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English Pages 370 [745] Year 1905
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PROCEEDINGS AND ADDRESSES
AT
GERMAxNXOWN, OCT.
,
1
25,
1904
m—m
1
Vol.
XV
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY 1906
f%&>
LIS'
1^52382
CHAPTER
XXIV.
Fort Henry. Fort Henry.
?¥*&
NE
of the most promi-
government deRidge was Fort Henry, also called, nent
fenses along the Blue
at times, in the early part of its
using the all
name
" Busse's
history
after
its
ficer,
"
first
Fort,"
commanding
The Fort
Six's,"
from
" Fort
Henry
its
of-
at Dietrich
location, also at
Tolihaio,"
" Tolihaio " in a general sense to apply to
the country in the vicinity of the Tolihaio, or Swatara
Gap. be remembered that, with the first terrible outbreak, or massacre, which found all in such an unprepared condition, the settlers established " a watch house " at It will
" Dietrich's Six's Place under the Hill on It
it
probable this was the
home
(3i6)
Shamokin Road."
of Dietrich Six.
The
Fort Henry.
Fort
Hcnpy
a aoo
a
I
ooa
oao 000
SITE,
OF FORT HENRY.
317
The Pennsylvania-German
3i8
so excellent that the provincial government, taking charge of the defense, decided to build one of
location
upon
Society,
was
the larger forts on the spot. This property was on the old
Shamokin (Sunbury)
Road, three miles north of Millersburg, in Bethel TownIt was owned by Dietrich Six ship of Berks County. during the war and purchased from him by Frantz Umbenhauer, from whom it came into the possession of George Pott, and was lately owned by James Batz.
The
fort stood in
what
twenty-five yards northeast
is
now
from
a cultivated field, about
a shed, with stone base,
It was on slightly elevated standing by the roadside. view of the approaches splendid a ground and commanded
from the Blue Mountains, and of the valley to the west. At the foot of the elevated ground runs a little stream of Pieces water, originating at the spring back of the fort. common of pieces of stone, belonging to the fort as well as clay pipe stems and chips of flint are, even yet, occasionally
ploughed up. In the distant past various Indian villages must have are told the fort been located in the neighborhood.
We
This hill, stood "under the hill on Shamokin Road." " from the abruptly rises Mountain," Round Top called plain about one mile east of the fort. it
So abruptly does
almost impossible to scale the side facing Those who have attempted it. however,
rise that it is
the defense.
have found, about half-way up, an artificial plateau, about forty by one hundred and fifty feet, formed by taking out These stones seem to have stones from the hill behind. been broken to a small size, and were entirely different from the rock composing the remainder of the mountain, being much harder and making somewhat of a ringing sound when knocked together. The fact is interesting
-
Fort Henry. because
it is
altogether probable that
which the aborigines obtained if
not the
fort
319
flints
their
it was a quarry from arrow and axe heads,
for their muskets.
we know nothing
definite.
Of
the shape of the
In our generation
it
been, at best, but a heap of ruins, but we are assured them that it was more pretentious in size than usual.
has
from
The
only description of any kind, which has been secured, was from a Mr. Daniel Hostetter, of Springsville, who, if now living,
would be some seventy years
a rather vague character.
He
old.
says
Even
this
is
of
most of the stone
belonging to the fort was taken by the farmers for building purposes, but, when he first saw it, the marks of the building were plain, and a portion of the wall remained. To him it seemed to be shaped like a half moon, and, in the center,
was
The
neath.
a house which evidently had a cellar underwalls of the fort were about three feet thick
and some two hundred feet long. Mr. Hostetter adds that he "never saw such a place in his life and doubts if there be any other like
The
first
it
in the State."
commanding
tain Christian Busse,
officer of Fort Henry was Capwho, before the war, had been a
doctor at Reading, Pa.
Notwithstanding the
terrible depredations
the Indians, the officers in
command
committed by
of the troops
made
every effort to prevent them, and their unceasing vigilance is well worthy of commendation.
The Morris,
ment
following report of Colonel Weiser to Governor made in July, 1756, bears witness to this state-
:
"Honoured
Sir:
"Immediately after
my
Return from Philadelphia, I Morgan and Smith,
sent Orders to the Captains Busse,
The Pennsylvania-German
320
Society,
to meet me at Fort Henry, on the 9th of this Instant, to consult together over certain measures, how to oppose the
of Killing the People in Reaping and gathering in The Evening before, to witt, on the 8th their Harvest. of this Instant, Mr. Young arrived with your Honours
Enemy
Orders to me, I therefore set out next morning about 5 o'clock for Fort Henry, in Company with Mr. Young, I arrived at Fort Henry as farr as Benjamin Spyckers. with an escort of eight me met Busse Capt. by 10 o'clock. men on Horse Back, about Six miles on this side of Fort Henry; about 12 o'clock the Captains Morgan and Smith I immediately made your Honours Orders known arrived. to them, and the following Deposition was made: That eight
men
People
of Capt. Smith's
in the
Hole (The
committed) to gather
Company
shall
place where twice
in their harvest,
assist
the
Murder was
and stay over Night
in the Moravian House Eight of his men to range westward of his Fort under the Hill, and if occasion require ;
two Parties to guard the Reapers Sixbe in and about the Fort to help and pro-
to be stationed in
teen
men
are to
;
tect the neighbours, but constantly 10 out of the Sixteen
are to stay in the Fort; Nine
men
are to stay constantly in
men to range Eastward from Manity towards Swataro, and Six men to range westward towards Susquehannah Each Party so farr that they may reach Capt'n Busse's Company their Fort again before Night. stationed as follows: Ten men at Bernhard Tridels, next to the Moravians, Eight men at Casper Snebelies, Six men at Daniel Shue's or Peter Klop's. All these are westward of Fort Henry. Eastwards Capt. Busse is to Post four men at Jacob Stein's, Three men at Ulrich Spies, Six men at the widow Kendal, the Rest, consisting of nineteen Manity
Fort, and Six
;
men, to remain
in the Fort.
Cap't Morgan's Company,
Fort Henry,
321
men to range from the little Fort on the Northkill westward to the Emericks, and stay there if the People unite to work together in their Harvest, Six men as follows: Six
to range
Eastward on the same
stay in that Fort, fifteen
men
footing, Eight
men
to
are to stay in Fort Lebanon,
Eight men to protect the People over the Hill in harvest Time, Ten men to range constantly Eastward or Westward, and if the People return to their Plantations thereabouts, to protect those first that join together to do their work. "All the aforesaid men are posted as much in a Range as was possible, and would sute the Settlement best.
"Your Honour enough
left in the
Duty, but scarce
that there is not Men Forts to change or relieve the Men on will observe
sufficient to
Keep the
Forts,
and send
Provisions to the several Posts. " I did propose to the Captains to twenty-five
men
them over the
f
hills to a certain
Place on Kind Creek, to
Enemy, for about Ten Days, but the large Frontier which they have to guard with their men, would not Admit of it at this Time, so I was therefore obliged to give over that Point. lie in
*
Ambush
make a draft of about out of the three Companies, and send
there for the
"A great number of the Back Inhabitants came to the Fort that Day, and cried out for Guards. Their situation is indeed desperate. About forty men from Tulpenhacon have been out for their Protection, but they got soon tired,
home
and rose Disputes and Quarrels
in
Order
to
get
again.
" I hear that the people over Susquehannah will have Protection, cost what it will; If they can't obtain it from the English, they will send to the French for it. I believe
(by what
I
hear) that some on this Side of the River are
The Pennsylvania-German
322
Society.
Mumbling of the same oppinion, at least there is such a Inhabitants. among the back " I must mention to your Honour that when the People being about Swatara and the Hole heard of Capt. Smith's me in accused for neglect of Duty, they wrote a Letter to Favour, which I send by Sammy Weiser, who can transI also send a late it if your Honour orders him to do it. Letter from Capt. Busse, which contains the Particulars
his
by the way coming from Philad'a, and stopt the Express (as it was only to me) in Order to save Changes. "As I had no Clerk for some time I wrote a General Letter yesterday to all the Commanding Officers Eastward from Fort Henry to Easton, with a Copy of your Honours I could not send every one a Copy, but orders inclosed. ordered them to take it themselves and send it forward I received
of the last murder.
immediately. " Just this
it
moment my Son Sammy
arrived from Fort an Engagement at been had Henry, and tells me that there Caghnckackeeky, wherein twelve on our side were Killed, and Six Indians; That our People Kept the Field and scalped the Indians, and that the Indians ran
off
may
without
be true.
any Scalp. As bad news as it is, I wish it "I have at Present no more to trouble your Honour with, But Remain, « cj r
11
Your very obedient and 11
humble Servant,
"Conrad Weiser. 11
Heidleberg,
in the
County of Berks.
