Area History: Warner-Beers' History of Franklin County, PA, 1887 -- Part II: Chapters III & IV Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joyce Moore USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commerical individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites require permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. __________________________________________________ HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO: WARNER, BEERS & CO., 1887 Chicago: JOHN MORRIS COMPANY, PRINTERS 118 and 120 Monroe Street. __________________________________________________ HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - Part II CHAPTER III. -- INDIAN WAR Indian Nations Described -- War Between French and English -- Colonies Involved -- Braddock's Defeat and its Effects -- Forts Located and Described -- Massacres from 1754 to 1765 -- Conflicts Between the Civil and Military at Fort Loudoun. At the time the Cumberland Valley was opened up to the colonization of the white race, it was virtually in possession of the aggregation of tribes known as the Six Nations. At the opening of the seventeenth century, it is declared, "the lower valley of the Susquehanna, appears to have been a vast uninhabited highway, through which hordes of hostile savages were constantly roaming between the northern and southern waters, and where they often met in bloody encounters. The Six Nations were acknowledged as the sovereigns of the Susquehanna, and they regarded with jealousy and permitted with reluctance the settlement of other tribes upon its margin." (footnote: Historical Collection of Pennsylvania) The Six Nations were the Onondagas, Cayugas, Oneidas, Senecas, Mohawks, and Tuscaroras, the last-named tribe joining the other five from North Carolina in 1712. By the French they were called the Iroquois. The Lenni Lenape, another powerful Indian confederacy, disputed the claim of the Six Nations to this rich territory, and professed to be, as their name implies, "the original people." The Lenni Lenape were known among the white settlers as the Delaware Indians. They were divided into three principal tribes, viz.: the Turtle, the Turkeys and Monseys or Wolf tribes. Monsey or Wolf tribe occupied the country between The Kittatinny or Blue Mountain, and the sources of the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers, and had settlements also on the banks of the Susquehanna. The Shawanees, also, by the permission of the Six Nations, held for a time the Cumberland Valley as a hunting-ground. This rivalry between these two great Indian Confederacies, the Lenni Lenape and the Six Nations, both of which laid claim to the original right to the soil of Pennsylvania, and hence to the Cumberland Valley, led to bloody conflicts and greatly retarded the permanent settlement of the region between the Susquehanna and the Potomac. It led, also, to unpleasant complications in the securing of legal titles. The Indians had as serious disputes among themselves relative to their lands as the inhabitants of Pennsylvania and Maryland subsequently did. The result of this quarrel among the Indians was that the Six Nations overcame the Lenni Lenape and held them in a state of vassalage until the year 1756. The Shawanees ultimately proved bad neighbors to both the Delawares and the Iroquois, and were removed by the latter, in 1755, to the head waters of the Ohio. For the reasons previously given, Kittatinny or Cumberland Valley was a hunting-ground for the Indians, and highly prized by them. None of the tribes made permanent settlements in its forest, which accounts for the absence of Indian relics so numerous in certain western and southern localities. With reluctance, therefore, did they leave this beautiful valley, and seek their wild game and fish elsewhere, and yet they finally consented to dispose of their cherished possessions. On the 11th of October, 1736, the chiefs of the Six Nations met in Philadelphia, and, reviving all past treaties of friendship, executed a deed conveying to John, Thomas and Richard Penn and their heirs, "all the said river Susquehanna, with the lands lying on both sides thereof, to extend eastward as far as the head of the branches or springs which run into the said Susquehanna, and all the land lying on the west side of the said river to the setting sun." The indefiniteness of this language was destined to result in serious trouble. Advantage of the ambiguity of treaties made with the Indians was taken by unscrupulous white men, and thus gradually the red man saw himself deprived of all he held dear; and yet it is true that no serious complaints were made by him until about 1742, and were then confined to unlawful settlements on lands in Tulpehocken, on the Juniata, Aughwick, Path Valley and on Licking Creek near the Potomac, which embraced the Big and Little Coves. The French were eager and successful, too, in poisoning the Indian mind with a sense of their gross wrongs, and thus secured their cooperation against the regular British soldiers. The animosities existing between the two European governments were readily transferred to the rival colonies in the new world. Twenty years of cunning effort on the part of the French had resulted in winning the Indians to them as allies, in endeavoring to establish French supremacy in America. Since 1744, war had existed between England and France, but its effects had not been felt in the colonies. The settlers of this valley, isolated as they were, did not exhibit any fears of attack till 1748, when they banded together for the support of their home and foreign governments. Loyalty to his English majesty reigned in every heart. An associated regiment was formed in the valley and included among its officers the following from what is now Franklin County: Col. Benjamin Chambers, of Chambersburg; Maj. William Maxwell, of Peters; Lieuts. William Smith, of Peters; Andrew Finley, of Lurgan; John Potter, of Antrim; Charles McGill of Guilford; John Winton, of Peters; Ensign John Randalls, of Antrim. At first some doubts existed as to the legality and expediency of these organizations, but these doubts were finally removed by a letter from the council to the proprietaries, dated July 30,1748. "The zeal and industry, the skill and regularity of the officers have surprised every one, though it has been for them a hard service. The whole has been attended by such expense, care and fatigue, as would not have been borne or undertaken by any who were not warm and sincere friends of the Government, and true lovers of their country. In short, we have by this means, in the opinion of most strangers, the best militia in America; so that, had the war continued, we should have been in little pain about any future enterprises of our enemies. Whatever opinions lawyers or others, not fully acquainted with our unhappy circumstances, may entertain of it, it is, in our opinion, one of the wisest and most useful measures that was ever undertaken in any country." The lull was but temporary. In 1753 war broke out in earnest. The French established a line of forts from the lakes to the sources of the Ohio, and thence along it to the Mississippi and down to its mouth. They held the bow of the country, while the English held the string along the Atlantic. One of these strongholds was Fort Du Quesne at Pittsburgh. Against it, in 1755, marched the English and provincial troops under command of Gen. Braddock, a skillful and experienced officer in ordinary warfare, but unacquainted with the nature and intrigues of the Indian. Disregarding the wise suggestions of his sub-ordinates, he was thoroughly routed by the French and Indians on the Monongahela July 9, 1755, and his demoralized and straggling army hurled back along the line of its advance, the merciless enemy hanging on flank and rear to increase the consternation and destruction. The effect of the retreat can be better imagined than told. "News of contemplated attacks upon the settlements along the frontier from the Delaware to the Maryland and Virginia line came upon the people in quick succession, and some actual massacres, burnings and captivities were reported from the south, west and north. Even before Braddock's defeat, and when that General with his army had gone only thirty miles from Fort Cumberland, a party of 100 Indians, under the notorious Shingas, came to the Big Cove and to the Conolloways (creeks on the border of Maryland, in what is now Fulton County) and killed and took prisoners about thirty people, and drove the remainder from their homes." [Penn. Archives, Vol. II] The consternation which succeeded the defeat was inexpressible. The retreat left the whole frontier uncovered. The inhabitants, unprotected and undisciplined, were compelled to flee hastily or use such means of defense as were at hand. Men, women and children were ruthlessly slaughtered like dumb animals. A Reign of terror prevailed everywhere. The occupations of civil life were suspended, and all efforts to secure safety by flight or resistance were resorted to. Gov. Morris, moved by the piteous appeals from the frontier, summoned the Assembly to convene November 3, when he presented the case clearly and demanded men and a law calling out the militia. Petitions were pouring in upon him, asking for men and the munitions of war, and beseeching protection from the destruction raging on every hand. The Assembly was tardy. The people, to impress its members with the folly of the "non-resistance policy," actually sent some of the dead and mangled victims of savage cruelty to Philadelphia to be exhibited on the streets. Everywhere men flew to arms. Twenty-five companies of militia, numbering about 1,400 men, were raised and equipped for the defense of the frontier. The second batallion, comprising 700 men and stationed west of the Susquehanna, was commanded by Col. John Armstrong, of Carlisle. His subordinates were Capts. Hance Hamilton, John Potter, Hugh Mercer, George Armstrong, Edward Ward, Joseph Armstrong, and Robert Callender. Of these, Joseph Armstrong was an early settler of Hamilton Township, this county. The Following is the roster of his private soldiers, the names of the subordinate Officers not being known. John Armstrong Thomas Armstrong James Barnet John Barnet Joshua Barnet Thomas Barnet, Sr. Thomas Barnet, Jr. Samuel Brown John Boyd Alexander Caldwell Robert Caldwell James Dinney William Dinney Robert Dixson William Dixson James Eaton John Eaton Joshua Eaton James Elder George Gallery Robert Groin James Guthrie John Hindman Abram Irwin Christopher Irwin James Jones James McCamant, Sr. James McCamant, Jr. Charles McCamant James McCamish John McCamish William McCamish Robert McConnell John McCord Jonathan McKearney John Machan James Michell Joshua Mitchell William Mitchell Jon. Moore James Norrice John Norrice James Patterson Joshua Patterson William Rankin Jon. Rippey Barnet Robertson Francis Scott Patrick Scott William Scott David Shields Matthew Shields Sr. Matthew Shields Jr. Robert Shilds Sr. Robert Shilds Jr. Jon. Swan Joshua