The Niagara

After being forced out of by the British, George “We have met the enemy and ’s spent the harsh winter of 1777-1778 they are ours; two ships, two brigs, at Valley Forge along the Schuylkill River, about 25 miles northwest one schooner, and one sloop,” of center-city. Archaeological investigations conducted by the Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry National Park Service for more than a half-century included large- wrote in his famous report to scale excavations, remote sensing, such as ground-penetrating General William Henry Harrison. radar and sophisticated metal detectors to locate concentrations of On June 17, 1812, the United artifacts, and architectural foundations of buildings and structures States declared war on England. used by Washington’s soldiers. Even Not long after, men and supplies though Washington ordered living poured into Erie to construct a fleet of ships which would ultimately quarters to be neatly laid out in rows, prove to be an unstoppable fighting force. The Battle of Lake Erie on archaeology proved that the huts September 10, 1813, saw the defeat of the British at Put-in-Bay, , were haphazardly placed in groups by and gave control of the Great Lakes to the United States, eliminating battalion. Dietary evidence indicates the threat on the northwestern frontier by British forces and raising the the soldier’s diet included beef and pork morale of Americans. Hastily built in 1813 — and victorious in battle in somewhat better conditions than — Commodore Perry’s relief flagship Niagara was scuttled in 1820 to historians describe. preserve it from being crushed by ice on Lake Erie. To commemorate 1777 U.S. uniform button. the centennial of the battle in 1913, the remains of Niagara were raised and a ship rebuilt upon them. The cycle was repeated in 1943 and 1988. The process of Cheval-de-Frise reconstructing the vessel enabled maritime specialists In September of 1777, after his victory at the , to examine this significant General Sir William Howe and his British army marched into symbol of the nation’s military Philadelphia. However, General Howe encountered a supply problem. might while preserving an He was surrounded by ’s Continental Army; more icon of American history and importantly, the Royal British Navy could not move supplies up the archaeological heritage. It to the city because two American forts protected the also allowed them to identify a river. Historic documents reference installation of a line of defense The Flagship Niagara in 1913. number of technical problems for and . Large spikes, known as cheval-de- in the design of the vessel, particularly its broad deck and tall masts frise (the plural of which is chevaux-de-frise) were placed at an angle which caused it to be top-heavy and unstable in strong winds. in the river to prevent British ships from supplying Howe’s army. A cheval-de-frise is a log up to 29 feet long with an iron spike on the end that was used to puncture The Hospital the hull of large sailing ships attempting to move up the Delaware. The spike was The Civil War The medical needs of the Continental Army had grown dire by autumn 1777. notched to hold fast once the hull was punctured. These spikes were secured A visitor’s accidental discovery of human bone fragments in the More than 20 percent of the 18,000 soldiers were either sick or wounded. in a square frame or box weighed down with rocks to hold them in place in the northern section of Gettysburg National Military Park resulted in Military hospitals were established in several outlying river. The recent discovery of a cheval-de-frise in the Delaware River has provided perhaps the only archaeologically-recovered burial from the historic communities while General George Washington quartered his troops at archaeologists an opportunity to examine a nearly intact example, and battlefield. Historic documents indicate significant casualties Valley Forge for the winter. The religious community of Ephrata, Lancaster suggests possible placement of additional chevaux-de-frise not recorded in occurred in this railroad cut between Union and Confederate troops County, known today as Ephrata Cloister, was one of the selected hospital historic documents. on July 1, 1863, the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. In the sites. Archaeological excavations conducted by The State Museum of aftermath of the three-day bloodbath on Adams County’s farmlands Pennsylvania between 1999 and 2003 discovered hundreds of artifacts, Revolutionary War and fields, thousands lay dead and were hastily buried. The proving that the community’s Mount Zion dormitory and prayer house era brazier recovered at Ephrata Cloister. archeological excavation, analysis and interpretation of this burial were used for this purpose. The recovered artifacts include lead musket resulted in initial identification and subsequent reburial in a marked balls, gun flints, gun parts, a bayonet, marked regimental buttons, glass medicine vials and an iron brazier (similar grave at the park. These skeletal remains contained an archive of to a camp stove). By June 1778, the Ephrata hospital was closed. Of the 250 sick and wounded soldiers who received clues about the life and death of this soldier who fought during the care, 57 died. In addition, several Cloister members made the ultimate sacrifice during their service as nurses and that were revealed through archaeology. succumbed to an outbreak of typhus or typhoid fever.

