USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 45
USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 45
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"As the Flying Camp is closely connected with the hon- ors and the sufferings of many men in this county, we will briefly state its history. Congress, on the 3d of June, 1776, Resolved, that a Flying Camp be established in the middle colonies, and thatit consist of 10,000 men :' to complete 9* :
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
which number, it was resolved, that the colony of Pennsyl- vania be required to furnish of the militia, 6,000
Maryland, Delaware,
3,400
600
10,000
" The militia were to be engaged until the 1st of Decem- ber following; that is, about six months. The conference of committees for Pennsylvania, then held at Philadelphia, resolved, on the 14th of June, that 4,500 of the militia should be embodied ; which, with the 1,500 then in the pay of the Province, would make 6,000, the quota required by Congress. The same conference, on the 25th, recommended to the associators of York county, to furnish 400.
Thus, York county furnishing 400
The other counties, and Philadelphia city, in all 4,100
Troops under Col. Miles, 1,500
Made, 6,000
" The Convention of the State, on the 12th of August, resolved to add four additional battalions of the Flying Camp, York county being required to furnish 515 men to- ward making out the number of 2,894, the amount of the four new battalions." On the same day, Col. George Ross, Vice President of the Convention, Col. Thomas Matlack of Philadelphia, and Col. Henry Schlegel, of York county, were chosen, by ballot, commissioners, to go to head quar- ters, New Jersey, to form the Flying Camp.
"The Flying Camp was, accordingly, soon formed : it . consisted of three brigades. The Brigadier General of the first brigade was James Ewing of York county ; his brigade . consisted of three battalions, the first of which was com- manded by Col. Swope, of York county; the second, by Col. Bull, of Chester county; and the third, by Col. Watts,
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
of Cumberland county, father of the late David Watts, Esq. of Carlisle. Of the other brigades and battalions, we are not, at present, able to speak with much certainty.
" As the two battalions, formed from the five battalions of York county militia, which marched to New Jersey, under- went the hard fate of severe war, we will be somewhat particular concerning them.
"The officers of the first battalion were Col. Michael Swope, Lieut. Col. Robert Stevenson, and Major William Baily. It was composed of eight companies, of each of which we will give the names of the officers, as far as we have been able to learn them:
1st Company .- Michael Schmeiser, Captain; Zachariah Shugart, First. Lieut .; Andrew Robinson, Second Lieut .; William Wayne, Ensign.
2d Company .- Gerhart Graeff, Captain; Lieutenant Kauffman.
3d Company .- Jacob Dritt, Captain; Baymiller, First Lieut. ; Clayton,"Second Lieut. ; Jacob Mayer, Ensign.
4th Company .- Christian Stake, Capt .;* Cornelius Sher- iff, First Lieut .; Jacob Holtzinger, Second Lieut .; Jacob Barnitz, Ensign.
5th Company .- John McDonald, Captain ; William Scott, First Lieut .; Robert Patten, Second Lieut. ; En- sign, Howe.
6th Company .- John Ewing, Captain ; John Paysley, Ensign.
7th Company .- William Nelson, Captain ; Todd, First Lieut. ; Joseph Welsh, Second Lieut. ; Nesbit, Ensign.
* We perceive, by a number of letters, now in our possession, from . Gen. Washington, and Gen. Greene, &c., to Major Clark, that the lat- ter gentleman stood very high in the confidence and esteem of the American commander-in-chief. He was employed, during the war, in duties for which no individual would have been selected, who was not deemed true as steel.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
Sth Company .- Captain Williams. :
"The officers of the second battallion were Col. Richard McAllister (father of Archibald McAllister, already mention- ed) Lieut. Col. David Kennedy, and Major John Clark. The Captains were Bittinger, McCarter, McCoskey, Laird, Wilson and Paxton, from York county. To this battalion were added two companies from the county of Bucks .- Thus each battalion consisted of eight companies.
"The above list, as to both battalions, is very imperfect; but there is not a document in existence by which to complete it. The above information, as likewise nearly all that follows, has been communicated to us by a few men of silvered hairs, whose memories are still fresh with respect to the warlike hardships and dangers of their more youthful days.
" The battalion of Col. Swope suffered as severely as any one during the revolution.
"The company of Gerhart Graeff belonging to that regi- ment, was taken at the battle of Long Island, and but eigh- teen of the men returned to join the regiment. Not one of this company is now alive.
