USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > A history of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; from the earliest settlements to the present time, including much valuable information for the use of schools, families, libraries > Part 3
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The first great flood of the Lehigh River known to the white settlers oc- curred on the 6th of October, 1786, between ten and twelve o'clock at night, and known as "Tippy's Flood," on account of the destruction of the home of Mr. Tippy, near Weissport, and in which the two children of Mr. Tippy were drown- ed, the parents were saved. They had clung to the branches of a tree until res- cued. The next great flood occurred in 1841 doing great damage, and in 1862 in which hundreds of houses and bridges were destroyed and hundreds of people were drowned. 1841, January 8th, heavy loss ; 1862, June 4, loss $200,000, bridges destroyed, great loss of life, eighteen inches higher than in 1841. In 1869 a great flood occurred doing considerable damage. On Friday evening February 28th, 1902, one the of the most destructive floods in the Lehigh Valley occurred. It had rained very heavily for several days, and the warm temperature so that by noon time it became apparent there would be a flood if it would keep on raining. The Little Lehigh, Jordan Creeks and the lesser streams throughout the county began
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to overflow their banks, and instead of looking like small streams appeared like large rivers and raging torrents.
The Jordan Creek rose twenty-five feet above low water mark at Allen- town, while the Little Lehigh Creek came almost up to Lawrence street in Allen- town, within seven hours after the waters began to rise they had reached the highest mark and then commenced to recede. The flood, by the marks shown on Kline's Island, that the flood was twenty-two inches higher than the flood of 1862. At that time the waters rose to sixty-five inches from the base of the house. In 1869 the water rose forty-seven inches from the base of the house, and on Friday, Feb. 28, 1902, the flood rose up to eighty-seven inches from the base. The dam- ages done by the flood were greater than that of the great flood of 1862, but the loss of life was much less for the simple reason that the last flood came in day time, while the great flood of 1862 came in the night time. The bridges across the Lehigh River at Allentown and the Central Railroad bridge across the Lehigh River at Kline's Island were swept away by the flood and many bridges along the Little Lehigh and Jordan Creeks were carried away and many of the others were so badly damaged that they were unsafe for traveling. There were also many washouts along the railroads and roads, causing great damages and delay of trains for several days. The many manufactories throughout the county were heavy losers in the carrying away of goods, destruction of buildings and the spoiling of goods. The loss incurred by the flood was about a million dollars in the entire county. The destruction of the bridges and the damages to same alone amounted to over four hundred thousand dollars.
In 1773 the assessment list showed that there were 34,894 acres of cleared land in Lehigh County, of which 8869 acres were sown in grain as follows : Upper Milford, 7096 acres ; Macungie, 6459 acres ; Whitehall, 6070 acres; Upper Sau- con, 5792 acres ; Lynn, 3412 acres ; Heidelberg, 2905 acres ; Salisbury, 2400 acres; Weisenberg, 2189 acres ; Lowhill, 1131 acres. Taxes were low, farm of two hun- dred acres, eighty cents to $1.50. Laborers wages ten to twelve cents per day, the rent for a house and lot from $4.00 to $8.00 a year, including several acres of land and fire wood. Wheat raised twice on newly cleared land, corn not cultivated before 1780.
The first election held after the county was formed was held on the 30th of October, 1812, to elect the county officers. The market price at Allentown on January 28, 1813, were as follows : wheat .per bushel, 13 shillings and 12 pence ; rye per bushel, 5 shillings and 772 pence ; corn per bushel, 4 shillings and 9 pence ; flax seed per bushel, 8 shillings.
Philadelphia price was wheat per bushel, 15 shillings and 6 pence ; flour per barrel, $10.50.
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CHAPTER V.
WAR RECORD.
R EVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. At the time of the Revolutionary War, Lehigh County was a part of Northampton County, but it raised its full share of quotas for the American Army. At the outbreak of the war a company was raised in what is now Lehigh County, every one enlisting in the company received a bounty of three pounds ($8 oo). The company formed a part of the 2d Penn- sylvania Battalion of which Colonel Arthur St. Clair was the commander. Cap- tain Thomas Craig was captain of the company.
The Flying camp of 1776, was formed by Captain John Arndt, and took part in the battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, in which the company suffered heavily in killed and wounded, losing in all 21 men. At the battle of Fort Wash- ington it again suffered heavily in killed, wounded and prisoners, Nov 16, 1776, losing in all 37 men.
