Fort Reid was the most westerly of the line of defenses thrown out in advance
of Fort Augusta, for the purpose of covering that place and as a rallying place
for the inhabitants and the scouts when hard pressed. The Continental Army had
drawn largely upon the young active men of the region, leaving those less ht for
active service at home to cope with an enemy, the most active and wily in border
warfare of this kind in the world.
In this forest country, with the inhabitants isolated by the size of their land
claims, he could lay in wait, concealed for weeks if necessary, to await an
opportunity to strike the settler when off his guard or in a situation in which
he could offer least effective opposition. Not hampered with baggage, never
troubled about keeping open his communications, as he could glide through where
a fox might pass, and as noiselessly; armed by his master with the best of arms
the time afforded, while the pioneers could scarcely procure ammunition enough
to keep his family in meat; the Indian was bountifully furnished from the ample
storehouses of the English. One naturally wonders how, with all the
disadvantages against him, the settler held out so long; his staying qualities
were wonderful; with these strengthened houses inadequately garrisoned as the
only refuge for his family, he was a man who elicits our admiration.
Reid's Fort was the dwelling house of Mr. William Reid, stockaded in the spring
of 1777; its location is on Water or River Street, in the built up part of the
town east of the mouth of the Bald Eagle Canal. Judge Mayer and others have kept
up an interest in its site. Visiting the site, Capt. R. S. Barker and myself
called upon William Quigley and his wife, who were said to be the oldest
residents of the place, he being ninety years; we found the pair bright,
intelligent people. He recollected the remains of Fort Reid and so did Mrs.
Quigley. As their location is acquiesced in by Judge Mayer and the others, we
give it.
A large Indian mound existed at this place on the riverbank, described as high
as a two-story house, surrounded by a circle of small ones. In digging the Bald
Eagle Canal they cut away the western half of this mound, exhuming quantities of
human bones and stone implements. The banks of the canal were said to be
whitened therewith for years after. Immediately to the east of the mounds and
close thereto stood Reid's fort, traces of which could be seen after 1820. This
gives us the exact site within, say thirty feet, of the chimney of the Reid
house and brings us within the stockades.
As mentioned before it was the left flanking defense of the series and was
vacated by order of Col. Hunter, who had command of these forts, and garrisoned
when he had troops, but the principal defense fell upon the settlers of the
regions they protected. The Indians seldom attacked these places with any
persistency unless accompanied by whites. It was an important point to garrison,
covering the river on both sides and the lower Bald Eagle valley, which, when
well done by the assistance of Horn, Antes and Muncy protected the whole of the
region between the Bald Eagle and the Susquehanna down to White Deer creek.
Moses Van Campen, then orderly sergeant of Captain Gaskins' company of Colonel
John Kelly's regiment of Northumberland County militia, says the regiment was
stationed here at Fort Reid during its six months' service in the summer of
1777. As he calls it Fort Reid it must have been fortified at that time, as the
position was on the extreme outer limits of the settlements and much exposed.
This is, without doubt, correct. Scouting duty was performed by the regiment and
guarding the inhabitants was performed vigilantly. Here, in the West Branch, is
located at the mouth of the Bald Eagle creek, the "Big Island," comprising a few
hundred acres and very fertile. This place attracted settlers early, while on
each side of the river the lands were attractive and a considerable settlement
existed in the vicinity of the fort at this time. Here Van Campen had his
wrestling match with the champion of the Indian land men, or those settlers on
the north side of the river, in which Northumberland's activity and muscle
prevailed. Here the Bald Eagle valley terminates. The fort, when manned, as it
should be, protected the lower part of the valley. The Rev. Mr. Fithian, of the
Presbyterian Church, visited this place before the Revolution, going with Miss
Jenny Reed and another young woman whortleberrying on the Bald Eagle Mountain.
On returning from the expedition they came part of the way by the river; their
canoe man was unfortunate and overset the canoe, spilling out the girls and
whortleberries. The water was not deep; the girls squalled lustily at first,
but, finding themselves unhurt, they proceeded to chastise the canoe man by
"skeeting" water over him with their tin cups until the poor fellow was
effectually drenched, when, still indignant, they waded to the shore to their
friends, who were there enjoying the scene.
The foregoing includes all the forts built as a defense against the Indians
prior to 1783, I find in my jurisdiction, and they are fifteen in number.
Notes About Book:
Source: The Frontier Forts Within The North and West Branches of the Susquehanna
River Pennsylvania, BY Captain John M. Buckalew, Read Before The Wyoming
Historical And Geological, Society, October 1, 1895. Reprinted From The State
Report, 1896. E. B. Yoruy, Printer, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Notes about Online Publication: This manuscript has been ocr'd and heavily
edited. Many of the Native American words have been reproduced as clearly as
online publication will allow us, but not all are exactly the way they were in
the original work. The structure of this manuscript has been changed to allow
better online presentation.