History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 43

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

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So far as is known, few Hessians

were ever held as prisoners of

Hessians at war within the stockade or the

Reading. huts of the prison pen in Wind-

sor Township. in 1781-2-3. There were a number of Hessians in York in 1777. The German and Hes-

sian troops, about 1,200

in number, were held as prisoners in Reading. until the close of the war. On February 8, 1783, a letter was sent to General Riedesel, instructing the Hessian and German prison- ers to remain in America after they were set free, if they so desired. In pursuance of this letter, a large number of the Hessians who had been captured at Saratoga, Long Island and Trenton, remained in Pennsylvania, where they became industrious mechanics or farmers. Quite a number of them settled in different parts of York County.

Daniel Brubaker, a citizen of Brubaker's Petition. Lancaster County, owned the land four and a half miles east of York where the prison pens had been erected. In December, 1781, four months after the arrival of the first prison- ers, he sent a petition to General Benjamin Lincoln, of the Continental army and the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsyl- vania, setting forth certain grievances. He

for which he had paid 1,200 pounds specie. This land had been selected as a place for confinement for part of the British Conven- tion prisoners that had been removed from Lancaster. One hundred acres of this land

had been cleared. The persons employed by the government in constructing stock- ades and building huts, had cleared thirty additional acres of timber, for which he had received no pay. The guards had also used nearly all the fall rails which enclosed his cleared land. This had deprived his tenant of the Indian corn on the land and the use of his pasture. He further stated that he did not want to say anything against Colo- nel Wood, who had charge of the prisoners and who regretted the condition of affairs which had come about before that officer had been placed in charge of the prison pens. The petitioner acknowledged that the prisoners could not be removed during the inclement season, yet he requested that all further waste or destruction of the tim- ber or other property on his plantation be prevented.

SERGEANT LAMB'S STORY.

Sergeant Roger Lamb, an educated Irish- man, who was captured with Burgoyne at Saratoga, wrote a work entitled "Journal of the American War," which was published in Dublin in 1809. He served in a regiment of Welsh Fusileers and after his capture accompanied the British prisoners to Bos- ton, where he remained until they were re- moved to Virginia. When these prisoners were about to cross the Hudson at Fishkill, on their march to the south, Sergeant Lamb escaped to the city of New York, where he was received with great affability by Major Andre, who was acting as adjutant-general to Sir Henry Clinton, commanding the British forces in that city. In 1781 he served in the Southern army and at the bat- tle of Guilford Court House saved Corn- wallis from capture.

In October of the same year he was cap- tured with the British army at Yorktown and soon after he escaped the American guard and fled to Frederick, Maryland, where he was again captured and placed in the barracks in that town with other British officers. After two weeks' imprisonment there, he was sent to Winchester, Virginia, stated that he owned 280 acres near York, where his own regiment, which had served

at the siege of Yorktown, was then quar- tered in barracks.

"Part of the British troops remained in Winchester until January, 1782," says Ser- geant Lamb in his Journal, "when Congress

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THE REVOLUTION

ordered us to be marched to York, in, Penn- of the country round while I behaved well sylvania. I received information that as soon as I fell into ranks to march off, I should be taken and confined in Winchester jail, as the Americans were apprehensive that when I got near to New York I should again attempt my escape to that place; I was advised by my officers to conceal my- self until the troops had marched. I took the hint and hid myself in the hospital among the sick, where I remained until the American guards had been two days on their march with the British prisoners. I then prepared to follow them, but at a cautious distance.

"The troops arrived at York,

In Camp and were confined in a prison

Security. similar to the one at Rutland, Massachusetts, where Bur- goyne's prisoners were held in 1778.

"A great number of trees were ordered to be cut down in the woods; these were sharpened at each end, and driven firmly into the earth very close together, enclos- ing a space of about two or three acres. American sentinels were planted on the outside of the fence, at convenient distances, in order to prevent our getting out. At one angle, a gate was erected and on the out- side thereof, stood the guard house; two sentinels were constantly posted at this gate, and no one could get out unless he had a pass from the officer of the guard; but this was a privilege in which very few were indulged.

