USA > Pennsylvania > The Pennsylvania-German in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 > Part 16
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Mount Airy by Sullivan, and those at Lucan's Mill by Greene.
In addition to the troops above mentioned, a detach- ment of militia, under Gen. James Potter, was sent down the west side of the Schuylkill, with orders to make a demonstration at the Middle Ferry, at Market Street, to engage the attention of the enemy and prevent rein- forcements being sent from the city. This movement appears to have received but little attention from his- torians. While no especial result was attained the demon- stration was a part of the battle. Robert Morton, in his diary, has this to say of it :
"I went this morning to the plantation, from thence to the middle ferry, where I saw a number of the citizens, with about 30 of the Light Dragoons on Foot, watching the motions of the enemy on the other side. I waited there about an hour, during which time there were several shots from both sides without much execution, when 3 columns of the Americans with 2 field pieces appeared in sight marching tow'ds the River. The Dragoons were order'd under arms and an express sent off for a rein- forcement immediately, after which the Americans fired a field piece attended with a volley of small arms. I thought it most advisable to leave the Ground, and rode off as fast as possible. The Americans afterwards came down to the River with 2 Field Pieces, which they fired with some small arms and run and left them; soon after they returned and brought them back without any con- siderable loss I man being wounded on their side and none on the other."
Major Jno. Clarke, Jr., wrote to Washington (October 6, 1777) that one of his friends told him that "if the
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troops had arrived at the middle ferry carlier 'twould have prevented the enemy's reinforcement from the city joining the main body."
In accordance with his orders Gen. Armstrong pro- ceeded down the Ridge Road, with his column of Penn- sylvania militia, to attack the enemy's left. The extreme left of the British line was held by the Hessian Yagers, under Colonel von Wurmb, who, apprised of the attack, as were many of his brother officers, was more vigilant than most of them, and kept up a continuous watch throughout the night, whereby the approach of the militia was discovered at daybreak. There followed a brisk in- terchange of shots, but no real engagement. "We can- nonaded from the heights on each side of the Wissa- hickon," says Armstrong, "whilst the riflemen on opposite sides acted on the lower grounds." About nine o'clock, he continues, he was called off to join the General, but left a party, under Colonels Eyers and Dunlap, who, shortly after, were obliged to retreat, bringing off their field- piece and a second one which Armstrong had left "in the horrendous hills of the Wissahickon." The militia went up the stream to Cresheim Creek, which led them across above Germantown, " directed by a slow fire of cannon," and there fell in front of a body of the enemy, whom they engaged for some time. "Until then," says Gen. Arm- strong, "I thought we had a victory, but to my great disappointment soon found out our army had gone an hour or two before, and we last on the ground."
One episode of the battle still remains to be told. In the midst of the confusion, into which Sullivan's division had been thrown, he was attacked by Gen. Grey and obliged to retreat. General Agnew, following in the rear of Grey, entered the main street and rode forward at the
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head of his column. As he ascended the hill he received a sudden volley from a party of citizens who were con- cealed behind the Mennonite Meeting House, and fell mortally wounded. He was carried into a house, near the spot, where he died, and his remains were removed to his former quarters, the present residence of Charles J. Wister. The man who shot General Agnew is said to have been Philip Boyer, a Pennsylvania-German.
With victory almost in their grasp the Americans, con- fused and disorganized by the dense fog which prevailed, were obliged to retreat from the field of Germantown and return to their old encampment at Pennypacker's Mills.
Says Pastor Muhlenberg, on October 5, another Sun- day :
" From early in the morning until noon the troops who marched from here on the 2nd inst. are returning in com- panies and singly with their wagons, tired, hungry and thirsty, and have taken possession of their old quarters, to consume completely what was left previously."
In Pickering's Journal is contained this statement :
"After the army were all retreating, I expected they would have returned to their last encampment, about twelve or thirteen miles from the enemy at Germantown, but the retreat was continued upwards of twenty miles; so that all those men, who retired so far, this day marched upwards of thirty miles without rest, besides being up all the preceding night without sleep."
