USA > Pennsylvania > The Pennsylvania-German in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 > Part 19
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"the shades of death," it must truly have appeared a haven of peace and beauty to their anxious eyes.
It was mercifully spared the attack of Brant, and his force of Tories and Indians, in the summer of 1779, who had approached within a short distance and was only turned back because of Sullivan's threatened invasion of his own country.
Fort Penn became the storehouse of supplies for Gen. Sullivan, and it was past its gates his army marched both when going and upon their victorious return.
It was the refuge for all the distressed settlers when threatened by the enemy.
The fort was located back from the present Main Street of Stroudsburg, at the curve just west of Chestnut Street, opposite the M. E. Church.
Besides the regular troops, of which detailed mention has been made, many companies of Frontier Rangers were in active service at all times. Even after the blow struck by Gen. Sullivan predatory parties of savages were con- stantly in motion, committing outrages here and there, which needed unwearied watching. This condition of af- fairs kept up until the close of the war. if not longer.
Most of these companies came from counties contain- ing but few Pennsylvania-Germans, so few, in many cases, as not to warrant, for our purpose, the space required to mention them. Those which the records in existence show to have been Pennsylvania-German will now be given.
BERKS COUNTY.
Captains, Jacob Ladick, Jacob Rhorer, Fred. Miller, James Gleaves, George Rheem, Charles Krause, John Robinson, and Lient., Daniel Stroud, Commanding.
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THE PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN SOCIETY,
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GEN, JOHN SULLIVAN.
B. FEBRUARY 17, 1740. D JULY 23, 1795.
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MONONGAILLA COUNTY.
Captain, John Wetzel, "ranging in Monongahela and Ohio county, from April 22 to July 25, 1778, under Col. Daniel McFarland."
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Captains, Jno. Kreps, John Crisp, Jno. Kilps, Christopher Truby, James Leech.
YORK COUNTY.
Captain, Andrew Forman, guarding prisoners at Camp Security, November to December, 1781.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Captains, Joseph Green, Casper Huntsacher, George Overmier, John Moll, Jno. Waggoner, Nicholas Bit- tinger, George Swartz, George Obermier, William Wyrick, Michael Weaver, Michael Motze.
First Battalion-May 1, 1778.
Colonel, John Kelly.
Captains, John Forster, 55 men; James Thompson, 44 men; George Overinier, 51 men; Samuel Fisher, 55 men; Samuel Young, 51 men; Abraham Piatt, 53 men ; William Irvin, 53 men; William Gray, 44 men.
Second Battalion -- May 1, 1778.
Colonel, James Murray.
Captains, Thomas Gaskins, 61 men ; John Nelson, 60 men ; David Hayes, 63 men; Arthur Taggart, 66 men; James McMahon, 57 men; Robert Reynolds, 43 men ; John Chatham, 49 men; John Clingman, 73 men.
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Third Battalion-May 1, 1778.
Colonel, Peter Hosterman.
Captains, Casper Reed, 34 men; Michael Weaver, 63 men; Samuel Harris, 54 men; John Mull, 55 men; John Black, 49 men; William Wyrick, 56 men; Adam Shaffer, 82 men; Michael Motze, 46 men.
Fourth Battalion -- May 1, 1778.
Colonel, Cookson Long.
Captains, Thomas Wilson, 48 men; Simon Cole, 42 men ; Joseph Newman, 43 men; Thomas Kemplin, 46 men; William Hepburn, 45 men; Alexander Hamilton, 41 men.
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY.
Caplains, Peter Rothe, Jno. Jacoby, Jno. Gregory, Lewis Stocker, George Smith, Frederick Shuler, Jno. Van Etten, Jno. Deiter, George Shriver, Henry Shoemaker, Benj. Shanover, Peter Keippord, Paul Flick, Philip Shrawder (Feb. 10, 1781 to June 1, 1782), Philip Knause, Richard Shaw, Henry Geiger, Jno. Wyand, William Myers, Cassimir Greensmire, Lewis Stocker (July 30, 1784), Jacob Heller, John Lyles, Christian Rood (Lieut. Commanding), Charles Myers, Henry Ritts, John Ritter, Peter Strowell, Adam Dell, George Wolf, Adam Stocker, Adam Stahler, Jno. Gregory, Samuel Hoover.
Members of Fifth Battalion, ordered to march July 30, 1778, from companies of Captains Buss, Wyand, Lawald, Reeser, Deichman, Ileimer, Engle, Sentee.
Members of First Battalion, Col. Balliot, ordered July 22, 1781, commanded by Capt. Henry Reitz.
