Fort of Necessity: Histbuffer's Photo Blog

    In what will be termed Part One, the background history of the Fort Necessity National Battlefield site  was covered. This included information in creating the reconstructed fort and correlating a smattering of old photos.

   The second segment documents a first hand experience on a blustery Veteran's Day not too many months ago.  Actually, time really flies and this was late last autumn. A particularly special day was chosen, and you will soon discover why.

   I was out and about near Farmington on Route 40, the National Road in Wharton township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. I was in the process of a personal jaunt to buy a few books and chat to the rangers while getting some candid photos to show for F/WFH.

  Maybe the sights will encourage you to take a trip to Fort Necessity for yourselves. Remember, Braddock's Grave and Jumonville and the Washington Tavern are close by! Sit back, take a few minutes from a busy day and as I certainly did, revel in the history of the place.



                                    

Heading up the Summit

                                                

                                     

Anyone for the Fort Necessity National Battlefield?

The new Visitor Center of the National Park Service  opened in 2005

                               

A photo inside the Visitor Center at the Fort Necessity Battlefield

               
    The site was named a National Battlefield by Congress on March 4, 1931 and later transferred to the National Park Service. On October 15, 1966 the battlefield was listed on The National Register of Historic Places, and by

                       
A quiet bench to recall and ponder the fact that George Washington himself, a Colonel in the British army while fighting this sadly losing effort, owned the land for many years.

                          

A dapper fellow indeed

           Yes, these photos were taken on Veteran's Day.                             

A Veteran's Day gathering of reenactors

                      

                              

     This early battle of the French and Indian War was lost by the British forces.
                                               

                                              

A close up of the 1970's reconstruction of Fort Necessity

                                   


                                    

                                            

Making a chilly camp in wartime.

All major war eras were represented by these patriotic fellows

                                             


                                           

                                          

A well provided visitor map of the grounds.

Histbuffer pondering...what else? HISTORY

                                
                                     

The pathway leading to Ft. Necessity

                                   

A tempest was brewing above the meadow

                                        

                                         

Supplies of rum, flour and gunpowder inside the fort's storehouse

                                        

Outer redoubt

                                          

Small canon

                                               

                                             

Indian Run

     The Indian tribes in collusion with France were comprised of the Huron, (or Wyandot), Nipissing, Odawa (or Ottawa), the Abenaki and Shawnee. Most of these lived near the Ontario region of what is now Canada.
                                             

The surrounding woods rang with the skirmish of July 3, 1754.

                                          


                                                

Ye ole bridge

     And finally...


                                  

Taking a moment scaring a few children

     (Um, just kidding about terrorizing any kids; for the record. Fortunately there weren't any around at the moment!)

                                                

     Well this was a part of the trip long overdue, specifically undertaken to a justly famed location. Here's hoping folks got some enjoyment from the experience mixed with rich educational underpinnings.

      To sum up, for a touch of edification , I included a couple of photos for the trip back north, the last two as part of the official National Battlefield: :

                       

The historic Stone House

                                      

A slightly earlier story in the life of George Washington

                            
                                      

Milestone: 100,000 Hits!

                                     
      I am uploading a quick, brief post for early to mid-March for reaching the milestone of 100,000 page views. Alright! Don't feel cheated in any way. Although on a small scale, this is decidedly a necessary celebration at F/WFH!

 A few points are in order.

    1st:
    It took well over three years. It may not sound like much in comparison to some highly popular blogs, but I feel a true sense of meaning in getting to this pinnacle. Actually since thinking of whether to share this or not, I noticed the page views are nearly 104,000. Bit of a fast jump. Apparently this is a tad redundant, huh? Oh, well, it's a good thing.

                                  

   

    You know, the truth is I hadn't given the idea a lot of thought, it just happened. Well, 25,000...50,000...nice, sure. Maybe it can be taken for granted too easily. One would suppose, you do eventually get there after all. We won't bother delving into the various posting history, that's east enough to discover for yourselves. There are updates along the way that add such perspectives.

