History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 14

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650

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The scarcity of arms and ammunition was one of the greatest difficulties under which the frontiersmen labored, and yet the Executive Council was constantly calling for militia to assist at the front. On the 28th of March Colonel Hunter replied to President Wharton that he was doing all he could to aid the recruiting officers. "The fifth class of the militia," he observed, "was on the frontier under the command of Colonel Antes," who was the only field officer he was then allowed until the sixth and seventh classes were ordered out. "If they are to be stationed on the frontiers," he continues, " we shall be badly off for arms to accommodate three classes at one time, for in case the Indians have any intention of committing hostil- ities it will be very soon, as the snow is partly all gone." He also reminded President Wharton that when he was last in Philadelphia he had " endeavored to purchase some good guns, but could get none that were worth buying. Only two rifles and sixty ordinary muskets we had made for this county, are all that we have of public arms." In order to do the best he could under the discouraging circum- stances he ordered all the old and broken guns repaired.

The fifth class of militia, as they were called, were only to serve two months, and as soon as their time expired the sixth class was expected to relieve them. The inhabitants complained that if no troops were stationed above Muncy they would be obliged to abandon their homes and go down the river, which would break up the settlements and leave the country to the mercy of the enemy. On the 5th of May Colonel Hunter informed President Wharton that he " would have ordered out the sixth class to relieve the fifth," but he could find no meat for their subsistence. He could not have subsisted the fifth class, " only for some beef and pork bought by Col. Hugh White for the Continental stores, and when that was done there was no more to be had to buy in this county." And as for flour there was not enough to be had to serve the sixth class for two months. The condition of the people was truly deplorable.

A party of Indians penetrated Buffalo valley and secured a large amount of plun- der. They were pursued by Lieut. Moses Van Campen and a small party of men

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

across Bald Eagle mountain, who, overtaking them at a large spring on the side hill near Jersey Shore, recovered much of the stolen goods. Where they were overtaken is probably what was afterwards known as Pfouts's spring, near the present ceme- tery.

The outlook became so threatening that in this month (May) the sixth and seventh classes of Col. Cookson Long's battalion were ordered by Colonel Hunter to be con- solidated and scout along the frontier until the sixth and seventh classes of Colonels Murray and Hosterman should arrive at the Great Island to cover that portion of the county. The Indians were now fairly on the war path and butcheries became more frequent. On the 16th of May, near the mouth of Bald Eagle creek, three men, while engaged in planting corn, were attacked, killed, and scalped. Two days subsequently, near Pine creek, a man, woman, and child were taken prisoners, prob- ably by the same party. On the 20th two men, seven women, and several children were captured.

WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER.

A few days after this, three families aggregating sixteen persons, great and small, were attacked on Loyalsock. How many were killed is not positively known, but a party of armed men who soon afterwards visited the place, reported finding only two bodies, which leads to the conclusion that the balance were carried away. as prisoners. Just where they lived is not known, but it could not have been far up the creek, as few settlers at that time had ventured any distance above Montours- ville. Their cabins were reduced to ashes and everything about the premises destroyed. The Indians were bent on a war of extermination, and whenever they were not too closely pressed, they left nothing but ruin behind them.

About this time the house of Andrew Armstrong, who had settled at the " big spring," a short distance east of the present village of Linden, was visited by a party of Indians. They came suddenly and stealthily. Mrs. Armstrong, who first discovered them, slipped under the bed. They entered the house, seized Armstrong, his little son, a woman named Nancy Bunday, and hurriedly departed. Armstrong called to his wife to lie still, which she did, and escaped. They were in such a hurry, on account of a small body of armed whites being near, that they neither ran- sacked the house nor fired it. They turned up the creek, and when Mrs. Armstrong crawled from her hiding place and peered through the window she saw her husband

and little son disappear in the forest. Years rolled away and no tidings came from Andrew Armstrong. No doubt he had been cruelly murdered in the wilderness. The little son was also given up, when, one day long after peace had been restored, an aged Indian with a young man by his side knocked at the cottage door of Mrs. Armstrong. From his appearance there was white blood in his viens. The old Indian asserted that the young man had been carried away when very small and reared among his people. But he partook so much of the appearance and character of an Indian that she could not recognize him as her son. He remained with her some time, but having all the manners, customs, and actions of an Indian, he did not readily take to the ways of civilized life, and finally returned to those with whom he had been reared. He might have been her son, but she could detect nothing about him to convince her that he was. He never returned.

niiant. " Futushino & Engraving CINY

Geos Seuz

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TOMAHAWK AND SCALPING KNIFE.

