who came to see him. Yet there were those who sympathized with the
insurgents and did not join in the general rejoicing. This class, in
order to manifest their disapproval of the employment of the military
force for suppression of the rebellion, collected secretively a few
nights after the visit of Washington and erected a liberty pole on the
corner upon which the council house now stands. This was the cause of
much ill feeling and many a black eye and bloody nose. The pole was cut
down at night.”
After dining at Shippensburg the party set out for Chambersburg,
entering that town by the Harper’s Ferry road the same evening. Many of
the citizens paid their respects to him and the night was spent at
Colonel William Morrow’s stone tavern.
At daylight on Monday morning, October 13, Washington left Chambersburg.
The people were at their doors and the President acknowledged their
salutations as he rode through the streets on horseback, followed by his
black servant carrying a large portmanteau.
After ten miles’ travel they reached Greencastle. While Washington was
breakfasting at Robert McCullough’s tavern, Tom McCullough, the
landlord’s ten-year-old son, who later represented the district in
Congress and became the first president of the Cumberland Valley
Railroad, was discovered under the table. Washington intervened as the
tavern keeper was about to send his son from the room for punishment,
and patted the young fellow on the head.
Leaving Greencastle, General Washington and his party went on to
Bedford, from which place the return journey was started on October 21.
The journey of thirty-seven miles to Burnt Cabins is said to have been
the longest of the entire trip. Leaving there the morning of October 22,
Washington crossed Tuscarora Mountain, passing through Fannetsburg,
where earlier a liberty pole had been erected.
The feeling of opposition had largely passed away by the time Washington
reached the town. After a hearty welcome, he proceeded to Strasburg and
then through Pleasant Hill.
On the west side of Herron’s Branch Washington and his party halted at a
tavern called the Black Horse. Here Washington inquired if dinner could
be served the retinue. “We have nothing but an old-fashioned potpie
ready, to which you are welcome,” replied the maid. The great general
partook and thus rescued one more hostelry from oblivion.
Four miles farther he reached Shippensburg again, coming back into the
town he had left ten days before.
After spending the night at Captain William Ripley’s Black Horse tavern
in Shippensburg, where much entertainment was provided, the President
set out early the next morning and by evening had reached New
Cumberland, then called Simpson’s Ferry, in honor of Gen. Michael
Simpson, who as a boy of fifteen had marched with Colonel Bouquet’s
forces.
Washington spent the night of October 23 with his friend, General
Simpson, and the next day journeyed to York. The next afternoon, it is
said, he rode through the rain from York to Wright’s Ferry, now
Columbia, where he remained over night.
On Sunday, October 26, he proceeded to Lancaster, and on Tuesday October
28, it was noted in Philadelphia that the “President of the United
States with his suite arrived in Philadelphia from Bedford and resumed
his duties at the seat of government.”
Commenting on his trip, Washington wrote to Alexander Hamilton from
Wright’s Ferry on Sunday, October 26:
“Thus far I have proceeded without accident to man, horse or carriage,
although the latter has had wherewith to try its goodness, especially in
ascending the North Mountain from Skinners by a wrong road, that is, by
the old road, which never was good, and is rendered next to impassable
by neglect.”
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Sailors Cause of Bloody Election in
Philadelphia October 1, 1742
One of the early Mayors of Philadelphia was the distinguished Quaker,
Isaac Norris, who had been a member of the Provincial Assembly and the
President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He had also served as a
member of the Governor’s Council for more than thirty years, and was
named by William Penn in his will as one of the trustees of the
Province. He died June 4, 1735, and was succeeded by his son of the same
name, known in the history of Pennsylvania as “The Speaker.”
Isaac Norris, “The Speaker,” married one of the daughters of James
Logan, and soon retired from commercial life. He was a member of the
Assembly for thirty years and for the latter half of that time its
Speaker.
Notwithstanding his connection with Logan, and the further fact that he
was a grandson of Hon. Thomas Lloyd, one of the Commissioners of the
Province from December, 1686, to December, 1688, and Deputy Governor
from March, 1691, to April 26, 1693, he was a leader of the strict
Friends in the Assembly who differed in politics from Logan, “who
represented the Proprietary, or Governor’s party,” on all questions
relating to the Province.
