Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Warrior's Path

One of the important Indian trails in central Pennsylvania went through Southampton Twp. This war path of the "5 Nations" ran from central N.Y. to the Carolina mountains, it was one of the longest Indian Trails in America.

The "Warriors Path" crossed the Juniata River at Bloody Run (Everett) then ran between Warrior Ridge and Tussey Mountain southwest through the Black Valley (named that because of the dense forest). About six miles into the valley the Indians picked up Clear Creek and followed it to it's source. Three miles later it came to Sweet Root Creek that flowed southward, they followed it for four and a half miles, hugging Warrior Ridge's steep slopes for the next five miles. Just before it reached the mouth of the Black Valley Gap it turned and for the next five miles the Indians kept close to Iron Ore Ridge going into Maryland. Then at the Flintstone Gap it turned east into Murley's Gap and the path ascended to the top of Warrior Mountain and for the next ten miles the path ran along the summit, before it descended toward the Potomac River at Opessah's Town (Old Town, Md). Members of the Iroquios war parties liked to visit Colonel Thomas Cresap at his trading post, so there were always a lot of Indians near Opessah's Town.

Since this path ran through the Sweet Root area, that might explain why the first expedition led by Thomas Powell encountered Indians near Chaneysville. Today, as you travel along the lower Black Valley road you can still see traces of the "Warriors Path".

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