TWO REMARKABLE ESCAPES.

Small bodies of savages were constantly seeking for victims, and it was dangerous for any one to go any distance from protection. Near the close of May a thrilling incident occurred on the river below the mouth of Pine creek. A party of four men, composed of Robert Fleming, Robert Donaldson, James McMichael, and John Ham- ilton, came down the river in a canoe to Antes Fort, from Horn's Fort, to obtain a flat-boat. This latter fort was situated on a bluff on the south side of the river a short distance west of the present village of Pine, in Clinton county, and several families were collected there for safety. They wanted the boat to assist in trans- porting their families down the river, as the danger on the frontier was too great for them to remain any longer. Having secured the flat boat two of the party started back in their canoe, while the other two were to follow with the boat. The canoe party passed through Pine creek ripples, when they paddled over to the south shore for the purpose of waiting for their comrades in the flat, who were slowly poling up the river. As they were in the act of landing they were fired on by a body of Indians concealed in the bushes on the shore. Donaldson jumped out of the canoe, fired, and cried out to the others, "Come on!" Hamilton, who was with him in the canoe, saw the Indians rise from their place of concealment, and at the same time he noticed the blood spurting from Donaldson's back as he was trying to reload his gun. Taking in the situation at a glance, Hamilton saw the futility of attempting resist- ance, and quickly shoving the canoe from the shore, jumped into the water, and keeping it between himself and the Indians, held on with one hand, while with the other he worked it across the river. Several shots were fired, and the bullets flew around him lively for a few minutes, but he managed to reach the north shore with- out receiving a scratch. His escape was remarkable. When he clambered up the bank his woolen clothes were so heavy, from being saturated with water, that he could make but slow headway. As soon as he was beyond the range of the Indian bullets, he quickly divested himself of all clothing but his shirt, and started on a run up the river. Crossing Pine creek he dashed up a path which led through the open ground above the creek. He ran for dear life for about three miles, or until he came opposite Horn's Fort. On giving the alarm a canoe was sent to bring him over. The tradition which has been preserved of this exciting incident says that he was badly frightened and almost exhausted when his rescuers reached him.

On hearing the firing McMichael, Fleming, and a young man named James Jack- son, who where on the flat-boat, and some distance behind, pushed quickly to the north shore, but before they could get out of range the first two were killed. Jackson escaped, and finding a horse in the pasture west of Pine creek, caught it, mounted, and rode to the settlement opposite the fort, when a party came over and rescued him.

A party was at once organized and sent dowu the river to look for the Indians, but they could not be found. Being in the vicinity of two forts, and knowing that they would be pursued, they very likely dashed up the ravine through which Aughanbaugh's run flows to the river and escaped. The pursuing party found the dead bodies of Donaldson, Fleming, and McMichael where they fell, and carried them to Antes Fort. They were buried in the little cemetery near the fort. This sad affair cast a gloom over the families congregated at both forts and they all heartily wished for deliverance to a place of greater safety.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

John Hamilton, who made such a narrow escape, was only about sixteen years of age, and was looked upon as the most nimble footed youth in the settlement. He was the elder brother of Robert Hamilton, who became the father of John Hamilton, who was born October 14, 1800, and died April 24, 1891.

The same day of this bloody occurrence a number of men were driving a lot of cattle down the river from a point above the Great Island, for the purpose of plac- ing them out of reach of the hostiles. As they were crossing the level country near where Liberty stands they were fired on by a party of Indians who had been pursuing them. The whites returned the fire and an Indian was observed to fall. His comrades promptly carried him off. One of the cattle party named Samuel Flem- ing was shot through the shoulder. The Indians fled precipitately and abandoned a lot of plunder which they had stolen from some of the settlers. It consisted largely of blankets, which were secured by the whites.

