JAMES YOUNG --
               COMMISSARY

Commissary James Young, the regimental paymaster, was tasked with the duty of inspecting area fort installations and assessing the amount and quality of provincial stores therein.

This is what Commissary Jas. Young has to say about Dupui's fort, when he reached it on his tour of inspection:

June 24, 1756. At 8 A.M. I sett out from Fort Hamilton for Sam’l Depues, where Cap’tn Weatherholt’s Lieu’t and 26 men are Stationed, when I came there his Muster Roll was not ready. I therefore proceeded to the next Fort, 10 miles higher up the River. At 7 P.M. Came to Sam’l Depues, Mustered that Part of Cap’tn Weatherholt’s Comp’y that are Stationed here, a Lieu’t and 26 men all regularly Inlisted for 6 months as are the rest of his Comp’y; Round Depues house is a Large but very Slight, and ill Contriv’d Staccade with a Sweevle Gun mounted on each Corner. M’r Depue was not at home, his Son with a Son of M’r Broadheads keeping house. They express’d themselves as if they thought the Province was oblig’d to them for allowing this Party to be in their house, also made use of very arrogant Expresions of the Commissioners, and the People of Phil’a in General; they seem to make a mere merchandize of the People stationed here, selling Rum at 8d. p’r Gill. ---Provincial Stores, 13 G’d Muskets, 3 Cartooch Boxes, 13 lb Powder, 22 lb Lead.

Significant in this account is the reference to four swivel guns.  Swivel guns were a frontier rarity – in the entire 160-mile length of the French & Indian War chain of defensive forts that extended from the Susquehanna to the Delaware, there were only two other regional forts that could boast such armament:  Fort Norris with two such cannon and Fort Allen with one.  These guns were small cannons whose swiveling stand allowed for a wide arc of fire with small caliber round shot or grapeshot.  Functioning as short-range (100-yard) anti-personnel ordnance, the scattershot rounds could readily decimate any exposed attacking party.