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The Monogahela of old; or, Historical sketches of south-western Pennsylvania to the year 1800

James Veech · 1858 · Scanned text

109,077 words · about 7 h 38 min to read

Period artwork: Interior of the Bodleian Library, 1845
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About this book

Author
James Veech
Language
English
Published
1858
Length
109,077 words · about 7 h 38 min
Sections
9 reader sections
Text
Scanned text, read from page scans by OCR; may contain errors
Rights
Public domain

 

Contents (9)

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Front matter

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Chapter I. Antiquities

Ante-Indian Inhabitants — Old Forts ; their forms ; sites ; localities — Mounds — Indian Towns — Indians Graves — Curious chain.

Of tlie original liuman iuhabitants of the territory, of which Fayette county is a part, we know but little. When Anglo-Saxon traders and hunters first penetrated its wilds, it was the hunting ground of the Mingo Indians, or Six Nations : ^ the seat of whose power and chief population was Western ISTew York. Delawares, whose original home was the western shore of the river of that name, and Shawnese, who came from the Cumberland river, were also found. But that these were the successors of a race more intelligent, or of a people of different habits of life, seems clearly deducible from the remains of fortifications scattered all over the territory, and which are very distinct from those known to have been constructed by the tribes of Indians named, or any of their modern compeers.

These remains of embankments, or "old forts," are numerous in Fayette county. That they are very ancient is shown by many facts. The Indians, known to us, could give no satisfactory account of when, how, or by whom they were erected ; or for what purpose, except for defence. While the trees of the surrounding forests were chiefly oak, the growths upon, and within the lines of, the old forts, were generally of large black walnut.

1 Called also the Iroquois. They ■were a Confederacy of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagoes, Cayugas, Senecas and Tuscaroras. The Delawares and Shawnese were in league with them, but rather as conquered dependents. 9

18 THE MONONGAHELA OF OLD. [CH. I.

wild cherry, and sometimes locust. We have examined some which indicated an age of from three to five hundred years, and they evidently of a second or third generation, as they were standing amid the decayed remains of their ancestors. How they got there, whether hy transplanting, hy deposits of floods, or of birds, or otherwise, is a speculation into which we will not go.

These embankments may have been originally composed of wood, as their debris is generally a vegetable mould. No stone were used in their construction ; and among their ruins are always found some remains of old pottery, composed of clay, mixed with crushed muscle shells, even when far oif from a river. This composite was not burnt, but only baked in the sunshine. These vessels were generally circular ; and, judging from those we have seen, they were made to hold from one to three quarts.

These old forts were of various /orws, square, oblong, triangular, circular and semi-circular. Their superficial areas range from one-fourth of an acre to ten acres.

Their sites were generally well chosen, in reference to defence and observation. And what is a very singular fact, they were very often, generally in Fayette county, located on the highest and richest hills, and at a distance from any spring or stream of water. In a few instances this was otherwise, water being enclosed or contiguous, as they are generally in Ohio, and other more western parts of the Mississippi valley.

Having seen and examined many of these "old forts " in Fayette, and also those at Marietta, Newark, and elsewhere, in Ohio, we believe they are all the work of the same race of people ; as are also the famous Grave Creek Mounds near Elizabethtown, Virginia; and if this belief be correct, then the conclusion follows irresistibly, that that race of people was much superior, and existed long anterior to the modern Indian. But who they were, and what became of them, must perhaps forever be unknown.

We will briefly indicate the localities of some of these "old forts" in Fayette county. To enumerate all, or, to describe them separately, would weary the reader and waste our space. The curious in such matters may yet trace their remains.

A very noted one, and of most commanding location, was at Brownsville, on the site of "Fort Burd," but covering a much larger area. Even after Col. Burd built his fort there, in 1759, it retained the names of iJAc " Old Fort," — Hedstone Old Fort, or, Fort Redstone.

There was one on laud formerly of William Goe, near the

OH. I.] ANTIQUITIES. 19

Monongahela Eiver, and just above the mouth of Little Redstone ; where afterward was a Settler's Fort, called Cassel's or Castle Fort. And an old map which we have seen has another of these old forts noted at the mouth of Speers' run, where Bellevernon now is.

Two or three are found on a high ridge southwardly of Perryopohs, on the State road, and on land late of John F. Martin.

Another noted one is on the western bank of the Youghiogheny river, nearlj' opposite the Broad ford, on land lately held by James Collins.

