USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Centennial biography : Men of mark of Cumberland Valley, Pa., 1776-1876 > Part 8
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DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENE.
" As to the scene itself," says the Rev. Joseph Clark, " it beggars description. My own residence being in the outskirts, and feeling it the call of duty to be with my family, I could only look on from without. The day was sultry and calm, not a breath stirring, and each column of smoke rose black, straight and single, first one and then another, and another and another, until the columns blended and commingled ; and then one vast and lurid column of smoke and flame rose perpendicularly to the sky, and spread out into a vast crown like a cloud of sackcloth hanging over the doomed city, whilst the roar and the surging, the crackling and the crash of falling timbers and walls broke upon the still air with a fearful dissonance, and the screams and sounds of agony of burning animals, hogs, and cows, and horses, made the welkin horrid with sounds of woe. It was a scene to be witnessed and heard once in a life time."+
" The aged, the sick, the dying, and the dead were carried out from their burning homes ; mothers with babes in their arms, and surrounded by their frightened little ones, fled through the streets jeered and taunted by the brutal soldiery. Indeed, their escape seemed almost a miracle, as the streets were in a blaze' from one end to the other, and they were compelled to flee through a long road of fire. Had not the day been perfectly calm, many must have perished in the flames. The conflagration in its height was a scene of surpassing grandeur and terror. A tall black column of smoke rose up to the very skies, around it were wrapped long streamers of flames, writhing and twisting themselves into a thousand fantastic shapes, while through it, as though they were prayers carried heavenward by the incense of some great altar sacrifice, there went up on the smoky flame-riven clouds the cries and shrieks of the women and children. But the moment of greatest alarm was not reached until some of the more humane of the rebel officers warned the women to flee, if they wished to escape violence to their persons. We cannot in this letter describe the scenes of the sad flight which followed."#
* Colonel A. K. McClure's article in the " Franklin Repository," August 24th, 1854.
t Article in the " Presbyterian " of August 6th, 1so4.
# Krv. S. J. Niccolls, in the "Pittsburgh Evening Chronicle."
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" For miles around, the frightened inhabitants fled, they knew not whither, some continuing their flight until they dropped to the ground with exhaustion. Pocket-books and watches were taken by wholesale, bundles, shawls and valises were snatched out of women's and children's hands to be thrown away. Cows and dogs and cats were burned to death, and the death-cries of the poor dumb brutes sounded like the groans of human beings. It is a picture that may be misrepresented but cannot be heightened."*
INCIDENTS OF THE BURNING.
One scoundrel accepted five dollars from a frightened female to carry her trunk to a place of safety, where he coolly broke it open and helped himself to the most valuable part of the contents. A little dead child was enclosed in a chest and buried by the terrified parents in their garden for fear it would be burned in their house. A lady in delicate health was watched by one of the robbers, and allowed to diag her trunk outside of the town, after which he searched it, and appropriated the valuables it contained. She asked, whether that was southern chivalry and received for reply, "Take that back or I'll blow your brains out." She did not retract, and did not have her brains blown out. An old and very estimable lady, who had not walked for three years, was told to run, as her house was on fire. She replied that she had not walked for three years. With horrid curses the wretch poured powder under her chair, declaring that he would teach her to walk, and while in the act of applying fire to his train some neighbours ran in and carried her away. A rebel soldier threatened a young man to " blow his brains out " if he would not let the fire burn. With a revolver in hand his sister rushed out of the adjoining room, her eyes flashing with a more terrible fire than that of rebel kindling : " Begone, thou brutal wretch !" said the heroine, as she aimed with precision at the rebel's head, who scampered away in a terrible fright. Three sides 'around a lady's house (Mrs. Denig's) were on fire. The fourth was enclosed with an iron fence. An attempt to cross the fence burned her palm into crisp. She sat down in the middle of her narrow lot. Around her she folded a few rags dipped in water, to shelter her person against the heat. An old negro crouched down by her side and helped to moisten the rags. Her face though covered was blistered by the intense heat. Now and then God sent a breath of wind to waft the hot air away and allowed her to take breath. Virtually it was a martyrdom at the stake, those two hours amid the flames. Only after she was rescued did the sight of her ruined home open the fountain of tears. "Don't cry, missus," said Peter, the old negro; "de Lord saved our lives from de fire." A sq ind of rebels seized a flag which a lady happened to have in her house. With some