USA > Pennsylvania > The Pennsylvania-German in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 > Part 14
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A. Dickey, D. M. M.
Roster of the German Regiment. 229
A RETURN OF THE NAMES OF THE OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND PRIVATES, OF THE FIVE COMPANIES BELONGING TO THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE GERMAN REGIMENT COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL. I.UDWIC WELTNER, AND THE STATES, COUNTIES AND TOWNS IN WIIICH THEY WERE COMMISSIONED AND ENLISTED, WITH THE DATES OF THEIR APPOINTMENTS, ENLISTMENTS AND THE TERMS ENLISTED FOR.
ENLISTED.
Daniel Burchardt,
April 9, 1777,
During War.
Jacob Brunner,
Captain,
Major, Phila., do. July 8, 1776,
do. do.
Peter Boyer,
Captain, do. May 9, 1777,
William Rice,
Captain, Kensing- ton,
Jan. 4, 1778, do.
Bernard Hubley,
Captain, Lanc.,
Feb. 24. 1778, do.
Philip Shrawder,
Ist Lieut., Phila.,
May 13, 1777,
do.
John Weidman,
Ist Lieut., Lanc. Co., May 14, 1777, do.
Jacob Cramer,
Ist Lieut., Phila.,
Jan. 8, 1778, do.
Godfried Schwartz, Ist Lieut., do.
Feb. 24, 1778, do.
Marcus Young,
Ist Lieut., Lanc.,
March 12, 1778, do.
John Weidman,
Ensign,
Phila.,
Aug. 16, 3777,
do.
David Diffenderfer, Ensigo,
Lanc.,
July 23, 1778,
do.
Christian Glickner,
Ensign,
Phila.,
July 23, 1778, do.
Peter Peres,
Surgeon,
Penn.,
Oct. x, 1778,
do.
Fred'k Teats,
Private,
Phila. Co., July 20, 1776, do.
William Heims,
do.
Phila.,
July 16, 1776,
do.
Philip Shearer,
do.
do.
July 21, 1776,
do.
Fred'c Hersh,
do.
do. July 20, 1776,
do.
Lewis Gerlinger,
do.
do. July 20, 1.776,
do.
Heury Shnider,
Private,
Reading,
July 25, 1776,
During War.
Thoinas Bontzy,
do.
Phila.,
Oct. 16, 1776,
do.
Martin Heidler,
do.
do.
.Ang. 20 1776,
do.
Conrad Rauch,
do.
do.
July 17, 1776,
do.
Jacob Shepherd,
do.
do.
Aug. 10: 1776, do.
John Marsh,
do.
Lanc.,
Aug. 15, 1776,
do.
Henry Ammerich,
do.
Phila.,
July 17, 1776,
do.
Theodore Ilartman,
do.
do.
July 15, 1776,
do.
Frederick Rankey,
do.
do.
July 23, 1776,
3 years.
Jacob Myers,
do.
do.
July 16, 1776,
During War.
George Ottinberger,
do.
do.
July 28, 1776,
do.
John Keyser,
do.
do.
July 27, 1776,
do.
William Lehman,
do.
do.
July 29, 1776,
do.
Nicholas Stover,
do.
do.
July 20, 1776,
do.
Frederic Rively,
do.
do.
July 21, 1776,
do.
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ENLISTED.
Henry Shuber,
Private,
Phila.,
July 21, 1776,
During War.
Fred'c Kerls,
do.
do.
July 21, 1776,
do. do.
Mich'l Ferrick,
do.
do.
July 28, 1776,
Charles Christman,
do.
do.
July 28, 1776,
do.
Christian Leidy,
do.
do.
July 20, 1776,
do.
Martin Shudy,
do.
do.
Sept. 4, 1776, do.
George Kersteter,
do.
do.
July 29, 1776,
do.
Peter Coppus,
do.
do.
Dec. 10, 1776,
do.
Charles Gerhard,
do.
do.
Jan. 20, 1777, do.
John Weidman,
do.
Berks Co., Aug. 10, 1776,
do.
Henry Lear, do.
