USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 18
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183
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Lynch, John M.
Pye, Samuel H. B.
May, James (Wagoner)
Scott, Elmer
McAlicher, Harper L.
Snow, Earl C.
McFarlan, Chas. A.
Snyder, Wm. M.
McGonigal, E.
Spicer, Rudolph K. (Corporal)
Miller, Chas. H.
Stairs, Robert
Miller, Chas. K. Miller, William G. (Corporal)
Stauffer. Frank W.
Minnich, J. O.
Stine, Henry M. (Second Lieut.)
Morgan, Frank W. (Corporal)
Shock, Wm. H.
Morton, Wm. C. (Corporal)
Swartz, Ed. A.
Moyer, Frank C.
Taylor, John A.
Napier, Robert W. (Sergt.)
Theurer, Wmn.
Nebinger, Ralph S.
Weaver. Harry A.
Newman, David B.
Whitcomb, Frank P.
Orner, Henry A.
Wilson, Frank
Otto, Edgar (Cook)
Wilson, Harry M.
Perkley, John I.
Wissler, Christian (Corporal)
Peters, Henry
Wolf, John L.
Price, Wm.
The Eighth Regiment-Pursuant to General Orders No. 7, A. G. O., the Eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, reported at Mt. Gretna on April 28, 1898, for the purpose of volun- teering in the United States service, in the War with Spain. The severely inclement weather prevented the regiment from erecting camp until Friday, April 29. The strength of the regiment was forty-three officers and 586 enlisted men; total, 639. The minimum per company was fixed at eighty men. Theodore Hoffman was com- missioned as colonel of the Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and all but Company G were mustered into the United States service, May 12, 1898, Company G having been mustered in the day prior.
May 13 the regiment had orders to proceed to Chickamauga, Georgia, with ten days' rations. This order, was, however, coun- termanded on May 15, and on the 16th the regiment was ordered to proceed to Washington, D. C., with ten days rations. On the morn- ing of the 18th of May, the regiment broke camp at Mount Gretna and arrived at Dunn Loring Station, Virginia, at six o'clock p. m. This was the first regiment to locate at what came to be known as Camp Alger. They were assigned to the Second Army Corps. June 16, 1898, in accordance with orders from the War Department, the companies were ordered to be recruited to one hundred and six men each, and Majors Hutchinson and Holmes were detailed as recruiting officers. July 20th the regiment was presented with a beautiful silk United States flag by the ladies of Shippensburg, Penn- sylvania, August 30th the regiment proceeded to Camp Meade, Middletown, Pennsylvania, arriving there early August 3Ist. On October 26th the regiment left Camp Meade and proceeded via the Pennsylvania Railroad to participate in the Peace Jubilee in Phil-
Wilson, Charles A.
Oliver, Henry B.
Steever. George W.
184
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
adelphia, and returned the same day. Under War Department orders the regiment broke camp at five a. m. November 13, 1898, and embarked for Augusta, Georgia, proceeding via Washington City, Richmond, Raleigh, through Virginia and the Carolinas, and arrived at Augusta on November 15, and went into camp at Camp Mackenzie, four miles from Augusta. On January 27, 1899, the regiment participated with the brigade in a practice march of fifteen miles. The regiment was finally mustered out of the United States service at Camp Mackenzie, March 7, 1899, by Captain W. P. Burnham, Fifth United States Infantry. The following served from Dauphin county in this regiment, and mostly as members of Company D:
Anderson, Oliver C.
Heist, Stuart H. (Corp.)
Helper, George W.
Herald, Chas. M.
Bailets, Chas. S.
Herman, John C. (Sergt.)
Hipple, Harry L.
Beck, Solomon
Hipple, Lewis (Capt.)
Bergengren, George O. R.
(Promoted June 21, 1898, to Corpo- ral).
Bergstresser, Edwin R. (First Lieut.)
Humer, Edwin C. (Sergt.)
Bernheisel. Chas. H.
Hutchinson, Jo. B. (Major).
Blessing, Chas. E.
Jauss, Christian, (Maj. and Sergt.)
Boden, John (Second Lieut.)
Jenkins, Robert D.
Kautz, Sam H. (Corporal).
Keeper, Sam. M. (Corporal).
Keller, Harry M.
Laubenstein, Ezekias (Captain).
Laubenstein, Wm. I.
