USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > History of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the territory included within its limits to the present time > Part 34
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November, 23rd, " Resolved, That the salt now in the posses- sion of the Council of Safety, be immediately sent to the Committee of the several Counties in the following proportions, to wit : * *
The share of Chester County was eighty bushels.
" The Committees are to sell it to the people at the rate of 15s. pr. Bushel, and in no greater quantity than half a bushell to any one family; they are to make as equal distribution as they can, according to the necessities of the people, for which purpose they are to require a declaration of what quantity they are possessed of more than their just proportion of this necessary article, at a time of such very great scarcity of it."
Dec. 4th. "An order was drawn on Mr. Nesbit in favour of
1 Penna. Archives, v. 27.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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Dr. Robert Harris, for £58, for making powder for Congress, to be charged to his Acco't."
" Mr. Towers was directed to deliver Dr. Robert Harris one ton of Salt Petre, & Sulphur in proportion, to make into Gun powder."
"" Mr. Nesbitt to pay Jno. Morton £3-6-0, for wharfage of the Floating Battery Arnold, in March last."
" Resolved, That Thomas Marle be employed to fix the Boom to the Piers at Fort Island, and to be stationed there to have the care of it, to receive orders, and to be subject to the com- manding officer at that station, and he is to employ a sufficient number of hands, and do this business without any delay."
Dr. Thomas Bond proposed "instituting Hospitals for the sick in Darby, Chester, Marcus Hook, Wilmington & Newcastle." " I think," he says, " the water carriage from Trenton to those places would save much carting, and this plan much better than one proposed of sending the sick to East Town, [Easton] Beth- lehem, Nazareth, Reading, &c."
The successful attack made by General Washington, on the night of the 25th December, on a body of Hessians encamped at Trenton, and the capture of a large number of them, with a great number of guns and military stores, at once turned the tide of events, at this period, in favor of the American cause, and re- lieved our people from any immediate apprehension of the pre- sence of the enemy.
As nearly as can be ascertained, up to the close of the year 1776, the several meetings of the Society of Friends within what now constitutes Delaware County, had disowned eighty-one members for being concerned in military affairs. But three or four were reclaimed who had taken up arms. The minutes of the meetings during this period show an increased activity in visiting such members as continued to hold slaves, and generally with good success. Many slaves were emancipated by members of the Society about this time. A more lively testimony was borne by the meetings than heretofore against the use of alco- holic drinks. Early in the following year, "friends are advised and desired to avoid being concerned in the distillation of grain, or selling grain to such as distil, or purchasing the produce thereof."
The year 1777 was the most eventful period of the revolution- ary war. To the people of this County it was a period of the direst calamity. Circumstances placed the seat of war in our midst, and the events of the year being adverse to the American cause, our people, almost without discrimination or exception, were subjected to the ravages and plunder of the successful inva- ders of our soil.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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Though relieved from the apprehension of an immediate at- tack on Philadelphia, the Council of Safety did not slacken their efforts in providing for the defence of that city. Early in January an order was issued to County Committees of the nine counties nearest the city, to furnish 38,000 bushels of horse-feed for the army. The apportionment of Chester County was 4000 bushels.
The suspicion that Gen. Howe intended to attack Philadelphia by water, was confirmed by the arrest of one James Molesworth,1 who had been sent on from New York to secure pilots to conduct the British fleet up the Delaware. Subsequent movements of Howe rendered it difficult to decide whether he would carry out this intention, and made it necessary to embrace a wider scope in providing for the defence of the city.
On the 25th of April, at the request of Congress, a call was made for 3000 militia, one-half of whom were to be encamped at or near Chester. Each soldier was to be provided with a blanket, but if blankets cannot be purchased, " they must be impressed." At this time the number of men returned in Chester County ca- pable of bearing arms, was 5000.
It was required of the Committees of the Counties of Phila- delphia, Chester and Bucks, "to take an inventory of all the flour, wheat, Rye & Indian Corn, Oats, Beef, Pork, Horses, Neat Cattle, Shecp, Hogs, &c., also wagons, carts, &c. in said Counties." The ostensible object of this inventory was to have the articles removed in case of any sudden alarm ; but it is pro- bable that a desire to know what amount of provisions and means of transportation could be made available for our army, was at the bottom of this enumeration.
The defences on the Delaware were submitted to the inspec- tion of a French engineer named De Coudray. In his report he utterly condemns the works at Billingsport and Fort Mifflin as almost useless. Of the fort at Red Bank he says, "This fort is better conceived, directed and executed than either of those above mentioned. It does the more honor to Col. Bull, [who superintended its erection] as he had no other assistance than natural good sense, unenlightened by theory." He, however, also condemns this fort for the object for which it was construct- ed, and recommends a radical change in the plan and construc- tion of that at Billingsport. The fort at Red Bank, Fort Mifflin, and all the gun-boats, floating batteries, fire-ships, and chevaux- de-frize, were constructed wholly at the expense of Pennsylvania ; the fort at Billingsport alone having been erected at the charge of the United Colonies. A considerable amount of money was ex- pended in remodeling this latter fort, but it appears never to have answered any valuable purpose.
1 Molesworth was executed on the 31st March, 1777 .- Penna. Packet.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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Upon the application of General Schuyler, of the Continental army, an order was issued by the Board of War' for the collec- tion of 4000 blankets in Pennsylvania for the use of the Conti- nental troops. These blankets were to be collected from the inhabitants "in such quantities as is proportionate to the num- ber they have in the family, and the stock of blankets they may be possessed of ; for which blankets they shall be paid the full value, according to an appraisement to be made of them." The proportion to be furnished by Chester County was five hun- dred.2
Early in June, General Howe, commander of the British forces at New York, showed a disposition to advance by land across New Jersey, and to take possession of Philadelphia. On the 14th of that month he actually made an advance by two columns, which led General Washington to believe that this was his real intention. This information being communicated to Congress the same day, that body ordered, " That the 2nd Class of the Militia of the County of Philadelphia, Chester, Bucks, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, & Northampton, be ordered to march to the places to which the first class of the said counties respectively are ordered, and that the third class be got in readiness to march, and also that the 1st and second classes of the City Militia, be ordered to march to Bristol, & the 3rd Class hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice." This order was promptly responded to by the Supreme Executive Council of the State, who issued a circular letter to the Lieutenants3 of the counties named, "to forward the first Class of Militia immediately, and to hold the second class in readiness to march at the shortest notice." Forty wagons were also ordered to be sent from Chester County, thirty from Phila- delphia, and thirty from Berks.
But it so turned out that the marching of Howe was intended to draw General Washington from the strong position he then occupied, and in that event to give him battle, which he declined to do as our troops were then posted. Washington wisely re- fused to risk his army in an open field fight, and Howe would not venture to cross the Delaware, leaving so large a force as that commanded by Washington in his rear, so that Philadelphia was again relieved from being attacked by the way of New Jersey. The policy of the British general was understood in
1 The Board of War consisted of nine persons, and was constituted by the Supreme Executive Council, March 13, 1777. Col. Rec. xi. 181.
2 Penna. Packet.
3 There was a Lieutenant appointed for each county, who, with a number of Sub- Lientenants, appear to have had the general management of military matters in their respective counties. Colonel Robert Smith was the Lieutenant of Chester County.
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the course of a few days, and, as a consequence, on the 25th of June the order for the marching of our local militia was sus- pended.
Besides the regular army and militia, there were at this time, independent companies of volunteers. On the 11th of June, Benjamin Brannen, Esq., one of the Sub-Lieutenants of Chester County, informed the Council, "that there were several com- panies of Artillery Men formed in that county, and requested that they may be furnished with a piece of Artillery proper for exercising the men, and also a few pounds of powder for prac- ticing the Firings with." A proper piece, and twelve pounds of powder were ordered to be furnished.
The militia appear to have been divided into eight classes. When a class was called out, many belonging to it could not, or would not go. The deficiency was made up by the employment of substitutes, either taken from the other classes, or from those not subject, by law, to the performance of military duty. These substitutes were procured by means of a bounty, which was paid by the State, to be remunerated by the fines imposed on de- linquents, and varied from £15 to £50, for two months' service. In some regiments the number of substitutes nearly equaled the number of those regularly drafted. The system of employing substitutes, at high rates, was much complained of by the officers of the regular army, who regarded it as a serious obstruction to recruiting by enlistments.
It having become apparent that General Howe had definitely changed his plan for gaining possession of Philadelphia, the marching orders for all the militia, except those of Philadel- phia and Chester County, were countermanded. News of the embarkation of a large British force, at New York, very reason- ably suggested the idea that the attack on the Capital of Penn- sylvania would be by way of the river Delaware ; and doubtless that was the plan of General Howe when he sailed. Every effort was accordingly made for the defence of the river. The modification of the works at Billingsport, recommended by De Coudray, was ordered by Congress to be carried out, under the direction of the authorities of Pennsylvania. Much labor was expended at this point, while Fort Mifflin, (but recently known by that name,) and the earth work at Red Bank were strength- ened and improved. Some other points were fortified. One of these was near the mouth of Darby Creek,-doubtless on the Island of Tinicum.
Agreeably to some general suggestions made by the com- mander-in-chief, a survey of the grounds bordering the river, to the distance of four miles from its banks, was ordered by the Council. The surveyors were instructed to note particularly
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the great roads, even beyond four miles ; "the several places where an enemy may land, and the kind of ground adjoining, whether marshy, hilly, open, or covered with woods, and where there are several heights near each other, remarking their alti- tudes and distances apart ;" the streams of water, " as high up as the tide flows, and the places where they may be forded or passed by bridges-where there are swamps near the river, or roads-their kinds and sizes." Passes of difficulty to an army, were to be accurately surveyed and well described. The sur- veyors were directed to enter upon their duties immediately, and with as much secrecy and dispatch as the case would admit, and all persons were requested to be aiding and assisting them in the service.
The duty of making the survey from the Schuylkill to Chris- tina Creek was assigned to Nathan Sellers.1
On the 27th of July, certain information was received by the Council of the approach of the British fleet towards the Delaware Bay. This news produced the highest degree of excitement among the people, and induced the authorities of the State to redouble their exertions to ward off the threatened blow.
A draft of the militia of Philadelphia County had marched before harvest into New Jersey; one from Bucks had guarded the fords of the Delaware for two months; a second class from Bucks, two from the City, and one from Chester, had occupied for some time and assisted in finishing the defences of the Dela- ware between the city and Chester. On the 28th of July, Con- gress made a requisition on the Executive Council of Pennsyl- vania for 4000 militia in addition to those already in service ; in response to which, the Council, on the same day, ordered one class to be immediately called into service from the city, and one class from each of the counties of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, and North- ampton; also a detachment of artillery from the City of Phila- delphia, equal to three-eighths of the whole. Most of these troops were directed " to march immediately for Chester."
The persons appointed to drive off the cattle from the borders of the Delaware,2 on the approach of the enemy, were reminded of the importance of their trust, and of the necessity of holding themselves in readiness for the performance of it when the ex- pected emergency should happen. Caleb Davis, who had been recently appointed Prothonotary, &c., for Chester County, was directed to remove the County Records from the town of Chester
1 Penna. Archives, v. 441.
2 The persons upon whom devolved the duty of driving off the live stock in Chester County, were : Saml. Levis, Wm. Kerlin, Sketchley Morton, John Pearson, Nicholas Deihl, Isaac Hendrickson, Isaac Serrill, Harvey Lewis, and Ja'c. Richards .- Col. Rec.
