History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 27

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Fort Barr was on the farm best known as the Gib- farm, in Derry township, a good mile northavest New Derry. Further mention is made of these forts in the chapter on Derry township.

The Carnahan block-house was the cabin-house of of the Carnahans, possibly John, and its location a short distance northeast of Perrysville, in Bell nship. Shields' block-house was on the Loyal- na, about six miles from Greensburg. It was in ng as early as 1774.

\ Miller's Fort, or block-house, was on the Big vickley, on the Stokely farm, and Markle's Station at the mouth of the Sewickley. An old block- ise that went by the name of McDowell's Fort was ur the site of Madison, and Teague Island Fort ut five miles northwest of Greensburg. This series forts was in connecting distance, and was used as ine of defense for the Sewickley settlement, the ple about one warning those about the next. In Dowell's Fort James B. Oliver, Esq.,2 late of West wton, was born, June 2, 1781, while his parents had ght the shelter of that covering during that tem- stuous year. Joseph McDowell, the owner of the m upon which the fort was built, had bought the ginal tract, embracing four hundred acres, for a e gun and a little horse.

This is the narrative. At the time of this adventure the father was e linndred miles away." On that day, he says, he liad a strange and ccountable impression that his son was in danger, but no distinct ception of its nature. Ile prayed, and at length felt relieved, as ugh the danger was past. He had never experienced such an extra- Inary sensation before, and so he made a note of it. A few weeks tward be received from his son, who had returned to him, an account is narrow escape. The time corresponded exactly with Mr. Finley's nge experience.

Father of the Hon. Mrs. Cowan.

CHAPTER XXI. FORAYS AND ADVENTURES.

During the Early Part of the Revolutionary War-The Volunteers- Col. James Smith takes a Detachment up the Allegheny to Freuch Creek or Venango-His Arrangement of the Men while on the March and in their Encampments-His Plan of Fighting the Indians -Brodhead's Expedition to Conewago and Brokenstraw-He cuts off a Party of Forty Indians on their way to the Westmoreland Set- tlements-Notice of Fort Armstrong, Kittunning-Brodhead sends Capt. Brady into the Seneca Country-Trouble between the Continen- tal Officers and the Militia Officers-Ranging Companies formed during the War by Direction of the State Officials-They are Stu- tioned along the Rivers-Their Officers-Their Manner of Fighting- The Hervic Women of Early Westmoreland : Experience Bozarth, Massy Harbison, Mrs. Margaret Oliver, Mrs. Matthew Jack.

IN this chapter we shall hastily run over the events transpiring within and upon the frontiers of the county from the commencement of the war to a period a few years later. In 1775, and the early part of 1776, the inhabitants were not molested to any grievous extent, neither did seed-time or harvest fail. But by the removal of Col. Mackay and his command from Kittanning and the adjacent posts the frontiers of the county were first laid open and exposed to the mercy of the faithless and uncertain savages. The militia were called out for short terms, and were placed by Col. Lochry at the disposal of Col. Hand, the Continental officer in command of the depart- ment; for during nearly all the time that officer was in command a company of Westmorelanders was stationed along the Allegheny. It was soon apparent that these were insufficient for the object in view. They were poorly cared for, and whenever they were called upon to leave their posts the savages, taking advantage of their weakness, broke over the lines and made such a war as they pleased. During 1777 there are numerous complaints of their depredations, and the President of the Council at recurring intervals sympathizes with the people, bids them be of good cheer, and promises them that the Council will soon furnish supplies.

The manner of their warfare and of their mutual co-operation about this time may be seen in an ac- count of one of their expeditions.

In the year 1778, Col. James Smith, who had just returned to the county, raised a body of men to pur- sue some Indians who had made an attack upon the Sewickley settlement. On the second day they over- took and defeated them, taking four scalps,8 and re- capturing the horses and plunder stolen. At the time of the attack Capt. John Hinkston pursued an In- dian, in the excitement not noticing that both their guns were empty. After the fray was over Hinkston was missing, and while the whites were inquiring about him he came walking back carrying the bloody scalp of the dead savage with him. He had pursued him about a quarter of a mile until he came up with him, when he killed him with his tomahawk.

3 Smith's narrative,

Border Warfare."

