USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 10
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Fort Ligonier was the first fort built by the English west of the Alle- gheny mountains. It was built, as has been seen by Forbes' army, in 1758. Its construction was determined by Colonel Henry Bouquet, and superin- tended by Colonel James Burd. It was not completed at that time by the English, but was subsequently finished after the manner designed by them by our early military forces. The place of its location was well selected, since there was on the south side a rocky bluff, or almost perpendicular wall of projecting rocks between the fort and the Loyal- hanna creek. This afforded a natural barrier against any approach from the south. The fort at its highest point was ninety-four feet above the water of the creek. It was also fortified to a great extent on the north side, for there lay a deep ravine from a strong spring to the east. These natural fortifications are yet visible. The stockade was in the main about one hundred feet square, with large diamond shaped extensions on each cor- ner, so that, through loop-holes, a soldier within the enclosure of the stockade could fire on an enemy who might be attempting to scale the stockade. The stockade was made of logs from ten to twelve feet long, and set firmly in the ground. These logs were generally split and the flat surface turned outward. These were called palisades, and were set in the ground so closely that they touched each other. They were reinforced by others which were set so as to close the spaces that might be made by the logs not fitting together exactly, and, to add strength to the structure. Strong timbers were fastened to the palisades near the tops, and these were thoroughly pinned together. In that part of the fort which was most likely to be attacked. this horizontal log was reinforced by others, all thoroughly braced and held in place by strong brace timbers reaching to the ground. On the outside earth was thrown up against these posts, and this made a
LOYIL HANON CREEK
Springs
Springs
FORT LIGONIER-THE OLDEST AND MOST IMPORTANT FORTIFICATION IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY,
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
ditch which practically gave an additional height to the stockades. The enclosure thus made was a space over one hundred feet square, while the circumference made by the palisades was over five hundred feet long, this being due to the projecting corners. Within this enclosure were the of- ficers' quarters, while outside were the soldiers' cabins. In time of a siege, which frequently happened at Ligonier, soldiers, settlers and officers were all within the stockade. At each angle of the stockade were mounted cannon. Within the stockade were also the storerooms, powder maga-' zines, etc. A covered way led from the east side of the fort to the spring, and the ravine was marked as crossed by a foot log. This covered way was made of shorter logs, and was necessary in times of a siege. It gave rise to a popular belief that there was a tunnel extending down to the Loyalhanna. There has never been any evidence of a tunnel discovered, save a few cavities in the rocks overhanging the creek and these extend into the hill but a few feet. It is not supposed that an underground tunnel would be made and not reported or outlined on the map or plan, for the Eng-' lish did not generally report less than they did. There was also a gate, made. of strong logs, like the posts of the stockade, firmly fastened together, and hung on immense iron hinges. This in times of danger was kept closed and bolted. The gate was on the east side. For many years it was kept up by the English army, and when Independence was declared in 1776, the Colonial army took charge of it, and it was yet a place of safety to all the surrounding settlers.
There was also a new fort built at Ligonier during the Revolution, when the old one was badly decayed. It has been called Fort Preservation and was down by the bank of the creek, for the accounts of it represent that a canal from the creek filled the ditch surrounding the fort with water. It was a small affair compared with the old fort and even its exact location is not known. It was probably built entirely by the pioneers of that locality and hence we have no draft of it.
The garrison was very useful, indeed indispensable, to the early settlers of the valley. Those who lived near enough to the fort could at anytime call the soldiers of the garrison out to protect them, by blowing on large horns. These, when properly winded by the settler or his wife, could be heard two miles or more. With the first sound of a horn the mounted soldiers hastened to their relief. In this way many Indian raiders were frightened away, or deterred from committing depredations and many a family was protected.
Perhaps a still more common method of defense was in what was called blockhouse cabins. Sometimes they were called stations, and perhaps sometimes forts, or blockhouses, but they were properly neither. They were strongly built log houses, with heavy doors, and heavy covering for the windows, which could be put up and barred from the inside. In the
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
gables were cracks which admitted light and air. When built after the fashion of the pioneer, they could withistand a long siege from the Indians on the outside. There were rifle holes on every side, and the Indian who thought he could approach them with any degree of safety was generally a dead Indian before any damage was done. Two or three dozen people could be reasonably secure in one of these cabins, and, armed with a few flintlock guns, were easily able to cope with twice their number of savages.
