History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 32

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

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I7I

THE REVOLUTION

Shaw, Archibald

Swartz, Peter

Shaw, James Taylor, John

Standley, Francis

Trees, Jacob

Shive, Philip

Wade, Joseph

Schultz, Michael

Weaverling, Adam

Seidle, Peter

Welch, Edward

Schneider, John

White, Isaac

Spencer, Edward

Wilkinson, William

Stevenson, James

Wilson, Joseph

Swank, Baltzer

Worley, George

Swartz, George

Wright, Matthias

COLONEL MILES' REGIMENT.

The next troops to leave York to battle for the cause of independence were led by Captain Philip Albright, a prominent citizen of the county. This company joined Colonel Miles' Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, which was organized March 5, 1776, in response to a call of the State Assembly for 2,000 troops to defend Pennsylvania. Colonel Samuel Miles, its first commander, was then a resident of Philadelphia. He had served with credit in the French and Indian War under Braddock, and when peace was declared, was placed in charge of a garrison on the site of Erie. He raised his regiment of 1,000 men and formed them into two bat- talions within a period of six weeks and rendezvoused at Marcus Hook, on the northeast coast of New Jersey.

eral Sullivan, commanding the left wing of Washington's army. There are no minute details of the part taken by Captain Al- bright's company of York County troops in this famous battle. The report of Miles, in whose regiment Captain Albright served, will be found interesting.

"On the landing of the British army on Long Island, I was ordered with my rifle regiment to watch their motions. I marched near to the village of Flat Bush, where the Highlanders then lay, but they moved the next day to General Howe's camp, and their place was supplied by the Hessians. I lay there within cannon shot of the Hessian camp for four days without receiving orders from General Sullivan. I was stationed directly in front of the village of Flat Bush, but on the left of the road leading to New York, where the Hessians were encamped. The main body of the enemy, under the im- mediate command of General Howe, lay about two miles to my left, and General Grant, with another body of British troops, lay about four miles to my right. There were several small bodies of Americans dis- persed to my right but not a man to my left, although the main body of the enemy lay to my left. This was our situation on the 26th of August. About I o'clock at night Grant on the right and Howe on the left, began their march, and by daylight Grant had got

At this time the British army Marches under Howe, which had evacu- to Long ated Boston March 18, had not Island. yet arrived at Long Island. Colonel Miles drilled and dis- within a mile of our entrenchments, and ciplined his regiment for active service in Howe had got into the Jamaica Road, about two miles from our lines. The Hessians kept their position until 7 in the morning. As soon as they moved the firing began at our redoubt. I immediately marched to- wards the firing, but had not proceeded more than one or two hundred yards when I was stopped by Colonel Willey, who told me that I could not pass on; that we were to defend a road that led from Flat Bush road to the Jamaica road. the field and on July 2 he was ordered to Philadelphia, where the regiment was thoroughly equipped. On July 5 he marched with his command to Trenton and from thence to Amboy. July 16 he joined Hugh Mercer, who had been raised to the rank of brigadier-general at the request of Wash- ington, and placed in command of the Fly- ing Camp, composed largely of Pennsyl- vania troops. The British army was soon to attack New York and on August 10 Miles was ordered to Long Island.

"I made a retrograde march, a distance of nearly two miles through woods within sight of the Jamaica road, and to my great mortification saw the main body of the enemy in full march between me and our

On August 12 Miles' regiment and Colo- nel Samuel Atlee's battalion of musketry, from Lancaster, were brigaded with Glover's and Smallwood's regiments and lines, and the baggage guard just coming placed under the command of Lord Stirling, into the road. I had then only the first bat- an English officer who was made a briga- talion with me. The second was some dier-general in the American army. Stir- distance to the rear, and I directed Major ling's brigade took an active part in the Williams, who was on horseback. to return battle of Long Island, serving under Gen- and order Lieutenant-Colonel Brodhead, of

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

my regiment, to push on by the left of the Colonel Miles' regiment. when organized, enemy and endeavor to get into our lines had 1,000 men, rank and file. Of this num- that way. They succeeded, but had to wade ber 650 entered the battle of Long Island, a mill dam, in which a few were drowned. in which about 50 were killed and wounded I returned to the battalion and called a and 159 taken prisoners. Captain Albright's company lost in this engagement in killed, wounded and prisoners, three sergeants and twenty-seven privates. The responsible position held by Miles in this battle is shown in the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Brod- head, of the regiment. On September 5, 1776, he wrote : "No troops could have be- council of the officers and laid three propo- sitions before them; first, to attack the bag- gage guard, endeavor to cut our way through them, proceed to Hell Gate and then cross the sound; second, to lay where we were until the whole had passed us and then proceed to Hell Gate ; or third. to en- deavor to force our way through the haved better than ours in this battle, for, enemy's flank guards into our line at Brooklyn.

"The third proposition was

Colonel

adopted, and we immediately

Miles a began our march, but had not

Prisoner. proceeded more than half a mile

until we fell in with a body of seven or eight hundred light infantry, which we attacked without hesitation. Their superiority of numbers encouraged them to march up with their bayonets, which we could not withstand, having none ourselves. I therefore ordered the troops to push on toward our lines.

though they seldom engaged less than five to one, they frequently repulsed the enemy with great slaughter, and I am confident that the number killed and wounded on their side is greater than ours, notwith- standing we had to fight them front and rear under every disadvantage. I understand that General Sullivan has taken the liberty to charge our brave and good Colonel Miles with the ill success of the day. but give me leave to say, that if General Sullivan and the rest of the generals on Long Island had been as vigilant and prudent as he, we

I remained on the might and in all probability would have cut off Clinton's brigade; our officers and men in general. considering the confusion, be- haved as well as men could do-a few be-

grounds myself until they had all passed me, the enemy being then within less than twenty yards of us, and by this means I came into the rear instead of the front of haved badly. Our men are getting very

my command. We had proceeded but a short distance before we were again en- gaged with a superior force of the enemy, and here we lost a number of men, but took Major Moncrieffe, their commanding of- ficer, prisoner. Finding that the enemy had possession of the ground between us and our lines, and that it was impossible for us to cut our way through as a body. I directed the men to make the best of their way as well as they could. Some few got in safe,

sickly for want of blankets and clothing, having thrown away those they had in the engagement, which I fear they cannot be furnished here.'

In this battle Miles' regiment and Atlee's battalion suffered so severely that General Washington ordered the three battalions to be considered as a regiment under the com- mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Brodhead until further orders. Both these commands had enlisted for fifteen months to defend the but there were 159 taken prisoners. I my- state of Pennsylvania. As they were now self was entirely cut off from our lines and with the American army in another state, therefore endeavored to conceal myself, Colonel Brodhead petitioned the State Legislature at this time to know their military relations, whereupon both com- mands were turned over to the authority of Congress. On September 19 the three bat- talions mutinied and appeared on parade under arms. After this two hundred men deserted, about thirty of them were kept

with a few men who would not leave me. I hoped to remain until night, when I in- tended to try to get to Hell Gate and cross the sound; but about 3 o'clock in the after- noon was discovered by a party of Hessians and obliged to surrender-thus ended the career of that day." Lieutenant William McPherson, of Albright's company, became back by force. Those who deserted gave as a prisoner of war and was held by the reason a lack of sufficient clothing, a blankets, rations and pay, but the records British for more than a year.

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THE REVOLUTION

seem to show that they had already been paid in continental money, which had greatly depreciated. Meantime, however, a supply of clothing had been sent from Philadelphia.

On October 5, Captain Al-

Re-organi- bright had in his company

zation. three sergeants, one drummer and forty-six privates. On the same day the Pennsylvania Council of Safety ordered a re-arrangement of the three battalions, and on the 25th of the same month, ten of the companies of the battalion ceased to exist by being consoli- dated with others. On the same day Cap- tain Albright's company and six others were ordered to retain their captains. These and the remnants of the other bat- talions of the state troops followed the fortunes of the Continental army. Part of the regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Brodhead was present at the battle of Fort Washington, November 16. The remainder of the regiment accompanied Washington in the retreat across New Jersey and took part in the battles of Trenton and Princeton.

Late in the year 1776 a difficulty arose between Major Williams, of Miles' regi- ment, and Captain Philip Albright. The major had made himself obnoxious in many ways to the subordinate officers, with whom he was not popular. Both Williams and Al- bright explained their differences to the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania, but the matter was never satisfactorily adjusted, and Captain Albright resigned his commis- sion on January 23, 1777.

The following is the roll of Captain Philip Albright's company after the battle of Long Island, taken in camp near King's Bridge, N. Y., September 1, 1776:

Captain, Albright, Philip. First Lieutenants, Thomson, John. Sheriff, Cornelius.