There are several on the high ridge of land, leading from the Collin's fort above referred to, southwestwardly toward Plumpsock, on lands of James Paull, John M. Austin, John Bute and others; a remarkable one being on land lately owned by James Gilchrist and the Byers; where some very large human bones have been found.

There is one on the north side of Mountz's creek, above Irishman's run.

A very large one, containing six or eight acres, is on the summit of Laurel Hill, where the Mud pike crosses it; covered with a large growth of black walnut.

One specially noted, as containing a great quantity of broken shells and potter}'', existed on the high laud between Laurel run and the Yough river, on a tract formerly owned by Judge Young.

There are yet distinct traces of one on land of Gen. Henry W. Beeson, formerly Col. M' Clean, about two miles east of Uniontown.

There was one north-east of Kew Geneva, at the locality known as the "Flint Hill," on land now of John Franks.

About two miles north-east of New Geneva, on the road to Uniontown, and on land late of William Morris, now Nicholas B. Johnson, was one celebrated for its great abundance of ,musc]c shells.

On the high ridge southwardly of the head waters of Middle run, several existed; of which may be named — one on the Bixler land — one on the high knob eastwardly of Clark Breading's- — one on the Alexander Wilson tract — and one on the land of Dennis Riley, deceased, formerly Andrew C. Johnson.

These comprise the most prominent of the "Old Forts," in Fayette.

Of their cognates, JKounds, erected as monuments of conquest, or, like the Pyramids of Egypt, as the tombs of kings, we have

20 THE MONONGAHELA OF OLD. [CH. I.

none. Those that we have seen were of diminutive size, and may have been thrown up to commemorate some minor events, or to cover the remains of a warrior.

Our territory, having been an Indian hunting ground, had within it but few Indian towns or villages, and these of no great magnitude or celebrity. There was one on the farm of James Ewing, near the southern corner of Redstone, and the line between German and Luzerne townships, close to a line limestone spring. Near it, on a ridge, were many Indian graves. Another was near where Abram Brown lived, about four miles west of Uniontown. There was also one on land of John M. Austin, Esq., formerly Samuel Stevens, near ' Sock. The only one we know of north of the Yough, was on the Strickler land, eastward of the Broad ford.

Piles of stones, called Indian graves, were numerous in many places in Fayette, generally near the sites of Indian villages. They were generally on stony ridges, often twenty or thirty of them in a row. In many of them have been found human bones indicating a stature of from six to seven feet. They also contained arrow heads, spear points and hatchets, of stone and flint, nicely and regularly shaped — but how done, is the wonder. On a commanding eminence, overlooking the Yough river, upon land now of Col. A, M. Hill, formerly Wm. Dickerson, there are great numbers of these Indian graves ; among which, underneath a large stone, Mr. John Cottom, a few years ago found a very curious chain, consisting of a central ring, and five chains of about two feet in length, each branching off from it, having at their end, clamps, somewhat after the manner of hand-cufl's, largo enough to enclose a man's neck — indicating that its use was to confine prisoners — perhaps to fasten them to the burning stake. The chains were of an antique character, but well made, and seemed to have gone through fire.

There are many other localities within our county limits, which maybe justly ranked as antiquities; but we reserve them to be interspersed in our subsequent sketches of events, and localities of distinct classes, with which they are intimately connected. They will lose none of their interest by their associations.

Chapter II

settlers' forts.

Fayette territory exempt from Indian cruelties — Description of Settlers' Forts ; their names and localities — An all-smoke incident.

We might refer these to our sketch of " Early Settlements ;" but, as localities, we prefer introducing them immediately after the old forts, with which they are often confounded.

For reasons which will be unfolded in the sequel, the territory of Fayette County was, after the end of the old French war, in 17(33, and during all the period of its early settlement, remarkably exempt from those terrific incursions of the savages which made forting so common and necessary in the surrounding country. Hence we had but few Settlers' Forts, and those few of but little note.

