USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania > Part 3
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Among the hostelries of colonial and revolutionary times, which were located along the Three Mountain Road, there is none more in- timately linked with those early days than the one at Pleasant Hall. The building is still standing. It is altogether probable that the surveyors who prepared the map of the state may have made the
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hotel their headquarters while working in that part of the country and dignified the dwellings that may have been there by naming them "Scarburg," a familiar name, no doubt, to the early settlers in that locality, but one that the people of today seldom hear.
The "Old Baltimore Road" had its beginning in Franklin county near Mercersburg, and extended over the southern part of the county to Nicholson's Gap, on the South Mountain. From the foot of the South Mountain the road extended into Adams county, through Gettysburg, returning again to Shippensburg, its outline being in the shape of a horse shoe.
A road now known as the Chambersburg and Greencastle road but in early times called "The King's Highway", was a road much used by people traveling to Chambersburg from the southwestern part of the valley. Another road leading from Chambersburg fol- lowed the Waynesboro road to New Franklin, thence by Philip Stump road to Black Gap. This road did not extend to Gettysburg but to what was known as "Moonshower's Tavern," located two miles east of the mountain's top, thence to Bendersville, at which point it united with the one from Fairfield to Shippensburg. There were numerous "trails" or pack horse routes, for much of the produce and merchandise of that day had to be transported by horses. A century or more ago five hundred pack horses would be seen in Carlisle at one time, going thence to Shippensburg, Fort Loudon, and further westward, loaded with salt, iron, etc. The pack horses used to carry bars of iron on their backs, crooked over and around their bodies, barrels or kegs were hung on each side of these. One of the great industries of that time was bending iron and shoeing horses for western carriers, many blacksmiths clearing eight dollars per day. The pack horses were generally led in divisions of twelve or fifteen, carrying about two hundred pounds each, all going single file and being managed by two men, one going before as the leader, and the other at the rear to see after the safety of the packs. Where the bridle road passed over hills, the path was in some places washed out so deeply that the packs or burdens came in contact with the ground, and were frequently displaced. However, as the carriers usually traveled in companies, the packs were soon adjusted and no great delay occasioned. The pack horses were gener- ally furnished with bells, which were kept from ringing during the day drive, but were allowed to ring at night, when the horses were set free and allowed to graze. The bells were intended as guides to direct their whereabouts in the morning. When wagons, especially the "old Conestoga" type, were introduced, the carriers considered that mode of transportation an invasion of their rights, their indig-
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nation was great and there was more excitement than when years later the railroad came through the valley.
The traffic on these early roads was varied; no bridges spanned the streams and it must have been difficult for the lonely pioneer settler to convey his horses, sheep, turkeys, cattle and grain to the city markets. Many settlers beyond the mountains brought their merchandise through the gaps and took the roads of the Cumberland Valley to Philadelphia and Baltimore.
What a lonely and laborious life the pioneer settlers of this valley must have lived. There were no railroads, no trolley lines, no telegraph lines, no telephones and few churches and schools. The hunter's cabins were lighted by tallow dips and no labor saving ma- chinery as is now so common on every farm. The only diversion was the arrival and departure of the stage coaches in the small towns. The "Concord Coach", so named because Concord, N. H., was the center for their manufacture, was used by people traveling from east to west. They were made for carrying nine passengers upon three seats inside, two with the driver upon the "box" in front, and three upon a seat behind this on the front edge of the top. The daily arrival of the coach in the towns of the valley was heralded by streamers waving, horns blowing, horses on the run, drawing up to the inn in the center of the town, and all the townspeople rushing out to see who was traveling, and to hear the news. After the days of the pack horse with the leather saddle bags had gone, the Conestoga wagons were introduced in the travel to the "Great West," drawn by six, eight or ten horses. There is only one of these famous old wagons in the valley that I have seen. It is the property of Mr. Sharpe Quigley, of Newburg. It came to him as an inheritance from his father-in-law, Mr. Andrew Gross, who was a famous roadster. On account of their great white covers they were called in the west the "Prairie Schooners." During the summer of 1913 the DuPonts, of Wilmington, Del., sent a fine Conestoga wagon through our valley by the old Forbes route to show the present generation how the powder was taken from their famous mill, begun in 1802, and carried to Lake Erie and won Perry's victory during the war of 1812.
