USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of the state of Pennsylvania with a compendium of history. A record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume I > Part 8
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At Germantown. Washington reorganized his force and supplied them with provisions and ammunition. He then recrossed the Schuylkill and again faced the enemy at Warren Tavern, on the turnpike leading lo Lancaster. His plans were well laid, but an untimely rainfall damp- ened his ammunition and compelled his army to retire. He left General Wayne and fifteen hundred men to fall upon and destroy the enemy's baggage-wagons, but that afterward famous fighter was surprised on September 20, at Paoli, in the dead of night, and his men were shot
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down and bayoneted without mercy.1 Six days later, on the 26th, General Howe and the victorious British army took possession of Phil- adelphia without opposition. Ile at once caused a line of defenses to be
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PAOLI MONUMENT.
'The plate gives a view of an imposing shaft. on the ground where occurred the event described. It was erected with appropriate ceremonies on September 20. 1877. the centennial anniversary of the Paoli massacre, under the auspices of the Centennial Minute Men of Chester county and private citizens. Near the monument is a humbler shaft. about nine feet high, which was erected by the Republican Artillerists of Ches- ter county. July 4. 1817. and dedicated September 20 following. "to the memory of the brave men who fell there by the hands of British soldiers under General Gray."
IL COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY .IND GENEALOGY
established from the Schuylkill eastward, and afterward his entire army devoted it's time to pursuits of pleasure and gratification.
In the meantime the American army, weakened and disheartened with reverses, was encamped at Skippack creek, north of Germantown, while the British had occupied that quiet old place and had had posted a strong force from the mouth of the Wisahickon to the old York road. On October 3. Washington made a night march on Germantown and arrived there before daybreak on the 4th. He had planned the capture of the place, with the co-operation of Armstrong's Pennsylvania militia. and the troops under Wayne. Sullivan, and Greene, to each of which commanders a definite line of action had been given. At first the Amer- icans were successful, and had the enemy at great disadvantage, but an unfortunate blunder by one of Greene's divisions in Wayne's rear caused the latter to retreat, and thus the tide of battle turned in favor of the British. However, the Americans retired in good order and took a posi- tion on Perkiomen creek.
Now in full possession of the city and its surroundings. Howe felt secure within the lefenses his men had established. Hle next set on foot a plan to clear the Delaware of its obstructions, forts, and the little combined state and continental navy that held its waters, The forts were Millin. Mercer and Billingsport. Between them stretched the chevaux-de-frize, while above lav the American navy. Billingsport had been taken by the enemy in the battle of Germantown, and on Octo- her 22 a strong force of Hessians, co-operating with the English fleet.
Fort Mercer was situated near the place (the precise spot being unknown) where Fort Nassau was created by Captain Cornelius Jacobse Mey, in 1623. In commemora- ton of the splendid defense of Fort Mercer, a marble monument was erected upon its tto, upon which were chiseled the following inscriptions :
On north side : This monument was erected on the 22d Octo., 1820. 10 transmit 10 waterity a grateful remembrance of the Patriotism and Gallantry of Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Greene, who, with 400 men, conquered the Hessian army of 2,000 troops (then in the British service ), at Red Bank, on the 22d Octo., 1777. Among the slain
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made an attack on Fort Mercer. The assault was repulsed with heavy loss to the British land forces, while Commodore Hazlewood's Pennsyl- vania naval fleet bore down on Ilowe's men of war and drove them down the river. Fort Mifflin also was attacked and withstood a siege of six day's and nights, and only after its palisades and earthworks were completely leveled, and two hundred and fifty of its three hundred de- fenders had been killed . r wounded, was that position abandoned. When Fort Mifflin fell. Fort Mercer also was abandoned, but the state navy sailed past the city in the darkness of night and found safety in the upper Delaware. The continental vessels were less fortunate. and were set on fire and burned. Having passed the obstructions in the river. Admiral Howe's fleet came to anchor in front of the city. Later on it was made the object of a novel attack from the Americans above. and while the ruse was ineffectual it disconcerted the enemy and drew their fire upon a number of keg-like machines Aoated down against them. This event became known in history as "The Battle of the Kegs."
