Fort Augusta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Augusta |
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| Sunbury, Pennsylvania, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA | |
 Fort Augusta
Location of Fort Augusta in Pennsylvania
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| Coordinates | 40°52′33″N 76°47′31″W / 40.8757°N 76.7920°W |
| Type | Fort |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Northumberland County Historical Society |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1756 |
| In use | 1756-1780 |
| Battles/wars | French and Indian War American Revolutionary War |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
Colonel William Clapham Colonel James Burd Colonel Samuel Hunter |
| Garrison | 16 officers and 337 men |
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Pennsylvania Historical Marker
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| Designated: | 1948 |
Fort Augusta was a very important fort in Pennsylvania. It stood in the upper Susquehanna Valley for many years. This fort was a strong base during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.
It was the biggest British fort in Pennsylvania. Its walls were made of earth and wood, stretching over 200 feet long. More than 300 soldiers protected the fort. Its strong design meant it was never attacked. Fort Augusta offered a safe place for settlers during both wars. The fort was closed in 1780 and taken apart in 1796.
Contents
Fort Augusta's Story
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Building a Strong Fort
Colonel William Clapham built Fort Augusta in 1756. It was located where the Lenape village of Shamokin once stood. Today, this area is part of Sunbury. The fort was named after Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, who was the mother of King George III.
Fort Augusta was the largest fort built by the British in Pennsylvania. It was meant to stop French and Native American raids. It also served as a safe spot for people under attack. Plus, it was a starting point for soldiers going to fight enemies. Later, it helped protect American settlers from British-allied Native American groups.
Governor Robert Hunter Morris helped plan the fort's design. He wanted a square fort with strong walls and a ditch. In July 1756, Colonel Clapham and his troops arrived. They brought supplies by canoe and boat down the river. By August, Clapham reported that the fort's walls were almost half-finished. He said they could defend against attacks without cannons.
What the Fort Looked Like
By late August, Fort Augusta was mostly complete. It had long earthen walls topped with wooden defenses. Inside, there was a bakery, a smokehouse, and storage areas for food. There was also a special underground room for gunpowder.
The side of the fort facing the river had tall, strong logs. The back wall used logs laid lengthwise. Outside the main wall was a dry ditch, like a moat. A small bridge over this ditch could be lifted if enemies attacked. Triangular corners, called bastions, allowed soldiers to shoot in all directions. One corner even had a well for water. A covered path led to the river. Colonel Clapham made sure the walls were extra strong against cannon fire.
The fort had 16 officers and 337 soldiers. It also had 12 cannons and two smaller swivel guns. This group of soldiers was called the Augusta Regiment. They built and protected Fort Augusta. Colonel James Burd finished the fort's construction in 1757.
A description from the Pennsylvania Archives tells us more. It says the fort was about 40 yards from the river. The river-facing side had strong wooden fences, called palisades. These logs were sunk four feet into the ground. They were mostly made of strong white oak. Six cannons were placed in different parts of the fort. The woods around the fort were cleared for 300 yards.
Fort Augusta in the French and Indian War
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During the French and Indian War in 1756, French and Native American troops planned to attack Fort Augusta. They gathered from different French forts. They built boats and rafts to travel down the Susquehanna River. They even brought two small cannons.
However, after looking at the fort, they realized their cannons couldn't reach it. The attack was called off. If the British had lost Fort Augusta, it could have changed the war's outcome. The fort did not see any fighting during Pontiac's War. Its soldiers left in 1765, but a trading post stayed open.
Fort Augusta in the American Revolution
During the American Revolutionary War, Fort Augusta became a key military center. This was from 1778 to 1780. After the Battle of Wyoming in July 1778, many settlers were attacked. Almost a fifth of the soldiers in local forts were killed or captured.
Over three thousand settlers from the West Branch Susquehanna Valley fled to Fort Augusta. This event was called "the Great Runaway." At that time, the fort had fewer than 100 soldiers. Colonel Samuel Hunter, the commander, asked for more help. Congress sent 850 militia soldiers to defend the fort.
What Happened to Fort Augusta?
After 1780, the fort was no longer used. Colonel Samuel Hunter, the last commander, lived in the colonel's residence until 1784. He passed away there and was buried nearby. The fort was taken apart in 1796. Only the colonel's residence remained. Hunter's family lived there until 1848, when it burned down.
Digging Up the Past: Archaeology at Fort Augusta
In 1938, a group called the Works Progress Administration (WPA) studied the fort. Sadly, their records are now lost. Later digs in 1978-1979 found parts of the fort's wall and dry moat. They also found items from the 1700s. These included animal bones, musket balls, buttons, and cannon balls. Older Native American objects were found too.
More studies in 1981, 1992, and 2005-2006 helped locate parts of the fort. They found where the northeast corner, called a bastion, likely was. These digs uncovered remains of a log foundation, the dry moat, and military items.
In 1992, archaeologists focused on the powder magazine. This was an underground brick room, 10 by 12 feet, built in 1758 to store gunpowder. It was later repaired. In the mid-1800s, a wooden building stood over it. It was even used as the first jail in Northumberland County.
The Hunter House Museum Today
Today, the Northumberland County Historical Society is located at the fort's old site. Their headquarters are in the Hunter House Museum in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. The museum displays historical items and artifacts found at Fort Augusta. It also has local history items.
You can see Fort Augusta's original well and the powder magazine there. The museum also has a library for researching early families in Northumberland County. A new model of the fort was built in 2013. It is a copy of an older model from 1939. This new model stands in front of the museum.
Learn More
- List of forts in the United States
- William Clapham