Washington, after his defeat at Harlem Heights, New York, retreated across the North River and through New Jersey by the way of Newark, Princeton and Trenton where he crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. General John Warren, Surgeon General, sent the following communication to Bishop Ett- wein of the Moravian Church at Bethlehem. "According to his Excellency, Gen- eral Washington's Orders. The General Hospital of the army is removed to Beth- lehem, and you will do the greatest act of humanity by immediately providing proper buildings for its reception." Bethlehem had been selected as the most advantageous location by Washington when it had been found necessary to re- move the hospital from Morristown, New Jersey, in the summer of 1777. Allen- town was the centre of operation for the formation of the Wagon Brigade. The bells of Christ Church, Philadelphia, and the State House bell were removed to Allentown for concealment, when the British took possession of Philadelphia. Allentown was also the depot where the Revolutionary army got its supplies, cart- ridges were manufactured, muskets repaired, etc.
Alexander Miller, James and Charles Craig were commissioned as officers to raise and organize military companies, the bounty was three pounds in Penn- sylvania money equal to $8.00. '
Congress authorized the raising of the "Flying Camp," of 10,000 men, apportioned as follows : Pennsylvania, 6,000 men ; Maryland, 3,400 men ; Dela- ware, 600 nien. From the 18th to the 25th of June, 1776, the Continental Congress met in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, and the delegates from Northampton County were Levers, Col. Nichol Gray, John Weitzel, Nicholas Depue, Daniel Deschler, and Benjamin Depue.
Congress ordered on the 8th of July, 1776 that an election should be held in the different counties of the province.
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Lehigh County was embraced in the second election district of North- ampton County, and was composed of Northampton, Salisbury, Upper Saucon, Upper Milford, Macungie, Weisenberg, Lynn, Whitehall and Heidelberg, and the election place, Allen's Town. The election officers were John Gerhart, David Deschler and George Brienig. One hundred and twenty recruits came from Al- lentown and vicinity to join the "Flying Camp."
On a hill on this side of the Monocacy Creek and on the right side of the road, leading to Allentown, now occupied by West Bethlehem, lie buried about one thousand Revolutionary soldiers, who died while the military hospital was located at Bethlehem. A monument should mark their last resting place.
After 1778, the seat of war was transferred from the banks of the Del- aware to the North and South, after that the beat of the drum and the tramp of the ar nies no more resoun led through the valley of Lehigh. General Charles Lee with his division of the American army were encamped for some time at Bethlehem. General La Fayette, after being wounded in the battle of Brandy- wine, was brought to Bethlehem and there nursed till he got well. At one time or other many of the American officers stopped at the Sun Hotel, Bethlehen1. The citizens of that town and throughout the county were ever ready to help the American cause in whatever way they could.
The next important event was the Friess Rebellion. In 1797 Congress passed certain laws which were objectionable to the people, among them were the Alien, Sedition and the House Tax Laws which were regarded as unjust and burdensome. The people arose to resist the enforcement of them and an Insurrec- tion broke out in Milford, Bucks County, under the leadership of John Friess, who had been an officer in the Revolutionary Army, he was ably seconded by Fred. Heany and John German. The opposition of Friess prevented all assessments in Milford township that year. The Insurrection spread rapidly into Northampton County, also into what is now Lehigh County, where the Assessors were chased from one township to another. Some time after the above occurrence, seventeen of his followers were captured and imprisoned in the Sun Hotel, Bethlehem. Fries went to their help and rescued them.
The President, John Adams, sent troops to quell the Insurrection, when they came Friess went into hiding and a month afterwards was captured near Bunker Hill, Bucks County.
