Area History: Bell's History of Northumberland County, PA - THE COLONIAL PERIOD (Concluded) - Part II File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tony Rebuck. USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. __________________________________________________________________________ HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° Chapter II. Pages 59 thru 77. THE COLONIAL PERIOD (Concluded) - Part II. EXTRACTS AND INCIDENTS FROM MAJOR BURD'S JOURNAL - SUBSEQUENT COMMANDING OFFICERS - THE MAGAZINE AND INDIAN STORE - OPERATIONS IN 1763 - STRENGTH OF THE GARRISON AND ARMAMENT Major Burd§ arrived at Fort Augusta on Wednesday, December 8, 1756, _____________________________________________________________________________ §Major Burd kept a minute record of occurrences at Fort Augusta, and the facts relating to the period when he was in command have been mainly derived from this source. The Journal is published in the Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series - December 5, 1756, to October 14, 1757, in Vol. II. pp. 745-820; February 8 to March 5, 1780, in Vol. VII. pp. 41l-418; June 5 to December 31, 1763. in Vol. VII. pp. 439-455. END OF PAGE 59 with captains Shippen and Jamison and a supply train. He found Captain Hambright in command: Colonel Clapham had departed at ten A. M. on the previous Monday; Captains Lloyd and Salter, Lieutenants Clapham, Trump, and Miles, and Ensign Patterson were also absent. On the following day he "inquired into the state of the garrison," and found two hundred eighty men, with nine officers, for duty. No work had been done for some time; he found "the ditch unfinished; the pickets up; the beef cistern finished; the picket gates not done, and the beef all in the store in bulk; no place provided for the flour, and the salt in casks; - in the heads standing on the parade; the batteaux all frozen up in the river." The remainder of the day was occupied in disposing of the supplies of flour and rum he had brought up, and in dispatching a party to the camp at McKee's for another consignment. On Friday, December 10th, he "employed a party to build a smokehouse for the beef; one to haul the batteaux out of the ice upon the bank to preserve them from being destroyed by the ice when the river should break up; one to clean out the fort, which was full of heaps of nuisances; one to throw all the stone out of the pickets; one to ram the earth about the beef cistern; one to build a bakehouse, and one to build a chimney in Captain Hambright's barrack; and one to make beds in the guard house." The completion and renovation of the works, thus early begun, was energetically continued. Some idea of the routine pursued at Fort Augusta under Major Burd's administration may be gained from the following transcript of his journal for February 7-20, 1757:- 7th, Monday. -This day it snows a little in the morning. At work in the woods getting firewood, twenty-two; at the coal kiln, six; sawyers, two; making helves, one; getting stuff for helves, two; making wheelbarrows, two. Very cold, the ice driving but very little. 8th, Tuesday. -Employed this day as follows: twenty-two men cutting pickets, one man pointing ditto, six men at the coal, two sawyers, two making tomahawk helves, two making wheelbarrows, nine putting beef in the smokehouse, two working at the bakehouse. A clear, cold day. 9th, Wednesday. -Employed as yesterday. Sent seventeen men out to hunt up any straggling horses that might be yet in the provincial service, but could only find four, which I have sent down to be discharged the service. The two Indians, William Sack and Indian Peter, applied to me for an escort to conduct them safely to the Conestoga town. I accordingly sent Volunteer Hughes and two soldiers and four horses, with orders to conduct them safely home. They set out from this at five P. M. This evening it rains and blows prodigiously. 10th, Thursday. -Could not work to-day; it rained and blew prodigiously all last night and all this day. The saw-pit is full of water. The doctor made complaint this morning that there was a great deal of under-water in the hospital; the doctor told me that he thought he had bad success in his cures, which he imputed to the want of END OF PAGE 60 fresh provisions anti vegetables; I acquainted the doctor that I had some thoughts of removing the hospital to Fort Halifax or Fort hunter as soon as the weather would permit; he told me if that was not done many would lose their lives. The river in a fine state for battenning. 11th, Friday. -Employed this day as follows: twenty-nine men in the woods cutting pickets, two carpenters pointing ditto, two carpenters making tomahawk helves, two carpenters making wheelbarrows, two carpenters working at the bakehouse, sawyers emptying the water out of the saw-pit, the smiths at work and colliers. This day it blew very hard and froze most severely. 12th, Saturday. -Employed this day as yesterday. This day it freezes most intensely. The river is quite full of ice. Though the people are at work, yet they can't do much. 13th, Sunday. -This morning I ordered a general parade of all the regiment present at ten A. M. and prayers at eleven A. M. if the weather would permit. Had the general parade accordingly, and found all the arms in good order, bright and quite clean. This day it freezes severely, and is so extremely cold that I omit prayers, the officers complaining it was too severe. 14th, Monday. -Employed this day as follows: twenty-one men in the woods cutting pickets, two pointing ditto, six colliers; two men at the wheelbarrows, two making ax handles, two making the pork cistern, four sawyers, three bakers. This day it freezes a little; more moderate than it has done for some days past; the river is quite full of ice, driving thick cakes. 15th, Tuesday. -This morning John Apelby, of Captain Salter's company, died; two men employed in making a coffin for ditto. Twenty-one men in the woods cutting pickets, one pointing ditto, six colliers, two making wheelbarrows, two making ax handles, two wagoners, four sawyers, two at the pork cistern, three bakers, four smiths. Buried John Apelby this evening. This day it snows a little; the river continues full of ice. Finished cutting pickets this evening; the adjutant reports they have cut upwards of a thousand. 