April 1775 July 1776 December 1777 October 1781 July 1794 June 1812 October 1834 February 1838 September 1850 July 1863 April 1865

First shots fired of Declaration of Washington’s troops British defeated at Whiskey Opening of the Main Line Pennsylvania revises Fugitive Slave Act Battle of Gettysburg Confederate Army Revolutionary War at Independence is endure harsh winter at Battle of Yorktown, occurs in western begins over trade of Public Works- Canal Constitution. Blacks passes making it illegal surrenders at Lexington and Concord, signed in Valley Forge which marks Pennsylvania as a issues and railroad system lose right to vote (are to aid escaped slaves Appomattox Philadelphia the end of the result of outrage over included the Columbia disenfranchised) Courthouse ending Revolutionary War excessive taxation and Philadelphia Railroad the Civil War

historic record. historic

a detailed fashion that cannot be matched by the the by matched be cannot that fashion detailed a

contributes to our appreciation of these events in in events these of appreciation our to contributes

were killed in action or later died of wounds, disease or illness. illness. or disease wounds, of died later or action in killed were in the supply system. The archaeological evidence of this this of evidence archaeological The system. supply the in

ancestors for their convictions. Archaeology Archaeology convictions. their for ancestors

8,600 African Americans. More than 33,000 Pennsylvanians Pennsylvanians 33,000 than More Americans. African 8,600 winter conditions, in addition to disease and breakdowns breakdowns and disease to addition in conditions, winter

sites documents the conditions endured by our our by endured conditions the documents sites 350,000 men enlisted in Pennsylvania’s regiments, including including regiments, Pennsylvania’s in enlisted men 350,000 Forge for the winter of 1777-1778. His troops endured harsh harsh endured troops His 1777-1778. of winter the for Forge

the American Civil War, the archaeology of these these of archaeology the War, Civil American the to efficiently transport supplies to Union forces. Upwards of of Upwards forces. Union to supplies transport efficiently to Brandywine and Germantown and forced his retreat to Valley Valley to retreat his forced and Germantown and Brandywine

Ephrata, and later at Gettysburg in the center of of center the in Gettysburg at later and Ephrata, system which had begun in the 1830s enabled Pennsylvania Pennsylvania enabled 1830s the in begun had which system British forces resulted in Washington’s ill-fated battles at at battles ill-fated Washington’s in resulted forces British

of the nation’s iron by the Civil War. The expansive railroad railroad expansive The War. Civil the by iron nation’s the of American troops. The of 1777 by by 1777 of Campaign Philadelphia The troops. American deplorable conditions at their hospital in in hospital their at conditions deplorable

and steel production had facilitated the fabrication of half half of fabrication the facilitated had production steel and of patriots which aided in securing guns and supplies for for supplies and guns securing in aided which patriots of Forge during the Revolutionary War, to the the to War, Revolutionary the during Forge

production, as well as steam locomotives and factories. Iron Iron factories. and locomotives steam as well as production, of the Delaware on December 25, 1776, buoyed the morale morale the buoyed 1776, 25, December on Delaware the of From the suffering of American troops at Valley Valley at troops American of suffering the From

The coal industry fueled iron furnaces and forges for iron iron for forges and furnaces iron fueled industry coal The Mifflin. General George Washington’s successful crossing crossing successful Washington’s George General Mifflin.

especially of the human role in these conflicts. conflicts. these in role human the of especially

manufacturing, leather making, lumbering and tobacco. tobacco. and lumbering making, leather manufacturing, were sunk between Fort Mercer and Fort Fort and Mercer Fort between sunk were chevaux-de-frise

enhanced our understanding of this era but but era this of understanding our enhanced

system, a shift that resulted in increased production in textile textile in production increased in resulted that shift a system, Delaware River between 1776 and August 1777. A series of of series A 1777. August and 1776 between River Delaware

struggle in the nation’s history has greatly greatly has history nation’s the in struggle

Pennsylvania’s industries had grown into a factory factory a into grown had industries Pennsylvania’s forces included the installation of a line of defense in the the in defense of line a of installation the included forces

history. The archaeology of this period of of period this of archaeology The history.

American Civil War. War. Civil American Attempts by Pennsylvania to halt the advance of British British of advance the halt to Pennsylvania by Attempts

historic record a more objective picture of of picture objective more a record historic

antislavery movement was key to our involvement in the the in involvement our to key was movement antislavery ork, moved to capture Philadelphia. capture to moved ork, Y New taking after

perspective. However, archaeology adds to the the to adds archaeology However, perspective. identify, but the encouragement of Pennsylvanians for the the for Pennsylvanians of encouragement the but identify, military. The British recognized its strategic significance and, and, significance strategic its recognized British The military.

governments — frequently from the victor’s victor’s the from frequently — governments of this secret network of safe houses has been difficult to to difficult been has houses safe of network secret this of was important for the shipping of supplies destined for the the for destined supplies of shipping the for important was

History records the activities of armies and and armies of activities the records History escaping slaves to Canada. The archaeological evidence evidence archaeological The Canada. to slaves escaping important ocean port to the Delaware Bay. The city’s location location city’s The Bay. Delaware the to port ocean important

