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 28

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 28

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*In a paper prepared by I Baraitz Bacon for "Frank Leslie's Chimney Corner," we have the following information :

"Mr. Smith's law office was at the south side of the old square; McClean's residence was on the north side. They were both ardent patriots. Within the daily view of each of them, ou the pavement beside the court house, rested a hell, presented to the English Episcopal congregation by Queen Caroline in 1774, which had not yet been placed in position on their church. Ini- mediately after the passage of the Declaration, Smith and McClean, with other citizens, hoisted the bell to the court house cupola, and rang out a peal summoning the people to ratify in. dependence. Then they removed the royal escutcheon and the broad arrow, and enlisted a battalion for the Continental Fly- ing Camp, which forthwith marched to defend the City of New York " "During the session of Congress bere the same paper says: "The mansion of Archibald MeClean became the seat of the Treasury, while, just across the square, the office of James Smith was occupied by the Board of War and the Committee of Foreign Affairs, Tom Paine was secretary of that committee, and there wrote several numbers of "The Crisis "

""Our Picture' (and this applies to the illustration in this work) is a view of the original, with the exception of the wea- ther vane, which at first represented the 'broad arrow' of En- gland, a mark of sovereignty, which was removed in 1776. After the Revolution two additional gables were elevated over the north and south fronts, and a loftier and more elaborate cupola was built up." . Pulaski and Armand recruited their legions of borse from the country round, and their success and fame gave to the court house its erowning and enduring revo- lutionary ornament. A gilded dragoon, in panoply of sword and helmet, was elevated as a vane to replace the broad arrow on the top spire It was widely known as ' The Little Man,' and there it remained till the demolition of the court house in 1840. It is now preserved as a sacred relic of the times."

ĮGen Roberdeau. writing fron Yorktown, October 1, 1777, says, "Gen. Gates' letter, with enclosure to Congress per ex- press this day, are referred to the Committee of Intelligence for publication. The express gives a verhal account that two spies were descried by some continental troops round our Gen. Clinton's quarters, bahited like unto the British soldiers for the very purpose. The spies asked for Gen. Clinton, and when they came into his presence, with such surprise, they said he was not the Gen. Clinton they enquired for. He replied he could do their business, and accordingly ordered them to he hanged iu an hour, but upon discovering some important intelligence, they were respited-via consequence of this information Gen Clio- ton, Gov. Clinton and Gen. Putnam were suddenly in motion. He then relates what he calls a singular anecdote- - One of the spies, when discovered, swallowed a small silver hall, which he was made to disgorge by the immediate application of an emetic, it contained intelligence from the British officer Clinton, who commanded at the Highlands, to Gen. Burgoyne. These anec- dotes will not be published, nor are they said to be depended upon, nevertheless, as I believe them, they are offered for your amusement .- V. Archives, 630; Wilkenson's Memoirs, Vol. 1., p. 327-8.

repeat, as you have much earlier intelligence from that part than we have. I wish affairs here wore as pleasing an aspect. But alas, they do not.

I shall avoid everything like history, and make no reflections. However, Gen. Washington is in a condition tolerably respectable, and the militia are now turning out from Virginia, Maryland and Penn- sylvania in small numbers. All the apology that can be made for this part of the world is, that Mr. Howe's march from Elk to Philadelphia, was through the very regions of passive obedience. The whole country through which he passed is inhabited by Quakers. There is not such another body of Quakers in all America, perhaps not in the world. I am still of opinion that Philadelphia will be no loss to us. I am very comfortably situated here in the house of Gen. Roberdeau, whose hospitality has taken in Mrs. S. Adams, Mr. Gerry, and me.

YORKTOWN, October 25, 1777.

This town is a small one, not larger than Ply- mouth. There are in it two German churches, the one Lutheran. the other Calvinistical. The congre- gations are pretty numerous, and their attendance upon public worship is deceut. It is remarkable that the Germans, wherever they are found, are careful to maintain the public worship, which is more than can be said of the other denominations of Christians, in this way. There is one church here erected by the joint contributions of Episco- palians and Presbyterians, but the minister, who is a missionary, is confined for Toryism, so that they have had for a long time no public worship. Con- gress have appointed two chaplains, Mr. White and Mr. Duffield. the former of whom, an Episcopalian, is arrived, and opens Congress with prayers every day. The latter is expected every hour. Mr. Duche, I am sorry to inform you, has turned out an apostate and a traitor. Poor mau ! I pity his weak- ness and detest his wickedness.