Soon after the defeat at Germantown, Washington entrenched his army in a strong position at White Marsh. and although reinforced by the arrival of General Gates' army, he acted on the defensive. Howe soon went out in force against him, with the expressed intention to drive the Americans over the Blue mountains, but in the sharp engagement that followed. in which the Pennsylvania militia showed true fighting qualities, the British were repulsed, and retired to Philadelphia. General Washington's army then went into camp for the winter at Valley Forge.
was found the commander. Count Donop, whose body lies interred near the spot where he fell.
On east side : A number of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania volunteers being desirous to perpetuate the memory of the distinguished officer and soldiers who fought and bled in the glorious struggle for independence, have erected this monument on the 22d of October, 1829.
( This shaft has been sadly marred by the chisel and hammer of the relic-hunter and vandal. The dilapidated condition of this tribute to patriotism and valor moves one to wonder that the work of restoration has been so long neglected .- Author.)
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where his command suffered extreme hardships from the severities of weather. The commander in chief himself reported that when he went into camp "no less than 2.898 men were unfit for duty because they were barefoot and otherwise naked."
The winter at Valley Forge has frequently been mentioned as the one dark spot in revolutionary annals, but it was a condition which could not have been remedied with the resources at the command of congress or of the council of safety. True, the farmers of the vicinity were censur- able in denying the Americans the necessaries of life because the com- missary department had not the means to pay, and also because they did sell large quantities of provisions to the British commander in Phila- delphia. Compared with the comforts that surrounded the royal troops, Washington's army was in a pitiable condition, yet the Americans had counted on hardships in waging an unequal contest, and were determined to meet and overcome them.
In the latter part of May, 1778. Sir Henry Clinton, who had super- seded Howe in command of the British forces, determined to evacuate Philadelphia and withdraw his troops to New York territory.
The British crossed over into New Jersey with some haste, for Washington's army was now strengthened and trained in military service through the generous offices of Baron Steuben, who at this time appeared as a figure in revolutionary history, and contributed to the discomfort of ' the British commanders. More, a French feet of war was now on its voyage to New York to give aid to the Americans, and Clinton hoped to cut it off before a landing could be effected. About the same time (June 18) there arrived in Philadelphia three commissioners from Eng- land, who held out the olive branch of peace with an offer to gratify "every wish that America had expressed." but withont avail. Through the efforts of Franklin and his associates an alliance had been formed
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with France, and congress refused to listen to the propositions of the commissioners. Then the British envoys had recourse to base methods, and attempted to bribe certain of Pennsylvania's delegates in congress ; but even this failed, and the purposes of the mission were not accom- plished.
After the evacuation of Philadelphia, Washington broke camp and started in pursuit. overtaking the British and giving battle at Mon- mouth, the scene of Molly Pitcher's notable achievement General Arnold was put in command at Philadelphia. Congress returned from York on June 25, and the state government from Lancaster on the 26th. For a time the city was the scene of much disorder, arising chiefly from the punishment visited upon the tories by the loyal whigs, and the criminal prosecutions which followed the assembly "act for the attainder of traitor." Among those who were made to feel the smarting effects of the law were Joseph Galloway, who only a year or two before was a conspicnous figure in public affairs. Another was Rev. Jacob Duché. who made the opening prayer at the first session of the continental con- gress, and was chaplain of the second congress. Like Galloway, Duché had taken sides with royalty, and while the British occupied Phil- adelphia, they were first in doing homage to the king's minions.