Underground Railroad and often provided safe passage for for passage safe provided often and Railroad Underground our nation’s capital during most of the rebellion and as an an as and rebellion the of most during capital nation’s our

the antislavery movement led to the advancement of the the of advancement the to led movement antislavery the with a population of nearly 30,000 residents. It served as as served It residents. 30,000 nearly of population a with

time in Pennsylvania and American history. American and Pennsylvania in time beyond those of many enslaved in the South. Support of of Support South. the in enslaved many of those beyond nation. Philadelphia was the largest city in North America America North in city largest the was Philadelphia nation.

ultimately, a better understanding of this turbulent turbulent this of understanding better a ultimately, of Slavery Act in 1780. These laws provided opportunities opportunities provided laws These 1780. in Act Slavery of supplies and labor, essential to the development of our new new our of development the to essential labor, and supplies

those who served for our country, their sacrifices and, and, sacrifices their country, our for served who those on as one of the first colonies to pass the Gradual Abolition Abolition Gradual the pass to colonies first the of one as on was the third largest colony and contributed abundant abundant contributed and colony largest third the was

events. They presented us with the personal effects of of effects personal the with us presented They events. support of the abolition movement was demonstrated early early demonstrated was movement abolition the of support At the dawn of the Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Revolution American the of dawn the At

unbiased documentation of these important historical historical important these of documentation unbiased allowed all men, including free Negroes to vote. Pennsylvania’s Pennsylvania’s vote. to Negroes free including men, all allowed prompted a call to arms for Pennsylvanians. Pennsylvanians. for arms to call a prompted

historic sites and properties has provided us with with us provided has properties and sites historic additional revisions. Initial versions of the constitution constitution the of versions Initial revisions. additional by England and a rising sense of patriotism in the colonies colonies the in patriotism of sense rising a and England by

Archaeological investigations conducted at many many at conducted investigations Archaeological Over time the commonwealth’s constitution underwent underwent constitution commonwealth’s the time Over of imported goods. However, growing resistance to taxation taxation to resistance growing However, goods. imported of

growth and might during the Industrial Revolution. Industrial the during might and growth significant naval engagement. engagement. naval significant with England. In turn, Pennsylvania was a large consumer consumer large a was Pennsylvania turn, In England. with

manufacturing advancements that enabled continued continued enabled that advancements manufacturing and contributes to our understanding of its pivotal role in this this in role pivotal its of understanding our to contributes and materials in Pennsylvania played a critical role in commerce commerce in role critical a played Pennsylvania in materials

both state and nation with materials necessary for for necessary materials with nation and state both Oliver Hazard Perry as his relief flagship during the battle — — battle the during flagship relief his as Perry Hazard Oliver movements to break from British rule. The abundance of raw raw of abundance The rule. British from break to movements

in the new nation. Its natural resources supplied supplied resources natural Its nation. new the in — commandeered by Commodore Commodore by commandeered — Niagara the of restoration the Scots-Irish on the western frontier and led to radical radical to led and frontier western the on Scots-Irish the

action, vast resources and its geographical location location geographical its and resources vast action, damage. The recovery of these underwater remains aided in in aided remains underwater these of recovery The damage. Penn family rule and its Quaker pacifist tradition empowered empowered tradition pacifist Quaker its and rule family Penn

intellectual, artistic and political thought and and thought political and artistic intellectual, this battle, but was scuttled shortly afterward to prevent ice ice prevent to afterward shortly scuttled was but battle, this a freer, more democratic state constitution. This break from from break This constitution. state democratic more freer, a

to the nation: significant military contributions, contributions, military significant nation: the to was hastily built to serve during during serve to built hastily was Niagara flagship The forces. under the proprietary rule of the Penn family. In its place was was place its In family. Penn the of rule proprietary the under

called the Keystone State because of its importance importance its of because State Keystone the called eliminating the threat on the northwestern frontier by British British by frontier northwestern the on threat the eliminating Philadelphia. It replaced the hierarchical colonial society society colonial hierarchical the replaced It Philadelphia.

strong and vibrant. The commonwealth has long been been long has commonwealth The vibrant. and strong Ohio, and gave control of the Great Lakes to the United States, States, United the to Lakes Great the of control gave and Ohio, in 1776 when the first state constitution was drafted in in drafted was constitution state first the when 1776 in

resilience allowed citizens to endure strife and emerge emerge and strife endure to citizens allowed resilience 10, 1813, saw the defeat of the British Navy at Put-in-Bay, Put-in-Bay, at Navy British the of defeat the saw 1813, 10, An internal revolution in the commonwealth erupted erupted commonwealth the in revolution internal An

throughout the period from 1775 to 1865, but but 1865, to 1775 from period the throughout again at the forefront. The Battle of Lake Erie on September September on Erie Lake of Battle The forefront. the at again War for Independence. Independence. for War

