USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 4
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In the meantime word was sent out from Ligonier and Bedford to Car- lisle, asking Bouquet's army to come to their relief. But this would re- quire weeks of marching over two ranges of mountains. The greatest fear pervaded the inmates of the Fort at Ligonier. It had, furthermore, large quantities of military stores ready to be sent to the relief of Fort Pitt. If the Indians could secure these, all else would be lost and the set-
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
tlements of the west laid waste. Fort Ligonier had already been attacked, and failing to take it they tried to fire it by shooting arrows with in- flamable substances attached, over the stockade, to the combustible build- ings inside. Through the alertness of Captain Blane the attack was with- stood and the fire many times extinguished. At this time Captain Ourry of Bedford, came to the relief of Fort Ligonier by weakening his own gar- rison, which, being nearer Carlisle and Philadelphia, where soldiers were always stationed, was stronger than either of the other forts. He selected twenty riflemen, all strong young men, accustomed to the hardships inci- dent to frontier life, and directed them to make their way as rapidly as possibly over the mountains to Ligonier. They could not come by the Forbes Road, for that was particularly watched by the Indians. They struck out through the mountains, and very soon appeared on the hillside east of the fort, doubtless on what is now East Main street, or between that and the fort. Then a still greater danger confronted them, for, being unheralded, they dare not approach the fort lest they be mistaken for the enemy and fired on by those whom they sought to relieve. . But when partly concealed by bushes, and while creeping nearer the fort, they were dis- covered and fired on by the Indians who surrounded it, and with this cer- tificate of good faith were recognized by the ever-watchful garrison, who not only opened the gates to receive them but protected them by firing on their pursuers. This relief came none too soon. The force was nearly exhausted with fighting, though they had plenty of provisions, ammunition and water. No one dared for weeks to leave the stockade. Domestic animals suffered to wander outside were killed by the besiegers. It was almost a continuous skirmish, and many Indians, with a few French Cana- dians urging them on, were killed. Blane formed two companies, each composed of soldiers and citizens who had come there from the community for safety, drilled and armed the citizens, and they willingly did watch duty day and night.
In the meantime Colonel Bouquet, after eighteen days delay incident to such expeditions-for it must be remembered that the community around Carlisle was also overrun with Pontiac's Indians-was hastening to their relief. Carlisle was loath to give up its protection. The town was filled with settlers who had flocked there for safety. Bouquet's mission was not an inviting one. His way lay over the mountains, and except for the. narrow road cut by Forbes was for the main part through an almost track- less forest. Before him in the wilderness lay the bones of Braddock's army, and these dead in number far exceeded his little army. The main army of the colonies was even then fighting in the northern frontier. His forces were parts of the Forty-second and Forty-seventh regiments,. which had recently landed in Philadelphia from the West Indies, where they had been fighting the Spaniards. The Bouquet army numbered less.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
than five hundred, but sixty of them were in ambulance wagons, and these he hoped would be recovered far enough to do post duty and relieve the forts on the way. Nor did his soldiers know anything about Indian warfare save what he taught them as they marched westward. But the brave Swiss colonel was a most excellent teacher, for he was ever a match for the shrewdest Indian warriors.
