USA > Pennsylvania > The Pennsylvania-German in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 > Part 17
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Captain, Christian Grover. Captain, Christian Shaffer. Lieut., Thomas Thomson. Ist Lient., John Everhart. Ensign, John Lare. 2d Lieut., Andrew Foster. Eusign, John McCartney.
Captain, John Bergman. Ist Lieut., Fred'k Meyer. 2d Lient., Wm. Kensher. Ensign, John Painter.
Captain, Jacob Weidman. Ist Lieut., James Pickering. 2d Lieut., John Peters, Jr. Ensign, Andrew Young.
Col. Cowperthwaite's Battalion. (As of September II, 1777.)
Captain, Geo. Reinhardt. Captain, William Bower. Ist Lient., Alex'r Quarries. Ist Lieut., John Sobers. 2d Lieut., John Ecky. 2d Lieut., Conrad Miller.
Ensign, John King. Ensign, George Krouscop.
LANCASTER COUNTY.
Lancaster county sent the following battalions :
First Battalion.
Colonel, Philip Greenawalt. Lieut. Col., Philip Marsteller. Major, Samuel Jones.
First Company. Fifth Company. Captain, Casper Stoever. Captain, Mich'l Holderbaum. Ist Lieut., Andrew Fickes. Ist Lieut., George Nagle.
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2d Lieut., Sebastian Wolf. 2d Lieut., Lucas Sholly. Ensign, Charles Rehrick. Ensign, Alexander Martin.
Second Company.
Sixth Company. Captain, Leonard Immel.
Captain, William Paine. Ist Lieut., Anthony Kelker. Ist Lieut., Mich'l Diffenbaugh. 2d Lieut., Jacob Matti. 2d Lieut., Peter Berry. Ensign, Michael Spengler. Ensign, vacancy.
Third Company.
Captain, Philip Weiser. Ist Lieut., Ludwig Shott. 2d Lieut., John Stone. 3d Lieut., John Thomas.
Seventh Company. Captain, Valentine Shouffler. Ist Lieut., Matthew Henning. 2d Lieut., John Gossert. Ensign, Peter Basehore.
Fourth Company. Eighth Company. Captain, Henry Sheaffer. Captain, George Null. Ist Lieut., Jas. Mortersteel. Ist Lieut., Philip Wolfers- 2d Lieut., Michael Minigh. Ensign, George Meiser.
berger. 2d Lieut., Nicholas Zollinger. Ensign, George Frank.
Ninth Company.
Captain, Daniel Oldenbruck. Ist Lieut., Abraham Smith. 2d Lieut., John Rewalt. Ensign, Peter Heckert.
Second Battalion. Colonel, James Watson. Lieut. Col., James Porter. Major, Dorrington Wilson.
Philadelphia County. 287
First Company.
Fifth Company.
Captain, John Scott.
Captain, James Morrison. Ist Lieut., Jonn Cunning- Ist Lieut., Robert King. ham. 2d Lieut., Thomas Neil. Eusign, William Nelson. 2d Lieut., John Duncan. Ensign, Dan'l Carmichael.
Second Company.
Sixth Company.
Captain, Joshua Anderson. Captain, Joshua Allison. Ist Lieut., Robert Miller. Ist Lieut., James Patterson. 2d Lieut., Alex. Hason. Ensign, John Andrews.
2d Lieut., Samuel Jamison. Ensign, Robert Johnston.
Third Company.
Seventh Company.
Captain, John Johnston. Captain, Patrick Marshall. Ist Lient., Joshua Walker. Ist Lient., John Caldwell. 2d Lieut., Joshua Tweed. 2d Lient., William Calhoun. Ensign, William Herd.
Ensign, William Bigham.
Eighth Company.
Fourth Company. Captain, Thomas White. Captain, John Paxton. Ist Lieut., Thomas Clark. ist Lieut., William Ramsey. 2d Lieut., John Reed. 2d Lient., John Shannon. Ensign, William Brown. Ensign, Peter Simpson.
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Third Battalion. (Commissioned July 1, 1777 ) Colonel, Alexander Lowry. Lient. Col., James Cunningham. Major, Jacob Cooke.
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First Company. Sixth Company.
Captain, Robert McKee. Captain, Andrew Boggs. Ist Lieut., James Scott. 2d Lieut., Hugh Hall. Ensign, James Carothers.
