Fort Antes on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River

In 1893, Pennsylvania Governor Robert E. Pattison appointed a commission to come up with a report on the forts erected throughout Pennsylvania to protect early settlers from the Indians prior to the year 1873.

John M. Buckalew, a native of Fishing Creek, Columbia County had the task of investigating the forts constructed on the north and west branches of the Susquehanna River. After completing his findings, Buckalew, who had served as a captain in the 178^th Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War, published the report. Here is a brief account taken from Buckalew’s report in what is now Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.

Fort Antes was erected by Lieutenant Colonel Henry Antes in 1778, about opposite Jersey Shore on the east side of Nippenose creek, and on the higher plateau overlooking it, and also the river. It was defended by Colonel Antes, its builder, until ordered to vacate it by Colonel Samuel Hunter, at the time the military authorities considered it unsafe to attempt to defend these forts.

In his report, Buckalew had this to say about Colonel Antes: “Fort Antes was a refuge for the Indian land or Fair Play men, as well as for those on the south side of the river. Colonel Antes was a man of prominence in Northumberland County, in civil as well as military life. He was a justice of the peace and twice sheriff of Northumberland County. He was buried in a small graveyard near the fort he defended ably and abandoned with great reluctance at the command of his superior officer.”

Buckalew was also shown the weapons used by Indian fighter Robert Covenhoven. “Near Fort Antes we were shown the scalping knife, old flintlock pistol, and pocket compass of the famous scout, guide, and Indian fighter of the West Branch, Robert Covenhoven. The knife has nine notches filed in the back, to represent the number of Indians it has scalped.”

Over the years, Fort Antes fell into disrepair and decayed, leaving no remnants of one of the important forts in the West Branch of the Susquehanna Valley. 

CreditThe Frontier Forts within the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania, a report of the state commission appointed to mark the forts erected against the Indians prior to 1783, by Captain John M. Buckalew (1896)

Photo Credit: Find A Grave: Robert Covenhoven (1755-1846) - albumen cabinet, ca.1885 copy of portrait by J.L. Jackson, Williamsport, PA; Inscribed on reverse: "Robert Covenhoven; Born Monmouth Co., N.J. Dec. 7, 1755; Died Northumberland, Pa., Oct. 29, 1846" (Coll of J.S. Hays).