These forts were erected by the associated effort of settlers in particular neighborhoods, upon the land of some one, whose name was thereupon given to the fort, as Ashcraffs, Morris', &c. They consisted of a greater or less space of land, enclosed on all sides by high log parapets, or stockades, and cabins adapted to the abode of families. The only external openings were a large puncheon gate and small port-holes among the logs, through which the unerring rifle of the settler could be pointed against the assailants. Sometimes, as at Lindley's, and many of the other forts in the adjacent country west of the Monongahela, additional cabins were erected outside the fort, for temporary abode in times of danger, from which the sojourners could, in case of attack, retreat within the fort. All these erections were of rough logs, covered with clapboards and weight poles, the roofs sloping inwards. A regular-built fort, of the first class, had, at its angles, block-houses, and sometimes a ditch protected a vulnerable part. These block-houses projected a little past the line of the cabins, and the upper half was made to extend some two feet further, like the over-jut of a barn, so as to leave an overhanging space, secured against entrance by heavy log floors, with small port holes for repelling close attacks, or attempts to dig down, or fire the forts. These rude defences were very secure, were seldom attacked, and seldom, if ever, capi

22 THE MONONGAHELA OF OLD. [CH. II.

tured. They were always located upon open, commanding eminences, sufficiently remote from coverts and wooded heights to prevent surprise.

The sites of the "old forts" already described were sometimes chosen for settlers' forts. This was the case with the site on the Goe land, just above the mouth of Little Redstone, where, as already stated, was a settler's fort, called Cassel's, or Castle Fort. How far Redstone Old Fort was so used cannot certainly be known, as, while it existed as a place of defence, after settlements began, it was a kind of government fort, for the storage of ammunition and supplies, guarded by soldiers. Its proper name, after 1759, though seldom given to it, was Fort Burd. And there is evidence that, besides its governmental purposes, it was often resorted to by the early settlers, with their families, for protection, though for that object it was less adapted than many of the private forts — a few of which, within our county limits, we will now notice.

One of the earliest erected forts of this kind was by John Minter, the Stevenson's, Crawford's and others, on land of the former, since Blackiston, now Ebenezer Moore, about a mile and a half westwardly of Pennsville.

There was one on the old Thomas Gaddis farm, where Bazil Brownfield now lives, about two miles south of Uniontown; but what was its name we cannot certainly learn, or by whom or when erected, — probably, however, by Col. Gaddis, as he was an early settler, and a man of large public spirit.

Another, called Pearses Fort, was on the Catawba Indian trail, about four miles north-east of Uniontown, near the residences of William and John Jones. Some old Lombardy poplars, recently fallen, denoted its site.

About one mile north-west of Merrittstown there was one, on land now of John Craft. Its name is forgotten,

Swearingen's Fort was in Springhill township, near the cross-road from Cheat river towards Brownsville. It derived its name from John Swearingen, who owned the land on which it stood, or from his son. Van Swearingen, afterward Sheriff of Washington County, a Captain in the Revolution and in the frontier wars, and whose nephew of the same name fell at St. Clair's defeat.

One of considerable capacity, called Lucas' Fo7% was on the old Richard Brown farm, now Fordyce, near the frame meeting-house in Nicholson township.

M Coy's Fort, on land of James M'Coy, stood where now stands the barn of the late Eli Baily, in South Union township.

CH. II.] settlers' forts. 23

Morns' Fort, which was one of the first grade, was much resorted to by the early settlers on the upper Monongahela and Cheat, and from Ten Mile. It stood on Sandy Creek, just beyond the Virginia line, outside our County limits. It was to this fort that the family of the father of the late Dr. Joseph Doddridge resorted, in 1774, as mentioned in his Notes. The late Col. Andrew Moore, who resided long near its site, said that he had frequently seen the ruins of the fort and its cabins, which may yet be traced.

Ashcraft's Fort stood on land of the late Jesse Evans, Esq., where Phineas Sturgis lived, in Georges township. Tradition tells of a great alarm and resort to this fort, on one occasion, caused thus : On land lately owned by Robert Britt, in that vicinity, there is a very high knob called Prospect Mill, or Point Look- Out. To this eminence the early settlers were wont, in times of danger, daily to resort, to reconnoitre the country, sometimes climbing trees, to see whether any Indians had crossed the borders, of which they judged by the smoke of their camps. This hill commanded a view from the mountains to the Monongahela, and from Cheat hills far to the northward. On the occasion referred to, the scouts reported that Indians had crossed the Monongahela, judging from some smoke " which so gracefully curled." The alarm was given. The settlers flocked to Ashcraft's Fort, with wives and children , guns and provisions, and prepared to meet the foe — when lo ! much to the vexation of some and the joy of others, the alarm soon proved to be "all smoke."