"July the nth, 1756. " P. S.
—
should have told your Serjeant, with nine private men of I
Honour that I keep a my Company at Fort
Fort Henry.
323
Henry, under Gapt. Busse, with that Proviso that they shall stay in the fort, and defend it when the Capt's men are on their several posts or Ranging; the Capt'n must Keep a Ranging party all along; tomorrow another Serjeant marches from Reading with nine men, to relieve those of my Company that have been out two weeks." In June, 1757, Fort Henry was honored by a visit from The Governor Denny, under peculiar circumstances. in attack, threatened of a notified Government had been force, on Fort Augusta, at Shamokin, just at a time when the terms of enlistment of the troops, composing its garNo persuasion could induce more rison, had expired. In the emergency it became than forty men to reenlist. necessary to order immediately three companies from Colonel Weiser's regiment to the scene of action, while the Governor, in person, hastened from Lancaster into the
County of Berks to encourage the raising of these one hundred and fifty-nine men. When he came there he found men enough but met with an unexpected obstacle. The country people, supported by their magistrates, and the leading men of the County, refused to serve under the provincial officers but insisted upon choosing their own. This, it seems, was put into their heads at Lancaster by some of the Commissioners and Assemblymen, and was but an echo of the strife between the Executive and the Concerning the matter the Governor writes: Assembly. " Intending to go to Fort Henry, the only Garrison
Time would
allow
me
to visit, I
my
desired Col. Weiser to
acquaint the Leaders of these infatuated People, that I shou'd be glad they would come and speak with me at the Fort.
well
Accordingly, about Fifty substantial Freeholders, the Escort, & attended
mounted and armed, joined
The Pennsylvania-German
324
me
Society.
Henry, where I had an opportunity of undeConvinced of their Error, they presented
to Fort
ceiving them.
me
a very respectful address, assuring
me
of their Desire
to have a proper Militia Law, and that they were determined under such a Law to serve and do their duty to their Forty instantly were inlisted by Colking and Country. onel Weiser out of this neighborhood, and a magistrate about twenty miles off wrote me he had inlisted forty more."
The withdrawal weak
already too quired of is
it,
plea from i>
left
a matter of
no
him
of these companies from a battalion
numbers for the onerous duties Colonel Weiser in a woeful plight. in
re-
It
surprise, therefore, to read the following
to the
Governor, under date of October
1757: " I humbly intreat your
Honour to pity our Cause and men belonging to the first Battalion Regiment, now at Fort Augusta, may all re-
give orders that the
of Pennsil'a
turn to their proper or former Stations. ent trouble
is
over
I will
When
this pres-
very gladly send a reinforcement
again either to Fort Augusta or wherever your honour pleases.
is certain that the enemy is numerous on our and the people are coming away very fast, so
It
Frontiers,
that the Forts are left to themselves with the
men
in
them,
but no more neighbours about them."
So urgent is the matter that, three days later, Colonel Weiser writes to Mr. Peters, the Governor's Secretary: "Sir:
I
did not think on the Post
doors, else I
would have wrote
till
he entered
nor, tho' I have been very Buisy with writing to the
manding
my
particularly to the Gover-
officers of the several forts
under
my
Com-
care.
It
Fort Henry. is
now Come
murder
so farr that
is
325 comited Allmost every
day; there never was such a Consternation among the people, they must now leave their houses again, with their
Barns
of Grain;
full
last Friday,
five
children have been carried
some days before
bed, begged of the
Enemy
a sick
man
killed
him through will, and did so.
to shoot
upon
off
his
his heart
A girl, which the Indian answered, I that had hid herself under a Bedstead, in the next room, heard all this, two more families were about that time destroyed.
Ensign sick at I
Inclosed
have neither men nor
me
send
him
a
month of my
Honour would be pleased to all the men belonging to my
from Fort Augusta, he would
the blessing of the most high.
think meselfe unhappy, to
time of danger
am now
n'br of officers to
sufficient
If his
orders for to recall
Battalion,
I
the Journal of last
Capt. Bussey lies dangerously at North Kill. John Harris. I hear he is tired of even-thing;
defend the Country.
I
is
justly bring
upon
can not say no more.
with
my
family
must stay, if they go to fort Henry, where
I can't do.
preparing to
fly
I
I
this
in all I
go.
shall
meet some officers to consult with, what may be best to be I have ordered ten men, with the Governor's last done. orders, to fort Augusta; I shall overtake them this EvenFor ing at Fort Henry and give them proper instruction. God's sake, dear Sire, beg of the Governor, press it upon
my behalf, and in behalf of this distrest order my men back from fort Augusta.
him to
my
in
reason afterwards, that
with
my
I
am
in the right.
inhabitants, will give
I
I
conclude
Honour, humble u And remain, Kind Sir, " Your most humble servant, " Conrad Weiser." respects to his
The Pennsylvania-German
326 It
is
the letter of a
body, and
who
satisfaction to
man
Society.
over-burdened
in
mind and
certainly deserves our sympathy.
know
that,
on November
8,
It
is
a
orders were
by the Governor for the return of Capt. Busse's detachment to their former station. The sole instance, on record, of the participation of any Frenchman in the attacks along the Blue Range, occurred On October 12, 1757, the sentry was at Fort Henry. surprised to see what appeared to be a French deserter, An officer and two soldiers or spy, approach the fort. were immediately sent out to seize him and bring him into His name was found to be Michael La the enclosure. His father Chauviguerie, Jun., and his age seventeen. of commandant and Marines was a lieutenant of French Fort Machault, just building, some seventy-two leagues up the Allegheny River from Fort Du Quesne, and near
sent
son had been given command of a party of thirty-three Indians, principally Delawares, who were As they neared the sent out on a marauding expedition.
the Lakes.
The
Blue Mountains he told the sad tale of prisoners taken and numerous deserted homesteads. One day, by accident, he dropped a piece of bread, and, while looking for and it, his party of Indians became separated from him, he found that he was lost. After wandering around for seven days he was forced to surrender at Fort Henry to save himself from starvation.
February 21, 1758, James Burd arrived at Fort Henry, on his tour of inspection, where he found Capt. Lieut. Weiser, Adjutant Kern, and Ensigns Biddle and Craighead, doing duty with ninety men, whom he reviewed and found to be " under good command & fine fellows." Of the fort he says, " This is a very good Stockade Fort. & everything in good order, & duty done pritty well."
On
•
*
327
Fort Henry.
Captain Busse notified Colonel that day, the Indians took and of Wciser that, at 8 A. M. carried away the wife of John Frantz, with three children, from their home on the Little Swatara Creek, about six
On
June 19,
miles distant
1758,
from the
fort.
In the Pennsylvania Gazette of Decmber 18, 1755,
it
says:
"We Sunday
hear from Reading, last,
in
about nine o'clock at
Berks County, that on night, the guard belong-
town, ing to that County, about seventeen mile from that exchanged they whom with Indians, were attacked by some guard several fires, and put them to flight; that none of the
were wounded, though one of them had the skirt of his of the jacket shot away, and that they supposed some among crying a heard they Indians were badly burnt, as
them
as they ran off
;
but that the guard, having spent their
ammunition, could not pursue them."
On March
7,
1756,
Andrew Lycan, who
lived over the
near the mountain, twenty-five miles below Sunbury, at or with had He Indians. by Wiskinisco Creek, was attacked his of two and him a son, John Lycan, a negro man, a boy neighbors, John Revolt and
Ludwig
Shut.
