History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 12

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1046

USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 12

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"I read and explained the printed paper to the Indians, and they ex- pressed a good deal of satisfaction and pleasure with the news. Capt. Glazier gave me to understand that he should be very glad if some of these Indians would accompany him to the English camp with the de- spatches he had for the general, in this dangerous time. I proposed it to the Indians; they approved of the thing, but having intelligence of our Honor's coming up, and that you would be in Lancaster this day, they would hear and receive your approbation; and they have accord- ingly desired me to stay with them at this place till your Honor's arrival, which I have promised to do, and have sent the bearer hereof express to let your Hooor know of this and to receive further orders."

The near approach of the enemy created the utmost consternation among the outer settlements. The only safety was to flee and leave all to the enemy. They had in vain looked for effectual relief from the Colo- nial government. Homes that had been occupied ; barns filled with the fruits of a rich and plenteons harvest ; newly-sowed fields, standing corn, and cattle, .

sheep, etc., were all abandoned by the hardy and industrious frontier settlers, in order to save them- selves from being cut off by the barbarous enemy. Even John Harris and his family were threatened with death, as stated by Mr. Harris himself in the following letter to Edward Shippen, at Lancaster :

" PAXTANO, y^ 29th October, 1775.

" Sir, -- We expect the enemy npon ns every day, and the luhabitants are abandoning their plantationa, being greatly discouraged at the ap- , proach of such a number of cruel savages, and no present sign of assist- ance. I hala certain account of lifteeu hundred French and Indians being on the march against ns and Virginia, and now close upon our borders, their sconts scalping our families on our frontiers daily. An- drew Montour, and others at shamokin, desired me to take care, that there was a party of forty Indians, out many days, and intended to bain my bon-e and destroy mys-If and family. I have this day ent loop-boles in my house, and am determined to hold out to the last extremity, if I can get some men to stand by me. But few can be had at present, as every one is in fear of his own family being cut off every hour. Great part of the Susquehanna Indians are no doubt actually in the French interest, and I am informed that a French officer is expected ist Shanto- kin this week, with a party of Delawares ard Shawanese, no doubt to take possession of our river. We should raise men immediately to build a fort up the river to take possession, and to induce some Jodians to join us. We ought also to insist on the Indians to declare for or against ns, and as soon as we are prepared for them we should bid up their scalps, and keep our woods full of our people upon the scout, else they will ruin onr province, for they are a dreadful quemy. I have sent out two In- dian spies to Shamokin ; they are Mohawks.

"Sir, yours, &c., JOHN HARRIS."

CHAPTER V.

The French and Indian War (continued)-Treaty at Harris' Ferry- Fort Halifax-Fort McKee-Fort Manady-Fort at Harris' Ferry- Fort Hunter,

IN the latter part of October, 1755, the enemy again appeared in the neighborhood of Shamokin, and in November of that year they committed several mur- ders upon the whites under circumstances of great cruelty and barbarity. Not only the settlers on the immediate frontier, but those residing far towards the interior, were kept in constant alarm, as will be seen by the following address, or appeal to the inhabitants of the Province, issued from the present site of Harrisburg :

" PAXTANG, Ve 31st October, 1755.

" From John Harris, at 12 P.M.

The Governor was there a few days after, made a . " To oll His Majesty's subjects in the Province of Pennsylvanit, or elsewhere : short harangue, gave some presents, at which the In- dians seemed perfectly delighted, and "the chain of friendship" wa- to remain " bright and unbroken." The Governor little knew of the perfidy of the sav- ages, and that all their promises were mere ropes of sand.

" Whereas, Andrew Montour, Belt of Wampum, two Mohawks, and other Indians, came down this day from Shanwoki, who say the whole body of Indians, or the greatest part of them in the French interest, is actually encamped on this side of George Gabriel's (about thirty miles north of Harris' Ferry, on the west side of the river), near Susquehanna, and we may expect an attack within three days at farthest ; and a French fort to be begun at Shamokin in ten days bence. Tho' this be the In- dian report. we, the anlseribers, do give it as our advice to repair jump. diately to the frontiers with all our forces, to intercept their passage . into our country, and to be prepared in the best manner possible for the worst events.

" Witness our hands, ".JAMES GALBREATH,

" JOHN ALLISON, " BARNEY HUGHES, " ROBEET WALLACE, " JOHN HARRIS.

