History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 21

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

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While the preparations at Wyoming were going on for Sullivan's expedition up the North Branch, there was little disturbance on the West Branch, and for a few weeks the inhabitants enjoyed a period of comparative quiet. But the Indians, like Sullivan, were preparing for a grand coup de main. If he invaded their country they proposed to sweep down through the West Branch valley with a strong force, lay the country in waste, and hang upon his rear as he ascended the river. These plans were laid by the British and Tories of the north and the Indians were willing to carry them out. With a strong force in his front and rear they hoped to crush him. But while Sullivan succeeded in crushing the Indians, the West Branch valley was scourged worse than it had ever been before. Sullivan claimed that when his expeditionary force moved it would attract the attention of the Indians and they would neglect other portions of the country and hasten to attack him. In this he was mistaken.

As summer came on the ravages of the Indians gradually increased. The country seemed to be filled with small roving bands and no one considered him- self safe. In the latter part of June the Eleventh regiment was withdrawn to join Sullivan at Wyoming. As the greater part of the supplies for his force were trans- ported up the river in boats from the depot that had been established at Sunbury, there was such a demand for men for boating purposes that it was almost impossible to get any one to serve in the militia. As high as 200 boats were employed at one time.

On the 26th of June Colonel Hunter informed Council that, exclusive of the militia at Fort Freeland and at Potter's Fort in Penn's valley, he had been able to collect but thirty men, and they were stationed at Sunbury to protect the stores. The term for which the two months' companies of militia had enlisted had expired, and he was practically without men to defend the frontier. This emboldened the Indian scouting parties and they increased their ravages.

THE SECOND INDIAN INVASION.

In the meantime rumors were reaching the settlements almost daily of the approach of a large force of Indians, and the fear of the inhabitants was greatly increased. Since the regulars had been withdrawn from Fort Muncy it was used as a place of rendezvous for the settlers. Col. William Hepburn had charge of the fort, and to him the people looked for orders and advice. With true military instinct, he determined to send scouts up Lycoming creek to ascertain if there were any signs of the enemy approaching in force. Robert Covenhoven, who was noted for his sagacity, coolness, and acquaintance with the Indian paths, was selected for this dangerous duty. He preferred to go alone, as he thought he could better elude observ- ation than if accompanied by any one. Avoiding the main trail up Lycoming, and by keeping well upon the mountains, he cautiously crept through the wilderness towards the sources of the stream, mostly at night. Somewhere in the vicinity of what is supposed to be Roaring Branch, he gained the first evidences of the presence of the

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DEATH OF CAPT. JOHN BRADY.

savages. He could distinctly hear their whoops of defiance in the depths of the forest. 3 They evidently fancied themselves secure in those wild retreats, because they were so far from the settlements; they had no idea that white men would ad- vance that far to observe their movements. But the daring, keen-eyed spy was there to watch them. Covenhoven secreted himself in a thicket, where he felt secure, and observed them during the day. They appeared to be concentrating in force, and as shots were frequently fired, he came to the conclusion that they were cleaning their guns and making preparations to descend the stream for the purpose of murder, pillage, and destruction.

Satisfied that a strong force was coming, the wary spy quickly retraced his steps over the rugged hills, through the thickets and defiles. The journey was a danger- ous one, but being vigorous and strong he made rapid progress. Striking an Indian path as he approached Loyalsock-probably the great Sheshequin trail-he followed it a short distance. Suddenly it occurred to him that he might meet Indians if he continued in the path, and he stepped behind a large tree to rest. He had been there but a few minutes when two Indians came jogging along and passed him, humming a rude ditty. Had he kept the path they would have met him, and as there were two to one, he might have been killed and the settlers would have been left in ignorance of what was coming.

Reaching Fort Muncy Covenhoven informed Colonel Hepburn of what he had learned and gave it as his opinion that great danger was near. Acting on his advice, the inhabitants were at once apprised of their danger and preparations were at once made to leave the fort and fly to Sunbury for the second time. Although there was much fear among the people, they were less excited than at the time of the " Big Runaway," and a panic did not seize them.