These repeated attacks of the Indians had the effect of rousing the Executive Council to a realization of the great danger which threatened the frontier, and on the 21st of May a letter was forwarded to Colonel Hunter from Lancaster in answer to his repeated appeals for help. It set out by saying that "it gave the Council great pain to find that the Indians had begun their horrid ravages," and that "one hundred fire arms of which thirty-one are rifles," had been procured and forwarded to Harris's Ferry," and besides this lot "seventy rifles had been obtained from the Continental store," and would be sent to the same destination for use of the inhabi- tants up the river. The Board of War had also ordered " one ton of lead and half a ton of powder to Carlisle," one-fourth of which was for the West Branch country.

Council admitted its belief that the attack of the savages was instigated by "our European [English] enemy, who avow in the face of the world the employment of such horried allies. It is manifestly made in concert with the invaders of the east-

ern side of our State." " Beyond all doubt then," continnes the letter, "Pennsyl- vania has a claim to be supported by the force and money of the United States. Council and Assembly have therefore in a joint representation to Congress set forth the case of our suffering settlers, and demanded the aid and protection necessary." Had the appeals been heeded ere this and steps taken to properly protect the fron- tier the great calamity which overtook the settlers might have been averted and many lives and much property saved.

Council stated that as they experienced much difficulty in "victualing the militia of Northumberland county," they had requested the "delegation of Pennsylvania to apply for proper and adequate supplies of food and stores for use in the immediate defence of the county." The Board of War asked General Washington "to send Colonel Butler and at least 250 riflemen from the army as an immediate snccor to the militia against the Indians." This aid, though small, the Committee feared might be precarious, as they did not know what the British contemplated doing, and Wash- ington "might not be hasty in sending off this detachment." Colonel Hunter was assured, however, that everything possible would be done to assist him, and he was authorized to use any of the cannon at Fort Augusta for defending other places.

POINTS OF CONCENTRATION.

Months before any decisive measures had been adopted by the Supreme Executive

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TOMAHAWK AND SCALPING KNIFE.

Council and the Board of War, the inhabitants had formed some plans for their protection. A movement of this kind was imperative. Stockades were placed around buildings at certain places where families could concentrate in case of great danger. Capt. John Brady had enclosed his building on Muncy manor with stockades, and it was known as "Fort Brady." The records of the time contain no description of the work, but according to tradition it was quite strong and many families in the . valley fled to it for protection.

Wallis's residence on Muncy Farms was an important point for concentration, and efforts were made early to have a defensive work erected, but it was not done until after the first heavy blow had fallen. It is probable that some kind of tempo- rary works were hastily improvised, for we hear of a number of families being col- lected there some time before the exodus.

It is also said that there were some defensive works at the house of Samuel Harris, on the west side of Loyalsock creek, as families fled there. There appears . to have been a number of settlers in that vicinity, which early attracted the attention of maranding bands of Indians.

Then came the places of refuge at Lycoming creek and Antes Fort, already described. Fort Horn and Reed's Fort were the last. The latter, as has been shown, stood on the site of Lock Haven and was the outpost of civilization in that direction.