Second Lieutenant,

McPherson, William.

Third Lieutenant, Stake, Jacob.

Sergeants, Wilson, Thomas. Tate, Robert. Willey, James. Geddes, James.

Quartermaster Sergeant, Lytle, Andrew.

Drummer, Harden, John. Privates,

Lead, Conrad.

Barron, Robert. Leavingston, Jacob.

Beltzhover, Ludwig. Lutes, John.

Boned, Andrew.

Malseed, Samuel.

Boyd, Alexander.

McBroom, Henry.

Branon, William.

McCay, James.

Brown, John.

McClughan, Hugh.

Burk, Michael.

McCown, Daniel.

Busham, Jacob.

McCown, Patrick.

Carlton, Edward.

McElnay, John.

Conrad, George.

McFarlane, James.

Croan, Henry.

McGinish, Patt.

Crookham, John.

McGuire, Bartholomew.

Cuxel, James.

NcNeal, Daniel.

Duffield, Rachford.

Morrison, James.

Ferril, Hugh.

Myer, Joseph.

Fink, Michael.

Newman, Jacob.

Foster, Thomas.

Reed, Hugh.

Glen, Patrick.

Rinehart, John.

Gobin, Hugh.

Rubart, Adam.

Gordan, James.

Ryan, Christian.

Grearley, John.

Ryan, Michael.

Gregg, John.

Shadow, Henry.

Gregg, Robert.

Smith, John.

Helm, George.

Spangler, Charles.

Helsley, Jacob.

Stockdel. Torrence.

Hendry, John.

Stuart, David.

Hollan, William.

Stump, Charles.

Hudson, John.

Sturgeon, Robert.

Hutchinson, James.

Swartz, John.

Jacobs, Johnathan.

Trine, George.

James, William.

Wampler, George.

Kennedy, Philip.

Wells, Edward.

Kilean, Michael.

Welshance, William.

Kilpatrick, Robert.

Williams, Thomas.

Kilpatrick, William.

Woods, Samuel.

Knee (Karee), Thomas.

CAPTAIN PHILIP ALBRIGHT was a descendant of George Albright, who left the German Palatinate and arriving in this country settled in Philadelphia, and engaged in commercial pursuits. He remained in that city until 1740, when he moved to York, then a part of Lancaster County, in which county he had a number of valuable planta- tions.

Captain Albright was the youngest of three sons of George Albright, and received his education at York in the school main- tained by the German Lutheran Church. Endowed with the usual German thrift, he was able to save enough in succeeding years to purchase the estate of the Rankin family. This property was situated on the Codorus about two miles below York, and consisted of a large flouring mill and plantation. Philip Albright made his home upon his newly purchased plantation, having some years previous married Anna Maria Ursula,

Awl, John.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

daughter of Johann Daniel Duenckle, a ing Albright's company, of which he became German refugee and aristocrat.

When the tension with Great Britain be- came keen, there was no more enthusiastic partisan of colonial independence than Philip Albright, and when the preliminary steps were taken looking to the achievement of that end, he was chosen a member of the Committee of Observation, formed at York, December 16, 1774. On March 19, 1776, he was appointed captain of the First Battalion of the Pennsylvania regiment under the command of Colonel Samuel Miles. He fol- lowed the fortunes of this regiment under Washington at the battle of Long Island and other engagements around New York and in the Jersey campaign, during the winter of 1776-7. As a result of difficulties with Major Ennion Williams, Captain Al- bright resigned his command on January 23, 1777. His retirement to private life, however, was of short duration, for on April 5, 1778, while Continental Congress was in session at York, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Third Battalion of York County Militia, David Jameson, colo- nel. Five days after the date of his com- mission, the battalion was ordered out to guard the frontier against hostile Indians, who had committed depredations in the Wyoming Valley, and in central and west- ern Pennsylvania.

At the close of the war, Philip Albright returned to his family, with whom he lived in considerable state and was highly es- teemed by his fellows. In 1797, he lost his wife. The same year, in recognition of his services to his country, he was elected to the State Legislature from York County, and served two years. Lieutenant-Colonel Albright died April 2, 1800, "a warm friend of his country," leaving a large estate, and survived by two sons and four daughters. One of his daughters married George Small, father of Philip A. and Samuel, founders of the firm of P. A. & S. Small.

