History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 26

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended > Part 26

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companies of Minute men are to be increased, as it may be found convenient, so that we hope to have a very respectable Battallion of them ; the Privates are to be engaged for six months, for the Officers have no time limited, unless they choose to resign after six months. As the Congress have directed the Committee of Safety, in case of the recess of the Assembly, to commission the Field Officers, I would be glad if you would as soon as possible send commissions to the persons chosen as aforesaid in this County, which I apprehend would tend much to the service of the common cause.

I am, Gentlemen,

Your most humble Servt, MICH. SWOPE .*

Michael Swope, to Committee of Safety, York, August 12, 1775 : The Colonel of the Fifth Batallion of the York County Militia, Matthew Dill, Esq., and Lieutenant-Colonel, William Rankin, Esq. : The greatest part of the minute-men directed to be raised in this county by the committee has already enrolled themselves and signed attestations. "I ex pect to be able in a few days to inform you that we have a body of upward of 400 men, composed of some of the most respectable inhabitants of the county, ready to march where their country may call them on the shortest notice." He says, minute-men are absolutely necessary to raise troops.t

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION.

To regulate the military organization known as the Associators of Pennsylvania, articles were adopted by the Committee of Safety on the 19th of August, 1775, the character of which and of the organization is indicated by the following preamble : "We, the officers and soldiers, engaged in the present associa- tion for the defense of American liberty, being fully sensible that the strength and security of any body of men, acting together, consists in just regularity, due subordination, and exact obedience to command, without which no individual can have that confidence in the support of those about him, that is so necessary to give firmness and resolution to the whole, do voluntarily and freely, after consideration of the following articles, adopt the same as the rules by which we agree and resolve to be governed in all our military concerns and operations until the same, or any of them, shall be changed or dissolved by the assembly, or Provincial Convention, or, in their recess, by the Committee of Safety, or a happy reconciliation shall take place between Great Britain and the col- onies. Į

These articles then provide for the fines or disgrace that shall attend insubordination,

*IV Archives, 642.

+I Archives, N. S., 545.

#X Col. Rec., 308.

and for courts martial, and that all officers and soldiers of every battalion, troop, com- pany, or party of associators, who shall be called into actnal service, and be on pay, shall be subject to all the rules and articles made by Congress for the government of the continental troops.

The Committee of Safety, on the 26th of August, 1775, adopted rules, for establishing rank or precedence amongst the Pennsyl- vania Associators, in which it is provided that "all officers already chosen or appointed in York County, to rank before officers of equal dignity, in any other than Lancaster, Ches- ter, Bucks and Philadelphia County, Phila- delphia City and districts. And as there may happen occasions wherein it may be neces- sary to call out a part of the associators to actual though temporary service, it was rec- ommended that the battalion and companies be numbered by Lots 1, 2,3, 4, so that orders may issue to send the first or second, or any number of companies as shall be wanted, each serving on such calls in its turn .*

Inhabitants of York County to Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, 1775:

YORKTOWN, September 14, 1775.

Gentlemen :- We take this opportunity of return- ing to you an account of the number of Associations, and a list of the Officers names of this county: The number of Associators that has been received by the Committee is 3,349. There is a greater number of Associates than the foregoing whose names we have not received; for the present we mention that number. There were about 900 non-Associators returned to the committee on the 28th of July last, many of whom have since associated; we cannot at this time undertake to return an exact list of the

non-Associators, but shall do the same as soon as possible. The Associators and the non-Associators that we have an account of are chiefly taxable. We enclose you the proccedings of the Committee and Officers of the Militia Companies of this county. The divisions or battalions were formed and the seniority of each battalion fixed on by a unanimous vote; the mode fallen on was that each battalion should take rank according to the time of a major- ity of its companies having associated-this gave universal satisfaction. We, who now address you, are members of one or another of the Battalions, and are very sensible that if seniority were now to be fixed by lot, it would tend to create confusion and injure the common cause, therefore, hope that commissions may be granted agreeable to the regu- ations of the committe and officers. In forming these battalions, great regard was had to the sit- uation of the County and convenience of the inhab- ilants. The battalions do not all consist of an equal number, but none of less than 500 men, which you will see by the enclosed papers-the three first battalions are large enough for regiments, but you may give them what names you think proper. In the said list we return you the names of the offi- cers according to seniority, agreed to in their re- spective battalions, in order to be commissioned. One of these battalions has but five companies. yet they are so very large that a single company may act as a grand division until they can be divided

#X Col. Rec., 320.

