USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 50
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" Don't tread on Me," and rendered valuable service in the in- terest of the struggling colonists. This flag is still preserved as a priceless relic of Revolutionary days.
The first response in the struggle for independence from this immediate vicinity was in June, 1775, when about twenty frontiersmen marched across the mountains to join Captain Cressap, whom they had known when in command at Redstone Old Fort, now Brownsville. His company numbered upwards of one hundred and thirty strong, active men, who joined Washington's army near Boston. The first considerable body of men raised in this vicinity was the Seventh Virginia, raised in the fall of 1775, chiefly through the efforts of William Craw- ford, whose headquarters were at his home where South Con- nellsville now stands. These marched with Washington's re- treating army through New Jersey, and rendered good service at Trenton and other engagements and later served in the Western Department at Fort Pitt and elsewhere.
By the early part of 1777, this region had furnished two regiments to the quota of Virginia, besides eight full companies to the Pennsylvania Line, and subsequently furnished her quota to the many expeditions against the western Indian tribes in which some of the best blood of the yeomanry was spilt and lives sacrificed in defense of the frontier.
The number of troops that were engaged in this great strug- gle was over 180,000, and to meet the enormous expense of the war Congress issued bills of credit known as Continental money which by the close of the war had reached the sum of $20,000,- 000, and which rapidly depreciated until it became practically worthless, and the necessaries of life arose in price beyond all credence. Pennsylvania, however, did reimburse some of her troops by the distribution of what was known as the Deprecia- tion and Donation lands in the northwest corner of the state.
The last survivor of this ever memorable struggle was Daniel F. Bakeman who died in Freedom, Cattaraugusco county, New York, April 5, 1869, at the age of one hundred and nine years. Esther S. Damon of Portsmouth Union, Vermont, who died in 1906, at the age of 92 years, was a pensioner of the Revolution, and Mrs. Phebe M. Palmeter of Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 89 years, was pensioned by a special act of congress as the daughter of Jonathan Wooley who served in a
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New Hampshire company, was the only pensioner of the Revolutionary war on the roll in 1911.
WAR OF 1812.
The many aggessions upon American commerce by Great Britain caused Congress, on the 19th of June, 1812, to issue a declaration of war, for the second time, against the mother country, and to order that a force of 25,000 regular troops and 50,000 volunteers be raised. Hostilities began on the seas be- tween the merchantmen and the cruisers of the two nations, and actual war was begun in what was then the northwest of the United States.
The opening of this war was inauspicious to the infant re- public, but the memorable battle on Lake Erie, September 10, 1813, in which Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, an inexperienced officer of but twenty-eight years of age, with a fleet of nine ves- sels, which he was compelled to construct at Erie, engaged Captain Robert Barclay, a veteran of the wars of Europe, with a squadron of six vessels and a superior number of guns and men, resulted in the glorious victory which caused the proud mistress of the seas to lower her flag amidst the hurrahs of the American fleet, and enable Captain Perry to forward his ever memorable dispatch to General Harrison, "We have met the enemy and they are ours."
The struggle still continued in the east and on August 24th, of the following year the vandalic torch was applied to the capitol building, which act was bitterly denounced on the floor of the British House of Commons and by the nation at large, and on September 13th, Baltimore was attacked and gallantly de- fended, and Fort McHenry bombarded throughout the night which furnished the inspiration of the poem that made the name of Francis S. Key immortal.
The last engagement of consequence in this struggle was under General Andrew Jackson known as the battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815, where he defeated General Sir Edward Packenham, who was killed, with 2,000 of his troops killed, wounded and captured, while the American loss was but seven killed and six wounded. This battle was fought before the news that a treaty of peace had been signed at Ghent, Belgium on the 24th of December, had reached this country.
Quite a number of the partiots who served in this second
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struggle against the mother country were either former resi- dents of Uniontown or vicinity, or became such after peace was declared.
The first company to respond to the call for troops in this struggle from Uniontown was enlisted and commanded by Cap- tain Thomas Collins. This company was entertained at a din- ner by Peter Hook at his home at the head of Morgantown street on the eve of their departure for the seat of war. This company entered the service August 27, 1812, under the command of Major John Herkimer and served at Oswego, Sackett's Harbor and other points along the lake frontier, and was discharged at Oswego August 16, 1813.
