History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 37

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

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The Committee of Safety, on the 13th of April, ordered a new powder-magazine to be built by Isaac Coats and William Melcher, capable of holding a thousand barrels of powder. The place selected is not stated in the minutes of the Councils, but it was upon the northeast corner of Franklin Square. Store- houses were procured for the storage of salt, saltpetre, and other provincial supplies at Germantown. Later in the year a committee appointed to ascertain the best place for a magazine of military stores reported that the heights on the north side of Wissahickon Creek afforded a very convenient situation, and were capable of being defended at great advantage, and that a fort on the hill on the Ridge road just above Van Derin's mill (at the mouth of the Wissahickon) would command a wide space of country. In 1787 an act was passed to secure the city of Philadelphia against danger from gunpowder, which forbade the storage of a greater amount than thirty pounds of powder at a time in any place but the magazine in the public square between Sixth and Seventh, Race and Vine Streets, under a fine of twenty pounds.

In April, 1790, the necessity of removing the pow- der-house was considered ; the Assembly passed reso- lutions in favor of that course. The Council selected a lot on Walnut Street, bordering ou the river Schuyl- kill, which belonged to Col. John Patton, which was valued at five hundred and sixty-five pounds specie. A committee of the Supreme Executive Council, to which the matter was referred, reported the following plan in May of the same year :

"The walle round the yard of the magazine to be brick, and on a line with the north side of Walnut Street, and the west side of Ashton Street, and to be eight feet high besides the capping, which is to be stone.

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" The powder-house, or magazine, to be forty feet east and west, and sixty feet north aud south, and to stand back from the wall on Walnut Street twenty feet clear, and from Ashton Street the north and west walls of the yard fifteen feet clear.

" The two gahle-end walls to be two feet thick of etone, and the two side walle two feet six inches thick of stone, or if double, two feet thick of stone, opening three inches, and a four and a half inch wall iucide all round.

" The height from the floor to the spring of the erch to be eight feet, emall arches to be turned all under the lower floor in order to keep it dry. The height of the first floor to be six inches above the level of the yard.

" A small house for the keeper at the southeast corner of Waluut and Frout Street, on Schuylkill, to be fifteen feet eix iuches un Walnut Street, and fifteen feet on Frout Street, two stories high, the first story to be eight feet in the clear, and the second story seven feet three inches in the clear, with a celler under the whole, aud to be finished plain."

The officers of the city corporation were opposed to the establishment of the powder-magazine at that place. A memorial was sent to the Supreme Execu- tive Council requesting that the building of the maga- zine might be postponed until the next session of the Assembly. There was postponement accordingly, but the original plan was adhered to. Patton was paid for his lot, in December, £664 148. 1d. in paper money, which was equivalent, at fifteen per cent. dis- count, to £565 specie. The magazine and keeper's house was paid for shortly afterward, and cost £1706 3s. 7d. The lot thus purchased was a full square, and contained about four acres three quarters and thirty perches of land.

In April, 1795, an act was passed for the inspection of gunpowder. It was stated in the preamble that Joseph Leacock, of Philadelphia, had invented an engine called "a pendulum powder-proof, with a gradnating arch and catch-pull, by which it is con- ceived that the force of gunpowder may be proved by actual experiment." David Rittenhouse, Francis Gurney, and Thomas Proctor were appointed com- missioners. They were directed to purchase at least two pendulum powder-proofs, settle the standard of gunpowder, and mark the graduations in the arch. After that was done the inspector of gunpowder, an officer created under the act, was ordered to ascertain the strength of manufactured gunpowder by means of the standard. It was also ordered that all gun- powder manufactured in the State should be placed in barrels of certain sizes and deposited in the maga- zine. From the Northeast Square the powder-house was removed to Walnut Street wharf, Schuylkill, in 1791. On a map published in 1794, the site of this building is marked at the northwest corner of Ashton [now Twenty-third] and Walnut Streets. It did not remain there very long withont exciting apprehension. The Legislature was memorialized in 1806, by citizens as well as by Councils, against the continuance of the magazine at that place.

