propelled it by hand. It is quite possible that he dreamed of the
greater speed if steam power could be applied.
When Robert was seventeen his mother apprenticed him to a Philadelphia
silversmith. This was a mistake. He showed his character by quitting and
establishing himself as a miniature painter—work that he loved. His
plain studio was at the corner of Second and Walnut Streets. Here he
supported himself for four years. He sketched and painted portraits and
landscapes, and made drawings of machinery. So well did he work that at
twenty-one he returned to Lancaster with enough money to buy a small
farm for his mother.
Following the advice of some friends in 1786, he went to England, where
he devoted several years to his profession, under the tuition of
Benjamin West, who received him into his own home. Here he became
acquainted with the Duke of Bridgewater, the founder of the great canal
system of Great Britain, who induced Fulton to abandon art, and take up
the study of mechanical science.
Fulton soon invented a double-inclined plane for raising or lowering
boats from one level to another. In 1794 he devised a mill for sawing
marble. In 1796 he evolved the idea of cast iron aqueducts, and a
structure of this kind was built over the River Dee. He designed several
bridges; he invented machinery for spinning flax; another for making
ropes; one for digging ditches, and a dispatch boat.
In 1796 he published a “Treatise on the Improvement of Canal
Navigation,” copies of which were sent to President Washington, and
other public officials, accompanied by letters telling of the advantages
to be derived by canal navigation in America.
From 1797 to 1804 he resided in Paris with Joel Barlow, the American
representative at the French court. During this period Fulton invented a
submarine or plunging boat, called a “torpedo” designed to be used in
naval warfare. Bonaparte appointed a commission to examine it. Fulton
could easily descend to any depth, or rise to the surface. On one
occasion he remained below the surface for four hours.
The French Government declined to patronize the project, and Fulton
accepted the invitation from the English ministry, but would not agree
to sell them a secret which the United States might need.
In 1806, after an absence of nineteen years, Fulton returned to the
United States, and devoted his thought to the perfection of a steamboat,
a project which he had in his mind for many years.
When in France Fulton met Robert R. Livingston, a rich man from New
York, who was much interested in steamboats. Livingston had already
built one, which proved a failure. The two men now joined forces. This
made a fine association for Fulton’s knowledge of machinery was far
greater than Livingston’s, but the latter had the wealth and influence
which could bring an invention to the public.
Livingston obtained the sole right for them to navigate the waters of
New York State for twenty years, if they could produce a steam vessel
capable of a speed of four miles an hour against the current of the
Hudson River.
Fulton finished his first steamboat in the Spring of 1807. He called it
the Clermont, which was the name of Livingston’s estate near Albany. The
first trip from New York to Albany was made on Monday, August 17, 1807—a
day that will never be forgotten.
Crowds assembled at the wharf to see the Clermont start. Few believed it
would move; most called it “Fulton’s Folly.” The trip was even more
successful than Fulton had anticipated; it excited great admiration, and
steamboats were rapidly multiplied on American waters. The Clermont made
regular trips between New York and Albany, at the rate of five miles per
hour, but this speed was soon increased by improvements in the
machinery.
The success of the Clermont caused Fulton to construct other and larger
boats and ferry boats. He also built the world’s first steam propelled
warship, in the War of 1812.
In 1806 he married Harriet, daughter of Walter Livingston, by whom he
had four children. He possessed great personal dignity and agreeable
manners, and many noble qualities of heart.
In the midst of his triumph and in the height of his prosperity he died.
During the winter of 1814–15 he was building a floating steam battery
and visited the works at Paulus Hook, now Jersey City. He stood three
hours in the cold, and then tramped through pools of water. He became
ill from this exposure, but again visited the construction, and died
February 24, 1815. The New York Legislature wore mourning six weeks. His
funeral was the largest ever held in New York City up to that time. The
body of this distinguished Pennsylvanian rests in Trinity churchyard on
Broadway, at the head of Wall Street.