" But the place which proved the grave of their hopes, was Fort Washington, on the Hudson, near the city of New York. The officers belonging to Swope's battalion, that were taken at that place on the 16th of November, 1776, were the following fourteen : Col. Michael Swope, Major William Bailey, Surgeon Humphrey Fullerton, Capt. Mi- chael Schmeiser, Capt. David Dritt, Capt. Christian Stake, Capt. John M'Donald, Lieut. Zachariah Shugard, Lieut. Jacob Holtzinger, Lieut. Andrew Robinson, Lieut. Robert Patten, Lieut. Joseph Welsch; Ensign Jacob Barnitz; En- sign Adjutant Howe; and Ensign Jacob Meyer. Of the company of Capt. Stake, we are enabled to give the names of those, beside the three officers already mentioned, who were taken prisoners: they were Serj. Peter Haak, Serj.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
John Dicks, Serj. Henry Counselman, Corp. John Adlun, David Parker, James Dobbins, Hugh Dobbins, Henry M.1- ler, (now living in Virginia,) John Strohman, Christian Strohman, James Berry, Joseph Bay, Henry Hof, Joseph Updegraff, Daniel Miller, Henry Shultze, Bill Lukens-a mulatto-and a waiter in the company ; with perhaps, some more. The company of Capt. Stake, consisted mostly of spirited and high-minded young men, from the town of York and its vicinity.
" Though each party suffered much, and the nutual slaughter was great, yet but two officers of the Flying Camp were wounded on that day. The first was Captain M'Carter, who was from the neighborhood of Hanover, and was about twenty-two years of age. He belonged to he bat- talion of Col. M'Allister, and commanded the pique-guard, when he was shot through the breast. His wounded fellow officer, who lay by his side, saw him stiffened in ceath on the fifth day. The other was ensign Jacob Barnit:, of the town of York. Mr. Barnitz was wounded in bothlegs, and laid for fifteen months a comfortless prisoner, without hope, his wounds still unhealed and festering. After his return he lived for years to enjoy the confidence and esteer of his fel- low citizens; but, after sufferings which wrung iim to the soul, he was obliged to commit himself to the kill of the surgeon, and to suffer the loss of one of those members which had once borne the hero and the patriot, as he proud- ly waved to the winds of the country's liberty,
The stars and stripes, The banner of the free heart's only hone."
" As the Continental Congress sat some months in the Revolution, at Yorktown, this chapter may be appropriately closed hy the following, for which we are indebted to A. J. Glossbrenner, Esq., taken from his History of York county. "On the 4th of September, 1777, Congress, then sitting
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
at Philadelphia, and having strong reasons to believe that that city would soon be in possession of the British, resolv- ed, that, if they would be obliged to move from Philadel- phia, Lancaster should be the place to meet.
' On September 18, Congress, as usual, sat, und after sitting the usual hours of daily service adjourned to 10 o'clock the next morning ; but during the adjournment the president received a letter from Col. Hamilton, one of Gen. Washngton's aids, which intimated the necessity of remov- ing the Congress immediately from Philadelphia. Upon this the menbers left the city, and agreeably to a former reso- lution, repaired to Lancaster. Philadeldhia was shortly af- terwards, viz : on the 27th of September, taken by Sir Willian Howe, which shewed the wisdom and foresight of Congres in leaving that capital.
" Congress met at Lancaster on the 27th of September, (the verj day Philadelphia was taken) but as they had good reasons for fearing molestation even in that place, they de- termined hat the Susquehanna should flow between them and the enemy, and accordingly, on the same day, adjourn- ed to Yort .* The first day of their session at York was the 30th of September, 1777.
"" Congress continued about nine months, to hold their sessions in this place, and in the same court house which stands no more. In June, 1778, the British evacuated Philadelphia and marched in to New Jersey, and of thisCongress received information on the 20th of the same month, by a letter from
* The treasury books, papers, money, &c., were carried from"Phil- adelphia to Bristol, and round by Reading to Lancaster, and thence to York town.
See Journal of Congress for Nov. 28, 1777.
This circuitous route was ongaccount of fear, that theyshould fall into the hands of the enemy, who were, at that time, in Chester coun- ty, still fresh from the battle of Brandywine.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
Gen. Washington. They sat in York but a few days lon- ger, for on Saturday the 27th of June, 1778 they adjourned to Philadelphia, at which place they met on the 7th of July following.
