USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 20
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
accustomed to grind their corn. This spot 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 purposes.
"Fort Hunter," (as has been well said by the author of "Fron- tier Forts of Pennsylvania,") 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 prominent part it played in the history of the times. It would certainly be a source of regret were its location not to be perpetuated by a monument of some sort.
Among the fortifications erected at different periods between 1752 and 1763, by the Provincial government, between the Dela- ware and Susquehanna rivers, was one called Fort Halifax, which was built at the mouth of the creek known as Armstrong's, about a half mile above the present borough of Halifax. Nothing is now left to mark the spot save a slight elevation of ground and a well known to have been used by the garrison. This fort was erected in 1756 by Colonel William Clapham, who selected it as one of the most convenient places along the river, between Harrisburg and Shamokin, for a magazine, on account of its good natural situation above the Juniata falls. In addition to this there was plenty of good pine timber on the ground, and on account of this and the nearness of this place to Shamokin, he therefore concluded to erect a fort at this point. According to plans furnished, he had two hundred logs squared, which were about thirty feet long, which he drew to the place in order that it could be built quickly as possible, in order that the troops would not be delayed. After he had done all these things, he undertook to finish it in two weeks. Under guard of an officer and thirty men, being satisfied with the progress that was made at the fort, he proceeded on the march with these troops up the river in batteaux to McKee's store.
In a letter dated June 20, Governor Morris states to Colonel Clapham, "The progress already made in this fort renders it im- practicable for me to comply with the Commissioners' desire to con- tract it, at which I was surprised, as I expected every day orders to enlarge it, it being yet, in my opinion, too small. I shall leave an officer and thirty men with orders to finish it when I march from hence." In a postscript the Colonel adds: "The fort at this place
Simon gings Statement
4
Sanc
Burial Ground.
Bolt cirmstrongs
5
Supper Stand or Sheaffers
Fort Halifax
2
Island
The Fort at Armstrong's Caffed Fort Halifax . Erected by Colonel Clapham Anno 175€ and Dismantled Anno 1763.
.....
" Perry Grunty
Dusquehanna
Glemsons Island
Susquehanna
Driver
River
wa
Front
Market Street.
Street
The Borough of ortal fax Anno
Direct
Harrisburg Road
SITE OF FORT HALIFAX. Situate in Halifax Township, Dauphin Co. Penney laanic. on land of Henry A . KeCker Seg . inmediately north of his Farm Buildings
Public Highway
Armstrong
Street
Sistersville Road.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
without a name till your honor is pleased to confer one." Up to this time the place was known as Camp Armstrong. From Phila- delphia, June 25, 1756, Governor Morris writes: "The fort at Armstrong's, I would have it called Fort Halifax."
Immediately on receiving instructions, Colonel Clapham pro- ceeded to erect the fort, as appears from the following: "After receiving a proclamation enjoining a cessation of hostilities for a period of thirty days, and which proclamation was carried out by him, he claimed he was at a great loss to know how to proceed, not having any instructions as to whether his marching into the country may or may not be deemed an act of hostility. And in order to justify this action, was compelled to leave it to the opinion of a Council of War." He also complained "that the fort at this place is not in a condition to be left, as the waters of the river are daily falling and the opportunity of carriage by water to Shamokin might fail him."
Colonel Clapham was further ordered to proceed to Shamokin (now Sunbury), and previous to embarking for that post he wrote Governor Morris under date of July Ist, 1756, as follows: "I shall leave a sergeant's party at Harris, consisting of twelve men, twenty-four at Hunter's Fort, twenty-four at McKee's Store, each in command of an ensign; and Captain Miles with thirty men at Fort Halifax, with the endorsed instructions, as I have removed all the stores from Harris' Ferry and McKee's to this place."
July 1, 1756, Colonel Clapham writes from Fort Halifax: "You are to command a party of thirty men at Fort Halifax, which you are to finish with all possible expedition, observing not to suffer your party to straggle in small numbers into the woods or to go at any great distance from the fort, unless detached as an escort, or in case of special orders for that purpose. You are to build barracks within the Fort for your men and also a store house thirty feet by twelve, in which you are carefully to lodge all provisions, stores, etc., belonging to the province; if the boards purchased for that purpose are not sufficient to finish the banquette and execute the other designs herein recommended, your men are to be employed in sawing more out of the pine logs now lying near the fort. You are to keep a constant guard and relieve regularly, to have con- tinually one sentry in each bastion, and in case of attack to retreat to the fort and defend it to the last extremity. If anything extra- ordinary occurs, you are to immediately to dispatch notice thereof to his honor, the Governor, and to signify the same to me, if any relief or instructions may be necessary."
