USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County : to which is prefixed a brief sketch of the early history of Pennsylvania > Part 30
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After the Declaration, the magistrates who held appointments under the royal authority declined serving longer ; the business of the courts was suspended. Our citizens were left for a while without any constitutional government. In this state of things a committee of safety in Philadelphia undertook the management of affairs, under the unassuming name of recommendations, prescribed to the people of the state.
" On Monday the 15th of July, 1776, a convention for forming the constitution of Pennsylvania, met at Phila- delphia, and elected Benjamin Franklin, president ; col- onel George Ross, vice president; John Morris, secre- tary, and Jacob Garrigues, assistant secretary. The dele- gates from Lancaster county, were George Ross, Philip, Marsteller, Thomas Porter, Bartram Galbraith, Joseph Sherer, John Hubley, Henry Slaymaker and Alexander Lowrey. The convention, after framing the first consti- tution of the State of Pennsylvania, adjourned the 28th September .*
*Several of the provinces had adopted state constitutions. before and after Pennsylvania. New Hampshire adopted the
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As soon as this convention was organized, it assumed the powers of the committee of safety-the political power of the state. One of its first acts was the appoint- ment of delegates to Congress. The delegates were, Messrs. Franklin, Morton, Morris, Wilson, George Ross, James Smith, Benjamin Rush, George Clymer and Geo. Taylor.
Pennsylvania made prodigious exertions, in co-opera- ting with the allied colonies, fully to meet the hostilities. Several regiments were raised and equipped in Lancaster county. "It is believed, had all the other provinces done as much in proportion to their ability,* and the men been first state constitution, January 5, 1776 ; South Carolina, March 24, 1776 ; Virginia, June 29, 1776; New Jersey, July 2, 1776; Maryland, August 14, 1776; Pennsylvania, September, 1776; Delaware, September, 1776 ; North Carolina, December, 1776; New York, April, 1777 ; Massachusetts, March, 1770 ; Vermont, July 4, 1786; Georgia, May, 1789.
The first constitution of Pennsylvania of 1776, was altered and amended by a convention, held at Philadelphia in Novem- ber, 1789. Delegates from Lancaster county were Edward Hand, Robert Coleman, Sebastian Graff, William Atlee, John Hubley, and John Breckbill. This convention framed the second constitution. Another convention was held at Harris- burg, in the spring and summer of 1837. Met May 2-after two month's session, it afterwards met at Philadelphia. The present or third constitution of Pennsylvania, was framed by this convention. Delegates from Lancaster county were Wil- liam Hiester, James Porter, Jeremiah Brown, Lindley Coates, R. E. Cochran, Joseph Konighmacher, Henry G. Long, Emanuel C. Reigart.
A convention commenced at Philadelphia, November 20, 1787, for the purpose of taking into consideration the consti- tution framed by the federal convention for the United States. The delegates from Lancaster county were Stephen Chambers, Robert Coleman, Sebastian Graff, John Hubley, Jasper Yeates, and John Whitehill.
*Graydon's Mem. 116.
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enlisted in war, the Americans might have avoided the hair-breadth escapes which ensued,"* as well as the long continued, arduous conflict of eight years, and an enor- mous sum of expense, besides saving many valuable lives, in delivering themselves from a foreign dominion, and gaining, as they did, a rank among the nations of the earth. Much treasure, and many lives might have been saved. Great Britain expended more than one hundred millions of dollars, with a hundred thousand lives, and won nothing. America expended rising of ninety millions of dollars, and lost many lives, and endured cruelty and distress.
Lancaster county furnished its full quota of militia and continentals, during the Revolution. Her citizens acted early and efficiently. "Prior to the four regiments of St. Clair, Shee, Wayne and Magaw, that of De Haas, and Hand's rifle company, were already raised and equipped, respectively commanded by Miles and Atlee, in the whole, nine regiments complete and very reputably officered."
Numerous are the incidents, and some full of adven- ture, which happened in this county during the Revolu- tion. Gen. Washington, and other distinguished Ameri- can and British officers were in the borough of Lancaster at the period referred to. Though neither battles, nor skirmishes took place within the limits of the county, the wounded and prisoners here were many. At the battle and cannonading of Trenton, December 26, 1776, many of
*The quota furnished by Pennsylvania from 1775 to 1783, consisted of 7357 militia and 22,198 continentals. The aggre- gate quota by all the states was 234,971 continentals and 56,- 163 militia-total 279,134. In the year 1776, Pennsylvania fur- nished 5,519 continentals and 4,876 militia-total 10,395.