There were whigs in the city during the British occupation, and. while they were quiet in demeanor. they observed all that was taking place about them. When the Americans returned there was a pretty thorough cleaning out of everything that smacked of royalty. Arnold had been sent to Philadelphia to suppress all disorder, and enforce the laws, but there were times when even his show of force and authority were not sufficient to subdue the loyal whigs in their work of visiting retributive justice on those who would have betrayed their country to its enemy. The British had employed every means to annoy persons
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here to the cause for which the Americans were struggling. and showed marked for to those who avowed loyalty to the crown. The tories had their hand in the work, and were more offensive in their actions than the paid servants of King George.
During the early years of the Revolution, and in fact throughout that period. Philadelphia was known as a veritable hotbed of Amer- ican liberty, and it was a part of General Howe's purpose to subdue the rebellious spirit and coerce Pennsylvania into acknowledging the British supremacy He knew the Quaker spirit, and its opposition to bearing arms in any warlike service, and he knew that the same doctrine was held by an element of the German population: but when he reckoned on turning Pennsylvania away from her sister state he fell into a grievous errot. At that very time this state had more men in the service than any other, and the depleted ranks of the continental army were constantly being filled with Pennsylvanians. The riflemen from the mountainous region were always in demand, and over in the localities where the Search-Irish settlements were most populous, were emissaries from the council of safety ready to arm and equip all who would enter the service Their response was prompt, their service was commendable. and their reward, though somewhat delayed. was ample.
Meanwhile the war in other parts was progressing with varying fortunes. At first the British were victorious in almost every battle. but after the alliance with France, the tide of victory turned in favor of the American- The first decisive check to the British arms was that administered by Stark and his band of hardy Yankee fighters in the battle of Bennington, which was followed soon afterward by the sur- render of Burgoyne at Stillwater ( Saratoga). The latter defeat pre- vented the union of Clinton's and Burgoyne's armies, and put the British on the defensive.
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REVOLUTIONARY BATTLE SCENE.
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About this time the British sought the aid of the Iroquois, paid them the price, and instigated them against the frontier settlements, both in Pennsylvania and New York. After the autumn of 1777 the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, and Mohawks were active in the British interest. Fort Niagara again became, as it had been during the French war, the key of all the region of western New York and Pennsylvania, and to that stronghold the savages constantly looked for support and guidance. Their raids kept the whole frontier for hundreds of miles around in a state of terror, and were attended with the usual horrors of savage warfare.
Whether a bounty was paid for scalps or not. as has been charged. the Indians were certainly employed to assail the inhabitants with con- stant marauding parties, notwithstanding their well known and inveter- ate habit of slaughtering men, women and children whenever opportunity offered. In fact they were good for very little else, their desultory method of warfare making them almost entirely useless in assisting the regular operations of an army. So it was, after the British saw that the fortunes of war were turning against them. that their friend and supporter. Sir John Johnson, from his secure position in Canada, sent forth his Indian warriors to rob, burn, plunder and kill along the American frontier. The congress was at this time concentrating the strength of its armies in the interior, holding the British at disadvantage and beating them almost at every turn. It was for the purpose of weakening the army op- posed to them that the British let loose their savage allies upon the whites.
Early in the summer of 1778 the people of the Wyoming valley became aware of the approach of a party of Indians and tories, and at once appealed to congress for assistance: but no help came. The able- Innlied men were then with the continental army, and the executive council
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had no force of men at its command. In this emergency-there always was a man for every emergency during the Revolutionary war-Colonel Tebulon Butler, who was at home on furlough, and Colonel Dennison. gathered a force of about three hundred volunteer recruits and prepared to meet the invasion. In the meantime the families of the vicinity had sought protection at Forty Fort, which had been built by the Connecti- cut claimants several years before.
On July 3 the attack was made and was resisted with great de- termination notwithstanding the fact that the defenders were outnum- bered three to one. But at length the defenders were forced back and their retreat was turned into utter rout. while the Indians fell upon them with tomahawk and knife, and cut right and left until only about fifty of the entire number escaped. The refugees in the first were compelled to surrender, and were allowed to depart for their homes, with the promise that they would not be killed by the savages.