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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Shortly after this, in 1778, a body was raised from the county to go with some of Gen. McIntosh's com- mand up the French or Venango Creek. This force was four hundred strong; they were called rifle- men, and Col. Smith was placed in command. In November they got orders from the general to march. From Smith's account,' they were poorly equipped, and scarce of provisions. They marched, after an arrangement of Smith's own, in three columns, forty rods from each other; there were flankers on the outside of each column ; the men in the columns marched in scattered order, and were each one rod spart; the volunteers marched abreast in the same manner as the flankers, scouring the woods. In case of an attack the men were to face out, and take to trees. This was to keep the Indians from surrounding them, or to have more than one chance at shooting at a man without exposing themselves. Their encamp- ment was formed in a hollow square, inclosing thirty or forty acres. Guards were placed on the outside of the square to watch the enemy and keep the cattle from going out. Smith's tactics in ail cases was to keep the Indians from surrounding his party, and be argued that every great defeat suffered at their hands was effected by them in this way.

On proceeding to French Creek they found the town deserted. Smith went farther than his orders called for, but their provisions being about exhausted, they were obliged to return. The only result, there- fore, was the keeping the country quiet for some little time after the expedition was organized. Out of it, however, grew a good deal of recriminating talk be- tween Col. Smith and Col. Lochry, the county lieu- tenant, and their adherents. On charges against Smith, preferred by Lochry in his deposition, he was arraigned before a court-martial; and in a memorial to the Executive Council he recites at large the causes of the complaint, and professes that he was not derelict in his duty.'

The campaign of the Continental army of 1779 did not open favorably. Money was so depreciated that the hope of the Congress was in the liberality of private subscriptions. The credit of the country was so low that men could not be induced on that account to enter the service. Notwithstanding this the commander- in-chief, to break up the Indian aggressions of the Six Nations and their confederates, sent two divisions, one from the Susquehanna under Sullivan, and one from the north under Clinton, which, after forming a junction, were to proceed by the Chemung River to the country of the Senecas and Cayugas.

They fell in with the enemy on the Chemung and routed them, and marching farther into their country, committed much destruction of property and corn and took many prisoners. About the same time Brod-

bead, leading out a number of Westmoreland volus- teers, along with some Continental soldiers under bis command from about Pittsburgh, went into the Mua- sie settlement on the north branch of the Allegheny, apd destroyed their crops and burnt their villages about the mouth of the Brokenstraw and above the Conewago. He cut off a party of forty hostiles on their way to the Westmoreland settlements. Smith and Lochry accompanied this expedition. Its result was so effective that for a considerable time afterward Do very extensive body of savages ventured to come upon the frontier, but carried on their depredations henceforth in a predatory manner. Some trouble which originated in this expedition between the com- manders of the volunteers and the Continental off- cers gare occasion for the former to withdraw their forces from the latter. This difficulty was the source of much complaint and of much subsequent sufering which the inbabitants had to sustain.

From his headquarters at Pittsburgh, on the 24th of June, 1779, Col. Brodhead writes to President Reed as follows:'

" Livet-Col. Dayard, with one hundred and twenty, rak and the, to now employed in erecting o stockade fort at Kittanning, which will more effectually secure the freetiers of Westmoreland and Bedford Counties, provided cosate are conployed according to my directions. The Mobigass and Showuece have cout tse a string of white wampum and a speech, It- Freitag te to take pity on them and offer them to enjoy the blessings of peace. I believe I have frightened them by bringing over to our ia- terest their chlef al Nes, the Herone, Inwes, Chippewaes, and Puttawattu- mies. By the leckeed letters and speeches year excellency will discover the changy, and if I bed bet o small quantity of Indian prods, I would make them humble the Mingown and captare many of the English ; but wofortunately I am not in possession of a single article to pay them with. I have now a considerable quantity of pruristone, and could make o seo- cessful campaign ap the Allegheny, but I am not at liberty to do it. It would give me pleasure to know what retard might be oufely offered for Judias conlps."

