Six Nation Indians, as they passed by Shamokin in their Way to Harris's Ferry, inform'd the Commanding Officer that a large Body of French & Indians was making Canoes at the Head of the West Branch, and intended to come and attack that Fort."
Returning to the more active scenes of the war, we find Colonel Armstrong engaged in an expedition against the Indian village at Kittanning, which he destroyed early in September, 1756, but not without a severe loss to his own force. This was the first aggressive movement against the Indian towns by the provincial forces, and was a serious blow to the savages.
On November 8th following, began the grand council with the Indians at Easton, at which Teedyuscung, chief of the Delawares, and other prominent chiefs and warriors took part. The leading topic under discussion was the purchase made of the Indians in 1754, concerning lands on the West Branch and Penn's Creek. Teedyuscung acted as chief orator on this occasion, and maintained his position with firmness and dignity.
In May, 1757, the conference with the Six Nations was held at Lancaster, at which the governor and other dignitaries were present.
In 1758 William Pitt entered the councils of George II as actual, though not nominal chief of the ministry, and then England entered earnestly into the contest. That year Fort Duquesne was abandoned before the steady approach of the English and provincial forces. In the North Frontenac was captured by Colonel Bradstreet. The Western army passed under command of Gen- eral John Forbes, and Boquet commanded the provincials assembled at Rays- town. Major Grant, with a force of provincials, came in contact with a large body of French and Indian troops on the night of September 21, and was repulsed with great loss. Fort Duquesne was abandoned and blown up by the retreating French forces on November Ist. This ended the struggle be- tween the English and French in the Ohio Valley and in Pennsylvania. The cordon was broken, but Fort Niagara still held out for France ; still the mes- sengers ran backward and forward, to and from Presque Isle and Venango; still the Senecas strongly declared their friendship for Yonnondio and Yonnondio's royal master.
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WARS WITH THE INDIANS.
In 1759 still heavier blows were struck. Wolf assailed Quebec, the Gib- ralter of the French. At the same time, Prideau, with two thousand British and provincials, and Sir William Johnson with one thousand faithful Iroquois sailed up Ontario and laid siege to Fort Niagara. Its capture was certain un- less relief could be obtained. Its commander, however, was not idle. Away through the forest sped his lithe red-skinned messengers to summon the sons and allies of France. D'Aubrey, at Venango, heard the call and responded with his most zealous endeavors. Gathering all the troops from far and near, stripping bare the little French posts of the West, and mustering every red man he could persuade to follow, he set forth to relieve distressed Niagara with near a thousand Frenchmen and four hundred dusky warriors of the West. The forces of Sir William Johnson met those of D'Aubrey, and after a long and bloody fight the French were utterly routed. On the news reaching the fort the garrison at once surrendered, and the control of the Niagara, which for over a hundred years had been in the French, passed into the hands of the English. Soon Wolf gained Quebec at the cost of his own life.
In September, 1760, the governor-general of Canada surrendered Mon- treal, and with it Detroit, Venango, and all other posts within his jurisdiction . This surrender was ratified by the treaty of peace between England and France in February, 1763, which ceded the French power in America to the British.
After the campaign of 1760, a greater portion of the Pennsylvania forces were discharged. Small garrisons were stationed at Presque Isle, Le Bœuf, Fort Allen, and Fort Augusta.
CHAPTER IV.
WARS WITH THE INDIANS.
Pontiac's War-The League - Depredations on the Frontier -- Forts Taken - Indians Driven Back - The Treaty of Peace -- Threatenings of an Outbreak- Departure of the Mo- ravians - Incidents - The Cresap War - Logan.
U PON the close of the French and English war and the withdrawal of the French army from the province, the struggling colonists looked and hoped for an era of peace and quiet, that they might re-establish their wasted fortunes and extend their settlements farther along the frontier. But no, al- though the power of the French was entirely extinguished, the Western Indians still remembered them with affection, and were still disposed to wage war upon the red-coated English, and all who had aided or abetted their
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
cause. The renowned Pontiac, chief of the Ottawas of Canada, united many of these tribes of the West in a league against the hated red-coats, immediately after the advent of the latter into Canadian territory ; and as no such confeder- ation had ever been formed against the French during all their long years of possession, his action must be assigned to some other motive than mere hatred of all civilized intruders.
In the month of May, 1763, the league assailed and captured nine out of twelve forts on the frontier, and massacred their garrisons. The post at Mich- ilimakinac fell first, and soon after Le Bœuf, Venango, Presque Isle, Le Bay, Saint Joseph's, Miamis, Ouachtunon, and Sandusky. Niagara, Fort Pitt, and Detroit alone withstood this terrible shock. Detroit was saved through the efforts of an Indian woman who informed the commander of the post of the intended attack, and a proper defense was made. This attack was led by the mighty Pontiac in person, and although unsuccessful in his design against the place, he reaped a revenge in the terrible massacre perpetrated on the troops un- der Captain Dalyell, who had been sent to the relief of the garrison.