Of the members of Captain Collins' company, residents of Uniontown, may be mentioned Ensign Mahlon Fell who died in the service, and was succeeded in the office by Sergeant Benjamin Price, April 1, 1813. Benjamin Price subsequently filled the office of justice of the peace in Wharton township where he died suddenly December 17, 1853, and is buried in the M. E. graveyard in Uniontown. Sergeant Henry Beeson, Jr., was a son of the founder of the town, and father of the late Jesse Beeson the well remembered miller. Private Henry W. Beeson was a son of Jacob Beeson, founder of the famous Bee- son store, and was a grandson of the founder of the town. His love for military tactics grew as he advanced in years, and he was a conspicuous figure in the militia of the county. He owned and resided in the mansion still standing on the land of the Stewart Iron Company east of townr. He rode in full uniform at the reception of General Lafayette when the latter visited the town in 1825. Private George Meason was a son of Colonel Isaac Meason at one time owner of the Mount Braddock farm. He died at Sackett's Harbor. Private Samuel Salter owned and kept a hotel where the Central hotel now stands. He died at Connellsville. Private William Ebert was the father of the late Mrs. Sarah Teed of Morgantown street, at whose home he died October 11, 1865. Private Isaac Skiles was the originator of the famous Skiles store of the town, and erected the old Skiles Corner. Private William Hart was proprietor of the hotel now known as the Brunswick, and died in Washington county. Private Seth Wood was appointed second sergeant. He was a brother of Gen. William Wood, deceased, the well-remembered saddle and harness maker of the town. Private Clement Wood
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was a saddle and harness maker and carried on business on Morgantown street where the Hadden building now stands. He served many years as justice of the peace and lived on Church street. He removed to Lone Tree, Iowa, where he died. Private Thomas Hibbin was appointed quartermaster sergeant. He was a blacksmith and owned and lived where the West End hotel now stands. He removed to Newark, Ohio, where he died. Private Simon Price, employed by Quartermaster Thomas on extra duty at Buffalo, was a brother of Ensign Benjamin Price. Private Daniel P. Lynch was a son of Cor- nelius Lynch who owned and kept a tavern on the corner now occupied by the Thompson-Ruby building. He was appointed sheriff of Fayette county October 10, 1820. Private Samuel Gilman was the original purchaser of a lot between the court house and the eastern bridge on which his widow continued to live after his death. Private Henry H. Beeson was the youngest of the family of Jacob Beeson, one of the founders of the town. His discharge is the treasured heirloom of his daughter, Mrs. Drusilla Titlow. He died on his farm in North Union township July 8, 1869. Private Joseph Pryor was a fine old bachelor tailor and made his final home with Captain Collins where he died April 13, 1837. Private Jacob Knapp kept a tavern in the town, and was the first high constable of the town. Private William Bleeks was likely a tanner and lived in a log house belonging to John Miller on Morgantown street. Private Moses McClean was a son of Colonel Alexander McClean one of the surveyors on the Mason and Dixon line and recorder of Fayette county. Felty Saunders was said to have served as a drummer in Cap- tain Collins' company and lived on Morgantown street.
