History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 21

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 21

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).

As before mentioned, the troops called out for the emergency aggregated about thirteen thousand men, in four divisions, one division from each of the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia, that from the Keystone State being five thousand strong. The Virginia and Maryland troops (commanded respectively by Gen. Daniel Morgan, of Vir- ginia, and Brig .- Gen. Samuel Smith, of Balti- more) formed the left wing, which rendezvoused at Cumberland, Maryland. The right wing (which rendezvoused at Carlisle, Pennsylvania) was composed of the Pennsylvania troops com- manded by Gov. Mifflin, and those of New Jer- sey, under Gov. Richard Howell of that state ; while Gen. Henry Lee, governor of Virginia, the "Light-Horse Harry " of revolutionary fame, and father of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the able Con- federate commander in the war of 1861-5, was the commander-in-chief of the whole army.

Gen. Lee was directed by the president to " proceed as speedily as may be with the army under your command into the insurgent

counties, to attack and as far as shall be in your power to subdue all persons whom you may find in arms in opposition to the laws. You will march your army in two columns, from the places where they are now assembled, by the most convenient routes, having regard to the nature of the roads, the convenience of supply, and the facility of cooperation and union, and bearing in mind that you ought to act, until the contrary shall be fully developed, on the general principle of having to contend with the whole force of the counties of Fayette, Westmoreland, Washington and Allegheny, and that part of Bedford which lies westward of the town of Bedford, and that you are to put as little as possible to hazard. The approximation, there- fore, of your columns is to be sought, and the subdivision of them so as to place the parts ont of mutual supporting distance to be avoided as far as local circumstances will permit. Park- ison's Ferry appears to be a proper point to- ward which to direct the march of the columns for the purpose of ulterior measures." After further instructing Gen. Lee how to act when arrived within the insurgent country, the presi- dent continued : "It has been settled that the Governor of Pennsylvania will be second and the Governor of New Jersey third in command, and that the troops of the several states in line on the march and upon detachment are to be posted according to the rule which prevailed in the army during the late war, namely, in mov- ing toward the seaboard the most southern troops will take the right, in moving toward the north the most northern troops will take the right." * * Gen. Lee was also charged to give countenance and support to the civil officers in the execution of the law, in bringing offend- ers to justice, and enforcing penalties on delin- quent distillers, and " the better to effect there purposes," Richard Peters, Esq., judge of the United States district court, and William Rawle, Esq., the attorney of the district, accom- panied the army.

With Gen. Henry Knox, secretary of war, and Gen. Alexander Hamilton, secretary of the treasury, President Washington left Philadel- phia on October 1, and proceeded by way of Harrisburg to the headquarters of the right wing at Carlisle, where the troops were re- viewed. From that place, on the 11th, he went to Chambersburg, and thence, by way of Ha- gerstown and Williamsport on the Potomac,

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to Fort Cumberland, where he arrived on the 14th, and where he reviewed the Mary- land and Virginia troops, composing the left wing ; after which he proceeded to Bedford, Pennsylvania (which was then Gen. Lee's head- quarters), reaching the latter place on the 19th, and remaining there two or three days, then re. turning east, and arriving at Philadelphia on the 28th.

There was no delay in the movement of the army. The right wing marched from Carlisle on October 22, and proceeded by way of Bed- ford, across that county and Somerset, and along the road skirting the northeastern part of Fayette, to what is now Mount Pleasant, in Westmoreland, at which place the advance brig- ade arrived and encamped on the 29th. The left wing of Lee's army moved from Fort Cumberland on October 22, and took the route marched over by Gen. Braddock thirty-nine years before, to the Great Meadows, and from there to' Uniontown, at which place Gen. Lee arrived on the last day of October, and the main body of the left wing came up and encamped there the same evening.

