The Journal of Lt. Col. John Armstrong

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The March on the Delaware Indian Village

of

Kittanning

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August ^ye 31^st to September ^ye 10^th, 2000

The Kittanning Expedition 2000--Part 6

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Written by

Mike Slease, aka,

Lt. Col. John Armstrong

Wednesday, September ^ye 6^th

Arose at 6:00 AM to a very cold morning. It was 28 degrees, according to the thermometer on the barn just up the road. There had been heavy dew last evening, and now it was ice on the vehicles and Pvt. Kirwin’s covering canvas.

We breakfasted on coffee and cakes, and prepared to begin our journey toward St. Joseph’s Mission Church, an old historic log Roman Catholic Church, between Carrolltown and Hastings, at Hart’s Sleeping Place, some 17 miles away. Rich Schall and Greg Rearick joined us for the final leg to the campsite.

On the way, the group passed Eckinrode’s Mill and the spring there, where Armstrong’s men surely filled their canteens, and walked on a portion of the original trail which has been preserved.

After arriving at the church in the early afternoon, we set camp and awaited the arrival of the public. This was to be one of our largest public groups, since the Cambria County Historical Society had gone all out to publicize us. We were not to be disappointed.

Being close to Lane’s home, Deb took us, two at a time, (Pvt. Kirwin and me first) to their home for a much-needed shower and clean clothes. I put on my dress uniform, all laced with silver, polished my gorget, had my wig coiffed by Lane’s daughter, Leslie, and were returned to the camp. The public was starting to arrive.

St. Joseph’s Mission Church at Hart’s Sleeping Place is quite interesting. It was built in 1830, blessed on October 10th of that year by the Prince-Priest of the Alleghenies, Demetrius Augustine Gallitzen, and this old log church served as the cradle of Catholicism in Northern Cambria County. Now maintained by the diocese, the church is one of Cambria County’s notable historic landmarks. Standing alone in the countryside, it is surrounded by graves of early settlers.

Hart’s Sleeping Place was so-named for the trader, John Hart, who traveled the Kittanning Path, sleeping in a hollow tree which stood near this place. It is said that when there was likely to trouble from unfriendly Indians passing through, that the friendly Indians would stick a red tomahawk in the tree, thereby warning Hart and he would sleep elsewhere until it was safe. The tree is long gone, and today there is a monument standing where the tree stood 2 centuries ago.

The visitors to our camp, over 150, were treated to music, demonstrations, and camp life, as is our custom. In addition, we had Capt. Killbuck, an Lenape Indian, portrayed by Nathan Kobuck, who gave a talk on Indian customs and demonstrated scalping technique and the role of scalping in our frontier history.

One of the most poignant moments on our trek came in the form of four men, representing the area Veterans’ groups, who made a presentation of an American Flag to me after making an impressive speech. I, in turn, presented it to Lane Savage for his work in making this happen. Here is the text of the speech:

“Lt. Col. Armstrong, men of the KITTANNING EXPEDITION 2000.

“The local Veterans of this area welcome you as Brother Veterans. As rovincial Troops, you are protecting your homelands and loved ones. We support you as you carry out your endeavor. We thank you for the important roles you will play in helping create this new country.

“Twenty years after your actions at Kittanning, an important document will be signed at Philadelphia. This document will declare to the world that the thirteen colonies are to be an independent country. Your actions, and the contribution you have made, will insure the safety of Western Pennsylvanians.

“In the years following the Kittanning campaign, the colonies will obtain their independence from England. There will be new lands opened to settlers and these lands will become states. In all, there will be 50 states. Your fellow countrymen will be involved in wars fought here and in foreign lands.

“Citizens of this nation, which will become known as the United States of America, will enjoy freedoms such as no citizen in the history of the world has ever known.

“As brother veterans who have bled for this land, we present to you, and your men, Lt. Col. Armstrong, the flag which we have fought for and carried on the traditions set forth by you and the men of the original Kittanning Expedition.”

I thanked each of these men for what they had done for us, and for their sacrifices, and had a very nice evening chatting with them.

Our evening meal was a delicious beef stew provided by Cambria County Historical Society member, Dave Huber, and his mother. The public was all gone by 9:00 pm, and we were entertained by John Moore, of Northumberland, a writer for the Harrisburg and Sunbury newspapers. He portrays a character he calls Susquehanna Jack, and we exchanged tales of the frontier for the next couple of hours. He will be joining us for our march tomorrow.

We turned in, full and happy, but very tired, and tomorrow was not far away...