It appears from the fragments of record matter now to be
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
found, as though Fort Hunter was subsequently abandoned and the garrison removed to Fort Halifax. In August, 1757, in a petition to the Provincial Council, the inhabitants of Paxtang set forth "that the evacuation of Fort Hunter is of great disadvantage to them; that Fort Halifax is not necessary to secure communication with Fort Augusta, and is not so proper a situation for the batteaux parties as Fort Hunter; pray the Governor would be pleased to fix a sufficient number of men at Hunter's, under the command of an active officer, with strict orders to ravage the frontier daily." This petition was backed up by personal letters to the officers of the Council, among which was the following from Rev. John Elder :
"Paxton, July 30, 1757. As we of this township have peti- tioned the Governor for the removal of the garrison from Halifax to Hunters, I beg the favor of you to use your interest with his Honor in our behalf. The defense at Halifax is of no advantage; but a garrison at Hunter's under the command of an active officer, will be of great service; it will render the carriage of provisions and ammunition for the use of Augusta more easy and less expensive; and by encouraging the inhabitants to continue in their places, will prevent the weakening of the frontier settlements. We have only hinted at these things in the petition, which you will please to enlarge on, in the conversation with the Governor, and urge in such a manner as you think proper. 'Tis well known that repre- sentatives from the back inhabitants have but little weight with the gentlemen in power, looking on us, either as incapable of form- ing just notions of things, or as biased with selfish views. How- ever, I am satisfied 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 will readily agree with us and use your best offices with the Governor to prevail with him to grant it; and you will very much oblige, Sir, your most obedient and humble servant, John Elder."
Pending the consideration of this question in Council, Com- missary Young was called before that body. He stated that Fort Halifax is a very bad situation, being built between two ranges of hills, and nobody living near it, none could be protected by it; that it is no station for batteaux parties, having no command of the chan- nel, which runs close to the western shore, and is besides, covered with a large island between the channel and fort, so that numbers of the enemy may even in day time run down the river without being seen by that garrison.
These petitions for assistance from the neighborhood of Fort Hunter were inspired by the fact that the Indians made several in-
14
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
vasions there in 1757, and one man was killed within twenty rods of Hunter's barn. While the Provincial Council was not convinced of the advisability of abandoning Fort Halifax at that time, it was satisfied of the inadequacy of the force at Fort Hunter. Just when reinforcements were ordered there does not appear, but when Colonel Burd visited the fort in 1758, the garrison consisted of Captains Patterson and Levis and eighty men. They were, however, so poorly provided with powder and lead as to be practically useless, the cap- tain testifying that there were not on hand three rounds to a man. Fort Halifax was dismantled and abandoned in 1763, and nothing now remains to mark its location but a slight elevation of earth and the old well before mentioned, the same being located within the circular position.
If the purpose of its construction was, as some would lead us to believe, the protection of the batteaux which then carried stores, provisions and passengers to Forts McKee and Augusta, the site was indeed ill-chosen, because as claimed in the petition to the Council for its abandonment, the channel was on the opposite side of the Susquehanna, and between it and the fort were two islands which would have effectually hidden the passage up the river, either by day or by night, of an armed enemy.
One of these islands is that recently owned by John Clemson, while the other is now but a ledge of barren rock. There was little use for the fort as a protection for the settlers in that locality, as, in fact, but few then lived there. It is more than likely that the fort was erected with the view of affording a safe and convenient place at which on their two days' journey from Fort Hunter to Augusta, (Sunbury now) the teamsters with government supplies might stop for the night. Possibly a few families, including Armstrong's and William B. Meetch's, could also be benefitted thereby. Such protection was really necessary at the time, because the large island later owned by Albert Clemson was the home of a considerable number of Indians who would have exterminated the trains had there not been some safe place for them to pass the night.
At or near this place, lived Simon Girty, the outlaw, father of him of the same name, an Indian trader. After he was driven out of Shearman's creek settlement he removed with his family near where the borough of Halifax is situated, subsequently removing westward.
The fort was quadrangular, with four bastions, and was an earthwork about ten feet high, surrounded by a ditch of equal depth. The land on which it was located has more recently been owned by Henry A. Kelker, Esq., of Harrisburg.
2II
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
The passage through the Blue mountains, called Manada Gap, is distant from Fort Hunter about twelve miles. Because of this fact and the necessity for guarding such a prominent gateway to the populous district below, the government occupied said locality as its next station, in accordance with its general plan of defense. In the few descriptions given of this position, more or less confusion exists. Fortunately, by extensive personal research (says the author of a chapter in "Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania") we have been able to solve the problem. To understand it more thoroughly, it will be well to glance at such records of the place as exist.
