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THE
HISTORY OF PITTrSBURGH,
WITH
A BRIEF NOTICE OF ITS
FACILITIES OF COMMUNICATION,
AND OTHER ADVANTAGES FOlt
(nmmerial ani Iatnfartnritg 4nrpnorie
WITHI TWO MAPS.
BY NEVILLE B. CRAIG, ESQ.
PITTSBURGH:
PUBILISHED BY
JOHN H. MELLOR, BOOKSELLER & STATIONER, 81 WOOD ST.
PRINTED BY KENNEDY & BROTIIER, THIRD STREET.
1 S 5 1.




Entered, naccording to act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight
hundred and fifty one, by
KENNEDY & BROTHER,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania.




PREFACE.
A PREFACE to a book is a queer affair, a kind of
work of supererogation, a production which is rarely
useful to any person except the printer, and not always
so to him. When the body of the work does not exactly make up a form, it is convenient for the printer
to have a page, or perhaps more, written about something to make out the necessary space. Webster says
a Preface is intended to inform the reader of the main
design of that to which it is prefixed. The book itself,
is surely the best exposition of its own purpose, but a
preface may do the same th'ing briefly.
The title page of our book does this very briefly;
but we will make out a preface by saying that our
design in preparing our book was to give, from the
scanty and scattered materials within our reach, a
plain narrative of the steps by which the heavily
timbered land, at the head of the Ohio, was converted
into thriving and populous cities and villages, and to
point out the advantages which the inhabitants of this
location enjoy, such as cheap fuel, salubrity of climate,
fine and pure water, and very easy access to the various
parts of the country around.




ERRATA.
Page 25, last word but one, for "were" read " was."
"  207, for "1789," read "1787."
"   253, in the extract from "Hildreth's History," for " Pitt," read " Fayette."
297, in line 18, after the word " to," read " noxious."
"   303, for "activity," read " actively."
"  397, 6th line from bottom for "enjoyed" read'enjoys."




GENERAL INDEX.
A
ALLIQUIPPA, Queen and Son, 29.
Armstrong, Col. John, takes the Kittaning, 67.
Amherst, General, succeeds the Earl of London as commander in chief
in America, 72.
Attempts to regulate prices, 146.
Alarm at Fort Pitt from expected attack by the French, 161,
Allegheny County established, 207,
Allegheny, Town of, 207.
Anniversary of Washington's birth, celebration of, 217.
Application of John Neville to Judges, General of Militia, and Sheriff
for protection proved unavailing, 248.
Attack upon John Neville's house, first one repelled, 248.
Attack second, and house, &c. burned, 249 and 50.
Arrests of insurgents, 266.
Addison, Alexander, impeached, 286.
his character, 286 and 7.
Advantages of Pittsburgh, 296.
B
Braddock, General his defeat a very important event in our history, 40.
his route described by T. C. Atkinson, Esq., 41 and 50.
-  contemporaneous account of his defeat, 50 and 58.
Bouquet, Colonel, discussion with Washington about Forbes' route, 72.
----  his advice prevails, 73.
reasons probably urged by him, 73.
his redout still stands, 86.
-   commands army to relieve Fort Pitt, 91.
-  arrives at Bushy run, 91.
attacked there by Indians, 92.
Indians routed and Fort Pitt relieved, do.
his xedout built, do.
-  expedition to Muskingum, 93.
Beatty, Rev. Chas., at Pittsburgh, 94.
goes up Coal-hill, 95.
Boundaries of the purchase made in 1768, 104.
Boundaries of Manor of Pittsburgh, 104.
Boat builders, fourteen arrive from Philadelphia, 141.
Brodhead, Colonel, in command, 144.
-  expedition to Coshocton, 152.
extracts from his correspondence, 155 and 161.
Bayard, Stephen and Isaac Craig, first purchasers in Pittsburgh, 181.




Vi                    GENERAL INDEX,
Brady, Captain Samuel, trial of, 223 and 4.
Brownsville, meeting at, in opposition to tax on whiskey, 235.
Bower Hill Farm, residence of John Neville, where at, 247.
Butler, Thomas, sends eleven men to aid in defending John Neville's
house, 248.
Brackenridge, H. H., his course at Mingo creek meeting house, 251.
Bradford causes U. S. mail to be opened and examined, do.
Braddock's Field, great meeting of insurgents there, 252.
Bradford, David, the master spirit, designed to get possession of Fort
Fayette, 253.
Butler, Major Thomas, gives insurgents notice to keep at a proper distance from Fort Fayette, 253 note.
Bradford, Attorney General, advises calling out militia, 255.
Brackenridge's alarming letter, 256.
Bradford, David, flies, 264
Branch of Pennsylvania Bank established here, 289.
Bank of Pittsburgh incorporated, 288.
Bridge, Monongahela, built, 288.
---- Allegheny, " "
Batture cases, 290 and 5.
Celeron, Captain, 20.
Contrecoeur, Monsieur, arrives, 23.
summons, do.
captures Ensign Ward, 26.
Campbell, Col., lays out four squares of Pittsburgh.
Croghan's Journal, 1766, 97.
Conference with Indians here, 100.
Congress and Treaty at Fort Stanwix, 100 and 103.
Cession of land to the Penns, 101 and 102.
Controversy between Pennsylvania and Virginia, 112-127.
Commissioners appointed to hold Treaties with Indians, 140.
-       arrive at Pittsburgh.
Craig, Captain Isaac, detached to join General Clarke, 160.
Connolly, Col. John, his projected attack of Fort Pitt, 161.
----    his character, 162.
Cornwallis, Lord, order issued by General Irvine announcing his surrender at York town, 165.
Craig, Captain, returns from the Falls, 169.
Chartier's Creek, mouth of, preferred by General Irvine as a military
post, 170.
Crawford, Col., his defeat, 179.
Craig, Isaac, extracts from his memorandum book, 182-3.
Constitu!ion of United States formed, 204.
Craig, Major Isaac, letter from about arms delivered to inhabitants,
under threats, 208.
various letters, extracts from, 211-14.
Cornplanter at Legionville, 220.
--      remark of, 220.




GENERAL INDEX.                         Vii
Correspondence, citizens of Pittsburgh and Gen. Wayne, 320-2.
Craig, Isaac, notice of,
Clymer, George, sent from Philadelphia to get evidence against persons
concerned in the Faulkner case, 242.
Commissioners appointed by the Presideut to visit the insurgent counties, 257.
-     by the Governor, do.
Convention at Parkinson's Ferry, 257.
Committee of fifteen appointed by Convention to confer with the Commissioners, 258.
Convention dissolved, 258.
Commissioners and Committee meet, 259.
Cornplanter, letter from, 275.
Craig, Major, letter about beginning of glass works here, 276.
City of Pittsburgh erected, 288.
Canal, Pennsylvania, 289.
D
Delawares, 16.
Donville, Monsieur, killed, 66.
Dumas, Monsieur, Commander at Fort Duquesne, 67.
humane instructions, 67.
Depressed condition of British affairs when Pitt came into office, 71.
Duffield, Rev. visits Pittsburgh, 95.
Depreciation of Paper Money, 145.
Distillery to be erected at Pittsburgh, 189.
Democratic Societies, 254.
Description of the scite of Pittsburgh in 1798, 282.
E
Early occupants, 15.
Ecuyer, Capt.
Encroachments by whites on Indian lands, 97.
Efforts of government to prevent white encroachments, 97.
Elliot, M'Kee and Girty escape, 141.
Election to be held to decide whether the citizens would submit to the
law taxing whiskey, 261.
Eichbaum, William, Sr., at Pittsburgh, 276.
F
February 17th, 1784, 22.
Force, La, taken prisoner, 28.
--      his character, 28-9.
Forbes, Gen. John, to command expedition against Fort Du Quesne, 72.
His character, do. His army at Ray's town, now Bedford, do. His
army list or return of, 76. Takes possession of Fort Du Quesne, 77.
First Fort Pitt built, 77.
Forbes returns to Philadelphia and dies, 79.
First sale of ground in Pittsburgh, 181.
First Presbyterian church in Pittsburgh, 204.




Viii                   GENERAL INDEX.
First Furnace west of the Mountains established by Turnbull & Marmie, 212, note.
Finley, Major, laconic note from, 216.
Faulkner, Captain, permits his house to be used as a house of inspection, 240. Compelled by rioters to recall the permission, 241.
First attack on John Neville's house at Bower Hill, 248,
Fauchet, French minister, remarkable exposure, 269.
First Iron Foundry, 288.
--   Steam Flouring Mill, do.
--   Steam Boat, do.
-     Rolling Mill, do.
Flood, great, of 1832, 289.
G
Grant, Major, detached from Fort Ligonier, 73. Defeated and taken
prisoner, 74.
Guyasutha or Pontiac's war, 90. Character of, various modes of spelling his name, a very prominent man among the Indians, 137. Present
at a meeting here, 138. Reply to Captain John Neville, 139.
Girty, Elliot and M'Kee, escape, 141.
Gallatin, Albert, Secretary of meeting at Braddock's Field, 252.
Galleys, President Adams and Senatov Ross, built here, 285.
H
Harmar, General, expedition against the Indiaus, 208.
Hildreth's History of the United States, extract from, 349.
Hamilton, Alexander, advises the calling out of militia, 255.
Howell, Governor, commands troops from New Jersey against insurgents, 000.
Houses in Pittsburgh 1796-8, 280. -, 1786, 281.
Health of Pittsburgh, 307.
I & J
Introductory, 13.
Iroquois, 15.
Irvine, Gen. William, letter from, 163. Selected by Congress to command at Fort Pitt, 164. Order issued by him announcing capture of
Cornwallis, 165. His character, 166. Disapproves of the location of
Fort Pitt, and prefers a position at mouth of Chartier's creek, 166.
Long letter from, 167.
Jackson proposes emigration to erect a new State, 173. Further notice
of, 178.
Irvine's, Gen. account of Crawford's expedition and defeat, 179.
Johnston, Robert, tarred, feathered, and abused by whiskey insurgents, 237.
Insurgents alarmed, 264.
Influence of insurrection on the growth of Pittsburgh and west Pennsylvania, 273.
Jackson & Sharpless erect first paper mill, 278.




GENERAL INDEX.                         ix
K
Killed and wounded at Braddock's defeat, 58.
Kittaning, place where it stands taken by Armstrong, 67.
Kirkpatrick, Abraham; notice of, 231.
Kiddoo, James, a complying distiller injured by rioters, 245.
Kirkpatrick, Major, volunteers to defend John Neville's house, 248.
----, his barn burnt, 258.
Knox, Henry, advises the calling out of the militia, 255.
Kenhawa Salt brought here, 284.
Kiskeminitas do. 284.
L
Leaden plate deposited, 21.
Loudon, Earl of, his character, 71.
Lotteries granted, 96.
Lands acquired by the Treaty of 1768 offered for sale, 103.
Lochry, Col. and all his troops destroyed by French and Indians, 169.
Lee, Arthur, at Pittsburgh, 188. Extract from his Diary, 184-6.
Legionville, Wayne's army at, 215.
Logstown, its location, do, note.
Lenox, David, U. S. Marshal, pursued by rioters and fired at, 246.
M
Mackay, Captain, joins Washington, 29.
M'Kinney's account of Fort Du Quesne, 67.
Mercer, Col. Hugh, commands here, 79.
Military lots laid out by Col. John Campbell, 93.
Manor of Pittsburgh surveyed, 104. Boundaries of, 105.
Meeting of Augusta County, Virginia, at Pittsburgh, 127.
Mieeting of inhabitants of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, at Hanna's town, 134.
Meeting with Indians here, 137.
Morgan. Col. George, appointed Indian agent, 139.
M'Kee, Girty and Elliot, escape, 141.
M'Intosh Fort built at Beaver, 000.
M'Intosh, General, marches against the Indians and builds Fort Laurens, 143.
Murder of Indians at the Moravian towns, Gen. Irvine's notice of, 171.
May Flower with emigrants from New England to Ohio arrives here, 205.
Mechanics in Pittsburgh in 1792, 213.
Mail boats, a line of, established from Wheeling to Maysville, 227.
Martin, Elijah, captain of mail boat No. 1, do.
Mills, Charles, mail boat No. 2, 228.
Marshal, Biddle, his deputy Fox afraid to serve process against rioters
in Allegheny county, 238.
Messenger sent with process whipped, tarred and feathered, 239.
M'Farlane, leader of the Insurgents, killed, 250.
Mingo Creek meeting house, meeting of Insurgents at, 250.
Mail intercepted and opened, 251.




X                    GENERAL INDEX.
Miffin, Governor, doubts whether militia would obey a eall against
Insurgents, 255.
Morgan, General, commands troops from Virginia, 263.
Mifflin, those of Pennsylvania, 263.
Morgan, General, left in command of 2500 men, 267.
Mio-qua-coo-na-caw died, 278. Inscription on tomb stone, 279.
Monongahela Bridge, 288.
Monongahela River improved by locks and dams, 289.
Manufactories in Pittsburgh, 311.
N
Necessity, Fort, at Great Meadows, 29.
Niagara Fort taken, 82.
New State projected, 173. Further notice of, 177.
Navigation of the Ohio good above as below Wheeling, 225.
Neville, John, Judge Wilkinson's notice of, 228. Character of, 230.
Neville, Presley, character of, 231.
Neville, John, Inspector of Revenue, burnt in effigy in Allegheny county, at a public meeting, in presence of several magistrates, without
interruption, 243.. Pursued by rioters, 245. In company with the
Marshal David Lenox pursued and fired upon, 246.
0
Ohio Company, Grant to, 21.
Order, Braddock's, at Monakatuca camp, 52-4.
-, Camp near Monongahela, 54.
Ornisby, John, account of taking Fort Du Quesne, 77-8. Account of
alarm at Fort Pitt in 1759, 82.
Orders received by Captain Edmonson to abandon Fort Pitt, 110.
Ordinance of 1787, 204.
Ohio, navigation of, as good above as below Wheeling, 225.
Opposition to tax on Whiskey, 235.
Opposition to the administration of Washington, greatly mortified at result of the insurrection, 269.
Onondaga Salt introduced here, 284.
O'Hara, James, and Salt, 284.
Ohio and Pennsylvania Rail Road, 289.
P
Pitt, Wil!iam, Prime Minister, 71.'
Pitt, First Fort built, 78. Affairs at, 80. Threatened descent of French
and Indians, 81-2.
Pitt, Fort, a formidable work built, 84. Description of, 85. Monckton,
General, arrives at, 88. Orders troops from to Presquile, 88. Troops
march from, 88-9.
Peace between Great Britain, France and Spain, 89.
Pitt, Fort, Treaty with the Indians at, 89. Besieged, 91.
Pontiac or Guyasutha War, 90.




GENERAL INDEX,                         xi
Proclamation offering rewards for Indian scalps, 97.
Pittsburgh laid out, 181. Pittsburgh in 1784, 186-8. Brackenridge's
account of 1786, 189. First meeting at to oppose tax on whiskey,
proceedings of, 236-7. Second meeting at, 241.
Pittsburgh Gazette issued, 189.
Presbyterian Church, First, 201.
Postages, Pittsburgh and RichmDnd, in 1790 and 1850, 207.
President Washington issues his proclamation against obstructors of the
excise law, 241.
Paper Mill, first west of the mountains, 278.
Q
Quesne, Fort Du, built, 27,
R
Reasons probably urged by Bouquet against Braddock's route for Forbe's
army, 73.
Redout built by Bouquet, 92.
Redstone, meeting at, to oppose tax on whiskey, 235.
Randolph disapproves the call of militia, 256.
Requisition made on Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia, 256.
S
Six Nations or Iroquois, 15.
Shawanos or Shawanese, 19.
Senecas, 20.
Sawcunk, now Beaver, 20.
Shingiss, character of, note, 22.
Summons of Contrecoeur, 23.
Stobo, Captain, a hostage to the French, 32. Letters frodn Fort Duquesne, 33. His character and adventures, 39.
Smith's, James, account of burning prisoners at Fort Du Quesne, 60-65.
Scotchmen, prominent in the early history of this region, 79.
Stanwix, General, successor of General Forbes, 80. Arrives here, 84.
Directs building of Fort Pitt, 00. Returns to Philadelphia, 87. Arrives in London, 88. Shipwrecked, himself, wife, daughter, a relative
and four servants, all lost, 88.
St. Clair, Sir John, arrives here, 90.
Stanwix, Fort, first treaty at, 100.
Scarcity of Provision at Pittsburgh, 143.
Smoky Island, attack upon friendly Delaware Indians on, 172.
Stanwix, Fort, second treaty at, 183.
Scull, John, letter from, 214.
Second attack upon John Neville's house, 249.
Smith, General Samuel, commands troops from Maryland, 263.
Sharpless & Jackson establish first paper west of mountains, 278.
Ship building here, 287.
Salubrity of Pittsburgh, 310.




Xii                   GENERAL INDEX.
T
Trent, Captain, arrives at Forks, 22.
Tanacharison advises Ward, 26.
Tax upon whiskey, 234.
Troops begin their march and arrive at Parkinson's Ferry, 262-6,
W
Washington arrived at Forks-his journal, extract from, 21-2.
Ward, Ensign, at the Forks-summoned to surrender, 23. Capitulates
and arrives at Will's creek, 27.
Washington has a consultation-determines to advance-arrives at Little
Meadows, do. Joined by Tanacharison-attacks and defeats the
French, and kills their leader Jumonville, 28. Advances to Gist's
farm andretreats to Fort Necessity, 30. Attacked by De Villiers, 31.
Capitulates, 32.
Washington, on his way to the Kenhawa, arrives here, 106. Extract
from his journal, 106-110. His estimate of number of houses here in
1770, 110.
Wayne, General, at Legionville-strict discipline, 216. His victory and
his death, 273-8.
Wells, Collector of Revenue, maltreated by rioters, 239.
Winter of 1796-7 very severe, 278.
Water Street, proceedings to remove obstructions in, 295.
Y
Yellow Fever in Philadelphia and alarm here, 225.
"*            "         contributions here for the relief of
the suffering poor, 286.
Youghiogany river improved by locks and dams, 289.




INTRODUCTORY.
IN WRITING the history of American towns, there
exist not those materials for giving interest and variety
to the narrative which can be found in older countries,
where distance lends enchantment to the view and
gives room for the play of fancy. If, however, our
own history affords less opportunity for the introduction of romantic incidents, it, at least, gives us the
means of detailing with greater accuracy the events
which have actually occurred. In regard to this section of country, there is one point in which the narrative must differ widely from those of some older
countries. Of Rome, for instance, from its foundation,
we have a continued narrative partly true, partly
fictitious, down through twelve centuries or more;
while of the country in which we dwell, we have for
many years after its first occupancy only occasional
and very brief glimpses. This latter circumstance
naturally gives to the account of the first occupancy
and settlement, the form of lean and occasional
sketches; but even these glimpses of the steps by which
this region of country passed from a wilderness to a
rich and highly cultivated land, thickly populated with
an enterprising, active people, can scarcely fail to be
interesting.
The annals of Pittsburgh, however, present greater
variety of incidents than most American towns. A
writer in speaking of Detroit uses the following lanA2




xiv             INTRODUCTORY.
guage. " How numerous and diversified are the inci"dents compressed within the history of this settle" ment. No place in the United States presents such
"a series of events interesting in themselves, and
"permanently affecting, as they occurred, its pros"perity. Five times its flag has changed, three dif"ferent sovereignties have claimed its allegiance, and
"since it has been held by the United States, its
"government has been thrice transferred. Twice it
- has been besieged by the Indians, once captured in
"war and once burned to the ground."
We think that the history of Pittsburgh, will present no less variety of incident. Great Britain,
France, Great Britain again, Virginia, the United
States and Pennsylvania have each in turn exercised
sovereignty here. Twice it has been captured in
war. First by Contrecoeur in 1754 and by Forbes in
1758. Once besieged by Indians, in 1763, once blown
up and burned by the French in 1758, it was the field
of controversy between neighboring States in 1774,
and finally the scene of civil war in 1794.
In the following book a brief notice of each of these
events and various others in our history will be given;
and our progress thus traced, from the period when
the roving Iroquois or Delawares were the only tenants
of the forest here, down to the present day of steam
power, telegraphs and railroads.




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THE
HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
CHAPTER I.
EARLIEST known occupants of this region. Six Nations or Iroquois,
Delawares, Shawanese, European claimants, French, English. Captain
Celeron. English grant to Ohio company. Washington's first visit
and notice of " the Forks." Shingiss. Captain Trent arrives. Monsieur
Contrecoeur descends the Allegheny, takes Ensign Ward prisoner,
Fort Duquesne built. Operations of Washington and the French,
Jumonville killed, taking of Fort Necessity.
AT the time the white man first appeared in the
region around the head of the Ohio, the only occupants of the soil, were the six nations called Iroquois
by the French, Magua by the Dutch; Mingoes by the
English; and Mengwe by the other Indian nations;
The Lenni-Lenape or Delawares, and the Shawanos
or the Shawanese.
The Six Nations were originally five, viz: the Mo_
hawks, the Oneidas, the Onondagoes, the Cayugas and
the Senecas; subsequently, however, the Tuscaroras
upon being driven from North Carolina, applied for
admission into the Five Nations, and since their admission in 1712, the union has been styled the Six Nations.
The home of the Five Nations was in New York, but
they were a very warlike people and their conquests




16          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
had extended, as we are told, by Colden in his history
of the Five Nations, from New York to Carolina, and
from New England to the Mississippi. To manage
their common concerns they had a Council composed
of Sachems of different nations, who met annually, it
is said, at Onondaga. This council has been compared
to the Wittenagemot of the Saxons.
Mingoes were found scattered through Western
Pennsylvania and in Ohio.   Washington in 1753
found Tanacharison, the Half King of the Six Nations at Logstown, and a portion of them settled in
the rich bottom on the Ohio, below Steubenville, have
left their name there.
The Delawares, another nation of Indians occupying this region of country, were once the formidable
enemies of the Iroquois, but about two hundred years
ago their condition was greatly altered. The mediators among the Indians were women. It is deemed disgraceful for a warrior to speak of peace while war exists.
About 1617 the Iroquois had, by their own account,
conquered the Delawares and forced them to put on
petticoats and assume the character of women. The
Delawares admit the fact, of the assumption of the
new character, but say the Iroquois accomplished their
purpose by artifice; by persuading them that it would
be magnanimous for a great and heroic nation like the
Delawares to assume the character of a mediator.
The ceremony of the metamorphosis was celebrated
with great pomp at Albany, in presence of the Dutch,
whom the Delawares accused of conspiring with their
enemies, the Mengwe, to degrade them.
The cause of the Delawares, and their explanation
of this strange occurrence, is zealously advocated by




IISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          17
the Rev. Mr. Heckewelder; but that view of the matter seems far from satisfactory. The Iroquois, upon
several subsequent occasions, assumed that dictatorial
or authoritative tone to the Delawares, which might be
expected from a conqueror, but not from a treacherous
deceiver. The submissiveness, too, of the Delawares
under such treatment, seems rather to resemble the
timidity of a conquered, than the fierce resentment of
a deceived people. A single instance will elucidate
this point. In 1736 there was a dispute between the
Delawares and the proprietors of Pennsylvania arising
out of what was called the walking purchase of land,
in the forks of the Delaware river. In 1742 a new
treaty was to be made with Governor Thomas, at
Philadelphia. He solicited the influence of the Six
Nations, who sent down two hundred and thirty warriors. After the Council had assembled, Cannassatego,
an Iroquois chief, told the Governor " That they saw
the Delawares had been an unruly people, and were
altogether in the wrong; that they had concluded to
remove them, and oblige them to go over the river
Delaware and quit all claim to any lands on this side
for the future, since they had received pay for them,
and it is gone through their guts long ago."  "They
deserved to be taken by the hair of the head and
shaken severely until they recovered their senses."
"We conquered you and made women of you, and
you know you can no more sell lands than women."
" For all these reasons we charge you to remove instantly; we don't give you liberty to- think about
it. You are women. Don't deliberate, but remove
away.
The Delawares dared not disobey. They left the
A2*




18           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Council immediately, and soon after removed from the
forks of the Delaware; some to Shamokin and Wyoming, the places assigned them by Canassatego, and
some to Ohio.
Certainly the language of the Iroquois resembled
that of a conqueror, rather than that of a mere deceiver, and the conduct of the Delawares was not such,
as we would expect from persons who were shamefully
deceived and imposed upon.
Again, at a Treaty held at Fort Pitt, in May, 1768,
a little incident occurred, which showed that the Shawanese also submitted very patiently to the rebukes
of the Iroquois, and tended to prove that the latter
well deserved the name given them by the late De WXitt
Clinton, of the Romnans of America. Nymwha, a
Shawanese, addressing the Pennsylvania Commissioners and the English present, said: "We desired you
to destroy your forts, &c. We also desired you not to
go down the river," &c. Next day Keyashuta, a
Seneca chief, (one of the Indians, by the way, who
accompanied Washington from Logstown, to Le Boeuf
in 1753, and whom the writer well recollects,) rose
with a copy of the Treaty of 1764 with Col. Bradstreet, in his hand, and addressing the Commissioners,
said: "By this Treaty we agreed that you had a right
to build forts and trading-houses where you pleased,
and to travel the road of peace from the sun rising to
the sun setting. At that Treaty the Shawanese and
Delawares were with me, and know all this well, and
I am surprised they should speak to you as they did
yesterday."  Two days afterwards, Kissinaughta, a
Shawanese chief, rose, and said: "You desired us to
speak from our hearts, and tell you what gave us un



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          19
easiness of mind, and we did so. We are very sorry
we should have said any thing to give offence, and we
acknowledge we were wrong."
At the time of the charter to William Penn, the
Delawares occupied New Jersey, the valley of the
Delaware river, and the entire basin of the Schuylkill.
Subsequently they removed to the Ohio, and in 1753,
Washington found Shingiss, their King, near McKee's
Rocks, and Queen Aliquippa at the mouth of the
Youghiogany, now McKeesport.*
The Shawanos, or Shawanese, are described as a
restless people, who were constantly engaged in war
with some of their neighbors. They were originally
from the South; the French say from the Cumberland
river; Mr. Heckewelder was told by other Indians
that they were from Florida, and Mr. Johnson, United
States Agent of Indian affairs, at Piqua, in Ohio,
states that they came from the Suwaney river, Florida,
and that it derived its name froV them. He also
states, that they, and they only, of all the Indian
tribes, have a tradition that their ancestors crossed
the sea. IIe also says, that until lately they kept a
yearly sacrifice for their safe arrival.
About 1698, they first appeared in Pennsylvania,
as Mr. Heckewelder states, at Montour's Island, six
miles below Pittsburgh, some advanced to Conestoga,
and others settled on the head waters of the Susquehanna and Delaware. In 1728, they were again in
motion to the West, and located themselves near the
Allegheny and Ohio. In 1732, of seven hundred
warriors in the State, three hundred and fifty were
Shawanese.
* Another Delaware town, called Shannopin's town was situated
near the Allegheny river, from the two mile run downwards.




20          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
They had several villages within the limits of the
present counties of Allegheny and Beaver. Christian
Frederic Post passed through three Shawanese villages
between Fort Duquesne and Sawcunk, which, we believe, was near the mouth of Beaver, about where
Beaver town now stands. Their principal residence
was afterwards on the Scioto.
Of the Six Nations, the Senecas were the most
western in geographical position, their homes extended
from the head waters of the Allegheny river some
distance down the Ohio; and to this nation belonged
Tanacharison, Guyasutha and Cornplanter.
These various nations, strangely mixed together and
yet preserving their distinctive and separate organizations, were dwelling here in peace, when the white man
appeared among them. The Englishman claiming
title under a charter by a distant king, strengthened
by a treaty with the Iroquois; the Frenchman'resting
upon the first discovery. It is useless now to inquire,
which had the better or which the worse title. Certainly it was easy enough for either claimant to find
sufficient flaws in his adversary's title; to excuse his
resistance to it; especially in a case where only a
plausible pretext was needed.
France then held extensive possessions in North
America. Canada and Louisiana belonged to her, and
she was anxious to strengthen herself, and circumscribe her adversary, by establishing a line of posts
from her northern to her southern colony. Thepoint
at the junction of the Monongahela and Allegheny
rivers, at once became a commanding position in this
great scheme.
In 1749 Capt. Celeron, a French officer, was de



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          21
tached from Canada to take possession of the country
along the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. He performed
his task and deposited leaden plates at different points.
Three of these have been found, one at the mouth of
French creek, as we have been told, one at Marietta,
and one at the mouth of Big Kenhawa. Of the latter,
a very accuratefac simile was engraved for, and published in the Olden Time, a periodical issued in Pittsburgh in 1846.
In the year 1748 Thomas Lee, one of the King's
council in Virginia, formed a plan for a settlement on
lands west of the mountains; a company was formed
of persons in Maryland and Virginia, and Mr. Hanbury, of London, by the name of the Ohio Company;
to whom a half a million acres of land, principally on
the south side of the Ohio, between the Monongahela
and Kenhawa, were granted.
We learn from Washington's journal of his visit to
the French at Le Boeuf, that the Ohio Company, intended to lay off their fort near McKee's Rocks; this,
however, was not done, we know not why.
On the 24th day of November, 1753, George Washington arrived here, on his way to the French commandant at Le Boeuf.   His journal contains the
following notice of this place, where, at that time, we
presume, there was no human being residing.
" As I got down before the canoe, I spent some time
in viewing the rivers, and the land in the fork, which
I think extremely well situated for a fort, as it has the
absolute command of both rivers. The land at the
point is twenty-five feet above the common surface of
the water; and a considerable bottom of flat well
timbered land all around it very convenient for build



22            HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
ing. The rivers are each a quarter of a mile across,
and run here very nearly at right angles; Allegheny,
bearing north-east; and Monongahela, south-east.
The former of these two is a very rapid and swift running water, the other deep and still, without any perceptible fall.
"About two miles from this, on the south-east side
of the river, at the place where the Ohio company
intended to erect a fort, lives Shingiss,* king of the
Delawares. We called upon him, to invite him to a
council at Logstown.
"As I had taken a good deal of notice yesterday
of the situation at the fork, my. curiosty led me to
examine this more particularly, and I think it greatly
inferior, either for defence or advantages, especially
the latter. For a fort at the fork would be equally
well situated on the Ohio, and have the entire command of the Monongahela, which runs up our settlement, and is extremely well designed for water carriage, as it is of a deep, still nature. Besides, a fort at
the fork might be built at much less expense, than at
the other place."
Washington proceeded from Logstown to Le Boeuf,
where he received a very unsatisfactory reply; immediately after his return arrangements were made to
send troops to this point.
One company under the command of Capt. Trent,
were first ready to march. On the 17th day of Feb- Of this man, (Shingiss,) the reverend Mr. Heckewelder says, " were
his war exploits all on record, they would form an interesting document, though a shocking one! Conacocheaque, Big Cove, Sherman's
valley and other settlements along the frontier felt his strong arm sufficiently, that he was a bloody warribr,-cruel his treatment, relentless
his fury. His person was small, but in point of courage and activity,
savage prowess, he was said never to be exceeded by any one."




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          23
ruary, 1754, a memorable day in our history, Mr.
Trent arrived at the Forks to meet Mr. Gist and others;
they expected the rest of the company, to the number
of seventy or eighty in a few days, and then intended
to lay the foundation of the new fort. We know not
precisely when the work was begun, but it must have
been prior to the 17th April, for on that day Monsieur
Contrecoeur with sixty batteaux, three hundred canoes,
eighteen pieces of cannon, and one thousand men,
Indians and Frenchmen, arrived here from Venango,
and, by the following document, summoned Ensign
Ward, who commanded in the absence of Captain
Trent, to surrender:
A SUMMONS,
BY ORDER OF MONSIEUR CONTRECEUR, CAPTAIN OF ONE
OF THE COMPANIES OF THE DETACHMENT OF THE
FRENCH MARINE, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF HIS MOST
CHRISTIAN MAJESTY'S TROOPS, NOW ON THE BEAUTIFUL
RIVER, TO THE COMMANDER, OF THOSE OF THE KING OF
GREAT BRITAIN, AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER MONONGAHELA.
SIR-Nothing can surprise me more than to see you
attempt a settlement upon the lands of the King, my
master, which obliges me now, Sir, to send you this
gentleman, Chevalier Le Mercier, Captain of the Artillery of Canada, to know of you, Sir, by virtue of
what authority you are come to fortify yourself within
the dominions of the King, my master. This action
seems so contrary to the last Treaty of Peace, at Aix
La Chapelle, between his Most Christian Majesty and
the King of Great Britain, that I do not know to
whom to impute such an- usurpation, as it is incontestable that the lands situated along the Beautiful River
belong to his Most Christian Majesty.




24           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
"I am informed, Sir, that your undertaking has
been concerted by none else than by a Company, who
have more in view the advantage of a trade, than to
endeavor to keep the union and harmony which subsists between the two crowns of France and Great
Britain, although it is as much the interest, Sir, of
your nation as ours, to preserve it.
"Let it be as it will, Sir, if you come out into this
place, charged with orders, I summon you in the name
of the King, my master, by virtue of orders which I
got from my General, to retreat peaceably with your
troops from off the lands of the King, and not to
return, or else I will find myself obliged to fulfil my
duty, and compel you to it. I hope, Sir, you will not
defer an instant, and that you will not force me to the
last extremity. In that case, Sir, you may be persuaded that I will give orders that there shall be no
damage done by my detachment.
"I prevent you, Sir, from asking me one hour of
delay, nor to wait for my consent to receive orders
from your Governor. Ile can give none within the
dominions of the King, my master. Those I have
received of my General are my laws, so that I cannot
depart from them.
"On the contrary, Sir, if you have not got orders,
and only come to trade, I am sorry to tell you, that I
can't avoid seizing you, and to confiscate your effects
to the use of the Indians, our children, allies and
friends, as you are not allowed to carry on a contraband trade. It is for this reason, Sir, that we stopped
two Englishmen, last year, who were trading upon our
lands; moreover, the King, my master, asks nothing
but his right; he has not the least intention to trouble




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          25
the good harmony and friendship which reigns between
his Majesty and the King of Great Britain.
"The Governor of Canada can give proof of his
having done his utmost endeavors to maintain the
perfect union which reigns between two friendly
Princes. As he had learned that the Iroquois and the
Nipissingues of the Lake of the two Mountains, had
struck and destroyed an English family, towards Carolina, he has barred up the road, and forced them to
give him a little boy belonging to that family, and
which Mr. Ulerich, a merchant of Montreal, has carried to Boston; and what is more, he has forbid the
savages from exercising their accustomed cruelty upon
the English, our friends.
" I could complain bitterly, Sir, of the means taken
all last winter to instigate the Indians to accept the
hatchet and to strike us, while we were striving to
maintain the peace. I am well persuaded, Sir, of the
polite manner in which you will receive M. Le Mercier,
as well out of regard to his business as his distinction
and personal merit. I expect you will send him back
with one of -your officers, who will bring me a precise
answer. As you have got some Indians with you, Sir,
I join with M. Le Mercier, an interpreter, that he may
inform them of my intentions upon that subject,
"I am, with great regard, Sir,
"Your most humble and most ob't serv't,
" CONTREC(EUR.
"Done at our Camp, April 16, 1754."
Resistance by about forty men, even with the aid
of an unfinished stockade, to several hundred French
and Indians, with several pieces of cannon, were out
B




26          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
of the question. Ward had no brother officer to consult with, but Tanacharison, the half King of the Six
Nations of Indians, a zealous friend of the English
was present, and advised him to inform the French
commandant, that he was not an officer of rank, nor
was he invested with authority to answer the demand,
and to request time until the arrival of Captain Trent,
who was at Turtle Creek. He went to the French
camp; Tanacharison, in company, with this reply.
Contrecceur, however, refused to wait, and demanded
an immediate surrender. A capitulation of course
followed, and on the succeeding day, Ward, with his
party, ascended the Monongahela to Redstone, now
Brownsville, where a store house had previously been
erected.
A full narrative of the whole affair was given, under
oath, by Ensign Ward, to Mr. Dinwiddie, Governor of
Virginia, who forwarded it to the British Government.
Ward, in his statement, mentions that Contrecoeur
invited him to supper, after the capitulation. Poor
Ward, probably, had but little appetite that night, and
had Contrecoeur foreseen all the consequences of the
doings of that day, his happiness would, also, have
been greatly clouded.
This affair of the 17th of April, 1754, has been regarded, as the commencement of that memorable war,
whose operations extended over continental Europe,
Asia, Africa and America. On that day French
dominion extended from the eastern shores of Nova
Scotia, by the St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes and the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the Gulf of Mexico.
In Africa she owned Senegal and Goree. In India
she held extensive possessions, guarded and defended




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          27
by fortifications and troops. We will, hereafter, see
how she was left, by the treaty of Paris which put an
end to the war, begun here by Contrecoeur.
That officer having thus obtained possession of this
place proceeded at once to erect a fort, which he called
Fort Du Quesne, after the Governor of Canada, the
Marquis Du Quesne de Menneville.
Ensign Ward arrived at Willis' Creek, where Cumberland now stands, on the 22d of April, where Washington had arrived with three companies. Expresses
were immediately sent to the Governors of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, asking for reinforcements. Washington, then, had a consultation with
his officers and determined to advance, and, if possible,
to reach the Monongahela, at Redstone, and there
erect a fortification.
Active operations between Washington and the
French, now ensued in Fayette county; which are not
directly connected with the annals of Pittsburgh, and
yet, cannot be entirely overlooked in performing our
task. We shall, therefore, notice these operations as
briefly as possible; referring our readers to the Olden
Time, or any history of the United States, for fuller
information.
On the 9th of May, Washington was at Little
Meadows, where he received information that Contrecoeur had been reinforced with eight hundred men.
On the 18th he was encamped on the Youghiogany,
near where Smithfield, in Fayette county, now stands.
A few days after he moved forward to the Great
Meadows.
That same night, (May 27th,) about nine o'clock, an
express arrived from  Tanacharison, who was then




28          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
encamped with some of his warriors about six miles
off, with information that the French were near his
encampment. Col. Washington, immediately started
with forty men to join the Half-King. The night was
dark, the rain fell in torrents, the woods were intricate,
the soldiers often lost their way groping in the bushes
and clambering over rocks and logs, but at length they
arrived at the Indian camp just before sunrise, (May
28th.) A Council with Tanacharison was immediately
held, and joint operations against the French were
determined on. Two Indian spies discovered the
enemy's position in an obscure place, surrounded by
rocks, and a half mile from the road. Washington
was to advance on the right, Tanacharison on the left.
Thus they approached in single file, until they were
discovered by the French, who immediately seized their
arms and prepared for action. The action commenced
by a brisk firing on both sides, which was kept up for
a quarter of an hour, when the French ceased to resist.
Monsieur Jumonville, the commandant, and ten of his
men were killed, and twenty-two were taken prisoners,
one of whom was wounded. A Canadian escaped
during the action. Washington had one man killed
and two wounded. No harm happened the Indians.
The prisoners were sent to Governor Dinwiddie.
Among the prisoners taken on the 28th of May,
were Messieurs Drouillon and La Force, and two
cadets. La Force was described as a bold, enterprising man, of great subtlety and cunning, and we will
hereafter find Captain Stobo, while a prisoner at Fort
Duquesne, speaking of his absence as a great loss to
the French. Washington, in a letter to Governor Dinwiddie, thus speaks of him: "Besides, La Force




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          29
would, if released, I really think, do more disservice
than fifty other men, as he is a person whose active
spirit leads him into all parties, and has brought him
acquainted with all parts of the country. Add to this
a perfect use of the Indian tongue and great influence
with the Indians."
The Canadian who escaped at the time of Jumonville's death would, of course, carry the news of that
affair to Fort Duquesne, and Washington, anticipating
that a larger force would be sent against him, set his
troops to work to enlarge and strengthen the work he
had prepared at the Great Meadows, and called it Fort
Necessity.
The Indians began to flock in around him, Tanacharison and his followers, Queen Aliquippa and her
son, and others to the number of forty or fifty families.
Captain Mackay, with an independent company of one
hundred men from South Carolina, also joined him.
That officer had a royal commission, which he thought
placed him over Washington. He, however, was a
prudent man, and no disagreement occurred. On the
10th of June, nine deserters from the French arrived
at Washington's camp, and confirmed intelligence previously received by a messenger sent from Logstown to
Tanacharison, that the Shawanese had agreed to take
up the hatchet against the English. These deserters
also stated that the Fort at the Forks was completed..
They stated that there were not above five hundred
men in the Fort when they left, but supposed that two
hundred had since arrived. The same deserters also
stated, as Washington said in his letter, that Jumonville's party were sent out as spies.
On the 11th of June, Washington, leaving Captain
B*




30           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Mackay at Fort Necessity, marched with his troops,
intending to advance to Redstone. After two weeks of
toil he reached Gist's farm, only thirteen miles from Fort
Necessity. Here information was received that reinforcements had arrived at Fort Duquesne from Canada,
and that a large detachment would soon be sent against
the English. A retreat was then decided upon.
Washington intended to retreat to Will's creek, but
when he arrived at the Great Meadows he found his
men so exhausted by their exertions and by the scarcity
of provisions that they could neither draw the swivels
farther nor carry their baggage. They had been eight
days without bread, and found only a few bags of flour
at the Great Medows. It was, therefore, concluded to
remain there, erect a fortification, and wait until supplies and reinforcements could reach them. It was
now the first of July. Expresses were sent to hasten
on aid; while the men were set to work to fell trees and
collect the logs to erect a breast work and a fort, which
was called Fort Necessity.
"On the 3d of July, early in the morning, an alarm
was received from a sentinel who had been wounded by
the enemy; and at nine o'clock intelligence came that
the whole body of the enemy, amounting, as was reported, to nine hundred men, was only four miles off.
At eleven o'clock they approached the fort and began
to fire at a distance of six hundred yards, but without
effect. Colonel Washington had drawn up his men on
the open and level ground outside of the trenches, waiting for the attack, which he presumed would be
made as soon as the enemy's forces emerged from the
woods; and he ordered his men to reserve their fire till
they should be near enough to do execution. The dis



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          31
tant firing was supposed to be a stratagem to draw
Washington's men into the woods, and thus to take
them at a disadvantage. He suspected the design, and
maintained his post till he found the French did not
incline to leave the woods and attack the fort by an
assault, as he supposed they would, considering their
superiority of numbers. He then drew his men back
within the trenches, and gave them orders to fire according to their discretion, as suitable opportunities
might present themselves. The French and Indians
remained on the side of the rising ground, which was
nearest to the fort, and, sheltered by the trees, kept
up a brisk fire of musketry, but never appeared in the
open plain below. The rain fell heavily through the
day, the trenches were filled with water, and many of
the arms of Colonel Washington's men were out of
order, and used with difficulty.
" In this way the battle continued from eleven
o'clock in the morning till eight at night, when the
French called and requested a parley. Suspecting this
to be a feint to procure the admission of an officer into
the fort, that he might discover their condition, Colonel
Washington at first declined listening to the proposal,
but when the call was repeated, with the additional request that an officer might be sent to them, engaging
at the same time their parole for his safety, he sent out
Captain Vanbraam, the only person under his command
that could speak French, except the Chevalier de Peyrouny, an ensign in the Virginia regiment, who was
dangerously wounded and disabled from rendering any
service on this occasion. Vanbraam  returned, and
brought with him from M. de Villiers, the French
commander, proposed articles of capitulation. These




32          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
he read and pretended to interpret, and some changes
having been made by mutual agreement, both parties
signed them about midnight.
"By the terms of the capitulation, the whole garrison was to retire, and return without molestation to the
inhabited parts of the country, and the French commander promised, that no embarrassment should be
interposed, either by his own men or the savages. The
English were to take away every thing in their possession, except their artillery, and to march out of the
fort the next morning with the honors of war, their
drums beating and colors flying. As the French had
killed all the horses and cattle, Colonel Washington
had no means of transporting his heavy baggage and
stores; and it was conceded to him that his men might
conceal their effects, and that a guard might be left to
protect them till horses could be sent up to take them
away. Colonel Washington agreed to restore the prisoners who had been taken at the skirmish with Jumonville; and as a surety for this article two hostages,
Captains Vanbraam and Stobo, were delivered up to
the French, and were retained till the prisoners should
return. It was moreover agreed that the party capitulating should not attempt to build any more establishments at that place, or beyond the mountains, for the
space of a year.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.             33
CHAPTER II.
Vanbraam and Stobo, hostages, detained some time in Fort Du Qnesne;
letter from the latter; notice of Stobo. Braddock's expedition; persons engaged in it. T. C. Atkinson's delineation of his route, account
of his defeat by one who was present; list of killed and wounded
officers. James Smith's account of the burning of prisoners at Fort
Du Quesne next day.
Vanbraam, one of the persons delivered up as hostages, was a Dutchman; the other, Robert Stobo, a
Scotchman. Of the former we know but little, of the
latter we have learned something more, though still
much less than we would desire to know. The distinguished historian, David Hume, in a letter to Smollet,
dated 21st September, 1768, speaks of Stobo as the
friend of the latter and says: "he has surely had the
"most extraordinary adventures in the world."   We
shall take occasion to make some allusion to him in a
short time.
These hostages were both detained in Fort Duquesne
some time. While there, Stobo wrote the two following
letters to the Governor of Virginia:
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN STOBO, JULY 28, 1754.
" The Indians are greatly alarmed at a report said
to be brought up by an Indian named Tuscarora John.
He reports that the Half-King, Monecatootha, and a
Shawanese King, &c., to the number of 37, were confined by the English and carried as prisoners. That
John Meinors, alias Jacob Cork, of Montour's company,
told him so soon as they got them to the inhabitants




34          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
they would hang them all, and advised him to make his
escape. This was industriously reported the day before the Shawanese counselled with the French and
their Indians. The French made them a very long
and eloquent speech; telling them they did not come
to make war with any but the English would not let
them alone. That they expected their children would
not see their father abused in his old age; but that if
they had a mind to join the English they might; if not
and to live in peace with all, there were goods for them.
This was all I could pick up. The French gave two
very large belts of Wampum and as many strings.
Their Indians gave an equal number. The French
gave them likewise a large present, viz: 16 very fine
guns, 2 barrels of gunpowder, and bullets in proportion, 16 fine suits of clothes, several of a meaner kind,
blankets, strouds, &c. The Shawanese made no answer
at that time, nor have I heard they have as yet.'Tis
now reported for certain, that the Half-King, &c., are
killed, and their wives and children given up to the
barbarity of the Cherokees and Catawbas, of whom
they say there are 300 at the new store. True or
false, it has greatly alarmed them, and had it not been
for that report, I believe: a great many Indians and of
several nations would have been with you now. If
true (which I cannot think,) there will be no farther
dependence on any Indians this way, and will make our
return very hazardous, but that is not to be considered.
The Shawanese, Picts and Delawares have had a grand
council by themselves; what they have determined I
know not; but I have persuaded some of them to venture to see you, by assuring them they will be used in
the best manner, and there is large presents at the new




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           35
store. A present well timed now, will be of great
service. If peace be made with the Indians, Catawbas
and Cherokees, I hope all will go well. I assure you
there was not any of those Indians we call ours at the
battle, except six or seven. I believe of the Mingo
nation, two fellows not regarded by them, particularly
one English John; he was at Gist's with those that
were suspected as spies. I am informed he intends to
see you with some of the rest. Take care of them. I
send this by Monecatootha's brother-in-law: a worthy
fellow, and may be trusted. On the other side, you
have a draft of the Fort, such as time and opportunity
would admit of at this time. The garrison consists of
200 workmen, and all the rest went in several detachments to the number of 1000, two days hence. Mencin, a fine soldier, goes; so that Contrecoeur, with a
few young officers and cadets, remain here. A Lieut.
went off some days ago, with 200 men, for provisions.
He is daily expected. When he arrives, the garrison
will. La Force is greatly wanted here-no scouting
now-he certainly must have been an extraordinary
man amongst them-he is so much regretted and wished for. When we engaged to serve the country, it was
expected we were to do it with our lives. Let them
not be disappointed. Consider the good of the expedition, without the least regard to us. For my part, I
would die a thousand deaths, to have the pleasure of
possessing this Fort but one day. They are so vain of
their success at the Meadows, it is worse than death to
hear them. Strike this fall as soon as possible. Make
the Indians ours. Prevent intelligence. Get the best,
and'tis done. 100 trusty Indians might surprise this
Fort. They have access all day, and might lodge




36          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
themselves so that they might secure the guard with
the tomahawks; shut the sally gate, and the Fort is
ours. None but the guard and Contrecoeur, stay in
the Fort. For God's sake communicate this to but
few, and them you can trust. Intelligence comes here
unaccountably. If they should know I wrote, I
would loose the little liberty I have. I should be
glad to hear from you. But take no notice of this
in your's. Excuse errors, bad diction, &c. Pray be
kind to this Indian. Springes and Delaware George
have been here." [Here follows a plan of the Fort.]
SECOND LETTER DATED FORT DUQUESNE, JULY 29, 1754.
" SIR-I wrote you yesterday by an Indian named
the Long or Mono; he will be with you in seven days.
This goes by Delaware George. If these discharge
their trust they ought to be well rewarded. The purport of yesterday's letter was to inform you of a report,
and I hope false, which greatly alarms the Indians;
that the Half-King, and Monecatootha are killed, their
wives and children given to the Cherokees. I wish a
peace may be made up between the Catawbas and the
nations here; they are much afraid of them. Many
would have joined you ere now had it not been for that
report. You had as just a plan of the fort as time and
opportunity would allow. The French manage the
Indians with the greatest artifice. I mentioned yesterday a council the Shawanese had with the French,
the present they gave, and if they made the French a
speech yesterday, the bearer, who was present, will
inform you to what purport. If yesterday's letter
reaches you it will give you a particular account of
most things. I have scarce a minute; therefore can




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           37
only add one more thing: there are but 200 men here
at this time, 200 more expected in few days;. the rest
went off in several detachments to the amount of 1000,
besides Indians. The Indians have great liberty here;
they go out and in when they please without notice.
If 100 trusty Shawanese, Mingoes and Delawares were
picked out, they might surprise the Fort, lodging themselves under the platform behind the palisadoes by day,
and at night secure the guard with the tomahawks.
The guard consists of 40 men only, and 5 officers.
None lodge in the Fort but the guard, except Contrecoeur-the rest in bark cabins around the Fort. All
this you have more particular in yesterday's account.
Your humble servant, &c. La Force is greatly missed
here. Let the good of the expedition be considered
preferable to our safety. Haste to strike.
" A list of deserters and prisoners at the French
Fort:
" Mercer's company.-John Smith, John Baker.
Did not get here till after the detachment of deserters.
" Vanbraam's do.-Barnabas Deven.
" Mercer's do.-Jacob Arants, John Ramsey. This
man is the cause of all our misfortunes. He deserted
the day before the battle. The French got to Gist's
at dawn of day, surrounding the Fort, imagining that
we were still there, gave a general fire. But when
they found we were gone, they were determined to return with all expedition, thinking we had returned to
the inhabitants —when up comes Mr. Rascal, told
them he had deserted the day before, and the regiment
was still at the Meadows, in a starving condition, which
caused his deserting, and hearing they were coming,
deserted to them. They confined him-told him if true
C




38          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
he should be rewarded, if false, hanged. This I had
from the English interpreters.
"Mechas' do.-John Stuerdfages, wounded in the
right arm.
"Montour's do.-Daniel Laferty, Henry O'Brien,
prisoners.
"Taken at Guest's by an Indian named English
John, Lowrey's traders, Andrew M'Briar, Nehemiah
Stevens, John Kennedy, Elizabeth Williams.
" The Indians offered their prisoners for sale. Enquired the price-40 pistoles for each. A good ransom.
"All sent to Canada in custody of the Indian who
took them, except John Kennedy: he was given to
the Owl to weigh upon while his leg was curing. He
was wounded with ten others, and four Indians. All
are recovering but one, who died after having his arm
cut off. Four were shot on the spot. That is all the
loss I can hear of. On the 23d three of their people
deserted. I hope they are got with you by this time.
I hear more intend it soon. I spoke to the commander
several times concerning the prisoners, telling him as
long as we came to a capitulation, he had no right to
make them prisoners-he told me they were the Indian's, and he could not get them from them."
The extraordinary zeal for the service of his country, and the self-devoting spirit manifested in these
letters, attracted the admiration of the writer of this
history many years ago, and he has long labored to get
fuller information about Stobo. The letter of Hume
next attracted his attention, and subsequently Mr.
Draper furnished some notices of his adventures for
the Olden Time. Some three years ago a friend saw




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          39
in an English catalogue of books, " The Memoirs of
Major Robert Stobo, of the Virginia Regiment." An
order was immediately sent for its purchase, but before
it arrived the book had disappeared. Since that time
repeated searches have been made for it, but in vain,
until very recently, when, through the kindness of Mr.
James McHenry, of Liverpool, England, the writer
obtained from the British Museum a manuscript copy
of the book preserved there.
From this work we learn, that Robert Stobo was the
only son of William Stobo, a merchant of Glasgow,
in which city Robert was born in the year 1727. His
father and mother both died when he was young, and
he was then, with his own consent, sent to Virginia to
serve in a store owned by some Glasgow merchants.
Subsequently he sold his property in Glasgow and entered into mercantile business himself in Virginia.
He, however, lead a very gay life and the business
seemed not likely to prosper much in his hands. But
he became a great favorite of the Governor, Dinwiddie, who, in 1754, when apprehensions began to be
entertained of a frontier war, appointed him the oldest
Captain of the Virginia Regiment, then raised. After
being detained some time he was sent to Quebec.- Not,
however, as a close prisoner, but having the privilege
of going about the neighboring country until some
time after Braddock's Defeat, when a great change
took place in his situation. When General Braddock
began his expedition against Fort Duquesne, copies of
the foregoing letters and the accompanying plan of
that fort were given to him and at the time of his defeat they fell into the hands of the enemy, and were
published. The consequence was that Stobo was im



40           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
mediately ordered into close confinement. Subsequently he was tried and sentenced to be executed, the
sentence, however, was deferred, though his confinement was rendered still more rigorous. At length,
however, he elfected his escape, and after some most
extraordinary adventures indeed, arrived at Louisburgh, on the island of Cape Breton, shortly after
General Wolfe had sailedc for Quebec. He immediately returned to Quebec, afforded that General much
information and pointed out the place of landing.
We have thought proper to give this brief notice of
the " extraordinary adventures" of the man who was
the first English prisoner in Fort Duquesne, and who
gave the first description of it.
The writer of this work will probably in a short
time republish the whole "Memoir of Robert Stobo.'
From the date of Stobo's letters, we have no information of proceedings here, until the advance of
Braddock towards this place in July 1755.
The defeat of General Braddock on the 9th of July,
1755, was a very important event in the history of the
colonies. It was, perhaps, the most disastrous affair
that had ever befallen them, and laid open very large
portions of the territory of Pennsylvania, Maryland
and Virginia to the ravages of the Indians. It was
an interesting event too, in another respect. Many
persons who afterwards figured in our revolution were
engaged in that action and gained some experience in
the art of war. General Gage, who subsequently
commanded the British army at Bunker Hill, led the
advanced party at Braddock's Field; Gates, the conqueror of Burgoyne, and Morgan, the hero of the
Cowpens, and Mercer, and Stephens, and Neville, and




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           41
many others, and above all George Washington, the
greatest and the best, was there.
We have, therefore, concluded to give full accounts
of the march of Braddock and his defeat. Fortunately for our present purpose, it so happened that while
the compiler of these annals was publishing the
Olden Time, he received from Mr. T. C. Atkinson,
civil- engineer, (who had been employed in making surveys for a railroad through the country traversed by
Braddock,) a very satisfactory account of the march of
the army from Cumberland to the field of battle. It
is a document eminently worthy of preservation and
we have concluded to insert it in full as a part. of our
work. Mr. Atkinson proceeds as follows:
BRADDOCK'S ROUTE TO THE BATTLE OF THE MONONGAHELA.
The interest with which the routes of celebrated expeditions are regarded, and the confusion which attends them after the lapse of years, is well exemplified
in the case of Hannibal, whose march towards Rome,
in order to divert their army from the siege of Capua,
was totally lost in the course of a few centuries. The
constant blunders of Livy in copying first from one
writer, and.then from another, who made him take a
different path, justify a recent English historian who
went to Italy to see the ground for himself, in saying
that the Punic War was almost as hard in the writing
as the fighting.
As the time is coming when the road by which the
unfortunate Braddock marched to his disastrous field,
will be invested with antiquarian interest, akin to that
attending Hannibal's route, or rather the via scelerata,
by which the Fabian family marched out of Rome, I
c*




42           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
have thought it time not idly spent to attempt to pursue its scattered traces as far as it is in my power,
among more pressing occupations. In this sketch, I
do not design to pursue it to its extent, but only to
identify it in those parts where it has been convenient
for me to visit it, and in others to shadow out its general direction. Where it is obscure, I hope to have opportunities to examine it at a future day.
Of the well conducted expedition of Col. Bouquet,
and its precise path, the publications of Mr. Hutchins,
the geographer, who was one of the engineers, leaves
us very well informed. It is presumable that similar
details would be found of the march of 1755 if it had
had a successful termination.  The three engineers
who were in the field were wounded; and it is probable their papers fell into the hands of the enemy, or
were lost in the fight.
General Braddock landed at Alexandria on the 20th
of February, 1755. The selection of this port for the
debarkation of the troops, was censured at the time,
though it is probable it had the approval of Washington. The two regiments he brought with him were
very defective in numbers, having but about 500 men
each, and it was expected their ranks would be recruited in America. It is shown by the repeated requests
on this point made by the General at Cumberland,
that this expectation was vain. After numerous delays, and a conference with the Royal Government,
we find Gen. Braddock en route on the 24th of April,
when he had reached Fredericktown, in Maryland.
Passing thence through Winchester, Va., he reached
Fort Cumberland about the 9th of May. Sir John




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.                  43
Sinclair, Deputy Quarter Master General, had preceded him to this point about two weeks.*
The army struck the Little Cacapehon, (though pronounced Cacapon, I have used for the occasion the
spelling of Washington, and various old documents,)
about six miles above its mouth, and following the
stream, encamped on the Virginia side of the Potomac, preparatory     to crossing   into  Maryland.     The
water is supposed to have been high at the time, as the
spot is known as the Ferry-fields, from the army having been ferried over.    This was about the 4th or 5th
of May.
The army thence pursued the banks of the river,
with a slight deviation of route at the mouth of the
South Branch, to the village of Old Town, known at
that time as the Shawnee Old Town, modern use having dropped the most characteristic part of the name.
This place, distanced about eight miles from the Ferry-fields, was known at that early day at the residence
of Col. Thomas Cresap, an English settler, and the
father of the hero of Logan's speech.       The road proceeded thence parallel with the river and at the foot
of the hills, till it passed the narrows of Will's Moun* Many misstatements are prevalent in the country adjacent to the line
of march, especially east of Cumberland, the traditionary name of Braddock's route being often applied to routes we know he did not pursue.
It is probable the ground of the application consists in their having been
used by the Quarter Master's men in bringing on those Pennsylvania
wagons and pack horses procured by Dr. Franklin, with so much trouble,
and at so great expense of truth. Sir John Sinclair wore a Hussar's
cap, and Franklin made use of the circumstance to terrify the German
settlers with the belief that he was a Hussar who would administer to
them the tyrannical treatment they had experienced in their own country, if they did not comply with his wishes. It is singular that a small
brook and an obscure country road in Berkley County, Va., bear the
name of Sir John's Run, and Sir John's Road, supposed to be taken
from the name of this officer.




