USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania: From the Discovery of the Delaware to the Present Time (Volume 1 and 2) > Part 46
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Information of the burning of Washington reached Bucks county on Sat- urday, the 26th of August, two days after. Court met at Doylestown the following Monday, Bird Wilson President-judge and the late Samuel Hart one of the Associates. After the court had called, the late John Fox, then a young man and deputy-attorney-general, arose and stated that the capitol of the country was in possession of the enemy, and Baltimore and Philadelphia threatened by them; that he thought the people had other and higher duties to discharge than to be holding court at such a critical time and he moved an adjournment. The court refused to adjourn, when Mr. Fox took his hat and made a low bow, saying the country required his services elsewhere. He went out of the court-house followed by Judge Hart and nearly all the people, whom he addressed in a spirited speech. Mr. Fox returned to Newtown, his place of residence, where he called a meeting to raise a volunteer company. About this time Mr. Fox was elected Second-Lieutenant of Captain Christopher Vanartsdalen's company of militia of the regiment commanded by Colonel Louis Bache. He was afterward appointed quartermaster, and served a three months' tour in the field.
The patriotic action of Mr. Fox stimulated the military fervor. On Thursday, the 30th of August, a number of the citizens of the neighboring townships, among them Samuel Hart, Associate-judge of the courts, met at Hartsville to organize a volunteer company. Before night the complement of men was obtained, the officers elected and the company named "Bucks County
6 Father of the late William T. Rogers.
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Riflemen." The following Saturday, September Ist, the company met to drill on John Shelmire's farm7 on the road that leads across from Johnsville to Bristol road, in Warminster township. Toward evening, Brigade-Inspector Harman Vansant came upon the ground, completed the organization and an- nounced the Governor's orders to march the following Monday morning. Of this company, William Purdy8 was elected Captain, Samuel Daniels, First-Lieu- tenant, James Horner, Second-Lieutenant and John Davisº Ensign.
On Monday morning, September 3d, Captain Purdy's riflemen and Cap- tain Vanartsdalen's company of militia from Newtown, met at what was then Foster's corner, now Southampton, on the Middle road, where a large concourse of relatives and friends met to see them off for the seat of war. They assembled in a wood at the north-east corner of the cross-roads, where Mr. Montanye preached a discourse from Matthew, fifteenth chapter, thirteenth verse. This patriotic pastor was appointed chaplain to General Samuel Smith's brigade. The neighborhood furnished wagons to carry the two companies to Philadelphia, and, when the starting moment arrived, there were "sudden partìngs,"
"Such as pressed the life from out young hearts,
And choking sighs that ne'er may be repeated." .
The two companies were conveyed to Frankford, whence they marched into the city and out to Bush Hill, where quarters had been provided them. As they were the first to arrive, their passage through the city was an ovation. House-tops and windows were crowded; the ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and men cheered the patriotic volunteers. The uniforms for Captain Purdy's company were made in the Masonic Hall by seventy young ladies This company joined the regiment of volunteer riflemen commanded by Colonel Thomas H. Humphrey, of Montgomery county, while that of Captain Vanarts- dalen repaired to the militia camp at Marcus Hook.
William Magill, of Doylestown, recruited a company of riflemen at that place, in the early days of September, which he called "The Bucks County Rangers." The other officers were, William Watts Hart,1º First-Lieutenant, Mr. Hare, Second-Lieutenant, and John Edgar, Ensign. The company marched from Doylestown on Wednesday, the 21st, sixty-six strong in full uniform. The ladies of the vicinity met in the court-house the day before to finish and lace the clothing of the men. Before their departure the company marched to the court-house, in double-file, separating to the right and left as they entered, where, in the presence of a numerous audience, the Reverend Uriah DuBois made them a patriotic address. At Hatboro, Montgomery county, near the Bucks line, fifty-two men were enrolled by Alexander McClean, who was . elected Captain, Thomas Boileau, First-Lieutenant, a Mr. Davis, Second- Lieutenant and John W. Stackhouse, Ensign. These four companies, includ- ing that of Captain Vanartsdalen and numbering two hundred and forty-five men, were enrolled in about a week within a radius of six miles from Harts- ville, which shows the patriotic spirit of the day. Colonel Humphrey's regi-
