History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 13

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 13
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 13

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).

" If anything extraordinary occurs you are immediately to dispatch notice thereof to bis honor the governor, and to signify the same to the if any relief or instruction may be necessary.

" WILLIAM CLAPHAM."

On the 17th of August there was very little ammu- nition here, and on October 9th, according to a return by Capt. Jameson, " the Garrison consisted of two Serjeants, two Corporals, forty-two privates -- ammu- nition. 100tbs Gunpowder, 3001b., musket balls, and 60lt -. shot and lead .- provisions 14000tbs. fresh beef, 1 Bbl. salt beef, and 700ms. flour. An escort is or- dered of fifteen men nuder a serjeant to conduct the Waggon Master General, Mr. Irwin, from Hunter's to Fort Halifax, there join a detachment from Capt. Jameson's Company, to be commanded by Lieut. Anderson, and march to Fort Augusta. To preserve communications between the inhabitants and Au- gusta and for conveniency of E-corts and Transpor- tation of provisions and ammunition there should be one hundred in Garrison at Fort Halifax." In July, 1757, a petition was presented to the Governor for a removal of the garrison from Halifax to Hunter's, the defense of the former being considered of little ac- count to the inhabitants south of the mountains. It is supposed this removal was soon € - tor we 1

hear nothing more of its occupancy.

on the east bank of the Su-quehanna, ne ..

of Armstrong's Creek, about half a mile above Lire town of Halifax.

FORT MCKEE .- With regard to the time of the erection of this fort and its precise locality we are ignorant. But as we find instructions to Thomas McKee, dated Jan. 26. 1756, we suppose it to have been erected in 1756. He is directed "to receive from the officer commanding the detachment of Capt. Reed's company at Huuter's Mill, and who you are to relieve, such arms, accoutrements, blankets, tools, and stores as he may have in his hands belonging to the Province, with which you are to furnish your company ; but if that should not be sufficient, you are to apply to Capt. Frederick Smith for a further supply out of what he will receive from Capt. Reed and Capt. Hendricks." He is afterwards appointed, under a commission, captain of a company, to consist of twenty-eight men and two sergeants, besides him- self and lieutenants. He is ordered to " proceed im- mediately to raise the company ; when complete, they are to be mustered before James Galbraith, E-t., and after being mustered they are to march to a place called Hunter's Mill, on the Susquehanna River. and either complete the fort already begun there, or build another at such convenient place as James Galbraith shall advise : and in case it should be thought neces- -ary to erect'a new fort, you are to build it of the form and dimensions herewith given to you." The next notice of it is in a letter from Edward Shippen, dated Lancaster, AApril 10th, where he says, " I have been 'at Capt. McKee's fort, where I found several Indians -several women very sick in bed. John Shekellamy

GENERAL HISTORY.

was there, but did not like his situation"-" there is no room scarce at Capt. McKee's fort for provisions" -" the enemy can come over the hills at five miles from MeKee's Fort"-" there are several bad pas-es as far as McKee's plantation, where I have been, it is but 25 miles from Hunter's Mill." Colonel Clap- ham says to Governor Morris, " I shall have 24 men at MeKee's store under the command of an Ensign, as I have removed all the stores from Harris' and McKee's to this place ( Halifax). May 17. They. have very little ammunition at MeKee's." It was Damed for Thomas Mekce, the Indian trader, who had a plantation on the Susquehanna, near the falls which still bear his name. It was situated on the East Branch of the Su-quehanna, between Forts Hali- fax and Augusta. It was probably a stoekade, noth- ing more.

FORT MANADY .- This fort was ereeted in 1755, and was situated on or near the Manady Creek, in East Hanover township, Dauphin Co., probably near the gap in the mountain of the same name as the fort. It was sometimes called the stockade at Robertson's Mill, and in the centre between Fort Hunter and Swatara.