The old taverns of the towns of the valley with many of their industries, have passed away with the coming of the railroads. This valley has three main railroads; the Cumberland Valley, a branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, was begun in 1831 and in 1835 it was opened from Harrisburg to Carlisle; in November 1837 to Chambers- burg. The wooden rails were not satisfactory and in 1850 the track was relaid with heavy rails and in 1865 the road was extended to Hagerstown, Maryland, and a little later to Martinsburg, West Vir-
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ginia, a distance of ninety-four miles from Harrisburg. The Balti- more and Cumberland Valley, now the Western Maryland, has a terminus in the valley at Shippensburg and there joins the Phila- delphia and Reading Railroad which extends through the valley from Harrisburg. All of these roads are good but the Cumberland Valley is especially noted for its good roadbed and beautiful scenery along its line. The valley is nearly connected by trolley lines running through it which also adds much to the growth of the valley and the convenience of the people. The only other highway that is of interest is what was formerly known as the Baltimore and Pitts- burg Turnpike, now forming a part of the Lincoln Highway, its course through Franklin and other counties being marked by colors, red, white and blue bands, which encircle every eighth or tenth telegraph pole. It is also marked by the large letter "L" and when completed the road will be the main highway from ocean to ocean and will be one of the great thoroughfares joining all the people of the union more closely together, a counterpart of the great roads of Rome, a real "APPIAN WAY." Good roads in our valley are on the increase but there remains much to be done in the rural districts.
FORTS
As early as 1736 the land in the Kittochtinny region, which is now known as the Cumberland Valley, was purchased from the Indi- ans and thereafter open to purchase by the permanent settlers. In that particular section peace and quiet remained for a number of years, up until the great treaty that was made in 1754. That treaty assumed to take in all of the land west of the Susquehanna as far as the setting sun. This indefinite boundary line occasioned a great deal of dispute, and, in fact, the Indians resented the idea that they had ever entered into such a sweeping sale of their land. The Delawares being a tribe that was made up of a number of smaller tribes, found fault because their hunting grounds were thus taken away from them without compensation, the Six Nations having appropriated all the proceeds thereof to themselves. The Dela- wares, therefore, and their allied tribes began to trade with the French instead of the English who were the friends of the Six Na- tions and to sum it up this difficulty led to the defeat of General Braddock's soldiers in 1755 and as a writer has stated "the blood of Braddock's soldiers was added to the price of the land." The governor of the province, being apprehensive of danger to the people, ordered a line of forts to be erected through the Cumberland Valley, leading westward to Ohio. Strife and turmoil lasted until 1758, when
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a more perfect treaty with the Six Nations and their cousins the Delawares, was formed, and peace and quiet was again restored. In 1764 the more warlike Indians buried the hatchet and enabled the husbandmen to resume their labors uninterrupted and to ex- tend their cultivation and improvement.
FORT HARRIS
About the year 1705 John Harris, Sr., built his home on the bank of the Susquehanna where now stands Harrisburg. This building became later Fort Harris. He was more especially a trader but also engaged in agriculture. It is said of him that "he was the first person to introduce the plough on the Susquehanna and was as honest a man as ever broke bread."
FORT CROGHAN
This fort was established in 1755 and it is stated that George Croghan lived about eight miles from the Susquehanna river along the North Mountain. This fort has been treated of as being anterior in point of time to Fort Shirley at Aughwick and all indications seem to point to that conclusion. It was stated in a report of forts that George Croghan was an Indian trader and had a station on the mountain in Croghan's Gap, leading to Shearman's Creek Valley, all of which has been fully passed upon. We conclude there was no fort bearing his name in this county.
FORT DICKEY
Fort Dickey is placed by the Historical Map of Pennsylvania in Cumberland county about ten miles west of the Susquehanna river and on the south side by the Blue Hills, outspurs of the Kittochtinny mountains. It was erected in the year 1764. It seems to have been one of many places of refuge and defense in case of an Indian attack.
FORT FERGUSON
Supposed to have been erected in 1764 near the site of Carlisle Springs, perhaps a mile or more west of Fort Dickey.