As the main body of the invading force hung in the northern forests, evidently waiting for reinforcements, small bands of Indians descended into the valley and ravaged the country. On the 23d of July, 1779, Colonel Hunter wrote to Col. Matthew Smith: "We have really distressing times at present in this county. Immediately after the evacuation of Fort Muncy the Indians began their cruel murders again. The 3d instant they killed three men and took two prisoners at Lycoming; the 8th instant they burned the Widow Smith's mills and killed one man; the 17th they killed two men and took three prisoners from Fort Brady, and the same day they burned Starrett's mills and all the principal houses in Muncy township; the 20th they killed three men at Freeland's fort, and took two prisoners."

These ravaging bands were but the advance guard of the heavy force collected in the fastnesses of Lycoming creek, which would soon descend to sweep the valley as with the besom of destruction. In the same letter Colonel Hunter said these murders had so intimidated the people that they were "really on the eve of desert- ing the county entirely, as there is no prospect of any assistance to enable them to get their harvests put up." He thought that the army at Wyoming would draw the attention of the Indians in that direction, but it did not, and affairs were worse here now than they ever had been. He had just returned from " a little scout along Muncy Hill," and had seen such evidences of Indian depredation and horse stealing that he did not believe that the little forts at Freeland's and Boone's could stand long if the Indians came in force.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

William Maclay, writing to President Reed, of Council, on the 26th of July, reported that General Sullivan was about ready to move and he had high hopes of his success, but Northumberland county was in a deplorable condition. Sullivan had stripped her of all the troops, and "without a single man save the militia and fourteen men under the command of Captain Kemplen, and almost every young man of the frontier engaged in the boat service, they suffer more than ever from the savage depredations of a horrid enemy. Everything above Muncy Hills is abandoned."

THE SECOND FLIGHT.

When Colonel Hepburn found it necessary to abandon Fort Muncy he placed the women and children on boats in charge of Covenhoven and started them down the river, while many of the men marched by land as a guard. Information was sent to Freeland's, Boone's, and the smaller posts to fly, as the enemy was coming. But the settlers assembled at the two latter places thought Covenhoven was magnifying the danger and refused to leave. But bitterly did they repent for their incredulity.

In the meantime the enemy entered the valley in force about the 26th or 27th of July. And as nearly as can be told, there were about 100 Tories and British and 200 Indians. The former were under command of Capt. John McDonald, a notorious and bloodthirsty Tory from the vicinity of Albany, while the Indians were led by Hiokatoo, a Seneca chief, and the husband of Mary Jemison, the "White Woman." Hiokatoo was born on the banks of the Susque- hanna in the year 170S, and was well acquainted with the country. According to Mary Jemison's Biograhy (see page 185) he was a cousin to "Farmer's Brother," a Seneca chief who had been justly celebrated for his worth. At the time of the invasion Hiokatoo was an old man of seventy, and had always been noted for his ernel and bloodthirsty disposition.

The white and red devils came down Lycoming creek, as foreshadowed by Covenhoven, and dispersing over the valley proceeded to buru and destroy every- thing in the way of improvements they could find. Much to their chagrin they found Fort Muncy evacuated, but they burned all the woodwork and made it a ruin as far as vandal hands could do. The British and Tories labored hard to demolish its ramparts and make it utterly defenceless, and as subsequent accounts will show they succeeded.

Just previous to the advent of the main body, a scouting party in Muncy valley captured several families. Among them was the family of Abraham Webster. Four of his children were attacked. The eldest, a son, was killed; the other three, two daughters and a son, were carried into captivity. Abraham Webster was an English- man by birth and settled on what was the farm of the late Henry Ecroyd. The son who was taken prisoner was named Joseph, and was twelve years old at the time of his capture. At the end of twelve years he returned, married, and settled. He remembered the route well that his captors traveled. One of his sisters was thrown from a canoe in Seneca Lake by an enraged squaw and drowned; the other was never heard from.

Robert Gny, who had settled on a tract of land lying between what was after- wards known as Shoemaker's mill aud Muncy, had been warned to leave but still

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DEATH OF CAPT. JOHN BRADY.

lingered. On the approach of one of these marauding bands a messenger was despatched from Brady's fort to warn him again to fly as the danger was imminent. He was found at work in the field. Hastening to the house he told his wife of their peril. While she prepared a chaff tick for two of their children, he brought two horses to the door. Then ripping the tick open in the middle he removed a portion of the chaff, threw the tick over the back of a horse, placed a child on each side, and then mounted to hold it in place and rode away. In the meantime his wife, with a babe in her arms, mounted the other horse and joined him. It being too late, as they supposed, to go to the fort, they rode on down the river and did not stop till they reached Carlisle. So great was their hurry to get away, they left everything behind. They remained at Carlisle until the war was over, when they returned, but they found all their buildings in ashes.

