History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 37

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

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

About February 7 of this year, one bat- talion of York county militia, under the command of Major Thomas Lilly, left York to join the force under Lacey. They were delayed by the bad weather and did not reach Crooked Billet until the 23rd of the month.

YORK TROOPS AT MONMOUTH.

Meantime, Washington went to the rear The British army evacuated Philadelphia on June 18, and began the march toward New York. Howe, who had commanded the enemy's forces at Brandywine and Ger- mantown and during the evacuation of Philadelphia, was succeeded by Sir Henry Clinton. On June 21, Washington left the encampment at Valley Forge and crossed the Delaware at Trenton, determining to strike the enemy at the first opportunity. During the winter, the American forces had been trained and disciplined under the direction of Baron Steuben, a soldier and and brought up the main army. One of Wayne's regiments, ordered to the front, was the Seventh Pennsylvania Line, for- merly commanded by Colonel David Grier, of York, who had been wounded at Paoli. It was now led by its original commander, Colonel William Irvine, of Carlisle, who had been captured in the Canada expedition and lately released. The other regiments were the Thirteenth Pennsylvania, com- manded by Colonel Walter Stewart, and the Third, Colonel Thomas Craig. They were aided by a Maryland and a Virginia regi- tactician who came to this country from the ment. These gallant troops held the posi- court of Frederick the Great. Although the American army had suffered hardships at Valley Forge, the rank and file were in ex- cellent trim. Washington followed closely in pursuit of the British and directed Gen- cral Charles Lee to move forward and attack the enemy's rear at Freehold, in Monmouth County. Lee at first declined this duty, and Lafayette, with a division of troops composed in part of Wayne's brigade of the Pennsylvania Line, was ordered to hang on the enemy's rear. tion until the reinforcements, which made up the second line of battle, arrived. Wayne was stationed in an orchard with a hill on either side. General Greene took position on the right and Lord Stirling on the left. General Knox, commanding the artillery force, planted his guns on the hills to the left, near Stirling's troops, and opened on the enemy. The withering fire of Wayne's command in the centre made a further advance of the enemy impossible. The British grenadiers, endeavoring to pierce Wayne's line, were repulsed. At length, Lieutenant-Colonel Monckton, at the head of the divisions in which were sons of many of the noblest English families who had given tone to fashionable dissipation while Philadelphia was in the hands of the enemy, and Continental Congress at York, harangued his men and led them on the charge. He was repulsed by Wayne and in the attack, fell mortally wounded.

Lee, meantime, changed his mind and claimed the authority to lead the detach- ment, which he was unfortunately permitted to do. He marched five miles in advance of the main army to vigorously attack the enemy. When he arrived within striking distance, Wayne, with 700 Pennsylvania soldiers of the Continental Line, was despatched to attack the left rear. When he approached the enemy, Simcoe's rangers of mounted men dashed upon Colonel Richard Butler's Pennsylvania regiment, but were driven back.

At this juncture, a combined

Battle of attack was made by the Monmouth. British and the battle of Mon- mouth was opened. The enemy now became the assailants. Wayne pelled the British to retreat to their first looked around in vain for a supporting position. column of Americans. It was at this time

in the battle that General Lee had ordered his part of the line to fall back. Dismay and consternation followed, and to prevent defeat, Washington himself rode into the thickest of the fight. After reprimanding Lee, he ordered Wayne to form his regi- ments in line of battle, and check the assault of the enemy.

Sir Henry Clinton, commanding the British forces, now attacked the left under Stirling, but was driven back by the artil- lery. He then attempted to break through the right, but was overpowered by Greene, who was supported by a strong battery. Wayne advanced from the centre and com-

Evening had now arrived, and the

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Americans bivouacked for the night near the enemy, who stole away before morning had dawned, and left Washington in com- mand of the field. Thus ended one of the most brilliant victories of the Revolution. It added laurels to the American arms and increased the power and influence of the commander-in-chief.

The First Pennsylvania Regiment at Monmouth was in command of Colonel James Chambers, who had led it at Brandywine and Germantown. Henry Mil- ler, who had left York in 1775 with the first troops for Boston, was major of this regiment. The company of York County troops which had fought at Boston, Long Island, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Paoli and Germantown, were still serving in the First Pennsylvania Regiment, but no muster roll of it for 1778 has been found. In this battle Captain John McDowell com- manded Moses McClean's company, and Captain William Alexander, Grier's com- pany, serving in the Seventh Pennsylvania Line. These were the two companies that had marched with Irvine's regiment on the first expedition to Canada, in the winter of 1775.