Ist Lieut., George Redsecker. 2d Lieut., Robert Jamison. Ensign, William Meyers.
Second Company.
Seventh Company.
Captain, Thos. Robinson. Captain, Abraham Scott. Ist Lieut., Rob't Robinson. ist Lieut., Michael Peters. 2d Lieut., James Miller. Ensign, Robert Boal.
2d Lieut., John Bishop. Ensign, Abraham Scott, Jr.
Third Company.
Eighth Company. Captain, Hugh Pedan.
Captain, Joseph Work. Ist Lieut., William Wilson. Ist Lieut., Patrick Hays. 2d Lieut., James Cook. Ensign, James Wilson.
Fourth Company.
Captain, David McQuown. Captain, Abraham Forry. Ist Lient., Rob. McQuown. Ist Lieut., Noah Carey. ed Lient., Matthew Hays. 2d Lien ?. , Steven Wimer. Ensign, James Hays. Ensign, John Dyer.
Fifth Company.
Captain, Robert Craig. Ist Lieut., John Cook 2d Lient., Zach's Moore. Ensign, Walter Bell.
2d Lieut., Benjamin Mills. Ensign, Arthur Hays.
Ninth Company-Aug. 16, 1777.
Tenth Company-Oct. 28, 1778 Captain, Chris. Earhart (or Martin Arehart). Ist Lieut., Noah Ceasey. 2d Lieut., Andras Shell. 3d Lient., John Florey.
Philadelphia County. 289
Fourth Battalion. Colonel, Robert Elder. Lieut. Col., James Cowden. Major, Stephen Forster.
First Company.
Fifth Company.
Captain, James Murray. Captain, James Clark. Ist Lieut., George Cochran. Ist Lieut., William Johnson. 2d Lieut., George Bell. 2d Lieut., George Clark. Ensign, Elisha Chambers.
Ensign, Peter Sturgeon.
Second Company.
Sixth Company. Captain, Martin Weaver.
Captain, James Collier. Ist Lieut., Henry McKen. Ist Lieut., Philip Newbecker. 2d Lieut., Sam'l Hutchin- 2d Lieut., Philip Rausculp. Ensign, John Scheesley.
son. Ensign, Samuel Shearer.
Third Company.
Seventh Company.
Captain, John Rutherford. Captain, Michael Whitley. Ist Lieut., Thos. McArthur. Ist Lieut., Andrew Stewart. 21 Lieut., Wm. Mont- ed Lieut., John Dickey. gomery. Ensign, Joseph Simpson. Eusign, Robert Gray.
Fourth Company.
Eighth Company. Captain, James Crouch. Captain, John Gilchrist. Ist Lieut., Jonathan Mc- Ist Lieut., William Swan. Clure. 2d Lieut., Mat. Gilchrist. 2d Lient., Fred'k Hubley. Ensign, Andrew Berryhill. Ensign, Daniel Dowdle.
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Fifth Battalion.
Colonel, Jacob Clatz.
Lieut. Col., Philip Stouffer.
Major, Jacob Richard.
Cuplains, Mich'l App, Ja's Krug, John Graff, George Franciscus, Peter Shaffner, Ch'r Petrie, Wm. Devis, Adam Wilhelm.
Ist Lieuts., Ludw. Heck, John Maurer, Peter Diffe- dorfer, Andrew Cunningham, George Bigler, Henry Shauffer.
2d Lieuts., Jacob Shaefer, Valentine Krug, Ch'r Mayer, George Leitaer, John Bredigam, Jobn Griner.
Ensigns, George Stragly, Hen'r 'Giger, Philip Witzel, Henry Groff, Geo. Koch.
Sixth Battalion. (Commissioned July 31, 1777.) Colonel, John Rogers. Lieut. Col., Robert Clark. Major, William Brown.
First Company. Fifth Company.
Captain, Thos. Kopenhef- Captain, Patrick Hays. fer. Is! Lieut., Samuel Weir. 2d Lieut., James Wallace. Ensign, James Willson.
Ist Lieut., William Hill. 2d Lieut., John Barnett. Ensign, John Armstrong.
Second Company.
Captain, Ambrose Crain. Ist Lieut., Isaac Hanna. 2d Lieut., James Stewart. Ensign, John Bickel.
