Alone Yet Not Alone

In 1755, Galasko and Hannawoa raid the Leininger family farm near Penns Creek, killing Mr. Leininger and Christian. Barbara and Regina are captured and hidden by friends as danger closes in. Galasko dubs Barbara 'Susquehanna' as a mark of the raid.

The raiders divide the captives between two tribes, separating Regina from Barbara and Marie. Barbara tries to escape by stealing a horse but is recaptured. Galasko spares her life on the condition that she never flee again, and the group moves toward Fort du Quesne and later Kittanning.

During another forest raid, the Indians threaten to execute Lydia Barrett, but a French officer shoots her to spare the captives from a cruel death. Barbara and the others are moved deeper into the frontier conflict as a result. The event underscores the brutality of the era.

About a month after the raid, the captives are taken to Moschkingo and assimilated into the tribe. Barbara befriends an Indian girl named Hylea, while Marie is sent to live with an elderly, abusive woman. The captives begin adapting to their new tribal life.

Years pass and Barbara is now a teenager. Galasko proposes marriage and presents Mrs. Leininger’s brooch, rekindling hope for her past. Barbara agrees to Marie’s plan to escape, setting the stage for a risky breakout.

Barbara, Marie, and two other captives slip away at night while the Indians are away. Hannwoa chases them, and Owen Gibson is mauled by a bear after he shoots at it. David Breckenridge helps the group cross the river, while Hannowa reports to Galasko, who is murdered by Hannowa in a rage.

The fugitives reach Fort Pitt, where Colonel Mercer is skeptical until Barbara speaks German to testify to their plight. The fort provides safe haven, but danger remains from pursuers. Barbara uses language to bridge the gap with the soldiers.

During an attempted reception at Fort Pitt, Hannwoa attacks the fort and Barbara shoots him with a fallen soldier’s pistol, ending the immediate threat. The incident demonstrates Barbara's growing agency in the face of danger.

After a month at Fort Pitt, the group travels to Philadelphia to reunite with Mrs. Leininger, John, and Fritz Hecklinger. Barbara returns her mother’s brooch, while Regina remains missing as the family regroups. The trip marks a shift toward resettling on the frontier.

Owen Gibson and David Breckenridge enlist in the Pennsylvania militia to resist raids, while Barbara marries Fritz Hecklinger. Marie promises to wait for Owen, tying together several fates among the group.

Years into married life, Barbara and Fritz have two children, establishing a family on the Pennsylvania frontier. They continue farming and raising their children amid ongoing regional conflict. The family grows despite hardship.

On Christmas Eve, Henry Muhlenberg informs the family that Colonel Armstrong has defeated the Indians in Ohio and recovered all war prisoners. They hurry to Carlisle Fort and learn that David has died in the Battle of Bushy Run. Barbara reinforces the tenuous bonds with Owen and Marie.

Regina, who had wandered among the liberated children, is finally recognized when Mrs. Leininger sings Alone yet Not Alone to jog her memory. She runs into her family’s embrace, ending her years of wandering.

Regina never marries and remains with her mother until they die. The town of Stouchsburg honors her memory with a monument at their gravesite.

Barbara continues farming in Berks County and eventually has a third child named for her sister. She dies in 1805 and is buried in Cumru Township, leaving behind a family and a legacy from her hardship and resilience.