McDonald, the infamous Tory, and his savage colleague, Hiokatoo, were greatly enraged when they found that the settlers had escaped, and they ordered their forces to scour Muncy valley and burn every cabin, house, outbuilding, barn, and haystack they could find. Fort Brady was burned with the other buildings. The fair and beautiful valley was laid waste from end to end and all the stock collected for their own use.

Learning from his scouts that the garrison still remained at Fort Freeland (now in Northumberland county) McDonald hurried thither and captured the place on the morning of July 28, 1779, and carried the male survivors into captivity.

McDonald and Hiokatoo, flushed with victory, quickly retraced their steps over Muncy Hills, and hurried north via Lycoming creek, the same route they came. General Sullivan's army was then moving up the North Branch, and Indian runners were dispatched to urge McDonald to hasten back. He reached the Chemung country in advance of General Sullivan and probably participated in the battle of Newtown, where the Indians in a pitched battle were defeated.

COLONEL HUBLEY'S OPINION.

Col. Adam Hubley, of the Eleventh regiment, who was with Sullivan at Wyo- ming, wrote President Reed that he thought 500 men should be sent to the West Branch; " as they would have it in their power to effectually scour that country and be at Tioga nearly as soon as the main body. This would have given relief to the poor inhabitants, and would by no means have delayed the expedition." That Colonel Hubley was right in his views will appear plain to any one. But in giving this opinion he did not wish to be understood as casting any "reflection on the com- mander ;" he was confident he was acting "from pure principles, and for the good of the public in general." Colonel Hubley had heard of Captain McDonald leading a party of rangers and Indians to the West Branch. He thought the object of the invasion was for the purpose of harassing the rear of Sullivan's army. But in this view subsequent events showed he was mistaken. McDonald was hurried north for the purpose of protecting the Seneca country.

There was some friction between General Sullivan and the Supreme Executive Council regarding reinforcements. The former complained that the latter did not furnish him with the number of men they promised. Council complained that so much better encouragment was given in the boat service that 450 men were drawn

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

off, making it impossible to fill the militia companies. Then when they wanted a force to resist the invaders "he not only called off every man he possibly could, but took away every ounce of ammunition, though earnestly requested to leave some for the use of the inhabitants." The result was, says President Reed, there was nothing left for them to guard but the "ashes and ruins of the houses."

Lieut. Col. Adam Hubley succeeded Col. Thomas Hartley in command of the Eleventh regiment, on the resignation of the latter, and had charge of Fort Muncy and the other posts, until he was ordered to join Sullivan at Wyoming. He was, therefore, well acquainted with the wants of the inhabitants of the West Branch valley, and sympathized deeply with them in their distress.

The appeals for assistance made to Col. Matthew Smith by Colonel Hunter, William Maclay, and others, were not in vain. He replied that he was for immedi- ate action and had fixed on Sunday to march with fifty men. True to his promise the company marched, and on the morning of the 3d of August Colonel Smith announced from Sunbury that he had arrived there "with sixty 'Paxtang Boys.'" The neighboring townships were turning out volunteers. "Cumberland county," he observed, " will give a considerable assistance," and the following day he expected to move up the West Branch. "Provisions are scarce, but we intend to follow the savages, and we hope to come up with them; as the number of cattle they have taken is great, they must make slow progress on their return home."

Reinforcements rapidly followed and on the 5th Colonel Smith found he had 500 men ready for service. He hastened up the valley, reconnoitered the country around Fort Freeland, and was at Fort Muncy in a few days, which he found destroyed. The country presented a pitiful appearance. Scarcely a cabin was found standing. It was noted as a singular fact, however, that the Indians scarcely ever destroyed corn in the cribs. Perhaps they reserved it for their own use. Before it was con- sidered safe to occupy the country settlers came up in canoes, and securing as much corn as they could carry, quietly dropped down the river at night. This was done several times at Amariah Sutton's improvement at Lycoming creek.

