History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 39

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

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"Our garrisons have plenty of beef and salt, though flour is scarce at Wyoming. I arrived here with the remainder of the de- tachment on the 5th. We have performed a circuit of nearly 300 miles in about two weeks. We brought off nearly fifty head of cattle, twenty-eight canoes. besides many other articles. I would respectfully propose that the Congress would be pleased to send a Connecticut regiment to garrison Wyoming as soon as possible. It is but 120 miles from Fish Kills, New York. I have done all I can for the good of the whole. I have given all the support in my power to the post, but if troops are not immediately

Wyoming ( Wilkesbarre), which is more sent, these settlements will be destroyed in

detail. In a week or less a regiment could march from Fish Kills to Wyoming. My little regiment with two classes of Lancaster and Berks County Militia, will be scarcely sufficient to preserve the posts from Nesco- pake falls to Muncy, and from thence to the head of Penn's Valley."

The report sent to Congress from Sun- bury by Colonel Hartley was received with favor both by Congress and the Legislature of Pennsylvania. For his success the execu- tive council of the State extended to him a unanimous vote of thanks. Immediately after sending this letter to Congress, for the purpose of guarding the frontier, he re-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

quested that "300 round bullets for three Lieutenant William Clemm, May 26, 1777; pounders, 300 cartridges of grape shot for Ensign George Hillery, February 1, 1777; the same bore, 1,000 flints, six barrels of Ensign John McBride, February 2, 1777; powder, a quantity of twine and portfire, a Ensign James McCalmon, January 24, 1777; Ensign John Manghan, February 25, 1777; Ensign Nachel Dorsey, May 1, 1777; En- sign John Stake, May 26, 1777. ream of cannon cartridge paper," and some other small articles be sent to Sunbury. He said that they had eight cannon firing three pound balls on the frontier, at Forts Muncy and Antes. COLONEL THOMAS HARTLEY.

Colonel Hartley remained in the military Colonel Thomas Hartley was born in Colebrookdale, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1748. His father, George Hartley, of Eng- service on the frontier with Sunbury as his headquarters from October, 1778, until De- cember of that year, when he was elected to lish birth, was one of the early settlers and represent York County in the Pennsylvania

a leading citizen of Berks County. In his Assembly. Upon his retirement from the youth, Thomas Hartley displayed strong in- military service, Continental Congress, deeming the reasons for his resigning satis- factory, bore testimony of their "high sense of Colonel Hartley's merit and services."

The commissioned officers of Colonel Hartley's Regiment, in June, 1777, were the following: Colonel Thomas Hartley, ap- pointed January 10, 1777; Lieutenant- Colonel Morgan Conner, appointed April 9, 1777; Major Lewis Bush, January 12, 1777; Quartermaster John McAllister, April 17. 1777; Adjutant Robert Ralston, January 16, 1777; Paymaster Thomond Ball, January 15, 1777 ; Surgeon Jacob Swope, January 15, 1777; Surgeon Tracey, February 5. 1777; Captain Bernard Eichelberger, January 12, 1777; Captain William Nichols, January 13, 1777: Captain Robert Hoopes, January 13, 1777; Captain Benjamin C. Stoddart, Janu- ary 14, 1777; Captain William Kelley, Janu- ary 16, 1777 ; Captain Richard Willson, Feb- ruary 15, 1777; Captain George Bush, March 1, 1777; Captain Archibald McAllis- ter, April 18, 1777; First Lieutenant Paul Parker, January 16, 1777; First Lieutenant James Forrester, January 23, 1777; First Lieutenant Horatio Ross, January 24, 1777 ; First Lieutenant James Kenny, January 25, 1777; First Lieutenant James Dill, Febru- ary 5, 1777; First Lieutenant Count De Momfort, March 23, 1777; First Lieuten- ant Charles Croxall, May 25, 1777; First Lieutenant John Hughes, June 1, 1777; Second Lieutenant Andrew Walker, Janu- ary 12, 1777; Second Lieutenant Isaac Sweeney, January 23, 1777; Second Lieu- tenant Henry Carberry, January 24, 1777; Second Lieutenant Martin Eichelberger, January 25. 1777; Second Lieutenant Wil- liam McCurdy, January 26, 1777; Second

tellectual endowments. He obtained his preliminary education at a classical school in Reading. In 1766, when eighteen years of age, he removed to York, where he entered upon the study of law with Samuel Johnson, a relative of his mother, and one of the early members of the York County Bar. He was admitted to the practice of law at York in 1769. Although still a young man, he was one of the earliest citizens west of the Susquehanna to espouse the cause of the American colonists when their rights were tread upon by the British crown.

