Joseph Elison Artic Explorer

Members of the Greely Expedition Elison backrow on the right.

This is an exciting story of another Schuylkill countian a soldier from the 5th Cavlary who was a member of the ill fated Greely Expedition to the far North in 1881.



SGT. JOSEPH ELISON

Arctic Explorer and HERO.


In the summer of 1881, June 14, to be exact, the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition set sail for the far North. Led by Lt. Adolphus Greely, of the 5th United States Cavalry and twenty-four men established a base camp for arctic exploration on Ellsmere Island near latitude 81.44 degrees north. Little did the men know that they would spend three years in the north fighting for their lives in one of the most extraordinary arctic survival stories ever told. It is a story filled with months of starvation and man’s heroic efforts to survive under the most trying of conditions.
On the expedition was a man who now rests in the Catholic Cemetery in Yorkville, Pottsville Pa. T Joseph Elison, born in Baden, Germany in 1849, came to this country in 1868 and moved in with his brother at Pottsville. He worked for a year or more at the Rolling Mills in Palo Alto. Leaving Pottsville, Joseph Elison traveled West were he worked as a carpenter for a time. Tiring of this, Elison entered the United States Army Signal Corps were he enlisted for a period of six years. In 1881 he reenlisted and volunteered for the military expedition known as the Greely Expedition led by its namesake, Lt. Adolphus Greely. Elison was credited with being an expert naturalist. He was also given special training as a taxidermist. Lt. Greely, after the ill-fated expedition praised Elison for his natural history work and his bravery. Also Elison Island is named after this brave man. Elison kept a very detailed diary of the first two years of the expedition, and the original diary is in archives of the Schuylkill County Historical Society.
Leaving from the port of Baltimore on June 14, 1881, the expedition set sail for the North on the Steamer Proteus, and arrived in St. Johns, Newfoundland on June 22nd. After gathering supplies and loading stores, the men left St. Johns on July 7th. Elison noted in his diary on July 8th

“ Arose after a quiet night’s rest at 7a.m. but soon found out the sea was not calm. I noticed the first ice berg at 7:39 a.m. off the eastern coast of Newfoundland.”

On July 12th the men spotted the first ice fields about three square miles in length. They were all excited. On the 15th they passed the Arctic Circle were they put in at an Eskimo village named Disco, or better known as God Haven Greenland, consisting of about two hundred inhabitants. In Greenland the expedition would pick up fourteen Eskimo dogs. Continuing their northward travel, the men picked up another eleven bear dogs. Struggling north, the Proteus fought large ice flows sometimes being stuck solid in the ice and expecting every minute to be crushed to pieces. Arriving on August 11th in Lady Franklin Bay, the ship laid anchor about 150 yards off shore in Discovery Harbor. Here they built a wooden. And named it Fort Conger after Senator Conger who helped to get appropriations for the expedition. The Fort consisted of one building in which all the members of the party lived and worked. Unloading their supplies from the Proteus, the expedition had stores for twenty-seven months. On August 26th, the Proteus left Lady Franklin Bay and sailed out of sight to the South and so began the expedition’s reason for being.
On May 1, 1880 the President of the United States authorized an expedition to establish a temporary station in the Arctic seas at some point north of 81 degrees latitude on or near the shore of Lady Franklin Bay for the purpose of scientific observation and exploration. During the second year of the expedition, a scientific first was noted in early April of 1882 when fifteen men set out from Fort Conger northward on dog sleds. Elison was a member of the supporting party. They made a base at Cape Britannia miles north of Fort Conger. On April 28th, 1882 Lt. J.B. Lockwood, Sgt. D.L. Brainard and an Eskimo named Fredrick Christiansen made a dash north on dog sled teams and reached a distance of 83.44 degrees from the equator, the farthest north any man had ever traveled. They all returned safely to Fort Conger within a few days.
During the ensuing months the expedition faired well enough. The winter months were hard but the men survived. They were well nourished and their food supplies were plentiful. They shot and ate geese, and large Arctic muskox. At times the men were even in a jolly good mood. On July 4th, 1882 while at Fort Conger Elison describes in his diary what took place,

“ We had a shooting match 100 yards, foot race for 100 yards, wheelbarrow race, blindfolded and a base ball match. We had a fine dinner and the usual allowance of rum, Dr. Pavy and my self went gathering flowers in the evening, returned at 11 p.m.”

The expedition remained at Fort Conger on Lady Franklin Bay for a period of more than two years. The supplies started to run low and the excitement of Arctic exploration started to wear off. The winter of 1882 was extremely severe and the men were at times confined to their sleeping bags for days at a time. The first supply ship was scheduled to arrive in the summer of 1882, but it never came. Loaded with essential equipment and food supplies, the ship landed minimal supplies at two different locations, Month after month passed and still no relief ship arrived. On Christmas day 1882 Elison wrote in his diary,

“ Cloudy and calm. A dreary Christmas, this is a day one feels the forlorn situation more than any other day. I hope that this will be our last Christmas in the Arctic, it makes me sad to think of home and friends. We had an excellent dinner consisting of wine soup, roast meat, green corn, carrots and beets, coconut pie, rum jelly, English plum pudding, pine apples pears and grapes. After dinner each man was presented with a fine cigar which was very welcome. “

Surviving the first seven months of 1883, Elison noted in his diary on July 29th, 1883

“ Just before divine service Comm. Officer Lt. Greely issued the following orders. We would abandon the station on the 7th of August ice permitting. Extra weight per man out side of clothing worn on the body 8ilb. Officers 16Ilbs we were also informed that we should give the weight of extra clothing by Wednesday and also be in readiness so that we could leave at 3 hours notice.”

The July 28th diary report stated,

“ In case of a noon arrival of a vessel by Aug. 7th 1883, this station will be abandoned and a retreat southward by boats to Littleton Island will be attempted. “

Prior to leaving Fort Conger, Lt. Greely ordered the men to leave behind all personal property all scientific books, samples and papers were stored in three metal boxes and sealed with solder for safe keeping. It is important to note that Joseph Elison’s diary would be left behind at Fort Conger and would not be returned to his family until July 6, 1900 by members of the Peary Arctic Club of New York. A memorandum stated that the diary of Joseph Elison Co. E 10th Infantry was brought in May 1899, from Fort Conger by Civil Engineer, Robert E. Peary.
Despairing that a ship would arrive, on August 8th, Fort Conger was abandoned. The last scientific observation was made on the 9th; the men left by using the steam powered launch called the Lady Greely, which towed several smaller boats with the men. Struggling over three hundred miles of the most treacherous ice, Lt. Greely noted in his diary that,

“ We have tea and coffee enough for forty days, all other provisions sufficient for 50 days but could be made to last sixty days.”