So persistently did Speaker Norris oppose the Proprietaries in the
various disputes between the Governor and the Quakers, or “Norris
Party,” that there resulted such bitter contests for office as would be
fashionable in modern times.
The re-election of Norris to the Assembly in 1741 could not be
prevented, and the Quakers gained much ground with Norris in that body,
and with his brother-in-law, Griffiths, and uncle, Preston, who were
aldermen of the city of Philadelphia.
The corporation was too important a political factor to submit to his
influence and the Proprietary Party succeeded in electing four new
aldermen and five new members of the City Council who would further the
Governor’s plans, but it was no easy matter to defeat Norris at a
popular election.
In 1742 a most important session of the Assembly had been held, the
Speaker was the head of every committee, and he worked indefatigably in
superintending the completion of portions of the State House and in
purchasing a site and devising plans for a public pest house or
municipal hospital, and in these activities gave some reason to believe
he could be defeated. The wealthy Recorder of the City, William Allen,
contended for his seat in the Assembly.
Then ensued what is since known as “The Bloody Election,” but Norris
proved himself an astute politician and won the support of the German
settlers, who constituted a large part of the electorate.
The Germans had invariably voted with the Quakers, and it was charged
that the “Norris party” would take possession of the polls, crowd out
their opponents, and thus elect their candidate with the aid of
unnaturalized voters.
The Governor’s friends cried “fraud” but they were not in possession of
any evidence of it.
On October 1, 1742, the day of the “Bloody Election,” a party of
sailors, coopers, and others, strong enough in numbers to make havoc in
the little city, marched uptown from the wharves, armed with clubs, and,
when they arrived at the Court House, a fight took place in which
several were wounded, and the disciples of peace and order were driven
from the historic building.
The affair made a great stir, and is well perpetuated in the caricatures
made at the time which were drawn with the intention to traduce and
stigmatize the political leaders in those days.
In the appendix to the “Votes of the Assembly” is published the
interesting testimony relating to this “Bloody Election.”
The witnesses were “examined in a solemn manner,” and it appeared that
some fifty to seventy sailors, armed with clubs, made their appearance
at the Court House, at Second and High Streets, in support of the
Proprietary Party.
William Till, Mayor of the city, was called upon to interfere against
the sailors, but he declined to do so, saying, as was testified: “They
had as much right at the election as the Dutchmen.”
It appears by the statement of the time, that a wagonload of hop-poles,
easy to cut into clubs, made its appearance at a point so convenient
that the other party availed itself of the boon.
Among the witnesses, Robert Hopkins testified that, “when the sailors
were moving off, and came by William Allen one among them being a squat
full-faced, pock-fretten man, with a light wig and red breeches, as he
supposes, said, 'Let’s give Mr. Allen a whorrah! And said Allen reply’d:
'Ye villians begone: I'll have nothing to do with you'.”
After this we are not surprised at that staunch Friend, Israel
Pemberton, the last witness examined, being able to testify that upward
of fifty sailors were arrested and secured in prison, “and then,” he
goes on to say, “the Freeholders proceeded to the choice of the
Representatives to serve in the Assembly, and the other officers, which
was carried on very peaceably the remainder of the day.”
A petition was read in the Provincial Council, November 5, 1742, which
was addressed to Lieutenant Governor George Thomas, and among other
statements the petitioners stated that the rioters attacked the
constables and broke their staves and beat them up and grievously
wounded divers citizens, among whom was one of the Aldermen.
They claimed many were knocked down with stones without regard to age or
station. Sure enough a bloody election; especially must it have seemed
so to the staid Quakers of the City of Brotherly Love.
In September, 1759, Speaker Isaac Norris resolved to relinquish his
public duties and declined a re-election which was sure to be in his
favor. He made his announcement in the House, and among other things
said:
“You were pleased to make choice of me to succeed my father in the
Assembly at the election of the year, 1735. I never sought emolument for
myself or family, and I remained at disadvantage to my private interest
only to oppose the measures of unreasonable men. No man shall ever stamp
his foot on my grave and say, Curse him! or Here lies he who so basely
betrayed the liberties of his country.”