difficulty she wrested it from their grasp, fokled it around her person and walked away from her burning house past the furious soldiery, determined that the flag should become her shroud ere it should fall into the hands of the foe. A mother of a large family of children was ordered to leave the house in five minutes as the house must be burned. She collected them all around her to obey the cruel summons. Preparations were at once made to fire the building. in the rooms above and below, and as the family group walked out of the large and beautiful man- sion, the children burst into loud weeping. " I am ashamed of you." said the tenderly loving, yet heroic woman, " to let these men see you cry ;" and every child straightened up, brushed away the falling tears, and bravely marched out of the doomed home. An elderly woman, of true Spartan grit, gave one of the house burners such a sound drub- bing with a heavy broom, that the invader retreated, to leave the work of destruction to be performed by another party, after the woman had left to escape the flames of the
. J. K. Shryoch, Fsq., in " Lutheran and Missionary."
CHAMBERSBURG .- MAIN STREET, SOUTH FROM CENTRE SQUARE.
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adjoining buildings. The house of Mr. James Watson, an oldl and feeble man of over eighty, was entered, and because his wife earnestly remonstrated against the burning, they fired the room, hurled her into it, and locked the door on the outside. Her daughters rescued her by bursting in the door before her clothing took fire. Mr. Jacob Wolfkill, a very old citizen, and prostrated by sickness so that he was utterly unable to be out of bed, plead in vain to be spared a horrible death in the flames of his own house, but they fired the building. Through the superhuman efforts of some friends, he was carried away safely. Mrs. Lindsay, a very feeble lady of nearly eighty, fainted when they fired her house, and was left to be devoured in the flames, but fortunately. a relative reached the house in time, lifted her in a buggy, and pulled her away while the flames were hissing each other over their heads on the street. Mrs. Kuss, wife of a jeweller on Main street, lay dead, and although they were shown the dead body, they plied the ton h and burned the house Mrs. J. K. Shryock had Mrs. Kuss's sick habe in her arms, and plead for the sake of the dead mother and sick child to spare that house, but it was unavailing. The body of Mrs Kuss was hurriedly buried in the garden, and the work of destruction went on. When the flames drove Mrs. Shryork away with the child, she went to one of the men, and presenting the babe, said. " Is this revenge sweet ?" A tender chord was touched, and without speaking he burst into tears. He afterwards followed Mrs. Shryock, and asked whether he could do anything for her, but it was too late. The houses of Messrs. Me Clellan, Sharpe, and Nixon, being located east of the Franklin Railroad, and out of the business part of the tour. were not reached until the rest of the town was in flames, and the road, were streaming with homeless women and children. Mr. MeClellan's residence was the first one entered, and he was notified that the house must be burned. Mrs. Mc Clellan immedi ately stepped to the door, and laying one hand on the rebel officer, and pointing with the other to the frantic fugitive women and children passing by, said to him: " S. R not your vengeance glutted ? We have a home and can get another : bui can you stare x homes for those poor, helpless people and their children ? When you and I, and all of us. shall meet before the Great Judge, can you justify this act ?" He made no reply. int ordered his command away, and that part of the town was saved. Captain Smith, son of Governor Smith, of Virginia, with a squad of men, passing by all the intervening houses, entered the beautiful residence of Colonel Me Clure, one mile from the centre of the town, with the information to Mrs. MeClure, then, and for some time before, an invalid, that the house must be burned by way of retaliation. Ten minutes were given her in which to leave the house, and in less than ten minutes the flames were doing the work of destruction, and Mrs. MeChuire and the other members of the family at home. started on foot, in the heat of the hottest of days, in order to escape the vengeance of the chivalry. Whilst the flames were progressing in the house, as well as the large and well- filled barn, the Captain helped himself to Mrs. McClure's gold watch, silver pitcher and other valuables. The gold watch and other articles were easily concealed, but the silver pitcher was rather unwieldy, and could not be secreted from profane eyes, as he rode back through the town from the scene of his triumph. He resolved, therefore. to give a public display of his generosity. He stopped at the house of the Rev. James F. Kennedy, and handed the pitcher to his wife, with the request, " Please deliver this to Mrs. Colonel MeClure, with the compliments of Captain Smith." Among the principal sufferers was the Rev. Dr. Schneck, a distinguished minister of the German Reformed church, long a resident of the place. Vainly did he contend with the times. His cosy, substantial house, with all that it contained -- the costly relies borne home from two European tours, his valuable library, all his manuscripts, precious domestic keepsakes and furniture-all became a heap of undistinguishable ruins.