16th, Wednesday. -This morning Christian Holtsaple, of Captain Salter's company, died. Seventeen men in the woods piling off pickets and cutting firewood, one man pointing pickets, six colliers, four smiths, four sawyers, three bakers, two carpenters making a coffin, two jointing plank for the pork cistern, two making wheelbarrows, two making ax handles, two wagoners, four digging a grave. At eleven A. M. two men arrived here with rum for Mr. Trapnell and informed me that the batteaux were lying weather-bound at Berry's place. At twelve M. D. Lieutenants Davis and Clapham arrived here with a party of thirteen men and brought my letters and confirmed the batteaux being at Berry's place under the command of Captain Trump. The above Christian Holtsaple was buried this evening. This day I was taken so ill that I could not read my letters; should have answered Colonel Clapham's letter and Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong's, but my indisposition would not permit. It thaws today much. 17th, Thursday. -This day it rained so hard all day that the soldiers could not work out of doors; the river clear of ice, and thaws much. The two men at work making wheelbarrows, one making ax handles, smiths and bakers at work. 18th, Friday. -Fine, clear weather. Employed to-day as follows: twenty-one working in the woods cutting pickets, and cutting and piling brush, three bakers, six colliers, four sawyers, two making wheelbarrows, two posting pickets, two jointing plank for the pork cistern, two making ax helves, two making paddles, two carters. This day at one P. M. Captain Trump arrived here with Ensigns Brodhead and Scott and the party, and batteaux with fifty-one barrels flour, three hogsheads of rum, one faggot steel, twelve barrels pork. At two P. M. it began to rain to-day. We have great difficulty in getting the batteaux unloaded. Sent Sergeant Lee to Carlisle express. END OF PAGE 61 19th, Saturday -It rained all day to-day. No work done except emptying the batteaux of the remainder of their loading. Which is now all in the store. Returned to the full allowance of provision, one pound two ounces of beef and one and one half pounds of flour. 20th, Sunday -Had a general review of all the regiment; appointed the party to wait Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong's orders. The fort was so wet we could not have sermon nor prayers to-day. The summer routine was slightly different. The following is a transcript of the journal from the 17th to the 31st of July, 1757:- 17th, Sunday.-Had the general review and church twice, at which the Indians attended. I had all the Indians to dinner with me to-day, which gave great satisfaction. 18th, Monday. -Employed fifty-eight parapet, twenty-seven with the wagon, fourteen cattle guard, ten carpenters, thirteen mauling rails for a hog pen, four sawyers, four smiths, two gardeners, two bakers, one chandler. This day at one P. M. the Indians set off quite pleased, and said they would return in twenty days with all the chiefs of their nations. 19th, Tuesday, -Employed sixty-three parapet, twenty-six with the wagon, seventeen cattle guard, eleven carpenters, four smiths, four sawyers, two gardeners, two bakers, one chandler. Nothing material. 20th, Wednesday. -Employed sixty-five at the parapet, twenty-seven with wagon, fifteen cattle guard, eleven carpenters, four smiths, four sawyers, two bakers, two gardeners, two pin makers, one chandler. This day at three P. M. Captain Shippen arrived here with the fleet of batteaux and twenty-seven recruits. 21st, -Thursday. -Employed fifty-three at the parapet, twenty-six with the wagon, fourteen cattle guard, ten carpenters, four sawyers, four smiths, two bakers, two gardeners, one chandler, two pin makers. Nothing material. 22d, Friday. -Employed seventy-two at the parapet, twenty-seven with the wagon, fourteen cattle guard, ten carpenters, four sawyers, four smiths, two bakers, two gardeners, two masons, two pin makers, one chandler. 23d, Saturday. -Employed seventy-two at the parapet, twenty-six with the wagon, fourteen cattle guard, ten carpenters, four sawyers, four smiths, two bakers, two gardeners, one chandler, two pin makers. Ordered a general review tomorrow at four P. M. 24th, Sunday. -This morning I sent out a reconnoitering party, one hundred men, with the following officers: Captains Hambright and Trump, Lieutenant Garraway, Ensigns Brodhead and Allison. Had a general review today at four P. M. The reconnoitering party returned at nine P. M. and reported no signs of the enemy. 25th, Monday. -Employed sixty-two at the parapet, twenty-seven with the wagon, fourteen cattle guard, four sawyers, four smiths, two gardeners, two pin makers, one chandler, eight sodders. Ordered the batteaux to be ready to sail tomorrow; I could not empty the flour sooner, having no place to put it in. Captain Patterson and Ensign Miles go with the batteaux and a party of twenty- five soldiers; Lieutenant Garraway, Ensigns Scott and Allison go recruiting. Ordered Lieutenant Atlee on the recruiting service from Fort Halifax, and Lieutenant Miles to take post there. 26th, Tuesday. -Employed fifty-four at the bank, twenty-six with the wagon, fourteen cattle guard, eight sodders of the bank, four sawyers, ten carpenters, four smiths, two gardeners, two bakers, two masons, two chandlers. This day at M. D. the fleet of batteaux sailed with the officers, Captain Patterson, Lieutenant Garraway, Ensigns Scott, Miles, and Allison, with a party of twenty-five men. END OF PAGE 62 27th, Wednesday.-Employed seventy-four at the parapet, twenty-seven with the wagon, fourteen cattle guard, ten carpenters, four sawyers, four smiths, two bakers, two gardeners, one chandler, two masons. Nothing material. 28th, Thursday. -Employed seventy at the parapet, twenty-seven with the wagon, fourteen with the cattle, fifteen carpenters, four sawyers, four smiths, two bakers, two gardeners, two masons, one chandler. Nothing material. 29th, Friday. -Employed sixty-one at the bank, twenty-seven with the wagon, fourteen cattle guard, four sawyers, four smiths, two bakers, two gardeners. two masons, one chandler. Nothing material. 30th, Saturday. -Employed sixty-two at the parapet, thirty with the wagon, fourteen cattle guard, fifteen carpenters, four sawyers, four smiths, two gardeners, two bakers, two masons, one chandler. This morning at two A. M. John Cook, of C. Davis's company, deserted from his post as sentry on the lower bastion of the palisadoes. This evening I was walking on me platforms; at twelve P. M. I heard a gun fired about two miles down the river. Ordered a general review tomorrow at four P. M. An eclipse visible of the moon at seven P.M. Frequent visits were made by friendly Indians. Ogagradarisha, who succeeded Tachnechdorus as the representative of the Six Nations upon the North Branch, held several conferences with the commanding officer, and William Sack, Indian Peter, and others are mentioned by name as visitors at the fort. On the 10th of March, 1757, five Indians "came down the North Branch in a canoe with English colors flying" to inform Major Burd that a large party would arrive in a day or two; on Sunday, the 13th, at two P.M., "the Indian fleet hove in sight with two stand of English colors flying, consisting of fifteen canoes and three batteaux; they fired two rounds," which were answered from the upper bastion of the pickets. "There were on board upwards of ninety Indians, many of which kings and chiefs of their people." The entire party