"In the spring of 1780, there were three forts left standing along the west branch of the Susquehanna river: Fort Wheeler, Fort Rice, and Fort Swartz. Fort Swartz was a log structure, named for Lieut. Christian Godfried Swartz, of Col. Weltner’s German Battalion, who stockaded and defended it. It had been built after Fort Freeland and Fort Muncy had been destroyed. "
Meginness says at the ferry, about one mile above Milton, a log structure garrisoned by and named for Major Christian Godfried Swartz, of Col. Weltner’s regiment.
The Location Of Fort Swartz
Historians in the 1930's to 1960's note the location of Fort Swartz as at the location of Riverside Park. Riverside Park was located where Fort Boone Campground is located today.
"...at the Sportsmen's Club House, from the porch of which the noted Fred Godcharles gave a historical talk on Fort Swartz and Fort Boone, the site of Fort Swartz being a few hundred yards to our north and plainly visible, and the side of Fort Boone being a little southeast and now occupied by a mill." - The Duncannon Record, Sept. 1934 (full newspaper article included below)
The sportsman's club, located across from Riverside Amusement park, foundation can still be seen today, across from the Fort Boone Campground.
"Fort Boone stood near the mouth of Muddy Run, and a little north of the grist mill, late Kemmer's, but now owned by the heirs of David Eschbach, deceased, and on the west side of the railroad and canal and about two miles above our present town of Milton.
And soon after this, Col Weltner established his 5th fort, called Fort Swartz, that stood on the bank of the Susquehanna River and about a mile above Milton. J.B. Linn, in his "Annals of Buffalo Valley" says, " Fort Swartz was most likely Peter Swartz, who lived on the farm now owned by the Hon. Geo. F. Miller. It was no doubt the block-house of Peter Swarts" (Annals 193.)
"Geo. Swartz, a son of this Peter was married to Tenah Wolfinger, an aunt of mine, and if Fort Swartz had been been situated where Mr. inn has located it, my uncle Geo. would certainly have told me about it in my boyhood. But he never stated anything of the kind. Fort Swartz did not stand on the west side of the river and below Milton, but stood on the east side of the river and above Milton. I often stood on its grounds in my boyhood and never heard any person have any doubt about Fort Swartz having stood there near the old Ferry House that afterwards stood there when it became the place for ferrying people across the river. Sherman Day therefor was right when he, in his "Historical Collection of Pennsylvania", published in 1843 said that Fort Swartz stood "one mile above Milton". -J.F. Wolfinger, 1885
"Fort Wheeler, the traditions of the many descendants of men who occupied the fort say, was not abandoned but held by hearty settlers, when not garrisoned by trooped and that it is the only one of it's date on the line in front of Fort Augusta that was not destroyed. Of course, I do not include McClure, Rice, or Swartz, as they were built later." The Frontier Forts by Buckley
In 1933, The Northumberland County Historical Society announced it would be visiting the sites of: Fort Montgomery, Fort Muncy, Fort Brady, Fort Freeland, Fort Swartz, and Fort Boone.
Reports Of Action At The Fort
April 13 1789 - Twenty Indians attacked Peter Swartz's plantation above Milton, one killed and three wounded. That was about the location of Riverside Park (today Boones Campground) - The Miltonian, Historical Notes“All we find about this fort is in a letter from Genl. Potter, dated Sunbury, September 18, 1780, in which he says I discharged the Volunteers that came from Cumberland and as soon as we could get provisions, which was the next morning, I marched the remainder, consisting of 170 men, upon the West branch to Fort Swarts. I then went to Col. Kelly, who lay at the mouth of White Deer creek with 80 men.” History of the Forts, Penna. Archives, vol. xii, Appendix, p. 461
"I gave orders to the Frontier Companies to embody and keep one-fourth of the men, constantly reconnoitering, after garrisoning Fort Jenkins, Fort Rice and Fort Swarts, with 20 men in each of them."
side. On the 8th of December Mrs. Swartz took out letters of administration upon her former husband's estate. They were the first issued in Northumberland County. Her account was filed September 8, 1774, in which Peter Swartz adjoins. On the debtor side of the account is an item for a deer skin, accepted for a debt due the estate from Captain John Brady.
Dewey S. Herrold, Presentation in Nov. 1948
Iwill tell you what my great grandfather told me about Fort boone..He Lived at the last house on Sand Hill in Watsontown . It is no longer there it was taken by the railroad in the 60s to make the radius of the curve to McEwensville . He used to walk the railroad tracks everyday with a great grandson and after his walk he would stop at our house ,the last house going out of town toward Milton, and he would have a beer with my dad. Grandpap was in his 90s in the early 70s...He told me that everyone who was looking for Fort Boone were looking in the wrong place..he said it was more toward Watsontown in the field where they used to make the guns (now a motor cycle club). Just thought I would let you know ..I never asked how he knew but used to also tell me about the riverside park and my father and his family used to live in the house at the now location of the campground..I have two aunts still around that might know something about it. I also have another story about fort freeland and a cemetery near the fort...well at least tombstones...
ReplyDeleteSomeone told me that a group came in an did an archaeological dig around the area under the latest I-80 bridge in. I've been away from this area for 30 years. Didn't they make this new bridge about the late 1980's?
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