From the same letter we get, in a short space, a rather satisfactory idea of how the Indians committed their depredations about this time, and how the whites repelled them. In it he relates these particu- lars :

" About a fortnight ago three men when I hed cent to recon noltre the Seneca ouuntry returned from Venango, being chesed by a number of warriors who were coming down the river in canors. They contraord their pursuit until they came to this side of Kittanning, and the white men narrowly escaped. "A few days after they returned, Captrin Brady, with twenty white men and a young Delaware chief (bis pet), all well painted, cet out 'towards the Beneca country, and the Indian warriors proceeded towards the settlementa. They killed a soldier between Fort Crawford and Fort Hand, and proceeded to the Sewickley sectiemes't, where they killed a woman and her four children, and took two children prisoners. Captain Brady fell in with coren Indians of this party about fifteen miles above Kittanning, where the Indians hed chosen an advan- tageous situation for their camp. He, however, rarreunded them, and attacked them at the break of day. The Indian captain, a notorious warrior of the Munsie nation, was killed on the spot, and several more mortally wounded, but the woods were remarkably thick, and the party could not pursue the tracks after they had stopped their wounds, which they always do as soon as possible after receiving them. 'Captain Brady, however, retuok six horses, the two prisoners," the seaips, and all their

1 Smith had been so long with the Indians that he was thoroughly infatuated with their mode of warfare. See his famous letter to Wash- ington, advising him how to conduct his campaigns against them. " Pennsylvania Archives, N. 8., vol. Ill. 328.

' Archives, vii. 506.

" Jn a note to the Archives by Hasard, these two children were said to be living then, 1863, one in Westmoreland, and the other in Butter; L. C. Draper having statements from them.

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, and took all the Indians' guns, tomahawks, match crats, moc- in fine, everything they had except their breech-clouts. Captain has great merit, but none has more distinguished merit in this ise than the young Delaware chief, whose name is Nanowland. Captain Brady returned, Lieutenant Hardin set out with a party en choice men, and I am certain he will not return without r prisoners from the Seneca country."

Capt. Brady now comes upon the stage, we shall in a separate chapter some of his adventures as occurred on the frontier border of the county g the most trying and darkest period of her er war. By so doing we can convey a better ledge of the true state of affairs than by follow- p an unbroken line of quotations and inferences. e militia called out on occasions to serve when was danger of an attack, or to garrison for the some post, were under the direction and control e county lieutenants, unless when in actual ser- when they were under the command of the ers of the department. This arrangement was a e of much embarrassment, for often when the enants needed the men for special duty they , if in service, not allowed to go from the regular mand. There are several instances in which ry and Brodhead were brought in contact with other, from which contact the public good was subserved. The most noticeable of these oc- ed in 1779, at a time of great apprehension, and n the expectation of assistance from the State meagre. There were at that time two companies hort-term militia from Westmoreland, stationed one at Fort Armstong, Kittanning, the other at Crawford, Puckety. Capt. Thomas Campbell manded one of these, and Capt. Joseph Erwin, father-in-law of Lochry, commanded the other. y were then under the control of Brodhead, but hry, obtaining the permission of the Council, red them back to the line of the Kiskiminetas. en these, therefore, applied to Brodhead for horses provisions they were refused, which was the oc- on of many bitter words and of much complaint both sides to the president and Council.

ome time in 1780, Col. Lochry was under the essity of removing the public records of the nty from Hannastown to his own house on the elve-Mile Run,! after consulting with the judge of court in whose custody they were, who was of the nion it would be of no prejudice to the inhabitants. is was thought necessary, as Hannastown was then arded as very weak and on the frontier.

n June of 1780 the president of the Council sent additional installment of depreciated currency for use of the people, and also ordered some compa- s from the eastern counties, but it does not appear t these came. The Council ordered at one time r companies to be raised for the frontiers within county itself. There was not much difficulty in sing the men, but the money was so valueless that

they thought best not to send any commissions, as the State was unable to raise good money. President Reed in a letter to Col. Proctor, says that the Coun- cil thought best to issue a proclamation encouraging the young men to turn out in small parties as the enemy did, they being convinced that such parties as these would do more for the real protection of the garrisons and forts than the regular militia.

It was thus that during this time the salvation of the people was in those ranging-parties which the young men chose to join in preference to the militia or to entering the regular service. Of those who, from 1778 to 1780, were prominent in the ranging service we mention James Guthrie, Thomas Stokely, Matthew Jack, Michael Huffnagle, James Smith, Joseph Erwin, William Cooper, Samuel Shannon, Brady, Van Swearingen, the Wallaces, the Barrs, Col. Wilson, the Brownlees, the Shaws.

