USA > Pennsylvania > The Pennsylvania-German in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 > Part 11
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In other words, Wayne, perceiving that he was con- fronted by the entire force of the enemy, whose lines over- lapped and endangered his flanks, decided instantly that the proper move to make was a vigorous charge. A sudden retreat might have ended in a panic. To await the shock of the approaching army might be ruinous. "With the instinct of a leader and the courage of a lion," says Professor Johnston, "he determined to become the assailant-to advance and charge."
Within seventy yards of the enemy, and for fifteen
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minutes, a sharp action took place. All the horses of the American artillery were either killed or disabled. In danger of being outflanked all the time, the Pennsylvania Line was steady, and retreated through the woods and across the swamp to Green Spring, where it reformed. It is worthy of note, in this connection, to say that Wayne was materially aided, in his efforts to extricate himself, by the timely arrival and assistance of Gen. Muhlenberg, who, without orders, advanced his brigade to the support of his brother officer.
After the engagement at Green Spring Cornwallis re- tired to Portsmouth, on the south side of the James, and began to fortify himself there. Shortly after, in accord- ance with instructions received from Sir Henry Clinton, but contrary to his own judgment, he took position at Yorktown, which he fortified.
On September 26, Washington's army, with the French auxiliaries, under Rochambeau, reached Williamsburg, where the officers of each army vied in their efforts to entertain, worthily, those of the other.
On October 19, 1781, came the surrender of Corn- wallis, and, with it, the beginning of the end.
There was nothing especially noteworthy in the part taken by the Pennsylvania Line, under Wayne, at York- town. His brigade formed a portion of the division under Von Steuben. The third battalion of Pennsyl- vanians, under Col. Craig, arrived too late to take part in the siege, as did also Gen. St. Clair. The storming and capture of the two redoubts, the only operation attended with serious danger, was not assigned to the Pennsyl- vanians, although two of their battalions supported the attack.
Even though the Pennsylvania Line were not so for-
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tunate as to be selected to lead the storming party on that occasion, the honor was accorded to Gen. Muhlenberg, a son of Pennsylvania, and a Pennsylvania-German, who had immediate command of it, and whose brigade com- posed it.
With the surrender of Cornwallis the main service of the Pennsylvania regular troops came to a practical end, save for Wayne's expedition down south, which hardly needs any extended description.
These services have been presented in the form of a continuous narrative, as in no other way is it possible for the student of history to get any adequate idea of the operations of the Pennsylvanians. Having before us the record, as a whole, it remains to consider the connection of each regiment, as a unit, with it, and, especially, to decide as to the part our Pennsylvania-German ancestors had in these trying but glorious deeds.
This latter is a matter of exceeding difficulty, so much so as to make it almost an impossibility. With the re- organization of the army, from July 1, 1776, to Jan- uary 1, 1777, when the State Battalions went out of ser- vice and the Continental regiments came in, or, rather, when the former were largely merged into the latter, much of the identity of the several county organizations be- came lost. Men, formerly in the same company, reen- listed into different organizations, officers became scat- tered, and still more scattered, as the war progressed. The Pennsylvania-German, instead of being, frequently, a separate and distinct factor, to be found in certain bat- talions, was now spread throughout the whole, and, as a consequence, not easily defined as to his nationality.
Added to this, we are confronted with very incomplete and exceedingly meager company and regimental records,
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as regards most of the Pennsylvania Continentals. The writer, after no little research, no slight advantages, and no ignorance, at least, of the subject, has been unable to find, anywhere, such data as would enable him to furnish the full account of the Pennsylvania-Germans, who formed the component parts of the several Pennsylvania Conti- nental regiments, which he would like to here give. He does not believe it will ever be furnished, or that the data are in existence which will enable any one to furnish it at any future time.
The only manner in which the subject can be at all treated is to take each regiment separately, to consider which battalion of the preceding State troops was its nucleus at the time of reorganization, to scan its available rolls, and, from these, to adduce the probable membership of Pennsylvania-Germans in its ranks. This plan will be followed. With the aid of a few comments the reader will then be in a position to study, by consulting the nar- rative just ended, the part taken by each command in the general operations. As time passes by items and records may be brought to light, here and there, which, joined to this necessarily incomplete account, will tend to add to the grandeur of the structure even though it should never become complete.
