Britain had been very active in organizing Indian uprisings along the
frontiers as a part of the general campaign for the subjugation of the
rebellious colonists.
Continental Congress decided to take charge of the defense of the
colonists, especially those in the western part of the State, where the
Indians had been more active and where the settlers had been afforded
less protection from the State and Colonial governments.
The first move by Congress was a decision to take Fort Pitt under its
care and provide an adequate garrison at the Continental expense. The
offer was accepted by Virginia, which colony then claimed the western
part of Pennsylvania as its territory, and Captain John Neville was
directed to transfer the fort to the United States officer appointed to
its command.
General Washington selected Brigadier General Edward Hand, of Lancaster,
for this important service. The brave and efficient work of this
distinguished officer led the commander-in-chief to believe that he
would be an able defender of the border, but fighting British and
Hessians along the seaboard and Indians in the woods are two quite
different propositions, as General Hand soon discovered.
General Hand was no stranger at Fort Pitt, but during his former service
there he had no experience in fighting Indians.
He was a native of Ireland and educated to be a physician. At the age of
twenty-three years he was commissioned as assistant surgeon in the
Eighteenth Regiment of Foot, known as the Royal Irish, and in the spring
of 1767 he accompanied the command to America.
He was stationed for a time in the Illinois country and afterward at
Fort Pitt. In 1774 he resigned his commission and took up the practice
of medicine in Lancaster, Pa.
Soon after the news of Lexington and Concord he interested himself in
raising troops for the cause of the colonists and was commissioned
lieutenant-colonel of Thompson’s celebrated regiment of Pennsylvania
riflemen, afterward the First Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line.
In March, 1776, Hand succeeded as colonel and under his command the
regiment did gallant work in the battles of Long Island, Trenton and
Princeton.
On April 1, 1777, Hand was rewarded for his really exceptional services
by promotion to the rank of brigadier general and soon thereafter
General Washington further evinced his appreciation and confidence by
assigning General Hand, then only thirty-three years old, to the defense
of the western frontier.
General Hand arrived at Fort Pitt Sunday, June 1, 1777, and took over
the property from Captain Neville. He led no forces across the
mountains, being accompanied by only a few officers.
The garrison consisted of but two companies of the Thirteenth Virginia,
recruited in and about Pittsburgh, and they were shy of discipline. The
larger part of these soldiers had been with Washington in New Jersey.
General Hand, in the East, had engaged in warfare where it was never
difficult to locate the enemy, in large bodies, ready to stand up and
fight. In that warfare the colonists did most of the dodging and were
the hardest to find.
On the frontier the conditions were reversed, the enemy could not be
found yet was ever present. The savages, in small bands, entered the
settlements and struck quick but terrible blows, then fled by night into
the dense forests.
The only evidence of the presence of these savages were the dead bodies
of the victims and ashes of their former cabins, but they left no trail
that a white man could discover. The problem was perplexing to General
Hand.
Many murders had been committed before General Hand’s arrival, but they
became more numerous.
The British commandant, Colonel Henry Hamilton, at Detroit, began about
June 1 to equip and send out war parties to attack the settlements of
Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania, which parties consisted mostly of
Indians of the Wyandotte and Miami tribes of Northern Ohio and Shawnee
of Southern Ohio and a few British officers.
At the same time parties of Seneca invaded the Pennsylvania settlements
from Western New York.
Beside the bodies of many victims of the raids were found copies of the
proclamation by Hamilton, offering protection and reward to all settlers
who would make their way to any of the British posts and join the cause
of the King.
General Hand soon determined that the one way to fight Indians was to
invade their own country and destroy their towns and provisions. The
Ohio tribes had permanent villages and grew great crops of corn, beans
and pumpkins, which they stored in earth silos. If the Indians lost
their crops they would be driven to hunt in the winter and could have no
time for the warpath.
General Hand decided to descend the Ohio with a large force of
militiamen to the mouth of the Big Kanawha and to march thence overland
against the Shawnee towns.
Hand appealed to all the militia commanders of Westmoreland and Bedford
Counties in Pennsylvania, and of all the frontier counties of Virginia,
to muster men for the expedition.