Pennsylvania experienced many growing pains pains growing many experienced Pennsylvania Thirty years later, the War of 1812 placed Pennsylvania Pennsylvania placed 1812 of War the later, years Thirty important in understanding its initial reluctance to join the the join to reluctance initial its understanding in important

almost immediately to preserve this hallowed ground. ground. hallowed this preserve to immediately almost eventual defeat of the British. British. the of defeat eventual The social and religious dynamics of Pennsylvania are are Pennsylvania of dynamics religious and social The

patriotism in many communities and steps were taken taken were steps and communities many in patriotism support, skilled troops and naval strength which led to the the to led which strength naval and troops skilled support, Scots-Irish and English with equally varied religious practices. practices. religious varied equally with English and Scots-Irish

conflict. The Union victory created a renewed sense of of sense renewed a created victory Union The conflict. the spring of 1778. The French brought much-needed financial financial much-needed brought French The 1778. of spring the comprised of a diverse ethnicity dominated by Germans, Germans, by dominated ethnicity diverse a of comprised

Their remains continue to tell the story of that terrible terrible that of story the tell to continue remains Their victory was short-lived. France joined forces with America in in America with forces joined France short-lived. was victory States. Chartered in 1681, William Penn’s colony was was colony Penn’s William 1681, in Chartered States.

of the war, costing the lives of 51,000 Americans. Americans. 51,000 of lives the costing war, the of P and eventually took control of the Delaware River, but the the but River, Delaware the of control took eventually and early colonists who helped establish the United United the establish helped who colonists early

three-day battle in Adams County was the bloodiest bloodiest the was County Adams in battle three-day British troops captured Philadelphia on September 22, 1777, 1777, 22, September on Philadelphia captured troops British earning these epithets did not come easily for the the for easily come not did epithets these earning

1863 brought the reality of war to Pennsylvania. This This Pennsylvania. to war of reality the brought 1863 several sites including Valley Forge and Ephrata Cloister. Ephrata and Forge Valley including sites several of freedom” and the “keystone of the nation,” but but nation,” the of “keystone the and freedom” of

The fiercely fought Battle of Gettysburg in July July in Gettysburg of Battle fought fiercely The difficult period for American troops has been documented at at documented been has troops American for period difficult ennsylvania is often referred to as the “birthplace “birthplace the as to referred often is ennsylvania

Preserving Archaeology

Archaeology enhances and enriches all our lives, OF PENNSYLVANIA archaeology but prehistoric and historic sites are non-renewable of a resources. Unfortunately, sites are ruined daily due Adjacent to the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, The State to development and urban sprawl. When a site is Museum of Pennsylvania offers expan- destroyed, information about the past is lost forever. sive collections interpreting the state’s Because unrecorded archaeological sites are those troubled fascinating heritage. With exhibits most often destroyed, every effort must be made to examining the dawn of geologic time, locate, evaluate and record their content for the future, the Native American experience, the nation before a development project is undertaken. If you colonial and Revolutionary eras, a piv- know of locations where artifacts have been found and otal American Civil War battleground wish to assist with the preservation of archaeological phmc/Photo by Don Giles and the Commonwealth’s vast indus- 1775-1865 sites, we encourage you to record these locations with trial age, The State Museum demonstrates that Pennsylvania’s the Pennsylvania Archaeological Site Survey (PASS). story is America’s story. We also encourage you to donate your collections. The Commonwealth’s Official Museum These artifacts represent our connection to the past MUSEUM HOURS Wednesday through Saturday and should be preserved. Information, recording 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday noon–5 p.m. Closed major holidays. forms, instructions and additional resources about Hours may be subject to change. Pennsylvania archaeology can be obtained at Admission charged. www.paarchaeology.state.pa.us www.pennsylvaniaarchaeology.com The State Museum of Pennsylvania 300 North St. (between North and Forster Sts.) www.twipa.blogspot.com Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-787-4980 www.statemuseumpa.org

The State Museum of The State Museum of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania’s Archaeology is one of 25 historic sites and museums and Anthropology Gallery on the Pennsylvania Trails of History® administered by the Archaeologists preserve the past and educate Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. the public about the role of archaeology in preserv- ing our heritage. In Harrisburg, The State Museum of Pennsylvania’s Archaeology and Anthropology Gallery focuses on the cultural heritage of Pennsylvanians. Visitors can explore nearly 16,000 years of human occupation, from Native American prehistory through European colonization. The museum is also the offi- cial repository for state and federal archaeological investigations and curates these collections for future Tom Corbett, Governor generations. Andrew E. Masich, Chairman James M. Vaughan, Executive Director www.phmc.state.pa.us 12/13 www.paarchaeology.state.pa.us www.pennsylvaniaarchaeology.com www.twipa.blogspot.com