Other residents of Uniontown who served in the war of 1812, were Captain John Phillips who built the large brick resi- dence on the lot now occupied by the First Presbyterian church and here carried on the furniture business. Captain James Whaley who after serving in the war of 1812, went out with an expedition against the Indians. He spent the latter part of his life an honored citizen of Uniontown, where he died May 22, 1869. Corporal William McClelland was a member of Capt. Moore's company and kept a tavern which was the predecessor of the present McClelland House. Sergeant John Gallagher was a member of Captain Moore's company. He owned and resided on a fine tract of land adjoining the town on the north on which
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are now laid off North Gallatin avenue, Lincoln, Maple and Walnut streets. Daniel Canon was a private in Capt. Moore's company. Late in life he filled the office of borough weigh- master for many years. He died at his home on South Beeson avenue in 1861. Roberts Barton was of Capt. Wadsworth's company and was promoted to fourth sergeant. He was ap- pointed register and recorder of Fayette county by Gov. Ritner and served three years. He was commander of the Pennsylvania Blues in 1815. He owned and operated the Barton mill on Red- stone creek. In the latter part of his life he resided on Morgan- town street. Jonathan Allen was a sergeant in Captain Linn's company. He was for many years a merchant of the town and died on his farm in Franklin township. Benjamin Miller was a private in Capt. Linn's company. He had been a wagoner over the mountains before the construction of the National road, and subsequently kept a tavern on East Main street. John Beeson was a private in Capt. Linn's company. He was of the militia stationed at Erie who volunteered to man Perry's fleet. He was assigned to the Ariel, and rendered valuable and effec- tive service in the action in manning a gun from which he fired cannon balls linked together. Losing the rammer overboard he attempted to ram his charge home with a crowbar, which became fast in the gun. When discharged the crowbar swept the deck of the Detroit, causing that vessel to lower her flag. Mr. Bee- son's services were recognized by the State by the presentation of a silver medal. He died May 17, 1866, and is buried at Hop- wood. Captain James Piper lived on East Main street, was ad- mitted to the bar in 1819, was district attorney 1824-1826 ; filled the office of register and recorder 1839-1842, and was other- wise prominent in business circles. John Sowers was a private in Captain Valentine Giesey's company. He was a merchant of the town for several years, and died in Connellsville in 1863. Nathaniel Jaquette was a native of Delaware and after the war he settled in this town where he became a respected citizen. Thomas Meason, son of Col. Isaac Meason, rode from here to Washington city on horseback to offer his services for his country, and on his way there he contracted a severe cold, which terminated fatally soon after his arrival at his destination. His remains were interred in the Congressional burying grounds.
Thomas Wathen was a native of Maryland and after the war settled in Uniontown where he followed his trade of shoe-
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making. Several of his descendants are still residents of the town. Captain Hugh Gorley was a native of Newton, Va., and when a young man he went to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he witnessed a young man who had been drafted, tied to the car- riage of a cannon and was being forced into the service. Mr. Gorley volunteered as a substitute for the young conscript, and from here marched to Fort Meigs and was assigned for duty under General Harrison. His services were rendered with the artillery. He subsequently settled in Uniontown as a shoe- maker. Captain Gorley's military ardor never waned, but at all big parades of the militia of the county he was always con- spicuous with his artillery company. He died September 10, 1861. James Bunton came from Baltimore after the war and settled in Uniontown. He evidently served in the artillery, and was orderly sergeant in Captain Gorley's company where he rendered effective service in awakening the slumbering inhabit- ants on all military occasions. He died March 16, 1857.
James Thompson enlisted at Wilmington, Delaware, when nineteen years of age, and served during the war, He settled in Uniontown in 1837, where he died about 1873.
Zalmon Ludington was born at Ludingtonville, New York, and served under the name of his brother in Colonel Churchill's regiment of New York state and participated in the battle of Black Rock. He engaged in the shoe and leather business in Uniontown where he became a prosperous and highly respected citizen. He died at the home of his son, General Marshall I. Ludington in Philadelphia, April 21, 1889. Mr. Ludington ap- pears to have been the last survivor of the war of 1812, who lived in Uniontown.
Nathan Jefferis, for some time a resident of Uniontown, en- listed in Captain Valentine Giesey's company of Brownsville and marched eastward to offer his services in defense of his country. Upon reaching Hagerstown the captain was informed that his services would not be required, but the doughty captain pushed on to Washington where he prevailed on the Secre- tary of War to accept of his services, and was ordered to report at Baltimore to General Scott for duty. The General examined Captain Giesey's orders and expressed great surprise at the distance the company had marched, and, after commending the zeal of the captain and his men in the warmest terms, the com-
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pany was assigned for duty, and proceeded to Annapolis where it was mustered out of service, and marched home.
The last survivor of the war of 1812 was Hiram Cronk of Ava, New York, who died May 13, 1905, at the age of one hun- dred and five years.
WAR WITH MEXICO.
" The broken soldier kindly bade to stay, Sits by his fire and talks the night away; Weeps o'er his wounds, or tales of sorrow done,
Shoulders his crutch and shows how fields are won."