JAMES POLLOCK,

JAMES ANDERSON, WILLIAM WORK,

PATRICK HAYES,

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

" P.S .- They positively athrm that the above named Indians discor- ered a party of the enemy at Thomas McKee's upper place on the 30th of October last.

"Mona-ca-too-tha, The Belt, and other Indians here, insist upon MIr. Weiser's coming immediately to John Harris' with his men, and to coun- sel with the Indians.

"+ Before me,

"JAMEN GALBREATH."

Fortunately, the reports conveyed in Mr. Harris' letter, as well as in the above address, proved to be premature, the enemy confining his depredations to the regions of the Susquehanna, about Shamokin, and the Great or Big Cove in the western part of Cumber- land County, a detailed account of which would not come within our province to write.

It was not until the middle of the following year that the Indians, incited, and in some instances offi- cered, by their allies the French, extended their in- cursions into the interior of the Province, and imag- ination fails to conceive the peril and distress of the settlers of Paxtang, Hanover, and the other townships of Lancaster, now compri-ing the counties of Dau- phin and Lebanon.

On the 8th of January, 1756, Governor Morris, who had come from Philadelphia by way of Reading, held a conference with the Indians at the house of John Harris. As a part of the history of this locality, it is proper that the record thereof he preserved in this connection :

" At a conference held with the Indians at Harris' Ferry, Jan. 8, 1756, present the Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, Governor James Hamilton, Richard Peters, Joseph Fox, and Conrad Weiser, interpreter ; two In- dians of the Six Nations, called ' the Belt of Wampum,' a Seneca, and ' The Broken Thigh,' Mohawk.

" The Governor, huding here only two Indians and their families, he sent for them into council, and spoke as follows :

"' Brethren :

" I am glad to see you and your families in good health. You have ever been esteemed our hearty friends, and you show you are really so by residing amongst us, at a time when so much mischief is done on every side of the Province.

"' I sent Mr. Weiser to acquaint you that I had kindled a council fire bere, and had invited the Indians on Susquehannah to meet me the be- ginniug of this moon, and that I expected you would stay here till I should come, and ifford me your assistance in council.

"' I thank you for staying here. You see that agreeable to my mes- ! sage, I comie at the time appointed, but I find no other Indians here than you two, and indeed I expect uo more, as I believe my messengery were prevented going to Wyomink by the ravages of the Indians, which bego in their neighborhood at the time they were prep wring te set out on their journey.

"' Brethren : The public business requires my presence at Carlisle, where I am tuw going, and I invite you to gu along with me. If you incline to take any of your families with you. I sball readily agree to it, and provide a carriage for them and you.'

" To this the Belt rerdied.

"' Brethren: I thank you for sending for us to council, and for your kind speech. What you have said is very agreeable.

". Brethren: The sky is dark all around u. The mischief done to you I consider as done to the SIA Natien-, and am sorry for what has happened, and heartily condole with you upou it, but be not di-heart- ened. As the public InisiLess is committed to you, nothing sh uid be suffered to lie on your mands that night, in any wise, impair your jung- ment, which is uzw more neces-ary than ever. Let me, therefore, by this string enstreat you to phit away all grief from your heart, and to dry up your tears, that you may think aud see clearly when you come to council.

' "+ I accept your invitation, atl shall follow you to Carlisle.' "GAVE A STRING."

From the minutes of the treaty or conference held at that time it appears there was but oue single house and few conveniences to hohl a treaty at Harris'- " Mr. Weiser was called in and asked it it might not be better to hold it at Carlisle, where all the business of that county could be done at the same time, and proper entertainment provided as well for the Gov- ernor and his company as for the Indians, should they prove numerous."

In the early part of 1736, of the Provincial forces there were stationed at Harris', a sergeant and twelve men ; at Hunter's Fort, Ensign Johnson and twenty- four men ; at Me Kce's Store, Ensign Mears and twenty- four men; at Fort Halifax, Capt. Nathaniel Miles and thirty men ; and at Fort Mmady, Lient. Miller and sixteen men.