was entertained at the fort until the following Thursday, when they left in batteaux for Harris's Ferry. On the same day thirty more arrived, among whom were Monocatootha and Seneca George. They left at noon on Friday, March 18th. Every precaution was taken to guard against hostile demonstrations. Scouting parties ranged the surrounding country on the north and west within a radius of twenty miles; the batteau fleet and supply trains were always accompanied by a strong escort; parties at work preparing timber, hauling materials, or herding cattle were protected by a strong detachment. Notwithstanding these measures, the enemy frequently approached on the opposite banks of the river and sometimes had the temerity to attack in the immediate vicinity of the fort. On the 26th of February, 1757. Major Burd sent the carters "to the old house at the spring to bring in some stones," with a covering party consisting of a corporal and seven men. The sentries, three in number, were shot at by Indians, and, having heard the firing, Major Burd sent two ensigns with twenty men to their relief. As they approached the Indians gave a general huzza, to which the relief party replied; the Major thereupon sent Captain Trump with two sergeants and twenty men, END OF PAGE 63 who pursued the enemy more than an hour but without overtaking them; they then returned with the bodies of two of the sentries. Captain Trump was immediately dispatched with Ensigns Brodhead and Allison, two sergeants, two corporals, and fifty men to pursue the attacking party; they went as far as the summit of a high mountain on the North Branch fourteen miles from the fort, but returned on the following day (Sunday, February 27th) without overtaking them. On the 9th of June, 1757, a party of Indians fired upon the sentries of the bullock guard, killing one of them, and in the skirmish that ensued sixteen shots were exchanged. Three detachments were sent out, but the bullock guard had put the enemy to flight before they arrived. Lieutenant Handshaw with Ensigns Brodhead and Patterson and thirty men started in pursuit at break of day on the following morning, but returned without overtaking them. At ten A. M. on the 23d of June, three parties of Indians surrounded the cattle guard, killed four men, and wounded five; two detachments were at once sent from the fort, and upon their approach the savages fled precipitately, leaving one gun, two tomahawks, and two match-coats upon the field. Their number was estimated at forty. The only aggressive movement of importance during Major Burd's incumbency was a second expedition to Chingleclamouse. On the evening of April 7, 1757, after dark, Captain Patterson set out with a party of ten men under instructions to proceed up the West Branch to that point, marching as close to the river as possible. When they reached their destination they found that the principal part of the town had been destroyed by fire, while the remainder had evidently been deserted for some time. Having exhausted their supply of provisions, the party descended the Susquehanna river on rafts and arrived at Fort Augusta on the 25th of January. For three days they had been obliged to subsist upon walnuts. The terms for which many of the soldiers had enlisted expired in the spring of 1757, and much firmness was required to induce them to continue in the service. Having been informed by the adjutant that some had delivered up their arms and refused to do further duty, Major Burd addressed the garrison immediately after the general review on Sunday, March 6, 1757. His opening words were as follows:- GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW SOLDIERS: I must first put you in mind of the cause for which we were sent hither. Was it not for to maintain the honor and just rights of our glorious sovereign and the protection of our Country? Did we not all, seemingly, cheerfully embrace this opportunity of serving our king and country? Have we not taken possession of this ground, which is allowed to be a place of great importance, and have we not maintained it, and built a strong fort upon it, and have not these works been erected at a vast charge to the government, and would all this [have] been done with no further view than to make a parade to Shamokin? Surely this can't be the case; and would you, like a parcel of dastardly poltroons, abandon these works and leave the king's fort with its gates open to receive the enemies of the crown of Great Britain? Why? Merely because your times for which you were enlisted expired, and you are not obligated, you think, to do the duty you owe by nature to your gracious END OF PAGE 64 sovereign and bleeding country. For shame! Forever shame! Everlasting infamy and just reproach will attend you and all your generations after you, were you to attempt to act such a base part - a part so unbecoming the character of a Protestant Briton - a part that would give just cause to the last of your seed to curse you. He informed them in the most positive terms of his determination not to "suffer the king's fort to be left without a garrison to defend it," and assured them upon his honor that as soon as the government should send other troops they would not be obliged to continue in the service after their terms had expired unless they should voluntarily re-enlist With this promise, and the further assurance that should be paid until discharged, they consented to "stay and do duty." Shortly after this (March 18,1757) information was received that eight hundred French and Indians had arrived at the headwaters of the West Branch, and were about to make a descent upon the fort. An express was forthwith dispatched with letters conveying this intelligence and also the fact "that the garrison refused to do duty for want of pay, and that there was a scarcity of provisions and ammunition." The letters were received by the Governor and Council on the 21st of March; the supply bill was under consideration at the time, and the dispute between the executive and legislative branches of the government relative to the taxation of Proprietary estates was again in progress. Lord Loudoun, commander-in-chief of his Majesty's forces in America, was then at Philadelphia, and the Governor consulted him regarding Major Burd's intelligence. He advised the immediate passage of the supply bill as prepared by the Assembly, which was accordingly done, and thus the condition and needs of the garrison at Fort Augusta effected the temporary settlement of an important colonial administrative question. With the batteau-men Major Burd was equally firm. On the 26th of May, 1757, a number of batteaux arrived under the command of Lieutenant Handshaw; he reported gross insubordination on the part of the batteau-men, three of whom were placed in confinement. On the following day Major Burd was told that the others were coming to him to demand the reason for this, and thereupon