Fall 1756 or Spring 1757? Rumor of Attack on Fort Cumberland
FORT CUMBERLAND OR FORT AUGUSTA?
Fall 1756 or Spring 1757? Rumor of Attack on Fort Cumberland
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Compiled by Jim Moyer 09/26/2019, 10/1/19, updated 4/11/2024
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Fort Cumberland MD vs Fort Augusta PA?
We wonder if intelligence reported by Captain Dagworthy about an invasion coming towards Fort Cumberland was really mistaken intelligence about an invasion that aimed for Fort Augusta on the Susquehanna in Pennsylvania?
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We imagine talk of large numbers of French and Indians moving through the woods might have led to guessing wrong about its target?
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We know the rumor reported by Captain Dagworthy started on this date and was deemed a false report by Dagworthy on this June 1757.
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When was the attack on Fort Augusta?
This links claims Fall of 1756
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When we take into consideration that Braddock’s defeat had occurred but a year before this and their allies, the Indians, were still elated over this great victory and ready for new conquests; the movements of the French at this time indicate this plainly, as shown by the Tradition of the Cannon Hole at the Race Ground Island, in the West Branch, as told the English by the Indians after peace, was that a party of French and Indians had left the lake country in the fall of 1756 to make permanent advance to the forks of the Susquehanna, bringing along three small brass cannon. Striking the head waters of the Susquehanna (West Branch), they descended by water to about the mouth of Loyal Sock creek, where, landing, they sent a reconnoitering party to the top of the Blue hill overlooking the forks and Fort Augusta, then partially built. Seeing the advancement of the fort and the number of men guarding it, considered it imprudent to attack and so reported to the main body who, after consultation, decided to return; as the water was falling, finding themselves encumbered with their cannon, they threw them in the deep pot hole, or eddy, at the upper end of the old time race ground island, which has been known as the Cannon Hole ever since.
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Spring 1757 or Fall 1756?
This letter was written March 23, 1757.
If they just heard this rumor, is the rumor current?
Then the alleged coming attack was Spring of 1757 instead of Fall 1756.
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9. In response to the rumor of an attack on Ft. Augusta, Young was sent there to pay arrears due the troops. He arrived at the fort in early April and disbursed £2300, four months’ pay for the men. The officers volunteered to forego their back pay for the time being so that the ranks could have what was available. PMHB, xxxvi (1912), 419.
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More than One Rumor
of Attacking Fort Augusta?
Letter written September 8, 1756:
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1. Of the Susquehanna. Clapham feared that French and Indians from Fort Duquesne might have artillery for their often rumored but never executed attack on Fort Augusta.
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Invasion threat to either Fort Cumberland or Fort Augusta
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Camp near Carlisle [Pa.] June 22d 1757 two o’Clock
Sir
I wrote you a letter this morning about 6 O’Clock since which I have the Favour of your’s of the 20th with the Examination of the French Officer your Prisoner for which I [am] extreemly obliged to you, shall only add to what I say’d in the morning that I highly approve of The Council of War you held1 and think your Fort Loudoun the properest place to make a Stand for which reason it was there I intend’d to joyn you with six hundd men, had Fort Cumberland been taken which by the notion I have of the place is in no ⟨sort⟩ tenable against such an attack as we were made to believe was in agitation against it, I confess my self a very great stranger to Indian affairs yet can not help thinking but that these Cherkees are well worth encouragmt. I am made to believe that Fort Augusta is to be attack’d but shoud think those works in some forwardness, must leave to a little time to discover to us what the Enemy realy intend to do, this province will maintain a French Army well, but where they can have Armys for all places I can’t divine, beg you will believe that I am with great truth Dr Sir Your most obedient humble Servt
John Stanwix
ALS, DLC:GW.
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Notes
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