He also appealed to the governments of both States and they directed
their officers to respond to the calls. The project was even indorsed by
Congress; yet in spite of all these efforts the expedition was a
failure.
General Hand expected 500 men from the two Pennsylvania counties and
1500 men from Virginia. His expectations were unreasonable in that he
did not take into consideration the drained and distressed condition of
the border. Already the hardiest and most useful men had gone to fight
the British. Most of those who remained on the plantations believed they
were needed at home to protect their families from the raids of the
savages.
No men responded from Bedford County and only 100 from Westmoreland,
under command of Colonel Lochry, reached Fort Pitt.
On October 19, 1777, General Hand left Fort Pitt and went down the river
to Wheeling, where he expected to meet the recruits from Virginia. After
a week of waiting only a few poorly equipped squads reported to him.
Hand gave up in disgust and returned to Fort Pitt.
The following spring he requested to be recalled from the frontier
service, and General Washington called him to his army May 26, 1778.
----------
Great Meeting in the Interest of Inland
Waterways Held at Harrisburg,
October 20, 1789
During the latter part of the year 1789, the President and members of
the Supreme Executive Council appointed a commission to view the
Delaware, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Rivers, in pursuance of an act of
Assembly passed September 28, 1789, with the object of ascertaining data
whether or not these waters could be rendered navigable.
This commission, composed of Timothy Matlack, Reading Howell, William
Dean, John Adlum and Benjamin Rittenhouse, attended to the important
duty assigned them and in their report strongly recommended that a
commission of experienced surveyors be named for “the purpose of
ascertaining the most convenient and practicable place for connecting
the waters of the three rivers, with those of the Allegheny, Lake
Ontario and Lake Erie. And in cases where portage by land will be
necessary, to examine the face of the country and report the most
suitable places for landings and roads.”
A great meeting was held at Paxtang, October 20, 1789, which was
attended by citizens of eight counties, when an organization was
affected with James Ewing, of York County, as chairman. Committees were
named for each county to solicit subscriptions for the furtherance of
these surveys, and a commission was appointed, consisting of Frederic
Antes, of Northumberland County; John Brattan, of Huntingdon; Andrew
Galbraith, of Cumberland, and Sebastian Graff and John Haldeman, of
Lancaster, to superintend the work of removing obstructions in the
Susquehanna and Juniata rivers.
A resolution was adopted which authorized the appointment of three
surveyors, to begin at the mouth of the Juniata and proceed up the
Susquehanna to Sunbury, thence up the West Branch to Sinnemahoning
Creek, thence to Canoe Place, or such place “as will connect most easily
with any practicable branch of the Allegheny, the Consua, Toby’s Creek,
or any other which may discharge itself into the Allegheny nearest to
the mouth of French Creek, and thence examine French Creek up to Le
Boeuf and the portage to Presqu’ Isle.”
Timothy Matlack, John Adlum, Samuel Maclay, Reading Howell, Frederick
Antes, and William Dean were appointed April 6, and commissioned and
qualified April 9, 1790.
The three first mentioned set out on the work along the Susquehanna and
the others took up the work on the lower Susquehanna and Schuylkill.
Samuel Maclay kept an interesting journal of the experiences of the
commission, from which the following is taken.
Messrs. Matlack and Adlum set out from Philadelphia May 6, and met
Maclay at Lebanon. They remained there nearly a week, and began their
work when they set out from the Swatara, having taken James McLaughlin,
Edward Sweeney, and Matthew Gray into the pay of the State.
The party reached Herold’s, below Selinsgrove, by May 17, then proceeded
to Northumberland. Here Maclay went to visit his family at now
Lewisburg. John Adlum visited with his friend Colonel Frederic Antes,
and Timothy Matlack was the guest of Colonel William Wilson, of
Northumberland.
The party was organized during this stay at Northumberland and proceeded
up the West Branch to the mouth of the Loyalsock. They next encamped on
the Great Island, then reached the Sinnemahoning, where they built
several canoes.