informed them that if they had anything to say they should send two or three of their number, but if they came in a body he would shoot the first man that approached. Two of them accordingly informed him that they were employed for the batteaux service only, to which the Major replied that they were part of his command, and that he should expect them to conform to the directions of his officers in any manner that the exigencies of the service might require. The next day (May 28th) they informed him that they would do no other duty than work their respective batteaux, and that he might continue them in the service on those terms or give them their discharges. He replied that he would do neither, but was fully determined to make examples of all whom he found "guilty of this piece of mutiny;" and if they imagined he found any difficulty to get batteau-men they were much END OF PAGE 65 deceived. On the following morning they were paraded by the adjutant, acknowledged their fault, and promised to comply with the officers' orders in future. The completion of the works, although begun by Major Burd when he assumed command, was partially suspended during the winter months. The internal arrangements of the fort were improved, however; a bakehouse, smokehouse, beef cistern, pork cistern, etc. were provided, while pickets for the outer defenses were cut in the surrounding forests to the number of more than a thousand. As soon as the condition of the ground would permit, the completion of the earth- works was resumed; thirty men were employed "at the ditch" on the 18th of March, twenty-seven on the 19th, fifty-six on the 20th (Sunday), and fifty-five on the 21st, including " all the cooks, servants, and guard." It was not until the 10th of August that the parapet was finished; the counterscarp and ditch, "glassee," platforms, etc. next received attention, but were yet in an unfinished condition at the time Major Burd's journal closes (October 14, 1757). A fish-dam and wharf were constructed, brick making and lime burning were carried on, and a garden was cleared and inclosed. Major Burd took his departure on the 18th of December, 1757, and, although he retained command of the Augusta regiment, the conduct of affairs at Fort Augusta devolved upon the subordinate officers at that post. Captain Joseph Shippen succeeded to the command; on the 27th of March, 1758, he left the fort on leave of absence from Colonel Burd, and in the report for April 1st Major Thomas Lloyd appears as commandant. By a reorganization of the provincial forces the Augusta regiment had been incorporated in the second battalion of the Pennsylvania regiment, of which James Burd was lieutenant colonel and Thomas Lloyd major; subsequently the former became colonel and the latter lieutenant colonel. Nearly the whole of this battalion was attached to General Forbes's command and participated in the expedition against Fort Duquesne; Captain Trump was the only officer of his rank who remained at Fort Augusta and the command therefore devolved upon him, prior to June 2, 1758. He occupied this position until April, 1759, and doubtless later. In September of that year Major Jacob Orndt, of the First battalion, was in command. Caleb Graydon, successively ensign, lieutenant, and captain, was in charge when Colonel Burd arrived at the fort on the 15th of February, 1760. It does not appear that the Colonel remained longer than several weeks, after which Lieutenant Graydon resumed command, and was in charge when Colonel Burd again arrived in 1763. The principal addition to the works during this period was the powder magazine. Its erection was first recommended by Harry Gordon (who styles himself "engineer and captain") in the following terms:- A magazine ought to be built in the south bastion, twelve by twenty feet in the END OF PAGE 66 clear, also a laboratory of the same dimensions in the east bastion: the wall of the magazine to be two and one half feet thick, with three buttresses, two feet thick at the bottom beveling to nine inches at top, in each side; the breadth of buttresses, three and one half feet; the magazine to have an arch of two and one half brick thick, and to be underground within one and one half feet of the top of the arch; the walls, seven feet high from the level of the floor, and to have a foundation two feet below the floor; great care taken to lay the joists and to fill up between with ruble stone and gravel, rammed; the joists to be covered with plank two and one half inches thick; an air hole one foot square to be practiced in the gable end, opposite the door; the passage to the magazine to have a zig-zag, and over the arch some fine plaster laid, then covered with fine gravel and four feet of earth atop.* Captain Gordon's recommendation was transmitted under date of May 6, 1758. Instructions were issued to Captain Trump, the commanding officer, to undertake the work, which was begun under very discouraging circumstances. "I have got but few tradesmen to carry on any building," he wrote Governor Denny on the 19th of July, 1758; "one carpenter, two masons, one smith are left here. I have begun to build a powder magazine, (as there has never been any other than the common provision store, an unfit place to hold powder.) and, am obliged to leave it unfinished for want of lime and stone. The limestone is to fetch six miles and it is impossible to fetch them any other way than by water; and all the batteau-men are discharged, so it is impossible for me to carry it on any further without some more assistance." It does not appear that the garrison was materially re-enforced, although its effective strength was probably increased by employing batteau-men, and thus the magazine was finally constructed. Of all the military works that once constituted Fort Augusta the subterranean portion of this structure alone remains. From the highway on the bank of the river it presents the appearance of a small mound of earth. A narrow stone stairway descends to the interior, which is ten by twelve feet in dimensions; the walls are constructed of stone and the arched ceiling of brick, manufactured, in all probability, at the fort. Over this underground chamber a wooden building formerly stood; there is some reason to think that this was the magazine proper, for William Maclay refers to it as "this magazine, under which there is a small but complete dungeon.† It was enlarged and strengthened, and served for a brief period as the first jail of Northumberland county. The "small but complete dungeon" is all that now remains of the only fortification erected within the present limits of Northumberland county during the colonial period.