44            HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
tain, whence it struck out a shorter line coincident with
the present county road, and lying betwen the railroad and the mountain, to Fort Cumberland.
From the Little Cacapehon to this point the ground
was comparatively easy, and the road had been generally judiciously chosen. Thenceforward the character of the ground was altered, not so much in the
general aspect.of the country, as that' the march was
about to abandon the valleys, and now the real difficulties of the expedition may be said to commence...
The fort had been commenced the previous year, after the surrender at the Great Meadows, by Col. Innes,
who had with him the two independent companies of
New York and South Carolina.     It mounted ten four
pounders, besides swivels, and was.favorably situated
to keep the hostile Indians in check.*
The army now consisted of 1000 regulars, 30 sailors,
and 1200 provincials, besides a train of artillery. The
provincials were from New York and Virginia; one
company from the former colony was commanded by
Capt. Gates, afterwards the hero of Saratoga.    On
the 8th of June, Braddock having, through the interest
and exertions of. Dr. Franklin, principally,- got 150
wagons and 2000 horses from Pennsylvania, was ready
to nmarch.
Scaroodaya, successor to the Half-Iing of the Senecas, and Monacatootha, whose acquaintance Washington had made on the Ohio, on his mission to Le Boeuf,
with about 150 Indians, Senecas and Delawares, ac-, The original name of Cumberland Was Cucuebetuc, and from its favorable position on the Potomac, it was most probably the site of a
Shawnee village, like Old Town; moreover, it was marked by an Indian
name, a rare occurrence in this vicinityj if any judgment may be -drawn'from the few that have been preserved.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           45
companied him. George Croghan, the Indian agent
of Pennsylvania, and a friendly Indian of great value,
called Susquehanna Jack, were also with him.
The first brigade under Sir Peter Halket, led the
way on the 8th, and on the 9th the main body followed. Some idea of the difficulties they encountered
may be had when we perceive they spent the third
night only five miles from the first. The place of encampment, which is about one-third of a mile from the
toll-gate on the National Road, is marked by a copious spring bearing Braddock's name.
For reasons not easy to divine, the route across
Will's Mountain first adopted for the National Road
was selected, instead of the more favorable one through
the narrows of Will's Creek, to which the road has
been changed within a few years, for the purpose of
avoiding that formidable ascent. The traces are very
distinct on the east and west slopes, the modern road
crossing it frequently.  From the western foot, the
route continued up Braddock's Run to the forks of the
stream, where Clary's tavern now stands, 9 miles from
Cumberland, when it turned to the left, in order to
reach a point on the ridge favorable to an easy descent
into the valley of George's Creek. It is surprising
that, having reached this high ground, the favorable
spur by which the National Road accomplished the ascent of the Great Savage Mountain, did not strike the
attention of the engineers, as the labor requisite to
surmount the barrier from the deep valley of George's
Creek, must have contributed greatly to those bitter
complaints which Braddock made against the Colonial
Governments for their failure to assist him more effectively in the transportation department.




46              HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Passing then a mile to the south of Frostburg, the
road approaches the east foot of Savage Mountain,
which it crosses about one mile south of the National
Road, and thence by very favorable ground through
the dense forests of white pine peculiar to this region,
it got to the north of the National Road, near the
gloomy tract called the Shades of Death. This was
the 15th of June, when the dense gloom of the summer
woods, and the favorable shelter which these enormous
pines would give an Indian enemy, must have made a
most sensible impression on all minds of the insecurity
of their mode of advance.
This doubtless had its share in causing the council
of war held at the Little Meadows* the next day.
To this place, distant only about twenty miles from
Cumberland, Sir John Sinclair and Maj. Chapman had
been dispatched on the 27th of May, to build a fort;
the army having been 7 days in reaching it, it follows
as the line of march was upwards of three miles long,
the rear was just getting under way when the advance
were lighting their evening fires.' This interesting locality lies at the west foot of the Meadow Mountain, which is one of the most important of the Allegheny Ridges, in
Pennsylvania especially, where it constitutes the dividing ridge between
the eastern and western waters. Arude entrenchment, about halfa mile
north of the Inn on the National Road, kept by Mr. Huddleson, marks
the site of this fort. This is most probably the field of a skirmish
spoken of in frontier history, between a Mr. Paris, with a scouting party
from Fort Cumberland, and the Sieur Donville, commanding some
French and Indians, in which the French officer was slain. The tradition is distinctly preserved in the vicinity, with a misapprehension of
Wsshington's participation in it, arising probably from the partial resemblance between the names of Donville and Jumonville.  From the
positiveness of the information, in regard to the battle ground, conflicting
with what we know of Jumonville's death, it seems probable enough
that this was the scene of this Indian skirmish; and as such, it possesses
a classic interest, valuable in proportion to the scarcity of such places.
For a notice of Mon. Donville's death, see vol, 1, page 75, Olden Time.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           47
Here it may be well enough to clear up an obscurity
which enters into many narratives of these early
events, from confusing the names of the Little Meadows and Great Meadows, Little Crossings and Great
Crossings, which are all distinct localities.
The Little Mleadows have been described as at the
foot of Meadow Mountain; it is well to note that the
Great Meadows are about 31 miles further west, and
near the east foot of Laurel Hill.
By the Little Crossings is meant the Ford of Casselman's River, a tributary of the Youghiogheny; and
by the Great Crossings, the passage of the Youghiogheny itself. The Little Crossings is 2 miles west of
the Little Meadows, and the Great Crossings 17 miles
further west.
The conclusion of the council was to push on with a
picked force of 1200 men and 12 pieces of cannon;
and the line of march, now more compact, was resumed
on the 19th. Passing over ground to the south of the
Little Crossings, and of the village of Grantsville,
which it skirted, the army spent the night of the 21st
at the Bear Camp, a locality I have not been able to
identify, but suppose it to be about midway to the
Great Crossings, which it reached on the 23d. The
route thence to the Great Meadows or Fort Necessity,
was well chosen, though over a mountainous tract, conforming very nearly to the ground now occupied by
the National Road, and keeping on the dividing ridge
between the waters flowing into the Youghiogheny on
the one hand, and the Cheat River on the other.
Having crossed the Youghiogheny, we are now on the
classic ground of Washington's early career, where the
skirmish with Jumonville, and Fort Necessity, indicate




48           HISTORY OF PITTSHURTGH.
the country laid open for them in the previous year.
About one mile west of the Great Meadows, and near
the spot now marked as Braddock's Grave, the road
struck off more to the north-west, in order to reach a
pass through Laurel Hill, that would enable them to
strike the Youghiogheny, at a point afterwards known
as Stewart's Crossing, and about half a mile below the
present town of Connellsville. This part of the route
is marked by the farm known as Mount Braddock.
This second crossing of the Youghiogheny was effected
on the 30th of June. The high grounds intervening
between the river and its next tributary, Jacob's Creek,
though trivial in comparison with what they had already
passed, it may be supposed, presented serious obstacles
to the troops, worn out with previous exertions.  On
the 3d of July a council of war was held at Jacob's
Creek, to consider the propriety of bringing forward
Col. Dunbar with the reserve, and although urged by
Sir John Sinclair with, as one may suppose, his characteristic vehemence, the measure was rejected on sufficient grounds. From the crossing of Jacob's Creek,
which was at the point where Welchhause's Mill now
stands, about 11 miles below Mount Pleasant, the
route stretched off to the north, crossing the Mount
Pleasant turnpike near the village of the same name,
and thence by a more westerly course, passing the
Great Sewickley near Painter's Salt Works, thence
south and west of the Post Office of Madison and
Jacksonville, it reached the Brush Fork of Turtle
Creek. It must strike those who examine the map,
that the route for some distance, in the rear and ahead
of Mount Pleasant, is out of the proper direction for
Fort Duquesne, and accordingly we find on the 7th of




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          49
July, General Braddock in doubt as to his proper way
of proceeding. The crossing of Brush Creek which
he had now reached, appeared to be attended with so
much hazard, that parties were sent to reconnoitre,
some of whom advanced so far as to kill a French
officer within half a mile of Fort Duquesne.
Their examinations induced a great divergence to
the left, availing himself of the valley of Long Run,
which he turned into, as is supposed, at Stewartsville,
passing by the place now known as Samson's Mill, the
army made one of the best marches of the campaign,
and halted for the night at a favorable depression between that stream and Crooked Run, and about two
miles from the Monongahela. At this spot, about
four miles from the battle ground, which is yet well
known as Braddock's Spring, he was rejoined by
Washington on the morning of the 9th of July.
The approach to the river was now down the valley
of Crooked Run to its mouth, where the point of fording is still manifest, from a deep notch in the west
bank, though rendered somewhat obscure by the
improved navigation of the river. The advance,
under Col. Gage, crossed about 8 o'clock, and continued by the foot of the hill bordering the broad
river bottom to the second fording, which he had
effected nearly as soon as the rear had got through
the first.
The second and last fording near the mouth of Turtle Creek, was in full view of the enemy's position,
and about one mile distant. By 1 o'clock the whole
army had gained the right bank, and was drawn up
on the bottom land, near Frazier's house, (spoken of
by Washington, as his stopping place, on his mission
D




50           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
to Le Boeuf,) and about three fourths of a mile distant
from the ambuscade.
The advance was now about to march, and while a
part of the army was yet standing on the plain, the
firing was heard. Not an enemy had yet been seen.
The following account of the proceedings of the
army for a few days before and after the battle, is taken
from the Diary of a person, who was evidently a participator in all those transactions, and is the best narrative we have seen; for which reason we insert it in
full:
GENERAL BRADDOCK'S EXPEDITION, 1755.-KING'S
LIBRARY VOL. 212, P. 87, TO THE END.
July 4th.-We marched about six miles to Thickettyrun  the country was now less mountainous and rocky,
and the woods rather more open, consisting chiefly of
white oak.
From this place two of our Indians were prevailed
upon to go for intelligence towards the French fort,
and also (unknown to them,) Gist, the General's guide.
The Indians returned on the 6th and brought in a
French officer's scalp, who was shooting within half a
mile of the Fort. They informed the General that
they saw very few men there or tracks, nor any additional works; that no pass was possessed by them between us and the Fort, and that they believed very few
men were out upon observation.    *    *    *
They saw some boats under the Fort, and one with a
white flag coming down the Ohio. [Allegheny.]
Gist returned a little after, the same day, whose
account corresponded with theirs, excepting that he
saw a smoke in a valley between our camp and Du



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         51
quesne. He had concealed himself with an intent of
getting close under the Fort in the night, but he was
discovered and pursued by two Indians who had very
near taken him.
At this camp the provisions from Colonel Dunbar,
with a detachment of a Captain and 100 men, joined
us, and we halted here one day.
On the 6th of July we marched about six miles to
Monakatuca Camp, which was called so from an unhappy accident that happened upon the march.
Three or four people loitering on the rear of the
Grenadiers were killed by a party of Indians and
scalped. Upon hearing the firing, the General sent
back the Grenadier company, on whose approach the
Indians fled. They were discovered again a little after
by our Indians in the front, who were going to fire
upon them, but were prevented by some of our outrangers, who mistaking these, our Indians, for the
enemy, fired upon them and killed Monakatuca's son,
notwithstanding they made the agreed countersign,
which was holding up a bough and grounding their
arms. When we came to our grounds, the General
sent for the father and the other Indians, condoled
with and made them the usual presents, and desired
the officers to attend the funeral, and gave an order
to fire over the body.
This behavior of the General was so agreeable to
the Indians, that they afterwards were more attached
to us, quite contrary to our expectations.
The line of carrying horses extending very often a
prodigious length, it was almost impossible to secure
them from insults, though they had yet marched without any interruption. Every Bat-man having been




52           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
ordered to carry his fire-lock, and small parties having
kept constantly on their flanks. The disposition of
march for these horses had varied almost every day
according to the nature of the country, but the most
common was to let them remain upon the ground an
hour after the march of the line, under the guard of a
captain and one hundred men, by.which means there
was no confusion in leaving the ground, and the horses
were much eased. They were now ordered, when the
roads would permit, to march upon the flanks, between
the subaltern's picket and the line; but whenever the
country was close or rocky, they were then to fall in
the rear, and a strong guard marched thither for their
security, which was directed to advance or fall back in
proportion to the length of the line of carrying horses,
taking particular care always to leave parties upon the
flanks.
ORDERS AT MONAKATUCA CAMP.
If it should be ordered to advance the van, or sendback the rear guard, the advanced parties detached
from them are to remain at their posts facing outwards.
Whenever there is a general halt, half of each of
the subaltern's advanced parties are to remain under
arms with fixed bayonets, facing outwards, and the
other half may sit down by their arms.
On the 7th July we marched from hence, and quitting the Indian path, endeavored to pass the Turtle
Creek about twelve miles from the mouth, to avoid the
dangerous pass of the Narrows. We were led to a
precipice which it was impossible to descend. The
General ordered Sir John St. Clair to take a captain




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          53
and one hundred men, with the Indians, guides, and
some light horse, to reconnoitre very well the country.
In about two hours he returned and informed the
General he had found the ridge which led the whole
way to Fort Duquesne, and avoided the Narrows and
Frazier's, but that some work which was to be done
would make it impossible to move further that day;
we therefore encamped here, and marched the next
morning about eight miles to the camp near the Monongahela.
When we arrived here, Sir John St. Clair mentioned, (but not to the General,) the sending a detachment
that night to invest the Fort; but being asked whether the distance was not too great to reinforce that
detachment in case of an attack, and whether it would
not be more advisable to make the Pass of the Monongahela, or the Narrows, whichever was resolved
upon, with our whole force, and then to send the detachment from the next camp, which would be six or
seven miles from the fort. Sir John immediately acquiesced, and was of opinion that would be a much
more prudent measure.
The guides were sent for, who described the Narrows to be a narrow pass of about two miles, with a
river on the left, and a very high mountain on the
right, and it would require much repair to make it
passable by carriages. They said the Monongahela
had two extreme good fords, which were very shallow,
and the banks not steep. It was, therefore, resolved
to pass this river the next morning, and Lieut. Col.
Gage was ordered to march before the break of day,
with the two companies of Grenadiers, 160 rank and
file, of the 44th and 48th, Capt. Gates' Independent
D*




54           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Company, and two six pounders, with proper guides,
and he was instructed to pass the fords of the Monongahela, and to take post after the second crossing, to
secure the passage of that river.  Sir John St. Clair
was ordered to march at four o'clock, with a detachment of 250 men, to make the roads for the artillery
and baggage, which was to march with the remainder
of the troops at five.
ORDERS AT THE CAMP NEAR MONONGAHELA.
All the men are to draw and clean their pieces, and
the whole are to load to-morrow on the beating of the
General, with fresh cartridges.
No tents or baggage are to be taken with Lieut.
Col. Gage's party.
July 9th.-The whole marched agreeably to the
orders before mentioned, and about eight in the morning, the General made the first crossing of the Monongahela by passing over about 150 men in the front,
to whom followed half the carriages; another party
of 150 men headed the second division; the horses
and cattle then passed, and after all the baggage was
over, the remaining troops which till then possessed
the heights, marched over in good order.
The General ordered a halt, and the whole formed
in their proper line of march.
When we had moved about a mile, the General received a note from Lieut. Col. Gage, acquainting him
with his having passed the river the second time without any interruption, and having posted himself agreeably to his orders.
When we got to the other crossing, the bank on the
opposite side not being yet made passable, the artillery




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          55
and baggage drew up along the beach, and halted till
one, when the General passed over the detachment of
of the 44th, with the pickets of the right. The artillery wagons and carrying horses followed, and then
the detachment of the 48th with the left pickets, which
had been posted during the halt upon the heights.
When the whole had passed, the General again
halted till they formed according to the annexed plan.
It was now near two o'clock, and the advanced party
under Lieut. Col. Gage, and the working party under
John St. Clair, were ordered to march on till three.
No sooner were the Pickets upon their respective flanks
and the word given to march, but we heard an excessive quick and heavy firing in the front. The General
imagining the advanced parties were very warmly
attacked, and being willing to free himself from the
incumbrance of the baggage, ordered Lieut. Col. Burton to reinforce them with the van guard, and the line
to halt. According to this disposition, eight hundred
men were detached from the line, free from all embarrassments, and four hundred were left for the defence
of the artillery and baggage, posted in such a manner
as to secure them from any attacks or insults. The
General sent forward an aid-de-camp to bring him an
account of the nature of the attack, but the fire continuing, he moved forward himself, leaving Sir Peter
Halket with the command of the baggage. The advance detachment soon gave way, and fell back upon
Lieut. Col. Burton's detachment, who was forming his
men to face a rising ground upon the right. The
whole were now got together in great confusion. The
colors were advanced in different places to separate the
men of the two regiments. The General ordered the




56          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
officers to endeavor to form the men, and tell them
off into small divisions, and to advance with them, but
neither entreaties nor threats could prevail.
The advanced flank parties, which were left for the
security of the baggage all but one ran in. Their
baggage was then warmly attacked, a great many
horses and some drivers were killed, the others escaped
by flight. Two of the cannon flanked the baggage,
and for some time kept the Indians off; the other
cannon which were disposed of in the best manner, and
fired away most of their ammunition, were of some
service, but the spot being so woody, they could do
little or no execution.
The enemy had spread themselves in such a manner
that they extended from front to rear, and fired upon
every part. The place of action was covered with trees
and much underwood upon the left, without any opening but the road, which was only about twelve feet wide.
At the distance of about 200 yards in front, and upon
the right, were two rising grounds covered with trees.
When the General found it impossible to persuade
them to advance, and no enemy appeared in view; and
nevertheless a vast number of officers were killed by
exposing themselves before the men, he endeavored to
retreat them in good order; but the panic was so
great that he could not succeed. During this time
they were loading as fast as possible, and firing in the
air. At last, Lieut. Col. Burton got together about
100 of the 48th regiment, and prevailed upon them,
by the General's order, to follow him toward the rising
ground on the right, but he being disabled by his
wounds, they faced about to the right and returned.
When the men had fired away all their ammunition,




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          57
and the General and most of the officers were wounded,
they, by one common consent, left the field, running off
with the greatest precipitation. About fifty Indians
pursued us to the river, and killed several men in the
passage. The officers used all possible endeavors to
stop the men, and to prevail upon them to rally; but
a great number of them threw away their arms and
ammunition, and even their clothes, to escape the
faster. About a quarter of a mile on the other side
the river, we prevailed upon near 100 of them to take
post upon a very advantageous spot, about two hundred
yards from the road' Lieut. Col. Burton posted some
small parties and sentinels. We intended to have kept
possession of that ground till we could have been reinforced. The General and some wounded officers
remained there about an hour, till most of the men
run off. From that place the General sent Mr. Washington to Col. Dunbar, with orders to send wagons
for the wounded, some provisions and hospital stores,
to be escorted by the two youngest grenadier companies, to meet him at Gist's plantation, or nearer if
possible. It was found impracticable to remain here,
as the General and the officers were left almost alone;
we therefore retreated in the best manner we were
able. After we had passed the Monongahela the
second time, we were joined by Lieut. Col. Gage, who
had rallied near 60 men. We marched all that night,
and the next day, and about 10 o'clock that night we
got to Gist's Plantation.
July 11th.-Some wagons, provisions and hospital
stores arrived. As soon as the wounded were dressed,
and the men had refreshed themselves, we retreated to
Col. Dunbar's camp, which was near Rock Port. The




58             HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
General sent a Sergeant's party back with pro iisions
to be left on the road on the other side of the Yoxhio
Geni for the refreshment of any men who might have
lost their way in the woods.   Upon our arrival at Col.
Dunbar's camp, we found it in the greatest confusion.
Some of his men had gone off upon hearing of our
defeat, and the rest seemed to have forgot all discipline.
Several of our detachment had not stopped till they
had reached this camp.
It was found necessary to clear some wagons for the
wounded, many of whom were in a desperate situation,
and as it was impossible to remove the stores, the
howitzer shells, some 12 pound shot, powder, and provisions, were destroyed, or buried.
July 18th.-We marched from        hence to the camp
near the Great Meadows, where the General died.
The following is a list of the officers killed and
wounded on that day:
STAFF.
Major General Braddock,                 died of his wounds.
Robert Orme, Esq.,  Aid d 
Roger Morris, Esq.,  Aids de Camp,              wounded
William Shirley, Esq., Secretary,                 killed.
Sir John St. Clair, Deputy Quarter Master General,  wounded.
LATE SIR PETER HALKET'S REGIMENT.
Sir P. Halket, Colonel,  illed aptain Tatton,     killed.
Lieut.. Col. Gage,.  wounded. Captain Gethins,
SUBALTERNS.
Lieutenant Littleler,  wounded. Lieutenant Lock,  wounded.
"    Dunbar,       "        "    Disney,'     t
"    Halket,       killed.  "    Kennedy,      "
Treeby,        wounded.    "    Townsend,     killed.
Allen,       killed.   "    Nartlow,       "
"    Simpson,   wounded.    "    Pennington, wounded.
COLONEL DUNBAR'S REGIMENT.
Lieut. Col. Burton,  wounded. Captain Rowyer,   wounded.
Major Sparkes,        "     Captain Ross,          i
Captain Cholmley, 




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGI.                  59
SUBALTERNS.
Barbut,              wounded. Brereton;              killed.
Walsham,                "    Hart,                     "
Crimble,               killed. Montroseur,        wounded.
Widman,                  "   Macmullen, 
Hanford,                 "   Crew,                    "
Gladwin,             wounded. Sterling.
Edmeston,               "
ARTILLERY.
Lieutenant Smith,      killed. Lieutenant M'Cloud,  wounded.
Lieutenant Buchanon,  wounded.   "     M'Culler,      "
ENGINEERS.
Peter McKeller, Esq.,  wounded.  - Williamson, Esq.,  wounded.
Robert Gordon, Esq.,    " 
DETACHMENT OF SAILORS.
Lieutenant Spendelow,                                killed.
Mr. Talbot, Midshipman,                                c
Captain Stone, of General Lascelle's Regiment,    wounded.
Captain Floyer, of General Warburton's Regiment,      "
INDEPENDENT COMPANIES OF NEW YORK.
Captain Gates,       wounded. Lieutenant Howarth,  wounded.
Lieutenant Sumain,      killed.  "     Gray,          (
VIRGINIA TROOPS.
Captain Stevens,     wounded. Captain Peronie,       killed.
"   Poulson,        killed.
SUBALTERNS.
Hamilton,               killed. Stuart,            wounded.
Wright,                   "   Wagoner,               killed.
Splitdorff, 
Terrible as was the slaughter of troops on that day,
a scene presented itself here on the ensuing day of a
more horrible character.     Our account is taken from
the Narrative of Colonel James Smith. We might
hope, for the credit of humanity, that such transactions never took place; but Colonel Smith was a man
of good character, well known here by some persons
still living.  He removed to Kentucky and was there
elected to the legislature.     That he was a prisoner
among the Indians, there is no doubt; the Colonial
Records at Harrisburgh prove it.




60          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Before giving his narrative of that shocking scene,
we give from a work published in Kentucky, a brief
account of his own capture and adventures.
"In the spring of the year 1755, James Smith,
then a youth of eighteen, accompanied a party of three
hundred men from the frontiers of Pennsylvania, who
advanced in front of Braddock's army, for the purpose of opening a road over the mountain.  When
within a few miles of Bedford Springs, he was sent
back to the rear to hasten the progress of some wagons loaded with provisions and stores for the use of
the wood cutters.  Having delivered his orders, he
was returning, in company with another young man,
when they were suddenly fired upon by a party of
three Indians, from a cedar thicket which skirted the
road. Smith's companion was killed upon the spot;
and although he himself was unhurt, yet his horse
was so much frightened by the flash and report of the
guns, as to become totally unmanageable, and after a
few plunges threw him with violence to the ground.
Before he could recover his feet, the Indians sprang
upon him, and, overpowering his resistance, secured
him as a prisoner. One of them demanded, in broken
English, whether'more white men were coming up,'
and upon his answering in the negative, he was
seized by each arm and compelled to run with great
rapidity over the mountain until night, when the small
party encamped and cooked their suppers. An equal
share of their scanty stock of provisions was given to
the prisoner, and in other respects, although strictly
guarded, he was treated with great kindness. On the
evening of the next day, after a rapid walk of fifty
miles through cedar thickets, and over very rocky




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          61
ground, they reached the western side of the Laurel
mountain, and beheld, at a little distance, the smoke
of an Indian encampment. His captors now fired
their guns and raised the scalp halloo! This is a long
yell for every scalp that has been taken, followed by
a rapid succession of shrill, quick, piercing shrieksshrieks somewhat resembling laughter in the most excited tones. They were answered from the Indian
camp below by a discharge of rifles, and a long whoop,
followed by shrill cries of joy, and all thronged out
to meet the party. Smith expected instant death at
their hands, as they crowded around him; but, to his
surprise, no one offered him any violence.  They belonged to another tribe, and entertained the party in
their camp with great hospitality, respecting the prisoner as the property of their guests. On the following morning Smith's captors continued their march,
and on the evening of the next day arrived at Fort
Duquesne-now Pittsburgh.    When within half a
mile of the fort they again raised the scalp halloo, and
fired their guns as before. Instantly the whole garrison was in commotion. The cannons were fired-the
drums were beaten, and the French and Indians ran
out in great numbers to meet the party and partake
of their triumph. Smith was again surrounded by a
multitude of savages, painted in various colors, and
shouting with delight; but their demeanor was by
no means as pacific as that of the last party he had
encountered. They rapidly formed in two lines, and
brandishing their hatchets, ramrods, switches, &c.,
called aloud for him to run the gauntlet. Never
having heard of this Indian ceremony before, he stood
amazed for some time, not knowing what to do; but
E




62           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
one of his captors explained to him that he was to run
between the two lines and receive a blow from each
Indian, as he passed, concluding his explanation by
exhorting him to'run his best,' as the faster he ran
the sooner the affair would be over.  The truth was
very plain-and young Smith entered upon his race
with great spirit. He was switched very handsomely
along the lines for about three-fourths of the distance,
stripes only acting as a spur to greater exertions, and
he had almost reached the extremity of the line, when
a tall chief struck him a furious blow with a club upon
the back of the head, and instantly felled him to the
ground. Recovering himself in a moment, he sprung
to his feet and started forward again, when a handful
of sand was thrown in his eyes, which, in addition to
the great pain, completely blinded him. He still attempted to grope his way through, but was again
knocked down and beaten with merciless severity. He
soon became insensible under such barbarous treatment,
and recollected nothing more until he found himself in
the hospital of the fort, under the hands of a French
surgeon, beaten to a jelly, and unable to move a limb.
Here he was quickly visited by one of his captorsthe same who had given him such good advice when
about to commence his race. He now inquired, with
some interest, if he felt'very sore.' Young Smith
replied that he had been bruised almost to death, and
asked what he had done to merit such barbarity. The
Indian replied that he had done nothing, but that it
was the customary greeting of the Indians to their
prisoners-that it was something like the English'how
i'ye do,' and that now all ceremony would be laid aside,
and he would be treated with kindness. Smith enquir



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          63
ed if they had any news of General Braddock. The
Indian replied that their scouts saw him every day from
the mountains-that he was advancing in close columns
through the woods-(this he indicated by placing a
number of red sticks parallel to each other, and pressed
closely together)-and that the Indians would be able
to shoot them down'like pigeons.'
"Smith rapidly recovered, and was soon able to walk
upon the battlements of the fort, with the aid of a
stick. While engaged in this exercise, on the morning
of the 9th -, he observed an unusual bustle in the
Fort. The Indians stood in crowds at the great gate,
armed and painted. Many barrels of powder, balls,
flints, &c., were brought out to them, from which each
warrior helped himself to such articles as he required.
They were soon joined by a small detachment of French
regulars, when the whole party marched off together.
He had a full view of them as they passed, and was
confident that they could not exceed four hundred men.
He soon learned that it was detached against Braddock,
who was now within a few miles of the Fort; but from
their great inferiority in numbers, he regarded their
destruction as certain, and looked joyfully to the arrival
of Braddock in the evening, as the hour which was to
deliver him from the power of the Indians. In the
afternoon, however, an Indian runner arrived with far
different intelligence. The battle had not yet ended
when he left the field; but he announced that the
English had been surrounded, and were shot down in
heaps by an invisible enemy; that instead of flying at
once or rushing upon their concealed foe, they appeared completely bewildered, huddled together in the centre of the ring, and before sun down there would not




64           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
be a man of them alive. This intelligence fell like a
thunderbolt upon Smith, who now saw himself irretrievably in the power of the savages, and could look forward to nothing but torture or endless captivity. He
waited anxiously for further intelligence, still hoping
that the fortune of the day might change. But about
sunset, he heard at a distance the well known scalp
halloo, followed by wild, quick, joyful shrieks, and accompanied by long continued firing. This too surely
announced the fate of the day. About dusk, the party
returned to the Fort, driving before them twelve British regulars, stripped naked, and with their faces
painted black! an evidence that the unhappy wretches
were devoted to death. Next came the Indians, displaying their bloody scalps, of which they had immense
numbers, and dressed in the scarlet coats, sashes and
military hats of the officers and soldiers. Behind all
came a train of baggage horses, laden with piles of
scalps, canteens, and all the accoutrements of British
soldiers. The savages appeared frantic with joy, and
when Smith beheld them entering the Fort, dancing,
yelling, brandishing their red tomahawks, and waving
their scalps in the air, while the great guns of the Fort
replied to the incessant discharge of the rifles without,
he says that it looked as if h-1 had given a holiday,
and turned loose its inhabitants upon the upper world.
The most melancholy spectacle was the band of prisoners. They appeared dejected and anxious. Poor
fellows! They had but a few months before left London, at the command of their superiors, and we may
easily imagine their feelings at the strange and dreadful spectacle around them. The yells of delight and
congratulation were scarcely over, when those of ven



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           65
geance began. The devoted prisoners (British regulars,) were led out from the Fort to the banks of the
Allegheny, and to the eternal disgrace of the French
commandant, were there burnt to death, with the most
awful tortures. Smith stood upon the battlements, and
witnessed the shocking spectacle. The prisoner was
tied to a stake, with his hands raisen above his head,
stripped naked, and surrounded by Indians. They
would touch him with red hot irons, and stick his body
full of pine splinters, and set them on fire-drowning
the shrieks of the victim in the yells of delight with
which they danced around him. His companions in
the mean time stood in a group near the stake, and had
a foretaste of what was in reserve for each of them.
As fast as one prisoner died under his tortures, another
filled his place, until the whole perished. All this took
place so near the Fort, that every scream of the victims must have rang in the ears of the French commandant!
"Two or three days after this shocking spectacle,
most of the Indian tribes dispersed, and returned to.
their homes, as is usual with them after a great and
decisive battle. Young Smith was demanded of the
French by the tribe to whom he belonged, and was
immediately surrendered into their hands."
From the date of the above horrible occurrences
until the taking of Fort Duquesne by General Forbes,
we have only occasional and very transient glances at
this place.
E*




66               HISTORY   OF PITTSBURGH.
CHAPTER III.
Action between scouting parties; Death of Monsieur Donville; Humane
instructions of Dumas, the successor of Contrecoeur at Fort Duquesne.
Extensive influence of Braddock's defeat; Col. Armstrong's expedition
against Kittaning. John McKinney's description of Fort Duquesne
in 1756. Lieut. Baker takes a French officer near Fort Duquesne;
Captain Lignery, commandant at Duquesne 1757. Discouraging
aspect of the war at that time. France every where triumphant;
Desponding letters of Walpole and Chesterfield. William Pitt prime
minister; new life infused into British councils. Amherst succeeds
Earl of Loudoun, as commander-in-chief in America; Wolfe and
Forbes under him; character of Forbes; Expedition against Fort
Duquesne; Army assembled at Ray's town, now Bedford. Discussion
about route between Washington and Col. Bouquet, probable reasons in
favor of the Pennsylvania route; Grant's defeat; Official report of Forbes'
Army; Attacks on Fort Ligonier; Advance of Forbes, capture of Fort
Duquesne; First Fort Pitt built; Forbes' return to Philadelphia and
death. Col. Hugh Mercer left in command; the rest of the army return to the settlements; prominent part of Scotchmen in the early
history of this region.
About the first of April, 1756, a Mr. Paris, with a
scouting party from Fort Cumberland, fell in with a
small body of Indians commanded by Monsieur Donville; an action took place, the French commandant
was killed, and the following instructions were found
upon him:
"FORT DUQUESNE, 23d March, 1756.
"The Sieur. Donville, at the head of fifty savages,
"is ordered to go and observe the motions of the
"enemy in the neighborhood of Fort Cumberland.
"He will endeavor to harass their convoys and burn
"their magazines at Gonococheaque, should this be




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          67
"practicable. He must use every endeavor to take
"prisoners who may confirm what we already know of
"the enemy's designs. The Sieur. Donville will use
"all his talents and all his credit, to prevent the
"savages from committing any cruelties upon those
"who may fall into their hands. Honor and himani-' ty ought, in this respect, to serve as our guide.
"DUMAS."
By this order it would appear, that Contrecoeur was
no longer in command at this place; and we may reconcile the humanity evinced in the above order, with
the cruelty manifested on the 9th of July 1755, by
supposing that the commanders had in the interim been
changed.
The extent to which Pennsylvania and Maryland
were laid open to the ravages of the enemy, by Braddock's defeat, is shown in the suggestion that Donville
might destroy magazines on Conecocheaque.
In September, 1756, Colonel John Armstrong made
a dashing expedition from Fort Shirley, where Shirleysburg, in Huntington county, now stands, against
Kittaning, at that time occupied by Delaware Indians,
under Capt. Jacobs. The prisoners taken there, stated
that the number of French, then at Fort Duquesne,
was about four hundred, and that the principal part of
the provisions used by them came from the Mississippi.
In February, 1756, John McKinney was taken prisoner by the Indians, and carried first to Fort Duquesne
and thence to Canada, from whence he made his escape
and came to Philadelphia, where he gave the following
description of the Fort:
" Fort Duquesne is situated on the east side of the
Monongahela, in the fork between that and the Ohio.




68           HISTORY OF PITTSHURGH.
It is four square, has bastions at each corner; it is
about fifty yards wide-has a well in the middle of the
Fort, but the water bad-about half the Fort is made
of square logs, and the other half next the water of
stockadoes; there are intrenchments cast up all around
the Fort about 7 feet high, which consists of stockadoes drove into the ground near to each other, and
wattled with poles like basket work, against which
earth is thrown up, in a gradual ascent; the steep part
is next the Fort, and has three steps all along the intrenchment for the men to go up and down, to fire at
an enemy-these intrenchments are about four rods
from the Fort, and go all around, as well on the side
next the water as the land; the outside of the intrenchment next the water, joins to the water. The
Fort has two gates, one of which opens to the land side,
and the other to the water side, where the magazine is
built; that to the land side is, in fact, a draw-bridge,
which in day-time serves as a bridge for the people,
and in the night is drawn up by iron chains and levers.
"Under the draw-bridge is a pit or well, the width
of the gate, dug down deep to water; the pit is about
eight or ten feet broad; the gate is made of square
logs; the back gate is made of logs also, and goes
upon hinges, and has a wicket in it for the people to
pass through in common; there is no ditch or pit at
this gate. It is through this gate they go to the
magazine and bake-house, which are built a little below
the gate within the intrenchments; the magazine is
made almost under ground, and of large logs and
covered four feet thick with clay over it. It is about
10 feet wide, and about thirty-five feet long; the bakehouse is opposite the magazine; the waters sometimes




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           69
rise so high as that the whole Fort is surrounded with
it, so that canoes may go around it; he imagines he
saw it rise at one time near thirty feet. The stockadoes are round logs better than a foot over, and about
eleven or twelve feet high; the joints are secured by
split logs; -in the stockadoes are loop holes made so as
to fire slanting towards the ground. The bastions are
filled with earth solid about eight feet high; each bastion has four carriage guns about four pound; no
swivels, nor any mortars that he knows of; they have
no cannon but at the bastions. The back of the barracks and buildings in the Fort are of logs placed
about three feet distance from the logs of the Fort;
between the buildings and the logs of the Fort, it is
filled with earth about eight feet high, and the logs of
the Fort extend about four feet higher, so that the
whole height of the Fort is about 12 feet.
"( There are no pickets nor palisadoes on the top of
the Fort to defend it against scaling; the caves of the
houses in the Fort are about even with the top of the
logs or wall of the Fort; the houses are all covered
with boards, as well the roof as the side that looks inside the Fort, which they saw there by hand; there
are no bogs nor morasses near the Fort, but good dry
ground, which is cleared for some distance from the
Fort, and the stumps cut close to the ground; a little
without musket shot of the Fort, in the fork, is a thick
wook of some bigness, full of large timber.
"' About thirty yards from the Fort, without the intrenchments and picketing, is a house, which contains
a great quantity of tools, such as broad and narrow
axes, planes, chisels, hoes, mattocks, pickaxes, spades,
shovels, &c., and a great quantity of wagon-wheels




70          HISTORY Of PITTSBURGH.
and tire. Opposite the Fort, on the west side of the
Monongahela, is a long, high mountain, about a quarter of a mile from the Fort, from which the Fort might
very easily be bombarded, and the bombarder be quite
safe; from them the distance would not exceed a
quarter of a mile; the mountain is said to extend six
miles up the Monongahela, from the Fort; Monongahela, opposite the Fort, is not quite musket shot wide;
neither the Ohio nor Monongahela can be forded, opposite the Fort. The Fort has no defence against
bombs. There was about 250 Frenchmen in this Fort,
besides Indians, which at one time amounted to 500;
but the Indians were very uncertain; sometimes hardly any there; that there were about 20 or 30 ordinary
Indian cabins about the Fort.
" While he was at Fort Duquesne, there came up the
Ohio from the Mississippi, about thirty batteaux, and
about 150 men, loadened with pork, flour, brandy, tobacco, peas, and Indian corn; they were three months
in coming to Fort Duquesne, and came all the way up
the falls without unloading."
On the 8th of June, 1757, Lieut. Baker, with five
soldiers and fifteen Cherokee Indians, returned from
an expedition towards Fort Duquesne. They had
fallen in with a party of three French officers and
seven men on the head waters of Turtle Creek, about
twenty miles from that Fort. They killed five of the
Frenchmen and took one officer prisoner. This officer
gave the information that Captain Lignery, then commanded at the Fort, and that there were at that place
six hundred French troops and two hundred Indians.
This is the latest information we have from Duquesne
prior to the fall of the next year, 1758.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           71'The war between Great Britain and France, up to
the end of the year 1757, had been an unfortunate and
disgraceful one to the former power. On the Ohio,
British power and trade was extinct; while the incursions of the French and their savage allies extended
almost to the scite of the present seat of our State
Government. In the East Indies British power was
almost annihilated and British subjects were cruelly
sacrificed in the black hole at Calcutta. In the Mediterranean, whither the Marquis De la Galissoniere
had gone from Canada, Admiral Byng was foiled and
Minorca taken, and in Germany thirty thousand Hanoverian troops, under the command of the brother of
George the 2d, had been disgracefully surrendered as
prisoners to the French commandant there.
Some of the wisest men of England were greatly
discouraged. Horace Walpole in a letter said, "it is
time for England to slip her cables and float away into
some unknown ocean;" and Lord Chesterfield wrote,
" whoever is in, or whoever is out, I am sure we are
"undone both at home and abroad; at home, by our
"increasing debt and expenses, abroad by our incapa"city and ill luck. I never yet saw so dreadful a
"prospect."
Such were the opinions of some of the most eminent
persons of England, when that extraordinary man,
from whom our city received its name, was called upon
to direct the affairs of Government. Three years of
disaster, disgrace and despondency, were succeeded by
years of triumph and success.
In America, the commander-in-chief, the Earl of
Loudoun, a bustling do-nothing, of whom it was wittily remarked, "he reminds me of St. George, on a




72           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH,
sign; he is always on horseback but never advances,"
was succeeded by General Amherst, under whom were
Wolfe and Forbes. Under their command the enemy
was swept from the continent, and the star of England
was placed once more in the ascendant. Among the
first of these brilliant successes was the capture of this
place by an army under the command of General John
Forbes. This gallant soldier was a native of Fifeshire,
in Scotland, and was at the time he was selected to
command the army, destined to this quarter of the
country, in his 49th year. I-e had seen much service
on the continent of Europe. He was bred to the profession of medicine, but at an early day inclined to
prefer a military career, he purchased a commission
into the Scotch Gray Dragoons, and rapidly rose to
the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel. His zeal and ability
soon recommended him to the favor of the celebrated
Earl of Stair, Lord Ligonier and other distinguished
military characters. In the preceding war, he was
employed in the post of Quarter Master General under
the Duke of Cumberland, which office he filled with
great ability.
A large portion of his army was collected together
at Philadelphia, from whence he marched in July,
1758, to join Colonel Bouquet, with an advance party
at Ray's town, nowBedford. Most lamentable delays
occurred in the preparations to move from that place.
It was not until September that the Virginia troops,
under the command of Colonel Washington, were
ordered from Cumberland, to join the British troops.
Here a warm discussion ensued between Washington
and Bouquet, as to the route to be pursued. The
former advocated Braddock's route; the latter a new




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          73
route through Pennsylvania. In favor of Braddock's
road, Washington urged the fact that it had already
been opened to within ten miles of Fort Duquesne.
The Virginians always believed that a Pennsylvania
influence induced Forbes to prefer the other road.
Yet we, who know this country, the character of our
climate and the habits of our rivers, can readily perceive that, although the southern route was preferable
for an army landed in Virginia and advancing at mid
summer; yet it might be very different with an army
assembled in Pennsylvania and not expecting to reach
Fort Duquesne until November. In June and July
when Braddock crossed the Youghiogany and the
Monongahela, those rivers were probably very low and
easily fordable; while in November the waters would
be high, gelid and impassable, except in boats, which
would require much time for construction.
We have, also, lately seen a few sheets of an orderly book of Forbes' army, while at Ray's town, by
which we learn that on the 19th of September, a Sergeant and twelve men were ordered to march as an
escort of provisions for Fort Cumberland. The fact
that provisions had to be sent from Pennsylvania, was,
no doubt, very influential on the mind of Forbes
against the Cumberland route.
On the 11th of September, while the main body of
the army was still at Ray's town and an advanced
corps near where Ligonier now stands; Major Grant
was detached from the latter place towards Fort Duquesne. Of the result of this movement the following
letter which we find in the Pennsylvania Gazette gives
the fullest account we. have any where seen:
F




74          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
"ANNAPOLIS, October 5th, 1758.
"We are informed by a letter from Frederick county, that on Monday, the 11th of September, Major
Grant, of the Highland regiment, marched from our
camp on the waters of the Kiskiminitas, with 37 officers
and 805 privates, taken from the different regiments
that compose the Western Army, on an expedition
against Fort Duquesne.
"The third day after their march, they arrived
within eleven miles of Fort Duquesne, and halted till
three o'clock in the afternoon; then marched within
two miles of Fort Duquesne, and left their baggage
there, guarded by a captain, two subalterns, and fifty
men, and marched with the rest of the troops, and
arrived at eleven o'clock at night upon a hill, a quarter of a mile from the Fort. Major Grant sent two
officers and fifty men to the Fort, to attack all the
Indians, &c., they should find lying out of the Fort;
they saw none, nor were they challenged by the centries. As they returned, they set fire to a large store
house, which was put out as soon as they left it. At
break of day, Major Lewis was sent with 400 men,
(royal Americans and Virginians,) to lie in ambush a
mile and a half from the main body, on the path on
which they left their baggage, imagining the French
would send to attack the baggage guard and seize it.
Four hundred men were posted along the hill facing
the Fort, to cover the retreat of Capt. M'Donald's
company, who marched with drums beating toward the
Fort, in order to draw a party out of the Fort, as Maj.
Grant had some reason to believe there were not above
200 men in the Fort, including Indians; but as soon
as they heard the drums, they sallied out in great




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          75
numbers, both French and Indians, and fell upon
Captain M'Donald, and two columns that were posted
lower on the hill to receive them. The Highlanders
exposed themselves without any cover, and were shot
down in great numbers, and soon forced to retreat.
The Carolinians, Marylanders, and Lower Countrymen, concealing themselves behind trees and the brush,
made a good defence; but were overpowered by numbers, and not being supported, were obliged to follow
the rest. Major Grant exposed himself in the thickest
of the fire, and endeavored to rally his men, but all to
no purpose, as they were by this time flanked on all
sides. Maj. Lewis and his party came up and engaged,
but were soon obliged to give way, the enemy having
the hill of him, and flanking him every way. A number were drove into the Ohio, most of whom were
drowned. Major Grant retreated to the baggage,
where Captain Bullet was posted with fifty men, and
again endeavored to rally the flying soldiers, by entreating them in the most pathetic manner to stand
by him, but all in vain, as the enemy were close at
their heels. As soon as the enemy came up to Capt.
Bullet, he attacked them very furiously for some time,.
but not being supported, and most of his men killed,.
was obliged to give way. However, his attacking
them stopped the pursuit, so as to give many an opportunity of escaping. The enemy followed Major
Grant, and at last separated them, and Captain Bullet
was obliged to make off. He imagines the major must
be taken, as he was surrounded on all sides, but the
enemy would not kill him, and often called to him to
surrender. The French gave quarters to all that would
accept it."