As Andrew
to Lycan and John Revolt went out early that morning they but them, at feed the animals, two guns were fired for an escaped unhurt, ran to the house and prepared engagement. The Indians then got under cover of a log
Revolt house near the dwelling, whereupon John Lycan, fired were and Shut crept out to get a shot at them, but being hit at by the Indians instead, and all wounded, Shut
abdomen. Andrew Lycan then noticed one of the house and Indians, and two white men, run out of the log Upon this the inmates of the get a little distance from it.
in the
1
The Pennsylvania-German
328
Society.
house endeavored to escape, but were immediately pursued by the Indians, to the number of sixteen or more. John Lycan and Revolt, being badly wounded, were able to do off with the negro, leaving Andrew Lycan, Shut, and the boy, engaged with the enemy, who pursued so closely that one of them came up with the boy, and was about to tomahawk him when Shut turned and At the same time Lycan shot another, shot him dead.
nothing, and so went
whom
was killed, saw a third fall and thinks wounded by them. Being now both badly wounded, and almost exhausted, they sat down on a log to rest themselves, while the Indians stood a little way off, he
is
positive
others were
looking at them. One of the Indians killed was Bill Davis, and two others they knew to be Tom Hickman and Tom Hayes, all Delawares and well known in those parts. All of the farmers escaped through Swatara Gap into Hanover Township, and recovered under the care of a doctor, but lost all they
were worth.
The Gazette
"We
of June 24, 1756, says:
in Berks County of one Lawrence childen two (Bethel Township), said fort, are from miles Dieppel, who lives about two missing, and thought to be carried off by the Indians, as one of their hats has been found, and several Indian
have advice from Fort Henry, that
tracks seen."
In relation to
this affair the editor adds,
on July
1
"We
learn that one of Lawrence DieppePs children, mentioned in our last to be carried off, has been found
boy about four years, and that the other, also a boy, eight years old, was still missing." On November 19, 1756, Colonel Weiser writes to Govcruelly
ernor
murdered and
Denny
scalped, a
that the Indians
had made another incursion
Fort Henry.
320
into Berks County, killed and scalped two married women and a lad fourteen years of age, wounded two children of about four years of age, and carried off two more. One of the wounded was scalped and likely to die, and the other had two cuts on her forehead, given by an Indian who had attempted to scalp her but did not succeed. There were eight men of Fort Henry, posted in different neighbor's houses, about one mile and a half off, who, when they heard the noise of the guns firing, immediately went towards it but came too late.
Again,
in
Gazette gives July 9
its
issue
of July,
this extract
from
1757, the Pennsylvania
a letter dated, Heidelberg
:
"Yesterday, about three o'clock in the afternoon, between Valentine Herchelroar's and Tobias Bickell's, four Indians killed two children; one of about four years, the other five; they at the same time scalped a young woman of about sixteen; but, with proper care, she is likely to live
and do
well.
"A woman was scalped, her life
terribly cut with the is
despaired of.
tomahawk, but not Three children were
carried off prisoners.
among
One Christian Schrenk's wife, being the rest, bravely defended herself and her children,
for a while; wresting the gun out of the Indian's hands! assaulted her, also his tomahawk, and threw them
who
away; and afterwards was obliged to save her own life two of her children were taken captive in the meantime. In this house were also twenty
had
fled
from
their
own
men belonging
women and
children,
who
habitations, to take shelter; the
to them were about one-half mile off, picking cherries— they came as quick as possible and went in pursuit of the Indians, but to no purpose, the Indians had
concealed themselves."
The Pennsylvania-German
330
in
Society.
In August, 1757, people were murdered by the Indians Bern Township, and others carried off. At Tulpe-
hocken a
and
man named Lebenguth, and
his wife,
were
killed
scalped.
On
September
9,
1763, a letter from Reading says:
few of the Rangers who had encamped in Berks County, were apprized of the approach of Indians by to take their outscouts; the Indians advanced cautiously
"A
near, with savage yells they rushed forward, but the Rangers, springing on their feet, shot escaped. three in front; the rest fled into a thicket and
them by
surprise
;
when
Indians were armed with guns and provided with ammunition. These Indians, it is supposed by some, had
The
been on their way from the Moravian Indians, in Northampton County, to the Big Island. Runners were sent information, to the different parties of Rangers with the
and others
On
sent in pursuit of those
who
fled."
10, 1763, five Indians entered the house Martloff, in Berks County, at the base of the
September
of Philip
sons Blue Mountains, murdered and scalped his wife, two and two daughters, burnt the house and barn, the stacks value. of hay and grain, and destroyed everything of any
Martloff was absent from home, and one daughter escaped herself at the time of the murder by running and secreting in a thicket.
The
father and daughter were left in abject
misery.
A
brief mention has already been
family, in Bethel Township.
of June, 1758, gives a more
The
made of
the Frantz
Pennsylvania Gazette,
detailed account of the case,
which, substantially, agrees with the traditional facts It says lated to the present writer by a descendant.
re-
Fort Henry.
331
"At the time this murder was committed, Mr. Frantz was out at work; his neighbours having heard the firing of guns by the Indians immediately repaired to the house of Frantz; on their way they apprized him of the report
when they
arrived at the house they found Mrs. Frantz
dead (having been killed by the Indians because she was rather infirm and sickly, and so unable to travel), and all the children gone; they then pursued the Indians some distance, but all in vain. The children were taken and kept captives for several years.
"A
few years after
this
horrible affair,
except one, the youngest, were exchanged.
all
of them,
The
oldest of
them, a lad of twelve or thirteen years of age, at the time
when captured, related the tragical scene of his mother being tomahawked and shamefully treated. Him they compelled to carry the youngest. u The anxious father, having received two of his children as from the dead, still sighed for the one that was not. Whenever he heard of children being exchanged he
mounted his horse to see whether, among the captured, was not his dear little one. On one occasion he paid a man forty pounds to restore his child, who had reported that he knew where it was. To another he paid a hundred dollars, and himself went to Canada in search of the lost one
—but
to his sorrow, never could trace his child.
parent can realize his feelings
—they cannot be
A
described."
Fort Northkill.
On
January 25, 1756, Captain Jacob Morgan, in command at Fort Lebanon, near the present town of Auburn, was ordered to leave twenty men at his fort, and, with the remaining thirty of his company, proceed to some convenient point about half-way between his fort and Fort i
The Pennsylvania-German
332
Henry
Society,
" there to erect a stoccade of about
where he
is
to leave
20 men, under
a
400 foot square, Commiss'd officer
fORT NORTHKILL ( A9.'/l
_
CtUAA
fMii,
rtom
•HIMA N» *-
t
SITE OF FORT NORTHKILL.
and to return to Fort Lebanon, which he is to make his Headquarters and from that stoccade & from Fort Leb-
--
Fort Henry. anon, his men are to Range and scour ward and westward."
333 the
woods both
east-
In choosing the ground he was directed to take care that was no hill near it,. which would overlook or com-
there
mand
it,
and
son,
from whence an enemy might annoy the garriwas a spring, or running
also to see that there
stream of water, either inside of the fort command of their guns.
or, at least,
within
It is apparent that this defense was built merely to occupy the long gap between Forts Henry and Lebanon. Its site is about two miles distant from Strausstown, in Upper Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, and about half a mile from one of the branches of the Northkill Creek, from which it derives its name. It stood directly at the base of the mountains, and, even now, is still on the edge of the woodland. Its position, however, was good. It was but a short distance from the main State Road, and on slightly elevated ground, which gave it a full view of the cultivated valley lying all around it. A small stream of water, emanating from a spring, was close to it. At the time of the Indian troubles, as now, the land was cultivated almost up to the fort, but, even now, as then, its site stands on the edge of waste mountain land, and it is
owing can
to
still
visible,
It
its
undisturbed condition that some trace of
be seen.
although
was but
This remnant
now
is its
cellar,
which
it
is still
nearly drifted full of forest leaves.
a single block house, surrounded by the usual
Not very
extensive, and hastily constructed, it was never intended for more than a station, which it was necessary to maintain between the two large forts. In
stockade.
the
summer of 1757 preparations were made for the more substantial place of defense, but
tion of a
erecit
is
doubtful whether this latter was ever constructed, for,
in
The Pennsylvania-German
334
Society.
March, 1758, the stockade was already was distant eleven miles from Fort Henry, and equally distant from Fort Lebanon, on
the beginning of
abandoned. to the west,
It
the east.
