Local History: Chapters XXV - XXVI : Davis's 1877 History of Northampton Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Susan Walters 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 may be found at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/northampton/davistoc.htm _______________________________________________________________________ HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. ††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††† 68 (cont.) CHAPTER XXV. CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SIX NATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS. Four hundred of the settlers had perished during the murderous descent of the red and white savages into the Wyoming Valley, an incursion which had been inspired by orders and support from the British post of Fort Niagara, the point from whence emanated the worst atrocities of the Revolutionary struggle; "the common rallying place," says one of the writers of that day, "of tories, refugees, savage warriors, and other desperadoes of the frontier." Their success at Wyoming led them to follow it up by a foray into Cherry Valley, New York; and there the scenes of butchery and pillage enacted by them, were only a little less in extent and ferocity, than those upon the north branch of the Susquehanna. It became evident that a severe check must he given to this system of warfare, or the whole of the frontier would be desolated. It was, therefore, ordered by Congress that a strong expedition should be fitted out to lay waste the territory of the Senecas, and other tribes who were foremost in these incursions. General Sullivan was directed to organize and command the invading forces, find his base of operations was laid upon the line of the Lehigh River, in Northampton county, his headquarters during the time consumed in preparation, being established at Easton. Most of the troops and munitions for the expedition, came up from Washington's line, in Jersey, and were crossed over the Delaware at the Forks. All the flats in the neighborhood, upon both rivers, were impressed into this service, including the ferry boat at Bethlehem. This was in June, 1779. On the fifteenth of that month, the wife of the Commander-in-Chief actually visited Northampton-not avoiding the county by detour through Durham, as on a former occasion. She had come from her husband's headquarters at Middlebrook, and was on her way to Mount Vernon. Of course, she desired to take on her route the town of Bethlehem, which at time was widely famed for its attractive features, and had been the visiting point of more distinguished people, than any other town of thrice its six the provinces.1 Arriving at the headquarters of General Sullivan, at Easton, that gallant officer mounted his horse, and in person escorted her as far Bethlehem, whence, however, he at once returned to his arduous duties the perfecting of his preparations for the descent on the Indian frontier. Concerning this visit of Mrs. Washington, a most interesting William C. Reichel-says: "Meanwhile, however, a far more distinguished 2 though all untitled personage, had added her name to the record of sojourn at the Bethlehem Inn. This was Lady Washington, while arrived from Easton, early in the morning Of the fifteenth of June. "She was accompanied by Generals Sullivan, Maxwell, and other officers besides her proper escort. The former returned to camp before noon. "After dinner, the distinguished guest was waited upon by the clergy and shown the objects of interest in the town. Site also attended worship in evening, and early in the morning of the sixteenth set out for Virginia." Early in July, the preparations had all been made, and the army marched for the frontier. The force consisted of two thousand five hundred (many of them sharpshooters), with a train of two thousand pack-horses. It was the bravest sight which the Susquehanna Valley had ever seen. One hundred and twenty boats had been collected, to assist the army in its sage up the North Branch. As they passed the fort which Captain Spalding had rebuilt, mutual salutes were passed, and the column passed on through the wild woods towards Tioga, Point. At that place, he was joined by an auxiliary body under General Clinton(father of the celebrated De Witt Clinton), and together, the united forces-consisting of fifteen hundred riflemen, thirty-five hundred of the other arms four six-pounder, and three three-pounder guns-proceeded on the campaign with one month's provisions laden upon their pack-horses. The Indians believed it impossible that a regularly appointed army would reach them in their fastnesses, and destroy their towns; but soon saw their mistake. Then, in the presence of actual danger, they collected warriors, and accepting battle near where Elmira, New York, now stands they fought with the utmost bravery and desperation, but it was of no avail; they were utterly defeated, and fled in a panic, leaving their field an villages unprotected before the victors. The women and children fled in crowds to the protection of Fort Niagara and the warriors made no further stand, except to harass the avenging columns, from places of concealment on the line of march; and even, in this manner, they could inflict but very slight damage on the whites. The of reckoning and of retribution had come! Their corn fields were totally