USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > School history of Berks County in Pennsylvania : by Morton L. Montgomery > Part 8
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The first telephone company in the State was or- ganized at Philadelphia in 1878. The introduction of this improvement has been of great advantage to the business men of the community. The telegraph was a great step in advance of the postal and express deliveries, which had been the common means of communication carried on through the agency of steam ; but the telephone was a marvelous step in advance of even the telegraph-for, instead of writ- ing, forwarding, and reading messages and letters, which required both labor and time, communication was facilitated, and business men were enabled to speak with each other directly, as it were, face to face, without any loss of time. It is like the great agent, electricity, upon which it is based-the em- bodiment of dispatch.
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124 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
CHAPTER VIII.
MILITARY PERIODS.
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
Cause .- While the Penns were endeavoring to lo- cate a town on the eastern bank of the Schuylkill at the "Ford," war was being carried on between England and France, and the treaty of Aix-la-Cha- pelle was formed between them in the same year in which the town was laid out. But this treaty of peace did not settle the controversy between them in respect to territory on the American continent. The English colonies were originally planted along the Atlantic coast, and thence extended to the west. The English, therefore, claimed the right to go 011 with their settlements across the continent from ocean to ocean. The French, however, had posses- sed Canada to the north and Louisiana to the south, and they, too, claimed the intervening territory which lay along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Both parties claiming the same country, in order to maintain their respective rights, they "rushed into a fierce and bloody war for lands which belonged to neither, and which, in 20 years after the termination of hostilities, passed away from both, and became vested in a new power whose national existence, by a mysterious Providence, in a great measure, grew out of their contentions."
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French and Indians Unite .- The Indians united with the French through misrepresentation, and, finding the fron- tier open, pro- ceeded east- wardly to recov- er and repossess the territory which had for- merly been theirs, and out of which they believed they had been swin- dled. On their way they committed depredations and cruelties which resulted in great loss of life and property to the settlers. Notwithstanding forts were erected by the Provincial government along the Blue Moun- tain from the Delaware to the Susquehanna, to af- ford protection to the settlers in the vicinity, and were garrisoned with 25 companies, comprising 1400 men, they even crossed the mountain and carried their wickedness, arson, and murder into the counties adjoining.
County Entered .- Berks County was entered ; men, women, and children were killed ; and many dwellings and barns were burned. This naturally spread consternation throughout the county. The settlers along the mountain fled and abandoned their homes and property. The enemy even ex- tended their incursions to a point near Reading.
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The inhabitants of the town, becoming alarmed for their safety, armed and organized themselves for the purposes of defence; and some marched to the mountain to assist in driving the cruel foe out of the county. The town of Reading had just been fairly started when this terrible shock fell upon the inhabitants. Though discouraged, they did not abandon their new settlement and its bright pros- pects, as the settlers were forced to do along the mountain. It is probable that the unsettled condi- tion of affairs during that period in the townships bordering on the mountain, which arose from the incursions and cruelties of the Indians, contributed much towards the rapid growth of the town.
English Victorious .- The cruelties of the Indians and the unsettled condition of the inhabitants of the upper section of the county continued during the years 1755, 1756, and 1757. Then the English were unsuccessful in their campaigns against the French and Indians, and their affairs here were in an alarming situation. Their efforts had produced only expense and disappointment. But in 1758 the tide turned, through the vigorous administration of a new leader, William Pitt; the Indians were forced to retreat ; and victory crowned the British armies everywhere until 1760, when the French were dis- possessed of all the territories in dispute and forced to surrender Canada.
Peace Declared .- After the French had receded into Canada before the advancing army of English soldiers, the Indians naturally followed their allies. Hence the cruelties here ceased after 1758; and
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when Canada was surrendered in 1760, the peace and safety of our community were assured. The declaration of peace was delayed for three years. When it was published in 1763, only a few Indians remained in the eastern section of Pennsylvania. A small settlement of them, who were friendly to the government and the inhabitants, remained at Shamokin (now Sunbury) ; and some families were scattered in different parts of the county, where they remained for many years afterward.