By Sept. 5th the men were drinking the blood from seals that they killed. Sgt. Brainard stated,

“The conduct of the men during this retreat have been all beyond praise, they are to be highly commended for their unselfishness and for their happy faculty of making the best of everything. Even under the most trying circumstances. I thought there would be endless repining and laminations, but to my surprise good natured chaff, a hearty ringing laugh or a snatch of a song heard from the irrepressible little band almost any time.”

On September 10th 1883 the launch, Lady Greely, was abandoned and the men set out on sleds. By the 28th the men had suffered greatly from exposure. The retreat from Fort Conger to Cape Sabine involved over 400 miles of travel by boats and fully a hundred by sled. The trip was made under such trying circumstances of great peril and each man showed the greatest amount of courage and endurance.
On October 2, 1883 with no rescue in site, the men decided to ration their meager food supplies. They had hoped to stretch the food for 35 days but would try to stretch it into 50 days. At worst, they could last till November 16th and wait for the straits to freeze over. During this time, although exhausted and weak, the men set out to build some shelter. Using tent poles, oars and canvas they built huts made of stone and canvas. On October 17th they built their huts. The huts were two feet thick and three feet high. Outside was an embankment of snow that began about four feet high but later buried the building. Late in October the men were inside the hut. It was cold and uncomfortable and their constant talk was about something to eat and the different dishes they had enjoyed in the past.
On November 2, 1883 a party of four men left their shelter in search of forty pounds of meat left at an earlier date near Cape Isabella. The party consisted of Elison, Fredrick, Lynn and Sgt. Rice. The men took a four-man sleeping bag and a light sled. They had a ration of eight ounces of meat and bread and five ounces of alcohol. Sgt. Rice was in charge because of his knowledge of the area. They reached the area were the meat was stored on November 7th, took the meat and returned to the main camp. It took the men over fourteen hours to travel to where they left their sleeping bag. The men were exhausted and in the process started eating snow. Elison froze both his feet and hands while struggling along. His fellow travelers immediately put him in the sleeping bag. Ice covered both hands and feet. Fredrick crawled into the sleeping bag and placed Elison’s hands between his thighs in effort to thaw him out. Elison cried out the whole night in pain, Fredrick stated “ It was one of the worst nights spent in the Arctic.” Again on the 8th, Elison once again froze his limbs. He could not maneuver properly behind the sled. His legs were as stiff as cordwood and he could barely walk. By the morning of the 9th, Elison was completely helpless and had to be dragged along. On November 10, Lynn with Elison went ahead of the others. The temperature was about -25 and Elison was once again frozen stiff. His eyelids had now frozen shut. The men tried tying a rope to Elison to help him along but he would fall every few feet and be dragged behind the sled for several feet before being noticed. By now Elison’s feet were frozen so solid he could not stand and the men were obliged to halt and make a camp. That evening a northward blowing gale came and Sgt. Rice and Fredrick froze their hands.
The men decided that Sgt. Rice should go alone back to the main party and get help. He made the trip in darkness over 25 miles and sixteen hours later he staggered into camp, where he explained the situation with Elison. After Sgt. Rice left Fredrick , Elison and Lynn crawled into the sleeping bag shivering, cold and hungry. After a few hours the bag became so frozen the men could not turn over and they lay in one position for over eighteen hours.
Finally Lt. Lockwood arrived and tried to free the men from their frozen tomb, but he was unable to do so until he cut off the top of the bag. Fredrick and Lynn reached camp safely. Lt. Lockwood brought back Elison alive but in critical condition. Not only were his hands and feet frozen, but his face was so frozen he did not resemble a human being any longer. As Elison was brought into the hut, he begged for death. But with in one month, Joseph Elison, despite his injuries was bright and cheery.
In another notebook were found the notes that Elison dictated to Roderick R. Schneider on June 8, 1884, He talked about his situation while frozen.

Nov. 2, “ Sergt. Rice in charge and Sgt. Lynn, Pvt. Fredricks and myself left camp about 8 a.m. it being quite dusk, yet with a lightly laden sledge for Cape Isabella for the purpose of getting 144 Ibs of English meat left by Capt. Allen Young in 1876. Traveling quite bad, snow being soft and deep.”
Nov. 5, “ Spent a miserable night, broke camp about 8:30 a.m. only took one cup of tea, one biscuit and started for Cape, left our sleeping gear about 3 miles north of the cape. Snow knee deep, ice very humorocky and broken up. Had to abandon sledge within a mile of camp owing to the open water. The ice being pressed up about 40 feet. Against the cliffs. We climbed along the best we could, reached the cache and obtained the boxes of meat with great difficulty, Started back to the sledge which it took us 5 hours to do so. Took our meat and proceeded to were we left the sleeping bag. Having worked 13 hours in all this day, I was completely exhausted. After two hours of work with the wood boxes succeeded in cooking a cup of tea. The pennican we eat cold. Here I froze my hands so that I was unable to use them. Tried our best to thaw them out in sleeping bag, but owing to high wind, we did not succeed, the bag being frozen so stiff we were hardly able to move. Form this time out I had to be fed.”

Nov. 6, “Spent a miserable night. I froze both of my feet, Myself still able to walk with great difficulty, but not able to assist any on the sledge, thus making it hard on the others”.

Nov. 7. “Spent a miserable night, I still struggle along, my legs being like stilts and entirely unable to bend my ankles, it is by the greatest exertions that I get along at all. After supper party thawed my feet by warming stockings, which occupied about 2 hours.”

Nov. 9, “Myself yet unable to struggle along but growing weaker and weaker until I finally had to give in after traveling 7 miles.”

Nov. 10, “Unable to move in bag my hands and feet frozen now so badly that I had no use of them whatsoever, a high wind was blowing, we were unable to cook, no one was able to get out of the bag about noon Sgt. Brainard reached us from camp Clay, finding us in deplorable condition, frozen solid in the bag. About this time some horrible shortness of breath, begging for water and ice which could not be obtained. Putting me on sledge hauled me to Camp Clay. My sufferings on the way were horrible.”

Hospital Steward Biederbick wrote the following concerning Sgt. Elisons situation.