As early as 1774, two years before the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Hart- ley was chosen first lieutenant of a military company at York, for the purpose of making disciplined soldiers. In the summer of 1775, he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the First Battalion of York County As- sociators. He now became an active and zealous patriot and was chosen lieutenant- colonel of a battalion of "Minute Men," se- lected from the other five battalions of as- sociators in York County. This battalion was ready at a moment's notice for any emergency that might occur between the colonies and the mother country. In the fall of 1775, he joined the expedition to Canada and was chosen lieutenant-colonel of Irvine's regiment, whose history is given in the preceding pages. Upon his return from the Canada campaign, he became lieu- tenant-colonel of the Seventh Pennsylvania Regiment. The remaining part of his mili- tary career is given above.

After his retirement from the army, he served as a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1779, meantime devoting his

COL. THOMAS HARTLEY

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attentions to his law practice at York. He Thomas Prowell, the youngest son and was chosen a member of the Council of father of Major Prowell, was a prominent Censors, in 1783, to adjust the Revolution- ary claims for Pennsylvania. In 1788, he was elected a member of the first Congress. The success of his career in the House of Representatives for a period of twelve years, is given in the chapter relating to the Representatives in Congress from York County.

Although the last twelve years of his life were devoted entirely to his professional labors and to his brilliant career as a repre- sentative in Congress, of which he was one of the ablest debaters, he kept up his in- terest in military affairs, in which he had won distinction during the Revolution, and in 1800, the last year of his life, was chosen by Governor McKean, major-general of the militia within the present area of York and Adams Counties.

Colonel Hartley took part in more than twenty skirmishes and battles during the Revolution. He was noted for military skill and strategy, and always showed great courage in battle. On account of his achievements and his amiable personality, queathed equal shares to his widow and two General Washington entertained for him sons, and named Rev. Owen Thomas as The guardian of his son Joseph, and Joseph Coates guardian of his son William.

the highest regard and affection. authorities of Pennsylvania and Continental Congress paid high tribute to his worth as a soldier and to his sterling patriotism, while serving in the army. He was highly esteemed by his fellow-officers with whom he was associated during the war for inde- pendence. He died at York, December 21, 1800, at the early age of fifty-two, after having nearly completed his sixth term in Congress.

MAJOR JOSEPH PROWELL, of the New Eleventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Line, and a gallant soldier of the Revolu- tion, was born in York County in 1753. James Prowell, his grandfather, came to America in 1705 with the early Welsh immi- gration, and settled on the Welsh tract in the northern part of Chester County. The children of James Prowell were Charles, Mary and Thomas. Charles joined a Chester County regiment at the advanced age of sixty years, and was lost, either killed or captured, in the first Jersey cam- paign, during the Revolution. Mary was married to Richard Buck, in the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia.

farmer and iron manufacturer of Chester County. In 1752, he was married in Gloria Dei, known as Old Swede's Church, in the southern part of Philadelphia, to Rachel Griffith, a Quakeress from Chester County. This ceremony took place shortly after this church was transferred from the Lutherans to the Episcopalians. Many of the relatives of Rachel Griffith migrated with the early Quakers, who settled in Warrington and Newberry Townships. Soon after their marriage, Thomas and Rachel Prowell moved to Warrington, where he purchased a tract of land near the Conewago. They remained in York County about three years, and then returned to Chester County, where the youngest son, Captain William Prowell, was born in 1755. Thomas Prowell died in 1765, leaving an estate of 412 pounds, in Chester County, of which David Thomas and Joseph Coates were executors ; and an estate of 336 pounds in York County, of which Robert Nelson and Peter Gardner were executors. His will be-

Joseph Prowell was educated at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and early in life engaged in the iron business with his brother William. At the opening of the war for independence, he was a member of the Philadelphia Light Horse, afterward known as the City Troop. This famous cavalry company was present at the battles of Trenton and Princeton in 1776.