destroyed, their villages burned, and themselves, cowed in spirit and stripped of all, forced to seek food and protection with their British allies. Having thus struck the blow which forever destroyed the Iroquois confederacy, find accomplished the object of the campaign, Sullivan once turned his face towards the southeast, and moved his column, by easy marches, back to their starting point in Northampton county. ___________________________________________________________________________ 1. Of the more noticeable among the great number of illustrious visitors at Bethlehem just previous to that time, should be mentioned the first accredited Minister of France to the United States of America. The official recognition which that country had so recently extended to ours as well as the unexpected generosity which she had shown, in backing that recognition by aiding us with an army and fleet, had awakened in our people such a feeling of gratitude, that the very mention of the name France, or Frenchman, was everywhere greeted with irrepressible enthusiasm, and when this distinguished representative of that nation reached Bethlehem, on the, twenty-fifth of November, 1778, the event produced a sensation, hardly less than would have greeted the appearance of George, Washington himself. His coming had been announced in advance, by the following letter from the President of Congress. "MY DEAR FRIEND-: M. Gerard, the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, will provided he meets no obstruction on the, road, at your place oil Wednesday the 25th inst., about midday. "This worthy character, merits regard from all the citizens of these states. An acquaintance with him will afford you satisfaction, and I am persuaded his visit will work no inconvenience to your community. "Don Juan de Miralles, a Spanish gentleman, highly recommended by the Governor of Havana, will accompany M. Gerard. The whole suite, may amount to six gentlemen and, perhaps, a servant to each. "I give this previous intimation, in order that preparation suitable to the occasion may be made Mr. Jansen, at the tavern, and otherwise as you think expedient. "Believe me, dear sir, to be with sincere respect, and very great affection. "HENRY LAURENS" "PHILADELPHIA, 23d November, 1778 " The Rev. Mr. Ettwein, Bethlehem." 2. Mr. Reichel means that she was far more distinguished than the Baroness Reidese (wife of General Reichel, of Burgoyne's army), who had then recently made a visit of considerable duration at Bethlehem. 69 The following eulogistic review of General Sullivan's operations, is taken from Chastelleux's " Voyages dans l'Amerique Septentrionale" v. ii., p.316. In whatever manner this expedition was set on foot, which took place in 1779, after the evacuation of Philadelphia, and the diversion made by de Estaing's squadron, the greatest difficulty to surmount was the long march to be made through woods, deserts, and morasses, conveying all their provisions on beasts of burden, and continually exposed to the attacks of the savages. "The instructions given by General Sullivan to his officers, the order of march he prescribed to his troops, and the discipline he had the ability to maintain, would have done honor to the most experienced amongst ancient or modern generals. It may fairly be asserted that the journal of this expedition would lose nothing in a comparison with the famous retreat of the ten thousand Greeks, which it would resemble very much, if we could compare the manoeuvers, the object of which is, attack with those which have no other than tire preservation of a forlorn army. "General Sullivan, after a month's March, arrived without any check at the entrenched camp, the last refuge of the savages; here he attacked them, and was received with great courage, insomuch that the victory would have been undecided, had not the Indians lost, many of their chiefs in battle, which never fails to intimidate them, and they retreated during the night The General destroyed their houses and plantations, since when they have never shown themselves in a body. However, slight and insufficient the idea may be that I have given of this campaign, it may nevertheless astonish our European military men to learn that General Sullivan was only a lawyer in 1775, and that to the year 1780, he quitted the army to resume his profession, and is now civil Governor of New Hampshire." About this time, a condition of affairs seems to have been reached which, in the opinion of the best and most patriotic men, was not a little alarming, and which was the occasion of the following letter being addressed to Abraham Berlin, Esq., who was Chairman of the Northampton Committee of Safety, at that time: ALLEN TOWNSHIP, July 5th, 1779 SIR:-Notwithstanding the unhappy depredations committed on our frontiers, and the alarming situation that our defenceless inhabitants are exposed to, we must invite you cordially to take into consideration the civic on which our inveterate enemies, the instigators of our present contest with Britain, are endeavoring to accomplish, viz.: The separation of our councils, the urging of the weak and less informed in the situation of our affairs to have and entertain an aversion to our just contest, and, by every means in their power, either to discourage or cause them totally to forsake it, by representing us entirely therefor, on account of not having