127

THE REVOLUTION.

with satisfaction and conveniency to the inhabi- tants, in which the field officers, when commissioned can very much assist. The particular townships of each battalion are to be regarded. The persons appointed for officers are generally agreeable to the people, We have been given to understand that Capt. James Dill, the officers of his company, and some others, are dissatisfied with the choice of Matthew Dill, Esq., for Colonel of the Fifth Bat- talion, that they were desirous of a new election and had written to you for that purpose. Asto this, we can inform you, that without any confusion or disputation, and with the greatest fairness, Mat- thew Dill, Esq., was chosen Colonel of that divis- ion. A new election would answer no good pur- pose, but would tend to encourage faction, which we have happily avoided in this County. We also enclose you a list of the officers' names in the Minute men of this County, raised in pursuance of the direction of the Assembly of this province, and the recommend- ation of the Continental Congress. These are the offi- cers and men raised by them-the persons that are ready to be first called fortli from this County for the service of the Common Cause. We are also of opinion that in the country it will not be so con- venient to cast lots for whole companies that are to march in case of a call, as the discipline of all the companies are not alike; many have not the same advantages or opportunities to be taught, and a number in every company could not possibly go, so that lot might often fall on companies that the community could have no reliance on; we therefore apprehend it will do betterto fix on individuals that are to act in the first instance as Minute men. We have hitherto been unanimous. and hope that the conduct of this County will receive your counte- nance and approbation. There are nearly 100 per- sons associated in Germany Township, but as there is some little confusion concerning their officers, we shall defer sending their names for some time.

We are, gentlemen,

Your very bumble servants,

George Eichelberger, Martin Eichelberger,

Baltzer Spangler,

Joseph Jeffries,

Archibald McClean,

Michael Smyser,

John Kean, Nicholas Bittinger,

George Slake, John Finly,

James Smith,

Philip Albright,

Richard McAlister,

Daniel Messerly,

Thomas Hartley, John Hay,

William Rankin, And others.

Directed to Benjamin Franklin, Esq., and to the Committee of Safety of the Province of Pennsyl- vania. *

On the 3d of November, 1775, the returns of twen- ty-six townships were received at York, whereby the following gentlemen appear to be chosen as a committee for York County, to continue for the space of one year, unless they shall think it expe- dient to dissolve themselves sooner, viz .:

Michael Swope. James Smith, Thomas Hartley, John Hay, Charles Lukens, David Grier, Joseph Donaldson, George Irwin, John Kean, William Lease, William Scott, George Eichelberger, Philip Albright, Michael Hahn, David Candler, Baltzer Spangler, John Huston, Thomas Armor, John Schultz, Christopher Slagle, Andrew Rutter, Peter Wolfe, Philip Jacob King, Zackariah Shugart, John Herbach, William Johnston, John Spangler, James Dickson, Francis Crezart, George Brenkerhoof, John Semple, Robert McPherson, Samnel Edie, William Mcclellan, Thomas Douglass, John Ag- new, David Kennedy, George Klinger, George Kerr, Abraham Banta, John Mickle, Jr., Samuel McCon- aughy, John Blackburn, William Walker, Richard M'Allister. Ghristian Graff, Jacob Will, Henry Sla-

gle, John Hamilton, John Minteeth, Thomas Lilley, Richard Parsel, Charles Gilwix, John M'Clure, William Shakly, Frederick Gilwix, John Hinkel, John Hoover. Patrick M'Sherry, James Leeper, Joseph Reed. Patrick Scott, James Egan, Benjamin Savage, Andrew Thompson, Peter Baker, Jacob Kasel, William Mitchell, John Williams, Lewis Williams, William Rankin, James Nailer, Baltzer Kuertzer, Henry Mathias, George Stough, Daniel Messerle, John Nesbit, William Wakely, John Chamberlin, Andrew Thompson, Alexander Sand- erson.

On the same day the committee met at the court house in York , when James Smith was chosen President. and Thomas Hartley Vice-President of the committee.

COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE.

