Report of the Commission to Locate the Site of the Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION TO LOCATE THE SITE OF THE FRONTIER FORTS OF PENNSYLVANIA.

VOLUME ONE.

CLARENCE M. BUSCH.

STATE PRINTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

1896.

The Frontier Forts in the Cumberland and JuniataValleys.

By Jay Gilfillan Weiser.

See also:
Darlington's 1755 Map
from
"FORT PITT AND LETTERS FROM THE FRONTIER"
edited by Mary C. Darlington, 1892.

CENTRECOUNTY.

POTTER'S FORT.
Page 505-507.

Potter's Fort

This fort was built by Colonel James Potter, in the year 1777, and was situated on an elevation a little north of the present "Old Fort Hotel," and is near Centre Hall, a station on the Lewisburg and Tyrone railroad, about nine miles southeast of Bellefonte. There is a spring near the site of the fort, where General Potter built a cabin when prospecting for lands in 1773.

The fort, according to Mr. John B. Linn, was built in 1777; the stockade including the spring. It was subsequently occupied as a tavern by Stephen Smith. In 1825, when the turnpike was made, J. and L Potter built a stone tavern on the turnpike a short distance from the old one, which stands at this present time, and which has always gone by the name of "The Old Fort Hotel." At a period later, the old hotel was known as McCoy's Tavern. In the erection of the frame house which stands really on its site, or close to it, there were dug up a number of relics. It is in Potter township, Centre county, and was occupied in July, 1778, by Captain Finley's company of Col. Brodhead's command, for a few weeks, and two of his soldiers were killed there by the Indians. The only evidence we have of the fort being connected with the general service, is the fact that Col. Brodhead ordered Captain Finley with twenty-five privates to go into Penn's Valley to protect the reapers.

We find the following concerning this locality and the fort in question in Day's Historical Collections: "Sometime after the treaty of 1768, James Potter, afterwards a brigadier general under Washington, came up the West Branch and Bald Eagle Creek to seek for choice lands. He crossed the Nittany mountain at Logan's Gap, and for the first time set his eyes upon the lovely PennsValley, afterwards his happy home. No traveler who has crossed that mountain on the road from Bellefonte to Lewistown can forget the impression made by a glance from the mountain into that luxuriant valley, spread out before him like a map, checkered with its copses of woodland and fertile farms, with their cheerful white cottages. After reconnoitering the valley, he descended Penn's creek in a canoe—but soon returned again, took up a large body of land, made a settlement there, and erected a stockade fort. Traces of the fort are still seen near McCoy's Tavern, which stands at the intersection of the Bellefonte and Lewistown turnpike with the Penn's Valley and Northumberland road. The corners still bear the name of Potter's Fort, and many rich farms about it belong to the Potter family; although their principal residence is at Potter's bank, four miles further south. There is a tradition that near Potter's Fort there occurred a desperate fight between two white men and two Indians, in which they grappled and cut each other to pieces, the whole four having been killed."

General Potter, in company with others, was driven from his settlement by the hostile incursions of Indians at the opening of the Revolution. He entered the service of his country and was with Gen. Washington during the campaigns at Valley Forge, Brandywine, Germantown and in New Jersey. Many of Washington's orders and letters are preserved among General Potter's papers. At the close of the war another treaty was made with the Indians for the purchase of all the territory in the State northwest of the West Branch; and General Potter was employed as agent and surveyor of a company of land speculators, to visit and superintend the settlement of their lands on the Sinnemahoning and West Branch above the Allegheny mountains. The Honorable Frederick Kurtz, of Centre Hall, furnished the writer with the following information: "Old Fort," sometimes called "Potter's Fort," was erected in 1777, by Capt. Potter. The site of the "Old Fort" was a short distance from the southern line of the borough of Centre Hall, less than one-eighth mile on the turnpike leading from Bellefonte to Lewistown. It was built on an eminence that commanded a view of the surrounding country and from which the approach of Indians could be seen. Here the early settlers found shelter from the eastern and western parts of the valley, when Indians made incursions into the valley. Settlers from the lower end, now Haines township, came to the fort in times of danger, a distance of eighteen miles. Indian raids were frequent and a number of whites were killed at various times, at that early day. The fort was built of logs, and some of the corner stones of the foundation are yet to be seen. Within the fort was a house used as a dwelling; this was erected first, and thereafter, when safety required a place of refuge, the log enclosure was built around the house, so as to answer the purposes of a fort. The farm upon which this fort is located is now owned by Captain John P. Taylor, of Mifflin county.