Also the following :
"Sunday, October 5. At Pennebecker's Mills; this day the stragglers generally joined the army over Perki- omen Creek. After remaining here a few days, the army removed to Towamensing township."
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The encampment in Skippack was quite large and oc- cupied territory on both sides of the Perkiomen. On the west side the camping ground included, among others, farms then owned by Henry Keely and Perer Pool.
A large number of wounded and dying were brought back with the troops, and placed in the churches at Evans- burg and Trappe, which were converted into hospitals, where many died and were buried. Others were taken to the encampment at Pennypacker's Mills and placed in private houses, amongst which were the homes of Henry Keeley and William Pennebecker.
The army remained at this encampment until October 8, when it marched to Towamensing township, stopping at the Mennonite Meeting-House, near Kulpsville, where Brig. Gen. Nash, who died from his wounds, was buried with military honors, in the grave-yard attached to the meeting-house, at 10 o'clock on October 9, all officers at- tending his funeral as a mark of respect to his memory.
Washington's headquarters, in this township, were at the farm-house of Frederick Wampole, about a mile above Kulpsville.
Amongst the other homes of the vicinity, which opened their hospitable doors on this occasion, was that of John Jantz, or Johnson, Sr., a Pennsylvania-German who lived near the Skippack. Several wagon loads of the wounded were placed in his house, with a nurse to care for them. Besides these he boarded ten officers or soldiers, of the regular army, for a while, during the time Washington had his quarters on the Wampole farm, about one and one half miles south of Jantz's place. To accommodate these soldier boarders, who did a great deal of writing, he had made for them a fine cherry table, with carved
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legs, by Hans Jakob Hagey, an ingenious carpenter near by, which is still in possession of the family.
Another private house, whose doors stood wide open, was that of the ' ennsylvania-German, Adam Gotwals, about one and one quarter miles southwest of the Men- nonite Meeting-House, to which General Nash was car- ried on a litter, or bed, of poles, as well as Colonel Boyd and Major John White, both of Philadelphia, and Lieut. Matthew Smith, of Virginia, all wounded, and all of whom died here.
The camp at Towamensing was occupied until October 16, and extended from Towamensing into Lower Salford, occupying fields on the farms of Jacob Bossert and his neighbor, Mr. Getz, northwest of the Skippack Creek. It covered about 300 acres, the northern section being on Frederick Wampole's farm, where were the headquarters, the western section on Jacob Bossert's farm, and the most southerly section on Benj. Fuller's farm.
On Thursday, October 16, the army moved to Wor- cester township for the second time, where headquarters were at the house of Peter Wentz.
It was here the Commander-in-Chief had the pleasure of announcing, on Saturday, October IS, the complete surrender of Gen. Burgoyne and his army, on the four- teenth of the same month.
The army remained in Worcester township until Oc- tober 21, when it removed its quarters to Whitpain town- ship, and from thence, on November 2, to Whitemarsh township, where the Commander-in-Chief made his head- quarters at the Emlen mansion. The main body were quartered on Camp Hill, while the militia, seven hundred strong, occupied the heights of Militia Hill (whence its name), a spur, or continuation, of Camp Ifill, running
THE PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN SOCIETY.
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BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN, OCTOBER 4, 1777.
.ACHTH TMK CHEW HOUSE.
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from east to west, and extending from the Wissahickon Creek at St. Thomas' Church to the village of Cold Point. The neighborhood still shows traces of the occupation of the army. On its northern slope of Militia Hill are to be seen the spaces and ditches marking the location of the tents, in a well defined line near the summit.
With the approach of cold weather a Council of War was here convened, on the last day of November, to de- cide upon the location of winter quarters. Many divergent opinions prevailed but Washington finally decided to take a position where he could watch the movements of the enemy, hold them in Philadelphia and prevent them from foraging on the rich surrounding country.