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the Hessians,* prisoners taken there, were conveyed to Lancaster borough.
American soldiers were quartered at the barracks and other parts of the county during the winter of '77 and '78. Both the Lutheran and Reformed church at Man- heim were quartered with soldiers. When the battle of Brandy wine was fought, September 11th, 1777, many of the wounded soldiers were conveyed to Ephrata, where about one hundred and fifty of their number, which was rising of five hundred, died.
While General Washington took winter quarters, Gen- eral Wayne encamped in this county, in Mountjoy town- ship, where his men endured no small degree of suffering, as appears from the following letters, from the General to his excellency, Thomas Wharton, Esq., at Lancaster :
*In 1775, the British King entered into treaties with some of the German princes for about seventeen thousand men, who were sent to America early in 1776, to assist in subduing the colonies. Among these were the Hessians, who had been taken at Trenton and conveyed as prisoners to Lancaster. At the close of the Revolution many of them remained and in- termarried with German and English families, whose descend- ants are respectable, and some of the best citizens.
In September, 1843, we visited one of the German mercene- ries, living at Millport, Warwick township; a Mr. Jacob Ha- genberger, who according to his own statement, was born March 3d, 1750, arrived at Quebeck, March 5, 1775. He belonged to Captain Schachter's company ; he was taken prisoner at the surrender of General Burgoyne, October 17, 1777; taken to the barracks near Boston, thence to Winchester, Virginia, thence to Reading, and lastly to Lancaster, where, on the close of the war, he was sold for eighty dollars, for the term of nearly three years to Captain Jacob Zimmerman, of Earl township. Hagenberger is now in his 94th year. His health is good and memory remarkable.
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To his excellency, Thomas Wharton, Esq.
Mountjoy, 28th Dec., 1777 .*
Dear sir :- I was favored with yours of the 12th instant, but the enemy being then out, prevented me from acknowledging it sooner.
I can't help expressing both surprise and concern, at. the councils directing the clothing collected in this state into the hands of the Clothier general-especially after being informed that the other states were collecting clothing for the use of their troops; clothing for the Eastern troops has actually arrived-they are now com- fortable, whilst ours are perishing.
His excellency is also informed that Governor Henry of Virginia, has ordered on clothing for the troops of that state, which he expects every hour.
Thus sir, whilst other states are exerting every power (under a resolve of Congress) to provide for their own troops only-you are following the generous course of providing for the whole-this sir, is being generous out of time-it is an old adage, that a man ought to be just, before he can be permitted to be generous-the case applies in full force here. Supply the immediate wants of your own troops first-then give scope to your generosity.
Enclosed is an estimate of the cost of 650 suits of uniform, which Mr. Zantzinger has provided for the troops of that state. He is in great want of money. I
Secretary's Office, Harrisburg, Oct. 11, 1843.
Mr. I. D. Rupp-Sir: Your letter of the 9th instant was re- ceived, and in reply I would inform you that it appears from the letters you mentioned, that General Wayne had his camp at Mountjoy, in Lancaster county, during the winter of 1777 and 1778. Very respectfully, yours,
CHAS. M'CLURE.
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wish you would assist him to the cash he wants, and to take some effectual method to clothe the troops in the best, speediest, and neatest manner possible. Lest you should be under a deception with regard to the mode in which the clothing in the hands of the Clothier general Is dis- tributed, I am to inform you that they are delivered in proportion to their wants (or in plain English) to the number of men in each regiment throughout the army.
Judge how far inadequate our proportion must be to our wants, whilst the troops from other states have an equal dividend in addition to their other supplies.
At this inclement season, one third of our troops are totally destitute of either shoes, stockings, shirts or blankets,* so that unless they receive an immediate supply of those necessary articles, sickness, death and desertion will be the inevitable consequence.
I am your excellency's most ob't humble serv't,
ANT'Y WAYNE, B. G.
I have directed Mr. Zantzinger to call on you for money. I wish you to order the clothier general to esti- mate the price of the clothing, which, agreeable to a resolve of Congress is to be in proportion to the pay of the officers and men-the states to be at the loss of the surplus. A. W.