From companies of Captains Zerfass, Jacoby,
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George Strine, Jo. Kooken, Trexler, Greenmayer, Reitz.
Sixth class, First Battalion, Lieut. Col Henry Geiger, ordered November 15, 1781, commanded by Capt. Casper Greenmayer.
First class, Col. Christian Shaus, September 22, 1781, Captain Adam Serfoos.
Fifth and Sixth Battalions, Col. Nicholas Kern, service at Wyoming, July 30, 1784, Captains Lewis Stecher, John Van Etten.
Muster Roll of Capt. Van Etten's Volunteer Company.
Commissioned June 15, 1780, mustered at Fort Penn,
January 15, 1781, by Jacob Stroud, Lieut. Col.
Captain, Johannes Van Etten.
Ist Lieut., John Fish.
2d Lieut., John Myer.
Ensigns, Henry Bush, James Scoby, commissioned Sep-
tember 1, 1780, taken prisoner September 1I, 1780.
Sergeants.
Thomas Johnston.
Samuel Hellet.
James Scoby, promoted ensign September 1, 1780.
Frederick Everhart.
Joseph Gable, August 30.
George Price.
Corporals.
Lewis Holmes. Thomas Gay.
Samuel Bond, killed Sep. tember II. Adam Hicker.
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Privates.
Samuel Vandermark.
Peter Croom, killed Sept. TI.
Daniel McDale.
John Morhart.
Johannes Snyder.
John Kouts, killed Sept. II. Andrew Mourer.
Rudolph Smith.
Adam Lung.
Abraham Clider (Klader), George Shilhamer, killed killed Sept. 11.
Daniel Smith.
George Gongaware.
John Myer.
Peter Apler.
John Weaver.
Daniel France.
Laurence Miller.
Jacob Arndt, killed Sept. II. Samuel Summeny.
George Pigg.
Jacob Collens.
Jolin Robenholr.
Henry Davis.
Leonerd Pack.
John Sack.
Philip George, killed Sept. 11. Peter McCoy.
George Ripsher.
John Hunn.
Peter Snyder.
Abraham Wisner.
Peter Lasher.
Uriah Tippy.
Jacob Cryder.
Paul Reeser.
Coanrode Kowler. John Napsnyder. Adam Teel.
Ballser Wever.
George Heater.
John Smith, Jr.
Voluntine Nicolas.
Christian Wood.
George Hikman. Jolın Smith.
Henry France.
John Wetherstone.
Bond Heive.
Christian Haller.
John Morgan.
John Hain.
Sept. II. Paul Neely, killed Sept. P.I.
Abraham Smith, killed Sept. 11. John Lyn, absent, sick.
Job Stout.
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Jacob Houser.
Michael Yerty.
Peter Siner.
Adam Bruntliaver.
Peter Tubalt Coans, prisoner Antony Bishop.
Sept. II.
John Snider.
Philip George Shilhamer.
Peter Daniel.
Baltzer Snyder, killed Sept. Peter Simonton.
II.
John Dayley.
Philip Bitten, deserted Nov. Henry Van Garden.
IO.
Abraham Westfall.
George Peter Renhart, killed Cornelius Devoor. Sept. II.
Casper Clutter. Solomon Huff.
Andrew Myer.
Peter Quick.
Thomas Heive.
Thomas Van Sikkle.
James McGraw, killed
Samuel Van Garden.
Sept. II.
Joseph Gable, to sergeant, Jacob Row, killed Sept. 11. Aug. 30.
The date of death of the above members of Capt. Van Etten's company, September rr, the same day and month as that of the battle of Brandywine, has led various his- torians carelessly to state the fact that this company was at Brandywine and there lost heavily. Such was not the case, and it is well that this error should now be corrected. A mere glance will show the reader that the year is 1780 and not 1777.
The tragic death of these Pennsylvania-German volun- teers, however, is a tale of its own, well worth the re- lating. The occurrence is more generally known as
THE SUGAR LOAF MASSACRE.
The regions of Pennsylvania to the north of the Blue Mountains, including what is generally known as the
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Wyoming Valley, contained many tory sympathizers with and adherents to the cause of Great Britain. Those who took up arms openly against their brethren were bad enough, with their heartless and merciless methods of warfare, but, in one sense, those who acted secretly as spies, to convey information of American movements, were still worse, because so much the more difficult to guard against.