After several murders had been committed by the Indians around Fort Pitt, Governor Hamilton took measures to protect the frontier, and sent out several detachments of troops, and strengthened the garrison at Fort Augusta. The whole country west of Shippensburg was overrun with marauding Indians, who destroyed and plundered every village and hamlet. On both sides of the Susquehanna the inhabitants were compelled to flee to the woods and moun- tains for safety. Colonel Boquet was sent to relieve Fort Pitt with a force of troops and supplies. Before arriving there he detached a strong force and sent them to assist in defense of Fort Ligonier, where large quantities of ammuni- tion were stored. The Indians having become aware of this, raised the siege of Fort Pitt and hastened to attack Fort Ligonier and intercept the reinforce- ments. As the relief party were nearing the fort, they were attacked by the Indians, but drove them back. Again and again did the merciless savage foe charge the little band of sturdy troops, but were as often repulsed at the point of the bayonet, and finally routed and driven from the ground.
The command under Colonel Boquet was attacked, but defeated the enemy by leading them into an ambuscade, saving his whole force from destruction. In due time he made his way to Fort Pitt, but the Indians, disheartened by their recent defeat and heavy loss, made no attack against it.
The Indians soon after abandoned the country between Presque Isle and Sandusky, and retreated to the land west of the Ohio.
In the month of September, 1763, occurred the awful tragedy at Devil's. Hole, when a band of Senecas under Honayewus, afterward celebrated as Far- mer's Brother, and Cornplanter, ambushed a train of English army wagons with an escort of ninety soldiers, when every man, save four, fell victims to their cruel and relentless foe.
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WARS WITH THE INDIANS.
In October of the same year a regiment of six hundred soldiers under Major Wilkins, was attacked by the Senecas at Black Rock, but succeeded in repulsing them with severe loss.
This was the last serious attack by the Senecas upon the English. Becom- ing at length satisfied that Pontiac's scheme was a failure, they sullenly agreed to abandon further ravages and remain at peace with the whites.
On the retirement of the Indians to the Muskingum and the regions beyond the Ohio, the inhabitants returned in fancied security to the settlements and resumed their usual avocations. The winter months came and with them gen- eral tranquillity prevailed. But at length, with the coming warm season, the frontier settlements were again aroused with the familiar but unexpected war- whoop in all its savage barbarity. The Indians fell suddenly upon the border settlements, devastating and destroying everything in their path. The toma- hawk and scalping knife again were in full play, creating alarm, suffering, blood- shed, and death in their unnatural and inhuman greed. To meet and check this terrible onslaught, a decisive action was taken by the British and provincials. Colonel Bradstreet, with a strong body of troops, came by water to Fort Niagara, accompanied by Sir William Johnson and a body of his Iroquois war- riors. A council of friendly Indians was held at the fort, among whom Sir William exercised his skill, and satisfactory treaties were made with them. The Senecas, who had repeatedly promised friendship, still held aloof, and were said to be meditating a renewal of the war. Bradstreet ordered their immediate attendance, under penalty of the destruction of their villages. They then came, ratified the treaty and thenceforth adhered to it.
Colonel Boquet, with a strong force of regulars and provincials, and a com- plement of about two hundred friendly Indians, was to sweep through Penn- sylvania and then act in concert with Bradstreet along the lakes.
The forces under Boquet reached Fort Loudon in August, when he re- ceived a courier from Bradstreet to the effect that he had concluded a treaty of peace with the Delawares and Shawnese; but as these savages were still murdering and plundering he had no confidence in them, and continued prep- arations for an aggressive campaign against them. After a long and weary march, and having met with no considerable opposition from the Indians, Bo- quet, with his command reached Tuscarawas, near the forks of the Muskingum. Here he was informed that chiefs of the Delawares and Shawnese were coming to negotiate a treaty of peace, and preparations were made to receive them.
At the conference Custaloga and Beaver appeared for the Delawares ; Keissinautchtha for the Shawnese, and Kiyashuta for the Senecas. After con- siderable discussion a treaty was agreed upon, but was not confirmed until all white prisoners were delivered up.
In the month of May following the treaty was ratified, and the Indians ful- filled their promises to deliver up all prisoners.
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Peace now once more was restored, families returned to their homes, and the tide of population once again began its westward move toward the frontier. Trade again was carried on along the lakes, almost entirely in open boats pro- pelled by oars, and an occasional temporary sail. In fair weather tolerable progress could be made, but woe to the craft which might be overtaken by a storm.