The writer called upon the late Ex-Governor Andrew G. Curtin, who, on account of his abundant faith in the history of John B. Linn, concerning that particular locality, was unable to add anything except to make the following suggestions:

"Anything which I could give you would only be the traditions common in the country and assuredly, if I had any definite information, I would be very happy to furnish it, as I sincerely approve of the raising of the commission and the propriety of retaining the history of Pennsylvania in all its relations to the early settlement and the struggles of the pioneers in this and adjoining parts of the State."

The writer, after a personal inspection of this fort, saw nothing excepting what might be the outlines of the foundations. The spring, which was supposed to be on the inside, is still there and the ground showed every evidence of there having been a building erected on it, some of the stones being yet visible.

______

CUMBERLANDCOUNTY.

FORTLOWTHER.
Pages 508-512.

Site of FortLowther, and Plan of FortLowther.

A fort was erected in Carlisle, Cumberland county, and we have record of a garrison there as early as May, 27, 1753. In 1753 a stockade was erected within the present borough limits of that place, now extending beyond its original site, so that we find its location to be in this town, today. The location of this fort is described as follows: On High street between Hanover and Pitt streets, opposite Lot No. one hundred, and the house of the late General Lamberton occupied a part of the ground, being in what is now the most populous part of the town. There are no remains of the fort to mark its precise locality. The creek bearing the Indian name of Conedoguinet flows to the northward from where this fort was established. The Historical Map of Pennsylvania, however, places its site on the western bank of a small stream, tributary to this Indian creek, the name of the tributary stream being most likely Letort creek. The cause leading to the erection of this fort was mainly owing to various bands of Indians who occupied the territory between the Susquehanna and Potomac rivers. These bands consisted principally of the Delawares, Shawanese and the Tuscarora tribes. They had been for a considerable period prior to this time, regarded peaceable toward their white neighbors.

In the same year that this fort was erected, John O'Neill, an agent of Governor Hamilton, had a talk with these various bands of Indians, in PathValley; but it was never known what took place on that occasion or in that interview, as history is silent upon that subject. When these bands of Indians began to be troublesome, the settlers formed under the command of Captain Jack, who was considered one of the most remarkable characters in the Province of Pennsylvania and was regarded as a bold, daring, intrepid soldier, and as ardent in his affections and zealous in his occupations as a hunter as he was courageous in his military pursuits, and he it was who by the combined efforts of all the settlers in the neighborhood, resisted their invasions. So rapid were the movements of these bands of marauding redskins that at one time these companies would be at FortAugusta, then at FortFranklin, then at the Juniata, or FortLoudoun or down among the Conococheague settlements. And many were the outrages committed by these people, between the Conococheague settlements and the Juniata river.

War raged with the Indians for upwards of a period of twelve years and this it was that led to the erection of this and other forts in the CumberlandValley and the Conococheague settlements. This fort was constructed in the following manner: Around the area to be embraced within the fort a ditch was dug to the depth of about four feet. In this, oak logs or logs of some kind of timber not easily set on fire or cut through, and about seventeen or eighteen feet long, pointed at the top, were placed in an upright position. Two sides of the logs were hewn flat and the sides were brought close together and fastened securely near the top by horizontal pieces of timber, spiked or pinned upon their inner sides, so as to make the whole stockade firm and staunch. The ditch having been filled up again, platforms were constructed all around the inner side of the inclosure some four or five feet from the ground and upon these the defenders of the fort stood and fired through loop-holes left near the top of the stockade upon those who were investing or attacking the fort.

It was at this fort that Governor Morris was stationed June 5th, 1755, for the purpose of being nearer to Braddock's army, in order to give counsel and aid and for such other matters as could be expected of him under these circumstances, and while at this place he received the last letter ever written by Braddock, the lamented English soldier recounting in his correspondence with Governor Morris the troubles out in the neighborhood of Fort Duquesne. And Governor Morris, from this fort, also despatched several letters and messages to the British General so soon to be cruelly butchered by the savages.

Some time in the fall of this year, 1755, the citizens of Carlisle were very greatly alarmed in consequence of numerous massacres by the Indians. John Armstrong, therefore, writes Governor Morris, November 2d, "I am of opinion that no other means than a chain of blockhouses along or near the south side of the Kittatinny mountains from the Susquehanna to the temporary line can secure the lives and properties of the old inhabitants of this county, the new settlements being all fled except those of Shearman's Valley, who, if God do not preserve them, we fear will suffer very soon."