Before the war, considerable trade had been car- ried on successfully between the settlers and the Indians, continuing without interruption from the time of the first settlements until 1744, and even a decade afterward. The relations had become so pleasant and firm that certain Indians remained in the county unmolested during the war, and carried on their peaceful vocations, such as basket-making, bead-work, etc. ; and after the war, traveling par- ties of them frequently visited the county and sold articles of their handiwork.
Forts .- The forts along the mountain were sim- ply for refuge, as places to which the inhabitants could retreat when danger was imminent. They were erected hastily to serve a temporary purpose. Unfortunately for the people, they were too few in number and too far apart to serve the purpose for which they were intended, especially to those who were somewhat removed. The following three forts were in Berks County, along the Blue Moun- tain : Fort Henry, Fort Dietrich Snyder, and Fort Northkill.
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Killed and Captured .- During this war the In- dians killed about 150 inhabitants of the county and captured 30 of them. Several of those who were taken captive returned after the war. But, strange to say, during these eight years, only four of the In- dians were killed in the county, so far as we have been able to ascertain. The Indians were cunning, . fleet, and enduring. They approached settlements stealthily ; committed outrages, arson, and murder ; and then departed speedily. Their success in these wicked incursions was truly wonderful. They were always in small parties of three, four, or six; and being thoroughly acquainted with the mountains, they were enabled to escape pursuit by various routes; hence their limited casualties in warfare.
Numerous letters have been published descriptive of the alarm, suffering, and losses of the people. The most active and prominent man in the corres- pondence was Conrad Weiser, one of the justices of the county. 7
REVOLUTION.
Stamp Duty .- The Parliament of Great Britain passed an act in 1765, which required all instru- ments of writing, such as deeds, bonds, and promis- sory notes, to be written on parchment or paper and stamped with a specific duty, otherwise they were to have no legal effect ; but this measure met with such general opposition in Great Britain and throughout the American colonies, and was found to be so unpopular, that the act was repealed in the following year. This opposition, however, led Par-
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liament to pass a declaratory act, asserting power over the colonies "in all cases whatsoever ;" and an act was then passed which imposed a tax on tea, glass, paper, and painters' colors imported into the colonies. "Legislation without representation," as this was, awakened in the colonies a spirit of resist- ance ; and this grew year after year until it finally cul- minated in a violent demonstration at Boston in De- cember, 1773, when certain men, in the disguise of Indians, went upon three vessels loaded with tea at the wharf in the night-time and threw the tea over- board. This act led to the passage of the " Boston Port Bill" on the 14th of March following, which provided that after the 18th of June, 1774, no per- son should load or unload any ship in that harbor. In this manner it was thought the customs and commerce would be transferred from Boston to Salem. And other acts were passed in reference to the government of Massachusetts, the trial of the offenders, etc. Through these acts the people of Boston were visited with suffering and loss ; but their situation won the sympathy of all the colonies.
Local Patriotism .- When the news reached Read- ing, the citizens developed great excitement and held a meeting on July 2, 1774, at which the ac- tion of the British government was condemned. This meeting was called by notices headed "Bos- ton Port Bill," and posted throughout the town. From this meeting to the close of the Revolution the people of the town and of the county partici- pated actively in all the affairs of the province
9
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SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
which were carried on for the establishment of independence. They were represented by dele- gates at the several conferences ; and they contrib- uted their quota of men, money, and supplies in the successful prosecution of the war. The battle of Lexington was fought on April 19, 1775. When the news of the battle reached Reading, about a week after- ward, a company of men was formed, who wore crape for a cockade in token of sorrow for the slaughter of their brethren, and each township in Berks County resolved to raise and discipline its company.
Companies from Berks County .- A large num- ber of men from Berks County were enlisted in the struggle of the colonies for independence ; and her representative patriots and companies continued in faithful service from the beginning of actual war- fare until the declaration of peace.
In 1775 there were five " Associated Battalions " from the county, which were commanded by the following colonels : Edward Biddle, Mark Bird, Daniel Brodhead, Balzer Geehr, and Christian Louer. Biddle and Brodhead were particularly prominent, -the former as a distinguished repre-
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sentative in the First Continental Congress, and the latter as a brave officer on the field of battle. Both were residents of Reading.
