The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III, Part 112

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 112

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York, ( Pa. ) June 2.

There is in the Hospital of this place a young lady aged sixteen years Elizabeth Mundes by name, who complains somewhat of the great heat, and doubt- less not without good cause. She is in height 4 feet 9 inches, dimensions round the abdominal part of the body 5 feet 3 inches, and around the breast 4 feet 6 inches. She weighs 365 pounds. She would make a fine ap- pearance among the laced ladies on a Ball Room floor in a cold winter night .- Gaz.

EASTON, Penn. June 5.

Several sections of this county, in the neighborhood of Kaston, sustained considerable injury during the storm of wind and rain, which visited us on Friday after- noon last. A great number of fences were blown down, trees torn up by the roots, barns uncovered, &c. in ex- posed situations, fields of rye and wheat also suffered materially, the stalks being blown over and broken off by the violence of the gust; fortunately it came unac- companied by hail, had it been otherwise our farmers would have sustained much greater losses.

Since writing the above we have learnt with regret, that there has been hail in parts of Bethlehem and some other more remote townships, to complete the destruc- tion of grain, and that the rain fell so abundantly as to sweep away entire fields of corn.

RAPID TRAVELLING.

The new Express Line of splendid post coaches bc- tween this city and Easton, Pa. owned by our enterpris- ing mail contractor, James Reeside, left Easton this

morning at four, and arrived in this city at 1 o'clock and 20 minutes, performing the route in 9 hours and 20 min- utes, which I understand is the shortest passage ever made before. A PASSENGER.

The Lehigh Canal .- The first load of Coal passed through Lelugh port lock on the 9th of June. Two boats laden with about 40 tons and drawn by one horse, reached us in safety and proceeded on Wednesday morning to Bethlehem. The indefatigable manager. Friend White, was on board, and hundreds of our citi- zens were assembled to greet him. Lehigh Her.

Samuel Hinkle, the supervisor of Northampton town- ship dug out of the road, a sand stone weighing between 4 and 500 pounds, as round as a cannon ball. He in- tends to send it to Philadelphia, for the use of the ship Pennsylvania. Ib.

In an excursion on the Broad Mountain, in Schuylkill, county, during the past week, we were somewhat sur- prised at finding it literally alive with Locusts. Every tree, bush and even the ground appears covered with these merry insects. They do not appear there, as we were informed annually, and it lacks five of the seven- teen years, since we were last visited by them in this quarter. Reading paper.

WASHINGTON, (Penn. ) May 30.

Multitudes of the migratory locust have made their ap- pearance within the present week in this neighbour- hood, and they are beginning to locate on the fruit and forest trees.

Major Wilson, Engineer of the Pennsylvania rail road, and Col. De Witt Clinton, Engineer of the Juniata Ca- nal, have resigned their offices.

Mercer, Pa., May 23 .- A number of families arrived in this village from England during this week. 'T'hey will settle in this vicinity, in the neighbourhood of Mr. North, by whom they were induced to emigrate. They appear like able and good farmers, and will be an ac- cession of no little consequence to the county .- Gazette.

Numerous draught of Fish .- The subscribers hoisted a common hoop net out of the River Schuylkill on the 22d of May, 1829, which had been in the water only forty-eight hours, containing seven hundred and nine- ty-nine fish, and one fish's head, and two turtles; (the hsl were all cat fish except about & a dozen which were scale fish.) Yet the net was not broken. The fisle were truly counted.

Though we are not fishermen, yet we challenge our neighbours, or those who please to excel this in multi- tude; taking the same means.

Coventry Township.

SAMUEL WILIAUER, WM. WERSLER.

Marietta, Pa. June 5.

Since the commencement of the Pennsylvania Canal, between this place and Columbia, about 60 buildings have sprung up like mushrooms, along the bone, almost connecting Marietta and Columbia into one continued. town. The middle, also, may vie in population and bus- tle, with both the extremes.

Orwigsburg, Schuylkill co. Pa. Jan. 5.

The resources of our county are becoming daily deve-, loped. Within the last week an extensive body of Iron Ore has been discovered on the property of Mr. John Dribert, a few hundred yards from this borough, near the turnpike leading to Pottsville. They have already dug down a considerable depth and bored still further, and there is every prospect of a large body. The ore is pronounced to be of the first quality. A few acres of the land was this morning sold to a gentleman of Read- ing for 1800 dollars ..

400

MISCELLANEOUS.

[JUNE

Appointments by the Governor.

John L. Woolf, esq. to be Clerk of the OrphansCourt for the City and County of Philadelphia, in the room of Dr. William Runkle, jr. removed.

Richard Porter, esq. to be Prothonotary of the county of York, in the place of Gen. MichaelW.Ash, removed. Frederick Eichelberger, esq. to be Register and Re- corder of the county of York, in the place of Jacob B. Wentz, esq. removed.

Doylestown, Bucks co. Pa. June 1.

It is surprising to see with what rapidity vegetation has put forth in the last two or three weeks. The win- ter grain, which from the backwardness of the season looked unpromising, has come forward astonishingly. A few days ago we were induced to measure one or two stalks of Rye, plucked promiscuously out of the lot of Dr. Charles Meredith, immediately back of our office, and found them to be about seven feet in length. If we do not mistake, this is rather an unusual length for this season of the year. The appearance of the oats, corn and grass, leads the husbandman to hope a rich reward for his toil.

COAL TRADE OF THE SCHUYLKILL.

Shipments of Coal from Mount Carbon to Philadel- phia: - Tons. Week ending 6th inst. 101 boats carrying 2,713

Per last report,

545

do. do. 14,907

Total.

646

17,620

Up to the present time last year, the amount of coal sent to market was 12,961 tons. The quantity sent down this season amounts to 17,620 tons, leaving a bal- ance in favour of the present season of 4,659 tons. Our readers will please bear in mind that the navigation opened two weeks later this season than in 1828. On no occasion, we believe, did the weekly quantity last year amount to 2,000 tons-this year it has amounted to 2,713, and may, in a short time, amount to 2,000 tons per week .- Miner's Journal.

LUMBER OF THE SUSQUEHANNA.

BALTIMORE, June 3.

Among the various articles of commerce of the Sus- quheanna river, that of Lumber forms an item of no in- considerable importance. Our attention has frequently been attracted to the large rafts, within the 'last fort- night, as they moved slowly up to Baltimore with the tide, extending apparently a mile in length, with here and there a house upon them, sufficiently large for the comfortable accommodation of half a dozen men; but we thought little more on the subject, until in conver- sation with an inspector. on Monday afternoon, on in- terrogating him with regard to the probable quantity in one of these rafts or floats, which consist of a number of rafts, confined together, were astonished to hear him say that in the year 1812, he inspected one float which contained upwards of two million five hundred thousand feet of plank and boards! The quantity was enormous- ly large, to be sure-and he informed that the article was all purchased for a foreign market, at three differ- ent prices, averaging something like $25 per 1000 feet.

On inquiry yesterday, of a dealer in the article, we were informed that a calculation had been made within a day or two, and the result was that something like eight millions of feet of lumber had been brought to this market, this season, from the Susquehanna river; and that in one float, in which he had 300,000 feet, there were three millions of feet! this float arrived about ten days since. Our informant furthermore stated, that the rafts which composed this mammoth float, were brought from Chenango and Broome counties, in the western part of the state of New-York, (about 400 miles by wa- ter from this city,) where seven-eighths of the lumber -

is collected with which this market is supplied-and that by computation, there has not been quite so niuch lumber received here this season as there was the last, and the prices not quite as good, the difference being only in this-that last year the market price was 9, 17 and 23 dollars per M. according to the different quali- ties, either in cash or on time, with interest; whereas now the sales are at the same prices, but on a credit of four and six months, without interest. The Susquehan- na lumber, we understand, is now all in market that may be expected this year, as it is only during the spring months, when the river is full, that it can be floated down. Chronicle.

PREMIUMS.

The editors of this paper are authorized to offer, (and pledge themselves for the performance,) a gold medal with a suitable inscription, value one hundred dollars, or a piece of plate of equal value, for the best essay, (its merits to be decided on by competent and impartial judges,) on the inadequacy of the wages generally paid to seamstresses, spoolers, spinners, shoe-binders, &c. to purchase food, raiment and clothing; on the effects of that inadequacy upon the happiness and morals, not merely of the females, but of their families, when they have any; and on the probability that those low wages frequently force poor women to the choice between dishonour and the absolute want of common necessa- ries. 'The whole, as far as the nature of the case will permit, to be corroborated with facts and to embrace an inquiry whether those evils are susceptible of reme- dy or alleviation; and if so, by what means.

