USA > Pennsylvania > The Pennsylvania-German in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 > Part 15
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August 23 .- Capt. Will's company, who attended evening service.
August 26 .- Two companies arrived, one being from Oley, under Capt. Daniel De Turk, who attended evening service.
August 28 .- A company from Reading, under Capt. George May, arrived.
September 1 .- The fourth battalion of Berks county militia, under Col. Balser Geehr, arrived at noon, and, at 4 P. M., Rev. Ettwein preached to them in the chapel.
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The Pennsylvania-German Emergency Men. NORTHAMPTON COUNTY.
Amongst the first to join Washington at New York were the Pennsylvania-German Associators from North- ampton county. So rapidly did the recruiting progress that they were able to report early in August.
They were promptly stationed on Long Island, and it was these noble men who bore the brunt of the battle on August 27, and whose self-sacrifice saved the army from destruction. The Moravian records, at Bethlehem, contain this interesting item, under date of September 2-6:
"In these days, parties of militia on their return from New York, passed, bringing the intelligence that a bat- talion from the county ( First battalion, Lieut. Col. Kech- lein), had suffered severely at the engagement with the British on Long Island, on the 27th of August last, hav- ing left most of its men either dead or wounded."
The remnant of the regiment, left from that fight, was practically wiped out of existence at the battle and capture of Fort Washington, on November 16, 1776.
The details of the part taken by the Northampton county Flying Camp, in these two engagements, has been given heretofore, as well as a record of the losses sus- tained by Capt. Arndt's company.
At the close of the year 1776, the most dismal in the history of the war, a further requisition for troops was made on the county by the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, through Gen. Washington. Here, again, action was taken so promptly and energetically that some of the men, furnished upon this requisition, reached the army in time to participate in the battle of Trenton, and that of Prince- ton which followed.
The following data are in existence relative to these bat- talions, of which four were in active service :
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First Battalion.
(Lost very heavily at Long Island and Fort Washington.) Colonel, - Hart.
Lieut. Col., Peter Kechlein, July 17, 1776, in command at Long Island.
Major, Michael Probst, July 17, 1776.
Sergeant Major, John Spangenberg, July 17, 1776. The .company officers were commissioned July 9, 1776.
First Company.
Captain, John Arndt.
Ist Lieut., Joseph Martin.
2d Lieut., Peter Kechlein, Jr.
Ensign, Isaac Shimer. Total number of men, 92.
Second Company.
Captain, Henry Hagenbuck.
Ist Lient., John Moritz.
2d Lient., Godfrey Meyer.
Ensign, Jacob Mumma. Total number of men, 120.
Third Company.
Captain, Nicholas Kern. ist Lieut., Enoch Beer.
2d Lieut., Peter Baagley.
Ensign, William Daniel. Total number of men, 57.
Fourth Company.
Captain, Timothy Jayne. Ist Lieut., Peter Middaugh.
2d Lieut., Benjamin Ennis.
Ensign, Abner Everitt. Total number of men, 49.
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This regiment, being practically wiped out of existence, was no longer in service after the battle at Fort Wash- ington.
With the call for additional troops, in the fall, North- ampton county sent out four battalions, of which we have these records :
First Battalion.
Colonel, George Taylor, December 10, 1776. Captain, John Nelson ( Mount Bethel company) .
Second Battalion.
Colonel, Henry Geiger, October, 1776.
Captains, George Losch, Michael Snyder,
Rider.
Third Battalion.
Colonel, Yost Dreisbach, December 14, 1776.
Lieut. Col., John Siegfried, December 14, 1776, in com- mand.
Captain, Alexander Brown, December 14, 1776; Roberts Hays from January 6, 1777.
Fourth Battalion.
Colonel, Jacob Stroud, October, 1776.
Major, John Van Camp.
Captains, - Schoonhaver, Mead, Samuel Drake.
In addition to the names just given the following com- panies are mentioned, which cannot be properly located as to their battalions, but were a part of the Flying Camp of 1776:
Captain, Miller (Hamilton company) .
Captain, Dull ( Plainfield company).
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Captain, Santee ( Eighth company) . Captain, Sayler ( Captain Adam Stahler).
YORK COUNTY.
The records of York county, unfortunately, are but fragmentary.
The following list is given of "Officers in Service, 1776."
Colonels.
William Rankin, June, 1776.
James Smith, August, 1776.
Matthew Dill ( Fifth), August, 1776,
William Smith, December, 1776.
Robert McPherson, August, 1776.
Richard McAllister, August, 1776.
Joseph Donaldson, August, 1776.
Lieutenant Colonel.
Francis Holton ( Fourth), August, 1776.
Majors.
Adam Vance, August, 1776. John Dill ( Fifth), August, 1776. John Andrews, August, 1776.
Captains.
John McDonald, August, 1776. Reed, August, 1776. Simon Vanarsdalen (McA.), December, 1776. William Ashton (Dill's), August. 1776. Thomas Fisher (McA.), August, 1776. William Smith, August, 1776.
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Nicholas Bittinger (Fifth), September, 1776.
Michael Hahn (First), December, 1776.
Jacob Dritt (First), December, 1776.
John Harbeson (First), December, 1776.
Samuel Wilson ( Fifth), December, 1776.
James Agnew (Second), December, 1776.
William Mitchell ( Fifth), December, 1776.
Benjamin Savage ( First), December, 1776.
James McCandless (W. Smith's), December, 1776. McNary (W. Smith's), December, 1776.
William Rowan (Fourth), December, 1776.
Lewis Williams (Dill's), December, 1776.
Michael Smyser ( First) , July, 1776.
Hugh Campbell (Second), July, 1776.
George. Dill, September 11, 1776.
Jost Herbach, September 11, 1776.
Samuel Nelson, September 11, 1776.
Daniel May, September 11, 1776.
Jolın Paxton, September II, 1776.
Robert McConaughy, September 11, 1776.
George Long, September 11, 1776.
Rudolph Spangler ( First), July, 1776
Lieutenants.
Samuel Farra (Fifth), August, 1776.
William Rowan ( Fourth), August, 1776.
Ensign.
Laurence Oats ( Fifth), - 1776.
In July, 1776, five battalions of the York county emer- gency men were enrolled for duty with Washington. Two of these battalions saw active service. The Second bat-
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talion was commanded by Col. Richard McAllister, but did not contain a large element of Pennsylvania-Germans.
The First battalion, commanded by Col. Michael Swope, was almost entirely German. It suffered very severely at Long Island and Fort Washington. Capt. Graeff's company was captured in the former battle, only eighteen men returning to join the command; Capt. Stake's company lost many in the latter engagement. Ensign Jacob Barnitz, of York, was wounded at Long Island, and lay for fifteen months in prison. The follow- ing is its roster :
Colonel, Michael Swope.
Lieut. Col., Robert Stevenson.
Major, William Bailey.
First Company.
Captain, Michael Schmeiser.
Ist Lieut., Zachariah Shugart.
2d Lient., Andrew Robinson.
Ensign, William Wayne.
Second Company.
Captain, Gerhart Graeff. Lient., - Kauffman. Ensign, Daniel MeCallom.
Third Company.
Captain, Jacob Dritt.
Ist Lieut., Baymiller. 2d Lieut., Clayton. Ensign, Jacob Mayer.
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Fourth Company.
Captain, Christian Stake. Ist Lieut., Cornelius Sheriff. 2d Lieut., Jacob Holzinger. Ensign, Jacob Barnitz.
Fifth Company.
Captain, John McDonald. Ist Lieut., William Scott. 2d Lieut., Robert Patten. Ensign, Howe.
Sixth Company
Captain, John Ewing. Ensigu, John Paysley.
Seventh Company.
Captain, William Nelson. Ist Lieut., Todd. 2d Lieut., Joseph Welsh. Ensign, Alexander Nesbit.
Eighth Company.
Captain, Williams.
Later in the fall the other battalions were in active service, containing many Pennsylvania-Germans, but no rolls are on hand to make clear the details, except that of Capt. Daniel Eyster's company of Pennsylvania- Germans, which served in Jersey from September, 1776, to January, 1777.
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NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Northumberland county placed four battalions in serv- ice from February to October, 1776, more especially for its own frontier defense. Probably one fourth of these were Pennsylvania-Germans.
Under date of January 30, 1777, however, we have the muster roll of one company, all Pennsylvania-Germans, commanded by Capt Benjamin Weiser, who had recently commanded a company in the German Continental Regi- ment. It was then at or near Philadelphia. It is as follows :
Captain, Benjamin Weiser.
Ist Lient., Christopher Snider.
2d Lieut., Adam Shaffer.
3d Lieut., Joseph Van Gundy.
Ist Sergeant, Marx Haines. '
2d Sergeant, George Markel.
Ist Corporal, Philip Moyer. 2d Corporal, Frederick Eisenhauer.
Drummer, Will. Thompson.
Privates.
Peter Hosterman.
Adam Leffler.
John Levengutlı.
Matthias Witmer.
Thomas Kitch.
Jacob Snider.
John Meysor.
John Henter.
Philip Heitz. Henry Groninger.
John Stroup.
George Troutner.
John Hauser. Christian Furst, sick at present.
Christian Shaffer.
Nicholas Shaffer.
George Moyer.
Conrad Furst.
John Faust. Henry Kaufman.
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George Brossius.
George Peifer.
Andrew Reitz.
Martin Kerstetter.
Adam Herstetter.
Zacharius Spengle.
Nicholas Brossius.
Michael Newman.
John Heim.
Peter Weis.
BEDFORD COUNTY.
As in the case of Northumberland county so did Bed- ford place in the field two battalions of Associators whose duties seem to have been that of ranging its frontiers. The first battalion was under command of Col. John Piper, and the second of Col. George Wood, both going into service July, 1776. A fair number of Pennsylvania- Germans were scattered throughout the various com- mands.
The roll of Capt. Jacob Hendershot's company is given and shows a large proportion of Pennsylvania- Germans Its record is that it "marched to camp under the command of Capt. Jacob Hendershot, and inroled 9th January; discharged roth March and allowed pay until the 25th March, 1777."
JERSEY CAMPAIGN OF 1776.
Return of Pennsylvania Militia and Flying Camp, under command of Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, Perth Amboy, October 8, 1776.
Militia. Officers
and Men.
Lieut. Col. Tea, at South Amboy
Col. Allison, at Perth Amboy 181
Col. Savitz, at Perth Amboy. 144
68
Col. Henderson, at Perth Amboy 31 Col. Slough, at Elizabeth. 219
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Flying Camp.
Col. Moore, at Perth Amboy 382
Col. Richard McAllister, at Perth Amboy 522
Col. Klotz 150
Lieut. Col. Lawrence, at Elizabethtown. 91
Col. Swope, at Fort Constitution. 440
Col. James Cunningham, at Fort Constitution 167
Col. William Montgomery, at Fort Constitution. 363
Col. Frederick Watts, at Fort Constitution. 500
Return of Pennsylvania Militia at Trenton, De- cember 1, 1776.
Gen. James Ewing's Brigade.
Col. William Montgomery's battalion 330
Col. Frederick Watt's battalion 273
Col. Richard McAllister's battalion 169
Col. Klotz's battalion 198
Major James Moore's battalion 300
Gen. Edward Hund's Brigade.
Col. Henry Haller's battalion .. 315
Col. James Cunningham's battalion . 507
The next emergency, following that of Trenton, arose when it was apparent to the Commander-in-Chief that the British general was about to attempt the capture of Phila- delphia by a movement up the Chesapeake Bay. At once the call was sent out for all the available militia to join the American army, in preparation for the battle which Washington had determined to risk for the preservation of the capital.
