Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-09-04
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LlcSptCoNs L hat sdlu lOIL D6 quit NEAR
the north line of Pittsford, where Major
Ebenezer Allen shall judge proper.
That said fort be picquet, with proper
fiankers, with barracks for one hundred
and fifty men enclosed-that said fort
be accomplished as soon as may be- ----
As already stated, Fort Mott was built,
in the main, by the inhabitants of Pitts
ford. And, ,inasmuch as it became one of
the State defenses, and therefore ben
eft to all the citizens thereof, it was
natural to suppose that the builders
would feel that those whom il benefited
should share with them the burden, or
that the State should make them some
compensation for the labor expended.
a petition to this effect was presented
to the General Assembly in October.
That body appointed a committee TO in
vestigate the subject, and make a re-
port.
The committee reported as follows:
We, the subscribers, being a committee
appointed by the Honorable General As
sembly of the State to examine the cost
expended by the inhabitants of the town
of Pittsford, in building picket fort in
said town, having been TO said fort and
examined the committee that was ap-
pointed by said town to oversee said
accounts. beg leave to report that it is
our opinion that the labor done on said
picket fort, is not charged higher than is
reasonable, and that said accounts have
been kept regular.
JOSEPH BowKER, Committee
ROSWELL POsT,
This report was made to the General
Assembly at its session in March 11SO,
and the following resolution was adopted
by that body:
Resoyoed, That the Treasurer of this
State be. and he is directed, to pay unto
Nehemiah Hopkins and Samuel Benton,
a committee Of the town of Pittsford,
four hundred and twenty pounds ten
shillings, for services done by the in
habitants in building picket fort IN said
Pittsford.
This sum was paid to the town by the
State, and a receipt for the same was
/ given by the committee mentioned IN the
/ in the resolution.
The spot selected for the new fort
was on the farm Of Caleb Hendee, and
at the time of taking possession of it, .
/ Joseph Stafford, as the proper officer,
! cave Mr.. Hendee the following receipt:
PITTsFoRD, May 3, 1870.
Received or Caleb Hendee, for the use
of the State the year ensuing, part OF
| his farm. viz All his improvements on
! the east side of the creek, except SIX
acres of plow 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
wbereon 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 wear 1774. provided we are able TO
maintain this post so as to secure the
troops {; if otherwise, we are Obliged 10
evacuate this post on account OF the
enemy, one-half of the above mentioned
sum shall be cue him, which sum IS to
be paid on. or before the 1st day OF De-
JOSEPH SAFFoRD,
Barracks Master.
Work was Immediately commenced
upon this fort, and the following account
of it was obtained from the late General
Hendee. who was familiar with every
part of it
.Like all other forts in Vermont, it
was a picket fort; trench was dug i've
or six feet deep, the trunks of trees,
mostly hard maple and beech, foot or
a foot and a half in diameter were sunk
into the trench as closely together as
nossible. extending sixteen or eighteen
! feet above the ground and sharpened TO
a point at the top; between each log a
, stake was driven to fill the space left by
r the round, unhewed logs /; within the
; pickets a breastwork was thrown up
; about six feet high, and about six feet
broad at the base, and composed entirely
: of dirt and logs. At a height cOnyen-
, lent for the garrison were loop-holes be-
T tween the logs, and large enough at the
center for the barrel of musket to pass
through, and radiating outside and m
: side. so that the soldiers within could
! move the muzzles of their guns IN the
Ioop-holes and command VIDE range
: without, while the loop-holes were SO
\ far from the ground on the outside, that
] the enemy's shots coming through
them would pass over the heads OF lhe
>, garrison. The form of the fort was
I souare. enclosing an acre or more of
ground. On each corner, juttlng out
: Side was a tanker, with two stories; that
is a floor was laid across each, about
), eight feet from the ground, answering
for a ceiling to the space below; above
i this floor or ceiling was the sentlnel
4 box. with loop-holes above and below,
| from, which the musketeers could rake
!, tbe approach to the fort, in every direc-
\ tion. with a deadly fire. On the east OF
. fine fort was large, double gate, of oak
nlank. thickly studded with large head
4 ed nails OF spikes, so as to be completely
y bullet-Droof. while on the west side OF
q the fort was wicket gate; within the
2 fort. extending along the the north side,
|, were the officers barracks, and ON Inc
! south side the soldiers barracks. In inc
o northwest corner was the magazine Ioi
e the munitions of war-a framed building
, i'm the northeast and southeast corner:
, vvere wells. but these were soon neglect
W ed and the garrison supplied lheillseIle' l..
with water from a spring thirty or Iort1
% rods east of the fort. The space be
/. tween the officers and soldiers barracks
= was the parade ground. The fort was
o finished in June.
The structure as finished has been de
lineated by one Of our Plttsford artists
n Miss Woodland may be seen in the
"a rear. And now, could we turn back Tho
= dial-pIate of time, and look within thos'
= wooden walls. upon scenes which were
- enacted there nearly a century ago. wha
n strange impressions might be made npoE
I the mind. Taking our first view at th'
I dawn of day, all might be silent and Sill
r save the tread of the watchtul seniine
: going his nightly round. But soon lh'
+ TeyeiIle sounds, and the soldiers CONF
~ forth from their barracks, musket u
i hand. and take their stand upon the pa
= y rade ,l, where they 90 through with theil
i' customary morning drill. Then stacking
their arms they retire to partake of thei
plain. though ,healthful fare.
:. The morning meal is scarcely conclud
y ed. ere intelligence is received that th'
y enemy is in the vicinity. Every man =
y - at once at his post, the necessary order
! are issued, pickets are pushed our an, AM
y the garrison is ready for an ATTACK. =
Il foe not advancing, a scouting party !
sent in pursuit of him. Finding hi
e movements discovered. he beats hasiy
u retreat and the soldiers return TO th'
"a fort. This may be all the excitement o
4 one day. A. Il.