7 Near what used to be "Hart's school-house."
8 Grandfather of the late Sheriff Purdy.
9 Father of the author.
10 A young member of the bar.
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ment was mustered out of service December 12, 1814, and returned home.11 The news from the seat of war came into the county slowly, by the Easton stage, which ran through Doylestown daily, going and returning from Phila- delphia, and the "Swiftsure" line that traveled the Old York road. When any news of importance reached Doylestown, on a Sunday, Asher Miner an- nounced it in a handbill. The surrender of General Hull and the capture of Washington caused much consternation among the people. Bucks county saw nothing of the war but the marshaling of her sons to repel invasion, if we except twenty-five British officers, prisoners of war, who passed through Doylestown, en route from Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Philadelphia, March 14, 1814. July 4, 1815, a few months after the conclusion of peace, was celebrated at Doylestown by a procession headed by the Bucks County Rangers, Captain Magill, which proceeded to the court-house, the exercises being a prayer by the Reverend Uriah Dubois, reading of the Declaration of Independence by Asher Miner, and an oration by Samuel D. Ingham. These services were followed by a collation in a grove near by, and one hundred ladies were provided with refreshments in the grand-jury room. The festivities were concluded by a con- cert in the court house in the evening.
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The effect of the war of 1812-14 was to raise the price of all articles. Sugar was sold at thirty-three and coffee at forty cents, while cotton and woolen goods went up to almost fabulous prices. Many expedients were resorted to, to avoid the high prices. Rye came into general use for coffee, and sugar was dispensed with. The suspension of the banks flooded the country with paper money of all denominations, issued by corporations and individuals. Prices kept up until 1816. when wheat reached three dollars a bushel, corn a dollar and a quarter, and oats seventy-five cents. The reaction that followed put land down one-half, wheat sold for seventy-five, corn thirty, and oats twenty-five cents per bushel, and many farmers were ruined.12
The martial spirit of the young men of Bucks county was greatly stimu- lated by the war with Great Britain, and a number of volunteer companies were organized in the next six years under the new militia act of 181413 By 1822 there were nineteen companies in the county, the greater part of them riflemen, a popular arm in the war just closed. The first formation in battalions took place October 13, 1821, when the companies of Captains Rogers, Evans, and Vanhorne organized into a battalion with Matthias Morris for Major, Lewis S. Coryell, Adjutant, and James Darrah, Quartermaster. The 30th of August, same year, the officers of the Bucks County Rangers, Warwick Rangers, Alert Riflemen, Perkasie Foresters and Rifle Blues met at Doyles -. town to organize a battalion, and. other companies were requested to meet
II The troops voted in camp at the October election. 'Humphrey's regiment, desig- nated the "First Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Riflemen," was attached to the . "Advance Light Brigade" 3,504 strong and encamped on the lower Delaware during its tour of duty.
12 The direct war-tax of Bucks county was sixteen hundred dollars.
13 They were the companies of Jacob Buck, jr., Joseph Himelwright, troop of cavalry, George Short, Rifle Rangers, John Fries. Rifle Blues, James Horner, Warwick Riflemen, Jacob Kooker, Andrew Apple. Joseph Hare, William T. Rogers, Bucks County Rangers, Joel Evans, Perkasie Foresters, Cornelius Vanhorne, New Hope Rangers, Thomas Craven. John Davis, Alert Riflemen, Evan Groom, Andrew Murphy, John Murfit, Alert Light Infantry Blues, William Magill, Independent Artillerists, John Robbarts, Doylestown Cavalry.
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them at Lukens' tavern, Warrington the second Saturday of October.14 In November several officers met at Doylestown to organize a "military society," for the purpose of improving in "military tactics." Colonel Thomas Hum- phrey was elected Major-General of the division, composed of the counties of Bucks and Montgomery. In September, 1821, the Alert Light-Horse com- pany was organized at Addisville, and the Jackson Guards, of New Britain, in 1823. The 12th of January, 1822, Captain Himelwright's Cavalry, Short's Rifle Rangers, and Fries's Rifle Blues met at Jacob Baker's tavern in Rock- hill to take steps to form a battalion, but it is not known what came of it. In January, 1823, Stephen Brock was elected Major of a battalion composed of three companies. Mahlon Dungan was elected Brigadier-General of the brigade, in January, 1824. The same year Thomas Sellers commanded a company of cavalry in Rockhill known as the Bucks County Troop.