But little seems to have been known of this fort, or rather stockade, for it was probably nothing more. The creek still retains its name, and is a branch of Swatara. Here Col. Burd, in February, 1758, prom- ised the country people to station an officer and twenty-five men, which gave the people content. Jan. 26, 1756, in instructions to Adam Reed, it is said, " Having appointed Captain Frederick Smith to take post with an independent company at the Gap where the Swatara passes the mountains, and to sta- tion a detachment of his company at Manady, there will be no necessity of your continuing longer upon guard in that part of the frontier ; you will therefore dismiss the men now employed in that service and deliver to Captain Smith such arms and accoutre- ments, blankets, and stores, belonging to the Province, as have at any time come to your hands." And un- der same date, after instructing Captain Frederick Smith to leave a part of his company at Swatara, he is directed " to proceed to the Gap, where the River Manady passes the mountain-, and either take pos- session and strengthen the stoccado already erected there, or erect a new one as you shall judge best," and then return to the fort at Swatara. He is to "leave 20 men, under the command of a com- missioned officer, at the Fort at Manady." Capt. Smith is to communicate his instructions to the officers he shall have at the fort at Manady. Col. Weiser, in a letter to Governor Morris, JJuly 11, 1756. says, "9 men are to stay constantly in Manady Fort, and 6 men to range Eastward from Manady toward Swatara, aod 6 men to range Westward towards Sus- quehanna, and each party to reach the fort before night." James Galbraith says, in a letter to Elward Shippen, dated Derry, 9th August, "there were two .

soldiers killed and one wounded about two miles from Manady." Justice Reed informs Edward Shippen. in October, of Indians being at the house of Philip Robertson, whose son being on the corner of the fort, watching others dressing flesh by him. observed an Indian, who fled, but was fired upon by the wateh- man, who missed him. This was about three-quarters of a mile from Manady Fort. The journal of James Patterson, from Fort Hunter, says, "I took with me 19 men, and ranged this fort a- far as Robinson's Fort, where I lodged, keeping guard of 6 men and one corporal on sentry that night. On the 6th of July I sent a sergeant and corporal, with 15 men, along the frontiers of Paxtang and Manadys, about 14 miles from this fort, and on the 7th they returned to said fort ( Hunter), having seen some Indians who ran off"

FORT AT HARRIS' FERRY .- This was simply a stoekade. On the 29th of October, 1755, John Ilar- ris writes to Edward Shippen at Lancaster that he has advice that forty Indian, "are out many days and intend to burn my house and destroy myself and family. I have this day ent holes in my house and is determined to hold out till the last extremity if I enn get some men to stand by me, few of which I ean at present, every one being in fear of their own families being cut off every hour (such is our situation), he recommends building a strong fort up Susquehanna [p. 656]." Governor Morris held a conference with the Indians, Jan. 8, 1756, at Harris', there being then but "one single house and few conveniences :" "but two Indians and their families" attended, and the confer- 'ence was adjourned to Carlisle by advice of Col. Weiser, where they met January 13th, and then to Lancaster, and the result seems to have been a deter- mination to ereet a chain of forts along the Susque- hanna. On April 19, 1756, Mr. Shippen writes the Governor that "John Harris has built an excellent Stockade round his house, which is the only place of security that way for the provisions for the army, he having much good cellar room, and as he has but six or seven men to guard it, if the Governor would order six more men there to strengthen it, it would in my opinion be of great use to the cause, even were no pro- visions to be stored at all" . . . " this stockade of Ilar- ris' ought by all means to be supported." John Har- ris, writing on the 5th of November, the same year, says, " Here is at my fort two prisoners that came from Shamokin." Again he writes to the Governor, " I hope your honor will be pleased to continue some men here during these calamitous times in our fron- tiers, as this place and the conveniences here may be of service if defended," ... "we have had a town- meeting since the murders committed in Hanover township, and have unanimously agreed to support twenty men in our township at the mountain, there to range and keep guard, or watch day and night for one month."

