History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 55

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

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 55

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CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AT YORK

sum of $70,000 was voted to James Mease, Cornelius Harnett, of North Carolina, were clothier-general, for the use of the Ameri- added to the Committee on Commerce. can army. The sum of $50,000 was voted General Thomas Conway, an Irish soldier, to Nathaniel Appleton, commissioner of the who had received military training in Europe, was appointed inspector-general of the army. At the same time, he was raised to the rank of major-general. loan office of Massachusetts, for the use of the marine department of that state. Joseph Clark was voted $50,000 in favor of the marine committee of Rhode Island.

On December 8, James Lovell, of Mas- sachusetts, chairman of the committee of foreign affairs, was ordered by Congress to request Silas Deane, one of the commis- sioners at Paris, to return to America and report to Congress. December 9, Presi- dent Laurens was ordered to communicate with the legislatures of Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and South Carolina, asking that those states have a full representation in Congress. On Sep- tember 17, Congress had voted to General Washington, extraordinary powers, for sixty days, shortly before adjourning at Philadelphia. On November 14, these powers were renewed. On December 10, this body urged that Washington should take advantage of all the powers with which he was entrusted, for the purpose of secur- ing provisions and clothing in the region where they were now in camp. The Ameri- can army was then in camp at White Marsh, fourteen miles northwest of Phila- delphia. Thomas Smith, commissioner of the Pennsylvania loan office, was ordered to give the clothier-general $12,000 for the use of General Wayne's brigade of Pennsyl- vania troops, who had recently fought so valiantly at Paoli and Germantown.

Barracks at York.

On December II, Abraham Clark, delegate from New Jer- sey, was sworn in as a member of Congress. On this day, Congress voted that barracks be erected in York for the accommodation of troops, "as

tained, either as guards or for the purpose of equipment or discipline." December 12, a letter from President Laurens was read to Congress, in which he asked to be re- lieved from the office of President because of ill health. No action was taken on this letter and Laurens was persuaded to re- main in his office, although he was unable to attend the sessions for several days.

On December 13, Francis Lewis, of New York, William Ellery, of Rhode Island, and

From the time Congress came to

Smith York, on September 30, to Decem- Takes ber 16, General Roberdeau, of

His Philadelphia, was the only delegate

Seat. present from Pennsylvania. On

this date, James Smith, of York, who had served during the year 1776 and had signed the Declaration of Indepen- dence, took his seat and was sworn into office. Congress decided to meet twice a day. On December 17, Rev. John Wither- spoon, an eminent clergyman of New Jer- sey, and president of Princeton College, took his seat in Congress. Jonathan B. Smith, another delegate from Pennsylvania, took his seat in Congress.

Colonel Rawlins, of the army, and others appeared before Congress and reported that the American prisoners in the hands of the British, in New York and elsewhere, were being badly treated. It was also reported that Sir William Howe, in command of the British army at Philadelphia, demanded that Congress or the states should furnish the means or provisions for feeding the American prisoners. General Howe had refused to accept continental money for the purchase of provisions. Congress, there- fore, asked that provisions be sent and not money.

December 20, an amount of money ag- gregating $600,000 was appropriated for the use of William Buchanan, commissary- general of purchases, for the southern, eastern and northern departments of the army, and $200,000 was voted to the State may be from time to time stationed or de- of Connecticut for purchasing provisions

for the soldiers.

There were no sessions from De-

Batwell, cember 21 to December 27, the when, on the latter date, a letter Loyalist. from Rev. Daniel Batwell, rector of the Episcopal churches at York, Carlisle and York Springs, was read before Congress. Owing to his declared loyalty to the English crown, he had been arrested, dipped in the Codorus Creek and sent to the county jail. In the letter to

306

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Congress, he claimed that this imprison- been only one brilliant success to the ment had impaired his health. He wished American arms. This was the capture of the British army under Burgoyne at Sara- toga. It was true, Henry Laurens, presi- dent of Congress, had issued a national Thanksgiving proclamation during the pre- ceding month, but the condition of affairs was still dark and foreboding. The success of the British at Brandywine, Germantown and Paoli was received with public favor in England. to be set free on parole and go to his resi- dence at York Springs. Dr. Henry, sur- geon at the jail and for the prisoners, testi- fied that Rev. Daniel Batwell "labors under a complication of disorders and that pure air and exercise are absolutely neces- sary for his recovery." Congress passed a resolution releasing the prisoner and per- mitting him to go to his farm, providing he would take the oath of allegiance to the It was hoped by the patriots of the Revolution that the victory at State of Pennsylvania; or upon his refusal, Seeking Aid Saratoga and the capture of 6,000 was allowed to go with his family within the British lines at Philadelphia. Some time later, Mr. Batwell went to Philadel- France. phia, and in the fall of 1778, was appointed chaplain of a Tory regiment, serving in the British army.