This event has generally been mentioned as the "Massacre at Wyoming." Stone, author of the "Life of Brant " refers to it as "the battle," which is nearer correct. The facts seem to be that no quarter was given during the conflict. and that, after the Americans were routed. the tories and Indians pursued and killed all they couldl. but those who reached the fort and afterward surrendered were not harmed, nor were any of the non-combatants, although their property and homes were plundered and burned, and the whole valley was devastated. At Cherry Valley, the same year, there was an undoubted massacre. Nearly thirty women and children were killed. besides many men surprised helpless in their homes.
These events, and other similar ones of less note, at last induced con- gress and General Washington to set on foot an expedition in the sun- mer of 1779 for the purpose of driving the Indians from the region, and
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destroying their villages. In the affair at Wyoming, also that at Wysock- ton. in May, 1778, and in the valley of the West Branch, the Senecas were the principal offenders, and were led by that noted chief. Guiyahgwah- doh, "the smoke-bearer." The tories were commanded by Colonel John Butler, father of Captain Walter Butler, who led the attack against the Cherry Valley settlement.
Later in 1778. Colonel Hartley was sent to destroy the Indian village and tory camp at Tioga Point (now Athens ). but more severe punish- ment awaited them in the following year. The command of the expedi- tion of 1770 was entrusted to General Sullivan. In the orders issued to him. Washington said: "The inunediate objects are the total destruc- tion of the hostile tribes of the Six Nations, and the devastation of their settlements, and the capture of as many persons of every age and sex as possible." Washington told Sullivan to "push the Indians to the great- est practicable distance from the settlements and the frontiers: to throw them wholly on the British enemy, and put it out of their power to derive even the smallest succor from their own settlements."
Sullivan's campaign contemplated two formidable expeditions, the first under his immediate command to proceed from Easton through the Wyoming valley to Tioga Point, and there to be joined by the second force under General Clinton, who had swept down the Susequehanna from its headwaters. Then the united armies were to destroy the Seneca villages and drive their occupants from the entire Genessee country. These expeditions were carried out according to the original plan. and the marauding Senecas were compelled to flee for protection to the British post at Fort Niagara. Its main purpose was accomplished. but the Indians continued their frontier attacks on the l'ennsylvania borders until 1784.
So far as Pennsylvania was concerned, the evacuation of Phila-
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delphia and the successful campaign against the Indians, ended the actual strife of the Revolution, excepting the occasional depredations on the western border. But the state continued its work of raising troops. and in providing means and measures for the overthrow of British power in America. On December 1. 1778. General Joseph Reed was elected president of the council, and as chief executive he, with his associates. was compelled to deal with important matters of civil government. The state had issued paper currency far beyond the ordinary requirements of business, thus creating high and fluctuating values, and opening the way to the questionable operations of unscrupulous speculators, who fattened their purses at the general expense. Continental currency was depreciated in value, and had little purchasing power. To relieve the situation the assembly passed an act prohibiting the export of many necessaries, and fixing a price on others. But the relief was only tem- porary, and many prominent men in Philadelphia were openly charged with speculating. Men high in official circles came under the prevailing distrust, and at one time the tumult took the form of a violent outbreak. with threats against the lives of those under suspicion.
At this time the money and currency questions were not satisfac- torily settled. The public clamor was quieted, but nothing was done to relieve those who suffered most. There was entire willingness on the part of the state officials to enact necessary laws, but just what laws were needed was the perplexing question. The situation was novel. without precedent, and the arts of finance were as yet undeveloped. There were men who could raise money in almost any emergency, but to give anything like par value to a greatly depreciated continental cur- rency and maintain it on parity with the state bills, was another question.