Sixth Company.
Captain, Joseph McClure. Ist Lieut., James Johnson. 2d Lieut., James Willson. Ensign, Joseph Willson.
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Third Company.
Seventh Company.
Captain, Jas. McCreight. Captain, William Laird. Ist Lieut., Abr'm Latcha. Ist Lieut., John McFarland. 2d Lieut., John Strain. Ensign, James Willson.
2d Lieut., Michael Rahn. Ensign, Jacob Becker.
Fourth Company.
Eighth Company.
Captain, William McCul- Captain, Michael Moyer. lough. Ist Lient., Abraham Allis. Ist Lieut., Wm. Young. 2d Lieut., Michael Brown. 2d Lieut., George Beasor. Ensign, Peter Lineaweaver. Ensign, John Thomson.
Seventh Battalion. Colonel, John Boyd. Lieut. Co !. , George Stewart. Major, James Mercer.
First Company.
Fifth Company.
(Strasburg Township.) Captain, James Brown. ist Lieut., Alex. Hunter.
(Stroudsburg Township.) Captain, John Slaymaker. Ist Lieut., George Mellvain. 2d Lieut., Alex. Campbell. 2d Lient., Daniel Huston. Ensign, Jas. Campbell.
Ensign, Samuel Hawthorne.
Second Company. Sixth Company. (Saulsbury Township.) (Saulsbury Township.) Captain, David Whitehill. Captain, William Brisben. Ist Lieut., John Caldwell. Ist Lieut., John Hoffer. 2d Lieut., Jas. Henderson. 2d Lieut., John McSawin. Ensign, Jno. Whitehill, Jr. Ensign, Sammel Hughes.
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Third Company. (Leacock Township.) Captain, John Rowland. Ist Lieut., Jas. Hamilton. Ist Lieut., James Woods. 2d Lieut., John Moore. Ensign, Abram Line.
Fourth Company. (Lampeter Township.) Captain, Samuel Heans. Ist Lieut., James Davis. 2d Lieut., John Scott. Ensign, John Slater.
Seventh Company. (Leacock Township.) Caplain, Robert McCurdy.
2d Lieut., Jacob Herbert. Ensign, Robert Young.
Eighth Company. (Lampeter Township.) Captain, Henry Kendrick. Ist Lieut., John Carpenter. 2d Lieut., Geo. Diffenbaugh. Ensign, Daniel Lemmon.
Eighth Battalion.
No record is given of this battalion except, under date of November 18, 1777, the announcement of the appoint- ments of the following officers :
Captain, James Barber. Ist Lieut., Robert Barber, Jr. 2d Lieut., John Barber. Ensign, James Patton.
Ninth Battalion. Colonel, John Huber. Lieut. Col., Samuel Jones. Major, Adam Bower.
Captain, John Gingrich. Ist Lieut., vacancy.
First Company. Fifth Company. Captain, Joseph Gehr. ist Lieut., vacancy.
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2d Lieut., vacancy. 2d Lieut., Peter Geistwite. Ensign, Andrew Ehrman. Ensign, Abraham Bower.
Second Company.
Sixth Company. Captain, Bernard Gardner. Captain, Christian Hollinger. Ist Lieut., Conrad Haase. Ist Lieut., Michael Horner. 2d Lieut., John Senseman. Ensign, Philip Beck.
2d Lieut., Christian Garman. Ensign, John Jones.
Third Company. Captain, George Feather. Captain, John Smuller. Ist Lieut., Ludwick Hoffer. Ist Lieut., John Moeller. 2d Lient., John Hoffer. Ensign, Andrew Ream.
Seventh Company.
2d Lieut., vacancy. Ensign, vacancy.
Fourth Company. Captain, Isaac Adam.
Eighth Company. Captain, George Foulke. Ist Lieut., Adam Eichholtz. Ist Lient., John Martin. 2 d Lieut., John Bechthold. 2d Lieut., Daniel Parry. Ensign, Philip Broadstone. Ensign, Joseph Bemersderfer.
Tenth Battalion. Colonel, David Jenkins. Lieut. Col., Jacob Karpenter. Major, Henry Mercie.
First Company. Fifth Company.
Captain, John Lutts. Captain, Joseph Jenkins.
Lieut., Thomas Elliott.