The actual survey began at Canoe Place, where Adlum ran a line to the
Allegheny. He writes in his journal of catching beaver, and of the large
numbers of “wolves which frequently crossed their track, in a very
indifferent manner.”
June 14, they surveyed the West Branch of the Sinnemahoning as far as
Boyd’s quarry, the following day reached Bennett’s.
On July 2, the party reached the Ohio River, and went down it, being
guided by an Indian, named Doctor Thomas.
When the western boundary of the State was reached, Conne Shangom, the
chief, had gone to Venango, but another chief, Captain John, made the
commissioners a speech of welcome. At this place they came across a
Dutchman, who had been taken prisoner by the Indians in the last war,
but who chose to continue to live with them.
On July 7, the commissioners had an interesting interview with the
celebrated Indian Chieftain, Cornplanter, at Jenoshawdego.
Maclay records that the Indians were very jealous of them until they
were made to fully understand their mission. Cornplanter then welcomed
them with a speech. Maclay says, “we were addressed by an orator, on
behalf of the women.” This speech of Cornplanter’s was responded to by
Colonel Matlack.
The Commissioners then went to Cornplanter’s town and “had the honor of
his company for supper.”
July 14, they struck the old French road to Erie. Maclay records that
“the cart ruts are quite plain yet.” He further records, “Lake Erie is a
fresh water sea. You can see the horizon and water meet.”
The party was here caught in a terrible storm and thoroughly drenched.
The party pushed down the Allegheny a distance of eighty miles, and
Sunday morning, July 18, they met Mr. Adlum and his party. Adlum
finished a survey the next day, and the entire party was again united at
Buckaloon, or Brokenstraw, about five miles from the present town of
Warren.
On the 20th the party arrived at Fort Franklin, where the commanding
officer, Lieutenant Jeffries, was very polite to them.
Two days later Maclay records, “we paired off and discharged an old
Indian chief and a white savage.” The commissioners left Fort Franklin
this day, and reached David Meads, at present Meadville. They then went
to Le Boeuf, and from there back to Fort Franklin, where they arrived
August 1.
Maclay writes about using some oil, collected from a small oil spring
along French Creek, on his lame back. The effect was beneficial.
The survey of the Allegheny River began at this point, and they also
explored the tributary streams all the way down that river to the
Conemaugh, then to Frankstown, on the Juniata River, where they arrived
September 8.
The commissioners proceeded down the Juniata to the Susquehanna. Samuel
Maclay notes that he arrived at his home Friday, September 17, and found
his family all well and at dinner.
The report was made as three different surveys, and the cost £561, 27s.
----------
Bicentennial Opened in Chester and Philadelphia,
October 21, 1882
At the close of Governor John F. Hartranft’s second term the Republicans
nominated General Henry Martyn Hoyt, of Wilkes-Barre, while the
Democrats had as their standard-bearer Honorable Andrew H. Dill, of
Lewisburg.
The campaign was conducted along the line of national issues, the
leading discussion being the resumption of specie payments. This became
the keynote of the campaign and Hoyt was elected by a large majority.
An interesting historical event occurred before the end of Hartranft’s
administration, on December 19, 1878, when Bayard Taylor died in the
city of Berlin, Germany, while serving at his post as Minister to
Germany. He was a native of Chester County and through his literary
works had done much to increase the fame of Pennsylvania.
After Governor Hartranft retired from the office of Governor he removed
to Philadelphia, where he served as Postmaster of the city, and
afterward as Collector of the Port.
His love for the National Guard continued and he was the commanding
general from 1879 until his death on October 17, 1889. His memory as a
soldier is perpetuated by an equestrian statue on the plaza of the
Capitol at Harrisburg and by a beautiful monument in the cemetery at
Norristown.
Governor Hoyt was inaugurated on January 21, 1879, being the first such
ceremony held under the provisions of the new Constitution of 1874, and
on January 7, following, the Legislature met in biennial session for the
first time, as provided in the new Constitution.
On May 16, 1881, the Legislature adopted a joint resolution, which had
for its purpose the reinterment of William Penn in the City of
Philadelphia.