FORT MCALISTER
Erected about the same time as Fort Ferguson and stood where the Conodoguinet cuts through the mountain, its site being in the northern part of Franklin county, one mile west of Roxbury.
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FORT LETORT
This fort, if it can be called one, was established in 1753 near Carlisle, as a trading house, by James Letort, a trader, residing at Beaver Pond, near where Carlisle now stands. There is a creek in Cumberland county bearing the same name which forms a branch of the Conodoguinet. We have no data at hand as to any exact loca- tion, nor as to its use as a fort.
FORT LOUTHER
This fort was erected in Carlisle, Cumberland county, as early as May 27, 1753. A garrison was stationed there the same year as a stockade was erected within the present borough limits, on what is now known as High street, between Hanover and Pitt streets. Nothing remains of the fort to mark its exact location. The cause of the erection of this fort was mainly owing to the bands of In- dians who occupied the territory between the Susquehanna and Potomac rivers-Delawares, Shawanese and Tuscarora tribes. John O'Niel, an agent of Governor Hamilton, at one time went to Path Valley to talk with these various bands but it has never been learned what took place at that meeting. When these bands became troublesome Captain Jack, a bold, daring soldier, became the leader of the white settlers and resisted their invasion. The stockade was constructed by digging a ditch around the area to the depth of four feet. In this oak logs, seventeen or eighteen feet long, pointed at the top, were placed in an upright position. At the top the logs were spiked or pinned together so as to make the whole firm and staunch. The ditch was then filled with earth up against the logs and platforms were constructed on the inside of the inclosure some four or five feet in height and upon these the defenders stood and fred through loopholes near the top of the stockade. It was at this fort that Governor Morris was stationed June 5, 1755, for the pur- pose of being near to Braddock's army that he might give aid. It was at this place he received the last letter ever written by Brad- dock. Governor Morris also sent Braddock a letter from this place.
FORT McCOMB
This fort, mentioned in connection with the preceding three, was located near Doubling Gap. Along with the others it was regarded as a place of rendezvous for the settlers along the mountain.
FORT MORRIS
In the same year in which General Braddock made his fateful march against the French and Indians beyond the Alleghenies-1755
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-Fort Morris was erected in Shippensburg on a high bluff of rocks on the main street of the town about twenty feet higher than the grade of the street. It commands a view of all parts of the sur- rounding country, and as a place of defence was one of the best adapted in the valley. The Mount Moriah Baptist church is now situated on it but is not in use and the Civic Club of the town has beautified the hill and surrounding vicinity. The fort was called "Fort Morris" in honor of Governor Morris and was constructed under the direction of Colonel James Burd and Mr. Swain. It was near the northwestern end of the borough on land of William Mc- Connell and known as "The Fort", also called "Bull's Eye" from a large round opening in the gable. The remnants of the walls stood
until 1836 and were two feet thick and made of stone taken from a quarry near where they stood. The roof and the timber part of the building had been torn down before 1821. In 1836 the walls were torn down by a party engaged in a drunken frolic. There were openings in the walls several feet from the ground, either for light or loopholes. The fort was surrounded by a stockade which in- cluded twenty acres. Cabins were built on the hill near the fort but not one remained in 1821. The twenty acres took in portions of ground now within the limits of the Spring Hill cemetery. The tim- ber that was used in building the fort belonged to Edward Shippen who had previously removed to Lancaster.
There was another fort at Shippensburg called "Franklin", Governor Morris ordering the erection and Franklin superintending the construction. On November 21, 1756, Col. Armstrong named Shippensburg as one of the fortified towns which were to remain over the Susquehanna to be garrisoned by two of the eight com- panies of Col. Armstrong's batallion, two companies in each fort, by whom patrols could be kept constantly marching between fort and fort. There were five of these garrisoned forts to be kept in the valley. The reason for this was the defeat of General Braddock which gave the Indians confidence and were easily prompted to deeds of violence by the French. Shingas and Captain Jacobs, the Delaware warriors, were supposed to be the principal instigators in the valley and a considerable reward was offered for their heads. Thus we find two of Pennsylvania's greatest men in colonial times perpetuated in the names of the two defenses against the savages, Fort Morris and Fort Franklin.