"About two hundred yards from this pen, a small village had been built by prisoners of General Burgoyne's army, who were al- lowed very great privileges with respect to liberty in the country. When some of my former comrades of the Ninth Regiment were informed that I was a prisoner in Lord Cornwallis' army, and that I was shortly expected at York, they immediately applied to the commanding officer of the Americans for a pass in my name, claiming me as one of their regiment. This was immediately granted, and some of them kindly and attentively placed themselves on the watch for my arrival, lest I should be confined with the rest of Lord Cornwallis' army. When I reached York I was most agreeably sur- prised at meeting my former companions ; and more so when a pass was put into my hands, giving me the privilege of ten miles

and orderly. I was then conducted to a hut which my poor loving companions had built for me in their village before my arrival. Here I remained some time, visiting my former companions from hut to hut; but I was astonished at the spirit of industry which prevailed among them. Men, women and children were employed making lace, buckles, spoons, and exercising other me- chanical trades which they had learned during their captivity. They had very great liberty from the Americans, and were allowed to go around the country and sell their goods; while the soldiers of Corn- wallis' army were closely confined. I per- ceived that they had lost that animation which ought to possess the breast of the soldier. I strove by every argument to rouse them from their lethargy. I offered to head any number of them, and make a noble effort to escape into New York, and join our comrades in arms; but all my efforts proved ineffectual. As for my own part, I was determined to make the attempt. I well knew from experience, that a few companions would be highly necessary. Accordingly I sent word of my intention to seven men of the Twenty-third Regiment who were confined in the pen, that I was willing to take them with me. I believe in all the British army that these men, three sergeants and four privates, could not have been excelled for courage and intrepidity. They rejoiced at the idea; and by the aid of some of Burgoyne's army, they were en- abled under cover of a dark night, to scale their fence and assemble in my hut. I sent word of my intention to my commanding officer, Captain Saumarez, of the Twenty- third, and likewise the names of the men whom I purposed to take with me. As my money was almost expended, I begged of him to advance me as much as convenient. He immediately sent me a supply.

"It was on the first of March,

Escaped 1782, that I set off with my From party."

Prison. After Sergeant Lamb escaped with his seven companions from prison at York, he went to New York City, where Sir Guy Carleton was then com- inander of the British troops. After the war he returned to Dublin, where he became a teacher and author, and died in 1830.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

BARON RIEDESEL.

Baron Friederich Adolph Riedesel, who held the rank of a major-general in the English army, commanded 2,400 Brunswick and Hessian troops at the time of the sur- render of Burgoyne at Saratoga. Both his entire command and himself became prison- ers of war on October 17, 1777. General Riedesel was born in Lauterbach, Rhine- Hesse, June 3, 1738. At the time of the sur- render he was 39 years of age. Riedesel studied law, but during the Seven Years' War for German liberty served as an aide on the staff of Prince Ferdinand of Bruns- wick. He acquitted himself gallantly in the execution of an important commission at the battle of Minden. In 1767 he was pro- moted to the rank of adjutant-general of the Prussian army. Soon after the beginning of the American Revolution, England, having hired of the petty German sover- eigns 20,000 troops, of which 4,000 were from Brunswick. Riedesel was given the rank of major-general and placed in com- mand of the Brunswickers. He arrived with his troops at Quebec, Canada, June, 1776. The following year he joined Bur- goyne on his unfortunate expedition, in command of all the German troops. Rie- desel wrote an extended account of his ex- perience as an officer and a prisoner while in America. This journal was afterward translated into English. He passed through York, December, 1778, in command of his own troops as prisoners on their way to Vir- ginia, and upon his return in 1779 remained here a week with his wife, three children and a retinue of attendants.

After the surrender at Saratoga, some of the English officers were exchanged, but few of the Germans. Riedesel wrote to Howe, at Philadelphia, asking that a cor- responding number of German officers be exchanged, including General Specht and Riedesel's own aides. The Baron remained in command of his own soldiers and had them undergo military drill every day while in camp at Winter Hill, after their move- ment to Boston, even though they had given up their arms at the surrender.