No further event of importance occurred to disturb the peace and prosper- ity of the settlers along the borders until the spring and summer of 1767. Some of the lawless whites, by encroaching upon the Indian lands, nearly provoked them to a renewal of hostilities. The Indians, however, willing to abide by their declarations of peace, restrained themselves upon the promise of the proprietaries that their grievances should be redressed. So tardy, indeed, was the promised justice that in 1768 another open war with the Indians menaced the province. At this juncture Sir William Johnson came to the rescue, and through his efforts, war was averted. At his request a council was held at Fort Stanwix, in New York State, with the chiefs and sachems of the Six Nations. By the terms of the treaty made there on the 5th day of November, 1768, the Indian title to another tract in Pennsylvania was extin- guished. The northern boundary of the lands sold under this treaty followed the West Branch through Clearfield county and entered Indiana county at the point where Clearfield, Indiana, and Cambria counties join. It will be remem- bered that these lands were claimed by the whites under the treaty of 1754, and their encroachments on them at that time had much to do with provok- ing the Indians occupying those lands to hostilities during the French and Indian war.
The year 1772 marked another event in the history of this vicinity, al- though not warlike in its nature. The Moravian Indians and mission- aries had built up a village called Friedenshutten, a few miles below Wyalu- sing, in what is now Bradford county. By the treaty at Fort Stanwix the Six Nations sold this land to the proprietaries, and this Christian band were com- pelled to vacate. Although the proprietaries had forbidden that any surveys should be made near them, the disturbance consequent upon the Connecticut claim intervened, and having been invited by the Delawares on the Ohio to come and settle among them, they made preparations and departed in 1772.
Early in the month of June the party, comprising two hundred and forty persons, young and old, with their cattle, horses, and other effects, took up their journey through Indian roads and over the Allegheny Mountains, by way of the Bald Eagle, for the Ohio. They were divided into two bodies, one pursuing the journey in boats up the West Branch under charge of John Roth, and the other by land under John Ettwein. The party in boats carried their church bell in advance of the fleet, and proceeded in this manner as far as the island, where they were soon after joined by those on the land route. From
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WARS WITH THE INDIANS.
this point the boats were abandoned, and all proceeded together by land. When they reached the mountains the greatest difficulty was experienced in crossing them, as they had not sufficient horses to transport all their personal effects, and were, consequently, obliged to carry the balance on their backs. To add to the inconvenience of this task they were seriously troubled by rattlesnakes and other venomous reptiles, and lost several of their horses by being bitten by them.
They complained further of being greatly annoyed by an insect known to the Indians as " punks," or "punkeys," which were so exceedingly small as to be almost invisible to the eye, but whose bites were painful as red-hot ashes. Some persons died during the journey, among them a crippled child, ten or eleven years of age, who was carried by the mother in a basket on her back. In the "Sketches of the Snow-shoe Region," by James Gilliland, he says : " One of the party was buried at Moravian Run, where the Indian path crosses, about a mile west of Big Moshannon Creek, and from this the name was given to the run." The original journal has this entry : "July 14, 1772, we came to Clearfield Creek, so called by the Indians, because on its banks there are acres of lands that resemble clearings, buffalo that resort thither having de- stroyed every vestige of undergrowth, and left the face of the country as bare as though it had been cleared by the grub-axe of the pioneer."
The run, which since that time has been called Moravian Run, is now partly in Graham and Bradford townships. Graham was originally a part of Bradford.
The reader will understand that up to this time there had been no perma- nent settlements made by the pioneers in this vicinity; that the country for many miles around was an unbroken and dense forest, with only an occasional opening along the river and its tributaries. On the site of the present borough of Clearfield was the Indian village of " Chincklacamoose," frequently men- tioned in the foregoing chapters. This name has been spelled in so many ways that we shall not attempt to say which is correct, but adopt that most frequently used by past authorities.
After the conclusion of Colonel Boquet's campaign and the treaty of peace at Fort Stanwix, and after the transgressions of the whites had been forgiven under that treaty, there occurred another outbreak in 1774, which, it must be acknowledged, was occasioned by the whites themselves. Several murders were committed upon the Indians in various localities on the head waters of the Susquehanna, Ohio, Monongahela, and Cheat Rivers. The Senecas made frequent complaints against the depredations of the whites upon some of their people. Logan, the celebrated chief, was one of those selected by the whites as an object of their vengeance. Bald Eagle was another against whom a special attack was made, and who was murdered by them. However, through the mediating influences of Sir William Johnson, no serious outbreak occurred.
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