“His Christianity was pure, his views of religion sound and scriptural, and his fidelity and integrity of character were like his own well aimed rifle, true to the mark.”

– Rev. Thomas Aitken
Obituary of Moses Van Campen


"I was nurtered in the school of the rifle and the tomahawk."

- Moses Van Campen

“The notes of war are hushed,

    The rage of battle o’er,

The warrior is at rest,

    He hears our praise no more.

The soldier nobly fought

    For all we dearly love,

He fought to gain a heavenly crown,

    And now he reigns above.”


- Rev. Thomas Aitken
Inscription, Moses Van Campen's tombstone

Home Biography Namesakes Fort McClure
Fort McClure Print

Dedicated Saturday, May 08, 1948, this PHMC Marker is located along U.S. 11 at Fairgrounds, Bloomsburg, PA.

 

PHMC Fort McClure Marker

 

GPS Coordinates: N 40° 59.663 W 076° 28.390

 

The history of the fort is detailed in Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, by J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1915.

 

"At the time of the destruction of Fort Jenkins, there was a line of forts reaching from the West Branch to the North Branch of the Susquehanna, comprising Forts Muncy, Freeland, Montgomery, Bosley's Mills, Wheeler and Jenkins. The loss of the latter fort left the right exposed to the marauders, so on Van Campen's return from captivity he stockaded the home of Mrs. James McClure, on the bank of the Susquehanna, one mile above the mouth of Fishing creek, and on the later site of the house of Douglas Hughes, below Bloomsburg. This fortification took the name of Fort McClure, and became the headquarters for stores and expeditions as long as the defense of the frontier was necessary. This fort was never seriously attacked, though the near residents often fled to it for security. It was never more than a stockade and further fortifications were not built. A residence now stands on the site. A marker has been placed here by the Fort McClure Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Bloomsburg."