In the meantime the utmost consternation prevailed among the insurgents, especially those who had been most conspicuous in perpetrating acts of lawlessness and violence. Therefore, a meeting of the committee of sixty (otherwise termed the committee of safety) was called and held at Parkison's Ferry on October 2, when William Findley, of Westmoreland, and David Redick, of Washington county, were appointed a committee to wait on the president of the United States, and to assure him that submis- sion and order could be restored without the aid of military force. They met the president at Carlisle on the day before his departure for Chambersburg, and during an interview said " that the great body of the people who had no concern in the disorders, but remained quietly at home and attended to their business, had be- come convinced that the violence used would ruin the country ; that they had formed them- selves into associations to suppress disorder, and to promote submission to the laws." In reply- ing the president said, substantially, that as the army was already on its way to the western counties of Pennsylvania, he deemed it best not to countermand the orders to advance, yet he assured the delegates that no violence would be used, and that all that was desired was to have

the inhabitants of the disaffected region come back to their allegiance.

The insurgents were still shaking with fear, however, and a second effort was made to in- fluence the president and effect a recall of the troops. To this end William Findley, David Redick, Ephraim Douglass and Thomas Morton were, at a meeting held at Parkison's Ferry October 24th, appointed a committee to carry certain resolutions and renewed assurances of submission to the president. But when ready to set out on their mission they learned that the president had already left Bedford on his return to the seat of government at Philadelphia, and that the army was nearing the center of the disturbed district, and thereupon they decided to await the arrival of the forces, and to report the action of the meeting of October 24th to Gen. Lee, as the president's representative. They did wait upon Gen. Lee on the 31st of October, at Uniontown. He received them with great politeness, and the following morn- ing handed them his reply, which was as fol- lows :

GENTLEMEN : The resolutions entered into at the late meeting of the people at Parkison's Ferry, with the various papers declaratory of the determination of the numerous subscribers to maintain the civil authority, manifest strongly a change of sentiment in the inhabitants of this district. To what canse may truly be ascribed this favorable turn in the public mind it is my province to determine. Yourselves, in the conversation last evening, imputed it to the uni- versal panic which the approach of the army of the United States had excited in the lower orders of the people. If this be the ground of the late change- and my respect for your opinions will not permit me to doubt it - the moment the cause is removed the reign of violence and anarchy will return.

Whatever, therefore, may be the sentiments of the people respecting the present competency of the civil authority to enforce the laws, I feel myself obli- gated by the trust reposed in me by the president of the United States to hold the army in this country until daily practice shall convince all that the sover- eignty of the constitution and laws are unalterably established. In executing this resolution I do not only consult the dignity and interests of the United States, which will always command my decided re- spect and preferential attention, but I also promote the good of this particular district.

I shall, therefore, as soon as the troops are refreshed, proceed to some central and convenient station, where I shall patiently wait until the competency of the civil authority is experimentally and unequivocally proved. No individual can be more solicitous than I am for this happy event, and you may assure the

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good people whom you represent that every aid will be cheerfully contributed by me to hasten the delight- ful epoch.

On the part of all good citizens I confidently ex- pect the most active and faithful cooperation, which, in my judgment, cannot be more effectually given than by circulating in the most public manner the truth among the people, and by inducing the various clubs which have so successfully poisoned the minds of the inhabitants to continue their usual meetings for the pious purpose of contradicting, with their customary formalities, their past pernicious doctrines. A conduct so candid should partially atone for the injuries which in a great degree may be attributed to their instrumentality, and must have a propitious influence in administering a radical cure to the exist- ing disorders.

On my part, and on the part of the patriotic armny I have the honor to command, assure your fellow- citizens that we come to protect and not to destroy, and that our respect for our common government, and respect to our own honor, are ample pledges for the propriety of our demeanor. Quiet, therefore, the apprehensions of all on this score, and recommend universally to the people to prepare for the use of the army whatever they can spare from their farms nec- essary to its subsistence, for which they shall be paid in cash at the present market price; discourage exac- tion of every sort, not only because it would testify a disposition very unfriendly, but because it would probably produce very disagreeable scenes. It is my duty to take care that the troops are comfortably sub- sisted, and I cannot but obey it with the highest pleasure, because I intimately know their worth and excellence.

I have the honor to be, gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, With due consideration,

HENRY LEE.

This reply to the committee was soon after- ward printed and circulated extensively in all parts of the disaffected district, and although rather sarcastic in tone, it doubtless produced much good in assisting to allay the apprehen- sions of many of the inhabitants.