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RETRIBUITION.
Several of the thieves who participated in burning Chambersburg were sent suddenly to their last account. An officer, whose papers identified him as Major Bowen, Eighth Virginia Cavalry, was conspicuous for his brutality and robberies. He got too far south of the firing parties to be covered by them, and in his desire to glut his thievish propensities, he was isolated. He was captured by several citizens in the midst of his brutal work, and was dispatched promptly. When he was fired at and slightly wounded, he took refuge in the burning cellar of one of the houses, and there, with the intense heat blistering him, he begged them to spare his life, but it was in vain. Half the town was still burning, and it was taxing humanity rather too much to save a man who had added the boldest robbery to atrocious arson. He was shot dead, and now sleeps near the Falling Spring, nearly opposite the depot.
Mr. Thomas H. Doyle, of Loudon, who had served in Easton's Battery, followed the retreating rebels towards Loudon, to capture stragglers. When beyond St. Thomas, he caught. Captain Cochran, Quartermaster of the Eleventh Virginia Cavalry, and as he recognized him as one who had participated in the destruction of Chambers- burg, he gave him just fifteen minutes to live. Cochran was armed with sword and pistols, but he was taken so suddenly by Mr. Doyle that he had no chance to use them. He begged piteously for his life, but Mr. Doyle was inexorable, the foe who burns and robs must die, and he so informed him peremptorily. At the very second he shot the thief dead, and found on his person $815 of greenbacks, all stolen from the citizens of Chambersburg, and $1,750 of rebel currency. His sword, belt and pistols were brought to Chambersburg by Mr. Doyle .*
Such was the burning of Chambersburg, with its accompanying acts of insolence, theft and violence. The dreadful deed was performed under a written order from General Jubal A. Early, in retaliation, as he alleged, for the burning of six houses in Virginia. Justice requires it, and we gladly make it a matter of record, that fiendish and relentless as were MeCausland and most of his command, there were notable exceptions, who bravely maintained the humanities of war in the midst of the infuriated freebooters who were plying the torch and securing the plunder. One surgeon, when he saw the fire break out, wept like a child, and publicly denounced the atrocity of his com- mander. A captain, formerly of Baltimore, peremptorily refused to participate in the burning, but aided many people to get some clothing and other articles out of their houses, and asked a citizen to write to his friends in Baltimore and acquit him of the hellish work. Another surgeon, who gave his horse to a lady to get some articles out of the burning town, publicly deplored the sad work of MeCausland, and when asked who his commanding officer was, answered, "Madam, I am ashamed to say that General McCausland is my commander." Another rebel officer, whom Mr. Jabob Hoke met in his house, as the enemy was about to fire it, said, " My friend, for God's sake, tell me what you value most, and I will take it to a place of safety. They are going to burn every house in town."
It is only necessary to add, that the people of Chambersburg, under their great calamity, did not yield to gloom or despondeney, but maintained a noble equanimity and fortitude, and that out of the ruins which they were called to contemplate, have, through their energy and perseverance, risen fine structures, now making the place one of the handsomest towns in the State.