· Colonel Smith and his party advanced as far as Lycoming creek, but there is no record that they crossed into the Indian lands. A small body ascended the stream as far as Eeltown, (now Hepburnville) which was an Indian village of some note when white settlers first came, but finding no signs of the enemy they returned. Realizing that the savages had too great a start to be overtaken, and considering it dangerous to follow them too far into the wilderness, Colonel Smith gathered his forces together and returned to Fort Augusta, whence in a few days they departed for their homes in Paxtang and Cumberland county, after an absence of about two weeks.

Thus, for the second time, was this valley invaded and devastated, and the inhab- itants compelled to fly with their wives and children. How many perished or were carried into captivity is unknown, but the number was large when the strength of the settlements is considered. Twice, therefore, was the country from Muncy Hills to Jersey Shore baptized in fire and blood! The deeds of savage atrocity commit- ted in the summers of 1778 and 1779, within what is now the fairest, richest, and most thrifty portions of Lycoming county, were of the most startling character, and the bloody scenes attendant upon the scalping of men, women, and children were so cruel and merciless as to appall the stoutest heart.

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FORT MUNCY REBUILT.

CHAPTER XI.

FORT MUNCY REBUILT.

ORPHANS' COURT PROVISION FOR THE CHILDREN OF REFUGEES-WELTNER'S GERMAN REGI- MENT-AN ILL-FATED HUNTING PARTY-FATE OF CAPTAIN KEMPLEN-CAPTAIN ROBINSON- FORT MUNCY REBUILT-THE HAMILTON FAMILY-A HEAVY TAX IMPOSED-MURDER OF THE LEE FAMILY-PEACE DECLARED-THE LAST OF FORT MUNCY-HUNTER AND VAN CAMPEN-REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS-AN ELECTION CONTEST.

A FTER the second "runaway " settlers were slow in venturing to the valley, and it was late in the fall of 1779 before any considerable number had returned. There being an insufficient force of militia and no regular troops, it was unsafe, as small bands of savages still infested the country. Many farmers had lost their crops, and when they returned they found their houses and barns in ashes and their fences thrown down. The Indians were greatly exasperated because of the success of General Sullivan in devastating their country. A taste of war had been given them, and a blow administered from which they never recovered, but it made them more vicious and malignant and they prowled about in small guerrilla bands seeking whom they could kill and scalp.

ORPHANS' COURT PROVISION FOR THE CHILDREN OF REFUGEES.

Owing to the disturbing influences of the past year or two, the courts of justice had been not only greatly interrupted, but actually suspended for some time. At the January term, 1779, several distressing cases were reported. Many of those driven from their homes had taken refuge at Northumberland and Sunbury, and owing to their impoverished condition were unable to proceed further. Some pro- vision, therefore, had to be made for their support. One very sad case was that of Albert and Catharine Polhemus, already alluded to. They fled from Muncy in the "Big Runaway" of 1778, with their seven children. In a short time both died and were buried at the expense of Augusta township, which had also to partly care for the orphaned children. An extra tax had to be levied for their support, and at the January sesssions the overseers were authorized to indenture them, the conditions being as follows: "To Elias Youngman, Magdalena Polhemus, until she be eighteen years of age, he accommodating her according to the custom of the country during her servitude; to teach or cause her to read and write English; bring her up in the Presbyterian religion; and at the expiration of her servitude give her decent free- doms with £20 lawful money of Pennsylvania."

At August sessions, 1779, " a certain Sarah Silverthorn, aged seven years" was indentured to William Huburn. The Silverthorns were also residents of Muncy township, and their names, as well as those of Polhemus, appear on the assessment list for 1778. There were two of the former, George and Oliver, but the records do

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

not show what became of them. The court records, however, would indicate that they had been killed or captured. Sarah Silverthorn was indentured to William Huburn, who obligated himself to "teach her to read and write English, bring her up in the Presbyterian religion, and at the expiration of her servitude give her the usual freedoms, with a good spinning wheel."