In a letter dated, Carlisle, February 15, 1756, William Trent writes to Richard Peters:

"Wednesday evening two lads were taken or killed at the Widow Cox's, just under Parnell's Knob, and a lad who went from McDowell's Mill to see what fire it was, never returned, the horse coming back with the reins over his neck; they burnt the house and shot down the cattle. Just now came news that a party of Indian warriors were come out against the inhabitants from some of the Susquehanna towns, and yesterday some people who were over in Shearman's Valley discovered fresh tracks. All the people had left their houses, betwixt this and the mountain, some come to town and others gathering into the little forts. They are moving their effects from Shippensburg; every one thinks of flying unless the Government fall upon some effectual method, and that immediately, of securing the frontiers, there will not be one inhabitant in this Valley one month longer.

"There is a few of us endeavoring to keep up the spirits of the people. We have proposed going upon the enemy tomorrow, but whether a number sufficient can be got, I cannot tell; no one scarce seems to be effected with the distress of their neighbors and for that reason none will stir but those that are next the enemy and in immediate danger. A fort in this town would have saved this part of the county, but I doubt this town in a few days, will be deserted, if this party that is out should kill any people nigh here. I was of opinion the forts, as they were built would be of no service; I was laughed at for it, but now the inhabitants here are convinced of it. I wrote for the militia and expect an answer, etc."
We also here insert the correspondence between Commissary Young and Governor Morris, relative to this fort:

"I have endeavored to put this large fort in the best possible defense I can; but am sorry to say the people of this town cannot be prevailed on, to do anything for their own safety. I proposed to them to associate and to place a picket guard at a small distance from the fort, to prevent being surprised, but to no purpose, they say they will guard when there is danger, though the enemy is now committing murder but ten miles from them. They seem to be lulled into fatal security, a strange infatuation, which seems to prevail throughout this province."

Colonel Armstrong writes to Governor Morris July 23d, 1756, as follows:

"Lyttleton, Shippensburg and Carlisle (the two last not finished) are the only forts now built that will in my opinion be serviceable to the public. The duties of the harvest have not permitted me to finish Carlisle Fort with the soldiers, it should be done otherwise, the soldiers cannot be so well governed, and may be absent or without the gates at the time of the greatest necessity."

On June 28, 1757, Col. Stanwix writes from Carlisle: "I march a Captain's picket two or three times a week as scouting parties. I am throwing up some works round our camp and if it may have no other use, it keeps our soldiers properly employed." A few days before, he wrote Governor Denny: "By this express, I am to let you know that I only wish for wagons to March to Shippensburg, but when I shall be able to set out, it is impossible for me to say, as in two days notice I have yet been able to get but few wagons, and those my quartermaster stocked himself, however the magistrates give me to hope I shall be supplied in a day or two. The reason of my moving is the hearing of intelligence from Captain Dagworthy, who commands at FortCumberland."

Colonel Armstrong writes, under date, Carlisle, June 30th, 1757: "Colonel Stanwix has begun and continues his entrenchment on the northeast part of this town and just adjoining it."

By a reference to Volume twelve o the Pennsylvania Archives, first series, we have the following relative to this fort:

On the 30th of June, John Armstrong writes to _____(name not given): "Tomorrow we begin to haul stone for the building of a meeting house on the north side of the square. There was no other convenient place, I have avoided the place you once pitched upon for a church. The stones are raised out of Colonel Stanwix's entrenchment. We will want help, to this political, as well as religious work."

Colonel Stanwix, on July 25th, writes to Secretary Peters:
"Am at work at my entrenchment, but as I send out such large and frequent parties, with other necessary duties can only spare about seventy working men a day, and these have been very often interrupted by frequent and violent dust, so that we make but a small figure yet, and the first month was entirely taken up in clearing the ground, which was full of monstrous stumps, etc. Have built myself a hut in camp, where the Captains and I live together."—Had Colonel Stanwix two entrenchments and was the first one abandoned by him, being that alluded to by Colonel Armstrong above?"

On September 5th, 1757, Lord Loudoun sends from New York the Second battalion of the Royal Regiment to re-inforce Colonel Stanwix. October 22d, 1758, General Forbes recommends one hundred men to be at Shippensburg and Carlisle, and it appears at some time, during this year, there were two companies or fourteen men stationed at the latter place. January 5th, 1764, General Gage ordered the King's troops from Carlisle to Lancaster, if required by Governor Penn, "To support the civil authority in the execution of the law."

This fort, no doubt, was called after an English nobleman, a relative of the Penns. It presents less of the exciting tales incident to savage warfare and incursions than many of the forts hitherto treated of, but this is accounted for by the fact that this section early became a centre of peace and counsel rather than one of hostile contention; being remote from the seat of Indian warfare, to the north, the west and southwest.