Among the New Jersey settlers near the mouth of Loyalsock creek was Albert Covenhoven (corrupted into Crownover). He had three sons, James, Thomas, and Robert, and a daughter, Isabella. Robert became distinguished as a guide, spy, and Indian killer. Soon after coming to the valley Albert Covenhoven lost all his effects by a sudden freshet in the creek, and the family were reduced to great distress. On the breaking out of the Revolution Robert joined the Continental army, but late in 1777 he returned home on account of the expiration of his enlistment and at once took an active part in aiding to protect the frontier. The neighbors of the Coven- hovens were the Thomsons, Wychoffs, Van Camps, Van Nests, etc. All of these, save the first mentioned, were of Hollandish descent. John Thomson was a Scotchman. When he came to America he brought with him a small Bible printed at Edinburgh in 1735. He married Juda Bodine in New Jersey and recorded the dates of birth of himself and his wife, and, afterwards, that of their child. On reaching the West Branch valley Thomson located about a mile west of Loyalsock creek on the Sheshe- quin path, up Miller's run, less than a mile north of the place where that path was crossed by the trail leading up the river. He built his house and barn on the edge of the upland, whose watershed produced the terrible swamp lying between it and the river. When the first alarm was given Thomson took his wife and child, and such goods as they could carry, and fled to Wallis's on horseback, seven miles away. His harvest was about ripe and the promise of a good crop was excellent. There they found several of their neighbors who had preceded them. Col. William Hep- burn was there and had command. Colonel Hosterman, Captain Berry, Captain Reynolds and others who had just been sent from Fort Augusta to assist in protect- ing the frontier were there also. It was a motley and excited collection.

CAPTAIN BERRY'S EXPEDITION.

Peter Wychoff settled on Mill creek, just above the place where it empties into

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Loyalsock, and about a mile northeasterly from Thomson's. A number of horses / having been stolen, Captain Berry, with a company, set out for Loyalsock on the 10th of June, 1778, to look for them. William Wychoff, son of Peter, his brother William, and his sons, Cornelius and Joseph, were along. So were their cousins, James aud Thomas Covenhoven, and perhaps others of their relatives. Besides these there was a friendly Indian, known as "Captain Sharpshins," a negro, and others to the number of twelve. After starting a messenger was sent after them to advise an immediate return. The messenger was Robert Covenhoven. But Captain Berry refused to acknowledge Colonel Hepburn's authority, and persisted in going forward. As so many of his relatives were in the expedition, Robert Covenhoven determined to go along as guide. The company proceeded cautiously through the Narrows, and so on up the creek, searching in vain for the horses, until they thought they had gone far enough. They then determined to retrace their steps, and accordingly set out again down the creek. Robert Covenhoven believed that there were Indians in the vicinity, and advised a return by a safer, but more difficult, route through the woods, and over the mountain, in order to avoid the danger of an ambuscade. But Captain Berry thought there was no danger, and paid little atten- tion to his warning. He insisted until Berry impatiently said he was needlessly alarmed, and accused him of cowardice. This irritated him, aud he insisted no more. He went privately, however, to his brothers and communicated to them his fears that they would be attacked, and that if so they would probably all be killed. He urged them to keep a sharp ontlook, and if the flash of a gun was seen, to spring immediately behind a tree.

They traveled on without molestation until they again reached the Narrows, a mile above the present bridge across Loyalsock, where they were suddenly fired upon by a band of savages in ambush. Most of the party, including the reckless Captain Berry, were shot down. Robert Covenhoven, however, and a few others escaped and returned to Wallis's place and reported the fate of the expedition. Night was approaching, but Colonel Hepburn at once set out with a party to rescue any other fugitives that might be in the vicinity of Loyalsock creek.

It was learned that Thomas Covenhoven, Peter Wychoff, his son, Cornelius, and the negro, were made prisoners. The negro was afterwards burned at the stake in the presence of the other prisoners, who did not know but what they would meet the same fate. But they suffered only the privations and distresses incident to the con- dition of captives among savages.

THE WYCHOFFS-AN EXCITING FIGHT. 4

Peter Wychoff was fifty-four years of age when captured and his hair was white. The Indians, however, dyed it black and dressed him in their own costume so that he should not be easily recognized. This story was magnified by repetition into the statement in Day's Historical Collections, page 455, that he was bald when captured, and on his return had a fine head of hair ! Both he and his son, Cornelius, remained in captivity about two years. Joseph Wychoff, another son, was captured at the same time. While a prisoner in Canada he became acquainted with Keziah Ford, also a captive from Kentucky, and they were married by Father De Lisle. of Montreal. Their marriage certificate is still preserved by their descendants.

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TOMAHAWK AND SCALPING KNIFE.

