Northumberland County, Military Fort Freeland File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Dorothy Mack, 17821 South Airport Way, Manteca, CA 95337. RMack49418@aol.com Transcribed May 30, 1998 by Larry DeFrance, 657 North Warren, Helena, MT 59601. Larry@ns.helenet.com 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 that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, Embraced in the Counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder In The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." In Two Volumes, Vol 1 Philadelphia: EVERTS, PECK & RICHARDS 1886, pp 97-99 The year 1779 witnessed no improvement in the situation of the settlers on the Susquehanna frontier. On the 11th of April, Captain John Brady who, it will be remembered, commanded a so-called fort bearing his name and located near the mouth of Muncy Creek, was killed by the Indians, scarcely a quarter of a mile away from its protecting walls. It had become necessary to go up river some distance to procure supplies for the fort, and Captain John Brady, taking with him a wagon team and a guard, went himself and procured what could be had. On his return in the afternoon, riding a fine mare, and within short distance of the fort, where the road forked, and being some distance behind the team and the guard, and in conversation with a man names Peter Smith, he recommended Smith not to take the road the wagon had, but the other, as it was shorter. They traveled on together, until they came near a run where the same road joined. Brady observed, 'This would be a good place for Indians to secrete themselves.' Smith said 'Yes.' That instant three rifles cracked and Brady fell. The mare ran past Smith, who threw himself on her and was carried in a few seconds to the fort. The people in the fort heard the rifles, and seeing Smith on the mare coming at full speed, all ran to ask for Captain Brady, his wife along, or rather before the rest. Smith replied, 'In heaven or hell, or on his way to Tioga,' meaning that he was either killed or taken prisoner. Those in the fort ran to the spot and found the captain lying in the road, his scalp taken and his rifle gone; but the Indians had been in such haste that they had not taken his watch or shot-pouch. Rapine followed throughout the settlements. Isolated murders and cases of pillaging were almost numberless and larger strokes of savage fury were not infrequent. Several of these murders occurred at Fort Freeland. By May so great had become the sense of insecurity that the greater number of the people of Buffalo Valley had left. Colonel Hunter had poor successes in recruiting companies of rangers, as so many of the able-bodied men of the settlements were preparing to enter the "boat service" [the convoying of General Sullivan's commissary up the North Branch]. By the last of June he had only thirty men, exclusive of those at Fort Freeland and with General Potter, who was at Sunbury. By the late part of July the troops had all left Sunbury to join General Sullivan. Northumberland County was left in a deplorable condition, with no forces but the militia and fourteen regulars under Captain Kamplen. Almost every young man on this part of the frontier had engaged in the boat service, and the country above Muncy was completely abandoned. Fall of Fort Freeland.-All things conspired to give the Indians opportunity for a more than usually effective blow. It was directed against Fort Freeland, and that stronghold was capture on July 28, 1779. A number of British officers and soldiers were with the besieging party, the advance portion of which made it appearance on the 21st. The whole force consisted of about three hundred men. Colonel Hunter writes upon the 28th,- "This day, about twelve o'clock, an express arrived from Captain Boone's mill, informing us that Freeland's Fort was surrounded; and, immediately after, another express came, informing us that it was burned and all the garrison either killed or taken prisoner; the party that went from Boone's saw a number of Indians and some red-coats walking around the fort, or where it had been. After that, firing was heard off towards Chillisquaque. Parties are going off from this town and from Northumberland for the relief of the garrison. General Sullivan would send us no assistance, and our neighboring counties have lost the virtue they were once possessed of, otherwise we should have some relief before this. I write in a confused manner. I am just marching off, up the West Branch, with a party I have collected." A few days before the capture Robert Covenhaven went up as far as Ralston (now), where he discovered Colonel McDonald's party in camp. He returned to Fort Muncy (Fort Penn) and gave the alarm. The women and children were then put in boats and sent down, under his charge, to Fort Augusta. He took with him the families at Fort Meminger, at the mouth of Warrior's Run; but Freeland's Fort being four and a half miles distant, they had no time to wait for the families there, but sent a messenger to alarm them. The following account of the fall of Fort Freeland is given by Mrs. Mary V. Derrickson, born the year of this calamity, and a daughter of Cornelius Vincent, one of the occupants of the fort: "...Nothing serious occurred until the 21st of July, when a party at work in the corn-field were attacked by Indians, about nine A.M. Isaac Vincent, Elias Freeland and Jacob Freeland, junior, were killed; Benjamin Vincent and Michael Freeland taken prisoners. Daniel Vincent outran the Indians, and, leaping a high log fence, escaped. Benjamin Vincent, then only ten years old, hid himself in a furrow; he left it to climb a tree and was seen and was captured. He knew nothing about the fate of the others until in the afternoon, when an Indian thrust the bloody scalp of his brother Isaac into his face. At daybreak on the 28th, Jacob Freeland, senior, was shot as he was going out of the gate and fell inside. The fort was surrounded. There were twenty-one men in it and very little ammunition. Mary Kirk and Phoebe Vincent commenced immediately and ran all their spoons and plates into