History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 52

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

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CHAPTER XVIII CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AT YORK Samuel Adams' Great Speech-John Han- cock's Resignation - Laurens Chosen President-First National Thanksgiving -Articles of Confederation Adopted- Proceedings in 1778.

In the summer of 1777 General Howe de- termined to leave New York for the purpose of attacking Philadelphia, the seat of the United States Government. He embarked about our great and sacred cause. It is the

in July with 18,000 men. Finding that the entrance to the Delaware River was well fortified and that strong defenses had been erected a short distance below Philadelphia, he decided to enter Pennsylvania by sailing up the Chesapeake. Owing to a stormy passage, he did not arrive at the head of the bay until August 25, when he landed at Elkton, Maryland.

was passed, calling out the militia of Penn- sylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. August 26, John Adams, of Massachusetts, then a delegate in Congress and President of the Board of War, wrote: "Congress has been informed that Howe's army has landed upon the banks of the Elk River. The militia are turning out with great alac- rity from Maryland and Pennsylvania. They are distressed for want of arms. Many have no arms and others only small fowling pieces."

Washington now moved his army farther south and on September II with 11,000 men, met Howe with his 18,000 British regulars and Hessians at Chad's Ford on the Brandywine, where a desperate battle took place. Washington was obliged to re- tire from the field, but the defeat was so slight that he was able to detain Howe for two weeks on the march of only twenty-six miles to Philadelphia.

During these stirring times when the sound of the British guns was heard in Philadelphia from the battle of Brandywine, Congress resolved to remove the public records to the interior of Pennsylvania and select another place as a temporary capital of the United States. It was hardly to be expected that Washington with his small force could defeat so large a body of the enemy and on September 14, three days after the battle, John Adams wrote from Philadelphia to his wife in Massachusetts: "Howe's army is at Chester, about fifteen miles from this town. General Washing- ton is over the Schuylkill awaiting the flank of Howe's army. How much longer Con- gress will stay is uncertain. If we should move, it will be to Reading, Lancaster, York, Easton or Bethlehem, some town in this state. Don't be anxious about me nor cause of truth and will prevail."

On the same day Congress resolved that if obliged to remove from Philadelphia, Lancaster should be the place of meeting and that the public papers be put in the care of Abraham Clark, one of the members from New Jersey, who was "empowered to procure wagons sufficient for conveying them and apply to General John Dickinson

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or any other officer commanding troops in there from the battle of Brandywine. Gen- the service of the United States who is hereby directed to furnish a guard to con- duct the said papers safely to Lancaster "

September 17, Congress resolved that "notwithstanding the brave exertions of the American army, the city of Philadelphia may possibly by the fortune of war, be for a time possessed by the enemy's army "

It further resolved to grant to General Washington, commander-in-chief, extraor- dinary powers for sixty days with the au- thority to suspend officers of the army for misbehavior, fill vacancies below the rank of brigadier general, and take provisions

The members of Congress while at Beth- lehem signed an official paper authorizing and other articles, wherever they may be the protection of the property of the Mora- found for the maintenance of the army. He vians. They were John Hancock, Samuel was permitted to pay for these provisions or give certificates for the payment of them, and a pledge of the public credit was given for the future settlement of such certificates.

Arrive at Bethlehem.

Early on the morning of Sep- tember 19, when the members of Congress were in bed, they received word through Alex- ander Hamilton, then a colonel on the staff of Washington, that the British army was in possession of the fords over the Schuyl- kill. It was evident that the enemy would be in possession of Philadelphia in a few hours. At this time there were about thirty delegates present from the different states. Having adjourned to meet at Lancaster, this body of patriots to avoid falling into the hands of the enemy, started northward to Bristol, twenty miles north of Philadel- phia. The official papers of the Board of War and the Board of Treasury had been sent to Bristol some days before. They were conveyed to Trenton, to Easton and from thence to Bethlehem. The delegates from the different states seem to have pro- ceeded by the nearest route from Bristol and arrived at Bethlehem, a distance of forty miles, September 22. In the evening of the same day John Adams with the dele- gates arrived from Easton with the official papers guarded by fifty troopers and fifty infantry.