To his excellency, Thomas Wharton, Esq., President of Pennsylvania, Lancaster.
Camp Mountjoy, February, 1778.
Dear sir :- Enclosed is a list of the officers sent on the
*1777, 2d May, Bartram Galbraith, James Crawford, Adam Ordt, Robert Thompson, Joshua Elder, Christopher Crawford, William Atlee, John Hubley, Alexander Lowry, Curtis Grubb, Philip Marsteller, Matthias Slough and Adam Reigart, were appointed by the war-office, to supply the army with blankets, &c. for Lancaster county, Pa.
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recruiting service from my division who, you will see by the within instructions, are directed to wait on your ex- cellency for recruiting orders. I wish they may meet with that success that the exigence of the case requires, but I fear that nothing short of a draft will save America ; however the effect of a total prohibition of the substitute business ought first to be tried. I flatter myself that when the people (who used to hire themselves as substitutes) once find that no more hundred dollars can be had in that way, that they will enlist in the line of the continent.
But I am confident that they never will whilst any idea is held up of a family substitute, for it is only hiring a man to-day, and he may be sent to-morrow as substitute belonging to my family.
Will you, and the honorable Council, use your influence with the House of Assembly to put this substitute busi- ness totally out of the question, for believe me that the salvation of this State depends upon the exertions that may be made during the winter towards filling the con- tinental regiment.
I wish you to order all such recruits as may be enlisted, to be completely uniformed before they leave Lancaster. I also wish that no more cloth be made up in coats unless it be blue ; but that all the rest be made into over-alls and vests, except such colors as will admit of being dyed blue. The Virginians have received blue cloth sufficient for to uniform the whole of their troops, so that I fear we shall be eclipsed by all the other states, unless we take some pains to give our soldiers an elegant uniform ; for I do lay it down as a position that the best dressed troops will ever be both the healthiest and bravest with equal discipline and regimen. .
The Clothier general informed me when I was at Lan-
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caster, that there were shirts plenty at camp ; I find he was mistaken, for although some hundreds of our poor worthy fellows have not a single rag of a shirt, (but are obliged to wear their waistcoats next their skins, and to sleep in them at night,) I have not been able to draw a single shirt from the store; for the want of which our men are falling sick in numbers every day-contracting vermin, and dying in hospitals, in a condition shocking to humanity, and horrid in idea ; for God's sake procure a quantity for me, if you strip the Dutchmen for them- which I beg your order to camp, together with such other clothing as may be ready, with all possible despatch.
Interim, I am your excellency's most obedient
And very humble servant,
ANT'Y WAYNE.
To his excellency Thomas Wharton, Esq, Lancaster : Mountjoy, 27th March, 1776.
Dear sir :- It's at last concluded to throw the Pennsyl- vania troops into one division, after reducing them to ten regiments, which I believe will be as many as we can fill. I have but little hopes of being supplied with many recruits, unless the officers in the back counties meet with more success than those in Philadelphia and Chester; an officer from the latter came in yesterday, after being out five weeks, without a single recruit.
I would beg leave to suggest the expediency of em- ploying a greater number of officers on that business in Berks, Lancaster, York and Cumberland counties, as the most likely places to meet with success. I fear all our exertions in this way will fall far short of our wishes, and that nothing but a draft will be adequate to the business.
It's rumored that the enemy have evacuated Rhode Island, and are drawing all their force to one focus. If this should be the case, as we have grounds to think it is,
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they will be too powerful for us in the field, unless great and speedy supplies be thrown in. It therefore becomes the duty of the state to make an immediate and effectual exertion to complete her quota of men; but whilst this is doing, let me entreat you, sir, not to neglect providing the linen over-alls and other clothing, to enable us to take the field with some eclat, which will add both spirit and health to your troops ; for you may rest assured nine out of ten deaths and desertions, in this army, are owing to dirt and nakedness.
I have the happiness to inform your excellency that the troops of this state enjoy a much greater share of health than any other post of the army, and I pledge my reputation to keep them so, on condition that I can be provided with linen and other clothing.
It's to you, sir, that we look up to for those matters- and in this case we consider you as our common father. Adieu, my dear sir, and believe me
Yours, most sincerely,
ANT'Y WAYNE.
