Are there four brass cannons once owned by the French sunk into deep waters on Loyalsock Creek in Lycoming County? At least two history books of Lycoming County give an account that both the “British and French were quick to recognize the strategic importance of the West Branch Valley and made desperate efforts to secure a dominant foothold there. If their intrigues with the Iroquois should result in an offensive alliance with either, an attack could be made on the valley by merely having the Indians and troops float down one or more of the various tributaries of the river in canoes and drive the native Indians and whites out of the valley. These tributaries headed in the very territory controlled and inhabited by Iroquois, and thus it was an easy matter to use them as the highways for rapid transportation and concentration.

“Fort Augusta, at what is now Sunbury, at the confluence of the North and West branches of the Susquehanna, was built in the fall of 1756 by the British and was a most important defensive work as it dominated both the great valleys of the Susquehanna River and was subsequently the point of refuge for many of the early settlers who fled there when threatened by the tomahawk or scalping knife.

“During the war with the British, the French cast longing eyes upon this stronghold and made plans for its capture. Even before it was finished, an expedition was organized composed of French troops and their Indian allies, with the idea of descending the river and capturing the fort. This force was in command of M. de St. Our,s and he is said to have had with him four brass cannons.”

J.F. Meginnes, in his 1892 History of Lycoming County, provides some additional detail on the French expedition to Fort Augusta. “The only account of this expedition known to exist is found in the Marquis de Vaudrenil's letter under date of Montreal, July 13, 1757, to the French commandant of Canada, and now in the Archives of France. It gives a minute account of French operations in the Province of Pennsylvania. He speaks of M. de St. Ours with six Canadians and fourteen Indians having been sent on a scout to the "English fort containing a garrison of 600 men" on the Susquehanna. St. Ours, he writes, took two scalps within sight of that fort, but he was unable to make any prisoners." This, undoubtedly, was the extent of the French expedition that caused such a fright to the colonial authorities. That there was a camp at the spot mentioned, nearly opposite the mouth of Loyalsock, there is positive evidence, for the early settlers found French buttons and other trinkets at that place. Near the summit of the mountain, on the Indian path, the remains of camp kettles, spoons, and other utensils were found, showing that a body of French had been there. Probably, St. Ours and his party lay here while the Indians remained in the camp on the bank of the river. When the scouting party returned from Shamokin and reported that the force was insufficient to reduce the fortification, preparations were made to return to their strongholds on the Allegheny. Here, M. de St. Ours was confronted with a serious difficulty. He had floated down the river very easily with his cannon, but he could not return with his flotilla upstream, and the Indian paths were too narrow to drag his guns back again. What was to be done with them? He did not want them to fall into the hands of the English, as they certainly would if left in the abandoned camp. After consultation with his comrades, it was decided to cast the guns into the river. Deep water, where it was not likely they would be discovered, was found a short distance below the camp, and into it they were thrown and quickly went to the bottom. This place for more than a hundred years, has been known as the "Cannon Hole." How the fact of the guns being placed there leaked out is unknown unless some of the Indians who accompanied the expedition afterwards informed the whites. For many years, the ' ' deep hole ' ' has been filled with gravel, and the French guns are doubt buried beyond all hope of resurrection.”

The Cannon Hole has retained its name for nearly 270 years and is a popular fishing spot on Loyalsock Creek and a great story to add to the early history of Lycoming County.

Fort Hunter was a place of refuge for many a settler on the frontier, fleeing the attacks of Indians in the West Branch Valley. The fort retained its presence until it was abandoned in 1780 and dismantled in 1796.

History of Lycoming County Pennsylvania by Colonel Thomas W. Lloyd Volume One Chapter II Pages 72-73

History of Lycoming County by J.F. Meginness 1892 Chapter II Pages 37-38

Photo Credit: Historic American Buildings Survey, March 1935, South Front. - Fort Hunter Mansion, Fort Hunter, Dauphin County, PA HABS PA,22-FOHUN,1-1 (Wikimedia Commons) Public Domain