These movements gave rise to the volunteer organizations in the county which were kept together, with eclat and spirit, for about thirty years. The various companies became consolidated into two regiments, the First and Second Bucks county volunteers, and two or three battalions. The former was a fine body of troops, and, in its prime, the pride of the lower end of the county. Among its commanders were John Davis, Simpson Torbert and Thomas Purdy. The first battalion of the First regiment was probably or- ganized in the fall of 1822, and on the 3d of February, 1823, John Davis was elected and commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel. When the Second battalion was formed, by the spring of 1826, he was elected Colonel, and held the commission until elected Brigade-Inspector, in 1828. One of the finest volunteer parades of the day was made at Morrisville, September 29, 1827, consisting of the First regiment, of Bucks county volunteers, a regiment from New Jersey, under General Wall, a regiment from Philadelphia and several troops of horse. After a drill they sat down to a dinner of five hundred covers, and in the afternoon marched through Trenton. Among the commanders of the Second regiment was the venerable Colonel Isaiah James, of New Britain. The Centre Union battalion, commanded by Major Charles H. Mathews, was a popular body in its day. All these organizations had full ranks for several years. The Doyles- town Grays was an independent company, but frequently paraded with Major Mathews' battalion. Henry Chapman was Captain of the Grays for a couple of years. The name was subsequently changed to Doylestown Guards, and uniformed as artillery. This company offered its services in the Mexican war, but was not accepted, as the quota was already filled. The Doylestown Guards was the first company to offer its service, from Bucks county, in the Civil war, and served in the three months' campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, 1861, but the men were almost entirely new enlistments. One of the finest volunteer companies, in the county, was the Union Troop, a handsomely uniformed and equipped body of cavalry. It was organized at a meeting held July 20, 1822, at the Indian Queen tavern, Doylestown, subsequently known as the "Ross Mansion," and the present site of the National Bank, north-east corner of Court and Main streets. John Robbarts, New Britain, was mainly instrumental in its organization and elected its first captain. Joseph Archambault, an ex- officer of Napoleon's military household, commanded it for several years, and the troop did good service in the Philadelphia riots, 1844, under him.
14 Nicholas Buck organized a company of Volunteers prior to 1809, and it was in existence after 1815. He was a brother of Majors John and Jacob Buck. Military titles were much sought after at that period.
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Our county military was at its best between 1825 and 1850. In 1831 there were thirty-four organized, uniformed and equipped companies, formed in two regiments and two battalions, besides several independent companies. The martial spirit began to decline in the 40's, and after the Mexican war, there was some falling off in membership. In the ten years from 1835 to 1845, there were three volunteer encampments in the county, all creditable affairs, several hundred men being under canvas, on each occasion, for nearly a week, largely attended by the public, and discipline was well maintained. The first was in 1837, called "Camp Washington" on the Middle road a mile above Addis- ville, Northampton township. The following year the encampment was in Southampton township on the road between the Buck tavern and Attleborough, and called "Camp Jefferson," though we could never understand why it was named after a man who had never been a soldier, unless because Thomas Jefferson was a Democrat, and the Democrats dominated the military of the county. The turn out here was about the same as the year before. The next encampment was in 1843, on the fields subsequently owned by the Doyles- town Agricultural Society a little south-west of Doylestown. Twenty com- panies, from this and adjoining counties, accepted invitation, and about eight hundred men were under canvas. The late General John Davis, Major General of the Division, commanded the three camps. The latter was called "Camp Jackson," and Captain Alden Partridge, formerly superintendent of West Point, was present as instructor and lecturer. . What the Mexican war left of the volunteer militia, the Civil war killed, and now there is but a single company in the county and that costs the state $500 a year, not including the uniforms, rations and transportation. The state military force, known as "Volunteers," was self-supporting, the state only supplying the arms. In the palmiest days of our Bucks county military, the officers, most active in keeping it alive, were John Davis, who bore the commissions of Captain, Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel, Brigade-Inspector and Major-General, William T. Rogers, Brigade-Inspector and Major-General, Joseph Morrison, Colonel and Brigadier-General, Isaiah James and Joseph Mann, Colonels, Charles H. Mathews15 and Paul Applebach, Major Generals, the latter of the last Division, and others whose names do not occur to us. An effort was made to revive the expiring volunteer system in 1849, by allowing each company, of thirty rank and file, $30 a year, and $75 with fifty, but it had no visible effect for the better. From some cause or other the military spirit of the county had expired.
