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. XII, Part 31

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438

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. XII > Part 31

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It is remarkable also, that all the mountains on reach- ing the Hudson, change both their course and charac- ter. East of that river the mountains invariably run from north to south-so that the continuation of the various ranges which we have described is to be looked for in the Green mountains of Vermont, the White mountains of New Hampshire, and those of Canada. Probably the Highlands on the north -eastern boundary, about which so much has been written, and so much diplomacy spent, belong to those ranges. Another re- markable circumstance is, that those which in Pennsyl. vania are of inferior height become very elevated on the Hudson, and vice versa. The Blue ridge, for ex- ample, which we call but a hill, rises at West Point to the lofty peak, known as the Highlands of the Hudson. The Kittatiny, which in Pennsylvania is not remarkable for elevation, forms the Catskill mountain, the loftiest mountain in New York. When we come, however, to trace the great Alleghany,and the intermediate ranges be- tween it and the Kittatiny, we are compelled to refer that to the comparatively insignificant hills, which cross the Mohawk, between Schenectady and the Little Falls, and the Hudson above Troy.

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An idea is generally entertained, that the Alleghany mountain is the great back bone of the country, from which the streams flow on either side, and that it con- stitutes the dividing ground between the eastern and western waters. This opinion is in a great degree er- roneous. It is true in Pennsylvania only, as to the country south of the Juniata and Conemaugh, compris- ing about one third of the width of the state-north of those streams the dividing ridge will be found far west of the mountain known as the Alleghany. In Maryland and in the northern part of Virginia, the Alleghany di- vides the waters of the Ohio from those of the Chesa- peake, the Kenhawa, however, not only breaks that mountain, but all between it and the Blue ridge, and takes its rise at the western base of the latter range. The Holston river, also, which is one of the main branches of the Tennessee, has its origin east of the Alleghany mountain.

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In connexion with what we have said of the moun- tains of Pennsylvania, a general view of its geological structure may prove interesting.

The south eastern border of the state is a primitive formation, composed principally of Gneiss rock, with some intermixture of granite. The western boundary of this formation crosses the Delaware near New Hope, and passes south westerly through Bucks, Montgomery, and Chester, to near Kennett square, then about west to the centre of York county, where it again turns south west, and passes into Maryland. The primitive is succeeded on the west by the transition formation, which reaches to the Alleghany mountain. That por- tion of it below the Blue ridge is what geologists call the Old Red sandstone. The line between the transi- tion and secondary formation follows the Alleghany mountain from south to north, until it approaches the west branch Susquehanna, and crosses that stream near Williamsport, in Lycoming county, about 40 miles be- low Dunnstown, where by the maps the Alleghany is represented to cross. It was this direction of the moun- tain as laid down from its general character as a boun- dary between the secondary and transition which in- duced us to express our opinion in a former number, that the map makers have erred, by adopting the re- ceived opinion of the country, instead of attending to more certain indications. The same boundary crosses the north branch near Tunkhanock. North west of this line the remainder of Pennsylvania is a secondary region in which the rocks uniformly lie horizontal. One result of this arrangement is, that the streams in the northern and western parts of the state, are much more gentle and navigable in proportion to their size, than those which pass through the transition and primitive regions.

The Alleghany, Monongahela, and Tioga, are almost without falls or rapids of any kind. So also is the north branch above Tunkhannock, and the west branch until it arrives at Muncy, where a ripple marks its introduc- tion into the transition formation. The main river Sus- quehanna, passing in its whole course through the transition and primitive, presents a succession of ripples and falls, never precipitous, but still producing serious obstructions to the navigation.

The general remarks which we have thus made, seemed necessary to complete our view of the moun- tains of Pennsylvania, and to prepare the way for the task which we propose for our next, a description of the Great river of our state, the majestic Susquehanna.

FUNERAL OF COM. BAINBRIDGE.

The funeral of Commodore Bainbridge, was attended on Monday, July 29th, 1833, with all the ceremony due the worth and high public services of that distinguished naval commander.

The procession commenced moving from the late dwelling of the deceased, about six o'clock, preceded by the volunteer company of Washington Greys, under

the command of Capt. Worrell. A number of seamen attached to the navy, with blue jackets and white trow- sers, walked in the procession, after these, several of the,clergy.