In the spring of 1756 the Provincial troops were well organized, and within the limits of Dauphin County the following stockade fort- were erected :

FORT HALIFAX .- This fort, also named the Fort at Armstrong's, was commenced in May, 1756. Col. Clapham, an officer of the Provincial service, selected it " as the most convenient place on the river between Harri-'s and Shamokin for a magazine on account of its good natural situation above the Juniata Falls, the vast plenty of pine timber at hand, its nearness to Shamokin and a saw within a quarter of a mile, he therefore concludes to erect a fort here, according to a plan encloser to the Gov't, and for that purpose had already cut and squared 200 log, and hanled 80 to the spot. each about 30 feet long, and made some progress in laying them, rather than lose time by delay with the troops, &as men sufficient to finish it in a fort- night after the logs were hauled could be had in the neighborhood at a reasonable rate, under a guard of an officer and 30 men, he proposed to proceed on the march with the troops, he has 20 batteanx finished and 2 Canoes to bring up provisions, having already made 5 trips to Mekee's store and @ to this place, two different parties were sent out as scouts towards Shamokin.'

On the 8th of June, says the colonel in his report to the Governor, he " was agreeably surprised on see- ing a canoe coming down the River with a red flag, having on board an Iroquois Ind'n Chier and his son charged with a belt of wampum from the six Nations; a Cayuga Indian was at first with them, but landed at Choconotte above Wyoming, being deterred by the reports of Shekelamy."

On the 10th of June, Col. Clapham held a confer- ence there with the Iroquois chief, which is reported as follows:

"At a conference hell at the camp at Armstrong's June 10, 1756, he- tween Col. William Clapham and Oghaghradish, an Indian chief of the Iroquois. on the waters of susquehanna.

" Present, C'apts. Lloyd and shippen ; Interpreters, Jamey Lowry ui Lewis Montour.

" My Brother. Cul. Johnston, at my departure, tell me thus brother ; I tand great difficulties in governing and supplying the wants of the Six Nations. in connection with the, 'tis therefore imp sible I should also take charge of those seated at a distance ou the Waters of the Suisque-

-------

GENERAL HISTORY.

hanna, for which reason I have recommended them by you, and this string of wampum to Col. Clapham fur Ugcarunthiunth, for that purpose. ". Brother, The Iroquois living on the Seth Branch of Susquehanna have sent me as a representative of the whole to treat with you .pro- ducing a belt of wampum) and will ratify all my contracts, Brother, they agree to your building a fort at shamokin, but are desirons that you should also build a Fort three day's journey, in a canoe, higher up the North Brauch, in their country, at a place called ' Adjouquay,' and this belt of wampum is to clear the road to that place.

*** Brother, If you agree to my proposals in behalf of my nation, I will return and immediately collret our whole force to be employed in protecting your people while you are tonbling a tort in our country at Adjonquay, where there is a good situation and time soll at the entrance of a deep creek, on a level plain five andre extending, and clear of woods. Adjouquay is fourteen miles above Whoming, and an old woman way carry a heavy pack of skins from thence to the Miuisink, and return to Adjonquay in two night -.

"' My Brother, the land is troubled, and you may justly apprehend danger, but if you will grant our request we will be together, an Fifany dauger happens to you we will share it with you. My brother, I have known this young man a good while (printing to Jamies Lowry) and have traveled far with him ; he is a proper man, and knows the country well. I should be glad to recommend him as a companion ou the march.

"' My Brother (laying down a belt of wamipum folded in the middle) this describes your path to shamokin ; . unfolding the belt and extend- iog it to its full length) this is your road to Adjouguay.'

" Upon which he presented a belt and offered his little son as a pledge of his fidelity, insisting at the aime that Col. Clapham should visit their town, escorted by their warriors who, despi-ing to turn out of their way, would .conduct him through the Delaware town to their village iu de- fiance of all opposition whatever."

The orders and instructions to Col. Clapham in regard to the erection of the fort were as follows, although he was subsequently directed to diminish the size, but having proceeded too far with the work, which in his opinion was already too small, he con- tinued on with the dimensions as at first ordered :

"1. With these instructions you will receive a number of blauk com- mloslutis, under my hand and seal, for subaltern officers in your regi- meat, which you are hereby empowered to fill up with the hinoies of such men as you judge most fit for the service, having regard to the merit and services of those already employed ; taking care that they be of the Protestant religion, aud well affected to his Majesty's government, and you will administer to them the oaths to the government, as your name is inserted in the General Dedimus for this Province, uuder the Great Seal, or cause Major Burd to do it.

"2. Herewith you will also receive two plans of Forts; the one a Pentagon, the other a square, with one Ravelin to protect the curtaio where the gate is, with a ditch covered way and glacis; but as it is im. possible to give any explicit dire . tious to the particular form of a fort without viewing aud considering the ground on which it is to stand, I must leave it to you to build it in such form as will best answer for its own defence, the command of the river, and of the country in its neigh- borhood; and the plaus herewith will serve to show the proportion that the different parts of the works shonhl bear to each other.