“Elison was brought into Camp Clay on the 12th of Nov. 1883 with his hands and legs badly frozen up to nearly his knees, his hands wrist and nose also badly frozen so that they appeared like a piece of ice. He was put in our miserable camp on a mattress over which a sheepskin sleeping bag cut open was spread and then covered with three woolen blankets. I was set to work at once thawing out the frozen parts with cloth steeped in cold water, which was gradually raised to a higher temp. All attention possible in our miserable condition was paid tot he patient. After about ten days a line of demarcation showed itself just above the ankles, and two days later on the hands. The nose was very sore and part of flesh sluffed off. One foot was removed through the ankle joints, nothing being used but a small scissors, the disjointing coming through the natural process. What makes this case so very remarkable is the short rations that which the patient had to subsist, and the cold dark and damp atmosphere in which we had to live.”
By mid January the first death over took the men. Sgt. William H. Cross died. Just barely staying alive the men struggled through another 150 or more days of Arctic darkness when in April the valiant Sgt. Rice died while on a food hunting search. By early May, despair and hunger started to take hold of some of the men and the stealing of food was noticed by some of the men. Still some of the stronger men were able to go out hunting; some of the men were acting insane and treating the sick very badly. May 19th Pvt. Ellis died.
The melting snow in the hut rained down on the survivors making them even more miserable. May 23d Ralston died. May 24th Pvt. Whisler died of starvation. The men were breaking down slowly. Lt. Greely reprimanded some of the men for their cruelty to the dying men. On May 27th Sgt. Isreal died and on June 3rd, Sgt. Sailor died. The men did not have enough strength left to bury him. He was placed away from the men out of sight. Lt. Greely wrote in his diary,

“ The uncertainty of life or death was a veritable sword of Damocles, but far worse than the fable.”

Knowing that there was a thief among the men and after days of missing food supplies, the culprit was caught. Pvt. Henry was repeatedly caught stealing food and after his admission of quilt was sentenced by Lt. Greely to be shot. On June 6th the order was carried out by pistol fire. That same day Pvt. Bender and the expedition’s doctor, Pavy, also died of starvation. The men were now down to eating their boot lashings and boot soles. June 12th Corp. Gardiner died. Sgt. Elison was still alive at this time and suffering not only from his wounds and starvation but also of bedsores. On June 20th Elison, whose hands had been amputated, was eating with a spoon lashed to one of his stumps. So he could eat seal stew. On June 22 the sound of a whistle was heard. There were seven men left alive in their tent. Strange voices were heard outside the tent. The voices heard were those of Capt. Winfield Scott Schley and the relief party. The men, after months of agony, were rescued.
After being loaded aboard the rescue ship, the seven survivors set sail for the south. After arriving in Greenland Elison under went another amputation. Actually he had lost both his hands and feet and remarkably had survived this horrible ordeal for over seven months. He succumbed to death on July 8th 1884 from the effects of the added amputations.
After the expedition there were many questions asked of Lt. Greely especially about the execution of Pvt. C.B. Henry. There were many accusations of cannibalism among the survivors. Nothing was ever proved concerning the cannibalism and the execution of Private Henry was found to be legal under military law.
Sgt. Elison finally came home to Pottsville; on August 9, 1884 He was buried with full military honors in one of the biggest funerals ever held in Pottsville. His casket weighed over 800Ibs and required 14 men to carry. The military funeral and cerimony was fitting for this soldier, explorer and hero of his time. Schuylkill County can be proud to have such a hero buried within its soil.
The only surviving members of the Elison family living in Schuylkill County at this time is Thomas Elison and William Elison. They are descendants of Joseph Elison’s brother.

Noble Woman of Schuylkill

This is an article my wife Danielle wrote about a woman who made an enormous effort during the Civil War for good old Schuylkill County.




NOBLE WOMAN OF SCHUYLKILL



By
Danielle Richards.

Like most women in history, Miss Amanda Silliman was lost over the last 130 years to slow the passage of time. Her remarkable patriotic spirit and zeal during the Civil War was no longer spoken about by her neighbors, sisters, Union soldiers, and friends, they too long gone. Her many acts of Charity and kindness toward Civil War soldiers and their families, her support for the Union cause and her remarkable fund raising efforts on behalf of the Pottsville Ladies Soldiers’ Aid Society were largely unrecorded, undocumented, and unrecognized in Schuylkill County and Pennsylvania History.
She, like many women of the time, received no testimonials, no high and lofty praises, no gold medals and no flowery accolades for her service on behalf of the Union. There would be no “likeness” recorded of her, no great bombastic newspaper accounting of her heroic war efforts, no gold, jewel-encrusted presentation swords 9inscribed with her name and offered to her on behalf of the grateful soldiers. Her fate would be to lie forgotten in the dark, silent halls of time for more than a century until 130 years later, the memory of her deeds of selfless patriotism and unselfish devotion to country and cause would be rediscovered, recognized and rewritten back into history.
Amanda Silliman was born in Pottsville, a prosperous anthracite coal mining town in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Her father, James Silliman, was a prominent and wealthy coal operator in the area, and it is likely that Amanda, along with her eight siblings enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle.
Amanda’s greatest contributions came during her late thirties when, upon the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, she promptly volunteered to Secretary of War Cameron along with twenty other Pottsville ladies as nurses for the sick and wounded of the Schuylkill County regiment of volunteers. She then lead an ambitious effort on behalf of the Pottsville Ladies Soldiers Aid Society to sew towels, needle cases and head coverings for the soldiers in the field.
During the early part of the War of the Rebellion, while she served as principal of the Pottsville Female Primary School, she actively participated and led local efforts to recognize and applaud Schuylkill County Soldiers and their officers in appreciation of their sacrifices while leading Schuylkill County Regiments.
Amanda orchestrated the sewing of a special silk battle flag for presentation to the Schuylkill County 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. The 48th played a major role in the July, 1864 Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Virginia ( The Story of The 48th ).
As the war continued, Amanda with her sister, Sarah, and other prominent Pottsville women, organized the Ladies Aid Society of Trinity Episcopal Church. Through the efforts of this and similar Aid societies, local donations consisting of wooden boxes filled with shirts, mittens towels, bandages, dried fruits and vegetables, soap and rice were sent to the soldiers at the front. The contents of these boxes were a blessing to thousands of sick, wounded and dying soldiers. Later in the war the Ladies Aid Societies of Schuylkill County assisted larger, nationwide Sanitary Commission (forerunner of Red Cross) with large fundraisers called Sanitary Fairs. The function of these fairs, held throughout the northern states from 1863 on, was to raise valuable funds to provide food medical supplies for sick and wounded soldiers.
In June 1864 the great Sanitary Fair of Philadelphia was held. Amamda Silliman was appointed chair of the committee upon “Labor, Income and Revenue” in the female department of labor in Pottsville. ( Memorial to the Patriotism). Contributions from Schuylkill County to the Fair amounted to over $8,000. Through these contributions ined largely by the volunteer work and dedication of Amanda and other Schuylkill County women, the Sanitary Fair of Philadelphia succeeded and many soldiers’ lives were saved.
In 1865, despite great personal risk Amanda traveled the long distance from Pennsylvania to Petersburg, Virginia to nurse her wounded brother, Thomas, of the 48th P.V.I. He was wounded April 2, 1865 during the Battle for Fort Malone. According to Old Schuylkill Tales. Amanda was the first woman granted permission at Petersburg to enter the lines after the battle. The commanding general supplied her with a pass and granted her an escort. To undertake such a long and arduous trip through Confederate territory, attested to Amanda’s courage and her loyalty to family, country and cause.
Sadly, it is difficult to find anything written about Amanda’s activities and service to her community and church following the Civil War. One can assume she remained dedicated, as she had during the Rebellion to making a difference in the lives of her family, friends, neighbors and country.
Perhaps we can glimpse a warm early spring day late in May, 1904. A large funeral cortege makes its way to Pottsville’s Mount Laurel Cemetery, graves just growing green with the new spring rains, Tearful mourners, dressed in black, take their places by th4e freshly dug grave. Today, they are lying to rest lady. A gentle voice speaks to the assembled mourners:
“Gently she sleeps. Her rest is in the bosom of God. Asleep, far away from cares and woes of this life. Asleep, after a long life of service to her God and humanity. To her many friends here on earth she will ever sleep and never awaken. Who will now answer the frail cry of the poor orphan, the call for help from the widowed mother, the wail of the repentant sinner, who used to come to her gates? Who will now bind the wounds of the soldiers and sailor as she bound them? Who will now heal the sick and distressed as she comforted them? Where is the woman who could take her place in heroic action becoming good womanhood? There are those who can but few are possessed of her courage.
Her life was as pure as that of Ruth. Her example in the heroism of true life as great as that of Ruth. Her accomplished work in the furtherance of public good in her community was probably greater than that of any man who lived therein. Her life was a beautiful picture. Her lifework stands in imperishable bronze. The fleeting years pass away, so shall we, but her sweet memory never.”