    In a way, the more I considered it, I find myself experiencing a degree of pride and accomplishment to of gotten this far. There is a slow but steady awareness akin to mild surprise that comes with the territory: gaining a slow yet sure momentum over the years and months in the endeavor to create, sustain and hold in place a dynamic blog on local and regional historical topics. We have indeed lasted this long and I hope many of you who have stopped in or spent a fair amount of time checking the posts have found some enjoyment, a few jolts of reality and learned something about southwestern Pennsylvania. Such was the simple goals designed from the start.

    2nd:
   As has surely been done before, but could use repeating, I want to express a sincere and heartfelt gratitude for your patronage and time spent here on this site. On a personal level, I really do enjoy the interaction from comments, fellow colleagues and inquiring emails, so please continue and possibly raise the level of your important feedback, OK? For this I would thank all of you ahead of time.
 
   Make no mistake, everything here has been thoroughly enjoyed in the blog writing process. This isn't nirvana, it hasn't been perfect. I do try to make the subject matter reasonable and worthwhile.

    3rd:
   We are NOT done. There is more to come, while there are even a couple of posts that need finalized from Part One and a Part Two. Grand ideas are in draft form and there are fresh goals fro me to  attempt. I love providing this service to the public. Enough tooting my own horn.

     Now check back soon. I believe you won't be disappointed!

                                

Fort of Necessity

   Right at the start, I want to get it in that I am in the process of celebrating...

 WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY! God bless him.

   Now, I hope you are at least aware of the holiday for what still matters to some people. The story of Fort Necessity fits the occasion almost down to a tee.

   All the visitors to the site are sincerely appreciated and I hope you are all doing fine.

    
   As is natural, we have broadened out over the years in to various area of interest. But, since we have gone some months without a new post specifically concerning those events in old Westmoreland and Fayette counties of southwestern Pennsylvania which originally brought the blog to your attention, I am aware of a certain impression a fair percentage of visitors are anxious to read more of our own locality. With that thought in mind, starting today, the next few posts should, with one minor exception, lead directly in that familiar and cherished territory.

   On another note, further historical information of a general sort (that wasn't meant as a pun) can easily be found on an early blog posting entitled, "French and Indian War Overview." Actually, I did this one in December of 2013, that's how old it is, but hopefully not completely forgotten!

   One point I continue to make is, never lose faith! 'Fayette/Westmoreland Forgotten History' does eventually get around to most of the promises and claims it makes in one fashion or another. You know what I say, it does take some time.


  Some Background

 This week, we are concentrating on Fort Necessity and Washington's role in it's creation, the battle fought here, and his love of the region in purchasing the property, kept in his possession until his death.

                                                    

                                                                                                      

  This special reconstruction is located east of Uniontown, Wharton Township, at the Great Meadows. Go south on Route 40, you won't miss it. This is the history of the fort, as well as a commentary of how it was rebuilt and the prominent Sons of The Revolution who were instrumental in the exciting process.

  In early years, Fourth of July celebrations were held there, also at the Old Orchard Camp of Braddock's Road, according to pages 11-13 of 'Fort Necessity And Historic Shrines Of The Redstone Country', which I am fortunate to own an old copy of in reasonable condition. Some of the photos included are from this vintage book.

   Some historical underpinnings are required to better explain aspects of this cherished and unique structure, how the original came to exist in the past, and again in the future of this state and country.

  The New Fort

  The cornerstone for a monument was first laid in 1854.

  In attempt to accomplish this project various bills were introduced in the Pennsylvania Legislature, only to die in committee for one reason or another, mainly for a sad lack of interest.

   The author of 'Historical Highways', the famous Dr. Archer Hulbert, visited the locality in 1905 finding the structue's elusive fourth side , unearthing a part of the bark believed to be from the original stockade and therefore helped to lay out the probable shape of the fort. The fort's actual position was confirmed by Rueben Gold Thwaites.

  Key members of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons Of The American Revolution of Uniontown proceeded by a joint resolution of Congress, created the George Washington Bicentennial Commission on December 2, 1924 when they initially met to iron out all the details. Present were luminaries such as J. E. Hustead, who became the first President, J. C. Whaley, and others. Once the application for a Charter was made and presented, the Uniontown Country Club was secured for the Benefit and first Banquet on La Fayette's birthday, September 6, 1926. This was soon granted and approved on Lincoln's birthday, Febuary 12, 1927. Thus the Chapter was formed on the same day as the Banquet with many toasts all around.