Lieut., Christopher Heft. Henry Wite. Joseph Williams.
Ensign, Peter Bleaser. Ensign, James Patterson.
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Captain, James Davies.
Lient., Samuel Elliott.
Second Company. Sixih Company Captain, James Watson. Lient., John Kirkpatrick. Alex'r McIlvain. Ensign, Thomas McMullen.
Third Company.
Seventh Company.
Captain, Martin Bowman. Caplain, Eman'l Carpenter. Lieut., George Duck. Lient., Rudy Statfor. John Ream. John Rudy. Ensign, Jacob Swarts- Ensign, James Harber. welder.
Fourth Company.
Captain, George Rees. Lieut., Valentine Kinser. Jno. Diffenderffer. Ensign, John Shiverly.
Eighth Company. Captain, William Crawford. Lient., John Davies. " James Wallace. Sub. Lien !. , Simon Snyder. Christopher Graw- ford. Ensigu, James Vogan.
BERKS COUNTY.
Berks county furnished the following battalions. The roster is under date of August 27, 1777.
First Battalion-August 5, 1777, to January 5, 1778. (At Brandywine and Germantown and later.) Colonel, Daniel Hunter. Lient. Col., Jacob Boyer. Major, Martin Kercher.
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Captains, Conrad Geist, Joseph McMurray, Charles Krause, John Lesher, Jacob Whetstone, Christopher Foulke.
Second Battalion-August 5, 1777, to January 5, 1778. (At Brandywine and Germantown and later.) Colonel, Daniel Udree. Lient. Col., John Guldin. Captains, Stephen Krumrein, John Reitmeyer, George Battorf, John Eisington, Peter Smith, Conrad Minch.
The following battalions joined the army after the battle of Brandywine, serving until January 5, 1778.
Third Battalion.
Colonel, Michael Lindemuth.
Captains, Sebastian Leutz, Daniel Deturck, Jacob Rother- mel, David Strouse, Sebastian Miller, Jacob Shartly, George Souter, George Beaver.
Fourth Battalion.
Colonel, Joseph Hiester.
Captains, Sebastian Emerick, Peter Nagle, George Grant, Conrad Weiser.
Fifth Battalion.
Lieut. Col., George Miller. Captains, Michael Bretz, George Reihm.
Sixth Battalion.
Colonel, Henry Spyker.
Captains, Michael Vogge, Jacob Rhoads, Jacob Shappell, Henry Weaver, Conrad Eckert, Jacob Hill.
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Colonel, Jacob Weaver. Major, John Cinte.
Captains, Daniel Reif, John Eagner, Ferdinand Ritter, Philip Creek, David Morgan, Jacob Kremer, Philip Filbert, Conrad Mingle.
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY.
The following battalions are given for Northampton county :
First Battalion --- June, 1777.
Colonel, George Hubner. Lient. Col., Peter Sayler. Major, Philip Mixel. Captains, Joseph Frey, Christopher Jonsson, George Groff, Edward Sheimer, John Roberts, Friedrich Cleine- hautz, Francis Rhoads, Jacob Wagner.
Second Ballalion-June, 1777.
Colonel, George Breinig. Lieut. Col., Stephen Bolliet. Major, Frederick Limbuch.
Captains, William Sheffer, George Knappenberger, Peter Shuler, John Moritz, Peter Traxler, Jr., Henry Ritz, Christian Fisher, Daniel SImyder.
Third Battalion-June, 1777.
Colonel, Michael Bobst. Lieut. Col., Michael Teibert. Major, Philip Beninghoff.
Captains, Adam Staller, William Mayer, Christian Mar- burger, Jacob Horner, Conrad Reather, Matthias Probst, John Krom, Joseph Sigfriet.
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Northampton County.
Fourth Battalion -- June, 1777.
Colonel, John Sigfrit. Lieut. Col., Nicholas Kern. Major, James Boyd.
Captains, John Gregory, George Edelman, Henry Bow- man, William Kromer, Frederick Coons, John Bal- stone, George Rondebush, Paul Flick.
Fifth Battalion-June, 1777.
Colonel, Abraham Labar, Lient. Col., Isaac Sidman.
Major, Robert Traill.
Captains, William Roup, Jacob Weygandt, Henry Law- all, Michael Huber, John Deichman, Adam Sorwer, George Engle, John Santee.