These ranging companies were formed for the most part of the fighting-men who lived nearest to each. They were dressed in the homespun of their own manufacture, and carried their own rifles, knives, and hatchets. When word came that they were needed they hastened together and put themselves under the orders of their officers. It was their duty to alarm the settlers when an attack had been made or was apprehended, and they were to help off the women and children into some place of safety. These men in time became so expert in this manner of warfare, and all their natural senses became so developed by usage, that they could travel as well by night as by day, could see like a night animal, could distinguish sounds of danger which were unheard by others, could stand endurance and want of food beyond all belief, became agile and swift of foot, dexterous with the rifle, and by usage so accustomed to danger and adventure that their feats and escapes were not only marvelous, but sometimes appeared to be, as they were really regarded, miraculous.

In perpetuating the memory and the acts of the men who ought to flourish in the grateful recollection of their descendants, we must not lightly pass over a notice of the women, who in every sense were hero- ines. The knowledge of some of these has come down to us from their having been the subject of some noted episode; but it has been the custom to pass them over without notice. The innocent suffer- ings of Peggy Shaw are, in truth, inseparably con- nected with the history of Hannastown, but the un- doubted acts of bravery of many others have been less fortunately preserved. It has been established upon the testimony of accurate observers" that the women of the early period were, in certain respects, a stronger minded (or stronger willed, if you please) class than their daughters. The graces of womanhood, it is true, could not flourish in their surroundings ; and there are well-attested instances where some who

The Twelve-Mile Ran, as we observed, flows into the Fourteen-Mile near St. Vincent's Monastery.

1 8

: Both physiological and psychological.

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had been reared in the refined society of Europe, or of the cities of the East, coming out to share the hard- ships of pioneer life, eitber drooped away in disease or fell into imbecile childhood.' But this does not detract, but is an illustration of the doctrine of the survival of the fittest. And we advert here to that class who were raised up in the families of the border settlers, and who possessed strong bodies and equally strong minds. These were the women who were ft companions the wives, the sisters, the mothers-of those men to whom we are indebted for a share of the liberty which we now enjoy.

Toillustrate our point we adduce the instances of a few, and their example will answer for many others, and will serve to reflect the heroism and the bardi- hood of all.

Possibly the most noted instance of hardibood pre- served in bur annals is that which is related of Mrs. Experience Bozarth. She lived on Dunkard Creek, now within the limits of Washington County. In the spring of 1779 two or three neighboring families, through fear of oanger, took up their abode with her while the men were in the woods. At this time there were two men at the house besides the women and children. On a certain day the children out playing came running towards the house saying they had seen ugly red men. One of the men went to the door. He was shot in the breast and fell backward. The Indian jumped over the prostrate man and grappled with the other. The white man with great strength threw the Indian upon a bed and held him while he called for a knife. All the rest of the women were screaming and in an anguish of fright.

Mrs. Bozarth, not finding a knife, seized an axe, and with a dash of it sank it into the Indian's brain. At that instant another savage who had entered the door shot the white man dead who was tussling with and still holding the Indian on the bed. The brave woman turned upon this Indian and attacked him with the axe. She gave him several ugly gashes, one of which let his bowels out. His yells of pain brought others of the savages from the murder of the children to his rescue. When the first one of these thrust his head inside the door it was cleft in two by the axe, when the body was pulled out by his comrades. Mrs. Bozarth then, with the help of the white man who had been first shot, and who had now somewhat re- covered, shut the door upon them and fastened it. The living thus kept the house garrisoned for several days, with the bodies of the dead white and Indian in it. During this time the Indians besieged it. They were finally relieved by a party sent out for that purpose.

The remarkable sufferings and final escape of Massy Harbison are perhaps so well known that they will not bear repetition. We shall not recount the story in her words, but that devotion which is so apparent in all her trials may, we think, with propriety be re-

1 See Harriot's Travels in North America.

ferred to. At the time she was taken by the Indians she lived within sight of a block-house in Westmoro- land, between Pittsburgh and Puckety. This was in May, 1792, after the defeat of St. Clair. A party of savages breaking into her bouse while she was there with ber children, took her from ber bed with an in- fant in her arms and made her follow them. Besides the babe she had two little boys. One of these cried and held back from going along. They killed him by taking him by the heele and dasbing his head againes the door-post. They set the mother on a stolen borse.