All communications to be post paid, and to be ac- companied with private marks, whereby the author may be known.

P. S. The essays are expected to be delivered on or before the first day of November next. U.S. Gaz.

We had yesterday afternoon, a thundergust, and hea- vy showers of rain, in which, for a few minutes, hail fell very thickly, of the size of a musket ball. June 1.

The Pennsylvania Inquirer, a daily evening journal made its first appearance in this city, on Monday, the 1 st inst.

REAL ESTATE .- The estate of the late Mrs. Sarah Twells was sold on Tuesday evening at the Merchants' Coffee-House, by Messrs. T. B. Freeman and Son, for $103,637. The appraisement, we understand, was $100,641.

The two lots on Market-street, between Fourth and fifth-streets, measuring 54 feet 10 inches in front by 125 feet in depth, were sold for $60,200. The houses, which are old, will be taken down by the purchasers.

Religious .- The first Presbyterian Church of South- wark was, May 31st, dedicated to the service of God.

Preaching was also had for the first tinie in the ses- sion room, in the basement story of the tenth Presbyte- rian church of this city, corner of 12th & Walnut st.

Abiah Sharpe, on the 5th inst, was elected Secretary of the Board of Health, in the place of Dr. E. C. Cook, resigned.

Passyunk Township .- A bunch of Asparagus was cut by Mr. Rudolph Field, on Friday last, 6 inches long, and 18heads, weighing 3 pounds 1 ounce.

Printed every SATURDAY MORNING by WILLIAM F GEDDES, No. 59 Locust Street, Philadelphia; where, and at the PUBLICATION OFFICE, IN FRANKLIN PLACE, second- door back of the Post Office, (back room) subscriptions will be thankfully received. Price FIVE DOLLARS per annum, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or where' there is an agent. Other subscribers pay in advance ..

, THE

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOL. III .- NO. 26.

PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 27, 1829. NO. 78.

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF MAJOR GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE.

[From the Casket.] (Continued from page 391. )

So soon as General Wayne was released by the court martial, which had been convened for the trial of General Lee, he rejoined the main army at White Plains."while the troops were encamped at this place some leisure was enjoyed by the officers and soldiers, which afford- ed them an opportunity of presenting their grievances to their beloved commander-in-chief, grievances which, in active service, if thought of, they certainly would have refrained from mentioning. Among the complaints of officers, preeminently existed that of rank, which no mili- tary man of spirit will suffer to be infringed, longer than he is without the means of redress. General Washing- ton had repeatedly written to Congress on this interest- ing subject, and at length he was obliged to speak in the following terms, "It is not without reluctance that I am constrained to renew my importunities on the sub- ject of the committee of arrangements. Not an hour passes without new applications, and new complaints about rank. There are several good officers now who are forced to decline duty to prevent dispute; and their being commanded by others, who upon every principle are their inferiors; unless their having obtained commis- sions before them, from the opportunities they had of making earlier applications from local circumstances, should be deemed sufficient to give them a superior claim." The General further proceeds, "I should also hope that Congress will excuse me for mentioning again the necessity there is for appointing some Brigadiers- I am more and more convinced that the service requires promotions in this line."

General Wayne being aware of these grievances, and always desirous to promote the benefit of the ser- vice in general, and particularly anxious to advance the welfare of the Pennsylvania line, and to secure to its of- ficers the rank justly due to each, addressed the follow- ing letter to a very influential and distinguished public character, in which he brings to view, so far as respects the Pennsylvania line, the subject to which the comman- der-in-chief refers, rank and deficiency of Brigadiers.

"Your very polite favour of the 8th ult. I have just received. I wish with you that it had been in your power to give full satisfaction to our worthy fellows in the article of clothing. Their distresses are great, but there is a distant prospect of those distresses being alle- viated in some degree, though not so amply, or so soon, as the season and their wretched condition requires .- Should the enemy operate to the eastward, as from present appearances they intend it, we shall be like Ma- homet and the mountain, if the clothing will not come to us, we will go to the clothing.

When General - was at camp, I believe the state of Pennsylvania was considered to have but two brigades in the field, I wish to put this matter in a fair point of view.