Gen. Howe, in the meanwhile, had planned to surprise his antagonist. On the night of Thursday, December 4, he slipped out of Philadelphia, with a force of some 12,000 effective and well-equipped men, passed beyond Chestnut Hill and halted in the vicinity of Flourtown to reconnoitre. Warned of the British approach by Capt. McLane, and his light-horsemen, alarm guns were fired, and the Americans paraded their troops at 3 A. M. on the sixteenth, which brought the enemy to a halt.
In this state of affairs Brig. Gen. Irvine, with 600 Penn- sylvania militia, was sent forward by Washington to skirmish with the British light advanced parties on Chest- nut Hill, but, unfortunately, fell in with them before reach- ing the foot of the same, a trifle over two miles from camp. A conflict ensued, but the men gave way before superior numbers, leaving the general wounded, with four or five others, who were taken prisoners, the enemy having also suffered fully to this extent.
During the night the British moved towards the north- east, approaching within a mile of the encampment, the
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valley and stream of Sandy Run intervening, where, on Edge Hill, they remained all day of the 6th, apparently at a loss as to their next movement.
At one o'clock on Sunday morning, December 7, they advanced still further to the American left, or northeast. Realizing that their purpose was to attack him, and learn- ing that they were extensively plundering the neighbor- hood, Washington decided to check them. He, accord- ingly, ordered Col. Morgan and his Rifle Corps (con- taining many Pennsylvania-Germans), supported by Gen. Potter's brigade of Pennsylvania militia, Col. Gist's Maryland militia, and Col. Webb's Continental regiment, to move forward for that purpose. A sharp and severe conflict ensued. To stand their ground the British were compelled to concentrate their forces. Owing to a de- cided superiority of numbers, the militia fell back near sunset, as Washington did not desire to bring on a general engagement. All arrangements were made in anticipa- tion of an attack during the night or following morning. but it did not occur, the enemy withdrawing. The losses in these two engagements at Edge Hill, in Whitemarsh township, were quite severe, especially on the part of the British, but the actual number was not obtained.
The increasing severity of the weather decided Wash- ington to leave Camp Hill, and its vicinity, for the more comfortable winter quarters which he had selected on the west side of the Schuylkill.
At four o'clock, on the morning of December II, the whole army marched from Whitemarsh, by way of Broad Axe, towards Matson's Ford, where Washington had planned for it to cross, and, by passing through one of these narrow valleys, to reach its destination a mile or so beyond the river. The first division, under Gen. Sul-
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livan, with a part of the second, passed over the ford on a bridge constructed of thirty-six wagons, placed end to end, across which rails were laid to facilitate the passage.
It happened also, on the same day, that a large body. of British, under Cornwallis, had left Philadelphia, by the Middle Ferry, on a foray. Col. Edward Heston, learning of their purpose, hastened to Merion to appraise Gen. James Potter, upon whose staff he was serving.
Gen. Potter had been assigned the particular duty of protecting the Delaware and Schuylkill, with a brigade of Pennsylvania militia. On receiving Heston's warning, he hastily placed the militia in position on the hills through Lower Merion, himself taking post at "Harriton," then the home of Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continen- tal Congress, situated to the north of the present village of Bryn Mawr, and now known as the Morris Farm.
Potter's advance guard met Cornwallis' men near the Black Horse tavern, on the Lancaster road, a few miles west of the city, and engaged the enemy. The militia were forced back, defending desperately but losing, in turn, each position, until their retreating column reached the valley and slopes of the Gulph hills, leading to the Schuylkill at Matson's Ford. Though bravely contested to this point, and within reach of assistance, here the bat- talions broke and fled in panic, leaving the Gulph, and its flanking hillsides, in possession of the British.
