USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Historical sketches : a collection of papers prepared for the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
-----
--
£
L
£
323
FRIES' REBELLION.
The above remarks of Mr. Sitgreave are a good summary of the view of the case which the government took. The cause of Fries was espoused by the Republican party and a number of newspapers throughout the State. The Aurora denounced the action of the officers, and charged that the army lived in free quarters on the inhabitants. The Adler, a German paper published at Reading, also denounced the action of the troops and charged them with beating the child- ren and other brutal acts. Discussion on the subject became so bitter that it entered into politics and became an important issue.
Several others from the same vicinity were tried and generally found guilty of the subordinate crimes of sedition, insurrection and riot. They were imprisoned for a time and heavily fined, and held to bail for good behavior. Among the disaffected who had been taken prisoners by the Marshal, and who were rescued by the insurgents, was one Jacob Eyerman, a German minister, recently arrived from Germany. He seems to have exerted nearly as much influence as Fries in stirring up the people in Chestnut Hill and Hamilton townships to opposition. History does not state to what sect he belonged, but the testimony would seem to show that he strongly favored the church militant.
One of the assessors testified that while on his round of duty in Chestnut Hill township, the prisoner, Eyerman, came in and began to rip out in a violent manner against this taxa- tion, saying that Congress had made laws which were unjust, and the people need not take up with them; if they did, all kinds of laws would follow; but if they would not put up with this, they need not with those that would come after, because it was a free country ; but in case the people admitted of those laws, they would certainly be put under great burdens. He said he knew perfectly what laws were made, and that the President and Congress had no right to make them; that Congress and the government only made such laws to rob the people, and that they were only a parcel of damned rogues, or "spitz bube" (highwaymen or thieves).
-
324
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
" Were the people of the township much opposed to the law?" "Yes, they were so violent that I knew but one man on the same side as myself." "Would this have been so if it had not been for the parson?" "I am fully convinced it would not." "Did Eyerman appear to be a simple sort of man, easily to be led astray or deluded?" "No, he was not thought so; he was always a very good preacher." Eyerman then asked in the trial: "Did I not pray for the government, president and vice president ?" "Yes, you did when in the pulpit, but when you were out you prayed the other way."
John Sneider deposed that he lived in Hamilton town- ship and knew the prisoner. As much as he understood, the prisoner meant to take up arms against the tax law. Eyer- man said that if we let that go forward, it would go on as in the old country, but that he would rather hang his black coat on a nail and fight the whole week, and preach for them Sun- days, rather than that it should be so. "How long has this man been at Hamilton?" "About eighteen months." "The township was always peaceable, I suppose, before he came among you?" "Yes, and I believe if he had not come, noth- ing would have happened of the kind."
Another witness said that Eyerman came to his house, where conversation began about the house tax, whereupon he said that he did not care whether they put up with it or not, for he had no house to tax. A person present answered, but you have a great quantity of books to tax. The prisoner answered that if anybody would offer to tax his books, he would take a French, a Latin, a Hebrew and a Greek book down to them, and if they could not read them, he would slap them about their ears till they would fall to pieces. Eyerman continued preaching to his congregation until he was taken up. After the rescue he fled to New York State, but was apprehended and brought back and found guilty of conspiracy. He was sentenced to be imprisoned one year, fifty dollars fine, and give security for his good behavior one year.
In the meantime national political affairs were so develop- ing that President Adams was led to pardon John Fries. Our
-
325
FRIES' REBELLION.
country became involved in hostilities with France, on account of the refusal to declare war against England. The ratification of Jay's treaty with England also offended France. The result of the "X. Y. Z." mission to France also caused a divis- ion in the president's cabinet. The Alien and Sedition laws had also made Adams unpopular, and as the time for the presidential election was drawing near, Adams felt the neces- sity of making a stroke which would tend to quiet the great opposition that was arising, as he was a candidate for reelec- tion To help accomplish this result he pardoned Fries. Adams would most likely have pardoned Fries at any rate. He was the first man condemned to death for treason, and the President felt reluctant about being the first to execute the stern law. Pardons were also issued to Getman and Hainey. There is a story that Mrs. Fries interceded with the President and secured the pardon of her husband. Some claim that she and her seven children appeared before Adams, weeping and begging for the pardon, and that he himself was so affected that he could not refuse it.