                       

Early photo of the Ft. Necessity battlefield site

 
  The first Vice-President was Harry J. Bell, he Secretary, J. C. Whaley Sr., with the Treasurer, Homer Hess. Many other prominent officials were involved, such as the National Geographic Director, Rulef C. Schanck.

  Once this took place, later the Chapter was incorporated on December 16 of the year 1930. It soon acquired 23 acres of prime real estate for the Braddock Memorial Park Association and donated a bronze tablet and $1,000 toward the restoration. Obvious it is, how urgent and important our historical data, restoration and preservation was in these heady glory days.

  Interestingly, to myself, although I haven't any proof these were relatives or ancestors, original chapter members included the likes of Clarence L. Wilson and L.L. Minor, as well as Judge Hudson Allen Beeson a descendant of Henry Beeson and James Veech himself. Who knows, an ancestor may be in the mix somewhere. Possibly one of YOURS!

   .The National Society of the Sons of the Revolution was called 'The Minuteman'.

  Through the project's efforts  they sent Dick Sherrick among others to purchase the farm of Walter Fazen Baker for the sum of $25,000. This had a large area of 234 acres for a National ans State Shrine and Park. Compatriot President Hoover signed a bill to forward this reality on March 4, 1931. On the 200th Anniversary of George Washington's birth, they successfully passed the resolution.

   Altogether, the members raised a whopping $4, 550. A pretty sum back then.

    The magnificent land was finally deeded to the country and especially the great State of Pennsylvania on March 21, 1932., which disbanded and dissolved the Braddock Park Memorial Commission through this endeavor.

   The Great Meadows also had and still has a DAR Chapter that help look after the grounds in various ways.

                                      

Fort Necessity monument

   On July Fourth it was once a tradition to hold old celebrations at the grove behind the Fayette Springs Hotel. By the way, the Old Orchard Cap was called Braddock Park, near where General Braddock was hastily buried and later re-buried.


  A Report On The Battle of Fort Necessity

    While the French had made their claim on the Ohio River Valley region as their own and preceded to influence many of the Indian tribes and drive out English traders, a young George Washington had already been engaged in midwinter of 1753-1754, in a futile effort which supported the plans from a large land grant for the Ohio Company centered in Wills Creek, Cumberland, Maryland, as emissary to the northern french forts. The warning was, of course, unsuccessful. The efforts to build a fort at what would become Pittsburgh at the forks of the Ohio found the small Virginian force outnumbered and driven away. Fort Duquesne was built in its place. Clearly, they were here to stay.

    After Colonel Washington and the Half-King Tanacharison's infamous Battle of Jumonville that began the French and Indian War against likely spies, the stakes were set for the next engagement of what is known as the French and Indian War, (and in Europe, the Seven Years' War). The only battle lost by Washington, his lone surrender, and this took place on July 3, in the year, 1754. More can be learned at the Fort Necessity website of the National Park Service.

     By all accounts this was a circular palisaded stockade of seven foot upright logs covered with bark and hides surrounding a small hut for ammo and various provisions made ready by early June, altogether his men came to nearly 400, while most of the Indian support had left the field. Unfortunately, the provisioning was hardly adequate. The French had as many as 700 men including their Indian allies which positioned themselves in the woods; Washington's forces remained in the drenched entrenchments with wet ammunition and meager supplies; not a situation in which to court victory.

                                               

An engraving of Washington in Council, from the Darlington Collection

     The number of the enemy was said to be at 700, which doesn't necessarily include all the Indians on the side of the French, while with the 100 of Captain Mackay's regiment there said to be as many as were 400. The toll of the dead was thought to be 30 dead and many wounded on the British side, and as many as 300 dead for the French. This would help explain why the French were so eager to parley with the new Lieutenant-Colonel Washington for negotiations.

    After the surrender, the negotiations led to a mistake in that his interpreter apparently didn't read french properly, Washington certainly could not, and the translated statement of 'killing" of Jumonville was taken to read "assassination", which Washington strongly denied. Such a condition may of been partly arranged by the leader of the french contingent and Jumonville's  older brother, Louis Coulon de Villiers seeking revenge. The fort was quickly emptied. What a blow this must have been to young George, the future general and Commander in Chief! We can rest assured he never forgot any of the experience. The Fort of Necessity was then burned on July, 4.