Sullivan, who had crossed the river, and was on his way to the proposed encampment, now found himself con- fronted by the victorious red-coats, assembled on tlie heights on either side of the valley road leading to the Gulph, and discovered them to be in such force that he was obliged to order, promptly, the retreat of his division
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to the east side of the river to enable him to rejoin the main body, which, having learned the state of affairs that existed, was now on the move towards Swedes' Ford, a crossing three miles higher up, where the whole army encamped for the night.
After recrossing the Schuylkill, Gen. Sullivan destroyed his bridge of wagons to prevent any attempt at pursuit, upon which, however, Cornwallis did not seem inclined to enter.
On December 12, at sunset, the army finally crossed the river at Swedes' Ford, and, in the midst of a blind- ing snow-storm, marched down on the west side, bivouack. ing amongst the sheltering boulders on the pine-clad slopes at Gulph Mills, at three o'clock on the morning of De- cember 13.
The snow, which began on the night of the twelfth, ended with rain on the sixteenth, when, for the first time, the tents were pitched, and some slight degree of comfort secured for the men, who were in a most miserable con- dition.
December 18 was the day set apart by Congress for thanksgiving and prayer, when the troops remained in their quarters and the various chaplains held divine service.
While at Whitemarsh Washington had reached a gene- ral conclusion with regard to the location of his winter quarters, without selecting any definite spot. On De- cember 17 the final decision was arrived at to encamp at Valley Forge.
On December 19, 1777, the American army went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, where it remained until June 19, 1778.
Practically the entire force of militia were then sent to their homes. A small force, however, remained on duty
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to guard the Delaware-Schuylkill peninsula, and prevent supplies from reaching the enemy. This body of four hundred Pennsylvania militia was placed under command of Brig. Gen. John Lacey, who entered upon his duties . in January, 1778.
He was a constant thorn in the side of Gen. Howe who determined upon his defeat and dispersion. To that end, Lt. Col. Abercrombie, with Major Simcoe's command of the Queen's Rangers, a tory corps, to which was added a considerable body of cavalry and light infantry, was or- dered to surprise Lacey on May I, at Crooked Billet (Hatboro), where he was then expected to be.
The movements of the British were so well timed and arranged that they came within two hundred yards of the American camp before being discovered. Lacey was in bed, but dressed in a hurry, mounted his horse and joined his command. It is charged that he carried part of his clothing in his hands. The enemy, sheltered by the houses and fences, opened fire on his front and rear at the same ยท time. Seeing that his force was surrounded, Lacey or- dered a retreat, moving by column to the left, in the di- rection of a wood, across open fields, the wagons follow- ing. Coming in full view of the British his flanking parties were soon hotly engaged.
Upon reaching the wood his situation became so critical, and the engagement so severe, that he was obliged to abandon his baggage and force his way through his opponents. The retreating Americans were pursued for a couple miles, skirmishing with the enemy, an occasional man falling. They passed across the farm of Thomas Craven, and by the present Johnsville to near the Bristol road, when they turned to the left into a wood, and the pursuit was relinquished.
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The loss of the Americans was not as heavy as might have been expected, under the circumstances, 26 being killed, 8 or 10 wounded, and several taken prisoners.
The British are charged with extreme cruelty to the American wounded at Crooked Billet. Several of the fatigued militiamen having crept into a large pile of buck- wheat straw on the Craven farm, the British were in- formed of the fact by a tory and set fire to the straw while the men were sleeping, some of whom were con- sumed at once, and others so badly burned that they died shortly after. Others, wounded by musket balls, were hacked with swords and stabbed with bayonets. An eye witness states: "When the firing ceased we continued on and found three wounded militiamen near the wood; they appeared to have been wounded by a sword and were much cut and hacked. When we got to them they were groaning greatly. They died in a little while and I understood were buried on the spot. They appeared to be Germans."
On April 25, 1777, the Pennsylvania militia were called . out, and it was determined that the counties of Philadel- phia, Bucks, Cumberland, Berks and Northampton, should send their proportion to Bristol to form a camp, while the counties of Chester, Lancaster and York were to form another camp at or near Chester.
