Forts along the Susquehanna River ~ French & Indian War, PA

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Mailing Address: PO Box 205, Womelsdorf PA 19567

[@wsmith4020]

Two things at Fort Hunter: 1. They have free outdoor movies for the public where they usually play classic 80's movies. 2. In the larger barn they have/had musical jam sessions where people could bring their own instruments and join in. (Not sure the status of these events now.)

[@teresahill1982]

I am really enjoying your Vlogs on the French and Indian War. I got super excited (yes I am a geek for history) when I saw this on Forts! I love old Forts, if you ever get to come to Florida you must go see the forts at Jacksonville Beach and definitely the one in St Augustine. I was wondering do you have Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, Book VII? If you do check out pgs 243-244 it describes an event during the French/Indian War in which my ancestor along with his brother were captured by the Delaware Indians. Delaware Indians attacked and burned the Cox home near McDowell's Mill, in what is now Franklin County, Pennsylvania, then part of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. John Cox and older brother Richard were taken, prisoners. John Craig, their brother-in-law, was also captured while trying to rescue John and Richard. All three escaped in Aug. 1756.

[@MsJaydogg28]

One of my ancestors owned land there during the massacre. Thanks for checking all this out!

[@billbailey4943]

Videos are getting better and better, keep up the great work!!

[@chrisgray8774]

I like looking at the houses on your drives through older towns.

[@PAExploration]

Depending on which source you read, the two bronze cannon never made it to the hill, they were dumped in the West Branch Susquehanna at Halls Station at the “Cannon Hole” when the fort was determined to be unassailable by forward scouts. Those cannon remain in the river, just downstream from Racetrack Island, despite several attempts to recover them. Really enjoying this series, thanks for sharing your travels with us.

[@deadmetal8692]

You couldn't have picked a more beautiful spot. That picture is pure Pennsylvania beauty.

[@ohdiggy8038]

These are great. I have family in your area and lived there for a bit myself 20 yrs ago. I was younger and more able-bodied then and on my days off work I did alot of exploring, too. PA is a beautiful state with so much history and it's not a part of the South but it's not a part of New England, either. People are much more authentic and laid back in PA than in the North. That's been my experience, anyway. Really enjoyed tagging along with you, thanks.🙂

[@rainbowbgood]

Wow, this river is so beautiful! I think you can feel the erased history of a beautiful civilization!

[@paulfroud3920]

Thanks, it's amazing to see it rather than on a map. I didn't realize the Susq. River was so big.

[@MrDrissel56]

You can see both the well and the entrance to the powder magazine as they are a few feet downriver from the model fort. They are in the yard of the next house, toward the back of the house.

[@lucisetumbrae]

Love your videos.

[@57Banjoman]

Really enjoying these Cliff-thanks!

[@lizkayne]

Beautiful. I absolutely love your channel

[@bekleidungu.ausrustung7068]

Great video. Liked it very much!

[@stevepacenka2748]

WW is one superb natural and human geographical history compilation for my ancestral state. Deserves a PA Governor's award.

[@timcutler4708]

Thank you for undertaking this project. I have a spare copy of "Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania" if you need it, and a good copy of Hanna's tome

[@kennymay9036]

me and the other 47 people who care about history appreciate what you do.thanks.shame huh?

[@johnferguson185]

Very Kool history , love it !! Thanks Cliff for telling it .

[@jrwit55]

Thanks for sharing your historical knowledge in your videos.

[@BeeWOWdbyAprilLee]

I love all your videos. I've been learning so much about Pennsylvania my home state.

[@raynonabohrer5624]

I'm in Enjoying your videos that bless you and keep you. Love the history.

[@darlenegood4101]

I ethinjoy how you tell the story so a person can imagine events took place.

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Cliff, a great video showing the positions and telling the history of these forts. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx 🙏💖

[@StantonsJourneys]

Definitely knew what they were doing back in the day when they build these forts. Think you for sharing the history of these forts and parks. Definitely want to see these some day. Thank you for sharing.

[@tmpatklk]

Thanks for sharing, Cliff. Another great video for sure! All three sites are beautiful. The Fort Hunter and Fort Augusta mansions are impressive. The model fort is well done. Your camera did a good job zooming to Fort Augusta. Your details were just right. They give us enough to further research on our own.

[@josephmcgrath3152]

Wonderful shows on the French and Indian war . Please keep them coming .

[@erickort1987]

i love your wandering adventures bro

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Thanks so much. This history you sharing I’m finding it really exciting. What a beautiful area that is. Thanks so much for taking me along. Please stay safe and take care

[@tammiesheesley2045]

I love how you explain everything. Grew up in New Berlin and never knew the history! Thank you for your videos!

