History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 36

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 36

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).

" Resolved, That a meeting of the citizens of Chester County be held at the court-house, in the borough of West Chester, on Saturday, the 28th of August, at eleven o'clock A.M., to make arrangements for a suitable reception of that venerable patriot and friend of freedom, if he shall be induced to visit our county, aad to adopt such other meas- ures evincive of our gratitude for his distinguished services as the interesting occasion demands."

Another "Lafayette meeting" was held at the same place on the 28th of August, 1824, of which Hon. Isaac Darlington was chairman, and John W. Cuningham, Esq., secretary. The following, among other resolutions, were unanimously adopted :

" Resolved, That Col. Joseph McClellaa, Col. Jacob Humphrey, Col. Isuae Wayae, Dr. Jacob Ehrenzeller, Col. Cromwell Pearec, Gen. Isaac D. Barnard, Gen. Joha W. Cuningham, Dr. William Darlington, Gen. Joshua Evaas, and Abram Baily, Esq., he u committee, on be- half of this meeting, to wait upon Gea. La Fuyette immediately on his arrival in Philadelphia, respectfully to make known to him our feelings and sentitaents, and to invite him, in the name of the citizens of Chester County, to honor tbem with a visit to the ground where, by the side of Washington aad of Wayne, and his gallant compa- triots-in-arms, he distinguished himself as a champion ia the cause of liberty, aad by the effusion of his blood in their defense forever ea- depred himself to the American people.

" Resolved, That if, as it is sincerely hoped, Gen. La Fayette shall be indueed to revisit the scenes of his youthful gallantry, on the banks of the Brandywine, where a free, prosperous, happy, and grate- ful people are enjoying the fruits of Revolutionary virtue and bra- very, the aforesaid committee he requested, in concert with the civil authorities of the county, to make the necessary arrangements for the appropriate reception and entertainment of our distinguished guest; aad also that t .e military officers and uniformed corps of the district he requested to parade oa the occasion, and pay the hoaors due to the venerable soldier of the Revolution."

It having been ascertained that Gen. Lafayette, with his son, George Washington Lafayette, and other companions, would visit the battle-ground on the Brandywine on Tues- . day, the 26th of July, 1825, and proceed thence to West Chester, arrangements were made by the committee of Chester County for their proper reception and entertain- ment.

Early in the morning the general was waited upon at Messrs. Duponts', with whom he had lodged, by John W. Cuningham, Esq., one of the committee of arrangements, attended by Samson Babb and William Williamson, two of the marshals of the day, by whom he was conducted to Chads' Ford. The general was accompanied by his son, M. La Vasseur, his secretary, M. Baudouis, a distinguished law- yer from Paris, the Messrs. Dupont, Messrs. Lonis McLane, and N. G. Williamson, committee from Wilmington, and Messrs. Joseph S. Lewis, Tilghman, and Biddle, committee of Councils from Philadelphia. They reached Chads' Ford about ten o'clock A.M., where the veteran was received by the committees of Chester and Delaware Counties, headed by their respective chairmen, Col. Joseph Mcclellan and Capt. William Anderson. At this place, also, Maj .- Gen. Isaac D. Barnard and his aides, Col. Lieper and Daniel Buck- walter, Esq., attended by Brig .- Gens. Evans and Stanley and their aides, in full uniform, also the Chester County troop of cavalry, commanded by Lieut. Jones, and the Delaware County troop of cavalry, commanded by Capt. Vanleer, the whole under the command of Maj. Wilson, were in waiting to escort the general over the battle-ground. Jesse Sharp, Esq , chief marshal, with his aides, Thomas H. B. Jacobs and Jesse Conard, Esq., and assistant marshals, Samson Babb, William Williamson, Joshua Hunt, Thomas H. Brinton, Joshua McMinn, Isaac Trimble, David Potts, Jr., Richard Walker, Jonathan Jones, Joseph P. McClellan, also attended to regulate the movements of the great con- course of citizens, in carriages, on horseback, and on foot, who had gathered at this point, eager to see and welcome the nation's guest.

The general received the greetings of the people, and viewed the interesting heights arouud Chads' Ford, and the field where the armies encamped the night before the battle, and pointed out the positions of Gens. Wayne and Max- well's brigades. He inquired if any one could point out where the bridge of rails was across the Brandywine, but no one was able to give the information. He then resumed his seat in his barouche, with his companion-in-arms, Col. McClellan, by his side, and the procession, which had been formed, advanced toward Painter's Cross-roads. About a mile from the ford the general stopped and alighted from his carriage to see Gideon Gilpin, a very aged man, con- fined to bed, at whose house he had made his headquarters before the battle. The sick man was gratified at the sight

131

GENERAL HISTORY.

of the veteran, who pressed his hand cordially and wished him every blessing. The procession then proceeded by way of Painter's Cross-roads to Dilworthtown, where another large concourse of people had gathered. After a brief halt it turned to the left and proceeded to the main battle-ground. When they came in sight of the Birmingham meeting-house, Lafayette arose in his carriage and addressed himself in French to his son and companions, spoke animatedly for some time, pointing out to them the different positions of the armies. All the surroundings were familiar to him. He pointed out the spot, in a field of Jacob Bennett, a short distance east and south of where the road from the mecting- house comes in at right angles with the east-and-west road, as the place where he was wounded. He then proceeded to the meeting-house, where another concourse had assem- bled to greet him. After viewing the grounds here he alighted, with his companions and friends, at the mansion of Samuel Jones, a short distance north of the meeting- house, to which he had been previously invited, and partook of refreshments provided for the occasion. A large collec- tion of balls and other relics of the memorable conflict, which had been found at different periods on the battle- ground, were exhibited and excited much interest.

After a brief rest the trumpet sounded to horse, and the procession moved on to Strode's mill, over the ground on which Howe and Cornwallis advanced to the battle, and thence by the right to Darlington's woods (now Smedley Darlington's), near the western line of the borough. Here the volunteers of the Third Division were drawn up, agreeably to the orders of Maj .- Gen. Barnard, to receive the general and escort him into the town. These consisted of the First Regiment of Chester County Volunteers, com- manded by Col. Darlington,-to whom were attached Capt. Fleming's company of Wayne Guards, Capt. Wiley's company of Franklin Guards, and Maj. Elton's corps of riflemen,- the Chester County Union Volunteer Battalion, comman- ded hy Licut .- Col. McDowell, and the Jackson Volunteer Battalion, commanded by Maj. Morton, -to which Capt. Stewart's independent company of volunteers was attached, -the whole together comprising seventeen companies of volunteers, including the two troops of cavalry. On the approach of Lafayette, a salute of thirteen guns was fired by the Republican Artillerists of Chester County, under the command of Lieut .- Col. Evans, and the troops then wheeled into column, the First Regiment preceding the immediate escort of the general, and the battalions of McDowell and Morton taking post in the rear. Thus arranged, the whole proceeded into the borough, under the command of Maj .- Gen. Barnard, by the way of the present Rosedale Avenue to High Street, at the State Normal School, and thence up High Street. The cavalcade of citizens in the rear were conducted by Chief Marshal Jesse Sharp and his aides and assistants, whose names have already been given.

The crowd which had gathered here was immense. It is estimated that there was not less than ten thousand persons present, and the welcome accorded to the general was most cordial, hearty, and sincere The processiou passed up High Street to Market, down Market to Walnut, up Walnut to Gay, up Gay to High, down High to Market,

up Market to Church, up Church to Gay, down Gay to High, and out Highi to a field of Jesse Matlack, on the hill cast of the Friends' meeting-house. Here the troops were reviewed by Gen. Lafayette, on foot, who expressed his great satisfaction at their appearance and soldier-like behavior. He then passed in his barouche in front of several hundred mounted citizens, formed in the same field under the direction of the chief marshal, and was then con- ducted by the committee to the residence of Ziba Pyle, Esq., the chief burgess. The troops were wheeled into column and returned to the town, and gave the marching salute as they passed the general at his quarters, and were then dismissed.

After a brief repose, the general and his companions were conducted to the grand jury room in the court-house, which had been tastefully decorated by the ladies for the occasion, and where an excellent diuner had been provided by Mr. Eber Worthington, then proprietor of the Turk's Head Hotel. The entertainment was attended by the committees of arrangement and a limited number of in- vited guests ; including the general and his friends, in all about forty persons.

When the company had assembled at the table, his old comrade in the field of Revolutionary toil and danger, the venerable Col. Joseph Mcclellan, rose, and, on behalf of the committee of reception, addressed the gallant chieftain as follows : .

"General,-It is our happiness to be appointed hy our fellow-citi- zens to greet you upon your visit to the scenes of your youthful gal- lantry od the banks of the Brandywine, and to bid you a sincere and cordial welcome to the bosom of our county. Language, indeed, can but feebly portray the joyous aod grateful emotions with which we behold amongst us, after a lapse of eight and forty years, the illus- trious friend of human rights, who relinquished the endearments of his domestic circle in a distaut land to aid the fathers of our country in their struggle for independence, and who, on this ground, sealed with his blood his devotion to the cause of American liberty. In you sir, we recognize, with the profoundest respect and veneration, the early, disinterested, and steadfast champion of our WASHINGTON, our WAYNE, and their gallant compatriots-in-arms,-the youthful volun- teer, who shared the toils of our fathers to secure the blessings of re- publican freedom to our land, and who, by the favor of heaven, has been preserved to witness the happiness and receive the benedictions of their grateful offspring.

"We exult in the contemplation of a character whose pure, intrepid, and uniform devotion to the rights of man has been equally conspicu- ous in the battle-fields of the western, and in the councils, the courts, and the dungeons of the eastern, hemisphere.

" We rejoice that a signal opportunity has been afforded to our conotrymen to repel the slander of despots and their hirelings that re- publics are ungrateful, and although the plain and unpretending citizens of this ancient county of Chester do not presume to vie with their brothers of our opulent towns and cities in the splendor of your re- ception, let me flatter ourselves that you will receive, with your wonted kindness, the spontaneons and unaffected homage of a happy commu- nity, who welcome yon with eyes beaming with reverence and delight, and hearts filled with the purest sentiments of gratitude and affection."

To this address Gen. Lafayette made the following reply :

" While I have, with unbounded gratitude, enjoyed the fondly antici- pated happiness to meet in this town the citizens of the county of Chester, and the additional pleasure to he here most kindly welcomed, in the name of the people, hy an old companion-in-arms, I have also to acknowledge the affectionate greetings that have this day hailed your brother-soldier on the grounds of one of our most important battles.

" Although, owing to some accidental occurrences, victory was not that day on our side, the manner in which it was disputed by our pa-

132

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

triptic troops did, no doubt, contribute to inspire several of the British leaders with a spirit of caution more than once beneficial to us. The thought of its having been my first action under the American stand- ard and our great and good commander-in-chief, in company with your gallant Chester Countyman, my friend, Gen. Wayne, and my other comrades, the honor to have mingled my blood with that of many other American soldiers on the heights of the Brandywine, had been to me a source of pride and delight near half a century before, and it has lately been an occasion of the most honorable, kind, and gratifying remembrance, as it is now an object of your friendly con- gratulations.

" Happy I am, also, in your testimonies of affection and esteem for my conduct in the vicissitudes of my life on both hemispheres, and I beg you, my dear sir, and you, gentlemen of the committee, to accept in your own name, and in hohalf of the people of Chester County, my affectionate and respectful acknowledgment."

When the dinner was concluded the following toasts and sentiments were drank, accompanied by the music of the excellent band belonging to Capt. Joseph Pearce's company of junior artillerists :

REGULAR TOASTS.

1. "Our Country :" Blest with the oldest legitimate government now in existence.

Music : Hail Columbia.

2. " The President of the United States."

President's March.

3. "The Governor of Pennsylvania." Governor's March.

4. "The Memory of the Father of his Country." Roslin Castle.

5. "The Heroes and Statesmen of the Revolution." Washington's March.

6. " The late Presidents of the United States: Enjoying in their dignified retirement the benedictions of a free and grateful people. What a lesson to the necupants and supporters of thrones !"

In the Downhill of Life.

7. " The Nation's Guest : While our country reveres and lauds her WASHINGTON, and our county justly boasts of her WAYNE, the vo- taries of rational liberty in both hemispheres claim an interest in LA- FAYETTE." [Cheers.]

Marseilles Hymn.

When this toast was drank the general arose, and, after thanking the committee for the honor done him, proposed the following, which was cordially greeted by the company :

By Gen. Lafayette .- " The County of Chester, and the memory of her gallant citizen, Gen. Wayne: May the blood spilled by thou- sands, with equal merit in the cause of independence and freedom, ba to the ensuing generations an eternal pledge of unalloyed republican- iem, federal union, public prosperity, and domestic happiness."

Stony Point.

8. "The 11th of September, 1777: A day consecrated to liberty by the blood of her votaries on the banks of the Brandywine; though the sacrifice was great, the reward was rich indeed."

Auld Lang Syne.

9. "The Amiable Family of La Grange: Who possess the only prior claims we can ever recognize to the person of our illustrious friend and benefactor."

Life let us Cherish.

10. " The Army and Navy of the United States: The shield and buckler of the nation, wielded only in defense of its just rights." Yankee Doodle.

11. "Bolivar : Great is the character which he has to sustain, for he has nobly acquired that of the 'Washington of the South.'" Hail to the Chief!

12. " Greece : May her sons ba animated with the spirit of their ancestors until she is restored to her ancient liberty and grandeur." Cavia.

13. " The American Fair : Whose virtues adorn the republic, and whose smiles reward its benefactors."

Green Grow the Rushes O !

VOLUNTEER TOASTS.

By the Hon. Isaac Wayne .- " The people of the United States : May they ever feel grateful for that protecting hand which has safely conducted to each of the twenty-four States of their Union the gal- lant defender, the early and steady benefactor of their country, the nation's guest, the good, the amiable and intelligent LAFAYETTE."

By Capt. William Anderson .- " The genuine Republican, Gen. La- fayette : Who has in all and the most trying situations adhered to and promoted the cause of liberty."

By Gen. John W. Cuningham .- " The Memory of Washington : In the cabinet and in the field we ne'er shall look upon his like again." By Ziba Pyle, Esq. (chief burgess of West Chester) .- " General Lafayette: His visits to Chester County, in 1777 and 1825, will be held in grateful remembrance by its citizens."

By Brig .- Gen. Joshua Evans .- " Our honored Guest : In his youth he shed his blood on the banks of the Brandywine in defense of American Liberty, and in his old age he will be borne on the grate- ful hosom of the Brandywine to the embraces of his family."

By Dr. William Darlington .- "The fields of the Brandywine: Irrigated, on the Cadmean system of agriculture, with the blood of Revolutionary patriota, the teeming crop must ever be Independent freemen."

By the Hon. Lewis McLane, of Delaware .- " The battle-ground we have viewed to-day : Whether the theatre of victory or defeat, let the effects be tested by the free industry and happy population which now crowd its surface."

By Abraham Baily, Esq .- " The Memory of Maj .- Gen. Anthony Wayne: His distinguished services as a soldier and statesman emi- nently entitle him to the grateful remembrance of his countrymen."

By the Committee of Reception .- " Our brethren, the City Coun- cils of Philadelphia : To whose gentlemanly kindness and attention we are greatly indebted on this happy occasion."

By Joseph S. Lewis, Esq., of the City Councils .- "The cordial affection existing between Philadelphia and her sister counties: May it always continue and constantly increase."

After the eighth regular toast, given above, was drank, the following song was volunteered and sung by Dr. Wil- liam Darlington :

LAFAYETTE AT BRANDYWINE.

Tune, Auld Lang Syne.

Should days of trial be forgot, Although those days have fled ? Can we neglect the sacred spot Where patriot heroes bled ? CHORUS .- Ah, no ! those days of auld lang syne We never can forget, When with our sires to Brandywine Cama gallant Lafayette.

By Brandywine's enchanting stream Our swains in peace abode- Until the tyrant's minion cama To stain its banks with blood. Cno .- And oh ! those days, etc.

To meet the foemen on the plain Each patriot onward press'd, And there, with Washington and Wayne, Appeared our honor'd guest. CHO .- Those anxious days, eto.

And there he bore him in the van, Where Washington still led ; And to sustain the rights of man The youthful warrior bled. CHO .- Those fearful days, etc.

Then long as our romantic. stream Shull roll its silver wave, Its vales shall echo with the name Of Lafayette, the brave. CHO,-For, ah ! those days of auld lang syne We never cnn forget, When with our sires to Brandywine Came gallant Lafayette.

"SHADY HOME." RESIDENCE OF R. F. AND J.D. WILSON (OLD HOMESTEAD ) EAST NOTTINGHAM CHESTER CO. PA

RES. AND PAPER MILL OF HARVEY GRAVES, EAST NOTTINGHAM, CHESTER CO.PA .

RES. OF FRANKLIN JONES, TREDYFERIN TP. CHESTER CO.PA.

133

GENERAL HISTORY.

At the conclusion of the toasts a number of citizens were introduced to the general in the court-room, and then repaired again to the residence of Ziba Pyle, Esq., on Gay Street, where he spent the night. During the evening be was visited by a large number of persons of both sexcs, who were kindly received by him. Among others to whom he gave an affectionate welcome was a daughter of Associate Judge John Davis, a veteran under his command at Yorktown, Va., who was introduced by Col. Isaac Wayne.