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The troops thus gathered were placed under command of Gen. Armstrong, and, at the battle of Brandywine, were stationed at the fords below Chad's. The movement of the enemy being to turn the American Hank, by cross- ing at the upper ford, the militia were not enabled to take a very active share in that memorable conflict.
With the unfortunate defeat which was incurred came the necessity for a further call to the remaining battalions of militia to repair to the field.
All these men took part in the further movements of the American army during the entire campaign, until the encampment at Valley Forge, when they were permitted, once more, to return to their homes. The services they performed were, by no means, light, and were faithfully done. Without their aid it would have been impossible for Washington to have held his ground, and the only remaining alternative would have been to retire towards the mountains of Pennsylvania, leaving the whole country, his own store-house of supplies, open to the incursions of the enemy.
It is well, then, that we should sketch the operations of the army embracing the period between Brandywine and Valley Forge, so that we may have an understand- ing of them in their entirety, after which we will better be able to consider the aid extended by each county in- dividually.
On the night of the battle of Brandywine, September II, Washington retreated to Chester, a distance of about twelve miles, and reached a safe encampment about ten o'clock. Starting early the next morning he marched to his old camp near the Falls of the Schuylkill, a distance of at least sixteen miles. Recrossing the river at Consho- hocken, the Pennsylvanians in the van, he moved to Ger-
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mantown, but, after a day's rest, he again crossed the Schuylkill and advanced to Warren's Tavern, in Chester county, with the intention of giving battle to Gen. Howe, who had moved leisurely forward to that point. A deluge of rain, with accompanying floods, separated the com- batants.
When it was learned that the British were pressing up the Schuylkill Valley, intent, as was supposed, in getting possession of the abundant stores of ammunition at Read- ing, Gen. Washington once more crossed to the east side of the river at Parker's Ford (near Linfield), five miles east of Pottstown, on the nineteenth, hoping to intercept the enemy, but Sir William Howe, after having by a feint, induced Washington to suppose that he would take one of the upper fords, by a rapid countermarch, during the night, fell back to Fatland Ford, just below Valley Forge, and crossed the river, whence he had an unop- posed route to the city.
While Howe was moving leisurely towards Philadel- phia his troops burned Col. Dewees' Forge, Col. Thomp- son's Inn at Jeffersonville, and Col. Bull's dwelling and mills at Norristown. Part of them encamped, for the night, on the banks of Stony (creek) run (now) Norris-
Israch Matnam
AUTOGRAPH OF GENERAL PUTNAM.
town. At this time some of them visited Henry Ritter- house's home. It was day-time. On seeing the red-coats approach, the Rittenhouse boys, who were home, took flight and hid in the boshes, leaving the house in charge
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of the women. A lass, then on a visit to them, became greatly frightened, when Mother Rittenhouse, noticing her condition, pushed the girl into a closet and then shoved a large cupboard in front of the door, completely hiding it from view. The soldiers were soon on the scene, and commenced ransacking the house. Finding nothing of im- portance, they became gruff and impatient, and demanded that the cupboard door, then locked, be opened. As no quick response was given to their demands they split the door with an axe. Finding that it contained nothing of interest to them they secured something to eat and left, taking with them a quantity of wearing apparel belong- ing to the family, after which the captive was released, the boys returned from the woods, and peace and quiet once more reigned supreme.
Under date of Friday, September 19, Washington wrote to the President of Congress :
"I am repassing the Schuylkill at Parker's Ford with the main body of the army, which will be over in an hour or two, though it is deep and rapid. . . As soon as the troops have crossed the river I will march them as expeditiously as possible towards Fatland, Swedes and other fords where it is most probable the enemy will at- tempt to pass."
Pastor Muhlenberg's Journal of September 19, 1777, says :
"The army marched southward from Parker's Ford, on the east side of the river, by way of the Trappe (a village on the Reading road, twenty-five miles from Phila- delphia) as far as Perkiomen creek, when it encamped.
