USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Annals of Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania in the olden time; being a collection of the memoirs, anecdotes, and incidents of the earliest settlements of the inland part of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 39
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The same lady has described to me the awful spectacles she wit- nessed of interring the dead soldiery from the same fever, at Potters- field, now the Washington square. They first dug square pits for them along the western side of that square, but as they died faster, they dug a long trench on the whole length of the southern side- vis-à-vis Dr. Wilson's church, making two rows of lengths, in- terring double in length on top of one another, and casting the earth over them only as fast as the trench was filled up by the carts bring- ing the bodie's from the various houses of sickness.
While Mrs. Speakman lived in High street, she saw as many as six of our vessels of defence float by High street in flames, set on fire by our own people to avoid the British capture. As some of their magazines blew up, it was awful-such was their " earthquake roar!" On several occasions their guns, being loaded, sent off their shot ! Several balls came up High street as she looked, and then she and her family went into the cellar for greater safety. This was before the British occupied Philadelphia.
Our war, which has been called "a history of temporary devices,' was replete with happy accidents, "such as the pious call provi dence, and the profane call luck." To instance only a few case of " time and chance" as they occurred in the person of our financier, Robert Morris, Esq., may afford some interest.
At a time when military stores and clothing were exhausted in Washington's camp, a supply suddenly and unexpectedly arrived in a ship to Robert Morris, fully laden. These he generously gave up to the service .- At another time, when there were no cartridges but those in the men's boxes, and when, if attacked, defeat seemed in- evitable, a most seasonable supply of lead arrived to Mr. Morris, in the Holkar privateer, as her ballast, all of which he promptly gave up to the army .- Finally, when the campaign of the year 1781 was con- certed with De Grasse, for the investment and capture of New York, from which De Grasse so strangely and provokingly receded, against the will of Washington, on the pretext that it was dangerous for his heavy ships to act in New York bay, and that he must therefore seek his harbour in the Chesapeake, then it was that Mr. Morris gave his impulse to the army, by raising, on his own notes and credit, the means (equal to half a million of dollars) for transporting and sup- plying the army for its sudden remove to Yorktown, where the sequel was, the capture of the British army, and soon after the peace !
I met with an old manuscript letter of Robert Morris, to a friend in England, (in the hand of that, gentleman,) written soon after the peace, saying, that although he suffered much loss of property by the VOL. II .- 2 R 28*
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war, that on the whole he had gone through the crisis " about even." He said he had lost as many as one hundred and fifty vessels, and mostly, or all of them, without insurance, as he could not get it ef- fected ; but, as many escaped and made excellent profits, his losses were made good to him, or nearly so.
Captain Fitz-Refugee .- In the time of the revolution, there was a " British refugee" in Chester county, called " Captain Fitz,' whose real name was James Fitz Patrick. His exploits as a robber and a depredator on the chattels and persons of the whigs, gave him great renown in his day. He kept, while he was unhung, the whole county in peril. Many parties of armed men were often in pursuit of him. He would often encounter some of them in the most daring manner. Some he would subdue, and then tie to a tree and flog them. My friend, Mr. Lewis, has written a very inte- reting memoir of this real Rob Roy of his day. It might form the basis of a romance. A more fearless spirit never lived ; and he was generous and humane on several occasions. He had been an Ame- rican soldier, but having received some lashes, he deserted under ex- cited feelings of lasting hatred, which ended only with his death.
On one occasion he appeared in disguise at a public meeting, where measures were to be concerted for his capture! A young militia captain volunteered to take him, and vapoured much. This vexed Fitz, who whispered to his accomplice that he would be sure to rob him of his watch before the company should separate, and that he would do it with an iron candlestick then seen on the shelf. He took it down, and invited the militia captain aside, saying if he would come out a little from the house, he would show him how he might secure Fitz. There (it being night) he demanded of him his watch, and telling him he was Fitz, he snapped the spring of the candlestick at him, as if it was a pistol-then tied his hands behind him, and sent him back to the company.