Joseph Wychoff had taken the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, July 30, 1777, in Northumberland county, and was appointed lieutenant of the Third Company of the Third Battalion of Militia, April 24, 1785. His commission was issued by the Supreme Executive Council.

After their release from captivity, Peter Wychoff and his son, William, returned to New Jersey and remained there till the war was over, when they came back to their place on the Loyalsock and erected a house on the old site. In a short time his wife and younger children, who had fled to New Jersey, returned also.

The family of the Wychoffs was a large one, and they suffered greatly at the hands of the savages. William Wychoff, the brother of Peter, went with him from New Jersey when they first emigrated to the West Branch. He was the " old man Wychoff," spoken of in some of the early accounts, who had a rude tannery on the Loyalsock and made leather for the settlement before the war broke out. Near the time of the affair just described he was at work in his tannery, and his nephews, the Covenhoven brothers, were mowing grass in an adjacent meadow. A dog suddenly commenced barking and exhibited great symptoms of alarm. He would run towards the woods, sniff the air, and return. The Covenhovens were confident that Indians were near, and, seizing their rifles, called to the old man to accompany them to some place of greater security. At first he refused, alleging that there was no danger, but at last yielded to their persuasions and went with them. They had proceeded but a short distance when one of them hissed to the dog, and he at once bounded into the bushes and seized an Indian by the leg, who was hiding there. He jumped up and shot the dog. The whites, who were six in number, immediately took to trees. The Indians, who had been lying in ambush, did the same, and firing began. "Old man Wychoff," who was very much hump- backed, unfortunately got behind a tree which was too small to hide all of his person. Another small tree, fortunately, stood between him and the Indians, and as they fired at him their bullets struck this tree and caused the bark to fly around Robert Covenhoven, who stood behind another tree near by. He called to Peter to stand up straight or he would be hit. As Robert was loading his rifle his ramrod was shot in two, but luckily he had a "wiper" with which he rammed down the bullet. Just at this moment he observed an Indian steadily creeping round to get a shot at the old man. Watching him closely, till he attempted to crawl over a log, he fired and shot him through the body. He sprang into the air, gave a loud whoop, and fell. His comrades rushed up and bore him away, when the whites retreated as rapidly as possible. He appeared to be a chief or commander of the party. Had Covenhoven not succeeded in hitting him the whites might have been worsted.

JOHN THOMSON-HIS DEATH AND THE EXPERIENCES OF HIS FAMILY.

When the party under Captain Berry set out from Wallis's to look for stolen horses, John Thomson began to regret that he had so hurriedly left his place a short time before, and he determined to return and bring off his cattle. The day was rainy. At last Thomson found two men who were willing to accompany him and assist in driving the cattle. One was named Peter Shufelt, a New Jersey man; the other was William Wychoff, a lad of sixteen. They were mounted and followed Captain Berry's party to the crossing of the Loyalsock, when they left them and

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

proceeded over the hills to the Thomson improvement and residence. Thomson found everything apparently as he and his wife had left it. Nothing had been dis- turbed. They tied their horses near the door and entered the honse. It was now long past noon and they were hungry, and at once set about preparing their dinner.

Suddenly the horses snorted with alarm, and rushing to the door they saw ser- eral Indians approaching from the barn, where they had been lying in ambush. Thomson and his companions seized their guns and made a dash for the woods: but the Indians rushed upon them, firing as they came, and Peter Shufelt was mor- tally wounded. Thomson stopped and returned the fire. But this heroic effort to save his friend cost him his own life. Some of the Indians had reserved their fire for just this opportunity, and now delivered it with fatal effect. A bullet passed through his powder horn, which burned at his side as he lay in the agonies of death. William Wychoff succeeded in reaching the woods, but was severely wounded, and finally captured at the end of a skirmish which had lasted nearly three-quarters of an hour. The bodies of the men were at once thrown out of sight, in the hope that others following might fall into the same ambuscade. But this hope was not real- ized, for a rescue party larger than the Indians were willing to engage was close at hand. They had fired the barn, but did not have time to apply the torch to the house, when they were forced to fly with their prisoner.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 14

Author: edited by John F. Meginness Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1650

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650