[@bradforddillman7671]

You’ve traversed some of my favorite parts of Pennsylvania in this one. Great video today.

[@martyjones9374]

Yes I remember the model Fort, very cool! Enjoyed all you showed us. Mansion, wigwam, barn, beautiful shots of the river, etc. & all the history you shared with us. Very interesting Cliff!! Thanks.🥰

[@imahick5723]

What beautiful place. Thank you

[@debhouckscraftycottage9288]

I am thoroughly enjoying this series of videos, since I was born in Sunbury but my parents moved to Chester County when I was only 3 months old. As a result, I didn't get a lot of the history of the area when I was young. However, many areas you've shown, I remember seeing even if only from a car window on the way to a relative or something. I really need to get back up there soon and visit a few remaining relatives before it's too late. :( Thanks so much for sharing!

[@Jubilo1]

Thanks for the beautiful video. always a delight to visit the French and Indian Wars.

[@robalan57]

There are some great walking and hiking in that general area and within a few miles.

[@michaelbishop6831]

So much to explore in Pa. we do most of our camping in Pa.

[@TravelingThru222]

Cool Forts. I love some good ol Pennsylvania history. Great video.

[@dwightminnich2722]

Thanks for another great part to your series. When I research the French and Indian War I always have my satellite map waiting in the background to find where places and events were located. It is the closest I will get to some of the places I would love to see. Following your series makes me feel like I have been there.

[@jwon5614]

Excellent video!!!! Love that old barn in Ft. Halifax😊This is a great visual of history!!

[@MbgFire2067]

There’s actually been talk lately of tearing it and the house down

[@davmatt74]

Thank you for the video.

[@davidcassidy5868]

i like the Farm Show out there. A friend of mine whose father managed the Robinsons Crebilly Farm in Chesco years ago used to show the Farms heifers there annually.

[@karenpacker8862]

Great job with this series Cliff. Beautiful locations too.

[@robdwy1708]

Cool

[@Friskee62]

I see you learned some new camera skills. Liked the way you disappeared from sitting on that rock. Nice touch...

[@sharonbartlett4307]

I love your videos. Whenever I am reading something historical i try to imagine what the places looked like. Your videos bring it all out for me. I am wondering if there are any historical paintings from that era that would show what it looked like then. I am sure that there probably are, I would just need to look them up. Thank you for sharing. Your knowledge of history is amazing. Do you know anything about when PA was first being settled and stories about a governor? I read something about a horse being stolen and that started a big uproar. I don't have the book anymore and don't remember the name of it.

[@Dave_0993_I]

A very nice time to visit Fort Hunter is their spring garden show, when my great club, the Susquehanna Bonsai Club, has a display. See some miniature trees!

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

whow Woodsman 'john Harris was my dj name decades ago coincidence yeh brightened me up for my birthday this week Cheers like video brian Ireland

[@MbgFire2067]

We’d love to have you visit Millersburg and check out the Ferry as well as the trails at the Ned Smith Center. The ferry had more issues with the low water this past summer than anything. The Ferry wall helps but it was extremely low this past year.

[@janecharlton6780]

So interesting, thanks .

[@JoelTurrell]

As someone who grew up on the North Branch, I feel compelled to add this note. To Pennsylvanians, the Susquehanna is composed of three branches: the West Branch, whose major town is Williamsport, the North Branch, whose main town is Wilkes-Barre, and the Main Branch which starts at Fort Augusta. To those in New York, the Susquehanna has headwaters near Cooperstown, is joined by the Chenango at Binghamton and continues south into PA. The depth of the West Branch varies significantly, but in most places is shallower than the North Branch. Much of the North Branch was not settled permanently by the native tribes, but was used for summer encampments. (My clan's homestead contained less than 40 arable acres and 160 acres which grew rocks, trees, and snakes.)

[@kevinmiller4486]

Mountain to your right after getting on 147 is Peters Mountain. Ft Halifax part is being developed for recreation.

[@betsybarnicle8016]

Archeologists have recently found the official Fort Halifax remains.

[@miamirob579]

We pass through this area a couple times a year traveling to and from our second home in Sayre, PA (a lot of railroad history, canal, Sullivan's march and 18th century history). I may travel on the east side of the river next time.

[@VAhistTeach]

I have driven by this area a few times in the past, taking the scenic route from Virginia to Buffalo, NY. Noticed your hat was from another place I have been to, Old Ft. Niagara.

[@craigcook1571]

Louis Lamour wrote in the prelog of one of his westerns, We dream what they lived, and they dreamed what we live. I have to wonder if they would be willing to trade places with us today, if that were possible. I DONT BELIEVE THEY WOULD! I believe they were smarter than that

[@tramainecbaynes1364]

beautiful

[@nickmad887]

love watching.

