Military: Rev War: A Sketch of General Thomas Procter 1739-1806: Phildelphia Co, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Donna Bluemink. dbluemink@cox.net USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ____________________________________________________________________________ html table of contents with links to graphics may be found at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/proctor.htm ____________________________________________________________________________ A SKETCH OF GENERAL THOMAS PROCTER With Some Account of the First Pennsylvania Artillery in the Revolution By Benjamin M. Nead, Harrisburg, PA Pennsylvania Magazine of History & Biography Volume 4, #4, 1880, pp. 454-470 Thomas Procter was born in Ireland in the year 1739. He was the eldest son of Francis Procter, who immigrated to this country some years before the Revolution, and took up his residence in Philadelphia. In this city Thomas also settled, was married to Mary Fox on the 31st of December, 1776, and quietly pursued the avocation of a carpenter, the chosen craft of his younger years, until the drum taps of the Revolution summoned him to his natural calling, that of a soldier, for which the elements of his character and his ardent impulsive nature so well fitted him. To Thomas Procter belongs the honor of raising and commanding in the Revolution the first and only regular organization of Pennsylvania artillery. On the 27th of October, 1775, he applied to the Council of Safety to be appointed to the captaincy of an artillery company which it had been determined by the provincial authorities should be raised and employed at Fort Island in the Delaware, for the defense of the province. In this application he was successful, receiving, on the same day, a commission as Captain of Artillery with authority to recruit a company. Two months later, in December of the same year, he is found stationed at Fort Island in command of about 90 men in active defense of the Delaware River. At this point he served through the next spring and summer, performing, however, in addition at the behest of provincial and State authorities, sundry commissions in Philadelphia and at other points in the vicinage. In the mean time the services performed by the artillery became so well appreciated, that on August 14, 1776, it was determined to increase this branch of the service by augmenting the number of men employed in it to 200, and dividing the body thus created into two companies; John Martin Strobogh being appointed to the captaincy of the first, and Thomas Forrest to that of the second, Procter assuming the general command with the rank of major. On the 31st of July, 1776, the rank and file of Procter's Company consisted of 114 men, all told, with 12 musicians; of this number 3 were sick in town, 7 on furlough, and 3 recently discharged, being apprentices. (1) Recruiting parties were immediately sent out, and by strenuous efforts on the part of Procter himself, a sufficient number of recruits were raised; both companies were properly officered and disciplined, and the command held in readiness to divide its forces for the relief of Washington's Continental Army in the darkest hours of those dark days before Trenton. On the 1st of December, 1776, Major Procter detailed Capt. Thomas Forrest, who commanded the second company - with 50 private and proper officers, and two 6-pounder brass field-pieces - to proceed form Philadelphia to Trenton, and there place themselves at the disposal of General Washington, (2) and on that momentous Christmas day of 1776, Procter's entire command was held in readiness to obey the call of the General. (1) The following is a muster roll of Procter's Company as it stood on the 31st of July, 1776: - Captain, Thomas Proctor Capt. Lieut., Jeremiah Simmons 1st Lieut., Hercules Courtney 2nd Lieut., Jno. Martin Strobogh Lieut. Fire Worker, Francis Procter Qr. Master Sergt., John Webster Corp. and Clk. to Company, Patrick Duffy Sergeants: Charles Turnbull Jacob Parker John Stephenson Corporals: William Ferguson Thomas Healy George May Bombardiers: David Shadaker Nicholas Coleman David Fick William Turner Robert McConnell John Holdon George Bourk Nicholas Burr Gunners: Thomas Newbound Jacob Climer Isaac Bunting John Reynolds Thomas Kennedy Francis Bell Michael Amerlin Henry Suiter Jacob Harkishimer Owen Williams Owen Williams Daniel Forbes William Fitch Henry Love George Jeffries David Willson Thomas Wiggins Samuel Newton William Newbound William Clayton James Cookley James Norris Andrus Cressman George Whiteside Ephraim Reece Matrosses: Reynard Smick James Croft Charles McGee Joseph Milburn James Wear Thomas Brittain Richard Mason William Little John Corvan Elias Williams Peter Wheeler Thomas Bunting Joseph Adams Gidion Pratt William Shepherd John Kipp Lewis Sewalt Benjamin Holton Thomas Murphy James Fitzsimmons James Hamilton David