A true patriot in motive surely.
He was succeeded as speaker by Benjamin Franklin.
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Massacre in Vicinity of Patterson’s
Fort, October 2, 1755
On October 2, 1755, the savages suddenly appeared in Tuscarora Valley,
in the vicinity of Patterson’s Fort, on the north side of the Mahantango
Creek, in Snyder County, and killed and captured forty persons.
This fort was situated immediately beyond the dividing line of Juniata
and Snyder Counties, and in the vicinity of Pomfret Castle, which seems
to be often mistaken for Fort Patterson.
There were two Fort Pattersons and two Captain Pattersons, which has
also caused much confusion. The two captains were father and son, and
their places near each other, and both stockaded, although Captain
William Patterson’s fort was not built until 1763.
Benjamin Franklin gave the following directions to George Croghan in a
letter dated December 17, 1755: “You are desired to proceed to
Cumberland County and fix on proper places for erecting three stockades;
namely, one back of Patterson’s—each of them fifty feet square, with a
blockhouse on two of the corners and a barracks within, capable of
lodging fifty men.”
The one “back of Patterson’s” was to be on the Mahantango Creek, where
Richfield, Snyder County, now is situated, and was to be built by
Colonel James Burd and Captain James Patterson.
Captain James Patterson commanded a company of rangers in Braddock’s
campaign, under Colonel James Burd, and assisted in cutting the way
through the forests.
In the year 1751 James Patterson, with five or six other settlers,
settled in the Juniata Valley at the present town of Mexico.
Patterson cleared his land, engaged in farming and erected a large and
strong log house, which afterward became known as Fort Patterson. It
became the haven of refuge and defense for the settlers in the attack
made upon them by the Indians.
Patterson was a man of daring and considered by the Indians to be a
crack marksman. Whenever Indians appeared at his plantation he delighted
to shoot at a mark, when his unerring aim impressed his visitors that he
would be a dangerous foe.
His son, William, was called to Fort Augusta for the purpose of getting
instructions to settle difficulties on the path through the valley.
While on this mission he fell in with some Indians at Middle Creek, one
of whom was killed and scalped and the rest put to flight.
One of Captain Patterson’s men was wounded. He advised the commander of
Fort Augusta that the woods were full of Indians; that they found many
houses burned, some still burning, and that he feared all the grain
would be destroyed by the savages, who are known to be Delaware.
Fort Patterson was attacked at this time and one Hugh Mitcheltree
carried off.
October 5, 1755, the savages made an incursion near Fort Patterson.
Jennie McClain, a young girl, mounted a horse and hurriedly fled toward
the fort, when, but a short distance from it, an Indian shot the horse
through the body, when Jennie fell off the horse and was captured. The
Indians surrounded the fort, but the Pattersons defended it so bravely
that the savages were driven off.
In the summer of 1756 Captain Patterson marched to Shamokin (now
Sunbury) with Colonel Clapham’s “Augusta Regiment” and assisted in
building and defending that fort.
In 1757 Captain Patterson was detailed and placed in command of Fort
Hunter, above Harrisburg, and at this post he was constantly occupied in
sending out ranging parties, and had charge of the bateau men who
transported provisions from Harris’ Ferry to Fort Augusta.
In July, 1758, Captain Patterson left Fort Augusta on the march to
Raystown (Fort Bedford), where he joined in the Forbes expedition
against Fort Duquesne. After the Indians were finally subdued Captain
Patterson returned to his plantation and followed farming.
When the Indians again became violent in Pontiac’s War in 1763, Captain
Patterson and his son, William, then a lieutenant, were again on guard.
Captain James Patterson died at his fort and is buried near it.
William, son of Captain James, was born in Donegal Township, Lancaster
County, in 1737, and went with his father to the Juniata in 1751. Like
his brave father, William was a keen marksman and a most daring and
valuable aid to his father. He was with his father’s company, which was
part of Braddock’s army. Later he was an ensign at Fort Augusta.