bullets. About nine a flag was raised, and John Lytle and John Vincent went out to capitulate., but could not agree, and one half hour was given to consult those within. It was finally agreed that all who could bear arms would go as prisoners, the old men, with the women and children, to be set free, and the fort be given to plunder. The latter left the fort at twelve. Not one ate a bite that day, and not a child was heard to cry or ask for bread. They reached Northumberland, eighteen miles distant, that night. Mrs. Kirk put girls clothes on her son William, a lad of sixteen, and he escaped with the women. Elizabeth Vincent was a cripple and could not walk. Her husband, John Vincent, went to Captain McDonald and told him her situation, and asked for the horse the Indians had taken from his son Peter a week before. He carried his wife to the lower end of the meadow, where they lay and saw the fort burned. It rained hard that night and she lay partly in the water. In the morning the horse came to them. Vincent plaited a halter out of the bark of a hickory tree, set his wife on and led it to Northumberland, where wagons were pressed to take the people down the country." Those killed at the fort were James Watt, John McClintock, William McClung, James Miles, and Henry Gilfillen. Colonel Hunter's account says that the firing a Freeland's was heard at Boone's mill, about seven miles off. Captain Hawkins Boone, Kemplen and Daugherty marched with thirty-four men, but were met by the Indians in large force before they reached the fort. Captain Kemplen, who observed the first Indian, shot him dead. The men behaved with great bravery, but were overpowered and fifteen were killed and two wounded. Among the dead were Captain Boone and Captain Samuel Daugherty. This engagement took place at McClung's place, above Milton. William Miles, who was taken prisoner at the fort, and afterwards resided in Erie County, said that, in Canada, Captain McDonald spoke in highest terms of Hawkins Boone His scalp, with that of Daugherty, was brought into Fort Freeland. Of Boone's party, Samuel Brady (uncle of Captain Samuel), James Dougherty and James Hammond, made their escape. Of those made captive in this party, as well as those at the fort, nearly all ultimately returned. Colonel Hunter, writing to General Potter several years after the affair at Fort Freeland, gave a list of the men taken prisoner thee, as follows: "Captain's company, John Neely, sergeant; George Baily, George Armitage, Aaron Martin (died at Fort Chambly, January 8 1780), Thomas Smith, Isaac Wilson and John Forney. The following persons being those of the militia that enrolled themselves for the defense of the garrison: John Lytle, adjutant; Cornelius Vincent, quartermaster; sergeant Samuel Gould; Henry Townley, Peter Williams, Isaac Williams, Elias Williams, Henry Gilfillan, James Durham, Daniel Vincent, John Watts, William Miles, John Dough, Thomas Taggart (died 16th January, 1780); Francis Watts made his escape on the same day he was taken; Peter Vincent likewise made his escape the same day." Fifty-two women and children and four old men were permitted by Captain McDonald to depart for Sunbury. Colonel Kelly went over with a party from the Buffalo Valley and buried the dead at the fort. Great consternation prevailed throughout the valley after the capture of Fort Freeland; the inhabitants fled, and the road to Fort Augusta was again thronged with terrified women and children. The Indians and British retreated towards the Tioga. They had undoubtedly intended to attack Fort Augusta, and were only deterred from their purpose, in all probability by meeting Boone's party, and apprehending that it was the advance detachment of a larger one. Preparations were made as quickly as possible to follow the enemy, partly for the purpose of recovering some of the cattle, as they had driven off all they could find. On the 3d of August, Captain (or Colonel) Matthew Smith arrived at Sunbury, with sixty "Paxton Boys," and was joined by detachments from other regiments, all numbering five hundred. They marched for Muncy, but the enemy had retired far into the wilderness, beyond reach or all pursuit. General Sullivan had now commenced his march into their country, and his destruction of their towns, which they abandoned as they flew before him, as leaves of the forest fly before a gale of wind, so disconcerted them that for a year or so only a few predatory bands came down upon the branches of the Susquehanna. They were temporarily dispersed, and never fully recovered from the blow given them by Sullivan. McCabe's account in Blairsville Record. It is here taken from Linn's "Annals of the Buffalo valley." This mill was on Muddy Run, six hundred yards from its mouth, the site of what is now Kemmerer's mill, two miles above Milton. Linn Boone came originally from Exeter, Berks County, and was a cousin of the celebrated Daniel Boone, of Kentucky. His grandfather, George Boone, had a large family of sons: William, Joseph, James, Benjamin, John, Hezekiah, Squire and Josiah. Hawkins was a son of Squire, who moved to North Carolina in 1752. Hawkins was a surveyor and lived on the place, just above New Columbia, now owned by Samuel Gemberling. He owned, also, the Jacob Rees place, northwest of the latter place, the Earnest Book tract, etc. He was commissioned a captain in the Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment, and selected to accompany a detachment of riflemen from the regiment, sent under Morgan to Saratoga. In a return of Morgan's command dated at Lowden's Ferry, on the Mohawk, September 6, 1777, he is marked "absent; wounded." In February, 1779, the State Council allowed him clothes out of the State stores, "in consideration of his situation and intrepidity of his conduct in the campaign under Colonel Hartley, when his situation might have justified him in remaining at home." He left a widow, Jane, and two daughters. Some years after his death his widow married a Mr. Fortenbaugh and moved to Halifax, Dauphin County, where she resided many years. Meginness' "West Branch Valley," p. 297, et seq.