Statzer Thomas Davis Joseph Morton George Henderson James Couslin Christopher Snider Casper Shane Lawrence Ralph George Kelly Conrad Syfred Thomas Man Jacob Lesher George Robinson John Grimes James Grimes Edward Riddle James Robinson Jeremiah Fox Andrew Gordon William Roney Daniel Cross William Fling Daniel Hathorn John Knox Jacob Snell John Malkin Robert Murdagh Abraham Furnall John Williamson James Bennett Samuel Butler William Dunsbee Isaac Rich Jacob Sheerer Alex French Andrew Fullerton James McCleery Hugh Towling Solomon Brogan Evan Price John Monro Robert Baggs James Reed Simon Shaw John Watson Charles Knight John White Robert Love Musicians: James Wilkins Jesse Cropley Peter May Jacob Stromback Christian Coone Thomas Minckle Fifer: Daniel Dennis Drummers: Christopher Coleman Thomas Stewart George Weaver William Ballard Daniel Syfred. (2) See Appendix. The good service performed at Trenton by this detail of Procter's artillery is graphically described by Lieut. Patrick Duffy, of Forrest's Company, in a letter to the Major, dated Dec. 28: "I have the pleasure of informing you," said he, "that we have yesterday arrived from Trenton after a fatiguing engagement in which the artillery got applause, I had the honor of being detached up the Main Street, in front of the savages without any other piece, and sustained the fire of several guns from the houses on each side without the least loss." Capt. Forrest reports, the same date, that the artillery captured a "complete band of music," and that they expect to go on another expedition, "over the river." The efficiency of Procter's artillery was so well demonstrated in the experiences of the last campaign that with the opening of the year 1777, General Knox, of the Continental Army, exerted his influence toward having Procter's forces annexed to the Continental train artillery under his command. To such an arrangement as this Procter does not seem to have been very averse: the only difficulty in the way being that he did not desire to abandon his present well defined, though inert position as a provincial officer, for the nondescript one he would occupy in the event of a temporary annexation to Knox's command without an absolute order of State or Congress. As an evidence of Procter's ability as a commander of artillery can here be cited the fact, that on the 17th of January, 1777, he was called by General Knox into temporary command of the Continental artillery just referred to, during that officer's absence in New England. This position Procter filled creditably, experiencing, however, not a little inconvenience from the pique of subordinate Continental officers who were disposed to draw too marked a distinction between Continental and Provincial authority. On the 6th of February, 1777, a decree of the Council of Safety determined adversely the question of Procter's joining the Continental Army for the present, although ultimately it led to such an annexation of his entire command. It was ordered that a complete regiment of State artillery should be raised, and the command of the same with the rank of Colonel was tendered to Procter, which commission he accepted on the 20th of the same month, but with some degree of reluctance. Shortly after its being thus organized, Procter's regiment was deprived of the services of two of its bravest officers and a score or more of its men, who were surprised by the enemy and captured. The circumstances of this little affair were as follows: General Lincoln, with about 500 men, consisting among others of a portion of the 21st Pennsylvania Regiment, some militia, and part of Procter's artillery, was stationed at Bound Brook, New Jersey, charged with the protection of territory some five or six miles in extent. To perform this service Lincoln was compelled to dispose of his troops so as to leave his flanks exposed. Lord Cornwallis, who lay at Brunswick, conceived the plan of attacking Lincoln, and chose the morning of the 13th of April, 1777, for the execution of his design. The plan was exceeding well laid and nearly as well executed. Through the neglect of the American patrols the enemy were allowed to cross the Raritan River, just above Lincoln's quarters, and to advance to within 200 yards of him before they were discovered. Lord Cornwallis and General Grant were with the attacking party, and General Lincoln and his command were compelled to make good their escape. The enemy remained about an hour and a half, destroying some stores before recrossing the river to Brunswick. General Lincoln, being reinforced, took possession of the post again in the evening. The British loss upon this occasion was reported by Lord Howe to be three killed and four wounded. In regard to the American loss, General Washington, on April 14, reports to the Board of War as follows: "Our chief and only loss was two pieces of artillery, and with them Lts. Ferguson (3) and