A band of British Highlanders were then imprisoned at Bethlehem. They were or- dered to Lancaster and from thence taken through York, to Virginia. Their place of imprisonment at Bethlehem was turned into a hospital for wounded soldiers, brought

eral Lafayette, who was also wounded at Brandywine, was taken to Bethlehem where he received surgical treatment. On Sep- tember 23, many of the delegates attended the children's meeting in the Moravian chapel. After the services John Hancock took up the service book used by the Mo- ravian pastor, Rev. John Ettwine, and with other delegates, examined it. The pastor explained its use and read that portion for the day containing the words "Whoever is not for us is against us."

Adams, Richard Henry Lee, Benjamin Har- rison, Henry Laurens, John Adams, James Duane. Nathan Brownson, Nathaniel Fol- som, Richard Law, Eliphalet Dyer, Henry Marchant, William Duer, Cornelius Har- nett, Joseph Jones and William Williams.

The liberty bell from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, which rang out independ- ence after the Declaration had been signed, was brought from Philadelphia to Easton and from thence to Bethlehem. Soon after- ward this bell, now so famous in the history of our country, was concealed for several months in a Reformed Church at Allen- tow11.

In accordance with the resolu- One Day tion of Congress, when it ad- at journed at Philadelphia to meet Lancaster. at Lancaster, the members at Bethlehem proceeded to that borough on horseback, arriving there on the evening of Friday, September 26. At this time the Pennsylvania Legislature had moved to Lancaster remaining in session there until June 20 of the following year.

Upon arriving at Lancaster, Congress as- sembled in the Court House then situated in Centre Square and began the transaction of business. Several important letters were read. One was received from General Gates, then in command of the Northern army near Saratoga. This letter dated September 15, on account of the exciting condition of affairs had been a long time on the way. It was written four days be- fore Gates had won his first victory at Sar- atoga. A letter of great moment, dated September 23, was received from General

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Washington. This letter was written at Pottstown which was then his headquarters and stated the condition of his army after the defeat of Brandywine, and the need of arms and supplies. A resolution was then passed instructing the Board of War "to cooperate with General Washington in de- vising and carrying into execution effectual measures for supplying the army with fire- arms, shoes, blankets, stockings, provisions and other necessaries." The condition of affairs around Philadelphia at this period was not encouraging to the Americans. Although Washington was receiving rein- forcements there was still danger that he had not a sufficient army to defeat the enemy in a conflict which seemed inevi- table. Lancaster was only sixty-eight miles from Philadelphia and scouting parties of the enemy frequently approached the borders of the county in which Congress was assembled. The Pennsylvania Legis- lature, then about to open its sessions at Lancaster, had begun to grow discouraged and disheartened by reason of the defeat of our army at Brandywine and the capture of Philadelphia by the British. Some of its members were inimical to the cause of inde- pendence and others were opposed to Washington as the head of the army.

At the close of one day's session at Lan- caster, held on Saturday, September 27, the following resolution was adopted: "Re- solved, That the Treasury Board direct the treasurer, with all his papers, forms, etc., to repair to the town of York, in Pennsyl- vania." Immediately after the passage of this resolution, a motion was carried to ad- journ to meet at York on the following Tuesday at 10 o'clock A. M.

General Washington. The following let- ter, written upon his arrival here, to the commander-in-chief, tells an interesting story :

York, Pa., September 30, 1777.

Dear Sir: I have your phaeton here, though I was obliged to send for it after I left Philadelphia, being put to route the night I received your letter. The bolt that fastens the pole part of the long reins was lost, some brass nails also gone and the lining much dirtied and in some places torn. I will have these little matters repaired and the carriage and harness kept clean and in as good order as I can, which is the least I can do for the use, though I would rather buy it, if you are not determined against selling it and submit the price to yourself or your friend, Colonel Harrison, who may view it and pay the cash upon demand to your order. The harness I observe is not matched, though the difference is not very striking. Whether these hap- pened at Philadelphia since you left it there or before, you can judge.