Commissary James Young, when making inspection, in 1756, has this to say of
its
his tour of
shape and appear-
ance:
" June 20th, at 2 P. M., I sett out from Reading, Escorted by 5 men of the town, on horseback, for the Fort
we came to the Fort, it is ab't from Reading, the Road very hilly and thick of
at Northkill; at ]/2 past 6,
19 miles
westw'd of Schuylkill, and Stand in a very thick Wood, on a small Rising Ground, half a mile from the middle Northkill Creek; it is intended Each way, at Each Corner is a for a square ab't 32 ft.
wood;
the Fort
is
ab't 9 miles to the
half Bastin, of very
little
Service to Flank the Curtains,
ill
many
a very
Places; within
is
Ground, and open in bad Logg house for the peo-
fixed in the
the Stoccades are very
has no chimney, and can afford but little shelter in bad weather; when I came here, the Serjant who is Commander, was absent and gone to the next plantation, half ple,
it
but soon came, when he had intelligence I was there; he told me he had 14 men Posted with him, all Detached from Capt. Morgan's Comp'y, at Fort Lebanon,
a mile
off,
of them were absent by his leave, Vist. two he had let go to Reading for three days, one he had let go to his Own 5
and two more this afternoon, a few miles from the Fort, on their own business there was but I am of opinion Eight men and the Serjant on Duty. there ought to be a Commission'd Officer here, as the Serjant does not do his Duty, nor are the men under proper house, 10 miles
off,
;
more Superior Officer; the woods gave are not Clear'd above 40 Yards from the Fort; I
Command
for
want of
a
Fort Henry.
335
all down for 200 y'ds; I inquired the reason was so little Powder & Lead here, the Serjeant told me he had repeatedly requested more of Capt. Morgan, Provisions here, Flower and Rum for but to no purpose. 4 weeks; Mr. Seely, of Reading, sends the officer money to Provincial Arms and purchase meal as they want it. Ammun'tn at North Kill Fort, vizt: 8 G'd muskets, 4 Rounds of Powder & Lead, pr man, 15 Blankets, 3 axes."
orders to Cut
there
—
The
next day he left for Fort Lebanon, and, upon his
informed Captain Morgan that the sergeant was derelict in duty and requested in him to send a commissioned officer to relieve him, whereupon a lieutenant was detailed for that purpose, and started for the post, accompanied by two additional men, taking with them four pounds of powder and ten pounds of lead. On November 3, 1756, Lieutenant Humphreys, in command, had quite a thrilling encounter with the enemy, which he thus relates arrival there,
command
at Northkill
"
"May
it
"Thursday, Nov. 4th, 1756. Fort above the Northkill.
pleace the Colonel:
"Yesterday we were alarmed by a number of Indians, who came and took a child away. Immediately upon hearing the News, I, with nine men, went in Pursuit of 'em, leaving a Number of Farmers to guard the Fort 'till we should return. But we found nothing 'till this morning, we went out again; and, in our Return to the Fort, we were apprized of 'em by the firing of several Guns; when I or-
my men to make what speed they could. We ran we were almost out of Breath, and, upon finding Nicholas Long's House attack'd by the Indians, the Farmers, who w ere with us to the Number of Twenty, deserted and dered
till
T
fled,
leaving the Soldiers to Fight.
We
stood
in
Battle
The Pennsylvania-German
336
Society,
with 'em for several minutes 'till there was about Sixty Guns discharged and, at length, we put the Indians to Flight.
"We
man wounded, and my Coat was shot through in four Places. The Number of the Indians was Our Number at first was twenty-four, But they twenty. Two old men were all deserted and fled except seven. was Scalped. Ten whom one of killed before we came, women & children were in the Cellar and the House was on Fire; But we extinguished it and brought the women and Children to the Fort. I desire the Colonel to send me a Reinforcement; for the men solemnly say they will not have one
go out with the Farmers, never fired a gun.
The
as they deserted in the Battle
and
Indians cryed the Halloo during
the Battle. " have one of their
Guns and a Blanket, which had We two Holes with a Bullet in, and is Bloody. The Indians had all red Hats and red Blankets. " Sir, in Distress (wanting " Reinforcement) from
"This
"Yours
to
command
.
"Samuel Humphreys. "
May it please the
Hayerling, as It
is
Colonel to send by the Bearer, Adam as you can spare."
much Powder and Lead
gratifying to
know
received at least a fair
that Lieutenant
amount of
Humphreys
credit for his gallant
James Read, Esq., in writing, November 7, to Governor Denny, observes that, " By concurrent accounts from several Persons, whose character will not suffer me to doubt what they tell me, I am persuaded that Mr. Humphreys behav'd in a most laudable manner, and mani-
action.
Fort Henry.
337
and Presence of mind which will ever gain an Advantage over superior numbers, whose Leader is too precipitate and void of Discretion." Immediately upon receipt of this the Governor directed Captain Morgan to " thank Lieutenant Humphreys and the men under him, on my part, for ye gallant Behavior in the fested that calm courage
later action ag't the Indians."
After Lieutenant Humphreys the devolved upon Ensign Harry. He,
by an
officer,
command in turn,
whose name unfortunately
whose journal has been preserved,
a
is
of the fort
was relieved
not given, but
copy of which here
follows
"A Journal of Fort Northkill
— 1757
Received Orders from Lieutant Colonel Weiser, to march from Reading with all the Company remaining there, (the rest being commanded to Fort AuAccordingly I sat out from Reading by Break gustus).
"June
13.
Arrived at Lt. Coll. Weisers where I rec'd Orders to march with the Company or DetachnVt, to Fort Henry, and from there take a Detachm't of 20 Men, & continue 'till to Fort in Northkill. Accordingly
of Day, on the 14th.
on the
men from Fort strait Way to the marched and Henry of the New Levies ns Busse and Capt ns said Fort accompanied with Capt Smith, as soon as I arrived I gave Ensign Harry (then Commander of said Fort) Notice of my Orders, and Sent off two men immediately to the colonels with a Report of the condition I found the fort in, & sent him a List of the new Levies who were detached from Captain Busse's Fort "15th. In the morning took the said 20
with
me
to this Fort.
"16th. Capt ns Busse
.
&
Smith
sat off ab't 10 o'clock with
The Pennsylvania-German
338
Society,
n a Scout of 10 men, which Capt Busse had ordered from And Ensign Harry march'd his Company on the 15th.
out of the fort ab* 12 o'clock, (after delivering it to me), with his Men to Fort Lebanon, according to Orders. Pro-
Powder, 198 lb of Beef and Pork,
in the fort as follows, 51b
found
visions I
Flower, 10 Small Barrs of Lead, 15 lb $y2 lb Candles. "17. I, with a Corporal & 20 Men, according to OrCol Weiser, went a scouting & ranging the ders from
U
Woods
1
to Fort Lebanon,
till
O'clock in the Afternoon.
where
We
We
arrived ab* 2
staid there
being not able to scout any further, or return of a heavy Rain.
all
Night,
home because
from Fort Lebanon in the morning being rainy Weather, and ranged the Woods coming back, as before, with the same number of men, & arrived at Fort on Northkill about 4 O'clock in the afternoon. r jt "19. Gave Orders to Ser Pet Smith to Scout to Fort Lebanon & to bring me Report the next Day of his Pro"18. Sat
ceedings.
off
He
Accordingly
o'clock in the afternoon, and
1 arrived on the 20th ab 3
made Report
that
He
had
to his Orders, and that He had made no n Rec'd a Letter by him from Capt Morgan,
done according Discoveries.
me that He had no News, &c. " 21. Sent off Corporal Shafer to scout as before. " 22d. Minister Shumaker came & preach'd a Sermon
informing
from Fort Lebanon. The Corporal reported that Nothing strange had come A Scout of Capt n Busse's arrived to his knowledge. l d about 11 o'clock, and ret ab 4 towards their fort, but d upon the Indian Alarms they immediately ret back to my fort and gave me Notice In the midst of the Rain, & sent on the first Notice, Serj Smith, with 18 men, and ordered them to divide themselves in two Parties.
to the
Company.
The
scout arrived
:
fc
Fort Henry,
339
" June 23d. Serj* Smith ret d and made Report that he arrived at Dietz's House about 10 o'clock in the Night, where they heard a Gun go off at Jacon Smith's about a
They immediately
mile from there.
sat off again for said
Smith's toward the Place where the
Surrounded the House searched
From
all
there
(according to
Gun went
my
Orders)
off, .
and
They
House but found no marks of Indians. they marched to Falks House in the Gap, and the
From there they but found no Indians. went to the Mountain, and arrived there 2 o'clock in the 1 morning, where Serj Smith according to Orders, Waylay surrounded
it,
and as soon as it was Day went back and buried the man that was killed, to wit, Peter At Geisinger, who was shot, and killed the Day before. from miles ab off go 2 Guns heard 5 Burying him, they said Place, whereupon Sej Smith Immediately repaired to the Place, & divided themselves in two Parties, (I had sent
the
Road
in
two
Parties,
l
1
Corporal Sheffer with 8 men on the 22d to their assistSej* Smith also makes Report that this Morning ance.) 1 15 years, Daughter of Balser at 7 o'clock a Girl ab by two Indians, whose Prisoner, Schmidt, was taken Tracks they saw and followed, but to no Purpose. A Party of Capt n Busse's Company went along from this and
off
remained with Inhabitants
my men
came
to
all
the
me and
Time.