The assembly "tinkered" with the problem in one way and another. and vainly attempted to redeem the continental currency. Finally, as
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money must be raised to maintain the army, congress being almost without a source of revenue, Robert Morris and other men of means antdl influence came forward with a proposition to establish a state bank. and thus give value to the state money in circulation, and also give assurance that there was something substantial behind a mere issue of bills. The plan seemed feasible, and was adopted, and the Bank of Pennsylvania, the first banking institution in America, was the result. The new scheme of finance was almost wholly the work of Pennsyl- vanians. It had imperfections, like all new and entirely original enter- prises, but it provided congress with relief when assistance was needed. and the honor of having tided over a critical period in national history is given to Philadelphians. In 1781 the executive council made a last effort to save the continental currency, but without success.
The relief afforded by the Bank of Pennsylvania came none too sewn, but it was in time to save the army from disintegration. While Washington lay in camp at Morristown. the men of the Pennsylvania line became dissatisfied, and, on New Year's day in 1781. broke out in open revolt, left the camp and marched to Princeton. Many of them Fad served far beyond their term of enlistment, and a still greater mim- ber had arrearages of pay due them. At Princeton the men were ap- proached by British spies, who attempted to persuade them to join the enemy's army, but without success. The spies were promptly turned over to Washington, and were as promptly executed. These Pennsyl- vanians could and would fight. and make almost any reasonable sacrifice for the good of their country; but they asked to be recognized, and the agreements made with them they required to be fulfilled. But when the emmissaries of the king would seek to suborn them with British gold their real qualities became apparent when they handed over their tempters to the military authorities. When offered a reward for this
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service. they declined it. saying : "Our necessities compelled us to demand justice from our government : we ask no reward for doing our duty to our country against its enemies."
Wayne had been in command of that part of the Pennsylvania line which had gone to Princeton, and he went there to meet them. He asked that they reduce their grievances to writing, and present them to the proper authorities. This was done, and President Reed and a com- mittee of congress visited Princeton and settled the matters complained of. after which the soldiers returned to duty. In writing of this event, Shimmell says: "The revolt of the Pennsylvania line at Morristown was an evidence of the complete exhaustion of resources for the Revo- lution. But none of the states was more thoroughly drained than Pennsylvania. This state was not only the residence of congress, with all of its train of attendants and officers, but also of all the military mechanism of the country. From it the quartermaster principally drew his wagons, his horses, his camp equipage of all kinds, besides a great number of wagoners and artificers. * * The substance of the people had been used. but in its place they had nothing but money made of rags. Pensylvania's share of the supplies asked for by con- gress in 1781 was equal in amount to eleven years' taxes and all the income of the state."
While Pennsylvania had thus suffered in its material resources. it bad also lost thousands of its young men by battle and disease incident to military service. Many had been taken prisoners, and had met death in the "Old Sugar House Prison" in New York, or on board the prison ships anchored in Wallabout Bay, near the present Brooklyn Navy Yard. The most infamously famous of the latter was the "Old Jersey"-an oldl sixty-four gun ship, stripped of all her spars and rigging. an un-
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sightly, rotten hulk. Her dark and filthy external appearance perfectly corresponded with the death and despair that reigned within.
One who was a prisoner on board wrote: "When I first became an inmate of this abode of suffering, despair and death, there were about
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JERSEY PRISON SHIP.
four hundred prisoners on board: but in a short time they amounted to twelve hundred, and in proportion to our munbers the mortality in- creased. All the most deadly diseases were pressed into service of the king of terrors, but his prime ministers were dysentery, small-pox and yellow fever." Afterward the sick were carried to two hospital ships fone of which was sadly misnamed the "Hope"), anchored near each ther, about two hundred yards east from the "Jersey." These ships re-
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mained in the Wallabout until New York was evacuated by the British. The "Jersey" was the receiving ship-the others, truly, were the Ships of Death. It has been generally thought that all the prisoners who died met their fate on board the "Jersey." This is not true ; many may have died on board of her who were not reported as sick, but all the men who were placed on the sick list were removed to the hospital ships. from which they were usually taken sewed up in a blanket. to their long home.
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