The fort in the wilderness

by Edward Stratemeyer

"This is certainly barbarous," said James Morris. "We ought to go after those redskins." But this was not permitted by Captain Ecuyer, for he felt that a general attack on the fort might come at any time. Two soldiers went out, to do a little spy work, and both were shot down when less than a mile from the stronghold. Then came in the report that the Indians had abandoned one of the villages up the Allegheny and were marching against the English.

"This is certainly growing warm," said Mr. Morris. "I should like to know how matters are going at home."

A few days later a trader came in more dead than alive, with news from the Tuscaroras.

"Chief Shingas warmed me to flee," said he. "He says the war-hatchet had been dug up everywhere, and that Detroit, Sandusky, Niagara, Presque Isle, and many other places have fallen, and that towns and settlements have been burned to the ground." This news was not altogether true, as we know, but it created great excitement, and the commandant at Fort Pitt renewed his efforts to make the place as strong as possible.

In a story of this nature, it is impossible to give even a tenth part of the many exciting events which occurred during that fateful summer of 1763, when the awful conspiracy of Pontiac reached its height. Families without number were slaughtered, children stolen and whole settlements given over to the flames. The Indians did not remain in one locality, but roamed from place to place, until the alarm of the whites became so great that it was thought by some that the entire "Western Countries" would have to be abandoned once more. Petitions were sent in to the governors and to the king, pleading for aid, and standing that the limit had been reached, and the settlers must be helped or they would surely lose their all. So keen was the excitement in some places that no Indians dared to show themselves, even though they were friendly, for the whites would no longer trust them.

The garrison at Fort Pitt consisted of three hundred and thirty soldiers and frontiersmen. Some of the frontiersmen had their wives and families at the fort, and the total number of people within the place was calculated at about six hundred and fifty. To make the houses both shot-proof and fire-proof they were covered with dirt and sods, and the ramparts were also strengthened, and an old fire engine, of the hand-pump variety, was brought out and fixed up for use.

Thus the days went by until the latter part of June, when a party of Indians appeared near the fort, drove away some of the soldiers' horses, and killed several cows. Then the red men began to fire at the fort.

"They are attacking us!" cried Henry, and ran to the post assigned to him, followed by his uncle. But as they could see no Indians they did not bring their rifles into use.

Captain Ecuyer allowed the enemy to fire on the fort for fifteen minutes and then ordered his gunners to discharge their howitzers. The shells from the latter burst directly over the heads of the Indians, and becoming panic-stricken they fled, and the brief attack came to a close.

"We'll hear from them again to-morrow," said James Morris, and he was right. At nine o'clock in the morning several Indians came up for a "talk." One was known as Turtle's Heart, who was the spokesman.