Turnbull with about 20 men of Col. Procter's regiment. A party of horse was pushed so suddenly upon them that they could not possibly get off." (3) In regard to Lt. William Ferguson, John Blair Linn writes me the following, which suggests an important and interesting inquiry: - "Procter's first company had in it, as non-commissioned officers and privates, a number of men who afterwards became prominent, notably Maj. William Ferguson, who as commandant of the artillery of General St. Clair's army was killed at his guns, Nov. 9, 1791. He entered as a private in Procter's first company, Oct. 30, 1775. In June, 1789, when Congress called for a regiment, partially of artillery and partially of infantry, Pennsylvania immediately furnished her quota - infantry and artillery - Lt. Col. Josiah Harmar commanding. Capt. Thomas Douglass and Lt. Jos. Ashton were appointed to the command of the artillery company. They both belonged to Procter's regiment. The following year Capt. Douglass was dropped and Ferguson took his place, apparently upon a claim of rank. -Vide Col. Rec., vol. xiv. pp. 559, 621." "Major Ferguson's descendants claim that he was continually in service from 1775, to his death in 1791. However that may be, Douglass' or Ferguson's Company is still in service as the 2d U.S. Artillery (so says Prof. Asa Bird Gardner, of the Military Academy at West Point)." "If it could be shown that Ferguson was left in command at Charleston in 1783-84, and claimed his rank over Douglass, as the word 'derangement' would seem to imply (Col Rec., vol, xiv. p. 621), then the 2d U.S. Artillery might date its organization back to Oct. 30, 1775; and the 1st U.S. Artillery, whose nucleus was Capt. Alexander Hamilton's Company, afterwards Captain Doughty, of Lamb's Regiment, turned over by New York as its quota of Harmar's 1st American Regiment, would be junior, as Hamilton's Company was only organized in 1776." With the close of the summer of 1777 transpired the near approach of the British Army to Philadelphia, and Washington was compelled to summon to his assistance every available man. Pennsylvania responded with some alacrity, and furnished a quota of troops. This quota was composed of part of the old "State battalion," made up of troops from the remains of Col. Miles's and Col. Atlee's commands, Col. Procter's regiment and Captain Pugh's company (raised to guard the powder mills). The Council of Safety had enlisted these troops to provide positions for exchanged officers, and to have a force at Council's command for the defense of the State. It was now, June 6, decided to place them at the disposal of Congress. General Washington, by direct application to Congress, called Col. Procter and his artillery to his assistance. Writing to the President of that body, from "the Camp at the Clove," on the 16th of July, he says: "In mine of this morning, I desired that Col. Procter's Regiment should join this army without loss of time. Upon consulting General Knox we are of the opinion they had better halt at Trenton with General Nash until further orders, as the operations of General Howe are not yet perfectly understood." In response to this requisition, Procter with his regiment repaired to Trenton, on or about the 24th of July, for on that day, the portion of his troops remaining at Fort Island under command of Hercules Courtney were withdrawn. On the 22d of August his entire force was at Trenton with General Nash awaiting orders. General Washington having received news of the arrival of the enemy at Chesapeake Bay, that day writes Congress: "I have, in consequence of this account, sent orders to Gen. Nash immediately to embark his brigade and Col. Procter's corps of artillery, if vessels can be secured, and proceed to Chester," otherwise to go by land. Thus when the ill-starred battle of the Brandywine was precipitated, Procter was on hand for service. His artillery, with General Wayne's division, were posted upon the brow of a hill a little above Chad's Ford, near the centre of the American Army. After the attack of the Hessian General Knyphausen upon General Maxwell's Light Infantry, and the latter's retreat across the Brandywine, Knyphausen brought forward his cannon and opened a heavy fire on the Americans from the hills on the west side of Chad's Ford. This fire Procter "returned with spirit." Later he guarded the ford and did deadly work upon the troops of Knyphausen in their attempt to force a passage across the Brandywine in answer to the signal guns of Cornwallis, as they opened fire upon the American right. The outflanking and rout of Sullivan's division, as it was disastrous to the other portions of the army was alike so to Procter. The black horse he rode was shot from under him. (4) He was compelled hastily to retreat, leaving his cannon and ammunition to be the spoil of the enemy, and with Knyphausen in full pursuit, to make good his