After the prisoners learned that Congress at York had decided not to recognize the agreement at Saratoga, numbers of them deserted. ! There were, however, more

desertions among the English than the Ger- mans. Congress sent an American named Masserow as a commissioner, to Boston to consult with the British and German officers with reference to their exchange. Riedesel alleges that Masserow accepted bribes ; that he received from 50 to 100 guineas each, for recommending to Congress certain officers to be exchanged. It is even claimed by the Baron in his journal that Burgoyne himself courted the favor of the commissioner and through him obtained authority of Congress for his own release by the payment of $40,000, which was paid in provisions and used for the maintenance of the American troops and British and Hessian prisoners in Massachusetts. By the order of General Howe, ships were sent from Rhode Island laden with flour and meat.

General Riedesel, through Commissioner Masserow, petitioned Congress for permis- sion to send to Canada for the baggage and clothing of his troops, which was granted. During the summer of 1778 the people of Massachusetts, as well as the American soldiers, tried to induce the prisoners to desert. They succeeded best with the British. By the 5th of April, 655 English soldiers, 119 Germans, 41 Hesse-Hanau and 3 Brunswickers had deserted. Up to this time not a single German officer had been exchanged.

In November, 1778, arrangements' were made to send the captured troops to Vir- ginia. The American guard for removing these troops was increased by the addition of three regiments of the Massachusetts militia. The light horse and artillery were also increased. In May, American emis- saries came into camp and induced many Germans to desert. By authority of Con- gress circulars were distributed through the camps of the prisoners to encourage both the British and Germans to desert. During the months of April and May the Bruns- wickers lost 118 men by desertion.

In September a number of German officers were exchanged, among them Chap- lain F. V. Melsheimer, of the Brunswick Dragoon Regiment.

After Congress decided not to accept the conditions of the surrender at Saratoga, Sir Henry Clinton, in New York, declared that if the Convention troops were to be treated like other prisoners, they must be supported

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THE REVOLUTION

by their captors. General Heath, in com-

troops arrived at Fishkill, on the Hudson; mand at Boston, received orders from Con- December 13, they were passing through gress at York that the British and German prisoners should be removed to Charlottes- ville, Virginia, a long distance away from the theatre of war, and to a place where provisions could more easily be obtained. The prisoners were marched from Rutland and Cambridge by the American guard in the following order, starting November 10: Each nationality formed three

Order divisions, and was attended by an

of American escort. The first Eng-

March. lish division, consisting of the artillery, grenadiers, light infantry and the Ninth Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Hill, and the First German division, consisting of the dragoons, grenadiers, and the regiment Von Rhetz under Major Von Mengen, were to start on November IO. The second English division, consisting of the Twentieth and Twenty-first Regiments, under command of Major Forster, and the second German division, consisting of the regiments of Von Riedesel and Von Specht and led by Brigadier-General Specht, were to follow on the IIth. On the 12th the third English division, composed of the Twenty- fourth, Forty-seventh and Sixty-second Regiments, under the command of Briga- dier Hamilton, were to follow. The third German division, which was made up of the Stone, the biographer of Riedesel, states:

battalion Barner, the regiment Hesse- Hanau, and Hanau artillery, under Briga- dier Gall, were also to march on the same day.

General Riedesel says in his journal :

"The want of money was one of critical importance in our position at that time. All the officers who had money were obliged to lend it for the use of the troops, who in this manner received their pay in hard cash. Those officers who were in need of money had as much furnished them as was neces- sary to procure horses, etc., for their long journey. Nor was this more than fair, as several months' pay was due them. This arrangement was somewhat of a help, it is true, but not nearly enough to satisfy the demands of all."

When the German troops arrived at Salisbury, Conn., they received $70,000, which Riedesel had borrowed on his own credit from merchants in Boston. On No- vember 28, the advance of the German

Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and on the 16th crossed the Schuylkill at Valley Forge. On the 20th they crossed the Conestoga Creek to Lancaster, where they rested one day; on the 22d they crossed the Susque- hanna at Wright's Ferry and took quarters for the night at York. On the 24th they arrived at Hanover, where they rested a day, passed through Littlestown on Christ- mas day and on the 26th halted at Taney- town, Maryland. The other brigades or divisions of British and German troops fol- lowed in succession, a day behind the ad- vance.