Phila.,
July 20, 1776,
do.
Christian Riffet,
do.
do.
July 25, 1776,
do.
Frederic Delinger,
do.
clo.
Aug. 21, 1776,
do.
Jacob Bottomer,
do.
Berks Co., Aug. 9, 1776,
do.
Philip Lash,
do.
Phila.,
July 14, 1776, do.
Rudolph Brookhaus,
do.
do.
Aug. 9, 1776,
do.
Jacob Grumley,
do.
do.
Aug. 20, 1776,
do.
Fred'e Wheeler,
do.
do.
Aug. 10, 1776,
do.
John Fesmire,
do.
do.
Sept. 4, 1776,
do.
David Drexler,
do.
do.
Oct 10, 1776,
do.
Christian Fleish,
do.
do.
Aug. 15, 1776,
do.
Philip Cook,
do.
do. do.
Ang. 10, 1776,
do.
David Bloom,
do.
Berks Co., Aug. 8, 1776,
Jacob Harper,
do.
Phila.,
Aug. 2, 1776,
Henry Deperwing,
do.
do. Aug. 3, 1776,
3 years.
Daniel Copple,
do.
do. July 28, 1776,
do. do.
John Sunliter,
do.
do. July 20, 1776,
Philip Gillman,
do.
Lanc. Co., Aug. 17, 1776,
Jolin Smith,
do.
Phila.,
Dec. 2, 1776,
Iberhard Myer,
do.
do.
Feb. 25, 1779,
do.
Jacob McLane,
do.
‹lo.
Feb. 25, 1779,
do.
Mich'l Broadback,
do.
do.
Feb. 25, 1779,
do.
Joseph Mast,
do.
Lanc. Co., July 24, 1776,
Henry Cybert,
do.
do.
July 27, 1776,
John Portner,
do.
do. Feb. 25, 1779,
Henry Yaple,
do.
Northamp- Feb. 25, 1779, ton Co.,
Philip Yackel,
do.
Phila.,
Feb. 25, 1779,
do.
Christian Haag,
do.
Phila.,
Aug. 28, 1776,
do.
Jacob Wheasler,
do.
Reading,
Oct. 23, 1776,
do.
John Kipart,
do.
Phila.,
Oct. 23, 1776,
do.
Sept. 30, 1776,
do.
William Kerls,
do.
3 years. During War.
3 years. During War.
3 years. do. During War. do.
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Roster of the German Regiment.
ENLISTED.
Jacob Sherrick,
Private, do.
Lanc., Phila.,
Oct. 23, 1776,
Henry Dominick,
do.
do.
Oct. 23, 1776,
do. do. do.
Matthew Leaf, do.
do.
July 11, 1776,
George Lynn,
do.
do.
Oct. 23, 1776,
do.
John Leonard,
do.
do.
Oct. 23, 1776, do.
Christian Winger,
do.
German- town,
Oct. 23, 1776,
do.
John Crane,
do.
Oct. 23, 1776,
do.
Matthias Flock,
do.
German-
Oct. 23, 1776,
do.
toIVII,
Thomas Terner,
do.
Kensing-
Oct. 23, 1776,
do.
Adam Nebel,
do.
German-
Oct. 23, 1776,
do.
George Hansel,
do.
Phila.,
Sept. 29, 1776,
do.
Christian Baker,
do.
do.
Oct. 12, 1776,
do.
Casper Isaloo,
do.
do.
Aug. 8, 1776,
3 years.
John Rybaker,
do.
do.
Aug. 7, 1776,
During War.
Philip Stroad,
do.
do.
Oct. 21, 1776,
do.
Robt. Donahoo,
do.
do.
Oct. 21, 1776,
do.
John Snider,
do.
do.
Oct. 23, 1776,
do.
Peter Portner,
do.
do.
May LI, 1779,
do.
Daniel Burchardt, Major.
Oct. 23, 1776,
During War.
John Coon,
town,
fon,
CHAPTER XI.
THE PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN EMERGENCY MEN.
OT only did the Penn- sylvania-German loy- ally serve his country in its regular Continental regi- ments, and take part in their years of weary marches, ter- rible hardships, and glorious, even though at times unfortu- nate, battles, but, on all other occasions, when the emer- Mappen von Geffen . Zaffan. gency arose, and the call came to those whom age, family ties and cares, even health, forbade their attempting a lengthy enlistment, he likewise performed his full duty.
Here, again, the historian is prevented from doing justice to these people, and recounting all their deeds, not alone because of the absence of all but the most meager data on the subject, but because, in addition, as was the case with the Continentals, the Pennsylvania-Germans, as individuals, were scattered, more or less numerously,
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throughout all the different counties and their various militia battalions.
PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF PRINCETON, FOUGHT JANUARY 3, 1777.
Road to Trenton
F Ē
32
1
1.
D
13
10
A
12
main Column
Oui
Quaker
9
17
Stony
B
174 Reg.
Houd
Brook
the
Path of
REFERENCES .- A, Bridge on the old Trenton road; B, Friends meeting- house; C, T. Clark's house, in which Gen. Mercer died; D, The place where Gen. Mercer was mortally wounded; E, Head of column when first seen by the British; F, Head of column after Mercer's engagement; 1, 2, The British 17th Regiment; 3, 4, Mercer's detachment, commencing the action; 9, 10, The 17th Regiment, formed to dislodge Moulder; 11, 12, The Pennsylvania Militia under Washington; 13, Hitchcock's regiment; 5, 6, Pursuit of the Americans; 7, 8, Retreat of the British.
The one, and only, feasible way of treating the subject, with some degree of fairness, is to take the Pennsylvania- German counties, well known as such, and portray the part taken by each one of them, as a whole, in the emergency operations of the war.
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These counties were Northampton (practically entire), Berks (practically entire), Lancaster (practically entire) , Philadelphia (especially that part now called Mont- gomery), Cumberland (in part), York (in part), North- umberland (in part), Bedford (in smaller part) .
Under the head of Northampton county is included the present Lehigh county, with parts of the present Monroe and Schuylkill counties; under that of Lancaster is included the present Lebanon and Dauphin counties; under that of Philadelphia is taken the present Mont- gomery county.
Shortly after the adoption of our immortal Declara- tion of Independence came the British army to strike a deadly blow at the life of this same independence, by means of the capture of New York city, and, with this threatened invasion, came the first emergency call for vol- unteers to aid in its defence.
On June 3, 1776, Congress resolved "that a Flying Camp be immediately established in the middle colonies, and that it consist of ten thousand men . ," to be raised in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, and, on the same day, "Resolved, That thirteen thousand eight hundred militia be employed to reinforce the army at New York."
The several counties at once began, enthusiastically, the formation of their " Associators" into battalions for this "Flying Camp."
The troops of the Flying Camp were placed under com- mand of Gen. Hugh Mercer (killed at Princeton, Jan- uary 3, 1777), and stationed at Perth Amboy and points north of that place, opposite the west side of Staten Island, where the British forces were encamped. Prior to July 15, some two thousand of its men were sent to
COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, PRINCETON.
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Washington, at New York, where many of them did noble duty in the battle on Long Island, August 27. Parts of the Flying Camp took part in the later movements about New York city, especially in the battle and capture of Fort Washington; and, when the dark days came, prior to Trenton (where, by order of Washington, the Penn- sylvania militia supported Gen. Mercer), and Princeton, the cause was saved, and these battles gained, merely be- cause of the presence of other parts of the same emergency volunteers.
The testimony of Washington is as follows: "The readiness with which the militia of Pennsylvania have shown in engaging in the service of their country at an inclement season of the year, when my army was reduced to a handful of men, and our affairs were in the most critical situation, does great honor to them."
The promptness with which the militia of Pennsylvania responded to the demands upon them "enabled General Washington," wrote John Cadwalader, "to strike a blow which has greatly changed the face of our affairs."
Says another, high in command, "their behavior at Trenton in the cannonade, and at Princeton, was brave, firm and manly; they were broken at first in the action at Princeton, but soon formed in the face of grape-shot, and pushed on with a spirit that would do honor to veterans, besides which they have borne a winter's cam- paign with soldier-like patience."