escape with "Mad Anthony" along the road to Chester. (4) Procter received pay for this horse in the settlement of his accounts with the State in 1793. In the battle of Germantown, which was fought on the 4th of the following October, Capt. Lt. Brewer, Lts. Barker and Ritter, of Procter's regiment, had charge of guns. Barker was stationed on the Main Street of Germantown, nearly opposite Chew's House, with a six-pound cannon, the report of which was so sharp that it caused the blood to flow from the ears of William McMullen, one of the privates who helped serve it. So says McMullen in a statement on file in the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office at Harrisburg. Shattered and broken up by its late campaign, with its ranks decimated by almost daily desertions, Procter's corps of artillery on the 27th of February, 1778, lay with the Continental Army at Valley Forge. Writing of the condition of his artillery at that date, Washington says: "Our loss of matrosses the last campaign in killed and wounded was considerable, and it has not been a little increased this winter by desertions from Col. Procter's corps. From this circumstances we are very weak in this line, and I request that Congress be pleased to order Col. Harrison's regiment of artillery to march from Virginia as early as the roads will admit, and join this army." Although serving with the Continental Army, Procter's regiment up to this time had never formally been accepted by Congress as Continental troops. It was still a State organization, by right under State control, but virtually serving and obeying the mandates of Congress. This state of affairs was but ill-relished by President Reed, and he so intimated to Col. Procter upon the occasion of one of the chronic complaints of that officer that the State did not properly provide for his men. Said Reed, "if Col. Procter slights the State he must expect to be slighted." The State's authority seemed to be recognized "only when some favor was to be asked." On the 4th of August, 1778, Procter's regiment consisted of only 220 men, and it was apparent that decided steps must soon be taken to preserve the organization from dissolution. August 28th he asks of the Pennsylvania Council permission to enlist men of other States in his regiment with the view of joining the Continental Army. This permission was reluctantly granted, and the ultimatum of Procter's desires was reached on the 3d of September, 1778, when his regiment was formally accepted by Congress as part of the quota of troops to be furnished by Pennsylvania to the Continental Army. But one or two events of importance in the subsequent career of Procter and his artillery, in the Revolution, remain to be mentioned. With the opening of the spring of 1779 (May 18) he was commissioned by Congress as "Colonel of Artillery in the Army of the U. S.," and detailed to do service with General Sullivan on his expedition against the Six Nations of Indians, to punish them for their atrocities in the Wyoming Valley. Procter joined Gen. Sullivan on the 20th of May, at Easton, the last of his command marching from Billingsport on the 10th where they had been detained as a guard. In the laborious transportation of troops, etc., up the river before the expedition arrived in the Indian Country, Col. Procter was given the command of 214 vessels on the Susquehanna, taking with him the stores and provisions of 6000 men, all of which were safely transported to their destination. Penetrating into the Indian Country on the 29thth of August, the battle of Newtown (now Elmira, N. Y.) was fought. The British and Indians under command of the two Butlers, Guy Johnson, McDonald, and Brandt, were suddenly met with near Newtown, strongly entrenched "for better than a mile." Sullivan immediately attacked them with troops under General Hand, while Procter's artillery opened so effective a fire with round and grape shot and 5-1/2 shells, that the enemy, after a spirited resistance, were compelled to retreat in precipitation from their stronghold, leaving their country a prey to the invaders, whose subsequent terrible vengeance was marked in the blackened ruins of many a wigwam, orchard, and meadow. Upon the expiration of his present commission Procter was again (April 21, 1780) commissioned by Congress, as "Colonel of the 4th Battalion of Artillery." On the 20th of July, 1780, it will be remembered that General Wayne was sent to Bergen Neck, in New Jersey, to drive off some cattle which it was supposed were in danger of falling into the hands of the enemy, with directions also to destroy a block-house at Bull's Ferry, near at hand, which served the purpose of covering the enemy's wood-cutters. In a letter from General Washington to Governor Huntington, dated July 21st, the forces engaged under Wayne in this undertaking are fixed, as "the first and second Pennsylvania brigades with four