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Anti-Masonic Outbreak in Pennsylvania
First Felt at New Berlin,
August 18, 1829
From 1826 to 1838 may be termed the Anti-Masonic period, for during
those eventful years bigotry ran wild, while superstition and
fanaticism, like the demons of old, took possession of the many. They
were the halcyon days for broken-down politicians to ride into power and
place.
Seizing the opportunity, these demagogues originated a political party,
whose platform denounced all secret societies, particularly the
Freemasons, as destructive of every principle of religion, justice and
good government.
During the years 1823 to 1826 there resided in Western New York one
William Morgan, a native of Virginia, by trade a stone mason.
It has been represented that he was a veteran of the War of 1812, but he
earned his title of Captain as the owner of a fishing smack, with
piratical tendencies, which plied along the gulf coast.
In 1825 “Captain” Morgan was residing in Batavia, N. Y., where a poor
printer, named Wilbur, concocted with Morgan to publish a book
containing the revelations of Freemasonry, which was in fact the copy of
a volume formerly published in England in 1750, under the title “Jachin
and Boaz.”
As would be expected, the announcement of the publication of the book in
question wrought up members of the Masonic fraternity to fever heat.
Efforts to suppress the work were freely discussed, and some even
proposed doing so by force if it could not be done otherwise.
The respectable part of the fraternity, supposing that no book of that
kind would really be published, and, like a nine days’ wonder, if it
was, would soon vanish and wholly disappear, took little or no interest
in the matter. While they were folding their arms, an inconsiderate
scheme was developed by individuals for suppressing by force the
contemplated work.
But at this time Morgan was arrested for debt, September 12, 1826, and
placed in a carriage and driven to Rochester. That was the last ever
seen of him.
Morgan’s sudden disappearance caused great excitement, and gossips gave
out the statement that Freemasons had conveyed him to Fort Niagara,
while others claimed they had drowned him in Lake Ontario.
Public meetings were held and finally a reprobate named Edward Giddings
spread the sensational story that Freemasons had abducted and foully put
Morgan to death.
At this time the body of a man was washed ashore on Lake Ontario, and a
week after interment the body was exhumed and a second inquest
determined that “William Morgan had come to his death by drowning.” The
corpse did not, in any particular, resemble Morgan, but the crowd
determined that “it was a good enough Morgan until after election.” This
body was identified as that of Timothy Monroe, who had drowned September
26. The remains were buried by his widow.
This should have ended the Morgan excitement but it did no such thing.
“A lie well stuck to is more convincing than the truth.” So a most
infamous deception was practiced upon the people.
Prosecutions were instituted against those who were supposed to have
anything to do with the abduction of Morgan. Many trials resulted, but
no murder was ever established.
What had become of Morgan? Was he drowned or murdered?
As early as September 26, 1826, the “Intelligencer,” of Harrisburg, as
well as other newspapers, cautioned the Masonic fraternity against “a
man calling himself Captain Morgan, as he is a swindler and a dangerous
man.”
It has been authentically settled that after the night of the so-called
abduction, being threatened with numerous suits for debt and other
misdemeanors, Morgan left the country of his own free will, going
directly to Australia, the passage money being furnished him. Arriving
in that far distant clime, he established a newspaper, but died ten
years later. A son, who accompanied him, continued the business, and was
living just prior to our Civil War.
The Freemasons of New York State, as a body and individually, disclaimed
all knowledge of any abduction of “Captain” Morgan.
By 1828 the Anti-Masonic movement had gained such impetus in New York
that a candidate for governor was placed on their ticket. Anti-Masonic
tickets were named in Massachusetts, Vermont and Ohio.
In 1829 the storm broke out in Pennsylvania, and was first felt in the
little town of New Berlin, Union County, where Lafayette Lodge No. 194
was holding a public procession August 18. The speakers for the occasion
were Hon. Jesse Merrill, General Henry Frick, Henry C. Eyer, Reverend
Just Henry Fries, Reverend John Kessler and Reverend Henry Piggott.
Henry W. and George A. Snyder, distinguished sons of former Governor
Simon Snyder, were officers of the lodge and had arranged the program.
