USA > Virginia > History of the German element in Virginia, Vol I > Part 11
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against the patriots. It paid a premium to the Indians for every American scalp, making no distinction of sex or age. This detestable action had the most frightful results, as will be illustrated by the following statement.
Among the rich spoils111) that a New England expedi- tion captured in February, 1782, from the Indians, there were eight packages with ten hundred and sixty-two scalps that these savages had taken within the last three years from American colonists in Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and New England, and which they had intended to send to Gov- ernor Haldimand of Canada with the request to forward them to the King of England : "That he might look on them, be refreshed by their sight, and reward his Indian Allies for their loyalty with new domiciles."
111 ) "Geschichte der Deutschen im Staate New-York," von Friedrich Kapp, - Seite 277-278. New-York, 1868.
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In Marshall county, West Virginia, about four miles from Moundsville, a monument still reminds of the victims of the savage allies of Great Britain. The monument bears this in- scription 112) : "This humble stone is erected to the memory of Captain Foreman (a German Virginian) and twenty-one of his men, who were slain by a band of ruthless savages - the allies of a civilized nation of Europe - on the 25th of Sep- tember, 1777.
So sleep the brave who sink to rest By all their country's wishes blessed."
The fights with the Indians continued to the end of the War of Independence, but side by side with pictures of fright they present scenes of comforting and admirable heroism, and not the least on part of German frontiermen.
In September, 1777, the savages113), their number vari- ously estimated at from three hundred and eighty to five hundred warriors, abundantly supplied with arms and ammu- nition by the British Governor Hamilton at Detroit, besieged Fort Henry, now Wheeling, W. Va. The garrison, under com- mand of Colonel Shepherd (Schaefer), a Pennsylvanian Ger- man, numbered only forty-two fighting men all told, counting those advanced in years as well as those who were mere boys. The supply of gunpowder in the fort was soon exhausted, and Colonel Shepherd resolved to send for a keg of gunpow- der which was known to be in the house of Ebenezer Zane, about sixty yards from the gate of the fort. Three or four young men volunteered to undertake the desperate enterprise, but the Colonel informed them, that the weak state of the garrison would not justify the absence of more than one man, and that it was for themselves to decide who the one should be. Much time was consumed in the eager contention of the patriotic young men; it was feared that the Indians would renew the attack before the powder could be secured, and at this crisis a young lady, the sister of Ebenezer and Silas Zane, the German founders of Wheeling, came forward and desired
112 ) "History of West Virginia," by Virgil A. Lewis, page 667. Philadelphia, Pa , 1889.
113.) "History of West Virginia," by Virgil A. Lewis, page 155 1889.
Philadelphia, Pa.
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that she might be permitted to execute the service. Elizabeth Zane was the name of this German Virginian heroine. She said to the men, who refused to consent to her reckless plan : "As the garrison was very weak, no soldier's life should be risked, and that if she were to fall her loss would not be felt.". - Her noble undertaking was ultimately granted and the gate opened for her to pass out. When the brave girl crossed the open space to reach her brother's house, the In- dians looked at her in surprise and by some unexplained mo- tive permitted her to pass unmolested. As soon however as she reappeared with the keg of powder in her arms, - sus- pecting no doubt the nature of her burden, - they discharged a volley at her as she swiftly glided towards the fort, - but the fearless girl reached the gate unhurt.
The historian of West Virginia114) says very truly: "The pages of history may furnish a parallel to the noble exploit of Elizabeth Zane, but an instance of greater self-devotion and moral intrepidity is not to be found anywhere."
The wife of Ebenezer Zane and several other women in the fort, employed themselves in running bullets and patches for the use of the men, and their presence and good cheering words contributed not a little to turn the fortunes of the day. The next morning Captain Swearinger, - another German Virginian, - arrived with fourteen men in a perogue from Cross Creek and was fortunate enough to fight his way into the fort without the loss of a single man. Shortly afterwards Major Samuel McColloch, with forty mounted men from Short Creek, came to the relief of the garrison, and the Indians raised the siege and withdrew after setting fire to all the houses and fences outside the fort and killing about three hundred head of cattle. Of the forty-two men who were in the fort on the morning of the 27th, not less than twenty- three were killed and five wounded. Governor Patrick Henry expressed his sincere acknowledgment to Colonel Shepherd and his men for their heroic defence.
In September, 1782, three hundred Indians again attacked Fort Henry, but accomplished nothing, and about one hun-
114 ) "History of West Virginia," by Virgil A. Lewis, p. 161. Philadelphia, 1889.