pieces of artillery attached to them, and Col. Moylan's regiment of dragoons." Wayne succeeded in driving off the cattle, but signally failed in his attack upon the block-house, and was compelled to retreat, sustaining a loss of three officers wounded, 15 non-commissioned officers and privates killed, and 46 non-commissioned officers and privates wounded. In regard to the service of the artillery in the attack upon the block-house, Washington says in the letter above quoted, "He (Wayne) for some time tried the effect of his field-pieces upon it; but, though the fire was kept up for an hour, they were found too light to penetrate the logs of which it was constructed." This adventure, the gifted but ill-fated Major Andre made the subject of a satirical poem, which he published shortly before his capture and execution, under the title of the "Cow Chace." In one of the stanzas of this poem, quoted as follows, we are neatly told who commanded the artillery under Wayne upon this occasion: - "And sons of distant Delaware, And still remoter Shannon, And Major Lee with horses rare, And Procter with his cannon." Col. Procter as a soldier was brave, devoted, zealous, and determined, occasionally stubborn. His unreasonable Irish temper frequently made trouble for him. Two incidents in his career will suffice to show this. Within a month after receiving his first commission as Captain of artillery he suffered himself to be temporarily relieved of his command by the State authorities, rather than apologize, as was ordered, for what was construed to be unsoldierly conduct on his part toward an officer of Col. Bull's regiment. Upon the occasion of the detail of his regiment to General Sullivan's command in the expedition against the Indians, Procter demanded of President Reed new uniforms for a portion of his regiment, and at the same time insisted upon his officers wearing their original provincial uniforms - blue, although the regulation colors for American Continental artillery were black and red. President Reed, entertaining, as may be surmised, no very kindly feeling for Procter, on account of the dictatorial and independent manner in which it was his custom to demand supplies from the State, reported this breach of discipline to both Washington and St. Clair. So well did these officers know Procter, that they deemed it best to make this concession: St. Clair writes to Reed: "The uniforms of Procter's officers are blue, the General consents to it this year, but hereafter they must conform in uniform, as to color, to the corps they are in." Misunderstandings between Procter and President Reed were frequent; the status of the regiment and the method of its subsistence, it seems, being the principal causes of disagreement. These differences of opinion at length culminated in a downright quarrel, upon the occasion of a protest to Council by Procter and his regiment against the promotion of certain officers in it, which quarrel resulted in Procter's withdrawal from the army. His resignation was sent to General Washington on the 9th of April, 1781, and was accepted on the 18th of the same month. The acceptance of Procter's resignation was accompanied with the following letter from the General, who, although vexed at the Colonel for his hot-headed conduct, would not refuse to accord to him his due as a soldier: - (5) Headquarters, New Windsor, 20 April, 1781. "Sir: Your favor of the 9th did not reach me until the 18th inst. I am sorry to find that the situation of your domestic affairs renders it necessary for you to quit the service. It always gives me pain to part with an officer, but particularly so with one whose experience and attention have made him useful in his profession. I cannot in justice to you permit you to leave the army without expressing my approbation of your conduct upon every occasion since you joined me in 1776, and wish you success in the line of life which you have now embraced. I have signified my acceptance of your resignation, which bears date the 18th inst. to the Board of War." "I am, sir, Yr. most obt. and hble. servt., G. WASHINGTON." (5) I am indebted to George Griscom, Esq., of Philadelphia for my copy of this letter. He has preserved it in a little sketch of Montgomery Lodge of Masons, No. 19, of which Procter was first Master. See illustration of letter by George Washington to Col. Proctor. From the Library of Congress collection. Washington's Acceptance of Proctor's Resignation Writings of George Washington, April 20, 1781, Vol. 21, Page 484 George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799, Series 4, General Correspondence, 1697-1799, Image 987 President Reed's sentiments, expressed upon the same occasion, are far from being in accord with those of his Excellency. Hear him, in a letter to Washington himself: - "We cannot consider Colonel Procter's resignation in the light of a public misfortune, as he