Chapter III. Indian Trails, Traders' Paths, Army Roads, &c

Indians had roads — Their night compasses — Catawba or Cherokee trail — Nemacolin's — Dunlap's path — Burd's road to Redstone — Fort Burd — Cresap — Month of Redstone — Turkey-foot roads — James Smith — Bullock pens — M'Culloch's path — M'Culloch caught — Sandy Creek road — Froman's road — Old County roads — Pack-horse business and travel — Prices.

At the risk of some infractions of chronological order, before we go into the eventful portion of these sketches, we prefer now to trace these old highways ; and, to avoid repetitions, we must occasionally encroach upon subsequent narratives.

An erroneous impression obtains among many of the present day, that the Indian, in traversing the interminable forests which once covered our towns and fields, roamed at random, like a modern afternoon hunter, by no fixed paths, or that he was guided, in his long journeys, solely by the sun, moon and stars, or by the courses of streams and mountains. And true it is that these untutored sons of the woods were considerable astronomers and geographers, and relied much upon these unerring guide-marks of nature. Even in the most starless night they could determine their course by feeling the bark of the oak-trees, which is always smoothest on the south side and roughest on the north. But still they had their trails or paths, as distinctly marked as are our County and State roads, and often better located. The white traders adopted them, and often stole their names, to be in turn surrendered to the leader of some Anglo-Saxon army, and finally obliterated by some costly highway of travel and commerce. They are now almost wholly effaced and forgotten. Hundreds travel along, and plough across them, unconscious that they are in the footsteps of the red men, as they were wont to hasten, in single file, to the lick, after the deer and buffalo, or to the wigwams of their enemy, in quest of scalps.

The most prominent, and perhaps the most ancient of these old pathways across our county, was the old Catawba or Cherokee Trail, leading from the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, &c., through Virginia and Western Pennsylvania, on to "Western New York

CH. III.] INDIAN TRAILS, TRADERS' PATHS, &C. 26

and Canada. We will trace it within our limits as well as we can. After crossing and uniting with numerous other trails, the principal one entered Fayette territory, at the State line, at the mouth of Grassy run. A tributary trail, called the Warrior Branch, coming from Tennessee, through Kentucky and Southern Ohio, came up Fish creek and down Dunkard, crossing Cheat river at M'Farland's. It run out a junction with the chief trail, intersecting it in William Gan's sugar camp, but it kept on by Crow's mill, James Robinson's, and the old gun factory,^ and thence towards the mouth of Redstone, intersecting the old Redstone trail from the top of Laurel Hill, afterward Burd's road, near Jackson's, or Grace Church, on the I^ational road. The main Catawba trail pursued "the even tenor of its way," regardless of minor points, which, like a modern grand rail road, it served by branches and turn-outs. After receiving the Warrior Branch junction, it kept on through land late of Charles Griffin, by Long's Mill, Ashcraft's Fort, Philip Rogers' (now Alfred Stewart's), the Diamond Spring, (now William James'); thence nearly on the route of the present Morgantown road, until it came to the Misses Hadden's ; thence across Hellen's fields, passing near the Rev. William Brownfield's mansion, and about five rods west of the old Henry Beeson brick house ; thence through IJniontown, over the old Bank house lot, crossing the creek where the bridge now is, back of the Sheriff's house; thence along the northern side of the public grave-yard on the hill, through the eastern edge of John Gallagher's land, about six rods south of John F. Foster's (formerly Samuel Clarke's) house, it crossed Shute's run where the fording now is, between the two meadows, keeping the high land through Col. Evans' plantation, and passed between William and John Jones' to the site of Pearse's Fort; thence by the Murphy school-house, and bearing about thirty rods westward of the Mount Braddock mansion, it passed a few rods to the east of the old Conrad Strickler house, where it is still visible. Keeping on through land formerly of John Hamilton, (now Freeman,) it crossed the old Connellsville road immediately on the summit of the Limestone hill, a few rods west of the old Strickler distillery; thence through the old Lawrence Harrison land (James Blackiston's) to Robinson's falls of Mill run, and thence down it to the Yough river, crossing it just below the run's mouth, where Braddock's army crossed, at Stewart's

^ See memoir oi Albert Gallatin, in "Early Settlers" — postea, Chap. VII.

crossings. The trail thence kept through the Narrows, by Rist's, near the Baptist meeting-house, beyond Pennsville, passing by the old Saltwell on Green Lick run, to the mouth of Bushy run, at Tinsman's or Welshonse's mill. Thence it bore across Westmoreland county, up the Allegheny, to the heads of the Susquehanna, and into Western 'New York, then the empire of the Iroquois. A branch left the main trail at Robinson's mill, on Mill or Opossum run, which crossed the Yough at the Broad ford, bearing down across Jacob's creek, Sewickley and Turtle creeks, to the forks of the Ohio, at Pittsburgh, by the highland route. This branch, and the northern part within our county, of the main route, will be ibund to possess much interest in connection with Braddock's line of march to his disastrous destiny.