In the succeeding year, Thomas Leiper, Matthew Shaw, Stephen Decatur, Sr., and John Swigor, were appointed commissioners to sell the powder-magazine building and lot, at Walnut and Ashton Streets, and build a new one or two buildings if necessary. One

was not to be more than a mile from the city, for the accommodation of traders, and not to contain more than ten tons of gunpowder. The other, or others, were to hold the article in larger quantities, and might be built at a distance of not less than four miles from the city. The next year the commis- sioners reported that they had located a site for the powder-magazine about four miles from the city, and the Assembly made an appropriation of abont five thousand dollars for the construction of the building. The place selected was upon Power's Lane, in the neck, near the Schuylkill, called afterward Magazine Lane. The building, of stone, massive and strong, was secluded from the ordinary route of travel. Trees were planted around it, and apparently every care taken to prevent accident.

In order to prevent danger as much as possible, it was directed, in 1818, that the manner in which powder should be removed from vessels in the Dela- ware River to the magazine or arsenal on the Gray's Ferry road should be by landing at the wharf above the Point House on the Delaware, commonly known as the powder-wharf. That it should be carried along Keeler's Lane westward along said lane and the bound- ary of Southwark ; thence up said road to Passyunk road; thence up the said road to the Federal road; thence west along the same to Gray's Ferry road ; thence up the same direct to the arsenal on the east bank of the Schuylkill. Gunpowder brought down the river Delaware was directed to be landed at Conoroe & Co.'s wharf, in the village of Richmond ; thence up Ann Street west to Frankford road; down that road to the Black Horse and Mnd Lane [ Mont- gomery Avenue]; thence to Sixth Street; down the latter to Hickory Lane [Poplar Street] ; thence west, crossing the Ridge road, to Broad Street, and to the Callowhill turnpike road ; then west to Schuylkill Front Street [Twenty-second] ; down the same, and by way of the Gray's Ferry road, to the destination. The intention was that the powder should be carried at a distance from the built-up portions of the city. Vessels bringing powder down the Delaware were required to keep in the midway of the channel until the time of landing. Gunpowder brought from the west side of the Schuylkill was obliged to pass by Gray's Ferry, or, if it could not be passed with safety by Lancaster bridge, by Callowhill Street ; thence by Schuylkill Front Street to Gray's Ferry road. By act of Assembly, passed in 1856, it was ordered that " every carriage used for conveying gunpowder or gun-cotton within the city of Philadelphia . . . shall . . . have painted on each side thereof, in letters distinctly legible to all passers-hy, the word 'gun- powder.'"

The magazine was abandoned by the State under authority of the act of April 29, 1874, by which it was ordered that the possession of the rented prem- ises situated on Magazine Lane, near a branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, in the city of Philadelphia,

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now used and occupied as a State powder-magazine, 'and others obtained a large number of horses and be surrendered within twelve months, and the lease canceled, and that the office of superintendent be discontinued. The ground on Power's Lane, belong- ing to the magazine, was directed to be sold at public sale.

Barracks .- In 1755 the expedition against Fort Du Quesne (Pittsburgh), then held by the French, set out from Fredericksburg, under Maj .- Gen. Ed- mund Braddock. Two regiments of foot, the Forty- fourth, under Col. Sir Peter Halkett, and the Forty- eighth, under Col. Thomas Dunbar, had been sent from Ireland, and arrived at Alexandria, Va., in March. Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, had noti- fied Governor Robert Hunter Morris, of Pennsyl- vania, of the expected coming of these troops as early as the preceding January. The necessity for supplies was pointed out, and assistance was asked from the Assembly of Pennsylvania. As that body was in a chronie state of controversy with the Governor, little help was to he expected. The Assembly had before that time attempted to borrow five thousand pounds on its own credit, and it was proposed that a portion of the money should be laid out in the purchase of flour to be sent to the mouth of the Conococheague, for the use of the British troops. The quartermaster- general, Sir John St. Clair, requested that roads should be opened from the inhabited parts of the Province of Pennsylvania westward toward the Ohio, to facilitate the movement of the troops and the transportation of supplies. The Assembly delayed compliance, but finally passed an act to appropriate twenty-five thousand pounds in bills of credit for the king's use. There had been a dispute about such a bill in the previous year. The Assembly had sanc- tioned it, but the Governor would not approve of it. The new bill was of the same character, and for twenty-five thousand pounds. But the Governor, who was quite as stubborn as the Assembly, again refused his attest, so that there was no assistance to the royal troops. Governor Morris went to Alex- andria in April, and took part in a council composed of Gen. Braddock, Admiral Keppel, and the Governors of five of the colonies. The plan of the campaign was resolved upon. There was a disposition on the part of the Assembly of Pennsylvania to give assistance to the king, provided the method of doing it was according to the desires of the majority. The House resolved to borrow ten thousand pounds on its own account and without reference to the ap- proval of the Governor. But lenders could not be found. In the emergency the Assembly took another plan, and resolved to issue paper money to the amount of fifteen thousand pounds; and although the Gov- ernor refused to give his sanction, the notes were issued and put into circulation. Active measures were taken to assist Gen. Braddock. The road west- ward was opened ns far as possible, and as rapidly as circumstances would permit. Benjamin Franklin

