The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-29
THE RUTLAND DAILY MORNING. AUGUST 20 1873

that said accounts have been kept regular.
RoswELL Posr, Committee"
This report was made to the General As.
sembly at Its session In March 1880, and
the following resolution was adopted by
that body:
March IA, 1880.
Resoleed, That the Treasurer Of this State
be, and he Is directed, to pay unto Ne
hemiah Hopkins and Samuel Benton, q
committee of the town of Pittsford, four
hundred and twenty pounds ten shillings,
for services done by the inhabitants In
building picket fort In said Pittsford.
This sum was paid to the town by the
State, and receipt for the same was given
by the committee mentioned In the resolu.
ton.
The spot selected for the new fort was
on the farm Of Caleb Hendee, and at the
time of taking possession of 1t Joseph SAT-.
ford, as the proper officer, gave Mr.. Hen
dee the following receipt
PITTsFoRD, May 8, 1880.
Received Of Caleb Hendce, for the use of
the State the year ensuing, q part of his
farm, viz: All his improvements on the
east side of the creek, except six acres of
pillow land on the interval, and one acre of
pasture land adjoining and north of his
barn, and five acres of wheat and three
quarters of an acre of land whereon he had
turnips the year past. For the use of said
land | promise. in behalf of the State, to
pay him twenty-four pounds as specie went
in market in the year l774, provided we are
able to maintain this post 40 as to secure
the troops; If otherwise we are obliged to
eyacuate this post on account of the enemy,
of hp al a1 al
be due him, which sum Is to be paid at or
before the first day of December next.
(SigneD JOSEPH STAFFORD,
Barracks Master.
Work was Immediately commenced upo
this fort, and the following account of it
was obtained from the late Gen. Hendee,
who was familiar with every part of it
Like all other forts in Vermont, it was
picket fort a trench was dug five or six
feet deep, the trunks of trees, mostly hard
maple and beech, a foot or a foot and a
half in diameter were sunk into the trench
as closely together as possible, extending
sixteen or eighteen feet above ground and
sharpencd to a point at the top; between
each log a stake was driven to fill the space
left by the round unhewed logs within
the pickets breastwork was thrown I'D
about six feet high, and about six feet broad
at the base, and composed entirely of dirt
and logs. AT a height convenient for the
garrison were loop holes between the logs,
and large enough at the center for the bar
rel Of musket to pass through, and radat.
Ing outside and inside so that the soldiers
within could move the muzzles of their
guns in the loop holes and command wide
range without, while the loop holes were
so far from the ground on the outside, that
the cnemy's shots coming through them,
would pass over the heads of the garrison
The form of the fort was square, enclosing
an acre or more of ground. On each cor
ncr jutting outside was tanker, with
two stories, that 10 floor was laid across
each about eight feet from the ground,
answering for ceiling to the space below !;
above this floor or ceiling was the sentinels
box, with loop holes above and below,
from which the musketeers could rake the
approach to the fort, in every direction,
with deadly fire On the east of the
fort was large double gate of oak plank,
thickly studded with large headed nails or
spikes, so as to be completely bullet proof,
while on the west side of the fort was a
wicket gate within the fort, extend
Ing along the north side, were the of
ficcrs barracks, and on the south side
the soldiers barracks In the northwest
corner was the magazine for the munitions
of war-a framed building in the northeast
and southeast corners were wells, but these
were soon neglected and the garrison sup
piled themselves with water from a spring
thirty or forty rods east of the fort The
space between the officers and soldiers bar
racks was the parade ground. The fort
was finished in June.
The structure as finished has been define
ated by one of our Pittsford artists
Miss Woodland may be seen in the rear.
And now could we turn back the dial-pate
of time and look within those wooden
walls upon scenes which were enacted
there nearly a century ago, what strange
impressions might be made upon the mind
Taking our first view at the dawn of day,
all might I've silent and still, save the tread
of the watchful sentinel going his mighty
round But soon the reveille sounds, and
the soldiers come forth from their bar
racks, musket in hand, and take their stand
upon the parade, where they go through
with their customary morning drill. Then
stalking their arms they retire to partake of
their plain though healthful fare
The morning meal is scarcely concluded,
ere intelligence is received that the enemy
is in the vicinity. Every man is at once at
his post, the necessary orders are issued,
pickets are pushed out and the garrison is
ready for an attack. The foe not advanc-
ing a scouting party is sent in pursuit of
he beats hasty retreat, and the soldiers re-
turn to the fort. This may be all the ex-
element of one day.
Near the close of another day the soldiers
discover, in the distance, a female rushing
towards the fort. She is Fastening with
all the speed she can command, and from
her appearance it is evident that some terri
BILE calamity has bcfallen her, and that she
is escaping for her life. She comes nearer
and nearer, and on reaching the fort falls
PROSTATE at the gate. Her father recog-
nizing her, clasps her in his arms and bears
her within the enclosure. When con-
seriousness returns she tells her sad story.
She with prominent citizen of the
town had been taken prisoners by
the Indians and Tories and carried
to Neshobe- Brandon thence she es-
capes, but her companion in cap
tlvity is held and marched northward
Tor Canada. The commander at the fort
at once orders out n select force to pursue
the fugitives, and if possible to recover the
lost citizen. But the effort, though long
persistent, is unsuccessful.
One day in the month of June the fol-
lowing year, several soldiers on a scouting
expedition, discover near the north line
of Brandon quite formidable body of In
dams. Not being in sufficient force to at
tack them with any prospect of success,
they hasten back to the fort and make
known their discovery to the commander.
This with information obtained from other
sources, convinces that officer that a night
attack upon his garrison is contemplated,
and is designed to be complete surprise.
He at once lays his plans to give the red
skins reception that should be worthy of
their mission. Early in the evening he
sends out detachment of soldiers little
distance from the fort, in the direction
from which he supposes the Indians will
advance, and orders them to lie in ambush
until their approach and then they are to
fire upon them and Immediately retreat
within the fort. A little past midnight the
ears Of the listening soldiers, catch the
cautious tread of agile feet, and soon ap-
pear in the distance long line of dusky
forms, pressing onwBrd towards the fort.