. Immediately after the outbreak of the savages along the Sus- quehanna, during the fall of 1755, they began to threaten settlements further east. We accordingly find the instructions issued to Adam Read, under date of January 10, 1756, of which mention has already been made, to detach twenty-five men from the com- pany at his house and send them to Hunter's Mill, in order that they might range the mountains between that place and his residence. With the remainder of his command, which was posted at his house, he, in turn, was likewise to range the mountains toward Fort Hunter. (Penn. Arch., II. p. 545). These instructions were soon followed by the notification, January 26th, to Mr. Read, that "Captain Frederick Smith having been appointed to take post with an inde- pendent company at the Gap where Swehatara passes the mountains and to station a detachment of his company at Manada," there would no longer be any necessity for him to guard that frontier, and that accordingly he was relieved from guard duty. (Penn. Arch., II. p. 55I).
In connection with these instructions to Mr. Read, and of the same date, were the orders sent to Captain 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 follow- ing establishment, viz .: for your better government in the execu- tion of the trust reposed in you. * * * * You are to leave at Swehatara, a part of your Company sufficient 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, strengthen the stockade already erected there, or erect a new one as you shall judge best, and then you are to return to the fort at Swehatara, which you are to make your headquarters, leaving twenty men under the com- mand of a Commissioned Officer at the Fort at Monaday, and reliev- ing them from time to time in part or in whole as you shall think proper.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
"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 government.
"As you are unacquainted with the situation of the country, on the northern frontier of Lancaster county (now Lebanon) where you are to take post, I have directed James Galbraith, Esq., to furnish you with all the information in his Power, and to afford you his advice and assistance, not only in the choice of the 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 Captain Read and Captain Hedericks such arms, accouterments, 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 Capt. Thomas McKee to raise a company of thirty men, and to take part and to scour the country between Susquehanna and Manaday, you are upon his application to suppy him with such of the s'd arms, accourtriments, 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 552-53.)
In conjunction with these orders to Captain Smith, the Gov- ernor wrote as follows to James Galbraith, the commissary :
"I have ordered Captain Smith, with a company from Chester county, to take post at the Gap at Swehatara, and to station a detach- ment 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 in that part of the country, I must desire you will assist him with your advice, not only as to the most advantageous situ- ations 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 clearly 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 give license to erect a new fort, if deemed advisable, yet it is most likely Captain Smith, the commanding officer, accepted the already com- pleted work of the settlers, placed according to their good judg- ment. Amongst the comparatively few papers which give an account
BLUE
SWATARA
MOUNTAINS .
GAP
STATE ROAD TO HARRISBURG AND
INWOOD MANADA GAP
+ Z
W
m
FORT SWATARA.
ROAD
S MORAVIAN CHURCH 5 MILES FROM []BLOCK HOUSE JONESTOWN, 3 MILES N.W. FROM FREDERICKSBURG
ROAD
J.C.NEY FORMERLY
HESS'S
OLD BARN STILL STANDING SITE HESS BLOCK HOUSE 30U FROM BARN
-TO LICKDALE
LICHOALE STATION, FORMERLY UNION FORGE
TOFREDERICKSBURG -
FREDERICKSBURG
HOTEL
TO MANADA GAP FROM LICHDALE
WEIDMAN BLOCK HOUSE
BORDNER'S STORE.
SITE OF BLOCK HOUSE
HOUSE Ato BARN LEVI BROSS FARM OWNED BY JOSEPH GIBBER
To JONESTOWN FROM
To LICKDALE
LEBANON AND TREMONT R.R.
SWATARA CREEK.
ROAD: JONESTOWN TO MOUNTAINS
TO FREDERICKSBURG. -
MILL CREEK.
3
Ro
JONESTOWN STATION
JONESTOWN
- TO HARRISBURG
LITTLE SWATARA
SWATARA CREEK.
SITE OF FORT SWATARA AND HESS' BLOCK HOUSE.
WASHINGTON HOUSE
214
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
at Fort Manada there is nothing stated to the contrary, and per- sonal investigation tends to prove the same fact.