wagons in the interior of the province for transpor- tation. Braddock commenced his march from Fort Cumberland on the 12th of June. Governor Morris appointed the 19th of June as a day of fasting and of prayer for the success of the British arms.

On the 9th of July the advance of the British and Provincial troops, with which was Halkett's regiment, were attacked by the French and Indians within sight of the Monongahela River. The invading force was defeated with great slaughter. Braddock and Hal- kett, with sixty-two other officers, were killed. Gen.

GEN. BRADDOCK'S GRAVE.

Braddock was buried near where he was killed, in what is now called Wharton township, Fayette Co., Pa. A large number of soldiers were killed or wounded. Of eleven hundred and fifty men in the action, it was estimated that not more than three hundred escaped without injury. They retreated and fell back upon Dunbar's division, stationed in reserve at Little Meadows. A panic prevailed even there. The artil- lery was destroyed, and the whole force pushed on to Fort Cumberland. When the news of this disaster reached Philadelphia great consternation prevailed. Governor Morris convened the Assembly. A bill was passed immediately to raise fifty thousand pounds for the king's use by a tax on all persons and property in the province. Then was renewed the standing quar-

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rel between the Governor, representing the proprie- tary, and the Assembly. Morris was quite willing that the people should be taxed in their persons and their property, but he would not sanction any measure that | would lay taxes on the proprietary estates. While this dispute was in progress a number of citizens agreed to subscribe five thousand pounds, which would be about equal to the tax on the proprietary estates, and tendered the amount for public assist- ance.1 The Assembly would not receive the money, but sent the proposition to the Governor "as a fur- ther security if he would give his consent to the fifty-thousand-pound bill." He did not accede. There was recommendation of a voluntary subscrip- tion of ten thousand pounds, but nothing was done to forward a collection.

While these controversies were raging the fugitives under command of Col. Dunbar were marching slowly toward Philadelphia. The necessity of quarters for the troops was evident. As the Assembly could not be relied upon, Governor Morris, on the 1st of August, made application to the mayor and Common Council of the city, stating that he had been apprised by Col. Dunbar of his intended coming, and that he would require quarters for about one hundred officers and twelve hundred men. The city corporation was ap- plied to to furnish these conveniences. A hospital was needed and lodging for the soldiers. The reply from Mayor Plumsted, Recorder Francis, and alder- men Strettel and Mifflin, was very brief. They said, " We know of no law that authorizes us to make such provisions, and therefore have it not in our powers to obey your orders." The Assembly was appealed to, and replied by reference to the act of Parliament for the maintaining and billeting of soldiers. The troops under Col. Dunbar reached the city about the 29th of August, and encamped between Pine and Cedar Streets, west of Fourth. The house of Jacob Duché, at the northeast corner of Third and Pine Streets, was rented for a hospital at fifteen pounds for six months. The soldiers did not remain long in the city. They were ordered to Albany. After a rest of about four weeks, during which they made illuminations and kindled bonfires in honor of the victory of Gen. Johnson over the French at Lake George, which was followed by an entertainment and ball given by the officers at the State-House, they closed their visit with a review of the whole force, during which the simple people of the city, unused to military display, were much amazed by the proficiency of the artillerists, who fired a field-piece "ten times in one minute." The soldiers took up the line of march about the end of September, being much rested and improved, and