FORT FRANKLIN
The historical map of Pennsylvania is silent as to the date of the erection of this fort; but notwithstanding all the confusion that
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has arisen between the names Fort Franklin and Fort Morris, the writer is of the opinion that this fort had existence at Shippensburg, and was located on Burd street in the northeastern side of the town, and is supposed to have been established as early at 1740. The ground on which Fort Franklin was erected is now a residential section and owned by different parties. Some writers have ex- pressed doubt as to it ever having had an existence; others located it at the western end of the town while others asserted that it was built of stone and had an old well in connection with the fort and none of them dated its existence further back than 1756.
Owing to the rapid increase of population before 1740, the Indians of this section began to exhibit alarming symptoms which became evident to the settlers and caused considerable uneasiness. In order to be prepared for any emergency, the citizens of the town met at the public house of the Widow Piper to consider the pro- priety of providing some place of safety in case there should be an uprising. The meeting agreed that such provision should not be de- layed, but in order to obtain the co-operation of those who resided in the surrounding country, an adjournment was had and a day named for the second meeting to which the entire male population of the surrounding country was invited.
At that meeting it was decided that a log fort should be erected on the northwestern side of the town. A time was fixed upon when the people assembled, cut the logs and put up the building in a very few days. This was in the early part of the year 1740. During the fall of that year Governor Thomas sent a garrison of twenty-two men to the fort. As there was no water convenient to the fort, the soldiers, with the assistance of some of the people of the town who were willing to aid, dug a well within the outward enclosure of the fort. This well was filled up with stones and rubbish about fifty years ago, but its location is still visible on Burd street just outside of a field belonging to Mr. John Grabill, known as "Fort Field." This fort had no name until 1755, when it was called Franklin to distinguish it from Fort Morris, which was then under construction. Edward Shippen, in a letter to William Allen, dated June 30, 1755, gave an account of the murders committed "near our fort." In that year a garrison of fifty men was stationed at Fort Franklin. It was afterward enlarged by adding several sections to it. After the In- dian troubles of 1763 were over, these sections were occupied by private families. As it was looked upon as the property of the peo- ple at large, no care was taken of it, and it soon began to decay, became untenantable and was torn down about the year 1790. Some writer has stated that the "Old Fort", built of logs and called
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Franklin, was afterward torn away during Governor Morris' admin- istration and a larger and more commodious one constructed of stone, was erected upon the same site and named in honor of Gov. Morris. Another writer whose article may be found in the appendix of the Pennsylvania Archives, says "It is said that a second fort was built at Shippensburg, and called Franklin but by whom and when we have no information." By some, it is thought that this name was subsequently given to Fort Morris. The same writer says "An old gentleman, Mr. Joseph Johnson, who was born in the town and is now nearly ninety years of age but with a strong mind and a good memory, says there was a fortification at the northeast part of the borough on the land of the late William McConnell known by the name of "The Fort", where the remains of a well dug for the use of the fort still exists. In the memory of Mr. Johnson, two or three log houses that constituted part of the fort were still stand- ing and were occuiped by families. From Mr. Johnson's account there can be no doubt but that it was a log structure. It was stated by an old citizen of the town in 1853 that no part of the fort was of stone, that when he was quite a young man he had assisted in tear- ing the various sections down and that some of the logs of which it was constructed were in a very good state of preservation.
The history of these two forts located in such proximity, in the vicinity of where the town of Shippensburg, Pa., now stands, adds another measure of significance to the history of the valley, having played an important part in the historical epoch to which their his- tory is confined and they are worthy of a mark by the state to per- petuate early facts clinging historically to one of the oldest towns in this section of the state.