Sixth Battalion-June, 1777.
Colonel, Jacob Stroud. Lieut. Col., Abraham Miller. Major, John Gaston.
Captains, Anthony Shymer, Alexander Forsman, John Nelson, Johannes Van Etten, Henry Sawitz, Patrick Campbell, Timothy Jayne, Samuel Hover.
Seventh Battalion-May 21, 1782.
Colonel, Christian Shouss.
Captain, George Smethers, July 11, 1781. Captain, George Nolff, May 21, 1782.
The following imperfect data are given relative to Col. Brinigh's battalion (probably the Second battalion ), while in service at Billingsport, November 5, 1777.
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Col. Brinigh's Battalion.
Colonel, George Brinigh.
Captain, Christian Johnston, 13 men.
Captain, George Roudebush, 17 men.
Captain, , 25 men.
Lieut., Benjamin 20 men.
Captain, Jacob Weigand, 19 men.
Captain, George Kappenberger, 33 men.
On the list of officers mentioned as in service in 1777 are the following names :
Lieut. Col., Michael Probst, June, 1777.
Captain, Adam Stahler, June, 1777.
Captain, Joseph Kooken, June, 1777.
Captain, George Knappenberger, September, 1777.
Lient., Joseph Lorish, September, 1777 (Second Bat.).
YORK COUNTY.
The only data given for York county are the following :
Col. James Thompson's Battalion.
As it stood at Wilmington, Del., September 3, 1777. First Company, Captain William Dodds, 18 men. Second Company, Captain Samuel Ferguson, 41 men. Third Company, illegible, - men.
Fourth Company, Captain Thomas Latta, 31 men. Fifth Company, Captain John Laird, 32 men. Sixth Company, Captain Peter Ford, 27 men. Seventh Company, Captain John Myers, 18 men.
York County. 299
First Battalion.
(As of October 1, 1777.)
Third Company.
Fourth Company.
Captain, Christ. Kauffman. Captain, Daniel May. Ist Lieut., John Shafer. Ist Lieut., Andrew Milhorn.
2d Lieut., Henry Smith. 2d Lieut., Henry Yessler.
Ensign, Jacob Strehr. Ensign, Frederick Spahr.
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THE OLD COURT HOUSE AT YORK.
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Second Battalion.
(As of October 1, 1777.)
Colonel, William Rankin. Lieut. Col., John Ewing. Major, John Morgan.
First Company. Fifth Company.
Captain, William Ashton. Captain, Emanuel Herman. Ist Lieut., Mal. Steabley. Ist Lieut., William Momeyer. 2d Lieut., James Elliott. 2d Lient., John Rothrock. Ensign, John Crull.
Second Company.
Sixth Company.
Captain, John Rankin. Captain, John Mausberger. Ist Lieut., Joseph Hunter. Ist Lieut., Henry Matthias. 2d Lieut., John Ashton.
2d Lieut., George Meyer. Ensign, Daniel McHenry. Ensign, Jacob Kepler.
Third Company.
Seventh Company.
Caplain, Simon Copen- Captain, Jost. Horbach. hafer.
ist Licht., Peter Shultz. Ist Lient., Mich'l Shriver. 2d Lieut., Baltzer Rudisill. 2d Lieut., Andrew Smith. Ensiga, Michael Ettinger. Ensign, Jacob Gotwalt.
Fourth Company.
Captain, Philip Gartner. Ist Licut., John Higher.
Eighth Company.
Captain, ---- Wallis. Ist Lieut., Henry Leepert. 2d Lieut., John Jordan. Ensign, James Schultz, Jr.
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THE MAIN STREET OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE CONGRESS MET, 1777-1778.
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The campaign of 1778 began with the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, followed, shortly after, by the battle of Monmouth. Determined to strike an ef- fective blow against the enemy Washington asked to be reinforced by the Pennsylvania militia, which was done. From this time, until the close of the war, various bat- talions, or companies, were in active service, at sundry times and for sundry purposes. The organizations which contained a large percentage of Pennsylvania-Germans, as far as the records show, will be named.
Many companies, besides, were ordered on expeditions against the Indians on the frontiers, to which a separate chapter will be devoted.
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY. Col. I'm. Bradford's Battalion.