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dred of them marched to Fort Rice, on Buffalo Creek, which they expected to take without much opposition. This fort was made up of a few cabins and log-houses and was defended by only six Germans, - but this small garrison repulsed all the enemy's attacks and forced them to retreat. The names of these stout-hearted heroes are: Jacob Miller, George Lefler, Peter Fullenweider, Daniel Rice, Jacob Lefler and George Fell- baum, - the latter was killed. The last resting places of the others are forgotten, but the names of the six brave men are written down on the pages of history, - they are immortal.
Among the participators in General George Rogers Clark's celebrated campaign to Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, the following German Virginian officers gained distinction : Cap- tain Leonard Helm, of Fauquier county, and Major Joseph Bowman, of Frederick county, who was next in command to General Clark. Other names, mentioned in Wm. Hayden English's "Conquest of the Northwest of the River Ohio, 1778-1783, and Life of General Clark," are essentially Ger- man-Virginian, as : Honaker, Chrisman, etc. - General Clark himself was a native of Albemarle county, Virginia. No epi- sode in the history of Virginia is more glorious than this. With one hundred and seventy ragged boys General Clark crossed rivers in the month of February, 1779, planted the Virginian Standard upon the banks of the Mississippi, - de- manded and secured unconditional surrender, - and from that time the country of Illinois, Missouri, etc., was opened to civili- zation. - The great distances, the uncertainty, the wilderness, and the Indians made General Clark's expedition one of ter- rible hardship, and the adroitness with which Clark pro- ceeded in reconciling both the Indians and French inhabitants and surprising the English posts: Kaskaskia and Vincennes, and the indomitable energy displayed by him and his soldiers in overcoming the rigors of winter and the terrors of rain and flood, cannot but command admiration.
Several years before the Revolutionary War General Mor- gan organized his famous corps of riflemen and took active part in the combats with the Indians. A large number of German Virginians from Winchester and its environs were
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among his men. Andreas Simon113) names the following : Johann Schultz, Jacob Sperry, Peter and Simon Lauck, Fried- rich Kurtz, Karl Grimm, Georg Heisler, and Adam Kurz. Morgan's so-called "Dutch Mess"116) gained special fame by its attachment to the General and brave conduct. They ac- companied him in all his adventurous expeditions against the Indians, in the disastrous campaign of General Braddock, in Arnold's expedition to Canada, and to the end of the War of Independence. The six members of the "mess" acted as aide- de-camp, - but never received or accepted an officer's commis- sion. After the war they were rewarded with valuable lands near Winchester, which to this day are owned by their de- scendants.
It has been stated that the German Virginians were dis- satisfied with the English rule and very much disposed to as- sist in the overthrow of British supremacy. "Der Staatsbote," a German paper published at Philadelphia, had many readers among the Germans of the Valley, and stirred the revolution- ary spirit. Heinrich Ringer, at Winchester, and Jacob Nico- las, at Picket Mountain, Augusty county, were the Virginian agents of the paper. The edition of March 19th, 1776, con- tains an appeal to the Germans, beginning as follows117) : "Remember that your forefathers emigrated to America to es- cape bondage and to enjoy liberty, and bore the greatest hard- ship and ill treatment. - Remember that where bondage ex- isted in Germany, no bondsman was allowed to marry without the consent of his patron, and that parents and children were not treated much better than the black slaves in West India." - The article closes with the words: "Remember that the British Government and Parliament aim to establish similar and perhaps worse conditions in America."
The "Staatsbote" was like a fire-brand thrown among the German settlers - and they enthusiastically embraced the Amer- ican cause. Their self-sacrifice and fidelity is worthy of lauda-
115,) "Der Westen," Chicago, Ills., 1992.
116.) "Der Süden," deutsch-amerikanische Wochenschrift, Jahrgang I, No. 2, Seite 4. Richmond, Va., 1891.
117.) "Deutsch-amerikanisches Magazin," von H. A. Rattermann, Band I, Heft 8, Seite 422. Cincinnati, 1886.
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tion. £
L. A. Wollenweber118) for example relates the following instance of German devotion : "In 1751 Friedrich Ladner had emigrated from Pliningen, in Wuertemberg, to America and with his family settled a few miles south of Harper's Ferry. When the people rushed to arms three of his sons and four of his grand-children joined Peter Muehlenberg's regiment to defend their adopted fatherland."