When they crossed the Allegheny they murdered ber other boy, who was still crying for his brother, and scalped him. She kept the babe still to her breast. They proceeded past the place where Butler now stands. She had made up her mind to be killed, and to give the Indian who had ber a pretext she refused to carry what be put upon her. They, however, only beat her along with the bandles of their tomabawks. On the third morning, while the Indian who guarded her dozed, she got up and started into the woods. When she was from their sight she wandered around through fear, resting by day and groping in the dark- nees, in constant apprehension of being found, for three days more before she came to the Allegheny, where she was taken up by some whites. During this time her sufferings were such as are hardly to be credited. She lived on berries and roots and soft bark; she was exposed to the inclemency of the weather; she was followed. and came near being taken when her child cried, which brought a warrior, who stood listening within a few steps of where che lay hid; she was afraid to sleep Jest her babe should ery ; she traveled at night and rested by day, and that sbe might use one hand to grope her way through the thick bushes she carried her babe in ber shawl and held the corners of it between her teeth. One stormy night, when she thought she would die, she rested her forehead against the bark of a tree, and as she shielded her little one, received upon her half-covered head the peltings of the pitiless storm. Neverthe- less she rose again and began her wanderings anew. She at last came to a deserted house close by the river, and going down to the bank she saw two men on the opposite side, who crossed over to her and took her to their block-house. When she was taken in to the fire she became delirious. Her clothing had been torn well-nigh off her back, and her limbs were lacerated by briers and filled with thorns ; there were thorns, indeed, which reached clear through her bare feet. From the good care of the whites and through the attention of the physician at Pittsburgh, to where she was removed, she in time recovered. The bar- barity of the Indians towards her offspring and her own sufferings were such that her deposition of the facts, as they are substantially contained in her nar- rative, was taken before John Wilkins, Esq., father of the Hon. William Wilkins, and published, as much no doubt to arouse the people of the border to act

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ainst the savages as for any other purpose. For that time, after a long peace, the inhabitants had own backward in providing men for the defense of e frontier settlements, and the hope of the safety of ese was in the spies and rangers who volunteered. e doubt whether a more forcible example of a other's love and devotion can be unearthed from e mines of ancient or modern history ; and yet she is but one of many.

Of women equally as brave and devoted every cality had some. Among these, perhaps, one might more distinguished than the rest, and the example such a one was alone worth many men. For many ars the recollection of Mrs. Peggy Oliver, the other of the late J. B. Oliver, Esq., was fresh nong the old inhabitants of the Sewickley settle- ent. They talked with pride of her whom they had en when she was a young and beautiful woman, ounted upon a favorite horse day after day during e most distressful time in the middle of the war, ding on a gallop between the block-houses and bins which reached from up in Hempfield to Mar- e's, at the mouth of the Sewickley. She appeared lead a charmed life, for it is said that she ventured convey news and carry instruction on occasions hen no other could be found to do so. At Hannas- wn such another woman was Mrs. Matthew Jack, hose maiden name was Nancy Wilson. On the day f the attack she is said to have helped to carry and have superintended the work of removing the cords and papers from the court-house to the stock- de. Her husband, at that time sheriff, was, as is ell known, out giving the alarm among the settlers. From these instances sufficient may be gathered to rm an idea of the spirit of these women.' They had ecome so used to war and horrors that it was their pecial province to dress the wounds of those who ad been hurt; they knew all the simples which ured pains and aches, and in the absence of doctors hey did all that doctors are usually presumed to do. They helped to sustain the defense of their cabins by unning bullets, cutting patches, and priming the ieces. Many a time has the mother, upon a sudden ttack, started up with her babe, while her husband ook another child, and each fly to the wood in a differ- nt direction. Often they never saw each other again. Yea, sometimes has the mother been found dead, whilst the babe upon her breast was still alive. All could never be told; but certain it is that the wives, nothers, and sisters of these first settlers of West- moreland were such women as bring forth strong- minded sons and gentle daughters; that they them- elves were as boundless in their love and charity as the sea that knows no lessening, and that they pos- sessed all the matronly virtues which, happily to be acknowledged, are everywhere the glory and the honor of their sex.1

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History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 27

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: