History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 30

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418

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The proportion of troops, which was to be supplied by Berks County towards the quota of Pennsylvania militia under the requisition of the President of the United States, was four hun- dred and thirty four officers and privates, and twenty-six cavalry. The four hundred and thirty-four men were placed under the command of Brigadier-General Francis Murray, in the second brigade. The Adjutant-General of the State issued an order on September 11, 1794, requiring "the quota for the counties of Bucks, Northampton and Berks to assemble at Read- ing, where they will be furnished with arms and equipments and camp equipage, and march from thence by way of Harrisburg to Carlisle."

The quartermaster-general of Pennsylvania, Clement Biddle, arrived at Reading on Sunday evening, September 28, 1794. In a letter by him to Governor Mifflin, dated the day follow- ing, he remarked about the Berks County troops : "Colonel Cowperthwaite had collected four hun- dred men in the encampment at Peters's farm, who were fully furnished with everything they required. The drafts from the county continu- ed to come in and he proposed marching to- morrow." And he reported that Captain For-

" Four pence per gallon on all distilled spirits.

2 In Washington County, l'enna.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

rest's troops had moved from Reading on Satur- day (27th); that he expected the Bucks County Militia here on 30th; and that the Militia of Berks County would assemble on October 1st; also that the rear of the Jersey troops would march from here on 30th under General White.

WASHINGTON AT READING .- In another letter to Governor Mifflin, dated at Reading, October 2, 1794, he stated that-" The Presi- dent (Washington) was here last night, and went on this morning to Carlisle." He also re- ported then that "the cavalry of this county (Berks) are by this time at Carlisle. Captain Spade has a fine company of infantry ready to march, and I shall hasten the drafts from the county off to-morrow." The cavalry mentioned was Moore's, and contained-one captain, one lieutenant, one cornet, four sergeants, four corp- orals, one quartermaster, one surgeon and twen- ty-five privates.

The militia of Berks County responded promptly on the requisition of the President to suppress this insurrection.

HOUSE-TAX AND LIBERTY-POLES, 1799 .-- During the early part of Adams's administra- tion, Congress passed an act requiring a direct tax to be levied upon houses. This tax was called the "house-tax," also "window-tax." The federal government, in collecting it in the eas- tern counties of Pennsylvania, caused a consider- able excitement and opposition, which eventually broke out in an insurrection in 1799. "In some townships associations of people were act- ually formed in order to prevent the officials from performing their duty and more particular- ly to prevent the assessors from measuring their houses. This opposition was made at many public township meetings called for the pur- pose; and in many instances written resolutions were entered into, solemnly forewarning the of- ficers, and accompanied many times with threats."1 The leader in this insurrectionary proceeding was John Fries, of Bucks County ; who was tried and convicted of high treason and sentenced to be hanged. But President Adams, against the advice of his Cabinet, par- doned Fries and also issued a general amnesty

for all the offenders. It was reported that " great men were at the bottom of the business." Thirty-one persons were arrested in Northamp- ton County, fifteen for high treason.2 The ex- citement-if not actual opposition-about the direct " house-tax," extended into the northeas- tern border of Berks County.

EXCITEMENT AT READING .- The insurrec- tion-though not directly active in the county- was indirectly the cause of a considerable com- motion at Reading. Certain troops were called out to suppress the insurrection ; and among them was Captain Montgomery's company of Light Dragoons from Lancaster. Their way to the scene of excitement was through Reading. Upon arriving here they cut down certain "Liberty Poles," insulted the people, etc. ; and these unwarranted performances induced an auonymous correspondent of the Adler to publish a letter, criticising their conduct. He subscribed it " A Friend of Truth." This appeared whilst the company was on the way to Northampton County. But upon their return they heard of it. Naturally it developed in them as soldiers a spirit of revenge. So they went to Jacob Schneider, the senior proprietor of the Adler, and demanded from him the name of the per- son who had written the letter condemning and ridiculing them. He was bold enough to refuse compliance. His refusal led the soldiers to spend their anger on him by taking him forcibly to the market-house and giving him a certain number of lashes. The letter 3 which caused the trouble was as follows:

"On Monday afternoon, April 1, 1799, Capt. Mont- gomery's troop of Light Dragoons arrived here on their march from Lancaster to Northampton County, in order to apprehend the 'rebels,' and to quell the insurrection. But their determination will be more likely to create an uproar than to restore order. ..

"Upon their arrival here, their first undertaking was to go quietly and unnoticed to a citizen of the town who had erected a Liberty Pole upon his own ground and cut it dowu. But not satisfied with this they were desirous of disturbing this man's family, before whom they flourished pistols and drawn swords and took with them the instrument with which they

1 Day's Penna, Historical Coll. 422.

2 Names, including Fries, are given in Adler, April 16, 1799.

3 Adler, April 9, 1799. Translated from the German.

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had cut down the symbol of true freedom. Then they went upon a second expedition. At a partici- lar place children had raised a pole with some patches attached ; but when they observed the troops coming, they took it down and carried it into the house. But these troops went into the house with pistols and drawn swords, struck the owner of the house upon his breast and threatened to shoot him if he said one word. They broke the pole in pieces, took up the patches and other articles which did not concern them at all and carried them away. They sought a third adventure a short distance away and found a single small boy whom they commanded not to throw a certain tree (already cut down and lying near the river), into the water, and clubbed him unmercifully without the slightest reason. Thence they went to numerous other places aud committed offenses not any less shameful and cruel. By this time night had come when they were forced to discontinue.

"On the following morning they arose very early for new adventures. But they were so unfortunate as to find one immediately. Why unfortunate? Yes, it appeared dreadful to them, for these adven- turous cannibals feared to approach within eighty steps of a well-guarded Liberty Pole, ... which ap- peared to be surrounded with explosive pipes. They hesitated, stood still and gaped at this wonderful thiug, as a cow at a newly painted stable door. They were asked to come nearer ; but they were afraid; they would not move a step, till a messenger was sent informing them 'they might come a little nearer in order to be able to see the emblem of Liberty, for no harm should be done to them.' Upon this one of them took courage and rode along ; when the others saw that nothing was done to him, another followed. They were then asked what they wanted. They replied : 'Nothing more than to see the country and this Liberty Pole and to give their horses a little exercise.' They were asked further whether they had not intended to cut down this Liberty Pole, and they answered ' No.' Still another question was put to them whether they had a right to cut down such a Liberty Pole and to abuse the people. They an- swered : 'They did not in reality have the right then, but they might perhaps obtain it, in which case they would not only cut down all the Liberty Poles but also burn and destroy everything where such poles stood and were erected.' Upon this they were asked to examine this Liberty Pole particularly to see if anything objectionable was upon it, and if so they were welcome to cut it down ; but they replied that they could not see anything and would not give it the slightest injury. Then three cheers were shouted, and we saw that the caps of the Dragoons could flourish in the air as well as the round hats. . . . "

"The troops which left here to arrest the disturbers of the peace in Northampton County returned to Reading on April 20, 1799-Saturday afternoon. On

the following Monday afternoon and Tuesday morn- ing all, excepting the regular troops, marched to their respective homes. . . . A party of them (Captain Montgomery's Company of Light Dragoons) came into my printing establishment, not as men of good character, but as scoundrels and rascals, tore off my clothing and dragged me before their fine captain, who is not a particle better than any of his company. He immediately commanded them to give me twenty- five lashes on my back at the Market House, and this would have been done, if one of Captain Leiper's company, from Philadelphia, had not interfered, and said that they should be ashamed of their perform- ance. Through this interference I did not receive the whole number. [An editorial in Adler, 23 April, 1799, subscribed by the proprietor, Jacob Schneider.]

Mr. Schneider made complaint before a justice of the peace and caused the criminals to be ar- rested, but Captain Montgomery denied the authority to make the arrest. The matter was then referred to General Macpherson, who said he would look into it; and so they rode away on Sunday evening. [Adler, 7th May, 1799.]

By the time that Montgomery's troops re- turned to Reading on their way home, Stro- hecker had erected a liberty-pole in the place of the one erected by his children. Hearing this, the soldiers went to Strohecker's place and there attempted to compel a common laborer to cut down the " offensive wood," notwithstanding that he protested against doing so, declaring at the same time, on the most solemn asseveration, that he also was a Federalist. They succeeded in divesting the pole, and with it appended as a trophy, they rode through the streets of Read- ing to their quarters. In a few days they left, but on the 24th of April an army, under the command of Brigadier-General W. Macpher- son, arrived at Reading. They apprehended some of the insurrectionists, who were after- wards tried before Judge Peters ; some of them were found guilty, some were fined and im- prisoned and others condemned to be capitally punished ; but none atoned with their lives- they were pardoned through executive clem- ency." 1

COMPLAINTS .- Some persons doubting that the troops had misbehaved themselves, the charge was reiterated, and the names of other

1 Rupp's History of Berks County., pp. 165-CG.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

persons were added who suffered from their cruel treatment. These persons were, --

Rudolph Lampe.

Isaac Feather, a landlord, and his family, treating him in the most cruel manner [ Adler, 21st of May, 1799].

On the 18th of May, 1799, the following persons appeared before Peter Nagel, Esq., a justice of the peace of Reading, and made com- plaint against the Lancaster troops :

1. Jacob Gosin, had treatment of himself and fam- ily and larceny of an ax.

2. John Strohecker, bad behaviour and the taking of a flag from a Liberty Pole which his children had erected and of other things which did not belong to them.

3. Jacob Epler, assembling and resolving to cut down a certain Liberty Pole which stood near his house (in Bern township) [Adler, 21st of May, 1799].

Captain Dewees narrates the following ac- count in relation to the cutting down of Epler's liberty-pole and the cow-hiding to Schneider [Hanna's Life of Dewees, p. 329] :

"There was a farmer of the name of Epply, who lived about three miles from Reading, who was an influential and wealthy man. Epply stood in the front rank of the 'Liberty Boys,' in that section of the country. The insurgents rendezvoused on his farm and erected a 'Liberty Pole' in front of his house. There was a company of Light Horse, com- manded by Captain Slow, sent on from Lancaster with orders to cut it down. When this company ar- rived on the farm of Epply, and within sight of the Liberty Pole, Captain Slow was surprised to find upwards of one hundred Riflemen under arms and guarding the pole; and finding that he had too few men to contend against this force, he retired without making any effort to fill the measure of his orders. He returned to Reading with his company and ob- tained a reinforcement and moved on a second time to execute his orders. When he arrived within sight of the Liberty Pole a second time, the insurgents find- ing that Slow's force was augmented and too strong for them to contend against, gave way and dispersed in all directions. Captain Slow and his force then moved up to the pole, which was immediately cut down. These prompt measures put an end to the Liberty Boys in the neighborhood of Reading. After Captain Slow returned to Reading the second time, a printer in town, whom I knew very well. published an article in his newspaper derogatory to the charac- ter of Slow as a gentleman and as a soldier. Slow, who was a large and powerful man, no sooner beheld it than he went and bought a cow-hide and went to the printing-office and took hold of the printer and

dragged him across the street to the Market-house, which was opposite the printing-office, and cow-hided him severely. There was not any person interfered, nor did any person say anything against it, for the printer was looked upon as the aggressor."

KEIN'S COMPANY COMPLIMENTED .- Upon the breaking-up of the head-quarters at Reading, on April 22, 1799, Brigadier General W. Mac- pherson addressed the following interesting letter to Captain Daniel Keim :

" While I congratulate you and the company you command on their return home, I take an additional pleasure in expressing my complete satisfaction with every part of their steady and soldier-like conduct during a very fatiguing though short expedition. It is much to be regretted that in a country blessed as this is, by an excellent constitution faithfully admin- istered, there should be found any portion of its in- habitants so ignorant, or so wicked, as to oppose laws peculiarly adapted to the ease of the mass of the peo- ple, since the burden falls immediately upon the opulent. But it is a great consolation to see gentlemen, such as compose your company, come forward and brave fatigue and danger in support of the honor and happiness of their country. Accept, sir, my sincere thanks for this instance of your patriotism and be pleased to convey' to every individual my particular acknowledgments, best wishes and affec- tionate farewell."

EMBARGO OF 1807 .- Congress passed an act on December 22, 1807, laying an embargo on all theships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States in pursuance of the recom- mendation of President Jeffersou. It prohibited the departure of all American vessels and of all foreign · vessels, except those in ballast. No merchandise whatever was to be exported. The act was not simply to save American ships from danger, as Jefferson suggested in his message ; but it was a measure of aggression against Eng- land. It was unpopular in proportion as men were or were not engaged in commerce. The maritime states thought that the agricultural states took a special satisfaction in a quasi war, of which all the burden fell at first upon com- merce. But the burden at length became uni- versal. The men, whose tobacco, corn and cot- ton could not be sent to market, soon learned that they also, as well as the carriers of those products, were paying a heavy tax by this interdiction of commerce. Under the pressure of public opinion, this act was repealed on March 1, 1809, and

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THE WAR OF 1812.

another act was then substituted which interdict- ed the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France, and forbade imports from Europe. From this policy of non-intercourse and from other diffi- culties, which in a state of war hindered impor- tations from Europe, there was born unexpect- edly that gigantic system under which the United States has become a great manufacturing nation.1

During this interdiction, the people of Berks County began to feel the evil effects of this policy of non-intercourse. A number of mil- lers and other citizens met at the public house of Valentine Brobst, in Reading, on April 11, 1812, " for the purpose of taking into consider- ation the late measures of Congress, the perilous situation of our common country, and of consult- ing and devising snch means or measures as may tend to relieve us from the distress which im- pends over us ; " and passsd the following reso- lutions : 2

"1. Resolved, That we disapprove of the late measures of Congress, particularly the act establishing an Em- bargo, which will induce great hardship and oppres- sions to the millers and farmers of the State of Penn- sylvania in particular, and to the citizens generally.

" 2. hesolved, That a committee be appointed to draught a memorial to our representatives in Congress, praying for a repeal of the act establishing the Em- bargo.

" 3. Resolved, That the friends of the peace and prosperity of our country be requested to assemble generally throughout the union, and express their disapprobation by remonstrance or otherwise of the said act of Congress and solicit the repeal, to save our country from the evil with which it threatens to over- whelm her.

" 4. Resolved, That a remonstrance be prepared and transmitted to the Representatives of Congress from this district, disapproving of their conduct in support- ing by their votes the late obnoxious law establishing an Embargo in the ports of the United States, with instructions calling on them to use their endeavors to have the same repealed at the expiration of sixty days or sooner.

"5. Resolved, That committees be appointed in the different townships in the County of Berks, to obtain the signatures of such of our citizens to the memorial as are unfriendly to the continnance of the Embargo.

"6. Resolved, That the following persons be ap- pointed a committee to obtain signatures to the me- morial to Congress in the different townships as fol- lows : In Albany, Jacob Risler ; Alsace, Henry Leiss, Martin Rothermel ; Bern, Joseph Conrad and Samuel Bell; Cumru, Henry Van Reed and David Hemmig ; Colebrookdale, Daniel Boyer and John Thompson, Esq .; Exeter, Peter Howsem and Isaac Broome; Amity, Thomas Boone, Esq., John Schrack and Valentine Boyer ; Douglas, William Long and Henry Keely ; Heidelberg, William Addams and Frederick Bechtel ; Greenwich, Jacob George; Longswamp, Peter Trex- ler; Maxatawny, Benjamin Levan and Motheral Wil- son ; Maidencreek, John Wily, John Stichter and John Gerich; Oley, John Knabb and Frederick Spang; Reading, Jacob K. Boyer and Benneville Keim; Robeson, Daniel Hartzel and Christopher Thomson ; Ruscomb-manor, Benjamin Parks and Jonathan Price; Rockland, Benjamin Klein and John Hoch ; Richmond, Solomon Eckert and Thos. Dumm; Tulpehocken, John Furry, Christopher Leiss and George Ege, Jr .; Union, John Smith, Esq., John Brown and Daniel Kerst.

"7. Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the chairman and secretary, and pub- lished in the German and English papers in Reading.

" ADAM LEISS, Chairman. " DAVID HEMMIG, Secretary." " April 11, 1812."

ENGLISH WAR OF 1812-15.

The Revolution of the United Colonies was carried to a successful termination. The inde- pendence, which they had declared in 1776, was thereby established. But though peace was de- clared to exist between the two nations, the Brit- ish government conducted itself persistently in an offensive manner towards the people of the United States, their commerce, etc., and to their great injury for thirty years. The United States government passed naturalization laws whereby foreigners could be naturalized and be- come citizens. Bnt the British government 'contended that a British subject could not be naturalized, and claimed the right of stopping United States vessels, searching for seamen ot English birth, and impressing them into their service. In exercising this right they stationed ships at harbors of the United States and searched every departing and arriving vessel. They were so vigilant that within a period of eight years they captured nine hundred vessels and impressed over six thousand seamen into

1 Ramsay's History of U. S. 132: 4 Bryant's History of U. S. 178-80.

Weekly Advertiser of Reading, April 18, 1812.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

their navy.1 All this humiliation was borne with patience, superinduced by an admitted in- ability to carry on war. But finally the com- plaints became too loud, and the injuries too grievous to be endured any longer, and Presi- dent Madison made them the subject of a mes- sage to Congress on June 1, 1812. It was re- ferred to the Committee on Foreign Relations ; and this committee, after giving its contents a serious consideration, reported a bill, declaring war between the two governments.

CAUSES OF WAR .- The following is a sum- mary of the manifesto of the causes which im- pelled this declaration : 2

"1. Impressing American citizens, while sailing on the highway of nations; dragging them on board their ships of war and forcing them to serve against nations in amity with the United States, and even to partici- pate in aggressions on the rights of their fellow-citizens when met on the high seas.

"2. Violating the rights and peace of our coasts and harbors, harassing . our departing commerce and wantonly spilling American blood within our terri- torial jurisdiction.

"3. Plundering our commerce on every sea, under pretended blockades, not of harbors, ports or places in- vested by adequate force, but of extended coasts, with- out the application of fleets to render them legal, and enforcing them from the date of their proclamation, thereby giving them virtually retrospective effect."

"4. Committing numberle-s spoliations on our ships and commerce under her orders in council of various dates.

"5. Employing secret agents within the United States with a view to subvert our Government and dismember our union.

"6. Encouraging the Indian tribes to make war on the people of the United States."

This bill was passed by both houses, and ap- proved by the president; and the proclamation of war was made on June 19, 1812.

Anticipating this "Declaration of War," Governor Snyder issued an "Order "3 dated May 12, 1812, requiring the quota of troops from Pennsylvania, fourteen thousand, to be promptly raised and formed into two divisions. The first division-which included the troops from Berks Connty-was placed under the com-

mand of Major General Isaac Worrell. A noble response was made to this call. The troops tendered exceeded three times the quota re- quested. The destruction of the Capitol and public buildings at Washington, in August, 1814, and the threatened attack on Baltimore by the enemy shortly afterward, brought the war near to Pennsylvania. The march of the enemy towards the interior by way of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay naturally stimulated the military spirit in the State, and a great number of men came forward in her de- fense.

The following notice for volunteer troops appeared in the Weekly Advertiser, of Reading, on May 30, 1812:

"FAME AND FORTUNE!"

To men of patriotism, courage and enterprise:

"Every able-bodied man, between the age of 18 and 45 years, who shall enlist in the service of the United States, for the term of 5 years, will receive a bounty of 16 dollars; having faithfully served the term of his enlistment, and obtained an honorable dis- charge, he shall be allowed three months additional pay and 160 acres of land, to be designated, surveyed and laid off at public expense. Should he die in the service, his heirs or representatives will be entitled to the aforesaid 3 months of pay and 160 acres of land. Apply at the Recruiting rendezvous at Reading to

JAS. F. MCELROY, Captain U. S. Infantry.

"May 25th, 1812."

The companies enrolled at Reading, in the beginning of the war, could not be obtained. They have not been published. A record of the military companies of Berks County for the years 1812 to 1815 is deposited amongst the county records in the Prothonotary's office at Reading, but there are no dates attached to sig- nify the time or even the fact of their enlist- ment. Those companies which do appear in it, correspond with the companies included in the following statement, excepting Elder's company. The company of Captain Moore was composed entirely, and the companies of Captain Marx and Captain Marshall mostly, of men from Reading.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 30

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards Number of Pages: 1418

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418