YORKTOWN, October 26, 1777. Congress will appoint a Thanksgiving; and one cause of it ought to be, that the glory of turning the tide of : rms is not immediately due to the Commander-in-chief, nor to Southern troops. If it had been, idolatry and adulation would have been unbounded, so excessive as to endanger our liher- ties, for what I know. Now, we can allow a cer- tain citizen to be w se, virtuous and good, without thinking him a deity or a Savior .*

YORKTOWN, October 28, 1777. We have been three days soaking and poaching in the heaviest rain that has been known for several

*"This is the only letter, in the large collection of Mr. Adams' private correspondence with his wife, which makes any allusion to the position of Gen. Washington in Congress at this time. It is very well known that the Conway cabal, in its origin; exclu- sively a military intrigue, with very base motives, obtained its greatest source of influence in Congress from the coincidence in time between the defeats of Washington at Brandywine and Germantown, and the victory of Gates over Burgoyne in the North. Mr. Adams does not appear ever to have favored that cabal, but he always looked with some apprehension upon the powers with which Washiogton bad been invested. In a man- uscript sketch of his character, drawn by Dr. Benjamin Rush, it is stated that a motion was made in Congress, on the 19th of February, 1777, to surrender to the General the power of ap- pointing his own officers, but no such motion appears on the journal. It is more probable that the proposition was made in the course of the debate that took place on that day upon going into the election of five Major-Generals, but was never put into form, and therefore was not recorded Upon that proposition, Dr. Rush reports Mr. Adams to have said these words: "There are certain principles which follow us through life, and none more certainly than the love of the first place. We see it in the forms in which children sit at schools. It prevails equally to the latest period of life. I am sorry to find it prevail so little in this house. I have been distressed to see some of our members disposed to idolize an image which their own hands have molten. I speak of the superstitious veneration which is paid to Gen. Washington. I honor him for bis good qualities, but in this house I feel myself his superior. In private life, I shall always acknowledge him to be mine "-Note to Adams' Letters.

SECTION OF MARKET HOUSE

COURT HOUSE.

STATE HOUSE. N.SIDE F.MARKFT.ST

DID WEISER AND HARTMAN RILLININGS

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years, and what adds to gloom is, the uncertainty in which we remain to this moment, concerning the fate of Gates and Burgoyne. We are out of pa- tience. It is impossible to bear this suspense with any temper.

I am in comfortable lodgings, which is a felicity that has fallen to the lot of a very few of our mem- bers. Yet the house where I am is so thronged that I cannot enjoy such accommodations as I wish. I cannot have a room as I used, and therefore cannot find opportunities to write as I once did.

The people of this country are chiefly Germans, who have schools in their own language, as well as prayers, psalms and sermons, so that multitudes are horn, grow up and die here, without ever learning the English. In politics they are a breed of mon- grels or neutrals. and benumbed with a general tor- por. If the people in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Jersey had the feelings and spirit of some people that I know, Howe would be soon en- snared in a trap more fatal than that in which, as it is said, Burgoyne was taken. Howe is completely in our power, and if he is not totally ruined, it will be entirely owing to the awkwardness and indolence of this country .*

From Moore's Diary of the Revolution is extracted the following:

THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT HANCOCK.

OCTOBER 29, 1777.

This morning President Hancock took leave of the Congress in the following speech : "Gentle- men, Friday last completed two years and five months since you did me the honor of electing me to fill this chair. As I could never flatter myself your choice proceeded from any idea of my abilities, but rather from a partial opinion of my attachment to the liberties of America, I felt myself under the strongest obligations to discharge the duties of the office, and I accepted the appoint- ment with the firmest resolution to go through the business annexed to it in the best manner I was able. Every argument conspired to make me exert myself, and I endeavored by industry and attention to make up for every other deficiency. As to my conduct, both in and out of Congress, in the execution of your business, it is improper for me to say anything. You are the best judges. But I think I shall be for- given, if I say I have spared no pains, expense or labor, to gratify your wishes, and accomplish the views of Congress. My health being much im- paired, I find relaxation so absolutely necessary after such constant application; I must therefore request your indulgence for leave of absence for two months. But I cannot take my departure, gentle- men, without expressing my thanks for the civility and politeness I have experienced from you. It is impossible to mention this without a heart felt pleasure. If in the course of so long a period as I have had the honor to fill this chair, any expressions may have dropped from me that may have given the least offense to any member, it was not inten- tional, so I hope his candor will pass it over.