LANCASTER COUNTY.
In Lancaster a meeting was called, on the memorable 4th of July, 1776, for the purpose of choosing two brigadier-generals, consisting of delegates from the fifty- three battalions of Associators. There were present :
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The Pennsylvania-German Emergency Men.
First Battalion,-Col. George Ross, Lieut. Col. Adam Reigart. Privates,-Christ. Wirtz, Francis Baily.
Second Battalion,-Col. Curtis Grubb, Major Philip Marstaller. Privates,-James Sullivan, Lodwick Zie- ring.
Third Battalion,-Lieut. Col. Robert Thompson, Major Thomas Smith. Privates, --- John Smith, Isaac Erwin. Fourth Battalion,-Capt. Joseph Sherer, Capt. James Murray. Privates,-Abraham Darr, William Leard. Fifth Battalion,-Col. James Crawford, Capt. James Mercer. Privates,-Henry Slaymaker, John White- bill.
Sixth Battalion,-Lieut. Col. Alexander Lowry, Major James Cunningham. Privates,-John Bealy, John Jameson.
Seventh Battalion,-Col. M. Slough, Lieut. Col. Leonard Raudfang. Privates, -Christian Bough, Simon Snider. Eighth Battalion,-Col. Peter Grubb, Capt. Henry Wea- ver. Privates,-William Smith, George Ury.
Ninth Battalion,-Lieut. Col. Christian Wegman, Major Michael Till. Privates,-Michael Diffenbaugh, An- thony Debler.
Tenth Battalion,-Col. John Ferree, Lieut. Col. Andrew Littie. Privates,-George Line, Joseph Whitehill.
Eleventh Battalion, -- Col. Timothy Green, Lieut. Col.
Peter Heddricks. Privates,-William Barnet, George Little.
The meeting elected Daniel Roberdeau and James Ewing as the two brigadiers, and resolved:
"That we will march under the Direction & Command of our Brigadier Generals to the assistance of all or any of the free, independent States of America."
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On July 8, the Committee of Safety appointed Dr. Adam Kuhn (son of Dr. Adam Simon Kuhn, of Lan- caster) as physician and director-general of the hospital for the provincial troops under orders for New Jersey.
The record for the Lancaster county troops in the Flying Camp is not sufficiently complete to allow of a detailed account, but, from the minutes of the Committee of Safety, the following interesting items have been gleaned.
Col. Matthias Slough's Second Battalion .- Clothing and arms furnished May 25; same to command of Capt. Jacob Glotz (Klotz). Col. Slough's battalion was amongst the first to join the camp, some of its companies, if not all, reporting about July 8. It was in the battle of Long Island, and, after performing its tour of duty in the vicinity of New York, returned home, and was subse- quently employed in guarding prisoners of war at Lan- caster and Lebanon. The middle of December it was ordered to march immediately to Philadelphia.
Col. George Ross' Battalion .- Rifles furnished July 15. Mention is made of the companies of Capt. Hoofnagle and Capt. Andrew Graff. The date is not given when the battalion marched to New Jersey. Capt. Mercer's company was ordered to march immediately to Philadel- phia the middle of December.
Col. James Crawford's Battalion .- Arms, etc., fur- nished August 5.
Col. Bartram Galbraith's Battalion .- Arms, etc., fur- nished August 13. Mention made of Capt. Robert Mc- Callen's company.
Col. Thomas Porter's Battalion .- Arms furnished Au- gust 29. Mention made of Capts. William Ross, John Boyd, John Eckman and John Patton
-
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Col. John Ferree's Battalion .- Arms furnished in Au- gust. Mention made of Capts. John Rowland, Jacob Carpenter, - Bowman, Alexander Martin, Robert McKee, Andrew Bean, John Withers.
Col. Peter Grubb's Battalion .- Arms delivered August 22. Mention made of Capts. Alexander Martin, Henry Weaver,- Adams, Morgan.