men or money requisite for war. "You are well acquainted with the unhappy proceedings of too many of even our Whig neighbors, whose love of money has prompted them to demand, or even to receive double, if not six-fold, the value of many of the necessary articles of life. "That our currency may be brought to its just value as a medium of trade; and the base designs of our enemies frustrated, a number of the most, respectable inhabitants of Philadelphia, having assembled for the purpose of giving it its proper value, reducing such extravagant prices as were demanded for all the necessaries or conveniences of life, having in some measure answered the valuable purpose of their meeting, it appearing onto us necessary that their laudable example be copied after. "We request you to send at least those of your members as a committee, to consult, on such mode of proceeding, in the present state of affairs, as may co-operate with our brethren in the different counties, which committee are requested to meet the different committees of each battalion of this county, at the house of Colonel John Siegfried, on Thursday, the 29th instant, at ten o'clock the forenoon. "By notifying the different captains in each worship, the inhabitants thereof may be informed on what day they may choose their committee the sooner the better-that they may be in readiness to attend the place appointed, " Your most obedient servants, "JOHN SEIGFRIED, "JNO. BRISBON "MATTHEW McHENRY, "STEP. BALLIET, "CONRAD KREIDER, "PETER BURKHOLDER, "ROBT LATTIMORE, "J. KOHLER, PETER BIESSAL "To Abm. Berlin, Esq., Easton" The first issue of Continental money had been made in 1775, and had at first answered very well the purposes for which it was intended, but after a time it began to depreciate in value; first slowly and then more rapidly, until the question became to be, by the friends of the Provincial cause, regarded as an exceedingly serious one. Every county in the State made the most strenuous exertions to keep up its; value, and to sustain the confidence of the people, that it would eventually be redeemed, dollar for dollar, and meetings of the principal, and most patriotic men were held, and resolutions adopted, setting forth to the public in the strongest language, and by the most earnest appeals, the absolute necessity, that they should feel such confidence, and receive the Continental bills-as if they were so much in silver-for any commodities which they might have to dispose of. They were right. The placing of Continental paper on an actual par with coin, would have done more for the American cause, than would the doubling of the number of soldiers in the field. But there was no power on earth, no consideration of duty, or patriotism, that could accomplish such a result. The meeting was held, agreeably to the call, at the house of Washington's friend, Colonel John Siegfried,-a man of whom Northampton county had good reason to be proud-and wits presided over by Colonel Henry Geiger; the secretary of the meeting being Robert Traill. If the exhibition of the most fervent patriotism on the part of its members, or if the passage of the strongest resolutions, getting forth to the people their duty and the importance of performing it, could have accomplished the, object for which they met, it would have been well; but all was unavailing. Even to those who, without hesitation, hazarded their lives, and the lives of their sons, on the battle-field in defence of liberty, the considerations of avarice were overshadowing; their property was dearer than life, and all efforts to upheld the paper currency were vain. It gave great concern and grief to the friends of liberty to know as they did, that the enemy were enabled to purchase cattle and other supplies for their army, of persons who avoided disposing of them to the agents of the American government, for the reason that the British agents would pay as high a price in gold, as was paid by our own commissaries, in depreciated paper in money. To prevent and punish this, the General Assembly had passed "an Act to prevent forestalling and regrating [sic], and to encourage fair dealing" and it appears that there were people even in Northampton county who, for the lure of British guineas, were prepared to defy this salutary law, for there may be found among the county archives, a record of a prosecution which was brought before the Court of Quarter Sessions against John Peter Miller, "for purchasing a number of cattle without a permit to do so, contrary to an Act of General Assembly, to prevent forestalling and regrating, and a complaint lodged by Mich'd Shaefer, Committeeman for Macungie township." Miller, it seems, could not withstand the temptation to get gain by attempting to evade the law; but the dark transaction could not escape the unsleeping vigilance of committee-man Shaefer, who, in lodging the information against the transgressor, no doubt taught him that forestalling and regrating were by no means profitable vocations in old Northampton. So great were the demands that were made on the farmer's product's of the country for the necessities of the armies, that those who had them could not retain meat for their own families, for indeed sufficient tallow to make candles, and in many cases they were obliged to have recourse to the use of certain bush and its berries, called candleberry bush, from