The relations of the deceased and a large number of citizens followedthe corpse, which was supported by six naval and military officers, in full uniform. Next followed the officers of such military companies as were not on duty, and an escort, the 128th regiment. under the command of Col. Watmough, concluded the pro- cession, which moved to solemn music from a fine mi- litary band, with muffled drums.

The procession moved down Walnut to Fourth, up Fourth to Chesnut, up Chesnut to Fifth, and thence to the place of interment, Christ Church burying-ground, corner of Fifth and Arch streets. The corpse was de- posited under a discharge of musketry. Minute guns were fired at the Navy Yard during the procession .- U. S. Gazette.

From the Salem (Mass .) Gazette. MEMOIR OF COM. BAINBRIDGE.

Commodore Bainbridge was born at Princeton, New Jersey, on the 7th of May, 1774. At the age of 16, he was placed as an apprentice to the sea service, in the employ of Messrs. Miller and Murray, merchants of Phil- adelphia. In their employ he made many voyages, and rose to command. At 18 years of age, while mate of the ship Hope, on her way to Holland, the crew rose upon the officers, seized the captain, and had nearly succeeded in throwing him overboard, when young Bainbridge hearing the alarm, ran on deck with an old pistol without a lock, and being assisted with an ap- prentice boy and an Irish sailor, rescued the captain, seized the ringleaders, and quelled the mutiny. At the age of 19 he received the command of a ship, and from the year 1793 till 1798, he commanded merchant ships in the trade from Philadelphia to Europe. In the year 1796, on his way from Bourdeaux to St. Thomas, in the ship Hope, with four small carriage guns and nine men, he had an engagement with a British schooner of 8 guns and 35 men, commanded by a sailing master in the navy, and after a smart action, compelled her to strike her colors. As, however, the two countries were at peace, and he of course acting only on the defen- sive, he could not take possession of her, but sent her off contemptuously to make a report of her action.

In the month of July, 1798, he received, without any application on his part, an offer of the command of the U. S. States schooner, Retaliation, of 14 guns, to be employed against France, between which power and the United States hostilities had recently commenced. Having accepted the appointment, he sailed in the Re- taliation, and accompanied the squadron under Com- modore Murray, on a cruise in the West Indies. While cruising to the windward of Guadaloupe, the Retalia- tion was captured by two French frigates and a lugger, and taken into that island, where she remained three months. He reached home in February, 1799, and his exchange being soon effected, he received a commis- sion of master commandant, and sailed in the brig Nor- folk, of 18 guns, on a second cruise to the West Indies. Here he remained, convoying the trade of the United States, for some months, during which time he captured a French privateer, ran ashore another of sixteen guns, destroyed a number of barges, besides taking many of the enemy's merchant vessels.

When he returned to the United States, he received a captain's commission, and was appointed to the com- mand of the frigate George Washington, in which he shortly afterward sailed for Algiers, with the presents which the United States were by treaty bound to make to that regency. He arrived in safety at Algiers, on the 17th September, 1800, and was received with eve- ry demonstration of good feeling. In a few days, how- ever, these friendly appearances vanished, and the Dey

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made a most unexpected and extraordinary demand, that the George Washington should carry his ambas- sador with presents to the Grand Seignor at Constanti- nople.

Captain Bainbridge resisted this unexampled demand vigorously for some time, till at length, exasperated by opposition, the Dey sent for him and peremptorily de- manded that the frigate should go to Constantinople; threatening, in case of refusal, to make slaves of all the Americans in Algiers, to detain the frigate, and send out his cruisers against the defenceless trade of the United States. Moved by tlie danger to which the persons and commerce of his countrymen were exposed by his refusal, Bainbridge at length consented to re- ceive the Algerine Ambassador.

They sailed from Algiers on the 19th of October, and the frigate anchored at Constantinople in 23 days from her departure. The next day three officers were sent on board in succession to know what ship that was, and what colors she had hoisted. They were told, that it was an American frigate and an American flag. They said they did not know any such country. Captain Bainbridge explained that America was the new world by which name they had some idea of the country. After these inquiries the frigate came into the harbor, and Captain Bainbridge was received with unusual ho- nors. The mission of the Dey of Algiers, however, failed in its objects, and after a month's delay, the George Washington sailed from Constantinople, car- rying the Algerine ambassador's secretary back to Al. giers, with an account of the unfortunate result of his embassy.

