The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1959-07-30

hilltop and the riv'~ below. The
trenchs extended for nearly a mile
from the log fort, set within an
earthworks. down the hill and over
its eastward sloping sides.
Fort Pendelton was occupied by
a garrison from August, 1861, until
January Is, 1862, during the first
year Of the Civil War 1t was va
Gated then and regarrisoned some
time after the Jones raid in 1868.
The fort proved of no importance
in the overall operations of the
war. III fact, Fort PCndleton was
an example Of labor and funds
wasted. This is typical of many
phases of military activity, which
appears only after the business of
war is over. Circumstances might
have proved this western Maryland
post of great importance for it
stood guard alongside an important
route of travel and communication.
The Importance of the North
western Turnpike had been re-
placed by the construction of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. When
Job Sion built the covered bridge
across this stream in the wilder
ness, thirty years before the Civil
War, this road was the only route
across this part Of the Allegheny
mountains for freight, mail and
passenger. movement leading di-
rectly to the central Ohio river
country. The route had been advo-
Gated by Washington, its importance
to commerce finally recognized
by Virginia. and its plan put on
paper by Virginia's principal engi-
neer, Colonel CIaudius Crozet,
once a West Point instructor and
an engineer in Napoleon's French
army during the Egyptian cam
paign
The situation still held that to
the Confederate forces this road
across the mountains was impor-
tant for it offered them a route to
come North and reach the vital
railroad communication serving
the Union command. Fort Pendle-
ton was of no use the one time
that General Imboden sent his
northern division, under General
William T. Jones, over this road
to reach and destroy the railroad.
However, General Jones accom-
plished only temporary interior
ence in the railroads operations
and after that time no rebel forces
of any Importance came into what
is now Garrett County.
There are many details concern
ing the building of Fort Pendle-
ton and its temporary existence
that might be given. but this is
Of slight importance in the mill
tary operations Of that period. Suf-
flee il to state that Farmer Pendle-
toms house, his timber, and his
land were appropriated by the
military authorities for their pur-
poses in that nearly forgotten time
/ have been advised that within
a few years the present course of
US. Highway So the old North
western Turnpike, will be changed
and completely bypass the site
Of old Fort Pendleton. This will
be Of small concern to tourists as
no marker has ever been erected
to tell travellers that such mill
tary post ever existed within the
borders Of Garrett County.
The personal fortunes of people
once involved with the existence
of Fort Pendleton has been sug-
gested through other writings. The
province of such historical inter
probation does not come within the
scope Of the amateur. No doubt a
Cation or a Freeman could easily
absorb such facts of Fort Pendle-
tons history and make them come
soldiers jokes may have originated
alive as vitality concerned with our
nations past.
We can suggest that those who
wish to study this subject in de-
tail will find good material in the
private in that regiment, William
Kcpler The editor of the Glade
Star has a copy of this rare book.
In checking on the site of Old
Fort Pendleton, We found that this
land had been granted by patent
from the State of Maryland, in
1850 to w. W. Seaton, from whom
Philip Pendleton bought it in 1853.
The tract was called "Setonia" by
-