From troops might influence some for- eign power to recognize the American government. England and France had been involved in a war which caused embitterment between these nations. It was to Benjamin Franklin and his associates at Paris, that Congress now looked with hope. Could he obtain the support of the youthful King of France, Louis XVI? This was the subject often discussed by the small body of American patriots who were then holding the ses- sions of Congress in the Provincial Court House at York. Very few tidings had yet been received from Franklin, who had already become a central figure at the Court of King Louis of France. It required several months for communications from him to cross the ocean to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, or Boston, Massachusetts, and from thence conveyed overland across the Hudson at Fishkill, New York, through Bethlehem and Reading to the seat of gov- ernment at York. Such was the condition of affairs when Continental Congress began its duties in January, 1778. There were then about thirty-two delegates present. All of the thirteen states were now represented.

Benjamin Harrison, Jr., son of Benjamin Harrison, delegate to Congress, was voted $50,000 to be used by him, as deputy pay- master-general for the troops of the State of Virginia. Letters received from General Washington, describing the condition of his troops then going into camp at Valley Forge, were placed in charge of the Board of War on December 29. On the following day, Washington was re-invested with dic- tatorial powers, which had been granted him when Philadelphia was evacuated. Colonel John Williams, of North Carolina, was voted $5,898, for the purpose of paying the officers and recruits of the several bat- talions from the State of Virginia, quar- tered at York, by order of the Board of War. These troops were encamped on the Public Common in the barracks recently erected. They were performing guard duty, during the winter months, while York was the seat of government.

PROCEEDINGS IN 1778.

Sessions of Congress opened on January On New Year's day, the Chevalier de Villefranche, a somewhat noted engineer of France, decided that he would remain in this country. He had served with a corps of engineers in the American army, and was now raised to the rank of major and assigned to duty under the command of Brigadier du Portail. A communication from Baron de Kalb, a German nobleman, who, upon the endorsement of Washington, was created a major-general in the army, I, 1778, with uncertain conditions for the year. The British occupied Philadelphia, under command of Sir William Howe; Sir Henry Clinton was in command of the city of New York; Washington was in camp at Valley Forge. The state militia, or at least a large part of it, had returned home, await- ing a future call to active service. Bur- goyne's troops, nearly 6,000 in number, were still held as prisoners of war near Boston. During the year 1777, there had was read; also one from Lewis Casimer,

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CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AT YORK

Baron de Holzendorf. It was the custom of Congress to pay careful attention to communications from distinguished for- eigners and these were referred to the Board of War for appropriate action.

Massachusetts usually had the largest delegation in Congress at York, and on January I, the credentials of John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert T. Paine, Elbridge Gerry, Francis Dana and James Lovell were presented to Congress. John Hancock, who had served as President the first month of its sessions at York, did not return until May. John Adams, al- though re-elected, at this time was on his way as a special ambassador to join the American commissioners at Paris. Benja- min Franklin, one of the delegates from Pennsylvania, never attended the sessions at York. During this whole period he was in Paris.

On January 3, the sum of $200,000 was appropriated for the use of Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., as paymaster of the military department embracing New York and the New England States. He was the son of Jonathan Trumbull, of Connecticut, known to history as "Brother Jonathan." During this month long discussions arose in refer- ence to the agreement between Gates and Burgoyne when the latter surrendered at Saratoga. The sum of $62,000 was appro- priated for a quantity of sulphur, saltpetre and lead purchased from Blair McClenachan and James Caldwell, and deposited in care of Leonard Jarvis at Dartmouth, Massachu- setts.

surrender of Burgoyne and his army, was elected secretary of the Board of War. January 7, letters were received from Gen- eral Washington and General Thomas Conway in reference to a controversy which afterwards terminated in what is known as the "Conway Cabal." On January 8, the sum of $1,000,000 of Continental money was ordered to be printed under act of Congress passed May 20, 1777. On Janu- ary I0, a letter was received from General Washington recommending Major John Clark, of York, to the attention of Congress. Major Clark had performed some brilliant feats as chief of scouts in the fall of 1777.

while the British army was in and around Philadelphia.