1 These public-spirited persone were William Plumated, Samuel Mc- Call, Sr., John Wilcox, Samuel and Archibald McCall, William Allen, Thomas Cadwalader, Alexander Huston, Amos Strettel, Joseph Turner, Joseph Sime, John Keareley, David Franks, John Kearsloy, Jr., John Gibeon, John Wallace, George O'Kill, Samuel Mifflin, Townsend White, Joseph Wood, and John Bell.

having been kindly treated by the inhabitants of the city.2

In the latter part of the year the city corporation remonstrated to the Assembly in regard to the state of the province, a misfortune made more apparent by the fact that the defeat of Braddock had stimulated a rising among the Indians on the western frontiers of the province and the slaughter of defenseless inhabitants. A stroug remonstrance was sent by the city corporation, the result of which was authority for the association of companies of volunteers. Under this power, before the end of December, 1755, there were eighteen companies in the association, beside five independent companies of artillery, foot grenadiers, and horsemen.

How these troops were accommodated as to armories, arsenals, places of meeting and drill is not known. In the succeeding year, upon the occasion of the review of the city regiment, under Col. Benjamin Franklin, "each company met at the house of its respective captain," then marched down Second Street and to the new market below Pine Street. The first company halted, and as the second company approached, fired and retreated, and was followed by the second also firing. This movement was imitated by the other com- panies in succession, the intention being to exercise the soldiers in street firing. There were four cannon attached to the regiment. On the 12th of August the proclamation of war between England and France, which was declared in May, 1756, was republished in the city. Shortly afterward Lord Loudon, commander- in-chief in America, wrote from Albany to Governor Denny, stating that a considerable body of troops for the defense of North America were to be sent over from England, that it was required that the colonies respectively should provide for all such charges as would arise from furnishing quarters and other neces- saries for the troops, the means of conveyance and the transportation of supplies, the formation of a general service-fund, promotion of enlistments, etc. It was

2 Duncan Cameron, a private soldier in this expedition, whose journal has been published, spoke gratefully of the assistance received by the troops from the country people during their march and upon the road. He said, "The same tender compassion and humanity continued when we arrived and encamped on the south side of Philadelphia. The Phila- delphians' hearts and lionsee were opened to us in the moet affectionate and tender manner, and I must not forget the teuder compassion of their good housewives; for they being informed that our living had been chiefly on flesh, the women of Market Street and Church Alley, as I was told, formed an Association for regaling us with apple piea and rice pudding, which they generously affected ; and their example was fol- lowed by a great many women in the city, and though some may think little of this, yet certainly it was a grent refreshment to some of us. And, indeed, during our whole stay, there was scarcely a day passed but our sick and prisoners were refreshed through their humanity. And I must not forget mentioning that one of our soldiers being condemned to be hanged for some misdemeanor, which they apprehended did not deserve death, was, through the intercession of some women of good credit and note in that city, pardoned of his offenses ; and, indeed, a great mimber of the inhabitants of all ranks and dogrees joined in application for the same purpose. For the people of that province are so hnmane and tender-hearted that they cannot heur to see any person put to death fur scarcely any offense but murder."

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also said, " and as his Majesty is at present graciously pleased to make such allowance toward victualling his troops as must greatly remove all Difficulty of Quartering as to that Article, I must expect that in the artiele of Lodging and such other nesessarys as are furnished in Quarters in Great Britain in Time of war, Your Provinee will more chearfully make full and proficient Provision. I must therefore beg of you that you will acquaint the People of your Province, but when I shall have occasion to put his Majesty's Troops into Quarters that I do and must expect to find such as are necessary in your province."