" Among the other business transacted by Congress du- ring its sessions in York, we find the following items recor- ded in the Journals :
1777, October 4, Resolved, that a letter be written to General Gates, informing him that Congress highly approve . of the prowess and behaviour of the troops under his com- mand, in their late gallant repulse of the enemy under Gen- eral Burgoyne.
Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be presented to General Stark of the New Hampshire militia, and the offi- cers and troops under his command, for their brave and successful attack upon, and signal victory over the enemy in their lines at Bennington ; and that Brigadier Stark be appointed a Brigadier General in the army of the United States.
" Oct. 6, Resolved, That it be recommended to the le- gislatures of the several states to pass laws, declaring that any person, his aider or abettor, who shall wilfully and maliciously burn or destroy, or attempt or conspire to burn or destroy, any magazine of provisions, of military or naval stores, belonging to the United States ; or if any master, officer, seaman, mariner or other person, intrusted with the navigation or care of any continental vessel, shall wilfully and maliciously burn or destroy or attempt or conspire to burn or destroy, any such vessel, or shall wilfully betray, or voluntarily yield or deliver, or attempt to conspire to be- tray, yield or deliver, any such vessel to the enemies of the United States, such person his aider or abettor on legal con- viction thereof shall suffer death without benefit of clergy.
" Oct. 8, Resolved, Unanimously, that the thanks of Con-
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
gress be given to General Washington for his wise and well concerted attack upon the enemy's army near Germantown on the 4th instant, and to the officers and soldiers of the army for their brave exertions on that occasion: Congress being well satisfied that the best designs and boldest efforts may sometimes fall by unforseen incidents, trusting that on future occasions the valour and virtue of the army will by the blessings of heaven be crowned with complete and de- ยท served success.
Oct. 14, Whereas the British nation have received into their ports, and condemned in their courts of admiralty as lawful prize several vessels and their cargoes belonging to these states, which the mariners, in breach of the trust and confidence reposed in them, have betrayed and delivered to the officers of the British crown.
" Resolved, therefore, That any vessel or cargo, or pro- perty of any British subject, not an inhabitant of Bermuda, or of any of the Bahama Islands, brought into any of the ports or harbors of any of these United States, by the mas- ters or mariners, shall be adjudged a lawful prize, and di- vided among the captors, in the same proportion as if taken by any continental vessel of war.
" Oct. 17, Resolved, That the committee of intelligence be authorized to take the most speedy and effectual. mea- sures for getting a printing press erected in York town, for the purpose of conveying to the public the intelligence that Congress may from time to time receive.
"Oct. 31. The Secretary laid before Congress a copy of the speech with which Mr. Hancock took leave of Congress, which was ordered to be entered on the Journals, and is as follows:
" Gentlemen, Friday last completed two years and five months since you did me the honor of electing me to fill this chair. As I could never flatter myself your choice proceed-
+
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
ed from any idea of my abilities, but rather from a partial opinion of my attachment to the liberties of America, I felt myself under the strongest obligations to discharge the du- ties of the office, and I accepted the appointment with the firmest resolution to go through the business annexed to it, in the best manner I was able. Every argument conspired to make me exert myself, and I endeavored by industry and attention, to make up for every other deficiency.
"As my conduct, both in and out of Congress, in the ex- ecution of your business, it is improper for me to say any thing. You are the best judges. But I think I shall be forgiven, if I say I have spared no pains, expense, or labor, to gratify your wishes, and to accomplish the views of Congress.
" My health being much impaired, I find some relaxation absolutely necessary after such constant application; I must, therefore, request your indulgence for leave of absence for two months.
" But I cannot take my departure, gentlemen, without expressing my thanks for the civility and politeness I have experienced from you. It is impossible to mention this without a heartfelt pleasure.
" If, in the course of so long a period as I have had the honor to fill this chair, any expressions may have dropped frow me that may have given the least offence to any mem- ber, as it was not intentional, so I hope his candor will pass it over.
"' May every happiness, gentlemen, attend you, both as members of this House, and as individuals ; and I pray Hea- ven that unanimity and perseverance may go hand in hand in this House ; and that every thing which may tend to dis- tract or divide your councils be forever banished.'