The companies from the county in actual ser- vice, so far as they have been ascertained, were the following :
Companies in Col. John Patton's battalion, 1776 :
Captains.
Captains.
John Lesher
Nicholas Schaeffer.
Michael Forrer.
Michael Wolf.
John Diehl.
George Will.
George Miller.
Companies in different regiments :
George Nagel.
Jacob Bauer.
Jonathan Jones.
Benjamin Weiser.
Henry Christ.
Joseph Hiester.
John Spohn.
Jacob Maurer.
Peter Decker.
Jacob Graul.
Jacob Moser.
Jacob Livingood.
Companies in Col. Joseph Hiester's battalion, 1780 :
Jacob Baldy. Charles Gobin.
Ferdinand Ritter.
Conrad Sherman.
John Ludwig.
Henry Strouch.
In the battle of Long Island, fought on August 27, 1776, there were two battalions composed of Berks County militia under the command of Lieu- tenant-Colonels Nicholas Lotz and Peter Kachlein. Lotz had six officers taken from him, all prisoners, none killed or wounded ; and Kachlein not more. The following were among the list of prisoners : Lotz and Kachlein, Major Edward Burd, Captain
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SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
Jacob Graul, Captain Joseph Hiester, Captain Jacob Maurer.
In 1777 the militia returns of the county showed that 4000 men between the ages of 18 and 53 years were subject to military duty.
Army Supplies .- In the beginning of the Revo- lution, Reading was selected by the Continental government as a place well-adapted by its situation for storing army supplies. Being surrounded by hills, it was capable of easy defence, and it was not far distant from the operations of war. Large quan- tities of provisions were deposited here. In 1778, the supplies were so valuable that Congress ordered the State to station 200 militia here to defend the place. In 1780, General Washington directed the Executive Council to furnish the State out of the supplies at Reading with the following articles: 200 barrels of flour ; 560 gallons of rum; 180 tons of hay; 14,000 bushels of corn. Nicholas Lotz was then commissioner of purchases in Berks Coun- ty. In 1777, 350 wagons were sent to Philadelphia from Berks County ; also a wagon-master general and wagon-master. In 1780, the quota of supplies from the county was 600 barrels of flour and 600 bushels of forage per month; 200 horses and 20 wagons ; and 300 militia.
Hessian Prisoners .- In 1775, the King of Great Britain obtained, by treaty with the German princes, 17,000 men for the purpose of sending them to America to assist in subduing the colonies, and they were shipped early in 1776. Many of them, (Hes- sians,) were taken prisoners at the battle of Trenton
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on December 26, 1776, and conveyed to Lancaster. Some of these were afterward stationed at Reading. Their first quarters in the town were in the south- ern section ; and, after remaining in that locality several years, they were removed to the southern declivity of Penn's Mount. The place has since been known as "Hessian Camp.'' The majority of these huts were standing in 1841. In 1780, the prisoners numbered 100. In 1781 a large number of convention prisoners of war, 1050, all Germans, excepting 63 Britons, arrived under guard of the York County militia. Two classes of companies of the regular militia were called out to guard the en- campment.
On Christmas day, 1781, the prisoners and their guard were suddenly alarmed by certain soldiers in the disguise of Indians, which caused them to fly from the encampment. A court-martial was after- wards held, but no one was punished.
During the winter of 1776-77 there was much sickness amongst the prisoners, and many of them died. The burials were made in "Potter's Field," on the west side of 6th Street, south of Walnut. The deaths were so numerous at times that it be- came necessary to bury two, and even three, in one grave.