Swan William Swan Charles Stuart Daniel Stuart Devard Williams Jon. Wilson The intense feeling of the time is shown by the following letters, which Speak for themselves: Falling Springs, Sabbath Morning, Nov. 2, 1755 To the inhabitants of the lower part of the county of Cumberland: Gentlemen - If you intend to go to the assistance of your neighbors, you need wait no longer for the certainty of the news. The Great Cove is destroyed. James Campbell left his company last night and went to the fort at Mr. Steel's meeting house, and there saw some of the inhabitants of the Great Cove who gave this account, that as they came over the Hill they saw their houses in flames. The messenger says that there are but one hundred, and that they are divided into two parts; the one part to go against the Cove and the other against the Conollaways, and that there are two French among them. They are Delawares and Shawnese. The part that came against the Cove are under the command of Shingas, the Delaware King. The people of the Cove that came off saw several men lying dead; they heard the murder shout and the firing of guns, and saw the Indians going into their houses that they had come out of before they left sight of the Cove. I have sent express to Marsh creek at the same time I send this; so I expect there will be a good company there this day, and as there are but one hundred of the enemy, I think it is in our power, if God permits, to put them to flight, if you turn out well from your parts. I understand that the West settlement is designed to go if they can get any assistance to repel them. All in haste, from Your humble servant, Benjamin Chambers. Shippensburg, 2d November 1755 To Hon. Edward Shippen, Esq., at Lancaster: Dear and Honored Sir: We are in great confusion here at present - We have received express last night that the Indians and French are in a large body in the Cove, a little way from William Maxwell, Esq., and that they immediately intend to fall down upon this county. We, for these two days past, have been working at our Fort here, and believe shall work this day (Sunday). This town is full of people, they being all moving in with their families - five or six families in a house. we are in great want of arms and ammunition; but with what we have we are determined to give the enemy as warm a reception as we can. Some of our people had been taken prisoners by this party, and have made their escape from them, and came in to us this morning. As our Fort goes on here with great vigor, and expect it to be finished in fifteen days, in which we intend to place all the women and children; it would be greatly encouraging, could we have reason to expect assistance from Philadelphia by private donation of Swivels, a few great guns, small arms and ammunition, we would send our own wagons for them; and we do not doubt that upon proper application but something of this kind will be done for us from Philadelphia. We have one hundred men working at Fort Morris with heart and hand every day. Dear Sir, yours, &c., James Burd Conococheague,. Nov. 6, 1755 May it please your Honor: I have sent enclosed two qualifications, one of which is Patrick Burns', the bearer, and a tomahawk which was found sticking in the breast of one David McClellan. The people of Path Valley are all gathered in a small fort, and according to the last account, were safe. The Great Cove and Conolloways are all buried to ashes, and about fifty persons killed or taken. - Numbers of the inhabitants of this county have moved their families, some to York county, some to Maryland. Hance Hamilton, Esq., is now at John McDowell's mill, with upwards of two hundred men (from York county) and two hundred from this county, in all about four hundred. Tomorrow we intend to go to the Cove and Path Valley, in order to bring what cattle and horses the Indians let live. We are informed by a Delaware Indian, who lives amongst us, that on the same day the murder was committed, he saw four hundred Indians in the Cove; and we have some reason to believe they are about there yet. The people of Shearman's creek and Juniata have all come away and left their horses; and there are now about thirty miles of this county laid waste. I am afraid there will soon be more. I am yhour Honor's most Humble servant, Adam Hoops. P.S. I have just received the account of one George McSwane, who was taken captive about 14 days ago, and has made his escape, and brought two scalps and a tomahawk with him. Shortly after the Indians had made hostile incursions into the Great Cove and commenced their devastation, Sheriff Potter was in Philadelphia, as appears from the following extract, under date of November 14, 1755 - [Prov. Rec. N. 289.] Mr. Potter, the sheriff of Cumberland being in town was sent for, and desired to give an account of the upper part of that country in which the Indians had committed their late ravages; and he said that twenty-seven plantations were burnt and a great quantity of cattle killed; that a woman ninty-three years of age was found lying killed with her breast torn off and a stake run through her body. That of ninty-three families which were settled in the two Coves and the Conolloways, forty-seven were either killed or taken, and the rest deserted. The names of those murdered and abducted, besides those already mentioned, are given in the Pennsylvania Gazette of November 14, 1755, and are as follows: Elizabeth Gallway, Henry Gibson, Robert Peer, William Berryhill, and David McClelland were murdered. The missing are John Martin's wife and five children; William Gallway's wife and two children, and a young woman' Charles Stewart's wife and two children; David McClelland's wife and two children. William Fleming and wife were taken prisoners. Fleming's son and one Hicks were killed and scalped. But the times demanded more than men and ammunition. Families needed to be put into some place of safety while their natural protectors were gone to overtake the cruel savages, who had burned houses and destroyed helpless women and children. This necessitated the building of private and public forts at such natural points as would best accommodate the people. Wisely these were distributed along the western line of the valley to guard against the hostile invasions from the west, and notably from Path Valley, Cove Gap, and the Little Cove. These forts answered several purposes: 1. They were places for the concentration of defenseless and helpless women and children while their natural protectors were absent from home. 2. They served as deposits for the surplus ammunition and other valuable stores needed in the settlements. 3. They served as rallying points, for protection and defense, to the frightened inhabitants. At a meeting of the general committee of Cumberland Country, convened by order of John Potter, sheriff of the county, at the house of Edward Shippen, October 30, 1755, at which eighteen persons (William Allison, John Irwin, Alan Hoops, James Burd, William Smith, James McCormick, Benjamin Chambers, Robert Chambers, H. Alexander, John Findlay, John Potter, Rev. Mr. Bay, John Mushett, Samuel Reynolds, Rev. John Blair, John Smith, Alex Culbertson, John Armstrong.) including Col. Benjamin Chambers, were present, it was resolved to build immediately five large forts, viz.: at Carlisle, Shippensburg, Col. Chambers', Mr. Steele's meetinghouse and William Allison, Esq.'s, in which the women and children were to be deposited, from which, on any alarm, intelligence was to be sent to the other forts. It is thought to be doubtful whether this plan was executed in full. CHAMBERS' FORT - This fort was erected by Colonel Benjamin Chambers and located at the confluence of the Falling Spring and the Conococheague Creek, where Chambersburg now stands. Hon. George Chambers said: "It was erected in the winter and spring of 1756, being a stockade, including the dwelling house, flour and saw-mills of the proprietor (Col. Chambers); within the fort he erected a large stone building two stories in height, the waters of the Falling Spring running under part of it; for safe access to the water, its windows were small, and adapted to defense; the roof of it was covered with sheet-lead, to protect it against fire from the savages. In addition to small arms, Col. Chambers had supplied himself with two four-pound cannon which were mounted and used. Within the fort he remained in safety with his family throughout the whole series of Indian wars. It was also a place of shelter and security to many of the neighboring families in times of alarm. In a letter dated Harris' Ferry, October 17, 1756, Jas. Young pronounces it "a good Private Fort, and on an exceeding good situation to be made very defenceable." He feared lest the fort, with its two four-pound cannon, with "nobody but a few Country People to defend it," should be captured, and they used against Shippensburg and Carlisle. He recommended the removal of the guns, or a proper force stationed for their protection. When Gov. Denny directed these guns to be removed from Fort Chambers, he found his orders disregarded, as was proper under the circumstances. DAVIS' FORT - was erected by Philip Davis in 1756. It was about nine miles south of Fort Loudoun, nearly the Maryland line, at the northern termination of one of the Kittochtinny ranges, known in early times and since as Davis' Knob. It was sixteen and one-half miles from Chamber's Fort, and eight from McDowell's mill. McDOWELL'S MILL. - This fort was known by several names, as "Fort at McDowell's Mill," "McDowell's Mill," or "McDowell's." It was named in honor of its founder, John McDowell, who settled at and around the present site of Bridgeport, shortly after the Chambers settlement was made at Falling Spring. He erected a mill of logs, and some thirty yards from it a rude two story log house with a liberal supply of port holes. The mill and fort sites are now owned by Mr. Jacob Wister. This fort, which occupied such a conspicuous place in the early history of the province for the period of only about two or three years, was built as early as 1754, for Col. John Armstrong, then stationed at Carlisle, in a "plan for the defense of the Frontier of Cumberland County from Philip Davies' to Shippensburg," issued in 1754, "ordered that one company cover from Philip Davies' to Thomas Waddel's; And as John McDowell's mill is at the most important Pass, most exposed to danger, has a fort already made about it, and there provisions may be most easily had - for these Reasons let the Chief Quarters be there; let five men be constantly at Philip Davies', William Marshall's and Thomas Waddle's, which shall be relieved every day by the patrolling guards; let ten men be sent early every morning from the chief quarters to Thomas Waddle's, and ten return from thence back in the evening. A likewise ten men sent from the chief quarters to the other extremity daily, to go by William Marshall's to Philip Davies', and return the same way in the afternoon. By this plan the whole bounds will be patrolled every day; a watch