The colonization of the territory now comprising the state of Texas, from 1821 to 1832, soon brought the number of white Americans up to twenty thousand, while the Spanish or Mex- ican population in the same territory was inconsiderable. These Americans took with them their American ideas, and when practically denied even the smallest share in the government, would not tamely submit to the rule of an alien race, especially , the Spanish under Mexican guise.
Trouble soon began to brew, and a war for the independence of Texas broke out on the 2nd of October, 1835, leading to the massacre of the garrison of the fort of the Alemo de Bixar, March 6, 1836, and to the independence of the State at the de- cisive battle of San Jacinto, under General Sam Houston, in April following. The independence of Texas having been ac- knowledged by the United States, Great Britain and other powers, she then applied for admittance into the American Union, to which she was admitted July 4, 1846. Controversy then arose as to the boundary line which caused the first blood- shed between the contending parties.
This caused Congress, May 11, 1846, to declare that " By the act of the Republic of Mexico, a state of war existed between that government and the United States," and authorized the president to raise an army of 50,000 volunteers and appropriated ten millions of dollars to carry on the war; and on the 23rd of the same month the Mexican government made a formal decla- ration of war against the United States.
William B. Roberts of Uniontown, who had been a field officer of the militia of the county, secured from the Secretary of War authority to enlist a company for the war with Mexico.
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The article of enlistment was as follows: "We whose names are hereby annexed agree to form ourselves into a volunteer in- fantry company and tender our services to the president of the United States and governor of Pennsylvania to serve in the war against Mexico for the period of its duration or any limited period the president or governor may see proper to accept, and when seventy names or upwards shall be procured, a meeting of the members shall be called, signed by ten of the members, giving six days' notice, when officers shall be elected and ar- rangements made for a tender of our services to the president and governor. The company shall be styled the Fayette County Volunteers."
Enlistments were received at Mr. Roberts' store at the west end of town, and elsewhere. Captain Samuel S. Austin, with Lieutenant William Quail, Lieut. John Sturgeon and Lieut. Ed. Rine rendered valuable assistance in raising the company.
When the company assembled at the old market house on Saturday, January 2, 1847, William B. Roberts and Samuel S. Austin were competing candidates for the captaincy and Roberts was declared elected. William Quail was elected 1st lieutenant, John Sturgeon, 2nd lieutenant, and Absalom Guiler, orderly sergeant.
On the following morning, January 3rd, the company de- parted for the seat of war in wagons to Brownsville, accom- panied by a number of friends, where they embarked on the Louis McLean for Pittsburgh.
The president called for but two regiments of Pennsyl- vania troops which were mobilized at Pittsburgh where on the 6th of January the 2nd Pennsylvania was organized by the election of Captain William B. Roberts as colonel, Capt. John W. Geary as lieut .- col., Capt. William Brindle as major, Benja- min F. Dutton as adjutant, Richard McMichael as sergeant- major, and James Johnson as quarter-master sergeant and J. L. Linker as drum major. William Quail was elected captain of Co. H, vice Capt. Roberts elected colonel.
The Second Regiment was made up as follows: Co. A, Capt. Losier; Co. B, Capt. Humphreys; Co. C, Capt. Wilson ; Co. D, Capt. Murray; Co. E, Capt. Johnson; Co. F, Capt. Naylor ; Co. G, Capt. Williams ; Co. H, Capt. Quail; Co. I, Capt. Porter; Co. K, Capt. Miller. The regiment was furnished with uniforms, and with uplifted hands vowed to maintain the con-
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stitution of the United States that had been read twice in their hearing. Companies F. K. A. G. E and H embarked on the Anthony Wayne the 8th, and companies B, C, D and I on the 9th on the North Carolina for New Orleans. Two additional companies were added to the 2nd Pennsylvania, viz .: the Inde- pendent Grays of Bedford and Capt. Caldwell's company of Mifflin county.
The troops arrived at New Orleans on the 15th and went into camp on Genl. Jackson's old battle field, a short distance from the city. Here some nine members of Co. H. deserted. The troops remained in camp here for two weeks and then em- barked on the James N. Cooper for Lobos Island where they should have landed in two days, but being caught in a " norther " she was tossed for fourteen days on the waves; and when the fog lifted and bearings taken, the vessel was found to be in Cuban waters. One soldier died of disease on board the vessel and was buried at sea. The vessel, with her 1,000 men and all the ammunition for the army, landed at Lobos Island fifteen days out from New Orleans.