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CHAPTER XII.
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY.
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the various companies. noticeable.
UT of the large number of emer- gency men furnished by Philadelphia county, during the Revolution, it is naturally most diffi- cult to select entire or- ganizations which were distinctively Pennsylva- nia-German. Many of this blood were scat- tered throughout all of The following are especially
Light Dragoons, County of Philadelphia. Lieut., David Snyder. Cornet, Casper Dull.
Col. John Eyre's Artillery Battalion. (As of August 25, 1777.)
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Fifth Company.
Captain, Andrew Summers, September 6, 1777. Capt. Lieut., Christian Bartling, September 6, 1777. Ist Lieut., Jacob Diegal, September If, 1777. 2d Lieut., Baltzer Steinford, September 11, 1777. 3d Lieut., Samuel Sivert, September 11, 1777. Capt. Engineer, Benjamin Davis, September II, 1777.
Philadelphia County Associators. April 22, 1777. First Battalion.
Upper Salford, Lower Salford, Franconia, Towamen- sing, Hatfields and Perkiomen and Skippack.
Colonel, Daniel Hiester, Jr. Lieut. Col., Jacob Reed.
Major, Jacob Markley. Sixth Battalion.
Limerick, Douglas, Marlborough, New Hanover, Up- per Hanover and Frederick.
Colonel, Frederick Antes. Lieut. Col., Frederick Weiss. Major, Jacob Bishop.
Captains, John Brooke, Benjamin Brooke, Peter Lower, Philip Hahn, Peter Richards, Michael Dotterer, Andrew Reed, - Childs.
The following men were in Capt. Dotterer's company front Frederick: Peter Acker, Francis Bast, Jacob Belts, Samuel Bertolet, Conrad Bickhart, Henry Boyer, Philip Boyer, Valentine Boyer, William Boyer, Jacob Christ- man, Jacob Detweiler, Conrad Diffenbacher, John Dot- terer, John Geist, Matthias Geist, John Hiltcbeitel, Henry
...
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Hollobush, Yost Hollobush, Daniel Krause, Henry Krause, Michael Krause, Michael Kuntz, Francis Leidig, Leonard Leidig, John Lay, George Michael, Zacharias Nyce, Gottfried Saylor, Henry Sassaman, Charles Solner, Jacob Stetler, Henry S. Stetler, Christian Stetler, George Smith, George Swanck, Jacob Swanck, Jacob Reimer, John Reimer, Ludwick Reimer, Jacob Undercuffler, Henry Warner, Jeremiah Weiser, Jacob Zieber and John Zieber.
The following were in Capt. Hahn's company from New Hanover : John Bitting, Peter Bitting, Yost Bitting, Philip Brandt, George Buchert, Peter Dehaven, Jacob Denny, John Detier, Michael Egolf, George Emhart, Ensiga, John Fagley, Lewis Frankenberger, John Freed, Jacob Freese, Bernard Freyer, John Freyer, Adam Gerver, John Grove, Michael Ilieber, Jacob Hill, Cor- poral, Michael Hoover, Jacob Kern, Corporal, Sebastian Koch, Adam Krebs, Philip Krebs, Michael Krebs, David Lessig, Peter Loch, Benjamin Markley, Joseph Maybury, Frederick Miller, Martin Miller, Benedict Mintz, Alex- ander McMichael, Adam Neidig, Jacob Neighman, George Polsgrove, Henry Polsgrave, John Richards, John Sackman, Christian Sackriter, George Sheffer, Cor- poral, Jacob Sheffy, John Sheffy, John Shuler, Christian Slonaker, George Adam Slonaker, Henry Slonaker, John Smith, Henry Snider, Jr., Jacob Snider, John Snider, Ludwick Starck, Jacob Strouse, Adam Warthman, John Walter, John Willower, Philip Yawn, Adam Yerger, Andrew Yerger, Martin Yerger, Philip Young and Christian Zoller.