‡ _________________________________________________________________________ *Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. III. pp. 388-389. †Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. IV. p. 483. ‡"McKee's fort" is located within the present limits of the county on the map published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the editor of the Pennsylvania Archives makes the following statement concerning it. Vol. XII. p. 405): "It Is believed to have been named after Thomas McKee, an Indian trader who had a plantation on the Susquehanna near the falls which still bear his name. It is said to have been situated on the east branch [bank?] of the Susquehanna in Lower Mahanoy township, Northumberland county, at or about where Georgetown now stands at those falls." END OF PAGE 67 An Indian trading house was also built This was done at the special request of the Indians living on the Susquehanna, who had been pacified and desired a convenient place for the exchange of peltries, etc. for clothing and supplies. The Governor and Assembly had some difficulty in agreeing upon a plan for the regulation of this trade, and the delay in establishing stores caused much dissatisfaction among the Indians. At length these differences were adjusted; on the 20th of January, 1758, Captain Shippen informed Major Burd that several parties of Delawares had arrived "with skins to trade at the store," and in the list of supplies received he mentioned "a quantity for Mr. Carson's store." On the 1st of July, 1758, Captain Trump wrote: "Agreeably to your orders to me I have begun to dig the cellar for the store house for Indian goods, but there is not carpenters' tools here sufficient to complete the building of the house." Temporary quarters were provided, however, regarding which he wrote on the 19th instant: "It is impossible for me to carry on the Indian store house for want of workmen and tools, and as this last draft has taken all the workmen from me save the few [I] have mentioned to your Honor; but I have for the present fitted up one of the barracks that is almost joining the present Indian store, which will hold a great quantity of skins." A trading house was eventually erected, however; it stood outside the fort, and was removed in 1763. The work of demolition was begun on the 16th of July; the materials were taken inside the _________________________________________________________________________ A careful comparison of the evidence on the subject does not, in the opinion of the author, justify this conclusion. Thomas McKee was commissioned as a captain in the provincial service in 1756, and on the 26th of January was instructed to receive from the officer commanding the detachment at Hunter's mill the "arms, accouterments, blankets, tools, and stores" in his bands (Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. II. p.553); he was to march his company to Hunter's mill, and "either complete the fort already begun there or build another at such other convenient place as James Galbraith, Esq. shall advise" (Ibid. p. 564). On the 5th of April, 1756, he wrote to Edward Shippen from the "fort at Hunter's mill," informing him that John Shikellimy had arrived there (Ibid. p. 615). In a letter to the Governor on the 19th instant Shippen wrote that he had been at "Captain McKee's fort," where he had seen John Shikellimy; Hunter's house, he said, was "five or six hundred feet from the fort" (Ibid. pp. 634-635). From this it is quite evident that "McKee's fort" was the stockade generally known as Fort Hunter. That McKee had a trading house at the site of Georgetown or in that vicinity there can be no doubt. It was there that Conrad Weiser met Shikellimy's sons in April, 1749 (Ibid. p. 23). Kishocoquillas, the Shawane chief from whom the beautiful valley in Mifflin county derives its name, died there in 1711 (Colonial Records, Vol. VI. pp. 153-154). On the 3rd of June, 1756, six scouts were sent by Colonel Clapham to ascertain the condition of the country between his camp and Shamokin; "they saw nothing till they came to McKee's and found his house burnt, where they discovered the tracks of an Indian moccasin." (Ibid. Vol. VII. p.154). Five scouts were sent out two days later (Saturday, June 5th); on the following Monday they discovered "the fresh tracks of four Indian's and four horses," which they followed about six miles to no purpose, "and then turned to the left and went across the mountain toward Mr. McKee's plantation; and, having got within two miles of that place, they came upon the same tracks," which they again followed about a mile. James Lowry, the leader of the party, then "followed up the tracks till he came within seventy yards of McKee's cleared fields, and plainly saw four Indians and as many horses hoppled in the meadows, upon which he immediately ran back a mile to acquaint his companions with it; and upon their coming up they all perceived five more Indians walking up from the river (with water, as they supposed) towards the place where the house had stood." While they were deliberating upon the course to be pursued they heard the reports of three guns in quick succession on their right and left, and, fearing they might be surrounded, "retired all night and came in the morning to the camp at Armstrong's "(Ibid. p.155). This certainly affords conclusive evidence that the fort Captain McKee was instructed to build in January, 1756, was not located at his trading house near the mouth of Stone Valley creek. END OF PAGE 68 Page 69 contains a portrait of Ebenezer Greenough Page 70 is blank fort and used for other purposes. The business had been conducted under the auspices of the government, with Nathaniel Holland as resident agent several years, and during this time the coming and going of parties of friendly Indians were the principal occurrences that varied the monotony of routine garrison life. Fort Augusta again became the scene of active military operations in 1763. A preconcerted attack had been made upon the western posts by the Indians under the direction of Pontiac and Guyasutha, and measures were at once taken to put Fort Augusta in a condition for defense. In the temporary absence of Lieutenant Graydon, Lieutenant Samuel Hunter was in command. On the 5th of June, 1763, he received a letter from John Harris informing him that Colonel Clapham and twelve men had been killed at Pittsburgh; on the following day he had a letter from Colonel Armstrong, stating that the post at Sandusky had been taken; he was also warned by a friendly Indian to be on his guard, as the fort was in danger of attack at any time. It was at once ordered that the reveille should beat at daybreak, when all the garrison were to proceed to the bastions under arms. Twelve men, with a sergeant and corporal, were detailed to mount guard, and a sentry was stationed in each bastion. The gates were ordered to be shut at dusk. Directions were given that all the small arms should be charged, "that each man might have two or three by him for present use." It was subsequently ordered that no soldier should have any dealings with the Indians upon any pretense whatever, or fire his piece except