Governors Academy - Milestone Yearbook (Byfield, MA)

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The construction of the fort was carried forward rapidly by Captain Dwight with a working force of four carpenters and twelve soldiers. It was built of pine timbers hewed square, laid up I2 to 14 feet high, and cross locked at the corners. In shape it was an oblong with a corner cut off forming a short side toward the river. Its dimensions were about I.4O by I6O feet. About the interior houses were built facing inwardly, and with their roofs running up to near the top of the walls. The inner walls of the houses were built like the walls of the fort, and the doors and windows could be barricaded in case the enemy came within the fort. There was an underground passage from the short side to the river. The fort was first furnished with four small swivel guns to which was afterwards added the great cannon used as a signal ofdanger to the neighborhood. It was apparently Colonel Stoddard's design, although correspondence refers to a plan sent by the Lieutenant Governor which was not followed. In a letter to Yvilliam Dummer by Colonel Stoddard is this postscript: I forgat to take notice of your thought of setting Stockadoes round the fort to keep the Enemy at a distance. I don't well apprehend the benefit of it, for we Intend the fort shall be so built that the Souldiers shall be as safe if the Enemy were in the Parade, as if they were without the fort. The fort was completed by spring 1724 and named Fort Dummer in honor of the Lieutenant Governor. The first garrison consisted of Capt. Timothy Dwight, Lieut. Elisha Searl, Sergt. John lNIcRanney, Sergt. John Burke, Sergt. Robert Cooper, and 36 privates together with I4 Maqua and Hudson River Indians under Sachems Hendrick and Ampaumet. It was hoped to utilize the Indians as scouts and warriors against the Northern Indians. On June 24, 1724, Lieut. Governor Dummer wrote to Captain Dwight: This to lett you know that I very well approve ofyour bringing your Family to the Block- house :X you may depend on my Friendship to you as long as you Serve the Government faith- fully as I have not the least doubt but you allways will. In June of 1724 Rev. Daniel Dwight was made chaplain. He was a younger brother of Timothy, and besides his duties as chaplain, he was to instruct the Indian natives residing thereabouts in the true Christian religion. On October II, 1724, the fort was attacked byan estimated force of 70 Indians. They succeeded in killing four or five of the defenders, but were repulsed with some loss. Gther killings occurred in the neighborhood during the following year, but the fort was not attacked again during this war. On December 23,1725 Lieut. Governor Dummer wrote to Captain Dwight: Having Concluded a Peace with the Indian Delegates in behalfof the Vvesrern as well as the Eastern Tribes that have been engaged in ye late W'ar, ':You are hereby Order'd forthwith to Reduce the Garrison at Fort Dummer to a Corporal fifteen Centinels besides yourself lwno are to have Sergeanrs Pay henceforwardlf' This peace treaty was not actually ratified by the Western Indians until 1727. Timothy Dwight, the father of one of the early presidents of Yale University, was born at Fort Dummer on May 27, 1726. I1

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