Proceedings and Addresses at Germanton, Pa., October 25, 1904 / The Pennsylvania-German in tlie French and Indian War. Frederick the Great and the United States,. Old Historic Germantown

745 Pages·1905·34.056 MB·English

by  H. M. M. Richards, J. G. Rosengarten, N. H. Keyser

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PROCEEDINGS}AND ADDRESSES
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1 1X,V
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PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY
1906
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CHAPTER XXIV.
Fort Henry.
Fort Henry.
?¥*& NE
of the most promi-
nent government de-
fenses along the Blue Ridge
was Fort Henry, also called,
at times, in the early part of
its history " Busse's Fort,"
after its first commanding of-
ficer, " The Fort at Dietrich
Six's," from its location, also
" Fort Henry at Tolihaio,"
using the name " Tolihaio" in a general sense to apply to
all the country in the vicinity of the Tolihaio, or Swatara
Gap.
It will be remembered that, with the first terrible out-
break, or massacre, which found all in such an unprepared
condition, the settlers established " a watch house " at
" Dietrich's Six's Placeunder the Hill on Shamokin Road."
It it probable this was the home of Dietrich Six. The
(3i6)

Fort Henry. 317
Fort Hcnpy
a aoo o o a
a oao I000
SITE, OF FORT HENRY.

3i8 The Pennsylvania-German Society,
location was so excellent that the provincial government,
upon taking charge of the defense, decided to build one of
the larger forts on the spot.
This property was on the old Shamokin (Sunbury)
Road, three miles north of Millersburg, in Bethel Town-
ship of Berks County. It was owned by Dietrich Six
during the war and purchased from him by Frantz Um-
benhauer, fromwhomitcame into the possession of George
Pott, and was lately owned by James Batz.
The fort stood in what is now a cultivated field, about
twenty-five yards northeast from a shed, with stone base,
standing by the roadside. It was on slightly elevated
ground and commanded a splendid view of the approaches
from the Blue Mountains, and of the valley to the west.
At the foot of the elevated ground runs a little stream of
water, originating at the spring back of the fort. Pieces
of stone, belonging to the fort as well as pieces of common
clay pipe stems and chips of flint are, even yet, occasionally
ploughed up.
In the distant past various Indian villages must have
We
been located in the neighborhood. are told the fort
stood "under the hill on Shamokin Road." This hill,
called " Round Top Mountain," rises abruptly from the
plain about one mile east of the fort. So abruptly does
it rise that it is almost impossible to scale the side facing
the defense. Those who have attempted it. however,
have found, about half-way up, an artificial plateau, about
forty by one hundred and fifty feet, formed by taking out
stones from the hill behind. These stones seem to have
been broken to a small size, and were entirely different
from the rock composing the remainder of the mountain,
being much harder and making somewhat of a ringing
sound when knocked together. The fact is interesting
-
Fort Henry. 319
because it is altogether probable that it was a quarry from
which the aborigines obtained their arrow and axe heads,
if not the flints for their muskets. Of the shape of the
fort we know nothing definite. In our generation it has
been, at best, but a heap of ruins, but we are assured from
them that it was more pretentious in size than usual. The
only description of any kind, which has been secured, was
from a Mr. Daniel Hostetter, of Springsville, who, if now
living, would be some seventy years old. Even this is of
a rather vague character. He says most of the stone
belonging to the fort was taken by the farmers for build-
ing purposes, but, when he first saw it, the marks of the
building were plain, and a portion of the wall remained.
To him it seemed to be shaped like a half moon, and, in
the center, was a house which evidently had a cellar under-
neath. The walls of the fort were about three feet thick
and some two hundred feet long. Mr. Hostetter adds
that he "never saw such a place in his life and doubts if
there be any other like it in the State."
The first commanding officer of Fort Henry was Cap-
tain Christian Busse, who, before the war, had been a
doctor at Reading, Pa.
Notwithstanding the terrible depredations committed by
the Indians, the officers in command of the troops made
every effort to prevent them, and their unceasing vigilance
is well worthy of commendation.
The following report of Colonel Weiser to Governor
Morris, made in July, 1756, bears witness to this state-
ment
:
"Honoured Sir:
"Immediately after my Return from Philadelphia, I
sent Orders to the Captains Busse, Morgan and Smith,