This Cherokee or Caiaioba Indian trail, including its Warrior branch, is the only one of note which traversed our county northward and southward. Generally, they passed eastward and westward, from the river, to and across the mountains. To trace all these would be uninteresting. We will therefore confine our sketchings to those which have had their importance enhanced by having been adopted as traders'" paths, and as army or emigrants' roads.

Decidedly the most prominent of all these is Nem.acoUn's trail, afterwards adopted and improved by Washington, and Braddock, the latter of whom, by a not unusual freak of fame, has given to the road its name, while its shrewd old Indian engineer, like him who traced for ISTapoleon the great road across the Simplon, has been buried in forgetfulness.

Nemacolin's path led from the mouth of Wills' creek (Cumberland, Md.) to the "forks of the Ohio" (Pittsburgh). It doubtless existed as a purely Indian trail before Kemacolin's time. For when the Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania traders with the Indians on the Ohio, began their operations, perhaps as early as 1740,- they procured Indians to show them the best and easiest route, and this was the one they adopted. So says Washington. And when the " Ohio Company," hereafter to be noticed, was formed, in 1748, and preparing to go into the Ohio Indian trade on a large scale, they procured Col. Thomas Cresap, of Old Town, Md., to engage some trusty Indians to mark and clear the pathway. For this purpose he engaged Nemacolin, a well known Delaware Indian, who resided at the mouth of Dunlap's creek, which,

" There is some evidence that Indian traders, both English and French, were in this? country much earlier.

CH. III.] INDIAN TRAILS, TRADERS' PATHS, &C. 27

in early times, was called Nemacolin's creek.^ The commissioner and engineer, with the aid of other Indians, executed the work, in 1750, by blazing the trees, and cutting away and removing the bushes and fallen timber, so as to make it a good pack-horse path. Washington says that " the Ohio Company, in 1753, at a 'Considerable expense, opened the road. In 1754, the troops whom I had the honor to command, greatly repaired it, as far as Gisfs plantation ; and, in 1755, it was loidenedand completed by Gen. Braddock to within six miles of Fort Du Quesne." * This is a brief history of the celebrated "Braddock's road." We will hereafter take the reader over it more leisurely. It was, until near its fatal termination, identical with Nemacolin's path, which, also, from Gist's northward, with a few variations, was identical with the old Catawba trail, or -with its westward branch to the head of the Ohio. And we will see what Braddock lost by not following it implicitly to the end.

Dunlap's path, or road, was a very early one. It came from Winchester, by way of Wills' creek, to the mouth of Dunlap's creek. Dunlap was a trader, and, as Braddock did with the road, so he succeeded in wresting from ]^emacolin the name of the creek, which now bears his name. From Wills' creek to the top of Laurel hill, near the Great Kock, the route of Dunlap's road was identical with that of Nemacolin or Braddock.^ From that point Nemacolin's path bore north-east, along the crest of the mountain ; while Dunlap's bore westwardly, descending the mountain a little south of the present ISTational road, taking to Lick run about a mile from the foot of the hill. Thence it passed through the southern part of Monroe, by Isaac Brownfield's, past James McCoy's fort, near Samuel Hatfield's brick barn, crossing the Cherokee trail some eight rods north of Rev. W. Brownfield's house ; thence to Coal lick or Jacob's run, on land now of N.

* In Gen. Richard Butlei-'s journal of his expedition down the Ohio, in 1785, in company with Colonel, afterwards President Monroe, to treat with the Miami Indians, he speaks of an island called Nemacolin's, between the mouths of the Little Kenahwa and Hocking, doubtless a subsequent abode of the same Indian.

* II. Sparks' Washington, 302, in an eloquent letter to Col. Bouquet, urging this route to be taken by Gen. Forbes, in 1758.

