History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 45

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

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On August 1. Colonel James Smith, com- mander of the first battalion of Associators and chairman of the Committee of Cor- respondence and Observation for York major. This battalion was composed of five County, addressed a letter to the delegates companies, one from each military district in Continental Congress from Pennsyl- of the county. Each company of Minute Men was composed of a captain, two lieu- tenants, four sergeants, four corporals, an ensign. a drummer and sixty-eight or more privates. These Minute Men were volun- teers from the five battalions of Associators, one company from each battalion. The week following this historic meeting in the provincial Court House at York, the differ- ent companies were formed and banded themselves together to be ready at a mo- ment's warning to take the field in defence of their rights and liberties. vania. This Congress had convened in Philadelphia on May Io, on the day when Ticonderoga and Crown Point had been captured by Ethan Allen. As recorded in the Pennsylvania Archives, Colonel Smith asked an opinion as to how the committee should proceed with those citizens who for conscience' sake were opposed to bearing arms. The following day, Michael Swope. of York, who was a member of the Penn- sylvania Committee of Safety, wrote to John Dickinson, at Philadelphia, president of the Committee. In this letter the writer

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

reports the success of a meeting held at was prompt. William Irvine, of Carlisle, York in July; he asked that the officers was commissioned colonel to organize and command the Sixth Battalion of Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, largely composed of chosen to command the companies of Asso- ciators and Minute Men receive commis- sions, thus giving them proper authority to troops from west of the Susquehanna. perform their military duties.

By this time in the history of affairs which brought forth the war for indepen- dence there were fifty-three battalions of Associators in Pennsylvania. It must be muster rolls of these two companies and understood that the incidents herein described took place one year before the Canada expedition will be found in the Declaration of Independence, when Penn- chapter on that subject in this volume. Thomas Hartley, a member of the York County Bar, was commissioned lieutenant- colonel of this battalion. He was then twenty-six years of age.

sylvania was still a province and the As- sembly not acting under a constitution, which was adopted in 1776, when this prov- ince became one of the thirteen original states.

The remaining troops all over

On September 14, the local committee Committee York County continued to from this county reported to Benjamin of Safety. practice the manual of arms with their flintlock muskets. They were imbued with the military spirit and continued to prepare themselves to take an active part in the war which had opened with so much energy and defiance county, who were opposed to bearing arms. to the mother country. Meantime a new Committee of Safety and Observation was elected by a popular vote throughout the Franklin and the Committee of Safety for Pennsylvania, that the number of Associ- ators in York County was 3,349. Accord- ing to this report there were in July pre- ceding nine hundred non-associators in this Meantime some of these had voluntarily joined the military companies and became loyal to the cause of independence. The county. Only men interested in protecting battalions in York County, according to the the rights of the colonies were chosen. committee's statement, did not contain an There were several members from each of equal number of men, but none of them had the twenty-six townships.

fewer than five hundred. The first three battalions were large enough for regiments. The men appointed to command these com- panies were generally efficient. The dis- cipline of the companies was not all the same, so this committee suggested if any were to be called into service it would be well to call out those who were best trained in the manual of arms and in military practice.

It will thus be seen that the Associators west of the Susquehanna were preparing themselves for any emergency. The com- pany that had volunteered early in July had already won a record for courage and marksmanship in Thompson's battalion in Washington's army, at Boston.

When it was decided by Continental Congress, in the winter of 1775-6, to send an expedition to invade Canada, two com- panies were ordered to be recruited for that service from the associated battalions of York County. The response to this call

Michael Swope,

George Brinkerhoff,

James Smith,

John Semple,

Thomas Hartley,

Robert McPherson,

John Hay,

Samuel Edie,

Charles Lukens,

William McClellan,

David Grier,

Thomas Douglass,

Joseph Donaldson,

John Agnew,

David Kennedy,

John Kean,

George Clingen, George Kerr,

William Lease,

William Scott, Abraham Banta, John Mickle, Jr.,

George Eichelberger, Philip Albright,

Samuel McConaughy,

Michael Hahn,

David McConaughy,

David Candler,

John Blackburn,

Baltzer Spangler,

Richard McAllister,

John Houston, Thomas Armor,

Christian Graff,

John Schultz, Christopher Slagle, Andrew Rutter,

Jacob Will, Henry Slagle,

John Hamilton,

Peter Wolfe,

John Montieth,

Philip Jacob King,

Thomas Lilly,

Richard Parsel,

Charles Gelwix,

John McClure,

John Spangler, James Dickson, Francis Cazart,

William Shakly, Frederick Gelwix, John Hinkle,

The following are the names :