The meeting was broken up by the hostile action of a mob. It was these
same people who sent Ner Middlesworth, that great exponent of
Anti-Masonry to the General Assembly; it was also in New Berlin where
the first Anti-Masonic newspapers were established.
Joseph Ritner was placed in nomination for the office of Governor by the
Anti-Masonic convention, which met in Harrisburg in 1829, and he
received 51,000 votes, only 30,000 less than his successful opponent,
George Wolf.
A national convention was held in Baltimore September, 1831, which
placed a complete ticket in the field. In 1832 the Anti-Masons of
Pennsylvania again placed Joseph Ritner in nomination, but he was again
defeated by Governor Wolf, but two years later the Anti-Masons gained
control of the Legislature, and under the capable leadership of Thaddeus
Stevens, made political history in the Keystone State.
In the election of October, 1835, Joseph Ritner was elected, and with
both branches of the General Assembly, the Anti-Masons were determined
to carry out their various unlawful measures with a high hand.
The Stevens Legislative investigation held December, 1835, proved to be
a fiasco, as the inquisition failed to disclose a single unlawful act
upon the part of any member of the order of Freemasons or Odd Fellows.
By 1838 the clouds of ignorant oppression had cleared away, and the
people, who cared to do so, could unite with either secret organization
without fear of social ostracism or political suicide.
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York County and Its Part in the Revolution,
Erected August 19, 1749
York County, erected August 19, 1749, from part of Lancaster County,
played a conspicuous part and contributed its full share of troops
during the period of the early troubles of our Republic. Indeed York
County seems to have been in the struggle from the earliest moment to
the end of the conflict and in addition furnished men who assumed a
leading role in that stirring drama.
Colonel Thomas Hartley, himself one of the greatest patriots of the
Revolutionary times, in a letter to President Reed, of the Supreme
Executive Council of Pennsylvania, says:
“They knew they had been as patriotic as any, that the York district had
armed the first in Pennsylvania, and had furnished more men in it than
any other district on the continent of the same number of inhabitants.”
As early as December, 1774, James Smith, who was a Provincial statesman
and sensed the impending struggle with the Mother Country, employed
himself in raising and drilling a volunteer company, of which he was
elected captain. This is said to be the very first body of volunteer
soldiers organized in Pennsylvania, with a view to oppose the armies of
Great Britain. The officers were James Smith, captain; Thomas Hartley,
first lieutenant; David Grier, second lieutenant, and Henry Miller,
ensign. Each of these officers, thus early attached to the cause of
liberty, became distinguished in the subsequent history of the country.
A company of riflemen was recruited in York County under the Resolution
of Congress, June 14, 1775, which was attached to Thompson’s Riflemen,
the first command to receive commissions after General Washington. This
company reached Cambridge, Mass., July 25, 1775, and was the first
company to arrive there from any point south of Long Island or west of
the Hudson River. It got into action July 29, before all the regiment
had arrived.
Another rifle company was recruited in York County for fifteen months’
service, which marched from York early in May, 1776, and at Philadelphia
became a part of Colonel Samuel Miles’ rifle regiment. In July five
battalions of militia marched from York County to New Jersey. Of these
five battalions two were formed and attached to the Flying Corps;
Colonel Michael Swope commanded the first battalion, and Colonel Richard
McAllister the second. Colonel Swope’s battalion suffered severe losses
in battles of Long Island and Fort Washington. One company in this
battalion lost all but eighteen men at Long Island. Colonel Swope and
fourteen of his officers were taken prisoners when Fort Washington fell
into the hands of the enemy November 16, 1776. Ensign Jacob Barnitz, of
York, was wounded in this battle and lay fifteen months in prison.
Toward the close of 1777, events occurred which brought York into
prominence and made it for a time the capital of the now independent
States of America. The Continental Congress sat there for nine months,
and at a time when its proceedings were of the greatest importance.
The disastrous Battle of Brandywine, fought September 11, 1777, decided
the fate of Philadelphia. On the approach of the British towards the
Schuylkill, Congress adjourned to meet in Lancaster on September 27, and
on the same day adjourned to York. The Susquehanna was regarded as a
safe barrier between them and the enemy, and they began their sessions
there September 30, where they continued until the British evacuated
Philadelphia. The Congress left York June 27, 1778.