The following gentlemen were unanimously eleet- ed as a Committee of Correspondence for York County, viz. : James Smith, Michael Swope, Thomas Hartley, Joseph Donaldson, George Eichelberger, Charles Lukens, David Grier, George Irwin, Thomas Armor, William Lease, George Clinger, John Nesbit, James Leeper, Francis Crezart, Peter Wolfe, David M'Conaughy, and five or more of them were empowered to act.

The committee adjourned to the first Thursday in December next, to meet at the court house in York. THOMAS ARMOR, Clerk."

RESOLUTION OF COMMITTEE OF YORK COUNTY, 1776.

At a meeting of the Committee of Correspond- ence for the county of York, the 5th of February, 1776.

The committee taking into consideration the state of the county, are of opinion that several companies, beside the two already ordered, might be immedi- ately raised in this county for the Continental serv- ice, provided they were officered in this county. That, considering the zeal and patriotic spirit of the people, we think that in the late appointment of officers in the troops to be raised in this province, this county has not had its proportion. Therefore,

Resolved, That the chairman of this committee do write a letter to the Delegates of this province in Congress inclosing this resolution, to be laid be- fore the Congress, and expressing the willingness of this county to exert themselves to the utmost in de- fence of the Common Cause, with the request that if any more troops are soon necessary to be raised in this province in the Continental service, that this county be honored with the officering six com- panies, and recommending the Field Officers of the battalion, as we make no doubt but the greater part of the men for the companies might be raised in York County.

Resolved, That a letter be written by the Chair- man to the Committee of Safety, requesting their weight and concurrence with the Congress in favor of the above application.

THOMAS ARMOR, Clerk.t

INHABITANTS OF YORK COUNTY TO COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, 1776.

Gentlemen :- The inhabitants of this county, who have been always ready to grant their assistance in favor of liberty since the commencement of the present unhappy dispute between Great Britain and these Colonies, consider that on account of the shortness of the notice given by the board, that they have not their proportion of the officers ap- pointed in the different battalions. The service

*Rupp, 609-10.

+IV Archives, 711.

*IV Archives, 656.

128

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

suffers by this. The best men and the flower of the youth will not engage with strangers. The two Companies ordered in this county are already near- ly completed; but Officers from other counties will not be equally successful. Had more companies been ordered in York County, and the Officers rec- ommended from hence, we apprehend they would have been in great forwardness. This county is not very ambitious of having officers, but still it gives disgust to many persons to see numbers in the other counties, not even equally qualified, and who have done nothing in the common cause preferred, and themselves unnoticed.

The Committee of Correspondence met on the 5th inst .. and came to the resolutions, which I heg leave to inclose, and hope that they will meet with your approbation and weight. As it is probahle from the present situation of Mr. Swope's family that he will not be able to attend you soon, Mr. Hartley. the bearer, will be ready to wait on the Board. and give them some material information relating to the above, as also some other matters of consequence.

I am, Gentlemen, with the greatest Respect. Your most Humble Serv't, JAMES SMITH, Chairman .*

AID TO BALTIMORE FROM YORK.

In March, 1776, Capt. Squires, the com- mander of the British sloop of war Otter, who had been cruising about in various parts of the bay, made a demonstration in the Pat- apsco Riverwith various boats which produced a very great alarm in the town. Capt. Nich- olson, the commander of the Defense, a ship belonging to the State of Maryland, was at that time in Baltimore. He soon got under weigh to drive these marauders from the river, which he did in a short time, and captured four or five of the boats. It was the occasion of this alarm that gave rise to the necessity of throwing up batteries on Fell's Point; the fortifying of Whetstone Pointf with eigh- teen guns and the sinking of vessels at the fort. These defenses were considered at the time as invulnerable, and the aid which the militia of the surrounding country afforded called for the grateful thanks of the people. From Harvard County a battalion marched to Baltimore, whose services it afterward be- came necessary to accept.

Nor was this devotion to Baltimore con- fined in the hour of her need, to the citizens of her own State. The borough of York wrote on the 10th of March to the committee: " Our committee resolved instantly to raise a good rifle company, to be ready to make march on an hour's warning to your province, in case you should judge it necessary, and sig- nify the same to our committee." This is not a solitary instance of this patriotic borough's

*IV Archives, 710.

+Fort McHenry now.