George Irwin,

William Walker,

Zacharialı Shugart, John Herbach, William Johnston,

Captain Moses McClean recruited and com- manded one of the companies from York County which joined Irvine's battalion, and Captain David Grier the other. The the part taken by these troops in the first

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THE REVOLUTION

John Hoover, Patrick McSherry,

Lewis Williams, William Rankin,

James Leeper,

James Nailer,

Joseph Reed,

Baltzer Knertzer,

Patrick Scott,

Henry Mathias,

James Edgar,

George Stough,

Benjamin Savage,

Daniel Messerly,

Andrew Thompson,

John Nesbit,

Peter Baker, Jacob Kasel, John Williams,

William Wakely, John Chamberlain,

battalion met and drilled at one place under the command of the colonel. The war spirit was rife throughout the state of Pennsyl- vania and in every section of York County.

The climax came when the Brit-

Called ish threatened to capture the city Into of New York. Sir William Howe

Andrew Thompson, William Mitchell, Alexander Sanderson. Service. was now in command of the enemy's troops and had received The British army, after having been driven out of Boston by the Americans under Washington, proceeded to Halifax, Nova Scotia. When Congress heard that this army was about to threaten New York, it asked for 2,000 troops from Pennsylvania. A regiment under Colonel Samuel Miles was organized at Philadelphia. One com- pany was called for from York County. This company was recruited from different battalions of Associators and was placed in command of Philip Albright as captain ; John Thompson, first lieutenant ; Cornelius Sheriff, second lieutenant; William Mc- many recruits from across the ocean. In order to supply all protective measures pos- sible, on July 5. 1776, the day after the Declaration of Independence had been voted upon, a committee of Congress held a conference with the Pennsylvania Com- mittee of Safety, and the field officers of the five battalions of Associators then organ- ized in Philadelphia. At this meeting reso- lutions were adopted, urgently requesting that the entire force of Associators in Penn- sylvania, in all, fifty-three battalions, "who can be furnished with arms and accoutre- ments be forthwith requested to march Pherson, second lieutenant; Jacob Stair, with the utmost expedition" to Trenton and third lieutenant. This company joined the New Brunswick in the State of New Jersey.

regiinent in June and the story of its service is given in the history of Colonel Miles' regiment, found in this volume.

During the first years of the war, many of the patriots of the Revolution were only seeking for what they termed the rights of the colonies, but as England was sending more troops to this country for the purpose of conquering the Americans now in the field, the spirit of independence prevailed throughout the colonies from New Hamp- shire to Georgia. On July 4, 1776, by a majority vote in Continental Congress, the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Pennsylvania was no longer a province under the English government. She was in the centre of the thirteen original states, and when the war had ended was the key- stone of the arch under which the American troops marched when they were mustered out of service. Philadelphia was to become the first seat of government of the new-born Republic of the United States. battalions of Associators in York County

These troops were to remain in the service until a Flying Camp composed of 10,000 men could be organized in the field, and placed under the command of General Hugh Mercer, a bosom friend of Washing- ton. On the same day, Congress approved what had been done and "recommended to the good people of Pennsylvania to carry their purposes into execution with the same laudable readiness which they have ever manifested in supporting the injured rights of their country." This news was soon brought west of the Susquehanna and cir- culated throughout York County.