at the command of an officer or at an enemy; and the sentries were directed to let no "man, woman, or child go on the ramparts." On the 8th of June the entire garrison was employed "to put the fort in the best position " for immediate defense and continued at that work several weeks. Lieutenant Graydon arrived on the 15th and Colonel Burd on the 18th instant; the latter at once assumed command. One week later a conference was held with more than a score of Indians, during which he took the precaution to have the garrison under arms. In order to insure a supply of water in case of siege the construction of a covered way to the river was begun on the 29th of June, when "three houses at the south end of the town, were pulled down. On the following day it was ordered, "That every one passing through either one of the barrier gates shut them after them to prevent cattle going into the covered way; also, to walk on the covered way as near the pickets as they can." On the 2d of July the "pickets in the covered way" were finished. The erection of a new guard house over the back gate" was begun July 20th, probably with the former materials of the Indian trading house; it was completed and first occupied on the 4th of August. While these improvements were in progress a barricade was thrown up against the upper side of the redoubt and the defenses otherwise strengthened. Although the anticipated attack did not occur, military movements of END OF PAGE 71 some consequence were made on both branches of the Susquehanna. On Thursday, August 25, 1763, at twelve M., Captains Patterson and Bedford and George Allen arrived at Fort Augusta with one hundred fourteen men, and left on the same day to destroy several Indian towns sixty miles distant on the West Branch. They encountered the enemy thirty miles up the river, and in the skirmish that ensued four of their party were killed and four wounded. Captains Patterson and Bedford returned to the fort at noon on Saturday, the 27th instant; George Allen and John Wood, with the remainder of the party, arrived at five p.m. on the same day. On their retreat down the river the latter had intercepted three Indians from Bethlehem, who, as they were suspected of carrying intelligence and supplies to the hostile Indians, were killed on the hill north of Northumberland. The entire party remained at Fort Augusta until Sunday, August 28th, when they departed for the settlements whence they had come. A second expedition against the Indian rendezvous at Great Island was made in the following October under the command of Colonel John Armstrong. After destroying the Indian corn fields and villages, the party retreated down the West Branch; Captains Patterson, Bedford, Sharp, Laughlin, and Crawford, with two hundred men, arrived at Fort Augusta on the 11th of October, and Captains Piper and Lindsay, with fifty men, on the following day; Colonel Armstrong had left the latter party about seven miles from the fort, "intending to go the nearest way to Carlisle." On the 13th of October Major Clayton reached the fort with eighty men, en route to Wyoming; they resumed their march on the 15th, accompanied by Lieutenant Hunter and twenty-four of the garrison. On the 20th instant they returned, having destroyed what provisions and implements they found. The journal kept at Fort Augusta from June 5 to December 31, 1763, is not prolific in details. The arrival and departure of the batteaux and supply trains and their convoys are regularly noted; cattle and sheep were brought in herds, as formerly, and slaughtered upon the approach of winter, when the meat was cured and stored. These and other matters relating to the commissary department, the defensive operations and offensive movements noted, the holding of courts martial, intelligence brought by Indians, and the state of the weather, mainly constitute the subject matter of the journal. It was evidently begun by Lieutenant Hunter; after Colonel Burd's arrival the entry for each day was signed by the officer of the guard, in which capacity the names of Lieutenants Graydon, Hunter, Wiggins, Blyth, and Hendricks, Mr. Irvine, and Colonel Burd appear. The Colonel arrived on the 18th of June and remained until the 20th of August; he again arrived on the 9th of November and remained several weeks. On the 23d of February, 1764, he wrote Governor Penn that he had "sent out sundry parties [from Fort Augusta] to endeavor to discover and come up with the enemy to prevent their falling down upon the inhabitants, and, in case they should have END OF PAGE 72 gone past, to lay an ambush for them on their return," but without making any discoveries at all. Lieutenant Graydon was in command in November and December, 1764, and May, 1765. At this point it may be proper to summarize the numerical strength of the garrison at the various dates to which authentic information relates. James Young, the commissary general, visited Shamokin in July, 1756, with instructions to pay three hundred eighty-four privates and sixteen sergeants, but found more than that number in the camp, beside the detachments at McKee's and Fort Hunter. "The garrison consists of three hundred twenty effective men," wrote Colonel Clapham on the 14th of October, 1756. On the 18th he informed the Governor that Captain Christian Busse arrived at the fort on the evening of that day with his company, which formed part of Lieutenant Colonel Conrad Weiser's battalion. He also transmitted a return of the regiment on the 18th of October; it shows seven companies, of which the respective strength was as follows: colonel's, forty- three; major's, forty-four; Captain Lloyd's, thirty-nine; Captain Shippen's, forty-four; Captain Work's, forty-three; Captain Hambright's, forty-nine; Captain Salter's, forty-four - total, three hundred six, of whom one hundred sixty-four were "duty men." There were fourteen sergeants, fourteen corporals, and seven drummers; two bakers, three blacksmiths, one herdsman, fourteen cooks, thirty-seven carpenters, six masons, five sawyers, six coal burners, two clerks, two butchers, and four brickmakers; four were on furlough, four on provost duty, fourteen sick and lame, and three attending the sick; six deserters were reported. Captain Busse's company was not included in this report; it was probably not regarded as part of the regular garrison, and on the 8th of November was ordered to return to its former station. When Major Burd arrived (December 8, 1756,) there were two hundred eighty men "doing duty" and nine officers "for duty." The terms for which many of the men had enlisted expired in the following spring, and three companies of Lieutenant Colonel Weiser's battalion - those of Captains Patterson, Wetterholt, and Morgan - were ordered to Fort Augusta to take their places. Captain James Patterson arrived with his company on the 2d of April, 1757, and on the 6th more than a hundred men whose terms had expired