* From Rev. Di. Schneck's work on " The Burning of Chambersburg," to which we make a general acknowledgment of indebtedness for facts here presented.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BENJAMIN CHAMBERS.
B ETWEEN the years 1726 and 1730, four brothers-James, Robert, Joseph and Benjamin Chanibers, emigrated from the county of Antrim, in Ireland, to the province of Pennsylvania. They settled and built a mill shortly after, at the mouth of Fishing creek, now in Dauphin county, and purchased a tract of very fine land at that place from the Proprietaries of the Province.
These adventurous brothers, attracted by the fine country beyond the Susquehanna, were among the first to explore and settle in the Kittatinny, now Cumberland valley. James made a settlement at the head of Green Spring, near Newville; Robert at the head of Middle Spring, near Shippensburg; and Joseph and Benjamin at the confluence of Falling Spring and Conococheague creeks, where Chambersburg is situated, whither they were attracted by a description received from a hunter of the fine waterfall he had observed in one of his excursions through the valley. These settlements and locations were made about or before 1730. By an arrangement among the brothers, Joseph returned to their property at the mouth of Fishing creek, and Benjamin, the younger brother, then about twenty-one years of age, improved his settlement at the Falling Spring, thus becoming the first white settler in what is now Franklin county. Having procured a title to as much land as he desired, he proceeded to erect a log house, covered with lapped shingles and fastened by nails, a style of building out of the common mode of round logs and clapboard roofs secured by beams. Some time after, being induced to visit the east side of the Susquehanna, he left his house unoccupied for a short time, and on his return found it burned to ashes. This was afterwards ascertained to be the work of an unprincipled hunter, who was induced to do it for the sake of the nails, which at that day, in this wild region, were esteemed no ordinary prize.
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Notwithstanding his reverses, the young pioneer prosecuted anew his improvements, building houses and clearing lands. Soon he built himself a saw mill at the mouth of Falling Spring. This was an im- portant improvement to himself and others disposed to settle in the surrounding wilderness. In a few years after, he erected a flouring mill, an accommodation which contributed much to the comfort of the early settlers, and had considerable influence in inducing settlements in the vicinity.
Mr. Chambers maintained a friendly intercourse with the Indians in his region, traded with them, and had so much of their confidence and respect that they did not injure or molest him.
On one occasion, being engaged in hay making in his ineadow below Chambersburg, he observed some Indians secretly stalking in the thickets around the meadow. Suspecting some mischievous design, he gave them a severe chase in the night, with some dogs, across the creek and through the woods, to the great. alarm of the Indians, who afterwards acknowledged they had gone to the meadow for the purpose of taking from Benjamin his watch, and carrying off a negro woman whom he owned, and who, they thought, would be use- ful to raise corn for them ; but they declared that they would not have hurt the colonel.
During the controversy between the Penns and Lord Baltimore, relative to the boundaries of their respective provinces, Mr. Chambers went to England to assist by his testimony in determining the issue involved. His evidence was of great value to the Penns, and had a decisive influence upon the settlement of the controversy. During his absence on that business, he revisited his native place and induced many persons to accompany him on his return, generously defraying the expenses of those who were poor and without means. His settle- ment steadily grew in numbers and in wealth. Although surrounded by Indians, his tact, upright dealing and rigid justice secured and com- manded their respect and friendship. He spoke the language of the Delawares with fluency, and was on terms of intimacy with their chief men. A sacred truce was long maintained between them, and the tomahawk was buried deep. The influence of this just and pacific policy towards the aborigines was of necessity confined within a very narrow sphere. Untoward and sinister agencies were active else- where. French ambition, assisted by the baleful influence of French gold, poisoned the blood of the red men and fired their hearts with an intense and savage desire for vengeance. A war of extermination was proclaimed and waged against the English.
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The life of the isolated and scattered settlements of the Kittatinny country was about to go out in blood. The dark war cloud came rolling in upon the infant settlement at Chambersburg. It was a time when the stoutest heart might well quail and the manly cheek might well blanch, for friend and foe were alike victims upon the altar of Moloch.