The Doanes of Bucks county-Tories .- The Doanes of Bucks county, near Doylestown, were also the terror of their day. They were quite as famous in their section of country, and about the Phi- ladelphia lines, as any hero of the revolution. Their father was a man of good estate, and he and his children of good reputation. When the war came on, they proposed to remain neutral; but because of their non-attendance on militia draughts, &c., and refusing to pay fines, they had their property sold occasionally, and themselves harassed. They got inflamed with their neigh- bours and the revolutionary rulers, and as they found themselves subjected to legal imposts and penalties, five brothers of them set out to live in highways and hedges, and to wage a predatory and retaliatory war upon their persecutors. They were men of fine figures and address-elegant horsemen-great runners, leapers, and excellent at stratagems and escapes. They were true counterparts of Captain Fitz. They delighted to injure public property ; but did no injury to the weak, the poor, or the peaceful. They were
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an league with the British while in Philadelphia, and acted as occa- sional spies. They became of such importance as to have £300 a-piece offered for their heads. They went generally on horseback -sometimes separate-sometimes together with accomplices. Once with twenty-five mounted men, they robbed Robert Hart, the trea- surer of Bucks county, of all the public treasure. Some of them were occasionally apprehended, but again broke jail. They were frequently passing between Bucks county and the British lines, and often served as guides to tory parties visiting the city. A part of them being once in a retired log-house were assailed. Two of them leaped out of the window and escaped as the assailants entered. Moses Doan, who remained, fired his pistol at Mr. Heart, which striking his pistol, glanced off into the back of Major Kennedy, of which he died. Then R. Gibson, after Doan had surrendered, shot him so that he died there in Heart's arms. Isaac Doan had his lip shot off. Abraham and Mahlon Doan, having visited West Chester, were pursued and taken by a sheriff and his posse, after having run down their horses, and stood a desperate fight on the road. These two were hung in Philadelphia. Abraham was very stout-has run away from a detachment of horse, by leaping over fences six and seven feet high. Their ralour and generosity made them re- spected above ordinary robbers, and many temperate people in the county expressed or felt great commiseration for them.
Soldiers urging Congress .- In June, 1783, Philadelphia city was put in much excitement by four to five hundred soldiers, who came suddenly upon congress then in session, to demand their arrear of pay, &c. About three hundred of them had been in the barracks, in the Northern Liberties, and these being joined by two companies newly arrived, marched down Fourth street with martial parade, and up High street to Robert Morris's, the financiers office, at the north east corner of Fifth and High streets. He being apprized of it, left his office in charge of his secretary, Doctor Benseli, who told me he treated their sergeants with much kindness, offering them the insight of all the books and papers, but had no money! They grew good- natured, and thence proceeded to Congress hall.
Colonel Garden has said, (vide his Anecdotes) that it was his mis- fortune to witness this outrage, and to find that too many of the men who had returned with honour from the south, forsook their officers, to join the disaffected. The leaders appeared so obstinate, that General Hamilton, who had gone into the street, endeavoured to conciliate the soldiery, returned to the hall and calmly advised them " to think of eternity, since he confidently believed that within the space of an hour not an individual of them would be left alive!" The state authorities from some cause did not think the things so desperate. They consulted the militia officers about getting out the militia to put them down, but few or none of them seemed disposed to try the measure. The governor of the state, Mr. Dickinson. seemed resolved to prefer pacific measures as equally likely to attain
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the end Congress, however, to show their dissent, and perhaps, some of insulted dignity, resolved on a removal to Princeton, and actually went off the same night. The Pennsylvania Packet of the day, in noticing the circumstance, palliates the rough measures of the men, and intimates that congress should have remained. The mutineers, however, finding themselves baffled in their hopes from congress, began to threaten to take the law in their own hands, and to satisfy their claims from the spoils of the bank. This soon aroused the general sensibility of the city, and soon force enough appeared to put them down had they made the attempt. I have heard that the sequel was, that they all returned to the barracks, and set down quietly not dreaming of harm, when they were all quietly surrounded and made prisoners, by a force under Major General Howe, who had been appointed to that measure by the congress at Princeton. This affair in the parlance of the day, assumed the imposing name of the "Expulsion of the congress from Philadelphia !"