There are no official reports which give the historian the privilege of describing in detail how these five battalions of associ- ated militia from this county congregated at their appointed places and began the march toward Philadelphia and Trenton. Every flintlock musket or rifle available was brought into requisition and given to these

The five patriots who had answered the call of their country for the common defence of the dence. continued to drill and discipline more fre- nation, which had just declared its indepen- quently than they had done before Congress had declared the states free and indepen- Michael Swope took command of the battalion which had been drilled by James Smith, who had been elected to Congress, and be- dent. They had company drill at the regu- Going to the Front. lar parading ground selected by the captain, and twice a month all the companies of a

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

came a signer of the immortal declara- up their organizations and continued their tion. Robert McPherson, who then re- sided near the site of Gettysburg, marched toward York with the Second Battalion. Richard McAllister, who was also com- mander of the Minute Men, came with the Third Battalion from Hanover and vicinity. William Smith, with the Fourth Battalion, from the lower end of the county, crossed the Susquehanna at McCall's Ferry and pro- ceeded to Lancaster, where he afterward met the other battalions on the march. William Rankin came from Newberry and adjoining townships with the Fifth Bat- talion. If they all obtained firelocks and the necessary equipment, there were at least 2.500 professional men, tillers of the soil and tradesmen, who crossed the Susque- hanna and began the march to Philadelphia and Trenton in the midsummer days of July. 1776, shortly after the Declaration of Independence had been read in front of the Court House at York.

"On July 7," says the pastor of the Moravian Church in his diary, "strict orders came that all Associators of this county should hold themselves in readiness to march to the front.'

In answer to the call for troops, York County responded with the five battalions, the advance reaching Philadelphia July 16. From thence they proceeded to Perth Am- boy, near the city of New York, and during the succeeding month two regiments were formed out of these battalions of Associ- ators. They composed the First and Second Pennsylvania Regiments of the Flying Camp, whose history will be found in another chapter of this book.

Proof of

The Associators who had not enlisted in the Flying Camp in accordance with the act of

Patriotism.

Congress, after receiving the union of states in the interior counties was

pay of troops in the Continental service, were permitted to return home. It seems that a sufficient number had enlisted for the immediate demands of the army. The object in calling the entire militia force of

military drill and discipline, expecting that they might soon again be called into the service. After the battle of Long Island, which was succeeded by the disaster to the American arms at Fort Washington, the British held New York City. Succeeding these events Washington, with his depleted army, retreated across New Jersey and when Philadelphia was threatened by the invading foe, there was another call for troops. The Pennsylvania Council of Safety requested the Board of War to sta- tion more troops for the defence of Phila- delphia. The object of this move was not only to protect the city against the invading foe, but to menace the adherents to the Crown known as Tories, who lived in Phila- delphia and the surrounding country. It was then ordered that two Virginia battal- ions, the German battalion, four companies of Marines, and 500 Associators from each of the counties of York, Cumberland, Lan- caster and Berks be called into the service and placed under the command of General Stephen for the defence of Philadelphia.

Thomas Wharton, president of

Mifflin Pennsylvania, on December 23,

at issued an address which appealed

York. to every friend of his country. Meantime, General Thomas Mif- flin. the "fighting Quaker" of the Revolu- tion, was requested by the State Assembly to make a tour of Pennsylvania. He made speeches in every section of the state, arousing the patriotism of the people by his fascinating eloquence. He came to York and also visited Carlisle. In both of these towns he stirred up so much enthusiasm that an early chronicler was constrained to say "the quota from the back counties was easily raised." In fact the loyalty to the

much more pronounced than in the city of Philadelphia.

This alarming call was the result of the defeat of Washington around New York City and the 'retreat of his army across The term of enlistment of some of his soldiers had ended. The Flying

the state for one month had a double pur- New Jersey.

pose. It supplied sufficient men for the Flying Camp, and at that early period Camp, which had enlisted for the term of proved the courage and patriotism of the six months, would end January 1, but many of this gallant band of soldiers were per- suaded to remain in the service for a longer Pennsylvania Associators in the cause of independence.

The Associators who returned home kept time. Within a few days, three thousand

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THE REVOLUTION

Associators from the interior of Pennsyl- quired to have at least 640 militia, armed vania arrived in the city of Philadelphia and and equipped and ready for military duty. were placed in command of Cadwalader The organization of the county and Ewing, then guarding the Delaware River from Trenton to Philadelphia. Al- Organized.

