Chapter III (5)

[78] This should not be confused with the more famous Fort Loudoun, built the same year (1756) in Tennessee as a check upon the Cherokees. The Pennsylvania fort was on the road between Shippensburg and Fort Lyttleton, about a mile east of the present village of Loudon, Franklin County, being erected by Armstrong after Braddock’s defeat. This was the scene of the plundering of the Indian goods, dispatched to the Ohio (1765) for Croghan’s use on his journey to the Illinois.

The Cherokees were employed by the English as auxiliaries in this campaign. Their presence had caused much concern among the Northern Indians, and Post had been sent to Wyoming the previous spring, with reassuring messages on this account.

Bill Sock was a Conestoga Indian, employed as a messenger to the Six Nations. He was massacred in the Paxton affair (1763). See Heckeweldert _Narrative_, p. 79.—ED.

[79] A calumet pipe; the signal of peace.—[C. T.?]

[80] Fort Lyttleton was another of the chain of frontier posts built in 1756 for the protection of the frontiers. It was located at the place called by the Indian traders “Sugar Cabins,” near the present McConnellsburg, Fulton County. A garrison was maintained at this point until after Pontiac’s War, when it gradually fell into ruins, some relics of its occupation being still found in the locality.—ED.

[81] Ray’s town, so named from its first settler (1751), was the chief rendezvous for Forbes’s army in this campaign, where he had the stronghold of Fort Bedford built, and whence he made his final advance against Fort Duquesne. From 1760-63, the fort at this place was commanded by Captain Lewis Ourry of the Royal Americans; and its apparent strength saved it from attack by the Indians of the conspiracy. Bouquet made it the rendezvous in his advance in 1764. Throughout the Indian wars, Fort Bedford was the most important station between Carlisle and Fort Pitt. The town of Bedford was incorporated in 1766.—ED.

[82] Post’s testimony as to the condition of the new road cut for the army west from Fort Bedford is interesting. For an account of the controversy over the building of this road, see Hulbert, _Old Glade Road_ (Cleveland, 1903), pp. 65-161.

Stony Creek flows northward through the valley between the Allegheny and Laurel Hill ranges of mountains.—ED.

[83] The creek called “Rekempalin,” apparently was Pickings Run in Somerset County—not a large creek, but all streams were swollen by unusual rains.

Loyal Hanna was an old Indian town situated on the trail passing west to Shannopin’s Town at the Forks of the Ohio. Upon the advance of Forbes’s army (1758), this was made the last station on the road to Fort Duquesne, and a fort was built called Ligonier. Before the erection of this fort the station was known simply as the “Camp on Loyal Hanna.”—ED.

[84] Captain John Haslett was an officer of the Pennsylvania provincial troops, of which there was in Forbes’s army, a contingent of two thousand and seven hundred. Probably this was the same officer who commanded Delaware troops in the Revolution, and after conspicuous bravery at Long Island was killed in the battle of Princeton.—ED.

[85] The camping-place for this night, at the advanced breast-work, is identified as on the Nine Mile Run, in Unity Township, Westmoreland County, being still locally known as “Breast-work Hill.”—ED.

[86] Lieutenant William Hays, who was later killed on his return from escorting Post, belonged to the Royal Americans, having been commissioned December 11, 1756.—ED.

[87] The Ohio, as it is called by the Sennecas. Alleghenny is the name of the same river in the Delaware language. Both words signify the fine, or fair river.—[C. T.?]

[88] The Indian town which Post calls Keckkeknepolin was usually known as Blackleg’s Town, being situated at the mouth of Loyalhanna Creek, where it flows into the Kiskiminitas.—ED.

[89] Heckewelder says that the word “Kiskiminitas” means “make daylight,” and was due to the impatient exclamation of some eager warrior encamped on the spot. The town here mentioned was in Armstrong County, on a creek of the same name, about seven miles from where it flows into the Allegheny River.—ED.

[90] When he parted from Captain Haslett, Post left the regular westward Indian trail to the Forks of the Ohio. In order to avoid Fort Duquesne, and to reach the Indian towns beyond the Allegheny, he followed a northward branch of the same that led down the Loyalhanna and Kiskiminitas creeks. The Indian town at the mouth of Kiskiminitas Creek had always been insignificant, lying between Kittanning on the north, and Shannopin’s Town on the south.—ED.

[91] Connequenessing Creek, whose name, according to Heckewelder, signifies “a long straight course.”—ED.

[92] Persons appointed by law to manage the _Indian_ trade, for the public; the private trade, on account of its abuses, being abolished.—[C. T.?]

[93] Where they boil into sugar the juice of a tree that grows in those rich lands.—[C. T.?]

[94] Irvine says (_Pennsylvania Archives_, xi, p. 518) that the Indians termed all the land along Beaver and Mahoning creeks for twenty-five miles, Kuskuskies. Old Kuskusking was located between the mouths of Neshanock and Mahoning creeks on the Shenango, about where the town of New Castle, Lawrence County, now stands.—ED.

[95] Kekeuscung’s name signified “the healer.” He was accounted a great warrior, and often joined the Six Nations against the Cherokees. The traditional hostility between the latter Indians and those around the Allegheny rendered difficult the attempt to conciliate the Delawares while the Cherokees were in the English army.

The attack here mentioned on the English camp at Loyalhanna, was repulsed by Colonel Mercer and the Virginian troops. On their return they fired by mistake upon their own re-enforcements, and nearly killed their leader, Washington.—ED.