According to the court records for November sessions, 1786, Youngman had not proved faithful to his obligations. Magdalena Polhemns petitioned the court set- ting forth that she had "faithfully and honestly " served Elias Youngman the full term of seven years, but that he had not " performed the covenants in the said indent- ure mentioned, by furnishing her with her freedom dnes at the expiration of her servitude.": The subsequent court adjudged that she should be paid £8, in default of which an attachment should issue to compel payment. As nothing appears on the records regarding Sarah Silverthorn, it is presumed she fell into the hands of a better taskmaster.

WELTNER'S GERMAN REGIMENT.

Among the few that returned in the fall was Henry McHenry, father of the late Maj. A. H. McHenry, of Jersey Shore. He came from Fort Rice, a post not far from where Fort Freeland stood, on the Montgomery farm, in what is now " Paradise," n the northern part of Northumberland county. He was accompanied by ten men-probably a band of farmers-and their object was to thresh or gather some grain on a farm near Loyalsock-possibly the farm on which young James Brady was scalped in August, 1778. As soon as they reached the farm the first thing they did before beginning work was to post sentinels, McHenry being one. Stationing himself in a clump of bushes he kept a sharp lookout. He had not been in this position long until he discovered an Indian creeping up on his hands and knees for the purpose of getting a shot at the men engaged in threshing. Watching an oppor- tunity McHenry fired and wounded him in the back. The Indian sprang to his feet and ran a short distance and fell, when his comrades rnshed up and bore him away.

It was finally decided to send a detachment of Continental troops to the West Branch valley, and the German regiment commanded by Col. Ludwig Weltner, was ordered here. This regiment was so reduced that it only numbered 120 effect- ive men, exclusive of officers. Colonel Weltner made his headquarters at Sunbury and retained a small number of men to gnard the stores. He stationed twenty men at Fort Jenkins, and Captain Kemplen's rangers, a local company of fourteen men, were at Fort Meminger, on the west side of the West Branch, nearly opposite the mouth of Warrior run.

With this small force it was impossible to range the country to any extent, and the predatory bands of Indians had little difficulty in eluding them, and in commit- ting depredations. Colonel Hunter wrote on the 27th of November that a deep snow had fallen, which he hoped would prevent them making inroads during the winter. William Maclay, however, wrote on the 2d of April following: "They are with us before the snow is quite gone." On the 13th of December, 1779, Colonel Weltner wrote that the detachments at Montgomery's and Jenkins's had left him only enough men at Sunbury " to mount a couple of sentries."

The winter of 1779-80 was cold and dreary. And while the great quantity of

Eng.by J.R.Rice & Sons. Phila.

I. W. Youngman

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FORT MUNCY REBUILT.

snow that fell served to keep the Indians from being very troublesome, the rigors of winter were a great drawback to the few settlers who had mustered up courage to return. As nearly all the buildings had been destroyed they were forced to live in rude cabins hastily constructed, and the difficulty of getting supplies rendered life under such conditions anything but enjoyable. Fort Muncy had been so greatly damaged that it was untenable. Samuel Wallis and family, who were the life of the Muncy valley settlement, and whose stone house was the nucleus around which the settlers clustered, remained away with friends during the greatest troubles. There is nothing to show that his house was occupied during the winter, but as his interests were large, it is probable that some of the men in his employ came as early as pos- sible to look after the property, and very likely stayed during the winter.

Colonel Weltner wrote to the Board of War nuder date of December 13, 1779, that when he came to the valley he only found Fort Muncy and Fort Jenkins, with the magazine (Fort Augusta) at Sunbury standing. On the 2d of April, 1780, President Reed wrote to Colonel Weltner from Philadelphia: "This time twelve- month they had a pretty good fort garrisoned at Muncy." Two days later he wrote to the same party: "Rebuilding of Fort Muncy has been deemed by many persons here a very proper measure. Consult Colonel Hunter and Colonel Antes, Mr. Martin, etc., of the county, and if they concur, let this business be set on foot with as little delay as possible."

The remnant of Colonel Weltner's German regiment having been withdrawn, it became necessary for Colonel Hunter to order the frontier companies of militia to "embody," and one-fourth of the men were kept constantly reconnoitering. This was absolutely necessary for the protection of the frontier from the small roving bands of savages. Small garrisons were placed in the forts on the east side of the river below Muncy Hills.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 21

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