Bishop William Price, of Indian creek, once referred to this in a sermon, but it is more likely that the President granted the pardon for political effect. After his pardon Fries opened a tinware store in Philadelphia and prospered. Gen- eral Davis, of Doylestown, claims that this is not true, but that Fries spent the remainder of his days in Bucks county. There is sufficient evidence, however, to prove that he was engaged in this business in Philadelphia.
The appearance of the large military force in the German district, and the numerous arrests and trials, finally subdued the people, and Dr. Muhlenberg and others went through the counties explaining the law to them in the German tongue. After once understanding the nature of the law, they immedi- ately became obedient, proving that they had been urged into disobedience by the misrepresentations of unscrupulous leaders.
This uprising had more than a local interest for many years. Webster, in his great reply to Hayne, referred to Fries several times, one place saying: "If John Fries had produced
41
-
326
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
an act of Pennsylvania annulling the law of Congress, would it have helped his case?"
It was one of the many factors which tended to make the administration of John Adams unpopular, leading to the down- fall of the Federal party and its final disappearance from the realm of politics.
327
A BRITISH CAPTURE.
By William J. Buck.
While engaged in researches for a history of Moreland, published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1853, I had my attention attracted by a brief mention of the capture of a large drove of cattle on their way to camp by a detach- ment of the British army. Though this was about all the in- formation that I then possessed, I deemed it of sufficient im- portance to bear it in mind to secure thereon all the additional information in relation to it I possibly could, and the result has been quite gratifying. As may be supposed this affair proved a serious loss to our suffering army at its most critical situation, when almost brought to the brink of starvation, as may be observed by the dates of our several authorities. It was of course in such an emergency to the interest of the American cause to conceal this or any other misfortune, and hence now the greater difficulty to get at the material facts, which fortunately have been supplied through the recovery of several contemporaneous documents on both sides. Thus it is in war, that whatever one party may strive to conceal the other will be as ready to divulge or take advantage of, and when peace is established or intercourse resumed, by a careful comparison the truth may be arrived at. This is exactly my present case, or I could not have succeeded in this undertak- ing, which I believe has not hitherto received the attention of the historian.
To denote more fully the loss occasioned I propose now to show the condition of the army just before and after this unfortunate occurrence. "At no period of the war," says Chief Justice Marshall, who was present, " had the American army been reduced to a situation of greater peril than during
328
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
the winter at Valley Forge. More than once they were abso- lutely without food. Even while their condition was less des- perate in this respect their stock of provisions was so scanty that there was seldom at any time in the stores a quantity sufficient for the use of the troops for one week." "The situ- ation of the camp is such," wrote General Varnum to General Green, on the 12th of February, " that in all human proba- bility the army must dissolve. Many of the troops are desti. tute of meat, and are several days in arrears. The horses are dying for the want of forage. The country in the vicinity of the camp is exhausted." On the 16th Washington wrote to Governor Clinton, " For some days past there has been little less than a famine in the camp. A part of the army has been a week without any kind of flesh, and the rest three or four days. Naked and starved as they are we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery, that they have not been ere this excited by their sufferings to a general mutiny and desertion."