On January II, 1777, Joseph Prowell was detached from the City Troop and com- missioned a captain in Colonel John Pat- ton's additional regiment of the Pennsyl- vania Line, composed of men from Chester and Philadelphia Counties. With this regi- ment he took part. during that year, in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. For his military skill and gallantry in action Captain Prowell was promoted major of his regiment January 1. 1778. On January 13, 1779, Major Prowell was transferred to the New Eleventh Pennsylvania Regiment, whose command was assigned to Colonel Thomas Hartley, of York. When it was decided to send an expedition, under Gen-

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eral Sullivan, against the Indians in the executors of Major Prowell's estate were Wyoming Valley, in Pennsylvania, and David Lennox, of Philadelphia: Robert and Cherry Valley, in New York, Major William Pulsford, of London; and John Prowell commanded a detachment of the Douglass, of the Colony of Berbice-in each New Eleventh Regiment, in all 200 men, to of which places he had possessions. lead the advance. He marched from Easton and reached Bear Creek, about ten miles southwest of Wilkes-Barre, on the night of April 19. It was now thought they were CHAPTER XV out of danger from the Indians. Major REVOLUTION-Continued. Prowell ordered that officers and men should dress in their best apparel, their The Pennsylvania Line at York-Execu- tion at York-Pulaski's Legion-Ar- mand's Legion-Quartermasters' Posts in York County. arms be newly burnished, and everything be put in order to present a fine appearance upon entering the beautiful Wyoming Val- ley.

When they reached Laurel Run, four miles southwest of Wilkesbarre, they were attacked by a band of Indians lying in am- bush, when Captain Davis, Lieutenant Jones, Corporal Butler and three privates were killed. Owing to this surprise the troops were thrown into confusion. They retreated a short distance and formed in line of battle and succeeded in dispersing the Indians, who fled after a few scattering discharges, and the troops entered the val- ley to garrison the fort at Wyoming, where the massacre had occurred some time before. After the close of the war Major Prowell became a shipping merchant in Philadelphia, engaged in trade with many foreign ports. On June 4, 1804, he took sick while on board his vessel, which he landed on the Barbadoes Islands, east of the West Indies, and the same day made his will. From this sickness he partially recovered, landed at Philadelphia, and a few days later added a codicil to his will, in his own hand- writing: "at the house of my esteemed friends. Captain James Josiah and his estimable lady, near Philadelphia." There he died on April 3. 1805, aged fifty-three years. He was buried with "the honors of war" by the City Troop of Philadelphia.

In February, 1781, Congress resolved to send the Pennsylvania Line to Virginia for the purpose of joining the southern army under General Nathaniel Greene, then re- treating northward through the Carolinas, closely pursued by Lord Cornwallis. A de- tachment of the British army under Bene- dict Arnold and William Philips had landed at Richmond and was threatening to invade the State of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson was the governor of that state and the Legislature had removed to Charlottes- ville.

The Pennsylvania Line, now under the command of General Arthur St. Clair, was ordered to rendezvous at York. It was composed of two brigades commanded re- spectively by Anthony Wayne and William Irvine. The mutiny which had occurred in December. 1780, while the Pennsylvania Line was in New Jersey, had been settled, largely through the influence of General Anthony Wayne, but many of the troops had been discharged and had returned to their homes. Early in January, 1781, six regiments of the Line and Proctor's Artil- lery, both much reduced in numbers, were stationed at different places in Pennsyl- vania for the purpose of recruiting. The First Regiment. under Colonel Daniel Colonel Walter Stewart, to Yellow Springs; the Third, Colonel Thomas Craig, to Eas- ton : the Fourth, Colonel William Butler. to Carlisle ; the Fifth. Colonel Richard Butler, to Reading; the Sixth, Colonel Richard Humpton, to Lebanon, and the Artillery, under Colonel Thomas Proctor, to New- The town. Other regiments were stationed at

Major Prowell is remembered tradition- ally as a bold, daring and fearless officer, Broadhead, was sent to York: the Second, and had a romantic history. He partici- pated in the sailors' troubles with the pirates of the Barbary States, and afterward owned large possessions in the Colony of Dernaii. He owned a plantation called "Washington," in the Colony of Berbice. and there assisted the British government to quell an insurrection in 1803.