. Col. James Burd, and Col. Timothy Green .- Made up principally of men living in what is now Dauphin county. Reference is made to the companies of Capts. James Murray, James Cowden, Joseph Sherer, William Bell, Richard Manning, Jacob Fridley, John Reed and All- bright Deibler, of Burd's battalion, and Capts. Richard McQuown, William Brown, Thomas Koppenheffer and James Rogers, of Green's battalion.
Mention is also made of a company commanded by Capt. Paul Zantzinger, of Lancaster. Other companies named are those of Capt. Joshua Evans, Eighth battalion, Capt. Wm. Parey, Capt. John Jones, Capt. Matthew Hand, Capt. Matthew Smith.
The Pennsylvania Archives contain the following list of captains "whose companies of militia went to Jersey in August, 1776, and were absent till Jan. and Feb., 1777."
Adams, Isaac.
Musser, George.
Boyd, John.
Peden, Hugh.
Boyd, Samuel.
Reed, John.
Brown, William.
Ross, James.
Campbell, Robert.
Sherer, Joseph.
Cowden, James.
Steele, William.
Crawford Christopher.
Page, Nathaniel.
Doebler, Albright.
Parry, Wilson.
Evans, Joshua.
Rutherford, John.
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Fridley, Jacob.
Graff, Andrew.
Hollinger, Christian.
Hoofnagle, Peter.
Johnston,
Jones, John.
Krng, Jacob.
Whiteside, Thomas.
Koppenheffer, Thomas.
Manning, Richard.
Wilson, Dorrington, com- manded by Lieut. John Eckman. Withers, John.
McCallen, Robert.
McQuown, Richard.
McKee, Robert.
Wright, Joseph.
Morgan, David.
Ycates, Jasper.
Murray, James.
Zantzinger, Paul.
Morrison, James.
Ziegler, Frederick.
Martin, Alexander.
Zimmerman, Bernard.
These companies were distributed in the battalions as follows. The dates are those of the muster rolls.
Col. James Bard's Battalion.
Capt. James Cowden.
Capt. Joseph Sherer -- in active service during the whole of the spring and summer campaign of 1776, a num- ber of the men being wounded in a skirmish with a party of British cavalry near Amboy, N. J.
Capt. James Murray-this company went into service, with others, in November or December, and were pres- ent at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. Capt. William Bell.
Capt. Richard Manning-from Upper Paxtang and Hanover.
Capt. Jacob Fridley-from near Hummelstown; served
Tweed, John, Lieut. Com- mandant.
Watson, James, company commanded by Lieut. John Patton. Weaver, Henry.
The Pennsylvania-German Emergency Men. 241
in the campaign and were present at Trenton and Princeton.
Capt. John Reed-in service until after Trenton and Princeton.
Capt. Albright Deibler-in active service for nearly a year, returning home in January, 1777. A portion of the command was captured at Long Island, and not released until the year 1778. During that and the following year, the company was commanded by Capt. John Hoffman, and, under him, they were on the frontiers, protecting the defenceless inhabitants from the encroachments of the Indians and Tories, who had their headquarters in southern New York, and against whom Gen. Sullivan's army was successfully sent in 1779.
Col Timothy Green's Battalion.
Capt. Thomas Koppenheffer. August 12, 1776.
Capt. Richard McQuown. August 31, 1776.
Capt. William Brown. August 31, 1776.
Capt. James Rogers. June 6, 1776.
Capt. John Reed. July 24, 1776.
Col. Thomas Porter's Battalion.
Capt. James Watson. August 13, 1776, under Lieut. John Patton, in Col. James Cunningham's battalion (Flying Camp), commanded by Lieut. Col. William Hays, in battle of Long Island.
Capt. Thomas Whiteside. August 13, 1776.
Capt. John Boyd. August 13, 1776.
Capt. James Morrison. August 15, 1776.
Capt. William Steel. August 15, 1776, under Ensign Samuel McIntire.
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Capt. Dorrington Willson. August 15, 1776, under Lieut. John Eckman.
Capt. Robert. Campbell.
Capt. - Ross, detachment, under Lieut. Joshua Anderson.