When Congress assembled September 30, 1777, in the Provincial Court House, which stood in Centre Square, York, from 1755 to 1841, it beheld the chief cities of the country in the hands of the enemy and the shattered army around Philadelphia retreat- ing before a conquering foe. York con- tained 286 houses and about 1,800 in- habitants. There were within the town a dozen or more public inns or taverns, as they were then called, at which some of the members with difficulty secured lodging and entertainment. A retinue of attend- ants, including the troops of cavalry and a company of infantry which had guarded the transmission of the government papers, also found accommodations at public and private houses as best they could. The members or delegates to Congress had been elected by their respective states for one year and received such compensation as the state legislatures provided. The amounts varied from three to eight dollars a day in Continental money, then worth about thirty cents on the dollar. The Board of Treasury, presided over by El- bridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, took up its quarters in the residence of Archibald Mc- Clean, at the northeast corner of George Street and Centre Square. It was in this building that Michael Hillegas, treasurer of the United States, distributed during the succeeding nine months, in accordance with the resolutions of Congress, the deposits of the government treasury. The Board of War, presided over by John Adams, of

These illustrious patriots Cross the whose acts and deeds have Susquehanna. added lustre to the pages of American history, wended their way toward the Susquehanna in order that the broad river might flow between them and the enemy while they transacted the affairs of the infant government at York during the darkest period of the Revolution. They crossed the river on flat boats at Wright's Ferry and proceeded to York. They rode on horseback, except John Hancock, who traveled in a chaise, and Joseph Jones, a member from Virginia, Massachusetts, held its meetings in the law who came here in the private carriage of office of James Smith, adjoining his

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JOHN HANCOCK

President of Continental Congress when it assembled in York, September 30, 1777

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residence on the west side of South George main entrance, through double doors, led Street, near Centre Square. Different com- mittees met in the building at the south- west angle of Centre Square. The mem- bers of Congress paid their own expenses while here, except John Hancock, of Mas- sachusetts, the president, who occupied the house of Colonel Michael Swope, on the south side of West Market Street near Centre Square, and his current expenses were paid by authority of the government out of the national treasury.

Daniel Roberdeau, of Philadelphia, who, as a brigadier-general in the army, had captured from the British a prize of $22,000 in silver and turned it over to the use of Congress, rented a house on South George Street. Several of the members, including John Adams, Elbridge Gerry, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Harrison, and Richard Henry Lee, lodged in his house. Other members stopped at private houses and at parsonages occupied by different clergy- men of the town.

Opening

Congress held a brief session on September 30 and then ad-

Session journed until the following at York. morning at 10 o'clock. The controlling power of the nation was vested in one body, and during the whole period of the war, until 1789, trans- acted the business of the government with closed doors. None but members and a few government officials were permitted to attend the sessions. Congress, however, at this time, could only recommend to the states what should be done. It had no power to lay a tax upon the different states or to order that soldiers should be drafted into the army. At this time the new re- public was composed of thirteen indepen- dent states. The Declaration of Indepen- dence, passed the year before, had not created a perfect union and our fathers had not yet "brought forth on this continent a new nation." The Articles of Confedera- tion, which had been discussed for several months at Independence Hall, in Philadel- phia, were now taken up for final passage. It is interesting to state here Where that the court house then used Congress as the Capitol of the United Met. States, had been built of brick twenty-two years before. It was 55 feet long and 45 feet wide. The

from South George Street. The judge's desk, at which the President sat, was at the western end of the building. Back of this, on a small pedestal, perched a plain image representing a statue blindfolded holding the scales of justice. Two rows of seats for jurors extended along the walls to the left and right of the judge's desk. Several tables and desks rested on the floor within the bar, immediately behind which stood a large ten-plate wood stove with an eight- inch pipe extending upward and then back to the east wall. The rows of seats to the rear of the bar inclined upward to the east- ern end of the building. At the rear of the court room was a small gallery reached by winding stairs. There were six windows on each of the sides facing north and south George Street, and four windows each at the east and west ends of the building. Every window contained two sashes and every sash 18 small panes of glass. The second story of the Court House was used for public meetings, entertainments and at times for school purposes. In the original Court House there were only two gable ends, one facing east and the other west Market Street. The gables facing north and south George Street were placed there when the Court House was remodeled in 1815.