In 1776 the Convention of Virginia resolved to recruit seven new regiments besides the existing, and among the commanding officers were the following with German names119) :
2nd Virginia line : Colonel Christian Febiger (1778-1783), Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Simms (1778 -1779), and Colonel Wm. Darke (1791). 3d Colonel G. von der Wieden (Weedon), 66 Lieutenant-Colonel Ch. Fleming.
4th
66
Major Ch. Fleming.
6th
66
66 Colonel M. Buckner, Colonel Adam Ste- phan, Lieutenant-Colonel Chas. Simms (1777-1778).
8th
Colonel Peter Muehlenberg (1776-1777), Lieutenant-Colonel and after 1777 Colo- nel Abraham Bauman (Bowman), Major Keim, and in succession: Wm. Darke and Andreas Waggener.
9th
66
66
Colonel Ch. Fleming, Major Peter Hel- fenstein.
11th
66
66 Lieutenant - Colonel Christian Febiger (1776-1778).
Of other German Virginian officers of the Colonial army are known : Major Johannes Mueller, Mathias Heid, Abel Westphal, Daniel Kolb, Jacob Rucker and Isaac Israel120), - all but the
118.) "Deutscher Pionier," 2. und 3. Jahrgang. - Historische Novelle von L. A. Wollen weber, Cincinnati, 1870-1871.
119.) "Historical Register of the Officers of the Continental Army," by F. B. Heit- man. Washington, 1893.
120.) "The American Jew as Patriot, Soldier and Citizen," by Simon Wolf. Philą delphia, 1895.
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first two belonged to Muehlenberg's regiment. The Pension Registers in Washington also prove that German Virginians served in Maryland and Pennsylvania regiments.
A most striking example of patriotism was given by Jo- hann Gabriel Peter Muehlenberg, the pastor of the Lutheran church at Woodstock, in the Shenandoah Valley. He was born at Trappe, Pa., in 1746, his father was the venerable patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America, the Rev. Hein- rich M. Muehlenberg, - under his guidance he received an excellent education. In his youth he was a boy difficult to manage. Destined for the ministry, his father sent him to Germany to conclude his studies, - but Peter entered an ap- prenticeship to a mercantile house in Luebeck. He stayed there three years, working faithfully, - but his spirits were depressed by his close and monotonous duties. He abruptly left his place and enlisted in Hanover in a regiment of dra- goons. Later on maturer judgment overcame his inclination towards the adventurous and he recommenced the study of theology, passed his examinations and after his return to America he received the vocation of pastor at Woodstock, Va. The young pastor gained the intimate friendship of George Washington and Patrick Henry - and took great interest in the struggle for independence and the preparations for war. His military antecedence was revived, and upon the recommen- dations of George Washington and Patrick Henry he was commissioned Colonel of the Eighth Virginia Regiment. In January, 1776, he preached his valedictory sermon. "From far and near the German farmers came with their wives and children," says Rev. Dr. Zimmermann, 121) "and crowded the little church at Woodstock." - Muehlenberg implored the congregation to support the struggle for liberty and then he exclaimed : "Dear brethren and sisters, I feel truly grieved to announce that this is my farewell sermon, but if it is God's will I shall soon return to you. It is a sacred duty that calls me from you and I feel I must submit to it. The endan- gered fatherland, to which we owe wealth and blood, needs our arms - it calls on its sons to drive off the oppressors.
121.) "Vierhundert Jahre amerikanischer Geschichte," von Dr. G. A. Zimmermann, Seite 227-228. Milwaukee, Wisc., 1893.
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You know how much we have suffered for years, - that all our petitions for help have been in vain,-and that the King of England shut his ears to our complaints. The Holy Scrip- ture says : There is a time for everything in this world ; a time to talk, a time to be silent, a time to preach and to pray, - but also a time to fight, - and this time has come ! Therefore, who- ever loves freedom and his new fatherland, he may follow me!"- After these inspiring remarks Rev. Muehlenberg uttered a bene- diction, and then he laid aside his priestly robe and buckled a sword about his waist. - A scene of indescribable enthusiasm followed - the entire assembly arose from the seats, and Dr. Luther's powerful hymn : "Eine feste Burg ist unser Gott," was intonated. Drums were beaten outside the church - and after the lapse of half an hour one hundred and sixty-two men and youths had enlisted to follow their parson. - This act of Ger- man-American patriotism has been immortalized by several Ger- man-American poets, like Dr. Victor Precht in his drama: "Kuerass und Kutte," and Prof. Wilhelm Mueller in his poem : "Die letzte Predigt. 122)
Muehlenberg's regiment was first ordered South and distin- guished itself at Charleston, S. C., and in Georgia. Reduced greatly in number by loss on the battlefield and sickness, the commanding officer, Gen. Lee, having received orders to join the northern army, directed Muehlenberg, sick himself, to return to Woodstock with his invalides. He was prostrated by an attack of fever, but only a short rest was allowed him to recover his health ; he was ordered to bring up the rest of his regiment from Savannah, to reinforce it with new members and to join General Washington's army in New Jersey. When Muehlen- berg's regiment reached Washington's camp it was stronger than ever before, having gained many recruits in Maryland and Penn- sylvania.