FORT AT ROBINSON'S-This was probably only a

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

private fort, erected about 1755. at the house of Sam- uel Robinson, in Hanover township. Governor Mor- ris, in a letter to him on Nov. 11, 1755, says, " At the request of the people of Hanover Town, in your neigh- borhood, I have ordered one hundredweight of gun- powder and two hundredweight of lead to be deliv- ered to you, which you will carry to the fort at your house and distribute among the inhabitants in as equal a manner as may be, and recommend it to them to be careful of it." In December, 1758. James Patterson, in his journal, at Fort Hunter, says, " I took with me nineteen men and ranged from this fort as far as Robinson's Fort, where I lodged. keep- ing a guard of six men and one corporal on sentry that night." It is probable that this last, as well as the former paragraph, alludes to Fort Manady, which was situated in Hanover township, and was some- times known as the " stockade at Robertson's Mill," and in the centre between Fort Hunter and Swatara. (See " Fort MIanady.")

FORT HUNTER .- When or by whom this fort was erected is not certainly known from the records. It was probably as early as 1755, as in an order to Adam Reed, Jan. 10, 1756, a fort is spoken of at Hunter's mill. It is there said that " the commissioners think- ing that the company of fifty men under your com- mand are sufficient to guard the frontier along the Kittochtinny Hills from your own house to Hunter's mill, have refused for the present to take any other men in that quarter into the pay of the government. and requested me to order, and I do hereby accord- ingly order you to detach twenty-five of the men now at your house to the fort ut Hunter's mill, upon the Susquehanna, under the command of your lieutenant or officer next under yourself, to range the woods along and near the mountains towards your house," and another party to " range rowards Hunter's mill." To these are to be added twenty more men of Paxtang township, making thirty for that service. Thomas McKee was appointed to take post at or near Hun- ter's mill, and to receive from the commanding officer there the detachment of Capt. Reed's company. with arms, ete., belonging to the Province. On the 26th of January, 1756, Jame> Galbraith is told by the Governor that " Thomas MeKee is instructed to ad- vise with him whether to finish the fort already begun at Hunter's mill or to build a new one, and as to the place where it would be best to erect such new one."

Governor Morris writes to Col. Clapham, on the 7th of April, 1756, " As a magazine of provisions and other warlike stores will very soon be formed at or near Hun- ter's mill upon the river Susquehanna, I think it neces- sary for the protection thereof and for other purposes, to order that you appoint the said place called Hun- ter's mill, or some convenient place near it, for the general rendezvous of the regiments now raising, and that you order all the men already enlisted, not employed on some other service, to march immediately to the said rendezvous, and all your recruiting parties to send

their recruits thither from time to time. You will order proper guards upon the magazine, and upon the boat- and canoes which shall be collected there pursuant to my orders you will give directions that the officers and men keep themselves in good order, and ready to go upon duty at an hour's warning." On April 16, 1746, the Governor informs the com- mander that he has ordered "Colonel Clapham to rendezvous his regiment at or near Hunter's mill, where he has ordered a number of canoes to be col- lected and fitted for transporting the stores to Sham- okin."

Col. Weiser is ordered to send two of the most trusty Indian- to Hunter's mill for intelligence. There is great confusion among the Indians up the West Branch of the Susquehanna. Col. Clapham says, July 1, from Halifax, " that he shall leave at Har- ris' a serjeant's party consisting of 12 men, 24 at Hunter's fort. The fort here wants ammunition." Edward Shippen, speaking. on the 19th of April, of Harris' as a storehouse, says, " Hunter's house in- deed would answer such a purpose were it stockaded ; but as it is quite naked and stands 5 or 600 feet from the fort, the enemy may surprise it and kill the people and set the roof on fire in three or four places at once, and if the sentries should discern the fire as soon as it begins to blaze, it might be too difficult a task for them to quench it without buckets or pails. Ilunter', mill is but 25 miles from Capt. MeKee's plantation." This Capt. McKee is -poken of on 24th February as having had the command "of a fort at Hunter's mill, near the place where the blue hills eross the Susquehanna."