which, it appears, very good candles could he produced, by some process unknown at the present day. A very severe deprivation was the extreme scarcity of salt. Upon one occasion, it is related that Judge Horsfield, of Bethlehem, went to Philadelphia for the purpose of procuring salt, but only succeeded in obtaining one bushel, for which he paid eight dollars: and no doubt it was through great favor that lie obtained it at all. He certainly stood deservedly high in the esteem of President Reed and Colonel Matlack, and on that account, might very probably be able to obtain favors which would not be accessible to every one. At all events, he seems to have obtained the salt at a rate below the market price; for, on the twenty-third of October, 1779, Messrs. Vanuxern and Clark, and Peter January, merchants of Philadelphia, addressed a memorial to the Supreme Executive Council for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, showing that they had then recently bought thirty-four tierces [sic] of salt, at Greenwich, New Jersey, which they intended to use in salting provisions for the use of their shipping; that they refused two hundred dollars a bushel for the same, to be delivered at Burlington; but that finding that it was much needed for the public service, they consented to deliver it to Mr. James Hood for the account of the Council. But that when they afterwards sent to Mr. Hood for payment, they received for answer that it had been decided to seize that kind of salt in the stores, and to pay therefore only thirty pounds per bushel, and that they, the said merchants should receive no more than that, for theirs. 70 And they therefore prayed the Council that their case be taken into consideration, and that they might "at least be indemnified and reimbursed in the Money which the still has Cost them" from which it appears evident that the first cost of the salt, to the merchants, was far above thirty pounds per bushel. Touching this question of salt, there may be found in the Pennsylvania Archives a letter from Colonel Jacob Stroud, of Northampton County, to Colonel Matlack, the Secretary of the Council, in which he relates that, having bought and paid for some twenty-seven bushels of salt, six months before, he has, for various reasons, been prevented from receiving it. The chief of these reasons seems to have been, that the salt had been seized by the Committee of Safety, and it is to their secretary that Colonel Stroud makes his appeal for its restoration, taking the wise precaution to send his team along for it, at the same time that he transmits the letter. It also throws some light on the suspense in which the border people were then living, by fear of Indian attacks, and alludes to the draining of the, supplies of grain and other articles from the country, for the support of the armies, Here is what the Colonel said : LOWER SMITHFIELD, October the 16th, 1779. COLLONEL MATLACK :-I must beg of you, if it is in your Power, to assist me in getting again 27 and 1/2 Bushels of salt that I had engaged, and paid for lost April to Able James, but being alarmed with the Indians, so that I could not send for it, and looking on it safer than it would he at home, as I did not know but every day wee should be drove off, I had inngaged all the salt to my nabour that allways this several years have had their supplies from me. If anything should be wanting to Inform any Gentleman, Mr. Able James will be able to give a full information, I spoke to his Excelleney the President, and he told me I should have some, it not all, I now have sent my Team for the salt, and as the president has so much buseness on hand to take his attention. I must, Beg of you to take the Troble to forrowd [sic- follow?] the matter. The salt was Taken by the Committee, and what Line that Lies in now is unknowing to the, as I live so far off; and, as we Live so for off, we Don't stand any Chance of geting salt to what others Doe that Lives near Town, and as for sending flouer down, we Cant do it now as the armey has been abought hear, and has Taken all our grane, & c.,1 that unless it, is a few men that have a little yet, Any Troble you are at I shall be Ready and willing to pay you for, and be very much obliged to you, besides I don't know of fifty other man at this time I can apply to but you. I am, sir, your very umble serv't, "JACOB STROUD," To-day, we calmly read of these things, and some are perhaps ready to dismiss them as trifles, But, how many are, there among us who can now realize of, understand how much of suffering there may be in mere deprivation of the simple article of salt? Yet this was but one of the multitude of privations which were suffered by our fathers of the Revolution. Truly has it been said that those were times which tried mens souls. After the scourging which the savages received at the hands of General Sullivan, although, they had no longer power to invade our territory, in large and organized bodies, yet their feelings of hostility arid revenge were by no means subdued, but rather intensified; and it was not until some years after the closing of the Revolution that they entirely ceased their depredations. Their system of warfare become that of sodden descents on the settlements, quick work of carnage and conflagration, and then as rapid retreat with their captives before any pursuit could be made. And it