After staying a few days at Uniontown and Mount Pleasant respectively, the two columns of the army moved on, in obedience to the orders of the commander-in-chief, to the vicinity of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers, in Westmoreland county, and went into camp at a point between Parkison's and Budd's Fer- ries. From his headquarters, "near Parkison's Ferry," on the 8th of November Gen. Lee is- sned an address, or proclamation, to the inhabit- ants, the tone of which was a little vain-glori- ous, or after the manner of a conquering chief- tain addressing the people of a subjugated prov-

ince. "You see," he said, "encamped in the bosom of your district a numerous and well- appointed army, formed of citizens of every description from this and the neighboring States of New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia, whom the violated laws of our common country have called from their homes to vindicate and restore their authority. * * * The scene before your eyes ought to be an instructive one ; it ought to teach many useful truths, which should, for your own happiness, make a deep * and lasting impression on your minds. *

* . Those who have been perverted from their duty may now perceive the dangerous tendency of the doctrines by which they have been misled, and how unworthy of their confidence are the men by whom, for personal and sinister purposes, they have been brought step by step to the precipice from which they have no escape but in the moderation and benignity of that very government which they have vilified, insulted and opposed. The friends of order may also perceive in the perils and evils that have for some time surrounded them how un- wise and even culpable is that carelessness and apathy with which they have permitted the grad- ual approaches of disorder and anarchy."

For several days the entire army remained in the neighborhood of Parkison's Ferry, after which the main body moved toward Pittsburgh, and on the 15th of November a detachment was marched from the camp near Parkison's to the town of Washington, accompanied by Secretary Hamilton and Judge Peters, and taking with them a large number of prisoners captured at daybreak on Thursday morning, November 13,* in the eastern part of Washington county. Indeed, all the prisoners taken by the army, excepting three, were taken in that county and Allegheny, under Gen. Lee's special orders is-

*"On Thursday, the 13th of November," said Findley, "there were about forty persons brought to Parkison's house, by order of Gen. White [of New Jersey]. He directed to put the damned rascals in the cellar, to tie them back to back, to make a fire for the guard, but to put the prisoners back to the farther end of the cellar, and to give them neither victuals nor drink. The cellar was wet and muddy, and the night cold; the cellar extended the whole length under a large new log house, which was neither floored nor the openings between the logs daubed. They were kept there until Saturday morning, and then marched to the town of Washington. On the march one of the prisoners, who was subject to convulsions, fell into a fit, but when some of the troops told Gen. White of his situation, he ordered them to tie the damned rascal to a horse's tail and drag him along with them, for he had only feigned having the fits. Some of his fel- low-prisoners, however, who had a horse, dismounted and let the poor man ride. He had another fit before he reached Wash- ington. This march was about twelve miles. The poor man who had the fits had been in the American service during almost the whole of the war with Great Britain." Findley related many other instances of barbarous treatment inflicted on the prisoners by the soldiery, but as his sympathies were with the insurgents, it is fair to presume that many if not all his statements were more or less exaggerated.

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sued for that purpose to Gen. Irvine and other officers in command of cavalry.

At Uniontown, on the 1st of November, Gen. Lee had announced his purpose "to hold the army in this country until daily practice shall convince all that the sovereignty of the consti- tution and laws is unalterably established." It appears that a few days after marching his forces northward from Uniontown he became convinced that such a time was near at hand, and at once began to make arrangements for the return of the army. The notification * of the reopening of the inspection offices was made on the 10th, and they were accordingly reopened some ten days later without opposition. On the 17th, from his headquarters at Pittsburgh, Gen. Lee issued an order for the retirement of the army as follows :

The complete fulfillment of every object depen- dent on the efforts of the army makes it the duty of the commander-in-chief to take measures for the im. mediate return of his faithful fellow-soldiers to their respective homes, in execution of which no delay will be permitted but that which results from the con- sultation of their comfort.

On Tuesday morning, at the hour of eight, the Pennsylvania Cavalry will be ready to accompany his Excellency Governor Mifflin, whose official duties renders his presence necessary at the seat of govern- ment.

