the bank of the Monongahela River, at the end of Chancery Lane. This
primitive office soon attracted the attention of the more progressive
citizens, among whom was Hugh H. Brackenridge, a lawyer, and an
acknowledged leader of the Federal party in that section of
Pennsylvania. Through his earnest solicitation and promise of patronage,
Scull and Hall determined to establish a weekly newspaper. Brackenridge
had agreed to edit the publication; and the first issue of the
Pittsburgh Gazette appeared July 29.
The original subscription price was seventeen shillings and six pence
per year. Advertising was paid for at the rate of four shillings a
square. In lieu of cash, the publishers made known the fact that they
would accept furs and skins and various kinds of country produce.
There was no postoffice in Pittsburgh at this time, nor for twenty years
after the Gazette was established. The paper found its way east by means
of the weekly mail service between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. When
Pittsburgh was considered a place of sufficient importance to have a
postoffice, John Scull, one of the publishers of the Gazette, was
appointed Postmaster.
It is rather fortunate that the duties of the government position were
not too exacting, for Postmaster Scull was the practical printer and
performed the principal part of the actual publication. He even acted as
carrier and tramped about town each week with the paper.
The story is told of Scull that when the pack trains from Philadelphia
failed to arrive on time, or no white paper came when expected, that he
used his close friendship for the commandant at Fort Pitt to his
advantage by borrowing sufficient quantity of cartridge paper on which
to print that week’s issue of the Gazette.
On November 10, 1786, the Gazette, in three lines announced the death of
Joseph Hall, aged 22 years. Hall’s interest was acquired by John Boyd,
but Scull as before, continued to be the real spirit behind the
enterprise.
In June, 1789, a paper mill was built on Redstone Creek, in what is now
Fayette County, by Jackson and Sharpless. This mill supplied the Gazette
with cheaper paper, which enabled the owners to increase its size and
reduce the subscription price to $2 a year.
Lawyer Brackenridge, in 1799, left the Federal party and threw all his
influence with the Antifederalists, but Scull refused to go along with
his editor, and Morgan Neville became the editorial writer.
Brackenridge and some of his adherents set up an opposition paper called
the “Tree of Life.” Soon both papers were busy with libel suits,
assaults and challenges to fight duels.
When the conflict of 1812 was precipitated the Gazette, like the other
Federal organs, was adverse to war and urged a pacific settlement of
difficulties with England. But when the war broke the Gazette supported
the Federal Government with all its power. Its extra editions,
containing the news brought in two days from Washington, were then
looked upon as “prodigious feats of journalism.”
After full thirty years as the guiding spirit of the Gazette, August 1,
1816, John Scull transferred his interest in the paper to his son, John
I. Scull. The editor, Morgan Neville, also became a partner.
Even with two other papers in Pittsburgh, the “Commonwealth” and the
“Mercury,” the Gazette retained its leadership and now appeared
semi-weekly.
In March, 1820, Eichbaum and Johnson purchased the Gazette and changed
its name to “The Gazette and Manufacturer and Mercantile Advertiser.”
Two years later David M. MacLean purchased the property and
re-established the original title. In September, 1829, Neville B. Craig,
became the owner and four years later the Gazette appeared as a daily.
It strongly supported the Anti-Masonic party. In September, 1856,
Russell Errett, and D. L. Eaton became joint owners of the Gazette and
under their editorial management the paper made unusual progress.
Errett was one of the organizers of the Republican party and the Gazette
became one of the first organs of that party in the country.
There were several other changes in ownership until June 1, 1900, when
the late United States Senator George T. Oliver purchased the plant. May
1, 1906, the Pittsburgh Times was absorbed and the title changed to The
Pittsburgh Gazette-Times.
On February 7, 1915, the Gazette-Times moved into the eight-story
publication building on Gazette Square, where the paper is now
published.
Since December 4, 1917, George S. Oliver has served as president and
Charles W. Danziger, secretary and managing editor.