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Fort Pitt, in western Pennsylvania. Gen- eral Irvine, of Carlisle, who had served with credit in the Canada and New Jersey cam- paigns, was assigned to superintend the re- cruiting throughout the State, and General Wayne was ordered to York. At this juncture, Washington wrote to St. Clair :

"Congress has determined

Washington's Letter. that the Pennsylvania Line, except Moylan's Dragoons, and other troops to the westward, shall compose part of the South- ern Army, and has directed me to order it to join the army in Virginia by detach- ments, as they may be in readiness to march. You will, therefore, in obedience to the above resolve, put matters in a proper train to carry it into execution with all dis- patch possible. You will now, in case cir- cumstances should permit the detachment under the command of Lafayette to proceed down the Chesapeake, not confine yourself to a single battalion of four hundred men, as mentioned in mine of the 22d, but en- deavor to send as many as possible by so good and expeditious a conveyance.

"I think it essential that one of the brigadiers should proceed to Virginia with the first detachment that moves, and there be ready to receive and form the remainder as they come on. There may be greater necessity of an officer of rank being at hand, as the Line, from the late disturbances in it, will have lost somewhat of its discipline. General Irvine, being employed in superin- tending the recruiting business, the duty de- volves upon General Wayne. I have writ- ten to him on the subject."

In March, Lafayette proceeded from Philadelphia with 1,000 New England and New Jersey troops to Baltimore, whence he moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia. In ac- cordance with instructions, the different regiments of the Pennsylvania Line at their places of cantonment in this state, had been increased in numbers by recruits. Prepara- tions were then made to rendezvous these troops at York. General Anthony Wayne, who had already won distinction as a sol- dier in several battles of the Revolution and had displayed remarkable skill and strategy in the capture of Stony Point on the Hudson, was ordered to command the first detachment to be sent to Virginia. May 2, 1781, St. Clair wrote to Wayne :

Ordered

"The parties from the several regiments which are to compose to York. the first detachment, have orders to march from the cantonments to York, the moment the auditors have finished the settlements, respectively. You will, therefore, repair to York as soon as conveniently may be, to make the necessary arrangements and take such measures as may prevent, as much as possible, any delay at that place. You will please to take the command of it upon yourself, and proceed, by the enclosed route, to join General Greene with all the dispatch that the nature of the case will admit of. Should any oper- ations of the enemy render the passage at Alexandria precarious, you are not to con- sider yourself as bound by the route, but will make choice of such other place to cross the Potomac where it may be done with safety, making as little detour as possible. As several of the squads must pass through Lancaster and there be supplied with pro- visions to carry them to York, give atten- tion to these matters in your way so as to facilitate their march, and prevent disap- pointment. I wish you a prosperous jour- ney, and all happiness.

"You will please to favor me with an ac- count of the return of the numbers you march with, and direct the brigade quarter- master to forward a return of the camp equipage and utensils received by him. Let me know, also, what number of arms were sent on to York. If there is any surplus, they may be stored and left under the care of the commanding officer at that place, as also any surplus of blankets beyond that which completes the detachment.

The Pennsylvania Line at Recruiting. York, under Wayne, was com- posed of two hundred men from the First regiment, 120 from the Second, So from the Third, 160 from the Fourth, 240 from the Fifth and 160 from the Sixth. Wayne's force was formed into three battalions, commanded respectively by Colonel Richard Butler, Colonel Walter Stewart and Colonel Richard Humpton. Nine officers and ninety men with six field pieces from Proctor's Fourth Continental Artillery were added to the detachment. This, together with recruits received at York, increased his command to nearly a thousand men. It was a long and tedious

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business to reorganize the men and procure the needed supplies for the expedition. In the efforts to prepare them for the campaign he was embarrassed by difficulties of the same sort that had been encountered since the beginning of the war. Recruits for the expedition were scarce, the needed supplies were not forthcoming, and the worthless paper which was given to pay his men, it was soon discovered would purchase nothing in the way of the commonest neces- saries. No allowance being made for the actual depreciation of this miscalled money below its nominal value, there was much discontent on the part of the men to whom it was offered. The result of this renewed attempt on the part of the state to pay its soldiers in nominal money, when it had agreed to pay them in what was real, is clearly expressed in the following letter of Wayne, May 20, 1781 :

