Fort Halifax (Pennsylvania)

Fort Halifax was located along the Susquehanna River near the present day borough of Halifax, Pennsylvania, United States. It was a temporary stronghold in northern Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, from 1756 to 1757, during the time of the French and Indian War. The fort was erected by Col. William Clapham, with the order of Governor Morris, and guarded by a garrison of the Third Battalion of the Pennsylvania Provincial Regiment.[1] Fort Halifax was constructed as a subpost along the Susquehanna with three other forts, Fort Harris, Fort Hunter, and Fort Augusta. The fort was originally named "Camp at Armstrong" until General Morris changed it in 1756.[2] It was a 160 feet (49 m) square log stockade with four bastions. It was dismantled in 1763 having become superfluous at war's end.[3]

A stone monument, erected in 1926, is located along Pennsylvania Route 147 north of Halifax along Armstrong Creek. The area of the former fort is now part of the Halifax Township Park and Conservation Area, which consists of 174 acres (0.70 km2) bordered on one side by the Susquehanna River and contains a long stretch of Armstrong Creek.[4]

Halifax Township was named in commemoration of the fort.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Clarence M., Busch (1896). "Report of the Commission to Locate the Site of the Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania". State Printer of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on August 30, 2005. Retrieved 2007-01-26.
  2. ↑ Rasmussen, Amanda (2015). An Analysis of Archaeological Remains at Fort Halifax Park.
  3. ↑ "Fort of Pennsylvania". American Forts Network. Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved 2007-01-26.
  4. ↑ "Halifax Township Park and Recreation Area". Central PA Conservancy. 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-08-24. Retrieved 2007-01-26.
  5. ↑ Notes and Queries, Historical, Biographical and Genealogical, Relating Chiefly to Interior Pennsylvania. Harrisburg Publishing Company. 1895. p. 20.

External links

Coordinates: 40°28′40″N 76°56′00″W / 40.47786°N 76.93339°W / 40.47786; -76.93339

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