5 Col. Burd, in the .journal of his expedition to Redstone, in 1759, says: "At the foot of the hill [meaning the eastern base of Laurel hill] we found the path that went to Dunlap's ^lace, that Col. Shippen and Capt. Gordon traveled last winter ; and about a quarter of a mile from this we saw the Big rock, so called." Dunlap's place, we believe, was where Wm. Stone now resides, on the Burnt Cabin fork of Dunlap's creek.

Brownfield (where a braucli led ofi" to Provance's bottom, or mouth of Big Whitely) ; thence passing by David Jennings', on Jennings' run, near Samuel Harris', and through the old John Woods' land, towards Jackson's or Grace churcli, near to which, in the head of Vail's sugar camp hollow, it united with the Redstone trail, or Burd's road, presently to be sketched. And were it not that a Virginia statute, hereafter to be cited, calls for this road as starting at Medstone Old Fori, we would make its western terminus at Crawford's ferry, to which it is certain a branch led. Perhaps the main path originally went from the fort up the river to the ferry or ford there, to connect with the road to Catfish's camp, ("Washington, Pa.) which took to the river there to avoid the steep and rugged bluff opposite Brownsville.

When Virginia took it into her head to claim and exercise jurisdiction over this region of country,^ she, by a statute passed in October, 1776, gave a temporary legal existence to Dunlap's road, by making it part of the dividing line between the counties of Monongalia and Yohogania. It is now as completely sunk in oblivion as most of her politicians wish the line of 36° 30' to become.

The "road to Redstone," or Burd's road, as it was afterwards called, was originally an Indian trail, from the mouth of Redstone to the summit of Laurel hill, near the Great Rock and Washington's spring — the great focus of old roads — where it united with Dunlap's road and others. From Gist's to the Rock it seems to have been identical with JS'emacolin's or Braddoek's road. It was a much traveled path by the Indians, by early traders and adventurers, and by the French during the early part of the war of 1754-63. Captain Trent passed over it in February, 1754, on his way with men and tools and stores, to build a fort for the Ohio Company at the forks of the Ohio, and when he built the Hangard at the mouth of Redstone. By this path, also, came the French and Indians, under M. de Villiers, who attacked Col. Washington at Fort Necessity, and it was much used by them in their annoying excursions, during Braddoek's and Dunbar's marches, in connection with canoe navigation up and down the Monongahela, of all which we will read further in subsequent sketches.''

We will also see hereafter,' that when Col. Washington, in June, 1754, found himself not strong enough to advance to Fort

^ See postea — sketch of ^^ Boundary Controversy, <j-c." — Chap. IX. ' See the next succeeding sketches — " French War — Washington and Braddoek's Campaigns,'' — Chaps. IV. and V.

CH. III.] INDIAN TRAILS, ARMY ROADS, <tC. 29

Dm Quesne, he determined to proceed by this path to the mouth ot Redstone, and there erect a fort, and wait for reinforcements. Having come on to Gist's, (Mount Braddock), he sent on a party, under Captain Lewis, to open a road to Redstone ; that is, to widen and improve the Indian trail, so as to fit it for passing wagons, &c. This party had advanced with the work "about eight miles,'" when, alarmed at the approach of the enemy, they retreated, or were called back by Washington, to the incipient entrenchments at Gist's. The point at which the road was then stopped, was, we believe, at or near where it crosses Jennings' run, between John Gaddis' and B. Courtney's. It would seem that very little work was done on it ; for, live years afterwards, Col. Burd had great difiiculty to trace it.

In the latter part of the summer of 1759, Col. James Burd was sent out with two hundred men, by order of Col. Bouquet, then commanding the king's troops at Carlisle, to open and complete this road to the Monongahela river, at or near the mouth of Redstone, and there erect a fort. The English, under Gen. Stanwix. were, about the same time, commencing to build Fori Pitt, at the head of the Ohio, in lieu of Fort Du Quesne, from which the French had been driven by Gen. Forbes, and which they had burnt, the previous year. The great object of Col. Burd's expedition was to facilitate communications with this important fort from Maryland and Virginia, by using the river.^ Col. Burd seems to have had no other authority for his road and fort than Col. Bouquet's order;;. If he had, it was not from Pennsylvania, but from Virginia or the King, who doubtless provided the ways and means the more cheerfully, as the French were now effectually, and, as it turned out. permanently routed from this region of country. The Colon e! came out by Braddock's road, from Fort Cumberland. Col. Thos. Cresap, the commissioner of Kemacolin's road, was with him ; and the Rev. Francis Allison was his chaplain, preaching every Sabbath.

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