Col. Clapham writes to the Governor on the 11th of June, 1756, " I have also stationed a party of 24 men under the command of Mr. Johnson, at Hunter's fort, with orders to defend that post and the neighborhood, and to escort any provisions thar should come to him up to McKee's store." On the 25th of November the commanding officer is ordered "to take great care of the batteaux," and " to weigh the two cannon which now lie in the water."

On the 13th of November the state of the garrison was, " 2 serjeants, 34 privates-ammunition, 42 pounds powder, 28 pounds lead-provisions, 1000 pounds four, 2000 pounds beef-2 men's times up." Robert Erwin, on his way from Philadelphia with horses, applies to Mr. Mears, commandant, for an escort of fifteen men from the garrison, as he understood from Maj. Burd. at Augusta, Col. Clapham had ordered to be furnished. but was refused, saying, "Colonel Clapham had no command of him or his men." Learning that there was the greatest want of horses at Augusta, MIr. Erwin pursued his journey without the escort.

Governor Denuy write- to the Proprietaries, 9th April, 1757, "The long frontier between the Susque- hanna and Delaware was to be defended by Col. Weiser's battalion, and all the forts reduced to three (of which this fort does not appear to be one), with a

GENERAL HISTORY.

garrison of one hundred men." Rev. John Eller, 30th July, 1757, says, " The defense of Halifax is of no advantage, but a garrison at Hunter's, under the command of an active officer, will be of great service. It will render the carriage of provisions aod muni- tions for the use of Augusta more easy and less ex- pensive, and by encouraging the inhabitants to con- tinue in their places will prevent the weakening of the settlements." James Galbraith, writing from this fort Oet. 1. 1757, says, " Notwithstanding the happy situation we thought this place was in on Capt. Bu-e- being stationed here, we have had a man killed and scalped this evening within twenty rod- of Hunter's Fort. We all turned out, but night coming on -o soon we could make no pur-nir." And Capt. Bu-sé writes that "twelve Indians were -een, but rainy weather prevented pur-uit." James Patterson with his men were at this fort, and in his journal gives an interesting account of hi- operations against the In- dians, who were con-tantly appearing. On the 9th of February, 1758, there was oue company of fifty- four men in the pay of the Province. Adjt. Kern, on the 5th, returns under Capt. Patterson and Lieut. Allen forty men, with forty-four Provincial arms, three having their own ; fifteen pounds powder, and twenty pounds lead. Barnabas Hughes was commissary here and at Swatara, which was twenty-four miles from this fort. James Burd in hi- journal ( February ISth) , the river is called Hunter's Falls. " arrived at the fort at dark. and found Capts. Patter- son and Davis there with eighty men, who informed him they had not above three loads of ammunition per man. He ordered Barny Hughes to send up a barrel of powder and lead ; answerable in the mean time ; borrowed of Thomas Gallaher forty pounds of powder and one hundred pounds of lead. On the 19th he re- viewed "Captain Patterson's company, and found them complete 53 men, 44 province arins, and 44 ear- touch boxes-no powder nor lead-divided & pint , which was the terror of the country.

June, 1763, was engaged at Fort Hunter in receiving and forwarding to Augusta, by bateaux and canoes, provisions and other necessaries as they arrived from Philadelphia in wagons.

Such are all the important facts to be collected from the records.

The site of Fort Hunter is situated exactly six miles above Harrisburg, on the Susquehanna River, at its junetion with Fishing Creek. There are no re- main- of this fort, as upon its ancient foundations there is a very large storehouse, built by Archibald MeAllister in 1814. The situation of this house is very commanding, about eighty feet above the river Su-quehanna, and the surrounding scenery is of the most romantic character.