Not knowing Ourry had relieved Ligonier from Bedford, Bouquet sent thirty men on a rapid and most hazardous march to relieve Captain Blane. They made the march and entered the fort much as did Ourry's men, viz. : under the ineffectual fire of the en- emy. All the way Bouquet saw many signs of Indian in- cursions but he saw no In- dians. They even murdered and captured families within a few miles of his army, but never showed themselves to him. He meant to give battle to them at Bedford, for in that vicinity their depreda- tions indicated their presence in large numbers, though they had not attacked the fort be- cause of its well known strength. But when he arrived there was no army to be seen nor fought. He reached Bedford on July 25th, wher. he recruited his forces by inducing thirty backwoods- men to accompany them. He reached Ligonier August HENRY BOUQUET. 211d. His arrival again brightened up the drooping spirits of the fortress. He left at Ligonier much of his heavier baggage, and with small wagons and packhorses carried forward only such provisions as were necessary for his army and for the immediate relief of Fort Pitt, which, like Carlisle, Bedford and Ligonier, was filled to overflowing with the frightened families of the pioneers, and who were moreover reported to be almost starving. He rested at Ligonier on August 3rd, and on the 4th marched westward by the Forbes road which he had helped to make five years before. The first day they marched about nine miles, crossing Chestnut Ridge, and camped west
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
of the Loyalhanna. On August 5th, they hoped to reach Bushy Run, nine- teen miles away, and it is said by Francis Parkman that they meant to rest only during the heat of the day and then push on thirteen miles farther, passing the dangerous ravines east of Turtle Creek by night time, fearing an attack should they pass by day. The country through which they were marching was hilly, apparently intended for the lurking Indian, whose strength lay in ambuscades and surprises. They resumed their march at daylight on the morning of August 5th, and, though the weather was very warm, by one o'clock the tired and thirsty band was nearing Bushy Run, having traveled seventeen miles. Blane had added to Bouquet's army at Ligonier what soldiers he could spare from the fort, and he was joined by some civilians who were in the fort for safety. Among the latter was Andrew Byerly and several of his neighbors. His forces now amounted to about five hundred and he had about three hundred and fifty heavily laden pack-horses.
A tall dense forest spreading for countless miles around covered the hills and deep hollows. Byerly and his pioneer neighbors were in front, when suddenly the sharp rattle of musketry, mingled with the Indian yelping, sounded through the woods. The rear pushed up to support the advance of the army, but the firing only increased. The fire was returned, for a few Indians could be seen, and on these a general charge with' fixed bayonets was ordered. This very soon cleared the ground, but only temporarily, for it almost instantly burst out in the rear, which showed Bouquet that his convoy of supplies was attacked. The troops at once fell back, drove the Indians away, and formed a circle around the terrified pack-horses. The attacking party was Guyasutha, heading a band of Indian warriors that he had collected from as far east as Laurel Hill and from around Fort Pitt. They knew the ground well, and fought from every pos- sible place of concealment. The regular soldiers and Scotch Highlanders, though not accustomed to such warfare, inspired by the skillful commander, stood up bravely and resisted them in splendid shape. Again and again bands of Indians, now on one side, then on the other, would rush toward the circle, trying to break in. They were fired at and regularly chased back by bayonets, but escaping behind trees with great activity, very few of them were killed. The British suffered more, for they were less ac- customed to bush-fighting, and necessarily had to remain at one place to guard the convoy. Thus the fight was carried on for seven hours with- out intermission, and only ceased when the forest was darkened by the approach of night. Then the soldiers camped for the night in the same position they had occupied all afternoon, with sentinels in every direction. Thirst had quickened their march at one o'clock, when the word had been passed around that they were nearing Bushy Run. But now the surround- ing enemy forbade their moving from the higher ground, and not a drop
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
of water was to be found there. Bouquet wrote that their "thirst was more intolerable than the enemy's fire." Night was perhaps more horrible than day. Bouquet himself was doubtful whether his army could survive the contest which he knew the rising sun would bring him. He there- fore wrote an account of the day's doings to Sir Jeffrey Amherst, and closes. with these words: "Whatever our fate may be, I thought it necessary to give your Excellency this early information, that you may, at all events, take such measures as you think proper with the provinces, for their own safety, and the effectual relief of Fort Pitt; as, in case of another engage- ment, I fear insurmountable difficulties in protecting and transporting our provision, being already so much weakened by the losses of this day, in men and horses, besides the additional necessity of carrying the wounded, whose situation is truly deplorable."