On February 21st, 1777, Muehlenberg was promoted by act of Congress to the rank of Brigadier-General, and besides his own regiment the Third and Fifth Virginia were placed under his command. Many Germans also belonged to these regiments.
122.) "Am Wege gepflückt," Gedicht-Sammlung von Wilh. Müller.
Glarus in der Schweiz, 1888.
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General Muehlenberg was a born military genius and Anglo- American historians have acknowledged his courage* and talent. General Washington esteemed him highly - and the celebrated German generals: von Steuben and De Kalb, were attached to him by ties of friendship. - The battle of Brandywine on the 11th of September, 1777, was disastrous to the American army. A rout ensued and utter defeat was prevented only by the brave resistance of Muehlenberg's brigade, that checked the advance of the pursuing British army and enabled the retreating American and French forces to escape annihilation. - In the battle of Germantown, on October 4th, 1777, he defeated the opposing wing of the enemy's army, and when the centre and right wing of the Americans gave way, he again covered the retreat. His loss was severe, among the killed was Major Keim, - but the weakened regiments replenished their number by numerous de- serters of the German subsidiary troops of the British army. - At Valley Forge he aided his friend, General von Steuben, to re- organize the demoralized army, and under his command he fought in 1780 in Virginia against the traitor Arnold, who pil- laged the country along the James river. When Arnold harassed Petersburg, Muehlenberg, with a few hundred Germans, de- fended the bridge leading to the city, and when forced to with- draw, he retreated in good order. In his report to Congress Governor Jefferson spoke with the highest admiration of this war-like deed. - In the final decisive combats at Yorktown Muehlenberg's brigade stormed and took the redoubt on the left wing of the British fortification and thus assisted to force the surrender. In this glorious affair Colonel Bowman lost his life.
After the surrender of Yorktown, General Washington ap- pointed Muehlenberg military commander of Virginia, and on the conclusion of peace the Lutheran community at Woodstock invited General Muehlenberg to resume his pastorate. Mueh- lenberg declined and said: "It would not be proper to again graft the pastor on the soldier," - and he returned to his native State, Pennsylvania. He was elected to Congress and died on October 1st, 1807. At Trappe, near his father's old church, a tombstone bears the following inscription :
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"To the memory of General Peter Muehlen berg.
Born Oct. 1st, 1746, and died Oct. 1st, 1807.
He was brave in battle, wise in council, honorable in all his actions, a faithful friend and an honest man."
The reward with which the National Government presented him, was rather scanty in consideration of his noble services. His father wrote on September 6th, 1785, with unmistakable bit- terness : "After the end of the war the S. T. government donated to him some thousand acres of land far off in the wilderness, which region is still in possession of the savage Indians and must either be purchased with money or taken by force of arms."
General Gerhard von der Wieden - or Weedon, as Anglo- American historians call him, - is another example of patriotic devotion. He was a native of Hannover and had served as an officer in the German army. He came to America with General Heinrich Bouquet and took part in the campaigns of the French and Indian war. After the treaty of peace was signed, von der Wieden settled at Fredericksburg, Va., where he married, took charge of the post office and established an inn. He took great interest in the political events of the time and enthusiastically advocated the American cause. At the outbreak of the Revolu- tion von der Wieden was captain in the Third Virginia Regiment of Militia, and on February 13th, 1776, he was elected Lieu- tenant-Colonel, - on August 12th he received the appointment as Colonel of the reorganized First Virginia Regiment in the Continental Army, and on February 24th, 1777, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General. On account of disregard in promotion he afterwards resigned his charge, but upon the ur- gent request of General Muehlenberg he again accepted a briga- dier-generalship and finally commanded the Virginia militia at Gloucester Point during the siege of Yorktown. General von Steuben esteemed him as an experienced and valiant officer, and the Englishman, Dr. J. T. D. Smith, who travelled in America and published an account of his travels at London in 1784, bears the following testimony of his patriotic sentiments : "When I reached Fredericksburg I did put up at an inn kept by one Wee- don, who is now a general in the American army and was zealous to fan the flame of insurrection."