During the Revolutionary war and the early pe- riods of our history, the block-house or fort occupied the site upon which now stands the large stone resi- dence owned by the estate of Dauiel D. Boas. This fort was called the " English Fort Hunter." About a mile above this point, where the river has evidently forced its way through a mountain-pass, and where the river is narrow, deep, and swift, immediately be- low the romantic village of Dauphin, where immense rocks ( not yet worn away by the hand of time or the frietion of the water) jut out of the water, at this point, at the very base of the Kittochtinny Mountains,

In distinction from the "English Fort Hunter," there was another fort about one mile below this on the summit of the Second Mountain, a very high peak, entirely commanding the Susquehanna River, over- looking Harrisburg, and called the "Indian Fort Hunter." At this point, tradition informs us, the Indians had some sort of an erection from which they would occasionally emerge, and atter committing great depredations, would again retire to their stronghold,

powder and lead in proportion a man ; found in this fort four months provision for the garrison." "Cap- tain Davis with his party of 55 men was out of am- munition, divided a ¿ pint powder and lead in pro- CHAPTER VE portion to them. Captain Davis has got 12000 pounds The French and Indian War (continuedl'-Second Treaty at Harris' Ferry-The Indian Barbarities-Letters from Adam Reed-Journal of Rev. Charles Beatty in 1736-Officers and Men from Dauphin in the Provincial Service. of flour for the batteaux : sundry of the batteaux are leaky, that they can't swim and must be left behind. Captain Patterson can't scout at present for want of officers ; 3 men sick here." " Hence he went to Craw- Ix the spring of 1757, Col. George Croghan, dep- uty Indian agent for North America, was instrumen- tal in gathering at Harris' Ferry a large representa- tion of the Six Nation Indians, of the Delawares and the Shawanese. Information was at once sent to the Governor. The following are the minutes of the proceedings held at this point : ford's, 14 miles from Hunter's." G. Price writes Gor- ernor Denny, from whom he had a commis-ion, from Fort Hunter, on the 20th July, 1758, " I was left in the garrison of Fort Hunter and received orders from General Forbe- to repair it, and sent an engineer to in-pect into its condition, who found nece-sary to stockade it, for which purpose I was to get the coun- " At a meeting of the Six Nations and their allies and George Croghan, Esq., Deputy agent to the Hon. Sir William Johnson, Baronet, his Majesty's sole agent and superintendent of affairs of the Six Na- tions, their allie, and dependants, and by his special try people; and accordingly applied to the several justice» for the townships of Paxtang and Donegal, from whom he had no answer except by Par-on Eller, who said nothing could be done till after harvest. The stockades are cut." Joseph Shippen, Jr., 23d , order, at John Harris', the first day of April, 1757.

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

Present : The Revd. John Elder, Capt. Thomas McKee, Mr. James Armstrong, Mr. Hugh Crawford, Mr. John Harris, William Prentup. Interpreter.

" Mohawks: Tihan-orea. Connadagenghia, Sogeo- hanna, Peter, with thirty-one others, men, women, and children.

" Oneidas : Thomas King, Searroyady, Tawnaquan- agis, with thirty others, men, women, and children.

" Tusraroras: Reet King, with twenty-six others, men, women, and children.

" Onondagoes : Ossaratonqua and his two brothers, with eighteen others, men, women, and children.

" Nanticokes : Robert White, Joshua, with fourteen more, men, women, and children.

" Cayugas : Ogarawtawrea, Orranognare, Jenkasa- rone, with twenty others, men, women, and children. " Delawares : Samuel, Joseph Peepy, Thomas Evans, Jonathan, with twenty men, women, and children.

" Senecas: George, with eight more, men, women, and children.

" Connestogoes : Sahays, Captain John, with twenty- nine men, women, and children."

The greater part of the proceeding, were at Lan- caster ; the following were at Harris' Ferry :

" Brother : You and our brother Onas wisely considered the aucieut custom of our forefathers, in condoling with us and mixing your grief with ours. And as we make no doubt tuit some of your wise couller- tiuns are dead since we were here, and many of our brethren have been killed by the evil spirit, we wipe the bluol off your council-seats And put them in order with this belt of wampum. Gave a belt.)

"Brother: After wiping the blood off your council-seate, we, with these few skins, wrap up the bones of our brethren that died or were killed by the evil spirit, and cover their graves. Gave a small bundle. of shing.)