Cornwallis Taken .- The news of "Cornwallis taken !" caused extreme joy in Philadelphia. The news came by express at mid- night, and the watchmen in crying the usual hour aroused the in- habitants by adding, " and Cornwallis taken!" A moore cheering serenade was never heard sounding abroad in midnight air.
When " the peace" was confirmed the joy was unbounded. A great flag was hoisted on a lofty mast, on Market street hill, and the people fastened their eyes upon it by the hour, transferring to the emblem, the veneration they felt for the achievers of the peace. Great fireworks were prepared up High street, and the crowd being immense, when the arch took fire, and the rockets flew down the street among the people, a great panic ensued, and many contusions and accidents. The houses at night were illumined generally, save those of the Friends, which of course afforded fine sport for the rab- ble in breaking in the dark panes.
A MS. letter from Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, dated Passy, May 13, 1784, once in my possession, is interesting. It gives us lasting good advice, &c., saying, " Yesterday evening, Mr. Hart- ley met Mr. Jay and myself, when the ratifications of the definitive treaty were exchanged. Thus the great and hazardous enterprize is, God be praised, happily completed! An event I hardly expected I should live to see ! A few years of peace, well improved, will re- store and increase our strength. But our future safety will depend on our union and our virtue. Britain will be long watching for advan- tage to recover what she has lost. Let us beware of being lulled into a dangerous security, and of being enervated and impoverished by luxury- of being weakened by internal contentions and divisions -of being shamefully extravagant in contracting private debts, while we are backward in discharging honorably those of the public-of neglect in military exercises and discipline-and in providing stores of arms and munitions of war to be ready on occasion. For all these are circumstances that give confidence to enemies and diffi
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dence to friends; and the expenses required to prevent a war are much higher than those that will, if not prevented, be absolutely necessary to maintain one."
After the peace of 1783, the first American flag ever displayed in the Thames, at London, was on board the ship William Penn, (a curious coincidence of an old name, formerly connected with our infancy and now with the first token of manhood!) The widow of Captain Josiah, the commander, has told me of her being present. when she there saw the indignation of the populace at the spectacle. They saw such excitements among the people, that they so far feared a mobbing as to have had to keep up a vigilant watch, and especially at night, to guard against any violence. Mrs. J. met in company, where one of the ladies expressed her offence at seeing the flag, and her wonder at their presumption in displaying it, when she was pertinently answered, " We win gold and wear it !"
" Yankee Doodle."-This tune, so celebrated as a national air of the revolution, has an origin almost unknown to the mass of the people in the present day. An aged and respectable lady, born in New England, told me she remembered it well, long before the revo- lution, under another name. It was then universally called " Lydia Fisher," and was a favourite New England jig. It was then the practice with it, as with Yankee Doodle now, to sing it with various impromptu verses-such as
" Lydia Locket lost her pocket, Lydia Fisher found it; Not a bit of money in it, Only binding round it."
The British, preceding the war, when disposed to ridicule the simplicity of Yankee manners and hilarity, were accustomed to sing airs or songs set to words, invented for the passing occasion, having for their object to satirize and sneer at the New Englanders. This, as I believe, they called Yankee Doodle, by way of reproach, and as a slur upon their favourite " Lydia Fisher." It is remembered that the English officers among us, acting under civil and military ap- pointments, often felt lordly over us as colonists, and by counte- nancing such slurs, they sometimes expressed their superciliousness. When the battles of Concord and Lexington began the war, the Eng- lish, when advancing in triumph, played along the road, " God save the King," but when the Americans had made the retreat so disas- trous to the invaders, these then struck up the scouted Yankee Doo- dle, as if to say, " See what we simple Jonathans can do !" From that time, the term of intended derision was assumed throughout all the American colonies, as the national air of the sons of liberty; even as the Methodists-once reproachfully so called-assumed it as their acceptable appellation. Even the name of "sons of liberty," which was so popular at the outset, was a name adopted from the appellation given us in Parliament, by Colonel Barré, in his speech !