The following followers of Friess were sentenced by the Court : Hen- ry Jarrett, two years imprisonment and $1000.00 fine ; Conrad Marks, two years imprisonment, $800.00 fine ; Valentine Kuder, two years imprisonment, $200.00 fine ; Jacob Eierman, one year imprisonment, $50.00 fine ; Henry Shankweiler, one year imprisonment, $150.00 fine ; Michael Schmeier, nine months impris- onment, $400.00 ; Henry Schmidt, eight months imprisoment, $200.00 fine ; Philip Desch, eight months imprisonment, $150.00 fine; Jacob Klein, eight months imprisonment, $150.00 fine ; Herman Hartman, six months imprison- ment, $150 00 fine ; Philip Ruth, six months imprisonment, $200.00 fine ; John Eberhard, six months imprisonment, $100 00 fine ; John Huber, six months im- prisonment, $150.00; Christian Sachs, six months imprisonment, $150.00 fine ; John Klein, Jr., six months imprisonment, $100.00 fine; Daniel Klein, six months imprisonment, $150,00 fine; Jacob Klein, six months imprisonment, $150.00 fine ; Adam Breich, six months imprisonment, $150.00 fine ; George Mem- berger, six months imprisonment, $150.00 fine ; George Getman, six months im- prisonment, $100.00 fine ; William Getman, six months imprisonment, $100,00 fine ; Abraham Schantz, four months imprisonment, $100.00 fine ; Henry Mem-
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berger, four months imprisonment,$100.00 fine ; Peter Hager, four months impris- onment, $100.00 fine ; Abraham Samsel, three months imprisonment, $50 00 fine ; P. Huntzberger, three months imprisonment, $50 00 fine; Peter Gabel, two months imprisonment, $40.00 fine ; Jacob Gabel, two months imprisonment, $40.00 fine. He and a number of his followers were placed on trial for treason, and were convicted and sentenced to death, but they were pardoned by the President. Friess returned to his home near Trumbauersville, Bucks County, and resumed his occupation of crying public sales. Thus ended the Insurrection, also known as the " Milford Rebellion, "The Hot Water War," and "The House Tax War." After that there was no opposition to these laws which were soon after repealed. There was peace till the war broke out with England in 1812. During that war the people of the county went forth to the front with an alacrity which was highly commendable. The following companies responded to their country's call Captain George Dinkey raised a company of Infantry and marched to the seat of war 1812. Captain John F. Ruhe's Company of Light Infantry, Co. 5th, 2d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Light Infantry, Ist Brigade, 2d Division was raised in Whitehall.
Captain Abraham Gangewere's Company of riflemen, (Co. I) First Bri- gade, Second Division, Pennsylvania Militia, Brigadier General H. Spering, com- manding the Brigade, Major General Shitz, commanding the Division. Captain Abraham Rinker's Company of riflemen, Ist Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Riflemen, Col. Thomas Humphrey, commanding; Captain Peter Ruch's Light Horse Company was raised in the Whitehalls, and Captain John Dornblaser's Co. of Infantry raised in Lehigh, Northampton and Pike counties, and Captain Joseph Wilt's Co. raised in Upper Milford ; by which it can be seen that Little Lehigh at the very beginning of its existence, nobly sent forth her sons to defend her Nation's honor. A few went to the Mexican war, 1845-48, but the same martial spirit was displayed as in former wars. Among those who went to war was Colonel Harry C. Longenecker.
After a period of peace for thirteen years, the tranquility was broken by the firing upon Fort Sumter by the South Carolina soldiers and the capture of the fort by the same was wired over the entire country. April 12th, 1861. On that day the Governor of Pennsylvania received the following telegram : "The war has commenced, the batteries opened fire upon Fort Sumter at 4 A. M."
This conflict began by the people of the North and South placing differ- ent construction to the Constitution of the United States, of the Slave question and by continually agitating the same, at least each section came to distrust each other and regard each other with contempt The North believed that the South would not dare to go to war and fight for the cause they advocated. The North would never dare to strike a blow against the South was believed by the South.
When the actual hostilities commenced many of the North said that it would only be a breakfast, but before the war was over they had in addition to breakfast-dinner and supper. While the South said we will capture Washing- ton and bring the Government to terms in very short time, and have our Inde- pendence acknowledged by the Government. How sadly were both sides dis- appointed, and how, through four long and sad years, each side contended for the mastery, which at last fell to the lot of the North, the "Stars and Stripes" which had cost an enormous amount of money and a great loss of life.
The war taught both the North and South a lesson which they had not known before, they learned to know each other better and by that struggle show-
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ed foreign nations the true valor of an American citizen ; and slavery extinguish- ed forever from the American soil.
On April 15th, 1861, President Lincoln issued his proclamation calling out the Militia of the several states, to quell the Rebellion. Pennsylvania was called upon to furnish sixteen regiments, two of which were wanted within three days to defend the National Capital which was unprotected. One of the first com- panies to respond to the call of the President were the Allen Guards, Captain Thomas Yeager of Allentown, the offered their services to the Governor, April 17th, and mustered into services April 18th, arriving at the same time at Harris- burg were Ringgold's Light Artillery, Captain Mcknight of Reading; Logan Guards, Captain Selheimer, of Lewistown ; Washington Guards, Captain Wren and the National Light Infantry, Captain McDonalds, of Pottsville ; and Co. H, Fourth Artillery Regulars under Lieut. Pemberton, (afterwards a general of the Confederate army). They all started for the seat of war on the 18th of April. The Regulars for Fort McHenry and the others for Washington.