will be constantly kept at four most important places, and there will be every night forty-five men at ye chief quarters ready for any exigence." The importance of the place is further seen in the fact that, when Gen. Braddock, in the spring of 1755, was passing on his way for the reduction of Fort Du Quesne, he urged Gov. Morris to hurry up the army supplies along the public road that passed near McDowell's mill. On the 3d of July, 1755, the Governor announces his compliance with the request and his purpose to "form the magazine at or near McDowell's mill, and put some Stuccados around it to protect the magazine and the people that will have the care of it." In response, Gen. Braddock indicated his "approbation of the Deposits being made at McDowell's Mill." In November of this year (1755), as we learn from a letter by Adam Hoops, commissary to Gov. Morris, "Hance Hamilton, Esq., was at John McDowell's Mill with about 400 men," to be used in gathering up the cattle and horses not destroyed by the Indians in Path Valley. In consequence of the cutting of a new road to the Ohio, about two miles north, and in view of the indefensibility of McDowell's, it was determined to change the location of the fort; hence its successor. FORT LOUDOUN - In the autumn of 1756, Col. John Armstrong began the construction of this place of defense. Some difficulty was experienced in securing a suitable site. At last one was chosen near to Parnell's Knob, where one Patton lived, "near the new road," making the "distance from Shippensburg to Fort Lyttleton two miles shorter than by McDowell's." In a letter to Gov. Denny, dated at McDowell's November 1119, 1756, Col. Armstrong says: "I'm making the best preparation in my power to forward this Fort (Loudon), as well as to prepare by barracks, etc., all the others for the approaching winter. Today we begin to digg a cellar in the new fort, the loggs and roof of a new house having there been erected by Patton before the Indians burn'd his old one. We shall apprise this house, and then take the benefit of it, either for Officers' Barracks or a Storehouse; by which means the provisions may the sooner be mov'd from this place, which at present divides our strength." December 22, 1756, A. Stephens says: "The public stores are safely removed from McDowell's mill to Fort Loudoun - the barracks for the soldiers are built, and some proficiency made in the Stockade, the finishing of which will doubtless be retarded by the in clemency of the weather." Capt. Thompson, in a letter dated at Loudoun, April 7, 1758, mentions the arrival of forty Cherokee Indians at the fort, and that more were expected. He desires Gov. Denny's immediate directions as to how they were to be treated and supplied, as they had come without arms or clothes; they had come for service in the colonies. General Forbes, while on his expedition to Fort Du Quesne to expel the French and their Indian allies from the frontiers, addressed a letter from Loudoun (the town being distant a mile from the fort) to Gov. Denny, urging the hearty cooperation of the authorities and people to secure the desired success. September 9, 1758, he wrote: "Everything is ready, for the army is advancing; but that I cannot do, unless I have a sufficient quantity of provisions in the magazines at Raystown." His march was resumed soon afterward, and continued till he reached Fort DuQuesne, which the enemy evacuated November 24, 1758. In October of the same year, Forbes recommended to the governor the necessity of distributing 1200 men among the different forts, 100 of whom were to be stationed at Fort Loudoun. Col. Bouquet having assumed command of the regular and provincial troops, left Carlisle (whither Gov. Penn had accompanied him) on his expedition westward early in August. On August 13, their small army got to Fort Loudoun; but notwithstanding all the precautions taken to prevent desertions, the Pennsylvania troops were now reduced to 700 men. Further additions were therefore requested, and furnished by the governor. While here he received an account from Presque Isle, by Capt. Bradstreet, of peace being made with the Delawares and Shawnese; but Col. Bouquet, not believing they were sincere, proceeded forward from Fort Loudoun to Fort Pitt, where he arrived on September 17." - [Bouquet's Historical Account.] The name Pomfret Castle was first suggested, but was dropped and that of Loudoun (spelled Loudon at present) in honor of the Earl of Loudoun, lately arrived as commander-in-chief of His Majesty's forces, was adopted. It embraced over an acre of ground. The foundations were of stone, the superstructure of logs, bastions being placed in each corner. No vestiges of it remain at present. The site of the fort is owned by Mr. J. H. Horner of the village of Loudon. McCORD'S - was a private fort, erected probably in 1755 or 1756, along the base of Kittochtinny Mountains, north of Parnell's Knob, and intended, doubtless, for temporary occupation during the early Indian wars. It is believed to have been not many miles from Fort Loudoun, but its precise location cannot be definitely fixed. It was attacked and burned by the Indians in April, 1756, and many captives taken and carried off. This circumstance greatly impaired confidence in private forts, and led to the early erection of those of greater security. STEELE'S MEETING HOUSE - Judge Chambers, in a note published in the Appendix to Pennsylvania Archives, says: "The first fort of which I have information, in the Conococheague Settlement, which comprises nearly the whole of the County of Franklin, was at the Rev. John Steele's meeting house, which was surrounded by a rude Stockade Fort in 1755. It was erected shortly after Braddock's defeat, we suppose, as it was referred to in the Indian Invasion in November, 1755. ("November ye 25, 1755. The Reverand John Steele at Conegochig: 2 quarter casks of powder; 2 cwt. of lead," [Government Account]). It was situated where what is called The Presbyterian White Church, south of Fort Loudoun about five miles, and east of Mercersburg three miles. It was a place of notoriety during the Indian Wars." Upon a visit of the Indians to this settlement in November 1755," the Rev. Mr. Steele, with others, to the number of about 100, went in quest of them, but with no success." In a letter from Peters Township to Gov. Morris, dated April 11, 1756, Mr. Steele says: "As I can neither have the men, arms, nor blankets, I am obliged to apply to your Honor for them; the necessity of the circumstances has obliged me to muster before two magistrates the one-half of my company whom I enlisted, and am obliged to order guns. I pray that with all possible expedition, 54 fire arms and as many blankets, and a quantity of flints, may be sent to me; for since McCord's Fort has been taken, and the men defeated and pursued, our county is in the utmost confusion, great numbers have left the county, and many are preparing to follow. May it please your honor to allow me an ensign, for I find a sergeant's pay will not prevail with men to enlist in whom much confidence is reposed." - [Pennsylvania Archives, Volume II, p. 623]. WADDLE'S - is sometimes referred to in old records. It must have been a private fort built about the same time with the others, probably near what is now called Waddle's (sometimes Eckert's) graveyard. ALLISON'S - was also a private fort near Greencastle, and served its purpose. MAXWELL'S - Where this was located the writer has not been able to ascertain. It was evidently a private fort or block-house in the general line of defense against the incursions of Indians from the west. ELIOTT'S - stood in Path Valley, about a mile north of Fannettsburg, at the place now known as Springtown. It was erected in 1754 or 1755. At this place are half a dozen limestone springs, one of which was enclosed by the fort. At the time the barn of James and Samuel Walker, one mile south of Fannettsburg, was burned by the Indians, viz." On the night of March 22, 1763, the neighbors collected together and scouts were sent by a by-path to give alarm at the fort, so that it must have been still occupied by British soldiers. BAKER'S - is supposed to have been at or near the village of Dry Run. The foregoing is by no means an enumeration of all the forts of a private character in Franklin County. The great danger, however, was to be apprehended from the west, and hence the wisdom of locating a line of these defenses from Parnell's to Casey's Knots, and patrolling them regularly. From Path Valley and through Cove Gap the greatest danger was to be apprehended. The massacres mentioned in the following pages are found in various records, which cannot here be specified. It will be seen that they occurred more frequently and with greater malignity shortly after the defeat of Braddock's army. In September 1754, Joseph Campble was killed, near Parnell's Knob, by an Indian of the Six Nations, named Israel. In February, 1756, two lads were taken at Widow Cox's near Parnell's Know, also a man named John Craig. They afterward escaped. February 29, 1756, two boys were fired at by the Indians in the Little Cove. One was killed but the other alarmed the fort, and the Indians were pursued and driven away after a loss of four soldiers. On the same day, a man named Alexander discovered a party of Indians near Thomas Barr's place, in Peters Township. The alarm was given, and an engagement ensued in which several citizens were killed, one being Barr's son. April 5, 1756, McCord's Fort was burned and many inhabitants killed and captured by the Indians. Immediately upon receipt of the news, Captain Aleder Culbertson, with a company of fifty men, set out in pursuit, and overtook them at Sidling Hill, where a serious contest ensued, in which Capt. Culbertson was slain. So many were wounded, that a surgeon, living in Carlisle, was sent for, and even then much inconvenience was experienced. Following is a list of killed and wounded: KILLED: Alexander Culbertson, captain John Reynolds, ensign, Capt. Chambers' Co. William Kerr James Blair John Layson William Denny Francis Scott William Boyd Jacob Paynter Jacob Jones Robert Kerr William Chambers Daniel McCoy James Robertson, tailor James Robertson, weaver James Peace John Blair Henry Jones John McCarty John Kelly James Lowder WOUNDED: Abraham Jones Francis Campbell William Reynolds John Barnet Benjamin Blyth John McDonald Isaac Miller Ensign Jamieson William Hunter Matthias Ganshorn William Swailes Shortly after, Capt. Jacobs (Indian chief,) with a band of forty savages, made an expedition into the Coves, burning and scalping. Hugh McSwine was taken prisoner, and afterward escaped on the leader's horse. This he took to Col. Washington, who gave him a commission as lieutenant. William Mitchel, living in Conococheague, was shot and killed by a band of Indians, while at work in the harvest field. On the 26th of May, 1756, John Wasson, a farmer living in Peters Township, was horribly mangled and scalped by a small party of Indians. His house was burned and his wife taken captive. July 