Jacob Stake, of York, who was first lieu- tenant of Captain Albright's company in Miles' regiment, commanded a company in the Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment at Mon- mouth. James Lang, of York County, who had served as a lieutenant in Atlee's Musketry Battalion, also commanded a company in the Tenth Regiment. Joshua Williams, of York County, commanded a company in the Fourth Pennsylvania Regi- ment under Colonel William Butler. Wal- ter Cruise, of York, who was a corporal in Miller's company and had been captured at Boston in 1775, commanded a company in the Sixth Regiment.

The following is the muster roll of Cap- tain John McDowell's company in 1778:

Captain, John McDowell, First Lieutenant, William Miller. Second Lieutenant, Robert McPherson. Ensign, James Milligan. Sergeants, Thomas Gainer, Roger Gough, Adam Linn.

Corporal,

William Manley.

Drummer, Patrick Conner.

Privates,

Edward Atchison,

John McCalloh,

George Blackley,

Francis McDonnel,

William Bradshaw,

Alexander McDonnel,

Henry Cain,

Neal McGunnagle,

William Campbell,

Patrick McKeehan,

Thomas Chesney,

John Milton,

John Connelly,

John Morrison,

Daniel Conner,

Bartholomew Mulloy,

John Donnel,

Dennis Murphy,

Philip Duffield,

James Quinn,

John Dugan, Thomas Riley,

John Farming,

Michael Shawley,

Henry Garman,

Solomon Silas,

Samuel Gilmore,

Diggony Sparks,

John Hart,

Richard Slack,

Robert Hunter, George Sullivan,

James Johnston, Marly Sullivan,

Matthew Kelly,

John Walch,

Andrew Kennedy, Edward Welch,

Patrick King,

James Welch,

Michael Lennogan,

John Welch,

Hendrick Winkler.

The following is the muster-roll of Cap- tain William Alexander's Company in 1778:

Captain,

William Alexander.

First Lieutenant,

Samuel Kennedy.

Second Lieutenant,

Alexander Russell.

Ensign,

Robert Mc Wheeling.

Sergeants,

William Gray,

Jolın Smith,

Joseph Wade,

Matthew Way.

Corporals,

George Brown,

James Hamilton,

Joseph Rawlands,

Joseph Templeton.

Privates,

William Anguish

James Hutton

James Berry

Jacob Leed

John Brannon

John McCall

John Bryans Thomas McConn

Patrick Butler

Patrick McCormick

John Clemonds

John McDonnel

Adam Conn John McGinnis

Cornelius Corrigan Patrick McGonaghy

Isaac Moore

William Courtney David Davis

Timothy Murphy

James Donovan

Patrick Nowland

John Farrell

James Price

Henry Freet

Patrick Rooney

William Guthrie

John Sommerville

James Harkens

John Stewart

Richard Henley

William Wilkinson

George Worley.

The following is the muster-roll of Cap- tain James Lang's Company, which served

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

in the Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment at the battle of Monmouth :

Captain, James Lang. Scrgcants, Daniel McLean,

Thomas Filson,

Barny Shields.

Corporals, John Smith, James Tyre.

Drum and Fife, Leonard Toops, Andrew Cutler.

Privatcs,

Daniel Powers

John Sulavan

Samuel Green

William Stage

John Smith

John Burnham

John Lockhard

Hugh Bradley

Adam Truby

Bartholomew Berrey

Daniel Hoy

John McCarron

Simon Digby

William Douglass

David Stinson

John Jones

Henry Falls

Robert Holston

James Sharplice

John Sigafuss

Andrew Carvan

David Griffin

John McBride

Edward Butler

Thomas Whelan

Samuel Lessley

Lawrence Gorman

Andrew McQuigan James Duncan

Abraham Hornick

Robert Hanna

Thomas Borland

Barney Burnes.