Miners Journal.
…..Rest in Peace, ministering angel to the afflicted. Your Courageous acts and patriotic deeds are remembered and celebrated.


Elliot, Ella Old Schuylkill Tales: A history of interesting Events, traditions and Anecdotes.
Of the early settlers of Schuylkill County, 1906

Wallace. F. Memorial to Patriotism, 1865

Gould, Joseph, The Story of the 48th, 1908

The Miners Journal. May 28, 1904.

Schuylkill County and the Battle of The Little Big Horn

With my passion for the Indian Wars of America I got involved into a lot of research looking for the men who served in the military during the times of the Indian Wars, actually pre 1861 but mostly 1866-1900 era. I came across quite a few men who served in Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry regiments during this time period. Probably the most interesting find came with the finding of three men who fought and died at the Little Big Horn with my favorite of all Cavalry men George Armstrong Custer. This is their story, it was published a few years ago in Schuylkill Living Magazine, but here it is again.



Schuylkill County and Custers
Last Battle.
The Little Big Horn Connection.

On the late afternoon of June 25, 1876 overlooking the Little Big Horn river a force of Sioux and
Cheyenne Indians attacked and overwhelmed General George Armstrong Custer’s battalion of five
companies, consisting of 210 men. Writing into history the famed heroic last stand of General Custer and
the 7th cavalry.
Though the Little Big Horn is over a thousand miles from Schuylkill county, there is a an ever lasting
connection and mystery connected to this one of the most talked about and discussed battles in American
history. Three men from Schuylkill county fought and died on that dusty plain one hundred and twenty
three years ago.
The first news of the disaster reached the people of Schuylkill county in the July 7th issue of the
Pottsville Weekly Miners Journal with a short little by line entitled War Feeling. The rumor of the
massacre of General Custer and his men by the Sioux Indians created a great deal of excitement in
Pottsville yesterday. It was the universal determination not to believe the news until there could be no
room left for doubt. In case the army has to be increased in order to punish the savages, plenty of
volunteers can be got for the asking in this county; that is, if one can judge from the talk of the people.
The story begins on November 3, 1875 when Washington opens the sacred Black Hills for the mining
of gold and decides that Sitting Bull and his band of Indians must return to the reservation by the dead
line set for January 31, 1876 or they will be deemed hostile. The 31st passes with none of the Indians
returning to the reservation. During the insuring months a plan is devised that will produce a three
pronged attack against the Indians now deemed hostile. The plan is to converge on and break up the
concentration of Sioux and Cheyenne thought to be in the Little Big Horn Valley and force them back to
the reservation. On May 12, 1876 General Terry and Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer depart Fort
Abraham Lincoln, located near Bismarck N.D. and head for the Yellowstone River in search of the hostile
Sioux and Cheyenne Indian camps. Also General John Gibbon’s command is advancing from the west at
Fort Ellis, Montanna Territory to rendezvous with the troops of Terry and Custer and another column of
troops is marching north headed by General Crook coming from Fort Fetterman, Wyoming Territory, this
combined force of is commanded to assault and destroy the hostile Indian camps.
Marching out of Fort Abraham Lincoln on May 17, to the famous cavalry marching song , ‘The Girl I
Left Behind Me” are three Schuylkill countians, Private George Adams from Minersville, Farrier William
Heath from Girardville both members of Captain Calhouns Company L and Private Herman Knauth
riding with Captain Yates and company F. George E.
George Adams military enlistment papers indicate that he was born in Minersville Pa, in July of 1846
and that he enlisted in the 22nd U. S. Infantry on October 18, 1869 at Fort Randall Dakota territory. He
listed his occupation as a teamster, George’s military record while a member of the infantry wasn’t that
of a pristine soldier, he was Court Martialed in March of 1870, the reason was not given. And on
December 19. 1872 he was discharged by reason of disability, which may have been from the hard
marching that was done during the Yellowstone expedition of 1872. Adams remained out of the military
service for a little over thirteen months when he once again took the oath of enlistment this time with the
7th Cavalry. Once again Adams’ military record was not good he was charged with being AWOL for 10
days in January of 1875. He was Court Martialed and Acquitted. He was then charged with being drunk
on duty in April of 1875 and sentenced to 6 months hard labor in May of 1875. He was released in
November of 1875 just in time to write his name in history in the battle of the Little Big Horn. George
was 29 years old, 5 foot 8 inches tall, fair completed and had blue eyes. There are no known living
relatives of George Adams living in Schuylkill County today.