15 or 16 of the
apply'd for assistance.
I
ordered out several Detachm to assist them. " 24. I sat off with 20 men from this to Capt n Busse's ts
Fort along the mountain, & called at the Place where the Murder was committed. Went up as far as the Gap of the Mountain, but as I found no Tracts there, I thought the Indians would be on this Side the mountains, therefore to I went up along the mountains without opposition, till n and Day all hard very rained Capt Busse's Fort, and as it went far about, We arrived there towards the Evening.
We
The Pennsylvania-German
340
Society.
" 25. Sat off in the morning with the same number of men, and scouted the Woods back near the same Way back again, and arrived towards Evening in the fort, being rainy Weather.
"26. Rec'd
in the
morning
a Letter, for
my
positive
Orders not to neglect my scouting towards Fort Lebanon, ts This accordingly immediately called in my Detachm .
afternoon a
Woman
living ab*
1
y
2
miles from here,
to the fort,
her Field, not stay to
came
now
in and said she had seen an Indian almost naked, & had a Gun, but said she did I immediately sent off Serj* Smith look long.
just
with 2 Parties, consisting of ab* 20 men. They searched the Place, and found nothing, but saw 2 Barefeet Tracks. They divided into small Parties, & Scoured the Woods till then ret d to the Fort, and as I had to Day but men sufficient to guard the fort, I sent out no scout. This evening Intelligence came to me from the Colonels, inform-
Evening
ing
me
&
that
going to dered n
He
fall
n had notice from Capt Orndtof 15 Indians
on
this Settlement or hereabouts.
He
or-
therefore immediately to Send Notice thereof to Busse's Fort, in order that it might be from there
me
Capt conveyed to Fort Swatara, accordingly I did. "June 27. Gave Orders to Serj Smith to go scouting n the Woods between this and fort Lebanon, and if Capt Morgan thought that it was serviceable, to range some Way up Schuylkill, (as that Gap is their common Renfc
dezvous) " 28.
.
A
scout of
Capt n Busse arrived
in the
Forenoon,
& sat off
again this afternoon. " 29. In the Evening there came two men to the Fort, and reported that the Indians had invaded about 6 miles
ab 1 9 o'clock this morning, I was somewhat concerned that I had no sooner Intelligence of it, however I immediately sent off 12 men under 2 Corporals.
from
this,
Fort Henry. ."
30.
About noon
the following report.
34 l
the 2 Corporals returned and
That
made
Yesterday he could not reach
the Place as they were tired, but staid at a
House
till
nigh
Break of Day, and then sat off again. He did not immediately go to the Place when the man &c. were killed, but went somewhat further down towards Schuylkill, thinking that the Indians had invaded lower down, but as it was not so, He took another Rout, towards the Place where the murder was committed and as he came there, he found the Man's Wife, (Fred. Myers) who had been at a Plough, and shot thro' both her Breasts, k was scalped. After that he went to look for the Man, whom they found dead & scalped some Way in the Woods. They took a Ladder & carried him to his Wife, where the Neighbor's came, and helped to bury them, after which they went towards the mountain, and scouted along the same & arIt is reported rived here about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. before, while by the Farmer's who saw the deceased shot that he was mowing in the Meadow, and that his Children were about him, which makes them Believe that the Man, after he heard the Shot (which killed his Wife) he went to run off with only the youngest Child in his Arms, as the Man was Shot thro' the body, and the Child is ijS year of Age and is scalped, but yet alive, and is put to a The other three, who were with their Father, Doctors. are taken Prisoners; One of them is a Boy ab 10 years 1
& the whom they
old, the other a Girl of 8 years,
other a
Boy
of 6
found in a Ditch, It was laying on like to do well. is and up, taken It was crying. Back its taken Priswas years, Eight A Boy of one Reichard, of half an within done This was all oner at the same time. Hour, as some Neighbours had been there in that Space
years.
There was was
that the water
of Time.
a
Baby,
just to
its
Mouth.
The Pennsylvania-German
342
"July
r Seif Pet Smith
i.
ret d
P
Society.
with the Scout, and
re-
n Lebanon, Capt Morgan
ported that when he came to 1 to the Gap of the sent a Detachm under Ensign Harry And that on the 28th last past, they ascended Schuylkill. the other Side, they the Mountains, and when they came on after an encamping Place of the Indians, which,
found he sent off Ensign Harry had surrounded with his Party, on the ambush in lay to Serj* Smith with another Party of heard be to Indian Path all Night, but as nothing was Day; The Indians, the Indians, thev met again the next supposes/having left that Place the Day before. Spear, one However, they found 2 Match Coats, one Blank Wampum, Scalping Knife, some Virmilion, and 800 they yet lay in 29th The Salves. also great variety of The Purpose. no Ambush in several Parties, but all to Case in without Doubt, discovered them, as he
Indians having, any was thereabouts.
The 30th
they sat
oft"
for the Hills,
fort. and arrived within a few Miles of this in the Fort. July, they arrived Accordingly 11
July
2.
Being rainy Weather
I sent
And
the
1
no Scout, but put
to repair the Stoccadoes.
the Men to work " Early in the 3.
&
I
Morning my Men were
all
gathered,
Party to Fort ordered a Corporal to Scout with a
Lebanon,
&
return part of the
Woods upon
a rising
Ground
Way and encamp that He might the
in the
easier
discover a fire. " of Captain Busse s arrived 4. In the Morning a Scout & returned again in the Afternoon. The Scout from Fort that he returned & the Corporal made Report,
Lebanon had ranged "
5.
had made no Discoveries. very rainy Day, could send no Scout.
as directed but
Being a
u 6. Sent Serj< Smith on a Scout to range on this Side the Mountains, towards Schuylkill.
Fort Henry. "7.
A
Scout of Capt n Busse's arrived
In the afternoon
directly.
News.
343
It rained hard,
my
&
Scout ret
they lay
in
a
d ,
set off
again
but had no
House about
12
Miles from here. " 8. Being appointed by his Honour the Govern r a Day of Fast, I sent no Scout, but had a Sermon read in the fort, where numbers of the Neighbours had assembled. A Scout of Capt n Busse's arrived & ret d directly. "9. Sent off Corp Shefer with a Scout to Fort Leb1
d
anon, who ret on the "10. But brought on Intelligence.
I rec'd
Orders
to
repair to Reading, where I arrived this afternoon.
"11. Returned again into the Fort, where Serj
informed fort
&
from
me
a
Scout of
Cap
n
Busse's
1
Smith
had arrived
at the
ret d .
this,
That he had ranged the Gap about 2 Miles and had been over the Mountains, but had dis-
covered nothing. u i2. Scout of Captn Busse's arrived & ret d Immediately. Sent a Corporal and a Scout to Range to Fort
A
Lebanon.
My
Scout from Fort Lebanon returned. The Corporal reported he had ranged as ordered, but had no "13th.
Discoveries.
"14. Captn Busse arrived this morning with a Party
of Captn Smith's and his own, to the Number of ab 1 28. I gave him 15 of my Men, in order to escort the Treaty at Easton. " July 15. It being a rainy Day I sent no Scout. "16. Continuing rainy Weather, I could send no Scout. In the Evening repaired some Stoccadoes, the Rain having held up. "17. The Water being high & the Bushes wet, I could
send no Scout to Day. A Scout of Capt n Busse's arrived, there being no Water between his & this fort.
The Pennsylvania-German
344
Society.
"18. Sent a Scout along the Mountains.
They
arrived
ce
&
had no Intellig d "19. A Scout of Captn Busse's arrived and ret directly. Sent Serj' Smith with a Scout to Fort Lebanon. " 20. Serj 1 Smith ret d & reported that he had been at Evening
in the
.
Fort Lebanon & retd some Part of the Way & laid in the Woods, but had made no fire. They made no Discovery. d n Scout of Capt Busse's arrived and ret instantly. "21. Having laid out Part of my Men to protect the Farmer's & the Rest fatigued with Yesterday's Scout, I
A
could send none to Day. " 22. Sent a Scout along the Mountain
who
ret
d
without
Discovering any Thing. " July 23 d I went Scouting with a Party over the MounMen about tains, and as it was very warm, I ordered the .