As of Nov. 2, 1778. Commissioned Sept. 14, 1778.
Captains, John Linton, Isaac Cooper, Jeremiah Fisher,
Henry Meyers ( Lieut. Commanding), Joshua HIumph- reys, James Hood.
Col. W'm. Dean's Fourth Battalion.
As of Dec. 22, 1778. Commissioned Dec. 8-11, 1778. Captains, Samuel Hines, Philip Hahn, Jacob Peterman.
Col. Wm. Bradford's Battalion. (First Regiment of Foot.)
Captain, Edw .. Paschall, commission August 21, 1779, muster roll at Fort Mifflin, October 18, 1779.
Captain, Ezekiel Letts, commission August 25, 1779, muster roll at Billingsport, October 18, 1779.
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Philadelphia County. Artillery Regiment-Col. Jehn Eyre.
Captain, Andrew Summers, Fifth Company, commission August 13, 1779, muster at Fort Mifflin and Billings- port, October 18, 1779.
Col. Benj. G. Eyre's Second Battalion.
Commissioned Aug. 10, 1780 -- Muster at Trenton, N. J., Aug. 31, 1780.
Captains, Elijah Weed, John Kling, John Hewson.
Artillery.
Commissioned Aug. 10, 1780-Muster at Trenton, N. J., Aug. 31, 1780.
Captains, Joseph Watkins, John Ogborn.
Col. William Will's Battalion. (Third Regiment of Foot.)
Commissioned Aug. 10, 1780-Muster at Trenton, N. J., Aug. 31, 1780.
Captains, Andrew Burkhard, Michael Gilbert.
Major Richard Sulter's Battalion. Commissioned Feb. 4, 1781.
Captain, Christian Shaffer, muster of February 5, 1781. Captain, John Geyer, muster of February 9, 1781. Captain, William Bower, muster of March 5, 1781.
Major David Reese's Battalion.
Commissioned July 2, 1781-Muster of July 4, 178 1. Captains, Samuel McLane, Conrad Rush, James Hood.
Commissione Sept. 2, 1761 Master of Sept. 3, 1781. Captains, Warwick Coats, Jr., George Taylor.
Capt. Philip Waggoner's Company.
Commissioned Nov. 1, 1781-Muster of Nov. 3, 1781.
LANCASTER COUNTY.
All returns as of August 26, 1780. First Ballalion ..
Lieut. Col., George Stewart.
Captains, John Slater, Enoch Hastings, Alex. White, William Skyles, William. Smith, , , William Brisben.
Third Battalion.
Lieul. Col., Jacob Bower.
Captains, Philip Dock, Andrew Ream, George Reist, Joseph Gehr, Jacob Vanderslice, Philip Peck, -, John Smuller.
Fourth Battalion.
Lieut. Col., Ludwig Meyer.
Captains, Frederick Rodfong, Jacob Brand, Jacob Metz- ger, Christian Doman, Alex. Scott, Jr., Joseph Wright, James Patton, James Beard.
Fifth Battalion.
Lieut. Col., Jacob Carpenter.
Captains, William Crawford, Samuel Elliot, Alexander McIlvaine, Joseph Jenkins, John Lutz, Martin Bow- man, Randolph Statler, Martin Holman.
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Sixth Battalion.
Lieut. Col., James Taylor.
Captains, John Caldwell, Robert Campbell, John Dun- can, Robert Miller, James Clark, Joseph Walker, John Patton, Thomas Gormley.
Seventh Battalion.
Lieut. Col., Alexander Lowrey.
Captains, Andrew Boggs, Abraham Scott, Thomas Robin- son, David McQuown, Noah Keesey, William Willson, Robert McKee, Hugh Pedan.
Eighth Battalion. Commissions dated May 10, 1780.
Lieut. Col., James Ross.
Captains, John Hubley, John Ewing, Joseph Hubley, Willianı Wirtz, Samuel Boyd, John Miller, James Davis, Jacob Wilhelm.
Ninth Battalion.
Lieut. Col., John Rogers.
Captains, William Allen, Patrick Ilays, Ambrose Crain, John Harkensider, James McCreight, James Willson, Daniel Bradley, William Laird.
Tenth Battalion.
Lieut. Col., Robert Elder.