took their departure. Captain John Nicholas Wetterholt and Lieutenant James Handshaw arrived on the 27th of April with fifty men, and Captain Jacob Morgan and Lieutenant Andrew Engel on the 4th of May with thirty men. "A great many discharged men" left the fort on the 10th of May and others on the 15th. Their former officers thereupon engaged in recruiting, and in the course of a few months the companies that originally composed the garrison were strengthened sufficiently to permit the withdrawal of the re-enforcement from Weiser's battalion. On the 1st of January, 1758, Captain Shippen reported eight companies, accredited, respectively, to Major James Burd and Captains Thomas Lloyd, END OF PAGE 73 Joseph Shippen, Patrick Work, David Jamison, John Hambright, and Levi Trump, and Lieutenant Patrick Davis. The total number of men was three hundred thirty- seven, of whom two hundred thirty-two were fit for duty. Adjutant Kern's return of February 5, 1758, states that there were twenty-five companies in the provincial service at that time, eight of which were stationed at Fort Augusta, from which the relative importance of that post may be inferred. These eight companies, according to Commissary Young's report of February 9th, numbered three hundred sixty-two men. The "Return of the garrison at Fort Augusta, consisting of detachments from the First and Second battalions of the Pennsylvania regiment, Major Thomas Lloyd, commandant," April 1, 1758, shows a total of three hundred forty-eight men, two hundred five of whom were fit for duty; there were eight companies, accredited, respectively, to Lieutenant Colonel James Burd, Major Thomas Lloyd, and Captains Joseph Shippen, Patrick Work, David Jamison, John Hambright, Levi Trump, and Asher Clayton. Shortly afterward nearly the entire effective force was detached for service in Forbes's expedition against Fort Duquesne, and on the 2d of June but four men of Colonel Burd's company, fourteen of Major Lloyd's, thirteen of Major Shippen's, fifteen of Captain Work's, eighteen of Captain Jamison's, four of Captain Hambright's, forty of Captain Trump's, and thirteen of Captain Clayton's remained - a total of one hundred twenty-one, of whom ninety-nine were fit for duty. Captain Trump, the commandant at that time, wrote Governor Denny on the 1st of July that "Captain Robert Eastburn and Captain [Paul] Jackson arrived here on the 20th ultimo, with part of their companies. Thirty of their men, according to orders, they left at Hunter's fort, under the command of Ensign Price." In his report for July 1st he gives the total number of men as one hundred eighty-nine, of whom one hundred sixty were fit for duty. Peter Bard, the local commissary, accompanied the detachments of Captains Eastburn and Jackson, and in a letter to the Governor on the 1st of July says: "What were here before we came, one- hundred twenty odd, are the cullings of the whole battalion, and several of them sick and lame, so that we have but a very weak garrison." The state of affairs on the 19th of July was thus described by Captain Trump:- Captain Montgomery arrived here on the 16th instant with three Subalterns and sixty-two private men, who were drafts out of several companies of the newly raised levies. General Forbes has ordered Captain Robert Eastburn and Captain Paul Jackson and their subalterns with thirty-five of each company (which is more than they have here) to march and join him at Raystown; likewise ordered me to draft forty of the best men belonging to Colonel Burd's battalion and send them to him with two officers, viz.: Lieutenant Brodhead and Ensign Haller. There is but one officer left here beside myself of Colonel Burd's battalion, which is Ensign Henry; I have no ensign; the above drafts march from this place this day. There is only one hundred forty-three men left here, out of which number there's ten whose times are expired and will not enlist again, beside two men more that Major Lloyd has sent discharges for; and a great part of them that are left are blind, lame, sick, old, and decrepit, not fit to be intrusted with any charge. END OF PAGE 74 On the 1st of August and 1st of September, 1758, Captain Trump reported one hundred sixty-nine men, accredited to fifteen different companies, ranging in numerical strength from one to thirty; one hundred forty-one were fit for duty on the 1st of August and one hundred twenty- two on the 1st of September. When Colonel Burd, accompanied by Ensign Morgan and two companies, arrived on the 15th of February, 1760, the garrison numbered thirty-six men, who "marched off" four days later. Two companies, accredited to Colonel Burd and Captain Caleb Graydon, respectively, constituted the garrison on the 1st of October, 1763; the total number of men was eighty-eight, of whom sixty were fit for duty. On the 20th of July, 1764, the "Board of Commissioners for Defense" decided to maintain four companies between the Susquehanna and Delaware, "including thirty men to garrison Fort Augusta," who were to be "victualled by the crown." In the return of the muster of the First battalion at Lancaster, July 23-25, 1764, forty-seven men are accredited to Captain Hunter's company and sixteen as a "detachment of Captain Graydon's;" they were detailed for service on Bouquet's expedition, leaving Captain Graydon in command of the thirty who remained in garrison at Fort Augusta. Some difficulty was experienced in providing funds for their pay, as evidenced by the following message from the Governor to the Assembly:- GENTLEMEN: From the great importance of Fort Augusta to the protection of this Province when engaged in a war with the Indians, I thought it absolutely necessary to keep a garrison in it the last year, and am of opinion that, till the final conclusion of a peace with the savages, it will be highly imprudent to abandon that post. The garrison has been paid up to the 1st of January last year out of the supplies granted to his Majesty last year, but as that fund is nearly exhausted, I recommend it to you to consider and provide ways and means for the future subsistence and support of the troops stationed there till it may be thought advisable either to reduce or disband them. JOHN PENN* February 9, 1765. The reply of the Assembly was as follows:- After due consideration of your message dated the 9th instant we are of opinion that, as the cannon and other military stores at Fort Augusta can not be at present removed from thence, it may be prudent to defer any resolution concerning the evacuation of that post until further certainty of peace being firmly established with the Indians; yet, in the meantime, as the fund from which that garrison has been paid up to the 1st of last month is nearly exhausted, we should approve an immediate reduction of the troops stationed there; although, in respect to disbanding the whole garrison we can only recommend to your Honor and the provincial commissioners, when more satisfied of the Indians' fidelity and conveniency offers for water carriage from Shamokin, to lose no time in removing the cannon and stores above mentioned and disbanding the remainder of the garrison, in order to ease the public of that burden whenever it can be done with safety and prudence.