has for a long time harassed every measure proposed by the Board, and affected an independency not only of the authority of the State, but his supreme officers in the line, and amidst professions of respect and obedience, violated almost every arrangement we made for the subsistence and recruiting of his corps." Twenty-five years of life were vouchsafed to Col. Procter after the close of his revolutionary career, most of which were spent in active public service. His subsequent military life may be summed up briefly, although a consideration of its details as well as those of his civil career is full of interest. By commission of Congress he served from the 25th of December, 1782, until the 22d of October, 1783, as "Major of Artillery." On the 17th of May, 1792, he received from Gov. Mifflin a commission as "Major of the Artillery Battalion of Militia of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia." He was next commissioned by Gov. Mifflin, on the 12th of April, 1793, as "Brigadier General of the Brigade composed of the militia of the city of Philadelphia." Upon the outbreak of the Whiskey Insurrection, Pennsylvania was called on to furnish a quota of 5200 militiamen, and on the 7th of August, 1794, Brig. Genl. Thos. Procter was placed in command of the first brigade which marched with 1849 men, enlisted in the city of Philadelphia (559) and the following counties; Philadelphia (544), Montgomery (332), Chester (378) and Delaware (96). Procter's last military commission bears date June 7, 1796, and appoints him "Major General of the militia composed of the city and county of Philadelphia." (6) (6) During President Adam's administration, when war with France seemed unavoidable, a meeting of the militia officers of Pennsylvania was held to consider a letter received from Gov. Mifflin; at this meeting General Proctor [spelling change] presided, and the following account of the proceedings has come down to us: - At a meeting of the General of Division and the Officers of the Militia of the Philadelphia Brigade at the State House in the City of Philadelphia, Monday, June 11th, 1798, the circular Letter from the Governor to the Militia Officers of Pennsylvania was read. Resolved, That the Members of this Meeting are highly sensible of the importance of the objects to which the Governor has called their attention, and are determined by the most zealous exertions to co-operate for the glorious purpose of preserving the Independence, Honor, and Safety of their Country. Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare and report an Answer to the Governor's Address expressive of the determination contained in the preceding Resolution, of the most cordial approbation of the patriotic sentiments with which the Address is replete, and of the personal Attachment and Esteem with which his public services have inspired the Members of this Meeting. A Committee having been appointed retired and in a little time returned and presented the following address, which was adopted: - To His Excellency Thomas Mifflin, Governor of the State of Pennsylvania Sir: We have perused with great satisfaction your Circular Address to the officers of the Militia of Pennsylvania. The sentiments which it expresses are proofs of an enlightened Patriotism that cannot fail to increase the personal Confidence and Esteem, which your public services have long merited and obtained from your fellow Citizens. Actuated by similar feelings we do not hesitate to assure you, of our most zealous co-operation in every Measure that can promote the Honor and Safety of our Country; nor can we doubt the success of the general exertions of the Citizens of the Union, when we reflect that a display of the same patriotic Virtues which established our national Independence, must be competent to protect our National Rights. As it has been authoritatively announced that our Government is compelled by France to relinquish the hope of peace, we shall, in our official and private capacities, prepare, with alacrity, for the painful alternative of War. The accomplishment of the objects of your address will, therefore, command our earliest and most vigilant attention; and, we anxiously hope, that the Spirit and Patriotism of the Great Body of the Militia of the Union (in addition to the other resources which the Wisdom of Congress may employ) will be found competent to repel every hostile attack upon our Country, and to perpetuate that great Political Blessing, - a Free Republican Government. Signed by Order and in Behalf of the Meeting, THOMAS PROCTER, Major Gen'l Division of the City and County of Philadelphia, June 12th, 1798. Attest: W. SERGEANT, Sec'y & A. D. C. to Gen. Procter. This day a Committee, consisting of Major Gen'l Procter, and his Aid-de-Camp, Major Sergeant, Col. Gurney, Col. McLean, and Capt. Woodside, present the above Answer to the Governor's Circular Address. In