The following is the muster-roll of Cap- tain Jacob Stake's Company which served in the Tenth Pennsylvania Line in 1778 at the battle of Monmouth :

Captain, Jacob Stake. Sergeants, John Wynne, Samuel Edger,

John Ray. Corporals,

Robert Conyers

John Patton

William Cooper

Patrick Preston

Michael Elly,

Thomas Crone

Michael Quin John Quint

George Dougherty

John Douther

Andrew Sharp

Able Evans

John Shaven

Thomas Fanning

Joseph Shibbey

John Ferguson

Matthew Shields

Privates,

John Pierce

Christopher Reily

James McCray

John Chappel

Thomas Griffith

Alexander Stevens

Richard Coogan

William Williams

Joseph Halbut

Patrick Stewlan

George Montgomery

Edward Helb

Robert Harvey

Matthew Stoyle

William Short

Rudolph Crowman

Jacob Stillwell

Stephen Falkentine

Richard Kennedy

John Taylor

Nathaniel Webber

Daniel Forker

Timothy McNamara

Patrick Coyle

Charles Fulks John Gettiss William Leech

William Grace Benjamin Toy

Lawrence Sullivan

Thomas Moore

Samuel Dickson

Malcolm Black

James Pratt

Patrick Collins

John Funk

Richard Harding

George Webb

Bastion Maraquet.

CAPTAIN MILLER'S COMPANY.

The following is a return of Captain Henry Miller's Company, on November 4, 1776. It was then serving in the First Pennsylvania Regiment and formed part of the rear column of Washington's army in the retreat across New Jersey to Trenton, after the defeat at Fort Washington. This company, under Captain Miller, took part in the battles of Princeton and Trenton, and when Henry Miller was promoted to major of the regiment, was commanded at Bran- dywine and Germantown by Captain James Matson. It took part in the battle of Mon- mouth, and in 1781, still in the First Regi- ment, marched under Colonel Richard But- ler, with Wayne's Brigade of the Pennsyl- vania Line, and was present at the surren- der of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, in October, 178I.

Captain, Henry Miller. First Licutenant, James Matson. Second Lieutenant, John Clark. Privates, John Line

William Allen

Robert Armor

Charles Liness

George Armstrong

John McAllister

John Bell

John McCray

John Beverly

George McCrea

Christian Bittinger

John McCurt

Richard Block

George Brown

John Burke

Joseph McQuiston James Mill Joshua Minshall

Thomas Campbell

Edward Moore

William Carnahan

James Morrison

John Clark

Patrick Murphy

Martin Sullivan. Drummer, John Jeffrys. Fifer, Martin Ashburn.

William Goudy

Patrick Graft

John Griffith

James Smith Jacob Staley Andrew Start

Thomas Kennedy

William Taylor

John Leiper

Abraham Lewis

David Torrence Timothy Winters

Edward White.

MAJOR JOHN CLARK, who rendered valuable services at the battle of Monmouth, was born in Lancaster County, in 1751, of English ancestry. He obtained his educa-

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John Stammers

James McLaughlin

John Humphries

Tobias Tanner

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tion in the schools of his native county and while the other troops went in pursuit of when about twenty years of age removed to the enemy.

York. At the opening of the Revolution, he was a student of law, but his professional studies were interrupted by enlisting in the army. July 1, 1775, he was chosen third lieutenant of the first military company which marched from York and arrived at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where it joined Washington's army.

Lieutenant Clark took part with his company in the skirmish with the British at Charlestown, a few days after their arrival at Boston. For gallantry in this affair, he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant of his company. then commanded by Captain Henry Miller. He served as second lieutenant of Miller's com- pany in the hard fought battle of Long Is- land. in August, 1776. This company then formed a part of the First Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line.

Lieutenant Clark was also conspicuous for his gallantry at Flatbush, Long Island. In September, 1776, he was chosen major of the Second Regiment of the Flying Camp, upon the recommendation of General Hugh Mercer. This regiment, composed entirely of York County troops, was com- manded by Colonel Richard McAllister, founder of Hanover. October 15, 1776, Major Clark participated with his regiment in an expedition against the British on Staten Island, and in this action commanded the advance with 500 riflemen. He suc- ceeded in capturing 60 Waldeckers or Hes- sians.

Soon after this brilliant affair. Major Clark moved with his regiment up the west side of the Hudson River and took position opposite White Plains. Here he com- manded a detachment of 200 men. With these men he built fortifications to aid in preventing Howe's army from crossing to the west bank of the Hudson.