"May every happiness, gentlemen, attend you, both as members of this house and as individuals ; and I pray Heaven that unanimity and persever- ance may go hand in hand in this house; and that everything which may tend to distract or divide your councils, may be forever banished."+

On the first of November, Congress elected Henry Laurens to the chair made vacant by Hancock's resignation.

British Account of Hancock's Speech :- Deacon Loudou * has taken upon himself to give, in his ex- traordinary Packet, a garbled account of the late squabble among the Congress rapscallions, which terminated in easy John's leaving the chair. As this production is calculated to mislead the public, we are happy to present to our readers a statement by an eye-witness, who has been watching the Con- gress since it left Philadelphia:

"As soon as the rebels learned that the British fleet was at the head of the Chesapeake, a motion was made in Congress for an adjournment to some place at least 100 miles from any part of God's kingdom where the British mercenaries can possibly land; which, after some rapturous demonstration, was carried nem. con. Immediately the Congress commenced the retreat, leaving old Nosey Thomson to pick up the duds and write promises to pay (when the Congress should return), the Congress debts. In the flight as in the rebellion, Hancock having a just apprehension of the vengeance which awaits him, took the initiative and was the first to carry out the letter of the motion of his associates. "In four days they met at York. At the opening of the session, the President, having performed his journey on horseback, and much more like an ex- press than a lord, was unable to take his seat, and for several days the chair was filled by a pro tem- pore. On the return of Hancock he gave many in- dications of the intense fright he had experienced, and was observed to assume the chair with more than usual care and quiet seriousness, whether from soreness or a desire for the further remove of the Congress, his best friend could not tell.

"Out of this silent discontent, murmurs soon sprang, and one day before the dinner hour of Con- gress, he offered a motion 'that this body do ad- journ, until the troops under the Howes, now pur- suing the freemen of America, retire altogether from the State of Pennsylvania.' This was not adopted. Hancock then arose and delivered the following, which is a fair specimen of rebel elo- quence, and 'much to the p'int,' as the Yankee par- sons say :

'Brethren, freemen and legislators :- It's now more'n two years sence you done me the honor of puttin' me in this seat, which, however humbly I have filled, I was determined to carry out. It's a a responsible situation, and I've been often awak- ened of nights a hearin' them reglars a comin' fer my head. I can't hear it. It's worked on me, and already I feel as though I was several years older than I was. My firmness, which has made up for all my other infirmities, has been the cause of many heartburnings, which I am sure the candor of those among you who don't like it. will pass over. As to the execution of business, I have spared no pains, and shall return to my family and folks with that satisfaction. In taking leave of you. my brethren, let me wish that we may meet soon under the glo- ries of a free, but British government.' After re- questing Congress to pass around his chair and shake his hand, the afflicter of his country retired, satisfied as usual with himself and the Congress, who, with equal satisfaction, welcomed his de- parture."

GEN. GATES AND THE CABAL.

That session of Congress held the fate of the nation and the fame of Washington in its hands. One of its members has said that the history of its proceedings regarding Washington would never be written. "As the old Congress daily sat with closed doors,

*Letters of John Adams, Vol. II, pp. 7-17.

+Moore's Diary.