"His Excellency, General Washington, was with the
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troops in person, who marched past here (the Trappe) to the Perkiomen. The procession lasted the whole night, and we had numerous visits from officers, wet breast high, cold and damp as it was, and to bear hunger and thirst at the same time."
On the twentieth the American army seems to have gone by the "Church Road," and other roads, to their encampment on the Perkiomen and Skippack, with head-
THE OLD LUTHERAN CHURCH, AT TRAPPE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNA. From an old print.
· quarters at Fatland, where the men were rested, and thence, on the 21st, by the Egypt road to near its junction with the Ridge road, with headquarters near Thompson's tavern.
The British, finding they were checked from crossing the lower fords of the river, made use of the feint already mentioned and began to move rapidly up its west bank. Fearing for his stores at Reading Washington was forced
The Pennsylvania-German Emergency Men. 263 to follow theni, on the other bank, to within four miles of Pottsgrove (now Pottstown), eight miles above the Trappe. Here is the gate to the Crooked Hills, so named by the Continentals, which a part of the troops entered.
The Crooked Hill Hotel is an old landmark, well known by that name for generations, but, of late years, it has assumed the name of Sanatoga Hotel, from the Sanatoga Creek which has its source in these hills. The village of Sanatoga extends west of the hotel, along the Reading turnpike, for at least half a mile, to the post- office in a country store, where the main crossroad leads off northeast to the Continental Camp Ground at Fagleys- ville. The army did not enter Camp Pottsgrove at Fagleysville by the Crooked Hill road, but they traveled up the Great road to Limerick Square, and then took the road to the right that leads into Falkner Swamp Valley by the "Old Swamp Tohr."
The British commander having given him the slip, Washington remained at this camp from September 22 to 26.
The army occupied the Fagley and Brand farms, on both sides of the road. The Artillery division was en- camped on farms west of Fagleysville, from the Speck (Specht) Creek Valley to the top of the first elevation.
The militia and army stores were located southwest of Fagleysville, on the Sanatoga Valley slope, also on the Speck Creek Valley (Speck, or fat, creek, so called be- cause the offal of slaughtered cattle was dumped into it), and on Col. Frederick Antes' farm, then known as Philip Brand's farm, on which Prospect Hill is located.
The troops were in wretched condition when they reached Pottsgrove, almost starved, poorly clad, and
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nearly dead from fatigue. The old folks of the vicinity were wont to tell how they went out in companies and squads, from the hillsides to the valley, to find something to cat. They went among the farmers, took possession of the farms, ran things to their own liking, consumed all the farmers' grain and crops, and killed all their cattle.
The immediate need of the men is shown by an appeal made to the people, and to the farmers' wives for each to
AUTOGRAPH OF GENERAL MIFFLIN.
bake a full oven of rye bread, as was then in use, and also for coffee, which was of the home-made rye variety, potatoes, beans, ham, or any other kind of meat, and all kinds of vegetables.
Appeals were also made for clothing and shoes, of every description. The army teams were commanded to follow up the order, given the previous day, to collect the bread and such articles as could be spared by the people.
On September 25, while the army was preparing to leave Pottsgrove, Muldenberg (the I utheran Patriarch) entertained at breakfast Lord Stirling, Gen. Wayne, their aids and officers, at his Trappe home. That night his barn was occupied by soldiers, and the little hay, which he had reserved for winter, was scattered and spoiled.
The next day, at 9 A. M., the American army moved from Pottsgrove toward Trappe, but, at Limerick Square, turned off and proceeded to Schwenksville. Gen. Arm- strong, however, with three or four thousand Pennsyl-
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vania militia, continued down the Great Road and took up his headquarters in the Lutheran Augustus Church and school-house. On the following morning, September 27, Pastor Muhlenberg went to the church to bury the child of one of his vestrymen but found it filled with offi- cers and soldiers, with their arms stacked in one corner. The choir loft was full of soldiers, one playing on the organ and the rest singing lustily. Straw and filth were scattered everywhere, and, on the altar, the soldiers had piled their provisions. He entered calmly, without a word, but some began to mock and others called to the player at the organ for a Hessian march. He sought out Col. Dunlap and asked him if this was the promised pro- tection to civil and religious liberty, but the latter ex- cused himself by saying that, as the militia was composed of all nations, it was difficult to maintain strict discipline. The soldiers, in the meantime, had turned their horses into Muhlenberg's blossoming buckwheat-field of three acres, near the church, and, what was not consumed was trampled to ruin.