"3. As to the place upon which this fort is to be erected, that omust be in a great measure left to your judgur nt ; but it is necessary to inform you it must be on the east side of the Susquehanna ; the lands on the west, at the Forks, between the branches, not being purchased from the In- dians; besides it would be impossible to relieve and support a garrison on that side in the winter time. From all the information I have been able to collect, the land on the sunth side of the east branch, opposite to the middle of the island, is the highest of any of the lowland there- about, and the best place for a fort. The guns you have with you will form a rampart of a moderate height, commanding the main river. But as this information comes from per- ns not acquainted with the nature of such things, I am fearful they are not much to be depended un, and your own judgment must therefore direct you.

"4. When you have completed the fort, you will cause the ground to be cleared abont it, to a couventeut distance, and openings to be pide to the river, aud you will erect such binidings within the fort, and place there in such a manner as you shall jut ige be-t.

"5. Without_the fort, at a convenient distance, under the command of the guus, it will be necessary to build some log houses for Indi ius,

that they may bave places to lodge in, without being in the fort, where numbers of them, however friendly, should not be admitted, but in a formal manner, and the guard turned ont ; this will be esteemed a com- pliment by our friends, and if rhomies should at any time be concealed under that name, it will give them proper notions of our vigilance, and prevent them from attempting to surprin it.

"6. In your march up the river you will take care not to be sur- prised, and always to have your forces in such a disposition that you may retreat with safety.

"7. You will make the best observations you can of the river and the most ditheilt passes you meet with in your way, as well by laud as water, which you will note upon the map I gave you, that it may be thereby amended, and furnish me with your opinion of the best outnuer of removing or surmounting thean difficulties.

"s. If you should be opposed in your march, or gain any intelligence of the approach of an enemy, for that or any other purpose, you will in- forni me by express of auch intelligence or opposition, the situation you are in, and everything else material that I may send yon proper as-ist- ance, and be prepared for anything that ny happen, and in the mean time you are to use your best endeavors to oppose the enemy and to secure yourself.

"9. As soon as you are in possession of the ground at Shamokin you will secure yourself n breastwork in the best manner you can, so that your men may work in safety, and you will inform me of your arrival there, aud let me know what you will have occasion for. that I may apply to the commissioneis to supply it.

"10. You will ander the company and others in whose hands you may trust any of the public provisions or stores, to be careful and exact in the distribution thereof, null to keep exact accounts of everything com- notted to their care.

"11. Having suspected hostilities against the Delaware Indians on the east side of the Northeast Branch of Susquehanna, in order to enter into a treaty with them, I send you herewith a proclamation for that purpose, to which you will conform, and any friendly Inchians that may join yon in your march or at Shamokin, you will trent with kindness, and supply them out of the Province stores with such things as they want and you are able to spare.

" 12. Having sent the Indians-New Castle and Jagree -- again to the town of Diabnga, accompanied with some of the Jersey Delawares. all var friends, who may and probably will returo by the Susquehauna, yon will in about a fortnight after this cause a lookout to be kept for them, and, if they return that way, you will receive and assist theot in their journey. Their signal will be a red flag, with 'union' in the cor- ser, or, if that should be lost, they will carry ' green boughs' or . club'd muskets,' will appear open and erect, and not approach you jo the night.

"R. H. MORRIS.

"Given under my hand and seal at Arms, Philadelphia, this 12th day of June, 1756."

On the 20th of June, Col. Clapham writes to Gov- ernor Morris from the "Camp at Armstrong's" :

"Sir,-I received your Honor's of the 12th inst., together with your Honor's instructions, your Honor's answer to the Indian sachem, six blank commissions, and two plans of fortification. Your instructions I shall obey with the utmost pleasure and punctuality. Your answer I delivered with due solemnity. In filling up the commissions I shall he particularly careful to regard your Honor's directions. When arrived at the ground I shall conform as near as possible to the plans, and hope I shall find no dithenity in the exertion which inditstry and applica- tion may not surmount, and shall rely on your Honor for the supplies necessary Juring that time. The progress already made in this fort renders it impracticable for me to comply with the commissioners desire to contract it, at which I ani more surprised, as I expected every day urders to enlarge it, it being as yet, in my opinion, toro small. I shall have an officer and thirty ofen, with orders to finish it, when I march frout hence, which will be with all possible expedition after the arrival of the blinkets, the rum and the money for payment of battoe-tnen, for want of which I am obliged to detain them here in idleness, not think- ing it prudent to trust them on another trip for fear of their desertion, which may totally itupede the service. I could wish the comunesioners would invent same expedient to pay them men without maury, or, at least withont the dinger of trusting me with their money. the charge of which I am not ambitions of, or the moich envied honor and trouble of expending it. This far is certain, that without such expedient or the money, we cannot stir.