    De Villers went on to make an exciting attack on Fort Granville in the summer of 1756. He died the next year, in November, of small pox.

    The next year for the colonists was to see the building of Braddock's Road and the defeat of his forces at Baaddock's Field. That would not be the last word written on the subject, not by a whole lot.

   Mount Washington, the name given to the site of the battle and fort by Washington himself, was purchased by him in 1770 for the price of 35 pounds, 55 shillings. Our great general and first President owned the land until his solemn death on December 14, 1799. The Great Meadows were said by Theodore Tilton to be 'the Fountain Head of American Independence.' Who, then, would we be to argue with this bold, patriotic statement?

  

  As of late, the habit converges on two-parters. Since that seems to works well and I haven't heard any real complaints, there is no reason it can't continue a while longer. You shouldn't have much of a problem with the subject in question because the next installment does contain a certain surprise factor. That, and the fact that the graphically intensive photo opportunities are better suited to something less than a very long post. And, hey, everything just loads quicker too. So, wait and see!

 More To Come... 

 

Excursion To Bedford Part Two

     Now after checking Founders Crossing, and rather wisely avoiding Gardner's Candies, somehow  skipping the Bedford County Visitors Bureau - we headed to the big flea market, Hoe-E-Geez on Bedford Plaza Road, from Route 31. Partly being anxious from observing the rather 'pricey' establishment mentioned above, and the fact that there wasn't much in the way of historic locales, I simply didn't bother with many photos.

     But wait! I got a few deals. Well not exactly deal per se. The prices are closely calculated, it's just that there might be items to even up on which are interesting enough for which the purchase is worth laying down some money. And that's what I did. I was on vacation and money was burning a small hole in my pocket.

    First, here are the Bedford Museum Gift Shop purchases:                  
                                            

Had to have the name sake tee shirt

                                                    
    The book on the left, below wasn't exactly cheap, Scoroudy, basically consisting of James Smith's journal and description of his capture by the Mohicans and adventures with the 'Black Boys.' So I had to have it. The one on the right was nicely informative.
                                                    

                                       
                                                          

I was surprised to get this fine shirt for almost a pittance.

       

                                              

A few old coins are always up my alley.

Fort Bedford Museum gift shop receipt

        
        Below are most of the little items I brought home from Hoke-E-Geez flea market:
                                                

Fake Esen medal and Barber quarter

                                                              

Yes, that is an Edison bottle on the right

            

                        
                                          

                                       

                                                   

Well this is W. C. Fields after all. Gotta love his old movies.

  

        Sometimes I can be a bit of a sucker:                              

A Statue of Liberty...thermometer.

                                             

A once famed book, the Life of Washington

           Don't worry, I sure didn't pay near what this fine book is normally worth since the spine was heavily damaged. Still look at it, not bad.
                                                     

Oldie, but a goodie.

                                             

Ten WW2 German Marks.

          I hope nothing important was left out.
 
      Last, but not least, we headed back into Somerset County and this time detoured our way to the south through Brothersvalley and into Summit township to locate a region where my maternal great grandfather once lived...

Presidential Inauguration

  Welcome!

    We have arrived at the eve of a special watershed milestone in our fascinating history. The new President-elect's inauguration with Mike Pence, the vice president-elect. On  January 20, this year of our Lord, 2017, Donald J. Trump, the star for many years of the reality T. V. show, "Celebrity Apprentice" and surprising nominee of the Republican Party, became the winner of a huge prize who will be duly sworn in by ancient oath of office, right hand raised and left hand firmly on the Bible. Possibly the one used by Abraham Lincoln, in Washington D. C. He has already arrived at Andrews with his wife, soon to be First Lady, Melania and soon to be, First Family.

     Did you know that the vice president also takes an oath of office? Mike Pence will be sworn in on a famous Bible himself.

     As a side note, there are stories of odd prophecies swirling around Donald Trump. Right, wrong, or immaterial to the situation, consider this: on the date of Jan. 20th,  he will be...70 years, 7 months and 7 days old. There's a coincidence to ponder. Also, he is writing the Address himself.