Even as Pittsburgh has grown from a village of log houses when the
Gazette was established there, to one of the world’s most important
cities, so the Gazette has evolved into one of the greatest newspapers
published in America.
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Chambersburg Sacked and Burned by McCausland’s
Rebel Force July 30, 1864
Three times during the Civil War the rebel horde rode into Pennsylvania,
but two occasions stand out as conspicuous. First when Lee, with nearly
90,000 troops, in personal command, marched to his Waterloo at
Gettysburg, the other was when three thousand Confederates were sent by
General Early into Pennsylvania to burn Chambersburg in retaliation for
General Hunter’s disgraceful and disastrous raid into Virginia.
General Darius N. Couch was in command of the Union forces at
Chambersburg. Although a department he had but one hundred and fourteen
men under his command and they were scattered over the country as
scouts.
The startling news came to General Couch’s headquarters on the evening
of July 29, 1864, that a Confederate force had entered Mercersburg and
was marching toward Chambersburg. This was untimely news for less than
twenty-four hours earlier a sufficient number of troops had passed
through Chambersburg on their way to join General Hunter, to have
repelled this rebel invasion.
The rebels reached the outskirts of Chambersburg before daylight, and
employed their time in planting two batteries in commanding positions,
and getting up the whole column, fully three thousand strong.
At 6 o’clock Saturday morning they opened with their batteries and fired
six shots into the town. Immediately thereafter their skirmishers
entered by almost every street and alley, and finding the way clear,
their cavalry, to the number of 831, came in under the immediate command
of General McCausland. General Bradley Johnson and the notorious Major
Harry Gilmore were also with him.
McCausland and Gilmore demanded of the citizens, who were on the street,
that they collect some of the prominent inhabitants with a view of
entering into negotiations; the court house bell was rung, but only a
few responded. To the few citizens who did come together, Captain
Fitzhugh, of McCausland’s staff, produced and read a written order,
signed by General Jubal Early, directing the command to proceed to
Chambersburg, to demand a tribute of $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in
greenbacks, and on failure to secure the sum, to proceed to burn the
town in retaliation of the burning of six or eight houses specified as
having been burned in certain counties in Virginia, by General Hunter.
He was promptly answered that Chambersburg could not and would not pay
the ransom.
Infuriated at the determination of the people to do nothing, Major
Gilmore rode up to a group of citizens, consisting of Thomas B. Kennedy,
William McLellan, J. McDowell Sharpe, Dr. J. C. Richards, William H.
McDowell, W. S. Everett, Edward G. Etter and M. A. Faltz, and ordered
them under arrest. He said that they would be held for the payment of
the money, and if not paid he would take them to Richmond as hostages
and also burn every house in the town.
While the officer was endeavoring to force them into an effort to raise
the money, his men commenced the work of firing, and they were liberated
when it was found that intimidation would effect nothing.
The main part of the town was enveloped in flames in ten minutes. No
time was given to remove women or children, the aged and infirm, or
sick, or even the dead. They divided into squads, beat down the doors,
smashed furniture, rifled drawers, appropriated money, jewelry, watches
and valuables, then threw kerosene upon the combustible articles and
plied the match. They invariably demanded ransom, before burning, but
even when it was paid the property was burned. The people escaped with
only the clothes on their backs, and some even then with difficulty.
The work of demolition continued two hours, more than half the town on
fire at once. Three million dollars worth of property was destroyed,
three thousand rendered homeless and many penniless, and not one of the
innocent victims had violated any accepted rule of civilized warfare.
There were many incidents of the burning but only a few can be related.
The house of James Watson, an old and feeble man past eighty, was
entered, and because his wife remonstrated, they fired the room, hurled
her into it and locked the door on the outside. Her daughters rescued
her by bursting in the door before her clothing took fire. The widow of
a Union soldier, pleading on her knees, was robbed of her last ten
dollars and her little home fired. An aged invalid, unable to be out of
his bed, pleaded to be spared a horrible death in the flames, but they
laughed at him as they fired his home. Father McCullom, the Catholic
priest, was robbed of his watch.