To his excellency, Governor Thomas Wharton, Esq., Lancaster :
Mountjoy, April 10th, 1778.
Dear sir :- Agreeable to your desire, I have ordered up an additional number of recruiting officers, who are well recommended for their industry and sobriety, and who I wish were tolerated to enlist in any quarter where it is most probable they may meet with success; as con- fining them to particular counties will rather retard than expedite the recruiting service. I communicated your idea to his excellency, of constantly employing some officers in that business, in order to keep the regiment and corps complete, which meet his warmest approba- tion, and he requests, through me, that your excellency
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would adopt so salutary a measure, as it is of the first consequence to have veterans, in place of raw raised troops, which will always be the case if the recruiting business is put off till the spring of the year; and then the time is so short that we can't hope either to complete or maneuvre our corps before they take the field. I wish your excellency to order the recruits to be clothed and appointed before they leave Lancaster, as they can't be supplied here, the sixteen additional regiments, and the Carolina troops being ordered to be supplied previous to any others, so that we have little prospect of receiving any benefit from the Clothier general's store in this quarter ; and although tolerable with regard to shoes, stockings and hats, we are but wretchedly provided in other respects, particularly as to shirts. I do assure your excellency that there are near one-third of my men that have no kind of shirts under heaven; and scarcely a man in the division with more than one, nor have I been able to draw any during this whole winter. For God's sake endeavor to do something for us; the season has now arrived that requires every attention to keep the troops healthy, and nothing will be more conducive to it than clean linen; in this article we are in a worse con- dition than any troops on the ground; now worse than Falstaff's recruits-they had a shirt and a half to a com- pany. You will pardon me for dwelling so long on this subject, but upon my soul I cannot help it ; my feelings as a man are so much hurt by the complainings and misery of the poor fellows, who have no shirts at all, that I can have no peace of mind until they are provided.
A quantity of superfine cloth, and about 12 or 1500 yards of linens and cloths were purchased by Colonel Miller, and left in the hands of Mr. Jacob Eichelberger at York, for the use of our troops; will you be kind
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enough to order Mr. Howell to send for it, lest other troops should receive the benefit of that which we are so much in want of.
A woman who has been in Philadelphia for three or four days, and this moment returned, says that the gen- eral report there is, that in the course of two weeks the enemy intend to take the field; but at the quarters of some principal officers they have frequently been over- heard talking in a desponding style, and that they can't move until they receive reinforcements, with severe sarcasms against their generals. Who they wish to be recalled, and who I hope will not, until we have an opportunity to Burgoyne him ; but this will depend upon the exertion of the states; at present he out numbers us, and by the last accounts New England is so absorbed in accumulating wealth, that they have become totally insensible to our sufferings and danger, and sunk into a torpid supineness, from which it is difficult to rouse them.
I am your excellency's most obedient And very humble servant, By order of General Wayne.
BEN. FISHBURN, A. D. C. To his excellency Thomas Wharton, Esq., Lancaster : Mountjoy, 16th April, 1778.
Dear sir :-- Mr. Donaldson of York, who will deliver you this letter, has been kind enough to offer his services in procuring shirts for our troops. He thinks that he could supply us with three or four hundred in a week, and that he has linnen now on hand sufficient to make six hundred, and that he can procure a large quantity if properly empowered and supplied with cash.
The necessitous situation of our troops, for want of shirts, justify any manner, and requires every exertion to procure our immediate supply.
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I therefore wish your excellency to give Mr. Donald- son power for that purpose. We shall certainly want in the whole 9000 shirts, and 9000 pair of overalls.
I herewith transmit you the returns of the two Brigades of Pennsylvania troops, under my command-the sick now in company contained in the returns, have been laid up for want of clothing, except in a few instances ; there is scarcely one of them that has a shirt. I shall order a general return of the whole Pennsylvania line to be made out, which I shall transmit next week.
Interim I am with every esteem,
Your excellency's most obedient And very humble servant,
ANT'Y WAYNE. To his excellency Thomas Wharton, Esq., Lancaster : Mountjoy, 18th April, 1778.
Dear sir :- Colonel Butler of the 9th Pennsylvania regi- ment, among other business, wants clothing for his regi- ment. I wish him to be indulged if it can be done without prejudice to the other part of the line.