Hannastown, though in Hempfield township, where the settlers were nearly all Pennsylvania Dutch, was settled by Robert Hanna and his friends, and they were nearly all Irish or Scotch-Irish. In 1774, the first year after it became the county seat of the new county, Hanna and his neighbors joined together and hurriedly put up a fort. This was necessary not only through fear of the Indians, but through fear of Dunmore's ma- randers as well. It was a large two-roomed log house, with only one door, and no windows whatever in the upper story. The only light came from small holes in the upper story, through which the barrel of a musket could be aimed at an Indian. It had a flat or nearly flat roof to prevent the Indians from firing it from the outside. It was additionally strengthened by palisades which surrounded it, made after the fashion of the one above described at Fort Ligonier. The upper story was higher than the tops of the palisades, so that they could be defended from the inner fort. The structure of 1774 was but a temporary affair, but in 1776 it was greatly strengthened, and was of great service. Its construction was superintended by David Semple, and for this service the minutes of the supreme executive council show he was paid twenty pounds. After its extension and improve- ment it included a store-house, where the private property of the frightened settlers could be stored. It will be remembered that this fort was half way between Fort Ligonier and Fort Duquesne, and in transporting provisions, ammunition, etc., from the east, it became a very important stopping place. From 1776 it was very frequently filled with families of the neighborhood, who were thus forced to take refuge from the Indians. It was not for several years attacked, for the reason of the strength of its garrison. During all these years there were either soldiers of the Continental army or mili- tia stationed there all the time. This was, however, a force not by any means sufficient for the preservation of peace, as may be seen from a letter from Col. Archibald Laughry to President Reed, of the supreme executive coun- cil. In it he says that "the savages are continually making depredations among us; not less than forty people have been killed, wounded or capti- vated this spring, and the enemy have killed our creatures within three hundred yards of this town." This is dated at Hannastown, May 1, 1779. On June 1, 1780, he wrote to President Reed saying, "I have been under the necessity of removing the public records from Hannastown to my own plantation, not without the consent of the judge of the court."
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Miller's Station, sometimes erroneously called Miller's Fort, was another very important one to this region. It was located about three miles south- east from Hannastown, and one mile west from the present George sta- tion, on the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was named after Captain Samuel Miller, a farmer who had taken up land there and was one of the leading men of his limited section. He is mentioned hereafter as one of the cap- tains of the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment. With his regiment he came here from Valley Forge in February, 1778, and was killed by the Indians July 7. His house was a plain substantial log house, and, being strongly built, became a rendevous for the surrounding neighbors in time of danger. It was probably only resorted to by those who could not reach strongly fortified places. Gathered there from time to time were men of daring courage who were able to resist any attack on the part of the Indians unless they were greatly outnumbered. It was a two-roomed log house, and was: a fair specimen of the blockhouse cabin.
Often when Indians had been seen lurking in the community, or per- haps when a false alarm had been spread through the country, the inhabi- tants would gather at these cabins and spend the night, resuming their work the day following in the fields. Their protection depended more in their united strength than on the strength of the cabin in which they were collected. Men, women and children were from time to time col- lected in these places of refuge. The women of that day were enured to the hardships of frontier life, and in these times of danger readily performed very important services. They could, from much practice, dress the wounds of those who were shot, and knew the herbs of the fields which would, when brewed, cure or allay the suffering of their injured defenders. They could stand guard at night, and give the alarm if a stealthy foe .ap- proached. They could make bullets, cut patches and load muskets.