Militia militia was in charge of a lieu- though not active participants, they were present at Trenton and Princeton, im- portant victories in the American cause.

When it was feared the British would again attack Philadelphia in the spring of 1777, the Supreme Executive Council, in a proclamation of the 9th of April, after stating the causes of alarm and calling upon the people to prepare for defence, used this language :

"This city has once been saved by the vigorous, manly efforts of a few brave As- sociators, who generously stepped forward in defence of their country : and it has been repeatedly and justly observed, and ought to be acknowledged as a signal evidence of the favor of Divine Providence that the lives of the associated militia in every battle during this just war have been remarkably spared. Confiding, therefore, in the con- tinuance of His blessing, who is indeed the God of Armies, let every man among us hold himself ready to march into the field whenever he shall be called upon to do so."

State

With the passage and promulga- tion of the new militia law. the

Militia. Associated Battalions as such ceased to exist. The days of the As early as April 25, 1777, President Wharton, by advice of Continental Con- gress and the Board of War, ordered at least 500 militia from the different counties Associators had passed away and the Penn- sylvania militia came upon the stage of action. It was naturally anticipated that greater thoroughness in discipline would be of the state to rendezvous at Bristol and the result, yet this was never realized. Al- Chester, to be in readiness for the enemy if they attempted to attack Philadelphia. though the militia served well in the cam- paign around Philadelphia, September, 1777. yet their duties were afterward

On May 1, 1777, Colonel Richard McAl- lister wrote to President Wharton that he chiefly confined either in protecting the had just finished dividing York County into frontiers, standing sentinel while the back- woodsman sowed his grain and reaped his harvest. or in guarding prisoners of war. The influence of the Associators was never- theless felt throughout the contest for in- dependence.

At the next session of the Pennsylvania Assembly, a special act was passed relating to the militia of the state. The act pro- vided for the division of York County into six districts for the purpose of keeping the militia organizations in practice ready for service. Each county of the state was re- commissions for these officers might be sent

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tenant and in each district a sub-lieutenant was appointed. This law went into force in March, 1777. Richard McAllister, who had commanded a regiment in the Flying Camp, was ap- pointed lieutenant of York County. Hance Morrison, Robert Stevenson, John Hay, James McCandless and John Carson were appointed sub-lieutenants. It was the duty of the sub-lieutenants to carry out all the provisions of the act and see that at least 640 men in his district between the ages of 18 and 50 should receive the proper military drill so as to be trained in the art of war. All persons enrolled who failed to be present at muster without cause were fined 7 shillings and 6 pence. There were eight companies in a district. Each company was required to drill at least two days each month. The companies met at regular in- tervals for battalion drill. The militia forces of the state were then placed under the command of Brigadier-Generals John Armstrong, John Cadwalader, James Pot- ter and Samuel Meredith. In June, Arın- strong was made the major-general and James Irvine was appointed additional brigadier, in August.

military districts. It was difficult to raise the quota of 640 men required for each dis- trict. He assured Mr. Wharton that he had not lost one hour in organizing the militia. nor would he until the work was thor- oughly done. On May 7, President Whar- ton acknowledged the receipt of McAl- lister's letter, assuring the latter that he felt confident that he was performing his duty to his utmost ability. He requested that a report of the election of officers for each battalion be forwarded in order that

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

to Colonel McAllister for distribution. As of the state which contained German in- soon as he learned the movements of the habitants. enemy, Wharton stated that he would in-

form McAllister of the condition of affairs, Allister wrote to President Wharton that so that he might be able to furnish the there were dissensions among the Associ- quota of men required from York County.

June 14, the Supreme Executive Council over. Two hundred freemen had assembled of the state sent a circular letter requesting the county lieutenants to forward to the seat of war the militia of the first class, and to have in readiness those of the second class for active service.

Trouble in

July 4, McAllister wrote President Wharton from Han- over, stating that he had great Raising difficulty in getting the battalions Troops. together for military practice. Some of the officers elected were unsatisfactory and others would not serve. He stated that there was a lack of arms in York County necessary for the troops either for drill or active service in the field, and urged that the state supply the necessary arms. This worked against his ability to forward the troops as rapidly as expected.