On the next day the first division of the right column, consisting of the artillery and Proctor's brigade, under the orders of Maj .- Gen. Irvine, will commence their march to Bedford, on the route com- monly called the Old Pennsylvania road.

The following day at the same hour the New Jer- sey Line will move under the command of his Ex- cellency Governor Howell, who will be pleased to pursue from Bedford such routes as he may find con- venient.

On the subsequent day at the same hour the resi- due of the Pennsylvania Line now on this ground will march under the command of Brig .- Gen. Cham-

*The announcement by Inspector (Gen.) John Neville was as follows :

" Notice is hereby given that on Thursday, the 20th instant, an office of inspection will be opened at Pittsburgh for the county of Allegheny, at the town of Washington for the county of Washington, at Greensburg for the county of Westmoreland, and at Union Town for the county of Fayette. All distillers are required forthwith to enter their stills at the office of the county in which they respectively reside, and to do further what the laws prescribe concerning the same, of which they may receive more particular information from the officer of inspection with whom entry is made.

"JOHN NEVILLE,

Inspector of the Revenue, District of Pennsylvania, Fourth Survey. "Nov. 10, 1794."

On the 27th of November following, the inspector announced that he was " directed to notify all persons in the counties of Allegheny, Fayette and Bedford against whom suits have been commenced in the court of the United States for neglecting to enter their stills that upon their coming forward immediately to the collectors of each county and paying one year's arrearages upon the capacity of the still and the costs of suit, a bill of which will be furnished, the actions will be discontinued."- Pennsylvania Archives.

bers, taking the route heretofore mentioned, and making the same stages as shall have been made by the leading division. Maj .- Gen. Frelinghuysen, with the Elite Corps of the right column, will follow the next day and pursue the same route.

Brig .- Gen. Smith, with the Maryland Line, will move to Uniontown, agreeably to orders heretofore communicated to him, and from thence to proceed on Braddock's road to Fort Cumberland, where he will adopt the most convenient measures in his power for the return of his troops to their respective counties.

Brig .- Gen. Matthews will move on Wednesday next to Morgan Town, from thence to Winchester by way of Frankfort. From Winchester the troops will be marched to their respective brigades under the commanding officers from each brigade.

As soon as the public service will permit after- ward, the Elite Corps of the left column, under Gen. Darke, will follow on the route prescribed for Brig. Matthews, and be disbanded as they reach their respective brigades.

The corps destined for the winter defense will move without delay to Bentley's Farm, on the west side of the Monongahela, near Perry's Ferry, where they will receive orders from Maj .- Gen. Morgan.

The Virginia Cavalry will take the route by Mor- gan Town, from thence to Winchester by Romney's; the commandant will receive particular instructions as to their time and manner of march.

The right column will receive their pay (still due) at Bedford, the Maryland Line at Fort Cumberland, and the Virginia Line at Winchester. * * *

Gen. Lee remained in Western Pennsylvania for a considerable time after the departure of the main body of his army, and on the 29th of November, under the titles of "Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Major-General therein, and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia Army in the Service of the United States," and in pursuance of authority delegated to him by President Washington, he issued a "proclama- tion of pardon," the benefits of which were to be enjoyed by all persons residing within the district lately in insurrection, excepting those "charged with the commission of offenses against the United States, and now actually in custody or held by recognizance to appear and answer for all such offenses at any judicial court or courts, excepting also all persons avoid- ing fair trial by abandonment of their homes, and excepting, moreover, the following persons, the atrocity of whose conduct renders it proper to mark them by name, for the purpose of sub- jecting them with all possible certainty to the regular course of judicial proceedings, and whom all officers, civil and military, are re- quired to endeavor to apprehend and bring to

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justice, to wit : Benjamin Parkison, Arthur Gardner, John Holcroft, Daniel Hamilton, Thomas Lapsley, William Miller, Edward Cook, Edward Wright, Richard Holcroft, David Bradford, John Mitchell, Alexander Fulton, Thomas Spiers, William Bradford, George Parker, William Hanna, Edward Mag- ner, Jr., Thomas Hughes, David Lock, Ebenezer Gallagher, Peter Lyle, John Shields, William Hay, William McIlhenny, Thomas Patton, Stephenson Jack and Andrew Highlands, of the State of Pennsylvania; William Sutherland, Robert Stephenson, William McKinley, John Moore and John McCormick of Ohio county, Virginia. " * *