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM McPHER- SON, who was captured in the battle of Long Island, was a son of Robert McPherson, who served as a captain in the French and Indian war, and com- manded a battalion of York County militia in the Revolution. He was born near the site of Gettysburg. December 2, 1757, and at the age of 19 aided in recruit- ized.

second lieutenant. During the hottest of the fighting in the battle of Long Island, Lieutenant McPherson fell into the hands of the enemy and was held a prisoner of war near New York city for one year. After the war he became a prominent and influential citizen of the Marsh Creek country. He represented York County in the State Legislature from 1790 to 1799, except in 1793. During the last year he served in the Legislature, he secured the passage of a bill to divide York County, and organize the new county of Adams, which was accom- plished in 1800. He died at Gettysburg, August 2, 1832, at the age of seventy-five years. Lieutenant McPherson was twice married, first in 1780, to Mary Garick, of Frederick County, Maryland, and second in 1793, to Sara Reynolds, of Shippensburg. He was the father of fourteen children. John B. McPherson, one of his sons, was forty-five years cashier of the Gettysburg bank, the oldest financial institution in the county. Hon. Edward McPherson, son of John B. McPherson, was born in 1831 and died in 1895. He was a representative in the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Con- gresses, and sixteen years clerk of the national House of Representatives.

THE FIRST PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.

The First Pennsylvania Regiment . was organized in the field at the. headquarters of the army at Long Island, July 11, 1776. Most of the membership was composed of re-enlisted men who had previously served one year in Thompson's battalion. The new regiment was placed in the command of Col. Edward Hand, of Lancaster, with Benjamin Chambers, of Franklin County, as lieutenant-colonel, and Rev. Samuel Blair, chaplain. Owing to a controversy James Ross was not appointed major until three months afterward. When the regiment was organized, the nine companies were com- manded respectively by Henry Miller, Mat- thew Smith, Robert Cluggage, James Ross, Charles Craig, James Grier, David Harris, James Parr and James Hamilton. The two companies which had accompanied Arnold's expedition to Canada had returned in time to join the regiment when it was organ-

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THE REVOLUTION

This regiment now entered upon British. But they decided not to attack Under Sullivan preparing for a contest with the at Long Island. British, which was expected to come soon after their arrival at Long Island. General Sullivan, under whom Thompson's battalion had served in front of Boston, had now returned from the expedition to Canada and Captain Miller's company from York, with the First a career of drill and discipline him. Captain Miller then returned to the regiment, which moved along the enemy's flank. Our men now fired and killed several Hessians. Strong guards were maintained all day on the flanks of the enemy and our regiment and the Hessians kept up a severe firing with a loss of but two wounded on our side. We laid a few Hessians low and made them retreat out of Flat Bush. Our men Pennsylvania Regiment, was again placed in went into the town and brought the goods Sullivan's command on Long Island. Gen- out of the burning houses.

"The enemy nearly lost their field pieces. We could certainly have taken the cannon had it not been for some foolish person calling retreat. The main body of the foe returned to the town and when our men came back to camp they told of their ex- ploits. Their stories were doubted by some, which enraged our men so that a few of them ran and brought away several Hes- sians on their backs. This kind of firing by our riflemen and theirs continued until 2 o'clock in the morning of the 26th, when our regiment was relieved by a portion of the Flying Camp, and we started for Fort Greene to get refreshment, not having lain down the whole of this time and almost dead, with fatigue. We just reached the fort when the alarm guns were fired. We were compelled to return to the lines, and, as soon as it was light, saw our men and theirs engaged with field pieces.

"At last the enemy surrounded

A our advance guard, and then a heavy firing continued for several hours. The main body that sur- rounded our men marched within thirty yards of Forts Brown and Greene ; but when we fired they retreated with loss. Our men behaved as bravely as ever men did, but it is surprising that with the superi- ority of the enemy our men were not cut to pieces. They behaved gallantly, and there are but five or six hundred missing of the 2.500 comprising our brigade.