Captains, James Murray, George McMillen, William Johnston, Hugh Robinson, Andrew Stewart, Samuel Cochran, Martin Weaver, Jonathan AcClure.
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Second Battalion. As of December 15, 1781.
Colonel, Thomas Edwards.
Captains, Baltzar Orth, Michael Holderbaum, Casper Stoever, David Krause, John Moore, John Stein, Matthias Henning.
BERKS COUNTY.
The active service records are given of but two bat- talions :
Third Battalion. Marched August 11, 1780.
Lieut. Col., Jonathan Jones.
Captains, David Weidner, Thomas Hamilton, Adam Beard, George Graul, George Ax, John Ludwig.
Sixth Battalion.
In service from Aug. 10, 1780, to Sept. 9, 1780. Lieut. Col., Joseph Hiester.
Captains, Charles Gobin, Ferdinand Ritter, Conrad Shir- man, John Ludwig, Jacob Baldy, Henry Strouch.
Guards for Prisoners of War.
Captains, Peter Nagel, Conrad Geist.
Guarding Prisoners of War. Captain, Charles Krause, August 13, 1781.
York County. 307
In Service at Newtown, October 1, 1781.
Captain, John Robinson.
YORK COUNTY.
Guarding Prisoners, November to December, 1781.
Captain, Andrew Forman, commissioned October 10, 1781.
PASTORAL SCENE IN YORK COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIM.
ON THE FRONTIERS AGAINST THE INDIANS.
HE employment of the savage during the Rev- olutionary War, by the Brit- ish government, was, unques- tionably, a most barbarous act, unworthy of a civilized power, and it is much to the credit of the Americans that they themselves, on the con- trary, refused to take advan- tage of this alluring tempta- tion. It is probably unfair, to some extent at least, that we should view this transaction through our twentieth century glasses, when making our criticism. One hundred and fifty years ago the Indian was a welcome and necessary ally against the encroachments of the French, and it was not altogether unnatural that the English should again turn to him in their time of need, some twenty years later. In doing so, however, they overlooked the fact that conditions had
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On the Frontiers Against the Indians. 309
entirely changed, that the scene of hostilities was then far removed from the haunts of the savage, that the em- ployment of such an inhuman ally could be of no material advantage to them, or their cause, that it meant only the unnecessary shedding of the blood of those who were their own brethren, with that of their helpless wives and chil- dren, and that, above all, their adversaries, realizing the facts just mentioned, had refused to employ the same means, as no longer within the pale of civilization. It is for these reasons the American people look, with just horror and reproach, upon the terrible atrocities which their ancestors were called upon to suffer through the acts of the barbarous ally whom the British authorities enlisted under their banner.
Various tribes of Indians were stirred to unrest by the continuance of the Revolutionary War, but the Six
Nations of New York were those largely employed by the British in their marauding expeditions along the frontiers. With the surrender of Burgoyne, and consequent weaken- ing of the British force in New York, the aid of the
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savage became especially welcome and necessary in the operations as there carried on.
Taking advantage of the absence at the front, in the Continental service, of nearly all the able-bodied men of the vicinity, on July 3, 1778, the eve of the second anni- versary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independ- ence, the British troops, composed of Sir John Johnson's Royal Greens (Tory), Tory Rangers and Indians, fell upon and massacred the helpless people of the Wyoming Valley.
Although not a few Pennsylvania-Germans were among the victims of the massacres which took place at that time yet it is not so much with this sad, but familiar, tale we have to do as with the vengeance which followed in its footsteps.
The various bodies of rangers, in constant service, proving inadequate to check the ravages of the Indians, it was wisely decided to have a body of regular troops carry the war into their own villages, drive them away or exterminate them, and to utterly destroy their homes, their crops and their substance, thus rendering them en- tirely helpless and powerless.
The first expedition sent out was that under command of Col. William Butler, consisting of a part of the Fourth Pennsylvania Continental Regiment, a part of Morgan's Rifle Corps, and some militia, in number about 260. In the Fourth regiment was Capt. Scull's company, largely Pennsylvania-German, with a considerable percentage in the rest of the organization, and in Morgan's Rifle Corps were also many Pennsylvania-Germans.
Shortly after the battle of Monmouth (June 26, 1778), Col. Butler was ordered to Schoharie, New York, to pre- vent the depredations of the savages. There a punitive
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