It was these latter who enabled the savages and tories to successfully, and with immunity, swoop down upon their victims; it was they who kept watch on Sullivan's movements, and those of all other expeditions. After Sullivan's victorious return they were the more moved, by a desire for revenge, to carry on their nefarious work. To such an extent was this done that Col. Hunter, in command at Fort Augusta (Sunbury) decided upon ag- gressive action and resolved to put an end to their trans- actions, as well as those of his enemies who were openly in the field. Captain D. Klader, of Northampton county, with a detachment of Captain John Van Etten's company, was ordered forward to join the enterprise. Unfortu- nately for them, the tory spies learned of the movement and imparted their knowledge to the enemy under the fol- lowing circumstances.
On September 6, 1780, a body of tories and Indians, numbering some 250 or 300, appeared before Fort Rice, in Lewis township of Northumberland county, on the headwaters of the Chilisquake, some seventeen miles front Fort Augusta, and made a vigorous attack upon it. This, however, was gallantly repulsed by Capt. Rice's company of the German Continental Regiment. Reinforcements were at once ordered to their relief by Col. Hunter, and the in- habitants warned of their danger. The arrival of these
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additional troops caused the enemy to break up into smaller bodies and retreat in different directions, destroy- ing everything in their way.
To one of these parties, numbering about forty, was announced the coming of Capt. Klader's small force. They immediately proceeded to the site of the present town of Berwick, where they crossed over the river and followed the path leading from the Susquehanna to Northampton, a distance of about seven miles from Nescopeck. Here, in Sugar Loaf Valley, southwestern part of Luzerne county, they lay in ambush, and awaited the arrival of their unsuspecting victims.
In the meanwhile, Capt. Klader, after toiling labori- ously to the summit of the Buck Mountain, had taken the path leading by the "old toll-house," thence down the side of the mountain, through a ravine, over the farm of N. Wagner and across the creek below, until they came to what had been a Scotch settlement, but now, because of the border troubles, wholly deserted. To their great delight they saw before them open and cleared fields, covered with a luxuriant growth of grass, and beautiful with wild flowers. Weary as they were with the fatigue and hardship of their long march, when, for days, they had been tearing their way through the thickets and bushes, and clambering over logs and stones, they seemed to have entered upon a veritable paradise.
It was noontide of September 11, 1780, knapsacks were immediately unslung, and they entered upon the enjoyment of the hour. The very beauty of their sur- roundings lulled to rest all thought of danger. No one seemed to realize the necessity for watchful care. Each roamed about as best suited his fancy. Their guns were scattered here and there, some stacked, some leaning
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against stumps of logs, others lying Hat on the ground. The position of the men resembled that of their fire arms. Some were on the ground indulging in a smoke, one man was leaning against a tree with his shoes off, cleaning them out, others had gone for grapes, which grew there in abundance, of which party one had climbed a tree and was picking and eating the grapes from the vine which entwined it.
Suddenly, while in this condition, a volley of musketry was poured in upon them from an unseen foe, and, with it, rang out the terrible war-whoop of the savages, who, in a moment more, were in their midst, hewing down their victims with the murderous tomahawk. Some es- caped, and one or two were taken prisoners, but most of
Humble Server 7 Th. Schwy UM
AUTOGRAPH OF GENERAL SCHUYLER.
them were killed. A great-uncle of the Engle brothers, recently living in Hazleton and vicinity, escaped over the Nescopec Mountain; Abram Klader, brother of the offi- cer in command, concealed himself in Little Nescopec Creek, by clinging to a tree that had fallen across the stream, and keeping his face only above the water until the enemy had disappeared, when he emerged from his concealment and succeeded in reaching home; Frederick
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Shickler also escaped on Buck Mountain by avoiding the Indian trail, leaving it to his right, and keeping out of sight of the Indians, whose yells he could hear as they followed on in pursuit. Licut. Myer, Ensign Scoby, and private Peter Tubalt Coans were taken prisoners; the lieutenant escaped, while the other two were taken through to Niagara.
The man in the tree after grapes was shot and fell heavily to the ground beneath. Some were killed in one place and some in another, as they fled and were over- taken by their merciless foes. One soldier whose name cannot be designated, escaped part way up the ravine down which the troops had marched, and there hid him- self, but, unfortunately, was betrayed by the barking of his too faithful little dog that had followed him, and was slain. A comrade, secreted in a tree top near by, wit- nessed the scene. Capt. Klader, himself, did not succumb until after performing deeds of valor which caused his name to be remembered with feelings akin to veneration. He is said, by some, to have killed four, and, by others, seven of the enemy, before they finally slew and scalped him.
In time, the mutilated bodies of the dead were gathered by Van Campen, under directions of Col. Hunter, and decently interred.
Mr. C. F. Hill, of Hazleton, to whom I am under ob- ligations for the material contained in this sketch, says the body of Capt. Klader lies buried on the farm of Samuel Wagner, about half a mile from Conyngham, but no trace of the grave can now be seen. The oak tree, under whose branches he lay, and upon which were cut the initials of his name --- D. K .- was sacrilegiously cut
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down some thirty years ago, and even the stump is de- cayed and gone.
