By Cindy Inkrote
James Burd arrived at Fort Augusta on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1756, and that day took command of the fort after the resignation of Lt. Col. William Clapham.
Burd kept a journal that reveals much about life at Fort Augusta.
Of particular interest are his entries that describe weather conditions and the level of the Susquehanna River. December 1756 was especially cold and snowy, as indicated by his entries:
Wednesday, Dec. 15
... it snows so hard and is so cold the soldiers can’t stand it. The river rises prodigiously, too.
Thursday, Dec. 16
... This day it snows so hard that the soldiers can’t work, but as it seems to thaw and the river swells prodigiously. I have detached Capt. Jamison, Lt. Clark and Ensign Scott, with 100 men, including all the battoemen, with all the horses and battoes (flat boats) to Hunters (present-day Fort Hunter, Dauphin County) for provisions for the use of this garrison.
... At 8 this evening, I received intelligence by a messenger sent from Ensign Scott to inform me that Lt. Clark, with his division, had got over Shamokin Mountain, but that the first division had made the mountain so slippery that he had attempted all in his power, but could not get the horses up the mountain, upon which I sent to his relief Ensigns Broadhead and McKee and 20 men with spades and shovels to clear the road and get the party up the mountain.
About 12 this evening, Ensigns Broadhead, Scott and McKee return with the party and 18 horses and report that it was impracticable to get the horses up the mountain, that they had used their outmost endeavors and had two horses killed in the attempt.
Friday, Dec. 17
... It snowed so hard there was no work done this day.
Saturday, Dec. 18
... This day employed all the soldiers in cleaning the snow out of the fort.
Sunday, Dec. 19
... The river is full of ice, the West Branch shut up; the North Branch open as yet, but very full of ice.
Monday, Dec. 20
... This morning it snows prodigiously and has all last night; no possibility of working today; the snow is about two feet deep.
Tuesday, Dec. 21
... This morning left off snowing; employed in clearing the snow out of the fort. ... The snow is two feet deep on the ground; no work can be done.
Wednesday, Dec. 22
... continue working this day at clearing the fort of snow. No work can be done.
Thursday, Dec. 23
... Snowed all last night, compute the snow this morning to be two feet, four inches deep. Clearing the snow out of the fort.
Friday, Dec. 24
... The snow is so deep, no work can be done. I had this day three additional joists cut for the store to be under the flour bin but could not get them home, the horses were so weak.
Saturday, Dec. 25, Christmas
No work done today on account of the depth of the snow.
Life at Fort Augusta for James Burd and his soldiers was never easy, especially during the winter. Snow plows and salt trucks were unheard of then, and they surely had a lot of snow days.