George L. Harrison, Esq., of Philadelphia, at his own expense, carried
the Governor’s request to the legal representatives of William Penn, and
trustees of Jordan’s Meeting House, England, but after some deliberation
they refused to grant the request.
Had this been granted the body of the founder and former Proprietor of
Pennsylvania would have been resting in Pennsylvania soil at the time
the bicentennial of Penn’s arrival in the Province was observed with
fitting ceremonies in October, 1882.
This great celebration was held in Chester and Philadelphia, beginning
with appropriate religious services on Sunday, October 21. “Landing Day”
was observed at Chester on Monday, the following day was known as
“Landing Day” in Philadelphia, when the “Welcome” arrived at the foot of
Dock Street, where the landing scenes of the previous day were again
re-enacted, with Quakers, Swedes and Indians in the large cast.
The parade up Dock Street passed a stand, where Governor Hoyt, Alexander
P. Colesberry, president Bi-Centennial Association Committee, and other
members of the committee and distinguished guests reviewed the pageant.
Here the character of William Penn made a speech, to which Tamanend,
sachem of the Delaware Nation, made reply.
The great celebration ended on Friday with a grand military parade under
command of General John F. Hartranft. This was a fitting and impressive
observance in which the 200 years of history were recalled in tableaux,
story, music, pageantry and parade.
The Republican Party received its first setback in a State campaign in
1882, when Robert E. Pattison, of Philadelphia, defeated General James
A. Beaver, of Bellefonte, in a spirited contest.
The campaign disclosed the fact that there were too many members of the
Republican Party dissatisfied with the conditions in their organization.
The disaffected united in an independent movement and nominated John
Stewart, of Chambersburg, afterward a Justice of the Supreme Court, as
their candidate for Governor.
The Greenback-Labor Party also placed a candidate in the field in the
person of Thomas A. Armstrong. The Prohibition candidate was Alfred C.
Petit. Mr. Pattison easily overcame the normal Republican majority on
account of the divided vote and was elected by more than 40,000
plurality.
Governor Pattison was inaugurated January 16, 1883, at the age of
thirty-two years. He was of the opinion that the State should be
redistricted in congressional, senatorial and representative districts,
as required by the Constitution, and when the Legislature adjourned
without passing the necessary legislation, the Governor issued a
proclamation on the day fixed for final adjournment, June 6, 1883, and
called an extra session to convene the following day.
The Legislature continued in session until December 6, and reapportioned
the State into judicial districts, but the efforts in behalf of new
districts for Congress and the Legislature proved unavailing.
The act creating the annual observance of Arbor Day was enacted on March
17, 1885, and Governor Pattison appointed April 16 of that year as the
first Arbor Day in Pennsylvania, a custom which has been followed to the
present time.
In 1886 four candidates were placed in the field for the office of
Governor. The Republicans again nominated General James A. Beaver and
the Democrats named Chauncey F. Black, of York. The Prohibitionists
selected Charles S. Wolf, of Lewisburg, and the Greenback Party named
Robert J. Houston.
The Republicans presented a solid front this time and easily elected
General Beaver, who was inaugurated January 18, 1887.
In the first session of the General Assembly the State was divided into
twenty-eight congressional districts and 204 legislative districts.
An amendment to the Constitution, proposing to “prohibit the
manufacture, sale or keeping for sale of any intoxicating liquor to be
used as a beverage” was defeated by the vote of the people almost two to
one. This amendment was strongly urged by Governor Beaver.
An important movement was put into action by the Governor, himself a
gallant veteran of the Civil War, when by the act of the Legislature
memorial tablets were erected on the battlefield of Gettysburg. These
tablets were dedicated on Pennsylvania Day, September 11–12, 1889.
An interesting historical event was the centennial anniversary of the
adoption of the Federal Constitution, which was observed in Philadelphia
September 15, 16 and 17, 1887. The Constitutional Centennial Commission
arranged a civic and industrial procession, military parade and memorial
ceremonies in a manner reflecting great honor and credit to all
concerned.
----------
Daniel Boone, Pioneer Kentucky Frontiersman,
Born in Berks County October
22, 1733
One of the earliest of American romances is written about the character
and thrilling experiences of Daniel Boone, who forsook the quiet and
uneventful life of a Quaker, turned his back on the civilization of his
native State, deserted his farm in North Carolina and went in search of
adventure in the wilderness of Kentucky.