Colonel Stumbaugh was arrested near his home early in the morning, and
with a pistol presented to his head ordered to procure some whiskey. He
refused, for he had none, and was released. But afterwards was
rearrested by another squad, the officer of which referred to him by
name, when he was insulted in every possible way. He informed the
officer that he had been in the service, and that if General Battles was
present, they would not dare to insult him. When asked why, he answered:
“I captured him at Shiloh, and treated him like a soldier.” A rebel
major present, who had been under Battles, upon inquiry, was satisfied
that Colonel Stumbaugh’s statement was correct, ordered his release and
withdrew the entire rebel force from that part of Second Street, and no
buildings were burned.
Soon after the work of destruction had commenced, a squad was detailed
to burn “Norland,” the beautiful residence of Colonel Alexander K.
McClure afterwards for many years the editor of the Philadelphia
“Times.” “Norland” was a mile from the center of the town, and no other
building was fired within a half mile of it, although fifty houses
intervened. They would not allow Mrs. McClure or any servant to save
anything belonging to the Colonel.
Several of the rebel thieves perpetrated their last pillage. Major
Bowen, of the 8th Virginia Cavalry, got too far ahead of the firing in
his greed for plunder and he was captured by several citizens and,
slightly wounded, he took refuge in a burning cellar, where the intense
heat blistered him. He begged to be spared, but he burned to death.
Another demon, caught in an atrocious act of vandalism, was shot dead. A
Captain Cochran, quartermaster of 11th Virginia Cavalry, was caught by
Thomas H. Doyle, of Loudon, and at the point of his pistol was given
just fifteen minutes to live. Cochran begged piteously for his life, but
Doyle, on the very second, shot the thief dead, and found on his person
$815 in greenbacks, all stolen from citizens, and $1750 of rebel
currency.
Scores of McCausland’s command were killed on the retreat by General
Averill’s forces. Many of them were intoxicated and so demoralized by
their plunder they became an easy prey to the Federal troops who passed
through Chambersburg in pursuit of the barbarians.
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Carlisle Indian School Established by
Congress, July 31, 1882
The first non-reservation school established by the Government was at
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and was only recently discontinued.
This school had its inception in the untiring efforts of General R. H.
Pratt, U. S. A., when a lieutenant in charge of Indian prisoners of war
at old Fort San Marco, St. Augustine, Florida, from May 11, 1875, to
April 14, 1878.
When the release of these prisoners was ordered twenty-two of the young
men were led to ask for further education, agreeing to remain in the
east three years longer if they could attend school. These were sent to
Hampton, Virginia, and several other places where they could attend a
government school.
On September 6, 1879, an order was issued transferring the Carlisle
Barracks, Pennsylvania, comprising 27 acres, from the War Department to
the Department of the Interior for Indian school purposes, pending
action by Congress on a bill to establish such an institution. This bill
became a law July 31, 1882.
Lieutenant Pratt was, on September 6, 1879, ordered to report to the
Secretary of the Interior, and by him was directed to proceed to
Carlisle and there establish an Indian school. He was ordered to then
proceed to Dakota and Indian territory for the purpose of obtaining
pupils for the new school. So successful was the young officer that by
the end of October, he had gathered together one hundred and thirty-six
Indians from the Rosebud, Pine Ridge, and other agencies, and with
eleven of the former Florida prisoners, then at school at Hampton, the
new institution was opened at Carlisle Barracks, November 1, 1879, with
an enrollment of one hundred and fifty-seven original Americans.
The school steadily progressed until more than a thousand pupils were
enrolled and during its existence nearly every tribe in the United
States had representatives on its rolls and at one period one hundred
Alaskan Indians were in attendance.
The aim of the school was to teach English and give a primary education;
and a knowledge of some common and practical industry, and means of
self-support among civilized people.
To this end regular shops and farms were provided, the principal
mechanical arts and farming were taught the boys, and the girls,
cooking, sewing, laundry and housework. The instruction was made
interesting so that the young Indians would not desire to return to
reservation life, but would prefer to make for themselves a place among
the people of the East.