[@dankozy3257]

Can't wait till you come to my neck of the woods.enjoying this

[@20greeneyes20]

And where might that be?

[@dankozy3257]

Site of Fort LeBoeuf

[@justwondering5540]

It has the feel of Mt. Vernon when you look across the river and just the sober feel of the place you nailed it.

[@carpediem3044]

That's the British Red Ensign, or Red Duster, (Fort Halifax) and is flown on merchant and passenger ships - cool video, thanks for sharing.

[@lightweight1974]

The Susquehanna Valley is full of history. Thank you.

[@JA51711]

Thank you

[@cynthiaarnold5807]

Hey while you were up in Millersburg area you should have checked out the Ned Smith Center. Cool place. We collect Ned Smith art. Beautiful work. As much as you love nature im sure you will appreciate his work. We are planning on a road trip to follow your path today. We still are quarantine but we can be in a car. Thanks Cliff your videos are really appreciated right now .

[@edwardluke4920]

Cynthia Arnold .... yes Ned Smith's art is really great.! I love his book too. Can't remember the title. I lent it out so much, because the stories are so great for anyone who loves the wilderness and wildlife, I don't think it came back last time. Any hunter/conservationist/ outdoorsman would enjoy his work. A real Pennsylvania treasure.

[@cynthiaarnold5807]

I just love his work. When I was a child I read Pa. GAME NEWS faithfully. Ned Smith had so many of his painting used as covers for the magazine.

[@larryfleming2584]

, a great piece of History

[@Pwrcritter]

Both ways can't be down the river, lol. I was always amazed at how wide the susquehanna is.

[@lightweight1974]

The North Branch Susquehanna and the West Branch Susquehanna converge at Sunbury to form the Susquehanna River. It's not a fork, it's a convergence.

[@Dave_0993_I]

>.. . . . . .And this was a very informative trek.

[@jezuswizardspatula5804]

Great Smallmouth Bass Fishing in there🧙‍♂️🐟

[@10Bdog10]

Yes, smashed many smallies down in Port Deposit.

[@ddvette]

Enjoy your site. Grew up in western PA . Been to Ft. Necessity many times. The french and Indian war doesn’t get its due. Without it, the foundation for what became the United States would have never happened.

[@RunawayGranny]

Good video PA is on the bucker list.

[@richardzellers]

FUNNY that I'm in Albania and in this video you are a block from my house at Fort Augusta. :)))

[@jackkoveleskie2504]

Funny seeing somebody I know in the comments on a random YT video!

[@marywhitehead5422]

Fort Ralston near Bath Pa. 25 years ago there were still ruins left near the site. So fort Augusta was a star fort eh.

[@bonniehebbe2565]

You should visit Fort Loudon west of Chambersburg Pa, very interesting story.

[@loudmusickillsthepain648]

Fort Necessity still stands. You can visit today. South west Pa. If you find yourself in that area, you should also check out the the Laurel Caverns. And also General Broddock is buried on the side of the highway in that area as well. Edit: Laurel Caverns is "temporarily closed".

[@kerretvcreek]

My 8th great grandfather John Boyd who came from Scotland lived in the area of Fort Augusta, several of the children were taken captive or killed in an Indian raid. His son David who was one of the ones taken is my 7th great grandfather. It is very interesting to see the area where they lived.

[@wsmith4020]

I grew up in Fort Halifax. There is (or at least was) a geo-cache behind the large monument rock along Rt. 147 at Fort Halifax Park area.

[@wsmith4020]

They also have a festival every year to raise funds for the caretakers of this site but due to COVID it may be on hiatus.

[@TheUpsguy1987]

I was raised in Millersburg, PA. Your video just missed the canon that is standing at the square along with a military statue. The Millersburg Ferry runs across the Susquehanna River to Liverpool, PA. The ferry boats are currently in dry dock at the Millersburg Park on Front Street along the river. A lot of history running from Sunbury all the way down to Harrisburg.

[@MbgFire2067]

He definitely needs to visit Millersburg. I think he’d enjoy the trails at Ned Smith as well.

[@wiseguysoutdoors2954]

Hope you are planning on visiting Ft Presque Isle and Ft LeBoeuf ( Erie Co) as well as Ft Machault (Venango Co) and Ft Duquesne in Pittsburgh

[@billjamison2877]

I love your videos. Maybe take a metal detector with you on some of your journeys ? You might find some history in the ground.

[@maljcross4634]

What type of boats would the military use to transport supplies when fort hopping? What a very informative video and the views of the river, awesome.