Sent

On January 12, General Gates,

General Thomas Mifflin and Colo- to nel Timothy Pickering were ap-

Valley pointed a committee to visit the Forge. American army at Valley Forge. The vessels which had arrived from England to transport the British and Hessian troops to England, were ordered by Congress to quit the ports of Massachusetts. Congress decided to annul the agreement made at Saratoga, and hold the soldiers as prisoners of war. It was further resolved that 1,500 American troops be ordered to guard these prisoners then in camp near Boston until the British vessels had left the port.

On January 13, it was resolved that "Gen- eral Washington require of General Howe passports for American vessels to transport to Boston provisions for the use of the prisoners of Burgoyne's army, during the time this army shall be detained in Massa- chusetts."

On January 14, Dr. John Houston, resid- ing east of York near the Susquehanna, obtained a warrant for pay as surgeon of Colonel Donaldson's Battalion of York County militia, serving under General Mercer. The Board of War was voted $350,000. The sum of $100,000 was to be sent to Ebenezer Hancock, deputy pay- master-general at Boston, and $250,000 to his assistant in the state of Rhode Island. At the same time $750,000 was voted to the Board of War, to be transmitted, $500,000 to William Palfrey, paymaster-general, and at Peekskill.

January 6, Colonel James Wilkinson, who had brought to Congress the news of the $200,000 to William Bedlow, his assistant

On January 15, it was resolved to pur- chase 30,000 barrels of flour, or wheat equivalent to be ground into flour, and sent in different quantities to the towns of Lan- caster, Reading, Bethlehem, Downingtown and Pottsgrove. On January 16, it was re- solved to borrow $10,000,000 on the credit of the United States at an annual interest of six per cent. On January 19, Captain Ephraim Pennington, commanding a de- tachment of York County militia, appointed as guards to the public stores in the town of York, was issued a warrant for the pay- ment of rations.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Schuyler's Letter. On January 20, a letter was read from General Philip Schuyler, asking for a "speedy inquiry into his conduct," while he was in command of the northern army before he was superseded by Gates. Stu- dents of history generally accredit Schuyler with having laid the plans for the conquest and capture of Burgoyne at Saratoga. He was removed from his position by a faction in Congress before he had an opportunity to show his military skill.

On January 22, Congress resolved to emit $2,000,000 of continental currency under act of Congress passed May 20, 1777. On the same day Congress took into considera- tion an expedition to Canada under a plan proposed by General Gates, president of the Board of War. This plan was to place General Lafayette in charge of the expedi- tion, General Thomas Conway second in command, and John Stark, the hero of Ben- nington, brigadier-general.

On January 23, a committee of Congress, composed of James Smith, of York; Wil- liam Ellery, of Rhode Island, and Eliphalet York. Dyer, of Connecticut, was appointed to take into consideration the wants of the army. as reported by the military committee which had visited Valley Forge. January 28, the auditor-general reported that pay is due Captain Benjamin Williams, paymaster of a detachment of several regiments of Vir- ginia troops, then in York. On January 31, the military committee that visited Val- ley Forge, reported the necessity of ap- pointing a quartermaster-general for the army. The aggregate amount of money voted to different departments of the army during the last few days of January, was about $500,000.

On February 3. Congress Oath of Allegiance. passed an important measure requiring every officer who held or would hold a commis- sion or office from Congress to take the fol- lowing oath :

"I do acknowledge the United States of America to be free, independent and sover- eign states, and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the Third, king of Great Britain, and I renounce, refuse and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him, and I do swear or affirm that I will, to the utmost of

my power, support, maintain and defend the said United States against the said King George the Third, and his heirs and their abettors, assistants and adherents, and will serve the said United States in the office of which I now hold fidelity, according to the best of my skill and understanding. So help me God.'