26th 1756, William Morrison was captured and his house burned. August 28, Betty Ramsey, her son, and the cropper was killed and daughter taken prisoner. November, 1756, in the upper part of the county, near Conococheague, a party of savages barbarously mangled a number of the inhabitants, and took many women and children captives. Following is a list of killed and missing: KILLED: James McDonald William McDonald Bartholomew McCafferty Anthony McQuoid John Woods, with his wife and mother-in-law Samuel Perry Hugh Kerrel John Culbertson Elizabeth, wife of John Archer MISSING: James Corkem William Cornwall John Archer's four children Samuel Neely James McCoid March 29, 1857, the Indians made a breach at Rocky Springs, where one woman was killed and eleven taken prisoners. April 2, 1757, William McKinley and son were killed. He had left Chamber's Fort to visit his farm on the creek below Chambersburg, but was discovered and scalped by the Indians. April 7, 1757, three families, two named Campbell and Patterson, were cut off at Conococheague, and barbarously treated. April 23, 1757, John Martin and William Blair were killed at Conococheague, and Patrick McClelland wounded by savages. May 13, 1757, William Walker and an unknown man killed at Conodoguinet. June 24, 1757, Alexander Miller killed, and his two daughters captured at Conococheague. July 2, 1757, a man named Springson killed near Logan's Mill. July 8, two boys taken prisoners at Cross's Fort, Conococheague. July 27, man named McKisson wounded, and son captured at South Mountain. August 17, 1757, William Manson and son killed at Cross's Fort, Conococheague. September 26, 1757, Robert Rush, John McCraken killed, and five others captured near Chambersburg. May 23, 1758, John Galady killed, and his wife and child captured at Conococheague. November 9, 1757, John Woods, his wife and mother-in-law, and the wife of John Archer, were killed, four children taken captives, and nine men killed near McDowell's mill. April 5, 1758, one man killed and ten taken near Black's Gap, South Mountain. April 13, 1758, one killed and nine taken near Archibald's, South Mountain. For a long time after this no record of any massacres has been found; but doubtless many were committed, and many outrages perpetrated, of which nothing is known. We are indebted to Capt. J. H. Walker, a descendant of James Walker, for the following well authenticated and detailed account of his captivity and escape from the Indians. "About the middle of August 1762, James Walker, who lived on the farm where John D. Walker now resides, near Fannettsburg, was on his way home from the fort at Loudon, and when near Richmond, on the old Braddock road, was fired at by a part of Indians. His horse was killed under him, and in falling the horse fell on him in such a way that before he could extricate himself the Indians captured him. They then took the saddle off his horse, and fastening it on his back, compelled him to carry it, and started over the mountains westward. The first night they stopped near Fort Littleton, and to make their prisoner secure, they tied his hands and an Indian slept on each side of him. The next morning, discovering some horses grazing in the neighborhood of the fort, they made several attempts to capture them, but without success. After repeated failures they determined that their prisoner should make a trial of it, and lest he might wander off too far, or attempt his escape, they made a rope or line of hickory bark, and fastened to his leg, the Indians holding one end of the line, but the horses were shy, he met with no better success, and they were compelled to give it up, being fearful that they might be discovered from the fort. After remaining nearly the whole day and watching the operations at the fort, they again started westward. For several days they traveled by easy stages, crossing on their way the South or Raystown branch of the Juniata River. At length, as they seemed to approach the Indian settlement, the party divided one evening, and left their prisoner in charge of two of their company for the night. Taking the precaution to tie him safely as before, they lay down, one on each side of him, and soon were in a sound sleep. The apparently sound sleep of their prisoner, however, was not real, as he had fully determined that now, if ever, was his opportunity to try to make his escape. He had a knife secreted about his person, which fortunately his captors had failed to discover. After long and patient effort, he succeeded in getting one of his hands loosed. He then worked his knife out of its hiding place, and cut the cords with which he was fastened. During this operation one of the Indians started as if about to rouse up, but their prisoner affected such soundness of sleep that his suspicions were allayed, and he soon went to sleep again. "But this being too critical a position in which to remain very long, Mr. Walker, as soon as he thought it safe to do so, raised cautiously to his feet, but in doing so the same wily savage again awoke, and this time realizing the situation, grasped his tomahawk, and was about to spring to his feet, and while in the act of doing so Mr. Walker seized him by the hair, and quick as thought plunged his knife into the throat of his antagonist, who fell mortally wounded at his feet. The other Indian, being awakened by the scuffle, and the death knell of his companion, and supposing doubtless that they had been pursued by a party of whites, hastily fled, leaving Mr. Walker master of the situation. He knew too well the importance of having as great a space between himself and the scene of his encounter as practicable before daylight, and made all possible speed in the homeward direction. When daylight came he sought a secure hiding place, and remained there all day. His journey eastward was attended with many difficulties, and much suffering, as he traveled mostly by night to avoid recapture, and the country being a dense wilderness, he frequently became bewildered, and sometimes traveled in a wrong direction. Besides subsisting chiefly on roots, berries, etc., his flesh was torn with briars, and badly bruised when crossing the mountains, and forcing his way through the thickets. At length, after many weary days and nights, he found his way back to the fort at Littleton, where he received the medical attention that his situation demanded. He was greatly weakened by the exposure and suffering, and the condition of his sores was so horrible, the worms having already got into them, that he was compelled to remain there for some time before he could be removed to his home." In 1764, however, on July 26, three miles northwest of Greencastle, was perpetrated what Parkman, the great historian of colonial times, pronounces "an outrage unmatched in fiend-like atrocity through all the annals of the war." This was the massacre of Enoch Brown, a kind-hearted exemplary Christian schoolmaster and ten pupils - eight boys and two girls. Ruth Hart and Ruth Hale were the names of the girls. Among the boys were Eben Taylor, George Dunstan, and Archie McCullough. All were knocked down and scalped by the merciless savages. Mourning and desolation came to many homes in the valley, for each of the slaughtered innocents belonged to a different family. The last named boy indeed survived the effects of the scalping knife, but in a somewhat demented condition. The teacher offered his life and scalp in a spirit of self-sacrificing devotion, if the savages would only spare the lives of the little ones under his charge and care. But no! the tender mercies of the heathen are cruel, and so a perfect holocaust was made to the Moloch of war by the relentless fiends in human form. The school house was located on the farm now owned by Mr. Henry Diehl and formerly owned by Mr. Christian Koser. It stood in a cleared field at the head of a deep ravine, surrounded by dense forests. Down this ravine the savages fled a mile or two until they struck Conococheague Creek, along the bed of which, to conceal their tracks, they traveled to the mouth of Path Valley up which and across the mountains they made good their escape to their village near the Ohio. The bodies were given, at the time, a burial in a common grave - a rude box containing the forms of the teacher and his associate victims. August 4, 1843, or seventy-nine years after the slaughter, a number of the principal citizens of Greencastle made excavations to verify the traditional account of the place and manner of burial. Some remains of the rough coffin were found at quite a depth from the surface, and then the skull and other remains of a grown person, alongside of which were remains of several children. Metal buttons, part of a tobacco box, teeth, etc., were picked up as relics by those present, among whom were some of our citizens still living with us in a green old age, viz.: Dr. Wm. Grubb, (since deceased) Dr. J. K. Davison, George W. Ziegler, Esq., and Gen. David Detrich. The question of erecting a monument to the memory of these unfortunates was agitated at different times, but never reached a tangible solution till 1885, when, as the result of a very spirited canvass of schools, Sunday schools, churches, and private individuals, as well as by excursions and other legitimate agencies, about $1,400 was raised for the purpose. Twenty acres of land was purchased and the monument was finally unveiled August 4, 1885, in the presence of 5,000 people. The meeting was called to order by Col. B. F. Winger, chief marshal. Mounting the base of the monument the Rev. Cort made a few preliminary remarks, and then four little girls and nine boys pulled the cords, the mantle of red, white and blue fell, and the monument stood forth a thing of beauty and strength, the delight of all beholders. It is indeed a massive affair. On the top of four feet of solid masonry underneath the ground are nearly four feet of dressed limestone of immense proportions from Hawbecker's Williamson quarry. On the top of this limestone foundation, which is five feet square, is placed the granite base of the monument, four feet square and seventeen inches high, and weighing 4,600 pounds. Next comes the polished die or subbase, three feet square and two feet high, on the four sides of which are engraved the inscriptions. On the top of this stands the shaft of the monument, two feet square at the base, ten feet high and tapering gracefully to a pyramidal apex. The shaft weighs 4,100 pounds. Inclosing the monument is a very substantial iron fence, fifteen feet square. The following are the inscriptions: On the east side: Sacred to the memory of school-master Enoch Brown and Eleven Scholars, viz.: Ruth Hart, Ruth Hale, Eren Taylor, George Dunstan, Archie McCullogh, and six others (names unknown), who were massacred and scalped by Indians on this spot, July 26, 1764, during the Pontiac War. On the north side: Erected by direction of the Franklin County Centennial Convention of April 22, 1884, in the name of the teachers and scholars of all the schools in the