[@thewanderingwoodsman7227]

Probably something more like a raft.

[@ingeborgm6147]

While you were showing us the ford and talking, some kids in one of the houses behind you were trying to keep their curtains open to wave. (27:25)) They saw you were making a video I am sure! :)

[@jgwood10]

Look closer it’s just the reflection of the flag blowing in the wind.

[@richardzellers]

The magazine of Fort Augusta is in the back yard of the stone house across the alley (you were only a few yards from it), and the cemetery with the commander, et al, was a block away....and Bloody Spring where one of the soldiers of the fort was killed by an indian.

[@davidb.3786]

They just found some major finds I think in Sunbury at or near the fort recently.

[@jamestownvirginia8463]

I think they didn't build on the west side for supply and being cut off reasons. Interesting series, thanks.

[@markmullin4246]

That park @ fort Halifax, should paint that old barn.

[@Bowfinger10]

Topic for a different video, but at 10:34 you cut away right before crossing the last remnants of the Wiconisco canal, the aqueduct over Powell Creek. Today, Rt 147 uses it to cross the creek.

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

Bailey i agree Gt can't beat being there thats my experience

[@johnreynolds6499]

There's really good books by Alan Eckert, winning America series.

[@jonbooya]

When you were on blue hill looking down on Fort Augusta, the stone house to the right had the underground powder magazine. When I was younger you could walk down into it but it is now fenced off.

[@georei]

You still remember doing that, hey old boy?

[@jonbooya]

@@georei yes I do. How the hell ya been?

[@georei]

@@jonbooya Still alive and kicking, but not as fast as I used to. Can't use my left arm at the moment. Had rotator cuff repair done 2 weeks ago.

[@jonbooya]

@@georei getting old really does suck. Lol

[@joshlewis5486]

I love fort hunter

[@clydeosterhout1221]

Just a couple of observations about Fort Halifax: - it was a failure in one way: you can’t see across the river! There is an island that blocks the entire view of the river- right channel - back during the war troops would not have taken the route you drove, as what is now 147 didn’t exist, due to the topography . Troops would have marched over Peter’s Mountain, past the Peter’s house, making it a rather long and difficult March from Fort Halifax - According to local legend, Fort Halifax was placed where it was due to Armstrong’s influence, as it provided protection for his estate. - when you passed Duncannon you might have mentioned that it was one of the early routes out to Pittsburg and points west, following the Juniata River trails.

[@betsybarnicle8016]

Also, it was close to a brewery.

[@robalan57]

I think Susquehanna Outfitters offer kayak trips along the river. Not sure, but they may have camping along the way.

[@OlWolf1011]

Another good History Story! The rivers were important highways, because even if there were trails and roads - well, figure a horse trots 15 MPH, how long you suppose it takes someone to travel decent distance? Folks now a days hop in a car, and what takes 30-min. driving used to take those folks 2-hrs! And your "motor" gets tired after awhile and needs to rest. That's why those lay-over forts - and also when you drive rural there are almost-invisible towns with names like "Boyd's Tavern". Inns and Taverns set about a day's ride apart, with feed and sleep for horse and rider. With a river, horse and rider could travel by boat and be rested at their destination.

[@keithwolstenholme4238]

My fourth great grandfather and family moved to Paxton Twp in 1755 from Newtown, Bucks County. Scotch Irish pioneers who liked to live dangerously, I guess.

[@betsybarnicle8016]

Probably less dangerous than living in Ireland at the time.

[@calvinlewis307]

Thanks for doing this series on the French and Indian War. Could you please show the maps for a few more seconds. 🇺🇸🇯🇵

[@jenniferbutcher8393]

At Fort Hunter, what were those 5 long skinny island looking things across the river? They looked manmade? Such interesting places! Would love to visit that area.

[@thewanderingwoodsman7227]

Probably old bridge piers.

[@duckcotnerantiqemachinery9516]

There was two forts within the area of Bloomsburg

[@naybur74]

this and civil war history is for me!

[@lightweight1974]

Did you get to the "Bloody Spring" marker? It's about 1 mile from the fort. IIRC the plaque marks a spring where a couple soldier were massacred while fetching water.

[@mikeh8129]

I recently just saw the marker for Fort Lebanon in Auburn. I never knew the French and Indian War had anything to do with that area.

[@jwright1253]

Would have loved to see the witness trees

[@georei]

Close to Sunbury's community pool, there another marker called Bloody Spring. A soldier from Fort Augusta who was guarding cattle was attacked and killed by a Native American. There's so much history around here. You could spend months or an entire lifetime trying to cover it all.