Capt. Johnston, detachment, under Lieut. John Tweed.
Capt. Paxton, detachment, under Lieut. John Ramsey.
Col. John Ferree's Battalion.
Capt. John Withers. August 19, 1776.
Capt. Samuel Boyd. August 14, 1776.
Col. M. Slough's Battalion.
Capt. Jacob Krug. September 9, 1776.
Capt. Jasper Yeates. September 9, 1776.
Capt. Frederick Sigler. September 5, 1776.
Capt. Barnard Zimmerman. September 10, 1776.
Capt. Nathaniel Page. September 11, 1776.
Capt. Joseph Wright. September 11, 1776.
Col. Peter Grubb's Battalion.
Capt. Alexander Martin. August 15, 1776.
Capt. Isaac Adams. August 15, 1776.
Capt. John Jones. August 15, 1776.
Capt. John Huver. Ordered for defense of Philadelphia, June 24, 1776.
Capt. David Morgan. Ordered for defence of Philadel- phia, June 1, 1776; ordered to Jersey, August 16, 1776. Capt. Robert Good. Ordered for defence of Philadel- phia, June 24, 1776.
Capt. Joshua Evans. August 17, 1776.
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Capt. William Parry. August 19, 1776.
Capt. Henry Weaver. August 20, 1776. Capt. Christian Hollinger. August 26, 1776.
Col. Galbraith's Battalion.
Capt. Robert McCallen. August 20, 1776.
Capt. Hugh Pedan. August 12, 1776. Capt. Robert McKee. August 13, 1776.
Capt. Andrew Graff. July 16, 1776, at Philadelphia.
Col. Ross' Battalion.
Capt. Lieut. Christopher Crawford, standing guard at Lancaster, July, 1776; commanding detachment of First battalion, containing his own company with those of Capts. Samuel Boyd, Andrew Graff, John Henry, Peter Hofnagle.
First Battalion-Flying Camp. (In the Long Island Campaign. )
Colonel, James Cunningham. Lieut. Col., William Hay.
Major, Thomas Edwards.
First Company.
Captain, Robert Clark. Ist Lieut., William Steel, promoted captain. 2d Lieut., James Turner.
3d Lieut., William Nelson.
Second Company.
Captain, James Watson. Ist Lieut., Thomas Lindsay.
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2d Lieut., Robert Coleman.
3d Lieut., Matthew Swan.
1 Third Company.
Captain, Jacob Klotz, promoted.
Ist Lieut., Thomas Robinson, promoted.
2d Lieut., John Campbell.
3d Lieut., Andrew Boggs, discharged on account of wounds received at Long Island.
3d Lieut., Thomas Whitmore, promoted from sergeant.
Fourth Company.
Captain, George Graeff.
Ist Lieut., Conrad Connor.
2d Licut., Dorrington Wilson.
3d Lieut., William Calhoun.
Fifth Company.
Captain, John Reed. Ist Lieut., James Collier.
2d Lieut., John Gilchrist, discharged August 14, 1776, on account of wound in right arm.
3d Lieut., Thomas Johnston, promoted 2d Lieut.
3d Lieut., John Cochran, promoted from sergeant.
Sixth Company.
Captain, Daniel Oldenbruck.
Ist Lieut., Ludwig Meyer, promoted to Klotz's company. 2d Lieut., William Mccullough.
3d Lieut., Benjamin Fickle, discharged on account of wound.
3d Lieut., John Rohrer, promoted from sergeant.
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Seventh Company.
Captain, Joseph Work.
Ist Lieut., Patrick Hays, discharged for disability.
2d Lient., William Patterson, reported killed or taken prisoner at Long Island.
3d Lieut., Richard Keys, discharged for disability. 3d Lieut., James Barker, promoted from sergeant.
Eighth Company.
Captain, Timothy Green. Ist Lieut., William Allen, wounded at Long Island. 2d Lieut., - Weiser. 3d Lieut., John Barnett.
Ninth Company.
Captain, John McKown. 2d Lieut., John Bishop. 3d Lieut., Henry Buehler.
Fifth Battalion.