county, including common schools, select schools and Sunday schools. For a full list of contributors see archives of Franklin County Historical Society or Recorder's Office. West side inscription, next to grave, The remains of Enoch Brown and ten scholars (Archie McCullough survived the scalping) lie buried in a common grave, south 62 º degrees, West 14 ‡ rods from this monument. They fell as pioneer martyrs in the cause of education and Christian civilization. On the south side: The ground is holy where they fell, And where their mingled ashes lie, Ye Christian people, mark it well With granite columns strong and high; And cherish well forevermore The storied wealth of early years, The sacred legacies of yore, The toils and trials of pioneers. The small monument was unveiled at the grave by Rev. Cort after a few preliminary remarks. It is a very chaste and pretty structure, composed, like the larger monument, of Concord granite. It is about seven feet high and two feet square at the base. On the side facing the grave is this inscription: "The grave of Schoolmaster Enoch Brown and Ten Scholars, massacred by the Indians July 26, 1764." Around it is also a solid iron fence ten feet square. George W. Ziegler, Esq., was chosen president for the day, and made a short address, heartily approving the cause which had brought the people together and commending the monument committee for its faithful and energetic labors. Rev. J. D. Hunter then offered a very appropriate prayer. The Reformed Church choir, under the lead of Prof. Collins, assisted by a few amateurs, sang "America," "My Country, 'tis of Thee," and afterward, "The Infant Martyrs" a hymn composed by Dr. Henry Hardbaugh on the martyred babes of Bethlehem who were slain by King Herod. The organization was completed by the election of the vice-presidents and secretaries, viz.: Vice-presidents: Rev. J. Spangler Kiefer, Hagerstown, Md.; Gen. David Detrich, Dr. James K. Davidson, Capt. Jacob Diehl, Antrim: Jacob Hoke, Simon Lecron, D.C. Shank, George J. Balsley, D.O. Nicodemus, Washington; Joseph Winger, Montgomery; Dr. Frick, Quincy; Rev. Knappenberger, John Hoch, Mercersburg; Rev. Bahner, Waynesboro; Rev. Riddle, Fairfax, Va.; Andrew K. Kissecker, Tiffin, Ohio. Secretaries: W. G. Davison, W. C. Kreps, Greencastle; Bruce Laudebaugh, G. W. Atherton, Mercersburg; William A. Ried, Antrim; A. N. Pomeroy, Chambersburg. Rev. Cyrus Cort, chairman of the monument committee, then made the presentation speech, which was well received. After a sumptuous dinner, Rev. J. W. Knappenberger, of Mercersburg, offered a short but appropriate prayer. Peter A. Witmer, of Hagerstown, Md., made an address heartily approving the work. He was followed by Rev. F. M. Woods, of Martinsburg, W. Va. John M. Cooper, of Harrisburg, delivered the historical address of the occasion on "Pontiac and Bouquet." He complimented, in eloquent terms, Rev. Cyrus Cort (the writer is indebted for the facts contained in this account of the Enoch Brown Massacre to Rev. Cort's excellent little volume, "Enoch Brown Memorial.") for the intense zeal he had manifested in the erection of this, the people's monument - a tribute to the educational martyrs of the county. The benediction was pronounced by Rev. John R. Agnew. One of the last massacres committed by the Indians in Franklin County, probably about the time of the Revolutionary war, was that of the Renfrew sisters (Sarah and Jane), on what is now the farm of A. J. Fahestock, near Waynesboro. The girls, it is said, were washing clothes on the bank of the Little Antietam, when two Indians came upon them, and having stricken them down and taken their scalps, went to the little cabin standing on the hill and killed an infant, dashing its brains out against a tree. They then betook themselves in flight to the mountains, westward, but were pursued by two experienced hunters living in the neighborhood. The savages were finally overtaken in an open forest, in the Big Cove, engaged in eating wild plums. According to previous plans, the wary hunters approached sufficiently close to see the seeds of the plums drop, one by one. Raising their trusty guns, they fired, each bringing his victim to the ground. Scalping the savages and recovering the scalps of the girls, they hastily retraced their steps and reached the Renfrew home in time to deposit all four scalps in the coffin ready to be buried. The dust of the Renfrews now rests in a humble grave in what is known as Burns graveyard on the Fahnestock place, and is marked by a simple slab of rough sandstone. In 1765 a difficulty occurred between the military authorities at Fort Loudoun, under command of Lieut. Charles Grant, and certain citizens in Peters Township, under the leadership of James Smith. The whole affair grew out of the fact that certain Indian traders from Philadelphia were in the habit of smuggling lead, tomahawks, scalping knives, etc., through the lines and disposing of the same to the ruthless savages. With a band of men, blacked and painted, Smith, highly incensed at these damnable acts, ambushed and waylaid a company of traders, killing their ponies, capturing certain supplies, and burning others. The traders repaired to the fort, and secured the services of a squad of Highland soldiers, under command of Sergt. Leonard McGlashan, to arrest the robbers, as the citizens were called. A number of innocent men were apprehended and thrown into the guard house at the fort. Smith raised 300 riflemen and marched to the fort, encamping on a high hill in sight of the works. "We were not long there," says smith, "until we had more than double as many of the British troops prisoners in our camp, as they had of our people in the guardhouse. Capt. Grant, a Highland officer who then commanded Fort Loudoun, then sent a flag of truce to our camp, where we settled a cartel and gave them above two for one, which enabled us to redeem all our men from the guardhouse with further difficulty." Grant retained a number of rifle guns which his men had taken from the citizens, refusing to deliver them until he had explicit orders from his superior, Gen. Gage. "As he was riding out one day," continues Smith, "we took him prisoner, and detained him until he delivered up the arms; we also destroyed a large quantity of gunpowder that the traders had stored up, lest it might be conveyed privately to the Indians. The king's troops and our party had now got entirely out of the channel of the civil law, and many unjustifiable things were done by both parties. This convinced me, more than ever I had been before, of the absolute necessity of the civil law in order to govern mankind." This conflict between the civil and military authorities, the outgrowth of Indian difficulties, involved the magistrates of the township, the governor of the State and the commander-in-chief of the British forces in America. It was finally settled, but not without much difficulty and ill-feeling. CHAPTER IV. -- THE REVOLUTION Its Causes -- Loyalty to the Mother Country -- Early Military -- Roster and Roll of Franklin Men -- From Colonies to States -- Heroes from Franklin County -- One of the First American Cannons, etc. The colonists had hardly recovered from the cruelties and sufferings of the French and Indian war and the ensuing raids of the savages upon the scattered and defenseless settlers, when dark clouds began to gather in the distance, that were portentous of a coming storm of seven long years of cruel and bitter war between the feeble colonies and the mother country. The century and a half preceding the breaking out of the Revolutionary war had been a long and severe school for the colonists and their ancestors to prepare them for the coming ordeal. Most of the immigrants were fugitives from cruel religious persecutions, and outlaws from their native lands. Those who escaped death emerged from dismal dungeons to skulk in caves and out-of-the-way places, and to hide, by strange disguises, from the unappeasable wrath of man, guilty of no crime save that of a determination to be free to think, act, and serve their Divine Master in accordance with the dictates of their own consciences. This was a trying school in which to rear a people - it was the ordeal of fire, the baptism of blood; but it tended to mold characters of iron, to instill heroic blood, to plant the seed of liberty in the hearts of the people thus relentlessly pursued, and raise up heroes who feared nothing but their God. These poor, suffering victims had heard of the New World; and, in the dark perspective, it was to them the guiding star of promise, bidding them to come. They gladly fled from their native country and landed upon the shores of this continent - the land of the ignorant and treacherous savages. They were in the direst extremities of poverty, but rich in hope and deeply imbued with the first lessons in the love of freedom. Their awful persecutions, instead of driving them away from their religion and its practices, only made them the more determined in their convictions and more fearless in proclaiming their faith. Nothing that has occurred in this world has had so powerful an influence upon mankind as the war for independence. All men realize that it made this a great, free, and independent people. But this was only a part of what that righteous war effected. It gave liberty to mankind. It was the turning point in man's destiny upon earth. It was the enduring and ever-growing triumph in the struggle between right and wrong. It lifted up the human race, and, as an instance of how strong and wide reaching its effects were, it need only be noticed that its good results were, and have been, as strong in Great Britain as they have been anywhere else, and the blessings of freedom she so strove to crush have penetrated her entire realms, and, like the gentle dews from heaven, have blessed all alike. Since the earliest traditions the earth has been chiefly the theater of bloody wars - wars of tribes; wars of nations; civil wars; wars for self, for power, for the ambition of rulers, and religious wars and crusades for sentiment. What a stream of blood it was! What a world of woe this raging stream bore upon its bosom! Rulers, besotted and beastly, made war; men were simply food-powder-victims driven to the bloody shambles; until the American Revolution, no war had been successfully waged for the rights of the people - for liberty of the souls and bodies of men. In 1765 the people of Pennsylvania began to enter their first protest against the oppressive action of the mother country. At first these could not be called mutterings - they were merely the mild expressions of a loyal people against the manifold acts of injustice, with no thought of any one going further than words of the most respectful and loyal dissent. Their words fell upon dull ears; they were not heeded, and, even if noticed at all, they were only answered with silent contempt. In the course of time a public sympathy sprang up for the people of Boston. the outrages grew in numbers and severity, and in the course of the