Exclusive of the two brigades with this army, which in health, number, and discipline are second to none on the ground, we have three hundred rank and file with Col- onel William Butler on the Mohawk river; five indepen- dent companies at West Point, on Hudson river; up- wards of three hundred rank and file with Colonel Brod- VOL. III.

head, at Pittsburg; and Colonel Hartley's regiment at Sunbury; which was totally raised in Pennsylvania, and either is or ought to be adopted by the state, so that counting only on two brigadiers, is unjust and ungener- ous; as the troops which I have now mentioned would, if together, make a stronger effective brigade than any in the service-add to this that all the troops we have in the field are entitled during the war, whilst the troops of almost every other state are only engaged for three years, or draughts for eight months, so that on the first of January, we shall have more continental troops in the field than any other state in the whole confederacy; but not so many general officers, having but one brig- adier General for the three brigades. I must acknowl- edge that I am much pleased to find that General although a good officer, was absolutely appointed for North Carolina, for was he to take a command in the Pennsylvania line, we should inevitably lose Colonel William Irvine, than whom there is not a better officer in the army.

He was a senior colonel to General . . Matters being thus situated, is it not an injury to Pennsylvania, not to have the benefit of her proportion of general of- ficers; which ought to be at least three brigadiers, if the number of troops be the criterion by which to deter- mine, and is it not a prejudice to their offiers, who are entitled to promotion, to be so long neglected?

If I am rightly instructed, there is a resolve of Congress reserving to prisoners their rank and promotion in the line as soon as exchanged, if this be the case, I doubt not but Colonel Irvine's merit, capacity and con- duct as an officer and a gentleman, will entitle him to that rank, which he would have held, had he not un- fortunately been made a prisoner. He was senior col- onel to either . . . . or

I have dwelt the longer on this subject as I fear re- signations,so soon as the campaign ends, of some of our best officers, I am confident, if a few principal officers should lead the way, that the contagion will spread in our line, as many have no other inducement to contin- ue in the army, than rank and love of country. Extend to them the former, and as you cannot deprive them of the latter, not one of them will quit the service, altho' neither rank nor love of country alone will furnish him with bread at a future day.

With these impressions I am, dear sir,

Your very obedient servant, Honorable Robert Morris. ANTHONY WAYNE.

During the campaign of 1778, a few very valuable colonels, of the Pennsylvania line, were detached on distant expeditions, with each of whom the General cor- responded in the most free and affectionate manner, and gave them, not only the current news of the day, but all interesting circumstances relative to the army. Of the number detached was Colonel Thomas Hartley, on a very irksome expedition against the savages; whom the General thus addressed on the subject of Colonel Baylor's disaster in New Jersey.

DEAR HARTLEY-"Your interesting address of the 2d ult. has been received. I should have been happy in sharing the few laurels that have offered with my friend and brother soldier; and although, fate destined you to make war in another quarter, it is not against a more savage foe.

402

ANTHONY WAYNE.

[JUNE

It is with pain I am to inform you of the disaster of poor Colonel Baylor, and his regiment of light dra- goons.

A few days since, the enemy made a decent on New- Jersey, where that corps and other troops were station- ed. After drawing their attention to the front, near Hackensack, a large body of British troops landed at Dobbs' ferry in the night, and by the aid and guidance of caitiff tories, fell into the rear of Baylor, surprised him with his detachment, consisting of upwards of one hundred men,in their beds, refused any quarter, and in cold blood most barbarously and mercilessly put to the bayonet, men naked and. unarmed, begging for com- passion, being incapable of resistance.

Among the dead is Major Clow, with several other of- ficers. Colonel Baylor is yet alive, but supposed to be mortally wounded, having three stabs in his body. One officer, a captain, with ten men, was surrounded in the house where he was quartered, for the men were canton- ed in different houses, he offered to surrender if they would give him quarters, which they peremptorily re- fused, and ordered the d-d rebel to be bayonetted. He had a pistol in his hand, which he fired in the face of the officer commanding the party, which opened the way for himself and companions to escape. I cannot find that they gave quarters to any-though many are still alive covered with wounds, who may yet survive to avenge the fate of their unfortunate comrades. . This will be a severe stroke on the ancient dominion; as we have heard, which I sincerely hope may not turn out to be the fact, that several young fellows of family have fallen, among others a captain Fitztew.