In the battle of Long Island Hand's regi- ment took a conspicuous part. Lieutenant- Colonel Chambers, of this regiment, in de- scribing the engagement wrote as follows: "On the morning of August 22 there were nine thousand troops approaching us on New Utrecht plains. The guard alarmed our small camp and we assembled at the flag staff. We found our forces too small to "General Lord Stirling fought like a wolf and was taken prisoner. Colonels Miles and Atlee, Major Burd, Captain Peebles, Lieu- tenant Watt, and a great number of other officers are also prisoners. Colonel Piper is missing. From deserters we learn that the enemy lost Major General Grant and two brigadiers and many others, and five hun- attack the enemy on the plain. A detach- ment of the regiment under the command of Captain Miller, of York, followed the enemy with the design to decoy a portion of them to follow him. The remainder of our regi- ment was stationed along the woods near Captain Mille-'s detachment, which had moved to a point 200 yards from the dred killed. Our loss is chiefly in prisoners."

eral Howe arrived with 25,000 troops at the entrance of New York harbor early in August, and was accompanied by his brother, Admiral Lord Howe, with a resist- less fleet. The American army under Washington numbered less than 10,000. General Israel Putnam commanded 5,000 troops at Brooklyn Heights and Sullivan, under whom the York soldiers were serving, had 4,000 men guarding the roads on Long Island. August 27, Howe, with 20,000 troops, attacked Sullivan. With his great superiority of force he was able to surround the Americans and take more than 1,000 prisoners, including General Sullivan. Had Howe attacked the works on Brooklyn Heights he would probably have met with a bloody defeat ; but Bunker Hill had taught him a lesson and he determined to besiege the place instead of assaulting it. When Washington perceived this intention he withdrew the army, taking it across the East River one dark, foggy night in such boats and scows as he could collect. This Spirited skillful retreat under the very nose of the Contest. enemy was a wonderful achievement.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Colonel Hand, in his report of the retreat after the battle of Long Island, said : "When it was determined to evacuate Long Island, General Mifflin, of Pennsylvania, told me that Washington had honored him with the command of the covering party and that our regiment was to be employed in that ser- vice. He then assigned us our several sta- tions which we were to occupy as soon as it was dark and pointed out Brooklyn Church as an alarm post to which the whole force was to repair and unitedly oppose the enemy in case they discovered our move- ments and made an attack in consequence. My regiment was posted in a redoubt on the left and in the lines on the right of the great road below Brooklyn Church. Cap- tain Henry Miller commanded in the re- doubt."

Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers wrote : "The Pennsylvania troops received great honor by being chosen corps de reserve to cover the retreat. The regiments of Colonels Hand, Morgan, Shea and Hazlett were detailed for that purpose. We kept up camp fires with the outposts stationed until all the rest were over. We left the lines after it was fair day and then came off. Never was a greater feat of generalship shown than in this retreat-to bring off an army of twelve thousand men within sight of a strong enemy, supported by as strong a fleet as ever floated our seas. We saved all our baggage. General Washington saw the last troop cross over."

Writing to his wife, Captain

Captain Miller states: "Today, August 4,

Henry my company was reviewed by

Miller's General Washington, but owing

Account. to the heavy cannonading up the

river his stay was very short." Again, on the 3Ist of the same month : "As our regiments were sent only as an advance guard to watch the movements of the enemy and not for the purpose of making a stand where they did, and as they were brought into action by the great spirit which prevailed among the Pennsylvania, Maryland and lower country troops, the result of the battle could not be properly called a defeat. WVe forced the enemy to retreat three different times from their ad- vanced posts, and their loss was greater than our own. The retreat was conducted in such a manner as would do honor to the

most experienced generals and army in the world; for it entirely disconcerted the de- signs of the enemy to surround us. I had the honor to be in the rear guard; the sun was up before I left the island. Governor's Island was given up yesterday. We shall leave New York in a few days, for this place is too advantageously situated for the enemy, and the possession of it will not afford them an easy access to the back country."

A contemporary writer states this addi- tional fact: "Captain Miller, in this retreat, was the last man to enter the boat, and that, when they were pushed off and were sup- posed to be out of danger, a heavy fog hung over them. He stood up, hat in hand, and gave three hearty cheers. This brought on them a heavy volley of musketry."

After Washington had crossed into New York city from Long Island, he placed his army on the east bank of the Hudson in the vicinity of White Plains. He abandoned everything on Manhattan Island except Fort Washington. To defend this strategic point he sent a body of nearly two thousand troops in command of Colonel Robert Mc- Gaw, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. This officer had been major of Thompson's riflemen, which had marched from southern Pennsyl- vania to Boston at the opening of the war. Colonel McGaw had won distinction for gallantry at Long Island and had merited the promotion he received upon the recom- mendation of the commander-in-chief. While presenting a front parallel to that of Howe, frequent skirmishes occurred in which the Americans were entirely success- ful.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 32

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372