We shall learn . later that the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment was. raised in Westmoreland county exclusively for border defense, and that in an emergency it was ordered to New Jersey. After its removal in January, 1777. the whole western frontier was laid open to the most vio- lent Indian depredations. The militia was called out, but they were poorly drilled, poorly equipped and if paid at all it was in depreciated continental currency. In '77 and '78, therefore, there were numerous depredations all along the border. Indians under the leadership of Simon Girty, or others of like character, seemed lurking in every place of concealment. The dangers of this community from ambushing red men, are illustrated in Captain James Smith's narrative, which has been previously referred to. About this time he marched a regiment to the Allegheny river region to chastise the Indians. In his notes he says they marched in four columns, forty rods apart, with scouts posted on the flanks of each column. The men of each column marched one rod apart. In case of an attack each man
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
was to face out and take to the nearest tree. This was to keep the Indians from surrounding them, and to prevent them from shooting more than once without exposing themselves. At night they encamped in a hollow square, each line being about a quarter of a mile long. Guards were placed outside to watch for the approach of an enemy and to guard the cattle which were taken along for meat for the army.
These were dark years indeed. The Continental Congress had no way of raising money sufficient to carry on the war except by promises to pay in the future. These promises were based on the credit of the country, and depended entirely on the success of the Colonial army. Every one knew that if the cause of the Colonies failed, their promises to pay would be worth nothing. No man who entered the service after 1778 expected to be paid in continental money, for it had then depreciated until it was almost worth- less. For the few expenses of the army which must be paid, Congress de- pended on private subscriptions. Soon the depreciation was so great that they ceased sending it out as soldiers' pay. Under these difficulties Colonel Broadhead marched out with the Eighth Regiment in the summer of 1778. and did great service against the Indians up the Allegheny. His regiment cut off a party of about forty savages on their way to raid Westmoreland county. Both Colonels Smith and Lochry accompanied the expedition. It had a salutary effect upon the peace and good order of Westmoreland, but they returned exhausted, for, serving without pay, and clothing them- selves, they had nothing wherewith to recuperate unless their work at home went on while they were gone. Thus were difficulties without limit heaped on the pioneers of our county, and they were all thoroughly understood by the enemy. Finally, the supreme executive council issued a proclamation encouraging young men to turn out to fight the Indians in small parties, and in a manner somewhat after the Indian style. This proclamation had good effect. There was an adventure in it which was very attractive to small parties of energetic young men. These parties were called "Rangers." Prominent among the Rangers were David Shaw and his brother, the Brownlees, Colonel Wilson, the Barrs, the Wallaces, Captain Brady, Cap- tain Van Swearingen, Samuel Shannon, William Cooper, Joseph Erwin, Michael Huffnagle, James Guthrie, Matthew Jack, James Smith, Thomas Stokely and others. These were all bold young rangers, any one of whom might have figured as a character in the inspiring novels of Sir Walter Scott ; might have taken the place of Bois Gilbert, or Ivanhoe, or of bold MacGregor. with his foot upon the heather of his native land, and his eye on the peak of the much loved Ben Lomond. They went forth dressed in homespun garments, each armed at his own expense, and comparatively well armed for that day, for each had a rifle or a musket, a knife and a hatchet. They acted together, or each set separately, as the occasion de- manded. They stood together for protection, and they were frequently
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
neighbors and well acquainted friends who would not stop at any danger to rescue a companion from a difficulty. They had officers whom they obeyed, whether they were in small parties or engaged in a general turnout for public defense. More than all this, they were at home in the woods, and upon any sign or news of distress they knew how to travel by the shortest route to the place of need. They could soon spread the news of the presence of Indians over an entire community, and they very rapidly gathered the women and children to the nearest blockhouse or place of safety. From long experience in the woods they could travel the almost trackless forest on dark nights with unerring certainty. Their faculties of hearing and of sight were sharpened to such acuteness by constant use that the slightest movement in the bushes was noticed by them, and sounds which fell on deafened ears of others were distinctly heard and under- stood by them. They could endure long tramps through the woods and over mountains, without food. They were rapid runners, and so expert in the use of a rifle that whether moving or standing they rarely ever failed to hit the mark. From places and difficulties in which capture seemed al- most inevitable, they freed themselves by a display of nerve and strength which made even the hardened Indian marvel and fall back. All these qualities were bred and born in them from their youth, and were, in hun- dreds of instances, necessary for self-preservation. Much perception, uner- ring judgment and boldness of execution, scores of times saved their lives. For years they were the salvation of our pioneer homes, and to them we owe every possible meed of praise. Nor were the women of that age less heroic, and it is not our intention to pass them and their deeds of heroism unnoticed-
In the southern end of the valley those who had carved out little farms along Indian Creek and on the headwaters of the Four Mile Run had built a good strong blockhouse on the land taken up by a farmer named Williams, and this they called Fort Williams. Both the settlers from Indian Creek and from the Four Mill Run valley had access to this fort. It was on the west side of the main road leading from Ligonier to Donegal. Here they gathered in times of danger, for they were too far from Fort Ligonier to go there. When the Indians had satisfied themselves and left the community the settlers gathered up their scattered live stock and went back joyfully to their cabins.
