MILLER'S FORT
"The unprotected state of the northern portion of Westmoreland county, from which many of the soldiers had been withdrawn for the unsuccessful expedition into the wood, proved too inviting for the savages to permit it to pass unprofited of. Accordingly a large war party, amounting to about three hundred, said to be in command of Kiashuta, crossed the Allegheny and proceeded to Hannastown, the county set of Westmoreland county, which was situated on the old Forbes road, about thirty miles east of Pittsburgh and three northeast of Greensburg. They reached this point on 13th of July, 1782.

The laborers at work in the harvest field about a mile north of the town spying[about the foremost skulking about the fields. Some, seizing their guns, hurried back to the fort, and others carried the news throughout the country. Then all flocked together where best they might, and within a few hours the savages were around the village of Hannastown.

Timely warning had been given to the villagers, and all had sought refuge in the fort. But its defenders, though brave, were few, its inmates being for the most part decrepit old men, women and children. Most of the men were out giving alarm and assisting the helpless. Besides, they had few arms. When the savages came up the hill, north of the village, a loud yell indicated that they had been disappointed in their hopes of securing a rich harvest of scalps. They feared to attack the fort, but busied themselves in plundering and burning the village.

Fears were entertained that the shower of sparks carried about by a strong wind blowing at the time would set fire to the fort, but a kind providence averted them, and the garrison escaped the impending danger. While the flames were rising the savages held a consultation; a party of about sixty then broke off, and, while the rest danced around the burning houses, passed toward the south to attack the station at Miller's, about three miles distant. Here about a dozen families had collected, whom the Indians hoped to surprise.

But brave hearts, regardless of danger to themselves, had spread the alarm; and no sooner were the savages seen to approach the edge of the clearing at the station than Capt. Matthew Jack was gathering the men in. But resistance against such a body of savages was vain, and those who were most familiar with Indian warfare did not resist for fear of bringing on an indiscriminate slaughter of the innocent women and children.

The whole party was bound and carried off toward where the rest of the savages were awaiting them. The Indians retired during the night, with their prisoners and booty, and were followed as far as the Kiskiminetas by a small body of men who had assembled from the surrounding settlements. This was the last serious Indian attack made on the settlements east of the Allegheny, although alarms were frequent, and minor depredations occasionally took place for a few years longer."
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History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, pp. 106-107; A. Warner & Co., Chicago, 1889.

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