On July 28, Continental Congress, upon receiving the news of the movement of Howe's army from New York toward Philadelphia, asked the State of Pennsyl- vania to furnish 4,000 troops from the organized militia within the state. Each county was requested to send one class of the militia.

On August 28, 1777, Colonel Richard Mc-

ators in the German townships near Han- at one place for the purpose of opposing the draft of the militia for service in the field. He continued by saying that he had lived in peace among these people for twenty years or more, and knew well their customs to and habits, but it was very difficult to in- duce them to take up arms against the country to which they had sworn allegiance. He said that notwithstanding the difficulties he had encountered in the prosecution of his duties as lieutenant of York County, he had marched five companies to the front fully armed and equipped, in answer to the recent call, and would soon have three more companies ready to take up the march for the army. In this letter McAllister stated that in two or three companies all of the men were substitutes, except five or six. He obtained substitutes for the sum of $40, while in Cumberland County from $100 to $IIo were paid to induce men to enlist as substitutes.

Early in the summer, Colonel McAllister had received from the State of Pennsylvania the sum of 1,000 pounds for the purpose of carrying on his work and was charged with the same. On August I, the sum of 3,000 pounds, or about $15,000, was sent to him. This money was used to equip the soldiers and to buy substitutes to take the places of those who refused to enter the army.

It will be seen from these numerous calls for troops the disturbed condition of affairs in Pennsylvania during this crucial period of the Revolution. Most of the militia of York County at this time belonged to the agricultural classes. Some of them were Instead of crossing New Jersey and at- tacking Philadelphia, as anticipated, Gen- eral Howe set sail from New York and came up the Chesapeake Bay, landing near Elkton, Md., with an army of 18,000 men. At this alarming period of the war, Presi- dent Wharton, of Pennsylvania, issued a proclamation to the people of the state which in part reads as follows: Quakers, who, according to their religion, were non-combatants. Still another class were Germans who had sworn allegiance to the government of England when they set- tled in York County and other sections of Pennsylvania. When General Howe landed in New York after the battle of Long Island he had offered a general amnesty to all Americans who were willing to adhere to "The time is at length come in the British crown. There were many Ger- Appeal which the fate of ourselves, our to Arms. wives, children and posterity must be speedily determined; mans serving in the British army at this period, and German emissaries were sent out among the people of that nationality General Howe, at the head of a British throughout Pennsylvania, urging them to army, the only hope, the last resource of oppose the militia laws. This caused a our enemy, has invaded this state, dis- great difficulty in York and other counties missing his ships and disencumbering him-

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THE REVOLUTION

self of his heavy artillery and baggage, he under General Armstrong, who commanded appears to have risked all upon the event of the extreme left of the American army at a movement which must either deliver up the battle of Brandywine. Although not to plunder and devastation. this capital of Pennsylvania and of America, or forever blast the cruel designs of our implacable foe. Blessed be God, Providence seems to have left it to ourselves to determine whether we shall triumph in victory and rest in freedom and peace, or by tamely submitting, or weakly resisting, deliver our- selves np a prey to an enemy.

"The foe is manifestly aiming, either by force to conquer, or by strategem and stolen marches to elude the vigilance of our brave commander, declining a battle with our countrymen, they have attempted to steal upon us by surprise. They have been hitherto defeated, but numbers are abso- lutely necessary to watch them on every quarter at once.

"The neighboring states are hurrying forward their militia, and we hope by rising as one man, and besetting the foe at a distance from his fleet. we shall speedily enclose him like a lion in the toils.

"The Council therefore most humbly be- seech and entreat all persons whatsoever, to exert themselves without delay, to seize this present opportunity of crushing the foe. now in the bowels of our country, by marching forth instantly under their re- spective officers, to the assistance of our great general, that he may be able to en- viron and demolish the only British army that remains formidable in America. Ani- mnated with the hope that Heaven, as before it has done in all times of difficulty and dan- ger, will again crown our righteous efforts with success, we look forward to the pros- pect of seeing our insulting foe cut off from all means of escape and, by the goodness of the Almighty, the Lord of Hosts and God of Battles, wholly delivered into our

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 45

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