For many months he and his father, with details of privates, ranged the
mountains and streams in search of Indians.
William Patterson not only displayed great capacity as a partisan
soldier, but was equally conspicuous in civil life. He marched in
advance of General Forbes’ army to Fort Duquesne in 1758. He also served
under Colonel Burd in conveying livestock and subsistence from Fort
Cumberland to Fort Burd and Fort Pitt in 1759.
After his return from the army Captain Patterson seems to have devoted
his time to land surveying. His fine presence and dashing character won
the admiration and esteem of the pioneer settlers, especially of the
young men, who followed the chase and provided game for the large and
growing settlements in Tuscarora Valley and around Patterson’s Fort.
Following the Pontiac War, as late as 1767, when fort after fort were
destroyed and the feeble garrison put to the hatchet, Captain William
Patterson called his young hunters and defied the Indians.
Pontiac had boasted that no wooden fort or stockade could escape
destruction if he desired to destroy them.
When they could induce the garrison by cunning and lying to surrender,
they would load a wagon with straw and hay and set it on fire and back
it against the timbers and let the demon fire to do the work.
Although Patterson’s Fort was surrounded by savages repeatedly, they
were driven away and kept at a safe distance by the expert riflemen
under the command of Captain Patterson.
William Patterson, in 1768, arrested and safely lodged in the jail at
Carlisle Frederick Stump and his accomplice John Ironcutter for
committing an unprovoked massacre, the victims being Indians. This
action required the greatest heroism.
The Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania at that period was so
highly pleased with the prompt action of Captain Patterson that he gave
him a commission as Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Cumberland
County. He also was appointed a Commissioner to lay out Northumberland
County in March, 1772.
Captain William Patterson is described in the Shippen papers as “a
gentleman of limited education, a very good soldier and does his duty
well.” He is often mentioned in Colonel Burd’s journal.
A fine bronze tablet mounted on a large boulder recently has been
unveiled at the site of Fort Patterson, which will mark for this and
future generations the spot made famous by the progenitors of this great
Patterson family in Pennsylvania.
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Washington Joins Troops in Whisky
Insurrection October 3, 1794
The year 1794 is distinguished in American history by a remarkable
revolt among a portion of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, known as the
Whisky Insurrection.
In 1791 Congress enacted a law laying excise duties upon spirits
distilled within the United States. This tax excited general opposition,
but nowhere else was such violence exhibited in resisting the execution
of the law as in the western counties of Pennsylvania, where the crops
of grain were so over-abundant that, in the absence of adequate market
for its sale, an immense quantity of the cereals was distilled into
whisky, the far-famed “Monongahela,” called from the name of the
principal river in that region.
The inhabitants insisted that an article, produced almost exclusively by
an isolated people as their sole and necessary support, ought not to be
taxed for the support of the Federal Government, and to this opinion
they adhered with a tenacity worthy of a better cause.
Public meetings were held in all the chief towns, at which the action of
Congress was loudly denounced as oppression to be battled against to the
very last extremity; declaring, too, that any person who had accepted or
might accept an office under the Government in order to carry the law
into effect should be regarded as an enemy of his country, to be treated
with contempt and officially and personally shunned.
The Federal Government was scoffed at, its coercive authority ridiculed,
and with the motto, “Liberty and No Excise!” the ball of the rebellion
rolled on.
One day preceding the assembling of an important meeting of malcontents
in Pittsburgh, the tax collector for the counties of Allegheny and
Washington made his appearance. Aware of his business, a party of men,
armed and disguised, waylaid him at a place on Pigeon Creek, in
Washington County, seized, tarred and feathered him, cut off his hair
and deprived him of his horse, obliging him to decamp on foot in that
painful condition.
In attempting to serve legal processes upon the perpetrators of this
outrage, the marshal’s deputy was also seized, whipped, tarred and
feathered; and, after having his money taken from him, he was
blindfolded and led into the depths of the forest, where he was tied to
a sapling and left to his fate. He was fortunately discovered and
rescued by friends.