A narrative of events which occurred in Baltimore Town during the Revolutionary war. By Robert Purviance- 1849.

offering her valuable aid to Baltimore. In the war of 1812, a company sent by her united with the Baltimore troops, on the day of her celebrated battle with the British army near North Point, and no troops on that day were more entitled to the honors which their valor won than those from York. The following letters were exchanged:

YORKTOWN, March 10, 1776.

Gentlemen :- This moment we received Mr. Alex- ander Donaldson's letter of the 9th inst. At the time of writing our former letter to him it was un- certain, from the intelligence, what force might he sent against Baltimore, and judged it would be proper for this county to have in readiness detach- ments from the several militia hattalions to the amount of five hundred men

We are glad to hear that it is only the buccaneer Squire that payed you a visit, of whom we hope to hear Capt. Nicholson give a good account. But as a greater force may be sent to harass you in re- venge for Capt. Squire's bad success, in pursuance of the desire of your committee, communicated to us by Capt. Donaldson, our committee resolved in- stantly to raise a good rifle company, to be ready to march on an hour's warning to your province, in case you should judge it necessary and signify the same to our committee.

The officers chosen are, Joseph Donaldson, Cap- tain; William Rankin, First Lieutenant: John Kean, Second Lieutenant; Wm. Baillie, Third Lieutenant, and Jacob Holtzinger, Fourth Lieutenant, and none are to be admitted but expert riflemen.

By order of the Committee, JAMES SMITH, Chairman .* To the Committee of Inspection, Baltimore:

BALTIMORE, March 12, 1776.

Gentlemen: We have just now received your ac- ceptable favor of the 10th, per Mr. Donaldson, and return you our warmest thanks for your ready of- fers of succour in defending us from the incursions of Capt. Squire, who, after taking many prizes at the mouth of our river, was obliged to relinquish the most valuable on the appearance of the gallant Capt. Nicholson, of the ship Defence, who has first had the honor of displaying the coutinental colors to a British-man-of-war without a return.

The County of York have always stood in the foremost rank for zeal and attachment in the glori- ous cause of liberty, and this committee would do them an injury in refusing the rifle company to march at the first notice: they cheerfully accept then, the generous offer, and will, on any appear- ance of danger, inform them by express.

By order of the Committee, WM. Lux, Deputy Chairman. To the Committee of York:

YORK COUNTY MILITIA.

The following account of the companies from York County and of the Flying Camp is taken from Glassbrenner's History :

As early as December, 1774, a company was formed in the town of York, the object of which was to make soldiers who would be well disciplined for battle in case the disaf- fection then existing toward England, should proceed to open hostilities. The officers of this company were James Smith. Captain;

*IV Archives, 710.

129

THE REVOLUTION.

Thomas Hartley, First Lieutenant; David Green, Second Lieutenant; aud Henry Miller, Ensign. Each of those officers thus early attached to the cause of liberty, was much distinguished in the subsequent history of our country. The first was a signer of the Declaration of Independence; the second was a Colonel in the Revolution, and for eleven years a member of Congress; and the third and forth were each distinguished officers, and "acquired a fame and a name" con- nected with the cause they supported.

The second company formed in the town of York was in February, 1775, the officers of which were Hartman Deustch, Captain; Mr. Grubb, First Lieutenant; Phillip Entler, Second Lieutenant, and Luke Rause, En- sign.

In December, 1775, the third company was formed in Yorktown, entitled "The Inde pendent Light Infantry Company belonging to the first battalion of York County." This company drew up and signed a constitution consisting of thirty-two articles, the original manuscript of which, with the signatures of all the officers and soldiers, lies now before us. It was signed on the 16th of December by the following persons : James Smith, Colonel; Thomas Hartley, Lieutenant Col- onel; Joseph Donaldson, Major; Michael Swoope, Major; George Irwin, Captain; John Hay, First Lieutenant ; William Baily, Second Lieutenant; Christoph Lauman, En- sign; Paul Metzgar, Henry Walter, Jacob Gardner, and John Shultz, Sergeants; and William Scott, Clerk; then followed the names of 122 persons, private soldiers, a catalogue of which would be too lengthy. The company was commanded in 1777, by William Baily, Captain; Christoph Lauman, First Lieuten- ant; and William Scott, Second Lieutenant. Mr. John Hay being elected a member of the State Convention held in that year.