The caitiff's retired with the utmost precipitation, on hearing that a body of troops were in full march to re- turn the compliment.

The enemy have carefully avoided a general action, but they have taken every opportunity of striking our small parties, which as in this instance, being masters of the water, they are enabled to facilitate.

His excellency received, some time since, a very po- lite letter from Sir Henry Clinton, thanking him for the humanity and attention with which the wounded and prisoners were treated after the battle of Monmouth; with an assurance that such officers and privates belong- ing to us, as the fortune of war should throw into his power, should experience the like treatment.

I hope, indeed I cannot doubt, that his excellency has thanked him in turn, and solemnly assured him that he has a just sense of the acknowledgment which he has made, and that he has cheerfully received it as a pledge that, on all future occasions, the American pris- oners will experience similar humanity and attention.

A packet has just arrived from England, we there- fore expect a movement of some kind to take place im- mediately; but whether they will act in America, or withdraw their forces, time alone will determine. For my part I think De Estaing's fleet and Boston are the most likely objects. I am not quite so sanguine as some others about their acknowledging our indepen- dence, without a further contest, especially as they have just now sent a fresh reinforcement of 3,000 men from England to New York; so that, in all probability, we may yet fight and conquer side by side. I dread in- finitely more the length of the British purse than that of their bayonets.

I am, with every sentiment of esteem, Your friend and most ob'dt. humble servant. ANTHONY WAYNE.

Colonel Hartley.

It was said, and the assertion has appeared of histor- ical record from the time, that the villainous and bar- barous butchery which General Wayne mentions, was perpetrated by the positive orders of the demon Gray, who it appears, was the only general officer in the Brit- ish army that was totally devoid of humanity, and regard- less of every principle of honourable warfare.

While Sir Henry and the British army were feasting

themselves, in New York and its vicinity, on delicacies, and partaking of parties, balls, &c. as well as attending plays, exhibitions, &c. General Washington and his army, on the same side ofthe Hudson, while watching the move- ments of the enemy, were enjoying little more than the mental luxury of consciousness that they were defending a glorious cause. However one pageant, many of his of- ficers and soldiers had the satisfaction, of witnessing, namely, the procession, if it may be so termed, of the convention troops, Burgoyne's captured army, consist- ing of many thousand British and Germans.

Five hundred of the Pennsylvania line, properly of- ficered and equipped, had the pleasure, not to say honor, of escorting those convention troops from the Connecticut and New York boundary, as far as Sussex Court House, New Jersey. For this excursion, as ap- pears from the following letter, they were indebted to the obstinacy of the Connecticut militia, who refused march- ing as an escort to the captured army, further than their own state line.

SIR-"His excellency has just received a letter from Colonel Bland, advising him that there is likely to be a delay in the advance of the Convention troops, after they arrive at Sharon, where the van would be last night. The Connecticut militia are unwilling to come further than the boundary of their own state. He, there- fore, requests that you will as soon as possible get 500 men of your division clothed, that they may march in- stantly towards Sharon. The commanding officer should be younger than Colonel Bland."

I am, dear sir, Your most obedient servant, ROBERT H. HARRISON.

General Wayne. Nov. 21st, 1778.

In obedience to the direction of the commander-in- chief, General Wayne immediately proceeded to select the officers and men required, and in a few hours des- patched them to Colonel Bland, accompanied with the following message.

Fredericksburg, 21st, Nov. 1778.

Dear Bland-I find that the Connecticut militia are militia, I send you soldiers.

Permit me to recommend to your notice Major Fish- bourn. He wishes to attend as volunteer aid to a de -- tachment which I hope will not discredit the American troops.

Lieutenant Colonel Hay, who commands it, is an Irish- man and a soldier. I wish you a pleasant tour, and am, with every sentiment of esteem,

Your's most sincerely,

Colonel Bland. ANTHONY WAYNE.

Major Fishbourn, one of General Wayne's aids, # charming young fellow, who accompan ed the detach- ment, paid the following compliment to Burgoyne's of- ficers.

Dear General-I now have the pleasure to inform you that the first division of the British crossed this river yesterday-the second division will cross tomorrow and so on in succession until the whole are passed.

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The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. III, Part 112

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 440

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440