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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Joseph Kellogg was taken prisoner by the Indians at Deerfield in 1704 at the age of I2 years and sent to Canada. While there he learned the peltry trade, and upon his return asked for the establishment of a trading post on the Connecticut River. Fort Dummer was selected for that purpose and he became both Captain and Truckmaster there in 1728. A truck house was built outside the fort and an extensive trading post established for traffic with the Northern Indians. Captain Dwight returned to Northampton and became judge of probate and land surveyor. In 1730 Rev. Ebenezer Hinsdale became chaplain. He was the son of I-ieut. Mahumen Hinsdale, the first born child at Deerfield. His wife Abagail was the daughter of Rev. john Vfilliarns of Deerfield. In October 1737 a friendly conference was held at Fort Dummer between the Caghnawagah Indians and Commissioners appointed by Massachusetts. They met to renew a treaty made some years before. Speeches were made, blankets and wampum were exchanged, healths were drunk and King George was toasted. The meeting lasted for two days and broke up in amity and good nature. The death of Charles YI of Germany in 1740 started a new quarrel between France and England over the succession to his throne. Colonel Josiah Willard of Winchester was placed in command of Fort Du mmer in 1740, and the fort materially strengthened in anticipation ofa fresh outbreak ofthe French and Northern Indians. A stockade of sharpened pickets 20 feet high was built around the fort enclosing about four acres, with sentry boxes Five feet higher at the corners. At this time were constructed three very comfortable two-story buildings called province houses and located at three corners of the fort. In 1744 the long expected war broke out, trading was discontinued at Fort Dummer, and the Indian Commissioners left. Considerable fighting occurred in the neighborhood, and the danger was so great that many settlers sought shelter at the fort, and some houses were built within the stockade. This war was ended by the peace of.-Xix-la-Chappelle on October 18, 1748, proclaimed in this country in Janu- ary 1749. The garrison of the fort was again reduced to ten or fifteen men. Indian war parties, however, continued to hover around the frontiers bringing death or captivity to many settlers until the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point in 1759, and the conquest ofCanada in 1760. The new line between the provinces fixed in 1741 left the fort in New Hamp- shire, but since it was more necessary to Massachusetts Bay it continued to be maintained by that province. In 1749 when it was intended to be turned over to New Hampshire a plan was made giving The phisognomy of Fort Dumerf' It still continued in Massachusetts, and in the charter of Brattleboro by Governor Benning Wentworth on December 26, 1753 His KIa,iesty's Fort Dummer and a Tract of Land fifty rods round it were reserved. With the end of hostilities in 1760 Fort Dummer ceased to be a military post. CMM Cfamf X I 3