CHAPTER VIII.
FIRST PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.
HIS regiment was made up from the reenlistment of Col. William Thompson's gal- lant "First Defenders," the Pennsylvania Battalion of Rifle- men, who, upon the expiration of their term of service, June 30, 1776, reënlisted into the Conti- nental service as the First Penn- mappen von Braunfchweig. sylvania Regiment. The follow- ing companies contained many Pennsylvania-Germans: Captain James Ross; Captain Charles Craig; Captain David Ilarris; with no small number scattered throughout the others.
On July 1, 1776, it began its new term of service in camp on Long Island.
For its part in the battle. of Long Island, on August . 27, 1776, we quote the following letter of Lt. Col. James Chambers to his wife:
"On the morning of the 22d August, there were nine
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thousand British troops on New Utrecht plains. The guard alarmed our small camp, and we assembled at the flag-staff. We marched our forces, about two hundred in number, to New Utrecht, to watch the movements of the enemy. When we came on the hill, we discovered a party of them advancing towards us. We prepared to give them a warm reception, when an imprudent fellow fired, and they immediately halted and turned toward Flatbush. The main body also moved long the great road toward the same place. We proceeded along the side of them in the edge of the woods as far as the turn of the lane, where the cherry trees were, if you re- member. We then found it impracticable for so small a force to attack them on the plain, and sent Captain Han- ilton, with twenty men, before them, to burn all the grain, which he did very cleverly, and killed a great many cattle. It was then thought most proper to return to camp and secure our baggage, which we did, and left it in Fort Brown. Near twelve o'clock, the same day, we returned down the great road to Flatbush, with only our small regiment and one New England regiment sent to support us, though at a mile's distance.
"When in sight of Flatbush, we discovered the enemy, but not the main body. On perceiving us, they retreated down the road, perhaps a mile. A party of our people, commanded by Captain Miller, followed them close with a design to decoy a portion of them to follow him, whilst the rest kept in the edge of the woods alongside of Cap- tain M. But they thought better of the matter, and would not come after him, though he went within two hundred yards. There they stood for a long time, and then Cap- tain Miller turned off to us, and we proceeded along their flank. Some of our men fired upon and killed several
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Hessians, as we ascertained two days afterwards. Strong guards were maintained all day on the flanks of the enemy, and our regiment and the Hessian Jägers kept up a severe firing, with a loss of but two wounded on our side. We laid a few Hessians low, and made them retreat out of Flatbush. Our people went into the town, and brought the goods out of the burning houses.
"The enemy liked to have lost their field-pieces. Capt. Steel, of your vicinity, acted bravely. We would certainly have had the cannon had it not been for some foolish person calling retreat. The main body of the foe re- turned to the town, and when our lads came back, they told of their exploits. This was doubted by some, which enraged our men so much that a few of them ran and brought away several Hessians on their backs. This kind of firing by our riflemen and theirs continued until two o'clock on the morning of the 26th, when our regiment was relieved by a portion of the flying camp, and we started for Fort Green to get refreshment, not having lain down the whole of the time, and ahnost dead with fatigue. We had just got to the fort, and I had only laid down, when the alarm guns were fired. We were com- pelled to turn out to the lines, and, as soon as it was light, saw our men and theirs engaged with field-pieces.
" At last the enemy found means to surround our men there upon guard, and then a heavy firing continued for several hours. The main body, that surrounded our men, marched up within thirty yards of Forts Brown and Greene, but, when we fired, they retreated with loss. From all, I can learn, wc numbered about twenty-five hundred, and the attacking party was not less than twenty- five thousand, as they had been landing for days before. Our men behaved as bravely as ever men did, but it is
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surprising that with this superiority of numbers, they were not cut to pieces. They behaved gallantly, and there are but five or six hundred missing.
"General Lord Stirling fought like a wolf, and is taken prisoner. Colonels Miles and Atlee, Major Burd, Captain Peebles, Lieutenant Watt, and a great number of other officers, also prisoners. Colonel Piper missing. From deserters we learn that the enemy lost Major Gen- eral Grant and two brigadiers and many others, and five hundred killed. Our loss is chiefly in prisoners.
"It was thought advisable to retreat off Long Island, and, on the night of the 30th, it was done with great secrecy. Very few of the officers knew it until they were on the boats, supposing that an attack was intended. A discovery of our intention to the enemy would have been fatal ro us. The Pennsylvania troops were done great honor by being chosen the corps de reserve to cover the retreat. The regiments of Colonels Hand, Magaw, Shee and Hazlett were detached for that purpose. We kept up fires, with outposts stationed, until all the rest were over. We left the lines after it was fair day, and then came off.
"Never was a greater feat of generalship shown than in this retreat-to bring off an army of twelve thousand men, within sight of a strong enemy, possessed of as strong a fleet as ever floated on our seas, without any loss, and saving all the baggage. General Washington saw the last over himself."
With the organization of the Continental troops, in the spring of 1777, the First Pennsylvania was placed in the First Brigade of General Wayne's Division.
At the battle of Brandywine this regiment rendered distinguished service. Col. Chambers makes the follow- ing mention of it:
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"As there were no troops to cover the artillery in the redoubt, the enemy was within thirty yards before being discovered; our men were forced to fly, and to leave three pieces behind. Our brigade was drawn into line, with the park of artillery two hundred yards, in the rear of the redoubt. The enemy advanced on the hill, where our park was, and came within fifty yards of the hill above me. I then ordered my men to fire. Two or three rounds made the lads clear the ground.
"The General sent orders for our artillery to retreat --- it was on my right-and ordered me to cover it with part of my regiment. It was done, but to my surprise the artillery men had run and left the howitzer behind. The two field pieces went up the road, protected by about sixty of my men, who had very warm work, but brought them safe. I then ordered another party to fly to the howitzer and bring it off. Captain Buchanan, Lieutenant Simpson, and Lieutenant Douglass went immediately to the gun, and the men followed their example, and I covered them with the few I had remaining. But, before this could be done, the main body of the foe came within thirty yards, and kept up the most terrible fire I suppose (was) ever heard in America, though with very little loss on our side. I brought all the brigade artillery safely off, and I hope to see them again firing at the scoundrels. Yet we retreated to the next height in good order, in the midst of a very heavy fire of cannon and small arms. Not thirty yards distant, we formed to receive them, but they did not choose to follow."
This gallant soldier was wounded in this action, in the side, by a Hessian bullet, which he carried to his grave.
At the battle of Monmouth, he states:
THE PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN SOCIETY.
MOLLY PITCHER AT THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH.
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"Our Division was in front of our artillery, in a small hollow; while the enemy's artillery was placed on an eminence in front of our brigade.
"Of course we were in a right line of fire, both parties playing their cannon over our heads, and yet only two killed of our men, and wounded four of my regiment with splinters of rails. . . . They fled in all quarters, and, at sunset, we had driven them near to Monmouth town.
"I rode over the whole ground, and saw two hundred of their dead. It is surprising that we lost not more than thinty "
In a letter to his wife, dated " Camp at New Bridge, Hackensack, September 5, 1780," he says, of the attack on the Bergen Block House:
"The Ist regiment was ordered to attack a Block House, built on the bank of the North River, on the point that runs down to Bergen, Six or Seven miles from that town. My regiment was ordered to advance, and com- mence the attack and to cover the Artillery, which was done with unparalleled bravery. Advancing to the abattis, which was within twenty yards of the house, several crept through and then continued under an excessive fire; until ordered away. They retreated with reluctance. The foe kept close under shelter, firing from loop-holes. Our men and artillery kept up a galling fire on the house, but at last were obliged to fall back, as our field pieces were too light to penetrate. There were twelve killed of the Ist Regiment, and four of them in the abattis; in all, forty men were killed, wounded and missing, -- three of those in Ben" platoon. You may depend your son is a good soldier. All the officers say he behaved exceedingly well.
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I had not the pleasure of seeing it, as I lay very sick at the time."
SECOND PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.
This regiment was organized from the First Pennsyl- vania Battalion as a nucleus, whose rolls were very in- complete, but contained one company (Capt. Jonathan Jones) from Berks county, in which were a number of Pennsylvania-Germans. A scrutiny of the rolls of the Second Pennsylvania Continentals indicates that about eighteen per cent. of its members were of the same blood, Lieut. Col. Henry Miller's company being largely made up of such.
The Second Pennsylvania was organized October, 1776, and was connected with Wayne's division, First brigade, during its entire service.
The regiment did valiant duty at both Brandywine and Germantown, suffering heavily, six lieutenants, besides its commander, being either killed or wounded. In the latter engagement it was commanded by Major Williams until he fell, wounded, and was taken prisoner. Captain How- ell then assumed command.
By the arrangement, which took place July 1, 1778, the Thirteenth Pennsylvania was incorporated with the Second Pennsylvania, and Col. Walter Stewart became its Colonel. This was due to the fact that the enlist- ments of the men in Miles' Rifle Regiment and Atlee's Musketry Battalion, who were consolidated into the Thirteenth Regiment, had then expired, thus causing the disbandment of the latter organization.
THIRD PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.
Recruited in December, 1776, January and February, 1777, it was arranged in the Continental service March
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12, 1777, having been formed on the basis of the Second Pennsylvania Battalion. This Battalion had contained the company of Capt. Thomas Craig, from Northampton county, which was almost entirely Pennsylvania-German, and that of Capt. Rudolph Bunner, which contained some.
Such lists of the members of the Third Pennsylvania Continentals, as are in existence, indicate that about ten per cent. of them were Pennsylvania-Germans.
During 1777 the regiment was in Conway's brigade, of Lord Stirling's division, and under command of Col. Thomas Craig. They were with La Fayette at Brandy- wine, who, in his Memoirs, speaks of the brilliant manner in which "General Conway, Chevalier of St. Louis, ac- quitted himself at the head of his brigade of eight hundred men in the encounter with the troops of Cornwallis near Birmingham Meeting House."
On October 24, 1778, the regiment was in the Second brigade of Wayne's division. On October 15, 1779, it was in Irvine's Second brigade of St Clair's division.
At Monmouth, when I ce had retreated and the success of the battle was at stake, the Third was one of the regi- ments selected by Wayne, at the command of Washing- ton, to stem the onset of the enemy. It was here that Lieut. Col. Bunner was killed, after having greatly dis- tinguished himself on the field.
A letter, dated April 17, 1780, has the following ac- count of the death of Major Thomas Langhorne Byles :
" Yesterday morning, a detachment of 200 Continental troops, under the command of Major Byles, stationed at Paramus, was suddenly attacked by a party of the enemy, consisting of 200 horse and 400 foot. The attack com- menced a little after sunrise. Major Byles, besides his usual patrols, had that morning sent out two parties, each
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with a commissioned officer, but such is the situation of that part of the country, intersected with roads and in- habited chiefly by disaffected people, that all precautions failed. The sentinels, near the quarters, were the first that gave notice of the enemy's approach. He immedi- ately made the best disposition the hurry of the moment would permit, and animated his men by his exhortation and example. The house he was in was surrounded. Sonie of the men began to cry for quarters; others, obey- ing the commands of the officers, continued to fire from the windows. The enemy upbraided thein with the per- fidy of asking for quarters, and persisting in resistance. Major Byles denied, in a determined tone, that he had called for quarter but his resolution did not avail. A surrender took place, and, in the act, the Major received a mortal wound, with which he expired. . . . The enemy made their boasts that as Major Byles did not present the hilt of his sword in front when surrendering, they shot him."
In July, 1778, the Twelfth Pennsylvania, which had been reduced to a skeleton by exposures as a picket regi- mient, being largely composed of riflemen, was incorpo- rated with the Third, and, on January 17, 1781, the Third was then reorganized, under Col. Craig, and, after re- cruiting at Easton, accompanied Gen. Wayne upon the southern campaign, or, at least, the largest portion of it, being detached for that purpose.
FOURTH PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.
Col. Shee's Third Pennsylvania Battalion, under Col. Cadwalader, by reenlisting, formed the Fourth Pennsyl- vania Continental Regiment, but, as nearly the whole of the Third Battalion was captured at Fort Washington,
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November 16, 1776, it became, largely,- a new regiment, recruited in January and February, 1777.