Couple of Hours when We were over the Mountains, I then ordered them to march, and for the as We came to Schuylkill, I saw it was too high towards Horses, & got then Men to wade through. I Evening We got over Schuylkill. We arrived at Fort
Noon
to rest themselves a
Lebanon towards Night,
&
was obliged
to stay there that
Night. came over on "24th. Returned, and as soon as in the Day) this Side of the Mountains (it being yet early made no but Woods, the thro' I took quite another Rout
We
We
I arrived at the Fort in the Evening. r had not been there one half an Hour bef three Farmers came and informed me that this Morning the Indians had
Discovery, so
no taken a Boy of about 14 Years Prisoner, but had done as but I immediately sent off a party, other Damage. Prisoner in the Mornit happened, the Boy being taken ing, 14
Night came on before 25. In the
Morning
I
my Men
could get there.
hear the Boy had escaped, and
165238^ Fort Henry.
made Report
that he
Indians with him,
&
345
that there were 4 white
that
At Night he
Men &
4
escaped, they had
him and he was obliged to lay between them, but as they all got drunk, and fast asleep, he untied himself and ran off. He further says that when he was taken Prisoner he made a noise, and that they struck him & told him to be silent. I imagine they saw me with my Men go over the Day befr yesterday. The Indians were this Night ab* the fort, but it was very dark, theref r I did not sally out. " 26. This Morning sent out Serj* Smith, with 5 Men tied
to search ab* the fort for Tracks, but he only found one
which was Stones,
Day
in a
He
muddy
Place.
But
it
being nothing but
could not follow the Tracts.
very hard, therf r
It
rained
all
could send no Scout.
I
Sent a Scout down on this Side of the "July 27 th Mountain. The Scout ret d in the Evening having no .
Intelligence.
"28th.
A
Scout of Capt n Busse's arrived and ret d ab*
Noon; Nothing Extraordinary happened. " 29th. Sent Serj 1 Smith with a Scout along the
He
tains.
" 30th.
ret d
A Scout of L* Having
arrived. assist the
Moun-
having nothing particular.
Farmers,
Philip Weiser, from Capt n Busse
laid aside out several I
Detachments
to
could send no Scout to Day.
"31. Lieut. Weiser ret d from his Scout. I called in the DetachnVs this Day, and sent out a Scout which ret d this
Evening.
"Aug
1
ters, I let
" 2d
.
1st.
them
The Men rest this
being tired
&
their Feet in Blis-
Day.
Sent a Scout along the Mountains with Orders to
range to Schuylkill.
"3 d The Corporal ret d from .
had ranged
as ordered.
his Scout
and reported he
!
The Pennsylvania-German
34 6
"4.
Day.
Society.
d n Scout of Capt Busse's arrived & ret the same The Inhabitants desiring Assistance to bring in
A
their Harvest, I gave
scouting, but as I left
them some men few Men in the
&
went
altho'
a
d Fort, I ret this
Evening. r n "5. Scout of Capt Busse's arrived & went off aft Sent Serj Smith with a Scout & they had rested awhile.
A
1
ordered him to range the Woods on this Side the MounHe ret d and had nothing particular. tain. 41 They went along on the foot of 6. Sent off a Scout. d the Mountain & ret the Evening without any Intelligence. " th Being Sunday, I took a Party & went to Church 7 with a party, as the Church lies near the Mountain & the .
Minister could not come without a Guard. " 8. The Centry fired at an Indian. The Indian stood 1 viewing the fort. was and off, Yards behind a Bush ab 300
went off with 18 Men and parted them in 6 Parties and went after the Indians, but could not come up with them. I
Went to clearing "
9.
ab* the fort,
Continued clearing
&
it
being thick with Bushes.
burning Brush so that on the
South Side of the Fort, it is cleared a A Party of Captain Busse's arrived. "10. Sent
off
a scouting Party,
who
Musket
full
ret
d
Shot.
and brought
This Night the Centry ab an Hour after Dark perceived that a fire had been kindled to burn Brush, r but was bef Night gone out, began to burn afresh; upon which he called the Serjeant of the Guard, who perceiving Indians the same ordered the Guard to fire, on which the 'em after barking kept The Dogs pursued 'em & ran off.
no
4
Intelligence.
Men
under Arms; but everything being now quiet, dismissed 'em, ordering them to be in continual Readiness with their Accoutrements d In ab< an Hour, the Indians ret and took a Fireon. ab< half a Mile.
I
had the
all
Fort Henry.
brand out of the Fire fired on,
but
&
ran
347
They were immediately
off.
in vain.
"Aug. n. Ensign Biddle arrived at the fort with the Detachment of our Company that were in Easton. "12. A Scout of Capt n Busse's arrived & retd directly. "13. This day I left the fort in Order to go to the Col s agreeable to his Orders,
I left
Ensign Biddle
Sent a Corporal to range towards Schuylkill,
in the fort.
who
ret d the
same Evening & the Corporal reported that he ranged as directed and had made no Discoveries. A Scout of Capt n Busse's arrived, & retd the same Evening. "14. Being Sunday, Minister Shumaker came here, &: the Soldiers being fatigued with continual Scouting, there
was no Scout
to
Day.
"15. Ensign Biddle sent a Corporal with a Scout to
range Eastwards towards Schuylkill & return under the Mountains. The Scout ret d towards Evening & the Corporal made Report, he had ranged as directed and had
no
Intelligence.
"16. Sent an express Serjeant with 15 Men to range Scout of Captn Busse's Eastward along the Mountain.
A
arrived ret d .
&
ret d immediately.
The
Serj
fc
In the afternoon, the Scout
made Report he had ranged
as directed,
but had no news.
"17. Early this Morning Ensign Biddle sent Sej* Smith with 10 men to escort Lieut. Col Wieser, who was ex1
pected here this Day.
This
Day Col
1
YVeiser arrived.
accompanied with Capt n Busse and myself, together with The Col returned the same Day homethe said Escort. wards, after We had chosen a place where to build a New Ensign Biddle went along with Capt'n Busse. Fort. "18. Sent off a Scout to Fort Lebanon, and ordered them to range the Woods between here & that fort till 1
Night.
The Pennsylvania-German
34§
Society.
Scout ret d ab* 4 O'clock & informed that he had done according to his Orders. Capt n Morgan came
The
"19.
d ret the same Evening. " 20. Sent a Scout of 15 Men to range the
with the Scout and
Woods
towards Schuylkill, into Windsor Township, & with Orders to call in some Detachments lying in said Township, according to Lieut. Col s Orders. "21. The Scout ret d with the Detachm's. The Corporal reported he had done according to his Orders, but
had no News.
The same Day Capt n Busse & Ensign
Biddle arrived from Fort Henry.
Captain Busse
ret
d
the
same Evening. " 2 2d
Rece'd an Express from Lieut. Col Weiser, with 1
.
Orders to come
House. In Pursuance of which, I Ensign Biddle in the fort. " 23 d A Scout of Capt n Busse arrived. The Centry's heard the Indians distinctly whistle this Night in the fort to his
sat off immediately, leaving .
Woods. " 24. Ensign Biddle, according to Orders, with a Scout of 20
Men, went over
the
Mountains
Fort. " 25. Lieut. Philip Weiser
Captain Morgan's
to
came here from Fort Henry,
with a Scout. " 26. Ensign Biddle ret d from his Scout, having been
Captn Morgan's Fort, & from thence scouted over the Mountains into Allemangle & from thence along the foot of the Mountains till here. This Day I also arrived at the fort from-'L*. Col Weisers. " 27. Having Orders from L y Col Weiser's to look at
1
.
1
.
out for a proper Place to build a
.
new
fort, this
being so
began to lay out one on a spot which had been bef r pitched upon by the Colonel and Cpt n Busse, But night bad,
I
coming,
We
could not
finish.
Fort Henry.
349
" 28. Laid out the remaining Part of the fort. " 29. Had some Brush cut, round the new intended fort, till
Evening.