Among the early settlers were the Harmans, the Williams and the Hayses. Some of them came as early as 1767 or 1768, and perhaps earlier, but they are known to have been there then. They had all settled in viola- tion of the law, which forbade the settlement of a section until it was first purchased from the Indians. They were a brave, daring class of people, and doubtless cared very little about the original rights of the Indian race, less, at all events, than did the Penns.
The progenitor of the Harman family came from Germany, and brought
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
with his family a very scanty supply of this world's goods. Tradition says that they had little else than a rifle, an ax and a mattock, and that the first summer they lived in a hut built against a rock and covered with bark. Around the hut he began to clear away the trees so that his crops might grow. No one can now appreciate the hardships of these people. They could not transport grain from the east for bread, for they were right glad, indeed, if they could get enough for seed. Necessarily they had to live on the scanty product of a new garden, wild berries, and on game, with which the woods abonnded. Most of them saw no one save the members of their own families for months, or even for a year after their arrival. This and much more fell to the sad lot of the elder Harmans.
When more neighbors came the dangers increased, for, while one man or a family could live in a lonely valley unmolested by the Indians, he could not expect to do this when his flocks had so increased and his neighbors become so numerous as to tempt the greed of the red men. It was, at best, a continu- ous warfare for life, not only as against the Indians but as against the wild and stingy soil as well.
Harman lived about midway between Stahlstown and Donegal, though not on the present main road, but near Williams' blockhouse. In 1777 he, with three of his neighbors, were returning from a sale north of their place. As they rode along the path all were fired on by concealed Indians and killed. One of them lived long enough to throw his arms around his horse's neck and be carried away. The Indians did not get his horse nor his scalp, for he was found the day following with the faithful animal standing by his side. The others fell where they were shot, and were buried there the day following. To this day the neighbors point out the place of their graves. Harman's widow was left with his land on Four Mile Run, which included the mouth of Laurel Run. She had three sons-Andrew, John and Philip, of whom Andrew was the oldest, a lad of fourteen years. They removed to the blockhouse over winter, and when spring opened up they were compelled to resume their work on the "clearing." One morning the widow saw some neighbors' horses in a field of growing grain near the curve of the stream, and she sent the two oldest boys to drive them off. Three hostile Indians were hidden behind the roots and ground of a large tree which had been uprooted by the storm, lying in wait for the boys to come near. They readily captured John, but Andrew ran towards their cabin. He was soon overtaken by an Indian with a tomahawk raised over his head, and was taken back to where his brother was held captive by the other two Indians. Both were made to understand in the broken English of the Indians that if they made any outcry they would be killed at once. All of them first went up a steep hill beyond Four Mile Run, from which they could see the log cabin and hear their widowed mother calling for them, but they dare not answer her. The Indians asked them if there were
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men at the cabin, and Andrew told them there were. Had not the precocious. youth thus deceived them, they would doubtless have killed and scalped their mother, and taken their other brother and such property as was use- ful to them. Then they started on their journey down the Four Mile Run, and soon came across two horses belonging to a neighbor of Harman's named Johnson. One horse was unable to travel, and they cut its throat so that it might not annoy them when the other was taken away. They took the young horse and made him carry some skins, a kettle, etc.,. which they had with them. That day they killed a deer and cooked some of the meat over the coals of a fire, giving the prisoner boys all they wanted. The first night they spent not far from Fort Ligonier, near enough to hear some noises there, to which the Indians listened very cautiously. They gave the boys deer skins to sleep on, and made them each a pair of moccasins from the same material, for they were barefooted when they were captured.