Here the troops received their arms and spent three weeks in military drill and await the arrival of General Scott with re- enforcements. The army left Lobos Island on the Ohio. Scott made a feint to land at other points, but landed his army of 12,000 men two miles south of the city of Vera Cruz, March 9th, and immediately invested the city which was under the protec- tion of the castle of San Juan de Ulua containing a garrison of 4,500 men. Scott's demand for the surrender of the city and fortress was refused, and he then demanded the removal of women and children and non-combatants which demand was also refused. On March 22nd, assisted by the fleet under Com- modore Connor, Scott began the bombardment of the city and castle which lasted four days with little intermission, when on the 26th, overtures were made, and on the 29th, the city and castle surrendered with all their arms and munitions of war, and the defeated troops retired to the interior on parole. The Americans had but eleven killed and fifty-six wounded.
On April 8th, Genl. Scott commenced his march for the in- terior by the way of Jalapa. The desperate battle of Cerro Gordo was fought and won on the 18th, and Santa Anna put to flight. The victory was overwhelming even to General Scott. Jalapa was won and entered on the 19th, and Puebla was entered
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without much resistance on May 15th, and where the troops lay until the 8th of August.
Generals Pillow and Twiggs moved against Contreras, and after an assault of seventeen minutes, took the position by storm. This was the first victory of the memorable 20th of August. On the same morning Genl. Worth advanced on Santa Anna at Cherubusco, who evacuated the place and fled toward the city. At the same time Pillow moved against one of the heights of Cherubusco, which he took by storm. Twiggs stormed and held another height of Cherubusco. Shields and Pierce drove Santa Anna into the fortifications of Cherubusco, thus completing a series of victories for the day.
Tuckabayu fell on August 21st, from which time until Sep- tember 5th, the army lay under a fruitless armistice, after which Scott prepared to storm the place, and on the morning of the 8th, the advance was made on Moleno del Rey and Casa de Mala, the western defenses of Chapultepec. These were taken on the 13th, and five days later a call was made for volunteers for a " Forlorn Hope " to scale the walls of Chapultepec, when the following sixteen members of Company H volunteered to ac- complish the perilous deed, viz .: Edmund Beeson, Alexander Baine, Noah Burd, John Bishop, Cyrus L. Conner, John R. Crawford, James P. Downer, William Freeman, Absalom Guiler, Richard Irwin, Samuel Page, John Pollock, James Shaw, Wil- liam B. Shaw, William Turner and Josiah M. Winders. The brave deed was accomplished; the walls were scaled; the guns were trained on the stronghold which was taken by storm, thus opening the way to the city of Mexico through the San Cosmo and Gretia Belen gates.
General Shields had given the order to storm the city when a flag of truce came out, and the victorious army swept into the city and hoisted the American flag over the halls of the Montezumas. This was the triumphal ending of one of the most brilliant and striking campaigns of modern history.
The Second Pennsylvania lost in the battles of Chapultepec and Gretia Belen 98 killed and wounded out of the 200 men engaged.
American ambassadors met the Mexican congress in session at Guadalupa Hidalgo on the 2nd of February, 1848, and a treaty of peace was made whereby New Mexico and Upper California
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
were ceded to the United States, thus extending her territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Of Company H, only sixteen men were fit for duty when the army entered the city of Mexico, other members who entered were disabled by either sickness or wounds.
After the surrender of the city the regiment remained in the city until the 18th of December when they marched to San Angel, a distance of nine miles, and made their quarters in a nunnery, where they remained until the ratification of the treaty of peace, when they were ordered home. The march home -. ward was taken up by easy stages by night in order to avoid the intense heat, which was accomplished in about one month without molestation.
The troops took shipping at Vera Cruz on the Mary Kings- land for New Orleans where they took boat for Pittsburgh at which place they arrived July 1, 1848. Out of the ninety-seven members of the company who left Pittsburgh, only two were killed in battle and only twenty-six returned to Uniontown. There were five remains sent home for burial.
Upon the arrival of the returning troops at Pittsburgh they were met by a reception committee from Uniontown who im- mediately took Company H off government rations and had them quartered at hotels until they were discharged from the service, July 12, 1848.
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