76          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
The following is a return of Forbes' Army on the
25th of September, just two months before the taking
of this place:
Names of Corps.  Field Officers. Co. Officers. Total.
Division of 1st Battalion
of Royal Americans,   1      12    363
Highland or 62d Regiment, 3    37    998  1267
Division of  do.        3      12    269 J1   1
1st Virginia Regiment,  3      32    782  1484
2d    do.     do.       3      35    702  14f 4
3d North Carolina Companies,               1      10    141
4th Maryland Companies 1       15    270
1st Battallion Pennsylvania Troops,           3      41    755 
2d        do.           3      40    666 p2192
3d        do.           3      46    771 J
Three Lower Counties,
now State of Delaware, "     "     263
Total,                        5980
Detachments on the frontiers of Pennsylvania and
the road of communication:
Major.  Captains.  Subalterns.  Total.
From the Penn'a Reg't, 1    10      17    563
"  N. Carolina do.  1      3      61    624
On the 14th of October, the rear division of the
army moved from Ray's town towards Loyal Hanna;
and on the same day a letter was written at the latter
place stating that the advanced party there, had been
attacked on the 12th inst., by twelve hundred French
and two hundred Indians, that the attack continued
from 11 o'clock, A. M., until 3 o'clock, P. M., when




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           77
the enemy retreated. The attack was renewed at
night, but was speedily repulsed.
Killed. Wounded. Missing.
The Highlanders had          1       0      0
" Virginians                4       6      0
Pennsylvanians            5      5      17
" North Carolinians         0       0      3
M arylanders               2      6      12
12     17      31
On the 18th of November, General Forbes advanced
with the rear division of the army, from Loyal Hanna,
and on the 25th of November, 1758, took possession
of the remains of Fort Duquesne.
John Ormsby, the father of the late Oliver Ormsby
and Mrs. Sidney Gregg, was a Commissary in that
army, and in a brief biography gives the following
statement:
" When the army arrived at Turtle Creek, a council
" of war was held, the result of which was, that it was
"impracticable to proceed, all the provisions and for"age being exhausted. On the General being told of
" this he swore a furious oath, that he would sleep in
"the Fort or a worse place the next night. It was a
"matter of indifference," says Mr. Ormsby, "to the' emaciated General, where he died, as he was carried
"the whole distance from Philadelphia and back, on a
"litter. About midnight a tremendous explosion was
"heard, from the westward, on which Forbes swore
"that the French magazine was blown up by design or
" accident, which revived our spirits. The above con" jecture of the head of iron, was soon confirmed by a
" deserter from Fort Duquesne, who said that the InF*




78           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.' dians who had watched the English Army, reported' that they were as numerous as the trees in the woods.
" This so terrified the French that they set fire to their
"magazines, barracks, &c. and pushed off in their
"boats, some up and some down the Ohio; so that the
"next morning, we got peaceable possession of the
" remains of the Fort. The place had a most desolate
"appearance, as all the improvements made by the
"French had been burnt to the ground. You may
"judge our situation," says Mr. Ormsby, "when I
" assure you, that we had neither flour, meat nor liquor'"in store. The only relief offered was plenty of
" venison and bear meat, which the hunters brought
" in, and which our people devoured without bread or
"' salt. General Forbes was a brave soldier but afflict" ed with a complication of disorders."
This point, which was the original bone of contention, thus again passed into the possession of the
Anglo-Saxon race, and it became necessary to adopt
measures to secure its possessions against an enemy,
who were not prepared to abandon all hope of retaking
it. It was then too late in the season to construct a
formidable work here, and provisions were so scarce,
that a large force could not be supported during the
winter. The enemy and their savage allies, were still
not very far distant, some being on Big Beaver and
some on French Creek, eagerly watching movements
here, and prepared to make another descent, in case a
suitable opportunity presented itself. The army was,
therefore, set to work to build a small military work on
the bank of the Monongahela at the South end of West
street, such as could well accommodate, and be safely
garrisoned by, two hundred men. As soon as this was




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          79
completed, Colonel Hugh Mercer, of Virginia, was
placed in command of it, with two hundred men, and
then the army marched back to the settlements. We
know not when the army or General Forbes left this
place, but he arrived in Philadelphia on the 17th of
January, 1759, on which occasion guns were fired and
bells rang. On the 11th of March, 1759, this resolute
and indomitable soldier died in that city, and on the
14th his remains were interred in the chancel of Christ
Church. Col. Hugh Mercer, who was left in command
here, was a Scotchman by birth, a gallant soldier, who
subsequently laid down his life at Princeton, in our
struggle for independence. It is quite remarkable how
prominent Scotchmen were in the early history of this
country. Stobo was long confined in Fort Duquesne.
Forbes drove the French from this place, and Mercer
was the first officer in command in the first Fort Pitt.
Sir Peter Halket and his son, with several other Scotchmen, fell at Braddock's field. While at Grant's defeat,
four officers of the name of Mackenzie, three McDonaids, a Munro and a Campbell, all of the Highland
Regiment, were killed, while Major Grant himself was
wounded and taken prisoner, and one hundred and
thirty one soldiers were killed or missing.




80              HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
CHAPTER IV.
General Stanwix appointed in place of General Forbes. List of officers
in Fort Pitt July 1759. Threatened attack on Fort Pitt; providential
deliverance; notices of the building of the new and enlarged Fort
Pitt; notice of that work and its cost; departure of General Stanwix;
notice of his death. General Monckton arrives; movement of troops
to Presqu isle. Peace in 1763 of short duration here. Pontiac, the
great Ottawas chief, already arranging a combined attack upon the
frontiers. War commenced; Le Boeuf, Venango, Presqu isle and
various other Forts taken. Fort Pitt beseiged; Col. Henry Bouquet
selected to relieve it. Troops assemble at Carlisle. Two days fighting
with the Indians at Brushy run. Indians defeated. Fort Pitt relieved.
Bouquet Redoubt built and the military plan of Pittsburgh made;
Bouquet's expedition to the Muskingum.
We know not precisely when the First Fort Pitt was
completed, but it was probably about the 1st of January, 1759; a letter from Colonel Mercer, dated 8th
January, 1759, says: " This garrison now consists of
two hundred and eighty men, and is capable of some
defence, though huddled up in a very hasty manner,
the weather being extremely severe.
A letter from General Amherst, dated March 15th,
1759, announces the death of General Forbes and the
appointment of General JOHN STANWIX, as his successor.
The following is a list of the officers at this place on
the 9th of July, 1759.
Colonel.-Hugh Mercer.
Captains.-Waggoner; Woodward, Prentice, Morgan, Smallman, Ward and Clayton.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          81
Lieutenants.-Mathews, Iydler, Biddle, Conrod,
Kennedy, Sumner, Anderson, Hutchins, Dangerfield,
and Wright of the train.
Ensigns.-Crawford, Crawford and Morgan.
About this time Fort Pitt was threatened with a very
formidable descent of French and Indians from Venango. Col. Mercer, in a letter dated July 17th, 1759,
gives the following account of it. Two Indians of the
Six Nations returned here on the 15th, from Venango,
where they had gone to spy a few days previous. They
found there about seven hundred Frenchmen and four
hundred Indians. The commanding officer told them
that he expected six hundred Indians more in a short
time, and that as soon as they arrived, he would come
and drive us from this place. Next day two hundred
came and the succeeding day as many more, and on
the third day they were all fitted off for the expedition
by eleven o'clock at night. Three pieces of cannon
were brought from Le Boeuf and others expected hourly, with a large number of batteaux loaded with provisions. In the morning of the 12th a grand council
was held, in which the Commandant thanked the Indians for attending, threw down the belt and told them
he would start next day. Soon after messengers
arrived with a packet for the Commandant, at the
contents of which the French officer appeared much
concerned. At length he said to the Indians: " Chil" dren, I have bad news, the English have gone against
"Niagara. We must give over thoughts of going
" down the river, till we have cleared that place of the
"enemy. If it is taken our road to you is stopped
" and you must become poor." Orders were immediately given to proceed with the provisions, artillery




82           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
and troops up French creek, which the spies saw set off,
and the Indians making up their bundles to follow. The
spies think there were over one thousand Indians at
Venango. So much for Col. Mercer's statement. We
will complete the narrative of the providential means,
by which this place was relieved from any further alarm
from the French.
In this year, 1759, three expeditions were planned
by General Amherst. The first under General Wolfe,
against Quebec, the second under Amherst himself,
against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, the third against
Niagara under General Prideaux. It was the last
whose influence was so timeously felt at Venango.
General Prideaux advanced towards Niagara, and
landed near it on the 6th of July. He immediately
invested it but was soon after killed, and the command
then devolved on Sir William Johnson, who pressed the
siege with great vigor. Having intelligence of the
approach of the French and Indians from Venango, he
made arrangements for their reception. On the 24th
of July an action took place in which the French were
defeated, D'Aubry, their Commandant, taken prisoner,
and the next day Fort Niagara surrendered.
There is something so frank, and so full of naivete,
in John Ormsby's account of this matter, that we cannot overlook it" Very few incidents occurred during the early part
of the year 1759. Towards the close of it, however,
fresh troubles commenced. The French in Canada
began to raise an army at Niagara, to attack our small
garrison (now called Fort Pitt,) which was in an ill
state for defence, when our commandant, Col. Mercer,
was informed by express that there were 1500 regulars




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           83
and a strong body of Indians at Venango, making
ready for an expedition against our post, which would
attack us within three days.
" This information, you may be sure, struck a panic
into our people, being 300 miles from any aid, and
surrounded by the merciless savages, from whom no
expectation of mercy was in view, but immediate destruction by the tomahawk, or lingering starvation.
" I must own I made my sincere application to the
Almighty, to pardon my sins and extricate us from this
deplorable dilemma. Our prayers were heard, and we
extricated from the dreaded massacre; for day before the
expected attack, an Indian fellow arrived from Niagara,
informing Col. Mercer that General Johnson laid siege
to Niagara, with a formidable English army, so that
the attack upon Fort Pitt was countermanded, and the
French and Indians ordered to return towards Niagara
with the utmost haste. This was done, and when they
arrived within a day's march of Niagara, the brave
Irish General Johnson ordered an ambuscade to a difficult pass, through which the above troops were to
march, and thus they were all killed or taken, to the
great joy of poor Ormsby and his associates."
Niagara was then regarded as one of the most important military positions on this continent. Through
it alone, could France supply the Indians on the upper
Ohio and the Lakes. Well had the French commandant at Venango said: " If it (Niagara) is taken our
road to you is cut off and you must become poor."
While, therefore, the British held Niagara, there was
but little reason to fear the French at Fort Pitt. Still,
however, the British government resolved to erect here
a formidable work, which would insure their dominion




84           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
for all time. We cannot fix the precise date of the
arrival here of General Stanwix, but it must have been
after the 9th July, 1759, as on that day Colonel Mercer was the commandant; and we judge from the following letter that it must have been before the 1st
September:
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM PITTSBURGH, SEPT. 24.
" It is now near a month since the army has been
employed in erecting a most formidable fortification;
such a one as will, to latest posterity, secure the British
empire on the Ohio. There is no need to enumerate
the abilities of the chief engineer, nor the spirit shown
by the troops, in executing the important task; the
fort will soon be a lasting monument of both. Upon
the General's arrival, about 400 Indians, of different
nations, came to confirm the peace with the English,
particularly the Ottawas and Wyandotts, who inhabit
about Fort Detroit; these confessed the errors they
had been led into by the perfidy of the French; showed
the deepest contrition for their past conduct, and promised not only to remain fast friends to the English,
but to assist us in distressing the common enemy, whenever we should call on them to do it. And all the
nations that have been at variance with the English,
said they would deliver up what prisoners they had in
their hands to the General, at a grand meeting that is
to be held in about three weeks. As soon as the Congress was ended, the head of each nation presented the
calumet of peace to the General, and showed every
token of sincerity that could be expected, which their
surrender of the prisoners will confirm. In this, as in




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           85
every thing that can preserve the lasting peace and happiness of these colonies, the General is indefatigable."
Smollet, in his history of England, also mentions
that General Stanwix spent the winter of 1759 and
1760 at this place, strengthening it by fortifications,
and cultivating peace and friendship with the Indians.
He says: " The happy consequences of these measures
were soon apparent in the production of a considerable
trade between the natives and the merchants of Pittsburgh, and in the perfect security of about four thousand settlers, who now returned to the quiet possession
of lands, from whence they had been driven by the
enemy on the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland and
Virginia."
The work, erected by Gen. Stanwix, was five sided,
though not all equal, as Washington erroneously stated
in his journal in 1770. Washington also had the following remarks, " two (sides) of which near the land
are of brick, the others stockade."
The earth around the proposed work was dug and
thrown up so as to enclose the selected position with a
rampart of earth. On the two sides facing the country, this rampart was supported by what military men
call a revetment,-a brick work, nearly perpendicular,
supporting the rampart on the outside, and thus presenting an obstacle to the enemy not easily overcome.
On the other three sides, the earth in the rampart had
no support, and, of course, it presented a more inclined
surface to the enemy-one which could readily be
ascended. To remedy, in some degree, this defect in
the work, a line of pickets was fixed on the outside of
the foot of the slope of the rampart. Around the
whole work was a wide ditch which would, of course,
G




86           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
be filled with water when the river was at a moderate
stage.
In summer, however, when the river was low the
ditch was dry and perfectly smooth, so that the officers
and men had a ball-alley in the ditch, and against the
revetments.
This ditch extended from 1the salient angle of the
north bastion-that is the point of the fort which approached nearest to -Marbury street, back of the South
end of Hoke's row,-down to the Allegheny where
Marbury street strikes it.
This part of thl ditch was, during our boyhood, and
even since, called Butler's Gut, from the circumstance
of General Richard Butler and. Col. Wm. Butler re,
siding nearest to it,-their houses being the same which
now stand at the corner on the south side of Penn and
east side of Marbury. Another part of the ditch extended to the Monongahela, a little west of West street,
and a third debouche into the river was made just about
the end of Penn street,
The redoubt, which still remains near the point, the
last relic of British labor at this place, was not erected
until 1764. The other redoubt, which stood at the
mouth of Redoubt Alley, was erected by Col. Wm.
Grant; and our recollection is, that the year mentioned on the stone tablet was 1765, but we are not positive
on that point.
Judge Brackenridge, in a communication in the first
number of the Pittsburgh Gazette, on the 29th of July,
1786, stated that this Fort cost the British Government
sixty thousand pounds sterling.
We have been enabled to gather a few more scraps
in relation to transactions here in 1759 and 1760, and
insert them as we find them.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          87
"FORT AT PITTSBURGH, March 21st, 1760.
"This day Major General Stanwix set out for Philadelphia, escorted by thirty-five chiefs of the Ohio Indians and fifty of the Royal Americans. The presence
of the General has been of the utmost consequence at
this post during the winter, as well as for cultivating
the friendship and alliance of the Indians, as for continuing the fortifications and supplying the troops here
and on the communications. The works are now quite
perfected, according to the plan, from the Ohio to the
Monongahela, and eighteen pieces of artillery mounted
on the bastions that cover the isthmus; and casemates,
barracks and storehouses are also completed for a garrison of 1000 men and officers, so that it may now be
asserted with very great truth, that the British dominion is established on the Ohio. The Indians are carrying on a vast trade with the merchants of Pittsburgh,
and instead of desolating the frontiers of these colonies,
are entirely employed in increasing the trade and
wealth thereof. The happy effects of our military
operations are also felt by aboutfour thousand of our
poor inhabitants, who are now in quiet possession of
the lands they were driven from on the frontiers of
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia."
" On Saturday last his Excellency General Stanwix
arrived in town, (Philadelphia,) accompanied by a
number of gentlemen of the army."-Pennsylvania
Gazette, April 17th, 1760.
When General Stanwix left Fort Pitt there were
present as a garrison, 150 Virginians, 150 Pennsylvanians and 400 of the 1st battallion of Royal Americans,
all commanded by Major Tulikens.




88            HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
We know but little more about this General, who
seems to have been highly esteemed and respected.
A London paper of July 29th, 1760, says: " Thursday last Major General Stanwix arrived from America,
waited on his Majesty, and was most graciously received."
The following article, which we find in the Seventh
Volume of Hazard's Pennsylvania Register, is the last
notice of him which we have seen:
"PHILADELPHIA, 2d January, 1767.
" Shipwreck.-It is with much regret that we announce the loss of the Eagle, on board of which was
General Stanwix, his lady and only daughter, a relative
and four servants, who all untimely perished."*
EXTRACT OF A LETTER DATED PITTSBURGII, JULY 4TH, 1760.
" General Monckton arrived here the 29th ult., and
immediately gave orders for the march of a large detachment of the army to Presqu'ile, (now Erie.) The
troops are to march on Monday."
" PHILADELPHIA, July 24th, 1760.
" On the 7th instant, four companies of the Royal
Americans, under command of Col. Bouquet, marched
from Pittsburgh towards Presqu'ile, as did also Captain
McNeil's company of the Virginia Regiment. On the
Wednesday following, Col. Hugh Mercer, with three
* From a law book, Fearne's Posthumous works, we learn, that the
vessel was bound from Ireland to England; also, that the lady of Stanwix was a step-mother of the daughter. Litigation took place between
those who would have been the heirs of the General, of his daughter
and of his wife. The question turned upon the presumption of which
was the last survivor. Ingeniuus arguments were presented on each
side, and the Court found the matter so difficult, that it recommended a
compromise, which was adopted.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          89
companies of the Pennsylvania Regiment, under Captains Biddle, Clapham and Anderson, and two days
after two other companies of the same Regiment, under
Captains Atlee and Miles, were to follow."
"PHILADELPHIA, July 31st, 1760.
" From Pittsburgh, we learn that Major Gladwin had
arrived at Presqu'ile with 400 men from the northward,
and that our troops from Pittsburgh would be at the
same place by the 15th of this month."
These movements were all made for the purpose of
taking possession of Detroit and Mackina, which had
been surrendered along with Montreal on the 8th September, 1759..
The completion of Fort Pitt, in the spring of 7T60,
preceded as it had been by the surrender of Montreal,
and with it the whole of Canada, held out a promise of
permanent peace in the interior of this country. The
promise, however, proved delusive. The preliminaries
of a treaty of peace between France, Spain, and Great
Britain were signed and interchanged on the 3d of
November, 1762, and the definitive treaty on the 10th
of February, 1763, and it is highly probable that at
that very time Pontiac, the great chief of the Ottawa
Indians, was arranging that grand confederacy of Indian tribes, which scattered death and desolation along
the frontier from Niagara and Fort Pitt to Mackina.
We have but glimpses at Fort Pitt from the summer
of 1760 until 1763. In August 1760 Gen. Monckton
held a treaty here with the Six Nations, and Shawanese, and Delawares, at which he delivered to them a
speech from Sir Jeffrey Amherst, commander-in-chief
of his majesty's forces in North America, in which it
was stated that the King did not intend to deprive them
G*




90          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
of any of their lands, except as necessity obliged him
to take posts and build forts in some parts of the country, toprevent the enemy from taking possession of their
lands. He also added that he would give them some
presents, as a consideration for the lands where the
forts and trading houses should be built. He also said
to them that if they would lay off a space of land adjoining each fort, to raise corn, they might fix the
limits and should receive such consideration, as should
be agreed between them, to their satisfaction.
A Philadelphia paper of November 5th, 1760, says:
" Last night the honorable General Monckton arrived
" here from Pittsburgh."
In the same paper of December 11th, 1760, it is
stated: " On Monday last, the honorable Sir John St.
" Clair, Deputy Q. M. General of his Majesty's forces,
"arrived from Pittsburgh with several other gentlemen.
" All well there."
In the latter part of the spring of 1763, broke out
that famous Indian war usually known as Pontiac's
war, though sometimes called Guyasutha's war, after
a distinguished Seneca Indian, well known in this
quarter.
In this war the Shawanese, Delawares and other
Ohio Indians took a leading part. Their plan seems
to have been well arranged. All the out posts were
attacked about the same time, and the following soon
fell into the hands of these ruthless foes. Le Boeuf,
Venango and Presqu'ile, on and near Lake Erie; La
Bay, upon Lake Michigan; St. Joseph's upon the river
of that name; Miamis on the Miami river; Ouachtanon, Sandusky and Mackina. Only Fort Pitt, Detroit
and Niagara escaped. The latter, owing to its great




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          91
strength, was not attacked. Major Glrdwin, who commanded at Detroit, distinguished himself greatly by
his conduct and firmness.
Fort Pitt was very vigorously assailed. The Indians
had at an early period surrounded it and cut off all
communication. Though they had no cannon, yet
with great boldness they posted themselves under the
banks of both rivers, and harassed the garrison incessantly with musquetry and fire arrows, hoping, at
length, by famine, by fire or fatigue, to overcome the
garrison.
Captain Ecuyer, of the Royal American regiment,
who commanded, though he wanted'several things necessary to sustain a siege and though the defences had
been injured by a recent flood in the river, took all
precautions which art and judgment could suggest for
the defence of the fort. The garrison aided by the
inhabitants and the surviving traders who had taken
refuge there, seconded his efforts. But still the situation of the fort was alarming. No relief could be sent,
except after a march of nearly two hundred miles beyond the settlements.
Colonel Henry Bouquet, a Swiss by birth, who had
seen much service in Europe, and who had acted a
prominent part under General Forbes, in taking Fort
Duquesne, was selected to command the force intended
to relieve Capt. Ecuyer. The troops were assembled
at Carlisle; on the 28th of July, 1763, they left Fort
Bedford, and on the 5th of August they had arrived
near Bushy run, about twenty-two miles east of Pittsburgh. Having marched seventeen miles that day and
being much fatigued, they were about to encamp, when
they were suddenly attacked by the Indians, the attack




92           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
was, however, repulsed; but the moment pursuit terminated, the attack was renewed. Night, at length,
separated the combatants. Next day the action was
recommenced, when Col. Bouquet, by a very skilful
movement, succeeded in giving the Indians an effective
repulse. About fifty of Bouquet's detachment were
killed, and sixty wounded, and forty Indians, including
several chiefs, were killed.
The Indians being thus foiled in all their plans,
abandoned the siege of Fort Pitt and dispersed. Col.
Bouquet had not a sufficient force to pursue the enemy
beyond the Ohio, and was compelled to delay further
action until some future time; he, therefore, after supplying Fort Pitt and other posts with sufficient provisions, &c. dispersed his troops to the best advantage
for quartering through the winter. In the mean time
he was busily engaged in making the necessary preparations for a campaign against the Delawares, Shawanese, Mohickons, and other Indians. The 42d and
60th regiments were ordered on that service. The
Virginians were to raise one regiment, the Pennsylvanians another, and two hundred friendly Indians were
to join. The Pennsylvanians alone complied in part
with their engagements; the others failed entirely.
Arrangements advanced slowly, and it was not until
the 5th of August, 1764, that the troops assembled at
Carlisle, and not until the 17th of September did they
arrive at Fort Pitt.
In this summer of 1764, was erected here, the sole
existing monument of British dominion; the Redout,
now standing between Penn street and Duquesnc Way,
with the inscription on a stone tablet in the wall, of
the words: " Col. Bouquet, A. D., 1764"'




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           ~3
In this same year, also, Col. John Campbell laid
out that part of the city of Pittsburgh which lies between Water and Second streets, and between Ferry
and Market streets, being four squares. We have
never been able to learn what authority Campbell had
to act in this case. But when the Penns afterwards
authorised the laying out the town of Pittsburgh, their
agent recognized Campbell's act, at least, so far as not
change his plan of lots. We know not precisely at
what time of the year Col. Bouquet's redout was built,
nor when Campbell's lots were laid out; but certainly
the last step in perfecting this place as a military post
and the first step in building up a town here, were
taken in the same year.
Col. Bouquet having completed his arrangements as
well for the security of this place, as for the proper
supply of his army, commenced his march against the
Indian towns on the Muskingum, by crossing the Allegheny river on the 3d of October, and pursuing his
course along the banks of the Ohio, through Log's
town, and by the mouth of Big Beaver, to near the
forks of the Muskingum. Here six Indians came to
inform the Colonel that all their chiefs were assembled
about eight miles from his camp and were ready to
treat for peace. On the 17th of October, their conference began. The Indians present were Senecas,
Delawares and Shawanese. The proceedings come not
within the purview of our task, we shall, therefore,
merely state that the Indians agreed to deliver up all
the prisoners in their hands and that by the 9th of
November two hundred and six persons, males, females
and children were delivered up. Many of these were
reluctant to leave their Indian friends; but everything




94               HISTORY     OF PITTSBURGH.
being at length arranged, the army decamped on the
19th   of November, and arrived          at Fort Pitt on the
28th of that month. Peace now prevailed throughout
the country.
CHAPTER V.
Rev. Charles Beatty at Pittsburgh, kindly treated by the Commandant,
and all the officers; ascends Coal Hill, his account of the fire in the hill;
curious legislation and barbarous proclamation; encroachments of the
whites along the Youghiogany and Monongahela; complaints of the
Indians; efforts of the authorities, British and colonial, to stop the
encroachments; conference at Pittsburgh with the Delawares, Shawanese, Munsies and Mohiccans; Congress at Fort Stanwix: present Sir
Wm. Johnson, Commissioners from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Virginiaand chiefs of each of the Six Nations and of the Shawanese and
Delawares; several cessions made; terms of cession to the Penns;
measures taken by the Penns for the sale of the newly purchased lands;
bounds of the new cession included Pittsburgh. Manor of Pittsburgh
surveyed; boundaries of the Manor; question for speculation. Washington's third visit here; extract from his journal. Population of
Pittsburgh in 1770; orders for the abandonment of Fort Pitt; reflections.
In the summer of 1766, the Reverend Charles Beatty, the grand-father of the Rev. C. C. JIeatty, of
Steubenville, was appointed by the Synod of New York
and Philadelphia, to visit the frontier inhabitants, in
order that a better judgment might be formed, what
assistance might be necessary to afford them, in their




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          95
present low circumstances, in order to promote the
gospel among them, and also to visit the Indians, in
case it could be done safely. On Friday the 5th September, late in the evening he arrived at Fort Pitt.
He immediately waited on Capt. Murray, the commandant, who received him and his companion, Mr. Duffield, politely, and introduced them to the Rev. Mr.
McLagan, the chaplain to the 42d regiment. The
officers were all very kind to them, invited them to
their tables, gave them a room in the fort, and supplied
them with bedding, so that they were as comfortable as
could be expected. On Sabbath, 7th September, Mr.
McLagan invited him to preach in the garrison, which
he did; while Mr. Duffield preached to the people who
live in some kind of a town, without thefort, to whom
Mr. Beatty also preached in the afternoon.
We infer from the expression " some kind of a town,'
that Pittsburgh must have been a poor affair indeed.
The following is a note to Mr. Beatty's journal of
Monday, September 8th:
"In the afternoon we crossed the oIocconghehela
"river, accompanied by two gentlemen, and went up
" the hill opposite the fort, by a very difficult ascent,
" in order to take a view of that part of it more parti" cularly from which the garrison is supplied with coals,
"which is not far from the top. A fire being made by' the workmen not far from the place where they dug
"the coal, and left burning when they went away, by'the small dust communicated itself to the body of
"the coals and set it on fire, and has nowbeen burn-'ing almost a twelve month entirely under ground,
" for the space of twenty yards or more along the face' of the hill or rock, the way the vein of coal extends,




96           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
"the smoke ascending up through the chinks of the
"rocks. The earth in some places is so warm, that
"we could hardly bear to stand upon it; at one
"place where the smoke came up we opened a hole in
"the earth till it was so hot as to burn paper thrown
"into it; the steam that came out was so strong of
"sulphur that we could scarce bear it. We found
"pieces of matter there, some of which appeared to
" be sulphur, others nitre, and some a mixture of both.
"If these strata be large in this mountain it may be"come a volcano. The smoke arising out of this
"mountain appears to be much greater in rainy wea" ther than at other times. The fire has already
"undermined some part of the mountain, so that great
" fragments of it, and trees with their roots are fallen
" down its face. On the top of the mountain is a very
" rich soil covered with a fine verdure, and has a very
" easy slope on the other side, so that it may be easily
" cultivated."
This is the first and only evidence, we have ever
seen, confirmatory of a tradition, that coal hill was
once on fire; we presume, however, that the combustion could never have extended very far.
Messrs. Beatty and Duffield were the first Presbyterian ministers, so far as we have any testimony, who
ever preached at the head of the Ohio.
The following items in the history of our State,
though not immediately connected with our subject, are
introduced as interesting evidences of an improved
state of public opinion and of increasing civilization,
and when regarded in connection with the abolition of
slavery here, are quiet encouraging.
In 1763, acts were passed by the Legislature of this




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          97
State granting lotteries to aid the following churches:
the Episcopal churches at York, Reading and Carlisle,
St. Peter's and St. Paul's in Philadelphia, St. Paul's
at Chester, St. John's in Concord township, Chester
county, St. Martin's at Marcus Hook; also to aid a
Lutheran church and a Presbyterian meeting house in
Lancaster county.
In 1764, Governor John Penn, by proclamation proposed the following rewards for the scalps or capture of
Indians. For every male above ten years captured,
$150, or for his scalp being killed $134. For every
female, or male under ten years old captured $130, or
for the scalp of such female killed $50.
Immediately after the conclusion of the peace of
1763, the white men commenced encroaching on the
lands west of the mountains, and along the Youghiogany and Monongahela rivers. The Indians complained about these encroachments. The British government and the government of this State labored to
check these invasions of Indian territory. The history
of this section of the country from 1764, down to
1774, presents but little of general interest. To continue the connection it is necessary we should give a
brief notice of the spirit of encroachment on the part
of the whites, of the complaints of the Indians and of
the exertions of the various authorities to prevent these
encroachments, and to allay these complaints.
EXTRACT FROM MR. CROGHAN'S JOURNAL, DATED FORT
PITT, MAY 22, 1766.
"Major Murray informed me that there were several
chiefs of the Shawanese, Delaware, Six Nations and
H




98          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Hurons from Sandusky, with a considerable number
of warriors, who had waited a long time to see me.
" 24th of May. I had a meeting with the Six Nations, Delawares and Huron chiefs, when they made
great complaints about several of their people being
murdered on the frontiers of the several provinces.
Say they have lost five men on the frontiers of Virginia, one near Bedford in Pennsylvania, and one in the
Jerseys. This conduct of their Fathers, they say,
does not look as if they were disposed to live in peace
with their children, the Indians. Besides that, as soon
as peace was made last year, contrary to our engagements, a number of our people came over the great
mountain and settled at Redstone Creek, and on the
Monongahela, before they had given the country to
the King their father."
At an early period of 1764, instructions from the
king of Great Britain were sent to John Penn, which
recited that several persons from Pennsylvania and the
back parts of Virginia, had migrated west of the Allegheny Mountains, and seated themselves on lands near
the Ohio in express disobedience of the proclamation
of the 7th of October, 1763, and therefore enjoined
upon the Governor to use all means in his power to
prevent such encroachments, and to cause those to
remove who had seated themselves on those lands.
A letter from General Gage, the commander-in-chief
of the British forces in America, dated July 2d, 1766,
assures Governor John Penn, that if he will take proper steps, " as I presume Redstone is within your
government, the garrison at Fort Pitt shall assist to
drive away the settlers, and it seems proper that a
number of the chiefs should be present to see our desire to do them justice."




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           99
A letter from Governor Penn to Governor Fauquier
of Virginia, dated 23d of September 1766, asks his
aid for the removal of the settlers, states that as the
boundary line between the two States had not been
settled, such settlers might take shelter under an unsettled jurisdiction.
Reply of Governor Fauquier, dated Williamsburg,
December 11, 1766, states that the commander-in-chief
had taken "more effectual measures, by giving orders
to an officer and party to summon the settlers to remove, and in case of refusal to threaten military execution."
Letter from John Penn to Earl Shelbourne, January
21st, 1767, recites what had been done by himself, by
Governor Fauquier, and by General Gage, and says,
" I am at a loss to know what more can be done by the
civil power."
Letter from General Gage, dated New York, December 7, 1767, says: " You are a witness how little
attention has been paid to the proclamations that have
been published, and that even the removing these people from the lands last summer by the garrison of Fort
Pitt, had been only a temporary expedient; as they
met with no punishment, we learn they are returned
again to Redstone Creek and Cheat river. Recommends that more effective laws should be passed."
On the 3d of February, 1768, an act was passed
inflicting death without benefit of clergy upon any
person settled upon lands not purchased of the Indians,
who shall refuse after - day's notice to quite the same,
or having removed, shall return to the same or other
unpurchased lands; Provided, however, that this law
shall not extend to persons who now are, or may here



100         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
after be, settled on the main communications leading to
Fort Pitt, under the permission of the commander-inchief, or to a settlement made by Geo. Croghan, Esq.,
Deputy Superintendant under Sir William Johnson,
upon the Ohio above said fort.
24th February, 1768. Proclamation issued in pursuance of the above act, 250 copies printed, and J.
Burd, John Steel, J. Allison, Chr. Lemer, and Capt.
James Potter of Cumberland, requested to go to the
Monongahela, Youghiogany and other places west of
the Allegheny, where such forbidden settlement were
made, to set up proclamations, to explain them to the
people, and to endeavor to induce them to remove.
In April and May 1768, a conference was held at
this place with the Six Nations, the Delawares, Shawanese, Munsies and Mohickons. Total number of Indians present, eleven hundred and three, besides women
and children. They, no doubt, created quite a bustle
in the little village, which our city must have been at
that time. The Indians complained of the encroachments on their lands along the Youghiogany and Monongahela. But nothing more effectual was done than
we have before stated, the passing of severe laws and
the removal of those who encroached, by the troops
from Fort Pitt. Those who were removed by force
returned again as soon as the troops were withdrawn.
Up to this time the Indian title to the country east of
the Allegheny river had not been extinguished.
On the 24th of October, 1768, a Congress was held
at Fort Stanwix, New York, present, Sir William
Johnson, Superintendant of Indian affairs, the Governor of New Jersey, a Commissioner from Virginia, and
Richard Peters and James Tilghman of Pennsylvania,




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         101
also chiefs from each of the Six Nations of Indians,
and from the Shawnese and Delawares.
Sir William Johnson, in his opening address, stated
that Lieut. Governor of Pennsylvania had been there
several days waiting, but that business called him away.
Several cessions of land were made by the Indians,
but we confine ourselves to the one to the Penns, as
follows:
" We, Tyanhasare, or Abraham, sachem or chief of
the Indian nation called Mohocks; Senaghsis-of the
Oneydas; Chenughiata-of the Onondagoes; Gaustrax-of the Senecas; Sequarisera-of the Tuscaroras; Tagaaia-of the Cayugas, in general council of
the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, assembled for the
purpose of settling a general boundary line between
the said Six Nations, and their confederates and independent tribes, and his majesty's middle colonies, send
greeting, &c. In consideration of ten thousand dollars, they grant to Thomas Penn and Richard Penn,
all that part of the province of Pennsylvania, not
heretofore purchased of the Indians, within the said
general boundary line, and beginning the said boundary line, on the east side of the east branch of the river
Susquehannah, at a place called Owegy, and running
with the said boundary line, down the said branch on
the east side thereof till it comes opposite the mouth
of a creek called by the Indians Awandac, (Tawandee)
and across the river and up the said creek on the south
side thereof, along the range of hills called Burnett's
hills by the English, and by the Indians, on the
north side of them, to the heads of a creek which runs
into the west branch of Susquehannah, which creek is
by the Indians called Tiadagitton, and down the said
1*




102         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
creek on the south side thereof, to the said west branch
of Susquehannah, then crossing the said river, and
running up the same on the south side thereof, the
several courses thereof to the fork of the same river
which lies nearest to a place on the river Ohio, called
the Kittanning, and from the said fork by a straight
line to Kittanning aforesaid, and then down the said
river Ohio by the several courses thereof to where the
western bounds of the said province of Pennsylvania
crosses the same river, and then with the said western
bounds to the south boundary thereof, and with the
south boundary aforesaid to the east side of the Allegheny hills, and with the said hills on the east side of
them to the west line of a tract of land purchased by
the said proprietors from the Six Nation Indians, and
confirmed October 23d, 1758, and then with the northern bounds of that tract to the river Susquehannah
to the northern boundary line of another tract of land
purchased of the Indians by deed, (August 22d, 1749,)
and then with that northern boundary line to the river
Delaware at the north side of the mouth of a creek
called Lechawachsein, then up the said river Delaware
on the west side thereof to the intersection of it, by
an east line to be drawn from Owegy aforesaid to the
said river Delaware, and then with that line to the beginning at Owegy aforesaid."
Some doubts arose as to what stream it was that was
called Tiadaghton, and what hills were meant by
"Burnett's Hills."  At a subsequent treaty held in
1784, questions on these points were put to the Indians,
and they replied that the creek was Pine Creek, which
enters the west branch of the Susquehannah above
Jersey Shore, and that Burnett's Hills were by them
called the Long Mountains.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         103
It is a singular circumstance of history of this treaty, that although Virginia claimed a very considerable
portion of the territory ceded to the Penns; yet her
commissioner Thomas Walker, Esq., was present, saw
the money paid to the Indians, and their chiefs executing a deed for a territory which embraced Pittsburgh,
the very bone of contention, between those colonies,
and yet made no objection, so far as we can learn.
The title being thus acquired, measures were immediately taken to prepare the new purchased lands for
sale. On the 23d of February, 1769, an advertisement
was published for general information that the Land
Office would be opened on the third day of the ensuing
April, at 10 o'clock, A. M. to receive applications from
all persons inclined to take up lands in the new purchase upon the terms of five pounds sterling per hundred acres, and one penny per acre, per annum, quit
rent. This quit rent was afterwards abolished by the
act, vesting in the Commonwealth the title of the
Penns, commonly called the Divesting act, passed on
the 27th of November, 1779. In Washington county,
and in that portion of Allegheny, west of the Monongahela river, many settlements were also made under
Virginia titles, so that there was a rapid increase of
the population from 1770 until 1775. Much of the
very best land in that quarter is held by titles based
on Virginia entries; which by the Compromise of 1779
are recognized as equally good as a Pennsylvania warrants. A large portion of the lands along Chartier's
Creek is thus held by entries made between 1769 and
1779. The place spoken of in the deed as the fork
nearest to the Kittanning is now the north west corner
of Cambria county.




104          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
This cession of 1768 gave to the Penns all the territory in Pennsylvania, south of the west branch of the
Susquehannah and of a straight line from the north
west corner of Cambria county to Kittanning, and all
the territory east of that part of the Allegheny river
below Kittanning, and all the country south of the
Ohio. So that Pittsburgh and the country eastward
of it was ceded while the country west of the Allegheny and north of Ohio was still Indian country, and
preserved that name until within the memory of the
writer.
While the proprietaries prepared to sell the other
lands within their recent purchases; they also made
provision to reserve certain favorite portions as their
own private property. The country around Fort Pitt
was regarded as being very favorably located, it was,
therefore, determined to withdraw it from market and
reserve it to the private use of the proprietaries.
On the 5th day of January, 1769, a warrant issued
for the survey of the " Manor of Pittsburgh." On the
27th of March the survey was completed and returned
the 19th of May, 1769. It embraced within its bounds
five thousand seven hundred and sixty-six acres, and
allowance of six per cent. for roads, &c. The survey
began at a spanish oak on the south bank of the Monongahela, thence south 800 perches to. a hickory,
thence west 150 perches to a white oak, thence north
35 degrees west 144 perches to a white oak, thence
west 518 perches to a white oak, thence north 758
perches to a post, thence east 60 perches to a post,
thence north 14 degrees east 208 perches to a white
walnut on the bank of the Ohio, thence up the river
202 perches to a white walnut, thence crossing the




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         105
river obliquely and up the south side of the Allegheny
762 perches to a spanish oak, the corner of Croghan's
claim, thence south 60 degrees east 249 perches to a
sugar tree, south 85 degrees east 192 perches to a
sugar tree, thence by vacant land south 18 degrees
east 236 perches to a white oak, thence south 40 degrees west 150 perches to a white oak, thence west by
claim of Samuel Sample 192 perches to a hickory,
thence south 65 degrees west 74 perches to a red oak,
on the bank of the Monongahela, thence obliquely
across the river, south 78 degrees west 308 perches to
the beginning, at the spanish oak.
As these hickories, white oaks, sugar trees, and
spanish oaks have nearly all disappeared, and even if
still standing, would not be readily recognized, we have
procured a more modern and intelligible account of
this survey.
The spanish oak, the place of beginning, stood near
the south bank of the Monongahela river, just in the
middle of McKee street. The manor line is there the
eastern line of the Gregg property. The hickory
corner, south from the spanish oak, stood not far from
the Buck tavern on the Brownsville road. The white
walnut on the Ohio, stood a short distance above the
Saw-mill run, where the Washington and Steubenville
roads unite. The white walnut from which the line
starts across the river, stood near the old glass house,
erected by James O'Hara and Isaac Craig, and now
owned by Frederick Lorenz. The spanish oak, on the
Allegheny river, stood near the line between Croghan'sville and Springfield farm. From that point the manor
line passes along the western side of the Springfield
farm, crosses the Fourth street road five or six hundred




106         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
yards east of the Colony, makes a corner near Mrs.
Murray's tavern and strikes the Monongahela three or
four hundred feet above the mouth of the Two Mile
run.
Curious questions for speculation are presented by
this matter of the "Manor of Pittsburgh."  By surveying it off and separating it from the country around,
the proprietary manifested his determination to reserve it from sale and hold it as private property while
the land in the vicinity was offered for sale. The occurrence of our revolution and the conduct of the
proprietary rendered it necessary for the Commonwealth to pass the act divesting the proprietary of all
interest, in the territory without the various manors,
but leaving his title in the manors undisturbed. This
action of the Legislature, no doubt, induced the. proprietaries, John Penn, jr. and John Penn, to divide
and sell the manor at an earlier day than they would
have done, had they retained all the land in the State
which was unsold. Now the questions: what would
hale been the population of the country around and
its condition had the proprietaries continued to hold it
as private property? Could such a monopoly be tolerated here? and how long?
In October 1770, George Washington arrived here
on his way to the Kenhawa. We permit him to speak
for himself as to what he saw here, by an extract from
his journal:
" October 17th.-Dr. Craik and myself, with Capt.
Crawford and others, arrived at Fort Pitt, distant from
the crossing forty-three and a half measured miles.
In riding this distance we passed over a great deal of
exceedingly fine land, chiefly white oak, especially




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.                 107
from Sewickley creek to Turtle creek, but the whole
broken; resembling, as I think the whole lands in this
country do, the Loudoun lands. We lodged in what
is called the town, distant about three hundred yards
from the fort, at one Semple's,* who keeps a very
good house of public entertainment. The houses,
which are built of logs, and ranged in streets, are on
the Monongahela, and I suppose may be about twenty
in number, and inhabited by Indian traders. The fort
is built on the point between the rivers Allegheny and
Monongahela, but not so near the pitch of it as Fort
Duquesne stood. It is five sided and regular, two of
which near the land are of brick; the others stockade.
A moat encompasses it.      The garrison consists of two
companies of Royal Irish, commanded by Captain
Edrondson.
"18th.-Dined in the fort with Colonel Croghan
and the officers of the garrison; supped there also,
meeting with great civility from the gentlemen, and
engaged to dine with Colonel Croghan the next day at
his seat, about four miles up the Allegheny.t
* This was the house of Samuel Semple, situated at the corner of
Water and Ferry streets, where the Virginia House now stands. It was
a two story, double hewn log house. We have been informed that it was
built by Colonel George Morgan about 1764, and was the first shingle
roofed house in Pittsburgh. The half of the lower story next to Ferry
street was divided into two rooms, while the portion to the right of the
hall entering from Water street was all in one room, and in it stood the
first billiard table we ever saw. No doubt the officers of the two Royal
Irish companies, and gentlemen residing and visiting here, spent many
a pleasant hour in Mr. Semple's "very good house of public entertainment."
t Colonel Croghan's seat was, according to our recollection, on the east
side of the Allegheny river, nearly opposite to where Mr. McCandless is
now residing. To be more precise, it was on the lot which is on our
right when we first reach the Allegheny, when going from Lawrenceville
up towards Sharpsburgh.




108           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
" 19th.-Received a message from Colonel Croghan,
that the White Mingo and other chiefs of the Six Nations had something to say to me, and desiring that I
would be at his house about eleven, where they were
to meet me. I went up and received a speech, with a
string of wampum, from the White Mingo,* to the following effect:
"' That as I was a person whom some of them remember to have seen when I was sent on an embassy
to the French, and most of them had heard of, they
were come to bid me welcome to this country, and desire that the people of Virginia would consider them
as friends and brothers, linked together in one chain;
that I would inform the governor that it was their
wish to live in peace and harmony with the white people, and that though there had been some unhappy
differences between them and the people on our frontiers, they were all made up, and they hoped forgotten;
and concluded with saying that their brothers of Virginia did not come among them and trade as the inhabitants of other provinces did, from whence they
were afraid that we did not look upon them with so
friendly an eye as they could wish.'
"To this'I answered, after thanking them fOr their
friendly welcome,'that all the injuries and affronts
that had passed on either side, were now totally forgotten, and that I was sure nothing was more wished
and desired by the people of Virginia, than to live in
* White Mingo was a chief of the Six Nations, of the Senecas. He
was present at the conference held here in April and May 1768. In a
draft of a survey of thirteen hundred and fifty-two acres and allowance,
made for George Croghan, on 27th of June 1769, White Mingo's castle is
laid down on the west side of the Allegheny river, nearly two miles
above Wainwright's Island.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          109
the strictest friendship with them; that the Virginians
were a people not so much engaged in trade as the
Pennsylvanians, which was the reason of their not
being so much among them, but that it was possible
they might for the time to come have stricter connexions with them, and that I would acquaint the government with their desires.'
" After we dined at Colonel Ctoghan's we returned
to Pittsburgh, Colonel Croghan with us, who intended
to accompany us part of the way down the river, having engaged an Indian called the Pheasant, and one
Joseph Nicholson, an interpreter, to attend us the whole
voyage, also a young Indian warrior.
" 20th.-We embarked in a large canoe, with sufficient store of provisions and necessaries, and the following persons besides Dr. Craik and myself, to wit,
Captain Crawford, Joseph Nicholson, Robert Bell,
William Harrison, Charles Morgan and Daniel Rendon,
a boy of Captain Crawford's, and the Indians, who
were in a canoe by themselves. From Fort Pitt we
sent our horses and boys back to Captain Crawford's,
with orders to meet us there again on the 14th day of
November. Colonel Croghan, Lieutenant Hamilton
and Magee set out with us. At two we dined at Mr.
Magee's,* and encamped ten miles below, and four
above Logstown. We passed several large islands
which appeared to be very good, as the bottoms also
did on each side of the river alternately; the hills on
one side being opposite to the bottoms on the other,
- This name is, no doubt, misspelt. The person meant was certainly
Alexander McKee. James McKee, a man of scrupulous veracity, has
often mentioned to us the visit of Washington to his brother. He resided a short distance from the mouth of Chartier's Creek.
I




110          IISTORY OF PITTSBURGHI.
which seem generally to be about three or four hundred yards wide, andt so vice versa.
It happens  ilngularly enougli, that the very first
description of the point oni which Pittsburgh stands
was from the pen of Washington, and the very first
statement, \\ licll exists, ot the number of houses here,
is from the same pen. He estimates the number of
houses at this place, out of tlhe fort, of course, at
about twenty. We lhave, no doubt, tlhat the number,
i as more likely to be underl than over his estimate.
But suppose there were twenty and that there were
six persons to a house; Pittsburgh then contaired
exclusive of the garrison one hundred and twenty persons, men, women and children.
In October, 1772, orders were received by IMajor
Edmondson, the conaln;nding officer here, from Gen.
G;ge, the collmmander-in-chief of the Britisll forces in
Nortli America, to ablandon Fort Pitt.  In carrying
out tils order Major Edmonson sold the pickets, stones,
bricks, timber andl iron, in the walls and buildings of
tlie fort and redoubts, for the sum of fifty pounds, New
York currency. Fort Pitt was then abandoned;and( a
corporal and three men -were left, to take care of tle
boats and battea'ux intended to keep up the communication with the Illinois country.
Thus it appears, that Fort Pitt, wlich had cost the
Government about ~60,000 sterling, anld lwhich was
designicd to secure fure'ver British emplire on tile O!lio,
was within thirteen years ordered to be abandoned.
Such is the short siglltedness of our wisest statesmen
tlldt even William Pitt could not foresee, the early
abandonment of the formidable work which bore his
nume.