On February 4, Congress resolved to ap- point Monsieurs Goy, Pierre, Boichard, Parrison, and Niverd, captains of artillery in the continental army, and receive ap- pointments of that command while in America. On the following day a commit- tee of Congress interviewed these officers, then in York, in reference to promises made by the American commissioners at Paris, concerning their expenses until appointed to service in the army. On February 6, Major John Clark and Matthew Clarkson were appointed auditors for the army under command of General Washington.

General Horatio Gates, who had arrived at York, January 19, to take

Gates in the position as president of the Board of War, took up quarters first in a public inn of the town. On February II, he asked for an appropriation of $1,333 to pay the current expenses of his aide-de-camp and secretary. Later General Gates rented a private residence on the north side of Market near Water Street, which he occupied until he left York, in April, 1778.

On the same day, Colonel Hartley's-regi- ment, then acting as guard to Congress, received two months' pay. February 16, it was resolved to print $2,000,000 of Conti- nental money. On February 26, Congress took up the question of the exchange of prisoners in accordance with an agreement made between General Washington and Sir William Howe, commanding the British army in America. The plan proposed was to exchange "officer for officer, soldier for soldier, citizen for citizen so far as number and rank will apply." . It was decided by a resolution that the several states be re- quired "forthwith to fill up by draft from their militia, or in any other way that shall be effectual, their respective battalions of continental troops. All persons drafted shall serve in the continental battalions for their respective states for the term of nine , months." During the month of February,

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RESIDENCE OF MAJOR JOHN CLARK AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF MARKET AND BEAVER STREETS

Korty Dollars

This Biti entitles

the Bearer to re

ceive Sorry Stanift

the . thereof inc

cording to a Sefala-

goz palica by 6mo-

Ist) April, 1778

SAMPLE OF CONTINENTAL NOTE, PRINTED IN 1778, ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF MAJOR CLARK'S RESIDENCE

309

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AT YORK

in various amounts, $1,325,000 were appro- of the light infantry was to receive one priated for the use of the army.

On March 4, 1778, Congress gave Wash- ington power to "employ in the service of the United States a body of Indians, not exceeding 400." On March 5, the sum of $2,000,000 was ordered to be issued under the authority of the United States. On March 6, Thomas Scott, member of the Su- preme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, and James McLean and R. White, delegates from the State Assembly, then in session at Lancaster, waited upon Congress in refer- ence to the establishment of magazines of commissary stores for the army, and also on the subject of the British prisoners in Virginia. On March 10, Peter Shultz re- ceived $548 for transporting the baggage of the York County militia, commanded by Colonel Michael Swope, from York to the army in New Jersey, in July, 1776. On the same day, Martin Brenise, of York, re- ceived $153 for attendance upon Congress, from the first of December, 1777, to the first of March, 1778, at one-third dollar per day, and for ringing the bell, at two-thirds dollar per day. On March 19, owing to the threatened attack of Indians and Tories, 500 Pennsylvania militia were ordered to be sent to Easton, Bethlehem, and Reading, to guard the government magazines.

On March 23. John Spangler, George Pentz and Jacob Lefever received pay for transporting baggage of the Pennsylvania militia, while on the way to the army. Peter Wolf, tavern keeper, of West Man- chester Township, received pay for feeding militia passing through York County. March 27, Major John Clark, of York, one of the auditors of the army, received $800 to pay contingent expenses of his office.

Pulaski's Legion. On April 4. $1,000,000 of conti- mental money was ordered to be printed at York. General Wash- ington was empowered to call out 5.000 militia, from the states of Mary- land, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, to re- main in service for such time as he shall recommend. On April 6, Congress voted that the sum of $50.000 be advanced by the Board of War to Count Pulaski, who had been made a brigadier-general in the Ameri- can army. Every man who enlisted in his command was to receive $130, including the bounty money. Each trooper and member

stock, one cap, one pair of breeches, one coat, two pairs of stockings, two pairs of gaiters, three pairs of shoes, one pair of buckles, spear and cartridge box. Each trooper was also to receive a pair of boots, a saddle, halters, curry-comb and brush, picket cord, and pack saddle. Count Pulaski came to York in 1778 and partially recruited his legion here, before going south. He was killed soon afterward in an engagement at Savannah, Georgia.

