The fort safeguarded local farms, but a number of settlers were killed by small Native American war parties.

[2][3][4] On January 25 1756, Captain Christian Busse received orders from Robert Hunter Morris, deputy governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, to occupy the existing fortification at Hedrick's farmstead and reinforce it if necessary.

Captain Frederick Smith (Friedrich Schmitt), who supervised the fort's construction, proved to be abusive and negligent in communicating with his superiors.

He wrote to Deputy Governor Denny: "I wish your Honour had Sent his [Smith's] discharge, he wont inlist the men anew, and by all what I Can learn abuses the officers under him, and has never Sent me a Journal nor Muster Roll.

Colonel Weiser then learned that soldiers whose enlistment was ending would not re-enlist under Martzloff, and he was quickly replaced by Captain Lieutenant Samuel Allen.

[1]: 333–39 Early in the French and Indian War, several skirmishes occurred near Fort Swatara between Native Americans and Pennsylvania militiamen.

[1]: 333  In August 1757, five local settlers (including two brothers) were killed by Native Americans, and a Pennsylvania militia soldier was wounded.

On May 11, Deputy Governor William Denny ordered the troops stationed at Fort Swatara to join British military units as they were advancing on French outposts.

[15][16]: 694 In July 1932, the Lebanon County Historical Society dedicated two boulders with copper plates to designate the location of Fort Swatara.