Gen. Morgan's forces" continued in their winter cantonments at Bentley's Farm (with small detachments stationed at Pittsburgh and Washington) until the following spring, when, order being fully restored and established, the last of the troops marched eastward across the Alleghenies, and the western counties were left in full possession and exercise of their former rights and powers. In August of the year 1795, general pardons to those who had been implicated in the insurrection, and who had not subsequently been indicted or convicted, were proclaimed by President Washington and Gov. Mifflin, in fulfillment of the agreement made the previous year at Pittsburgh by the United States and Pennsylvania commissioners. And thus ended the famous whisky insurrection in . Western Pennsylvania, which at one time threat- ened the very existence of the infant republic.

CHAPTER XII.

SOLDIERS OF THE TWO COUNTIES DURING THE WAR OF 1812-15, AND MEXICAN WAR.

Brief Account of the Services Performed by Bedford and Somer- set County Troops, war of 1812-15- List of Members of Capt. Sparks' Company -The Amount of Pay Received by Each - An Appraisement of Arms and Equipments-The Mem- bers of Capt. Hoff's Company - Capt. Rhoads' Company - The Mexican War Volunteers - Capt. Samuel Taylor's Com- pany -- Its Movements and Battles - List of its Members.

YOON after the declaration of war by the United States against England, in the sum- mer of 1812, recruiting for soldiers to take the

field, under the orders of the general government, was commenced in the counties of Bedford and Somerset. As a result, Capt. Solomon Sparks' company, of Bedford county, and Capts. Hoff's and Jonathan Rhoads' companies, of Somerset, were organized. It is well known that the com- panies commanded by Capts. Sparks and Hoff marched through the wilderness to the Canadian frontier and there performed efficient service. Of Capt. Rhoads' company there is no record to prove that they were accepted or mustered into service. It is also claimed that two other com- panies were raised in Somerset county, but no mention of them is made in the " Muster-Rolls of the War of 1812-14," published under autho- rity of the state.

From original rolls and the volume above referred to, it has been ascertained that the members of Capts. Sparks', Hoff's and Rhoads' companies were as follows :

CAPTAIN SOLOMON SPARKS' COMPANY, OF BEDFORD

COUNTY.

Names borne upon the " Pay Roll of Captain Solo- mon Sparks' company of Riflemen, attached to the Second Regiment of Riflemen, commanded by Colonel William Piper, in the service of the United States, from the State of Pennsylvania, Brigadier General Adamson Tannehill commanding, commencing the 25th of September and ending the 24th of November. 1812 (both days included)."

Captain : Solomon Sparks. Lieutenant: James Piper. Ensign : David Fletcher.

Ist sergeant : Joseph Armstrong. 2d sergeant : John Paxton. Sd sergeant : James Wilson. 4th sergeant : Philip Steckman. Ist corporal : John Mortimore. 2d corporal : James Sparks. Sd corporal: Volluntine Steckman. 4th corporal : William Wilson.

Fifer: Solomon Whetstone.

Drummer : Samnel Lysinger.

Privates : Henry Stover, David Piper, Solomon Holler, James England, Henry Clinger, Frederick Young, John Steckman, Jacob Phillips, Philip Carn, Robert Hamilton, Joseph Morris, Joseph Sparks, John Hinish, David Swartz, Peter Barndollar, Reason Donaldson, Henry Wassing, Joshua Pickering, Samuel McCaaling, Achor Henry, Daniel Casner, Samuel Smith, Edward Means, Jacob Casner, Jacob Runard, Abraham Sparks, Joseph Means, Henry Richey, Elijah Morris, Joseph Sparks, Sr., William Cook, Abel Griffith, James Gardner, Evan Griffith, Henry Smith, John Deal, David Runard and William McCarty, a total of fifty-one men.

The pay-roll further indicates that the pay per month for officers and enlisted men was as follows : Captain, $40 ; lieutenant, $30 ; ensign, $20; sergeants, $8 ; corporals and musicians,

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 21

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 967

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967