During the summer vacation months, the young Indians would be placed in
the homes of prosperous citizens, where they could do certain work and
at the same time learn by direct example and association the ways of
higher civilization. This was known as the “outing system,” and was a
distinct feature not only of the Carlisle school, but of the Indian
school service generally.
The literary curriculum of Carlisle stopped at that point where the
student might enter the higher grades of the public schools. The pupil
was left to his own resources for any further development of his
intellectual faculties.
Many of the graduates of the Carlisle school are today filling
responsible positions in the business world, and especially in the
Indian service, in which they are employed as teachers, clerks and all
the way to laborers.
Many of the Indians are musical and the school band was one of the
features. The late Joel B. Ettinger, of Seattle, Wash., but formerly of
Chester, Pa., where he conducted the famous old Sixth Regiment Band,
organized the first band from among the various tribes represented in
the school and soon developed a band which won the acclaim of the people
wherever it played. Dennison and James Wheelock, Oneida Indians, became
great leaders and succeeded Ettinger as instructors. The former was a
successful composer of band music.
The Carlisle school produced the first paper printed by Indian boys. The
printery was early established and became a potent factor in the
industrial development of the students. The Indian Helper, a small
leaflet, was first produced, and afterwards a larger magazine, The Red
Man, was published, these being merged into Red Man and Helper, and
creditably reflected the life and policies of the school.
Many prominent writers and educators frequently contributed to this
magazine, thus helping the deserving wards of our government to make
their effort a representative publication. Among those who sent valuable
contributions to this paper was Reverend George P. Donehoo, then
secretary of the Pennsylvania State Historical Society, late State
Librarian, and one of the most eminent authorities on Indian history in
the United States. The doctor is the proud possessor of a complete file
of this valuable and interesting publication, which has become a very
rare possession.
The physical training, both indoors and out, was a most important part
of the life of the school. Indians take naturally to many of our popular
sports, and many athletes of national and even international reputation
have been developed at the school. Most conspicuous of these is Jim
Thorpe, the world’s champion all-around athlete, winner of the
pentathlon event in the Olympic games; Chief Charles A. Bender, the
celebrated pitcher, a close second to Thorpe, while mention may also be
made of Hudson, the Pierce brothers, Johnson, Metoxen and many others
who have excelled above the average.
General Pratt remained in charge of the school from its organization
until his retirement from the superintendency, June 30, 1904, when he
was succeeded by Major (then Captain) William A. Mercer, U. S. A.
----------
French and Indians Attack and Burn Fort
Granville, August 1,1756
Fort Granville was about one mile west of the present town of Lewistown,
immediately on the north bank of the Juniata River and westward of the
mouth of the Kishcoquillas Creek about one mile. There was a spring in
the enclosure of the fort which was destroyed when the canal was dug at
that place. No other evidences of this fort are seen today.
This was one of a chain of forts erected on the west side of the
Susquehanna. Fort Shirley, at Aughwick, was fifteen miles southwest, and
Fort Patterson, at Mexico, was fifteen miles northeast.
The site commanded a narrow pass where the Juniata falls through the
mountains; where a few men could hold it against a stronger enemy, as
the rocks were high on each bank and extended six miles, so that the
enemy could be easily detected advancing from either direction.
When the stockade was completed it was garrisoned by a company of
enlisted men, under regularly commissioned officers. George Croghan, the
Indian trader, was directed to build the fort as is shown by a letter
written by Captain Elisha Salter, dated Carlisle, April 4, 1756.
The attack was made upon Fort Granville during the harvest of 1756. The
garrison at that time was commanded by Lieutenant Edward Armstrong,
brother of General John Armstrong, who destroyed Kittanning. The Indians
had been lurking about the stockade some time and knowing that the
garrison was not strong, sixty of them appeared before the fort, July
22, and challenged the garrison to fight, which was declined by the
commander on account of the weakness of his force. The Indians fired at
one of the soldiers who was outside the stockade, but he succeeded in
getting safely inside.
