Somehow the territory which later became Somerset County escaped much damage. Possibly this was due to the protection of Westmoreland on the west and the natural barriers of two mountain ranges enclosing the regions. Nevertheless, the constant reports of these outrages kept the people here in a constant state of terror. Twice, many of the settlers fled eastward to safety before the threat of invading savages.
Specific Indian incidents took place either in the northern or southern parts of the county, where there was much travel on the Forbes and Braddock Roads. John MILLER, or “Saucy Jack”, a devil-may-care early settler with his cabin on the Forbes Road, received his nickname from his experiences in such incidents.
Once, when crossing the mountain in a convoy, one of MILLER\’s horses was carrying a couple of kegs of whiskey. Somewhere along the road, Indians fired upon them from ambush, killing several horses and hitting the whiskey kegs in several places. While the rest took cover “Saucy Jack” plugged the holes with
his fingers, shouting for someone to make stoppers and save the whiskey.
But discounting scattered incidents, Somerset was spared from much Indian warfare.
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