About sixty of his men and several officers had been killed and wound- ed. A place in the centre of the camp, surrounded by flour bags, was pre- pared for them, but shots were fired against them nearly all night. With the earliest dawn of morning the battle was renewed from all sides at once, and, except that it was more furious, it was fought very much like that of the day before. This was kept up until about ten o'clock, when the fertile mind of the commander (and it is said on the urgency of Byerly) "conceived a masterly stratagem." He knew that if the enemy could be brought and held together he could easily whip them. He knew, too, that from their increased audacity, the enemy thought Bouquet was about to surrender. So he ordered two companies which formed part of the circle to fall back to the central part of the camp, while the remaining circle spread out to fill up the gaps made, apparently to cover the retreat of the two companies. The line forming the circle was also drawn in be- cause of their fewer numbers. The Indians, as was intended, mistook this for a retreat, and, bloodthirsty for a rich harvest of scalps and provisions, with furious yells rushed headlong towards the circle. But below the circle there was a depression in the ground, covered with a thick growth of trees, which concealed it from the Indians, who were swarming around the circle. Through this depression these two companies rapidly ran, and very soon came around behind the furious assailants and opened fire on them. The Indians thus surprised, and many of them killed at the first fire, stood their ground until the Highlanders, with yells as wild as their own, fell on them with bayonets. As was expected, they could not with- stand a charge with bayonets, and gradually lost ground. But, while the charge was in progress, Bouquet, with the eye of a soldier, seeing the direc- tion the Indians must flee when overcome, had concealed two other com- panies taken from other parts of the circle, in the bushes, with orders to await the approach of the enemy. Pressed by the terrific Highlanders, now maddened with hunger and thirst, they soon passed directly in front of the
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
two companies, concealed in the bushes. These arose and fired squarely into them, and then charged them with bayonets. This completed the rout and the four companies united drove them flying down the hill, firing as rapidly as possible, but giving the Indians no time to reload. Many were killed, and the remainder of this division were scattered in hopeless confusion.
While this took place a smaller body of Indians had maintained a steady contest and about an equal one, with those who still guarded the other side of the circle, but, when they saw their comrades flying in dis- order through the woods, and saw the victorious troops advancing to attack them with bayonets, they lost courage and ran. In a few minutes all was quiet, and not a living Indian was left on the ground. There were sixty dead ones, however, and among them were several prominent chiefs and warriors, and the blood stained leaves showed that many more of those who fled were badly wounded. The British took but one prisoner,
The barrel of this gun was plowed up about 1828 by a man named Moore, on the Bushy Run battlefield (August 5, 1763). It remained in the Moore family until 1888, when it came into the possession of J. Howard Patton, who had it remounted. It shows the flint lock very well.
whom they immediately shot like a wild beast. Bouquet's loss was eight officers and one hundred and fifteen men, undoubtedly greater than that of the enemy. The first battle lasted seven hours, the second about six. The weakened army moved only to Bushy Run that afternoon, where they en- camped for the night. During the march to Fort Pitt, twenty-four miles, they were annoyed more or less by small attacks, but reached their destina- tion without further severe loss. Though the contestants were nearly equally matched as to numbers, Bouquet had fewer troops than the enemy. The Indians never fought with more fury, and were equalled only by the valor of the Highlanders. A great deal has been said and written about this battle. The consensus of opinion in history is that it was one of the ablest contested battles ever fought in America between white men and Indians. It was fought on and near the land of Andrew Byerly, about twenty-six miles from Fort Ligonier, and about eight miles northwest from Greensburg.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Colonel Henry Bouquet was born in Switzerland in 1720, and almost from his boyhood was a soldier, first as a cadet, and then under the King of Sardinia. Next he enlisted in the Holland Guards, after which he was made lieutenant-colonel of the Swiss Guards (1748). In 1754 he was made lieutenant-colonel of a regiment organized by the Duke of Cumberland for service in the American colonies, and came to America in 1755. He was fond of society, and became a great favorite in Philadelphia, where he was stationed. His personal appearance was commanding and dignified. He, though a Swiss, wrote the English language with an exactness much superior to the average foreign officers of his day. Naturally he was full of resources in times of emergency, and was without the arrogance of
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Block House at Fork of the Ohio, built 1764, by Henry Bouquet. Still standing, now the property of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Allegheny County.