IISTOtY OF PITTSBUr   GH.           111
The fort was not destroyel, thougll abandoned as a
military post by the Britislh Government.  Duri.g the
censuiig year it was re-occupied and repaired by Dr.
Jolln Connelly, under or(lers from    Lord Dunmore,
Governor of Virginia, arid (luring our revolutionary
war, it was constanttly occupiedl first by Virginia troops,
undler Captain.Johll  Neville, and subsequently by Contirnent;l troops unlder General Iand, Colonel Broadhead and General Wim. Irvirne.
CHAPTER VI.
The year 1774 one of much nmovement here; controversy between
Pennsylvanii:l atid Virginia.about their bound:lry  line; meetings here
and at lanna's to)wi in favor of resistance to British encroalchments;
conitert nee here with (iuyas-utha and other Indian chiels 6th of July,
1776; character of Guyasutha, services, his speech, John leville's
reply, his rejoinder.
The year 1774 was a time of excitement and movement 1>ere.  In tl:at year, for the last time citizens of
tlhese States engaged, in war with the Indians as subjects of Greait Britain, and under the command of
British officers.  In that year Lord Dunmore passed
tlhroulgh this pl-ice on his way down the Ohio, to cooper'ate witll General Lewis, of Virginia, in an attack
up:on tlce Ohio Indians.  In that year the massacre of
Logan's family t()ook place at Baker's Bottom, amnd in
t!le satic Year the eloquent speech, commonly known




112          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
as Logan's speech, was delivered to Lord Dunmore by
Colonel John Gibson, at the camp near to Chilicothe.
About the same time the controversy between Pennsylvania and Virginia, about their boundary line, which
commenced as early as 1752, seemed to have come to
maturity and was on the very verge of gliding into
civil war. Virginia relied upon a charter granted by
James the First, which was broad enough in its term
to cover nearly one half this continent, and this liberal
grant they relied upon, although the Company to which
it was made had been dissolved by a judgment on a
writ of Quo Warranto, and although the lands had
reverted to the crown.
Pennsylvania, or rather the Penns claimed under a
charter from Charles 2nd, in 1681, which assigns the
Delaware river as the eastern boundary and then says,
"said lands to extend westward five degrees in lonyitude, to be computed from the said eastern bounds."
Under this charter the Penns contended that Pennsylvania extended several miles west of Fort Pitt;
while on the other hand it was contended that Virginia
embraced not only this place but all the country east
of us to the Laurel Hill.
Early in 1774, Dr. John Connolly, a Pennsylvanian,
by birth, but a partisan and friend of Lord Dunmore,
came here from Virginia, with authority from that
nobleman, took possession of the Fort, calling it Fort
Dunmore, and issued his proclamation calling the
militia together on the 25th January, 1774; for so
doing, Arthur St. Clair, a magistrate of Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, issued a warrant against him
and had him committed to jail at Hanna's town, which
was then the seat of justice, for all this country.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         113
Connolly was soon released, by entering bail for his
appearance. He then went to Staunton and was sworn
in as a Justice of the Peace, of Augusta county, Virginia, in which, it was alleged, the country around
Pittsburgh was embraced. Towards the latter part of
March, he returned to this place, with both, civil and
military authority, to put the laws of Virginia in force.
About the 5th of April, the Court assembled at Hanna's
town, the seat of Justice for Westmoreland county,
Pennsylvania. Soon after, Connolly, with about one
hundred and fifty men, all armed and with colors flying, appeared there; placed sentinels at the door of
the court house, who refused to admit the magistrates,
unless with the consent of their commander. A meeting then took place between Connolly and the magistrates, in which the former stated that he had come
there in fulfilment of his promise to the Sheriff; but
denied the authority of the Court, and declared that
the magistrates had no right to hold a Court. He
added, however, that to prevent confusion, he agreed
that the magistrates might act as a Court in all matters which might be submitted to them by the acquiescence of the people, until he should receive instructions to the contrary. To this the magistrates replied,
that their authority rested on the legislative authority
of Pennsylvania; that it had been regularly exercised;
that they would continue to exercise it in the same
regular manner, and that they would do all in their
power to preserve the public tranquility. They added,
in conclusion, an assurance that the province of Pennsylvania would use every exertion to accommodate
differences, by fixing a temporary boundary until the
true one could be ascertained.
1*




114          IIISTORY OF PITTSBURGII.
"On the eight of April, the Justices, AZneas Mackay,
Devereux Slnith ad(1 Andrew 5M'Farlane, retui ned from
the C3urt to Pittsburgh, wlerie they resided, ard(l on the
next day they were arrested by Cuonnolly's Sheriff, ald
on refusing to give bail, were sent off under guard to
Sttunton, in Viiginia. After travelling one day togetller, Mr. Mackay got pern:iissiJn to,o by wa.y of
Williamisburgll to see Lord Dunmore; a;td after some
conversation with him, Ihis Lordship wrote to tho
Sheriff requestinrg him to permit the prisoners to return honme; saying, " I will be answerable for their
appearance, in case it be require(l."  Mackay immediiately proceeded to Staunton; and in a letter dated at
that p)lace, on the 5tlh of May, lie infolrmed Governlor
Penn that he and his fellow prisoiners wele to set out
on tleitr homeward journey, forthwith.  On the 19th
day of April, intelligence of the arr(st of tile Justices
reached tihe Governor; and on tile 21st at tile meetillg
of the Council, it was determiled to send two Comnmissionlers to Virgillia, to represent to the government
there, the ill consequences \hiclh may ensue if an immediate stop be trot put to the disorders wlich then
existed in the west, and to consult upon the most proper means for establishing peace and gcod oi der in that
quarter.'Ja;mes Tilghman and Andrew Allen were appointed,
with instructions, first, to request tile Goveirnor of Virginia to unite with the proprietaries of Pennsylvania to
petition Ilis Majesty in Council, to appoint Comimissiolers to run the boundary line; the expense to be equally
borne by the two Colonies; second, to use every exertion to induce the Governor to agree to some temnporary
line; but in no event to assent to any line whlich would




IISTORY OF PITTSBURIGII.         115
give Virginia jurisdiction of the country on the east
side of the lMononigahcela rivclr.' The Commissioners arrived;at Williamsburgh on
the 19th May, andl on tle. 1-t had an oral confelt eco
with the Go\vrnor; int which lie express-d his will.ngness to join in;n aplplication to the King, to apploint
Comilissioners to settle the Loundary; but also declar ed, tliat Virginia would t(efra;y iio part of tile
expense. As to the temporary line, lie desired the
Comlmissioners to make t'e:ir popositiolis in writing.' In compliance withl tlis request, they, on the 2t3d
addressed hilill a letter coitaiiiinig the following propositiol:-'" That a survey be taken by Surveyors, to be
appointed by the two Governments, witll as muchi
accuracy as may serve te prsent purpose, of the
courScs of the Delaware, I0rom the mouth of Christiana
creek, or near it, whlere Mlason and Dixon's line intersects the Delaware, to that part of said river wllich
lies in the latitude of Fort Pitt, and as muclI farther
as may be necdfal for the present purpose. That the
linte of Mason andl Dixon be extended to the distance
of five degress of longitude from the Delaware; and
that from thle end of said five degrees, a litie or lines,
corresponlding to the courses of tie Delaware, be run
to tile river Olio, as nearly as miay be, at the distance
of five degrees firom said river in every part."  And
that the extension of Mason and Dixon's line, and the
lilne or lines corresponding to the courses of the Delaware, be taken as the liine of jurisdiction, until tlei
boundary can be run and settled by Royal authority.
"Lord Dunmore, in his reply, dated 24th May, contended that the western boundary could not be of
4'such an inconvenient andt difficult to be ascertained




116         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
shape," as it would be if made to correspond to the
courses of the Delaware. He thought it should be a
meridian line, at the distance of five degrees from the
Delaware, in the forty-second degree of latitude.
" He then, after some arguments which it is unnecessary to recite, remarked, that unless the Commissioners could propose some plan that favored as
much the sentiments of the government of Virginia as
of Pennsylvania, he saw that no accommodation could
be entered into previous to the King's decision. The
Commissioners, in their reply of the 26th, say, that
for the purpose of producing harmony and peace, "we
shall be willing to recede from our Charter bounds, so
far as to make the river Monongahela, from the line of
Mason and Dixon, the western boundary of jurisdiction, which would at once settle our present dispute,
without the great trouble and expense of running
lines, or the inconvenience of keeping the jurisdiction
in suspense."
" On the same day, Lord Dunmore replied in a long
letter, manifesting throughout a most uncourteous and
rude spirit. The following are the most material passages, showing, as they do, that further correspondence
with him was utterly useless:"'And whut were your proposals to reconcile these
difficulties? Why, in your first, you propose that every
thing shall be given up to Pennsylvania; and in
your second, that Virginia shall be content, without
having any thing given up to it; at least, I can find
nothing given up by your proposal of the Monongahela,
&c. What else then can I conclude, but that no real
intention is meant to avoid the great and reciprocal
inconveniences of a doubtful boundary," &c. Further




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         117
on-he says,-'Your resolution, with respect to Fort
Pitt, (the jurisdiction over which place, I  ust tell you,
at all events, will not be relinquished by this Government, without His Majesty's orders,) puts an entire
stop to further treaty.' "
" On the 27th, the Commissioners, in a brief reply,
state, that the determination of his Lordship not to
relinquish Fort Pitt, puts a period to the treaty."
"After a careful perusal of this correspondence,
and an attentive consideration of Lord Dunmore's
conduct in 1774 and 1775, the conclusion is forced
upon the mind, that he was a very weak and arbitrary
man, or else that the suspicion, then entertained, that
he wished to promote ill will and hostility between
Pennsylvanians and Virginians, as well as between the
Indians and whites, was well founded. During the
whole of this correspondence, this place was called
Fort Pitt; the new name of Fort Dun more was never
mentioned. The Commissioners, in their first letter,
gave it the old name, and Dunmore did the same in
his letters to them; although he had before recognized
the new name bestowed by Connolly."
"This negotiation having thus failed, Connolly continued to domineer with a high-hand at Fort Pitt. In
a letter from 2Eneas Mackay to Governor Penn, dated
June, we find the following strong and emphatic language:-" The deplorable state of affairs in this part
of your government, is truly distressing. We are
robbed, insulted and dragooned by Connolly and his
militia, in this place and its environs."
"To form an adequate conception of the condition
of the inhabitants in this place, at that time, xe must
take into view, not only the oppressive conduct of Con



1183          IISTORY OF PITTSBURCGH.
nolly, but also bear iin nind tllat tlhe war of tile Revolutio)ll W;i rapidly approac!ingr,:ilrd tlhat liostiliti(s
between the Indi(ains and Virginlians, were actuillly
raging at tlat time.   The Indians, it is true, were
unlerstoodl to say that they would tot touch tle Pennsylvanians; but still they must lhave felt much of tile
Cetllharras.menlt arisilng out of tile Indlian w;ir.  Fo
great was tile anxiety and distress of tlie adherents of
the lproprietary, that they at one time thought of
le;ving thlis place, arid removing to Kittaning, wlhich
lay in another tIanor.  Anotlier project was, to raise
a stockade arouird the town of Pittsburgh, beir g th;at
part of our city which lies between Water ald Second
streets, aind Market a;nd Ferry streets.  Neitlcer project was carried into execution, Iand I merely refer to
then as signs of tile timnes, and1 as evidenlces of the
state of feeling then prevailing hcc.
On the 8th September, the E;rl of Dartmouth,
one of tlie Secretaries of State, wrote a letter to Lord
Dunillore, cnt iiining some items of intelligence, in
relation to this place, which;lre of interest as formillg
a part of tile history of Fort Pitt, and of tire controversy.  After stating that the Governor of Pennsylv:lania had attributed tire hlostility (o the Ildilans, to
tlie unlprovoked;attacks upon tllem by the Virginians,
andl liad also allegedl that a party of Virginians I.L(i
attacked and wounde(l some  Indi;ns, who, at tlie riik
of tlheir lives, had escorted some tra(lers to Pittsburgl,
he proceeds to say:-' IMy intelligence, tlhrough   a
variety of otlier channels, confilrms these facts.' IIe
furtller adds, tlhat he is inl'orl-ell, that'one Connolly,
usill,: yur Lordlship's m;irne, and l'lleaditig your authority, has presumed to re-establish the Fort at Pitts



IILSTORY OF PITTSBRGII.           119
burghl, which hiad been  lemolislicd by the Kir,,'s
express o dler.'  He tlen conicludels l) stating, that he
gives this inform:ationi so tlhat'the facts asserted, if
not true, Int.vy be contralictedl by his Lordl-hip's authority; but if true, \which lie cannot suppose, sucl
steps nm;ly Le takel as the Kiiig's dignity and justice
shall dictate.'
T"'lhe pullication of this letter sliould have exonerated the Bilitish ministly from all suspiciot of countcJancing the scheme attributed to Dunmore or Connolly,
of exciting ill blood and war between the Indians alid
wliites.
"'On the 17th of September, Lord Dunmore being
at tills place prepariing for liis expedition againist the
Indlians, issued a; proclama;tion dated at Fort IJuim7/Wt',
reciting that, Whereas, tlle ancient claim laid to this
country by the Colony of Viginia, foun(ded upon le;asot, upon pre-occup;ticy, and the general acquietscence
of all pcrsons, together with the inistructions I have
l.tcly received, to take this country under my admlinistralion; and the evident injustice manifestly offieredl
to Iis M1j..sty, by tlle itmllllediate strides t;keC byt the
proprictols of Pennsylvan'a, in prosecution of their
wild claim, demanal itlmmediate renlcdy.' He then
calls on all HIis Majesty's subjects Wcst ('f Laurelc
lill, to pay dec icspect to that prloclamnation, proliibitiiig tle execution of tany act of;.uthority on behalf
of rtle province of Peinnsyl\vnia, at their peril; but,
on the contlrary, that due regaird and entire obediece
be paid to the laws of His Majesty's Colony of Vilginia, &c.
"O'n the 12th of October, Governor Pcnn issued
another proclamation, which is of too great length to




120         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
be inserted here. In reply, however, to that portion
of Lord Dunmore's proclamation, which speaks of the' general acquiescence of all persons' in the claim of
Virginia, he mentions that,'in an act passed at the
very last session of Parliament, for the government of
Quebec, the western extent of the Charter to Penn is
fully recognized; said province being described as
being bounded by the northern and western bounds of
Pennsylvania. Wherefore there is reason to infer,
that any instructions to the Governor of Vilginia, to
take that country under his administration, must be
founded on some misrepresentation respecting the
western extent of Pennsylvania.' It concludes by
calling on all persons west of Laurel Hill, to retain
the settlements made under that province, and to pay
due obedience to the laws of that province; and by
charging all magistrates to proceed as usual in the administration of justice.' On November 24th, Connolly sent out a warrant
for a Mr. Scott to appear and answer for a number of
offences, charged to have been committed while acting
under authority from Pennsylvania. Mr. Scott refused
to pay any attention to this warrant; and on the same
day a number of armed men came to his house and
carried him to Fort Burd, now Brownsville, where he
was required either to enter into recognisance with two
sureties, to appear at the next Court to be held at
Pittsburgh for the county of Augusta, December 20th,
1775, or at any future day when the Court should be
held there; or else be committed to prison. Mr. Scott
gave the required bail; but I have not been able to
ascertain the final disposition of his case; though, I
presume, the prosecution was abandoned under the




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         121
subsequent recommendation of the Delegates in Congress, from these two States.
"On the twenty-fourth of November, a party of
armed men under command of Connolly, went to Hanna's town, and released two prisoners confined in the
jail under execution.
"In January, 1775, information being given to the
Executive Council, that William Crawford, the President Judge of Westmoreland county, had joined the
Virginians in opposing the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania; the Council advised the Governor to supersede
him in his office as Judge; which was done forthwith.
"On the 7th of February, another party of armed
men went to Hanna's town, broke open the jail, and
released three prisoners. Benjamin Harrison, a sonin-law of Crawford, commanded this party, Connolly
having some days before started for Williamsburg.
In April and May, three of the Pennsylvania magistrates were arrested and held in custody for performing
the duties of their office.
" The power of Lord Dunmore and his agent, Connolly, was, however, fast drawing to a close. On the
8th of June, the former abandoned his palace in Williamsburg, and took refuge on board the Fowey manof-war, where soon after he was joined by Connolly,
who was then busily engaged in planning an attack
upon the western frontier.
" The continued collisions and disorder at Pittsburgh
could not fail to attract the attention of all the patriotic citizens of the two States, and on the 25th of July,
1775, the Delegates in Congress, including among
others, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and Benjamin Franklin, united in a circular, urging the people
J




122         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
in the disputed region, to mutual forbearance. In that
circular was the following language:' We recommend
it to you, that all bodies of armed men, kept up by
either party, be dismissed; and that all those on either
side, who are in confinement, or on bail, for taking
part in the contest be discharged.'
" There were no armed men maintained by the
Pennsylvanians"; so that the expression about " either
party," was probably only used to avoid the appearance of invidiousness; and Connolly and his men had
taken effectual measures for the release of Virginians
from confinement.
" On the 7th of August, the following resolution
was adopted by the Virginia Provincial Convention,
which had assembled at Williamsburg9 on the first of
the month:
"Resolved, That Captain John Neville be directed
to march with his company of one hundred men, and
take possession of Fort Pitt, and that said company
be in the pay of this Colony from the time of their
marching."
" The arrival of Captain Neville at Fort Pitt seems
to have been entirely unexpected to the Pennsylvanians, and to have created quite a considerable excitement. Commissioners appointed by Congress, were
then here to hold a treaty with the Indians, and Mr.
St. Clair in a letter to John Penn, dated 17th September, has the following remarks:' The treaty is not yet
opened, as the Indians are not yet come in; but there
are accounts of their being on the way, and well disposed. We have, however, been surprised by a manoeuvre of the people of Virginia, that may have a
tendency to alter this favorable disposition.'




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         123
"'About one hundred armed men marched from
Winchester, and took possession of the Fort on the
11th instant, which has so much disturbed the Delegates from the Congress, that they have thoughts of
moving some place else to hold the treaty.'
"'This step has already, as might be expected,
served to exasperate the dispute between the inhabitants of the country, and entirely destroyed the prospect of a cessation of our grievances, from the salutary
and conciliating advice of the Delegates in their circular letter.'"
" There is, perhaps, some difficulty in reconciling
the conduct of the Virginia Convention, in ordering
Captain Neville to Fort Pitt, with the recommendation
of the Virginia and Pennsylvania Delegates in Congress, that'all bodies of armed men in pay, of either
party,' should be discharged. No doubt, however, this
only referred to bodies of armed men, kept up by the
Virginians or Pennsylvanians in the disputed region.
Mr. St. Clair seems always to have been very watchful
of the interests of Pennsylvania during the controversy; and no doubt, the surprise expressed by him was
unaffected; and yet there were strong reasons why
Fort Pitt should be promptly occupied by troops in the
confidence of the Whigs of the Revolution. The war
for independence had commenced by the actions at
Lexington and Bunker Hill; and Connolly, a bold,
able and enterprising man, was busy arranging some
scheme of operations, in which Fort Pitt would be an
important and controlling position. It would seem,
therefore, to have been nothing more than an act of
ordinary prudence and foresight to send here some
officer, in whose firmness, fidelity and discretion, implicit confidence could be placed.




124          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
" Captain Neville was then about forty-three or
forty-four, about the same age as Washington.
" He was a man of very frank and hearty address,
of sound judgment, of much firmness and decision of
character, and probably, in all respects, as well suited
to the emergency for which he was selected, as any
individual who could have been named, and who would
have undertaken the duty.
" That he acted with great prudence and impartiality, may be inferred from the fact, that none of the evils,
predicted by St. Clair, occurred. A more full notice
of his life and services will be given hereafter.
" On the 22d day of November, 1775, Connolly, and
two of his associates, were arrested at Fredericktown,
Maryland. His connection with the British General
Gage, and Lord Dunmore, and the whole of his plans
for invading the western frontier with British troops
and Indians, and taking possession of Fort Pitt, were
fully exposed. He was, therefore, confined, and subsequently, by order of Congress, for greater security,
sent to Philadelphia. His arrest and confinement probably broke up the whole scheme which he had prepared, and in which he was to be the controlling spirit.
Connolly, after the Revolution, resided in Canada;
where he enjoyed the confidence and liberality of the
English Government.
To bring the account of this controversy, which has
already occupied so much space to a close, we mention
that under the kinder feelings produced by united resistance to Great Britain, movements were made early
in 1779, to bring the question to an amicable settlement. For this purpose George Bryan, John Ewing
and David Rittenhouse, on the part of Pennsylvania,




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         125
and Dr. James Madison, late Bishop of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, and Robert Andrews, on the part
of Virginia, were appointed Commissioners to agree
upon a boundary. These gentlemen met at Baltimore
on the 31st of August, 1779, and entered into the following agreement:
"'We (naming the Commissioners) do hereby mutually, in behalf of our respective States,. ratify and
confirm the following agreement, viz: To extend Mason
and Dixon's line due west five degrees of longitude, to
be computed from the river Delaware,. for the southern
boundary of Pennsylvania, and that a meridian, drawn
from the western extremity thereof, to the northern
limit of said State, be the western. boundary of said
State forever.'
This agreement was confirmeda and ratified by the
Legislature of Virginia, upon certain conditions, on
the 23d of June, 1780, and by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, on the 23d of September,
1780.
It now only remained to mark the lines upon the
ground, so that the citizens should know to what
authcrities they owed allegiance and obedience, and to
whom to look for protection.
" For this desirable purpose, each State selected the
best and most suitable men within its reach; so that
their work when completed, would merit and secure
entire confidence in its accuracy.
"The Commissioners on the part of Pennsylvania
were, David Rittenhouse, John Lukens, John Ewing
and Captain Hutchins; and those on the part of Virginia were, Andrew Ellicott, (who then resided in
Maryland,) Bishop Madison, Robert Andrews, and T.
j*




126         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Page. These gentlemen performed the duty assigned
them, in the summer and fall of 1784.
"The southern boundary of the State being thus
extended to its western extremity, it only remained to
run a meridian line from that point to the Ohio river,
to close the controversy with Virginia. This task was
committed to Messrs. Rittenhouse and Porter, from
Pennsylvania, and Andrew Ellicot and Joseph Neville,
from Virginia; who entered upon their work in May,
1785, and on the 23d of August, united in the following report:
" We, the subscribers, Commissioners, appointed
by the State of Pennsylvania and Virginia, to ascertain the boundary between said States, do certify, that
we have carried on a meridian line firom the south-west
corner of Pennsylvania, northward to the river Ohio;
and marked it by cutting a wide vista over all the
principal hills, intersected by the said line, and by
falling or deadening a line of trees, generally, through
all the lower grounds. And we have likewise placed
stones, marked on the east side P, and on the west
side V, on the most of the principal hills, and where
the lines strikes the Ohio; which stones are accurately placed in the true meridian, bounding the States
aforesaid.'
" Persons traveling on the Pittsburgh and Steubenville turnpike road, may see one of the stones a short
distance west of Paris, and about thirty miles west
of Pittsburgh.
" Virginia having on the first of March, 1784, ceded
to the United States all her territory north of the Ohio
river, had no special interest in extending the boundary of Pennsylvania farther north. The boundary was




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         127
extended to Lake Erie the ensuing year, by Messrs.
Porter and McClean.
We have thought it best to carry forward our brief
history of this controversy to its conclusion, although
in doing so, we have been compelled to violate the
chronological order of events. We have preferred
disposing of that subject at once, without interrupting
the course of the narrative.
At the very time when the United Colonies commenced their great struggle against the arbitrary
schemes of Great Britain, the inhabitants of this section of country, were not only involved in hostilities
with the Indian tribes, but were almost on the verge
of civil war among themselves. Under such circumstances, it would scarcely be expected that they would
be at leisure and disposed to enter into the contest
against the mother country, upon a mere abstract
question, unaccompanied by any immediate, palpable
acts of oppression. Yet we find that upon the 16th of
May, 1775, only four weeks after the battle of Lexington, meetings were held at this place, and at Hanna's
town, and resolutions unanimously passed in entire
consonance with the whig feeling of the other portions
of the country.
These proceedings cannot fail to be interesting to
our readers, and we therefore embrace them in our
work. The meeting at Hanna's town was, no doubt,
composed entirely of Pennsylvanians. Arthur St.
Clair mentions in one of his letters that he was present at it, and took part in the proceedings. The
meeting here, though Augusta county, Virginia, is
mentioned, was not composed exclusively of Virgin



128         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
ians. Devereux Smith, a devoted adherent of John
Penn, and several others were present.
Of those who were engaged in the two meetings,
Arthur St. Clair was subsequently a Major General in
the revolutionary army, and John Gibson, William
Crawford and John Neville, commanded Virginia regiments in the same service.
AUGUSTA COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.
"At a meeting of the inhabitants of that part of
Augusta county that lies on the west side of the Laurel
Hill, at Pittsburgh, the 16th day of May, 1775, the
following gentlemen were chosen a committee for the
said district, viz: George Croghan, John Campbell,
Edward Ward, Thomas Smallman, John Cannon, John
McCullough, William Gee, George Valandigham,
John Gibson, Dorsey Penticost, Edward Cook, William
Crawford, Devereux Smith, John Anderson, David
Rodgers, Jacob Vanmetre, Henry Enoch, James Ennis, George Willson, William Vance, David Shepherd,
W'l'iam Elliot, Richmond Willis, Samuel Sample, John
Ormsby, Richard McMaher, John Neville and John
Swearingen.
"The foregoing gentlemen met in committee, and
resolved that John Campbell, John Ormsby, Edward
Ward, Thomas Smallman, Samuel Sample, John Anderson, and Devereux Smith, or any four of them, be
a Standing Committee, and have full power to meet at
such times as they shall judge necessary, and in case
of any emergency, to call the committee of this district together, and shall be vested with the same power
and authority as the other standing committee and




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGI.         129
committees or correspondence are in the other counties
within this colony.
" Resolved unanimously, That the cordial and most
grateful thanks of this committee are a tribute due to
John Harvie, Esquire, our worthy representative in the
late Colonial Convention held at Richmond, for his
faithful discharge of that important trust reposed in
him; and to John Neville, Esquire, our worthy delegate, whom nothing but sickness prevented from representing us in that respectable assembly.
" Resolved unanimously, That this committee have
the highest sense of the spirited behavior of their brethren in New England, and do most cordially approve
of their opposing the invaders of American rights and
privileges to the utmost extreme, and that each member of this committee, respectively, will animate and
encourage their neighborhood to follow the brave example.
" The imminent danger that threatens America in
general, from ministerial and parliamentary denunciations of our ruin, and is now carrying into execution
by open acts of unprovoked hostilities in our sister
colony of Massachusetts, as well as the danger to be
apprehended to this colony in particular from a domestic enemy, said to be prompted by the wicked minions
of power to execute our ruin, added to the menaces of
an Indian war, likewise said to be in contemplation,
thereby think to engage our attention, and divert it
from that still more interesting object of liberty and
freedom, that deeply, and with so much justice hath
called forth the attention of all America; for the prevention of all, or any of those impending evils, it is
" Resolved, That the recommendation of the Rich



130          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
mond Convention, of the 20th of last March, relative
to the embodying, arming, and disciplining the militia,
be immediately carried into execution with the greatest
diligence in this country, by the officers appointed for
that end; and that the recommendation of the said
Convention to the several committees of this colony,
to collect from their constituents, in such manner as
shall be most agreeable to them, so much money as
shall be sufficient to purchase half a pound of gunpowder, and one pound of lead, flints, and cartridge
paper, for every tithable person in their county, be
likewise carried into execution.
"This committee, therefore, out of the deepest sense
of the expediency of this measure, most earnestly entreat that every member of this committee do collect
from each tithable person in their several districts the
sums of two shillings and six pence, which we deem no
more than sufficient for the above purpose, and give
proper receipts to all such as pay the same into their
hands; and the sum so collected to be paid into the
hands of Mr. John Campbell, who is to give proper
security to this committee, or their successors, for the
due and faithful application of the money so deposited
with him for the above purpose, by or with the advice
of this committee, or their successors; and this committee, as your representatives, and who are most
ardently laboring for your preservation, call on you,
our constituents, our friends, brethren, and fellow-sufferers, in the name of God, of every thing you hold
sacred or valuable, for the sake of your wives, children,
and unborn generations, that you will, every one of
you, in your several stations, to the utmost of your
power, assist in levying such sum, by not only paying




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          131
yourselves, but by assisting those who are not at present in a condition to do so. We heartily lament the
case of all such as have not this sum at command in
this day of necessity; to all such we recommend to
tender security to such as Providence has enabled to
lend them so much; and this committee do pledge
their faith and fortunes to you, their constituents, that
we shall, without fee or reward, use our best endeavors
to procure, with the money so collected, the ammunition our present exigencies have made so exceedingly
necessary.
"As this committee has reason to believe there is.a
quantity of ammunition destined for this place for the
purpose of government, and as this country, on the
west side of the Laurel Hill, is greatly distressed for
want of ammunition, and deprived of the means of
procuring it, by reason of its situation, as easy as the
lower counties of this colony, they do earnestly request the committees of Frederick, Augusta, and
Hampshire, that they will not suffer the ammunition to
pass through their counties for the purposes of government, but will secure it for the use of this destitute
country, and immediately inform this committee of
their having done so.
" Resolved, That this committee do approve of the
resolution of the committee of the other part of this
county, relative to the cultivating a friendship with the
Indians; and if any person shall be so depraved as to
take the life of any Indian that may come to us in a
friendly manner, we will, as one man, use our utmost
endeavors to bring such offender to condign punishment.
" Ordered, That the standing committee be directed




132          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
to secure such arms and ammunition as are not employed in actual service, or private property, and that
they get the same repaired, and deliver them to such
Captains of Independent Companies as may make application for the same, and taking such Captain's receipt for the arms so delivered.
"Resolved, That the sum of fifteen pounds, current
money, be raised by subscription, and that the same be
transmitted to Robert Carter Nicholas, Esq., for the
use of the deputies sent from this colony to the general
Congress. Which sum of money was immediately paid
by the committee then present.
" Mr. John Campbell reported, from the select committee for considering the grievances and instructions
to the delegates, which he read in his place, and handed it to the clerk's table, where it was again read, and
is as follows:
TO JOHN HARVIE AND GEORGE ROOTES, ESQUIRES.
"GENTLEMEN: You being chosen to represent the
people on the west side of the Laurel Hill in the colonial
Congress for the ensuing year, we', the committee for
the people aforesaid, desire you will lay the grievances
hereafter mentioned before the Congress at their first
meeting, as we conceive it highly necessary they should
be redressed, to put us on a footing with the rest of
our brethren in the colony.
" 1st. That many of the inhabitants in this part of
the county have expended large sums of money, and
supplied the soldiers in the last Indian war with provisions and other necessaries, many of whom have
expended all they had; and though, at the same time,
we bear a grateful remembrance of the good intentions




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         133
of the late colonial Congress, so feeling and generously expressed in their resolves, yet the unhappy situation we are reduced to by the payment of those supplies being delayed, involves this new and flourishing
country in extreme poverty.
"2d. That the maintaining a garrison at this place,
when there is no other method used for supplying them
with provisions, but by impressing from the inhabitants
of the country, ought to be considered.
" 3d. That this country, joining the Indian territory
and the province of Quebec, (which by its late change
of constitution is rendered inimical to liberty,) lies
exposed to the inroads of the savages and the militia
of that province; and should the ministry or their
emissaries be able to stir up either of them against the
colonies, this county will be in need of support to
enable them to provide against, and withstand any
attempt that may be made on their civil and religious
liberties.
" 4th. That for want of freeholders we cannot get
legal grand jurors, which are necessary for the well
government of the country.
"5th. That the unsettled boundary between this
colony and the province of Pennsylvania, is the occasion of many disputes.
"6th. That the collecting the duty on skins and
furs, for which a commission hath lately been sent up
here, will banish the Indian trade from this place and
colony.
" Which report being agreed to,
" Resolved unanimously, That a fair copy be drawn
off and delivered to our delegates as their instructions.
K




134         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
" Ordered, That the foregoing proceedings be certified by the clerk of this committee, and published in
the Virginia Gazette.
"By order of the committee.
"JAMES BERWICK, Clerk.
MEETING OF THE INHABITANTS OF WESTMORELAND
COUNTY, PA.
" At a general meeting of the inhabitants of the
county of Westmoreland, held at Hanna's town the
16th day of May, 1775, for taking into consideration
the very alarming situation of the country, occasioned
by the dispute with Great Britain:
"Resolved unanimously, That the Parliament of
Great Britain, by several late acts, have declared the
inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay to be in rebellion, and the ministry, by endeavoring to enforce those
acts, have attempted to reduce the said inhabitants to
a more wretched state of slavery than ever before
existed in any state or country. Not content with
violating their constitutional and chartered privileges,
they would strip them of the rights of humanity, exposing their lives to the wanton and unpunishable sport
of a licentious soldiery, and depriving them of the very
means of subsistence.
Resolved unanimously, That there is no reason to
doubt but the same system of tyranny and oppression
will (should it meet with success in Massachusetts Bay)
be extended to other parts of America: it is therefore
become the indispensable duty of every American, of
every man who has any public virtue or love for his




IISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         135
country, or any bowels for posterity, by every means
which God has put in his power, to resist and oppose
the execution of it; that for us we will be ready to
oppose it with our lives and fortunes. And the better
to enable us to accomplish it, we will immediately form
ourselves into a military body, to consist of companies
to be made up out of the several townships under the
following association, which is declared to be the Association of Westmoreland County:
" Possessed with the most unshaken loyalty and
fidelity to His Majesty, King George the Third, whom
we acknowledge to be our lawful and rightful King,
and who we wish may be the beloved sovereign of a
free and happy people throughout the whole British
Empire; we declare to the world, that we do not mean
by this Association to deviate from that loyalty which
we hold it our bounden duty to observe; but, animated
with the love of liberty, it is no less our duty to maintain and defend our just rights (which, with sorrow, we
have seen of late wantonly violated in many instances
by a wicked Ministry and a corrupted Parliament) and
transmit them entire to our posterity, for which we do
agree and associate together:
"' ist. To arm and form ourselves into a regiment or
regiments, and choose officers to command us in such
proportions as shall be thought necessary.
" 2d. We will, with alacrity, endeavor to make ourselves masters of the manual exercise, and such evolutions as may be necessary to enable us to act in a body
with concert; and to that end we will meet at such
times and places as shall be appointed either for the
companies or the regiment, by the officers commanding
each when chosen.




136          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
" 3d. That should our country be invaded by a foreign enemy, or should troops be sent from Great Britain to enforce the late arbitrary acts of its Parliament,
we will cheerfully submit to military discipline, and to
the utmost of our power resist and oppose them, or
either of them, and will coincide with any plan that
may be formed for the defence of America in general,
or Pennsylvania in particular.
" 4th. That we do not wish or desire any innovation,
but only that things may be restored to, and go on in
the same way as before the era of the Stamp Act,
when Boston grew great, and America was happy. As
a proof of this disposition, we will quietly submit to
the laws by which we have been accustomed to be
governed before that period, and will, in our several or
associate capacities, be ready when called on to assist
the civil magistrate to carry the same in execution.
" 5th. That when the British Parliament shall have
repealed their late obnoxious statutes, and shall recede
from their claim to tax us, and make laws for us in
every instance; or some genera] plan of union and reconciliation has been formed and accepted by America,
this our Association shall be dissolved; but till then it
shall remain in full force; and to the observation of it,
we bind ourselves by every thing dear and sacred
amongst men.
"No licensed murder! no famine introduced by
law!
"Resolved, That on Wednesday, the twenty-fourth
instant, the township meet to accede to the said Association, and choose their officers."
Two days after the Declaration of Independence a
meeting was held at this place, which though not pro



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         137
ductive of any important results, is worthy of notice
on account of the principal actor in it, on the part of
the Indians and his emphatic tone. This person was
Guyasutha, a leader of the Seneca tribe of the Six
Nations. A most distinguished character indeed, in
all the movements here, from the time of Washington's
first visit until after the close of our revolution.. He
was one of the Indians who accompanied Washington
from Logstown to Le Boeuf. He was then young and
not very prominent. He was present, and a leading
character in the conference with ColoneI Bradstreet,
near Lake Erie, in 1764, and a few weeks later at the
conference with Bouquet on the Muskingum. He was
a leading character in the conference held at this place
in April and May, 1768. He was the leader in the
attack upon and burning of Hanna's town in 1782.
In 1770, while Washington was descending the Ohio
river, he was visited by an Indian whom he recognized
as one of his companions in 1754. It was Guyasutha..
His name, too, has been so variously spelt that it is
sometimes difficult to trace him in different notices.
aGuyasutha, Guyasootha, Kiasutha, Kaishuta, Guyasudy, and General Richard Butler, who understood
some of the Indian dialects spelt it Kiasola. He survived all the troubles of the French war, of the war
sometimes called Pontiac's and sometimes Guyasutha's,
and of our Revolution, the most fatal of all to the
power and glory of the Six Nations. Finally he died
in our neighborhood within the memory of many now
living, and left his name to the beautiful plain on the
Allegheny river, where his remains now rest. The
writer of these annals well recollects him, when in his
latter days he had become as striking an emblem of the
K*




138          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
decayed condition of the Six Nations, as in the prime
of life he had been of their power and glory. When we
contrast his language in July, 1776, with his fallen
condition twenty years later, a feeling of regret and
melancholy unconscionsly steals over us at the decline
of a heroic people.
At a meeting held at Fort Pitt, July 6th, 1776,
present Kiashuta, who had just returned from Niagara,
Captain Pipe, a Delaware chief; Shade, a Shawanese
chief, and several other Shawanese and Delawares,
also Major Trent, Major Ward, Captain Neville and his
officers.
Kiashuta then produced a belt of wampum, which
was to be sent from the Six Nations to the Shawanese,
Delawares, Wyandots and other Western Indians,
acquainting them that the Six Nations were determined to take no part in the war between Great Britian
and America, and desiring them to do the same. He
was ordered by the Six Nations to send the belt through
the Indian country.
He then spoke to the whites present as follows:" Brothers, we will not suffer either English or
" Americans to pass through our country. Should
" either attempt it, we shall forewarn them three times,
"and should they persist they must abide the conse"quences. I am appointed by the Six Nations to take
"care of this country; that is of the Indians on the
"other side of the Ohio, (meaning, no doubt, the Alle"gheny,) and I desire you will not think of an expedi"tion against Detroit, for I repeat, we will not suffer
"an army to pass through our country."
He then made short addresses to the Delawares and
Shawanese.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.                   139
Captain Neville then said: " Brother Iiaslhuta, I
am   much obliged to you, for your good speech.         You' may depend we shall not attempt to march an army
"through your country, without first acquainting you
"with it, unless we hear of a British army coming this
" course; in such case we must make all possible haste
"to march and endeavor to stop them."
To which Kiashuta replied. " There is not the least' danger of that, as they (the Six Nations) would make'it their business to prevent either an English or an
"American army passing through their country."
CHAPTER VII.
Colonel George Morgan appointed Indian Agent at Pittsburgh; four
Commissioners for the middle department of United States, appointed
to hold treaties with the Indians; meet here; Indians slow assembling; apprehensions of a general war with the Indians; prospects
more cheering; Six Nations, Delawvares, Shawanese and Mohicans to
the number of six hundred and forty-four assemble here, and give
the strongest assurances of friendship; arrival of fourteen boat builders, from Philadelphia; bitter hostility of the people to the Indians;
provisions scarce and dear; Girty, Elliot and McKee escape; letter
from Governor of Louisiana to Col. Morgan, six months on its way,
no person in Congress could read it; General McIntosh in command;
Fort McIntosh built; expedition against Ohio Indians; Fort Laurens
built, besieged, abandoned; curious due bill; Col. Broadhead succeeds
Gen. McIntosh; his expedition up the Alleghony; depreciation of
paper money; attempts to regulate prices; Broadhead expedition to
Coshocton; his correspondence from October 1780 till October 1781.
In April 1776, Col. George Morgan was appointed
by Congress, Indian agent for the middle department




140         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
of the United States, and his head quarters fixed at
Pittsburgh. From his journal and letters, we get occasional, notices of transactions here.
Congress perceived at an early day of the struggle
for independence, the importance of securing the
friendship of the Indians or, at least, their neutrality,
and appointed Commissioners to hold treaties with
them at different agencies. For the middle department Thomas Walker, John Harvey, John Montgomery and Jasper Yates were appointed. They met at
this place in July, 1776, but were not able to assemble
the different tribes until October. In the meantime
they were busily engaged in holding communications
with the different tribes, and persuading them to meet
together at this place. Some of the more distant
tribes were influenced by Hamilton, the British Govenor at Detroit, and these tribes had some influence
with the Shawanese and Delawares. At one time in
September, the commissioners, had come to the conclusion founded on the best testimony they could obtain,
that a general Indian war was inevitable, and they
issued an order for assembling, all the militia that
could be spared, at Fort Pitt for its defence. On the
8th of November Col. Morgan in a letter to John Hancock, president of Congress said, " I have the happiness to inform you that the cloud which threatened to
break over us is likely to disperse. The Six Nations,
with the Munsies, Delawares, Shawanese and Mohicons
who have been assembled here with their principal
chiefs and warriors, to the number of six hundred and
forty-four, have given the strongest assurance of their
determination, to preserve inviolate the peace and
neutrality with the United States."




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          141
The winter of 1776-7 was spent in comparative
quiet, in Fort Pitt, Major Neville was still in command there with his company of one hundred men.
On the 23d of February, 1777, fourteen boat carpenters and sawyers arrived at Fort Pitt from Philaphia, and were set to work on the Monongahela,
fourteen miles above the fort, near a saw mill. They
built thirty large batteaux, forty feet long, nine feet
wide, and thirty two inches deep. They were intended to transport troops in case it became necessary to
invade the Indian country.
A bitter feeling of hostility existed against the Indians in the minds of the whites, especially of the
Virginians.  Col. Morgan, in a letter dated March
15th, 1777, gives the following account of the state of
things here.  "Parties have, even been assembled to
massacre our known friends at their hunting camps, as
well as messengers on business to me; and I have
esteemed it necessary to let those messengers sleep in
my own chamber for security."
Small parties of Mingoes and other outlaw Indians
continued to harass and murder the whites; especially the Virginians, against whom they had more cause
of complaint than any others.
In January 1778, provisions became very scarce and
flour rose to sixteen dollars a barrel.
On the 28th of March, 1778, Simon Girty, Alexander McKee and Mathew Elliot made their escape from
Pittsburgh, and ever after were active agents of the
British government, and exercised much influence with
the Indians, against the United States.
In the spring of 1778, the Commissioners for Indian
affairs, ordered the building of six large boats for the




142         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
defence of the navigation between the military posts
on the Ohio. Each boat was to carry a four pound
cannon, and to be constructed so as to be useful either
in attack or defence.
" In April of this year Col. Morgan addressed a letter
to Don Bernardo Galvez, Governor of Louisiana, from
which we gather two facts quite worthy of notice. The
first is that the Governor's letter to Col. Morgan, dated
at New Orleans, on the 9th of August, 1777, did not
reach this place till the 24th of February, 1778, more
than six months after it was written. The other is
that the Colonel not understanding the Spanish language sent the letter to Congress by express, but,
" unfortunately," says the Colonel, " not a member of
that body understands it, nor has any person yet been
found, capable and worthy of trust, to translate it."'
Fort Pitt seems to have risen in importance in the
estimation of Congress, and demanded a more imposing
force for its defence than the command of Major Neville. General Lachlan McIntosh, with portions of
the 8th Regiment of Pennsylvania and 13th of Virginia, were ordered here.
A formidable incursion into the Indian country was
planned for the summer of 1778. Fifteen hundred
men were to assemble at the mouth of the Kenhawa
and as many more to drop down from Fort Pitt. The
united forces were then to enter the Indian territory
to destroy their towns and crops. The former body
never assembled. So that General McIntosh prepared
to march from this place directly into the territory of
the hostile Indians, by the way of the Big Beaver,
nearly on the same route that Col. Bouquet had pursued
fourteen years earlier.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGII.         143
P:cparatory to this expedition, Fort McIntosh was
built where Beaver town now- stands. It was a regular
stockaded work, with four bastions and defended by
six pieces of cannon. Before proceeding on this expedition it was thought prudent to convene the Delaware Indians at Pittsburgh, and obtain their consent
to the passing of the troops, through their territory.
This was accordingly done on the 17th September,
1778, by Thomas Lewis and Andrew Lewis, commissioners on the part of the United States. In October
Gen. McIntosh assembled one thousand men, at the
newly erected fort, at the mouth of Beaver, and commenced this expedition, which seems to have been
unproductive of any good effect. The season was so
far advanced that the army only proceeded about
seventy miles west of Fort McIntosh and halted on
the west bank of the Tuskarawas river, a little below
the mouth of Sandy creek. Here they built a fort on
an elevated piece of ground and named it Fort Laurens. Col. John Gibson was left in the fort with one
hundred and fifty men, and the army returned to Fort
Pitt. In the month of January, 1779, the Shawanese
and Wyandots collected a large body of warriors, invested the fort and cut off all intercourse with it. It
was so closely watched that the necessary supplies of
wood and water could only be obtained at great hazard.
During the investment a number of the garrison were
killed and the others suffered a good deal from the
scarcity of provisions; and finally the ill advised post
was abandoned in the ensuing summer.
In January, 1779, provisions became very scarce and
dear. The principal portion of the flour, meat, &c.
had to be brought from the Eastern side of the moun



144         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
tains, on horseback. Bacon, at Pittsburgh, was a dollar a pound. Many other articles rose in proportion.
The following is a specimen of a due bill, drawn at
Fort Laurens:
"I do certify that I am indebted to the bearer,
" Captain Johnny, seven bucks and one doe, for the'use of the States, this 12th of April, 1779. Signed
"Samuel Sample, Assistant Quarter Master. The
"above is due to him for pork, for the use of the gar" rison at Fort Laurens.
" Signed,       JOIN GIBSON, Colonel."
In March, 1779, Colonel Broadhead was in command
at Fort Pitt. Washington had then in view an expedition under Broadhead, up the Allegheny river, and
even against Fort Niagara, to co-operate with an army
under Gen. Sullivan, who was to attack the hostile
portion of the Six Nations, by the North branch of the
Susquehannah. The idea of attempting a co-operation
was, however, soon abandoned for the following reasons
as stated by Washington himself:
" The difficulty of providing supplies in time, and a
" want of satisfactory information of the country up
"the Allegheny."
On the 11th of August, however, Col. Broadhead
left Fort Pitt, with six hundred men, rank and file,
including militia and volunteers, having one month's
provisions, all of which except the live cattle, was
transported by water, under the escort of one hundred
men, to the mouth of Mahoning. There the provisions, &c. were transferred from the boats to the pack
horses. The army then marched to Buckaloons, an
Indian village at the mouth of Broken Straw creek, a
tributary of the Allegheny. Here a breastwork of




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         145
trees was thrown up and forty men left to guard the
provisions, &c. while the army advanced further to
another Seneca town called Yohroonwago, probably
about the same place, where five years after a grant
was made to that worthy and wise Indian chief Cornplanter. The troops remained there three days destroying the town and corn-fields. The quantity of
corn and other vegetable destroyed, Col. Brodhead
supposes, exceeded five hundred acres, and they took
about three thousand dollars worth of plunder. The
whole number of houses in the towns was about one
hundred and thirty. The old towns of Conowago,
Buckaloons, and another town on French creek about
twenty miles above the mouth which they passed on
their return were also burnt. Many of the houses
were large and calculated to accomodate three or four
families each. Not a man or beast fell into the
enemy's hands during the march. The army reached
Fort Pitt on its return on the 14th day of September.
The depreciation of the paper currency or continental money had, in 1779, become a very serious burden
to the people and all over the country, great ingenuity
was exercised to discover a remedy. Embargoes,
commercial restrictions, tender laws, and limitations of
prices were all tried, but in vain. Prices still sank.
" I had money enough some time ago," said an anonymous writer, " to buy a hogshead of sugar. I sold it
"again and got a great deal more money than it cost
"me; yet when I went into the market again, the
"money would only get me a tierce. I sold that too,
"at a great profit; yet the money received would only
"buy a barrel. I have now more money than ever,' yet I am not so rich as when I had less."
L




146          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
To prevent this continual depreciation of the value
of the paper money every expedient, except the proper one, was resorted to. Prices wholesale and retail
were fixed. Rents were fixed, persons asking more
than the settled price, as well as those giving more
were censured. But no plan of reducing excessive
issues was thought of, or at least none was adopted.
Pittsburgh, like the other and older portions of the
union, was infected with the same kind of political
quackery. The following are extracts from the proceedings of a meeting of the officers of the army at
this place on the 5th of October 1779:
PITTSBURGH, October 5, 1779.
The officers of the line and staff in the western department, having long beheld with concern the growing
evils produced by the avaricious and grasping trader,
now commonly known and distinguished by the disgraceful epithet of speculator, find themselves under
the necessity of forming and adopting a system of regulations, similar to those formed and adopted by their
brother officers, and the main army. And in doing
thisWe, the officers of the western department, beg
leave to declare that our motives are pure and disinterested. We have no sinister views. Our happiness
is to see our country happy; our pride to give her
peace and safety; and our glory is to render her independent. In this we have happily succeeded, and
were it not for the encouragement held out to our
hardened, obstinate and inveterate enemy, by the depreciation of our money-in a great degree, if not
wholly occasioned by the wicked arts of the disaffected,
and the mean tricks of speculators, the olive branch




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          147
would long ere this have happily expanded its influence over this bleeding land: nor should we now have
seen our towns in flames; nor heard of ravished, virtuous, insulted matrons, nor of British bayonets being
pointed at the breasts of our patriots.  Similar causes
will ever produce similar effects; to prevent the latter,
the former must be removed. Mischiefs of such enormity, can no longer be winked at, or dispensed with.
The soldier and the citizen, who have sacrificed their
all; who have fought, and bled, and conquered; who
have humbled the arrogant and haughty Briton, as well
as the fierce and barbarous savage, cannot now tamely
submit to see their well-earned laurels unwove, and
all their great and good deeds blasted, overturned, and
undone, by caterpillars of states, and muckworms of
royalty; such are the insects that are preying on the
vitals of America, and who are living and fattening
on the core of her credit; and therefore we are determined, with the blessings of our God, and the approbation of our Commandant, to effectually remove and
smother them, so that they shall no longer feed on the
fair and tender blossom of freedom, nor hereafter be a
pest to our posterity.
The civil laws have been found inadequate to the
removal of these growing evils. Therefore, to stop
the rapid progress of such despoilers of their country,
as well as to support the credit of our currency, and
give it a fixed and permanent value, we have at last
found it absolutely necessary to call a meeting of officers of the line and staff, when after some deliberation
a committee was moved for, which met with unanimous
concurrence; a motion was then made for the nomination of a chairman, which was also agreed to, and




148          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Colonel John Gibson, of the ninth Virginia regiment,
was appointed. The committee accordingly met on
Tuesday the 5th October, and proceeded to business;
and as the prices of every article were daily, rapidly,
and shamefully increasing; and some time must necessarily elapse, before the necessary papers, town
regulations, and traders invoices could be procured, so
that a reasonable and living profit might be allowed
them, on the regulated sale of their goods.
Therefore resolved, That a select committee be appointed to collect all papers, and get what information
they can possibly obtain, relative to the regulations
which may have taken place down the country, and by
them endeavor to ascertain the price of goods as they
ought to sell at this place, and lay them, with what
other matters they may conceive necessary, before the
committee at the next meeting.
Resolved, That two gentlemen of the committee,
viz: Captain Tannihill, and Captain Fridlay,* be
deputed to wait on the traders of Pittsburgh, and
acquaint them that the sale of their goods were prohibited and forbid by the committee, till the regulations
could be formed with accuracy, and transmitted them,
under the pain and penalty of being held up as inimical to their country, as well as forfeiting the countenance, protection and trade of the army, wherupon the
committee adjourned.
Wednesday the 6th of October, the committee having met, and the select committee having made their
reports, the following resolutions were agreed to, viz:
Resolved, That at the present enormous prices, un* This, no doubt, should be Findlay, Captain John Findlay, son-inlaw of David Duncan.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         149
less dire and absolute necessity compels, to buy shall be
deemed as criminal as to sell, and should the traders
refuse to sell at the regulated prices agreed on and
fixed by this committee,
Resolved, That the Commandant of the western
department be waited upon by a committee, and earnestly requested for the good of the community as well
as the army, that said traders be immediately ordered.
to withdraw themselves and property from this post,
being fully determined to have a reasonable trade or
no trade, and live upon our rations and what our country can afford us; and should it be necessary, clothe
ourselves with the produce of the forests, rather than
live upon the virtuous part of the community, to gratify
our sanguinary enemies, and enrich rapacity; and as
it is the unanimous opinion of this committee, that the
specious designing speculator is a monster of a deeper
dye, and more malignant nature than the savage Mingo
in the wilderness, whose mischiefs are partial, while
those occasioned by the speculator, have become universal. The trade of a Mingo is blood, and they are
in alliance with Britons. But speculating monsters,
who are deemed and treated as citizens of America,
and partake of her benefits, sweep all before them;
tear up our credit by the root; travel like a pestilence; and carry destruction to every corner of the
continent. And in a time of public danger, like the
present, when the subjects of a free state can have but
one interest, and ought to have but one wish and one
sentiment.
Resolved, That any person whatever, holding a
commission, place or employment under the United
States, who shall directly or indirectly be concerned in
L*




150          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
trade or speculation of any kind, shall not be kept
company with, or even spoken to by any person in the
public service, that is on the footing of a gentleman,
excepting at such time when necessary duty may require: and those who countenance a speculator shall
be deemed by the committee as accessary, and held up
to the world in the same colours, and be treated with
the same degree of scorn and contempt.
The invoices of the traders being produced to the
committee, they were carefully perused and maturely
considered, and after some debate thereon, the committee at last unanimously determined, that from the
exorbitant prices affixed to the greatest part of the
different articles contained therein, no regulations could
be made on invoices: Therefore,
Resolved, That said traders be not permitted to sell
any part of said merchandize specified in said invoices,
at any post or garrison, on this side the Allegheny
mountains.
And this committee particularly considers the conduct of such traders as injurious, by their engrossing
and forestalling large quantities of grain, thereby enhancing and raising the price thereof: in order to prevent the evil consequences, that must naturally flow
therefrom, as well as to prohibit trade in general, till
a reasonable trade can be obtained, and traders become
satisfied with a moderate profit.
Resolved, That a guard be placed over the stores of
the traders of Pittsburgh, and that they be not permitted to sell to any person on any account whatever,
and that circular letters with the resolutions of this
committee, be transmitted to the principal gentlemen
of the different counties on this side the Allegheny




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          151
mountains, requesting their approbation, assistance,
and concurrence therein.
And this committee wishing to deal tenderly with
all, to avoid, (as much as in their power) injuring any,
and to act on such principles as may convince all mankind of their impartiality, as well as to prevent future
adventurers from making use of the plea of ignorance.
Resolved, That until such times as traders will conform to the regulations entered into and published by
the virtuous part of the community at Philadelphia,
Boston, and the generality of the principal trading
towns on the continent, no goods whatever shall be
purchased, or offered for sale, at any post or garrison,
on this side the Allegheny mountains; and that all
trading adventurers, who wish for the countenance,
protection and trade of the army, are hereby required
by this Committee to obtain a permit as well as certificate, specifying the regulated prices, at the time of
purchase, from the Secretary of the Committee, previous to the opening of their goods for sale, and they
shall also confine themselves to such profits on their
sales, as were formerly allowed at this place. And
provided trading adventurers will comply with the regulations and restrictions.
Resolved, That they shall be treated with the respect
due to worthy citizens, and friends to their country,
and shall meet with every indulgence the commandant
at this post or the committee can possibly grant them,
and all those of different complexions, whatever appellation they may choose to assume, whether monopolizers, forestallers, engrossers, or speculators are hereby
cautioned and advised not to cross the Allegheny
mountain, as this Committee cannot answer for the




152         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
conduct of an insulted public, nor for the resentment
of the army.
From the time of the meeting above referred to, we
have no account of transactions here for several
months. Colonel Brodhead appears to have been a
man of ardent temperament and anxious to distinguish
himself and serve his country. He had in contemplation, an expedition down the Ohio and Mississippi
against Natchez; but Washington thought the force
he could raise for that purpose would probably be insufficient, and besides thought that the information as
to the situation of that post was not such as would
justify so distant an expedition, from which return
would be so difficult and hazardous in case of failure.
The Colonel also had in view a winter expedition against
Detroit, but Washington again objected, that there were
neither men nor supplies sufficient.
Washington's letter containing these objections was
dated on the 4th of January, 1780, and it happened
that before a force leaving Fort Pitt, after that date,
could have reached Natchez, that post as well as Baton
Rouge, with six hundred and fifty British troops, with
military stores and other property, were taken by a
party of Spaniards, under the command of Don Galvez, Governor of Louisiana.
In the summer Colonel Brodhead made a campaign
to Coshocton.
The place of rendezvous was Wheeling, where about
eight hundred regulars and militia collected. From
Wheeling, they made a rapid march by the nearest
route to the Muskingum. When the army had reached the river, a little below Salem, the lowest Moravian
town, Col. Brodhead sent an express to the missiona



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         158
ry of the place, the Rev. John Heckewelder, informing him of his arrival in the neighborhood with his
army, requesting a small supply of provisions, and a
visit from him in his camp. The christian Indians
sent the supply of provisions, and Mr. Heckewelder
repaired t) Colonel Brodhead's camp. Colonel Brodhead then said, "that being on an expedition against
the hostile Indians, at or near the forks of the river,
he was anxious to know before he proceeded any further, whether any of the christian Indians were out
hunting, or on business in the direction he was going."
Being answered in the negative, he declared that,
"nothing would give.him greater pain, than to hear
that any one of the Moravian Indians had been molested by his troops; as these Indians had conducted
themselves from the commencement of the war, in a
manner that did them honor."
While, however, he was assuring Mr. Heckewelder
that the christian Indians had nothing to fear, an officer came with great speed from one quarter of the
camp, and reported that a particular division of the
militia "were preparing to break off for the purpose
of destroying the Moravian settlements up the river,
and he feared they could not be restrained from so
doing." Colonel Brodhead and Colonel Shepherd of
Wheeling, immediately took such measures as prevented it.
The army then proceeded until Within a few miles
of Coshocton, when an Indian prisoner was taken.
Soon after, two more Indians were discovered and fired
upon, but notwithstanding one of them was wounded,
both made their escape.
Colonel Brodhead, knowing that these two Indians




154          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
would endeavor to give immediate notice of the approach of the army, ordered a rapid march, in order
to reach the town before them, and take it by surprise.
This was done in the midst of a heavy fall of rain,
and the plan succeeded. The army reached the place
in three divisions,-the right and left wings approached the river a little above and below the town, while
the centre marched directly upon it. The whole number of the Indians in the village, on the east side of
the river, together with ten or twelve from a little village some distance above, were made prisoners, without
firing a single shot. The river having risen to a great
height, owing to the recent fall of rain, the army could
not cross it. Owing to this, the villages on the west
side of the river escaped destruction.
Among the prisoners, sixteen warriors were pointed
out by Pekillon, a friendly Delaware chief, who was
with the army of Colonel Brodhead. A little after
dark, a council of war was held, to determine on the
fate of the warriors. They were doomed to death.
They were then bound, taken a little distance below
town, despatched with tomahawks and spears, and
scalped.
Early the next morning an Indian presented himself
on the opposite bank of the river, and asked for the
"Big Captain."  Colonel Brodhead presented himself, and asked the Indian what he wanted? The Indian replied, "I want peace."  "Send over some of
your chiefs," said Brodhead. "May be you kill."
He was answered, "They shall not be killed."  One
of the chiefs, a well looking man, came over the river
and entered into conversation with General Brodhead
in the street; but while engaged in conversation, a




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.            155
cowardly wretch, by the name of Wetzel, belonging to
the army, came up behind him, with a tomahawk concealed in the bosom of his hunting shirt, and struck
him a blow on the back of his head. He fell and instantly expired.
About mid-day the army commenced its retreat from
Coshocton.  Colonel Brodhead committed the care
of the prisoners to the militia. They were about
twenty in number.  After marching about a mile, the
men commenced killing them, and did not cease until
the whole were murdered and scalped, except a few
women and children, who were spared and taken to
Fort Pitt.
CHAPTER VIII.
Extracts from correspondence of Colonel Brodhead, 1780 and 1781;
General William Irvine, appointed to command here, arrives; general
order issued upon receipt of news of Cornwallis' surrender; notice of
General Irvine and his opinion against the position of Fort Pitt;
letter from him to General Washington.
We have the correspondence of Colonel Brodhead,
from the 17th October, 1780, till 28th of October, 1781,
from which we make extracts as follows, to exhibit the
state of things here during that time:
"To GENERAL WASHINGTON,- October 17th, 1780." I have sent out parties to take cattle and grain from
"the inhabitants, and expect to get a considerable




156          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
"supply of flour as the mills begin to grind. But the
"inhabitants disappoint us of beef, by driving their'cattle into the mountains; we have neither bread
"nor meat at present, but expect a small supply immediately."
"T T THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA,-lNovember
"2d, 1780.-Forty Delaware Indians came in to join
" us in an expedition against the hostile Indians. But
" as a party of about forty men from Hanna's town
"attempted to destroy them, and were only prevented
"by a guard of regular soldiers, it may not be easy to
"call them out again.
" I hear, this moment, that Thomas Smallman has
"made a secret and clandestine purchase of an Island
"in the Ohio, two miles below this post, commonly
"called McKee's Island. The deed, I am told, is
"signed by two Delaware chiefs."
To COL. EPHRAIM BLAINE,-November 3d, 1780."It is clear to every body, that a sufficient supply of
"meat for half the present consumption cannot be had
"here, even for money. Flour may be had on this
"side the mountains; but too much salt cannot be
"sent, as it will procure meat when money cannot.
"Unless you can furnish us with a quantity of meat
"from below the mountains, I shall have the mortifica"tion to remain on the defensive another campaign,
"which above all things I abhor and detest."
" To REV. D. ZEISBERGER,-December 2d, 1780."Proposes that he should send fifteen or twenty best
"hunters to Little Kenhawa, to kill buffalo, elks and
"bears, to be salted down in canoes made for that
"purpose."




