Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-12-26
TALES AND SKETCHES,
INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OE
CAPT. SAMUEL BRADY.
STORY OF FORT MINTosH AND DRADY's RUN.

About thirty miles below the present city
OF Pittsburg, and where Beaver now stands
stood an ancient fort known as fort Mcintosh
II was built by q revolutionary general OF
that name, in :he summer of l718. 1t was
one OF the line of forts which was intended
to guard the people who lived south of the
OHIO river, from the incursions of the sayages
to the nortbward. This fort was one of the
favorite resorts Of the great Indian spy and
hunter, Captain Samuel Brady. Although
his usual head quarters was Pittsburg, then
consisting OF a rude fort, and score or two
of rough frontier tenements.
Brady had emigrated westward or rather
had marched thither in I77S, q lieutenant in
the distinguished Eighth Pennsylvania Regi-
ment, under the command of General Rich.
ard Brodhead, of Easton. When, in the
spring of l779, Mcintosh retired from com-
mand in the West, Brodhcad succeeded hin,
and remained at Pittsburg until 1881.
Soon after bis advent to the west Brady
was breveted Captain. He had served at the
siege of Boston, fought at Long Island and
White Plains, gone through the whole of the
terrible campaign of Trenton and Princeton,
suffered at Valley Forge, distinguished him,
self at Germantown and at Brandywine, and
narrowly escaped death at Paoli. But his
taste led him to the erratic mode of warfare
known upon the frontier. Indeed, his early
education upon the upper Susquehanna had
J lnculcated and developed those tastes from
the very earliest boyhOod. Hating an In.
dian with that instructive hatred, which is
| begotten in the bosom of the white race by
long years of contest and outrage, bitter
intensity was impaired to tho feeling in this
case by the murder of his father and younger
brother by the Indians, under trying and
terrible circumstances.
Having promised this much by way of in
PRODUCTION it brings US to that eyentful morn.
! ing in which Brady set out from fort McIn-
| tosh for Pittsburg. He had with him two
of his trusty and well trained followers.
These were not attached to the regular army,
as he was, but were scouts and spies, who
| had been with him upon many an ex pedi.
ton. They were Thomas Bevington and
| Benjamin Biggs.
Brady resolved to follow the northern
bank OF the Ohio. Biggs objected to this,
upon the grounds, as Brady well knew, that
the woods were full of savages Brady,
however, had resolved to travel by the old
| Indian path and having once made up his
mind no consideration could deter him from
| carrying cut his determination. Beving,on
had such implicit faith in his ability to lead
that he never once thought of questioning
his will.
Quite discussion arose between Biggs
ana his captain at the mouth of Beaver river,
about mile above the fort, and where they
must cross the Ohio if they did MT want to
continue on the southern side. Biggs finally
waived his objections aud they crossed the
Ohio and proceeded with the habitual eau
ton Of woodsmen who fully understood
their business.
They had started early and by rapid ira
Yelling they had reached, ere noon came, the
last piece OF bottom land on the north side
OF the river, below "the narrows." This is
where SewickIey now stands. Upon this
bottom pioneer more daring than most
others had built cabin aud opened small
spot of cleared land He had planted it in
corn and itgave promise Of most abundant
harvest.
But as they approached the edge of the
clearing, just outside Of the fence, Brady
discovered "Indian signs" as he called them
His companions discovered them almost as
quick as he. and at once in low tones com.
municatcd to each other the necessity of q
keen watch.
They slowly trailed along the side of the
fence toward the house, whose situation they
all knew, until They stood upon the brow Of
the bluff which overlooked it. A sight of
the most terrible description met their eyes.
The cabin lay mass of smouldering ruin,
from which dull blue smoke arose in the
clear August sunshine. They observed
everything about it. Brady knew it was
customary for the Indians after they had
fired q settlers cabin if there was no imme
diate danger to retire to the woods close at
hand, and watch for the approach of the
family who might chance to be absent when
they made the descent. Not knowing but
that they were even then lying close at hand,
be left Bevington to watch the ruins, lying
under cover, whilst he proceeded to the
nOrthward and Briggs southwark to make
discoveries. Both were to return to Deying-
ton if they found no Indians. If they came
across the perpetrators and they were too
numerous to be attacked regularly, Brady
declared it to be his purpose to have one
fire at them, and that should be the signal
for both of his followers to make the best of
their way to the fort.
All this rapidly transpired, and with Bra
dy to decide was to act As he stole eau
! tiously around the northern side of the
enclosure he hearl voice in the distance
singing. He listened keenly and soon dis.
| covered from its intonations that it was
white mans. He passed rapidly in the di.
| rection from whence the sound came. As il
approached he concealed himself behind the
trunk OF large tree. Presently a white
man, riding fine horse, came slowly down
the path. The form was that of Albert
Gray the stalwart, brave, devil may care
| settler, who had built him home miles away
from the fort, where no one else would have
dared to take family but himself.
Brady wore, as he almost always did, the
! Indian garb and had war paint on his face.
He knew that if he showed himself upon the
path Gray would shoot, taking him to be an
Indian. He thereforessuffered Gray quietly
to approach his lurking place. When the
time came he sprang forward ere the settler
could have time to prepare, drew his toma-
hawk and seizing him dragged him from his
horse. As he did so he whispered to him
x am Captain Brady; for Gods sake be
quiet"
Gray, with the instructive feeling of one
who knew there was danger and with that
vivid presence of mind which characterize
those acquainted with frentier life, ceased at
once to struggle. The horse had been star
tied by the sudden onslaught, and sprang to
one side. Fro he had time to leap forward
Brady had caught him by the bride. His
loud snorting threatened to arouse any one
who was near. The captain soon soothed
the frightened animal into quiet.
| Grav now hurriedlv asked Brady what the