Duel at Reading .- A regiment was quartered at Reading during 1780-81. Most of its officers were worthy men. Captain Bowen, an officer in the regiment, had a warm temper which occasioned some disturbances at Reading about that time. On one occasion he took offense when none was in-
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tended, and on that account fought a duel with the major of the regiment. The duellists each fired a shot, and Bowen had a button shot from his coat. Their seconds then settled the matter. An investi- gation of the cause of the difficulty was then made. "It appeared the inajor was walking with some girls on the night before, and they burst out laughing just after Bowen had passed them. Their laughter was caused by the major telling them of his and Bowen's being at a dance on the evening before, when the blind fiddler broke one of the strings of his fiddle, and the landlady took a candle and held it for him while he was fitting a new string." This story even set the seconds to laughing, and they all returned in good humor. Upon another occasion, soon afterward, whilst Bowen and Charles Biddle were playing backgammon, Captain Bower-an offi- cer in the same regiment -- came into the room and, addressing himself to Bowen, said : "I hope you are very well, Major." Bowen immediately started up and replied to him : "Don't major me, sir ! None of your majors ! You know I'm not a major, sir ! What do you mean, sir?" Bower declared that he had not intended to give any offense. Bowen then took Biddle into an adjoining room and inquired if he should not challenge Bower. Biddle replied to him that "a man who would not fight on some occasions was not fit to live, nor was a man fit to live who was always quar- reling." They returned, and Biddle induced the captains to shake hands, and so avoided a second duel.
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MILITARY PERIODS.
Conway-Cabal .- The "Conway-Cabal" was a secret movement by which it was designed to re- move General Washington and put General Gates in his place. It has often been stated as a tradi- tion that this "cabal " was conceived at Reading, but this is not correct, for Conway was never at Reading.
Continental Money .- During the beginning of the war, Congress issued "Bills of Credit," amount- - ing altogether to $20,000,000. In 1777 they began to decline in value, and finally became worthless. This extraordinary depreciation brought great loss to many of the people who had aided the govern- ment in the struggle for freedom. The soldiers suffered most. The people of Reading, and es- pecially of the county, met with considerable losses. Some of them had large quantities which were trans- mitted for many years till lost or destroyed. They were not redeemed.
Peace .- The surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, was virtually the end of the war. The treaty of peace was con- cluded at Paris on September 3, 1783 ; whereby the United States were acknowledged to be "free, sovereign, and independent."
Return of Soldiers .- In order to avoid the incon- veniences of dismissing a great number of soldiers in a body, furloughs were freely granted. In this way a great part of the unpaid army was disbanded and dispersed over the States without tumult or dis- order. The soldiers returned to labor. As they had been easily and speedily formed out of farmers,
136 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
mechanics, and laborers, in 1775; so with equal facility did they throw off their military character and resume their former occupations. They had taken up arms earnestly for the purpose of self-de- fense and political freedom, but when these were no longer necessary, they laid them down peaceably to become again good, industrious citizens as they had been for eight years devoted and patriotic soldiers.
WHISKEY INSURRECTION OF 1794.
Cause .- As early as 1756 the province of Penn- sylvania looked to excise on ardent spirits for the means of sustaining its bills of credit. The origi- nal law was limited to a period of ten years ; but it was extended from time to time as necessities pressed upon the treasury. During the Revolution, the law was generally evaded in the western part of the State by considering all spirits as for domestic use, such having been excepted from excise. But when the debts of the Revolution began to press upon the States, the government officials became more vigilant in the enforcement of the law. Con- gress, in 1791, increased the duty on imported spirits and levied a tax on distillation. The Legis- lature of Pennsylvania had instructed their repre- sentatives in Congress to vote against the law. Opposition arose at once in the western counties, and resolutions were adopted at public meetings demanding an unconditional repeal. Liberty-poles were erected ; and people even assembled in arms to resist officers in the enforcement of the law.
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Various public excitements continued until 1794, when an insurrection ensued.
Call to Arms .- Governor Mifflin declined to call out the militia to suppress the insurrection, and, as a consequence, the spirit extended into contiguous
States. President Washington, who feared that successful resistance to one law might be the be- ginning of rebellion against all laws, called on Penn- sylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia for 15,000 men, and sent commissioners to the scene of the disturbance, with power to arrange for peaceful submission any time before September 14, 1794. But the commissioners returned to Philadelphia ten days after that date, having failed to obtain a satis- factory settlement. Troops were promptly put in motion, the Governors of the several States named commanding their respective quotas. On the ap- pearance of the troops in November, the insurrec- tion subsided. There was no opposition and no bloodshed. Among the Pennsylvania troops there was a company from Reading, called the "Reading Union Volunteers." It was afterwards known as the "Reading Artillerists."