"30. Sent
off a Scout towards Schuylkill. They ret d Evening, but made no return with the remaining party of the Men. I continued clearing & burning of Brush.
in the
" 31. Sent off Sej* Smith with a scouting Party, towards Schuylkill. He ret d but made no Discovery." It
is
^
his
probable that this
command,
letter
in the
of October
officer
was ordered away, with
beginning of September, because,
in a
1757, to Governor Denny, Colonel Weiser says that Captain Oswald, who commanded a company of regular troops, from the Royal American Regi-
ment, and diately
1,
who was
two
then stationed at Reading, sent immelieutenants, with forty privates, to the assis-
tance of the people about Northkill,
who were in distress, which would hardly have been done were the fort still
garrisoned.
That it was completely abandoned by March, 1758, evidenced by the fact that, under this date, the settlers the neighborhood implored the
Governor for
is
in
assistance
because, as they said, "
Your Petitioners are every moment from the Enemy, and find ourselves less
dreading an attack secure than heretofore, from their attempts, as the Blockhouse at Northkill is destroyed and no Garrison Kept in those parts."
In April, 1758, at Tulpehocken, a man by the name of Lebenguth, and his wife, were killed and scalped. At Northkill Nicholas Geiger's wife and two of his children were killed; and also Michael Ditzelar's wife was killed— these were all scalped. into small parties,
The
Indians divided themselves and surprised the settlers unawares.
gases—BBS
CHAPTER XXV. The Gap
in
the Blue Mountains.
HILE Hs^^'^w^'w^n
1
in
nearly every
instance
the
forts
Government occupied, or commanded, the gaps which were natural passage ways through
erected by the Provincial
r^;-'
'
^^-%:H*-
the range of mountains, yet this
)&&W Vv_^p^
was not
the
case
with Fort
Henry, nor with Fort Northkill, which served as defenses for what was probably the most populous and important The most direct communisettlement south of the range. cation of these people with the north was by the old Shamokin Road, which crossed the mountains not far distant
from the
locality of
dians
made
tions.
On
on one of
had
Fort Northkill.
Naturally, the In-
frequent use of this on their marauding expedithis road, at the top of the its
most conspicuous
points,
Blue Mountains, Dietrich Snyder
built for himself a one-story log house, about twenty
(35o)
The Gap by forty
feet.
in
the Blue Mountains.
351
From
this a view of the surrounding counand the approach of hostile parties easily
try could be had,
discovered by the
trail of burning houses in their tracks. being given by those on watch to the commander of Fort Northkill he was, thereby, enabled the better to prepare himself, and to be on guard for any
The alarm
emergency which might arise. That the building was occupied for this purpose we have the authority of various old residents, who received their information from most authentic sources.
Upon mained
the death of Dietrich Snyder his wife still rethe old house, and lived to be 115 years old.
in
The property was then sold to a Mr. Miller, 'who tore down the building and erected a hotel in its place, which is still standing. The original block-house stood a short hundred yards
directly north of the hotel.
Fort Lebanon (and William).
Not
far distant
important gap
in
from Fort Northkill, to the mountain made by
the east,
is
the
the Schuylkill
River, where Port Clinton now stands. Some six miles north of Port Clinton is the town of Auburn, and about one and one-half miles east of Auburn stood Fort Leb-
anon, distant eleven miles from Fort Northkill, by the route usually taken, which was along the northern' base of the Blue Range, then across the mountain by the road past Dietrich Snyder's house. This fort, during the latter part of its history, was also called Fort William. The first
mention made of
it is
in the
order sent Captain Jacob
Morgan, under date of January 26, 1756, which begins: "As you are Captain of a Company of foot in the pay of this Province,
now
Schuylkill, I think
it
posted in a fort in the forks of the necessary to give you the following
The Pennsylvania-German
352
Society.
Orders and Instructions for your better government and direction, in the execution of the trust reposed in you."
Then
follows the order relative to the building of Forj
Northkill.
Fort Lebanon probably came into existence during the month of December, 1755. It stood on what was recently the farm of Lewis Marburger, on the north side of the road between Auburn and Pine Dale, about one and a half miles from each. In the olden time this road was not much more than a path, but still the line of communication Some sixty yards to between the east, west and south. the east
is
the road to Port Clinton, which there crosses
The
was about the same The ground is level distance to the north of the creek. and somewhat elevated, falling down to the creek from just below an oak tree, which marks the location oi a spring where the soldiers obtained their water. About seventy-five feet west of the oak tree there still remains a part of the stump of a tree, where quite a number of bullets have been found, and which was probably used by the Pine Creek w as formerly known as soldiers as a target. Pine Creek by a bridge.
fort
T
Bohundy Creek.
Of
a hollow place in the
the old fort nothing remains save field,
twenty feet north of the road,
which marks the location of the
cellar.
Fortunately, in the Pennsylvania Archives
we
find a full
description of this defense.
"Description of Fort Lebanon, 1756. " Fort Lebanon, about 24 miles from Gnadenhiitten
(Fort Allen at Weissport), (Sunbury).
in
the
Line to Shamokin
" Fort, 100 Foot Square.
"Stockades, 14 Foot high. "House within 30 X 20, with a large Store Room.
The Gap
Blue Mountains.
in the
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Early
Homes and
Colonial Mansions.
13
family, after which Duy's lane was named, of Garfield street. built the old house that stood north
The Duy
later it About i860 it was bought by George Royal and on the built was razed and a row of stores and dwellings site.
,
On
the west corner of
Manheim
street
and Main
street
1773 by stood an old carriage shop that was owned was a low one story Jacob Sommer. Above the corner in
building the style of our early settlers' home. in At No. 5140 is an old building that was occupied
worker. 1809 by Samuel Bringhurst, an iron side
is
This
is
On
the
fire-place. to be seen the old-fashioned oval Stuart's Gilbert for the house that is often mistaken Washof which he painted the famous portrait still
studio, in
was purchased by the Boston Athenium and in the now hangs in the Public Art Gallery. Stuart lived in barn " a used he house above, known as The Corvy," and
ington, which
since burned down. the rear for his studio, which has long
Christopher Saur's Printing Office. his wife Christopher Saur came to Germantown with in Germany, and son in 1724. He had been bred a tailor he acquired here came he After from whence he came. became a He proficiency in some thirty other pursuits. and apothecary, a surgeon, a botanist, a clock
farmer, an
manufacturer of watch maker, bookbinder, an optician, a all material for made paper, he drew wire and lead and He also imported German Bibles the books he printed. He did not settle in Germanin considerable number. house where town until 1732, when he built a large stone street now Queen the large ivy-covered mansion opposite partitions In the second story he arranged the could be swung on hinges so that when necessary they
stands.
The Pennsylvania-German
14
open to make one large room of
it.
Society. It
was
in this
room
among them.
His was number a varied pursuits made him well acquainted with of people of the province, and perceiving the need of a vehicle of thought, he became a printer and in 1739 issued In an almanac. This was done on an imported press. 1743 he printed the Bible in German, some forty years the
Dunkars met,
prior to
its
as he
appearance here
preacher
a
in
English.
His newspaper was commenced on the twenty-ninth of August, 1739 (but nine years after Franklin started his paper) under the following title: "High German Pennsylvania Historian," or collection of important news from This was the Kingdom of Nature and of the Church. a quarterly but
first
He
made monthly and enlarged in 1741. make drugs. He needed
established a laboratory to
had none and there were no facilities to import them, so he applied to Hendrick Frey, a very ingenious turner, who made a supply, turning them out in wood in One of the jars is capacity of one, two and four quarts. He died February 26, 1758, and was still in existence.
jars but
succeeded by his only son, his
mechanical ingenuity.
who
He
resembled his father in first to print Sun-
was the
day School lessons, Sunday School text cards and also the first book on education printed in America; this was a treatise on education by Christopher Dock, an old tutor of He improved the Franklin stove and also invented his. a ten plate stove.
As civil
Dunkar he would not bear arms or appeal to a This caused him much court to redress a wrong. a
trouble during the stirring times of our Revolution.
though not an open enemy of
his country,
Al-
he was unwilling
His sympathy undoubtedly being with the British army, on account of which his propto take an oath of allegiance.
Early
Colonial Mansions.
Homes and
15
and sold. Fie died in poverty August (3d) and 26, 1784, while two of his sons, Christopher first as the treason, Peter, enjoyed the reward for their King's printer and postmaster of Nova Scotia, the other
erty
was
confiscated
as an official in the
West
Indies.
Old Wister Mansion.
On Main
Queen was named
street
street opposite
Wister homestead.
It
"
we
see the old
Grumblethorpe " by
Charles Wister, the father of the present owner, Charles
1744 by Johann Wister as a The pent roof and balcony have been recountry seat. moved but much of the old mansion is preserved in the
J.