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          157
"To HON. RICHARD PETERS.-Fort Pitt, December
< 7th, 1780.-For a long time past I have two parties
" commanded by field officers, in the country, to im"press cattle, but their success has been so small, that
"the troops have frequently been without meat for
"several days together.  *    *     *    *    *
" I learn more and more of the disaffection of many
"of the inhabitants on this side of the mountains.
" The King of Great Britain's health is often drunk in
"companies, and I believe those wish to see the regu"lar troops removed as a favorable opportunity to
"submit to British government."
"To COL. E. BLAINE. —  ort Pitt, December 16th,
1780.-Dear Sir: The troops have not tasted meat at
this post for six days past, and I hear of none that we
can purchase, or procure, by our compulsory means;
indeed there is very little meat to be had on this side
the mountain at any rate. I hope some means are
devised for supplying this department, if not, I shall
be under the disagreeable necessity of risking my men
in most dangerous situations to kill wild meat, or
march them to the interior part of the country, for it
will scarcely be expected that they will be content to
live on bread and water only.
"I am impatient to hear from you, and am, &c.,
"D. B."
"To JOSEPH REED, President of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania.-Fort Pitt, January 22d, 1781.I have the pleasure to enclose a list of bonds, notes,
&c., late the property of a tory Ross, who was formerly an agent at this place for the King of Britain's
contractors, and deserted from his parole. I am informed that his estate is worth near ten thousand
M




158         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
pounds in specie, and that it will inure to the benefit
of our State.
" Mr. William Wilson a few days ago wrote me that
he had undertaken to furnish my troops with an hundred head of cattle upon private contract and with
private money. This account, as there was no other
prospect of obtaining meat, and the troops were suffering for want of it, whilst we were scarcely supplied
with flour, was flattering, and cheered the drooping
spirits of both officers and men. But as meat could
not be purchased on account of the great scarcity on
this side the mountains, Mr. Wilson immediately proceeded to the South branch of Pawtomack, to perform
the contract, and now I have the mortification to be
informed by his brother who is just arrived from Old
Town, that a prohibitory law of the State of Virginia
will prevent his getting the cattle he may have purchased for consumption here. I sincerely wish there
was not occasion to trouble you with a further tale of
misfortunes. But as the United States in general, and
our State in particular, are immediately interested in
retaining in this district all the grain that has been
raised in it, it might appear inimical in me were I to
remain silent respecting certain instructions lately sent
by Governor Jefferson for the purchase of 200,000
rations on this side the mountains for the use of
the troops under Colonel Clarke, for which purpose
he has already advanced 300,000* pounds, and promised to furnish on the first notice, any further sum
that may be necessary to complete the payment of that
purchase. Because this contract, together with the
-* This is, no doubt, Continental money.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          159
consumption of multitudes of emigrants arrived and
expected in this district, (chiefly to avoid military duty
and taxes,) will scarcely leave a pound of flour for the
regular or other troops which it may be necessary to
employ either offensively or defensively against the
enemy, for the defence of this part of the frontier settlements.
"It seems the State of Virginia is now preparing to
acquire more extensive territory, by sending a great
body of men under Colonel (whom they intend to raise
to the rank of Brigadier) Clarke, to attempt the reduction of Detroit. I have hitherto been encouraged
to flatter myself, that I should sooner or later be enabled to reduce that place. But it seems the United
States cannot furnish either troops or resources for the
purpose, but the State of Virginia can.
"The Indian Captains appointed by the British
commandant at Detroit are clothed in the most elegant
manner, and have many valuable presents made them.
The captains I have appointed by authority of Congress,
are naked and receive nothing but a little whiskey, for
which they are reviled by the Indians in general, so
that unless some kind of system is introduced I must
expect to see all Indians in favor of Britain in despite
of every address in my power. I fear I have trespassed on your patience, but you'l please to excuse me,
I have never kept a thing a secret from you which you
ought to know, or were interested in, your patriotism
and candor, as well as your station in life commanding
most perfect respect and warmest wishes whilst I have
the honor to be, &c.                     D. B.
"P. S. I have wrote to Governor Jefferson respecting his instructions to his Commissary, and assured




160          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
him that I should not consider myself at liberty to
suffer the transportation of provisions out of this district, until I received instructions from the proper
authority."
" To HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON,-Port
Pitt, February 18th, 1781.-Dear General: Since my
last the half Indian Bawbee, by the concurrence of a
serjeant belonging to the late Captain Heths' company,
made his escape, and persuaded a fifer of the ninth
Virginia regiment to desert to the enemy. The Delaware chiefs at Coochocking seized the deserter and sent
him back, and he is confined in irons, but cannot be
tried until your Excellency is pleased to order a General Court Martial."
"To JOSEPH REED, ESQ.,-Fort Pitt, February,
23d, 1781.-I have just received instructions from the
commander-in-chief to detach my field pieces, howitzers and train, also a part of my small force under
Colonel Clarke, who I am told is to drive all before
him, by his supposed unbounded influence in the western country.   *         * *             *
" The Maryland corps being ordered to Richmond,
in Virginia, my force will not exceed two hundred men,
many of which, were soldiers plenty, I would not wish
to have."
The officer who commanded the troops, sent to join
General Clarke, was Captain Isaac Craig. He proceeded to the Falls; but the Kentuckians on whom
Clarke greatly relied, disappointed him, and Captain
Craig, with his command, returned to Fort Pitt.
" To COL. JOSEPH BEELER, (Circular,)-Fort Pitt,
March 4th, 1781.-I have just received letters by
Capt. Montour, stating that the Delawares of Coo



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          161
chocking, with very few exceptions, have declared in
favor of the British, and that some of them have already come against oar settlements."
" T HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON, —ort
Pitt, March 10th, 1781.-The troops under my command have been at half allowance of meat ever since
the 20th of December, and frequently both before
and since, has been without any for several days together."
In August, 1781, Col. Brodhead became involved in
a very angry controversy with some of his officers,
Col. Gibson at their head. His situation was really
unpleasant. In a letter to Washington, dated 19th
August, he says: "Thus by the clamor of some disaffected persons and others, I find myself in the most
disagreeable situation I ever experienced."
"To CAPTAIN JOHN CLARKE, commanding at Fort
McIntosh,-Fort Pitt, August 24th, 1781.-I have
this moment received information that the enemy are
coming against us in great force and particularly
against your post. You will, therefore, put your post
in the best state of defence, &c.  *  *  *     *
" The men who carry this letter are to proceed immediately to Wheeling with my letter; but are to call
at places where they can alarm the people."
On the same day a circular letter was addressed to
the county Lieutenants, assuring them that the enemy
was approaching and calling on them to order out the
militia to defend the frontier.
The information received by Col. Brodhead was perhaps correct. In a letter from Washington to General
Clarke, dated 25th April, 1781, he says:  A few days
ago I received a piece of intelligence from New York,
M*




162          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
which it may be material for you to know. It is that
Colonel Connolly, who formerly lived upon the Ohio,
who was taken prisoner in 1775, and lately exchanged,
is to proceed to Quebec as soon as the season will
permit, with as many refugees as he can collect at New
York; that he is to join Sir John Johnson, in Canada,
and that they are to proceed with their combined forces
by the way of Birch Island and Lake Ontario to Venango. It is, also, said that Connolly carries blank
commissions, which areto be given to persons already
in the country, and that there are several hundred
persons now in the neighborhood of Fort Pitt, who are
to join him. As this corresponds with a suspicion
which Col. Brodhead entertains, I have written to him
to take measures to secure or remove every suspected
person."
Connolly was a daring, enterprising and sanguine
man, he had been a good deal in this country, and believed, whether correctly or incorrectly, we cannot say,
that there were many tories here. He had even written to Col. John Gibson, hoping to conciliate him. In
this letter he urges the Colonel to " avoid an over
zealous exertion of what is now ridiculously called a
patriotic spirit," and tells him to " act as a good subject, and expect the rewards due to your services."
Possibly the over sanguine temperament of Connolly
may have misled him as to the feelings of many persons here. Certainly we know nothing against Coi.
Gibson to justify any suspicion of his integrity. Perhaps Col. Brodhead may have entertained doubts of
his patriotism during their controversy, but he did not
venture to express such doubts in his letters; and
Washington manifested his confidence in Gibson by




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         163
deciding in his favor and giving him the command
while Colonel Brodhead was under trial.
While upon this subject I may as well state that
Gen. Wm. Irvine, who commanded here in 1782, in a
letter to Washington, written in 1788, gives the following statement:
" The following account I have from a Chief of the
Seneca tribe, as well as from a white man named Mathews, a Virginian, who says he was taken prisoner by
the Indians at Kanawha in 1777. He has lived with
the Indians since that time. As far as I could judge,
he appeared to be well acquainted with this part of
country. I employed him as interpreter. He stated
that from the upper end of Jadaque* Lake that it was
not more than nine miles along the path or road to
Lake Erie, and that there was formerly a wagon road
between the two Lakes.
"The Indian related that he was about fourteen
years old, when the French went first to establish a
post at Fort Pitt; that he accompanied an uncle who
was chief warrior, on that occasion, who attended the
French; that the head of Lake Jadaque was the spot.
where the detachment embarked; that they fell down
to Fort Duquesne without any obstruction, in large
canoes, with all their artillery, stores, provision, &c.
He added, that French Creek was made the medium
of communication afterwards-why, he could not tell,
but always wondered at it, as he expressed himself,
knowing the other to be so much better. The Seneca
related many things to corroborate and convince me of
his truth. He stated, that he was constantly employ* Now spelt Chautauque.




164         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
ed by the British during the late war, and he had the
rank of captain, and that he commanded the party
which was defeated on the Allegheny by Colonel Brodhead; that in the year 1782 a detachment composed
of three hundred British, and five hundred Indians,
was formed and actually embarked in canoes on Lake
Jadaque, with twelve pieces of artillery, with an avowed intention of attacking Fort Pitt. This expedition
he says, was laid aside, in consequence of the reported
repairs and strength of Fort Pitt, carried by a spy
from the neighborhood of the fort.
" They then contented themselves with the usual
mode of warfare, by sending small parties on the frontier, one of whom burned'Hanna's town.' I remember very well, that in August, 1782, we picked up at
Fort Pitt, a number of canoes, which had drifted down
the river; and I received repeated accounts in June
and July, from a Canadian.who deserted to me, as well
as from some friendly Indians, of this armament; but
I never knew before then, where they had assembled."
"COL. BRODHEAD TO GEN. WASHINGTON,-August
29th, 1781.-The Maryland corps was stationed at a
post on the frontier of Westmoreland county, and have
in a body deserted and crossed the mountains. Indeed,
I am afraid the other corps will soon follow, if their
sufferings are not attended to."
"To THE SAME,-September 6th, 1781.-Col. Gibson
still continues to counteract me, and the officers who
favored his claim reject my orders, others refuse his,
and things are in the utmost confusion."
The unfortunate dissensions prevailing at Fort Pitt,
rendered it necessary to send some other person to take
the command. General William Irvine, an Irishman




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          165
by birth, and a Pennsylvanian by adoption, was selected by Congress, and ordered to proceed immediately
to this point. We cannot ascertain precisely when he
arrived here. It must, however, have been as early as
the 6th November, 1781, on which day the following
order was issued:
"FORT PITT, November 6th, 1781.
" Parole-General.              Countersign-Joy.
" General Irvine has the pleasure to congratulate
"the troops upon the great and glorious news. Lord
" Cornwallis, with the troops under his command, sur" rendered prisoners of war on the 19th of October
" last, to the allied armies of America and France,
"under the immediate command of his Excellency
" General Washington. The prisoners amount to up" wards of five thousand regular troops, near two
" thousand tories, and as many negroes, besides a num" ber of merchants and other followers.
" Thirteen pieces of artillery will be fired this day
" at 10 o'clock, in the Fort, at which time the troops
" will be under arms, with their colors displayed. The
" Commissaries will issue a gill of whiskey extraordi-' nary to the non-commissioned officers and privates,
" upon this joyful occasion.
c" Accurate regimental returns will be made to-mor"row morning at nine o'clock, of the officers, drums
" and fifes, and privates, accounting for every man,
"where he is, how employed and how long so employ"ed."
We think it highly probable, that General Irvine
arrived at Fort Pitt, very shortly before the above
general order was issued, and brought the news with
him. The last clause of the order seems intended to




166          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
draw forth full information of the condition of troops,
among whom he had just arrived.
General Irvine was a well informed gentleman, had
been educated for a physician, seems to have been a
ready writer, and from his letters, while here, we can
get frequent glances at the condition of things here.
We mean, therefore, to draw liberally upon his correspondence, and give below large extracts. By the first
of these extracts, it will be seen that the writer regarded the site of Fort Pitt as very indefensible.  Certainly there could not be one less capable of resisting a
force provided with artillery. As to the post near the
mouth of Chartier's creek, pointed out to him by
Hutchins, it is difficult to decide whether it was
McKee's Rocks or the lofty hill back of Jas. McKee's
old mansion house, and westward of the mouth of the
creek. The statement that " it is inaccessible on three
sides," would apply best to the rocks, but it certainly
could not be said that there is no commanding ground
within three thousand yards. The hill back of Mr.
Kee's old mansion, is not distant three thousand yards,
and certainly commands the " Rocks"-as also do the
hills across the Ohio.
This situation at the mount of Chartier's creek, has
attracted much attention at different times. The Ohio
Company, before Washington's first visit here, had
selected it as the site for a town. Col. Hutchins, and
afterwards Gen. Irvine approved it as the location for
a military post; and now a public spirited Coal and
Railroad Company have selected it as the terminus of
the first rail road, with steam motive power, in this
region; and as the great station for the distribution of
the products of their mines. But we proceed to the
letters.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         167
Extract of a letter from Gen. William Irvine to Gen.
Washington, dated Fort Pitt, December, 1781:
" SIR:-At the time Congress directed me to repair
to this place, I took for granted your Excellency would
have information thereof, through different channels,
and knowing how particularly you were at that moment engaged, I did not think proper to give unnecessary trouble. This, I flatter myself, will excuse me
with your Excellency, for not writing sooner.
" Previous to my arrival, Col. Gibson had received
your letter directing him to take the command, which
was acquiesced in by Col. Brodhead, and things went
on in the usual channel, except the dispute occasioned
Col. Gibson's intended expedition against Sandusky
being laid aside; and perhaps it also prevented many
other necessary arrangements.
" The examination of witnesses against Col. Brodhead is still going on, and I am told will continue some
weeks. Agreeable to my orders from Congress, to retain no more officers here than sufficient for the men,
I have made the following arrangements. Re-formed
the remains of the late 8th Pennsylvania Regiment
into two Companies, and call them a detachment from
the Pennsylvania Line, to be commanded by Lieut.
Col. Bayard.
"Baron Steuben had some time ago directed Col.
Gibson to re-form his regiment also into two companies, retaining with him the staff of the regiment, and
to send all the supernumerary officers into Virginia.
The re-formation was so made, but the officers were so
distressed for want of clothing and other necessaries,
that they were not able to proceed. However, they
are now making exertions, and I hope will soon set out.




168          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
"I have ordered the supernumerary officers of the
Pennsylvania line to repair forthwith to their proper
regiments in the line. The whole of the troops (infantry) here are thrown into two companies. I have
been trying to economize, but every thing is in so
wretched a state that there is very little in my power.
I never saw troops cut so truly deplorable a figure.
Indeed, when I arrived, no man would believe, from
their appearance, that they were soldiers,-nay, it
would be difficult to determine whether they were white
men, and though they do not yet come up to my wishes,
they are some better.
" As it does not rest with me to decide on the impropriety of any person's conduct, shall only make a
few general observations. The consumption of public
stores, in my opinion, has been enormous, particularly
military stores, and I fear the reasons given for it will
not be justifiable, viz: that the militia would all fly if
they had not powder and lead given them, not only
when in service, but to keep at their houses. It is
true, the County Lieutenants and others, who are called responsible men, have promised to be accountable.
But, I am certain, not an ounce can ever be again collected. I find that near 2000 lbs. of lead, and 4000
lbs' of powder have been issued to the militia, since
the dispute began between Cols. Brodhead and Gibson,
chiefly by orders of the former; besides arms, accoutrements, &c., and not a man called into actual service.
The Magazine is nearly exhausted; there not being as
much remaining as was issued since the first of last
September.
" I presume your Excellency has been informed by
the Governor of Virginia, or by GeIl Clarke, of the




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         169
failure of his expedition. But least this should not be
the case, I will relate all the particulars that have come
to my knowledge.
" Captain Craig, with the detachment of artillery,
returned here on the 20th inst. He got up with great
difficulty, and much fatigue to the men, being forty
days on the way, occasioned by the lowness of the
water. He was obliged to throw away his gun-carriages, but brought his pieces and best stores safe. I-e
left Gen. Clarke at the Rapids, and says the General
was not able to prosecute his intended plan of operations for want of men; being able to collect in the
whole only about 750 men. The buffalo meat was
all rotten, and he adds the General is apprehensive of
a visit from Detroit, and is not without fears the settlement will be obliged to break up, unless reinforcements
soon arrive from Virginia. The Indians have been so
numerous in that country, that the inhabitants have
been obliged to keep close, and the General could not
venture out to fight them.
A Colonel Lochry, of Westmoreland county, Pa.,
with about 100 men in all, composed of volunteers,
and a company raised by Pennsylvania, for the defence
of that county, started to join Gen. Clarke, who, it is
said, ordered him to unite with him (Clarke) at the
mouth of the Miami, up which river it was previously
designed to proceed; but the General having changed
his plan, left a small party at the Miami with directions to Lochrey to follow him to the mouth of the
Falls. Sundry accounts agree that this party, and all
of Lochrey's troops to a man were waylaid by the Indians and British, (for it is said they had artillery,)
and all killed or taken, not a man escaping, either to
N




170          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
join Gen. Clarke, or to return home. When Captain
Craig left the General he would not be persuaded but
that Lochry with his party had returned home. These
misfortunes throw the people of this country into the
greatest consternation, and almost despair, particularly Westmoreland county, Lochry's party being all the
best men of their frontier. At present they talk of
flying early in the spring to the eastern side of the
mountains, and are daily flocking to me to inquire what
support they may expect. I think there is too much
reason to fear that Gen. Clarke's and Col. Gibson's
expeditions failing, will greatly encourage the savages
to fall on the country with double fury, and perhaps
the British from Detroit to visit this post; which, instead of being in a tolerable state of defence, is, in
fact, but a heap of ruins. I need not inform your
Excellency that it is at best but a bad situation for
defence. I have been viewing the country in this vicinity, and find no place equal for a post to the mouth
of Chartier's Creek, about four miles down the river.
Capt. Hutchins pointed that place out to me before I
left Philadelphia, and says there is no place equal to it
any where within forty miles of Fort Pitt. I think it
best calculated on many accounts. First, the ground
is such that works may be constructed to contain any
number of men, from 50 to 1000. It is by nature
almost inaccessible on three sides, and on the fourth
no commanding ground within 3000 yards. Secondly,
as it would effectually cover the settlement on Chartier's Creek, the necessity for keeping a post at Fort
McIntosh would of course cease. In case of making
that the main post, Fort Pitt should be demolished,
except the north bastion, on which a strong block



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         171
house should be erected. A small party in it would as
effectually keep up a communication with the settlements on the Monongahela, as the whole garrison now
does, for the necessary detachments to McIntosh,
Wheeling, &c., so divide the troops that no one place
can be held without a large body of troops indeed. I
do not like Fort McIntosh being kept a post in the
present situation of things. If the enemy from Detroit should undertake to make us a visit, it would be
an excellent place for them to take by surprise, from
whence they could send out Indians and other partizans, and lay the whole country waste before we could
dislodge them."
This destruction of Lochry's or rather Laughery's
party of one hundred and seven men, took place near
the mouth of a creek in the State of Indiana, a short
distance below the mouth of the great Miami, and which
still bears his name.
Subsequently to the writing of the above letter, it
seems that Gen. Irvine must have left Fort Pitt and
gone eastward; for on the 8th day of March, 1782,
an order and instructions were issued by Gen. Washington directing him to proceed without delay to Fort
Pitt. Gen. Irvine appears to have complied promptly,
and on the 30th of March, 1782, wrote the following
letter to Gen. Washington:
FORT PITT, March 30th, 1782.
SIR:-I arrived here the 25th of March; at that
time things were in greater confusion than can well be
conceived. The country people were to all appearance
in a fit of phrenzy; about three hundred had just returned from the Moravian towns, where they found
about ninety men, women and children, all of whom




172          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
they put to death,'tis said after cool deliberation and
considering the matter for three days. The whole
were collected into their church, and died while singing hymns. On their return, a party came and attacked a few Delaware Indians who have yet remained with
us on a small Island close by this garrison; killed two
who had captain's commissions in our service, and
several others, the remainder effected their escape into
the Fort, except two who ran into the woods and have
not since been heard of. There was an officers' guard
on the Island at the same time; but he either did not
do his duty, or his men connived at the thing-which,
I am not able to ascertain. This last outrage was
committed the day before I arrived. Nothing of this
nature has been attempted since. A number of wrongheaded men had conceived an opinion that Col. Gibson
was a friend to Indians, and that he must be kil'ed
also. These transactions, added to the then mutinous
disposition of the regular troops, had nearly brought
on the loss of the whole country. I am confident, if
this post was evacuated, the bounds of Canada would
be extended to the Laurel Hill in a few weeks. I have
the pleasure, however, to inform your excellency
that things now wear a more favorable aspect. The
troops are again reduced to obedience; and I have had
a meeting, or convention, of the county Lieutenants
and several field officers, with whom I have made arrangements for defending their frontier, and who promise to exert themselves in drawing out the militia,
agreeable to the law, on my requisitions.
Civil authority is by no means properly established
in this country; which I doubt not, proceeds in some
degree from inattention in the executive of Virginia and




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         173
Pennsylvania not running the boundary line-which is
at present an excuse for neglect of duty of all kinds
for at least twenty miles on each side the line. More
evils will arise from this than people are aware of.
There is a prospect on foot here for emigrating and
setting up a new State. A certain J —    is at the
head of this party; he is ambitious, restless, and some
say disaffected; most people, however, agree, he is open
to corruption. He has been in England since the beginning of the present war. Should these people actually
emigrate, they must be entirely cut off, or immediately
take protection from the British, which I fear is the
real design of some of the party, though I think a
great majority have no other views than to acquire
lands.
As I apprehended taking cognizance of the matters
would come best from the civil departments, I have
written to the governors of Virginia and Pennsylvania
on the subject, which I should not have done till I had
first acquainted your excellency thereof, but for this
consideration, viz: that the 25th of May is the day
appointed for the emigrants to rendezvous; consequently a representation from you would be too late,
in case the States should think proper to take measures
to prevent them.
N*




174             HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
CHAPTER IX.
State of things here in May, 1782; letter from Gen. Irvine to Gen. Lincoln,
Secretary of War; same to Wm. Moore, Esq., President of Executive
Council of Pennsylvania; to Gen. Washington; Peace between the U.
States and Great Britain; the Penns conclude to sell their lands in the
Manor of Pittsburgh; first sale to Craig and Bayard, January, 1784;
Town of Pittsburgh laid out in May and June, 1784; Second Treaty of
Port Stanwix; lands in the bounds of this State north of the Ohio and
west of the Allegheny ceded to this Commonwealth; arrival of Arthur
Lee here; extract from his journal; low estimate of this place; cost
of Fort Pitt; account of the work and improvements in the Fort;
Distillery in Pittsburgh; Salt works on Big Beaver, 1786; Pittsburgh
Gazette established July, 1786; Description of Pittsburgh from 1st
number of the Gazette; further notices from subsequent number of
Gazette; September, 1786, mail route to Pittsburgh established, once
in two weeks; market house and market days established; Presbyterian Congregation of Pittsburgh incorporated by Legislature; the
May Flower, the boat with the first emigrants to Marietta, arrived
here 3d of April, 1788.
On the 2d of May, 1782, Gen. Irvine wrote the following letter to General Lincoln, Secretary of War.
Pittsburgh was then in a very distracted            condition
indeed. She had just escaped from the controversy
between Pennsylvania and Virginia. The partisans of
Connolly on one side, and those of Pennsylvania on
the other, were still there, and the bitterness of feeling between them, probably, not entirely, allayed.
The British and Indians in Canada and western New
York, still entertained hopes of retaking the place, and
were, perhaps, at that very time making arrangements
to attack it. Finally the struggle between Col. Gibson




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         175
and his friends on one side and Col. Brodhead and his
adherents on the other, in which, perhaps, the old feeling between the two States, may have entered, still
continued. Major Ward was, we suppose, the same
man who was taken prisoner here by Contrecoeur in
1754, and seems to have been a pretty bold speculator,
and not very particular about the title. Certainly, in
this case, he had no shadow of title to any ground
within the Manor.
The dissensions between Brodhead and Gibson, had
no doubt, led to great relaxation of discipline among
the troops, and all the energy of Irvine was needed to
restore discipline.
FORT PITT, May 2d, 1781.
SIR: I do myself the honor to inclose you Lt. Col.
Weibert's report to me of the situation and circumstances of this Post, the ground, houses round it, &c.,
in which he has not discovered any thing but what I
was before well acquainted with. But as the officer
who preceded me in command, had great contention.
respecting his occupying some houses, particularly
Maj. Ward's, who brought a civil action against him;
several others brought civil suits. This same Ward
claims what was formerly called the King's Orchard,
which lies immediately joining, and encircles the bastions of the Fort. This I have inclosed with a slight
fence, and use it as a pasture for the public and officers' horses. This man is teasing me to promise him
a certain rent, which I cannot with propriety do.
As to the houses, I have not yet pulled any of them
down, but mean in case of any intelligence of the approach of an enemy, to set fire to them. Ward's is an
old wooden building, which was formerly a redoubt,




176         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
but has been carried from the place it formerly stood
on, and was built house fashion; it is not worth much,
though he sets a high value on it. Irwin's house was
also a redoubt, but it is now environed by the other
houses of the town of Pittsburgh.'Tis certain that
if it is meant to occupy this place any length of time,
as would appear to be the intention by the Commander-in-Chief, and your orders to me, these houses and
several other obstructions should be instantly removed.
In case of emergency, I will not hesitate a moment to
do it, but these people think it hard to have it done, as
long as they are not apprehensive of danger. I assure
you, sir, this is a very troublesome command-sufficiently so, without being obliged to quarrel with the
inhabitants. I could wish you would take these points
into consideration, and instruct me respecting them.
If any troops should be sent to this quarter, or any
exertions made, some few tents, at least bell tents,
would be necessary. I did not make any demand of
this article from the Quarter Master General, as I at
that time thought them unnecessary for garrison duty.
The few troops here are the most licentious men, and
worst behaved I ever saw, owing, I presume, in a great
measure, to their not being hitherto kept under any
subordination, or tolerable degree of discipline. I will
try what effect a few prompt and exemplary punishments will have. Two are now under sentence, and
shall be executed to-morrow. They not only disobeyed their officer who commanded at Fort McIntosh, but
actually struck him; and it is supposed would have killed him, had he not been rescued by two other soldiers.
I believe no person has obtained a legal right for
the Orchard; it is part of what is called a Proprietary




4ISTORY OF PITTSB!URGH.        177
Manor, the property of Mr. Penn; but when Lord
Dunmore took it into his head to extend Virginia to
this place, Ward and others might probably have obtained grants from him. As it is now well known to
be the in the State of Pennsylvania, I suppose his
grants are not worth a farthing.
Be this as it may, I have no right to determine anything respecting the claimants of private property, as
twenty others claim it as well as Ward.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
To the Hon. Maj. Gen. Lincoln, Secretary of War.
The following letter to William Moore, Esq., the
Chief Magistrate of this State, contains some information as to the state of affairs here, about the time it
was written:
FORT PITT, May 9th, 1782.
SIR: Since my letter of the third instant, to your
Excellency, Mr. Pentecost and Mr. Cannon have been
with me; they and every intelligent person whom I
have conversed with on the subject, are of opinion that
it will be almost impossible even to obtain a just account
of the conduct of the militia at Muskingum. No
man can give any account except some of the party
themselves; if, therefore, an inquiry should appear
serious, they are not obliged, nor will they give evidence; for this and other reasons, I am of opinion
further inquiry into the matter will not only be fruitless, but in the end may be attended with disagreeable
consequences.
A volunteer expedition is talked of against Sandusky, which, if well conducted, may be of great
service to the country; if they behave well on this
occasion, it may also in some measure atone for the




178         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
barbarity they are charged with at Muskingum. They
have consulted me, and I shall give every countenance
in my power, if their numbers, arrangements, &c.,
promise a prospect of success.
Another kind of expedition is much talked of, which
is to emigrate and set up a new State. The matter is
carried so far as to advertise a day of general rendezvous, the 25th inst. A certain Mr. Jackson is said to
be at the head of this party. He has a form of constitution written by himself, for the new government.
I am well informed he is now on the east side of the
mountains, trying to purchase or otherwise provide
artillery and stores. A number of people, I really
believe, have serious thoughts of this matter, but I am
led to think they will not be able, at this time, to put
their plan into execution. Should they be so mad as to
attempt it, I think they will either be cut to pieces, or
they will be obliged to take protection from and join
the British. Perhaps some have this in view, though
a great majority are, I think, well-meaning people, who
have at present no other view than to acquire large
tracts of land.
As I thought a knowledge of these intentions might
be useful to the Executives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, the emigrants being now subjects of both States,
I have written to the Governor of Virginia on the subject also.
Mr. Jackson has been in England since the commencement of the present war. Some people think
he is too trifling a being to be worthy of notice. Be
this as it may, he has now many followers, and it is, I
think, highly probable that men of more influence than
he are privately at work. Jackson, it is said, was once




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         179
in affluent circumstances, is now indigent, and was
always open to corruption. I have no personal knowledge of the man, and have this character of him in
too general terms to be able to assert it as genuine.
No considerable damage has been done by the
savages since my arrival here last; the whole of killed
and captured, I have any account of amount, to six
souls. I think they must be either preparing for a
great stroke, or are apprehensive of a visit from us.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
His Excellency, Wm. Moore, Esq., President of the
Executive Council of Pennsylvania.
The volunteer expedition here spoken of was that
under Colonel William Crawford, which turned out so
unfortunately, in his defeat and subsequent cruel sacrifice by the Indians. The atrocity of the Moravian
affair, in this case, met a retaliation equally atrocious.
The annexed letter gives some account of the result of
Crawford's expedition, and as it is a matter belonging
to general history and has been largely noticed, we
shall enter into no farther detail about it.
LETTER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.
Fort Pitt, July 11th, 1782.
SIR: Dr. Knight (a surgeon I sent with Col. Crawford,) returned on the 4th instant to this place; he
brings an account of the melancholy fate of poor
Crawford. The day after the main body retreated,
the Colonel, Doctor, and nine others, were overtaken
about thirty miles from the field of action, by a body
of Indians, to whom they surrendered, were taken
back to Sandusky, where they all, except the Doctor,
were put to death; the unfortunate Colonel, in parti



180          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
cular, was burned and tortured in every manner they
could invent. The Doctor, after being a spectator of
this distressing scene, was sent to the Shawanese town
under guard of one Indian, where he was told he would
share the same fate next day; but fortunately found
an opportunity of demolishing the fellow, and making
his escape. The Doctor adds that a certain Simon
Girty, who was formerly in our service and deserted
with McKee, is now said to have a commission in the
British service, was present at torturing Col. Crawford;
and that he (the Doctor) was informed by an Indian
that a British Captain commands at Sandusky, that he
believes he was present also, but is not certain; but
says he saw a person there who was dressed and appeared like a British officer. He also says the Colonel
begged of Girty to shoot him, but he paid no regard
to the request. A certain Shlover has also come in
yesterday, who was under sentence at the Shawanese
town; he says a Mr. Wm. Harrison, son-in-law to Col.
Crawford, was quartered and burned. Both he and
the Doctor say they were assured by several Indians
whom they formerly knew, that not a single soul should
in future escape torture, and gave as a reason for this
conduct the Moravian affair. A number of people informed me that Col. Crawford ought to be considered
as a Continental Officer, and are of opinion retaliation
should take place. These, however, are such facts as I
can get. Dr. Knight is a man of undoubted veracity.
This account has struck the people of this country
with a strange mixture of fear and resentment. Their
solicitations for making another excursion are increasing daily, and they are actually beginning to prepare
for it.             I have honor to be, &c.,
To lis Excellency General Washington.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         181
From the date of the above letter until the beginning of the year 1784, we at no time obtain a single
distinct view of proceedings at this place. On the
30th of November, 1782, sixteen months subsequent
to the date of the above letter, preliminary articles of
peace between the United States and Great Britain
were signed at Paris. From the period when the news
of that event was received here, military movements
and preparation would cease, and business would probably stagnate for a time. In the fall of 1783, the
proprietaries, John Penn, jr., and John Penn, concluded to sell the lands within the Manor of Pittsburgh.
The first sale was made in January, 1784, to Isaac
Craig and Stephen Bayard, of all the ground between
Fort Pitt and the Allegheny river, " supposed to contain about three acres." Subsequently, however, to
the date of that agreement, the proprietaries concluded to lay out a town at the junction of the rivers, so
as to embrace within its limits the three acres agreed
to be sold, as well as all the ground covered by the
Fort. We presume, the purchasers of the three acres
assented to this division of the ground, as they afterwards received a deed describing the ground, not by
the acre, but by the metes and bounds fixed by the
plan of the town, except that the lots on the Monongahela were described as extending to the river, instead of being limited by Water street, as the plan
exhibits them.
The laying out of the town was completed by Thos.
Vickroy, of Bedford county, in June, and approved by
Tench Francis, the attorney of the proprietors, on the
30th September, 1784. Sales immediately commenced,
many applications for lots were made, as soon as the
0




182          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
survey was completed and before it had been traced on
paper.
In a pocket memorandum book of Major Craig I
find some notes and copies of letters which throw some
little light on affairs here about the time of laying out
the town.
In a letter dated Pittsburgh, July 25th, 1784, he
says: " Immediately after my return from Philadel-' phia to this place, I called on Major Marbury, who' still continued to command here and handed him the
" Quarter Master General and Secretary of War's' orders for part of the buildings and five hundred
" pounds of Iron, the former part of the order he said
"he would comply with, the latter he could not; be" cause he had disposed of the iron in purchase of
provisions and in payment of wagon hire. Lieut.
"Lucket has, since, succeeded Major Marbury, and
" seems reluctant to give me possession of a building,
" so I have provided a house for the reception of the
" goods when they arrive, and have a party employed' in the preparation of timber for the cisterns, pumps,
" &c., for the Distillery. I am convinced that our
" best plan will be to erect a wind-mill at the junction' of the rivers instead of a horse mill. It would do
all our grinding for the distillery and at other times' do work for the inhabitants. At the point there is
" almost always a breeze up or down the rivers; while
" water-mills here scarcely work more than six months
"in the year."
What an emphatic commentary do the above remarks
afford upon the unappreciable importance to this country of the introduction of the steam engine!! Certainly neither water nor wind mills could ever have




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         188
accomplished what the steam engine has already done;
much less what it is destined hereafter to do for the
valley of the Mississippi.
In another letter dated July 29th, 1784, Major
"Craig says: " I have made some progress in a sub"scription for a post rider, and believe I shall succeed;
"it would be of great advantage to this country." In
the letter he reiterates his opinion in favor of a windmill. The subscription paper fell short.
Within a month after the approval of the survey an
event occurred which doubtless contributed to the progress of the yoang town at the head of the Ohio.
When Pittsburgh was surveyed, and down to the 21st
day of October, 1784, the country north of the Ohio
and west of the Allegheny river, including our thriving sister city, were still owned and occupied by the
natives. On that day a treaty was concluded with the
Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, now Rome, New York,
by which their title was extinguished to all that region
of country. This extinguishment of the Indian title
though an important matter, was not one whose influence would be immediately felt. The Indians still
continued to rove through that country, and even ten
years later fired their rifles and hurled their tomahawks at the venturous white men who rashly settled
there.
In December, 1784, Arthur Lee, a Virginian by
birth, a brother of Francis Lightfoot Lee and of Richard
Bland Lee, both signers of the Declaration of Independence, and himself, along with Dr. Franklin and
Silas Deane, Commissioners to France and the bearers
of the first letter of Credence ever issued by Congress,
arrived here. He had just been at Fort Stanwix, in




184         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
New York, holding the treaty at that place. Having
not very long before visited France and Spain he would
probably not be very much pleased with the appearance of a town inhabited " almost entirely" by Indian
traders and Scotch and Irish; we will, however, let
him speak for himself.
December 17th. We embarked on the Monongahela,
and soon entered the Ohio, on our way to Fort McIntosh. The Ohio is a continuation of the Monongahela
and Allegheny. They enter it at right angles. This
appears plainly when you have passed the mouth of
the Allegheny. Upon looking back you see at some
distance, directly up the Monongahela, but the point
of the two banks only that form the mouth of the Allegheny is visible, none of its water. Yet it has often
been said that the Ohio was a continuation of the
Allegheny.
Four miles down the river brings you to Montour's
Island; which is six miles long, and about half a mile
broad on an average, and contains about two thousand
acres of very good land, the greater part of it never
overflowed. The assembly of Pennsylvania gave Gen.
Irwin a right of pre-emption to this land. They were
moved to do it by an old and influential Presbyterian
member, who with great gravity assured them he knew
the Island and that it contained about one hundred
and fifty acres. The property of it is contested between Gen. Irwin, Col. Neville, and Col. Simms of
Alexandria. The next place is Loggstown, which was
formerly a settlement on both sides of the Ohio, and
the place where the treaty of Lancaster was confirmed
by the western Indians. From Loggstown to the
mouth of Beaver Creek, is - miles, and from thence




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          185
to Fort McIntosh, one mile. This fort is built of well
hewn logs, with four bastions; its figure an irregular
square, the face to the river being longer than the side
to the land. It is about equal to a square of fifty
yards, is well built, and strong against musketry; but
the opposite side of the river commands it entirely,
and a single piece of artillery from thence would reduce it. This fort was built by us during the war, and
is not therefore noted in Hutchins' map. The place
was formerly a large Indian settlement, and French
trading place. There are peach trees still remaining.
It is a beautiful plain, extending about two miles along
the river, and one to the hills; surrounded on the east
by Beaver Creek, and on the west by a small run,
which meanders through a most excellent piece of
meadow ground, full of shell-bark hickory, black-walnut, and oak. About one mile and a half up the
Beaver Creek, there enters a small, but perennial
stream, very fit for a mill-seat; so that the possession
of the land from there to the western stream, would
include a fine meadow, a mill-seat, a beautiful plain
for small grain, and rich, well-timbered uplands. It
falls just within the western boundary of Pennsylvania;
and is reserved by the state out of the sale of the land,
as a precious morsel for some favorite of the legislature. The Ohio here is about four hundred yards
wide. The Monongahela at Fort Pitt is about two
hundred and eighty wide. The Allegheny, about two
hundred. The former frequently overflows, and falls
much sooner than the latter, owing to its rapidity and
extent. The banks of the Monongahela on the west,
or opposite side to Pittsburgh, are steep close to the
water, and about two hundred yards high. About a
O*




186          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
third of the way from the top is a vein of coal, above
one of the rocks. The coal is burnt in the town, and
considered very good. The property of this and of
the town is in the Penns. They have lotted out the
face of the hill at thirty pounds a lot, to dig coal as
far in as the perpendicular falling from the summit of
the bank. Fort Pitt is regularly built, cost the Crown
~600, and is commanded by cannon from the opposite
bank of the Monongahela, and from a hill above the
town called Grant's Hill, from the catastrophe which
befel Gen. Grant at that place. He was advancing
with some Highland regiments and Virginia light-infantry before the army under Gen. Forbes, took his
station upon this hill, and had the folly to order his
drums to beat and his bag-pipes to play, in expectation
of frightening the French and Indian garrison of the
then Fort Du Quesne, to surrender. But the commandant sending a part of the Indians in his rear, sallied
out upon him, killed all the Highlanders, and made
him prisoner. The Virginia troops, under Col. Lewis,
being more upon their guard, mostly escaped.
Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and
Irish, who live in paltry log-houses, and are as dirty
as in the north of Ireland, or even Scotland. There
is a great deal of small trade carried on; the goods
being brought at the vast expense of forty-five shillings
per cwt., from Philadelphia and Baltimore. They take
in the shops, money, wheat, flour and skins. There
are in the town four attorneys, two doctors, and not a
priest of any persuasion, nor church, nor chapel; so
that they are likely to be damned, without the benefit
of elergy. The rivers encroach fast on the town; and
to such a degree, that, as a gentleman told me, the




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          187
Allegheny had within thirty years of his memory, carried away one hundred yards. The place, I believe,
will never be very considerable."
Possibly at the time Arthur Lee spoke thus contemptuously of this place, there may have been still
some soreness in relation to the termination of the
controversy about the boundary line. Certainly his
opinion as to the future destiny of this place was not
well considered. It was then but little more than thirty years since the first attempt at settlement here
during twenty-five of which, at least, the place was the
subject of contention between foreign nations and
American States. Could he now revisit this point he
would probably be surprised to see the change already
produced here and would not be very much gratified
by the comparison of Pittsburgh with Richmond.
There is an error, probably typographical, in the
estimate of the cost of Fort Pitt; Judge Brackenridge,
in an article which we shall soon notice, fixes the cost
at sixty thousand pounds; which, we think, could not
be very far wrong. The fort was an extensive work,
there was within its ramparts, one range of brick quarters for the officers, and another range of hewn log
houses, probably for the soldiers, besides blockhouses
in two or three of the bastions, the curtain of the
north-western rampart was casemated, the two faces of
the work towards the country revetted, that is supported on the outside by a substantial brick wall, thick
enough to resist the pressure of the earth, and high
enough to be used as a ball alley, and the parade
ground was paved with hard burnt brick.
It seems, there were then two doctors and four lawyers here, but no clergyman. The writer of these




188          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
sketches has in his possession a letter from the late
Professor Robert Patterson, of Philadelphia, dated
October 6th, 1780, in which he says, "my brother
Joseph (the late Rev. Jos. Patterson,) is located on the
head waters of Racoon, which is, I believe, near Fort
Pitt."  Reverend John McMillan was, also, at Cannonsburg some years previous.
The town being now laid out and the proprietors
prepared to make titles to the lots; it might be expected the town would begin to expand by degrees, and
some kind of manufactories be established. About
that time Isaac Craig and Stephen Bayard, who were
already engaged in the mercantile business, formed a
partnership with Turnbull, Marmie & Co., of Philadelphia, and in addition to their original object added a
distillery here, a saw-mill up the Allegheny, and Saltworks some where on Big Beaver.
We cannot ascertain exactly when the distillery went
into operation; the closest reference to it, however,
which we have found, is in a letter from Turnbull,
Marmie & Co., to Craig, Bayard & Co., dated, "Philadelphia, October 28th, 1784," saying: "We are very
anxious to hear that the stills have reached you in
good order, and that you will be able to set them going
this fall."
Those were not temperance days. A letter from the
Salt-works, to Craig & Bayard, says: "I am greatly
in want of three barrels of whiskey and a barrel of
rum. For want of them, my neighbor gets all the
skins and furs."
In 1786, on the 29th of July, another manufacture
was established here, one well calculated to correct the
evil influences of the distillery, we mean the making




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          189
of newspapers. On the day above mentioned, John
Scull and Joseph Hall, issued the first number of the
Pittsburgh Gazette, the first newspaper ever printed
west of the Allegheny mountains.
In the first number of the Gazette, there appeared
a very graphic description of Pittsburgh and its vicinity from the pen of the late Judge Brackenridge,
which we think well worthy of republication in our
book.
FROM BRACKENRIDGE'S " GAZETTE PUBLICATIONS."
It was in the spring of the year 1781, that leaving
the city of Philadelphia I crossed the Allegheny mountain, and took my residence in the town of Pittsburgh:
" If town it might be call'd, that town was none,
"Distinguishable by house or street-."
But in fact a few old buildings, under the walls of a
garrison, which stood at the junction of the two rivers.
Nevertheless it appeared to me as what would one day
be a town of note, and in the mean time might be
pushed forward by the usual means that raise such
places. Two or three years had elapsed, and some
progress had been made in improvement, when a
Gazette was established at this place for the western
country, and one of my earliest contributions was the
following, intended to give some reputation to the
town, with a view to induce emigration to this particular spot, whether it contributed in any degree to this
object, I do not know, nor is it material. It will serve
to give some idea of what the town was at an early
period, and the state of society at that time, July 26,
1786.




190          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
ON THE SITUATION OF THE TOWN OF PITTSBURGH, AND
THE STATE OF SOCIETY AT THAT PLACE.
The Allegheny river running from the north-east,
and the Monongahela from the south-west, meet at the
angle of about 33 degrees, and form the Ohio. This
is said to signify, in some of the Indian languages,
bloody; so that the Ohio river may be translated the
River of Blood. The French have called it La Belle
Riviere, that is the Beautiful and Fair River, but this
is not intended by them as having any relation to the
name Ohio.
It may have received the name of Ohio about the
beginning of the present century, when the Six Nations made war upon their fellow savages in these territories and subjected several tribes.
The word Monongahela is said to signify, in some of
the Indian languages the Falling-in-Banks, that is,
the stream of the Falling-in, or Mouldering Banks.
At the distance of about four or five hundred yards
from the head of the Ohio is a small island, lying to
the north-west side of the river, at the distance of
about 70 yards from the shore. It is covered with
wood, and at the lowest part, is a lofty hill famous for
the number of wild turkies which inhabit it. The
island is not more in length than one quarter of a
mile, and in breadth about 100 yards. A small space
on the upper end is cleared and overgrown with grass.
The savages had cleared it during the late war, a party
of them attached to the United States having placed
their wigwams and raised corn there. The Ohio, at
the distance of about one mile from its source, winds
round the lower end of the island and disappears. I




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          191
call the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela
the source of the Ohio.
It is pleasant to observe the conflict of these two
waters where they meet: when of an equal height the
contest is equal, and a small rippling appears from the
point of land at their junction to the distance of about
five hundred yards. When the Allegheny is master,
as the term is, the current keeps its course a great way
into the Monongahela, before It is overcome, and falls
into the bed of tne Ohio. The Monongahela in like
manner having the mastery, bears away the Allegheny
and with its muddy waters discolors the chrystal current of that river. This happens frequently, inasmuch
as these two rivers, coming from different climates of
the country, are seldom swoln at the same time. The
flood of the Allegheny rises perhaps the highest. I
have observed it to have been at least 30 feet above
the level, by the impression of the ice on the branches
of trees which overhang the river, and had been cut at
the breaking up of the winter, when the snow and frost
melting towards the north-east throw themselves down
with amazing rapidity and violence in a mighty deluge.
The current of the Allegheny is in general more rapid
than that of the Monongahe'a, and though not broader or of greater depth, yet, from this circumstance
throws forward a greater quantity of water in the same
space of time. In this river, at the distance of about
one mile above the town of Pittsburgh is a beautiful
little island, which, if there are river gods and nymphs,
they may be supposed to haunt. At the upper end of
the island and towards the western shore is a small
ripple, as it is called, where the water, bubbling as if
it sprung from the pebbles of a fountain, gives vivacity
and an air of cheerfulness to the scene.