FRANKLIN COUNTY FORTS FORT CHAMBERS
This fort was erected by Benjamin Chambers in the year 1756 in the Conococheague settlement. Its site was at the confluence of Falling Spring and the Conococheague creek, where the town of Chambersburg stands. It was considered the most defensive and safest fort in the Conococheague settlement. It stood just west of North Main street and midway between Market and King streets, within the borough of Chambersburg. Most of the ground upon which this fort stood is covered by the Chambersburg Woolen Mills. The founder of the fort was Benjamin Chambers who was the first white settler in Franklin county. In 1755, in order to make his home more secure against the attacks of Indians, it was roofed with
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lead. He also had a mill, the dwelling and mill being surrounded by a stockade. This fort, with firearms, blunderbus and swivel was so formidable to the Indians that they seldom assailed it, while those who ventured out were either killed or carried off as prisoners. In the year 1756 Mr. Chambers got into trouble with the provincial authorities about "His Great Guns." They were fearful that the French and Indians might capture the fort and turn these guns which had been presented to Mr. Chambers by the English govern- ment, toward other places. Lieutenant William Denny demanded these guns of Col. Chambers in 1757 and commissioned the sheriff of Cumberland county to seize them. Col. Chambers resisted the demand and his neighbors sustained him in his refusal to give them up. The people throughout the whole valley were greatly excited at what they conceived the unjust demand of the governor. Col. John Armstrong writing about Mr. Chambers' conduct says, "It is thought he designs to give trouble as he has the brass and malice of the devil." Col. Chambers refused to give up the guns and having given bond to try his rights in court, the governor quietly dropped the matter. From the Pennsylvania Archives we glean the following: "Mr. Chambers erected a fort in the winter and spring of 1756, be- ing a stockade, including his dwelling, flour and saw mills. Within the fort he erected a large stone building, two stories in height, the waters of the Falling Spring running under a part of it, for safe access to the water. Its windows were small and adapted to de- fense, the roof was covered with sheet lead to protect it from fire and from the savages. In addition to small arms, Col. Chambers had supplied himself with two four-pound cannon which were mounted and used. Within this fort he remained in safety with his family throughout the whole series of Indian wars. It was also a place of safety to many of the neighboring families in times of alarm. No cne was ever killed in this fort.
FORT DAVIS
This fort was erected by Phillip Davis in 1756, being about nine miles south of Fort Loudon, near the Maryland boundary line, and at the end of one of the Kittochtinny ranges. It was known in early times and since as "Davis' Knob". The fort was occasionally garrisoned by companies of rangers who traveled between the forts. According to recent information, this fort seens to have been lo- cated on a slight knoll known as "Casey's Knob," overlooking a spring, being two miles southwest of Welsh Run, Franklin county. Five men guarded the fort by day, ten at night and ten men were
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kept on the parole. As to the facts and deeds of the founder of the fort no definite information can be found.
FORT LOUDON
This fort was located about one mile distant from the present town of Fort Loudon, Franklin county, Pa. It was erected by Col. Armstrong in the year 1756, and was situated about two miles southwest of Parnell's Knob, on the east side of the west branch of the Conococheague creek, where Nathan Patton lived. The ground upon which this fort was located is now a farm that originally be- longed to the Stenger family. There are still some faint indications showing where the fort was erected. Visiting this spot, the owner tells you that some of the stones in the chimney and logs in the house were taken from this fort, and can be seen today. A large silver maple tree marks one corner of the fort.
This fort was erected by the provincial governor for the pro- tection of the frontier settlers against the invasion of the Indians. It frequently had a garrison of British as well as provincial troops. It was a great point of departure for pack horse trains, for Bedford and Pittsburgh. Sir John Sinclair, quartermaster general of Gen. Braddock, moved much of his supplies by that route and had one of his principal magazines at McDowell's fort. After Braddock's de- feat his poor, dispirited, and destitute troops returned by this route and were quartered at Shippensburg and Carlisle. In 1755 the pro- vince of Pennsylvania made a broad wagon road from Fort Loudon westward, which General Forbes and Colonel Bouquet and others used in their western expeditions. Upon that road the present Cham- bersburg and Pittsburgh turnpike was built. On December 22, 1756, the fort had not been named and Col. Armstrong asked if it might not be named "Pomfret Castle" from which it appears that he did not know that another fort was already so named. It is probable that he was directed to name it "Fort Loudon" after Lord Loudon who arrived July 22, 1756, as general and commander-in-chief of all His Majesty's forces in North America. The fort extended over something more than an acre of land, the foundations being of stone, the fort proper of logs. The foundations of the chimneys of the buildings occupied within the enclosure are still to be seen.
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