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to a place of greater security.1 On the 31st of July, certain information was received of the fleet approaching and entering the Delaware Bay to the number of 228 vessels of war and transports. Arms were wanted for the Militia that had been called out, and as an expedient for supplying them, those per- sons who had refused to take the oath of allegiance were directed to be disarmed, "and their arms made use of by those who are willing, at the risk of their lives, to defend their liberty and property."2
On the same day, circulars were again issued by the Council to the County Lieutenants, giving the news of the approach of the fleet, and exhorting them to use every exertion to have the Militia at Chester as soon as possible. Volunteers from the classes not called were cordially invited "to step forward on this great and important occasion, before it may be their turn to go into the field in the class to which they belonged. The persons appointed to drive off the cattle and other live stock from the neighborhood of the river, were also notified of the appearance of the enemy at the Capes of the Delaware, and of the near approach of the hour when the execution of their trust could no longer be delayed. At the same time they were ad- vised that Congress had likewise committed to their care the removal of wagons and carts. The works at Billingsport were hurried on towards completion, and every arrangement within the means of the Council was made to resist the invaders.
Persons were appointed to take an account of all the wheat, flour, grain and other stores in the County of Chester within twenty miles westward of the river Delaware. Other gentlemen were appointed in the western part of the county, "for the pur- pose of Billetting, and providing for the poor that may be re- moved out of the City of Philadelphia." Suspected persons were also to be removed into the interior of the State.
So confidently was the enemy expected to approach Philadel- phia by the Delaware, that the different detachments of the regular army, under Washington, were ordered to march to the vicinity of the city, and requisitions had been made on several counties for wagons to be used in the transportation of army stores. After entering the bay, Gen. Howe found the
1 Henry Hale Graham had for a long time held the offices of Prothonotary, Register, Recorder, &c., for Chester County. Thos. Taylor was appointed as his successor, and on the 26th of March was qualified to perform the duties of these offices, but he does not appear to have assumed those duties, for on the 4th of April Benjamin Jacobs was selected by the Council for the same trust, who, if he assumed the duties thercof, never obtained the possession of the Records, for on the 11th of June, Caleb Davis was qualified as Prothonotary, &c. Up to the 28th of July the Records were still in the possession of Henry Hale Graham, when Caleb Davis was authorized by the Council " to enter the dwelling and out houses" of H. H. Graham, take possession of the books and papers of the county, and remove them to a place of safety.
2 Penna. Archives, v. 472.
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navigation for such an immense naval armament more difficult than he had expected, retraced his steps to the ocean, having determined to make his approach by the way of the Chesapeake. This movement was not at first understood by our people, for no tidings were received from the fleet until the 8th of August, when it was seen some leagues south of Delaware Bay, but soon again disappeared, having been prevented from entering the Chesapeake by contrary winds, until the 16th of that month. It was not, however, until the 22d that the Council was advised of the presence of the enemy in the Chesapeake.
In this period of uncertainty, Washington abated not the least in providing for the defence of the city. On the 15th of August we find him giving directions for the improvement of the defences of the Delaware. More chevaux-de-frize were to be sunk, or " the left bank of Fort Island fortification supported by a good battery capable of resisting the cannon of the ship." The effect of the disappearance of the enemy upon the Executive Council was different. They dreaded expense, and especially unneces- sary expense. An order that had been issued for wagons was countermanded on the 8th of August, and less diligence appears to have been used in forwarding the Militia. Up to the 16th of , August, agreeably to the report of Col. John Evans, only about 1000 Militia had arrived at Chester, and there was no shelter for more, " all the empty houses being occupied." These troops were from the counties of Berks, Cumberland, Lancaster and Chester. The following letter from the Council to some of the Pennsylvania delegation in Congress, still further exhibits the great anxiety of that body to avoid expense, and may serve to explain the policy that lessened the efficiency of the Militia when called into actual service :
" PHILADELPHIA, 20th Augt. 1777. " Gent :
" Council desire, that you will represent to Congress that the Militia last called out in this State, have been rendezvousing at Chester, and are still arriving there. As this is the season for sowing winter corn, on which this county greatly depends, & labourers are become very scarce, they are sensible that great distress must ensue upon continuing these people embodied. In this circumstance, it will afford very sensible satisfaction to the Council, as well as relief to the industrious Inhabitants, if public affairs may admit of the dismissing of part of the Militia, espe- cially as they are very deficient in Arms, & blankets, & totally unprovided with tents."