On New Year's eve, 1778, the German troops first stepped upon the soil of Vir- ginia and on the 15th of January arrived at their place of destination, near Charlottes- ville, where they remained as prisoners of war from January, 1779, until the fall of 1781. The estimated number of British and German troops who were marched from Massachusetts through York to Virginia, was 4,459. According to this statement about 1,300 had deserted, for the descriptive list shows that 5,800 had surrendered at Saratoga in October, 1777.

In an account of the movement of the troops from Boston to Virginia, William

"On this journey General Riedesel and his family experienced much that was dis- agreeable, and suffered many wrongs from the inhabitants, who were to a man in favor of the cause of freedom. Some of them scarcely would grant a shelter to the weary travellers, even when extreme fatigue pre- vented them from going a step further, and it would have been still worse for them, had not Madame Riedesel been in the party. By her eloquence and patience, she knew how to move these obdurate people.

"The passage across the Hudson in a miserable skiff in the midst of stormy weather, was attended with extreme dan- ger; and competent judges who afterward heard of it, could scarcely understand how it was that it had been so successfully ac- complished. The river having been safely crossed, the party continued their journey as far as the residence of an American colonel, by the name of Osborn, to whom Riedesel had a letter from Gates. They

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

were received by him in a most friendly manner, notwithstanding he was a great enemy to the royalists, as well as a very blunt man.

"The fact that General Rie-

desel did not arrive at Lan-

Excitement in caster on the 19th of Decem-

Lancaster. ber, with the troops, was, per- laps, a most fortunate cir- cumstance; for the inhabitants were so en- raged against him, that extreme measures might have been provoked by his presence. Among the silly reports that were circulated and believed in those excitable times by the people of Lancaster, was one to the effect that the town of Lancaster and the sur- rounding country had been presented to the German general, by the king of England, and that the general would soon arrive with his troops to take possession. The excitement was, therefore, great when the German troops arrived ; but as soon as the American officers on the escort explained the true position of affairs, and the pitiable condition of the troops was seen, many a good citizen of Lancaster wondered how he could have given credence to such a ridiculous rumor. "Snow had fallen to such a depth that the carriages of the general's party could scarcely move. The coachmen, at times, were obliged to take the horses from the vehicles, and with the officers who escorted the family, ride on in advance, to break a road. The provisions were exhausted, and very often not a particle of food could be had of the inhabitants even for money. Baroness Riedesel and her children actually suffered from sheer want, and this notwith- standing her husband and his officers de- prived themselves of everything, that the women and children might be provided for. Captain Edmonson, who, out of love for the children, had accompanied the party, would often ride to the huts, which were a little off the road, and beg provisions of the in- habitants; but he generally returned from a bootless mission.

"Soon after crossing the Hudson, General Riedesel, accompanied by a few of his adju- tants, left his family in order to overtake his troops. It is not known definitely where he met them, or indeed if he overtook them at all. Only this much is known to a certainty, that the general waited for his family at Colle, which is distant about two hours

from Charlottesville. Here he had hired a house which he was occupying when Madame Riedesel and the children joined him about the middle of February. The party had been twelve weeks on their way, had crossed six states, and had journeyed six hundred and seventy-eight miles. The house, hired by Riedesel at Colle, belonged to an Italian, who, a few weeks later, moved out of it, leaving it, together with a nice little garden, to Riedesel and his family."

During the summer of 1779, General Riedesel built a house at Colle, which cost him 100 guineas, but his family and he never had the opportunity of occupying it. In September of that year he received word that he would soon be exchanged. After putting the German prisoners in charge of General Specht, by authority of Colonel James Wood, the commander of the Ameri- can guard, Riedesel left Virginia for New York, accompanied by Major-General Phil- lips. Soon after his arrival there he was exchanged and by order of Sir Henry Clin- ton was placed in command at Long Island with headquarters on what are now Brook- lyn Heights. At the close of the Revolu- tion, in 1783, he returned to Germany, where he was given the rank of lieutenant- general in 1787. At the time of his death, in 1800, he was commandant of the city of Brunswick.