next decade men became alarmed, and then public expression and public action began to take place. July 12, 1774, the people of Cumberland County met at Carlisle. JOHN MONTGOMERY presided over the meeting. The state of the country was briefly, very briefly, it seems, discussed, and steps were promptly taken that showed the temper of the men of those times. They unanimously passed resolutions condemning Parliament for closing the port of Boston; recommending a General Congress of the colonies; the abandonment of the use of British merchandise, and finally for the appointing of deputies to concert measures for the meeting of the General Congress. As emphatic as were the people of this meeting, there was no sentiment of revolt or war upon the mother country. Even after the war had actually commenced and the battle of Lexington had been fought, the loyalty of the people to their government is manifested by the action of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, in November, 1775, appointing delegates to represent the province in Congress, and expressly instructing them "that they, in behalf of this colony, dissent from, and utterly reject any proposition, should such be made, that may cause or lead to a separation from our mother country, or a change of the form of this government." This was in November, but the battle of Lexington occurred in the preceeding April. In Volume II, page 516, "American Archives," of date May 6, 1775, seventeen days after the battle of Lexington, occurs the following: "Yesterday the county committee of Cumberland County, from nineteen townships, met on the short notice they had. About 3,000 have already associated. The arms returned are about 1,500. The committee has voted 500 men, besides commissioned officers, to be taken into pay, armed and disciplined, to march on the first emergency; to be paid and supported as long as necessary, by a tax on all estates real and personal." The next day they again met and unanimously voted they "were ready to raise 1,500 to 2,000 men," should they be needed, and also were ready and willing to put a debt of 27,000 pounds per annum on the county. A number of companies from Cumberland County were soon ready, and marched to join Washington's army at the siege of Boston. One of these companies, it is known, was from what is now Franklin County. This was Capt. James Chamber's company. He was soon promoted colonel, and afterward became a brigadier-general; he and his company continued in the service during nearly all the seven years' war. General James Chambers was the eldest son of Col. Benjamin Chambers, the founder of Chambersburg. His company joined Pennsylvania's first rifle regiment under Colonel William Thompson, of Cumberland County. This was the first regiment south of the Hudson that marched to the relief of Boston and the historian says "their arrival attracted much attention; they were stout and hardy yeomanry, the flower of Pennsylvania's frontiersmen and remarkable for the accuracy of their aim" - an important desideratum at that time. This regiment had been enlisted under the resolution of Congress, July 14, 1775, authorizing the raising of six companies of expert riflemen in Pennsylvania, ten in Maryland, and two in Virginia. Each company was to contain 68 privates, 1 captain, 3 lieutenants, 4 sergeants, 1 corporal, and 1 drummer. They rendezvoused at Reading, where the regiment was organized by the election of Colonel William Thompson, of Carlisle; Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Hand, of Lancaster; and Major Robert Magaw, of Carlisle. ROSTER OF CAPT. JAMES CHAMBERS' COMPANY Captain - James Chambers First lieutenant - James Grier Second lieutenant - Nathan McConnell Third lieutenant - Thomas Buchanan Sergeants - David Hay, Arthur Andrews, Alex. Crawford PRIVATES David Boyd John Brandon Johnson Brooks James Black Thomas Beatty David Biddle Michael Benker Archibald Brown Black Brown John Brown William Barnett Timothy Campbell William Campbell Benjamin Carson William Chestney John Dermont Joseph Eaton John Everly Abijah Fairchild James Furmoil John Fidd William Gildersleeve Richard Henny Peter Hogan Geo. Houseman John Hutchinson Thomas Hutchison Charles Irwin Francis Jamieson Robert Joblier Andrew Johnston George Justice Andrew Keith Lewis Kettling Michael Kelly Thomas Kelly Silas Leonard David Lukens Thomas Lochry Patrick Logan Nicholas Lowrie John Lynch John McCosh James McEleve John McDonald Michael McGibson Cornelius McGiggin James McHaffey John McMurtrie Patrick McGaw Thomas Mason Patrick McGaw Thomas Mason Patrick Neale William Parker David Riddle Thomas Rodgers Nicholas Sawyer Joseph Scott Jacob Shute Moses Skinner Timothy Styles Patrick Sullivan James Sweeny James Symns Thomas Vaughn This was not only the first company of infantry that went to war from what is now Franklin, but it was the first from this valley. The account of the patriotic Chambers family, in the Indian wars and in the war of the Revolution, is very nearly as complete an account of the doings of the people of the county as can now be learned. Colonel Benjamin Chambers had been the most conspicuous figure in southern Pennsylvania in the first Indian wars and raids in the valley. When the war for independence broke out, he was then too old to go to the battlefield, but his three sons, all of whom became eminent in the ranks of the colonial armies, were the first to heed the call of duty and rally the people around the flag of liberty. These were James, William, and Benjamin. James, as related above, by rapid promotion for gallantry, was soon made brigadier-general. William and Benjamin, were each promoted to captain, and all served during nearly the entire war. A full account of the Chambers family may be found in the biography given elsewhere, but a brief resume is here given of the services in the field of General Chambers, as it is, in a large measure, now the best account we can obtain of the part taken by the people in the war. August 26, 1775, 400 men drawn from Cumberland county companies, were placed under the command of Captain James Chambers, and sent to Prospect and Ploughed Hill, near Boston, to protect a force of nearly 2,000 men, who were erecting a redoubt near the latter hill. Here they performed some hard and efficient service. In March, 1776, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel; Vice Colonel Hand, appointed colonel in place of Colonel Thompson, who had been made a brigadier-general. Colonel Chambers was ordered to Long Island, was in the battle of Flat Bush August 22, 1776, and also in the fight at King's Bridge. In his report of the operations at Flat Bush, among other things, he says: "Captain John Steel acted with great bravery." In August, 1776, the Pennsylvania troops were selected as a reserve to cover the retreat of our army from Long Island. That body was composed mostly of troops from Cumberland and what is now Franklin County. September 26, 1776, Lt. Col. Chambers was made colonel of his regiment, Colonel Hand, having been promoted. In June 1777, his command was in New Jersey, and was among the first to enter New Brunswick, driving the enemy before it. September 11, 1777, his command was opposed to the Hessians, under General Knyphausen, at Chadd's ford and Brandywine, where Colonel Chambers was wounded in the side, Lieutenant Holliday was killed, and Captains Grier and Craig were wounded. With his command, he was also in the battle of Germantown October 4, 1777, and in the fight at Monmouth June 28, 1778. He led the attack of Bergen Point July 20, 1780, and the command was highly complimented by General Wayne for gallantry in this charge. He, with his command, was at White Plains, West Point, and in many other minor battles up to the time of his resignation in 1781. After his retirement he was three different times appointed to the command of a battalion in his native county. In 1794 he was appointed to command the Third Brigade of Pennsylvania troops, called out to quell the whisky insurrection. In 1798 he was again appointed to a similar command in anticipation of a war with France. The substance of an article from the pen of Hon. John B. Linn, Deputy Secretary of the commonwealth, that appeared in the Philadelphia Weekly Times of April 14, 1878, is given below, confined as much as possible to those parts that refer to this action of the Franklin County men: "The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has in its temporary possession a very interesting relic of the revolution. It is the standard of the First Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion. * * * This regiment was raised on the reception of the news of the battle of Bunker hill, and entered the trenches in front of Boston, August 8, 1775. It was in the skirmishes in front of Boston, and before the British evacuated that city it was ordered to New York to repel their landing there. * * * The term of the battalion expired June 30, 1776, but officers and men in large numbers re-enlisted for three years, or during the war. * * * It was at Long Island, White Plains, Trenton and Princeton under command of Colonel Hand, and under the command of Colonel Chambers, at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and in every other battle and skirmish of the main army until Colonel Chambers resignation in 1781. Colonel Chambers was succeeded by Colonel Daniel Broadhead, on May 26, 1781. The regiment, after this long service under General Wayne, joined General Lafayette at Raccoon Ford on the Rappahannock, June 10, fought at Green Springs, July 6; opened the second parallel at Yorktown. General Steuben, in his orders dated October 21, says of this movement that he considered it the most important part of the siege. The regiment that went south with General Wayne and fought in the last battle of the war at Sharon, GA, May 24, 1782; entered Savannah in triumph July 11, and Charleston December 14, 1782; went into camp on James Island, S.C., May 11, 1783, and when the news of the cessation of hostilities reached there, they embarked for Philadelphia. In its services it traversed every one of the original thirteen States of the Union; for while in Boston, CAPT. PARR was ordered with a battalion to Portsmouth, N. H. to defend that point." In December, 1775, the Second Pennsylvania Regiment was formed. It was at first under the command of Colonel John Bull, afterward under Colonel John Philip De Haas. Under a call from Congress for four more battalions, in January 1776, Colonel Irvine's Sixth Regiment was formed. It was composed of eight companies; and of these, three companies were mostly from Franklin County territory, to-wit: Company 3, Captain Abraham Smith. There is some dispute as to whether Captain Smith's company was from what is now Cumberland County, or from this county. The truth probably is, it was made up of men from both of them. The others were Company 4, Captain William Rippey, and Company 8, Captain Jeremiah Talbott. It is now believed that Captain Smith was from Lurgan Township, just north of the