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Fourth Battalion-1777. First Company. Captain, Christian Dull. Ist Lient., Peacock Major. 2d Lieut., John Troxel. Ensign, John Shelmire.
First Battalion-Col. William Bradford. (As of June 25, 1777.)
Second Company. Third Company.
Captain, Charles Lyng. Captain, George Esterly.
Ist Lieut., Jacob Graff. Ist Lieut., Theobald Scheibel.
2d Lieut., Adam Sichler. 2d Lieut., Andrew Burkhardt.
Eusign, William Redisher. Ensign, John Geyer.
Third Battalion -- Col. Morgan. Colonel, Jacob Morgan. Lieut. Col., William Wills. Major, Joseph Kerr.
First Company. Fifth Company.
Captain, George Esterly.
Captain, Williamson Tolbert. Ist Lieut., Theobald Shei- Ist Lient., James Pickering. bald. 2d Lient., Martin Fiss. Eusign, Godfrey Baker.
2d Lieut., Joseph Franklin. Ensign, Jacob Schweighouser, Jr.
Second Company.
Captain, Peter Merlin. Ist Lieut., Henry Hay.
Sixth Company. Captain, George Reinhard. Ist Lient., Alexander Quarrier.
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2d Lient., Michael Gilbert. 2d Lieut., Andrew Foster. Ensigu, Matthias Gilbert. Ensign, John King.
Third Company.
Seventh Company.
Captain, Conrad Rush. Captain, Jacob Weidman. Ist Lieut., Ezekiel Merriam. Ist Lieut., Henry Meyer. 2d Lieut., And. Burkhard. 2d Lient., John Ecky. Ensign, Charles Deshler. Ensign, Andrew Young.
Fourth Company. Captain, Elijah Weed. Ist Lient., Jacob Bender, 2d Lieut., Ezekiel Worrell. 2d Lient., John Peter, Jr. Ensign, John Guyer. Ensign, Leonard Fisher.
Eighth Company. Captain, John Linnington. Ist Lieut., Thomas Heston.
Fourth Battalion-Col. Bayard. Sixth Company. Captain, Christian Shaffer. Ist Lieut., John Everhard. 2d Lieut., Edward Glascow.
Sixth Battalion --- Col. Knox.
Second Company. Captain, Jacob Synk. Ist Lient., Adam Pole. 2d Lieut., Conrad Lube.
Seventh Company. Captain, Christian Grover. Ist Lient., Godfrey Shesler. 2d Lieut., William Lasher. Ensign, William Folkner.
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The Pennsylvania-German Society. Second Battalion-Col. Sharpe Delaney. (As of June 25, 1777.)
First Company. Third Company.
Captain, Charles Syng. Captain, Peter Mehrling.
Ist Lieut., John Pollard. Ist Lieut., Henry Horne.
2d Lieut., Evan Cook. 2d Lieut., Ezekiel Worrel. Ensign, Thos. Cummings. Ensigu, Charles Deshler.
Third Battalion-Col. Jonathan Bayard Smith. (As of August 2, 1777.)
Captain, Conrad Rush. Captain Adam Foulk. Ist Lieut., Jacob Bender. Ist Lieut., John Barker. 2d Lieut., Martin Fiss. 2d Lieut., Thomas Millard. Ensign, Matthias Gilbert. Eusign, Henry Ritter.
Captain Anthony Lechler. Ist Lieut., Henry Brustarr. 2d Lieut., John Caufiman. Ensign, George Lesher.
Fourth Battalion~ Lieut. Col. Wm. Will.
(As of September 9, 1777.) Captain, Philip Wagener. Ist Lieut., Isaac Warner. 2d Lieut., William Beating. Ensign, William Rush.
All other companies in this battalion contained many Pennsylvania-Germans.
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Sixth Battalion -- Col. Robert Knox. (As of September II, 1777.)
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