"When I arrived at York there was scarcely a horse or a carriage fit to transport any part of our baggage or supplies. This difficulty I found means to remedy by bar- tering one species of public property to pro- cure another. The troops were retarded in advancing to the general rendezvous by the unaccountable delay of the auditors who were appointed to settle and pay the propor- tion of the depreciation due them, which, when received, was not equal to one-seventh part of its nominal value. This was an alarming circumstance. The soldiery but too sensibly felt the imposition; nor did the conduct or counsel of the inhabitants tend to moderate but rather to inflame their minds by refusing to part with anything which the soldiers needed in exchange for it, saying it was not worth accepting, and that they (the soldiers) ought not to march until justice was done them. To minds al- ready susceptible to this kind of impression and whose recent revolt was fresh in their memory little more was wanting to stimu- late them to try it again. The day ante- cedent to that on which the march was to commence, a few leading mutineers on the right of each regiment called out to pay them in real and not ideal money, they were no longer to be trifled with. Upon this they were ordered to their tents, which, being peremptorily refused, the principals were immediately either knocked down or con- fined by the officers, who were previously

prepared for this event. A court-martial was ordered on the spot, the commission of the crime, trial and execution were all in- cluded in the course of a few hours in front of the line paraded under arms. The de- termined countenances of the officers pro- duced a conviction to the soldiery that the sentence of the court-martial would be car- ried into execution at every risk and conse- quence. Whether by design or accident, the particular friends and messmates of the culprits were their executioners, and while the tears rolled down their cheeks in showers, they silently and faithfully obeyed their orders without a moment's hesitation. Thus was this hideous monster crushed in its birth, however, to myself and officers a most painful scene."

While General Wayne was in York he occupied the building at the northwest cor- ner of Market and Beaver Streets as his headquarters. His troops were encamped on the public common, now Penn Park.

Before he had finished the organization of his brigade, Washington wrote:

"The critical condition of our southern affairs, and the reinforcements sent by the enemy to that quarter, urge the necessity of moving as large a proportion of the Penn- sylvania Line as possible, without a mo- ment's loss of time. Indeed I hope before this, by the measures you have taken, all the impediments to a movement will have been obviated. I am persuaded your utmost and unremitting exertions will not be want- ing on this and every occasion of serving your country so essentially, that they may be ever crowned with success, that nothing but propitious events may attend you on the march.'

May 26, Wayne's corps, much smaller in number than he had

Marches to anticipated and by no means well Virginia. equipped, began the march southward from York.

Captain Joseph McClellan, who served in this expedition, kept an interesting diary describing the march from York to Virginia. According to his record, General Wayne and his troops began to march at 9 A. M. of May 26. On the evening of that day they encamped along the hillside in Heidel- berg Township, near the present site of Menges' Mills. At daylight on the 27th, General Wayne ordered the drums to beat

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THE COOKES HOUSE ON KING'S MILL ROAD, WHERE THE GOVERN- MENT RECORDS WERE FIRST DEPOSITED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1777

HEADQUARTERS OF GENERAL WAYNE, AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF MARKET AND BEAVER STREETS, WHILE HIS BRIGADE WAS EN- CAMPED AT YORK IN 17 1

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as a signal to take up the march. They the interior of Virginia intent on robbery passed through Hanover and halted at Lit- and the destruction of military stores. tlestown, a distance of fourteen miles. Continuing the march, Captain McClellan The Surrender of says : "We passed through Taneytown, and halted upon the bank of Pipe Creek, being fourteen miles. Cornwallis.

"May 29. Marched at 9 o'clock, and en- camped about 12 on the south bank of the Monocacy, being fourteen miles.

"The troops took up the line of march at 3 A. M. and encamped on the S. W. of Monocacy, 14 miles.

"May 30. Continued on the ground for the men to wash and clean their arms. Reviewed at 5 P. M. At 7 P. M. we were reviewed by General Wayne.

"May 31. Marched at sunrise; passed through Fredericktown about 8, where there were a number of British officers who were prisoners of war. They took a view of us as we passed through the town. Con-

Meanwhile, Greene had re- treated northward through the State of North Carolina, closely · followed by Lord Cornwallis. Washington moved southward from the vicinity of New York with 6,000 men and the French fleet arrived at the mouth . of the Chesapeake. Wash- ington united the forces under Greene, Lafayette and Wayne with his own army, numbering in all 16,000 men, in front of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, while the French fleet closed in behind and pre- vented the enemy from escaping. The siege and battle of Yorktown followed, and on October 19, Cornwallis surrendered his entire army. This was the last important engagement of the Revolution.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 39

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