A HEROINE OF THE REVOLUTION.

The wife of General Riedesel had a ro- mantic history during the Revolution. She followed the fortunes of her husband and was captured at Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered. The Baroness kept a diary, which was afterward published in the Ger- man language. This journal was translated into English and published in America in 1867. The story of her experience after her capture reads like a romance of the Middle Ages. During her captivity, she twice passed through York and on her return from Virginia spent several days in York with her three little daughters and a retinue of attendants. A condensed story of her experience is herewith given :

The Baroness Riedesel was present at the first engagement at Saratoga and was near her husband in the thickest of the fight. She heard the rattle of musketry, and the boom

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THE REVOLUTION

'of cannon, and when the fighting ended took care of the wounded. After the battle a large calash was built to convey herself, her three children, and her two servants, and in this vehicle she followed the army in the midst of the soldiers, who were merrily singing songs and hurrahing with a desire for victory.

"While passing through the American camp in my calash after the surrender," says the Baroness, "none of the American soldiers cast at us scornful glances, even showing compassion on their countenances at seeing a mother with her little children in such a situation. When I approached the tents, a noble looking man came toward me, took the children out of the wagon, em- braced and kissed them and then with tears in his eyes helped me also to alight. His tenderness toward my children and myself inspired me with courage. He then led me to the tent of General Gates, with whom I found Generals Burgoyne and Philips, con- ferring about the capitulation.

"I then learned that this noble man, who led me to the tent,

Dined With was the American General Schuyler. Schuyler, who had preceded Gates in the command of the American army. Schuyler invited me to dine at his own tent and I then learned that this noble-hearted man was a husband and father. I afterwards met his wife and daughters in Albany. One of his daughters married Alexander Hamilton."

The Baron and Baroness Riedesel moved with the prisoners from Albany to Boston, riding in their calash. They occupied a comfortable home at Cambridge for a year while arrangements were made to remove the prisoners to Virginia.

The cause of this order was the declara- tion of Sir Henry Clinton, then in command of the British at New York City, that since the Convention troops (those who sur- rendered at Saratoga) were not acknowl- edged as such, but looked upon in the same light as ordinary prisoners of war, he was no longer disposed to forward provisions to them, or pay the "exorbitant bills of the Americans," consequently Congress must maintain the prisoners itself. As the coun- try in the vicinity of Boston was very de- ficient in provisions, the Convention troops were accordingly sent to Virginia, which it

was thought would be better able to furnish the needful supplies.

The keeping of the German colors were entrusted to the Baroness at Cambridge. During the time she remained there she had them concealed within a mattress. The Americans thought they had been destroyed at Saratoga, but some time later this mat- tress was forwarded to Halifax, and when the Baroness was set free, in 1782, she took the mattress with her to her native land.

"In the month of November, 1778," says the Baroness, "when the prisoners were ordered to Virginia, my husband purchased a pretty English wagon so that we were enabled to travel easily with my three daughters, Gustava, Frederika and Caro- line. Gustava entreated Captain Edmons- ton, one of my husband's adjutants, not to leave us on the way. He gave his promise and faithfully kept it. I traveled with the army on the way to Virginia. An old Yager, who acted as driver, together with the captain guided our vehicle over the almost impassable roads. My provisions and baggage were carried in a wagon which followed the servants. Upon reaching the Hudson River at Fishkill, we lodged at the house of a boatman. After crossing the river and going a distance, my husband, children and both my maidservants re- mained eight days at the home of Colonel Osborn, a wealthy planter, in order to give our troops time to cross the river, which, on account of the scarcity of boats, was very tedious. Our third stopping place after leaving Colonel Osborn was at the house of a German. At another time we had our quarters for the night at the home of Colo- nel Howe. Before we crossed the Blue Mountains, in Virginia, we made a further halt of eight days that our troops might have time to collect again.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 43

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