Franklin County line. There evidently were two Captain Abraham Smiths, from this and Cumberland County. One was a civilian, but which was which, the confusion in the records does not always make plain. One was of Lurgan and the other of Antrim Township. This fact is now evident. The following are the names of the officers and men: COMPANY NO. 3 OF IRVINE'S REGIMENT Captain - Abraham Smith, commissioned January 9, 1776 First lieutenant - Robert White Second lieutenants - John Alexander, Andrew Irvine Ensigns - Samuel Montgomery, Samuel Kennedy Sergeants - John Beatty, Samuel Hamilton, Hugh Foster, William Scott, William Burke Corporals - William Burke, George Standley, John Moore, William Campbell, Seth Richey, William McCormick, William Drennon; Fifer - William Cochran Drummer - John Fannon PRIVATES David Armor John Brown Patrick Brown John Blakeley John Brannon Phillip Boyle Josiah Cochran Robert Craighead Anthony Creevy William Cochran James Dunlap Thomas Drennon William Downey Hugh Drennon Daniel Divinney Pat. Fleming William Gwin Alex. Gordon Robert Gregg Thomas Higgins James Holliday Thomas Holmes John Hendricks Benj. Ishmail Robert Jarrett Thomas Johnson Samuel Love Geo. Lucas Nicholas Little James Lowrey Daniel McKusick John McCollam William McCormick Michael McGarea Bryan McLaughlin John McFetridge Michael McMullin James McKissock Adam McBreas James McDowell Samuel McBrea Robert McIlno Alex. McKenny John McKingham John Montgomery Alex. Moore Robert Miller Hugh Milligan Moses Powell Nathan Points John Rannell Seth Richey Patrick Rogers John Rannell, Jr. Peter Runey Alex. Reid Borthal Roharty Thomas Smith Patrick Silvers Thomas Scott George Simpson Robert Swinie John Stoops Ad. Sheaver William Stitt Peter Sheran Charles Tipper John Todd Mich. White James White John Wilson John Young COMPANY NO. 4 OF IRVINE'S REGIMENT Captain - William Rippey First Lieutenants - William Alexander, Alexander Parker Second lieutenant - John Brooks Ensign - William Lusk Sergeants - John Hughes, Robert Watt, John McClelland, William Anderson Corporals - William Gibbs, Jeremiah McKibben, James McCulloh, George Gordon, Nath Stevenson Fifer - William Richards Drummer - Daniel Peterson PRIVATES Jacob Anderson Robert Barckley Bernerd Burns Robert Caskey Henry Cartright Robert Cortney Jacob Christyardinger Benjamin Cochran Hugh Call John Collins William Dougherty John Davison Joseph Devine Anthony Dawson Thomas Dycke James Finerty Hugh Forsyth Hugh Ferguson Thomas Falls William George Henry Girden Thomas Gell Jacob Glouse Nathan Hemphill Robert Haslet John Hendry William Henderson James Hervey Cumberland Hamilton Neal Hardon George Hewitt Robert Irvine Jacob Justice John Johnston Christopher Kechler Francis Kain John Kelly William Lowry Daniel Lavery David Linsey James Lynch John Madden Josiah McCall John McMicheal James McComb William McIntyre John Moore James Mullin Thomas McCall Philip Melon Alexander McNichols James McCoy James McCon. David McClain John McDonell Daniel McClain John McGaw Charles Malone George McFerson William Nicholson John Ortman John O'Neal Thomas Pratt Thomas Parsons Aaron Patterson Charles Rasbrough John Rasbrough John Rogers Thomas Reed Robert Robeson Basil Regan John Stoner Henry Scott Alexander Stephenson Nathan Stephenson James Smiley William Thompson John Tribele Jacob Trash John Van Kirk William Winn John Wright Peter Young COMPANY NO. 8, OF IRVINE'S REGIMENT Captain - Jeremiah Talbott First lieutenant - John McDonald Second lieutenant - Alexander Brown Ensign - William Graham Sergeants - John McCollam, John Wilson, James Cupples, Samuel Mitchell Corporals - William Campbell, Robert Hunter, John Chain, John Reniston Drummer - John Milton Fifer - John Killin PRIVATES Robert Asten John Bradley William Black John Church George Coghren Francis Clark Robert Carnahan Charles Conna John Campbell Joseph Chambers John Dinning William Evans John Faulkner Hugh Fairess James Gardner Daniel Gibson William Heaslett John Heatherington Duke Handlon John Higgens Kern Kelley Stephen Lyon Jacob Lewis Hugh Lilley John Marten Robert Mollon Benj. Morrison James McFarlan Charles McRoun. Archibald McDonald Matthew McConnell Thomas McCreary Charles McMullen Thomas Mitchell Charles Marry Patrick Marry Able Morgan Archibald Nickel Andrew Pinkerton Samuel Power John Pollock James Quarre William Shaw Mike Sesalo John Shoemaker James Sloan John Totten John Thompson Hugh Thompson William White John White John Welch Robert Watson Isaac Wiley In April 1777, Capt. Talbott's company had been so reduced by hard service that it was recruited up to the required number. The following are the recruits that were then added: John McCullum John Foster John Ferguson Michael Black John Wilson Robert Hunter John Brown Gilbert Berryhill Hugh Casserty Charles Conner George Corohan Edward Hart John Shoemaker James Garlant James Loe Jacob Weaver Patrick Guinn Joseph West Peter Smith John Smith Michael Sitsler John McKinley Charles Kelley John Johnson William Antrican Michael Brown John Milton Henry Vaughan James Ralls Patrick Doyle William McDonald Michael Danfee John Kellenough Patrick Murrey Conrad Carcass William Gibbs Thomas Whitely Hugh Thompson William Foster Phelix O'Neal John Crowl John Fullerton Pat Boyle Thomas Sherry John Cavenaugh Robert Burns Andrew McGahey William McCalley Isaac Shockey Christopher Row Francis O'Harrah Thomas Dunn Daniel McCartey Barney McGilligen Thomas Aston John Smith (tanner.) Patrick McKinley John Robinson John Feaghander William Campbell Patrick McCullum In addition to the companies enumerated above, it is an established fact that there were companies of Captain James McConnell, Captain William Huston, Captain Robert Culbertson, and Captain Conrad Schneider - four full companies - that were from what is now Franklin County. These were recruited and all prepared to go to the front, but as they were among the last men enlisted, it is not positively known, nor are there any records by which the fact can be exactly stated, that they were ordered from the county and were in the field. Possibly they did not really join the Colonial Army, and this may account for the absence of them on the army rolls. In the early part of 1777, the first battalion of Cumberland County militia was formed; commanded by Colonel James Dunlap. The Lieutenant- Colonel was Robert Culbertson, of Franklin County. In this battalion were three companies that were from what is now Franklin County - the companies of Captain Noah Abraham of Path Valley; Captain Patrick Jack of Hamilton, and Captain Charles Maclay of Lurgen. The roster of Captain Abraham's company was as follows: Captain - Noah Abraham First lieutenant - Archibald Elliott Second lieutenant - Samuel Walker Sergeants - James McConnaughy, Joseph Noble, Robert McConnell, Thomas Clark PRIVATES John Garven George Farmer Samuel Elder William Elliott Francis Elliott Abram Elder George Dixson Alex. Douglas (weaver) Henry Delmer Patrick Dougherty Andrew Douglas, Sr. Samuel Campbell James Carmady Hugh McCurdy Robert Alexander Alexander McConnell James Alexander Charles Gibson James Harvey James Howe William Harvey Henderson Harvey James Mitchell David Armstrong John Mclellan, Jr. John Adams Samuel Mears William Adams James Mackey James Allen Robert McGuire John Brown Henry McGee James Boggs John Mackey Nathaniel Bryan John Montgomery Allen Brown James Nealy Alex. Hopper Adam Humberg John Johnson Alex. Long John McLellan William Buchanan David Neal John Bell James Park Daniel Colbert Henry Varner William Cortz William Wright John Canady Robert Walker Samuel Watson William Woodrow Alexander Mear Samuel McCauley Samuel Woodrow James McLellan Patrick Davidson Wm. McLellan Wm. McIbbins John Means Nathan McColley James Montgomery Alex. Meor In Colonel John Davis' Second Battalion, was Captain Charles Leeper's company of Lurgan Township. Captain James McConnell, of Letterkenny, with his company, was in the Fourth Battalion. The Sixth Battalion was mostly officered by Franklin County men, as follows: Colonel Samuel Culbertson; Lieutenant-Colonel John Work; Major James McCammont (McCalmont); Adjutant John Wilson; Quartermaster Samuel Finley; Surgeon Richard Brownson. The officers in Company No. 2 of this battalion were the following: Captain Patrick Jack; First-Lieutenant William Reynolds; Second Lieutenant James McLene; Ensign Francis Gardner. This company was recruited from Hamilton Township. Company 3 in this battalion, was from Letterkenny Township, and the following officers: Captain Samuel Patton; First Lieutenant John Eaton; Second Lieutenant David Shields; Ensign William Ramsey. A company No. 4 from Peters Township had the following: Captain James Patton; First Lieutenant Thomas McDowell; Second Lieutenant John Welsh; Ensign John Dickey. Company No. 5: Captain Joseph Culbertson; First Lieutenant John Barr, Second Lieutenant William Cessna; Ensign Hugh Allison. This company was from Lurgan Township. Company 6 as follows: Captain William Huston; First Lieutenant William Elliott; Second Lieutenant James McFarland; Ensign Robert Kyle. It is said this company was recruited from Montgomery, Peters, and Hamilton Townships. To this company Reverend John King delivered a patriotic address as they were about starting for the field. "The case is plain; life must be hazarded or all is gone. You must go and fight, or send your humble submission, and bow as a beast to its burden, or an ox to the slaughter. The King of Great Britain has declared us rebels, a capital crime; submission therefore consents to the rope or the ax. Liberty is doubtless gone; none could imagine a tyrant king should be more favorable to conquered rebels, than he was to loyal, humble, petitioning subjects. No! No! If ever a people lay in chains we must, if our enemies carry their point against us, and oblige us to unconditional submission. This is not all. Our tory neighbors will be our proud and tormenting enemies." Company 7 the following: Captain Robert McCoy; First Lieutenant James Irwin; Second Lieutenant Samuel Dunwoody; Ensign Walter McKinney - from Peters Township. Company 8 as follows: Captain John McConnell; First Lieutenant Joseph Stevenson; Second Lieutenant George Stevenson; Ensign James Caldwell, from Letterkenny Township. In the Eighth Batallion, Colonel Abraham Smith of Franklin County. There were four other field officers from this county, named: Lieutenant-Colonel James Johnston; Major John Johnston; Adjutant Thomas Johnston; and Quartermaster Terrance Campbell. Four companies in the Eighth Batallion were from Franklin County men as follows: Company No. 1 of Waynesboro - Captain Samuel Royer; First Lieutenant Jacob Foreman; Second Lieutenant John Riddlesberger; Ensign Peter Shaver. Company 2, Lurgan Township - Captain John Jack; First Lieutenant James Brotherton; Second Lieutenant Daniel McLene; Ensign James Drummond. Company 3 from Antrim Township - Captain James Poe; First Lieutenant Joseph Patterson; Second Lieutenant Jacob Stotler; Ensign James Dickson. Company 8, Lurgan Township - Captain John Rea; First Lieutenant