seemed too to be more their desire to take prisoners than formerly, for they had learned that the possession of captives might be made a source of advantage to themselves. They did not take them to their own villages (indeed, they hardly had ally villages left now), but they hurried them to the British lines at Niagara, and other points, find there, in many cases sold them out to service. Their capture of the Gilbert and Peart families, and the destruction of their dwellings and property, just above the Blue Mountains in Northampton, has been widely mentioned. The melancholy Circumstances of the destruction of their homes, and of their long and Cruel captivity are these: "Benjamin Gilbert, a Quaker from Byberry, near Philadelphia, removed with his family, in 1775, to a farm on Mahoning Creek, five or six miles from Fort Allen. His second wife was a widow Peart. He was soon comfortably situated with a good log dwelling house, barn, and saw and grist mill. For five years this peaceable family went on industriously and prosperously; but on the 25th April, 1780, the very year after Sullivan's expedition, they were surprised, about sunrise, by a party of eleven Indians, who took them all prisoners. At the Gilbert farm they made captives of Benjamin Gilbert, senior, aged sixty-nine years; Elizabeth, his wife, fifty-five; Joseph, his son, forty-one; Jesse, another son, nineteen; Sarah, wife to Jesse Gilbert, nineteen; Rebecca, a daughter, sixteen; Abner, a son, fourteen ; Elizabeth, a daughter, twelve; Thomas Peart, a son of Benjamin Gilbert's wife, twenty-three; Benjamin Gilbert, a son of John Gilbert, of Philadelphia, eleven; Andrew Harrigar, of German descent, twenty-six; a hireling of Benjamin Gilbert's; and Abigail Dodson, fourteen, a daughter of Samuel Dodson, who lived on a farm about one mile from Gilbert's mill. The whole number taken at Gilbert's was twelve, The Indians then proceeded about half a mile to Benjamin Peart's dwelling, and there captured himself aged twenty; Elizabeth, his wife, twenty; and their child, nine months old. "The last look the captives had of their once comfortable home, was to see the flames and falling in of the roofs from Summer Hill. The Indian (who were under command of the notorious Andrew Montour) led their captives by a toilsome road over Mauch Chunk and Broad Mountains, into the Nescopeck path, and then across Quakake Creek and the Moravian Pine Swamp, to Mahoning, Mountain, where they lodged the first night. "On the way they had prepared moccasins for some of the children. Indians, generally secure their prisoners by cutting down it sapling as large as a man's thigh, and therein cut notches, in which they fix their legs, and over this they place a pole, crossing it with stakes drove in the ground, and on the crotches of the stakes they place other poles or riders, effectually confining the prisoners on their backs; and besides all this they put a strap around their necks, which they fasten to a tree. In this manner, the night passed with the Gilbert family. Their beds were hemlock strewed on the ground, and blankets for covering. "The forlorn band were dragged on over the wild and rugged region between the Lehigh and the Chemung Branch of the Susquehanna. They were often ready to faint by the way, but the Cruel threat of immediate death, urged them again to march. The old man, Benjamin Gilbert, indeed, had begun to fail, and been painted black, a fatal omen among and the Indians; but when his cruel captives had put a rope around his neck, and appeared about to kill him, the intercessions of his wife softened their hearts, and he was saved. Subsequently, in Canada, the old man conversing with the, chief, observed, that he might say what none of the other Indians could 'that, he had brought in the oldest man, and the youngest child. 'The Chief, reply was impressive. It was not I, but the Great God who brought you through; for we were determined to kill you, but were prevented. "On the fifty-fourth day of their captivity, the Gilbert family had to encounter the fearful ordeal of the gauntlet. The prisoners, says the author of the narrative, 'were released from the heavy loads they had hitherto been compelled to carry, and were it not for the treatment they expected on their approaching the Indian towns, and the hardships of separation, their situation would have been tolerable; but, the horror of their minds, arising from the dreadful yells of the Indians, as they approached the hamlets, is easier conceived than described, for they were no strangers to the customary cruelty exercised upon the captives on entering their towns. The Indians-men, women, and children-collect together,2 bringing clubs, and stones in order to beat them, which they usually do with great severity, by way of revenge for their relatives who have been slain. This is performed immediately upon their entering the village where the warriors reside, and cannot be avoided; the blows, however cruel, must be borne without complaint, The prisoners are sorely beaten until their enemies are weary with the cruel sport. ________________________________________________________________________ 1. He evidently alludes to Sullivan's army which remained for several weeks in Northampton county. 2. The warriors but seldom took part except by looking on and encouraging the demoniac assault. 