                                         

                    

    Whether you like him or voted for him in November, or if you did not, the billionaire mogul and man behind the best seller, "The Art of the Deal", will get his chance to defend the 'silent majority', as many of his supporters are termed, making some extremely huge decisions very soon. As years ago, Ronald Reagan was said to of predicted, he will indeed be our next President of a blessed land. By the way, if anyone is intrigued, he has a more revealing book about his aspirations HERE.

    If the political spectrum really isn't your cup of tea, if citizens choose to stay blissfully ignorant, turn on some sports, read a book, or watch a thriller instead.

    Now we know 2016 was certainly an unusual year in politics, with the primaries and nominations amid much controversy on every side. New revelations seemed to arise almost every few weeks. While the president-elect has seen his share of blunt and heated and possibly outrageous behavior, the plentiful scandals of Hillary Clinton would fill books, (and they have). This includes her private email server, said by FBI director James Comey to be "extremely careless", NOT a good thing; and considering she repeatedly lied to the public about the exact subject, receiving debate questions illegally, the apparent collusion of some media outlets with the most public example of Donna Brazile and CNN comes to mind, the hacking of the Democratic Party headquarters and John Podesta hinting of racist remarks and possible conflicts of interest coming from Sidney Blumenthal's connections with the Clinton Foundation and going back to his 1994 resignation. Did Russia have anything to do with this? Were the contents of Assange's releases even worse than who was responsible? Questions, questions. As well as Trump's unique stance, any of these very issues probably cost her the election. Maybe they should of, period.

    Further highlights broach the unusual manner of resignation of Debbie Schultz, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, the problems with Bengazi, on and on. Her previous scandals which would include a few from her senatorial years go back to the 90's with suspicions of Whitewater, China Gate, Filegate, etc., are not being addressed here. To be fair, much concerning these controversies were a part of her husband, Bill Clinton's eight years as president, while many seemed to derive from happenings in Arkansas and came with a bunch of congressional hearings and investigations. Plenty of websites will easily help locate such juicy info for one and all.

    Pennsylvania has had a lot to do with these elections for a long, long time. The facts are the facts. This year our state voted in favor of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States of America. His campaigning in the face of Hillary's huge financial machine was an amazing sight. His zest and energy in battleground barnstorming across the nation was truly remarkable.


    As you can see from the electoral map below...

                                           

electoral map courtesy of towin website

       The results of the Pennsylvania Presidential election ended in a fairly close race with Trump winning the 20 electoral votes. According to Wikipedia and other sources, he also won the popular vote- 2, 970,733 to Clinton's 2, 926,941.

                                                

The reds and the blues, county by county

       On April 26 of last year, Donald Trump took the PA Republican primary gathering 56.61%. On the same day, Hillary Clinton pulled in 55.61%. Her loss was very similar in numbers. As the Democratic side unfolded, Bernie Sanders made claims that the DNC was being unfair to him.


ISSUES, or NO ISSUES: A Brief Rundown

    As for the major issues of the Democratic and Republican campaigns, the original plan was not to make explanations at all. This policy clearly felt as if the blog was sticking its head in the sand, leaving those that expect valuable information  to be ignored for the sake of a neutral stance of some kind. That would be amiss, therefore some adjustments had to be made. A basic, more thorough report was allowed to proceed to make sense of how this all came about.

    Although there are hints of riots and rumors of outlandish protests which appear to be less than a free exercise of the First Amendment in the sense that this is in the face of an event legally and democratically taking place and always has been, deserving of at least a modicum of respect as a venerable institution. Donald Trump has said in his first official news conference, he is very much looking forward to the inauguration and has expected it will be a beautiful event. Many celebrities have boldly stated they will not attend, some claimed they would leave the country if he was elected president! Okay. Have any left by now? Don't count on it.

    There will be military bands to play, wreath laying at Arlington Cemetery, balls, concerts and dinners. The president-to-be says this will be an incredible experience considering that he is the head of  "a movement like the world has never seen before..." The every four year-extravaganza will be followed by National Cathedral Church services on Saturday with the first 'business' beginning on Monday. The future will tell the rest of the story.