County Quota .- The quota of troops from Berks County was 434 officers and privates, and 26 caval- ry; and the militia responded promptly. In Sep- tember, 1794, 400 equipped men of the county had been collected in an encampment near Reading.
Washington visits Reading .- President Wash- ington stopped at Reading on October 1, 1794, on his way to Carlisle. His presence caused much social excitement. During his sojourn he stopped
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SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
at the "Federal Inn " (now Farmers' Bank Build- ing), where many people called to pay their respects. A military parade was held under the command of
UFULL WIDTH. IN
FEDERAL INN.
Colonel Nicholas Lotz, to signalize the occasion, and the distinguished visitor reviewed the troops from the second-story window over the doorway.
HOUSE-TAX AND LIBERTY-POLES OF 1799.
Insurrection .- During the early part of Adams' administration, Congress passed an act requiring a direct tax to be levied upon houses. This tax was called the "house-tax ; " also "window-tax." The National government, in collecting it in the eastern counties of Pennsylvania, caused much opposition, which eventually broke out in an insurrection in
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1799. The leader was John Fries, of Bucks County, who was tried, convicted of high treason, and sen- tenced to be hanged, but pardoned by President Adams. A general amnesty was issued for all offenders. Considerable excitement prevailed for a time in the northeastern section of Berks County, particularly along the border adjoining Northamp- ton County (afterward Lehigh County).
Local Excitement .- This insurrection was in- directly the cause of a considerable commotion at Reading. Certain troops were called out to sup- press the insurrection ; and among them was a company of Light Dragoons from Lancaster. Their way to the scene of excitement was through Read- ing, and upon arriving here they cut down certain "Liberty-Poles," insulted the people, etc. These unwarranted performances induced an anonymous correspondent of the Adler to publish a letter, criti- cising their conduct. This appeared whilst the men were on their way to Northampton County, but upon their return they heard of it.
Proprietor of Adler Flogged .- This public criti- cism naturally developed in them a spirit of revenge. They, therefore, went to Jacob Schneider, the senior proprietor of the Adler, and demanded from him the name of the person who had written the let- ter condemning and ridiculing them, but he refused to tell. His refusal led the soldiers to spend their anger on him by taking him forcibly to the market- house and giving him a certain number of lashes. Mr. Schneider made complaint before a justice of the peace and caused the criminals to be arrested,
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SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
but Captain Montgomery, who commanded the company, denied the authority to make the arrest. The matter was then referred to General Macpher- son, who said he would look into it.
A number of the insurrectionists were tried before Judge Peters ; but though some of them were found guilty, and fined, imprisoned or condemned to be capitally punished, none atoned with their lives- they having been pardoned through executive clem- ency.
EMBARGO OF 1807.
Congress passed an act in 1807, laying an embargo on all the ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States, in pursuance of the recom- mendation of President Jefferson. It prohibited the departure of all American vessels and of all foreign vessels, except those in ballast. No merchandise whatever was to be exported. The act was not simply to save American ships from danger, as Jefferson suggested in his message ; but it was also a measure of aggression against England. It was unpopular in proportion as men were or were not engaged in com- merce. The maritime States thought that the ag- ricultural States took a special satisfaction in a quasi war, of which all the burden fell at first upon com- merce. But the burden at lengthi became universal. The men whose tobacco, corn, and cotton could not be sent to market, soon learned that they also, as well as the carriers of these products, were pay- ing a heavy tax by this interdiction of commerce. Under the pressure of public opinion, this act was
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repealed in 1809, and another was then substituted which interdicted commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France, and forbade imports from Europe.
During this interdiction, the people of Berks County began to feel the evil effects of the policy of non-intercourse. A number of millers and other citizens met in Reading, on April 1I, 1812, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the late measures of Congress, the perilous situation of our common country, and of consulting and devising such means or measures as may tend to relieve us from the distress which impends over us;" and passed appropriate resolutions.
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