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Judge Martin, in his History of North Carolina, has lately given another reason for the origin of " Yankee Doodle,"* saying, it was first formed at Albany, in 1755, by a British officer, then there, in- dulging his pleasantry on the homely array of the motley Americans, then assembling to join the expedition of General Johnson and Go- vernor Shirley. To ascertain the truth in the premises, both his and my accounts were published in the gazettes, to elicit, if possible, fur- ther information, and the additional facts ascertained, seem to cor- roborate the foregoing idea. The tune and quaint words, says a writer in the Columbian Gazette, at Washington, were known as early as the time of Cromwell, and were so applied to him then, in a song called " Nankee Doodle," as ascertained from the collection he had seen of a gentleman at Cheltenham in England, called "Musical Antiquities of England," to wit :
" Nankee Doodle came to town Upon a little pony, With a feather in his hat, Upon a macaroni," &c.
The term feather, & c., alluded to Cromwell's going into Oxford on a small horse, with his single plume, fastened in a sort of knot called a " macaroni." The idea that such an early origin may have ex- isted seems strengthened by the fact communicated by an aged gen- tleman of Massachusetts, who well remembered that, about the time the strife was engendering at Boston, they sometimes conveyed muskets to the country concealed in their loads of manure, &c. Then came abroad verses, as if set forth from their military masters, saying,
" Yankee Doodle came to town For to buy a firelock : We will tar and feather him, And so we will John Hancock."
The similarity of the first lines of the above two examples, and the term " feather," in the third line, seem to mark, in the latter, some knowledge of the former precedent. As, however, other writers have confirmed their early knowledge of " Lydia Locket," such as
" Lydia Locket lost her pocket, In a rainy shower," &c.,
we seem led to the choice of reconciling them severally with each other. We conclude, therefore, that the cavaliers, when they origi- nally composed " Nankee Doodle," may have set it to the jig tune of " Lydia Fisher," to make it the more offensive to the Puritans. Supposing it, therefore, remembered in succeeding times as a good
* Judge Martin's version of the story is only a reprint of what N. H. Carter had be- fore published in his Albany Statesman. The word Yankee, we think, is derived from the Indian name Yengee, (English.)
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hit on them, it was a matter of easy revival in New England, by royalists, against the people there, proverbially called by themselves., " Oliver Cromwell's children," in allusion both to their austere reli- gion, and their free notions of government. In this view, it was even possible for the British officer at Albany, in 1755, as a man skilled in music, to have before heard of the old "Nankee Doodle," and to have renewed it on that occasion, That the air was uniformly deemed a good retort on British royalists, we must be confirmed in, from the fact, that it was played by us at the battle of Lexington, when repelling the foe ; again, at the surrender of Burgoyne; and, finally, at Yorktown surrender, when La Fayette, who ordered the tune, meant it as a retort on an intended affront .- Vide La Vasseur's book, vol. i. p. 191.
While on this subject, it may be as well to give a passing notice of another national name just growing into common use-we mean the term " Uncle Sam," which first came into use in the time of the last war with England; but the cause of its origin is still un- known to millions of our people .- The name grew out of the letters E. A .- U. S., marked upon the army provisions, barrelled up at Troy, for the contractor, Elbert Anderson, and implied the initials of his name, and U. S. for the United States. It happened that these pro- visions were inspected there by Samuel Wilson, usually called, among his hired men, "Uncle Sam." One of his workmen, on be- ing asked the meaning of the letters, E. A .- U. S., replied, archly, it meant Elbert Anderson and Uncle Sam-(Wilson.) The joke went round merrily among the men, some of whom going afterwards to the frontiers, and there partaking of the very provisions they had as- sisted to pack and mark, still adhered to calling it Uncle Sam; and as every thing else of the army appointments bore also the letters U. S., Uncle Sam became a ready name, first for all that appertained to the United States, and, finally, for the United States itself-a cogno- men which is as likely to be perpetuated, as that of John Bull for old England.
