Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-04-29
roar FoRrITuDE.
Story Of Pioneer and indian Times,
with Soldier Raster.

| granted in December, 1879. Eteps
towards the settling OF the town were
first had at Dresden, N. H., (now Han
over) in December, 1777, but considerable
delay vas experienced. One point was
the question Ms to whether the grant
should be obtained fIom New Hampshire,
| New York or the newly formed state OF
Vermont. The charter was finally OBJ
tanned from the state Of Vermont. Some
settlements were made prior to granting
of the charter and some work done in
road making
Bethel was q central point for travel
from Canada and was deemed especially
in danger and in 1850 the board OF war
for the state OF Vermont passed q resolve
that fort should be built here and garri-
soned. Thirty men Of Capt. Joe Park
bursts company were engaged six DAYS
in building the fort. The men received
i've shillings q day for their work. 1t
was completed some time before Sept. rs,
1850. Il was what was called q stockade
fort. It is told that ii was erected north
easterly OF White River where the rail-
road. now passes. It Is claimed that
when the railroad was built it is said that
some of the relics of the old fort were dug
up short distance soutberiy OF where
the present freight depot is located.
Some claim has been made that Il was
nearer the highway. One fact that may
afford some clue to the location is the fol-
lowing fact. The writer can remember
when there was Deverfailing spring OF
water directly in the rear of the house OF
Mr.. Bass, known as the Sylvester house.
This was under the foundations Of an old
storehouse that formerly stood where the
shorehouse Of Upper 4 Graham now
stands. As the railroad in late years
widened its road bed this spring has been
covered up and it is supposed that the
same water comes out on the lower side
OF the railroad where there is now a new
erfailing spring. Now, what would have
been more natural in picking out a site
for fort than to chose a point covering
this never-failing spring OF water9 Then
IN case OF a siege, il the inmates were
we'll supplied with food, as they proba-
bly, would have been, they would not
have had to sally out for a supply OF
water.
The soldiers guarding this fort were
part OF the volunteer force OF the newly 4
formed state of Vermont and were calltd
from Royalton, Pomfret, Woodstock,
Sharon, Hartford, Hartland and Norwich .
in the main, though there is some indica-
tion that few came from the other side
Of the mountain.
Indians had made raids in this yicini-
ty and the settlers had Just reason to fear
another attack at any time. In Septem-
Der, 1850, the Indians captured men in
Barnard and took David Stone and q
man named cleveland from Bethel and
later in the same year Royalton was
harmed and 1t is quite probable that il the 1
Indians had not known of the defenses
kGra faanvw n
taken what prisoners and property they
could here and carried them away to Can 1
ada. The families in this immediate vi
cinity were gathered at the fort at this
time. They stayed in for some little
time after the burning of Royalton, Oct. II
10, 1850. Then the men began to ven
ture out, armed and accompanied BY sol
diers, to look after their stock and har-
vests. The country around was q dense
forest, with a few small clearings and for
aught the settlers knew an Indian might
be lurking behind every tree. The i'm
possibility OF knowing just what the
dangersthat surrounded them were iuten-
sified their alarm.
Some amusing incidents happened
while the soldiers were in the fort that
served to vary the monotony Of existence.
Peek had cleared up farm few
miles up the White river the farm now
kpown as the Nathan Parker farm. Will
lard smith had cleared up the Charter
Dunham farm just this side of him. It
is related Of Mr.. Peek, who had been a
soldier in the French and Indian war and
was accounted a man OF bravery, that
few days after the burning OF Royalton
be ventured to go out to- look after his
property. AS he came near to Willard
smiths clearing, he heard the hogs in the
pen squeaiing fearfullly, as well they
might, for they had been without any
thing to eat for several days. His first
thought was that the Indians were kill
ing them. and without stopping to iuves-
tigate he fastened back to the fort and
gave the alarm, saying that the Indians
were close at hand and in large numbers.
The sentineis heard him coming down
the bed OF White River on horse back
ana, catching the alarm, allowed him to
pass unchallenged.
The gates were shut and preparations
Tor defence hastily made but the expected
savages old not put in an appearance. In
day or two some of the soldiers ven
tured out in Mr.. Peekis tracks to look for
the Indians. As they came near the
smith clearing, they heard the same noise
as Mr. Peek did. They interpreted il as
cry OF hunger, rather than pain. and
with Few ears CT corn Quoted the hum
CRY animals. Mr.. Peek's Indians became
matter Of much fun at the fort for some
time after. The soldiers would wake up
in the night and grunt like hogs and
banter each other and Mr.. Peek about the
affair.
After the first excitement had passed
and 1t seemed reasonably certain that the
raiders had returned to Canada, most Of
the settlevss IL not all, took their families
and stock and went to towns further
south to wait more peaceabIe times. !
The names of most of the men who
served at Fort Fortitude have been nra.
served in the Office of the adjutant Rener-
u at Montpelier and in the so-caIled Hem ,
y Stevens Collection bought by the state
of New York. The state OF Vermont has ,
published these lists under the title az
: Hollis OF the Soldiers in the Revolution ,
AIRY War, 1775 to 1883" First ana LAST
here must have hoav, uo,-~--4 Lss