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General William Darke, already mentioned, was born at Lancaster, Pa., in 1736, and was but five years of age when he came to Virginia with his German parents, who settled near Shepherdstown. Here they were on the outermost bounds of ci- vilization, and amid this solitude young Darke grew up to man- hood. "Nature made him," - says Virgil A. Lewis, - "a no- ble man ; he was endowed with an herculean frame; his manners were rough, his mind strong but uncultivated, and his disposi- tion frank and fearless." - A spirit of daring and adventure in- duced him, when only aged nineteen, to join Braddock's army. During the War of Independence he rose to the rank of Lieu- tenant-Colonel, and in 1791 he commanded the Second Virginia Regiment. On the disastrous field on the banks of the St. Mary he evinced the utmost bravery. General St. Clair in his official
report, written at Fort Washington on November 9th, 1791, says: "Colonel Darke was ordered to make a charge with a part of the second line, and to turn the left flank of the enemy. This was executed with great spirit and at first promised great success. The Indians instantly gave way and were driven back three or four hundred yards, but for want of a sufficient number of rifle- men to pursue this advantage, they soon returned and the troops were obliged to give back in their turn." Colonel Darke's Vir- ginians made a second charge, not less gallantly performed, but with sad results, and among the many killed was Captain Jo- seph Darke, the youngest son of the Colonel. Colonel Darke then returned to his home in Berkeley county, which he repre- sented in the General Assembly, and in acknowledgment of his military services he received the title of General. He died on the 20th day of November, 1801, and "Darkeville," in Berkeley county, and "Darke county," in Ohio, commemorate his name.
General Adam Stephan, Stephen or Steven, already spoken of in Chapter VII, entered the Continental Army at the beginning of the war with rank as Colonel of the Sixth Virginia Regiment. On September 4th, 1776, he received a Brigadier-General's com- mission, and on February 12th, 1777, that of Major-General. He gained distinction in the battle of Brandywine, but his incli- nation to dissipation was his ruin. He was tried by a court- martial on the charge of intoxication at the battle of German- town, - and was found guilty and discharged from the army
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in 1778. Nevertheless he enjoyed the respect of his country- men and in 1788 was elected to represent Berkeley county in the Convention. He died near Winchester in November 1791.
Armand's Legion, that the Marquis de la Rouerie, with the consent of Congress, recruited in the summer of 1777 in America of men "who could not speak English," was origi- nally commanded by Baron von Ottendorf, a Saxon by birth, and consisted chiefly of German Virginians of Augusta, Rock- ingham, Monroe, Frederick, Loudon and Berkeley counties. To this corps the independent cavalry company of Captain Paul Schott was afterwards added. All officers and privates of this squadron were Germans. H. A. Rattermann123) gives the following names : Johann Paul Schott, Captain, - Chris- tian Manele and Georg Schaffner, Lieutenants, - Friedrich Liebe, Georg Duehn, and Georg Langhammer, Sergeants, - Friedrich Bergmann, David Breckle, and Johann Goedecke, Corporals, - and Johann Holzbrueck, Trumpeter. The his- tory of Captain Schott is one of the most pleasing pictures of that stormy time and the historian Rattermann relates it as below :
"In the early part of the year 1776, a young man of slender stature, fascinating manners and highly educated, ar- rived at New York to see America and to inform himself about the Revolutionary War, already waged for three quar- ters of a year. English and Dutch letters of introduction to Governor Tryon represented him as Johann Paul Schott, First Lieutenant in the army of his Majesty Frederick II of Prus- sia and Adjutant of his Highness Prince Ferdinand of Bruns- wick, Lieutenant-General of the Prussian army. His soldierly manners and pleasing and correct. conduct soon gained him the favor of the aristocratic circles to which he had been es- pecially recommended. He spoke English fluently with only a slight German accent. He had crossed the ocean in a Dutch ship from Rotterdam, which probably sailed to New York, that port being in possession of the Tories, and with more assurance of safety to reach than either Philadelphia or Bal- timore, not to speak of Boston, which was besieged at that
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