On October 2 the militia, under Armstrong, left the Trappe, marched to Philadelphia, after joining the main army, and, on the 4th the battle of Germantown took place. After the battle the army returned to the old camp, the militia again quartering at the Trappe. The old church was now transformed into a hospital. On October 5, Washington rode up to the southwest entrance of the church, on his white charger, and, dismounting, entered the building and spoke words of cheer to the wounded and dying.
While the Pennsylvania militia remained in camp at the Trappe, the main army encamped at Pennypacker's Mills (Perkiomen and Skippack township), where they
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arrived at four o'clock on the afternoon of Friday, Sep- teniber 26, a cold, rough and windy day. Before night every fence upon the place was carried away for camp fires. The hay and straw in the barns, and on stacks, disappeared, and every fowl perislied save one old hen, which, as it chanced, was trying to hatch a late brood. These depre- dations, however, were stopped by order of Gen. Wash- ington, who informed the officers that they must prevent such infringement of discipline.
The Commander-in-Chief made his headquarters at the home of Samuel Pennypacker, the owner of the mills. The house, a two-story stone building, is still standing.
On Saturday, the 27th, Gen. Smallwood joined the army with a reinforcement of 1,000 Maryland militia.
Sunday, September 28, was an eventful day about the mills. In the morning came the glad news that Gen. Gates had defeated Burgoyne at the battle of Stillwater, which was at once announced to the soldiers. To celebrate this success the troops were paraded ac four o'clock in the afternoon, and served with a gill of rum per man, while eighteen pieces of artillery were discharged.
The American army now consisted of some 8,000 Con- tinental troops, rank and file, and 3,000 militia. At a Council of War, held the 28th, it was decided not to risk an immediate attack on the enemy, but to move to a proper camp, some twelve miles further, there to await reinforcements and a more fitting opportunity for attack.
On Monday, September 29, Washington led his army from "Pennypacker's Mills" down to Skippack, within twenty-five miles of Philadelphia. On Tuesday, the 30tl, the main army advanced still further on the Skippack road.
The Pennsylvania militia, meanwhile, remained quietly at the Trappe. The next morning (October 1), however,
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the scene was changed. Before sunrise everything was preparation for the march and coming battle. At 10 o'clock several regiments started, with flying colors, to join the main army at Skippack, the greater portion re- maining until the morrow. On the morning of October 2, the balance of the militia, under Gen. Armstrong, marched down the Great Road towards Philadelphia.
On October 2 the army marched about five miles further down on the Skippack road to Worcester township. It was from "Methacton Hill" that the army started, at seven o'clock on the evening of October 3, to attack the enemy at Germantown.
During the night of Friday, October 3, the American troops, in several divisions, marched silently towards Germantown. The roads were rough, and the different columns reached the British outposts at irregular intervals, in the midst of a thick fog, which, eventually, was the cause of the disaster which followed on the 4th.
The movements of the American army at the battle of Germantown, have already been narrared, except those of the Pennsylvania militia. While the divisions of Sul- livan and Wayne, flanked by Conway's brigade, were to enter the town by way of Chestnut Hill, the Pennsylvania militia, under Gen. Armstrong, were directed to proceed down the Manatawny road by Van Deering's Mill, and get upon the enemy's left flank and rear. The official order explains that "General McDougall is to attack the right wing of the enemy in front and rear; General Con- way to attack the enemy's left flank, and General Arm- strong to attack their left wing in flank and rear." The pickets were to be "taken off "-not driven in-those at Van Deering's Mill by General Armstrong, those on
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