A bell had been obtained for St.

An John's Episcopal Church, on

Historic North Beaver Street, a few Bell. years before. There was no bel- fry on this church and no suitable place to hang the bell, so it was hung on a pole in Centre Square and there rung for religious services and for town meetings. When the news of the Declaration of Inde- pendence was officially brought to York. James Smith and Archibald McClean ordered that this bell be put in the cupola of the Court House. In response to notifi- cation this historic bell was rung loud and long for liberty and independence. After the Revolution this bell was removed to the cupola of St. John's Episcopal Church of York, where it has since been used. A vast crowd of people had assembled in Centre Square and the Declaration of Indepen- dence was read amidst great applause.

Hancock's

Letter.

On Tuesday evening, Septem- ber 30, John Hancock wrote to General Washington :

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

York, Pa., 30 September, 1777.

Sir :- Since my departure from Philadelphia, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favors. Congress met on Saturday last at Lancaster and upon consulta- tion it was judged most prudent to adjourn to this place, where we now are and where we can prosecute business without interruption and where your despatches will meet us.

I have just now received by General Gates' aide-de- camp, Major Troup, sundry letters, copies of which I have the honor to enclose to you, by which it appears that our affairs in the northern department wear a favorable aspect and I hope soon to transmit you an account of an issue to the contest in that quarter.

I wish soon to receive the most pleasing accounts from you. We are in daily expectation of agreeable tidings and that General Howe is totally reduced.

I beg leave to refer you to enclosed papers; and am with the utmost respect and esteem, sir,

Your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK. President.

Including President Hancock, Delegates to there were 25 delegates present on October 3, when they voted Congress. on the resolution to refer to General Washington the deci- sion of priority of rank in the army between Baron de Kalb and General Thomas Con- way. Their names and the states they represented are recorded in the journals of Congress as follows: Nathaniel Folsom, New Hampshire; Samuel Adams, John Adams, Elbridge Gerry and James Lovell, Massachusetts; Henry Marchant, Rhode Island; Eliphalet Dyer, William Williams, Richard Law, Connecticut; James Duane, William Duer, New York: Daniel Rober- deau, Pennsylvania: Charles Carroll, Sam- nel Chase. Maryland: Benjamin Harrison, Joseph Jones, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Virginia; John Penn, Cor- nelius Harnett, North Carolina; Arthur Middleton, Thomas Heyward, Henry Laurens. South Carolina; and Nathan Brownson, Georgia. Only II states voted. New Jersey and Delaware were not repre- sented at this time. According to custom, the votes were cast by states. New dele- gates arrived at different times during the succeeding nine months. In all there were 67 attending the sessions at York. There does not seem to have been more than 35 present at one time.

by Thomas Wharton, President of the Legislature at Lancaster, to provide thirty men from York County to act as a guard for these prisoners on their march south- ward.

The commissary-general of purchases was instructed to employ some one to take charge of all the wheat in the several mills near York for the United States. Washing- ton was ordered to make provisions for quartering the troops during the coming winter. News of the defeat of the British at Bennington by General Stark was re- ceived and that officer was tendered a vote of thanks. A letter was ordered to be writ- ten to General Gates informing him "that Congress highly approved of the prowess and behavior of the troops under his com- mand in their late gallant repulse of the enemy under General Burgoyne at Sara- toga." Two companies were raised to guard the government stores at Carlisle. The commissary-general was given the power to seize and press into service wagons, shallops and a store house, within seventy miles of Washington's headquar- ters. George Eichelberger, who had been appointed deputy quartermaster at York, was voted $2,500 for the use of his depart- ment. He was directed to provide mem- bers of Congress with the articles needed for themselves, their servants and their horses at cost. The different state legis- latures were recommended to pass laws to punish by death without the benefit of clergy, any person or persons found guilty of burning or destroying government magazines or stores.