" Brother: We, by this belt of wamipum. wipe the tear- from your eyes, and desire you may mourn to more. (Gave a belt of wampum.)

"Brother: We, with this belt of wampum, disperse the dark clouds, that the sun may always shino upon us in friendship; we heal your heart and free your mind fromn troubles, that we miny meet each other in conncil and brighten the chain of friendshipmade by our forefathers. and that the council-fire may burn clear we throw a few chips on it." (Gave a belt.)

The same evening, Col. Croghan had a meeting of the sachems, and proposed going to Philadelphia to hold the treaty ; but he could not prevail on any of them to go there, except the Mohawk> ; the rest were afraid of sickness. When he found they were not to be prevailed on to go there, he called a conneil, and with a belt of wampum removed the council-tire to Lancaster ; to which place they all agreed to go and wait the arrival of Teedyu-cung, with the Senecas, Delawares, and Shawanese. He gave a belt to re- move the council-tire to Laneaster, and on the 7th of April arrived at Lancaster from John Harris', where a treaty of amity was concluded, to the satisfac- tion of all concerneil it would seem : but the result proved the pertidy of the Indian, who accepted the white man's presents and, returning front the treaty, murdered the unsuspecting settlers.

Notwithstanding the ranging of the troops along the mountain-, and the extraordinary measures taken to defend the frontiers, the marauding savages stole

through the mountain fastnesses and committed their atrocities. Jame- Galbraith, writing from Derry township under date of 10th of Angust to the Gor- ernor, says,-

" HONORED SIL : .

"There is nothing here, almost every day, but murder by the In lian- in some parts or other. About five miles above ing, at Manada Gap. there were two of the Province wddiers killed and one wounded. There were but three Indians, and they came in among ten of our mien aud committed the murder and went off safe. The name, or sight of an Indian, makes almost all in these parts tremble ; their barbarity is 4 cruel where they are masters ; for. by all appearance, the devil comem- Dicates, find permits, and the French pay, and by that the back parts, by all appearance, will be laid waste by night, with those who are gulle and going ; more especially Cumberland County.

"Pardon my freedom in this wherein I have done apriss. " sir, your most humble servant, " JAMES GALBRAITH."

Squire Reed, writing from Hanover under date of the 7th of AAngust to Edward Shippen, of Lancaster, give> this account of the foregoing anair,-

" StR,-Yesterday Jacob Ellis, a soldier of Capt. Smith's, at Brown's. about two miles and a half over the first mountain, just within the Gap, having some wheat growing at that place, prevailed with his officers for some of the men to help him to cut some of the grain : accordingly ten of thein went, set guards and fell to work. At abont ten o'clock they had reaped down and went to the head to begin again, and before they bad all well begun three Indians, having crept up to the fence Just behind them, fired upon them and killed the corporal, and another who was standing with a gun in one hand and a bottle in the other was woundled; his left arm is broken in two places so that his gun tell, he beinig a little more down the fiphi than the rest. Those who were reaf- ing hal their fire-arms about half-way down the held standing at a large tree. As soon as the Indians had fired, and without loading their guus, they leaped over the fence right in amongst the rexpers-one of them barl left his gun on the outside of the fiel !- they all ran promiscuousiy while the Indians were making a terrible baloo, and looked more like the devil than Iudians. The soldiers made for their fire-arms, and as three of them stood behind the tree with their arms, the Iudiaa that caner wanting Inis gon came within a few yards of them and took up the voumIed sol her's gun and would have killed another had not one perceived him, tired at him, so that he dropped the gun. The Iuliats fed, and in going off, two soldiers standing about a rod apart an Indian run through between them they both fred at him bet he escaped. When the Indians were over the fence a soldier fired at one of them, up- u which he stooped a little; the three Indians escaped. Immediately after leaving the field, they fired one gau and gave a halou. The sol- diers hid the one that was killed, went home to the fort. found James Brown, who lives in the fort, and one of the soldier- missing.

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History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 13

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