many of the officers of his time. Unlike Braddock, he alinost intuitively acquired a practical knowledge of Indian warfare. No soldier in America of foreign birth so distinguished himself in this direction as he. Often, when necessary, he penetrated dark ravines in advance of his men, armed with a rifle and playing the role of a scout. The year following the battle of Bushy Run he organized a force which set out from Fort Pitt and invaded the Indian country as far as the Muskingum valley in Ohio. He baffled the savages at every point, and so chastised them that they were glad to sue for peace. The result was the "Treaty of Bouquet" (1764). The assembly of Pennsylvania and the Burgesses of Virginia adopted addresses
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
of gratitude and recommended him to His Majesty, King George III, for promotion. He was accordingly made a brigadier-general and sent to British America in charge of the English armies, where he died suddenly in 1767. It was on this second expedition (1764), that he built the now famous block house of Pittsburgh, a cut of which is here given.
Guyasutha, commanding the Indians at Bushy Run, was a chief of the Senecas, and with him were members of the Ohio tribes. He, too, was a strong warrior, though by no means so powerful as Pontiac. He was a real savage, without mercy, and never made peace save when compelled to. When Washington made his famous trip to Venango (1753), Guyasutha ac- companied him as a guide. Washington thought kindly of him, and paid him a visit at his house in 1770, when on his way to the Ohio, at which time he says the chief treated him with great kindness.
BUTLER
COUNTY
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ALLEGHENY COUNTY
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CHAPTER II
The Grant to William Penn .- Disputed Boundaries .- Mason and Dixon's Line .- Indian Purchases .- Military Permits .- Titles, etc.
In order to understand the methods by which our country was settled, and by which our titles were granted, the reader must glance at our earlier history and its effects upon our Province prior to the opening of the land office in 1769.
All of the Province of Pennsylvania was granted by Charles II of England to William Penn for services which his father, Admiral Penn, had rendered the English government in various European wars. These wars had brought the royal army to ruin, and the monarch himself to the verge of bankruptcy. Through the stately courts of Windsor Castle the bankrupt monarch wandered back and forth, trying to devise a means of paying this debt of 10,000 pounds. Finally, a grant of land was determined on, and with the result that our province, unlike any other in America, was granted solely to an individual and not to a company or colony, as the others had been.
William Penn began a settlement in his Province at Philadelphia in 1682. It was never called a colony, as other settlements were, but a "Prov- ince," indicating, in some degree, that its government and direction was under the dominion of one man. The heirs and descendants of Penn were called Proprietaries, and the country which they governed a Province, or a Proprietary Government. From William Penn's first settlement in Philadelphia, his policy was primarily one of peace with the Indians. Though his title to the land was preeminent, yet he repurchased these lands from the natives; these lands which were already his own by a royal grant. In this way the Province was saved much bloodshed, and only when his pacific principles in dealing with the Indians were for- gotten or disregarded was our western section deluged in blood.
William Penn's grant began at the Delaware River, near the 40th degree of north latitude, and extended west in a straight line a distance of five degrees of longitude, and thence north to Lake Erie. When it was
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
finally surveyed there was no doubt about its boundaries. But, at the time of the first settlement of our county, the boundary of Virginia con- flicted, as it was then believed, with our territory. In 1609 the Virginia Company had been chartered by James I. By their charter, though it had been revoked in 1624, they laid claim to southwestern Pennsylvania and Ohio, and all of the territory north and west to the Pacific Ocean. The Virginia authorities claimed that Penn's grant of five degrees west of the Delaware would not reach beyond the Allegheny Mountains, or, at all events not west of the Monongahela River. This river flowing nearly north, and the Allegheny River, flowing south, would have made a natural western boundary for Pennsylvania. The Virginia authorities claimed further that they had fought for this district to wrest it from the French and Indians, in the armies of Braddock and Forbes, and that the territory had been already settled to a considerable extent by people from their colony who had been guarded and protected in every way by Virginia. These pretensions were somewhat arrogant, and, in the main, ill founded for, while Virginia soldiers were fighting in western Pennsylvania, our soldiers, enlisted by the same authority, were in the army sent to the northern lakes.