One company, that of Capt. Edward Scull, of Berks county, contained a large percentage of Pennsylvania- Germans. From the incomplete returns available I have estimated that the Pennsylvania-Germans formed some ten per cent. of the whole command.
During the whole of its active service the Fourth was under the command of Lieut. Col. William Butler, Col. Cadwalader being a prisoner on parole.
It was in the Second brigade of Wayne's division in 1777. During the short campaign of that summer it lost half of its effective force, its Major, Lamar, having been killed, and six of its lieutenants wounded, at Paoli. The last words of Major Lamar, on receiving his death wound, were, "Halt, boys! Give these assassins one fire!"
Shortly after the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, Col. Butler was ordered to Schoharie, New York, with his regiment, and a detachment from Morgan's Rifles, to defend the frontiers of New York and Pennsylvania, and to chastise the Indians, which was done very effectu- ally by various punitive expeditions, during which much of their material and stock was either captured or de- stroyed.
On May 26, 1781, the regiment marched south with Wayne.
FIFTH PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.
By the reenlistinent, to a large extent, of the Fourth Pennsylvania Battalion, Col. Wayne, under its old officers, the Fifth Pennsylvania Continental Regiment was formed, the beginning of 1777.
The best calculation which can be made would indi- cate a Pennsylvania-German percentage, in the whole, of about fifteen.
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The regiment was under Wayne's command, that is in his brigade or division, during most of its service. After the promotion of Wayne, the regimental command de- volved upon Col. Francis Johnston, until January 17, 178 1, when he was retired and succeeded by Col. Richard Butler, under whose charge it was during the southern campaign which followed.
At the battle of Brandywine Col. Johnston was taken prisoner, and its lieutenant-colonel, Frazer, with the adju- tant, Harper, were captured the next day. One captain was made prisoner at Germantown, and the major, with two lieutenants, were wounded.
SIXTH PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.
This regiment was organized, January, 1777, on the basis of Col. Magaw's Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion, which, with all its records, was captured in the disaster at Fort Washington, November 16, 1776, so that data concerning it are scarce. As Col. Magaw remained a prisoner, Lieut. Col. Henry Bicker took command, until succeeded by Lieut. Col. Josiah Harmar, under whose charge it was during most of its military career.
With the Third, Ninth and Twelfth regiments it was in Conway's brigade of Lord Stirling's division, during 1777; on October 24, 1778, it was attached to the Second brigade of Wayne's division; on October 15, 1779, it was in Irvine's Second brigade of St. Clair's division; in 178 1 it went south with Wayne.
The old Fifth Battalion contained a large number of Pennsylvania-Germans, and such was the case with the new Sixth Pennsylvania Continentals. The roll of the company of Capt. Jacob Moser, from Berks county, which is given, shows the entire company to have been Pennsyl-
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vania-German, while some twenty per cent. of the regi- ment, as a whole, were of like blood.
SEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.
The Seventh regiment was organized January, 1777, by the reenlistment of Col. Irvine's Sixth State Battalion. Col. Irvine, then a prisoner, was exchanged April, 1778, and, the following year, made brigadier-general. Major David Grier had charge of the regiment until this time, when Lieut. Col. Morgan Conner was assigned to the command.
The regiment did not return to Carlisle, from Ticon- deroga, until March, 1777-
The Sixth State Battalion contained a comparatively small number of Pennsylvania-Germans. In the new Seventh Continentals about six per cent. were Pennsyl- vania-Germans, scattered throughout the various com- panies.
During its entire service it was under the direct com- mand of Gen. Wayne, and shared, with him, all the vicis- situdes of his brigade and division.
The experience of the Seventh Pennsylvania at Paoli is given in the following letter from Maj. Hay to Col. Irvine, dated "Camp at Trappe, September 29, 1777":
" Dear Colonel: Since I had the pleasure of seeing you, the Division under the command of General Wayne has been surprised by the enemy, with considerable loss. We were ordered by his Excellency to march from the Yellow Springs down to where the Enemy lay, near the Admiral Warren, there to annoy their rear. We marched early on the 17th instant, and got below the Paoli that night. On the next day fixed on a place for our camp. We lay the 18th and 19th undisturbed, but, on the 20th,
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