Laurie, John B. F. (Corporal).
Challerton, Frank H.
Lautsbough, Wm.
Coble, Chas. R.
Llewellyn, Chas. F. (Signal Corps).
Colestock, Ed. R.
Lowe, Preston V.
Luerssen, Herman C.
Manahan, Don F.
Markley, Leroy G.
Marshbank, Frantz B.
Martin, John W.
Marzolf, John R.
Eberly, Wm. E.
Ellinger, George W. (Corporal).
Etter, Chas. F. (Second Lieutenant).
Fager, Albert Jr., (Corp.)
Feig, David Fisher, Chas. S. (Corp.)
Frasch, Fred. D.
Froehlich, Frank A.,
(Promoted to Corporal July 2, 1898.)
Morris, Howard
Norris. Alexander W. (First Lieut.)
Poist, David F. Prowell, J. Z. (Corp.)
Reeser, Charles E.
Rice, Harry (Wagoner.)
Schell, Ed. H. (Corp.)
Schmiedel. Ernst W. E.
Schoener, Clarence A. (Musician).
.
Hoffman, Clarence S.
Hoffman, Wm. G.
Bradshaw, Jo. S. (Cook).
Brownewell, Wm. H. (Q. M. Sergt.) Buehler, Edgar (Musician).
Bumbaugh, John A.
Burd, John W. (Wagoner).
Carpenter, John H.
Crawford, Chas. V.
Cumming, James G.
Cunkle, Sam C. Daugherty, Don D. (Chief Musician). Duey, Wm. J.
Earp, Harry E.
McCallum, Ed. McCarmant, Saml. (Corp.)
McEvoy, John W.
McFarlan, Malcom M. (Musician).
Meals, Harry S.
Mikle, Frank H. (First Sergt.)
Miller, Charles J.
Milliken, Harry I.
Gilbert, John G. (Sergt .- Major).
Goodyear, Harry J.
Gordon, James L. Goss. Clyde C. Hale, James M.
Hautzman, Chas. F.
Hartman, Jerry J. (Sergt.) Hartranft, Wilson.
Hopple, James S. (Hospital Corps).
Arter, George E.
Badorf, Harry A.
Baker, Jesse D.
185
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Schoener, Wm. (Musician).
Taylor, Nathan
Searfauss, John.
Wert, Ed. H. (Corp.)
Sheetz, David F.
Wert, J. Y. (Corp.)
Sliker, Clarence W.
Wert, Samuel A.
Smith, Edgar Z.
Wilbar, Chas. L.
Snell, George S.
Wilson, Thos. W.
Spangler, John K.
Winters, Wm. I. (Corp.)
Stackpole, Oscar L. (Sergt.)
Wollerton, Wm. M.
Stephenson, Gomer L.
Zieders, Wm.
Stephenson, John D. (Corp.)
Zimmerman, Chas. M.
Sullivan, Ed. J., (Corp.)
Zook, Jacob F. (Corp.)
April 28, 1898, when the militia companies left Harrisburg to go into camp at Mount Gretna, preparatory to joining the United States army for service in the Spanish-American war, a great fare- well demonstration was given them by the loyal citizens of Harris- burg. With cheers from the lips of thousands, and with many a "God-speed," the boys marched to the Union Station. They forced their way through a solid mass of well-wishers, who filled the side- walks and streets. From every window and many a housetop flags were unfurled. Scenes of 1861 were re-enacted in multiplied ratio proportionate to the growth of the city since those eventful Civil War days. In a few hours after the call for troops by President McKinley, each volunteer had settled up his business matters, bade his friends adieu, and laid aside the duties of civil life, to take up his burden as a soldier.
Governor Hastings made a patriotic speech to the "City Grays" and "Governor's Troop," two of the best commands of the Penn- sylvania National Guard, assembled at the armory. A procession was formed, and halted by the Civil War Monument. Rev. Dr. Dimmick, of the Grace Methodist Church, offered prayer, and hun- dreds of school children with pretty flags were present to do honor to them. At the station the crush of people was tremendous, and made it almost impossible for the men to reach the train. It was such an outburst of enthusiasm as Harrisburg had seldom seen. As the procession rounded Front and Market streets, the band played "America," and the "Star Spangled Banner." First came the blue- coats, thirty-five in number; next the Harrisburg band of twenty pieces; all members of the city council, wearing small flags and badges; the Epworth Guards, the old Veterans of Grand Army Posts Nos. 58, 116 and 520, about two hundred strong; a score of uniformed letter carriers; State officials, and Governor Hastings; the Eighth Regiment Drum Corps, while the City Grays brought up the rear.