Two days later, when news of the approach of the enemy by way of the Chesapeake was received, a very sudden change took
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place in the measures adopted by the Council. The threatened danger was at hand. Economy yielded to necessity, and the Council at once resumed the work of preparation with vigor, which had been unwisely slackened during the short period that the enemy remained invisible. Additional troops were ordered to Chester, and an equal number to Downingtown; the militia from Northampton that had been ordered to proceed northward, were now directed to proceed to Lancaster "with all possible expedition," and in pursuance of a recommendation of Congress, all disaffected persons were ordered to be arrested and sent into the interior.
The fleet passed up the Elk river as far as the ships could be navigated with safety, and on the 25th of August landed about 18,000 men, "in good health and spirits, admirably supplied with all the implements of war, and led by an experienced general, of unquestionable military talents."1 On the day before Howe landed, the American army passed through Philadelphia and marched towards the Brandywine. Being deficient in the means of transportation for army baggage, a pressing request was made upon the Council to supply the deficiency. This re- quest was promptly responded to by an order upon the Justices of the Counties of Philadelphia and Chester ; each county being required to furnish twenty-five wagons with four horses each.
General John Armstrong was placed in command of the militia at Chester. In a letter to the President of the Council, dated at that place on the 29th of August, we are informed that out of the " chaos" in which Gen. Armstrong had found things at that place, he had then forwarded 1,800 men; that in concert with Gen. Potter he had formed a rifle regiment [battalion], and placed at the head of it Col. Dunlap, "a prudent man, and not unacquainted with the business of a partisan." This rifle bat- talion, consisting of three hundred privates, which was to march from Marcus Hook the next day, and one hundred and fifty sent from Billingsport the same day, were exclusive of the number above mentioned. The head quarters of Gen. Washington were now at Wilmington, where these troops united with the regular army. On the first of September, the militia that had been called out in Lancaster County were also ordered by Gen. Washington to join his army at Wilmington.
Up to the 3d of September, the enemy had made but little progress towards Philadelphia. Gen. Maxwell had advanced with a body of light troops to Iron Hill, in Pencader Hundred, Delaware, where on that day he was attacked by a column of the British army, led by Lord Cornwallis, and driven beyond White Clay Creek, with a loss of forty killed and wounded.2 Up to the
1 Marshall's Life of Washington. i. 153.
2 Ib. 155.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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5th of September, the main body of the American army had remained in the vicinity of Wilmington, where some works had been thrown up. On that day, the whole body was removed to Newport, and occupied a position between that place and Red Clay Creek, except Gen. Irwin's brigade, which remained at Wilmington in charge of the works at that place. According to the best information that could then be obtained, the British troops were spread over a " considerable space of country, but in a detached way, from Couch's Mills to some part of Notting- ham."1
Pursuant to a recommendation of Congress, a call was made by the Executive Council, on the 6th of September, for 5,000 militia in addition to those already in the field. They were ordered to rendezvous on the heights of Darby, "with what arms they have or can procure, and otherwise equipped in the best manner they may be able." These equipments, including blankets, in case they were taken by the enemy or otherwise unavoidably lost, were to be paid for by the State.2
In order to strengthen the army, Gen. Washington had with- drawn nearly all the troops from the defensive works on the Delaware. The Navy Board became apprehensive "that some parts of the enemy's fleet would soon attempt to invade the city," and on the 5th of September communicated its plans of defence to the Executive Council. Hog Island and the meadows were to be laid under water; flats and boats should be provided to make a bridge from Fort Island to Province Island; ninety or one hundred men should be put in the fort at Darby Creek ; four pieces of cannon should be got to Billingsport ; some person to be put in charge of the fort at Fort Island, and thirty men to be ready to be put on Bush Island. In pursuance of these sug- gestions, Col. Jehu Eyres, with two companies of militia artillery, was ordered to repair to the works that have been named, where, in conjunction with the commanders of the fleet, he was to exert himself "to take, burn, sink or otherwise destroy the enemy's ships or vessels that may attempt to invade this or the neigh- bouring States." He was promised a reinforcement of militia from Buck's County.3
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