At the call for additional reinforcements a part of this battalion turned out, on December 19, 1776, and marched to Philadelphia, but were ordered back on the 26th, by Major General Putnam, to bring up the rest of the bat- talion, which they did, returning to Philadelphia Jan- uary 20, 1777.
We have the following officers given :
Colonel, James Crawford. Major, George Stewart. Captain, Robert Boyer.
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BERKS COUNTY.
The quota of Berks county Associators, to be furnished the Flying Camp, was 666 men, to which was voluntarily added one extra company. On Tuesday, July 2, 1776, a meeting was called in the court house at Reading to select officers for this battalion, which resulted as fol- lows:
Colonel, Henry Haller.
Lieut. Col., Nicholas Lutz, prisoner at Long Island,
August 26, 1776, discharged September 10, 1779. Major, Edward Burd, prisoner at Long Island.
Captains, Joseph Hiester, of Reading, prisoner at Long Island; Jacob Graul, of Reading; George May, of Read- ing; Jacob Maurer, of Maidencreek, prisoner at Long Island; John Ludwig, of Exeter; John Old, of Amity; George Douglass, of Amity; Peter Decker, of Reading, prisoner at Long Island.
Under the command of Lieut. Col. Lutz (Col. Haller remaining behind to complete other organizations) these troops joined Washington's army at New York city, hence are generally known as "Lutz's Battalion." They did noble duty in the battle of Long Island and lost heavily, a more detailed account of which has already been given. They lost, in the engagement, their lieutenant colonel, major, three captains and one lieutenant.
Besides this battalion other men were hurried forward to reinforce the American army.
Major Hiester's First Battalion.
On duty at Newtown, Bucks county, January 2, 1777. The only names given in connection with this organiza- tion are:
-
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Lieut. Col., Henry Haller.
Major, Gabriel Hiester, December 10, 1776, in command. Captains, George Will, John Diehl, Nicholas Scheffer.
Col. Mark Bird's Second Battalion.
At South Amboy, N. J. He reported to the Council of Safety, on August 7, 1776, that about three hundred of his men would be ready to march in several days, he having supplied them with provisions, tents and uniforms, at his own expense. He was a prominent iron-master at Birdsboro, but residing in Reading.
Lieut. Col. Lutz's Third Battalion.
This battalion had already proceeded to Long Island, where it arrived in time for the battle.
Col. Balzer Geehr's Fourth Battalion.
This battalion was also in active service.
Col. Patton's Fifth Battalion.
It was stationed at South Amboy on September 5, 1776, and officered as follows :
Lieut. Col., John Patton.
Majors, Joseph Thornburgh and Christian Lower.
Captains, John Lesher, Michael Furrer, George Miller, Michael Wolf.
They were collected together at Womelsdorf, and the following interesting itinerary of their march to Perth Amboy is given :
" At Womelsdorf from August ist to 9th, getting cloth for tents and making tents. August rith marched at 12 M. from Womelsdorf to Sinking Spring, 9 miles. Au-
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The Pennsylvania-German Society.
gust 12th to Reading, 5 miles, and detained there by Committee 13th & 14th. August 15th, marched to Levan's (Kutztown) 18 miles. August 16th, to Bethle- hem, 24 miles. August 17th, to Straw's Tavern, 15 miles. Next day, Sunday, remained there, raining all day. Au- gust 19th, marched to South Branch of Raritan River, 20 miles. August 20th, to 'Punch Bowl,' 20 miles. August 2 Ist, to Bonnamtown, 17 miles, and on 22d arrived at Perth Amboy, 7 miles. Total distance marched, 135 miles."
The Moravian Archives, at Bethlehem, contain the following interesting items relative to the movements of the Berks county troops through Bethlehem to the Jerseys, in which we notice the company of Captain De Turk, without being able to assign him to his proper command.
August 4, 1776 .- Arrival of Capt. Old's company at 9 A. M. Attended divine service, Rev. Ettwein presiding.
August 16 .- Four companies of militia from Tulpe- hocken (Col. Patton's battalion), who lodged over-night at the Sun Tavern.
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