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

" I have, pursuant to your Honor's command, sent down two Indian Sachems properly escorted, and committed particularly to the care of Mr. shippen, and hope huis cooling will fully answer the ends proposed by your Honor and your council. I have found Capt. MeKee extremely useful, and have sent him also at the Sachem's particular request.

" The carpenters are still employed in building Battues and carriages for the canoes, and everybody seems disposed cheerfully to contribute their services towards the public good, if there ever was any prospect or assurance of being paid for it. From your Honor's character of Capt. Busse, I am extremely worry the Commissioners have not thought proper to comply with your Honor's propusit. I assure myself, your Honor, will omit no opportunity of extricating me from embarrassmentvari-ing from the want of money, both for the Battle men and the soldiers; twenty-six of whom being Dutch ( German ) are now io confinement for mutiny Qu that Very account. I am with all respect your Honor's obe- dient servant.

" WILLIAM CLAPHAM.

" P.S .- The Fort at this place i- without a name till y wir Honor is pleased to confer one."

On the 25th of the month the Governor writes from Philadelphia to Col. Clapham, "The fort at Arm- strong's I would have it called Fort Halifax." At the same time that official is pleased with its prog- ress, and urges him to leave for Shamokin as soon as possible. The former writes under date of Ist July, 1756 :

" Sın,-I received your favor by Commissary Burd, and the Slow), which I distributed among the Bitte med in proportion to their sev- eral demands, it not being sufficient to discharge the whole. The ship- carpeuters have finished the carriages for the canoe, and as soon as they have finished the Battues in hand, which I expect will be done to-mor- row, I shall give them a certificate of their services and discharge them all except one, who will be absolutely necessary in the passage, and without whose assistance we may protally lose more than his Fir cin cost the Province ; now if my people are to be depended on in case of an accident on the water, and I can assure your Honor that I find fatigue and difficulties enough to conduct so amphibious an expedition with all the assistance I can possibly command. I shall leave a sergeant s party at Harris' consisting of twelve mueu, twenty-four at Hunter's Fort, twenty-four at Mckee's store, each under the command of an eusigo ; and Capt. Miles, with thirty men, at Fort Halifax, with the inclosed io- structions, as I have removed all the stores from Har:is' and Mckee's to this place; Mr. G.dbreath's presence does not seem very necessary at either of those two plices, aod bis refund to attend here has laid me under the necessity of appointing a person to act in that capacity under the direction of Commissary Bord till your pleasure shall be koowo. 1 am at present extremely engaged in embarking the reginients, stores, etc., for Shamokin, expecting to march gioie enough to-might ou rhe west side of Susquehanna, about five miles above Fort Halifax, and promising myself the pleasure of congratulating your Honor from sha- mokin; and in the niean time very respectfully your Honor's most obe- dieot, humble servant.

" WILLIAM CLAPHAM.

" P.S .- There are still one hundred hlank ts wanting in the regi- ment."

The fort was left in charge of Capt. Nathaniel Miles, with the following instructions, dated " Fort Halifax, Ist July, 1756 :"

". Sin,-You are to command a party of thirty men at Fort Halifax, which you are to finish with all possible expedition, observing not to andet yuor party to straggle in small numbers into the wools. or to go any great distance from the fort unless detached as a. eso rt, or in Cause of special orders for that purpose. You are to build harracks within the fort for your men and also a store-house thirty feet by twelve, io which you are carefully to lodge all provisions, stores, etc., belonging to the province ; if the boards purchased for that purp .e are i .t suficient to finish the banquette and execute the other designs herein recom- weaded, your men are to be employed in sawing more out of the pine- logs out lying near the fort. You are to keep a constant guard, and relieve regularly, to have continual one sentry in each bastien, and in case of an attack to retreat to the fort and defend it to the last extremity.

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History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 12

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1046

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1046