Fort Allen, at Gnadenhutten, January 25, 1756.
Dear Sir:
We got Hays the same evening we left you, and reviewed Craig's Company by the way. Much of the next morning was spent in exchanging the bad arms for good - Wayne's Company having joined us. We reached, however, that night to Uplinger's (at Fort Lehigh), where we got into good Quarters.
Saturday morning we began to march towards Gnadenhutten, and proceeded near two miles; but it seeming to set in for a rainy day, the Men unprovided with great Coats, and many unable to secure effectual their arms from the wet, we thought it most advisable to face about and return to our former Quarters, where the men might dry themselves and lie warm; whereas, had they proceeded they would have come in wet to Gnadenhutten where Shelter and Opportunity of drying themselves that night was uncertain. In fact it rain'd all day and we were all pleased that we had not proceeded. The next Day, being Sunday, we march'd hither, where we arrived about 2 in the afternoon, and before 5 had inclosed our Camp with a Strong Breast work, Musket Proof, and with the Boards brought here before by my Order from Drucker's Mill (Kern's Mill, Slatington), got ourselves under some shelter from the Weather. Monday was so dark with thick Fog all day, that we could'd neither look out for a Place to build or see where Materials were to be had.
Tuesday morning we looked around us, Pitched on a Place, mark'd out our Fort on the Ground, and by 10 o'clock began to cut Timber for Stockades and to dig the Ground. By 3 in the afternoon the Logs were all cut and many of them hauled to the Spot, the Ditch dug to Set them in 3 Feet deep, and that Evening many were pointed and set up. The next Day we were hinder'd by Rain most of the Day. Thursday we resum'd our Work and before night were pretty well enclosed, and on Friday morning the Stockade was finished and part of the Platform within erected, which was completed the next morning, when we dismissed Foulk's and Wetterholt's Companies, and sent Hay's down for a Convoy of Provisions. This Day we hoisted your Flag, made a general Dicharge of our Pieces, which had been long loaded, and of our two Swivels, and Nam'd the Place Fort Allen, in Honor of our old Friend (Judge William Allen, Chief Justice of the Province). It is 125 Feet long, 50 wide, the Stocadoes most of them a Foot thick; they are 3 Foot in the Ground and 12 Feet out, pointed at the Top, the Figure nearly as opposite.
This is an Account of our Week's work, which I thought might give you some Satisfaction. Foulk is gone to build another (Fort Franklin), between this and Schuylkill Fort (Fort Lebanon), which I hope will be finished in a Week or 10 days: As soon as Hays returns I shall detach another Party to erect another at Surfas' (Fort Norris) which I hope may be finished in the same Time, and then I purpose to end my Campaign, God willing, and do myself the Pleasure of seeing you in return. I can now add no more than that I am, with great Esteem and affection, D'r Friend,
Yours affectionately,
B. FRANKLIN
Dear Sir:
We got Hays the same evening we left you, and reviewed Craig's Company by the way. Much of the next morning was spent in exchanging the bad arms for good - Wayne's Company having joined us. We reached, however, that night to Uplinger's (at Fort Lehigh), where we got into good Quarters.
Saturday morning we began to march towards Gnadenhutten, and proceeded near two miles; but it seeming to set in for a rainy day, the Men unprovided with great Coats, and many unable to secure effectual their arms from the wet, we thought it most advisable to face about and return to our former Quarters, where the men might dry themselves and lie warm; whereas, had they proceeded they would have come in wet to Gnadenhutten where Shelter and Opportunity of drying themselves that night was uncertain. In fact it rain'd all day and we were all pleased that we had not proceeded. The next Day, being Sunday, we march'd hither, where we arrived about 2 in the afternoon, and before 5 had inclosed our Camp with a Strong Breast work, Musket Proof, and with the Boards brought here before by my Order from Drucker's Mill (Kern's Mill, Slatington), got ourselves under some shelter from the Weather. Monday was so dark with thick Fog all day, that we could'd neither look out for a Place to build or see where Materials were to be had.
Tuesday morning we looked around us, Pitched on a Place, mark'd out our Fort on the Ground, and by 10 o'clock began to cut Timber for Stockades and to dig the Ground. By 3 in the afternoon the Logs were all cut and many of them hauled to the Spot, the Ditch dug to Set them in 3 Feet deep, and that Evening many were pointed and set up. The next Day we were hinder'd by Rain most of the Day. Thursday we resum'd our Work and before night were pretty well enclosed, and on Friday morning the Stockade was finished and part of the Platform within erected, which was completed the next morning, when we dismissed Foulk's and Wetterholt's Companies, and sent Hay's down for a Convoy of Provisions. This Day we hoisted your Flag, made a general Dicharge of our Pieces, which had been long loaded, and of our two Swivels, and Nam'd the Place Fort Allen, in Honor of our old Friend (Judge William Allen, Chief Justice of the Province). It is 125 Feet long, 50 wide, the Stocadoes most of them a Foot thick; they are 3 Foot in the Ground and 12 Feet out, pointed at the Top, the Figure nearly as opposite.
This is an Account of our Week's work, which I thought might give you some Satisfaction. Foulk is gone to build another (Fort Franklin), between this and Schuylkill Fort (Fort Lebanon), which I hope will be finished in a Week or 10 days: As soon as Hays returns I shall detach another Party to erect another at Surfas' (Fort Norris) which I hope may be finished in the same Time, and then I purpose to end my Campaign, God willing, and do myself the Pleasure of seeing you in return. I can now add no more than that I am, with great Esteem and affection, D'r Friend,
Yours affectionately,
B. FRANKLIN