Albert Torrence; Second Lieutenant Alexander Thomson; Ensign Hugh Wiley. This is all the record now accessible concerning these companies. In 1779 a company recruited from Path Valley was mustered into the service, and sent west to quell an Indian disturbance. This was Captain Noah Abraham's company - First Lieutenant Nathaniel Stevenson; Second Lieutenant Adam Harman; Sergeants Joseph Ferguson, Campbell Lefever, James Hamilton, John Roatch; Privates, Daniel Colbert, Neal Dougherty, Frederick Dougherty, Patrick Dougherty, Thomas Knox, Daniel Lavrey, William Love, Redmond McDonough, Mathias Maers, John Maghan, John Millison, James Megraw, Isaac Miner, James Russell, John Robinson, James Ray, and William Walker. At the same time another company went from Letterkenny Township: Captain Samuel Patton; First Lieutenant Ezekiel Sample; Sergeants John Kincaid, William Spear; Privates John Bran, Thomas Crotley, Richard Cooper, George Hunter, Samuel Howard, John Hart, William Lowry, George Lamb, John Lytle, Henry Marshal, John Mathias (weaver), Lorans McReady, John Parker, William Patterson, Abram Rosenberry, William Sharp, John Welsh, Henry Williamson. It is supposed the above enumeration includes all of the separate organizations that went to the war from what is now Franklin County. Just how many men did go cannot now be accurately told. That there were many who joined commands from other counties in small squads and singly, cannot be doubted; but on the rolls their identity is lost, and it is greatly to be regretted their names cannot be properly placed on the roll of the immortals. There were men who enacted a conspicuous part in the Revolution outside of the line of military duty. For instance, in the Provincial Conference, 1776, the province of Pennsylvania sent a full delegation, which met in Carpenter's Hall, in the city of Philadelphia. The delegates from Franklin were McLene, Allison, Maclay, Calhoun and Creigh. Here and there, through all the annals of the Revolution, is to be found a hero, who was a native of what is now Franklin County. Of these, Colonel James Smith, a native of Peters Township, has left an illustrious record. As early as 1755, while engaged in opening a road from Fort Loudoun to Bedford, he was captured by the Indians. He was adopted in the Conewago tribe and remained with them until 1759, when he escaped to Montreal, and reached his home in 1760. In 1763 he was actively engaged against the Indians as captain of a company of rangers. He then became an ensign in the English provincial army. In 1764 he served under General John Armstrong, and was a Lieutenant in Bouquet's expedition against the savages. In 1765 he was the leader of a band of settlers, who attacked the Indians, drove them off and burned the goods of some Indian traders, because they were selling to the savages powder and lead. Some of Colonel Smith's neighbors, who had nothing to do with this burning, were arrested by British officers and locked up in the Fort Loudoun. Smith and his study and fearless gang went to the rescue of their neighbors, captured the fort, released their friends, and took more English soldiers prisoners than Smith's command numbered. Afterward, more of Smith's neighbors were arrested for the burning of the Indian traders' goods, and this time confined in Fort Bedford. Again, Smith rallied his neighbors, assaulted the fort, captured the garrison and liberated the prisoners. Some time after, Smith's companion was killed. He was then charged with the killing and thrown in prison. A body of 600 of his neighbors gathered and marched to Carlisle and demanded his release. He made an address to his friends, refused to be released, and counseled them to peacefully go home. He was kept in prison four months, tried and acquitted. At once he was elected commissioner of Bedford County. He then removed to Westmoreland, and there was elected to the same office. In 1774, he was again a captain of a company of rangers serving in the Revolutionary war, and with thirty-six men, defeated 200 Hessians, taking the most of them prisoners. Then for two years he was in civil offices. In 1777, General Washington offered him a major's commission, but not liking the colonel of the regiment, he declined to accept it. He asked and was given permission to raise a battalion of rifle rangers to serve against the British in New Jersey. His major was James McCammont, a Franklin County man. When Colonel Smith was disabled by disease, McCammont became commanding colonel. Colonel James McCalmont (originally spelled McCammont), was born in Letterkenny Township in 1739 - a typical frontiersman, wonderfully made for the troblous time in which he was born. He was a brave man and an ardent patriot. His services to his country, in the Revolution, were invaluable. When the British occupied Philadelphia, he was commanding a troop of rangers, and assigned to the duty of preventing the Tories of the interior from furnishing the enemy with supplies. While on this duty he captured a lot of Hessians in New Jersey; he not only made prisoners of them, but induced them to become settlers near Strausburg, where may be found their descendants to this day. He served as major in the Sixth Battalion of the Cumberland County troops under the command of Colonel Samuel Culbertson, another native of Franklin County, and an eminent Revolutionary soldier and patriot. After the war he was for many succeeding terms elected to the House of Representatives; in 1789 appointed judge, which position he held until his death July 19, 1809. Captain Samuel Brady, already celebrated before the Revolution as an Indian scout, was, of course, the first to respond to his country's call to fight for liberty. He was under command of Colonel Hand, at Princeton, and at the massacre of Paoli, he barely escaped. He was promoted for bravery after the battle of Monmouth, and then was ordered to Fort Pitt (Pittsburg), to join General Broadhead, with whom he soon became a great favorite, and was almost constantly employed as a scout His father and brother had been massacred in 1778-1779 by the Indians, and he never failed to wreak vengence upon the savages at every opportunity. His name was a terror to the Indians. He died in West Liberty, Va., in 1800. Colonel Joseph Armstrong was one of the early settlers in Hamilton Township. He was a brave and fearless Indian fighter, commanding a company of rangers in 1755. After much service in the Indian wars, in 1776 he raised a battalion (the Fifth Cumberland Company), and marched to the defense of Philadelphia. Among his Captains were John Andrew, Samuel Patton, John McConnell, William Thompson (became Brigadier General), Charles Maclay, James McKee, John Martin, John Rea (afterward Brigadier General), John Murphy, George Mathews, and John Boggs. This command had been chiefly recruited from Lurgan, Letterkenny and Hamilton Townships. They were noted for their activity, bravery and alertness in punishing the country's enemies, as well as their rigid faith in Presbyterianism. It is said that a majority of them had been members of the old Rocky Spring Church. Captain Charles Maclay's company, which numbered 100, was raised in Lurgan Township, and every man said to be six feet in height. This company suffered severely in the surprise of General Lacy's command at Crooked Billet, Bucks County, May 4, 1778. Captain Maclay and about half his company were killed. General Lacy in his report, says: "The wounded were treated in a manner the most brutal savages could not equal; even while living, some were thrown into buckwheat straw and the straw set on fire and burned." In addition to these great Revolutionary heroes there were noted: Reverand John Steele and Dr. Robert Johnston, his son John Johnston, and many others. ONE OF THE FIRST AMERICAN CANNON There are conflicting accounts, in different histories, on the subject of the making of the first cannon in this country. We are indebted for this account of the making of, if not the first, certainly very close to being, the first wrought iron cannon in the world, to Mr. J. C. Burns, who writes from "near Waynesboro, May 3, 1886." He gives the current history of this successful effort at making a wrought iron cannon, omitting such portions of the generally published accounts, and making such additions as his information made necessary to arriving at the truth of the matter. Another man in Cumberland County, about the same time, made two cannon, and one of these two was also captured at Brandywine, and quoting from Hazard's Register, "is now in the Tower of London." He then alludes to a letter written by a British soldier soon after the battle at Brandywine, in which the writer refers to "two cannon of singular appearance and construction, captured" from the Americans, Evidently one of these cannon was the one of the two made by the Cumberland County man, and the other, the one made by Mr. Bourns. In further explanation, it may be stated, that John Bourns was the grandfather of J.C. Burns, whose account of the cannon is given, as taken from "McCauley's Historical Sketch of Franklin County," with Mr. Burns corrections: "A century ago near the banks of the Antietam, three miles east of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, stood a blacksmith shop. Here in 1775, worked John Bourns, at his trade of sickle making. The war alarum rang over the country, and to John Bourns it brought the tidings that he, too, must do his share to free his fair land from the tyrant's yoke. He determined to try his skill on a wrought iron cannon. An extra pair of bellows was set up, and his brother - James Bourns - together with some neighbors, being called upon to give all necessary aid in keeping up a continuous hot fire for the purpose of welding, the work was begun. A core of iron was first prepared, and bars of iron were welded together one by one longitudinally around this core. The welding having been accomplished successfully, and the core withdrawn, the bore was brought to as perfect a degree of smoothness and circularity as was possible with the tools accessible. It is likely this was one of the first successful attempts ever made to manufacture a wrought iron cannon. "This small cannon was taken to the army, and doubtless gave no uncertain voice in freedom's favor. On the 11th of September 1777, the battle of Brandywine was fought, and this cannon was captured and taken to England. "John Bourns was drafted into the army previously to the battle of Brandywine, was in the battle himself, and no doubt regretted the loss of his pet when he learned that it had fallen into the hands of the enemy. On account of his superior skill as a smith, he was detached from active service and detailed to repair gunlocks and make bayonets for the use of the army. "John Bourns was the father of the late General James Burns, of Waynesboro, and he and William Burns - his brother - frequently related the story, heretofore given, to different persons. Readers will notice the change in the orthography of the names of the father and son."