* Editor of the New York Packet.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

the public knew no more of what passed within, than what it was deemed expedient to disclose." "From the first to the last there was a most bitter party against him." The Fabian policy of the Commander-in- Chief gave umbrage to some in Congress, and in the army. The disastrous defeat and retreat from Long Island had been brilliantly atoned by the masterly stroke of crossing the Dela- ware and the capture of the Hessian forces at Trenton. But the loss of the bloody field of Brandywine; and the failure of the attack upon the enemy at Germantown, contrasted strongly with the brilliant, if not decisive, achievements of the Northern army at Ben- nington and Saratoga. The unanimous thanks of the Congress, assembled here, had scarcely been given "to Gen. 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 their brave exertions on that occasion -- Congress being well satisfied that the best designs and the boldest efforts may sometimes fail by unforseen accidents, 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, "-than it became their duty to present "the thanks of Congress in their own name, and in behalf of the inhabitants of the thir- teen United States, to Maj .- Gen. Gates, commander-in-chief in the northern depart- ment, and to Maj .- Gen. Lincoln and Arnold, and the rest of the officers and troops under his command, for their brave and suc- cessful efforts in support of the independence of their country, whereby an army of the enemy, of ten thousand men, had been totally defeated; one large detachment of it con- quered at Bennington, another repulsed from Fort Schuyler, and the main army of six thousand men, under Lieut. - Gen. Bur- goyne, reduced to the necessity of surrender- ing themselves upon terms honorable and advantageous to these States, to Maj. Gen. Gates; and that a medal of gold be struck under the direction of the board of war in commemoration of this great event, and in the name of the United States, presented by the President to Maj .- Gen. Gates."

This gave occasion to the enemies of Wash- ington to concert their plans; and it is said that'a movement was in progress, supported by members of Congress, signers of the Dec- laration, and by general officers of the army, for the supplanting of the Commander-in Chief. A cabal, which took its name from an Irish-French soldier of fortune, Gen. Conway, is said to have exercised its

intrigues here at that time. Gen. Gate was summoned by Congress to York, as the head of the board of war. Here he held his court, an accomplished soldier and scholar, a man of fine presence, social and popular. The hilarity surrounding his reception and sojourn here, was in striking contrast with the gloomy prospects and dreary encamp- ment of the Commander-in-Chief at Valley Forge, with his reduced and wretched army, exposed to hunger, nakedness and cold. A far different scene was transacting in York, where ovations were paid to the conqueror of Burgoyne. The name of Horatio Gates lin- gers here, for he had many friends, and the glittering renown of his late victories, in that dark period, made him the rising sun.

Here, too, at that time, came Lafayette, who was summoned by Congress to York, to further the plans of new conquests and lead an expedition to Canada. The faith and devotion of this young and gallant French nobleman never faltered toward the man whom he so loved and honored. A feast was given in his honor, at which, in spite of the frowns and silence accompanying it, he gave as his toast: "The Commander-in-Chief of the American armies." The movement; however, was not so formidable as it appeared. It ended in personal questions of honor, as one incident, which happened here, will illustrate. The bearer of the despatches to Congress, of the victory at Saratoga, was Maj. Wilkinson, a young man of a keen sense of honor and of his own merits. A man since not unknown to fame, for he after- ward became, by seniority, Commander-in- Chief of the United States army-a fame not without blemish from his supposed conni- vance with the conspiracy of Aaron Burr. It is related that so many days elapsed after the surrender before he presented himself with a great flourish before Congress, that the eclat of bis mission was considerably broken. They had the news before his arrival at York. When it was moved to present him with a sword, Dr. Witherspoon said "ye'll better gie the lad a pair of spurs."

Wilkinson was at that time the Adjutant- General, and a warm friend and admirer of the hero of Saratoga. Shortly after this, in a convivial mood, he betrayed some of the secrets of the cabal to an aid de camp of Gen. Sterling, Maj. McWilliams, who con- sidered it his duty to disclose the matter to Lord Sterling, who in his turn, felt bound, in regard to the public interest as well as impelled by private friendship, to communi- cate it to Gen. Washington. This he ac- cordingly did in a note containing a memo-

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randum of the words from Conway's letter, as repeated to Mc Williams, by Wilkinson, as follows: "The enclosed was communicated by Col. Wilkinson to Maj. McWilliams; such wicked duplicity I shall always consider it my duty to detect." In consequence of this disclosure, and with no other view than to show Conway that he was apprised of his intrigues, Gen. Washington wrote to him as follows:

SIR :- A letter which I received last night con- tains the following paragraph: "Heaven has deter- mined to save your Country, or a weak general and bad councillors, would have ruined it."