The names of those killed and captured will be noticed on Captain Van Etten's roll, just given, but, as there are a couple inaccuracies, they will be again mentioned.
Killed.
Captain, D. Klader, John Weaver, Baltzer Snyder, Samuel Bond, Corporal, John Kouts, George Peter Rein- hart, Peter Croom, George Shilhamer, Paul Neely, Abraham Smith, Jacob Arndt, Philip George, James Mc- Graw, Jacob Row, 14 persons.
Abraham Clider ( Klader), marked incorrectly as killed, escaped as described.
Prisoners.
John Meyer, Second Lieutenant, acting as commander after Klader's death, was captured but escaped.
James Scoby, Ensigil.
Peter Tabalt Coons.
This massacre so thoroughly aroused the authorities that they decided to clear out the tory settlement. It will be readily understood that, under the nature of things, this could not be done by force of arms. By a trick, however, the inhabitants were inveigled into confessing their guilt, whereupon they were haled before Col. Hunter, and, upon pledging themselves to leave the frontier settle- ments, not returning until after the close of the war, they were permitted to peacefully depart.
CHAPTER XIV.
OUR NON-COMBATANT PATRIOTS.
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NVMI
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HE Pennsylvania-German non- combatants have never re- ceived the praise to which they are entitled for their noble deeds during the Revolution.
By this term we do not mean, alone, those who, by chance, failed to be among the many who bore arms, but, especially, those whose religious principles forbade them to resist force by means of force, and to whom military service became a sin against their religion, and, as they believed, contrary to the Word of God.
Persecuted and maligned, because of their belief, ac- cused even of being traitors to their country and of aid- ing, abetting and harboring its enemies, they pursued, unmoved, their course, and by deed, instead of word, by example rather than precept, have proven to this genera- tion, if none other, the pureness of the motives by which they were actuated, and the unexcelled depth of their patriotism.
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There is no grander tale of the war than that which relates the sacrifices made by the Pennsylvania-German Moravians and Mystics in caring for the sick and wounded soldiers who were placed in their hospitals. It is not only grand but it is unique, for we hear of no similar occurrence elsewhere.
This chapter, then, is a story of the Pennsylvania- German hospitals of the Revolution.
In 1776 the general hospital of the American army had been established at Morristown, N. J., and eventually contained over one thousand sick and wounded soldiers. With the defeat at Long Island, the capture of Fort Washington, and the active operations in New Jersey, which followed, it became necessary to transfer these helpless ones to a safer place. The interior of Pennsyl- vania was selected, and, whether with good or evil intent, Bethlehem became the exact spot.
On December 3, 1776, Dr. Cornelius Baldwin, of the New Jersey Line, rode up to the clergy house and handed the astonished pastor, Rev. John Ettwcin, an order from Gen. Washington stating that "the General Hospital of the Army is removed to Bethlehem, and you will do the greatest Act of humanity by immediately providing proper buildings for their reception; the largest and most capa- cious will be most convenient." He was followed, the same evening, by Drs. Warren and William Shippen, and, say the Moravian records, "we assured them that we would do all we could for them." The population of Bethlehem, at that time, numbered about five hundred souls, and it is difficult to imagine what such an order meant to them.
Because of the willing disposition thus shown they were told that, of the one thousand inmates of the hospital
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THE OLD SUN TAVERN, BETHLEHEM.
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at Morristown, some five hundred would be taken to Easton (where they were largely placed in the German Reformed Church), and Allentown, while about one hun- dred and fifty would be brought to Bethlehem.
A portion of the Brethren's House having been vacated and prepared for the purpose, on December 5 thie first in- stalment of invalids began to arrive, followed, the next day, by crowds, whose sufferings from lack of care, ag- gravated by the cold weather, made them pitiable objects to behold, two dying while waiting to be removed from the wagons. Many more would have speedily perished had not the Moravians, moved to pity, promptly sup- plied their needs, as the stores for che hospital did not come until three days later.
As two more of the sick died on December 7 a bury- ing place became necessary, and a piece of ground was selected on the bluff across the Monocacy, back of the Indian House. There, subsequently, hundreds of graves were filled by the bodies of unnumbered and unregistered patriot dead.
On December 8, two dwellings were hurriedly cleared, to make room for the sick coming from Trenton, of whom a detachment arrived after dinner and remained on the opposite side of the river for two days.