The last report of the strength of the uniformed and equipped volunteer companies of Bucks county, was made by Brigade-Inspector W. W. H. Davis, September 1, 1849, as follows :
I. Washington Blues, Captain, George W. Swartzlander, First-Lieutenant George M. Garner, Second-Lieutenant, Abraham R. Kephart; 2. Pennsyl- vania Blues, Captain, Jonathan J. Morrison, First-Lieutenant, S. Clayton, Sec- ond-Lieutenant, Amos J. Morrison ; 3. Doylestown Guards, Captain, Charles H. Mann, First-Lieutenant, James Gilkyson, Second-Lieutenant, George T. Harvey; 4. Nockamivon Infantry, Captain, Hugh Kintner, First-Lieutenant, Thomas C. Purdy, Second-Lieutenant, William J. Smith ; 5. Diller Artillerists, Captain W. W. H. Davis, First-Lieutenant, Amos S. Dudbridge, Second- Lieutenant, Jonathan Walton; 6. United Rifle Rangers, Captain, Jonathan J.
15 Dr. Mathews was on his death bed when elected Major General; the author, as Brigader Inspector, held the election and carried the returns to him. This was in 1849.
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Thomas, First-Lieutenant Second-Lieutenant, Mahlon Schook; 7. National Blues, Captain, George M. Hager, First-Lieutenant, John Weisel, Second-Lieutenant, Jacob H. Solliday ; 8. Independent Blues, Captain, Jacob S. Booz, First-Lieutenant, Charles W. Kern, Second-Lieutenant, Jacob Sever ; 9. Union Blue Artillerists, Captain, Solomon Katz, First-Lieutenant, William Anderson, Second-Lieutenant, Elias Shellenberger; 10. Union Troop, Captain, Joseph Archambault, First-Lieutenant, John L. Lashley, Second-Lieutenant, James S. Mann, Third-Lieutenant, James H. Hart, Cornet, Samuel M. Smith ; II. United Huzzars, Captain, Levi Cassell, First-Lieutenant, John G. Gerhart, Second-Lieutenant, Thomas G. Grove; 12. Washington Cavalry, Captain, John Younkin, First-Lieutenant, Christian Hager, Second-Lieutenant, Edward Clymer.
One of the finest military parades of the county volunteers, was on June 21, 1832, to witness the hanging of Mina for the murder of Dr. William Chap- man. Sixteen companies from the county were present, three from Montgomery, two of cavalry and one of infantry, and one company of cavalry from Lehigh.
Bucks county fully maintained her military reputation in the Civil war, and several hundreds of her sons, if not thousands, enlisted in the armies of the Republic. The Doylestown Guards was the first company to offer its services, April, 1861, and accepted five days after the flag of Sumter was fired on, and served a three months' tour on the Upper Potomac in the Twenty-fifth regi- ment. During the summer of 1861, Henry C. Beatty, Bristol, David V. Feas- ter, Newtown, and Dr. Joseph Thomas, Applebachville, recruited companies for the Third regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves, Beatty dying of wounds re- ceived in action. About the same time John H. Shelmire recruited a com- pany for the First New Jersey Cavalry in this county and Montgomery, of which James H. Hart, of Warminster, was First-Lieutenant. When Shelmire was killed, being Major of the regiment, Hart was appointed to the vacancy, and fell in action at Five Forks, Va., April, 1865, about the close of the war. On the return of Captain Davis from the three months' campaign, the last of July, 1861, the Secretary of War authorized him to recruit and organize a regiment of infantry (104th), and a battery of artillery to serve for three years or during the war. The battery was known as "Durell's" from the name of its captain. In the summer of 1862, Samuel Croasdale, a young lawyer of Doyles- town, and Christian K. Frankenfield organized companies for the 128th Pa., a nine months' regiment, of which Croasdale was appointed Colonel and fell at Antietam. The same fall, seven companies were drafted from this county by the State authorities,-formed part of the 174th regiment and served for nine months. In 1864 a United States draft was made, for which the county ap- propriated $300,000 and filled the quota by substitution. At the end of the war Bucks county was left with a war debt of a million. Among the most efficient organizations, for relieving the sick and wounded soldiers, were the Aid Societies, principally organized and managed by the ladies, of which the county had several. They collected a large sum of money and distributed a great quantity of goods among the troops and otherwise did much to encourage enlistment. Their good work was highly appreciated by the armies. In addi- tion to the organizations above named, several companies entered the service, for short periods in 1862-63, during the Confederate invasions of Pennsyl- vania.