Wister.
It
was
Daniel Wister, son of John, succeeded
present building. his father in the
built in
ownership of the property.
No
The
present
place in the city retains such
is a grandson. flavor of Revolutionary days as this old mansion.
owner
During the Revolution the house was taken by the British officers for headquarters, and General Agnew took up his residence there and where he died in the north Blood stains are parlor after receiving his fatal wound. wounds though Mr. still shown on the floor from his of the boards resome had Charles J. Wister's mother moved.
Standing sentry
in
the old-fashioned hall
is
a
which the followto Philadelphia came ing story is told When North Wales; in Mr. Wister sent his family to relatives The American army he himself went to Philadelphia. by and the family close Wales North was encamped in
wooden
figure of a British grenadier of
the British
:
number of boasted that he would
became intimate with
a
Major Tilly, Mr. Wister obtained ish. theatricals,
which
is
the officers. like to
One,
meet the
a
Brit-
a stage setting, used in private
supposed to have been painted by
The Pennsylvania-German
16
Society,
Major Andre, an adjutant general in the who was particularly expert with the brush. got the figure to North Wales, where the
and had and holding a lantern
his hired
iting,
at the door.
Major
man
in
a half
Major
and
it
in
Mr. Wister
officers
were
vis-
front of the door,
gave three heavy raps answering it, upon opening
front of
Tilly, in
the door gave out a yell,
and
place
British army,
it,
as the story goes ran a mile
from the house.
Tilly was surprised and captured at the old Wis-
mansion some time afterwards while trying to make It was in the his way to Washington's headquarters. house that Major Lennox was surrounded at midnight by a howling mob which demanded his life and were only These are but a few incidispersed by the City Troop. dents of the many connected with the old house, which is ter
full
of heirlooms and
There
is
relics.
another wooden
figure, that
conspicuous place in the dining room. a perfect
model of the
of a Turk,
in a
In the library
original house; on a tall clock
is
is
the
weather vane from the steeple of the German Reformed Mr. Charles J. Wister, the present owner, takes Church. great pride in showing these old relics. John Wister built a farm house on Fisher's lane in It was known for many years as the "Castle of 1743.
Rosenheim," and stood on what is now the corner of Wakefield street. Above the Wister house (No. 5273 Main street) formerly stood an antiquated low building that was built at In 1704 the property was owned by a very early date. Jacob Gottschalk, a minister to the Mennonites, and in
1729 it was owned by John Henry Kalkglaser. In 1743 was purchased by John Fry, a tinsmith and brass founder, who died in 1745, his son John taking the prop-
it
THE PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN SOCIETY.
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REVOLUTION. WISTER HOMESTEAD (GRUMBLETHORPE^ PRIOR TO THE STREET. PENN NOW LANE SHOEMAKERS ON HOUSE," ROCK "THE
Early
Homes and
Colonial Mansions.
17
tinsmiths and tinkers for several reputation of doing the best work the had generations and The present house was built by Emlin in the town.
The Frys were
erty.
Pleasant.
Waltemate green houses now stand once stood an old house that was owned in 1745 by Cornelius Weygandt, the son-in-law of John Bechtel. In 1772 it was purchased by Christian Van Lashet and it was owned by his family until about i860. This was a type of the
Where
the
The upper
old houses with customary half doors.
had
a deep cut across
by a British
officer
offended the officer
was closed
it
which
is
said to have been
with his sword.
who made
It
a strike at
is
said a
half
done
man
him but the door
time to receive the blow intended for the
in
head.
National Bank of Germantown and Home of John Fanning Watson. Germantown was chartered by the State of The Bank of Pennsylvania
in 18 13
and went into operation July, 18
It first occupied a building
House
lane and
House, erected
Germantown
in the early
14.
on the west corner of School road,
known
as the Bensell
part of 1750 by Carl Benselius.
1825 to Nos. 5275-77 Main where it remained until Samuel 1868, when it was removed to its present locality. Harvey was its first president and John Fanning Watson (the noted annalist of Philadelphia) its first cashier. Watson resided in this house while occupied by the bank and here did most of his literary work. During the yellow fever epidemic in 1793, when the State and National governments removed to Germantown, Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State, and Edward Ran-
The bank was removed street,
in
below Shoemaker's
lane,
The Pennsylvania-German
i8
Society.
its occupants during the dolph, Attorney General, were William Before this the house was occupied by scourge. Surveyor Gende Braham, who was his Majesty's
Gerhard
eral of the District of
North America.
for business purold place has long since been used butcher's stand, where It is at the present time a poses. without a thought of people bargain for steaks and chops
The
rare historic past.
its
Shoemaker House. which stood long two-story-and-half stone building Penn streets, once Shoeat the north corner of Main and Shoemaker. It can be maker's lane, was erected by Isaac The door you see said it had its front door in the rear. cellar and the opening from the street was the door to the was in the rear. The Shoemaker property
The
main entrance
back to townformerly extended north to Church lane and ship line, now Stenton avenue. His son Benjamin and Isaac Shoemaker died in 1732. Philadelphia. grandson Samuel were successively mayors of
Samuel Before the Revolution the house was occupied by battle the The British used it as a hospital after Burge. Germantown and the wounded filled every room. In of
was known as the prison. was removed in 1843 and what is known after years
took
its
Near
it
This building as Cottage Row
place.
the middle of the property and
the corner of
Penn
street
and
still
Belfield avenue
standing on
is
famous about 1690 the
old rock house, supposed to have been built daughter of by Isaac Shoemaker, who married Sarah, the the land owned Hendricks, who had previously
Gerhard upon which it was built. The house was built high up became on a rock some thirty feet from the road. Since it
Early a tenement
Homes and
many
Colonial Mansions.
notable characters have lived in
19 it.
Its
identity has almost been lost as the road has been filled in at this point almost even with the top of the rock. Where 5338 Main street now stands formerly stood a good type of our early Germantown homes. It will be
remembered as a famous bakery kept by an old German by the name of John Mushier. In going his rounds he was accustomed to summon his customers by the aid of a He was quite a favorite with the children on achorn. He was blind and count of his delicious honey cakes. the children would often try to fool him by hiding their money on the counter, but he would never hand over the cakes until he found the money. Two good examples of early architecture formerly stood where East Coulter street now is. About a hundred years ago they were owned by Joseph and Thomas Waterman. At one time John Books, a celebrated Quaker preacher, lived in one of them, and later Thomas Silvers, a hatter. At that time an old German doctor would make short He is said to have visits here and stop at this house.
made many
On
notable cures.
the west corner of Coulter street
road, where the Coulter Inn
now
and Germantown
stands,
stood an old
farm house that was owned by Christopher Bockius. His grounds extended north to the Friends' Meeting House and back to near Wayne street; in all about twenty acres. He was nicknamed Stuffle Bockius by the boys who used his grounds as a short cut to the Germantown Academy. He lived to a ripe old age. His son Jesse succeeded to the property.
Morris House. mansion that stands on Main street opposite Church lane was built in 1772 by a German, David
The
stately old
The Pennsylvania-German
20
Society.
During the battle of Germantown General moved from Stenton and made this house his head-
Deshler.
Howe
quarters.
Deshler's death, in 1792, the house passed into the served hands of Colonel Isaac Franks, an officer who had When the yellow fever broke in the Revolutionary War.
At
closed his out in 1793 he was living in Bethlehem, having available it Germantown house for the season, thus making
for the occupancy of our
first
president.
Germantown
at
United States, wine had not if to-day In 1804 future date.
the capital of the
became and would probably be the
that time virtually
capital
played such an important part at a the ancestor the house was purchased by Elliston Perot, The grand Morris. of the present owner, Elliston Perot
mansion always commands much bric-a-brac, old attention, antique furniture, paintings and hundred years one than less family sofas and tables, none interior of this stately
two-hundred-year-old clock these which ticks away the hours in solemn metre. All pride. of deal great a with furnishings are kept up There is no colonial house that is so well taken care of. the
In
old.
hall
stands
a
shaded extensive grounds on the south and west are with old trees and all is kept in perfect order.
The
Market Few
localities outside of
Square. Philadelphia recall so
many
days as Market stories of the Revolutionary and colonial acre in extent, half This open place, about one Square. " Attempts in early times. designated as the " green
was
Monument have been made at different time to name it there erected monument Square on account of the soldiers' in
1883.
The ground
originally
was purchased from James De
mm Ml
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Biri
CUE
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wed
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