In consequence of the great distress prevailing increased efforts were made to keep the camp supplied with pro- visions. A drove of one hundred and thirty head of fat cattle had been collected in New York and the adjacent Eastern States, and after having been driven through New Jersey, it is supposed, crossed the Delaware river at or near the present Centre Bridge, then known as Howell's Ferry. The drover having them in charge, on arriving on the Pennsylvania side, and no doubt acting under instructions from those in authority, sought General John Lacey, who was then stationed with the body of men on the York road at what was known as the Cross Roads, for a guard to accompany and protect him from any marauding forces from out the city while on his way to the camp at Valley Forge. Laccy had been commissioned a brigadier general, January 9, 1778, and to him was given the command of the Pennsylvania militia between the rivers Dela- ware and Schuylkill. His orders from Washington were to watch the enemy, to protect the inhabitants and prevent fur- ther intercourse between them and the country, and cut off all
329
A BRITISH CAPTURE.
supplies designed for their use. For this purpose he was sta- tioned in Warwick township about the middle of January, on the 23d, at Græme Park, and at the Cross Roads, now Harts- ville, a few days later, where he remained until March 3d, when he formed his camp near Hatboro.
General Lacey having refused a guard for reasons that will be subsequently given, in this unfortunate dilemma the drover deemed it most prudent, considering the condition of the half-famished soldiers, to push on as rapidly as he could to the desired destination. It is likely as the nearest possible highway, for him to confine himself to the old Swede's Ford road, laid out in 1730, from Wells' Ferry, now New Hope, by way of Doylestown and the present Montgomery Square, where it intersected the main road leading from Philadelphia towards Bethlehem, opened five years later ; hence a point of considerable travel. It was here that John Bartholomew kept a public house for several years before his death in 1756, suc- ceeded by Mary, his widow, and before 1776 by his son Ed- ward, who we know by the assessment of Montgomery township for that year was rated for one hundred acres of land, two negroes, four horses and three cattle. These several matters are essential for a clearer understanding of the more exciting incidents we shall shortly have occasion to mention.
That General Lacey was not wholly inactive in interrupt- ing and cutting off supplies to the British in Philadelphia, is evident from their repeated efforts in retaliating against his measures. Besides, in their army were a number of men who had joined them that were natives of the central parts of Bucks and Philadelphia counties, who maintained a correspondence with their relatives or friends left behind, and were thus the better enabled to act the part of spies or informers. This was particularly the case in the townships of New Britain, Hatfield and adjoining parts. It was thus, no doubt, that information was speedily conveyed to the British army of the approach of this drove of cattle, and where on its way it might be best to capture and secure for themselves. We shall now disclose the mode of proceeding which certainly denotes their being
------
330
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
well and speedily posted, when we come to consider the only means of communication that then existed.
On the evening or night of February 23, 1778, a strong force from the British army in the disguise of mounted coun- trymen left the city, and above Flourtown struck directly up the Skippack road, during the day keeping as much as possible in the forests, and at night quartered themselves at or near Peter Wentz's, which was in the vicinity of Wentz's church, in Worcester township, nearly a mile above the pres- ent Center Point. Early the next morning they proceeded a short distance up said road, and then must have turned north- east into Towamencin and Hatfield townships, and the proba- bilities are, from our information thereon, that the capture of the cattle was made in the latter township, not likely above eleven miles northeast of Valley Forge, from three to five from Peter Wentz's and twenty three from Philadelphia. To avoid recapture, or that any force should meet them from Valley Forge, the cattle were now hastily driven back to the Bucks county line, and along the course of the same for several miles, thence likely by the York road into the city, where, by the British statement, they arrived sometime in the afternoon, but more likely in the evening of said day. This must have been certainly a severe travel on the cattle, for the distance from the point of capture by this route could not have been less than twenty-six miles. So thoroughly were the British forces disguised that the residents around Peter Wentz's supposed they were Americans, and this illusion was not dis- pelled until the loss of the cattle was ascertained.
This occurrence was thus announced in the Pennsylvania Ledger of February 25, 1778, published by James Humphreys, and of course in the British interest: "Yesterday afternoon a part of the dragoons of the royal army and Captain Hovendon with a part of his Pennsylvania dragoons returned to town, having left it the night before about eleven o'clock. They had been at least thirty miles up the Skippack road, and having taken one hundred and thirty head of very fine cattle, brought them in with a number of prisoners." No doubt among the
--
331
A BRITISH CAPTURE.
latter was the drover, who had applied for a guard, and his assistants. As regards the aforesaid Richard Hovendon, I may add, he was a Pennsylvanian by birth, who was attainted and his property confiscated for treason. This company was subsequently incorporated in Tarleton's Legion, sent south and, with the rest of the forces under Cornwallis, surrendered prisoners at Yorktown. Such are the vicissitudes of war.