In Dr. Duer's Life of Lord Sterling*, is the following: "A correspondence now en- sued between Gens. Washington, Gates, and Conway; but the letter itself was not at that time produced. It was afterward shown by Gen. Gates, in confidence, to Mr. Henry Laurens, the President of Congress, and some others; and although it appeared not to have been exactly quoted by Maj. McWil- liams, yet, in substance, it proved the same. Gen. Washington never communicated the letter to Lord Sterling, or the information it contained to any officer of the army out of his own family, except the marquis de La- fayette, and to him it was shown under an injunction of secrecy; but from the circum- stances attending the affair, it could not be long concealed. Rumors respecting it got abroad, and the public sentiment was ex- pressed in a tone so indignant as to compel the couspirators to abandon their mischievous and ambitious projects.

Although there is no reason to believe that any other officers of the army were di- rectly engaged in this conspiracy, yet it is evi- dent, from the proceedings of Congress, that it was favored by a considerable party in that body.

Deeming his honor deeply wounded by the course of Gen. Gates, he determined to de- mand satisfaction. He was speedier with bis business than with his war despatches. The account of the meeting of Gen. Gates is given by Gen. Wilkinson himself in his "Memoirs" in these words:

I immediately proceeded to Yorktown, where I purposely arrived in the twilight, to escape obser- vation; there I found my early companion .and friend Capt. Stoddert, recounted my wrongs to him, and requested him to bear a message to Gen. Gates, whose manly proffer of any satisfaction I might re- quire, removed the difficulties which otherwise might have attended the application; he peremp- torily refused me, remonstrated against my inten- tion, and assured me I was running headlong to destruction; but ruin had no terrors for an ardent young man, who prized his honor a thousandfold more than his life, and who was willing to hazard

his eternal happiness in its defense. Pardon me, High Heaven, in pity to the frailities of my nature. Pardon me, divine Author of my being, for yielding to the tyranny of fashion, the despotie prescription of honor, when I sought, by illicit means to vindi- cate tbe dignity of the creature, whom thou hast formed after thine own likeness; for the first time in our lives we parted in displeasure, and I accident- ally' met with Lieut .- Col. Burgess Ball, of the Virginia line, whose spirit was as independent as his fortune, and he willingly became my friend. By him I addressed the following note to Gen. Gates, which I find with date, though it was delivered the same evening (the 23d):

"I have discharged my duty to you and to my conscience; meet me to-morrow morning behind the English Church, and I will there stipulate the satis- faction which you have promised to grant.

"I am

"Your most humble servant "JAMES WILKINSON."

" GENERAL GATES."

The general expression of this billet was calcu- lated to prevent unfair advantages, for, although Gen. Gates had promised me satisfaction, I deter- mined to avoid unnecessary exposition; and there- fore Col. Ball was instructed to adjust the time, and circumstances. and made no difficulty about ar- rangements. We were to meet at 8 o'clock with pistols, and without distance. We arose early the next morning, had put our arms in order, and was just about to repair to the ground, when Capt. Stoddert called on me, and informed me Gen. Gates wished to speak with me. I expressed my astonish- ment and observed it was "impossible"! He re- plied with much agitation, "for God's sake, be not always a fool, come along and see him." Struck with the manner of my friend, I inquired where the General was? He answered, "in the street near the door." The surprise robbed me of circumspec- tion; I requested Col. Ball to halt and followed Capt; Stoddert; I fonnd Gen. Gates nnarmed and alone, and was received with tenderness but mani- fest embarrassment; he asked me to walk, turned into a back street and we proceeded in silence till we passed the buildings, when he burst into tears. took me by the hand, and asked me "how I could think he wished to injure me?" I was too deeply affected to speak, and he relieved my embarrass- ment by continuing "I injure you? it is impossible, I should as soon think of injuring my own child." This language not only disarmed me, but awakened all my confidence, and all my tenderness; I was silent, and he added "besides, there was no cause for injuring you, as Conway acknowledged. in his letter, and has since said much harder things to Washington's face." Such language left me notli- ing to require; it was satisfactory beyond expecta- tion, and rendered me more than content: I was flattered and pleased, and if a third person had doubted the sincerity of the explanation, I would have insulted him; a long conversation ensued, in which Lord Sterling's conduct was canvassed, and my purpose respecting him made known, and it was settled I should attend at the war office, in my capacity of secretary, a few days, and then have leave to visit the camp at Valley Forge, where Lord Sterling was.

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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 28

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