The other member of Company L, Farrier William Heath was born in Staffordshire England, He
enlisted on October 9, 1875 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He had been a coachman in private life and was 27 years
old, had blue eyes, brown hair, and 5’ 7 and a quarter inches tall. Fortunately we know a lot more about
William Heath from information obtained from his family and Great Great Grand Daughter Debra
Brumbrauh. The William Heath connection to this battle is the most interesting of the stories. It seems
according to family history William worked as a coal miner and later became a coal and Iron Policeman.
In 1875 while living in Girardville, during the time of the Molly Maguire troubles. Apparently William
had some troubles with the Mollies when he decided to leave the area and joined the 7th Cavalry. At the
time of his enlistment William was married to Margaret Swanborough where they had one small child. Up
until June of 1876 William’s military service was nothing out of the ordinary but on that hot June 25,
1876 Williams life would change forever.

Private Herman Knauth born in Dammendorf, Prussia and was residing in Brandonville, Schuylkill
County with his brother William. He enlisted in the 7th cavalry on January 20, 1872, at the age of 33. He
traveled to Rochester, N.Y. and was enlisted by Lieutenant Forse. He was assigned to Company F. He
listed his occupation at the time of enlistment as a merchant, he had blue eyes, light brown hair and was
5’8 inches tall.

It was a cold and misty morning when Adams, Heath and Knauth and the 7th Cavalry left Fort
Lincoln on the expedition against the hostiles. While marching out of the fort and passing the Indians
who lived at the fort the column heard the Indians singing songs and beating drums. After passing the
Laundress row the boys saw the wives and children of the soldiers standing by the road, the grief of the
women was very evident by their mournful sounds. When the band struck up the song “ The girl I left
Behind me” the feeling was of sadness and despair. For the next twenty three days the boys would march
with their companies following Indian trails and tracks toward their day of destiny and history. On June
23rd the column crossed and recrossed the numerous streams that abound in the Dakota Territory and
found the main Indian trail, they made camp about 4;30 in the evening after a hard ride. On June 24th
after a hard days march the regiment went into camp about seven o’clock P.M. The march was a very
tiresome, in the evening the men camped along a clear running stream, over which were scattered great
amounts of rosebushes in full bloom. After watering , feeding and rubbing down the horses, George
Adams, William Heath and Herman Knauth would lay out their blankets on the ground for a much
needed rest which, for Adams and Knauth would be their last sleep alive.

About ten o’clock in the evening the men heard the call “boots and saddles” retrieved their horses and
set out on a night march. They marched until about 2 a.m. when orders were issued to drop saddles and
rest Some men went to sleep others just sat around in groups talking, It may have been, that Adams and
Heath talked of their home back in old Schuylkill County on this night, one can only wonder. Around
eight o’clock on the morning of the 25th the men resumed their march in pursuit of the Indians. After two
and a half hours the regiment came to a halt, the men were ordered to conceal themselves and remain
silent. Just before noon after being discovered by some Indians the regiment marched off at once the
regiment was divided into three battalions, Col. Custer took with him companies C,E, F, I, and L
Captain Benteen took companies D, H and K and Major Reno had companies M, A and G, with B troop
staying with the pack train.

The plan called for Col. Custer to launch a three pronged attack on the Indian village, Custer on the
right, Reno in the center and Benteen on the left. About twelve p.m. the regiment divided and the men
road of into history, Adams and Heath riding with Capt. Calhoun and company L, Herman Knauth riding
with company F lead by Captain Yates. What happens next has been written about for 123 years and there
are varying hypothesis and theories, but for this story we will remain with Col. Custer and the boys from
Schuylkill. Around two thirty in the afternoon Reno and Custer separate, Custer heads north, Reno fords
the Little Big Horn River to the south. Around three o’clock Reno charges the Indian village. Where he
will fight and then retreat up on the high bluffs to his rear. At three fifteen Col. Custer sends out the
famous message “ Benteen come on, big village, be quick bring packs P.S. bring packs.” Heading north
and west the boys move on at a trot, then a gallop, the adrenaline is rushing, checking their equipment to
make sure everything is in proper order, a Springfield carbine hanging by a strap on their right side and a
six shot colt revolver on their left hip each man had a hundred rounds of carbine ammo and twenty rounds
of pistol ammo. Hoping the whole time that your horse can keep up the pace and won’ t fag out. At four
o’clock Custer sends out three companies to the right, Adams and Heath wheel their horses of to the right
with Capt. Calhoun leading them, and twenty minutes later see the first Indian warriors to their front, they
load their carbines and fire on the Indians from horseback. Herman Knauth and his company pull off to
the left and recon toward a ford. At four forty company L, with Adams and Heath are ordered into
skirmish order on what is now called Calhoun Hill, C and I companies are in reserve. Company L forms a
semi circle on the south west side of the hill, they dismount and every forth man takes three horse to the
rear, Adams drops to the ground with carbine in hand and watches as his horse is sent to the rear, Indians
are swarming all around , more and more Indians arrive on the field, Adams is frightened but his military
training and the natural instinct for survival take hold, he fires right and left, Indians are now dashing
about on horse back coming in close then fading away, firing rapidly with their repeating rifles and bows
and arrows. Looking to the rear for his horse Adams can see the horse holders in jeopardy because of
Indians trying to frighten the horses, the are horses neighing and baying leaping about, the horse holders
are on the ground trying to hold back their frightened horses, But by this time things have gone badly for
George Adams, Shifting to the right Adams and L company continue to fight off the ever increasing
Indians, C company charges a group of Indians threatening the horse holders ,L company tried to come to
their support. One can only wonder by this time if George Adams was still alive, absolute chaos took hold
as warriors attack the wounded and dying troopers, some of the soldiers tried to run but he more than
likely was shot and goes down wounded, struggling to stay alive, with Indians swarming all around him
the troops on Calhoun hill begin to disintegrate. Fear sets in as Adams see the soldiers trying to flee and
more wounded men going down with Indians hacking and killing them. Fighting the whole time Adams
his hit by bullet after bullet and arrows slam into him and finally lying on the hot ground he succumbs to
his wounds and dies the hero’s death. His whole company will be killed except for one man, William
Heath.
Herman Knauth had by this time arrived on last stand hill that is if he wasn’t killed on the
reconnaissance to the ford. About 50 men of F company made their way to the top of the hill, still
mounted trying to form some kind of a defense, it was a bad position a hopeless cause, when hundreds of
Sioux and Cheyenne warriors moved in on the trapped soldiers, Herman’s horse probably went down
wounded and he became dismounted , now fighting on foot, possibly he used the last of his ammo in
defense of his position, the Indians concentrate on the weakest points, some were mounted others were
sneaking in the tall grass, it is possible Herman Knauch was hiding behind a dead horse when the final
round struck him, what ever the case on this warm Sunday June 25, 1876 Around five in the evening the
last of Custers command fell dead along with their leader Col. George Armstrong Custer, and the two
Schuylkill county men who fell there with him and made their place in history. Hermans brother William
Knauch would not receive word of his death until mid August 1876.