    Regardless, according to USA Today, the pollsters not only were incorrect in predicting the Nov. 8, Election Day, the Trump victory "dealt a devastating blow to the credibility of the nation's leading pollsters" calling into question their methods.  There are speculations toward the actual reasons for this, factors beyond the scope of this post. Nevertheless, it is fairly obvious that major portions of the media are opposed to a Trump presidency, make of that what you will. Stay informed, be involved.

    Did Barack Obama and  George Bush have their chance, their days in the White House to explain and change things in the manner they felt important? Yes. Did they have failures? Were they unfairly condemned and misaligned without even a honeymoon? Shouldn't this particular person, our next commander-in-chief also experience the selfsame opportunity? The answers to these questions really appear fundamentally obvious.


    With conservative plans to lower taxes, expunge, repeal or alter Obamacare and gain less expensive premiums for better quality care, (which was promised to us at its inception, by the way); firmer control of the influx of illegal immigrants which includes an actual wall of sorts, especially the specific point concerning the definition of 'ILLEGAL' and 'repeat criminals'; a serious attempt to get the chaotic foreign policy situation under control, selection of Supreme Court justices to uphold the principles of the Consitution, the approval of his cabinet appointees, snd so on. We will be leaving behind us the IRA scandal, Fast and Furious, hopefully the thunderheads of a 20 trillion dollar debt some day... maybe, just maybe, we are entering the real era of hope and change in a drastically different mode.

    Most people will concur,  President Trump will have a whole lot on his plate. An uphill battle to wage successfully. Our prayers should be with him in these endeavors.


   There have already been some key changes in the wind with downturn in Toyota stocks in Trump's tweets of panning the plans toward new Mexican factories, the Carrier deal, even influential relations toward Chrysler, Ford and multinational corporations to keep jobs in the United States. Meanwhile, he is putting the Trump organization properties and holdings into a trust and is separating himself from these conflicts of interest and handing the running of his company to his sons, Don and Eric. On the other hand, his not releasing his tax statements yet, condemning of CNN and Buzz feed for their supposed use of 'Fake News' and other factors are hot issues among many.

   

The President-elect, Donald Trump

                                                         

    In the opinion of many, it is indeed time to reverse the 'playing field' of failed policies of previous administrations and deregulate improper laws and enact new ones that have OUR best, truly traditional, American interests, at heart.

    Globalism may have ran rampant and not everything modern is better for us, folks. Then again, I am of a somewhat biased persuasion. I wouldn't say I live there all the time, I am rooted in the past even as I gingerly peer into the future....Many people may not realize Donald Trump is not quite the bumbling outsider he appears, perhaps because of his direct rhetoric, with 'Lyin' Ted', 'Little Marco' and 'Crooked Hillary', actually appearing to being more deeply informed on different levels of knowledge than is excepted in thew mainstream media. In fact, he has continually expressed his ideas and growing fears toward the discontent with the way our country has been managed for many years.

    Finally, in this semi-editorial bit, remember, no one has to agree with anyone else. Likewise, you don't necessarily have to agree with anything I state on this post, in spite of the fact that much of it is, as closely as I am aware, in actuality, the truth. It's up to you individually, and so it should be. That is a part of what makes America Great and differs from all other governments across this great, wide world. Nothing is suppose to be a one way street. We have inherent rights from our Maker won by his Son at an extreme price. We are one people and yet complicated and diverse in various ways. Let's get back to common sense and personal responsibility, acquiring a stronger economy, military and judiciary in the face of rising troubles, greed, opposition and sometimes madness. We are still a long way from utopia, my friends. Any road to perfection is reaching for a distant object. Yet I feel this is an unusual time for men and women to be alive as the tree of liberty may bud and grow fruit once more in spite of so much effort to supplant and wipe out its existence.

    At nearly high noon on the West Lawn at the U. S. Capitol  of Washington, D. C. the 45th President and vice president precede to take the solemn Oaths of Office then came the Inaugural Address about Making America Great Again! Did you know, the tickets to the event and the swearing-in are free? Yes, but they are in high demand. Pennsylvania Avenue experiences the excitement of the procession and parade on over to the White House. This takes place at 3 p. m. eastern time.
  
   That's about it, folks Let me know your ideas about the inauguration. We will see how smoothly the process goes along. Many hope for less controversy and a return to substance in the following months. Keep your fingers crossed!

   See you soon for a more regional based post next time around.