The following day, December 27, with 200 men, he marched in pursuit of a body of British, commanded by General Stirling and Count Donop, to Hidetown and Cranberry, leaving the British in his rear at Princeton. This was a bold and brilliant dash in the cold weather of midwinter. At the villages of Allentown and Cranberry nearby, he cap- tured a large amount of British stores and provisions, and at Hidetown surprised and took prisoners thirty British officers. This remarkable raid and its achievement won for him and his soldiers from York County the plaudits of his superior officers, when they returned to headquarters near Trenton. Major Clark and his men were commended for their bravery by Washington, Greene and Reed. Washington presented Clark with a British sword that had been cap- tured in battle. Shortly after the battle of Trenton the term of enlistment of McAl- lister's regiment of the Flying Camp ex- pired. The men were honorably dis- charged and returned home. Major Clark remained in the service, and was assigned to duty under General Thomas Mifflin, who was reorganizing the Pennsylvania militia then in New Jersey and eastern Pennsyl- vania. He was the only officer present at Crosswicks, near Trenton, in January, 1777, when General Mifflin made a strong appeal to the New England militia to remain one month longer in service. On the following day General Greene dispatched Major Clark on the important duty of discovering the force and movement of the enemy under Lord Cornwallis, then advancing toward Princeton, New Jersey. He soon returned to Greene with the desired information and then aided in forming an advance battle line to meet the approaching British under Cornwallis, at the opening of the battle of Princeton. During the day of the engage- ment, Clark, as brigade major under Mifflin, did valiant service in directing the artillery into action.

After the battle of Fort Washington, when the American army retired from the vicinity of New York, Major Clark com- manded the rear of the retreating forces, southward over the state of New Jersey. When the American army arrived at Morristown, New Jersey, at the request of Washington he was made chief of staff to General Greene, with the rank of major in the Continental Line. His training as a despatch bearer, and his success in leading He was present at the battle of Trenton and after Washington's victory at that place, which ended in the capture of Rahl and 1,000 Hessian troops. Major Clark re- ported that he collected the trophies of victory and held possession of the town, reconnoitering parties, made him a useful

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

officer to General Greene, who, next to trust, but owing to the condition of his Washington, was ranked as the ablest health, he declined these proffered honors and again returned to York, to recuperate his, health. In recognition of what Clark had done while in the army, Washington wrote the following interesting letter to Henry Laurens, then president of Congress, at York :. soldier of the Revolution. While making a reconnaissance with a small body of troops to ascertain the position of the advancing British under General Howe, at Brandy- wine, Major Clark received a wound from a rifle ball passing through his right shoulder. He then returned to his home in York, and after recuperating, joined his "Sir :- I take the liberty of introducing Major John Clark, the bearer of this, to your notice. He entered "Headquarters, Valley Forge, Jan. 2, 1778. the service at the commencement of the war and has for some time past acted as aide-de-camp to Major- General Greene. He is active, sensible and enterprising and has rendered me very great assistance since the army has been in Pennsylvania, by procuring one con- stant and certain intelligence of the motions and inten- tions of the enemy. It is somewhat uncertain whether the state of the major's health will admit of his remain- ing in the military line; if it should, I may perhaps have occasion to recommend him in a more particular manner to the favor of Congress at a future time. At present, I can assure you that if you should, while he remains in the neighborhood of York, have any occasion for his services, you will find him not only willing, but very capable of executing any of your commands. I have the honor to be, etc., command before the battle of Germantown. In this engagement, while leading a small detachment, he took prisoner Captain Speak, of the 37th Light Infantry. Immedi- ately after the battle, with a small scouting party, he moved within sight of the British line in order to ascertain the enemy's loss and if possible, discover the future plan of operations. He accomplished his purpose with great personal danger, and communi- cated to the commander-in-chief, not only the losses of the British at Germantown, but Howe's plan of movement against the GEORGE WASHINGTON." American forces, after the battle. These facts enabled Washington to make such a After receiving the letter to Henry disposition of his troops as to gain ad- Laurens, President of Continental Con- vantage over Howe at White Marsh, a few days later. He also recommended the de- tachment of Smallwood's brigade of Mary- land troops to Wilmington, Delaware, which was re-captured by the Americans. This movement resulted in seizing two of the enemy's ships on the Delaware heavily ladened with provisions and munitions of war. For his brilliant achievements at this period, Major Clark received the highest commendation from his superior officers. The wound which he had received at Brandywine now compelled his retirement, and he again returned to his home at York.