[96] An _Indian_ with an _English_ name. An _Indian_ sometimes changes his name with an _Englishman_ he respects; it is a seal of friendship, and creates a kind of relation between them.—[C. T.?]

[97] When a prisoner is brought to an _Indian_ town, he runs a kind of gauntlet thro’ the mob; and every one, even the children, endeavour to have a stroke at him; but as soon as he can get into any of their huts, he is under protection, and refreshments are administered to him.—[C. T.?]

[98] _i. e._ He has listened to the _English_ messengers.—[C. T.?]

[99] Kicking the string about, and throwing it with a stick, not touching it with their hands, were marks of dislike of the message, that accompanied it.—[C. T.?]

[100] The _Quakers_ of _Philadelphia_, who first set on foot these negociations of peace; and for whom the _Indians_ have always had a great regard.—[C. T.?]

_Comment by Ed._ See on this subject _Pennsylvania Archives_, iii, p. 581.

[101] “Sastaghretsy, Anigh Kalicken, Atowateany, Towigh, Towighroano, Geghdageghroano, Oyaghtanont, Sisaghroano, Stiaggeghroano, Jenontadynago.”—[C. T.?]

[102] Diamond figures, formed by beads of wampum, of different colours.—[C. T.?]

[103] Important matters should be accompanied with large strings, or belts; but sometimes a sufficient quantity of wampum is not at hand.—[C. T.?]

[104] The word, _wishicksey_, translated, _be strong_, is of a very extensive signification be strong, be steady, pursue to effect what you have begun, &c.—[C. T.?]

[105] _i. e._ They will observe how we are dressed.—[C. T.?]

[106] Thomas King was an Oneida Indian, who had taken a prominent part in the treaty at Easton (October, 1758).—ED.

[107] It is probable that Croghan brought Post the news of the change of name from Fort Duquesne to Pittsburg. He apparently uses the new term with much relish. The day after the English occupation of Fort Duquesne, General Forbes wrote to Governor Denny, dating his letter “Fort Duquesne, or now Pittsburg.”—_Pennsylvania Colonial Records_, viii, p. 232.—ED.

[108] As it often happens to the _Indians_, on their long marches, in war, and sometimes in their hunting expeditions, to be without victuals for several days, occasioned by bad weather and other accidents, they have the custom in such cases; which _Post_ probably learned of them, viz. girding their bellies tight, when they have nothing to put in them; and they say it prevents the pain of hunger.—[C. T.?]

[109] Colonel Henry Bouquet, a Swiss officer, who had served with distinction in the armies of Sardinia and Holland, was engaged to enter the regiment of Royal Americans, and came to America in 1756. The following year he was in command in South Carolina; but early in 1758 was summoned north to aid Forbes in his march through Pennsylvania. Bouquet commanded the advance, and prepared the road, ordered the stations for reserve supplies, and by careful management contributed much to the success of the campaign. Upon Forbes’s retiring, Bouquet was left in command at Fort Pitt, where he remained fulfilling the arduous and exacting duties of his frontier service until late in 1762, when he was relieved by Captain Ecuyer, and returned to Philadelphia. On the news of the siege of Fort Pitt (1763), Bouquet organized a relief expedition, which inflicted a severe defeat upon the Indians at Bushy Run. The following year, the Indian country was invaded, Bouquet’s expedition to the Muskingum proving a complete success. Relieved from his Western command, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general and placed in command of all the troops in the southern British colonies of America. He died at Pensacola, February, 1766, at the early age of forty-seven. He was not only a soldier of ability and vigor, but a man of most attractive and charming character, beloved by superiors and subordinates. The collection of his letters in the British Museum is a chief source for the history of the West during this period. See calendar in _Canadian Archives_, 1889; extracts in _Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections_, xix, pp. 27-295; also _Bouquet’s Expedition against the Ohio Indians_ (Cincinnati, 1868).—ED.

[110] Major Halket was the son of Sir Peter Halket, who was killed, together with another son, at the battle of Monongahela (1755). When Major Halket accompanied the detachment sent by Forbes to bury the bones of the victims of that disaster, he recognized the skeletons of his father and brother and at the sight fainted with grief and horror.—ED.

[111] James Glen had been governor of South Carolina (1744-55), but was superseded in the latter year by Governor Lyttleton. His presence at Forbes’s camp is perhaps explained by the fact that he was interested in the Cherokee Indian trade.—ED.

[112] Captain Nicholas Wedderholz (Weatherholt) was a militia officer in command of a German company from Northumberland County, which was enlisted December 16, 1755, and “discontinued” in 1760. It is said that every man in his company was of German descent. During the Indian troubles of 1763, Weatherholt raised another company, which did not, however, see active service.—ED.

[113] Israel Pemberton was a member of a prominent Quaker family, and a merchant of Philadelphia. Very active in political affairs, and influential with the Indians because of his Quaker principles and trade-relations, he was one of the leading members of the “Friendly Association,” formed to put down war with the Indians. In 1759 he sent for the association £1,000 worth of goods to be distributed to the Ohio Indians at Pittsburg. Pemberton, with other leading Quakers, was much disliked by the borderers, who called him “King Wampum,” and placed his life in jeopardy during the Paxton riots (1763). Neither did Pemberton find favor with the “Sons of Liberty,” and the patriot party of the Revolution. In 1777 he, with two brothers, was banished to Virginia on the charge of aiding the British enemy.—ED.