Owing to the distressed condition of the camp for food, so great a misfortune as the loss of this drove of cattle must have greatly pained Washington on learning the particulars thereof. This at once induced him to issue an address "To the Inhabitants of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia," which we give in full.
" Friends, Countrymen and Fellow Citizens :- After three campaigns, during which the brave subjects of these States have contended, not unsuccessfully, with one of the most powerful kingdoms on earth, we find ourselves at least upon a level with our opponents; and there is the best reason to be- lieve that efforts adequate to the abilities of this country would enable us speedily to conclude the war, and to secure the in- valuable blessings of peace, liberty and safety. With this view, it is in contemplation at the opening of the next cam- paign, to assemble a force sufficient, not barely to cover the country from a repetition of these depredations, which it has already suffered, but also to operate offensively, and strike some decisive blows.
"In the prosecution of this object it is to be feared that so large an army may suffer for the want of provisions. The distance between this and the Eastern States, whence consider- able supplies of flesh have hitherto been drawn, will neces- sarily render those supplies precarious. And unless the virtu- ous yeomanry of the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia will exert themselves to prepare cattle for the use of the army during the months of May, June and July next, great difficulties may arise in the course of the cam- paign. It is therefore recommended to the inhabitants of those States to put up and feed immediately as many of their stock- cattle as they can spare, so that they may be driven to this army within that period. A bountiful price will be given, and the proprietors may assure themselves that they will render a most essential service to the illustrious cause of their country,
332
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
and contribute, in a great degree, to shorten this bloody con- test. But should there be any so insensible to the common interest as not to exert themselves upon these generous princi- ples, the private interest of those whose situation makes them liable to become immediate subjects of the enemy's incursions, should prompt them at least to a measure which is calculated to save their property from plunder, their families from insult, and their own persons from abuse, hopeless confinements, or, perhaps, a violent death. G. WASHINGTON.
Headquarters Valley Forge, Feb. 28, 1778."
In reference to this capture we shall now give extracts in the order of date from the correspondence of several distin- guished men who were in the army at this time and more or less concerned therewith. Washington, March 2d, wrote to General Lacey, wherein he says: "I yesterday received yours of the 27th of February. I had heard of the loss of the cattle before it came to hand, and I am sorry to say that the loss is imputed to your having refused to let the drovers have a guard when they applied for one. I shall be glad to know whether it is so; and if so, if true, what could be your reason for re- fusing." To this General Lacey replied on the following day from his "Camp at Crooked Billet," sixteen miles from Phila- delphia: "I received your excellency's favor of the 2d instant at seven o'clock this evening. It is true I refused the drover a guard for the cattle, and the reason was on the account of the smallness of my numbers. I advised the drover to take a course further back in the country, where I concluded they might pass without danger. In the condition I was in I was not able to furnish the guards and patrols sufficient for the safety of my own camp. Nevertheless, had I suspected the least danger, I should have sent what men I had equipped with them."
March 4th, Rev. William Vanhorn, chaplain of a Penn- sylvania regiment, wrote from Valley Forge to Joseph Hart, a member of the Supreme Executive Council, then in session at Lancaster, stating that the "light horse, under the command of the infamous Hovendon, consisting chiefly of wretches from among ourselves, have made several daring excursions into
333
A BRITISH CAPTURE.
the country, and, without any resistance, captured many of the inhabitants, and taken cloth at Newtown at one tour and a number of cattle at another, amounting to about one hundred and thirty, which last were taken about four miles above Mr. Edward Bartholomew's, on the morning of the 24th of Febru- ary." .In a letter of the aforesaid date to General Armstrong, Lacey remarks : "I have been turned out into a wide country to protect the inhabitants and to stop intercourse with the enemy, which it would require two thousand troops to effect, with only fifty men, which was actually my strength for a long time; and when a reinforcement came they were helpless and without arms and none in camp. While in this awkward situ- ation, a drover of cattle, which passing through the country, was taken by the enemy, on account of my not being able to provide them with a guard."