Rev. Ettwein began his self-assumed duties as Chaplain on December 10, making, as regularly as possible, semi- weekly visits to all the wards, praying beside the rude pallets of suffering and dying men, "comforting the hearts of those who were professors of the Christian faith, point- ing those who were not to the Friend of sinners, and statedly preaching sermons, as the circumstances per- mitted." On New Year's Day, 1777, he visited each in- mate and wished him God's blessing.
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Towards the end of February the small-pox was brought to the town by some soldiers, but, through prompt action, its spread was averted. Still, disease, with the effects of exposure and hardship, was working sad
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BETHLEHEM, SHOWING CHURCH AND THE OLD HOSPITAL.
havoc among the sufferers in the hospital, and, by the twenty-seventh of March, 1777, when the hospital doors, as such, were closed for the first time, the number who succumbed had reached one hundred and ten. During all this time many attentions had been extended to the sick by the single brethren who remained in the house, by members of the congregation, and by the sisters who pre- pared lint and bandages. Furthermore, the Moravian carpenters inade the coffins and dug the graves of those who died. " Charitable offices," says Dr. Jordan, " which are not unworthy the remembrance of posterity."
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Following the battle of Brandywine, for the second time Bethlehem was called upon to be an asylum for the sick and wounded. On September 19, 1777, the authori- tics received the following communication from Dr. Ship- pen, Director-General of the Continental Hospital :
" My D'r Sir .- It gives me pain to be obliged by Order of Congress to send my sick and wounded to your peace- able village, but so it is. Your large buildings must be appropriated to their use. We will want room for two thousand at Bethlehem, Easton, Northampton, &c., and you may expect them Saturday or Sunday. . These are dreadful times, consequences of unnatural wars. I am truly concerned for your Society and wish sincerely this stroke could be averted, but 'tis impossible. . .
The next day, September 20, the single men vacated their house. Some of them were given quarters in various dwelling houses of the village, others removed to the Brethren's House at Christian's Spring and to Gnadenthal and Nazareth. By Sunday morning the building was all cleared save the kitchen, cellar and saddler's shop, which were to be occupied by a few of the single brethren who were to remain.
The wounded soldiers began to arrive on September 21, and, day by day, they continued to pour in. By Monday, September 25, the hospital was filled and tents were erected for those who could not be accommodated in the building. The demand for room became so great that it was proposed to utilize, in addition, the Widows' House, or a part of the Sisters' House, but this great hardship was averted by the presence, in Bethlehem, of many refugee members of Congress, who, after inspection and consultation, issued an order which set at rest the ques-
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tion and removed all danger of seizure from these build- ings.
Brandywine was followed by Germantown, and, on October 7, its wounded began to come, still further aug- menting the already great crowd of sufferers. On October 14 orders were received for the collection of clothing to
NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA, DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
go to the needy soldiers in the army, and, says the Moravian diarist : " We made several collections of blan- kets for the destitute soldiers, also shoes, stockings, and breeches for the convalescents in the hospitals, many of whom had come here attired in rags swarming with vermin, while others during their stay had been deprived of their all by their comrades."
By October 22, there were over four hundred in the Brethren's House alone, fifty in tents in the rear of it, besides numerous sick officers in other buildings, so, when a final train of wagons arrived, with their groaning suf- ferers, the surgeons refused to receive them, and they had to be sent to Easton.
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Early in December great numbers of sick soldiers were transferred from the hospitals in New Jersey to Bethle- hem. They came in open wagons, often amid snow and rain, with clothing insufficient to cover their fevered bodies from the piercing cold, and, between Christmas and New Year, upwards of seven hundred were reported in the Single Brethren's House alone.
The condition of affairs in the hospital became appal- ling. The number of patients had increased beyond the facilities of the surgeons to care for them. Some, as has been said, were forced to continue on to Easton, many dying on the way; some were so near their end they could be taken no further; with no room in the building some were crowded into open tents ; others, of the newly-arrived, were even denied this shelter and were laid on the ground, in the rain, to die; seventy were conveyed, on November 3, to the Geissinger farm, up the river. And yet, from lack of knowledge and management, those who were for- warding the sick continued to pour them into Bethlehem, where, if every building and house in the village had been turned into a hospital, the lack of provisions and everything else needed for their care would have sub- jected them to almost the same degree of privation as right on the field of battle.
'This terrible situation could not fail to bring forth its harvest. " The Brethren's House, especially the crowded and unventilated attic floor, had become a reek- ing hole of indescribable filth. The intolerable stench polluted the air to some distance around it. A malignant putrid fever broke out and spread its contagion from ward to ward. The physicians were helpless and the situation became demoralized. Men died at the rate of five, six or even a dozen, during one day or night. The carpenters
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