71 "Their sufferings in this case were very great; they received several wound, and two of the women, who were on horseback, were much bruised by falling from their horses, which were frightened by the Indians. Elizabeth, the mother, took shelter by the side of one of them (a warrior), but, upon his observing that site met with some favor on his account, he sent her away, she then received several violent blows, so that she was almost disabled. The blood trickled from their heads in a stream, their hair being cut close, and the clothes they had on in rags, made their situation truly piteous. While the Indians were inflicting this revenge upon the captives, the chief came and put a stop to further cruelties, by telling them it was sufficient, which they immediately attended to. Soon after this a severer trial awaited them, they were separated from each other. Some were given over to the Indians to be adopted, others were hired out by their Indian owners to service in white families, and others were sent down the lake to Montreal. Among the latter, was the old patriarch Benjamin Gilbert. But the old man, accustomed to the comforts of a civilized life, broken in body and mind, from such unexpected calamities, sunk under the complication of woe and hardship. His remains repose at the foot of an oak, near the old fort of Coeur du Lac, on the St. Lawrence, below Ogdensburg. Some of the family met with kind treatment from the hands of British officers at Montreal, who were interested in their story, and exerted themselves to release them from captivity. "Sarah Gilbert, the wife of Jesse, becoming a mother, Elizabeth left the service she was engaged in; Jesse having taken a house that she might give her daughter every necessary attendance. In order to make their situation as comfortable as possible, they took a child to nurse, which added a little to their income. After this, Elizabeth Gilbert hired herself to iron a day for Adam Scott. While she was at her work, a little girl belonging to the house acquainted her that there were some who wanted to see her, and upon entering the room she found six of her children. The joy and surprise she felt on this occasion were beyond what we shall attempt to describe. A message was sent to inform Jesse and his wife, that Joseph Gilbert, Benjamin Peart, Elizabeth, his wife, and their young child, and Abner and Elizabeth Gilbert, the younger, were with their mother." After having been in captivity for two years and five months, they were all released, and collected at Montreal, on the twenty-second of August, 1782. From thence they returned to Byberry, where they had lived before settling on Mahoning Creek. Probably they had no desire, to try their fortunes again in the wilderness of upper Northampton. The house in which they lived at the time of their capture, and which was burned by the savages, stood on an elevated spot, on the north side of Mahoning Creek, about four miles from Lehighton, and near the main road leading from that place to Tamaqua. It would be easy to fill a large volume with accounts of the Indians raiding-into the county of Northampton, during the thirty years of their continuance, but in the narrations which have been given, of the more noted attacks, may be seen the general characteristics of all-blood, fire, and torture. CHAPTER XXVI. NORTHAMPTON AT THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION. MOST of the story of Northamptons immediate connection with the events of the Revolutionary conflict has been told. The theatre of war receded from her boundaries, and although her devoted sons still braved the dangers of battle, in the army of Washington, there was no repetition of the stirring times of 1777 and 1778, when troops were marching and counter-marching, when prisoners were daily arriving from the victorious fields of the north, and wounded and sick and despairing ones came in, night and day, from the disastrous fields of Germantown and Brandywine, when nearly all the illustrious ones of America were congregated on the banks of the Lehigh, and each returning day seemed likely to be ushered in by the approaching roar of hostile cannon ; when DeKalb was projecting fortifications on Bethlehem's hills, and the decimated army of Washington laid at Whitemarsh, still keeping a bold front, but expecting to be forced, by a victorious enemy, to retire within the Forks of the Delaware. The hostile operations were now far away, among the Carolina swamps, and in the highlands around New York, and it would seem (unwillingly as we acknowledge it) as if, with the transfer of hostilities from the soil, the energy-it must not be said the patriotism-of Pennsylvania had been allowed to flag, and her rank, as foremost among the defenders of liberty, had passed from her. As much seems to be made apparent by the following letter from the President of the Council, to officials in Northampton county. "PHILADELPHIA April 2d, 1781 GENTLEMEN:-It is with great surprise we have understood that the County Treasurer has not been able to answer a Draught of the State Treasurer for #500, for the Purpose of recruiting the Army, at a time when every exertion ought to be made for that purpose, and when the Treasury here cannot relieve him. Your County was formerly distinguished for its Punctuality & we hope it will not lose its Character under your management. We must also remind you of the