George Boone, III, sailed from England with his wife and three of their
nine children, August 17, 1717, and landed in Philadelphia, October 10.
This family resided for a short time at Abington, then for two years at
North Wales. They belonged to the sect of Quakers and were members of
the Gwynedd Meeting.
George Boone, next settled at Oley, then in Philadelphia County, but
later, a part of Exeter Township, Berks County; named Exeter when Berks
County was erected in honor of the Boone home in England. Here George
Boone built a log house, in 1720, situated seven miles east of Reading.
It is still standing, and is one of the priceless relics of old Berks
County.
The third son of George and Mary Maugridge Boone was Squire Boone, the
father of Daniel Boone, who was born on another farm in the same
neighborhood, on October 22, 1733.
Daniel left Berks County with his parents for North Carolina in 1750, at
the age of seventeen years. They seated themselves in Yadkin River
Valley, and young Boone soon became the most expert woodsman and hunter
in that section of the State. In 1755 Daniel married Rebecca Bryan, the
prettiest girl in the neighborhood, and they were happy in their new log
house.
The settlers became too numerous and soon the hunting was more difficult
and longer trips necessary. Daniel grew restless, and about that time he
was attracted by the tales of John Finley, an experienced Indian trader
and adventurer, about the country beyond the mountains, known as
Kentucky.
Boone then gathered together five companions and set out on a hunting
and exploration trip. After a long, weary march they reached the heights
overlooking the plains of Central Kentucky, and observed the huge herds
of buffalo and deer, and felt amply rewarded for the hardships endured
in getting there.
They erected a cabin and passed a happy and busy summer hunting and
exploring. A few days before Christmas the camp was broken up through
the capture of Boone and a companion while out hunting. They were
suddenly surprised by fifteen Indians and taken prisoners.
Boone and his companion made their captors believe they were happy in
their experience and promptly accepted the Indian manner of doing
things.
In the middle of the night Boone awakened his companion, grabbed their
rifles and escaped.
When they arrived at their cabin it was deserted. The two men realized
they were the only white men west of the mountains, but they remained
and resumed their hunting.
Some days later Squire Boone, a brother of Daniel, and a friend, arrived
at Daniel’s camp. The neighbor who accompanied Squire soon grew homesick
and returned to North Carolina. Boone’s other companion was killed by
the Indians, and only the brothers were left alone in that wilderness of
Kentucky.
They hunted all winter, and in the spring Squire tramped back home for a
supply of powder leaving Daniel alone. Three months later Squire
returned with powder, lead, horses and the happy tidings that all was
well at home.
The following spring Daniel and his brother made a trip home. A year
later he sold his farm and planned to make his home in Kentucky. Several
neighbors decided to join him, and soon five families, forty in all,
with cattle and household goods, were tramping toward the western
country.
Suddenly the men driving the cattle were fired at from ambush and six of
them killed, one of whom was Daniel Boone’s eldest son. This so saddened
the emigrants that Daniel Boone led them back to the Clinch River, where
they remained until 1774.
Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, employed Boone to rescue a
party of surveyors, and he made a round trip of 800 miles, to the Falls
of the Ohio and back to Virginia in sixty-two days, bringing the men
back without a mishap.
On April 1, 1775, he began the erection of his famous fort on the
Kentucky River. It was finished in June and named Boonesborough.
Boone then returned home, gathered up his family and took them to the
new home he had prepared. Here they were happy until the Indians began
to make trouble.
The day before Christmas one of his men was killed and another wounded.
The following June, Boone’s young daughter and two girls foolishly
crossed the river in a boat and were carried away by the Indians.
Boone and eight companions started in pursuit, and forty miles distant
came upon them at dinner. The Indians were taken by surprise and fled
without their rifles, two being killed on the jump. The girls were
rescued unharmed.
During the winter of 1778 Boone was captured at a salt springs, with
about thirty of his men. The Indians led them toward Canada, reaching
Detroit in March.