After Braddock’s defeat July, 1755, the Western Indians became so troublesome, and made so many incursions east of the mountains, that Colonel Chambers, for the security of his family and his neighbors, erected a large stone dwelling house, where Chambersburg now is. This house was surrounded by water from Falling Spring, and, to prevent the Indians from setting it on fire, the roof was made of lead. The dwelling, buildings and mill were surrounded with a stockade.
This fort was provided with a blunderbluss and swivel, and the garrison had an ample supply of smaller firearms. The Indians seldom assaulted this fort and none of its defenders was killed or carried off.
Benjamin Chambers reported the terrible massacre at Great Cove, Sunday morning, November 2, 1755. He wrote: “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.”
The Great Cove was burned by the Indians and fifty-seven persons out of ninety-three settlers were killed or taken captive.
A record of the persons killed or taken captive by the Indians during this period until the close of the Revolution reveals a long list of savage cruelty.
In the war of 1812–14, Franklin County played an important part. Eight companies were mustered in the county; Chambersburg furnished four, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Waynesboro and Path Valley, each one.
During the Civil War Franklin County suffered as did no other border county of Pennsylvania.
First came the great Confederate raid in October, 1862, led by Generals J. E. B. Stuart and Wade Hampton; then during General Lee’s invasion, June, 1863; and finally General McCausland’s invasion when the town of Chambersburg was sacked and burned July 30, 1864. The scenes presented on the latter terrible occasion beggar description.
Wilson College is situated in Chambersburg, and Mercersburg Academy is in the borough of Mercersburg, which was also the home of Marshall College, now a part of Franklin and Marshall College, of Lancaster. The Soldiers’ Orphans’ Industrial School of the state is located at Scotland, and the Pennsylvania State Sanitarium for Tuberculosis, No. 1, is beautifully located at Mont Alto.
Green Castle and Waynesboro are the other towns of importance in old Franklin County. James Buchanan, President of the United States, and William Findlay, Governor of Pennsylvania, were both born in Mercersburg.