192          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
The fish of the Allegheny are harder and firmer than
those of the Monongahela or Ohio, owing, as is supposed, to the greater coldness and purity of the water.
The fish in general of those rivers are good. They
are, the pike, weighing frequently 15 or 20 pounds, the
perch much larger than any I have ever seen in the
bay of Chesapeake, which is the only tide from whence
I have ever seen perch; there is also the sturgeon and
many more kinds of fish.
It is a high amusement to those who are fond of fishing, to angle in those waters, more especially at the
time of a gentle flood, when the frequent nibbles of
the large and small fishes entertain the expectation,
and sometimes gratify it by a bite; and when those of
the larger size are taken, it is necessary to play them
a considerable time before it can be judged safe to
draw them in. I have seen a canoe half loaded in a
morning by some of those most expert in the employment, but you will see in a spring evening the banks
of the rivers lined with men fishing at intervals from
one another. This, with the streams gently gliding,
the woods, at a distance, green, and the shadows
lengthening towards the town, forms a delightful scene.
Fond of the water, I have been sometimes highly
pleased in going with a select party, in a small barge,
up or down the rivers, and landing at a cool spring, to
enjoy the verdant turf, amidst the shady bowers of ashwood, sugar-tree or oak, planted by the hand of nature,
not art.
It may be said by some who will read this description which I have given, or may be about to give, that
it is minute and useless, inasmuch as they are observations of things well known. But let it be considered




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          193
that it is not intended for the people of this country,
but for those at a distance, who may not yet be acquainted with the natural situation of the town of
Pittsburgh, or having heard of it, may wish to be more
particularly informed. Who knows what families of
fortune it may induce to emigrate to this place?
There is a rock known by the name of McKee's
rock, at the distance of about three miles below the
head of the Ohio. It is end of a promontory, where
the river bends to the north-west, and where, by the
rushing of the floods, the earth has been cut away
during several ages, so that now the huge overhanging
rocks appear, hollowed beneath, so as to form a dome
of majesty and grandeur, near one hundred feet in
height. Here are the names of French and British
officers engraved, who in the former times, in parties
of pleasure, had visited this place. The town of Pittsburgh, at the head of the Ohio, is scarcely visible from
hence, by means of an intervening Island, the lower
end of which is nearly opposite the rocks. Just below
them at the bending of the river is a deep eddy water,
which has been sounded by a line of thirty fathoms,
and no bottom found. Above them is a beautiful extent of bottom, containing five or six hundred acres,
and the ground rising to the inland country with an
easy ascent, so as to form an extensive landscape. As
you ascend the river from these rocks to the town of
Pittsburgh, you pass by on your right hand the mouth
of a brook known by the name of the Saw-mill run.
This empties itself about half a mile below the town,
and is overlooked by a building on its banks, on the
point of a hill which fronts the east, and is first struck
by the beam of the rising sun. At a small distance
P




194          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
from its mouth is a saw-mill, about 20 perches below
the situation of an old mill built by the British, the
remains of some parts of which are yet seen.
At the head of the Ohio stands the town of Pittsburgh, on an angular piece of ground, the two rivers
forming the two sides of the angle. Just at the point,
stood, when I first came to this country, a tree, leaning
against which I have often overlooked the wave, or
committing my garments to its shade have bathed in
the transparent tide. How have I regretted its undeserved fate when the early winter's flood, tore it from
the roots and left the bank bare.
On this point stood the old French fort known by
the name of Fort Duquesne, which was evacuated and
blown up by the French in the campaign of the British
under Gen. Forbes. The appearance of the ditch and
mound, with the salient angles and bastions still remains, so as to prevent that perfect level of the ground
which otherwise would exist. It has been long overgrown with the finest verdure, and depastured on by
cattle; but since the town has been laid out it has been
enclosed, and buildings are erected.
Just above these works is the present garrison, built
by Gen. Stanwix, and is said to have cost the crown of
Britain ~60,000. Be that as it may, it has been a
work of great labor and of little use-for, situated on
a plain, it is commanded by heights and rising grounds
on every side, and some at less than the distance of a
mile. The fortification is regular, constructed according to the rules of art, and about three years ago, put
into good repair by Gen. Irwin who commanded at this
post. It has the advantage of an excellent magazine,
built of stone; but the time is come, and it is hoped




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          195
will not again return, when the use of this garrison is
at an end. There is a line of posts below it on the
Ohio river, to the distance of three hundred miles.
The savages come to this place for trade, not for war,
and any future contest that we may have with them,
will be on the heads of the more northern rivers that
fall into the Mississippi.
The bank of the Allegheny river, on the north-west
side of the town of Pittsburgh, is planted with an
orchard of apple trees, with some pear trees intermixed. These were brought, it is said, and planted by a
British officer who commanded at this place early on
the first occupation of it by the crown of England.
He has deserved the thanks of those who have since
enjoyed it, as the fruit is excellent, and the trees bear
in abundance every year. Near the garrison on the
Allegheny bank, were formerly what were called the
king's artillery gardens, delightful spots, cultivated
highly to usefulness and pleasure, the soil favoring the
growth of plants and flowers, equal with any on the
globe. Over this ground the ancient herbs and plants
springing up underneath the foot, it is delightful still
to walk, covered with the orchard shade.
On the margin of this river once stood a row of
houses, elegant and neat, and not unworthy of the
European taste, but have been swept away in the course
of time, some for the purpose of forming an opening
to the river from the garrison, that the artillery might
incommode the enemy approaching and deprived of
shelter; some torn away by the fury of the rising
river, indignant of too near a pressure on its banks.
These buildings were the receptacles of the ancient
Indian trade, which, coming from the westward, cen



196          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
tred in this quarter: but of these buildings, like decayed monuments of grandeur, no trace remains.
Those who, twenty years ago, saw them flourish, can
only say, here they stood.
From the verdant walk on the margin of this beautiful river, you have a view of an island about a mile
above, round which the river twines with a resplendent
brightness; gliding on the eastern bank, it would wish
to keep a straight direction, once supposed to be its
course: but thrown beneath, it modestly submits and
falls towards the town. When the poet comes with
his enchanting song to pour his magic numbers on this
scene, this little island may aspire to live with those
in the 2Egean sea, where the song of Homer drew the
image of delight, or where the Cam or Isis embracing
in their bosoms gems like these, are sung by Milton,
father of the modern bards.
On the west side of the Allegheny river, and opposite the orchard, is a level of three thousand acres,
reserved by the state to be laid out in lots for the purpose of a town. A small stream at right angles to the
river passes through it. On this ground it is supposed
a town may stand; but on all hands it is excluded from
the praise of being a situation so convenient as on the
side of the river, where the present town is placed;
yet it is a most delightful grove of oak, cherry and
walnut trees: but we return and take a view of the
Monongahela on the southern side of the town.
This bank is closely set with buildings for the distance of near half a mile, and behind this range the
town chiefly lies, falling back on the plains between
the two rivers. To the eastward is Grant's hill, a
beautiful rising ground, discovering marks of ancient




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         197
cultivation; the forest having long ago withdrawn, and
shown the head and brow beset with green and flowers.
From this hill two chrystal fountains issue, which in
the heat of summer continue with a limpid current to
refresh the taste. It is pleasant to celebrate a festival
on the summit of this ground. In the year 1781 a
bower had been erected, covered with green shrubs.
The sons and daughters of the day assembling, joined
in the festivity, viewing the rivers at a distance, and
listening to the music of the military on the plain beneath them. When the moonlight rising from the east,
had softened into gray, the prospect, a lofty pile of
wood enflamed, with pyramidal rising, illuminated both
the rivers and the town, which far around reflected
brightness. Approaching in the appearance of a river
god, a swain begirt with weeds natural to these streams,
and crowned with leaves of the sugar tree, hailed us,
and gave prophetic hints of the grandeur of our future
empire. His words I remember not, but it seemed to
me for a moment, that the mystic agency of deities
well known in Greece and Rome, was not a fable; but
that powers unseen haunt the woods and rivers, who
take part in the affairs of mortals, and are pleased
with the celebration of events that spring from great
achievements and from virtue.
This is the hill, and from whence it takes its name,
where in the war which terminated in the year 1763.
Grant advancing with about 800 Caledonians or Highland Scotch troops, beat a reveille a little after sunrise
to the French garrison, who accompanied with a numof savages, sallied out and flanking him unseen from
the bottom on the left and right then covered with
wood, ascended the hill, tomahawked and cut his troops
P*




198          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
to pieces, and made Grant himself prisoner. Bones
and, weapons are yet found on the hill, the bones white
with the weather, the weapons covered with rust.
On the summit of this hill is a mound of earth, supposed to be a catacomb or ancient burying place of the
savages. There can be no doubt of this, as on the
opening some of the like tumuli or hills of earth, bones
are found. In places where stones are plenty, these
mounds are raised of stones, and skeletons are found
in them. To the north-east of Grant's hill, there is
one still higher at the distance of about a quarter of a
mile, which is called the Quarry hill, from the excellent stone quarry that has been opened in it. From
this hill there is an easy descent the whole way to the
town, and an excellent smooth road, so that the stones
can be easily procured to erect any building at Pittsburgh. From the Quarry-hill you have a view of four
or five miles of the Allegheny river, along which lies
a fine bottom, and in high cultivation, with different
inclosures and farm-houses; the river winding through'the whole prospect.
This hill would seem to stand as that whereon a
strong redoubt might be placed, to command the commerce of the Allegheny river, while directly opposite
on the Monongahela side, to the south-east stands a
hill of the same height and appearance, known by the
name of Ayres' hill, so called from a British engineer
of that name, who gave his opinion in favor of this
ground as that whereon the fort ought to be constructed, as being the highest ground, and which must command the rivers, and the plain with the inferior rising
grounds on which the town is built. The hill has been
cultivated on the summit by a Highland regiment, who




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         199
built upon it, though the buildings are now gone, and
the brow of the hill is still covered with wood.
From Ayres' hill issue several fountains, falling
chiefly towards the north, into a small brook, which
increasing, encircles the foot of the hill, and takes its
course through several beautiful little meads into the
Monongahela river. On this brook, before it takes its
turn to the Monongahela, in a delightful little valley,
and in the neighborhood of some plum-trees, the natives of the country, was the ancient residence of a
certain Anthony Thompson, the vestiges of whose
habitation still remain; an extent of ground cleared
by him lies to the north, accustomed to long cultivation, and now thrown out a common. The best brick
may be made from this ground, the fine loam and sand
of which the soil consists, and the water just at hand,
highly favoring the object.
As you ascend from this valley, through which a
main leading road passes from the country, you see the
Monongahela, and approaching Grant's hill on the
right, you have the point of view from whence the
town is seen to the best advantage. It is hid from you
until by the winding of the road you begin to turn the
point of the hill; you then see house by house on the
Monongahela side opening to your view, until you are
in front of the main town, in a direct line to the confluence of the rivers. Then the buildings on the Allegheny show themselves with the plain extending to
the right, which had been concealed. You have in the
mean time a view of the rising grounds beyond the
rivers, crowned with lofty woods. I was once greatly
struck in a summer morning, viewing from the ground
the early vapor rising from the river. It hung mid



200         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
way between the foot and summit of the hill, so that
the green above, had the appearance of an island in
the clouds.
It may be here observed, that at the junction of
these two rivers until eight o'clock of summer mornings,
a light fog is usually incumbent: but it is of a salutary
nature, inasmuch as it consists of vapor not exhaled
from stagnant water, but which the sun of the preceding day had extracted from trees and flowers, and in
the evening had sent back in dew, so that rising with a
second sun in fog, and becoming of aromatic quality,
it is experienced to be healthful.
The town of Pittsburgh, as at present built, stands
chiefly on what is called the third bank; that is the
third rising of the ground above the Allegheny water.
For there is the first bank, which confines the river at
the present time; and about three hundred feet removed is a second like the falling of a garden; then a
third, at the distance of about three hundred yards;
and lastly, a fourth bank, all of easy inclination, and
parallel with the Allegheny river. These banks would
seem in successive periods to have the margin of the
river which gradually las changed its course, and has
been thrown from one decent to another, to the present bed where it lies. In digging wells the kind of
stones are found which we observe in the Allegheny
current, worn smooth by the attrition of the water.
Shells also intermixed with these are thrown out. Nature therefore, or the river, seems to have formed the
bed of this town as a garden with level walks, and fallings of the ground. Hence the advantage of descending gardens on these banks, which art elsewhere
endeavors, with the greatest industry to form. Nor is




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           201
the soil less happy than the situation. The mould is
light and rich. The finest gardens in the known world
may be formed here.
The town consists at present of about an hundred
dwelling houses, with buildings appurtenant.  More
are daily added, and for some time past it has improved
with an equal but continual pace. The inhabitants,
children, men and women, are about fifteen hundred;*
this number doubling almost every year from the accession of people from abroad, and from those born in
the town. As I pass along, I may remark that this
new country is in general highly prolific; whether it
is that the vegetable air, if I may so express it, constantly perfumed with aromatic flavor, and impregnated
with salts drawn from the fresh soil, is more favorable
to the production of men and other animals than decayed grounds.
There is not a more delightful spot under heaven to
spend any of the summer months than at this place.
I am astonished that there should be such repairing to
the Warm Springs in Virginia, a place pent up between
the hills where the sun pours its beams concentrated as
in-a burning glass, and not a breath of air stirs; where
the eye can wander scarcely half a furlong, while here
we have the breezes of the river, coming from the
Mississippi and the ocean; the gales that fan the woods,
and are sent from the refreshing lakes to the northward; in the meantime the prospect of extensive hills
and dales, whence the fragrant air brings odors of a
thousand flowers and plants, or of the corn and grain
*This estimate of the population here is a most extravagant one,
being about fifteen to a house; which is incredible. We will have occasion to refer to this matter of houses and population again,




202          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
of husbandmen, upon its balmy wings. Here we have
the town and country together. How pleasant it is in
a summer evening, to walk out upon these grounds,
the smooth green surface of the earth, and the woodland shade softening the late fervid beams of the sun;
how pleasant by a chrystal fountain is a tea party
under one of those hills, with the rivers and the plains
beneath.
Nor is the winter season enjoyed with less festivity
than in more populous and cultivated towns. The
buildings warm; fuel abundant, consisting of the finest
coal from the neighboring hills, or of ash, hickory or
oak, brought down in rafts by the rivers. In the mean
time the climate is less severe at this place than on the
other side of the mountain, lying deep in the bosom of
the wood; sheltered on the north-east, by the bending
of the Allegheny heights, and on the south-west,
warmed by the tepid winds from the bay of Mexico,
and the great southern ocean.
In the fall of the year and during the winter season,
there is usually a great concourse of strangers at this
place, from the different States, about to descend the
river to the westward, or to make excursions into the
uninhabited and adjoining country. These, with the
inhabitants of the town spend the evening in parties at
the different houses, or at public balls, where they are
surprised to find an elegant assembly of ladies, not to
be surpassed in beauty and accomplishments perhaps
by any on the continent.
It must appear like enchantment to a stranger, who
after travelling an hundred miles from the settlements,
across a dreary mountain, and through the adjoining
country, where in many places the spurs of the moun



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          203
tain still continue, and cultivation does not always
show itself, to see, all at once, and almost on the verge
of the inhabited globe, a town with smoking chimneys,
halls lighted up with splendor, ladies and gentlemen
assembled, various music, and the mazes of the dance.
He may suppose it to be the effect of magic, or that
he is come into a new world where there is all the
refinement of the former, and more benevolence of
heart."
In subsequent numbers of the same paper, on the
19th and 26th of August, 1786, it is stated that there
was one clergyman of the Calvinistic faith, (Samuel
Barr,) settled here, and one German Lutheran occasionr
ally preached lere.
It is also stated that "a church of squared timber,
and moderate dimensions is on the way to be built."
This church stood within the ground now covered
by the First Presbyterian Church, and was suffered
to stand until the brick building was reared around
it.
There were then here, two physicians, Dr. Bedford
was one of them; and two lawyers, Brackenridge, and
perhaps John Woods or James Ross.
The price of carriage from Philadelphia, was sixpence for each pound weight. The writer of the article makes this prediction.  "However improved the
"conveyance may be, and by whatever channel, the
"importation of heavy articles will still be expensive.
" The manufacture of them will therefore become more
"an object here than elsewhere.
When the Pittsburgh Gazette was first issued, there
was no mail to this place; all correspondence was carried on by special express, or casual travellers. In the




204         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Pittsburgh Gazette of September 30th, 1788, we find
the following extract of a letter dated "Philadelphia,
"September 14th, 1786.   Mr. Brison has returned' from New York, with orders to establish a post from
"this place to Pittsburgh, and one from Virginia to
"Bedford. The two to meet at Bedford."
On the 1st of March, 1787, a meeting of the inhabitants of Pittsburgh was held, and Messrs. Hugh Ross,
Stephen Bayard and Rev. Samuel Barr, appointed a
committe to report a plan for building a market house,
and establishing market days. The meeting was also
invited to meet again in the public square, on the enjuing Saturday, to hear the report of the committee.
The market house was erected on the;gronnd now vacant, corner of Market and Second Streets.
On the 29th of September, 1787, an act was passed
by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, incorporating the
Presbyterian Congregation of the town of Pittsburgh,
and among the Trustees we find the name of their pastor, Samuel Barr, who, of course, must have been here
previous to that time. So that the ground of Arthur
Lee's reproach, that " there was no priest of any persuasion here," was soon wiped away.
At that same session of the Legislature, an act was
also passed for the establishment of an Academy, or
Public School, at Pittsburgh.
This same year, 1787, also gave birth to two other
most noble and importannt measures, which, no doubt,
contributed greatly to our prosperity, as well as to the
growth and happiness of the whole country. We mean
the Constitution of the United States, and the glorious
Ordinance for the government of the North Western
Territory. The former, by giving the country a firm,




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         205
national government, gave assurance and tranquillity,
and the latter by placing near us a free, thriving and
industrious population, secured to our infant manufactories, a large body of valuable customers.
On the 3d of April, 1788, the May Flower, the first
boat with New England emigrants for the mouth of the
Muskingum, arrived here from Simrall's Ferry, where
West Newton now stands. This was the beginning of
that emigration which filled the great Territory with a
civilized population, which has converted the wilderness
into a garden, and made the valleys to bloom as a rose.
Dr. Hildreth, of Marietta, gives the following account of the starting of the May Flower from Robb's
town, now better known as West Newton, and of the
passage down the Youghhiogany river.
"After laying in a stock of provisions, they pushed
" out merrily il.to the'Yoh,' as it was familiarly called
" by all the borderers of that region, and floated rapid"ly along, sometimes grazing on the shallows, and at
"other times grounding on the sand-bars. By dint of
" rowing and pushing, they made out to get on; espe"cially after falling into the larger current of the Mo" nongahela, and reached Pittsburgh on Sunday even"ing. They were now at the junction of these two noble
" streams, the Allegheny and the Monongahela, and
" saw the waters of the charming Ohio, the object of
"all their toils, and were apparently at the end of their
"journey. Near the point of land where the Ohio takes
"its name, they landed their uncouth and unwieldy
" water-craft, making it fast to a stake on the bank. It
" was late in the afternoon, and the men went up into
"the town to purchase some articles needed to make' the families comfortable on the downward voyage.
Q




206              HISTORY    OF PITTSBURGH.
" Pittsburgh then contained four or five hundred in"habitants, several retail stores, and a small garrison
"of troops was kept in old Fort Pitt. To our travel"lers who had lately seen nothing but trees and rocks,
"with here and there a solitary hut, it seemed to be
"quite a large town.       The houses were chiefly built of
"logs, but now and then one had assumed the appear"once of neatness and comfort."
CHAPTER IX.
Allegheny County established; Indians troublesome; Harmar's campaign, and defeat; Alarm at Pittsburgh; Letter of Major Craig, explaining occurrences here; Great change here since 1791; Indian murders within a few miles; Commencement of the building of a new fort;
Major Craig contracts for forty-two boats to transport troops down the
Ohio; May 11th, 1792, Fifty boats ready, will transport three thousand troops; May 18th, 1792, Capt. Hughes with his detachment, first
occupants of the new Fort; Named Fort Fayette; Nov. 30th, Army of
Gen. Wayne assembled at Legionrille on the Ohio; Severe discipline
at that place; Laconic note from Captain John Finley; Celebration of
Washington's birth-day; May 3d, 1793, Army embarked at Legionville
and descended the Ohio; Correspondence between citizens of Pittsburgh
and' Gen. Wayne; Trial of Brady; Anecdote of Guyasutha; Navigation of the Ohio no worse above Wheeling than below; Line of mail
boats established from Wheeling to Limestone, now Maysville; Western Insurrection-different accounts of it; Alexander Hamilton's Report; Judge Wilkinson's Notes; John Neville's services and character; Presley Neville; Abraham Kirkpatrick; Isaac Craig; Extract of
letter from Alexander Hamilton to Major Craig. David Lenox; Presley
Neville, Isaac Craig and two others taken by the Insurgents and escape.
OUR town was, up to the summer of 1788, in Westmoreland County, and our citizens had to go more than




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          207
thirty miles to attend court; but on the 24th of September, 1788, an act of Legislature was passed, erecting the new county of Allegheny out of parts of Washington and Westmoreland. By this act the courts were
to be held in Pittsburgh, until certain trustees named
therein should erect suitable buildings on the reserved
tract opposite Pittsburgh, where Allegheny City now
stands. But, by an act passed the next Spring, the
trustees were authorized to purchase lots in Pittsburgh,
for Court-house and Jail.
On the western side of the Allegheny river, just opposite to Pittsburgh, now stands the city of Allegheny,
connected with Pittsburgh by three substantial bridges,
and an aqueduct also serving as a bridge. That place
was laid out by the order of the sovereign authority of
Pennsylvania, in the year 1789. It is an exact square
of one hundred lots, with a large public square. The
lots each sixty feet by two hundred and forty. The
out-lots are numerous, and extend up the Allegheny
and down the Ohio altogether about six and one fourth
miles.
Postages at Pittsburgh, year ending Oct. 1st, 1790, $110 99
" Richmond,  i"       "     2,191 25
"   Pittsburgh,  "  June 30, 1850, 39,569 71
"   Richmond,'        "     27,007 24
The Indians, stimulated probably by British traders,
were troublesome in 1790, and the President, believing
that offensive measures were the only means of protecting the citizens from their incursions, planned an expedition against the hostile tribes on the Scioto and
Wabash, to be under the command of General Harmar,
an officer of considerable experience.
The army under this officer to proceed from Fort




208          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Washington to the Scioto river. Gen. Harmar marched
with about fourteen hundred troops, militia and regulars, on the 30th September, 1790, and after destroying
several towns on the Scioto, and meeting a pretty severe repulse, and losing several valuable officers and
one hundred and fifty men, returned again to Fort
Washington.   The result of this expedition of Gen.
Harmar, seems to have greatly encouraged the hostile
tribes of Indians.  Their incursions were extended
even to the vicinity of our city. The following letter,
written at this place, details occurrences which took
place here less than sixty years ago, and exhibits a
very marked contrast with the present condition of affairs. The writer of this letter, Major Isaac Craig,
was Deputy Quarter Master General and Military Store
Keeper; as such he had a very extensive correspondence with the Secretary of War, the Quarter Master
General, and the commandants of the different military
stations, in the West. Of this correspondence we have
eight bound volumes, and a mass of loose letters, and
will probably have frequent occasion to refer to them,
in the prosecution of our work. The Store House at
that time was an old log building, much decayed, in
the bounds of Fort Pitt, but entirely unguarded or
otherwise protected.
FORT PITT, MARCH 25, 1791.
"SIR:-In consequence of a number of people killed and several taken prisoners by the Indians, in the
vicinity of this place, within a few days past, and frequent reports of large parties of savages being on our
frontier, the people of this town have made repeated
applications for arms and ammunition to me, which I
have hitherto refused; but in a town meeting held yes



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGII.         209
terday, it was resolved that the principal men of the
town should wait on me, and request a loan of a hundred muskets, with bayonets and cartouch boxes, and
they should enter into an obligation to re-deliver said
arms, &c. in good order, to me in two months, or sooner if demanded by me, in consequence of any order of
the commanding officer, or Secretary of War; but in
case of my refusal to comply with their requisition, it
was resolved to break open the stores and take such a
number as they might think proper. Accordingly, ten
of the most respectable characters of the town waited
on me this day, and made the above demand; and they
told me they were determined to take them in case of
my refusal-that nothing but the necessity of putting
the town in a state of defence, and their desire to guard
the public stores, could have induced them to such a
determination. I repeated my instructions to the gentlemen, and told them I must be guilty of a breach of
orders, by issuing the smallest article without proper
authority, and that their properest step would be to
send an express to the Secretary of War, requesting
an order on me for such articles as they thought necessary. They agreed with me that it was proper to send
an express, but that there was not an hour to be lost
in arming the inhabitants of the town. I had then no
alternative but either to see the store houses broken
open, and perhaps part of the stores destroyed, or to
deliver one hundred muskets, and make these gentlemen accountable, and obtain a guard for the protection of the stores. I have chosen the latter, and taken
an obligation signed by ten of the most respectable
characters, by which they are accountable for 100 muskets, bayonets and cartouch boxes-obliged to re-deQ*




210         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
liver them in two months from this date, or sooner, if
demanded-furnish such a guard for the stores as I
may think necessary, and also to make application by
express for your approbation of this transaction. I
hope, Sir, it will appear to you, that of two evils, one
of which was unavoidable, I have made choice of the
least. I shall be very unhappy in your disapprobation
of my conduct in this transaction.
I am, Sir, your obedient humble servant.
ISAAC CRAIG.
Hon. Major General Knox, Secretary of War, Philadelphia.'
In reply to this letter the Secretary of War wrote
as follows. " The issuing of the arms seems to have
been justified by the occasion. No doubt will arise but
they will be considered as part of the two hundred
muskets, for which I gave the Governor an order on
the 31st of last month.'
A subsequent letter from Major Craig states that
they had been so received.
What a change have.sixty years produced in the situation of our city and of the whole country! The wilderness of 1791 is now succceeded by cultivated fields,
the Indian war-path has given way to rail-roads and
canals, and the lurking Shawanese, Wyandots and Delawares are removed hundreds of miles away, and their
places supplied by millions of active, enterprising and
industrious pale faces. We may mourn the fate of the
red men, but surely, when the Almighty created this
earth, and placed a man and woman upon it, he designed that it should be inhabited by a people more
numerous, than could possibly be supported with the
habits of the Indian.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          211
In a letter dated March 31st, 1781, Major Craig
has the following remark; "Your (Gen. Knox's) ob" servations on the murder of the Indians at Beaver' Creek,* are already confirmed. Several persons with"in a few miles of this place have lately fallen victims
" to the revenge of those Indians who escaped on Bea" ver Creek."
Another letter to the Secretary of War, dated May
19th, 1791, says;  "We have frequent accounts of
" murders being committed on our frontiers by the In" dians. Several parties of them have penetrated ten,
" fifteen and twenty miles into the country."
Same to same, Oct. 6th, 1791. "Messrs. Turnbull
"and Marmie continue to pull down and sell the ma" terials of the Fort. Small parties of Indians are still
"thought to be in our neighborhood."
Extract of a letter from Gen. Knox to Major Craig,
dated December 16th, 1791. "I request you immediately to procure materials for a block-house and
picketted fort to be erected in such part of Pittsburgh,
as shall be the best position, to cover the town as well
as the public stores which shall be forwarded from time
to time. As you have been an artillery officer during
the late war, I request you to act as an engineer. I
give you a sketch of the work generally, which you
must adapt to the nature of the ground. It is possible that some private property may be interfered with
by the position you take, but an appraisement must
take place according to law and the result sent to
me."
a This refers to the killing of some Delaware Indians by Samuel Brady, near the block-house which formerly stood near the lower end of New
Brighton. Brady was afterwards tried at this place and acquitted, as
will be seen hereafter.




212          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Extract of a letter from Major Craig to Gen. Knox,
dated 29th December, 1791.'"I am making every
possible exertion for the erection of a work to defend
"this town and the public stores. Accounts from fort
"Franklin, as well as your orders, urge the necessity
" of prompt attention to the defence of this place. By
" next post, I shall inclose you a sketch of the ground
"and the work, that I have judged necessary; it will
"be erected on eight lots, Nos. 55, 56, 57, 58, 91, 92,
"93 and 94; they belong to John Penn, jr. and John
"Penn; Anthony Butler, Esq., of Philadelphia, is
"their agent, the prices were fixed when the town was
laid out. It is not intended to cover the whole of
"the lots with the work, but the portion not covered
" will be suitable for gardens, for the garrison.
" I take the liberty of inclosing to you two letters
" from fort Franklin, and extracts of other letters of
same date, (December 26th,) by which it appears,
" that that garrison is in imminent danger, and that
" the fidelity of the northern Indians is not to be de-' pended upon.
" I am mounting four six pounders on ship carriages,
" for the block-houses; but there are no round shot
"' nor grape shot for that caliber here, the last being'' sent to fort Washington."
Same to same, January 12th, 1792. " As there is' no six pound shot here, I have taken the liberty to' engage four hundred at Turnbull & Marmie's Fur"nace,* which is now in blast. Reports by the way
^ We have taken some pains to ascertain the time when this furnace,
the first west of the mountains, was erected, and where it was located,
and have ascertained that it was situated on Jacob's creek, fifteen miles
from the mouth, and that it went into blast on the 1st of November,
1 790.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          213
"of fort Franklin say, that in the late action (St.
"Clair's Defeat, November 4th, 1791,) the Indians
"had three hundred killed and many wounded, that
"there were eight hundred Canadians and several
British officers in the action. I shall take the liberty
of communicating to the inhabitants of Pittsburgh,
" your assurance of such ample and generous means
of defence. I believe with you, that Cornplanter is
"sincere; but would not a work at Presquile, on the
"Lake, give greater confidence to him and his adher" ents."
In the eleventh volume of the " American Museum,"
is given the following list of mechanics in this place,
in 1792:
" 1 Clock and Watch Maker, 2 Coopers, 1 Skin
Dresser and Breeches maker, 2 Tanners and Curriers,
4 Cabinet-makers, 2 Hatters, 2 Weavers, 5 Blacksmiths, 5 Shoemakers, 3 Saddlers, 1 Malster and
Brewer, 2 Tinners, 3 Wheelwrights, 1 Stocking-weaver,
1 Rope-maker, 2 White-smiths. Total 36 Mechanics.
The number of families was said to be 130."
Major Craig to General Knox, dated 11th March,
1792. "I have contracted for forty-two boats, viz:
" 32 of 50 feet each, 4 of 60 feet and 6 of 55, they
" are to be one fourth wider than those purchased last
"year, viz: fifteen feet, to be also stronger and better
finished. Delivered here with five oars to each.
"Price per foot, 8s. and 9d.-$1,17 per foot."
Same to Capt. Jonathan Cass, Fort Franklin, dated
April 7th, 1792. " The Indians crossed the river be" low Wheeling on the 4th instant and killed nine per-' sons near that place."
Same to Gen. Knox, May 11th, 1792. "The fifty




214         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
" boats now ready, will transport three thousand men,
"they are the best that ever came here, and, I believe,
"the cheapest."
Same to same, May 18th, 1792. "Capt. Hughes,
"with his detachment, has occupied the barracks in
"the new fort since the 1st instant. Two of the six"pounders are very well mounted in the second story
"of one of the block-houses. The others will be
"mounted in a few days. The work, if you have no
" objections, I will name Fort La Eayette."  The Secretary approved this name.
Same to Gen. Knox, dated 15th June, 1792. "Gen.' Wayne arrived here yesterday."
The following letter from the publisher and proprietor of the Pittsburgh Gazette, seems worthy of preservation, as an evidence of the difficulties which he had
to encounter, six years after he had commenced the
publication of that paper:
"MONDAY MORNING, July 1st, 1792.
"Dear Sir: John Wright's pack-horses, by whom
I receive my paper from Chambersburgh, has returned
without bringing me any-owing to none being finished. As I am entirely out, and do not know what to
do, I take the liberty of applying to you for some you
have in the public stores, (and of which I have had
some,) as a loan, or an exchange, for the kind herein
enclosed-and as this kind is smaller, I will make an
adequate allowance-or if you could wait two or three
weeks, I will return you paper of a superior quality
for any purpose, as I have sent to Philadelphia, by Mr.
Brackenridge, for a large quantity, and John Wright's
pack-horses return immediately for Chambersburgh,
and will bring me up some-as I conceive you will not




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.                 215
want the paper as soon as I can replace it, I flatter
myself you will let me have three reams, and as soon
as I receive mine it shall be returned, or if you choose
to take the inclosed in exchange, it shall be immediately sent you-if you can oblige me with the paper it
will do any time this day, and I shall consider myself
as under a very particular obligation.
"I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant,
"JOHN SCULL.
"Major Isaac Craig."
Major Craig to Samuel Hodgdon, Q. M. General,
November 9th, 1792.       "This morning a detachment
"'of the troops and the artificers, with the necessary
"tools for building, set off for the winter ground be" low* Logstown, on the Ohio; in a few days the whole
"army will follow."
Same to Gen. Knox, 30th November, 1792.           "This
" morning, at an early hour, the artillery, infantry and
" rifle corps, except a small garrison left in fort Fay" ette, embarked and descended the Ohio to Legionville,
" the cavalry crossed the Allegheny at the same time
" and will reach the winter ground as soon as the
- In another letter written on the same day to General Knox, Major
Craig speaks of the encampment being, "near Logstown;" and still in
another letter to the same, dated 16th November, he says: "the troops
have descended the river to their winter ground at Logstown."
From all these expressions it seems manifest that the understanding
sixty years ago, was that Logstown was on the same side of the Ohio
river, where, we know, Legionville was, that is the north side. Had
Logstown been on the opposite side of the river, the three words " below," "near" and "at" would not have all been thus used, and the proper words "opposite" or "nearly opposite," entirely omitted. This
understanding of the matter is entirely in agreement with all the old
authorities; Croghan excepted. Logstown, I am satisfied, stood on the
bank of the Ohio, immediately above the run below which it is well
known Legionville stood.




216         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
"boats. As soon as the troops had embarked, the
" General (Wayne) went on board his barge, under a
"salute from a militia artillery corps of this place,
"and all have, no doubt, before this time, reached their
"winter quarters."
We have heard Gen. Wayne censured for severity of
discipline ahile he was at Pittsburgh; especially in
the execution of Sergeant Trotter. The following extract of a letter from Gen. Wayne to the Secretary of
War, dated July 20th, 1792, shows a very bad feeling
among the troops, and would seem to require some
strong remedy.
"Major Ashton's detachment arrived here on Mon"day. Lieutenant Campbell with Stoke's dragoons,
"and Faulkner's riflemen on Tuesday. Not less than
"fifty of Ashton's detachment and seven dragoons
"deserted on the way from Carlisle to this place."
Legionville was the place selected by Gen. Wayne,
for the discipline of his men; there he prepared them
for that campaign against the Indians, which terminated so successfully.
The troops remained at Legionville until the 30th of
April, 17c3, and during all that time were subject to
constant and severe drill and exercise. Sham fights
were frequently resorted to, and neither life nor the
lash was spared. The following is a note found among
the papers of Major Craig; the writer was a soldier of
the Revolution, Captain John Finley, and at that time
Assistant Quarter Master. The note is laconic and a
very significant allusion to the discipline of "Mad
Anthony."
"Major Craig, please send down some whip cord for
"cats,-they have no cats to whip men with.
"Legionville, Feb. 22d, 1793. JNO. FINLEY."




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         217
On the very next day, perhaps at the very time the
above note was written, the following display was
taking place at Legionville:
LEGIONVILLE, February 24th.
The 22d instant, being the anniversary birth day of
the PRESIDENT of the United States, Major General
Wayne, commander-in-chief of the American army,
issued the following orders for a general review in
honor of the day. The Legionary corps consisting of
cavalry, artillery infantry, and corps of riflemen.
"Head-Quarters, Legionville, Feb. 20, 1793.
" The Legion will be reviewed the day after to-morrow, at 10 o'clock, A. M., when every soldier capable
of doing duty, must appear as a soldier ought to do,
and for which the respective officers will be accountable.
"The cavalry, artillery, and infantry will march in
two columns; the right platoon in front of the right,
and the left platoon in front of the left. The artillery
and cavalry equally divided in front and rear of each
column. The guards for the redoubts No. 1 and 2,
will form the van and rear guards of the right column.
Those of No. 3 and 4 will be the van and rear-guards
of the left column. When the columns display, the
cavalry, artillery, van and rear-guards attached to the
right column will form on the right, those attached to
the left column will form on the left. The right wing
of rifle corps will march in open files, forming a column
of flankers to the right-the left wing of rifle corps
will march in the same order, forming a column of
flankers on the left, and will form to the left. The
signal for marching will be a gun from the park of
artillery."
R




218          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
The legion were drawn up on their usual parade, and
took up the line of march as directed in the orders for
the day, strongly flanked by the rifle companies, and
gained a commanding eminence some distance in front
of the grand cantonment, drew up in form, and preserved the utmost regularity throughout the whole of
their manceuvres. Each officer and soldier appearing
in perfect military dress.
Considerable time took place in going through the
various evolutions and firings, highly pleasing to every
spectator.
The legion formed in two columns as before, with
the artillery and ammunition wagons in the centre,
continuing their march to the left, previous to which,. considerable number of infantry and rifle-men were
detached, with orders to possess certain strong grounds,
in front of the line of march, when, on the approach
of the columns, a brisk engagement took place, and
soon became general, and bearing with it much the appearance of a real action for upwards of 20 minutes,
owing to the incessant peals of cannon and musquetry.
The columns having formed a hollow square, the
cavalry in the centre, whence they sallied forth, and
with the light troops made a brisk* charge and terminated the engagement, which was obstinately maintained in every direction.
The firings having ceased, the legion regained the
grand parade, and having formed the line in front discharged three times with their usual regularity. The
artillery were then advanced in front of the line and
commenced the federal salute of three times fifteen
shells from howitzers, highly delightful to behold in
their ranges, and explosions in the air, each re-echoing




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         219
the day so estimable in the remembrance of each patriot citizen and soldier.
About three o'clock in the afternoon the legion returned to their cantonment in the same manner they
marched off in the morning, and on being drawn up on
their accustomed parade the commander-in-chief passed
in review and received the salute of the line. The
troops being dismissed, the General gave all the officers
off duty the polite invitation of dining with him, at
which agreeable interview hospitality presided, and
brotherly love pervaded the whole. The dinner being
ended, the following patriotic toasts were given:
1. The PRESIDENT, and the day-May he see many
happy returns of it.
2. May our meeting with the savages produce conviction to the world, that the American Legion are the
only troops proper to oppose them.
3. The American Fair-May the legion at all times
merit their smiles.
4. The memory of those heroes who fell in defence
of American liberty.
5. The American Legislatures-May their laws be
founded in wisdom, and obeyed with promptitude.
6. The non-commissioned officers and privates of the
late army and of the present legion.
7. The nation of France-May her arms be triumphant and her liberty permanent.
8. Our friend and brother La Fayette-May a generous nation forgive his errors (if any) and receive him
to her bosom.
9. The land we live in-May America prove a secure
asylum to the unfortunate.
Thus ended the day with the utmost hilarity and




220         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
good order throughout the whole army, and in the
evening brilliant fire works were exhibited in the artillery park.                   A SPECTATOR.
While Gen. Wayne was at Legionville, he was visited
by several chiefs of the Six Nations, amongst others
that prominent character Kiashuta, and by that worthy, upright and sensible man Cornplanter. The latter
afterwards went on a peace seeking mission to the
hostile Indians, but in vain. They were too much
elated by their triumphs over Harmar and St. Clair, or
too much under the influence of British traders. While
Cornplanter was on his mission, three of his people
near the Genesee were unprovokedly attacked by the
whites, one killed, another severely wounded. Upon
hearing this news, Cornplanter exclaimed, " It is hard
"when I and my people are trying to make peace for
" the whites, that we should receive such a reward."
Major Craig to Gen. Knox, May 3d, 1793. "On
" the 30th ultimo, Major Gen. Wayne, with the troops
" under his command at Legionville, embarked in good
"order and set off for Fort Washington; the troops
" were in high spirits. The boats being well fitted for
" transportation made a fine appearance. As the river
"was considerably swelled by the late rains, it is pro"bable the troops will reach Fort Washington in six
"days."
A few days before the General left Legionville, he
was at Pittsburgh, when the following correspondence
took place:
Major General Anthony Wayne, Commander-in-Chief
of the army of the United States.
The inhabitants of Pittsburgh, embrace the occasion
of your visit to this this town from your winter quar



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         221
ters at Legionville, to express their respect for you
personally, which is impressed upon them, from an experience of your just attention to the rights of the
citizens while your army lay at this place, and from
their observation of your unremitted exertions to preserve, improve and prepare the troops under your
command for the service for which they were intended.
We have sanguine hopes, notwithstanding the misfortunes of the two last campaigns, that with soldiers
in such health, subordination and discipline, the exultation of a savage enemy might be reduced, and their
minds brought to a temper, of treating on proper principles, and preserving that treaty with some fidelity,
from a recollection of what they had been made to
suffer, the only principle by which, in present circumstances, they can be governed. But as there never
was an Indian treaty without a peace, where goods are
to be distributed, we expect one at present; and there
can be no peace durable unless founded in affection or
fear, and as there can be neither of these in the present
case, we expect war, in a short time, again; and when
it comes, as come it will, we shall be happy to see so
vigilant and able an officer, with an army of his own
forming, once more to do what ought to be done now,
and by chastising first, lay the foundation of a more
permanent peace with the enemy.
By directions of the inhabitants,
JOHN GIBSON, Chairman.
The personal respect, and the approbation of my
conduct, so very politely and obligingly expressed by
the inhabitants of Pittsburgh, have made an indelible
impression of esteem and gratitude in my breast, that
can only end with' life.
R*




222         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
A permanent peace with the hostile Indians appears
to be the sincere wish and desire of government, and
very sanguine expectations are entertained of its
taking place in the course of the summer, through the
mediation of the commissioners, appointed for that
purpose.
If after every effort shall be made by them, it shall
then be found, that peace is unattainable, but by the
sacrifice of national character and honor, it is to be
hoped, that the citizens of the United States of America, will have but one mind, as to the vigor with which
the war shall be pursued.
In that event, I shall hope to be powerfully reinforced by the brave and virtuous frontier volunteers,
with whose aid, I fondly trust, we shall produce a conviction to the minds of the savages, of our superiority
in the field, which will soon lead the way to a permanent peace, so much the wish and desire of all good
men.
With these hopes and impressions, I have the honor
to be, with sincere respect and esteem for the inhabitants of Pittsburgh,
Your and their most devoted
And obliged humble servant,
ANTHONY WAYNE.
The Honorable General John Gibson, Chairman.
The following we find in a Philadelphia paper.
"PITTSBURGH, MAY 4, 1793.
"Lieutenant Col. John Clark, commandant of the
4th Sub-Legion, is to command the different posts
on this frontier-His head quarters will be at this
place."




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         223
"PITTSBURGH, MAY 25, 1793.
"On Monday last, the 20th of this month, a Court of
Oyer and Terminer and Goal Delivery, and of Nisi Prius, for the county of Allegheny, was held at this place
by the Chief-Justice and Judge Yeates.
"The only criminal business that came before the
Judges was the trial of Capt. Samuel Brady, who, when
the Judges were last here, had been indicted for murder, in killing certain Indians near the mouth of Beaver Creek, in the spring of the year 1791.
"It was proved to the satisfaction of the court, that
notwithstanding the treaties of Fort Stanwix, M'Intosh,
Muskingum, and Miami, which established peace between the Indians and the people of the United States,
and obliged the Indians to surrender all who should
commit any murder on our frontiers-certain banditti
of them had from time to time infested the western
frontier, stolen horses, taken boats, and murdered our
citizens; that recently, before the killing of the Indians, for which Brady was now tried, several people
from Ohio county, particularly Boggs, Paul Riley's
family, and Mrs. Vanbuskirke, had been put to death;
that to pursue the Indians who had committed these
murders, and to recover some property stolen, a party
of volunteers from Ohio county, of which Brady was
one, crossed the Ohio, and led by the trail of the Indians towards the place where the killing happened, fired
and killed those for whose death Brady was tried. It
was proved by the oath of Keyashuta, an Indian chief,
that the Delawares had long before let go the chain,
that they, the Shawanese, Chippewas, Ottawas, Wyandots, and some renegade Mingoes, were in the battle
against Gen. Harmar, 1790. It was also proved that




224          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
the attack and firing of Capt. Kirkwood's house was by
Delawares, that some of the instances of murder and
rapine above mentioned were by Delawares, that the persons killed were Delawares and had in their possession
some of the property just before taken from Ohio county, manifested an intention of proceeding to commit
other murders on our citizens, and, when fired on by
those who attacked them, and whom they had just discovered, were in the act of seizing their guns: and,
moreover, the relation of John Hamilton, a trader on
the spot, satisfied the court of the malignant and hostile temper of those very Indians.
" The Chief Justice, in a charge distinguished not
less by learning than humanity, explained the laws of
war, and the right of putting enemies to death, urged
the impropriety of killing those who might with safety
be taken prisoners, and the baseness of killing women;
lamented that any acts of outrage, by our citizens
should occasion retaliation on themselves; but stating
that in his opinion, the Indians killed were hostile,
directed, if the jury concurred in his opinion, of which
he had no doubt, they should acquit the prisoner without leaving the bar. The jury did so, and the court
ordered Captain Brady to be discharged on payment
of fees."
In relation to the testimony of Guyasutha, in this
case, the late James Ross, Esq. who was Brady's counsel, told a characteristic story. The testimony of that
Indian was so very strong in favor of the defendant,
that even his counsel was abashed.  After the trial
was over, he spoke to Guyasutha, and rather expressed his surprise at the decided tone of his testimony:
upon which that Chief clapped his hand upon his breast
and exclaimed, "Am I not the friend of Brady?"  It




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         225
seems obvious that he considered himself as much
bound to swear for his friend, as he would be to fight
in his defence.
The following extracts of letters show that the question about the navigation of the Ohio, above and below
Wheeling, was started many years ago.
Major Craig to Gen. Knox, 14th June, 1793.
" The navigation of the Ohio is not materially better' from Wheeling than from Pittsburgh in a dry season,
" and our best Ohio pilots say they find nearly the
"same difficulty, until they pass the rapids below Lit"tle Kanawa; indeed, we have found that more acci" dents have happened to boats, and more loss sustain"ed below Wheeling, than above."
This statement was fully confirmed by letters from
Col. John Gibson, and Major George McCully, both
well acquainted with the river and long accustomed to
navigate it. They both pronounce Letart's Falls the
worst place on the river, and Captina Bar as bad as
any place above Wheeling.
Same to Jas O'Hara, Q. M. Gen. Seps. 30th, 1793.
A contagious fever having raged in Philadelphia for
a considerable time, and still continuing, the Secretary
of War being apprehensive a part of the clothing might
be infected with the contagion, directed me to have
them opened and aired at this post. I have, accordingly, had such packages as were pointed out to me by
Mr, Hodgdon, opened, well aired and re-packed. This
operation has caused a great deal of disagreeable feeling, and has given much uneasiness to the inhabitants,
who feared it might introduce the disease here. From my
own experience, however, and from that of Charles
and Emanuel Conrad, who have for three weeks been




226          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
constantly employed with the woolen goods. I think
there is scarce a probability of their being infected."
On the 22d of April, 1794, the first act was passed
incorporating the town of Pittsburgh into a Borough.
The bounds of the borough were as follows. Beginning at the Point, or confluence of the rivers Monongahela and Allegheny, and running up the beach of
the Monongahela three courses and distances given,
to Short street, thirty-nine perches, to Grant Street
two hundred and seven perches; mouth of Suke's Run
forty-nine perches, then north thirty degrees east, one
hundred and fifty perches to a post in Andrew Watson's field, thence north nineteen degrees west one hundred and fifty perches to the Allegheny river, thence
down the same three hundred and fifteen perches to the
point of beginning.
Now that we have Telegraph Lines, and Rail-road
Cars, that travel almost with the speed of the wind,
we are disposed to wonder at the patience of our immediate ancestors, who were greatly rejoiced when a Post
Office was established here, and a mail promised once
in two weeks from Philadelphia. This was accomplished sixty-five years ago; but a mail from Limestone
and Fort Washington was a still later desideratum.
No regular intercourse could be carried on from Pittsburgh to Kentucky, or to the military posts along the
river, by a route through the territory north of the
Ohio. None but a strong and well armed party could
hope to escape unharmed through that country, while
the Shawanese and Wyandots were hostile. All communication to Limestone, or to Wayne's army at Fort
Washington, must be sent by transient travelers, or
by expresses through Western Virginia and Northern




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         227
Kentucky.   Such means of correspondence between
an army and its government, were entirely too uncertain to be depended upon: so that, in July, 1794, a
line of mail boats was established to run from Wheeling to Limestone and back, once in every two weeks.
From Wheeling to Pittsburgh and back, the mails were
to be carried on horseback.  The mail boats were
twenty-four feet long, built like a whale boat, and
steered with a rudder. They were manned by a steersman and four oarsmen, to each boat. The men had each
a musket, and a supply of ammunition, all of which
were snugly secured from the weather in boxes alongside their seats. The whole could be protected in wet
weather by a tarpaulin which each boat carried.
The following extract from the letter of instructions
of Major Isaac Craig, to Elijah Martin, Captain of
mail boat No. 1. will explain the arrangements.
" You are to proceed immediately with the mail in
"your charge to Limestone, touching on your way there
"and back at Wheeling, Marietta and Gallipolis, at
" each of which places a Post Office is established, and
"a Postmaster appointed, who will give you further'instructions, if necessary. The time appointed for
"your trip from this place to Limestone and back to
"Wheeling, is from this time, (July 5th,) till the 24th
"instant, at 12 o'clock, P. M. at which time you are
"to be at Wheeling. You are, therefore, to proceed
"without delay, both going and returning, so that the
mail may be delivered at Wheeling at the time above
"stated, to enable the postrider to reach Pittsburgh
"before the eastern mail is closed. After your return
"to Wheeling you are to carry a weekly mail from that
"place to Marietta and back."




228          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Charles Mills, Captain of mail boat No. 2, was to
leave Pittsburgh on the 11th of July, and was to return only as far as Marietta, at which place he was to
be at 12 o'clock, A. M. of the 27th of July, to exchange mails with Captain Martin of boat No. 1, and
then ply back and forth between Marietta and Gallipolis. Similar instructions were given to the Captain
of mail boat No. 3 to ply between Limestone and Gallipolis.
This mode of carrying the mail was continued until
1798, and the conductors of the boats were so careful,
that in all that time, but one attack was made upon
them by the Indians.
While this arrangement for the transportation of the
mails was in progress, before the mail boat No. 1 made
her first trip back to Wheeling, and at the time when
Gen. Wayne was advancing from Fort Greenville to the
Maumee, the troubles which had long been brewing
here in opposition to the excise on whiskey, broke out
into open hostility, in repeated attacks on, and the final
destruction of, the property of Gen. John Neville, in
this vicinity, and in the occupancy of our town by
armed insurgents.
This first insurrection against the laws of the Union
occurring at our very door, cannot be overlooked in a
work proposing to give a history of our city. The general histories of the country notice it; Brackenridge
and Findley have both written apologies for their conduct in it, which have been looked upon as histories,
and Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury,
has given a very dispassionate account of it. The late
Judge Wilkinson, of Buffalo, New York, who grew
to manhood on a farm in the immediate vicinity of




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          229
the field of the greatest outrage, has, in some notes
published in the Western Pioneer, borne just testimony to the virtues and services of the principal sufferers in the insurrection, but has fallen into some errors in his account of the family connection, while he
has given them all credit for patriotic services. He
says, "John Neville, a man of the most deserved pop"ularity, was appointed collector, (inspector it should
"be,) for Western Pennsylvania; he was one of the
" few men of great wealth who had put his all at hazard
"for independence. Besides his claims as a soldier
"and a patriot, he had contributed greatly to the re" lief of the suffering settlers. If any man could have
" executed this odious law, Gen. Neville was the man.
" He was the brother in law of the distinguished Gen.
" Morgan, and father-in.law to Majors Craig and Kirk" patrick, officers highly respected in the western coun"try."  Judge Wilkinson, from his residence, saw
the ascending flames from the negro huts, the stables,
the large well filled barn, and the comfortable mansion
of Gen. Neville, and manifests in his article all that
kindly feeling which a good neighbor might be expected to entertain. His kind heart had not changed in
the half century which had elapsed between the destruction of the property, and the writing his account
of it; but his memory, or his information of the family
relations, was not so faithful as the kindness of his
heart. John Neville was not the brother-in-law of Gen.
Morgan, nor the father-in-law of Major Kirkpatrick.
John Neville and Abraham Kirkpatrick married sisters of the name of Oldham, of as sound and true
hearted a Whig family as any in the country, one of
whose brothers yielded up his life in the cause of his
s




230         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
country at Eutaw Springs, in South Carolina; the other
at St. Clair's defeat.
Presley Neville, the only son of John Neville, married the daughter of Gen. Morgan, and Isaac Craig
married the only sister of Presley. John Neville was,
as Judge Wilkinson states, a man of great wealth for
those days. He was the descendant of a lad who, gt
a very early, day was kidnapped in England andbrought to Virginia, and who subsequently accumulated a good property there. John Neville, was a man
of good English education, of plain, blunt manners, a
pleasant companion, and the writer well recollects how
eagerly he listened to his well told anecdotes, and
how, by his manner he could give interest to trifling
incidents. He was born on the head waters of the
Occoquan river, Virginia, on the direct road from
Washington's paternal estate, to Winchester and Cumberland, and the residence of his father is laid down
in Spark's map illustrative of "the operations in Virginia," during the war of 1754. From this circumstance, probably it was, that he became an early
acquaintance of Washington, both of whom were of
about the same age, and thus with the ardor of a young
man, he engaged in Braddock's expedition. He subsequently settled near Winchester, in Frederick county,
where he for some time held the office of Sheriff.
Prior to 1774 he had made large entries and purchases
of lands on Chartier's Creek, then supposed to be. in
Virginia, and was about to remove here when the Revolutionary troubles began. He was elected in'that
year a delegate from Augusta county, i. e. Pittsburgh,
to the Provincial Convention of Virginia, which appointed George Washington, Peyton RaIdolph and




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          231
others, to the first Continental Congress, but was prevented by sickness from attending. Subsequent to
the Revolution he was a member of the Supreme
Executive Council of Pennsylvania. Presley Neville,
his son, was an accomplished gentleman, having received the best education the country could afford, was
a good classical and French scholar, had served throughout the Revolution, part of the time as an aid to La
Fayette. He and his father had together a princely
estate on Chartier's Creek, besides large possessions
elsewhere in Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. He had,
also, large expectations from his father-in-law. But unfortunately for the comfort of his latter days, his heart
was ten-fold larger than his estate and all his expectations. In recently looking over some old letters from
him, written while he was yet in exile, and while the
ashes of his father's destroyed mansion, and barns, and
stables, and negro huts were yet warm, I was struck
with the following kind hearted expression.
" The prisoners arrived yesterday, and were, by the
"ostentation of Gen. White, paraded through the dif"ferent parts of the city, (Philadelphia,)-they had
"large pieces of paper in their hats to distinguish them,
and wore the appear- ance of wretchedness; I could' not help being sorry for them, although so well
" acquainted with their conduct."
Major Abraham Kirkpatrick, a Marylander by birth,
a soldier of the Revolution, as brave a man as drew
his sword in the struggle for Independence, of but
ordinary English education, but of strong native intellect, kind and even chivalric, though rather by fits
and starts, shrewd in argument, and so fond of it,
that he would rather change sides than let discussion
cease.