Duties required by the Law, for recruiting the Federal Army by Classes. We presume that by this Time the Men are provided, or the Money collected from them who should have found men. The time expires to-morrow, when the Report of your Proceedings, in this business should be returned. The other States in the Union to the Eastward have, most honorably to themselves and beneficially to the publick, supplied their Quotas of Troops, while this state was never more defective. The revolt of the Line will be a double Misfortune if not repaired by the vigilence of the civil officers & Zeal of the people. You will therefore without Delay, set about the Collection of the outstanding Taxes & Monies due from the Classes, for it would be the greatest Pain to us to be obliged even to remind you of the Penalty which the Law has inflicted for Neglect, & which, in Duty to our Country & Justice to our own Character, we must inflict if the Business is neglected. "I am, Gentlemen, "Your Obe't & V'ry H'bble Servt, "JOSEPH REED To the Commissioner of Taxes in Northampton County" Probably, in all the Revolutionary annals, there is not an official document which reflects more severely on Pennsylvania, and on Northampton county, than the above. At this distance of time no one can say, with certainty, whether or not, or how far, the censure was deserved. It was with a feeling of mortification that the people of the State heard of troops of the Pennsylvania Line, at Morristown, New Jersey, when their own "Mad Anthony," with tears in his eyes, implored , them for their own honor, and for that of their State, to return to their duty-even drawing his pistols upon them, in the paroxysm of his grief and indignation-but all to no purpose. Some consolation, however, some solace to the State pride, could be extracted from the knowledge that it was not disloyalty to their country's cause which actuated them; that when the British general, seizing the opportunity to send his tory messenger among them to tempt them to join the ranks of King George's mercenaries, they spurned the proposition and promptly delivered the emissaries over to General Wayne to be treated as spies; and their conduct, was, in a measure, redeemed from disgrace, by the fact that, after their disbandment, and returning for a while to their homes, many of them again voluntarily resumed their places in the army. It was remembered, too, that it was not Pennsylvania troops alone who had pursued such a reprehensible course, but that, on other occasions, those of Connecticut and New Jersey had acted in a similar manner. All these consideration, however, could not wholly obliterate the stigma which their insubordination had brought on them, and which was by no means lessened when, after the close of the war, they, marched, three hundred strong, to Philadelphia, and invested the meeting- place of Congress, for the purpose of intimidation; to demand redress for grievances, as they termed them, which troops and people, of every State, had suffered in common; each as much as the rest. What soldiers of Northampton were present with Washington's army, at the time of the revolt, is not known. Many of them had been withdrawn from the main force, and placed on duty within the county, as a protection against Indian irruptions, of which the frontier inhabitants lived in continual fear. Following are copies of the muster-rolls of two of the companies who were then stationed within the county on such duty: " Pay Roll of Captain Philip Shrawder's Company of Pennsylvania Rangers, Raised and stationed in the County of Northampton from the 10th of Feb., 1781, to the first of June, 1782. "Captain. -Philip Shrawder. "Lieutenant. -Jacob Cramer. "Ensign. -Lawrence Erb. Sergeants. -Adolf Chrysselius, John Beipel. Drummer. -D. St. Clair. Privates. - Jacob Ried John Haire John Knapsneider Peter Ricker George Fink Jesse Thomas Wm. Richardson Jacob Barrel Joseph Ellis John McAuley E. Frutchman David Murphey John Ward Philip Shawberger L. Yager Jacob Happel H. Warne Henry Walker Philip Fries Christian Marsh Wm. Taylor John Marsh John Weiss John Ebert Michael Gardner Christian Hartman Thomas Dyer Peter Dierner George Hanblazer 72 This was, as indicated by its designation, a company of rangers, who probably patrolled the frontier, from point to point, having no stated post. But Captain Van Etter's command was evidently a body of veterans, who had fought at Brandywine, Sept. 11th, 1777, as would appear from its casualties. Its station, Fort Penn, was in Smithfield township. "A Muster-Roll of a Company of Volunteers, Northampton County, now in the service of the United States, Commanded by Captain Johannes Van Etter. "Captain. -Johannes Van Etter "1st Lieutenant. -John Fish "2d Lieutenant. -John Myer "1st Ensign. -Henry Bush "2d Ensign. -James Scoby, taken prisoner the 11th Sept. "Sergeants. - Thomas Johnston Samuel Hallet James Scoby, advanced to Ensign, Sept. 1st Frederick Everhart Joseph Gable George Price "Corporals Lewis Holmes Thomas Gay Samuel Bond, killed Sept. 11th Adam Hicker "Privates Samuel Vaudermark Daniel McDole John Morhart John Ronts, killed Sept, 11th Rudolf Smith Abraham Clider, killed Sept 11th Daniel Smith Geo. Gongawart John Myer Peter Apler John Weaver, killed Sept. 11th Daniel France Lawrence Miller George Pigg John Robenholt Leonard Pack John Sack Job Stout Geo. Ripher Peter Snyder