For their promptness in marching to the defence of Washington, arriving there on the 18th of April, 1861. The thanks of the House of Representatives, which are rarely tendered except for great and signal service to the state were expressed in the following terms ; "37th Congress, U. S. July 22d, 1861. Resolv- ed, that the thanks of this house are due and are hereby tendered to the 530 soldiers from Pennsylvania who passed through the mob at Baltimore and reached Washington on the 18th of April last for the defence of the National Capital."
GALISHA A. GROW,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Little Lehigh nobly came to the aid of the country as can be seen by the number of men furnished to the different regiments, (namely 13). Companies I, Capt. W. H. Gausler, Ist regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers ; D, Capt. G. D. Hand, 9th regiment, three months men ; C, Capt. A. C. Lewis, 46th regiment, three year men ; B, Capt. E. P. Rhoads ; F, Capt. H. S. Hart ; G, Capt. Charles Mickley ; I, Capt. A. G. K. Coleman ; K, Capt. George Junkert, 47th regiment, Col. T. H. Good, Allentown, was the commander of the regiment ; A, Capt. S. H. Schneck, 9th Cavalry ; D, Capt. John P. Dillinger ; G. Capt. W. W. Hammersly, 123th regiment, nine months men; A, Capt. Levi Schmoyer, B, Capt. S. D. Lehr, D, Capts. David Schaadt and Charles L. Koch, E, Capt. Tilghman Sleiker, G, Capt. L. P. Hecker, I, Capt. A. F. Creitz, K, Capts. S. C. Lee and G. Neitz, 176th regiment, nine months drafted militia; E, Capt. W. H. Seip, 202d regiment ; H, Capt. W. H. Miller, 209th regiment ; E, Capt. W. Marx, G, Capt. G B. Schall, H, Capt. W. H. Hoffman, 5th regiment militia ; H. Capt. I. N. Gregory, 27th regi- ment Emergency troops, 1863 ; H, Capt M. H. Horne and part of Co. C, 38th regiment militia, 1863 ; D, Capt. W. H. Seip, I, Capt. Charles Keck, K, Capt. John H. Oliver, 4Ist regiment militia, 1863.
Thus it can be seen that Little Lehigh done its part nobly and well, and that it was just as patriotic as any county of our grand old Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, according to its size and population, and by its aid helped to sus- tain the Government of the United States. By which help the Government was able to assert its authority and power and show the nations of the world that though a Republic, it could go through severer trials and ordeals than any nation of the old world was ever subject to, and which would have wiped them off the face of the earth. But Our Country came out victorious and the glorious old banner the "Stars and Stripes" once more floated over a united country. As
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soon as the war had begun the Commissioners of the county and public took ac- tion as soon as the first soldiers had left for the seat of war to relieve such families as needed help.
At a special meeting of the Commissioners they drew up a petition and presented it to the Court, praying for an appropriation out of the common funds to support the families of those who might be in need, during the absence of the husbands or soldiers who proposed to go and defend their country's flag. It was resolved that five thousand dollars be appropriated for that purpose in install- ments of five hundred dollars each to be distributed at such periods as may be deemed necessary.
January, 1862, the county tax was raised to forty cents upon every one hundred dollars, and the state tax to twenty-five cents upon every one hundred dollars, and a special tax of fifty cents per head for militia purposes. The same year a bounty of twenty dollars for each recruit was offered, (the quota being 200 men). The Commissioners made an appropriation of ten thousand dollars for the purpose. The bounty was afterwards raised to one hundred dollars for each recruit, the bounty offered until September 25th, 1862, after which no bounty was paid any more.
April, 1863, the county tax was raised to fifty cents upon every one hun- dred dollars and the state tax 30 cents per hundred dollars. June 30th, 1863, the Commissioners resolved to give twenty dollars per month to each recruit for ser- vices, not exceeding three months, the time being Gen. Lee's invasion into the State. Captain W. H. Seip's company of eighty-five men were the first to leave for the field of action. They received a month's pay in advance, the other com- panies that went at the same time received similar compensation.