Also, on the 4th of March, Lacey dispatched a letter to ' General Potter, wherein he gives us some additional informa- tion : " You very well know the situation you left me in, and the declining state of the militia, which at last was reduced so that I could not on the greatest emergency parade more than forty men. In this forlorn condition I thought proper to send all the arms and stores belonging to the brigade to Allentown. The time of these forty was to expire in a few days; and no tidings of a fresh supply near, I expected to be left alone. In this melancholy predicament I moved my little camp to the banks of the Neshaminy, where I could not be easily surprised. I then detached off wagons I thought sufficient to bring the arms to complete my numbers, but the road proved so bad they only brought three hundred. At this critical moment a large party of cattle were on the way to camp, the drover of which applied to me for a guard ; but in my tattered condition I thought myself unable to supply him. I advised him to keep back in the country, where I thought there was no danger ; but he keeping too low, the cattle were taken by the enemy the next night near Bartholomew's tavern. Many censure me for not sending a guard with them, which I think was out of
42
-
334
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
my power in the condition I then was; for the men had double duty to do for their own safety."
General Wayne wrote from Bensalem March 15th to Gen. Lacey as follows: " His Excellency having ordered me to col- lect and drive in all the cattle, horses and wagons in the coun- ties of Bucks and Philadelphia, likely to fall into the hands of the enemy-especially the property of the Tories-I wish you to order your troops to make a grand forage between Newtown and Philadelphia, and in that direction, through both counties; driving the property so taken in the rear-and from thence to camp-passing certificates to the owners for the same, to the end that the well affected may at one day receive compensa- tion." We herein perceive severe retaliatory measures to be taken against the British and their adherents for the course pursued in their recent marauding expeditions, especially for that of February 24th.
While engaged in these researches I had my attention called to another letter of Washington but little known, dated Valley Forge, March 20, 1778, and addressed to General Cad- wallader, wherein he mentions the effect occasioned by the loss of said cattle : " By death and desertion we have lost a good many men since we came to this ground, and we have encoun- tered every species of hardship that cold, wet, and hunger, and want of clothes were capable of producing. Notwithstanding, and contrary to my expectations, we have been able to keep the soldiers from mutiny or dispersion ; although in the single article of provisions they have encountered enough to have occa- sioned one or the other of these in most other armies. They have two or three times been days together without provisions, and once six days without any of the meat kind. Could the poor horses tell their tale, it would be in a strain still more lament- able, as numbers have actually died from pure want. But as our prospects begin to brighten, my complaints shall cease." We can not think but with what pain and mortification the aforesaid disclosure must have been written, when we come to consider the trying ordeal yet before him, ere the result to
335
-
A BRITISH CAPTURE.
which he looked so hopefully could be accomplished. Adver- sity tended the more to bring out his greatness.
The correspondence of General Lacey during the Revo- tutionary period does not appear to show that he was either a very active or vigilant officer. Washington in his letter to him, dated May 3, 1778, on his being surprised in his camp near Hatboro, denotes this, in which he had so narrow an escape by retreating through the woods. But that struggle is now long over ; those that engaged in it, friends as well as foes, have departed. Their sufferings from hunger, cold and naked- ness have gone with them to be no more repeated. This af- fair, the capture of a drove of cattle when within half a day's journey of its final destination for the famished soldiers, has nearly been forgotten and overlooked. However, just such olden-time fragments that the antiquary may have the success to find and bring together can form interesting episodes that may survive and be cherished as a part of our country's his- tory at its most trying time.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.