I have procured from Mr. Zantzinger, since November last, about five hundred and fifty coats, two hundred waistcoats, three hundred and eighty pair of breeches, and an equal number of stockings, about one hundred pair of shoes, and several hundred hats; these have been distributed among nine regiments, and has only in part clothed about one fourth of them. All the clothing as yet furnished by this state, has been distributed between the 3d, 6th, 9th, 12th and 13th, which I believe is rather more than came to the share of the other nine. I there- fore wish all such clothing as may be ready to be sent together, and I will undertake to see impartial justice done to the whole, for I believe no one at present is better off for them than another, except Colonel Stewart
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and Colonel Hartly, which are well clothed; most of the others are in a wretched condition.
I am your excellency's humble servant,
ANT'Y WAYNE.
Fearful their deliberations might be interrupted, while in session at Philadelphia, Congress resolved to remove from Philadelphia. " On the 18th of September, 1777, Congress sat as usual, and after having fulfilled the regu- lar hours of daily service, adjourned to 10 o'clock the next morning, but during the adjournment the president received a letter from Colonel Hamilton, one of General Washington's aids, which intimated the necessity of Con- gress leaving their place of deliberation. The members resolved at once to repair to Lancaster, where they arrived on the 27th of September, the very day when Sir William Howe entered Philadelphia, and took peace- able possession of it.
The treasury books, papers, money, &c. were carried from Philadelphia to Bristol, thence by Reading to Lan- caster. This circuitous route was to avoid falling into the hands of the enemy, who were at that time still in Chester county, where, a few days previous, the battle of Brandywine had been fought.
Congress met, but fearful that Lancaster was too easily accessible to the enemy, they determined the broad Sus- quehanna should flow between them and the enemy .- They adjourned the same day of their first meeting to York. The first day of their session at York was the 30th September, 1777 ; here Congress remained till June 27, 1778, when they adjourned to meet at the State House in Philadelphia .*
Though the conflict continued long, the ardor of the citizens of Lancaster county did not abate in opposing
*His. York county. 1
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encroachments upon their rights, no matter from what source they anticipated them. Action, vigilance and union of efforts, seemed to have been their motto on all occasions of apprehended or real danger.
A circular was issued at Hanover, now Dauphin county, November 28, 1782, calling a meeting at Man- heim, to take into consideration measures touching their jeoparded liberties, as it was then thought. We give the circular and proceedings :
Dear sir :- The officers and representatives of the ninth battalion of Lancaster county militia, upon consultation, have concluded from the present complexion of the present House of Assembly, that the constitution and liberty of the State are at stake in some measure; and sensible of the importance of what has caused us so much blood and treasure, we have thought it incumbent upon us to exert ourselves for their preservation, as far as our influence extends, and to warn all who would wish to be free from the dangers that seem to impend, not doubting at the same time but you are ready to take the alarm, as you must be sensible of the same danger.
We do not think it necessary to multiply words, tending to inspire your spirit, for we are of opinion you possess the same, and have been only waiting to know the senti- ments of your fellow friends of Liberty. Let us not then coolly and simply suffer any of our rights to be taken from us by any men, especially as our constitution invests us with full power to oppose any such attempt .- Perhaps our fears are groundless ; but in case of appar- ent danger, which undoubtedly is our present case, a wise man will be on his guard; and therefore let us meet at Manheim, on the 15th day of January next, in order that we may mutually contrive such measures as may have a
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tendency to preserve our good and inestimable constitu- tion, and our dear Independence and sweet Liberty.
Be active and do not fail to fulfil our request.
JOHN ROGERS, Colonel.
To the Colonels of Lancaster county militia.
Hanover, November 28th, 1782.
MILITIA MEETING.
Present : Colonel Thomas Edwards, colonel Ziegler, colonel Lowry, majors Cook, Kelly, Hays and Hare, colonel Ross, Mr. Chambers, captain Ewing, captain J. Hubley, colonel Rogers, Mr. Clark, captain Laird, colo- nel Elder.
On motion, colonel Rogers was unanimously chosen chairman, and captain Joseph Hubley, secretary.
Colonel Rogers made a neat and appropriate speech, explaining the objects of the meeting, that a rumor was in circulation calculated to do much injury: " That the President* of the State of Pennsylvania was hostile to the independence of America."
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