On the journey one of the Indians showed the boys a pocket wallet which they recognized at once. When asked where they had procured it they said they had taken it from a little old Dutchman they had killed the. year before. It was the pocket wallet of their father, and at least one of the Indians had been among the awaiting party which killed him and his three neighbors while returning from the sale. When they came to the Susquehanna river they had great difficulty in crossing. They had a canoe, but could not propel it and lead the horse. At one time in the passage the boys and the guns were on one side of the river and the Indians and the horse on the other. The boys were probably afraid to shoot and try to make their escape. They finally reached the Seneca tribe. These were known generally as the Cornplanters, and Cornplanter was the name of their chief. They had a reservation in northern Pennsylvania and New York, were partly civilized, and many of them could speak English. The boys were adopted as members of the tribe and were treated kindly. The year following their capture was one of great sickness among the Indians. Many of the tribe died, and among others John Harman. Andrew was at- tached to a prominent chieftain of the tribe who had a son about his age and the boys became great friends. By the Indians he was called "Andus" and was liked very much, because he readily fell into their habits. He was treated by them as one of their own tribe, nor would they allow him to be ill treated. He was among them when General Broadhead took the Eighth Regiment up the Allegheny to lay waste their habitations. The tribe suf- fered greatly from this expedition. The following winter was severe and they were almost entirely without provisions; moreover, the snow was. deep, and all kinds of game were scarce. They contemplated killing An- drew so that they would no longer have to feed him. One day his master sent his son and Andrew down the river on the ice to another Indian town!
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to procure some provisions. The master told his son to put Andrew under the ice when a good opportunity was presented, but the boy overhearing it, was told that it was the old dog that was to be put under the ice. The young warrior did not make the attempt. At another time he accompanied his master on a hunting expedition. Three deer had been killed and car- ried to one place, the master leaving Andrew to watch two of them while he carried a third to his house, telling the boy that he would soon return. It was very cold and he did not return. So the boy hung the deer so they would be out of the reach of wolves, wrapped himself up in skins, and was soon sound asleep. The master came the next morning and found him covered with snow, and, supposing him to be frozen to death, he kicked him to ascertain his condition and found the boy in perfect health. After that they never attempted his life.
One Indian who was a very successful gardner raised a great many early squashes. The boy had grown tired of dieting on smoked venison and corn all winter and helped himself to some squashes. For this the Indian who had raised them fell on him and beat him severely, in fact would prob- ably have killed him had not Andrew's friends interfered.
Gradually the boy became very like an Indian, adopting their habits and learning their language. Gradually, too, the memory of his home al- most faded away, and he had abandoned ever seeing his people again. After two years he was sold to a British officer for a bottle of rum. The officer took him to England and kept him as a servant in London for two years. When the Revolutionary War closed he was exchanged and sent to New York, and from there came to his home in Ligonier Valley. In the meantime his mother, through many privations, had remained in the old cabin, and her third son was well grown to manhood. She had long since ceased to look for the return of her long lost son. Without a moments warning he walked into her cabin. A neighbor woman who chanced to be in the Harman cabin at the time, related the circumstance. The boy had grown to manhood; the mother was prematurely aged with hardships and sorrow. When she recognized him she was overcome with joy, and fainted in his arms. The news of his return was rapidly spread through the valley. The following Sunday the cabin was crowded all day with those who had come from near and far to see the returned captive. Men, women and children came, many not believing the story until they saw and recognized him. For many years he and his mother lived together on the old home- stead. the scene of so much sorrow to her. Andrew never ceased to be a woodsman. He loved to hunt, and with the gait of the Indian, which he acquired in captivity, and which he kept even till old age, he was never happier than when traveling through the wilderness. He, moreover, always spoke kindly of the Indians, remembering the good and not the evil they had done him and his family.
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