As he was under engagement to breakfast the next morning at Maj. John Filson's, at Humphreyville, on the Strasburg road, he retired at an early hour, and in the morning, accompanied by Col. Joseph Mcclellan, Col. Jacob Humphrey, Col. Cromwell Pearce, and Gen. Isaac D. Barnard, and a number of citizens, he set out for that place. Col. Humphrey rode in the carriage with him. About half-past nine o'clock they reached Maj. Filson's, where a great number of persons had assembled, and where they were also met, according to previous arrangements, by a committee from Lancaster. The spacious room in which the breakfast was served was beautifully decorated with wreaths and festoons of evergreens, bespangled with flowers. From the centre of an arch, directly over the general's place at the table, and partially enveloped in the evergreen, a small golden eagle was suspended. The neat and delicate taste displayed in the decorations drew forth high com- mendations from those present. At the tahle Lafayette was seated between Col. McClellan and Col. Humphrey, two of his old companions-in-arms.

After breakfast three barouches, each with four horses attached, which had been sent from Lancaster for his re- ception, were drawn up. Gen. Lafayette, accompanied by Gen. George B. Porter, chairman of the Lancaster com- mittee, ascended the first, and the others were occupied by his son, secretary, and the other members of the Lancaster committee. They proceeded by way of the Strasburg road to Lancaster, and the Chester County committee returned to their homes. From his entrance into Chester County to his departure therefrom his reception and progress were one continued scene of welcome, triumph, and joy.

Gen. Lafayette proceeded from Lancaster to Baltimore, and thence to Washington, where he was the guest of President John Quincy Adams. He visited the then ex- Presidents, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, the latter accompanied by President Adams, at their respective resi- dences in Virginia, and on the 7th of September, 1825, sailed for his home in a new frigate, named, in compliment to him, the " Brandywine." The scenes at his departure, as given in Niles' Weekly Register, were of a most inter- esting character.

In December, 1824, while he was in this country, Con- gress voted him a grant of $200,000 and a township of land, "in consideration of his important services and ex- penditures during the American Revolution." His large hereditary fortune had been mostly lost by confiscation during what is known as the " Reign of Terror" in France.

Somebody having presented the city of Philadelphia with a grape-shot represented to be the identical one that wounded the Marquis de Lafayette at the battle of Brandy-

wine, our friend, Chalkley Harvey, thus writes to the Led- ger that there must he some mistake, and we rather guess friend Harvey is correct :

" CHADS' FORD, July 12, 1876.

" Mn. EDITOR,-Without at all courting controversy, I would ask for a word in reply to J. P. Campbell's statement in to-day's Ledger, of the grape-shot he presented in your city as being the ' identical one' which wounded the Marquis de Lafayette at the battle of Brandy- wine, and which 'was stopped by a stone wall,' etc.# Now, whilst it scems a pity to do aught to spoil the history as given of this one-and- a-half-inch iron ball, such as our fields were strewn with for many years following said battle, I cannot allow it to pass without assuring you that, unless Gen. Lafayette was himself greatly mistaken (and the presumption is he was not), there was not then, nor has there been up to this day, a stone wall of any description within several hundred yards of where this occurred; and I make this assertion from having, when in my eleventh year, seen this noble hero stand in the Messrs. Duponts' open carriage and point out the ground upon which his wound was received.

"I, with three young companions, was sitting on a fence beneath a tree at the roadside, and so close to him that we could hear every word uttered. And I might further add that within the past twenty years Edmund Lafayette, in company with Capt. (afterwards Commo- dore) F. Dupont, spent a day with me in viewing these fields, once the scene of bloody strife. And it may be presumed we talked of all we knew relative to what occurred on that memorable day ; and if he knew anything of this ball, or of his illustrious grandsire having visited Isabella McCloskey for the purpose of seeing it, he omitted to tell what would have been to us a matter of much interest. Now, whilst I do not doubt that the owner of this grape-shot has been led to greatly prize it through the story connected therewith, yet I do greatly doubt its being the identical ball which wounded the Marquis de Lafayette.

"C. HARVEY."

CHESTER COUNTY IN THE MEXICAN WAR.

VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COUNTY.

The war between the United States and Mexico began in May, 1846, and the first battle which was fought be- tween the two armies of the sister republics was on the 8th of May, at Palo Alto, on the east side of the Rio Grande River. Soon after the declaration of war by the American Congress, Pennsylvania was called upon for her quota of troops, and while from this county no company or organization of soldiers went, there was quite a number of men who enlisted in regiments of the State recruited and organized in other parts of its borders. Of those who went forth to battle for the conceived national honor may be mentioned the following, in addition to many others whose names arc inaccessible : Levi P. Knerr, who served as a lieutenant throughout that war, and wrote home to his borough paper a number of letters describing battles and marches, which were published in the Phoenixville Pioneer, then edited by Bayard Taylor, the future renowned traveler and poet. William S. Mendendall, born at Chads' Ford,

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.

History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 36

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162