Amusing Incidents .- Among the amusing and facetious incidents of the war, which sometimes cheered the heart amidst its abiding gloom, was that of the celebrated occurrence of " the battle of the kegs," at Philadelphia. It began at early morn, a subject of gene- ral alarm and consternation, but at last subsided, in matter of much merry-making among our American whigs, and of vexation and dis- appointment on the part of the British. When the alarm of explo- sion first occurred, the whole city was set in commotion. The housekeepers and children ran to their houses generally for shelter, and the British every where ran from their shelters to their assigned places of muster. Horns, drums and trumpets sounded every where to arms with appalling noise, and cavalry and horsemer dashed to and fro in gay confusion.
The kegs which gave this dire alarm, were constructed at Borden- town, and floated down the Delaware for, the purpose of destroying
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the British shipping, which all laid out in the stream, moored in a long line the whole length of the city. The kegs were charged with gunpowder, and were to be fired and exploded by a spring-lock, the moment the kegs should brush against the vessel's bottom. The kegs themselves could not be seen-being under water; but the buoys which floated them were visible. It so happened, however, that at the very time (in January 7, 1778) when the scheme was set in operation, the British fearing the making of ice, had warped in their shipping to the wharves, and so escaped much of the intended mischief. The crew of a barge attempting to take one of them up, it exploded and killed four of the hands, and wounded the rest. Soon all the wharves and shipping were lined with soldiers. Con- jecture was vague, and imagination supplied many " phantoms dire." Some asserted "the kegs were filled with armed rebels- that they had seen the points of their bayonets sticking out of the bung-holes. Others that they were filled with inveterate combusti- bles, which would set the Delaware in flames, and consume all the shipping. Others deemed them magic machines which would mount the wharves and roll all flaming into the city ! Great were the exertions of officers and men, and incessant were the firings-so that not a chip or stick escaped their vigilance! We are indebted to the facetious muse of Francis Hopkinson, Esq., for the following jeu d'esprit upon the occasion. I give an extract :
Those kegs, I'm told, the rebels hold, Pack'd up like pickled herring; And they're come down t'attack the town In this new way of ferrying.
*
The soldier flew, the sailor too, And, scared almost to death, sir, Wore out their shoes to spread the news And ran till out of breath, sir.
" Arise, arise !" sir Erskine cries : " The rebels, more's the pity, Without a boat are all afloat, And ranged before the city."
The royal band now ready stand, All ranged in dread array, sir, With stomach stout, to see it out, And make a bloody day, sir.
Such feats did they perform that day, Against these wicked kegs, sir, That years to come, if they get home, They'll make their boasts and brags, sir.
[To the son of the same gentleman we have since been indebted for our two national songs, " Hail Columbia " and " Columbians ali, the present hour."]
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In gathering up these scrapiana, it occurs to the mind to think what numerous facts could yet be found among the remains of Robert Morris' office, the great financier. They have never been explored. Wherever they are, they have gone out of the hands of his family. After his embarrassments, they fell into the hands of his friend, Mr. West ; but where they repose now I have not learned. That his papers should now be so hidden from the public eye, may show the strange mutability of human things. While he once filled the mouths of all men, he was a most sedulous preserver of all manner of papers passing through his hands-keeping even his own billets, &c .- saying, as his motto, to those about him, " No paper is ever to be lost in my office-they pay no taxes !"
The Gazettes .- James Humphreys, jr., of Philadelphia, being a tory, made his " Pennsylvania Ledger," with the royal arms at the head of it, into " The True Royal Gazette." The whole copy is still extant in the City Library, No. 304. It is appropriately enough labelled by the binder, to wit : " Publication of the Enemy in Phila- delphia." It appears to have been the individual copy preserved by Humphreys himself. It having, with the gazettes, all the, extra handbills and the private marks of the numbers printed, of all such as were circulated for military or police purposes. Several of them are for the purpose of alluring our men into the British army or navy under promise of land, &c. The Gazette contains such facts, generally prejudicial to ourselves, as we wished to suppress ; also statements of occurrences different from ours. They often published intercepted letters ill-spelled, &c., from small officers among us. A number of letters are given as from Washington to Lund W., and to Lady W., said to be very graphic of our poor affairs, &c. A MS. note to one of them imputes them to Mr. Randolph, then in London.
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