The Indians divided their force into smaller parties, one attacked the
Baskins plantation, near the Juniata, where they murdered Baskins,
burned his house, and carried off his wife and children; another party
made Hugh Cornell and his family prisoners.
On the morning of July 30, Captain Edward Ward marched from Fort
Granville, with a detachment destined for Tuscarora Valley, where they
were needed to protect the settlers while harvesting their grain. The
few remaining in defense of the post were commanded by Lieutenant
Armstrong.
Soon after the departure of Captain Ward’s detail, the fort was suddenly
surrounded by a hostile force of fifty French and a hundred Indians, who
immediately began a fierce attack, which they continued in their
skulking Indian manner through the afternoon and night, but without
inflicting much damage. About midnight the enemy got below the bank of
the river, and by a deep ravine reached to within twelve or fifteen
yards of the fort, and from that secure position were able to set fire
to the logs of the fort, burning out a large hole, through which the
Indians fired on the defenders as they fought the flames. Lieutenant
Armstrong and one private soldier were killed and three wounded.
The French commander ordered a suspension of hostilities, and demanded
the surrender of the fort and garrison, promising to spare their lives
if the demands was accepted. Upon promise of quarter, a man named John
Turner, previously a resident of Buffalo Valley, opened the gates and
the besiegers at once entered and took possession. There was no
commissioned officer to assume command and Turner acted on his own
initiative, as was afterwards explained by a prisoner who survived.
The French and Indians captured twenty-two men, three women and a number
of children. The fort was then burned by Chief Jacobs, on the order of
the French officer in command. The prisoners were lined up and driven by
the Indians, each soldier carrying a heavy portion of the plunder
secured in the fort, and in the several raids made on the settlers’
homes.
The march to Kittanning was most terrible, the prisoners were horribly
whipped and punished when fatigue caused any to lag behind. When the
party arrived at Kittanning, all the prisoners were cruelly treated, and
Turner, the man who opened the gates of the fort to the savages,
suffered the torture of being burned to death at the stake. He endured
the most horrible torment for more than three hours, during which time
red hot gun barrels were forced through parts of his body, his scalp was
torn from his head and burning splinters of pine were stuck in his flesh
until at last an Indian boy, who was held up for the purpose, sunk a
tomahawk into his brain and released him from his misery.
General Armstrong in a letter sent to Governor Morris, dated at
Carlisle, August 20, 1756, said: “Captains Armstrong and Ward, whom I
ordered on the march to Fort Shirley to examine everything at Fort
Granville and send me a list of what remained among the ruins, assure me
that they found some parts of eight of the enemy burnt in two different
places, and part of their shirts through which there were bullet holes.
To secrete these from the prisoners was doubtless the reason why the
French officer marched our people some distance from the fort before he
gave orders to burn the barracks, &c.
“Walker says that some of the Germans flagged very much on the second
day, and that the lieutenant (Armstrong) behaved with the greatest
bravery to the last, despising all the terrors and threats of the enemy
whereby they often urged him to surrender. Though he had been near two
days without water, but little ammunition, the fort on fire, and the
enemy situated within twelve or fourteen yards of the fort under the
natural bank, he was as far from yielding as when first attacked.
“A Frenchman, in our service, fearful of being burned up, asked leave of
the lieutenant to treat with his countrymen in the French language. The
Lieutenant answered, 'The first word of French you speak in this
engagement, I'll blow your brains out,' telling his men to hold out
bravely, for the flame was falling and would soon have it extinguished,
but he soon after received the fatal ball.”
The destruction of Fort Granville spread terror among the settlers west
of the Susquehanna and they abandoned their settlements and fled in
great haste to Fort Augusta and Carlisle. This attack on Fort Granville
resulted in the successful expedition of Col. John Armstrong against the
Indians at Kittanning, where the English not only gained a signal
victory, but the savages were taught a lesson which they ever
remembered.
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Colonel Lochry Musters Westmoreland
County Troops August 2, 1781