civil life Procter was also an active public servant. He was sheriff of the county of Philadelphia from Oct. 20, 1783, to Oct. 14, 1785. While filling this position he was called to quell a dangerous riot among prisoners in the old jail. On the 10th of September, 1790, he was elected by the Supreme Ex. Council, City Lieutenant of Philadelphia, in place of William Henry, resigned. In this capacity he had the pleasure of superintending the celebration of the arrival of President Washington in that city on the 23d of the next month, November. A notable event in Procter's life must not be forgotten. On the 10th of March, 1791, he was commissioned by Major Genl. Knox, Secretary of War, to undertake a journey into the Indian County of the North West, bearing messages from the Secretary of War to the several Indian nations inhabiting the waters near Lake Erie, the Miamis and Wabash, for the purpose of establishing peace and a friendly intercourse between the said nations and the U. S. of America. Upon this journey Col. Procter set out from Philadelphia on the 12th of March, 1791, in the midst of a heavy rain. He spent about two months among the Indians, and has recorded the incidents of his perilous trip and the success of his undertaking in an exhaustive and interesting journal, now in print. (7) (7) Pennsylvania Archives, 2d Series, vol. iv. The closing years of Procter's life were harassed with financial troubles, a consideration of which, though interesting, is far beyond the scope of this article. He experienced great difficulty in securing a settlement of his accounts with the State, with whom, in addition, he was engaged in a vexatious lawsuit, by his Attorney, William Bradford, Jr., in regard to the possession of Hog Island, in the Delaware. Procter's bravery as a soldier and patriotism as a citizen were equaled by his zeal and activity as a Free Mason. To him belongs, in a large degree, the honor among Masons of having kept alive in America during the trying period of the Revolution, the spirit of the ancient craft. On the 18th of May, 1779, a military lodge of Masons - "No. 19" - was instituted in his artillery regiment, with Col. Procter as Master. This was just before the departure of the regiment for a participation in the invasion of the Indian country under Sullivan. Two subordinate officers of Sullivan's command, both of whom were Masons, were killed in an affray with the Indians, and there in the heart of the wilderness Procter's lodge met and buried them with Masonic honors. General Procter took a prominent part in the effort made by the Grand Masonic Lodge of Pennsylvania - but which failed - to secure the election of Washington as "General Grand Master of the United States." At the funeral solemnities, in Philadelphia, on the 26th of Dec. 1799, incident to the death of General Washington, Genl. Procter was appointed "Master of Ceremonies" on behalf of the Masons. Death closed the busy life of Procter, on Sunday the 16th day of March, 1806. He died at his residence in Arch Street between Fourth and Fifth, and was buried at 3 o'clock P. M. on the following Tuesday afternoon, with military and Masonic honors. The following military organizations had places in the procession: "Philadelphia Legion," John Shee, Commandant; "Forty-second Regt. of Northern Liberties," John Krips, Lieut. Col.; "Washington Blues," Samuel Wharton, Capt." Republican Greens," William Duane, Capt,: "Southwark Light Infantry," S. E. Fotteral, Capt.; and "Washington Fusileers," Philip Boyle, Capt. Over the remains of this soldier, which lie in the burial ground of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Third Street below Walnut, Philadelphia, a monument was erected, years after his death, by the "Carpenters Association" of that city, of which organization deceased was a member from 1772 until his death. APPENDIX Indent of Stores for two Six pounders Sent under the command of Cap. Thomas Forrest To Join the Grand Army at Trenton. Philadelphia, December 4th, 1776. 2 6 pdrs Brass Mounted on Traveling carriages 132 6 pdrs Shott Round Fixd 467 do Canister 161 do Grape 20 Port Fires 3 Port Fire Staffs 8 Lint Stocks 4 Budge Barrills 2 Sets of rammers, Sponges & for ca gun 1 Iron Crow Barrs 8 Handspikes 2 Tarpolinge 344 6 pdr Tubes prim'd Cap'd 3 Spare Sheepskins 2 Sets of Trail rope for each Gun 6 Shovels and Spades 2 Pick Axes 4 Cutting Axes 4 Covered Wagons for Ammunition 4 Leather Pouches 3 Dark Lanthorns 3 Revers'd do 4 Hand Hatchets 1 Sets of Copper Measures 7 Claw Hammers 1 Handsaws 1 Roles of Match 2 Tillors 0 Spades 1 Powder Carts 4 Half Barrels Powder 160 Empty Flannel Cartridges 383 6 pdr Round Shot unfix'd 39 6 pdr Wodds THOMAS PROCTER, Major of Artillery [See facsimilie of Proctor Signature.] from A SKETCH OF GENERAL THOMAS PROCTOR by Benjamin M. Nead Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography Vol. 4, #4, 1880 End