The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-02
BARBARIC WARFARE.
A Civilized Community That Gave
Scalp BOunties.
Names Historic Old Forts aud Thor
Former observation-disclosures Fort
Western Now y Modern
Tenement.

lhcfncbcc river stands building called
Fort Wcstcrn, which is one hundred
and thirty-nSac years old, and built ON
the same rOint of land where once stood
the famous New Plymouth trading
house in 1928. At Windsor. Me-, near
Watcrvillc, according to the Boston
Herald, can be seen anothcr-Fort Hal
ifaX-crcctcd the same year, both silent
and eloquent reminders Of We olGcn days
OF bitter strife and struggle.
The firs; Maine fort-Fort st. George
was erected III 1907 and followed by
Forts Richmond. Shirley. George and
others, around which cluster historical
events of thrilling interest.
In 1T54 Gov. Shirley was informed
that the French were building a fort at
noted carrying place of the Indians
on the head waters of the I[crncbcc, and
he commissioned Capt North, OF the
fort 1T Pcmaquid, and Lieut.. Fletcher,
of st. Georges fort, to start with suf-
ficicnt armed guard and request any
Chief officer thus engaged to remove
from the ground with his soldiers, as
being within the jurisdiction of his
majesty the king of Great Britain.
The same month Il party OF sixty In.
dians. supposed to be spies. appeared at
Fort Richmond. and were insulting and
threatening.
The French were active in pcrsuading
the Indians to prevent further settle
ncnt on the river, promising favor to
those who would unite with them, and
threatening vengeance on all who
should lntcrposc between the Indians
and the English. In the emergency
which thus arose, the general court de-
events bc prevented from making any
settlements on the river or at the car
rying places at it's head. and as the
Richmond fort was in Il prccarious state
it was demolished and now one
built at Ticonnct and named Fort Hall
fax.
September it was garrisoncd by one
hundred men under command OF Capt.
w. Lithgow. During the building of
this fort, IL committee of the Plymouth
company was engaged in erecting Il fort
on the cast side of Augusta, to bc called
Fort Western. The main building,
which is the one that still remains, is
one hundred feet long, thirtytwo feet
wide and sixteen feet high. and is built
of timber, making solid walls twelve
inches thick A road was then made
between Forts Halifax and Western,
and was the first military road con-
structcd in Maine
In tic fall OF 1854 Il message WAS sent
the governor from Fort Halifax, stat
ing that the Indians had fallen upon a
party OF six of the garrison. sent out to
draw logs. and killed one man and cap
turcd four others, one only escaping to
the fort. This act of barbarity and
trcachcry on the part of the Indians,
together with the information that the
French. with the Indians, were prcpar-
ing to make an attack upon the forts,
ncccssitatcd the reinforcement of the
garrison, and four hundred and sixty
men were detailed from the indcpcn-
dent companies, to be held in readiness
to Immediately march to the relief of
the forts on the first approach of the
enemy.
The French and Indian war was
finally declared the following year, and
large Inducements were offered to vol
untccr companies of recruits to take
part Two hundred dollars was prom
Used for every Indian scalp, and two
hundred and fifty dollars for each cap
tive To individuals, one hundred dol
lars for scalp and one hundred and
ten dollars for captive.
Particular attention was paid to the
defense TO the eastern frontier Com
panicS of scouts were csta blished along
the scacoast from Saco to St.Gcorgc's,
and Forts Western and Halifax were
garrisoncd with eighty men and we'll
supplied with stores. The forts be-
tween the kcnucbcc and St. Georges
were also put in Il state OF defense. and
the friendship of the Tarratin Indians
cultivated. But their bitter rancor
was aroused when James Cargill, Of
Newcastle, received u commission 10
raise a company of scouts, who on the
first day Of July made an excursion for
the purpose of obtaining. the govern
mcilt price for scalps. When near Owls
Head Il party of 1arratin Indian hunt
crs were discovered. Without stop
ping to inquire whether they were
friends or enemies they were dclibcr-
atcly shot and their scalps secured On
their rctnrn they met Margaret Moxu,
q friendly squaw, with her child a
vollcy WAS fired upon them, killing
mother and child. Curgill was apprc-
hcndcd and tried on charge of murder
but discharged after Il confinement OF
two years.
The war ended in 1879, when the
Indians. deserted by their French allies.
proposed peace.
Fort Western is now familarlv |
termed the "old fort" and years ago |
was converted into Il tenement house. |
Despite these modern changes, the |
structure still bears many of its old |
characteristics, and even to Tie casual |
observer bears the cviGcnccs Of ;ts o,,lv