Peter Lusher Jacob Cryder C. Kowler John Nap Snyder Adam Teel Valentine Nichols George Aikman John Smith John Wetherston Christian Haller Jacob Horwer Peter Siner Peter Crooms, taken prisoner Sept. 11th Philip G. Shelhamer B. Snyder, killed Sept. 11th Philip Bitten, George P. Rinehart, killed Sept. 11th Andrew Myer Joseph Gable, advanced to Sergeant Aug. 30th Peter Croom, killed Sept 11th Johannes Snyder Andrew Maurer Adam Lung George Shelhamer, killed Sept. 11th Paul Neely, killed Sept. 11th Abraham Smith, killed Sept. 11th John Lyn, sick -absent Jacob Arndt, killed Sept. 11th Samuel Summeny Jacob Colleus Henry Davis Philip George, killed Sept 11th Peter McCoy John Hann Abraham Weisner Uria Tippy Paul Reeser B. Weaver Geo. Heaton John Smith, Jr. Christian Wood John Morgan Henry France Bond Hewe John Hain Michael Yerty Adam Brunthaven Anthony Bishop John Snyder Peter Daniel Peter Simanton John Dahly Henry Vaugorden Abraham Westfall Cornelius Devour Casper Clutter Peter Quick Thomas Van Sickle Samuel Vangorden Solomon Huff Thomas Howe James McGraw, killed Sept. 11th Jacob Rowe, killed Sept. 11th "I do solemnly swear that the within Muster-Roll is a true State of the Company without fraud to the United States or any Individual to the best of my knowledge. JOHANNES VAN ETTER, Captain. "JACOB STROUD Lieut.- Colonel. "Mustered at Fort Penn January the fifteenth, 1781, in the absence of the Muster Master. "JACOB STROUD, Lieut.- Colonel." In the year 1782, after the time had passed, in which Northampton county -particularly Bethlehem-had seemed to be the Mecca of distinguished personages; Generals of the Continental army, Delegates to Congress, Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Ministers Plenipotentiary, and lords and ladies from beyond the sea-both ally and enemy-there came to the old Moravian town, on the twenty-fifth of September, a man, far more illustrious than all who had preceded him-no less a person than General George Washington! He was on his way to the headquarters at Newburg, and was accompanied by two military aids. Even his august presence could not awaken much visible enthusiasm among the staid Moravians, but he was greeted with profound veneration by them, and the most assiduous attention shown to acquaint him with the industries and leading features of the place. These offices, of course, fell to the lot of Bishop Ettwein, as the leading person in the town. Washington inspected the water-works, the Moravian mills and shops, took refreshments in the Brethren's house, and was then escorted by the Bishop through the room of the house of the Sisters. In one of these, finding several of the sisterhood busy at their labors, knitting, weaving, and embroidering, he graciously said. "Ladies it gives me pleasure to find you so busily employed." The Bishop replied, "Yes, it is written in the Scripture that they who do not work, shall not eat." His aids made purchases of some light ornamental articles, but the Commander-in-Chief bought for himself several pairs of woolen hose, and then, on expressing a wish to purchase a dress for his wife, was presented, b y the sisters with a sufficient quantity of "blue stripe" material, for which the General expressed his thanks, and promised that Mrs. Washington should wear it in remembrance of them; which probably she did, though none can deny that it was an extremely rash thing, for even the supreme general of the armies, to make such a promise without first consulting the lady's wishes in the matter. "One of the Brethren"-says an old writer-"who had seen Washington and his aid, in their military dress, walking through Bethlehem with the Bishop between them, in his plain clothes, the former being very tall and the latter very short in stature, said, many years afterwards, that the oddity of this appearance struck him forcibly." The General and his two aids attended divine service that evening at the chapel, and then, in the morning of the twenty-sixth, he departed from the town amid the blare of a trombone salute from the players-in the belvedere, and took the northern road down the Lehigh towards his destination."1 The war now rapidly drew to a close. Hostilities had been principally transferred to the South, and unequivocal success had perched on the patriot standards, since the early part of the year 1781, Post after post in Georgia and the Carolinas had been restored to the possession of the American forces, and the two armies were gradually concentrating on the soil of Virginia, where, eighty years later, a struggle took place, to which the contest of Washington and Cornwallis was but as the mimic fight of children, and more blood flowed in an hour, than all that was shed by the opposing hosts of the whole revolutionary campaign of Yorktown. The army of Cornwallis laid down their arms on the nineteenth of October, 1781, and the war was virtually over. Peace was formally declared in 1783, the veterans of the Revolution returned to their homes and families, and America was free. Northamptons soil had never felt a hostile tread, other than that of the stealthy savage, nor shook under the trump of an army except that of Sullivan. But her record was a good and a creditable one; her people were, as a whole, ready and cheerful in patriotic sacrifices, and many a brave son of hers went willingly forth to battle-fields from which he never returned.