On the 3d of July, 1754. Colonel Washington was compelled to capitulate to a superior force of allied French and Indians, at Fort Necessity, Under the weight of this dire calamity the frontier settle- ments invoked the assistance and protection of the Provincial Govern- ment. The following petition will serve to illustrate the earnestness of the appeal and the imminency of the peril.
To the Honourable James Hamilton, Esq., Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in- Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, in Delaware.
The address of the subscribers, inhabitants of the county of Cumberland, humbly sheweth :
That we are now in the most imminent danger by a powerful army of cruel, merciless, and inhuman enemies, by whom our lives, liberties, and estates, and all that tends to promote our welfare, are in the utmost danger of dreadful destruction, and this lamentable truth is most evident from the late defeat of the Virginia forces ; and now, as we are under your Honour's protection, we would beg your immediate notice, we living upon the frontiers of the Province, and our enemies so close upon us, nothing doubting but that these considerations will affect your Honour ; and as you have our welfare at heart, that you defer nothing that may tend to hasten our relief, etc.
This petition was signed by Benjamin Chambers and seventy-four others, and dated Cumberland, July 15th, 1754.
The intelligence of the bloody drama which closed the march of Braddock's doomed army on the 9th of July, 1755, completed the dismay of the unprotected settlements. Many of the people fled, with what effects they could carry, to Shippensburg and Carlisle.
Mr. Chambers, ever upon the alert to save his infant colony from the destruction which seemed to be close at hand, wrote and forwarded the following letter :
FALLING SPRING, SABBATH MORNING, Nov. 2d, 1755.
To the Inhabitants of the Lower Part of the county of Cumberland.
GENTLEMEN :- If you intend to go to the assistance of your neighbours, you need not wait longer for the certainty of the news. The Great Cove is destroyed. James
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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 Conolloways, and there are two French among them. They are Delawares and Shawneese. The part that came against the Cove are under the command of Shingos, 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 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 permit, 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.
These urgent appeals remained unanswered. The Provincial Government was too indifferent to heed these calls for help, and too weak to furnish arms and men for the protection of the frontiers. There was no alternative, but to abandon the settlement, or to remain, stand for its defence, and share its fate. To abandon it, was to insure its annihilation. To remain, and attempt to save it, was to imperil life. A stout heart and a cool head were needed, or all would be lost. But the path of duty is never long doubtful to the true man. The hour of trial is the crucible that refines human nature and lifts the soul above the dross of earth.
Mr. Chambers resolved to stand by his feeble settlement, to rescue it from the peril that threatened it, or to perish with it. He erected a fort at his own expense, and armed it with two cannon of four pound calibre and with such other offensive weapons as he could procurc. He tempered his show of force, upon all proper occasions, with a friendly and conciliatory policy towards the Indians. It is true that his fort was not impregnable, and could not have withstood a fierce assault or held out against the rigours of a siege. But the unfaltering courage and iron will of its commandant made it strong enough to baffle savage vengeance, and to guard through long, weary years of desul- tory warfare the town which his energy and enterprise had founded.
About the year 1748, Mr. Chambers received the commission of colonel from the Provincial Government.
It would be most likely that he who had left his native land and established his home upon the frontiers of civilization ; whose destiny it was to battle with the dangers of the wilderness; to toil, and
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struggle, and suffer; whose task it was to found and nurture into strength a prosperous town ; whose clear head, wise counsels, and stern justice, managed and adjudged its affairs in peace, and whose unflinching bravery and unyielding fortitude defended it in war, would be a patriotic citizen, a good neighbour, a just man, a firm friend, a devoted father, and a devout Christian. Colonel Chambers possessed all these qualities in an eminent degrec. In private life he was respected and esteemned for the purity of his character, the kindliness of his disposition, the soundness of his judgment, and for his austere love of justice. He was the recognized counsellor of the community in which he lived, and for many years a magistrate-the arbiter of all disputes, from whose judgment none cared to appeal.
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