Companies were already formed throngh- out the country, and everything spoke of freemen under arms for liberty. But contin- ing ourselves to Yorktown, we will mention the other companies which were formed here at the commencement of the Revolution. The fourth company was formed in the spring of 1776, and its officers, Michael Hahn, Captain; Baltzer Spengler, First Lieutenant; Michael Billmeyer, Second Lieutenant; and George Michael Spengler, Ensign. The fifth com- pany was likewise formed in the spring of 1776, whereof Charles Lukens was Captain; Christian Stake, First Lieutenant; and Cor- nelius Sheriff, Second Lieutenant. The sixth company was formed in May of the same year, and was commanded by Captain

Rudolph Spangler. The first and second companies formed in town, had long since been dissolved, and the soldiers thereof joined and became a part of the fifth and sixth com- panies; so that in June, 1776, there were four different military associations in the town of York. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth companies constituted a part of those five battalions which marched to New Jersey in 1776 to form the flying camp. Though they thus marched out of the county, yet it was no warlike field, the only object was to form other companies. which shall be men- tioned in their places.

In 1776 the counties of York and Cum- berland were required each to raise four com- panies for the forming of a regiment. Of this regiment, Wm. Irwine, at first, was Colonel; Thomas Hartley, Lieutenant Col- onel; and James Dunlap, Major. Of the four companies raised in York County, David Grier was Captain of the first, Moses M'Lean, of the second, Archibald M'Allister, of the third, the name of the Captain of the fourth we cannot give. These companies, which were enlisted for fifteen months, left the county to follow the fate of war in the latter end of March. In the year 1777 this regiment formed the 11th regiment of the Pennsylvania line, and its officers were Thomas Hartley, Colonel ; David Grier, Lieutenant Colonel ; and Lewis Bush, Major.

Early in May 1776, a rifle company, which had been enlisted to serve fifteen months, marched from the County of York to Phila- delphia, where it was attached to Col. Miles' Rifle Regiment. The Captain of the com- pany was William M'Pherson, and the Third Lieutenant was Jacob Stake.

In July, 1776, five battalions of militia marched from York County to New Jersey. Out of these five battalions there were formed in about six weeks after their arrival, two battalions of the Flying Camp; those who did not belong to the camp returned home. The reason of so many more than there was occasion for, being called forth from all the counties seems to have been firstly to try the spirit of the people, and secondly to show the enemy the power of the nation they warred against.

As the Flying Camp is closely connected with the honors and the sufferings of many men in this county, we will briefly state its history. Congress, on the 3d of June. 1776, "Resolved, that a Flying Camp be immediately established in the middle col- onies, and that it consist of 10,000 men." to complete which number, it was resolved that

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

the colony of Pennsylvania be required to

furnish of the militia, 6,000

Maryland, 3,400

Delaware, 600

10,000

The militia were to be engaged until the 1st of December following, that is, about six months. The conference of committees for Pennsylvania, then held at Philadelphia, re- solved on the 14th of June, that 4,500 of the militia should be embodied, which, with the 1,500 then in the pay of the province, would make 6,000, the quota required by Congress. The same conference on the 25th, recom- mended to the associators of York County to furnish 400 men.

Thus, York County furnishing. 400

The other counties, and Philadelphia city, in 4,100

all

Troops under Col. Miles 1,500

Total. 6,000

The convention of the State, on the 12th of August, resolved to add four additional battalions to the Flying Camp, York County being required to furnish 515 men toward making out the number of 2,984, the amount of the four new battalions. On the same day Col. George Ross, Vice President of the Convention, Col. Thomas Matlack, of Phila- delphia, and Col. Henry Schlegel, of York County, were chosen, by ballot, commission- ers to go to headquarters in New Jersey, and form the Flying Camp.

The Flying Camp was accordingly soon formed: it consisted of three brigades. The Brigadier-General of the First Brigade was James Ewing, of York County; his brigade consisted of three battalions, the first of which was commanded by Col. Swope, of York County; the second, by Col. Bull, of Chester County; and the third by Col. Watts, of Cumberland County, father of the late David Watts, Esq., of Carlisle. Of the other brigades and battalions, we are not at present able to speak with much certainty.

As the two battalions formed from the five battalions of York County Militia which marched to New Jersey, underwent the hard fate of severe war, we will be somewhat par- ticular concerning them:

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History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 26

Author: Gibson, John, Editor Publication date: 1886 Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104