Bainbridge sailed from Algiers about the last of Ja- nuary, and arrived at Philadelphia in the month of April, 1801. Before his return, the cessation of hostil- ities with France had caused a reduction of the navy, and there were retained only nine captains, of which he had the satisfaction of finding himself one. In the fol- lowing June, he received the command of the frigate Essex, which was built in this town and presented to government by the merchants of Salem, About this time, the regency of Tripoli, emboldened by the suc- cess of the Algerines, commenced hostilities against the United States, to oppose which, a squadron of frigates, among which was the Essex, was sent to the Mediter- ranean. Here he continued for thirteen or fourteen months, but did not fall in with any of the Tripolitan cruisers.

He returned to New York in July, 1802, and in May, 1803, was appointed to the command of the Philadel- phia. In July he sailed in her to join the Mediterranean squadron, then under Com. Preble. He was here em- ployed in blockading the harbor of Tripoli, and, on the 31st October, gave chase to a strange ship that was seen running for the harbor of Tripoli. The chase was unsuccessful,and the Philadelphia was returning, when, as she was going at the rate of six or seven knots, she ran upon rocks about four miles and a half from the town. As soon as she had grounded, the ginboats came out to attack her; but while she continued up- right, with the few guns that could be brought to bear, she kept the enemy at a distance; but she soon lay over so much on one side that she could not use her guns. At length, after sustaining the enemy's fire for five or six hours, a council of war of all the officers unanimously advised a surrender. The magazine was therefore drowned; the arms and every article of value thrown overboard; the ship scuttled, the pump choked, and the colors were then hauled down.

The frigate was plundered of every thing that could be got at, when the Tripolitans got on board. They took from Captain Bainbridge his watch and epaulets, and the cravat from his neck; but with much struggling and difficulty he saved the miniature of his wife. The officers and crew, however, were pretty well treated, as prisoners of war, after they were landed in Tripoli. Several attempts were made to escape, but all were un-

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successful. The prisoners were often obstinate, uncom plying, and mischievous ; yet the Tripolitans who had charge of them were rarely provoked to punish them. They used often to say, that the Americans were the most difficult to manage of any people they had ever seen.

A treaty of peace between the United States and Tri- poli was concluded in 1805, and on the third day of June, the prisoners were liberated after a confinement of thirteen months, and soon after sailed for America. Captain Bainbridge was received rather as a returning' conqueror than as a vanquished prisoner, and was ac- quitted of all blame by a court of inquiry held at his request.

From 1806 to 1812, he occupied himself part of the time in merchant service, and the remainder of the time was employed in various naval duties. In 1812, he was appointed to the command of the navy yard at Charles- town ; and on the arrival at Boston, of Captain Hull, after his victory over the British frigate Guerriere, he having applied for a furlough, Commodore Bainbridge was permitted to take command of the Constitution.

"In a few weeks he sailed, in company with the sloop of war Hornet, Captain Lawrence, on a cruise to the East Indies. After parting company with Captain Lawrence, he was running down the coast of Brazil, when on Thursday, the 29th of December, he discov- ered, about nine in the morning, two sail, one of which was standing off shore towards him. He immediately made sail to meet the strange ship, and finding, as he approached her, that she did not answer his private signals, proceeded out to sea in order to seperate her from her companion, and draw her off the neutral coast. About one o'clock, having reached what he considered a proper distance from the shore, he hoisted his ensign and pendant, which was answered by English colors, and perceiving that she was an English frigate, (the Java, Captain Lambert,) he took in the royals, tacked, and stood for the enemy. The Java immediately bore down, intending to rake, which the Constitution avoid- ed by wearing. The enemy being now within half a mile to windward, and having hauled down his flag, the Constitution fired a gun a head to make him show his colors, and immediately poured in her whole broadside, on which English colors, were hosted, and the fire re- turned. On this the action became general, within grape and cannister distance. In a few minutes the wheel of the Constitution was shot away ; and in about half an hour, Commodore Bainbridge, finding that his adversary still kept too far off, determined to close with him at the risk of being raked. Ile therefore luffed up so close to the Java, that in passing her jib boom got foul of the Constitution's mizen rigging ; and having now gained a nearer position, he poured in so well di- rected a fire, that in ten minutes he shot away the Java's jib-boom and part of the bowsprit; in five minutes more the foremast went by the board-her main tupmast followed-then the gaft and spanker boom, and lastly, the mizenmast went nearly by the board.

At five minutes past four, one hour and fifty-five min- utes from the commencement of the action, the Java's fire was completely silenced, and her colors being down Commodore Bainbridge supposed that she had struck ; he therefore shot ahead to repair his rigging ; but while hove to for that purpose, discovered that her colors were still flying, although her mainmast had just gone by the board. He therefore bore down again up- on her, and having got close athwart her bows, was on the point of raking her with a broadside, when she hauled down her colors, being a completely ummana- geable wreck, entirely dismasted, without a spar of any kind standing. On boarding her, it was found that Captain Lambert had been mortally wounded, and that the Java was so much injured, that it would be impossi- sible to bring her to the United States. All the prison- ers and the baggage were therefore brought on board the Constitution, a service which it required two days

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to perform, there being but a single boat left between the two frigates. On the 31st, she was blown up, and the Constitution put into St. Salvador. The Java car- ried forty-nine guns, and upwards of four hundred men: she was bound to the East Indies, and had, in addition to her own crew, upwards of one hundred supernume- rary officers and seamen, for different ships on the East India station.

" Her loss was sixty killed ; and among these was Captain Lambert. Of the wounded, the accounts varied from one hundred and one (which were ascertained po- sitively) to one hundred and seventy.

"On board the Constitution, nine were killed, and twenty-five wounded ; among whom was the Commo- dore himself.

" This victory was scarcely less honorable to Commo- dore Bainbridge, than the generosity with which he ex- ercised the right of a conqueror. While on board, the prisoners were treated with the most respectful atten- tion. Immediately on their landing at St. Salvador, they were set at liberty on parole, and received every article of their baggage ; and particularly, a service of plate belonging to General Ilislop, was carefully pre- served and restored to him. These proofs of honorable courtesy were not lost on the prisoners, who expressed their gratitude in a manner creditable to themselves as to the victors.

The decayed state of the Constitution, and other cir- cumstances, combined to interfere with the original plan of the cruise, Commodore Bainbridge now left the Hornet to blockade a superior British force at St. Sal- vador, and returned to the United States.

This was the only action in which Commodore Bain- bridge was engaged during the war. After the peace of 1815, having superintended the building of the Inde- pendence 74, he had the honor of waving his flag on board the first line of battle ship belonging to the Unit- ed States that ever floated. He was ordered to form a junction with Commodore Decatur to cruise against the Barbary Powers, who had shown a disposition to plunder our commerce. In company with his own squadron, he arrived before the harbor of Carthagena, where he learned that Commodore Decatur had con cluded a peace with the regency of Algiers. He now, according to his instructions, presented himself before Tripoli, where also he learned that Commodore Deca- tur had anticipated him by a previous visit. IIe return- ed to the United States on the 15th November, 1815 ; was afterwards appointed one of the Navy Commission- ers ; and resumed the command at the Navy Yard, in Charlestown. His health had been declining some time before his removal to Philadelphia, last autumn, and lit- tle or no hope of his recovery was entertained at that time.

PHILADELPHIA AND COLUMBIA RAIL-WAY. To the Editor of the Bultimore Gazette.

3d Division Philad. & Col'a. Rail- Way, 2 FAIRMOUNT.

Sir-I have already acknowledged the receipt of your kind favour, and it would have afforded me much gratifica- tion, to have been enabled, on the instant, to furnish you the information you requested, as regards the condition and progress of this work.

I have for some time had it in contemplation to give you a minute and detailed account of the past opera- tions, present situation, and prospective advancement of this Rail-Way, and on the very day I had selected for the performance of this agreeable task, instructions were received from the Chief Engineer to have the line of my Division immediately prepared for the re- ception of the rails, hourly expected from England. The performance of this duty has so entirely occupied my time, that I have hitherto been deprived of this plea- sure, and avail myself of the present season of compa- rative leisure, for the purpose of giving you such in-

formation as you are pleased to tell me will be interest- ing.