The engine which pulled the train of tents and camp equipage to Mount Gretna (camp) bore a huge placard, bearing the inscrip-
186
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
tion "Remember the Maine." Careful estimates placed the throng at between seven and eight thousand people.
The din that was raised at seven o'clock in the morning by the whistles and bells of industrial plants, fire engine houses, railroad shops, etc., for fifteen minutes, was indeed startling. The same demonstration of noise was repeated at 9.00 a. m., when the train left the station.
Many of these Guards subsequently enlisted in the United States army, and found their way to Cuba and the Philippines. When the Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment left for the Pacific coast, en-route to the Philippines, another great demonstration was held at Harris- burg.
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CHAPTER VII.
FORTS OF DAUPHIN COUNTY-FORT HARRIS-FORT HUNTER- "INDIAN FORT HUNTER"-FORT HALIFAX-MANADA FORT AND FORT MCKEE.
John Harris, Sr., about 1705, built his log house on the bank of the Susquehanna where now stands Harrisburg. This building later became "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 to introduce a plow on the Susquehanna." His son, John Jr., was born in this house in 1726, was a most ener- getic and influential man; he became the founder of Harrisburg, upon the site of what was known for three-quarters of a century as "Harris Ferry."
After Braddock's defeat, the earliest onset of the savages was naturally felt along the Susquehanna. Mr. Harris was among 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 Gover- nor 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 the neighborhood, whether he had gone to protect the settlers. (Col. Rec. VI. p. 654). On October 29, 1755, he writes to Edward Shippen, Esq., of Lancaster, as follows: "We expect the enemy upon us every day, and the inhabitants is aban- doning their plantations, being greatly discouraged at the approach of such a number of cruel savages and no signs of assistance. The Indians is cutting us off every day and had a certain account of about fifteen hundred Indians, beside French, being on their march against us and Virginia, and now close to 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 about forty Indians out many days, and intended to burn my house and destroy myself and family. I have this day cut holes in my house, and is deter- mined 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).
Besides providing port-holes for musketry, Mr. Harris erected a substantial stockade around his home, and otherwise made an
190
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
actual fort of it. Edward 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 Govern- ment would order six more men there to strengthen it, it would in my opinion be a great use to the cause, even were no provisions to be stored there at all; though 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 consequence would be that most of ye inhabi- tants within twenty miles of his house would immediately leave their plantations, the enemy can come over the hills at five miles distant from McKee's Fort." * * (Penn. Arch. II. p. 635).
Mr. Harris writes to R. Peters, under date of November 5, 1756: "Here is at my Fort Two Prisoners y't come from Shamo- kin abt one month agoe. Be pleased to inform his honor, Our Gov- ernor, that Direction 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 the 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 visitt the Troops from Susquehanna to Delaware, took Capt. Hambright along with me. *
"18th Saturday.
"Obliged to leave Captain Hambright here (sick at Barney Hughes's). I sett off this morning at 9 a. m. fo Hunter's Fort, at 2 p. m. arrived at Harris, found Lieut'ns Broodhead & Patterson. & Commissary Galbraith here, and 20 men." * Penn. Arch. III. p. 352).
And on June 11, 1756, Col. Clapham writes that he has de- tached Sergeant McCurdy 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 log house, erected about 1705 by John Harris, Sr., and later occupied by his son, John Jr., was the Fort Harris, at Harris Ferry, near Harrisburg, as the large
19I
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
stone house constructed by Mr. Harris on Front street below Mul- berry, was not built until 1766-69. What then was its appearance, and where did it stand? Fortunately we have a representation of the building taken from the original in the possession of General Simon Cameron's effects shown in the "History of Dauphin and Lebanon counties" by Dr. William H. Egle, page 293, from which the following description is reproduced :
"It was the typical log cabin of the early settler, with its huge chimneys, although somewhat more pretentious in size. It stood on the lower bank of the river, about one hundred and fifty or two hundred feet below the spot where now repose his remains. The foundation walls of this house have been seen by some of the oldest citizens (about 1820 the cellar was visible-Penn. Hist. Collections -Sherman Day, p. 283). A well dug by Mr. Harris still exists about one hundred feet east of his grave. 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 traffic with the Indians, or stored there by Indian traders, who brought them from the western country."