232          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Isaac Craig, an Irishman, born near Hillsborough,
in the County Down, of reputable protestant parents,
as certified in a paper in my possession, emigrated to
Philadelphia in 1767, where he carried on his trade of
house joiner, until the commencement of the Revolutionary war. He was, then, appointed by the authorities of Pennsylvania, a Captain of Marines, and as
such in the sloop of war Andrew.Doria, Capt. Nicholas
Biddle, sailed in Commodore Hopkins' squadron, along
with Paul Jones, Barney and others, to the Isle of New
Providence, in the West Indies, where they seized and
brought safely home, a large amount of arms and
munitions of war, then much needed. Soon after his
return he received an appointment as Captain in Proctor's regiment of artillery, just in time to be present
at the capture of the Hessians at Trenton. Subsequently he was in the battles of Princeton, Brandywine
and Germantown, and about the time of Brodhead's
expedition up the Allegheny, accompanied General
Sullivan in his most successful expedition up the Susquehanna against the hostile tribes of the Six Nations.
He was, then, ordered to Pittsburgh, which after the
war he made his home. He was of but common school
education, but having a good mind for mechanics and
mathematics, had in these branches added largely to
his school acquirements and was at an early day, a
member of the American Philosophical Society. His
position here, during the insurrection, when his presence was so necessary to the supply and intercourse
with Wayne's army, and yet continually exposed to
insult and danger, was exceedingly unpleasant and
trying.
Alexander Hamilton, in a letter to him, says: "Your




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.                   233
care of the interests confided to you, is, in every event,
depended upon, according to circumstances. The keeping the arms and stores out of the hands of the insurgents is a matter of great importance. It is hoped
that you will personally, in the worst issue of things,
find safety in the Fort."
Major Craig never left Pittsburgh during that trying time, except for a few hours on the day of thelast
attack on General Neville's house. Then he, with
David Lenox, the Marshal, Presley Neville and two
others went out to get into the house, but were intercepted, detained some time, treated with. much contumely and many threats, but finally escaped..
CHAPTER XLI
Apologetic; additional revenue necessary; duties on distilled spirits
recommended by Hamilton, favored by Madison; law passed; unpopular; resistance would not have taken place had not designing demagogues encouraged and then cowered before their own work; Federal
revenue officers insulted; first meeting at Redstone; Convention in Pittsburgh; first outrage on Robert Johnson; process against rioters;
Deputy Marshal afraid to serve it; other outrages committed; Excise
law amended; new law more favorably received in other parts of the
country, not so in this region; Convention in Pittsburgh, violent resolutions; President's Proclamation; attack upon the house of a
collector of revenue; additional outrages; additional amendments to
the law enacted rendering it more effective; factious leaders deem it
necessary to adopt more daring measures of opposition; Marshal of
the district and the Inspector fired at; Inspector's house attacked;
description of the place; second attack, house, stables, barn and all
destroyed.
The writer of this work has deemed his brief notice
of persons who were prominent here, at the time of
S*




234          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
the first outbreak against the laws of the country, a
desirable ingredient in his history. He may be mistaken-his partialities for them, his knowledge of their
virtues and services may have misled him in this respect, but be that as it may, he could not persuade
himself to overlook them.
In December, 1790, when Congress assembled the
nation was burthened with the debt contracted during
the seven years struggle for Independence, the country was involved in war with some of the Western
Indians; Harmar had just returned from his fruitless
expedition against them, the expenses of the Government were necessarily large and the revenue but small,
so that additional taxes became indispensible.
No tax seemed more proper than upon spirits both
foreign and domestic. A memorial from the college
of Physicians of Philadelphia advocated such a tax
as desirable both to the morals and health of the
people.
Such a bill was reported in the House of Representatives, in January, 1791, in conformity with the suggestions of Alexander Hamilton, as advocated by
James Madison, and passed. It imposed a tax of
from nine to twenty-five cents per gallon, according to
their strength, upon spirits distilled from grain. To
secure the collection of these duties, suitable regulations were made. Inspection districts were established,
one or more in each State, and an Inspector for each.
Distillers to furnish at the nearest inspection office full
descriptions of their buildings, which were always subject to examination, by a person appointed for that
purpose, who was to guage and brand the casks.
Duties to be paid before removal. But to save trouble




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          235
to small distillers not in any town or village, they were
allowed to pay an annual tax of sixty cents per gallon
on the capacity of the still.
Such bills taxing the greatest luxury of a large portion of our population would, of course, be unpopular.
But it could scarcely have been foreseen that a large
mass of citizen would be excited to resist, even to the
extent of civil war, the execution of laws passed by the
representatives of the people. Possibly had the ignorant
and misguided portion of the people been left to themselves matters might not have been carried to extremities.
But unfortunately for the peace of the country, there
were here some men of property and intelligence, destitute of sound principles of integrity or genuine love of
country, who contributed to kindle the flame of opposition, hoping that they would be able to control its
violence and thus use it for their own base purposes.
These very men became alarmed by the fury of the
storm which thay had aided to create, and were rejoiced to escape from its ravages. So soon as the law
passed, opposition manifested itself by the circulation
of opinions unfavorable to its execution, and calculated to prevent citizens from accepting the offices necessary to carry the law into effect. Soon, however,
more direct means were resorted to, the officers of
excise were treated with marks of contempt and insult;
public meetings and conventions were adopted as means
of promoting and fomenting discontent, and to encourage violence by a show of strength.
The first meeting was held at Redstone, (Brownsville,)
on the 27th of July, 1791, when it was arranged that
county committees should be convened at the different
county seats of Allegheny, Fayette, Washington and




236          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Westmoreland counties. On the 23d of August, one
of these committees assembled at Washington, and
passed some most intemperate resolutions, which were
afterwards, probably very reluctantly, published by the
editor of the Pittsburgh Gazette, in that paper. Popular clamor was, however, too strong to be resisted by
ordinary men, and it was easier then to yield unresistingly to a vicious public opinion than to stand up manfully for the right. Among the resolutions was one
strongly condemning the excise law, and declaring that
any one who accepted office under it was inimical to
the best interests of the country, and recommending
the citizens to treat all such officers with contempt, to
refuse to have any intercourse with them, and to withhold from them aid and comfort.
The meeting also appointed three of their number
to meet delegates from Fayette, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties on the first Tuesday of the ensuing
September to express the sentiments of the people of
those counties, in an address to Congress, in relation to
the excise law and other grievances. The last mentioned expression leads to a strong suspicion that some
at least of the leaders were not influenced by a mere
desire to get rid of the tax on whiskey, some of them
were perhaps secretly hostile to the existing form of
government, while others were merely seeking popularity, by a course of conduct, which produced more
serious results than were probably anticipated.
The meeting appointed for the early part of September, took place at the appointed time, in Pittsburgh,
and each of the twelve delegates seems to hare brought
with him a new list of grievances, a fresh supply of
fuel for the growing excitement.  The complaints




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         237
against government were greatly multiplied and urged
with increased venom. The outcry against the excise
on whiskey was repeated, but it was accompanied by
complaints about the exorbitant salaries of officers, the
unreasonable interest of the public debt; the want of
discrimination between the original holders and the
assignees of the certificates of debt, and finally against
the establishment of the United States Bank. A representation to Congress and a remonstrance to the
Legislature of Pennsylvania, against the excise on
whiskey, were adopted by the meeting, published with
the other proceedings in the Gazette, and afterwards
presented to the Legislature.
" These meetings," says Alexander Hamilton, in his
report, " composed of very influential persons, and
" conducted without moderation or prudence, are justly
"chargeable with the excesses which have from time to
"time been committed, serving to give consistency to
" an opposition, which has at length matured to a point
"that threatens the foundations of the Government
"and the Union, unless speedily and effectually sub"dued."
In the same month of September, the first act of
violence against the enforcement of the law was committed on the person of Robert Johnson, collector of
the revenue for the counties of Allegheny and Washington. A party of armed men, in disguise, met at a
place on Pigeon creek, in Washington county, cut off
his hair, tarred and feathered him, deprived him of his
horse, and thus compelled him in that unpleasant condition to travel a considerable distance on foot.
Process was subsequently issued from the District
Court of Pennsylvania against three of the persons




238          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
concerned in this outrage, viz: John Robertsonr, John
Hamilton and Thomas McComb. The Marshal, Clement Biddle, confided the execution of the ~warrants,
to his deputy, Joseph Fox, who, in October, came to
this county to serve them. Upon his way here, however, and after his arrival, he heard such alarming
accounts of the state of excitement and irritation in
the country, that he became convinced that he wourd
place his own personal safety in great peril if he attempted to execute the processes. Under these circumstances he most unwisely adopted the expedient of
sending the processes by a private messenger, under
enclosures. The Deputy Marshal, in his report to his
principal, mentions several facts to show the excited
state of feeling in this quarter, inducing the belief that
he could not safely execute the processes.
The Marshal, in transmitting the report of his Deputy
to the District Attorney, uses the following language:
I am sorry to add, that he (the Deputy,) found the
"people in general in the western part of the State,
" and particularly beyond the Allegheny mountains,
" in such a ferment on account of the act of Congress,
" for laying a duty on distilled spirits, and so much
" opposed to the execution of said act, that he was not
"only convinced of the impossibility of serving the
" process, but that any attempt to serve it, would have
"occasioned the most violent opposition from  the
"greater part of the inhabitants; and declares that,' if he had attempted it, he believes he would not have' returned alive."
The messenger sent with the processes was whipped,
tarred and feathered, and his money and horse taken
from him, was then blindfolded and tied, and then left
in the woods where he remained about five hours.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.           239
A very momentorus state of affairs now existed,-and
one which well merited the most careful and deliberate
consideration of the Government, which, was then, in
its very infancy, aad its strength and vigor entirely
untried.  The chief magistrate of that day, was really
a man for that or any other crisis, his character for
prudence and firmriles was earned by long, severe and
frequent'rials and he was not likely to shrink from
the performance of his duty under any circumstances.
But the.law was a newone, as yet untried, strong prejudices existed against it in other sections of the country, which might ripen into open opposition and thus
multiply difficulties. Besides Congress had not then
provided the means by which the Executive could come
ini aid of the judiciary when found to be unable to
enforce the execution of the laws. Finally, too, in
addition to the foregoing considerations, it was desirable, in a government like ours, to avoid the resort to
extreme measures, until all others had been tried in
vain.
Under the united influence of these considerations it
appeared advisable to forbear the adoption of coercive
measures, until further time for reflection and experience of the law elsewhere had served to correct false
impressions, and inspire greater moderation; and until
Congress had an opportunity, by a revision of the law,
to remove as far as possible, objections to it, and to
reinforce the provisions for its execution.
In the meantime other instances of mal-treatment
occurred; Mr. Wells, collector of the revenue for
Westmoreland and Fayette counties, was illtreated at
Greensburgh and Uniontown. Other instances of violence took place, but I pass them over. Designs of




240          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
personal violence against the Inspector of revenue,
were repeatedly attempted to be executed by armed
parties, in order to compel him to resign, but by different circumstances were frustrated.
Congress assembled in October, 1791, and by an
act, passed during that session, and approved on the
8th May, 1792, material alterations were made in the
law. Among these the duty was reduced to a rate so
moderate, as to silence complaints on that head, and a
very favorable change was made, which allowed the
distiller to pay a monthly, instead of a yearly rate,
according to the capacity of his still, with the privilege
of taking a license for the precise term which he meant
to run his stills, and to renew the license for a further
term or terms. The amending act was carefully prepared and considered, objections were calmly examined,
and great pains taken to obviate all that had the appearance of reasonableness.  This course seems to
have operated well in other parts of the country,
where objections existed and hopes were entertained
that even the four western counties of Pennsylvania
would be pacified. But notwithstanding these favorable signs, the hope of peaceable submission to the laws
entirely failed.
It soon became a very prominent point in the policy
of the opponents of the law, to intimidate the well
disposed citizens, so as to prevent their acceptance of
offices under the excise law. After considerable exertions, the Inspector of revenue prevailed upon Captain
Faulkner, of the army, to permit his house in Washington county, to be used as an office for inspection. A
short time after he, being in pursuit of some deserters,
was encountered by a number of persons in the same




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          241
neighborhood where Mr. Johnsbn had been ill used the
year before, who reproached him for permitting his
house to be used for an office of Inspection, drew a
knife upon him, threatened to tar and feather him, and
destroy his property if he did not promise to prevent
the longer use of his house. He was thus driven to
make the required promise, and on the 20th of August,
wrote a letter countermanding the permission he had
given, and next day published a note in the Gazette
giving notice that his house should no longer be used
by the revenue officers.
On the 21st of August, 1792, agreeable to previous
notice, a number of persons styling themselves "A
meeting of sundry inhabitants of the western counties
of Pennsylvania," assembled in Pittsburgh and passed
a series of resolutions, not less exceptionable than
those adopted at previous meetings. After denouncing
a tax on spirituous liquors they conclude by declaring
that they consider it their duty to persist in remonstrances to Congress and every other legal measure
that may obstruct the operation of the law.
On the 16th September, 1792, the President of the
United States issued his proclamation earnestly exhorting and admonishing all persons to refrain and desist
from all unlawful combinations and proceedings whatever, having for their object or tending to obstruct the
operation of the excise laws, inasmuch as lawful mea
sures would be put in operation to bring to justice the
infractors thereof, and for enforcing obedience to the
same, and moreover charging and requiring all courts,
magistrates and officers, according to the duties of their
several offices, to exert the powers in them respectively
invested by law, for the purposes aforesaid, also enjoinT




242          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
ing all persons whomsoever, as they valued the welfare
of their country, the just and due authority of the
Government, and the preservation of the public peace,
to be aiding and assisting therein, according to law,
and likewise directing prosecutions to be instituted
against, the offenders in all cases where the requisite
evidence could be had.
Pursuant to these instructions, the Attorney General,
with the District Attorney, attended a Circuit Court,
held at York, in October, 1792, for the purpose of
bringing forward prosecutions in the proper cases.
Measures were also taken to procure the necessary
evidence.
George Clymer, the Supervisor of the Revenue, was
sent into the disaffected region to obtain evidence of
the persons concerned in the Faulkner case, and of
those who composed the Pittsburgh meeting, to uphold
the confidence and to encourage the perseverance of
the officers acting under the law, and finally to induce
the inhabitants of that part of the district which appeared least malignant, to come voluntarily into obedience to the law.
The result of the visit of the Supervisor, was merely
the ascertaining who composed the Pittsburgh meeting;
also, the discovery of two persons concerned in the
Faulkner case; and the discovering that there was an
enmity existing in the minds of many, not merely to the
excise, but the Government itself.
The Attorney General, Edmund Randolph, thinking
it doubtful whether the proceedings of the meeting at
Pittsburgh formed an indictable offence, no prosecution
was entered against those who were actors in it. Prosecutions were entered against the two persons supposed




HISTORY OP PITTSBURGH.          243
to be concerned in the Faulkner affair, but it being
afterwards discovered that they were not concerned in
that outrage, the prosecutions were discontinued.
In April, 1793, a party of armed men, in disguise,
made an attack in the night, on the house of a collector of the revenue, who resided in Fayette county, but
he happening to be from home, they contented themselves with breaking open his house, threatening, terrifying and abusing his family. Warrants were issued by
Isaac Meason and John Findlay, Associate Judges, for
the arrest of some of the rioters, but the Sheriff refused
or neglected to serve them.
In June of the same year, the Inspector of the Revenue, was burnt in effigy in Allegheny county, at a
place, and on a day of a public meeting, in the presence
of, and without interruption by, some of the magistrates.
On the night of the 22d of November, another party
of men, some armed, and all disguised, called at the
house of the same col'ector, which had been visited in
April, broke it open, demanded a surrender of his papers
and official books, and by threats compelled him to give
them up, and also extorted from him a promise to pubt
lish his resignation of his office.
The administration had about this time adopted a
scheme of policy in relation to the opponents of the
excise law, which promised at first to be effectual.
1st. To prosecute delinquents in cases where it could
clearly be done for non-compliance with the laws. 2d.
To intercept the markets for the surplus produce of the
distilleries of the non-complying counties, by seizing
the spirits in the way to markets, in places where it
could be done without opposition. 3d. By purchasing
for the use of the army only the spirits, in relation to




244          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
which there had been a compliance with the law.
There were two difficulties, however, in the way of the
effective operation of these measures. In the first
place the law required an office of inspection and there
could be no violation of the law where there was no
such office, and the existence of such offices in some of
the counties was prevented by violence and threats.
The next difficulty was the non-extension of the law to
the territory North and West of the Ohio, where a
large portion of the surplus spirits were consumed.
These defects in the law could only be remedied by
Congress, and measures were taken to obtain a further
revision at the session which began in November, 1792.
A bill amending these defects and others was brought
in, but owing to more urgent matters, this was deferred
until late in the session, and then in the usual hurry of
the close of a session, remained unacted upon.
Notwithstanding the failure of these amendments,
the laws appeared rather to be gaining ground in 1793.
Several considerable distillers, who had before resisted,
complied with the requisitions of the law, and others
manifested a disposition to comply and were only prevented doing so by fear of the lawless.
These favorable appearances, seem to have alarmed
the lawless leaders, and they determined to adopt
more daring measures, to subdue the growing spirit of
compliance.
The Inspector of Revenue, in a letter of the 27th
February, 1794, stated that he had received information, that persons living near the line of Allegheny
and Washington counties, had thrown out threats of
tarring and feathering one William Cochran, a complying distiller, and burning his distillery; and that it




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         245
had also been given out that there would not be a house
left standing in Allegheny county which was owned by
a person complying with the law; in consequence of
which he had been induced to call upon several leading
individuals in that quarter to ascertain the truth of the
information, and to endeavor to avert the attempt to
execute those threats.
It appeared afterwards, that the Inspector, on his
return from the above named visit, had been pursued
by a collection of disorderly persons, threatening vengeance against him, as they passed along. On their
way these men called at the house of James Kiddoo,
who had lately complied with the law, broke into his
still-house and scattered fire over and about it.
Letters from the Inspector, in March, announce an
increased activity on the part of the disorderly; and
among other proposed measures was one to seize the
Inspector, compel him to resign his office, and detain
him prisoner, perhaps as a hostage..
In May and June new violences were committed.
James Kiddoo, the person before mentioned, had parts
of his grist mill carried away at different times; and
Cochran, who had for some time been threatened, had
his still destroyed, his saw-mill stopped by taking away
his saw, and his grist-mill much injured. Several other
persons were misused and injured for compliance with
the law. Indications of a plan to proceed against the
Inspector of the Revenue, as before indicated, continued. In a letter of the 10th of July, he said that
the threatened visit had not been made yet; though
he had still reason to expect it.
In the session of Congress which met in December,
1793, a bill for amending the law, as before stated, was
T*




246          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
brought in, and became a law on the 5th of June, 1794.
The passage of this law was well calculated to render
more effective the measures adopted by the Executive
to secure obedience to the laws; and the factious leaders of the opposition, perceiving this tendency of
matters, deemed it expedient to adopt more daring
measures. The increased boldness of the lawless rendered it necessary for the Executive to adopt more
vigorous means for sustaining the law. Complaints,
too, were made by those who had peaceably complied
with the law, that others were suffered to escape untaxed. Under all the circumstances it was concluded
that there was no alternative but to exert the vigor of
the law against delinquents and offenders. Processes
were issued against a number of non-complying
distillers in Allegheny and Fayette counties, and indictments having been found at a court held in Philadelphia, in July, against Robert Smilie and John
McCollough, two of the rioters who had attacked the
house of a collector in Fayette, processes issued against
them also.
The Marshal of the District went in person to serve
these writs. He executed them without interruption
in Fayette county, though under discouraging circumstances; but while he was performing his duty in
Allegheny county, accompanied by the Inspector, on
the 15th of July, 1794, he was beset, on the road, by
a party of thirty or forty armed men, who after much
alarming conduct, fired upon him, though without injuring him or the Inspector.
On the morning of the next day, the Inspector had
just had his horse brought to the door for the purpose
of riding into Pittsburgh; when he perceived at a dis



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         247
tance about one hundred armed men, approaching the
house, suspecting at once their purpose, the horse was
turned loose, the doors closed and secured, and the
best practicable means adopted for defence. A vigorous attack was made, but finding a more resolute and
effective resistance than was anticipated from a single
person, the assailants soon withdrew to prepare for a
more formidable attack.
The traveler who is going from Pittsburgh to Washing by the turnpike road, at about eight miles from the
former place, passes by the house of Mr. John Wrenshall, the present owner of a portion of that beautiful
tract of land formerly known as Woodville. If when
he is just in front of the house on that place, he turns
his back upon it and looks over a beautiful, fertile bottom between him and Chartier's Creek, and up a gently
rising ground beyond the creek, he will overlook a fine
tract of land formerly called Bower Hill. On this
tract was situated the mansion house of John Neville.
The Woodville farm was owned and occupied by Presley
Neville, the son of John. Between the two residences
and up the rising ground, a broad avenue was cut
through the intervening forest, by which communications could be had by signals, and often were invitations to meet company or other messages sent through
that vista. A few years since, this avenue was still
perceptible, but may now be grown up, as the writer
has not lately noticed it.
I have thought this brief allusion to, and indication
of the locale, of the outrage which occurred there,
might possess some interest to persons here, who have
often heard of those occurrences, but had no definite
notion of the place where they happened.




248           HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
After the attack of the 16th, the Inspector apprehending that another and more formidable attack
would be made upon his house, made a written application to the judges, General of militia, and the Sheriff,
for protection.  A reply to this application was made
by John Wilkins, Esq., a magistrate, and Gen. John
Gibson, of the militia, stating that owing to the too
general combination of the people against the excise
law, protection could not be afforded to him. They
added, however, that they would do all in their power
to bring the lawless persons to punishment, and would
be glad to receive information of the persons concerned in the attack upon his house; that prosecutions
might be commenced against them, and expressing
their belief that if the posse comitatus were ordered
out, very few persons would be found who were not of
the party of the rioters.*
Upon this information being communicated to Major
Thomas Butler, the commandant at Fort Fayette, one
of several gallant brothers, who distinguished themselves during the Revolution, he detached eleven men
from his feeble garrison, to aid the Inspector.  These
soldiers were joined by Major Abraham     Kirkpatrick,
whose wife was a sister-in-law of the Inspector, in
whose family she had been brought up, and in whose
house she had been married.
* So general was the combined influence of actual disaffection upon
one portion of the community, and dread of the violence of the turbulent
among the others, that the writer has often heard Major Craig say, that
out of the family connection of Gen. Neville, and out of the employees
of the Government, James Baird, a blacksmith, and James Robinson, the
father of Wi. Robinson, jr., were the only persons in Pittsburgh on
whom reliance could be placed, under all circumstances.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.                 249
CHAPTER XII.
Second attack upon General Neville's house; meeting of insurgents at
Mingo creek; robbery of mail; meeting at Parkinson's Ferry; large
assemblage at Braddock's Field; Bradford's purpose to take Fort
Fayette; prompt intimation by Major Butler; Democratic Societies;
requisition on Governors of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and
Maryland for fifteen thousand militia; Commissioners appointed to
arrange submission to the laws; meeting of insurgents at Braddock's
Field; negociations and manoeuvrings among the leaders; militia
volunteers from New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia,
promptly assemble at Bedford and Cumberland, unite at Uniontown;
various arrests made; submission of the insurgents; flight of Bradford; Fauchet, the French Minister, and Secretary Randolph; influence of the insurrection upon the growth of Pittsburgh; Wayne's
Victory.
I find the narrative of subsequent proceedings of
the insurgents so well related in Hildreth's History of
the  United States, that I have concluded to adopt his
account.
" The next morning, (July 17th,) the assailants reappeared, five hundred strong, led on by one John
Holcroft, who, under the assumed name of Tom the
Tinker, had been deeply concerned in stiring up previous outrages against officers who attempted to enforce
the law, and distillers who were disposed to submit to
it. On the approach of this force, Neville escaped
from the house, leaving his kinsman, Major Kirkpatrick, with the soldiers, to make such defence or
capitulation as might seem expedient. The assailants
had appointed a committee of three as directors of the
enterprise, and they had chosen as commander one




250          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
M'Farlane, formerly a lieutenant in the Continental
service. The surrender of Neville was demanded, and,
on information that he was gone, the admission of six
men to search the house for the papers connected with
his office was claimed. This being refused, a flag was
sent for the women to leave the house, soon after which
an attack was commenced. M'Farlane was killed and
several other of the assailants were wounded; but they
succeeded in setting fire to the out-houses, and, as the
flames threatened to spread, the garrison, three of
whom had been wounded, found themselves obliged to
surrender. The men were dismissed without injury,
but all the buildings were burned to the ground. The
marshal and the inspector's son, who came up just
after the surrender, were made prisoners.*   The
marshal was subjected to a good deal of abuse, and
was only dismissed after a promise, extorted by
threats of instant death, and guaranteed by young
Neville, not to attempt to serve any more processes
west of the mountains. The next day a message was
sent to Pittsburgh, where the inspector and the marshal
had taken refuge, requiring the one to resign his office,
and the other to give up the warrants in his possession.
This they refused to do. The means of protection at
Pittsburgh were small; and as the roads eastward
would most likely be guarded, as the only means of
escape, they embarked on the Ohio, descended as far
as Marietta, and thence set out by land for Philadelphia, the greater part of the way through a wilderness.
The next decided step seems to have been a public
meeting, held at Mingo Creek meeting-house, in the
neighborhood of which most of the late rioters resided.
- Also, Major Craig, Ensign Sample, and another name not recollected.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          251
Bradford and Marshall were both present; also Brackenridge, a lawyer of Pittsburgh, a leading member of
the Democratic club of that town, and who attended,
according to his own account, by special invitation.
Bradford was for making common cause with the
rioters. Brackenridge suggested that, however justifiable in itself, their conduct was nevertheless illegal,
and that it was bad policy to draw into the same position those who might otherwise act as mediators. It
was finally agreed to call a convention of delegates
from all the townships west of the mountains, and
from the adjoining counties of Maryland and Virginia,
to meet in three weeks at Parkinson's Ferry, on the
Monongahela.
Two or three days after this preliminary meeting,
anxious to ascertain how the late proceedings had been
represented, Bradford caused the mail from Pittsburgh
to Philadelphia to be intercepted. Letters were found
in it, from young Neville and others, giving accounts,
by no means satisfactory to the parties concerned, of
the burning of the inspector's house, and of the late
meeting at Mingo Creek. Without waiting for the
proposed convention, a circular, signed by Bradford,
Marshall, and four or five others, was forthwith addressed to the officers of the militia of the western
counties, stating that, by the interception of the mail,
important secrets had been discovered, which made
necessary an expression of sentiment, not by words,
but by actions. The officers were therefore called
upon to muster as many volunteers as they could, to
assemble on the first of August at the usual place of
rendezvous, at Braddock's Field, on the Monongahela,
with arms and accoutrements, and provisions for four
days.




252          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Meanwhile, the mail, with its contents, except the
intercepted letters, was sent back to Pittsburgh, and
the citizens of that town, to pacify the excitement,
went through the form of expelling the obnoxious letter-writers.
The summons to the militia, though it had only
three days to circulate, and that among a population
scattered over a wide extent of country, drew together
not less than seven thousand armed men. Many afterward alleged that they went out of curiosity, and
others, that their sole intention was to prevent mischief; and this was certainly the case with some who
were present, among whom was Ross, the United States
senator. But the very fact of this prompt obedience
to their orders could not but inspire the leaders with a
high idea of their power and influence, while it tended
also to increase the mischief, by giving the impression
to the public at large of a general unanimity of sentiment. Colonel Cook, one of the judges of Fayette
county, a member of the first popular convention held
in Pennsylvania at the commencement of the Revolution, distinguished for his opposition to the excise,
having repeatedly presided at the public meetings
called to protest against it, was chosen president of
this armed assembly. Albert Gallatin, the late rejected senator, was appointed secretary. Bradford, to
whom every body cringed, assumed the character of
major general, and reviewed the troops. A committee,
to whom matters of business were referred, resolved
that two more citizens of Pittsburgh should be expelled.
The troops then marched into the town, and after receiving refreshments, which the terrified inhabitants
hastened to furnish, the greater part marched out




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.                  253
again. The more orderly dispersed; but several parties kept together, one of which destroyed a barn
belonging to Major Kirkpatrick, and another attempted, but without success, to burn his house in
Pittsburgh.
It was Bradford's design, in calling this armed body
together, to get possession of Fort Pitt, and the arms
and ammunition deposited in it; but, finding most of
the principal militia officers unwilling to co-operate,
that design was abandoned.* Immediately after this
armed assembly, the remaining excise officers were expelled even from those districts in which the opposition
had hitherto been less violent. Many outrages were
committed, some of the officers being cruelly treated,
and their houses burned. The same spirit began to
spread into the bordering counties of Virginia, and, as
the day for the meeting at Parkinson's Ferry approached, things assumed a very threatening aspect.
However opposition to the excise law might have been
countenanced by the great'ody of the population,
including the principal political leaders, the measures
i The following extract of a letter from Major Craig to General Knox,
dated August 8th, gives, perhaps, the true explanation. It was, no
doubt, a fortunate circumstance that Major Butler commanded at that
time:
"On the 1st instant, a numerous body of armed men assembled at
Braddock's Field, and continued there till yesterday, their number in"creasing, it is asserted, to four thousand five hundred, being joined by
"a number of the inhabitants of Pittsburgh, and commenced their march
"about nine o'clock, as it was confidently reported, with a design of at"tacking the Fort. But some of the leaders being informed, that every
"possible means had been taken for its defence, they prudently conclud"ed to postpone the attack, and sent a flag to inform the commandant
"that they intended to march peaceably by the Fort into Pittsburgh,
"cross the Monongahela and return home. Major Butler intimated to
"the flag bearer, that their peaceable intentions would be best mani"fested by passing the Fort at a proper distance, they, therefore, took
another road into town."
U




254          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
of actual resistance to it had been chiefly in the hands
of a few violent and reckless individuals, who, sometimes by outrages and sometimes by threats, had kept
in awe not only the excise officers, but such of the distillers also as were disposed to submit to the payment
of the tax. This reign of terror was now extended
and completely established. No one dared utter a
word against the recent proceedings for fear of banishment, personal violence, or the destruction of his
property.
News of the burning of Neville's house, of the meeting at Mingo,Creek, and of the robbery of the mail
soon reached Philadelphia. In -the eyes of the President and his cabinet, these incidents assumed a very
serious character. With the arrival of news of the
great triumphs achieved by the French arms, and of
the subsidence of internal revolt under the terrible
discipline of the Reign of Terror, the Democratic societies, recovering from the temporary check growing
out of the conduct of Genet and the disasters of the
French republic, had become more vigorous and violent
than ever, and very unsparing in their attacks upon the
policy of the federal administration. The Charleston
society, on their own application, and on motion of the
celebrated Collot d'Herbois, had been recognized by
the Jacobin Club of Paris as an affiliated branch.
The Democratic society of Washington county, one of
those involved in the present disturbances, had recently passed strong resolutions, copied from those of
Kentucky, on the subject of the navigation of the
Mississippi. The French agents were still active in
Kentucky, and a secret understanding was suspected
between all these parties. The Democratic society of




HISTORY OP PITTSBURGH.         255
Philadelphia hastened indeed to pass resolutions, in
which, after execrating the excise law, they declared,
however, their disapproval of violent resistance. But
no great faith was placed in their sincerity, or in the
concurrence of the affiliated branches. In a cotemporary letter to Governor Lee, of Virginia, Washington
speaks of the leaders of these societies-the great
body of the members knowing little of the real plan
-as artful and designing men, whose great object
was, under a display of popular and fascinating guises,
to destroy all confidence in the administration, and
likely, if not counteracted and their real character
exposed, to shake the government to its very foundation.
In the present inflammatory state of the public mind,
the resistance to the laws in Western Pennsylvania, if
not immediately checked, might find many imitators.
Hamilton, Knox, and Bradford, Attorney General,
advised that the militia be called out at once. But
upon a suggestion to Governor Mifflin to that effect,
he expressed apprehensions that a resort to force
might inflame and augment the existing opposition,
and, by connecting with it other causes of complaint,
might produce such an excitement as to make it
necessary to call in aid from the neighboring States
-a step by which jealousy and discontent would be
still further aggravated. He even questioned whether the militia would " pay a passive obedience
to the mandates of the government."  He doubted
also his own authority to make a call; for, whatever
might be the case with the federal judiciary, it did not
yet appear that the ordinary course of the state law was
not able to punish the rioters and to maintain order.
He was therefore disposed to be content for the present




256          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
with a circular letter already dispatched to the state
officers of the western counties, expressive of his indignation at the recent occurrence, and requiring the
exertion of their utmost authority to suppress the tumults and to punish the offenders.
Mifflin's refusal removed all pretense for alleging
that opportunity had not been afforded to the.State of
Pennsylvania to vindicate the authority of the laws by
her own means. As the case seemed to require immediate interference, Washington resolved to take the
responsibility on himself, and to act with vigor. A
certificate was obtained, as the statute required, from
a judge of the Supreme Court, that in the counties of
Washington and Allegheny the execution of the laws
of the United States was obstructed by combinations
too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course
of judicial proceedings. A proclamation was put forth
requiring these opposers of the laws to desist, and a
requsition was issued to the governors of Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia for a body of
13,000 men, raised afterward to 15,000. The insurgent counties could bring into the field about 16,000
fighting men. It was judged expedient to send a force
such as would quite discourage any resistance.
This calling out the militia was not entirely approved by Randolph, the secretary of state. He
seemed to apprehend, with Mifflin, that an attempt to
enforce the authority of government might lead to a
general convulsion; and he appeared to be greatly
impressed by a letter of Brackenridge's to a friend in
Philadelphia, communicated to the cabinet, in which
the writer maintained the ability of the western counties to defend themselves, suggesting the indisposition




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          257
of the midland counties to allow the march of troops
for the West, the possibility of application to Great
Britain for aid, and even of a march on Philadelphia.
The movement of the troops was fixed for the first
of September. Meanwhile, three commissioners, appointed by the President, Senator Ross, Bradford, the
attorney general, and Yates, one of the judges of the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, were dispatched. to
the insurgent counties, with discretionary authority to
arrange, if possible, any time prior to the 14th of
September, an effectual submission to the laws. Chief
Justice M'Kean and Gen. Wm. Irvine were appointed
commissioners on the part of the state. Simultaneously with this appointment, Mifflin issued two proclamations, one calling the Legislature together, the
other requiring the rioters to submit, and announcing
his determination to obey the President's call for.
militia.
The two boards of commissioners crossed the mountains together, and, on arriving in the disturbed district,
found the convention, called by the meeting at Mingo
Creek, already in session at Parkinson's Ferry. It
consisted of upward of two hundred delegates, including two from that part of Bedford county west of the
mountains, and three from Ohio county, in Virginia.
Almost all the townships of the four western counties
were fully represented. Cook was chairman, and
Gallatin secretary. The delegates were convened on
an eminence, under the shade of trees, surrounded
by a collection of spectators, some of them armed.
Near by stood a liberty-pole, with the motto, " Liberty,
and no excise! No asylum for cowards and traitors!"
A series of resolutions was offered by Marshall, of
u*




258          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
which the first, against taking citizens out of the
vicinity for trial, passed without objection. The second resolution proposed the appointment of a committee of public safety, empowered " to call forth the
resources of the western country to repel any hostile
attempts against the citizens." After a speech, in
which he denied any danger of hostilities, the only
danger being that of legal coercion, Gallatin proposed
to refer this resolution to a select committee. But,
though there were many persons present whose chief
object, like Gallatin's, it was to extricate the people
from the disastrous consequences of a violent opposition to the laws, which they themselves had done much
to stimulate, no one dared to second the motion.
Marshall, however, already began to waver; and he
presently offered to withdraw the proposition provided
a committee of sixty was appointed, with power to call
another meeting. This was readily agreed to, as was
also the appointment of a sub-committee of fifteen, to
confer with the federal and state commissioners. For
the purpose of being remodeled, the resolutions were
referred to a committee, consisting of Bradford, Gallatin, Brackenridge, and Herman Husbands, then a very
old man, a leader formerly among the North Carolina
Regulators. The determination expressed in one of
those resolutions, not to submit to the excise, was
struck out on Gallatin's motion. But neither he nor
any body else went so far as to advocate obedience to
it. A promise to submit to the state laws was, however, inserted. This business being disposed of, the
exercise of some address secured a dissolution of the
meeting, the assembly of the committee of sixty being
fixed for the 2d of September.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          259
A few days after, as had been arranged, the committee of fifteen met the commissioners at Pittsburgh.
Among the members of this committee were Bradford,
Marshall, Cook, Gallatin, and Brackenridge, the whole,
except Bradford, being inclined to an accommodation.
A candidate for Congress for the Pittsburgh district,
in his anxiety to secure votes, Brackenridge had hitherto gone so far as to make the insurgents believe he
was on their side. But he was well aware of the folly
and hopelessness of their cause, and at bottom not less
anxious than Gallatin to escape out of the present
dilemma. In a book which he afterward published,
he excused the part he had taken as necessary to protect himself against the violence of the insurgents.
The demands of the commissioners were exceedingly
moderate. They required from the committee of sixty
an explicit declaration of their determination to submit to the laws, and a recommendation to the citizens
at large to submit also, and to abstain from all opposition, direct or indirect, and especially from violence or
threats against the excise officers or the complying distillers. Primary meetings were required to be held to
test the sense of the citizens in these particulars.
Should satisfactory assurances be given on or before
the fourteenth of September, the commissioners promised a suspension till the next July of all prosecutions for offenses prior in date to this arrangement;
and in case the law, during that interval, should be
generally complied with, in good faith, a final pardon,
and oblivion of all such offenses.
The committee of fifteen pronounced these terms
reasonable; and, to give more time to carry out the
arrangement, they agreed to anticipate by four days




260          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
the calling together of the committee of sixty. Meanwhile a report spread that the conferees had been
bribed; indeed, that charge was made in express terms
in a letter of Tom the Tinker to the Pittsburgh Gazette, which the printer, as was the case with other
communications of that anonymous personage, did not
dare to omit to publish. While the members of the
committee of sixty were collecting at Brownsville, the
place appointed for the meeting, an armed party of
horse and foot entered the town with drums beating.
The friends of submission were so intimidated that, but
for Gallatin, they would have abandoned all thoughts
of urging an accommodation. Bradford insisted on
taking the question at once; but, by the exercise of
some address, the matter was postponed till the next
day, and meanwhile the armed party were persuaded
to return to their homes.
Gallatin opened the business the next morning in a
speech, in which the motives to submission were judiciously urged. He was followed by Brackenridge, who
now came out strongly on the same side. Bradford, in
an extravagant harangue, urged continued resistance,
and the organization of an independent state. Not
daring to expose themselves by an open vote, the
friends of submission had prevailed that the decision
should be by secret ballot. They were thus enabled
to carry, by a very lean majority, a resolution that it
would be for the interest of the people to accede to the
terms offered by the commissioners. But they did not
dare to propose what the commissioners had demanded,
a pledge from the members of the committee themselves to submit to the law, and arrangements for obtaining, in primary meetings, a like pledge from the




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          261
individual citizens. After appointing a new committee
of conference, the committee of sixty adjourned without day.
The new conferees asked of the commissioners further delay till the 10th of October, to ascertain the
sense of the people; but this was declined as being
beyond their authority. They now required that meetings should be held in the several townships on the
eleventh of September, any two or more members of
the late committee of sixty, or any justice of the peace
to preside, at which the citizens should vote yea or nay
on the question of submitting to and supporting the
law, all those voting in the affirmative to sign a declaration to that effect, which was to secure them an
amnesty as to the past offences. The third day after
the vote, the presiding officers were to assemble in their
respective county court houses, to ascertain the number of votes both ways, and to declare their opinion in
writing whether the submission was so general that
excise inspection offices could be re-established with
safety; all the papers to be forwarded to the commissioners at Uniontown by the sixteenth of the month.
Meetings were held under this arrangement in many
of the townships, but the result, on the whole, was
quite unsatisfactory. Most of the more intelligent
leaders were careful to provide for their own safety by
signing the required submission; but many of those
who had taken no active part in resisting the law refused to attend, or to pledge themselves to obedience.
As they had committed no offence, such was their
argument, they ought not to be required to submit-as
if winking at the violation of law and neglecting to
assist in its enforcement were not among the greatest




262          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
of offences. In some townships the meetings were
violently broken up and the papers torn to pieces.
Such was the case in the town in which Findley resided, who, it seems, was personally insulted on the
occasion. From Allegany county no returns were
received. The judges of the vote in Westmoreland
expressed the opinion that excise inspection offices
could not be safely established in that county. In the
other two counties the expression of any direct opinion
was avoided; but these counties had always been more
violent than Westmoreland. The better disposed part
of the population had begun to form associations for
mutual defense, and the opinion among them was quite
universal that the presence of the troops was absolutely
necessary.
Notwithstanding the timidity and alarms of Randolph and others, real or pretended, the President's
call for militia, as on the former appeal to the people
in the case of Genet, had been responded to with a
spirit that gave new strength and confidence to the
government. The Pennsylvanians at first were rather
backward, and a draft ordered by Mifflin seemed, likely, by reason, it was said, of defects in the militia laws,
to prove a failure. But the Legislature, on coming
together, having first denounced the insurgents in
strong terms, to save the delays attendant on drafting,
authorized the government to accept volunteers, to
whom a bounty was offered. As if to make up for his
former hesitation, and with a military sensibility to the
disgrace of failing to meet the requisition, Mifflin, in
a tour through the lower counties, as in several cases
during the Revolutionary struggle, by the influence of
his extraordinary popular eloquence, soon caused the




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          263
ranks to be filed up. As a further stimulus, subscriptions were opened to support the wives and children of
the volunteers during their absence. The quotas of
the other states were promptly furnished, composed in
a large part of volunteers. The troops of Virginia,
led by Morgan, and those of Maryland by Smith, the
Baltimore member of Congress, forming together the
left wing, assembled at Cumberland, thence to march
across the mountains by Braddock's road; those of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, led by Governors Mifflin
and Howell in person, and forming the right wing, had,their rendezvous at Bedford, to cross the mountains by
the northern or Pennsylvania route. The command-inchief of the expedition was given to Governor Lee, of
Virginia.
The commissioners having returned to Philadelphia
and made their report, the President the next day
issued a new proclamation, given notice of the advance
of the troops-which, in anticipation of the failure of
the mission, had already been put in motion-and commanding submission to the laws. There was the more
need of decisive measures, as the spirit of disaffection
was evidently spreading. At Greensburg, in Westmoreland county, a house in which the state commissioners lodged on their way home had been assailed by;a mob, who demanded entrance, broke the windows,
and were only driven away by threats of being fired
upon. The same feeling had also spread to the east
side of the mountains. At Carlisle, while on their
way home, Judges M'Kean and Yates had required
bonds of certain persons charged with seditious practices in erecting whiskey or liberty poles. Hardly had
they left the town, when two hundred armed men




264          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
marched in, and being disappointed in seizing the
judges, burned them in effigy, and committed other
outrages. There were also signs of similar disturbances in the neighboring counties of Maryland; but
these were soon suppressed by a party of horse, who
made more than a hundred prisoners, most of whom
were committed to Hagerstown jail.
Calmer thoughts, and the news that the troops were
marching against them, soon produced a change of
feeling in the western counties. Bradford and others
of the more violent fled the country. Encouraged by
these symptoms of returning reason, the better disposed caused a new convention to be held at Parkinson's Ferry. Resolutions of submission were passed,
and a declaration was agreed to, that the late failure
in obtaining written pledges was principally owing to
want of time and information, to a prevailing sense of
innocence, and to the idea that to sign the pledge required would imply a confession of guilt. Findley at
last had mustered courage to take a decided part on
the side of order; and he was dispatched, with one
Reddick, to convey these resolutions to the President,
and to stop, if possible, the march of the troops. At
Carlisle these commissioners encountered the advance
of the right wing, five or six thousand strong. Findley, who has left us a very labored apology for himself
and his political friends, under the title of a "History
of the Insurrection," found the troops, as he tells us,
in a high state of excitement against the rebels. Two
persons had been killed already; a man, run through
the body by a soldier, whose bayonet he had seized
when ordered to arrest him for insulting an officer, and
a boy, accidentally shot by one of a party of light horse




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          265
sent to arrest those concerned in the late riot at Carlisle. But in both these cases-and this was the only
blood shed during the expedition-the parties concerned had been delivered over to the civil authorities for
trial, and every effort was made by the President and
the Secretary of the Treasury, both of whom had followed the troops to Carlisle, to preserve the strictest
discipline, and to impress the necessity of avoiding all
unnecessary violence and harshness. Findley, however, who was but just beginning to recover from the
terror of having his buildings burned, or being himself
tarred and feathered, by men whose violence he had
found it much easier to stimulate than to control, seems
to have been not a little frightened, on the other hand,
at the swagger, bluster, and loud words of some of the
militia officers against the whiskey rebels, whose insolent
resistance to the laws had made necessary so long and
fatiguing a march.
The President treated Findlay and his brother embassador with courtesy, and admitted them to several
interviews; but did not see fit, from any evidence which
they exhibited, to countermand the march of the troops.
They hastened back, therefore, to procure more general and unequivocal assurances, which they hoped to
transmit to Bedford, where Washington was again to
meet the right wing, after inspecting the troops on the
left. The Parkinson Ferry Convention, augmented by
many discreet citizens, was again called together for
the third time. Resolutions were passed declaring the
competency of the civil authorities to enforce the laws,
recommending all delinquents who had not already
secured an indemnity to surrender for trial, and expressing the conviction that offices of inspection might
v




266          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
be opened with safety, and that the excise duties would
be paid. Findley hastened back with these resolutions,
but before he reached the army the President had already returned to Philadelphia; Hamilton, however,
remained behind, and was believed to act as the President's deputy. The troops crossed the Alleganies in a
heavy rain, up to their knees in mud, and not without
severe suffering, which occasioned in the end a good
many deaths. The two wings formed a junction at
Uniontown, and, as they advanced into the disaffected
counties, the re-establishment of the authority of the
law became complete. Having arrived at Parkinson's
Ferry, Lee issued a proclamation confirming the amnesty to those who had entitled themselves to it, and
calling upon all the inhabitants to take the oath of
allegiance to the United States.
A few days after, arrangements having been previously made for it, there was a general seizure, by parties
detached for that purpose, of persons supposed to be
criminally concerned in the late transactions. But as
those against whom the strongest evidence existed had
either fled the country or taken advantage of the
amnesty, this seizure fell principally on persons who,
without taking an active part, had been content with
encouraging and stimulating others. Many were dismissed at once for want of evidence; and of those who
were bound over for trial at Philadelphia, the greater
part were afterward acquitted. Among those thus
bound over, Brackenridge was one; but, instead of
being tried, he was used as a witness against the
others. These people complained loudly of the inconvenience to which they had been put, and of the harsh
treatment which, in some few cases, had been experi



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         267
enced at the hands of the military parties by whom
the arrests had been made. But such evils were only
the natural consequences of lying quietly by and allowing resistance to the laws to aggravate itself into
rebellion.
Shortly after the seizure of prisoners, the greater
part of the troops were withdrawn; but a body of
twenty-five hundred men, under Morgan, remained
through the winter encamped in the district. The
advances necessary to sustain the troops in the field
had been made out of a sum in the treasury of about
$800,000, the unexpended balance of the foreign
loans, Congress being trusted to for making good the
deficiency.
About the time that the troops entered the disaffected
counties, an election had taken place, at which were
chosen not only members of the state Assembly, but
members of Congress also. When the Legislature of
Pennsylvania met, a question was raised as to the validity of these elections. Of those returned to the Assembly, Gallatin was one; and he had the greater
interest in the question, since he had been elected at
the same time a member of the fourth Congress, and
that body might be influenced, perhaps, by the example
of the Pennsylvania Assembly. In the course of an
able speech, Gallatin confessed his "political sin" in
having been concerned in the preparation and adoption
of the Pittsburgh resolutions of August 24th, 1792,
which, though not illegal, he admitted to have been
"violent, intemperate, and reprehensible;" but all the
rest of the opposition made to the Excise Law by means
of public meetings he was inclined to justify, and to
shift off the blame of the whole affair upon a few ob



268          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
scure rioters. Order, he maintained, had been substantially re-established before the elections took place.
The Assembly, however, judged differently, and a new
election was ordered.
Of all the prisoners tried before the Circuit Court
at Philadelphia, only two were found guilty of capital
offenses, one of arson, and the other of robbing the
mail, both of whom, from some palliating circumstances,
were ultimately pardoned by the President. According to Findley, Hamilton made great efforts to obtail
evidence against himself, Smilie, and Gallatin. But,
however reprehensible their conduct might have been
in encouraging and stimulating the original opposition to the excise, the late outbreak, as Gallatin maintained in his speech, and Findley afterward at great
length in his History, seems to have been a sudden,
unpremeditated, and, in its particular circumstances,
an accidental thing, with which they had no immediate
concern. They had only prepared the combustibles to
which others set the torch; and they seem to have
exerted themselves with good faith, and Gallatin at
some personal risk, and with a good deal of courage, in
quenching the flame when actually kindled.
The vigor, energy, promptitude, and decision with
which the federal authority had been vindicated; the
general rally in its support, even on the part of many
who had leaned more or less to the opposition; the
reprobation every where expressed against violent resistance to the law; and the subdued tone, especially
of the Democratic societies, made a great addition to
the strength of the government. The Federalists exulted in this energetic display of authority, and Hamilton declared that proof at last had been given of the




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          269
capacity of the government to sustain itself. In that
point of view, both he and Washington considered the
outbreak, however much to be lamented in other respects, as a fortunate occurrence.
In due proportion to the exultation of the Federalists was the vexation of the chief leaders of the opposition; a vexation the keener, because, to a great
extent, it was necessary to withhold the expression of
it. This vexation was largely shared by Fauchet, the
French minister, whose communications on the subject
to his own government contained statements and reflections sufficiently remarkable. In his private dispatch, No. 6, the precise date of which does not appear,
but which must have been written some time in August,
was given, according to an extract afterward furnished
by himself, the following extraordinary piece of information.  "Scarce was the commotion known"-the
disturbances, that is, in the western country-" when
the Secretary of State came to my house. All his
countenance was grief. He requested of me a private
conversation. It is all over, he said to me; a civil
war is about to ravage our unhappy country. Four
men, by their talents, their influence, their energy,
may save it. But debtors of English merchants, they
will be deprived of their liberty if they take the
smallest step. Could you lend them instantaneous
funds sufficient to shelter them from English persecution?"  " This inquiry," the dispatch continued,
"astonished me. It was impossible for me to make a
satisfactory answer. You know my want of power,
and my defect of pecuniary means. I shall draw myself from the affair by some common-place remarks,
V*




270          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
and by throwing myself on the pure and disinterested
principles of the republic."
To this subject Fauchet returned in his dispatch,
No. 10, dated the 31st of October. It commenced with
a sketch of the rise of parties in the United States, in
substantial accordance with the views of Jefferson as
exhibited in previous chapters, and evidently derived
from some one of the Republican party, who had undertaken, as Jefferson himself had in Genet's case, to
initiate Fauchet into " the mysteries" of American
politics. In this initiation, Mr. Secretary Randolph
would seem to have had a principal share, since Fauchet
speaks, in the commencement of the dispatch, of his
" precious confessions" as alone throwing "a satisfactory light upon every thing which comes to pass."
The disturbances in western Pennsylvania were represented by Fauchet as having grown out of political
hostility to Hamilton, and Hamilton himself as taking
the advantage which they afforded to make the President regard as a blow at the Constitution what, in fact,
was only a protest against the minister. Hence the
persistence in enforcing the excise, it being Hamilton's
intention-and this piece of information was ascribed
expressly to Randolph-" to mislead the President into
unpopular courses, and to introduce absolute power
under pretext of giving energy to the government."
Such, according to Fauchet, was the origin of the expedition into the western counties of Pennsylvania.
His disgust at the general co-operation it had called
forth, and at the behavior in the matter of certain
professed Republicans, is sufficiently evinced in what
follows. "Of the governors whose duty it was to appear at the head of the requisitions, the Governor of




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          271
Pennsylvania alone enjoyed the name of Republican.
His opinions of the Secretary of the Treasury and of
his systems were known to be unfavorable. The secretary of this state [Dallas] possessed great influence in
the popular society of Philadelphia, which, in its turn,
influenced those of other states; of course, he merited
attention. It appears that these men, with others unknown to me, were balancing to decide on their party.
Two or three days before the proclamation was published, and, of course, before the cabinet had resolved
on its measures, Mr. Randolph came to see me with an
air of great eagerness, and made to me the overtures
of which I have given an account in my No. 6. Thus,
with some thousands of dollars, the republic could have
decided on civil war or on peace! Thus the consciences of the pretended patriots of America already
have their prices!
" Such, citizens, is the evident consequence of the
system of finances conceived by Mr. Hamilton. He
has made of a whole nation a stock-jobbing, speculating, selfish people. Riches alone here fix the consideration, and, as no one likes to be despised, they are
universally sought after. Nevertheless, this depravity
has not yet embraced the mass of the people. Still
there are patriots of whom I delight to entertain an
idea worthy of that imposing title. Consult Monroe
-he is of this number; he had apprised me of the
men whom the current of events has dragged along as
bodies devoid of weight. His friend Madison is also
an honest man. Jefferson, on whom the patriots cast
their eyes to succeed the President, had foreseen these
crises; he prudently retired in order to avoid making
a figure in scenes the secret of which will, sooner or
later, be brought to light.




272         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
" As soon as it was decided that the French republic
purchased no men to do their duty, there were to be
seen individuals about whose conduct the government
could, at least, form uneasy conjectures, giving themselves up with a scandalous ostentation to its views,
and even seconding its declarations. The popular societies soon emitted resolutions stamped with the same
spirit, which, although they may have been prompted
by love of order, might nevertheless have been omitted,
or uttered with less solemnity. Then were seen coming
from the very men whom we have been accustomed to
regard as having little friendship for the system of the
treasurer, harangues without end, in order to give a
new direction to the public mind."
We shall have occasion to state hereafter the joint
explanation, lamely attempted by Fauchet and Randolph, of the unofficial intercourse between them, disclosed in these extraordinary dispatches. They are
given here, not for any weight to be attached to their
allegations or conjectures, but as going to show the
opinions which Fauchet had imbibed of the state of
politics and the character of individuals, and as tending
to throw light upon subsequent events, by exhibiting
the position in which Randolph really stood to the policy
of the administration and his colleagues in it. It certainly must be confessed that Washington was at least
very unfortunate in the Virginia members of his cabinet.
Among numerous other bugbears suggested by those
who had opposed the use of force against the Pennsylvania insurgents, the danger had been much dwelt upon
that they might cut off the supply of provisions for
the army in the West, thereby exposing it to disbandment or destruction. But as the militia were crossing




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         273
the mountains, news arrived of a complete victory
gained by Wayne over the Indians.
Thus far from Hildreth's History.
Of the leading actors in this insurrection, Gallatin,
Findley, Smilie and Brackenridge, all foreigners by
birth, all subsequently partook largely of Democratic
popular favor; and Bradford alone, a native born, the
bravest, and perhaps the best, among them, fled to
Louisiana, then a Spanish possession.
This outbreak against the law of the land, though
very objectionable both in its origin and purpose, and
though suppressed without bloodshed, was expensive
and rather burdensome to our young country, with its
new and untried constitution, but was certainly not injurious to Western Pennsylvania. Among the volunteers who came out to suppress the insurrection, were
many young enterprising mechanics, young men just
passing out their apprenticeships, and on the look out
for homes. Many of them were well pleased either
with Pittsburgh or the country around, and at this day,
large numbers of our citizens are the descendants of
persons who made their first visits here as volunteers
against the whiskey insurgents.
The victory of Wayne on the 20th of August, 1794,
over the combined forces of the Indians, his pursuit of
them even to the gates of the British fort, the destruction of McKee's house and the Indian cornfields close
to that fort, and his very decided correspondence with
the British commandant, broke the spirit of the Indians, and led to the treaty of Greenville, by which
the Indian title to the eastern portion of the State of
Ohio was ceded to the United States. This removed
all danger of hostile incursions in this neighborhood,
and thus, also, contributed to the advance of this place.