October 17, 1777, Congress passed a Resolve, to procure a printing press
so that the intelligence which Congress would receive from time to time
could be given to the public. The press of Hall and Sellers, of
Philadelphia, was set up in York, and even Continental money printed
there. This was the first printing press erected in Pennsylvania west of
the Susquehanna.
On November 15, Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation; on
November 27, a new Board of War was organized. On December 1, Baron
Steuben landed at Portsmouth, N. H., and started for York, where he
arrived February 5, 1778, and remained two weeks. He was received by
Congress with every mark of distinction, and was appointed Inspector
General of the Army.
The treaty with France was ratified by Congress May 4, 1778, which was
the occasion for a general celebration.
General Gates resided in York during part of the time Congress met there
and when Lafayette called upon him, he was surrounded by friends, seated
about the table and it was at this dinner the conspiracy was revealed to
supplant Washington and make Gates the Commander in Chief of the Army.
It was in York that General Gates and Colonel Wilkinson planned to fight
a duel to settle their differences, but before the meeting, their
troubles were adjusted.
General Wayne arrived in York February 27, 1781, on his way to assume
command of part of the Pennsylvania Line which was to reinforce General
Greene, then in the south. On May 20, Wayne’s corps, smaller in number
than he anticipated, and by no means well equipped, but reduced to
discipline and harmony, marched southward from York.
On April 17, 1777, Congress changed the name of the “Committee of Secret
Correspondence,” to “Committee of Foreign Affairs,” and appointed Thomas
Paine, secretary of the committee. His “American Crisis,” Number V.,
addressed to General Sir William Howe, commenced in the house of Hon.
William Henry of Lancaster, was finished and printed at York.
Major John André, afterwards executed as a spy, was in York for a short
time after he was taken prisoner at St. John’s, September, 1775, and was
from there transferred to Carlisle.
General Washington visited York in 1791, when he journeyed from Mount
Vernon to Philadelphia. He arrived in York from Hanover at 2 o’clock in
the afternoon of Saturday, July 2, 1791, and took lodging at the tavern
of Baltzer Spangler. He was met with the Independent Light Infantry,
commanded by Captain George Hay, which fired a salute of fifteen rounds.
He had dinner with Colonel Thomas Hartley, and walked through the
principal streets, and drank tea with his distinguished host.
At night there were illuminations and every other demonstration of joy.
The next morning his excellency was waited upon by the Chief Burgess and
principal inhabitants, and was given an address, to which the President
replied. General Washington attended divine service and then proceeded
on his journey, being accompanied as far as Wright’s Ferry by a number
of the principal inhabitants, among the latter being his close friend
Colonel Thomas Hartley.
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Greatest Victory Over Indians Gained by
General Wayne at Fallen Timbers,
August 20, 1794
After the close of the Revolution the country west of the Ohio was still
occupied with Indian tribes ever ready to bring devastation,
destruction, and desolation to the homes of the border settlers, and
ever incited and aided by the British, who held a number of posts along
the lakes. The Indians had determined the Ohio River should be the
permanent boundary between them and the United States.
President Washington sent Generals Josiah Harmar and Arthur St. Clair in
succession to command troops selected to overawe them, and each in turn
experienced bitter defeat by the savages. Washington then sent for
General Anthony Wayne and in April, 1782, placed him in command of the
Army of the United States.
Wayne understood his mission. He organized his “Legion” in Pittsburgh,
June, 1792, consisting of only 2,631 troops recruited from Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey. Pennsylvania furnished all but 232 of
the command.
Wayne inaugurated strict discipline. Two soldiers were shot down for
sleeping on their posts. Whiskey was forbidden in the camp and
drunkenness severely punished. He insisted upon cleanliness and
regularity of diet. He taught the use of the bayonet and the sword. He
dined with his officers, and carefully planned every detail of his
expedition with their full knowledge.