"The Assembley endeavored to evade compliance by adopting two British acts in regard to Mutiny & Desertion and the quartering and billetting of soldiers for the payment of their quarters in England." The latter the King's Council said was inapplicable " to a colony in the time of war, in the case of troops raised for their protection by the authority of the Parliament of Great Britain." In October, Lord Loudon again wrote to Governor Denny, "that it was necessary for him to look out for winter quarters for the troops, and that he would send to Phila., one battallion of Royal Americans, and 2 independent companies, and that he desired quarters to be furnished." The Assembly prepared a bill which was nearly the same as that which had already been repealed in England. In this emergency application was made to the city corporation. The act of Assembly directed the bil- leting of its soldiers on the public-houses. The Common Council ascertained that there were one hundred and seventeen taverns in the eity. There were about five hundred and fifty men in the Royal American Sixty-second Regiment, and an independent company. Capt. Tullekin, of the Sixty-second, came in advance of the battalion to make arrangements for the quarters. He wanted the use of a place for a hospital, also a store-house and a guard-room. The keepers of the publie-houses at first supposed that they would receive a shilling a day for each soldier, and they were tempted to misrepresent the extent of their accommodations. A message on the subject was sent to the Assembly, which refused to do anything but to pass the bill determined upon. While this controversy was in progress, the troops had arrived under the command of Col. Bouquet.

On the 15th of December the Governor represented to the Council that " the King's Forces still remained in a most miserable condition, neither Assembly, Com- missioners, nor Magistrates having done anything to relieve them, though the weather grew more pinch- ing and the Small Pox was increasing among the Soldiers to such a Degree that the whole Town would soon become a Hospital. That Col. Bouquet, being a Foreigner,1 was loath to take violent Measures; but

1 Col. Henry Bouquet was a nutive of Switzerland, and was born at Rolle In 1719. fle had been in the Dutch service and in that of Sardinia, and entered the British army as lieutenant-colonel in 1756. Under an Het of Parliament, passed In the latter year, the Royal American Regi-

if something was not instantly done he hoped the Governor would issue a Warrant to the Sheriff to assign him Quarters in private Houses. That the Public House keepers were in general miserably poor, and had no Beds or necessaries, and were not in Ability to provide them. In short, that he was eruelly and barbarously treated, and urged the Gov- ernor to come to Resolutions instantly that the Sol- diers might be instantly relieved, and an Hospital provided. He added that the new Hospital [Penn- sylvania Hospital | was promised to him by the Man- agers, but they drew back from their promises, and he could neither get the new Hospital nor the old one,2 nor any House for an Hospital." An effort was made to obtain additional accommodations in the public-houses, but with no success. The Governor then sent for James Coultas, the sheriff, and informed him that he was about to order him to quarter the soldiers in private houses. Coultas asked leave to inform some of his friends that such a step would be taken, representing also that, in case quarters were not provided, "there might be an easy accommodation, as there were plenty of empty houses in town, and none hut straw beds were required, with a few neces- saries that might be very soon provided." The sheriff showed this warrant, which had been intrusted to him but not served upon him, to some persons, and leading members of the Assembly became aware of the intention to issue it. The result was a message from the Assembly to the Governor, expressing sur- prise at the intimation as to what was intended to be done, and hoping that he would act according to the law passed a few days before.3 Members of the Couneil were inclined to go into a long discussion. The Governor said he would have no altereation, and himself penned the following imperative message :

"GENTLEMEN,-The King's troops must be quartered. With respect to the Insufficiency of the late Act I refer you to my Message of the Eighth Instant, delivered immediately after the passing of it ; and I see uo Reason from any Thing that has occurred siace to alter my Opinion. " W'M. DENNY.

" Dec, 18, 1756."

ment (Sixty-second) was anthorized to be formed of four battalions, each of one thousand men, to be recruited from German and Swiss settlers in America. The officers were of necessity required to be pro- ficient in the German language, and the act authorized the appointment of foreign Protestants, who had served abroad as officers of experience, to rank as euch in America only. Col. Bouquet, in co-operation with Gen. Forbes, repulsed the French and Indian attack at Loyalhanna, Oct. 12, 1756, and participated in the operations which were succeeded by the capture of Fort Da Quesne. Sent from Canada with troops for the relief of Fort Pitt, he defeated a large Indian force Aug. 5-6, 1763, and reached the fort with supplies. lle commanded the famous expedi- tion against the Ohio Indians in October, 1764, as a result of which the Shawanese, Delawares, and others were compelled to make peace at Tuscarawas. He was made brigadier-general for this service in 1765, and died at Pensacola, Fla., in 1766.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 37

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992