274              HISTORY   OF PITTSBURGH.
CHAPTER XIII.
Letter from Cornplanter; preparations by James O'Hara and Isaac Craig
to erect first Glass-works; letter from Major Craig on the subject;
First paper-mill west of the mountains; winter 1796-7 very severe;
river long closed by ice; death of General Wayne; stormy weather at
Erie; death of Shawanese chief Mio-qua-coo-na-caw at Pittsburgh;
inscription on his tomb stone; number of inhabitants in Pittsburgh,
in 1796, according to a statement in the Gazette, probably erroneous
and exaggerated; list of houses in the place, in 1796, made out from
memory; houses in Pittsburgh in 1786; population in 1800; description of the appearance of the ground fifty years ago; James O'Hara
introduces Onondaga Salt; changes in Salt trade; two armed gallies
built; yellow fever in Philadelphia; contribution here for relief of dis
tressed poor in that city; impeachment of Judge Addison; ship building
here; branch of Pennsylvania bank here; first stage line; Turnpike
road proposed; Steam Flouring mill erected; the first Steam-boat built
here; Pittsburgh Rolling mill erected; Bank of Pittsburgh chartered;
Pennsylvania canal began and finished; the great freshet; improvement of the Monongahela by Locks and Dams; improvement of the
Youghiogany in the same manner; Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad
began and twecty eight miles finished.
In the winter of 1795, a correspondence took place
which, though not connected immediately with the
history of our place, may merit preservation on account
of one of the parties concerned in it. Major Thomas
Butler, then commanding at Franklin, had informed
Major Craig, that the very worthy and excellent
Seneca chief, Cornplanter or Gyantawachia, as his
name was spelt, in signing a treaty, had at his Saw-mill,
a large quantity of boards; an article much wanted
for the service of the public. The Major, therefore,
immediately     dispatched   Marcus Hulings, an experi



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         275
enced waterman, with three bags of money, and some
other articles, up the river to his place, to purchase all
his lumber. Hearing, next day, that some private
persons had gone on the same errand, the Major dispatched James Beard, a trusty person on horse back
with a letter, informing Cornplanter of Huling's object.
Beard arrived in time and secured the lumber. The
following is the reply of Cornplanter, given verbatim
et literatim:
GENESADEGO, 3d December, 1795.
I thank the States for making me such kind ofers.
We have made peace with the United States as long as
watter runs, which was the reason that I built a mill in
order to suport my family by it. More so, because I
am geting old and not able to hunt. I also thank the
States for the pleashure I now feel in meeting them
again in friendship, you have sent a man to make a
bargain with me for a sertain time which I donot like
to do' But as long as my mill makes boards the United States shall always have them in preference to any
other, at the market price, and when you want no
more boards I cant make blankets of them. As for
the money you have sent if I have not boards to the
amount, leave it and I will pay it in boards in the
Spring.
I thank you kindly for the things you have sent me,
I would thank Major Craig or Col. Butler to let Col.
Pickering and Gen. Washington know that there is a
grate deal of damage done in this country by Liquor,
Capt. Brant has kiled his son and other chiefs has done
the same, and when the drink was gone and they began
to think on the horid crime they had comited, they
resigned their comand in the Nation; two Chiefs has




276         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
been kiled, the one at fort Franklin the other at Genesee, I have sent a speech to the States conserning the
Chief killed at Franklin, and has been waiting all
sumer to receive pay for him, but can see no sign of
its coming, I am by my self to bear all the burden of
the people. Now father take pitty on me and send
me 40 dollars worth of black Wampum and 10 of
of white, and I expect to see it in two monthes and an
half, as I must make new Chiefs with it again that
time, to help me. I wish to hear from my son and
what progress he is making in his learning, and as soon
as he is learned enough I want him at home to manage
my business for me, I will leave it all to my father,
Gen. Washington, to judge when he is learned enough.
My compliments to my father and the United States,
and I wish it was posible for me to live forever in the
United States.                  his
Capt. X 0. BEAL.
mark.
In the spring of the following year, arrangements
began to be made by James O'Hara and Isaac Craig,
for the erection of the first Glass-works here. Wm.
Eichbaum, Superintendent of Glass-works at the
Schuylkill, near Philadelphia, was engaged to direct
the erection of works. As this was an important experiment, the following letter from Major Craig giving
an account of the very first movement, may be worth
preserving.
PITTSBURGH, June 12th, 1797.
After your departure, I furnished Mr. Eichbaum
with laborers and the necessary tools for digging and
probing the hills near the Saw-mill and up the run as
high as the manor line; considerable time and labor




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          277
were spent without any other discovery than a stratum
of coal from twelve to thirteen inches only. I then
took Mr. Eichbaum up the Coal-hill and showed him
the coal pits called Ward's pits, and the lots on which
they are, with all of which, he was well pleased, both
as to situation and convenience of materials for building. I, therefore, immediately purchased of Ephraim
Jones, the house and lot near the spring for one hundred pounds and have made application to Ephraim
Blaine for the two adjoining lots, which no doubt, I
will get on reasonable terms. These three lots are
quite sufficient, and we are now quarrying lime and
building stone, both of which are found on the lot.
James Irwin is engaged to do the carpenter work;
scantling for the principal building is now sawing,
four log-house carpenters are employed in providing
timber for the other buildings, and I am negotiating
with a mason for the stone work.
"Col. James O'Hara, Detroit."
The saw-mill referred to in the above letter must
have been up the run at the upper end of Allegheny
city, for in no other direction near Pittsburgh could
they have failed to find a vein of coal of a proper
depth. The line called the "manor line," was, no
doubt, the line of the reserved tract. The lots spoken
of were those now owned by Frederick Lorenz.
Such was the commencement of that business, which
is now carried on so extensively here. Major Craig,
who embarked so promptly in the work, did not partake
of its profits, the reason why has never been generally
known. The extracts from his correspondence, which
our task has called forth, proves him to have been a
man of energy and enterprise, and his means, then
w




278          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
were very ample; but his brother-in-law, Presley Neville, by no means a man of business, became alarmed
at the uncertainty of the result, and -this alarni very
naturally extended itself to his sister, the wife of
Major Craig, and thus lead to an abandonment of his
interest in the Glass-works, after a partnership of
seven years..
In the year 179X, Samiel Jacksor and Jonathan
Sharpless, botth -echianiis: of -the:Sbiety of Friends,
who had been raised near fte pIaper:jnll on the Brandywine, erected and put i;it.9 operation the " Redstone
paper-mill," near, -Brownsville. This.was the first
manufactQry. of the, kind west -of'tie mountains.  The
Pittsburgh Gazette was immediately published on paper
from that mill and was no longer subject to the uncertainty of supplies froJn east of the mountains.
The winter of 1796-7; was one of uncommon severity, the rivers here closed with ice oh the night of the
23d of.November, 1796, and remained closed until the
3d.FFebruary, 1797.
On the 15th-of December, 17.96,.eneral Anthony
Wayne died at Erie, and-a letter from Major Kirkpatrick, who attended' at-his death bed, speaks of the
weather as stormy and severe beyond example.
On the 25th of December, Captain Shaumburgh,
with a party of Shawanese and WyVandot chiefs and
their interpreters, arrived here onItheir way home from
Philadelphia. Among these chiefs were Red Pole and
Blue Jacket.  They were detained -here by the ice, and
during their stay the former was taken sick and
though faithfully attended by Dr. Bedford and Dr.
Carmichael of the army, he died on the 28th of February, greatly regretted by the other chiefs and all




HISTORY OF PITTSBULI.a'.        27.9
who knew him. Ile was buried in that portion of the
ground on Wrood street which now forms the Episcopal
grave yard, and the following inscription was placed
upon his tomb stone by the order of Government:
MIO-QUA-COO-NA-CAW
or
RED POLE;
Priieipal Village Cihief
of theShowihnese: Nation;
Died:'at Pittsburgh the 28th January, 1797,
Lamented by the
United States,
In. tie'Pittburgh Gazette, of January 9th, 1796,
we find the following statement:.' The number of inhabitants in the borough of' Pittiburgh,- as taken,by:the. assessors" last week,
"-amounts to one thousand three hundred: and ninety-:'five."
This is the earliest authentic account of our popu1tion,, and:it may be well to tarry a while and notice
the condition and appearance' of- this, place at' that
time., The nurmbe of inhabiftahts at six to each house
upn an average, would give two hundred and thirtytwo houses, and although' the'writer's memory goes
baeklpr-etty distinctly to that time, he cannot conceive
where that number of houses could then be found.
I -liave-tasked my own:m'emory severely, and with the
alA of one wlihoe recolIectifon is more distinct than
lmy twn, have made out':tle foHowing enumeration of
tlie houses in Pittsburgh, about-the time above mentioned:




280          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
On Penn street, East of Fort Pitt-Colonel Wm.
Butler, Jas. O'Hara, Daniel M'Henry,          3
Liberty street-Cecils and Dr. Bedford,          2
On the Diamond-Blackbear tavern, Geo. M'Gunnigle, Wi. Denning,                           8
Market street-Old jail corner of 4th, John Irwin,
Molly Murphy, Brady's smith shop, corner of
3rd, Horner's, corner of 2nd, Brackenridge's,
Mowry's; Ewalt's and Christy's, corner of Water, 10
Water street-P. Neville's, M'Intire's, Scull's,
Wilmer's, Duncan's, J. Irwin, John Ormsby's,
S. Sample's, John Neville's, Craig's, Redout,
Kirkpatrick's, O'Hara's, Tannehill's, green tree
tavern, Ferry house, Ross', Audrain's,       18
Wood street-John Wilkins, jr., John Wilkins, sr.,
Henderson, Sturgeon's, Palmer's log house,
Rody M'Kinney,                                7
Ferry street-Devereux Smith, Diehl's, Funk's,
Charles Richards' and two other log houses,
Willock's,                                    7
Front street-Ward's, M. Adams, Geo. Adams,
Hanlon's, stone house, Larwills', Cooper's, Watson's log tavern, Delany's,                  10
Second street, (East of Market,)-McNickle's,
Mrs. Elliot, H. Reed, Nicholson's, Hanna's,
Addison,                                      6
Second street, (West of Market,)-Fox Gibson's,
Chambers', Gen. Gibson's, (the first brick house,)
Turnbull's stone house, M'Laughlin's, Jinny
Lang's, Ben. Askins, Major Irwin's,           9
Third street-Ben. Richard's,                    1
Fourth street, (West of Market,)-Ha mshers',
M'Cord's,                                     2




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         281
Fourth street, (East of Market,)-2 one story log
houses, where Larimer's office now stands, two
story log house where Beale's house stands,
small log house East of Pittsburgh Bank, Granny Irwin's log house, Engleman's, David Hogg,
Jones, Marie's, still standing, now Ross',  9
Fifth street-(Battle Row between Wood and
Smithfield,) Riley, Cogan, Tom Vaughan and,
two or three more,                          5
Fifth street, (West of Wood,)-Leightenberger
and two others,                             3
Marbury stfeet-Gen. Richard Butler,           1
Bouquet's old Redout,                         1
In Fort Pitt, four or five,                   4
102
In this list, I do not think, there are five houses
overlooked; and allowing eight to a house, the population would be a little over eight hundred.
In Nile's Register, vol. 30, page 436, it is stated,
but n) authority given, that "Pittsburgh, in 1786,
contained thirty-six log houses, one stone and one
frame house and five small stores." The detail and
particularity of this statement would seem to give it
some credibility.
The census of 1800, gives Pittsburgh fifteen hundred
and sixty-five inhabitants; thus showing an increase
from 1796, of only one hundred and seventy, in four
years, and yet in the next ten years, to 1810, the increase was three thousand two hundred and three.
We would be pleased if we could give our readers
an adequate conception of the situation and appearance of the plain on which our city stands, at the time
w*




282         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
of the first assessment, or even many years later.
Those who see Pittsburgh in its present, not very
pleasant aspect, can scarcely imagine its former ragged and broken appearance. We shall attempt to
describe it.
The ramparts of Fort Pitt were still standing, and
a portion of the officer's quarters, a substantial brick
building was used as a malt house, the gates
were gone, and the brick wall called the revetment
which supported two of the ramparts facing towards
the town, and against which the officers and soldiers
used to play ball, were gone; so that the earth
all around had assumed the natural slope. Out side
of the fort on the side next the Allegheny river, was
a large deep pond, the frequent resort of wild ducks.
Along the south side of Liberty street and extending
from the foot of Diamond alley to the foot of Fourth
street was another pond, from which a deep ditch lead
the water into a brick arch way, leading from Front
street just below Redout alley into the Monongahela.
By whom this arch way was built, I have never
learned. It was no trifling work. The writer when
a boy has often passed through it. The sides, which
were from three to four feet high, and the top, were
of hard burnt bricks; the bottom of flag stones. Before it was made, there must have been a deep gully
extending up from the river below Redout alley; and
I have supposed, that when Colonel Grant built the
Redout on the bank of the river just above that gully,
he probably had the arch way or culvert constructed
to facilitate the communication between the Redout
and Fort Pitt.
South of Market street, between Front and Water




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         283
streets, was another pond, and still another in the
square in front of the St. Charles Hotel. Finally,
there was Hogg's Pond, extending along the north
side of Grant's Hill from Fourth street up to Seventh.
From this last there was a low, ugly drain extending
down nearly parallel to Wood street to the river. A
stone bridge was built across this gully in Front street,
probably soon after the borough was incorporated; because without it the gully would be very difficult to
pass.
We have now a beautiful landing along the Monongahela from the bridge to the Point. Fifty years, nay
even thirty years ago, nothing could be less pleasing
to the eye than the rugged, irregular bank. From the
bridge down to near Wood street, the distance from
the lots to the break of the bank was from sixty to
seventy feet. Wood street was impassable, when the
river was moderately high. From Wood to Market,
the distance from the lots to the break of the bank was
fifty or sixty feet. At Market street, there was a deep
gully worn into the bank, so that a wagon could barely
pass along. At the mouth of Chancery lane, there
was another chasm in the bank, so that a horse could
not pass between the post at the corner of the lot and
the precipitous bank. At the mouth of Ferry street,
there was another similar contraction of the way, so
that it required very careful driving for a wagon to
pass along. At Redout alley there was quite a steep
and stony descent down to the level of the covered
archway of which I have before spoken. Below that
archway the space between the lots and the break of
the bank, nowhere exceeded twenty feet, and between
Short and West streets it varied from fifteen feet to




284         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
five. Between West street, Water street was closed
by a fence, extending to the foot of the bank; so that
persons, going to Jones' ferry from any place on Water
street, had either to climb down the steep bank and go
along the beach, or else turn up from Water to Front
and pass along it to Liberty.
Such was Pittsburgh less than fifty years ago. No
doubt, the next fifty years will produce as much improvement as the last.
About the beginning of the year 1796, James
O'Hara, who was then Quarter Master General, and
had occasion to visit Niagara, there ascertained that
Salt from the Onondaga works, in New York, could be
furnished on the Ohio cheaper than from Baltimore.
Salt from New York was subsequently brought in large
quantities by the way of the Lake, to Erie, and thence
by Le Bceuf and French creek to Pittsburgh and the
Ohio. This supply was continued until about 1810,
when the Kenhawa salt began to come into competition
with the product of the New York works, and finally
the war of 1812 cut off entirely the supply from the
latter.
Finally the opening of salt works on the Allegheny
and Kiskeminitas, has produced another revolution in
the salt trade and that article once more finds its way
down the Ohio.
In 1797, our affairs with France assumed a very
alarming aspect, the hostile and insolent deportment
of the Directory of that country seemed to be fast
driving matters to the last resort of an injured nation.
Congress, therefore, found it necessary to make preparations for an appeal to arms, and under the provisions of the laws then passed, the first vessels compe



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         285
tent to a sea voyage were built here. We find the
following notices of them written at that time.
Extract of a letter from Major Craig, dated 25th
May, 1798. " On the 19th instant, the Gally, President Adams, was launched and is now at anchor in the
Allegheny. She will be completely equipped in a few
days, and will, I am confident, be as fine a vessel of
her burthen and construction as the United States
possess.
" The keel of the second galley is laid and other
materials all prepared."
Extract from same, dated 8th June, 1798. " The
Commander-in-Chief (Gen. Wilkinson,) and his suite
have embarked this morning, and will be under way in
a few minutes. The galley to lead the van, followed
by six large flat bottom boats and several small craft."
Same, dated 27th July, 1798. "The Gally (Senator Ross,) is ready to launch, but not water enough to
float her. The river is said to be lower than ever
known at this season. I am sorry that the Senator
Ross is not on the Mississippi with the President
Adams."
Same, dated 13th October, 1798. "The rivers here
still continued to fall, and are now said to be twelve
inches lower than ever before known."
The river continued low until closed by ice, so that
the Galley, Senator Ross, was not launched until the
spring of 1799, of which we find the following notice
in a letter from Major Craig to James M'Henry, the
Secretary of War, dated 5th April, 1799.
" The Galley, Senator Ross, has been launched, and
is now rigged, and will in a few days be fully equipped
for the Mississippi. She is anchored in the Mononga



286          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
hela abreast of the town. She is certainly a fine piece
of naval architecture, and one which will far exceed
anything which the Spaniards can show on the Mississippi."
During the summer and fall of 1798, the yellow
fever raged in Philadelphia. It was, therefore, gratifying to find the following intelligence in a letter from
Major Craig to Samuel Hogdon, of that city, dated
November 9th, 1798. "The inhabitants of our little
town have not been unmindful of the distresses occasioned by that awful scourge to your poor citizens.
A subscription paper has been set on foot and sums
collected for their relief amounting to nearly five hundred dollars, which will shortly be remitted."
In 1802, Pittsburgh and the country around it were
greatly excited by the impeachment of Alexander Addison, the President Judge of the Judicial District, a
man of great talent, of extensive learning, and undoubted integrity. He was, perhaps too impatient in
his temper, not sufficiently courteous to his demagogical colleague, and thus afforded ground for an impeachment.
In the very able and manly speech of the Judge in
his own defense, we find the following passage:
"A gentleman, of whose praise even a proud man
"might be vain, handed me the following note:
" During the twelve years of your presidency, there
"has been no bill of exceptions, no writ of error on.a
"demurrer, or case put upon the record, no second
"ejectment, except in two instances, (one of which has
"been affirmed, the other not yet tried,) though on an
"average more than forty ejectments are tried every
"year. Perhaps this evidence of confidence' in the




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         287
"opinion of the Court cannot be found in any other
"part of Pennsylvania, of the United States or of
i any other country."
Party spirit, then ran exceedingly high, and a pretext was only wanting to the Democratic party, to get
rid of an honest man and able judge, whose charges had
received the emphatic approval of Washington.
The Legislature of Pennsylvania, therefore, under
the influence of a most intolerant spirit inflicted the
highest penalty in its power upon an offence of the
most venial character, and where there was no imputation of a want of integrity. For a mere want of
courtesy, was a worthy man prosecuted and found
guilty, and the citizens of the Judicial District deprived of the services of a man of most peculiar fitness
for his station, and of integrity so bright and clear,
that, even, his most bitter enemies never doubted it.
It was within the power of the Pennsylvania Legislature to make the most emphatic commentary on its
own conduct, and to exhibit in the strongest light their
own harsh and arbitrary decision in the case of Judge
Addison; and this commentary and exhibition were
afforded in the acquittal of Judge Franks a few years
after.
From 1802 to 1805, four ships; Pittsburgh, Louisiana, Gen. Butler and Western Trader; three brigs,
Dean, Nanina and Black Walnut, and three schooners,
Amity, Allegheny and Conquest, were built here.
About the same time the Monongahela Farmer and
Ann Jane, were built at Elizabethtown.
On the first day of January, 1804, a branch of the
Bank of Pennsylvania was established here, in the
stone building on the east side of Second street, be



288         HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
tween Ferry street and Chancery lane. In this same
year the first Iron Foundry was erected here, by
Joseph McClurg.
In May, 1805, the first stage started from Pittsburgh
to Chambersburgh, and in the beginning of May,
1806, the first advertisement of the Commissioners for
the construction of a Turnpike road, fiom Pittsburgh
to Harrisburgh, appeared in the Pittsburgh papers.
In 1809, the Steam Flouring Mill was erected at
the corner of Water street and Redout alley, by Oliver
and Owen Evans.
The first steamboat built here was the New Orleans;
she was built under the superintendence of Mr. Rosevelt, for Messrs. Fulton & Livingston of New York.
She was a boat of one hundred and thirty-eight feet
keel and calculated for about four hundred tons burthen. She was launched in March, 1811, and landed
at Natchez in December, where she took in loading
and passengers for the first time, and proceeded to
New Orleans.
In 1812, the Rolling Mill, on the corner of Penn
street and Cecil's alley, was erected by Christopher
Cowan.
In 1814, the Bank of Pittsburgh was incorporated.
On the 18th of March, 1816, the act was passed
erecting Pittsburgh into a city and body corporate, by
the name and style of the "Mayor, Aldermen and
citizens of Pittsburgh."
In 1819, the Monongahela Bridge was built and the
St. Clair street Bridge over the Allegheny. Since
that time two other bridges and an aqueduct have
been built over the Allegheny river. The first aqueduct has also been taken down and a new one on the




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         289
suspension principle built in its stead. The Monongahela bridge was burnt in the great fire of April 10th,
1845, and a new and very substantial one, on the
suspension principle, erected in its stead.
The Pennsylvania Canal was commenced in 1826,
and the first canal boat arrived at Pittsburgh on the
10th day of November, A. D. 1829.
In February, 1832, was the great freshet in the Ohio,
when it rose to a greater height at Pittsburgh than
was ever before known by the oldest inhabitants, and
committed great destruction along its banks.
In the year 1843, the improvement of the Monongahela river, by locks and dams, was commenced, and
on the 13th day of November, A. D., 1844, it was
formally opened to the National road, at Brownsville,
and has ever since formed the route of a large amount
of travel and transportation.
On the 7th day of November, 1850, the improvement of the Youghiogany river, in a manner similar
to that which has been so thoroughly tried and approved on the Monongahela, being previously completed, a great celebration of the opening of the
navigation to West Newton took place. Since that
time the navigation has been interrupted but a few
days by the ice, ard the work promises to be of great
advantage to our city, and especially after the completion of the plank road from West Newton to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, at Cumberland.
In 1848, the Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad was
begun, and in July, 1851, it was openedto New Brighton, in Beaver county, twenty-eight miles, with most
encouraging prospects up to this time, September,
1851.
x




290          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
CHAPTER XIV.
Ejectments against O. Ormsby and Snowden, Barclay and Cotter. Proceedings for the removal of Obstructions on Water street below West
street.
I have reserved for the last chapter of this history,
some transactions which have exercised a very important influence upon the interests and the growth of our
city. These transactions extended over a series of
years from about 1814 down to about 1835 or 6. I
have preferred not touching upon these matters at all
until I could devote to them a separate chapter and
thus dispose of them continuously.
In the month of May and June, 1784, as I have before stated, the town of Pittsburgh was laid out in lots,
streets and alleys. On-the face of the plat, the lots
were all numbered, and the size of each stated, the
width of the alleys was given, as was that of all the
streets, except Water street. On one side of that were
the lots commencing at the point or junction of the
rivers and extending up to Grant street, between these
lots and the Monongahela river, there was no line
drawn or laid down on the plat, nothing at all to indicate, that there was to be a street of any regular, definite width between these lots and the river. There
was an irregular space, wide up at Grant street, but
gradually and irregularly growing narrower towards
the point.
On this long, straggling, ragged strip, were written
the words "WATER STREET."     At Grant street, the




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         291
space between the lots and the break of the high bank
was seventy or seventy-five feet, sufficient for a wide
street; but at Ferry street the space was not fifty feet
wide, and from Redout alley it gradually decreased
from about twenty feet to four or five or less. Such
was the appearance of Water street as shown on the
plat of the town made by the proprietaries' surveyor,
and approved by their agent. A copy of that plat
was kept in the office of the Penns, in Philadelphia,
and all the deeds to purchasers referred to it for the
numbers and boundaries of the lots purchased.
The agent of the proprietaries had also a list of all
the property of the Penns in the Manor of Pittsburgh,
mentioning the lots and farms, in which there was not
the slightest intimation of any spot of ground between
Water street and the river. For about thirty years
from 1784 to 1814 or 1815, the proprietaries or their
agents never pretended to have any such claim.
About the time last mentioned, however, some greedy, unprincipled speculators, went to John R. Coates,
the agent of the Penns, and induced him to execute to
them a deed fo: all the land between Water street and
the Monongahela river, without mentioning any length
or breadth, for the consideration of ten thousand dollars. Of this ten thousand dollars not one dime was
paid; but a mortgage was given on the purchased property. Upon this title suit was brought against Oliver
Ormsby, who happened to have a hoisting machine
extending over the bank in front of lot number 183.
The city of Pittsburgh assumed the defense in that
case; it was tried in Pittsburgh before the late judge
Walker. It was very ably argued by the late judge
Baldwin for the plaintiffs, and by James Ross, Esq.




292          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
for defendant. A verdict was rendered in favor of
defendant. A second Ejectment was soon after instituted in the same court, against the Mayor, Street
Commissioner and Wharfmaster of the city of Pittsburgh; and William Wilkins being the judge, a pretext
or reason for its removal was furnished, and the cause
was taken to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The case was tried before judge Washington, in Philadelphia, in April, 1829.  Baldwin, Sergeant and
cey for plaintiffs; Joseph R. Ingersol and Charles
Smith for defendants.
The ground of the plaintiffs' claim was in substance
as follows: That the public had a right of way of reasonable width along the bank of the river Monongahela,
although the title to the soil remained in the proprietaries, that sixty feet was a sufficient width, and that
they (the plaintiffs) had a title upon which they could
sustain their ejectment for the ground between the
river and a line sixty feet from the line of the lots.
In support of their claim the plaintiffs offered in
evidence a Deed from the proprietaries to Craig and
Bayard, for the thirty two lots between West, Liberty
and Marbury streets and the rivers. In this deed the
lots were all distinguished by the numbers given on
the plat, but instead of Water street, the Mon ngahela
river, was given as the southern boundary.
They also read in evidence the deed of John Ormsby,
for lot "marked number 183, in the plan of said
town," but the southern boundary, instead of Water
street, is said to be the Monongahela river.
On the part of the defendants, several plats of the
town made out by Vickroy, at the time of the survey,
and also the plat kept in the office of the agent of the
proprietaries were offered in evidence. The deposi



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          293
tions of Ewalt and Finley, who were present when the
survey was made, both of whom stated that at the
time, objections were made by the inhabitants that
Water street was too narrow and that George Woods,
the principal Surveyor, declared that "Water street
would be left open to the river, that the citizens might
use it as landings, &c. That the people would be digging cellars, &c., and that they might extend the street
out to low water mark."
The defendants, also, offered in evidence the article
of agreement between the proprietaries and Craig and
Bayard, executed before the town was laid out; and argued that although this article might preclude the grantors from cutting up the ground previously sold, without
the consent of the purchasers, yet it would not prevent
them from cutting up the balance of the town scite as
they pleased. The first sale to Craig and Bayard, embraced only a portion of the seventeen lots along the Allegheny, from the Point to about Marbury street. The
deed embraced the whole of those lots besides fifteen
others, extending from Penn street to West, and from
Marbury street to Water street, or as the deed expressed it to the Monongahela river.
There was much other evidence, but the foregoing
summary embraces the most material. The cause was
argued with extraordinary zeal and spirit by Mr. Baldwin, and with remarkable ingenuity by Mr. Sergeant
for plaintiffs, and with great ability by Mr. Smith and
Joseph R. Ingersol for defendants.
The charge of Judge Washington, which, I believe,
was the last he ever delivered, was strongly in favor
of the plaintiffs, and a verdict and judgment were
given accordingly.
X*




294          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Various exceptions were taken to the charge and the
cause was taken by writ of error to the Supreme Court
of the United States.
In January term, 1832, the case was argued in that
Court, and the opinion of the Court was given by
Judge McLean, reversing the judgment below and remanding the cause for further proceedings.
This opinion can be seen at large in Hazard's Register, vol. 9, page 202 to 206, to which we refer our
readers.
The case, then, went back to the Eastern district of
Pennsylvania. In the mean time Judge Washington
had died and Joseph Hopkinson, who had been employed originally as counsel for the defendants, was
appointed the successor of the deceased Judge. Thus
again a pretext or a reason for another removal was
afforded, and the case was transferred to the Maryland
district, where Chief Justice Taney presided.
It is not at all probable that the plaintiffs entertained any hopes of success in opposition to the very clear
and decided opinion of the Court. It is most likely
that they wished to keep the case pending with a faint
hope of a compromise or with a reliance upon the
chapter of accidents. The case, however, was vigorously pressed by Wm. Wilkins, the counsel for defendants, and finally this claim was for ever exploded by
the plaintiffs taking a non-suit.
Thus our city, after a long and very vexatious, as
well as expensive litigation, foiled a band of greedy
speculators in an attempt to contract Water street, to
interpose a line of lots between lots, which had been
purchased in the belief that they were to have open
fronts to the river, and the Monongahela river, and to




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         295
deprive us forever of that landing place which is now
so beautiful and commodious, so convenient for commerce, and so productive of revenue to our city.
While the before mentioned cases were pending in the
United States Court, other proceedings arising out of
the condition of Water street, were taking place in
Pittsburgh and our State courts. Under the equivocal
description of the western boundary of the lots embraced in Craig and Bayard's purchase; the owners of
those lots, subsequent to the first purchasers, had encroached upon Water street. James O'Hara, for instance, had extended his fence over the bank and down
to the beach of the Monongahela. Samuel Black, had
a large frame house and John McDonald, Esq., a brick
house on the north side of Liberty street, both of
which encroached far upon Water street; so that that
street seemed to end at West street, and persons desiring to go to Jones' Ferry, at the end of Liberty street,
with wagons or carriages, were compelled to get into
Liberty street, and then follow it to the river.
In 1827, the Councils of Pittsburgh passed a resolution directing the City Solicitor to take measures to
open Water street to the Point. In obedience to these
instructions the Solicitor took with him the Street
Commissioner and some of his hands and cut down and
removed that portion of the fences which encroached
upon the street, and then entered prosecutions against
McDonald and Black for nuisance, in obstructing the
public highway. In contempt of the vulgar adage,
"that dog will not eat dog," the Solicitor urged on the
prosecution against Mr. McDonald, it was tried before
Judge Duncan and a verdict rendered against defendant and judgment entered. It was then taken to the




296          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, where the judgment
was affirmed, and immediately after John McDonald,
with characteristic promptitude and manliness, set
hands to tear down all that portion of his house which
extended beyond the line of Water street. Black,
soon after did the same, and thus Water street was
permitted to stretch itself out to that full length which
the proprietaries intended to give it.
These cases, the ejectments, and the prosecutions for
obstructing the street, were such important events in
in our history, and in their results were so beneficial
to our city, that I have considered it advisable to give
full accounts of them, believing that they will be read
with interest.
CHAPTER XV.
Advantages of the City of Pittsburgh and vicinity for Manufacturing
and Commercial purposes.
In the course of our history, it has been shown that
the position of Pittsburgh, at the head of the Ohio
river, and the most convenient to the sea board, of all
on that great tributary of the mighty Mississippi, was
at a very distant day regarded both by France and
Great Britain, as well as by Pennsylvania and Virginia, as a very important one. Scarcely had the white
man shown his pale face in the great western valley,




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          297
before this position became a bone of contention between the European States and neighboring colonies.
Any intelligent man who has before him a map of
the United States, who casts his eye over it and fixes
his attention upon the point at the head of the Ohio,
will at once feel that it must be a very advantageous
location for a great city, unless there exist some natural obstruction, such as lofty precipitous mountains,
or insuperable, miasmatic swamps. Neither of these
exist at the head of the Ohio. We have, it is true,
some lofty hills, but they do not so entirely cover the
ground, as to exclude the sites of one or more great
cities; and even those hills contain veins, of rich bituminous coal, limestone, and extensive quarries of building stone, while their sides are covered with valuable
timber and their surfaces, not only with timber, but a
most luxuriant soil.
As to miasma, there is not and never has been any
thing of the kind; probably no city in the country is
more healthy than Pittsburgh and Allegheny. Cholera
has visited our city four or five different years; but in
all that time the deaths from that disease have not
equalled those of a single week in one of our more
western cities. Deeming this a matter of great interest, I have procured a communication upon the subject.
from a physician of much experience here.
These, then, are four of the natural advantages of
our city, a commanding position at the head of the
great valley of the Mississippi, a luxuriant soil, valuable materials for the use of the inhabitants and a most
salubrious climate.
The intelligent man who has cast his eye over the
map of the United States, and who has, at first sight,




298          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
been struck with the commanding point at the head of
the Ohio, cannot, upon further examination, fail to
notice the remarkable manner in which nature herself
has created for this place avenues of trade and intercourse with all the country around.
The small diagram of the country around the head
of the Ohio, exhibits to the reader more distinctly than
a general map can do, the remarkable manner in which
the country around us is intersected by navigable
streams. At this point the Monongahela river, bearing its tribute of water from the South, comes to meet
the lovely Allegheny flowing from the North, and by
their union form the magnificent Ohio. There these
two streams, one coming from the cold North, the other
from the balmy South, seem like too long arms extended at their full length to draw hither all the products
of their extensive valleys. A few miles south of their
junction, the Youghiogany river pours its waters into
the Monongahela, a few miles northward the Kiskeminitas bears to the Allegheny the drainage of an
extensive valley; while a few miles westward the Beaver
river, collecting its tribute from the vicinity of the
lakes and from the fertile plains of eastern Ohio, aids
to swell the current of the already magnificent river,
produced by the union of the Allegheny and Monongahela. Look again at our diagram, notice how all
these various rivers, and other streams, which elsewhere would be called rivers seem to converge to this
point, thus cutting up the region around us, affording
ready and cheap means of intercourse with our cities
and towns, and forming convenient routes of artificial
improvements either by canals, locks and dams, rail
roads, plank roads or other works.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         299
I ask the attention of distant readers, to the little
diagram, while I point out a few of the more important artificial works which have been constructed to
multiply the means of intercourse with our " City of
three rivers," meaning to include in that name, both
our cities and the adjoining boroughs.
One of the most important of these artificial improvements is the Pennsylvania canal. This great
work has a double terminus, one in the city of Pittsburgh into the Monongahela river; the other in the
city of Allegheny into the Allegheny river, uniting in
the upper end of the latter city, the canal thence pursues its course along the western bank of that river
twenty-nine miles, to a point, a short distance above
the mouth of the Kiskeminitas river, where it passes
by means of a substantial aqueduct, to the eastern
bank of the Allegheny, and then follows the Kiskeminitas and Conemaugh to Johnstown, about seventytwo miles. From the latter place by means of rail
roads and canals, easy communication is afforded with
Baltimore, Philadelphia, and all the other sea-board
cities, and by this route a very large and annually increasing business is carried on.
Up the Allegheny river itself for more than one
hundred miles above the Kiskeminitas, fine steamboats,
of a smaller class than those running on the Ohio, regularly ply and carry on the business of exchanging
the products of the mines, the fields and the forests of
the rich valley of the Allegheny, for those of the
shops and manufactories of our cities and of foreign
countries.
Along this same river, descend immense rafts containing many millions of feet of the beautiful white




300          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
and yellow pine, hemlock and other timber, and hundreds of large flat boats laden with the blooms, the
metal and the agricultural products of the great region
watered by that stream and its many extensive tributaries. Returning to Pittsburgh, we ascend the Monongahela by its excellent slackwater improvement,
eighteen miles to M'Keesport, at the mouth of the
Youghiogany river, passing on our way dozens of coal
mines and railroads, all busily engaged in supplying to
consumers the rich and valuable bituminous coal with
which the entire region is filled. At M'Keesport, we
have a choice either to follow the Monongahela, by the
same slack-water improvement, thirty-eight miles farther to Brownsville, the point at which the National
road crosses that river, and from whence there is an
easy and rapid communication with the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad, at Cumberland, or we may follow the
Youghiogany river, which is also improved by locks
and dams, to West Newton, from which place a plank
road is now being rapidly constructed to Cumberland.
The Monongahela river in its slight descent and
gentle current presents great facilities and strong inducements for the extension of the slack-water improvement far above Brownsville, and exertions are
now making to carry the improvement up to Fairmount,
in Virginia, where the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
crosses it. Upon both sides of the river from Brownsville up, the country is well settled, several towns and
many villages are dotted along its bank, and there can
be no reasonable doubt, that the improvement will, ere
long, be extended to Fairmount.
From Pittsburgh we sally forth once more, descending the Ohio, on the south side, about three miles dis



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         301
tant, we come to Chartier's creek, a small, but valuable stream, which in some countries would be called a
river, and which passes through a region of unsurpassed fertility, abounding in coal, and inhabited by a
wealthy and prospering people. Along the stream an
enterprising company have almost completed a rail
road, and will in a few weeks be the first in this region
to start a locomotive to convey coal to market.
Along this stream too, a railroad is projected to cross
the neck of land formed by the Monongahela and Ohio
rivers, and thus reach the heart of central Ohio, by a
short and direct route through a very fertile, well settled and highly cultivated region of country. Already
the Pittsburgh and Steubenville Railroad Company has
been organized by the election of a very able, enterprising and wealthy board of directors-liberal subscriptions of stock made and sanguine expectations
entertained by its active and zealous friends of its
speedy completion.
Descending the Ohio still farther at the distance of
twenty-five miles on the north side of that river, we
reach the Big Beaver river. Ascending this river by
slack-water of the Erie Canal Company, we may pass
along that canal to the town of Erie, on Lake Erie, or we
might diverge from that canal twenty-two miles up and
pursue the Ohio and Pennsylvania canal to Cleveland,
on the same lake, and one hundred miles west of Erie,
passing through the rich and lovely region so well
known, as the Western Reserve.
Again descending the Ohio, still on the north side,
at the distance of twelve miles, we reach the Little
Beaver, up which the Sandy and Beaver canal runs,
and passing through the rich and fertile counties of
y




802          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
Columbiana and Starke, enters the great Ohio canal
at Bolivar, and thus gives us access to the very heart
of the great State of Ohio.
About ten miles still farther down the Ohio, we
reach Wellsville, a very flourishing town on the north
bank of that river, from whence a railroad is now being
constructed to Cleveland on Lake Erie, about one half
of which is already completed and in profitable use.
From Wellsville, the route of a railroad has been surveyed up the Ohio to the mouth of Big Beaver, there to
connect with the Pennsylvania and Ohio railroad, of
which we will shortly take notice.
Descending still farther about sixteen or seventeen
miles, we reach Steubenville, the western terminus of
the direct road west from Pittsburgh, of which I have
before spoken, and also the eastern terminus of the
Steubenville and Indiana railroad, for the construction
of which a large amount of stock has been subscribed,
a board of directors elected, and an advertisement has
for some time been published calling for proposals for
constructing a considerable portion of the road.
The Cleveland and Pittsburgh railroad have authority under their charter to construct a railroad from
Wellsville through Steubenville to Bridgeport, and
many intelligent persons believe that when a railroad
is completed from Wellsville, and from Wellsville to
Steubenville, it will be a cheaper and speedier route
than the Pittsburgh and Steubenville railroad. Experiment which is the best test of such matters may
perhaps settle this one, and to that we are content to
leave it.
Below Steubenville, the beautiful Ohio and the vast
Mississippi, and their innumerable navigable tributaries




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         303
are open to the visits of our many steamboats, but our
design is not to travel beyond the limits of our little
diagram of the country around and adjacent to the
head of the Ohio.
Returning to the "head of the Ohio," once more,
we find in the city of Allegheny the eastern terminus
of the Pennsylvania and Ohio railroad-a work chartered by both those great States and extending from
the city of Allegheny along the Ohio, to the borough
of Rochester, at the mouth of the Big Beaver river,
thence up that river, through the thriving manufacturing town of New Brighton, and Old Brighton, and
from thence gradually ascending the table land between
the waters of the Ohio and Lake Erie, and passing
along the same to the village of Crestline, distant one
hundred and eighty-five miles. Twenty-eight miles of
this road, to New Brighton, has been in very successful and encouraging operation since the latter part of
July, the portion of the road from New Brighton to
Alliance, where it connects with the Cleveland and
Wellsville railroad, is already graded and the contractors for laying the rails are activity at work from Alliance towards Brighton, and also from Brighton towards
Alliance, and sanguine hopes are entertained that the
road will be completed between those places, and the
cars running to Cleveland in October next. From
Brighton to Alliance is fifty-four miles, and the entire
distance to Cleveland by railroad will be one hundred
and thirty-eight miles. The road from Cleveland to
Alliance is so far completed that the rails for the Pennsylvania and Ohio railroad are transported upon it to
Alliance. Thus, in October we will have a continuance railroad from Pittsburgh by Cleveland to Cincin



304          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
nati, on which travelers will pass from the Queen City
to the Iron City in nineteen hours.
From Alliance to Crestline is one hundred and four
miles, passing the entire distance through a very highly cultivated country, and through or by many thriving
towns and villages, among others are Canton, Wooster
and Mansfield, the county towns of the populous and
wealthy counties of Starke, Wayne and Richland, and
also through Massillon, the greatest wheat market in
the State of Ohio.
The grading of the entire distance is now under
contract, and rapidly advancing to completion. From
Alliance to Loudonville, the most southern bend of the
railroad is seventy-one miles, and from that place to
Springfield one hundred and ten miles, a railroad has
already been located, and thirty miles of it is now under
contract, and from Springfield to Cincinnati, eightyfour miles, is already in use. Total distance from Pittsburgh by Alliance, Loudonville and Springfield to Cincinnati, three hundred and forty-two miles.
Thirty-three miles west of Loudonville, is Crestline,
the western terminus of the Pennsylvania and Ohio
railroad, at this point passes the railroad now in operation from Cleveland to Cincinnati.
From Crestline to Terre Haute, on the Wabash, a
line of railroads is already under construction by different companies.
Eastward of Pittsburgh the great central road from
Philadelphia is rapidly advancing to completion. Already the cars leaving the latter city can reach a point,
distant from Pittsburgh only fifty miles, while from
Pittsburgh the rails are already advancing eastward;
so that the time of completion cannot be very distant.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         305
This road gives us speedy access to the heart of Pennsylvania and to all the seaboard cities. We have
neither time nor space, even, to enumerate the various
turnpike and plank roads, the latter of which are now
being made in all directions, and are proved to be the
most convenient neighborhood roads.
Finally, the abundance and cheapness of fuel of a
very superior quality, is an advantage, in which no
western city can compete with the cities at the head of
the Ohio. We are situated in the very heart of the
great basin of bituminous coal and the rivers intersecting the country in all directions gives us the easiest
and cheapest access.
Mr. Lyell, the very distinguished English Geologist,
the author of several valuable works on Geology, was
much struck with the abundance, and richness and
the easy accessibility of stone-coal on the Monongahela, and in his " Travels in North America," fully
manifests his appreciation of the present, and still
greater prospective value of the abundant supply of
coal.
I conclude with a few extracts from Lyell's " Travels
in North America." His first impressions are given
as follows:" From Uniontown we went to Brownsville on the
Monongahela, a large tributary of the Ohio, where the
country consists of coal-measures, like those at Uniontown, both evidently belonging to the same series as
those more bent and curved beds at Frostburg before
described. I was truly astonished, now that I had
entered the hydrographical basin of the Ohio, at beholding the richness of the seams of coal, which appear
every where on the flanks of the hills, and at the botY*




306          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
tom of the valleys, and which are accessible in a degree
I never witnessed elsewhere.  The time has not yet arrived, the soil being still densely covered with the
primeval forest, and manufacturing industry in its
infancy, when the full value of this inexhaustible supply
of cheap fuel can be appreciated; but the resources
which it will one day afford to a region capable, by its
agricultural produce alone, of supporting a large population, are truly magnificent. In order to estimate the
natural advantages of such a region, we must reflect
how three great navigable rivers, such as the Monongahela, Allegheny, and the Ohio intersect it, and lay
open on their banks the level seams of coal. I found
at Brownsville a bed ten feet thick of good bituminous
coal, commonly called the Pittsburgh seam, breaking
out in the river cliffs near the water's edge."
Again he says: " So great are the facilities for procuring this fuel that already it is found profitable to
convey it in flat-bottomed boats for the use of steamships at New Orleans,* 1,100 miles distant, in spite of
the dense forests bordering the intermediate riverplains, where timber may be obtained at the cost of
falling it."
* This should be two thousand miles. The coal is also used for making
Gas, for which purpose there is none better.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.         307
SALUBRITY OF PITTSBURGH AND VICINITY.
BY WILLIAM H. DENNY.
Pittsburgh is in latitude 40~ 35' North, situated seven
hundred and fifty feet above the level of the ocean,
two hundred miles distant from its nearest tide marshes.
It is one hundred and eighty feet above the level of
Lake Erie, and more than one hundred miles from its
south-west coast. From both these sources of malaria,
it is divided also by mountain ridges or plateaus of
great elevation.
Although nearly surrounded by hills, more than four
hundred feet in height, the valleys of the Allegheny
and Ohio are open to the free ventilation by the northeast and north-west winds. The summer winds from
the South, which visit other western cities from low
and paludal grounds, here descend upon the town from
a terrace four hundred and fifty feet high, after passing
for a long distance over a well drained, cultivated,
broken and mountainous region.
Of all the great western towns, Pittsburgh is the
farthest removed from the baneful exhalations of the
swampy borders of the Mississippi, and accordingly
enjoyed a greater exemption from those diseases, which
during the summer and autumn prevail even as high
up as Cincinnati.
That exemption is supposed to be aided by an artificial cause. The combustion annually of ten millions
of bushels of bituminous coal fills the atmosphere with




308          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
carburetted hydrogen, sulphurous gas, and the allpervading impalpable dust of carbon. The smoke is
thickest in the calm, cool and foggy morning of autumn.
It is anti-miasmatic: and hence it is, that formerly the
natural ponds, and latterly the foul and stagnant artificial basins, have never generated remittent or intermittent fever.
Dropsies, dysenteries, diarrheas and cholera, diseases which are influenced by causes of a malarious
origin, have never prevailed to any extent.  The goitre
or swelled neck, has disappeared; the few cases, which
formerly excited the apprehensions of the stranger, no
longer exist to gratify his curiosity. Their locality
was in no respect remarkable, and by no means supported the hypothesis of the first Professor Barton,
that the goitre was produced by the same causes which
produced intermittent fever: nor could it be accounted
for in the water which was drunk at that time by the
inhabitants; which differed in nothing from what they
drank after it began to disappear. In a few instances
it was connected with cretinism, and in many cases it
was followed by consumption, and in every case, where
the experiment was tried, the swelling was lessened or
removed by a journey and change of air.
It is not improbable that the presence of iodine in
our peculiar atmosphere, so charged with particles of
soot, or some other unknown element in our smoke, has
had a salutary effect, as well in preventing the disease
of the thyroid gland, as in arresting the tendency to
the formation of tubercles in the lungs, and thus account both for the disappearance of goitre and the
comparative rarity of phthisis pulmonalis.
The water which was drunk by the inhabitants be



HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.          309
fore, and after the disappearance of goitre, was well
water, slightly impregnated with carbonate of lime.
Since 1827, the water used has been pumped into a
reservoir directly from the running stream; the clear
and pure Allegheny-unobstructed in its entire rapid
course, over pebbles and bowlders, from their common
source and origin in the sandstone rock.
Strangers with weak lungs, for a while, find their
coughs aggravated by the smoke, but nevertheless
asthmatic patients have found relief in breathing it.
In this account, coal is our creditor in another way:
its abundance, cheapness and consequent general and
profuse use by the poorest inhabitants, is undoubtedly
a great cause of our superior healthfulness.
The low fevers, so prevalent in the large cities,
among the poor, during a hard winter; and the ague
and fever, so common in the eastern counties where
wood is scarce, are here in a measure prevented by the
universal practice of keeping good coal fires, late in
the spring, and early in the autumn, and indeed at all
seasons when the weather is damp and inclement.
The prevailing complaints are those which characterise the healthiest situations of the same latitude,
elsewhere in America; in winter pneumonia and sore
throat, and in summer bilious affections.
In comparison with the eastern cities, there is much
less pulmonary consumption, less scrofula, and less
disease of the skin. There is scarcely any ague and
fever, and no yellow fever. In comparison with the
western cities, including Cincinnati, there is less bilious
fever, less ague and fever, less cholera infantum and
far less malignant cholera.
We are the intermediate link of disease, as well as




310          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
of commerce: we have less hepatic disease than the
west, and less pulmonic disease than the east.
As so large a portion of our population is engaged
in manufactures, it is expected that as these establishments increase, they will add to the bills of mortality,
but not to the same extent which similar employments
have done in Europe. Our youth are not so early introduced into factories, the confinement is not so great,
and the food is more nutritious; but few, if any, dwell
in cellars or crowded apartments; and none labor under the continual apprehension of being, by the fluctuations of trade, thrown out of employment and wanting bread.
On the whole, with regard to the health of Pittsburgh, it may be said that no city in the union is more
healthy, and that none resists better the malarious
diseases, to which, during the autumn, the whole great
valley is more or less subject. Indeed of the adjacent
country, including nearly all western Pennsylvania, it
may be said, that no part of the United States, is better suited to a European constitution, and that the
greater part will bear no comparison with it in point of
salubrity.




HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.        311
BUSINESS OF PITTSBURGH.
The following account of manufactories here, is taken
from the Directory of Pittsburgh, for 1850, prepared
by Samuel Fahnestock, Esq.
There are in Pittsburgh and vicinity, thirteen Rolling mills with a capital of about $5,000,000, and
employing 2,500 hands. These mills consume about
60,000 tons of pig metal, and produce bar iron and
nails amounting to $4,000,000 annually.
There are also 30 large Foundries, together with a
great many smaller ones, having a capital in all
amounting to about $2,000,000, and employing not
less than 2,500 hands. These Foundries consume 20,000 tons pig metal annually and yield, with the labor
employed, various articles amounting to about $2,000,000.
There are 2 establishments manufacturing locks,
latches, coffee mills, patent scales, with a great variety
of other malleable iron castings, with a capital of
$250,000 and employing 500 hands, consuming 1,200
tons pig metal, and producing goods amounting to
$300,000 annually.
There are 5 extensive cotton factories, besides many
smaller ones, with a capital in all amounting to about
$1,500,000, and employing 1,500 hands; these establishments consume some 15,000 bales cotton, and produce yarns, sheeting, batting, &c. amounting to upwards
of $1,500,000.
There are 8 flint glass manufactories with a capital
of $300,000 invested, employing 500 hands, consuming
150 tons lead and 200 tons pearl ash, and producing




312          HISTORY OF PITTSBURGH.
various articles of glass ware amounting to $400,000.
There are 7 phial furnaces and 11 window glass manufactories, with a capital of $250,000, employing 600
hands, and producing $600,000 annually.
There is also a soda ash manufactory, producing
1,500 tons annually, employing 75 hands.
There is one copper smelting establishment, producing 660 tons refined copper annually, valued at $380
per ton, and amounting to $250,000.
There is also a copper rolling mill now in operation,
producing 300 tons sheeting and braziers copper,
amounting to $150,000 annually.
There are 5 white lead factories with a capital of
$150,000 invested, and producing 150,000 kegs lead
annually, worth $200,000, and employing 60 hands.
There are also a number of manufactories of the
smaller sizes of iron, several extensive manufactories
of axes, hatchets, &c. spring steel, steel springs, axles,
anvils, vices, mill, cross cut, and other saws, gun barrels, shovels, spades, forks, hoes, cut tacks, brads, &c.
There also in full and successful operation an establishment manufacturing cast, shear, and blister steel,
and files, all said to be of a very superior quality, besides a great variety of manufacturing establishments
not enumerated in our list; and after a careful investigation we find that with our manufacturing and other
business, taking all together the actual amount does
not fall short of $50,000,000 annually.
There is consumed about 12,000,000 bushels of coal
annually in our manufacturing establishments, valued
at $500,000 and an equal number of bushels exported
to the lower markets, giving employment to upwards
of 4,000 hands.