" It was then resolved ' That the thanks of Congress be presented to John Hancock, Esquire, for the unremitted at-
10
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HISTORY OF. YORK COUNTY ..
tention and steady impartiality which he has manifested in discharge of various duties of his, office as President, since. his election to the chair, on the 24th of May, 1775.'
"Nov. 1, Congress proceeded to the election of a Presi- dent; and the ballots being taken, the honorable Henry Laurens was elected.
" Nov. 4, Resolved, That the thanks of Congress in their own name, and in behalf of the inhabitants of the thirteen United States, be presented to Major General Gates, com- mander-in-chief in the northern department, and to the Ma- jors General Lincoln and Arnold, and the rest of the officers and troops under his command, for their brave and success- ful efforts in support of the independence of their country, whereby an army of the enemy, of ten thousand men, has been totally defeated-one large detachment of it, that strongly posted and entrenched, having been conquered at Bennington, another with loss and disgrace from Fort Schuyler, and the main army of six thousand men, under Lieut. General Burgoyne, after being beaten in different ac- tions, and driven from a formidable post, and strong en- trenchments, reduced to the necessity of surrendering them- selves upon terms honorable and advantageous to these States, on the 17th of October last, to Major General Gates; and that a medal of gold be struck under the direction of the board of war, in commemoration of this great event, and in the name of these United States, presented by the President to Major General Gates.
" Resolved, That General Washington be informed, it is highly agreeable to Congress, that the Marquis De La Fay- ette be appointed to the command of a division in the con- tinental army.
"Dec. 11, The board of war report, ' that in their opin- ion, the public interest will be promoted by erecting in the town of York, temporary barracks or sheds, sufficient for
623
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
containing six hundred men, for the purpose of accommoda- ting such recruits and other troops as may be from time to time stationed or detained at the said place, either as guards, or for the purpose of equipment and discipline :' whereupon
"Resolved, That the board of war be directed to cause the said barracks or sheds to be erected, with all possible despatch, and in the most reasonable manner they can devise.
" 1778, Jan. 14, Whereas, Baron Steuben, a Lieutenant General in foreign service, has, in a most disinterested and heroic manner, offered his services co these States, in a qua- lity of a volunteer :
" Resolved, That the President present the thanks of Congress, in behalf of these United States, to Baron 'Steu- ben, for the zeal he has shown for the cause of America, and the disinterested tender he has been pleased to make of his military talents; and inform him that Congress cheer- fully accept of his service as a volunteer in the army of these States, and wish him to repair to General Washington's quarters as soon as convenient.
" Feb. 6, That Mathew Clarkson and Major John Clark be appointed auditors for the army, under the command of General Washington; and that they be authorized to ap- point two clerks, and allow each of them fifty dollars a month, and two rations a day.
" March 28, Resolved, That count Pulaski retain his rank of Brigadier in the army of the United States, and that he raise, and have the command of an independent corps, to consist of sixty-eight horse, and two hundred foot, the horse to be armed with lances, and the foot equipped in the man- ner of light infantry; the corps to be raised in such way, and composed of such men as General Washington shall think expedient and proper; and if it shall be thought by General Washington, that it will not be injurious to the
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
service, that he have liberty to dispense, in this particular instance, with the resolve of Congress against enlisting de- serters.
" June 12, 1778, Congress being informed that Mr. P. Livingston, one of the delegates for the State of New York, died last night, and that circumstances require him to be interred this evening :
" Resolved, That Congress will, in a body, attend the funeral this evening, at six o'clock, with a crape round the arm, and will continue in mourning for the space of one month.
June 27, 1778, adjourned to Thursday next, to meet at the State-house" in Philadelphia.
Livingston was interred in the cemetery of the German Reformed church, where his grand-son had a Pyramid of white marble, surmounted with an urn, erected over his grave, with this inscription-
Sacred To the memory of the Honorable . PHILIP LIVINGSTON, who died June 12th, 1778, Aged 63 years, While attending the Congress
of the United States, at York Town, Penna., as a Delegate from the State of New York. Eminently distinguished for his talents and rectitude, he deservedly enjoyed the confidence of his country, and the love and veneration of his friends and children. This monument, erected by
his grand-son, STEPHEN VAN RENSELAER.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
From the.commencement of the Revolution, to the close of it, the inhabitants of this county were active in defence of their common country, and ardently devoted to the cause of the American Independence.