On July 11, 1756, Colonel Conrad Weiser gives Governor Morris a statement of his disposition of the troops, wherein "nine men are to stay constantly in 'Manity Fort' and six men to range east- ward from Manity towards Swatara, and six men to range westward towards Susquehanna. Each party so farr that they may reach their fort 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 numbers were to fall victims to the unfailing vigilance of the savage, owing, it must be admitted, to a temporary relaxation of their own watchfulness. In a letter of August 11, 1756, to Edward Shippen, this interesting and unfortunate event is related by Adam Read, as follows:
"SIR :- Yesterday Jacob Elles, a soldier of Capt. Smith's, at Brown's fortts, a Liver before 21/2 miles over ye first Mountains, just within the Gap at S'd fortts, having some wheat growing at his place, prevel'ed with his officer for some of ye men to help him to cut a Little of ye same, accordingly ten of them went, set guards Round & fell to work, about 10 of ye clock, they had Reap'd down & went to ye head to begin again before they had all weel begon, 3 Indians crept to ye fence just at their back & all 3 at one penal of ye fence fired upon them, killed their Corporal dead and another that was standing with his gun in one hand and a Bottle in ye other was wounded, his left arm is Broke in 2 places so that his gun fell, he being a little more down the field, the field being about 15 or 16 Poll length, them that Reaped had their arms about half way down at a large tree as soon as Ye Indians found they did not load their guns again, but leaped over ye fence into the middle of them & one of them left his gun behind him without ye fence, they all run thorou one another & thorou one other, ye Indians making a tarable Holo, and looked liker ye devel than an Indian. The Shoul- ders 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 Solders guns & would have killed another had not one that persued him fired at him, so that he dropped ye gun, the Indian fled and in going off, 2 Soldiers stood about a Rod apart, a Indian Run thorou 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 stood a little and so went all 3 off, a little after they left ye field they fired one gun and gave a hollo, the Solder hid the one that was killed, went home
21 5
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
to the fortts, found James Brown that lives in ye fortts one of their Soldiers a missing. The Lieutenant went out with more men and Brought in the dead man but still Brown was missing. I heard shooting that night, I went up next morning with some hands Capt. Smith had sent up more men from the other fort, went out next morning & against I got thare word had come in from them they had found James Brown Killed and Scalped. I went over with them to bring him home, and he was killed with the last shot about 20 polls from the field of Battle, his gun his Showes & Jacket carried off, the Soulders that found him told me that they tracked the 3 Indians to the Second Mountain & they found one of the Indians guns a little from Browns Corps brock to pieces as she had been good for little, they showed me where the Indians fired thorou ye fence & it was full Eleven yards to where the man lay dead; ye rising ground above ye field was clear of standing timber & the grubes low, so that they kept a Bad lookout. The above account ye may depend upon me, we have almost lost Hopes of anything but to move off and loose our cropes we have Reap'd with so much defickulty." (Penn. Arch., II. p. 738).
On the same subject, about the same time, Commissary Gal- braith wrote, August 10, from Derry, to Governor Hamilton, as follows :
"Honored Sir. There is nothing heare allmost Every day but Murder Committed by the Indians in some part or other; about five miles above me, at Monaday Gap, there was two of the prov- ance solders Kild, and wounded; there wase but three Indians, and they came in amongst ten of our men and committed the murder and went off safe; the name or sight of the Indians maks allmost all mankind in these parts to trimble, an Indians 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 appearance, will be laid west by flight, with what is gon and agoing, more especially Cumberland County." ( Penn. Arch. II. p. 740).
Mow many more unfortunates in this neighborhood fell vic- tims 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 & Co., pleading for assistance, which was duly laid before the Provin- cial Council and appears on its minutes as follows :
"Friends And Fellow Subjects : I send you in a few lines, the malconcholly condition of the frontiers of this county; last Tuesday
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
the 12 of this Instant, ten Indians came on Noa Frederick plowing in his field, killed and scalped him, and carried away three of his children that was with him, the Eldest boy nine years old, plundered his House, and carried away everything that suited their purpose, such as Cloathes, Bread, Butter, a Saddle and good Riffle, Guns &c., it being but two short miles from Captain Smith's Fort, at Swa- tawro Gap and a little better from my House. Last Saturday even- ing an Indian came to the House of Philip Robeson, carrying a Green Bush before him, said Roberson's son being on the corner of the 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 Mandy Fort; and yesterday morning, two miles from Smith's Fort, at Swatawro, in Bethel township, as Jacob Fornwall 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 carry- ing 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 not come to my Hand as yet, but that the Indians was continuing their murder. The Frontiers is em- ployed in nothing but carrying off their Effects, so that some miles is now waist. We are willing but not able to without help; you are able if you be willing (that is including the lower parts of the County) 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. Gentle- men consider what you will do, and be not long about it and let not the World say that we died as fools dyed. Our hands is not tied, but let us exert ourselves and do something for the Honour of our Country and the preservation of our Fellow Subjects. I hope you will communicate our Grievences to the lower parts of our County, for surely they will send us some help, if they understand our Griev- ances. I would have gone down myself, but dare not, my family is in such danger. I expect an Answer by the Bearer, if Possible. "I am Gentleman, Your Very humble Servant, "ADAM READ."
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