Our brave and noble soldiers were engaged in many a hard conflict, and earned a reputation for bravery and gallant conduct, excelled by none, and many a life was sacrificed to defend the Union The Ist regiment was engaged in the first battle of Bull Run, Virginia, 1861. The 46th regiment was engaged in capture of Leesburg, Charlestown, Martinsburg, Winchester, Kernstown, Cedar Mountain, Antietem, Fredericksburg, 1862, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, operat- ing along the Rapidan, Virginia, 1863, transferred to Tennessee to support Gen. Rosecrans, re-enlisted in 1864, for a term of three years, helped to fight the bat- tles of Resace, Dallas, Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek, Pine Knob, Marietta, Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, 1864, with Sherman through the Carolina's in capturing Columbus, Goldsboro and Johnston's army at Raleigh, 1865. They were mus- tered out of service July 16th, 1865, after four years of hard and faithful service, having lost during that time in killed, wounded and prisoners about three hundred men.
The 47th Regiment was engaged in many hard conflicts, during its term of service. Served in the Florida campaign, under General Brannan, in Virginia under General J.J. Stevens, South Carolina under Major-General O. M. Mitchell. Captured St. John's Bluff, Jacksonville, Florida, engaged in the battles of Poco- taligo and Frampton, South Carolina, garrisoned Forts Taylor and Jefferson, Key West, Florida, went to Franklin, Louisiana in 1864, participated in the Red River expedition under General Banks, fought in the battles of Pleasant Hill, Cave Hill, transferred to Virginia in the fall of 1864, and helped to drive away the Confederate army from Maryland under General Hunter, placed under Gen- eral Sheridan in the Shenandoah campaign, helped to fight the battles of Opequan Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Port Republic and Cedar Creek.
After the surrender of General Lee, the regiment did garrison duty at Savannah and Charleston. They were mustered out of service after seeing four
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years and four months of great hardship, during the time it was in the field it participated in seven states, marched twelve hundred miles, made twelve sea voyages, lost during the time it served in killed, wounded and prisoners, five hundred men. The 92d regiment, the 9th calvary, saw service in Kentucky and Tennessee in the battles of Bowling Green, Lebanon, Sparta, Moore's Hill, Tompkinsville, Richmond, Shelbyville, Perryville, Watauga, Holston River, Franklin Rover, Middletown, Cowan, Lafayette, Chickamauga, Dandridge, New Market, Mossy Creek, Fair Garden, McMinnville, and with General Sherman on his march to the sea, and was engaged in the battles of Lovejoy Station, Macon, Bear Creek, Waynesboro, Buckhead Creek, Buckhead Church, Aiken, Lexington, Black States Station, Averysville, Bentonville, Hillsboro and Morrisville. This Regiment had the honor of firing the last gun before the surrender of General J. E. Johnston at Bentonville and received the flag of truce sent by General Johnson asking for the surrender. They were mustered out of service July 12th, 1865, seeing 4 years of hard service and losing in killed, wounded and prisoners many of its men. It was engaged in the capturing of the rebel General J. H. Morgan when he was on his raids in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.
The 128th regiment saw service in Virginia, was in the battles of Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietem, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, in the last named battle it was reduced to one hundred and seventy two men, more than two hun- dred were taken prisoners. They were mustered out of service May 12th, 1863, having proven their loyalty to the cause. The 176th regiment of drafted militia entered into service November, 1862 and were engaged in doing garrison duty in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and were mustered out of service August 18th, 1863. The 202d regiment saw service in the Shenadoah campaign where it shared with the rest of the army the laurels of the same. Mustered out August 3d, 1865. The 209th regiment fought in the battles of Chapin Farms, Fort Stead- man and in the battles around Petersburg and the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox Court House. Mustered out May 31, 1865.
THE MILITIA The 5th regiment was called out in 1862, to repel the in- vasion of the Rebel army, and the rapidity with which they moved showed that they knew well the import of their mission. The 27th Emergency regiment of 1863, was recruited to help to guard the border of the state from the invasion of General Lee, did not see active service, but fulfilled its part well. The 38th regi- ment of militia, of 1863, was called out to defend the border too which duty it performed faithfully. The 4Ist regiment which shared with the others the trials of the campaign and fought with great gallantry at South Mountain.
The Allen Guards and the 9th regiment were engaged in doing guard duty and paving the way for others to do the work they so nobly commenced by responding so quickly to their country's call. Thus it will be seen that the sons of noble Lehigh were in every way in full for their share of the work of bringing and subduing the discontented states and by it we see that they performed their part of the work faithfully, showing that they possess the true qualities of a faith- ful citizen, which, when called upon in the hour of need, responded nobly ; and if needed, lay down their lives upon the altar of freedom tbat the nation might live.
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