The 104th regiment made a distinguished record for itself and the county, serving in the Army of the Potomac, and in the Southern Atlantic states. It opened the battle in front of Richmond, for possession of the Confederate capitol,
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by firing the first volley at the bloody battle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862, losing one hundred and seventy-five in kine and wounded, of the three hundred and ninety-three officers and men that went into action. A struggle for the colors took place, the enemy coming near capturing them. This episode, the "Rescue of the Colors" was afterward painted in oil by William T. Trego, the most distinguished military painter in America, and presented to Bucks county by the Honorable John Wanamaker, the ceremony taking place in the court room, Doylestown, October 21, 1899, in the presence of a large audience. It now hangs in a room in the court-house in the custody of the Bucks County His- torical Society, and is visited by many persons. The canvas is eight by eleven feet and the frame an elegant piece of work.
Besides the prominent officers, who were active in our home military and turned out when the county needed their services, there were several of national repute, either born here, or had such connection with the county as entitles them to a place in this chapter. Among these may be mentioned Generals Daniels, Morgan. Pickens and Lacey of Revolutionary fame; General Brown, who rose to be commanding general of the United States army; General Zubulon M. Pike, who fell at Little York, Canada, in the war of 1812-15 with England ; Colonel Charles Ellet, and his two brothers, who distinguished them- selves in the Civil war; and General Ward B. Burnett, who distinguished him- self in the Mexican war. While possibly not a native of Bucks county, he was appointed from it to West Point in 1828, by the Hon. Samuel D. Ingham, while a member of Congress, entering July, 1828, and graduating, 1832. Among the honors conferred upon him, for his gallantry, was the presentation to him, by the city of New York, of the gold snuff box that city had given to General Jackson, 1819, and which the latter bequeathed "to that patriot of New York City, who should be adjudged, by his countrymen, to have been the most dis- tinguished in defense of his country's rights in the next war." It was awarded to General Burnett in 1849. He commanded the Second New York regiment. While he made his home in New York, he died at Washington city, June 27, 1884, and was buried at West Point.
The Bucks County Bible Society was formed, and officers chosen, June 24, 1816, and, among the managers were the following prominent gentlemen : the Reverends Uriah DuBois and Thomas B. Montanye; Samuel D. Ingham, John Pugh, Enos Morris, and Samuel Moore. The leading object was stated to be "to assist in the circulation of the holy scriptures without note or com- ment." At this meeting the Rev. Robert B. Belville presided, and the Rev. Dr. Janeway delivered an address. Local and township committees were appointed to co-operate with the board of managers, and the formation of congregational societies encouraged. At the annual meeting, 1817, an effort was made to have a committee appointed in each township to supply with a bible every destitute family in the county, but the idea was in advance of the times and abandoned. In 1827 Reverend Samuel B. Howe, pastor of the Solebury Presbyterian church, introduced a resolution in favor of providing every destitute family in the county with a copy, and the same year the Philadelphia society resolved to supply every destitute family in the State. The county society immediately began to co-operate, but it was not until 1829 the American Bible Society en- gaged in the work.
The first county society appointed committees in the several townships, and eight hundred bibles were ordered from the parent society. Down to 1843 but little had been done but often talked of. In 1847 two brothers, Bern- heim, commenced a thorough canvass of the county, to supply destitute fam-
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ilies, and their report at the annual meeting, 1849, showed their work had been well done. The work was again undertaken, 1856, by John C. Agin, assisted in some townships by Uriah Thomas without pecuniary reward, and completed by the annual meeting in 1859. The supply of bibles for this purpose was increased by contributions from the Female societies of New Hope, Bristol, Newtown and Doylestown. From that time to the present there has been a new canvass about every seven years, the changing population calling for this repetition. The society has contributed to this work in other countries, and, 1836, gave one hundred dollars to the Sandwich Islands. In 1861 every soldier who went from this county was supplied with a bible, and, 1862-63, it gave two hundred dollars for a supply of bibles for the army. The semi- centennial of the society was celebrated in the church where it was organized, August 23, 1866, when an historical discourse was delivered by Reverend Silas M. Andrews, D. D. The society is in a flourishing condition and active in its good work. The seventy-eighth annual meeting was held at Yardley, October 22, 1896, Dr. Charles R. King, of Bensalem, in the chair. The following year' the meeting was held in the Presbyterian chapel, New Hope.
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