Another man was similarly handled who remarked that they could not
reasonably expect protection from a Government whose laws they so
strenuously opposed. Two witnesses of this assault were seized by an
armed banditti and carried off so they could not give testimony against
the perpetrators of the assault.
President Washington feared such open defiance of the laws, and issued a
proclamation condemning the lawless acts and warned all to return at
once to their allegiance. Bills of indictment were found against the
leaders of some of the outrages, and, at the same time, process was also
issued against a great number of noncomplying distillers.
The proclamation and warning did not produce the desired effect.
Washington then ordered the seizure of the spirits distilled in the
counties opposing the law.
Contractors for the army were forbidden to purchase spirits on which
duties had not been paid. The distillers were caught between two
millstones. They feared the wrath of the infuriated populace if they
paid the excise tax or lost their best customers.
The factionists were encouraged by the leniency of the Executive. By
violent threats they kept the marshal from serving precepts, committed
numerous outrages upon the friends of the Government and perfected their
organization into military bands, to resist any force that might be sent
to subject them to the laws. They styled their acts, “mending the
still.”
It is not to be doubted that this inflamed state of the public mind was
greatly aggravated by the ambitious designs and intemperate speeches of
a few leading men. Conspicuous among the malcontents were David
Bradford, Colonel John Marshall, Robert Smiley, Hugh Brackenridge,
William Findley and Albert Gallatin. The first named was the chief
agitator.
Hostilities broke out early in 1794, when those who paid the excise tax
were punished as well as those who attempted to collect the tax. Even
the Government officials were attacked by armed men.
General John Neville, inspector for the county, was compelled to defend
his home by force of arms, and Major Abraham Kirkpatrick, with a detail
of eleven soldiers, was compelled to surrender to a mob, under the
leadership of a desperado named John Holcroft.
After brisk fighting continued for nearly an hour, the insurgents set
fire to eight buildings, which finally compelled brave Kirkpatrick to
yield.
David Bradford assembled meetings to ascertain their secret enemies as
well as to learn their own strength. Mail was searched and the
Government stores attacked. There was even a plan developed which had
the capture of Fort Pitt and the United States Arsenal at Pittsburgh as
its objectives.
The greatest popular demonstration was at Parkinson’s Ferry, where
16,000 men were pledged to follow the leadership of Bradford.
President Washington called a cabinet meeting and had General Thomas
Mifflin, Governor of Pennsylvania, in attendance. Commissioners were
sent to apprise the insurgents of their grave danger.
A proclamation was broadcast August 7, which warned of the impending
war, if all did not quietly return to their home by September 1.
The same day of the proclamation a requisition was made on the Governor
of New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania for their several
quotas of militia.
During the recruiting of this force Judge Jasper Yeates, James Ross and
William Bradford were sent as commissioners to the western counties to
extinguish the insurrection.
David Bradford laughed at the proclamations of the President and
Governors of New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania for the
Committee of Safety was held at Parkinson’s Ferry and appointed
commissioners to wait upon his Excellency and assure him that submission
and order could be restored without the aid of military force.
In the meantime, the troops responded to the call, and, in response to a
second proclamation of President Washington, they rendezvoued at
Bedford, Pa., and Cumberland, Md. The command of the entire army was
given to General Henry Lee, of Virginia. Governor Mifflin took command
of the Pennsylvania troops in person.
The President departed for the front in a drenching rain. He arrived at
Harrisburg Friday, October 3. The same day a meeting of the Committee of
Safety was held at Parkinson’s Ferry and appointed commissioners to wait
upon his Excellency and assure him that submission and order could be
restored without the aid of military force.
The insurgents by this time had come to their senses, and intimidated by
the greatness of the force, fled in every direction. Those arrested were
pardoned. Bradford escaped to Spanish territory. The Whisky Insurrection
came to an end. As Washington said, “the contest decided that a small
portion of the United States could not dictate to the whole Union.”
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Americans Defeated in Battle of Germantown,
October 4, 1777