Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-01-18

will, no doubt, be read with interest by !
most of our readers. Many of the incidents |
related by him must still be fresh in the minds |
of some of our old inhabitants -
My first service was in the year III, when
| served three months under Col John Kelly
who stationed US at Big Isle on the West Branch
of the Susquehanna. Nothing particular trans.
pireG during that time, and in March 177S, |
was appointed lieutenant OF a company of six-
months men. Shortly atterward | was ordered
by Col. Samuel Hunter TO proceed with about
twenty men to Fishing Creek, which empties
into the Susquehanna about twenty miles from
Northumberland, and to build q fort about three
miles from its mouth, for the reception of lis
inhabitants in case of an alarm from the lndi-
ans In May, my fort being nearly completed,
our spies discovered large party of Indians
making their way towards the fort. The neigh
boring residents had barely time to fly to the
Fort for protection, leaving their goods behind
The Indians soon made their appearance, and
having plnndered and burnt the houses, attack
ed the fort, keeping a steady fire upon us during
the day. At night they withdrew burning and
destroying everything in their route What
loss they sustained we could not ascertain, as
they carried off all the dead and wounded,
though, from the marks of blood on the ground.
1t must have been considerable. The inhabi-
tants that took shelter in the fort had built
yard for their cattle at the head of small fiat
at short distance from the fort, and one even.
ing in the month of June, Just as they were
milking them my sentinel called my attention
to some movement in the brush, which | soon
discovered to be Indians, making their way 10
the cattle yard. There was no time to be lost,
Immediately selected ten Of nv sharp shooters
and under a cover of a rise of land got between
them and the miIkcrs.-On ascending the
ridge we found ourselves within pistol shot of
them fired first. and killed the leader, but
volley from my men did no further execution,
the Indians running of at once. In The mean
time the milk pals few in every direction, and
the best runner got to the fort first As the
season advanced, Indian hostlities increased
and notwithstanding the vigilance of our scouts,
which were constantly out, houses were burnt
and families murdered. In the summer of l71S
occurred the great massacre at Wyoming, after
which the Governors Of Connecticut, n. York,
and Pennsy lvana, pe,itoned Congress to adop,
speedy measures for the protection of the west.
crn frontier, which subject was referred to a
committe Of Congress and General Washing.
ton. The committee recommended that the
war should be carried into the enemy's country
and company Of rangers raised for the defence
of the frontier In l779, General Sullivan wa.
sent with an army INTO their country. The pro
vision for the supply OF the army were purchaseC
in the settlements along the waters of the Sus
quehannn, and deposited III store houses.
was appointed under the title Of quarter master
, To superintend this business, and by the mddl,
of July, 10y means of boats, had collected all th
provisions at Wyoming, where General Sulll
van, with his army, lay waiting for them.
About the last of July our army moved 70
p, Toga Point where fleet of boats assembled III
river parallel with the army. We reachc
:, Tioga Point early in August, where we halte
which cane by the way of Mohawk river, an,
!. 50 nto Lske Otsego. During tins time the In
!, dams were collecting in considerable force Il
e Chcmung, a large Indian village about IL mile
e higher np As they became troublesome neigh
:, bors. Zen Clinton contemplated an attack upo
/. them, but wished to ascertain their number an
ls situation, and selected me for that dangerou
+ enterprise. I prepared myself an Indian dress
o breech cloth, leggns and moccasins. Ny ca
y had good supply of feathers, and being paint
- ed in Indian style, set Otfwith one man dress
}, ed in the same manner. We left the camp al
- Ter dark, and proceeded " ith much caution unit
would be strongly guarded. We ascendcd til
T. mountain, crossed over It, aud came in view
10 their fires, when having descended the hin, W
" waited quietly until they lay down and got
,g sleep. We then walked round their CAM
l. counted the fires and the number Of Indians
:" some Of the fires, thus forming an estimate
their number, which | took 10 be six or seye
hundred. returned and having made my IT
port TO the General early next morning, we'
to my tent, spread down my blanket, and had
w refreshing sleep. In the afternoon Major Ada
Hs Hopes, one of the Generals aids, request'
he me to wait upon the General, which obeye
80, The latter requested, as | had learnt tho WI
to Chemung, that would lead the advance
- having selected Gen Samuel Hand, OF Il
Pennsylvania line 10 make them visit WI