Wayne had Chief Cornplanter, ninety Choctaw and twenty-five Chicasaw
Indians with him, whom he used to sow dissension among the hostile
Indians.
The war lasted more than two years during which time there were periods
of four and five months that he was without communication with the seat
of government. The Government viewed this Indian war with alarm, and not
without cause, as two previous defeats made the outcome doubtful.
While the hostile Indians were perfecting their combinations the
Government sent commissioners to Fort Erie to sue for peace. The result
was that the Indians gained the time they needed, then refused to treat
at all, and the burden fell upon Wayne to see that the commissioners
reached their homes with their scalps on their heads, for which they
formally gave him thanks.
On October 13 he had marched to a point on the Miami River, eighty miles
north of Cincinnati, where he found a camp which he fortified and called
Greenville and remained there through the winter. From this camp he sent
out scouts and spies to secure intelligence and scalps. He also sent a
force to the field where St. Clair had been defeated to bury the bones
of the dead and erect a stockade called Fort Recovery.
In May a lieutenant with a convoy gallantly charged and repulsed an
assault. About seventeen hundred of the enemy made a desperate attempt
June 13, to capture an escort under the walls of Fort Recovery and to
carry the Fort by storm, keeping up a heavy fire and making repeated
efforts for two days, but were finally repulsed. Twenty-one soldiers
were killed and twenty-nine wounded.
A few days later, after receiving reinforcements of mounted men from
Kentucky, General Wayne marched seventy miles in the heart of the Indian
country, built Fort Defiance, and then within sight of a British fort on
the Miami River made his preparations for the battle which was
inevitable.
He had marched nearly four hundred miles through the country of an
enemy, both watchful and vindictive; had cut a road through the woods
the entire way, upon a route longer, more remote and more surrounded
with dangers than that of Braddock; had overcome almost insuperable
difficulties in securing supplies; had built three forts, and now had
reached a position where the issue must be decided by arms.
On the morning of August 20, 1794, the army advanced five miles, with
the Miami on the right, a brigade of mounted volunteers on the left, a
light brigade in their rear, and a selected battalion of horsemen in the
lead. They came to a place where a tornado had swept through the forest,
and thrown down the trees, since called Fallen Timbers, and where the
twisted trunks and uprooted trees lay in such profusion as to impede the
movements of the cavalry.
Here the Indians, two thousand in number, encouraged by the proximity of
the British fort, determined to make a stand. Hidden in the woods and
the high grass, they opened fire upon the mounted men in front and
succeeded in driving them back to the main army. The enemy were formed
in three lines in supporting distance of each other, extending two miles
at right angles to the river and were protected and covered by the
woods.
Wayne formed his force in two lines. He saw the enemy was strong in
numbers and intended to turn his flank, and met this situation by
ordering up the rear line to support the first, by sending a force by a
circuitous route to turn the right of the enemy; by sending another
force at the same time along the river to turn their left, and by a
direct charge in the front to drive the Indians from their covert with
the bayonet.
The Indians could not stand this attack, broke in confusion, and were
driven two miles in the course of an hour through the woods with great
loss. Their dead bodies and the British muskets lay scattered in all
directions. All of the village, corn fields and houses, including that
of Alexander McKee, the British Indian agent, within a scope of one
hundred miles were burned and destroyed.
American annals disclose no such other victory over the savage tribes.
It secured for civilization the territory between the Ohio and
Mississippi Rivers. It made possible the development of such states as
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
When the news reached London, the British Government, recognizing that
the cause of the Indians was hopeless, ordered the evacuation of the
posts at Detroit, Oswego and Niagara.
Two weeks later General Wayne was crushed to earth by a falling tree, so
much bruised as to cause great pain and hemorrhages, and only the
fortunate location of a stump, on which the tree finally rested, saved
his life.
After the treaty of cession and peace had been executed, and after an
absence in the wilderness for three years, he returned home in 1795,
everywhere hailed with loud acclaim as the hero of the time and received
in Philadelphia by the City Troop and with salvos from cannon, ringing
of bells and fireworks.