The Schuylkill story doesn’t end with the heroic deaths of George Adams and Herman Knauth on the
banks of the Little Big Horn River, yes their names are forever etched on the granite monument that sits
atop last stand hill memorializing the troopers of the 7th cavalry. There is also one other name etched on
this monument, William Heath. But William Heath died in the town of Tamaqua on May 2, 1891, fifteen
years after the famous battle. How could William who was with the 7th cavalry on the 25 day of June in
1876 survived the battle ? There are a couple of theories concerning this event which will be brought
forth, and add to the ongoing mystery of William Heath.

According to Debra Brumbaugh a direct descendent of William, family research shows William was
living in Girardville after coming to America as a small child, he worked as a coal miner and was later a
Coal and Iron Policeman during the Molly Maguire era. In 1872 he married Margaret Swanborough. In
October of 1875 William enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 7th Cavalry company L. The
question is how did William Heath survive this battle when his whole company was killed to the man.
There are a couple of theories that may shed some light on this story. William was assigned as Farrier in
the cavalry, this job would encompass the taking care of the horses in the field and in camp, a very
important job in a company of cavalry, could William have been separated early in the ride to the Little
Big Horn, possibly to take care of an injured horse or a horse that was lagging behind in his company,
could he have fallen behind the column, and became injured or stranded alone in the territory ? Could he
have ridden to the final battle with his company on Calhoun hill, and be assigned as a horse holder, it is
very possible that a Farrier would have this responsibility. And during the melee that took place, could his
horse or horses bolted away from the company area, there a Indian accounts of crazed horses and soldiers
running away from the battle field, but all were reported killed, could Heath have gotten away on a
wounded horse ? There is a strange story of a soldier named Frank Finkle who claimed to escape the battle
while wounded he was a member of company C, and although some Custer scholars claimed it was a hoax
others noted that what he said could only have been known by some one who was there at the final
moments. The roster shows that there was an August Finckle listed as killed in the battle. One of the
reasons that it would be possible to get away, after one was thought dead was that most of the soldiers
were mutilated and heads crushed by the Indians making a positive ID impossible. The story continues
that William although suffering from exposure is found by a family of settlers by the name of Ennis, and
he is nursed back to health over the winter by a woman named Lavina. William finally arrives back in
Girardville. One method of verifying this story is by the tax records, William paid taxes in Girardville in
1874, 1875, he is not shown on the 1876 returns, and again he shows on the 1877 return, remembering
that he enlisted in October 1875 and was in the army up and until June of 1876. All the interesting things
involved in this story lean toward a strange occurrence and unsolved mystery. William is shown on the
company musters for the month of June 1876, he names his first born daughter after the person who
nursed him back to health Lavina Ennis, also Lavina Heath related a story to her grandson Richard
Taylor about an article that appeared in one of the local newspapers inquiring about William Heath who
had served out west in the army, he was somewhat taken back by this add and he never pursued making
contact. William nor his wife never applied for a pension from the military. The question arises as why
did William Heath never discuss or talk about what happened to him on that June day of 1876, at this
point we will never know, but it sure makes for another great story and legend from the great Little Big
Horn battle, with a little touch to good old Schuylkill County.

The French And Indian War

The French and Indian War is one of the most interesting conflicts that America has ever been involved in. Here in Schuylkill County we had a few interesting incidents during the course of the war from 1758-1764 period. At the time this area was under British Control. It later would become part of Berks County. It is amazing when you drive over the Blue Mountain on route 183 and gaze off in the distance. That view isn't to far from what the settlers and the soldiers who ranged the area saw.
I wrote this story a few years ago using info I gained from the records of Pennsylvania and sources in the Historical Society.