The southern boundary had been in dispute, too, but in 1767 Lord Baltimore, Governor of Maryland, arranged with the Penns that two sur- veyors should survey the line and forever determine the boundary between Maryland and Pennsylvania. The surveyors chosen were Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, but their authority extended west only as far as western Maryland. The line they located has since been known as "Mason and Dixon's Line", but it did not settle definitely the line west of Mary- land, though Governor Farquier and the Virginia authorities never ser- iously doubted its western location after that. Of course it settled noth- ing as to the western boundary line of western Pennsylvania, and Virginia continued to claim the land between the Monongahela and the Ohio rivers. They sold lands in that section at lower rates than the Pennsylvania au- thorities were selling them in any section, and the latter discouraged all settlements in the disputed territory until the boundaries could be deter- mined. The reasoning on the part of, both colony and province was obvious. To Virginia it was a clear gain to sell this land at any price, for the author- ities did not hope to hold it under the ultimate decision. But Pennsylvania had plenty of land for sale in undisputed territory, and why, therefore, sell and improve lands which might some day fall within the domain of Virginia? Moreover, it was the policy of the Pennsylvania authorities to settle lands gradually as they went west, so that frontier settlers might unitedly protect themselves against the Indians. But there was another still greater reason why, as far as possible, they discouraged all settlements in this section. William Penn, as has been said, purchased or repurchased
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
his lands from the Indians, and he so thoroughly implanted this pacific principle in the minds of his sons and representatives that though he had then (1768) been dead fifty years, they were still following his precepts in this matter. The Proprietaries never willingly permitted any one to settle on land in a district or section which had not been purchased by them from the Indians. Of course, the Indians were gradually receding before the white race. They were by nature a wandering tribe, and the white race was naturally progressive and aggressive. Those purchases were made at treaties between the Indians and the white men. At these treaties both races were represented, and no territory was supposed to be ceded by the Indians to the white race, that is, purchased from them, except for valuable concessions on the part of the white race, and except upon a mutual agreement entered into between the representatives of the white race and the representative Indians in the treaty. These treaties from time to time secured to the Indians certain districts over which they were to have "sole and despotic" dominion, in return for others which were ceded to the white race. The districts thus ceded to the white men were called "purchases." With but slight provocation, the Indians broke their treaties, but it is doubtful whether they ever, as a race, flagrantly broke a regularly authorized treaty without some unnecessary provocation or reason given them by the white settlers.
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At the treaty at Albany in 1754, all lands lying west of the Susquehanna river to the limits of Pennsylvania were supposed to be ceded to or pur- chased by the white men. But the Indians very soon discovered that their representatives in the treaty did not understand the location of the western boundary, nor the points of the compass, as well as the white rep- resentatives, for by this treaty they had parted with all their rights as far west as Ohio. Much of this land had been virtually secured to them by former treaties between the white race and the Six Nations, viz .: the Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Senecas and Tuscaroras. To say the least, the purchase at the Albany treaty was irregularly (if not fraudulently) gained from them. So flagrant was this fraud perpetrated on the Indians that Governor Morris in 1755 issued a proclamation in which he denounced the Albany purchase as a fraud which he said was an affront to the whole world. It took from the natives, said he, that which had been virtually ceded to them, and with which they had not knowingly parted, and was so sweeping in its dimensions that it left them no country east of Ohio to roam over and call their own. The white representatives of the Albany treaty defended their actions by giving out that they, too, were ignorant of the geography of western Pennsylvania, and by the terms of the purchase had received much more than they in- tended. This may have been true.
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