The British entered Phila- Medal for delphia, September 26, and Washington. soon after proceeded to the village of Germantown, six miles north of the city. Washington attacked them on October 4 at daybreak, hoping to push their army against the Schuylkill River and destroy it. The dar- ing scheme almost succeeded, but victory was turned into defeat by a sudden panic among the Americans caused by an acci- dent. It was a foggy morning and one American battalion fired into another by mistake. The news of the defeat at Ger- mantown was brought to Congress by a despatch bearer. Although the report of

October 4, Captain Weaver was voted $2,000 for the purpose of defraying the ex- penses of taking a band of British prisoners from Lancaster through York to Virginia. Colonel Richard McAllister, of Hanover, lieutenant for York County, was ordered the defeat was not encouraging, on October

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8 it was resolved "That the thanks of in the form of conversations. Efforts at Congress be given to General Washington for his wise and well concerted attack upon the enemy's army near Germantown and to the officers and soldiers of the army for the brave exertions on that occasion; Congress being well satisfied that the best designs and boldest efforts sometimes fail by unforeseen incidents, trusting that on future occasions, the valor and virtue of the army will, by the blessing of heaven, be crowned with complete and deserved suc- cess." Congress then ordered that a medal of honor be presented to the commander- in-chief. oratory were rarely attempted. On one or two occasions, Samuel Adams made patri- otic speeches like those he had delivered in Faneuil Hall, Boston, before the opening of the war. The flute-like tones of Richard Henry Lee always interested his hearers and commanded the closest attention. Pat- rick Henry was governor of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson, a member of the legis- lature in session at Richmond. Benjamin Franklin, still a member from Pennsyl- vania, was United States commissioner in Paris, endeavoring to secure the recogni- tion of his government by King Louis XIV of France.

Chaplains White

The second day's session of Continental Congress at York opened Wednesday, October I.

Of the delegates to Continental Congress during the entire period of the Revolution. and Rev. Jacob Duche, who had Duffield. served as chaplain, became a loyalist and remained in Phila- delphia. Rev. William White, rector of the United Parishes of Christ's, St. Peter's and St. James' Episcopal Churches of Philadel- phia, was elected chaplain. He spent part of the succeeding winter in York, occupy- ing rooms at the residence, on North George Street, of Rev. John Nicholas Kurtz, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church. At this time he was 29 years of age. In 1786 he became the first bishop of Pennsyl- vania. Rev. George Duffield, a native of Lancaster County, and pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church, of Philadelphia, was elected associate chaplain. He was then 45 years old and one of the first clergymen in none were more zealous in legislating for the prosecution of the war than Samuel Adams, of Massachusetts. He was a man of lofty patriotism and unbounded energy. The English government blamed John Hancock and Samuel Adams more than any others for the origin of the war, and a re- ward of $25,000 was offered for the capture of either of them. Both Hancock and Adams, if ever captured, were to be denied pardon for their alleged treason to the mother country. With Adams as the leader of Congress while in York, the struggle for liberty was simply a matter of life and death. Success in establishing freedom would send him down to posterity, honored by all future generations : failure pointed to the prison cell and the ignominy of a rebel America to advocate the cause of inde- doomed to the scaffold. Everything seemed pendence. Before coming here he had dark and gloomy during the early days of served as chaplain in the army and for his October, 1777, and some of the members of Congress were ready to give up the struggle in despair and accept the over- tures of peace offered by the British gov- ernment. About this time John Adams made the following entry in his diary : intense loyalty to the patriotic cause, the British government offered a prize for his capture. While in York he was the guest of Rev. Daniel Wagner, pastor of Zion Reformed Church, who resided at the par- sonage on the north side of East King near "The prospect is chilling on George Street. Early in life Duffield had been pastor of the Presbyterian churches at Dillsburg and Carlisle.

By resolution Congress now decided that the morning session should begin at 10 A. M. and adjourn at I P. M. The afternoon session began at 4 o'clock and continued usually until 10 o'clock at night. The dis- cussions on the momentous questions con- sidered by this body were often carried on

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 52

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