On April 9, the question of Congress re- moving to some other place was discussed. The following Saturday was set as the time to take into consideration the necessity of going to some more convenient place. The British still held Philadelphia, the State Assembly was in session at Lancaster, and not very friendly toward Congress, so the subject of removal was not further con- sidered.

On April II, Congress voted

New unanimously to emit $5,000,000 in

Issue bills of credit on the faith of the of United States. It was ordered Money. that new cuts be made for striking off and printing them, and that the form of the bills should be as follows :

"This bill entitles the bearer to receive Spanish milled dollars, or the value thereof in gold or silver, according to a resolution passed by Congress at York, April 11, 1778." This issue is known to the collectors of Continental money as the "Yorktown notes." They are the rarest specimens of Continental money because of the successful attempt to counterfeit them. For this reason Congress ordered a large number of these notes to be destroyed.

It was ordered that the thirteen United States be pledged for the redemption of these bills of credit. The Franklin Press. then in York, by order of Congress, was used in printing Continental money. At least $10,000,000, under a preceding act, had been printed at York before the act of April II, 1778, had been passed. At this time paper money had greatly depreciated. It was worth about thirty cents on a dollar. Before the war had ended, in 1783, Congress had issued over $300,000,000 in Continental money. In 1781 one dollar in silver as a base was worth forty dollars in paper money. In 1783 the paper money was al-

310

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

most worthless. The government never re- were prepared for the purpose of deluding deemed it.

On April 13, Colonel Thomas

Hartley's Hartley was given authority to

Regiment. raise a new regiment from different parts of Pennsylvania. This regiment was to be organized to march against the Indians and Tories who had been committing depredations in northern Pennsylvania and southern New York.

April 15, Congress ordered that Major- General Gates proceed to Fishkill, New York, to take charge of the American troops at that point, and prevent the ties will render these states remiss in their British in New York from going up the preparation for war ;" because, believing the Hudson. At this period General Gates was still at York as president of the Board of War,' having succeeded John Adams, of Massachusetts, as the head of that impor- tant body.

On April 17, the sum of $1,500,000 was advanced to Jeremiah Wadsmith, commis- sary-general of purchases for the army. On the following day Congress ordered the Franklin printing press, then in York and. operated in a building belonging to Major John Clark, at the southwest corner of Market and Beaver Streets, to begin print- · ing $500,000 of Continental money, in ac- cordance with an act recently passed.

On April 18, General Washing- ton, at Valley Forge, wrote a

Overtures From letter and also sent important England. documents to Congress. The messenger arrived on April 20. One of these documents purported to "be the draft of a bill for declaring the inten- tions of the Parliament of Great Britain as to the exercise of what they are pleased to term their right of imposing taxes within these United States ; and also the draft of a bill to enable the King of Great Britain to appoint commissioners with powers to treat, consult and agree upon the means of quieting certain disorders within the said states." President Laurens appointed Gov- erneur Morris, of New York; William Henry Drayton, of South Carolina, and Francis Dana, of Massachusetts, a com- mittee to examine these documents and report to Congress. Upon its report to Congress, this committee stated that it could not decide whether these papers emanated from England or whether they

Congress, by some schemers in Philadel- phia, which was then in possession of the British. The members of the committee, however, persuaded themselves to believe that they were valid documents and came by authority of Parliament, which body would take into favorable consideration the action of Congress upon them. They be- lieved this statement because General Howe "has made divers feeble efforts to set on foot some kind of treaty, during the last winter;" because the British supposed that the "fallacious idea of a cessation of hostili-

Americans wearied with war, they suppose "we will accede to their terms for the sake of peace;" that the cessation of hostilities "will prevent foreign powers from giving aid to these states; that it will lead their own subjects to continue a little longer the present war; and that it will detach some weak men in America from the cause of freedom and virtue; because the king, from his own showing, hath reason to apprehend that his fleets and armies, instead of being employed against the territories of these states, will be necessary for the defence of his own dominions. Because the imprac- ticability of subjugating this country being every day more and more manifest, it is to their interest to extricate themselves from the war upon any terms." The committee reported in detail what they termed the weakness and insincerity of the British crown, and concluded its report with a masterly presentation of the question, writ- ten in such forcible and elegant English that it is herewith presented:

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 55

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