There are still some living who remember the York Bon- fire, on receiving the news of the surrender of Lord Corn- wallis, in October, 1781. For some months after the ces- sation of hostilities between the United States and Great Britain, there were at York, as well as in other parts of the United States, companies of men not yet disbanded.
The following correspondence, touching the disbanding of a legion at York, is here introduced, to show the kind feelings existing between the citizens of York, and the com- manding officers :
YORK TOWN, Nov. 18th, 1783.
To Brigadier General Armand Marquis De La Rouerie.
Hearing that your legion is about to be disbanded, and that you will soon return to your native country, we, the inhabitants of York, in Pennsylvania, express to you the high sense we entertain of the strict discipline, good conduct and deportment of the officers and soldiers of your corps, while stationed amongst us for ten months past.
We return to you our hearty thanks, as well for the ser- vice rendered to America in the field, as for the attention you have paid to the property and civil rights of the peo- ple. Be pleased to communicate our sentiments to Major Shaffner, and all your worthy officers, and assure them we shall ever hold them in the greatest esteem.
We pray that you may have an agreeable passage across the ocean, and that you may receive from your illustrious actions, performed in support of liberty and the honor of the allied arms, and are with great regard your most, &c.
10*
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
James Smith, Thomas Hartley, Archibald M'Clean, Wil- liam Bailey, David Jameson, George Stake, David Grier, John Johnson, Michael Graybil, Zacheus Shughart, George Gibon, Henfy Miller, Andrew Billmeyer, Frederick Youce, Edward Langworthy, George Lewis Leffler, John Ehrman, Robert Dunn, Jacob Hay, Joseph Rothrock, Martin Kreber, John M'Pherson, Baltzer Spangler, Edward Crawford, Mi- chael Everly, H. Alexander, Godfrey Lenhart, James Edie, David Caulder, Conrad Laub, Michael Hahn.
YORK, Nov. 19, 1783.
Gentlemen-
I received your polite address of the 18th, and from its impressions on my own feelings, and of the officers and sol- diers of the legion, I am truly happy in giving you our united and most hearty thanks.
If the legion has observed that good conduct, which mer- its the applause you give it, I conceive that, in so doing, they have only discharged their duty, and obeyed punctu- ally the orders and intention of His Excellency, General Washington, whose exemplary virtues, talents and honor, must have raised ambition to some merit in those, who, like the corps I had the honor to command, placed all their con- fidence in him.
Permit me to say, gentlemen, that soldiers cannot be guilty of misconduct, where the inhabitants are kind to them, also are attached to the cause of their country, and so respectable as those of York. I think it my duty to thank you for the good behavior of the legion whilst amongst you, for it was encouraged and supported by your conduct towards them.
I shall only add, that although the greater part of us will shortly return home, the conclusion of the war render-
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
ing our longer stay unnecessary, we shall be happy again to join the army of America, if, in future, our services should be deemed of importance:
I have the honor to be with, &c., ARMAND MARQUIS DE LA ROUERIE.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
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CHAPTER VIII.
Riot in York Town-Federal Constitution procession, &c .- Sheriff's election of, in '89-" Chronicles"-Western insurrection, &c .- Hail storms-Fire in the Borough of York-Doctor Dady and his ac- complices, Rice Williams or Rainsford Rogers, John Hall, &c., in York county-their trial and conviction-Lancaster expedition and detection of Dady, and others.
From the close of the Revolution till the year 1800, for a period of nearly twenty years, only a few leading inci- dents of " various character" occurred of which any "no- tice " has been kept. These, with an occasional remark, are detailed in this chapter, in their order.
The Riot of '86, in York town, occasioned by the then existing Excise Law happened in December, of that year, under the following concomitants.
" A certain man in Manchester, named Jacob Bixler, re- fused to pay his tax, or rather excise : whereupon his cow was distrained or taken by the collector, for the payment. It was to rescue, (i. e. forcibly take from the hands of the officer) this cow, that the affray happened. The beast had been driven by the officer from Manchester to York town, and, by'advertisement, was on a certain day to be exposed to sale. On the day of the sale a company of about one hundred men set out from the neighborhood of the poor ani- mal's former residence, armed, some with clubs, others with pistols or guns ; and directing their march towards York, they crossed Chicken bridge [at the end of north George stree] and in single or Indian file, marched into town. Their captain, Godfrey King, led them on, with dread determina-
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