In January, 1778, together with Captain Lee, of Virginia, known as "Light Horse Harry" of the Revolution, Clark was called to the encampment at Valley Forge to con- sult with Washington about a proposed at- tack on a detachment of Howe's forces then at Darby, or the main body of the army in and around Philadelphia. Both Lee and Clark advised Washington against any win- ter attack of the British forces. At a coun- cil of war a majority of the subordinate commanders present were of the same opin- ion. In appreciation of his ability as a sol- dier, Washington now offered to Clark different positions of responsibility and

gress then in session at York, Major Clark was appointed auditor of the accounts of the army under General Washington. He accepted this position February 24, 1778. He served for a period of two years and then returned to his home. When he assumed the duties of this office the Treas- ury of the United States had but small deposits and Major Clark advanced the sum of eleven hundred and fifty-two pounds of his own money for one of the best teams in America to secure and haul the outfit of the auditors, their baggage and documents be- longing to the officers, to the headquarters of the army. During the battle of Mon- mouth, Major John Clark, of York, was again called to his former position as an aide on the staff of General Greene. Here he again succeeded in endearing himself to his own commander and also the head of the army. It was Clark who had carried the orders for General Lee to make the first attack, and his testimony was used when Lee was afterward court-martialed and de- prived of his command.

The battle of Monmouth was the last en- gagement in which Major Clark partici- pated during the Revolution. Having nearly completed his legal studies before he

GEN. HENRY MILLER

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entered the army he was admitted to the bar at York, April 27, 1779. and spent the remainder of his life as a practicing lawyer.

During the second war with Great Britain in 1812, he offered his services for the de- fence of his country. When the British, under General Ross, approached Baltimore, in 1814, Major Clark proceeded to that city. He presented himself before the military authorities of Baltimore with a letter from James Monroe, Secretary-of-War in Madi- son's Cabinet, who recommended Major Clark for his ability as a soldier in the Revo- lution. He then offered General Smith, commanding the forces at Baltimore, to lead the advance and attack the British when they landed at North Point, but the duty had already been assigned to others.

After the defeat of the British at North Point, General Smith tendered his thanks to Major Clark for "the zeal and active ser- vices he voluntarily rendered during his stay at Baltimore and in its defence."

He continued the practice of law at York during the remainder of his life. He re- sided in a large home at the southwest cor- ner of Market and Beaver Streets, which in 1906 was used by Adams Express Com- pany. In personal appearance, he was large of frame, of commanding presence and military bearing. In 1818 he was a candidate of the Federalist party to repre- sent Lancaster and York Counties in the Congress of the United States, but was de- feated. After the Revolution, Major Clark was in close and intimate relations with General Washington until the time of the latter's death in 1799.

GENERAL HENRY MILLER, of York, who entered the army as a lieutenant, in 1775, served continuously until the year 1779. He was conspicuous for his gallantry in the siege of Boston, at the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton. Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. In all he participated in forty- seven battles and skirmishes with the British during the four years of his military service in the army.

He was born February 13, 1751. at the site of Millersville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where his father was a farmer owning a large estate. After receiving a good preparatory education, he went to Reading, where he entered the law office of Collinson Reed, and studied conveyancing. In 1769. he removed to York, where he began the occupation of a conveyancer and continued his legal studies with Samnel Johnson, one of the pioneer lawyers of York County. When the Revolution opened he espoused the cause of the colonists and be- came second lieutenant of the York Rifle- men, a company of 100 trained marksmen from York County, who, on July 1, 1775, began the march to Boston, and joined Washington's army at Cambridge, Massa- chusetts, on July 25. Here they were as- signed to Thompson's Battalion, the first troops south of New York to join the American army during the Revolution. Their reputation for trained marksmanship with the use of the rifle was already well known. The troops who engaged in the battle of Bunker Hill had used muskets.

Two days after the York Riflemen, under Captain Doudel, arrived at Washington's headquarters, at the request of Lieutenant Miller, they were sent out to reconnoiter

Major Clark was married early in life to a daughter of Captain Nicholas Bittinger, of Hanover, who commanded a company in the same regiment of the Flying Camp in the position of the enemy at Bunker Hill. which Clark served as a major. He had one This was done with Washington's consent and resulted in the capture of several prisoners, from whom the position and number of the enemy were obtained. Soon after this event. Lieutenant Miller was made captain of his company, and com- manded it on the march toward New York. He and his riflemen were conspicuous for son, George Clark. and several daughters, none of whom left descendants. The only portrait of the major in existence, except a drawing, was interred with the remains of Julia Clark, his daughter, at her request, in St. John's Episcopal Churchyard. Major Clark died December 27, 1819, at the age of 68. and his remains were buried in St. their valor at the battle of Long Island and John's Episcopal Churchyard. He was prominent in the Masonic Fraternity and was a vestryman of St. John's Church.

guarded the retreat of Washington's army, which, through a fog. crossed to New York City. Captain Miller, amid a shower of

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 37

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