The exact location of Fort Harris admits of no doubt, if indeed it ever did. It would seem a matter of prime importance that its position and history should be perpetuated by a monument.
Six miles to the north of Fort Harris, or Harrisburg, at the junction 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 Rock- ville.
Whilst its distance from Fort Harris was but six miles, not more than half as far as they were from each other, the remaining defenses planned by the government, yet its very important situa- tion "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 continuance, when so many other forts were dis- mantled.
Exactly when built and by whom is not on record. It is very probable, however, that the defenses were originated by the settlers
192
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
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 government 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 determination. 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 subsequently 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 :
"Orders to Adam Read, Esq., 1756. "CARLISLE, January 10, 1756.
"The Commissioners thinking that the Company of fifty men under your command are sufficient to guard the frontier along the Kitte-Ktiny Hills, from your own house to Hunter's Mill, have refused for the present to take any other man in that quarter 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 Mills, upon Susquehanna, under the command of your lieutenant, or Officer next under your- self, 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 detachment 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 mountain 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 moun- tains towards Hunter's Mill; and you and they are to continue upon this servis till further order.
You are to add ten men to your company out of the township of Paxton, and to make the detachment to Hunter's Mill of twenty more men, which with those ten men, are to complete 30 for that service, and keep an account of the time when these ten enter them- selves, that you may be enabled to make up your muster roll upon oath." (Penn. Arch. II. p. 545).
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194
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Hardly had this detachment entered upon its duties when further instructions were sent Mr. Read by Governor Morris, dated Janu- ary 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 Capt. McKee such Provincial arms, accourtrim'ts, Blankets, tools and stores as he may at any time have received, and to take McKee's receipt fo them, which you are to transmit to me." ( Penn. Arch. II. p. 551).
At the same time the following instructions were sent to Cap- tain McKee :
"READING, Jan. 26, 1756.
"T. McKee :
"You are to receive from the officer now commanding the detachment of Cap't Reads Company at Hunters 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 suffi- cient you are to apply to Capt. Frederick Smith for a further supply out of what he will receive from Capt. Read and Capt. Hedericks. But as the Province is at present in want of arms and Blankets, if any of the men you shall enlist, will find themselves with these articles, they shall receive half a dollar for the use of their gun, and half a dollar for the use of their blanket." (Penn. Arch. II. p. 553).
In connection with these instructions to Captains Read and Mc- Kee was a letter from the Governor, under the same date, January 26, 1756, to James Galbraith, Esq., a Provincial Commissioner, which rehearses sundry orders given, amongst them those just quoted, to which he adds, "I have also instructed Captain 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 these matters, or in anything else that the King's service and the safety of the inhabitants may require." (Penn. Arch. II. p. 554.)
The manner in which the Governor speaks of finishing the "fort already begun" indicates, of course, its incompleteness, and yet the order of Captain Read, of January 10, 1756, distinctly di- rects him to "detach twenty-five of the men now at your house, to
195
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
the fort at Hunter's Mill," so that a defense of some kind un- doubtedly existed there prior to that date. We have nothing of record to indicate the fact that the government made any systematic arrangement for defense in that locality before January 1, 1756, and can reasonably presume that Captain Read'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 November, 1755, and can easily understand how the soldiers would naturally strengthen and complete what had already been started. We 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 specifies "December 9, 1755, by Thomas Forster, Esq. and Thomas McKee, at Hunter's Fort, 121/2 lb. powder, and 25 lb. swan shot," (Penn. Arch. II., p. 614) at which time McKee was probably occupying the position with the neighboring settlers. He was temporarily relieved in January by the detachment of Provincial soldiers from Captain 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 HUNTER'S MILL, April 5, 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 after noon & Gives me an account that there is a Great Confusion amongst ye Indians of ye North Branch of Susquehanna; the Delawares are moving all from thence to Ohio, and wants to persuade ye Shanoes along with them, but they Decline Goeing 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 that they intend to Remain. He has brought two more men, some women and some Children along with him, and sayeth that he intends to live and Die with us, and insists upon my conducting him down to where his sister and children is, at Conistoga, and I am Loath to Leave my post, as his Honor was offended at ye last time
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