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
1755-1763


Pennsylvania has many beautiful rolling mountains stretching for many miles. One of the most picturesque is the long length of the Blue Mountain that stretches from Hamburg in the east to the Swatara gap as it parallels Interstate 78.
On one of my many work commutes down and back this interstate from Orwigsburg to New Cumberland. It came to mind that during the French and Indian War 1755-1763 this stretch of the Blue Mountain would play a very significant part. Anything north of the Blue Mountain was the frontier in the mid seventeen hundreds and only a very few hardy and brave settlers had the courage to live and to work the land.
Making my turn off the interstate and driving north on Route 419/183, the view makes one think of what it must have been like to have lived then. As one crests the summit of the Blue an awe inspiring view north, east and west presents itself, this land was known as the frontier in 1755 and today is known as our own Schuylkill County.
In 1754 twenty-eight names appeared on the tax lists as living in the Swatara region (near Pine Grove) north of the Blue Mountain. There were also a few squatters whose names would not appear on the list but were working the land just the same. These 28 and several squatters were effected by the French and Indian War.
The troubles that were brewing between England and France were far from the minds of the settlers who were farming this area. If the settlers went to the east and followed the Schuylkill River south they came to Reading, a well-established town where supplies and goods were purchased. Reading had been in existence since 1748. Almost all of the English colonies were established along the eastern seaboard, but the English were expanding rapidly westward and claiming the right to this territory. France, on the other hand, established her colonies in Canada to the north and Louisiana in the south and all the land that lay in the Mississippi and Ohio River basins. The English were on an ever expanding movement toward the west so naturally there was going to be some confrontation with their long time enemies, the French.
The Indians, mainly the Delaware known as the Leni Lanape, who lived in the area toward the Susquehanna River were usually a peaceful tribe. As trouble brewed, they sided with the French and so the scenario for a conflict was set.
As the situation between the English and French deteriorated in the fall of 1755, a series of events unfolded in the Schuylkill region. On October 15, 1755 Indians stealthily moved into the area known as Penns Creek near present day Selinsgrove and attacked and murdered the settlers living there. The body of John Leroy, was found near his cabin with two tomahawks planted in his forehead. His two children, Jacob and Mary, were taken captive. The Indians also took Rachel and Barbara Leininger and shot another neighbor whom they also scalped.
The Penns Creek massacre accomplished what the Indians wanted. The settlers were terrified and fled there settlements near the Susquehanna. Word of the massacre quickly reached the settlers living in the Schuylkill area. Fear spread that the Indians would come down the Susquehanna River to the Lebanon valley and then head east toward Reading. Within ten days of the massacre, nearly everyone living north of the Blue Mountain fled south over the mountain into the safety of the settlements near present day Womelsdorf.
But not all of the settlers left their farms. Here and there some brave and fearless pioneers stayed behind not willing to give up their land so easily. Living on a farm near the Swatara River, Adam Rees and his wife Anna Margaretha Seemr who had just recently married were making a go at farming about two miles west of Pine Grove. About one quarter of a mile away was Rees’ neighbor, Henry Hartman, Hartman was clearing the land of rocks and boulders near his log home in preparation for the next growing season. He was adamant that he would make a stand against the Indians and armed himself for safety. Also, about three miles east of these two farms George Bressler who owned over one hundred acres of good, fertile farmland on the south side of the Swatara, lived with his wife, the former Anna Eva Dollinger. Not far from Bressler’s the German Han’s Peter Grafe lived on his farm with his wife and two sons. These four stout hearted families were the only settlers who remained behind and stood ground against the Indians in the Swatara region.
Over in the Schuylkill River region several men remained behind with their families not fearing the Indians. One of these men, who lived about two miles east of present day Friedensburg on Long Run, was John George Schiffler. He owned a well built house on a few acres of fertile farm land.
The Indians over hundreds of years had established pathways for traveling their lands. One of the main pathways the Indians used started in Shamokin, present day Sunbury and traversed southeastward between the forks of the Susquehanna and the tidewaters of the Delaware. This path started at the mouth of the Mahanoy Creek, came across the country to the southeast, passed through Klingerstown Gap on the Mahantongo Mountain and continued in the same direction to the foot of the Broad Mountain a mile south of Hegins. It climbed the mountain and followed a straight path to the gap made by the Swatara on Second Mountain about three miles north of Pine Grove, came down the mountain on Sharp Mountain near Lorberry and Rausch Creek, went over the mountain east of Pine Grove and crossed the lower Swatara near Stanhope and climbed the Blue mountain on the road between Pine Grove and Bethel. This path was called the Shamokin Road.
The Indian war parties used the Shamokin Road to their advantage. They followed it as far as they could without being spotted and then headed off into the wilderness. For about two days, they scouted in and around the valley between the Blue and Second Mountain. These small war parties of Delaware Indians numbering not more than 20 braves, once friendly and allied with the English, now sought revenge.
On the night of October 28, 1755 Peter Grafe, his wife and two sons were inside their cabin when they were alerted by the barking of their dog. The sound of strange calls echoed in the woods surrounding their homestead. Out of the dark came a piercing war hoop. Warriors wearing deer skin jackets reaching below their knees and deer skin leggings their faces painted with black streaks symbolizing death and war, their hair cropped into a scalp lock. Carrying tomahawks, war clubs and rifles made their attack. Their method of attack was simple quick surprise, destroy the buildings by burning, seize as many prisoners as can be had, kill the others then retreat back into the forest as quickly as they came were hallmarks of the Indian attacks.
Peter Grafe surprised by the attack, fired back at the Indians attacking his home but was over come by their sudden onslaught. The terrified Grafe family tried to flee their home and seek the safety of the one of their neighbors. But the Delaware were too quick. They overcame the group and killed Grafe’s wife and two sons. Somehow Peter Grafe made his escape and sought safety with his neighbor George Schiffler. Schiffler sent this documented letter to Conrad Weiser, his friend, in Wolmolsdorff.

October 29, 1755
Last night they {Indians} killed the wife of Peter Grafe and both his sons and would have
murdered him but he escaped and came to us and is said { but we are not certain}
that the people living next to him are killed. We are few in number are gathered
at the house of George Scheffler to save ourselves our wives and children.
We poor children pray you as our father for assistance. We are in the greatest
Danger because we dare not move either forward or backwards nor go out
To bury the bodies of the dead. We commit the matter to you and expect
Assistance before the mischief if greater. The place where the dead bodies
Lay is two miles below Wilber Gambers at the Waters of the Swatara.

Wilber Gambers’ land was on the hill north of the Lower Little Swatara river about four miles east of Pine Grove.
Two days later on October 30, Adam Rees was in his home with his wife when he heard three shots fired in the direction of Henry Hartman’s farm. Rees grabbed his gun and took off at a run toward Hartman’s. As he called for Hartman he received no answer. He reconnoitered the area but found no Indians. Entering the open door of Hartman’s house Rees found him lying on the floor dead and scalped. One might imagine the horror of an Indian attack. The piercing war hoops Indians surrounding the house, as they break in the doors and windows they shoot you or split your head with a blow from a tomahawk or war club. Scalping was brutal striking two or three blows. The Indian quickly grabs his knife and makes an incision around the hair from the upper part of the forehead to the back of the neck. He puts his foot on the shoulder of the victim, who is facing down, and quickly pulls the hair off from back to front. If the victims are still alive the is unbearable. The attacker fastens the bloody scalp to his belt and quickly retreats back to the forest.
Returning from the Hartman farm, Adam Rees got his wife and they both hurried down through the Swatara Gap and reported the murder to Adam Reed, a justice of the Peace in Hanover Township. On the 31st of October they both returned to the Hartman Farm to bury Henry Hartman. Staying and protecting his farm cost Henry Hartman his life.
Rees also went to the farm of William Parsons who lived in Bethel Township on the south side of the mountain in Berks County. Parsons owned land on the north side of the mountain near the Rees and Hartman farm. After burying Hartman, Parsons, Rees and a few farmers set out on the Shamokin Road in search of the marauding Indians. At the top of the Blue Mountain, they meet some other men who were returning south. The men told of seeing two murdered men on the Shamokin road where it passes through a rock glen near George Bresslers’ farm. Bressler stated he heard the screams of the victims. Parsons found the two bodies about three hundred feet from each other and buried them both in the same grave. One of the men had a daughter with him who was missing. The man whose daughter was missing was Baltzer Shefer who had fled with his family from their farm above the Blue Mountain. Baltzer and his daughter met their fate when they were trying to go home and retrieve some items. There is no record ever of the daughter ever returning home. The other victim was George Eberhard, who lived somewhere north of the Blue. In a later report it was said that Eberhard’s wife and five children were also killed with him. One of Eberhard’s daughters returned home from captivity two years later.
By November 1, 1755 no white man or woman was living in the Swatara region above the Blue. The Pennsylvania authorities made no attempt to protect this region until forts were built in 1756. No fort was ever built to protect the Swatara region above the Blue Mountain. With no settlers in the area the Indians had free access to the area and were able to hide and make their lighting quick attacks into the Schuylkill region.
In November of 1755, the Supply Act was passed in Pennsylvania. The act authorized that a series of forts should be built by the local population to serve and protect the people living near them. In the Schuylkill and Berks County area six forts were built. Fort Lebanon, near present day Auburn was built in late November 1755. It was a stockade 100 feet. by 100 Feet. with bastions. Inside the fort were a barracks, storehouse and two smaller buildings that could house refugees during an emergency. Over the Blue mountain was Fort Northkill located north of Shartlesville. It was used as an outpost for Fort Lebanon. Northkill consisted of a small log house with stockade about 32 feet. by 32 feet. Also along this line was Fort Franklin built in 1756 near Snyders in eastern Schuylkill County, Fort Henry two miles north of Bethel, Fort Swatara NW of Lickdale and Fort Manada near Manada Gap in Dauphin County completed the line. Despite the presence of these forts the Indian attacks still continued.
Fort Lebanon had the duty of protecting the settlers near the Schuylkill River and toward the west along the Blue Mountain and Second Mountain. By January 25, 1756 provincial troops comprised of local militia manned the fort under the command of Capt. Jacob Morgan. According to the description of the fort written in 1756 the Fort was 100 foot square, with 14 ft. stockades, a 30x20 house with store room, a good spring within and a magazine 12 foot square. It was located on barren land and not surrounded by much timber. The fort was assigned to protect close to 100 people. On June 21, 1756 Commissary James Young made a tour of the fort and wrote in his report:

We set out for Fort Lebanon from Fort Northkill, all the way from Northkill
To Lebanon is an exceedingly bad road, very stony and mountainous.
About 6 miles from Northkill we crossed the mountain and where met by
Capt. Morgan’s Lieutenant with 10 men. Ranging in the woods between the
Mountain and Fort Lebanon we past two plantations, the rest of the country is
Chiefly barren hills. At noon we came to Fort Lebanon, which is situated in a plain,
On one side is a plantation, on the other a Barren Pretty clear of woods al around, only
A few trees about 50 yards from the fort, which I desired to be cut down.

According to Capt. Morgan’s journal he sent soldiers out in the woods four or five times a week and also placed guards around the farmers as they were farming. Fifteen men were to stay in Fort Lebanon at all times while eight men would protect the farmers at harvest time and 10 men would range constantly eastward and westward looking for Indians. Fort Lebanon was very important for the settlers north of the Blue and also those south of it. It commanded the Schuylkill Gap in the Blue Mountain. Here is a typical report filed by Capt. Morgan that happened in the Schuylkill County on November 4, 1756:

Yesterday morning at break of day, on of ye neighbors discovered a fire at a
Distance from him; he went to ye top of another mountain to take a better
Observation, and made a full discovery of fire, and supposed it to be about 7 miles
Off, at the house of John Finisher, he came and informed me of it. I immediately
Detached a party of 10 men, ( we being but 22 in the Fort) to the place where
They saw the fire, at the said Finsher house, it being nigh Schuylkill, and the men
Anxious to see if the enemy if there, they ran through the water and the bushes and the
Fire, where to their disappointment saw none of them, but the house, barn, and all
Outhouse all in flames. They saw a great many tracks and followed them, came back
To the house of Philip Culmore, thinking to send an alarm to the other inhabitants
To be on their guard, but instead found Culmore’s wife and daughter and son-in-law

All just killed and scalped: there is also missing from the same house, Martin Fell’s
Wife and child about 1 year old, and another boy of 7 years of age. The scout divided into
Two parties, one to the other houses and the other to the Fort, to inform me
I immediately went out on scout again, but could not make any discovery, but
Brought all the families to the Fort, where now I believe we are upwards of 60
Women and children.

At the same time as this incident was happening Lieutenant Humpries who was stationed at Fort Northkill over the Blue Mountain came upon 20 Indians at the home of Nicholas Long, where they had killed 2 old men and taken another captive and probably would have killed the family had not the soldiers fired upon them and wounded seriously two or three as they ran off making a hallowing noise. After all was said and done 3 persons were scalped and killed, 3 were missing and suspected of being captured all within a mile of Fort Lebanon. This war party was probably the same one that raided the in Schuylkill Region.
For many months Captain Morgan would send out patrols to range along the Blue Mountain, and up on the Second Mountain. They would receive many reports of Indians; they would find many moccasin tracts but no Indians. Many people were attacked by these murdering war parties.
Along with Fort Lebanon (Schuylkill County) and Fort Northkill (Berks County) sitting along the crest of the Blue mountain off of route 183 and about ¼ mile west on the Appalachian trail is a maker for Fort Dietrich Snyder, a small outpost that was manned by Captain Morgan’s soldiers and was a watch point for Indian movements in the area. The Fort actually was a one story log house owned by Dietrich Snyder located close to main path over the mountain and commanded an excellent view of the valley below were the smoke from burning farms could easily have been seen Indian attacks would continue in well into 1758 near Fort Lebanon.
The question always asked by the settlers was, were did the Indians go after their attacks? Many times there was nothing more than a moccasin track in the ground that led nowhere. In 1756 Capt. Morgan sent out a detachment of men under the command of one Ensign Harry to the Gap at the Schuylkill River on Second Mountain, near present day Mt. Carbon, the soldiers climbed the mountain, actually the route the soldiers took would have them climbing up the mountain on what is today Mt. Carbons main street. Cresting the mountain the soldiers headed west toward the valley in Indian Run near the present day Pottsville Indian Run reservoir. On the eastern end of this valley they found the encampment of the Indians here they found 2 coats, one spear, one scalping knife, some vermilion and 800 black wampum. The soldiers set up an ambush in the area but apparently the Indians had discovered them and fled to a new area. This area was known to the soldiers as the Red Hole.
Many changes have taken place in Schuylkill County since the beginning of the French And Indian War in 1755, but you can still get a feel for what the area did look like and how the people who lived and fought the Indians made a way of life here. So if you have the time go up on the Blue Mountain take a walk along the Appalachian Trail and look down on old Schuylkill and see the beauty that brought these people to the area. And think of the time when Indian war parties roamed the area and how it was for your families safety depended upon your bravery and abilities as a frontiersman.



The Red Hole: George Wheeler
The French And Indian War in Pa. 1753-1763: Louis M. Waddell/ Bruce Bomberger.
Pennsylvania Archives.ii