† Colonel Bouquet's expedition to the Muskingum in the autumn of 1764 had been entirely successful; the Indians sued for peace, and gave hostages ________________________________________________________________________ *Colonial Records, Vol. IX. Pp. 244-245. †Colonial Records, Vol. IX. p. 246. END OF PAGE 75 as security for the release of all their prisoners when a general treaty should be ratified. As soon as Governor Penn received intelligence that they had fulfilled their promises to Colonel Bouquet in this and other respects he "gave orders that Fort Augusta should he evacuated and commissioned Colonel Francis to settle the accounts of that garrison." It does not appear that his orders were immediately carried into execution, however; the following is the transcript of a letter, hitherto unpublished and now in the possession of William T. Grant of Sunbury, which affords some information regarding the subsequent military occupation of this post:- Philadelphia, April 21, 1768. SIR: Although Fort Augusta, which you were heretofore ordered to keep possession of, may be within the words of an act of Assembly lately made for removing settlers from the lands unpurchased of the Indians, yet I am persuaded it was not within the design of the law. You will, therefore, with the people that were left there with you, continue to keep possession of it as before the passing [of] the act. But I desire you will take special care that no new settlements are made there or in the neighborhood of it beyond the line of the purchase, for any such new settlements will be within the intent of the act, and those who presume to settle in disobedience of it may depend upon being prosecuted in the most vigorous manner. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, JOHN PENN. Captain Samuel Hunter. From this it appears that a nominal garrison was sustained at Fort Augusta in 1768, with Captain Hunter as commandant, and that he was also intrusted with the duty of administering the law against intruders upon lands to which the Indian title had not yet been extinguished. The amount of stores, ammunition, and ordnance at the fort were frequently reported.* Six four-pound cannon, two swivels, and six blunderbusses constituted the armament on the 6th of October, 1756. On the 3d of November the commanding officer at Fort Hunter was ordered "to weigh the two cannon which now lie in the water and place them on the bank at some convenient place for transportation;" and on the 19th of May, 1757, Major Burd made the following entry in his journal: "This day at eleven A. M. Captain Patterson arrived here with the batteaux and brought two four-pound cannon." Eight cannon, two swivels, and seven blunderbusses were reported by Captain Shippen on the 1st of March, 1758, and by Captain Trump on the 1st of June in the same year. On the 19th of July, 1758, Captain Trump wrote Governor Denny that "The four pieces of cannon are come up that were sent from Philadelphia, but there's not a person to make carriages for them, so they'll be useless till such time as there's a fit person sent here to make them." Twelve cannon, two swivels, and seven blunder- _______________________________________________________________________ *These reports were usually made by the commissary or commandant; the following are published in the Pennsylvania Archives: September 4, 1756, Vol. II. p.765; October 5, 1756, Vol. III pp. 4-5; December 3, 1756, Vol. III. p. 79; March 1, 1758, Vol. III. pp. 347-348; June 1, 1758, Vol. III. pp. 406-407; August 1, 1758, Vol. III. p.502; October 1,1756, Vol. III. pp. 550-55l; December 1, 1758, Vol. "III. pp. 568-569; December 6, 1758, Vol. III. p.574; October 1, 1763, Vol. IV. p. 122. END OF PAGE 76 busses were reported by Commissary Bard on the 1st of August, 1st of October, and 1st of December, 1758, and by Captain Graydon on the 1st of October, 1763. One of these old cannon is now in the possession of Sunbury Steam Fire Company, No. 1; the following interesting facts in its history have been developed by the researches of Dr. B. H. Awl: From Fort Augusta it was taken to Muncy and not returned until 1774; it was thrown into the river, out of which it was taken by Jacob Mantz, Samuel Hahn, and George Shoop in 1798. It then remained at Sunbury until 1824, when it was surreptitiously removed to Selinsgrove and placed in the cellar of a Mr. Baker. In the following year a party from Sunbury, composed of George Hileman, John Epley, John Weaver, John Pickering, James McCormick, Jacob Diehl, and others, succeeded in regaining possession and placed it under a bed in the attic of John Weaver's hotel (the old stone building at the southeast corner of Market and Third streets). It was brought into requisition at the next 4th of July celebration and then hidden in the cellar of Robins's tannery on Market street, from which it was shortly afterward abstracted by Charles Awl, Samuel Kessler, Charles Baum, Elias Hummel, Michael Kleckner, Thomas Halabush, Samuel Winter, and Thomas Getgen, taken to New Berlin, and concealed in the cellar of a hotel. Intelligence of its hiding place having reached Sunbury, Charles Bradford, Jacob Keefer, Ezekiel Follmer, and others went to New Berlin in the night for the purpose of recovering the stolen property. They entered the cellar by a side door; the cannon had been placed upon a raised platform, which collapsed under their weight when they attempted to lift it off. The noise wakened a woman, who came down the inside stairway with a candle; Bradford knocked it from her hand, and the entire party sought safety in flight. Selinsgrove next succeeded in securing possession of the cannon, and from that place it was brought to Sunbury in 1834 by Dr. R. H. Awl, Charles Rhinehart, Henry V. Simpson, Thomas McEwen, Jeremiah Mantz, Jacob and John Richtstine, Isaac Zeigler, Edward Lyon, Peter Zimmerman, and George Mahan. Here it has since remained. In 1849 an attempt was made to remove it to Danville, but Captains Charles J. Bruner and Henry Wharton had been warned of the plot and the cannon was securely guarded at the house of Benjamin Krohn on Front street. When the Danville party arrived they found their designs effectually frustrated, and since that time Sunbury has enjoyed undisputed possession of this migratory piece of ordnance. It was chained to a five- hundred-pound stone in the "old barracks" on Front street for a time, and subsequently kept in Peter Weimer's cellar, Zeigler's tannery, the county jail; John Shissler's cellar, etc. For some years it was in the possession of Samuel Huey, from whom the present owners obtained it.