The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-04-13
FORT FREDERICK'S
IMPOSING RUINS


who treacherouslv killed Logan, the
Indian chief. Thomas Cresap was
born in Yorkshire, England, and emf
grated to Maryland early in life He
received in 1879 grant from Lord
Baltimore of IA tract of land near the
present city of Hagerstown. 1t was
one OF the earliest grants in Maryland
west OF the Blue Ridge. This farm
subsequently, because the property of
Col. Thomas Hart, the father of Lu-
cretia Hart, the wife of Henry Clay,
and here Mrs. Clay was born. Cresap
spent a considerable portion of his
ness near the South Branch of the
Potomac. He accompanied General
Braddock on his campaign, having
from his friend, Governor Dunmare,
commission OF captain of one of the
Virginia companies. He was associat-
ed with Washington in the Ohio Com
pany enterprise. Cresap and his son,
Michael, adopted the Indian costume
and fought the Indians to some ex-
tent, according to their own fashion,
He was close friend of Lord Balti-
more, and was at one time sent by
the proprietor to represent him and
protect the northern part of his do
main, which was claimed by the pro
prietor of Pennsylvania, who subse-
quentlv got it. Cresap at that time
resisted by force Penus sheriffs and
was besieged in block house he had
built upon the Susquehauna near the
present city of Columbus The house
was fired and in attempting to escape,
Cressap WAS captured, carried to
Philadelphia and exhibited to the
people as the "Marvland monster"
Michael Cressap was no less brave
than his distinguished father. But
his career was shorter. Before the
Declaration of independence was
made he had raised body of so lders
and had marched at their head to
Boston and IN the war Washington
bad no drawer nor more efficient men
than these Marylanders and those
from the adjacent portion Of the
valley of Virginia, led by General
Morgan. Soon after arriving in camp
Cressap's health failed and he left for
his home on sick leave. He did not
get father than New York, however.
There he died and was buried in Old
Trinity Chn:chT&rd. where his tomb
stone may vet be seen.
Lack of appropriations by the Legis-
lature prevented the Governor from
maintaining constantly garrison at
Fort Frederick during the Indian
war After the war it was entirely
abandoned until the Revolution, when
1t was fitted up as a military prison.
The British army at no time approach
ed within so or IS miles of it. and here
the prisoners were safe from recap
ture. One party of them escaped bv
digging under the walls, but as a rule
ctlONsC Oul III Clt utSlIt " SGU
away. The fort was under the COM
tnand of Moses Rawlings, deputy COM
missioner of prisoners. For a time it
was the practice to permit the pris-
oners to leave the fort and hire them
selves to the farmers of the neighbor-
hood. After they were exchanged
many Of them settled down and be-
came citizens. Among others who
did so was a portion of the army of
General BurgoYne. In this party was
an Irish ensign named Whistler, who
afterward became an officer in the
United States army in the Whiskey
Rebellion and in the Indian wars.
From him the artist Whistler was
descendant.
During the CIVIL War the fort was
occasionally occupied by passing bod :
les of troops, and there is hole in
the south wall made by General Ken
ly, who mounted cannon 10 shoot at
parties of Confederates on the other
side of the Potomac. In 1890 the
Legislature of Maryland authorized
the sale of the Fort Frederick prop
erty, $50 acre of land, and it was ac-
cordingly sold. 1t is now owned by a
family of colored people.
The history Of Fort Frederick is
not without its romance. Several
times during the Old war the French
despatched parties to capture it. In
1856 party of about 80 Indians
under a French captain crossed the
mountains from the West. The cap
tain carried written instructions to
proceed to Fort Frederick and there
meet another party which had preced.
ed it to capture the fort and blow up
the magazine. This party marched
through the Virginia settlements
which skirted the south bank of the
Potomac, burned the houses, killed
and scalped the people or carried
them off prisoners. A body of set
tiers met and defeated this party and
killed the Frenchman The other
Il ler ~, = !, Iocco-, e.o,