It is most singular that this extensive undertaking, con- stituting as it does, a most important link in the great chain of intercommunication, connecting the waters of the Delaware with those of the Ohio at Pittsburg, and so near the successful accomplishment of its object, should have created so little interest in our city; and you may possibly be uninformed of the fact, that upon the completion of the Philadelphia and Columbia Rail Way and the Portage across the Alleghany mountains, expected to occur almost simultaneously and by the en- suing summer, there will be an entire, continuous and uninterrupted communication between the cities of Pittsburg and Philadelphia, comprising, however, but a portion of the stupendous system of Internal Improve- ments undertaken by this enterprising commonwealth, at an expense of millions of dollars drawn from her yeomanry and her people, who will, however, eventu- ally find themselves abundantly remunerated for the pressure and inconvenience of augmented taxes, by the augmentation, security and certainty given to her com- merce, her agriculture, and her manufactures, the pre- servation and diffusion of her wealth and resources, and the consequent secure establishment given to the foundation of their happiness and prosperity.

This rail road, as originally designed, extends from Philadelphia to the town of Columbia, on the Susque- hanna river, and terminates at a point about thirteen miles below York Haven, of which we have been ac- customed to hear so much in connexion with our Sus- quehanna Rail Road. The distance between these two places by the Rail Road is 812 miles. Following the line of the road from the intersection of Vine and Broad street in Philadelphia for rather more than 23 miles, you arrive at the foot of the Schuylkill inclined plane, which is about 50 feet above mean tide, on which level the road runs to this point. This plane is about 2700 feet in length, and its elevation from base to summit is about 180 feet. There is at the western extremity of the road another inclined plane at Columbia. This is near 2000 feet in length, and has an elevation from foot to head of 90 feet. Stationary steam power will of course be resorted to, to overcome these acclivities. The distance from the head of the plane at Philadelphia to the head of that at Columbia, exceeds 77 miles, and in the whole of this distance the elevation will not ex- ceed 30 feet to the mile, a degree of ascent overcome with the utmost facility by the aid of horse power alone, and for the purposes of rail road transportation almost equivalent to a level. The average ascent, however, does much exceed 25 feet to the mile.

The road is entirely graded, the cuttings and em- bankments generally slight. The highest point on the line is at " The Gap," about 30 miles from Columbia. The excavation through a ledge at this gap, may be said to be the only one of any consequence on the whole . line of the work, and even this sinks into comparative unimportance in extent, though not in embarrassments and difficulties, when contrasted with the stupendous rocks thorough cuts of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road, the dizzy height of its embankments, and the im- posing appearance of its celebrated " deep cut." Dif- ficulties of a most disheartening nature have been inter- posed at this point, and the necessity of an abandonment of the cut, and a resort to the inconvenience of the in- clined plane to effect its passage, have been constantly threatened.

These difficulties, however, have been vigorously encountered and very nearly subdued by an excellent and efficient Chief Engineer, Edward F. Gay, Esq. to whose science, skill and energy the state is already much indebted for many valuable improvements and practical benefits in the line of his profession. The soil through which this cut makes its way is an alluvial formation, amorphous in the character of its masses, though consisting principally of sand and loam. Innu-

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merable springs have made their appearance since the possessed on this work in the facility of turning its curves and the freedom of action a locomotive would ex- excavation, in the bottom of the cut, sometimes pouring in streams through the pass. The banks, though in- iert in its progress over them. "To counteract the centri- dulged with a most liberal slope, are constantly settling fugal force the outer rail of the curves is to be elevated in the same manner as on the Baltimore Road ; this ele- vation, of course, dependant upon the radius of curva- ture, and filling in, and you but remove one mass of fallen bank to give place to another, awaiting its removal. In many places its depth cannot be fathomed ; extensive quick sands project over the surface of the water col- lected from countless streams flowing in its bed, and present a deceitful appearance of security and solidi- ty. Description can convey no adequate idea of the ap- palling difficulties here presented. By heavy piling and flooring of massive timbers, and aslight increase in the angle of ascent, they have so far succeeded in their conflict with these formidable impediments as to leave but little doubt that they will be completely removed by the period of the completion of the rest of the line, and that nothing here will interfere to procrastinate an uninterrupted communication between the Schuylkill and the Susquehanna, when the other portions of the road shall have been brought to their termination. This cut is about 32 feet deep, The bed of the road here is 560 feet above mean tide, 300 feet above the head of the plane at Schuylkill, and 200 above that at Colum- bia.

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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. XII, Part 31

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 438

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438